Trump news: President holds press conference with Brazil's far-right leader Bolsonaro, after Twitter row over 'deteriorating' mental health

Meanwhile, the FBI are set to investigate Florida massage parlour owner Li Yang, who has ties to the president

Lawyer for Li Yang: 'She was fascinated with Donald Trump the way a lot of people are'

Donald Trump and Brazil‘s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro held a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden, in a show of unity between the two nations.

President Trump said he told Mr Bolsonaro he would make Brazil a major non-Nato ally, with the possibility of supporting a campaign to make it “maybe a Nato ally”.

In turn, the Brazilian leader went on to praise Mr Trump for changing the United States, echoing Mr Trump’s “fake news” slogan.

“Brazil and the United States are tied by the guarantee of liberty, respect for the traditional family, the fear of God our creator, against gender identity, political correctness and fake news,” Mr Bolsonaro.

The far-right leader has been an avid supporter of President Trump, with their mirroring speeches sharing conservative views.

The press conference came after Donald Trump was drawn into a Twitter spat with George Conway, husband of adviser Kellyanne, over questions around the president’s mental health.

The argument comes as the FBI investigates the president's ties to the owner of a chain of massage parlours in Florida at the urging of House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.

The Democrats have asked the bureau to look into “public reports about alleged the activities by Ms Li ‘Cindy’ Yang and her apparent relationship with the president”, who has been the subject of allegations relating to human trafficking, prostitution and promising Chinese businessmen access to Mar-a-Lago to meet Mr Trump, who denies knowing her despite their being photographed together.

Reports have meanwhile emerged suggesting the president obtained $2bn (£1.5bn) in loans from Deutsche Bank over two decades, allegedly exaggerating his personal wealth and promising bankers weekends at his Florida retreat in exchange for their help in securing the funding.

Read events from the day as they happened

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Key Points

• President calls husband of adviser Kellyanne Conway 'a total loser'
• FBI to investigate Florida massage parlour owner Li Yang with ties to president
• Trump 'promised bankers Mar-a-Lago weekends in exchange for $2bn loans'
• President to meet with Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro in Washington

[19 March 2019 16:43 · Sarah Harvard]

Per Bloomberg White House Correspondent Justin Sink:

[19 March 2019 16:45 · Sarah Harvard]

President Trump accused former vice president Joe Biden, a likely 2020 challenger, of having a "low IQ" for stumbling over his words during a speech in Delaware. We broke down all the times Mr Trump made a verbal slip.

[19 March 2019 17:00 · Sarah Harvard]

Therese Okoumou was arrested in July 2018 for climbing the State of Liberty in protest of Mr Trump's zero-tolerance and family separation immigration policy. She was sentenced to five years of probation and 200 hours of community service on Tuesday.

[19 March 2019 17:15 · Sarah Harvard]

Donald Trump said he will be looking into allegations from far-right conservatives claiming Facebook is censoring the president's social media posts.

[19 March 2019 18:00 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Donald Trump is now holding a press conference at the White House. You can watch it live here. 

[19 March 2019 18:01 · Sarah Harvard]

After meeting with Bolsonaro, Trump said "We certainly feel very true to each other on trade", but did not mention China.

[19 March 2019 18:01 · Sarah Harvard]

Trump congratulated Bolsonaro on his “tremendous bravery” and his recovery after the far-right Brazilian leader was stabbed during the campaign.

[19 March 2019 18:02 · Sarah Harvard]

Mr Trump said both he and Mr Bolsonaro are committed to growing trade and investments and “freeing the private sector and "opening the economy," to usher in economic growth.

[19 March 2019 18:04 · Sarah Harvard]

President Trump said he made a technology agreement with the Brazilian leader to allow the US to conduct space launches from Brazil.

[19 March 2019 18:04 · Sarah Harvard]

Mr Trump calls on the  "Venezuelan military to end support for Maduro" who is "nothing more than a cuban puppet."