Thursday, August 31, 2017

OnPolitics Today: Why Trump didn't visit Harvey victims

Trump didn't visit flooding victims, but he will give $1 million to their relief. Eventually. Probably.
 
usatoday.com
with Josh Hafner
OnPolitics Today: Why Trump didn't visit Harvey victims
President Trump holds the state flag of Texas outside

 

President Trump made it a point to visit Texas days after Hurricane Harvey, standing on a truck bumper and waving a Texas flag. What he didn't do is meet directly with victims of the deadly storm that took dozens of lives and displaced thousands.

On Thursday, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, a former Texas governor, explained why: "He was advised: The better place for you to go is Corpus Christi or San Antonio or Austin, where no search and rescue resources would be pulled away from what they're doing."

Instead, Trump on Thursday pledged to give $1 million to Hurricane Harvey relief. That's twice what pop star Miley Cyrus pledged and about a 10th of what NFL star J.J. Watt pooled together.

Just when Trump will give that money remains to be seen: He pledged to donate the same amount to veterans' charities last year, but only did so once reporters looked into it months later.

It's OnPolitics Today, the daily politics roundup from USA TODAY. Subscribe here.

Trump cuts money for health care sign-ups

The Trump administration underscored its hatred for Obamacare on Thursday, slashing 90% of the funds slated promote health care enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Advertising will drop from $100 million to $10 million, health officials said. More than 12 million signed up for Obamacare in 2017- many in states that swung for Trump. 

Meanwhile, John Kasich and John Hickenlooper, bless their hearts, handed Congress their plan to improve health care on Thursday. 

Trump claps back at Russia over diplomat drama

The White House responded on Thursday to Russia's decision to kick 755 U.S. diplomats out of the country last month. The Kremlin's move came after the U.S. slapped stronger sanctions on Moscow in part over apparent meddling in the 2016 election. The Trump administration ordered Russia to close its consulate in San Francisco and scale back diplomatic presence in New York City and Washington. Still, no Russian diplomats will have to leave. 

1,850 U.S. leaders to Trump: Don't kill DACA

Trump, not exactly a friend to undocumented immigrants, is looking at ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA. The Obama-era program protects from deportation nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. On Wednesday, a slew of leaders - 130 mayors, 230 state lawmakers and hundreds of faith leaders, judges, police chiefs and sheriffs  signed a statement asking Trump to reconsider. Their argument: DREAMers make real contributions to the economy, and the U.S. would lose $460 billion over the next decade if DACA ended.

Elsewhere in politics: 

Tubman on the $20? It's no priority under Trump
Canada's Trudeau on Trump: 'He's authentic'
Eric Trump on criticism: 'You'd probably end up killing yourself'
Meet the 13-year-old running for Vermont governor
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis

Mattis freezes transgender policy; allows troops to continue serving, pending study

Defense Secretary establishes panel to review controversial issue

Read more
Police walk through a cloud of smoke and tear gas...

Trump lifts ban on military gear to local police forces

Ban on some military surplus ordered following police response to...

Read more
The Oval Office of the White House is seen after...

White House requests discontinued wallpaper delivered same day. Pa. company thinks it's a prank.

President Trump chose the pattern, York Wallcoverings said.

Read more
Deputy assistant to President Trump Sebastian...

Sebastian Gorka quits White House, saying the revolution has been derailed

Controversial aide follows chief strategist Steve Bannon out the...

Read more
Transgender Army veteran Tanya Walker speaks to...

Trump orders Pentagon to reverse transgender policy

Trump calls for reversal of Obama administration policy on...

Read more
AD CONTENT by Taboola
Taboola ad Taboola ad
Taboola ad Taboola ad

FOLLOW US

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Thank you for subscribing to On Politics.

Unsubscribe from On Politics

Why did I get this?
Update my subscription preferences

No comments:

Post a Comment

It’s Black November! 🥳

Check out these deals just for YOU! ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ...