Dec 14, 2017

Omarosa denies being fired and escorted off White House grounds

Omarosa Manigault said she resigned from the White House. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Omarosa Manigault, who met Trump when she was a contestant on the first season of "The Apprentice," asserted Thursday that she resigned from the Trump administration. She called reports that she was fired for trying to break into the White House residence and escorted of the grounds "100% false."

"Certainly I had more access than most, and people had problems with that," Manigault told Good Morning America. "People had problems with my 14-year relationship with the president. I've always been loyal to him."

Manigault's version of events: She said she and chief of staff John Kelly sat down in the situation room and had "a very candid conversation" about her wanting to resign. Her resignation will take effect on January 20.

Her issues with her WH role:

"There were a lot of things that I observed during the last year that I was unhappy with, that I was uncomfortable with ... When I can tell my story, it is a profound story."
"As the only African-American woman in the White House I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people."

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer

GM to exit Australia, New Zealand and Thailand

GM's Holden brand is popular among racing fans down under, and it's been a regular fixture at events like the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercar Race in Australia. Photo: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

General Motors is retiring its celebrated Holden brand from sales in Australia and New Zealand after 160 years and winding down operations by 2021, the company confirmed in a statement Monday.

The big picture: GM also intends to "sell its Rayong factory in Thailand to China's Great Wall Motors and withdraw the Chevrolet brand from Thailand by the end of this year," AP reports. "The downsizing is part of a long-running strategy at GM since the Detroit-based company emerged from bankruptcy in 2009," per Bloomberg.

Keep Reading4 mins ago - Economy & Business

Rebecca Falconer

In photos: Deadly Storm Dennis lashes U.K., Ireland and western France

A family is rescued from a property in Nantgarw, Wales, on Sunday. The storm comes a week after the U.K. was battered by storm Ciara, which killed two people, per the BBC. Photo: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

Storm Dennis continued to pummel parts of England, Wales and Ireland over Sunday night with heavy rain after battering Northern Ireland and Scotland, per the official British weather agency the Met Office.

Why it matters: It's the second-strongest nontropical storm ever recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean, with its hurricane-force winds and heavy rains that caused widespread flooding across the U.K., the Washington Post notes. Police in Wales confirmed Sunday they found the body of a man who fell into a river as the storm lashed Ystradgynlais.

See photos1 hour ago - World

Axios

Sanders accuses Bloomberg of trying to "buy" the 2020 election

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg. Photos: Drew Angerer; Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders tore into 2020 rival Michael Bloomberg at a Las Vegas campaign event Saturday, saying the billionaire and former New York mayor is trying to "buy the presidency" by paying millions of dollars in advertising.

Why it matters: Bloomberg has surged in national polling recently, having poured millions of dollars into campaign ads largely targeting Trump. His candidacy has become an obvious foil for Sanders, whose grassroots campaign railing against billionaires and the establishment has vaulted him to front-runner status.

Go deeperUpdated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy