White House

Sen. Lindsey Graham can't hide his pain over losing John McCain, but says there can be a silver lining ... if politicians, including himself, lead more like his friend did.

Senator Graham was clearly emotional about Sen. McCain's death when we saw him Wednesday at Reagan National. He described himself as McCain's wingman, and said America had lost its "voice of reason."

He added, "I gotta up my game" ... insinuating it was time for elected officials to govern more like the AZ Senator did -- fighting passionately, while respecting the other side.

As for the guy who repeatedly disrespected McCain -- President Trump -- Graham said the administration will be represented at the memorial services ... even if POTUS himself won't be there.

Donald Trump learned what a red card was for on Tuesday ... and POTUS waited about 2 seconds to use it on the White House reporters!

The playful ejections all went down in the Oval Office, where D.T. played host to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a celebration of North America landing the 2026 World Cup.

Gianni gifted #45 with his own personalized futbol jersey ... and then brought out the referee cards -- and the exchange that ensued between the two was as hilarious as it was predictable.

"In soccer, we have referees. And they have cards," Infantino explained.

"Yellow cards and red cards. Yellow card is a warning, and when you want to kick out someone, this one right here."

Trump couldn't grab the red card fast enough ... nearly chucking it at the media assembled in the Oval Office!!

Ivanka Trump just broke in a big way from her father, calling John McCain a "true hero," adding that he served with distinction for more than six decades.

Donald Trump was just shamed into acknowledging John McCain was an honorable American, belatedly saying, "Despite our differences on policy and politics, I respect Senator John McCain's service to our country and, in his honor, have signed a proclamation to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff until the day of his interment."

BTW, the flag was raised after a day at half-staff but Trump clearly bowed to the outrage and pressure.

More John McCain disrespect from Donald Trump -- who refused to even acknowledge the late senator in front of reporters Monday at the White House.

POTUS held a meeting in the Oval Office -- sitting with Melania -- when ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl began asking question after question about McCain.

Despite the fact he was in spitting distance from the President, Trump ignored Karl and stared blankly at the pool of photographers.

Karl followed up with Trump in the White House Cabinet Room -- while Trump was sitting next to Vice President Mike Pence -- but still, no acknowledgment from 45 when it came to McCain.

Further insult from the administration came early Monday morning as the White House flag was returned to full-staff after it had been at half-staff to honor Sen. McCain. Interestingly, it's now been lowered again.

Trump has been extremely critical of McCain for years -- claiming he should not be hailed as a hero because he was captured in battle during the Vietnam war.

Trump famously said he likes people who did NOT get captured.

McCain -- who passed away on Saturday after battling brain cancer -- took a thinly-veiled shot at Trump (and his walls) in his farewell letter ... saying:

"We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down ..."

McCain was 81.

John McCain took a parting shot before he died at Donald Trump, saying, "We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down ..."

McCain's final words were called a "farewell statement" from the Senator. As we reported, McCain has made Donald Trump persona non grata at his funeral, and the President has been stingy to say the least in any praise for the war hero who was a guiding light in the Senate ... especially on global relations.

McCain wrote, "We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times."

He ends with this -- again seemingly about the troubles that emanate from the top -- "Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America ... Fairwell, fellow Americans, God bless you, and God bless America.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it's unclear if Donald Trump will attend Senator John McCain's funeral -- but here's what we're hearing ... don't hold your breath.

We got the Press Sec. leaving Reagan National Sunday and asked for some thoughts on the late Arizona senator, who died Saturday from brain cancer. SHB had kind words for McCain, who she calls a great loss for the country, but wouldn't bite on the funeral question.

Specifically ... will DT be in attendance? It almost seems impossible. Senator McCain reportedly said he did not want Trump at his funeral. If Trump tries, he would probably be turned away. Sarah says she'll keep us posted, but it sounds like code for "hell no." Trump didn't even go to Barbara Bush's funeral, so he'll likely (most definitely) pass on McCain.

Meanwhile, ex-Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are rumored to be offering eulogies at McCain's funeral in D.C. He will reportedly lie in state at two different locations -- the Capitol Rotunda and the Arizona Capitol -- ahead of his funeral in Washington's National Cathedral before being buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland.

Pence is also expected to attend ... and, apparently, Sarah herself will show face.

Omarosa's book tour must be going well -- just look at the way she celebrates after another grueling week of airing out Donald Trump's (alleged) dirty laundry.

The former White House staffer and Trump's newest frenemy #1 was spotted getting down and wild and at the Daiquiri Shoppe in Grand Prairie, TX Friday night -- a restaurant that apparently doubles for a pop-up nightclub come 9 o'clock or so ... 'cause this happened.

You see O singing and dancing along to Nelly's "Hot in Here" with her friends. Eyewitnesses tell us she and the gang were celebrating a GF's birthday ... and were mostly left undisturbed as they partied it up.

Can't blame her for cuttin' loose -- Omarosa's book, 'Unhinged,' sits at the top of the NYT's best-seller list for non-fiction, and is doing decent on Amazon's book list too.

Donald Trump is taking his beef with ESPN to the masses -- he's launched a petition to try and get the "spineless" network to play the national anthem during the "Monday Night Football" broadcast.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro had said last week that "We generally have not broadcasted the anthem and I don't think that will change this year."

Trump was PISSED and sent an email to his supporters announcing that he's started a petition to get "The Star-Spangled Banner" on TV.

"Just after we heard a sitting governor trash America, ESPN has now decided it will no longer play the National Anthem before Monday Night Football," the email from Trump said. The governor referred to is NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo ... who made headlines last week for saying America "was never that great."

Trump's email continues ... "If 'America' is too offensive for anyone in our country, then what are they doing in America?"

"I’m calling on you to join me in denouncing this SPINELESS surrender to the politically correct liberal mob. I was the first person to sign this petition. Now I need you to follow my lead and be the second."

Trump began railing against ESPN at Tuesday's rally in West Virginia -- where he told the crowd, "It was just announced by ESPN that rather than defending our anthem, our beautiful, beautiful national anthem and defending our flag, they just won't broadcast when they play the national anthem."

"We don't like that," Trump added.

"So, while the players are kneeling, some of them not all of them at all, you're all proudly standing for our national anthem."

If Donald Trump ever wants to retain the legal services of Michael Cohen again for some reason, he's going to have to wait several years ... TMZ has learned.

Trump's former lawyer is on a fast track to being disbarred in New York following his guilty plea Tuesday on 8 federal counts, including tax evasion and campaign law violations ... according to a source familiar with the process.

We're told Cohen will lose his right to practice law as soon as the NY Attorney Grievance Committee files a motion to have him disbarred ... it's just waiting on the official paperwork needed to get the ball rolling.

According to Nicholas Biase, spokesperson for the Southern District of NY ... "Mr. Cohen does lose his law license upon conviction, which technically does not occur until sentencing."

Cohen's disbarment isn't forever though -- he can reapply to get his license back after 7 years, and it would be up to a judge to allow it or not.

As we reported ... Cohen pled guilty to 5 counts of tax fraud and one count of bank fraud, as well as 2 campaign finance violations related to "hush" deals he struck with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Cohen claimed the campaign law crimes were carried out at the direction of Trump to cover up affairs with the women and influence the 2016 election.

Trump has denied the affairs and responded to Cohen's guilty plea on Twitter Wednesday, saying the campaign finance violations are "not a crime."

Anthony Scaramucci says Omarosa trying to burn President Trump with his own words is likely to backfire ... 'cause we've already been there and done that, and nothing happened.

We talked to the Mooch about Omarosa's supposed 200 secret White House tapes that she's been slowly leaking over the past couple weeks, and he just doesn't think there's anything she has that'll do serious damage to 45. Like he points out ... if the Access Hollywood tape couldn't bring Trump down, nothing probably will at this point.

Oh, and don't forget everything else Trump openly said or reportedly said over his near two-year presidency -- from calling African countries s**tholes and referring to NFL players as SOBs, to implying neo-Nazis are "very fine people," and, of course, calling LeBron James dumb ... there's a lot of controversial statements out there.

Jim Brown says he's throwing his support behind President Donald Trump -- even though he knows he'll be vilified in the black community.

The NFL Hall of Famer appeared on "The JT The Brick Show" on Fox Sports Radio and since he's met with so many Presidents in the past, he was asked how he felt about Trump.

"I should be criticizing Trump on every level because he does certain things that call for criticism but when I look at television I see all these announcers become experts and they're pointing the fingers and they're not doing a doggone thing but pointing their fingers, I find myself really pulling for the president."

"Now, that would make me very unpopular in the black community, very unpopular with a lot of Americans ... but I think that there are certain good things that are coming out of this Presidency because we've never seen anything like it."

He added, "I mean there's confusion. A lot of people are retiring. A lot of people are giving their opinions and we have to really dig deep down inside to come with the right kind of an answer."

Brown -- who also doubled down on his stance against NFL kneelers -- also had this to say to people who believe he's not a good American.

"I believe that I have to work on myself first to be as good a person as I could be to back up my country as best as I know how."

"And the second situation I should be helpful to those people who need help that don't have life as good as I have it and if I do those two things, I think I'm making my contribution."

Brown famously went to Trump Tower right after Trump won the election to talk about how he can make a positive impact in the black community.

Floyd Mayweather also famously met with Trump during the transition but he has since distanced himself from the president. Brown clearly feels differently.

April Ryan is throwing some serious shade at Omarosa ... saying she never put pen to paper because she used a ghostwriter.

Ryan -- who has reported at the White House for more than 20 years -- bashes Omarosa for her secret recordings and being a backstabber.

April says her upcoming book, "Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House," unlike Omarosa's book, is the real deal.

As for bowing down to Trump before she broke ranks ... April says O shouldn't wait for invites to the church social anytime soon.

Vivica A. Fox damn near choked on the word "No" when our camera guy told her she could play Omarosa in a movie, making it crystal clear -- not a fan.

We got Vivica A. at LAX where our photog mustered the strength to say she resembles President Trump's friend-turned-foe. The idea of playing Omarosa made her recoil. Our bad.

Of course, an Omarosa biopic hinges on how well her tell-all book sells. Vivica says if it flops, O's gotta ride off into the sunset -- on a donkey ... 'cause she attached herself to an ass.

Rudy Giuliani just added a new edition to the "alternative facts" library from the Trump White House -- telling a reporter "truth isn't truth" when it comes to ... well, the truth.

The President's personal attorney was on NBC's 'Meet the Press' with Chuck Todd and got grilled on why 45 hasn't sat down for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to wrap up the Russia investigation. Giuliani's reason ... let's not rush into a lie under oath.

He basically says Mueller's gonna get a he said, he said -- from Trump and Comey -- as to who said what to whom ... who knew what ... and when. And, because Comey used to be tight with Mueller in the FBI, Rudy says it's a no-brainer who the latter will believe.

The President of ESPN says the network will NOT air the national anthem -- and the drama that goes along with it -- during the 2018 season of "Monday Night Football."

"We generally have not broadcasted the anthem and I don't think that will change this year," ESPN prez Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement reported by Axios' Sara Fischer.

"Our plan going into this year is to not broadcast the anthem. Again that could change. It's unpredictable what could happen in the world but as of now, we're not."

Obviously, the anthem has become a hot button issue -- with player demonstrations becoming such a big issue, everyone from team owners to the President of the United States have weighed in.

Omarosa had some trouble explaining why she was a fierce supporter of Donald Trump given that she says very clearly in a secret conversation she recorded in 2016 that she knew he had used the n-word.

We talked to the ex-White House staffer on "TMZ Live" about the barrage of secret recordings she's revealed to promote her new book, 'Unhinged,' including the latest in which Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara, tried bribing her with hush money after she got fired.

We also asked about the 2016 conversation she had with Trump campaign staffers to figure out a spin in case Trump had used the n-word. A staffer said she had talked to Trump who denied ever using the word, to which Omarosa said, "That's not true."

Omarosa is getting called every name in the book for leaking secretly recorded convos with and about Trump --- but you'd never guess she was bothered, based on her pearly whites.

Trump's former aide-turned-foe was seen leaving Trevor Noah's 'Daily Show' set in NYC Tuesday night alongside her husband, John Allen Newman. She was smiling ear-to-ear while exiting the building -- which we'll take to mean her appearance went well.

She certainly had a lot to talk about. From a new tape in which other Trump campaigners discussed alleged audio of the Prez using the n-word, to her Situation Room firing and, of course, Trump calling her a dog ... topics were anything but scant.

Let's not kid ourselves though -- Omarosa is doing a full blitz book tour right now, so you know she's loving the attention, good or bad. As long as it sells ... she's happy.