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The White House • November 6, 2018 America, then and now On Election Day 2016, the American people chose Donald J. Trump as their next President. Two and a half months later, he went right to work on his biggest campaign promise: to help give America “the strongest economy anywhere in the world.” Where are we today? There’s no shortage of headlines, but consider just these five facts about America on November 6, 2018: Four weeks ago, the World Economic Forum named the United States the world’s most competitive economy for the first time in a decade. “The United States is the closest economy to the frontier, the ideal state,” the report says.   America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs under the previous Administration. Since President Trump was elected, nearly half a million new manufacturing jobshave been added. The turnaround is clear: Manufacturing employment since President Trump was elected grew 6 times faster than it did during the final two years of the Obama Administration.   President Trump promised 3 percent GDP growth or better. Top Obama economist Larry Summers said that goal was “fair enough if you believe in tooth-fairies.” America’s GDP has grown by 3 percent over the past four quarters, including 4.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018 and 3.5 percent in the third.   The unemployment rate has dropped to 3.7 percent, its lowest point since 1969. Unemployment among African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Americans without college degrees have all reached record lows under the Trump Administration.   The “blue-collar, middle-class Trump Economy” is the first boom in decades where blue-collar wages are growing faster than white-collar ones, lifting up working-class Americans and pulling them off the sidelines like never before. President Trump has taken bold action across the board since his Inauguration, renegotiating outdated trade agreements, withdrawing America from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, and earning Kim Jong Un’s commitment to denuclearize North Korea. For all this progress, America’s economic turnaround is likely the most powerful story of them all. In their words: The Trump Economy keeps smashing expectations. The White House • November 8, 2018 America’s flag flies at half-staff tonight Late last night, 12 people were killed in a horrific shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. This morning, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation as America mourns alongside the victims’ families and communities.    “As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence,” President Trump writes, “I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, November 10, 2018.” President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were briefed on the shooting and the police response early this morning. “Great bravery shown by police. California Highway Patrol was on scene within 3 minutes, with first officer to enter shot numerous times. That Sheriff’s Sergeant died in the hospital,” the President tweeted. “God bless all of the victims and families of the victims. Thank you to Law Enforcement.” Read the President’s Proclamation remembering the victims in Thousand Oaks. Acts of courage: Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus “died a hero.” Our 114th Supreme Court Justice of the United States President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined the 114th Justice of the United States, Brett M. Kavanaugh, for his traditional investiture ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court this morning. The investiture ceremony marks when a new Justice formally takes his or her spot on the High Court. The President and First Lady joined Justice Kavanaugh, seven of the other justices, and numerous public officials for the occasion. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the judicial oath to Justice Kavanaugh just after 10 a.m. Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 6, and began hearing oral arguments a few days later on October 9. See photos from today’s investiture ceremony. More: Get to know America’s 114th Supreme Court Justice, Brett M. Kavanaugh. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Keegan Barber The American flag is flown at half-staff above the White House in memory of the victims of the tragic shooting in Thousand Oaks, California | November 8, 2018 Something to share Since President Donald J. Trump was elected, 4.5 MILLION jobs have been created! The White House • November 7, 2018 President Trump’s message on last night’s midterms Midterm elections are usually tough going for whichever party controls the White House. Over the previous 21 midterms, the president’s party has lost an average of four seats in the Senate. Only four times in that span has the president’s party gained seats in Congress’ upper chamber. Last night, President Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party defied that history and expanded their Senate majority. Here are three key takeaways: The President’s message resonates across the heartland. He held 30 rallies in the past 60 days, and “of the 11 candidates we campaigned with during the last week, nine won last night,” President Trump said today.   Across the country, in both Senate and House races, candidates who excelled embraced conservative messages of low taxes, low regulations, low crime, strong borders, and great judges. Candidates who struggled—including some Republicans—tried to distance themselves from these themes.   America’s economy is booming, and voters in working-class communities are taking notice. Record job growth, historically low unemployment, the return of American manufacturing, and renegotiated trade deals earned Republicans strong support everywhere from Florida to Ohio to North Dakota.  What’s next? President Trump made his priority clear in a press conference from the White House today. “Now is the time for members of both parties to join together, put partisanship aside, and keep the American economic miracle going strong,” he said, citing infrastructure, trade, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs as three areas he believes Democrats may want to work with Republicans. Watch President Trump’s statement on last night’s midterm results More: The President says put the American people first, not partisan politics President Trump and the free press President Trump’s unprecedented media access reveals just how important transparency is to this Administration’s success. During today’s press conference, President Trump took 68 questions—from 35 different reporters. By contrast, former President Obama took 22 questions from 10 reporters during his press conference following the 2010 midterm elections. CBS’ Major Garrett put it crisply: “There is more access to this president than Obama . . . We see him and interact with him and punch in questions with far more frequency.” ABC News Political Director Rick Klein agrees, saying President Trump is “above and beyond, far and away more accessible” than our previous two presidents. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead President Donald J. Trump holds a press conference | November 7, 2018 President Trump Calls Mass Shooting at Club in Thousand Oaks, California, ‘Terrible,’ Says He's Been Briefed “President Donald Trump responded to a mass shooting at a Southern California music club, calling it ‘terrible’ and saying he has been ‘fully briefed’ on the incident,” Cheyenne Haslett reports for ABC News. The President commended the “great bravery shown by police,” thanking law enforcement and asking that God bless all of the victims and their families following this horrible incident. Click here to read more. “Brett Kavanaugh formally takes his seat as the 114th justice at the traditional investiture ceremony at the Supreme Court Thursday morning,” Nina Totenberg reports for NPR. “President Trump and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to attend the ceremony.” On October 6, Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and he began hearing arguments on October 9.  In The Washington Post, Ed Rogers writes that by most measures, Republicans beat the odds of history and nearly everyone’s expectations for the 2018 midterms. “The instant analysis is clear: Democrats may have won the House, but Trump won the election.” President Trump and his allies “have an appeal that the elites in New York and Hollywood cannot dismiss or combat.” “Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Wednesday that this week's midterm elections were the ‘most secure’ the U.S. has ever seen,” Anna Giaritelli writes in the Washington Examiner. “Nielsen's department took the lead on election security in early 2017. That job included helping all 10,000 state and local jurisdictions prepare for Election Day.” Giaritelli adds that “DHS has not reported any mass fraudulent voting, amended vote counts, or abnormal disruptions in the nationwide vote.”