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| Trump interview broadcast on Russian propaganda outlet – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.32pm BST | |
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| Today in Campaign 2016 | |
| It means I’ll give you the economy you had 50 years ago and I’ll move you back up the social totem pole and other people down,. What Hillary wants to do is take the totem pole down and let us all go forward together! | |
| 11.11pm BST | |
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| Trump campaign releases 10 years of Mike Pence's tax returns | |
| Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has released 10 years of running mate Mike Pence’s tax returns, covering the years 2006 through 2015, despite having not released any tax information of the presidential candidate himself. | |
| The Indiana governor’s latest tax filings show that he paid an effective tax rate of 12.4% on an income of $113,026 in 2015, the second-lowest tax rate of the past decade for the governor and his family. In 2015, Pence made a total of $8,923 in donations to charity, almost equal to the $8,956 he paid in federal income tax. | |
| “The Pence family has been honored to serve their state and their nation for the past 16 years, while raising three great children and putting them through college,” Marc Lotter, Pence’s press secretary, said in a statement. | |
| “These tax returns clearly show that Mike and Karen Pence have paid their taxes, supported worthy causes, and, unlike the Clintons, the Pences have not profited from their years in public service.” | |
| Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has released her 2015 personal tax return in August, as well as that of running mate Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, who additionally released 10 years of their returns. | |
| Those figures showed that Hillary and Bill Clinton earned nearly $11m in 2015, paying an effective federal income tax rate of 34.2%. Adding an effective state and local income tax rate of 9.0%, the couple’s total tax rate totaled 43.2%. The Clintons donated $1,042,000, or 9.8%, of their adjusted gross income to charity. | |
| Also revealed in the latest tax filings is Karen Pence’s unsuccessful stint as a small business owner: That’s My Towel Charm, Inc., which sold towel charms so that bathers do not confuse their towels, lost $3,407 last year. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.29pm BST | |
| 10.58pm BST | 10.58pm BST |
| 22:58 | 22:58 |
| Reaction to Donald Trump's Value Voters Summit speech: 'He doesn’t seem maniacal' | Reaction to Donald Trump's Value Voters Summit speech: 'He doesn’t seem maniacal' |
| Ben Jacobs | Ben Jacobs |
| Practice may not make perfect for Donald Trump, but the Republican nominee clearly has refined his appeal to evangelical voters in the past year. | Practice may not make perfect for Donald Trump, but the Republican nominee clearly has refined his appeal to evangelical voters in the past year. |
| One year after Trump was booed at the Values Voters Summit for calling Marco Rubio “a clown,” the Republican nominee gave a more polished speech where he ignored politically divisive issues like abortion and same-sex marriage and instead focused on school vouchers and changing federal law to allow tax exempt churches to engage in political advocacy. To Trump, school choice, which he advocated for in a speech on Thursday was a needed innovation. “The education can’t get worse,” he said as Trump also pledged to “campaign to get the states to re-allocate another $110 billion of their education budgets to school choice programs” | One year after Trump was booed at the Values Voters Summit for calling Marco Rubio “a clown,” the Republican nominee gave a more polished speech where he ignored politically divisive issues like abortion and same-sex marriage and instead focused on school vouchers and changing federal law to allow tax exempt churches to engage in political advocacy. To Trump, school choice, which he advocated for in a speech on Thursday was a needed innovation. “The education can’t get worse,” he said as Trump also pledged to “campaign to get the states to re-allocate another $110 billion of their education budgets to school choice programs” |
| Speaking from teleprompters, it served as a pointed contrast to his speech a year ago which seemed to focus on the importance of saying “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” Trump still was by no means a natural in front of a crowd of ardent social conservatives. He referred to attendees as “you people” at one point. Trump also railed against the Obama administration for not admitting Christian refugees from Syria into the United States, a major cause of concern for evangelicals who have long advocated for minority Christian communities in the Middle East. The problem is that Trump’s own refugee policy would be a blanket ban on anyone from the region entering the United States. | Speaking from teleprompters, it served as a pointed contrast to his speech a year ago which seemed to focus on the importance of saying “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” Trump still was by no means a natural in front of a crowd of ardent social conservatives. He referred to attendees as “you people” at one point. Trump also railed against the Obama administration for not admitting Christian refugees from Syria into the United States, a major cause of concern for evangelicals who have long advocated for minority Christian communities in the Middle East. The problem is that Trump’s own refugee policy would be a blanket ban on anyone from the region entering the United States. |
| He did seem cognizant that no one would mistake him for a devout evangelical. At one point in the speech he joked that his support for repealing the Johnson Amendment, which would allow churches to engage in partisan politics while keeping their tax exempt status, was the only way he could get into heaven. But the biggest applause was not for Trump himself but for when he proclaimed “Hillary Clinton is unfit to be president.” The room exploded in applause and one attendee could be seen waving his tricorn hat in support. | He did seem cognizant that no one would mistake him for a devout evangelical. At one point in the speech he joked that his support for repealing the Johnson Amendment, which would allow churches to engage in partisan politics while keeping their tax exempt status, was the only way he could get into heaven. But the biggest applause was not for Trump himself but for when he proclaimed “Hillary Clinton is unfit to be president.” The room exploded in applause and one attendee could be seen waving his tricorn hat in support. |
| Values Voter Summit is sponsored by the Family Research Council and has a constellation of conservative groups represented. Even the far-right John Birch Society had a table in the group’s exhibition hall. | Values Voter Summit is sponsored by the Family Research Council and has a constellation of conservative groups represented. Even the far-right John Birch Society had a table in the group’s exhibition hall. |
| But Trump’s performance seemed to ease the concerns of attendees who represented some of the most ardent cultural warriors in the party, a group that has long been uncomfortable with the nominee and preferred other candidates like Ted Cruz in the primary. | But Trump’s performance seemed to ease the concerns of attendees who represented some of the most ardent cultural warriors in the party, a group that has long been uncomfortable with the nominee and preferred other candidates like Ted Cruz in the primary. |
| Dylan Miller, a rising community college freshman from Northwest Florida said the speech changed his mind about Trump. “He doesn’t seem maniacal” said the teenager, in contrast to the Republican nominee’s performances on television. Miller had said he had always planned on voting for Trump “because he wasn’t Hillary,” but Trump’s performance made him feel far more comfortable with his vote. | Dylan Miller, a rising community college freshman from Northwest Florida said the speech changed his mind about Trump. “He doesn’t seem maniacal” said the teenager, in contrast to the Republican nominee’s performances on television. Miller had said he had always planned on voting for Trump “because he wasn’t Hillary,” but Trump’s performance made him feel far more comfortable with his vote. |
| Another attendee, Sarah Ocker, a student at Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma, said she was “more there” now than she was before the speech. She “agreed with a lot” of what Trump said, particularly about “religious liberty.” Ocker still had major hesitations about Trump and still couldn’t commit to voting for the Republican nominee though but was “hoping” she could find a reason to vote for him in November. | Another attendee, Sarah Ocker, a student at Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma, said she was “more there” now than she was before the speech. She “agreed with a lot” of what Trump said, particularly about “religious liberty.” Ocker still had major hesitations about Trump and still couldn’t commit to voting for the Republican nominee though but was “hoping” she could find a reason to vote for him in November. |
| Vernon Lewis of Marshall, Texas was further along in the process. Lewis had once thought he would have to hold his nose to vote for Trump. But after a private meeting with other Christians with Trump in New York as well as seeing his speech Friday, Lewis was enthusiastic. “He is a very gentle guy.” | Vernon Lewis of Marshall, Texas was further along in the process. Lewis had once thought he would have to hold his nose to vote for Trump. But after a private meeting with other Christians with Trump in New York as well as seeing his speech Friday, Lewis was enthusiastic. “He is a very gentle guy.” |
| 10.47pm BST | 10.47pm BST |
| 22:47 | 22:47 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| On Friday, in blazing sunshine, about 200 members of Congress stood on the steps beneath the recently restored Capitol dome and prayed, observed a moment’s silence and, accompanied by a marine band, sang God Bless America to mark the imminent anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. | On Friday, in blazing sunshine, about 200 members of Congress stood on the steps beneath the recently restored Capitol dome and prayed, observed a moment’s silence and, accompanied by a marine band, sang God Bless America to mark the imminent anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. |
| The remembrance ceremony, with Democrats and Republicans standing side by side, was heartening to Emanuel Lipscomb, 57, who was in New York on business that day and narrowly survived the disaster. “It’s good to see it’s brought a spark of bipartisanship,” he said. “It’s bringing the United States together because we all suffered together as one.” | The remembrance ceremony, with Democrats and Republicans standing side by side, was heartening to Emanuel Lipscomb, 57, who was in New York on business that day and narrowly survived the disaster. “It’s good to see it’s brought a spark of bipartisanship,” he said. “It’s bringing the United States together because we all suffered together as one.” |
| For these crisp nine minutes, at least, the toxic wrangling and inertia of Congress could be put aside, along with its legacy of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. TheHouse speaker, Paul Ryan, who was 31 on 9/11, reflected on a generation of teenagers who have no memory of it. | For these crisp nine minutes, at least, the toxic wrangling and inertia of Congress could be put aside, along with its legacy of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. TheHouse speaker, Paul Ryan, who was 31 on 9/11, reflected on a generation of teenagers who have no memory of it. |
| “Today, I can’t help but think of my own children – and all the children born after 9/11,” the Republican said. “Do they fully understand what happened that day? Will they ever? Can they? They can watch the old footage. They can see clips of the towers falling. They can hear the great roar as a landmark comes crashing down –and with it, an era. But can they actually feel it? | “Today, I can’t help but think of my own children – and all the children born after 9/11,” the Republican said. “Do they fully understand what happened that day? Will they ever? Can they? They can watch the old footage. They can see clips of the towers falling. They can hear the great roar as a landmark comes crashing down –and with it, an era. But can they actually feel it? |
| “I’ve had so many conversations with my own kids about this, about the shock, the terror, the outrage. Can they feel the sense of bereavement – at losing almost 3,000 Americans in a single morning? I don’t think they can. But that makes it our generation’s burden. We lived through that terrible day. And we will never forget that terrible day.” | “I’ve had so many conversations with my own kids about this, about the shock, the terror, the outrage. Can they feel the sense of bereavement – at losing almost 3,000 Americans in a single morning? I don’t think they can. But that makes it our generation’s burden. We lived through that terrible day. And we will never forget that terrible day.” |
| Ryan spoke of the firefighters who rushed into danger and the flags that appeared on overpasses as if “to bind up the nation’s wounds”. He added: “These are the stories that we can pass on. We can turn our burden of grief into a gift of grace – because our children may not fully understand the horror of it all. But they can admire the heroism.” | Ryan spoke of the firefighters who rushed into danger and the flags that appeared on overpasses as if “to bind up the nation’s wounds”. He added: “These are the stories that we can pass on. We can turn our burden of grief into a gift of grace – because our children may not fully understand the horror of it all. But they can admire the heroism.” |
| 10.32pm BST | 10.32pm BST |
| 22:32 | 22:32 |
| Tom Kutsch | Tom Kutsch |
| Having a newly discovered parasitic flatworm named after you may not be the world’s most illustrious honor, but it’s something Barack Obama nonetheless has the pleasure of adding to his presidential legacy. | Having a newly discovered parasitic flatworm named after you may not be the world’s most illustrious honor, but it’s something Barack Obama nonetheless has the pleasure of adding to his presidential legacy. |
| Enter Baracktrema obamai, the flatworm that infects Malaysian freshwater turtles, a species and genus of parasite discovered by Dr Thomas R Platt, an expert on turtle parasites, who wanted to bestow the president with a gift of adding his namesake to the animal kingdom. | Enter Baracktrema obamai, the flatworm that infects Malaysian freshwater turtles, a species and genus of parasite discovered by Dr Thomas R Platt, an expert on turtle parasites, who wanted to bestow the president with a gift of adding his namesake to the animal kingdom. |
| “This is clearly something in my small way done to honor our president,” Platt, who recently discovered that he was also a distant relative of Obama, told the Associated Press. | “This is clearly something in my small way done to honor our president,” Platt, who recently discovered that he was also a distant relative of Obama, told the Associated Press. |
| “I have named a number of species after people I admire, from my father-in-law, my PhD adviser, and good friends who are academics and/or amateur naturalists,” Platt said in a press release. “Baracktrema obamai will endure as long as there are systematists studying these remarkable organisms.” | “I have named a number of species after people I admire, from my father-in-law, my PhD adviser, and good friends who are academics and/or amateur naturalists,” Platt said in a press release. “Baracktrema obamai will endure as long as there are systematists studying these remarkable organisms.” |
| 10.18pm BST | 10.18pm BST |
| 22:18 | 22:18 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Senator John McCain gave Donald Trump’s military credibility a wide berth during an appearance at the Heritage Foundation, a Thatcherite free market think tank in Washington. After delivering a speech about America’s role in Asia, McCain, the Republican nominee in 2008, was asked about Trump’s recent appearance in a televised “commander-in-chief” forum. At first he offered his usual reply: “I support the nominee of the party.” | Senator John McCain gave Donald Trump’s military credibility a wide berth during an appearance at the Heritage Foundation, a Thatcherite free market think tank in Washington. After delivering a speech about America’s role in Asia, McCain, the Republican nominee in 2008, was asked about Trump’s recent appearance in a televised “commander-in-chief” forum. At first he offered his usual reply: “I support the nominee of the party.” |
| After a pause, perhaps considering this will no longer suffice, McCain added: “Honestly, I am not here to talk about Donald Trump. The election will be in November. The issues we’re discussing today will be with us for a long time.” | After a pause, perhaps considering this will no longer suffice, McCain added: “Honestly, I am not here to talk about Donald Trump. The election will be in November. The issues we’re discussing today will be with us for a long time.” |
| Those issues included Chinese aggression in Asia which, the Arizona senator argued, must be opposed through military strength and free trade, in particular the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have vowed to scrap the deal. But McCain warned: “If TPP fails, American leadership in the Asian Pacific may well fail with it.” He contended that not passing the TPP would mean China “rewrites the rules at our expense”. | Those issues included Chinese aggression in Asia which, the Arizona senator argued, must be opposed through military strength and free trade, in particular the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have vowed to scrap the deal. But McCain warned: “If TPP fails, American leadership in the Asian Pacific may well fail with it.” He contended that not passing the TPP would mean China “rewrites the rules at our expense”. |
| The former prisoner of war in Vietnam also lambasted Barack Obama’s handling of the crisis in Syria, claiming that president’s failure to enforce the “red line” over using chemical weapons “destroyed” American credibility in the region and around the world. | The former prisoner of war in Vietnam also lambasted Barack Obama’s handling of the crisis in Syria, claiming that president’s failure to enforce the “red line” over using chemical weapons “destroyed” American credibility in the region and around the world. |
| 9.51pm BST | 9.51pm BST |
| 21:51 | 21:51 |
| Hillary Clinton speaks after attending a national security meeting | Hillary Clinton speaks after attending a national security meeting |
| 9.38pm BST | 9.38pm BST |
| 21:38 | 21:38 |
| The chair of NBC News has emailed the network’s staffers to congratulate Matt Lauer on a job well-done during this week’s “Commander-in-Chief” forum aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, despite wide criticism of Lauer’s performance as the forum’s moderator. | The chair of NBC News has emailed the network’s staffers to congratulate Matt Lauer on a job well-done during this week’s “Commander-in-Chief” forum aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, despite wide criticism of Lauer’s performance as the forum’s moderator. |
| Andy Lack, the head of NBC News, emailed Lauer’s colleagues that “Matt did a tremendous job – driving one of the most serious discussions to date on these topics,” despite criticism of the TODAY Show host for spending more than a third of his time with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on her use of private email servers and declining to fact-check Donald Trump’s incorrect assertion that he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq. | Andy Lack, the head of NBC News, emailed Lauer’s colleagues that “Matt did a tremendous job – driving one of the most serious discussions to date on these topics,” despite criticism of the TODAY Show host for spending more than a third of his time with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on her use of private email servers and declining to fact-check Donald Trump’s incorrect assertion that he was opposed to the invasion of Iraq. |
| The email, obtained by the Guardian, called the forum a “remarkable achievement”. | The email, obtained by the Guardian, called the forum a “remarkable achievement”. |
| Here’s the letter in full: | Here’s the letter in full: |
| Dear Colleagues, | Dear Colleagues, |
| Before this week comes to an end, I wanted to take just a moment to share how proud I am of all the work our teams produced together this week. After a summer of success at the Conventions and the Olympics, we broke more new ground Wednesday night with the first ever Commander-in-Chief Forum. | Before this week comes to an end, I wanted to take just a moment to share how proud I am of all the work our teams produced together this week. After a summer of success at the Conventions and the Olympics, we broke more new ground Wednesday night with the first ever Commander-in-Chief Forum. |
| Against all odds we were able to bring the two presidential nominees together for the first time and presented an important examination of what each would bring to the role of Commander-in-Chief. Because of our event, national security has dominated the news cycle for days. Every major paper and news broadcast around the world has led with headlines about Putin, Iraq, ISIS, and intelligence briefings. Matt did a tremendous job – driving one of the most serious discussions to date on these topics. Nearly 15 million people watched the event, and over 26 million tuned in at some point during the hour. | Against all odds we were able to bring the two presidential nominees together for the first time and presented an important examination of what each would bring to the role of Commander-in-Chief. Because of our event, national security has dominated the news cycle for days. Every major paper and news broadcast around the world has led with headlines about Putin, Iraq, ISIS, and intelligence briefings. Matt did a tremendous job – driving one of the most serious discussions to date on these topics. Nearly 15 million people watched the event, and over 26 million tuned in at some point during the hour. |
| My deepest thanks to everyone who helped pull off this remarkable achievement. | My deepest thanks to everyone who helped pull off this remarkable achievement. |
| Have a wonderful weekend! With much respect and affection, | Have a wonderful weekend! With much respect and affection, |
| Andy | Andy |
| 9.29pm BST | 9.29pm BST |
| 21:29 | 21:29 |
| This is Hillel the Elder, not Emma Watson. | This is Hillel the Elder, not Emma Watson. |
| See more #ITwisewords: https://t.co/KzEUXBsXFb #quote #inspiration pic.twitter.com/mWFdLSxaL3 | See more #ITwisewords: https://t.co/KzEUXBsXFb #quote #inspiration pic.twitter.com/mWFdLSxaL3 |
| 9.25pm BST | 9.25pm BST |
| 21:25 | 21:25 |
| Donald Trump to reveal 'health regimen' on Dr. Oz show | Donald Trump to reveal 'health regimen' on Dr. Oz show |
| Donald Trump’s campaign has promised to reveal his full health records, but that promise - made after questions were raised about a letter penned by his gastroenterologist in just five minutes while a Trump limousine idled outside his office - has been moderated to entail a one-hour sitdown interview on The Dr. Oz Show’s season premiere next week. | Donald Trump’s campaign has promised to reveal his full health records, but that promise - made after questions were raised about a letter penned by his gastroenterologist in just five minutes while a Trump limousine idled outside his office - has been moderated to entail a one-hour sitdown interview on The Dr. Oz Show’s season premiere next week. |
| Trump will appear on the show - hosted by the eponymous Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Columbia University professor - with daughter Ivanka Trump to “reveal his own personal health regimen,” as well as address “why the health of the candidates has become such a serious issue in this campaign,” according to a teaser for the interview released by the show. | Trump will appear on the show - hosted by the eponymous Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Columbia University professor - with daughter Ivanka Trump to “reveal his own personal health regimen,” as well as address “why the health of the candidates has become such a serious issue in this campaign,” according to a teaser for the interview released by the show. |
| Oz himself has been criticized by fellow doctors on the grounds that he promotes “quack treatments” and “has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops”. | Oz himself has been criticized by fellow doctors on the grounds that he promotes “quack treatments” and “has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops”. |
| The episode will air on 15 September, next Thursday. | The episode will air on 15 September, next Thursday. |
| 9.05pm BST | 9.05pm BST |
| 21:05 | 21:05 |
| Donald Trump: Antonin Scalia 'the ultimate example' of a supreme court justice | Donald Trump: Antonin Scalia 'the ultimate example' of a supreme court justice |
| “The next president will not only have to fill this seat, but as many as four others. We could even end up with a total of five judges,” Donald Trump said at the Value Voters Summit of Christian conservatives in Washington, DC. “And you pick the wrong people, you have a country that is no longer your country. It will be a disaster.” | “The next president will not only have to fill this seat, but as many as four others. We could even end up with a total of five judges,” Donald Trump said at the Value Voters Summit of Christian conservatives in Washington, DC. “And you pick the wrong people, you have a country that is no longer your country. It will be a disaster.” |
| “We’re going to pick great judges,” he continued. “Maybe we use Judge Scalia as the ultimate example of what we’re looking for, okay? This will determine whether or not we remain a constitutional republic, frankly.” | “We’re going to pick great judges,” he continued. “Maybe we use Judge Scalia as the ultimate example of what we’re looking for, okay? This will determine whether or not we remain a constitutional republic, frankly.” |
| “The extremist judges she would pick would be rejected by the overwhelming majority of the American public,” Trump said. | “The extremist judges she would pick would be rejected by the overwhelming majority of the American public,” Trump said. |
| 8.52pm BST | 8.52pm BST |
| 20:52 | 20:52 |
| Donald Trump, on allowing tax-exempt churches to endorse politicians: | Donald Trump, on allowing tax-exempt churches to endorse politicians: |
| I figure, it’s the only way I’m getting to heaven. | I figure, it’s the only way I’m getting to heaven. |
| 8.46pm BST | 8.46pm BST |
| 20:46 | 20:46 |
| “Our politicians have really abandoned you, to a large extent. And Hillary Clinton? You can forget about her.” | “Our politicians have really abandoned you, to a large extent. And Hillary Clinton? You can forget about her.” |
| “In Trump administration, our Christian heritage will be cherished, protected, defended like you’ve never seen before,” Trump said. “Believe me.” | “In Trump administration, our Christian heritage will be cherished, protected, defended like you’ve never seen before,” Trump said. “Believe me.” |
| “And that includes religious liberty - remember,” Trump added, a winking reference to so-called “religious freedom” bills that would allow Christian business owners to refuse service to those whose lifestyles, marriage statuses or sexual orientations ran counter to their religious beliefs. | “And that includes religious liberty - remember,” Trump added, a winking reference to so-called “religious freedom” bills that would allow Christian business owners to refuse service to those whose lifestyles, marriage statuses or sexual orientations ran counter to their religious beliefs. |
| “Our nation today is divided,” Trump said. “Nobody likes to say it, but we’re living in a very, very divided nation,” which will be brought to unity only through “our faith in God.” | “Our nation today is divided,” Trump said. “Nobody likes to say it, but we’re living in a very, very divided nation,” which will be brought to unity only through “our faith in God.” |
| 8.43pm BST | 8.43pm BST |
| 20:43 | 20:43 |
| Speaking at the Value Voters Summit in Washington, DC, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told the audience of Christian conservatives thanked host Tony Perkins for his “years of leadership” at the Family Research Council. | Speaking at the Value Voters Summit in Washington, DC, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told the audience of Christian conservatives thanked host Tony Perkins for his “years of leadership” at the Family Research Council. |
| Trump was introduced by actor Jon Voight, who lambasted Hillary Clinton and professional football player Colin Kaepernick before announcing that “if God allows truth to be said and heard, then we will see Donald Trump the president of this great America.” | Trump was introduced by actor Jon Voight, who lambasted Hillary Clinton and professional football player Colin Kaepernick before announcing that “if God allows truth to be said and heard, then we will see Donald Trump the president of this great America.” |
| “The support they gave me in those primaries was absolutely incredible,” Trump said of evangelical voters, who helped him to victory in the South Carolina Republican primary. “I’m gonna make it up to you, too - you watch!” | “The support they gave me in those primaries was absolutely incredible,” Trump said of evangelical voters, who helped him to victory in the South Carolina Republican primary. “I’m gonna make it up to you, too - you watch!” |
| Telling the audience that there are “no more decent or devoted people” in the country than evangelical Christians, Trump told the audience of religious activists that despite mockery from “our media culture,” their values “built this nation.” | Telling the audience that there are “no more decent or devoted people” in the country than evangelical Christians, Trump told the audience of religious activists that despite mockery from “our media culture,” their values “built this nation.” |
| 8.40pm BST | 8.40pm BST |
| 20:40 | 20:40 |
| Donald Trump addresses Values Voter Summit | Donald Trump addresses Values Voter Summit |
| Watch it live here: | Watch it live here: |
| 8.02pm BST | 8.02pm BST |
| 20:02 | 20:02 |
| With T-minus thirty minutes until Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to take the stage at the Value Voters Summit - basically the Christian Right’s version of the Gathering of the Juggalos, except instead of turning over cars they call for the criminalization of homosexuality - let’s turn back the clock to September 2015, when Trump was speaking to a much more skeptical audience... | With T-minus thirty minutes until Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to take the stage at the Value Voters Summit - basically the Christian Right’s version of the Gathering of the Juggalos, except instead of turning over cars they call for the criminalization of homosexuality - let’s turn back the clock to September 2015, when Trump was speaking to a much more skeptical audience... |
| Trump, a thrice-married New York billionaire fond of high society and lavish living, has to appeal to the social conservatives who make up the GOP’s base. This does not come naturally. | Trump, a thrice-married New York billionaire fond of high society and lavish living, has to appeal to the social conservatives who make up the GOP’s base. This does not come naturally. |
| The unsteady nature of this awkward, fumbling relationship was made clear at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. | The unsteady nature of this awkward, fumbling relationship was made clear at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. |
| On Friday, Trump brandished his Sunday school Bible at a crowd of thousands in a subterranean hotel ballroom. It was clear why he has yet to be embraced as the candidate of the religious right. In a speech which prompted his first boos from a conservative audience – because he called fellow candidate Marco Rubio “a clown” – Trump tried to appeal to social conservatives. It didn’t work. | On Friday, Trump brandished his Sunday school Bible at a crowd of thousands in a subterranean hotel ballroom. It was clear why he has yet to be embraced as the candidate of the religious right. In a speech which prompted his first boos from a conservative audience – because he called fellow candidate Marco Rubio “a clown” – Trump tried to appeal to social conservatives. It didn’t work. |
| In front of an ardently anti-abortion crowd, his only reference to babies was as a description of establishment Republicans. He also left same-sex marriage unmentioned, hours before Kim Davis was scheduled to accept a “Cost of Discipleship award”. A county clerk from rural Kentucky, Davis refused to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a decision for which she was jailed. | In front of an ardently anti-abortion crowd, his only reference to babies was as a description of establishment Republicans. He also left same-sex marriage unmentioned, hours before Kim Davis was scheduled to accept a “Cost of Discipleship award”. A county clerk from rural Kentucky, Davis refused to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a decision for which she was jailed. |
| Aside from the context-less statement “freedom of religion, so important”, Trump’s pitch was to cast himself as a frontline fighter in the war against Christmas. | Aside from the context-less statement “freedom of religion, so important”, Trump’s pitch was to cast himself as a frontline fighter in the war against Christmas. |
| “The word ‘Christmas’ – I love Christmas,” Trump said, repeating: “I love Christmas. | “The word ‘Christmas’ – I love Christmas,” Trump said, repeating: “I love Christmas. |
| “You go to stores now, you don’t see the word ‘Christmas’. It says ‘Happy Holidays’ all over. I say, ‘Where’s Christmas?’ I tell my wife: ‘Don’t go to those stores. I want to see Christmas. No, I want to see Christmas.’ And you know, other people can have their holidays, no. But Christmas is Christmas. I want to see ‘Merry Christmas’.” | “You go to stores now, you don’t see the word ‘Christmas’. It says ‘Happy Holidays’ all over. I say, ‘Where’s Christmas?’ I tell my wife: ‘Don’t go to those stores. I want to see Christmas. No, I want to see Christmas.’ And you know, other people can have their holidays, no. But Christmas is Christmas. I want to see ‘Merry Christmas’.” |
| Trump pledged: “You’re going to see it if I get elected, I can tell you right now.” | Trump pledged: “You’re going to see it if I get elected, I can tell you right now.” |
| 7.46pm BST | 7.46pm BST |
| 19:46 | 19:46 |
| A new Trump ad – not a phrase we find ourselves typing too frequently – says Hillary Clinton is failing veterans but that would not be the case if Trump were president. | A new Trump ad – not a phrase we find ourselves typing too frequently – says Hillary Clinton is failing veterans but that would not be the case if Trump were president. |
| Here’s a transcript of the voiceover: | Here’s a transcript of the voiceover: |
| In Hillary Clinton’s America, veterans are left behind, kept on long wait lists at VA hospitals, only to get second-rate medical care. It’s more of the same but worse. | In Hillary Clinton’s America, veterans are left behind, kept on long wait lists at VA hospitals, only to get second-rate medical care. It’s more of the same but worse. |
| Donald Trump’s America will be great again and will be respected by all. Veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The VA reformed. Our soldiers treated like heroes. Change that makes America great again. Donald Trump for president. | Donald Trump’s America will be great again and will be respected by all. Veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The VA reformed. Our soldiers treated like heroes. Change that makes America great again. Donald Trump for president. |
| Trump leads Clinton by 19 points among active military and military veterans, according to polling published this week. That sounds pretty good but not so much when you consider May 2012 polling showing Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama among vets by 24 points. | Trump leads Clinton by 19 points among active military and military veterans, according to polling published this week. That sounds pretty good but not so much when you consider May 2012 polling showing Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama among vets by 24 points. |
| 7.00pm BST | 7.00pm BST |
| 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Trump charity gave $100,000 to group targeting Trump University prosecutor | Trump charity gave $100,000 to group targeting Trump University prosecutor |
| Who was the top recipient of funds from Donald Trump’s charitable foundation in 2014? Would you believe an activist group suing the New York attorney general who was suing Trump University for fraud? | Who was the top recipient of funds from Donald Trump’s charitable foundation in 2014? Would you believe an activist group suing the New York attorney general who was suing Trump University for fraud? |
| It appears that Trump gave $100,000, as charity, to an effort to take down a public official accusing him of fraud. The man who ran the activist group now works on the Trump campaign. | It appears that Trump gave $100,000, as charity, to an effort to take down a public official accusing him of fraud. The man who ran the activist group now works on the Trump campaign. |
| The revelation, reported by Yahoo, comes as questions build about a separate donation the Trump charity made to the Florida attorney general’s reelection effort in 2013. | The revelation, reported by Yahoo, comes as questions build about a separate donation the Trump charity made to the Florida attorney general’s reelection effort in 2013. |
| Reelecting attorneys general, or bringing federal lawsuits against them, does not count as charitable activity. | Reelecting attorneys general, or bringing federal lawsuits against them, does not count as charitable activity. |
| Michael Isikoff writes: | Michael Isikoff writes: |
| The size and timing of the donation to the Citizens United Foundation, an arm of the sprawling conservative network run by David Bossie, who is now Trump’s deputy campaign manager, could raise fresh questions about whether Trump has used his tax-exempt charity to further political and personal causes. [...] | The size and timing of the donation to the Citizens United Foundation, an arm of the sprawling conservative network run by David Bossie, who is now Trump’s deputy campaign manager, could raise fresh questions about whether Trump has used his tax-exempt charity to further political and personal causes. [...] |
| While the donation to Bossie’s group has been mentioned in some media accounts, what has gone unnoticed until now is a major project of Citizens United at the time: a lawsuit it filed that year — since dismissed by a federal judge — against [NY state attorney general Eric] Schneiderman, New York’s Democratic attorney general, over his efforts to require nonprofit groups such as Citizens United to disclose the identity of their donors under seal to the New York State Charities Bureau. | While the donation to Bossie’s group has been mentioned in some media accounts, what has gone unnoticed until now is a major project of Citizens United at the time: a lawsuit it filed that year — since dismissed by a federal judge — against [NY state attorney general Eric] Schneiderman, New York’s Democratic attorney general, over his efforts to require nonprofit groups such as Citizens United to disclose the identity of their donors under seal to the New York State Charities Bureau. |
| Schneiderman by then had become a major political nemesis of Trump... | Schneiderman by then had become a major political nemesis of Trump... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.02pm BST | at 7.02pm BST |
| 6.40pm BST | 6.40pm BST |
| 18:40 | 18:40 |
| The Trump campaign has released a statement calling North Korea’s nuclear test “one more example of Hillary Clinton’s catastrophic failures as secretary of state”: | The Trump campaign has released a statement calling North Korea’s nuclear test “one more example of Hillary Clinton’s catastrophic failures as secretary of state”: |
| INBOX: Statement On North Korean Nuclear Test pic.twitter.com/9MPpACuzmA | INBOX: Statement On North Korean Nuclear Test pic.twitter.com/9MPpACuzmA |
| North Korea has continued development of its nuclear weapons program despite steadily tightening sanctions by the US and allies and increasing global isolation. Trump has said he would get China to fix the problem. That’s not a summarizing of his position, that’s it. This morning his campaign manager said he had a secret plan they can’t disclose. | North Korea has continued development of its nuclear weapons program despite steadily tightening sanctions by the US and allies and increasing global isolation. Trump has said he would get China to fix the problem. That’s not a summarizing of his position, that’s it. This morning his campaign manager said he had a secret plan they can’t disclose. |