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| Trump accused of 'breaking Cuba embargo' law in 1998 – live | Trump accused of 'breaking Cuba embargo' law in 1998 – live |
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| 1.17am BST | |
| 01:17 | |
| Ben Jacobs | |
| After months of bashing the German chancellor on the campaign trail, Donald Trump declared that Angela Merkel was his favorite world leader. | |
| In an interview with a local reporter in New Hampshire, the Republican presidential nominee proclaimed: “I think Merkel is a really great world leader.” Though, he added, “I was very disappointed that, when she, this move with the whole thing on immigration, I think it’s a big problem and really, you know, to look at what she’s done in the last year and a half. I was always a Merkel person. I thought really fantastic. But I think she made a very tragic mistake a year and a half ago.” | |
| Trump was criticizing the German chancellor’s openness to taking refugees from Syria. Despite the ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis in that country, Trump has long warned of the danger of taking in refugees, whom he has compared to the Trojan Horse. | |
| The statement marks a change in tone from Trump, who has repeatedly attacked Merkel on the campaign trail. | |
| In December, after Merkel bested him to be Time’s Person of the Year, Trump tweeted she was “ruining Germany”. He had previously said Merkel should be “ashamed of herself” over refugee policy. | |
| Trump has since gone on to compare Merkel to his election rival Hillary Clinton. In August, he said, “Hillary Clinton is running to be America’s Angela Merkel, and we’ve seen how much crime and how many problems that’s caused the German people.” | |
| 1.10am BST | |
| 01:10 | |
| Mike Pence responds to USA Today anti-endorsement: 'Donald Trump is ready to lead' | |
| Indiana governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence has produced a swift response to USA Today’s editorial board, which earlier this evening broke a four-decade tradition by endorsing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump, who it called “unfit for the presidency.” | |
| “Between the candidates, the choice could not be more clear,” Pence wrote in his response editorial, also published in USA Today. “By electing Donald Trump, the American people have the opportunity to choose a bold leader. In a political world often reserved for talkers, Donald Trump is a doer. I’ve come to know the man who invited me to join him on the Republican ticket as thoughtful, compassionate and steady. Above all, I know he is ready to lead the United States as our next president and commander in chief.” | |
| Comparing Trump to Ronald Reagan and decrying Clinton as someone who “personifies why the American people have so little confidence in our political leaders,” Pence lauded Trump for having “the courage to speak his mind.” | |
| “On Election Day, the choice is clear. To Make America Great Again, we must elect Donald Trump the 45th president of the United States.” | |
| 12.51am BST | 12.51am BST |
| 00:51 | 00:51 |
| Speaking to NH1, a New Hampshire news station, Donald Trump declared that he is “very proud” of questioning President Barack Obama’s birthplace and citizenship, and that “pretty much everybody agrees” that he was the instrument behind Obama releasing his long-form birth certificate five years ago. | Speaking to NH1, a New Hampshire news station, Donald Trump declared that he is “very proud” of questioning President Barack Obama’s birthplace and citizenship, and that “pretty much everybody agrees” that he was the instrument behind Obama releasing his long-form birth certificate five years ago. |
| “I’m the one that got him to put up his birth certificate,” Trump said, neglecting to mention that Obama had released his certificate of live birth when he was running for president. | “I’m the one that got him to put up his birth certificate,” Trump said, neglecting to mention that Obama had released his certificate of live birth when he was running for president. |
| “Hillary Clinton was unable to get there and I will tell you she tried and you look at her campaign and everybody knows it happened and I would say that pretty much everybody agrees with me. But she tried and she was unable to do it and I tried and I was able to do it so I’m very proud of that. | “Hillary Clinton was unable to get there and I will tell you she tried and you look at her campaign and everybody knows it happened and I would say that pretty much everybody agrees with me. But she tried and she was unable to do it and I tried and I was able to do it so I’m very proud of that. |
| 12.46am BST | 12.46am BST |
| 00:46 | 00:46 |
| USA Today in unprecedented editorial: Donald Trump 'unfit for the presidency' | USA Today in unprecedented editorial: Donald Trump 'unfit for the presidency' |
| The editorial board of USA Today has never penned a presidential endorsement in its 34-year publication history - until today. | The editorial board of USA Today has never penned a presidential endorsement in its 34-year publication history - until today. |
| On Thursday evening, the paper’s editorial board released a scathing editorial, calling Donald Trump “unfit for the presidency” and a candidate who “has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.” | On Thursday evening, the paper’s editorial board released a scathing editorial, calling Donald Trump “unfit for the presidency” and a candidate who “has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.” |
| Citing Trump’s ambivalence on fulfilling treaty obligations, fawning behavior towards Russian president Vladimir Putin and willingness to default on American sovereign debt, the editorial board called Trump “erratic,” “ill-equipped to be commander in chief” and a “serial liar” who “traffics in prejudice”: | Citing Trump’s ambivalence on fulfilling treaty obligations, fawning behavior towards Russian president Vladimir Putin and willingness to default on American sovereign debt, the editorial board called Trump “erratic,” “ill-equipped to be commander in chief” and a “serial liar” who “traffics in prejudice”: |
| It’s closing line: | It’s closing line: |
| Resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump. | Resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump. |
| 12.38am BST | 12.38am BST |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| Report: Jeb Bush suggests voting for Libertarian candidate | Report: Jeb Bush suggests voting for Libertarian candidate |
| Former Florida governor and failed Republican presidential nominee Jeb Bush reportedly told an audience of conservative movers and shakers that they should vote for Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, going further in his official condemnation of Republican nominee Donald Trump than he has in public. | Former Florida governor and failed Republican presidential nominee Jeb Bush reportedly told an audience of conservative movers and shakers that they should vote for Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, going further in his official condemnation of Republican nominee Donald Trump than he has in public. |
| The New York Daily News, citing sources within a Manhattan Institute luncheon that was closed to the press, reports that Bush joked about “President Johnson” during remarks about education reform: | The New York Daily News, citing sources within a Manhattan Institute luncheon that was closed to the press, reports that Bush joked about “President Johnson” during remarks about education reform: |
| In a private conversation before his speech strongly recommended another person present should vote for the gaffe-prone Libertarian nominee. ‘There was an old man talking to Jeb across the table and said, “I can’t bring myself to vote for Hillary and Trump,” and Jeb looked at him and mouthed the word “Johnson,” silently,’ one person within earshot of the two told the Daily News. | In a private conversation before his speech strongly recommended another person present should vote for the gaffe-prone Libertarian nominee. ‘There was an old man talking to Jeb across the table and said, “I can’t bring myself to vote for Hillary and Trump,” and Jeb looked at him and mouthed the word “Johnson,” silently,’ one person within earshot of the two told the Daily News. |
| Bush was once seen as the heir apparent to the Republican nomination before Trump crashed the party last summer, suspending his presidential campaign on following a bruising loss in the South Carolina primary and adding a depressing coda to the three-generation Bush political dynasty. | Bush was once seen as the heir apparent to the Republican nomination before Trump crashed the party last summer, suspending his presidential campaign on following a bruising loss in the South Carolina primary and adding a depressing coda to the three-generation Bush political dynasty. |
| 12.25am BST | 12.25am BST |
| 00:25 | 00:25 |
| Donald Trump, speaking to New England Cable News, declared that “it’s pretty simple to figure out” how Bill Clinton’s past infidelities reflect negatively on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, continuing his tendency this week to talk about the former president’s scandals without actually talking about them. | Donald Trump, speaking to New England Cable News, declared that “it’s pretty simple to figure out” how Bill Clinton’s past infidelities reflect negatively on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, continuing his tendency this week to talk about the former president’s scandals without actually talking about them. |
| Asked by NECN why he didn’t bring up Clinton’s infidelities in Monday night’s presidential debate, Trump said that he did so to avoid embarrassing the couple’s daughter, Chelsea. | Asked by NECN why he didn’t bring up Clinton’s infidelities in Monday night’s presidential debate, Trump said that he did so to avoid embarrassing the couple’s daughter, Chelsea. |
| “Because I’ll tell you what, they had their daughter who is a lovely young woman sitting in the audience and I just didn’t think I should go there and Hillary Clinton said some horrible and false things about me and I would have had the right to have done it and he’s a member of the campaign,” Trump said. “I mean, it’s not like he’s not campaigning, he’s campaigning and I would have been able to do it if I wanted to do it. I didn’t want to do anything like that in front of Chelsea, the daughter who I happen to think is a very nice young woman.” | “Because I’ll tell you what, they had their daughter who is a lovely young woman sitting in the audience and I just didn’t think I should go there and Hillary Clinton said some horrible and false things about me and I would have had the right to have done it and he’s a member of the campaign,” Trump said. “I mean, it’s not like he’s not campaigning, he’s campaigning and I would have been able to do it if I wanted to do it. I didn’t want to do anything like that in front of Chelsea, the daughter who I happen to think is a very nice young woman.” |
| Asked how that would reflect negatively on Clinton in any way, Trump, who is on his third marriage, was blunt: “Well, you’ll have to figure that out. I think it’s pretty simple to figure that out. | Asked how that would reflect negatively on Clinton in any way, Trump, who is on his third marriage, was blunt: “Well, you’ll have to figure that out. I think it’s pretty simple to figure that out. |
| 12.18am BST | 12.18am BST |
| 00:18 | 00:18 |
| None of these people have ever served as a head of state: | None of these people have ever served as a head of state: |
| Here are a few of my favorite leaders: @ElizabethMay, João Stédile of @MST_Oficial and @jeremycorbyn. #AleppoMoment | Here are a few of my favorite leaders: @ElizabethMay, João Stédile of @MST_Oficial and @jeremycorbyn. #AleppoMoment |
| 11.24pm BST | 11.24pm BST |
| 23:24 | 23:24 |
| Barack Obama and his wife Michelle saluted the US Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House this afternoon, with the president joking about performing a routine with Simone Biles and later referenced the infamous “Phelps face.” | Barack Obama and his wife Michelle saluted the US Olympic and Paralympic teams at the White House this afternoon, with the president joking about performing a routine with Simone Biles and later referenced the infamous “Phelps face.” |
| At the end of the event, Biles presented the Obamas with a surf board in recognition of the sport being introduced to Olympic line-up. | At the end of the event, Biles presented the Obamas with a surf board in recognition of the sport being introduced to Olympic line-up. |
| 11.12pm BST | 11.12pm BST |
| 23:12 | 23:12 |
| Campaign advisors, wary of Donald Trump potentially repeating his lackluster debate performance at the second of three planned presidential debates against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, are reportedly hoping that New Jersey governor Chris Christie is being approached about taking charge of Trump’s debate prep. | Campaign advisors, wary of Donald Trump potentially repeating his lackluster debate performance at the second of three planned presidential debates against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, are reportedly hoping that New Jersey governor Chris Christie is being approached about taking charge of Trump’s debate prep. |
| According to CNN, Christie is one of the few people close to Trump who has been honest with the candidate about the his performance on Monday night, but there’s no consensus yet that Christie is the person to take charge of the preparation. | According to CNN, Christie is one of the few people close to Trump who has been honest with the candidate about the his performance on Monday night, but there’s no consensus yet that Christie is the person to take charge of the preparation. |
| “I have not been asked to do anything new, and as far as I know, there is no new debate prep scheduled,” Christie told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this evening. “Nothing’s been asked of me to do more. If there is, I’d certainly have that conversation with Donald Trump at the time, but I’m not going to presuppose anything at this point.” | “I have not been asked to do anything new, and as far as I know, there is no new debate prep scheduled,” Christie told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this evening. “Nothing’s been asked of me to do more. If there is, I’d certainly have that conversation with Donald Trump at the time, but I’m not going to presuppose anything at this point.” |
| 10.55pm BST | 10.55pm BST |
| 22:55 | 22:55 |
| The Trump campaign is still clinging to the candidate’s self-described victory in Monday night’s presidential debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, despite all evidence pointing to Clinton edging out Donald Trump among viewers. | The Trump campaign is still clinging to the candidate’s self-described victory in Monday night’s presidential debate against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, despite all evidence pointing to Clinton edging out Donald Trump among viewers. |
| Speaking with CNN’s Chuck Todd, Trump campaign communications advisor Jason Miller defended scientifically invalid online polls as the more accurate measure of Trump’s success in the debate. | Speaking with CNN’s Chuck Todd, Trump campaign communications advisor Jason Miller defended scientifically invalid online polls as the more accurate measure of Trump’s success in the debate. |
| WATCH: @chucktodd presses Trump campaign spokesman on assertion that “bogus” online polls showed Trump won debate. https://t.co/BdgQrzsecX | WATCH: @chucktodd presses Trump campaign spokesman on assertion that “bogus” online polls showed Trump won debate. https://t.co/BdgQrzsecX |
| “The polls that happened that night, the night of the debate, the snap polls that happened online, those all showed Mr. Trump winning in a huge way,” Miller said, in reference to easily gamed online polls that are laughably inaccurate, statistically speaking. | “The polls that happened that night, the night of the debate, the snap polls that happened online, those all showed Mr. Trump winning in a huge way,” Miller said, in reference to easily gamed online polls that are laughably inaccurate, statistically speaking. |
| “Those are fan polls, man!” Todd shot back. | “Those are fan polls, man!” Todd shot back. |
| “Those are a snapshot of what people are thinking that are actually watching the debate,” Miller said. | “Those are a snapshot of what people are thinking that are actually watching the debate,” Miller said. |
| “People who were watching thought that Mr. Trump won that debate,” he continued. | “People who were watching thought that Mr. Trump won that debate,” he continued. |
| “You know these are bogus! They’re beyond nonscientific! They’re not real, Jason!” Todd said, flabbergasted. | “You know these are bogus! They’re beyond nonscientific! They’re not real, Jason!” Todd said, flabbergasted. |
| “The energy and the enthusiasm in this race is all with Mr. Trump,” Miller reiterated. “We’re gonna continue to show that over and over.” | “The energy and the enthusiasm in this race is all with Mr. Trump,” Miller reiterated. “We’re gonna continue to show that over and over.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.01pm BST | at 11.01pm BST |
| 10.35pm BST | 10.35pm BST |
| 22:35 | 22:35 |
| This cover: | This cover: |
| An early look at next week's cover, “Miss Congeniality,” by Barry Blitt: https://t.co/wlrJpfxEXd pic.twitter.com/QCCCPlJFT6 | An early look at next week's cover, “Miss Congeniality,” by Barry Blitt: https://t.co/wlrJpfxEXd pic.twitter.com/QCCCPlJFT6 |
| 10.16pm BST | 10.16pm BST |
| 22:16 | 22:16 |
| Trump violated Cuba embargo in 1998 business venture, report claims | Trump violated Cuba embargo in 1998 business venture, report claims |
| Ben Jacobs | Ben Jacobs |
| The Clinton campaign on Thursday attacked Donald Trump over reports of an historic violation of the Cuba embargo, hours after Newsweek alleged that the Republican nominee spent at least $68,000 in the island dictatorship in 1998, while investigating potential business opportunities. | The Clinton campaign on Thursday attacked Donald Trump over reports of an historic violation of the Cuba embargo, hours after Newsweek alleged that the Republican nominee spent at least $68,000 in the island dictatorship in 1998, while investigating potential business opportunities. |
| Citing “interviews with former Trump executives, internal company records and court filings”, Newsweek reported that in 1998 a company controlled by Trump “secretly conducted business in communist Cuba during Fidel Castro’s presidency despite strict American trade bans that made such undertakings illegal”. | Citing “interviews with former Trump executives, internal company records and court filings”, Newsweek reported that in 1998 a company controlled by Trump “secretly conducted business in communist Cuba during Fidel Castro’s presidency despite strict American trade bans that made such undertakings illegal”. |
| The expenditure, Newsweek said, was indirect, involving the payment of expenses incurred on a visit by consultants from a US firm. | The expenditure, Newsweek said, was indirect, involving the payment of expenses incurred on a visit by consultants from a US firm. |
| On Thursday, Jake Sullivan, a senior policy adviser to the Clinton campaign, said in a statement: “Trump’s business with Cuba appears to have broken the law, flouted US foreign policy and is in complete contradiction to Trump’s own repeated, public statements that he had been offered opportunities to invest in Cuba but passed them up. | On Thursday, Jake Sullivan, a senior policy adviser to the Clinton campaign, said in a statement: “Trump’s business with Cuba appears to have broken the law, flouted US foreign policy and is in complete contradiction to Trump’s own repeated, public statements that he had been offered opportunities to invest in Cuba but passed them up. |
| “This latest report shows once again that Trump will always put his own business interest ahead of the national interest – and has no trouble lying about it.” | “This latest report shows once again that Trump will always put his own business interest ahead of the national interest – and has no trouble lying about it.” |
| At the time of the expenditure in question, the spending of any US corporate money in Cuba was illegal without the explicit approval of the federal government. | At the time of the expenditure in question, the spending of any US corporate money in Cuba was illegal without the explicit approval of the federal government. |
| The Trump campaign did not immediately issue a statement, but in a television interview with The View, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway seemed to acknowledge that Trump had indeed spent money in Cuba. | The Trump campaign did not immediately issue a statement, but in a television interview with The View, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway seemed to acknowledge that Trump had indeed spent money in Cuba. |
| “It starts out with a screaming headline, as it usually does, that he did business in Cuba,” she said. “And it turns out that he decided not to invest there. They paid money, as I understand, in 1998. | “It starts out with a screaming headline, as it usually does, that he did business in Cuba,” she said. “And it turns out that he decided not to invest there. They paid money, as I understand, in 1998. |
| “I know we’re not supposed to talk about years ago when it comes to the Clintons, but with Trump there is no statute of limitations.” | “I know we’re not supposed to talk about years ago when it comes to the Clintons, but with Trump there is no statute of limitations.” |
| Trump, who was due to stage a campaign rally in Bedford, New Hampshire, on Thursday, has taken contradictory positions on US policy towards Cuba. | Trump, who was due to stage a campaign rally in Bedford, New Hampshire, on Thursday, has taken contradictory positions on US policy towards Cuba. |
| In 1999, when first exploring a presidential campaign as a third-party candidate, he took a hard line. | In 1999, when first exploring a presidential campaign as a third-party candidate, he took a hard line. |
| In a Wall Street Journal editorial headlined America Needs a President Like Me, he wrote: “I would also immediately reverse the move to normalize relations with the most abnormal political figure in our hemisphere: Fidel Castro. | In a Wall Street Journal editorial headlined America Needs a President Like Me, he wrote: “I would also immediately reverse the move to normalize relations with the most abnormal political figure in our hemisphere: Fidel Castro. |
| “We have pushed him to the precipice with our embargo, helped of course by the withdrawal of Soviet backing. | “We have pushed him to the precipice with our embargo, helped of course by the withdrawal of Soviet backing. |
| “Now comes a movement, backed by state department bureaucrats, to rescue Mr Castro with US dollars. The striped-pants set won’t like hearing this, but normalization is pure lunacy.” | “Now comes a movement, backed by state department bureaucrats, to rescue Mr Castro with US dollars. The striped-pants set won’t like hearing this, but normalization is pure lunacy.” |
| Moves towards normalisation of relations were eventually announced in December 2014, by the Obama administration. Nine months later, the US embassy in Havana was formally reopened by secretary of state John Kerry. Barack Obama visited the country in March this year. | Moves towards normalisation of relations were eventually announced in December 2014, by the Obama administration. Nine months later, the US embassy in Havana was formally reopened by secretary of state John Kerry. Barack Obama visited the country in March this year. |
| 9.45pm BST | 9.45pm BST |
| 21:45 | 21:45 |
| Newt Gingrich: Donald Trump 'a gentleman' for not mentioning Bill Clinton's infidelity | Newt Gingrich: Donald Trump 'a gentleman' for not mentioning Bill Clinton's infidelity |
| Thrice-married former House speaker Newt Gingrich told Sean Hannity today that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is “a gentleman” for not attacking Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for her husband’s past infidelity. | Thrice-married former House speaker Newt Gingrich told Sean Hannity today that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is “a gentleman” for not attacking Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for her husband’s past infidelity. |
| “I’m very proud that at the very end when she attacked and went off on this whole rant about women - and you could see his face - in the Republican primary he would have just smashed her,” Gingrich said on Hannity’s eponymous radio show, first reported by Buzzfeed News. | “I’m very proud that at the very end when she attacked and went off on this whole rant about women - and you could see his face - in the Republican primary he would have just smashed her,” Gingrich said on Hannity’s eponymous radio show, first reported by Buzzfeed News. |
| “He thought about it, and I’m sure he said to himself, ‘a president of the United States shouldn’t attack somebody personally when their daughter is sitting in the audience,’ and he bit his tongue and he was a gentleman, and I thought in many ways that was the most important moment of the whole evening. He proved that he had the discipline to remain as a decent guy even when she was disgusting.” | “He thought about it, and I’m sure he said to himself, ‘a president of the United States shouldn’t attack somebody personally when their daughter is sitting in the audience,’ and he bit his tongue and he was a gentleman, and I thought in many ways that was the most important moment of the whole evening. He proved that he had the discipline to remain as a decent guy even when she was disgusting.” |
| Gingrich said that Trump, who like himself is on his third marriage, frustrated the Clinton campaign team with his magnanimity. | Gingrich said that Trump, who like himself is on his third marriage, frustrated the Clinton campaign team with his magnanimity. |
| “I think it was probably a great disappointment to her staff, that this taunt that they were sure was gonna set him off, so that they would end the debate with him doing something foolish,” Gingrich said. “Instead he came off looking like a gentleman and she came off looking pretty mean and miserable.” | “I think it was probably a great disappointment to her staff, that this taunt that they were sure was gonna set him off, so that they would end the debate with him doing something foolish,” Gingrich said. “Instead he came off looking like a gentleman and she came off looking pretty mean and miserable.” |
| 9.20pm BST | 9.20pm BST |
| 21:20 | 21:20 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Gymnast Simone Biles stood tall at the White House on Thursday - though not quite as tall as First Lady Michelle Obama. | Gymnast Simone Biles stood tall at the White House on Thursday - though not quite as tall as First Lady Michelle Obama. |
| The 19-year-old found herself being playfully used as an arm rest by 5ft 11ins Michelle at a ceremony honouring the 2016 US summer Olympic and Paralympic teams. | The 19-year-old found herself being playfully used as an arm rest by 5ft 11ins Michelle at a ceremony honouring the 2016 US summer Olympic and Paralympic teams. |
| “Only one American woman has ever won gold on the vault,” Barack Obama said. “Only one American has won four golds in gymnastics in a single games. That would be this young lady, Simone Biles.” | “Only one American woman has ever won gold on the vault,” Barack Obama said. “Only one American has won four golds in gymnastics in a single games. That would be this young lady, Simone Biles.” |
| The event was attended by relatives of Jesse Owens and America’s 17 other black athletes from the 1936 Olympics for the acknowledgement they, unlike their white counterparts, did not receive from Franklin Roosevelt 80 years ago. | The event was attended by relatives of Jesse Owens and America’s 17 other black athletes from the 1936 Olympics for the acknowledgement they, unlike their white counterparts, did not receive from Franklin Roosevelt 80 years ago. |
| Sprinter Allyson Felix, the only female track-and-field athlete to win six golds, told reporters afterwards: “It’s been just so moving, so inspiring. We’re just honored to be able to share this moment with them.” | Sprinter Allyson Felix, the only female track-and-field athlete to win six golds, told reporters afterwards: “It’s been just so moving, so inspiring. We’re just honored to be able to share this moment with them.” |
| Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised gloved fists on the podium at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 in what they called “a human rights salute”, were also present. Felix reflected: “We’re inspired by what they did. It was a peaceful protest and it brought so much attention. | Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised gloved fists on the podium at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 in what they called “a human rights salute”, were also present. Felix reflected: “We’re inspired by what they did. It was a peaceful protest and it brought so much attention. |
| “Especially with everything that’s happening now, as athletes we do have a voice and we want to show that change should happen, so we want to use your voice for that in a peaceful way because we still are so proud to represent this country.” | “Especially with everything that’s happening now, as athletes we do have a voice and we want to show that change should happen, so we want to use your voice for that in a peaceful way because we still are so proud to represent this country.” |
| Obama praised the diversity of the 2016 Olympic team, which ranked first in the medal table with 46 golds. Simone Manuel had become the only African American woman to win a swimming gold, he noted. | Obama praised the diversity of the 2016 Olympic team, which ranked first in the medal table with 46 golds. Simone Manuel had become the only African American woman to win a swimming gold, he noted. |
| “Imagine what it means for a young girl or a young boy who sees somebody who looks like them doing something and being the best at what they do,” he said. “There’s no kid in American who can’t look at our Olympic team and see themselves somewhere.” | “Imagine what it means for a young girl or a young boy who sees somebody who looks like them doing something and being the best at what they do,” he said. “There’s no kid in American who can’t look at our Olympic team and see themselves somewhere.” |
| The president also noted that the athletes are “all very good-looking, just exuding health. Like everybody’s teeth is really white and their eyes are really shiny.” | The president also noted that the athletes are “all very good-looking, just exuding health. Like everybody’s teeth is really white and their eyes are really shiny.” |
| His wife piped up: “Fruits and vegetables!” | His wife piped up: “Fruits and vegetables!” |
| 8.43pm BST | 8.43pm BST |
| 20:43 | 20:43 |
| A would-be senator: | A would-be senator: |
| I am hoping to be wrong. But given a train ran at high speed INTO the station, I am going to say terrorism. If I'm wrong cool. | I am hoping to be wrong. But given a train ran at high speed INTO the station, I am going to say terrorism. If I'm wrong cool. |