The day after the night before: Trump caps fractious post-midterm press conference by firing attorney general Jeff Sessions
President has lost the House of Representatives, but remains bullish about his ability to implement ‘Maga’ agenda
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump capped a fraught midterm election period by firing his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in a move that immediately provoked fear he may move against the Russia investigation headed by special counsel Robert Mueller.
The US president spent the day after the night before sparring with journalists in a rare set-piece press conference at the White House. The Republican, who appeared tired and on a short fuse, told one reporter to “just sit down” and called him “the enemy of the people” as he was grilled for some 90 minutes after his party lost control of the House of Representatives.
Nonetheless, Mr Trump sought to portray the GOP’s showing as a historic success, with candidates having prevailed in an unusual number of Senate races, he said. In one closely-watched contest, the Texas incumbent Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat darling of social media, who observers later tipped as a possible candidate for president in 2020.
During his news conference Mr Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Democrats, with whom he said he believed his Republican colleagues could produce “a lot” of legislation, particularly on infrastructure. He has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to modernise crumbling elements of the US’ road system and for improvements in other areas.
But he said that bipartisan working would be contingent on his opponents refraining from opening a string of investigations into his affairs. Democrats have already said they plan to do just that, probing the president’s tax returns, alleged conflicts of interest and other sore points now that they control several influential House committees.
Mr Trump’s first public appearance following the polls veered wildly from outright conflict with the media to praising incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi and envisioning peace, love and harmony among politicians and their constituents – pointing the finger at journalists for having sown division in the past.
The president hit out at CNN‘s Jim Acosta in particular after the reporter questioned him first over his rhetoric on immigration and then on Mr Mueller’s investigation. Mr Trump told Mr Acosta, who at times spoke over him and refused to relinquish his microphone, that “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them”.
He also berated a black reporter for asking a “racist question” about his decision to declare himself a nationalist. Mr Trump was asked by Yamiche Alcindor, of PBS Newshour, whether his rhetoric had “emboldened” white nationalists. Mr Trump said that “it’s a very racist question” and that “it’s a very terrible thing you said to me”, adding: ”I don’t believe it ... why do I have my highest numbers with African-Americans?”
As reporters gathered themselves following the marathon press conference, another bombshell dropped – Jeff Sessions had resigned at the president’s request. The attorney general’s sacking came after months of very public vitriol directed his way by Mr Trump, who was incensed by the former Alabama senator’s decision to recuse himself from oversight of Mr Mueller’s probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign for president and Russia.
“Since the day I was honoured to be sworn in as attorney general of the United States, I came to work at the Department of Justice every day determined to do my duty and serve my country,” Mr Sessions wrote in his resignation letter.
His departure – televised and made while surrounded by applauding colleagues including his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, and his successor, Matthew Whitaker – sparked warnings of a “constitutional crisis”. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and others warned Mr Trump not to move against Mr Mueller now that Mr Sessions was out of the way.
See below how we covered the midterms, and the aftermath, live
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A record number of women are on the ballot - and could become the story of the 2018 election.
Two years after Hillary Clinton's defeat, more women than ever before won major party primaries for governor, the Senate and the House this year. The results could significantly increase the number of women in elected office.
About 235 women won their primaries for the House, according to records kept by the Centre for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In the Senate, a record 22 women won their primaries. And a record 16 women were nominated for gubernatorial races.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that accusations of Russian interference in US midterm elections were "empty statements".
The statement comes after Facebook closed 115 social media accounts after being tipped off on Sunday evening by US law enforcement officials, who believe they’re “linked to foreign entities”.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet briefly in Paris to discuss possible bilateral talks at a later date, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
The planned Armistice Day meeting comes despite Mr Trump telling reporters on Monday he would probably not meet with Mr Putin while they are in Paris.
Both Barack Obama and President Trump have been campaigning for their respective party candidates up to the last hour before voting. Trump has pushed rhetoric regarding the migrant caravan approaching the southern border of the US, claiming a vote for democrats is a vote for letting in more undocumented immigrants.
Several states will vote on legalizing marijuana this election day, either for medical or recreational use. Michigan, North Dakota, Missouri, and Utah will consider loosening restrictions on their laws respective marijuana laws. The substance will remain illegal on a federal level.
Actor Jim Carrey and republican senator Ted Cruz are debating on Twitter about voting for democrats versus voting republican.
Carrey had tweeted a picture of someone pulling back curtains, with sunlight turning a man in a suit representing a republican to dust, referencing vampires.
Mr Cruz responded with a tweet calling Mr Carrey a "self-described socialist" and saying "everyone knows the dead vote democrat."
The feud continued on Twitter.
Unprecedented voter turnout and talks of a "blue wave" have raised the hopeful, but unlikely, possibility of Democrats winning control of the Senate.
The Atlantic reports that more younger people voting could mean a more left-leaning shift in Senate races in key states like Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.
However, recent election prediction services like FiveThirtyEight have reported that democrats gaining control of the Senate is unlikely. As of today, they have roughly a one in six chance of gaining control.
Stormy weather is affecting those who are trying to vote, AP reports.
Power outages resulted in some areas unable to use electronic voting machines, so they used paper ballots instead. CNN reported that a polling place in Knoxville, Tennessee is completely without power.
An older study from elections in 1984, 1986, and 1988 determined that there was no evidence that rain affects election results in favor or against either party.
President Trump has tweeted minimally during this election day, but he has recently tweeted an endorsement of Peter King of New York.
People at polling stations across the nation have experienced issues, some of which are common and some of which are weather-related.
AP reports that a surge in interest in voting has resulted in long lines and polling places not opening on time due to unforeseen circumstances, but that isn't uncommon on voting days. There are also issues with faulty machines, inaccurate mailers, and voter registration issues.
Stormy weather has also resulted in a lack of power in some cities, so voters had to use emergency paper ballots.
So far there is no indication that hacking has affected voting.
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