The RNC Is Hosting Its Christmas Party This Year At Donald Trump's Hotel

The Republican National Committee will host its Christmas Party this year at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the newest property of its newfound leader.

The event, which two GOP sources confirmed to The Huffington Post, is said to be a more exclusive and celebratory affair this year owing to the unexpected election victories enjoyed by the party this November. But in moving the proceedings to Donald Trump’s downtown D.C. hotel, which only opened this past fall, the committee risks furthering the perception that the president-elect is leveraging his newfound political power for private gains.

Trump has yet to announce his plans for handling or transferring his vast business empire once he takes office. But the New York Times reported on Wednesday night that Trump plans to step down from his post while still maintaining a stake in the company.

Such a move will likely leave critics and concerned politicians and observers unsatisfied about potential conflicts of interest. Already, there have been complaints that Trump has carelessly ― if not unethically ― intermingled his business and political affairs. Those first surfaced during the campaign, when he spent millions on his own plane and property, and extended to the first weeks of the transition as he made various calls to foreign officials who resided in countries where the Trump Organization does business.

His hotel in D.C. has been a focus of controversy too. 

Earlier this week, the conservative Heritage Foundation hosted a reception there featuring Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Foreign diplomats, meanwhile, have said they feel pressure to stay at the Trump International while in town, if only because staying elsewhere would send a bad signal to the incoming administration.

Source: Huffington Post

'Donald, It Was a Movie' – See Harrison Ford's Perfect Response to Trump's Air Force One Praise

Harrison Ford

DOUGLAS GORENSTEIN/NBC

Harrison Ford wants Donald Trump to get off his proverbial plane. 

After the GOP front-runner praised the actor's turn as a terrorist-fighting president in 1997's Air Force One during a recent interview with The New York Times, Ford fired back with the perfect response. 

"Donald, it was a movie. It's not like this in real life. But how would you know?" the actor said in an interview with Studio 10 during an Australian press tour for his new film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

See more at PEOPLE

Carly Fiorina Gets Revenge On Donald Trump For 'Face' Comment

Carly Fiorina responded to professional entertainer Donald Trump's earlier disparaging remark about her appearance during Wednesday night's GOP debate, making clear she found them insulting not only to her but to women everywhere.

"I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said," Fiorina said, responding to a question from CNN's Jake Tapper and drawing loud applause from the audience.

"I think she's got a beautiful face and I think she's a beautiful woman," Trump replied.

Fiorina did not smile.

Trump found himself in hot water after Rolling Stone magazine published a recent interview in which he commented on Fiorina's physical appearance: "Look at that face! Would anyone votefor that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?!" He later clarified that he was talking about her "persona" rather than her actual face.

On Friday, Fiorina spoke to the Federation of Republican Women in Arizona and also took on Trump's comments. 

"Ladies, look at this face," she said. "This is the face of a 61-year-old woman. I am proud of every year and every wrinkle." 

 A super PAC supporting Fiorina released an ad this week going after Trump, featuring the faces of women and girls.

Source: The Huffington Post

Donald Trump Kicks Jorge Ramos Out Of Press Conference

Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissively told highly respected television anchor Jorge Ramos to "go back to Univision" before security physically removed the Mexican-American journalist from a press conference in Dubuque, Iowa.

Ramos was trying to ask Trump about his plan to deport all undocumented immigrants, but the business mogul and GOP presidential candidate said he was interrupting. He insisted that security had made the decision to kick out Ramos, but said he was fine with it.

"This guy stands up and starts screaming," Trump said. "He's obviously a very emotional person."

Trump claimed he didn't know much about Ramos, which may have been true. But he probably should -- Ramos is wildly popular as a Spanish-language anchor and well-regarded for pressing politicians from both parties on issues, particularly immigration. 

Trump, by contrast, is mostly disliked by Latinos, and going after Ramos is unlikely to help that fact. 

The anchor was eventually let back into the press conference and got the chance to have an extended back-and-forth with Trump. Ramos pointed out that denying citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants, as Trump wants to do, would be a violation of the Constitution. Trump said he was wrong. Ramos asked how he would build a 1,900-mile wall; Trump said he could do it because he builds 95-story buildings.

When Ramos noted that an estimated 40 percent of undocumented immigrants came to the U.S. legally and overstayed their visa, Trump said, "I don't believe it."

Trump promised to deport undocumented immigrants who are gang members "so fast your head will spin." Others will also be deported but "good ones" would be allowed to come back, Trump insisted.

As to how he would do such a thing, Trump -- yet again -- wouldn't say. 

"You know what it's called? Management," he said.

It wasn't Trump's first point of awkwardness with Univision, which he sued for $500 million in June after the network ended its contract to air the Miss USA pageant, which he co-owns. 

Univision president of news and Fusion CEO Isaac Lee released a statement following Ramos' treatment at the event: "We'd love for Mr. Trump to sit down for an in-depth interview with Jorge to talk about the specifics of his proposals."

Donald Trump Drawing Fire From All Corners Of GOP

WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Rival Republican presidential candidates piled on Donald Trump on Saturday for his caustic remarks about a female debate moderator, and the billionaire celebrity candidate backpedaled in an effort to keep his campaign from unraveling.

Trump blasted Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly during a debate in Cleveland on Thursday when she questioned him about insulting comments he had made about women. The backlash to his exchange with Kelly has threatened to knock the wheels off the bandwagon of support that had Trump leading early polls in the race for the Republican nomination for the 2016 election.

Asked about Kelly on a CNN interview on Friday, Trump said: "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever."

Trump was promptly dumped from a keynote speaking role on Saturday night in Atlanta at an important gathering of conservative activists put together by the RedState organization. Republican candidates Carly Fiorina, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, Rick Perry and George Pataki denounced the comments on Twitter or in statements.

RedState chief Erick Erickson said he disinvited Trump because of his remarks about Kelly on CNN.

The Trump campaign issued a statement clarifying that by "her wherever," Trump meant Kelly's nose.

"Mr. Trump made Megyn Kelly look really bad - she was a mess with her anger and totally caught off guard," the campaign said. Trump said 'blood was coming out of her eyes and whatever' meaning nose, but wanted to move on to more important topics. Only a deviant would think anything else."

Erickson, who invited Kelly to replace Trump at the conference, said he revoked Trump's invitation because he did not "want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal."

A campaign spokeswoman said on Saturday that Trump had fired senior political adviser Roger Stone, the second firing of a senior staffer over the past week. The reason cited was that Stone was using the Trump campaign for his own personal publicity. Stone denied being fired, saying he resigned over the direction of Trump's campaign.

Trump also took to Twitter on Saturday to renounce politically correct attitudes, as he had done at the debate.

"So many 'politically correct' fools in our country," he wrote. "We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!"

Rival candidates, however, hammered on their doubts that Trump was ready to represent the Republican party in a presidential run.

"Enough already with Mr. Trump," said Graham, a senator from South Carolina. "As a party, we are better to risk losing without Donald Trump than trying to win with him."
He added: "Due to Donald Trump's unrelenting and offensive attack on Megyn Kelly and others, we are at a crossroads with Mr. Trump."

Without mentioning Trump's name, Jeb Bush made reference to him when he spoke to RedState. Bush, former governor of Florida, said the tough questions at the debate were nothing compared to the challenges the next president will face.

"You think that's tough? How about dealing with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin? How about dealing with the challenges that exist in our country? This is nothing," he said.

Erickson read aloud some of the emails he had been getting from Trump supporters to protest his move, saying it appeared the Trump campaign had made his email address available to them.

In some of the emails, according to Erickson, the writers used a racial epithet to refer to President Barack Obama and made other inflammatory comments.

"I've got to tell you guys, I made the right decision," said Erickson. "These are the people I don't ever want at a RedState event." (Writing and reporting by Bill Trott; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Source: The Huffington Post

It's all about Trump at raucous Republican debate

Republican 2016 U.S. presidential candidate businessman Donald Trump (C) heads to the stage between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (L) and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) for the start of the first official Republican presidential candidates debate of the 2016 U.S....

REUTERS/BRIAN SNYDER

Donald Trump refused to rule out an independent White House bid and bristled at questions about his attitudes toward women, leaving his rivals struggling for attention on Thursday during a feisty first Republican presidential debate.

The nine other Republicans sharing the stage with Trump turned on one another at times but largely avoided direct challenges to the combative real estate mogul who has rocketed to the top of opinion polls in the 2016 race.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky did take on Trump, confronting him after Trump kicked off the debate by refusing to pledge his support for the Republican nominee in the November 2016 election.

"I will not make the pledge at this time," said Trump, who for weeks has said he would not rule out an independent bid that would almost certainly split the Republican vote and boost the chances of victory for the Democratic nominee.

Trump's response drew boos from the crowd and a rebuke from Paul, who said Trump was keeping his options open to support Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, a reference to his past friendship with both Clinton and her husband, Bill.

"He's already hedging his bets because he's used to buying politicians of all stripes," Paul said.

Trump's veiled threat to bolt the party if necessary could risk his support among Republican primary voters and stall his momentum, although the billionaire reality television star has repeatedly defied predictions of political doom.

In a show of hands, participants in a Fox News focus group who supported Trump before the debate overwhelmingly indicated they had changed their minds about him, critical of his refusal to commit to backing the eventual Republican nominee.

"I think he took out a gun and shot his campaign in the head," said Florida Republican strategist Rick Wilson.

(For candidates' comments at a glance: reut.rs/1gNN90T)

NO CLEAR WINNER

No candidate emerged the clear winner from the two-hour debate, leaving the Republican race potentially more unsettled than ever. A record 17 candidates are vying for their party's nomination.

During a combustible performance, Trump fired off insults at Paul, Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly, comedian Rosie O'Donnell, the Mexican government and an assortment of other targets.

He tangled with Kelly when she pressed him about past derogatory comments he had made about women, including calling them “fat pigs,” “dogs,” and "slobs," Trump dismissed the question as “political correctness.”

He accused Kelly of not treating him well, drawing more boos from the audience.

“Honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you although I could probably maybe not be based on the way you have treated me,” Trump, whose base of support is overwhelmingly male, said to a mixture of boos and applause.

The debate's feisty tone suited the flamboyant Trump, who has been the center of campaign attention for weeks for his personal attacks on rivals and his scathing comments about U.S. Senator John McCain's war record and about Mexican immigrants.

Trump kept it up in the debate, calling the Mexican government "much smarter, much sharper, much more cunning and they send the bad ones over."

The sometimes combative nature of the debate made bystanders at times of more measured rivals such as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who is No. 2 in the polls, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Bush called Trump's rhetoric "divisive" and said "we're going to win when we unite people with an optimistic message."

Bush's senior advisers said after the debate they were happy with his mistake-free performance, which focused on him talking up his record as Florida governor.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson finished second behind Trump in the number of mentions on Twitter. Trump led with 30 percent, while Carson was second at 12 percent and Paul was third with almost 10 percent.

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

The debate was the first chance for Republican voters to make a side-by-side comparison of the top 10 presidential contenders. Trump's rivals had to decide whether to directly confront him or to try to stay above the fray and look presidential.

Paul, who has lagged in the opinion polls, went on the offensive. In addition to challenging Trump on his potential independent run, Paul accused Trump of not realizing that Republicans opposed a single payer healthcare system. But Trump dismissed his attacks.

"You're having a hard time tonight," Trump said.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie belittled Paul's efforts in the Senate to curtail the government's electronic surveillance system, saying there should be more tools for tracking terrorists.

"When you're sitting in the subcommittee just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that," Christie said.

Before the main event, seven candidates whose poll ratings did not qualify them for prime time took part in a separate daytime debate. Several challenged Trump's conservative credentials, noting he had changed positions on abortion, healthcare and other issues.

But Carly Fiorina, a former business executive and the only woman in the Republican field, acknowledged Trump had tapped into a broad sense of frustration with Washington.

"Whatever your issue, your cause, the festering problem you hoped would be resolved, the political class has failed you. That's what Donald Trump has tapped into," said Fiorina, who was the runaway choice at more than 80 percent when Fox News asked viewers to tweet who they thought won the first debate.

Shortly after the early debate, social media interest in Fiorina surpassed interest in Trump, according to Google analytics. The next Republican debate is on Sept. 16.

(Additional reporting by Megan Cassella, Luciana Lopez, Amanda Becker; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller)

Source: Reuters

Trump at center stage as Republicans square off in first debate

Golf - RICOH Women's British Open 2015 - Trump Turnberry Resort, Scotland - 31/7/15US Presidential Candidate Donald Trump outside his hotelAction Images via Reuters / Russell CheyneLivepic

Donald Trump will be at center stage and potentially in the line of fire on Thursday as 10 leading Republican presidential candidates look for a break-out moment at their first debate on the road to the November 2016 election.

The real estate mogul, along with rivals Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and six others, square off at 9 p.m. EDT at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, just three hours after seven candidates who rank lower in the polls wrap up a separate debate.

The prime-time event, to be moderated by Fox News anchors Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace, will offer Americans their first look at the major candidates en masse with six months to go until Iowa holds the first nominating contest.

For Trump, the first debate offers an opportunity to prove whether he has a substantive vision for the country and go beyond his brick-throwing rhetoric.

His rapid rise to the top of the Republican pack in polls has earned him center-stage status in the debate.

Trump's take-no-prisoners style of campaigning - with a penchant for incendiary remarks such as those on the war record of Senator John McCain and on Mexican immigrants, whom he branded as criminals and rapists - has also earned him a level of press coverage that has eclipsed many of his rivals.

The big question for Trump's rivals is whether they will be willing to take him or simply stand back and hope he implodes on his own in Thursday's debate.

The leading contenders like Bush, Walker and Rubio are likely to stress their records and vision while others who are more in need of a boost in the polls, like Ohio Governor John Kasich or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, may find value in tangling with Trump.

The Bush camp made clear that the intention of the former Florida governor at the debate is to sell his record as a conservative, tax-cutting governor. The Walker camp made similar pledges about the Wisconsin governor's aim at the debate.

Republican strategist Katie Packer said the smart strategy is to steer clear of the mud-slinging Trump.

"There's no point in fighting with a pig because you just get dirty and you make the pig mad," she said.

Bush, who ranks second behind Trump in most polls, told NBC News last week that he had no problem with going head-to-head with Trump or any other Republican candidate in the debates.

"I'm a big boy," he said. "I'll be showing up with my big boy pants on."

Trump told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday that he wants a civil debate.

“I don’t want to attack anybody and maybe I’ll be attacked and maybe not,” Trump said. "I'd rather just discuss the issues."

Most Republicans believe Trump will positively influence the debate, saying his presence will challenge the establishment and open the party to new ideas, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows.

Many rank-and-file Republicans see Trump's blunt and unpredictable style as an asset. More than two-thirds agreed that his debate appearance would challenge the establishment, while 62 percent said it would lead to more honesty, and 61 percent said it would open the party to new ideas.

The poll found about half of Republicans thought Trump's presence meant something offensive would be said, while 42 percent believed he would add comedy to an otherwise boring event. Thirty-two percent thought he would make a mockery of the political process.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Source: Reuters

Exclusive: Donald Trump's companies have sought visas to import at least 1,100 workers

Golf - RICOH Women's British Open 2015 - Trump Turnberry Resort, Scotland - 31/7/15US Presidential Candidate Donald Trump points as he stands outside his hotelAction Images via Reuters / Russell CheyneLivepic

Donald Trump is staking his run for U.S. president in part on a vow to protect American jobs. But this month, one of his companies, the elite Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Florida, applied to import 70 foreign workers to serve as cooks, wait staff and cleaners.

A Reuters analysis of U.S. government data reveals that this is business as usual in the New York property magnate's empire.

Trump owns companies that have sought to import at least 1,100 foreign workers on temporary visas since 2000, according to U.S. Department of Labor data reviewed by Reuters. Most of the applications were approved, the data show.

Nine companies majority-owned by Trump have sought to bring in foreign waitresses, cooks, vineyard workers and other laborers on temporary work-visa programs administered by the Labor Department.

The candidate's foreign talent hunt included applications for an assistant golf-course superintendent, an assistant hotel manager and a banquet manager.

Two of his companies, Trump Model Management and Trump Management Group LLC, have sought visas for nearly 250 foreign fashion models, the records show.

Trump’s presidential campaign and a lawyer for the businessman declined to comment. The Mar-a-Lago Club could not be reached for comment.

The analysis of Trump's history of actively importing foreign workers comes as he has emerged as an early front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination in the November 2016 presidential election. Trump has positioned himself as a champion of American workers whose livelihoods are threatened by illegal foreign laborers and the offshoring of U.S. jobs.

“I will be the greatest jobs president that God every created," he said in announcing his candidacy on June 16. "I will bring back our jobs from China, Mexico and other places. I will bring back jobs and our money."

Trump generated both notoriety and buzz by singling out Mexican immigrants in the United States. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," he said in the speech. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists."

In a speech on July 11, Trump distinguished between those working legally and illegally in the United States, saying thousands of "legal" Mexicans - "incredible people" - have worked for him over the years.

The Labor Department records don't specify the nationality of the foreign workers sought by companies. But Trump could be bringing many Mexican workers into the United States.

Reuters examined records of applications for three categories of temporary work visas - the H-2A, H-2B and H-1B programs - submitted by employers to the Labor Department.

A CONTROVERSIAL VISA PROGRAM

The temporary work visa program through which Trump's companies have sought the greatest numbers of workers, H-2B, brings in mostly workers from Mexico. Mexicans made up more than 80 percent of the 104,993 admissions to the United States on H-2B visas in 2013. The Trump companies have sought at least 850 H-2B visa workers.

The H-2B program, which receives little government oversight, is used by companies in sectors ranging from hospitality to forestry to hire foreign workers for temporary jobs. Companies must prove that the jobs are seasonal - and that they tried and failed to hire Americans.

U.S. government watchdogs have criticized the H-2B and H-2A programs over the years for failing to protect foreign and American workers alike.

In 2003, the Labor Department Inspector General said: “Abuses of these programs may result in economic harm to American workers and businesses, exploitation of foreign workers, and security risks associated with aliens who are admitted to this country by fraudulent means.”

This year, the Government Accountability Office published a report saying that workers in the country on H-2A and H-2B visas have experienced abuse, including being charged illegal recruiting fees, substandard housing and low pay.

The Mar-a-Lago, a luxury resort in Palm Beach, Florida, has sought the most foreign workers of the nine Trump businesses: 787 workers since 2006, according to the data.

This month, the resort filed paperwork seeking to bring in 70 foreign workers later this year on H-2B visas to serve as maids, cooks and wait staff, according to paperwork known as “job orders” published on the Labor Department's web site.

In addition to the resort and the modeling agencies, the Trump-owned companies identified in the Reuters analysis were Jupiter Golf Club, Lamington Farm Club LLC, Trump Miami Resorts Management LLC, Trump National Golf Club LLC, Trump Payroll Chicago LLC and Trump Vineyard Estates LLC.

(Edited by Michael Williams)

Source: Reuters

Jon Stewart Wonders 'What The F**k Is Wrong' With Donald Trump

Jon Stewart is back from vacation, starting his final three-week stretch as host of "The Daily Show," and he wasted no time going after his new favorite target: Donald Trump. 

Stewart said the GOP presidential candidate's claim over the weekend that Sen. John McCain isn't a war hero raises an important question about Trump.

"What the fuck is wrong with him?" Stewart asked.

When queried about his constant verbal attacks on others on ABC's "This Week," Trump compared it to people who make fun of his hair.

“People are constantly attacking my hair," he told ABC's Martha Raddatz. "I don’t see you coming to my defense. My hair is just fine."

Stewart agreed that attacking someone's physical appearance is a "cheap blow." 

"But that hair? That is comedy entrapment," Stewart said. "People are not attacking your hair, they are defending themselves from something that appears like it's about to attack them."

Even GOP rivals who once avoided criticizing Trump are finally speaking out against him -- but Stewart wondered why any of the candidates are surprised by his comments. 

“The only reason you liked this guy in the first place is because of the terrible things he was willing to say about Obama," Stewart said. "But Trump has no control over the projectile vomit of dickishness that comes out of his mouth every time he opens it. It was inevitable some of his word puke was gonna get on you.”

Check out the clip above for more, including Stewart's prediction for how Trump could spur a new Jewish holiday. 

See more at The Huffington Post

John McCain Responds To Comments He's Not A War Hero Because He Was Captured

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) responded to criticism of his time as a prisoner of war, saying business mogul Donald Trump owes some military families an apology.

“I think he may owe an apology to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict and those who have undergone the prison experience in serving their country,” McCain said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Monday.

At an event in Iowa on Saturday, Trump criticized McCain's time in the military, questioning if his time as a prisoner of war made him a war hero.

"He's a war hero because he was captured," Trump said during an appearance at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa. "I like people who weren't captured."

"Perhaps he's a war hero, but right now he's said some very bad things about a lot of people."

McCain said he doesn't view himself as a hero, but said the people he served with are the ones who deserve more from Trump.

“When Mr. Trump said he prefers to be with people who are not captured, well, the great honor of my life was to serve in the company of heroes," McCain said Monday. "I’m not a hero. But those who were my senior ranking officers…those that inspired us to do things we otherwise wouldn’t have been capable of doing,  those are the people that I think he owes an apology to.”

After receiving criticism for the remark -- including from his 2016 GOP primary opponents --Trump argued McCain isn't taking care of U.S. veterans as a senator. On Sunday, Trump said he doesn't feel he owes McCain an apology for the remarks.

Watch a video of McCain above.

Source: The Huffington Post

Donald Trump Will Not Apologize To John McCain

ABC US News | World News

WASHINGTON -- Billionaire eccentric Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Sunday that he did not owe Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) an apology after stating that the senator is only viewed as a war hero because he was held captive and that Trump likes “people who weren’t captured.”

“No. Not at all,” Trump responded to ABC’s Martha Raddatz when asked if he owed McCain, who was held for five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, an apology.

Later in the interview, Trump demanded an apology from McCain for the senator stating that the billionaire candidate was firing up the “crazies” with his anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“And by the way, this all started, Martha, when we had thousands and thousands of people in Phoenix, Arizona, and John -- who, by the way, are devastated by illegal immigration, something I'm very proud to have brought to the forefront,” Trump said. “We had thousands of people and he said they're all crazies. He called them crazies. And frankly, I think he owes them an apology.”

Trump went on to deflect the negative attention toward him, saying it comes only because low-polling candidates “started attacking me.”

Raddatz questioned Trump about his routine use of insults and put-downs like “dummy” or “loser” when confronted or contested by other candidates or political figures, and whether that would be “beneath the office of the president” were he to win. Trump did not seem to think it was.

She then asked Trump if he has said anything he ever regretted, including his comments about immigration or “the birther issue.”

“No, I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t do that, Martha. I wouldn’t do that. It’s not the appropriate time,” Trump responded. “But certainly I have said things that I could’ve held back. But not that often, surprisingly not that often, but certainly there have been occasions.”

Source: The Huffington Post