Far-left activists burned an American flag near the White House on Saturday evening as the nation celebrated its 244th birthday.
Townhall reporter Julio Rosas captured the anti-American display, writing on Twitter: &#8220;Protesters outside the White House have now set a big American flag on fire while chanting: America was never great!&#8221;
WATCH (Warning: Contains Graphic Language):
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Protesters outside the White House have now set a big American flag on fire while chanting: America was never great! <a href="https://t.co/448IPYUR0y">pic.twitter.com/448IPYUR0y</a>
&mdash; Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/1279569539227963392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/far-left-activists-dance-on-american-flag-f-the-4th-of-july-f-the-american-flag">Other videos</a> that were taken in the same area showed other far-left activists dancing on the American flag and saying &#8220;f*** the Fourth of July&#8221; and &#8220;f*** the American flag.&#8221;
Earlier in the day on Saturday, President Donald Trump released a message celebrating America&#8217;s 244th birthday:
<blockquote>On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of Independence in what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In taking this historic step, the Congress proclaimed “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” Today, we celebrate our Nation’s independence and the vision of our Founding Fathers revealed to the world on that fateful day, as well as the countless patriots who continue to ensure that the flames of freedom are never extinguished.
The enduring commitment to the ideals of liberty and justice that have come to define our American spirit stem from our Nation’s founding. In declaring that our rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” should be safeguarded for posterity and that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” our Founding Fathers launched the American experiment that espoused freedom and democracy over tyranny and monarchy. Two hundred and forty-four years later, the principles grounded in the Declaration of Independence continue to guide our Nation forward and maintain its standing as a beacon of liberty, prosperity, and opportunity for all.
Over the past months, the American spirit has undoubtedly been tested by many challenges. Yet, it is in the face of adversity that our country has had some of our proudest moments of triumph. Today, especially, we are reminded of the extraordinary feats that our Nation has accomplished since its founding nearly 250 years ago. Together, we must ensure that we live up to the ideals of our Declaration of Independence and do all that we can to protect and preserve the freedoms that make our country the greatest in the world.
The First Lady and I wish each and every American a happy and blessed Fourth of July and proudly join you in celebrating our great Nation. May God bless the United States of America.</blockquote>
This is a developing news story, refresh the page for updates.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers with the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe"> member</a>.

Burning American flag

Far-Left Activists Burn American Flag Near White House: ‘America Was Never Great!’

4th of July

American Flag

White House

Rioters in Washington, D.C., vandalized a church near the White House on Monday night as they attempted to establish a new &#8220;autonomous zone&#8221; called &#8220;Black House Autonomous Zone.&#8221;
Videos and photographs of the vandalism at the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church circulated on social media, which came after rioters <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/st-johns-church-washington-dc-damage">set the church on fire</a> late last month and stole an American flag off of the building and lit it on fire.
&#8220;By Monday evening, tents had been pushed off the street, but some remained on the sidewalk. Protesters had pushed construction barriers and sections of metal fence into the street in the area to create roadblocks. Someone had posted a sign spray-painted on plywood: &#8216;BHAZ: Black House Autonomous Zone,'&#8221; The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dc-police-and-protesters-square-off-near-white-house/2020/06/22/cec8c88c-b4c7-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html">reported</a>. &#8220;The sign appeared to be a play on the area that protesters have cordoned off in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood dubbed the &#8216;CHAZ.'&#8221;
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St. John’s Church has been vandalized with spray paint reading BHAZ (Black House Autonomous Zone) <a href="https://t.co/8D7UITVTK0">pic.twitter.com/8D7UITVTK0</a>
&mdash; Richie🎥McG🍿 (@RichieMcGinniss) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichieMcGinniss/status/1275224278582071296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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I have arrived at the Black House Autonomous Zone <a href="https://t.co/ohnd0nxqi4">pic.twitter.com/ohnd0nxqi4</a>
&mdash; Robby Soave (@robbysoave) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbysoave/status/1275245526578053126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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BHAZ — Black House Autonomous Zone — has been spray painted on the columns of the historic St. John’s church outside the White House. <a href="https://t.co/or2C2myVSX">pic.twitter.com/or2C2myVSX</a>
&mdash; Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1275248056783581184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Antifa clowns are trying to set up a &quot;Black House Autonomous Zone&quot; in Washington DC just blocks away from the White House. <a href="https://t.co/XvYvxMXK5M">pic.twitter.com/XvYvxMXK5M</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1275245917138894849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Rioters attempted to destroy a statue of former President Andrew Jackson earlier in the before D.C. police arrived on scene and stopped the destruction of property.
&#8220;U.S. Park and D.C. police used a chemical irritant to disperse the crowd and officers were hit with objects,&#8221; Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/andrew-jackson-statue-bhaz-washington-lafayette-park">reported</a>. &#8220;Nearby, videos circulating online showed people around Lafayette Park carrying wooden boards and fencing in an attempt to declare the autonomous zone. Orange and white barricades &#8212; originally erected by police &#8212; were moved from a church and added to others to make them longer.&#8221;
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) responded to the violence on Twitter, writing, &#8220;It’s about time DC police showed up to stop the mob. If Muriel Bowser won’t allow the police to do their job, @realDonaldTrump should deploy federal law enforcement to protect this 168-year-old statue and every other landmark in our nation’s capital.&#8221;
&#8220;And, by the way, criminal masterminds, you’re destroying a statue on federal property that commemorates the military service of Andrew Jackson, a crime that carries a 10-year sentence under the Veterans Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act,&#8221; Cotton continued. &#8220;And you’re on tape. Lock ‘em up!&#8221;
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And, by the way, criminal masterminds, you’re destroying a statue on federal property that commemorates the military service of Andrew Jackson, a crime that carries a 10-year sentence under the Veterans Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act. And you’re on tape.
Lock ‘em up!
&mdash; Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1275224089981079552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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President Donald Trump responded late on Monday night, writing: &#8220;Numerous people arrested in D.C. for the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St. John’s Church across the street. 10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!&#8221;
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Numerous people arrested in D.C. for the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St. John’s Church across the street. 10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1275258921704402945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Protests Continue Around Black Lives Matter Plaza In Washington, DC

WATCH: Rioters Vandalize Church Near White House That Was Previously Set On Fire

autonomous zone

church

Rioters in Washington, D.C., tried to tear down a statue of former President Andrew Jackson near the White House on Monday while others set up a new &#8220;autonomous zone&#8221; nearby.
The attack on the Jackson statue comes after rioters have destroyed other presidential statues including statues of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-rioters-burn-american-flag-on-fire-on-top-of-george-washington-statue-tear-it-down">George Washington</a>, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-protesters-tear-down-racist-statue-thomas-jefferson">Thomas Jefferson</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rioters-in-california-tear-down-statue-of-ulysses-s-grant-he-defeated-the-confederacy-devastated-kkk">Ulysses S. Grant</a>. On Sunday, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-new-york-city-museum-taking-down-statue-of-president-theodore-roosevelt">announced</a> that they were removing a statue of Theodore Roosevelt.
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Rioters are pulling down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square in DC. 
 <a href="https://t.co/U7XHcQ4sPt">pic.twitter.com/U7XHcQ4sPt</a>
&mdash; Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1275225850951000065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Daily Caller reporter Shelby Talcott was on scene and took video of the rioters trying to destroy the statue as law enforcement officials arrived on scene to stop the destruction of property.
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Police have arrived at the White House where protesters were trying to tear down a statue and build an autonomous zone. Tensions are high: <a href="https://t.co/TFnkOR8cs6">pic.twitter.com/TFnkOR8cs6</a>
&mdash; Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShelbyTalcott/status/1275223794161012739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Not far away from the statue, &#8220;protesters had pushed construction barriers and sections of metal fence into the street in the area to create roadblocks,&#8221; The Washington Post reported. &#8220;Someone had posted a sign spray-painted on plywood: &#8216;BHAZ: Black House Autonomous Zone.'&#8221;
New York Post reporter Ebony Bowden tweeted a video showing the area, writing: &#8220;Looks like another autonomous zone is springing up — this one outside the White House. Protesters are fortifying barricades in what they’re calling &#8216;BHAZ&#8217; &#8211; Black House Autonomous Zone. Wonder how long President Trump will allow this to last on his doorstep.&#8221;
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Looks like another autonomous zone is springing up — this one outside the White House. Protesters are fortifying barricades in what they’re calling “BHAZ” &#8211; Black House Autonomous Zone. Wonder how long President Trump will allow this to last on his doorstep. <a href="https://t.co/60jK7Qj3iM">pic.twitter.com/60jK7Qj3iM</a>
&mdash; Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) <a href="https://twitter.com/ebonybowden/status/1275206259503964161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On Friday, President Donald Trump called out Washington, D.C., Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser after rioters destroyed a statue of Confederate general Albert Pike in Judiciary Square.
&#8220;The D.C. Police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down &amp; burn,&#8221; Trump tweeted. &#8220;These people should be immediately arrested. A disgrace to our Country!&#8221;
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The D.C. Police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down &amp; burn. These people should be immediately arrested. A disgrace to our Country! <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorBowser</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1274182502421315584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen wrote on Monday:
<blockquote>The United States’ frenzy of statuary iconoclasm has taken a turn into the theater of the absurd. Knocking down or defacing statues of national founders or heroes not only displays ignorance of history but also assaults the principles of Western civilization that allow for racial progress to continue.
&#8230;
Protesters who tear down statues to brave warriors who fought to more fully implement that principle mock and dishonor the idea that enables us to become a more perfect union. George Washington owned slaves, but he also founded a nation dedicated to the idea whose incompatibility with slavery made its eradication inevitable. Defacing or toppling his monuments dishonors the country. More than any man save Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant destroyed the Confederacy with his magisterial generalship. As president, he tried to extend the Civil War’s purpose by presiding over the Reconstruction of the South, an effort that was abandoned only after he left office. Toppling his statue — as protesters did in San Francisco, citing a slave whom Grant was gifted and later freed before the war — is ahistorically ludicrous.</blockquote>
Even far-left New York Times columnist Paul Krugman called out what was going on, tweeting: &#8220;As it happens, here&#8217;s the book I started reading a few days ago. I&#8217;ve long been a Grant groupie; he was imperfect, but without him there would have been no emancipation — and he fought the Klan. Leave his statues alone!&#8221;
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As it happens, here&#39;s the book I started reading a few days ago. I&#39;ve long been a Grant groupie; he was imperfect, but without him there would have been no emancipation — and he fought the Klan. Leave his statues alone! <a href="https://t.co/s4l3apyP0D">pic.twitter.com/s4l3apyP0D</a>
&mdash; Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1274437641501581319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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This is a breaking news story, refresh the page for updates.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

US-POLITICS-RACE-UNREST

BREAKING: Rioters Near White House Try To Tear Down Presidential Statue, Set Up ‘Black House Autonomous Zone’

Andrew Jackson

Black House Autonomous Zone

Cancel culture

As the rioting broke out all over the country, including the nation&#8217;s capital on Friday, Secret Service agents rushed President Trump to a White House bunker in response to a group converging on &#8220;The People&#8217;s House.&#8221;
With protests outside the White House turning violent — rioters &#8220;throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades,&#8221; as reported by <a href="https://apnews.com/b3817623ef861818803b5676d43741ea">The Associated Press</a> — Secret Service reportedly determined the risk warranted moving the president to the White House bunker.
&#8220;Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to discuss private matters and spoke on the condition of anonymity,&#8221; AP reports. &#8220;The account was confirmed by an administration official who also spoke on the condition of anonymity.&#8221;
On Saturday, Trump praised the Secret Service&#8217;s handling of the &#8220;protesters&#8221; the night before but did not mention the bunker.
&#8220;Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. [Secret Service],&#8221; the president tweeted (posts below). &#8220;They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe.&#8221;
&#8220;They let the &#8216;protesters&#8217; scream [and] rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard — didn’t know what hit them,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic.&#8221;
Trump described the group that gathered at the White House as &#8220;professionally organized.&#8221;
&#8220;Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;If they had they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. &#8216;We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and good practice.&#8217; As you saw last night, they were very cool [and] very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you!&#8221;
Trump then contrasted the Secret Service&#8217;s handling of the situation with that of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.  
&#8220;On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, [Muriel Bowser], who is always looking for money [and] help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. &#8216;Not their job,'&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;Nice!&#8221;
In a pair of follow-up posts, Trump again described the group that converged on the White House as &#8220;professionally managed&#8221; and accused them of using the tragic death of George Floyd as an excuse to push their own agenda.
&#8220;The professionally managed so-called &#8216;protesters&#8217; at the White House had little to do with the memory of George Floyd. They were just there to cause trouble. The [Secret Service] handled them easily. Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???&#8221; &#8221; he wrote. &#8220;These are &#8216;Organized Groups&#8217; that have nothing to do with George Floyd. Sad!&#8221;
Over the course of the weekend, Trump repeatedly condemned the rioters, slammed the mainstream media for &#8220;foment[ing] hatred and anarchy,&#8221; blasted Democratic leaders for mishandling the riots, and specifically called out Antifa as being one of the groups responsible for the violence and destruction. Before going <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-silent-as-nation-burns-from-violent-riots">notably quiet</a> for several hours on Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. &#8220;will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization&#8221; and condemned the mainstream media as &#8220;doing everything within their power to foment hatred and anarchy.&#8221;
The protests and riots in D.C. continued throughout the weekend. Late Sunday dozens of Secret Service agents were reportedly injured by rioters.
“More than 50 Secret Service agents were injured, fires set by rioters blazed near the White House and authorities were searching for car bombs late Sunday as protests over the death of George Floyd continued to roil the capital just two days after President Trump had to be taken to a bunker for his safety,” Fox News Editor Gregg Re <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secret-service-took-trump-to-underground-bunker-amid-george-floyd-protests">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rioters-hurt-50-secret-service-agents-lincoln-memorial-vandalized-church-burned-american-flags-burned">Rioters Hurt 50 Secret Service Agents. Lincoln Memorial Vandalized, Church Burned, American Flags Burned</a>
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&#8230;.got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard &#8211; didn’t know what hit them. The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic. Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had they would&#8230;.
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266711221836931072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&#8230;.good practice.” As you saw last night, they were very cool &amp; very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you! On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, <a href="https://twitter.com/MurielBowser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MurielBowser</a>, who is always looking for money &amp; help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. “Not their job.” Nice!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266711224391213056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The professionally managed so-called “protesters” at the White House had little to do with the memory of George Floyd. They were just there to cause trouble. The <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretService?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecretService</a> handled them easily. Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266724553620930561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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These are “Organized Groups” that have nothing to do with George Floyd. Sad!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266731291917062145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1267129644228247552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Lamestream Media is doing everything within their power to foment hatred and anarchy. As long as everybody understands what they are doing, that they are FAKE NEWS and truly bad people with a sick agenda, we can easily work through them to GREATNESS!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1267132763116838913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Hundreds protest George Floyd death in Washington

Secret Service Rushed Trump To Bunker As Rioters Converged On White House; Trump Praises Secret Service

Donald Trump

George Floyd

Law Enforcement

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The White House trolled Twitter early on Friday after the left-leaning social media company censored a tweet from President Donald Trump in which the president denounced the violent riots last night in Minneapolis.
&#8220;I can’t stand back &amp; watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard &amp; get the job done right,&#8221; Trump tweeted. &#8220;These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!&#8221;
Twitter censored the second part of Trump&#8217;s tweet, claiming that it was &#8220;glorifying violence.&#8221;
The Trump administration trolled Twitter by reposting the same tweet from the White House&#8217;s verified Twitter account and posting it as a quote from the president: &#8220;&#8216;These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!'&#8221;
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“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!” <a href="https://t.co/GDwAydcAOw">https://t.co/GDwAydcAOw</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1266342941649506304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump fired back at Twitter early on Friday morning, just a few hours after Twitter censored his account, writing: &#8220;Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies &amp; propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party. They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives &amp; the President of the United States. Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated!&#8221;
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Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies &amp; propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party. They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives &amp; the President of the United States. Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1266326065833824257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-censors-trump-tweet-denouncing-riots-took-no-action-on-tweets-supporting-riots">reported</a> early Friday morning:
<blockquote>Twitter’s actions against the president come after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-taking-action-on-social-media-bias-we-cant-let-this-continue-to-happen">signed an executive order</a> on Thursday that took action against social media companies for repeatedly discriminating against and censoring conservatives. He issued the executive order after Twitter started applying controversial labels to his tweets while largely ignoring false statements from Democrats and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Twitter took no action against numerous tweets that appeared to encourage rioting, destruction of property, or fighting against law enforcement.</blockquote>
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-censors-trump-tweet-denouncing-riots-took-no-action-on-tweets-supporting-riots">strong ties</a> to left-wing activism and has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-censors-trump-tweet-denouncing-riots-took-no-action-on-tweets-supporting-riots">promoted content</a> that essentially calls for the elimination of the Republican Party and imposing radical policies.
Eric Trump responded to the controversy by writing on Twitter: &#8220;Aside from the outward facing bias of @Twitter, there is hardly a single influential conservative on this platform who doesn’t believe their account has been negatively manipulated &amp; influenced behind the scenes. I’m thrilled to see @realDonaldTrump take decisive action.&#8221;
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Aside from the outward facing bias of <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Twitter</a>, there is hardly a single influential conservative on this platform who doesn’t believe their account has been negatively manipulated &amp; influenced behind the scenes. I’m thrilled to see <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> take decisive action.
&mdash; Eric Trump (@EricTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1266354102256181248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/evacuate-the-3rd-precinct-rioters-destroy-minneapolis-police-building-170-businesses">‘EVACUATE THE 3RD PRECINCT’: Rioters Destroy Minneapolis Police Building, ‘170 Businesses’</a>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

President Trump Returns To The White House After Travel To Maryland

White House Trolls Twitter After Platform Censors Trump’s Tweet Denouncing Riots

Eric Trump

Twitter

President Donald Trump fired back at reports that he is disbanding the coronavirus task force that took Americans through the last several months of the pandemic, posting on Twitter plans to keep the team together &#8220;indefinitely&#8221; as the administration pursues a coronavirus vaccine and successful therapies for COVID-19.
Late Tuesday, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/05/white-house-break-up-of-coronavirus-task-force-237769">Politico released a report</a> claiming that the White House was considering &#8220;winding down&#8221; the coronavirus task force and shifting its focus from the disease itself to economic recovery.
Instead of a centralized team of experts, which now includes Vice President Mike Pence, infectious disease specialist Dr. Deborah Birx, and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Politico said the Trump administration would farm out various aspects of coronavirus management to agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Pence seemed to confirm the plan to news sources Tuesday, when he told reporters that “[w]e’re having a conversation about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work&#8221; and that &#8220;[w]e’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA.”
The vice president called those talks &#8220;preliminary,&#8221; but mainstream media sources reported the comments as confirmation that the White House would be bringing a swift end to its in-house COVID-19 project.
President Trump dismissed those reports Wednesday morning, suggesting that the White House&#8217;s coronavirus team would continue on &#8220;indefinitely,&#8221; and that it would feature a rotating cast of experts, rather than two or three permanent members, so that the administration could shift focus quickly based on need.
&#8220;The White House CoronaVirus Task Force, headed by Vice President Mike Pence, has done a fantastic job of bringing together vast highly complex resources that have set a high standard for others to follow in the future,&#8221; the president tweeted, citing his administration&#8217;s accomplishments.
&#8220;Ventilators, which were few &amp; in bad shape, are now being produced in the thousands, and we have many to spare. We are helping other countries which are desperate for them. Likewise, after having been left little, we are now doing more testing than all other countries combined, and with superior tests,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Face masks &amp; shields, gloves, gowns etc. are now plentiful. The last four Governors teleconference calls have been conclusively strong.&#8221;
He then suggested that a second coronavirus task force, charged with &#8220;opening up&#8221; the American economy, could be subsumed into the existing coronavirus team.
&#8220;Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY &amp; OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate,&#8221; he said.
Concluding the tweetstorm, the president reiterated that the current COVID-19 team is not just focused on outbreak management and strategic oversight, but on guiding the development and approval of key medical breakthroughs: &#8220;The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines &amp; Therapeutics. Thank you!&#8221;
The White House&#8217;s coronavirus task force is holding only sporadic press conferences but is expected to address media this week, particularly as states begin to resume economic activity.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Trump Fires Back At Reports He’s Breaking Up Coronavirus Task Force: Team Will ‘Keep Working Indefinitely’

Coronavirus

Mike Pence

On Monday, rumors circulated that the United States is predicted to have 200,000 new confirmed cases and 3,000 novel coronavirus deaths daily by June 1. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/coronavirus-live-updates.html">The New York Times</a>, for example, ran with the report, suggesting the modeling figures were attributed to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and cited in a presentation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Trump administration, however, pushed back on the reporting Monday night, noting that the model data &#8220;is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force,&#8221; nor has it been properly vetted or presented during a White House task force meeting.
The daunting New York Times report positioned the alleged internal data against President Donald Trump&#8217;s promise to start reopening the American economy: &#8220;As President Trump presses for states to reopen their economies, his administration is privately projecting a steady rise in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths over the next several weeks,&#8221; the Times report said. &#8220;The daily death toll will reach about 3,000 on June 1, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times, a 70 percent increase from the current number of about 1,750.&#8221;
However, according to the Trump administration, the CDC, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, that is untrue.
<div class="css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn">&#8220;This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force or gone through interagency vetting,&#8221; the White House pushed back Monday, as reported by CBS News producer Sara Cook. &#8220;This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed.&#8221;</div>
&#8220;The President&#8217;s phased guidelines to open up America again are a scientific driven approach that the top health and infectious disease experts in the federal government agreed with,&#8221; the statement continued, a clear rebuke of the Times&#8217; political angle hitting Trump for advancing any economic reopening of the country.
&#8220;The health of the American people remains President Trump&#8217;s top priority and that will continue as we monitor the efforts by states to ease restrictions,&#8221; the statement concluded.
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WH response to NYT report of an internal CDC document that projects 3,000 daily <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> deaths by June 1 and 200,000 daily new cases by the end of the month <a href="https://t.co/tHwfrEl2dP">https://t.co/tHwfrEl2dP</a> <a href="https://t.co/3QgimN4vq0">pic.twitter.com/3QgimN4vq0</a>
&mdash; Sara Cook (@saraecook) <a href="https://twitter.com/saraecook/status/1257359456658247686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to Cook, &#8220;A CDC source says this modeling data was &#8216;incorrectly attributed to CDC.&#8217; They would not respond as to whether they contributed to other parts of this document, and if the actual projections were from FEMA or another agency.&#8221;
&#8220;The projections published in the [New York Times] are based on a model developed by Johns Hopkins researchers &amp; provided to FEMA to help in scenario-planning, [CBS&#8217; Paula Reid] reports,&#8221; Cook posted. &#8220;The data isn&#8217;t final, and shows one model of how COVID-19 could reach these levels dependent on various factors.&#8221;
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The projections published in the NYT are based on a model developed by Johns Hopkins researchers &amp; provided to FEMA to help in scenario-planning, <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulaReidCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PaulaReidCBS</a> reports. The data isn&#39;t final, and shows one model of how COVID-19 could reach these levels dependent on various factors
&mdash; Sara Cook (@saraecook) <a href="https://twitter.com/saraecook/status/1257423005115916291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health released a statement similarly pushing back against the Times report, noting that it included &#8220;preliminary analyses&#8221; and emphasizing that was not intended to be &#8220;used as forecasts&#8221; &#8220;and it is not accurate to present them as forecasts.&#8221;
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Statement from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulaReidCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PaulaReidCBS</a>) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBSNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mgo73eYPii">pic.twitter.com/Mgo73eYPii</a>
&mdash; Sara Cook (@saraecook) <a href="https://twitter.com/saraecook/status/1257423692147064834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.  
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President Trump And Lebanese PM Hariri Deliver Joint Statements At White House

NYT Pushes Alleged Report Showing 3,000 COVID Deaths Per Day By June 1. White House: That’s Not True.

New York Times

As states reopen, the president raised the projected COVID-19 death toll from an optimistic 60,000 to 100,000.
&#8220;Look, we&#8217;re going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people. That&#8217;s a horrible thing. We shouldn&#8217;t lose one person out of this,&#8221; Trump during a <a href="https://video.foxnews.com/v/6153882823001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox News virtual town hall</a>.
The president further placed the blame on China for the virus&#8217;s spread and reiterated that over 1 million lives would have been lost without mitigation.
&#8220;This should have been stopped in China. If we didn&#8217;t do it, the minimum we would have lost is a million, two million, four million, five. That&#8217;s the minimum,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And my opinion is they&#8217;ve made a mistake, they tried to cover it, they tried to put it out. It&#8217;s like a fire. You know, it&#8217;s really like trying to put out a fire. They couldn&#8217;t put out the fire.&#8221;
When asked if the United States made the right decision to push a nation-wide shutdown, the president said, &#8220;We did the right thing. I do look back on it. Because my attitude was we&#8217;re not going to shut it down.&#8221;
NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-warns-coronavirus-death-toll-could-reach-100-000-n1199161">chronicled</a> the gradual shift from 60,000 to 100,000 since mid-April when the death toll stood at 40,000.
<blockquote>
On Friday, the president said he hoped fewer than 100,000 Americans would die in the outbreak, and earlier last week spoke of 60,000 to 70,000 deaths.
On April 20, Trump said the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-29/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">figure could be 50,000 to 60,000</a> — by this point there had been <a class=" vilynx_listened" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/2020-04-20-coronavirus-news-n1187556" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">40,000 U.S. deaths related to COVID-19</a>.
Internal administration documents seen by NBC News show that that federal government <a class=" vilynx_listened" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/while-trump-minimizes-toll-government-orders-100-000-new-body-n1197316" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ordered more than 100,000 body bags</a> on April 21.
</blockquote>
Currently, there are 1.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and there have been more than <a class=" vilynx_listened" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-u-s-map-where-virus-has-been-confirmed-across-n1124546" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than 67,000 deaths. </a>Dr. Deborah Birx said on Sunday that she maintains up to 240,000 people could die in the United States from the virus.
&#8220;Our projections have always been between 100,000 and 240,000 American lives lost, and that’s with full mitigation and us learning from each other of how to social distance,&#8221; she told<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dr-birx-michigan-protests-devastatingly-worrisome-vaccine-possible-by-january" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Fox News.</a>
The president pushed a message of hope during his town hall, however, when he said that the United States could possibly have a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this year.
&#8220;We think we’re going to have a vaccine by the end of this year, and we’re pushing very hard,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-we-think-were-going-to-have-a-vaccine-by-the-end-of-this-year">president said</a>.  &#8220;You know, we’re building supply lines now – we don’t even have the final vaccine … if you look at, Johnson &amp; Johnson is doing it. We have many companies are, I think, close because I meet with the heads of them and I find it a very interesting subject because it’s so important, but I think we’ll have a vaccine by the end of the year.&#8221;
Son-in-law to President Trump and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jared-kushner-the-country-will-be-really-rocking-again-in-june">predicted last week</a> that the country would be back on its feet in June.
“I think what you’ll see in May as the states are reopening now is May will be a transition month, you’ll see a lot of states starting to phase in the different reopening based on the safety guidelines that President Trump outlined on April 19,” Kushner said. “I think you’ll see by June that a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the country’s really rocking again.”
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

President Trump Holds News Conference with FL Gov. De Santis At White House

Trump Raises Projected COVID-19 Death Toll As States Reopen

New White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany ripped left-wing ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl on Friday during her first press conference as press secretary.
&#8220;Kayleigh &#8230; when the president fired Michael Flynn, he said he was doing so because he had lied to the vice president and he had lied to the FBI,&#8221; Karl said. &#8220;So given all that you’ve just said, isn’t it still true, doesn’t the president still believe that Michael Flynn lied to Vice President Pence and lied to the FBI?&#8221;
Karl&#8217;s question comes after bombshell documents were unsealed this week that reportedly showed that FBI agents had discussed whether they were going to use their interview with Flynn to &#8220;get him to lie&#8221; so they could &#8220;prosecute him or get him fired.&#8221;
&#8220;Well, first let me address that. Vice President Pence is on the record about this,&#8221; McEnany responded. &#8220;He said he’s inclined to believe that Flynn did not intentionally mislead him, and I guess I would turn the question on you and just ask, does it trouble you that the FBI said, &#8216;We got to get Flynn to lie?&#8217; Doesn’t that trouble you as a journalist? And not only that, as an American citizen?&#8221;
Pence <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pence-inclined-to-believe-flynn">said</a> this week regarding the Flynn situation that he was &#8220;inclined, more than ever, to believe that what he communicated to me during the transition leading to our inauguration &#8212; that was unintentional and not that he was not attempting to misrepresent facts.”
&#8220;Well, it’s certainly something worth reporting. It’s not my job to say whether or not it’s troubling, but the bottom line is the President said point blank that Flynn lied to the FBI and to the vice president, and I’m just asking a very direct question,&#8221; Karl responded. &#8220;Does he still believe that Michael Flynn lied to the FBI and lied to the vice president?&#8221;
&#8220;And again, I’d point you to the vice president’s statement that he’s inclined to believe that Flynn did not intentionally mislead him, and I’m asking back that all of you in your coverage endeavor to report what is a very scary story when the FBI is saying, &#8216;Let us get someone to lie,&#8217;” McEnany responded. &#8220;I’ve seen very scant coverage of that. It’s a story worth reporting and a story that I hope the American people, if you haven’t heard it yet, are getting to hear for the very first time.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Video &#8212; <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> McEnany with a shrewd, smart move by turning the Flynn question around on ABC&#39;s Jonathan Karl: &quot;Does it trouble you that the FBI said we&#39;ve got to get Flynn to lie? Does that trouble you as journalist and not only that, but as an American citizen?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/lsMeSZfDiy">pic.twitter.com/lsMeSZfDiy</a>
&mdash; Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1256292856332980226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday, documents were unsealed that showed that the FBI had discussed using their interview with Flynn to &#8220;get him to lie&#8221; and &#8220;get him fired.&#8221;
Unsealed handwritten notes from the day of the January 24, 2017, interview show that an unidentified person with the FBI wrote: “What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-flynn-fbi-handwritten-notes-get-him-lie-fired">reported</a>:
<blockquote>The handwritten notes — belonging to former FBI general counsel James A. Baker, Fox News is told — indicated that agents planned to get Flynn “to admit to breaking the Logan Act” and catch him in a lie. The Logan Act is an obscure statute that has never been used in a criminal prosecution; enacted in 1799, it was intended to prevent individuals from falsely claiming to represent the United States abroad.
The bombshell documents strongly suggested the agents weren’t focused on investigating his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, but instead were trying to get him removed. President Obama had personally warned the Trump administration against hiring Flynn, and made clear he was “not a fan.” Obama fired Flynn as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014.</blockquote>
On Thursday, more documents were unsealed from January 4, 2017, that showed that the FBI was preparing the close the investigation into Flynn because they didn&#8217;t have anything on him at which point former FBI agent Peter Stzrok, who was later fired from the FBI over biased anti-Trump text messages, intervened to keep the case open.
Fox News Editor Gregg Re <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/strzok-stopped-bureau-from-ending-flynn-probe-despite-lack-of-derogatory-evidence-unsealed-documents-reveal">reported</a>:
<blockquote>Yet, on that same day — Jan. 4, 2017 — Strzok instructed the FBI case manager handling CROSSFIRE RAZOR [the FBI&#8217;s code name for Flynn] to keep the investigation open. “Hey don’t close RAZOR,” Strzok texted an unidentified individual.
Strzok informed the FBI case manager that the FBI’s 7th floor was involved, referring to FBI leadership — and that they still “need to decide what to do with him [with respect to] the [REDACTED].”
It’s currently unknown why Strzok directed the FBI case manager to keep the Flynn investigation open. However, the timing of emails between Strzok and ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page seem to suggest that they used the Logan Act to keep CROSSFIRE RAZOR alive; Strzok forwarded a 14-page research paper on the Logan Act the same day.</blockquote>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

US-politics-media

Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany Rips ABC News Reporter During First Press Briefing

ABC News

Kayleigh McEnany

Media

Delivering a much-needed dose of hope and good news, son-in-law to President Trump and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner predicted on Wednesday that the country would be back on its feet in June.
Speaking on <a href="https://video.foxnews.com/v/6152850277001#sp=show-clips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&#8220;Fox &amp; Friends,&#8221;</a> Kushner said that as the month of May unfolds, states will slowly reopen in different phases, a process that will become more streamlined and uniform in the month of June.
&#8220;I think what you’ll see in May as the states are reopening now is May will be a transition month, you’ll see a lot of states starting to phase in the different reopening based on the safety guidelines that President Trump outlined on April 19,&#8221; Kushner said. &#8220;I think you’ll see by June that a lot of the country should be back to normal, and the hope is that by July the country’s really rocking again.&#8221;
Kushner later added that the country now has the testing capacity to start reopening the country.
&#8220;I always find that we see the leading indicators and often the media sees the lagging indicators,&#8221; said Kushner. &#8220;But the leading indicators are testing, are extraordinarily positive, and I’m very confident that we have all testing we need to start opening the country in accordance with the <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493222-trump-guidelines-reopening-economy-to-let-governors-make-final-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety guidelines</a> that President Trump, the vice president, Dr. [Deborah] Birx and Dr. Fauci laid out on April 19.&#8221;
On Wednesday, President Trump also stated that the White House will be &#8220;fading out&#8221; the federal social distancing guidelines through the month of May in order to get the country reopened. From <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-white-house-fading-out-social-distancing-guidelines-set-to-expire-this-week">Fox News</a>:
<blockquote>
President Trump on Wednesday said the administration will be “fading out” the federal social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of coronavirus that are slated to expire Thursday.
The White House implemented the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/read-the-white-houses-new-coronavirus-guidelines-30-days-to-slow-the-spread" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“30 Days to Slow the Spread” </a>guidelines last month, extending the strategy the White House rolled out in early March that included guidance on social distancing, working from home, washing hands frequently and avoiding unnecessary travel.
The 30 days are set to expire Thursday, April 30, and are unlikely to be extended.
The president told reporters from the Oval Office Wednesday that the White House will be “fading out” the guidelines.
Vice President Pence added that those guidelines are “very much incorporated in the guidance.”
The “fading out” of the White House social distancing guidelines comes as the states across the nation begin Phase One to reopen their economies amid the coronavirus crisis.</blockquote>
In another dose of good news, on Monday, scientists at the Oxford University Jenner Institute said that testing for a COVID-19 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oxford-university-tests-show-our-vaccine-may-be-ready-by-september">vaccine has already begun</a> and the vaccine could be available as early as September, rather than in 2021.
“Most other teams have had to start with small clinical trials of a few hundred participants to demonstrate safety,&#8221; reported the New York Times. &#8220;But scientists at the university’s <a href="https://www.jenner.ac.uk/">Jenner Institute</a> had a head start on a vaccine, having proved in previous trials that similar inoculations — including one last year against an earlier coronavirus — were harmless to humans.&#8221;
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

US-HEALTH-VIRUS-POLITICS-TRUMP-DESANTIS

Jared Kushner: The Country Will Be ‘Really Rocking Again’ In June

Jared Kushner

President Donald Trump is not a fan of CNN.
He clashes almost daily with reporters from the liberal cable network, and he once had a White House pass pulled from a reporter, Jim Acosta.
Trump got into another battle with the network last week &#8212; and lost.
A White House official on Friday ordered a CNN reporter to swap her front-row seat with another reporter at the back of the briefing just before Trump appeared for his daily press conference with the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The reporter, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, refused to swap seats, as did the other reporter. The official then said the Secret Service would get involved.
The seating chart in the briefing room is set by the White House Correspondents&#8217; Association (WHCA), currently headed up by ABC&#8217;s Jonathan Karl, another reporter Trump doesn&#8217;t like.
Chris Johnson, a reporter with the Washington Blade, sent out a print pool report to other reporters detailing what happened.
&#8220;Earlier today before the briefing, a White House official instructed the print pooler to take CNN’s seat in the briefing room because the seating would be swapped for the briefing. Given the seating assignment is under the jurisdiction of the White House Correspondents’ Association, not the White House, pooler refused to move. The White House official then informed the print pooler swapping wasn’t an option and the Secret Service was involved. Again, pooler refused to move, citing guidance from the WHCA. The briefing proceeded with both CNN and print pooler sitting in their respective assigned seats,&#8221; Johnson wrote.
Friday&#8217;s briefing marked the first time Trump had held the briefing and then left without taking questions.
Other reporters applauded the pair for fighting back.
&#8220;We just got word the briefing will begin in one minute. Reporters were not moved. Shout out to @chrisjohnson82 @kaitlancollins and the @whca for standing their ground,&#8221; wrote Hunter Walker, White House correspondent with Yahoo News.
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We just got word the briefing will begin in one minute. Reporters were not moved. Shout out to <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisjohnson82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisjohnson82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/whca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@whca</a> for standing their ground.
&mdash; Hunter Walker (@hunterw) <a href="https://twitter.com/hunterw/status/1253800312680390658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump had clashed with Collins just the day before. In his briefing Thursday, Trump dismissed a question from a reporter about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un&#8217;s health, saying it arose from an &#8220;incorrect&#8221; report from CNN. Collins tried to ask a follow-up question, but Trump interrupted her.
&#8220;No, that&#8217;s enough,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The problem is, you don&#8217;t write the truth.&#8221; Collins tried to ask again, but Trump said, &#8220;No, not CNN. I told you, CNN is fake news. Don&#8217;t talk to me.&#8221;
Acosta’s press pass was revoked in November 2018 after a press conference held by Trump. The White House rebuked Acosta for “placing his hands on a young woman” after he refused to give up the microphone, pushing a White House intern’s hand away as she tried to take back the microphone.
“As a result of today’s incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice,” Press Secretary Sarah Sanders wrote on Twitter, adding a video when she said, “We stand by our decision.”
Acosta sued and got his pass back.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">subscriber</a>.

US-POLITICS-BRIEFING

White House Tried To Move CNN Reporter To Back Of Briefing Room Before Trump Walked Out

For the second time in four days, a coronavirus projection model heavily relied upon by the White House task force has been updated, again dropping the number of projected deaths and hospitalizations.
The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington <a href="https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections">dropped</a> its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-coronavirus-model-gets-another-update-downgrading-estimated-deaths">estimated</a> death projection on Sunday for the first wave of the pandemic to 81,766 deaths, down from 93,531.
By Wednesday, the <a href="https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america">projection</a> dropped the estimated total deaths to 60,415, revised down from 81,766 deaths, which was revised from down 93,531, a revised number itself.
Moreover, the projected total hospital bed shortage decreased from 34,654 to 15,852 (a revised number from April 5), and the so-called &#8220;peak&#8221; of hospital usage was pushed up from April 15 to April 11. The peak daily death toll was also moved up to April 12, from the revised April 16 date.
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Overall US: -# of total deaths projected decreased from 81,766 to 60,414 -Projected total bed shortage decreased from 34,654 to 15,852 -Peak hospital usage went from 4/15 to 4/11, peak daily death toll went from 4/16 to 4/12 -Under 200 deaths a day moved from 5/18 to 5/16
&mdash; Alicia Smith (@Alicia_Smith19) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alicia_Smith19/status/1247892701648793604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The changing estimates have always been based off the implementation of “full social distancing through May 2020″ and do not factor in another wave of the virus post-August 1. 
At an impromptu press briefing on Sunday, President Donald Trump told the nation that we are using fewer beds than the relied upon models have projected, specifically highlighting hard-hit New York.
“It’s turning out that we need less hospital beds,” Trump said. “We may have models, but we’ve been sort of saying that. In New York, we were saying we think you’re gonna need less.”
Based on the IHME model, Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci, leaders in the White House coronavirus response task force, earlier this month estimated between <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/02/grim-death-toll-projections-white-house-offered-monday-have-already-been-revised-upward/">100,000-240,000</a> deaths related to COVID-19, The Washington Post reported.
As previously noted by The Daily Wire, &#8220;Dr. Birx has specifically highlighted a model from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/epidemiologist-behind-highly-cited-coronavirus-model-admits-he-was-wrong-drastically-revises-model">Imperial College London</a> as a guide for nationwide policy on fighting the novel coronavirus. The model initially estimated up to a stunning 2.2 million COVID-19 associated deaths in the United States with no mitigation. Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist behind the Imperial model, predicted a whopping 500,000 COVID-19 associated fatalities in the U.K. without mitigation, but now estimates far fewer than 20,000 deaths, citing the nation’s lockdowns.&#8221;
According to the site hosting the IHME model, the projections are based off of data &#8220;from local and national governments, hospital networks like the University of Washington, the American Hospital Association, the World Health Organization, and a range of other sources. The model is updated regularly as new data are available, in order to provide the most up-to-date planning tool possible.&#8221;
With regard to the modeling cutting off at August, the site notes that this does not mean the end of the pandemic, but the end of the projected &#8220;first wave&#8221;:
<blockquote>&#8220;Our model says that social distancing will likely lead to the end of the first wave of the epidemic by early June. The question of whether there will be a second wave of the epidemic will depend on what we do to avoid reintroducing COVID-19 into the population. By end the of the first wave of the epidemic, an estimated 97% of the population of the United States will still be susceptible to the disease, so avoiding reintroduction of COVID-19 through mass screening, contact tracing, and quarantine will be essential to avoid a second wave.&#8221;</blockquote>

White House Coronavirus Task Force Holds Daily Briefing

White House Coronavirus Model Gets Updated Second Time In Four Days, Downgrading Deaths, Hospitalizations Again

In a Saturday afternoon press conference, the White House coronavirus task force warned that Americans should consider avoiding leaving their homes this week as the deadly outbreak, which has so far infected more than 300,000 and killed nearly 9,000, is expected to reach its peak.
“The next two weeks are extraordinarily important,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said Saturday. “This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe.&#8221;
Although the White House coronavirus team was reticent to put a timeline on the virus itself, at least three regions of the United States &#8212; the midwest, the northeast, and the areas surrounding New Orleans, Louisiana &#8212; are projected to reach peak infections within the next seven days, <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/04/05/white-house-americans-should-avoid-grocery-stores-as-coronavirus-hits-apex/">according to the New York Post</a>. Other areas of the United States, like the south and west, are expected to see their numbers rise until they hit a peak within the next fourteen days.
&#8220;Asked when the worst day of the outbreak will be, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, talked about the three hotspots being watched most closely: Detroit, Louisiana and New York. She said each are on the upside of their curve of mortality, and that officials anticipate them hitting their peaks in the next six to seven days,&#8221; <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/04/826741317/federal-government-implements-relief-as-nation-reels-from-coronavirus-pandemic">per NPR</a>.
“This will probably be the toughest week – between this week and next week,&#8221; President Donald Trump told the press conference, grimly. “There will be a lot of death, unfortunately…there will be death.&#8221;
&#8220;We are coming up to a time that is going to be very horrendous,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;We probably have never seen anything like these kind of numbers. Maybe during the war, during a World War One or Two or something.&#8221;
New York governor Andrew Cuomo expressed similar sentiments during his own press conference Saturday, noting that the peak appears to be approaching in his state: &#8220;We&#8217;re not yet at the apex, we&#8217;re getting closer &#8230; Our reading of the projections is we&#8217;re somewhere in the seven-day range.&#8221;
Sunday morning, administration officials were no more rosy. The Surgeon General, appearing on Fox News Sunday, compared the coming seven days to a terrorist attack.
&#8220;This is going to be hardest and the saddest week of most American&#8217;s lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,&#8221; Vice Admiral Jerome Adams said.
The president was, at least, bullish on the idea of the country reopening within the foreseeable future, suggesting on Saturday that he is pursuing the possibility of bringing together a second coronavirus team, this one tasked with laying the groundwork for an economic recovery, and plotting how to slowly return Americans to the workforce, while balancing the threat of a second outbreak.
&#8220;At a certain point,&#8221; the president said, &#8220;some hard decisions are going to have to be made,&#8221; referencing the idea that risk management efforts, designed to contain the virus, are having an unprecedented impact on American businesses. &#8220;Social distancing&#8221; policies and state-mandated lockdowns have created an unemployment crisis; millions of Americans have now applied for unemployment and millions more are facing slowdowns and pay reductions.

White House coronavirus

White House Warns Against Grocery Shopping, Leaving Home As Coronavirus Hits Peak

A White House reporter has a suspected case of coronavirus, White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) President Jonathan Karl said in a message to the press corps that covers President Trump.
The reporter — who was not named — had been at the White House four times in the past two weeks, on March 9, 11, 16 and 18. The reporter was covering briefings by Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other officials.
WHCA members had previously been told to notify the WHCA “if they have sought a COVID-19 test or have been diagnosed positive to ensure that appropriate steps can be taken.&#8221;
&#8220;The WHCA had reduced its presence in the White House Brady Briefing Room to comply with social distancing guidelines put out by the president and the Centers for Disease Control and Protection. Members of White House physician’s office have been administering temperature checks to all journalists before entering the compound and prior to the task force briefings,&#8221; Karl said.
The WHCA last week dropped the number of reporters in the White House Brady Briefing Room from 49 to 25. &#8220;On Monday, shortly after the organization announced that a journalist might have the virus, the WHCA issued even stricter guidelines, cutting the seats from 25 to 14 reporters,&#8221; Politico reported. &#8220;The new orders, working to comply with social distancing guidelines in a cramped work space, have thinned the press room as reporters sit with empty seats between them.&#8221;
&#8220;A number of news organizations have confirmed that some of their employees contracted the virus. And the WHCA has issued new protocol for White House journalists, cutting the number of available press room seats in half — leaving a half-empty briefing room as President Donald Trump addresses the nation about the pandemic,&#8221; Politico wrote.
The WHCA urged reporters to work remotely if possible and limit the number of journalists at the White House to the bare minimum. So did the White House.
&#8220;Members of the press who do not have a seat on the updated seating chart or who do not participate in the President’s In-House Pool will not be permitted access to the White House Complex,&#8221; read an email from White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham. She added that the changes were &#8220;effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and continuing until further notice.&#8221;
&#8220;Now, more than ever, America needs a healthy, fair, and accurate press to deliver the news,&#8221; Grisham wrote in her email. &#8221; We again urge members of the press to direct the American people to Coronavirus.gov for the most up-to-date and factual information available. When possible, members of the press seeking information are encouraged to call or email press staff as opposed to physically entering the Lower or Upper Press Offices. Thank you for understanding that necessary and temporary precautions must be made during this unprecedented situation for your safety and for the safety of our great Nation.&#8221;
The White House last weekend began taking the temperature of people &#8220;in close contact&#8221; with Trump or Pence, including reporters who are attending briefings on the coronavirus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, temperature checks are now being performed on any individuals who are in close contact with the President and Vice President,&#8221; Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement. “In order to keep the entire White House complex safe and healthy, beginning Monday morning, temperature checks will be conducted on everyone who enters campus. As was announced over the weekend, additional temperature checks will be conducted on individuals who are in close contact with the president and vice president throughout the day.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-squashes-democrats-partisan-demands-for-funding-not-related-to-coronavirus">Trump Squashes Democrats’ Partisan Demands For Funding Not Related To Coronavirus</a>

US-POLITICS-HEALTH-VIRUS

White House Reporter Has Suspected Case Of Coronavirus

Vice President Mike Pence&#8217;s Press Secretary Katie Miller said on Friday that one of Pence&#8217;s staff members has tested positive for the coronavirus, which originated in China.
“‪This evening we were notified that a member of the Office of the Vice President tested positive for the Coronavirus,” Miller said. “Neither President Trump nor Vice President Pence had close contact with the individual.”
“Further contact tracing is being conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines,” Miller continued.
The announcement marks the first White House official who has tested positive for the illness as numerous members of Congress and other officials in top government agencies have also tested positive.
President Donald Trump tested negative for the virus earlier this month after he came in brief contact with two people who had later tested positive for the illness.
“Last night, after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed,” Sean Conley, the physician to the president, wrote in a memo. “This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative.”
&#8220;One week after having dinner with the Brazilian delegation in Mar-a-Lago, the President remains symptom-free,&#8221; Conley continued. &#8220;I have been in daily contact with the CDC and White House Coronavirus Task Force, and we are encouraging the implementation of all their best practices for exposure reduction and transmission mitigation.&#8221;
On Wednesday, Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) announced on Twitter that he had contracted the virus and that he had self-quarantined since he first started developing symptoms.
“On Saturday evening, after returning from Washington, D.C., I developed mild cold-like symptoms. In consultation with my doctor on Sunday, I immediately isolated myself in my home,” McAdams said in a statement. “I have been conducting all meetings by telephone. My symptoms got worse and I developed a fever, dry cough and labored breathing and I remained self-quarantined.”
“On Tuesday, my doctor instructed my to get tested for COVID-19 and following his referral, I went to the local testing clinic for the test,” McAdams continued. “Today I learned that I tested positive. I am still working for Utahns and pursuing efforts to get Utahns the resources they need as I continue doing my job from home until I know it is safe to end my self-quarantine. I’m doing my part as all Americans are doing to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the coronavirus outbreak.”
McAdams concluded, “I urge Utahns to take this seriously and follow the health recommendations we’re getting from the CDC and other health experts so that we can recover from this public health threat.”
Earlier in the day, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) announced his diagnosis on Twitter, writing: “I want everyone to know that I am feeling much better. However, it is important that everyone take this extremely seriously and follow CDC guidelines in order to avoid getting sick and mitigate the spread of this virus. We must continue to work together to emerge stronger as a country during these trying times.”
A statement from his office said, “In an abundance of caution, after votes on Friday, March 13th, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart decided to self-quarantine in Washington, D.C, and not return to South Florida because of his wife Tia’s pre-existing conditions that put her at exceptionally high risk. On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms, including a fever and a headache. Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19. While in quarantine Diaz-Balart has been working from his apartment in Washington, DC.”
This report has been updated to include additional information.

White House Official Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The White House briefing room is much smaller than it looks on TV.
Reporters are crammed into assigned seats, seven per row for seven rows, or 49 people. But reporters without seats line the aisles on both sides and photographers jockeying for pictures make the room one big germfest.
On Monday, the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), which sets the seating chart in the room, released a rearranged seating chart to increase &#8220;social distancing,&#8221; meaning quite a few reporters are now without the seats they once held. Under the new setup, only every other seat is to be occupied.
And those not on the seating chart are out, the White House said in an email to reporters.
&#8220;Members of the press who do not have a seat on the updated seating chart or who do not participate in the President’s In-House Pool will not be permitted access to the White House Complex,&#8221; said an email from White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham. She added that the changes are &#8220;effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and continuing until further notice.&#8221;
The WHCA issued new policies late Sunday in an effort to follow guidelines set out by doctors to stem the spread of the coronavirus. And the association urged reporters to work remotely if possible and limit the number of journalists at the White House to the bare minimum.
&#8220;Our new normal: This is the White House briefing room where @VP, @realDonaldTrump, and officials give us the latest on #CoronavirusOutbreak. Only every other seat can be occupied starting today, per @whca. #SocialDistancing,&#8221; wrote CBS reporter Weijia Jiang.
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Our new normal: This is the White House briefing room where <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, and officials give us the latest on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronavirusOutbreak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronavirusOutbreak</a>. Only every other seat can be occupied starting today, per <a href="https://twitter.com/whca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@whca</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SocialDistancing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SocialDistancing</a> <a href="https://t.co/eE22srno4N">pic.twitter.com/eE22srno4N</a>
&mdash; Weijia Jiang (@weijia) <a href="https://twitter.com/weijia/status/1239520726505394176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The orange signs read: &#8220;To ensure proper social distancing, this seat is to remain unoccupied for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.&#8221;
Jiang also posted another picture that shows who sits where under the new plan.
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The view from the podium. <a href="https://t.co/OC7oVXtwO3">pic.twitter.com/OC7oVXtwO3</a>
&mdash; Weijia Jiang (@weijia) <a href="https://twitter.com/weijia/status/1239521440422133761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The WHCA is discouraging those without a seat from attending White House briefings.
&#8220;We understand these restrictions are deeply disruptive to our members and their ability to do their jobs,&#8221; WHCA President Jonathan Karl of ABC News said in a statement, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/media/487754-whca-rearranges-seats-in-briefing-room-to-increase-social-distancing">The Hill</a> reported. &#8220;But we are forced to take these steps to do our part to ensure that there is a healthy pool available to cover the president and inform the public during this critical time.&#8221;
Here&#8217;s the new seating arrangement, according to a tweet by Katherine Faulders of ABC News.
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Temporary seating chart in the White House briefing room to accommodate social distancing guidelines <a href="https://t.co/MFTIzXScv2">pic.twitter.com/MFTIzXScv2</a>
&mdash; Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KFaulders/status/1239397157918179328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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That leaves just five &#8220;conservative&#8221; outlets in the briefing room at any given time &#8212; Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times (which will share a seat with The New York Post), and One America Network (which will share a seat with Newsmax). Fox Business News will also share a seat with CNBC.
&#8220;Now, more than ever, America needs a healthy, fair, and accurate press to deliver the news,&#8221; Grisham wrote in her email. &#8221; We again urge members of the press to direct the American people to Coronavirus.gov for the most up-to-date and factual information available. When possible, members of the press seeking information are encouraged to call or email press staff as opposed to physically entering the Lower or Upper Press Offices. Thank you for understanding that necessary and temporary precautions must be made during this unprecedented situation for your safety and for the safety of our great Nation.&#8221;
The White House on Saturday began taking the temperature of people &#8220;in close contact&#8221; with President Trump or Vice President Pence, including reporters who are attending briefings on the coronavirus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, temperature checks are now being performed on any individuals who are in close contact with the President and Vice President,&#8221; Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement. “In order to keep the entire White House complex safe and healthy, beginning Monday morning, temperature checks will be conducted on everyone who enters campus. As was announced over the weekend, additional temperature checks will be conducted on individuals who are in close contact with the president and vice president throughout the day.”
&#8220;Other precautionary steps the White House is taking: pausing its internship and volunteer programs, canceling public tours and canceling large events through the end of March. The White House also has closed its Navy Mess Dining Room, where many staffers get daily meals,&#8221; the <a href="https://fox40.com/news/national-and-world-news/white-house-acts-to-protect-trump-during-virus-outbreak/">Associated Press</a> reported.
&nbsp;

Sean Spicer Holds Daily Press Briefing At The White House

Half The White House Press Corps Axed From Briefing Room To Increase ‘Social Distancing’

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney suggested Friday that Americans should expect that there will be some disruptions to schools and transportation as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, but expressed confidence that the U.S. is well-prepared to handle the situation.
Amid <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-new-york-reportedly-monitoring-over-9000-people-for-coronavirus">reports</a> that over 8,000 people in California and several hundred in New York are being monitored for potential infection, Mulvaney addressed the issue of the virus&#8217;s spread during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Fort Washington, Maryland on Friday.
&#8220;Are you going to see some schools shut down? Probably. Maybe see impacts on public transportation? Sure,&#8221; Mulvaney said during the event, as reported by <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/virus-could-disrupt-u-s-schools-transportation-mulvaney-says">Bloomberg Quint</a>. &#8220;But we do this,&#8221; he stressed. &#8220;We know how to handle this.&#8221;
Addressing the impact of the epidemic on the financial sector, Mulvaney added, &#8220;Really, what I’d like to do today to calm the markets is tell people to turn their televisions off for 24 hours.&#8221;
Bloomberg notes that Mulvaney&#8217;s comments &#8220;indicate that the administration is planning for potentially bigger disruptions.&#8221;
&#8220;He spoke a day after stock markets plunged the most since 2011 over concerns that the coronavirus outbreak would continue to spread and drag down the global economy,&#8221; the outlet reports. &#8220;There are now more than 83,000 cases of the virus worldwide, with infections spreading in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Germany.&#8221;
Mulvaney&#8217;s confidence in the U.S. response to the epidemic is an echo of President Trump&#8217;s repeated assurances that the federal government is on top of the issue, as he underscored in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-conference/">press conference</a> Wednesday.
&#8220;Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low,&#8221; Trump said, in part referencing his decision to shut down flights from high-risk areas. &#8220;&#8230;We’re ready to adapt and we’re ready to do whatever we have to as the disease spreads, if it spreads.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-new-york-reportedly-monitoring-over-9000-people-for-coronavirus">The Daily Wire</a> reported Thursday, over 9,000 people are currently being monitored in the U.S. for potential infection, including over 8,000 in California and another 700 in New York.
The number of monitored cases in California dwarfs all other states. “California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that 33 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and the state is currently monitoring at least 8,400 others —a day after U.S. health officials confirmed the first possible community transmission of the coronavirus in a Solano County resident,” CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/27/california-is-monitoring-8400-people-for-the-coronavirus.html">reported</a>.
<a href="https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/02/26/coronavirus-update-de-blasio-cuomo-outline-preparations-in-new-york/">CBS New York</a> reported Thursday that New York state&#8217;s health department revealed that &#8220;700 people in the state have been asked to voluntarily self-isolate for two weeks.&#8221; None of those cases are in New York City, the outlet notes; nonetheless, city officials are preparing for a potential outbreak.
&#8220;Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined New York City health officials to outline a plan of action once the virus shows up in the city,&#8221; CBS 2 reports. &#8220;As of Wednesday, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city. All those who were in quarantine have been released – but that’s expected to change. And once it does, city leaders say they’re ready, but could use more help from the federal government.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-new-york-reportedly-monitoring-over-9000-people-for-coronavirus">California, New York Reportedly Monitoring Over 9,000 People For Coronavirus</a>
&nbsp;

Mick Mulvaney

White House Chief of Staff: Expect Disruptions To Schools, Transportation Due To Coronavirus

California

New York

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman was fired from his job on the National Security Council on Friday and was escorted from the White House and his brother reportedly left with him, although it was not clear whether he was also fired.
&#8220;Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the National Security Council, was pushed out of his role Friday months earlier than expected, according to a statement from his attorney,&#8221; CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/alex-vindman-donald-trump-impeachment/index.html">reported</a>. &#8220;Vindman was not slated to leave until July, but had been telling colleagues in recent weeks he would likely leave soon. It was not his decision to leave, however, according to one person familiar with the situation.&#8221;
&#8220;We do have one remaining question which is about the future of [Alexander Vindman&#8217;s] brother, Eugene, who is an attorney for the National Security Council who we are told also walked out with Vindman today but it&#8217;s unclear if he received the same message about his services no longer being needed,&#8221; CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins said on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;The Lead&#8221; with Jake Tapper.
Collins added: &#8220;I’m told Vindman walked out with his brother, who is an attorney for the NSC. It’s unclear if he was also fired but that was the expectation.&#8221;
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I’m told Vindman walked out with his brother, who is an attorney for the NSC. It’s unclear if he was also fired but that was the expectation.
&mdash; Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1225886222121390083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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During Vindman&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/excerpts-from-alexander-vindmans-testimony-to-congress-raises-questions-about-credibility">testimony</a> it was revealed that he did not know basic facts about U.S. aid to the country and, when the subject came up at his job, he apparently was not interested in wanting to know more about Hunter Biden joining the corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma.
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Top Ukraine guy at NSC apparently thought Obama administration had provided Javelins to Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/Gd1830At3K">pic.twitter.com/Gd1830At3K</a>
&mdash; Byron York (@ByronYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByronYork/status/1193255269918216197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Corrupt Ukrainian company owned by corrupt Ukrainian oligarch hires vice president&#39;s son and top Ukraine guy on NSC doesn&#39;t want to know about it. From Vindman deposition: <a href="https://t.co/yy3QLX0dqd">pic.twitter.com/yy3QLX0dqd</a>
&mdash; Byron York (@ByronYork) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByronYork/status/1193533402273787905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/timothy-morrison-alexander-vindmans-boss-reveals-problems-they-had-with-vindman">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that during the impeachment hearings, Senior National Security Council official Timothy Morrison, who was the former boss of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, testified that Vindman’s bosses had numerous concerns and problems with him.
GOP counsel Steve Castor asked, “You had indicated in your deposition that when you took over the [Ukraine] portfolio for Dr. Hill July 15 that you were alerted to potential issues in Colonel Vindman’s judgement?”
“Yes,” Morrison responded.
“Did she relay anything specifically to you why she thought that?” Castor asked.
Morrison responded that the concern apparently came from multiple officials and was an overall general concern about his judgment.
“Did any other NSC personnel raise concerns with you about Colonel Vindman?” Castor asked.
“Yes,” Morrison responded.
“Morrison later confirmed that multiple other officials were concerned that Vindman was potentially leaking sensitive information to the media,” The Daily Wire reported. “Morrison also confirmed that Vindman did not keep him in the loop about all the things that he was doing in the job and that Vindman went behind his back and did not inform him about the concerns that he had about President Donald Trump’s July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine.”
“If he had concerns about something about the content of the call, that’s something that I expected that I would have been notified of,” Morrison said. “I also think as a matter of practice, since we both went to the lawyers, we didn’t both need to.”
“At any point subsequently, did [Vindman] become frustrated that he felt cut out of some of the Ukraine portfolio?” Castor asked.
“Yes,” Morrison responded, adding that Vindman was upset that he was not invited on a trip to Ukraine.
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Top official Tim Morrison said Alexander Vindman&#39;s bosses had a lot of concerns about him:
-Judgement -Potential leaker -Did not keep his bosses in the loop on what he was doing -Went around his bosses&#39; backs -Was mad he was cut out of working on Ukraine <a href="https://t.co/Z9qgSVs9dt">pic.twitter.com/Z9qgSVs9dt</a>
&mdash; Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1196925677481521153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Alexander Vindman Fired, Escorted From White House, Brother Goes With Him, Report Says

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On Tuesday, the White House stated it is considering the possibility of declassifying information showing the necessity for the airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, that an imminent attack planned on American forces  was deterred by the airstrike.
As <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7861255/National-security-adviser-says-hes-looking-declassifying-intelligence-Qassem-Soleimani.html">The Daily Mail</a> reports, National Security Advisor Robert O&#8217;Brien told reporters he was “taking a look at” whether intelligence provoking President Trump’s order to kill Soleimani would be declassified. He stated that Soleimani was “planning to kill, to attack American facilities and diplomats. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were located at those facilities.”
O&#8217;Brien also appeared on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/robert-obrien-iran-national-security-united-nations">Fox &amp; Friends</a> Tuesday morning, where he asserted, &#8220;The president believes that weakness is provocative, and I think we have seen that throughout history. It&#8217;s something that&#8217;s been a cornerstone of President Trump&#8217;s foreign policy and national security policy &#8230; Soleimani and the Iranian regime knew exactly what they were doing. And what I think they did is they underestimated the president and his restraint.&#8221;
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed the perspective of the necessity for the airstrike, telling reporters at a State Department press briefing:
<blockquote>There’s been much made about this question of intelligence and imminence; I answered it multiple times on Sunday. I’m happy to walk through it again. Any time a president makes a decision of this magnitude, there are multiple pieces of information that come before us. We presented that to him in all its broad detail; we gave him all the best information that came out from the intelligence community but from those of us who have teams in the field.
We evaluated the relevant risks and the opportunity that might present itself at some point and we could see clearly that not only had Soleimani done all of the things that we have recounted, hundreds of thousands massacred in Syria, enormous destruction of countries like Lebanon and Iraq; where they’ve denied them sovereignty and the Iranians have really denied people in those two countries what they want; sovereignty, independence and freedom; this is all Soleimani’s handiwork. And then we’d watch as he was continuing the terror campaign in the region.</blockquote>
Pompeo continued:
<blockquote>We know what happened at the end of the year last year in December, ultimately leading to the death of an American. So if you&#8217;re looking for imminence, you needn&#8217;t look further than the days that led up to the strike that was taken against Soleimani. And then, you in addition to that have what we can clearly see; were continuing efforts on behalf of this terrorist to build out a network of campaign activities that were going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans. It was the right decision; we got it right. The Department of Defense did excellent work and the president had an entirely legal, appropriate and a basis as well as a decision that fit perfectly within our strategy and how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly.</blockquote>
Video of Pompeo below:
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White House

Far-Left Activists Burn American Flag Near White House: ‘America Was Never Great!’

WATCH: Rioters Vandalize Church Near White House That Was Previously Set On Fire

BREAKING: Rioters Near White House Try To Tear Down Presidential Statue, Set Up ‘Black House Autonomous Zone’

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NYT Pushes Alleged Report Showing 3,000 COVID Deaths Per Day By June 1. White House: That’s Not True.

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White House Tried To Move CNN Reporter To Back Of Briefing Room Before Trump Walked Out

White House Coronavirus Model Gets Updated Second Time In Four Days, Downgrading Deaths, Hospitalizations Again

White House Warns Against Grocery Shopping, Leaving Home As Coronavirus Hits Peak

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White House Official Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Half The White House Press Corps Axed From Briefing Room To Increase ‘Social Distancing’

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Alexander Vindman Fired, Escorted From White House, Brother Goes With Him, Report Says

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