Trump news: President accuses Democrats of holding stimulus money ‘hostage’ and awards football coach Lou Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his RNC speech
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Donald Trump has awarded famed college football coach Lou Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom after the coach made a speech during the Republican National Convention. During his speech, Mr Holtz called into question Joe Biden's Catholic faith.
The president's Friday press briefing also involved him accusing Democrats of holding stimulus money "hostage", with claims that $300bn in funding could be available to Americans if the Democrats would just reach a deal with the White House.
When asked about the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, Mr Trump said he was "no proof" yet that the man was poisoned, despite Germany reporting it to be true.
Mr Trump has also denied reports that he labelled American war dead “losers” and “suckers” during a visit to Europe, where he was said to have avoided visiting a cemetery he believed was unimportant. When asked why General John Kelly, his former chief of staff, has not denied the reports, Mr Trump said that General Kelly might be one of The Atlantic's sources.
Since the report was released, journalists from The Washington Post, Associated Press, and Fox News have all independently confirmed key information. But the White House has held firm that the president never said disparaging comments against military troops.
The US president argued on Thursday that ”nobody has done what I’ve done” for war veterans, as he mocked his election opponent Mr Biden for wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
His Democratic rival condemned the president's alleged comments in a furious speech on Friday while delivering remarks on the economy and urging the president work with Congress on extending coronavirus relief. His remarks followed the release of an August jobs report showing unemployment at 8.4 per cent, still more than double February's jobless figures.
The president also criticised Mr Biden for visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin, claiming there was “nobody there” despite the candidate holding a church meeting and speaking with the family of Jacob Blake, who was left paralysed after an officer fired seven rounds into his back.
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Trump accuses Democrats of holding stimulus money 'hostage'
Donald Trump brought up the upcoming stimulus package during his press briefing on Friday.
He accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats of holding $300bn hostage instead of passing the CARES Act. The president claimed this money was not released because Democrats want to "mass release inmates from jail", give stimulus checks to "illegal aliens", and provide "bailouts from badly run blue states".
Democrats have not included mass releasing inmates from jail or sending checks to "illegal aliens" in the CARES Act. But they have called for more funding to states after they were hit hard from the coronavirus pandemic. But both Republican-run and Democratic-run states would receive the money if it were to pass.
Negotiations between the White House and Congress have stalled with no anticipation of when or how they could resume. The president and Republicans have blamed Democrats and vice versa.
Trump responds to Biden's coronavirus plans following his challenger's rebuke of his response
During his press conference on Friday, which came hours after a Biden campaign event, Donald Trump defended his administration's response to the coronavirus.
He said that Mr Biden's plan would be a "virtual surrender" compared to what his administration has been doing.
Mr Trump went on to boast about the positive results coming from multiple final stage trials for the coronavirus vaccine. The president claimed that a vaccine could come as soon as November 1, but this would only happen if the FDA were to issue emergency authorisation to a vaccine prior to the end of its trial period.
Besides mentioning the declining mortality rate and potential positive results to come from coronavirus vaccine trials, the president also implored Americans to remain safe over the Labour Day weekend to avoid a resurgence in the novel virus.
"We ask all Americans to remain vigilant, especially over Labour Day," Mr Trump said. "We need everybody to be careful, to apply common sense."
President announces coach Lou Holtz will be receiving a Presidential Medial of Freedom
Donald Trump has announced he will be giving legendary football coach Lou Holtz would be receiving the Presidential Medial of Freedom.
The announcement came during his press conference on Friday.
Mr Holtz, who was in attendance at the press conference, gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last week where he notably questioned Joe Biden and his Catholic faith. At the time, he said Mr Biden is "Catholic in name only".
"I used to ask our athletes at Notre Dame, 'If you did not show up who would miss you and why?'" Mr Holtz added during his speech. "Can you imagine what would happen to us if President Trump had not shown up in 2016 to run for president? I'm so glad he showed up."
It was not revealed when exactly Mr Holtz would be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump says 'we haven't had proof yet' in Russian politician's poisoning
The poisoning of Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition politician, was brought up during Donald Trump's press briefing.
"We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look," Mr Trump said. "I would be very angry if that's the case."
Mr Navalny is currently being treated at a Berlin hospital following the poisoning. The German government announced Wednesday that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group.
The alleged attack led to condemnation from leaders across the world, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Kremlin has denied any of these high-profile attacks, but Western governments and independent investigators have said there is a pattern of the Russian state government being involved in attacks both in its country and abroad.
Mr Trump has been one of the few leaders to not condemn Russia.
'It could have been a John Kelly': Trump says former chief of staff may have been source for Atlantic story and claims he 'couldn't handle' White House pressure
Donald Trump has said his former Chief of Staff John Kelly could've been one of the four anonymous sources used by The Atlantic in the publication's report that the president made disparaging comments about military troops.
"It could have been a guy like a John Kelly," Mr Trump said while calling the story a "hoax".
More on the breaking news here:
First Lady Melania Trump comes out against The Atlantic story
First Lady Melania Trump has been the latest to defend Donald Trump following a bombshell report released in The Atlantic this week.
She said the report is "not true" and slammed the publication's use of anonymous sources.
Reporters from The Washington Post, Associated Press, and Fox News have independently confirmed The Atlantic's report.
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