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.
Trump administration accused of failing to plan for rollout of coronavirus vaccine
US health officials and state politicians are growing increasingly concerned that the
Donald Trump White House is not prepared to oversee and execute a coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Danielle Koeing told Reuters that her requests for information to the federal government have been unanswered since April.
"We have not heard anything from the federal government since 23 April," she said.
Graig Graziosi reports:
Trump's cure of coronavirus: Personal responsibility
"The single best way to defeat the disease is personal responsibility, you've heard me say it you've heard a lot of people say it actually," Trump said today at a Covid-19 response and storm preparedness roundtable in Florida.
"The fact is you have to do the social distancing thing, it's very important, socially distance, wear a mask when you cannot avoid crowded places... and wash your hands as often as possible."
The US holds 90 per cent of global supply of Remdesivir, Trump says
Trump said today that the US has secured 90 per cent of the world's supply of experimental coronavirus therapeutic treatment Remdesivir.
Activists in Albuquerque vow to meet Trump's federal agents with peaceful protests and civil disobedience
From The Independent's Graig Graziosi:
Albuquerque protesters have said they will meet federal agents sent by Donald Trump with civil disobedience and peaceful protests.
After an announcement this week that federal agents were pulling out of Portland, the US president announced more agents would be going to Albuquerque to combat violent crime in the city,
On Friday, the Trump administration said it would also send federal agents to Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee.
Activists organised by the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice gathered at a park and announced their intent to push back on any "Portland style occupation" of their city by federal law enforcement agencies.
"When Trump sends stormtroopers here, we will greet them with nonviolence," Jim Harvey, director of the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice said.
Read more below.
Russian bounties on US soldiers 'another Russia hoax', Trump says
When asked if he read intelligence in the daily presidential briefing about Russian bounties placed on US soldiers in Afghanistan, Trump said he thinks the story is "another Russia hoax."
"I read it [the daily briefing] all the time, I see it all the time. It was never brought to my attention I think it was another Russia hoax," Trump said.
"It was never brought to my attention... if it did take place it would have been brought to my attention and I would take very strong action."
Analysis: Trump seemed down all week. So his staff planned a pick-me-up in his home state
Donald Trump needed a pick-me-up. He got it Friday afternoon in his new home state, Florida.
He was slated to go straight from Air Force One at Tampa International Airport to a "campaign coalitions" event with Sunshine State sheriffs. But as the executive jet neared the west Florida landing strip, reporters tweeted photos and video of the scene: a presidential lectern was set up along with loud speakers opposite hundreds of Trump-gear-clad supporters.
What unfolded was some sunshine-soaked political Prozac for a commander in chief who spent most of the week noticeably downtrodden -- even sounding rather sad.
The Independent's John T Bennett looks at the Trump week that was.
ICYMI: Trump says mail-in ballots will lead to 'greatest election disaster in history'
Trailing Joe Biden in national and battleground state polls, Donald Trump escalated his criticism of mail-in voting on Friday by predicting November will bring the "greatest election disaster in history".
"It'll be fixed. It'll be rigged ... People ought to get smart," the president said. "This is going to be the greatest election disaster in history ... You won't know the election results for weeks, months, maybe years. Maybe you'll never know the election result."
Mr Trump on Thursday had backtracked from his initial calls for an election delay, but appeared to push the idea again on Friday. Congress has the power to set the election date, not the president, according to the US Constitution.
He again endorsed absentee ballots, but warned governors who are increasing the number of mail-in ballots that they are ensuring voting fraud on a massive scale.
"It'll go on forever," he roared about vote-counting and uncertainty, sounding very much like a president who wants to delay an election, moments after adding a twist to his latest self-made controversy.
John T Bennett reports.
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