White House

Obama, Netanyahu to meet at White House on Nov. 9

It will be the first formal meeting between the two leaders in months.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the two leaders will discuss implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and other regional issues, as well as efforts to counter the Islamic State's activities in the region.

White House seeks November meeting between Obama, Netanyahu

Spokesman Josh Earnest says he anticipates a White House meeting in early November. It would be the first formal meeting between the two leaders in months.

Obama pointedly refused to see Netanyahu in March when the Israeli leader appeared before a joint meeting of Congress and harshly criticized a U.S.-negotiated nuclear deal with Iran, Israel's enemy. Lawmakers had arranged Netanyahu's appearance without White House input.

In a setback for Obama, Democratic senator opposes Iran deal

     

The setback came Friday in the announcement from Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, that he opposes the deal, which he said "legitimizes Iran's nuclear program."

VIDEO: Protests Erupt at White House Against Saudi King

The king is making his first visit to the White House since ascending the throne in January.

US President Barack Obama is greeting King Salman of Saudi Arabia with assurances that a nuclear deal with Iran also comes with the necessary resources to help check its regional ambitions.

Trump signs pledge to back GOP's 2016 presidential nominee

The billionaire businessman announced his decision in a raucous news conference at Trump Tower, the gold-hued skyscraper in midtown Manhattan where he launched his surging and front-running campaign for president.

"I have signed the pledge," Trump said, adding that he intends to win the nomination himself and face whoever the Democrats nominate.

Kanye for 2020? White House welcomes rapper's political bid

The White House says it is anticipating the rapper's potential bid for president.

West claimed he would run for president while accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says of the announcement that he looks "forward to seeing what slogan he chooses to embroider on his campaign hat." Earnest was traveling aboard Air Force One with the president to Alaska.

White House renames Mount McKinley as Denali on eve of trip

By renaming the peak Denali, an Athabascan word meaning "the high one," Obama waded into a sensitive and decades-old conflict between residents of Alaska and Ohio. Alaskans have informally called the mountain Denali for years, but the federal government recognizes its name invoking the 25th president, William McKinley, who was born in Ohio and assassinated early in his second term.

First openly transgender official hired at White House

The White House announced Raffi Freedman-Gurspan's appointment on Tuesday. Freedman-Gurspan is an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel. Transgender advocates say she is the first openly transgender official to serve in the White House.

Freedman-Gurspan previously was a policy adviser for the National Center for Transgender Equality's racial and economic justice initiative.

White House staffer charged with firing police officer's gun

Prince George's County Police say officers were called to an Upper Marlboro, Maryland, home early Friday for a reported shooting.

Authorities say 37-year-old Barvetta Singletary had argued with the Capitol officer. Police say Singletary grabbed the officer's service weapon from a bag and fired one round, which hit the floor.

VIDEO: White House condemns West Bank attack

Press Secretary Josh Earnest Friday said the US extended "profound condolences" to the family and extended prayers for those injured in the attack to make a full recovery.

Witnesses and the Israeli military said that under cover of darkness, the attackers broke the windows of the family's home in Duma, a small village near the West Bank city of Nablus.