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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.

According to CNN, the president told agents that if a judge ordered them to let migrants in, they should say: 'Sorry, Judge, I can't do it. We don't have the room."

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 21:34

Thanks for following along with our live coverage of the White House today. We'll be back tomorrow to bring you the latest on Mr Trump's presidency.

Chelsea Ritschel12 April 2019 22:41

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