Plans underway for huge military parade in D.C. in June

White House cheers lower gas prices for holiday weekend

The White House is drawing attention to gas pump prices on this holiday weekend. With many Americans traveling over Memorial Day weekend, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt points to a bright spot in the economy. And that’s well below GasBuddy’s average of 3-58 per gallon on Memorial Day last year. Triple-A forecasted that more than 39 million people are traveling by car this weekend.

U.S. and Japan to hold “productive” tariff talks

Japan’s prime minister has spoken with President Trump about the ongoing trade war. Prime Minister Ishiba said that he held telephone talks with Donald Trump and agreed to hold “productive” discussions at upcoming tariff talks between the two sides. He said Japan’s position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged. Ishiba said he reminded the president that Japan’s position was for the U-S to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan. The White House made no specific response.

Trump threatens the EU and Apple with new tariffs

President Trump is ramping up his tariff threats. In another escalation of his trade war, the president is “recommending” 50 percent tariffs on the European Union starting on June 1st. He complained on social media that his administration’s discussions with the EU “are going nowhere.” Donald Trump also threatened to impose a 25 percent import tax on iPhones not made in the U-S. He said he has told Apple CEO Tim Cook to move iPhone manufacturing to the United States

Harvard sues Trump administration over foreign students ban

Harvard University is suing the Trump administration over its ban on enrolling foreign students. In the lawsuit, Harvard is challenging the government’s decision to bar it from enrolling foreign students, saying the action violates the First Amendment and due process clause. The Ivy League school says the prohibition is an unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands. About a quarter of Harvard’s students are from foreign countries. The Trump administration alleges that the school has created an unsafe campus environment for Jewish students.

RFK Jr’s report on American health raises concerns about vaccines, Rx drugs

A new government-issued report on American health takes aim at ultra processed foods and the overmedication of children. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced the “Make America Healthy Again” report. It calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule, a review of the pesticides sprayed on American crops, and describes the nation’s children as overmedicated. The report also comes out strong against ultra processed foods.

Trump bars Harvard from enrolling international students

The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. In the latest move of an escalating battle with the Ivy League school, the Trump administration says thousands of current Harvard students must transfer to other schools or leave the country. The Department of Homeland Security says Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. Harvard, which unrolls more than six-thousand foreign students, called the action unlawful.

Trump condemns killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in DC

President Trump is condemning the murder of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
A young couple was shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum Wednesday night in the nation’s capital, and the suspect yelled, “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested. The president said “these horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end now.” He wrote on social media that “hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA.”

Trump celebrates House passage of his tax, spend bill

President Trump is celebrating House passage of a bill that contains his top priorities. The president calls it “arguably the most significant piece of legislation” in American history. It includes his campaign promises, including no taxes on tip income or overtime income. It’s projected the massive bill will add trillions of dollars to the nation’s debt. Writing on social media, the president praises House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leadership for getting his major tax bill passed. It now goes to the Senate and he’s urging lawmakers there to “send it to his desk “as soon as possible.”

White House pressures GOP lawmakers to support Trump bill

Judge says US government didn’t follow court order on deportations

Pentagon accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar to be Air Force One

Trump confronts South Africa’s president in Oval Office meeting

Trump to host controversial dinner for his crypto investors

President Trump’s dinner this week for top investors in his memecoin is raising ethical and legal questions. The dinner will be held at the president’s Virginia golf club on Thursday amid criticism from government watchdog groups who say it potentially violates federal rules. But the White House is dismissing conflict of interest concerns. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt contends that the president is “abiding by all conflict of interest laws” and that he “acts with only the interests of the American public in mind.”

Trump: Russia, Ukraine to begin ceasefire negotiations

Supreme Court paves way for Venezuelan deportations

The Supreme Court hands the Trump administration an immigration victory. The high court is allowing the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350-thousand Venezuelans and the ruling potentially exposes them to deportation. Venezuelans were granted Temporary Protected Status during the Biden administration, allowing people already in the U-S to live and work legally because of unsafe conditions in their native countries. The Trump administration also wants to deport migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. GC, Wash.

Trump invites Pope Leo XIV to visit the U.S.

White House urges GOP lawmakers to unite behind legislation

President Trump is urging all congressional Republicans to support a bill that delivers on his campaign promises.  The White House is cranking up the pressure on GOP lawmakers to put aside their differences. However, serious disagreements remain. Fiscal conservatives want deeper spending cuts, moderates want to protect Medicaid coverage. In addition to extending tax cuts, the bill also proposes big spending increases for border security and defense.

Former President Biden diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Biden’s office says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone. A statement said: “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.” The 82-year-old Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

Trump to speak with Russian, Ukrainian leaders by phone

Trump was silent on human rights during Mideast trip

A push for human rights was absent from President Trump’s recent visit to authoritarian governments in the Mideast. During a business conference in Saudi Arabia, the president went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations. He told leaders gone were the days when American officials would fly to the Mideast to give “you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.” Human rights groups viewed that as a pledge of non-intervention and expressed their disappointment.

Trump Organization has deepening business ties in Mideast

President Trump toured the Mideast last week at a time when his family has fast-growing business ties in the region. During his trip, the president secured new investment pledges for the U-S and announced major orders for Boeing. But watchdogs and critics also point to the Trump family’s business connections in the Mideast that could deliver big profits. Before Donald Trump’s three-nation tour began, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. had already traveled to the region extensively, drumming up business for The Trump Organization.

Vance to attend pope’s installation and inaugural mass

Vice President JD Vance is headed back to Vatican City. The vice president will attend Pope Leo the 14th’s inaugural mass at the Vatican on Sunday. The White House says the U-S delegation will also include Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance is the first Catholic convert to serve as vice president. He was one of the final people to have an audience with Pope Francis before he died last month.

Trump struck by Arab wealth on display during foreign tour

President Trump was struck by the wealth on display during his visit to three Arab states this past week. Throughout his four-day tour, the president repeatedly commented on the lavish surroundings of the oil-rich autocrats. He admired the marble in the Qatari palace, praised the “gleaming” skyline in Saudi Arabia, and boasted about the red carpet welcome he received. The president also grumbled about the “much less impressive” Air Force One compared with the aircraft belonging to his Arab hosts. The trip focused mainly on business deals boosting U-S investment.