Trump impeachment news: President’s ‘shocking and unprecedented intervention’ condemned by former Navy chief, as golf trips bill hits $115 million
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Your support makes all the difference.Richard V Spencer, recently ousted secretary of the US Navy, has attacked Donald Trump in a scathing op-ed for The Washington Post, condemning his “shocking and unprecedented intervention” in military justice after he absolved Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher of a war crime.
The president is spending Thanksgiving at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago as it emerges he has spent an estimated $115m (£88.9m) of taxpayers’ money on golf trips since taking office, equivalent to 287 years of the presidential salary he prides himself on not taking.
Mr Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani is also facing another morning of bad press, this time after it was reported he also pursued lucrative business deals while visiting Ukraine earlier this year on his mission to dig up dirt on his employer’s possible 2020 rival Joe Biden, the matter at the heart of the ongoing impeachment inquiry.
Furious China threatens dire 'consequences' as Trump signs law supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters
Trump finally signed legislation backing the pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong yesterday - after previously hinting that he might not - prompting a furious reaction from China, which branded the decision "extremely evil in nature and dangerous in motive".
Beijing summoned US ambassador Terry Branstad yesterday, demanding answers.
Vice foreign minister Le Yucheng is understood to have told Branstad that Trump's move constituted "serious interference in China's internal affairs and a serious violation of international law".
Le called it a "nakedly hegemonic act". He urged the US to not implement the bill in order to prevent greater damage to US-Chinese relations.
China has repeatedly accused America and other Western countries of orchestrating the mass pro-democracy demonstrations that have roiled Hong Kong for six months.
In Hong Kong, police have begun clearing a university that was a flashpoint for clashes with anti-government demonstrators.
The move into the Polytechnic University came after its administration said they believed no-one else remained inside.
Activist Joshua Wong hailed the passing of the US legislation and says he hopes it will spur other western nations to follow suit.
Here's our Asia editor Adam Withnall.
Trump serves up lazy White House retweet for Thanksgiving
This is the only Thanksgiving offering Trump has served up so far: one measly White House retweet. Booo!
Compare that with this charming offering from the Obamas...
...or Kamala Harris inviting reporters into her home as she dishes out wisdom and bastes the hell out of a photo opportunity delicious plump turkey.
State Department hires conspiracy theorist who suggested dropping nuclear bombs on Afghanistan
A Trump adviser who suggested dropping nuclear bombs on Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks has been given a senior role on arms control issues in the State Department.
Frank Wuco, a former conservative radio host and naval intelligence officer, has also promoted far-right conspiracy theories, including the easily debunked "Birther" myth that Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
Oh good.
Here's Conrad Duncan with more.
Fox host Tucker Carlson admits media is right about Trump’s lying: 'He’s a full-blown BS artist'
With friends like these...
Republicans for Rule of Law run anti-Trump ad on Fox and Friends
A group of GOP "Never Trumpers" have payed for the advert below to be aired during Fox and Friends, ensuring it catches the eye of the morning show's most avid viewer - the president himself.
The 32-second promo questions Trump's refusal to allow members of his cabinet to co-operate with House investigators as the impeachment probe gathers pace.
“What is Trump afraid of?” it asks.
Military officials ‘reluctant to appear alongside Trump’
Military officials are increasingly reluctant to be seen alongside Trump amid fears about the US president’s decision-making in the wake of his latest round of highly questionable pardons.
Numerous veterans spoke out about the move to The Independent after defence secretary Mark Esper confirmed he was ordered by the president to retain Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s status in the elite service, as well as his Trident pin, a prestigious special warfare insignia. But the move has also infuriated serving officers, according to CNN. One told the news channel the president’s actions were causing a “morale problem”, while another official said the military “is divided”.
"There are two camps. Half are ardent Trump supporters that believe the president is watching out for the troops,” the official said, adding the other half - many of who are high-ranking - believe the president is threatening the military’s public perception of political independence."
Tom Embury-Dennis has more.
Trump wishes America a Happy Thanksgiving
Credit where it's due...
Rudy, for his part, is remembering one of his better days: when he hosted the defiant first Thanksgiving and Macy's Day Parade on the streets of New York City in November 2001, the Big Apple then still grieving its dead in the aftermath of 9/11.
The fall of "America's mayor" since those days really has been nothing short of spectacular.
Jon Voight: Trump's enemies are 'evildoers'
Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight wins the prize for the creepiest Thanksgiving message, taking to Twitter to accuse Trump's critics of "evildoing" against the president.
Voight, who earlier this month was honoured with a prestigious national award for the arts by Trump, said "liberals" have "much hate with evil intent to destroy" the current occupant of the White House.
The 80-year-old thanked the president for "your greatness, your kindness, your wiseness", as well as a " love for the arts, for the heroes, for the American people".
"Differences are part of life," said Voight, the star of films including Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance and Heat. "All have free will, but when differences become evil and want to destroy, this is not what He wants of us. We are made of love. And we all have the same desire, as I've said before; to love, give love, be love.
"Can this nation have love, can this nation understand differences without destroying another?" he continues. "A mother, a father, teach their children what they learn. Some have learned by books, some have just learned because their parents learned from their parents, the rules, the truths, the untruths."
Yikes. Angelina, have a word.
George Conway denies Watergate veteran's wild conspiracy theory
Richard Nixon's White House counsel John Dean, who we seem to be hearing a lot from these days, has put forward his theory that Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway is the true identity of Anonymous, the mystery author of the new exposé A Warning, in collaboration with her famously anti-Trump husband George.
That would be a twist ending to knock The Usual Suspects into the nearest DVD bargain bin.
He denies it, sadly.
Anonymous took part in a Reddit AMA this week and promised to unmask themselves before next year's election. Dean will just have to be patient.
Andrew Yang publishes eight years' of tax returns to troll Trump
In a very pointed provocation to the persident, 2020 candidate and universal basic income advocate Andrew Yang has published eight years' worth of his tax returns as Trump continues to battle to stop the release of his own in court.
The Hill have an exhaustive breakdown of the data you can read here if time hangs heavy on your hands.
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