Thank you for following the Guardian US live blog. Here are some of the top moments of the day:
Donald Trump has arrived in Los Angeles and was greeted by Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump was accompanied by the first lady and held an impromptu press conference as soon as he stepped off the plane.
Trump said that he would waive federal permits so people who lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires could begin to rebuild as soon as possible. Trump said this on Friday after a tour of the fire-ravaged Palisades community.
Mexico denied a military plane carrying people who were deported from the US access to land in the country on Thursday, NBC News has reported.
While aboard Air Force One en route to tour the devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles, Trump signed two executive orders targeting abortions. The first would reinstate the Mexico City policy, which prevents international non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortions from receiving federal funding. The second was an order affirming a longstanding federal policy that the US does not use federal funds to pay for abortions.
The justice department chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, has issued an order to curtail prosecutions against people accused of blocking reproductive rights facilities.In a memo on Friday, Mizelle wrote that prosecutions and civil actions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (Face) Act will now be permitted only in “extraordinary circumstances” or in cases presenting ”significant aggravating factors”, AP reports.
Donald Trump has suggested paring back or even dismantling the federal response to major disasters, a move that would cut off aid that has largely helped support Republican-leaning states that voted for him in last year’s US presidential election.
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Updated
Donald Trump said that he would waive federal permits so people who lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires could begin to rebuild as soon as possible. Trump said this on Friday after a tour of the fire-ravaged Palisades community.
“I’d ask that the local permitting process be the same. Some of the people were saying they’ll be forced to wait 18 months for their permits …I’m sure you can get it down to not even 18 days,” Trump said as he sat at a table with LA mayor Karen Bass during a roundtable briefing.
This announcement followed the announcement of a $2.5bn aid package signed by Gavin Newsom on Thursday that is meant to expedite the cleanup, inspection and permitting processes so that residents affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Updated
