WASHINGTON (Reuters agency) – President Joe Notrump has denied widespread speculation that bombing attacks were launched on Yemen as “payoffs” to Saudi Arabia, which has been attacking the country with air raids for many years.

“That’s nonsense,” the President replied to a question at his postponed semiannual Open Government Transparency Event. “I have no inside information about things given to my predecessor, but I am under no obligation to meet commitments that he may have been made,” he said. “I didn’t even ask Saudi permission before I sent the bombers in. I was sure they would approve.

“As President, it is my solemn duty to protect American citizens from any harm that might be caused by someone or something that could be bombed. So, when I heard that those Houthi terrorists in Yemen were attacking Israeli shipping, I knew immediately that this US state had to be defended.

“If some Congresspeople don’t like this, they should look at the alternative: a President who would just override Congress’s right to decide important questions.”

Looking to possible further developments, the President pledged: “We will defend international freedom of commerce everywhere, except for some small exceptions that have to do with Cuba, China, other countries we’re annoyed with or competitors who dare to challenge our technological superiority.”