The Hill reports:
President Trump said his order to launch the drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani came amid pressure from Senate Republicans he views as key allies in his upcoming impeachment trial, the Wall Street Journal reported and New York Times reported this week.
The articles did not name the GOP senators, but many of Trump’s allies in the Senate, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have praised his decision to take out the Quds Force commander.
Graham, an Iran hawk who is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been outspoken in his support of Trump’s strike on Soleimani and in his opposition to Trump’s impeachment. The New York Times reported that Trump said on a phone call that he had been under pressure by some Senate Republicans to take a harder line on Iran.
Report: Trump ordered Iran strike because of impeachment fears https://t.co/JQ0cVlnZLa
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) January 10, 2020
Trump reportedly ordered the Soleimani strike to keep GOP senators on his side for impeachment.https://t.co/Pq6eMt9I7N
— The Week (@TheWeek) January 10, 2020