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| Coronavirus US live: Obama criticizes Trump in virtual graduation speech – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The former US president also spoke to the inequalities faced by black people in a reference to the Ahmaud Arbery shooting | The former US president also spoke to the inequalities faced by black people in a reference to the Ahmaud Arbery shooting |
| Here’s a look at today’s biggest news items: | |
| Obama criticizes Trump administration’s coronavirus crisis response. At an online ‘virtual’ commencement ceremony for HBCUs this afternoon, the former US president ripped his successor’s actions on the pandemic, saying: “More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing. A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.” | |
| Justin Amash will not run as third-party candidate for president. The former Republican said he will not run as a third-party candidate in this year’s presidential election, assuaging fears among Democrats that he would help return Trump to power in this November’s election. | |
| New York tourist arrested in Hawaii for violating local quarantine rule. The island state, with 638 Covid-19 cases, has been cracking down on those who refuse to comply with the 14-day mandated isolation. | |
| US states begin to reopen amid contact tracing programs scramble. Patchwork of efforts as states left to devise own programs and local health department are still hiring people to test and trace contacts. | |
| Barack Obama delivered a rare rebuke of a sitting president from one of his predecessors on Saturday when he criticized the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic during an online commencement address to graduates of 78 historically black colleges and universities. A just-published story from my colleague Jessica Glenza has further details. | |
| “Let’s be honest, a disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country,” Obama said. “We see it in the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on our communities.” | |
| As he continued, Obama criticized federal response efforts to the pandemic: “More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing. A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge,” he said. | |
| The speech was the first of two addresses Obama was due to give on Saturday. He is also scheduled to take part in a prime time special for high-school graduates that starts at 8pm Eastern on all the major TV networks. | |
| The White House says Donald Trump’s latest firing of a federal watchdog came following a recommendation by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo. | The White House says Donald Trump’s latest firing of a federal watchdog came following a recommendation by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo. |
| “Secretary Pompeo recommended the move, and President Trump agreed,” an administration official said on Saturday after two top Democrats announced a probe into Trump’s dismissal of Steve Linick, the state department’s inspector general, on Friday night. | “Secretary Pompeo recommended the move, and President Trump agreed,” an administration official said on Saturday after two top Democrats announced a probe into Trump’s dismissal of Steve Linick, the state department’s inspector general, on Friday night. |
| New York representative Eliot Engel and New Jersey senator Bob Menendez said the decision “may be an illegal act of retaliation” in letters to the White House, the state department and the inspector general’s office announcing the investigation, asking that administration officials provide all records related to the firing to the committees by Friday, according to the AP. | New York representative Eliot Engel and New Jersey senator Bob Menendez said the decision “may be an illegal act of retaliation” in letters to the White House, the state department and the inspector general’s office announcing the investigation, asking that administration officials provide all records related to the firing to the committees by Friday, according to the AP. |
| The results of more than 35,000 Covid-19 tests ordered by a Florida-based health care system and performed by a third-party lab are unreliable, the company said Saturday. The Associated Press reports: | The results of more than 35,000 Covid-19 tests ordered by a Florida-based health care system and performed by a third-party lab are unreliable, the company said Saturday. The Associated Press reports: |
| On Saturday, Florida’s department of health reported more than 600 new coronavirus cases in the past 24-hour period, lifting the overall count to 44,811. A total of 1,964 people have died from the virus, up 47 from Friday. | On Saturday, Florida’s department of health reported more than 600 new coronavirus cases in the past 24-hour period, lifting the overall count to 44,811. A total of 1,964 people have died from the virus, up 47 from Friday. |
| US swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin helped bring Donald Trump to power in 2016. How they handle the pandemic may well be crucial at the presidential election this November too, writes my colleague David Smith. | US swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin helped bring Donald Trump to power in 2016. How they handle the pandemic may well be crucial at the presidential election this November too, writes my colleague David Smith. |
| Barack Obama also commented in his virtual commencement address just now on the cold-blood shooting of Ahmaud Arbery that has sparked widespread horror and outrage. | Barack Obama also commented in his virtual commencement address just now on the cold-blood shooting of Ahmaud Arbery that has sparked widespread horror and outrage. |
| Arbery, a black man shot and killed while jogging in Georgia by a white former police officer and his son, was 25. After he was killed, it took local authorities more than two months to file charges, a move that followed shocking video footage of the shooting emerging into the public domain. | Arbery, a black man shot and killed while jogging in Georgia by a white former police officer and his son, was 25. After he was killed, it took local authorities more than two months to file charges, a move that followed shocking video footage of the shooting emerging into the public domain. |
| Obama made the comments at a virtual commencement ceremony for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as he acknowledged the dual crises graduates now face after leaving college – the Covid-19 pandemic and a historic economic downturn. | Obama made the comments at a virtual commencement ceremony for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as he acknowledged the dual crises graduates now face after leaving college – the Covid-19 pandemic and a historic economic downturn. |
| At an online “virtual” commencement ceremony for Historically Black College and Universities this afternoon, the former US president, Barack Obama, told graduates moments ago about his successor administration’s actions on the pandemic: | At an online “virtual” commencement ceremony for Historically Black College and Universities this afternoon, the former US president, Barack Obama, told graduates moments ago about his successor administration’s actions on the pandemic: |
| The takedown of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic is a rare rebuke from a former president. It follows Obama’s leaked remarks last week that the government response to Covid-19 had been “an absolute chaotic disaster”. | The takedown of the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic is a rare rebuke from a former president. It follows Obama’s leaked remarks last week that the government response to Covid-19 had been “an absolute chaotic disaster”. |
| But Saturday’s remarks were made openly to likely thousands of graduating students tuned in online. | But Saturday’s remarks were made openly to likely thousands of graduating students tuned in online. |
| While a majority of North American thoroughbred tracks have been shuttered during the pandemic, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park resumed live racing on Saturday in what the Associated Press says could be a lifeline for owners and trainers with smaller barns who have been suffering without steady income. | While a majority of North American thoroughbred tracks have been shuttered during the pandemic, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park resumed live racing on Saturday in what the Associated Press says could be a lifeline for owners and trainers with smaller barns who have been suffering without steady income. |
| “We’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully,” Maryland-based owner and trainer Linda Gaudet said from Kentucky, where she’s preparing for racing to return Saturday at Churchill Downs. “The owners and the trainers and the riders, they need to get back to work, make a living.” | “We’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully,” Maryland-based owner and trainer Linda Gaudet said from Kentucky, where she’s preparing for racing to return Saturday at Churchill Downs. “The owners and the trainers and the riders, they need to get back to work, make a living.” |
| Congressmen announces examination of watchdog firing by Trump | Congressmen announces examination of watchdog firing by Trump |
| Representative Eliot Engel of New York, a Democrat and the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee (as well as a leading figure in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump at the start of the year), announced that the committee would be probing the firing last night of the State Department inspector general, Steve Linick. | Representative Eliot Engel of New York, a Democrat and the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee (as well as a leading figure in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump at the start of the year), announced that the committee would be probing the firing last night of the State Department inspector general, Steve Linick. |
| In a statement, Engel said: “This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the Secretary of State, from accountability. I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation. | In a statement, Engel said: “This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the Secretary of State, from accountability. I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation. |
| “This president believes he is above the law. As he systematically removes the official independent watchdogs from the Executive Branch, the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs becomes that much more critical. In the days ahead, I will be looking into this matter in greater detail, and I will press the State Department for answers. | “This president believes he is above the law. As he systematically removes the official independent watchdogs from the Executive Branch, the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs becomes that much more critical. In the days ahead, I will be looking into this matter in greater detail, and I will press the State Department for answers. |
| “I thank Mr. Linick for his distinguished service.” | “I thank Mr. Linick for his distinguished service.” |
| The US House foreign relations committee has just announced an investigation into the firing last night of Donald Trump’s inspector general at the State Department, Reuters reports. | The US House foreign relations committee has just announced an investigation into the firing last night of Donald Trump’s inspector general at the State Department, Reuters reports. |
| Steve Linick was ousted last night as the department’s internal watchdog. He had been reportedly looking into the actions of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | Steve Linick was ousted last night as the department’s internal watchdog. He had been reportedly looking into the actions of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. |
| According to a Democratic congressional aide, just before his abrupt dismissal Linick had opened an investigation into allegations that Pompeo had been using a political appointee at the state department to run personal errands for him and his wife, Susan. | According to a Democratic congressional aide, just before his abrupt dismissal Linick had opened an investigation into allegations that Pompeo had been using a political appointee at the state department to run personal errands for him and his wife, Susan. |
| More details as they emerge. | More details as they emerge. |
| Justin Amash has announced that he will not run as a third-party candidate in this year’s presidential election. Some had feared the former Republican’s campaign would help return Donald Trump to power in this November’s election, an accusation Amash denied. | Justin Amash has announced that he will not run as a third-party candidate in this year’s presidential election. Some had feared the former Republican’s campaign would help return Donald Trump to power in this November’s election, an accusation Amash denied. |
| “Washington is totally dysfunctional,” Amash told CNN’s State of the Union earlier this month. “That’s why I left the Republican party, because there was this partisan death spiral. | “Washington is totally dysfunctional,” Amash told CNN’s State of the Union earlier this month. “That’s why I left the Republican party, because there was this partisan death spiral. |
| “We need someone who’s going to come in as president, respect our constitution, defend our rights, and fix our representative system of government so that people will actually feel represented at home. And I know that millions of Americans want that.” | “We need someone who’s going to come in as president, respect our constitution, defend our rights, and fix our representative system of government so that people will actually feel represented at home. And I know that millions of Americans want that.” |
| On Saturday, he said he had reconsidered his decision. | On Saturday, he said he had reconsidered his decision. |
| “After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,” the Michigan congressman tweeted. | “After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,” the Michigan congressman tweeted. |
| “I’ve spent nearly three weeks assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party’s convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers,” he added. | “I’ve spent nearly three weeks assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party’s convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers,” he added. |
| Amash was the first Republican congressman to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump. | Amash was the first Republican congressman to call for the impeachment of Donald Trump. |
| Barack Obama is due to make a speech today during an online commencement for HBCUs. You can follow the speech here on a livestream. | Barack Obama is due to make a speech today during an online commencement for HBCUs. You can follow the speech here on a livestream. |
| David Smith has detailed Donald Trump’s obsession with his predecessor. As David puts it: “Observers point to a mix of anti-intellectualism, racism, vengeance and primitive envy over everything from Obama’s Nobel peace prize to the scale of his inauguration crowd and social media following.” You can read the full article below: | David Smith has detailed Donald Trump’s obsession with his predecessor. As David puts it: “Observers point to a mix of anti-intellectualism, racism, vengeance and primitive envy over everything from Obama’s Nobel peace prize to the scale of his inauguration crowd and social media following.” You can read the full article below: |