Rough total for President Trump's July Fourth extravaganza: $5.4M

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's July Fourth extravaganza — featuring tanks, a military flyover, and a President Trump speech at the Lincoln Memorial — cost an estimated $5.4 million, according to rough figures Thursday.Interior Secretary David Bernhardt provided the latest share of costs, $2.45 million for his agency, in a letter to lawmakers, saying his agency pulled money from operating funds for national parks, recreation fees, and another source to help fund President Trump's Salute to America.The event included donated fireworks, a military flyover, and President Trump's speech to a rained-on crowd at the Lincoln Memorial.President Trump announced Monday he would do it all again next year , calling the event "remarkable."Democratic lawmakers have condemned the extra expenditures for the Independence Day celebration, which came in addition to the traditional concert, fireworks and events held at near the U.S. Capitol.Arizona Democratic Rep.

Pres. Trump to push for trade deal with Mexico, Canada in Milwaukee Friday, July 12

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was set to travel to Wisconsin to push for congressional approval of the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada.The White House said President Trump would head to Milwaukee on Friday, July 12 to visit Derco Aerospace.

Federal court: President Trump can't ban critics from Twitter account

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump can't ban critics from his Twitter account, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, saying the First Amendment calls for more speech, rather than less, on matters of public concern.The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a lower court judge who said President Trump violates the Constitution when he blocks critics."The irony in all of this is that we write at a time in the history of this nation when the conduct of our government and its officials is subject to wide-open, robust debate," Circuit Judge Barrington D.

23 governors join Calif. in opposing President Trump's mileage standards

WASHINGTON — Citing climate-damaging tailpipe emissions, 23 U.S. governors signed a pledge backing California leaders in their showdown with the Trump administration over its plans to relax vehicle mileage standards.The stand by leaders of states and Puerto Rico, nearly all Democrats, comes as the Trump administration moves to freeze tougher mileage standards laid out by former President Barack Obama, in one of the previous administration's key efforts against climate change.The Trump administration says American consumers increasingly want bigger, gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks .

Wisconsin GOP: Pres. Trump headed to Milwaukee-area fundraiser

MADISON, Wis. — Officials with the state Republican Party say President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Wisconsin this week.Charles Nichols is a spokesman for the state GOP.

With new law, Pres. Trump's state tax returns could go to Congress

ALBANY, N.Y. — President Donald Trump's New York state tax returns could be given to Congress under a new law in his home state.The measure was signed into law Monday by Democratic Gov.

Acting homeland security secretary defends border conditions

WASHINGTON — Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Sunday defended conditions at U.S. Border Patrol stations following reports of crowded and unsanitary conditions that have heightened debate about President Donald Trump's immigration policy, a trademark issue for his re-election campaign."It's an extraordinarily challenging situation," McAleenan told ABC's "This Week."The Homeland Security Department's internal watchdog provided new details Tuesday about severe overcrowding in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.

Pres. Trump says he's mulling executive order for census

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he is "very seriously" considering an executive order to try to force the inclusion of a citizenship question as part of the 2020 Census.Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a weekend in New Jersey, Pres.

Pres. Trump: America's story is 'the greatest political journey'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump celebrated the story of America as "the greatest political journey in human history" in a Fourth of July commemoration before a soggy but cheering crowd of spectators, many of them invited, on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial.

President Trump says US should start manipulating the dollar

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China and Europe of playing a "big currency manipulation game." He said the United States should match that effort, a move that directly contradicts official U.S. policy not to manipulate the dollar's value to gain trade advantages.In a tweet, the president said if America doesn't act, the country will continue "being the dummies who sit back and politely watch as other countries continue to play their games — as they have for so many years."

'Baby Trump' balloon gets permit to be present for July 4 in DC

WASHINGTON -- A progressive group received permission Monday for their round, diapered President Donald Trump balloon to be present during a July 4 celebration near the location where Pres.

Lawyer: Census to be printed without citizenship question

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration says the 2020 Census questionnaire is moving ahead without a question about citizenship.That's according to an attorney for a civil rights group that helped fight the addition of the question.Kristen Clarke said Tuesday that Trump administration attorneys notified parties in lawsuits challenging the question that the printing of the hundreds of millions of documents for the 2020 counts would be starting soon.The White House didn't immediately comment on the decision.

Sue Bird has had it with President Trump's Megan Rapinoe bashing

WASHINGTON -- Megan Rapinoe's girlfriend, basketball star Sue Bird published a World Cup article/ political rant / love letter defending Rapinoe and the USWNT against President Trump's recent criticisms, and it is a wild ride from start to finish.In the Players' Tribune article, aptly titled "So the President F*cking Hates My Girlfriend," the Seattle Storm star goes in on President Trump for his Twitter rant about Rapinoe, who has been outspoken about not wanting to visit the White House if the USWNT win the Women's World Cup."I mean, some of it is kind of funny.....

House committee files lawsuit over President Trump's tax returns

WASHINGTON — A House committee has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking President Donald Trump's tax returns.The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the Ways and Means Committee against the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service.The committee says it doesn't have to explain its reasons for seeking President Trump's tax return information.

Pres. Trump campaign announces $105M raised during 2nd quarter

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's reelection campaign says it raised $105 million during the second fundraising quarter.The campaign said Tuesday it has a whopping $100 million in cash on hand.Campaign manager Brad Parscale says the total is "a testament to the overwhelming support" for Pres.

Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has broken the limit set on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, international inspectors and Tehran said Monday, marking its first major departure from the unraveling agreement a year after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the accord.The announcement by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and later confirmation by the U.N. nuclear watchdog puts new pressure on European nations trying to save the deal amid President Donald Trump's maximalist campaign targeting Tehran.

'A humane solution:' Pres. Trump signs aid package to bolster migrant care

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a $4.6 billion aid package on Monday to help the federal government cope with the surge of Central American immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.Many Democratic lawmakers were hoping for more.

Tanks arrive in Washington, DC ahead of July 4 celebration

WASHINGTON -- At least two Army tanks have arrived in Washington ahead of a Fourth of July celebration that President Donald Trump says will include military hardware.An Associated Press photographer says the two M1A1 Abrams tanks (similar to the one shown) are with four other military vehicles on a freight train in a railyard at the southeastern edge of Washington.The vehicles are being guarded by military police but are visible to passersby on nearby paths.

Wide grins and historic handshake for Pres. Trump, Kim Jong Un at Demilitarized Zone in North Korea

PANMUNJOM, Korea — With wide grins and a historic handshake, President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un met at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone on Sunday and agreed to revive talks on the pariah nation's nuclear program.

Putin says Western liberalism is 'eating itself,' disagrees with welcoming migrants

OSAKA, Japan — Russian President Vladimir Putin fired a new broadside against Western liberalism at the Group of 20 summit in Japan, saying that policies such as welcoming migrants have hurt people's interests.Speaking after the summit in Osaka concluded on Saturday, Putin charged that President Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and a drop of popularity of traditional parties in Europe have been rooted in growing public dismay with mainstream liberal policies.He said Pres.