Trump news – Armed groups dwarfed by security at state capitals as president’s approval at new low
The latest updates from the White House and beyond on 17 January 2021
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Your support makes all the difference.President Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to an all-time low as the US leader prepares to exit the White House.
In the wake of the deadly Capitol riots on 6 January, the president has seen his approval rating dive, with the change in perception being largely among Republicans.
The worst polling came from Pew Research Center, which found Mr Trump’s disapproval rating to be at 68 per cent, with his approval rating falling to 29 per cent, the lowest yet, in a poll of 5,360 adults conducted between 8-12 January.
The findings come as states across the US brace for the possibility of inauguration week violence as President-Elect Joe Biden prepares to take office on Wednesday. Small armed groups appeared at statehouses on Sunday, but the size of the gatherings appeared dwarfed by the security presence.
On Sunday, former FBI director James Comey warned of the “very serious” risk of violence breaking out around the inauguration following deadly riots at the US Capitol last week.
Dr Fauci says Biden’s Covid vaccine goals are ‘absolutely doable’
Dr Anthony Fauci has said President-Elect Joe Biden's goal of delivering 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine within the first 100 days of his presidency is an “absolutely doable thing”.
Speaking on NBC's "Meet The Press", Dr Fauci said two new vaccines under development could “very soon” be presented to US regulators for approval.
"We're weeks away, not months away, for sure," he said.
The new vaccines would help rollout across the US move faster, Dr Fauci said.
The infectious disease expert’s remarks came amid growing criticism over the Trump administration’s leadership on the vaccine rollout.
Around 10.6 million Americans have so far been vaccinated, according to the latest numbers. That is about half the number of people the current administration had hoped would receive the jab by the end of 2020.
Schiff says Trump not to be trusted with future intelligence briefings
On Face the Nation, Rep Adam Schiff is clear when he agrees that Donald Trump should not receive another intelligence briefing “not now, not in the future”.
Melania to leave with lowest favourability rating of tenure
A CNN/SSRS poll shows that Melania Trump will exit the White House with the lowest favourability rating in her time as first lady.
47 per cent of respondents say they have an unfavourable view of Ms Trump — the greatest number since the poll was first conducted in February 2016 as the election campaign got underway. 42 per cent have a favourable view of the first lady.
The first lady’s highest favourable rating was 57 per cent in May 2018 after she attended the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush without her husband.
The same polling company puts Donald Trump’s favourability at 33 per cent.
Michelle Obama departed the White House in 2017 with a favourabliity rating of 69 per cent. Laura Bush received a 67 per cent rating in 2009 and Hillary Clinton departed the executive mansion with a rating of 56 per cent.
Woman arrested for impersonating officer in DC
WTOP reports that a woman was arrested at a security checkpoint on Saturday morning after pretending to be a law enforcement officer, according to police.
She was stopped near Union Station and showed a military challenge coin while claiming to be a member of law enforcement.
As she was questioned she drove off in her car, but was apprehended, arrested, and charged with impersonating an officer, failure to obey an officer, and fleeing a law enforcement officer.
She was taken into custody for psychiatric evaluation.
FBI investigating digital trail of Capitol riot selfies
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been able to track down Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol thanks to the selfies and videos they took inside the Capitol – with some 140,000 images and videos posted online.
According to court documents seen by Bloomberg, many rioters went on to share videos and pictures on social media after the 6 January attack on the Capitol, and in the process document their own complicity.
Gino Spocchia reports for The Independent.
Capitol rioters taking selfies leave digital trail of 140,000 images under FBI investigation
Rioter pictured with Nancy Pelosi's lectern among those identified through social media
Rioters rifled through Senate documents
Footage recorded on the floor of the Senate on 6 January released by The New Yorker shows rioters rifling through documents and taking pictures of them.
“I think [Ted] Cruz would want us to do this, so I think we’re good," says one.
DC mayor says domestic terrorism was not taken seriously
The mayor of the District of Columbia says that the domestic terrorism was not taken seriously enough in the past and a different approach is now needed.
Muriel Bowser says she is also concerned about attacks in the city beyond the highly-fortified federal enclave.
DC mayor says domestic terrorism not taken seriously enough
Mayor Bowser argues city needs to adjust its posture toward terrorist threats
Raskin: ‘I’m not going to lose my son at the end of 2020 and lose my country and my republic in 2021’
During an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning, Representative Jamie Raskin, who is mourning the recent death of his son, said he is pressing on with impeachment proceedings because: “I'm not going to lose my son at the end of 2020 and lose my country and my republic in 2021.”
House speaker Nancy Pelosi reached out on Twitter to thank the congressman, who was caught up in the Capitol riot days after the passing of his son, for his strength, patriotism, and sense of justice.
Trump’s post-presidency plans get clearer
Bloomberg News’ White House team reports that Trump will leave the White House early enough on Wednesday that he will still be president when he lands in Florida (at approximately 11am).
There will reportedly be a departure event on the South Lawn before he boards Marine One for post-presidency life at Mar-a-Lago
A source also says that several current White House staff will continue to work for either Trump or Jared Kushner after the presidency concludes.
Two more Covid vaccines on horizon for US approval
Two more Covid vaccine candidates are likely just around the corner, a development that would provide a much-needed boost to the US programme to vaccinate millions of its citizens, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has said.
The Independent’s Griffin Connolly reports from Washington, DC.
Fauci: Two more Covid vaccines just ‘weeks’ away from US distribution
Biden’s plan to get 100m Americans vaccinated in first 100 days is ‘doable,’ Dr Fauci says
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