US President-elect Donald Trump dismissed speculation that billionaire Elon Musk would take over the presidency, saying "it was not happening". Watch this report for more details!

US: Donald Trump Says Talks Of Ceding US Presidency To Elon Musk Are 'Hoax'

US: Donald Trump Says Elon Musk Is 'Not Taking The Presidency’

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending. But it appears all is not well between the X owner and the incoming American president.

Eyebrows are being raised about the changed body language of the duo when Trump attended a launch event of SpaceX, owned by Musk, on Tuesday (Nov 19) in Texas.

Watch: Trump, Musk Solidify Bond With Texas Trip 
&nbsp;

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Multiple media reports are speculating that the cause could be Musk's assertive and mercurial personality, and his claiming of credit for Trump's shock victory against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.

The apparent coldness - or even anxiety- of Trump at the Tuesday SpaceX event comes amid Musk's reported arguments with other members of the Trump transition team.

Earlier, US media reports said that there was an argument at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida between Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a member of the Trump legal team.

Musk reportedly complained that Epshteyn was pushing people who were not qualified for jobs in the incoming Trump administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-trumps-inner-circle-cracking-musk-and-trumps-legal-adviser-had-a-blow-up-report-suggests-777218">Also read: Is Trump's inner circle cracking? Musk and Trump's legal adviser had a blow-up, report suggests</a>

It is also possible that Musk will differ on the issues of visas and migration with incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, who is hawkish&nbsp;on immigration.

Miller was seen as the architect of the 'Muslim ban' in the first Trump administration.

NBC News reported citing sources that Musk was behaving like 'a co-president' and making&nbsp;Trump 'feel indebted' to him. That's not going to go down well with the Republican.

<h2>Body language expert breaks down lack of warmth between Trump and Musk</h2>

A report in the UK paper The Telegraph even employed a body language expert to examine the changed attitude of Trump towards Musk.

The expert, Darren Stanton, said Trump looked like a 'fish out of water' at the SpaceX event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-wont-go-home-cant-get-rid-of-him-trump-says-after-billionaires-constant-presence-at-his-home-776219">Also read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home</a> 
 
Trump 'kept his arms hanging limply at his side: an act of anxiety and awkwardness,' the paper cited Stanton, who found Trump to be "very uneasy… usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room."

"I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk...He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.”

The report said Trump's 'power gestures' characteristic of his alpha male persona were missing.

As Musk gestured across to Starship of SpaceX, the largest rocket ever built, Trump "buttoned up his jacket before checking each of his pockets",&nbsp;according to Stanton who suggested he was 'a little intimidated'.

Stanton claimed that the only other person Trump is similarly submissive to is Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending.

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending. But it appears all is not well between the X owner and the incoming American president. Eyebrows are being raised about the changed body language of the duo when Trump attended a launch event of SpaceX, owned by Musk, on Tuesday (Nov 19) in Texas. Watch: Trump, Musk Solidify Bond With Texas Trip × Multiple media reports are speculating that the cause could be Musk's assertive and mercurial personality, and his claiming of credit for Trump's shock victory against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. The apparent coldness - or even anxiety- of Trump at the Tuesday SpaceX event comes amid Musk's reported arguments with other members of the Trump transition team. Earlier, US media reports said that there was an argument at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida between Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a member of the Trump legal team. Musk reportedly complained that Epshteyn was pushing people who were not qualified for jobs in the incoming Trump administration. Also read: Is Trump's inner circle cracking? Musk and Trump's legal adviser had a blow-up, report suggests It is also possible that Musk will differ on the issues of visas and migration with incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, who is hawkish on immigration. Miller was seen as the architect of the 'Muslim ban' in the first Trump administration. NBC News reported citing sources that Musk was behaving like 'a co-president' and making Trump 'feel indebted' to him. That's not going to go down well with the Republican. Body language expert breaks down lack of warmth between Trump and Musk A report in the UK paper The Telegraph even employed a body language expert to examine the changed attitude of Trump towards Musk. The expert, Darren Stanton, said Trump looked like a 'fish out of water' at the SpaceX event. Also read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home Trump 'kept his arms hanging limply at his side: an act of anxiety and awkwardness,' the paper cited Stanton, who found Trump to be "very uneasy… usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room." "I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk...He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.” The report said Trump's 'power gestures' characteristic of his alpha male persona were missing. As Musk gestured across to Starship of SpaceX, the largest rocket ever built, Trump "buttoned up his jacket before checking each of his pockets", according to Stanton who suggested he was 'a little intimidated'. Stanton claimed that the only other person Trump is similarly submissive to is Russian President Vladimir Putin. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Is the honeymoon over already? Body language changes raise eyebrows

The US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News with anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday (Oct 16) for one of her most challenging interviews to date. The interview quickly turned into a debate, with Baier pressing Harris on key issues like the border, President Biden’s fitness, and Donald Trump’s threat to democracy.

It had hints at what she plans to do if she wins the race for White House in the November 5 election. Here's what a Kamala Harris presidency would look like, based on her answers to Fox News. 
&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Breaking with Biden, but not by much</h2>

Harris offered a rare distinction when asked how her presidency would differ from Joe Biden’s. “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” she said, highlighting her focus on issues like housing and small businesses.&nbsp;

Though a clear attempt to distance herself slightly from the president, Harris’ comments were more rhetorical than substantive.&nbsp;

However, Biden himself recently hinted that he’s comfortable with Harris carving out her own path, saying, “She’s been loyal so far, but she’ll cut her own path.”

When Baier probed further, questioning Biden’s mental faculties, Harris stood firm, stating, “Mr. Biden is more than capable of leading the nation,” while calling Trump “unfit,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.”

<h2 dir="ltr">Immigration and border security: Baier pushes Trump talking points</h2>

Throughout the interview, Baier echoed several of Trump’s key arguments. Nearly half of the 26-minute discussion centred on immigration and border security, areas where Harris has struggled to gain favour with undecided voters.&nbsp;

Baier highlighted stories of women who were victims of undocumented immigrants, a frequent Trump talking point.

At one point, Baier even played a clip from a Trump rally where the former president defended his controversial “enemy from within” comments.&nbsp;

In response, Harris pushed back, redirecting the conversation to Trump’s role in sabotaging bipartisan immigration reform.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-elections-2024-donald-trump-takes-betting-odds-lead-against-kamala-harris-768149">Watch |&nbsp;US Elections 2024: Donald Trump Takes Betting Odds Lead Against Kamala Harris</a>

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<h2 dir="ltr">Appealing to women voters</h2>

One of Harris’ key objectives in the interview was to connect with Republican women, a demographic her campaign hopes to sway.&nbsp;

However, Baier avoided discussing issues like abortion rights—topics that Harris’s campaign sees as crucial to winning over female voters. Instead, the conversation remained focused on border security.

When Baier pressed her on whether the Biden administration owed apologies to families of women killed by undocumented immigrants, Harris expressed condolences but pivoted to emphasise her prosecutorial record and the failures of Trump’s immigration policies.&nbsp;

“Let’s talk about what is happening right now with an individual who does not want to participate in solutions,” she said of Trump.

<h2 dir="ltr">Repeated interruptions highlight gender dynamics</h2>

Harris faced frequent interruptions from Baier, drawing comparisons to how Matt Lauer treated Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.&nbsp;

At one point, Harris had to assert, “You have to let me finish, please.” Despite the interruptions, Harris remained composed, a dynamic that may have resonated with the female viewers her campaign is targeting.

As the interview progressed, Baier acknowledged the interruptions, stating, “We’re talking over each other,” and apologised before the segment ended.

<h2>Limited success in reaching Republicans</h2>

Despite her efforts to appeal to Republicans, the interview underscored the difficulties Harris faces in winning over a largely sceptical conservative audience. Though she repeatedly pointed to former Trump administration officials who support her, the majority of Fox News viewers remain aligned with Trump.

Even some progressives are concerned about Harris’s attempts to reach across the aisle, worried that her focus on courting moderates could dampen enthusiasm among younger, liberal voters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-harris-losing-arab-american-support-in-coming-elections-768137">Also read |&nbsp;Is Kamala Harris losing Arab-American support in coming US elections?</a>

<h2 dir="ltr">Flipping Trump’s transgender attack</h2>

When Baier played a Trump campaign ad accusing Harris of supporting taxpayer-funded gender transition care for prisoners, Harris was quick to turn the tables.&nbsp;

“I will follow the law, and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” she said, pointing out that Trump’s administration provided similar treatments to inmates.&nbsp;

With a smile, she added, “That ad is a little bit of like throwing stones when you’re living in a glass house.”

The US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News with anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday (Oct 16) for one of her most challenging interviews to date. The interview quickly turned into a debate, with Baier pressing Harris on key issues like the border, President Biden’s fitness, and Donald Trump’s threat to democracy.

The US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News with anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday (Oct 16) for one of her most challenging interviews to date. The interview quickly turned into a debate, with Baier pressing Harris on key issues like the border, President Biden’s fitness, and Donald Trump’s threat to democracy. It had hints at what she plans to do if she wins the race for White House in the November 5 election. Here's what a Kamala Harris presidency would look like, based on her answers to Fox News. Breaking with Biden, but not by much Harris offered a rare distinction when asked how her presidency would differ from Joe Biden’s. “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” she said, highlighting her focus on issues like housing and small businesses. Though a clear attempt to distance herself slightly from the president, Harris’ comments were more rhetorical than substantive. However, Biden himself recently hinted that he’s comfortable with Harris carving out her own path, saying, “She’s been loyal so far, but she’ll cut her own path.” When Baier probed further, questioning Biden’s mental faculties, Harris stood firm, stating, “Mr. Biden is more than capable of leading the nation,” while calling Trump “unfit,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.” Immigration and border security: Baier pushes Trump talking points Throughout the interview, Baier echoed several of Trump’s key arguments. Nearly half of the 26-minute discussion centred on immigration and border security, areas where Harris has struggled to gain favour with undecided voters. Baier highlighted stories of women who were victims of undocumented immigrants, a frequent Trump talking point. At one point, Baier even played a clip from a Trump rally where the former president defended his controversial “enemy from within” comments. In response, Harris pushed back, redirecting the conversation to Trump’s role in sabotaging bipartisan immigration reform. Watch | US Elections 2024: Donald Trump Takes Betting Odds Lead Against Kamala Harris × Appealing to women voters One of Harris’ key objectives in the interview was to connect with Republican women, a demographic her campaign hopes to sway. However, Baier avoided discussing issues like abortion rights—topics that Harris’s campaign sees as crucial to winning over female voters. Instead, the conversation remained focused on border security. When Baier pressed her on whether the Biden administration owed apologies to families of women killed by undocumented immigrants, Harris expressed condolences but pivoted to emphasise her prosecutorial record and the failures of Trump’s immigration policies. “Let’s talk about what is happening right now with an individual who does not want to participate in solutions,” she said of Trump. Repeated interruptions highlight gender dynamics Harris faced frequent interruptions from Baier, drawing comparisons to how Matt Lauer treated Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. At one point, Harris had to assert, “You have to let me finish, please.” Despite the interruptions, Harris remained composed, a dynamic that may have resonated with the female viewers her campaign is targeting. As the interview progressed, Baier acknowledged the interruptions, stating, “We’re talking over each other,” and apologised before the segment ended. Limited success in reaching Republicans Despite her efforts to appeal to Republicans, the interview underscored the difficulties Harris faces in winning over a largely sceptical conservative audience. Though she repeatedly pointed to former Trump administration officials who support her, the majority of Fox News viewers remain aligned with Trump. Even some progressives are concerned about Harris’s attempts to reach across the aisle, worried that her focus on courting moderates could dampen enthusiasm among younger, liberal voters. Also read | Is Kamala Harris losing Arab-American support in coming US elections? Flipping Trump’s transgender attack When Baier played a Trump campaign ad accusing Harris of supporting taxpayer-funded gender transition care for prisoners, Harris was quick to turn the tables. “I will follow the law, and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” she said, pointing out that Trump’s administration provided similar treatments to inmates. With a smile, she added, “That ad is a little bit of like throwing stones when you’re living in a glass house.”

What will a Kamala Harris presidency look like? What she said in her toughest interview: Recap and analysis

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of America's renowned political family, suspended his&nbsp;presidential campaign on Friday (Aug 22) and endorsed Donald Trump, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the race for the White House.

"I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory," Kennedy,&nbsp;who was polling in the low single digits, said at a press conference in swing state Arizona.

The 70-year-old criticised the decision to appoint Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee without holding a primary contest.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-assassination-attempt-five-secret-service-agents-placed-on-leave-investigation-still-on-752818">Trump assassination attempt: Five Secret Service agents placed on leave, investigation still on</a>

Kennedy also listed several grievances against his former party, which he said had ultimately driven him to "throw my support to President Trump."

Notably, Kennedy failed to get on the ballot in even half of the 50 US states and his independent candidacy featured a number of bizarre twists -- including his claim to be suffering from a parasitic brain worm and a story about dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park.

In a joint statement endorsing Harris, five of Kennedy's siblings expressed their disapproval, saying, "Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story."

Kennedy's withdrawal came a day after the surging Harris gave an electrifying speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, accepting the party's nomination and embarking on the final 10-week sprint to election day on November 5.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-is-an-unserious-man-the-key-takeaways-from-kamala-harris-dnc-speech-752646">Donald Trump is an unserious man: The key takeaways from Kamala Harris' DNC speech</a>

The analysts have mixed reactions on the effect Kennedy's exit will have on the presidential race and how much of his supporters will gravitate to Trump or Harris.

It may be mentioned here, within few minutes of taking the stage, Trump was welcoming Kennedy to the microphone, accompanied by pyrotechnics and "My Hero" by the Foo Fighters.

An uneasy-looking Kennedy told the cheering crowd that he wanted to collaborate with the future President Trump to "get the chemicals out of our food."

Trump heaped praise on Kennedy, saying they would "fight together to defeat the corrupt political establishment.

Trump also used Kennedy's appearance to announce the formation of what he called an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts.

"They will be tasked with releasing all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy," he said.

The 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s uncle, continues to captivate much of the country and remains the focus of numerous conspiracy theories.

Kamala Harris and Trump are neck and neck in the polls less than three weeks before their September 10 debate in Philadelphia.

(With inputs from agencies)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of America's renowned political family, suspended his presidential campaign on Friday (Aug 22) and endorsed Donald Trump, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the race for the White House.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of America's renowned political family, suspended his presidential campaign on Friday (Aug 22) and endorsed Donald Trump, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the race for the White House. "I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory," Kennedy, who was polling in the low single digits, said at a press conference in swing state Arizona. The 70-year-old criticised the decision to appoint Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee without holding a primary contest. Also read: Trump assassination attempt: Five Secret Service agents placed on leave, investigation still on Kennedy also listed several grievances against his former party, which he said had ultimately driven him to "throw my support to President Trump." Notably, Kennedy failed to get on the ballot in even half of the 50 US states and his independent candidacy featured a number of bizarre twists -- including his claim to be suffering from a parasitic brain worm and a story about dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park. In a joint statement endorsing Harris, five of Kennedy's siblings expressed their disapproval, saying, "Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story." Kennedy's withdrawal came a day after the surging Harris gave an electrifying speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, accepting the party's nomination and embarking on the final 10-week sprint to election day on November 5. Also read | Donald Trump is an unserious man: The key takeaways from Kamala Harris' DNC speech The analysts have mixed reactions on the effect Kennedy's exit will have on the presidential race and how much of his supporters will gravitate to Trump or Harris. It may be mentioned here, within few minutes of taking the stage, Trump was welcoming Kennedy to the microphone, accompanied by pyrotechnics and "My Hero" by the Foo Fighters. An uneasy-looking Kennedy told the cheering crowd that he wanted to collaborate with the future President Trump to "get the chemicals out of our food." Trump heaped praise on Kennedy, saying they would "fight together to defeat the corrupt political establishment. Trump also used Kennedy's appearance to announce the formation of what he called an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts. "They will be tasked with releasing all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy," he said. The 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s uncle, continues to captivate much of the country and remains the focus of numerous conspiracy theories. Kamala Harris and Trump are neck and neck in the polls less than three weeks before their September 10 debate in Philadelphia. (With inputs from agencies)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr ends White House bid, endorses Trump

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd.&nbsp;

Taking the stage on the fourth and final day of the Democratic Party convention (DNC), Harris said her mother was only 19 when she alone traveled from India to California with an unshakeable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

"My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own dream and I miss her every day especially today. And I know she's looking down tonight, and smiling," she told the gathering in Chicago.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lets-get-to-business-at-dnc-kamala-harris-accepts-democratic-partys-presidential-nomination-752582">At DNC, Harris accepts Democratic Party's prez nomination, slams Trump</a>

"My mother was the primary one who raised us. Before she was able to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay. In the Bay Area, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flatlands—a lovely working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all of whom took great pride in tending their lawns," Harris added.

Who was Shyamala Gopalan?

Kamala Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan was a breast cancer specialist who moved abroad from Tamil Nadu in 1960 to pursue a doctorate in endocrinology at the University of California Berkeley.&nbsp;

Gopalan earned her doctorate by age 25 and went on to become a prominent breast cancer researcher. At Berkeley, she met Harris’ father, Donald Harris, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1971.

<img alt="Harris family" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff8cac8e-1183-4001-acf5-045dc1696a72" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2869%29_0.png" />

"After finishing school, she was supposed to return home to a traditional arranged marriage, but she met my father, Donald Harris, a student from Jamaica. They fell in love and got married, and that act of self-determination made my sister, Maya, and me," Harris said in her speech.

Kamala's sister, Maya Harris, also spoke at the DNC and recalled how their mother moved to US from India to pursue a better life and encouraged her daughters to do follow their dreams.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oprah-winfrey-takes-veiled-dig-at-jd-vance-over-childless-cat-lady-remark-during-surprise-dnc-speech-752114">Oprah Winfrey takes veiled dig at JD Vance over 'childless cat lady' remark during surprise DNC speech</a>

She said, "Mommy's journey, and the opportunities she sought for Kamala and me represent a distinctly American story."

Maya also mentioned that if their late mother was here, she would say how proud she was of her daughter. Then, "without missing a beat, she'd say, "That's enough. You've got work to do."

(With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd.

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd. Taking the stage on the fourth and final day of the Democratic Party convention (DNC), Harris said her mother was only 19 when she alone traveled from India to California with an unshakeable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer. "My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own dream and I miss her every day especially today. And I know she's looking down tonight, and smiling," she told the gathering in Chicago. Also read: At DNC, Harris accepts Democratic Party's prez nomination, slams Trump "My mother was the primary one who raised us. Before she was able to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay. In the Bay Area, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flatlands—a lovely working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all of whom took great pride in tending their lawns," Harris added. Who was Shyamala Gopalan? Kamala Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan was a breast cancer specialist who moved abroad from Tamil Nadu in 1960 to pursue a doctorate in endocrinology at the University of California Berkeley. Gopalan earned her doctorate by age 25 and went on to become a prominent breast cancer researcher. At Berkeley, she met Harris’ father, Donald Harris, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1971. "After finishing school, she was supposed to return home to a traditional arranged marriage, but she met my father, Donald Harris, a student from Jamaica. They fell in love and got married, and that act of self-determination made my sister, Maya, and me," Harris said in her speech. Kamala's sister, Maya Harris, also spoke at the DNC and recalled how their mother moved to US from India to pursue a better life and encouraged her daughters to do follow their dreams. Also read: Oprah Winfrey takes veiled dig at JD Vance over 'childless cat lady' remark during surprise DNC speech She said, "Mommy's journey, and the opportunities she sought for Kamala and me represent a distinctly American story." Maya also mentioned that if their late mother was here, she would say how proud she was of her daughter. Then, "without missing a beat, she'd say, "That's enough. You've got work to do." (With inputs from agencies)

Who was Shyamala Gopalan? Kamala Harris' influential mother

US Vice President Kamala Harris officially secured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Friday, solidifying her remarkable ascent to become the party's standard-bearer in the upcoming November showdown against Republican Donald Trump.&nbsp;

“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States," Kamala Harris, said on a phone-in to a party celebration after securing enough votes by the second day of the marathon vote.

Notably, Kamala Harris was the only candidate on the ballot for a 5-day electronic vote of around 4,000 party meeting delegates. She will be officially crowned at a Chicago convention later this month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-dares-donald-trump-to-debate-say-it-to-my-face-745852" target="_blank">Kamala Harris dares Donald Trump to debate: 'Say it to my face!'</a>

In the two weeks since US President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid; Kamala Harris has gained full control of the party.

No other Democrats stepped forward to challenge her rise to the top of the ticket, making her confirmation as the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a major party's nomination a formality.

It is worth mentioning here, Trump's White House bid was thrown into chaos on July 21 when 81-year-old Joe Biden, withdrew his candidacy, backing Kamala Harris as the Democrat&nbsp;nominee for November elections.

Harris has already smashed fundraising records, packed arenas and wiped out Trump's polling leads over Biden, creating momentum that she hopes she can ride through the convention to the White House.

Harris is set to make her first public appearance with her running mate on Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—a crucial swing state. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, among a handful of candidates being vetted to potentially join the Kamala Harris ticket, will also be present.

After Philadelphia, Harris and her vice presidential pick will travel to six other locations including western Wisconsin, Detroit and Las Vegas, the campaign said.&nbsp;

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The list of candidates under consideration for potential running mates includes Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, US Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

The 59-year-old Harris, a former US senator and California attorney general, would be the first woman to become president of the United States if she wins through in the November election. She is the first African American and Asian person to serve as vice president.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Vice President Kamala Harris officially secured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Friday, solidifying her remarkable ascent to become the party's standard-bearer in the upcoming November showdown against Republican Donald Trump.

US Vice President Kamala Harris officially secured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination on Friday, solidifying her remarkable ascent to become the party's standard-bearer in the upcoming November showdown against Republican Donald Trump. “I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States," Kamala Harris, said on a phone-in to a party celebration after securing enough votes by the second day of the marathon vote. Notably, Kamala Harris was the only candidate on the ballot for a 5-day electronic vote of around 4,000 party meeting delegates. She will be officially crowned at a Chicago convention later this month. Also read | Kamala Harris dares Donald Trump to debate: 'Say it to my face!' In the two weeks since US President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid; Kamala Harris has gained full control of the party. No other Democrats stepped forward to challenge her rise to the top of the ticket, making her confirmation as the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a major party's nomination a formality. It is worth mentioning here, Trump's White House bid was thrown into chaos on July 21 when 81-year-old Joe Biden, withdrew his candidacy, backing Kamala Harris as the Democrat nominee for November elections. Harris has already smashed fundraising records, packed arenas and wiped out Trump's polling leads over Biden, creating momentum that she hopes she can ride through the convention to the White House. Harris is set to make her first public appearance with her running mate on Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—a crucial swing state. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, among a handful of candidates being vetted to potentially join the Kamala Harris ticket, will also be present. After Philadelphia, Harris and her vice presidential pick will travel to six other locations including western Wisconsin, Detroit and Las Vegas, the campaign said. × The list of candidates under consideration for potential running mates includes Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, US Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The 59-year-old Harris, a former US senator and California attorney general, would be the first woman to become president of the United States if she wins through in the November election. She is the first African American and Asian person to serve as vice president. (With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris is Democratic nominee for US president: 'I am honoured'

Mumbai-born acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie has endorsed US Vice President and the Democratic presidential frontrunner Kamala Harris after describing her as the only person capable of stopping former president Donald Trump from becoming the president again.&nbsp;

Rushdie praised Harris's Indian and Black heritage. The serving US vice president's mother hails from southern India's Chennai while her paternal side is from Jamaica.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Kamala Harris on devastation in Gaza: I will not be silent

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So far, Harris has won the endorsement of three of the five Indian-American representatives.

"It's a critical moment. I'm a boy from Bombay and it's great to see an Indian woman running for the White House. And my wife is African-American, so we like the fact that a Black and Indian woman is running for the White House," Rushdie was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.

Rushdie extended his support to her at a virtual event, 'South Asian Men for Harris'. The event was attended by scores of persons from the Indian-American community.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-kamala-harris-ancestral-village-longs-for-her-presidential-poll-win-visit-743843">Kamala Harris’ ancestral village in India hopes for her win in presidential poll, subsequent visit as US prez</a>&nbsp;

Kamala Harris has her approval ratings soaring to the point of matching Trump's popularity in and beyond the swing states, following which the Democrats are hoping to reign supreme in the White House for the next five years as well.&nbsp;

The Obamas as well as President Joe Biden and the first lady Jill Biden, have rallied around Kamala Harris.

Salman Rushdie, however, clarified that it was about Kamala Harris the leader, and not just about the shared ethnicity.

"We would not be gathering in this way let's say for Usha Vance or Nikki Haley," Rushdie said, while referring to the Indian-American wife of Republican Vice-Presidential nominee JD Vance and the Indian-American former South Carolina governor.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/salman-rushdies-knife-cuts-open-an-empowering-defence-of-free-speech-717946">Salman Rushdie's 'Knife' cuts open an empowering defence of free speech</a>

The author of the 'Midnight's Children' said that something "very extraordinary, transformative has happened in American politics" in just under one week.

"The conversation has entirely changed with the arrival of Kamala Harris's candidacy and it's changed most joyfully, a way of optimism and positive, forward-thinking," he added.

Kamala Harris officially declared her presidential candidacy after Biden withdrew from the race for a second term on July 20. She is expected to be officially declared as the presidential candidate by the Democrats in August.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Mumbai-born acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie has endorsed US Vice President and the Democratic presidential frontrunner Kamala Harris after describing her as the only person capable of stopping former president Donald Trump from becoming the president again.

Mumbai-born acclaimed writer Salman Rushdie has endorsed US Vice President and the Democratic presidential frontrunner Kamala Harris after describing her as the only person capable of stopping former president Donald Trump from becoming the president again. Rushdie praised Harris's Indian and Black heritage. The serving US vice president's mother hails from southern India's Chennai while her paternal side is from Jamaica. Also watch | Kamala Harris on devastation in Gaza: I will not be silent × So far, Harris has won the endorsement of three of the five Indian-American representatives. "It's a critical moment. I'm a boy from Bombay and it's great to see an Indian woman running for the White House. And my wife is African-American, so we like the fact that a Black and Indian woman is running for the White House," Rushdie was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. Rushdie extended his support to her at a virtual event, 'South Asian Men for Harris'. The event was attended by scores of persons from the Indian-American community. Also read | Kamala Harris’ ancestral village in India hopes for her win in presidential poll, subsequent visit as US prez Kamala Harris has her approval ratings soaring to the point of matching Trump's popularity in and beyond the swing states, following which the Democrats are hoping to reign supreme in the White House for the next five years as well. The Obamas as well as President Joe Biden and the first lady Jill Biden, have rallied around Kamala Harris. Salman Rushdie, however, clarified that it was about Kamala Harris the leader, and not just about the shared ethnicity. "We would not be gathering in this way let's say for Usha Vance or Nikki Haley," Rushdie said, while referring to the Indian-American wife of Republican Vice-Presidential nominee JD Vance and the Indian-American former South Carolina governor. Also read | Salman Rushdie's 'Knife' cuts open an empowering defence of free speech The author of the 'Midnight's Children' said that something "very extraordinary, transformative has happened in American politics" in just under one week. "The conversation has entirely changed with the arrival of Kamala Harris's candidacy and it's changed most joyfully, a way of optimism and positive, forward-thinking," he added. Kamala Harris officially declared her presidential candidacy after Biden withdrew from the race for a second term on July 20. She is expected to be officially declared as the presidential candidate by the Democrats in August. (With inputs from agencies)

'Bombay boy' Salman Rushdie endorses Kamala Harris for presidency

The White House insiders have reportedly claimed that President Joe Biden occasionally forgot names and just as the visuals in public domain continue to show, also needed assistance from his wife, Jill Biden, to greet people.&nbsp;

Reports say confidants have expressed concerns about Biden's interactions. Longtime friends of the Biden family have reportedly been shocked to discover that Biden doesn't remember their names. One guest at a White House event last year claimed the President had to leave early due to difficulties in coping with the event.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-vs-trump-in-us-presidential-debate-2024-top-takeaways-explained-735850">Ageing Biden struggles as Trump delivers damaging attacks: Top takeaways from US presidential debate 2024</a>

"Those who encountered the president in social settings sometimes disturbed left after their interactions," Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for Intelligencer wrote.&nbsp;

More insiders allege it has become tougher to reach the president as the White House red tape shields him from potentially awkward encounters.

In a meeting with a significant donor, Jill Biden reportedly had to nudge her husband to greet and thank him for his contribution.&nbsp;

An onlooker commented: "It hasn't been good for a long time but it's gotten so, so much worse. So much worse!" the Mirror US reported.

<h2>What does it mean?</h2>

As President Joe Biden approaches a crucial period to stabilise his re-election campaign, there is an increasing speculation about his fitness for the re-election campaign. Some donors are even reportedly reconsidering their support or withdrawing from fundraisers.

While Biden has asserted that he won't pull out&nbsp;from the presidential race, the speculations continue about his fitness.

Also watch |&nbsp;'I am not going anywhere', Biden slams concern around presidential bid

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"I'm not going anywhere," Biden boldly told attendees at a July 4th barbecue on the White House South Lawn. Later, as fireworks illuminated the night sky, Biden was spotted on the balcony with his family and Vice President Kamala Harris alongside her husband, Doug Emhoff, presenting a united front.

In a show of unity, Harris was seen gripping Biden's hand and raising it high, followed by a heartfelt hug between the two. At a gathering with Democratic governors, Biden confessed he needs more sleep and fewer late-night commitments to ensure he's ready for duty.

(With inputs from agencies)

The White House insiders have reportedly claimed that President Joe Biden occasionally forgot names and just as the visuals in public domain continue to show, also needed assistance from his wife, Jill Biden, to greet people.

The White House insiders have reportedly claimed that President Joe Biden occasionally forgot names and just as the visuals in public domain continue to show, also needed assistance from his wife, Jill Biden, to greet people. Reports say confidants have expressed concerns about Biden's interactions. Longtime friends of the Biden family have reportedly been shocked to discover that Biden doesn't remember their names. One guest at a White House event last year claimed the President had to leave early due to difficulties in coping with the event. Also read | Ageing Biden struggles as Trump delivers damaging attacks: Top takeaways from US presidential debate 2024 "Those who encountered the president in social settings sometimes disturbed left after their interactions," Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for Intelligencer wrote. More insiders allege it has become tougher to reach the president as the White House red tape shields him from potentially awkward encounters. In a meeting with a significant donor, Jill Biden reportedly had to nudge her husband to greet and thank him for his contribution. An onlooker commented: "It hasn't been good for a long time but it's gotten so, so much worse. So much worse!" the Mirror US reported. What does it mean? As President Joe Biden approaches a crucial period to stabilise his re-election campaign, there is an increasing speculation about his fitness for the re-election campaign. Some donors are even reportedly reconsidering their support or withdrawing from fundraisers. While Biden has asserted that he won't pull out from the presidential race, the speculations continue about his fitness. Also watch | 'I am not going anywhere', Biden slams concern around presidential bid × "I'm not going anywhere," Biden boldly told attendees at a July 4th barbecue on the White House South Lawn. Later, as fireworks illuminated the night sky, Biden was spotted on the balcony with his family and Vice President Kamala Harris alongside her husband, Doug Emhoff, presenting a united front. In a show of unity, Harris was seen gripping Biden's hand and raising it high, followed by a heartfelt hug between the two. At a gathering with Democratic governors, Biden confessed he needs more sleep and fewer late-night commitments to ensure he's ready for duty. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden forgets names of longtime friends amid age-related concerns: Report

In his first statement since a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, US President Joe Biden made an indirect swipe at the former president's attacks on the justice system.

"It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict," Biden said, speaking to reporters at the White House.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-case-verdict-ex-us-presidents-supporters-call-for-riots-and-violent-retribution-727562">Trump hush money case verdict: Ex-US prez supporters call for riots</a>

Joe Biden's comments came hours after Trump blamed him for his legal woes in remarks to the press and supporters, saying, “All this is all done by Joe Biden and his people. This is done by Washington. No one has ever seen anything like this.”

Criticising both the prosecutors and the judge overseeing the case, Trump said, "This is a scam, this is a rigged trial. It shouldn’t have been in that venue. We shouldn’t have had that judge."

In his remarks on the verdict Friday (May 31), the US President said, "The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed," and commended the 12 jurors in the cases for carefully deliberating and reaching a unanimous verdict.

“Donald Trump was given every chance to protect himself,” Biden said, adding that the case was “heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-blames-biden-and-his-people-for-hush-money-conviction-727495">Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction</a>

Notably, Donald Trump has repetitively railed against the New York criminal case, the judge overseeing it, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against him, as well as some of the witnesses who ended up testifying at the trial.

Biden and Trump have not met face-to-face so far this election cycle, but the two will share a stage for the first general election debate in late June in Atlanta.

It's likely the two will be asked about the former president's legal woes during their debate.&nbsp;

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Trump has often blamed Biden for his legal troubles, accusing the US President of weaponising the Justice Department.

Donald Trump still faces charges in three other cases: one in Georgia, where he's accused alongside over a dozen others of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, and two federal cases related to his efforts to overturn the presidential election results and his handling of classified documents.

(With inputs from agencies)

In his first statement since a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, US President Joe Biden made an indirect swipe at the former president's attacks on the justice system.

In his first statement since a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, US President Joe Biden made an indirect swipe at the former president's attacks on the justice system. "It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict," Biden said, speaking to reporters at the White House. Also read: Trump hush money case verdict: Ex-US prez supporters call for riots Joe Biden's comments came hours after Trump blamed him for his legal woes in remarks to the press and supporters, saying, “All this is all done by Joe Biden and his people. This is done by Washington. No one has ever seen anything like this.” Criticising both the prosecutors and the judge overseeing the case, Trump said, "This is a scam, this is a rigged trial. It shouldn’t have been in that venue. We shouldn’t have had that judge." In his remarks on the verdict Friday (May 31), the US President said, "The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed," and commended the 12 jurors in the cases for carefully deliberating and reaching a unanimous verdict. “Donald Trump was given every chance to protect himself,” Biden said, adding that the case was “heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you.” Also read | Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction Notably, Donald Trump has repetitively railed against the New York criminal case, the judge overseeing it, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against him, as well as some of the witnesses who ended up testifying at the trial. Biden and Trump have not met face-to-face so far this election cycle, but the two will share a stage for the first general election debate in late June in Atlanta. It's likely the two will be asked about the former president's legal woes during their debate. × Trump has often blamed Biden for his legal troubles, accusing the US President of weaponising the Justice Department. Donald Trump still faces charges in three other cases: one in Georgia, where he's accused alongside over a dozen others of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, and two federal cases related to his efforts to overturn the presidential election results and his handling of classified documents. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden condemns Trump for labeling hush money verdict as 'rigged'

US Republican Jim Jordan lost his first vote in his bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker after he received "unexpected" opposition from his party members.

Despite intense lobbying, the right-wing Ohio Congressman was short of the 217 needed to win the job, as 20 of his fellow Republicans voted against him. For now, the Trump ally has abandoned plans for another vote until Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

Republicans who refused to choose Jordan voted for Kevin Mc Carthy or picked other candidates. The Congress' lower chambers have had no Speaker since McCarthy was ousted two weeks ago in a ring-wing revolt. The speakership is second-in-line to the US presidency after the vice president.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-accuses-biden-administration-of-funding-hamass-terror-campaign-648167">Donald Trump accuses Biden administration of funding 'Hamas' terror campaign'</a>

The Democratic nominee, Hakeem Jeffries earned 212 more votes than Jordan, but since Republicans control the House by a narrow 221-212 margin, the votes weren't enough to claim victory.

Here's all you should know about Jim Jordan:

Early life:

James Daniel Jordan was born on 17 February 1946 in Troy, Ohio. Jordan was also once a wrestling champion when he was studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Jordan during his college days won the wrestling championship twice. He even tied for the Olympics but failed to make the Olympic team in freestyle wrestling.&nbsp;

Jordan was appointed an assistant coach with the Ohio State University under the wrestling programme from 1987 to 1995.&nbsp;

In 1994, Jordan was elected to the House of Representatives in November and represented the 85th Ohio House district for three terms. Later in 2000, Jordan was elected to the Ohio Senate over independent candidate Jack Kafeenberger with 88 per cent of the votes.&nbsp;

Jordan's Trump connection:

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-releases-footage-of-incidents-of-chinese-jets-performing-coercive-and-risky-maneuvers-648201">US releases footage of incidents of Chinese jets performing 'coercive and risky' manoeuvres</a>

The Ohio Congressman has always been a stalwart supporter and close ally of former US president Donald Trump.&nbsp;

During Trump's presidency, Jordan staged a sit-in to prevent his impeachment and he even discredited investigations into Russian interference.&nbsp;

Trump's endorsement for Ohio Rep came hours after Representative Troy E Nehls wrote on X, "Just had a great conversation with President Trump about the Speaker’s race. He is endorsing Jim Jordan, and I believe Congress should listen to the leader of our party. I fully support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House."

After the decision in the Ohio Congress, Jordan has now vowed to "keep working" and expressed his confidence that he would ultimately emerge victorious.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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US Republican Jim Jordan lost his first vote in his bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker after he received "unexpected" opposition from his party members.

US Republican Jim Jordan lost his first vote in his bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker after he received "unexpected" opposition from his party members. Despite intense lobbying, the right-wing Ohio Congressman was short of the 217 needed to win the job, as 20 of his fellow Republicans voted against him. For now, the Trump ally has abandoned plans for another vote until Wednesday morning. Republicans who refused to choose Jordan voted for Kevin Mc Carthy or picked other candidates. The Congress' lower chambers have had no Speaker since McCarthy was ousted two weeks ago in a ring-wing revolt. The speakership is second-in-line to the US presidency after the vice president. Also read | Donald Trump accuses Biden administration of funding 'Hamas' terror campaign' The Democratic nominee, Hakeem Jeffries earned 212 more votes than Jordan, but since Republicans control the House by a narrow 221-212 margin, the votes weren't enough to claim victory. Here's all you should know about Jim Jordan: Early life: James Daniel Jordan was born on 17 February 1946 in Troy, Ohio. Jordan was also once a wrestling champion when he was studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Jordan during his college days won the wrestling championship twice. He even tied for the Olympics but failed to make the Olympic team in freestyle wrestling. Jordan was appointed an assistant coach with the Ohio State University under the wrestling programme from 1987 to 1995. In 1994, Jordan was elected to the House of Representatives in November and represented the 85th Ohio House district for three terms. Later in 2000, Jordan was elected to the Ohio Senate over independent candidate Jack Kafeenberger with 88 per cent of the votes. Jordan's Trump connection: Also read | US releases footage of incidents of Chinese jets performing 'coercive and risky' manoeuvres The Ohio Congressman has always been a stalwart supporter and close ally of former US president Donald Trump. During Trump's presidency, Jordan staged a sit-in to prevent his impeachment and he even discredited investigations into Russian interference. Trump's endorsement for Ohio Rep came hours after Representative Troy E Nehls wrote on X, "Just had a great conversation with President Trump about the Speaker’s race. He is endorsing Jim Jordan, and I believe Congress should listen to the leader of our party. I fully support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House." After the decision in the Ohio Congress, Jordan has now vowed to "keep working" and expressed his confidence that he would ultimately emerge victorious. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is Jim Jordan? The Ohio Rep has now lost first US House speaker vote. Know about his early life & career

Kanye West, the famous US rapper hints that he'll be running for the presidential elections in 2024 and wants former US President Donald Trump to be his running mate.

Trump, however, dismissed a recent meeting with the West as of no significance. He last week said that he will run for the upcoming election after he was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020, AFP reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kanye-west-wants-to-contest-for-2024-us-presidential-elections-wants-donal-trump-as-running-mate-536831">Also read |&nbsp;Kanye West may contest for 2024 US Presidential elections, wants Donald Trump as 'running mate'</a>

RapTV on Thursday uploaded a swirling symbol with the letter 'Ye' and the number '24' seemingly representing 2024, the year of the following US presidential election.

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JUST IN: Kanye West has started running promotional videos for his presidential campaign‼️ <a href="https://t.co/9zHYj5kMsu">pic.twitter.com/9zHYj5kMsu</a>
— RapTV (@Rap) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rap/status/1595969703930904577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Watch |&nbsp;US: Kanye West to run for President in 2024, asks Donald Trump to be Vice President

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The rapper then shared a video of himself talking about seeing the former president this week in Florida. In the video, he said, "I think the thing that Trump was most perturbed about (was) me asking him to be my vice president." He continued that Trump began yelling at him at the table telling him that he will not win. "I'm like, hold on Trump, you're talking to Ye," he said.&nbsp;

Ye after his dinner on the same day asked users, "What you guys think his response was when I asked him to be my running mate in 2024?"

The former president however stated the dinner at his residence Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday was&nbsp;"quick and uneventful." He said that Ye called him to arrange a dinner and he later unexpectedly showed up with his three friends. They ate dinner and left for the airport.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/grave-mistake-elon-musk-about-twitters-ban-on-trump-following-capitol-attack-537568">Also read |&nbsp;‘Grave mistake’: Musk speaks about Twitter’s ban on Trump; will support DeSantis in 2024 presidential election</a>

Trump also wrote about his meeting with West on his Truth Social platform, claiming that they discussed politics "to a lesser extent" and business and that West had asked for Trump's advice concerning some of his difficulties. On his account, he said, "the two&nbsp;got along great." Further continuing he said "he should definitely not run for President" because "'any voters you may have should vote for TRUMP.'"

It's unclear if the rapper is serious about his objectives or whether he was just looking for attention following a string of PR stunts that damaged his reputation. The famous US rapper ran for president in 2020 but received less than 70,000 votes, landing in eighth place.&nbsp; 
 
Trump, meanwhile, distanced himself from a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida with Kanye West, and white supremacist Nick Fuentes, claiming he didn’t know the identity of the far-right activist who was unexpectedly brought along with the rapper.

“This past week, Kanye West called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Kanye West, the famous US rapper hints that he'll be running for the presidential elections in 2024 and wants former US President Donald Trump to be his running mate.

Kanye West, the famous US rapper hints that he'll be running for the presidential elections in 2024 and wants former US President Donald Trump to be his running mate. Trump, however, dismissed a recent meeting with the West as of no significance. He last week said that he will run for the upcoming election after he was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020, AFP reported. Also read | Kanye West may contest for 2024 US Presidential elections, wants Donald Trump as 'running mate' RapTV on Thursday uploaded a swirling symbol with the letter 'Ye' and the number '24' seemingly representing 2024, the year of the following US presidential election. JUST IN: Kanye West has started running promotional videos for his presidential campaign‼️ pic.twitter.com/9zHYj5kMsu — RapTV (@Rap) November 25, 2022 × Watch | US: Kanye West to run for President in 2024, asks Donald Trump to be Vice President The rapper then shared a video of himself talking about seeing the former president this week in Florida. In the video, he said, "I think the thing that Trump was most perturbed about (was) me asking him to be my vice president." He continued that Trump began yelling at him at the table telling him that he will not win. "I'm like, hold on Trump, you're talking to Ye," he said. Ye after his dinner on the same day asked users, "What you guys think his response was when I asked him to be my running mate in 2024?" The former president however stated the dinner at his residence Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday was "quick and uneventful." He said that Ye called him to arrange a dinner and he later unexpectedly showed up with his three friends. They ate dinner and left for the airport. Also read | ‘Grave mistake’: Musk speaks about Twitter’s ban on Trump; will support DeSantis in 2024 presidential election Trump also wrote about his meeting with West on his Truth Social platform, claiming that they discussed politics "to a lesser extent" and business and that West had asked for Trump's advice concerning some of his difficulties. On his account, he said, "the two got along great." Further continuing he said "he should definitely not run for President" because "'any voters you may have should vote for TRUMP.'" It's unclear if the rapper is serious about his objectives or whether he was just looking for attention following a string of PR stunts that damaged his reputation. The famous US rapper ran for president in 2020 but received less than 70,000 votes, landing in eighth place. Trump, meanwhile, distanced himself from a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida with Kanye West, and white supremacist Nick Fuentes, claiming he didn’t know the identity of the far-right activist who was unexpectedly brought along with the rapper. “This past week, Kanye West called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'He should definitely not': Trump on Kanye's potential run at US presidency; refuses to be his running mate

This Sept. 11, a diminished president will preside over a diminished nation.

We are a country that could not keep a demagogue from the White House; could not stop an insurrectionist mob from storming the Capitol; could not win (or at least avoid losing) a war against a morally and technologically retrograde enemy; cannot conquer a disease for which there are safe and effective vaccines; and cannot bring itself to trust the government, the news media, the scientific establishment, the police or any other institution meant to operate for the common good.

A civilisation “is born stoic and dies epicurean,” wrote historian Will Durant about the Babylonians. Our civilisation was born optimistic and enlightened, at least by the standards of the day. Now it feels as if it’s fading into paranoid senility.

Joe Biden was supposed to be the man of the hour: a calming presence exuding decency, moderation and trust. As a candidate, he sold himself as a transitional president, a fatherly figure in the mold of George H.W. Bush who would restore dignity and prudence to the Oval Office after the mendacity and chaos that came before. It’s why I voted for him, as did so many others who once tipped red.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/illnesses-associated-with-911-have-caused-more-deaths-than-the-attack-report-411514" hreflang="en">Illnesses associated with 9/11 have caused more deaths than the attack: Report</a>

Instead, Biden has become the emblem of the hour: headstrong but shaky, ambitious but inept. He seems to be the last person in America to realise that, whatever the theoretical merits of the decision to withdraw our remaining troops from Afghanistan, the military and intelligence assumptions on which it was built were deeply flawed, the manner in which it was executed was a national humiliation and a moral betrayal, and the timing was catastrophic.

We find ourselves commemorating the first great jihadi victory over America, in 2001, right after delivering the second great jihadi victory over America, in 2021. The Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center — water cascading into one void, and then trickling, out of sight, into another — has never felt more fitting.

Now Biden proposes to follow this up with his $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, which The Times’ Jonathan Weisman describes as “the most significant expansion of the nation’s safety net since the war on poverty in the 1960s.”

When Lyndon Johnson launched his War on Poverty, its associated legislation — from food stamps to Medicare — passed with bipartisan majorities in a lopsidedly Democratic Congress. Biden has similar ambitions without the same political means. This is not going to turn out well.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/911-attacks-bush-administrations-big-guns-where-they-are-now-411644" hreflang="en">9/11 attacks: Bush administration's big guns &amp; where they are now</a>

Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., published an essay in The Wall Street Journal in which he said, “I, for one, won’t support a $3.5 trillion bill, or anywhere near that level of additional spending, without greater clarity about why Congress chooses to ignore the serious effects inflation and debt have on existing government programs.”

Is the White House paying any more attention to Manchin’s message than it did to classified intelligence briefs over the summer warning of the prospect of a swift Taliban victory?

Maybe Biden supposes that the legislation, if passed, will prove increasingly popular over time, like Obamacare. That’s the optimistic scenario. Alternatively, he could suffer a legislative calamity like Hillary Clinton’s health care reform in 1994, which would have ended Bill Clinton’s presidency save for his sharp swing to the center, including ending “welfare as we know it” two years later.

Even the Obamacare/optimistic precedent was followed by a Democratic rout in 2010, when the party lost 63 House seats. If history repeats itself at the 2022 midterms, I doubt that even Joe Biden’s closest aides think he has the stamina to fight his way back in 2024. Has Kamala Harris shown the political talent to pick up the pieces?

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-tours-hurricane-hit-areas-in-america-411607">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-tours-hurricane-hit-areas-in-america-411607/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Perhaps what will save the Democrats is that Biden’s weakness will tempt Donald Trump to seek (and almost certainly gain) the Republican nomination. But then there’s the chance he’d win the election.

There’s a way back from this cliff’s edge. It begins with Biden finding a way to acknowledge publicly the gravity of his administration’s blunders. The most shameful aspect of the Afghanistan withdrawal was the incompetence of the State Department when it came to expediting visas for thousands of people eligible to come to the United States. Accountability could start with Antony Blinken’s resignation.

The president might also seize the “strategic pause” Manchin has proposed and push House Democrats to pass the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill without holding it hostage to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. Infrastructure is far more popular with middle-of-the-road voters than the Great Society reprise that was never supposed to be a part of the Biden brand.

My sense is that Biden will do neither. The last few months have told us something worrying about this president: He’s proud, inflexible, and thinks he’s much smarter than he really is. That’s bad news for the administration. It’s worse news for a country that desperately needs to avoid another failed presidency.

This Sept. 11, a diminished president will preside over a diminished nation. We are a country that could not keep a demagogue from the White House; could not stop an insurrectionist mob from storming the Capitol; could not win (or at least avoid losing) a war against a morally and technologically retrograde enemy; cannot conquer a disease for which there are safe and effective vaccines; and cannot bring itself to trust the government, the news media, the scientific establishment, the police or any other institution meant to operate for the common good.

This Sept. 11, a diminished president will preside over a diminished nation. We are a country that could not keep a demagogue from the White House; could not stop an insurrectionist mob from storming the Capitol; could not win (or at least avoid losing) a war against a morally and technologically retrograde enemy; cannot conquer a disease for which there are safe and effective vaccines; and cannot bring itself to trust the government, the news media, the scientific establishment, the police or any other institution meant to operate for the common good. A civilisation “is born stoic and dies epicurean,” wrote historian Will Durant about the Babylonians. Our civilisation was born optimistic and enlightened, at least by the standards of the day. Now it feels as if it’s fading into paranoid senility. Joe Biden was supposed to be the man of the hour: a calming presence exuding decency, moderation and trust. As a candidate, he sold himself as a transitional president, a fatherly figure in the mold of George H.W. Bush who would restore dignity and prudence to the Oval Office after the mendacity and chaos that came before. It’s why I voted for him, as did so many others who once tipped red. Also read | Illnesses associated with 9/11 have caused more deaths than the attack: Report Instead, Biden has become the emblem of the hour: headstrong but shaky, ambitious but inept. He seems to be the last person in America to realise that, whatever the theoretical merits of the decision to withdraw our remaining troops from Afghanistan, the military and intelligence assumptions on which it was built were deeply flawed, the manner in which it was executed was a national humiliation and a moral betrayal, and the timing was catastrophic. We find ourselves commemorating the first great jihadi victory over America, in 2001, right after delivering the second great jihadi victory over America, in 2021. The Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center — water cascading into one void, and then trickling, out of sight, into another — has never felt more fitting. Now Biden proposes to follow this up with his $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, which The Times’ Jonathan Weisman describes as “the most significant expansion of the nation’s safety net since the war on poverty in the 1960s.” When Lyndon Johnson launched his War on Poverty, its associated legislation — from food stamps to Medicare — passed with bipartisan majorities in a lopsidedly Democratic Congress. Biden has similar ambitions without the same political means. This is not going to turn out well. Also read | 9/11 attacks: Bush administration's big guns & where they are now Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., published an essay in The Wall Street Journal in which he said, “I, for one, won’t support a $3.5 trillion bill, or anywhere near that level of additional spending, without greater clarity about why Congress chooses to ignore the serious effects inflation and debt have on existing government programs.” Is the White House paying any more attention to Manchin’s message than it did to classified intelligence briefs over the summer warning of the prospect of a swift Taliban victory? Maybe Biden supposes that the legislation, if passed, will prove increasingly popular over time, like Obamacare. That’s the optimistic scenario. Alternatively, he could suffer a legislative calamity like Hillary Clinton’s health care reform in 1994, which would have ended Bill Clinton’s presidency save for his sharp swing to the center, including ending “welfare as we know it” two years later. Even the Obamacare/optimistic precedent was followed by a Democratic rout in 2010, when the party lost 63 House seats. If history repeats itself at the 2022 midterms, I doubt that even Joe Biden’s closest aides think he has the stamina to fight his way back in 2024. Has Kamala Harris shown the political talent to pick up the pieces? WATCH | Perhaps what will save the Democrats is that Biden’s weakness will tempt Donald Trump to seek (and almost certainly gain) the Republican nomination. But then there’s the chance he’d win the election. There’s a way back from this cliff’s edge. It begins with Biden finding a way to acknowledge publicly the gravity of his administration’s blunders. The most shameful aspect of the Afghanistan withdrawal was the incompetence of the State Department when it came to expediting visas for thousands of people eligible to come to the United States. Accountability could start with Antony Blinken’s resignation. The president might also seize the “strategic pause” Manchin has proposed and push House Democrats to pass the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill without holding it hostage to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. Infrastructure is far more popular with middle-of-the-road voters than the Great Society reprise that was never supposed to be a part of the Biden brand. My sense is that Biden will do neither. The last few months have told us something worrying about this president: He’s proud, inflexible, and thinks he’s much smarter than he really is. That’s bad news for the administration. It’s worse news for a country that desperately needs to avoid another failed presidency.

Can Biden save his presidency?

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6.

“I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue. “I’ve bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, D.C., and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. I’ve been so desperate for a drink that I couldn’t make the one-block walk between a liquor store and my apartment without uncapping the bottle to take a swig. In the last five years alone, my two-decades-long marriage has dissolved, guns have been put in my face, and at one point I dropped clean off the grid, living in $59-a-night Super 8 motels off I-95 while scaring my family even more than myself.”

The book is equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict’s howl. Here is what readers will learn.

He remembers the accident that killed his mother and sister.

You probably know the story: It was Dec. 18, 1972. Joe Biden, then a newly elected senator, was in Washington. Neilia Hunter Biden — referred to as “my mommy” throughout “Beautiful Things” — took Hunter, who was 3; his brother, Beau, almost 4; and their 13-month-old sister, Naomi (known as “Caspy,” short for Casper the Friendly Ghost), to pick out a Christmas tree near their home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Hunter Biden describes how Naomi was “sound asleep in the front passenger seat tucked into a bassinet” — an eyebrow-raising detail by today’s standards. “Suddenly, I see my mother’s head turn to the right,” he writes. “I don’t remember anything else about her profile: the look in her eye, the expression of her mouth. Her head simply swings.” At a four-way intersection, their car was broadsided by a tractor-trailer carrying corncobs.

The next thing Biden remembers is waking up in a hospital bed next to Beau: “He’s mouthing three words to me, over and over: ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’ That’s our origin story.”

His romantic relationship with Beau’s widow stemmed from ‘grasping for the love we had both lost.’

What began as a “shared-travails bond” with Hallie Biden blossomed into a full-blown, live-in arrangement as Hunter Biden’s own marriage ended. He attempted to be a stable presence for his niece, nephew and sister-in-law but acknowledges that none of it worked out.

“Our relationship began as a mutually desperate grasping for the love we had both lost, and its dissolution only deepened that tragedy,” he writes. “It made the obvious clear: What was gone was gone permanently. There was no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

While his father was vice president, Biden spent a month in a Washington apartment bingeing on vodka.

Biden had his first glass of Champagne when he was 8. In his 20s, he started drinking heavily after work (“I could always drink five times more than anyone else”). He went to rehab and relapsed after seven years — not long after his father joined the Obama ticket, effectively ending his son’s lucrative lobbying career. Biden went back to rehab again, then relapsed in 2016 after Beau died.

The pattern continued, leading to 12- to 16-hour benders, withdrawal symptoms and a 20-pound weight loss: “I didn’t eat anything much beyond what was available at the liquor store: Doritos, pork rinds, ramen noodles. Eventually my stomach couldn’t even handle the noodles.”

Biden used a kitchen knife to remove the plastic nub that regulates the flow of vodka from its jug, allowing him to guzzle faster. He writes, “I learned to twist and contort my body in such a way as to lessen the weight of the bottle, to make it more manageable.”

His father, who was then vice president, arrived at his home and said, “I know you’re not fine, Hunter. You need help.” Hunter Biden recalls: “He never let me forget that all was not lost. He never abandoned me, never shunned me, never judged me, no matter how bad things got — and believe me, from there they would get much, much worse.”

He purchased crack from a homeless addict who later moved in with him.

“The relationship was symbiotic,” he writes. “It was two crack addicts who couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. A one-act crack farce.”

Biden bluntly describes his progression from smoking crack to cooking it; his abusive relationships with unsavory dealers and sticky-fingered hangers on; and the desperate tricks he used when faced with drug tests, including buying “clean urine.” He attempted to quit crack with the help of ketamine infusions, psychoactive compounds and 5-MeO-DMT therapy, “which employs the gland secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad.” He doesn’t disclose how he paid for these treatments.

“Once you decide that you’re the bad person everyone thinks you’ve become, it’s hard to find the good guy you once were,” Biden writes. “Eventually, I quit looking for him: I decided I wasn’t the person everybody who loved me thought I was anymore.”

Readers follow Biden weaving through a Los Angeles homeless encampment, looking to score his next hit. “I went through and stepped around people curled up on thin pieces of cardboard. Beyond them, I noticed a tilting, unlit tent. It was pitch black. All I saw was the gun pointed at my face,” he writes. In the next chapter, we see Joe Biden chasing his son down the driveway after a family intervention: “He grabbed me, swung me around and hugged me. He held me tight in the dark and cried for the longest time.”

Biden doesn’t make excuses for his addiction but describes feeling ‘alone in a crowd.’

Of the car accident that killed his mother and sister, Biden writes, “I want to make it clear: I don’t see that tragic moment as necessarily resulting in behaviors that lent themselves to addiction. That would be a cop-out.”

But he describes a long-running feeling of unease, particularly in social situations. “That kind of insecurity is almost universal among those with real addiction issues — a feeling of being alone in a crowd. I’ve always felt alone in a crowd,” he writes.

When it comes to Ukraine, Biden’s account is as dry as toast.

Hunter Biden’s first “legal-age employment” was at Wilmington’s Brandywine Zoo — “I shoveled piles of llama manure as tall as I was and unclogged the drain in the otter pool” — but he is best known for his board membership at Burisma Holdings. “The episode that led to the impeachment of a president and landed me in the heart of the decade’s biggest political fable is most remarkable for its epic banality,” he writes.

He then proceeds to cover the incident in an 18-page chapter that reads like a research paper compiled by a reluctant student. Was Biden appointed to the board because of his last name?

Perhaps, he writes, but: “My response has always been to work harder so that my accomplishments stand on their own.”

Did he display a lack of judgment? “No.”

Would he do it again? “I did nothing unethical, and have never been charged with wrongdoing.”

He credits his wife, Melissa Cohen, for his sobriety.

In March 2019, Hunter Biden was “done with the world of politics, of figuring out how to go out on the campaign trail with Dad, if it came to that, as I would have in any other election year.” He writes, “I was a crack addict and that was that.”

He had been asked to vacate a hotel in Los Angeles where he was living, but before he left, he befriended some people at the pool who gave him the number of a South African filmmaker named Melissa Cohen.

An hour into their first dinner, they declared their love to one another. An hour after that, Biden told Melissa he was a crack addict. She said, “Not anymore. You’re finished with that.”

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6. “I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue.

Hunter Biden doesn’t beat around the bush in his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” which comes out on April 6. “I’m a 51-year-old father who helped raise three beautiful daughters,” writes President Joe Biden’s younger son, who now has a year-old son of his own, in the prologue. “I’ve bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, D.C., and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. I’ve been so desperate for a drink that I couldn’t make the one-block walk between a liquor store and my apartment without uncapping the bottle to take a swig. In the last five years alone, my two-decades-long marriage has dissolved, guns have been put in my face, and at one point I dropped clean off the grid, living in $59-a-night Super 8 motels off I-95 while scaring my family even more than myself.” The book is equal parts family saga, grief narrative and addict’s howl. Here is what readers will learn. He remembers the accident that killed his mother and sister. You probably know the story: It was Dec. 18, 1972. Joe Biden, then a newly elected senator, was in Washington. Neilia Hunter Biden — referred to as “my mommy” throughout “Beautiful Things” — took Hunter, who was 3; his brother, Beau, almost 4; and their 13-month-old sister, Naomi (known as “Caspy,” short for Casper the Friendly Ghost), to pick out a Christmas tree near their home in Wilmington, Delaware. Hunter Biden describes how Naomi was “sound asleep in the front passenger seat tucked into a bassinet” — an eyebrow-raising detail by today’s standards. “Suddenly, I see my mother’s head turn to the right,” he writes. “I don’t remember anything else about her profile: the look in her eye, the expression of her mouth. Her head simply swings.” At a four-way intersection, their car was broadsided by a tractor-trailer carrying corncobs. The next thing Biden remembers is waking up in a hospital bed next to Beau: “He’s mouthing three words to me, over and over: ‘I love you. I love you. I love you.’ That’s our origin story.” His romantic relationship with Beau’s widow stemmed from ‘grasping for the love we had both lost.’ What began as a “shared-travails bond” with Hallie Biden blossomed into a full-blown, live-in arrangement as Hunter Biden’s own marriage ended. He attempted to be a stable presence for his niece, nephew and sister-in-law but acknowledges that none of it worked out. “Our relationship began as a mutually desperate grasping for the love we had both lost, and its dissolution only deepened that tragedy,” he writes. “It made the obvious clear: What was gone was gone permanently. There was no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.” While his father was vice president, Biden spent a month in a Washington apartment bingeing on vodka. Biden had his first glass of Champagne when he was 8. In his 20s, he started drinking heavily after work (“I could always drink five times more than anyone else”). He went to rehab and relapsed after seven years — not long after his father joined the Obama ticket, effectively ending his son’s lucrative lobbying career. Biden went back to rehab again, then relapsed in 2016 after Beau died. The pattern continued, leading to 12- to 16-hour benders, withdrawal symptoms and a 20-pound weight loss: “I didn’t eat anything much beyond what was available at the liquor store: Doritos, pork rinds, ramen noodles. Eventually my stomach couldn’t even handle the noodles.” Biden used a kitchen knife to remove the plastic nub that regulates the flow of vodka from its jug, allowing him to guzzle faster. He writes, “I learned to twist and contort my body in such a way as to lessen the weight of the bottle, to make it more manageable.” His father, who was then vice president, arrived at his home and said, “I know you’re not fine, Hunter. You need help.” Hunter Biden recalls: “He never let me forget that all was not lost. He never abandoned me, never shunned me, never judged me, no matter how bad things got — and believe me, from there they would get much, much worse.” He purchased crack from a homeless addict who later moved in with him. “The relationship was symbiotic,” he writes. “It was two crack addicts who couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. A one-act crack farce.” Biden bluntly describes his progression from smoking crack to cooking it; his abusive relationships with unsavory dealers and sticky-fingered hangers on; and the desperate tricks he used when faced with drug tests, including buying “clean urine.” He attempted to quit crack with the help of ketamine infusions, psychoactive compounds and 5-MeO-DMT therapy, “which employs the gland secretions of the Sonoran Desert toad.” He doesn’t disclose how he paid for these treatments. “Once you decide that you’re the bad person everyone thinks you’ve become, it’s hard to find the good guy you once were,” Biden writes. “Eventually, I quit looking for him: I decided I wasn’t the person everybody who loved me thought I was anymore.” Readers follow Biden weaving through a Los Angeles homeless encampment, looking to score his next hit. “I went through and stepped around people curled up on thin pieces of cardboard. Beyond them, I noticed a tilting, unlit tent. It was pitch black. All I saw was the gun pointed at my face,” he writes. In the next chapter, we see Joe Biden chasing his son down the driveway after a family intervention: “He grabbed me, swung me around and hugged me. He held me tight in the dark and cried for the longest time.” Biden doesn’t make excuses for his addiction but describes feeling ‘alone in a crowd.’ Of the car accident that killed his mother and sister, Biden writes, “I want to make it clear: I don’t see that tragic moment as necessarily resulting in behaviors that lent themselves to addiction. That would be a cop-out.” But he describes a long-running feeling of unease, particularly in social situations. “That kind of insecurity is almost universal among those with real addiction issues — a feeling of being alone in a crowd. I’ve always felt alone in a crowd,” he writes. When it comes to Ukraine, Biden’s account is as dry as toast. Hunter Biden’s first “legal-age employment” was at Wilmington’s Brandywine Zoo — “I shoveled piles of llama manure as tall as I was and unclogged the drain in the otter pool” — but he is best known for his board membership at Burisma Holdings. “The episode that led to the impeachment of a president and landed me in the heart of the decade’s biggest political fable is most remarkable for its epic banality,” he writes. He then proceeds to cover the incident in an 18-page chapter that reads like a research paper compiled by a reluctant student. Was Biden appointed to the board because of his last name? Perhaps, he writes, but: “My response has always been to work harder so that my accomplishments stand on their own.” Did he display a lack of judgment? “No.” Would he do it again? “I did nothing unethical, and have never been charged with wrongdoing.” He credits his wife, Melissa Cohen, for his sobriety. In March 2019, Hunter Biden was “done with the world of politics, of figuring out how to go out on the campaign trail with Dad, if it came to that, as I would have in any other election year.” He writes, “I was a crack addict and that was that.” He had been asked to vacate a hotel in Los Angeles where he was living, but before he left, he befriended some people at the pool who gave him the number of a South African filmmaker named Melissa Cohen. An hour into their first dinner, they declared their love to one another. An hour after that, Biden told Melissa he was a crack addict. She said, “Not anymore. You’re finished with that.”

Hunter Biden’s memoir: 7 takeaways from ‘Beautiful Things’

Former United States President Donald Trump recently spoke at a wedding ceremony at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Staying true to form, Trump made the congratulatory speech about himself, and made attempts to berate the incumbent US President Joe Biden.

"Do you miss me yet?”, Trump who was decked up for the wedding asked the attendees at the function, a video of which was shared by TMZ.

He used the moment to attack Biden over multiple issues, ranging from the border with Mexico, to China, and even Iran.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-lashes-out-at-biden-administration-over-us-migration-crisis-372197" hreflang="en">Trump lashes out at Biden administration over US migration crisis</a>

"We were ready to make a deal [with Iran], they were ready to do anything, they would have done anything. And this guy [Biden] goes and drops the sanctions and then he says we'd like to negotiate now," Trump is heard saying in the video.

"What's happening to the kids? They are living in squalor, they are living like nobody has ever seen," Trump said, while referring to the kids at border. "The border is not good. It's the worst that it has ever been," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/former-top-us-virus-official-slams-trumps-pandemic-response-citing-needless-deaths-374033" hreflang="en">Former top US virus official slams Trump’s pandemic response, citing needless deaths</a>

Ironically, Trump administration had divided children from their families at the border and had kept kids in prison-like conditions at the border, for which his administration had received a lot of flak.

In what was expected, Trump again made his unproven claims of a stolen election. "They said get 66 million votes, sir, and the election is over. I got 75 million votes, and you saw what happened," he said.

Former United States President Donald Trump recently spoke at a wedding ceremony at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Staying true to form, Trump made the congratulatory speech about himself, and made attempts to berate the incumbent US President Joe Biden.

Former United States President Donald Trump recently spoke at a wedding ceremony at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Staying true to form, Trump made the congratulatory speech about himself, and made attempts to berate the incumbent US President Joe Biden. "Do you miss me yet?”, Trump who was decked up for the wedding asked the attendees at the function, a video of which was shared by TMZ. He used the moment to attack Biden over multiple issues, ranging from the border with Mexico, to China, and even Iran. Also read: Trump lashes out at Biden administration over US migration crisis "We were ready to make a deal [with Iran], they were ready to do anything, they would have done anything. And this guy [Biden] goes and drops the sanctions and then he says we'd like to negotiate now," Trump is heard saying in the video. "What's happening to the kids? They are living in squalor, they are living like nobody has ever seen," Trump said, while referring to the kids at border. "The border is not good. It's the worst that it has ever been," he said. Also read: Former top US virus official slams Trump’s pandemic response, citing needless deaths Ironically, Trump administration had divided children from their families at the border and had kept kids in prison-like conditions at the border, for which his administration had received a lot of flak. In what was expected, Trump again made his unproven claims of a stolen election. "They said get 66 million votes, sir, and the election is over. I got 75 million votes, and you saw what happened," he said.

'Miss me yet?': Donald Trump shocks everyone by making wedding speech about himself

A recording of former US President Donald Trump urging a state investigator to look for voter fraud in certain countries was recently found in the “trash” of the officer’s computer.

Trump had urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger office’s lead investigator Frances Watson on December 23 to look for voter fraud in specific counties, reportedly telling her that she would receive praise after the “right answer” is out in public domain.

The existence of a recording was first reported by The Washington Post in January, following which The Wall Street Journal published the audio last week. During the emergence of the first report of a recording in January, state officials said no such recording existed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-downgrade-former-us-president-travels-in-run-of-the-mill-plane-twitter-explodes-370521" hreflang="en">Trump downgrade: Former US president travels in 'run-of-the-mill' plane, Twitter explodes</a>

Officials told The Washington Post that the recording was located on the trash folder of Watson’s device and was found while responding to a request for public records.

In the November elections, Trump lost the state of Georgia by almost 12,000 votes but continued to claim that the vote was rigged, and that the election was stolen - without offering any evidence.

Trump asked Watson to check signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes and compare them to signatures from two years ago, especially in Fulton County.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/biden-admin-to-reconsider-objections-to-h1b-visas-during-trump-regime-370100" hreflang="en">Biden admin to reconsider objections to H1B visas during Trump regime</a>

Trump allegedly&nbsp;intended to inflate the number of non-matching signatures in an area led by Democrats. In 2018, many ballots in Georgia and Florida were rejected when officials matched signatures and found that the signatures of the voters had evolved.

Watson reportedly told Trump that she was “honoured” but also “shocked” at him taking the time to do it. Trump’s supporters defend his actions by saying that the former president was simply attempting to check in on legitimate concerns of voter fraud - which have never been proven.

A recording of former US President Donald Trump urging a state investigator to look for voter fraud in certain countries was recently found in the “trash” of the officer’s computer.

A recording of former US President Donald Trump urging a state investigator to look for voter fraud in certain countries was recently found in the “trash” of the officer’s computer. Trump had urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger office’s lead investigator Frances Watson on December 23 to look for voter fraud in specific counties, reportedly telling her that she would receive praise after the “right answer” is out in public domain. The existence of a recording was first reported by The Washington Post in January, following which The Wall Street Journal published the audio last week. During the emergence of the first report of a recording in January, state officials said no such recording existed. Also read: Trump downgrade: Former US president travels in 'run-of-the-mill' plane, Twitter explodes Officials told The Washington Post that the recording was located on the trash folder of Watson’s device and was found while responding to a request for public records. In the November elections, Trump lost the state of Georgia by almost 12,000 votes but continued to claim that the vote was rigged, and that the election was stolen - without offering any evidence. Trump asked Watson to check signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes and compare them to signatures from two years ago, especially in Fulton County. Also read: Biden admin to reconsider objections to H1B visas during Trump regime Trump allegedly intended to inflate the number of non-matching signatures in an area led by Democrats. In 2018, many ballots in Georgia and Florida were rejected when officials matched signatures and found that the signatures of the voters had evolved. Watson reportedly told Trump that she was “honoured” but also “shocked” at him taking the time to do it. Trump’s supporters defend his actions by saying that the former president was simply attempting to check in on legitimate concerns of voter fraud - which have never been proven.

Recording of Trump calling Georgia election officials found in 'trash'

In a series of explosive details emerging from US President Donald Trump’s current tenure, his close aides believed that Trump was a danger to national security after sitting in on his phone calls with other world leaders.

The classified calls, obtained by CNN, asserts how important figures in his administration including former national security adviser John Bolton, former Defense Secretary James Mattis, and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson felt that Trump was “delusional” after seeing him deal with other leaders.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/new-york-judge-temporarily-blocks-tell-all-book-by-trumps-niece-309785" hreflang="en">New York judge temporarily blocks 'tell-all' book by Trump's niece</a>

According to the report, Trump, in conversation with former British Prime Minister Theresa May referred to her as “a fool”, and even called her a coward in how she dealt with the Brexit crisis, NATO, and heavily criticised her immigration policy.

Additionally, he also told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that she was “stupid”, and accused her of being paid by the Russians. CNN’s report also highlighted that Merkel kept her calm during the calls, and the German administration was highly concerned about the way Trump addressed Merkel. However, she kept her composure and always retorted with facts, to Trump’s dismay.

<h6><img alt="US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ab764af1-8018-45f3-97bb-23c26e85d15c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-8_3.jpg" /> 
US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The sources describe his verbal communications with May and Merkel as “near-sadistic”, whereby he “demeaned and denigrated” them. It got so bad that access to the phone calls between Merkel and Trump was put under high scrutiny and was limited to only her immediate aides.

As per the report, Merkel’s rebuttal of the attacks against her were claim, “like water off a duck’s back”. However, he was able to intimidate May, who got “flustered and nervous” after Trump’s remarks. The source told CNN, “he intimidated her and meant to”.

It was owing to such “problematic calls” that Merkel had to limit access to the calls.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/biden-slams-trumps-cognitive-capability-over-russian-bounty-intelligence-309774" hreflang="en">Biden slams Trump's 'cognitive capability' over Russian bounty intelligence</a>

The report also mentioned other world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The former allegedly reached out to him multiple times in a bid to convince him to change his stance on policies, especially concerning the environment. However, he also “bullied and disparaged” them.

Additionally, Trump remained friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan. In fact, he boasted about his victories as US president to Putin, who according to the sources, was always one step ahead of Trump. He also played down and insulted former US presidents like Obama and Bush, and claimed responsibility for getting US economy booming.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/white-house-press-secretary-mocked-after-saying-trump-is-most-informed-person-309771" hreflang="en">White House press secretary mocked after saying Trump is 'most informed person'</a>

Many close aides also alleged that Trump came to meetings with other leaders unprepared, which worried his close circle.

Trump is currently under fire after Bolton released a book which claimed that he sought favours from Beijing, and that he put his own presidency over the US’ national interests when engaging with world leaders.

In a series of explosive details emerging from US President Donald Trump’s current tenure, his close aides believed that Trump was a danger to national security after sitting in on his phone calls with other world leaders.

In a series of explosive details emerging from US President Donald Trump’s current tenure, his close aides believed that Trump was a danger to national security after sitting in on his phone calls with other world leaders. The classified calls, obtained by CNN, asserts how important figures in his administration including former national security adviser John Bolton, former Defense Secretary James Mattis, and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson felt that Trump was “delusional” after seeing him deal with other leaders. Also read: New York judge temporarily blocks 'tell-all' book by Trump's niece According to the report, Trump, in conversation with former British Prime Minister Theresa May referred to her as “a fool”, and even called her a coward in how she dealt with the Brexit crisis, NATO, and heavily criticised her immigration policy. Additionally, he also told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that she was “stupid”, and accused her of being paid by the Russians. CNN’s report also highlighted that Merkel kept her calm during the calls, and the German administration was highly concerned about the way Trump addressed Merkel. However, she kept her composure and always retorted with facts, to Trump’s dismay. US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019 | AFP The sources describe his verbal communications with May and Merkel as “near-sadistic”, whereby he “demeaned and denigrated” them. It got so bad that access to the phone calls between Merkel and Trump was put under high scrutiny and was limited to only her immediate aides. As per the report, Merkel’s rebuttal of the attacks against her were claim, “like water off a duck’s back”. However, he was able to intimidate May, who got “flustered and nervous” after Trump’s remarks. The source told CNN, “he intimidated her and meant to”. It was owing to such “problematic calls” that Merkel had to limit access to the calls. Also read: Biden slams Trump's 'cognitive capability' over Russian bounty intelligence The report also mentioned other world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The former allegedly reached out to him multiple times in a bid to convince him to change his stance on policies, especially concerning the environment. However, he also “bullied and disparaged” them. Additionally, Trump remained friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Erdogan. In fact, he boasted about his victories as US president to Putin, who according to the sources, was always one step ahead of Trump. He also played down and insulted former US presidents like Obama and Bush, and claimed responsibility for getting US economy booming. Also read: White House press secretary mocked after saying Trump is 'most informed person' Many close aides also alleged that Trump came to meetings with other leaders unprepared, which worried his close circle. Trump is currently under fire after Bolton released a book which claimed that he sought favours from Beijing, and that he put his own presidency over the US’ national interests when engaging with world leaders.

Trump 'disparaged' global leaders, called Germany's Merkel 'stupid' on the phone

US President Donald Trump will address searing anger over racism and police brutality during a trip to Texas on Thursday but his main focus is rapidly shifting to a more personal problem -- his troubled reelection campaign.

The Republican has struggled to find the right tone to address the explosion of protests against years of police abuses and what many African-American leaders, and others, say is systemic racism.

That crisis, coupled with the economic devastation of the COVID-19 shutdown -- and the fact that the pandemic continues to kill about 1,000 people a day -- has left the country crying out for healing.

Trump, whose political style is built largely on fierce division and exciting his right-wing base, is due to address those national anxieties when he holds a roundtable meeting in Dallas.

The theme announced by the White House -- "Transition to Greatness: Restoring, Rebuilding, and Renewing" -- promotes the image of Trump as an optimistic, can-do businessman president.

But with anger in the streets, nervousness across the economic landscape, and fear of the coronavirus lingering everywhere, living up to it will be a tall order.

Critics say he is incapable, pointing to the contrast between shows of empathy from previous presidents during crises and Trump's instinct for fighting and insulting foes, even in the midst of calamity.

"For weeks we've seen President Trump run away from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism and police brutality. Instead, he's further divided our country," Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday.

"Today's trip to Texas won't change any of that. President Trump is more interested in photo-ops than offering a healing voice as our nation mourns."

With his poll numbers underwater five months ahead of election day, Trump seems unlikely to change tack.

Despite the extraordinary turmoil, his base remains loyal and he has made clear his priority is getting back on the campaign trail.

Immediately after his remarks in Dallas, the president heads to his first campaign fundraiser since the COVID-19 lockdown began -- a $580,600 per couple event. Then he flies to his golf course resort in New Jersey for the weekend, another post-COVID first.

Next Friday, he will restart his mothballed series of rallies -- raucous, often two-hour love fests between Trump the entertainer-in-chief and thousands of his most loyal supporters -- with an event in Oklahoma.

The choice of Texas for Thursday's trip is notable because this has been a Republican state for decades but things are changing. Trump won narrowly in 2016 and a Quinnipiac poll last week put him only one percentage point ahead of Biden.

In 2016, polls and politics watchers in general got it wrong about Trump, who ran a chaotic campaign against the ultra-professional Hillary Clinton yet still scored a famous electoral college win.

This has left many election watchers gun-shy. Even so, current polls make grim reading for the Republican.

The FiveThirtyEight.com average shows Trump's approval rating at just 41 percent, having taken a big hit from his handling of the COVID-19 and race crises.

The realclearpolitics.com average for a presidential election match-up puts Biden at 49.8 to Trump's 41.7.

Worse for Trump -- given his hope of repeating his electoral college win, even if losing the overall popular vote -- Biden leads in almost every swing state.

US President Donald Trump will address searing anger over racism and police brutality during a trip to Texas on Thursday but his main focus is rapidly shifting to a more personal problem -- his troubled reelection campaign.

US President Donald Trump will address searing anger over racism and police brutality during a trip to Texas on Thursday but his main focus is rapidly shifting to a more personal problem -- his troubled reelection campaign. The Republican has struggled to find the right tone to address the explosion of protests against years of police abuses and what many African-American leaders, and others, say is systemic racism. That crisis, coupled with the economic devastation of the COVID-19 shutdown -- and the fact that the pandemic continues to kill about 1,000 people a day -- has left the country crying out for healing. Trump, whose political style is built largely on fierce division and exciting his right-wing base, is due to address those national anxieties when he holds a roundtable meeting in Dallas. The theme announced by the White House -- "Transition to Greatness: Restoring, Rebuilding, and Renewing" -- promotes the image of Trump as an optimistic, can-do businessman president. But with anger in the streets, nervousness across the economic landscape, and fear of the coronavirus lingering everywhere, living up to it will be a tall order. Critics say he is incapable, pointing to the contrast between shows of empathy from previous presidents during crises and Trump's instinct for fighting and insulting foes, even in the midst of calamity. "For weeks we've seen President Trump run away from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism and police brutality. Instead, he's further divided our country," Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday. "Today's trip to Texas won't change any of that. President Trump is more interested in photo-ops than offering a healing voice as our nation mourns." With his poll numbers underwater five months ahead of election day, Trump seems unlikely to change tack. Despite the extraordinary turmoil, his base remains loyal and he has made clear his priority is getting back on the campaign trail. Immediately after his remarks in Dallas, the president heads to his first campaign fundraiser since the COVID-19 lockdown began -- a $580,600 per couple event. Then he flies to his golf course resort in New Jersey for the weekend, another post-COVID first. Next Friday, he will restart his mothballed series of rallies -- raucous, often two-hour love fests between Trump the entertainer-in-chief and thousands of his most loyal supporters -- with an event in Oklahoma. The choice of Texas for Thursday's trip is notable because this has been a Republican state for decades but things are changing. Trump won narrowly in 2016 and a Quinnipiac poll last week put him only one percentage point ahead of Biden. In 2016, polls and politics watchers in general got it wrong about Trump, who ran a chaotic campaign against the ultra-professional Hillary Clinton yet still scored a famous electoral college win. This has left many election watchers gun-shy. Even so, current polls make grim reading for the Republican. The FiveThirtyEight.com average shows Trump's approval rating at just 41 percent, having taken a big hit from his handling of the COVID-19 and race crises. The realclearpolitics.com average for a presidential election match-up puts Biden at 49.8 to Trump's 41.7. Worse for Trump -- given his hope of repeating his electoral college win, even if losing the overall popular vote -- Biden leads in almost every swing state.

Struggling to unite country, Trump reopens re-election campaign

An irate Donald Trump said Friday he welcomes the prospect of an impeachment trial, as the US leader lashed out at "crazy" and "corrupt" opponents probing potential abuse of presidential power.

An irate Donald Trump said Friday he welcomes the prospect of an impeachment trial, as the US leader lashed out at "crazy" and "corrupt" opponents probing potential abuse of presidential power. After a week of dramatic impeachment testimony from current and former administration officials, an embattled Trump took to a favorite broadcaster to air a long, occasionally incoherent list of grievances -- against the FBI, his political adversaries, impeachment inquiry leaders, the "deep state," and more. "These people are sick," Trump raged down the telephone line to Fox at the start of a 53-minute tirade that showed how angered and unsettled he has been by an impeachment inquiry that threatens his presidency. Multiple witnesses, in often damning testimony under oath, buttressed charges the president conditioned much-needed military aid and a coveted White House meeting on Ukraine investigating his political rivals. But with many Republicans seemingly unmoved, Trump bashed the testimony as "total nonsense" and said he relished the chance to defend himself. "Frankly, I want a trial," Trump told morning show Fox and Friends. The House Intelligence Committee has not formally concluded its role in the inquiry, possibly waiting for a court ruling on Monday that could empower members to force senior Trump aides to testify. But Democrats appear determined to hold an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives by the end of the year, which could see Trump go on trial in the Senate in January. Removing him from office would require conviction by a two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled upper chamber. 'Crazy as a bedbug' The increasing prospect of becoming only the third US president formally impeached, after Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, has riled the brash New York billionaire, and he fired off multiple attacks against rivals leading the effort. His main Democratic nemesis in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is "crazy as a bedbug" for pressing a "scam" impeachment, he fumed. House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, who has presided over the public phase of the inquiry? A "nutjob" and a "sick puppy" who should be sued for having "lied" about the president's "flawless" Ukraine call, Trump added. Trump was quick to say he "hardly" knows several of the witnesses, including his own ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who said Trump sought a quid pro quo from Ukraine. But he rushed to the defense of his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who has emerged in many accounts as having orchestrated the shadow policy to pressure Ukraine. "Rudy is a great crime fighter," Trump said, giving an unqualified endorsement to one of the most controversial figures in the Ukraine saga. "He is a friend of mine. He is a great person, an iconic figure in this country," he said of the former New York major. Trump also repeated the conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election -- just a day after a former National Security Council expert, Fiona Hill, denounced that in testimony as a "fictional narrative" advanced by Russia to harm the United States. "They have the server from the DNC -- Democratic National Committee," Trump said of Ukraine, claiming that Democrats gave the computer to "a company owned by a very wealthy Ukrainian." The claim appeared to alarm Fox hosts, including Steve Doocy. "Are you sure they gave it to Ukraine?" a skeptical Doocy asked Trump. "That's what the word is, and that's what I asked actually in my phone call," Trump responded, referring to his July 25 conversation with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. Trump mentioned his political rival Joe Biden to Zelensky and pressed the new president to investigate a Ukrainian firm where Biden's son worked while his father was vice president. Democrats argue that Trump's demand that a foreign leader investigate his potential adversary in the 2020 presidential election is impeachable conduct. Trump has said he was merely pressing Ukraine to ramp up its anti-corruption efforts. But he also claims the Bidens were involved in corruption. There is no evidence to back up the assertion, but Trump nonetheless repeated it on Fox, saying "you have to say Joe Biden is corrupt." Biden, who leads the Democratic 2020 nomination race, has said Trump has smeared him with corruption allegations because he fears a Biden candidacy. Polls show American voters believe Biden would have the best shot at defeating Trump. But Trump seized on polling released this week that shows him winning in hypothetical matchups against Biden and other Democrats in battleground Wisconsin, a state Trump flipped in 2016 but which Democrats aim to retake. "I'm going through the roof," Trump boasted.

Frustrated Trump lashes out at impeachment probe

According to the head of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-inquiry-us-president-says-does-not-know-sondland-very-well-263475">congressional impeachment probe</a>, the behaviour exhibited by Donald Trump in respect to Ukraine was far worse than what led to Richard Nixon's downfall.

Lawmakers are investigating whether Trump misused his office by bullying Ukraine into helping&nbsp;with his reelection aspirations. The testimonies, as part of the hearing, have become more explosive in the last three days.&nbsp;

The Democrats based their accusation on a phone call from Trump to Zelensky on July 25, and help from accomplices, especially senior leaders within the administration.

"People look to us from all over the world," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said. "People in Ukraine who want a better future, they look to us''.

"They still look to us and increasingly they don't recognise what they see... That is a terrible tragedy for us but it is a greater tragedy for the rest of the world," the Schiff added.

Allegedly, Trump stalled $400 million worth of military aid to Ukraine in order to coerce Ukrainian president&nbsp;Volodymyr Zelensky into helping. Kiev's stressful relationships with Russia were a contributing factor.&nbsp;

Trump also pushed Zelensky to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ordered-ukraine-deal-to-probe-biden-us-diplomat-sondland-263493">investigate Democrat Joe Biden</a> and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

"In my view, there is nothing more dangerous than an unethical president who believes they are above the law," Schiff said.

Watch: Will US President Donald Trump be impeached?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-us-president-donald-trump-be-fired-263694/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to Democrats, the plan would have materialised seamlessly if it weren't for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-never-discussed-ukraine-aid-freeze-with-me-us-diplomat-gordon-sondland-263472">whistleblower</a> whose complaint about the July call reached Congress on September 9, ensuring the aid was handed over two days later.

"What we've seen here is far more serious than a third-rate burglary of the Democratic headquarters," said&nbsp;Schiff, referring to the infamous 1972 Watergate break-in that Nixon ordered, eventually leading to his resignation.

"What we're talking about here is the withholding of recognition in that White House meeting (and) the withholding of military aid to an ally at war. This is beyond anything Nixon did."

Nixon resigned in 1974, two years after the burglary of Democratic offices in the Watergate complex in Washington.

(With inputs from AFP)

According to the head of the congressional impeachment probe, the behaviour exhibited by Donald Trump in respect to Ukraine was far worse than what led to Richard Nixon's downfall.

According to the head of the congressional impeachment probe, the behaviour exhibited by Donald Trump in respect to Ukraine was far worse than what led to Richard Nixon's downfall. Lawmakers are investigating whether Trump misused his office by bullying Ukraine into helping with his reelection aspirations. The testimonies, as part of the hearing, have become more explosive in the last three days. The Democrats based their accusation on a phone call from Trump to Zelensky on July 25, and help from accomplices, especially senior leaders within the administration. "People look to us from all over the world," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said. "People in Ukraine who want a better future, they look to us''. "They still look to us and increasingly they don't recognise what they see... That is a terrible tragedy for us but it is a greater tragedy for the rest of the world," the Schiff added. Allegedly, Trump stalled $400 million worth of military aid to Ukraine in order to coerce Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky into helping. Kiev's stressful relationships with Russia were a contributing factor. Trump also pushed Zelensky to investigate Democrat Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. "In my view, there is nothing more dangerous than an unethical president who believes they are above the law," Schiff said. Watch: Will US President Donald Trump be impeached? According to Democrats, the plan would have materialised seamlessly if it weren't for a whistleblower whose complaint about the July call reached Congress on September 9, ensuring the aid was handed over two days later. "What we've seen here is far more serious than a third-rate burglary of the Democratic headquarters," said Schiff, referring to the infamous 1972 Watergate break-in that Nixon ordered, eventually leading to his resignation. "What we're talking about here is the withholding of recognition in that White House meeting (and) the withholding of military aid to an ally at war. This is beyond anything Nixon did." Nixon resigned in 1974, two years after the burglary of Democratic offices in the Watergate complex in Washington. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump's behaviour worse than Nixon: Head of impeachment probe

United States President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-judge-orders-trump-to-pay-2-million-for-misusing-namesake-charity-260638">Donald Trump</a> mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race.

"He doesn't have the magic to do well... Little Michael will fail," Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to the southern state of Georgia to rally support.

Bloomberg, 77, is expected to enter the race Friday to become the Democratic nominee for US president, setting up a showdown with fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden as the leading centrist candidate.&nbsp;

He is expected to file paperwork in at least one state declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times.

Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn't run, but more recently has been toying with the idea of throwing his hat in the ring, according to an advisor.

He sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the signatures required&nbsp;to register for its primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said.

Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement that the billionaire wanted to ensure that the job of defeating Trump was seen through in 2020.

"He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defiant-at-louisiana-rally-after-democrat-wins-260535">Trump</a> added.

"There's nobody I'd rather run against than Little Michael."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-michael-bloomberg-a-profile-of-expected-democratic-contender-for-us-presidential-race-260806">In pictures:&nbsp;Who is Michael Bloomberg? A profile of expected Democratic contender for US presidential race</a>

United States President Donald Trump mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race.

United States President Donald Trump mocked "little" billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race. "He doesn't have the magic to do well... Little Michael will fail," Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to the southern state of Georgia to rally support. Bloomberg, 77, is expected to enter the race Friday to become the Democratic nominee for US president, setting up a showdown with fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden as the leading centrist candidate. He is expected to file paperwork in at least one state declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times. Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn't run, but more recently has been toying with the idea of throwing his hat in the ring, according to an advisor. He sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the signatures required to register for its primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said. Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement that the billionaire wanted to ensure that the job of defeating Trump was seen through in 2020. "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually," Trump added. "There's nobody I'd rather run against than Little Michael." In pictures: Who is Michael Bloomberg? A profile of expected Democratic contender for US presidential race

Trump dismisses 'little' Michael Bloomberg's likely White House run

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States&nbsp;Senator <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elizabeth-warren-and-bernie-sanders-defend-progressive-policies-in-us-democratic-debate-239616">Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions</a> on issues like healthcare and taxes.

While Warren has risen in the past month into a virtual tie with former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls atop the Democratic race, most other contenders face an urgent challenge in breaking out of the pack while the political world is riveted by the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry of Republican President Donald Trump.

The first nominating contest in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election is February&nbsp;3 in Iowa, giving candidates less than four months to make their case to voters on why they are best suited for the job.

Many of the contenders also face a scramble to qualify for the next Democratic debate in Georgia in November, when the polling and fundraising qualifying criteria will be even tougher. So far, just eight candidates have qualified.

In Tuesday's debate, moderates Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and US&nbsp;Senator Amy Klobuchar aggressively went after Warren to explain how she would pay for ambitious proposals including her Medicare for All plan and how much they would cost.

Both candidates are trying to break out of the middle of the crowded Democratic pack. Buttigieg has qualified for the November debate, while Klobuchar has not.

"I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where to send the invoice," Klobuchar told Warren. "The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something you can actually get done."

Klobuchar pushed back when Warren said critics of her wealth tax were trying to protect billionaires, saying: "No one on this stage wants to protect billionaires," adding: "Your idea is not the only idea."

Crammed debate stage

The sharp exchanges were a sign of the heightened stakes as a dozen candidates crammed the debate stage in the electoral battleground state of Ohio. It was the most crowded debate so far in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elizabeth-warren-builds-largest-united-states-presidential-campaign-staff-210823">Democratic presidential race</a>.

The debate comes at a critical time, as Biden has seen his once solid lead in opinion polls among Democrats diminished by Warren, a leader of the party's progressive movement, who has steadily risen over the past two months.

Warren stayed calm under the attacks, offering her proposals to end income inequality and level the economic playing field for workers.

She did not directly respond to questions about whether she would raise taxes for the healthcare plan, but she said she would not sign any bill that does not lower healthcare costs for middle-class families.

"I have made clear what my principles are here, and that is that costs will go up for the wealthy and for big corporations and, for hard-working middle-class families, costs will go down," she said.

The expansive Medicare for All proposal, based on the government-run healthcare plan for Americans over age 65, has sharply divided Democratic presidential contenders. Some analysts have said it would cost $32 trillion over a decade.

Many other Democratic candidates back a Medicare-based plan as just one option for Americans seeking healthcare coverage.

US&nbsp;Senator Bernie Sanders, who sponsored a bill in the Senate to create a Medicare for All plan, said he thought it was "appropriate to acknowledge that taxes would go up" under the proposal.

The debate marked the return of Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the field, who suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and has been recuperating at home in Vermont since having stents inserted to open a blocked artery.

Sanders will return to the campaign trail on Saturday with a rally in New York, where a Sanders campaign source said he would be endorsed by progressive US&nbsp;Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He also was endorsed on Tuesday by US&nbsp;Representative Ilhan Omar, an ally of Ocasio-Cortez.

The two congresswomen have been frequent targets of Trump for their views.

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions on issues like healthcare and taxes.

The Democratic presidential contenders head back to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a debate that featured repeated attacks on surging progressive United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and exposed the party's divisions on issues like healthcare and taxes. While Warren has risen in the past month into a virtual tie with former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls atop the Democratic race, most other contenders face an urgent challenge in breaking out of the pack while the political world is riveted by the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry of Republican President Donald Trump. The first nominating contest in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election is February 3 in Iowa, giving candidates less than four months to make their case to voters on why they are best suited for the job. Many of the contenders also face a scramble to qualify for the next Democratic debate in Georgia in November, when the polling and fundraising qualifying criteria will be even tougher. So far, just eight candidates have qualified. In Tuesday's debate, moderates Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and US Senator Amy Klobuchar aggressively went after Warren to explain how she would pay for ambitious proposals including her Medicare for All plan and how much they would cost. Both candidates are trying to break out of the middle of the crowded Democratic pack. Buttigieg has qualified for the November debate, while Klobuchar has not. "I think we owe it to the American people to tell them where to send the invoice," Klobuchar told Warren. "The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something you can actually get done." Klobuchar pushed back when Warren said critics of her wealth tax were trying to protect billionaires, saying: "No one on this stage wants to protect billionaires," adding: "Your idea is not the only idea." Crammed debate stage The sharp exchanges were a sign of the heightened stakes as a dozen candidates crammed the debate stage in the electoral battleground state of Ohio. It was the most crowded debate so far in the Democratic presidential race. The debate comes at a critical time, as Biden has seen his once solid lead in opinion polls among Democrats diminished by Warren, a leader of the party's progressive movement, who has steadily risen over the past two months. Warren stayed calm under the attacks, offering her proposals to end income inequality and level the economic playing field for workers. She did not directly respond to questions about whether she would raise taxes for the healthcare plan, but she said she would not sign any bill that does not lower healthcare costs for middle-class families. "I have made clear what my principles are here, and that is that costs will go up for the wealthy and for big corporations and, for hard-working middle-class families, costs will go down," she said. The expansive Medicare for All proposal, based on the government-run healthcare plan for Americans over age 65, has sharply divided Democratic presidential contenders. Some analysts have said it would cost $32 trillion over a decade. Many other Democratic candidates back a Medicare-based plan as just one option for Americans seeking healthcare coverage. US Senator Bernie Sanders, who sponsored a bill in the Senate to create a Medicare for All plan, said he thought it was "appropriate to acknowledge that taxes would go up" under the proposal. The debate marked the return of Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the field, who suffered a heart attack two weeks ago and has been recuperating at home in Vermont since having stents inserted to open a blocked artery. Sanders will return to the campaign trail on Saturday with a rally in New York, where a Sanders campaign source said he would be endorsed by progressive US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He also was endorsed on Tuesday by US Representative Ilhan Omar, an ally of Ocasio-Cortez. The two congresswomen have been frequent targets of Trump for their views.

United States Democrats back on 2020 campaign trail after debate attacks on Warren

Lamenting that the American Dream and its democracy are under attack in Donald Trump's United States, California Senator Kamala Harris formally declared Sunday her candidacy to become the country's first black female president in 2020.

Harris, who was California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017, made her announcement to supporters outside city hall in Oakland, San Francisco's grittier neighbour where she was born.

Barack Obama introduced himself to Californian voters in 2007 in the same location before he was elected the first African American president of the United States a year later.

Harris already announced in a January 21 video that she would run for president. She joins a Democratic field with several other candidates seeking to keep Trump out of the White House for a second term.

"We are here because the American dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before," she said.

"When democratic values are under attack around the globe, when authoritarianism is on the march, when nuclear proliferation is on the rise, when we have foreign powers infecting the White House like malware, let's speak the truth," she added to raucous applause.

'Not our America' 
Without naming the president, Harris directly targeted the divisive policies of his unconventional administration.

Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and whose mother is a Tamil Indian, said that "in the face of powerful forces trying to sow hate and division among us, the truth is that as Americans, we have so much more in common than what separates us."

Trump regularly tries to equate illegal immigrants with crime and gangs, and his standoff with Democrats in Congress over funding for a wall on the Mexican border led to a record nearly five-week shutdown of parts of the government.

"The president's medieval vanity project is not going to stop them," Harris said of transnational gangs.

She also attacked Trump's failed policy that put migrant children "in cages" after separating them from their parents.

"Don't you dare call that border security. That's a human rights abuse!" she said.

Referring to racist-inspired deadly violence in the country, Harris said "that's not our America," and neither is it when "we have leaders who bully and attack a free press and undermine our democratic institutions."

Trump regularly dismisses as "fake news" reports that cast him in a critical light, and has called some journalists the "enemy of the people."

Harris joins Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former housing secretary Julian Castro, among others, either in the race or exploring a run for the 2020 Democratic nomination.

Lamenting that the American Dream and its democracy are under attack in Donald Trump's United States, California Senator Kamala Harris formally declared Sunday her candidacy to become the country's first black female president in 2020.

Lamenting that the American Dream and its democracy are under attack in Donald Trump's United States, California Senator Kamala Harris formally declared Sunday her candidacy to become the country's first black female president in 2020. Harris, who was California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017, made her announcement to supporters outside city hall in Oakland, San Francisco's grittier neighbour where she was born. Barack Obama introduced himself to Californian voters in 2007 in the same location before he was elected the first African American president of the United States a year later. Harris already announced in a January 21 video that she would run for president. She joins a Democratic field with several other candidates seeking to keep Trump out of the White House for a second term. "We are here because the American dream and our American democracy are under attack and on the line like never before," she said. "When democratic values are under attack around the globe, when authoritarianism is on the march, when nuclear proliferation is on the rise, when we have foreign powers infecting the White House like malware, let's speak the truth," she added to raucous applause. 'Not our America' Without naming the president, Harris directly targeted the divisive policies of his unconventional administration. Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and whose mother is a Tamil Indian, said that "in the face of powerful forces trying to sow hate and division among us, the truth is that as Americans, we have so much more in common than what separates us." Trump regularly tries to equate illegal immigrants with crime and gangs, and his standoff with Democrats in Congress over funding for a wall on the Mexican border led to a record nearly five-week shutdown of parts of the government. "The president's medieval vanity project is not going to stop them," Harris said of transnational gangs. She also attacked Trump's failed policy that put migrant children "in cages" after separating them from their parents. "Don't you dare call that border security. That's a human rights abuse!" she said. Referring to racist-inspired deadly violence in the country, Harris said "that's not our America," and neither is it when "we have leaders who bully and attack a free press and undermine our democratic institutions." Trump regularly dismisses as "fake news" reports that cast him in a critical light, and has called some journalists the "enemy of the people." Harris joins Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former housing secretary Julian Castro, among others, either in the race or exploring a run for the 2020 Democratic nomination.

American dream under attack: Kamala Harris formally launches bid for US Presidency

President Donald Trump&#39;s lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over &quot;defamatory&quot; comments in the book.

&quot;Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House&quot; by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job.

Some of the harshest commentaries came from Bannon, the right-wing firebrand who headed the final stage of Trump&#39;s campaign and became chief strategist at the White House before being fired in August.

Charles Harder, Trump&#39;s personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned of possible claims including libel against Wolff and publisher Henry Holt &amp; Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that &quot;legal action is imminent&quot; against Bannon.

The publishing house announced that &quot;due to unprecedented demand,&quot; it would release the book on Friday morning, rushing it to print after previously planning to put it out next Tuesday.

Wolff and Holt did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump cut ties with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had &quot;lost his mind,&quot; in a blistering statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in the book were made public.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders heaped scorn on Bannon and the book at her briefing on Thursday. She said Breitbart News should consider firing Bannon and attempted to cast doubt on Wolff&#39;s accuracy.

She called the book &quot;some trash&quot; that came from &quot;an author that no one had ever heard of until today.&quot;

&quot;This book is mistake after mistake after mistake,&quot; she said.

Trump lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon on Wednesday asking him not to disclose any confidential information. They said Bannon had breached an agreement by communicating with Wolff about Trump, his family and the campaign and made &quot;disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements&quot; about them.

In the book, Bannon was quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York as &quot;treasonous&quot; and &quot;unpatriotic.&quot; The meeting, held after the Russians promised damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, was attended by Donald Trump Jr., Trump&#39;s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, Trump&#39;s campaign manager at the time.

Trump&#39;s statement also diminished Bannon&#39;s role in the election victory and accused him of leaking to the media. Before joining the campaign, Bannon headed the conservative Breitbart News website and proved to be a divisive figure in the White House. He returned to Breitbart after being fired, although he is reported to have continued to talk with Trump.

&#39;Chnaged his tune&#39;

Bannon&#39;s reaction to the book controversy has been muted. In interviews with Breitbart News after the news broke, he called Trump a &quot;great man&quot; and pledged continued support for the president&#39;s agenda.

The president took note. &quot;He called me a great man last night so he obviously changed his tune pretty quick,&quot; Trump told reporters on Thursday. &quot;I don&#39;t talk to him. That&#39;s a misnomer.&quot;

Bradley Moss, a Washington lawyer specializing in national security law, said any non-disclosure agreement would not apply to Bannon once he became a government employee. The government has far less power to limit speech by employees than private companies, Moss said.

A lawsuit could hurt Trump because Bannon&#39;s lawyers would be entitled to interview White House officials and collect potentially damaging documents from them in his defence, Moss said.

&quot;I assume the cease-and-desist letter is aimed primarily at the public,&quot; added Michael Dorf, a professor at Cornell Law School. &quot;The idea that he could block publication is absurd.&quot;

On Thursday, the White House also said no personal devices, including cellphones, would be allowed in the White House West Wing beginning next week for security purposes. The moves followed the Bannon split but had been considered for some time, White House officials said.

Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and had been the president&#39;s link to his hard-line conservative base of support, which is often at odds with the Republican Party establishment.

The story that triggered the Trump-Bannon split was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny.

Manafort and business associate Rick Gates, another campaign aide, pleaded not guilty in November to federal charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller including conspiracy to launder money. Manafort sued Mueller on Wednesday, alleging that his investigation exceeded its legal authority.

"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job

President Donald Trump's lawyer said on Thursday he would try to stop publication of a book that portrays an inept president in a fumbling White House and threatened legal action against former top aide Steve Bannon over "defamatory" comments in the book. "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by author Michael Wolff set off a political firestorm with its portrayal of Trump as not particularly wanting to win the U.S. presidency in 2016 and unprepared for the job. Some of the harshest commentaries came from Bannon, the right-wing firebrand who headed the final stage of Trump's campaign and became chief strategist at the White House before being fired in August. Charles Harder, Trump's personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned of possible claims including libel against Wolff and publisher Henry Holt & Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that "legal action is imminent" against Bannon. The publishing house announced that "due to unprecedented demand," it would release the book on Friday morning, rushing it to print after previously planning to put it out next Tuesday. Wolff and Holt did not respond to requests for comment. Trump cut ties with Bannon on Wednesday, saying his former adviser had "lost his mind," in a blistering statement issued after comments attributed to Bannon in the book were made public. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders heaped scorn on Bannon and the book at her briefing on Thursday. She said Breitbart News should consider firing Bannon and attempted to cast doubt on Wolff's accuracy. She called the book "some trash" that came from "an author that no one had ever heard of until today." "This book is mistake after mistake after mistake," she said. Trump lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon on Wednesday asking him not to disclose any confidential information. They said Bannon had breached an agreement by communicating with Wolff about Trump, his family and the campaign and made "disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements" about them. In the book, Bannon was quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians at Trump Tower in New York as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." The meeting, held after the Russians promised damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, was attended by Donald Trump Jr., Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign manager at the time. Trump's statement also diminished Bannon's role in the election victory and accused him of leaking to the media. Before joining the campaign, Bannon headed the conservative Breitbart News website and proved to be a divisive figure in the White House. He returned to Breitbart after being fired, although he is reported to have continued to talk with Trump. 'Chnaged his tune' Bannon's reaction to the book controversy has been muted. In interviews with Breitbart News after the news broke, he called Trump a "great man" and pledged continued support for the president's agenda. The president took note. "He called me a great man last night so he obviously changed his tune pretty quick," Trump told reporters on Thursday. "I don't talk to him. That's a misnomer." Bradley Moss, a Washington lawyer specializing in national security law, said any non-disclosure agreement would not apply to Bannon once he became a government employee. The government has far less power to limit speech by employees than private companies, Moss said. A lawsuit could hurt Trump because Bannon's lawyers would be entitled to interview White House officials and collect potentially damaging documents from them in his defence, Moss said. "I assume the cease-and-desist letter is aimed primarily at the public," added Michael Dorf, a professor at Cornell Law School. "The idea that he could block publication is absurd." On Thursday, the White House also said no personal devices, including cellphones, would be allowed in the White House West Wing beginning next week for security purposes. The moves followed the Bannon split but had been considered for some time, White House officials said. Bannon helped Trump shape a populist, anti-establishment message and had been the president's link to his hard-line conservative base of support, which is often at odds with the Republican Party establishment. The story that triggered the Trump-Bannon split was an offshoot of the investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the election to Trump, allegations Trump and Moscow deny. Manafort and business associate Rick Gates, another campaign aide, pleaded not guilty in November to federal charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller including conspiracy to launder money. Manafort sued Mueller on Wednesday, alleging that his investigation exceeded its legal authority.

Explosive book on Trump's White House to be released early after Trump's lawyers try to block it

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