Ilhan Omar sums up the fate of Trump's cabinet with a simple emoji as defence secretary is 'terminated'

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar greeted Monday’s news that defense secretary Mark Esper had been fired with a joking shrug on Twitter, writing, “They’re all getting replaced soon." The president has made repeated false statements about coronavirus, including that injecting bleach might be a potential cure, and has clashed with top public health officials like Dr Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert. Following the news, both the president and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, have latched onto a conspiracy theory that experts and officials “knew” a vaccine was ready but didn’t tell the public as soon as possible because they didn’t want him to have a pre-election success. Others, like Independent correspondent Borzou Daragahi note an outgoing Trump administration could ratchet up sanctions on Iran and Lebanon, as well as try and discredit human rights organizations.