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As it happenedended

Trump news: President says 'America must win' 5G technology race as migrant revenge plan emerges

Follow the latest updates from Washington

Chelsea Ritschel
New York
Friday 12 April 2019 15:40 EDT
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Compilation of Donald Trump mentioning Wikileaks during 2016 election campaign

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Donald Trump said his administration is indeed “giving strong considerations” to placing detained migrants in sanctuary cities, citing unwillingness by Democrats to “change our very dangerous immigration laws,” sparking nationwide backlash.

The president’s response to claims the White House had proposed sending detainees to sanctuary cities twice in the last six months came hours after White House officials said the idea had been proposed but ultimately rejected.

Mr Trump doubled-down on the possibility while speaking at the White House, prompting mayors of “sanctuary cities” to dismiss the president’s claims.

During his White House appearance Friday, the president also discussed the nation’s plans for implementing 5G wireless network.

According to the president and the FCC, the US will have the largest number of 5G networks of any country by the end of the year, a race Mr Trump said America “must win”.

In addition to bringing faster data speeds, the wireless industry’s plans to invest millions into 5G networks would create 3m jobs and add “$500bn to our economy,” according to the president.

Also on Friday, reports emerged that the president told the head of Customs and Border Protection that he would pardon him if he were sent to jail for violating immigration law.

Citing two officials, CNN reported Mr Trump made the comments to CBP commissioner Kevin McAleenan during a visit to the border last week, claims the Department of Homeland Security has denied.

Ivanka Trump was also involved in controversy Friday after the president revealed in an interview with The Atlantic that he had considered nominating her for president of the World Bank because she is “very good with numbers”.

Follow events as they happened.

Here's Tom Embury-Dennis with a reminder of Trump's latest assault on the Fourth Estate.

Joe Sommerlad12 April 2019 16:12

The Democrats are turning their attention towards Trump's highly controversial ban on trans people serving in the US military.

Joe Sommerlad12 April 2019 16:30

Mike Pence has defended President Trump's past preoccupation with WikiLeaks as "not an endorsement" in conversation with CNN's Dana Bash.

Joe Sommerlad12 April 2019 16:45

Herman Cain appears to lack Republican support to get a seat on the board of the Federal Reserve and could now back out before being subjected to the indignity of a confirmation hearing that will end in rejection.

Trump's other pick, Stephen Moore, has been given the following dressing down by 2020 hopeful Elizabeth Warren.

Joe Sommerlad12 April 2019 17:00

In regards to a possible third summit with North Korea, Bill Richardson, former US ambassador to the United Nations said Friday that he does not support the idea. 

"I believe right now that a summit with Kim Jong-un would not be a good idea," he said. 

His comments come a day after President Trump said he would be open to a third meeting with the North Korean leader. 

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 17:18

The president has just acknowledged reports that the Trump administration is considering placing immigrants in sanctuary cities.

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 17:40

"Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities only... 

...The radical Left always seem to have an open borders, open arms policy - so this should make them very happy!" the president tweeted on Friday. 

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 17:42

You can read our full story on Donald Trump's confirmation that his administration is "giving strong considerations" to sanctuary cities here

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 17:59

The president's confirmation comes after White House officials said the proposal of releasing immigrant detainees into "sanctuary cites" was "floated" but ultimately rejected. 

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 18:20

Earlier Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal to release migrants in "sanctuary cities," first reported by The Washington Post, "disrespectful" and "unworthy of the presidency".

"I don't know anything about it, but again, it's just another notion that is unworthy of the presidency of the United States and disrespectful of the challenges that we face as a country, as a people, to address who we are: a nation of immigrants," Ms Pelosi told reporters, according to The Hill.

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 19:01

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