Federal agency recommends White House aide Kellyanne Conway be fired

WASHINGTON — A federal watchdog agency recommended Thursday that President Donald Trump fire one of his most ardent defenders, counselor Kellyanne Conway , for repeatedly violating a law that limits political activity by government workers.The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is unrelated to special counsel Robert Mueller's office, said in a letter to President Trump that Conway has been a "repeat offender" of the Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media.President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act, but there are no exceptions for White House employees.

Case opened: Democrats begin public airing of Mueller report

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says it's "case closed ." But Democrats are just getting started with Robert Mueller .House Democrats have scheduled a series of hearings this coming week on the special counsel's report as they intensify their focus on the Russia probe and pick up the pace on an investigative "path" — in the words of Speaker Nancy Pelosi — that some of them hope leads to impeachment of the president.In doing so, they are trying to draw the public's attention on the allegations that Pres.

Kamala Harris says her prosecutor past will help defeat Pres. Trump

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris says her experience as a prosecutor has given her insight into trying to improve the criminal justice system and distinguishes her among the crowded field taking on President Donald Trump."We've got to hold this guy accountable by prosecuting the case in front of the American people against four more years of this administration," Harris told a gathering of the state conference of the NAACP on Saturday night. "And I've prosecuted a lot of cases.

President Trump says US, Mexico reach agreement to prevent tariffs

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he has suspended plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, tweeting that the country "has agreed to take strong measures" to stem the flow of Central American migrants into the United States."I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico," President Trump tweeted Friday night, saying the "Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended."He said Mexico has agreed to work to "stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border" and said those steps would "greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States."He said details would be released soon by the State Department.The tweet marked a change in tone from earlier Friday, when his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters in Ireland before President Trump took off: "Our position has not changed.

Pres. Trump: 'Good chance' now for tariff deal with Mexico

WASHINGTON — After a week of threats, President Donald Trump declared Thursday that now "there is a good chance" the U.S. will strike a deal with Mexico to avert the tariffs he had scheduled for Monday to force the U.S. ally to stem the flow of Central American migrants into the United States."If we are able to make the deal with Mexico, & there is a good chance that we will, they will begin purchasing Farm & Agricultural products at very high levels, starting immediately," Pres.

Queen Elizabeth, world leaders honor veterans on D-Day anniversary

PORTSMOUTH, England — Queen Elizabeth II and world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump gathered Wednesday on the south coast of England to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings that, at great human cost, turned the tide of World War II and helped liberate Europe from Nazi occupation.

'Tremendous professional:' Pres. Trump eases up, makes nice with Theresa May before she steps down

LONDON -- Making nice at the end, President Donald Trump eased up Tuesday, June 4 on his frequent criticisms of outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May over her handling of the tortured Brexit deal, declaring that history will remember her fondly if the United Kingdom can successfully leave the European Union.The latest chapter in the allies' storied "special relationship" played out as anti-President Trump protesters — with the infamous President Trump baby balloon bobbing overhead — thronged the streets of nearby central London.The president's unexpected compliments for May come just days before she was set to resign the leadership of her party after failing to secure a Brexit deal.

Ceremony, political jibes mark President Trump's first day in London

LONDON -- Mixing pageantry and pugilism, President Donald Trump plunged into his long-delayed state visit to Britain on Monday, June 3, welcomed with smiles and a cannon salute by the royals but launching political insults at others in a time of turmoil for both nations in the deep, if recently strained, alliance.It was a whirlwind of pomp, circumstance and protest for President Trump, who had lunch with Queen Elizabeth and tea with Prince Charles before a grand state dinner at Buckingham Palace.The queen used her toast to emphasize the importance of international institutions created by Britain, the United States and other allies after World War II, a subtle rebuttal to President Trump, a critic of NATO and the U.N.But most of the talk and the colorful images were just what the White House wanted to showcase President Trump as a statesman while, back home, the race to succeed him — and talk of impeaching him — heated up.

Pres. Trump made unannounced stop at Virginia church after deadly mass shooting

VIENNA, Va. — The pastor of a Virginia church asked God to give President Donald Trump wisdom to lead the country.Standing with President Trump at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Pastor David Platt said Sunday, June 2 that "fools despise wisdom and instruction."President Trump made an unannounced stop at the church after leaving his private golf club in Sterling, Virginia.

White House: Pres. Trump 'deadly serious' about Mexico tariffs

WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Sunday that President Donald Trump is "deadly serious" about slapping tariffs on imports from Mexico but acknowledged there are no concrete benchmarks being set to assess whether the U.S. ally was stemming the flow of migrants enough to satisfy the administration."We intentionally left the declaration sort of ad hoc," Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, said on "Fox News Sunday.""So, there's no specific target, there's no specific percent, but things have to get better," Mulvaney said. "They have to get dramatically better and they have to get better quickly."He said the idea is to work with the Mexican government "to make sure that things did get better."Pres.

Pres. Trump hitting Mexico with 5 percent tariff in response to migrants

WASHINGTON — In a surprise announcement that could compromise a major trade deal, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is slapping a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports to pressure the country to do more to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross the border.He said the percentage will gradually increase "until the Illegal Immigration problem is remedied."President Trump made the announcement by tweet after telling reporters earlier Thursday that he was planning "a major statement" that would be his "biggest" so far on the border."On June 10th, the United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP.

White House Military Office, Navy officials emailed about moving USS John McCain before Pres. Trump's Japan visit

WASHINGTON -- The White House Military Office and lower-level US Navy officials exchanged emails about moving the Navy warship the USS John McCain ahead of President Donald Trump's recent Japan visit, according to two Navy officials."There were emails between lower-level officers, but once leadership heard about it, they said knock it off," a senior Navy official tells CNN.

President Trump, Japan's Abe at odds over North Korea missile tests

TOKYO — President Donald Trump said Monday he is not "personally" bothered by recent short-range North Korean missile tests and doesn't believe they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions, breaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is hosting the president on a four-day state visit full of pageantry and pomp.President Trump also continued his attacks against former Vice President and 2020 Democratic hopeful Joe Biden, siding with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who recently criticized Biden as having a low IQ.The visit was designed to highlight the U.S.-Japan alliance and showcase the warm relations between the leaders.

VP Mike Pence honors fallen service members at Arlington cemetery

ARLINGTON, Va. — Vice President Mike Pence has paid tribute to fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces, thanking their loved ones in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and acknowledging that for them "every day is Memorial Day."Pence placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to remember dead service members whose remains haven't been identified and observed a moment of silence.