This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/jul/16/trump-news-today-live-racist-attack-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-resolution-republicans-latest
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Trump aide Kellyanne Conway to reporter: 'What's your ethnicity?' – live | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The House Judiciary Committee’s hearing with executives from Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple has been delayed an hour due to a vote. But the line to get a seat for what is guaranteed to be a grilling from lawmakers on whether the tech giants’ market dominance stifles competition already stretches all the way down a Capitol Hill hallway, per a reporter there. | |
| This is the line for House Judiciary Committee hearing on antitrust. Witnesses are Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook reps.Hearing delayed from 2 pm to 3 pm cuz of a vote (Press gets in first, so I am seated in empty hearing room. Possibly only perk of being a journo in life.) pic.twitter.com/LMjteO7gvf | |
| Here’s some video of McConnell: | |
| "The president is not a racist," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says."I'm a big fan of legal immigration," he adds when asked if President Trump telling the Democratic congresswomen of color to "go back" to their countries is a racist remark https://t.co/b5KzRmr9bK pic.twitter.com/sMMP2MQSl9 | |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has attempted to thread a needle in defending Trump against charges of racism, saying that legal immigration, as for example in his wife’s case, has “been reinvigorating America for hundreds of years”. | |
| Asked how he felt about Trump’s “go back to your country” line given that his wife, transportation secretary Elaine Chao, is a naturalized citizen who arrived in the United States as a child, McConnell responded: | |
| “Well the secretary of transportation came here at age 8, legally, not speaking a word of English, and has realized the American dream,” McConnell says. | |
| He calls legal immigration “a process of renewal that has gone on in this country for a very long time and we ought to renew it.” | |
| “Legal immigration has been a fulfilling of the American dream.... My wife is a good example of that,” he continues. | |
| “Look, I’m obviously a big fan of legal immigration, it’s been a big part of my family for a quarter of a century... it’s been reinvigorating America for hundreds of years.” | |
| But McConnell won’t condemn the president and depicts Trump’s racism as a two-sided war of words. | |
| “I think everybody ought to tone down their rhetoric,” he says. | |
| “The president’s not a racist. And I think the tone of all of this is not good for the country. But it’s coming from all ideological points of view... to single out any segment of this I think is a mistake.” | |
| For the record, only one side is telling people of color born in the United States to go back to their countries. | |
| But McConnell’s strategy here was notably different from that of the House leadership this morning, which simply dug in, vowed that Trump was not racist and basically suggested anyone who thought so was nuts. | |
| The House leadership looked as if it wanted to deepen the current argument. McConnell looked as if he was hoping to get past it. | |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell opens his news conference with a call for greater civility in [GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY] discourse. | |
| Saying political rhetoric has become “overheated”, McConnell called on leaders to “lower the temperature” and “raise the level of discourse.” | |
| Then they pivot to talk of tax cuts. | |
| The Republican leadership will formally recommend that members vote against a House resolution this evening condemning Trump’s racist tweets, Politico quotes a spokesperson for leadership as saying. | |
| That’s a signal to the rank-and-file that leadership is watching. The vote has become a loyalty test to party. The leadership did not need to draw such distinct battle lines. Or have the Democrats by bringing the resolution cornered the Republicans into making a racist Trump tweet into a party loyalty test? In any case it’s all hands on deck now. | |
| PER a spox for Minority Whip Steve Scalise —> GOP leadership will formally be recommending a NO vote to their members on today’s resolution condemning Trump tweets | |
| According to a report from the White House press pool, Trump has been asked where the four House Democratic congresswomen should go if they leave the United States. | According to a report from the White House press pool, Trump has been asked where the four House Democratic congresswomen should go if they leave the United States. |
| Trump says “they can stay” then attacks the members of Congress for their critique of the conditions inside migrant detention centers at the border, which critique sparked Trump’s racist tweets of Sunday. | |
| Trump accuses the members of Congress of not loving the USA. The members might reply that their whole point was that a great country like the United States can do better than caging children. But in Trump’s rubric criticism amounts to treason. | |
| He said: | He said: |
| It’s up to them. Wherever they want – or they can stay. But they should love our country. They shouldn’t hate our country. I have clips right here. The most vile, horrible statements about our country. About Israel. About others. | |
| “It’s up to them. Do what they want. They can leave. They can stay. They should love our country, and they should work for the good of our country. | “It’s up to them. Do what they want. They can leave. They can stay. They should love our country, and they should work for the good of our country. |
| Mitt Romney summons a masterfully mild framework for Trump’s racist attack on members of congress: it’s a failure of the duty to unite, you see. | Mitt Romney summons a masterfully mild framework for Trump’s racist attack on members of congress: it’s a failure of the duty to unite, you see. |
| Sen. Mitt Romney on Trump's attacks on Democratic congresswomen: "Presidents have a unique role to unite the country and to draw on all people, regardless of their race, their color, their national origin. And, in that regard, the president I think failed" https://t.co/LlxNB3237j pic.twitter.com/MMPxxU9V5o | Sen. Mitt Romney on Trump's attacks on Democratic congresswomen: "Presidents have a unique role to unite the country and to draw on all people, regardless of their race, their color, their national origin. And, in that regard, the president I think failed" https://t.co/LlxNB3237j pic.twitter.com/MMPxxU9V5o |
| A federal judge has ordered Roger Stone, the former Trump adviser, to refrain from using social media after she found that he violated a previous gag order forbidding him from discussing his case online. | A federal judge has ordered Roger Stone, the former Trump adviser, to refrain from using social media after she found that he violated a previous gag order forbidding him from discussing his case online. |
| U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told Stone on Tuesday that he could not use Instagram or other social media platforms while the case against him moves forward, the Associated Press reported. She said the punishment was necessary because he had proven unwilling to adhere to her orders and to refrain from publicly commenting on the case. | U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson told Stone on Tuesday that he could not use Instagram or other social media platforms while the case against him moves forward, the Associated Press reported. She said the punishment was necessary because he had proven unwilling to adhere to her orders and to refrain from publicly commenting on the case. |
| Stone is charged with witness tampering and lying to congressional lawmakers in their investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. | Stone is charged with witness tampering and lying to congressional lawmakers in their investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. |
| It can seem as if the Trump administration is in willful, determined pursuit of the destruction of the American ideal and legacy, as a melting pot nation that holds all individuals to be Americans first in the public square no matter their religions, ethnicities, races, identities or beliefs. | It can seem as if the Trump administration is in willful, determined pursuit of the destruction of the American ideal and legacy, as a melting pot nation that holds all individuals to be Americans first in the public square no matter their religions, ethnicities, races, identities or beliefs. |
| First the president tells American citizens of color – members of congress, no less – to “go back” to their countries. | First the president tells American citizens of color – members of congress, no less – to “go back” to their countries. |
| Then Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, trying to deny that Trump’s tweets were racist, demands to know a reporter’s ethnic identity. | Then Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, trying to deny that Trump’s tweets were racist, demands to know a reporter’s ethnic identity. |
| Addressing reporters outside the White House, Conway insisted that Trump, by tweeting “Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”, did not mean that the members of congress should visit countries once inhabited by their ancestors. | Addressing reporters outside the White House, Conway insisted that Trump, by tweeting “Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”, did not mean that the members of congress should visit countries once inhabited by their ancestors. |
| But wait, said Andrew Feinberg, a White House reporter for Breakfast Media. So what “countries” was the president referring to, then? | But wait, said Andrew Feinberg, a White House reporter for Breakfast Media. So what “countries” was the president referring to, then? |
| At which Conway made this jaw-dropping reply: “What’s your ethnicity?” | At which Conway made this jaw-dropping reply: “What’s your ethnicity?” |
| Feinberg: Uh, why is that relevant? | Feinberg: Uh, why is that relevant? |
| Conway: Because I’m asking you a question. My ancestors are from Ireland and Italy. | Conway: Because I’m asking you a question. My ancestors are from Ireland and Italy. |
| Feinberg: My ethnicity is not relevant to the question. | Feinberg: My ethnicity is not relevant to the question. |
| Conway: It is, because you’re asking about, he said ‘originally’. He said ‘originally from’. [Fact check: three of the four members of Congress in question are “originally from” the United States, unless where you were born... is not the same as where you are from... because you are... not white?] | Conway: It is, because you’re asking about, he said ‘originally’. He said ‘originally from’. [Fact check: three of the four members of Congress in question are “originally from” the United States, unless where you were born... is not the same as where you are from... because you are... not white?] |
| Here’s video, courtesy of @cspan pic.twitter.com/PNqIznSDcO | Here’s video, courtesy of @cspan pic.twitter.com/PNqIznSDcO |
| That’s a fairly powerful counterpoint to the op-ed this morning in the Washington Post by Conway’s husband, George Conway, titled “Trump is a racist president”: | That’s a fairly powerful counterpoint to the op-ed this morning in the Washington Post by Conway’s husband, George Conway, titled “Trump is a racist president”: |
| No matter how much I found him ultimately unfit, I still gave him the benefit of the doubt about being a racist. No matter how much I came to dislike him, I didn’t want to think that the president of the United States is a racial bigot. | No matter how much I found him ultimately unfit, I still gave him the benefit of the doubt about being a racist. No matter how much I came to dislike him, I didn’t want to think that the president of the United States is a racial bigot. |
| But Sunday left no doubt. Naivete, resentment and outright racism, roiled in a toxic mix, have given us a racist president. | But Sunday left no doubt. Naivete, resentment and outright racism, roiled in a toxic mix, have given us a racist president. |
| Mike Pence did not take questions about his boss’s racist tweets, or anything else, during an event where he unveiled the spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong on the moon half a century ago. | Mike Pence did not take questions about his boss’s racist tweets, or anything else, during an event where he unveiled the spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong on the moon half a century ago. |
| Speaking at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington on Tuesday, the vice president remained characteristically loyal. “Under President Trump’s leadership, it is now the policy of the United States of America to return to the moon within the next five years, and, from there, onto Mars,” he said. | Speaking at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington on Tuesday, the vice president remained characteristically loyal. “Under President Trump’s leadership, it is now the policy of the United States of America to return to the moon within the next five years, and, from there, onto Mars,” he said. |
| “I have a feeling that the man who wore the suit that we will unveil today would be glad to know that the first woman and the next man on the moon will also be an American. | “I have a feeling that the man who wore the suit that we will unveil today would be glad to know that the first woman and the next man on the moon will also be an American. |
| “Apollo 11 is the only event of the 20th century that stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th century. And that’s what makes a day like today so important. A thousand years from now, July 20, 1969, will likely be a date that will live on in the minds and imaginations of men and women here on Earth, across our solar system, and beyond.” | “Apollo 11 is the only event of the 20th century that stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th century. And that’s what makes a day like today so important. A thousand years from now, July 20, 1969, will likely be a date that will live on in the minds and imaginations of men and women here on Earth, across our solar system, and beyond.” |
| On 16 July 1969, Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off from Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin its historic quarter-million-mile journey to the moon, with Armstrong and Aldrin setting foot on the lunar surface four days later. | On 16 July 1969, Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off from Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin its historic quarter-million-mile journey to the moon, with Armstrong and Aldrin setting foot on the lunar surface four days later. |
| In a speech watched by the late astronaut’s wife, son and grandson, Pence observed that the nation “had been deeply divided during the tumultuous 1960s” but for a moment “the man who wore this suit brought together our nation and the world”. | In a speech watched by the late astronaut’s wife, son and grandson, Pence observed that the nation “had been deeply divided during the tumultuous 1960s” but for a moment “the man who wore this suit brought together our nation and the world”. |
| The Armstrong spacesuit goes on public show for the first time in 13 years. Its conservation, display and digitisation were crowd funded. | The Armstrong spacesuit goes on public show for the first time in 13 years. Its conservation, display and digitisation were crowd funded. |
| Lawyers for Roger Stone, the political... pirate?... and former Trump adviser, are in court this morning pleading against a government allegation that he has not complied with a gag order in discussing his case. Reuters has this: | Lawyers for Roger Stone, the political... pirate?... and former Trump adviser, are in court this morning pleading against a government allegation that he has not complied with a gag order in discussing his case. Reuters has this: |
| [Judge Amy Berman] Jackson in February ordered Stone to stop speaking publicly about the case after he posted what appeared to be a threatening photo of her next to the image of gun crosshairs on his Instagram account. | [Judge Amy Berman] Jackson in February ordered Stone to stop speaking publicly about the case after he posted what appeared to be a threatening photo of her next to the image of gun crosshairs on his Instagram account. |
| In that hearing Stone tried to apologize, saying the posting was not intended as a threat. | In that hearing Stone tried to apologize, saying the posting was not intended as a threat. |
| But a visibly angry Jackson said his apology “rings quite hollow” and warned him he would not have a second chance if he failed to abide by her order. | But a visibly angry Jackson said his apology “rings quite hollow” and warned him he would not have a second chance if he failed to abide by her order. |
| As part of today’s hearing, Jackson is reading Stone’s instagram posts, reports Zoe Tillman of Buzzfeed: | As part of today’s hearing, Jackson is reading Stone’s instagram posts, reports Zoe Tillman of Buzzfeed: |
| A bit surreal to hear the judge read these posts aloud. From 5/8: "The Judge has ruled but @Politico gets most of the story wrong because they are biased elitist snot-nosed fake news shitheads who’s specialty is distortion by omitting key facts to create a false narrative." | A bit surreal to hear the judge read these posts aloud. From 5/8: "The Judge has ruled but @Politico gets most of the story wrong because they are biased elitist snot-nosed fake news shitheads who’s specialty is distortion by omitting key facts to create a false narrative." |
| The hearing is currently in recess. | The hearing is currently in recess. |
| Lawyers for accusers of Jeffrey Epstein, the financier facing two federal sex trafficking counts in New York, have urged a judge in the case not to grant Epstein’s request for release following a bail hearing on Thursday: | Lawyers for accusers of Jeffrey Epstein, the financier facing two federal sex trafficking counts in New York, have urged a judge in the case not to grant Epstein’s request for release following a bail hearing on Thursday: |
| Epstein's accusers urge U.S. judge to keep him jailed until sex trafficking trial. More here: https://t.co/sGulBXOa3r pic.twitter.com/Eu5bUBivp5 | Epstein's accusers urge U.S. judge to keep him jailed until sex trafficking trial. More here: https://t.co/sGulBXOa3r pic.twitter.com/Eu5bUBivp5 |
| A lawyer for one of Epstein’s accusers has alleged that Epstein committed abuse while in custody following the Florida plea deal, meanwhile. | A lawyer for one of Epstein’s accusers has alleged that Epstein committed abuse while in custody following the Florida plea deal, meanwhile. |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| Jeffrey Epstein: diamonds, cash and fake passport found in raid, prosecutors say | Jeffrey Epstein: diamonds, cash and fake passport found in raid, prosecutors say |
| It’s rather a violent business. With each wrenching descent by Trump further into this nightmare of explicit bigotry emanating from the White House, the question always hangs for a moment of whether the Republican party will follow – whether they will take the step too, and go down there. | It’s rather a violent business. With each wrenching descent by Trump further into this nightmare of explicit bigotry emanating from the White House, the question always hangs for a moment of whether the Republican party will follow – whether they will take the step too, and go down there. |
| There’s a pause – in this case, 48 hours. Then the party takes the step down. And then Trump makes sure everyone sees what just happened. | There’s a pause – in this case, 48 hours. Then the party takes the step down. And then Trump makes sure everyone sees what just happened. |
| Here he paraphrases McCarthy, accurately: | Here he paraphrases McCarthy, accurately: |
| Kevin McCarthy @GOPLeader, “The President’s Tweets were not Racist. The controversy over the tweets is ALL POLITICS. I will vote against this resolution.” Thank you Kevin! | Kevin McCarthy @GOPLeader, “The President’s Tweets were not Racist. The controversy over the tweets is ALL POLITICS. I will vote against this resolution.” Thank you Kevin! |
| The senate armed services committee is currently holding a confirmation hearing for Mark Esper, Donald Trump’s latest nominee to fill the secretary of defense post. | The senate armed services committee is currently holding a confirmation hearing for Mark Esper, Donald Trump’s latest nominee to fill the secretary of defense post. |
| Trump’s previous nominee to replace General Jim Mattis, General Patrick Shanahan, withdrew his nomination in June amid a delayed FBI background check and revelations about past family troubles. | Trump’s previous nominee to replace General Jim Mattis, General Patrick Shanahan, withdrew his nomination in June amid a delayed FBI background check and revelations about past family troubles. |
| Esper is asked about his views on international allegiances. Does he agree more with Trump, who seems to hold traditional allies in low esteem, or Mattis, a defender of Nato and other post-World War II global political compacts? | Esper is asked about his views on international allegiances. Does he agree more with Trump, who seems to hold traditional allies in low esteem, or Mattis, a defender of Nato and other post-World War II global political compacts? |
| “I am fully committed to building alliances,” Esper says: | “I am fully committed to building alliances,” Esper says: |
| Peters: Are your views more aligned w/ Mattis or Trump on allies.Esper: I am fully committed to building alliances and rules-based post-World War II order. That includes pushing back against #China. | Peters: Are your views more aligned w/ Mattis or Trump on allies.Esper: I am fully committed to building alliances and rules-based post-World War II order. That includes pushing back against #China. |
| Esper served briefly as acting defense secretary, then upon his formal nomination reverted to his previous role as army secretary. | Esper served briefly as acting defense secretary, then upon his formal nomination reverted to his previous role as army secretary. |
| How did that outing by the House Republican leadership go? | How did that outing by the House Republican leadership go? |
| Simple Kevin must really want something from Trump right now. | Simple Kevin must really want something from Trump right now. |
| Trump literally told them to go back to the countries where they are from https://t.co/EwRXADW6yE | Trump literally told them to go back to the countries where they are from https://t.co/EwRXADW6yE |
| Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) is a pathetic moral coward and a defender of racism and bigotry. | Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) is a pathetic moral coward and a defender of racism and bigotry. |
| What did you make of the Republicans’ pained appeal just then for a return to civility? | What did you make of the Republicans’ pained appeal just then for a return to civility? |
| why do this https://t.co/WSj04myxgf | why do this https://t.co/WSj04myxgf |
| Was McCarthy convincing in defending the president against charges of racism? | Was McCarthy convincing in defending the president against charges of racism? |
| A Racist in the White House. https://t.co/L6etKyWWHy pic.twitter.com/Mir1vH29YJ | A Racist in the White House. https://t.co/L6etKyWWHy pic.twitter.com/Mir1vH29YJ |
| Here’s video of the moment when minority leader McCarthy is asked whether Trump’s tweets were racist: | Here’s video of the moment when minority leader McCarthy is asked whether Trump’s tweets were racist: |
| Reporter: Were the president's tweets that said "go back" racist?McCarthy: No. And I do not believe the speaker of the House was racist last week when [the Squad], who are claiming the president is racist, when they claimed she was racist either pic.twitter.com/twfenQfyau | Reporter: Were the president's tweets that said "go back" racist?McCarthy: No. And I do not believe the speaker of the House was racist last week when [the Squad], who are claiming the president is racist, when they claimed she was racist either pic.twitter.com/twfenQfyau |
| McCarthy announces last question. He’s asked whether he agrees with Trump’s reported assessment of former House speaker Paul Ryan as “stupid.” | McCarthy announces last question. He’s asked whether he agrees with Trump’s reported assessment of former House speaker Paul Ryan as “stupid.” |
| McCarthy says Ryan was a “great Speaker” and calls him a great friend. Then McCarthy suggests that the quote is made up. | McCarthy says Ryan was a “great Speaker” and calls him a great friend. Then McCarthy suggests that the quote is made up. |
| They are done. They walk out to somebody saying “a question? On socialism?” | They are done. They walk out to somebody saying “a question? On socialism?” |
| Those were the great themes of the conference: Socialism, impeachment, and a supposed clash of ideologies – as opposed to a clash of bigotries – that defines the current political showdown. | Those were the great themes of the conference: Socialism, impeachment, and a supposed clash of ideologies – as opposed to a clash of bigotries – that defines the current political showdown. |
| The strategy was to attack the four members of Congress who warned the public in a news conference yesterday “do not take the bait” – in a fight Republicans seem eager to escalate. | The strategy was to attack the four members of Congress who warned the public in a news conference yesterday “do not take the bait” – in a fight Republicans seem eager to escalate. |
| In any case, the Republican House leadership stands foursquare behind the president. Were the president’s tweets racist? A one-word answer: No. | In any case, the Republican House leadership stands foursquare behind the president. Were the president’s tweets racist? A one-word answer: No. |
| “Let’s not be false about what is happening here today,” McCarthy says. “This is all about politics and beliefs about ideologies that people have.” | “Let’s not be false about what is happening here today,” McCarthy says. “This is all about politics and beliefs about ideologies that people have.” |
| Then he gets a question about lifting an imminent debt ceiling (early September or sooner). “We should not leave before getting that,” he says. | Then he gets a question about lifting an imminent debt ceiling (early September or sooner). “We should not leave before getting that,” he says. |