North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to Donald Trump after the US president's diagnosis with coronavirus, wishing him a speedy recovery.

"He offered his sympathy to the president and the First Lady," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said it was the first time Kim had sent well wishes to a world leader who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

"He sincerely hoped that they would be recovered as soon as possible. He hoped they will surely overcome it. He sent warm greetings to them," KCNA added.

Trump announced in the early hours of Friday that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He was later airlifted to a military hospital for further observation and treatment.

Trump and Kim held three high-profile meetings starting in June 2018, after an uptick in tensions between Washington and Pyongyang at the start of Trump's term. But nothing concrete emerged in terms of Pyongyang's denuclearisation, and talks have been officially at a standstill for months.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in mid-September that talks were ongoing behind the scenes.

Trump touts his friendly relations with Kim as one of his foreign policy achievements.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to Donald Trump after the US president's diagnosis with coronavirus, wishing him a speedy recovery. "He offered his sympathy to the president and the First Lady," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to Donald Trump after the US president's diagnosis with coronavirus, wishing him a speedy recovery. "He offered his sympathy to the president and the First Lady," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said it was the first time Kim had sent well wishes to a world leader who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. "He sincerely hoped that they would be recovered as soon as possible. He hoped they will surely overcome it. He sent warm greetings to them," KCNA added. Trump announced in the early hours of Friday that he had tested positive for Covid-19. He was later airlifted to a military hospital for further observation and treatment. Trump and Kim held three high-profile meetings starting in June 2018, after an uptick in tensions between Washington and Pyongyang at the start of Trump's term. But nothing concrete emerged in terms of Pyongyang's denuclearisation, and talks have been officially at a standstill for months. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in mid-September that talks were ongoing behind the scenes. Trump touts his friendly relations with Kim as one of his foreign policy achievements.

N Korean leader Kim Jong-un wishes Trump a speedy recovery

US President Donald Trump's testing positive for the coronavirus has cast a spotlight on Vice-President Mike Pence. A Christian conservative former lawmaker who has been one of the few constants in the Republican president's tumultuous administration, he tested negative for COVID-19.

Pence is scheduled to debate his Democratic rival, Joe Biden's running mate Senator Kamala Harris on Wednesday in Utah. A source at the Commission on Presidential Debates, which oversees the events, said there were no plans to scrap the debate after Trump's positive test.

"This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery," spokesman Devin O'Malley said on Twitter.

Pence does not need to quarantine, because he is not considered a close contact with any individuals who have tested positive, including Trump, Pence's doctor Jesse Schonau said in a statement. "Vice President Pence remains in good health and is free to go about his normal activities," he said.

Pence, who was last seen publically with Trump on Monday at a Rose Garden news conference on coronavirus testing, would take over as acting president should Trump become incapacitated while undergoing medical treatment. That has happened three times in US history.

Then-president George W Bush temporarily transferred power to vice-president Dick Cheney twice, for a few hours each in 2002 and 2007, while undergoing colonoscopies.&nbsp;

Vice-President George HW Bush was acting president for nearly eight hours in 1985 while President Ronald Reagan had a pre-cancerous lesion removed.

The White House said Trump is "not incapacitated" and is working in isolation while experiencing mild symptoms.

Pence filled in for Trump Friday on a conference call with governors about the coronavirus pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told 1010 WINS radio. Pence also stood in for Trump on a call with state leaders to discuss support for vulnerable seniors.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is next in line of succession after Pence. She was tested Friday for COVID-19 and the results were negative, her spokesman said.

Harris tested negative on Thursday as part of her campaign's routine screening for the virus.

Pence has played a largely behind-the-scenes role in Trump's White House, although he is known to have presidential ambitions of his own.

His deference has endeared him to Trump, helping Pence survive in a White House with near-constant turnover among top officials. But he has sometimes been ridiculed for his public obsequiousness to his boss. Earlier this year Trump put Pence in charge of the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, a brief that has not gone well. The nation's death toll from the virus is over 207,000.

US President Donald Trump's testing positive for the coronavirus has cast a spotlight on Vice-President Mike Pence. A Christian conservative former lawmaker who has been one of the few constants in the Republican president's tumultuous administration, he tested negative for COVID-19.

US President Donald Trump's testing positive for the coronavirus has cast a spotlight on Vice-President Mike Pence. A Christian conservative former lawmaker who has been one of the few constants in the Republican president's tumultuous administration, he tested negative for COVID-19. Pence is scheduled to debate his Democratic rival, Joe Biden's running mate Senator Kamala Harris on Wednesday in Utah. A source at the Commission on Presidential Debates, which oversees the events, said there were no plans to scrap the debate after Trump's positive test. "This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19. Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery," spokesman Devin O'Malley said on Twitter. Pence does not need to quarantine, because he is not considered a close contact with any individuals who have tested positive, including Trump, Pence's doctor Jesse Schonau said in a statement. "Vice President Pence remains in good health and is free to go about his normal activities," he said. Pence, who was last seen publically with Trump on Monday at a Rose Garden news conference on coronavirus testing, would take over as acting president should Trump become incapacitated while undergoing medical treatment. That has happened three times in US history. Then-president George W Bush temporarily transferred power to vice-president Dick Cheney twice, for a few hours each in 2002 and 2007, while undergoing colonoscopies. Vice-President George HW Bush was acting president for nearly eight hours in 1985 while President Ronald Reagan had a pre-cancerous lesion removed. The White House said Trump is "not incapacitated" and is working in isolation while experiencing mild symptoms. Pence filled in for Trump Friday on a conference call with governors about the coronavirus pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told 1010 WINS radio. Pence also stood in for Trump on a call with state leaders to discuss support for vulnerable seniors. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is next in line of succession after Pence. She was tested Friday for COVID-19 and the results were negative, her spokesman said. Harris tested negative on Thursday as part of her campaign's routine screening for the virus. Pence has played a largely behind-the-scenes role in Trump's White House, although he is known to have presidential ambitions of his own. His deference has endeared him to Trump, helping Pence survive in a White House with near-constant turnover among top officials. But he has sometimes been ridiculed for his public obsequiousness to his boss. Earlier this year Trump put Pence in charge of the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, a brief that has not gone well. The nation's death toll from the virus is over 207,000.

No quarantine for US Vice-President Pence, next in line to Trump

In the run up to the November 3 presidential election, US President Donald Trump mocked Democratic challenger Joe Biden for months for his cautious approach to the coronavirus.

As Biden remained isolated in his Delaware home in the early months of the virus crisis, Trump called him "Sleepy Joe" and said he was "hiding" in his basement -- a charge that his supporters lapped up and repeated ad infinitum.

During Tuesday's chaotic presidential debate, Trump mocked Biden for wearing a mask at his events, even when he is far away from other people.

But on Friday, it was Trump who was forced to remain in his home, quarantining after his positive diagnosis. His doctor said he was "fatigued" but in "good spirits."

Trump's diagnosis is likely to reinforce Biden's message about the president's failed response to the disease, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States, and undermine Trump's argument that the end of the pandemic is in sight. Polls show voters trust Biden to handle the coronavirus more than Trump.

The vice-president and his wife had also taken a coronavirus test -- whose result came out negative.

Biden then had the proverbial last laugh. He had the campaign stage of Michigan to himself a month before Election Day.

He on Friday said that Trump's coronavirus diagnosis showed the importance of taking the pandemic seriously, telling Americans that wearing masks is more important than being a "tough guy."

The remarks served as an implicit criticism of the Republican president. Trump has played down the deadliness of the virus for months, frequently eschews masks and has held huge campaign rallies with little social distancing.

At a union hall in Grand Rapids, Biden said he and his wife, Jill Biden, were praying that Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, had a swift and full recovery. He delivered the entire speech while wearing a blue medical mask, a departure from prior events where he typically took off his mask before speaking.

"This is not a matter of politics," Biden said. "It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically."

Biden urged all Americans to follow scientific guidelines, including wearing masks, washing hands frequently and staying 6 feet (1.83 m) apart. Health officials, including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, have said masks are a crucial tool for slowing the spread of the virus.

"Be patriotic," Biden said. "It's not about being a tough guy. It`s about doing your part."

Michigan, which Trump narrowly won over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 but where Biden has led in most state polls, is a vital swing state in the election.

Biden leads Trump in national opinion polls, although surveys in the battleground states that will decide the contest show a closer race. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month showed Biden leading Trump by 5 percentage points among likely voters in Michigan.

With only 32 days to go before Election Day, Trump's campaign team announced Friday that his events would either be virtual or postponed until further notice.

Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, was to appear in Nevada on Friday. The 50-year-old, who did not attend Tuesday's debate, has so far tested negative.

"This virus is still very much active across our country, please continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing," she tweeted.

She is set to debate Vice-President Mike Pence on October 7.

The next presidential debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled for October 15, but it was not clear if that would take place.

It is, certainly, too soon to predict how Trump's diagnosis could impact the race for the White House, a tumultuous campaign already upended several times by history-making events.

(with inputs)

In the run up to the November 3 presidential election, US President Donald Trump mocked Democratic challenger Joe Biden for months for his cautious approach to the coronavirus.

In the run up to the November 3 presidential election, US President Donald Trump mocked Democratic challenger Joe Biden for months for his cautious approach to the coronavirus. As Biden remained isolated in his Delaware home in the early months of the virus crisis, Trump called him "Sleepy Joe" and said he was "hiding" in his basement -- a charge that his supporters lapped up and repeated ad infinitum. During Tuesday's chaotic presidential debate, Trump mocked Biden for wearing a mask at his events, even when he is far away from other people. But on Friday, it was Trump who was forced to remain in his home, quarantining after his positive diagnosis. His doctor said he was "fatigued" but in "good spirits." Trump's diagnosis is likely to reinforce Biden's message about the president's failed response to the disease, which has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States, and undermine Trump's argument that the end of the pandemic is in sight. Polls show voters trust Biden to handle the coronavirus more than Trump. The vice-president and his wife had also taken a coronavirus test -- whose result came out negative. Biden then had the proverbial last laugh. He had the campaign stage of Michigan to himself a month before Election Day. He on Friday said that Trump's coronavirus diagnosis showed the importance of taking the pandemic seriously, telling Americans that wearing masks is more important than being a "tough guy." The remarks served as an implicit criticism of the Republican president. Trump has played down the deadliness of the virus for months, frequently eschews masks and has held huge campaign rallies with little social distancing. At a union hall in Grand Rapids, Biden said he and his wife, Jill Biden, were praying that Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, had a swift and full recovery. He delivered the entire speech while wearing a blue medical mask, a departure from prior events where he typically took off his mask before speaking. "This is not a matter of politics," Biden said. "It's a bracing reminder to all of us that we have to take this virus seriously. It's not going away automatically." Biden urged all Americans to follow scientific guidelines, including wearing masks, washing hands frequently and staying 6 feet (1.83 m) apart. Health officials, including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, have said masks are a crucial tool for slowing the spread of the virus. "Be patriotic," Biden said. "It's not about being a tough guy. It`s about doing your part." Michigan, which Trump narrowly won over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 but where Biden has led in most state polls, is a vital swing state in the election. Biden leads Trump in national opinion polls, although surveys in the battleground states that will decide the contest show a closer race. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month showed Biden leading Trump by 5 percentage points among likely voters in Michigan. With only 32 days to go before Election Day, Trump's campaign team announced Friday that his events would either be virtual or postponed until further notice. Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, was to appear in Nevada on Friday. The 50-year-old, who did not attend Tuesday's debate, has so far tested negative. "This virus is still very much active across our country, please continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing," she tweeted. She is set to debate Vice-President Mike Pence on October 7. The next presidential debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled for October 15, but it was not clear if that would take place. It is, certainly, too soon to predict how Trump's diagnosis could impact the race for the White House, a tumultuous campaign already upended several times by history-making events. (with inputs)

Biden, once mocked by Trump, now has the proverbial last laugh

Just two short days before Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, several of my New York Times colleagues published a story about the early days of the pandemic, and the strong global public health consensus at the time that open borders and free movement of peoples should not be suspended, even in the face of a swiftly spreading virus.

“The policy of unobstructed travel was never based on hard science,” the story notes. “It was a political decision, recast as health advice,” that for a public-health community committed to cosmopolitan ideals had become “an article of faith.”

The story was a reminder of a point I’ve tried to make in these pages before: For all of our president’s conspicuous failures in combating the virus that he is now battling — God willing, successfully — himself, it’s not at all obvious that a different president, one who just listened to the science&nbsp;and followed the experts, would have taken the strong early steps that might have actually suppressed the virus and prevented it from becoming endemic on our shores. By the time the experts had caught up to the realities of COVID-19, by the time they were ready to endorse the travel restrictions that their faith catechized against and the mask-wearing that they initially dismissed, a certain scale of disaster was probably already guaranteed.

Many people don’t like this argument because it’s seen as a way of letting Trump off the hook. But there’s another way of looking at it, which is that while Trump’s early failures weren’t necessarily worse than our hypothetical “just listen to the experts” president, they were arguably more culpable and tragic — precisely because Trump himself was not&nbsp;a believer in what one expert quoted in my colleagues’ story calls “the religion of global health.”

Instead, he had a worldview that the cosmopolitan community considered archaic and dangerous — a worldview that emphasized national borders, played up foreign threats and treated travel bans and immigration restrictions as essential tools of state. He also had certain personal tendencies, like his famous germaphobia, that would presumably have made him favorable to masking and social distancing at a time when the expert of experts, Dr. Anthony Fauci, was still dismissing mask wearing and telling healthy Americans that it was safe to take a cruise.

In other words, Trump, much more than a typical president, was ideologically and personally well-positioned to get out ahead of the experts, to break early with their church-of-cosmopolitanism assumptions and to set an example of extreme caution long before that became the official wisdom — even to “own the libs,” if you will, by taking steps that would have been denounced as authoritarianism in late February and then recognized as wisdom by late March.

He did take one step in that direction, imposing the travel ban on China that he now boasts about, at a time when the church of public health considered it a useless act of xenophobia. But the restrictions he imposed weren’t particularly comprehensive, and from then on he was late to every other opportunity where early or draconian action might have made a difference — heeding the conservatives who minimized the virus rather than the right-wing faction (including figures like Peter Navarro in his own White House) that sounded the alarm early and choosing to make himself the face, quite literally, of a more insouciant approach.

In other words, given a series of crucial choices — whether to heed his nationalist and protectionist impulses or his “don’t spook the stock market” biases, whether to listen to his germaphobia or his apparent fear of looking unmanly in a mask — he consistently chose wrongly when he could have chosen wisely. He went by his own choices&nbsp;from being a president who had an unique historical opportunity to vindicate his professed worldview to a president who is now infected with the very virus that is dooming his reelection bid.

One of the tics of Twitter in this strange and deadly year is a tendency to anthropomorphize the year itself (“Oh, 2020, what else do you have in store for us?”) or to make jokes about the TV writer’s room that’s supposedly responsible for our series of unfortunate events.

Many of the people making those jokes don’t believe that history really has an Author. But I do. And the aspects of our circumstances that seem ridiculously scripted to the atheist are, for religious believers, a reason to meditate on what is being revealed, how we’re being tested and what lessons and examples we can draw from watching tragedies unfold.

Our president does not, to put it mildly, resemble the tragic heroes familiar from Aeschylus or Shakespeare. But he has a little more in common with some of the flawed, arrogant, appetitive figures from the Hebrew Bible — figures who are given opportunities to do something important in spite of their flaws, who are placed at crucial turning points in history notwithstanding their weaknesses and sins and who have the capacity to achieve things that amaze the wise and powerful.

In Trump’s arc in 2020, it’s possible to see a more tragic version of these kind of biblical narratives, in which Providence grants a flawed old sinner a unique chance at heroism, even greatness — and he chooses badly, and lets it pass him by.

The president’s coronavirus diagnosis bends that tragic arc a little further. The idea that an illness and speedy recovery might help him win reelection on a wave of sympathy seems — well, let’s just call it unlikely. Rather, his illness just seems to emphasize that we’re inside the falling action of the play, the working out of choices and themes that were established months ago.

You can’t pray to a writer’s room, but you can pray to God. And so we should pray for the president’s swift recovery, that all those infected around him recover soon as well, and that the falling action of 2020’s drama would spare as many lives as possible.

But to pray is also — inherently — to behave as though life isn’t just one accident after another, as though narrative lines in history actually exist, as though our choices are woven into patterns and not just left to unspool randomly. And the president’s affliction, in this sense, is woven intimately into the larger story of 2020 and his administration’s rendezvous with pestilence — a story whose might-have-beens could have redeemed his vices, but whose realities have sealed his presidency’s transformation from a dark farce into a tragedy.

Just two short days before Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, several of my New York Times colleagues published a story about the early days of the pandemic, and the strong global public health consensus at the time that open borders and free movement of peoples should not be suspended, even in the face of a swiftly spreading virus.

Just two short days before Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, several of my New York Times colleagues published a story about the early days of the pandemic, and the strong global public health consensus at the time that open borders and free movement of peoples should not be suspended, even in the face of a swiftly spreading virus. “The policy of unobstructed travel was never based on hard science,” the story notes. “It was a political decision, recast as health advice,” that for a public-health community committed to cosmopolitan ideals had become “an article of faith.” The story was a reminder of a point I’ve tried to make in these pages before: For all of our president’s conspicuous failures in combating the virus that he is now battling — God willing, successfully — himself, it’s not at all obvious that a different president, one who just listened to the science and followed the experts, would have taken the strong early steps that might have actually suppressed the virus and prevented it from becoming endemic on our shores. By the time the experts had caught up to the realities of COVID-19, by the time they were ready to endorse the travel restrictions that their faith catechized against and the mask-wearing that they initially dismissed, a certain scale of disaster was probably already guaranteed. Many people don’t like this argument because it’s seen as a way of letting Trump off the hook. But there’s another way of looking at it, which is that while Trump’s early failures weren’t necessarily worse than our hypothetical “just listen to the experts” president, they were arguably more culpable and tragic — precisely because Trump himself was not a believer in what one expert quoted in my colleagues’ story calls “the religion of global health.” Instead, he had a worldview that the cosmopolitan community considered archaic and dangerous — a worldview that emphasized national borders, played up foreign threats and treated travel bans and immigration restrictions as essential tools of state. He also had certain personal tendencies, like his famous germaphobia, that would presumably have made him favorable to masking and social distancing at a time when the expert of experts, Dr. Anthony Fauci, was still dismissing mask wearing and telling healthy Americans that it was safe to take a cruise. In other words, Trump, much more than a typical president, was ideologically and personally well-positioned to get out ahead of the experts, to break early with their church-of-cosmopolitanism assumptions and to set an example of extreme caution long before that became the official wisdom — even to “own the libs,” if you will, by taking steps that would have been denounced as authoritarianism in late February and then recognized as wisdom by late March. He did take one step in that direction, imposing the travel ban on China that he now boasts about, at a time when the church of public health considered it a useless act of xenophobia. But the restrictions he imposed weren’t particularly comprehensive, and from then on he was late to every other opportunity where early or draconian action might have made a difference — heeding the conservatives who minimized the virus rather than the right-wing faction (including figures like Peter Navarro in his own White House) that sounded the alarm early and choosing to make himself the face, quite literally, of a more insouciant approach. In other words, given a series of crucial choices — whether to heed his nationalist and protectionist impulses or his “don’t spook the stock market” biases, whether to listen to his germaphobia or his apparent fear of looking unmanly in a mask — he consistently chose wrongly when he could have chosen wisely. He went by his own choices from being a president who had an unique historical opportunity to vindicate his professed worldview to a president who is now infected with the very virus that is dooming his reelection bid. One of the tics of Twitter in this strange and deadly year is a tendency to anthropomorphize the year itself (“Oh, 2020, what else do you have in store for us?”) or to make jokes about the TV writer’s room that’s supposedly responsible for our series of unfortunate events. Many of the people making those jokes don’t believe that history really has an Author. But I do. And the aspects of our circumstances that seem ridiculously scripted to the atheist are, for religious believers, a reason to meditate on what is being revealed, how we’re being tested and what lessons and examples we can draw from watching tragedies unfold. Our president does not, to put it mildly, resemble the tragic heroes familiar from Aeschylus or Shakespeare. But he has a little more in common with some of the flawed, arrogant, appetitive figures from the Hebrew Bible — figures who are given opportunities to do something important in spite of their flaws, who are placed at crucial turning points in history notwithstanding their weaknesses and sins and who have the capacity to achieve things that amaze the wise and powerful. In Trump’s arc in 2020, it’s possible to see a more tragic version of these kind of biblical narratives, in which Providence grants a flawed old sinner a unique chance at heroism, even greatness — and he chooses badly, and lets it pass him by. The president’s coronavirus diagnosis bends that tragic arc a little further. The idea that an illness and speedy recovery might help him win reelection on a wave of sympathy seems — well, let’s just call it unlikely. Rather, his illness just seems to emphasize that we’re inside the falling action of the play, the working out of choices and themes that were established months ago. You can’t pray to a writer’s room, but you can pray to God. And so we should pray for the president’s swift recovery, that all those infected around him recover soon as well, and that the falling action of 2020’s drama would spare as many lives as possible. But to pray is also — inherently — to behave as though life isn’t just one accident after another, as though narrative lines in history actually exist, as though our choices are woven into patterns and not just left to unspool randomly. And the president’s affliction, in this sense, is woven intimately into the larger story of 2020 and his administration’s rendezvous with pestilence — a story whose might-have-beens could have redeemed his vices, but whose realities have sealed his presidency’s transformation from a dark farce into a tragedy.

The tragedy of Donald Trump

Aaron E. Carroll is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. He is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute who blogs on health research and policy at The Incidental Economist and makes videos at Healthcare Triage. He is the author of “The Bad Food Bible: How and Why to Eat Sinfully.”

The president has been infected with coronavirus. Schadenfreude is inappropriate. This is, however, a good opportunity for leaders to rethink their current policies and rhetoric on prevention — because what the president’s case highlights are the limitations of even the best testing regimes.

The president is tested for coronavirus every day. While the C.D.C. reports the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html">incubation period</a>&nbsp;can be two to 14 days, it usually appears to be somewhere between three and five days after exposure. Given that President Trump tested positive on Thursday, he was most likely infected sometime between Saturday and Monday. We are usually concerned about a sick person being able to spread infections to others for <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/investigating-covid-19-case.html">up to two days</a>&nbsp;before symptoms began or a test was positive. Therefore, the president might have been infectious to others as early as Tuesday. He probably interacted with many, many people&nbsp;in this time frame; likewise for Melania Trump and Hope Hicks.

The three of them will now need to isolate for at least 10 days. All of the people who were in close contact with them — and by close contact, I mean spent 15 minutes within six feet of them — will have to quarantine for two weeks, because they are at significantly increased risk of being infected themselves and infecting others. If any of them later test positive or show symptoms, they need to isolate for 10 days from that time.

This, in other words, is going to be a contact tracing fiasco — one that could easily shut down the White House.

Many, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/opinion/coronavirus-testing-antigen-pooling.html">including me</a>, have called for more testing for all. But what happened with Ms. Hicks and the president illustrates that testing doesn’t matter unless you close the infection loop with other interventions.

The president and the White House benefit from what is arguably the most rigorous coronavirus testing in the country. In the past, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/21/trump-tested-coronavirus-multiple-times-day-375957">the White House has claimed</a>&nbsp;that Mr. Trump is tested multiple times a day, and is the most tested man in the country.

Screening people without symptoms finds those who are infectious and gets them into quarantine and isolation earlier. But this doesn’t serve any purpose unless you’re also pairing this screening with careful behavior. Even if the infections of the president and others were discovered during regular screening, they still had a huge number of contacts; it’s still a disaster. If you’re going to lead a life where you could theoretically infect hundreds of people or more a day, slightly earlier knowledge doesn’t matter that much.

The most testing, the most advanced technology, and the best health care are simply not sufficient when it comes to this disease. What’s necessary are simple public health measures, like distancing, masking, washing hands and spending as little time as possible close together indoors in the same room. The key to slowing down the spread of coronavirus infections is to have few, if any, close contacts. There’s just no getting around it.

Unfortunately, this has not been the message coming out of the White House for some time. At the debate this week, the president ridiculed Joe Biden for wearing a mask too often. In remarks delivered Thursday night, Mr. Trump said that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-campaign.html">the end of the pandemic is in sight</a>.”

Many leaders at a variety of levels across the country have been following his lead in arguing that things are heading in the right direction, and that it’s perfectly fine to loosen restrictions. Politicians are meeting with large groups of people, indoors, with no masks and no respect for social distancing. Bars are opening. People gather for weddings and other occasions, acting as if there is no risk, the danger has passed, and everything is going to be OK.

They should seriously reconsider.

This is a disease where prevention matters most, and that’s where we need to sink our resources. It’s also what leaders need to promote, not ignore or debase.

It’s unsafe to hold crowded events. It’s unsafe to speak or shout without a mask, in indoor environments, for long periods of time. It’s unsafe to mingle, to hang out close together, and to gather in person when you could do so remotely. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/opinion/coronavirus-precautions.html&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;this will still be the case for some time">And, even if we manage to scale up our testing regime significantly.</a>

This is clearly not a time to celebrate or gloat. I hope everyone recovers quickly and easily. This news should serve as a reminder of how easily transmitted this disease is, how serious it can be, and how much education we still need to do to overcome misinformation. It is very difficult, and perhaps unwise, to regulate some behaviors. When that’s the case, it’s up to leaders to lead, both by words and examples.

Aaron E. Carroll is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. He is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute who blogs on health research and policy at The Incidental Economist and makes videos at Healthcare Triage.

Aaron E. Carroll is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. He is a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute who blogs on health research and policy at The Incidental Economist and makes videos at Healthcare Triage. He is the author of “The Bad Food Bible: How and Why to Eat Sinfully.” The president has been infected with coronavirus. Schadenfreude is inappropriate. This is, however, a good opportunity for leaders to rethink their current policies and rhetoric on prevention — because what the president’s case highlights are the limitations of even the best testing regimes. The president is tested for coronavirus every day. While the C.D.C. reports the incubation period can be two to 14 days, it usually appears to be somewhere between three and five days after exposure. Given that President Trump tested positive on Thursday, he was most likely infected sometime between Saturday and Monday. We are usually concerned about a sick person being able to spread infections to others for up to two days before symptoms began or a test was positive. Therefore, the president might have been infectious to others as early as Tuesday. He probably interacted with many, many people in this time frame; likewise for Melania Trump and Hope Hicks. The three of them will now need to isolate for at least 10 days. All of the people who were in close contact with them — and by close contact, I mean spent 15 minutes within six feet of them — will have to quarantine for two weeks, because they are at significantly increased risk of being infected themselves and infecting others. If any of them later test positive or show symptoms, they need to isolate for 10 days from that time. This, in other words, is going to be a contact tracing fiasco — one that could easily shut down the White House. Many, including me, have called for more testing for all. But what happened with Ms. Hicks and the president illustrates that testing doesn’t matter unless you close the infection loop with other interventions. The president and the White House benefit from what is arguably the most rigorous coronavirus testing in the country. In the past, the White House has claimed that Mr. Trump is tested multiple times a day, and is the most tested man in the country. Screening people without symptoms finds those who are infectious and gets them into quarantine and isolation earlier. But this doesn’t serve any purpose unless you’re also pairing this screening with careful behavior. Even if the infections of the president and others were discovered during regular screening, they still had a huge number of contacts; it’s still a disaster. If you’re going to lead a life where you could theoretically infect hundreds of people or more a day, slightly earlier knowledge doesn’t matter that much. The most testing, the most advanced technology, and the best health care are simply not sufficient when it comes to this disease. What’s necessary are simple public health measures, like distancing, masking, washing hands and spending as little time as possible close together indoors in the same room. The key to slowing down the spread of coronavirus infections is to have few, if any, close contacts. There’s just no getting around it. Unfortunately, this has not been the message coming out of the White House for some time. At the debate this week, the president ridiculed Joe Biden for wearing a mask too often. In remarks delivered Thursday night, Mr. Trump said that the end of the pandemic is in sight.” Many leaders at a variety of levels across the country have been following his lead in arguing that things are heading in the right direction, and that it’s perfectly fine to loosen restrictions. Politicians are meeting with large groups of people, indoors, with no masks and no respect for social distancing. Bars are opening. People gather for weddings and other occasions, acting as if there is no risk, the danger has passed, and everything is going to be OK. They should seriously reconsider. This is a disease where prevention matters most, and that’s where we need to sink our resources. It’s also what leaders need to promote, not ignore or debase. It’s unsafe to hold crowded events. It’s unsafe to speak or shout without a mask, in indoor environments, for long periods of time. It’s unsafe to mingle, to hang out close together, and to gather in person when you could do so remotely. And, even if we manage to scale up our testing regime significantly. This is clearly not a time to celebrate or gloat. I hope everyone recovers quickly and easily. This news should serve as a reminder of how easily transmitted this disease is, how serious it can be, and how much education we still need to do to overcome misinformation. It is very difficult, and perhaps unwise, to regulate some behaviors. When that’s the case, it’s up to leaders to lead, both by words and examples.

Even the White House’s testing regime couldn’t stop coronavirus

News of President Donald Trump`s COVID-19 diagnosis has upended the U.S. presidential election campaign entering its final month and roiled stock markets, raising questions about succession and prompting White House aides to insist that Trump would keep a busy, if modified, schedule.

Hope Hicks, a close advisor to the president who often traveled with him on the Air Force One and Marine One presidential aircraft, had tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus on Thursday.

After Trump tweeted he and his wife, Melania, tested positive for COVID-19 early Friday morning, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who has had frequent contact with Trump, said she tested positive for the virus and was quarantined at home in Michigan.

Trump and some other Republicans have eschewed social distancing, mask wearing and other protocols health officials recommend to stop the spread of the virus.

Here are other White House and Trump campaign personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent months:

--&nbsp;Kellyanne Conway, a former counselor to&nbsp;Trump, on Friday said she had tested positive for COVID-19. "My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I`m feeling fine. I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians," Conway tweeted.

-- U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O`Brien in late July. Before Trump`s infection, O`Brien was the highest-ranking administration official to test positive for the virus. O`Brien had mild COVID symptoms and returned to work on Aug. 4.

-- Katie Miller, spokeswoman to Mike Pence, wife of Stephen Miller, a Trump senior adviser, in early May, forcing Pence to slightly delay a Pence trip to Iowa.

-- Kimberly Guilfoyle, senior adviser to Trump campaign and girlfriend to Donald Trump Jr.

-- Tom Phillipson, the former acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in early June. He told the Wall Street Journal of his infection after recovering and leaving the White House in late June

-- A member of the U.S. Navy who served as a personal valet to Trump tested positive in early May. The infection prompted daily tests for those working at the White House.

-- A U.S. Marine assigned to Trump`s helicopter squadron tested positive for the coronavirus in late July. The squadron transports Trump and other top officials from the White House aboard the Marine One helicopter.

-- A worker in a White House complex cafeteria tested positive in late July. The cafeteria is located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where some White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have offices.

News of President Donald Trump`s COVID-19 diagnosis has upended the U.S. presidential election campaign entering its final month and roiled stock markets, raising questions about succession and prompting White House aides to insist that Trump would keep a busy, if modified, schedule.

News of President Donald Trump`s COVID-19 diagnosis has upended the U.S. presidential election campaign entering its final month and roiled stock markets, raising questions about succession and prompting White House aides to insist that Trump would keep a busy, if modified, schedule. Hope Hicks, a close advisor to the president who often traveled with him on the Air Force One and Marine One presidential aircraft, had tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus on Thursday. After Trump tweeted he and his wife, Melania, tested positive for COVID-19 early Friday morning, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who has had frequent contact with Trump, said she tested positive for the virus and was quarantined at home in Michigan. Trump and some other Republicans have eschewed social distancing, mask wearing and other protocols health officials recommend to stop the spread of the virus. Here are other White House and Trump campaign personnel who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent months: -- Kellyanne Conway, a former counselor to Trump, on Friday said she had tested positive for COVID-19. "My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I`m feeling fine. I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians," Conway tweeted. -- U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O`Brien in late July. Before Trump`s infection, O`Brien was the highest-ranking administration official to test positive for the virus. O`Brien had mild COVID symptoms and returned to work on Aug. 4. -- Katie Miller, spokeswoman to Mike Pence, wife of Stephen Miller, a Trump senior adviser, in early May, forcing Pence to slightly delay a Pence trip to Iowa. -- Kimberly Guilfoyle, senior adviser to Trump campaign and girlfriend to Donald Trump Jr. -- Tom Phillipson, the former acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in early June. He told the Wall Street Journal of his infection after recovering and leaving the White House in late June -- A member of the U.S. Navy who served as a personal valet to Trump tested positive in early May. The infection prompted daily tests for those working at the White House. -- A U.S. Marine assigned to Trump`s helicopter squadron tested positive for the coronavirus in late July. The squadron transports Trump and other top officials from the White House aboard the Marine One helicopter. -- A worker in a White House complex cafeteria tested positive in late July. The cafeteria is located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where some White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, have offices.

Here's a list of Trump WH, campaign staff who have tested positive for COVID-19

WASHINGTON — The first lady, Melania Trump, delivered a profanity-laced rant about Christmas decorations at the White House and mocked the plight of migrant children who were separated from their parents at the border in 2018 during a conversation secretly taped by a former aide and close confidante.

“I’m working like a — my a**&nbsp;off at Christmas stuff,” Trump laments to the former aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who has just published a tell-all book, in a recording that was first broadcast on CNN on Thursday night. Trump continued, “You know, who gives a f**k about Christmas stuff and decoration?”

Later in the conversation, which occurred in July 2018, the first lady complained about the criticism leveled at President Donald Trump and his administration that summer for separating families in a crackdown on immigration.

“I say that I’m working on Christmas planning for the Christmas, and they said, ‘Oh, what about the children?’ That they were separated.” She used another obscenity to express her exasperation, asking Winston Wolkoff, “Where they were saying anything when Obama did that?”

The audio recording puts the first lady’s frustrations on full display only weeks before Donald Trump faces voters in his bid for a second term.

In a statement, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s chief of staff, accused Winston Wolkoff of seeking to profit by releasing the recordings even as she tries to increase sales of her book, “Melania and Me.”

“Her only intent was to secretly tape the first lady in order to peddle herself and her salacious book,” Grisham said. “There is no way to know if these recordings have been edited, and it’s clear the clips were hand-picked and presented with no context. The first lady remains focused on her family and serving our country.”

As first lady, Trump has been somewhat reclusive, holding few formal dinners or parties at the White House and keeping a mostly low profile. Critics have mocked her “Be Best” program, intended to encourage children to model good behavior, saying that the president hardly abides by that credo.

Winston Wolkoff’s book was published this year after a falling-out between the two women. Winston Wolkoff left the White House in early 2018 after it was revealed that her firm had received $26 million to help plan the president’s inauguration.

The recordings appear to present Trump as irritated that she does not receive the positive news coverage that she believes she deserves, in part because people say she is not speaking out enough about her husband’s actions as president.

“They say I’m complicit. I’m the same like him. I support him. I don’t say enough. I don’t do enough,” she tells Winston Wolkoff in a conversation that sounds as if she is confiding in a close friend.

The conversation took place only weeks after Trump made headlines when she traveled to an immigrant shelter for children in Texas along the Mexican border and wore a jacket that read, in white capital letters, “I really don’t care. Do U?”

At the time, the president and the first lady’s spokeswoman said that the message on the jacket was aimed at reporters, not at the children she was visiting.

Asked by Winston Wolkoff why she wore the jacket, Trump said she did it to annoy her husband’s critics.

“I’m driving liberals crazy, that’s for sure,” she said. “And that, you know, that’s — and they deserve it. And everybody’s like, ‘Oh, my God. this is the worst. This is the worst.’ After, I mean, come on. They are crazy, OK?”

In the recordings, she complains that the news media was not willing to write a positive article about her visit and her efforts to help reunite children with their parents. She says they do not understand the limits of what she can do because reuniting them “needs to go through the process and through the law.”

Of the news media, she says: “They will not do the story. We put it out. They would not do the story. You would not believe it. They would not do the story because they are not — they would not do the story because they are against us because they are liberal media. Yeah, if I go to Fox, they will do the story. I don’t want to go to Fox.”

The recordings also suggest that the president’s view of immigration — and in particular his support for the idea of separating children at the border to deter illegal crossings — influenced the way she saw the issue as well.

In one part of the conversation, according to CNN, Melania Trump questioned whether the mothers and children who claimed to have been subject to violence in their home countries were really lying to Border Patrol officials.

“A lot of, like, moms and kids they are teached how to do it,” Trump said. “They go over and they say like, ‘Oh, we will be killed by a gang member, we will be, you know, it’s so dangerous.’ So they are allowed to stay here.”

She said the families, most of whom come from Central America, could have chosen to stay in Mexico.

WASHINGTON — The first lady, Melania Trump, delivered a profanity-laced rant about Christmas decorations at the White House and mocked the plight of migrant children who were separated from their parents at the border in 2018 during a conversation secretly taped by a former aide and close confidante.

WASHINGTON — The first lady, Melania Trump, delivered a profanity-laced rant about Christmas decorations at the White House and mocked the plight of migrant children who were separated from their parents at the border in 2018 during a conversation secretly taped by a former aide and close confidante. “I’m working like a — my a** off at Christmas stuff,” Trump laments to the former aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who has just published a tell-all book, in a recording that was first broadcast on CNN on Thursday night. Trump continued, “You know, who gives a f**k about Christmas stuff and decoration?” Later in the conversation, which occurred in July 2018, the first lady complained about the criticism leveled at President Donald Trump and his administration that summer for separating families in a crackdown on immigration. “I say that I’m working on Christmas planning for the Christmas, and they said, ‘Oh, what about the children?’ That they were separated.” She used another obscenity to express her exasperation, asking Winston Wolkoff, “Where they were saying anything when Obama did that?” The audio recording puts the first lady’s frustrations on full display only weeks before Donald Trump faces voters in his bid for a second term. In a statement, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s chief of staff, accused Winston Wolkoff of seeking to profit by releasing the recordings even as she tries to increase sales of her book, “Melania and Me.” “Her only intent was to secretly tape the first lady in order to peddle herself and her salacious book,” Grisham said. “There is no way to know if these recordings have been edited, and it’s clear the clips were hand-picked and presented with no context. The first lady remains focused on her family and serving our country.” As first lady, Trump has been somewhat reclusive, holding few formal dinners or parties at the White House and keeping a mostly low profile. Critics have mocked her “Be Best” program, intended to encourage children to model good behavior, saying that the president hardly abides by that credo. Winston Wolkoff’s book was published this year after a falling-out between the two women. Winston Wolkoff left the White House in early 2018 after it was revealed that her firm had received $26 million to help plan the president’s inauguration. The recordings appear to present Trump as irritated that she does not receive the positive news coverage that she believes she deserves, in part because people say she is not speaking out enough about her husband’s actions as president. “They say I’m complicit. I’m the same like him. I support him. I don’t say enough. I don’t do enough,” she tells Winston Wolkoff in a conversation that sounds as if she is confiding in a close friend. The conversation took place only weeks after Trump made headlines when she traveled to an immigrant shelter for children in Texas along the Mexican border and wore a jacket that read, in white capital letters, “I really don’t care. Do U?” At the time, the president and the first lady’s spokeswoman said that the message on the jacket was aimed at reporters, not at the children she was visiting. Asked by Winston Wolkoff why she wore the jacket, Trump said she did it to annoy her husband’s critics. “I’m driving liberals crazy, that’s for sure,” she said. “And that, you know, that’s — and they deserve it. And everybody’s like, ‘Oh, my God. this is the worst. This is the worst.’ After, I mean, come on. They are crazy, OK?” In the recordings, she complains that the news media was not willing to write a positive article about her visit and her efforts to help reunite children with their parents. She says they do not understand the limits of what she can do because reuniting them “needs to go through the process and through the law.” Of the news media, she says: “They will not do the story. We put it out. They would not do the story. You would not believe it. They would not do the story because they are not — they would not do the story because they are against us because they are liberal media. Yeah, if I go to Fox, they will do the story. I don’t want to go to Fox.” The recordings also suggest that the president’s view of immigration — and in particular his support for the idea of separating children at the border to deter illegal crossings — influenced the way she saw the issue as well. In one part of the conversation, according to CNN, Melania Trump questioned whether the mothers and children who claimed to have been subject to violence in their home countries were really lying to Border Patrol officials. “A lot of, like, moms and kids they are teached how to do it,” Trump said. “They go over and they say like, ‘Oh, we will be killed by a gang member, we will be, you know, it’s so dangerous.’ So they are allowed to stay here.” She said the families, most of whom come from Central America, could have chosen to stay in Mexico.

In profane rant, Melania Trump takes aim at migrant children and critics

A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of the H-1B visa ban issued by US President Donald Trump in June this year.

The ruling places an immediate hold on a series of visa restrictions that prevent manufacturers from filling crucial, hard-to-fill jobs to support economic recovery, growth and innovation when most needed.

The order was issued on Thursday by District Judge Jeffrey White of Northern District of California. He said the president exceeded his constitutional authority.

The lawsuit against the Department of Commerce and Department of Homeland Security was filed by companies represented by National Association of Manufacturers, US Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and TechNet.

In June, Trump had issued an executive order that had put temporary bar on issuing of new H-1B and other foreign visas including H-2B, J and L visas, till the end of the year.

The president had argued that the United States needs to save and protect jobs for its domestic work force at a time when millions of them lost their jobs due to coronavirus pandemic.

A number of IT companies and other US firms, and those representing them had voiced their opposition to the temporary ban.

Manufacturers went to court to challenge the administration's ban on certain visas because the restrictions both undermined the industry at a critical time and conflicted with the law.

"Congress's delegation of authority in the immigration context"does not afford the president unbridled authority to set domestic policy regarding employment of nonimmigrant foreigners.&nbsp; 
Such a finding would render the president's Article II powers all but superfluous," Judge White wrote in his 25 pager order.

The judge noted that the text of Article I and more than two centuries of legislative practice and judicial precedent make clear, the Constitution vests Congress, not the President, with the power to set immigration policy.

If the fact that immigrants come from other countries inherently made their admission foreign relations subject to the President's Article II power, then all of this law would be superfluous, the judge said.

"Indeed, there must be some measure of constraint on the presidential authority in the domestic sphere in order not to render the executive an entirely monarchical power in the immigration context, an area within clear legislative prerogative.

Such unrestricted authority would be contrary to Congress' explicit delegation of powers in foreign affairs and national security," White said.

The ruling by Judge White is in contrast with a order passed by District Judge Amit Mehta of the District of Columbia in August who ruled that he does not has the power to enjoin the ban while the litigation is under way.

LEGISLATION PASSED

Meanwhile, an influential American lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives to overhaul the H-1B visa system to prevent the firing of domestic workers.

Introduced on Thursday by Congressman Mo Brooks from Alabama, the American Jobs First Act seeks to sops employers from hiring foreign H-1B workers if they have recently, or plan to, furlough their US workers.

It also requires employers to pay their H-1B workers more than the American workers to ensure foreign labour is only used when absolutely necessary.

The American Jobs First Act suspends the F-1 OPT program, which grants all foreign students extendable work permits and exacerbates job market competition among American graduates.

Further it ends the diversity visa lottery programme, which fails to serve US interests by issuing 50,000 green cards to foreigners from around the world regardless of their qualifications.

American Jobs First Act will bring much needed reform and oversight to the H-1B visa program to ensure that US workers are no longer disadvantaged in their own country, Congressman Brooks said.

To end the allure of cheap foreign labour, the bill will require employers to pay any H-1B workers a minimum amount of USD 110,000.

The legislation also ends the visa lottery that hands out 50,000 green cards, with work permits, based on a randomised computer drawing.

(with inputs from agencies)

A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of the H-1B visa ban issued by US President Donald Trump in June this year. The ruling places an immediate hold on a series of visa restrictions that prevent manufacturers from filling crucial, hard-to-fill jobs to support economic recovery, growth and innovation when most needed.

A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of the H-1B visa ban issued by US President Donald Trump in June this year. The ruling places an immediate hold on a series of visa restrictions that prevent manufacturers from filling crucial, hard-to-fill jobs to support economic recovery, growth and innovation when most needed. The order was issued on Thursday by District Judge Jeffrey White of Northern District of California. He said the president exceeded his constitutional authority. The lawsuit against the Department of Commerce and Department of Homeland Security was filed by companies represented by National Association of Manufacturers, US Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and TechNet. In June, Trump had issued an executive order that had put temporary bar on issuing of new H-1B and other foreign visas including H-2B, J and L visas, till the end of the year. The president had argued that the United States needs to save and protect jobs for its domestic work force at a time when millions of them lost their jobs due to coronavirus pandemic. A number of IT companies and other US firms, and those representing them had voiced their opposition to the temporary ban. Manufacturers went to court to challenge the administration's ban on certain visas because the restrictions both undermined the industry at a critical time and conflicted with the law. "Congress's delegation of authority in the immigration context"does not afford the president unbridled authority to set domestic policy regarding employment of nonimmigrant foreigners. Such a finding would render the president's Article II powers all but superfluous," Judge White wrote in his 25 pager order. The judge noted that the text of Article I and more than two centuries of legislative practice and judicial precedent make clear, the Constitution vests Congress, not the President, with the power to set immigration policy. If the fact that immigrants come from other countries inherently made their admission foreign relations subject to the President's Article II power, then all of this law would be superfluous, the judge said. "Indeed, there must be some measure of constraint on the presidential authority in the domestic sphere in order not to render the executive an entirely monarchical power in the immigration context, an area within clear legislative prerogative. Such unrestricted authority would be contrary to Congress' explicit delegation of powers in foreign affairs and national security," White said. The ruling by Judge White is in contrast with a order passed by District Judge Amit Mehta of the District of Columbia in August who ruled that he does not has the power to enjoin the ban while the litigation is under way. LEGISLATION PASSED Meanwhile, an influential American lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives to overhaul the H-1B visa system to prevent the firing of domestic workers. Introduced on Thursday by Congressman Mo Brooks from Alabama, the American Jobs First Act seeks to sops employers from hiring foreign H-1B workers if they have recently, or plan to, furlough their US workers. It also requires employers to pay their H-1B workers more than the American workers to ensure foreign labour is only used when absolutely necessary. The American Jobs First Act suspends the F-1 OPT program, which grants all foreign students extendable work permits and exacerbates job market competition among American graduates. Further it ends the diversity visa lottery programme, which fails to serve US interests by issuing 50,000 green cards to foreigners from around the world regardless of their qualifications. American Jobs First Act will bring much needed reform and oversight to the H-1B visa program to ensure that US workers are no longer disadvantaged in their own country, Congressman Brooks said. To end the allure of cheap foreign labour, the bill will require employers to pay any H-1B workers a minimum amount of USD 110,000. The legislation also ends the visa lottery that hands out 50,000 green cards, with work permits, based on a randomised computer drawing. (with inputs from agencies)

US judge blocks Trump's H-1B visa ban; legislation introduced to overhaul system

United States President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have&nbsp;tested positive for the novel&nbsp;coronavirus.

Trump said in a tweet early Friday:&nbsp;"Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!"

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Tonight, <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311892190680014849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Melania Trump tweeted, "As too many Americans have done this year, @potus &amp; I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good &amp; I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe &amp; we will all get through this together."

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As too many Americans have done this year, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> &amp; I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good &amp; I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe &amp; we will all get through this together.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1311900591174680581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump and his wife had&nbsp;begun a quarantine process after Hope Hicks, a top advisor and trusted aide, tested positive for the coronavirus. Hicks travels regularly with the president on Air Force One and, along with other senior aides, accompanied him to Ohio for the presidential debate on Tuesday and to Minnesota for a campaign event on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said&nbsp;he has tested negative for the virus.

In consequence, The White House has dropped a Florida campaign trip from Trump's schedule on Friday. He had been due to hold a campaign event at Sanford airport in Florida on Friday evening but his new schedule just lists a midday phone call on "Covid-19 support to vulnerable seniors."

Trump will, however, continue to perform his duties as the president of America.

Trump's physician Dr Sean Conley said in a statement, "They are both well at this time and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalesence. I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering."

The president, who is tested regularly for COVID-19, has kept up a rigorous travel schedule across the country in recent weeks, holding rallies with thousands of people in the run-up to the November&nbsp;3 election, despite warnings from public health professionals against having events with large crowds.

Trump has come under sharp criticism for his response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States alone. The president has, however, touted his management of the crisis as one of the best in the world.

Trump's positive test caps a months-long response to the virus, the seriousness of which he has consistently underplayed. Earlier on Thursday night, the president predicted that the end of the pandemic was in sight.

The development alters the presidential race dramatically.

BEST WISHES POUR IN

Apart from China, all world leaders wished Trump a rapid recovery.

India's prime minister Narendra Modi, to this end, took to Twitter to wish Trump good health.

He tweeted, "Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health."

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Wishing my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> a quick recovery and good health. <a href="https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ">https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1311905372504879105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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India's president Ram Nath Kovid also extended his best wishes.

"I wish President Donald Trump @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Our prayers and best wishes are with you during this time," he tweeted.

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I wish President Donald Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and First Lady Melania Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> a speedy recovery. Our prayers and best wishes are with you during this time.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1311932684269056000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The British government also wished Trump a speedy recovery.

"All of us want to send our best wishes to President Trump, the first lady and the Trump family and wish them a speedy recovery," Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky.

Russia also wished&nbsp;US President Donald Trump a "speedy recovery". "Of course we wish President Trump a speedy and easy recovery," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sent his US&nbsp;counterpart&nbsp;a telegram to wish him a swift recovery, news agencies reported, citing the Kremlin.

"I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," Putin's telegram said, according to the Interfax news agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-trump-in-first-reaction-as-us-president-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-331974">Also read |&nbsp;China slams Trump in first reaction as US president tests positive for coronavirus</a>

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had his own brush with death from Covid-19 this year, on Friday also wished him and First Lady Melania Trump.

"My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus," Johnson tweeted.

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My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.
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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation, in a tweet, wished the couple "a full and speedy recovery". Trump is pulling the United States out of the WHO, accusing it of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic and being too close to China.

EU chief Charles Michel tweeted, "Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Covid-19 is a battle we all continue to fight. Everyday. No matter where we live."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also wished Trump. "I send Donald and Melania Trump all my good wishes," her spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted on her behalf.

"I hope that they recover well from their corona infection and will be quite healthy again soon."

"Our good wishes for speedy recovery to our Friends @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. #Poland and #USA will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting #COVID19," Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also tweeted.

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Wishing President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump speedy recovery from COVID-19.
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(with inputs)

United States President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Trump said in a tweet early Friday: "Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19.

United States President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Trump said in a tweet early Friday: "Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!" Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020 × Melania Trump tweeted, "As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together." As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020 × Trump and his wife had begun a quarantine process after Hope Hicks, a top advisor and trusted aide, tested positive for the coronavirus. Hicks travels regularly with the president on Air Force One and, along with other senior aides, accompanied him to Ohio for the presidential debate on Tuesday and to Minnesota for a campaign event on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he has tested negative for the virus. In consequence, The White House has dropped a Florida campaign trip from Trump's schedule on Friday. He had been due to hold a campaign event at Sanford airport in Florida on Friday evening but his new schedule just lists a midday phone call on "Covid-19 support to vulnerable seniors." Trump will, however, continue to perform his duties as the president of America. Trump's physician Dr Sean Conley said in a statement, "They are both well at this time and they plan to remain home at the White House during their convalesence. I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering." The president, who is tested regularly for COVID-19, has kept up a rigorous travel schedule across the country in recent weeks, holding rallies with thousands of people in the run-up to the November 3 election, despite warnings from public health professionals against having events with large crowds. Trump has come under sharp criticism for his response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 people in the United States alone. The president has, however, touted his management of the crisis as one of the best in the world. Trump's positive test caps a months-long response to the virus, the seriousness of which he has consistently underplayed. Earlier on Thursday night, the president predicted that the end of the pandemic was in sight. The development alters the presidential race dramatically. BEST WISHES POUR IN Apart from China, all world leaders wished Trump a rapid recovery. India's prime minister Narendra Modi, to this end, took to Twitter to wish Trump good health. He tweeted, "Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health." Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health. https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2020 × India's president Ram Nath Kovid also extended his best wishes. "I wish President Donald Trump @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Our prayers and best wishes are with you during this time," he tweeted. I wish President Donald Trump @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Our prayers and best wishes are with you during this time. — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 2, 2020 × The British government also wished Trump a speedy recovery. "All of us want to send our best wishes to President Trump, the first lady and the Trump family and wish them a speedy recovery," Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky. Russia also wished US President Donald Trump a "speedy recovery". "Of course we wish President Trump a speedy and easy recovery," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sent his US counterpart a telegram to wish him a swift recovery, news agencies reported, citing the Kremlin. "I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," Putin's telegram said, according to the Interfax news agency. Also read | China slams Trump in first reaction as US president tests positive for coronavirus British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had his own brush with death from Covid-19 this year, on Friday also wished him and First Lady Melania Trump. "My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus," Johnson tweeted. My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020 × Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation, in a tweet, wished the couple "a full and speedy recovery". Trump is pulling the United States out of the WHO, accusing it of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic and being too close to China. EU chief Charles Michel tweeted, "Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Covid-19 is a battle we all continue to fight. Everyday. No matter where we live." German Chancellor Angela Merkel also wished Trump. "I send Donald and Melania Trump all my good wishes," her spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted on her behalf. "I hope that they recover well from their corona infection and will be quite healthy again soon." "Our good wishes for speedy recovery to our Friends @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. #Poland and #USA will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting #COVID19," Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also tweeted. Wishing President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump speedy recovery from COVID-19. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 2, 2020 × (with inputs)

Trump and wife Melania test positive for coronavirus; world leaders wish speedy recovery

Like two US presidents before him, Donald Trump could temporarily hand over power to his vice president should he become incapacitated, for example while undergoing a medical procedure as treatment for the coronavirus.

Trump said on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was going into quarantine to begin the recovery process immediately.

Under Section 3 of the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, adopted in 1967 following the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy, Trump could declare in writing his inability to discharge his duties.

Vice President Mike Pence would become acting president, although Trump would remain in office. The president would regain his powers by declaring in writing that he is again ready to discharge them.

The 25th Amendment's Section 4 also offers a path to stripping a president of power if, for instance, his Cabinet believes he has become incapacitated, but this has never been invoked.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-and-wife-melania-test-positive-for-coronavirus-world-leaders-wish-speedy-recovery-331890">Also read |&nbsp;Trump and wife Melania test positive for coronavirus; world leaders wish speedy recovery</a>

SECTION 3 PRECEDENTS

- On July 13, 1985, President Ronald Reagan elected to have a precancerous lesion removed after it was discovered during a colonoscopy. He signed a letter that, while not specifically invoking Section 3, said he was mindful of its provisions. Vice President George H.W. Bush was acting president for nearly eight hours, from 11:28 a.m. until 7:22 p.m., when Reagan issued a letter declaring himself able to resume his duties.

- On June 29, 2002, President George W. Bush invoked Section 3, temporarily transferring his powers to Vice President Dick Cheney before undergoing a colonoscopy. Cheney was acting president from 7:09 a.m. to 9:24 a.m.

- On July 21, 2007, Bush again invoked Section 3 before another colonoscopy. Cheney was acting president from 7:16 a.m. to 9:21 a.m.

SECTION 4

Under Section 4, the vice president and a majority of either Cabinet officials or “such other body as Congress may by law provide” can inform leaders in the two houses of Congress that the president “is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office”.

In such a case, the vice president takes over as acting president. The president resumes office after informing the same two congressional leaders “that no inability exists” unless the Cabinet officials or other body declare otherwise. Congress then must assemble within 48 hours to decide the issue.

If two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate vote in their respective chambers that the president is unable to discharge the duties of office, the vice president remains acting president until after the next scheduled presidential election decides the next White House occupant. Otherwise, the president resumes office.

Like two US presidents before him, Donald Trump could temporarily hand over power to his vice president should he become incapacitated, for example while undergoing a medical procedure as treatment for the coronavirus.

Like two US presidents before him, Donald Trump could temporarily hand over power to his vice president should he become incapacitated, for example while undergoing a medical procedure as treatment for the coronavirus. Trump said on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was going into quarantine to begin the recovery process immediately. Under Section 3 of the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, adopted in 1967 following the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy, Trump could declare in writing his inability to discharge his duties. Vice President Mike Pence would become acting president, although Trump would remain in office. The president would regain his powers by declaring in writing that he is again ready to discharge them. The 25th Amendment's Section 4 also offers a path to stripping a president of power if, for instance, his Cabinet believes he has become incapacitated, but this has never been invoked. Also read | Trump and wife Melania test positive for coronavirus; world leaders wish speedy recovery SECTION 3 PRECEDENTS - On July 13, 1985, President Ronald Reagan elected to have a precancerous lesion removed after it was discovered during a colonoscopy. He signed a letter that, while not specifically invoking Section 3, said he was mindful of its provisions. Vice President George H.W. Bush was acting president for nearly eight hours, from 11:28 a.m. until 7:22 p.m., when Reagan issued a letter declaring himself able to resume his duties. - On June 29, 2002, President George W. Bush invoked Section 3, temporarily transferring his powers to Vice President Dick Cheney before undergoing a colonoscopy. Cheney was acting president from 7:09 a.m. to 9:24 a.m. - On July 21, 2007, Bush again invoked Section 3 before another colonoscopy. Cheney was acting president from 7:16 a.m. to 9:21 a.m. SECTION 4 Under Section 4, the vice president and a majority of either Cabinet officials or “such other body as Congress may by law provide” can inform leaders in the two houses of Congress that the president “is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office”. In such a case, the vice president takes over as acting president. The president resumes office after informing the same two congressional leaders “that no inability exists” unless the Cabinet officials or other body declare otherwise. Congress then must assemble within 48 hours to decide the issue. If two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate vote in their respective chambers that the president is unable to discharge the duties of office, the vice president remains acting president until after the next scheduled presidential election decides the next White House occupant. Otherwise, the president resumes office.

How Mike Pence could temporarily assume control if Trump becomes incapacitated

United States President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will campaign on Wednesday in three US states that will play a key role in the November election.

However, the morning after their first presidential debate was marked by interruptions and recriminations, the two leaders took to Twitter for some more chaos. They traded barbs, in a show of their own vulnerabilities -- that can be in the November 3 presidential election.

And why not? Trump deflected an opportunity to condemn white supremacists and again refused to say if he would accept the election results in Tuesday night's first 2020 debate, two moments that could give Biden fresh ammunition.

And Biden did not miss the chance to highlight this.

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There’s no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night. <a href="https://t.co/Q3VZTW1vUV">pic.twitter.com/Q3VZTW1vUV</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1311268302950260737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The chaotic part of the Twitter tirade was a video clip from the debate -- superimposed by the sound of a crying baby. Anybody can guess the sound was superimposed on Trump's voice.

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Had enough? <a href="https://t.co/4W5OSoRzXI">pic.twitter.com/4W5OSoRzXI</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1311278369296719872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump presented his own verdict of the debate. He said, "Nobody wants Sleepy Joe as a leader, including the Radical Left (which he lost last night!). He disrespected Bernie, effectively calling him a loser!"

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Nobody wants Sleepy Joe as a leader, including the Radical Left (which he lost last night!). He disrespected Bernie, effectively calling him a loser!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311297684540620801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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And continued, "Biden wants to Pack the Supreme Court, thereby ruining it. Also, he wants no fracking, killing our Energy business, and JOBS. Second Amendment is DEAD if Biden gets in! Is that what you want from a leader? He will destroy our Country! VOTE NOW USA."

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Biden wants to Pack the Supreme Court, thereby ruining it. Also, he wants no fracking, killing our Energy business, and JOBS. Second Amendment is DEAD if Biden gets in! Is that what you want from a leader? He will destroy our Country! VOTE NOW USA.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311308087593242624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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And continued some more: "Biden REFUSED to use the term, LAW &amp; ORDER! There go the Suburbs."

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Biden REFUSED to use the term, LAW &amp; ORDER! There go the Suburbs.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1311310383781679107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Not only this,&nbsp;Biden branded Trump's debate performance a "national embarrassment" for not addressing concerns of everyday Americans and failing to clearly denounce white supremacist groups.

"Maybe I should not say this, but the president of the United States conducted himself the way he did -- I think it was a national embarrassment," Biden said during a stop in Alliance, Ohio as part of a train tour through swing state Ohio and neighboring battleground Pennsylvania.

During the showdown, Trump declined to make a clear and forceful denunciation of white supremacist groups or the far-right, male-only Proud Boys, instead giving a shout-out to the militia group by saying they should "stand back and stand by," and that the real problem is "far-left" extremists.

In Alliance, Biden assailed the president's remarks.

"My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacist group is: cease and desist," Biden said.&nbsp;

"That's not who we are. This is not who we are as Americans."

The former vice president, appearing invigorated after what could be described as an assertive debate performance where he stood his ground, criticized Trump for failing to speak directly to the American people about their plight during the Covid-19 crisis.

"Does your president have any idea or understand what you're going through? And if he does, does he care about you?" Biden asked.

"Or does he just ignore you, look down on you, lie to you?"

Trump's debate performance was "all about him," Biden added.&nbsp;

"He didn't speak to you or your concerns for the American people even once."

INVESTORS IN FEAR

The chaotic encounter also rattled investors by fuelling fears of a contested election result that could lead to a messy transfer of power if Trump refuses to accept a loss, with US stock futures down in pre-market trading.

The first of three televised matchups represented one of Trump's few remaining chances to change the trajectory of a race that most national opinion polls show him losing, as the majority of Americans disapprove of the Republican president's handling of both the coronavirus pandemic and protests over racial injustice.

Already more than 1.3 million voters in 15 states have cast early ballots ahead of the November 3 Election Day, according to the US Elections Project at the University of Florida.

Trump, 74, will spend the day in Minnesota – one of the few states his campaign is targeting that voted Democratic in 2016 – with a fundraiser in the afternoon before a rally in Duluth.

Biden, 77, and his wife, Jill, will embark on an all-day train tour through a half-dozen cities in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including counties that Trump won four years ago on the strength of working-class white voters.

Tuesday's debate, marked by Trump's constant interjections and Biden's angry rejoinders, however, appeared unlikely to significantly alter the campaign's dynamics.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-biden-calls-trump-a-clown-as-candidates-spar-in-first-presidential-debate-331321">Also read |&nbsp;Biden calls Trump a 'clown' as candidates spar in first presidential debate</a>

Biden has held a modest but steady lead in national voter surveys for months amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, although polls in the battleground states show a closer contest.

OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS

During a segment on race relations, debate moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump whether he would denounce white supremacists and call on them not to add to the violence that has occurred amid protests in some US cities.

Rather than offer a forceful rebuke, Trump called on a group of right-wing activists known as the Proud Boys, to "stand back and stand by," raising concerns about what he would urge them to do. He also attacked left-wing agitators known as antifa, drawing criticism from some social justice leaders.

Trump also declined to say he would accept the election results, repeating his unfounded assertion that widespread voting by mail would lead to massive fraud. Experts have said such fraud is extremely rare in the United States.

United States President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will campaign on Wednesday in three US states that will play a key role in the November election.

United States President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will campaign on Wednesday in three US states that will play a key role in the November election. However, the morning after their first presidential debate was marked by interruptions and recriminations, the two leaders took to Twitter for some more chaos. They traded barbs, in a show of their own vulnerabilities -- that can be in the November 3 presidential election. And why not? Trump deflected an opportunity to condemn white supremacists and again refused to say if he would accept the election results in Tuesday night's first 2020 debate, two moments that could give Biden fresh ammunition. And Biden did not miss the chance to highlight this. There’s no other way to put it: the President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night. pic.twitter.com/Q3VZTW1vUV — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020 × The chaotic part of the Twitter tirade was a video clip from the debate -- superimposed by the sound of a crying baby. Anybody can guess the sound was superimposed on Trump's voice. Had enough? pic.twitter.com/4W5OSoRzXI — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020 × Trump presented his own verdict of the debate. He said, "Nobody wants Sleepy Joe as a leader, including the Radical Left (which he lost last night!). He disrespected Bernie, effectively calling him a loser!" Nobody wants Sleepy Joe as a leader, including the Radical Left (which he lost last night!). He disrespected Bernie, effectively calling him a loser! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020 × And continued, "Biden wants to Pack the Supreme Court, thereby ruining it. Also, he wants no fracking, killing our Energy business, and JOBS. Second Amendment is DEAD if Biden gets in! Is that what you want from a leader? He will destroy our Country! VOTE NOW USA." Biden wants to Pack the Supreme Court, thereby ruining it. Also, he wants no fracking, killing our Energy business, and JOBS. Second Amendment is DEAD if Biden gets in! Is that what you want from a leader? He will destroy our Country! VOTE NOW USA. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020 × And continued some more: "Biden REFUSED to use the term, LAW & ORDER! There go the Suburbs." Biden REFUSED to use the term, LAW & ORDER! There go the Suburbs. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020 × Not only this, Biden branded Trump's debate performance a "national embarrassment" for not addressing concerns of everyday Americans and failing to clearly denounce white supremacist groups. "Maybe I should not say this, but the president of the United States conducted himself the way he did -- I think it was a national embarrassment," Biden said during a stop in Alliance, Ohio as part of a train tour through swing state Ohio and neighboring battleground Pennsylvania. During the showdown, Trump declined to make a clear and forceful denunciation of white supremacist groups or the far-right, male-only Proud Boys, instead giving a shout-out to the militia group by saying they should "stand back and stand by," and that the real problem is "far-left" extremists. In Alliance, Biden assailed the president's remarks. "My message to the Proud Boys and every other white supremacist group is: cease and desist," Biden said. "That's not who we are. This is not who we are as Americans." The former vice president, appearing invigorated after what could be described as an assertive debate performance where he stood his ground, criticized Trump for failing to speak directly to the American people about their plight during the Covid-19 crisis. "Does your president have any idea or understand what you're going through? And if he does, does he care about you?" Biden asked. "Or does he just ignore you, look down on you, lie to you?" Trump's debate performance was "all about him," Biden added. "He didn't speak to you or your concerns for the American people even once." INVESTORS IN FEAR The chaotic encounter also rattled investors by fuelling fears of a contested election result that could lead to a messy transfer of power if Trump refuses to accept a loss, with US stock futures down in pre-market trading. The first of three televised matchups represented one of Trump's few remaining chances to change the trajectory of a race that most national opinion polls show him losing, as the majority of Americans disapprove of the Republican president's handling of both the coronavirus pandemic and protests over racial injustice. Already more than 1.3 million voters in 15 states have cast early ballots ahead of the November 3 Election Day, according to the US Elections Project at the University of Florida. Trump, 74, will spend the day in Minnesota – one of the few states his campaign is targeting that voted Democratic in 2016 – with a fundraiser in the afternoon before a rally in Duluth. Biden, 77, and his wife, Jill, will embark on an all-day train tour through a half-dozen cities in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including counties that Trump won four years ago on the strength of working-class white voters. Tuesday's debate, marked by Trump's constant interjections and Biden's angry rejoinders, however, appeared unlikely to significantly alter the campaign's dynamics. Also read | Biden calls Trump a 'clown' as candidates spar in first presidential debate Biden has held a modest but steady lead in national voter surveys for months amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, although polls in the battleground states show a closer contest. OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS During a segment on race relations, debate moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump whether he would denounce white supremacists and call on them not to add to the violence that has occurred amid protests in some US cities. Rather than offer a forceful rebuke, Trump called on a group of right-wing activists known as the Proud Boys, to "stand back and stand by," raising concerns about what he would urge them to do. He also attacked left-wing agitators known as antifa, drawing criticism from some social justice leaders. Trump also declined to say he would accept the election results, repeating his unfounded assertion that widespread voting by mail would lead to massive fraud. Experts have said such fraud is extremely rare in the United States.

After an unruly first debate, Trump and Biden take to campaign trail and more chaos

The first U.S. presidential debate between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden likely attracted a much smaller audience than the record set four years ago, according to preliminary ratings data released on Wednesday.

An estimated 28.7 million people tuned in on broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, below the roughly 45 million viewers million who watched Trump debate former first lady Hillary Clinton on those channels in 2016.

Data from additional networks was due to be released later on Wednesday.

In a chaotic 90-minute faceoff ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Biden and Trump battled fiercely over Trump`s record on the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare and the economy

The early figures suggest the final total television tally will rank well below the record 84 million for the first Trump-Clinton debate in 2016, a rare number in an age of digital streaming.

The TV numbers do not include people who watched via online platforms, which are growing in popularity as traditional TV viewership declines.

The first U.S. presidential debate between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden likely attracted a much smaller audience than the record set four years ago, according to preliminary ratings data released on Wednesday.

The first U.S. presidential debate between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden likely attracted a much smaller audience than the record set four years ago, according to preliminary ratings data released on Wednesday. An estimated 28.7 million people tuned in on broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, below the roughly 45 million viewers million who watched Trump debate former first lady Hillary Clinton on those channels in 2016. Data from additional networks was due to be released later on Wednesday. In a chaotic 90-minute faceoff ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Biden and Trump battled fiercely over Trump`s record on the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare and the economy The early figures suggest the final total television tally will rank well below the record 84 million for the first Trump-Clinton debate in 2016, a rare number in an age of digital streaming. The TV numbers do not include people who watched via online platforms, which are growing in popularity as traditional TV viewership declines.

Trump-Biden TV debate audience slumps below 2016 record, early data show

US House Democrats said on Wednesday that American intelligence agencies have failed to adapt to the growing threat posed by China. They have also warned Washington would be unable to compete with Beijing in the future without significant changes.

This comes amid campaigning for the November 3 election, in which dealings with China have been the most important foreign policy issue for Republican President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, as well as congressional candidates.

A report released by Democrats on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee - chaired by Representative Adam Schiff - called for a full review of intelligence gathering, saying spy agencies had come to treat traditional intelligence missions as secondary to counterterrorism.

The report said the unfolding of the coronavirus pandemic after it began in China showed the need to better understand Chinese decision-making, including at the provincial level, and that the intelligence community had paid insufficient attention to "soft" security threats, such as infectious diseases.

"The stakes are high," a redacted version of the report said. "If the IC (intelligence community) does not accurately characterize and contextualize Beijing's intent, America's leaders will fail to understand the factors that motivate Chinese decision-making."

Separately, a House Republican "China Task Force" led by Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul released its report calling for more than 400 changes in US strategy, including shifting supply chains from China and a trade agreement with Taiwan.

The Democratic intelligence report said Washington should strengthen its ability to "disrupt and deter" Chinese influence operations, and called for a bipartisan congressional study to evaluate intelligence.

It called for a broadening of programs to mentor the next generation of China analysts and said agencies should consider "reskilling" programs for those working in counterterrorism.

The Republican report criticised decades of US policy toward China for focussing on economic issues and disregarding rights violations and security threats.

US House Democrats said on Wednesday that American intelligence agencies have failed to adapt to the growing threat posed by China. They have also warned Washington would be unable to compete with Beijing in the future without significant changes.

US House Democrats said on Wednesday that American intelligence agencies have failed to adapt to the growing threat posed by China. They have also warned Washington would be unable to compete with Beijing in the future without significant changes. This comes amid campaigning for the November 3 election, in which dealings with China have been the most important foreign policy issue for Republican President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, as well as congressional candidates. A report released by Democrats on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee - chaired by Representative Adam Schiff - called for a full review of intelligence gathering, saying spy agencies had come to treat traditional intelligence missions as secondary to counterterrorism. The report said the unfolding of the coronavirus pandemic after it began in China showed the need to better understand Chinese decision-making, including at the provincial level, and that the intelligence community had paid insufficient attention to "soft" security threats, such as infectious diseases. "The stakes are high," a redacted version of the report said. "If the IC (intelligence community) does not accurately characterize and contextualize Beijing's intent, America's leaders will fail to understand the factors that motivate Chinese decision-making." Separately, a House Republican "China Task Force" led by Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul released its report calling for more than 400 changes in US strategy, including shifting supply chains from China and a trade agreement with Taiwan. The Democratic intelligence report said Washington should strengthen its ability to "disrupt and deter" Chinese influence operations, and called for a bipartisan congressional study to evaluate intelligence. It called for a broadening of programs to mentor the next generation of China analysts and said agencies should consider "reskilling" programs for those working in counterterrorism. The Republican report criticised decades of US policy toward China for focussing on economic issues and disregarding rights violations and security threats.

US Democrats say spy agencies must update approach to China

United States President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former vice-president Joe Biden, faced off in their first debate of the campaign in Cleveland, with the former talking over his rival and the moderator as he sought to hold the spotlight.

Trump is used to sparring with reporters, and throughout the 90-minute debate on Tuesday, he repeatedly talked over Biden and moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News.

Trump didn't mince words when Wallace asked him what he paid in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, after the New York Times reported that his tax returns showed only a $750 payment in each year.

Offering no evidence, Trump said he had paid, "millions of dollars. And you'll get to see it," despite his refusal to release any returns since he became a candidate in 2015, breaking with decades of tradition.

“When?” Biden asked.&nbsp;

The former vice-president then added, “inshallah” -- an Arabic word that translates to “God willing" or “if God wills it.” It generally refers to the Muslim belief that nothing will occur unless God wills it to be done.&nbsp;

To this end, Muslims in US took to Twitter to praise the Democratic nominee after he used the Arabic word.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
a historic moment in America -- inshallah in a presidential debate
— Hamed Aleaziz (@Haleaziz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Haleaziz/status/1311120362873053184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Some criticised Biden’s comical use of the word.

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Biden’s use of inshallah was kinda colonial and derogatory if you ask me.
— Tamer El-Ghobashy (@TamerELG) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamerELG/status/1311138012408025091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Trump attempted to walk a fine line, claiming he owed a hefty tax bill while also defending his efforts to pay as little taxes as possible.

When Wallace turned to Biden, the Democrat quickly pivoted to his economic plan, saying he would repeal Trump’s tax cuts that largely benefited corporations and the wealthy, and the discussion turned to the trillions of dollars those proposals represent.

The debate split-screen regularly showed the two candidates talking simultaneously while Wallace pleaded for order.

"Please let the vice president talk," Wallace admonished Trump during one of his interruptions.

"Will you shut up, man?" Biden said to Trump, one of many times he directed the president to be quiet.

The effect was exhausting, for viewers and, seemingly, for the moderator, who conceded at one point that he was having trouble following.

(with inputs)

United States President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former vice-president Joe Biden, faced off in their first debate of the campaign in Cleveland, with the former talking over his rival and the moderator as he sought to hold the spotlight.

United States President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former vice-president Joe Biden, faced off in their first debate of the campaign in Cleveland, with the former talking over his rival and the moderator as he sought to hold the spotlight. Trump is used to sparring with reporters, and throughout the 90-minute debate on Tuesday, he repeatedly talked over Biden and moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. Trump didn't mince words when Wallace asked him what he paid in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017, after the New York Times reported that his tax returns showed only a $750 payment in each year. Offering no evidence, Trump said he had paid, "millions of dollars. And you'll get to see it," despite his refusal to release any returns since he became a candidate in 2015, breaking with decades of tradition. “When?” Biden asked. The former vice-president then added, “inshallah” -- an Arabic word that translates to “God willing" or “if God wills it.” It generally refers to the Muslim belief that nothing will occur unless God wills it to be done. To this end, Muslims in US took to Twitter to praise the Democratic nominee after he used the Arabic word. a historic moment in America -- inshallah in a presidential debate — Hamed Aleaziz (@Haleaziz) September 30, 2020 × Some criticised Biden’s comical use of the word. Biden’s use of inshallah was kinda colonial and derogatory if you ask me. — Tamer El-Ghobashy (@TamerELG) September 30, 2020 × Meanwhile, Trump attempted to walk a fine line, claiming he owed a hefty tax bill while also defending his efforts to pay as little taxes as possible. When Wallace turned to Biden, the Democrat quickly pivoted to his economic plan, saying he would repeal Trump’s tax cuts that largely benefited corporations and the wealthy, and the discussion turned to the trillions of dollars those proposals represent. The debate split-screen regularly showed the two candidates talking simultaneously while Wallace pleaded for order. "Please let the vice president talk," Wallace admonished Trump during one of his interruptions. "Will you shut up, man?" Biden said to Trump, one of many times he directed the president to be quiet. The effect was exhausting, for viewers and, seemingly, for the moderator, who conceded at one point that he was having trouble following. (with inputs)

Biden's 'inshallah' in response to Trump during debate lights up Twitter

A Paris fashion week show apparently called for the end to the "tyranny" of US President Donald Trump, when an American artist Sterling Ruby compared him to the racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

Trump has long been accused of encouraging the rise of white supremacists in recent years. The Black Lives Matter also overtook the US amid the coronavirus pandemic, with little or no reaction from him.

Sterling Ruby made the comparison in his women's Paris show called "Veil Flag", in which a black model was draped in a distressed denim version of the Stars and Stripes.

Ruby's streetwear brand, S.R. Studio. LA. CA., made its fashion week debut in the French capital late Monday with a film featuring the flag and a spoken word poem.

"Where are we, and what has happened?" the poem began.

"No sovereignty, no empathy. A flag worn down, covered in hardship marching against leaderless leadership.

"Tread on me... Light me on fire... End the tyranny of the President Grand Dragon," it added.

The Grand Dragon is one of the most senior members of the KKK, which despite its long history of racist violence is still legal and thought to be active in 41 US states.

With coronavirus infections rocketing in France, Paris women's fashion week has followed Milan and London in going mostly digital, with labels presenting their new looks in short films.

Trump faces Joe Biden in the November 3 presidential election.

A recent report suggests Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire who is seeking reelection in the Nov. 3 vote, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, after years of reporting heavy losses from his businesses to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in income.

The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing tax-return data, also reported that Trump paid no federal income tax in 10 of the previous 15 years through 2017, despite receiving $427.4 million through 2018 from his reality television program and other endorsement and licensing deals.

Joe Biden’s campaign has seized on this fresh line of attack on the eve of the Democratic presidential nominee’s first debate with Trump, accusing the Republican incumbent of gaming the system to avoid paying his fair share of taxes.

(with inputs from agencies)

A Paris fashion week show apparently called for the end to the "tyranny" of US President Donald Trump, when an American artist Sterling Ruby compared him to the racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

A Paris fashion week show apparently called for the end to the "tyranny" of US President Donald Trump, when an American artist Sterling Ruby compared him to the racist Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Trump has long been accused of encouraging the rise of white supremacists in recent years. The Black Lives Matter also overtook the US amid the coronavirus pandemic, with little or no reaction from him. Sterling Ruby made the comparison in his women's Paris show called "Veil Flag", in which a black model was draped in a distressed denim version of the Stars and Stripes. Ruby's streetwear brand, S.R. Studio. LA. CA., made its fashion week debut in the French capital late Monday with a film featuring the flag and a spoken word poem. "Where are we, and what has happened?" the poem began. "No sovereignty, no empathy. A flag worn down, covered in hardship marching against leaderless leadership. "Tread on me... Light me on fire... End the tyranny of the President Grand Dragon," it added. The Grand Dragon is one of the most senior members of the KKK, which despite its long history of racist violence is still legal and thought to be active in 41 US states. With coronavirus infections rocketing in France, Paris women's fashion week has followed Milan and London in going mostly digital, with labels presenting their new looks in short films. Trump faces Joe Biden in the November 3 presidential election. A recent report suggests Trump, a self-proclaimed billionaire who is seeking reelection in the Nov. 3 vote, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, after years of reporting heavy losses from his businesses to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in income. The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing tax-return data, also reported that Trump paid no federal income tax in 10 of the previous 15 years through 2017, despite receiving $427.4 million through 2018 from his reality television program and other endorsement and licensing deals. Joe Biden’s campaign has seized on this fresh line of attack on the eve of the Democratic presidential nominee’s first debate with Trump, accusing the Republican incumbent of gaming the system to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. (with inputs from agencies)

US designer brands Donald Trump a 'Ku Klux Klan tyrant'

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden square off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. With five weeks to go until the November 3 general election, the stakes are high.

Here are five things to watch for during the 90-minute televised debate in Cleveland:

FLASHPOINTS

The face-to-face match-up comes after the New York Times revealed that Trump, a wealthy former businessman and reality television star, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, and no federal income taxes in 10 of the previous 15 years through 2017.

The report, which Trump called "total fake news," gives Biden a fresh opening to make his case that his working-class roots better position him to understand the economic struggles of everyday Americans than the billionaire occupying the White House.

Trump also faced persistent questions, based on his statements about a rigged election, about whether he will accept the voting results should he lose. With millions at home watching, how will he respond if Biden pushes him to commit to a peaceful transfer of power?

Both candidates will scuffle over Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. Trump is using his pick to rally his conservative voter base and distract from his record on the coronavirus and other matters, while Biden is warning of threats to health care and abortion rights.

BIDEN'S MOMENT

For Biden, the debate will serve as sort of a reintroduction. While he has held limited events in some states and given media interviews, the coronavirus pandemic has largely rendered him off stage for months.

That has allowed Biden to keep the focus where he wants it: on Trump and his performance in office. But on Tuesday, the Democratic nominee will have to make his own case for the presidency, while giving concise answers and avoiding some of the verbal mishaps that have plagued him throughout his political career.

With Biden leading in polls, a strong outing could place Trump in even worse shape. A weak one could reshape the race.

OWNING IT

Faced with alarming coronavirus statistics or unrest in the streets, Trump is quick to blame Democratic officials, activists, scientists – anybody but him. One of Biden’s goals will be making sure the public understands that Trump is the one in charge.

Trump could use his office to his advantage, as he often tries to do with the economy. Voters like to see a president take responsibility – for the good and the bad.

John Geer, an expert on voter opinion at Vanderbilt University, wonders if Trump will react poorly to sharp or unfriendly queries from moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. "Will Trump have a tough time answering non-softball questions?" Geer said.

TWISTING THE TRUTH

As Trump's campaign rallies show, he can fire off falsehoods in machine-gun fashion. Examples include the Republican's common claim that the US economy was operating at historic levels before the pandemic (it wasn't) and that the virus has largely dissipated (it hasn't).

Attempting to constantly pin Trump to the truth could turn Biden into a real-time fact-checker - possibly to the Democrat's detriment.

"It's a big mistake to try and do that," said Aaron Kall, the director of debate at the University of Michigan. "You have to focus on your own agenda."

DOWN IN THE MUD

Biden has worried aloud about reacting to Trump’s propensity for ad hominem attacks. On the campaign trail, the former vice president has sometimes shown flashes of temper, getting his "Irish up" as he calls it.

Trump in a tweet on Sunday went as far as to suggest Biden will be on performance-enhancing drugs during the debate, signaling that perhaps there is little he will not do or say to rattle Biden and disrupt the proceedings.

Polls show that Trump's frequent questioning of the 77-year-old Biden's mental fitness has registered with some voters. Trump's team will be looking for moments where Biden seems flustered or unsure to exploit as viral video.

"If the president lies, call it a lie. If he attacks Biden personally, just shrug it off and not get personal," Geer said. "Biden needs to continue to be presidential and tough, even if there is some mud on his suit jacket." 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden square off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. With five weeks to go until the November 3 general election, the stakes are high.

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden square off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. With five weeks to go until the November 3 general election, the stakes are high. Here are five things to watch for during the 90-minute televised debate in Cleveland: FLASHPOINTS The face-to-face match-up comes after the New York Times revealed that Trump, a wealthy former businessman and reality television star, paid only $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, and no federal income taxes in 10 of the previous 15 years through 2017. The report, which Trump called "total fake news," gives Biden a fresh opening to make his case that his working-class roots better position him to understand the economic struggles of everyday Americans than the billionaire occupying the White House. Trump also faced persistent questions, based on his statements about a rigged election, about whether he will accept the voting results should he lose. With millions at home watching, how will he respond if Biden pushes him to commit to a peaceful transfer of power? Both candidates will scuffle over Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. Trump is using his pick to rally his conservative voter base and distract from his record on the coronavirus and other matters, while Biden is warning of threats to health care and abortion rights. BIDEN'S MOMENT For Biden, the debate will serve as sort of a reintroduction. While he has held limited events in some states and given media interviews, the coronavirus pandemic has largely rendered him off stage for months. That has allowed Biden to keep the focus where he wants it: on Trump and his performance in office. But on Tuesday, the Democratic nominee will have to make his own case for the presidency, while giving concise answers and avoiding some of the verbal mishaps that have plagued him throughout his political career. With Biden leading in polls, a strong outing could place Trump in even worse shape. A weak one could reshape the race. OWNING IT Faced with alarming coronavirus statistics or unrest in the streets, Trump is quick to blame Democratic officials, activists, scientists – anybody but him. One of Biden’s goals will be making sure the public understands that Trump is the one in charge. Trump could use his office to his advantage, as he often tries to do with the economy. Voters like to see a president take responsibility – for the good and the bad. John Geer, an expert on voter opinion at Vanderbilt University, wonders if Trump will react poorly to sharp or unfriendly queries from moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. "Will Trump have a tough time answering non-softball questions?" Geer said. TWISTING THE TRUTH As Trump's campaign rallies show, he can fire off falsehoods in machine-gun fashion. Examples include the Republican's common claim that the US economy was operating at historic levels before the pandemic (it wasn't) and that the virus has largely dissipated (it hasn't). Attempting to constantly pin Trump to the truth could turn Biden into a real-time fact-checker - possibly to the Democrat's detriment. "It's a big mistake to try and do that," said Aaron Kall, the director of debate at the University of Michigan. "You have to focus on your own agenda." DOWN IN THE MUD Biden has worried aloud about reacting to Trump’s propensity for ad hominem attacks. On the campaign trail, the former vice president has sometimes shown flashes of temper, getting his "Irish up" as he calls it. Trump in a tweet on Sunday went as far as to suggest Biden will be on performance-enhancing drugs during the debate, signaling that perhaps there is little he will not do or say to rattle Biden and disrupt the proceedings. Polls show that Trump's frequent questioning of the 77-year-old Biden's mental fitness has registered with some voters. Trump's team will be looking for moments where Biden seems flustered or unsure to exploit as viral video. "If the president lies, call it a lie. If he attacks Biden personally, just shrug it off and not get personal," Geer said. "Biden needs to continue to be presidential and tough, even if there is some mud on his suit jacket."

Five things to watch in the first Trump-Biden debate

Alphabet Inc`s&nbsp;Google will block election ads on its platform after the U.S. election on Nov. 3, a company spokeswoman said on Friday.

Axios, which first reported&nbsp;the news, said Google mailed advertisers saying they will not be able to run ads "referencing candidates, the election, or its outcome, given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after election day this year."

Social media companies have been facing growing pressure to stop carrying ads that spread false information and could steer election results.

Facebook Inc&nbsp;also said it would stop accepting new political ads in the week before the election and would reject ads that seek to claim victory before the results of the election are declared.

Twitter Inc&nbsp;banned political ads last year, while Google has previously limited the ways election advertisers could micro-target voters.

Google`s new policy will target ads that are explicitly election-related as well as any other types of ads that reference federal or state elections, or ads that run based on targeting election-related search queries, the Axios report said.

Alphabet Inc`s Google will block election ads on its platform after the U.S. election on Nov. 3, a company spokeswoman said on Friday. Axios, which first reported the news, said Google mailed advertisers saying they will not be able to run ads "referencing candidates, the election, or its outcome, given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after election day this year.

Alphabet Inc`s Google will block election ads on its platform after the U.S. election on Nov. 3, a company spokeswoman said on Friday. Axios, which first reported the news, said Google mailed advertisers saying they will not be able to run ads "referencing candidates, the election, or its outcome, given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after election day this year." Social media companies have been facing growing pressure to stop carrying ads that spread false information and could steer election results. Facebook Inc also said it would stop accepting new political ads in the week before the election and would reject ads that seek to claim victory before the results of the election are declared. Twitter Inc banned political ads last year, while Google has previously limited the ways election advertisers could micro-target voters. Google`s new policy will target ads that are explicitly election-related as well as any other types of ads that reference federal or state elections, or ads that run based on targeting election-related search queries, the Axios report said.

Google to block election ads after US presidential election

A recent survey has revealed that there are several factors that makes US President Donald Trump closer to Indian-Americans than his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

US Election 2020: What are the choices that voters face in key states?

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said Americans might not know the winner of the November presidential election for months due to disputes over mail ballots.

This statement in an addition to his build up on his criticism of a method that could be used by half of US voters this year. He was speaking at a rally in Newport News, Virginia.

Trump in recent days has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election to Democrat Joe Biden and has said he expects the Supreme Court will have to declare a winner.

Election experts have said it might take several days after the November 3 election until a winner is known as officials will need time to count mail ballots that arrive after election day.

To this end, Trump said he would prefer to find out quickly whether he won or lost, rather than wait for the mail ballots to come in.

“I like watching television and have, ‘The winner is’, right? You might not hear it for months, because this is a mess,” he said.

“It’s very unlikely that you’re going to hear a winner that night,” he said. “I could be leading and then they’ll just keep getting ballots, and ballots, and ballots and ballots. Because now they’re saying the ballots can come in late.”

Court rulings this month have allowed officials in the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina to count ballots that arrive after November 3 as long as they were sent by Election Day.

Opinion polls show that more Democrats than Republicans plan to vote by mail to avoid exposure to COVID-19 in crowded polling places. Trump’s campaign has filed lawsuits in several states to restrict mail balloting.

 
&nbsp;

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said Americans might not know the winner of the November presidential election for months due to disputes over mail ballots.

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said Americans might not know the winner of the November presidential election for months due to disputes over mail ballots. This statement in an addition to his build up on his criticism of a method that could be used by half of US voters this year. He was speaking at a rally in Newport News, Virginia. Trump in recent days has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election to Democrat Joe Biden and has said he expects the Supreme Court will have to declare a winner. Election experts have said it might take several days after the November 3 election until a winner is known as officials will need time to count mail ballots that arrive after election day. To this end, Trump said he would prefer to find out quickly whether he won or lost, rather than wait for the mail ballots to come in. “I like watching television and have, ‘The winner is’, right? You might not hear it for months, because this is a mess,” he said. “It’s very unlikely that you’re going to hear a winner that night,” he said. “I could be leading and then they’ll just keep getting ballots, and ballots, and ballots and ballots. Because now they’re saying the ballots can come in late.” Court rulings this month have allowed officials in the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina to count ballots that arrive after November 3 as long as they were sent by Election Day. Opinion polls show that more Democrats than Republicans plan to vote by mail to avoid exposure to COVID-19 in crowded polling places. Trump’s campaign has filed lawsuits in several states to restrict mail balloting.

Trump says US election winner might not be known for months

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol.

Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice. The first, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, also had been the country's president.

Ginsburg's casket was brought to the Capitol Friday morning for a private ceremony in Statuary Hall attended by her family and lawmakers.

Members of the House and Senate, who were not invited to the ceremony because of space limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, paid their respects before a motorcade carrying Ginsburg's casket departs the Capitol early afternoon.

The honour of lying in state has been accorded mostly to presidents, vice presidents and members of Congress. Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon, was the last person to lie in state following his death in July.

Rosa Parks - a private citizen, not a government official - is the only woman who has lain in honour at the Capitol.

Ginsburg has lain in repose for two days at the Supreme Court, where thousands of people paid their respects, including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Thursday.

Trump plans to announce his nomination Saturday of a woman to take Ginsburg's place on the high court.

Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, seved for 27 years at the court and was the leader of the liberal justices. She will be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband, Martin, who died in 2010.

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol. Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice.

Deceased United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol. Ginsburg, who died last week at 87, also is the first Jewish-American to lie in state and just the second Supreme Court justice. The first, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, also had been the country's president. Ginsburg's casket was brought to the Capitol Friday morning for a private ceremony in Statuary Hall attended by her family and lawmakers. Members of the House and Senate, who were not invited to the ceremony because of space limitations imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, paid their respects before a motorcade carrying Ginsburg's casket departs the Capitol early afternoon. The honour of lying in state has been accorded mostly to presidents, vice presidents and members of Congress. Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon, was the last person to lie in state following his death in July. Rosa Parks - a private citizen, not a government official - is the only woman who has lain in honour at the Capitol. Ginsburg has lain in repose for two days at the Supreme Court, where thousands of people paid their respects, including President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Thursday. Trump plans to announce his nomination Saturday of a woman to take Ginsburg's place on the high court. Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, seved for 27 years at the court and was the leader of the liberal justices. She will be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband, Martin, who died in 2010.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes first woman to lie in state at US Capitol

US President Donald Trump may soon have a lake named after him following proposals to christen a contested Balkan reservoir in his honour. He already has golf clubs and hotels named after him.

The lake in question is a 24-kilometre stretch of water straddling the border of former war foes Serbia and Kosovo, who both claim ownership and have different names for it.

Three quarters of the reservoir lies in Kosovo, while the rest is in Serbia. But the dispute is not just a quarrel about the name.

A huge banner appeared Thursday on Kosovo's side of the reservoir reading "Lake Trump", while another hung over a bridge thanked Trump for "bringing peace" following recent US-brokered agreements between Kosovo and Serbia.

The tussle over ownership of the lake -- called Ujman in Kosovo and Gazivode in Serbia -- is one of many disputes still haunting the neighbours 20 years after they broke apart in war.

After the banners emerged, Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti wrote on Twitter that he "welcomed" the proposal to rename the body of water "Lake Trump" in honour of the "historic economic normalization agreement" signed at the White House in early September.

The agreements, which analysts said were light on substance despite Trump's insistence on their "historic" nature, included a commitment to a feasibility study for "sharing" the lake.

According to Trump advisor Richard Grenell, who led talks on the agreements, the idea of Lake Trump was originally a joke.

"There was this incredible fight about the name so I kind of jokingly said... well, I'm going to keep referring to it as Lake Trump", Grenell said in an interview with a US talk show.

"And both leaders jumped at it and said -– I’m OK with Lake Trump, let's call it Lake Trump", he added.

The said lake is the crucial source of drinking water for more than a third of Kosovo's 1.8 million population, and a cooling source for the coal plants that produce almost all of Kosovo's electricity.

Serbia, which still does not recognise its former province's independence, considers the lake its property.

Locals in the surrounding area, a northern part of Kosovo home mainly to ethnic Serbs, were unclear of who was behind the naming initiative.

 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump may soon have a lake named after him following proposals to christen a contested Balkan reservoir in his honour. He already has golf clubs and hotels named after him.

US President Donald Trump may soon have a lake named after him following proposals to christen a contested Balkan reservoir in his honour. He already has golf clubs and hotels named after him. The lake in question is a 24-kilometre stretch of water straddling the border of former war foes Serbia and Kosovo, who both claim ownership and have different names for it. Three quarters of the reservoir lies in Kosovo, while the rest is in Serbia. But the dispute is not just a quarrel about the name. A huge banner appeared Thursday on Kosovo's side of the reservoir reading "Lake Trump", while another hung over a bridge thanked Trump for "bringing peace" following recent US-brokered agreements between Kosovo and Serbia. The tussle over ownership of the lake -- called Ujman in Kosovo and Gazivode in Serbia -- is one of many disputes still haunting the neighbours 20 years after they broke apart in war. After the banners emerged, Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti wrote on Twitter that he "welcomed" the proposal to rename the body of water "Lake Trump" in honour of the "historic economic normalization agreement" signed at the White House in early September. The agreements, which analysts said were light on substance despite Trump's insistence on their "historic" nature, included a commitment to a feasibility study for "sharing" the lake. According to Trump advisor Richard Grenell, who led talks on the agreements, the idea of Lake Trump was originally a joke. "There was this incredible fight about the name so I kind of jokingly said... well, I'm going to keep referring to it as Lake Trump", Grenell said in an interview with a US talk show. "And both leaders jumped at it and said -– I’m OK with Lake Trump, let's call it Lake Trump", he added. The said lake is the crucial source of drinking water for more than a third of Kosovo's 1.8 million population, and a cooling source for the coal plants that produce almost all of Kosovo's electricity. Serbia, which still does not recognise its former province's independence, considers the lake its property. Locals in the surrounding area, a northern part of Kosovo home mainly to ethnic Serbs, were unclear of who was behind the naming initiative.

Lake Trump? Disputed reservoir could be named after US president

The critics of Facebook Inc on Friday launched a rival oversight board to review the company's content moderation practices.

The new group -- "Real Facebook Oversight Board" -- includes the architects of an advertising boycott against the company. It counts among its initial members the heads of three US civil rights groups, the former president of Estonia and the former head of election integrity at Facebook.

The announcement comes a day after Facebook's officially-mandated Oversight Board said it would start work in mid-late October, nearly a year behind schedule.

That delay means the official Facebook-funded board is unlikely to review cases related to the US election.

The rival board will hold its first general meeting next week, it said in a statement, and focus squarely on election topics, including voter suppression, election security and misinformation.

Facebook "responds to criticism with bad faith statements and cosmetic changes," said board member Roger McNamee, an early investor in Facebook who turned critical of its leaders over their handling of misuse of the platform in the 2016 election.

"The Real Oversight Board will act as a watchdog, helping policymakers and consumers defend against a renegade platform."

Members plan to broadcast their meetings in weekly shows on Facebook Live, according to the statement.

The group said it was being funded by Luminate, a philanthropy backed by The Omidyar Group, but did not disclose a funding amount.

Facebook has committed $130 million to its project, which it said would cover operational costs for at least six years.

The critics of Facebook Inc on Friday launched a rival oversight board to review the company's content moderation practices. The new group -- "Real Facebook Oversight Board" -- includes the architects of an advertising boycott against the company.

The critics of Facebook Inc on Friday launched a rival oversight board to review the company's content moderation practices. The new group -- "Real Facebook Oversight Board" -- includes the architects of an advertising boycott against the company. It counts among its initial members the heads of three US civil rights groups, the former president of Estonia and the former head of election integrity at Facebook. The announcement comes a day after Facebook's officially-mandated Oversight Board said it would start work in mid-late October, nearly a year behind schedule. That delay means the official Facebook-funded board is unlikely to review cases related to the US election. The rival board will hold its first general meeting next week, it said in a statement, and focus squarely on election topics, including voter suppression, election security and misinformation. Facebook "responds to criticism with bad faith statements and cosmetic changes," said board member Roger McNamee, an early investor in Facebook who turned critical of its leaders over their handling of misuse of the platform in the 2016 election. "The Real Oversight Board will act as a watchdog, helping policymakers and consumers defend against a renegade platform." Members plan to broadcast their meetings in weekly shows on Facebook Live, according to the statement. The group said it was being funded by Luminate, a philanthropy backed by The Omidyar Group, but did not disclose a funding amount. Facebook has committed $130 million to its project, which it said would cover operational costs for at least six years.

Rival oversight board launched by Facebook critics, to act as watchdog

Trump frequently claims that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to mass fraud and are being encouraged by Democrats to rig the election.

US Election 2020: President Donald Trump won't commit to peaceful power transfer

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, and former vice-president Joe Biden have hit the campaign trail ahead of the November 3 presidential election. And with the trail comes a series of accusations and claims.

The latest salvo&nbsp;has been fired by Trump who says if Biden wins the polls, it would be a win for China.

He explains it too.

"Joe Biden spent the last 47 years shipping your jobs to China and foreign countries. You know that. I've spent the last four years bringing the jobs back to our country and back to Ohio," Trump said at a rally in Dayton, Ohio on Monday.

Biden, 77, and his running mate Kamala Harris are challenging incumbents President Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence in the presidential election.

The Republican leader described the November 3 polls as the most important in recent memory. "On November 3rd, Americans will decide whether we lift our nation to soaring new heights of prosperity or whether we will allow Joe Biden --Sleepy Joe -- to shut down our economy, impose a USD 4 trillion tax hike, abolish Ohio clean coal, oil, natural gas, and ship your jobs in factories overseas to China and countries that you never even heard of," he said.

The democratic tax plans for the 2020 election lists a gradual increase in proposed taxes by USD 4 trillion in the next decade, placing a greater burden on the super-rich category.

"Put simply: If Biden wins, China wins. If we win, Ohio wins and most importantly, in all fairness, America wins. Because you finally have the president who puts America first, and I do put America first," Trump said to applause from the audience.

Trump has held election rallies in the last two weeks, notwithstanding the risks posed by the coronavirus. Thousands attend the events without masks and breaking social-distancing norms. Trump has called the rallies "protest against stupidity".

"You know this is really not a rally. This has to do with workers, programmes, all the things we love. And this is really what we call 'a friendly protest'. You know what we're protesting. We're protesting stupidity, okay, because so many stupid things you see," Trump said.

Trump said the people know the terrible damage that Biden has inflicted on the economy in his near-50 years in politics.

"Can you believe it? For 47 years Joe Biden shook the hands of American workers and then stabbed them in the back. He said 'Washington vultures' I mean, think of it," he said.

"He's been doing it for 47 years. I've been doing it for three and a half years so he should be able to beat me I would think. He's much more experienced. Oh! he's great. Oh! he's a beauty. But he betrayed you. He lied to you. He abused you. Which is why it's time to retire Joe Biden. This is serious talk," Trump said.

Biden championed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and China's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trump said, adding that the NAFTA had many adverse affects on the US economy and China's entry into the WTO led them to go up like a rocket.

The World Trade Organisation considers China as a developing nation, Trump said. "No. They're not a developing nation. By being a developing nation they get all sorts of advantages over us so we've been protesting it," he said.

As vice president, Biden did nothing even as China stole intellectual property, flooded the market with dumped goods, unfairly subsidised its industries, manipulated its currency, Trump alleged.

"They poison our communities with fentanyl. You know that? Instead, Biden allowed China to ravage our towns, raid our factories, and rip apart our communities. That's what they did," he said.

The US had last month sanctioned several Chinese citizens for trafficking fentanyl, a banned opioid.

(with inputs)

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, and former vice-president Joe Biden have hit the campaign trail ahead of the November 3 presidential election.

The incumbent president of the United States, Donald Trump, and former vice-president Joe Biden have hit the campaign trail ahead of the November 3 presidential election. And with the trail comes a series of accusations and claims. The latest salvo has been fired by Trump who says if Biden wins the polls, it would be a win for China. He explains it too. "Joe Biden spent the last 47 years shipping your jobs to China and foreign countries. You know that. I've spent the last four years bringing the jobs back to our country and back to Ohio," Trump said at a rally in Dayton, Ohio on Monday. Biden, 77, and his running mate Kamala Harris are challenging incumbents President Trump, 74, and Vice President Mike Pence in the presidential election. The Republican leader described the November 3 polls as the most important in recent memory. "On November 3rd, Americans will decide whether we lift our nation to soaring new heights of prosperity or whether we will allow Joe Biden --Sleepy Joe -- to shut down our economy, impose a USD 4 trillion tax hike, abolish Ohio clean coal, oil, natural gas, and ship your jobs in factories overseas to China and countries that you never even heard of," he said. The democratic tax plans for the 2020 election lists a gradual increase in proposed taxes by USD 4 trillion in the next decade, placing a greater burden on the super-rich category. "Put simply: If Biden wins, China wins. If we win, Ohio wins and most importantly, in all fairness, America wins. Because you finally have the president who puts America first, and I do put America first," Trump said to applause from the audience. Trump has held election rallies in the last two weeks, notwithstanding the risks posed by the coronavirus. Thousands attend the events without masks and breaking social-distancing norms. Trump has called the rallies "protest against stupidity". "You know this is really not a rally. This has to do with workers, programmes, all the things we love. And this is really what we call 'a friendly protest'. You know what we're protesting. We're protesting stupidity, okay, because so many stupid things you see," Trump said. Trump said the people know the terrible damage that Biden has inflicted on the economy in his near-50 years in politics. "Can you believe it? For 47 years Joe Biden shook the hands of American workers and then stabbed them in the back. He said 'Washington vultures' I mean, think of it," he said. "He's been doing it for 47 years. I've been doing it for three and a half years so he should be able to beat me I would think. He's much more experienced. Oh! he's great. Oh! he's a beauty. But he betrayed you. He lied to you. He abused you. Which is why it's time to retire Joe Biden. This is serious talk," Trump said. Biden championed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and China's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trump said, adding that the NAFTA had many adverse affects on the US economy and China's entry into the WTO led them to go up like a rocket. The World Trade Organisation considers China as a developing nation, Trump said. "No. They're not a developing nation. By being a developing nation they get all sorts of advantages over us so we've been protesting it," he said. As vice president, Biden did nothing even as China stole intellectual property, flooded the market with dumped goods, unfairly subsidised its industries, manipulated its currency, Trump alleged. "They poison our communities with fentanyl. You know that? Instead, Biden allowed China to ravage our towns, raid our factories, and rip apart our communities. That's what they did," he said. The US had last month sanctioned several Chinese citizens for trafficking fentanyl, a banned opioid. (with inputs)

If Biden wins, China wins: Trump at election rally

As America starts voting in early polls, watch WION's special broadcast on US Election 2020

U.S. Election 2020 New York Direct | Trump and Biden head to swing states

US President Donald Trump is racing to cement a conservative majority on the Supreme Court before the November 3 election, telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Democrats' hope of keeping the seat empty faded when two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner, signalled their support for moving forward quickly.

Trump on Monday said he was zeroing in on one or two candidates among five who are under consideration. He called on the Senate, controlled by his fellow Republicans, to vote on confirmation before the election in which he is seeking a second term.

"I'd much rather have a vote before the election," he said. "We have plenty of time to do it." 
Two federal appeals court judges appointed by Trump are clear front-runners: Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87.

Trump's announcement would come before Ginsburg is due to be buried privately at Arlington National Cemetery next week.

Officials have arranged for a public viewing of her body outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and inside the U.S. Capitol on Friday.

Ginsburg's death gives Trump and his party an opportunity to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life including abortion, healthcare, gun rights, voting access, presidential powers and the death penalty.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, it would require at least four of them to break ranks to stop the nomination from going through. Two Republican senators - Maine's Susan Collins and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski - said over the weekend that the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee before the election.

Democrats had hoped to get similar support from Gardner, who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado, and Grassley. But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout, avoided questions about the Supreme Court seat on Monday.

“Before I have any comment, I’m going to meet with my colleagues, which I'll be doing tomorrow," Romney, the party's 2012 presidential nominee, told reporters.

Democrats have accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to bring a Trump nominee to a confirmation vote. In 2016, he refused even to consider Democratic President Barack Obama's nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year.

McConnell, who has prioritized confirming Trump's judicial appointments, said he would usher through a vote this year, although he did not say exactly when.

"The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

A new Congress will not be sworn in until Jan. 3. Democrats are hoping to win control of the Senate in the election.

Trump has already named two conservative justices to the high court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said any vote should take place next year. 
"That was Justice Ginsburg's dying wish. And it may be the Senate's only, last hope," Schumer said.

Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year, when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden, who leads in opinion polls, will take office.

"It was just too convenient," Trump said.

Speaking of the possible candidates, Trump said: "They're all outstanding but I have one or two that I have in mind." He called Barrett "very respected."

He said he might meet with Lagoa in Miami later this week, adding: "I don't know her but I hear she's outstanding."

Obstacles loom for either candidate in the bitterly divided Senate.

Barrett could face opposition from Collins and Murkowski over concerns that she would roll back abortion rights, said a source familiar with the confirmation process who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Lagoa, a Cuban American from the battleground state of Florida, is not as well known, which could slow down the confirmation process.

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, are leading the selection process, the source said. Outside of White House officials, Leonard Leo, the former executive vice president of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, is playing a central advisory role.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is racing to cement a conservative majority on the Supreme Court before the November 3 election, telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

US President Donald Trump is racing to cement a conservative majority on the Supreme Court before the November 3 election, telling reporters he planned by Saturday to reveal his pick to succeed liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Democrats' hope of keeping the seat empty faded when two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Cory Gardner, signalled their support for moving forward quickly. Trump on Monday said he was zeroing in on one or two candidates among five who are under consideration. He called on the Senate, controlled by his fellow Republicans, to vote on confirmation before the election in which he is seeking a second term. "I'd much rather have a vote before the election," he said. "We have plenty of time to do it." Two federal appeals court judges appointed by Trump are clear front-runners: Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump met with Barrett at the White House on Monday, according to a source familiar with the situation. Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87. Trump's announcement would come before Ginsburg is due to be buried privately at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Officials have arranged for a public viewing of her body outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and inside the U.S. Capitol on Friday. Ginsburg's death gives Trump and his party an opportunity to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on a court whose decisions influence many spheres of American life including abortion, healthcare, gun rights, voting access, presidential powers and the death penalty. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, it would require at least four of them to break ranks to stop the nomination from going through. Two Republican senators - Maine's Susan Collins and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski - said over the weekend that the chamber should not move forward with a Trump nominee before the election. Democrats had hoped to get similar support from Gardner, who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado, and Grassley. But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout, avoided questions about the Supreme Court seat on Monday. “Before I have any comment, I’m going to meet with my colleagues, which I'll be doing tomorrow," Romney, the party's 2012 presidential nominee, told reporters. Democrats have accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of hypocrisy for being eager to bring a Trump nominee to a confirmation vote. In 2016, he refused even to consider Democratic President Barack Obama's nominee to fill a vacancy on the court left by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, saying it would be inappropriate to do so during an election year. McConnell, who has prioritized confirming Trump's judicial appointments, said he would usher through a vote this year, although he did not say exactly when. "The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear," McConnell said on the Senate floor. A new Congress will not be sworn in until Jan. 3. Democrats are hoping to win control of the Senate in the election. Trump has already named two conservative justices to the high court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said any vote should take place next year. "That was Justice Ginsburg's dying wish. And it may be the Senate's only, last hope," Schumer said. Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year, when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden, who leads in opinion polls, will take office. "It was just too convenient," Trump said. Speaking of the possible candidates, Trump said: "They're all outstanding but I have one or two that I have in mind." He called Barrett "very respected." He said he might meet with Lagoa in Miami later this week, adding: "I don't know her but I hear she's outstanding." Obstacles loom for either candidate in the bitterly divided Senate. Barrett could face opposition from Collins and Murkowski over concerns that she would roll back abortion rights, said a source familiar with the confirmation process who spoke on condition of anonymity. Lagoa, a Cuban American from the battleground state of Florida, is not as well known, which could slow down the confirmation process. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, are leading the selection process, the source said. Outside of White House officials, Leonard Leo, the former executive vice president of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, is playing a central advisory role.

Trump to name US Supreme Court pick by September 26

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appears to be leading President Donald Trump among likely voters in Wisconsin, while the two are about even in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday.

Reuters/Ipsos is polling likely voters in six states - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona - that will play critical roles in deciding whether Trump wins a second term in office or if Biden ousts him in the November election.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Below is a state-by-state look at Reuters/Ipsos findings, based on the online responses of likely voters, which includes responses from some who cast ballots ahead of the formal Nov. 3 Election Day, a practice expected to increase due to the coronavirus health crisis:

WISCONSIN: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Voting for Biden: 48% 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Voting for Trump: 43% 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 48% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 40% said Trump would be better. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 48% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 42% said Biden would be better. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 1% said they already had voted.

PENNSYLVANIA: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Voting for Biden: 49% 
&nbsp; &nbsp; * Voting for Trump: 46% 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 48% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * 2% said they already had voted. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;MICHIGAN: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 22. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NORTH CAROLINA: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 22. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FLORIDA: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 23. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ARIZONA: 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 23. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NOTES 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls are conducted online in all six states in English, as well as in Spanish in Arizona and Florida.

* In Wisconsin, from Sept 11-16, it gathered responses from 1005 adults, including 609 likely voters and has a credibility interval of 5 percentage points.

* In Pennsylvania, from Sept 11-16, it gathered responses from 1005 adults, including 611 likely voters and has a credibility interval of 5 percentage points.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appears to be leading President Donald Trump among likely voters in Wisconsin, while the two are about even in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appears to be leading President Donald Trump among likely voters in Wisconsin, while the two are about even in Pennsylvania, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls released on Monday. Reuters/Ipsos is polling likely voters in six states - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona - that will play critical roles in deciding whether Trump wins a second term in office or if Biden ousts him in the November election. Below is a state-by-state look at Reuters/Ipsos findings, based on the online responses of likely voters, which includes responses from some who cast ballots ahead of the formal Nov. 3 Election Day, a practice expected to increase due to the coronavirus health crisis: WISCONSIN: * Voting for Biden: 48% * Voting for Trump: 43% * 48% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 40% said Trump would be better. * 48% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 42% said Biden would be better. * 1% said they already had voted. PENNSYLVANIA: * Voting for Biden: 49% * Voting for Trump: 46% * 48% said Biden would be better at handling the coronavirus pandemic. 44% said Trump would be better. * 51% said Trump would be better at managing the economy. 45% said Biden would be better. * 2% said they already had voted. MICHIGAN: * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 22. NORTH CAROLINA: * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 22. FLORIDA: * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 23. ARIZONA: * Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll expected on Sept. 23. NOTES The Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls are conducted online in all six states in English, as well as in Spanish in Arizona and Florida. * In Wisconsin, from Sept 11-16, it gathered responses from 1005 adults, including 609 likely voters and has a credibility interval of 5 percentage points. * In Pennsylvania, from Sept 11-16, it gathered responses from 1005 adults, including 611 likely voters and has a credibility interval of 5 percentage points.

Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Biden ahead in Wisconsin, a close race in Pennsylvania

In considering Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court, President Donald Trump has turned to a federal appellate judge known for conservative religious views who liberals worry could become instrumental in rolling back abortion rights.

Barrett, if nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate for a lifetime post on the Supreme Court, would replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died at age 87 on Friday. Barrett, 48, would give conservatives a 6-3 majority.

A devout Roman Catholic, Barrett is a favorite among religious conservatives. Trump in 2017 appointed Barrett to the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the regional appeals courts that are one step below the Supreme Court. On the 7th Circuit, she has voted in favor of one of Trump`s hardline immigration policies and shown support for expansive gun rights.

During her 2017 confirmation hearing for her current post, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein told Barrett, "The dogma lives loudly within you." Barrett told the senators that her religious faith would not affect her decisions as a judge.

Abortion rights groups have expressed concern that on the Supreme Court she could help overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Although she has not yet ruled directly on abortion as a judge, Barrett on the 7th Circuit twice signaled opposition to rulings that struck down abortion-related restrictions, voting to have those decisions reconsidered.

In 2018, Barrett was among the 7th Circuit judges who sought reconsideration of a decision that invalidated a Republican-backed Indiana law requiring that fetal remains be buried or cremated after an abortion. The Supreme Court in 2019 reinstated the law.

In 2019, Barrett also voted for rehearing of a three-judge panel`s ruling that upheld a challenge to another Republican-backed Indiana abortion law before it went into effect. The measure would require that parents be notified when a girl under 18 is seeking an abortion even in situations in which she has asked a court to provide consent instead of her parents, as was allowed under existing law. The Supreme Court in July tossed out the ruling and ordered the matter to be reconsidered.

In June, Barrett dissented when a three-judge panel ruled in favor of a challenge to Trump`s policy to deny legal permanent residency to certain immigrants deemed likely to require government assistance in the future. In January, the Supreme Court, powered by its conservative majority, allowed the policy to take effect.

Barrett indicated support for gun rights in a 2019 dissent when she objected to the court ruling that a nonviolent felon could be permanently prohibited from possessing a firearm.

"Founding-era legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons," Barrett wrote.

CONSERVATIVE RECORD

Barrett, born in New Orleans, received her law degree from Notre Dame Law School, a Catholic institution in Indiana.

Barrett`s extensive prior writings about religion, the role of judges and how courts should treat important legal precedents made her a favorite among social conservatives and conservative Christian leaders even before she became a judge.

After serving as a Supreme Court clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, a stalwart conservative who died in 2016, and working at a couple of law firms, Barrett returned to Notre Dame as a professor until joining the bench.

Through her past writings, some critics have suggested she would be guided by her religious beliefs rather than the law.

In a 1998 law journal article she and another author said that Catholic judges who are faithful to their church`s teachings are morally precluded from enforcing the death penalty and should recuse themselves in certain cases.

Abortion rights groups, worried about preserving the 1973 ruling that a woman has a constitutional right to have an abortion, point to a 2003 law journal article in which Barrett argued that courts could be more flexible in overturning prior "errors" in precedent.

Barrett has also spoken publicly about her conviction that life begins at conception, according to a 2013 article in Notre Dame Magazine.

She is married to Jesse Barrett, a lawyer in private practice and a former federal prosecutor in Indiana. They have seven children, two of whom were adopted from Haiti.

Barrett and her family have been members of a Christian religious group called People of Praise, according to other members.

Craig Lent, the group`s overall coordinator, said in 2018 that the organization, which is officially ecumenical but whose membership is mostly Catholic, centers on close Christian bonds and looking out for one another. They also share a preference for charismatic worship, which can involve speaking in tongues.

Certain leadership positions are reserved for men. And while married men receive spiritual and other advice from other male group members, married women depend on their husbands for the same advice, Lent said.

In considering Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court, President Donald Trump has turned to a federal appellate judge known for conservative religious views who liberals worry could become instrumental in rolling back abortion rights.

In considering Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court, President Donald Trump has turned to a federal appellate judge known for conservative religious views who liberals worry could become instrumental in rolling back abortion rights. Barrett, if nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate for a lifetime post on the Supreme Court, would replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died at age 87 on Friday. Barrett, 48, would give conservatives a 6-3 majority. A devout Roman Catholic, Barrett is a favorite among religious conservatives. Trump in 2017 appointed Barrett to the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the regional appeals courts that are one step below the Supreme Court. On the 7th Circuit, she has voted in favor of one of Trump`s hardline immigration policies and shown support for expansive gun rights. During her 2017 confirmation hearing for her current post, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein told Barrett, "The dogma lives loudly within you." Barrett told the senators that her religious faith would not affect her decisions as a judge. Abortion rights groups have expressed concern that on the Supreme Court she could help overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Although she has not yet ruled directly on abortion as a judge, Barrett on the 7th Circuit twice signaled opposition to rulings that struck down abortion-related restrictions, voting to have those decisions reconsidered. In 2018, Barrett was among the 7th Circuit judges who sought reconsideration of a decision that invalidated a Republican-backed Indiana law requiring that fetal remains be buried or cremated after an abortion. The Supreme Court in 2019 reinstated the law. In 2019, Barrett also voted for rehearing of a three-judge panel`s ruling that upheld a challenge to another Republican-backed Indiana abortion law before it went into effect. The measure would require that parents be notified when a girl under 18 is seeking an abortion even in situations in which she has asked a court to provide consent instead of her parents, as was allowed under existing law. The Supreme Court in July tossed out the ruling and ordered the matter to be reconsidered. In June, Barrett dissented when a three-judge panel ruled in favor of a challenge to Trump`s policy to deny legal permanent residency to certain immigrants deemed likely to require government assistance in the future. In January, the Supreme Court, powered by its conservative majority, allowed the policy to take effect. Barrett indicated support for gun rights in a 2019 dissent when she objected to the court ruling that a nonviolent felon could be permanently prohibited from possessing a firearm. "Founding-era legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons," Barrett wrote. CONSERVATIVE RECORD Barrett, born in New Orleans, received her law degree from Notre Dame Law School, a Catholic institution in Indiana. Barrett`s extensive prior writings about religion, the role of judges and how courts should treat important legal precedents made her a favorite among social conservatives and conservative Christian leaders even before she became a judge. After serving as a Supreme Court clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, a stalwart conservative who died in 2016, and working at a couple of law firms, Barrett returned to Notre Dame as a professor until joining the bench. Through her past writings, some critics have suggested she would be guided by her religious beliefs rather than the law. In a 1998 law journal article she and another author said that Catholic judges who are faithful to their church`s teachings are morally precluded from enforcing the death penalty and should recuse themselves in certain cases. Abortion rights groups, worried about preserving the 1973 ruling that a woman has a constitutional right to have an abortion, point to a 2003 law journal article in which Barrett argued that courts could be more flexible in overturning prior "errors" in precedent. Barrett has also spoken publicly about her conviction that life begins at conception, according to a 2013 article in Notre Dame Magazine. She is married to Jesse Barrett, a lawyer in private practice and a former federal prosecutor in Indiana. They have seven children, two of whom were adopted from Haiti. Barrett and her family have been members of a Christian religious group called People of Praise, according to other members. Craig Lent, the group`s overall coordinator, said in 2018 that the organization, which is officially ecumenical but whose membership is mostly Catholic, centers on close Christian bonds and looking out for one another. They also share a preference for charismatic worship, which can involve speaking in tongues. Certain leadership positions are reserved for men. And while married men receive spiritual and other advice from other male group members, married women depend on their husbands for the same advice, Lent said.

Potential Trump Supreme Court pick Barrett known for conservative religious views

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ramped up pressure on the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, to not push for a Supreme Court nominee before the presidential election in November.

Biden was speaking on Sunday, the day a second Senate Republican voiced objections to Trump's plan for a quick vote on a replacement to liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday.

Biden urged Senate Republicans to not vote on any candidate nominated to the US Supreme Court as the election nears, calling Trump's plan an "exercise of raw political power."

Such an appointment by the president, if approved by the Senate, would cement a 6-3 conservative majority that could influence American law and life for decades.

"Voters of this country should be heard ... they're the ones who this Constitution envisions should decide who has the power to make this appointment," Biden, who leads Trump in national opinion polls, said in Philadelphia. "To jam this nomination through the Senate is just an exercise of raw political power."

Biden said that if he wins the November 3 election, he should have the chance to nominate the next Supreme Court justice.

The former vice president rejected the idea of releasing the names of potential nominees, saying that doing so, as Trump did, could improperly influence those candidates' decisions in their current court roles as well as subject them to "unrelenting political attacks."

He reiterated his pledge to nominate an African-American woman to the court, which would be a historic first, if he has the opportunity.

Earlier on Sunday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she did not support Trump's plan to move fast on filling the seat, becoming the second of the 53 Republicans in the 100-seat chamber to object publicly following Ginsburg's death.

On Saturday, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the presidential election winner should pick the nominee. She is locked in a tight re-election battle, while Murkowski's current term extends two more years.

Senator Lamar Alexander, another moderate Republican, said in a statement he did not object to a vote, adding: "No one should be surprised that a Republican Senate majority would vote on a Republican president’s Supreme Court nomination, even during a presidential election year."

Democrats noted that in 2016 Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a vote on a Democratic appointee on the grounds that the vacancy should be filled by the next president.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer did not rule out that his party might move in future to end the filibuster, a procedural tactic under which the support of 60 members is required to move to a vote on legislation, if the Republicans went ahead with the nomination.

Trump said on Saturday he would make his nomination this week and named Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible candidates to fill the vacancy created by Ginsburg, a revered figure among liberals.

Ginsburg's death upended the November election campaign, energizing both Trump's conservative base - eager to see the court overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalised abortion nationwide - and presenting new complications in the battle for control of the US Senate.

Trump has already appointed two justices: Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed after a heated confirmation process in which he angrily denied accusations by a California university professor, Christine Blasey Ford, that he had sexually assaulted her in 1982 when the two were high school students in Maryland.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ramped up pressure on the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, to not push for a Supreme Court nominee before the presidential election in November.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ramped up pressure on the incumbent US president, Donald Trump, to not push for a Supreme Court nominee before the presidential election in November. Biden was speaking on Sunday, the day a second Senate Republican voiced objections to Trump's plan for a quick vote on a replacement to liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday. Biden urged Senate Republicans to not vote on any candidate nominated to the US Supreme Court as the election nears, calling Trump's plan an "exercise of raw political power." Such an appointment by the president, if approved by the Senate, would cement a 6-3 conservative majority that could influence American law and life for decades. "Voters of this country should be heard ... they're the ones who this Constitution envisions should decide who has the power to make this appointment," Biden, who leads Trump in national opinion polls, said in Philadelphia. "To jam this nomination through the Senate is just an exercise of raw political power." Biden said that if he wins the November 3 election, he should have the chance to nominate the next Supreme Court justice. The former vice president rejected the idea of releasing the names of potential nominees, saying that doing so, as Trump did, could improperly influence those candidates' decisions in their current court roles as well as subject them to "unrelenting political attacks." He reiterated his pledge to nominate an African-American woman to the court, which would be a historic first, if he has the opportunity. Earlier on Sunday, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she did not support Trump's plan to move fast on filling the seat, becoming the second of the 53 Republicans in the 100-seat chamber to object publicly following Ginsburg's death. On Saturday, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the presidential election winner should pick the nominee. She is locked in a tight re-election battle, while Murkowski's current term extends two more years. Senator Lamar Alexander, another moderate Republican, said in a statement he did not object to a vote, adding: "No one should be surprised that a Republican Senate majority would vote on a Republican president’s Supreme Court nomination, even during a presidential election year." Democrats noted that in 2016 Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a vote on a Democratic appointee on the grounds that the vacancy should be filled by the next president. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer did not rule out that his party might move in future to end the filibuster, a procedural tactic under which the support of 60 members is required to move to a vote on legislation, if the Republicans went ahead with the nomination. Trump said on Saturday he would make his nomination this week and named Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Barbara Lagoa of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible candidates to fill the vacancy created by Ginsburg, a revered figure among liberals. Ginsburg's death upended the November election campaign, energizing both Trump's conservative base - eager to see the court overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalised abortion nationwide - and presenting new complications in the battle for control of the US Senate. Trump has already appointed two justices: Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed after a heated confirmation process in which he angrily denied accusations by a California university professor, Christine Blasey Ford, that he had sexually assaulted her in 1982 when the two were high school students in Maryland.

Biden blasts Trump's push for selecting a Supreme Court nominee before election

The opponents of the upcoming US presidential election -- Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden -- are fighting it off on the social media as much as they are doing it off it.

While it's all about strategies and tragedies at arenas and rallies, on the social media Biden and Trump turn all funny and witty.

Sample this -- Biden had a quirky take on a viral byte of Trump's. The incumbent US president went sad and explained how he would not be able to speak to the Americans if a certain 'Joe Biden beat him in the election'.

Biden quoted this video clip, and tweeted he was the person Trump referred to in the clip. And he approved the (kind-of) 'farewell' message.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m Joe Biden and I approve this message. <a href="https://t.co/TuRZXPE5xK">pic.twitter.com/TuRZXPE5xK</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1307491919384260609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Can we say we approve of this humour?

This is not the first time Biden has taken to an off-centre way to attract his audience's attention.

Last week, Joe Biden turned to music to gather support among Latinos as he made his first trip to Florida on the campaign trail. He played ‘Despacito’ on his phone in a bid to connect to Hispanic voters. The said video took social media by storm and even made him a subject of Trump’s jibe.

At a campaign event in Kissimmee, he said, “I just have one thing to say.”&nbsp;

Then, he looked down at his phone and played, “Hang on here.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Does <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> realize that Despacito means “slowly”? Fits well with Slow Joe <a href="https://t.co/7i6DzWwlSH">https://t.co/7i6DzWwlSH</a>
— Mercedes Schlapp (@mercedesschlapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/mercedesschlapp/status/1306040931318214657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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To this end, Trump had cheekily asked what this was all about.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What is this all about? <a href="https://t.co/AAmBGgHhyR">https://t.co/AAmBGgHhyR</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1306084770300997632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Hmmm!

The opponents of the upcoming US presidential election -- Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden -- are fighting it off on the social media as much as they are doing it off it.

The opponents of the upcoming US presidential election -- Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden -- are fighting it off on the social media as much as they are doing it off it. While it's all about strategies and tragedies at arenas and rallies, on the social media Biden and Trump turn all funny and witty. Sample this -- Biden had a quirky take on a viral byte of Trump's. The incumbent US president went sad and explained how he would not be able to speak to the Americans if a certain 'Joe Biden beat him in the election'. Biden quoted this video clip, and tweeted he was the person Trump referred to in the clip. And he approved the (kind-of) 'farewell' message. I’m Joe Biden and I approve this message. pic.twitter.com/TuRZXPE5xK — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 20, 2020 × Can we say we approve of this humour? This is not the first time Biden has taken to an off-centre way to attract his audience's attention. Last week, Joe Biden turned to music to gather support among Latinos as he made his first trip to Florida on the campaign trail. He played ‘Despacito’ on his phone in a bid to connect to Hispanic voters. The said video took social media by storm and even made him a subject of Trump’s jibe. At a campaign event in Kissimmee, he said, “I just have one thing to say.” Then, he looked down at his phone and played, “Hang on here.” Does @JoeBiden realize that Despacito means “slowly”? Fits well with Slow Joe https://t.co/7i6DzWwlSH — Mercedes Schlapp (@mercedesschlapp) September 16, 2020 × To this end, Trump had cheekily asked what this was all about. What is this all about? https://t.co/AAmBGgHhyR — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2020 × Hmmm!

His name is Joe Biden. And he totally approves Trump's 'message'

US President Donald Trump complimented the Taliban for being tough and smart, and said the United States was dealing well with the Afghan militant group.

In a news conference on Friday, Trump also said he expects to have available enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine for every American by April.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

Trump said distribution of a vaccine will begin within 24 hours of it being approved by federal health regulators.

"In a short time we'll have a safe and effective vaccine and we'll defeat the virus," Trump said.

He has previously said a vaccine could be approved in October, an ambitious timeline that some experts have said is unlikely to be met.

'SMART' TALIBAN

Regarding the Taliban, who began peace negotiations with the Afghan government this week to end two decades of war, Trump said, "We're dealing very well with the Taliban. They're very tough, they're very smart, they're very sharp, but you know it's been 19 years and even they are tired of fighting, in all fairness."

Trump, who is seeking re-election on November 3, is eager to claim an end to America's longest conflict, and his administration has voiced its intention to use aid as leverage to push for a peace deal in Afghanistan.

The United States is set to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, subject to the Taliban meeting certain security guarantees.

Taliban and Afghan government peace negotiators held their first formal meeting on Tuesday in Doha, after an opening ceremony on Saturday which was attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

US-CANADA ROW

Trump said on Friday he thought the US-Canada border would open before the end of the year.

The restrictions on non-essential travel at land borders between the two countries were first imposed in March and do not cover trade or travel by air. They have been extended several times, including on Friday to October 21, as the United States has struggled to contain its coronavirus outbreak. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump complimented the Taliban for being tough and smart, and said the United States was dealing well with the Afghan militant group. In a news conference on Friday, Trump also said he expects to have available enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine for every American by April.

US President Donald Trump complimented the Taliban for being tough and smart, and said the United States was dealing well with the Afghan militant group. In a news conference on Friday, Trump also said he expects to have available enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine for every American by April. CORONAVIRUS VACCINE Trump said distribution of a vaccine will begin within 24 hours of it being approved by federal health regulators. "In a short time we'll have a safe and effective vaccine and we'll defeat the virus," Trump said. He has previously said a vaccine could be approved in October, an ambitious timeline that some experts have said is unlikely to be met. 'SMART' TALIBAN Regarding the Taliban, who began peace negotiations with the Afghan government this week to end two decades of war, Trump said, "We're dealing very well with the Taliban. They're very tough, they're very smart, they're very sharp, but you know it's been 19 years and even they are tired of fighting, in all fairness." Trump, who is seeking re-election on November 3, is eager to claim an end to America's longest conflict, and his administration has voiced its intention to use aid as leverage to push for a peace deal in Afghanistan. The United States is set to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, subject to the Taliban meeting certain security guarantees. Taliban and Afghan government peace negotiators held their first formal meeting on Tuesday in Doha, after an opening ceremony on Saturday which was attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. US-CANADA ROW Trump said on Friday he thought the US-Canada border would open before the end of the year. The restrictions on non-essential travel at land borders between the two countries were first imposed in March and do not cover trade or travel by air. They have been extended several times, including on Friday to October 21, as the United States has struggled to contain its coronavirus outbreak.

Taliban, coronavirus vaccine and US-Canada row: What Trump said in his latest briefing