This week, White House news revolved around the three S's: sanctions, space and special (special election and special counsel). The Trump administration reimposed US sanctions on Iran, which went back into effect Tuesday. A day later, the State Department announced that the US will impose sanctions on Russia under a chemical and biological warfare law after the poisoning of a former Russian agent and his daughter in the United Kingdom earlier this year.
Then came #spaceforce. As CNN's Ryan Browne reported, "Vice President Mike Pence called Thursday for the establishment of a Space Force by 2020, while also announcing immediate steps the Department of Defense would take to reform how the military approaches space." BTW, Trump's re-election team is already planning on selling "Space Force" merch.
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And although Republicans should be worrying about the House (read more of CNN's analysis from Tuesday's special election here), the President seemed to be in good spirits about the results: 'RED WAVE!" he tweeted Wednesday.
Meanwhile, per Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump's lawyers, the President's legal team has responded to the special counsel. It's the latest effort in negotiations over a possible interview. Now we just wait and see what's to come in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.
Below, 14 big headlines -- rounded up by The Point's Brenna Williams -- from this week at the White House.
Monday:
- President urged to stop tweeting on Trump Tower meeting
- Trump team expected to respond to Mueller in coming days regarding interview
- Gates says he and Manafort didn't report 15 foreign accounts, knew it was illegal
- Trump nominates new ICE director
Tuesday:
- Trump warns countries against doing business with Iran as sanctions kick back in
- Feds scrutinizing Michael Cohen's former accountant and bank loans
Wednesday:
- Trump's legal team responds to Mueller regarding interview
- Trump administration slaps more sanctions on Russia after Scribal poisonings
Thursday:
- Mueller request signals Gates may be cooperating
- Judge blocks administration from deporting asylum seekers while fighting for right to stay in US
- Pence calls for creation of Space Force by 2020
- Stormy Daniels defamation lawsuit against Trump transferred to California
- Melania Trump used visa opposed by her husband to get her parents' citizenship
Friday:
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