Eager to slam Trump, Schumer contradicts himself in support of Chief Justice Roberts, critics say

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., drew swift criticism for seeming to praise and criticize Chief Justice John Roberts. (Reuters)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was quickly mocked Friday after praising Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court for rebuking President Trump’s recent “Obama judges” comment -- while at the same time slamming Roberts’ “partisan decisions.”
“I don’t agree very often with Chief Justice Roberts, especially his partisan decisions which seem highly political on Citizens United, Janus, and Shelby,” the Democrat wrote in a Twitter message. “But I am thankful today that he — almost alone among Republicans — stood up to President Trump and for an independent judiciary.”
Critics on social media and elsewhere pointed out that in issuing a two-sided response to the Trump-Roberts exchange, Schumer was effectively agreeing with the president, who had criticized the courts for partisanship.
Some wondered whether Schumer had even recognized the mistake.

“I wonder if Chuck realizes how he's contradicting himself and proving Trump's point in this statement? I doubt it,” Twitter user Derek Hunter. wrote.
TRUMP SLAMS CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS, INSISTS THERE ARE ‘OBAMA JUDGES’
“So Schumer rips the Judiciary as being partisan in the same tweet that he praises Roberts for responding to Trump for criticizing the judiciary as being partisan... Stunning!” another user on social media commented.
Ross Douthat of the New York Times went on to lampoon the Democrat.
“Shorter Chuck Schumer: Trump is totally right about the courts, except when Republican appointees criticize him; then the judiciary is Independent and Good,” the conservative columnist wrote.
Schumer’s backhanded compliment came amid a war of words between Trump and Roberts, with the president criticizing the so-called “judicial activism” of federal judges who halt decisions made by the executive branch, a common occurrence under the Trump administration.
The criticism was prompted after U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar, who was nominated by President Obama in 2012 to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, issued a temporary restraining order late Monday against Trump's plan to refuse asylum to immigrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally if they do not arrive at a port of entry.
“You go to Ninth Circuit and it's a disgrace, and I'm going to put in a major complaint. Because you cannot win, if you're us, a case in the Ninth Circuit,” Trump said. “Every case gets filed in the Ninth Circuit. ... We get beaten, and then we end up having to go to the Supreme Court -- like the travel ban and we won. We're gonna have to look at that.”

"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them."
— Chief Justice Roberts

In response, Roberts issued a rare criticism of the president.
“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,” he said in a Wednesday statement provided to Fox News. “What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them."
Roberts added: “That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.”
But the statement from the chief justice only prompted Trump to double-down on his criticism of the judiciary, saying the courts aren’t as independent as Roberts makes them out to be.
“Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have ‘Obama judges,’ and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country,” Trump tweeted.
“It would be great if the 9th Circuit was indeed an ‘independent judiciary,’ but if it is why are so many opposing view (on Border and Safety) cases filed there, and why are a vast number of those cases overturned,” Trump continued. “Please study the numbers, they are shocking. We need protection and security - these rulings are making our country unsafe! Very dangerous and unwise!”

Caravan Democrat Voter Cartoons

Pres. Trump defends Pompeo: relations with Saudi Arabia good for jobs, oil

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gestures while speaking during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:55 AM PT – Thur. Nov. 22, 2018

President Trump tweets out in support Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, after he suggested the U.S. get tougher on Saudi Arabia.
In a tweet Thursday, the president quoted Pompeo saying maintaining relations with Saudi Arabia was ‘vital to national security.’
However, the secretary of state also said it was the president’s obligation to adopt policies that further America’s security interests.
President Trump applauded Pompeo’s stance saying he agrees 100%, adding that retaining working relations with Saudi Arabia is good for American jobs and oil.

“It’s a mean & nasty world out there, the Middle East in particular. This is a long and historic commitment, & one that is absolutely vital to America’s national security.” @SecPompeo I agree 100%. In addition, many Billions of Dollars of purchases made in U.S., big Jobs & Oil!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2018

Secretary Mattis addresses White House order to protect Border Patrol

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis waits outside for Chinese Minister of Defense General Wei Fenghe to begin an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:00 AM PT – Thur. Nov. 22, 2018

Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks out on the presence of troops at the Southern border in the wake of the White House’s authorization of lethal force.
On Wednesday Mattis said President Trump saw ‘the need’ to back up Border Patrol and indicated the military is ‘sizing up’ the additional measures authorized.
He also estimated more than 5,700 federal troops are committed to the mission on the border right now.
Mattis asserted the president’s concern for the safety of Border Patrol personnel is valid.

“You saw were six Mexican policemen were injured according to The New York Times. I think it’s an accurate report. This down the Guatemalan border. So it is not an unreasonable concern on the part of the president that we may have to back up Border Patrol.” – Defense Secretary James Mattis

He went on to suggest the crowd control barriers and barbed wire implemented at the border are partly aimed at protecting Border Patrol.

Trump and Melania host Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump, center, and first lady Melania Trump, right, sit with their family as they have Thanksgiving Day dinner at their Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. Ivanka Trump, left, and Barron Trump, second from left, attend.  (AP)

President Trump was joined by his family as he hosted a Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at the “winter White House” – his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Items on the menu included a carving station with turkey and all the trimmings, as well as beef tenderloin, lamb and salmon.
There was also Chilean Sea bass, Red Snapper, Braised short ribs and sides including whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes and traditional stuffing.
TRUMP THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN 'WHOLE BORDER' WITH MEXICO IF IMMIGRATION BECOMES 'UNCONTROLLABLE'
The White House’s pool reporter said romaine lettuce was not used in any dish. At least 32 people have gotten sick as a result of an E.coli outbreak believed to be connected to romaine, according to the FDA.

Ivanka Trump talks with her kids as she has Thanksgiving Day dinner at their Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018, with President Donald Trump, left, and sister Tiffany Trump, background left. (AP)

Trump could be seen enjoying dinner, flanked by his wife Melania and son Barron, aged 12. He was also joined by his oldest daughter Ivanka and her family, his younger daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric and his wife Lara. His oldest son Donald Jr. was not present.
He arrived at the Palm Beach club on Tuesday night, where he has been mixing business with pleasure. On Wednesday he played a “quick round” of golf with Jack Nicklaus, his son Gary and grandson G.T.
TRUMP CONTINUES WAR OF WORDS WITH CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS
But he was active on Thursday, speaking to reporters about the U.S. border with Mexico, where he threatened to close it for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines its southern neighbor has lost “control” on its side.

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he has Thanksgiving Day dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday (AP)

Trump said that if U.S. officials "find that it's uncontrollable, if we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control. The whole border."
He also held a Thanksgiving Day conference call with members of all five branches of the military to thank them for their service and check in on the status of their mission.
Speaking over the phone, he told members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard that he and First Lady Melania Trump wanted to express their "profound gratitude."
“Your courage truly inspires us,” Trump said.
He also visited the Coast Guard Station Lake Worth in Riviera Beach, where he shook hands and posed for photos with Coast Guard members.

Small group breaks from caravan, within 500 feet of US border, report says

A group of about 150 migrants carrying white flags that read, "La paz y Dios," or "Peace and God are With Us," separated from the larger caravan near Southern California and inched within 500 feet of the U.S., a report Thursday said.
The migrants said they are carrying the white flags to show that they are peaceful, and will attempt to present themselves as asylum seekers near Baja, Calif., The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
President Trump on Thursday threatened to close the border with Mexico if his administration determines that Mexico has lost control of the situation. The Union-Tribune reported that Mexican federal police held a barrier near a pedestrian crossing and urged the migrants to apply for jobs in Tijuana. Police claimed there are thousands of jobs in the city. Federal police were dressed in riot gear and prevented the caravan from getting closer to the U.S.
Carlos Lopez, a Honduran who was leading the small group, told the paper that the conditions in Mexico are horrible. He said there are sick children and women and children are forced to remain outside in the elements. Those already in the city have camped out in tents, slept on dirt fields or under bleachers or are staying in overcrowded shelters throughout the city as they wait to figure out their next steps.
"The whole world is watching what is happening here," he said.
The report said the larger group contains about 6,219 Central Americans. The federal government estimates the number of migrants could grow to 10,000 in the coming weeks, or months. President Trump warned that the caravan is a national security threat and it will not enter the U.S.
On Monday, a judge barred the president from enforcing a ban on asylum for those who cross the U.S. border illegally – a decision the administration said would cause “countless illegal aliens to pour into our country."
The report said that the migrants who traveled for over a month can now see a bridge that separates them from the U.S.
Speaking to reporters while in Florida for the holiday, Trump threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines that its southern ally has lost "control" on its side.
Trump also said he has given the thousands of active-duty troops he sent to the border before the Nov. 6 midterm elections the "OK" to use lethal force against migrants "if they have to." And he said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, whom he has faulted for not being tough enough on immigration, is "in there trying."

2018 Thanksgiving Turkey Cartoons

Americans travel across U.S. for Thanksgiving

Travelers check in for flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, in New York. The airline industry trade group Airlines for America expects that Wednesday will be the second busiest day of the holiday period behind only Sunday, when many travelers will be returning home after Thanksgiving. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:35 AM PT — Wed. Nov. 21, 2018

Airlines and highways are now feeling the holiday travel spirit as Americans gear up to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Officials said the day before Thanksgiving will be the second busiest day to fly, behind the following Sunday, with an estimated 2.93 million passengers flying.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are predicting a record number of air travelers this holiday season, with more than 25 million passengers nationwide going through security between November 16th through November 26th.
AAA expects over 54 million Americans to hit the roads and travel 50-miles or more for the holiday this year, which is a nearly five-percent increase from 2017.
“We’re seeing this is the busiest travel since 2005, more than 54 million people traveling, 85-percent of those — or 48 and a half million — will be driving to their destinations,” stated Robert Sinclair, spokesman for AAA. “People have more money in their pockets, household net worth is up, disposable is up, consumer confidence is up, and when we have a little time built into our schedules, we take advantage of it.”
Airlines for America said more Americans are traveling by air than ever due to historically low fares.

Pres. Trump applauds lower oil prices, thanks Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump waves after speaking to the media before leaving the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The president thanked Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018 for the lower oil prices. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

OAN Newsroom

UPDATED 11:18 a.m. PT – Wednesday Nov. 21, 2018

Pres. Trump applauds the low oil prices comparing it to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
On Twitter Wednesday the president thanked Saudi Arabia for the low oil prices, saying a barrel went from $82 to $54 and he wants to continue getting that price lower. He then said it’s like a big tax cut for America and the world.

Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2018

The president’s tweet comes one day after he released a statement reaffirming the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia.

Dual Saudi-American citizen imprisoned by Crown Prince remains detained

A dual Saudi-American citizen has been detained in Saudi Arabia for over a year after the country's crackdown on corruption and his status has raised new criticism of President Trump's reluctance to punish the kingdom over issues that do not directly affect American citizens.
The White House has been barraged with criticism over its stance towards Saudi Arabia in the wake of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post writer whose death in Turkey was allegedly ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The murder of the writer prompted outrage across the world, with some countries such as Germany ending its arms deal with Saudi Arabia. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that intelligence officials have concluded that bin Salman ordered the killing.
Trump fired back against the criticism that the U.S. isn’t doing enough, saying Khashoggi wasn’t an American citizen and it happened on Turkish soil. “Well, it's not our country. It's in Turkey. And it's not a citizen, as I understand it,” he said last month.
TRUMP UNSURE WHETHER SAUDI CROWN PRINCE KNEW OF KHASHOGGI MURDER: ‘MAYBE HE DID AND MAYBE HE DIDN’T!’

Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained doctor, television host and motivational speaker was arrested last year together with 17 other people in what bin Salman touted as a crackdown on corruption. 

But as he made the comments, an American doctor was spending his days in prison as part of bin Salman’s purge of businessmen, princes, clerics, scholars and activists in a bid to consolidate power, the New York Times reported.
Walid Fitaihi, a Harvard-trained doctor, television host and motivational speaker was arrested last year together with 17 others in what bin Salman touted as a crackdown on corruption. The detained individuals reportedly underwent harsh treatment and abuse, with at least one person dying due to abuse in detention.
Unlike some other detainees, who managed to free themselves after pledging loyalty to the new Saudi leadership or paying money, Fitaihi was transferred to prison for incarceration despite not being formally charged with any crime.
Fitaihi obtained his American citizenship more than a decade ago when studying and practicing medicine in the U.S. He once was registered to vote in U.S. elections and moved back to Saudi Arabia sometime in 2006. Upon his return to Saudi Arabia, he founded a private hospital.
After the September 11, 2001 terror attack in the U.S., Fitaihi was quoted by the Denver Post condemning the attacks. “There are Muslims who died, Christians who died, Jews who died — it’s a crime against humanity,” he said. “It’s a test for us as a nation.”
In 2004, Fitaihi came under fire for revelations that he made anti-Semitic comments in Arabic newspapers, including calling Jews “perpetrators of the worst of evils” and to have said they control “the power of the media,” according to the Times.
CIA DETERMINES KHASHOGGI’S DEATH WAS ORDERED BY SAUDI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN: REPORT
The Trump administration has long sought to free imprisoned Americans across the world, taking harsh measures against hostile countries in an attempt to force their release.
Earlier this year, three Americans were freed from North Korea who were accused of hostile acts against the communist state. The President also campaigned to bring back American college student Otto Warmbier, who suffered brain damage and died after being held captive in North Korea for 15 months after an ill-fated trip to the country in 2015. More recently, Trump imposed trade sanctions on Turkey, forcing the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson.
But it appears the Trump administration hasn’t made attempts to free Fitaihi, except for “routinely request[ing] consular access to all American citizens that have been detained in Saudi Arabia,” according to the Times.
Khashoggi, the slain writer, once spoken out against about his friend’s arrest.
“What has happened to us?” Khashoggi tweeted. “How can someone like Dr. Walid Fitaihi be arrested and what are the justifications for it?”
“Everyone is in a state of confusion and helplessness, there is no one you can go to,” he added. “God help us.”