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As it happenedended1562018047

Trump news: President 'demanding tanks on DC streets for July Fourth', amid growing questions over Ivanka role

Follow the latest updates from Washington, as it happened

Clark Mindock
New York
,Joe Sommerlad
Monday 01 July 2019 14:48 BST
Comments
Trump becomes first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea at meeting with Kim Jong-un

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Donald Trump is returning to Washington to plan for the Fourth of July after his four-day trip to Asia for the G20, which culminated in his historic crossing of the Demilitarised Zone between North Korea and South Korea at the invitation of dictator Kim Jong-un.

In doing so, Mr Trump became the first US president to step over the dividing line between the enemy states but his detractors have been quick to denounce the gesture as amounting to little more than a “photo opportunity” serving to legitimise a rogue nuclear power notorious for oppressing its people.

His daughter Ivanka has also been the victim of ridicule, cruelly mocked online for her unnecessary presence in Japan and Korea with the hashtag #unwantedivanka trending on Twitter. “Being someone’s daughter actually isn't a career qualification,” commented Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Speaking of Ms Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat took a trip to migrant detention centres on Monday, where she described horrid conditions for women.

During the first stop on her voyage, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said that US Customs and Border Protection officials were physically and sexually intimidating towards her, and that migrants in the facility had been told to drink water from the toilets.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez was expected to head over to the facility in Clint, Texas, where children have been held and reportedly denied soap and toothpaste.

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Here's a post that Donald Trump Jr retweeted this afternoon, mocking Joe Biden for his debate performance last week in Miami.

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 19:57
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New York State attorney general Leticia James has struck back after Donald Trump attacked investigators there, who are looking into his finances.

Ms James has previously called Mr Trump's presidency "illegitimate", and wrote on her official Twitter account that she would follow the open cases "wherever they lead."

"No one is above the law, not even the President."

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 20:15
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The 2020 Democratic race is heating up, and last week's debates have shown real vulnerability for the front-runner, Joe Biden.

The most recent Morning Consult poll showed that the former vice president shed 5 per cent of his support, and now leads the field with 33 per cent.

Bernie Sanders is in second place, with 19 per cent support, while Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris are close behind with 12 per cent support each.

And, Ms Harris' ambush of the former vice president has some advisers to the campaigns saying they believe Mr Biden's smooth glide to the 2020 Democratic nomination is now in peril.

"I just feel like the inevitability of Joe Biden is over," one adviser told POLITICO.

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 20:30
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Here's Kamala Harris, speaking about her brutal attack on Joe Biden last week during the first round of Democratic debates in Miami.

 

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 20:45
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Earlier on, a bombshell report from ProPublica was published about a secret Border Patrol Facebook group where members joked about migrant deaths, and posted sexist comments about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez has responded, shaming the group.

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 21:00
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Axios reports that Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the outgoing White House press secretary, is planning on writing a book about her time with Donald Trump.

She spent three and a half years with Mr Trump. We're not holding our breath for a critical reflection on Mr Trump's presidency, though.

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 21:15
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is visiting some Border Patrol detention centres, and is seeing first hand the brutality of these operations.

Here's Ms Ocasio-Cortez, in her own words:

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 21:30
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Clark Mindock1 July 2019 22:36
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That's it for us today, thank you for tuning in and reading our coverage of the top political news of the day.

See you tomorrow!

Clark Mindock1 July 2019 22:54

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