Trump accuses Democrats of 'derangement syndrome'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump accused Democrats on Friday of having what he called "derangement syndrome," just two days after he was acquitted in his impeachment trial.

"They've got it. They've got a bad case of it. You saw that, that was on display the other night when she ripped up the speech," Trump told reporters as he was leaving the White House. "I think there's a lot of evil on that side. They've gone crazy, they've gone totally crazy. It's too bad."

He was referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who publicly tore up a copy of Trump's State of the Union address as he concluded the speech.

Trump bemoaned the action, calling it "very disrespectful" and "illegal" because he said the copy was an "official document."

"You're not allowed, it's illegal what she did. She broke the law," Trump said.

Pelosi has defended her controversial action, saying that when she tore it up on national television she was shredding a "compilation of falsehoods," calling his speech a "State of His Mind" address.

"I feel very liberated," she told reporters. "He has shredded the truth in his speech. He is shredding the Constitution in his conduct. I shredded his State of His Mind address."

Trump boasted Thursday of his Senate impeachment acquittal, praising his political "warriors" while tearing into opponents, including Pelosi.

He said she wanted to impeach him "from day one" while questioning statements in which she has repeatedly said she prays for the president.

"She may pray, but she prays for the opposite. But I doubt she prays at all. And these are vicious people," Trump said of Pelosi.

The Democratic-held House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against Trump in December -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Both charges stem from Trump's repeated efforts to have Ukraine publicly announce criminal investigations into Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and his subsequent refusal to participate in the House's investigation of the matter.

Conviction on either charge would have resulted in Trump's removal from office.

Trump is only the third president in U.S. history to face a Senate impeachment trial. He along with Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were acquitted of wrongdoing.

Disgraced President Richard Nixon stepped down from office to avoid near-certain removal from office due to his involvement in the Watergate Scandal.