Judge: Donald Trump incited violence at election rally in Kentucky in 2016
DAYS before Donald Trump’s meeting with China’s President, he has laid down his game plan if they fail to act on North Korea.
THE United States is prepared to respond to North Korean nuclear threats on its own if China fails to pressure Pyongyang, President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times.
“Well if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. That is all I am telling you,” he said.
Mr Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping this Thursday and Friday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the two leaders are expected to discuss North Korea, China’s ambitions in the South China Sea and trade.
“China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t,” he said.
Mr Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland said there is a “real possibility” North Korea could be capable of hitting the United States with a nuclear-armed missile by the end of Trump’s first term, the newspaper reported.
Intelligence experts disagree with Mr McFarland’s assessment and say North Korea’s ability to launch a nuclear missile is at least “years away.”
JUDGE REJECTS TRUMP’S FREE SPEECH DEFENCE
A US federal judge has rejected Donald Trump’s free speech defence over a lawsuit accusing him of inciting violence against protesters at a campaign rally.
President Trump’s lawyers sought to dismiss the lawsuit by three protesters who say they were roughed up by his supporters at a March 1, 2016 rally in Louisville, Kentucky. They argued that Mr Trump didn’t intend for his supporters to use force.
Much of the attack was captured on video and widely broadcast during the campaign, showing Mr Trump pointing at the protesters and repeating “get them out.”
Judge David J. Hale in Louisville ruled that the suit against Mr Trump, his campaign and three of his supporters can proceed.
Judge Hale found ample facts supporting allegations that the protesters’ injuries were a “direct and proximate result” of Mr Trump’s actions, and noted that the Supreme Court has ruled out constitutional protections for speech that incites violence.
“It is plausible that Trump’s direction to ‘get ‘em out of here’ advocated the use of force,” the judge wrote. “It was an order, an instruction, a command.”
US CITY MAY CALL FOR TRUMP IMPEACHMENT
The Massachusetts city of Cambridge is weighing whether to call for an impeachment investigation into President Trump.
Vice Mayor Marc McGovern has filed a policy order for Monday’s city council meeting, pushing for an investigation.
The proposed order calls on the US House to back a resolution directing the Judiciary Committee to investigate whether there are grounds to impeach Mr Trump.
Mr McGovern and others believe Mr Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the US Constitution that prohibits government officials from profiting from foreign businesses.
Mr McGovern said he believes the Republican president is still deeply involved in his business operations.
Cambridge voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. The city is across the Charles River from Boston, and is home to Harvard University.
UN AMBASSADOR: RUSSIA HACKED ELECTION
The US ambassador to the United Nations said there’s no question Russia was involved in the US presidential election and insisted President Trump would fully support strong action against the Kremlin once investigations are complete.
Nikki Haley on Sunday contended there is no contradiction between her tough stance and Mr Trump’s repeated public statements seeking to minimise Russia’s role. She said Mr Trump “has not once” told her to stop “beating up on Russia.”
“We don’t want any country involved in our elections, ever,” Ms Haley said. “We need to be very strong on that.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his country meddled in the 2016 contest between Mr Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
While Mr Trump himself has said he believes Russian operatives hacked Democratic Party emails during the election, he has repeatedly lambasted as “fake news” any suggestion that he or his staff had connections to Russia.
Mr Trump continued his attacks over the weekend, tweeting: “It is the same Fake News Media that said there is ‘no path to victory for Trump’ that is now pushing the phony Russia story. A total scam!”
He added on Sunday: “The real story turns out to be SURVEILLANCE and LEAKING! Find the leakers.”
The real story turns out to be SURVEILLANCE and LEAKING! Find the leakers.
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2017
Wow, @FoxNews just reporting big news. Source: "Official behind unmasking is high up. Known Intel official is responsible. Some unmasked....
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017
..not associated with Russia. Trump team spied on before he was nominated." If this is true, does not get much bigger. Would be sad for U.S.
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2017