President Trump was interviewed by "60 Minutes'" Lesley Stahl Thursday for an episode airing on Sunday and discussed how the Saudis could be behind the disappearance and possible murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The details: In this interview, the president also talks tariffs, China, North Korea, Russia, NATO, global warming, his treatment of the Brett Kavanaugh accuser, according to CBS. Though this will be Trump's first interview with the program as president, it won't be the first time he's been featured on "60 Minutes."
After a meeting with recently-released American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was imprisoned by Turkey for two years, President Trump said it was "too early" to conclude what happened to missing reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
The state of play: Trump echoed the sentiments of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, saying that Saudi Arabia has been a good partner. Trump said the administration worked hard for the Saudi arms deal and that pulling out of it would "be punishing ourselves." Though he didn't give specifics, the president said there are other "very powerful" punishments they could do if punishment is required. Go deeper: Khashoggi intrigue: A text from the Saudi ambassador, then silence
Like everything in our lives these days, the midterms on Nov. 6 (just 24 shopping days away) are all about President Trump.
The bottom line: Trump wants the elections to be about Trump, and makes that plain in the mad rush of rallies heading into voting day. The gender gap is off the charts wide — due to Trump.
Washington litigator Pat Cipollone is expected to be President Trump's pick to replace Don McGahn as White House Counsel, according to four sources familiar with the sensitive internal conversations.
Cipollone has already begun the process of filling out his necessary paperwork, according to one of those sources. (As with any decision in Trumpworld, the president could reverse it or some other obstacle could emerge in the paperwork process. But as of today, it's expected to be Cipollone.)
Democrats are generally pro-immigration, but many of the elected officials in the party are wary of saying so because they don't have specific, drawn out policies addressing the flaws in the country's immigration system, Robert Draper writes in N.Y. Times Magazine.
Why it matters: Democratic voters don't reward their candidates for being pro-immigrant, Draper says. Generally their concerns about immigration and policies are placed on hold because it doesn't lead to an immediate benefit.
First Lady Melania Trump told ABC News in an interview that aired Friday that the jacket she wore when boarding a plane to visit an immigrant children's shelter, that read "I really don't care. Do U?" was a message to the media.
Why it matters: The First Lady's team maintained at the time that the jacket had no hidden message, but Trump said it was meant to show critics "that I don't care. You could criticize whatever you want to say...but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right."
President Trump clarified in a tweet Saturday morning that there was "no deal" made with Turkey for the return of Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was released from the country on Friday after being held since 2016 for terrorism charges.
Why it matters: Trump has maintained that he doesn't make deals for hostages, however it was previously reported by NBC News that the United States had been in negotiations with Turkey looking for the pastor's release and ultimately reached a deal. Trump suggested that the pastor's release could foster "great relations" between the U.S. and Turkey. Brunson is expected to meet with Trump at the White House this afternoon.
President Trump believes there will be "severe punishment" for the Saudis if proven they killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but that there are "other ways of punishing" besides stopping arms deals, according to an exclusive interview, and rare sit-down with 60 Minutes which airs on Sunday.
Why it matters: Pressure is mounting on the White House to act as the situation surrounding Khashoggi, and his possible murder at the hands of Saudi Arabia, develops. But Trump said earlier this week that cutting off the $110 billion arms deal with the Saudis is "not acceptable." Trump told 60 Minutes that there's a lot at stake because of Khashoggi's profession: "[T]here's a lot at stake...especially so because this man was a reporter. There's something-- you'll be surprised to hear me say that, there's something really terrible and disgusting about that if that was the case."
Former Vice President Joe Biden urged his party on Friday to reclaim the white working-class vote, and said the Democrats would lose 2020 unless they do so, the New York Times reports.
The big picture: Axios Mike Allen reported this summer that a 2020 challenge from Biden makes Trump nervous, because of Biden's ties to the working class in Pennsylvania. While campaigning for congressional candidate Amy McGrath in rural Kentucky, Biden said that Trump's appeal to the working class is "an old, old method," that hones in on their frustrations "by finding a scapegoat, the 'other.'" Biden also said Trump is "trashing American values," and that he doesn't believe there's a divide among the white working-class on economic and progressive issues.
After landing in Lebanon, Ohio, President Trump told reporters he will call King Salman of Saudi Arabia regarding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who unnamed Turkish officials allege was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The details: Trump spoke to Saudi officials Wednesday about the disappearance of Khashoggi, but has not strong-armed the Saudi government for more information on the matter. Khashoggi went missing after visiting the consulate to retrieve a document required to marry his Turkish fiancee. Saudi Arabia has denied the allegations.
More Americans disapprove of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court than approve, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Why it matters: The 50-48 vote that confirmed Kavanaugh was closest vote on a Supreme Court justice in more than 130 years. Public opinion on Kavanaugh's confirmation and the investigation is just as divided, WaPo explains.
The more consequential internal White House debate over UN ambassador isn’t over who’ll replace Nikki Haley, but over whether it should remain a Cabinet-level position.
Between the lines: National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo all think the role should report to the Secretary of State, per sources familiar with their thinking. Presidents Bush 41 and 43 both demoted their UN ambassadors from Cabinet-level status, while Presidents Clinton and Obama elevated the role upon taking office.
American pastor Andrew Brunson is to be released from custody in Turkey and allowed to travel to the United States, a move that could end a crisis which pushed U.S.-Turkey ties to a breaking point over the past two months, AFP reports. Brunson was sentenced to prison time but restrictions on his travel have been lifted.
Catch up quick: Brunson has been held since 2016 on terrorism charges the U.S. says are baseless. Trump fumed publicly and slapped sanctions on Turkey after the pastor was moved to house arrest in August, rather than released as the U.S. expected. Erdogan seemed shocked by the response and refused to back down.
President Trump is finally fully merging his presidency with television, relishing the mounting amount of time that he's devoting to filling the airwaves — while also ravenously consuming his productions.
The latest: Trump holds forth for an hour or more (much of it ad-libbed) at multiple campaign rallies each week, has added pregame and postgame shows with Fox News hosts to his repertoire, is blitzing Fox News more and more, and recently staged an impromptu "private Oval Office press conference" for New York Magazine.
Almost two-thirds of black Americans say they are "absolutely certain to vote," according to a new survey by The Atlantic and PRRI. And at higher numbers than white or Hispanic youths, black Americans say their close friends are voting, too.
Why it matters: Barack Obama triggered a surge of votes from black Americans in 2008 and 2012, giving him the edge in several states. President Trump could have a similar effect in the Nov. 6 mid-terms — although for the opposite reason
Dina Powell is out of the running to replace Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, sources close to her tell Axios.
What we're hearing: Powell, a Goldman Sachs partner who was a high-profile aide in the first year of President Trump's administration, told him yesterday that she was honored to be considered but wanted to withdraw from consideration.
