Dozens attended a protest march Monday in Manila demanding justice for the death of Kian delos Santos, a 17-year old teenager who was among the 80 killed in last week's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs.

Philippine senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV also visited the wake of delos Santos earlier during the day and talked to his family.

Anger and protests have focused on the killing of delos Santos, who police say was a drug dealer who opened fire with a pistol during a raid, prompting law enforcers to shoot him.

The family of the student, however, says he was mercilessly shot by police as he was pleading for his life. He was described to be a very good-natured child by his parents.

More than 3,200 drug suspects have been gunned down by police since Duterte launched his crackdown. More than 2,000 others have died in drug-related killings, including attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen, who human rights groups allege are policemen in disguise or their civilian hit men.

Alarmed human rights groups have reported higher death tolls.

Manila - 21 August 2017

1. Wide of people marching

2. Sign that says "#JusticeForKian Justice for all victims of EJK!"

3. Sign that says "Justice now!"

4. Close up of candle that has a note saying: "#JusticeForKian"

5. Sign that says "Stop the killings"

6. Wide of people at the march protest

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Renato Reyes, Secretary-general of Bayan, a militant organisation:

"Today we are protesting the death of a 17-year old who was picked up by the police and was by all indications summarily executed here in this very community. And the people are outraged, the people throughout the country are outraged by what is happening right now and we demand accountability, we demand justice, and we demand, most of all, a stop to the brutal drug war being waged by Rodrigo Duterte."

8. Justice poster near Kian delos Santos' house

9. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, anti-Duterte Philippine senator, coming down stairs of delos Santos' home

10. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, anti-Duterte Philippine senator:

"I think this feeling of sadness and anger should be translated into bravery. Maybe it's about time for leaders to come together to put an end to this kind of war against drugs that leads to innocent people being killed and our authorities not following the law"

11. Wide of people gathering at the wake at delos Santos' residence

12. Saldy delos Santos, father of 17-year old victim, at the wake

13. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Saldy delos Santos, father of Kian delos Santos

(delos Santos was asked if he ever expected this to happen to his son)

"No, my son was very kind. He's always here (at home and family mini store). You see a lot of parents sitting outside (at the wake) because those parents bring their children to school and they've seen my son here selling pencils, paper, and other school supplies."

14. In memoriam sign for Kian delos Santos

15. Close up of relative's phone showing photos of Kian delos Santos with family and friends

16. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Lorenza delos Santos, mother of Kian delos Santos:

"I'm not mad at him (President Duterte), only at his programs where the police don't know how to follow - just don't shoot carelessly. If he is guilty of something, investigate it instead."

17. Friends of victim viewing the casket

Relatives that claim their family members were victims of extra judicial killings under the Philippines 'war on drugs' held a rally on Tuesday outside a police station in the capital.

Relatives displayed pictures of their loved ones and offered flowers as they seek justice for victims of the illegal drugs campaign under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte which started after he became president in 2016.

The rally was held outside a police station which conducted many anti-drug operations.

It happened ahead of All Soul's Day, when Filipinos go to the cemeteries to visit their dearly departed.

Police statistics show that more than 3,900 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed in police anti-drug operations since Duterte took office last year.

Another 2,000 homicide cases are suspected to be drug-related, while nearly 10,000 other homicide cases are under investigation.

Manila - 31 October 2017

1. Various of relatives displaying photos of family members they say were victims of extra judicial killings, on the pavement in front of police station

2. Various of photos and flowers

3. Relatives of victims holding placards reading (English) "Stop the killings" and "Justice for EJK (Extra judicial killings) victims"

4. Placard reading (English) "Stop the Killings"

5. Protester talking on megaphone

6. Exterior of police station

7. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Felibet Escudero, mother of victim:

"I want justice for those who have died, including my son."

8. Photos of victims on the sidewalk

Dozens of people attended a funeral procession Sunday at a Manila cemetery for Leover Miranda, a 39-year old man shot dead by police earlier this month as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs in the Philippines.

Mourners wore white shirts with slogans reading "Kill drugs, not people" as a sign of protest against the government crackdown, as the family of Miranda buried their loved one.

Defending her son against the authorities' allegations, Elvirra Miranda, mother of Leover Miranda, said she hoped "innocent people would be spared from these things".

Last week, more than 80 drug and crime suspects were gunned down by police in metropolitan Manila and nearby Bulacan province in just three days, the bloodiest few days since Duterte's crackdown started in July last year.

Anger and protests have focused on the shooting death of a teenager, Kian Lloyd delos Santos, who police say was a drug dealer who opened fire with a pistol during a raid, prompting law enforcers to shoot him.

The family of the slain 17-year-old student, however, says he was mercilessly shot by police as he was pleading for his life.

Police said the student attempted to escape during a raid that sparked a chase Wednesday night in suburban Caloocan city in Manila metropolis.

The student's grieving parents and some neighbours denied the police claim, pointing to security camera footage that showed a man, who they said was delos Santos, being held by both arms and dragged away from his home shortly before he was shot nearby.

Amid the outcry, police officials removed three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos, along with their commander, and ordered an investigation.

In a statement read out in Manila churches Sunday, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle offered to host a dialogue on the drug problem among government and police officials, along with families of victims, non government groups and medical experts.

Manila - 20 August 2017

1. Funeral procession for drug violence victim Leover Miranda, people holding banner reading (English) "Stop the killings! End impunity!"

2. People marching with shirts reading (English) "Kill drugs not people"

3. Hands of Leover Miranda's mother, Elvirra Miranda, on tomb

4. Elvirra Miranda grieving

5. Tomb of Leover Miranda being sealed

6. Photo of Leover Miranda being held by relative

7. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Elvirra Miranda, mother of Leover Miranda:

"I wish innocent people would be spared from these things, especially my own son. He doesn't do any drugs, he just drinks."

8. Poster reading (English) "Stop killing the poor"

9. Banner reading (English) "Justice for Kian! And justice for all the victims extra judicial killings!"

10. Photos of Kian Lloyd delos Santos, 17-year-old victim of drug-related killings

11. People at delos Santos' wake

12. In memoriam signage at wake

13. People viewing delos Santos' casket at his wake

14. Signs reading (English) "Stop the killings!" and "Justice for Kian! Stop the killings!"

15. Crucifix

16. Priest in Catholic church

17. Various of service in Catholic church

18. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) name unknown, Manila priest reading a letter by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle:

"All Filipinos agree that the menace of illegal drugs is real and destructive. We must face and act upon it together, as one people. Unfortunately, it has divided us. Given the complexity of the issues, no single individual, group or institution could claim to have the only right response. We need one other. We cannot disregard each other."

19. Cutaway of congregation listening

20. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) name unknown, Manila priest reading a letter by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle:

"We knock on the consciences of those who kill even the helpless, especially those who cover their faces with masks (referring to attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen, who human rights groups allege are policemen in disguise or civilians acting for them), to stop wasting human lives."

21. People in church

Hundreds of Filipino marched to the Presidential palace on Friday to mark the first year of President Rodrigo Duterte in office and remind him of his pledges, as well as holding him accountable for what they called his crimes against the people.

Holding placards and banners such as "Stop killing the poor" and Lift martial law" they made their way through the capital.

Renato Reyes of the Patriotic Alliance group said they were concerned as the country was seeing little of the change that was promised a year ago.

It's been a remarkably turbulent first year for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs has left thousands of suspects dead and prompted critics to call his rule a "human rights calamity."

One accused him of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.

A former state prosecutor, Duterte denies condoning extrajudicial killings and remains popular with the masses who embrace his unorthodox leadership style, profanity-laced outbursts and draconian bent in an Asian bastion of democracy.

Last month, he declared martial law in the south to deal with an unprecedented siege by Islamic State group-aligned militants that continues to devastate Marawi city and alarm the rest of Southeast Asia.

"The human rights record is a very serious concern, it is a bloody mark on the report card of the President and the killings have to stop, martial law has to stop, the militarisation of communities in the country side have to stop" Reyes said.

Manila - 30 June 2017

1. Various of protesters marching to the Presidential palace

2. Protester holding placard reading (English) "Stop killing the poor"

3. Woman holding placard reading (English) "No to military generals in civilian posts"

4. Protesters holding placards reading (English) "Lift martial law now" and Stop fascist attacks against the FIlipino people."

5. Protest leader Renato Reyes addressing the crowd

6. Poster showing a 'report card' for Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, pan down to subjects and emoji marks

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Renato Reyes, protest leader:

"The first year of President Rodrigo Duterte is marked with the war in Marawi, martial law in the entire Mindanao, US intervention in a domestic conflict, a stalled peace talks (with the New People's Army) and a restive population because of the worsening economic crisis and we are very far from the change that was promised a year ago. "

8. Man holding placard reading (English) "Yes to peace talks! No to all out war!" pan down to another placard "martial law is not the answer! Peace based on justice is what we need!"

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Renato Reyes, protest leader:

"The human rights record is a very serious concern, it is a bloody mark on the report card of the president and the killings have to stop, martial law has to stop, the militarisation of communities in the countryside have to stop."

10. Protesters holding placard reading (Tagalog) "First year of Digong (Duterte)" with angry and sad emoji faces symbols

Thousands of protesters marked the anniversary of the 1972 martial law declaration by late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos with an outcry against what they say is the current president's authoritarian tendencies and his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

Hundreds of riot police deployed to secure the marches and rallies, among the largest against President Rodrigo Duterte since he rose to power last year.

Waving red flags and carrying placards that read "Stop the Killings," left-wing groups started to gather in three Manila areas, including at the foot of a bridge leading to the presidential palace.

Duterte has warned he would use force or expand nationwide his martial law declaration in the country's south if anti-government protesters threaten public order.

He placed the entire southern third of the largely Roman Catholic nation under martial law in May to deal with a bloody siege by pro-Islamic State group militants in southern Marawi city that has dragged on for nearly four months.

Known for bombastic remarks, Duterte has said activists can stage street protests without government permits, and that even communist guerrillas can join as long as they don't bring their guns.

He said he was also ready to turn in his resignation to Congress anytime if the military agrees.

The unorthodox president has remained popular in his crime-weary country, helped by his common-guy demeanor and populist rhetoric.

Duterte said on Wednesday he has ordered law enforcers to kill his own children, two of whom serve as mayor and vice mayor of his southern home city, if they're found to be involved in illegal drugs.

Manila - 21 September 2017

1. Various of thousands of protesters holding banners while marching to presidential palace

2. Close of placard reading: (English) "DU30 (President Rodrigo Duterte) youth killer!!!"

3. Banner reading: (English) "Stop the killings"

4. People marching with banner, reading: (English) "Resist Duterte's tyranny"

5. Wide pan from protesters to stage

6. Marcos martial law victim Satur Ocampo being interviewed by journalist

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Satur Ocampo, Marcos martial law victim:

"We are already protesting his (President Duterte) adoption of militaristic and fascist methods like the killings, the unwarranted killings of drug addicts and pushers."

8. Pan from photographers taking photo to a protester lying on the road pretending to be a victim of extra judicial killing

9. Protester on the ground with a toy gun, white plastic sachet and ketchup as blood

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Venser Crisostomo, protester:

"The Duterte government is bound to get more isolated, more exposed among the people and soon will be ousted."

11. Protesters lighting Duterte's portrait on giant cube

12. Various of cube with portraits of Adolf Hitler, President Duterte, former President Ferdinand Marcos and a puppy burning and spinning

13. Close of a protester holding a danger sign with Duterte's face and two cross bones

14. Various of burning cube and protesters cheering, whistling and making noise

15. Placard of Duterte reading (English) "blood in your hands" sign

16. Protesters marching

17. Wide pan of protest

Protesters took to the streets of the Philippines capital of Manila to mark international Human Rights Day on Tuesday.

Some protesters burned an an effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, angered over his campaign against illegal drugs that has claimed the lives of thousands of Filipinos.

The unprecedentedly massive crackdown Duterte launched after he took office in mid-2016 has seen more than 6,300 mostly petty drug suspects killed after allegedly resisting arrests.

Human rights groups have cited a higher death toll and accused some policemen of killing unarmed suspects based on flimsy evidence and altering crime scenes to make it look like the suspects violently fought back.

Protester Raoul Manuel, the President of the National Union of Students of the Philippines said they could not allow "the human rights violations and rampant killings" to go on "because that is the kind of society that we will pass on to the future generations."

Meanwhile, Duterte on Tuesday decided to end more than two years of martial law in southern Philippines.

His spokesperson said that government forces had weakened Islamic militant groups there with the capture and killing of their leaders.

Opposition politicians argued Duterte’s martial law was unconstitutional because it is an "extreme measure" that can only be imposed when an actual rebellion against the government exists.

They also feared the move could be a prelude to Duterte declaring martial law throughout the Philippines.

Manila – 10 December 2019

1. Various of protesters burning an effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ++NIGHT SHOTS++

2. Protesters holding banner

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Raoul Manuel, 25, President of the National Union of Students of the Philippines:

"It is really a challenge for the youth who are living today to be part of the ranks of defenders of human rights. We cannot allow that basic social services are deprived from the people, that the human rights violations and rampant killings will go on because that is the kind of society that we will pass on to the future generations."

4. Protesters, one holding sign reading (English): "Human rights start with you"

5. Wide of protest and dancers

Family and friends of a teenager who was killed in an alleged shootout with members of the Philippine police last month attended his funeral in Manila on Tuesday.

According to the police, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, aged 19, robbed a taxi driver along a road in Caloocan City and took the driver's wallet before fleeing the scene.

The taxi driver, according to the police, sought their assistance and Arnaiz fired at the responding policemen, prompting them to retaliate.

Police said the driver's wallet was recovered at the crime scene.

They also claimed that three packs of a suspected methamphetamine drug were found in Arnaiz's backpack and marijuana leaves in his pocket.

However, Arnaiz's parents have denied that their son was involved in the illegal drug trade, noting that he was a former University of the Philippines student who graduated with honours.

A renewed police crackdown on the drug trade and other crimes in the Philippines led to the killings of more than 80 suspects in purported firefights in just three days last month, the bloodiest few days under President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug and anti-crime campaign.

The huge death toll has alarmed many human rights groups and even political allies of the president and prompted official investigations, including by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Manila - 5 September 2017

1. Various of grieving relatives and friends of 19 year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz crying and hugging each other before walking up to his casket

2. Wide of church altar with relatives and friends queuing to pay their respects

3. Woman offering her condolences to Carl Angelo's family

4. Woman hugging Carl's sister Camille Arnaiz

5. Arnaiz's mother crying

6. Camille Arnaiz at the altar standing with an unidentified man

7. SOUNDBITE (Tagalog) Camille Arnaiz, sister of Carlo Angelo Arnaiz: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"I would like to thank the people who offered their condolences to our family, to everyone who loved my brother, to our family, to all his friends and for those who believe that he is innocent thank you very much."

8. Wide of men carrying casket

9. Family members crying

10. Workers placing casket into slot

11. Relatives placing flowers on casket

12. Protesters holding placards reading (English) "Stop the killings" and "Justice for Carl"

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Shari Oliquino, School friend of Carl Arnaiz:

"We are actually here to seek justice not only for Carl but for each and every victim of the extra judicial killings under the (President Rodrigo) Duterte regime. Now we see that Carl is another victim of President Duterte's notorious war on drugs."

14. Protesters chanting (Tagalog) "Fight for Justice and holding placard "Stop the Killings!"

Protesters clashed with police in Manila on Thursday ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the Philippines as part of his five-nation tour of Asia.

The demonstrators, who included members of women's rights and economic trade groups, brandished anti-Trump posters and banners as they clashed violently with riot police.

President Trump is due to meet Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

The White House has indicated that Trump is unlikely to publicly chide him for overseeing a drug war with extrajudicial killings.

Manila - 10 November 2017

1. Protesters with banners marching down street

2. Various of protesters clashing with police

Phillipine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he could not stop Chinese men from fishing his country's exclusive economic zone in the disputed South China Sea.

In his annual state of the nation address, Duterte told congress the Phillipines would certainly lose in any clash over his country's exclusive economic zone, which is claimed by China.

"When Xi (Jinping, Chinese President) says I will fish, who can prevent him?" Duterte asked as he defended his non-confrontational approach to China over the territorial disputes.

"If I send my marines to drive away the Chinese fishermen, I guarantee you not one of them will come home alive," Duterte said, adding that diplomatic talks with Beijing have allowed the return of Filipinos to disputed fishing grounds where Chinese forces previously shooed them away.  

Critics have repeatedly criticised Duterte, who has nurtured friendly ties with Beijing, for not standing up to China's aggressive behaviour in the disputed waters and for deciding not to immediately seek Chinese compliance with an international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing historic claims to virtually the entire sea.

"Do you want war?" he asked.

The Philippines' long-simmering territorial rifts with China and Duterte's centerpiece campaign against illegal drugs and corruption were spotlighted in his speech.

The 74-year-old took office in June 2016 and has remained hugely popular in opinion polling despite drug war deaths that have sparked international alarm and other controversial policies.

More of his allies captured congressional seats in midterm elections in May, giving them a tighter grip on the legislature, especially in the 24-member Senate, which opposed some of his key legislative proposals last year, including reinstating the death penalty and amending the pro-democracy constitution.

More than 5,200 protesters rallied despite a downpour outside the House complex to call for Duterte's removal while a smaller number of pro-Duterte supporters rallied separately.

Protest leader Renato Reyes Jr said protesters were fighting to have Duterte's term cut short, adding "the killings are not stopping and he's going to go for more."

Left-wing protesters burned a mock Chinese flag and a giant mural with the images of Duterte, Xi and US President Donald Trump.

Military and police were placed on full alert and authorities declared a no-fly zone over the venue and outlying areas to ensure security.

Manila - 22 July 2019

1. Wide of Philippine Congress hall applauding President Rodrigo Duterte

2. Mid of Congressmen applauding

3. Duterte walking to podium

4. Wide of hall

5. SOUNDBITE: (English/Tagalog) Rodrigo Duterte, Phillipine President:

"I cannot go there (South China Sea) even to bring the coastguard to drive them (Chinese) away. China also claims the property and he is in possession, that is the problem."

6. Cutaway of congressmen watching Duterte's speech

7. SOUNDBITE: (English/Tagalog) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"If I send our Marines to drive away the Chinese fishermen I guarantee you not one of them will come home alive."

8. Cutaway of congressmen watching Duterte's speech

9. SOUNDBITE: (English/Tagalog) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"When Xi (Jinping, Chinese President) says I will fish who can prevent him? I also said we will fish because we claim it, I said please allow because before that they were driving away our fishermen. I said do not drive them away because the Filipinos are of the belief that they also claim it."

10. Wide of Duterte at podium, congressmen applauding

11. SOUNDBITE: (English/Tagalog) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"Of course there are already guided missiles in that island and the fastest that they have installed there can reach Manila in seven minutes. Do you want war?"

12. Various of protest march

13. Protesters marching while holding banner reading (English): "No to PH-China deals!

14. Protest banner reading (English): "Oust Duterte"

15. Pan from protest banner that reads (English): "Stop the killings!" to effigy depicting Duterte as a seamonster

16. Various of burning effigy depicting Duterte as a sea monster holding up a gun and a mock China flag

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Renato Reyes Jr, protest leader:

"So it's going to be a real fight for the next three years and people are thinking maybe it would be better if his (Duterte) term is cut short. Considering that the killings are not stopping and that he's going to go for more." ++NIGHT SHOT++

18. Wide of protesters

Rushes of remarks by Donald Trump in press briefing at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

August 7, 2020

7:34 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. And it’s a great honor to have everybody here. And I know the press was not quite expecting this, so I appreciate your being able to attend. We have a terrific number of things, and some very positive things to tell you tonight.

I want to begin by giving an update on the economy. Economic health is vital to public health. That’s why our strategy to kill the China virus has focused on protecting those at greatest risk while allowing younger and healthy Americans to safely return to work and safely return to school. Very important.

We added 1.8 million new jobs in July, exceeding predictions for the third month in a row, and adding a total of over 9.3 million jobs since May. And I will say that the job growth that we’ve seen over the last three months — 9.3 million — is the single greatest three-month period of job creation in American history. That’s big stuff. That’s big news and great news.

Over the past three months, the United States has surpassed market expectations by a total of 12 million new jobs. Over the last three months, the United States has added 623,000 manufacturing jobs. Remember “You’d need a magic wand to get manufacturing jobs”? And we’re getting them even in a pandemic — which is disappearing; it’s going to disappear.

And 639,000 brand-new construction jobs. Over half of the new jobs are fulltime jobs, and wages are up by 4.8 percent, which is terrific. Unemployment has fallen by nearly 30 percent since April. Think of that: 30 percent since April.

Hispanic American unemployment has decreased by nearly 32 percent. Jobs held by African Americans, which were hit especially hard by the shutdowns — incredibly hard — increased by nearly 1 million over the past three months, and that’s also a record. That’s a job record: African American, 1 million. It’s job record.

We must ensure that the progress continues. My administration has enacted over $3 trillion in historic relief since China allowed the virus to infect the world. So we’ve contributed $3 trillion.

My administration continues to work in good faith to reach an agreement with Democrats in Congress that will extend unemployment benefits; provide protections against evictions — the terrible thing happens with evictions. Not fair. It wasn’t their fault that we were infected with this disease from China. And get relief to American families.

Yet, tragically, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer continue to insist on radical leftwing policies that have nothing to do with the China virus. Nothing to do with it at all. So you have a virus that comes in, and you have people in Congress that don’t want to help our people.

If Democrats continue to hold this critical relief hostage, I will act, under my authority as President, to get Americans the relief they need. And what we’re talking about is deferring the payroll tax for a period of months until the end of the year. And I can extend it at a certain period. Hopefully, I will be here to do the job. We’re going to do the job; we’ve been doing the job like nobody could. Nobody would, actually. And so, we’re going to have the payroll tax go until the end of the year, and it’ll be retroactive to July 1st. So we’re going to go back to July 1st, and it’ll go to the end of the year — payroll tax. At the end of the year, it may be extended.

We’re going to enhance unemployment benefits through the end of the year. So unemployment benefits will be — that’s a big one — will be brought out to the end of the year.

And defer student loan payments and forgive interest until further notice — so students who are paying student loans and, in many cases, they’re not even allowed to go back into their colleges.

Extend the eviction moratorium — we will be extending that so people aren’t evicted. Not their fault.

We had a lengthy discussion this morning with President Macron of France, concerning numerus subjects, but in particular, the catastrophic event which took place in Beirut, Lebanon. Horrible, horrible event.

At 3 p.m. this afternoon, I spoke with President Aoun of Lebanon to inform him that three large aircraft on the — are on the way, and they’re fully loaded — fully loaded with medical supplies, food, water, and many other things, lots of emergency equipment. Also first responders, technicians, doctors, and nurses are on their way. This was an event like the world has not seen for a long time. A horrible event.

We’ll be having a conference call on Sunday with President Macron, leaders of Lebanon, and leaders from various parts of the world. Everyone wants to help. We spoke to a lot of people; they all want to help.

The United States is with authorities on the ground right now in Lebanon to identify further health and humanitarian needs, and we will provide further assistance in the period to come. We’re working very closely with their government and with their leaders.

And on behalf of the United States, I want to extend our condolences to all of the families — a much larger number of families than anybody would have thought and than anybody at first thought — but all of those families who lost loved ones, relatives, friends in this horrible tragedy. We stand firmly with the people of Lebanon and will continue to offer our full support through this very difficult time. We have not seen anything like this in a long time.

As you know, earlier this week I met with American workers at the Tennessee Valley Authority who have been laid off by the leadership at the Tennessee Valley Authority. As you know, this is a form of utility. It’s been around for a long time, since FDR.

And the head person — not controlled by government, but it’s sort of semi-public, in a sense — gets paid the highest salary in the world of government. He gets $8 million a year. That’s not a bad amount of money. It’s $8 million a year. And we are not accepting that. Even though we’re not the ones that appoint him or her — but, in this case, him — we’re not accepting somebody getting paid $8 million a year. This has been going on for many years. And we will do something about that, and we’re already in negotiations right now, including possible termination.

They and hundreds of their fellow American tech workers — the workers at TVA — were being terminated from their positions on top of all of this, and on top of the $8 million salary, and a chief of staff who makes much more than a million dollars a year. But, on top of all that, they were being terminated from their positions — these incredible people — in order to train the lower-cost foreign workers imported to replace them. How’s that for a law? And this was set up, originally, to create jobs and economic development, and now they’re getting fired, and they’re supposed to train people for a much lower — who get a much lower salary. It’s crazy.

This was a grave injustice. I fired the chairman of the board in response. On Friday, I fired the chairman of the board, along with one other board member. That’s the one thing we have; we have the right to fire board members. And I made it clear that if they did not swiftly reverse course, I would continue with these firings of the board members. And we just were informed that they have agreed to change course, totally.

And today, I’m proud to announce that a major victory for the workers of Tennessee and Kentucky and other areas that are covered — great states, great states — that the leadership of the TVA has canceled all of the layoffs and given hundreds of American workers their jobs back. They’re being rehired as we speak.

In this administration, we live by two rules: Buy American and hire American. You can’t do that; you can’t fire all our workers and hire people back from other faraway parts of the world at lower prices, especially when they have to train the people. And they can never train them as good as what you have, because they’ve been there for many years. They’ve done a fantastic job, and they love the TVA.

We had a lot of people in the office the other day — a lot of the media was covering it. They love the Tennessee Valley Authority. So — and they’re so proud to work for it. But this happened and it was a terrible thing, so now they’re going to get their jobs back — they’re all going to be getting their jobs back.

Nearly every nation on Earth continues to combat the virus. A number of countries are seeing a surge in new cases, including Japan, the Philippines, major parts of Europe. Cases continue to surge in Latin America. That’s, right now, the most infected place anywhere in the world. They have more than doubled in recent days. Latin America is doing very little testing. They’re not really equipped to do that. It’s tough.

In the United States, more than 80 percent of jurisdictions report decline in cases. We’re doing very well. You don’t hear that too often from the media, but we’re doing very well. We have a very large country — a very complex country, in a sense. More than half of America’s counties report fewer than 20 cases last week. So, if you look at that, more than half of America’s counties report fewer than 20 cases last week. But we have to remain vigilant. We’re doing very well, but we have to remain vigilant.

Nationally, the percentage of emergency room visits with the coronavirus symptoms is down to almost half what it was in July. The southern states that were very strong hotspots not long ago — Arizona, Texas, Florida — continue to show significant improvement, including increased availability of hos- — hospital beds.

Arizona now has the smallest number of coronavirus in-patients. Since mid-June, it’s gone — the governor was up, and we had a great meeting — Governor Ducey. And the meeting was terrific. But since mid-June — so they’re doing well, and it’s going down — heading down very rapidly, actually.

Texas is stabilizing and improving rapidly with some progress in the Rio Grande Valley, and other communities along the border with Mexico that had shown the biggest increases in hospitalizations and deaths.

Florida is also stabilizing, and statewide positive test rate continues to decrease — from 13 percent on July 23rd, to 8 percent this week. Florida has done very well. It’s going down; it’s heading down, actually, quite rapidly. And even Miami, which was the hottest spot in Florida, is heading downward. But Florida has done very well.

Texas has done very well, and rapidly. And Arizona has done incredibly well. So it — Arizona has really been a very rapid drop.

New Jersey and New York remain stable with less than 1 percent of emergency room visits due to the China virus — the illness. It took a devastating toll on both states, as you know. While both states really took the brunt of the infection earlier this year, thankfully we have not seen a resurgence. They’ve been doing a good job. Everybody is working very hard. Both governors are working very, very hard. We’re in touch with them. We’re supplying them with a lot of supplies as needed, if needed. But they’re needing very little right now. They’re in very good shape. We will continue to monitor the new cases.

Throughout this crisis, my administration has provided extraordinary support of people, equipment, medical supplies to the people of New Jersey, the people of New York, and to the people of every state — all of our states.

We’re carefully monitoring California’s Central Valley, as well as San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco, which are starting to stabilize and go down.

We’re carefully watching regions from increasing cases, including Boston and Chicago, as well as the Midwest. We’re watching them all very carefully. It’s vital that all Americans work together to protect the vulnerable.

For this reason, we’ve delivered vast amounts of protective equipment and testing supplies to nursing homes all across America. We’re focused very much on the elderly, especially the elderly where they have heart problems or diabetes problems. Diabetes is a big problem. Approximately half of all deaths have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. That’s an incredible number, when you hear half of the deaths have been in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

And I will tell you that I met with owners and representatives of nursing homes, and they are very, very vigilant. They’re doing a very good job now. They’ve really done something that I think is special. They’re doing very well, in terms of the virus. They’re working very hard. And a lot of things happen — a lot of forces came together and hit the nursing homes very hard. But the representatives of nursing homes — in some cases, the ownership of nursing homes — they’re working very hard.

The federal government and the private sector have delivered more than 9 million N95 masks, 27 million surgical masks, 3 million face shields, 20 million gowns, and 668 million gloves to New Jersey alone. Think of that. We provided $3.4 billion to the state of New Jersey in emergency relief funding. So we happen to be in New Jersey right now, so those are great numbers. The governor is working very hard; Governor Murphy is doing a good job. We’re working very closely with him. We’ve also provided nearly $5 billion to New Jersey hospitals and healthcare facilities.

And through the Paycheck Protection Program that you all know so well, we provided $23 billion to support more than 250,000 New Jersey small businesses. A lot of the small businesses that you see that are opening now and going to do well, they’re there because of what we did with Paycheck Protection.

On therapeutics and vaccine updates: Three vaccine candidates have now moved into phase three trials. This would be years ahead of schedule. We have done wonders with the FDA. I want to thank the FDA and all of the great people there and Dr. Hahn. But we have phase three trials already going on, which is, most people would have said, impossible to even think about.

Today, Pfizer announced that it will manufacture Gilead’s drug, remdesivir — where we’ve had tremendous success.

Last week alone, my administration procured and distributed over 120,000 vials of remdesivir, enough to treat more than 19,000 patients. Plasma treatments continue to show incredibly encouraging results, really incredible what’s going on. And if you can go to a blood bank — if you’ve had this disease and — and beat it — and there are a lot of people that have — if you could go to a blood bank and donate, that would be a tremendous help.

The United States is only 5 percent of the world’s population, but we have conducted over 25 percent of the world’s testing. Think of that: 5 percent and we’ve given 25 percent of the world’s testing. Any proper global analysis of confirmed cases must really take this into account, because we’re constantly showing cases — cases, cases, cases are up. Well, the reason cases are up, because we’re doing — one of the reasons — we’re doing a lot of testing.

We’re doing much more testing than anyone else. Close to 65 million tests, where other countries have done very little testing. They’ll test people if they get sick. They’ll test people if they go into the hospital. They’ll test certain people. We’re doing tremendous testing. And we’re especially doing big testing at the nursing homes.

Over the last week, the testing turnaround times have declined significantly as our major commercial labs have begun pooling samples. And we’ve also been able to send out many more of the tests, which are the 5-minute to 15-minute-result tests. Testing samples from multiple patients in one batch is also something that we’re very focused on and doing. But in the not-too-distant future, we’ll have so many tests where it’s a quick test — they call it a “quick test” — 5 minutes to 15 minutes. So we won’t even have to worry too much about the process of sending and receiving. Because if you figure it takes a day to send and a day to receive and, let’s say, a day at the laboratory — that’s three days right there. And the other tests, you can have them in 5 to 15 minutes.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions for all customers. That’s a big thing. I’ve always been very strongly in favor — we have to cover pre-existing conditions. So we will be pursuing a major executive order, requiring health insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions for all of its customers.

This has never been done before, but it’s time the people of our country are properly represented and properly taken care of.

This follows a series of executive orders to lower drug prices and lower prescription drug prices — and significantly. We had the only year, which was last year, where drug prices went down in 51 years. But we’re talking about going down at a level that nobody has even thought possible now, even though the drug companies are running very big ads on me, but that’s usually a reason — they’re not happy. They can’t be too thrilled. But they’ve made a lot of money over the years, and prices just go up. Not fair.

This includes a landmark executive order requiring drug companies to change Americans — and charge Americans no more than they charge to foreign countries. So they have to charge Americans no more than they charge to foreign countries. That means our country can’t be charged more.

So if Germany gets drugs at a very small or low price, and we’re paying many times that price in the United States — because we pay for all of the research, the development, the promotion, and other things — we will get what’s called a “favored-nations clause.” We’re going to have — and I signed a favored-nations clause so that the United States — which is the number-one purchaser of drugs by far in the world — biggest purchaser in the world, not even close. You have other countries that are bigger, if you look at India, China, et cetera. Not too many. But we have countries that are bigger, but not even close, in terms of ordering drugs. We’re the number-one country in the world.

But we have a favored-nation — so if somebody has a — a drug — in many cases, it comes from a plant — the same plant. It comes from — it’s the same pill; it’s the same medicine or medication. Whatever the lowest country charges — so if Germany charges 10 cents for a pill, and we charge $2 — and I only use Germany as an example — then we get that — we get that for 10 cents. So what’s going to happen is that’s going to go up a little bit, and ours is going to come down a whole lot. So it’s the favored nations.

And I will tell you that big pharma is not happy. For too long, we’ve been forced to subsidize cheaper drug prices in foreign countries. We’ve subsidized them to a level that nobody can believe. Nobody talked about it. Everybody wondered, “How come every President that runs for office says they’re going to lower drug prices, and they never do? They go through the right — roof.” Over the last administration they went up, like, skyrocketing — skyrocketing. That’s Biden. Biden is not going to be able to be able to do it. He has no clue.

So what’s happening is: We are going to be working to get rid of all the subsidy to foreign lands. And we’re going to give, essentially, all of the benefit that, frankly, they have as great negotiators — those benefits are going to go to our people. So it’s called a “favored-nations clause,” and you can look it up, and you can see. And nobody has had the courage to institute it, to call it because it’s a very big — it’s a very big step. But it’s something that is going to drive drug prices down 50, 60, maybe even 70 percent. We’re talking about numbers that are unbelievable.

I also signed an executive order stopping middlemen from taking advantage of Medicare patients by charging higher prices to them and pocketing the discounts for themselves. These are some of the richest people in the world. Everyone talked about middlemen. I’ve heard about them for years, on prescription drug prices — middlemen. I guess you’d have to say to be politically correct, “middlemen and women.” But you never heard the “middlewomen” before; you heard “middlemen.” That’s the term.

And, you know, say what you want about the drug companies, but at least the drug companies produce a product. They produce the pill. They produce the medicine — the medication. But these people make billions and billions of dollars. I don’t know who they are, but they’re very rich. But they won’t be so rich anymore.

This executive order requires these $30 billion in discounts to go straight to the American patients. So the middleman is going to be knocked out, and I’m going to lose a lot of friends, even though I have no idea who these people are.

AUDIENCE: (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: On opioids, I’m pleased to announce that my administration invested an additional $100 million to fight the opioid crisis in rural America. In the midst of the China virus pandemic, we also keep fighting to end the opioid epidemic. And we’ve done very well. We’ve done — it was prior to the virus — we were down 18, 19, and 20 percent. But when you think about it, that means that you have 80 percent, and that’s not acceptable.

The wall is going up. We have 276 miles of wall. It’s having a tremendous impact on drugs coming into our country already. It’ll be finished toward the end of the year. And it’s had a very, very big impact.

On Portland: Finally, I’d like to address that situation. Portland is a disaster. It’s been a disaster for many, many years. Brave federal law enforcement officers singlehandedly — the officers, they singlehandedly saved the federal courthouse in Portland from lawless rioters and agitators and anarchists — and that’s what they are. You know, when you find Molotov cocktails in somebody’s knapsack, and they say, “No, I’m just here to have a good time.” (Laughter.) These are really sick, disturbed people.

The disgraced mayor of the city has ordered the police to stand down in the face of rioters, leaving his citizens at the mercy of this mob. He was at the mercy of the mob, too. If you saw him go out there the other day, it was terrible. He went out there and they wanted to rip him apart. But, fortunately, he had five people with him called “security.”

Mayor Wheeler has abdicated his duty and surrendered his city to the mob. As a result, the mob descended upon a police precinct and tried to burn it down, tear it down, rip it down — an act of attempted murder. Leftwing, violent extremism poses an increasing threat to our country, and we stop it. You have no idea how much we stop, but it’s an ideology we have to stop.

“When you commit arson…” — this is a quote from the mayor; he’s come a long way. He just made this quote. “When you commit arson with an accelerant in [the] attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who…have intentionally [been] trapped inside, you are not a” demonstrator — or “you’re not demonstrating,” said, Mayor 2722, “You are attempting to commit murder.” That’s come a long way; he’s come a long way when he made that statement.

What you’re seeing in Portland is the radical left’s agenda in action. Portland is their roadmap for America. If the radical left gets in — and they treat Joe Biden as a puppet; he’s merely a puppet. But if the radical left gets in, they look at Portland as a thing that they want. That’s what they want. Why? Who knows? Doesn’t matter. It’s a different thinking, but it’s a mess.

And I want to thank Homeland Security. They’ve done a fantastic job. We had our people go in. They stopped any intrusion into the courthouse, and the courthouse was saved, and other federal buildings were saved. And we would like to be asked by the mayor and the governor — we will go in and stop the problems in Portland in 24 hours, just like we did in Minneapolis after they really hurt that city. But the National Guard went in, did a phenomenal job.

It was over in three hours. After watching six days of horror, it ended in three hours. You all saw the scene of them walking right down the street, just to — it was actually an unfortunate view, but an incredible view of how to do things.

So we would be able to solve the Portland situation immediately, but we are supposed to be asked. If we’re not asked and if it continues, we’ll have to make a decision. But it’s a very easy thing for us to do. We could stop it very quickly. It’s been going on now for 76 days. But our buildings are very secure.

If the Democrats controlled in Washington — the Democrats’ control of Washington — they’d pass — with all of the things they do — legislation gutting every single police department in America. They truly do; many of these people want to defund the police department. At a minimum, they’re to stop money from going to the police department, but in many cases they actually wanted to defund, completely, the police department.

No city, no town, and no suburb would be safe. Your suburbs would be a disaster. Your cities, your towns would be a disaster. They want every city to be a Portland or to be a Chicago, which is totally out of control, and we’re waiting for the mayor. We’ve sent people in to help them from an intelligence standpoint, but we’re waiting for them to call — the governor, the mayor. We could do a very good job in Chicago. Nobody’s ever seen anything like that — this country.

And yet, nationwide numbers are good, despite the Chicagos and the Portlands — and, frankly, the New Yorks, when you look at what’s happened in New York. Three hundred and forty-eight percent increase in the last number of months. Nobody has seen anything like that. It’s so sad. To me, it’s so sad because I love New York. And it’s so sad. And it — all it is, is horrible, horrible incompetent management by politicians that truly don’t know what they’re doing.

So just like we saved the courthouse, we will save the United States of America. And a vast majority of people agree with me. A vast majority. Most people. They don’t speak up as much as they could, but we know they’re there, and everybody else knows they’re there, too.

So, with that, I’ll take a few questions from the media. They’ve been here for a long time, and they’ve been waiting outside for a long time. And they wait for these moments. So it was a lot of fun. (Laughter.)

Please, go ahead.

Q Mr. President —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No. You, go ahead.

Q Me? Oh, thank you, Mr. President. I have a couple of questions on the negotiations with Capitol Hill and the —

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q — coronavirus legislation. These executive orders you mention, do you have a timeline on when you’re going to sign them or —

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, it could be by the end of the week. They’re being drawn by the lawyers right now. They work very nicely. It would be nice to be able to do it with the Democrats, but they’re really just interested in one thing, and that’s protecting people that have not done a good job in managing cities and states. And nothing to do with COVID, nothing to do with — or little to do. They want to be able to make up for many, many years — in some cases, decades — of bad management. We can’t do that.

So that’s what they want. They want to do that, and we don’t want to do that.

Q Are you concerned that — about the legality of these executive orders?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No, not at all.

Q Because there are questions they may be found illegal.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No. If somebody — well, you always get sued. I mean, everything you do you get sued. I was sued on the travel ban, and we won. I was sued on a lot of things, and we won. So we’ll see. Yeah, probably we get sued, but people feel that we can do it.

Jeff, go ahead.

Q Thank you, sir. Mr. President, the intelligence agencies today said that Russia is already meddling in this year’s election to hurt Joe Biden, and that China is considering meddling to hurt you. Do you believe that intelligence? And what do you plan to do about it?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It could be. I mean, it could be — very much. I think that the last person Russia wants to see in office is Donald Trump because nobody has been tougher on Russia than I have, ever.

Q That’s not what the intelligence is showing, though.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I don’t care what anybody says. Nobody — nobody with any common sense would say, do — look at what we’ve done with our military. Look at what we’ve done in exposing the pipeline with billions of dollars going to Russia. Look at all of the things we’ve done with NATO, where I’ve raised $130 billion a year from countries that were delinquent, and now they’re paying all of this money. And the 130, by the way — $130 billion — not “million,” “billion” — goes to $400 billion over a few years. And that’s all money to protect against Russia.

China would love us to have an election where Donald Trump lost to Sleepy Joe Biden. They would dream — they would own our country. If Joe Biden was President, China would own our country. And you said another country? What was the third country?

Q No, just those two. And do you —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No, no. You didn’t — you didn’t say then the report. The report said Iran, also. But you didn’t say that.

Q I didn’t say that.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Iran would love to see me — Iran would love to see me not be President. And I’ll make the statement: If and when we win, we will make deals with Iran very quickly. We’ll make deals with North Korea very quickly.

And whatever happened to the word “North Korea”? You haven’t seen that, have you? If I didn’t win the election in 2016, our country would now be — maybe it would be over by now, but in war with North Korea. Everybody said, “Oh, Trump will get us in war.” No, just the opposite.

And we actually have a relationship with North Korea, which is something that — it was never established by the previous administration. You would have been in war with North Korea, and it would have been a very bad war.

So North Korea — whether you look at Iran — every one of them will make a deal with us very quickly. Iran is dying to make a deal, but they want to see because they’d much rather make a deal with Biden. Because if they make a deal with the United States, if China makes a deal with the United States with Biden in charge, they would own our country.

Look what I’ve done. I’ve taken billions — tens of billions of dollars from China. China was having the worst year they’ve had in 67 years, and we were having the best year we’ve ever had — with big tax cuts, with big regulation cuts. We’ve rebuilt our military. We became independent, in terms of energy. We’re the energy leader of the world. We were having the best year we’ve ever had.

By the way, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American unemployment numbers — the best in the history of our country. All things — and many other groups, too — including women; including high school diploma, no high school diploma, college diploma. Everybody was doing better.

The last thing that Russia wants and China wants and Iran wants would be for Donald Trump to win.

Yes, please. Go ahead.

Q Just to follow up, what do you plan to do about that interference, sir?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, we’re going to look at it very closely. You’re telling me that this came out a little while ago, and I’ve heard that it came out. It came out just a little while ago, and we’re going to look at that very closely.

But you started off with Russia.

Q Russia on —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Why don’t you start off with China? Do you think China is may be a bigger threat? I mean, I think maybe it is. I mean, you’ll have to figure it out. But we’re going to watch all of them. We have to be very careful.

The biggest risk that we have is mail-in ballots because with the mail-in ballots — it’s called “universal mail-in ballots” — it’s much — it is a much easier thing for a foreign power, whether it’s Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, many others, people — countries you wouldn’t expect — it’s much easier for them to forge ballots and send them in. It’s much easier for them to cheat with universal mail-in ballots.

So I think one of the things we’ll have to look at is exactly that, but that’s a big problem. That’s a big problem. You saw, in New York, they called a winner, but they have no idea what the vote is.

Please, go ahead.

Q Mr. President, we’ve watched these negotiations go on for weeks. Do you think if you had been more directly involved, we would be in a different position than we are today?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No, I’m totally involved. No, I — they call me all the time. They they tell me how they’re doing with Nancy and Chuck. But in my opinion, they’re just using it as an excuse to try and — you know, Chuck Schumer came out with a strong statement today that you have to get back into school because it’s good for the economy, but he has — he doesn’t do it. He doesn’t practice what he preaches.

No, my people — Steve Mnuchin and our wonderful Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows — they’re constantly on the phone with me. I’m totally involved with it. And we are going to do it in a way that’s just much easier. We gave them their chance, but they view it as an election enhancement.

You know, you talk about foreign countries cheating on the election. Well, the Democrats are cheating on the election because that’s exactly what they’re doing. If you look at what they’re doing, even with these negotiations, that’s an influence and an unfair influence on an election. But we’re going to win anyway.

Yeah. Please go ahead.

Q Mr. President, when was the last time your spoke to Speaker Pelosi, though? We’re at this historic moment. Why haven’t you spoken to her?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens, but right now they’re not ready. And they’re not ready because, frankly, I don’t think they care about people. I think they care about their politicians that have done a terrible job running the cities and states — Democrat cities and states that are bleeding money, that have been so badly run.

You take a look at Baltimore and you take a look at so many different cities, including the ones I’ve already mentioned. Take a look at what’s going on. And they want lots of money to keep — keep it going. For many years, they’ve been bad.

So all I’m doing is we’re having it out. We’re finally having it out.

Yeah, please.

Q Mr. President, if you go ahead on your own on unemployment insurance, I’m wondering both where you’re going to get the money to pay for that without Congress and will people still get $600 a week?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah, we have the money. We have the money. Yeah.

Q They’ll still get $600 a week, in addition?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I won’t say that yet. You’ll see that when it happens, but we have the money.

Q Will you say what number they would —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We have it, Justin. We have plenty of money.

Yeah. Please go ahead.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. You said that the pandemic is disappearing, but we lost 6,000 Americans this week. And just in this room, you have dozens of people are not following the guidelines in New Jersey which say you should not have more than 25 people —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No, they don’t have to. This is a political activity.

Q So why are you setting a — why are you setting such a bad example, Mr. President, for the country?

AUDIENCE: Booo —

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah. You’re wrong on that because it’s a political activity. They have exceptions. Political activity.

Q (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And it’s also a peaceful protest. So when you have an — and as you know —

AUDIENCE: (Applause.)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It’s a peaceful protest. They asked if they could be here.

You know, they — a number of — and, to me, they look like they all have — pretty much all have masks on. But, you know, you have an exclusion in the law. It says “peaceful protest” or “political activity,” right? In fact, specifically — yeah. It says — exactly — “political activity” or “peaceful protests.”

And you can call it “political activity,” but I’d — I’d call it “peaceful protests” because they heard you were coming up. And they know the news is fake. They understand it better than anybody.

AUDIENCE: (Applause.)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: They asked whether or not — they asked whether or not they could be here. Like the question about Russia. He doesn’t mention Iran was in the report. He doesn’t mention — or he mentions very late that China was in the report —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: China wants Biden!

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: — because that’s the way they are. They’re not —

If the press in this country were honest, if it wasn’t corrupt, if it wasn’t fake, our country would be so much further ahead. But we’re doing really great.

AUDIENCE: (Applause.)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Thank you all very much. Thank you.

END

8:14 P.M. EDT

A leadership row erupted in the Philippine House of Representatives on live TV Monday, delaying President Rodrigo Duterte's delivery of his annual state of the nation address and passage of crucial Muslim autonomy legislation aimed at ending one of Asia's longest Muslim rebellions.

The proposed deal is the latest significant attempt by the government to negotiate an end to nearly half a century of on-and-off Muslim fighting that has left more than 120,000 people dead and displaced about 2 million others.

In his State of the Nation Address before members of the Philippine Congress, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promised that his administration, "will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to charter (their) own destiny within the constitutional framework of our country."

"Give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law," he added.

Aside from the Muslim autonomy pact, Duterte reaffirmed his resolve to fight illegal drugs.

He was also expected to introduce a draft constitution that would shift the country to a federal system of governance.

The moves, including opening the country's 1987 constitution to amendment, have been opposed by several groups and opposition politicians, who fear they are designed to prolong Duterte's rule and give him dictatorial powers.

Thousands of protesters rallied outside the House, where Duterte was to speak.

Duterte, who took office in 2016, has played down such fears, saying he is ready to step down as early as next year and cut short his six-year term before a new federal government is put in place.

Gloria Arroyo, a former president, tried to speak from the stage during the dramatic standoff that erupted in the Philippine House of Representatives on Monday but her microphone was turned off.

Arroyo, backed by dozens of allied legislators, took the main seat in the center stage of the House's plenary hall in a sign that she was taking over the post of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

She tried to yell, apparently to explain what was happening, but later stepped away from the stage, waving at the crowd.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manila - 23 July 2018

1. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte walking towards podium

2. News conference hall

3. Cameramen

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"Two years later, my solid commitment to directly and decisively address our nation's collective challenges remains. It has not wavered. In truth, it has even gotten stronger through adversity and the desire to give the people the most we can."

5. Audience listening to the president's speech

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"The war against illegal drugs is far from over."

7. Wide of Senate President Vicente Sotto and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez listening to Duterte

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"The illegal drugs war will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as of the day it began."

9. Wide of news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"Your concern is human rights. Mine is human lives."

11. Cutaway to cameramen filming at session hall

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"One road leads to harmony and peace. The other, to war and human suffering."

11. Wide of Sotto and Alvarez listening to Duterte

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine President:

"This administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to charter own destiny within the constitutional framework of our country. When the approved version is transmitted and received by my office, the law has been passed actually and I intend to – give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify them."

13. Pull out of protest

14. Wide of protesters holding their fists up

15. Protesters holding placards, reading (English): "#DefendDemocracy", "#NeverAgain" and "#StandForJustice."

16. Placard reading (English) "They'll make you DEAD or they'll make you POOR"

17. Protester in a mock "Deadpool" character costume lying on the ground holding a placard reading (English) "They'll make you DEAD or they'll make you POOR"

18. Various of an effigy of the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte being burned

19. SOUNDBITE (English): Renato Reyes, protest leader:

"We're quite happy with the results. A lot of people came - that goes to show that there is real interest in defending human rights, there's real interest in fighting for democracy. One insight that congress, it seems that they are fighting it out, trying to one up each other. Here outside, people are more united. So that's a very good thing."

20. Various of former Philippine president and current congress woman Gloria Arroya being sworn in

21. Arroyo waves to audience

22. Arroyo tests podium microphone