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As it happenedended

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Trump news: President 'doesn't regret' tweeting 9/11 video about Ilhan Omar, as first 2020 Republican challenger emerges

President also pledges his support to the people of France

New York

,Ben Kelly,Chelsea Ritschel

Tuesday 16 April 2019 17:09 BST

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Michelle Obama compares Donald Trump to 'divorced dad' in O2 Arena

President Trump has pledged his support to the people of France after the iconic Notre Dame cathedral suffered a devastating fire last night. On Twitter, the president noted it was “horrible” to watch the scenes from Paris, and suggested “flying water tankers could be used to put it out.” It was confirmed this morning that the fire had been entirely extinguished.

The White House said it will offer France “assistance in the rehabilitation of this irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization.”

“The United States stands with French citizens, the city of Paris, and the millions of visitors from around the world who have sought solace in that iconic structure,” Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Closer to home, Trump is also facing his first Republican challenger for the 2020 presidential election in the form of Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, although is it deemed unlikely that anyone will seize the party’s nomination from the incumbent.

“I really think if we have six more years of the same stuff we’ve had out of the White House the last two years that would be a political tragedy, and I would fear for the Republic,” Mr Weld told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday. “I would be ashamed of myself if I didn’t raise my hand and run.

It was also announced late yesterday that the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election, and any links to the Trump campaign, would be released in a redacted form to the public this Thursday.

The president also defended his attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar despite an onslaught of death threats the Muslim congresswoman received recently.

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

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1/13Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Thesupermat/CC-BY-SA

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Rose windows

Among the most famous architectural features of the Gothic masterpiece, the stained glass rose windows are treasured artworks. The three rose windows, which date back to the 13th century, adorn the north, south and west facades. There were hopes the windows had escaped being destroyed by the fire after firefighters stopped its spread. Photos the following morning suggested the circular window of the nave had remained intact.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Destroyed: Irreplaceable wooden roof

Crowds of tourists and Parisians watched in horror as the spire and roof of Notre Dame cathedral came crashing down to the ground.

EPA

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Descent from the Cross

The cross and statue on Notre Dame's high altar - sculpted by Nicolas Coustou in 1723 - were believed to have survived in tact despite being surrounded by smoke and debris.

Reuters

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Great Organ

With nearly 8,000 pipes, some dating back to the 1700s, Notre Dame's master organ is one of the largest in the world. The monumental instrument, the largest in France, was fully restored in 2013 with each pipe cleaned. Paris' deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, said the instrument remained intact following the fire.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Bells

Housed in the two western towers, Notre Dame's bells have rung out at key moments in France's history. Emmanuel, the largest bell, was lifted into the south tower in 1685 and weighs over 23 tonnes. The fire was prevented from spreading to the bell towers.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Crown of Thorns

Believed to be a relic of the wreath of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion, the object was stored in the cathedral's treasury. French King Louis IX brought the relic, which is contained in an elaborate gold case, to Paris in 1238. The Crown of Thorns was saved and has been taken into safekeeping.

AP

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Tunic of Saint Louis

The tunic allegedly worn by Saint Louis IX as he brought the Crown of Thorns to Paris was kept inside the cathedral. It has been saved.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Safe: Statues on the roof

The week before the fire, religious statues set atop the cathedral were removed for the first time in over 100 years as part of the restoration project. A 100-metre-high crane lowered the copper statues representing the 12 apostles and four evangelists onto a lorry.

AFP

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Destroyed: Spire

Crowds of tourists and Parisians watched in horror as the spire and roof of Notre Dame cathedral came crashing down to the ground.

EPA/I

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Unknown: Choir screen

It is not known what happened to the detailed choir screen at Notre Dame cathedral.

AFP/Getty

Notre Dame fire: What was lost and what was saved

Some of the artworks from Notre-Dame sheltered as the fire devastated the cathedral

AFP/Getty

In an interview with a local news station in Minnesota, Mr Trump continued to disparage Ms Omar. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. “She’s got a way about her that’s very, very bad, I think, for our country. I think she’s extremely unpatriotic and extremely disrespectful to our country.”

Read The Independent’s updates as they happened below.

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load

Ivanka Trump wrapped up her trip in Ethiopia to promote women's empowerment and the US jobs plan for women in African countries. She is currently headed to Cote d'Ivoire for her next stop.

Sarah Harvard16 April 2019 21:50

The president's lawyers are currently putting finishing touches on a rebuttal to the forthcoming report by special counsel Robert Mueller.

According to Rudy Giuliani, the document will be dozens of pages long.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:16

A redacted version of the 400-page report is expected to be unveiled Thursday by the Justice Department.

Attorney General Robert Barr released a four-page summary of the report last month and said Mueller did not conclude that Trump's campaign colluded with Russians during the 2016 presidential election.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:18

Also on Tuesday, the Trump administration said it will allow lawsuits in US courts for the first time against foreign companies that use properties Communist-ruled Cuba confiscated since Fidel Castro's revolution six decades ago.

The policy shift, which is expected to be announced Wednesday, could expose US, European, and Canadian companies to legal action.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:23

Following reports the president offered to pardon Homeland Security secretary Kevin McAleenan if he were sent to jail for violating immigration law, House Democrats Tuesday sent a letter to McAleenan.

"We request that you promptly provide details concerning this reported directive to close the border and the related offer of a pardon," the letter read, according to Fox News.

The letter also requested McAleenan identify DHS employees who were present during the president's comments.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:31

Conflict arose between the Trump administration and the fashion world today, when the First Lady reacted to comments made by Vogue's Anna Wintour.

In response to a conversation about being on the cover of Vogue, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said being on the cover "does not define Mrs Trump" and her "role as First Lady of the United States and all that she does is much more important than some superficial photo shoot and cover".

You can read more about the First Lady's response here.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:53

That's all for our coverage of the Trump administration today, thanks for following along.

Chelsea Ritschel16 April 2019 22:58

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