Today in Campaign 2016
Slow news week, eh?
- Donald Trump hailed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union this morning, telling reporters in Scotland: “They took back control of their country. It’s a great thing.” Trump, visiting Scotland for a ribbon-cutting at one of his golf courses, pointed out that he had called for the Brexit while Obama had opposed it, and he said the vote could foretell his election as president. “I think I see a big parallel – people want to take their country back,” he said. “Are you traveling with foreign policy advisers?” Trump was asked. “I’ve been in touch with them,” he replied “but there’s nothing to talk about ... ultimately I think it will be a good thing.”
- Hillary Clinton released a statement on the Brexit, saying “We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made.” “This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House,” Clinton said. The statement calls for protection for working families from economic uncertainty and attests to “America’s steadfast commitment to the special relationship with Britain”.
- President Barack Obama said that the special relationship is enduring, and “the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone.” In a statement, the president declared that “the United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship.”
- Reminder: A few weeks ago, Donald Trump did not know what “Brexit” meant.
British journalists have four hours to prepare questions for Donald Trump about why he had no idea what #Brexit was. pic.twitter.com/Nlb2QrTWbx
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) June 24, 2016
- Former treasury secretary and chief executive of Goldman Sachs Hank Paulson, a Republican, has endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, writing in an op-ed for the Washington Post that Donald Trump “populist hijacking of one of the United States’ great political parties.”
- “The GOP, in putting Trump at the top of the ticket, is endorsing a brand of populism rooted in ignorance, prejudice, fear and isolationism,” Paulson wrote. “This troubles me deeply as a Republican, but it troubles me even more as an American. Enough is enough. It’s time to put country before party and say it together: Never Trump.”
- Bernie Sanders crossed a verbal watershed in his slow march toward conceding the Democratic nomination contest by confirming he would vote for Clinton in November’s election. “Yes – I think the issue right here is, I’m going to do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump,” Sanders told CNN. Despite previous assurances that he would work with her to defeat Donald Trump, the remarks are the first time the leftwing Vermont senator has explicitly supported his Democratic adversary.
That’s it from the campaign trail!
Former treasury secretary: Donald Trump rooted in 'rooted in ignorance, prejudice, fear and isolationism'
Former treasury secretary and chief executive of Goldman Sachs Hank Paulson, a Republican, has endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, writing in an op-ed for the Washington Post that Donald Trump “populist hijacking of one of the United States’ great political parties.”
“The GOP, in putting Trump at the top of the ticket, is endorsing a brand of populism rooted in ignorance, prejudice, fear and isolationism,” Paulson wrote. “This troubles me deeply as a Republican, but it troubles me even more as an American. Enough is enough. It’s time to put country before party and say it together: Never Trump.”
Paulson, who presided over the subprime mortgage crisis that eventually ignited a global economic meltdown, wrote in the Washington Post that Trump’s record as a businessman is not a qualification so much as a liability: “I can’t help but think what would have happened if a divisive character such as Trump were president during the 2008 financial crisis, at a time when leadership, compromise and careful analysis were critical.”
“When Trump assures us he’ll do for the United States what he’s done for his businesses, that’s not a promise - it’s a threat.”
The New York bar where a police raid and ensuing riot gave birth to the gay rights movement in the US will be the site of the Stonewall National Monument, writes the Guardian’s Joanna Walters:
Barack Obama has announced that the Stonewall National Monument will be created outside the Stonewall Inn in New York where gay men, lesbians and drag queens reacted to a police raid in 1969 with a riot that spread and turned into the gay rights movement in America and around the world.
Obama confirmed the widely expected news that he was designating the first ever national monument to the LGBT equality movement as many cities around the US are preparing for their annual Pride parades this weekend, while still mourning the massacre of 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando less than two weeks ago.
“The riots became protests, the protests became a movement, the movement ultimately became an integral part of America,” Obama said in a voiceover to a video released on Friday that includes the faces and voices of activists from both the Stonewall era and today.
He declared Stonewall the newest addition to the National Park system, which “should reflect the full story of our country. That we are stronger together,” he said.
The tiny public garden opposite the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, has been officially declared part of the site of the new national monument, which also covers the surrounding streets and the bar itself, which has been protected and preserved as a National Historic Landmark since 2000.
Obama issued a statement on Friday describing the park as “a place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community to assemble for marches and parades, expressions of grief and anger, and celebrations of victory and joy”.
Bernie Sanders said this afternoon he is in talks with Hillary Clinton’s campaign to come up with some “serious proposals” to help “transform America.” He made the comments during a speech in Albany, New York.
Earlier in the day, Sanders said he would vote for Clinton to stop Republican candidate Donald Trump from winning the White House, a show of support that his campaign said was not a formal endorsement.
Updated
Richard Haass, former director of policy planning for the State Department, where he was a principal advisor to Secretary Colin Powell, told reporters: “The UK has been one of this country’s most important partners. It will be less willing and able to play that role and the net result will be the special relationship will be that much less special.”
“The United States will have no alternative but to increasingly turn to and rely on other countries. So this is essentially a cloud without a silver lining when it comes to the UK itself economically and politically, when it comes to Europe or when it comes to the United States. On balance, this will diminish order in Europe and arguably beyond.”
Haass, now president of the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, described David Cameron’s decision to hold a referendum as “one of history’s great blunders”. Britain will be divided, poorer and distracted, he warned, diminishing its role in Europe. The vote marks the beginning of the dissolution of one of the principal countries in the world, he said, with a knock-on effect of more referenda in other European countries.
“I do believe the effects will be deep and enduring. I would say the biggest loser will be the UK itself. Actually, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I do believe that this is the beginning of the end of the United Kingdom.”
He explained: “It’s a question of when and not if Scotland has a second referendum and this time it will almost certainly pass, based on the argument that it is more important to be in Europe than in the UK. I also worry that pressure will grow in Northern Ireland for a referendum on essentially whether it should unify with Ireland, and I believe that the politics surrounding that will deepen the divisions in Northern Ireland and the consequences of that could be more than serious for the stability that has been so carefully cultivated in Northern Ireland over the last two decades and I believe could be jeopardised.”
Richard Grenell, former spokesman for President George W Bush at the UN, said: “It’s clear that people everywhere are finished with elite institutions advocating the status quo. Brexit is only the beginning. People are fed up and can’t be scared into submission. They are no longer afraid of being called a racist or homophobe.
“We want politicians to listen to us and the ones that don’t will be thrown out of office. America’s relationship with the UK will be stronger as soon as Obama leaves office. While Obama won’t move to help strengthen our economic and security ties, the next president will.”
Dean Baker, co-director of the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research, said: “I was certainly surprised. I assumed that the experts were right that it would be close, but stay would win. However to me, this shows the anger that comes with failed economic policies. Clearly xenophobia and racism were major factors, but does anyone think the UK would have voted to leave if growth had averaged 2.5-3% over the last decade rather less than 1% in the UK and near zero in the EU?”
Baker suggested that Brexit could strengthen, not weaken, the “special relationship” across the Atlantic. “Presumably it makes the UK even closer with the US, especially if the EU is trying to punish the UK. A lot will depend on whether the EU leadership acts like mature adults or a spurned lover.”
Former half-term Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has compared the UK’s vote to leave the European Union to the Declaration of Independence, writing in a Facebook post this afternoon that she hopes the UK’s “refreshed spirit of sovereignty spread over the pond to America’s shores!”
In a post accompanied by a photograph of late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Palin offered “congratulations” to “smart Brits.”
“Good on you for ignoring all the fear mongering from special interest globalists who tend to aim for that apocalyptic One World Government that dissolves a nation’s self-determination and sovereignty... the EU being a One World Government mini-me,” Palin wrote.
Echoing presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Palin wrote that “America can learn an encouraging lesson from this.”
“It is time to dissolve political bands that connect us to agendas not in our best interest,” Palin concluded. “May UN shackles be next on the chopping block.”
Donald trump fundraising off Brexit
In an email to supporters, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump applauded the millions of British voters who “chose to leave the flawed and failing European Union and reassert control over their borders, politics and economy, taking a brave stand for freedom and independence” - and encouraged his followers to follow their example.
“These voters stood up for their nation,” Trump wrote. “With your help, we’re going to do the exact same thing on Election Day 2016 here in the United States of America.”
Asking for donations for his putatively self-funded campaign, Trump wrote his supporters that “voters here face the same choice” as British voters in yesterday’s referendum.
“Let’s send another shockwave around the world,” Trump said. “Let’s take back our country from the corrupt career politicians and put Americans first. Let’s re-declare our independence.”
Journalists at CNN aren’t the only ones miffed with the cable news network’s hiring of controversial former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski - even the network’s main competition is voicing displeasure with the move.
Lost in the shuffle of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union last night, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly rattled off a long list of perceived offenses committed by Lewandowski.
“This is the same guy who has threatened more than one journalist in the course of this campaign, has had some very ugly language attributed to him when it comes to women, and now he will be getting paid by Donald Trump one day and by CNN the next,” Kelly said.
Noting that Lewandowski had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Trump, Kelly declared that any analysis Lewandowski will provide as a commentator will be tainted. “It’s not honest analysis,” Kelly said. “Think about the CNN reporter, the one who he threatened. I hope they don’t bump into each other in the green room. That’s going to be awkward. It’s really remarkable.”
The Brexit doesn’t mean Trump will triumph – despite what he says
Britain’s decision to leave the European Union will have little bearing on Donald Trump’s chances of winning the White House in November, writes Guardian politics reporter Ben Jacobs:
But the American and British electorates are so different that it is impossible to productively compare the two.
The biggest difference is that the UK is a lot whiter. According to the most recent census data, 86% of the British population is white. In the US, only 63% is non-Hispanic white.
A recent national poll from the Washington Post and ABC News showed that non-white voters viewed Trump with almost unprecedented levels of disdain. Only 4% of black voters and 11% of Hispanic voters had a favorable view of him. Another national poll, from Monmouth, showed Trump to have the support of a mere 17% of black, Hispanic and Asian voters.
In the UK, minority voters were overwhelmingly for staying in the European Union. Polling data from Lord Ashcroft shows that two thirds of Asian voters and nearly three quarters of black voters supported the Remain campaign. It was just that the electorate wasn’t diverse enough for this to make a difference.
In the US, it is anticipated that more than 30% of voters in the presidential election will be members of a minority group. The Brexit vote looked a lot more like that in a Republican presidential primary.
There are other differences. A US presidential election, for example, is a fierce and partisan campaign in which tribal loyalties span generations. In the EU referendum, the British electorate splintered across party lines.
It’s funny because it’s true?
Where’s the part where he denies any wrongdoing or tries to blame somebody else? This is absolutely crazy.
Americans Confused By System Of Government In Which Leader Would Resign After Making Terrible Decision https://t.co/OH8R7j0eCw via @theonion
— Mark Calabria (@MarkCalabria) June 24, 2016
The Clinton camp hits Trump with a quickie video ad mashing up TV news describing economic tremors tied to the Brexit with footage of Trump at his news conference Friday in Scotland.
“Golfers will stop, and they’ll go and get something to eat, and then they’ll go on to the tenth hole,” Trump says. He refers to Scotland as “Florida”.
Hours after the #BrexitVote, Donald Trump was in the U.K.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2016
Talking about how he, personally, would benefit.https://t.co/YEt5LozDpt
We’re not sure whether the pun at the end was necessary. “Donald Trump: in it fore himself”.
Dow moving back toward 600 down. Nasdaq down nearly 4%. #Brexit pic.twitter.com/xIUbFkwRgk
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) June 24, 2016
Updated
After speaking with Cameron, Obama says UK 'committed to an orderly transition'
Barack Obama is speaking at the global entrepreneurship summit at Stanford University. He began his remarks by saying he spoke with Prime Minister David Cameron and that the U.K. is committed to an orderly transition out of EU.
Obama says he’s “confident” that will happen. He also has spoken with German chancellor Angela Merkel, he said.
Updated
Bernie Sanders is in Albany to deliver a recapitulation of the “Where we go from here” speech he delivered in NYC last night – read our live blog coverage here.
This morning Sanders told MSNBC he would be voting for Hillary Clinton.
Sanders tells his Albany audience that he’s flattered by the T-shirts, but “It’s not Bernie. It’s you.”
It’s not about Bernie or anybody else. It’s about people coming together in a Democratic way to transform this country,” Sanders says.
It’s not a we, it’s not a you, it’s an us.”
The Daily Beast, citing “industry gossip”, reports that CNN is paying former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski $500,000 to analyze politics, even though Lewandowski is contractually barred from disparaging Trump.
CNN host Erin Burnett asked Lewandowski about his ability to speak freely in an introductory segment Thursday night:
“My confidentiality agreement is such where information that I would be privy to and private conversations that take place between family members that are not meant for the public audience are going to be held in the closest and strictest of confidence with me,” Lewandowski says. [...]
“I’m going to tell it like it is because that’s how I’ve had my entire career, and most of the time it has been at my own detriment.”
Congratulations to David Cameron on his new job as a political analyst for CNN
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 24, 2016
Parody echoes reality echoes parody:
The parody account, and a few hours later, the real thing.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) June 24, 2016
Definitely living in a simulation. pic.twitter.com/9aafLcIiiG
“Britain and the US are different countries,” asserts Palmieri, in reply to a question about potential trans-Atlantic implications of the Brexit vote.
"Britain and the United States are different countries" repeats the Clinton campaign again and again when asked about Brexit/Trump parallels
— Dan Roberts (@RobertsDan) June 24, 2016
“We have real confidence that Americans... believe deeply that we are stronger together,” says Sullivan. He says Americans have “enormous common sense.”
They’re going to look at this vote, see what impact it has on the British economy.. they’re going to make their own decision about the kind of leadership they’re looking for.
Clinton adviser on Trump: 'reckless and erratic egomaniac'
In a conference call with reporters, Clinton senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan and communications director Jennifer Palmieri are issuing a damning assessment of Trump’s appearance in Scotland and reaction to the Brexit vote.
“As we can see from the falling markets, the economic uncertainty created by the vote carries a risk of hitting the pokcet books of American families,” Sullivan says.
“Donald Trump actively rooted for this outcome, and he’s rooting for the economic turmoil in its wake. He said a falling British pound is good for his golf business. He actually put his golf business ahead of working families in the United States.”
Sullivan continues:
Every time there is a significant national or global event, Donald Trump proves again that he is temperamentally unfit for the job.
First, he engages in what can only be described as pathological self-congratulation. Second, rather than consult people who might know what’s happening... he consults only with himself. Third, rather than gets the facts, he just makes them up or makes basic factual errors.
Sullivan noted that Trump had tweeted that Scotland was “going wild” about the Brexit vote, when Scotland in fact voted to remain. “Donald Trump’s just not concerned with the facts,” Sullivan said.
“Fourth, rather than think about what is good for the American people, he thinks and talks about what’s good for himself.”
Sullivan quotes Trump as saying, “running a golf course is just like running a country.”
He calls Trump a “reckless and erratic egomaniac who could easily drive us off the cliff” and a Trump presidency a “dangerous and frightening prospect”.
Palmieri adds: “What Donald Trump proved today is that you can change the campaign manager but not the candidate... we saw what happens when he’s taken off Paul Manafort’s teleprompter.”
Palin hails Brexit
Sarah Palin’s statement on the Brexit, opening with a quote from the Declaration of Independence, takes a cue from the Trump spokeswoman who argued this week that “America is here because of its own little Brexit”:
Sarah Palin has a hot take on #Brexit: "May UN shackles be next on the chopping block" pic.twitter.com/qXVDuomic1
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 24, 2016
Updated
The lies Trump told this week
In speeches from Texas to New York, on issues from foreign policy to taxes and guns, Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump has had trouble with the truth.
In the first of a regular series, the Guardian looks at some of the tallest tales Trump has told over the past week.
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“I started off in Brooklyn, New York, not long ago, with a small loan, and built a business which today is worth well over $10bn.” – 22 June, New York City
In 1978 his father gave him a loan totaling almost $1m – about $3.7m today – and acted as guarantor for the young Trump’s early projects. A 1981 report by a New Jersey regulator also shows a $7.5m loan from the patriarch, and years later hebought $3.5m in gambling chips to help his son pay off the debts of a failing casino, which was found to have broken the law by accepting them. Trump alsoborrowed millions against his inheritance before his father’s death, a 2007 deposition shows. [Read further.]
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“I was among the earliest to criticize the rush to [the Iraq] war, and yes, even before the war ever started.” – 22 June, New York City
Trump has repeated this false claim nearly every week for four months. On 11 September 2002, about six months before the invasion, Trump told radio host Howard Stern: “Yeah, I guess so,” when asked whether he supported the proposed war. He offered a similar answer to Fox News a few months later, saying George W Bush was “doing a very good job”. [Read further.]
Ewen MacAskill: nasty guy? Let’s go to the tape:
Ewen, the Guardian’s defence and intelligence correspondent, pointed out to Trump that no top British politicians wanted to meet him during his Scottish sojourn.
“You said there was a love fest – David Cameron said he didn’t want to meet you,” Ewen says. “Alex Salmond said he didn’t want to meet you.”
“David Cameron would have met me. David Cameron was negotiating to meet me,” Trump asserts. “But right now I don’t think David Cameron wants to meet anybody.”
“You’re regarded as toxic,” Ewen observes.
“Nasty, nasty guy,” Trump says.
Updated
Protester interrupts Trump with swastika golf balls
Comedian Lee Nelson (real name Simon Brodkin) popped up at the Donald Trump appearance at his Turnberry golf course, approached the candidate and handed out golf balls bearing swastikas.
“These are the new balls available from the clubhouse as part of the new Trump Turnberry range. I forgot to hand them out before,” Nelson said. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Trump. And thank you. I apologize.”
“Get him out,” Trump said. He was got out.
A month ago, Donald Trump did not know what “Brexit” meant. He also rejected a link between his anti-immigrant nationalism and European nativist movements.
Here’s the key bit from Trump’s interview with Michael Wollf in the Hollywood Reporter, published on 1 June:
I ask if he sees himself as having similarities with leaders of the growing anti-immigrant (some would say outright racist) European nativist movements, like Marine Le Pen in France and Matteo Salvini in Italy, whom The Wall Street Journal reported Trump had met with and endorsed in Philadelphia. (“Matteo, I wish you become the next Italian premier soon,” Trump was quoted as saying.) In fact, he insists he didn’t meet Salvini. “I didn’t want to meet him.”
And, in sum, he doesn’t particularly see similarities — or at least isn’t interested in them — between those movements and the anti-immigrant nationalism he is promoting in this country.
“And Brexit? Your position?” I ask.
“Huh?”
“Brexit.”
“Hmm.”
“The Brits leaving the EU,” I prompt, realizing that his lack of familiarity with one of the most pressing issues in Europe is for him no concern nor liability at all.
“Oh yeah, I think they should leave.”
It is hard not to feel that Trump understands himself, and that we’re all in on this kind of spectacular joke. His shamelessness is just so … shameless.
On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News “my inclination would be to get out”, but he attached a rather significant caveat: “I don’t think anybody should listen to me because I haven’t really focused on it very much”.
When you watch markets, recall:
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) June 24, 2016
Trump didn’t recognize “Brexit," said “Sure, leave!” when explained.
“Let’s just shake things up!"
Updated
Is Trump going to win now?
Is Trump going to win now? That’s the question on many lips. It may seem like a premature and rather panicky leap to infer from the result of the British referendum a completely overhauled reality in American politics. But the Dow is down 400 points right now, so clearly something has changed.
Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe discerns in the Brexit vote a warning for Trump’s opponents:
But before Americans begin to chuckle at Boris Johnson and Britain’s self-immolation, they should try to learn the lessons of what just happened in the old country. Otherwise they will be preparing for a Trump inaugural parade that rolls past a new Trump hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in seven short months.
First, the rise of charismatic, far-right leaders can only happen when the weak leaders of the center-right surrender to them. [...] The second lesson is about the siren call of nationalism. [...] The third lesson is a generational one. British voters under 34 were overwhelmingly supportive of staying inside the EU, but they were also the least likely to vote. [...] The fourth lesson is that voters don’t seem to care about the hypocrisy and inconsistency of the anti-elite politicians. [...] The final lesson is that protest votes are not, in fact, a token gesture. They have a very real impact in the real world.
James Hohman writes in the Washington Post that the Brexit result demonstrated “strong tides of anti-establishment anger, nationalism and populism” sweeping the world. He observes several areas of overlap between the British political predicament and the American political crossroads: resentment of elites, xenophobia, isolationism, flawed polling, complacency.
Polls consistently underestimating right-wing support -- Cameron & Bibi, now Brexit. So if polls show Clinton up 5, could Trump be even?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 24, 2016
Others have pointed out that the Brexit vote demonstrated the power of hotbutton issues such as immigration and free trade to move voters. More than one commentator has pointed out that after Margaret Thatcher came to power, Ronald Reagan was elected.
Trump himself has asserted that the Brexit vote is a bellwether – but he would say that. He speaks for an eager quadrant of the US political establishment, however, including erstwhile rival Ted Cruz, who, like Trump, has hailed the Brexit vote as a victory:
The results of the #EUref should serve as a wake-up call for internationalist bureaucrats from Brussels to D.C https://t.co/WucKMoZc50
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) June 24, 2016
“The United States can learn from the referendum and attend to the issues of security, immigration and economic autonomy that drove this historic vote,” Cruz continued.
Guardian Washington correspondent David Smith spoke with pollster Frank Luntz, who claimed to have seen the future:
Frank Luntz, a leading political consultant and pollster, said: “I have seen the future. If a wave of voter populism can sweep Britain out of Europe, it can sweep Donald Trump to the presidency in America.
“The anger I heard in Britain is far wider and deeper in America. Just as leave exceeded every poll, so did Donald Trump in the primaries. And that may well continue into the fall.”
Not so fast...
If Trump is to win, he will have to overcome his own dismal unpopularity, extremely substantial demographic challenges, equally substantial electoral map challenges, horrid poll numbers from pollsters with good track records in US presidential elections, a majority feeling of favorableness about the current president and optimism about the economy, and even, perhaps, certain strengths of his opponent.
The evidence so far is that Trump has had significant difficulty expanding his appeal beyond the core of Republican voters who powered him through the primaries, despite for example Trump’s direct appeal to Bernie Sanders supporters, who have responded with disdain.
Benchmark Politics identifies multiple points on which the Brexit-Trump comparison breaks down. D), Trump, observes that the US presidential election is a contest between individuals and one of them is personally unpopular in a record-breaking way that would seem relatively unresponsive to voting in Britain:
Brexit =/= US race. BREXIT A) didn't have a gender gap, B) Does not have an electoral college, C) Is causing a financial crisis, D) Trump...
— Benchmark Politics (@benchmarkpol) June 24, 2016
@PCalith @benchmarkpol ...G) Featured a national leader with underwater approval numbers H) Featured a less diverse country....
— David Crockett (@davidcrockett08) June 24, 2016
You know how much impact Obama had on Brexit?
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) June 24, 2016
That's about as much impact Brexit will have on US elections.
What’s your take? Does the Brexit increase Trump’s chances in November?
Updated
Obama: 'special relationship is enduring'
President Barack Obama says the special relationship is enduring, and “the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone”.
Here’s the president’s statement:
The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision. The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy. So too is our relationship with the European Union, which has done so much to promote stability, stimulate economic growth, and foster the spread of democratic values and ideals across the continent and beyond. The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin negotiating their ongoing relationship to ensure continued stability, security, and prosperity for Europe, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the world.
Clinton sees 'need for calm, steady, experienced leadership'
Hillary Clinton has released a statement on the Brexit, saying “We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made.”
“This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House,” Clinton says.
The statement calls for protection for working families from economic uncertainty and attests to “America’s steadfast commitment to the special relationship with Britain”.
Here it is in full:
We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made. Our first task has to be to make sure that the economic uncertainty created by these events does not hurt working families here in America. We also have to make clear America’s steadfast commitment to the special relationship with Britain and the transatlantic alliance with Europe. This time of uncertainty only underscores the need for calm, steady, experienced leadership in the White House to protect Americans’ pocketbooks and livelihoods, to support our friends and allies, to stand up to our adversaries, and to defend our interests. It also underscores the need for us to pull together to solve our challenges as a country, not tear each other down.”
"We respect the choice the people of the United Kingdom have made." —Hillary #BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/58yM8oDkL6
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2016
Hello and welcome to our live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. Donald Trump has hailed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, telling reporters in Scotland: “They took back control of their country. It’s a great thing.”
Trump, visiting Scotland for a ribbon-cutting on one of his golf courses, pointed out that he had called for the Brexit while Obama had opposed it, and he said the vote could foretell his election as president. “I think I see a big parallel – people want to take their country back,” he said.
“Are you traveling with foreign policy advisers?” Trump was asked.
“I’ve been in touch with them,” he replied “but there’s nothing to talk about ... ultimately I think it will be a good thing.”
.@KatyTurNBC: Are you traveling with foreign policy advisers?
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 24, 2016
Trump: "There's nothing to talk about..." #Brexit https://t.co/Wb3QIiSpbO
Trump took further questions on the Brexit ...
Trump claims "David Cameron is negotiating to meet me"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 24, 2016
Asked if he supports breakup of EU, Trump says it "looks like it's on it's way" and he "could see it happening" but has "no opinion" on it.
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) June 24, 2016
... then he talked a lot about his golf course:
Donald Trump had a remarkable opportunity to appear presidential this morning. Instead, he's talking about drainage on a golf course.
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 24, 2016
On historic day Trump speaking with a fluency and specificity I've never heard from him -- about his Scottish hotels and golf course zoning.
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) June 24, 2016
Trump: I have a lot of friends in Germany who have always been really proud Germans to a level you wouldn't believe.
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 24, 2016
Trump: "When the pound goes down, more people are coming to Turnberry, to be honest."
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) June 24, 2016
At the Trump Scotland presser:
— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand) June 24, 2016
Q: "...but the country's not a golf course"
Trump: "No it's not, but you'd be amazed at how similar it is."
Guardian reporter says Trump is politically "toxic." Trump responds by calling him "a nasty, nasty guy."
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) June 24, 2016
The Trump campaign released a statement hailing the Brexit. It read in part:
The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free peoples ... Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence.
The Guardian’s Ewen MacAskill was on the scene when Trump arrived:
He landed by helicopter on the front lawn of his Trump Turnberry golf resort shortly after 9am on Friday to find a Britain shell-shocked by the Brexit vote.
Wearing a white baseball cap, Trump strode the couple of hundred yards up the gravel path to the Ayrshire hotel accompanied by his family. He was not scheduled to speak to the press but could not resist responding to shouted questions from the media scrum. .
He described the referendum result as a historic vote and predicted many such uprisings around the world. “It will not be the last. There is lots of anger.”
Referring specifically to the UK, he said: “They are angry over people coming and taking control. They are angry about many things.”
He said the UK would recover. “It will heal,” he said.
@realdonaldtrump Scotland voted Remain, you weapons-grade plum.
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) June 24, 2016
The White House issued a statement that said: “The president has been briefed on the incoming returns in the UK referendum, and he will continue to be updated by his team as the situation warrants. We expect the president will have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Cameron over the course of the next day, and we will release further comment as soon as appropriate.”
They expected a pivot but @realDonaldTrump gave us a divot.
— Geoff Garin (@geoffgarin) June 24, 2016
Sanders to vote for Clinton
Bernie Sanders said on MSNBC that he would be voting for Hillary Clinton and that he sees his main work ahead as defeating Trump:
Will @BernieSanders vote for Hillary Clinton in November? Sanders: 'Yes.' https://t.co/AJ6DVhjHO6
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 24, 2016
In an event in New York City onThursday night, Sanders encouraged supporters to pick up the progressive baton that he grasped more than a year ago, reports the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino:
“Never, ever lose your sense of outrage,” Sanders said, straining his voice to be heard above the thundering applause that filled the Town Hall, a historic venue in Midtown Manhattan.
The democratic socialist reached back into history, describing the political revolution that he championed as a continuation of the long struggle for social and economic equality, starting with the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire of 1911 that launched a workers’ rights movement.
“Election days come and go but what is much more important is that political and social revolutions continue,” he said.
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