A rehearsal planned for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's </a>inauguration has been postponed on Sunday because of security concerns after last week's attack on the US Capitol, a report claimed.

A report by Politico said two people with knowledge of the decision confirmed that the rehearsal is rescheduled and now will be held on Monday.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-trumps-post-presidency-plans-356774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A lockdown has been imposed on the centre of Washington on Thursday with over 20,000 National Guard personnel deployed ahead of Biden's presidential inauguration.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/verified-in-one-tweet-joe-biden-launches-new-twitter-handle-to-build-following-before-taking-command-of-white-house-356826">Verified in one tweet: Joe Biden launches new Twitter handle to build following before taking command of White House</a>

The security has been beefed up after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol and caused chaos and violence, curbing Biden's confirmation as the winner of the election.&nbsp;

Already, Washington Police chief has said that the capital was facing "a major security threat" and the FBI has spoken about armed protests in all 50 states across the country.&nbsp;

An FBI bulletin said it "received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 January".&nbsp;

The US Capitol is surrounded by razor wire and barriers as part of precautions on January 16, the day of Biden's inauguration.&nbsp;

The Secret Service, in charge of security, is also considering shutting down the entire National Mall, the area where hundreds of thousands gather on the day to mark the inauguration of the American president.&nbsp;

A rehearsal planned for Joe Biden's inauguration has been postponed on Sunday because of security concerns after last week's attack on the US Capitol, a report claimed.

A rehearsal planned for Joe Biden's inauguration has been postponed on Sunday because of security concerns after last week's attack on the US Capitol, a report claimed. A report by Politico said two people with knowledge of the decision confirmed that the rehearsal is rescheduled and now will be held on Monday. Watch | A lockdown has been imposed on the centre of Washington on Thursday with over 20,000 National Guard personnel deployed ahead of Biden's presidential inauguration. Also read | Verified in one tweet: Joe Biden launches new Twitter handle to build following before taking command of White House The security has been beefed up after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol and caused chaos and violence, curbing Biden's confirmation as the winner of the election. Already, Washington Police chief has said that the capital was facing "a major security threat" and the FBI has spoken about armed protests in all 50 states across the country. An FBI bulletin said it "received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 January". The US Capitol is surrounded by razor wire and barriers as part of precautions on January 16, the day of Biden's inauguration. The Secret Service, in charge of security, is also considering shutting down the entire National Mall, the area where hundreds of thousands gather on the day to mark the inauguration of the American president.

Amid security concerns, Joe Biden's inauguration rehearsal postponed

India-born&nbsp;Garima Verma has been named to serve under the incoming First Lady of the United States Jill <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Biden</a> as her personal Digitial Editor, and&nbsp;Michael LaRosa will be acting as FLOTUS'&nbsp;press secretary.

Verma took to Twitter to share her professional news. "I'm honored and excited to serve as the Digital Director for our incredible First Lady," she tweeted.

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Some professional news ✨ 
 
I'm honored and excited to serve as the Digital Director for our incredible First Lady <a href="https://twitter.com/DrBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrBiden</a> 💛
— Garima Verma (@gverma289) <a href="https://twitter.com/gverma289/status/1349827335759998976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"This past year, I took a leap of faith. I didn't know where it would lead — all I knew was that I wanted to dedicate my life to the service of others, to advocating for and empowering different communities, and to doing what I could to make the world a better place for everyone."&nbsp;

Verma was born in India and grew up in&nbsp;Ohio and the Central Valley of California. After serving as the&nbsp;audience development and content strategist, she will now be joining the FLOTUS' team as her Digital Editor.

She had also worked as a volunteer in the&nbsp;content team, designing graphics for distribution before officially joining the winning Biden-Harris campaign.&nbsp;

Appreciating the work the Biden family has done for the country over the years, Verma said,&nbsp;"I couldn't be more excited to have found my next righteous fight. I don't even have the words to express how much it means to me to be in a position to work with such an intelligent, talented, empathetic leader like Dr. Biden and tackle important issues facing our communities."

She also assured that she will be joining the fight to get rights for the people of colour, women and also walk hand-in-hand with the LGBTQ community. "After the pain and loss, I'm thankful that there's hope on the horizon — a fighting chance for communities of color, LGBTQ+ folks, women, people with disabilities, military families and more and for a nation where things like healthcare, housing and education are a right for all," she tweeted.

India-born Garima Verma has been named to serve under the incoming First Lady of the United States Jill Biden as her personal Digitial Editor, and Michael LaRosa will be acting as FLOTUS' press secretary.

India-born Garima Verma has been named to serve under the incoming First Lady of the United States Jill Biden as her personal Digitial Editor, and Michael LaRosa will be acting as FLOTUS' press secretary. Verma took to Twitter to share her professional news. "I'm honored and excited to serve as the Digital Director for our incredible First Lady," she tweeted. Some professional news ✨ I'm honored and excited to serve as the Digital Director for our incredible First Lady @DrBiden 💛 — Garima Verma (@gverma289) January 14, 2021 × "This past year, I took a leap of faith. I didn't know where it would lead — all I knew was that I wanted to dedicate my life to the service of others, to advocating for and empowering different communities, and to doing what I could to make the world a better place for everyone." Verma was born in India and grew up in Ohio and the Central Valley of California. After serving as the audience development and content strategist, she will now be joining the FLOTUS' team as her Digital Editor. She had also worked as a volunteer in the content team, designing graphics for distribution before officially joining the winning Biden-Harris campaign. Appreciating the work the Biden family has done for the country over the years, Verma said, "I couldn't be more excited to have found my next righteous fight. I don't even have the words to express how much it means to me to be in a position to work with such an intelligent, talented, empathetic leader like Dr. Biden and tackle important issues facing our communities." She also assured that she will be joining the fight to get rights for the people of colour, women and also walk hand-in-hand with the LGBTQ community. "After the pain and loss, I'm thankful that there's hope on the horizon — a fighting chance for communities of color, LGBTQ+ folks, women, people with disabilities, military families and more and for a nation where things like healthcare, housing and education are a right for all," she tweeted.

India-born Garima Verma to be Jill Biden's Digital Editor

Actor Tom Hanks will host a primetime television special on Jan. 20 to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, organizers said on Wednesday.

Tom Hanks to host televised special for Biden's inauguration

President-elect Joe Biden will propose injecting $1.9 trillion into the US economy when he takes office next week, as evidence mounts that the recovery from the sharp downturn caused by Covid-19 is flagging.

With his fellow Democrats narrowly controlling both houses of Congress, Biden has a shot at passing what would be the United States' third massive pandemic aid package.

Dubbed the American Rescue Plan, the proposal released Thursday includes a host of measures aimed at revitalizing the world's largest economy.

Biden aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, help struggling state and local governments, safely reopen schools, roll out a massive Covid-19 vaccination campaign and raise the size of stimulus checks Congress approved last month.

"The return on these investment in jobs, racial equity will prevent long-term economic damage, and the benefits will far surpass the cost," Biden said during a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. "In this moment of crisis... we cannot afford inaction."

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embraced Biden's plan, vowing to put it before lawmakers.

"We will get right to work to turn President-elect Biden's vision into legislation that will pass both chambers and be signed into law," they said in a joint statement.

But this is just the first step, and the officials said Biden intends to present a second "recovery" plan to lawmakers soon after his inauguration on Wednesday aimed at spurring hiring and fighting climate change.

"We'll use taxpayers' dollars to rebuild America. We'll buy American products, supporting millions of American manufacturing jobs, enhancing our competitive strength in an increasingly competitive world," Biden said.

The government on Thursday reported a spike in new jobless claim filings in the first week of 2021 to nearly a million, its highest level since August, while official data last week showed the economy shed jobs in December.

Biden, 78, will take office after a tumultuous transition that saw a violent mob invade the US Capitol, egged on by outgoing President Donald Trump, as lawmakers were meeting to certify the Democrat's election victory.

His stimulus proposal builds on two massive relief packages Congress approved in 2020, both increasing and extending through September unemployment benefits that have helped tens of millions of people pay their bills after losing their jobs during the pandemic.

It additionally calls for devising a way to maintain those programs if unemployment stays high, and also continues expanded government food assistance as the country struggles with some of its highest hunger levels in modern times.

But controversy could await the plan's provision of $350 billion in funding to state and local governments, which Republican lawmakers blocked throughout last year.&nbsp;

Also potentially challenging is the president-elect's move to increase the size of stimulus checks Americans received in the December package to $2,000, which would fulfill a campaign promise.

But with only the slimmest of majorities in Congress -- including an evenly split Senate where Vice President-elect Kamala Harris could have a tie-breaking vote -- Democrats will have to woo some Republicans if anyone in their party breaks ranks.

One Democratic senator has already expressed hesitation over increasing the payments, but earlier this week Republican Senator Marco Rubio told Biden he would back the additional aid.

The proposal also calls for $160 billion to fight Covid-19, including through a national vaccination campaign, and $170 billion for schools, with the goal of getting most institutions with students in kindergarten through eighth grade open in the first 100 days of his administration.

Prior to the release of the specifics, Michael Feroli of JP Morgan predicted Congress could pare Biden's plan down to the $900 billion range, matching the measure approved last month.

Even the smaller amount would boost GDP growth this year to 5.3 percent and in 2022 to 2.6 percent, he said, a "remarkable expected turnaround" aided also by negligible inflation and the Federal Reserve's maintenance of low borrowing rates.

Other aspects of Biden's plan include expanding tax credits aimed at fighting poverty and helping working parents afford childcare, plus extending a moratorium on evictions.

The plan offers flexible credits and grants for the small businesses that are major employers but have struggled to survive as states imposed restrictions to stop the virus.

President-elect Joe Biden will propose injecting $1.9 trillion into the US economy when he takes office next week, as evidence mounts that the recovery from the sharp downturn caused by Covid-19 is flagging.

President-elect Joe Biden will propose injecting $1.9 trillion into the US economy when he takes office next week, as evidence mounts that the recovery from the sharp downturn caused by Covid-19 is flagging. With his fellow Democrats narrowly controlling both houses of Congress, Biden has a shot at passing what would be the United States' third massive pandemic aid package. Dubbed the American Rescue Plan, the proposal released Thursday includes a host of measures aimed at revitalizing the world's largest economy. Biden aims to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, help struggling state and local governments, safely reopen schools, roll out a massive Covid-19 vaccination campaign and raise the size of stimulus checks Congress approved last month. "The return on these investment in jobs, racial equity will prevent long-term economic damage, and the benefits will far surpass the cost," Biden said during a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. "In this moment of crisis... we cannot afford inaction." Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embraced Biden's plan, vowing to put it before lawmakers. "We will get right to work to turn President-elect Biden's vision into legislation that will pass both chambers and be signed into law," they said in a joint statement. But this is just the first step, and the officials said Biden intends to present a second "recovery" plan to lawmakers soon after his inauguration on Wednesday aimed at spurring hiring and fighting climate change. "We'll use taxpayers' dollars to rebuild America. We'll buy American products, supporting millions of American manufacturing jobs, enhancing our competitive strength in an increasingly competitive world," Biden said. The government on Thursday reported a spike in new jobless claim filings in the first week of 2021 to nearly a million, its highest level since August, while official data last week showed the economy shed jobs in December. Biden, 78, will take office after a tumultuous transition that saw a violent mob invade the US Capitol, egged on by outgoing President Donald Trump, as lawmakers were meeting to certify the Democrat's election victory. His stimulus proposal builds on two massive relief packages Congress approved in 2020, both increasing and extending through September unemployment benefits that have helped tens of millions of people pay their bills after losing their jobs during the pandemic. It additionally calls for devising a way to maintain those programs if unemployment stays high, and also continues expanded government food assistance as the country struggles with some of its highest hunger levels in modern times. But controversy could await the plan's provision of $350 billion in funding to state and local governments, which Republican lawmakers blocked throughout last year. Also potentially challenging is the president-elect's move to increase the size of stimulus checks Americans received in the December package to $2,000, which would fulfill a campaign promise. But with only the slimmest of majorities in Congress -- including an evenly split Senate where Vice President-elect Kamala Harris could have a tie-breaking vote -- Democrats will have to woo some Republicans if anyone in their party breaks ranks. One Democratic senator has already expressed hesitation over increasing the payments, but earlier this week Republican Senator Marco Rubio told Biden he would back the additional aid. The proposal also calls for $160 billion to fight Covid-19, including through a national vaccination campaign, and $170 billion for schools, with the goal of getting most institutions with students in kindergarten through eighth grade open in the first 100 days of his administration. Prior to the release of the specifics, Michael Feroli of JP Morgan predicted Congress could pare Biden's plan down to the $900 billion range, matching the measure approved last month. Even the smaller amount would boost GDP growth this year to 5.3 percent and in 2022 to 2.6 percent, he said, a "remarkable expected turnaround" aided also by negligible inflation and the Federal Reserve's maintenance of low borrowing rates. Other aspects of Biden's plan include expanding tax credits aimed at fighting poverty and helping working parents afford childcare, plus extending a moratorium on evictions. The plan offers flexible credits and grants for the small businesses that are major employers but have struggled to survive as states imposed restrictions to stop the virus.

Biden unveils $1.9 trillion economic plan as US recovery buckles

President-elect Joe Biden outlined a $1.9 trillion stimulus package proposal on Thursday, saying bold investment was needed to jump-start the economy and accelerate the distribution of vaccines to bring the coronavirus under control.

Biden unveils plan to pump $1.9 trillion into pandemic-hit economy

Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue package offers bridge for hard-hit economy

Actor Tom Hanks will host a primetime television special on Jan. 20 to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, organizers said on Wednesday. 
 
The 90-minute 'Celebrating America'&nbsp;special will feature appearances by celebrities including Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons, according to a statement from Biden`s inaugural committee. 
 
Democrats Biden and Kamala Harris, who will be sworn in earlier in the day as president and vice president, also will deliver remarks. 
Biden`s committee has scaled back the usual inaugural events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cancelling the traditional parade and inaugural balls normally held in Washington.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/justin-timberlake-demi-lovato-others-to-perform-at-joe-bidens-inauguration-ceremony-356602" hreflang="en">Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato &amp; others to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony</a> 
 
The television special "will showcase the American people`s resilience, heroism, and a unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild", the inaugural committee said. 
 
The program will be broadcast on television networks CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC and MSNBC, and streamed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-ozark-7-shows-coming-to-an-end-in-2021-355370">'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', 'Ozark': 7 shows coming to an end in 2021</a>

Actor Tom Hanks will host a primetime television special on Jan. 20 to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, organizers said on Wednesday. The 90-minute 'Celebrating America' special will feature appearances by celebrities including Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons, according to a statement from Biden`s inaugural committee.

Actor Tom Hanks will host a primetime television special on Jan. 20 to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, organizers said on Wednesday. The 90-minute 'Celebrating America' special will feature appearances by celebrities including Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons, according to a statement from Biden`s inaugural committee. Democrats Biden and Kamala Harris, who will be sworn in earlier in the day as president and vice president, also will deliver remarks. Biden`s committee has scaled back the usual inaugural events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cancelling the traditional parade and inaugural balls normally held in Washington. Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato & others to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony The television special "will showcase the American people`s resilience, heroism, and a unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild", the inaugural committee said. The program will be broadcast on television networks CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC and MSNBC, and streamed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms. 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', 'Ozark': 7 shows coming to an end in 2021

Tom Hanks to host televised special for Joe Biden's inauguration

As the date nears closer for US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, a list of celebrities who will be performing at the event has been released.

The upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony will see a lot of dance and music and pop stars like Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and RE&amp;B singer Ant Clemons are some who will be seen performing.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> will be sworn in during the festivities as President and Vice President of the United States of America. The inauguration ceremony will take place on January 20 announced by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC).

The performances by these stars will be part of ‘Celebrating America’ in the form of a live 90-minute prime-time special hosted by none other than Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks.&nbsp;

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the US during the ceremony on January 20. The ceremony will also feature remarks from both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with a special mention of people who stepped up during the pandemic and helped others.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/new-residents-white-house-starts-preparing-for-joe-bidens-inauguration-347910">New residents: White House starts preparing for Joe Biden's inauguration</a>

Former president Barack Obama’s inaugural ceremony too had some high profile celebrities performing like Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor among others.&nbsp;

As the date nears closer for US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, a list of celebrities who will be performing at the event has been released. The upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony will see a lot of dance and music and pop stars like Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and RE&B singer Ant Clemons are some who will be seen performing.

As the date nears closer for US President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, a list of celebrities who will be performing at the event has been released. The upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony will see a lot of dance and music and pop stars like Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and RE&B singer Ant Clemons are some who will be seen performing. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in during the festivities as President and Vice President of the United States of America. The inauguration ceremony will take place on January 20 announced by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC). The performances by these stars will be part of ‘Celebrating America’ in the form of a live 90-minute prime-time special hosted by none other than Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks. Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the US during the ceremony on January 20. The ceremony will also feature remarks from both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with a special mention of people who stepped up during the pandemic and helped others. New residents: White House starts preparing for Joe Biden's inauguration Former president Barack Obama’s inaugural ceremony too had some high profile celebrities performing like Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor among others.

Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato & others to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony

About ten years ago, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>was one of the strongest human brands ever.

The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch.

The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/along-with-trump-impeachment-biden-urges-us-senate-to-consider-other-urgent-business-356546">Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business'</a>

Trump won the presidency in 2016 but lost reputation, face and brand value.&nbsp;

In 2015, America's retail giant Macy's cut ties with Trump after his comments on migrants and Mexico.&nbsp;

Trump's menswear collection was phased out and NBC also cut its ties with the American president.&nbsp;

It decided to no longer air the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageants.&nbsp;

In 2017, Toronto's Trump hotel rebranded itself and in 2018, the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Panama city, dropped his name.&nbsp;

The property's majority owner said the brand repelled guests.&nbsp;

India has the most number of Trump Tower structures outside North America in places like Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram and Kolkata.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that the brand is already suffering in India as there are no takers for the apartments.&nbsp;

What happened at the US Capitol and the second Trump impeachment added insult to the billionaire president's injury.&nbsp;

Now, R&amp;A, which runs the British Open, the oldest golf championship, has said that the tournament will not be held in Trump golf resort in Scotland.&nbsp;

<h2>End of Brand Trump?</h2>

The Republicans have always campaigned for Trump as an outsider who can solve the crisis in Washington.&nbsp;

Trump's approach was also to that of a complete outsider and in the beginning, it even was radical.&nbsp;

He shattered norms and said things that were deemed as unspeakable.&nbsp;

For America, it was attractive and that is why they voted to bring Trump into power.&nbsp;

But, lately, they realised that inexperience often breeds confusion and in Trump's case, it brought chaos.&nbsp;

He gambled on foreign policy, botched travel bans, showed no understanding of the system, interfered with the judiciary, and even attempted a coup.&nbsp;

So, is this the end of brand Trump?&nbsp;

<h2>What will Trump do?</h2>

After four years, the Americans learnt that an outsider may be attractive, but cannot always get the job done.&nbsp;

And so they elected Joe Biden, a man with 50 years in politics.&nbsp;

In a few days, Biden will take the oath and the question is what happens to Trump after he leaves the White House.&nbsp;

Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm, the Bush family has its oil interest and Trump has his properties and merchandise.&nbsp;

But, they are not exactly booming and experts believe he will return to real estate with interests outside America with India being one of the options.&nbsp;

Trump's son Donald Trump Jr in 2019 said that "India is a market that we would be very interested post-politics".&nbsp;

The question is who will fund Trump's properties.

His most important lender, Deutsche Bank is reportedly cutting ties with him.&nbsp;

Trump can run for the presidency again but that road has many legal hurdles.

Also, it will be difficult for the US to trust Trump again.&nbsp;

Giants like Coca Cola, Marriott, AT&amp;T, Walmart, General Motos are already suspending their political donations and more companies can follow.&nbsp;

This means that Trump will be going to need a new sales pitch.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

About ten years ago, Donald Trump was one of the strongest human brands ever. The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch. The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him.

About ten years ago, Donald Trump was one of the strongest human brands ever. The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch. The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him. Also read | Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business' Trump won the presidency in 2016 but lost reputation, face and brand value. In 2015, America's retail giant Macy's cut ties with Trump after his comments on migrants and Mexico. Trump's menswear collection was phased out and NBC also cut its ties with the American president. It decided to no longer air the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageants. In 2017, Toronto's Trump hotel rebranded itself and in 2018, the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Panama city, dropped his name. The property's majority owner said the brand repelled guests. India has the most number of Trump Tower structures outside North America in places like Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram and Kolkata. Reports suggest that the brand is already suffering in India as there are no takers for the apartments. What happened at the US Capitol and the second Trump impeachment added insult to the billionaire president's injury. Now, R&A, which runs the British Open, the oldest golf championship, has said that the tournament will not be held in Trump golf resort in Scotland. End of Brand Trump? The Republicans have always campaigned for Trump as an outsider who can solve the crisis in Washington. Trump's approach was also to that of a complete outsider and in the beginning, it even was radical. He shattered norms and said things that were deemed as unspeakable. For America, it was attractive and that is why they voted to bring Trump into power. But, lately, they realised that inexperience often breeds confusion and in Trump's case, it brought chaos. He gambled on foreign policy, botched travel bans, showed no understanding of the system, interfered with the judiciary, and even attempted a coup. So, is this the end of brand Trump? What will Trump do? After four years, the Americans learnt that an outsider may be attractive, but cannot always get the job done. And so they elected Joe Biden, a man with 50 years in politics. In a few days, Biden will take the oath and the question is what happens to Trump after he leaves the White House. Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm, the Bush family has its oil interest and Trump has his properties and merchandise. But, they are not exactly booming and experts believe he will return to real estate with interests outside America with India being one of the options. Trump's son Donald Trump Jr in 2019 said that "India is a market that we would be very interested post-politics". The question is who will fund Trump's properties. His most important lender, Deutsche Bank is reportedly cutting ties with him. Trump can run for the presidency again but that road has many legal hurdles. Also, it will be difficult for the US to trust Trump again. Giants like Coca Cola, Marriott, AT&T, Walmart, General Motos are already suspending their political donations and more companies can follow. This means that Trump will be going to need a new sales pitch.

As Trump set to end presidency, are these final days of his brand too?

US President Donald Trump was impeached by US House of Representatives on Thursday (Indian time). With this Trump has become first US President to suffer impeachment twice. &nbsp;Former US presidents Andrew Jackson and Bill Clinton were impeached during their time. But what does Trump's impeachment mean? Will he be forced to leave the Oval Office immediately? Let's check this thing.

The process

When US House of Representatives impeaches&nbsp;the president, the impeachment article is sent to US Senate. It is here that the actual trial of the president takes place. The US Senate is tasked with finding the president guilty - or otherwise- of the charges levelled against him.&nbsp;

Once the impeachment article is sent to US Senate, it becomes its top priority when it reconvenes. In the present case, the words 'when it reconvenes' hold the sway as US Senate is in recess. It will only reconvene on January 19, just a day before Joe Biden is to be inaugurated.

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&nbsp;

US House of Representatives (the one that impeached Trump) is controlled by Democratic Party while Republicans have control over US Senate right now. Republican Party's Majority Leader in Senate Mitch McConnell has already rejected Democratic Party's demand to reconvene immediately.

This means that the Senate is most likely to tackle the issue of impeachment only after Biden takes&nbsp;office. This may lead to several situations.

There is a difference of opinion among legal scholars about whether Senate can process impeachment of a president who is out of office. Some say it can't be done while others assert it is possible. However, Trump may have legal options with which he can attempt to get involved or potentially even stop the proceedings using loopholes and interpretation of the law.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/along-with-trump-impeachment-biden-urges-us-senate-to-consider-other-urgent-business-356546">Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business'</a>

And after all this, if it comes to the final stages in Senate, it will need affirmation of 67 out of 100 Senators for the house to declare Trump guilty. Even after wins in Georgia, Democratic Party holds a wafer-thin majority in Senate.

There is always the possibility of Republican Senators breaking party lines to vote in favour of impeachment as some Republican members in House of Representatives did, it appears a long game as of now.

However, in any case, suffering impeachment, guilty or not, is a huge political blot. And Donald Trump has suffered this fate twice.

All in all, it appears unlikely at the moment that impeachment proceedings would force Trump to leave office before his term ends.

US President Donald Trump was impeached by US House of Representatives on Thursday (Indian time). With this Trump has become first US President to suffer impeachment twice.

US President Donald Trump was impeached by US House of Representatives on Thursday (Indian time). With this Trump has become first US President to suffer impeachment twice. Former US presidents Andrew Jackson and Bill Clinton were impeached during their time. But what does Trump's impeachment mean? Will he be forced to leave the Oval Office immediately? Let's check this thing. The process When US House of Representatives impeaches the president, the impeachment article is sent to US Senate. It is here that the actual trial of the president takes place. The US Senate is tasked with finding the president guilty - or otherwise- of the charges levelled against him. Once the impeachment article is sent to US Senate, it becomes its top priority when it reconvenes. In the present case, the words 'when it reconvenes' hold the sway as US Senate is in recess. It will only reconvene on January 19, just a day before Joe Biden is to be inaugurated. × US House of Representatives (the one that impeached Trump) is controlled by Democratic Party while Republicans have control over US Senate right now. Republican Party's Majority Leader in Senate Mitch McConnell has already rejected Democratic Party's demand to reconvene immediately. This means that the Senate is most likely to tackle the issue of impeachment only after Biden takes office. This may lead to several situations. There is a difference of opinion among legal scholars about whether Senate can process impeachment of a president who is out of office. Some say it can't be done while others assert it is possible. However, Trump may have legal options with which he can attempt to get involved or potentially even stop the proceedings using loopholes and interpretation of the law. Also Read | Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business' And after all this, if it comes to the final stages in Senate, it will need affirmation of 67 out of 100 Senators for the house to declare Trump guilty. Even after wins in Georgia, Democratic Party holds a wafer-thin majority in Senate. There is always the possibility of Republican Senators breaking party lines to vote in favour of impeachment as some Republican members in House of Representatives did, it appears a long game as of now. However, in any case, suffering impeachment, guilty or not, is a huge political blot. And Donald Trump has suffered this fate twice. All in all, it appears unlikely at the moment that impeachment proceedings would force Trump to leave office before his term ends.

Trump impeachment: What happens next? Will he leave office immediately?

US President-elect Joe Biden released a statement after US House of Representatives impeached sitting US President Donald Trump. In his statement, Biden said he hoped that the US Senate finds a way to work on impeachment proceedings "while also" working on other "urgent business". US House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump on Thursday (Indian time) making him the only president to suffer impeachment twice.

“This nation also remains in the grip of a deadly virus and a reeling economy,” said Biden in his statement “I hope that the Senate leadership will find a way to deal with their Constitutional responsibilities on impeachment while also working on the other urgent business of this nation.”&nbsp;

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While he said that violence at Capitol Hill was incited by Trump, Biden drew attention to other pressing matters US faced.

“From confirmations to key posts such as Secretaries for Homeland Security, State, Defense, Treasury, and Director of National Intelligence, to getting our vaccine program on track, and to getting our economy going again. Too many of our fellow Americans have suffered for too long over the past year to delay this urgent work,” said Biden in a statement. He was quoted by CNN.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-impeached-again-becomes-first-us-president-to-suffer-impeachment-twice-356536">Donald Trump impeached again, becomes first US president to suffer impeachment twice</a>

Biden has previously indicated his unwillingness to go out all guns blazing on Trump's removal from Oval Office via impeachment. Recently, Biden said that it was up to US Congress to decide for or against Trump's removal from office before his term comes to an end.

Political experts have been quoted in various news reports saying that it was unlikely of Biden to spend his political capital to lobby US Senate for Trump's removal especially as the Senate will be due to clear Biden's nominees on important posts in his cabinet.

US President-elect Joe Biden released a statement after US House of Representatives impeached sitting US President Donald Trump. In his statement, Biden said he hoped that the US Senate finds a way to work on impeachment proceedings "while also" working on other "urgent business".

US President-elect Joe Biden released a statement after US House of Representatives impeached sitting US President Donald Trump. In his statement, Biden said he hoped that the US Senate finds a way to work on impeachment proceedings "while also" working on other "urgent business". US House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump on Thursday (Indian time) making him the only president to suffer impeachment twice. “This nation also remains in the grip of a deadly virus and a reeling economy,” said Biden in his statement “I hope that the Senate leadership will find a way to deal with their Constitutional responsibilities on impeachment while also working on the other urgent business of this nation.” × While he said that violence at Capitol Hill was incited by Trump, Biden drew attention to other pressing matters US faced. “From confirmations to key posts such as Secretaries for Homeland Security, State, Defense, Treasury, and Director of National Intelligence, to getting our vaccine program on track, and to getting our economy going again. Too many of our fellow Americans have suffered for too long over the past year to delay this urgent work,” said Biden in a statement. He was quoted by CNN. Also Read | Donald Trump impeached again, becomes first US president to suffer impeachment twice Biden has previously indicated his unwillingness to go out all guns blazing on Trump's removal from Oval Office via impeachment. Recently, Biden said that it was up to US Congress to decide for or against Trump's removal from office before his term comes to an end. Political experts have been quoted in various news reports saying that it was unlikely of Biden to spend his political capital to lobby US Senate for Trump's removal especially as the Senate will be due to clear Biden's nominees on important posts in his cabinet.

Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business'

Google on Wednesday backed the efforts of US President-elect Joe Biden&nbsp;to pass a new&nbsp;immigration law and would help cover application fees for immigrants seeking lawful work under a threatened government program.

In a bid to show its support for the administration, Google said on Wednesday it would pay for the application fees of about 500 young immigrants seeking employment under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

It comes as Google and other big US&nbsp;employers transition from four years of criticicing outgoing President Donald Trump for restricting immigration policy and undermining the companies' ability to hire foreign-born workers.

Biden said last week that he would propose unspecified immigration legislation to Congress "immediately" upon taking office on January&nbsp;20. Biden's Democratic Party will control Congress, boosting the chance his ideas become law.

"We will support efforts by the new Congress and incoming Administration to pass comprehensive immigration reform that improves employment-based visa programs that enhance American competitiveness, gives greater assurance to immigrant workers and employers, and promotes better and more humane immigration processing and border security practices," said Google senior vice president Kent Walker in a blog post.

Walker added Google's philanthropic arm would donate $250,000 to the organization United We Dream, which helps immigrants unlawfully living in the United States after arriving as children secure work permits and avoid deportation using the deferred action program, or DACA.

A court ruling expected soon threatens to pause renewals and applications for those permits, Walker said. Recipients are often called "Dreamers."

Google has in the past teamed with fellow large technology companies when making statements on immigration policy. But only one other tech company spoke out on the issue this week.

Uber Technologies Inc told Reuters it continued to support "Dreamers" and welcomed "the new Administration's effort to reform our nation's immigration system."

Google on Wednesday backed the efforts of US President-elect Joe Biden to pass a new immigration law and would help cover application fees for immigrants seeking lawful work under a threatened government program.

Google on Wednesday backed the efforts of US President-elect Joe Biden to pass a new immigration law and would help cover application fees for immigrants seeking lawful work under a threatened government program. In a bid to show its support for the administration, Google said on Wednesday it would pay for the application fees of about 500 young immigrants seeking employment under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It comes as Google and other big US employers transition from four years of criticicing outgoing President Donald Trump for restricting immigration policy and undermining the companies' ability to hire foreign-born workers. Biden said last week that he would propose unspecified immigration legislation to Congress "immediately" upon taking office on January 20. Biden's Democratic Party will control Congress, boosting the chance his ideas become law. "We will support efforts by the new Congress and incoming Administration to pass comprehensive immigration reform that improves employment-based visa programs that enhance American competitiveness, gives greater assurance to immigrant workers and employers, and promotes better and more humane immigration processing and border security practices," said Google senior vice president Kent Walker in a blog post. Walker added Google's philanthropic arm would donate $250,000 to the organization United We Dream, which helps immigrants unlawfully living in the United States after arriving as children secure work permits and avoid deportation using the deferred action program, or DACA. A court ruling expected soon threatens to pause renewals and applications for those permits, Walker said. Recipients are often called "Dreamers." Google has in the past teamed with fellow large technology companies when making statements on immigration policy. But only one other tech company spoke out on the issue this week. Uber Technologies Inc told Reuters it continued to support "Dreamers" and welcomed "the new Administration's effort to reform our nation's immigration system."

Google backs Joe Biden's efforts to pass new immigration law

President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that he was “not afraid” to take the oath of office outside at his upcoming inauguration ceremony

U.S.: FBI warns of plans for armed protests ahead of Biden inauguration | Capitol Siege | WION

The President-elect of the US, Joe Biden, received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the deadly coronavirus, on Monday afternoon in&nbsp;Delaware and urged everyone to get their shot when it's time.

"Folks, I just received the second dose of my COVID-19 vaccine — and just like the first dose, it was safe, quick, and painless," he assured everyone&nbsp;on Twitter. "I urge everyone to get vaccinated once it’s your turn. Because only together can we save lives and beat this virus."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-taps-career-diplomat-william-burns-as-cia-chief-356106" hreflang="en">Joe Biden taps career diplomat William Burns as CIA chief</a>

Three weeks after getting the first dose of the vaccine, Biden said getting the vaccine to every resident of the US is his number one priority right now. "My number one priority is getting vaccine in people's arms, like we just did today, as rapidly as we can," he said after receiving the vaccine.

Biden is urging everyone to get their respective doses of the vaccine as and when it is their chance to avail it. "Getting America vaccinated will be one of the greatest operational challenges we’ve ever faced, but my administration will spare no effort to get it done," he tweeted. "We’re going to ensure the vaccine is distributed quickly, equitably, and free of charge to every American."

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Getting America vaccinated will be one of the greatest operational challenges we’ve ever faced, but my administration will spare no effort to get it done. 
 
We’re going to ensure the vaccine is distributed quickly, equitably, and free of charge to every American.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1348800612742402048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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He also added that he will be soon hosting another strategy-building virtual meeting with his coronavirus task force to come up with better and faster ways to ensure everyone gets access to the vaccine and figure out measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. "Three to four thousand people a day dying is just beyond the pale... it's wrong, and we can do a lot to change it," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-donald-trump-be-impeached-356125">WATCH|</a>

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The 78-year-old President-elect also urged everyone to maintain social distance when outdoors and wear face masks when in a gathering. Also recalling the Capitol riots, he said he was 'appalled' to see resistance from several Republican lawmakers towards wearing a mask even when they were being rushed to a secure location as the rioters took over one of the most secure places in the country.

"I think it's irresponsible. It's not a political issue, it's an issue of public safety," Biden said.

Talking about the stimulus cheques which have left Americans unimpressed and have brought in a further divide between the supporters of the two political parties, Biden reassured people that he will be once again pushing for higher relief packages.

The President-elect of the US, Joe Biden, received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the deadly coronavirus, on Monday afternoon in Delaware and urged everyone to get their shot when it's time.

The President-elect of the US, Joe Biden, received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the deadly coronavirus, on Monday afternoon in Delaware and urged everyone to get their shot when it's time. "Folks, I just received the second dose of my COVID-19 vaccine — and just like the first dose, it was safe, quick, and painless," he assured everyone on Twitter. "I urge everyone to get vaccinated once it’s your turn. Because only together can we save lives and beat this virus." Also read| Joe Biden taps career diplomat William Burns as CIA chief Three weeks after getting the first dose of the vaccine, Biden said getting the vaccine to every resident of the US is his number one priority right now. "My number one priority is getting vaccine in people's arms, like we just did today, as rapidly as we can," he said after receiving the vaccine. Biden is urging everyone to get their respective doses of the vaccine as and when it is their chance to avail it. "Getting America vaccinated will be one of the greatest operational challenges we’ve ever faced, but my administration will spare no effort to get it done," he tweeted. "We’re going to ensure the vaccine is distributed quickly, equitably, and free of charge to every American." Getting America vaccinated will be one of the greatest operational challenges we’ve ever faced, but my administration will spare no effort to get it done. We’re going to ensure the vaccine is distributed quickly, equitably, and free of charge to every American. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 12, 2021 × He also added that he will be soon hosting another strategy-building virtual meeting with his coronavirus task force to come up with better and faster ways to ensure everyone gets access to the vaccine and figure out measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. "Three to four thousand people a day dying is just beyond the pale... it's wrong, and we can do a lot to change it," he said. WATCH| The 78-year-old President-elect also urged everyone to maintain social distance when outdoors and wear face masks when in a gathering. Also recalling the Capitol riots, he said he was 'appalled' to see resistance from several Republican lawmakers towards wearing a mask even when they were being rushed to a secure location as the rioters took over one of the most secure places in the country. "I think it's irresponsible. It's not a political issue, it's an issue of public safety," Biden said. Talking about the stimulus cheques which have left Americans unimpressed and have brought in a further divide between the supporters of the two political parties, Biden reassured people that he will be once again pushing for higher relief packages.

Joe Biden gets second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine

US President-elect Joe Biden says he's 'not afraid' to take oath of office outside

US President-elect Joe Biden has announced that he has chosen Veteran Diplomat William Burns to be his Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director.

Biden picks Diplomat William Burns as a CIA director

Joe Biden receives his second and final dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Delaware. When asked about security concerns on his inauguration day, Biden responded by saying that he is not afraid of taking the oath outside.

Capitol riots raises security concerns for inauguration

Almost a week before the US President-elect is to take charge of the White House, he has sent an invitation to&nbsp;Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday.

The invitation for Biden's inauguration ceremony, to be held in Washington, has been addressed to Bilawal Bhutto and his father, party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-china-together-form-a-potent-threat-says-indian-army-chief-general-naravane-356184" hreflang="en">Pakistan, China together form a potent threat: Army chief General Naravane</a>

As per local reports, while&nbsp;Bilawal Bhutto is expected to attend one of the most-awaited and talked about the ceremony, his father will not be able to travel to the US for the ceremony as his name is mentioned in the&nbsp;Exit Control List — a list generated by the government of Pakistan which names the people who are not allowed to leave the country.

The invite has not come as a surprise as the Zardari government had, during its days of power&nbsp;in the South Asian country, worked closely with the Barack Obama administration.&nbsp;

His invite has also come at a time when the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran khan is being targetted by the opposition leaders of the country, including the Zardari family.&nbsp;

The news of the invite has not yet been confirmed by the party, but several sources have been quoted by Pakistan's local media.

Almost a week before the US President-elect is to take charge of the White House, he has sent an invitation to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday.

Almost a week before the US President-elect is to take charge of the White House, he has sent an invitation to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday. The invitation for Biden's inauguration ceremony, to be held in Washington, has been addressed to Bilawal Bhutto and his father, party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari. Also read| Pakistan, China together form a potent threat: Army chief General Naravane As per local reports, while Bilawal Bhutto is expected to attend one of the most-awaited and talked about the ceremony, his father will not be able to travel to the US for the ceremony as his name is mentioned in the Exit Control List — a list generated by the government of Pakistan which names the people who are not allowed to leave the country. The invite has not come as a surprise as the Zardari government had, during its days of power in the South Asian country, worked closely with the Barack Obama administration. His invite has also come at a time when the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran khan is being targetted by the opposition leaders of the country, including the Zardari family. The news of the invite has not yet been confirmed by the party, but several sources have been quoted by Pakistan's local media.

Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari gets invited to Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony

After banning account of the outgoing&nbsp;US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, the social media giant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/facebook">Facebook</a>&nbsp;has decided to ban the phrase 'Stop the steal' to make sure it does not create chaos in the upcoming inaugration ceremony of the President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

The phrase has become popular among Trump supporters in the last few months, and Facebook believes the rising popularity of this phrase could incite violence in the upcoming week, especially after the Capitol riots conducted by blind supporters of Trump.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-bidens-inauguration-trump-approves-emergency-declaration-for-washington-356146">Ahead of Biden's inauguration, Trump approves emergency declaration for Washington</a>

Under the Coordinating Harm policy, all content which is blacklisted will be removed from Facebook and Instagram. "With continued attempts to organize events against the outcome of the US presidential election that can lead to violence, and use of the term by those involved in Wednesday's violence in DC, we're taking this additional step in the lead up to the inauguration," Facebook said in a blog post titled 'Our Preparations Ahead of Inauguration Day'.

The social media giant claims they had to hurry their measures for digital security during the inauguration week after the Cpaitol riots that took place last week. "Our planning took on new urgency after last week’s violence in Washington, D.C., and we are treating the next two weeks as a major civic event," the blog post read.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/days-after-capitol-riots-donald-trump-and-mike-pence-meet-in-oval-office-sources-356142" hreflang="en">Days after Capitol riots, Donald Trump and Mike Pence meet in Oval Office</a>

This has come after the&nbsp;original Stop the Steal group was removed form the social media platform in November 2020 and claims it continues to remove "pages, groups and events that violate any of our policies, including calls for violence."

'Stop the Steal' phrase became popular after the US election that were held on november 03 between the former Vice President Joe Biden and former reality TV star and President Donald Trump. Through this phrase, Trump supporters alleged Biden of voter fraud — an accusation initiated by Trump — after Trump lost the elections.

This decision has come a day after Twitter decided to block the phrase <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-blocks-phrase-hang-mike-pence-as-trump-supporters-turn-against-him-355959">'Hang Mike Pence'</a>&nbsp;that started trending on the internet after the rioters started chanting it in the halls of the Capitol building hoping to get a chance to execute the VP — who&nbsp;was present in Capitol during riots to confirm the win of the President-elect Joe Biden.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/homeland-security-chief-chad-wolf-resigns-after-capitol-riots-concerns-over-security-in-washington-rise-356133" hreflang="en">Homeland Security chief, Chad Wolf, resigns after Capitol riots</a>

The company also added that it will not be promoting any poltical ads till the inaugration ceremony to be held on January 20. "In addition to the indefinite suspension of President Trump’s account that we announced on January 7, we’re keeping our pause in place on all ads in the US about politics or elections. This means that we aren’t allowing any ads from politicians, including President Trump," the blog post read.

In addition to this, Facebook will also be adding&nbsp;a news digest to Facebook News where people could find reliable news about the inauguration. "This will include live video of the inauguration at the US Capitol on January 20. Facebook News often includes news digests dedicated to events of national or global significance, such as “COVID-19” or “Unrest in America” with stories selected by the curation team. There will also be curated live video of the inauguration and other major moments on Facebook Watch."

After banning account of the outgoing US President Donald Trump, the social media giant Facebook has decided to ban the phrase 'Stop the steal' to make sure it does not create chaos in the upcoming inaugration ceremony of the President-elect Joe Biden.

After banning account of the outgoing US President Donald Trump, the social media giant Facebook has decided to ban the phrase 'Stop the steal' to make sure it does not create chaos in the upcoming inaugration ceremony of the President-elect Joe Biden. The phrase has become popular among Trump supporters in the last few months, and Facebook believes the rising popularity of this phrase could incite violence in the upcoming week, especially after the Capitol riots conducted by blind supporters of Trump. Also read| Ahead of Biden's inauguration, Trump approves emergency declaration for Washington Under the Coordinating Harm policy, all content which is blacklisted will be removed from Facebook and Instagram. "With continued attempts to organize events against the outcome of the US presidential election that can lead to violence, and use of the term by those involved in Wednesday's violence in DC, we're taking this additional step in the lead up to the inauguration," Facebook said in a blog post titled 'Our Preparations Ahead of Inauguration Day'. The social media giant claims they had to hurry their measures for digital security during the inauguration week after the Cpaitol riots that took place last week. "Our planning took on new urgency after last week’s violence in Washington, D.C., and we are treating the next two weeks as a major civic event," the blog post read. Also read| Days after Capitol riots, Donald Trump and Mike Pence meet in Oval Office This has come after the original Stop the Steal group was removed form the social media platform in November 2020 and claims it continues to remove "pages, groups and events that violate any of our policies, including calls for violence." 'Stop the Steal' phrase became popular after the US election that were held on november 03 between the former Vice President Joe Biden and former reality TV star and President Donald Trump. Through this phrase, Trump supporters alleged Biden of voter fraud — an accusation initiated by Trump — after Trump lost the elections. This decision has come a day after Twitter decided to block the phrase 'Hang Mike Pence' that started trending on the internet after the rioters started chanting it in the halls of the Capitol building hoping to get a chance to execute the VP — who was present in Capitol during riots to confirm the win of the President-elect Joe Biden. Also read| Homeland Security chief, Chad Wolf, resigns after Capitol riots The company also added that it will not be promoting any poltical ads till the inaugration ceremony to be held on January 20. "In addition to the indefinite suspension of President Trump’s account that we announced on January 7, we’re keeping our pause in place on all ads in the US about politics or elections. This means that we aren’t allowing any ads from politicians, including President Trump," the blog post read. In addition to this, Facebook will also be adding a news digest to Facebook News where people could find reliable news about the inauguration. "This will include live video of the inauguration at the US Capitol on January 20. Facebook News often includes news digests dedicated to events of national or global significance, such as “COVID-19” or “Unrest in America” with stories selected by the curation team. There will also be curated live video of the inauguration and other major moments on Facebook Watch."

Facebook bans 'Stop the Steal' phrase ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration

US President-elect Joe Biden will receive his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday -- three weeks after his first injection was broadcast live on TV to boost public confidence in the jab.

Biden told Americans "there's nothing to worry about" when he got his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware on December 21.

His team had said that his second jab would also be done in front of the media.

The United States has so far registered more than 374,000 deaths from Covid-19, and to this end, Biden on Friday slammed President Donald Trump administration's troubled distribution of vaccines as a "travesty."

About 6.7 million Americans have so far received their first shot -- far short of the target of 20 million by the end of 2020. But 22.1 million doses have been distributed nationwide, underlining the logistical challenge of getting the injections administered to the elderly and health workers who are the priority.

Both vaccines currently authorised in the US, developed by Pfizer and Moderna, require recipients to receive booster shots after three and four weeks, respectively.

Biden, who will be inaugurated on January 20, has said he plans to release every available dose of vaccine, rather than holding back half to make sure people receive their booster shots on time as is the current protocol.

US President-elect Joe Biden will receive his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday -- three weeks after his first injection was broadcast live on TV to boost public confidence in the jab.

US President-elect Joe Biden will receive his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday -- three weeks after his first injection was broadcast live on TV to boost public confidence in the jab. Biden told Americans "there's nothing to worry about" when he got his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware on December 21. His team had said that his second jab would also be done in front of the media. The United States has so far registered more than 374,000 deaths from Covid-19, and to this end, Biden on Friday slammed President Donald Trump administration's troubled distribution of vaccines as a "travesty." About 6.7 million Americans have so far received their first shot -- far short of the target of 20 million by the end of 2020. But 22.1 million doses have been distributed nationwide, underlining the logistical challenge of getting the injections administered to the elderly and health workers who are the priority. Both vaccines currently authorised in the US, developed by Pfizer and Moderna, require recipients to receive booster shots after three and four weeks, respectively. Biden, who will be inaugurated on January 20, has said he plans to release every available dose of vaccine, rather than holding back half to make sure people receive their booster shots on time as is the current protocol.

Biden to receive second Covid vaccine dose on Monday

The mob swarmed the home of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, succeeding in temporarily interrupting a formal vote to confirm Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

U.S. Capitol Siege: Mob included far-right extremist groups convicted criminals

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced William Burns as his pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, tapping a retired veteran diplomat who helped lead secret talks with Iran.

Burns spent over three decades in the US foreign service, including a stint as ambassador to Russia from 2005-2008, and high-ranking jobs in the State Department. \

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-receive-second-covid-vaccine-dose-on-monday-355901">Biden to receive second Covid vaccine dose on Monday</a>

"Bill Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage keeping our people and our country safe and secure," Biden said in a statement released by his transition team.

Burns, who holds a masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, also served as US ambassador to Oman from 1998-2001.

He retired from the foreign service in 2014 and is the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an international affairs think tank in the United States.

Burns had been considered a likely candidate to lead the State Department under Biden, given his deep experience with Iran.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/major-technology-companies-join-list-of-biden-inaugural-donors-355819">Major technology companies join list of Biden inaugural donors</a>

He was involved in back-channel negotiations that set the stage for the 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities.

"The fact that we did it quietly or secretly caused a certain amount of controversy," he said in a 2016 interview.&nbsp;

"But the reality is that after 35 years without sustained diplomatic contact between the United States and Iran, there was a huge amount of baggage, a lot of mistrust, and a lot of grievances."

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced William Burns as his pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, tapping a retired veteran diplomat who helped lead secret talks with Iran.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced William Burns as his pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, tapping a retired veteran diplomat who helped lead secret talks with Iran. Burns spent over three decades in the US foreign service, including a stint as ambassador to Russia from 2005-2008, and high-ranking jobs in the State Department. \ Also read| Biden to receive second Covid vaccine dose on Monday "Bill Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage keeping our people and our country safe and secure," Biden said in a statement released by his transition team. Burns, who holds a masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, also served as US ambassador to Oman from 1998-2001. He retired from the foreign service in 2014 and is the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an international affairs think tank in the United States. Burns had been considered a likely candidate to lead the State Department under Biden, given his deep experience with Iran. Also read| Major technology companies join list of Biden inaugural donors He was involved in back-channel negotiations that set the stage for the 2015 deal to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities. "The fact that we did it quietly or secretly caused a certain amount of controversy," he said in a 2016 interview. "But the reality is that after 35 years without sustained diplomatic contact between the United States and Iran, there was a huge amount of baggage, a lot of mistrust, and a lot of grievances."

Joe Biden taps career diplomat William Burns as CIA chief

United States President-elect Joe Biden plans to roll out an economic stimulus package worth trillions of dollars on Thursday that includes relief for unemployed Americans and rent forbearance for tenants.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans stimulus package worth trillions, pushes $2,000 cheques

The outgoing chief of the US Capitol Police has said House of Representatives and Senate security officials thwarted his efforts to call in the National Guard. The statement comes as a diversion from earlier claims from officials who said the force had not asked for help.

The storming of the Capitol building by Trump's supporters delayed the certification of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.

Trump, who has without evidence challenged the validity of Biden's election victory, initially praised his supporters but later condemned the violence. Lawmakers were forced to flee, as the building was mobbed by the president's supporters, who overwhelmed security forces.

The former chief of the federal force, Steven Sund, told the Washington Post his supervisors were reluctant to take formal steps to put the Guard on call even as police intelligence suggested that the crowd President Donald Trump had invited to Washington to protest against his defeat was probably going to be much larger than earlier demonstrations.

Sund's remarks were also in contrast with those from officials in other branches of government, who said after Trump's supporters stormed into the Capitol building last Wednesday that they could have provided more people to secure it -- but no one from the Capitol Police asked.

Sund told the newspaper in an interview he had asked House and Senate security officials for permission to request that the National Guard be placed on standby in case he needed quick backup but his request was turned down.

Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defence for homeland defence and global security, said last week that the Pentagon had been in touch with the Capitol Police and were told that they would not require assistance from the National Guard.'

Sund kept telling officials that "the situation is dire", the newspaper reported.

Sund, who will step down from his post on January 16 after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for his resignation, said his request for help was rejected or delayed six times.

"If we would have had the National Guard we could have held them at bay longer, until more officers from our partner agencies could arrive," he told the newspaper.

Five people died in the violence including one Capitol Police officer who was beaten as he tried to ward off the crowds.

The outgoing chief of the US Capitol Police has said House of Representatives and Senate security officials thwarted his efforts to call in the National Guard. The statement comes as a diversion from earlier claims from officials who said the force had not asked for help.

The outgoing chief of the US Capitol Police has said House of Representatives and Senate security officials thwarted his efforts to call in the National Guard. The statement comes as a diversion from earlier claims from officials who said the force had not asked for help. The storming of the Capitol building by Trump's supporters delayed the certification of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory. Trump, who has without evidence challenged the validity of Biden's election victory, initially praised his supporters but later condemned the violence. Lawmakers were forced to flee, as the building was mobbed by the president's supporters, who overwhelmed security forces. The former chief of the federal force, Steven Sund, told the Washington Post his supervisors were reluctant to take formal steps to put the Guard on call even as police intelligence suggested that the crowd President Donald Trump had invited to Washington to protest against his defeat was probably going to be much larger than earlier demonstrations. Sund's remarks were also in contrast with those from officials in other branches of government, who said after Trump's supporters stormed into the Capitol building last Wednesday that they could have provided more people to secure it -- but no one from the Capitol Police asked. Sund told the newspaper in an interview he had asked House and Senate security officials for permission to request that the National Guard be placed on standby in case he needed quick backup but his request was turned down. Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defence for homeland defence and global security, said last week that the Pentagon had been in touch with the Capitol Police and were told that they would not require assistance from the National Guard.' Sund kept telling officials that "the situation is dire", the newspaper reported. Sund, who will step down from his post on January 16 after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for his resignation, said his request for help was rejected or delayed six times. "If we would have had the National Guard we could have held them at bay longer, until more officers from our partner agencies could arrive," he told the newspaper. Five people died in the violence including one Capitol Police officer who was beaten as he tried to ward off the crowds.

Outgoing US Capitol Police chief says his effort to get help was thwarted

US Vice-President Mike Pence&nbsp;will attend the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden, multiple media reports said Saturday.

It is now being implied&nbsp;that the vice-president has become the latest longtime loyalist to abandon an increasingly isolated President Donald Trump.

Relations between Trump and Pence -- previously one of the mercurial president's staunchest defenders -- have nosedived since Wednesday, when the vice president formally announced Biden's victory in November's election.

A mob of far-right demonstrators stormed the US Capitol the same day in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying Biden's win, in a riot blamed on Trump that left five dead.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump -- for the first time ever -- acknowledged Biden won, on Thursday, but said he would not attend the January 20 inauguration. He, however, pledged there would be an "orderly transition" to Biden's presidency.

"To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th," Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Biden, to this end, welcomed Trump's announcement, calling it a "good thing."

"I was told on the way over here that he indicated he wasn't going to show up at the inauguration. One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on," Biden said, adding, "it's a good thing, him not showing up."

"He's been an embarrassment to the country," Biden said.

"He's not fit to serve," the president-elect added of Trump, who is facing the possibility of being impeached next week for inciting his supporters to storm the US Capitol.

"He exceeded even my worst notions about him," Biden said.&nbsp;

"He's one of the most incompetent presidents in the history of the United States of America."

Biden added Vice-President Mike Pence would be welcome at his inauguration.

Trump's bowing down to the results came shortly after his supporters rioted at the US Capitol on Wednesday night, drawing sharp criticism from across the world.

Biden said those who stormed the US Capitol were a bunch of thugs, white supremacists, domestic terrorists and they should be prosecuted.

(with inputs)

US Vice-President Mike Pence will attend the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden, multiple media reports said Saturday. It is now being implied that the vice-president has become the latest longtime loyalist to abandon an increasingly isolated President Donald Trump.

US Vice-President Mike Pence will attend the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden, multiple media reports said Saturday. It is now being implied that the vice-president has become the latest longtime loyalist to abandon an increasingly isolated President Donald Trump. Relations between Trump and Pence -- previously one of the mercurial president's staunchest defenders -- have nosedived since Wednesday, when the vice president formally announced Biden's victory in November's election. A mob of far-right demonstrators stormed the US Capitol the same day in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying Biden's win, in a riot blamed on Trump that left five dead. Outgoing US President Donald Trump -- for the first time ever -- acknowledged Biden won, on Thursday, but said he would not attend the January 20 inauguration. He, however, pledged there would be an "orderly transition" to Biden's presidency. "To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th," Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday. Biden, to this end, welcomed Trump's announcement, calling it a "good thing." "I was told on the way over here that he indicated he wasn't going to show up at the inauguration. One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on," Biden said, adding, "it's a good thing, him not showing up." "He's been an embarrassment to the country," Biden said. "He's not fit to serve," the president-elect added of Trump, who is facing the possibility of being impeached next week for inciting his supporters to storm the US Capitol. "He exceeded even my worst notions about him," Biden said. "He's one of the most incompetent presidents in the history of the United States of America." Biden added Vice-President Mike Pence would be welcome at his inauguration. Trump's bowing down to the results came shortly after his supporters rioted at the US Capitol on Wednesday night, drawing sharp criticism from across the world. Biden said those who stormed the US Capitol were a bunch of thugs, white supremacists, domestic terrorists and they should be prosecuted. (with inputs)

Vice-President Mike Pence may attend Biden's inauguration on January 20

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected.

Five people died as a result of the riot, including a Capitol Police officer. No one has been charged yet in connection with any of those deaths.

Several different criminal statutes and theories of liability could be used against the rioters, legal experts said.

Here is an overview of some of the potential charges, including seditious conspiracy and felony murder.

What criminal charges have been filed so far?

Some of the more than 50 defendants in the federal district and superior courts have been charged with gun-related offenses. There are federal laws against carrying a gun in the Capitol building, and possessing an unregistered firearm or unlicensed ammunition in the District of Columbia.

A Seattle man, Mark Leffingwell, has been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, a federal crime. He is accused of punching a Capitol Police officer in a separate incident from the one that led to an officer`s death. A lawyer for Leffingwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Several dozen individuals have been charged with unlawful entry on the Capitol grounds, which is a crime under the Washington D.C. criminal code and federal law. Those include Nicholas Ochs, a member of the far-right group Proud Boys, who posted a photo of himself inside the Capitol building. A lawyer for Ochs could not be identified.

Could multiple people be charged with killing a police officer?

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on Thursday. Sicknick "was injured while physically engaging with protesters," the police department said in a statement. He collapsed after he returned to his divisional office, the statement said.

Sicknick was one of the five people to die as a result of the riot.

A top priority for law enforcement will be identifying anyone responsible for Sicknick`s death, said Matt Jones, a former federal prosecutor in Washington now at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

If someone assaulted Sicknick, that person could be charged with murder or manslaughter.

Anyone who assisted the main perpetrator could face criminal charges for "aiding and abetting" murder or manslaughter.

If Sicknick was killed as part of a coordinated plot to attack individuals inside the Capitol, individuals involved in that scheme could be charged as co-conspirators, Jones said.

"Prosecutors are no doubt scouring every phone and social media post they can," Jones said. "And, to the extent they show an intent to cause harm to an officer, or member of Congress or their staff, that will dramatically move the ball forward."

Jay Town, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said rioters who were simply present in the room when Sicknick was engaged with protesters are far less likely to be charged.

"To assign culpability beyond the actual assailant, or those that aided or abetted them, would normally require proof that other individuals knew that the commission of their criminal acts might likely lead to death or serious bodily injury," Town said.

Could there be felony murder charges?

There is a doctrine of U.S. law, recognized in Washington, called felony murder, which allows prosecutors to charge people with murder even if they did not intend to kill. 
Typically, a defendant is charged with felony murder if they engage in a violent crime and a death indirectly results from their actions.

Ken Kohl, a top prosecutor on the case, said at a news conference on Friday that felony murder "is always in play in something like this."

Legal experts said more facts were needed to determine if this theory of liability would apply.

Jones said it could be difficult to bring felony murder charges. To do so, prosecutors may need to prove certain underlying offenses such as armed robbery or kidnapping, which do not appear to be present here. What about sedition?

It is very possible individuals will be charged with a federal law that bans efforts to overthrow the government, legal experts said.

That law prohibits conspiring to "overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force" the U.S. government.

The statute "will absolutely apply once the investigation is completed," said Justo Mendez, a criminal defense attorney at Holland &amp; Knight in Texas and a former federal prosecutor. "The evidence of `conspire to overthrow` is all over social media."

Who is bringing the criminal cases?

All of the criminal charges so far have been brought by the U.S. Attorney`s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the U.S. Justice Department. These prosecutors enforce federal laws, as well as the District of Columbia`s criminal code.

Federal prosecutors around the country could also bring charges if plans to carry out violence were made within their jurisdictions.

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected.

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected. Five people died as a result of the riot, including a Capitol Police officer. No one has been charged yet in connection with any of those deaths. Several different criminal statutes and theories of liability could be used against the rioters, legal experts said. Here is an overview of some of the potential charges, including seditious conspiracy and felony murder. What criminal charges have been filed so far? Some of the more than 50 defendants in the federal district and superior courts have been charged with gun-related offenses. There are federal laws against carrying a gun in the Capitol building, and possessing an unregistered firearm or unlicensed ammunition in the District of Columbia. A Seattle man, Mark Leffingwell, has been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, a federal crime. He is accused of punching a Capitol Police officer in a separate incident from the one that led to an officer`s death. A lawyer for Leffingwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Several dozen individuals have been charged with unlawful entry on the Capitol grounds, which is a crime under the Washington D.C. criminal code and federal law. Those include Nicholas Ochs, a member of the far-right group Proud Boys, who posted a photo of himself inside the Capitol building. A lawyer for Ochs could not be identified. Could multiple people be charged with killing a police officer? Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on Thursday. Sicknick "was injured while physically engaging with protesters," the police department said in a statement. He collapsed after he returned to his divisional office, the statement said. Sicknick was one of the five people to die as a result of the riot. A top priority for law enforcement will be identifying anyone responsible for Sicknick`s death, said Matt Jones, a former federal prosecutor in Washington now at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. If someone assaulted Sicknick, that person could be charged with murder or manslaughter. Anyone who assisted the main perpetrator could face criminal charges for "aiding and abetting" murder or manslaughter. If Sicknick was killed as part of a coordinated plot to attack individuals inside the Capitol, individuals involved in that scheme could be charged as co-conspirators, Jones said. "Prosecutors are no doubt scouring every phone and social media post they can," Jones said. "And, to the extent they show an intent to cause harm to an officer, or member of Congress or their staff, that will dramatically move the ball forward." Jay Town, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said rioters who were simply present in the room when Sicknick was engaged with protesters are far less likely to be charged. "To assign culpability beyond the actual assailant, or those that aided or abetted them, would normally require proof that other individuals knew that the commission of their criminal acts might likely lead to death or serious bodily injury," Town said. Could there be felony murder charges? There is a doctrine of U.S. law, recognized in Washington, called felony murder, which allows prosecutors to charge people with murder even if they did not intend to kill. Typically, a defendant is charged with felony murder if they engage in a violent crime and a death indirectly results from their actions. Ken Kohl, a top prosecutor on the case, said at a news conference on Friday that felony murder "is always in play in something like this." Legal experts said more facts were needed to determine if this theory of liability would apply. Jones said it could be difficult to bring felony murder charges. To do so, prosecutors may need to prove certain underlying offenses such as armed robbery or kidnapping, which do not appear to be present here. What about sedition? It is very possible individuals will be charged with a federal law that bans efforts to overthrow the government, legal experts said. That law prohibits conspiring to "overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force" the U.S. government. The statute "will absolutely apply once the investigation is completed," said Justo Mendez, a criminal defense attorney at Holland & Knight in Texas and a former federal prosecutor. "The evidence of `conspire to overthrow` is all over social media." Who is bringing the criminal cases? All of the criminal charges so far have been brought by the U.S. Attorney`s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the U.S. Justice Department. These prosecutors enforce federal laws, as well as the District of Columbia`s criminal code. Federal prosecutors around the country could also bring charges if plans to carry out violence were made within their jurisdictions.

Explainer: What crimes can the US Capitol rioters be charged with?

Federal agents in US have arrested two more Capitol Hill rioters whose images had gone viral. One of them carried the House speaker's lectern and another wore horns and a fur pelt.

Five people have died, including a police officer, following the storming of the Capitol on Wednesday.

Dozens of people have been charged in the aftermath, and the FBI has been asking the public to help identify participants given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet.&nbsp;

Jacob Anthony Chansley, who featured prominently on social media wearing horns, a fur pelt, face paint and brandishing a spear adorned with the US flag, turned himself in to police, the Department of Justice said.

Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, called the FBI's Washington office on Thursday and later told agents "he came as part of a group effort with other 'patriots' from Arizona, at the request of the President that all 'patriots' come to DC on January 6," the DOJ said in a release.

Before his arrest, NBC network reported, Chansley gloated about how the crowd infiltrated the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to flee.

Federal agents also arrested Adam Christian Johnson, whose photo as he smiled and waved as he carried off House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern also went viral.&nbsp;

Johnson, of Parrish, Florida, also streamed live video on Facebook of himself as he walked the halls of the Capitol, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The video has been removed from online platforms and all of Johnson's pages have been taken down.

One man who was arrested in connection with the events at the Capitol and threats to lawmakers told FBI agents he arrived in Washington on Thursday, a day late for the rally, after being delayed en route in Ohio, federal court documents showed.

Cleveland Meredith was found with a Tavor X95 assault rifle, a Glock pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and was detained in connection with making threats to Pelosi after an FBI agent read January 7 text messages in which Meredith talked about "putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV" and running her over with his truck.

At least a dozen other people were facing criminal charges in US District Court for the District of Columbia in connection to the riot, and at least another 40 people faced lesser charges in the District of Columbia Superior Court, a local venue. Many of them were arraigned on Thursday and released, with an order from the judge not to return to Washington unless for court appearances or meetings with their attorneys.

They included Richard Barnett, the Gravette, Arkansas, man who was photographed sitting at Pelosi's desk, his feet up on the furniture.

Also, the FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. Sicknick had just been sworn in with the US Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

(with inputs from agencies)

Federal agents in US have arrested two more Capitol Hill rioters whose images had gone viral. One of them carried the House speaker's lectern and another wore horns and a fur pelt.

Federal agents in US have arrested two more Capitol Hill rioters whose images had gone viral. One of them carried the House speaker's lectern and another wore horns and a fur pelt. Five people have died, including a police officer, following the storming of the Capitol on Wednesday. Dozens of people have been charged in the aftermath, and the FBI has been asking the public to help identify participants given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet. Jacob Anthony Chansley, who featured prominently on social media wearing horns, a fur pelt, face paint and brandishing a spear adorned with the US flag, turned himself in to police, the Department of Justice said. Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, called the FBI's Washington office on Thursday and later told agents "he came as part of a group effort with other 'patriots' from Arizona, at the request of the President that all 'patriots' come to DC on January 6," the DOJ said in a release. Before his arrest, NBC network reported, Chansley gloated about how the crowd infiltrated the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to flee. Federal agents also arrested Adam Christian Johnson, whose photo as he smiled and waved as he carried off House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern also went viral. Johnson, of Parrish, Florida, also streamed live video on Facebook of himself as he walked the halls of the Capitol, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The video has been removed from online platforms and all of Johnson's pages have been taken down. One man who was arrested in connection with the events at the Capitol and threats to lawmakers told FBI agents he arrived in Washington on Thursday, a day late for the rally, after being delayed en route in Ohio, federal court documents showed. Cleveland Meredith was found with a Tavor X95 assault rifle, a Glock pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and was detained in connection with making threats to Pelosi after an FBI agent read January 7 text messages in which Meredith talked about "putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV" and running her over with his truck. At least a dozen other people were facing criminal charges in US District Court for the District of Columbia in connection to the riot, and at least another 40 people faced lesser charges in the District of Columbia Superior Court, a local venue. Many of them were arraigned on Thursday and released, with an order from the judge not to return to Washington unless for court appearances or meetings with their attorneys. They included Richard Barnett, the Gravette, Arkansas, man who was photographed sitting at Pelosi's desk, his feet up on the furniture. Also, the FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. Sicknick had just been sworn in with the US Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream. (with inputs from agencies)

US House Democrats to introduce Trump impeachment article on Monday

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the&nbsp;United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan,&nbsp;a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency.

In a statement, Pompeo said that for several decades the State Department had created complex internal restrictions on interactions with Taiwanese counterparts by American diplomats, service members and other officials.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-taiwan-defence-deal-taiwan-buys-jets-from-lockheed-martin-320755/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing," Pompeo said in a statement.

"Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions," he added.

He said the "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, service members and others had been imposed "in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing."

"The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. ... Today’s statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy," Pompeo said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-not-part-of-china-says-mike-pompeo-beijing-fumes-342920">Taiwan not part of China, says Mike Pompeo; Beijing fumes</a>

China claims democratic and separately ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and regularly describe Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States.

While the United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration has ramped up backing for the island country, with arms sales and laws to help Taiwan deal with pressure from China.

The declaration may be more symbolic than substantive in effect, but it nonetheless appears certain to anger China, which sees Taiwan as its own territory.

It comes in the final weeks of the Donald Trump administration, and at a time of already heightened tensions between Beijing and both Washington and Taipei.&nbsp;

It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy.

The shift comes after a year of mounting US-Chinese tensions.&nbsp;

Pompeo, who has taken an increasingly hard-line stance toward China and identified it as the principal long-term threat faced by the United States, has repeatedly used the red-button Taiwan issue to push back against Beijing.

In November, he appeared to call into question the long-standing US&nbsp;"one-China policy" by stating in a radio interview that Taiwan "has not been a part of China," causing Beijing to warn that behaviour that undermined "China's core interests and interferes with China's domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack."

The United States is Taiwan's strongest international backer and arms supplier and is obliged to help provide it with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Clash over envoy's visit

Trump has sent multiple senior officials to Taipei over the last year, even as he clashed with China on a host of issues, ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic to disputes over trade, security and human rights.

Pompeo's statement also came just two days after China warned the United States it would pay a "heavy price" if its United Nations ambassador, Kelly Craft, made good on plans to travel to Taiwan on Wednesday.

Beijing opposes any diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

Craft's scheduled three-day visit will come just a week before Joe Biden's inauguration as US president, adding to a string of diplomatic headaches facing the incoming administration.

"The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," the Chinese mission to the UN said in a statement responding to Craft's planned trip.

"China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations... and stop going further on the wrong path."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan, a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that the United States is ending decades-old restrictions governing official contacts with Taiwan, a move likely to anger China and increase tensions between Beijing and Washington in the waning days of President Donald Trump's presidency. In a statement, Pompeo said that for several decades the State Department had created complex internal restrictions on interactions with Taiwanese counterparts by American diplomats, service members and other officials. "The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing," Pompeo said in a statement. "Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions," he added. He said the "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, service members and others had been imposed "in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing." "The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. ... Today’s statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy," Pompeo said. Also read: Taiwan not part of China, says Mike Pompeo; Beijing fumes China claims democratic and separately ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and regularly describe Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States. While the United States, like most countries, has no official relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration has ramped up backing for the island country, with arms sales and laws to help Taiwan deal with pressure from China. The declaration may be more symbolic than substantive in effect, but it nonetheless appears certain to anger China, which sees Taiwan as its own territory. It comes in the final weeks of the Donald Trump administration, and at a time of already heightened tensions between Beijing and both Washington and Taipei. It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy. The shift comes after a year of mounting US-Chinese tensions. Pompeo, who has taken an increasingly hard-line stance toward China and identified it as the principal long-term threat faced by the United States, has repeatedly used the red-button Taiwan issue to push back against Beijing. In November, he appeared to call into question the long-standing US "one-China policy" by stating in a radio interview that Taiwan "has not been a part of China," causing Beijing to warn that behaviour that undermined "China's core interests and interferes with China's domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counterattack." The United States is Taiwan's strongest international backer and arms supplier and is obliged to help provide it with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. Clash over envoy's visit Trump has sent multiple senior officials to Taipei over the last year, even as he clashed with China on a host of issues, ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic to disputes over trade, security and human rights. Pompeo's statement also came just two days after China warned the United States it would pay a "heavy price" if its United Nations ambassador, Kelly Craft, made good on plans to travel to Taiwan on Wednesday. Beijing opposes any diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. Craft's scheduled three-day visit will come just a week before Joe Biden's inauguration as US president, adding to a string of diplomatic headaches facing the incoming administration. "The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," the Chinese mission to the UN said in a statement responding to Craft's planned trip. "China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-US relations... and stop going further on the wrong path."

In a move likely to anger China, Pompeo lifts restrictions on US-Taiwan relationship

Major technology companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as telecommunications giants like Comcast and Verizon, are among the nearly 1,000 people and groups that have donated at least $200 to the committee organizing President-elect Joe Biden’s scaled-back inauguration celebration this month.

The donor list, released Saturday evening by the committee, was filled mostly with individual donors, including major givers to Democrats such as Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons; Richard Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California; and Donald Sussman, a hedge fund mogul.

The inaugural committee did not list any of the amounts that these 959 donors had given as of Dec. 31, the end of the period covered in the voluntary disclosure.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indoguration-for-major-biden-as-joe-biden-prepares-white-house-move-355817" hreflang="en">'Indoguration' for Major Biden as Joe Biden prepares White House move</a>

The actual donor amounts may not be known until 90 days after the inauguration when the committee will be required under law to disclose the names and amounts of all donations over $200. Biden’s committee limited contributions by individuals to $500,000 and by corporations to $1 million.

Technology and telecommunications industries are well represented on the list, with donations also coming from Qualcomm, a semiconductor and software company based in California, and Charter Communications, a cable company.

Google was included on the list because it provided online security protections without charge to the inaugural committee, said José Castañeda, a Google spokesman.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/george-w-bushs-childhood-home-eyed-for-national-park-service-inclusion-355813" hreflang="en">George W. Bush’s childhood home eyed for national park service inclusion</a>

Other corporate donations came from the Enterprise Holdings political action committee, which is associated with the company that owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands.

Health care companies also are prominent on the list, including Anthem Inc., the health insurance giant, MedPoint Management, which provides management services to physicians groups, and Masimo Corp., a maker of electronic patient monitoring devices.

Boeing Co., the aerospace and military contracting giant, is also listed as a donor.

Labor unions including American Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers union made contributions.

There was also a sprinkling of celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, on the list.

A spokesman for the inauguration declined to comment when asked Saturday how much in total Biden’s committee had raised.

Biden has urged his supporters not to travel to Washington for the inauguration Jan. 20, because outside of the swearing-in ceremony, there will be few large-scale in-person events.

Major technology companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as telecommunications giants like Comcast and Verizon, are among the nearly 1,000 people and groups that have donated at least $200 to the committee organizing President-elect Joe Biden’s scaled-back inauguration celebration this month.

Major technology companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as telecommunications giants like Comcast and Verizon, are among the nearly 1,000 people and groups that have donated at least $200 to the committee organizing President-elect Joe Biden’s scaled-back inauguration celebration this month. The donor list, released Saturday evening by the committee, was filled mostly with individual donors, including major givers to Democrats such as Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons; Richard Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California; and Donald Sussman, a hedge fund mogul. The inaugural committee did not list any of the amounts that these 959 donors had given as of Dec. 31, the end of the period covered in the voluntary disclosure. Also read| 'Indoguration' for Major Biden as Joe Biden prepares White House move The actual donor amounts may not be known until 90 days after the inauguration when the committee will be required under law to disclose the names and amounts of all donations over $200. Biden’s committee limited contributions by individuals to $500,000 and by corporations to $1 million. Technology and telecommunications industries are well represented on the list, with donations also coming from Qualcomm, a semiconductor and software company based in California, and Charter Communications, a cable company. Google was included on the list because it provided online security protections without charge to the inaugural committee, said José Castañeda, a Google spokesman. Also read| George W. Bush’s childhood home eyed for national park service inclusion Other corporate donations came from the Enterprise Holdings political action committee, which is associated with the company that owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Health care companies also are prominent on the list, including Anthem Inc., the health insurance giant, MedPoint Management, which provides management services to physicians groups, and Masimo Corp., a maker of electronic patient monitoring devices. Boeing Co., the aerospace and military contracting giant, is also listed as a donor. Labor unions including American Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers union made contributions. There was also a sprinkling of celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, on the list. A spokesman for the inauguration declined to comment when asked Saturday how much in total Biden’s committee had raised. Biden has urged his supporters not to travel to Washington for the inauguration Jan. 20, because outside of the swearing-in ceremony, there will be few large-scale in-person events.

Major technology companies join list of Biden inaugural donors

WASHINGTON — When Simon &amp;amp; Schuster canceled its plans this week to publish Sen. Josh Hawley’s book, he called the action “a direct assault on the First Amendment.”

And when Twitter permanently banned President Donald Trump’s account Friday, his family and his supporters said similar things. “We are living Orwell’s 1984,” Donald Trump Jr. said — on Twitter. “Free-speech no longer exists in America.”

The companies’ decisions may have been unwise, scholars who study the First Amendment said, but they were perfectly lawful. That is because the First Amendment prohibits government censorship and does not apply to decisions made by private businesses.

It is certainly possible to violate the values embodied in the First Amendment without violating the First Amendment itself. But the basic legal question could hardly be more straightforward, said RonNell Andersen Jones, a law professor at the University of Utah. And, she said, it should not have been lost on Hawley, who graduated from Yale Law School and served as a law clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts.

“It’s become popular — even among those who plainly know better — to label all matters restricting anyone’s speech as a ‘First Amendment issue,’” she said. “But the First Amendment limits only government actors, and neither a social media company nor a book publisher is the government. Indeed, they enjoy their own First Amendment rights not to have the government require them to associate with speech when they prefer not to do so.”

But many in the legal community were nonetheless uneasy about the developments, which underscored the enormous power of a handful of social media companies that are largely insulated from accountability and may change positions on what speech is acceptable as executives come and go.

“I want a wide range of ideas, even those I loathe, to be heard, and I think Twitter especially holds a concerning degree of power over public discourse,” said Gregory Magarian, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

But Magarian said the president and Hawley were in particularly poor positions to complain.

“The First Amendment doesn’t require any private forum to publish anyone’s speech,” he said. “Neither Twitter nor Simon &amp;amp; Schuster has any obligations under the First Amendment.” He added: “Any suggestion that people like Trump and Hawley, and the viewpoints they espouse, will ever lack meaningful access to public attention is ludicrous. We should worry about private power over speech, but presidents and senators are the last speakers we need to worry about.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, too, said the free-speech interests involved in suspending Trump’s Twitter account were complicated.

“We understand the desire to permanently suspend him now, but it should concern everyone when companies like Facebook and Twitter wield the unchecked power to remove people from platforms that have become indispensable for the speech of billions,” said Kate Ruane, an ACLU lawyer. “President Trump can turn to his press team or Fox News to communicate with the public, but others — like the many Black, brown and LGBTQ activists who have been censored by social media companies — will not have that luxury.”

Hawley’s book, titled “The Tyranny of Big Tech,” was to have been published in June. In canceling it, Simon &amp;amp; Schuster said that “it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints” but that Hawley had crossed a line in light of “the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington.”

“We take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens,” the company said, “and cannot support Sen. Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”

The publisher was free to make that decision, legal experts said, but that does not mean it was the right one.

As it happens, the Supreme Court may decide as soon as Monday whether to hear a case about Trump’s Twitter account, one that nicely illustrates some of the distinctions raised by the recent developments. Lower courts have ruled that Trump violated the First Amendment by blocking users from his account.

Since Trump is a government official who used the account to conduct official business, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, in New York, ruled in 2019 that the account was a public forum from which he was powerless to exclude people based on their viewpoints.

“We conclude that the evidence of the official nature of the account is overwhelming,” Judge Barrington Parker wrote for the court. “We also conclude that once the president has chosen a platform and opened up its interactive space to millions of users and participants, he may not selectively exclude those whose views he disagrees with.”

Had the account been private, Parker wrote, Trump could have blocked whomever he wanted — for instance, the user who observed that “the same guy who doesn’t proofread his Twitter handles the nuclear button.”

But since he used the account in his official role as a government official, he was subject to the First Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on viewpoints.

Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued Trump over his handling of his account, explained the distinction.

“We sued the president, not Twitter, and this makes all the difference, legally,” he said. “Government actors have to comply with the First Amendment, but private corporations don’t.”

“As a result,” Jaffer said, “the president can’t block people from his social media accounts based on their political views, but Twitter can ban people from its platform for pretty much whatever reasons it wants to. Reasonable people can disagree about whether Twitter was right to ban Trump, but there’s no question it was legally entitled to do it.”

Internet platforms should voluntarily embrace First Amendment values, he said, and generally allow citizens to assess the statements of politicians for themselves. But there are limits, he said, and incitement to violence is among them.

“To take an account down in these circumstances is not an affront to free speech, as some have suggested,” Jaffer said. “To the contrary, it’s the responsible exercise of a First Amendment right.”

Twitter’s permanent suspension of Trump may make the pending case moot, leaving Supreme Court jurisprudence in this area a work in progress.

In 2017, for instance, the court considered the constitutionality of a North Carolina law that barred registered sex offenders from using Facebook, Twitter and similar services in Packingham v. North Carolina. When the case was argued, the justices discussed just how thoroughly social media had transformed American civic discourse.

Justice Elena Kagan said that Trump, every governor and every member of Congress had Twitter accounts.

“So this has become a crucially important channel of political communication,” she said. “And a person couldn’t go onto those sites and find out what these members of our government are thinking or saying or doing.”

Justice Samuel Alito said, a little incredulously, “I know there are people who think that life is not possible without Twitter and Facebook.”

In the end, the court unanimously struck down the law, though the justices could not agree on a rationale. Writing for the majority in his characteristically cryptic manner, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in 2018, said the internet was poised to transform First Amendment jurisprudence.

“While we now may be coming to the realization that the cyberage is a revolution of historic proportions, we cannot appreciate yet its full dimensions and vast potential to alter how we think, express ourselves and define who we want to be,” he wrote. “The forces and directions of the internet are so new, so protean and so far-reaching that courts must be conscious that what they say today might be obsolete tomorrow.”

WASHINGTON — When Simon &amp; Schuster canceled its plans this week to publish Sen. Josh Hawley’s book, he called the action “a direct assault on the First Amendment.

WASHINGTON — When Simon &amp; Schuster canceled its plans this week to publish Sen. Josh Hawley’s book, he called the action “a direct assault on the First Amendment.” And when Twitter permanently banned President Donald Trump’s account Friday, his family and his supporters said similar things. “We are living Orwell’s 1984,” Donald Trump Jr. said — on Twitter. “Free-speech no longer exists in America.” The companies’ decisions may have been unwise, scholars who study the First Amendment said, but they were perfectly lawful. That is because the First Amendment prohibits government censorship and does not apply to decisions made by private businesses. It is certainly possible to violate the values embodied in the First Amendment without violating the First Amendment itself. But the basic legal question could hardly be more straightforward, said RonNell Andersen Jones, a law professor at the University of Utah. And, she said, it should not have been lost on Hawley, who graduated from Yale Law School and served as a law clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts. “It’s become popular — even among those who plainly know better — to label all matters restricting anyone’s speech as a ‘First Amendment issue,’” she said. “But the First Amendment limits only government actors, and neither a social media company nor a book publisher is the government. Indeed, they enjoy their own First Amendment rights not to have the government require them to associate with speech when they prefer not to do so.” But many in the legal community were nonetheless uneasy about the developments, which underscored the enormous power of a handful of social media companies that are largely insulated from accountability and may change positions on what speech is acceptable as executives come and go. “I want a wide range of ideas, even those I loathe, to be heard, and I think Twitter especially holds a concerning degree of power over public discourse,” said Gregory Magarian, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. But Magarian said the president and Hawley were in particularly poor positions to complain. “The First Amendment doesn’t require any private forum to publish anyone’s speech,” he said. “Neither Twitter nor Simon &amp; Schuster has any obligations under the First Amendment.” He added: “Any suggestion that people like Trump and Hawley, and the viewpoints they espouse, will ever lack meaningful access to public attention is ludicrous. We should worry about private power over speech, but presidents and senators are the last speakers we need to worry about.” The American Civil Liberties Union, too, said the free-speech interests involved in suspending Trump’s Twitter account were complicated. “We understand the desire to permanently suspend him now, but it should concern everyone when companies like Facebook and Twitter wield the unchecked power to remove people from platforms that have become indispensable for the speech of billions,” said Kate Ruane, an ACLU lawyer. “President Trump can turn to his press team or Fox News to communicate with the public, but others — like the many Black, brown and LGBTQ activists who have been censored by social media companies — will not have that luxury.” Hawley’s book, titled “The Tyranny of Big Tech,” was to have been published in June. In canceling it, Simon &amp; Schuster said that “it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints” but that Hawley had crossed a line in light of “the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington.” “We take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens,” the company said, “and cannot support Sen. Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.” The publisher was free to make that decision, legal experts said, but that does not mean it was the right one. As it happens, the Supreme Court may decide as soon as Monday whether to hear a case about Trump’s Twitter account, one that nicely illustrates some of the distinctions raised by the recent developments. Lower courts have ruled that Trump violated the First Amendment by blocking users from his account. Since Trump is a government official who used the account to conduct official business, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, in New York, ruled in 2019 that the account was a public forum from which he was powerless to exclude people based on their viewpoints. “We conclude that the evidence of the official nature of the account is overwhelming,” Judge Barrington Parker wrote for the court. “We also conclude that once the president has chosen a platform and opened up its interactive space to millions of users and participants, he may not selectively exclude those whose views he disagrees with.” Had the account been private, Parker wrote, Trump could have blocked whomever he wanted — for instance, the user who observed that “the same guy who doesn’t proofread his Twitter handles the nuclear button.” But since he used the account in his official role as a government official, he was subject to the First Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on viewpoints. Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which sued Trump over his handling of his account, explained the distinction. “We sued the president, not Twitter, and this makes all the difference, legally,” he said. “Government actors have to comply with the First Amendment, but private corporations don’t.” “As a result,” Jaffer said, “the president can’t block people from his social media accounts based on their political views, but Twitter can ban people from its platform for pretty much whatever reasons it wants to. Reasonable people can disagree about whether Twitter was right to ban Trump, but there’s no question it was legally entitled to do it.” Internet platforms should voluntarily embrace First Amendment values, he said, and generally allow citizens to assess the statements of politicians for themselves. But there are limits, he said, and incitement to violence is among them. “To take an account down in these circumstances is not an affront to free speech, as some have suggested,” Jaffer said. “To the contrary, it’s the responsible exercise of a First Amendment right.” Twitter’s permanent suspension of Trump may make the pending case moot, leaving Supreme Court jurisprudence in this area a work in progress. In 2017, for instance, the court considered the constitutionality of a North Carolina law that barred registered sex offenders from using Facebook, Twitter and similar services in Packingham v. North Carolina. When the case was argued, the justices discussed just how thoroughly social media had transformed American civic discourse. Justice Elena Kagan said that Trump, every governor and every member of Congress had Twitter accounts. “So this has become a crucially important channel of political communication,” she said. “And a person couldn’t go onto those sites and find out what these members of our government are thinking or saying or doing.” Justice Samuel Alito said, a little incredulously, “I know there are people who think that life is not possible without Twitter and Facebook.” In the end, the court unanimously struck down the law, though the justices could not agree on a rationale. Writing for the majority in his characteristically cryptic manner, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired in 2018, said the internet was poised to transform First Amendment jurisprudence. “While we now may be coming to the realization that the cyberage is a revolution of historic proportions, we cannot appreciate yet its full dimensions and vast potential to alter how we think, express ourselves and define who we want to be,” he wrote. “The forces and directions of the internet are so new, so protean and so far-reaching that courts must be conscious that what they say today might be obsolete tomorrow.”

Can Twitter legally bar Trump? The first amendment says yes

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