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Trump and Ryan: meeting was a 'very positive step' toward GOP unity – live Trump and Ryan: meeting was a 'very positive step' toward GOP unity – live
(35 minutes later)
7.33pm BST
19:33
Et tu, Graham?
Lindsey Graham tells reporters he had a call with Trump yesterday. He says Trump wanted to pick his brain on national security
7.30pm BST
19:30
Trump on unity project: 'things working out really well!'
Indeed they seem to be, for him, with majority leader Mitch McConnell already on board, the chairman of the Republican congressional conference on board and House speaker Paul Ryan quickly coming around.
Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/hfHY9MdAc7
7.28pm BST
19:28
Trump's plan if tax returns leak: 'say they aren't mine' – report
Donald Trump told a friend warning him to release his tax returns or else they could be leaked in advance of the election as an “October surprise” that if that happened he would just deny they were his, the National Review reports:
Hard to be shocked by any Trump story these days, but this was pretty amazing. https://t.co/aSCHRDoDHR pic.twitter.com/b8FVuycyAb
Hillary Clinton attacked Donald Trump Wednesday for his refusal to release his tax returns, writes the Guardian’s Amber Jamieson:
“You have to ask yourself, why doesn’t he want to release them?” asked Clinton at a crowd at a community college gymnasium in Blackwood, New Jersey, on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.
“Because when you’re running for president and you become the nominee, that’s kind of expected,” she said.
Related: Clinton attacks Trump on tax returns: 'Why doesn't he want to release them?'
And the Wall Street Journal breaks down today what we might be able to learn from Trump’s returns:
The returns would show how the real-estate developer, golf course owner and branded-products celebrity structures his businesses and how aggressively he uses the tax code.
The Journal piece notes that the returns would reveal Trump’s annual income; how much he claims in charitable giving; and his business ties to countries around the world.
Shy Donald would be first presidential candidate in 40 years not to release his tax returns. Sad! https://t.co/Z6VjphFAX9 @GlennKesslerWP
7.13pm BST
19:13
Trump's longtime butler calls for Obama's death
Donald Trump’s longtime butler – apparently Trump has a longtime butler, Anthony Senecal, currently stationed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida – has posted on Facebook that the president “should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent”, reports Mother Jones.
Mother Jones confirmed with Senecal, 84, that the post was his. “I wrote that. I believe that,” he told the magazine.
Here’s the text of the post:
To all my friends on FB, just a short note to you on our pus headed “president” !!!! This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!! Instead he still remains in office doing every thing he can to gut the America we all know and love !!!!! Now comes Donald J Trump to put an end to the corruption in government !!!! The so called elite, who are nothing but common dog turds from your front lawn are shaking in their boots because there is a new Sheriff coming to town, and the end to their corruption of the American people (YOU) is at hand !!!! I cannot believe that a common murder is even allowed to run (killery clinton) OR that a commie like bernie is a also allowed to also run !!!! Come on America put your big boy pants on---this election you have a choice---GET YOUR ASS OUT AND VOTE !!!! Thank you !!!!
In earlier posts, Senecal wrote of Obama, “this prick needs to be hung for treason!!!” and called for “dragging that ball less dick head from the white mosque and hanging his scrawny ass from the portico.”
Read the full Mother Jones piece here.
6.49pm BST6.49pm BST
18:4918:49
Activists are delivering taco salads to Republican congress members in protest of Trump’s presence in Washington and the Republican cascade of support behind him.Activists are delivering taco salads to Republican congress members in protest of Trump’s presence in Washington and the Republican cascade of support behind him.
The salads refer to this patronizing tweet by Trump last week.The salads refer to this patronizing tweet by Trump last week.
VIDEO: Protesters delivering taco salads in opposition to Trump now at office of @RepDavidValadao (R-Calif.) pic.twitter.com/Oqw9fkiH19VIDEO: Protesters delivering taco salads in opposition to Trump now at office of @RepDavidValadao (R-Calif.) pic.twitter.com/Oqw9fkiH19
Trailed by Spanish TV cameras, @americasvoice is delivering taco salads today to Senate Republicans backing Trump. pic.twitter.com/HFWkaqwy53Trailed by Spanish TV cameras, @americasvoice is delivering taco salads today to Senate Republicans backing Trump. pic.twitter.com/HFWkaqwy53
Meanwhile, Tom Perez, the Labor secretary, tells reporters that Trump would be “a train wreck” for Latinos:Meanwhile, Tom Perez, the Labor secretary, tells reporters that Trump would be “a train wreck” for Latinos:
On press call, Clinton surrogate @LaborSec says a Donald Trump presidency would be "a train wreck for Latinos"On press call, Clinton surrogate @LaborSec says a Donald Trump presidency would be "a train wreck for Latinos"
On Clinton press call @danmericaCNN asks the question on everyone's minds: On VP buzz, Tom Perez says "I’ve had no conversations about that"On Clinton press call @danmericaCNN asks the question on everyone's minds: On VP buzz, Tom Perez says "I’ve had no conversations about that"
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.53pm BSTat 6.53pm BST
6.42pm BST6.42pm BST
18:4218:42
What are the Republican senators cheering about at luncheon? Is it meatloaf Thursday?What are the Republican senators cheering about at luncheon? Is it meatloaf Thursday?
Cheers coming from the Senate Republican luncheon.Cheers coming from the Senate Republican luncheon.
Applause from senate GOP lunch. WHAT DOES THIS MEANApplause from senate GOP lunch. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
6.35pm BST6.35pm BST
18:3518:35
Senate majority whip John Cornyn today, with the man who he warned in February could be “an albatross around the down-ballot races”:Senate majority whip John Cornyn today, with the man who he warned in February could be “an albatross around the down-ballot races”:
Good, constructive meeting with Senate leadership and @realDonaldTrump today pic.twitter.com/zijuu8F3FNGood, constructive meeting with Senate leadership and @realDonaldTrump today pic.twitter.com/zijuu8F3FN
Thumbs up!Thumbs up!
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.04pm BSTat 7.04pm BST
6.26pm BST6.26pm BST
18:2618:26
Minority leader Harry Reid said the meetings served as “the latest sign that the Republican leaders in both houses are marching lockstep with Donald Trump”, write the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui and David Smith:Minority leader Harry Reid said the meetings served as “the latest sign that the Republican leaders in both houses are marching lockstep with Donald Trump”, write the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui and David Smith:
The Nevada senator aimed his fire in particular at Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who threw his support behind Trump last week when it became all but certain that the real estate mogul had clinched the nomination.The Nevada senator aimed his fire in particular at Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who threw his support behind Trump last week when it became all but certain that the real estate mogul had clinched the nomination.
Harry Reid on Senate floor: Trump owes his candidacy to Mitch McConnell https://t.co/dhkVUSy4J3Harry Reid on Senate floor: Trump owes his candidacy to Mitch McConnell https://t.co/dhkVUSy4J3
“Donald Trump is everything that the Republican leader and his party could ever want in a nominee. His policy positions are identical to the Republican Party platform,” Reid said in remarks on the Senate floor.“Donald Trump is everything that the Republican leader and his party could ever want in a nominee. His policy positions are identical to the Republican Party platform,” Reid said in remarks on the Senate floor.
He then proceeded to tie the GOP to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric toward immigrants and women, pointing out that Republicans in Congress have blocked action on immigration reform and policies such as equal pay for women and paid family leave.He then proceeded to tie the GOP to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric toward immigrants and women, pointing out that Republicans in Congress have blocked action on immigration reform and policies such as equal pay for women and paid family leave.
“Trump owes his candidacy to the Republican leader and to the policies that he’s led,” Reid said. “It was an obstructionist, anti-woman, anti-Latino, anti-Muslim, anti-middle class, anti-environment, and anti-Obama and anti-everything Republican Party of the last eight years that made Donald Trump a reality.”“Trump owes his candidacy to the Republican leader and to the policies that he’s led,” Reid said. “It was an obstructionist, anti-woman, anti-Latino, anti-Muslim, anti-middle class, anti-environment, and anti-Obama and anti-everything Republican Party of the last eight years that made Donald Trump a reality.”
Read more:Read more:
Related: Ryan on meeting with Trump: 'It’s important we don’t fake unifying'Related: Ryan on meeting with Trump: 'It’s important we don’t fake unifying'
6.13pm BST6.13pm BST
18:1318:13
Video: Ryan calls Trump ‘warm and genuine’Video: Ryan calls Trump ‘warm and genuine’
6.12pm BST6.12pm BST
18:1218:12
McConnell: Trump meeting 'constructive'McConnell: Trump meeting 'constructive'
Politico catches McConnell:Politico catches McConnell:
McConnell back at Capitol, calls meeting "constructive" discussed "variety of issues"McConnell back at Capitol, calls meeting "constructive" discussed "variety of issues"
Trump meanwhile makes another stop – at his lawyer’s:Trump meanwhile makes another stop – at his lawyer’s:
Trump arrives at Jones Day, the law firm where campaign lawyer Don McGahn works. pic.twitter.com/ymukG53iNQTrump arrives at Jones Day, the law firm where campaign lawyer Don McGahn works. pic.twitter.com/ymukG53iNQ
5.52pm BST5.52pm BST
17:5217:52
Donald Trump has left the senators and is headed to the airport.Donald Trump has left the senators and is headed to the airport.
We’re hoping to have statements from the meeting participants shortly.We’re hoping to have statements from the meeting participants shortly.
5.51pm BST5.51pm BST
17:5117:51
“My most important meeting of the day,” he says. Rich.“My most important meeting of the day,” he says. Rich.
My most important meeting of the day. pic.twitter.com/pnhIRkLPq6My most important meeting of the day. pic.twitter.com/pnhIRkLPq6
5.49pm BST5.49pm BST
17:4917:49
A report that Donald Trump is considering Newt Gingrich as vice president prompts musing as to whether and how two noted non-monogamists could use Bill Clinton’s sex scandals against Hillary Clinton (Trump has called Hillary Clinton an “enabler” of Bill Clinton whom he called an “abuser”):A report that Donald Trump is considering Newt Gingrich as vice president prompts musing as to whether and how two noted non-monogamists could use Bill Clinton’s sex scandals against Hillary Clinton (Trump has called Hillary Clinton an “enabler” of Bill Clinton whom he called an “abuser”):
The chutzpah index would explode if these guys tried to hang Bill’s dalliances around Hillary. https://t.co/Q2O38wc1MqThe chutzpah index would explode if these guys tried to hang Bill’s dalliances around Hillary. https://t.co/Q2O38wc1Mq
5.26pm BST
17:26
How are things going with Trump and the senators, meeting now at the National Republican senatorial committee?
Will Mitch McConnell share Ryan’s stated reservations about endorsing Trump – or will the majority leader and the nominee engage in a faster-moving courtship?
The scene outside the NRSC more than an hour into Trump's meeting with GOP senators. pic.twitter.com/jciN6XDiDI
5.08pm BST
17:08
What about those minor “policy disputes” (trade, immigration, taxes, entitlements, a religious test for migrants) that separate Donald Trump and Paul Ryan in spite of their agreement on “core principles” (beat Hillary Clinton)?
Greg Sargent of the Washington Post has a suggestion:
To win over Paul Ryan, Trump simply needs to learn GOP-policy-speak, which should be a snap: https://t.co/jkFglCFT2c
1) Stop saying "deportations" and instead say "enforce the law"2) Agree to "reform and strengthen" entitlements https://t.co/r2KsBWekub
Updated
at 5.08pm BST
5.01pm BST
17:01
Reactions to Ryan: people are not scanning Ryan’s statement just then on Trump as a profile in courage, anyhow:
Ryan desperately wants to have his cake & eat it, too. Wants to back Trump w/out tarnishing reform conservatism. Will it work? Up to Trump.
Ryan is a Trump guy now! Also, for the record, a policy guy; a budget guy; a Wisconsin guy; a hunting guy; a regular order guy!
"Trump believes in limited government." Not a parody.
Irony: Ryan’s endorsement, having been “earned,” will do more to promote Trump than McConnell’s perfunctory insta-cave
Trump & Ryan are those guys who can't stand each other who get handcuffed together, and have to spend the rest of the movie cooperating.
(Paul Ryan looks pensively out his office window, mutters to himself) "I must find out where the people are going so I can lead them."
Yes, folks, Paul Ryan is going to endorse Donald Trump. Not today but he's going to endorse.
Updated
at 5.16pm BST
4.57pm BST
16:57
As Paul Ryan in Washington talks about Donald Trump’s “very good personality,” Bernie Sanders in South Dakota ignores him and buys donuts.
As @BernieSanders picks out donuts at a South Dakota gas station, @SpeakerRyan's press conference plays behind him. pic.twitter.com/0weCr324S5
4.48pm BST
16:48
Ryan describes agreement with Trump on 'core principles'
Ryan said he sounded Trump out on his views on abortion, “limited government”, “the constitution”, and “executive power” and he found broad agreement.
The conversation was “personal,” Ryan said, suggesting that he probed for Trump’s heartfelt views on issues such as opposing reproductive choice, a position to which Trump is a relatively recent arrival.
“We talked about life, the supreme court,” Ryan said. “I was very encouraged with what I heard from Donald Trump today.
“We are planting the seed to get ourselves unified to bridge the gaps and differences,” he said.
“It was our first meeting. I was very encouraged, but this is a process, it takes a little time.
“There are policy disputes that we will have. There’s no two ways about it. But on core principles, those are the kinds of things that we discussed.
“In 45 minutes, you don’t litigate all of the issues and all of the processes and the principles.”
4.43pm BST
16:43
Ryan on Trump's Muslim ban: 'I'm not interested in litigating the past'
Ryan is asked whether he can get behind Trump’s call for a ban on Muslim migrants and the deportation of undocumented migrants.
Ryan downplays the importance of any differences the two may have on the issue.
“We will have policy disputes,” Ryan says. “I’m not interested in litigating the past. I’m interested in going forward.”
“I represent a wing of the conservative party – he’s bringing a whole new wing. That’s a positive thing.”
Ryan says that the two shared a “positive vision based on core principles.”
The principles include that a Clinton presidency “would be a disaster.”
When Ryan agrees with Trump that Obama guilty of overreach, it's a "core principle". Disagreement on Muslim ban is a "policy dispute"
Updated
at 4.50pm BST
4.40pm BST
16:40
Ryan: 'happy to serve as chair' of convention
Ryan says that after meeting Trump he is happy to serve as chairman of the national convention if Trump wanted him to.
Earlier Ryan had said he was willing to step down in the role if Trump wanted.
“I thought he was a very good personality. He was a very warm... gentleman. .. I actually had a very pleasant exchange with him.”
4.37pm BST
16:37
Ryan: 'I was very encouraged'
Ryan says “it’s no secret that Donald Trump and I have had our differences, and we talked about those differences today” but “I was very encouraged” by the meeting.
“It’s very important that we don’t fake unifying... so that we are full strength in the fall,” he says.
Updated
at 4.38pm BST
4.33pm BST
16:33
Paul Ryan is speaking. He’s talking about legislation to fight the opioid addiction epidemic. Expected to take questions about Trump. Watch live here:
4.30pm BST
16:30
Priebus: meeting 'went as well as I'd hoped'
Reince Priebus, the RNC chair, is talking with CNN about the Trump-Ryan meeting, which he said was “positive, it was give-and-take” and “it went as well as I’d hoped.” He said the two shared great chemistry.
CNN’s Dana Bash asked him whether he felt like a couple’s therapist. He said she wouldn’t have asked that if she’d been in the room because the participants did not feel like a couple in a spat.
Bash asked him whether a Paul Ryan endorsement of Donald Trump is in the offing. He said it was “a good first step.”