White House

Biden to host second summit with Pacific islands at White House

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement the summit with the 18-member forum would take place on Monday and Tuesday.

At the summit, Biden would "reaffirm the US commitment to our shared regional priorities" with the Pacific islanders, and deepen cooperation with them in a range of areas, the statement said.

These included "tackling the climate crisis; advancing economic growth; promoting sustainable development; strengthening health security; countering illegal, unreported fishing; and expanding our people-to-people ties," it said.

Cocaine found at White House sparked evacuation, US media report

The substance was found in a work area at the secure building during a routine inspection, the US Secret Service said.

The preliminary positive test was reported by the Washington Post and AP News, citing law enforcement sources.

President Joe Biden and his family were away at the Camp David residence when the substance was found.

US rules out vaccine passports

Schemes to introduce such passports have been touted around the world as a way to enable safe circulation of people while fighting the pandemic.

The US said it did not and would not support a "system that requires Americans to carry a credential".

America has lost more than half a million lives to the virus.

Nearly 31 million cases have been registered, making the US the country worst affected by the pandemic, figures from Johns Hopkins University indicate.

White House going to the dogs as Biden pets Major and Champ move in

Major, a German Shepherd, will be the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House. The Bidens adopted him in November 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association. Champ, also a German Shepherd, joined the family in 2008.

"From shelter pup at the Delaware Humane Association to First Dog at the White House, Major Biden is barking proof that every dog can live the American dream," said the group, which hosted an online "indoguration" fundraiser on 17 January to celebrate Major's move into the White House on 20 January.

Trump says he will leave White House if Biden wins Electoral College vote

Speaking to reporters on the Thanksgiving holiday, Republican Trump said if Democrat Biden is certified the election winner by the Electoral College, he will depart the White House.

But Trump said it would be hard for him to concede under the current circumstances and declined to say whether he would attend Biden's inauguration on 20 January.

The electors are scheduled to meet on 14 December.

"This election was a fraud," Trump insisted, while offering no concrete evidence of such voting irregularities.

Joe Biden picks Ron Klain as White House chief of staff

Mr Klain has served as a top aide to Mr Biden since the 1980s in the Senate and later when he was vice-president.

The ultimate Washington insider, Mr Klain was also a senior White House aide to Barack Obama and chief of staff to Vice-President Al Gore.

He was played by actor Kevin Spacey in the movie Recount, about the presidential election of 2000.

The White House chief of staff - who manages the president's daily schedule and is often described as his gatekeeper - is a political appointee that does not require confirmation by the Senate.

Donald Trump abruptly escorted from White House briefing by Secret Service

Minutes into a news briefing, Trump was taken out of the room with no explanation for the disruption. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room and the doors were locked.

Trump was heard to say "Oh!" and "What's happening", as he left the briefing room.

When Trump returned, he said there was a shooting outside of the White House premises.

He said the person was shot by the Secret Service or law enforcement and he was taken to the Oval Office after the incident.

Kanye: 'Trump hat made me feel like Superman'

Wearing a Make America Great Again hat "made me feel like Superman", he said.

West had been invited to the White House for lunch to discuss prison reform and other issues.

At the end of the 10-minute monologue, during which Mr Trump nodded in approval, the president said: "That was quite something."

West replied: "It was from the soul. I just channelled it."

"I love this guy right here," West said, walking behind the desk to hug the seated president, who said: "That's really nice."

   

White House shooting: Man shoots and kills himself outside fence

It said the man approached the White House's fence on Pennsylvania Avenue just before noon local time (17:00GMT) before taking out a handgun and firing several shots.

No one else was injured, according to police.

President Donald Trump is not at the White House, but at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The man was in a large crowd when he fired the gun, the Washington Post reports, citing witnesses.

A video posted to Twitter shows many people running away from the scene.

The man's name has not been released.

Hope Hicks named White House Communications Director

The longtime Trump aide is the fourth person to fill the position, replacing Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired in July after just 10 days on the job.

Ms Hicks has served as President Donald Trump's strategic communications director and campaign press secretary.

The ex-Trump Organization employee is one of his most trusted aides.

As White House communications director she will be responsible for shaping the administration's message - although in a less visible way than press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.