Today in Trump: February 21, 2017
Today in the Trump Administration
DHS issues memos meant to crack down on illegal immigration
The Department of Homeland Security issued two memos Tuesday morning that could expand the number of immigrants detained or deported as part the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
The memos are intended to implement President Trump’s immigration actions from last month and enforce existing immigration law. CBS News’ Jeff Pegues previewed some of the memos’ details on Monday.
Trump addresses JCC threats, anti-Semitism
Under growing pressure to address threats against the Jewish community following another wave of bomb threats called into Jewish Community Centers around the country Monday, President Trump broke his silence on the issue Tuesday morning.
After previously deflecting a number of questions about the apparent rise in anti-Semitic incidents, Mr. Trump chose to address the issue at the end of his visit Tuesday to the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
“This tour was a meaningful reminder of why we have to fight bigotry, intolerance and hatred in all of its very ugly forms,” the president said. “The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil.”
African American History Museum
The president is visiting the African American History Museum this morning. According to CBS News’ Steve Chaggaris, Mr. Trump is accompanied by his daughter, Ivanka, HUD Secretary nominee Ben Carson and his wife, Candy Carson, Sen. Tim Scott, Alveda Celeste King, Lonnie Burch, Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and David Skorton, Secretary of the Smithsonian.
President Trump praised the museum and also took the opportunity to comment on recent anti-Semitic threats against Jewish community centers.
“This tour was a meaningful reminder of why we have to fight bigotry, intolerance and hatred in all of its very ugly forms. the anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers.”
Mr. Trump also praised an exhibit about Ben Carson.
“They’ve done an incredible job -- and now we see the Ben Carson exhibit which is exciting to me,” the president said to the pool reporters. Asked whether he also plans to visit the Holocaust Museum, Mr. Trump replied, “I will do it soon,” and added that it’s “very important to me.”
Trump begins second month with major goals ahead
As President Donald Trump begins his second month in office, his team is trying to move past the crush of controversies that overtook his first month and make progress on health care and tax overhauls long sought by Republicans.
Pence, Tillerson meet with Australian foreign minister
Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meet with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
What you missed yesterday
National security adviser
President Trump named Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster national security adviser Monday afternoon in Mar-a-Lago. Acting National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg will be chief of staff.
Arrests in Portland, as “Not My President’s Day” rallies held across country
LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of demonstrators turned out Monday across the U.S. to challenge President Donald Trump in a Presidents Day protest dubbed Not My President’s Day.
The events on the federal holiday didn’t draw nearly as many people as the million-plus who thronged the streets following the Republican president’s inauguration a month earlier, but the message was similar.
President Trump plays 18 holes with pro golfer Rory McIlroy
President Donald Trump played a full 18 holes of golf with professional golfer Rory McIlroy on Sunday at his golf club in Palm Beach, McIlroy told a golf blog -- an account that contradicted what the White House said Sunday about Mr. Trump’s activities that day.
The round of golf was first reported by the blog No Laying Up, which spoke with McIlroy about the experience. “He probably shot around 80,” McIlroy said. “He’s a decent player for a guy in his 70s!”
That report directly contradicted what White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Sunday, when she said he “played a couple of holes” earlier that day but that she didn’t believe it was “a full round.” (Additionally, she declined to disclose Mr. Trump’s golf partners at the time.)
In a statement Monday, Sanders responded to the discrepancy by saying Mr. Trump had “intended” to play just a few holes but ultimately stayed longer.
DHS is preparing to release sweeping immigration overhaul
The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to release new sweeping immigration guidelines, CBS News reports.
A source with knowledge of DHS planning said the documents are being finalized by the White House and could be released as early as Monday. It was originally scheduled to be released late last week.
One provision would direct the immediate return of Mexican immigrants who are apprehended along the border back home, pending the outcomes of their deportation hearings. The new procedures would allow for authorities to seek expedited deportation hearings.
Trump tweets about Sweden
During a rally in Florida on Saturday, Mr. Trump said “look what’s happening last night in Sweden” as he alluded to past terror attacks in Europe. It wasn’t clear what he was referring to and there were no high-profile situations reported in Sweden on Friday night.
He later tweeted, “My statement as to what’s happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden.”
This morning, he issued another tweet about the media, Sweden and immigration. Sweden, which has a long reputation for welcoming refugees and migrants, had a record 163,000 asylum applications in 2015. The country has since cut back on the number it annually accepts.
CPAC
President Trump will be speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday at 10 a.m. He skipped the event last year at the last minute in favor of campaign events in Florida and Kansas.
ACA repeal and replace
The president also had a meeting Sunday about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act with HHS Secretary Tom Price, OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon and CMS administrator Seema Verna, as well as several domestic policy staffers. The meeting, Sanders said, went on for several hours, although Mr. Trump was not present for all of it.
Pence in Brussels
Mike Pence is in Brussels meeting with EU Council Pres. Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
