🐊 Axios PM — Scoop: What Trump told the white nationalist

Plus: New travel trend | Friday, November 25, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By BlackRock   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Nov 25, 2022 Thanks for finishing this holiday week with us. Smart Brevity™ count: 566 words ... 2 mins. Edited by Justin Green; copy edited by Carlos Cunha.     1 big thing — Scoop: What Trump told the white nationalist Supporters cheer as former President Trump announces he's running again, at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 15. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP Former President Trump dined and conversed with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night, Axios' Jonathan Swan and Zachary Basu report. Why it matters: Trump's direct engagement with a man labeled a "white supremacist" by the Justice Department — one week after declaring his 2024 candidacy — is likely to draw renewed outrage over the former president's embrace of extremists. Trump said in a statement to Axios: "Kanye West very much wanted to visit Mar-a-Lago. Our dinner meeting was intended to be Kanye and me only, but he arrived with a guest whom I had never met and knew nothing about." 👂 Behind the scenes: A source familiar with the dinner conversation told Axios that Trump "seemed very taken" with Fuentes — impressed that the 24-year-old was able to rattle off statistics and recall speeches dating back to his 2016 campaign. Paraphrasing the conversation, the source said Fuentes told the president he preferred him to be "authentic," and that Trump seemed scripted and unlike himself during his recent 2024 campaign announcement speech. Trump responded: "You like it better when I just speak off the cuff," the source said. Fuentes replied that he did, calling Trump an "amazing" president when he was unrestrained. "There was a lot of fawning back and forth," the source added. During the conversation, Fuentes said he represented a side of Trump's base that was disappointed with his newly cautious approach — especially with what some far-right activists view as a lack of support for those charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Trump didn't disagree with Fuentes — but said he has advisers who want him to read off teleprompters and be more "presidential." Fuentes told Trump that he would crush potential 2024 Republican rivals in a primary, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump asked for Fuentes' opinion on other candidates as well. Trump at one point turned to Ye and said: "I really like this guy. He gets me," according to the source. The source added: "I don't believe the president knew who the hell [Fuentes] was." Share this story.     2. ⚽️ The U.S. takes England to the wire Team USA's Christian Pulisic (left) and Yunus Musah contest Jordan Henderson of England today in Qatar. Photo: Dale MacMilan via Getty Images The U.S. was on the brink of beating England today in World Cup group play in Qatar, but finished in a 0-0 draw. The U.S. is guaranteed to advance if it beats Iran on Tuesday, ESPN reports. England has yet to beat the U.S. at a World Cup, AP reports. The two played to a 1-1 draw in 2010. The U.S. won 1-0 in 1950.     A message from BlackRock Invested in the future of retirees     All across the country, people are working hard to build a better future. So, we are hard at work, helping them achieve financial freedom. At BlackRock, we are proud to manage the retirement plan assets of over 35 million Americans. Learn more.     3. 📷 Black Friday chills out Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP Online shopping has calmed much of the traditional Black Friday mayhem — as you could see today at this Walmart in Shawnee, Kansas ... Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters ... and at the Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street in Manhattan. Photo: Miguel Schincariol/AFP via Getty Images But there was an old-school grab for TVs at this sale in São Paulo, Brazil.     4. ✈️ New pre-turkey travel day TSA checkpoint at Denver International Airport on Tuesday. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images The Friday before Thanksgiving is the new Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Axios chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon reports. The TSA counted 99.9% of the travelers passing through its checkpoints last Friday as it did the day before Thanksgiving. It was 92% back in pre-pandemic 2019. Why it matters: In a world of remote work, millions of Americans decided they didn't need to go into the office at all this week — and left for their Thanksgiving celebrations on Friday, Nov. 18. The bottom line: Thanksgiving week is becoming increasingly like the week after Christmas — one where offices are ghost towns.     A message from BlackRock What's behind sinking confidence around retirement investing?     Inflation and Covid-19 have taken a toll on people's ability to invest for retirement. BlackRock's 2022 Read on Retirement research explores how various generations are approaching life after work. Learn about BlackRock's commitment to providing retirement income solutions for Americans.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: