Republicans refuse to support Gaetz over trafficking allegations – follow live

The former president’s daughter-in-law has accused Facebook of removing a video interview she conducted with Mr Trump, declaring on Instagram: “Just like that, we are one step closer to Orwell’s 1984. Wow.”

Ms Trump, who is married to the president’s second son, Eric Trump, publicised links to the 18-minute clip of her speaking with her father-in-law in Florida on Tuesday on various social media platforms before it was allegedly taken down “in line with the block” placed on his accounts in the wake of the Capitol riot.

Louise Hall has this report.

Florida’s Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, the subject of a US Justice Department investigation into allegations he was involved in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, appears to be struggling for support within his own party, with one former staffer from the Donald Trump White House reportedly describing him as “the meanest person in politics”.

Insider interviewed a dozen current and former party and White House sources regarding group text chains exchanging gossip about the news of Gaetz’s legal woes – which were first reported by The New York Times – and found plenty of open gloating on display.

“Republican leadership will likely watch him completely implode in a matter of days without having to do a thing,” one aide told the publication.

Oliver O’Connell has the latest.