Trump in Desperate Need of Good Press

At the urging of President Donald Trump, U.S. officials have reversed course and decided to allow into the United States a group of Afghan girls hoping to participate in an international robotics competition next week, senior administration officials told POLITICO on Wednesday.

  Politico

Seems fair since it was Trump's "urging" that made them deny them entry in the first place.

The decision followed a furious public backlash to the news that the six teens had been denied U.S. visas. That criticism swelled as details emerged about the girls’ struggle to build their robot and get visas.

Unless Fox News or CNN reported it, he probably didn't even know. They must be casting about in a fury to find good press for the tRump. And what fortunate timing for him to go to Paris, at the invitation of Macron, to celebrate Bastille Day with US armed forces. Hope he doesn't blow it.

Hey, I have an idea! He could let Macron talk him into getting back on board the Paris Climate Agreement. That would get him some good press.

“The State Department worked incredibly well with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that this case was reviewed and handled appropriately,” Dina Powell, Trump's deputy national security adviser for strategy, said in a statement. “We could not be prouder of this delegation of young women who are also scientists — they represent the best of the Afghan people and embody the promise that their aspirations can be fulfilled. They are future leaders of Afghanistan and strong ambassadors for their country.”

So why were the banned in the first place?

And now do the Gambian kids get to come?*

In this case, it was determined there was a significant public benefit to letting the girls in, the officials said.

And by significant public benefit, they mean significant presidential benefit.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

*Looks like they already got permission.

Fatoumata Ceesay, one of the engineering students, told Al Jazeera that although she and her peers weren’t told the reason behind the reversal of the decision, the second interview differed a lot from the first one.

"It was very nice and sensible compared with the last one," 17-year-old Ceesay said. “The questions were related to the robotics. We had an interesting conversation and they were friendly."

[...]

"The [first interview] we weren’t even allowed to submit the vital documentation," Darboe said. "The kids were asked one or two questions each. It was not detailed enough to give a definitive conclusion."

  alJazeera

Let's think of some of the questions asked on the first interview.

 First, let's have a look at the kids.