Trump news: President rails at Joe Biden as 2020 announcement looms, after New Zealand terror complaint and angry attack on John McCain
The president is ramping up his attacks on Twitter
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Donald Trump has targeted Joe Biden after the former vice president made a verbal slip about a potential 2020 presidential bid.
Mr Trump, who has eagerly followed the 2020 Democratic field, tweeted Monday: “Joe Biden got tongue tied over the weekend when he was unable to properly deliver a very simple line about his decision to run for President.”
He added, “Get used to it, another low I.Q. individual!”
At a dinner over the weekend, Mr Biden said he had “the most progressive record of anybody running.” But Mr Biden hasn’t announced whether he will launch a third run for the White House.
He quickly corrected himself, but the comment prompted frenzied speculation.
Who could be running against Trump in 2020?
Show all 23The president has previously labelled California Congresswoman Maxine Waters and actor Robert De Niro as being “low I.Q.”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump faced controversy on Monday after denying white nationalism was an increasing threat just days after a suspected gunman launched a terror attack against two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The House Judiciary Committee has revealed its intention to conduct hearings into the rise of white nationalism under Mr Trump, in which it will probe the administration’s response to FBI findings that the issue has become an increasing threat.
Monday also marked the deadline for the White House to respond to the committee’s request for documents — a move the Trump administration has seemingly avoided.
It remains unclear whether Democrats will now issue a subpoena against Mr Trump or the White House.
Additional reporting by AP. Check out The Independent’s live coverage below.
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Many thanks to long-time listener, first-time caller George from London for directing Pope Francis towards today's blog.
Welcome, Your Holiness. No, not you George.
Democratic senator Chris Coons of Delaware has appeared on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos to call on President Trump to apologise for his tweets about the late John McCain.
Blimey. George Conway, husband of White House counsel Kellyanne, continues to go rogue and risk provoking the fury of his wife by attacking her boss and questioning his sanity.
This thread, tweeting definitions of narcissistic personality disorder, can only be aimed at one man.
The manual describes the condition as causing “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy”.
Donald Trump is now calling out the press after an apparent white nationalist from Australia targeted two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in a terror attack last week that killed at least 50 people and cited the president as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
The president wrote on Twitter, “The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand.”
“They will have to work very hard to prove that one,” he added. “So Ridiculous!”
The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning the US could now leave as many as 1,000 troops in Syria, rather than leave their allies exposed.
A huge rowback from the president's initial announcement of a complete withdrawal just prior to Christmas.
Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and son of President George HW Bush, is among a growing number of Republicans calling on a challenger to step forward from within the party's own ranks to offer right-wing voters an alternative to Donald Trump in 2020.
Donald Trump has attacked Joe Biden on Twitter, claiming he got “tongue tied over the weekend” after the vice president teased a presidential run during a major speech.
“He was unable to properly deliver a very simple line about his decision to run for president,” he said. “Get used to it, another low I.Q. individual!”
"This White House is known for knocking down anyone who reports about it," says author Vicky Ward on the Trump administration's attempt to discredit her ahead of the publication of her new book, Kushner Inc, promising damaging revelations about Jared and Ivanka.
As Donald Trump launches a Twitter tirade against Joe Biden and others, one of his new 2020 opponents has broken massive fundraising records.
Beto O’Rourke has set a new fundraising record for Democrats hoping to take on Donald Trump in the 2020 elections, raising $6.1m (£4.6m) in just 24 hours.
The Texas Democrat has bested Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator also vying for the White House, who previously set the record with his $5.9m (£4.5m) haul after launching his campaign in February.
It’s been a banner weekend for the president’s Twitter account.
Donald Trump has retweeted in recent days an account with a QAnon profile image, alluding to the right-wing conspiracy theorist group online, as well as other right-wing influencers who spew false news and misleading reports.
The president's retweets are reportedly causing members of those communities to rejoice online.
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