A number of companies developing coronavirus vaccines intend to put forward a public pledge that they will not seek government approval unless they’ve concluded their shots are completely safe.

A draft of the rare joint statement, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, commits all of the companies, including Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc., to ensuring that the safety of vaccinated people is their top priority. Two people familiar with the matter told the Journal that the pledge could be issued as soon as early next week. 

“We believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines that may ultimately be approved and adherence to the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which they are evaluated,” the draft statement says.

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The companies add that they will only apply for government emergency-use authorization or licensure of vaccines based on “substantial evidence of safety and efficacy” from phase three clinical trials that are overseen by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance. 

The resolution marks an unusual joint commitment among a string of competitors who are racing against the clock and each other to be the first to bring a COVID-19 vaccine to market.

However, polling shows that many Americans are skeptical of the efficacy of a vaccine in part due to concerns over the speedy timetable and worries that President TrumpDonald John TrumpDHS to label white supremacists as the ‘most persistent and lethal threat’ to the US: report Buttigieg slams Trump over comments on fallen soldiers: ‘He must think we’re all suckers’ White House tells federal agencies to cancel ‘divisive’ racial sensitivity training: report MORE is pushing for a vaccine to be released early to boost his reelection bid.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked state governors last week to fast track applications for building permits for vaccine distribution sites that would be up and running in early November, around the same time as Election Day. 

“Too much of the evidence points to the Trump administration pressuring the [Food and Drug Administration] to approve a vaccine by Election Day to boost the President’s re-election campaign,” Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerCompanies developing COVID-19 vaccines planning to issue joint safety pledge: report Schumer calls for accountability in Daniel Prude death in Rochester Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-N.Y.) said in a statement this week referencing a report from The Washington Post addressing the concerns. “All Americans want a safe and effective vaccine as soon as possible, but if these important life and death decisions appear political, it will only undermine Americans’ confidence in a vaccine and prolong the pandemic.”

Officials have sought to allay those concerns, with the FDA vowing to not approve a vaccine unless it is proven to be 50 percent effective compared with a placebo.

“I mean I will look at the data and I would assume and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the case that a vaccine would not be approved for the American public unless it was indeed both safe and effective. And I keep emphasizing both safe and effective. If that’s the case … I would not hesitate for a moment to take the vaccine myself and recommend it for my family,” Anthony FauciAnthony FauciCompanies developing COVID-19 vaccines planning to issue joint safety pledge: report Overnight Health Care: White House denies Trump has embraced ‘herd immunity’ strategy on COVID-19 | Penn State doctor: About a third of tested athletes with COVID-19 had heart inflammation | Fauci says Midwestern states should be on alert this Labor Day Scott Atlas is a needed voice of wisdom and reason on the Coronavirus Taskforce MORE, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said on CNN on Thursday.

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The Army says it is investigating an officer who reportedly made a joke about Jews being killed in the Holocaust in a video posted to TikTok. 

The video was shared on Twitter showing a user with the account “_itsnate” making an anti-Semitic joke and adding that “if you get offended, get the f— out because it’s a joke.” The soldier was identified by Task and Purpose and Stars and Stripes as 2nd Lt. Nathan Freihofer.

Freihofer reportedly had nearly 3 million followers on TikTok. 

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A spokesperson for TikTok confirmed the video was removed on Monday for violating the platform’s policies against hate speech. Freihofer’s account also appears to no longer be active, but the TikTok spokesperson said the platform only removed the video. 

The XVIII Airborne Corps tweeted Monday that it is investigating reports about a soldier’s “vile” remarks, and said the remarks in the video are “completely inconsistent with our values.”

Maj. Gen. Tony Aguto, the commander of Fort Stewart’s 3rd Infantry Division, also called the remarks “vile” and said the soldier has been suspended of any and all leadership authorities pending the result of the investigation. 

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Aguto tweeted that the statements in the video are “not indicative of the values we live by, and there is no place for racism or bigotry in our Army or our country.” 

The official Twitter account for the Auschwitz Memorial called out Freihofer for his post, and linked to a page with information about the Holocaust. 

“He wrote: ‘For legal reasons this is a joke’ What about moral reasons & respect? Would he look into the eyes of Survivors liberated by @USArmy and tell them this?” the memorial tweeted.

Happy Thursday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

THE TOPLINE: A seventh U.S. service member has been killed by the coronavirus, according to the latest Pentagon data.

The death was first noted in Wednesday’s update of the chart the Pentagon keeps on its website of numbers of COVID-19 cases connected to the department.

On Thursday, the Army Reserve identified the service member as Sgt. 1st Class Clifford R. Gooding, 58, of Gulfport, Fla.

More details: Gooding died Friday after first testing positive for the virus June 23, Army Reserve spokesman Lt. Col. Simon Flake said in a statement.

After he tested positive, Gooding was admitted to a hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. As his conditioned worsened, Gooding was transferred to the Largo Medical Center in Largo, Fla., where he stayed until he died, Flake said.

Gooding was in the Army for 27 years, 24 of which were in the Army Reserve, according to Flake. His last assignment was as the maintenance supervisor for the 301st Field Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.

A growing number: Gooding is the fourth member of the Army Reserve to die from COVID-19.

His death follows the Aug. 20 death of a 36-year-old staff sergeant in the California National Guard.

The military’s first COVID-19 death in March also came from the National Guard: a 57-year-old New Jersey Guardsman.

So far, one of the military’s coronavirus deaths has come from someone on active duty. Navy Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., a 41-year-old aviation ordinanceman, died in April after being one of more than 1,000 sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier who contracted the virus.

Total cases so far: In total, the Pentagon has reported 55,705 cases of COVID-19 connected to the department, according to Wednesday’s figures.

That includes 38,424 cases among service members, 23,011 of whom have recovered and 575 of whom have been hospitalized over the course of the pandemic.

There have also been 8,509 cases among civilians, 5,133 cases among dependents and 3,639 cases among contractors. There have been 50 civilian deaths, seven dependent deaths and 20 contractor deaths, according to Wednesday’s chart.

TRUMP REPORTEDLY CALLED AMERICAN WAR DEAD IN FRENCH CEMETERY ‘LOSERS’ : Before a planned visit to honor the American dead at a French cemetery just outside Paris in 2018, President TrumpDonald John TrumpNetanyahu privately condoned US arms sale plan with UAE: report Trump denies report he called U.S. service members buried in France ‘losers’, ‘suckers’ Jim Carrey pens op-ed comparing Trump to Michael Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ MORE called the U.S. service members who were buried there during World War I “losers,” sources told The Atlantic.

At the time, Trump was expected to arrive at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, but he canceled last minute, stating that due to the rain, the helicopter could not fly to the location noting that the Secret Service could not drive him. 

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However, according to four sources with knowledge of the incident, Trump was reluctant to travel to the cemetery because he was concerned that the rain would dishevel his hair, the Atlantic reported. 

Other reasons: He also did not think it was important to honor the dead there, according to the sources. 

“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” Trump reportedly told aides before canceling the trip to Belleau, France.

In another conversation Trump reportedly said that the 1,800 marines who lost their lives in the battle of Belleau Wood were “suckers” for getting killed. The president reportedly asked aides about historic details about WWI, including “Who were the good guys in this war?”

Background on the battle: Belleau Wood was a significant battle for the Allies during the First World War. There, they held off Germany advancing into France. The American Marine Corps fought there to beat back German forces. 

Prior controversial comments: Trump has previously made controversial comments about veterans. In 2015, before his presidential tenure, Trump said that Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainTrump denies report he called U.S. service members buried in France ‘losers’, ‘suckers’ Overnight Defense: Seventh US service member dies from COVID-19 | Trump reportedly called American war dead in French cemetery ‘losers’ | Trump expected to name new ambassador to Afghanistan Trump called American war dead in French cemetery ‘losers:’ report MORE (R-Ariz.), a Vietnam veteran who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, wasn’t a war hero “because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

The White House’s response: White House spokesperson Alyssa Farah told The Hill the report is false. 

“President Trump holds the military in the highest regard,” Farah added. “He’s demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn: delivering on his promise to give our troops a much needed pay raise, increasing military spending, signing critical veterans reforms, and supporting military spouses. This has no basis in fact.”

TRUMP EXPECTED TO NAME NEW AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN: Trump is expected to name the new ambassador to Afghanistan as soon as this month.

Trump is expected to nominate William Ruger, a foreign-policy expert and proponent of the president’s agenda to withdraw a substantial portion of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

A person familiar with the decision said the State Department alerted the Afghan government earlier this week about the forthcoming decision.

Ruger has reportedly undergone vetting for the position for the past three months, another person familiar with the matter said.

Administrative officials see Ruger’s selection as the president’s signal of intent to reduce the U.S. military presence in the region drastically.

Who was in the role prior: In January, Ambassador John Bass announced it was time for him to leave Afghanistan after serving in the role since December 2017.

Ambassador Ross Wilson, who served in Azerbaijan and Turkey under former Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, stepped in for Bass while a permanent holder of the position was deliberated throughout the year.

ICYMI

— The Hill: State Department announces another acting watchdog in latest reshuffle

— The Hill: Treasury sanctions six companies over sales of petrochemicals from Iran

— The Hill: Opinion: America needs policies toward Russia that have sharper edges

— The Hill: Opinion: The end of the old regime in the Sino-American relationship

— The Hill: Opinion: Russia steps up disinformation with a goal to upend our elections

— Military Times: Nearly half of troops polled support changing names of bases honoring Confederate leaders

Happy Friday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

 

THE TOPLINE: President TrumpDonald John TrumpDHS to label white supremacists as the ‘most persistent and lethal threat’ to the US: report Buttigieg slams Trump over comments on fallen soldiers: ‘He must think we’re all suckers’ White House tells federal agencies to cancel ‘divisive’ racial sensitivity training: report MORE on Friday faced scathing blowback from a report a day prior that he had made disparaging remarks about dead U.S. service members while on a trip to France in 2018, as well as numerous other occasions.

Retired military officials, veterans groups, lawmakers and other critics blasted the president for what they saw as an affront to the sacrifice of service members and respect for the military as a whole.

 

Trump’s response: Trump, meanwhile, said Friday that he saw no need to apologize after The Atlantic report, dismissing it as a “fake story.” 

“It’s a fake story written by a magazine that was probably not going to be around much longer, but it was a totally fake story and that was confirmed by many people that were actually there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. “It was a terrible thing that somebody could say the kind of things — especially to me because I have done more for the military than almost anybody else.” 

Trump touted his administration’s efforts to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs, invest in the U.S. military and increase pay for U.S. service members, claiming that the military was “totally depleted” under his predecessor, President Obama.

Trump made his first public comments angrily denying the story to reporters late Thursday after returning to the Washington, D.C., area following a campaign trip to Latrobe, Pa. 

“If people really exist that would have said that, they’re low lifes and they’re liars. And I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes. There is nobody that respects them more,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. 

 

Why this is a big deal: Military members and veterans represent a key bloc of support for Trump, who is facing reelection in two months and trailing Democratic nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenOvernight Defense: Critics continue to swipe at Trump over his alleged comments on fallen troops l Trump says he won’t cut funding for Stars and Stripes Trump rips media for soft treatment of Biden: Questions ‘meant for a child’ Poll: 2 in 3 voters say it’s ‘likely’ that people lie when taking political surveys MORE in national polling. 

 

The report’s details: The White House has vigorously denied The Atlantic report on Thursday that said Trump canceled a 2018 trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris because he was worried his hair would become disheveled from rainfall and questioned whether it was necessary to visit a cemetery “filled with losers.” A number of current and former White House officials, including some that joined Trump on the 2018 trip, have denied the account as false. 

The magazine article, written by Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, cited multiple anonymous sources. It said that Trump on the same trip also referred to U.S. Marines who were killed at Belleau Wood during World War I as “suckers” because they died. 

Goldberg, in an appearance on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell, said he believed the president had said every word attributed to him in the story, defending the article and saying his sources were good.

The Associated Press later independently confirmed many of the comments reported in The Atlantic.

 

Esper steps in: Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: Critics continue to swipe at Trump over his alleged comments on fallen troops l Trump says he won’t cut funding for Stars and Stripes The Hill’s Campaign Report: Backlash grows over Trump’s reported comments on fallen troops Trump says he won’t cut funding for Stars and Stripes MORE said Friday that Trump respects U.S. service members amid the growing furor, saying in a statement that the Commander-in-Chief has “the highest respect and admiration for our nation’s military members, veterans and families. That is why he has fought for greater pay and more funding for our armed forces.”

Esper’s statement offers support to Trump as fury toward the president grows, but it notably does not directly deny Trump made the alleged comments.

At the time of the trip, Trump blamed bad weather for the canceled cemetery visit, saying visibility was too low for his helicopter to fly and that the Service Service would not drive him there.

Esper was not Defense secretary at the time Trump allegedly made the disparaging remarks, but he was Army secretary and was in France in 2018 during the World War I commemoration events in question.

A senior defense official said Friday that Esper’s recollection is that “the weather was bad.”

 

Other critics: A retired Army general on Thursday night went viral for his scathing response to Trump’s reported remarks, saying the president is “no patriot.”

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton posted a video responding to The Atlantic report, saying “I’m pretty unhappy with you, Mr. Trump. So I’m going to keep this short for your famous short attention span.

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“You have shown disrespect to the military on countless occasions. I am stunned that anybody in the United States military would consider you anything but a ‘loser’ or a ‘sucker.’ You’re no patriot.” 

Eaton pulled out the dog tags found at the crash site from where his father, a fighter pilot, was killed during the Vietnam War in 1969.

“Our Army, our Navy, our Marine Corps, our Air Force, our Coast Guard. Brave men and women. They’re not just brave. They’re smart and wise,” Eaton said in the video. “So, Mr. Trump, come Nov. 3, we’re all voting for a real patriot — Joe Biden. And everybody who hears this, please take notice and please vote. Vote Democratic. Our country’s honor depends on it.”

The 2-minute clip went viral, garnering more than 2 million views as of Friday morning.

 

Biden also weighs in: Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, condemned Trump’s reported comments and said the nation’s “one truly sacred obligation” is to care for military members and their families, both during their deployment and after they return home.

 

Here are more stories from The Hill on the controversy:

– John Bolton says he didn’t hear Trump insult fallen soldiers in France

– Pence rejects report on Trump disparaging fallen soldiers as ‘anonymous smear job’

– The Hill’s Campaign Report: Backlash grows over Trump’s reported comments on fallen troops

– Parents of slain soldiers blast Trump’s reported ‘loser’ comments in new ad

– Duckworth says she’ll take ‘wheelchair and my titanium legs’ over Trump’s ‘supposed bone spurs any day

TRUMP SAYS HE WON’T CUT FUNDING FOR STARS AND STRIPES: Trump said Friday that his administration would not cut funding to the U.S. military’s independent newspaper, Stars and Stripes, after the Pentagon moved to shut down the publication.

“The United States of America will NOT be cutting funding to @starsandstripes magazine under my watch. It will continue to be a wonderful source of information to our Great Military!” Trump tweeted Friday afternoon.

 

A surprising reversal: Trump’s tweet appears to reverse plans of his own administration. The Pentagon had ordered the newspaper to stop publishing on Sept. 30 and dissolve by the end of January. Earlier this year, the Pentagon moved to cut $15.5 million in funding for the publication from the Defense Department’s budget.

 

A response to backlash?: The decision to shut down Stars and Stripes prompted backlash from bipartisan members of Congress. A group of senators requested that the Pentagon reinstate necessary funding for the newspaper to continue operating in a letter sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this week.

“We urge you to take steps to preserve the funding prerogatives of Congress before allowing any such disruption to take place,” the senators wrote. “Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation’s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that freedom.”

 

Other reasons?: Trump’s decision to reverse course comes as he endures scrutiny following a report in The Atlantic that said he disparaged fallen U.S. service members as “losers” and “suckers.” The White House has vehemently denied the allegations as reported by the magazine. Military members and veterans represent a key supporter group of Trump as he faces reelection in two months. 

 

ICYMI

– The Hill: Democratic senator urges Trump to respond to Russian aggression

– The Hill: ‘Small number’ of sailors on aircraft carrier at sea test positive for coronavirus

– The Hill: Pentagon reaffirms decision to award multi-billion JEDI contract to Microsoft

– The Hill: Ex-DHS official says Trump tried to rescind order for half-staff flags for John McCainJohn Sidney McCainButtigieg slams Trump over comments on fallen soldiers: ‘He must think we’re all suckers’ Overnight Defense: Critics continue to swipe at Trump over his alleged comments on fallen troops l Trump says he won’t cut funding for Stars and Stripes Ex-DHS official says Trump tried to rescind order for half-staff flags for John McCain MORE

– The Hill: NATO calls for international response to Navalny poisoning

– The Hill: Netanyahu privately condoned US arms sale plan with UAE: report

Sara Gideon, the Democratic Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, announced on Monday that she would seek her party’s nomination to challenge Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsRepublicans prepare to punt on next COVID-19 relief bill Trump tweets spark fresh headache for Republicans Trump’s tweet on protester sparks GOP backlash  MORE (R) for her seat.

Gideon is among the highest-profile Democrats to enter the Maine Senate race so far. She was widely expected to announce her campaign after the close of Maine’s first legislative session of 2019, which ended last week.

Click Here: camisetas de futbol baratasADVERTISEMENT“Susan Collins has been in the Senate for 22 years. And at one point maybe she was different than some of the folks in Washington, but she doesn’t seem that way anymore,” Gideon said in a video announcing her Senate bid.

She pointed to Collins’s vote in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the 2017 Republican tax overhaul “where almost all of the benefits went to corporations and the wealthy.”

“And Susan Collins’s vote to put Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughGOP senators urge Trump to back off Murkowski threat Judd Gregg: A government in free fall The 7 most anticipated Supreme Court decisions MORE on the Supreme Court may be paying off for her, but it’s put women’s control of their own health care decisions in extreme jeopardy,” said Gideon, who has served in the Maine House since 2012.

Collins, who has been in the Senate since 1997, is a prime target for Democrats in 2020. Her vote last year to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as he faced sexual misconduct allegations angered liberals and prompted an intense effort to recruit candidates to challenge the longtime senator.

Gideon’s announcement follows the passage of a flurry of progressive bills in the Maine Legislature, including a measure that allows health care professionals who are not physicians to perform abortions. Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed that bill into law earlier this month.

Gideon isn’t the only Democrat vying to take on Collins next year. Betsy Sweet, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Maine governor in 2018, is also in the Senate race. Saco, Maine, attorney Bre Kidman is also running.

Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellNASCAR bans display of Confederate flag from events and properties Gloves come off as Democrats fight for House seat in California Grenell says intelligence community working to declassify Flynn-Kislyak transcripts MORE (D-Calif.) needled his fellow 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who took the debate stage Wednesday night, saying he didn’t plan on “butchering” Spanish Thursday evening.

Asked by CNN’s Brooke Baldwin if he was “practicing your Spanish tonight,” Swalwell responded, “I’m going to be me, and so that’s not going to include butchering Spanish.” 

“I’m going to be myself,” he added. “I think that will be enough.” 

Rep. Eric Swalwell says his strategy for tonight’s #DemDebate is to “show boldness,” and makes clear it will not include “butchering” Spanish pic.twitter.com/ja9kEjwG5Z

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 27, 2019

Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) both answered questions at Wednesday night’s debate in Spanish, with Booker’s facial expression in response to O’Rourke’s answer prompting a viral moment.

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Swalwell also sounded off on Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE’s (D-Mass.) affirmation that she is in favor of eliminating private health insurance, saying he believed such a move was “not disqualifying, but it’s not what the American people are asking for.”

“It just flies in the face, I think, of the choices that people want to have,” he added.

And the congressman hit former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE, so far the 2020 front-runner, saying Biden had too much experience in government to offer a “vision for the future.” 

“I don’t think we can nominate a candidate who has been in government for longer than 20 years. I just don’t think that’s going to work. I think we need someone who is going to offer a vision for the future,” Swalwell said.

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Swalwell will share the stage in Miami Thursday night with Biden; Sens. Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetSome realistic solutions for income inequality Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd 21 senators urge Pentagon against military use to curb nationwide protests MORE (D-Colo.), Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.), Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (D-N.Y) and Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.); South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE; former Colorado Gov. John HickenlooperJohn HickenlooperGun control group rolls out first round of Senate endorsements The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ Hickenlooper ethics questions open him up to attack MORE; entrepreneur Andrew YangAndrew YangGeorge Floyd protests show corporations must support racial and economic equality Andrew Yang discusses his universal basic income pilot program Andrew Yang on the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis MORE; and best-selling author Marianne WilliamsonMarianne WilliamsonMarianne Williamson touts endorsements for progressive congressional candidates The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Warren becomes latest 2020 rival to back Biden The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden looks to stretch lead in Tuesday contests MORE.

Williamson has also referenced the Spanish responses, tweeting Wednesday night that she “need[ed] to learn Spanish by tomorrow night at 9.”

Updated 7:06 p.m.

Presidential candidate Andrew YangAndrew YangGeorge Floyd protests show corporations must support racial and economic equality Andrew Yang discusses his universal basic income pilot program Andrew Yang on the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis MORE reached the donor requirement for the third and fourth Democratic primary debates.

Yang’s campaign announced Monday afternoon that the long-shot candidate surpassed the necessary 130,000 individual donors and 400 per state unique donors in at least 20 states. 

“This campaign has continued to beat every seasoned politico’s best expectations and I couldn’t be more proud of our team. We have hit this number before sitting Senators and Governors without the backing of the establishment in Washington,” campaign spokesman Zach Graumann said in a statement.

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The donations don’t guarantee Yang will appear on the September debate stage, however. 

The Democratic National Committee’s qualifying conditions also require candidates to hit 2 percent in four qualifying polls. 

The requirements are upped from the first debate, for which candidates needed to hit 1 percent in three polls and receive donations from at least 65,000 unique donors and a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states to qualify.

Twenty out of 25 candidates participated in the first debates. 

Yang is still polling behind top-tier candidates. A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Yang polling at 1.1 percent, placing him in the middle of the crowded field. 

Seven candidates are polling at 2 percent or higher, according to the RealClearPolitics average. 

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President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE will hold a campaign rally next month in Cincinnati, Ohio, as he seeks to defend key Rust Belt states in his reelection bid.

The Trump campaign announced that the president will be joined by Vice President Pence at a “Keep America Great” rally on Aug. 1 at U.S. Bank Arena. It will be Trump’s 29th rally in Ohio since he launched his presidential bid in 2015, the campaign said.

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Trump won the state of Ohio by nearly 9 percentage points, or 450,000 votes, in 2016.

The rally will take place one day after the second round of debates for the Democratic presidential field. Twenty of the roughly two dozen candidates vying for the Democratic nomination will take the stage in Detroit over the course of two nights on July 30 and 31.

Trump has one campaign rally scheduled before then; he will stop in in Greenville, N.C., on July 17. It is the same day former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN’s Toobin warns McCabe is in ‘perilous condition’ with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill’s 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE is set to testify before two House committees.

The president is likely to put an emphasis on Rust Belt states in 2020 that were key to his 2016 victory, including Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting a probe after a pilot from American Airlines reported a man flying a jetpack above Los Angeles International Airport Sunday night. 

“The FBI is aware of the reports by pilots on Sunday and is working to determine what occurred,” a spokesperson for the Bureau told FOX 11 Tuesday.

A second pilot from a separate airline company also reportedly spotted a man using a jetpack as the planes were approaching the airport at around 3,000 feet and 10 miles out for a landing. 

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said they turned the report from the American Airlines pilot over to the Los Angeles Police Department.

LAPD said they performed a flyover the area where the man was spotted that day but could not find anyone that matched the description, according to the news outlet, who reached out to the law enforcement agency. 

One pilot estimated that the man allegedly using the jetpack was only 300 yards outside his window.

Two retired pilots who currently teach aviation safety told FOX 11 that they believe the pilot’s sighting due to the nature of their “trained eyes” and visual perception. 

Facebook and Twitter both took steps Thursday to limit the spread of remarks by President TrumpDonald John TrumpNetanyahu privately condoned US arms sale plan with UAE: report Trump denies report he called U.S. service members buried in France ‘losers’, ‘suckers’ Jim Carrey pens op-ed comparing Trump to Michael Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ MORE encouraging voters to test the system by voting twice — by mail and in person.

In a local TV interview in Wilmington, N.C., on Wednesday, Trump suggested that people should vote twice, which is illegal.

He then made similar remarks to a crowd of supporters at the Wilmington airport.

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Facebook announced it would take down videos of the interview if the posts did not “correct the record” on voter fraud.

It also a labeled a post from the president where he made a similar, although not identical claim.

In the post, Trump said that voters should mail in ballots and then go to your polling location on Election Day and see whether or not the mail-in ballot has been tabulated.

“If it has you will not be able to Vote & the Mail In System worked properly,” he wrote. “If it has not been Counted, VOTE (which is a citizen’s right to do).”

As part of the policy update that Facebook rolled out earlier Thursday, the post was appended with a label saying that according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, “voting by mail has a long history of trustworthiness in the US and the same is predicted this year.”

The label links to Facebook’s Voting Information Center, which contains information about elections from vetted sources.

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Trump posted the same message on Twitter on Thursday.

The tweets, encouraging people to vote twice, were determined to have violated the platform’s rules about civic and election integrity.

While the tweets were kept up to serve “the public’s interest” the ability to like or retweet them was removed.

North Carolina officials will begin sending absentee ballots on Friday to voters who have requested them. North Carolina represents a key swing state in the 2020 election. 

Following Trump’s remarks, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina state board of elections, issued a statement emphasizing that it illegal in the state to vote or attempt to vote twice in an election.

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