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In a move that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, outgoing President Donald Trump has granted additional protection to his adult children.
The Washington Post spoke to three people briefed on the plan, who said the former president instructed the US Secret Service to extend the protection his four adult children and two of their spouses, who were not automatically entitled to receive it.
The expensive and unusual perk is expected to cost taxpayers millions of dollars and further stress the elite federal security force.
Under the normal rules, only Mr Trump, his wife and their 14-year-old son who are entitled protection after they leave office. The couple will receive it for their lifetimes, and Barron is entitled to protection until he turns 16.
The Post reports Mr Trump has asked for an extension on the protection of three of his key officials.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden, newly sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, has moved quickly to erase Donald Trump’s legacy by signing a series of executive orders reversing his predecessor’s policies on immigration, climate change and COVID-19.
It comes after Mr Biden used his inaugural address to call for unity and an “end to this uncivil war”, pledging that his “whole soul” was in bringing the country together.
“Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, a cause of democracy,” Mr Biden said after taking the oath of office. “The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.”
The outgoing President left the White House for the last time three hours before Mr Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.
Mr Trump said it had been “the honour of a lifetime” and mouthed “thank you” to the press before boarding Marine One with wife Melania.
He landed at Joint Base Andrews, where Mr Trump was greeted by a gun salute and a group of supporters at an unprecedented farewell event. He thanked his key aides and praised his hard-working family, as well as wishing good luck to the incoming administration.
But there was a notable absence. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence skipped the event and instead attended Mr Biden’s inauguration.
Security around the inauguration event has been heightened following the attack on the US Capitol earlier this month that left five people dead.
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Live Updates
Black-clad far left-rioters are smashing up a Democratic Party of Oregon Headquarters in Portland.
Local reporters say about 200 people are marching through the city.
Strong language warning for the video.
Protesters are tagging the Democratic Party of Oregon Headquarters and smashing windows.
(photo from slightly earlier) pic.twitter.com/DQCyveRZU4
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) January 20, 2021
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On the ground in Portland, Ore. for @townhallcom. A group of Antifa marchers just attacked the city’s Democratic Party office. They broke windows and spray painted the building.
Some of them had a hard time breaking the windows. pic.twitter.com/v0PSM7rEvd
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 20, 2021
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci sent a blunt message to Donald Trump after receiving an invite to his farewell party at Joint Base Andrews.
Mr Scaramucci told the Today show he responded to the RSVP with: “Look, my fingernails are getting ripped out with pliers, sorry, I can’t make it.”
In the days before he left office, President Donald Trump reportedly ordered that his family get the best security available in the world for the next six months, at no cost.
The Washington Post spoke to three people briefed on the plan, who said he instructed the US Secret Service to extend the protection his four adult children and two of their spouses, who were not automatically entitled to receive it.
Only Mr Trump, his wife and their 14-year-old son who are entitled protection after they leave office. The couple will receive it for their lifetimes, and Barron is entitled to protection until he turns 16.
The Post reports Mr Trump has asked for an extension on the protection of three of his key officials.
Ms Psaki said she is focused on bringing “truth and transparency back to the briefing room”.
She said that was a directive from Joe Biden.
“He asked me to ensure we’re communicating about the policies across the Biden-Harris administration and the work his team is doing every day on behalf of all American people,” Ms Psaki said.
“There will be times when we see things differently in this room. I mean, among all of us. That’s okay. That’s part of our democracy. And rebuilding trust with the American people will be central to our focus in the press office and in the White House. Every single day.”
The new White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared to almost referred to Joe Biden as President Obama at the beginning of her address, before correcting herself.
She worked for the Obama administration four years ago in the former president’ communications office.
Just caught that tiny slip @PressSec! (who started to say President Obama)
Psaki worked in Obama’s communications office years ago.
— Cheryl Bolen Smelson (@cherylbolen) January 21, 2021
White House press secretary Jen Psaki is holding the Biden administration’s first press briefing.
You can watch here.
Joe Biden is now virtually swearing in his staff — with a warning.
“If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot,” he says.
“On the spot! No if, ands or buts. Everybody, everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity.”
BIDEN to new WH team:
“If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No ifs, ands or buts. Everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity.” pic.twitter.com/STlddV0Mfh
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) January 20, 2021
The 17 executive orders and actions being signed by Joe Biden in his first hours as President are largely aimed at reversing the accomplishments of Donald Trump.
They include an “immediate termination” of funding for the border wall, and reversing a Trump executive order directing aggressive immigration enforcement.
After taking the oath of office this afternoon, I got right to work taking action to:
– Control the pandemic
– Provide economic relief
– Tackle climate change
– Advance racial equity— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2021
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Mr Biden will also reverse the ban on entry from a number of mostly Muslim countries that had been identified as security risks including Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iran.
And the Biden administration will also re-engage with the World Health Organisation, after Mr Trump’s decision to withdraw last year amid accusations the body was subservient to China in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Biden has also signed an order mandating the use of masks in all federal buildings, on all federal land and by federal employees and contractors for 100 days.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has presided over the Senate for the first time, swearing in three new Senators as Democrats officially take control.
Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the Senate for the first time today, introducing three new Senators, one of whom will fill her seat in California https://t.co/mPfSrxwx1H pic.twitter.com/IcBsgKGTO6
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2021
Joe Biden has described the note left to him by Donald Trump as “very generous”.
“The President wrote a very generous letter,” Mr Biden told reporters.
“Because it was private I will not talk about it until I talk to him.”
President Joe Biden says former President Donald Trump left him a “very generous” note on his way out.
“The president wrote a very generous letter,” Biden said. “Because it was private I will not talk about it until I talk to him.”
— Dan Merica (@merica) January 20, 2021
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