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 18:15 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump Jr is lashing out at an Out Magazine report which labels the efforts of his father’s administration surrounding the decriminalization of homosexuality worldwide an “old racist tactic.” 

[20 February 2019 18:30 · Chris Riotta]

Vladimir Putin played into some of Donald Trump’s biggest talking points over the course of his presidency — including a conspiracy theory surrounding a “deep state” — during his annual state-of-the-union speech. 

The Russian president also made not-so-thinly veiled threats against the US during the major speech:

[20 February 2019 18:45 · Chris Riotta]

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is further explaining explosive comments he made to CNN last night in which he said Donald Trump may possibly be a “Russian asset.” 

“Numerous people in and around the president, in and around the campaign, maintained contacts with individuals from Russia,” he said, adding, “people connected to the Russian intelligence services."

[20 February 2019 19:00 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer has been granted a two-moth extension from the deadline for him to report to prison. The president's longtime confidant must now begin his sentencing in early May.

[20 February 2019 19:13 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump is speaking to reporters in the Oval Office about Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, saying its release will “I guess from what I understand that will be totally up to the new attorney general.”

[20 February 2019 19:15 · Chris Riotta]

The New York Times has released a response to Donald Trump’s claims the paper is the “enemy of the people” after it reported on the president’s two-year battle against major investigations looking at his life and inner circle. 

"The phrase 'enemy of the people' is not just false, it’s dangerous,” the statement read. “It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information."

[20 February 2019 19:16 · Chris Riotta]

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see something workout” with North Korea, the president said on Wednesday. “I really believe as an economic power … tremendous potential for economic well-being long-term.”

[20 February 2019 19:18 · Chris Riotta]

Trump is now discussing former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, calling him a “complete disaster”.

“He’s really made a fool of himself,” he continued. “He looks like a poor man’s J Edgar Hoover.” 

[20 February 2019 19:30 · Chris Riotta]

Interesting data point when it comes to the president’s approval ratings: Americans at the below income rate hold the exact same approval ratings for Donald Trump as they did when he first took office:

[20 February 2019 19:45 · Chris Riotta]

Though it isn’t exactly being considered a “major scandal,” the issue of Donald Trump replacing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein with Jeffrey Rosen — a man who holds zero prosecutorial experience — is causing concern among legal experts. 

Many are pointing out the appointment “raises questions about how [Rosen] will handle so many hot-button issues, especially under pressure from [the White House].”