The infighting and backstabbing that plagued Trump鈥檚 first term have returned as a threat to his second, with deepening fissures over trade, national security and questions of personal loyalty.
The latest turmoil threatens to engulf the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary has and faces fresh controversy over about airstrikes in Yemen outside of classified channels. Hegseth on Tuesday denied that the information was classified, despite reports that it was pulled from secure communications from the head of U.S. Central Command.
Vice President JD Vance amid uncertainty over tariffs. The International Monetary Fund sharply downgraded its outlook for U.S. economic growth and raised its risk of recession. And some 5.3 million student loan borrowers whose loans are in default by the Education Department.
Here's the Latest:
Colorado fights Trump administration bid to help imprisoned loyalist
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser accused the Justice Department of wielding 鈥減olitical power鈥� to give unprecedented help to a former county of letting Trump supporters access election equipment after his 2020 defeat.
Trump administration prosecutors are of Tina Peters, who wants to be released from prison while she appeals her conviction and . A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Denver.
Peters鈥� case is among those the government has said it is reviewing for 鈥渁buses of the criminal justice process.鈥� Weiser鈥檚 office said the Justice Department has not given any good reason why it should intervene.
鈥淭ina Peters was not prosecuted because of any political pressure; she was prosecuted because she broke the law,鈥� lawyers from Weiser鈥檚 office said in a filing.
A state judge in October to nine years.
鈻� Read more about
Trump has always had a high tolerance for chaos
He鈥檚 shunned to entertain divergent opinions and viewing unpredictability as a negotiating tool. He鈥檚 spent years fostering a competitive atmosphere among his staff, who are often chosen for their devotion and penchant for aggression.
There鈥檚 a risk for more turmoil in the months ahead, as Trump presses forward with a dramatic overhaul of the federal bureaucracy, international trade, foreign policy and more.
, Trump鈥檚 first-term national security adviser who later wrote a tell-all book about the president鈥檚 inner circle, said the drama reflects the lack of consistent ideology and the inexperience of many administration officials.
鈥淭he only thing they have in common is the belief that they should show personal fealty to Trump,鈥� Bolton said. 鈥淭hat got them the job. That may in fact keep them in the job. But it shows how fundamentally unserious they are.鈥�
鈻� Read more about
DC weighs layoffs and other cuts as House leaves capital city in budget limbo
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council are scrambling to address a financial crisis created when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives recessed without voting on a fix to a city budget hole.
To address it, Bowser鈥檚 government has ordered a spending freeze on new hires, promotions, bonuses and contracts. An overtime freeze starts Sunday. And she expects to receive a detailed plan for potential layoffs and furloughs by week鈥檚 end.
Bowser also has invoked a 2009 law allowing the city to increase spending by 6%. That shrinks the shortfall to $410 million, instead of $1.1 billion. She鈥檚 walking a public tightrope, balancing elected responsibilities and demands of the president and Congress as some rekindle calls for D.C. statehood.
Trump speaks with the Israeli prime minister
Trump said his conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday touched on Iran, trade and other subjects, and he found agreement with the foreign leader.
The Republican president said in a post on Truth Social that 鈥淭he call went very well 鈥� We are on the same side of every issue.鈥�
Trump endorses two GOP candidates as they compete for Arizona governor
Trump already made his Republican primary pick 鈥� housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson. She鈥檚 been trying to eliminate any daylight between herself and the president, touting Trump鈥檚 endorsement and eagerly embracing him and his policies.
Now Trump says he鈥檚 also endorsing her rival, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who formerly chaired the House鈥檚 hard-right Freedom Caucus and was president of the Arizona Senate. Biggs has long been a close Trump ally and supported his stolen election claims.
鈥淲hen Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem 鈥� Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH,鈥� Trump said Monday in a post on Truth Social.
The GOP primary winner will face likely face Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has no serious Democratic challenger.
鈻� Read more on
Roche announces $50B investment in US over next 5 years
The Swiss pharmaceuticals powerhouse announced Tuesday that the investment will create 12,000 jobs.
The Basel-based company envisions high-tech research and development sites and new manufacturing facilities in California, Indiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Trump has urged foreign businesses to invest more in the United States, saying his are meant to reduce the U.S. trade deficit in sales of goods.
Roche spokesperson Rebekka Schnell said in an e-mail that the company isn鈥檛 specifying how much of the $50 billion was announced for the first time on Tuesday, and that some was already being spent or planned.
鈻� Read more about
Supreme Court hears religious rights dispute over LGBTQ books in schools
The U.S. is hearing arguments over the religious rights of parents in Maryland to remove their children from elementary school classes that use .
Tuesday鈥檚 case is the latest dispute involving religion to come before justices who have repeatedly in recent years.
The Montgomery County public schools introduced the storybooks to better reflect the district鈥檚 diverse population. Some parents sued after the district stopped allowing them to pull their kids from the book lessons.
鈻� Read more about
Some GOP states are targeting driver鈥檚 licenses issued to immigrants illegally in the US
As Trump , Republican legislators lawmakers are pushing new state laws targeting people lacking legal status to live in the U.S. and Washington, D.C., issue driver鈥檚 licenses regardless of whether residents can prove their legal presence.
In Florida, motorists with special out-of-state driver鈥檚 licenses issued to those in the U.S. illegally are not welcome to drive. Wyoming鈥檚 governor enacted a comparable ban this year. And Tennessee鈥檚 governor said he will sign similar legislation sent to his desk.
On May 7, national standards for state driver鈥檚 licenses. Licenses compliant with the REAL ID Act are marked with a star and require applicants to provide a Social Security number and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency.
鈻� Read more on
Mahmoud Khalil鈥檚 wife gave birth without him after ICE denied his plea for temporary release
Khalil, a Columbia University activist in Jena, Louisiana, requested a two-week furlough on Sunday morning, noting that his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, had gone into labor eight days earlier than expected. Their child was born Monday in New York, according to emails shared with The Associated Press.
His lawyers had said he would be 鈥渙pen to any combination of conditions鈥� to allow the temporary release, but an ICE official promptly wrote back denying the request.
鈥淢y son and I should not be navigating his first days on earth without Mahmoud,鈥� she added. 鈥淚CE and the Trump administration have stolen these precious moments from our family in an attempt to silence Mahmoud鈥檚 support for Palestinian freedom.鈥�
A message seeking comment was left with ICE officials.
Vance calls for greater ties with India, hails progress on trade talks
The U.S. vice president talked up an with India by calling Tuesday for enhanced engagement. He said India should buy more U.S. defense equipment and energy and allow Washington greater access to its market.
Vance said he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiation, a vital step towards setting the road map for a final agreement aimed at more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
鈥淚 believe there is much that India and America can accomplish together,鈥� Vance said in the western city of Jaipur, where and his wife Usha and their three children were sightseeing during their to India.
鈻� Read more about
US, global economic outlook worsens in response to Trump鈥檚 tariffs, IMF says
The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that due to , the global economy will grow just 2.8% this year, down from its 3.3% forecast in January. U.S. economic growth will come in at just 1.8% this year, down sharply from its previous forecast of 2.7% and a full percentage point below its 2024 expansion.
The IMF鈥檚 World Economic Outlook raised the odds of a U.S. from 25% to 37%. Economists at JPMorgan say the chances of a U.S. recession are now 60%.
鈥淲e are entering a new era,鈥� chief IMF economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said. 鈥淭his global economic system that has operated for the last eighty years is being reset.鈥�
鈻� Read more about
Defense secretary again denies sharing classified info despite reports that operational details were pulled from secure military comms
Hegseth doubled down during a Tuesday morning Fox and Friends interview, insisting that the information on airstrike launches and bomb drop times that he shared with his wife and brother and dozens of others in two separate Signal chats was not classified.
Hegseth didn鈥檛 deny the existence of a separate chat, instead attacking the media and his former staff, which he accused of leaking information about the chats.
His repeat denial comes as NBC News reported Tuesday that the information Hegseth posted came directly from secure communications from the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Erik Kurilla.
The Pentagon鈥檚 inspector general is investigating the chats.
Hegseth says he鈥檚 never doubted his decision to become defense secretary
鈥淥h, not for a minute,鈥� Hegseth said Tuesday on Fox News Channel鈥檚 鈥淔ox & Friends.鈥�
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 blinked, and I won鈥檛 blink because this job is too big and too important for the American people, and I鈥檓 grateful for every opportunity the president鈥檚 given,鈥� Hegseth said.
Hegseth had a and is under for allegedly and with people outside of the military, like his wife. Close advisers recently were dismissed from top roles at the Pentagon, leading to questions about Hegseth鈥檚 leadership and viability. Trump has dismissed the allegations.
Wall Street opens slightly higher amid skepticism about the strength and safety of US investments
and his attacks on the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell have sent markets sharply lower.
Futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq rose less than 1% before the bell, far from recovering Monday鈥檚 loss of more than 2% as Trump .
Trump has . Trump Powell 鈥渁 major loser鈥� and declared that the central bank no longer needs to keep interest rates elevated to suppress inflation. The Fed has , which could reignite after it soared to more than 9% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any attempt to unseat Powell would likely set off a crisis in global financial markets.
鈻� Read more about
As controversies pile up, Trump allies increasingly turn on one another
The infighting and backstabbing that plagued Trump鈥檚 first term have returned as a threat to his second, with deepening fissures over trade, national security and questions of personal loyalty.
The latest turmoil threatens to engulf the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary has and faces fresh controversy over about airstrikes in Yemen outside of classified channels. A former Pentagon spokesperson who was ousted last week wrote in Politico that Trump should fire Hegseth for presiding over a 鈥渇ull-blown meltdown.鈥�
The interpersonal drama is not 鈥� at least yet 鈥� a dominant plot line of Trump鈥檚 return to the White House. But its reemergence after a period of relative discipline in his ranks reflects a turbulent management style that has been suppressed or papered over, not reformed.
鈻� Read more
Trump says he鈥檒l give commencement addresses at West Point and the University of Alabama
Trump called the institutions 鈥渢wo really GREAT places鈥� as he announced his upcoming schedule in a social media post.
It鈥檚 tradition for the commander in chief to speak at one of the military service academies and .
Alabama鈥檚 website says commencement ceremonies are .
Vance and Modi meet in New Delhi to discuss trade deal and avoid US tariffs
held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as New Delhi looks to avoid American tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington and strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
Vance, who is on a largely personal to India, met with Modi at his residence in New Delhi and the two leaders 鈥渞eviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation,鈥� Modi鈥檚 office said in a statement. They also 鈥渨elcomed the significant progress鈥� in the negotiations of an expected trade deal between the two countries, the statement said.
The White House, in a statement, said that Vance and Modi set the terms for ongoing talks, 鈥渓aying down a roadmap for further discussions.鈥� It鈥檚 a sign that talks are moving forward but remain far from finalized, though Trump administration officials also spoke with their counterparts from India in a sign of the high level of engagement.
The Trump administration has portrayed its strategy of tariffs as forcing negotiations that could limit the reach and influence of China, the world鈥檚 dominant manufacturer.
Read more
Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants
Harvard University announced Monday that it has filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration鈥檚 demands to limit .
In an April 11 letter to Harvard, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university and changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus and stop recognizing some student clubs. The that universities allowed antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel鈥檚 war in Gaza.
Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.
Harvard鈥檚 suit called the funding freeze 鈥渁rbitrary and capricious,鈥� saying it violated its First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Within hours, the White House lashed back.
鈻� Read more
The Associated Press
