Naomi Lim

New: Lindsey Graham’s war rhetoric on Iran & beyond is complicating Trump’s push to calm his MAGA base that fears the US is entering another forever war. He offers a blunt rebuttal to @RepLuna & other critics—"You got your head in the sand." W/@naomitlim washingtonexaminer.com/news/4487473/l…

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) confirms to @dcexaminer he won't be at @POTUS' event tomorrow in his district because he has two school events three hours away from Hebron: "I’ve decided to keep my commitment to the kids."

WEX's Naomi Lim says ‘split’ polling counters Trump aides’ assessment of Iran conflict support. MORE: tinyurl.com/y2pwwtf4

Trump himself dodged a question just now on whether he’d decline to sign bills unless the SAVE America Act gets signed

Thune on Trump's blockade on the GOP Congress: "I think he's since modified it with respect to DHS appropriations, and hopefully that'll be true on other issues. If we can get some stuff done up here, I hope we can get some things signed into law"

NEW: Some clarification on Trump's threat not to sign any legislation until the Senate passes the Save America Act from a White House official via @dcexaminer -- "The President was referring to other bills, not DHS funding. If the Democrats do the right thing and pass funding for DHS, the President will, of course, fund the agency."

SCOOPLET: @dcexaminer speaks to second lady Usha Vance... washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-hou…

SCOOPLET via @dcexaminer: Second lady Usha Vance will make a special appearance at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-hou…

Here is what @POTUS is expected to say during tonight's highly-anticipated SOTU: Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago. // From 1776 to today, every generation of Americans has stepped forward to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the next. Now, it is our turn. Together, we are building a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go farther—where government answers to the people, not the powerful—and where the interests of hardworking American Citizens are always our first and ultimate concern. // Moving forward, factories, jobs, investment, and trillions of dollars will continue pouring into the United States of America—because we finally have a president who puts America First. For decades before I came along, we had the exact opposite. From trade to healthcare, from energy to immigration, everything was stolen and rigged in order to drain the wealth out of the productive, hardworking people who make our country run. // I am also ending the wildly inflated cost of prescription drugs. Other presidents tried to do it, but they never could. They were all talk and no action. I got it done. // Last month, I signed an Executive Order to ban large Wall Street investment firms from buying up, in the thousands, single-family homes. And now I am asking Congress to make that ban permanent, because homes are for people, not corporations. // But when it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota—where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion dollars from the American taxpayer. // As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security. They have closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers. Tonight, I am demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for the Border Security and Homeland Security of the United States. // Above all, unleashing America’s promise requires keeping our communities safe. We have made incredible strides—yet dangerous repeat offenders continue to be released by pro-crime politicians again and again. // As President, I will make peace wherever I can—but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must. // We are also restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere—actingto secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference. For years, large swaths of territory in our region, including large parts of Mexico, have been controlled by murderous drug cartels. // The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended—it still continues, because the flame of Liberty and Independence still burns in the hearts of every American Patriot.

Trump set to deliver State of the Union at a low point in second presidency washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-hou… via @naomitlim

NEW: Trump's China trip will take place March 31-April 2, per pooler @naomitlim

@carlmarxpmt @WHPressPool No plans at the moment!

@WHPressPool @naomitlim Any info on if press expects Q&A?

In-town pool report #6 - Pool escorted out of East Room Pool was escorted out of the East Room at 10:01 a.m. Naomi Lim @naomitlim Washington Examiner Fri. Feb 20, 10:02 AM

NEW: Trump confirms he is considering a "limited" military strike against Iranian targets to put pressure onto Tehran to agree to a new nuclear deal, per pooler @naomitlim TRUMP: “I guess I can say I am considering that"

REPORTER: “The vice president got booed during the opening ceremony. What do you make of that frosty reception?” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “That's surprising because people like him. Well, I mean, he is in a foreign country, you know, in all fairness. He doesn't get booed in this country.”

Q: "Does this post maybe hurt Republicans with black voters?" Trump: "No…A staffer posted. I knew it was all about. If you take a look at that and see the whole thing, it was a small section at the very end…I didn't do it by the way, this was done by somebody else."

On @VP getting booed at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, @POTUS tells @dcexaminer: "Is that true? That's surprising because people like him. I mean, he is in a foreign country in all fairness. He doesn't get booed in this country."

On the Obama post, @POTUS tells @dcexaminer: "Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them… I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time."