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
Iran Says White House Is ‘Mentally Retarded’ After Learning of New Sanctions
President Hassan Rouhani of Iran said that the White House is “mentally retarded” Tuesday after new sanctions were imposed on the country. “Hard-hitting sanctions” were placed on Iran by President Donald Trump Monday as tensions between the two countries increased. The sanctions were specifically placed on the supreme leader of Iran and the Office of…Shelby Talcott -
- News
Trump Executive Order Aims for More Hospital Pricing Transparency
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that he said would “fundamentally” change the health care market by requiring hospitals to disclose in an easy-to-read format what patients pay out of pocket for services. The order, which the Department of Health and Human Services will implement, is designed to improve consumer incentives to shop…Fred Lucas -
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White House Rebukes Calls for Firing of Conway Over Alleged Hatch Act Violations
The Trump administration came to the defense of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, sharply rejecting a call from a federal watchdog that she should be fired for criticizing political opponents during TV interviews at the White House. The Office of Special Counsel issued a report asserting that Conway violated the Hatch Act, a 1939 law…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Podcast: Former White House Insider Discusses Draining the Swamp, Next 18 Months
Rick Dearborn had a front-row seat to President Donald Trump’s first year in the White House. He led the White House transition team and then served as deputy chief of staff before joining The Heritage Foundation. Dearborn shares his most memorable moments in the White House and his perspective on how Trump can succeed moving…Rob Bluey -
- News
White House Criticizes Equality Act, but Stops Short of Veto Threat
A Trump administration official criticized legislation supported by House Democrats that would gut a landmark 1993 religious freedom law while adding sexual orientation and gender identity protections to federal civil rights law. The White House has not yet issued a formal veto threat or a statement of administration policy about the Equality Act, which House…Fred Lucas -
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Conservatives Urge White House to Oppose Democrats’ Equality Act
Conservative organizations are holding firm against House Democrats’ legislation they say would undermine religious liberty, and some conservatives want the White House to take a stronger stance. Almost 100 conservative leaders signed onto a statement Friday opposing the Equality Act. Names on the statement from the Conservative Action Project include leaders of the Family Research…Fred Lucas -
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John Bolton: White House Plans for Post-Maduro Venezuela
Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s lawful leader under its Constitution, was set to lead a march against Nicolas Maduro, who continued to cling to the South American nation’s presidency with the support of Russia, China, and Cuba. The U.S. is among more than 50 countries around the world backing Guaido as Venezuela’s only legitimate leader. After military…Fred Lucas -
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At White House, New Venezuelan First Lady Tells of ‘Life and Death’ Fight to Oust Maduro Dictatorship
The wife of the interim president of Venezuela, visiting the White House on Wednesday, said her country is engaged in a life-and-death struggle against an embattled dictatorship. “We’re fighting for life and death, and we know that what will triumph in the end is life,” said Fabiana Rosales, whose husband, Juan Guaido, is recognized as…Fred Lucas -
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EXCLUSIVE: 1 Point Where White House Says Trump Far Surpasses Reagan
President Donald Trump has won praise from governors in both parties for outreach to states, after a high number of face-to-face meetings with the state leaders. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, said Trump’s outreach to governors is a major underreported story, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said his own talks with the…Fred Lucas -
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White House Eyes Reducing Capital Gains Taxes Without Congress
The White House is having internal discussions about the prospect of executive action by President Donald Trump to hold down capital gains taxes, said Larry Kudlow, director of the president’s National Economic Council. “I personally have campaigned for inflation indexing of capital gains for at least three decades,” Kudlow told The Daily Signal during a…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Trump’s Executive Order Freezing Federal Pay Saves Taxpayers From Extraordinary Pay Increases
President Donald Trump issued an executive order effectively freezing federal pay for 2019 at current 2018 levels. Had the president not issued this executive order (and lacking congressional action on federal pay), federal workers would have received a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay increase, as well as a 25 percent increase in locality-based pay. A 2.1…Rachel Greszler -
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What I Saw During a First Look at the White House Christmas Decorations
"American Treasures" is the theme of the White House's 2018 Christmas decorations. Crafted by first lady Melania Trump, the decorations stunned once again, with nearly 30 Christmas trees and over 14,000 red ornaments. The Daily Signal was on hand Monday to have a first look at this year's theme. The @WhiteHouse is sparkling for the…Ginny Montalbano -
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Ivanka Trump’s Personal Email Use Could Be a Gift to Democrats Looking to Investigate White House
Ivanka Trump used a private email account in 2017 to conduct official government business, according to a White House review. The news gives incoming House Democrats another potential opening for congressional oversight hearings. The first daughter’s email use included exchanges with Cabinet secretaries, among other forms of correspondence, The New York Times reported Monday night, citing sources…Chris White -
- Opinion
Podcast: The White House vs. CNN’s Acosta
President Barack Obama was no fan of Fox News—and he didn’t hide that fact. And there’s no requirement for the White House to call on every reporter with press credentials. But is it a good idea for the White House to fight with CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta? And how should the White House…Katrina Trinko -
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As CNN’s Acosta Returns, White House Seeks ‘Decorum’ for Press
CNN reporter Jim Acosta is back in the White House, and the Trump administration is working on rules for “decorum” during press conferences. “People have to behave. We’re writing up rules and regulations,” President Donald Trump told reporters Friday afternoon, when asked about the court ruling. He said other reporters were treated unfairly, “because you…Fred Lucas -
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White House Predicts NFL Players’ Support for Prison Reform Bill
The Trump administration anticipates finding some common ground with players in the National Football League in pushing a bipartisan prison reform bill through Congress before the end of the year, a senior White House official said. Several conservative and liberal organizations are backing the bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Doug Collins, R-Ga., and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.,…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Media Misses: CNN vs. White House
CNN strikes again. Things got heated between CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta and President Donald Trump during a press conference this week. After Trump answered Acosta’s question, Acosta kept at it, while Trump insisted they move on. Acosta then refused to give up the microphone to a White House intern. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
If Trump Ended Birthright Citizenship by Executive Order, He’d Be Enforcing Existing Law
President Donald Trump’s critics have found something else to rend their garments over: his determination to end so-called “birthright citizenship.” Why, they thunder, it’s unconstitutional. And even if it could be changed, it can’t be by executive order. They’re wrong on both counts. That probably comes as a surprise to many Americans, including some who…Ed Feulner -
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White House Suspends Access of CNN’s Acosta
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump had a testy exchange with CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, including a moment when a female White House intern tried unsuccessfully to take the microphone from Acosta after Trump said he was done answering questions from him. Now the White House has announced Acosta will no longer have…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Why Trump Can End Birthright Citizenship by Executive Order
When it comes to the 14th Amendment, my good friend and fellow Justice Department veteran Andy McCarthy agrees that it does not require birthright citizenship. And we’re not alone: Other experts, such as noted constitutional law scholar John Eastman, law professor and former dean of the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University and a…Hans von Spakovsky