Trump news: President threatens Portland protesters with ‘strong offensive force’ as White House condemns delay of Hong Kong elections
Follow the latest updates
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump has threatened Portland protesters with "very strong offensive force" as the federal government and residents continue to clash in the liberal city. The president warned he might send the National Guard to stop the "terrorists" in the city.
In Albuquerque, meanwhile, activists vowed to meet federal agents with peaceful protests and civil disobedience as Trump said the government's response would expand to more cities, including Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee.
This comes as White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has slammed China for delaying Hong Kong elections, even though that is what Mr Trump suggested on Twitter for the United States' own presidential election.
Mr Trump refused to back down from his controversial suggestion that November's election be postponed despite an outcry among his fellow Republicans, insisting "I don't want to see a crooked election", as he continues to claim mail-in voting - a likely necessity given the coronavirus outbreak - is vulnerable to fraud.
Dr Anthony Fauci testified before lawmakers about the Trump administration's coronavirus response, with the president praising a line of questioning from Republican Jim Jordan. The infectious disease expert was asked he wouldn't make a recommendation on the virus spreading at protests after while he was quick to make recommendations about baseball.
The CDC is forecasting 173,000 deaths by mid-August. Democrats and Republicans are expected to meet on Saturday to discuss the next coronavirus relief package after Trump tweeted criticism at Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer for failing to reach an agreement by Friday.
Dr Fauci says Europe better at managing Covid-19 than US due to widespread nature of shutdown
Here's Oliver O'Connell with the latest from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, where Fauci has been criticising the US response to the pandemic.
“We really functionally shut down only about 50 per cent in the sense of the totality of the country," he says. “We started off with a very difficult baseline of transmission that was going on at the time that we tried to open up the country."
Dr Fauci clashes with top Trump loyalist over proposed crackdown on protests during pandemic
Typical. You wait for one breaking news story about the mild-mannered medico and two come along at once.
He's since been grabbling with ex-wrestling coach Jim Jordan.
Danielle Zoellner brings us this one.
Dr Fauci 'cautiously optimistic' jab is possible this year
Here's Justin Vallejo with an unprecedented third!
The little physician has been discussing his hopes for a Covid-19 vaccine before the year's end.
White House says Americans about to lose $600 coronavirus aid 'should call' Democrats
As discussed earlier, talks are ongoing in Washington about the upcoming expiry of existing unemployment benefits arrangements - and becoming increasingly fractious on this evidence after the Dems said current Republican proposals were not good enough.
John T Bennett has this one.
Why this voter thinks Trump is turning the US into a 'police state' – but hopes Biden can inspire enough people Chris Riotta with his latest Polarized column:
White House condemns China for delaying Hong Kong elections despite Trump suggesting same for US
The White House on Friday condemned China's decision to delay an election in Hong Kong by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic even as Donald Trump continues floating the idea about the US election slated for November.
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump administration officials "condemn the Hong Kong government's decision to postpone for one year its legislative ... elections, and to disqualify opposition candidates. This action undermines democratic processes and freedoms that have underpinned Hong Kong's prosperity."
"This is only the most recent [of] a growing list of broken promises by Beijing," she added.
Here is Donald Trump's tweet suggesting the election should be postponed:
John T Bennett has the full story:
Nearly two-thirds of Americans disprove in Trump's handling of coronavirus, race relations, and Russia, poll says
Americans were polled in a new ABC/Ipsos poll about how they think President Donald Trump is handling the coronavirus pandemic, race relations, and Russia – all potential obstacles for the president in the upcoming election.
The poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans disproved of Mr Trump's handling of all three challenges.
Mr Trump's approval rating as July comes to an end sits at 34 per cent, just one point above his record low of 33 per cent, which occurred at the start of July, from another ABC/Ipsos poll.
The new poll also found Mr Trump stands at a 36 per cent approval rating for his handling of race relations and Russia.
He still holds support from the Republican party on all three challenges, but even that support has diminished in recent weeks. About 74 per cent of Republicans back the president on the coronavirus, 78 per cent back him on race relations and protests, and 80 per cent back him on Russia.
Roughly 1 in 5 Republicans disapprove of the president in the three areas while 9 in 10 Democrats disapprove of the president in those areas.
Approval among Independents has also fallen for the president, as only 30 to 33 per cent approve of his handlings on the three challenges of coronavirus, race relations, and Russia.
Mr Trump was facing problems along race lines when it comes to his administration's handling of the protests across the country. Only 45 per cent of whites, 7 per cent of black Americans, and 28 per cent of Hispanics support the president in this area.
Meanwhile, less than one-third of those polled thought sending federal officers to cities across the US was making the situation better.
Trump threatens Portland protesters with 'very strong offensive force'
Donald Trump on Friday threatened protesters in Portland, saying federal police he sent there are ready to use "very strong offensive force."
"If it doesn't clear up, we're going to do something very powerful," the president said a day after he warned protesters there that he dubbed "terrorists" he is poised to send in National Guard troops.
"We have no choice," he said, because "the left-wing extremists have spread mayhem throughout the streets of different cities."
John T Bennett with the breaking news:
Jimmy Fallon ridicules Trump's claim 2020 election could be delayed: 'It's not the release date for Bill & Ted 3!'
Jimmy Fallon has ridiculed Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 presidential election could be delayed.
The host addressed the topic on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
On Thursday, Mr Trump sought to delegitimise the results of the 2020 vote, relying on unfounded claims that mail-in ballots would lead to fraudulent results. "Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???" he wrote.
Only Congress has the authority to amend the date of a planned presidential election.
Clémence Michallon reports:
Dr Fauci says he's not concerned with China interfering in vaccine creation
"What we do is transparent ... So if they want to hack into a computer and find out results of a vaccine trial ... they're going to hear about it in the New England Journal of Medicine in a few days anyway," Dr Anthony Fauci said when questioned during a House subcommittee on Friday.
He referenced how the US typically shared its medical research anyway with the public, so any interference from China would not impact the development.
But experts have expressed concern over China attempting to tap into American research.
The Justice Department accused a pair of Chineses hackers earlier this month of attempting to steal vaccine research.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies