Trump tells followers to boycott baseball
A spokesperson for Donald Trump has insisted that the former president did not snub a meeting with Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, as had been reported by CNN on Sunday night, calling the story “fake news”.
The broadcaster reported that Mr Gaetz, who is facing a federal investigation over sexual misconduct allegations, was recently denied a meeting with Mr Trump in Mar-a-Lago citing two people familiar with the matter.
“No such scheduling or meeting request was ever made, and therefore, it could never have been declined,” Mr Trump’s spokesman, Jason Miller said in a post on Twitter on Monday.
Mr Gaetz, who has not been charged with any crimes and has adamantly denied allegations surrounding the federal investigation, also called the report a “total lie.”
Over the weekend, Mr Trump reportedly lashed out at high-profile Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Vice Presiden Mike Pence in a closed-door speech night to donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Mr Trump said that he was “disappointed” in his vice president and used a profanity in assessing Mr McConnell, also branding him a “stone-cold loser”, according to remarks obtained by the Associated Press.
He also rehashed his recent attacks against Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, once again taunting him for his first pitch last season at Nationals Park, The Washington Post reported.
“Have you ever seen anybody that is so full of crap?” he reportedly said of Dr Fauci, after recounting an anecdote of how an individual told him the vaccine should be called the “Trumpcine”.
Cindy McCain to be named ambassador in Biden administration, report says
Cindy McCain is set to be named as the US ambassador to the United Nations World Food Programme by president Joe Biden under his administration, Politico has reported.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter reportedly told the outlet that Ms McCain, the widow of late Arizona senator John McCain, is undergoing vetting to be nominated for the post.
The nomination would mark his administration’s first Republican appointee to a Senate-confirmed position in line with tradition observed by recent presidents of nominating at least one person from the opposing party.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 14:54
Trump thinks the coronavirus vaccine should be called ‘Trumpcine’
Donald Trump has credited himself for the development of several coronavirus vaccines recounting how an individual told him the shots be called the “Trumpcine”.
Mr Trump told the crowd that an individual, who he called “sir”, came to him and said the vaccine should be called the “Trumpcine”, The Washington Post and CNN reported.
The former president cited Operation Warp Speed, the US government initiative to fast-track the development of Covid vaccines, as a factor.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 14:40
Gaetz did not request meeting with Trump, both sides insist
Matt Gaetz and a spokesman for Donald Trump have insisted that the Florida representative was not recently denied a meeting with Mr Trump in Mar-a-Lago as was reported on Sunday by CNN.
Mr Trump’s spokesman, Jason Miller, tweeted: “This story is complete fake news. No such scheduling or meeting request was ever made, and therefore, it could never have been declined.
“Take note that this story has zero on-the-record sources. It’s literally made-up. We are demanding a full retraction.”
Mr Gaetz called the CNN report “a total lie” saying he was “on a pre-planned vacation” with his fiancée. “I was welcomed at Trump Doral days ago. No such meeting was denied nor sought,” he said.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 14:10
Biden faces backlog of over two million visa applications
President Joe Biden is facing a backlog of nearly 2.6 million visa applications despite his decision to reverse many of Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies, according to CNN.
According to the broadcaster, backlogs in some immigrant-visa categories are 50 or even 100 times higher than they were four years ago when the Trump administration began.
Nearly half a million applicants who are “documentarily qualified” and ready for interviews remain in limbo, according to a recent legal filing by the State Department.
Some of the delays also come amid restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Mr Biden is also yet to roll back measures that slow or block processing from the previous administration.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 13:52
Top American CEOs vow to block Texas attack on voting rights in unprecedented Zoom summit
More than 100 US business leaders got together on a Zoom call to discuss their response to the controversial new voting restrictions first passed by Georgia and now set to be enacted in several states across the country.
Leaders including from companies like Delta, American, United, Starbucks, Target, LinkedIn, Levi Strauss, and Boston Consulting Group were present on the call on Saturday, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the call.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 13:35
Major to receive training following two biting incidents
President Joe Biden’s rescue pup, Major, is set to receive training following two biting incidents involving workers at the White House, CNN has reported.
“Major, the Bidens’ younger dog, will undergo some additional training to help him adjust to life in the White House,” Jill Biden’s press secretary Michael LaRosa told the broadcaster.
“The off-site, private training will take place in the Washington, DC area, and it is expected to last a few weeks.”
The German shepherd recently made headlines following two biting incidents involving the canine. The Biden family adopted Major in 2018, and they also own Champ a 12-year-old German shepherd.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 13:20
John Boehner says Trump ‘abused’ loyal followers with election claims
In an interview with USA Today, Mr Boehner said: “What struck me, especially after the election, was, here’s all these people loyal to Donald Trump, and he abused them.”
The former speaker added: “He stepped all over their loyalty to him by continuing to say things that just weren’t true.”
The Ohio Republican, who served as Speaker of the House between 2011 and 2015, is scheduled to release his book titled: On the House: A Washington Memoir, in the coming days.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 12:55
Biden Republicans? Some in GOP open to president’s agenda
Some longtime Republican voters are validating Joe Biden‘s early approach to the presidency, even as elected GOP leaders oppose him.
But whether there are enough “Biden Republicans” remains a question.
Louise Hall12 April 2021 12:45
