Donald Trump has insisted he is “the least racist person in the world” after once more becoming embroiled in a racism row, this time involving senior Democrat Elijah Cummings, the Reverend Al Sharpton and the city of Baltimore.
The president told reporters on the White House South Lawn he had been inundated with supportive letters and emails from African-Americans after describing the Maryland port city as “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live” over the weekend, prompting an angry backlash that saw the Reverend Sharpton accuse Mr Trump of retaining “a particular venom for people of colour”.
Also demanding that The Washington Post apologise for branding Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell a “Russian asset”, Mr Trump turned on his heel to set out for Jamestown, Virginia, where he spoke at an event commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Virginia General Assembly, which Virginia Legislative Black Caucus members boycotted in response to his latest provocation.
Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
Mr Trump has been attacked for claiming he was at ground zero following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and he has tweeted a video of him just days after those attacks in lower Manhattan.
He can be heard in the video praising the first responders, and saying he had visited the site and seen the work they were doing.
Amid the attacks on Mitch McConnell for tanking voting protection bills, Mr Trump is pushing a Voter ID law — which critics have widely disparaged as intended to depress voter turnout.
Anyway, here is that tweet:
Here's a note posted on Twitter by the individual who says he interrupted the president's speech earlier:
Earlier today, the Senate failed to override a veto from the president blocking US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other countries.
So, here's a tweet Mr Trump just shared with his 62.4 million followers, apparently gloating about the legislative "victory":
In addition to Mr Trump's visit to Virginia, some major testimony is underway today in Washington.
That includes testimony from General John Hyten in the Senate, where he is being considered for the second-highest office in the US military — vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mr Hyten was accused last week of assault by a female colonel in 2017. The woman is a senior military officer named Kathryn Spletstoser. The Army colonel has accused Mr Hyten of making unwanted sexual advances on her in 2017, and then attempting to damage her career after she spurned his advances.
During his speech in Virginia, Mr Trump has called for states' rights.
He said: "We must speak out strongly against anyone who would take power away from citizens, individuals, and state governments such as yours."
Virginia is among those that separated from the United States during the Civil War over states' rights.
Here's a moment of contention at Mr Trump's speech this afternoon in Virginia.
Here's a look at the president's fundraising machine:
Trump campaign raises more than £400,000 selling plastic straws
‘Liberal paper’ drinking straws useless, says top aideAnd here's the president with his latest display of "I know you are but what am I" schoolyard conflict tactics.
If you're curious how Americans feel about their president, look no further to the latest polls!
Trump renews attack on Elijah Cummings, saying he should 'investigate himself'
President says 'billions wasted' in Maryland congressman's district
Republicans refuse to condemn Trump remarks about ‘rat-infested’ Baltimore
'Most of the president's tweets are inappropriate and I'm not going to address every one of them’
center no-repeat #999999;cursor:pointer;background-size: 9px 10px;top:-8px; border-radius: 2px;">↵
Seesaws installed at US border wall so American and Mexican children can play together
Inventor says event was ‘filled with joy, excitement and togetherness’More hot madness live from Marine One.
Some more highlights from Trump's extraordinary performance before boarding Marine One.
Wow - here's the president speaking to the press before jetting out for Jamestown on the South Lawn and claiming to be "the least racist person in the world."
He also says he'll visit Baltimore "at the right time". It's hard to imagine he'll be welcome.
Here's Clark Mindock with more.
Here's the latest on US Women's World Cup star Megan Rapinoe, who has reiterated her refusal to visit the White House "unless she is being inaugurated".
This is what Trump's been up to in the last hour - slamming Morning Joe's ratings on MSNBC, calling for bipartisan co-operation on the Transportation Infrastructure Act and helpfully passing on more Fox coverage.
Texas senator Ted Cruz was apparently cornered at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday by protesters chanting for the release of migrant children detained in unsanitary detention centres at the border - an indication of the strength of feeling on the ground among those who oppose the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
