BREAKING: “The president’s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We’re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.”
--A source familiar with the President's health, to pool reporters
NEW:
@POTUS
and
@FLOTUS
confirm there will soon be a First Cat at the White House. "She is waiting in the wings."
In their NBC interview, the First Lady said that they took Major to a shelter that had cats to see how he interacted with them, and "he did fine."
NEW: Despite the WH learning of Hope Hicks's positive diagnosis just before leaving for NJ, Pres Trump didn't get a rapid test until AFTER his return. It was positive, prompting the PCR test, a WH official tells
@CBSNews
.
He called into Hannity while awaiting the PCR results.
NEWS: VP Mike Pence did not meet with President Trump while he was at the White House today, a senior administration official confirms to
@benstracy
. The two have still not spoken since Wednesday morning.
@CBSNews
NEW: Regeneron spox Hala Mirza tells
@CBSNews
's
@amybirn
that it's incorrect to call what the President has received "polyclonal antibodies."
“It is two monoclonal antibodies. It was incorrect in the physician’s letter.”
A real change in tone for President Trump here on coronavirus:
"It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better. Something I don't like saying about things but that's the way it is. That's what we have."
NEW: Oprah says on
@CBSThisMorning
that Prince Harry wanted people to know that neither the Queen nor Prince Phillip were involved in the racist conversations about his son Archie's skin color.
BREAKING: There have been discussions among cabinet members regarding potentially invoking the 25th Amendment,
@margbrennan
reports. However, it has NOT been formally presented to the Vice President by cabinet members.
@CBSNews
Senator Cruz confirms to reporters he'd planned to stay in Cancun through the weekend.
When the power went out at his home & school was canceled, his kids said "let's go somewhere where it's not so cold," so they booked the trip to Cancun.
"It's been a tough week," he said.
President Trump just arrived at Camp David for the weekend. He'll be joined by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and the following lawmakers:
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Rep. Matt Gaetz
Rep. Devin Nunes
Rep. Jim Jordan
Rep. Elise Stefanik
Rep. Lee Zeldin
Trump on Bolton as a witness:
“The problem with John is it’s a national security problem. He knows some of my thoughts. He knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals how I feel about another leader and it’s not positive...it would make the job a lot harder.”
A Virginia potato farmer invited Pres Trump to visit his farm.
TRUMP: "I might. I'll be there. We're going after VA. With your crazy governor? We're going after VA. They want to take your second amendment away. You know that, right? You'll have nobody guarding your potatoes."
Trump legal team statement on AG Barr, who is currently at the WH after saying there’s no evidence of fraud that would change the election outcome: “His opinion appears to be without any knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud.”
NEW:
@CBSNews
has obtained several state reports by the WH Coronavirus Task Force, which warn:
"There is now aggressive, unrelenting, expanding broad community spread across the country, reaching most counties, without evidence of improvement but rather, further deterioration."
NEW: G7 leaders are organizing an emergency meeting shortly at President Biden's hotel here in Bali to talk about the Russian missile strikes in Poland that killed 2 people, US and Japanese officials tell me and
@nancycordes
.
@CBSNews
.
@NikkiHaley
told
@NorahODonnell
this morning on
@CBSSunday
: “Kelly and Tillerson confided in me that when they resisted the president, they weren't being insubordinate, they were trying to save the country.”
NEW: A federal official confirms to
@CBSNews
that the US has seen a 9% decrease in new
#COVID19
cases over the last week compared with the previous week, but a 24% INCREASE in deaths over that same period
The below note went out this afternoon to American citizens requesting to be evacuated from Afghanistan,
@alanacbs
reports. It instructs people to come to Hamid Karzai Intl Airport in Kabul, but says the US govt cannot guarantee their safety as they make the trip.
@CBSNews
Today Pres Trump suggested that if people receive a ballot in the mail, they should send it in & then still go vote in person. He claims if their mail-in ballot has already been "tabulated," they shouldn't be able to have their vote count twice.
To be clear, this is voter fraud
“I don’t know who that is,” Mulvaney said of George Kent. “I don’t believe I’ve ever spoken to anyone named George Kent in my life.”
Kent, a State Dept Ukraine expert, testified this week Mulvaney told him to “lay low” when he raised concerns about Giuliani
President Trump produced a mask from his pocket:
"I have the mask right here. I carry it, and I will use it gladly...I view it this way - anything that potentially can help and that certainly potentially can help is a good thing."
He adds, "I'm getting used to the mask."
Only a small group at the White House was told of Hicks's diagnosis. The official couldn't confirm Pres Trump was told then but assumes he was.
Asked why Trump wasn't tested before going to NJ, the official said he'd likely had a negative test that morning, but wouldn't confirm
.
@CBSNews
confirms the White House is working on an Executive Order to decrease American dependence on foreign countries and to bring production back to the US by requiring federal agencies looking to purchase pharmaceuticals and medical supplies/equipment to “Buy American"
Per
@JuddPDeere45
President Trumo was invited to the UFC championship by Dana White. Guests include Kevin McCarthy, Mark Meadows, Peter King, Don Jr. and Eric Trump
Gugino's out of the ICU but still hospitalized.
His lawyers tell
@NicoleSganga
no one from law enforcement said he's anything other than a peaceful protester so "we are at a loss to understand why" the President "would make such dark, dangerous, & untrue accusations against him"
NEWS: Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf is RESIGNING,
@AndyTriay
reports. Wolf becomes the third cabinet secretary to resign in the wake of the assault on the Capitol last Wednesday.
@CBSNews
Following their packed briefing room appearance, K-Pop superstars
@bts_bighit
are set to meet with President Biden now to discuss “the need to come together in solidarity, Asian inclusion and representation, and addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination.”
#BTS
Rep. Debbie Dingell on Fox said the President's remarks about her late husband "kicked me in the stomach...I don't need an apology, I don't want an apology...What I want is for people to take a deep breath and think going forward that their words have consequences."
NEWS: Today the Labor Dept will formally release the details of the OSHA rule requiring employers with 100+ employees to ensure their workers are either vaccinated by January 4 or test weekly for COVID-19, per the White House
President Trump just took questions for the first time since Election Day.
He again alleged fraud without evidence, said it would be a "hard thing" to concede and a "mistake" should the Electoral College vote for Biden, & called the GA Secretary of State an "enemy of the people"
President Biden is convening a call this morning with allies "to underscore our continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression," a WH official tells
@CBSNews
.
First reported by Bloomberg
President Trump says CNN is talking about "covid, covid, covid" all the time to try to keep people from voting. "People aren't buying it, CNN, you dumb bastards."
NEWS: President Biden announces the US, in coordination with the G7 & EU, is revoking PNTR (permanent normal trade relations, aka Most Favored Nation status) for Russia.
The US is also banning the import of key goods from the Russian economy, including seafood, vodka & diamonds
Per the CDC: "Riot control agents (sometimes referred to as “tear gas”) are chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin."
Pepper balls contain such chemical irritants
President Trump adds that valets have "already started" wearing masks. Sources told
@CBSNews
yesterday that valets do not always wear masks in the White House. One of the duties of the valet who tested positive is to serve the President his meals
President Trump: "We're instead asking Americans to use masks, socially distance, and employ vigorous hygiene...We are imploring young Americans to avoid packed bars and other crowded indoor gatherings. Be safe and be smart."
President Trump says that the valet who has tested positive for
#coronavirus
was in the room with him on Tuesday.
@CBSNews
learned yesterday that the valet had started to feel sick on Tuesday and received the positive test on Wednesday
NEW:
@PressSec
announces the admin has increased the amount of weekly vaccine doses going to states to 13.5 million/week; a 57% increase since Jan 20.
Press Sec also announces the admin is doubling the supply to the pharmacy program: 2 million doses going to pharmacies this week
NEW: Upon his arrival at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, President Trump went directly to the Presidential Suite — he was not seen in the emergency room first,
@nancycordes
reports.
@CBSNews
Spotted entering the West Wing just after 11am:
@KimKardashian
, along with several women granted clemency by
@realDonaldTrump
--Alice Johnson, Tynice Hall, Crystal Munoz, and Judith Negron
NEW:
@CBSNews
has footage of
@RepChrisCollins
speaking on his phone at last summer's White House Congressional Picnic. Taken at approximately 7:17 pm; according to the indictment, Collins called his son Cameron at 7:16 pm and they spoke for 6:08 min.
NEW: President Biden is denying executive privilege to former Trump White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, who has been subpoenaed by the Jan 6th Committee. In a letter obtained by
@CBSNews
, Deputy WH Counsel Jonathan Su informed Navarro of the decision.
Full statement from Dr. Bright & his attorneys. Bright says he was removed as BARDA Dir & transferred to NIH for pressing the govt to better vet COVID-19 treatments, esp hydroxychloroquine. He’s asking HHS IG to investigate.
@CBSNews
h/t
@nancycordes
First reported by
@maggieNYT
WH Deputy Press Secretary Press Secretary Sarah Matthews resigned today,
@kristincbrown
and
@finnygo
have confirmed.
WH Social Secretary Rickie Niceta also resigned today in response to today's violent protests, a source familiar confirms to me.
@CBSNews
Asked if he would accept the results of the election, Trump says, "If it's a fair and legal and good election, absolutely."
Biden responds that if Trump loses, "I doubt that you'll accept it because you're such a whiner."
President Trump: "The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA)--and that's such a powerful term--for a treatment known as convalescent plasma."
As
@weijia
reported last week, Dr. Collins, Dr. Fauci & others at NIH warned FDA Commissioner Hahn against approving the EUA
On a call w/ WH staff, this AM, COS Jeff Zients said, “This is an official call, so I can’t talk about the campaign….the WH Counsel said there’s one thing I couldn’t talk about, and that was the next POTUS, President of the United States, whoever SHE may be.” (via
@nancycordes
)
NEWS:
@PressSec
confirms that on Friday, President Biden will meet virtually with the leaders of Japan, Australia, and India. This will be the first head-of-state level meeting with the members of "The Quad."
NEWS: "We believe that the Russian government is responsible for widespread cyberattacks on Ukrainian banks this week," says Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber Anne Neuberger, citing technical information linking Russia's GRU to the attacks
More from the White House Coronavirus Task Force:
"Current mitigation efforts are inadequate and must be increased to flatten the curve to sustain the health system for both COVID and non-COVID emergencies."
NEWS:
@SpeakerPelosi
says they have decided to proceed with the Electoral College vote tally "tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use."
She spoke with Congressional leaders, DOD, DOJ, and the VP.
Again, notably absent from this list: President Trump
UPDATE: President Trump is NO LONGER planning to go to Camp David for the weekend as originally planned. The White House is declining to comment on the reason for the change in schedule.
His public schedule for tomorrow👇
.
@SpeakerPelosi
: "These insurrectionists were not patriots...they were domestic terrorists...They did not appear out of a vacuum. They were sent here by the President to 'fight like hell.'"
This is a statement from
@GaSecofState
Raffensperger:
"The Kraken Cracks Under Pressure: Sidney Powell Claims 'No Reasonable Person Would Conclude That [Her] Statements Were Truly Statements Of Fact'”
Happening now: President-elect
@JoeBiden
gets his first dose of the
#coronavirus
vaccine.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Biden says of getting the vaccine, after getting it on-camera in order to instill public confidence
Statement from the Office of President-elect Biden, per pool:
"Until the GSA Administrator ascertains the results of the election, the president-elect and vice president-elect will meet with outside experts and former government leaders to aid with his national security planning"
On this very busy news day, President Trump announces he is adding 6 countries to the travel ban: Nigeria, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar
NEW: The FDA has withdrawn its Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine after determining it is unlikely to be effective in treating
#COVID19
for authorized uses. It found the potential benefits no longer outweigh the health risks
Sen. Rand Paul: "I think we ought to look at the Swedish model," which practices herd immunity, when considering reopening schools in the fall.
Dr. Fauci: "I think we better careful that we are not cavalier in thinking children are completely immune from deleterious effects"
WH readout of that 7/25 call: "President Trump and President Zelenskyy discussed ways to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Ukraine, including energy and economic cooperation. Both leaders also expressed that they look forward to the opportunity to meet."
CDC Director Redfield sent a letter to governors "urgently" requesting them to expedite applications for vaccine distribution facilities and waive requirements that would prevent them "from becoming fully operational" by November 1,
@CBSNews
confirms.
First reported by
@mcclatchy
Corey Lewandowski, who served as President Trump's first campaign manager in 2016 and has been a longtime advisor to the President, tells
@CBSNews
he will not attend tomorrow's sendoff event at JBA. via
@ArdenFarhi
At event announcing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as his Labor Sec nominee, Pres-elect
@JoeBiden
says he gave "serious consideration" to nominating
@SenSanders
. But after Dems won Senate control in the GA runoffs he & Bernie agreed not to put that at risk through a VT special election
Among those who have weighed in on Pres Trump's impeachment: Putin, who said Trump was impeached for "made up reasons." He added, "the party that lost the election, the Democratic Party, is trying to get results by other means," and he doesn't think the Senate will remove Trump
Q: Did you come back because you felt guilty or because you got caught?
Cruz: "It was obviously a mistake and in hindsight I wouldn't have done it."
But he also tried to deflect some blame: "We're in a strange time where Twitter is going crazy and the media is going crazy."
SCOOP: The RNC is planning a fireworks display at the Washington Monument at 11:30pm on August 27--the night President Trump will give his convention acceptance speech from the White House--per a permit application obtained by
@CBSNews
Here we go: "Anonymous," the author of a NYT op-ed essay and tell-all book, "A Warning," is expected to reveal their identity Wednesday afternoon, per
@jdawsey1