Tuesday began very well for President Donald Trump and his administration, as his nominee for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, was confirmed after a Senate vote.
Later this afternoon, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is set to decide on the status of Trump's travel ban.
What's happening today:
President Trump claims U.S. murder rate is at 47-year high
-- President Trump said Tuesday, during a meeting with U.S. Sheriff's at the White House, that the country's murder rate, "is the highest it's been in 47 years."
Pres. Trump claimed to officials that the murder rate isn't being reported by media because, "it wasn't to their advantage to say that." CNN has cited figures showing the U.S. murder rate in 2015, which is the the latest full year available, was lower than it was 45 years prior.
Betsy DeVos confirmed as Education Secretary after VP Pence vote
-- President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, was confirmed this morning by the Senate, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote in her favor.
.@BetsyDeVos sworn in as Secretary of Education by @VP Mike Pence moments ago. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/uzneL25V7F
— President Trump (@POTUS) February 8, 2017
The nomination was controversial, to say the least. DeVos' poor performance in her confirmation hearing -- punctuated by her suggestion that a school in Wyoming might want to have guns on premises to protect against grizzly bears -- contributed to roaring anger among public school supporters and teachers unions.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments challenging travel ban
-- Judges Friedland, Canby and Clifton heard argumentsfrom White House special counsel August Fretje and Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell this afternoon to determine the fate of the nationwide temporary restraining order against Trump's travel ban.
Last week, the states of Washington and Minnesota filed a temporary restraining order that challenged Trump's executive order. The president responded via Twitter, including this tweet on Monday:
The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is very real, just look at what is happening in Europe and the Middle-East. Courts must act fast!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2017
The judges kept counsel on their toes when both Fretje and Purcell said they hadn't had a lot of time.
Travel ban hearing- Judge Friedland calling Trump counsel on repeated claims "things moving too fast" https://t.co/iiFdP6Xj8e
— 10News (@10News) February 7, 2017
Travel ban hearing- Purcell: We've had little opportunity to gather and present evidence https://t.co/iiFdP6Xj8e
— 10News (@10News) February 7, 2017
Travel ban- Judge Clifton said "Don't tell us we'll gather it later!... Allegations don't cut it at this stage." https://t.co/iiFdP6Xj8e
— 10News (@10News) February 7, 2017
Their decision is expected later this week.
Now, some are saying there's precedent stating Trump's travel ban could survive the courts.
Trump's morning tweet on Russia
-- The president also took to Twitter Tuesday morning to briefly touch on his relationship with Russia:
I don't know Putin, have no deals in Russia, and the haters are going crazy - yet Obama can make a deal with Iran, #1 in terror, no problem!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2017
Tesla founder joins court fight against travel ban
-- Count Tesla in as another notable company that has declared opposition to the president's executive order. Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly criticized the travel ban in one tweet as "not the best way to address the country's challenges." Over 100 companies have cosigned the friend of the court brief.
White House's terror attack list receives backlash
-- On Monday night, the White House released a list of terror attacks it says "have not received the media attention they deserved." President Trump said Monday, "It's gotten to the point where it's not even being reported. And in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that."
The list includes the 2015 San Bernardino terror attack, but it was noted that Bernardino is misspelled, prompting a Twitter response from Democratic Rep. Mark Takano, who represents the Riverside area.
If White House didn't know how to spell San Bernardino they should've read one of thousands of heartbreaking articles remembering victims.
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) February 7, 2017
Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar, who represents the Inland Empire area, tweeted directly at the president:
.@POTUS You can't even spell #SanBernardino but you exploit our community to justify your #muslimban.
— Rep. Pete Aguilar (@RepPeteAguilar) February 7, 2017
.@POTUS Reporters covered #SanBernardino nonstop for weeks. You should read it so you understand we're not a talking point. cc:@sbsun
— Rep. Pete Aguilar (@RepPeteAguilar) February 7, 2017
