theguardian--2020-08-28--Will Jerry Falwell Jr’s fall from grace end his influence over Trump voters?

“ Every human being is a sinner .
We ’ re all imperfect , we ’ re all flawed , and we ’ re redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
” When Jerry Falwell Jr , the US evangelical leader , president of the country ’ s premier conservative Christian university and close associate of Donald Trump , told me this in his spacious office in Lynchburg , Virginia , almost two years ago , it was in response to a question about the morality of the US president .
But after a turbulent week in which his status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crashed and burned , Falwell may be reflecting on his own flaws and imperfections , and hoping redemption will not be too long coming .
The tawdry end to his career as president of Liberty University , with its $ 1m-plus annual salary and use of a private jet , could also mean his influence on the political choices of white evangelicals in the US is over just weeks before a knife-edge presidential election .
The essential elements of his downfall are disputed but they centre on his wife ’ s adultery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s alleged attempts at extortion , and an Instagram photograph of Falwell ’ s unzipped trousers .
At its heart , he says , was “ a fatal attraction-type situation ” – a reference to the 1987 Oscar-nominated psychosexual thriller starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close .
On Sunday evening , Falwell issued a 1,200-word statement to the Washington Examiner , revealing that he had experienced depression and extreme weight loss as a result of alleged threats by his wife ’ s lover to expose their affair unless money was handed over .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew that Giancarlo Granda , a former pool attendant with whom the Falwells set up a business , was poised to go public over his relationship with Falwell ’ s wife , Becki .
In an explosive interview with Reuters news agency , published on Monday , Granda said : “ Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room.
” The encounters , over a six-year period , allegedly took place “ multiple times a year ” in hotels in New York and Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia .
Granda was a 20-year-old pool attendant at a Miami hotel when he met the Falwells in 2012 .
Without naming him , Falwell said in his statement : “ During a vacation over eight years ago , Becki and I met an ambitious young man who was working at our hotel and was saving up his money to go to school … We were impressed by his initiative in suggesting a local real estate opportunity .
“ My family members eventually made an investment in a local property , included him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an active role in managing it , and became close with him and his family.
” That closeness extended to an “ inappropriate personal relationship ” between Becki and “ this person ” , said Falwell ; “ something in which I was not involved ” .
He was distressed at learning of the affair but “ Becki and I forgave each other ” .
The couple sought to distance themselves from Granda , but he “ became increasingly angry and upset ” , and eventually threatened to make the affair public “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monies ” .
Granda has denied the claim .
Falwell added : “ It was like living on a rollercoaster … We were doing our best to respectfully unravel this ‘ fatal attraction ’ -type situation to protect our family and the university.
” Granda ’ s version is somewhat different .
He claimed the couple targeted him , although he was a willing participant .
“ Whether it was immaturity , naivety , instability , or a combination thereof , it was this ‘ mindset ’ that the Falwells likely detected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their sexual escapades , ” he told Reuters .
The disputed accounts of sexual transgression came just a couple of weeks after Falwell was asked by Liberty University ’ s board to take indefinite leave from his position as president amid a furore over a photograph posted on Instagram showing him on board a yacht with his trousers unzipped and his arm around his wife ’ s assistant .
His actions were “ all in good fun ” , he said later .
On Monday , as accusations of hypocrisy mounted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untenable .
In quick succession , he told the university board he was standing down , then reversed the move , and finally sent a resignation letter late in the evening .
On Tuesday , the Liberty board confirmed Falwell had gone – with a $ 10.5m ( £8m ) severance package .
Falwell ’ s alleged behaviour was in stark contrast to the strict code of conduct that students at Liberty are obliged to follow .
Classes start with prayers , alcohol is banned on campus , dorms are strictly segregated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ modest ” dress is required .
Three times a week , students attend “ convocation ” , a potent mix of evangelical worship and political rally .
The university ’ s “ honour code ” says : “ Sexual relations outside of a biblically ordained marriage between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman are not permissible at Liberty.
” Prospective faculty members are vetted for their conservative theological views .
When I spent several days on campus in 2018 , students were polite , helpful and overwhelmingly pro-Trump , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership and enthusiasm for the US president .
A few spoke of “ toxic Christianity ” – robustly dismissed as a “ liberal ” concept by Falwell when I was summoned to his office to meet him and Becki .
As the first evangelical leader to endorse Trump in 2016 , Falwell is often credited with helping to deliver 81 % of white Christian evangelical voters for the insurgent Republican candidate .
Two years ago he told me that Trump was a “ good moral person ” and an example to the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president “ all the time ” .
Four decades earlier , Falwell ’ s father , the televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr , had launched the Moral Majority , which mobilised Christians as a political force for the Republican right .
Liberty University was another of Falwell Sr ’ s projects , founded with a mission to train “ champions for Christ ” .
In 2007 , when Falwell Jr took over the leadership of the university , it was on the verge of financial disaster .
Now it has more than 100,000 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.7bn in endowments and gross assets of $ 3bn , and it is a beacon for conservative Christianity .
Whether Liberty will prosper without Falwell remains to be seen .
On Tuesday , Allen McFarland , the board ’ s acting chair , said the university ’ s future was “ very bright and in capable hands of leaders who are committed to being good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted ” .
A second question is whether Falwell ’ s downfall will have an impact on Trump ’ s white evangelical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of Unholy : Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump , Falwell ’ s influence has been overestimated .
“ His fall does not change anything .
Trump has built relationships with the evangelical base and the religious right leadership in Washington , and they see him as their saviour – God ’ s hand is on him , he has come to save America at this critical juncture , ” she said .
“ His approval ratings among white evangelicals may have eroded a little over his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still likely to vote for him.
” As for Falwell , he said this week the “ trauma of this experience has brought us to a very challenging point in our lives , but we are strong , our faith in Christ is greater than ever , and … we will get through this ” .
He has asked the public to pray for him .

“Every human being is a sinner. We’re all imperfect, we’re all flawed, and we’re redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
When Jerry Falwell Jr, the US evangelical leader, president of the country’s premier conservative Christian university and close associate of Donald Trump, told me this in his spacious office in Lynchburg, Virginia, almost two years ago, it was in response to a question about the morality of the US president.
But after a turbulent week in which his status as a figurehead for the Christian right crashed and burned, Falwell may be reflecting on his own flaws and imperfections, and hoping redemption will not be too long coming.
The tawdry end to his career as president of Liberty University, with its $1m-plus annual salary and use of a private jet, could also mean his influence on the political choices of white evangelicals in the US is over just weeks before a knife-edge presidential election.
The essential elements of his downfall are disputed but they centre on his wife’s adultery, his alleged voyeurism, her lover’s alleged attempts at extortion, and an Instagram photograph of Falwell’s unzipped trousers. At its heart, he says, was “a fatal attraction-type situation” – a reference to the 1987 Oscar-nominated psychosexual thriller starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.
On Sunday evening, Falwell issued a 1,200-word statement to the Washington Examiner, revealing that he had experienced depression and extreme weight loss as a result of alleged threats by his wife’s lover to expose their affair unless money was handed over.
It was a pre-emptive strike. Falwell knew that Giancarlo Granda, a former pool attendant with whom the Falwells set up a business, was poised to go public over his relationship with Falwell’s wife, Becki.
In an explosive interview with Reuters news agency, published on Monday, Granda said: “Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room.” The encounters, over a six-year period, allegedly took place “multiple times a year” in hotels in New York and Miami, and the Falwells’ home in Virginia.
Granda was a 20-year-old pool attendant at a Miami hotel when he met the Falwells in 2012. Without naming him, Falwell said in his statement: “During a vacation over eight years ago, Becki and I met an ambitious young man who was working at our hotel and was saving up his money to go to school … We were impressed by his initiative in suggesting a local real estate opportunity.
“My family members eventually made an investment in a local property, included him in the deal because he could play an active role in managing it, and became close with him and his family.”
That closeness extended to an “inappropriate personal relationship” between Becki and “this person”, said Falwell; “something in which I was not involved”. He was distressed at learning of the affair but “Becki and I forgave each other”.
Falwell Jr participates in a town hall meeting on the opioid crisis, part of Melania Trump’s Be Best initiative, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2019. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The couple sought to distance themselves from Granda, but he “became increasingly angry and upset”, and eventually threatened to make the affair public “unless we agreed to pay him substantial monies”. Granda has denied the claim.
Falwell added: “It was like living on a rollercoaster … We were doing our best to respectfully unravel this ‘fatal attraction’-type situation to protect our family and the university.”
Granda’s version is somewhat different. He claimed the couple targeted him, although he was a willing participant. “Whether it was immaturity, naivety, instability, or a combination thereof, it was this ‘mindset’ that the Falwells likely detected in deciding that I was the ideal target for their sexual escapades,” he told Reuters.
The disputed accounts of sexual transgression came just a couple of weeks after Falwell was asked by Liberty University’s board to take indefinite leave from his position as president amid a furore over a photograph posted on Instagram, then deleted, showing him on board a yacht with his trousers unzipped and his arm around his wife’s assistant. His actions were “just in good fun”, he said later.
On Monday, as accusations of hypocrisy mounted, Falwell’s position at Liberty became untenable. In quick succession, he told the university board he was standing down, then reversed the move, and finally sent a resignation letter late in the evening. On Tuesday, the Liberty board confirmed Falwell had gone – with a $10.5m (£8m) severance package.
Falwell’s alleged behaviour was in stark contrast to the strict code of conduct that students at Liberty are obliged to follow. Classes start with prayers, alcohol is banned on campus, dorms are strictly segregated, students are subject to a curfew, and “modest” dress is required. Three times a week, students attend “convocation”, a potent mix of evangelical worship and political rally.
The university’s “honour code” says: “Sexual relations outside of a biblically ordained marriage between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman are not permissible at Liberty.” Prospective faculty members are vetted for their conservative theological views.
When I spent several days on campus in 2018, students were polite, helpful and overwhelmingly pro-Trump, but some were uneasy about Falwell’s leadership and enthusiasm for the US president. A few spoke of “toxic Christianity” – robustly dismissed as a “liberal” concept by Falwell when I was summoned to his office to meet him and Becki.
Liberty University students wait for the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in 2016. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
As the first evangelical leader to endorse Trump in 2016, Falwell is often credited with helping to deliver 81% of white Christian evangelical voters for the insurgent Republican candidate. Two years ago he told me that Trump was a “good moral person” and an example to the nation, and that he spoke to the president “all the time”.
Four decades earlier, Falwell’s father, the televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr, had launched the Moral Majority, which mobilised Christians as a political force for the Republican right. Liberty University was another of Falwell Sr’s projects, founded with a mission to train “champions for Christ”.
In 2007, when Falwell Jr took over the leadership of the university, it was on the verge of financial disaster. Now it has more than 100,000 students enrolled on campus and online, $1.7bn in endowments and gross assets of $3bn, and it is a beacon for conservative Christianity.
Whether Liberty will prosper without Falwell remains to be seen. On Tuesday, Allen McFarland, the board’s acting chair, said the university’s future was “very bright and in capable hands of leaders who are committed to being good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted”.
A second question is whether Falwell’s downfall will have an impact on Trump’s white evangelical base. According to Sarah Posner, the author of Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump, Falwell’s influence has been overestimated.
“His fall does not change anything. Trump has built relationships with the evangelical base and the religious right leadership in Washington, and they see him as their saviour – God’s hand is on him, he has come to save America at this critical juncture,” she said.
“His approval ratings among white evangelicals may have eroded a little over his presidency, but more than 80% are still likely to vote for him.”
As for Falwell, he said this week the “trauma of this experience has brought us to a very challenging point in our lives, but we are strong, our faith in Christ is greater than ever, and … we will get through this”. He has asked the public to pray for him.


theguardian--2020-08-28--Trump unleashes diatribe of falsehoods and baseless attacks in RNC finale

You write him off at your peril .
Donald Trump stood at one of America ’ s most hallowed spaces on Thursday – the White House – and bent it to his will , just as he has bent the Republican party and swaths of America .
The US president gripped a lectern with the presidential seal on a red carpeted platform .
Behind him was a row of American national flags and the magnificent south portico of the White House , traditionally a neutral space for governing , not political rallies .
At each side were beaming members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV screens .
Before him , enveloped in gloom as the clock struck 11pm on a balmy summer night in Washington , were 1,500 people obediently standing , clapping , whooping , booing his foes and chanting “ Four more years !
” Like past charismatic leaders who paid lipservice to democracy , Trump understands political theatre , plays crowds like a fiddle and feeds off their energy .
It was a formidable spectacle on several levels .
With people crammed together and wearing “ Make America great again ” hats rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sent the message that the coronavirus pandemic is over , even though more people have died from it during this week ’ s Republican national convention than in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 .
The mood of exuberance and self-confidence also implied that , whatever the death toll , whatever the huge unemployment figures , whatever the polls say , the 2020 presidential election is far from over .
Trump ’ s grand setting in the nation ’ s capital , culminating in fireworks at the Washington monument and opera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s speech last week to a silent , largely empty auditorium in Wilmington , Delaware .
And whereas the raucous crowds at a convention hall in Cleveland four years ago , with their chants of “ Lock her up !
” , hinted at humanity ’ s darkest authoritarian impulses returning to the surface , this more polite and genteel version unfolding at the seat of American power was no less ominous .
It was also a concrete demonstration that this time Trump has the levers of executive power at his disposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full weight of the US government to retain power .
And the crowd clearly have no intention of stopping him .
Their complicity was juxtaposed with the noise of protesters and emergency sirens in nearby Lafayette Square .
“ This November we must turn the page forever on this failed political class ; the fact is I ’ m here , ” said Trump , turning and gesturing to the executive mansion as supporters hollered and whistled .
“ What ’ s the name of that building ?
But I ’ ll say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re here and they ’ re not.
” People rose to their feet and cheered this classic Trump notion that he is somehow at heart a blue collar billionaire , a champion of the forgotten people who led them into battle against the Washington elites .
This was the final night of a surprisingly diverse convention that has sought to animate Trump ’ s base , sanitise and soften his image among suburban voters and people of colour , and demonise his opponent Joe Biden as an avatar of radical socialism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House South Lawn , first with Trump ’ s daughter and senior adviser Ivanka extolling the administration ’ s achievements from a lectern that said “ President of the United States ” – some believe she will run for the title herself some day .
Sounding like a co-president , she said : “ Dad , people attack you for being unconventional but I love you for being real , and I respect you for being effective ... Washington has not changed Donald Trump .
Donald Trump has changed Washington.
” As his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA ” played , Trump emerged with his wife , Melania , in bright green , agreeing to hold his hand this time but struggling to maintain a smile , especially after acknowledging Ivanka .
Yet while Biden rose to the occasion last week , Trump proceeded to deliver a somewhat flat 70-minute diatribe full of lies and falsehoods , red meat for the base and little to persuade the wavering voter .
He even fluffed his big line by saying “ profoundly ” instead of “ proudly ” : “ My fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gratitude and boundless optimism , I profoundly accept this nomination for President of the United States.
” Trump knows that if the election is a referendum on him , and his handling of the pandemic , he is likely to lose .
But if he can turn the spotlight to Biden , he may yet raise doubts that keeps voters at home .
He unleashed a cascade of bilious and often baseless attacks that portrayed the former vice-president , like Clinton before him , as a creature of the Washington swamp .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America ’ s soul – he is the destroyer of America ’ s jobs , and if given the chance , he will be the destroyer of American greatness , ” the president warned darkly .
“ For 47 years , Joe Biden took the donations of blue collar workers , gave them hugs and even kisses ” – laughter from the audience – “ and told them he felt their pain – and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career outsourcing the dreams of American workers , offshoring their jobs , opening their borders , and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars.
” Later , another framing : “ We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years .
Biden ’ s record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime … China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected .
Unlike Biden , I will hold them fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then yet another : “ Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism .
If Joe Biden doesn ’ t have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals ... then how is he ever going to stand up for you ?
He ’ s not.
” The rest was afterthought .
He pushed familiar buttons : the election is about saving the American dream rather than allowing a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny .
He beat the drum of law and order and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He argued that Republicans believe in feelgood American greatness , Democrats in endless self-flagellation .
“ How can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country ?
In the left ’ s backward view , they do not see America as the most free , just , and exceptional nation on earth .
Instead , they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.
” Trump has struggled to define what his second term would look like other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he threw out a few details : ending reliance on China , reducing taxes and regulations , creating 10m jobs in 10 months , hiring more police and increasing penalties for assaults on law enforcement and banning sanctuary cities .
Even as he assaults Barack Obama ’ s health care law that protects people with pre-existing conditions , the president claimed : “ We will always , and very strongly , protect patients with pre-existing conditions , and that is a pledge from the entire Republican party.
” But Trump will hope the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the White House , otherwise known as the people ’ s house , having been fully colonised by the Make America Great Again movement .
And that the image of hundreds of people without face masks lingers longer than the cold statistic of 180,000 dead .
It would be his greatest act of make believe yet .

You write him off at your peril. Donald Trump stood at one of America’s most hallowed spaces on Thursday – the White House – and bent it to his will, just as he has bent the Republican party and swaths of America.
The US president gripped a lectern with the presidential seal on a red carpeted platform. Behind him was a row of American national flags and the magnificent south portico of the White House, traditionally a neutral space for governing, not political rallies. At each side were beaming members of the Trump dynasty and two giant Orwellian TV screens.
Before him, enveloped in gloom as the clock struck 11pm on a balmy summer night in Washington, were 1,500 people obediently standing, clapping, whooping, booing his foes and chanting “Four more years!” Like past charismatic leaders who paid lip service to democracy, Trump understands political theatre, plays crowds like a fiddle and feeds off their energy.
It was a formidable spectacle on several levels. With people crammed together and wearing “Make America great again” hats rather than face masks, this was performance art that sent the message that the coronavirus pandemic is over, even though more people have died from it during this week’s Republican national convention than in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001.
The mood of exuberance and self-confidence also implied that, whatever the death toll, whatever the huge unemployment figures, whatever the polls say, the 2020 presidential election is far from over. Trump’s grand setting in the nation’s capital, culminating in fireworks at the Washington monument and opera singers, contrasted with opponent Joe Biden’s speech last week to a silent, largely empty auditorium in Wilmington, Delaware.
And whereas the raucous crowds at a convention hall in Cleveland four years ago, with their chants of “Lock her up!”, hinted at humanity’s darkest authoritarian impulses returning to the surface, this more polite and genteel version unfolding at the seat of American power was no less ominous.
Supporters of Donald Trump packed the South Lawn of the White House for his acceptance speech at the Republican national convention. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
It was also a concrete demonstration that this time Trump has the levers of executive power at his disposal and will not hesitate to use the full weight of the US government to retain power. And the crowd clearly have no intention of stopping him. Their complicity was juxtaposed with the noise of protesters and emergency sirens in nearby Lafayette Square.
“This November we must turn the page forever on this failed political class; the fact is I’m here,” said Trump, turning and gesturing to the executive mansion as supporters hollered and whistled. “What’s the name of that building? But I’ll say it differently. The fact is we’re here and they’re not.”
People rose to their feet and cheered this classic Trump notion that he is somehow at heart a blue-collar billionaire, a champion of the forgotten people who led them into battle against the Washington elites.
This was the final night of a surprisingly diverse convention that has sought to animate Trump’s base, sanitise and soften his image among suburban voters and people of colour, and demonise his opponent Joe Biden as an avatar of radical socialism.
The grand finale came on the White House South Lawn, first with Trump’s daughter and senior adviser Ivanka extolling the administration’s achievements from a lectern that said “President of the United States” – some believe she will run for the title herself some day.
Sounding like a co-president, she said: “Dad, people attack you for being unconventional but I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective … Washington has not changed Donald Trump. Donald Trump has changed Washington.”
As his familiar rally soundtrack God Bless the USA played, Trump emerged with his wife, Melania, in bright green, agreeing to hold his hand this time but struggling to maintain a smile, especially after acknowledging Ivanka.
Ivanka Trump speaks from the South Lawn of the White House at the Republican national convention on Thursday. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Yet while Biden rose to the occasion last week, Trump proceeded to deliver a somewhat flat 70-minute diatribe full of lies and falsehoods, red meat for the base and little to persuade the wavering voter. He even fluffed his big line by saying “profoundly” instead of “proudly”: “My fellow Americans, tonight with a heart full of gratitude and boundless optimism, I profoundly accept this nomination for president of the United States.”
Trump knows that if the election is a referendum on him, and his handling of the pandemic, he is likely to lose. But if he can turn the spotlight to Biden, he may yet raise doubts that keep voters at home. He unleashed a cascade of bilious and often baseless attacks that portrayed the former vice-president, like Clinton before him, as a creature of the Washington swamp.
“Joe Biden is not the savior of America’s soul – he is the destroyer of America’s jobs, and if given the chance, he will be the destroyer of American greatness,” the president warned darkly.
“For 47 years, Joe Biden took the donations of blue-collar workers, gave them hugs and even kisses” – laughter from the audience – “and told them he felt their pain – and then he flew back to Washington and voted to ship their jobs to China and many other distant lands. Joe Biden spent his entire career outsourcing the dreams of American workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders, and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign wars.”
Later, another framing: “We have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years. Biden’s record is a shameful roll call of the most catastrophic betrayals and blunders in our lifetime … China would own our country if Joe Biden got elected. Unlike Biden, I will hold them fully accountable for the tragedy they caused.”
A woman in the audience with her Maga hat during closing night of the Republican convention. Photograph: Leigh Vogel/EPA
And then yet another: “Biden is a Trojan horse for socialism. If Joe Biden doesn’t have the strength to stand up to wild-eyed Marxists like Bernie Sanders and his fellow radicals … then how is he ever going to stand up for you? He’s not.”
The rest was afterthought. He pushed familiar buttons: the election is about saving the American dream rather than allowing a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny. He beat the drum of law and order and had little to say about racial injustice. He argued that Republicans believe in feelgood American greatness, Democrats in endless self-flagellation.
“How can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country? In the left’s backward view, they do not see America as the most free, just and exceptional nation on Earth. Instead, they see a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”
Trump has struggled to define what his second term would look like other than more of the same. On Friday he threw out a few details: ending reliance on China, reducing taxes and regulations, creating 10m jobs in 10 months, hiring more police and increasing penalties for assaults on law enforcement and banning sanctuary cities.
Even as he assaults Barack Obama’s healthcare law that protects people with pre-existing conditions, the president claimed: “We will always, and very strongly, protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and that is a pledge from the entire Republican party.”
But Trump will hope the substance matters far less than the spectacle of the White House, otherwise known as the people’s house, having been fully colonised by the Make America Great Again movement. And that the image of hundreds of people without face masks lingers longer than the cold statistic of 180,000 dead. It would be his greatest act of make-believe yet.


theguardian--2020-08-28--Culture wars and ethics concerns: key takeaways from the RNC's final night

Donald Trump once again accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday , delivering a long , falsehood-ridden speech at the White House as critics accused him of inappropriately using “ the People ’ s House ” for political gain .
Here are the key takeaways of the final night of the Republican convention : Trump repeatedly exaggerated and misrepresented his presidential record as he accepted the nomination .
Several of the president ’ s falsehoods focused on coronavirus , as Trump sought to downplay the ongoing pandemic .
The president claimed , for example , that his administration was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine would be available by the end of this year “ or maybe even sooner ” .
In reality , the country continues to search for effective treatments against coronavirus , and most health experts believe a vaccine will not be widely available until mid-2021 at the earliest .
The rosy picture painted by the president ignored the US coronavirus death toll of 180,000 , which is far higher than that of any other country .
Despite Trump ’ s implications that the nation is past the worst of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus each day .
Trump ’ s White House setting for his speech obliterated the line separating the official business of governing and the partisan politics of campaigning .
Large screens displaying the Trump-Pence campaign logo were planted on either side of the White House portico , and more than 1,500 supporters , including Trump ’ s family and cabinet members , attended the event , which did not enforce social distancing or mask-wearing .
Democrats and ethics experts decried the move .
“ This abomination may be the most visible misuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history , ” Walter Shaub , a former director of the Office of Government Ethics , wrote on Twitter .
“ Get off our lawn , ” Senator Amy Klobuchar , a Democrat from Minnesota , tweeted .
But Trump relished the moment .
Veering off script briefly during his speech , he turned and gestured to the White House .
“ What ’ s the name of that building ?
” he asked , as the crowd cheered and laughed .
“ The fact is , we ’ re here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said of the Democrats .
The convention continued its focus on “ law and order ” while largely ignoring the recent nationwide protests against racism and police brutality .
The housing and urban development secretary , Ben Carson , was the only speaker on Thursday to mention Jacob Blake , an African American father of six who was repeatedly shot in the back by police officers in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
A number of other speakers , including the president , instead used their remarks to condemn the “ violent anarchists ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent protests have been mostly peaceful .
“ In the strongest possible terms , the Republican party condemns the rioting , looting , arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities like Kenosha , Minneapolis , Portland , Chicago , and New York , ” Trump said .
However , the president ’ s “ law and order ” message was somewhat complicated by the convention speech of Alice Johnson , whose prison sentence Trump commuted in 2018 .
Johnson applauded Trump for overseeing “ real justice reform ” through the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at odds with the president ’ s calls to crack down on “ criminals who threaten our citizens ” .
Average Americans delivered some of the most emotional and effective moments of the night .
Ann Dorn captured the hearts of many viewers when she described how her husband , the retired police captain David Dorn , was fatally shot amid unrest in St Louis , Missouri , earlier this year .
The parents of Kayla Mueller , who was killed by Isis in 2015 , delivered some of the most scathing criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration hid behind policy so much that we felt hopeless when they kept us from negotiating to save Kayla ’ s life , ” Carl Mueller said .
“ If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured , she would be here today.
” America ’ s culture wars were once again front and center at the Republican national convention .
In appeals that seemed aimed at suburban women and Christian conservatives , speaker after speaker warned of rising crime in cities run by Democrats .
Others shared exaggerated claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated the falsehood that Biden opposes school choice .
Trump also positioned himself as a warrior against “ cancel culture ” , which he described as a “ far-left ” phenomenon that means “ decent Americans live in fear of being fired , expelled , shamed , humiliated , and driven from society as we know it ” .
But as president , Trump has routinely called for the firing of his critics or the boycott of companies and institutions that he disapproves of .
Most recently he called on his supporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked employees to refrain from expressing their political views , including wearing “ Make America great again ” hats .
More of the president ’ s advisers and family members described his behind-the-scenes compassion , but they struggled to provide examples of such behavior .
“ President Trump is a kind and decent man , ” Dan Scavino , one of Trump ’ s advisers said .
“ I wish you could be at his side with me to see his endless kindness to everyone he meets.
” But Scavino then pivoted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the only speakers to provide an example of the president ’ s compassion was Ivanka Trump , his daughter and senior adviser , who introduced him before his speech tonight .
She gushed over the president bragging to foreign leaders about a Lego replica of the White House that his grandson had made for him .
However , the president ’ s daughter has previously told a similar story about herself , claiming she made a Lego replica of Trump Tower for him as a child .
And that story , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers made on Thursday , is not true .

Joan E Greve and Lauren Gambino in Washington

Donald Trump once again accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday, delivering a long, falsehood-ridden speech at the White House as critics accused him of inappropriately using “the People’s House” for political gain.
Here are the key takeaways of the final night of the Republican convention:
Trump repeatedly exaggerated and misrepresented his presidential record as he accepted the nomination. Several of the president’s falsehoods focused on coronavirus, as Trump sought to downplay the ongoing pandemic. The president claimed, for example, that his administration was “delivering lifesaving therapies” and that a coronavirus vaccine would be available by the end of this year “or maybe even sooner”.
In reality, the country continues to search for effective treatments against coronavirus, and most health experts believe a vaccine will not be widely available until mid-2021 at the earliest. The rosy picture painted by the president ignored the US coronavirus death toll of 180,000, which is far higher than that of any other country. Despite Trump’s implications that the nation is past the worst of the pandemic, about 1,000 Americans are dying of the virus each day.
Trump’s White House setting for his speech obliterated the line separating the official business of governing and the partisan politics of campaigning. Large screens displaying the Trump-Pence campaign logo were planted on either side of the White House portico, and more than 1,500 supporters, including Trump’s family and cabinet members, attended the event, which did not enforce social distancing or mask-wearing.
Democrats and ethics experts decried the move. “This abomination may be the most visible misuse of official position for private gain in America’s history,” Walter Shaub, a former director of the Office of Government Ethics, wrote on Twitter. “Get off our lawn,” Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, tweeted.
Get off our lawn. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) August 28, 2020
But Trump relished the moment. Veering off script briefly during his speech, he turned and gestured to the White House.
“What’s the name of that building?” he asked, as the crowd cheered and laughed. “The fact is, we’re here and they’re not,” he said of the Democrats.
The convention continued its focus on “law and order” while largely ignoring the recent nationwide protests against racism and police brutality. The housing and urban development secretary, Ben Carson, was the only speaker on Thursday to mention Jacob Blake, an African American father of six who was repeatedly shot in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A number of other speakers, including the president, instead used their remarks to condemn the “violent anarchists” marching against racism, even though the recent protests have been mostly peaceful.
“In the strongest possible terms, the Republican party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago and New York,” Trump said.
02:27 Donald Trump slams Joe Biden in Republican nomination acceptance speech – video
However, the president’s “law and order” message was somewhat complicated by the convention speech of Alice Johnson, whose prison sentence Trump commuted in 2018. Johnson applauded Trump for overseeing “real justice reform” through the First Step Act, but her praise seemed at odds with the president’s calls to crack down on “criminals who threaten our citizens”.
Average Americans delivered some of the most emotional and effective moments of the night. Ann Dorn captured the hearts of many viewers when she described how her husband, the retired police captain David Dorn, was fatally shot amid unrest in St Louis, Missouri, earlier this year. The parents of Kayla Mueller, who was killed by Isis in 2015, delivered some of the most scathing criticism of the Obama-Biden administration. “The Obama administration hid behind policy so much that we felt hopeless when they kept us from negotiating to save Kayla’s life,” Carl Mueller said. “If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today.”
America’s culture wars were once again front and center at the Republican national convention. In appeals that seemed aimed at suburban women and Christian conservatives, speaker after speaker warned of rising crime in cities run by Democrats. Others shared exaggerated claims about Democrats’ position on abortion and repeated the falsehood that Biden opposes school choice.
Trump also positioned himself as a warrior against “cancel culture”, which he described as a “far-left” phenomenon that means “decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it”. But as president, Trump has routinely called for the firing of his critics or the boycott of companies and institutions that he disapproves of. Most recently he called on his supporters to stop buying Goodyear tires after the company asked employees to refrain from expressing their political views, including wearing “Make America great again” hats.
More of the president’s advisers and family members described his behind-the-scenes compassion, but they struggled to provide examples of such behavior. “President Trump is a kind and decent man,” Dan Scavino, one of Trump’s advisers said. “I wish you could be at his side with me to see his endless kindness to everyone he meets.” But Scavino then pivoted to attacking the media without elaborating.
One of the only speakers to provide an example of the president’s compassion was Ivanka Trump, his daughter and senior adviser, who introduced him before his speech tonight. She gushed over the president bragging to foreign leaders about a Lego replica of the White House that his grandson had made for him.
However, the president’s daughter has previously told a similar story about herself, claiming she made a Lego replica of Trump Tower for him as a child. And that story, like many of the other claims that Republican speakers made on Thursday, is not true.


theguardian--2020-08-28--RNC: Trump paints Biden as a 'radical' candidate and a danger to America

Against a backdrop of a global pandemic , heightened racial tensions , and widespread unemployment , Donald Trump framed his Democratic rival Joe Biden as the real danger to the country ’ s safety and economic welfare in his address to the Republican convention on Thursday .
Accepting the party ’ s presidential nomination ahead of November ’ s elections , Trump argued for more than an hour that his administration had accomplished everything it had set out to do and warned that a Biden presidency could be ruinous .
“ This is the most important election in the history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an audience of around 1,500 supporters and officials on the South Lawn of the White House , raising concerns over the ethics of holding a political rally at the site , and over the apparent lack of social distancing measures .
“ At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties , two visions , two philosophies , or two agendas.
” Trump went on to excoriate the Democratic party and argue that the choice for voters is between a “ law and order ” president who has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ socialist ” opposition party and “ radical ” candidate eager to bring anarchy to the streets .
“ Your vote will decide whether we protect law abiding Americans , or whether we give free reign to violent anarchists , agitators , and criminals who threaten our citizens , Trump said .
“ And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of ‘ life , or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it .
“ At the Democrat national convention , Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land of racial , economic , and social injustice , ” Trump said .
“ So tonight , I ask you a very simple question : how can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country ?
” Trump delivered his speech in front of a line of flags on a stage at the White House , a decision that raised questions over whether doing so would be violating the Hatch Act , which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exempt from that law , government officials are not .
“ It certainly breaches any norms for just good government , the idea of mixing politics with government resources , ” Daniel Jacobson , a former Obama administration attorney , told the Guardian .
Trump ’ s remarks were the capstone of a night during which speakers focused on national security and policing , describing the country as rife with chaos and lawlessness in the streets because of Democratic leadership .
Speakers also repeatedly stressed that Trump was a longstanding friend of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers of color at the convention devoted significant portions of their speeches to stressing that Trump is not a racist .
Few mentioned the coronavirus pandemic , which has left more than 180,000 Americans dead and more than 5.8m infected , far more than any other country in the world .
“ If we had listened to Joe , hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died , ” Trump claimed , ignoring widespread criticism of his administration ’ s response to the pandemic .
“ I did what our political establishment never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cardinal rule of Washington politics , ” Trump said .
“ I kept my promises.
” Trump has kept around half of his 2016 campaign pledges , according to Politifact .
Earlier in the campaign cycle Trump struggled when directly asked what he would do if elected to a second term in office , but laid some plans out on Thursday .
Trump promised , if re-elected , to create 10 million jobs within the first year of his second term .
He said more police would be hired and more judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social security and protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions , despite his administration ’ s moves to weaken those programs during his current term .
He promised to reduce taxes and cut regulations “ at levels not seen before ” , adding : “ We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools , and always protect free speech on college campuses.
” He also said the country would land a woman on the moon , and “ the United States will be the first nation to plant a flag on Mars ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions across the country over the police shooting of Jacob Blake , a black man who was repeatedly shot in front of his children and left paralyzed by police in Kenosha , Wisconsin , on Sunday .
The shooting has sparked another wave of anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests across the country .
Though the protests have been largely peaceful , Trump condemned “ rioting , looting , arson and violence ” that he said had taken hold in Democratic-run cities , but did not mention Blake by name .
Trump and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is a “ socialist ” and liberal extremist who wants to defund police across the country and supports a government-run Medicare for All healthcare plan championed by the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders .
Both are untrue , and Biden is seen as a moderate in the party .
Biden himself has pointed out that the dire picture Trump has described is actually what ’ s going on now , during his time in office .
“ The violence you ’ ve seen is in Donald Trump ’ s administration .
Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday .
Trump , Mike Pence , and other speakers have also argued that under Trump the economy has only improved , foreign terrorists have been defeated , and the coronavirus pandemic is an afterthought .
But the US defense department says Isis has not been entirely defeated ; tens of millions remain unemployed ; and Covid-19 is still claiming hundreds of lives every day .
Ivanka Trump , the president ’ s daughter and White House advisor , gave the most effusive speech of the evening , .
“ My father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The word impossible , well it only motivates him .
Donald Trump rejects the cynical notion that our biggest accomplishments are behind us , ” she said .
Besides the Trumps , the Arkansas senator Tom Cotton and Trump ’ s attorney Rudy Giuliani delivered speeches .
Giuliani , the former New York mayor , used his speech to paint a portrait of an America on the verge of anarchy , and accused New York current mayor Bill De Blasio of allowing protests and crime to spiral .
“ Today , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shootings , and violent crime are increasing in percentages never heard of in the past , ” Giuliani claimed .
In reality , serious crime is down under de Blasio , the annual number of murders is around half the number it was under Giuliani .
“ These continuous riots in Democratic cities gives a good view ” of a Biden administration , Giuliani claimed .
He ended by saying “ Mr President , make our nation safe again !
” In a taped speech , senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ framed himself as a midwestern champion leading the defense of the Senate from Democrats .
“ Today ’ s Democratic party doesn ’ t want to improve life for middle America , ” McConnell said in the video , going on to say “ we are the firewall against Nancy Pelosi ’ s agenda ” .
Unlike most speakers this week , Trump ’ s housing secretary Ben Carson directly addressed Blake ’ s shooting , starting his remarks by saying “ our hearts go out to the Blake family ” before launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the African American community .
“ Before the pandemic African American unemployment was at an all time low , ” Carson said , in a somewhat misleading statement .
“ At this point in time President Trump is the man with the courage , the vision , and the ability to keep it shining brightly.
” The RNC has notably lacked some key party figures and the presence of the last Republican president , George W Bush .
Meanwhile , Democrats ’ convention included speeches by former Republican elected officials who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday morning , aides to the previous two Republican nominees for president , the late John McCain and the Utah senator Mitt Romney , released statements endorsing Biden .
The Biden campaign hopes that support will motivate moderates and Republicans to support the centrist Democrat .
Earlier on Thursday , the Democratic vice-presidential nominee , Kamala Harris , delivered a scathing rebuke of the Trump administration ’ s handling of the pandemic .
“ The Republican convention is designed for one purpose : to soothe Donald Trump ’ s ego , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris said .
“ But here ’ s the thing : he ’ s the president of the United States , and it ’ s not supposed to be about him .
It ’ s supposed to be about the health and the safety and the wellbeing of the American people.
” Thursday night ’ s events ended with Trump and his family standing on the stage in front of the White House balcony listening to a band play Ave Maria , another norm-shattering piece of Trump ’ s convention .

Against a backdrop of a global pandemic, heightened racial tensions, and widespread unemployment, Donald Trump framed his Democratic rival Joe Biden as the real danger to the country’s safety and economic welfare in his address to the Republican convention on Thursday.
Accepting the party’s presidential nomination ahead of November’s elections, Trump argued for more than an hour that his administration had accomplished everything it had set out to do and warned that a Biden presidency could be ruinous.
“This is the most important election in the history of our country,” Trump told an audience of about 1,500 supporters and officials on the South Lawn of the White House, raising concerns over the ethics of holding a political rally at the site, and over the apparent lack of social distancing measures.
“At no time before have voters faced a clearer choice between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas.”
Trump went on to excoriate the Democratic party and argue that the choice for voters is between a “law and order” president who has a record of unmatched accomplishments, and a “socialist” opposition party and “radical” candidate eager to bring anarchy to the streets.
“Your vote will decide whether we protect law-abiding Americans, or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists, agitators, and criminals who threaten our citizens,” Trump said.
“And this election will decide whether we will defend the American way of ‘life, or whether we allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it.
“At the Democrat national convention, Joe Biden and his party repeatedly assailed America as a land of racial, economic and social injustice,” Trump said. “So tonight, I ask you a very simple question: how can the Democrat party ask to lead our country when it spends so much time tearing down our country?”
Trump delivered his speech in front of a line of flags on a stage at the White House, a decision that raised questions over whether doing so would be violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty. Though the president is exempt from that law, government officials are not.
“It certainly breaches any norms for just good government, the idea of mixing politics with government resources,” Daniel Jacobson, a former Obama administration attorney, told the Guardian.
Trump’s remarks were the capstone of a night during which speakers focused on national security and policing, describing the country as rife with chaos and lawlessness in the streets because of Democratic leadership.
Speakers also repeatedly stressed that Trump was a longstanding friend of the African American community and minorities. Most speakers of color at the convention devoted significant portions of their speeches to stressing that Trump is not a racist.
Few mentioned the coronavirus pandemic, which has left more than 180,000 Americans dead and more than 5.8m infected, far more than any other country in the world. “If we had listened to Joe, hundreds of thousands more Americans would have died,” Trump claimed, ignoring widespread criticism of his administration’s response to the pandemic.
“I did what our political establishment never expected and could never forgive, breaking the cardinal rule of Washington politics,” Trump said. “I kept my promises.”
Trump has kept about half of his 2016 campaign pledges, according to Politifact. Earlier in the campaign cycle Trump struggled when directly asked what he would do if elected to a second term in office, but laid some plans out on Thursday.
Trump promised, if re-elected, to create 10m jobs within the first year of his second term. He said more police would be hired and more judges appointed, and he promised to defend social security and protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, despite his administration’s moves to weaken those programs during his current term.
03:48 Protesters try to drown out Donald Trump's acceptance speech on last day of RNC – video highlights
He promised to reduce taxes and cut regulations “at levels not seen before”, adding: “We will fully restore patriotic education to our schools, and always protect free speech on college campuses.” He also said the country would land a woman on the moon, and “the United States will be the first nation to plant a flag on Mars”.
Trump delivered his speech amid heightened tensions across the country over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man who was repeatedly shot in front of his children and left paralyzed by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. The shooting has sparked another wave of anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests across the country.
Though the protests have been largely peaceful, Trump condemned “rioting, looting, arson and violence” that he said had taken hold in Democratic-run cities, but did not mention Blake by name.
Trump and his campaign have charged again and again that Biden is a “socialist” and liberal extremist who wants to defund police across the country and supports a government-run Medicare for All healthcare plan championed by the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Both are untrue, and Biden is seen as a moderate in the party.
Biden himself has pointed out that the dire picture Trump has described is actually what’s going on now, during his time in office.
“The violence you’ve seen is in Donald Trump’s administration. Donald Trump’s America,” Biden said on Thursday.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive on the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican national convention on Thursday. Photograph: Doug Mills/AP
Trump, Mike Pence and other speakers have also argued that under Trump the economy has only improved, foreign terrorists have been defeated and the coronavirus pandemic is an afterthought. But the US defense department says Isis has not been entirely defeated; tens of millions remain unemployed; and Covid-19 is still claiming hundreds of lives every day.
Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and White House adviser, gave the most effusive speech of the evening,.
“My father isn’t deterred by defeatist thinkers. The word impossible, well it only motivates him. Donald Trump rejects the cynical notion that our biggest accomplishments are behind us,” she said.
Besides the Trumps, the Arkansas senator Tom Cotton and Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani delivered speeches.
Former New York mayor and Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani seen on a video screen addressing the final night of the Republican national convention. Photograph: Carlos Barría/Reuters
Giuliani, the former New York mayor, used his speech to paint a portrait of an America on the verge of anarchy, and accused New York’s current mayor, Bill de Blasio, of allowing protests and crime to spiral.
“Today, my city is in shock. Murders, shootings and violent crime are increasing in percentages never heard of in the past,” Giuliani claimed. In reality, serious crime is down under De Blasio, the annual number of murders is around half the number it was under Giuliani.
“These continuous riots in Democratic cities gives a good view” of a Biden administration, Giuliani claimed. He ended by saying: “Mr President, make our nation safe again!”
In a taped speech, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, described Trump as his friend, and framed himself as a midwestern champion leading the defense of the Senate from Democrats.
“Today’s Democratic party doesn’t want to improve life for middle America,” McConnell said in the video, going on to say “we are the firewall against Nancy Pelosi’s agenda”.
Unlike most speakers this week, Trump’s housing secretary, Ben Carson, directly addressed Blake’s shooting, starting his remarks by saying “our hearts go out to the Blake family” before launching into a full-throated defense of Trump on the African American community.
“Before the pandemic African American unemployment was at an all-time low,” Carson said, in a somewhat misleading statement. “At this point in time President Trump is the man with the courage, the vision, and the ability to keep it shining brightly.”
The RNC has notably lacked some key party figures and the presence of the last Republican president, George W Bush. Meanwhile, Democrats’ convention included speeches by former Republican elected officials who have emerged as outspoken critics of the president.
On Thursday morning, aides to the previous two Republican nominees for president, the late John McCain and the Utah senator Mitt Romney, released statements endorsing Biden. The Biden campaign hopes that support will motivate moderates and Republicans to support the centrist Democrat.
Earlier on Thursday, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, delivered a scathing rebuke of the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic.
“The Republican convention is designed for one purpose: to soothe Donald Trump’s ego, to make him feel good,” Harris said. “But here’s the thing: he’s the president of the United States, and it’s not supposed to be about him. It’s supposed to be about the health and the safety and the wellbeing of the American people.”
Thursday night’s events ended with Trump and his family standing on the stage in front of the White House balcony listening to a band play Ave Maria, another norm-shattering piece of Trump’s convention.


theguardian--2020-08-28--Donald Trump portrays Biden as threat to America in RNC speech packed with falsehoods – as it happen

Donald Trump portrays Biden as threat to America in RNC speech packed with falsehoods – as it happened

Our American ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent .
They braved @ @ @ @ @ the raging rivers , scaled the rocky peaks , trekked the dangerous forests , and @ @ @ @ @ .
These pioneers didn ’ t have money , they didn ’ t have fame @ @ @ @ @ other .
They loved their families , they loved their country , and they loved @ @ @ @ @ beckoned , they picked up their Bibles , packed up their belongings , climbed into @ @ @ @ @ out west for the next adventure .
Ranchers and miners , cowboys and sheriffs , @ @ @ @ @ pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the wild frontier .
Americans @ @ @ @ @ the open range .
Soon they had churches and communities , then towns , and @ @ @ @ @ of industry and commerce .
That is who they were .
Americans build the future @ @ @ @ @ tear down the past !

Joan E Greve in Washington and Maanvi Singh

28 Aug 2020 06.40 BST Key takeaways from the final night of the Republican convention That’s it from us tonight. Here are the key takeaways from the final night of the Republican convention: Trump repeatedly exaggerated and misrepresented his presidential record as he accepted the nomination. Several of the president’s falsehoods focused on coronavirus, as Trump sought to downplay the ongoing pandemic. The rosy picture painted by the president ignored the US coronavirus death toll of 180,000, which is far higher than that of any other country in the world. Despite Trump’s implications that the nation is past the worst of the pandemic, about 1,000 Americans are still dying of the virus each day.
Several of the president’s falsehoods focused on coronavirus, as Trump sought to downplay the ongoing pandemic. The rosy picture painted by the president ignored the US coronavirus death toll of 180,000, which is far higher than that of any other country in the world. Despite Trump’s implications that the nation is past the worst of the pandemic, about 1,000 Americans are still dying of the virus each day. Trump’s White House setting for his speech obliterated the line separating the official business of governing and the partisan politics of campaigning. Large screens displaying the Trump-Pence campaign logo were planted on either side of the White House portico, and more than 1,500 supporters, including Trump’s family and cabinet members, attended the event, which did not enforce social distancing or mask-wearing. Democrats and ethics experts decried the move, but Trump relished the moment. Veering off script briefly during his speech, he turned and gestured to the White House. “The fact is, we’re here and they’re not,” he said of the Democrats.
Large screens displaying the Trump-Pence campaign logo were planted on either side of the White House portico, and more than 1,500 supporters, including Trump’s family and cabinet members, attended the event, which did not enforce social distancing or mask-wearing. Democrats and ethics experts decried the move, but Trump relished the moment. Veering off script briefly during his speech, he turned and gestured to the White House. “The fact is, we’re here and they’re not,” he said of the Democrats. The convention continued its focus on “law and order” while largely ignoring the recent nationwide protests against racism and police brutality. Housing and urban development secretary Ben Carson was the only speaker on Thursday to mention Jacob Blake, an African American father of six who was repeatedly shot in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A number of other speakers, including the president, instead used their remarks to condemn the “violent anarchists” marching against racism, even though the recent protests have been mostly peaceful.
Housing and urban development secretary Ben Carson was the only speaker on Thursday to mention Jacob Blake, an African American father of six who was repeatedly shot in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A number of other speakers, including the president, instead used their remarks to condemn the “violent anarchists” marching against racism, even though the recent protests have been mostly peaceful. Average Americans delivered some of the most emotional and effective moments of the night. Ann Dorn captured the hearts of many viewers when she described how her husband, retired police captain David Dorn, was fatally shot amid unrest in St Louis, Missouri, earlier this year. The parents of Kayla Mueller, who was killed by Isis in 2015, delivered some of the most scathing criticism of the Obama-Biden administration. “If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today,” Carl Mueller said.
Ann Dorn captured the hearts of many viewers when she described how her husband, retired police captain David Dorn, was fatally shot amid unrest in St Louis, Missouri, earlier this year. The parents of Kayla Mueller, who was killed by Isis in 2015, delivered some of the most scathing criticism of the Obama-Biden administration. “If Donald Trump had been president when Kayla was captured, she would be here today,” Carl Mueller said. America’s culture wars were once again front and center. In appeals that seemed aimed at suburban women and Christian conservatives, speaker after speaker warned of rising crime in cities run by Democrats. Trump also positioned himself as a warrior against “cancel culture”, which he described as a “far-left” phenomenon that means “decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it”. But as president, Trump has routinely called for the firing of his critics or the boycott of companies and institutions that he disapproves of.
In appeals that seemed aimed at suburban women and Christian conservatives, speaker after speaker warned of rising crime in cities run by Democrats. Trump also positioned himself as a warrior against “cancel culture”, which he described as a “far-left” phenomenon that means “decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated, and driven from society as we know it”. But as president, Trump has routinely called for the firing of his critics or the boycott of companies and institutions that he disapproves of. More of the president’s advisers and family members described his behind-the-scenes compassion, but they struggled to provide examples of such behavior. “President Trump is a kind and decent man,” Dan Scavino, one of Trump’s advisers said. “I wish you could be at his side with me to see his endless kindness to everyone he meets.” But Scavino then pivoted to attacking the media without elaborating about the president’s “kind and decent” character. Thanks for following along with our convention coverage for the past two weeks. Next up: the debates.
Updated at 07.54 BST
28 Aug 2020 06.31 BST Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly plans to resign due to his health. The Japanese outlet NHK reports: Abe Shinzo is scheduled to hold a news conference later in the day to explain his decision.
Abe has visited a hospital twice over the past two weeks, fuelling speculation that his health has deteriorated. This is the second time that Abe is to leave the post over a medical issue – stepping down in 2007, because of his inflammatory bowel disease, after only serving a year in office. The news may be disappointing to Trump, who has grown fond of the Japanese leader due to Abe’s repeated efforts to court the US president.
Updated at 06.43 BST
28 Aug 2020 06.26 BST A White House official, in response to a question from CNN’s Jim Acosta about concerns that the RNC gathering at the White House would amount to a coronavirus “super spreader” event, reportedly said: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually.” On the lack of social distancing or face masks at Trump’s #RNC2020 acceptance speech in the middle of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, a senior White House official tells @Acosta: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually.” 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0T5e6r3BSx — Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) August 28, 2020 The crowds gathered to hear Trump speak were not socially distanced, and many weren’t wearing face masks to slow the spread of Covid-19. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 06.43 BST
28 Aug 2020 06.17 BST At tonight’s RNC, Ben Carson was the only speaker to mention Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Black man who was shot multiple times by a Wisconsin police officer. While the convention carried on, Blake’s family revealed that he had been handcuffed to the hospital bed, even as he recovers from surgery. “I hate it that he was laying in that bed with the handcuff on to the bed,” his father said today. “He can’t go anywhere. Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?” “This is an insult to injury,” Blake’s uncle told CNN. “He is paralyzed and can’t walk and they have him cuffed to the bed. Why?” 'We've all had enough': Kenosha in anguish over Jacob Blake shooting Read more – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 06.44 BST
28 Aug 2020 06.02 BST Earlier today, four Latino advocacy groups circulated an “indictment” of the Republican party. “With Donald Trump’s election in 2016 and the near-total capitulation of Congressional Republicans to his party takeover, today’s Republican Party is the party of white nationalists,” the statement reads. UnidosUS Action Fund, Voto Latino, League of United Latin American Citizens (Lulac) and Mi Familia Vota asked Republicans “who still believe in a bigger tent, an inclusive and unified society” to “reject blind obedience” to Trumpism. “The Latino community is hurting because of the horrible mismanagement of this pandemic by Trump, his administration, and those in the Republican party who enable them,” added Hector Sanchez Barba, the CEO of Mi Familia Vota, in a statement. “We must say Basta Trump this election cycle.” While the RNC did make a pitch to Latino voters this week, speakers ignored the unequal toll of the coronavirus pandemic on Latino Americans. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 06.15 BST
28 Aug 2020 05.51 BST One of the most striking moments tonight was Trump’s wistful retelling of colonization: Our American ancestors sailed across the perilous ocean to build a new life on a new continent. They braved the freezing winters, crossed the raging rivers, scaled the rocky peaks, trekked the dangerous forests, and worked from dawn till dusk. These pioneers didn’t have money, they didn’t have fame – but they had each other. They loved their families, they loved their country, and they loved their God! When opportunity beckoned, they picked up their Bibles, packed up their belongings, climbed into covered wagons, and set out west for the next adventure. Ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers – they pressed on past the Mississippi to stake a claim in the wild frontier. Legends were born – Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, and Buffalo Bill. Americans built their beautiful homesteads on the open range. Soon they had churches and communities, then towns, and with time, great centers of industry and commerce. That is who they were. Americans build the future, we don’t tear down the past! The “ranchers and miners, cowboys and sheriffs, farmers and settlers” staked a claim on Native American land and “built their beautiful homesteads” on stolen land. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 19.05 BST
28 Aug 2020 05.33 BST One moment of whiplash that stuck with me tonight: Just moments after Ja’Ron Smith made a direct pitch to Black voters, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, made the case against statehood for Washington, DC – where about 45% of residents are Black. McConnell listed a series of liberal reforms and said they’d be codified into law if DC was able to send “two more liberal senators” to the capitol. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 05.42 BST
28 Aug 2020 05.19 BST The Biden campaign’s response to the RNC: “Since the beginning of the Republican convention, at least 3,525 Americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus.” Once again, Biden for President deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield attacked the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Her statement continued: Over those four days — and for the last eight months — the American people have waited in exasperation for a plan to finally take control of the pandemic that has cost us 180,000 lives, infected almost six million, and thrown working families and our middle class into dire financial straits, but nothing came. – Maanvi Singh
28 Aug 2020 05.12 BST Trump’s speech tonight clocked in at 71 minutes, making it a few minutes shorter than the president’s 2016 convention speech. But the speech was the longest nomination acceptance speech ever delivered by a presidential incumbent, beating out Bill Clinton’s 1996 speech by three minutes. To clarify, at 1 hour, 11 minutes, he blew past Clinton's "bridge to the future" 1996 speech for longest post-WWII acceptance address by an incumbent president. Beat Clinton by 3 minutes — George Condon (@georgecondon) August 28, 2020
Updated at 05.19 BST
28 Aug 2020 05.09 BST Some of the most dissonant, contradictory messages at the RNC this week were about criminal justice and policing – and Trump’s speech exemplified that. Trump sought to highlight Joe Biden’s involvement in the infamous Crime Bill, and cast him as part of a “radical left” that wants to defund the police (he does not). The president touted his own record on criminal justice and prison reform and riled the crowd up by championing “10 years in prison” for activists who tear down Confederate statues. – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 05.18 BST
28 Aug 2020 05.00 BST FACT CHECK “Biden has promised to abolish the production of American oil, coal, shale, and natural gas,” Trump said. “These same policies led to crippling power outages in California just last week.” Biden wants to ban new fracking permits, not all fracking. The electrical outages in California were the result of residents pumping up their ACs all at once amid a searing heatwave, the state’s largest electrical grid manager said. But energy experts said the outages may have been unnecessary. And regardless, while California has invested in wind and solar power, it’s also still one of the nation’s top oil-producing states. Read my explainer here: Governor demands investigation after Californians left without power in extreme heat Read more – Maanvi Singh
Updated at 05.06 BST
28 Aug 2020 04.59 BST The impressive fireworks show at the Washington Monument included a display of “Trump” and “2020”.
Post-speech fireworks that say “Trump 2020” pic.twitter.com/KKyLHqE6Ay — Peter Stevenson (@PeterStevenson) August 28, 2020 The display felt familiar to one Washington Post journalist who wrote a book about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Oh hey just as an aside, this is what happens during military parades in North Korea: Kim Jong Un has his name spelled out in huge letters pic.twitter.com/Za93CCpZbd — Anna Fifield (@annafifield) August 28, 2020
Updated at 05.05 BST
28 Aug 2020 04.52 BST Two Fox News anchors said they were underwhelmed with Trump’s convention speech tonight. “Surprising flat” and “didn’t seem to have the bite that he usually does have in his speeches,” Fox News’ Chris Wallace says in panning Trump’s RNC address. “Chris has a point,” Brit Hume added. “The speech was very long.” — Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) August 28, 2020 Anchor Chris Wallace said the speech was “surprisingly flat” and lacked “the bite” that Trump’s remarks usually have. One of Wallace’s colleagues, Brit Hume, agreed that the 70-minute speech was “very long”. The comments were even more noteworthy given that Wallace praised Joe Biden’s speech last week as “enormously effective”. Trouble for Trump as Fox News praises 'enormously effective' Biden speech Read more
Updated at 05.04 BST
28 Aug 2020 04.45 BST Ethics expert Norm Eisen described Trump’s convention speech at the White House as “the greatest mass Hatch Act transgression in US history”. Do you know what I see?
Literally thousands of Hatch Act violations— one for every federal official who helped with or participated in this revolting display. The greatest mass Hatch Act transgression in US history.
Even the fireworks are a violation. pic.twitter.com/7xQbTMKoyo — Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) August 28, 2020 The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from participating in certain political activities. The president and the vice-president are exempt from the Hatch Act, but every other administration official who participated in tonight’s events at the White House is not exempt.
Updated at 05.05 BST
28 Aug 2020 04.42 BST Republican convention comes to an end With the president’s speech concluded, the Republican convention has now come to an end. The blog will have more reactions and analysis coming up, so stay tuned.


theguardian--2020-08-28--Donald Trump slams Joe Biden in Republican nomination acceptance speech – video

Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican party 's nomination for re-election in front of the White House on Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ important election in the history of our country , ' Trump said after he 'profoundly @ @ @ @ @ nomination .
Trump went on to excoriate the Democratic party and argue that the choice @ @ @ @ @ president who has a record of unmatched accomplishments and an opposition party and candidate eager @ @ @ @ @ .
• RNC : Trump accepts nomination and attacks Biden as eager to 'tear down @ @ @

Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican party's nomination for re-election in front of the White House on Thursday night.
'This is the most important election in the history of our country,' Trump said after he 'profoundly' accepted his party's nomination.
Trump went on to excoriate the Democratic party and argue that the choice for voters is between a president who has a record of unmatched accomplishments and an opposition party and candidate eager to tear down the country.


theguardian--2020-08-29--Michelle Obama condemns shootings of Jacob Blake and protesters – as it happened

Donald Trump in a Friday evening campaign rally in New Hampshire condemned recent protests in support of racial justice , demonized the “ radical left ” , and mocked his opponents in the upcoming presidential race .
Trump repeatedly criticized “ Sleepy ” Joe Biden in his speech , mocking him for remaining in quarantine amidst the Covid-19 pandemic .
He said “ no one will be safe ” in Biden ’ s America .
He said Kamala Harris is “ not competent ” and that his daughter Ivanka Trump would make a better president .
As always , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies , at one point saying he has done “ more for the African American community than anyone in history , except perhaps Abraham Lincoln ” .
He also , without basis , accused Biden of reading answers from a teleprompter in a recent interview with Anderson Cooper .
At one Trump point appeared to threaten invoking the Insurrection Act , a federal law that empowers the President to deploy federal armed forces in US cities without permission to suppress civil disorder .
This is not the first time he has done so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that “ attacked ” Senator Rand Paul on Thursday and said he would give the DC police who aided him a medal .
The commentary devolved from there .
“ It was a disgrace , ” he said of the protestors who accosted Paul .
“ You know what I say ?
Protesters your ass .
I don ’ t talk about my ass.
” Trump , who has been trailing Biden in polls , repeatedly positioned himself as a “ law and order ” candidate and the answer to the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are not going to let the radical left , the socialists , or the communists take our country , ” he said .
“ We aren ’ t going to let our country be destroyed by a bunch of nut jobs .
”

Kari Paul in Oakland (now), Joan E Greve in Washington, Martin Pengelly and Martin Belam (earlier)

29 Aug 2020 01.24 BST This evening, summarized Kari Paul here, closing this blog for the night. Here are the top stories from the past few hours you should know. Former first lady Michelle Obama shared a statement about the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha and the killings of protesters in the aftermath, saying she is “just devastated”.
Trump held a rally in New Hampshire where he made a lot of reckless exaggerations and outright lies, bullied his opponents in the upcoming election, and promised to put a woman on the moon.
A new report from the Washington Post found the Secret Service is repeatedly getting sick from Covid as it accompanies Trump to in-person rallies around the country.
Trump keeps tweeting he wants football back, and said in the rally on Friday that college football players are “young, strong” men who wouldn’t be affected by Covid. This is false: experts say people of any age can be sickened -- and badly so -- by the virus.
California officials have announced new eviction protections, but tenants groups warn they are not strong enough and could leave many vulnerable to displacement during the pandemic.
Three residents of New York City public housing said they were tricked into appearing in a Republican National Convention video.
29 Aug 2020 01.19 BST Three residents of New York City public housing said they were tricked into appearing in a Republican National Convention video. All three say they were never told the interviews they gave would be edited into a video clip shared at the RNC. One of the tenants, who said she is not a Trump supporter, said she was furious about her inclusion in the video. “I am not a Trump supporter,” said one of the tenants, Claudia Perez. “I am not a supporter of his racist policies on immigration. I am a first-generation Honduran. It was my people he was sending back.” Read the full story from the New York Times here.
29 Aug 2020 01.13 BST Donald Trump in a Friday evening campaign rally in New Hampshire condemned recent protests in support of racial justice, demonized the “radical left”, and mocked his opponents in the upcoming presidential race. Trump repeatedly criticized “Sleepy” Joe Biden in his speech, mocking him for remaining in quarantine amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. He said “no one will be safe” in Biden’s America. He said Kamala Harris is “not competent” and that his daughter Ivanka Trump would make a better president. As always, Trump made many outlandish claims and told many lies, at one point saying he has done “more for the African American community than anyone in history, except perhaps Abraham Lincoln”. He also, without basis, accused Biden of reading answers from a teleprompter in a recent interview with Anderson Cooper. At one Trump point appeared to threaten invoking the Insurrection Act, a federal law that empowers the President to deploy federal armed forces in US cities without permission to suppress civil disorder. This is not the first time he has done so. Trump: You know what I say? Protest this, your ass. I don’t talk about my ass pic.twitter.com/CFel9t5Ooj — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) August 28, 2020 He also condemned a “mob” that “attacked” Senator Rand Paul on Thursday and said he would give the DC police who aided him a medal. The commentary devolved from there. “It was a disgrace,” he said of the protestors who accosted Paul. “You know what I say? Protesters your ass. I don’t talk about my ass.” Trump, who has been trailing Biden in polls, repeatedly positioned himself as a “law and order” candidate and the answer to the ongoing protests and unrest in the United States. “We are not going to let the radical left, the socialists, or the communists take our country,” he said. “We aren’t going to let our country be destroyed by a bunch of nut jobs.”
28 Aug 2020 00.38 BST Sam Levin California officials have announced new eviction protections that tenants groups warn could leave many vulnerable to displacement during the pandemic. Days before existing regulations are set to expire, leaving millions at risk of eviction, governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan this afternoon that he said was the result of negotiations between landlord and tenant advocate groups. The compromise legislation (full text here) states that: Tenants who can’t pay rent due to Covid-related financial hardships would be protected from evictions through January, but only if they pay 25% of their rent between September and January.
Tenants still owe the rent they couldn’t pay between March and August, but landlords cannot evict them for those debts (though they could take them to small claims court).
Landlords have to give tenants a 15-day notice before the eviction process begins in court. Tenant and housing rights groups have criticized the plan, saying it does not go far enough to protect renters and could displace thousands as the courts begin to resume eviction cases next week. Loopholes in the existing protections have already allowed more than 1,600 evictions during the pandemic, according to one analysis, and activists fear it could get much worse under this plan. Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, a tenant rights group, argued that the 25% requirement could be difficult for renters in California who have spent months out of work and have struggled to get aid and unemployment. Some activists say the plan unfairly places the burden on tenants to defend themselves in court. The California Apartment Association, a key landlord group, praised the plan, arguing that it would allow renters who can’t pay while allowing landlords to “terminate the tenancies of renters who have the wherewithal to pay rent but refuse to do so”. State lawmakers still have to approve Newsom’s bill before it goes into effect. For more on the crisis: California landlords are locking out struggling tenants. A 'tsunami of evictions' may be next Read more
28 Aug 2020 23.56 BST Trump tweeted, apparently from Air Force One en route to a campaign rally in New Hampshire, that states that have shut down due to the coronavirus should open up. No, I want Big Ten, and all other football, back - NOW. The Dems don’t want football back, for political reasons, but are trying to blame me and the Republicans. Another LIE, but this is what we are up against! They should also open up all of their Shutdown States. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2020 He demanded “all other football” including Big Ten football come back “NOW”. The death toll from coronavirus is expected to reach 200,000 by Labor Day, according to the CDC.
Updated at 00.01 BST
28 Aug 2020 23.53 BST As revelers at Trump rally on Friday booed suggestions to wear masks, the Washington Post has published a story about the health toll Trump’s campaign events are taking on Secret Service members. From the story: In the past two months, dozens of Secret Service agents who worked to ensure the security of the president and Vice President Pence at public events have been sickened or sidelined because they were in direct contact with infected people, according to multiple people familiar with the episodes, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the incidents. In one instance, five secret service agents had to be swapped out after one agent they were working closely with tested positive for coronavirus. The ongoing infections amongst people closest to Trump represent the latest fallout from the current president’s decision to hold campaign rallies amidst an intensifying global pandemic. Despite that, Trump has continued to hold large, in-person rallies. His acceptance speech for the RNC on Thursday night drew 1,500, mostly un-masked supporters on the South Lawn on the White House. Trump’s actions “rebuff the scientific consensus that the best way tamp down the spread of the virus is to avoid large gatherings and close quarters”, the Post said.
28 Aug 2020 23.19 BST Donald Trump is holding a rally for supporters in New Hampshire. He will speak any minute now. If you care to tune in you can here - if not, I will be blogging it here so stand by for updates. The crowd at Trump’s NH rally just booed an announcement telling people to put on their masks — Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) August 28, 2020 Many supporters at the rally can be seen in close quarters, without masks. Apparently a number of Trump supporters have booed an announcement to put on masks.
Updated at 23.21 BST
28 Aug 2020 22.37 BST Germany chancellor Angela Merkel laughed off a question during a Friday press conference of whether she had been “charmed” by Donald Trump. The question was in response to a statement made this week by Richard Grenell, the former US director of national intelligence and ambassador to Germany, who claimed Trump had smoothed over the historically strained relationship between German and the US by enchanting Merkel. This is one of my new favourite Merkel moments. A journalist asks her about Richard Grenell's claim that Trump "charmed" Merkel. You don't need to speak German to enjoy her reaction:pic.twitter.com/RSjHSNXXtX — Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) August 28, 2020 Merkel looked down and smiled before saying, “I won’t comment on this.” Reports from CNN on Trump’s classified calls with world leaders have revealed the president was “near-sadistic” in talks with female leaders, including Merkel, whom he called “stupid” and “a fool”. Sources CNN spoke to said Merkel was unbothered by the president’s antics: “like water off a duck’s back”. When asked in the press conference Friday whether she plans to work with Trump if he is re-elected, Merkel said yes. “I work with every elected president of the United States,” she said. “What guides us are our values and of course the interests on the German and the American side.”
Updated at 23.28 BST
28 Aug 2020 22.21 BST Michelle Obama condemns Jacob Blake shooting Michelle Obama posted on Twitter a statement about the shooting of protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week and the police violence that preceded it. She condemned the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Wisconsin man shot seven times by police in front of his children, as well as the shooting of two protesters, allegedly by a 17-year-old rightwing militant, in the protests that followed. Obama said she was “exhausted and frustrated” at the trauma Black and Brown people in the US are enduring once again. I’m just devastated by the shootings in Kenosha. And I can’t stop thinking about what our kids are seeing every day—and our obligations to them going forward.
To find out how you can take action, check out the @ObamaFoundation's resources at https://t.co/gyOVs4Nxyb. pic.twitter.com/0CWfNj2ncL — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 28, 2020 The former first lady had some pointed words for the Trump administration as well, condemning the “lack of empathy, division stoked in times of crisis, and age-old and systemic racism” that is seen across the country, on the news and “from the White House Rose Garden” as stoking such violence.
She concluded by encouraging Americans to vote, keep protesting, and encourage reform across the country. “We need to reach out to people, and ask them to search their hearts and listen to their inner voices - the voices that say this simply isn’t right,” she said. “Because when that happens, the change we seek cannot be denied.”
Updated at 23.30 BST
28 Aug 2020 22.09 BST Kari Paul here, covering the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates.
28 Aug 2020 22.00 BST Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Kari Paul, will take over for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Jacob Blake is no longer handcuffed to his hospital bed. The family of Blake, who was repeatedly shot in the back by a Kenosha police officer days ago, expressed outrage that he was being shackled to his bed when he is currently paralyzed from the waist down. A lawyer representing Blake told CNN that he is no longer handcuffed and felony warrants previously issued against him had been vacated.
The family of Blake, who was repeatedly shot in the back by a Kenosha police officer days ago, expressed outrage that he was being shackled to his bed when he is currently paralyzed from the waist down. A lawyer representing Blake told CNN that he is no longer handcuffed and felony warrants previously issued against him had been vacated. Thousands attended the “Get Off Our Necks” rally and march on Washington. Family members of Blake, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor addressed the march to call for an end to police brutality. “I’m tired of looking at cameras and seeing these young black and brown people suffer,” said Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr. “We’re going to hold court on systematic racism.”
Family members of Blake, and addressed the march to call for an end to police brutality. “I’m tired of looking at cameras and seeing these young black and brown people suffer,” said Blake’s father, “We’re going to hold court on systematic racism.” The White House dismissed concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus among the large crowd that assembled to hear Trump’s convention speech last night. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said, “I think the vast majority of Americans are more concerned about what’s happening in their backyard than the backyard of the White House.” About 1,500 people were at the White House yesterday to hear Trump speak, defying DC recommendations against large gatherings. Most attendees did not wear masks, and their chairs were not physically distanced.
White House chief of staff said, “I think the vast majority of Americans are more concerned about what’s happening in their backyard than the backyard of the White House.” About 1,500 people were at the White House yesterday to hear Trump speak, defying DC recommendations against large gatherings. Most attendees did not wear masks, and their chairs were not physically distanced. The H ouse foreign affairs committee announced the opening of contempt proceedings against secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Democratic committee chairman Eliot Engel said, “From Mr Pompeo’s refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry to his willingness to bolster a Senate Republican-led smear against the president’s political rivals to his speech to the RNC which defied his own guidance and possibly the law, he has demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the constitution provides to prevent government corruption.”
Democratic committee chairman said, “From Mr Pompeo’s refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry to his willingness to bolster a Senate Republican-led smear against the president’s political rivals to his speech to the RNC which defied his own guidance and possibly the law, he has demonstrated alarming disregard for the laws and rules governing his own conduct and for the tools the constitution provides to prevent government corruption.” The NBA playoffs are set to resume on Saturday, days after players refused to take the court to protest Blake’s shooting. The league and the players’ union reached an agreement to resume play in exchange for advancing a number of social justice initiatives, including using some NBA arenas as polling places in the November elections. Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
28 Aug 2020 21.44 BST The Milwaukee county sheriff’s office said it suspended its hospital watch of Jacob Blake because he posted a bond for an arrest warrant issued in July. “From Sunday, August 23 to Friday, August 28, while receiving treatment at a local hospital, Mr. Jacob Blake remained in custody on a Kenosha county felony arrest warrant issued in July,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. 1/4
Statement Regarding Custody Status of Mr. Jacob Blake
From Sunday, August 23 to Friday, August 28, while receiving treatment at a local hospital, Mr. Jacob Blake remained in custody on a Kenosha County felony arrest warrant issued in July. — Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (@MCSOSheriff) August 28, 2020 Blake is receiving treatment for multiple gunshot wounds after a Kenosha police officer repeatedly shot him in the back.
“Earlier today, Mr. Blake posted the bond underlying the arrest warrant, enabling his release from custody. The hospital watch was discontinued immediately after receiving this information from Kenosha authorities,” the sheriff’s office said. Blake’s family expressed outrage that he was being handcuffed to his hospital bed when he is currently paralyzed from the waist down. An attorney representing Blake said earlier today that the handcuffs had been removed and the felony arrest warrants against him had been vacated.
28 Aug 2020 21.22 BST In another sign of how unprecedented this election is: America’s top military officer just told Congress that the armed forces would have no role in carrying out the election process. According to the AP, General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, addressed the issue in written responses to questions posed by two Democratic members of the House armed services committee. “I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military,” Milley said. “In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. military. I foresee no role for the U.S armed forces in this process.” Milley’s comments come as Trump continues to stir up baseless allegations that mail-in ballots in the November elections will be extremely vulnerable to fraud, even though voter fraud is actually very rare. Those false claims have sparked concerns about potential chaos surrounding the election, with some speculating the president would try to get the military involved to help him stay in office.
28 Aug 2020 20.57 BST After the March on Washington made its way to the Martin Luther King memorial, the crowd began to disperse, but some of the march attendees crossed a nearby bridge while chanting “I can’t breathe,” the final words of George Floyd. The march has started to disperse but a big group is crossing the bridge, chanting “I can’t breathe” as a plane descends above them to land at National. pic.twitter.com/CZnx8XtI9b — Addy Baird (@addysbaird) August 28, 2020