U.S. President Donald Trump started his week off on Monday by questioning if House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff should be arrested for treason over his depiction of the president's call with the leader of Ukraine. Trump continued to defend his July call with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which House Democrat's are citing as the basis of their impeachment probe. Trump said Monday that he is still trying to find out the identity of the whistleblower who had first brought the charges against him, calling the whistleblower's actions treasonous.
On Tuesday, Trump attacked the Federal Reserve after a weak U.S. manufacturing report for September was released. The report stated that the sector posted it biggest contraction in September since the end of the 2007-2009 recession, with Trump calling the Fed and Chairman Jerome Powell the culprit. Trump tweeted that the Fed has "allowed the Dollar to get so strong, especially relative to ALL other currencies, that our manufacturers are being negatively affected. Fed Rate too high. They are their own worst enemies, they don't have a clue. Pathetic!" Trump has continued to pressure the Fed to cut rates, a move that can weaken the value of the dollar.
Trump also on Tuesday tweeted a congratulatory message to China and President Xi Jinping on the 70-year anniversary of the People's Republic of China, in a move that some Republicans objected to. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement that read: "On the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, we should pause to recognize the many millions of lives lost under Chinese communist rule." McConnell also said that he condemned violence against democratic activists in Hong Kong, where a protestor was shot by a police officer on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Trump continued to blame Democrats' push for his impeachment as the cause of stock-market losses. Trump tweeted: "All of this impeachment nonsense, which is going nowhere, is driving the Stock Market, and your 401K's down. But that is exactly what the Democrats want to do. They are willing to hurt the Country, with only the 2020 Election in mind!"
Trump also on Wednesday addressed a report that suggested shooting migrants in the legs as they tried to enter the U.S. and that he wanted an alligator-filled moat at the border with Mexico. He did not acknowledge the shooting of the legs, but in a tweet about the moat he wrote, "I may be tough on Border Security, but not that tough."
On Thursday, Trump doubled down and urged China and Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. Trump accused Hunter Biden of using a trip aboard Air Force Two to secure $1.5 billion from China for a private-equity fund. Biden's lawyer has denied Trump's charge and said his client had not received anything from the investment. Trump tweeted: "As the President of the United States, I have an absolute right, perhaps even a duty, to investigate, or have investigated, CORRUPTION, and that would include asking, or suggesting, other Countries to help up out!"
Trump also on Thursday visited a retirement community in Florida, where he attacked Democrat's healthcare proposals and said his opponents want to "destroy" Medicare. He at times used the event like a campaign rally, mocking top Democratic presidential runners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. Trump signed an executive order that is aimed at enhancing privatized Medicare plans, with the administration stating that the services are important for senior citizens.
Late Thursday night, text messages and emails were released that revealed that top U.S. diplomats encouraged Ukraine's newly elected president to conduct an investigation linked to Biden in return for a potentially high-profile visit to Washington with Trump.
Lastly on Friday, Trump started his day continuing his attack against the impeachment probe, using the new unemployment data for September as evidence of the impeachment inquiry will hurt the economy. Trump tweeted: "Breaking News: Unemployment Rate, at 3.5%, drops to a 50 YEAR LOW. Wow America, let's impeach your President (even though he did nothing wrong!). "
Trump also on Friday, Trump stated to reporters that he is moving to lift immigration restrictions that require Polish citizens to get a visa to visit the U.S. Trump stated "We will be giving a full visa waiver to Poland." In a White House statement, the administration said that "this is an important step in continuing to increase economic, security, cultural, and people-to-people connections between our two nations." The Visa Waiver Program is a U.S. government program that allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Currently, the program covers 38 countries.
In the early afternoon today, Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, stated that he still believes he has the authority as president to ask a foreign government to open investigations to anyone he suspects of corruption. Trump also stated that he wants "to do a trade deal with China, but only if it is good for our country."
Trump continued to tell reporters that his only motivator to ask China and the Ukraine to investigate is to root out corruption rather than damaging political campaigns.