Read the latest President-elect Trump news posted on Trump's greatagain.gov website here.
Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's appointees began on January 10. Watch the hearings on C-SPAN here.
Senate Confirmation Hearings: Everything to Know | ABC News
Jan 17, 2017:
Trump had a meeting with Martin Luther King III at Trump Tower in New York City.
MLK III: 'Very constructive' Trump meeting | The Hill
Trump meets with Martin Luther King III on Monday to discuss voting rights | The Washington Post
Jan 16, 2017:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that on Saturday, Tommy Hunter, a Republican on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, posted the following on Facebook:
John Lewis is a racist pig. There ain't one political pundit that didn't say on November 9 that this would be Demonrats EXACT response to Trump winning. Like I heard Rush, I believe say, Demonrats DO NOT live in reality. They believe polls were right and the REAL VOTES were wrong. What a bunch of idiots.
John Lewis' district is drawn to keep him in power. His wins are all illegitimate. How can other reps be concerned about working with him.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also reported that:
Sometime shortly before 11 a.m. Monday, however, the "racist pig" post was no longer on Hunter's timeline. The page's privacy settings also appeared to be changed, but the other posts mentioned above were still visible to "friends" and "followers".
Source:
Estep, Tyler. (January 16, 2017). "John Lewis 'a racist pig,' Gwinnett commissioner writes on Facebook". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
Jan 15, 2017:
In an interview with The Times of London, Trump said he will propose offering to end sanctions imposed on Russia for its annexation of Crimea in return for a nuclear arms reduction deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump's offer to Putin: an end to sanctions for nuclear arms cut - London Times | Reuters
Jan 13, 2017:
Speaking to Chuck Todd of NBC News, U.S. House of Representatives member John Lewis (D-Georgia) said:
I don't see this President-elect as a legitimate president. I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.
Trump responded via Twitter with this:
Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!
Source:
Schleifer, Theodore. (January 14, 2017). "John Lewis: Trump is not a 'legitimate' president". CNN. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
Trump rips John Lewis as Democrats boycott inauguration | Politico
In Trump's Feud With John Lewis, Blacks Perceive a Callous Rival | The New York Times
Jan 11, 2017:
At Trump Tower in Manhattan, Donald Trump held a press conference, his first since July of last year.
Here's a summary of what transpired:
- Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer opened the conference by discrediting and calling out Buzzfeed saying it's "outrageous and irresponsible for a left wing blog" to publish "highly salacious and flat-out false information on the internet just days before (Trump) takes the oath office."
- Trump announced that he will appoint David Shulkin to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Trump refused to confirm or deny that he was briefed on Russian claims to have embarrassing information about him, calling the unsubstantiated details "crap" and the work of "sick people."
- Trump again stated he will not release his tax returns because they are under audit, saying "The only ones who cares about my tax returns are reporters."
- Sheri Dillon, an attorney for Trump, explained why he will formally leave his businesses but will not sell off his interests. Read about the details here.
Source:
Krieg, Gregory. (January 11, 2017). "We waited 6 months for Trump's 77-minute news conference. Here's what went down.". CNN. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
Transition Tracker: Dissecting the Trump press conference | CNN
FactChecking Trump's Press Conference | factcheck.org
Donald Trump's News Conference: Full Transcript and Video | The New York Times
Five takeaways from Trump's combative press conference | The Hill
Trump barred reporters from examining stacks of folders at press conference | The Hill
Trump Press Conference: World Reaction to President-Elect's Comments | NBC News
Jan 10, 2017:
A senior member of Trump's transition team told CNN that Trump will appoint his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as senior adviser to the president.
Jared Kushner to be named senior adviser to the president | CNN
Jan 4, 2017:
Trump said he will nominate Walter "Jay" Clayton to lead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Trump to nominate Wall Street lawyer Clayton to lead SEC | Reuters
Trump's pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, will divest of his Exxon financial nestegg valued at $240 million to avoid a conflict of interest during his confirmation hearings.
Tillerson to Cash Out Quarter-Billion Dollar Exxon Nest Egg | Bloomberg News
Jan 3, 2017:
Trump named Robert Lighthizer to be his chief trade negotiator.
Trump names China critic Lighthizer as U.S. trade representative | Reuters
Dec 23, 2016:
In China, Chinese state media expressed concern over Peter Navarro, Trump's pick to head the White House National Trade Council.
In an editorial, the China Daily said:
That individuals such as Navarro who have a bias against China are being picked to work in leading positions in the next administration is no laughing matter.
The new administration should bear in mind that with economic and trade ties between the world's two largest economies now the closest they have ever been, any move to damage the win-win relationship will only result in a loss for both sides.
In a news briefing in Beijing, Shen Danyang, spokesman for the ministry of commerce, said:
Regardless of what changes happen in the U.S. government - president, commerce secretary, trade representative - common interests (between the United States and China) are greater than differences.
We oppose the idea of making others take medicine when oneself is sick. This has happened in the past and could happen in the future.
Source:
Blanchard, Ben; Glenn, Elias. (December 23, 2016). "Chinese media alarmed at Trump trade adviser, warn of U.S. showdown". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
Dec 22, 2016:
Kellyanne Conway will be Trump's White House counselor.
Trump campaign star Conway named as his presidential counselor | Reuters
Kellyanne Conway, 'Trump Whisperer,' Will Be Counselor to President| The New York Times
Shortly after Russian after President Vladimir Putin pledged to enhance his country's nuclear forces, Trump tweeted the following:
The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.
Source:
Collinson, Stephen; Diamond, Jeremy. (December 23, 2016). "Trump, Putin both seek to boost their nuclear capability". CNN. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
Dec 21, 2016:
The Trump transition team announced that Trump has chosen Peter Navarro to head the newly-formed White House National Trade Council.
Navarro is an economics and public policy professor at the University of California-Irvine who has been a long-time critic of China's trade relationship with the United States. In 2011, Navarro's book entitled "Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action" was released, followed by the release of a 2012 documentary entitled "Death by China".
Trump picks China hawk for trade advisory role | Reuters
Trump taps China trade critic Navarro for new White House post | Politico
Carl Icahn was named special adviser to the president on overhauling federal regulations.
Trump Names Carl Icahn as Adviser on Regulatory Overhaul | The Wall Street Journal
Dec 20, 2016:
A Trump transition team spokesman said that Trump has selected Wilbur Ross for commerce secretary.
In Trump cabinet, Commerce Secretary will run trade policy | Reuters
Dec 15, 2016:
Donald Trump announced he has selected David Friedman for U.S. ambassador to Israel.
According to an NPR article, Friedman:
...has no prior diplomatic experience, is an outspoken supporter of Jewish settlement on the Israeli-occupied West Bank and has questioned the need for a Palestinian state.
...is a regular columnist for the Israeli news website Arutz Sheva, which is identified with the settler movement.
...has called the two-state solution an "illusion," and compared liberal American Jews to "kapos," Jews who aided Nazis during the Holocaust.
Source:
Katkov, Mark. (December 16, 2016). "Trump's Pick For Ambassador To Israel: 'End The 2-State Narrative'". NPR. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
Trump Chooses Hard-Liner as Ambassador to Israel | The New York Times
Trump taps attorney Friedman as ambassador to Israel, eyes moving embassy to Jerusalem | Fox News
Dec 14, 2016:
The Trump transition team announced that Trump has selected former Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as energy secretary.
Rick Perry is Donald Trump's choice for energy secretary | CNN
In a 25th-floor conference room at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Donald Trump met with some of the tech industries' major players, some of whom were at odds with him during the presidential campaign.
A short list of attendees includes:
- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
- Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post
- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors
- Sheryl Sandberg, COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Facebook
- Larry Page, CEO of Alphabet (parent company of Google)
- Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Alphabet
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
- Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM
- Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel
Trump meets Silicon Valley elite after mutual mistrust in campaign | Reuters
'I'm Here to Help, Trump Tells Tech Executives at Meeting | The New York Times
Wary Silicon Valley leaders meet with Trump | Fox News
Regarding the climate change memo/questionnaire recently sent to the U.S. Department of Energy, a Trump transition official said the following:
The questionnaire was not authorized or part of our standard protocol. The person who sent it has been properly counseled.
Source:
Scott, Eugene. (December 14, 2016). "Trump team disavows climate change questionnaire to Energy Department". CNN. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
Dec 13, 2016:
The Trump transition team announced that Trump has selected ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson serve as secretary of state.
Trump picks ExxonMobil CEO Tillerson as choice for secretary of state | CNN
Trump's State pick could trigger Senate showdown | The Hill
Rex Tillerson, Exxon C.E.O., Chosen as Secretary of State | The New York Times
Trump's Energy Department transition team recently sent a memo to the U.S Department of Energy with 74 questions and a request asking for:
- the names of people who have worked on climate change and the professional society memberships of lab workers
- a list of all department employees and contractors who attended the annual global climate talks hosted by the United Nations within the last five years
- a list of all department employees or contractors who have attended any meetings on the social cost of carbon
- all publications written by employees at the department's 17 national laboratories for the past three years
Eben Burnham-Snyder, a spokesman for The Energy Department, said that the department will not comply with the request.
Source:
Shepardson, David. (December 13, 2016). "U.S. Energy Department balks at Trump request for names on climate change". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
Dec 12, 2016:
On Fox News Sunday Trump said he will not be getting the "President's Daily Brief" (a daily, top secret document presented to the president which contains a summary of security developments from all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies), but instead will have his vice president (Mike Pence) receive and digest all of the information in the Brief.
REACT: Trump Says He Doesn't Need Intel Briefings Every Day | Fox News
Obama says a president without intelligence briefings would be "flying blind" | CBS News
Dec 8, 2016:
Yesterday, the Trump transition team announced that Trump has selected Andrew Puzder for secretary of labor. Puzder is the CEO of CKE Holdings, the parent company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's.
Puzder's appointment sets up a clash between business and labor groups, as he's been an outspoken critic of raising the minimum wage, the Affordable Care Act and "Nanny State" regulations that he believes have slowed growth in the industry — things like proposed soda bans and restrictions.
Source:
Taylor, Jessica. (December 8, 2016). "Trump Picks Fast-Food Executive Andrew Puzder As Labor Secretary". NPR. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
Dec 7, 2016:
An article in the Associated Press entitled "Critics worry after Trump security chief fuels conspiracies" sheds light on how Michael Flynn, Trump's pick for national security advisor, has a past history of sharing and promoting fake news, conspiracy theories, and Islamophobic rhetoric on his Twitter account.
Flynn under fire for fake news | Politico
How Mike Flynn Became America's Angriest General | Politico
How an Internet conspiracy theory led a gunman into a DC pizza parlor | Fox News
Trump has selected John Kelly to head the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump picks retired combat leader for Homeland Security | USA Today
Trump taps Kelly for Homeland Security, third general for top post | Reuters
Trump will nominate Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as the next U.S. ambassador to China.
Trump picks longtime friend of Beijing as U.S. ambassador to China | Reuters
According to a Trump transition team official, Trump will choose Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to Reuters, since taking office in January of 2011 Pruitt:
...has been a leading figure in a legal effort by several states to throw out the EPA's Clean Power Plan
...has launched multiple lawsuits against regulations put forward by the agency he is now poised to lead, suing to block federal measures to reduce smog and curb toxic emissions from power plants.
Just a few months ago Pruitt said he sees the Clean Power Plan as a form of federal "coercion and commandeering" of energy policy and that his state should have "sovereignty to make decisions for its own markets."
Source:
Volcovici, Valerie; Shepardson, David. (December 7, 2016). "Trump to pick foe of Obama climate agenda to run EPA -source". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
Trump to nominate EPA critic Pruitt to lead agency | Fox News
Dec 5, 2016:
Trump announced he will nominate retired neurosurgeon and former 2016 presidential candidate Ben Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
After hesitation, Carson accepts Trump's offer to head U.S. housing department | Reuters
Dec 2, 2016:
Trump announced he will nominate retired Marine General James "Mad Dog" Mattis as his secretary of defense.
Donald Trump to nominate James Mattis for secretary of defense | CNN
Dec 1, 2016:
Donald Trump and Mike Pence toured the Carrier (air-conditioning manufacturer) plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the tour they spoke about a deal that was reached to prevent some Carrier jobs from being outsourced to Mexico.
According to media reports, 800-1,000 Carrier jobs will remain in Indianapolis and not be outsourced, while 1,000-1,400 other jobs will still be outsourced.
As part of the deal, the state of Indiana is offering $7 million in incentives to Carrier.
According to The New York Times, Pence (the current governor of Indiana) had discussed a similar incentives package with Carrier in March, but Carrier said it wasn't sufficient. Pence said that Trump's public pressure, as well his promise to cut corporate taxes and ease regulation are what made Carrier accept the deal.
Another aspect of the deal is that United Technologies, Carrier's parent company, has significant defense contracts with the U.S. government. Whether that played into the deal or not, surely Trump, Pence, United Technologies, and Carrier realized that those contracts are worth considerably more than any savings that would have been gained by outsourcing the jobs.
Trump, Pence tour Carrier plant to tout job-saving deal | Fox News
Trump Sealed Carrier Deal With Mix of Threat and Incentive | The New York Times
Is Trump's Deal With Carrier A Form Of Crony Capitalism? | NPR
Carrier tariff now Carrier tax cut? | Politico
Carrier union leader: Trump's attack means I'm doing my job | USA Today
Trump blasts Carrier union leader: He's 'done a terrible job' |The Hill
The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal argued that in the long run Trump's method will lead to a loss of jobs.
WSJ editorial board comes out against Trump's Carrier deal | Politico
In an article in The Washington Post Bernie Sanders noted that not that long ago on the campaign trail Trump pledged to make United Technologies "pay a damn tax", and that now United is receiving a tax break (incentives). Sanders also makes a point that companies can now threaten to offshore jobs in exchange for tax benefits and/or incentives (although, if Trump is able to get corporate tax breaks passed through Congress, the benefits and/or incentives Sanders mentions would already be in place). Finally, Sanders says that giving tax breaks to a company that made a profit of $7.6 billion and received more than $6 billion in defense contracts helps make the income inequality problem in the U.S. worse.
Bernie Sanders: Carrier just showed corporations how to beat Donald Trump | The Washington Post
Nov 30, 2016:
Donald Trump has selected Steve Mnuchin to be secretary of the treasury.
Trump Picks Steve Mnuchin To Lead Treasury Department | NPR
Nov 29, 2016:
Donald Trump announced three appointments:
- Tom Price for secretary of health and human services
- Elaine Chao for secretary of transportation
- Seema Verma for administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Trump picks anti-Obamacare Price to head Health and Human Services | USA Today
Trump tweeted the following:
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!
Burning of the U.S. flag has been addressed twice by the U.S. Supreme Court, and in both cases ("Texas v. Johnson | Wikipedia" and "United States v. Eichman | Wikipedia") the court affirmed the right to burn the flag as a First Amendment form of free speech.
Source:
Wright, David. (November 29, 2016). "Trump: Burn the flag, go to jail ". CNN. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
Nov 28, 2016:
Regarding the announcement made by President Obama on December 17, 2014 regarding U.S. and Cuba relations, Donald Trump tweeted the following:
If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal.
Source:
Heavy, Susan; Marsh, Sarah. (November 28, 2016). "Trump vows to end U.S.-Cuba 'deal' unless Havana makes better one". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
Donald Trump's Threat to Close Door Reopens Old Wounds in Cuba | The New York Times
Yesterday, Donald Trump tweeted the following:
In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.
Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California - so why isn't the media reporting on this? Serious bias - big problem!
Trump has provided no evidence for his claims.
Trump falsely claims 'millions of people who voted illegally' cost him popular vote | CNN
Officials blast Trump vote fraud claims, GOP wants to 'move on' | CNN
Radio talk show host Alex Jones said the following regarding Trump's tweets and illegal voting in the 2016 presidential election:
And they keep saying Trump picked up the lie of Alex Jones that 3 million illegals voted.
You need to pull the articles up where the federal government admitted that there, in past elections like 5 million illegals vote. It was estimated 3 million this election, that they know of, and upwards of 4 million dead people voting.
Everybody knows, in closing, that there are seven states that almost passed laws or passed laws that went to governor's desks, in California and Illinois, last year, to let illegals vote. States like California and Nevada let people just check a box they're citizens with no proof and vote.
There's this one guy saying, why did Obama encourage illegals to vote. Obama did go on national television and say we're not going to stop you from voting, voting makes you a citizen.
Source:
Jones, Alex. (November 29, 2016). "Fact Check: Trump Right About Illegals Voting". CNN. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
Nov 26, 2016:
The Hilary Clinton campaign said it would support the Wisconsin election recount effort recently initiated by Green Party candidate Jill Stein. The campaign also said it would support potential recount efforts in Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Donald Trump referred to the recount effort as a "Green Party scam". He also tweeted the following:
In addition to winning the electoral college in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.
Source:
Helmore, Edward. (November 27, 2016). "Donald Trump attacks recount effort in election where 'millions voted illegally'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
Clinton camp splits from White House on Jill Stein recount push | The Guardian
Hillary Clinton's Team to Join Wisconsin Recount Pushed by Jill Stein | The New York Times
Nov 23, 2016:
Donald Trump chose South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump picked Betsy DeVos, a businesswoman and charter school advocate from Michigan, to be secretary of education.
Trump adds Haley, DeVos to his Cabinet for UN, education posts | USA Today
Nov 22, 2016:
On the MSNBC program Morning Joe, Kellyanne Conway (senior advisor on Trump's transition team) said that Trump will not pursue charges related to the Clinton foundation or Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.
Trump will not pursue charges against Clinton, aide says | Fox News
Trump flips, now opposes prosecution for Clinton | CNN
Decision to Pull Back on Case Against Clinton Provokes Backlash | The New York Times
Donald Trump met with reporters, editors and columnists from The New York Times.
Read a transcript of the meeting here.
6 takeaways from Donald Trump's New York Times meeting | CNN
Trump keeping 'open mind' on pulling out of climate accord | Reuters
Nov 21, 2016:
Donald Trump released a short informational video addressed to the American people describing the executive actions he intends to take as soon as he assumes the presidency.
Here's a list of the actions:
- Notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
- Cancel "job-killing" restrictions on the production of American energy
- For every new energy-related regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated
- Request for plans to address cyber and all other forms of attacks on U.S. infrastructure
- Investigate all U.S. Visa program abuses "that undercut the American worker"
- For officials leaving the Trump administration, a five-year ban from working as a lobbyist, and a lifetime ban from lobbying on behalf of a foreign government
Source:
Trump, Donald. (November 21, 2016). "A Message from President-Elect Donald J. Trump". greatagain.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
Trump held an "off the record" meeting with over two dozen of the nations most prominent journalists - Lester Holt (NBC Nightly News), Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose, PBS), George Stephanopoulos (This Week with George Stephanopoulos, ABC) and Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room, CNN) among them. According to reports in the New York Post, Trump chastised and lambasted the media about the coverage he has received, calling them liars, deceitful, dishonest, and that they got it all wrong.
Donald Trump's media summit was a 'f−−−ing firing squad' | New York Post
Trump Summons TV Figures for Private Meeting, and Lets Them Have It | The New York Times
DRAMA: Trump reportedly explodes at media bigwigs in off-record meeting | Business Insider
Nov 20, 2016:
Vice President-elect Mike Pence said he "wasn't offended" by what Brandon Dixon said last night after the performance of "Hamilton".
Pence: I 'wasn't offended' by Hamilton message | The Hill
Nov 19, 2016:
Last night in New York, Vice-president-elect Mike Pence attended a performance of the hip-hop musical "Hamilton". Members of the audience both cheered and booed Pence as he made his way to his seat. The crowd also booed several other times during the performance.
At the end of the performance, cast member Brandon Dixon said the following, addressed to Pence, as Pence was leaving the theater:
Mike Pence, we welcome you here. We are the diverse Americans who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents.
Or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights … we hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us.
In response, Donald Trump tweeted the following:
Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!
The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
Dixon responded to Trump's tweet as follows:
Conversation is not harassment, sir, and I appreciate [Mike Pence] for stopping to listen.
Source:
Walters, Joanna. (November 19, 2016). "Trump demands apology from Hamilton cast after Mike Pence booed". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
'Hamilton' Cast Makes Direct Plea to Mike Pence in Audience | NBC News
Trump Calls on Cast of 'Hamilton' to Apologize to Pence | Fox News
Nov 18, 2016:
President-elect Donald Trump announced three appointments today:
- Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) for for Attorney General
- Retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor
- Representative Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The appointments of Sessions and Pompeo need Senate confirmation, which is likely because Republicans have a very slim majority in the Senate. The appointment of Flynn does not require Senate confirmation.
Trump picks conservative loyalists for top security, law enforcement jobs | Reuters
New York state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a $25 million out-of-court settlement in three different lawsuits involving the now-defunct Trump University.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of students who claimed they were cheated out of thousands of dollars in tuition by deceptive claims about what they would learn and high-pressure sales tactics.
Donald Trump will be required to pay $21 million to settle two California class-action suits, and $4 million to settle with the New York attorney general. As part of the settlement, Trump admits no wrongdoing.
Somewhere between 6,000 and 7,000 students will share in the settlement.
During litigation, some former Trump University managers described the business practices of Trump University as unscrupulous and exploitative. During testimony, Trump admitted he did not "handpick" his instructors, a claim he previously made to attract students to Trump University.
Source:
Eder, Steve. (November 18, 2016). "Donald Trump Agrees to Pay $25 Million in Trump University Settlement". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
Trump University-related lawsuits settled for $25 million | Fox News
Trump tweets he settled $25M fraud case because he's too busy | USA Today
Nov 16, 2016:
The Trump transition team announced that registered state and federal lobbyists will not be allowed to serve in the Trump administration. The team also announced that people who leave the administration will have to wait five years before they can become lobbyists.
Note that a lobbyist could simple de-register as a lobbyist in order to be elibigle to serve in the Trump administration.
At Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, over 1,000 students and staff members walked out of class and marched in protest of the election of Trump.
WATCH: Rutgers students walk out of class, march to protest Trump | NJ.com
Nov 14, 2016:
Yesterday, Trump protests continued in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Anti-Trump protests move through fifth day | CNN
In an interview with USA Today, Bernie Sanders was questioned on the Trump protests and the electoral college. Here's what he said:
We have a First Amendment. People are angry. People are upset. And they want to express their point of view that they are very frightened, in very, very strong disagreement with Mr. Trump, who has made bigotry the cornerstone of his campaign. I think that people are saying, 'Mr. Trump, we have come too far in this country fighting discrimination and bigotry. We're not going back. And if you're going to continue that effort, you're going to have to take us on.
We may want to take a look at the whole Electoral College, which is seating a man for president who didn't get the most votes. This is something we need a serious discussion on. This campaign revolved around 15 states of the country, right? Battleground states. My state of Vermont is a strong Democratic state; no one paid attention. Wyoming is a Republican state; nobody paid attention to Wyoming. Is that a good way? I think you ought to think about this. I think we want to rethink that.
Source:
Page, Susan. (November 14, 2016). "Sanders backs Trump protests, questions Electoral College". USA Today. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
President Obama held a press conference, answering questions from reporters, speaking about President-elect Trump, his transition to the White House, and the challenges he faces. Obama refused to criticize or otherwise talk negatively about Trump, even when asked several times by reporters about his character and whether he is qualified to be president.
Read a transcript of the press conference here.
Obama: Americans should 'reconcile themselves' to Trump presidency | USA Today
In Complete Reversal, Obama Refuses to Criticize Trump | ABC News
After the press conference, President Obama spoke on a conference call to supporters across the U.S.
Listen to his call here.
Yesterday, Trump announced that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will be his White House chief of staff. He also announced that his campaign CEO Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News, will be his chief strategist and senior counselor.
President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces Senior White House Leadership Team | greatagain.gov
Trump names Priebus chief of staff, Bannon senior counselor | Fox News
Donald Trump Is Picking His Cabinet: Here's a Short List | The New York Times
Team Trump is already filled with Washington insiders | CNN
Nov 13, 2016:
On the CBS News program 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl interviewed Trump.
Here are the seven key takeaways from the interview, according to Time:
- The Wall might just be a fence.
- But millions of criminals could still be deported.
- No more divided government?
- A message to protestors … and one to bigots.
- A pledge to tighten abortion restrictions.
- He'll have more restrained' Twitter presence.
- Pursuing Hillary Clinton's email scandal? Not right now.
Source:
Rhodan, Maya. (November 14, 2016). "7 Key Takeaways from Donald Trump's 60 Minutes Interview". Time. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
Watch the entire interview here.
President-elect Trump speaks to a divided country on 60 Minutes | CBS News
Trump repeats vow to build border wall, but admits 'there could be some fencing' | Fox News
Kellyanne Conway, Trump's most recent campaign manager and advisor, said that President Obama and Hillary Clinton should call for an end to the Trump protests.
Conway: Obama, Clinton should call for calm; Reid should 'be very careful' | Fox News
Kellyanne Conway: Time for Obama and Clinton to Say Trump 'Is Our President' | NBC News
Nov 12, 2016:
Last night, Trump protests continued in several cities across the U.S.
Portland's anti-Trump protest turns violent, as rioters rampage in Pearl | The Oregonian
Protesters Take Anti-Trump Message to His Doorstep, and Plan Next Steps | The New York Times
Anti-Trump protesters take to the streets in many cities for a third night | The Washington Post
Thousands march in 4th day of anti-Trump protests | USA Today
Nov 11, 2016:
In Oregon, a second straight night of Trump protests resulted in 29 arrests in Portland. A police spokesman reported that the vast majority of the protesters were law-abiding citizens, but that there was a very small group of individuals that had infiltrated the crowd and become violent, vandalizing property, setting fires, and breaking windows.
2nd Night of Trump Protests Brings 29 Arrests in Oregon | The New York Times
Trump election galvanizes new Portland protest group | The Oregonian
Oregon Is Epicenter as Trump Protests Surge Across Nation | ABC News
The Loyal White Knights of Pelham, North Carolina (the Ku Klux Klan) announced there will hold a parade on December 3 to celebrate the election of Donald Trump.
North Carolina GOP condemns KKK parade honoring Trump | CNN
N.C. KKK chapter plans Trump victory parade | CBS News
Allan Lichtman, an American political historian who teaches at American University in Washington, D.C., predicts that Donald Trump will be impeached. He says that Republicans would prefer Mike Pence as president because he is someone who establishment Republicans know and trust.
They don't want Trump as president, because they can't control him. He's unpredictable. They'd love to have Pence — an absolutely down the line, conservative, controllable Republican. And I'm quite certain Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment, either by doing something that endangers national security or because it helps his pocketbook.
Source:
Stevenson, Peter W. (November 11, 2016). "'Prediction professor' who called Trump's big win also made another forecast: Trump will be impeached". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
Donald Trump announced the members of his presidential transition team.
His team includes Vice President-elect Mike Pence (Chairman), and Vice Chairmen Dr. Ben Carson, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, USA (Ret.), Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions.
Source:
(November 11, 2016). "President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces New Implementation Phase of Presidential Transition Team". greatagain.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
In the space of nine hours, Donald Trump completely reversed his position on the nationwide protests over his election to the presidency.
Yesterday, he tweeted this:
Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!
Early this morning he tweeted this:
Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!
Four years ago he said this about the reelection of President Obama, tweeting this:
We can't let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!
Source:
Cummings, William. (November 11, 2016). "Trump calls protests 'unfair' in first controversial tweet as president-elect". USA Today. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
According to an article in The Washington Post, the night of the 2012 election which saw President Obama defeat Mitt Romney, before all the votes were counted and Trump thought that Romney had won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote (Obama ended up winning the popular vote), Trump tweeted:
He lost the popular vote by a lot and won the election. We should have a revolution in this country!
The phoney electoral college made a laughing stock out of our nation. The loser one! We can't let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!
Lets fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice! The world is laughing at us. More votes equals a loss ... revolution! This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy! Our country is now in serious and unprecedented trouble ... like never before. The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.
Source:
Bump, Philip. (August 2, 2016). "In 2012, Donald Trump suggested that the result was rigged. He warned of the same thing this week.". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
(On November 15, 2016, Trump tweeted "The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!" Source: LoBianco, Tom. (November 28, 2016). "Trump falsely claims 'millions of people who voted illegally' cost him popular vote". CNN. Retrieved 2016-11-29.)
Commentary:
In true form, tweeting away in the early morning hours, Trump again showed his adolescent impulsiveness and his inability to think before opening his mouth. Trump's tweets should be yet another "wake up call" that this man is not fit to be President of the United States. Remember when, in the last couple of months just before the election he claimed that Obama and Clinton created ISIS, and then a day or so later said he was just being sarcastic?
It certainly appears as if Hillary Clinton is going to win the popular vote. Where is Trump's talk now of the injustice of the electoral college? Oh, I see - it's fine if that injustice benefits you, helps you achieve your political agenda, and helps to bolster your over-inflated ego, but otherwise - "nevermind"!
My prediction for his presidency? He will be one of the most divisive presidents to ever hold office. He will not create unity and bring our country together, he will only widen the political divide between conservative and progressive values and wreak havoc on our government and citizens.
Nov 10, 2016:
Trump met with President Obama at the White House.
Trump meets with Obama at the White House as whirlwind transition starts | The Washington Post
Trump also made his first joint appearance with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
Trump and Ryan meet on Capitol Hill, seek to put campaign tensions behind them | The Chicago Tribune
In a speech addressed to the AFL-CIO labor federation, Elizabeth Warren, the liberal U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, defiantly continued to speak out about issues where Trump and the Republican agenda must be fought. However, she also mentioned areas of agreement including the new Glass-Steagall law to separate investment and retail banking, reforming trade deals, maintaining Social Security benefits, helping on childcare and college costs and rebuilding infrastructure.
Liberal Warren throws down gauntlet to President-elect Trump | Reuters
Yesterday, world leaders reacted to the election of Donald Trump.
Leaders of all of the following "weighed in": Russia, China, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, India, Japan, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Liberia, Scandinavia, Poland, Nicaragua, the United Nations, The Vatican, the European Union, and the Philippines.
Trump wins US election: How world leaders have reacted | BBC
In Phoenix, Arizona, hundreds of high school students from several different high schools walked out of class yesterday and marched through downtown Phoenix to meet at the Arizona Capitol to protest the election of Donald Trump. Students in California, Colorado, Iowa, and Washington also did the same.
Last month, at a speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump announced his plan ("Donald J. Trump Contract With The American Voter") for his first 100 days in office if he were to win the election.
Read President-elect Donald Trump's plan for his first 100 days | PBS
More:
- Texas Elector to Resign Instead of Voting for Trump | U.S. News & World Report
- Kushner at the center of Trump transition 'infighting,' sources say | The Washington Post
- Trump faces growing tension with key Republicans over national security issues | The Washington Post
- Why Mike Rogers's departure from the Trump team is alarming | The Washington Post
- Megyn Kelly's Cautionary Tale of Crossing Donald Trump | The New York Times
- Donald Trump's Far-Flung Holdings Raise Potential for Conflicts of Interest | The New York Times
Commentary:
It appears that Jone's statement about Obama, illegals, and voting came from an interview Gina Rodriguez conducted with President Obama on November 3, 2016. A portion of that interview was discussed and dissected by several conservative websites, which concluded that Obama was saying it is OK for illegals to vote. After watching the interview several times, I think that Obama was misunderstood and misinterpreted. If you listen to the entire seven-minute interview, at the 4:15 point Obama says "...and part of what is important for Latino citizens is to make your voice heard because you're not just speaking for yourself - you're speaking for family members, friends, classmates of yours in school who may not have a voice - who can't legally vote." Obama emphasized the word "citizens", and he says "who can't legally vote". Why would he say this if, as claimed by some, he was advocating for illegals to vote?
Source:
Jones, Alex. (November 6, 2016). "Obama: Citizens Whose Family Members Are Undocumented Have 'Even Greater' Reason To Vote". CNN. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
(November 3, 2016). "mitú Exclusive: Gina Rodriguez Interviews President Barack Obama". mitú. Retrieved 2016-11-30.