<p>President-elect Joe Biden has slammed Republican lawmakers who refused to wear masks while huddling in a secure location during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol despite the threat of coronavirus, telling them that "it's time to grow up".</p>

<p>At least four members of US Congress -- including Democratic leaders Pramila Jayapal, Brad Schneider and Bonnie Watson Coleman -- have tested positive for COVID-19 since the Capitol attack by Trump's supporters which left five people dead.</p>

<p>"Quite frankly, it was shocking to see members of the Congress while the Capitol was under siege by a deadly mob of thugs refusing to wear a mask while they were in secure locations," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday.</p>

<p>"I'm so proud of my congresswoman, right here in the state of Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester, trying to hand out masks while people are lying on the floor huddled up, and her Republican colleagues were refusing to put them on.</p>

<p>What the hell is the matter with you? It's time to grow up," he said.</p>

<p>"The result? At least four members of Congress today, including a cancer survivor, now have COVID-19 who were in those rooms," Biden said Congresswoman Coleman, who recently tested COVID-19 positive, is a 75-year-old cancer survivor.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has imposed fines this week on members who refuse to wear masks on the House floor, with a USD 500 penalty for a first offence and USD 2,500 for a second offence.</p>

<p>Biden said wearing a mask is not a political, but a lifesaving issue.</p>

<p>"For God's sake, wear a mask if not for yourself, for your loved ones, for your country. These are real matters of life and death. We need you to stick with the handwashing, social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings with people outside your own household," he said.</p>

<p>"I hope we now know this is not a political issue. This is about saving lives. I know it's become a partisan issue, but what a stupid, stupid thing for it to happen. This is a patriotic act. We are asking you, we're in a war with this virus, and experts saying--have shown that wearing a mask from now until April will save as many as 50,000 lives," the Democratic leader said.</p>

<p>US is the worst-hit nation in the world with over 23,530,460 coronavirus cases and more than 392,100 deaths due to the disease.</p>

<p>Biden reiterated his plans to call on all Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in office.</p>

<p>"The day we're inaugurated, we're going to ask you to mask up for the next 100 days.</p>

<p>This is not a political issue.</p>

<p>And I will issue an executive order to require a mask where I have the authority to do that, in federal worker--for federal workers on federal property, on interstate travel by train and planes," he said.</p>

<p>"We'll also be working with mayors and governors in red states and blue states and require mask--and ask them to require masking up in their cities and their states," he said.</p>

<p>The coronavirus pandemic, Biden said, can't solve US' problems as a divided nation.</p>

<p>"The only way we come through this is if we come through together as Americans, fellow Americans, as the United States of America.</p>

<p>Vice President-elect Harris and I ran on that vision.</p>

<p>And starting at noon on Wednesday, that's exactly how we're going to govern and ask for your help," he said.</p>


President-elect Joe Biden has slammed Republican lawmakers who refused to wear masks while huddling in a secure location during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol despite the threat of coronavirus, telling them that "it's time to grow up".

President-elect Joe Biden has slammed Republican lawmakers who refused to wear masks while huddling in a secure location during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol despite the threat of coronavirus, telling them that "it's time to grow up". At least four members of US Congress -- including Democratic leaders Pramila Jayapal, Brad Schneider and Bonnie Watson Coleman -- have tested positive for COVID-19 since the Capitol attack by Trump's supporters which left five people dead. "Quite frankly, it was shocking to see members of the Congress while the Capitol was under siege by a deadly mob of thugs refusing to wear a mask while they were in secure locations," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware on Friday. "I'm so proud of my congresswoman, right here in the state of Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester, trying to hand out masks while people are lying on the floor huddled up, and her Republican colleagues were refusing to put them on. What the hell is the matter with you? It's time to grow up," he said. "The result? At least four members of Congress today, including a cancer survivor, now have COVID-19 who were in those rooms," Biden said Congresswoman Coleman, who recently tested COVID-19 positive, is a 75-year-old cancer survivor. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has imposed fines this week on members who refuse to wear masks on the House floor, with a USD 500 penalty for a first offence and USD 2,500 for a second offence. Biden said wearing a mask is not a political, but a lifesaving issue. "For God's sake, wear a mask if not for yourself, for your loved ones, for your country. These are real matters of life and death. We need you to stick with the handwashing, social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings with people outside your own household," he said. "I hope we now know this is not a political issue. This is about saving lives. I know it's become a partisan issue, but what a stupid, stupid thing for it to happen. This is a patriotic act. We are asking you, we're in a war with this virus, and experts saying--have shown that wearing a mask from now until April will save as many as 50,000 lives," the Democratic leader said. US is the worst-hit nation in the world with over 23,530,460 coronavirus cases and more than 392,100 deaths due to the disease. Biden reiterated his plans to call on all Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in office. "The day we're inaugurated, we're going to ask you to mask up for the next 100 days. This is not a political issue. And I will issue an executive order to require a mask where I have the authority to do that, in federal worker--for federal workers on federal property, on interstate travel by train and planes," he said. "We'll also be working with mayors and governors in red states and blue states and require mask--and ask them to require masking up in their cities and their states," he said. The coronavirus pandemic, Biden said, can't solve US' problems as a divided nation. "The only way we come through this is if we come through together as Americans, fellow Americans, as the United States of America. Vice President-elect Harris and I ran on that vision. And starting at noon on Wednesday, that's exactly how we're going to govern and ask for your help," he said.

Biden slams Republican lawmakers for not wearing masks during Capitol Hill attack

<p>President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as &quot;shithole countries&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They&#39;re shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway&quot; he said. He further slammed the need for&nbsp;Haitians in the United States.</p>

<p>Trump&#39;s comments, made in the White House, came as Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham informed the president on a newly drafted immigration bill under works by a bipartisan group of senators.</p>

<p>The lawmakers were discussing how certain immigration programs work, including one to give safe haven in the United States to people from countries suffering from natural disasters and similar issues.</p>

<p>Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Senator&nbsp;David Gergen said called Trump a bull carrying &quot;around his own china shop&quot;.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Message from President of the US to foreigners: If you aren&#39;t white, you aren&#39;t welcome. A stream of stunning... <a href="https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7">https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7</a></p>
&mdash; David Gergen (@David_Gergen) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Gergen/status/951608149089357825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Lawyer David Leopold said that &quot;With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law &amp; policy have known since early last year; the Administration&#39;s draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">With his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shithole?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shithole</a> countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/immigration?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#immigration</a> law &amp; policy have known since early last year; the Administration&#39;s draconian <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/immigration?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#immigration</a> enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color.</p>
&mdash; David Leopold (@DavidLeopold) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidLeopold/status/951602973523791872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a frequent Trump critic, also took to Twitter to express his thoughts.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President Trump&rsquo;s remarks smack of blatant racism &ndash; odious and insidious racism masquerading poorly as immigration policy. He does not speak for me as an American.</p>
&mdash; Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/951602887829925888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Republican US&nbsp;Representative Mia Love, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, said the comments were &quot;unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation`s values&quot; and called on Trump to apologise to the American people and to the countries he denigrated.</p>

<p>Another Republican Representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Cuba and whose south Florida district includes many Haitian immigrants, said: &quot;Language like that shouldn`t be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn`t be heard in the White House.&quot;</p>

<p>Trump had moved to end the status for immigrants from El Salvador, which could result in 200,000 Salvadorans legally in the United States being deported, and other countries.</p>

<p>The bipartisan Senate plan would attempt to maintain TPS in return for ending or changing a &quot;diversity&quot; lottery programme that has been aimed at allowing up to 50,000 people a year from countries with few emigres to the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked about Trump&#39;s quips, White House spokesman Raj Shah said: &quot;Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation,&quot; Shah said.</p>

<p>Trump questioned why the United States should take in unskilled labourers from the countries under discussion and should instead welcome immigrants from nations that can offer skilled workers.</p>

<p>The source said Trump did not intend any slur.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With agency inputs)</p>


Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump

President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as "shithole countries". "Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They're shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway" he said. He further slammed the need for Haitians in the United States. Trump's comments, made in the White House, came as Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham informed the president on a newly drafted immigration bill under works by a bipartisan group of senators. The lawmakers were discussing how certain immigration programs work, including one to give safe haven in the United States to people from countries suffering from natural disasters and similar issues. Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump. Senator David Gergen said called Trump a bull carrying "around his own china shop". Message from President of the US to foreigners: If you aren't white, you aren't welcome. A stream of stunning... https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7 — David Gergen (@David_Gergen) January 12, 2018 × Lawyer David Leopold said that "With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law & policy have known since early last year; the Administration's draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color." With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law & policy have known since early last year; the Administration's draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color. — David Leopold (@DavidLeopold) January 11, 2018 × Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a frequent Trump critic, also took to Twitter to express his thoughts. President Trump’s remarks smack of blatant racism – odious and insidious racism masquerading poorly as immigration policy. He does not speak for me as an American. — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) January 11, 2018 × Republican US Representative Mia Love, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, said the comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation`s values" and called on Trump to apologise to the American people and to the countries he denigrated. Another Republican Representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Cuba and whose south Florida district includes many Haitian immigrants, said: "Language like that shouldn`t be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn`t be heard in the White House." Trump had moved to end the status for immigrants from El Salvador, which could result in 200,000 Salvadorans legally in the United States being deported, and other countries. The bipartisan Senate plan would attempt to maintain TPS in return for ending or changing a "diversity" lottery programme that has been aimed at allowing up to 50,000 people a year from countries with few emigres to the United States. Asked about Trump's quips, White House spokesman Raj Shah said: "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people." "Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation," Shah said. Trump questioned why the United States should take in unskilled labourers from the countries under discussion and should instead welcome immigrants from nations that can offer skilled workers. The source said Trump did not intend any slur. (With agency inputs)

Lawmakers angry over Trump's expletive on immigrants

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Biden slams Republican lawmakers for not wearing masks during Capitol Hill attack

Lawmakers angry over Trump's expletive on immigrants