Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump hopeful despite North Korea missile test: ‘Deal will happen’
President Trump said Saturday he trusts North Korean Kim Jong Un to stick to his word and pursue a de-nuclearization deal, amid reports the Asian strongman test-fired a short-range missile. Published May 4, 2019
Kelly Craft nominated as U.N. ambassador
President Trump on Thursday formally nominated Kelly Craft to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Published May 2, 2019
Donald Trump announces new conscience rule for health workers
The Trump administration announced new rules Thursday it says will shield doctors, nurses and other health workers who object on religious grounds to participating in abortions, sterilizations or assisted suicides. Published May 2, 2019
Kellyanne Conway: It’s time to move on from the Mueller report
As the Mueller Show returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday, top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway fretted at the White House -- over crumbling roads, faulty bridges and kids who can't do their homework without broadband internet. President Trump and his team were determined to show they consider the Mueller matter old news and they're working as if it's business as usual. Published May 1, 2019
Obamacare ‘must be struck down,’ Justice Department tells court
A Texas judge "correctly held" that Obamacare's individual mandate to hold insurance is inseparable from the rest of the law, the Trump administration told an appeals court Wednesday in arguing the entire program must fall. Published May 1, 2019
Trump campaign ad uses Barr hearing: ‘Obama knew’ about Russian meddling and stood down
President Trump's 2020 campaign used Attorney General William P. Barr's testimony on the Mueller report as a messaging opportunity Wednesday, firing off an ad that says President Barack Obama, more than anyone, is responsible for Russian meddling in the last campaign. Published May 1, 2019
Democrats kick off ‘historic’ hearing on Medicare for All
House Democrats kicked off a hearing on single-payer health care by downplaying Obamacare as an initial stop on the road to universal coverage, saying millions of Americans remain uninsured and a scary diagnosis can still mean bankruptcy. Published April 30, 2019
Trump hosts Baylor Lady Bears at White House
President Trump feted a women's team for a solo event at the White House for the first time Monday, honoring the Baylor Lady Bears for their dramatic win in the college basketball title game. Published April 29, 2019
CDC: Single-year measles cases at 25-year high — more than 700 cases so far
The U.S. has recorded 704 cases of measles this year, the largest number of single-year infections in a quarter century, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Published April 29, 2019
Bill Weld, Larry Hogan, John Kasich opening for Trump challenge in New Hampshire
Fergus Cullen, a GOP fixture in New Hampshire politics, sent out 150 invites to his house party for Bill Weld, the first Republican to announce a primary challenge to President Trump. Published April 28, 2019
Amy Klobuchar prods White House to promote election-security measures
Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sunday said the White House needs to be more proactive in supporting measures that thwart cyber intrusions into elections, saying Russian meddlers found success in 2016 and the problem persists. Published April 28, 2019
Brad Parscale touts ‘direct contact’ system to flip blue states to Trump
President Trump's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said Sunday the 2020 team is spending millions to build a foundation of "direct contacts" with voters in states like Minnesota, which eluded the GOP in 2016. Published April 28, 2019
Lindsey Graham: Russia should face ‘more sanctions, not less’
Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday said Russia attacked the U.S. electoral process in 2016, will try again and should face more sanctions, taking a harder public line than President Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Published April 28, 2019
Donald Trump bemoans U.S. immigration laws in interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo
President Trump on Sunday again bemoaned the state of immigration laws in the U.S., saying it's too easy for illegal migrants to leverage the courts and loopholes to remain as family units. Published April 28, 2019
James Clyburn bemused by Donald Trump praise for ‘loser’ Robert E. Lee
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn said Sunday it is odd that President Trump complimented Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, since he is "now glorifying a loser." Published April 28, 2019
Trump optimistic about Japanese trade deal
President Trump said Friday he thinks a trade deal between the U.S. and Japan can be struck "very quickly," pointing to his warm relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and their mutual desire to avoid escalating tariffs on critical sectors in their economies. Published April 26, 2019
Donald Trump defends ‘very fine people’ remarks about 2017 Charlottesville protests
President Trump on Friday defended his reference to "very fine people" on both sides of the riots in Charlottesville in 2017, saying he was referring to people who wanted to preserve a statute of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Published April 26, 2019
Trump on measles: ‘They have to get the shots’
President Trump urged Americans on Friday to vaccinate their kids, echoing top health officials amid U.S. measles outbreaks and seeming to push aside his past skepticism of the shots. Published April 26, 2019
Donald Trump to host Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at White House
President Trump will host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday for wide-ranging discussions on bolstering trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region and ensuring the "fully verified denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula, the White House said. Published April 25, 2019
Donald Trump claims progress in opioid fight, says prescriptions down by 34%
The U.S. opioid crisis won't be solved overnight but progress is being made, President Trump said Wednesday, claiming credit for slashing opioid prescriptions by a third and getting more people into addiction treatment. Published April 24, 2019
