As Donald Trump hits the four-week mark in his presidency, his solo press conference Thursday continues to be the talk of the political world almost 24 hours later. On Friday, the president will visit a Boeing aircraft plant in South Carolina before heading to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, for the weekend. On Saturday, Trump will join supporters at a rally in Melbourne, Florida.
Going to Charleston, South Carolina, in order to spend time with Boeing and talk jobs! Look forward to it.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017
What's happening today:
White House denies AP report of president considering National Guard for proposed immigrant roundups
-- According to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press, the Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border. The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana.
However, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the AP report was "100 percent not true" and "irresponsible." "There is no effort at all to utilize the National Guard to round up unauthorized immigrants," he added.
This is not true. DHS also confirms it is 100% false https://t.co/MFIJci7XaU
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) February 17, 2017
Buzz still surrounds Trump's extended news conference
-- President Donald Trump's news conference Thursday went from announcing Alexander Acosta has his pick to lead the Labor Department to a lengthy back-and-forth session with reporters that touched on everything from his critique of the media, his Electoral College margin of victory, the workings of his administration, former national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation and more. On Friday morning, the president tweeted:
Thank you for all of the nice statements on the Press Conference yesterday. Rush Limbaugh said one of greatest ever. Fake media not happy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017
Some highlights from the press conference:
Pres. Trump: "This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite the fact that I can't get my cabinet approved." pic.twitter.com/Rtj3jSN09o
— ABC News (@ABC) February 16, 2017
Pres. Trump to @jonkarl: "There's nobody I have more respect for, well maybe a little bit, than reporters, than good reporters." pic.twitter.com/WEsKMQPYUi
— ABC News (@ABC) February 16, 2017
Click here for some of Trump's other memorable lines from the press conference.
Senate confirms new head of Environmental Protection Agency
-- The Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency, an agency Republicans desperately want to rein in after what they charge was eight years of dangerous activism under the Obama administration that hurt businesses, jobs and the economy.
Dubke expected to be next White House communications director
-- President Donald Trump is expected to name Republican consultant Mike Dubke as White House communications director, according to a person with knowledge of his hiring.
Dubke is the founder of Crossroads Media, a GOP firm that specializes in political advertising.
Dubke's hiring will lighten the load on White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who has also been handling the duties of communications director during Trump's first month in office.
ICYMI:
Trump's choice for next national security adviser turns down job
-- Ret. Vice Adm. Bob Harward won't be President Trump's national security adviser after he decided to decline the president's offer.
CNN reported that a friend of Harward's said he was reluctant to take the job because the White House seems so chaotic. Harward called the offer a "s*** sandwich," the friend said.
Trump will continue to look for a replacement for Michael Flynn, who resigned earlier this week. Ret. Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg, who worked under Flynn until his resignation, is the acting national security adviser.
