Trump Says His Pre-Breach Rally Speech Was Appropriate, Condemns Efforts to Remove Him

President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that the speech he gave last week before the breach of the U.S. Capitol building "was totally appropriate." He added that "you always have to avoid violence" and called attempts to push him from office "a continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics." The comments were Trump's first in public since last Wednesday's events. The House of Representatives will vote on impeaching Trump Wednesday for "inciting insurrection" that lead to the deaths of five people during the Capitol breach. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third highest-ranking GOP member of the House, came out in support of removing the president Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, federal law enforcement has reportedly opened more than 170 criminal cases in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol building; some individuals may be charged with sedition. Coverage of the news dominated headlines across the spectrum Tuesday. Some left-rated outlets framed Trump's remarks as insensitive; some right-rated sources focused more on Trump's criticism of attempts to remove him from office.