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Trump vetoes defense spending bill, says it's 'gift' to China and Russia, lacks Section 230 reforms
Just the News ^ | December 23, 2020 | Carrie Sheffield

Posted on 12/23/2020 1:01:14 PM PST by gattaca

Edited on 12/23/2020 1:11:06 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

The president had threatened to veto the defense spending bill if it failed to repeal special legal liability exemptions for Big Tech.

Updated: December 23, 2020 - 3:54pm Article Dig In President Trump on Wednesday followed through on his threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, calling it a "gift" to China and Russia that also lacks the reforms he sought to rescind legal liability shields for technology companies provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

However, both the House and Senate adopted the spending legislation with large majorities and could likely obtain the two-thirds majority votes needed to override the president's veto.

"Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions," Trump said in his veto statement. "The Act fails even to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite bipartisan calls for repealing that provision. Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity. It must be repealed."

Read the full Trump statement below:

"I am returning, without my approval, H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (the "Act"). My Administration recognizes the importance of the Act to our national security. Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my Administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions. It is a 'gift' to China and Russia.

No one has worked harder, or approved more money for the military, than I have -- over $2 trillion. During my 4 years, with the support of many others, we have almost entirely rebuilt the United States military, which was totally depleted when I took office. Your failure to terminate the very dangerous national security risk of Section 230 will make our intelligence virtually impossible to conduct without everyone knowing what we are doing at every step.

The Act fails even to make any meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, despite bipartisan calls for repealing that provision. Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online, which is a serious threat to our national security and election integrity. It must be repealed.

Additionally, the Act includes language that would require the renaming of certain military installations. Over the course of United States history, these locations have taken on significance to the American story and those who have helped write it that far transcends their namesakes. My Administration respects the legacy of the millions of American servicemen and women who have served with honor at these military bases, and who, from these locations, have fought, bled, and died for their country. From these facilities, we have won two World Wars. I have been clear in my opposition to politically motivated attempts like this to wash away history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.

The Act also restricts the President's ability to preserve our Nation's security by arbitrarily limiting the amount of military construction funds that can be used to respond to a national emergency. In a time when adversaries have the means to directly attack the homeland, the President must be able to safeguard the American people without having to wait for congressional authorization. The Act also contains an amendment that would slow down the rollout of nationwide 5G, especially in rural areas.

Numerous provisions of the Act directly contradict my Administration's foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring our troops home. I oppose endless wars, as does the American public. Over bipartisan objections, however, this Act purports to restrict the President's ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea. Not only is this bad policy, but it is unconstitutional. Article II of the Constitution makes the President the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and vests in him the executive power. Therefore, the decision regarding how many troops to deploy and where, including in Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea, rests with him. The Congress may not arrogate this authority to itself directly or indirectly as purported spending restrictions.

For all of these reasons, I cannot support this bill. My Administration has taken strong actions to help keep our Nation safe and support our service members. I will not approve this bill, which would put the interests of the Washington, D.C. establishment over those of the American people. It is my duty to return H.R. 6395 to the House of Representatives without my approval."


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: section230; trump; veto
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To: EEGator

True!

HST, on January 20th, President Trump will take his Oath of Office for the second time!


61 posted on 12/24/2020 7:13:51 AM PST by Taxman (MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AGAIN!)
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To: AmericanInTokyo
Make Trump ChristiN/Evangelical Autocrat-President for Life

Weren't you the guy where a year ago you repeatedly declared Trump got suckered and hoodwinked by N.Korea and N. Korea was going to nuke the U.S. and south Korea?

62 posted on 12/24/2020 1:09:35 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: EEGator

He’ll keep doing it as POTUS after he his sworn in AGAIN on Jan 20, 2021!


63 posted on 12/24/2020 5:14:02 PM PST by Taxman (MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AGAIN!)
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To: gattaca

Remember the names of each and every single RINO who votes to override PDJT’s veto.


64 posted on 12/24/2020 5:56:42 PM PST by God_Country_Trump_Guns
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To: gattaca

Where does this stand with respect to base renaming. I don’t give a fig about social media.


65 posted on 12/24/2020 6:39:09 PM PST by Lisbon1940 (No full-term Governors (at the time of election))
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To: Wallace T.

Oh, not that Mussolini-Light. Let’s go for the whole enchilada and get a real one man show in there, full autocrat and total suspension of the libs (and our) rights.


66 posted on 12/25/2020 2:45:16 PM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Congratulations to Jim Donohue on his acceptance to Nanyang Technology University, Singapore! )
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To: dragnet2

The first part of it, yes. Kim Jong Un has since 2018 built up his arsenal and launched missile launches with complete impunity while surrendering but a single nuke or even inventory list or agreeing to any inspection . This is fact which you cannot challenge with evidence, but I challenge you here publicly to do so, since you appear to want to say NK is no longer a success and that this policy succeeded. Prove it. Now.


67 posted on 12/25/2020 2:49:21 PM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Congratulations to Jim Donohue on his acceptance to Nanyang Technology University, Singapore! )
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To: AmericanInTokyo

Give me a break. You’re a blowhard. Anyone can pull up your history. You had Trump getting hoodwinked by N. Korea, with N. Korea responding by nuking Japan, S. Korea and the U.S.


68 posted on 12/25/2020 3:33:11 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

Btw, you just defined my tag line...El perfecto!


69 posted on 12/25/2020 3:41:15 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: AmericanInTokyo
Jeane Kirkpatrick made a distinction between authoritarian and totalitarian regimes during the Cold War era. The U.S. often supported authoritarian like Syngman Rhee and Augusto Pinochet because they were anti-Communist. Both nations gradually moved in the direction of democracy, as even Spain did in Franco's last years. An authoritarian regime, even corrupt ones like Tsarist Russia or Batista's Cuba, was far preferable to Lenin or Castro in terms of personal freedom, religious liberty, and private property.

How does this apply to America in 2021 and thereafter? With the blatant steal of the Presidential election, the facade of free elections and consent of the governed is shattered. The Democrats, certainly the more radical ones, make no secret of their desire to socialize America, destroy expression of opinions they dislike, destroy traditional families and social norms. The McConnell/McCarthy wing of the GOP are the modern day Quislings and Petains, hoping they can get the best deal from the conquerors. If the courts or the state legislatures fail to act to stop the steal, Trump must use the what tools he has as Chief Executive to enforce a fair ballot count and arrest the governors and other officials who permitted this fraud. The alternative is either turning all of America into California or even Venezuela or a second civil war that would make the first one look genteel.

70 posted on 12/25/2020 6:55:04 PM PST by Wallace T.
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To: gattaca

“..It is a ‘gift’ to China and Russia. ..”

Bump!


71 posted on 12/25/2020 11:59:37 PM PST by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: All

WTh he just signed it.


72 posted on 12/27/2020 5:21:13 PM PST by Fawn ("My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6)
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To: Fawn

That was the COVID Relief bill he signed.


73 posted on 12/28/2020 7:43:39 AM PST by Laslo Fripp (The Sybil of Free Republic)
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