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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- Opinion
Trump Executive Order Could Save Taxpayers Billions
It’s rare to find good news when it comes to the federal government’s fiscal health. The national debt is now a staggering $22.8 trillion, the current fiscal year deficit is likely to exceed $1 trillion, and annual federal spending increases far exceed economic growth even during good years. All this makes the latest executive order…David Ditch -
- News
In Blistering Letter, White House Tells Democrats It Won’t Cooperate With ‘Illegitimate’ Impeachment Inquiry
The White House said in a blistering letter sent Tuesday to top House Democrats that officials in the executive branch will not cooperate with House Democrats’ “constitutionally illegitimate” impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. In the letter, White House counsel Pat Cipollone accused Democrats of attempting to both overturn the results of the 2016 election and…Chuck Ross -
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Trump White House Pledges to Boost Outreach to Black Media Outlets
The White House plans to ramp up communication with black media outlets as the administration seeks to amplify President Donald Trump’s record for African Americans. Press secretary Stephanie Grisham and other top Trump administration spokespersons met with the executive board of the National Newspaper Publishers Association for an hour Friday in the vice president’s ceremonial…Fred Lucas -
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Judge Orders White House to Restore Playboy Reporter’s Press Pass
A federal judge Tuesday ordered the White House to restore a press pass for Brian Karem, a Playboy correspondent and CNN analyst who was blocked from covering the White House following a verbal altercation in July with former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka. Judge Rudolph Contreras issued a temporary restraining order against the White House and…Chuck Ross -
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House Democrats Hope to Force Former White House Counsel to Testify
The House Judiciary Committee took a decisive step toward impeachment proceedings by filing a lawsuit in federal court to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify before the panel. McGahn’s testimony is essential to an ongoing impeachment inquiry, congressional lawyers wrote in court filings Wednesday, since he is the primary witness to the president’s…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
Megan Rapinoe Has No Good Reason to Skip Potential White House Visit
The U.S. women are the world soccer champions. They are the hard-fought victors of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final last weekend. Unfortunately, their outstanding performance has been overshadowed by an ongoing feud between Megan Rapinoe, the team’s co-captain, and President Donald Trump, leader of the free world….Dee Dee Bass Wilbon -
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Stephanie Grisham to Replace Sarah Sanders as White House Press Secretary
First lady Melania Trump’s spokeswoman is set to become the new White House press secretary and communications director. Stephanie Grisham will continue her role as spokeswoman for the first lady, while filling the two vacancies for President Donald Trump. The announcement was made Tuesday. Grisham’s previous title was assistant to the president and chief of…Fred Lucas -
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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 -
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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…Robert B. Bluey -
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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 -
- News
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