Today, President Donald Trump cancelled, then reinstated, his visit to the CDC in Atlanta. There were worries about a member of staff at the facility having contracted the coronavirus, but the trip is going ahead.
Before departing the White House, , following widespread criticism of his response to the growing crisis. The bill provides federal public health agencies money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, and help state and local governments respond to the threat.
The president then flew to Tennessee to tour damage from destructive tornadoes that struck the Nashville area earlier in the week. Wearing his signature red hat, he praised the response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In a turbulent week for financial markets, the president could draw some consolation from a very good jobs report -- though one reporting on the period before the coronavirus crisis started. The economy added 273,000 new jobs unemployment fell to 3.5 per cent, which ties it with the lowest level it's been in the last 50 years. An excited Mr Trump tweeted: "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!"
Declaring it "fake news", the president denied reports that he had "sidelined" the Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar in favour of vice president Pence -- an allegation that arose from the secretary not accompanying Pence to Washington state.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, DC, the Justice Department unveiled a controversial rule to collect DNA from undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in federal custody, which Democrats and civil rights groups said "threatens to subvert our foundational values".
Trump was criticised on TV by Ron Klain, the leader of the Obama administration's response to the Ebola crisis, who said that the president should "put down the iPhone," should stop "saying ridiculous things on camera and let public health authorities brief people and tell us the truth."
On the 2020 campaign trail, Trump claimed that Elizabeth Warren performed poorly because 'she's a mean person', a day after she ended her presidential bid.
And as the last two Democrats left standing head for their next clutch of primaries, there are signs Joe Biden is pulling well ahead of Bernie Sanders. With just days to go until several big states cast their vote, a new Reuters-Ipsos poll shows Mr Biden opening up a national lead of 10 points over Mr Sanders.
Catch-up on events as they happened
Hello and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of the Donald Trump administration.
Trump to sign coronavirus funding package bill
Trump is expected to sign an $8.3 billion funding bill to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak, following widespread criticism of his response to the growing crisis.
The bill would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, and help state and local governments respond to the threat.
But Democrats said other steps may be needed if the outbreak continues to worsen.
"This may be a first step because we have issues that relate to unemployment insurance for people who are put out of work," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"We have only about 27% of people in this country who have paid sick days."
Trump is expected to sign an $8.3 billion funding bill to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak, following widespread criticism of his response to the growing crisis.
The bill would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, and help state and local governments respond to the threat.
But Democrats said other steps may be needed if the outbreak continues to worsen.
"This may be a first step because we have issues that relate to unemployment insurance for people who are put out of work," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"We have only about 27% of people in this country who have paid sick days."
President defends coronavirus response and claims 'it's all going to work out'
Trump sounded defensive during a Fox News town hall event last night as he fielded questions about coronavirus.
"Everybody has to be calm. It's all going to work out," he told the audience in Scranton, Pennsylvania, despite a growing number of cases across the US. "We hope it doesn't last too long."
The president, a self-proclaimed germaphobe, also said he was "proud" to have overcome his aversion to hand-shaking.
"You can't be a politician and not shake hands," he said. "The bottom line is I shake anybody's hand now. I'm proud of it."
Trump sounded defensive during a Fox News town hall event last night as he fielded questions about coronavirus.
"Everybody has to be calm. It's all going to work out," he told the audience in Scranton, Pennsylvania, despite a growing number of cases across the US. "We hope it doesn't last too long."
The president, a self-proclaimed germaphobe, also said he was "proud" to have overcome his aversion to hand-shaking.
"You can't be a politician and not shake hands," he said. "The bottom line is I shake anybody's hand now. I'm proud of it."
Pence pledges 'full support' to Washington state over deadly outbreak
Mike Pence pledged the Trump administration's full support to Washington state officials as the coronavirus death toll there continues to mount.
The state has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with at least 70 confirmed infections and 11 dead.
Speaking during a visit to the state's emergency response centre, he said: "We're going to continue to make sure that you have the full support of every agency in the federal government."
The vice-president attended a round-table meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee, members of Washington's congressional delegation and local officials to discuss coordinating response to the outbreak.
Mike Pence pledged the Trump administration's full support to Washington state officials as the coronavirus death toll there continues to mount.
The state has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with at least 70 confirmed infections and 11 dead.
Speaking during a visit to the state's emergency response centre, he said: "We're going to continue to make sure that you have the full support of every agency in the federal government."
The vice-president attended a round-table meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee, members of Washington's congressional delegation and local officials to discuss coordinating response to the outbreak.
The Trump administration's hardline immigration stance may increase the potential for coronavirus to spread further, healthcare experts have warned.
Graig Graziosi has the full story.
Coronavirus: Trump's immigration policies may help spread deadly virus, healthcare experts warn
New rules may scare people away from hospitals or off their health insurance, encouraging the spread of coronavirus
Barr rebuked by judge over handling of Russia report
A federal judge yesterday sharply rebuked Attorney General William Barr's handling of the special counsel's Russia report.
District Judge Reggie Walton said Barr had made "misleading public statements" to spin the investigation's findings in favor of Trump.
The scolding from the judge was unusually blunt, with Walton saying Barr appeared to make a "calculated attempt" to influence public debate about the report.
The rebuke tapped into lingering criticism of Barr that he had misrepresented some of the most damning findings from the two-year investigation.
A federal judge yesterday sharply rebuked Attorney General William Barr's handling of the special counsel's Russia report.
District Judge Reggie Walton said Barr had made "misleading public statements" to spin the investigation's findings in favor of Trump.
The scolding from the judge was unusually blunt, with Walton saying Barr appeared to make a "calculated attempt" to influence public debate about the report.
The rebuke tapped into lingering criticism of Barr that he had misrepresented some of the most damning findings from the two-year investigation.
As the last two Democrats left standing head for their next clutch of primaries, there are signs Joe Biden is pulling well ahead of Bernie Sanders.
With just days to go until several big states cast their vote, a new Reuters-Ipsos poll shows Mr Biden opening up a national lead of 10 points over Mr Sanders.
Andrew Naughtie has the full story.
Joe Biden storms to double digit lead over Bernie Sanders in new poll
Candidates clear field for man-to-man battle
Biden and Sanders pledge to defend Medicare and social security
The White House has been forced to deny that Trump is planning to cut Medicare and social security.
During the Fox News town hall, Trump was told that he cannot reduce debt without cutting entitlement schemes, to which he replied: "We will be cutting."
The White House has been forced to deny that Trump is planning to cut Medicare and social security.
During the Fox News town hall, Trump was told that he cannot reduce debt without cutting entitlement schemes, to which he replied: "We will be cutting."
It was unlear whether he was referring to the mandatory spending programs, discretionary federal spending or both, but his comments sparked a backlash from senior Democrats.
Joe Biden tweeted: "I'll protect and expand [social security]. Donald Trump will cut it and take it away."
Bernie Sanders responsed: "Joe Biden has repeatedly advocated for cuts to Social Security. I've fought my whole career to protect and expand it."
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham insisted that Trump "was taking [sic] about cutting deficits, NOT entitlements."
Trump boasts about 'very good' relationship with North Korean leader
Trump also took the opportunity to gloat about his relationship with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, despite Pyongyang's repeated human rights abuses.
Trump also took the opportunity to gloat about his relationship with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, despite Pyongyang's repeated human rights abuses.
He said: "I have a good relationship with him... Kim Jong-un did not want to talk to him [Obama], and me he wanted to talk to [sic].
"We met in Singapore, and we met in Vietnam, and I also went to the border, the first person ever to walk over the [border between North and South Korea]...
"We have a very good relationship, a very good understanding."
Taking another dig at his predecessor, Trump said he hasn't spoken to Obama since attending George HW Bush's funeral in December 2018.
He said: "[I] sat next to him, and I said 'Hello' and then I said 'Goodbye'. That's about it, that's about it. I didn't like the job he did, I didn't like the job that he and Biden did, I didn't like the position they put us in..."
Trump has cancelled a visit to the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, the White House has said, as fears over the coronavirus outbreak escalate.
Trump yesterday admitted that the coronavirus outbreak could damage the US economy, as the Dow Jones sell-off continues.
Tim Wyatt has the full story.
Tim Wyatt has the full story.
Trump warns coronavirus could hit US economy as stock market tumbles
Economic slowdown could hit president’s hopes of re-election later this yearFebruary job growth report shows the US added more jobs than anticipated
The Labor Department released its February report on Friday about job growth in February.
Despite the growing fear of the coronavirus, companies continued to hire employees and the US economy added 273,000 new jobs during the month. The unemployment rate dropped down to 3.5 per cent, which ties it with the lowest level it's been in the last 50 years.
Trump expressed his excitement over the figures on Friday in a tweet. He shared the new numbers and wrote: "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!"
Economists anticipated February would only see 175,000 new jobs added to the economy.
Despite the growing fear of the coronavirus, companies continued to hire employees and the US economy added 273,000 new jobs during the month. The unemployment rate dropped down to 3.5 per cent, which ties it with the lowest level it's been in the last 50 years.
Trump expressed his excitement over the figures on Friday in a tweet. He shared the new numbers and wrote: "JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!"
Economists anticipated February would only see 175,000 new jobs added to the economy.
Trump may still attend the CDC headquarters on Friday
The president's trip to the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, was originally axed over a rumoured case of the coronavirus in the building.
That case turned out to be false, so Trump may still attend the headquarters after first visiting Nashville, Tennessee, to speak to tornado victims.
Read more here:
The president's trip to the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, was originally axed over a rumoured case of the coronavirus in the building.
That case turned out to be false, so Trump may still attend the headquarters after first visiting Nashville, Tennessee, to speak to tornado victims.
Read more here:
Trump cancels CDC visit because of coronavirus case at the CDC
The IndependentPresident is headed to Tennessee Friday morning to visit tornado victims; could head to CDC afterTrump signs an $8.3 billion emergency funding coronavirus bill
The president has taken financial measures to combat the spread and prevention of the coronavirus in the US.
On Friday morning, he signed an $8.3bn coronavirus bill for emergency funding towards the disease.
Trump was going to initially sign the bill when visiting the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. He instead signed it at the White House before leaving for Tennessee amid concerns the headquarters had a coronavirus case. His trip to the CDC may still happen later on Friday after the coronavirus case was confirmed to be false.
The president signing the bill comes after he made comments that illness is good for the economy "because people are staying in the United States".
On Friday morning, he signed an $8.3bn coronavirus bill for emergency funding towards the disease.
Trump was going to initially sign the bill when visiting the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. He instead signed it at the White House before leaving for Tennessee amid concerns the headquarters had a coronavirus case. His trip to the CDC may still happen later on Friday after the coronavirus case was confirmed to be false.
The president signing the bill comes after he made comments that illness is good for the economy "because people are staying in the United States".
Justice Department unveils controversial rule to collect DNA from migrants in federal custody
Donald Trump's administration has unveiled a controversial new rule to collect DNA samples from undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in federal custody, which Democrats and civil rights groups said “threatens to subvert our foundational values”.
The Justice Department unveiled the new rule on Friday morning, requiring officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collect cheek swabs from migrants detained in the US. Officials would begin collecting the samples from potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers taken into federal custody each year, according to the Wall Street Journal. The rule was likely to face an uphill legal battle as it goes into effect in April.
Chris Riotta has the full story.
The Justice Department unveiled the new rule on Friday morning, requiring officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collect cheek swabs from migrants detained in the US. Officials would begin collecting the samples from potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers taken into federal custody each year, according to the Wall Street Journal. The rule was likely to face an uphill legal battle as it goes into effect in April.
Chris Riotta has the full story.
Trump accused of 'subverting basic values' with xenophobic new rule collecting DNA from migrants
The Independent'This unjustifiable step towards full population surveillance threatens to subvert our foundational values of freedom, autonomy, and presumed innocence'
President calls out 'fake news' for claims he's sidelined his health secretary
Reports indicated Trump potentially "sidelined" United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar in favour of Pence.
This came after the health secretary did not accompany Pence to Washington state as part of the administration's response to the growing number of cases of the coronavirus.
Reports indicated Trump potentially "sidelined" United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar in favour of Pence.
This came after the health secretary did not accompany Pence to Washington state as part of the administration's response to the growing number of cases of the coronavirus.
Azar was also notably absent during a coronavirus task force press briefing at the White House on Wednesday.
But Trump says it is all "fake news" that the man is being sidelined from handling the coronavirus. He tweeted: "It is FAKE NEWS that @HHSGov @SecAzar is "sidelined" from the great job he is doing on the CoronaVirus Task Force. He has the total confidence of the @VP and myself, and is doing a fantastic job, as the numbers would indicate!"
But Trump says it is all "fake news" that the man is being sidelined from handling the coronavirus. He tweeted: "It is FAKE NEWS that @HHSGov @SecAzar is "sidelined" from the great job he is doing on the CoronaVirus Task Force. He has the total confidence of the @VP and myself, and is doing a fantastic job, as the numbers would indicate!"
Trump will now attend the CDC headquarters after initially cancelling
The president has been back and forth on Friday about his intentions to visit the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday.
The trip was initially scheduled and then cancelled over fears someone in the facility had the coronavirus. This case was false.
Trump will now attend the headquarters later on Friday after first stopping in Tennessee.
The president has been back and forth on Friday about his intentions to visit the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday.
The trip was initially scheduled and then cancelled over fears someone in the facility had the coronavirus. This case was false.
Trump will now attend the headquarters later on Friday after first stopping in Tennessee.
Democratic lawmaker blasts Trump administration for coronavirus response
Representative John Garamendi of California appeared on CNN Friday to discuss how the Trump administration has handled the coronavirus as it continues to spread across the US.
Specifically, the congressman was asked about Trump praising himself for halting travel to China, which he claims "stopped" the virus from spreading further.
“If only it were true,” Mr Garamendi said. “The facts are quite different and since we have very, very limited testing, we really don’t know. In a public health emergency, you have to know what’s going on, that requires testing in this situation. And unfortunately we have been very, very slow to the testing.”
The congressman then suggested the Trump administration is making the situation worse by spreading false information to the public about the amount of tests available for use.
“I don’t think there is anybody that can tell you exactly how many tests are going on,” he said.
Representative John Garamendi of California appeared on CNN Friday to discuss how the Trump administration has handled the coronavirus as it continues to spread across the US.
Specifically, the congressman was asked about Trump praising himself for halting travel to China, which he claims "stopped" the virus from spreading further.
“If only it were true,” Mr Garamendi said. “The facts are quite different and since we have very, very limited testing, we really don’t know. In a public health emergency, you have to know what’s going on, that requires testing in this situation. And unfortunately we have been very, very slow to the testing.”
The congressman then suggested the Trump administration is making the situation worse by spreading false information to the public about the amount of tests available for use.
“I don’t think there is anybody that can tell you exactly how many tests are going on,” he said.
How the Trump administration has negatively impacted women's rights
With International Women's Day on 8 March, The Independent has rounded up five things Trump and his administration has done to roll back women's rights.
Changes Trump has made since getting elected into office include him gutting funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides family planning and reproductive services to more than 150 countries globally.
The president has also fulfilled his campaign promise to nominate a pro-life justice to the Supreme Court in a bid for Roe v Wade to get overturned.
Here's the full story:
Changes Trump has made since getting elected into office include him gutting funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides family planning and reproductive services to more than 150 countries globally.
The president has also fulfilled his campaign promise to nominate a pro-life justice to the Supreme Court in a bid for Roe v Wade to get overturned.
Here's the full story:
Five major things Trump has done to roll back women's rights
The IndependentWithin his first 100 days in office, the president gutted funding for United Nations Population Fund
Trump tours Tennessee tornado damage 'war zone'
Sporting a red "Make America Great Again" cap – which one can purchase on his campaign's official website – President Trump toured tornado damage in Tennessee with local officials, one of whom called the devastation a "war zone."
Mr Trump called Tennessee an "incredible state" with "incredible people."
He easily won the Volunteer state in 2016, and is expected to do so again in November.
"We love them," he said when asked by a reporter what is his message for the victims.
He said the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is doing "a great job" there; the local officials agreed.
Sporting a red "Make America Great Again" cap – which one can purchase on his campaign's official website – President Trump toured tornado damage in Tennessee with local officials, one of whom called the devastation a "war zone."
Mr Trump called Tennessee an "incredible state" with "incredible people."
He easily won the Volunteer state in 2016, and is expected to do so again in November.
"We love them," he said when asked by a reporter what is his message for the victims.
He said the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is doing "a great job" there; the local officials agreed.
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