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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rebecca Speare-Cole

Donald Trump suggests he helped revived phrase 'Merry Christmas' in bizarre speech to students

Donald Trump has suggested he helped revive the phrase "Merry Christmas" in a bizarre speech to a group of students.

The US President made the comments as he spoke to Turning Point USA student group on Saturday evening in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr Trump said bringing back the phrase was "the least I could do" during the speech, in which he also complained about impeachment and "crazy Nancy" - believed to be in reference to Nancy Pelosi.

In 2016, Mr Trump claimed there had been a "war on Christmas" and suggested the phrase "Merry Christmas" was no longer used.

He said that every American would be able to say it again during his presidency.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit (REUTERS)

On Saturday, he reminded the audience about this apparent attack on the festive season although he did not clarify exactly who he thought the perpetrators were.

He said: "You remember they were trying to take Christmas out of Christmas? They didn't want to let you say "Merry Christmas".

"You'd go around, you'd see department stores they'd have everything red, snow, beautiful, ribbons, bows. Everything was there but they wouldn't say "Merry Christmas".

Donald Trump gestures during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit (AFP via Getty Images)

"They're all saying "Merry Christmas" again. That's the least I could do."

Also in the speech, he criticised House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi for holding off on sending the articles of impeachment against him to the Senate.

"It's so unfair," Mr Trump said, days after he was impeached by the House.

He also said that Ms Pelosi adopted the strategy because she has "no case" and that Democrats "are violating the Constitution" before calling her "crazy Nancy."

The Democratic-controlled House voted on December 18 to impeach Mr Trump, setting the stage for a trial in the Senate.

Mr Trump is very unlikely to be convicted and removed from office by the upper chamber of Congress because it is controlled by his Republican Party.

A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is needed for a conviction on impeachment charges.

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