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Trump: transition is going 'so smoothly' despite reports of disorder – politics live Trump: transition is going 'so smoothly' despite reports of disorder – politics live
(35 minutes later)
8.30pm GMT
20:30
Frank Gaffney, the founder and president of the reputationally challenged Center for Security Policy and a hardline conspiracy theorist who has floated the notion that President Barack Obama is a crypto-Muslim, has denied numerous media reports that he has been brought on to advise president-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.
“An unattributed quote appeared in the press yesterday indicating that I had been appointed to the Trump transition team,” Gaffney told Politico in a statement today. “In fact, I had not been contacted by anyone from the team and appreciate the campaign’s clarification today that the previous day’s reports were inaccurate. I look forward to helping the president-elect and the national security-minded team he is assembling in whatever way I can.”
Gaffney, who once served as Texas senator Ted Cruz’s campaign advisor on national security issues, has repeatedly expressed concerns about a “worrying pattern of official US submission to Islam and the theo-political-legal program the latter’s authorities call Shariah.” Gaffney has also accused numerous members and allies of the Obama administration were acting as Islamic fifth columnists, including Hillary Clinton advisor Huma Abedin.
Both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported last night that Gaffney was serving an informal role in the Trump transition, citing unidentified sources.
Updated
at 8.31pm GMT
8.12pm GMT
20:12
Mr Trump’s Mother’s Meatloaf, anyone?
They are serving "Mr. Trump's Mother's Meatloaf" today in the cafe at Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/lCOUmPfIQo
8.11pm GMT
20:11
The Bidens have lunched with the Pences at the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory.
Now they’ve finished, the press pool reports. They took some questions and we’ll have the details shortly.
According to the vice president’s office, the Bidens gave the Pences a tour of the grounds before lunch, then a tour of the house.
7.57pm GMT7.57pm GMT
19:5719:57
Kellyanne Conway, who has said she’s been offered a job in the Trump administration, was asked about Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner possibly having top security clearance. Conway suggested Kushner may get the presidential daily briefing.Kellyanne Conway, who has said she’s been offered a job in the Trump administration, was asked about Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner possibly having top security clearance. Conway suggested Kushner may get the presidential daily briefing.
Why? What’s his role?Why? What’s his role?
Conway on Kushner clearance: “It’s appropriate for whoever’s going to get the presidential daily briefing to have a security clearance.”Conway on Kushner clearance: “It’s appropriate for whoever’s going to get the presidential daily briefing to have a security clearance.”
The question is why is it appropriate for Kushner to get the daily briefing. https://t.co/3aTWvXOFpKThe question is why is it appropriate for Kushner to get the daily briefing. https://t.co/3aTWvXOFpK
7.38pm GMT7.38pm GMT
19:3819:38
Reid: bring back earmarks nowReid: bring back earmarks now
Reid is asked how he feels about bringing back earmarks, ie specified spending for pet projects in legislators’ home districts, which are currently outlawed but which used to grease every old budget deal.Reid is asked how he feels about bringing back earmarks, ie specified spending for pet projects in legislators’ home districts, which are currently outlawed but which used to grease every old budget deal.
Reid:Reid:
Me? What a question to ask me? I’m one of the kings of earmarks. I think it was a terrible disservice to America to come up with this stupid stupid idea to stop.... it’s the way we get things done around here.Me? What a question to ask me? I’m one of the kings of earmarks. I think it was a terrible disservice to America to come up with this stupid stupid idea to stop.... it’s the way we get things done around here.
I’ve never apologized to anybody. I go home and I boast about earmarks. And that’s what everyone should do.I’ve never apologized to anybody. I go home and I boast about earmarks. And that’s what everyone should do.
7.37pm GMT7.37pm GMT
19:3719:37
Reid calls for hearings on electoral collegeReid calls for hearings on electoral college
Here come the Democrats now on Capitol Hill. Outgoing senate minority leader Harry Reid apologizes for being late.Here come the Democrats now on Capitol Hill. Outgoing senate minority leader Harry Reid apologizes for being late.
Reid says he wants to pass a budget instead of relying on a patchwork of continuing resolutions to fund the government. He wants to move on presidential nominations. “We’re ready to work with Republicans during these next few weeks,” Reid says. We’ll hold our breaths.Reid says he wants to pass a budget instead of relying on a patchwork of continuing resolutions to fund the government. He wants to move on presidential nominations. “We’re ready to work with Republicans during these next few weeks,” Reid says. We’ll hold our breaths.
Reid opens it to questions.Reid opens it to questions.
Question: Have you accepted the election result? Do you love the electoral college?Question: Have you accepted the election result? Do you love the electoral college?
“I think it would be educational for the country to have some hearings on the electoral college system,” Reid says, adding that Clinton would end with a 2m+ vote lead on Trump. Reid points out that the loser got more votes than the winner in 2000 too.“I think it would be educational for the country to have some hearings on the electoral college system,” Reid says, adding that Clinton would end with a 2m+ vote lead on Trump. Reid points out that the loser got more votes than the winner in 2000 too.
“Of course I’ve accepted [the result], whether I’ve really put it behind me, the answer is no, this is something that will be with me for a long time, I’m terribly disappointed.”“Of course I’ve accepted [the result], whether I’ve really put it behind me, the answer is no, this is something that will be with me for a long time, I’m terribly disappointed.”
7.21pm GMT7.21pm GMT
19:2119:21
McConnell says election was only typically nasty, like 1824McConnell says election was only typically nasty, like 1824
Mitch McConnell, in a Republican news conference on Capitol Hill, is asked about Steve Bannon:Mitch McConnell, in a Republican news conference on Capitol Hill, is asked about Steve Bannon:
“I’m not going to comment on White House personnel choices.”“I’m not going to comment on White House personnel choices.”
McConnell is asked about the tone of the campaign:McConnell is asked about the tone of the campaign:
American campaigns are pretty robust. I think a lot of Americans don’t realize we’ve had a lot of elections like this in the past. I’m thinking of 1824.... What’s different is with the Internet, and 24-hour TV everybody gets constantly confronted with all this. I think it’s time for the election to be over... to lower the tone.American campaigns are pretty robust. I think a lot of Americans don’t realize we’ve had a lot of elections like this in the past. I’m thinking of 1824.... What’s different is with the Internet, and 24-hour TV everybody gets constantly confronted with all this. I think it’s time for the election to be over... to lower the tone.
7.02pm GMT7.02pm GMT
19:0219:02
What do Bruce Springsteen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Diana Ross have in common?What do Bruce Springsteen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Diana Ross have in common?
They’re all about to get presidential medals of freedom:They’re all about to get presidential medals of freedom:
WH announces 21 new Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. WH Ceremony on Nov 22. Includes: pic.twitter.com/NSKYG2NgTCWH announces 21 new Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. WH Ceremony on Nov 22. Includes: pic.twitter.com/NSKYG2NgTC
7.00pm GMT7.00pm GMT
19:0019:00
Goodness.Goodness.
@seanhannity just purchase my painting The Forgotten Man to give to President Trump to hang in the White House. pic.twitter.com/UmP6h1KPjI@seanhannity just purchase my painting The Forgotten Man to give to President Trump to hang in the White House. pic.twitter.com/UmP6h1KPjI
This is literally the worst painting. https://t.co/Vl5PJ0d9feThis is literally the worst painting. https://t.co/Vl5PJ0d9fe
6.58pm GMT6.58pm GMT
18:5818:58
“Donald Trump’s most prized possessions: the treasured items that matter to him most and the stories behind them.”“Donald Trump’s most prized possessions: the treasured items that matter to him most and the stories behind them.”
Any plans for Friday night?Any plans for Friday night?
Fox News airing special Friday in which Trump talks about his prized possessions https://t.co/7ODUhVQ80uFox News airing special Friday in which Trump talks about his prized possessions https://t.co/7ODUhVQ80u
6.54pm GMT6.54pm GMT
18:5418:54
Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke defends Steve Bannon:Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke defends Steve Bannon:
THEY are trying to characterize Mr. Bannon as "evil". They hate White men who won't apologize for being - White men.#MAGA #BuildTheWall pic.twitter.com/cQxuEH43b2THEY are trying to characterize Mr. Bannon as "evil". They hate White men who won't apologize for being - White men.#MAGA #BuildTheWall pic.twitter.com/cQxuEH43b2
6.30pm GMT
18:30
Michelle Obama and Melania Trump met at the White House last week for what was by all accounts a cordial encounter and there’s no reason whatsoever America to believe that Mrs Obama has in any way lost her resolve or succumbed to self-pity and regret.
Globalization and its discontents. pic.twitter.com/Npwv3lRitZ
6.24pm GMT
18:24
De Blasio told Trump that some families in New York, “the ultimate city of immigrants,” feared being split apart and said the president-elect needed to consider the long-term consequences for the well-being of the city of his immigration policies:
“I talked to him about concerns of potential deportations, I gave him the perspective of the NYPD” that you could create serious distrust between police and neighborhoods, De Blasio says. He calls NYC “the ultimate city of immigrants.”
Here De Blasio says “we are not going back to OVERUSE of stop-and-frisk” – leaving open the question of just how much stop-and-frisk we’re going back to?
I want all NYC residents to know: federal gov't can't tell us how to police our streets. We are not going back to overuse of stop-and-frisk.
Updated
at 6.28pm GMT
5.59pm GMT
17:59
Ahead of a slate of formal meetings in Berlin tomorrow, Barack Obama and German chancellor Angela Merkel will dine together informally at his hotel this evening, the White House pool reports:
The President will be taking part in an informal and private dinner with Chancellor Merkel this evening at his hotel.
Updated
at 6.18pm GMT
5.56pm GMT
17:56
A few NBA teams are reportedly boycotting Trump hotels. The season started three weeks ago:
Sources: 3 NBA teams nix staying at Trump hotels https://t.co/LGLro8mgJu
5.54pm GMT
17:54
On the wave of anti-Semitism that has risen with Trump, De Blasio says he told Trump:
We’ve seen a worrisome increase in some parts of this country... there are deep fears and concerns out there... the wrong messages can encourage hateful acts.
5.50pm GMT
17:50
De Blasio says he told Trump people are afraid
De Blasio said he wanted to give Trump a feel of concerns everyone is feeling about his presidency.
They discussed financial regulations, particularly deeply concerning reports that Trump may roll back part of the Dodd-Frank law, de Blasio says.
He said they talked about the tax code and he emphasized the need to invest in infrastructure and not hit the middle and working classes.
“I talked to him about concerns of potential deportations, I gave him the perspective of the NYPD” that you could create serious distrust between police and neighborhoods, De Blasio says. He calls NYC “the ultimate city of immigrants.”
They talked about stop and frisk. “I tried to provide a perspective on stop-and-frisk... we knew that we were never going back to that policy.” De Blasio said it drove a wedge between police and people.
De Blasio says there are more than 900 Muslim members of the NYPD and we rely on their willingness to protect the city and respect needs to be shown to the Muslim community.
De Blasio said he warned Trump about rhetoric: “I let him know that so many New Yorkers were fearful and that more had to be done to show that this country can heal, that people be respected.”
De Blasio:
Even though I have very real differences with the president-elect, he is a New Yorker, I do think he loves this city.
5.40pm GMT
17:40
Here’s de Blasio:
5.31pm GMT
17:31
Assad: Trump's words 'promising' but 'can he deliver?'
5.24pm GMT
17:24
Conway: 'you don’t form a federal government overnight'
Here’s a transcript of a conversation just then between former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and the press pool.
Conway:
I was in DC yesterday at both transition offices and it’s really something to walk into our transition office in Washington DC and see everything from seasoned Reagan hands .. and then to look around the room and see millennials who were born after President Reagan left office. That’s really the hive of activity.
Question on rumors that transition is disorganized, not going well, slow, people are getting fired:
I just don’t see it that way. It’s just not that way. Those are false.”
Question: did Trump intentionally mislead the press when he went to dinner (last night)?
No. He was just having dinner with his family.”
Question: when will Trump do a press conference?
Shortly, I would say. Sometime soon. But obviously he’s meeting with – talking to heads of state and possible members of his Cabinet and senior team, filling out his senior leadership team. A lot of activity going on upstairs. So. I know he looking forward to” [addressing you all?]
Question: any names announced today?
I’m not sure it’ll be today. But it will be soon. It’s a lot to digest in putting together a federal government.”
Question: is Trump considering a registry for Muslims or a ban on Muslims?
We haven’t talked about that. I think he’s been very clear on his position on that issue.”
Question: over a week since election and only 2 appointments so far?
You don’t form a federal government overnight and these are very serious issues, very serious appointments, very serious considerations. And I was reading Politico earlier and noticed that we’re pretty much on track to where other administrations had been, definitely internally in terms of vetting different candidates and thinking through and interviewing different people. It’s not the kind of thing to rush through.” (She seemed to be scanning the pool for someone from Politico)
5.20pm GMT
17:20
Colorado senator Cory Gardner will be in charge of coordinating and directing Republican efforts to strengthen their hold on the senate, as incoming chairman of the national Republican senatorial committee, the NRSC announces:
.@CoryGardner, you ready? pic.twitter.com/9IsOvx6zb0