President Trump today

Our live coverage has ended. Scroll through the posts below to see how the day unfolded.

Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said President Trump’s threats to shut down the government if Congress fails to pass new border security and immigration measure isn’t helpful.

“It’s not to anyone’s advantage to shut down the government,” the Alabama lawmaker told reporters. “My message to him is we are working to fund the government … We are issuing no threats up here.”

President Donald Trump stands alongside Robert Wilkie (L) and his wife, Julia (2R), as Wilkie is sworn in by US Vice President Mike Pence in the Oval Office of the White House on July 30, 2018.

Robert Wilkie was sworn in Monday as the new secretary of Veterans Affairs.

President Trump said he was “thrilled” to be swearing in Wilkie for what he called a “very, very tough and important position.”

Trump was joined Defense Secretary James Mattis, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, and Sen. Thom Tillis.

Trump ticked off a list of the accomplishments at the Department of Veterans Affairs under his administration, including creating more accountability and expanding funding for the VA choice program. Wilkie gave brief remarks and thanked his family members in attendance.

Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office. 

Trump shook Wilkie’s hand and gave his wife, Julie, multiple kisses on the cheek, but did not respond to shouted questions, departing quickly through a side door.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the Indo-Pacific Business Forum at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) July 30, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he is “indeed” on board with President Trump’s willingness to meet with Iran’s leadership, without preconditions.

In an interview with CNBC, Pompeo said, “We’ve said this before. The President wants to meet with folks to solve problems.”

Earlier today, Trump said he was willing to meet with Iran’s leadership, without preconditions, “whenever they want.”

The Congressional strategy on spending remains unchanged, even as President Trump continued today to press for a shutdown without increased border wall funding or immigration measures – pass as many appropriations bills as possible and reconcile them (the goal is nine of the twelve), CR the remaining spending measures and deal with those (which includes the DHS bill with wall funding) after the election.

Does the President’s tweet or remarks today change that strategy? “No,” one senior GOP aide replied bluntly.

McConnell’s floor remarks today were intended to make that point: “We’ll finish up the set of appropriations measures we’ve been considering for several days and take four more big steps towards our goal of completing a regular appropriations process and funding the government in a timely and orderly manner,” McConnell said less than an hour after the president completed his press conference.

President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 30, 2018.

President Trump vowed Monday to maintain US sanctions on Russia.

“The sanctions on Russia will remain as is,” Trump said during a joint news conference Monday alongside Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Trump did not elaborate on his current view on Russia beyond that comment.

Earlier in the news conference, Trump touted the success of his “great” meeting earlier this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump said Monday he is willing to meet with Iran’s leadership, without preconditions, “whenever they want.”

“I would certainly meet with Iran if they wanted to meet,” Trump said. “I do believe that they will probably end up wanting to meet. I’m ready to meet whenever they want to.”

“No preconditions,” he added. “They want to meet, I’ll meet. Whenever they want.”

Trump touted the benefits of diplomacy, saying he would “meet with anybody” and once again arguing that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin – which has faced heated bipartisan criticism – was a success.

“Speaking to other people, especially when you’re talking about potentials of war and death and famine and lots of other things – you meet. There’s nothing wrong with meeting,” Trump said.

While Trump said there would be no preconditions to meeting with Iran, he did appear to hedge the possibility of a meeting on an ability to “work something out that’s meaningful” with Iran.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told a reporter that he shares President Trump’s calls to rebalance defense spending of NATO member countries, calling them “reasonable positions” and said he would be “the carrier of the message” in Europe.

“These are absolutely reasonable positions and stances, and I personal take them into great account. And I will be personally the carrier of the message and I will try to make the others understand his position as well,” he said.

Conte added, “We must negotiate with the United States to find balance in interest of Italian cities, American citizens, and European citizens.”

President Trump, speaking at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, again threatened to have a government shutdown if the US does not change its immigration laws.

The President tweeted a similar threat on Sunday.

Later, a reporter asked if there was “room for negotiation,” or would Trump shut down the government if all of his demands were not met.

“I’ll always leave room for negotiation,” Trump said.

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