PRESENTED BY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY |
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Trump: 'So, who are you going to believe? ME ... or that guy?: |
| President Trump sparked bipartisan outrage over his reported "shithole countries" remark. / Source: Getty | |
President Trump on Friday addressed the reports that he referred to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries." He tweeted: "The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made -- a big setback for DACA!" http://bit.ly/2qWjFHL And on Haiti specifically: He tweeted: "Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said 'take them out.' Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings -- unfortunately, no trust!" http://bit.ly/2qWjFHL |
REACTION FROM THE REPORTER WHO BROKE THE STORY: |
The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey told CNN the fact that the White House did not deny the story overnight until Trump's tweet this morning was proof enough that the quote was real. "In the course of our reporting yesterday we took the comments we were going to report directly to the White House, told them exactly what we were going to say. We did not get a denial," Dawsey told CNN. http://bit.ly/2ATB3wM |
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Late this morning -- from a senator in the room: |
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) fired back at President Trump for denying the remarks. In his words: "You've seen the comments in the press," Durbin said. "I've not seen one of them that's inaccurate. To no surprise, the president started tweeting this morning, denying that he used those words. It is not true. He said these hate-filled things, and he said them repeatedly." |
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TGIF. I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook. |
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To view the 12:30 Report online --> http://bit.ly/2AUILGH |
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PROGRAMMING NOTE: |
The Hill's 12:30 Report will be off Monday for the holiday and will be back on Tuesday. Same time. Same place. Be there. |
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This timing is cringe worthy: |
President Trump just signed a proclamation honoring civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. as the White House sought to contain blowback from Trump's incendiary remarks about African nations. "He stirred the hearts of our people to recognize the dignity written in every human soul," Trump said. "Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God." Meanwhile, Trump was dealing with blowback from lawmakers in both parties who have condemned the president for disparaging immigrants from poor, predominantly black nations as coming from "shithole countries." http://bit.ly/2CW6TL8 |
OH AND...: |
Trump ignored a question from White House reporter April Ryan who asked if the president is a racist. Watch: http://bit.ly/2qYD7Uu |
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RECAP — WHAT THREW THE NEWS CYCLE FOR A LOOP | |
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Why you keep hearing the word 'shithole': |
Via The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey, President Trump referred to some immigrants coming from "shithole countries" during a heated exchange about immigration. "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump said, according to people briefed on the meeting. The countries Trump was referring to: Haiti, El Salvador and African countries. How this came up: in a discussion about a bipartisan immigration deal. Countries Trump would prefer to have immigrants from: Norway; he also suggested Asian countries that would help the United States economically. Ooph: "Why do we need more Haitians?" Trump said, according to people familiar with the meeting. "Take them out." Full story -- it's gone viral: http://wapo.st/2CVaN70 |
NO INITIAL DENIAL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE -- YEAH, WE MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT. WE SAY A LOTTA THINGS: |
On Thursday, the White House on did not deny that President Trump referred to "shithole countries." Statement from the White House: "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," White House spokesperson Raj Shah said. http://bit.ly/2qXuxVZ |
THE GIST OF THE REACTION --> http://bit.ly/2AUDX4d: |
There has been backlash from both parties: http://bit.ly/2FuephZ |
FROM THE COUNTRIES HE MENTIONED: |
Here's how Haiti and African countries reacted to Trump's remark. http://wapo.st/2ECbcM1 A tweet from Haiti. This sums up the reaction: |
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REACTION FROM A GOP LAWMAKER: |
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) called Trump's remarks "reprehensible" and "racist." http://bit.ly/2qUPLDT |
TIDBIT: |
"No question -- Trump is helping the Democratic Party do that which the Democratic Party cannot do for itself: unify, mobilize, raise $" (Via Politico's Tim Alberta) http://bit.ly/2mxp6s6 |
OP-ED: |
Author Raoul Lowery Contreras writes about President Trump and race. http://bit.ly/2muJ2Mi |
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I wonder if Robert Mueller shows up in President Trump's stress dreams: |
Via The Hill's Jordan Fabian and Morgan Chalfant, President Trump could face the greatest political and legal peril of his life if he agrees to an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller on Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. What Trump would likely be asked about: Whether he obstructed justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey and his knowledge of the Russia probe. He would almost certainly be required to: Speak under oath with the FBI or members of Mueller's team, meaning he could open himself up to a perjury charge by making false statements. http://bit.ly/2moxOYV Keep in mind: The so-called perjury trap is what ensnared former President Bill Clinton, who testified before a federal grand jury convened by special prosecutor Kenneth Starr in the Whitewater investigation. That could help explain why Trump on Wednesday refused to commit to speaking under oath with Mueller. |
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This tweet has gone viral: |
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PRESENTED BY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: | |
Join Georgetown University's Graduate Liberal Studies programs for an info session on 1/16 at 2043 Rayburn. Hear from Congressman Mike Turner, network with faculty and alumni, and enjoy lunch on us!
Learn more. |
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The House and Senate are out until next week. 10:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence had a phone call with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland. 11:30 a.m. EST: President Trump signed a proclamation to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 12:45 p.m. EST: President Trump has his annual physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medial Center. 4:30 p.m. EST: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump leave Washington, D.C., for Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Next Friday: The government shuts down unless Congress passes a spending bill. |
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On NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The roundtable will include CBN's David Brody; The New York Times's Helene Cooper; Time magazine's Elise Jordan; and MSNBC's Chris Matthews. |
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Today is National Marzipan Day. It's also National Curried Chicken Day. |
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Guys, this is real: |
The New York Times has a "how to" guide to exercising your face. It involves face "push-ups." The photos are ... interesting: http://nyti.ms/2EA0OUY |
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Mark your calendars!: |
Via Popville, six large-scale works from Burning Man are coming to Washington, D.C. Details: http://bit.ly/2Dp3Agu |
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And to kick off your holiday weekend, here's arguably the happiest dog I've ever seen balancing a flower and butterfly on his nose. I can't with his facial expression: http://bit.ly/2EAGuTu |
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