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Trump Interrupts His Busy Day to Hail Dow’s Milestone The Twitter Rebellion Appears to be Spreading — to the Pentagon
(about 2 hours later)
■ President Trump takes time from a busy schedule to hail the Dow breaking through 20,000.
■ The Twitter rebellion seems to be spreading as the Defense Department weighs in on Muslim refugees.■ The Twitter rebellion seems to be spreading as the Defense Department weighs in on Muslim refugees.
■ Mr. Trump’s threat to “send in the Feds,” meaning federal troops, to Chicago rankled political people on both sides of the aisle. ■ The Mar-a-Lago resort doubles its initiation fee — to $200,000 — leading to charges that the Trump Organization is cashing in on its founder’s power.
Mr. Trump is making moves to build a gigantic border wall, to stop all refugees from Syria and to halt immigration from majority-Muslim countries. He is also moving to repopulate the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, to possibly reopen secret C.I.A. black sites for imprisoning terrorism suspects and to revisit enhanced interrogation, methods, also known as torture. ■ President Trump’s threat to “send in the Feds,” meaning federal troops, to Chicago rankled political people on both sides of the aisle.
But hey, he’s not too busy to hail the Dow Jones industrial average breaking through 20,000.
The economy at the moment is his strong suit, as is his rallying cry of “America First!” — forget that it started as an effort to keep the United States out of World War II and was uttered at times by Nazi sympathizers.
According to a new Morning Consult/Politico poll:
First came the reposting of photos by the National Park Service that clearly showed that President Trump’s inauguration crowd was smaller than former President Barack Obama’s in 2009. That was followed by a contrite apology and lots of pretty pictures.First came the reposting of photos by the National Park Service that clearly showed that President Trump’s inauguration crowd was smaller than former President Barack Obama’s in 2009. That was followed by a contrite apology and lots of pretty pictures.
But the national parks took up the cause, with a Tweet storm on climate change from the Badlands that was quickly taken down. But the national parks took up the cause, with a Twitter storm on climate change from the Badlands that was quickly taken down.
And lots more:And lots more:
Now, with word that Mr. Trump is moving to shut down the flow of refugees and halt immigration from Muslim-majority nations, is the Defense Department joining the fray?Now, with word that Mr. Trump is moving to shut down the flow of refugees and halt immigration from Muslim-majority nations, is the Defense Department joining the fray?
Incidently, the National Park Service now says those tweets from the Badlands came from a disgruntled former employee who had commandeered the account without permission. A National Park Service official said Tuesday: Incidently, the National Park Service now says those Twitter posts from the Badlands came from a disgruntled former employee who had commandeered the account without permission. A National Park Service official said Tuesday:
No official word on why so many other parks chimed in.No official word on why so many other parks chimed in.
The initiation fee at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida — which the president himself has dubbed the Winter White House — has doubled to $200,000, after membership applications surged in the wake of Mr. Trump’s election, the head of membership there said.
Bernd Lembcke, the managing director at the Palm Beach, Fla., club, said the change in the initiation fee had been planned last fall, before the election, and that $200,000 had been the fee before 2010, when it was cut in half because of the recession.
But Mr. Lembcke, who has been at the club for 21 years, said that it also reflected the upswing in Mar-a-Lago’s popularity.
“We have had a sudden surge in requests,” he said, adding that new members must be recommended by someone who is already a member, as is the case at many private clubs.
Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit group that promotes government ethics, said the move showed that Mr. Trump and his family intended to profit from his status as president.
“At the minimum, this creates the appearance of cashing in the presidency and selling direct personal access to the president,” he said. “It is unacceptable. And it demeans the office of the presidency.”
The new initiation fee went into effect on Jan. 1, although the annual dues remained the same — $14,000 a year, he said.
The club has 482 members, with a cap of 500.
“It enhances it,” Mr. Lembcke said of Mr. Trump’s new job and its impact on the value of the membership. “His presidency does.”
“But we are very careful in vetting them,” he added.
News about the change in the initiation fee was reported by CNBC.
Mr. Trump may have thought he was being constructive when he weighed in on Chicago’s terrible murder rate, but his offer (or threat) of federal support has not gone over well — either with Chicago Democrats or small-government Republicans.Mr. Trump may have thought he was being constructive when he weighed in on Chicago’s terrible murder rate, but his offer (or threat) of federal support has not gone over well — either with Chicago Democrats or small-government Republicans.
Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, Democrat of Illinois was miffed.Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, Democrat of Illinois was miffed.
But Republicans weren’t too keen on the notion of the federal government swooping into to fight city crime.But Republicans weren’t too keen on the notion of the federal government swooping into to fight city crime.
The Republican media consultant Rick Wilson noted the obvious:The Republican media consultant Rick Wilson noted the obvious:
Perhaps Mr. Trump’s motivation isn’t much of a mystery. On Monday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago offered the president what he called “unsolicited advice.”Perhaps Mr. Trump’s motivation isn’t much of a mystery. On Monday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago offered the president what he called “unsolicited advice.”
“You didn’t get elected to debate the crowd size at your inaugural,” Mr. Emanuel said. “Now, obviously, I wasn’t a supporter of then-candidate Trump. He got elected to make sure that people have a job, the economy continues to grow, people have security as it relates to their kids’ education, etc. And it wasn’t about your crowd size. It was about their lives and their jobs.”“You didn’t get elected to debate the crowd size at your inaugural,” Mr. Emanuel said. “Now, obviously, I wasn’t a supporter of then-candidate Trump. He got elected to make sure that people have a job, the economy continues to grow, people have security as it relates to their kids’ education, etc. And it wasn’t about your crowd size. It was about their lives and their jobs.”
“The speech missed an opportunity to speak to our better angels as a country,” he said of the president’s inaugural address.“The speech missed an opportunity to speak to our better angels as a country,” he said of the president’s inaugural address.
Or maybe Mr. Trump was just watching Bill O’Reilly on Fox News.Or maybe Mr. Trump was just watching Bill O’Reilly on Fox News.
Who says former (and supposedly bitter) rivals can’t join forces in the spirit of Washington’s most unifying party — the “green” party? (That’s money, get it?)Who says former (and supposedly bitter) rivals can’t join forces in the spirit of Washington’s most unifying party — the “green” party? (That’s money, get it?)
No emolument clause apparently can stop former Clinton and Trump campaign managers Robby Mook and Corey Lewandowski from hitting the road for paid gigs on the speaking circuit, which is precisely what the two will do together. Leading Authorities, a speakers’ bureau, said it is organizing the events as “future-focused” assessments of Donald Trump’s White House. The two will also “debate the day’s hot issues,” including cyber attacks. No emoluments clause apparently can stop the former Clinton and Trump campaign managers Robby Mook and Corey Lewandowski from hitting the road for paid gigs on the speaking circuit, which is precisely what the two will do together. Leading Authorities, a speakers’ bureau, said it is organizing the events as “future-focused” assessments of Donald Trump’s White House. The two will also “debate the day’s hot issues,” including cyber attacks.
Mr. Lewandowski just recently set up shop down the street from the White House in a consulting and lobbying firm he runs with another former Trump adviser, Barry Bennett.Mr. Lewandowski just recently set up shop down the street from the White House in a consulting and lobbying firm he runs with another former Trump adviser, Barry Bennett.
Update: The speaking agency has now deleted the material from its website. A spokesperson for the firm told Buzzfeed that the listing was generated by them and not Mr. Mook and Mr. Lewansdowski. Update: The speaking agency has now deleted the material from its website. A spokesperson for the firm told Buzzfeed that the listing was generated by them and not Mr. Mook and Mr. Lewandowski.
His press aides won’t say what exactly is bothering Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but something clearly has gotten his goat.
It might be that the new administration has been slow to answer requests that date back to the Obama administration.
Then again, his committee still hasn’t voted out the nomination of Mr. Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
With the Trump Organization under a very public microscope, the company said Tuesday that it has appointed two monitors — Bobby Burchfield and George Sorial — to keep tabs on any ethical issues that may arise.With the Trump Organization under a very public microscope, the company said Tuesday that it has appointed two monitors — Bobby Burchfield and George Sorial — to keep tabs on any ethical issues that may arise.
The former has strong ties to Republican politics and the latter to President Trump.The former has strong ties to Republican politics and the latter to President Trump.
Mr. Burchfield, a Washington lawyer who has represented George H.W. Bush and the Republican National Committee, was appointed as independent ethics advisor to The Trump Organization, meaning he will advise on avoiding conflicts of interest, with the power to sign off on certain transactions. Mr. Burchfield, a Washington lawyer who has represented George H.W. Bush and the Republican National Committee, was appointed as independent ethics adviser to the Trump Organization, meaning he will advise on avoiding conflicts of interest, with the power to sign off on certain transactions.
A longtime Trump Organization executive, Mr. Sorial will now be chief compliance officer, giving him a lead role in assuring that the company complies with ethics rules and standards, while also implementing new policies. A longtime Trump Organization executive, Mr. Sorial will now be chief compliance officer, giving him a lead role in ensuring that the company complies with ethics rules and standards, while also implementing new policies.
The two will assume their roles at a time when Mr. Trump has said he is trying to remove himself from the activities of the business that carries his name. Mr. Trump said during a news conference on Jan. 11 that he would place his business in a trust controlled by his two adult sons - but some ethics experts have chided the plan for not going far enough to avoid conflicts. The two will assume their roles at a time when Mr. Trump has said he is trying to remove himself from the activities of the business that carries his name. Mr. Trump said during a news conference on Jan. 11 that he would place his business in a trust controlled by his two adult sons — but some ethics experts have chided the plan for not going far enough to avoid conflicts.
The first trip James N. Mattis will make as secretary of defense is to Japan and South Korea, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.The first trip James N. Mattis will make as secretary of defense is to Japan and South Korea, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.
The trip is scheduled for early February. Incoming defense secretaries often go to the war zones first. But with North Korea threatening to test launch a long-range ballistic missile, tensions rising with China and allies nervous about where President Trump’s foreign policy is headed, Asia is the new Pentagon chief’s first reassurance mission.The trip is scheduled for early February. Incoming defense secretaries often go to the war zones first. But with North Korea threatening to test launch a long-range ballistic missile, tensions rising with China and allies nervous about where President Trump’s foreign policy is headed, Asia is the new Pentagon chief’s first reassurance mission.
The work day had not yet begun but Mr. Trump was making it eventful. He announced the day he will tell the world whom he wants to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.The work day had not yet begun but Mr. Trump was making it eventful. He announced the day he will tell the world whom he wants to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
Senate Republicans held the seat open for a year, refusing to even consider a nominee from former President Barack Obama and hoping against hope that a Republican would win the presidential election.Senate Republicans held the seat open for a year, refusing to even consider a nominee from former President Barack Obama and hoping against hope that a Republican would win the presidential election.
They got their wish — and are now complaining about Democrats slowing down the confirmations of that president’s cabinet nominees.They got their wish — and are now complaining about Democrats slowing down the confirmations of that president’s cabinet nominees.
Mr. Trump, like any practiced politician, seemed to be testing out syntax and emphasis on Tuesday night as he prepared his big announcement that yes, he will indeed have a giant wall built on the nation’s border with Mexico.
Only with Mr. Trump, he was practicing on Twitter, in public.
First, he went with the reliable exclamation point, a popular trope of his. But there was that oddly British-looking spelling of “among.”
“Big day planned on national security for tomorrow! Amoung many other things, we will build the wall,” he initially wrote.
Then he deleted that one and went big with national security, all caps.
Ah, this time, he put the exclamation point at the end! (He also went with the usual spelling of “among.”)
Perhaps he was just flummoxed by former President Vicente Fox of Mexico, who beat him to Twitter on Tuesday evening to egg on the current Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, who will meet with Mr. Trump soon.
Just four days after Mr. Trump took the oath of office, Eric Danziger, the chief executive of Trump Hotels, told an industry conference on Tuesday that the company “frankly” would have a “domestic emphasis for the next either four or eight years.”Just four days after Mr. Trump took the oath of office, Eric Danziger, the chief executive of Trump Hotels, told an industry conference on Tuesday that the company “frankly” would have a “domestic emphasis for the next either four or eight years.”
“I would have said internationally, but recently we had to turn that spigot off,” Mr. Danziger said as he discussed expansion opportunities while speaking on a panel at an Americas Lodging Investment Summit conference in Los Angeles.“I would have said internationally, but recently we had to turn that spigot off,” Mr. Danziger said as he discussed expansion opportunities while speaking on a panel at an Americas Lodging Investment Summit conference in Los Angeles.
Mr. Danziger, who was hired by Mr. Trump in August 2015 — in the early stages of the presidential campaign — did not speak in detail about Mr. Trump or how his presidency might affect business.Mr. Danziger, who was hired by Mr. Trump in August 2015 — in the early stages of the presidential campaign — did not speak in detail about Mr. Trump or how his presidency might affect business.
But that seemed clear from his comments. Mr. Trump has said that he will put his business empire into a trust controlled by his sons and that the company will not do new foreign deals, although ethics experts have said the plan does not go far enough. What profits are made abroad are to go to charity, the president announced.But that seemed clear from his comments. Mr. Trump has said that he will put his business empire into a trust controlled by his sons and that the company will not do new foreign deals, although ethics experts have said the plan does not go far enough. What profits are made abroad are to go to charity, the president announced.
Perhaps charities won’t be benefiting as much as they had hoped.Perhaps charities won’t be benefiting as much as they had hoped.