White House News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of the White House agenda, press briefings, and policy decisions affecting the country at large.
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- News
In New Russia Stir, White House and Allies Call Leaks to Media Real Problem
President Donald Trump’s Oval Office conversation with two Russian officials last week was “wholly appropriate,” national security adviser H.R. McMaster said Tuesday, expanding on his previous explanation about classified information shared by the president. “The president in no way undermined sources or methods,” H.R. McMaster says. When Trump met with the Russians, McMaster said, he…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Is the White House Embracing Human Rights in US Foreign Policy?
With the myriad U.S. interests at stake in foreign policy, where exactly do human rights fit in? Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke to this question on Wednesday while discussing the role of values in U.S. foreign policy decision-making. Now I think it’s important to also remember that guiding all of our foreign policy actions…Olivia Enos -
- Opinion
DC School Choice Takes Center Stage at the White House
President Donald Trump signaled his support for education choice at a Wednesday event celebrating the achievements of charter school students and school voucher recipients in the nation’s capital. It was an honor to be at this White House event to watch Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, applaud the…Lindsey Burke -
- Opinion
Federal Land Grabs Have Gotten Out of Control. Why Trump’s Executive Order Is a Positive Sign.
Draining the swamp doesn’t just mean shrinking the size of federal bureaucracies. It means reducing the role of government throughout our society—including its ability to seize land. A good place to start is President Donald Trump’s executive order, which calls for a review of national monument designations—a tool long used by presidents to unilaterally restrict…Nicolas Loris -
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Trump White House Moves Forward With Plan Government Employee Union Dubs ‘Dangerous’
In six months, the Trump administration plans to produce a plan to shrink the size of government, eliminate programs, and reduce the federal workforce—and is seeking public input on how to proceed. “What it really means is making government more accountable to you, more effective and more efficient,” @OMBPress45 says. The memo from Office of…Fred Lucas -
- News
This 1 Change Trump Administration Made to White House Press Briefings Is Shaking Up the Media
From the moment he took office in January, President Donald Trump put the establishment media on notice. Through his tweets and press conferences, Trump isn’t shy about calling out news organizations by name or leveling criticism. And in the White House press briefing room, the Trump administration is changing the dynamic in a way that…Morgan Walker -
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Conservatives Skeptical of White House’s Proposed Changes to Obamacare Replacement Bill
Less than two weeks since the collapse of Republicans’ plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, lawmakers and White House officials have revived talks aimed at crafting a health care bill that can make it through Congress. But a new pitch from the White House designed to get conservative lawmakers on board, though in its early…Melissa Quinn -
- Opinion
Trump’s Sweeping Executive Order on Climate Policy Has Been Sorely Needed
As promised, President Donald Trump has issued an “energy independence” executive order to undo several of the Obama administration’s climate change regulations. To the benefit of all Americans who desire affordable, dependable energy, the executive order will help energy companies establish some independence from overzealous regulators. Here’s what the order does: Orders the Environmental Protection…Nicolas Loris -
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House Freedom Caucus Heads to the White House Ahead of Obamacare Repeal Vote
The House is scheduled to vote on the Obamacare repeal health care bill some time today, but GOP leaders are still struggling to get conservatives and centrist Republicans on board. House Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump are working both sides of the Republican conference in an attempt to get them closer to supporting…Melissa Quinn -
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Journalists From BuzzFeed, New York Times Assess Daily Signal’s Splash in White House Press ‘Pool’
A story in The Washington Post questioning the legitimacy of The Daily Signal and its White House correspondent demonstrates the entrenched news media’s slowness to adapt and protectiveness of its turf, a veteran Washington reporter observes. “I was surprised that anyone objected to @FredLucasWH’s inclusion in the WH pool,” @BuzzFeedBen says. Those “gatekeepers” in the…Ken McIntyre -
- Opinion
What 2 Obama Judges Got Wrong in Striking Down Travel Executive Order
Two federal judges, both nominated by President Barack Obama, have issued injunctions against President Donald Trump’s revised executive order temporarily restricting travel from six terrorist safe havens in the Middle East and Africa. The decisions by Derrick Kahala Watson in Hawaii and Theodore David Chuang in Maryland should shock no one—not because the judges are…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
New Executive Order Shows Trump Is Serious About Cutting Federal Waste
Washington talks a tough game about tackling federal spending, but President Donald Trump is beginning to take real action. On Monday, Trump issued a new executive order that would require the director of the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a review of all executive branch agencies and, in an effort to improve efficiency,…Justin Bogie -
- Opinion
Hawaii Has No Case Against Revised Travel Executive Order
The new lawsuit filed by Hawaii against President Donald Trump’s revised March 6 immigration executive order is just as unsound as the lawsuits filed by other states against the original order—despite what some courts have said about the original order or may say about the revised order. Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Why Trump’s Revised Executive Order Is Constitutional, Legal, and Common Sense
President Donald Trump’s revised executive order restricting travel from terrorist safe havens is just as constitutional and legal as his original order, despite what some courts such as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said about the original order. But the revisions he has made, which clarify that the executive order does not apply…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
What You Need to Know About Trump’s Executive Order on the Water Rule
In light of President Donald Trump’s executive order that should put an end to the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, The Heritage Foundation released the following statement: President Trump’s executive order instructing the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to reevaluate the Waters of the United States rule is welcomed…Daren Bakst -
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How Trump’s Executive Orders Line Up With Past Presidents
President Donald Trump is moving rapidly to fulfill campaign promises early. With little activity from Congress so far, Trump has used executive actions to achieve what he pledged to do. Trump is on track to begin his fourth week in the White House having issued 12 executive orders. While questions have surfaced over Trump’s use…Morgan Walker -
- Opinion
For Once, Law Enforcement Has a Friend in the White House
On Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump delivered a speech to a convention of the Major County Sheriffs’ Association and Major Cities Chiefs Association in Washington, D.C. After spending the first several minutes of his remarks commenting on the legality of the travel restriction executive order now before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the…Scott Erickson -
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White House Says Trump Won’t Rush Obamacare Replacement
President Donald Trump will use his business skills to negotiate lower prices and foster more competition in the health care market—but he doesn’t want to rush things, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday. “We’ve got to make sure we do this right. We don’t want to end up with the same results the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
More Is Needed to Combat Excessive Regulation Than Trump’s Executive Order
President Donald Trump took a swipe at overregulation this week, issuing his first executive order aimed at controlling—and reducing—regulatory costs. The order requires that federal agencies adopting a new regulation must eliminate two existing regulations from the books. Borrowed from similar rules in effect in countries including the United Kingdom and Canada, the idea has…James Gattuso -
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Trump’s Executive Order to Repeal Regulations Puts EPA in the Crosshairs
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Monday demanding federal agencies repeal two regulations for every new one issued, marking the delivery of a campaign promise to cut most federal rules. Trump’s making good on a promise to repeal 75 percent of federal regulations, including rolling back most of the $900 billion in regulations…Michael Bastasch