7/15/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 15, 2020


The Solidarity of China and Russia Serves to Contain the Hegemony of the United States
July 14 - On July 9, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi revealed that relations between China and the United States were facing the most serious challenges since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979. This is primarily due to the fact that the hawk groups in the U.S. view China as a strategic competitor and rival or even an “enemy” out of geopolitical concern and ideological prejudice. For example, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has taken every opportunity to suppress China’s development and obstruct the connection between the two countries: presently the world’s largest and second largest economies. Yet, Wang said simultaneously that “Together, China and Russia have forged an impregnable fortress against the “political virus” and demonstrated the solidarity of the bilateral strategic coordination.”..     more

...Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian called the US a 'troublemaker and destroyer of regional peace and stability' after two aircraft carriers, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, were recently dispatched to the region in a show of force.
  
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea based on the 'nine-dash line', a vague delineation which dates back to the 1940s. China has spent years building military bases on artificial islands in the area, which is home to valuable oil and gas deposits and is a vital commercial waterway.
 
The dispute is the latest flashpoint in the ever-growing feud between Washington and Beijing, who have sparred over Huawei, coronavirus and the security crackdown in Hong Kong...     more

7/14/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 14, 2020



Walking to his death: Last moments of Seoul mayor as he set off to kill himself following sexual harassment allegations are revealed along with suicide note apologising for 'pain' he caused
July 14 - These are the last moments of Seoul's mayor as he set off to kill himself following allegations of sexual harassment.
 
Newly released CCTV footage shows Park Won-soon, 64, wearing a blue cap, dark jacket and trousers, walking down an alley as he made his way to his suicide spot.
 
He kept his head bowed and wore a backpack as he left his official residence in Gahoe-dong shortly after 10:40am on Thursday, having cancelled his meetings for the day. 
 
The mayor left a suicide note apologising to his family before he was found dead on Friday morning - but did not acknowledge claims of sexual harassment against him. 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8508795/Seoul-mayor-apparent-suicide-MeToo-allegations.html

7/13/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 13, 2020


Analysis: Russia Ramps Up Bid to Break Up U.S. Alliance With Syria's Kurds
Moscow promises to make the Kurds an integral part of the diplomatic process and partners in the Syrian government when the civil war ends, but the Kurds aren't biting

July 13 - Last week Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution under which all border crossings between Turkey and Syria would continue to let in aid for Syria’s Kurdish regions and areas under rebel control. Also, Russia and China opposed a compromise under which only two crossings would remain open for this purpose; they demanded only one, to be controlled by Syria.

This means that all aid shipments to Syria via Turkey will reach Damascus, to be distributed from there as the Assad regime and the Russian forces see fit.


Why there's not much the US can do in response to reports of Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan

  • Reason 1, The Trump administration is facing increasing pressure to respond to reports that Russia paid bounties to Afghan militants to kill US troops in that country.

  • Reason 2, But short of targeting Russian military intelligence with direct military action, the US has little political recourse when it comes to mopping up the mess created by the bounties, writes Candace Rondeaux is a senior fellow and professor at the Center on the Future of War.
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/little-us-can-do-in-response-to-russia-afghanistan-bounties-2020-7


7/12/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 12, 2020



A look at the Trump financial record cases behind the Supreme Court rulings
One case had to do with whether Congress could get access to Trump’s financial records. The other case had to do with whether prosecutors in New York could get them.
Trump's Tax Nightmare Comes True As He Loses Supreme Court Case | The Beat With Ari Melber | MSNBC
Jul 10, 2020
In breaking news on the nation's highest court, Donald Trump lost his bid to hide his taxes from New York prosecutors. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber breaks down the significance of the landmark case, reporting on the legal history and reporting how Trump unintentionally weakened his own presidency by establishing a new precedent limiting presidential powers. Aired on 7/9/2020.

7/11/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 11, 2020

Appeals court denies Roger Stone's request to delay start of sentence
Roger Stone was denied appeal to have a later sentencing date due to COVID-19. President Trump has alluded to commuting Stone's sentence; Fox News' Kevin Corke reports
July 10, 2020

White House fills top Russia job previously occupied by two impeachment witnesses
July - (CNN)The White House has tapped Ryan Tully to be the top official on Europe and Russia at the National Security Council, making him the fifth person to occupy that job in the last three and a half years of the Trump administration, three sources familiar with the decision told CNN Friday.

7/10/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 9, 2020


July 10 - Actress Naya Rivera is missing and presumed dead in a Southern California lake, according to authorities, after officials found her 4-year-old son floating alone on their rented boat on Wednesday afternoon.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office confirmed late Wednesday that a “possible drowning victim” at Lake Piru was Rivera, 33, best known for her breakout role in the TV series “Glee.”
The office resumed its search-and-rescue mission “at first light” on Thursday, when officer Chris Dyer later confirmed at a news conference that it had turned into a search-and-recovery effort. He said the office is presuming Rivera drowned in the lake.
Former ‘Glee’ Star Naya Rivera Is Missing After Boating On California Lake | TODAY
Jul 10, 2020

7/09/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 9, 2020


Supreme Court set to decide who can see Trump’s tax returns, financial records
The ruling, to be unveiled Thursday, could reshape the balance of power between Congress and the White House in the most dramatic way since Watergate.
July 9 - ...Trump’s lawyers, though, contended that investigating whether a president broke the law in his financial dealings is beyond Congress’ legislative powers and that, outside of an impeachment inquiry, no congressional action to pursue such allegations is legitimate.


That would appear to leave Congress with only a few options for reining in a president who is defying the law: withholding approval of legislation, funding or presidential nominees. Criminal law enforcement is also a possibility, but that is unlikely at the federal level because of a Justice Department opinion barring indictment of a sitting president.

...Trump’s attorneys made a sweeping argument that presidents are completely immune from all concrete steps in the criminal justice process —ranging from subpoena to arrest and prosecution — while in office.   source

7/08/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July, 8, 2020


All Eyes on High Court as Ruling Looms in Trump Taxes Case
WASHINGTON (CN) — With the coronavirus pandemic pushing the whirlwind conclusion of the Supreme Court’s term into July for the first time since 1996, the justices still must decide a handful of highly anticipated cases, including over Obamacare, religious exceptions to employment laws and access to President Donald Trump’s tax returns. 

The court will next release opinions on Wednesday and still has five undecided cases. All of those cases were argued in May, when the court held its first-ever remote arguments due to concerns about Covid-19. 
As is common with the end of the court’s term, the remaining decisions are among the biggest the court heard over the last nine months and figure to have weighty legal and political consequences ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump's Supreme Court tax case, explained
May 15, 2020
The Post's David A. Fahrenthold explains the complicated case to unseal President Trump's tax returns before the Supreme Court

7/06/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July, 6, 2020



Trump campaign names Hogan Gidley as new press secretary
June 20, 2020 - The Trump campaign has named Hogan Gidley as its new press secretary, replacing Kayleigh McEnany, who became the White House press secretary in April. Gidley is currently the principal deputy press secretary at the White House.


Professor: Trump has 91% chance to win
July 5 - “The Primary Model gives Trump a 91% chance of winning in November. This model has picked the winner in all but two elections since 1912, when primaries were introduced, including, of course, Trump’s victory in 2016,” Mr. Norpoth tells Inside the Beltway in a statement.

Donald Trump claims 99% of coronavirus cases in US are 'totally harmless' | ITV News
Jul 6, 2020

7/05/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July, 5, 2020



Donald Trump Says America ‘Will Be Greater Than Ever Before’ In Independence Day Message
July 4 - ...“I just want to wish everybody a really happy Fourth of July,” the president began.

“We’re on the way to a tremendous victory, it’s going to happen and it’s going to happen big, our country will be greater than ever before.”

White House hosts July 4th 'Salute to America' celebration

7/04/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July, 4, 2020

Mount Rushmore: Trump to host 4 July event despite virus concerns
July 4 - US President Donald Trump will visit Mount Rushmore on Friday night to mark 4 July celebrations in the US, despite concerns over a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.


Trump holds July 4 celebration at Mt. Rushmore
July 4, 2020

Letter from Washington: The emptiness of Trump 2020
The President doesn’t know what his presidency is for


7/02/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | July 2, 2020



Trump Dismisses Russian Bounty Intelligence Reports as ‘Hoax’
July 2 - (Bloomberg) President Donald Trump said he never heard about intelligence indicating Russia offered bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan because many in the intelligence community doubted the evidence and he called the issue a “hoax” by his adversaries.

White House Briefing

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany held a briefing with reporters. She was asked about the reports that Russia offered bounties for the lives of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan as well as President Trump’s tweets concerning the Black LIves Matter movement. Other topics addressed included police reform, the coronavirus pandemic and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. 

6/28/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 28, 2020


PBS NewsHour Weekend full episode June 27, 2020
Jun 28, 2020
On this edition for Saturday, June 27, COVID-19 cases surge across the country prompting some states to rollback reopening, and the unpredictable race for a coronavirus vaccine. Also, how the dream of home ownership for many low-income families has turned into a nightmare. Hari Sreenivasan anchors from Florida.

6/27/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 27, 2020


‘Trump is owned by Putin’: President accused of ‘literal treason’ after bombshell NYT report on Russian assassination unit

June 26 - President Donald Trump was harshly criticized on Friday after a bombshell New York Times report on Russia offering bounties for the killing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
“American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there,” the newspaper reported,” the newspaper reported.



Russia celebrates 75th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

June 25 - Russia observed the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany amid a pandemic and historically low approval ratings for President Vladimir Putin. CNN's Matthew Chance reports.

6/26/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 26, 2020


...Fred said: 'At the time that our lawsuit with the family was resolved, Mary and I had each received a generous financial settlement from the family and were more than willing to agree to execute non-disclosure provisions, all of which had been approved and recommended by our attorneys and advisors at that time.'
'In my opinion, those provisions of the 2001 settlement agreement are still in effect and binding today and I have continued to honor them.' ...     more

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 26, 2020


House Democrats caution about going too far with Trump
probes as 2020 prospects brightena
June 25 - (CNN)House Democrats are showing little appetite to flex their investigative muscles in the final year of President Donald Trump's first term, with many eager to proceed cautiously and avoid overzealous probes that could backfire politically as their party now leads comfortably in the polls fewer than five months before the election.

After House Democrats launched a series of high-profile probes in 2019, which ultimately led to Trump's impeachment in December, Democrats say they are facing an election-year dilemma: They believe that there are serious abuses of power that must be investigated by their House majority, but many privately concede that doing so could end up benefiting Trump politically by taking the focus away from his handling of the crises facing the country.

    more 

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 26, 2020

6/24/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 24, 2020


JUNE 23, 2020
The Room Where it Happened
John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, sat down with the Washington Post to discuss his book: “The Room Where it Happened.” Ambasador Bolton spoke about various moments during his 17 months working for President Trump, including a NATO summit where the president was very close to withdrawing from the alliance. Mr. Bolton described the it as one of the most “disturbing” moments during his time in the administration. He also repeated claims in the book that the president has misused his office for political gain.


Watch Rachel Maddow Highlights: June 22 | MSNBC
Jun 24, 2020

6/23/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 23, 2020


President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign manager is going to step down following widespread mockery of the reelection effort after disappointing turnout at a rally held in Tulsa during the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 23 - “Donald Trump’s exhausted trudge from Marine One toward the White House after his botched rally in Tulsa, his red tie undone, a grim look on his face, a crumpled MAGA hat in his hand, is now an iconic image of his presidency. And as always with Trump, he’s already looking for someone to blame. The most obvious candidate, according to sources, is his embattled campaign manager, Brad Parscale,” Gabriel Sherman, of Vanity Fair reported Monday.

Why everyone who works for Donald Trump should be *very* nervous right now
June 23 - (CNN) The list of things that make President Donald Trump the maddest goes something like this:
1) Small crowds at his rallies
2) Small crowds at his rallies3) Negative press coverage of small crowds at his rallies


6/22/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 22, 2020



Social media users are claiming they're responsible for the smaller than expected turnout at Donald Trump's first campaign rally in months. Groups of Korean pop fans as well as users on the social media platform Tik-Tok say they spread messages online, urging people to pretend to register their interest in attending the event in Tulsa. The US president last week boasted that more than a million people had registered interest in attending the rally but estimates suggest less than half of the 19,000 seats in the arena were filled.  source

6/20/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 19, 2020



Watch live: Trump to hold rally in Tulsa despite coronavirus concerns

​June 19 - President Trump is appearing at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, his first since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the death of George Floyd, which spurred nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice. The rally was originally scheduled for Friday, June 19, but was pushed back amid controversy over holding a campaign event on Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.

The rally is taking place at the Bank of Oklahoma Center, which holds 19,000 people, with an additional stage in the outdoor area adjacent to the venue that can hold several thousand more. Health experts have raised concerns about having so many people gathered in one place, particularly as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in Oklahoma and several other states.   more
How to watch President Trump's rally:
  • What: President Trump holds a campaign rally
  • When: Saturday, June 20, 2020
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Live stream online: Watch on CBSN in the video player above or on your mobile streaming device

What we learned from John Bolton's eye-popping tale of working with Trump
June 18 - Washington (CNN)John Bolton details a troubling and shocking series of allegations in a new book about his tenure as President Donald Trump's national security adviser, alleging Trump requested Chinese help to win the 2020 election, that the President argued Venezuela is part of the US, that he casually offered to intervene in the criminal justice system for foreign leaders and that his own senior officials mocked him behind his back.

6/19/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 19, 2020


Ex-national security adviser John Bolton responds to Trump's tweets about his memoir
Bolton said he thinks Trump is worried about Americans reading his book

June 19 - ...John Bolton fired back at Donald Trump on Thursday after the president unleashed a firestorm of critical tweets about his former national security adviser and his new book, "The Room Where it Happened."

"I think it's unbecoming of the Office of President," Bolton said Thursday. "I think it degrades the political civil discourse in our country and [I'm] just not going to respond to him."

Trump called Bolton a "sick puppy" and a "wacko" on Twitter and said his new memoir -- set to be released next week -- is "a compilation of lies and made up stories."...


John Bolton says Trump ‘not fit for office’President Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz the president doesn’t have “the competence to carry out the job.”

6/18/2020

White House News (白宮消息) | Jun. 18, 2020