| | | | Trump, Merkel to meet IRL | |
After a brief snow delay, President Donald Trump is set to welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington, and there's no telling how it will go.
The European leader built close ties to former President Barack Obama, but Trump has had harsh words for her in the past, including criticizing her immigration stances. He also has cast into doubt his own commitment to NATO, the military alliance Germany relies on for protection from global threats.
There's also the question of how Trump's brash style will contrast with Merkel's approach -- and the visit will include a press conference, where Trump tends to be at his most plainspoken and straightforward.
The meeting will cap off a political week largely dedicated to health care and the White House budget proposal that was punctured by continuing confusion after Trump's claim that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the campaign.
On Thursday, Senate intelligence leaders as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan all emphatically said they had seen nothing to back up Trump's claim. CNN's Manu Raju, Tom LoBianco and Teddy Schleifer have the full day's story. | | "I have not seen any evidence that this has occurred" -- House Speaker Paul Ryan to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on wiretap claim | | | | Speaker Paul Ryan raises a glass at the St. Patrick's Day lunch on the Hill. | | Budget proposal takes the day | | The White House unveiled its budget "blueprint" Thursday, calling for an increase in military spending and some money to build President Donald Trump's wall, while counterbalancing it in part with broad cuts to major agencies and domestic initiatives.
CNN's Tal Kopan has the full story on the budget proposal. And it is just that, a proposal. Ultimately, the actual budget passed by Congress will almost certainly look much different.
However, as OMB Director Mick Mulvaney said, it does show where the administration's priorities are. Asked about specific cuts, he had a number of blunt responses, which he underscored "should come as a surprise to no one who watched the campaign."
Among the programs on the chopping block: climate change research, public arts funding, foreign aid and grants that support after-school programs and Meals on Wheels.
One thing the proposal does not address: The public debt, which according to the Treasury Department as of Wednesday totaled $19,845,811,298,014.03. | | | Here's what those broad proposed cuts look like. | | 4 things you might have missed today | | British intelligence speaks out: GCHQ, the NSA's counterpart in the United Kingdom, issued a statement knocking down allegations from the White House and a Fox News commentator that it had been asked to wiretap President Donald Trump. Time's Zeke Miller has the full story.
Goldman Sachs applauds bankers in White House: Trump targeted Goldman Sachs on the campaign trail, but he's got some former Goldman members in his inner circle now. CEO Lloyd Blankfein clearly has taken notice and wrote that he wants more bankers to join the administration. The Washington Post's Renae Merle has more.
Mike Flynn in more hot water: New documents from the House Oversight Committee show Trump's ex-national security adviser received pay from Russian companies. BuzzFeed's Sheera Frenkel has more.
What are the GOP's 'prongs' again?: Republican leaders have pointed to the American Health Care Act as the first step of three to repeal and replace part of Obamacare. It's a bit of a tangled web. The NYTimes' Margot Sanger-Katz breaks things down. | | | Sean Hannity once pulled a gun on Juan Williams. ... Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke in Tokyo. ... Rep. Adam Schiff says President Donald Trump may have declassified CIA hack information. ... The government declassified a bunch of films showing nuke tests. | | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Check out Five Things for Your New Day, CNN's morning newsletter. Give us five minutes, and we'll brief you on all the news and buzz people will be talking about. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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