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 20:00 · Chris Riotta]

Democrats are calling on their Republican counterparts to break away from Donald Trump on his national emergency declaration, as reports indicate there could be as many as 10 GOP lawmakers who defect from their party on the battle for the US-Mexico border wall. 

[20 February 2019 20:15 · Chris Riotta]

A former staffer on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has filed a class action lawsuit in an effort to invalidate every nondisclosure and non-disparagement agreement signed among members of the campaign, including staff and volunteers. The major suit was first reported by BuzzFeed News:

[20 February 2019 20:32 · Chris Riotta]

Adam Schiff — one of the top Democrats investigating Donald Trump and the White House administration in the US House of Representatives — has posted the following statement lambasting the president amid a week of tumultuous scandals arising out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue:

[20 February 2019 20:46 · Chris Riotta]

While this is also tangentially related to Donald Trump, it's a must-watch example of his favourite news network appearing to avoid airing a Dutch historian who spoke boldly about Fox News' ties to right-wing billionaire groups. The video was recorded and uploaded online after host Tucker Carlson failed to air the interview: 

[20 February 2019 21:00 · Chris Riotta]

President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was granted a few more weeks of freedom Wednesday after his lawyer said he is still recovering from shoulder surgery and needs to prepare for congressional testimony.

US District Judge William H. Pauley III approved the delay from 6 March to 6 May without comment after Cohen’s lawyer said physical therapy and anticipated testimony before three congressional committees made it hard for him to quickly get his affairs in order.

AP

[20 February 2019 21:17 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump has posted a message to his Twitter claiming he ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to refuse US entry for Hoda Muthana, a woman trying to allegedly return to the country after joining the Islamic State. 

The Secretary of State has said Ms Muthana is not a US citizen. 

[20 February 2019 21:30 · Chris Riotta]

The president also shared this video on Twitter of barrier construction along the US-Mexico border: 

[20 February 2019 21:55 · Clark Mindock]

Reports from CNN indicate the Mueller probe may be winding down, with the attorney general potentially announcing its end as soon as next week.

Here is our report on that news:

[20 February 2019 22:25 · Clark Mindock]

While we've mostly focused on Donald Trump in this blog, Democrats are worth a quick mention.

Some, like freshman Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are making waves with a proposed Green New Deal. But, while the measure has largely been cheered on by progressives, some are less certain. 

Here's the response from Senator Dick Durbin, a top Democrat in the Senate.

[20 February 2019 22:41 · Clark Mindock]

That's it for our coverage of Trump news for the evening.

Thanks for reading along with us!