Today in Trump: April 20, 2017
Today’s Latest News on Trump Administration
Italian prime minister visits
President Trump meets with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, 3 p.m., with news conference to follow at 3:50 p.m.
Pence in Jakarta
Vice President Pence is in Jakarta, where he’ll meet with President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla
Defense Secretary Mattis is in Tel Aviv.
Support for marijuana legalization at all-time high
Sixty-one percent of Americans think marijuana use should be legal, a five-point increase from last year and the highest percentage ever recorded in this poll. Eighty-eight percent favor medical marijuana use.
Sarah Palin visits the White House
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visited the White House on Wednesday night for dinner, a White House official confirmed to CBS News on Thursday, and she was joined by musicians Ted Nugent and Kid Rock.
Who were the top donors to Trump’s inauguration?
Big money from billionaires, corporations and a roster of NFL owners poured into Donald Trump’s inaugural committee in record-shattering amounts — to pull off an event that was considerably lower-key than previous inaugural celebrations.
Trump chooses Scott Brown to be ambassador to New Zealand
The White House announced Thursday that President Trump is tapping former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown to be ambassador to New Zealand.
Secret Service closing White House sidewalk access along South Fence
The Secret Service will begin permanently restricting access to the sidewalk on the South Fence of the White House beginning at 11 p.m. on April 19.
Recent Trump Administration News:
Trump’s challenges in asking Congress for authorization for use of military force
President Trump’s recent decision to authorize missile strikes on April 7 against the Syrian regime in retaliation for a deadly chemical attack has provoked the debate over a new authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) to resurface in Congress.
Tillerson tries to force North Korea to negotiating table
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said today that the Trump Administration is trying to force North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the negotiating table. In remarks made from the State Department treaty room, Tillerson seemed to temper recently heated rhetoric about military confrontation with North Korea.
Trump signs bill extending veterans’ private care options
President Donald Trump signed into law a bill Wednesday expanding the Veterans Choice Program, which allows some veterans to opt for private care.
U.S.S. Vinson: Mattis explains where the carrier group is going
Last week, amid tensions with North Korea and the possibility that the North might conduct a nuclear or missile test, U.S. officials, including the president, had suggested that the U.S.S. Carl Vinson was headed north, toward the Korean peninsula.
Middle East
Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit the White House on May 3 to discuss the peace process, Sean Spicer announced at the White House briefing today.
Pence warns North Korea the U.S. “sword stands ready”
From the wind-swept deck of a massive aircraft carrier, Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the U.S. military, promising it would make an “overwhelming and effective” response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons.
Patriots at White House
Mr. Trump greets New England Patriots, 1:20 p.m.
Pence in Tokyo
The vice president visits the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan and make remarks (9:15 p.m. ET), before goint to meet with U.S. and Japan-based companies. He’ll wrap up his Japan trip with a visit to a Japanese youth baseball and softball clinic before departing for Jakarta, Indonesia.