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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

Chris Riotta
New York
,Joe Sommerlad
Monday 18 March 2019 21:09 GMT
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Donald Trump denies white nationalism is a 'rising threat' after Christchurch mosque attack

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.

The 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.

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NBC’s Ari Melber has posted the following video to Twitter showing a series of videos from along the campaign trail of Donald Trump vowing repeatedly that Mexico would pay for his promise of a border wall along the nation’s southern border. 

Mr Trump vetoed a resolution passed in the House and Senate that sought to rebuke his national emergency declaration allowing him to circumvent Congress and take federal dollars to pay for the wall.

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 17:35
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The president doesn’t appear to be ending his weekend Twitter binge any time soon. 

Donald Trump touted strong economic figures in a tweet on Monday afternoon, writing, “GDP growth during the four quarters of 2018 was the fastest since 2005.”

He added, “This Administration is the first on record to have experienced economic growth that meets or exceeds its own forecasts in each of its first two years in office. GROWTH is beating MARKET EXPECTATIONS!”

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 17:50
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Donald Trump has also taken to posting entire Fox News segments on Twitter now, directing his followers to a clip from the conservative site that looks at former FBI agent Peter Strzok’s testimony to Congress from June 2018:

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 18:05
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Cory Booker, who has launched a bid against Donald Trump for the White House in 2020, stopped just short of calling the president a racist during an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. 

“Racists think he’s a racist and his language hurts people,” the New Jersey senator said. “His language is causing pain, fear.

He added, “the way he’s talking is making people afraid.”

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 18:20
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The Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee has revealed plans to hold hearings on the rising threat of white nationalism.

The planned hearings were first reported by the Daily Beast just days after a suspected shooter targeted two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and released a lengthy manifesto that celebrated Donald Trump as a “symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” 

Mr Trump then said during a televised appearance in the Oval Office that he did not believe white nationalism was an increasing threat in the US.

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 18:36
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George W Bush has celebrated US immigration during a naturalisation ceremony today, taking a thinly-veiled jab at the hardline policies the White House has taken under Donald Trump. 

"America's immigrant history made us who we are," the former president said on Monday. "Amid all the complications of policy, may we never forget that immigration is a blessing and a strength."

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 18:50
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Top Democrats in the House, Senate and on the Judiciary Committees have demanded FBI investigations into Li Yang, the founder of a day spa — which she has since sold — involved in human trafficking and illegal misconduct. 

Ms Yang has also been reportedly selling access to Donald Trump to her Chinese associates.

Read the demands below:

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 19:08
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As controversies continue plaguing Donald Trump in the White House, his former chief strategist is causing ruckus on the other side of the pond.

Steve Bannon has said in a new interview that Theresa May is “not terribly sophisticated” and has soured Brexit negotiations by not listening to the president’s advice. 

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 19:25
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Here's more on the House Judiciary Commitee's plans to conduct hearings into the rise of white nationalism, from me:

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 19:40
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Meanwhile, journalist Vicky Ward is refuting a denial from Donald Trump’s White House that she didn’t reach out for a response towards her upcoming book, Kushner Inc, which looks at the role Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump play in the current administration. 

Chris Riotta18 March 2019 19:55

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