President Trump

Robert Klein ain't cracking jokes when it comes to Donald Trump -- he came unhinged, ranting about the President's numerous scandals ... then came face-to-face with some vocal Trump supporters.

The scene was unreal Thursday night outside Craig's in WeHo -- the legendary comedian went OFF when we asked about Trump's meeting with Kanye West. He quickly pivoted the convo away from Ye and launched into a tirade about Paul Manafort, Russia and Stormy Daniels ... the whole nine.

Perfect timing for a couple of Trump fans to approach! Warning: Robert's super salty here and drops so many f-bombs, DMX might blush.

He's making zero effort to hide it ... Robert's definitely longing for the days of Barack Obama.

The bad news for him is ... we all know Obama's not coming back. Just ain't gonna happen, Bob.

Melania Trump brushes off allegations that her husband, Donald Trump, has had affairs with women ... saying it's just gossip orchestrated by the media.

The First Lady sat for an interview -- her first solo interview since taking up residence in the White House -- with ABC News. She dismissed claims, notably by Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, that the Prez has strayed during their marriage.

Melania says, "I'm a mother and a First Lady, and I have much more important things to think about and to do."

She added, "It is not concern and focus of mine."

Melania also said there are people currently in the White House she doesn't trust and who do not have her husband's best interests in mind.

The full interview airs Friday night at 10 PM ET.

The American people deserve an FBI investigation into President Trump's taxes because where there's smoke, there's often fire ... according to Ron Howard, who says there's only one reason it hasn't happened yet.

The beloved director, producer and actor was at LAX when he raised a topic he and millions of other Americans find intriguing: why The New York Times bombshell on Trump's alleged tax evasion totally fell flat. Ron told us it's all about the source.

Watch the clip ... he strongly suggests 45 has poisoned the public against the media -- aka the "fake news" -- and the only solution is to get law enforcement on the job.

To be clear, Ron's not saying he's SURE Trump is guilty of anything, but he is sure America needs to know its President isn't a tax cheat. He says reporters got the ball rolling, but law enforcement should finish the job ... and quickly.

T.I. is destroying Kanye West for his White House visit, declaring he's taken ass-kissing President Trump to a disgusting new low.

Tip unloaded on Ye, saying ... "This s**t is next level,futuristic Sambo,Hopping Bob, Stephen off Django ass shit Ye!!!! From what I can gather... This is the most repulsive,disgraceful, Embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen."

He's taking this very personally too ... revealing Kanye actually asked him to join him at the White House on Thursday, but T.I. says he rejected the offer, and he's damn glad he did. In a heated IG post he said, "You ass kissing and boot licking on a whole new level &I refuse to associate myself with something so vile,weak,& inconsiderate to the effect this has on the greater good of ALL OUR PEOPLE!!!!"

Remember, T.I. collabed with Kanye for the track "Ye vs. the People" -- but he's making it clear that won't happen again. "At one time it was a pleasure to work alongside you... now, I’m ashamed to have ever been associated with you."

Bottom line for Tip is he feels like Kanye is only looking out for himself -- putting himself in a position of power next to Trump. He included this plea -- "Don’t follow this puppet. Because as long as I’ve lived I’ve learned that it benefits a man nothing at all to gain the world,if to do so he must lose his soul. We just saw Mr.West’s Soul on auction."

2:02 PM PT -- 50 Cent's putting in his 2 cents, and while the image he posted might seem like a comical take on Kanye's White House visit ... his caption is clearly critical.

Fiddy included this faux quote from Ye -- "You make me feel like Superman, Obama said l was a idiot f**k these n***as lm wit you Master."

Ex-RNC Chairman Michael Steele has fully digested Kanye West's White House lunch meeting with President Trump ... and he's ready to puke.

We got Michael leaving the London Hotel in NYC Thursday and, naturally, had to ask him about what went down in the Oval. ICYMI (seriously, how?) ... Kanye dropped an MF-bomb, went off about abolishing the 13th Amendment and told 45 wearing the MAGA hat makes him feel like Superman.

Michael's take was well ... written all over his face. You gotta see his reaction when we asked if meeting Ye will boost Trump's poll numbers with black voters ... as the Prez claims it will.

Aside from what Kanye said, Michael also had strong words about what Ye did while seated across from the President. He's balanced, though, because he threw a jab Trump's way too.

Jim Brown has ZERO regrets about the Oval Office meeting today with Donald Trump and Kanye West ... saying it was an incredible opportunity and he's thankful to 45.

West has made headlines today about his behavior during the sit-down ... which included a couple classic Kanye rants, a heap of Trump praising and even a hug between the two men.

Brown was there too -- mostly silent -- making some wonder if he regretted making the trip. But, when the NFL great left the White House he told throngs of media that couldn't be further from the truth.

"We had the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States which everybody doesn't have that privilege. With me, at 82 years old, the only thing I could talk about was how to help other people. So, it was very positive."

Brown went on behalf of his Amer-I-Can foundation which helps inner-city youth develop life skills -- and he told everyone Trump was very good to the whole delegation.

"This is the President of the United States. He allowed me to be invited to his territory, he treated us beautifully, and he shared some thoughts, and he will be open to talking when I get back to him. That's the best he could do for me."

10:00 AM PT -- Kanye told Trump why he wants the 13th Amendment abolished. He says, among other things, 13 is an unlucky number. Trump seems amused at the end of the video.

9:55 AM PT -- Kanye told Trump this in the Oval ... "My dad and mom separated so there was not a lot of male energy in my home and also I'm married to a family where, you know, there's not a lot of male energy. It's beautiful, though."

Kanye told Trump he feels like Superman when he puts on his MAGA hat.

Check out Kanye's full rant.

Kanye West is in the house ... he just arrived at the White House for his meet and eat with President Trump.

Ye rolled up for the lunch meeting in a black SUV and, although we couldn't see him through the tinted windows, some of his team members got out at the security gate bearing gifts -- a few boxes of Yeezy swag.

Kanye and 45 are talking shop on a list of pressing issues. Officially, their agenda will include prison reform, American manufacturing, creating jobs and preventing gang violence in Ye's hometown of Chicago. Sources close to Kanye tell us he'll also discuss having people formerly incarcerated work in his factories and urge other big companies to follow suit.

However, based on President Trump's own words Thursday morning, we know what he's really interested in is his garnering support from African-American voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Adding to the spectacle ... Trump will reportedly invite reporters in for at least a portion of the lunch. Can you say PHOTO OP?

It's likely Kanye and Trump will also bring up Colin Kaepernick. When Ye was here at TMZ last week, he said he'd reached out to Kaep to try and get him to D.C. for a peace summit with POTUS.

Trump's having a bunch of his celeb pals over today -- Kid Rock and John Rich of Big & Rich were also there to witness him signing the Music Modernization Act into law.

However, the luncheon will only be attended by Kanye, NFL legend Jim Brown, Ivanka and Jared Kushner. On the menu -- Caprese salad and roasted chicken with potatoes and asparagus.

Delish ... what could go wrong?

Donald Trump says he values Kanye West's passion for prison reform, but he sure sounded like the real reason for his lunch with Ye is because the rapper is a magnet for male African-American voters.

Trump was on "Fox & Friends" Thursday AM and gushed about his African-American poll numbers, especially with guys, after Kanye doubled down on his support for the Prez. He repeated his claim that his poll numbers with African-American men soared when Kanye told the world -- MAGA.

The President marveled at the power of Kanye West. It's pretty ironic ... the 2 celebs who have really stood out in terms of trying to influence voters in various ways are Kanye and Taylor Swift. They're on opposite sides of the spectrum, but they both appear impactful.

Kanye West and President Trump's agenda for their Thursday sitdown will include signing new legislation that could potentially put more money in Kanye's pocket.

POTUS is scheduled to sign the Music Modernization Act while Ye is at the White House. The bill -- which the House and Senate have already passed -- updates licensing and royalties to artists, songwriters and producers for music played on streaming services.

Kanye and Recording Academy Prez Neil Portnow will be present for the ceremonial signing of the bill.

As we told you, Ye was already scheduled to be at the White House for a separate lunch meeting with Trump ... where they'll reportedly talk gang violence in Chicago, prison reform and manufacturing jobs.

Now that we know, he'll be front and center to see Trump sign the bill -- we're hoping Kanye's got a remix up his sleeve. Just sayin' ...

Chelsea Clinton's picked up a few things from her parents -- such as how best to dodge questions about their nemesis, President Trump.

We got Chelsea at LAX Tuesday and talked Halloween -- what kinda costume ideas she has for her kids and herself, and her take on dressing up as 45. She was plenty chatty, but you gotta see how Chels deftly handled the Trump topic ... someone's had a master class in politics.

We're certain Bill and Hillary would be proud of how she shifted the convo. Classic Presidential debate move.

Chelsea might not know her Halloween costume yet, but she knows how to avoid taking the Trump bait.

Taylor Swift didn't shy away from her newfound passion for politics during an acceptance speech at the 2018 American Music Awards ... pleading for people to hit the voting booths next month for the midterm elections.

Taylor saved her political pitch for her final acceptance speech ... reminding everyone that people decide who wins AMAs, and who wins political offices.

Tay didn't say who to vote for this time ... because she's already made clear she's voting for Democrats running for U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives in her home state of Tennessee.

Taylor clearly didn't care about Donald Trump's message ... 'cause the Prez already told her to stay out of politics. Looks like the bad blood is still going.

Nikki Haley's all smiles after announcing she's resigning as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and it's a sign of things to come ... so she says.

We got Nikki Tuesday at Reagan National Airport in D.C. after she and President Trump announced she's leaving her gig at the end of the year ... a move she tells us is "all positive."

Haley's claimed her exit is simply about needing a break after serving nearly 2 years in the role and 6 years as South Carolina's governor before that. Obviously, a lot of people aren't buying it ... but that's Nikki's story and she's sticking to it here.

President Trump and Kanye West are officially teaming up to ... make America great again, and their plan will kick off with lunch at the White House.

Kanye and 45 are set to meet on Thursday, and their agenda will include discussing boosting American manufacturing and preventing gang violence, especially in Ye's hometown of Chicago ... according to the White House.

They'll also continue the convo on prison reform ... which Trump started with Kanye's wife, Kim Kardashian West, during a September meeting.

When he was here at TMZ last week, Ye said he'd been trying to encourage Colin Kaepernick to sit down with POTUS ... now he gets to work the other side.

This will be their first face-to-face meeting since late 2016 when the rapper, shoe and fashion mogul met with then President-elect in NYC.

It's official ... President Trump's got "Bad Blood" with Taylor Swift ... 'cause he just took a shot at her, responding to her diss of a Republican Congresswoman.

Trump was on the South Lawn Monday afternoon when he was asked about Taylor's foray into politics. Check it out ... about a minute-and-a-half into the vid, he turns to the camera, with a sly grin, and proceeds to rip Taylor ... saying she's clueless about the Congressional race in Tennessee. Then he drops a parting shot at her music and her poll numbers ... at least in the White House.

ICYMI ... Taylor announced she's voting for 2 Democrats in the Volunteer State, and blasted the voting record of Rep. Marsha Blackburn ... who's running for Senate.

One of Trump's most vocal supporters, Judge Jeanine Pirro, also offered Taylor some advice ... which sounded like it was taken straight outta Laura Ingraham's playbook.

On the other hand, comedian D.L. Hughley gave Taylor props for taking a stand. And, if you're wondering, he says hell yeah a singer can make a difference in a red state like Tennessee. As he put it, anything's possible when a game show host can become Prez.

3:20 PM PT -- Kavanaugh has reportedly been sworn in as the 114th Supreme Court justice in a private ceremony at court.

1:45 PM PT -- Trump congratulated the Senate on "confirming our GREAT NOMINEE" ... and says he will sign Kavanaugh's Commission of Appointment and swear him in later today.

There were no last minute surprises or curveballs -- Brett Kavanaugh got the votes he needed to be confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States ... but just barely.

President Trump's pick to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy was confirmed by the Senate Saturday with a tally of 50 to 48 ... including crucial "aye" votes from Senators Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Joe Manchin.

Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was set to vote 'no' on Kavanaugh, but as a favor to Montana Senator Steve Daines ... she voted 'present' to offset his 'yes' vote so he could attend his daughter's wedding. It really didn't matter anyway.

The confirmation comes after weeks of drama and controversy stemming from allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party in the early '80s when they were both in high school.

Ford's claims led to a Senate hearing where both she and the judge testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee ... and a brief follow-up FBI investigation authorized by the Prez.

But, when it was all said and done, a majority of the Senate -- all but one Republican plus Manchin -- determined Ford's allegations were not corroborated and Kavanaugh was deserving of a spot on the highest court in the land.

If recent history with Neil Gorsuch is any indication, now that Kavanaugh's been confirmed ... he could be sworn in as early as Monday.

Before the Senate vote, Kavanaugh wrote a letter admitting he was overly emotional and said some things he shouldn't have during his testimony. However, he insists he'll be a "pro-law judge" who won't let partisan politics or public pressure influence his decisions.

Many people -- including Amy Schumer -- aren't buying it ... and have been consistently protesting Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court in D.C. this week.

Remember in January, when Hawaii residents received a terrifying text about an inbound ballistic missile with instructions to seek shelter immediately, but it turned out to be a false alarm?

Well, don't worry -- that's not going to happen with President Trump's new nationwide presidential alert texts ... it's a FEMA guarantee.

A spokesperson for the Homeland Security agency tells TMZ ... it has an infallible multi-step process in place to ensure the text system does not result in a major warning fail like what happened in Hawaii.

We're told for sending national alerts, the process begins with a special authentication procedure to make sure the person requesting to send it has the proper authority.

After verified approval, a 2-person "integrity check" procedure kicks in to ensure the alert contains the appropriate message and the info is properly formatted.

Finally, we're told the alert is only sent when BOTH of these alert operators have validated the content and format and hit the send button.