U.S. President Donald Trump
Two of President Donald Trump's top advisers got into a heated exchange outside the Oval Office on Thursday as passions boiled over about how to handle illegal immigration, two sources familiar with the incident said.
The two advisers were White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who is a former secretary for Homeland Security, and Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, the sources said.
One source described the argument as a "tense exchange" but said that it had blown over. Another source said it was "not a big deal."
Trump, asked about the incident, told reporters: "That I have not heard about."
Trump threatened on Thursday to deploy the military and close the southern U.S. border as Hondurans and Salvadorans joined thousands of migrants in Guatemala hoping to travel north.
"I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught – and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!' Trump said in a tweet.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said President Donald Trump has reassured him of his full support after the Republican president described his Pentagon chief as "sort of a Democrat" who could leave the administration.Mattis, speaking to reporters before landing in Vietnam on Tuesday, said he received the reassurance from Trump in a phone call during his nearly 20-hour flight from Washington."(Trump) said, 'I'm 100 percent with you'," Mattis recounted, playing down Trump's remarks to CBS' "60 Minutes," which aired on Sunday.Asked whether he was a Democrat, as Trump suggested, Mattis, disclosed that he had not registered as a Democrat or a Republican.Trump says he is unsure if Defense Secretary Mattis will depart"I have never registered for any political party," said Mattis, a retired Marine general.Mattis sought to portray national defense as an issue above partisan politics. He also pointed to a long military career that taught him to act in a "proudly apolitical" manner, in which U.S. servicemembers carry out orders from Republican and Democratic presidents alike.Mattis said he did not talk to Trump about leaving his job and dismissed speculation he was being pushed out."I'm on his team. We have never talked about me leaving. And as you can see right here, we are on our way (to Asia). We just continue doing our job," Mattis said.The remarks represented Mattis' first and only response since Trump's assertions to CBS raised questions about whether Mattis might be getting ready to leave his job, perhaps after mid-term U.S. elections next month.Trump told the news program: "I think he's sort of a Democrat, if you want to know the truth. But General Mattis is a good guy. We get along very well. He may leave. I mean, at some point, everybody leaves."Mattis' future has become a focus of media speculation, particularly after last month's release of a book by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward that portrayed Mattis privately disparaging Trump to associates.Mattis has strongly denied making any such remarks.Trump had long been deferential toward Mattis, saying on Sept. 5 his defense chief would remain in his job.Mattis has previously made no secret of the fact that he was not looking to become secretary of defense - or even return to Washington - when Trump was elected.Mattis had stepped down from the military in 2013 and taken a job at Stanford University. He told his Senate confirmation hearing last year he was "enjoying a full life west of the Rockies" when the call came about the position.Asked last month about reports he may be leaving, Mattis said: "I wouldn’t take it seriously at all."Western officials privately extol Mattis, whose standing among NATO allies has risen as they become increasingly bewildered by Trump's policies on trade and Iran and disoriented by his outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin.One factor thought to have darkened Mattis’ prospects is this year's arrival in the White House of Mira Ricardel, who has the powerful post of deputy national security adviser and is believed to dislike Mattis, current and former officials have told Reuters.He is also seen as less hawkish on Iran than Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Trump tells Mattis he is 100 pct behind him after 'Democrat' jab
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday it "certainly looks" like missing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is dead, amid speculation he was killed by Saudi Arabia."We're waiting for some investigations, and waiting for the results, and we'll have them very soon. And I think we'll be making a statement, a very strong statement, but we're waiting for the results of about three different investigations," Trump told reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Montana.In an interview with The New York Times published after he made the remarks, Trump said, “Unless the miracle of all miracles happens, I would acknowledge that he’s dead."France suspends political visits to Saudi Arabia"That’s based on everything — intelligence coming from every side,” Trump told the newspaper.During his remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump pledged "very severe" consequences if Riyadh is determined to have been responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance and suspected death but did not elaborate on how Washington might retaliate.The president has previously voiced reluctance to canceling arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying by doing so the U.S. would "be punishing ourselves."Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Aide to Prince Salman seen walking into Saudi consulateOn the same day of Khashoggi's disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over KhashoggiThe Turkish team concluded its search for evidence in nine hours and left but returned to the Saudi consulate to continue searching the premises.Vice President Mike Pence said "the world deserves answers.""If what has been alleged occurred, if an innocent person lost their life at the hands of violence, that's to be condemned," Pence said Thursday during remarks to reporters in Colorado. "If a journalist in particular lost their life at the hands of violence that's an affront to a free and independent press around the world. And there will be consequences."Saudi response to Khashoggi case raises questions
Trump says he believes Khashoggi is dead