Trump news: President 'doesn't regret' tweeting 9/11 video about Ilhan Omar, as first 2020 Republican challenger emerges
President Trump has pledged his support to the people of France after the iconic Notre Dame cathedral suffered a devastating fire last night. On Twitter, the president noted it was “horrible” to watch the scenes from Paris, and suggested “flying water tankers could be used to put it out.” It was confirmed this morning that the fire had been entirely extinguished.
The White House said it will offer France “assistance in the rehabilitation of this irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization.”
“The United States stands with French citizens, the city of Paris, and the millions of visitors from around the world who have sought solace in that iconic structure,” Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
Closer to home, Trump is also facing his first Republican challenger for the 2020 presidential election in the form of Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, although is it deemed unlikely that anyone will seize the party’s nomination from the incumbent.
“I really think if we have six more years of the same stuff we’ve had out of the White House the last two years that would be a political tragedy, and I would fear for the Republic,” Mr Weld told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday. “I would be ashamed of myself if I didn’t raise my hand and run.
It was also announced late yesterday that the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election, and any links to the Trump campaign, would be released in a redacted form to the public this Thursday.
The president also defended his attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar despite an onslaught of death threats the Muslim congresswoman received recently.
In an interview with a local news station in Minnesota, Mr Trump continued to disparage Ms Omar. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. “She’s got a way about her that’s very, very bad, I think, for our country. I think she’s extremely unpatriotic and extremely disrespectful to our country.”
Read The Independent’s updates as they happened below.
Later in the evening, Trump simply wrote, "God bless the people of France!"
It it not yet known what caused the fire to start, but it was fully extinguished by 9am UK time on Tuesday. The iconic cathedral, which is some 800 years old, is visited by 12 million people every year. You can follow our live blog on developments as France deals with the aftermath of the fire this morning.
In a statement, Weld said, "Ours is a nation built on courage, resilience, and independence. In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their 'win at all cost' battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering.
"It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln -- equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight."
They confirmed that Mr Sanders' income crossed the $1m (£764,000) threshold in 2016 and 2017, although he reported less earnings in his most recent return.
Releasing tax returns has become an expected, but not official move for presidential candidates. Most notably, Donald Trump has never revealed his own.
Speaking to an audience at LSE in London, the speaker of the house said that the Northern Ireland peace treaty could not be "bargained away in another agreement."
This warning stands in contrast to the line adopted by President Trump, who has in the past expressed enthusiasm for a post-Brexit trade deal.
Speaking at an event in Minnesota last night, President Trump noted that the Notre Dame fire may have been caused by renovations, asking: "What's that all about?"
Describing the incident in Paris, the president said: "It's a terrible scene. They think it was caused by - at this moment they don't know - but they think it was caused by renovation. And I hope that's the reason. Renovation, you know, what's that all about? But it's a terrible sight to behold."
The president took to Twitter today to slam the special counsel investigation that looked into the Trump campaign and possible collusion with Russia. He referred to it as the "greatest scam in political history."
Mr Trump continues to layer on his attacks on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar despite the death threats aimed at the congresswoman.
Speaking to a local news station in Minnesota, the president said Ms Omar, a black Muslim Somali refugee, "got a way about her that's very, very bad for our country."
"She's been very disrespectful to this country," he added. She's been very disrespectful, frankly, to Israel. She is somebody that doesn't really understand life, real life. What it's all about."
Republicans celebrated Cher for posting a tweet that echoes similar sentiments of their own towards refugees and migrants in response to President Trump threatening to send migrants to sanctuary cities.
"I Understand Helping struggling Immigrants,but MY CITY (Los Angeles) ISNT TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN," the singer wrote on a post Sunday. “If My State Can’t Take Care of Its Own(Many Are VETS)How Can it Take Care Of More."
Conservatives, like Ben Shapiro, went as far to claim that Mr Trump made his vocal critic a Republican.
A chicken resembling Donald Trump appeared during a protest outside the Internal Revenue Service building on Monday where progressives are demanding the president release his tax returns.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who announced his candidacy as a Republican challenger to the president, said he could not — in good conscience — support Mr Trump.
"I could not support Donald Trump for president," Mr Weld said. "I'm not saying I would ever endorse a Democrat in this race, but I could not support the president."
The president seemed puzzled with Bernie Sanders appearance in a Fox News townhall, and refers to himself and the network as "we."
"So weird to watch Crazy Bernie on [Fox News]," Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday. "Not surprisingly, [Bret Baier] and the 'audience' was so smile and nice. Very strange, and now we have [Donna Brazile]?"
Then-CIA deputy director Gina Haspel used photos of dead ducks after the Salisbury attack in March 2018 to persuade Trump to expel 60 Russian diplomats.
Former first lady Michelle Obama compared living in the US under President Trump to living with a "divorced dad."
"We come from a broken family, we are a little unsettled," Ms Obama said. "Sometimes you spend the weekend with divorced dad. That feels like fun but then you get sick. That is what America is going through. We are living with divorced dad."
Two House committees issued subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and other financial institutions for information on President Trump’s finances.
The chairs of the House Intelligence and Financial Services committees told NBC News they are working together to probe the president’s financial ties.
“The potential use of the U.S. financial system for illicit purposes is a very serious concern," House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Financial Services Committee is exploring these matters, including as they may involve the President and his associates, as thoroughly as possible pursuant to its oversight authority, and will follow the facts wherever they may lead us."
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff said the committee will be pursuing the information as part of their investigation into "allegations of potential foreign influence on the U.S. political process.'
