Trump’s 1st one hundred days with ABC’s RICK KLEIN and VERONICA STRACQUALURSI
Day No. 40
The big story: Call it optimism, Trump-style. The White Property is promising an “optimistic vision” in President Trump’s 1st address to a joint session of Congress. But maintain in thoughts that similar words had been made use of to describe his dystopian convention speech, and later a raw inaugural address that described “American carnage.” Tonight, the very first lady’s box will be filled with family members of those killed by undocumented immigrants. So no, Trump isn’t going to all of a sudden bring on the sunshine. The supply of Trump’s optimism, if that is what it’s going to be known as, isn’t what’s going on in the nation – it’s the fact that Trump is now leading it. When the president talks about getting the vessel for the hopes of his supporters, this is how he frames his vision. The greatest piece of that message, of course, is the president himself.
The sleeper story: Even ahead of an actual health care proposal emerges from the White Property, crucial members of the Republican Study Committee and the House Freedom Caucus are signaling major concerns. And even ahead of a spending budget proposal is filed by the Trump administration, key House and Senate leaders are squirming over the fact that he’s not touching entitlement programs, like Social Security and Medicare. In other words, the president is maintaining his campaign promises (or at least versions of them), and members of his personal party are disappointed. Republicans on Capitol Hill hoped a Trump presidency would lead to the passage of conservative reforms. But now they’re getting forced to bear in mind what they seemed to know better a year ago: Trump is not essentially a conservative in a sense that conforms with recent political history.
The shiny story: The neighborhood organizer is back at it, in Trump’s telling. In a “Fox and Friends” interview, Trump was asked whether or not he thinks former President Obama is behind the eruptions at town hall meetings, and the present president agreed. “I think that President Obama is almost certainly behind it, due to the fact his people are definitely behind it,” Trump said. Certainly Trump does not feel his predecessor is spending the 1st weeks of his hard-earned retirement scheming to annoy Dave Brat. But now that he’s stated it, anticipate Trump to personal it and double-down. Trump has been careful with the Obama partnership due to the fact becoming president, looking for to cultivate a sense that the two men have a warmth and mutual respect. But Trump may possibly be acquiring that a fight with Obama – and the suggestion that he’s still organizing – has a larger payoff.
TLDR: In his very first major speech as president considering that the inauguration, Trump is set to provide his speech to a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. ET.
Photo of the day: This image of Kellyanne Conway kneeling on the couch in the Oval Workplace through President Trump’s meeting with HBCU leaders has sparked debate on social media over regardless of whether it was suitable decorum. Some critics mentioned it shows a lack of respect other folks have pointed to pictures of President Obama resting his feet on the Oval Office’s resolute desk. (Credit: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images)
Notables
–Trump set to make his ‘biggest speech yet’ in joint address to Congress: President Donald Trump is set to make what his team is billing as “his largest speech yet” when he offers a joint address to Congress tonight. Couple of specific particulars about the speech have been released, but Trump is set to deliver it from the Home Chamber at 9:00 p.m. Tax and regulatory reform, improvements to the workplace for operating parents, “the disaster of Obamacare,” education access, “a good rebuilding of the American military and commitments to veterans are listed as topics that Trump is anticipated to talk about, noting that they are regions in which the president desires to work with Congress, ABC’s MEGHAN KENEALLY reports. http://abcn.ws/2moxo7g What you require to know Trump’s address. Courtesy of ABC’s ERIN DOOLEY and JORDYN PHELPS: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-congressional-address/story?id=45756286
–Storylines to watch when President Trump addresses Congress: The White Property is promising an “optimistic vision” and a “bold agenda” from President Trump when he speaks in front of a joint session of Congress tonight. This president, of course, knows prime time. But this will be a speech unlike any he has offered ahead of. ABC’s RICK KLEIN gives a glimpse at some of the storylines to watch: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/storylines-watch-president-trump-addresses-congress/story?id=45685555
–Trump invites relatives of people killed by undocumented immigrants to joint address to Congress: President Donald Trump and very first lady Melania Trump will invite 3 relatives of victims of deadly crimes committed by undocumented immigrants to the president’s joint address just before Congress currently. The White Home guest list contains Jessica Davis and Susan Oliver, widows of California police officers killed in the line of duty by a person living in the country illegally, and Jamiel Shaw Sr., whose son was shot by an undocumented immigrant. The guests highlight the president’s focus on crimes allegedly committed by immigrants in his push for tighter immigration controls, ABC’s J.J. GALLAGHER notes. http://abcn.ws/2m1IL45
A lot more on Trump’s speech tonight
What to know about the president’s ‘designated survivor.’ On Tuesday, most of the nation’s political elite — from Vice President Mike Pence to Residence Speaker Paul Ryan — will file into the Home chamber to hear President Trump outline his national agenda. But a single member of the administration absolutely won’t be watching in individual. In the course of significant presidential addresses, the administration isolates one cabinet-level official in an undisclosed location. ABC’s ERIN DOOLEY has additional: http://abcn.ws/2lMWF7Z Democrats to highlight a red state’s success with Obamacare in response to Trump speech. President Trump’s initial key congressional address this week will be met with a Democratic response highlighting the accomplishment of Obamacare in a state that Trump won. Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a robust supporter of Obamacare and Medicaid expansion, will deliver the Democrats’ rebuttal to the president’s very first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, ABC’s JOSH HASKELL reports. “Nobody is improved equipped to talk about the successes of the [Inexpensive Care Act] than he is,” said Congressman John Yarmuth of Kentucky. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-highlight-red-states-results-obamacare-response-trump/story?id=45777733
Astrid Silva: Meet the woman delivering the Democratic response to Trump in Spanish. Immigration activist Astrid Silva will be delivering the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress in Spanish on Tuesday night. Silva marks the 1st time a Spanish response will be delivered rebutting a president’s initially address to a joint session of Congress. She will be joined by former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who will provide the Democratic response in English. ABC’s VERONICA STRACQUALURSI has more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/astrid-silva-meet-woman-delivering-democratic-response-trump/story?id=45784610
Listening to America: Wichita residents on the Kansas political climate. President Trump will outline his plans for the nation in his first key address to Congress Tuesday night. Although the White Residence promises the message will be focused on the “renewal of the American spirit,” Americans across the country are weighing in on the essential problems they would like to see tackled in a new administration. ABC News has launched a “Listening to America” series devoted to sharing how Americans across the nation feel about the direction of the country. ABC’s RACHEL SCOTT has more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/listening-america-wichita-residents-go over-political-climate-kansas/story?id=45783330
Speed read with ABC’s ADAM KELSEY
Trump suggests Obama was ‘behind’ town hall protests. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of becoming “behind” the protests that Republican members of Congress have encountered at town hall meetings across the country. The allegation came for the duration of the president’s interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” clips of which were released Monday. Interviewer Brian Kilmeade 1st states that Obama’s “organization seems to be doing a lot of the organizing [of] some of the protests that a lot of these Republicans are seeing about the country and against you.” I think he is behind it,” stated Trump. “I also think it really is politics, that’s the way it is.” ABC’s ADAM KELSEY has far more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-suggests-obama-town-hall-protests/story?id=45793201
President Trump to target foreign aid, propose ‘historic’ defense spending enhance in spending budget blueprint. Trump administration officials are previewing specifics of the president’s 1st spending budget blueprint, which is expected to include things like a boost in defense spending offset by cutbacks to foreign help and other applications deemed reduced priorities. Two Office of Management and Spending budget officials mentioned in a conference contact with reporters Monday that the passback budget being sent to Congress for overview will be observed as a safety spending budget, with a proposed increase of $54 billion in defense spending, explains ABC’s ALEXANDER MALLIN. The officials reiterated this was merely a initially draft and shell of what the administration will send Congress in its formal price range request subsequent month. http://abcn.ws/2mCZO9R
Spicer: ‘We did our job’ by arranging pushback against Russia reports. White Property press secretary Sean Spicer told ABC’s JONATHAN KARL that the White House “did [its] job” by pointing reporters to sources who could dispute The New York Times’ reporting on the Trump campaign contacting Russians prior to the election, note ABC’s KATHERINE FAULDERS and ALEXANDER MALLIN. “I will say I assume we did our job very successfully by making positive that reporters who had concerns about the accuracy and claims in The New York Instances, we had been pointing them to experts who understood no matter whether or not that story was accurate or not,” Spicer told Karl. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/spicer-job-arranging-pushback-russia-reports/story?id=45784545
Top rated House Republican hasn’t noticed ‘evidence’ of Trump-Russia contacts. The chairman on the Property Intelligence Committee mentioned Monday that he had not seen any “proof” of contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian government amid an investigation into Russian activities through the 2016 election, write ABC’s BENJAMIN SIEGEL, JOHN PARKINSON and MARY BRUCE. “We nevertheless have not observed any proof of everyone … from the Trump campaign or any other campaign for that matter that’s communicated with the Russian government,” Rep. Devin Nunes, R-California, told reporters at the Capitol. “That does not imply they never exist but I don’t have that. And what I’ve been told is, by numerous — by several people, is that there is nothing at all there,” he added. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/leading-house-republican-proof-trump-russia-contacts/story?id=45784075
A closer appear at Congressional probes into Russia and alleged Trump associate contacts. On Capitol Hill, it appears that not a day goes by without the need of a different lawmaker — typically but not normally a Democrat — calling for an investigation, unique prosecutor or independent commission to delve into the alleged contacts amongst the Trump campaign, transition and administration and Russian government officials. Sources have told ABC News that U.S. authorities had been probing communications amongst the associates and suspected members of the Russian intelligence community ahead of the election, allegations Trump has repeatedly decried as “fake news.” An FBI probe into the matter is ongoing, ABC’s ALI ROGIN reports. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/closer-congressional-probes-russia-alleged-trump-associate-contacts/story?id=45776711
DOJ withdraws from portion of voter id lawsuit in Texas. The Division of Justice has dropped out of a portion of a voting rights lawsuit in Texas that could signal a shift in stance on the challenge given that Jeff Sessions was sworn in as attorney general. The case at the heart of this latest legal drama centers on voter identification laws that were put in location in Texas in 2011 that demand voters to have one particular of seven forms of state-approved ID. The law was controversial mainly because voting rights activists argued that the law discriminated against minorities who may well not have these sorts of ID, reports ABC’s MEGHAN KENEALLY. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/department-justice-withdraws-portion-voter-id-lawsuit-texas/story?id=45787874
Sessions questions Justice Division reports on Ferguson and Chicago policing. Newly minted Attorney Basic Jeff Sessions questioned reports published by his agency about policing in Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, describing “some of it” as “quite anecdotal and not so scientifically primarily based.” Whilst admitting that he had not read the reports, but rather viewed summaries, Sessions questioned the department’s findings using the “anecdotal” critique and cautioned that there will always be some errors, write ABC’s ADAM KELSEY and MIKE LEVINE. “You have 800,000 police in America, envision a city of 800,000 people,” mentioned Sessions. “There’s going to be some crime in it, some people are going to make errors.” http://abcnews.go.com/US/sessions-questions-justice-division-reports-ferguson-chicago-policing/story?id=45790084
President George W. Bush says it really is essential to have a absolutely free press: ‘Power can be pretty addictive.’ For the duration of a rare interview on NBC’s “Today” show, former President George W. Bush — who seldom commented on political issues for the duration of Barack Obama’s presidency — presented his critique of the Trump administration’s policies and the president’s contentious relationship with the press. The nation’s 43rd president was on the show to promote his new book, “Portraits of Courage,” a series of paintings of wounded veterans. ABC’s MERIDITH MCGRAW has the essential highlights from his interview: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-george-bush-crucial-free of charge-press-energy-addictive/story?id=45781428
In case you missed it
Trump: Oscars ‘too focused’ on politics, best picture mix-up ‘was sad.’ President Donald Trump provided his opinion Monday on the Most effective Image mix-up at the Academy Awards, saying that the ceremony’s focus on politics distracted from its organization and “glamour.” Trump made the comments as component of an Oval Office interview with Breitbart News. The president noted that he had “been to the Oscars” previously and that something was “missing” this year, writes ABC’s ADAM KELSEY. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-oscars-focused-politics-best-image-mix-sad/story?id=45787536
In the Note’s inbox
New ad from JCN: The Judicial Crisis Network is airing a new ad tonight in help of confirming Trump’s nominee Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The ad will air around the time of Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress. “Completely qualified with bipartisan support. Neil Gorsuch is just who we require on the Supreme Court,” the ad says. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVFSFPbavOU
Who’s Tweeting?
@JoshuaGreen: My new @BW cover story on Stephen Miller and the speak-radio roots of Trump’s economic nationalism: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/capabilities/2017-02-28/does-stephen-miller-speak-for-trump-or-vice-versa
@MikeDelMoro: Much more from Trump on Fox: the new President provides himself an “A” for work, a “C”/”C+” for “messaging”
@foxandfriends: .@POTUS: If I felt the media had been sincere, all or most of it, I would not use Twitter. But it’s a modern-day form of communication.
@Sarah_Boxer: In @folks intv, Bush calls political climate beneath Trump “pretty ugly” says Trump hasn’t reached out for assistance http://persons.com/politics/george-w-bush-on-trump-presidency/amp/
@MattMackowiak: My most current for @observer: Tonight will be a success if speech improves path for legislative agenda http://observer.com/2017/02/donald-trump-very first-state-of-the-union/ #SOTU #SOTU2017
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