Doctor says President Trump tests negative for coronavirus
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has tested negative for the new coronavirus, according to the president's personal physician.The White House released the test results Saturday night after President Trump told reporters hours earlier that he had taken the coronavirus test, following days of resisting being screened despite the fact that he had been in recent contact with three people who have tested positive for the virus.President Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Saturday that he had his temperature taken and it was “totally normal,” shortly before stepping into the room to discuss the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus.
President Trump’s latest travel ban highlights gaps in containment net
NEW YORK — In the weeks before President Donald Trump spoke from the Oval Office to announce restrictions on travelers from more than two dozen countries in Europe, thousands of people from the region already had stepped off planes at U.S. airports, and an untold number of them carried the coronavirus.The same can be said of flights from China in the weeks before the U.S. clamped down on those.
Travel ban to extend to United Kingdom, Ireland; President Trump eyes US limits
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States will broaden its European travel ban, adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to its list, and was considering imposing restrictions on travel within the U.S. to areas hit hard by the coronavirus spread.Under the restrictions on European travel, American citizens, green card holders and others are still allowed to return home to the U.S., but will be funneled to 13 airports and be subjected to health screenings and quarantine orders.“If you don't have to travel, I wouldn't do it," President Trump said.The new restrictions came as in Britain, the death toll nearly doubled from the day before to 21, and the number of people infected rose to over 1,100 from about 800 the previous day.
Pelosi: Congress, Trump administration reach coronavirus aid deal
WASHINGTON — Late Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a deal with the Trump administration for an aid package from Congress that aims at direct relief to Americans — free testing, two weeks of sick pay for workers, enhanced unemployment benefits and bolstered food programs.“We are proud to have reached an agreement with the Administration to resolve outstanding challenges, and now will soon pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act,” Pelosi announced in a letter to colleagues after days of negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.The House was poised to vote late Friday.
President Trump declares coronavirus pandemic a national emergency
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is declaring the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, as Washington struggles with providing Americans with relief and officials race to slow the spread of the outbreak.Speaking from the Rose Garden, President Trump said, “I am officially declaring a national emergency.” He said the emergency would open up nearly $50 billion for state and local governments to respond to the outbreak.President Trump said he was also giving Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar emergency authorities to waive federal regulations and laws to give doctors and hospitals “flexibility” in treating patients.He also announced a new public-private partnership to expand coronavirus testing capabilities, as his administration has come under fire for being too slow in making the test available.
Amid virus fears, President Trump moves away from rallies — for now
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is temporarily halting his trademark rallies — as his campaign bows to the coronavirus outbreak that is rapidly reshaping the nation's political landscape.The rallies have long been President Trump's most potent political weapon: They energize the candidate, give him a powerful platform from which to attack his adversaries and allow his team to collect a treasure trove of voter data.But the spread of the virus, which has closed schools and shuttered professional sports leagues, has also touched the 2020 presidential campaign.
Brazilian who met President Trump has virus; no plans to test president
RIO DE JANEIRO — A senior Brazilian official who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first time that someone known to have the virus was in close proximity to the president.
Officials: US strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base
WASHINGTON — The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq Thursday, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq.
President Trump's ban on travel from Europe escalates pain for airlines
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's decision Wednesday to impose a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States is the latest calamity for airlines already reeling from falling bookings and canceled reservations as people try to avoid contracting the coronavirus.The ban, to begin at midnight Friday, won't apply to Americans trying to return home — though they will be subject to “enhanced” health screening — or to citizens of the United Kingdom.But coming on top of similar restrictions imposed by many other governments, President Trump's move is bound to drastically escalate disruptions facing global airlines and travelers on some of the most heavily traveled routes.The disruptions to air travel are rippling through economies in a blow to hotels, car rental companies, museums and restaurants.There usually are about 400 flights a day from Europe to the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAware.About 72.4 million passengers flew from the U.S. to Europe in the year ended last June, making it the most popular international destination, according to Transportation Department figures.
Pres. Trump suspends all travel from Europe starting Friday amid coronavirus
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Taking dramatic action, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, March 11 he is sharply restricting passenger travel from 26 European nations to the U.S. and moving to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting the daily lives of Americans.President Trump, in a rare Oval Office address to the nation, said the month-long restriction on travel would begin late Friday, at midnight.
'Catholics for Trump' event set for March 19 in Milwaukee postponed due to coronavirus
MILWAUKEE -- President Donald Trump's scheduled "Catholics for Trump" event scheduled for March 19 at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee was postponed Wednesday, March 11 due to coronavirus.Catholics have been on the winning side of presidential elections since 1976.
Congress acts to limit President Trump's military action in Iran
WASHINGTON — Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran.The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to President Trump.
Trump administration weighs delaying tax deadline amid coronavirus outbreak
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is working on plans to delay the April 15 federal tax deadline for some taxpayers in a bid to soften the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. economy.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress on Wednesday that the administration is looking to provide relief for most individual taxpayers as well as small businesses.Mnuchin said the administration believes a payment delay would have the effect of putting more than $200 billion back into the economy that would otherwise go to paying taxes next month.
SCOTUS: Trump administration's 'Remain in Mexico' asylum policy to continue
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would allow the Trump administration to continue enforcing a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings, despite lower court rulings that the policy probably is illegal.The justices' order, over a dissenting vote by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, overturns a lower court order that would have blocked the policy, at least for people arriving at the border crossings in Arizona and California.The high court action came a day before the lower court order was to have taken effect.
President Trump to launch 'Catholics for Trump' Coalition in Milwaukee on March 19
MILWAUKEE -- President Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Milwaukee on Thursday, March 19 to launch the ‘Catholics for Trump’ coalition.A news release says the event, which is set to take place at the Wisconsin Center, "will bring together Catholics from across the nation who support President Trump’s re-election." The event is slated for 4 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m.
White House: President Trump not visiting Moscow for V-Day celebrations
MOSCOW -- U.S. President Donald Trump will not be coming to Moscow for Victory Day celebrations on May 9, the White House announced Tuesday in a disappointment for the Kremlin.The White House confirmed that President Trump has declined the Kremlin invitation to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on the 75th anniversary of World War II victory — the nation's most important holiday.President Trump said last year he appreciated the invitation, but wasn't sure if he could go as the celebration falls “right in the middle of political season.”“Via diplomatic channels, we have received information that the (U.S.) president will not be coming,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday, adding that it remains unclear who will represent the U.S. on the Victory Day in Moscow.In an interview with the state-run Tass news agency, a part of which was released Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be “a mistake” for world leaders not to attend the Victory Day celebrations this year.“I think that, concerning former members of the anti‑Hitler alliance, the right thing to do would be to attend, from both a domestic political stance and a moral one," Putin said. “We look forward to seeing them and we will be glad if they come.
President Trump names Rep. Mark Meadows as new chief of staff
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Friday named Rep.
President Trump, at CDC, offers scattershot defense of virus response
ATLANTA — President Donald Trump's visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday turned into a scattershot defense of his administration's handling of the growing coronavirus crisis, veering into political digs and detours.President Trump tried once more to quell growing alarm about the spread of the virus in America.
President Trump signs $8.3B bill to combat coronavirus outbreak
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure on Friday to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Interior secretary defends President Trump’s environmental policies: 'Moving us forward, not backward'
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers grilled the secretary of the interior on Wednesday about the Trump administration’s ongoing actions to cut environmental policies.Interior Secretary David Bernhardt fended off attacks from all sides.Democrats like Sen.