Trump defends himself anew against charges that he is racist

President Donald Trump, right, accompanied by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to members of the media as they arrive for a dinner at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. less President Donald Trump, right, accompanied by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to members of the media as they arrive for a dinner at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, ... more President Donald Trump arrives for a dinner with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018.

Families affected by violence to have MLK Day conversation

In this June 27, 2017 photo, Ronald Smith gets on his bicycle after stopping at the Triple S Food Mart, where Alton Sterling was shot by police one year ago, in Baton Rouge, La. A year later, visitors routinely stop by the store to photograph the mural of Sterling's smiling face on its aluminum siding.

Colorado honors King in face of Trump: “When the least get together, something new happens”

Marc Davis, left, pastor of The Absolute Word Church; Jacqueline Moore, a missionary and street evangelist from The Absolute Word Church, middle; and Richard Gianzero, intern pastor at Advent Lutheran Church, sing and clap during an interfaith service at Friendship Baptist Church of Christ Jesus on Jan. 14, 2018 in Denver. Colorado leaders including veterans of civil rights struggles on Sunday launched Denver's commemoration of Martin Luther King, 50 years after his assassination, stoked by President Donald Trump's latest remarks about who should have a place in America and scrambling for traction in a fresh push for social and economic peace.

The Latest: Trump declares ‘I am not a racist’

President Donald Trump says in the wake of his recent comments about Haiti and African countries that "I am not a racist." Trump has been accused of using a vulgar word to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting last week with a bipartisan group of six senators.

Donald Trump defends self, says: ‘I am not a racist’

In this Jan. 10 photo, President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington. United States President Donald Trump has defended himself in the wake of recent disparaging comments about Haiti and African nations, declaring that "I am not a racist".

Trump Says He’s – the Least Racist Person’ in Fallout From Remark

Donald Trump told reporters he's "the least racist person" as fallout continues from a vulgar remark about immigrants from Africa and Haiti attributed to the president following a meeting with lawmakers last week. "I am not a racist," Trump said in response to a shouted question from reporters as he entered his Palm Beach golf club Sunday night.

Trump defends self after comments, says: ‘I am not a racist’

President Donald Trump defended himself Sunday in the wake of recent disparaging comments about Haiti and African nations, declaring that "I am not a racist." Trump addressed the issue briefly as he arrived for dinner at his private golf club with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

Trump says program to protect ‘Dreamers’ is ‘probably dead’

President Donald Trump said Sunday that a program that protects immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children is "probably dead," casting a cloud over already tenuous negotiations just days before a deadline on a government funding deal that Democrats have tied to immigration. At issue is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created by President Barack Obama to shield hundreds of thousands of these individuals, known as "Dreamers," from deportation.

The Latest: Durbin spokesman: GOP senator has no credibility

A spokesman for Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is questioning the credibility of a Republican senator who says President Donald Trump did not refer to African countries using a vulgarity during a closed-door meeting. Ben Marter tweeted Sunday, shortly after Republican Georgia Sen. David Perdue went on ABC's "This Week" to call reports that Trump used vile language in the meeting a "gross misrepresentation."

Gowdy steps down from US House Ethics Committee, citing “challenging workload”

"Rep. Trey Gowdy has resigned from his post on the House Ethics Committee, citing a challenging workload that also includes his chairmanship on the powerful Oversight Committee. Gowdy said that he wanted to finish out the 2017 calendar year before tendering his resignation from the Ethics Committee.

Nikki Haley for US president? UN diplomats bet Trump envoy has ambitions

Whether leading efforts to isolate North Korea or hailing cuts to the United Nations budget, the US ambassador to the UN's ability to channel Trump's blunt style is prompting fellow UN envoys and foreign policy specialists to wonder whether the 45-year-old former South Carolina governor is laying the groundwork to succeed her boss in the Oval Office. US ambassadors from other nations take Haley's "obvious domestic political ambitions" in stride, said Richard Gowan, a UN expert with the European Council on Foreign Relations.

GOP senator: a Gross misrepresentationa of Trumpa s a ****holea remarks

Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue said Sunday that President Donald Trump did not use the phrase "shithole countries" during a meeting with lawmakers on immigration reform last week. "I'm telling you he did not use that word, George, and I'm telling you it's a gross misrepresentation," Perdue told moderator George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week."

Kennedy targets gun violence in Illinois governor campaign

In this Jan. 3, 2018 photo, Democratic Illinois gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy, left, gathers with community leaders to discuss gun violence in Chicago at a press conference accompanied by, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, center, and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in Chicago. Few people running for public office have been more personally affected by gun violence than Chris Kennedy.

Something special on the pillows for newly sworn in Virginia governor

The peaceful transfer of power in Virginia would not be complete without a prank pulled by the outgoing governor on his successor. So it was that as newly inaugurated Gov. Ralph Northam hit the sack Saturday night after his inauguration, he found something special on his pillowcase - and it was not one of those fancy hotel good-night chocolates.