Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
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
Jared Kushner downplays Russia’s role in 2016 campaign
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said Tuesday that lengthy probes into the Trump campaign and 2016 election had a "much harsher" impact on American democracy than Russian meddlers did. Published April 23, 2019
Donald Trump, Melania to visit Britain, France in June for state visit, D-Day ceremonies
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump will jet to Britain in June for a long-planned state visit and then head to France for ceremonies honoring the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the White House said Tuesday. Published April 23, 2019
White House ends waivers for Iranian oil
The Trump administration Monday said it would not extend waivers for countries buying Iranian oil in the face of new U.S. sanctions after May 2, in a bid to cut off all foreign sales of the Islamic Republic's key export. Published April 22, 2019
Donald Trump says Russia matter is over: ‘Hoax is dead!’
President Trump on Saturday said the Russian probe should be considered dead and buried, venting his frustration with lingering questions about his behavior as he headed into the second full day of his Easter jaunt in Florida. Published April 20, 2019
Attackers kill Ebola worker in Democratic Republic of Congo: WHO
Attackers descended on a hospital in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday and killed a doctor who'd been deployed to fight Ebola, the World Health Organization said. Published April 19, 2019
Trump enjoys Mar-a-Lago life, while Beltway stews
President Trump is laying low after the dramatic release of special counsel Robert Mueller's findings, enjoying the close of the season at his Florida resort and letting his thumbs do the talking. Published April 19, 2019
Mitch McConnell wants to raise tobacco age to 21
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he plans to introduce a bill that raises the nationwide minimum age for purchasing tobacco or vaping products from 18 to 21, saying nicotine use has reached "epidemic levels." Published April 18, 2019
Trump urges investors to pour cash into opportunity zones
President Trump on Wednesday urged investors to pour their capital into poor and distressed "opportunity zones," saying there are great advantages for them under the 2017 GOP tax overhaul. Published April 17, 2019
Donald Trump offers condolences to Pope Francis over Notre Dame fire
President Trump on Wednesday said he offered condolences to Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, over the "the horrible and destructive" fire that consumed a large portion of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Published April 17, 2019
Mueller report release tests Donald Trump exoneration claim
President Trump's claim that Robert Mueller's report is a total exoneration is about to be put to the test as what is known about the special counsel's findings swells from four pages to nearly 400, undermining the White House's ability to frame the narrative. Published April 16, 2019
