(UPDATE BELOW) Fox News’ Laura Ingraham dropped some big news this afternoon: the Covington Catholic students from that viral encounter with a Native American elder will be meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Trump weighed in on the controversy last night and this morning, saying the students were “smeared” by the media and that they are symbols of how “evil” the “Fake News” can be:

Looking like Nick Sandman & Covington Catholic students were treated unfairly with early judgements proving out to be false – smeared by media. Not good, but making big comeback! “New footage shows that media was wrong about teen’s encounter with Native American” @TuckerCarlson — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019

Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. They have captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good – maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019

And this afternoon, Ingraham tweeted some news from her podcast––that the students will be meeting with POTUS at the White House, possibly tomorrow:

EXCLUSIVE on the new #LauraIngrahamPodcast — the Covington Catholic students threatened by the leftist internet mob will be meeting with @realDonaldTrump at the White House as early as tomorrow. @iTunes @PodcastOne — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 22, 2019

After Ingraham’s tweet, however, White House reporters said this doesn’t appear to be happening just yet:

Don’t think this is true. As of right now, they have not been invited, I’m told. The Covington students aren’t coming to the WH tomorrow, or this week. https://t.co/kAUlJFUmoi — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 22, 2019

A senior administration official says there are no imminent plans for Covington students to come to the White House. https://t.co/T6NdDmRBbt — Jordyn Phelps (@JordynPhelps) January 22, 2019

Senior WH official tells us that the reporting is inaccurate.The Covington Kids have not been invited. Senior WH aide says: “They are not coming tomorrow, they are not coming this week, that does not mean they are not going to come at all? I don’t know.” Says nothing is imminent. https://t.co/a5hGkSf4ar — Fin Gomez (@finnygo) January 22, 2019

UPDATE –– 3:25 pm ET: Now Ingraham is clarifying and saying the decision is “in flux”:

Now White House now seems to be in flux re. Covington Catholic kids. Announced any meeting would happen after shutdown. Odd as it would be less meaningful if delayed. https://t.co/RHoYVgnCl4 — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 22, 2019

UPDATE –– 8:35 pm ET: Tonight Sarah Sanders said the White House reached out to the students to voice their support, saying, “Certainly no one understands better than this President when the media jumps to conclusions and attacks you for something you may or may not have done.” However, she said if they do invite the students to the White House, it would be after the shutdown.

[image via screengrab]

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