President Trump is declining to accept Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel's apology, and is now calling for his firing:
.@daveweigel of the Washington Post just admitted that his picture was a FAKE (fraud?) showing an almost empty arena last night for my speech in Pensacola when, in fact, he knew the arena was packed (as shown also on T.V.). FAKE NEWS, he should be fired.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2017
Background: Weigel tweeted, then deleted, a photo on Saturday from Trump's Friday rally in Florida. Weigel's tweet mocked Trump for claiming the crowd was "to the rafters."
Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel has apologized to President Trump on Twitter after Trump lambasted him for posting a photo from before his rally in Pensacola, Florida, Friday night.
The backstory: The photo Weigel posted spread quickly online, with Weigel and others thinking it showed the moment Trump took the stage. In fact, it was before the event began. Trump has attacked reporters for not owning up to mistakes in coverage; Weigel tweeted Saturday night that "it was a bad tweet on [his] personal account, not a story for the Washington Post," and it's "very fair" for Trump to call him out.
President Trump will record a robocall for Roy Moore that will reach Alabama voters the day before the election, Politico reports.
Why it matters: Trump is all in, and his support could convince some Republicans to go to the polls. That's key, as turnout in special elections is typically very low.
President Trump honored Navajo Code Talkers last month (and called Sen. Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas") in front of a portrait of President Andrew Jackson, who presided over the "Trail of Tears" forced re-settlement of Native Americans.
Why it matters: The backdrop to some of Trump's events sometimes seem to hold symbolic significance, whether by plan or by coincidence. Here are some other examples:
President Trump watches four to eight hours of television a day and grows restless if he doesn't see himself on the news, according to a New York Times report.
Why it matters: Trump has long fought the idea that he's stuck to his TV, claiming recently, "I don't get to watch much television... I'm reading documents a lot." But per the Times, cable is "ammunition for his Twitter war," and White House staff know the morning shows can dictate the rest of their day.
President Trump traveled to Mississippi on Saturday morning to speak at the opening of a new civil rights museum. "Today we pay solemn tribute to our heroes of the past and dedicate ourselves to building a future of freedom, equality, justice and peace," he said.
"These buildings embody the hope that has lived in the hearts of every American for generations -- the hope and the future that is more just and more free," President Trump says https://t.co/tLoG01ERC6pic.twitter.com/zKF5BicFtP— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 9, 2017
The backdrop: John Lewis, the congressman and civil rights hero, declined to attend in protest of Trump's presence.
Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Florida Democrat, said he was never informed of a $220,000 sexual harassment settlement paid using taxpayer money to a former staffer, who sued him for "unwelcome sexual advances" and "unwelcome touching," Politico reports.
Why it matters: Lawmakers are under intense scrutiny after three members stepped down last week over sexual harassment allegations. He says the original lawsuit filed against him was dismissed in 2012, and he was cleared by the House Ethics Committee two years later.
Trump, speaking last night at his Make America Great Again political rally in Pensacola, Fla., capitalized on a string of media mistakes about Russia-related investigations:
Former Fox News anchor Juliet Huddy said President Trump attempted to kiss her in an elevator after he took her to lunch, according to a Page Six report.
"He said goodbye to me in an elevator while his security guy was there, rather than kiss me on the cheek he leaned in to kiss me on the lips. I wasn't offended, I was kind of like, 'Oh my god.'"
Why it matters: The incident allegedly took place in 2005 or 2006, and Trump married Melania in January 2005. Huddy tweeted on Friday night that she was "neither threatened nor offended" by the incident, though she has been offended by Trump's "comments on 'other matters.'"
