Trump news: President launches new attack on 'enemy of the people' media amid fresh claims over Saudi nuclear deal

Former White House ethics chief, Richard Painter: Donald Trump is 'mentally unwell'

Donald Trump has lashed out at The New York Times after the paper reported he asked his then-acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker whether an investigator of his choosing could be put in charge of the investigation into “hush money” payments handled on his behalf by ex-fixer Michael Cohen.

With that report dominating cable news coverage throughout the day on Tuesday and into Wednesday, Mr Trump responded with an angry tweet on Wednesday, branding the newspaper as "a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE."

That attack, which follows after more than two years of attacks by Mr Trump on the media, was among several different major news developments of the week. In addition to the attack on the media, Mr Trump and Washington grappled with several other notable concerns, including:

• The Democratic-led House Oversight Committee announced that it is launching an inquiry into a US bid to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, reportedly involving companies with ties to the Trump family
•  Former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, who is on a tour to promote his new book, said it is “possible” the president is a Russian asset.
• The special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election could be finished, with Attorney General William Barr set to announce that end as soon as next week, according to CNN.
• A judge announced that Mr Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen can report to prison later than previously required, so that he can testify before Congress. Mr Cohen's lawyer said earlier this week that his client plans on discussing a decades' worth of experience working for the Trump Organisation.

All of these developments come as Mr Trump plans his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week in Vietnam. It is not clear if that information might impact whether Mr Barr will hold off on sending the Mueller report to Congress for fear of impacting diplomatic talks abroad.

And, of course, all of this news comes as more and more Democrats join the 2020 primary field, with the hopes of removing him from office.

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Key Points

• President labels New York Times "enemy of the people"
• Paper says Trump asked for friendly attorney to take Cohen probe
• House Oversight Committee investigating Saudi nuclear deal
• Andrew McCabe says Trump a 'possible' Russian asset

[20 February 2019 12:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders announced his intention to run for the presidency again in 2020 yesterday and has already raised over $1m (£767,000) in campaigning financing in less than 24 hours.

President Trump has now welcomed "crazy" Bernie to the race.

[20 February 2019 12:45 · Joe Sommerlad]

President Trump is up, out of bed and already slamming the Fourth Estate for all he's worth. Sad!

[20 February 2019 13:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Oh perfect.

Sarah Isgur Flores, a former Justice Department spokeswoman during Jeff Sessions' tenure as attorney-general, has been appointed CNN's new political editor - despite having no prior journalism experience.

A CNN staffer told The Daily Beast the decision to hire Ms Isgur Flores - also once a communications director for the Republican National Committee and a Ted Cruz campaign aide - was “extremely demoralising for everyone” and “very bizarre”.

She apparently used to deride her new employers as the "Clinton News Network", which I suppose is very clever.

Here's Chris Baynes, far better qualified, with the story.

[20 February 2019 13:20 · Joe Sommerlad]

Popular Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has hit out at CNN's hiring of Sarah Isgur Flores.

[20 February 2019 13:40 · Joe Sommerlad]

Here's The Indy's Chris Riotta, arguing that if "Crazy" Bernie is running again in 2020, so should Hillary Clinton.

[20 February 2019 14:26 · Joe Sommerlad]

Although the president's attacks on the media and "Fake News" are nothing new, this is a deeply shocking statement.

[20 February 2019 14:41 · Joe Sommerlad]

As The New York Times recounted in a recent episode of its podcast The Daily, its publisher AG Sulzberger visited the White House at the end of January this year to express his concern about the president's use of anti-press rhetoric, including the phrase "enemy of the people".

Mr Sulzberger warned President Trump his comments had encouraged other global leaders to crack down on the media by using similar language. The president acknowledged Mr Sulzberger's comments and complained at length about the coverage he had received.

Today's tweet will remind British readers of The Daily Mail's notorious front page of 4 November 2016, depicting three judges the paper accused of betraying the electorate over Brexit under the headline: "Enemies of the people".

[20 February 2019 14:47 · Joe Sommerlad]

In addition to attacking The Times with a tweet as inflammatory as it was short on specifics, Donald Trump has also resumed his criticism of California over its costly bullet train.

[20 February 2019 15:05 · Joe Sommerlad]

Seven-year-old Benton Stevens of Texas has been branded a "Little Hitler" by angry motorists after opening a hot chocolate stall by the side of the road to raise funds for President Trump's border wall, an idea he conceived after watching the State of the Union address on TV.

Sarah Harvard has more.

[20 February 2019 15:23 · Joe Sommerlad]

The president's "enemy of the people" tweet is, unsurprisingly, going down rather poorly with members of the press.

Jim Acosta, CNN's chief White House correspondent famously accused of shoving an intern in a doctored video, actually wrote a book entitled The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America, warning against the "Fake News" line of attack and featuring you-know-who on the cover.