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The White House • December 18, 2018

As 2018 closes, 6 big priorities at the White House From day one, President Donald J. Trump pledged not to rest until he delivered on his promise to fix Washington. That commitment doesn’t take a break for the holidays. From border security and school safety to reinvigorating America’s space program, here’s an inside look at six big priorities the Administration is working on this week:  Securing our border: Today, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders reiterated the message President Trump delivered to Democratic leaders last week: He will not back down until he can make sure that American citizens are protected. Watch a clip from her interview with Fox News this morning.   Building the Space Force: President Trump took a crucial step toward creation of the Space Force by directing the Department of Defense to establish a Combatant Command, which will oversee all U.S. military activities in space. See Vice President Mike Pence’s full speech at Kennedy Space Center.   Keeping our kids safe: After the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida, President Trump established the School Safety Commission to make recommendations on how to prevent violence in our schools. Today, the Commission released its final 180-page report. Get the facts and see their recommendations.   Banning bump stocks: Earlier this year, the President instructed the Department of Justice to review a rule that would ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machineguns. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has signed the final rule. “We will continue to take illegal guns off of our streets.”   Reforming our prisons: Historic, bipartisan criminal justice reform is moving closer to President Trump's desk. “Our whole Nation benefits if former inmates are able to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens,” the President says. Why he supports the First Step Act.   Delivering for American farmers: This week, President Trump plans to sign another important piece of bipartisan legislation—the 2018 “farm bill,” which will strengthen American agriculture. “Our economy is stronger than ever–we stand with our Farmers!” the President tweeted this week. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump take their Official Christmas Portrait in the Cross Hall of the White House | December 15, 2018 The White House • December 17, 2018 President Trump visits Arlington National Cemetery For 27 years now, each December, thousands of Americans have come together on National Wreaths Across America Day to honor our Nation’s veterans. This past Saturday, President Donald J. Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, thanking volunteers who came out in the pouring rain to lay wreaths at each grave. The Wreaths Across America organization “shipped a staggering 1.75 million wreaths to 1,640 locations” that held ceremonies, Robert Gearty writes in Fox News. The Christmas season is an important time to remember both our veterans and active duty service members—many of whom will be away from their families over the holidays. President Trump has made it a priority to ensure these heroes have the care and support they deserve, recently securing a record $73.1 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve the quality of medical treatment. “They do a great job, a really great job,” President Trump told volunteers at Arlington National this weekend. “Thank you.” Watch President Trump’s statement at Arlington National Cemetery. Vice President Pence: “Veterans have no better friend than President Trump” Video of the day: First Lady spreads holiday cheer First Lady Melania Trump has had a busy Christmas season. In the past week alone, she participated in a Toys for Tots drive, visited service members and families from three different branches of the military, and spent time with patients at Children's National hospital in Washington, D.C. “It is an honor to be #FLOTUS to this incredible country,” the First Lady wrote on Twitter today. Bonus clip: The First Lady visits America’s heroes before Christmas Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian President Donald J. Trump walks through Arlington National Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day | December 15, 2018 First Lady Melania Trump’s Spokeswoman Speaks Out “This holiday season, Mrs. Trump has made every effort to spread joy and good cheer to citizens across the country,” the First Lady’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Stephanie Grisham writes. “But the media consistently ignores the first lady's work on behalf of the people of this country, and children in particular, in favor of more trivial matters,” Grisham explains, responding to an attack last week by CNN contributor Kate Anderson Bower. Click here to read more. “President Trump paid a Saturday visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands of volunteers had just taken part in the rain in the annual holiday wreath-laying tribute to those who served—and died—in America’s wars,” Robert Gearty reports fo r Fox News. “They do a great job, a really great job. Thank you,” the President said of these volunteers during the visit. It’s “time to finish the wall,” The Washington Times editorial board argues. “Democrats feign concern for taxpayers who would pick up the tab, but a glance at the costs of illegal immigration demonstrates that the nation can hardly afford not to build it. The nation spent $2.4 billion in 2014 just to cover the costs of illegal immigrant women bearing their children in the United States.” In Fox News, Andy Puzder joins former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) to explain how President Trump’s tough stand on trade with China will benefit America—and the world. “For decades, American presidents made sincere – if naïve – efforts to bring China into the international trading community on an equal footing with other nations . . . President Trump, by contrast, has initiated a vigorous campaign to compete with China on a number of fronts, and it’s having an impact.”