Trump impeachment trial live updates: Biden says charge 'not in dispute' in 1st comments on acquittal

Trump defense attorney Michael van der Veen opened arguments for the defense by calling the article of impeachment before the Senate an "unjust and blatantly unconstitutional act of political vengeance" and went on to play a montage of videos of Democrats in an effort to suggest their past rhetoric is not so different than that of the former president.

"This appalling abuse of the Constitution only further divides our nation when we should be trying to come together around shared priorities," he said.

However, the Senate on Tuesday voted 55-45 to move forward with the impeachment proceedings, affirming they are constitutional.

Van der Veen went on to say Democrats' suggestion that Trump's speech led to violence is "patently absurd on its face" and that "no thinking person" should believe that.

"Nothing in the text could ever be construed as encouraging, condoning or enticing unlawful activity of any kind. Far from promoting insurrection against the United States, the president's remarks explicitly encouraged those in attendance to exercise their rights, peacefully and patriotically," he said.

In one of the videos van der Veen played, a few House Democrats -- including lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. -- objected to Trump's victory on the Electoral College certification following the 2016 election, as GOP lawmakers did to President Joe Biden's victory ahead of and after the Jan. 6 attack.

In another, he played clips of Trump praising "law and order" inter-spliced with Democratic leadership speaking in support of protests over the summer in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody.

Michael van der Veen, a member of Trump's legal team, pointed the finger at President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers for what he called "inflammatory language." He said that Trump's words were "ordinary political rhetoric" and likened to Biden's campaign slogan, "Battle for the Soul of America."

"Consider the language that the House impeachment article alleges to constitute incitement: 'If you don't fight like hell, you are not going to have a country anymore.' This is ordinary political rhetoric that is virtually indistinguishable from the language that has been used by people across the political spectrum for hundreds of years. Countless politicians have spoken of fighting for our principles. Joe Biden's campaign slogan was 'battle for the soul of America,'" van der Veen said. "No human being seriously believes that the use of such metaphorical terminology is incitement to political violence."

Castor also pointed the finger at Democratic lawmakers, citing Democratic support for Black Lives Matter peaceful protesters over the summer, saying that the proceedings were political.

"In short, this unprecedented effort is not about Democrats opposing political violence. It is about Democrats trying to disqualify their political opposition," Castor said. "It is constitutional cancel-culture."

On Friday morning, Biden briefly weighed in on Trump's second impeachment trial, saying he's "anxious" to see the outcome.

"I'm anxious to see whether -- what my Republican friends do, if they stand up," Biden told reporters.

Biden, who had just finished taking a walk with first lady Jill Biden, added that he was not planning on speaking with any GOP senators on how they might vote. Some Republican senators did meet on Thursday evening with Trump's defense team.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

The Senate has reconvened for Trump's second impeachment trial and will hear arguments from Trump's defense team Friday.

Senate Chaplain Barry Black first led the chamber in a prayer. Presiding officer Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., then led the group through the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the traditional "Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye!" proclamation from the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Trump's defense attorney Michael van der Veen, then took the Senate floor.

With the defense team expected to use only three or four hours of the 16 hours over two days allotted to them for opening arguments, the question and answer portion of the trial could begin as early as Friday afternoon.

Republican Sens. Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee -- acting under oath as impartial jurors in the Senate impeachment trial -- met with Trump's defense team after House managers wrapped their arguments on Thursday.

Cruz, asked what was the purpose of the meeting with Trump legal team, said, "We were discussing their legal strategy and sharing our thoughts."

-ABC News' Trish Turner