Jun 23, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Trump confirms Pence will be running mate in 2020

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump confirmed on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that Vice President Mike Pence will "100%" be on his ticket again in 2020.

Why it matters: In an interview with "Fox & Friends" last week, Trump made headlines by declining to directly endorse Pence as his successor in 2024, telling the hosts: "You can't put me in that position." Trump explained to NBC's Chuck Todd that he hesitated to answer because "it was a surprise question" and the election is "so far out."

The exchange:

CHUCK TODD: Speaking of driving people crazy, when you were asked about Mike Pence in 2024 and you, and you, and you paused a minute about endorsing him as your successor, that got a lot of people going, "Is Mike Pence 100% on your ticket in 2020?"

TRUMP: Well, look, look -- 100%, yes.

TODD: 100%?

TRUMP: Oh yeah.

TODD: There is no wiggle room?

TRUMP: He's been, he’s been a terrific vice president. He's my friend and --

TODD: Ok.

TRUMP: -- a lot of things. No. Zero. Zero.

TODD: So why'd you hesitate in endorsing him in being, succeeding you?

TRUMP: Because it was a surprise question.

TODD: You hadn’t thought about it?

TRUMP: I mean, you know, I’m not even thinking of it. It's so far out. I mean, It's so far out. That would be the only reason. Now what happens in 2024? I don't know that Mike is going to run. I don't know who's running or anything else.

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Updated 29 mins ago - World

Pandemic plunges U.K. into "largest recession on record"

The scene near the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England in the City of London, England. Photo: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

The United Kingdom slumped into recession as its gross domestic product GDP shrank 20.4% compared with the first three months of the year, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) confirmed Wednesday.

Why it matters: Per an ONS statement, "It is clear that the U.K. is in the largest recession on record." The U.K. has faired worse than any other major European economy from coronavirus lockdowns, Bloomberg notes. And finance minister Rishi Sunak warns the situation is likely to worsen.

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Axios
Updated 35 mins ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

The United Kingdom slumped into recession on Wednesday, as its gross domestic product GDP shrank 20.4% compared with the first three months of the year.

By the numbers: Over 741,400 people have died of the novel coronavirus globally and more than 20.2 million have tested positive, per Johns Hopkins. Almost 12.6 million have recovered from the virus.

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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 20,294,091 — Total deaths: 741,420— Total recoveries: 12,591,454 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 5,141,207 — Total deaths: 164,537 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
  3. States: Georgia reports 137 coronavirus deaths, setting new daily record — Florida reports another daily record for deaths.
  4. Health care: Trump administration buys 100 million doses of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine.
  5. Business: Moderna reveals it may not hold patent rights for vaccine.
  6. Sports: Big Ten scraps fall football season.
  7. World: Anthony Fauci "seriously" doubts Russia's coronavirus vaccine is safe
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