Trump news: Fresh calls for impeachment as House condemns president's racists attacks on Democratic congresswomen

House votes to condemn president's racist tweets

Donald Trump falsely claims Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar had praised al-Qaeda

The US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to condemn Donald Trump’s tweets telling four Democratic congresswomen of color to “go back” to their countries of origin.

The vote was 240-187 and was solidly opposed by Republicans. It came after Mr Trump and top congressional Republicans denied he is a racist and urged GOP lawmakers to oppose the Democratic measure.

The resolution says the House “strongly condemns” Mr Trump’s “racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of colour.”

The president responded angrily on Twitter after the four Democratic congresswomen he attacked in a series of racist tweets – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib - staged a press conference on Monday night strongly condemning his behaviour and calling for his impeachment.

“The Democrat Congresswomen have been spewing some of the most vile, hateful, and disgusting things ever said by a politician in the House or Senate, & yet they get a free pass and a big embrace from the Democrat Party,” the president wrote on Twitter. “Horrible anti-Israel, anti-USA, pro-terrorist & public shouting of the F... word, among many other terrible things, and the petrified Dems run for the hills.”

With Republicans still desperate to avoid being drawn on the matter, Representative Omar attacked President Trump’s “white nationalist agenda” and said: “It is time for us to stop allowing this president to make a mockery of our constitution. It’s time for us to impeach this president.”

Immediately after the resolution vote, a Texas Democrat announced he would file articles of impeachment against Mr Trump in a move that could force a politically fraught vote by the end of the week.

Under House rules, a single member of the House can force an impeachment vote. Mr Green did so twice, unsuccessfully, when Republicans controlled the House.

For now, a majority of House Democrats appear to oppose impeachment.

And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has resisted launching official proceedings without broad bipartisan support.

Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Key Points

• Trump attacks congresswomen: 'Horrible anti-Israel, anti-USA, pro-terrorist'
• President trails treason investigation into Google
• Ilhan Omar accuses president of 'mocking our constitution'
• President says he is not 'concerned' by white supremacist comparisons
• Twitter insists racist tweets do not break its guidelines

[16 July 2019 23:57 · Chris Riotta]

The House vote ended on 240-187. The four Republicans to vote in line with Democrats include Reps. Hurd, Upton, Fitzpatrick and Brooks, while Independent congressman Justin Amash also joined in approving the resolution.

[16 July 2019 23:59 · Chris Riotta]

Al Green, one of the first Democrats to call for Donald Trump's impeachment, has now taken to the House floor to introduce articles of impeachment against the president. This is a separate measure and not in junction with the just-passed resolution condemning the president's racist tweets.

[17 July 2019 00:11 · Chris Riotta]

This concludes today's live coverage from Washington. Be sure to check back tomorrow as The Independent brings you the latest.