White House Releases Summary of First Ukraine Call

Just as day two of the impeachment hearings were getting underway Friday, the White House made a preemptive move to bolster its case that President Trump's dealings with Ukraine were above-board. The White House released a summary of Trump's first phone call, on April 21, with Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky. You can read it in full via Politico. "I have many friends in Ukraine who know you and like you," Trump tells Zelensky in the short, congratulatory call, per CNN. "When you're settled in and ready, I'd like to invite you to the White House. We'll have a lot of things to talk about, but we're with you all the way."

Trump makes no mention of Joe or Hunter Biden or corruption investigations. As USA Today notes, the release of the readout is raising questions about the White House's initial description of the April call. Back then, the White House said Trump "expressed his commitment" to strengthen democracy and "root out corruption" during the conversation. But if so, those comments are not on the readout. It was Trump's second call with Zelensky, on July 25, that has set off the current impeachment inquiry. (More President Trump stories.)