Trump news: President attacks ‘unscientific lockdowns’ and slams Biden in White House speech

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US President Donald Trump speaks about law and order from the South Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2020. - Trump spoke publicly for the first time since testing positive for Covid-19, as he prepares a rapid return to the campaign trail just three weeks before the election. (AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump delivered a major speech from the White House balcony after inviting a reported 2,000 attendees to his first in-person event since it was revealed he tested positive for Covid-19. 

His second TV debate with rival Joe Biden has been cancelled, however, after the president refused to participate.

Meanwhile, Dr Deborah Birx, one of the nation’s leading physicians, said Covid-19 was now spreading among Americans at social events — including family gatherings — where people are “taking their mask off and letting down their guard”.

Check out The Independent’s coverage below:

Key Points

• Biden criticises president’s decision to resume campaigning
• Trump cancels second TV debate with rival Biden
• President prepares to make address from White House balcony

[10 October 2020 11:13 · Chiara Giordano]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Trump administration.

[10 October 2020 11:17 · Chiara Giordano]

President prepares balcony address

Donald Trump is taking his first steps towards resuming in-person election campaigning today, when he is expected to make remarks around a "law and order" theme from a White House balcony to hundreds of supporters.

The president has been sidelined for more than week since his Covid-19 diagnosis during a critical juncture in campaigning for the 3 November election.

He has yet to be certified as virus-free by his medical team and questions remain about whether he is still contagious, but he was cleared to resume public engagements as of today.

And on Monday, Trump is planning a campaign rally in central Florida, a must-win state for his hopes of a second term.

[10 October 2020 11:24 · Chiara Giordano]

Second debate cancelled

A debate next week between Donald Trump and his presidential election opponent Joe Biden has been cancelled because Trump refused to participate.

The body that oversees presidential debates said the match-up between Trump and Biden, the Democratic candidate, scheduled for 15 October, had been formally cancelled.

Trump refused to participate in what was supposed to be the second of three debates with Biden after the Commission on Presidential Debates switched it to a virtual contest in the wake of the president's illness.

[10 October 2020 11:44 · Chiara Giordano]

Donald Trump said he was feeling "really, really strong" in his first on-camera interview since testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

Speaking to Dr Marc Siegel on Fox's Tucker Carlson Tonight , the president said he was "medication-free" as of Friday and feeling "strong".  

In the interview — which took place shortly after the second presidential debate was cancelled  — Mr Trump also said he had been retested for the coronavirus but was not clear whether he had learned the result. He did however claim to know he was likely free from the virus.

[10 October 2020 12:14 · Chiara Giordano]

Biden criticises campaign events

Trump’s rival Joe Biden has sharply criticised the president’s decision to resume campaigning.  

He told reporters in Paradise, Nevada: "Good luck. I wouldn’t show up unless you have a mask and can distance.”

A source familiar with the planning for the White House event today said all attendees will be expected to wear masks.  

People at Trump’s rally in central Florida on Monday will be given temperature checks, masks that they will be encouraged to wear and access to hand sanitiser, the campaign said.  

Biden will today travel to the city of Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania, a state that Trump narrowly took over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. 

[10 October 2020 12:35 · Chiara Giordano]

In his first on-camera interview following his hospitalisation from the coronavirus, Donald Trump said he didn’t know how Covid-19 spread at the White House, where more than a dozen people have tested positive for the virus.

Health officials claim a Rose Garden event announcing the president’s US Supreme Court nominee on 26 September was a likely “super-spreader” event, after his inner circle, including First Lady Melania Trump, his press secretary, campaign officials and chief aides, tested positive in the week that followed.

[10 October 2020 12:55 · Chiara Giordano]

Hillary Clinton says there is no comparison between her 2016 campaign health issues, when she was diagnosed with pneumonia, and Donald Trump testing positive for Covid-19.

“It’s apples and oranges", according to Ms Clinton, who was caught on camera stumbling and appeared to almost faint at a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York City.

[10 October 2020 13:20 · Chiara Giordano]

What’s it like inside Donald Trump’s head? We found out on Friday as the president took listeners of a conservative radio show on a two-hour ride of grievances, gripes and gregariousness.

[10 October 2020 14:07 · Chiara Giordano]

Gretchen Whitmer

Hours after the FBI revealed a group of anti-government vigilantes had plotted to kidnap her, Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, made it clear she blamed Trump for being complicit by "giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division".  

While she risked politicising the moment, the governor said she didn't think twice about calling out the president, telling the Associated Press: “I am raising two daughters who I want to be bold, too, you know, and to speak truth to power.”  

Whitmer's speech had the expected impact. Rather than express concern for her safety or health, Trump said she had "done a terrible job as governor" and "rather than say thank you, she calls me a white supremacist”.  

Some Republicans worried Trump's reaction would hurt him in a state he's trying desperately to win on 3 November. 

[10 October 2020 14:45 · Chiara Giordano]

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has been released from hospital following Covid-19 treatment.