Trump Tower evacuation exacerbates frustration between New York City, president-elect
A "false alarm" in Trump Tower on Tuesday highlighted the tension between the office of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the transition team of President-elect Donald Trump. The lobby of Trump's Midtown Manhattan building was evacuated Tuesday afternoon when a bag of children's toys was considered a "suspicious package," following normal protocol: "They cannot afford to assume. The stakes are too high," security expert Manny Gomez told CBS News.
"Back to work here at Trump Tower after a false alarm," Trump's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, tweeted after the incident. But the statement sparked the ire of de Blasio's own press secretary, Eric Phillips:
It reportedly costs New York City more than $1 million a day to protect Trump, a price tag de Blasio has sought support to pay. Nevertheless, Dan Scavino Jr., Trump's incoming social media director, subsequently pounced on Phillips:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"That's not very nice, Dan," Phillips replied. "But about that bill ... work on it with us?"
-
Political cartoons for February 16Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include President's Day, a valentine from the Epstein files, and more
-
Regent Hong Kong: a tranquil haven with a prime waterfront spotThe Week Recommends The trendy hotel recently underwent an extensive two-year revamp
-
The problem with diagnosing profound autismThe Explainer Experts are reconsidering the idea of autism as a spectrum, which could impact diagnoses and policy making for the condition
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
