White House

Donald Trump Announces Approval for Convalescent Plasma to Treat Coronavirus

President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the use of convalescent plasma to treat coronavirus for emergency use. The president spoke about the approved treatment during a White House press conference on Sunday evening. “This is a powerful therapy that transfuses very, very strong antibodies from the blood of recovered patients to help treat patients battling a current infection,” Trump wrote. “It’s had an incredible rate of success.” The treatment takes convalescent plasma from blood donated from patients that have recovered from coronavirus. Under current FDA guidelines, convalescent plasma is regulated as an “investigative product.” “We broke the logjam over the last week,” Trump said when asked about the difficulty getting the treatment approved for emergency use by the FDA. The president thanked FDA administrator, Dr. Steven Hahn, for helping lead the project. “It is only made possible because of Operation Warp Speed. That is, everybody working together,” Trump said referring to his administration’s effort to speed treatments and vaccines for coronavirus. Trump said that approvals were years ahead of schedule and previewed exciting news about vaccines in the upcoming days. “We are removing unnecessary barriers and delays, not by cutting corners, but by marshaling the full power of the federal government,” he said. Hahn said that the expanded access program for convalescent plasma was started at the Mayo Clinic in April and over 70,000 people had received treatment. “This is one of the largest expanded access programs in the history of FDA, so a very successful approach to evaluating how convalescent plasma would work,” he said. Hahn said that the scientists at the FDA evaluated both the data from the program and over a dozen published studies before approving the treatment. In a June 3 article, the JAMA network outlined the history of the use of convalescent plasma dating as far back as the Spanish Flu epidemic and identified the treatment as a potential route to coronavirus containment. A later study published by the JAMA Network, however, concluded that the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment is less effective in severe coronavirus cases. “In the optimal patients, as described by Secretary Azar, treated with convalescent plasma at the highest tiers there was a 35 percent improvement in survival,” Hahn said. Hahn said that the FDA would continue evaluating the data and study the emergency use of the treatment. “We’re waiting for more data, and we’re going to continue gathering more data, but this clearly meets the criteria we’ve established for the emergency use authorization and we’re very pleased with these results,” he said. Hahn said that everyone recovering from the Covid-19 should act to donate their blood. “If you’ve recovered from Covid-19, please donate, you could save a life,” he said.

For more from the FDA, click on the text above.

Trump orders $400-per-week unemployment payments amid COVID crisis, hits Dems for stonewalling

President Trump signed four executive actions Saturday aimed at delivering relief to Americans struggling with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic while accusing Democrats of stonewalling greater aid efforts. Trump announced a $400-per-week supplemental unemployment payment to out-of-work Americans — short of the $600 weekly benefit that expired at the end of July. He unveiled an extension of student loan relief and protections from evictions for renters and homeowners. Trump also issued a payroll tax holiday through the end of the year for Americans earning less than $100,000, while promising more relief if he wins a second term. The president signed the executive actions from his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., as club members cheered him on. He blamed Democrats for the coronavirus stalemate in Congress and said he’d take matters into his own hands. “Democrats are obstructing all of it,” Trump said. “Therefore, I’m taking executive action … and we’re going to save American jobs and provide relief to the American workers.” For the new $400-per-week benefit, states would be on the hook for funding 25 percent for the millions of jobless Americans, while the federal government would pick up 75 percent of the benefit, Trump said. Asked when the jobless would see the money, Trump said it would be “rapidly distributed.” The $400 boost is more than what many congressional Republicans wanted. Some opposed any extension of the federal aid, while others backed a boost no greater than $200 per week. Meanwhile, Democrats had been fighting for the full $600-per-week extension, which is on top of state unemployment benefits. Click here for more:

Kayleigh McEnany: If We’re Renaming Historical Buildings, Should We Rename the Biden Center?

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday argued that if Democrats wanted to start renaming historical buildings and military bases, perhaps they should visit former Vice President Joe Biden’s past. “Where do you draw the line here?” McEnany asked during the White House press briefing, referring to HBO’s decision Tuesday to pull the film Gone with the Wind over historically racially insensitive content. “Should George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison be erased from history?” she asked. “What about FDR and his internment camps? Should he be erased from history, or Lyndon Johnson who has a history of documented racist statements?” “What about people that are alleged by the media to be segregationists?” she continued, citing campaign reporting from CNN, The Washington Post, and MSNBC in the 2020 Democrat primary. McEnany noted that Biden teamed up with segregationists to fight court-ordered student busing to desegregate schools. “I’ll leave you with the question? Should we then rename the Biden Welcome Center?” she asked, before leaving the podium. The Biden Welcome Center on Interstate 95 was renamed in 2018 in honor of former Vice President Joe Biden and his family.

Thanks, Kayleigh, for throwing this trendy politically correct renaming nonsense back the faces of these idiot liberal reporters.  The President is exactly right.  We do not need to be renaming Army posts like Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Benning, GA.  It’s beyond ridiculous.  Where do we draw the line?  When does this silly crap end?  Nobody has a constitutional right to never be offended.  If that were true, I’d be offended every time I turned on the news, and would ask for civil damages because my tender feelings were hurt.  Unreal…  To see this video of Kayleigh’s comments (in response to a question from Fox News’ John Roberts), click on the text above.  Great job Kayleigh!!

McEnany says there’s an ‘absolute double standard’ that churches still can’t gather despite large protests

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday there is an “absolute double standard” because churches across the country are still facing coronavirus restrictions preventing them from holding services, while demonstrators have been able to pack together in large protests with little social distancing. “There are absolutely double standards that we’ve seen,” McEnany said. She added: “People should be allowed to worship. We have a First Amendment in this country. There’s a way to safely do it.” The press secretary pointed to a task force set up by the Justice Department to look at civil liberties during coronavirus shutdowns. McEnany said President Trump “absolutely sees an issue” with double standards, adding that there had been cases where people worshipping from their cars had been targeted by law enforcement officers. When asked about Trump’s outcries against mail-in voting in the November election, McEnany responded: “I think there’s a safe way to vote if there’s a safe way to protest.” Regarding a possible spike in coronavirus cases following the widespread protests, McEnany said “we’re monitoring that,” but added that the White House was pleased with the month-over-month decline in daily new cases. She said that in April, the U.S. saw an average of 30,000 daily new cases; 25,000 daily new cases in May, and was currently on track to see 20,000 new cases daily in June. Still, McEnany said the president was happy with the progress of houses of worship reopening after he announced a policy deeming them “essential” in May. “Here we are four weeks later and we haven’t been hearing about rampant outbreaks in places of worship,” the press secretary said. “The First Amendment is a beautiful thing. People have the right to go to church or mosque or synagogue.” In places both hard-hit by coronavirus and facing demonstrations that attract tens of thousands — such as California, New York and New Jersey — church doors were long-shuttered but have recently reopened at 25 percent capacity. Trump slammed Democratic governors who refused to allow churches to reopen. Trump announced during a press briefing that houses of worship are allowed to open Memorial Day weekend: “If they don’t do it, I will override the governors.” “The churches are not being treated with respect by a lot of the Democrat governors,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn. “I want to get the churches open, and we’re going to take a very strong position on that very soon … including mosques.” “Churches, to me, they’re so important in terms of the psyche of our country,” he said. “I think churches are essential.” The Justice Department (DOJ) has rebuked a number of states for cracking down on churches during the coronavirus pandemic. The DOJ sided with a Virginia church suing Gov. Ralph Northam after police threatened a pastor with jail time or a $2,500 fine for violating lockdown restrictions by holding a service on Palm Sunday. U.S. Attorney General William Barr made it clear in April that federal prosecutors should “be on the lookout” for overly restrictive state and local shutdown orders that may infringe on people’s constitutional rights — especially when it comes to the First Amendment. The DOJ also supported Kevin Wilson, the pastor of Lighthouse Fellowship Church on Chincoteague Island, who held a service on April 5 with 16 people in a church that could fit 293 people. He was later served a summons by police.

..which, of course, is unconstitutional and ridiculous.  We applaud President Trump sticking up for the First Amendment and religious liberty, and we applaud Kayleigh exposing the hypocrisy of these Democrat governors and politicians who want to keep churches closed under the false pretense of guarding against the Wuhan virus…and yet, they’re the first to violate their own directives and march elbow-to-elbow (so much for “social distancing”) and without wearing face masks as they protest.  The “double standard” and hypocrisy is beyond brazen.  If the mobs can “protest” without any regard for social distancing or wearing masks, then churches should at the very least be allowed to reopen while respecting what those mobs don’t.

White House establishing ‘central command center’ to combat riots as Trump issues warning

Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced Monday the White House is establishing a “central command center” to monitor and combat riots following the death of George Floyd after President Trump posted a video on Twitter with the message, “Anarchists, we see you!” Gen. Mark Milley, chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be involved, along with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Attorney General Bill Barr, McEnany said. “There will be additional federal assets deployed across the nation,” McEnany told reporters Monday. “There will be a central command center in conjunction with the state and local governments, that will include Milley, Esper and Barr, to deal with violence and looting.” McEnany, like Trump, called out local officials, accusing them of failing to act to control the crowds. “It is their responsibility to police their streets,” she said. McEnany’s announcement came after Barr directed the Bureau of Prisons to send Special Operation Response Teams to Washington, D.C. and Miami to respond to violent protests and riots. Meanwhile, according to law enforcement officials, as a matter of process, local police make arrests during protests and riots, and then the FBI conducts interviews to review whether any federal crimes have been committed—such as the crossing of state lines to conduct violence, arson and possible domestic terrorism. Trump on Monday morning unloaded on governors, calling their response to violent protests “weak” and urging them to “dominate.” “Most of you are weak,” Trump said. “You have to arrest people. “You have to dominate, if you don’t dominate you’re wasting your time,” he said, according to a senior staffer in a governor’s office who was listening to the call. “They’re going to run over you, you’re going to look like a bunch of jerks. You have to dominate.” “You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again,” said Trump. “We’re doing it in Washington, D.C. We’re going to do something that people haven’t seen before.”

Transcript: President Donald Trump Vows to Stop Rioting in America’s Major Cities

President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a speech at the White House, vowing to end the rioting that continued to rage in America’s major cities in reaction to the death of George Floyd. Following is a transcript of that speech: “THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: My first and highest duty as President is to defend our great country and the American people. I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation, and that is exactly what I will do. All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd. My administration is fully committed that, for George and his family, justice will be served. He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as their President, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your President of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters. But in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa, and others. A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residence. Innocent people have been savagely beaten, like the young man in Dallas, Texas, who was left dying on the street, or the woman in Upstate New York viciously attacked by dangerous thugs. Small-business owners have seen their dreams utterly destroyed. New York’s Finest have been hit in the face with bricks. Brave nurses, who have battled the virus, are afraid to leave their homes. A police precinct station has been overrun. Here in the nation’s capital, the Lincoln Memorial and the World War Two Memorial have been vandalized. One of our most historic churches was set ablaze. A federal officer in California, an African American enforcement hero, was shot and killed. These are not acts of peaceful protest. These are acts of domestic terror. The destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offense to humanity and a crime against God. America needs creation, not destruction; cooperation, not contempt; security, not anarchy; healing, not hatred; justice, not chaos. This is our mission, and we will succeed. One hundred percent, we will succeed. Our country always wins. That is why I am taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America. I am mobilizing all available federal resources — civilian and military — to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights. Therefore, the following measures are going into effect immediately: First, we are ending the riots and lawlessness that has spread throughout our country. We will end it now. Today, I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets. Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capital, Washington, D.C. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace. As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property. We are putting everybody on warning: Our seven o’clock curfew will be strictly enforced. Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence. One law and order — and that is what it is: one law. We have one beautiful law. And once that is restored and fully restored, we will help you, we will help your business, and we will help your family. America is founded upon the rule of law. It is the foundation of our prosperity, our freedom, and our very way of life. But where there is no law, there is no opportunity. Where there is no justice, there is no liberty. Where there is no safety, there is no future. We must never give in to anger or hatred. If malice or violence reigns, then none of us is free. I take these actions today with firm resolve and with a true and passionate love for our country. By far, our greatest days lie ahead. Thank you very much. And now I’m going to pay my respects to a very, very special place. Thank you very much.

Again, the President gave that speech yesterday (June 1st, 2020) afternoon.

Kayleigh McEnany: Twitter Targeting Donald Trump, Not China or Their Own Employees

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticized Twitter on Thursday for their bias in targeting supporters of President Donald Trump online. “I believe it is time to ‘get the facts’ about Twitter and other social media platforms targeting their bias against President Trump and conservatives online,” McEnany said during the White House press briefing on Thursday afternoon. She specifically pointed to Twitter’s Head of Site Integrity Yoel Roth who falsely claimed that there were “actual Nazis in the White House.” “No fact check label was ever applied to this absolutely outrageous, offensive, and false claim against the White House and its employees,” she said. She accused Twitter of creating a “false fact check” on President Donald Trump’s tweet warning of voter fraud in California as a result of Democrats pushing vote-by-mail. She also called out Twitter for allowing the Chinese to use the platform to spread misinformation about the origin of the coronavirus, protests in Hong Kong, and persecution of religious minorities in China. She also took shots at Facebook and Google for allowing the Chinese government to censor search results and spread misinformation. “They appear to be very hastily eager to censor President Trump and some of his employees but a little reluctant when it comes to China — it’s a bit befuddling,” she said. She also cited censorship bias against the pro-life movement and allowing hate on their platform from leftists against the Covington High School students. “Liberals are allowed to cite violence against the Covington kids … and yet these individuals were allowed by Twitter to incite violence,” she said. “It’s disturbing to see, so those are some of the president’s concerns.” McEnany previewed President Trump’s upcoming executive order on tech and social media companies on Thursday afternoon, suggesting that it would demand companies to be transparent about the behind-the-scenes mechanisms used to censor conservatives.

Another epic smackdown of the liberal White House press corps by Kayleigh!  To see the video, click on the text above.   Excellent!!      🙂

Kayleigh McEnany scolds media for lack of ‘journalistic curiosity’ in Flynn case

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany scolded reporters on Friday for its “lack of journalistic curiosity” in what the Trump administration believes to be the miscarriage of justice in the criminal case surrounding former national security advisor Michael Flynn. CBS News Radio correspondent Steven Portnoy began his line of questioning by invoking remarks President Trump made in a recent interview where he suggested that people “should be jailed” for the “very obvious crime” that was committed against Flynn. “You’re an attorney and the president’s spokesperson. Perhaps you could lay out the elements of this crime. What crime was committed and in what way?” Portnoy asked. “I assume you’re referring to the Obama administration and the unmasking,” McEnany responded. “What the president calls ‘Obamagate,’ what is it? What are the elements of that crime?” Portnoy clarified. “Yeah, I’m really glad you asked because there hasn’t been a lot of journalistic curiosity on this front. And I’m very glad that you asked this question,” the press secretary told Portnoy. McEnany first began by pointing to the “number of questions” that were raised by the “actions” the Obama administration, listing the Democratic National Committee-funded Steele dossier and its involvement in the FISA warrants that were granted to surveil former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page \as well as the unmasking of Flynn by top Obama officials during the transition period between November 2016 and January 2017. She then noted the Oval Office meeting that took place just days before Trump’s inauguration between President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who McEnany stressed “learned” about the unmasking from Obama and not from the Justice Department. “We know that there was a lot of wrongdoing in the case of Michael Flynn. The FBI notes, for instance, that said, ‘Should we,’ quote, ‘get him to lie,’ as they pontificated their strategy,” McEnany continued. “We know that the identity of this three-decade general was leaked to the press — a criminal leak to the press of his identity in violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. These are very serious questions. They’ve been ignored by the media for far too long. And I’m very glad that I think that is the second question that I have fielded on Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, because justice does matter. Those questions, they matter.” Portnoy then asked what specifically was the “crime,” which McEnany reiterated was the leaking of Flynn’s name to the press in January 2017. She then laid out other moments from Obama officials. “if you want to start talking about wrongdoing in the administration, I’m happy to go through Andy McCabe leaking to The Wall Street Journal and then lying about it, happy to talk about James Clapper lying before Congress, saying the NSA does not monitor phone calls. That was an inaccuracy, to say the least, if not a lie,” McEnany listed. “And John Brennan telling Congress that the bogus Steele dossier played no role in the Russia probe, when, in fact, we know it did and was the basis of attaining FISA warrants. So there’s a lot of mistruths there that were said, many of them under oath, so I would point you to those and the many other real questions that I hope you all will pursue.” The CBS News Radio reporter then pressed McEnany if the individuals she listed were the people the president thought should be “in jail,” but she pushed back, insisting that journalists should look into what she “laid out.” “That is, after all, the job of reporters, to answer the very questions that I’ve laid out, and I hope you guys will take the time to do it,” McEnany told Portnoy.

HAHAHA!!!  Absolutely AWESOME!!!  We’re really enjoying Kayleigh’s press beatdowns at the White House.  She takes these snotty, self-righteous, arrogant, members of the dominantly liberal mainstream media who have what they think are clever gotcha questions, which are really just designed to validate their already predetermined liberally spun anti-Trump narratives, and she turns the tables on them and makes them look like the fools they are.  But, she does it with class, and a smile; basically bitch-slaps them and then gives them a kiss, smiles, and takes the next question.  In this exchange from Friday afternoon, Kayleigh does just that to Steven Portnoy from CBS radio, and it was a beautiful thing to behold.  To see the exchange, and her extended comments, click on the text above…and pop some popcorn.  Great job Kayleigh!!     🙂

Kayleigh McEnany Launches Establishment Media Beatdown by Listing Wrong Coronavirus Predictions

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday fired back at reporters after they criticized her for a prediction about the coronavirus she made in February. Reuters reporter Jeff Mason asked McEnany whether she regretted saying that President Trump would not let the coronavirus come to this country. “Given what has happened since then, would you like to take that back?” Mason asked. McEnany said she was asked about the president’s travel ban on China and she responded with the intent of the restrictions. “I guess I would turn the question back on the media and ask similar questions,” she replied, reading off a list of incorrect media predictions about the virus and how Americans should respond. McEnany was clearly prepared for the gotcha question, reading off several headlines. “I’ll leave you with those questions and maybe you’ll have a few answers in a few days,” she replied before exiting the press briefing room. Click here to watch Kayleigh’s epic takedown.

Just awesome!!  Kayleigh was ready for this punk’s gotcha question and flipped the tables on him and the rest of the media in the room.  Excellent!!       🙂

First Lady Melania Trump donates 150 boxed lunches to Maryland children’s hospital

First lady Melania Trump donated 150 boxed lunches this week to patients and staff at a Maryland children’s hospital amid the coronavirus pandemic, a White House official said. “Today, First Lady Melania Trump donated 150 boxed lunches to the patients and staff of The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health,” spokeswoman and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement. “Supporting those impacted by the effects of COVID-19 is something the First Lady cares deeply about, and as we navigate these unique times she will continue to reach out to people in a variety of ways.” The food was sent securely with contactless delivery to adhere to social distancing guidelines, Grisham added. Mrs. Trump has also recently sent lunches to Trader Joe’s staff and donated Be Best packages to patients and staff at hospitals around the country. Be Best, which focuses on the wellbeing of children, celebrates its second anniversary Thursday. Last month, the first lady praised frontline workers for their efforts during the crisis. “We salute essential workers in the health care industry who are fighting to save lives,” she tweeted April 18. “We thank those who put themselves at risk to keep our grocery stores, pharmacies & gas stations open. Those who ensure that our power plants & factories are up & running, that we have internet & phones to stay in touch.” “Those delivering mail & packages to all us at home & keeping the shelves stocked. Our deepest gratitude & appreciation goes to each & every one of you.”

Major kudos to our First Lady for doing all of this for these kids and first responders….and without any fanfare or press coverage.  If this were Michelle Obama, the dominantly liberal mainstream media would be fawning all over her and treating her like royalty.  But, because Melania’s last name is Trump, they either make fun of her accent, or ignore her.  Typical…