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Pro Golfer Denies Telling Trump About Voter Fraud Pro Golfer Denies Telling Trump About Voter Fraud
(35 minutes later)
■ Golfer Bernhard Langer released a statement saying he never told President Trump the story of voter fraud that Mr. Trump relayed to congressional leaders.■ Golfer Bernhard Langer released a statement saying he never told President Trump the story of voter fraud that Mr. Trump relayed to congressional leaders.
■ There may already be a 75-mile hole in the wall: the sovereign land of the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona, which wants nothing to do with Mr. Trump’s border barrier.■ There may already be a 75-mile hole in the wall: the sovereign land of the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona, which wants nothing to do with Mr. Trump’s border barrier.
■ Congressional leaders, once fierce advocates of checks and balances and the Constitution’s separation of powers, are now on board with the president’s agenda. ■ Callista Gingrich, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s wife, is being considered to be ambassador to the Vatican.
Gathered with the top leaders of Congress, President Trump on Monday apparently relayed the story in all seriousness: pro golfer Bernhard Langer had told him a story that really stuck with him.Gathered with the top leaders of Congress, President Trump on Monday apparently relayed the story in all seriousness: pro golfer Bernhard Langer had told him a story that really stuck with him.
As Mr. Trump relayed it, Mr. Langer had been in line to vote in Florida when he was told by an official that he could not cast a ballot. But people all around him who looked far more suspect — Mr. Trump tossed out the names of Latin American countries that the voters might have come from — were allowed to draw up provisional ballots.As Mr. Trump relayed it, Mr. Langer had been in line to vote in Florida when he was told by an official that he could not cast a ballot. But people all around him who looked far more suspect — Mr. Trump tossed out the names of Latin American countries that the voters might have come from — were allowed to draw up provisional ballots.
There was a problem with the story: Mr. Langer is a German citizen.There was a problem with the story: Mr. Langer is a German citizen.
Now Mr. Langer says he never talked to Mr. Trump, that he was told the story by a friend, then told the story to a friend who told it to someone with ties to the White House — who apparently told it to Mr. Trump. He certainly never tried to vote in Florida.Now Mr. Langer says he never talked to Mr. Trump, that he was told the story by a friend, then told the story to a friend who told it to someone with ties to the White House — who apparently told it to Mr. Trump. He certainly never tried to vote in Florida.
So, if the anecdote was important to Mr. Trump’s erroneous belief that millions of illegal immigrants gave Hillary Clinton her 2.8 million-ballot win in the popular vote, it was based on fourth-hand information.So, if the anecdote was important to Mr. Trump’s erroneous belief that millions of illegal immigrants gave Hillary Clinton her 2.8 million-ballot win in the popular vote, it was based on fourth-hand information.
There’s a slight problem with President Trump’s Great Wall with Mexico: the Tohono O’odham Nation.There’s a slight problem with President Trump’s Great Wall with Mexico: the Tohono O’odham Nation.
The Native American tribe controls about 75 miles of the border of the United States and Mexico that slices through its sovereign territory. Tribal leaders are already saying that the wall is not going to divide its territory.The Native American tribe controls about 75 miles of the border of the United States and Mexico that slices through its sovereign territory. Tribal leaders are already saying that the wall is not going to divide its territory.
Verlon M. Jose, the Tohono O’odham Nation’s vice chairman, was not subtle when discussing the wall when he spoke in November to Native News Online: “Over my dead body.”Verlon M. Jose, the Tohono O’odham Nation’s vice chairman, was not subtle when discussing the wall when he spoke in November to Native News Online: “Over my dead body.”
Tribal officials did say they are willing to meet with President Trump to discuss the matter further. As Mr. Jose said:Tribal officials did say they are willing to meet with President Trump to discuss the matter further. As Mr. Jose said:
There may be a Gingrich in the Vatican just yet.
Callista Gingrich, the wife of Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and friend of Mr. Trump, is in the running for ambassador to the Holy See, according to a person briefed on the discussions.
Mr. Gingrich, reached by telephone, said that he was aware that his wife had been on a list for the job, but declined to say where things stand. The former speaker took himself out of the running for a cabinet post after it became clear that Mr. Trump was looking elsewhere for a secretary of state.
Mr. Trump has known the Gingriches socially for years. They’re members of his golf club in Virginia, and have been at his club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. Mr. Gingrich was one of the people whom Mr. Trump consulted in 2015 when he had already determined he would run for president.
But Mrs. Gingrich is the former speaker’s third wife — not something the church takes a shine to. Others who are being considered for the role include William Simon Jr., a friend of Rudolph W. Giuliani.
Four senior management officials at the State Department resigned on Wednesday, leaving the department without the top managers charged with running the administrative, consular and foreign mission operations until their successors are in place.
“As is standard with every transition, the outgoing administration, in coordination with the incoming one, requested all politically appointed officers submit letters of resignation,” Mark Toner, the department’s acting spokesman, said in a statement, adding: “Of the officers whose resignations were accepted, some will continue in the foreign service in other positions, and others will retire by choice or because they have exceeded the time limits of their grade in service.”
The most senior official to leave is Patrick F. Kennedy, the department’s longtime undersecretary for management, who oversees finances, security, facilities and consular services.
But his departure had been expected, in part because of his vigorous defense of then-Secretary of State Hillary’s Clinton’s handling of the attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. He also sought the F.B.I.’s help in downgrading the security classification of an email from Mrs. Clinton’s private server.
Rex Tillerson, nominated to be secretary of state, is not expected to be confirmed by the Senate until next week. Nominations for the department’s deputy positions have yet to be announced or submitted.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said Thursday morning that in spite of President Trump’s perpetual tweet storms, distracting television interviews, occasional lies, and intraparty slights, they are with him on policy.House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said Thursday morning that in spite of President Trump’s perpetual tweet storms, distracting television interviews, occasional lies, and intraparty slights, they are with him on policy.
“We are on the same page with the White House,” Mr. Ryan told reporters in Philadelphia, before a visit from Mr. Trump to the congressional Republican’s policy conference.“We are on the same page with the White House,” Mr. Ryan told reporters in Philadelphia, before a visit from Mr. Trump to the congressional Republican’s policy conference.
On the list: a costly wall along the border with Mexico, which Mr. Ryan said would be paid for with a supplemental funding request from the White House and existing federal funding to secure the border. Also on the list is a new tax code and a replacement for the Affordable Care Act — easy! (Remember, Congress dithered for weeks and months to scrape together aid for the victims of tropical storm Sandy, to combat the Zika virus and to help the lead-poisoned residents of Flint, Mich., while conservatives looked for offsetting spending cuts.)On the list: a costly wall along the border with Mexico, which Mr. Ryan said would be paid for with a supplemental funding request from the White House and existing federal funding to secure the border. Also on the list is a new tax code and a replacement for the Affordable Care Act — easy! (Remember, Congress dithered for weeks and months to scrape together aid for the victims of tropical storm Sandy, to combat the Zika virus and to help the lead-poisoned residents of Flint, Mich., while conservatives looked for offsetting spending cuts.)
As for Trump’s distractions, the leaders seemed to say that’s his special sideshow. “This is going to be an unconventional presidency,” Mr. Ryan conceded, adding, “that is something we are all going to have to get used to.”As for Trump’s distractions, the leaders seemed to say that’s his special sideshow. “This is going to be an unconventional presidency,” Mr. Ryan conceded, adding, “that is something we are all going to have to get used to.”
Mr. McConnell also shrugged off questions about Mr. Trump compromising the United States’ relationship with Mexico. “We intend to address the wall issue ourselves, and the president can deal with his relations with other countries on that issue and other issues,” Mr. McConnell said.Mr. McConnell also shrugged off questions about Mr. Trump compromising the United States’ relationship with Mexico. “We intend to address the wall issue ourselves, and the president can deal with his relations with other countries on that issue and other issues,” Mr. McConnell said.
The Republican chairmen of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees dashed off a letter to President Trump Thursday demanding to know whether his executive order freezing federal hiring applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs.The Republican chairmen of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees dashed off a letter to President Trump Thursday demanding to know whether his executive order freezing federal hiring applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Surely you didn’t mean the department under our jurisdiction, suggested Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Representative Phil Roe of Tennessee:Surely you didn’t mean the department under our jurisdiction, suggested Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Representative Phil Roe of Tennessee:
Don’t be surprised if more such letters emerge as the hiring freeze starts to bite.Don’t be surprised if more such letters emerge as the hiring freeze starts to bite.
In a week in which President Trump is busy unraveling much of Barack Obama’s legacy, the former president was defended from an unusual quarter Thursday morning: Mr. Trump.In a week in which President Trump is busy unraveling much of Barack Obama’s legacy, the former president was defended from an unusual quarter Thursday morning: Mr. Trump.
In an early-morning post on Twitter, Mr. Trump expressed outrage that Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst whose sentence for leaking American secrets was commuted by Mr. Obama, had criticized the 44th president for not being strong enough.In an early-morning post on Twitter, Mr. Trump expressed outrage that Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst whose sentence for leaking American secrets was commuted by Mr. Obama, had criticized the 44th president for not being strong enough.
Even though Mr. Trump repeatedly characterized Mr. Obama the same way during last year’s campaign — “weak attitude and pathetic president,” “so weak and so bad,” “he’s been weak, he’s been ineffective” — he evidently thought Ms. Manning was ungracious to do so.Even though Mr. Trump repeatedly characterized Mr. Obama the same way during last year’s campaign — “weak attitude and pathetic president,” “so weak and so bad,” “he’s been weak, he’s been ineffective” — he evidently thought Ms. Manning was ungracious to do so.
Mr. Trump seemed to be referring to a column that Ms. Manning wrote in The Guardian newspaper, in which she argued that Mr. Obama left “very few permanent accomplishments” because he was too willing to compromise. The column was largely a criticism of Republicans never giving Mr. Obama a chance, but it suggested that he had not been strong enough to resist them.Mr. Trump seemed to be referring to a column that Ms. Manning wrote in The Guardian newspaper, in which she argued that Mr. Obama left “very few permanent accomplishments” because he was too willing to compromise. The column was largely a criticism of Republicans never giving Mr. Obama a chance, but it suggested that he had not been strong enough to resist them.
“The one simple lesson to draw from President Obama’s legacy: Do not start off with a compromise,” Ms. Manning wrote. “They won’t meet you in the middle. Instead, what we need is an unapologetic progressive leader.”“The one simple lesson to draw from President Obama’s legacy: Do not start off with a compromise,” Ms. Manning wrote. “They won’t meet you in the middle. Instead, what we need is an unapologetic progressive leader.”
Wonder where Mr. Trump got his idea?Wonder where Mr. Trump got his idea?
It was a simple question asked by ABC’s David Muir, in Mr. Trump’s first television interview from the White House, which aired Wednesday night: “When do you let it roll off your back now that you’re the president?”It was a simple question asked by ABC’s David Muir, in Mr. Trump’s first television interview from the White House, which aired Wednesday night: “When do you let it roll off your back now that you’re the president?”
Mr. Muir was referring to the president’s unusual speech at the C.I.A. on Saturday, in which he lingered on his own crowd sizes and media coverage in front of a wall that commemorates each intelligence officer who has died in the line of duty.Mr. Muir was referring to the president’s unusual speech at the C.I.A. on Saturday, in which he lingered on his own crowd sizes and media coverage in front of a wall that commemorates each intelligence officer who has died in the line of duty.
“So I’m glad you asked,” Mr. Trump said. “So, I went to the C.I.A., my first step.”“So I’m glad you asked,” Mr. Trump said. “So, I went to the C.I.A., my first step.”
But he declined to answer the question. The speech, he added, was “a home run.”But he declined to answer the question. The speech, he added, was “a home run.”
“That location was given to me. Mike Pence went up before me, paid great homage to the wall,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the wall in front of which he gave what was essentially a campaign speech.“That location was given to me. Mike Pence went up before me, paid great homage to the wall,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the wall in front of which he gave what was essentially a campaign speech.
“I then went up, paid great homage to the wall. I then spoke to the crowd. I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl and they said it was equal. I got a standing ovation. It lasted for a long period of time. What you do is take — take out your tape — you probably ran it live. I know when I do good speeches. I know when I do bad speeches. That speech was a total home run. They loved it.”“I then went up, paid great homage to the wall. I then spoke to the crowd. I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl and they said it was equal. I got a standing ovation. It lasted for a long period of time. What you do is take — take out your tape — you probably ran it live. I know when I do good speeches. I know when I do bad speeches. That speech was a total home run. They loved it.”
He went on: “They loved it. They gave me a standing ovation for a long period of time. They never even sat down, most of them, during the speech. There was love in the room. You and other networks covered it very inaccurately. I hate to say this to you and you probably won’t put it on but turn on Fox and see how it was covered. And see how people respond to that speech.”He went on: “They loved it. They gave me a standing ovation for a long period of time. They never even sat down, most of them, during the speech. There was love in the room. You and other networks covered it very inaccurately. I hate to say this to you and you probably won’t put it on but turn on Fox and see how it was covered. And see how people respond to that speech.”
In fact, most of the agency personnel sat throughout the speech.In fact, most of the agency personnel sat throughout the speech.
They’re not exactly getting off on the right foot.They’re not exactly getting off on the right foot.
Mr. Trump, the headliner at the Republican congressional retreat in Philadelphia, has more Twitter followers. Peyton Manning, another featured speaker, has more Super Bowl rings.Mr. Trump, the headliner at the Republican congressional retreat in Philadelphia, has more Twitter followers. Peyton Manning, another featured speaker, has more Super Bowl rings.
But the most surprising guest for lawmakers on Thursday may be Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, who is also set to become on Friday the first foreign leader to meet Mr. Trump at the White House.But the most surprising guest for lawmakers on Thursday may be Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, who is also set to become on Friday the first foreign leader to meet Mr. Trump at the White House.
“Our allies have been marginalized over the last eight years,” Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, told reporters on Wednesday, kicking off the retreat. “And that’s going to change, and it starts with a visit from the leader of one of our closest and strongest allies.”“Our allies have been marginalized over the last eight years,” Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, told reporters on Wednesday, kicking off the retreat. “And that’s going to change, and it starts with a visit from the leader of one of our closest and strongest allies.”
That statement was oddly juxtaposed with Mr. Trump’s announcement of a grand border wall with Mexico, which prompted Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, to consider canceling a trip to Washington next week, and left a former Mexican president, Vicente Fox, cursing on Twitter.That statement was oddly juxtaposed with Mr. Trump’s announcement of a grand border wall with Mexico, which prompted Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, to consider canceling a trip to Washington next week, and left a former Mexican president, Vicente Fox, cursing on Twitter.
Former President Barack Obama had pretty cordial relations with Britain’s prime ministers, but never mind.Former President Barack Obama had pretty cordial relations with Britain’s prime ministers, but never mind.
Mr. Thune said Mrs. May was the first sitting head of government to attend one of the party’s retreats. She is in the throes of a busy week. In a recent television interview with the BBC, Mrs. May said she would be spending part of her visit emphasizing to Mr. Trump the importance of NATO, which the president has called obsolete.Mr. Thune said Mrs. May was the first sitting head of government to attend one of the party’s retreats. She is in the throes of a busy week. In a recent television interview with the BBC, Mrs. May said she would be spending part of her visit emphasizing to Mr. Trump the importance of NATO, which the president has called obsolete.
Senator Jeff Sessions’s confirmation as attorney general already seems a sure thing, but a public lift from the gun lobby, one of the capital’s most powerful forces, won’t hurt with Republicans in control.Senator Jeff Sessions’s confirmation as attorney general already seems a sure thing, but a public lift from the gun lobby, one of the capital’s most powerful forces, won’t hurt with Republicans in control.
The National Rifle Association is airing a political ad on cable stations and online beginning on Thursday to highlight Mr. Sessions’s law-and-order portfolio, his stance on gun rights and his support for the police “after eight years of political elites abandoning police,” the group said.The National Rifle Association is airing a political ad on cable stations and online beginning on Thursday to highlight Mr. Sessions’s law-and-order portfolio, his stance on gun rights and his support for the police “after eight years of political elites abandoning police,” the group said.
“He will get criminals off our streets and protect the Second Amendment,” the ad promises. The N.R.A. said the campaign would have a six-figure budget — modest by the group’s standards — but would not disclose the exact cost.“He will get criminals off our streets and protect the Second Amendment,” the ad promises. The N.R.A. said the campaign would have a six-figure budget — modest by the group’s standards — but would not disclose the exact cost.