What's happening in the political world:
Trump touts latest U.S. jobs report, economy
-- President Trump celebrated the news regarding the increase in U.S. jobs on Twitter Friday morning.
In July, American employers added nearly 210,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate went down to 4.3 percent. It was the 82nd straight month the U.S. has added news jobs.
Trump tweeted: "Excellent Jobs Numbers just released - and I have only just begun. Many job stifling regulations continue to fall. Movement back to USA!"
Earlier in the morning, Trump hailed improvements to the American economy in separate tweets.
He said: "Toyota & Mazda to build a new $1.6B plant here in the U.S.A. and create 4K new American jobs. A great investment in American manufacturing!" and followed up with "and don't forget that Foxconn will be spending up to 10 billion dollars on a top of the line plant/plants in Wisconsin."
Trump later added: "Consumer confidence is at a 16 year high....and for good reason. Much more regulation "busting" to come. Working hard on tax cuts & reform!" and "West Virginia was incredible last night. Crowds and enthusiasm were beyond, GDP at 3%, wow!Dem Governor became a Republican last night."
The president also retweeted several tweets referencing the latest economic and employment numbers, including a Fox News report.
#BreakingNews: U.S. employers added 209,000 jobs in July, unemployment rate down to 4.3% #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/mWaTLMg1mf
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) August 4, 2017
President Trump begins 17-day vacation
-- On Friday, the president will embark on an extended leave of absence from the White House, his first extended break since he was sworn into office.
President Trump is expected to spend the next 17 days at his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, but White House officials said Trump would continue working during his time away.
According to The Associated Press, Trump has spent 13 of his 28 weekends during office in at his resort in Mar-a-Lago or New Jersey property. AP's count includes a weekend during official travel overseas, and Father's Day weekend at Camp David, the government-owned presidential retreat in Maryland.
Over the years, Trump took former President Barack Obama to task for his vacation-taking.
Can you believe that,with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf.Worse than Carter
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2014
Pres. Obama is about to embark on a 17 day vacation in his ‘native’ Hawaii, putting Secret Service away from families on Christmas. Aloha!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2013
Why is @BarackObama always campaigning or on vacation?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2011
Report: Mueller looking into Trump's finances
-- Federal investigators exploring whether Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russian spies have seized on Trump and his associates' financial ties to Russia as one of the most fertile avenues for moving their probe forward, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The web of financial ties could offer a more concrete path toward potential prosecution than the broader and murkier questions of collusion in the 2016 campaign, these sources said.
One year after the FBI opened an investigation, the probe is now managed by special counsel Robert Mueller. Sources described an investigation that has widened to focus on possible financial crimes, some unconnected to the 2016 elections, alongside the ongoing scrutiny of possible illegal coordination with Russian spy agencies and alleged attempts by President Donald Trump and others to obstruct the FBI investigation. Even investigative leads that have nothing to do with Russia but involve Trump associates are being referred to the special counsel to encourage subjects of the investigation to cooperate, according to two law enforcement sources.
The increased financial focus hasn't gone unnoticed by Trump, who warned Mueller, via an interview with The New York Times, that his financial dealings were a red line that investigators shouldn't cross. But the order establishing the special counsel makes clear Mueller is authorized to investigate any matters that "arose or may arise directly from the investigation."
WVa governor announces party switch at MAGA rally
-- President Trump held a "Make America Great Again" rally in Huntington, West Virginia, Thursday night, but Gov. Jim Justice may have outshined the president at the event.
Justice took the stage to announce his plans to change his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, saying: "Today I will tell you as West Virginians, I can't help you anymore being a Democrat governor. So tomorrow, I will be changing my registration to Republican."
The New York Times first reported Justice's plans to switch parties.
Earlier Thursday, Trump teased that there would be a "very big announcement" this evening in West Virginia, a state that went heavily Republican in the 2016 elections.
This isn't the first time Justice has switched parties -- he was previously an independent and a Republican up until 2015 when he ran for governor as a Democrat. However, this move could indicate a bigger shift in the state.
CNN and AP contributed to this report
