In a Thursday meeting with Italian Prime Minister , President said he鈥檚 鈥渋n no rush鈥 to reach trade deals with foreign nations. Meloni met with Trump as Italy鈥檚 premier.
But she has effectively been 鈥渒nighted鈥 to represent the European Union after the Republican president placed 10% tariffs on imports from the EU. Meloni has portrayed the U.S. and Europe as natural allies, saying 鈥渢he goal for me is to make the West great again.鈥
Here's the latest:
Medal of Honor winner for heroism in Afghanistan is rejoining the military
Dakota Meyer, a Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Afghanistan War but later became a sharp critic of the Biden administration over its chaotic withdrawal from that conflict, is reenlisting in the military and will serve in the Marine Reserves.
In a briefing with reporters Thursday before his reenlistment ceremony, Meyer said he鈥檚 returning to military service after 15 years out of uniform because he felt he 鈥渉ad more to give.鈥 He鈥檚 also close to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
But Meyer said he would refrain from politics while in uniform.
鈥淭he great part about being in the reserves is I鈥檓 still a citizen when I鈥檓 not on orders,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 on orders, I鈥檒l comply obviously with whatever the standard is.鈥
Trump says he鈥檚 in 鈥榥ot in a rush鈥 for military action on Iran
鈥淚鈥檓 not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, and I鈥檇 like to see that,鈥 Trump told reporters as he hosted Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at the White House. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my first option. If there鈥檚 a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran.鈥
Trump鈥檚 latest comments on Iran鈥檚 nuclear program comes as his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to gather Saturday for a second round of talks.
The New York Times on Thursday reported that Israel had recently developed a plan to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, but Trump wanted to give negotiations more time.
Asked about the report, Trump said 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say waved off,鈥 while reiterating his position that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really simple,鈥 Trump added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not looking to take their industry. We鈥檙e not looking to take their land. All we are saying is you can鈥檛 have a nuclear weapon.鈥
Despite their 鈥榞reat鈥 relationship, Trump says Meloni didn鈥檛 change his mind on tariffs
鈥淣o, tariffs are making us rich. We were losing a lot of money under Biden,鈥 the U.S. president said. 鈥淎nd now that whole tide is turned.鈥
Trump took time to lavish praise on the Italian prime minister, however.
鈥淪he鈥檚 doing a great job, certainly one of our great allies,鈥 he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a fantastic person and doing a great job and our relationship is great.鈥
IRS is investigating Harvard, but White House says it鈥檚 not because of Trump
After Harvard defied the Trump administration鈥檚 demands, the president suggested on social media the university should lose its tax-exempt status 鈥渋f it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 鈥楽ickness?鈥欌
The White House suggested IRS scrutiny of Harvard鈥檚 tax status predated Trump鈥檚 post Tuesday on Truth Social. Federal tax law prohibits senior members of the executive branch from requesting that an IRS employee conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.
鈥淎ny forthcoming actions by the IRS will be conducted independently of the President, and investigations into any institution鈥檚 violations of its tax status were initiated prior to the President鈥檚 TRUTH,鈥 White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in an email Thursday.
But a person familiar with the matter said the Treasury Department directed Andrew De Mello, the IRS鈥檚 acting chief counsel, to begin the process of revoking Harvard鈥檚 tax exempt status shortly after Trump鈥檚 post. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.
鈻 Read more about
鈥 Fatima Hussein
Voting rights advocates warn of state proof of citizenship voting requirements
Many conservative states, including Florida, Texas and Indiana, have recently introduced bills aiming to create or expand voting requirements amid to an executive order attempting to make the mandate national.
鈥淓ven if not a single tenet of this executive order stands up to legal challenge, the goal of the executive order was and is to send clear marching orders to the states and Congress to tell them exactly what President Trump wants them to be doing,鈥 said Liz Avore, senior policy advisor at the Voting Rights Lab. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e listening.鈥
Avore said 22 states this year are considering or have considered bills that require proof of citizenship, which voting rights advocates say risks disenfranchising millions of Americans without ready access to the proper documents.
Supreme Court keeps hold on Trump鈥檚 restrictions on birthright citizenship but sets May arguments
Trump鈥檚 executive order to end for the children of people who are in the U.S. illegally has been halted nationwide by three district courts around the country.
The Republican administration had sought to narrow those orders to allow for the policy to take effect in parts or most of the country while court challenges play out. That鈥檚 expected to be the focus of the high court arguments.
鈻 Read more about
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: Administration working on 鈥榖ig 15 economies鈥 first on trade deals
Trump asked Bessent to comment on the trade negotiations during the president鈥檚 Oval Office meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Bessent noted that he and other administration officials held talks Wednesday with Japan. He said South Korean officials will be visiting next week.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes slams SAVE Act as 鈥榯rash鈥
The bill, which the House , aims to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections. It鈥檚 one of Trump鈥檚 top election-related priorities and Democrats and voting rights advocates have warned it risks disenfranchising millions of Americans without ready access to the proper documents.
鈥淚t makes no sense,鈥 Fontes said Thursday. 鈥淭his is an alleged solution that searching desperately for a problem. And the solution is far more dangerous to the rights of American voters.鈥
Fontes also criticized on elections as a 鈥渘onsensical attack鈥 on trust in elections.
鈥淎merican citizens鈥 rights are under attack, and it鈥檚 a damn tragedy it鈥檚 coming from the White House,鈥 he said.
Trump says mineral deal with Ukraine is ready
After lots of false starts, the president said the U.S. is ready to deal with Ukraine on access to critical minerals in the country.
鈥淲e have a minerals deal,鈥 Trump said in the Oval Office.
Trump and Ukrainian President were originally supposed to sign such an agreement when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House, only to have their meeting end in acrimony.
Trump continued to criticize Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
鈥淥h, he鈥檒l leave,鈥 Trump said in the Oval Office as he welcomed Italian . 鈥淚f I ask him to, he鈥檒l be out of there.鈥
He did not respond to a follow-up question on whether he would try and remove the Federal Reserve chairman.
Meloni says Trump will visit Italy
The Italian premier said in the Oval Office that Trump has accepted an invitation for an official trip to her country.
No date was disclosed. Vice President JD Vance is leaving Friday for .
She flattered the U.S. leader in their meeting, saying 鈥渢he goal for me is to make the West great again,鈥 echoing Trump鈥檚 campaign slogan. Meloni said she shares his fight against 鈥渨oke鈥 ideology.
Trump also praised his Italian counterpart. 鈥淪he has taken Europe by storm,鈥 he said.
Trump responds to the shooting at Florida State University
The president opened his Oval Office meeting with the Italian premier with comments on the shooting.
Trump said he鈥檇 been 鈥渇ully briefed.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a horrible thing. It鈥檚 horrible that things like this takes place,鈥 he said.
Sen. Van Hollen says he was denied entry to El Salvador prison where Kilman Abrego Garcia is held
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is in El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcia鈥檚 release after he was sent there by the in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation. He said in a video posted on X that his car was stopped when he tried to enter the prison Thursday to check on Abrego Garcia鈥檚 health.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 purpose was just to see what his health condition is,鈥 Van Hollen said in the video. He said his car was stopped by soldiers about 3 kilometers from the prison, even as they let other cars go on.
Abrego Garcia is a a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland when he was deported.
鈻 Read more about
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni invites Trump to visit Italy
The official invitation came at the start of their White House meeting.
Vice President JD Vance is already scheduled to head to Rome later this week and will meet with Meloni while he鈥檚 there.
Trump visited Italy during his first term when he attended the 2017 Group of Seven summit in Taormina.
Trump says he鈥檚 in 鈥榥o rush鈥 to reach any trade deals
The president played down the likelihood of reaching any trade agreements as a result of his tariffs.
Trump told reporters while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that 鈥渁t a certain point鈥 deals would come together.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in no rush,鈥 said Trump, saying he liked the revenues he expected the tariffs to generate for the U.S. government.
US Treasury says no decision has been made on the future of the Direct File program
That鈥檚 according to a Treasury spokesperson who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the agency鈥檚 thinking on the topic.
Direct File is an electronic system for filing tax returns directly to the agency for free, developed during the Biden administration. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the program according to two people familiar with the decision.
The Treasury official, in an emailed statement, said the department viewed Direct File as a 鈥渧ery disappointing鈥 program that costs tens of millions of dollars a year and was used by about 200,000 people out of 300 million, or less than 0.1% of taxpayers.
However, the program wasn鈥檛 available in all 50 states. It was launched as a pilot in 2024 in 12 states, then made permanent and expanded to 25 states for the 2025 filing season and was still growing. The agency accepted 140,803 submitted returns in 2024.
鈥 Fatima Hussein
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has arrived at the White House for her meeting with Trump
The two leaders posed for photos together before heading inside.
Former Pentagon spokesperson tied to online DEI purge asked to resign, official says
John Ullyot was one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth鈥檚 initial communications office hires and oversaw some of its most visible but controversial moves, including a broad edict to the military services to strip away online images that were considered a promotion of diversity, equity or inclusion.
That directive led to public outcry when images of national heroes like Jackie Robinson and others were removed.
Ullyot told Politico on Wednesday he decided to resign.
A senior defense official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Hegseth鈥檚 office asked Ullyot to resign. The official familiar with the decision spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details that haven鈥檛 been made public.
The departure isn鈥檛 tied to an investigation into unauthorized disclosures of information, which so far has led three other senior Pentagon aides to be put on leave.
European Central Bank cuts interest rates for 7th time as global trade tensions escalate
The rate cuts Thursday are to counter worries about economic growth fueled by President Trump鈥檚 .
The bank鈥檚 move should support economic activity in the 20 countries that use the euro currency by making credit more affordable for consumers and businesses.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said at a post-decision news conference that 鈥渢he major escalation in global trade tensions and the associated uncertainty will likely lower euro area growth by dampening exports.鈥
鈥淎nd it may drag down investment and consumption,鈥 she said.
鈻 Read more about
Talks between Iran and US over Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program are 鈥榠n a very crucial鈥 stage
The comments Thursday come from the head of the United Nations鈥 nuclear watchdog while on a visit to the Islamic Republic.
Speaking in Tehran, Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency also acknowledged his agency likely would be key in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached. Iran and the U.S. will for a new round of talks after last weekend鈥檚 .
The stakes of the negotiations and the wider geopolitical tensions in the Mideast couldn鈥檛 be higher, particularly as rages on in the Gaza Strip. President Trump repeatedly has threatened targeting Iran鈥檚 nuclear program if a deal isn鈥檛 reached. Iranian officials with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
鈻 Read more about
Homeland Security Department threatens to revoke Harvard鈥檚 ability to host international students
That鈥檚 if the university doesn鈥檛 agree to turn over 鈥渄etailed records on Harvard鈥檚 foreign student visa holders鈥 illegal and violent activities鈥 by April 30.
More than 27% of Harvard鈥檚 student body comes from another country.
The department also said it was cancelling two grants totaling $2.7 million to the university.
The moves are an escalation of the Trump administration鈥檚 crackdown on Harvard, which so far has defied the administration鈥檚 demands in a battle over federal funding, diversity policies and campus activism.
Schumer wants DOJ to find out if attack on Pennsylvania governor鈥檚 home is federal hate crime
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro鈥檚 official residence qualifies as a federal hate crime.
The suspect, Cody Balmer, has 鈥渁dmitted to harboring hatred鈥 toward Shapiro, who鈥檚 Jewish, according to a police affidavit. Police obtained warrants to search Balmer鈥檚 writings or notes for any references to 鈥渢he name of Josh Shapiro (or a) reference to Palestine, Gaza, Israel or the current conflict in Gaza.鈥
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, Schumer said the incident 鈥渨arrants immediate and serious federal scrutiny.鈥
鈥淚 appreciate your strong condemnation of the attack and urge you to ensure that the federal government does everything in its power to pursue justice and uphold the fundamental values of religious freedom and public safety,鈥 wrote Schumer, who鈥檚 the highest-ranked Jewish official in the U.S.
Ukraine鈥檚 future is at the center of talks in Paris with Rubio, Witkoff and top European officials
Paris is hosting the series of talks Thursday about , including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, French President Emmanuel Macron and top Ukrainian and European officials.
were having lunch discussions with Macron and 鈥渢alks with European counterparts to advance President Trump鈥檚 goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,鈥 State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
The meetings come as concerns grow about , and after weeks of U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. There鈥檚 also frustration over the Trump administration鈥檚 other moves, from tariffs on some of its closest partners to and .
鈻 Read more about
Trump鈥檚 schedule for Thursday
At 12 p.m. ET, the president will greet Italian Prime Minister according to the White House schedule for Thursday. The pair are scheduled to participate in a bilateral lunch followed by a meeting in the Oval Office, where they may speak to the White House Press Pool.
to have a face-to-face with Trump since he announced, and , 20% tariffs on European exports. Meloni secured the meeting at a critical juncture in the trade war as Italy鈥檚 leader, but she also has, in a sense, been 鈥渒nighted鈥 to represent the European Union. She鈥檚 been in close contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the trip, and 鈥渢he outreach is 鈥 closely coordinated,鈥 a commission spokesperson said this week.
At 4:00 p.m. ET, Trump is scheduled to sign executive orders.
Federal judge will hear arguments as groups try to block Trump鈥檚 executive order on elections
The judge will hear arguments Thursday in three cases from that are challenging recent executive order on elections, which, among other changes, would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
The Democratic National Committee, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters Education Fund and others are seeking to block Trump鈥檚 sweeping overhaul of federal election processes, alleging the changes he wants are unconstitutional.
The Republican president鈥檚 says the U.S. has failed 鈥渢o enforce basic and necessary election protections鈥 and calls on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. It threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials don鈥檛 comply.
鈻 Read more about
Trump says Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell 鈥榯ermination cannot come fast enough鈥
Trump hinted at moving to fire Powell, whose term doesn鈥檛 expire until next year, as he reiterated his frustration that the Fed hasn鈥檛 aggressively cut interest rates.
The president鈥檚 broadside comes a day after that Trump鈥檚 broad-based tariffs have left the Federal Reserve seeking 鈥済reater clarity鈥 on the impact of policy changes in areas such as , taxation, regulation, and before making potential cuts.
鈥淥il prices are down, groceries (even eggs!) are down, and the USA is getting RICH ON TARIFFS,鈥 Trump said in a social media post. He added that Powell 鈥渟hould have lowered Interest Rates, like the ECB, long ago, but he should certainly lower them now. Powell鈥檚 termination cannot come fast enough!鈥
Powell was initially nominated by Trump in 2017, and appointed to another four-year term by President Joe Biden in 2022. At a November new conference, Powell indicated he would not step down if Trump asked him to resign. He has also said the removal or demotion of top Fed officials was 鈥渘ot permitted under the law.鈥
Trump administration issues order to stop construction on New York offshore wind project
The Trump administration issued an order Wednesday to stop construction on a major offshore wind project to power more than 500,000 New York homes, the latest in a series of moves targeting the industry.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt construction on Empire Wind, a fully-permitted project. because it appears the Biden administration rushed the approval.
Trump has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. His first day in office, temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects. Last month, the administration revoked the Clean Air Permit for an offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey, Atlantic Shores. Construction on that wind farm had not yet begun.
鈻 Read more
Trump joins tariff talks with Japan as US seeks deals amid trade wars
on Wednesday inserted himself directly into , a sign of the high stakes for the United States after its tariffs rattled the economy and caused the administration to assure the public that it would quickly reach deals.
The Republican president attended the meeting alongside and , top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters Thursday in Tokyo that his chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, told him from Washington that the talks were 鈥渧ery candid and constructive.鈥
Ishiba said he will closely watch how ministerial talks go and plans to visit Washington to meet with Trump at an appropriate time.
Trump鈥檚 choice to get directly involved in negotiations points to his desire to quickly finalize a slew of trade deals as China is pursuing its own set of agreements.
鈻 Read more
Judge says labor unions鈥 lawsuit over DOGE access to Labor Department systems can move forward
A federal judge says he won鈥檛 dismiss a lawsuit from labor unions seeking to block Elon Musk鈥檚 team from .
The labor unions say that allowing Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency to access the systems violates the federal Privacy Act because they contain medical and financial records of millions of Americans. They also contend DOGE doesn鈥檛 have the legal authority to direct the actions of congressionally created agencies like the Department of Labor.
In a ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Bates said those claims could move forward in court. But some other, more specific arguments made by the unions 鈥 including that the U.S. Health and Human Services Department violated health care privacy laws by allowing DOGE access 鈥 were dismissed by the judge.
The federal Privacy Act generally prohibits an agency from disclosing records about a person to another agency, unless the person has first given written permission.
鈻 Read more
DOGE targets a community service program in its latest cost-cutting effort
A 30-year-old community service program that sends young adults to work on projects across the U.S. was of the 鈥檚 campaign to .
AmeriCorps鈥 National Civilian Community Corps informed volunteers Tuesday that they would exit the program early 鈥渄ue to programmatic circumstances beyond your control,鈥 according to an email obtained by The Associated Press.
The unsigned memo to corps members said NCCC鈥檚 鈥渁bility to sustain program operations鈥 was impacted by the Trump administration鈥檚 priorities and Trump鈥檚 executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency. Members would be officially dismissed April 30.
More than 2,000 people ages 18 to 26 serve for nearly a year, according to the program鈥檚 website, and get assigned to projects with nonprofits and community organizations or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It celebrated its 30th year last year.
The organization said on social media last month that teams have served 8 million service hours on nearly 3,400 disaster projects since 1999.
鈻 Read more
The Associated Press
