Wednesday morning started with a bang as President Trump took to Twitter to denounce the "Russian connection non-sense." Also Wednesday, Trump met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
What's happening today:
Trump speaks on Iran nuclear deal, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Flynn
-- During a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president spoke of Israel and America's joint opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions, repeating a frequent criticism of the deal between Tehran and six world powers worked out under the Obama administration.
Pres. Trump: Iran deal "one of the worst" ever seen. "I will do more to prevent Iran from ever developing, I mean ever, a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/IUOkNjZKUX
— ABC News (@ABC) February 15, 2017
Trump told Netanyahu that the U.S. is going to push for a peace deal with the Palestinians and told his visitor "to hold back" on settlement construction.
"I'd like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit," he said, a stronger opposition to the controversial building in the West Bank than he's previously articulated.
Pres. Trump says he "can live with" either one or two state solution in Israel. https://t.co/B8xaM7V2nS pic.twitter.com/hf6FpvMG7X
— ABC News (@ABC) February 15, 2017
Additionally, Trump slammed intelligence officials and the media over what he called "very, very unfair" treatment of his ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn and for "illegally leaked" information about reported contacts between his campaign advisers and Russian officials.
In his first public comments on Flynn's firing, Trump said it was "really a sad thing that he was treated so badly."
Pres. Trump: "General Flynn is a wonderful man. I think he's been treated very, very unfairly by the media." https://t.co/61LkfqWEpx pic.twitter.com/9i7Fg5BCL2
— ABC News (@ABC) February 15, 2017
During a question-and-answer session, the president was asked about the sharp rise in anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism incidents in the United States. He began by first referencing his campaign victory before answering the question.
Pres. Trump: "We are going to do everything within our power to stop long simmering racism and every other thing that's going on." pic.twitter.com/AWpIUbAj1D
— ABC News (@ABC) February 15, 2017
Trump slams "fake news media" in Twitter rant
-- President Donald Trump renewed his attack on the "fake news media" amid the widening controversy surrounding the ouster of his national security adviser and talk of Congress investigations of purported Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election last year.
Trump tweeted early Wednesday morning:
The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton's losing campaign.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?).Just like Russia
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
Thank you to Eli Lake of The Bloomberg View - "The NSA & FBI...should not interfere in our politics...and is" Very serious situation for USA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
Crimea was TAKEN by Russia during the Obama Administration. Was Obama too soft on Russia?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by "intelligence" like candy. Very un-American!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2017
The latest tweets follow a pattern of social media messages that Trump has sent, chastising news organizations both during his campaign for the White House and in the more than three weeks since his inauguration.
Former presidential campaign foe coming over for dinner
-- The president and first lady Melania Trump plan to host Sen. Marco Rubio and his wife for dinner Wednesday.
The White House said Rubio and his wife Jeanette are expected to join the Trumps at 6:30 p.m.
Actress says America should support Trump
-- In an interview with the Daily Mail, actress Lindsay Lohan said having Americans come together to support President Trump "would be a positive thing for America …"
"You have to join him. If you can't beat him, join him," said Lohan.
The 30-year-old actress offered her support for Trump despite his comments in 2004 to Howard Stern, in which Trump said of Lohan: "She's probably deeply troubled and therefore great in bed."
ICYMI:
Report: Trump aides were in constant communication with Russian officials during campaign
-- High-level advisers close to then-presidential nominee Donald Trump were in constant communication during the campaign with Russians known to US intelligence, multiple current and former intelligence, law enforcement and administration officials tell CNN.
Both the frequency of the communications during early summer and the proximity to Trump of those involved "raised a red flag" with US intelligence and law enforcement, according to these officials. The communications were intercepted during routine intelligence collection targeting Russian officials and other Russian nationals known to US intelligence.
Among several senior Trump advisers regularly communicating with Russian nationals were then-campaign manager Paul Manafort and then-adviser Michael Flynn.
Russia appears to violate treaty by firing cruise missile
-- A senior U.S. military official told CNN that Russia deployed a cruise missile -- an apparent treaty violation. The move is just the latest in a string of Russian provocations in the early days of the Trump administration, which has called for warmer relations with the Kremlin.
The traditional U.S. adversary has also positioned a spy ship off the coast of Delaware and carried out flights near a U.S. Navy warship, concerning American officials. The administration has not officially drawn any links between the three events.
Chef's deal to end lawsuit with Trump stands
-- Celebrity chef Jose Andres wants President Donald Trump to know that his offer to end their legal battle is still on the table.
In July 2015, Andres backed out of a plan to open up a restaurant in the lobby of the Trump International Hotel in Washington after Trump called undocumented Mexican immigrants "rapists" and "criminals" when he launched his bid for president.
Trump then sued Andres for breach of contract in August 2015, causing both Andres and fellow chef Geoffrey Zakarian -- who also backed out of his deal to open up a restaurant in the hotel -- to file counter-claims. They've been locked in a battle for more than a year.
