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| Obama arrives in Greece as tour begins to reassure foreign leaders – politics live | Obama arrives in Greece as tour begins to reassure foreign leaders – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.48pm GMT | |
| 15:48 | |
| From the long-suffering transition pool: | |
| Trump spokeswoman Jessica Ditto tells reporters that Mike Pence should arrive in about 15 minutes or so. Also: We are told the campaign is working on getting some sort of briefing room set up in New York but unknown when that might happen. | |
| Other notes: | |
| -- A member of Trump’s security team asked reporters not to rush at staff members as they arrive, saying that if we continue to do so, they will install barriers. We are still shouting out questions. At 10:30am, a velvet rope went up, presumably for Pence’s arrival. | |
| -- Another arrival just before 10am: Don McGahn, Trump’s lawyer. And at 10:14am: Bryan Lanza, who oversees surrogates. | |
| -- Charlie Kirk left at 9:40am, according to eagle-eyed Francesca Chambers. | |
| 3.36pm GMT | |
| 15:36 | |
| Nomination watch: The New York Times reports that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a loyal backer of president-elect Donald Trump during even the darkest days of the campaign, is the frontrunner to head the state department under Trump’s administration. | |
| Giuliani, who has no foreign policy experience beyond strong advocacy for the War on Terror, has highlighted his role after the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks as a foreign-policy qualification in the past. | |
| “I am the only one here who actually has had to face an Islamic terrorist attack,” Giuliani said in a Republican presidential debate in 2008, when he briefly sought the party’s nomination. “With regard to foreign policy, I’ve negotiated with governments when I was in the Justice Department. I worked on a task force on terrorism in the 1970s.” | |
| Although former UN ambassador John Bolton is also seen as a contender for the role, Giuliani has reportedly been lobbying aggressively for the position, and Trump is inclined to reward the only major backer who advocated on his behalf after the release of video fro 2005 showed the now-president-elect bragging about sexually assaulting women. | |
| 3.26pm GMT | |
| 15:26 | |
| President Obama reaffirms US commitment to Nato ahead of Trump administration | |
| Speaking at a press conference in Athens at the beginning of his final international tour as president of the United States, Barack Obama told reporters that the United States was committed to its Nato allies, an attempt to alleviate the concerns of Nato members who have taken seriously president-elect Donald Trump’s threats to abandon members of the treaty organization if they don’t “pay their fair share.” | |
| Standing with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, Obama commended Greece “for being one of the five Nato allies that spends 2% of GDP on defense, a goal that we have consistently set but not everybody has met.” | |
| “Greece has done this even during difficult economic times,” Obama continued. “If Greece can meet this Nato commitment, all our Nato allies should be able to do so.” | |
| During his most recent discussions with Trump, the future president “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships,” Obama said at a press conference on Monday. “And so, one of the messages I will be able to deliver is his commitment to Nato and the transatlantic alliance.” | |
| 3.16pm GMT | 3.16pm GMT |
| 15:16 | 15:16 |
| Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid leaders sought to allay concerns within the Olympic movement following Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory, saying the candidacy would continue to “celebrate our diversity,” Reuter reports. | Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid leaders sought to allay concerns within the Olympic movement following Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory, saying the candidacy would continue to “celebrate our diversity,” Reuter reports. |
| Los Angeles, bidding to host the summer Games for a third time after 1932 and 1984, was seen as the front-runner in the race with Paris and Budapest until Trump’s election this month. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat, had warned that victory for Republican Trump would not help the bid given the makeup of the 98 voting members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership. | Los Angeles, bidding to host the summer Games for a third time after 1932 and 1984, was seen as the front-runner in the race with Paris and Budapest until Trump’s election this month. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat, had warned that victory for Republican Trump would not help the bid given the makeup of the 98 voting members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership. |
| Trump courted controversy in the run-up to the election with campaign proposals including a call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and building a wall along the US-Mexican border. | Trump courted controversy in the run-up to the election with campaign proposals including a call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and building a wall along the US-Mexican border. |
| “We just finished our presidential election and some of you may question our commitment to our founding principles,” Los Angeles bid official Allyson Felix, a six-times Olympic track and field champion, told a meeting of national Olympic committees in Doha. “I have one message for you. Please do not doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength.” | “We just finished our presidential election and some of you may question our commitment to our founding principles,” Los Angeles bid official Allyson Felix, a six-times Olympic track and field champion, told a meeting of national Olympic committees in Doha. “I have one message for you. Please do not doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength.” |
| The audience included the IOC president, Thomas Bach, as well as international sports federation presidents and IOC members as the three cities made the first of three official presentations ahead of the vote next year. | The audience included the IOC president, Thomas Bach, as well as international sports federation presidents and IOC members as the three cities made the first of three official presentations ahead of the vote next year. |
| Felix said Los Angeles needed the Games “now more than ever” to help make the United States better. “We are a nation of people whose descendants came from all over the world for a better life,” she said. “We are also a nation with individuals like me, descendants of people who came to America, not of their own free will but against it,” she added. | Felix said Los Angeles needed the Games “now more than ever” to help make the United States better. “We are a nation of people whose descendants came from all over the world for a better life,” she said. “We are also a nation with individuals like me, descendants of people who came to America, not of their own free will but against it,” she added. |
| “But we’re not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious – or how painful. Americans rush toward the future.” | “But we’re not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious – or how painful. Americans rush toward the future.” |
| 3.08pm GMT | 3.08pm GMT |
| 15:08 | 15:08 |
| From President Barack Obama’s presser in Athens: | From President Barack Obama’s presser in Athens: |
| "Did I recognize tt there was anger & frustration in the American people? Of course I did," #obama says in #Athens when asked about #trump | "Did I recognize tt there was anger & frustration in the American people? Of course I did," #obama says in #Athens when asked about #trump |
| "We have 2 deal with inequality, dislocation, the more we deal w those issues, the less [they] will pit ppl against each other." @POTUS | "We have 2 deal with inequality, dislocation, the more we deal w those issues, the less [they] will pit ppl against each other." @POTUS |
| 2.55pm GMT | 2.55pm GMT |
| 14:55 | 14:55 |
| Another day, another shakeup in the nascent Trump administration’s transition operation. This time, the man sending the president-elect’s transition planning into chaos is Mike Rogers, who had been in charge of national security matters until he abruptly resigned from the position today. | Another day, another shakeup in the nascent Trump administration’s transition operation. This time, the man sending the president-elect’s transition planning into chaos is Mike Rogers, who had been in charge of national security matters until he abruptly resigned from the position today. |
| Rogers, a former Michigan congressman and onetime chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement to the New York Times that he was “proud of the team that we assembled at Trump for America to produce meaningful policy, personnel and agency action guidance on the complex national security challenges facing our great country,” and that he was “pleased” to hand off the work to the new head of the transition, vice president-elect Mike Pence. | Rogers, a former Michigan congressman and onetime chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement to the New York Times that he was “proud of the team that we assembled at Trump for America to produce meaningful policy, personnel and agency action guidance on the complex national security challenges facing our great country,” and that he was “pleased” to hand off the work to the new head of the transition, vice president-elect Mike Pence. |
| Pence had taken over the transition efforts last week, after Trump shuffled the transition deck to remove scandal-plagued New Jersey governor Chris Christie from his post at the top of the campaign’s transition efforts. The transition within the transition, however, has been hampered because Pence “has yet to sign legally required paperwork to allow his team to begin collaborating with President Obama’s aides on the handover,” according to the New York Times. | Pence had taken over the transition efforts last week, after Trump shuffled the transition deck to remove scandal-plagued New Jersey governor Chris Christie from his post at the top of the campaign’s transition efforts. The transition within the transition, however, has been hampered because Pence “has yet to sign legally required paperwork to allow his team to begin collaborating with President Obama’s aides on the handover,” according to the New York Times. |
| 2.44pm GMT | 2.44pm GMT |
| 14:44 | 14:44 |
| President Barack Obama holds press conference with Greek prime minister | President Barack Obama holds press conference with Greek prime minister |
| Watch it live here: | Watch it live here: |
| 2.43pm GMT | 2.43pm GMT |
| 14:43 | 14:43 |
| Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned. | Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned. |
| Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic. | Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic. |
| While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal. | While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal. |
| “Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA. | “Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA. |
| Begun under George W Bush, drone strikes were vastly accelerated and codified by Obama beyond officially declared war zones. Official estimates claim they have killed nearly 2,600 “terrorists”, though human rights activists consider that to be an undercount. | Begun under George W Bush, drone strikes were vastly accelerated and codified by Obama beyond officially declared war zones. Official estimates claim they have killed nearly 2,600 “terrorists”, though human rights activists consider that to be an undercount. |
| The footprint of the drones has become increasingly widespread, situated in airfields from Tunisia to Niger to Cameroon, they represent the outgrowth of a legal theory which was embraced by both presidents Bush and Obama, who considered the war on terrorism’s battlefield to be global. | The footprint of the drones has become increasingly widespread, situated in airfields from Tunisia to Niger to Cameroon, they represent the outgrowth of a legal theory which was embraced by both presidents Bush and Obama, who considered the war on terrorism’s battlefield to be global. |
| For Obama, the drone has been a calibrated, restrained instrument of death, an alternative to grueling all-out war. Trump will now be the one capable of harnessing its power. | For Obama, the drone has been a calibrated, restrained instrument of death, an alternative to grueling all-out war. Trump will now be the one capable of harnessing its power. |
| 2.30pm GMT | 2.30pm GMT |
| 14:30 | 14:30 |
| Members of the House GOP has been gifted with “Make America Great Again” hats this morning, which seems normal. | Members of the House GOP has been gifted with “Make America Great Again” hats this morning, which seems normal. |
| @HouseGOP ready to Make America Great Again. @cathymcmorris giving hats to members this AM. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/6AQmSjdgba | @HouseGOP ready to Make America Great Again. @cathymcmorris giving hats to members this AM. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/6AQmSjdgba |
| 2.18pm GMT | 2.18pm GMT |
| 14:18 | 14:18 |
| Video: The Guardian explains the battle over president-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Breitbart boss Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel – and why many liberals fear his appointment will encourage antisemites, racists and misogynists. | Video: The Guardian explains the battle over president-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Breitbart boss Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel – and why many liberals fear his appointment will encourage antisemites, racists and misogynists. |
| 2.11pm GMT | 2.11pm GMT |
| 14:11 | 14:11 |
| From the long-suffering transition pool: | From the long-suffering transition pool: |
| Good morning from Trump Tower, where transition staffers are slowly filtering into work in the rain. At about 8:45am, Jeff DeWit - Arizona’s treasurer and Trump’s campaign COO - arrived, carrying what looked like rolled up posters in a FedEx bag. About five minutes later, my co-pooler Francesca Chambers of the Daily Mail spotted Charlie Kirkof Turning Point USA, who wouldn’t say why he’s in Trump Tower this morning. | Good morning from Trump Tower, where transition staffers are slowly filtering into work in the rain. At about 8:45am, Jeff DeWit - Arizona’s treasurer and Trump’s campaign COO - arrived, carrying what looked like rolled up posters in a FedEx bag. About five minutes later, my co-pooler Francesca Chambers of the Daily Mail spotted Charlie Kirkof Turning Point USA, who wouldn’t say why he’s in Trump Tower this morning. |
| At 8:57am, Donald Trump Jr arrived, carrying athletic shoes in hand and keeping his back to reporters. But when someone asked if we can expect any announcements today, he turned, smiled and said: ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ When asked what his role in the transition team is, he turned back around and didn’t answer. | At 8:57am, Donald Trump Jr arrived, carrying athletic shoes in hand and keeping his back to reporters. But when someone asked if we can expect any announcements today, he turned, smiled and said: ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ When asked what his role in the transition team is, he turned back around and didn’t answer. |
| Also spotted before 9am: Deputy campaign manager Michael Glassner, pulling a suitcase and declining to answer questions. | Also spotted before 9am: Deputy campaign manager Michael Glassner, pulling a suitcase and declining to answer questions. |
| 2.09pm GMT | 2.09pm GMT |
| 14:09 | 14:09 |
| “The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.” – Donald J. Trump, November 7, 2012 | “The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.” – Donald J. Trump, November 7, 2012 |
| The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different! | The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different! |
| 1.38pm GMT | 1.38pm GMT |
| 13:38 | 13:38 |
| Obama will not restrict drone strike 'playbook' before Trump takes office | Obama will not restrict drone strike 'playbook' before Trump takes office |
| Good morning, and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the transition between the two-term Obama administration and the nascent Trump administration. It’s 66 days until president-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as president. | Good morning, and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the transition between the two-term Obama administration and the nascent Trump administration. It’s 66 days until president-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as president. |
| First, some news: Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned. Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic. | First, some news: Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned. Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic. |
| While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal. “Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA. | While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal. “Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA. |
| In other news, Trump’s selection of Breitbart chair and former campaign CEO Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel has infuriated Washington’s left, who have swiftly pointed to Breitbart’s reputation for antisemitic, misogynistic and white-nationalist coverage of American and international politics. | In other news, Trump’s selection of Breitbart chair and former campaign CEO Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel has infuriated Washington’s left, who have swiftly pointed to Breitbart’s reputation for antisemitic, misogynistic and white-nationalist coverage of American and international politics. |
| Breitbart headlines have included Would You Rather Your Child had Feminism or Cancer?, Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy and “Hoist it high and proud: The Confederate flag proclaims a glorious heritage.” | Breitbart headlines have included Would You Rather Your Child had Feminism or Cancer?, Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy and “Hoist it high and proud: The Confederate flag proclaims a glorious heritage.” |
| House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said of Bannon’s appointment: “There must be no sugarcoating the reality that a white nationalist has been named chief strategist for the Trump administration.” | House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said of Bannon’s appointment: “There must be no sugarcoating the reality that a white nationalist has been named chief strategist for the Trump administration.” |
| Unlike a cabinet nomination, however, there’s no mechanism to stop Trump from appointing Bannon to a position in the White House, so barring overwhelming public criticism of Bannon – a relatively unknown figure outside of the Acela corridor – he’s likely baked in the cake. | Unlike a cabinet nomination, however, there’s no mechanism to stop Trump from appointing Bannon to a position in the White House, so barring overwhelming public criticism of Bannon – a relatively unknown figure outside of the Acela corridor – he’s likely baked in the cake. |
| The day ahead: Trump is still holed up in the Trump Tower triplex that he calls home, with periodic visits from senior campaign staff and members of the Trump family (for whom Trump is reportedly attempting to secure security clearances, according to the latest pool report). | The day ahead: Trump is still holed up in the Trump Tower triplex that he calls home, with periodic visits from senior campaign staff and members of the Trump family (for whom Trump is reportedly attempting to secure security clearances, according to the latest pool report). |
| Obama is in Athens, Greece, on the first leg of his final foreign tour as president. | Obama is in Athens, Greece, on the first leg of his final foreign tour as president. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.55pm GMT | at 1.55pm GMT |