US politics live: Donald Trump's shock ‘chronic' health diagnosis
Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, the White House has revealed.
It's a rare admission that the US President is fallible, with previous medical check-ups describing him as being in fine health.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump was suffering from a condition called chronic venous insufficiency in his legs.
It means the veins in his legs can't regulate blood flow as efficiently as they should, potentially leading to swelling and infected ulcers that could become dangerous without prompt treatment.
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In Congress, Democrats scrutinising Mr Trump's former personal lawyer Emil Bove – who he wants to promote to a high-profile lifetime judicial position – walked out of the hearing in fury at the Republicans on the committee.
They accused the GOP members of trying to rush the debate and refusing to allow a whistleblower who has made accusations about Mr Bove's character to testify.
While Maurene Comey, the federal prosecutor and daughter of Trump critic James Comey, who was summarily sacked for no apparent reason by the White House, has broken her silence.
Ms Comey was involved in the conviction of Jeffrey Epstein and his offsider Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as playing a major role in the recent Sean Combs trial.
Read on for more updates.
Originally published as US politics live: Donald Trump's shock 'chronic' health diagnosis
White House reveals Trump's 'chronic' health condition
Benedict Brook
The White House has revealed that Donald Trump has a chronic health condition in his legs. It also provide more information on a condition with his hands which has seen them look discoloured.
The diagnosis is something of a shock as the White House has otherwise published glowing medical reports on the US President's overall health.
However, on Thursday, US time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump was overall in 'excellent health'.
Ms Leavitt told reporters the US President was suffering from a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency.
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'It's safe': Coke scrambles after Trump post
Benedict Brook
Soft drink goliath Coca Cola is being coy – and issuing confusing statements – after Donald Trump announced a key sweetener would be removed from its drinks in the US in favour of sugar.
It comes as a proposal is floated in Australia to more heavily tax drinks that contain sugar – with Coca Cola being a prime candidate. Picture: Charly Triballeau/AFP
On Thursday, the US President said he had been 'speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States'.
'They have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them – you'll see. It's just better!'
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Trump won't appoint special prosecutor in Epstein case
Donald Trump 'would not recommend' a special prosecutor examine the Jeffrey Epstein case, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced, as controversy over the late pedophile continues to dog the administration.
'That's how he feels,' Ms Leavitt told reporters when asked about the possibility during her regular briefing.
Calls have grown for the release of the full investigative file on Epstein – who died in his Manhattan prison cell in August 2019 – after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI released a memo last week concluding the disgraced financier committed suicide – and did not keep a list of 'clients' to whom he trafficked underage teens for sex, contrary to widespread speculation. A photo of Jeffrey Epstein. Picture:North America/AFP
Ms Leavitt stressed that the President would welcome additional releases of 'credible' information relating to the sex-trafficking case – but said that Trump believes the DOJ has done its job.
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'Fear tool of tyrants': Blistering letter from lawyer sacked by Trump
Benedict Brook
The daughter of a critic of Donald Trump, who was sacked as a US government lawyer on Wednesday for no clear reason, has told her now former colleagues not to bow to 'fear' which is the 'tool of tyrants'.
Maurene Comey has worked for the US Justice Department as an Assistant US Attorney for more than a decade and had worked on huge trials including the convictions of Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and the recent Sean 'Diddy' Combs proceedings. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey. Picture: AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
Former FBI director James Comey, who has clashed with Mr Trump and gave evidence against him at his hush money trial last year, is her father.
There have been calls for Ms Comey to be sacked by some MAGA commentators because of her father.
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Furious Democrats walk out of Congress
AFP
Emil Bove, US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, moved a step closer on Thursday to becoming a US federal appellate judge, after a fiery Senate committee meeting that featured a walkout by Democrats.
The Republican-majority Senate Judiciary Committee voted along partisan lines to advance the nomination of the controversial Mr Bove for consideration by the full Senate.
Mr Bove, 44, has been nominated by Mr Trump to a lifetime appointment on the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which covers the states of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Now US President Donald Trump in a New York courtroom in May last year with lawyer Emil Bove who he is now nominated to aplum judicial job despite multiple accusations against him. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
A former federal prosecutor and currently the third-ranking official in the Justice Department, Mr Bove has faced fierce criticism for his role in the Trump administration's divisive six months in power.
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Comedian roasts Trump over Epstein on stage
Samuel Clench
omedian Shane Gillis hosted the ESPY Awards today, which recognise excellence in sport, and as is tradition at these events, he did some roasting from the stage. Including one pointed joke aimed squarely at Donald Trump.
Two jokes, actually, but one that felt particularly relevant. Here's the less relevant one first.
'Jon Jones and Nate Diaz are here,' said Mr Gillis, referring to a pair of UFC fighters.
'I actually had a couple drinks with those guys last night at the hotel, and it was terrifying.
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'Must have the list': Elon Musk goes nuclear
Samuel Clench
Elon Musk continues to antagonise Donald Trump.
You'll recall that, soon after leaving the Trump administration in June, Mr Musk sensationally claimed 'Donald Trump is in the Epstein files' and 'that is the real reason they have not been made public'.
When the Department of Justice memo emerged saying there never was any Epstein 'client list', and the case was essentially closed, Mr Musk said it was 'the final straw'.
Today he continued to sass Mr Trump by asking his AI tool, Grok, about elements of the Epstein case.
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