The news behind the news on the president, administration and everything White House is always in … The White House Daily Chronicles.
note: this post is updated throughout the day as events warrant
See all of the daily White House Daily Chronicles HERE.
Presidential Itinerary – the details
The president’s summarized daily schedules can be found HERE.
The president will receive his daily intelligence briefing and have lunch with Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. This is an oddly empty schedule with tons of space likely being filled by internal meetings. I would expect a big announcement sometime today.
So far, very little coming from the White House. One exception was a brief sighting of H.R. McMaster just outside the West Wing where he told ABC News correspondent Tara Palmeri that “Everybody has got to leave the White House at some point.” She asked if he was leaving sooner rather than later, and he said, “I’m doing my job.”
Trump’s Tweets
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI – A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
“U.S. Consumer Confidence Hits 14-Year High” https://t.co/tXJsSRoM64
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2018
It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it’s unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the brave troops lost in the helicopter crash on the Iraq-Syria border yesterday. Their sacrifice in service to our country will never be forgotten.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2018
Official Statements
Proclamation of National Poison Prevention Week, 2018
Poisoning remains the leading cause of injury death in the United States. By taking the proper precautions and preparing for emergency situations, however, we can ensure our families and our communities avoid poisoning tragedies. During National Poison Prevention Week, we strive to reduce the frequency of poisoning deaths and educate ourselves about how to prevent accidental poisoning.
Since 2000, the rate of accidental drug-poisoning deaths has more than quadrupled. Accidental poisoning due to drug overdose has taken immense tolls on families all across the country, and synthetic opioids continue to push the death count higher. In 2016 alone, we lost 116 people per day from opioidrelated drug overdoses.
To address this devastating epidemic, I have mobilized my entire Administration to combat drug addiction and opioid abuse. In October 2017, my Administration declared the opioid addiction crisis a national public health emergency. My 2018 Budget proposes $3 billion in new funding this year to combat the opioid epidemic, including through providing additional support for mental health initiatives.
My Administration has also led multiple national “Take Back Day” events, during which Americans have had the opportunity to safely dispose of unneeded prescription medications, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands. During the most recent event last October, the Drug Enforcement Administration collected 456 tons of prescription drugs for disposal at more than 5,300 collection sites. We will continue to champion these initiatives, which help prevent future tragedies from accidental poisonings and drug overdoses.
This week, and every week, we warn all Americans about unintended exposure to poisons, so that we can reduce risks and prevent injuries and lost lives. We all can do our part by ensuring the products we bring into our homes, including medications, cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, small batteries, and other chemicals, are stored out of sight and out of reach of children. Accidental poisonings are preventable, and we must recommit ourselves to taking the necessary actions to protect our families, and improve the health, well-being, and prosperity of our Nation as a whole.
To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take appropriate preventative measures, on September 26, 1961, the Congress, by joint resolution (75 Stat. 681), authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March each year as “National Poison Prevention Week.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the UnitedStates of America, do hereby proclaim March 18, 2018, through March 24, 2018, to be National Poison Prevention Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by taking actions to safeguard their families from poisonous products, chemicals, and medicines, and drugs found in our homes, and to raise awareness of these dangers in order to prevent accidental injuries and deaths.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord twothousandeighteen, and of the Independence of the UnitedStates ofAmerica the twohundred and forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP
On Amendment of U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration
Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump made additional disaster assistance available to the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands by authorizing an extension of increased Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program. This extension applies to the major disaster declarations for Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
On September 26, 2017, President Trump authorized a 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for 180 days from the start of the incident period for Hurricane Irma.
On October 3, 2017, President Trump authorized a 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for 180 days from the start of the incident period for Hurricane Maria.
Under the Presidents order yesterday, the time periods for 100 percent Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, have been extended for 60 days.
Executive Actions
Trump Signs H.R. 294, H.R. 452, H.R. 535, H.R. 3656, and S. 831 into Law
On Friday, March 16, 2018, the President signed into law:
H.R. 294, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Endy Nddiobong Ekpanya Post Office Building;
H.R. 452, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office;
H.R. 535, the “Taiwan Travel Act,” which encourages visits between officials of the United States and Taiwan at all levels;
H.R. 3656, which establishes a consistent applicability date for eligibility of certain persons for VA-provided memorial headstones and markers; and
S. 831, which designates a facility of the United States Postal Service as the Police Officer Scott Bashioum Post Office Building.
Executive Branch Nominations
- None
Communications with Heads of State (readouts often come the day after the conversation)
Call with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea to discuss ongoing efforts to prepare for their upcoming engagements with North Korea. Both leaders affirmed the importance of learning from the mistakes of the past, and pledged continued, close coordination to maintain maximum pressure on the North Korean regime. The two leaders agreed that concrete actions, not words, will be the key to achieving permanent denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and President Trump reiterated his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by the end of May. The two leaders expressed cautious optimism over recent developments and emphasized that a brighter future is available for North Korea, if it chooses the correct path.
