Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

House impeachment managers are requesting that former President Donald Trump testify either before or during his Senate impeachment trial slated to kick off in full next week.

"Two days ago, you filed an Answer in which you denied many factual allegations set forth in the article of impeachment. You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offense," the letter from Lead Manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., began, referring to Trump's legal team's response to their legal brief laying out the change for "incitement of insurrection."

"In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021," Raskin requested on behalf of the managers.

"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021," the letter finished, asking for a response from Trump by Friday at 5 p.m.

The crux of Trump's legal argument is that the trial is unconstitutional as he is out of office and a denial that he violated the oath of office, while skirting into election fraud territory, according to his formal answer to the article of impeachment submitted through his attorneys on Tuesday.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, at Thursday's White House press briefing said Biden would announce "an end to American support for offensive operations in Yemen" in afternoon remarks at the State Department.

Sullivan said the move was aimed at stopping support for "the types of offensive operations that have perpetuated a civil war in Yemen that has led to a humanitarian crisis."

Under then-President Donald Trump, the United States backed a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen that has been widely criticized for alleged human rights abuses.

Sullivan noted that the Biden administration had frozen two U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates the Trump administration had green-lighted; the U.A.E. is part of the coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen.

That halt would not include U.S. action against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Sullivan said.

Biden will also name a special envoy for Yemen Thursday, Sullivan added.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Justin Gomez

Biden is set to announce "a presidential memorandum on protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals worldwide" during his remarks at the State Department later Thursday, said Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.

Sullivan announced the imminent memo while previewing the president's visit to the State Department and answered several national security-focused questions at Thursday's White House press briefing. 

"It reflects his deep commitment to these issues both here in the United States and everywhere around the world," Sullivan said. "And the United States will speak out and act on behalf of these rights as we go."

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Justin Gomez

During her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the decision to impeach then-President Donald Trump, insisting the trial set to begin on Tuesday is not a waste of time. She said she believes Republicans could be swayed to convict the former president once the evidence is presented.

She also responded to critics who say "why bother" with the Trump impeachment trial now that he's out of office.

"'Why bother?’ Ask our founders why bother. Ask those who wrote the Constitution. Ask Abraham Lincoln," Pelosi said. "Ask anyone who cares about our democracy why we are bothering. You cannot go forward until you have justice."

Pelosi pushed back when reporters noted that the House impeachment managers are walking into a Senate that is poised to acquit Trump.

"They don't know that. They don't know that. They haven't heard the case," Pelosi said. "We'll see if it will be a Senate of courage or cowardice."

On COVID-19 relief, Pelosi defended the price tag of the $1.9 trillion plan Biden is pushing for. She signaled she's not going to support the GOP slimmed down rescue package offer of $600 billion.

"Are we going to feed fewer children?" Pelosi said. "I just don't see how you have to make those choices on who you cut out when you decide to cut the funding."

Pelosi also said Congress can take up a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 in bills other than the COVID-19 relief bill if it doesn't pass muster with the Byrd rule during the reconciliation process. The Byrd Rule ensures other legislation not related to the budget doesn't make it into the final bill.

"It’s not the last bill we’ll pass. This is the rescue package," Pelosi said.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan