Trump misses climate meeting and says he’ll invite Putin to next G7 amid erratic behaviour at summit
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has skipped a meeting about climate change and biodiversity attended by other world leaders at the G7 on Monday, in the latest sign that the American government does not view the global threat as a priority.
Separately, meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel, the US president claimed there was “great unity” on how to deal with the Iran crisis. Ms Merkel, however, said there was a long way to go on the issue, which has created considerable headache as tensions have flared between Tehran and Washington.
The snubs came just before Mr Trump attended a joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders claimed to have found unity on many issues — from Iranian nuclear enrichment, to trade.
Later, after Mr Macron left the stage, the American president stuck around for a few questions, where he lavished praise on Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and at one point called himself an "environmentalist".
Mr Trump has also denied at the summit in France that he had suggested firing nuclear weapons at hurricanes — as was reported by Axios — and suggested his own Miami golf club for next year’s G7. He also claimed China had “called” to ask for trade talks – before a top Chinese official said he was unaware of any call.
Elsewhere, the 2020 Democratic primary field saw some heat, with a new poll showing Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden all in a statistical dead heat among national voters.
The poll marked a potentially dramatic fall for Mr Biden from the top of the race, and came after Ms Warren attracted a massive crowd in Seattle — one that has received plenty of media attention for its striking visuals.
Also, Mr Trump's own party's primary field has gotten a bit tighter, with the long-shot entry of former congressman Joe Walsh, a one-time Trump supporter who claims the president has simply gotten too cozy with Russia.
Here's a nice clip from Mr Trump's earlier remarks on climate change at the G7:
Floridians are preparing for a possible hurricane, though it is far from clear that one might hit.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke today for the first time since news over the weekend that she is being treated for another form of cancer.
Ms Ginsburg, 86, spoke briefly as she received an honorary degree from the University of Buffalo. She briefly appeared to reference her health.
"In July 2018, Wayne (Wisbaum) wrote to me that his health disabled him from playing a lead role in the arrangements for my visit here but he still hoped to attend all the events. He asked me to confirm that I would come to Buffalo in August 2019 in any event. I did so immediately and I did not withdraw when my own health problems presented challenges," Ms Ginsburg said, referring to an attorney she knew while at college in Cornell, and one who has since passed away.
In Arizona, the former sheriff of Maricopa County who was once pardoned by Donald Trump, Joe Arpaio, is trying to get his job back.
"Watch out world! We are back!" Mr Arpaio said in a statement on Monday, announcing he would run for his old job.
Mr Arpaio was pardoned by Mr Trump over federal contempt of court convictions.
Mr Arpaio promised in his statement to reinstate the extreme measures his tenure as sheriff became known for — like keeping immigrants in outdoor tents in the boiling Arizona sun.
The newest 2020 poll shows things tightening among Democrats.
The survey, from Monmouth University, found that Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizebeth Warren all in a statistical tie for first place among national Democratic voters.
Mr Sanders and Ms Warren each received 20 per cent support in the poll, while Mr Biden dropped from his 32 per cent lead to 19 per cent.
Joe Biden has booked a spot on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, to be aired next week.
The appearance will be the former vice president's first on a late night show since he joined the 2020 race earlier this year.
He has been a guest of Colbert's previously, when he spoke about what personal loss and grief means for him.
Joe Biden says he is not "going nuts", after a couple of gaffes on the campaign trail.
Mr Biden had called New Hampshire "Vermont" during a recent visit there, receiving a bit of criticism even though the town he was in was fairly close to that state.
Mr Biden also forgot the name of a building he was speaking at on the Dartmouth College campus last week.
"I want to be clear, I'm not going nuts," Mr Biden said. "I'm not sure whether it was the medical school or where the hell I spoke. But it was on the campus."
On the campaign trail, Bernie Sanders joined up with striking AT&T workers in Kentucky, joining them on Sunday before a rally in Louisville.
Mr Sanders joined a rally that was a part of several across at least nine states, with 20,000 workers protesting labour practices at the telecommunications company.
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