Trump and Musk’s Relationship Spectacularly Unravels: Live Updates

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and former Trump ally, and President Donald Trump clashed in public on Thursday. Trump first voiced his displeasure with Musk at a White House event after Musk recently criticized the administration’s major domestic policy bill.

Know what to know.

Particularly in regards to the reductions in tax incentives for electric vehicles, Trump charged Musk with only opposing the bill after departing his administration.

Musk referred to the bill as “disgusting” and stated that the elimination of the EV tax credit had nothing to do with his opposition.

Musk suggested that the administration is withholding the files, claiming that Trump’s name is present in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files.

Trump made a suggestion that he might terminate government contracts with Musk’s businesses.

Musk openly questioned if he ought to form a new political party.

Timeline:.

The Department of Government Efficiency will continue as usual after Musk resigned as its head last month, according to officials.

Not long after, Musk strongly criticized the bill, calling it financially irresponsible.

Trump claimed at the White House event that Musk knew about the bill and only began to protest after he left.

In a swift social media response, Musk refuted Trump’s account and charged that Republicans were depending on his backing to win the next election.

Musk’s remarks became more heated as he called for Trump’s impeachment and made accusations regarding Epstein files, further dividing the two.

For the most recent information, check out Newsweek’s live blog.

EDT 07:11.

Musk supports a post that calls for the impeachment of Trump.

Amid their deteriorating relationship, Elon Musk has supported a post that calls for President Donald Trump to be impeached.

On Thursday afternoon, the billionaire posted on X, the former Twitter, saying, “JD Vance should take Trump’s place after he is impeached. “,”.

Musk responded with “Yes,” after she shared the post on his own feed.

06:58 EDT.

Watch as Trump questions whether he and Elon Musk still have a “great relationship.”.

EDT 06:53.

“Told you so”: Liberals respond in real time as the Trump-Musk alliance breaks down.

After deteriorating over the course of a few days from Oval Office camaraderie to full-scale social media warfare, complete with threats and accusations, President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who once referred to himself as his first buddy, saw their political marriage come crashing down in spectacular, meme-ready fashion on Thursday.

Within hours of Trump threatening to revoke Musk’s federal contracts and Musk responding with public insults and an unexpected allusion to Jeffrey Epstein, progressives swarmed social media with a mixture of derision and celebration: this was a split they anticipated.

Schadenfreude, a German word, is the enjoyment of another person’s bad luck. On Thursday, liberal schadenfreude erupted online as Elon Musk and Donald Trump destroyed what had been a strong political alliance until recently.

“We were constantly alert that the GOP intended to do this,” Rep. Posting on X, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mentioned Musk’s criticism of Trump’s bill. “They said as much. However, you guys decided that bullying transgender people was more important than sensible energy policy. You backed it up. “,”.

See Jesus Mesa in full on Newsweek.

06:53 EDT.

VIEW: Trump claims Musk has “Trump derangement syndrome” following remarks about his “big, beautiful bill.”.

EDT: 06:08.

As the Trump feud erupts, Steve Bannon demands that Elon Musk be deported.

On Thursday, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon questioned the immigration status of billionaire Elon Musk and demanded that Trump “initiate a formal investigation” because he thinks Musk “is an illegal alien.”. “..”.

Before moving to Canada with his family, Musk spent almost twenty years living in South Africa, where he was born. During his time at the University of Pennsylvania, Musk lived in the United States. He earned a U. S. . Walter Isaacson’s biography notes that he was a citizen in 2002.

“They should start a formal investigation of his [Musk] immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately,” Bannon stated in a phone interview, according to The New York Times. “..”.

Bannon was previously contacted by Newsweek on Thursday through text message.

Read the entire article from Newsweek’s Anna Commander.

06:07 PM EDT.

In the congressional investigation into Biden’s fitness as president, his physician will testify.

In an effort to learn more about the former president’s mental health and fitness, the House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Joe Biden’s White House doctor, CNN reports.

The chair of the committee, James Comer, accused Dr. Kevin O’Connor of breaching the initial voluntary request for a transcribed interview in the subpoena letter.

Comer’s letter stated that O’Connor had declined the interview request, citing “physician-patient privilege” and other ethical concerns.

“There is no merit to these arguments,” Comer said. “.”.

EDT: 05:45.

Ashley Street. Amid the Elon Musk controversy, Clair gives Trump “breakup advice.”.

A woman who maintained that Elon Musk was the father of her child gave President Donald Trump “breakup advice” as his conflict with the richest man in the world deepened.

Ashley St. Thursday. Clair wrote on X, “Hey @realDonaldTrump, let me know if you need any breakup advice,” offering to assist Trump in resolving his tumultuous conflict with the man who was purportedly the father of her child. “.”.

As of publication, the post had received close to 50,000 likes.

In February, St. Author, influencer, and conservative political analyst Clair announced on X, formerly Twitter, that she and Musk had welcomed a child together in September 2024. Musk is the father of 13 other children from three separate women.

According to reports, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO offered to compensate 26-year-old St. The Wall Street Journal revealed in April that Clair had received a one-time payment of $15 million, along with $100,000 per month in support, in exchange for remaining silent about their newborn son.

EDT: 05:34.

Following Trump’s altercation with Elon Musk, Marjorie Taylor Greene responds.

In the midst of President Donald Trump’s rapidly intensifying public feud with billionaire Elon Musk, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene threw her support behind him Thursday.

Congresswoman Greene’s spokesperson told Newsweek, “There is absolutely no daylight between Congresswoman Greene and President Trump.”. “From her personal account, she has made her stance very clear. “.”.

In a post sent Thursday afternoon from her X account, the Republican lawmaker emphasized her support for Trump and stated that she voted for him in November and “not anyone else.” Greene’s spokesperson cited the post. “.”.

In the post, she made no explicit mention of Musk.

EDT at 5:00 PM.

An account of the bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk became close allies during the 2024 presidential election, but their relationship is now strained over the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill,”.

Last year’s election was heavily influenced by Musk’s support for Trump, including the enormous sums of money he spent on his campaign. Additionally, Musk has grown closer to the administration as a result of his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force that aims to cut wasteful spending.

In recent days, Musk, who has distanced himself from his government work, has grown more critical of the president’s flagship legislation, highlighting the GOP’s disagreements over Trump’s spending and presidency.

Visit Newsweek to read Andrew Stanton’s story in its entirety.

4:50 PM EDT.

The DJT stock drops 8% after Musk claims that the Trump administration stalled the Epstein files.

The stock ticker for the former Trump company, DJT, saw an 8% decline on Thursday.

Elon Musk’s allegation that the Trump administration withheld the release of more government documents on Jeffrey Epstein in order to conceal Trump’s involvement caused the decline to quicken.

04:39 PM EDT.

Trump’s tariffs “will cause a recession,” according to Musk.

In his ongoing criticism of Trump, Elon Musk claims that the tariffs “will cause a recession in the second half of this year.”. “.”.

04:37 EDT.

Kanye West expresses admiration for Trump and Musk.

Known for his divisive remarks and backing of Trump, Kanye West has demanded that the public conflict between Trump and Elon Musk end.

Kanye wrote, “Broooos please noooooo,” along with an emoji of two people hugging, on Musk’s social media platform X. “You two are very loved by us. “..”.

EDT 04:25.

U. S. Treasury updates its sanctions list aimed at drug traffickers and grants new licenses related to the ICC.

Fifth June 2025: The U.S. A. Seven new general licenses pertaining to the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been issued, according to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). These licenses permit things like paying for legal services from outside the United States, providing emergency medical and legal services, and winding down transactions involving blocked individuals. S. money, as well as exchanges of medical supplies and agricultural commodities.

OFAC added a number of people connected to drug trafficking and ICC-related sanctions to its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) in addition to the licenses. It’s noteworthy that several people from Colombia, Guyana, and other nations were implicated in the transshipment of cocaine to the US.

This action highlights ongoing U. S. . attempts to thwart global drug trafficking organizations and implement international criminal justice sanctions. These individuals’ access to the United States is blocked by the updated SDN list. S. financial system and impose limitations on their global operations.

4:18 PM EDT.

After Trump’s comments about contracts, Elon Musk says SpaceX will retire the Dragon spacecraft.

In reaction to Trump’s comments regarding the termination of government contracts, Elon Musk declared that SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft right away.

04:11 PM EDT.

It’s not that Trump cares that Elon turned against him.

In a recent Truth Social post, Donald Trump stated that he doesn’t “mind” that Elon Musk “turned against” him, but he thinks he should have done so sooner.

04:09 PM EDT.

WATCH: Following remarks about “Big Beautiful Bill,” Trump implies Musk has “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”.

03:58 EDT.

Mike Johnson, the speaker, addresses Elon Musk’s assertion.

In a stern social media post, Speaker Mike Johnson reacted to Elon Musk’s assertion that he has changed since taking office.

EDT 03:51.

A picture of Elon Musk with Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate, has surfaced.

A 2014 picture of Elon Musk with Ghislaine Maxwell went viral online, reigniting interest in Musk’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. A longtime friend and Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, Maxwell, was found guilty in 2021 of assisting Epstein in the trafficking of minors.

Maxwell and Musk are seen at a party in Hollywood in the resurfaced photo, although Musk has previously denied the encounter, claiming he was photobombed. Epstein reportedly admitted to advising Musk to a reporter for the New York Times in 2018. Musk denied at the time having a personal or professional relationship with Epstein.

EDT 03:39.

A new political party is proposed by Musk following his conflict with Trump.

Elon Musk suggested creating a new political party on his social media platform, X, just hours after he severed his relationship with Trump in a public and dramatic manner.

Musk posed the question to his 220 million followers on Thursday night: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80 percent in the middle?”.

Similar online surveys have been used by the billionaire in the past to inform significant choices, such as reintroducing banned accounts like Trump’s and resigning as CEO of Twitter. His most recent action is an addition to his expanding political activities, which have recently involved significant campaign expenditures and a high-level advisory position in Trump’s administration prior to their scandal.

EDT 03:28.

In an intensifying feud, Trump threatens to revoke Musk’s federal contracts.

Trump’s public feud with Elon Musk intensified on Thursday after Musk blasted the president’s signature tax bill, threatening to revoke government contracts and subsidies that benefit Musk.

Taking aim at the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The simplest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”. The statement “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”.

Trump told reporters that he was “very disappointed” in Musk, his former adviser and political supporter, just hours prior to the threat. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” has been publicly criticized by Musk, who has called it a “disgusting abomination” and warned that it would cause the federal deficit to skyrocket.

Considering Musk’s strong support for Trump’s reelection campaign, the division is startling. He ran a vigorous campaign, gave over $250 million, and led the Department of Government Efficiency until resigning last week. Following Trump’s decision to revoke Musk ally Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA, which he claimed was because Isaacman was “totally a Democrat,” the rift seems to have gotten worse. “,”.

In response, Musk posted, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” implying that Trump was driven by personal slights. He also blasted Trump for cramming “disgusting pork” into the legislation and accused him of pushing it through without review. “..”.

Concerns regarding the future of GOP donor support and the influence of billionaires in Trump’s administration are raised by the dramatic fallout, which marks the end of one of the most well-known alliances in Republican politics.

EDT 03:20.

Musk suggests a cover-up and says Trump is in Epstein’s files.

Elon Musk said Thursday that Trump is mentioned in Jeffrey Epstein’s sealed files, implying that this is the reason the documents have not been released to the public.

3:18 PM EDT.

Musk calls Trump’s remarks “such an obvious lie.”.

Trump’s “obvious lie” about Musk “wearing thin” on Truth Social was criticized by Elon Musk. “..”.

EDT 03:11.

Tesla’s stock drops by almost 10% after Trump attacks Musk over the GOP tax bill.

The shares of Elon Musk’s electric car company, Tesla, fell almost 10% on Thursday, the most since the election. The drop came as former President Donald Trump publicly chastised his former adviser, Musk, for opposing the Republican megabill.

After Trump was elected, Tesla’s stock shot up, doubling and hitting an all-time high in December. 17.
Under Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), however, the gains were reversed.

Tesla saw a brief rally in April after Musk pledged to focus more on the company, particularly its impending rollout of autonomous taxis in Texas. Musk’s criticism of Trump’s tax plan as a “disgusting abomination” in the days prior to the recent selloff, however, alarmed investors.

3:01 PM EDT.

Elon Musk faces a fresh threat from Donald Trump.

Amid a growing verbal spat between the commander in chief and the richest man in the world, President Donald Trump stated Thursday that the “easiest way” for the government to save money would be to “terminate” contracts and subsidies going to billionaire Elon Musk.

Eliminating Elon’s government contracts and subsidies is the simplest way to save billions and billions of dollars in our budget. “Every time Biden didn’t do it, I was shocked!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew I was going to do for months!), and he just went CRAZY!” the president shared in a different post.

Visit Newsweek to read the complete story by Jason Lemon and Jesus Mesa.

01:57 PM EDT.

According to the majority of NATO allies, Trump is in favor of increasing defense spending to 5 percent.

Mark Rutte, the Secretary-General of NATO, stated Thursday that the majority of U. A. President Donald Trump’s demand that NATO members allocate 5% of their GDP to defense is supported by allies.

Rutte told reporters following a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels that “there is broad support” and that he is “totally confident” the next NATO summit, which is scheduled for three weeks from now, will achieve the goal.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Canada and its European allies have already raised military spending dramatically, investing in both defense forces and munitions arsenals.

EDT: 01:43.

Trump calls Biden’s use of an autopen the “biggest scandal” and intensifies his accusations.

Trump stepped up unsupported allegations on Thursday that aides to President Joe Biden improperly used an autopen to sign important documents, claiming without proof that “whoever used the autopen was president.”. “,”.

Trump described it as “a very bad thing, very dangerous,” and he said he knew who was responsible, while addressing reporters in the Oval Office. He issued an executive order directing an investigation into pardons and executive actions from the Biden era, headed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington.

Both parties have been using the autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a signature, for decades. Biden responded in a statement, saying, “I made the decisions while I was president. It is absurd and untrue to say that I didn’t. “.”.

A number of former Biden aides are also being called to testify by House Republicans, led by Oversight Chairman James Comer, who is accusing them of a potential “cover-up.”. Democrats have rejected the investigation as unfounded.

01:29 EDT.

Trump explains why Egypt was exempt from the travel ban.

President Donald Trump has explained why the travel ban did not apply to Egypt, the country of origin of the Boulder, Colorado attack suspect.

Days after the horrific Boulder firebombing, Trump declared a ban on 12 nations. Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Myanmar are among the nations that are prohibited.

During a White House event, the question of why the suspect’s nation of origin had not been mentioned was raised. The president said to reporters, “We have a close relationship with Egypt. They have control over the situation. “.

Go to Newsweek to read Hannah Parry’s story in its entirety.

1:12 PM EDT.

On X, Musk attacks Trump.

Today, Elon Musk responded to Trump’s remarks regarding his “disappointment” in Musk by tweeting that Trump was displaying “such ingratitude.”. “,”.

12:58 PM EDT.

Trump says that Elon Musk’s criticism of the tax bill has left him “disappointed.”.

Trump publicly criticized Elon Musk’s major tax legislation on Thursday, saying he is “very disappointed” in the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. Musk persisted in criticizing Trump’s alleged “Big Beautiful Bill,” saying it would increase the national debt.

“I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump said to reporters in the White House as he reflected on their previous partnership. Musk, he added, is suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” and misses Trump himself.

Former Trump ally and high-profile supporter Musk has referred to the bill as a “disgusting abomination” and warned that it will have a negative impact on the economy.

12:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

Republicans in the red state Senate race receive a concerning update.

The 2026 Iowa Senate election has been reclassified as more competitive by a major election forecaster, which is a worrying development for Republicans.

In response to worries about possible Medicaid cuts, incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, who is seeking a third term, recently said, “Well, we are all going to die,” which caused a lot of Iowans to take offense. “..”.

Ernst’s campaign was emailed by Newsweek to request comment.

The last ten years have seen a shift in Iowa’s political leanings toward the GOP, with President Donald Trump winning the state by 13 points in 2024. Ernst, however, was making the race “more competitive every day,” according to a Democratic strategist who spoke to Newsweek, and the national party is considering the state as a possible flip.

Democrats are aiming for seats held by the GOP in North Carolina, which Trump won by three points, and Maine, which he lost. In addition, they are protecting seats in Georgia and Michigan, which were won by Trump, but the party has no other clear chances to flip. Thus, Democrats’ chances of winning the Senate again in 2026 depend on their capacity to run strong campaigns in states like Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas that Trump won by a wide margin.

View Andrew Stanton’s article in its entirety on Newsweek.

EDT 12:28.

Amid the tariff standoff, Trump calls Xi “very positive” and plans new trade talks.

Trump indicated a willingness to resume trade talks aimed at resolving disagreements over tariffs and rare earth mineral supplies on Thursday, saying his first call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since taking office was “very positive.”.

Plans for future discussions involving important U.S. officials resulted from the one and a half-hour discussion. A. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the U.S. A. Trade Commissioner Jamieson Greer. The location of the meeting is still up in the air, Trump posted on social media.

In addition, Trump disclosed that Xi “graciously” invited him and First Lady Melania Trump to travel to China, and that he invited Xi to the US in return.

The call was started by Trump, according to China’s foreign ministry, and Xi urged the U. S. . to lift the “negative measures” that China was subjected to. Comparing their relationship to a ship that requires constant direction, Xi underlined the necessity for both nations to “take the helm and set the right course” in order to prevent disruptions.

Following a tariff reduction agreement on May 12, trade negotiations have stalled. As the talks went on, the U.S. S. charged China with restricting exports of vital minerals, and China protested the U.S. S. limitations on the export of cutting-edge technology and student visas.

Tensions over market access and economic competition persist even after tariffs have been lowered. Last week, in a frustrated statement, Trump accused China of breaking their agreement.

While highlighting ongoing challenges as both nations seek economic advantage amid a complex relationship, the renewed dialogue reflects cautious optimism.

EDT 12:15.

German leader Merz is praised by Trump as “very good but difficult.”.

Trump praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, describing him as “a very good man to deal with” and a strong German representative. Additionally, Trump called Merz “difficult,” which he meant as a compliment.

In response to Trump’s statement that “you wouldn’t want me to say that you’re easy,” Merz grinned. The conversation demonstrated a friendly yet open atmosphere during their Washington meeting.

12:00 PM EDT.

Trump expresses gratitude to Xi for the invitation and says they both look forward to more visits.

After being invited for a possible state visit, former President Donald Trump reportedly sent “sincere thanks” to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua. In a social media post, Trump stated that he “reciprocated” the offer and looked forward to meeting “as the Presidents of two Great Nations,” even though no visit has been confirmed. “..”.

During his first term, Trump made his most recent trip to China in 2017, just after welcoming Xi to Mar-a-Lago. Since then, the two leaders have not reciprocated state visits. Such visits didn’t happen under the Biden administration, though Xi and Biden did meet in 2023 during the US-hosted APEC summit.

11:00 a.m. EDT.

Mexico’s lawsuit against US gun manufacturers is dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The U. S. A well-known, multibillion dollar lawsuit brought by the Mexican government to hold American gun manufacturers legally responsible for the widespread cartel violence south of the border was unanimously dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 federal law that essentially shields gun manufacturers and sellers from liability when crimes are committed with their products, barred Mexico’s claims, the Court said in a ruling written by Justice Elena Kagan.

After a lower court allowed the lawsuit to proceed, well-known manufacturers such as Smith and Wesson had appealed to the justices.

The justices decided that Mexico had not made a credible claim that the corporations intentionally assisted the unlawful importation of firearms into its country. The claim lacked the specificity usually needed in cases involving aiding and abetting, Justice Kagan stressed.

According to Justice Kagan, “it does not pinpoint, as most aiding-and-abetting claims do, any specific criminal transactions that the defendants (allegedly) assisted.”.

Read Hannah Parry and Dan Gooding’s complete story on Newsweek.

EDT 11:24 a.m.

Sen. A “senseless, prejudicial policy” that targets families is what Padilla refers to as the travel ban.

Sen. The administration’s recent travel ban was deemed a “senseless, prejudicial policy” by Californian Alex Padilla. “.”.

He claimed that the ban unfairly singles U out and is an abuse of authority. A. family members of citizens in the impacted nations.

EDT 11:11.

U. S. The trade deficit significantly decreases following Trump’s tariff action.

The U. S. . After a sharp drop in imports brought on by Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which were announced on April 2, the trade deficit decreased dramatically in April.

As a result of businesses rushing to import goods before the duties went into effect, the deficit decreased from almost $140 billion in March to $61.6 billion in April. Goods imports sank nearly 20 percent month over month.

60 nations were singled out by Trump’s broad tariffs, including important allies like China and the EU. Although the tariffs were postponed for 90 days, the initial announcement led to major trade shifts that contributed to a 0.2 percent decline in U. S. The first quarter’s GDP.

EDT 10:58.

Trump praises his “very good” call with Xi regarding the status of the trade deal.

Trump claimed to have had a “very good” phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, according to a post on Truth Social, about their recently reached trade agreement.

The 90-minute call concluded on a “very positive conclusion for both Countries,” according to Trump, who also stated that the two parties had addressed concerns regarding the intricacy of rare earth products. He declared that U.S. S. Soon, officials would meet with their Chinese counterparts, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

10:47 a.m. EDT.

The second lady starts a reading challenge to combat the decline in literacy.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, second lady Usha Vance stated that the goal of her new White House summer reading challenge is to increase children’s literacy and prevent reading loss.

The program invites kindergarten through eighth-grade students to read 12 books over the summer. Those who complete the challenge receive a certificate, a small prize, and a chance to win a trip to Washington, D. C.

Vance called the effort a “proof of concept,” acknowledging it’s not a complete solution to falling reading scores but a way to make a small impact. “My goal is to try to come up with small ways in which I can use my platform to counteract some of those issues,” she said.

10:24 AM EDT.

African Union criticizes U. S. travel ban targeting African nations.

The African Union issued a formal statement Thursday condemning Trump’s new travel ban, warning of its potential to damage diplomatic ties and disrupt education, commerce, and interpersonal relationships.

Seven of the 12 countries affected by the ban are in Africa: Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan.

While acknowledging the United States’ sovereign right to secure its borders, the AU urged the administration to adopt a “balanced, evidence-based” approach and consult directly with the countries involved.

The group warned that the move risks undoing decades of carefully built diplomatic relations.

10:11 AM EDT.

Ex-Biden official calls Karine Jean-Pierre ‘kinda dumb’.

Former Biden Administration official Tim Wu called Karine Jean-Pierre “kind dumb” after the former White House press secretary revealed she is no longer a Democrat and announced her new book about her experiences.

Wu, who served as a special assistant to President Joe Biden for competition and technology policy, took aim at Jean-Pierre in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“From WH policy staff perspective, the real problem with Karine Jean-Pierre was that she was kinda dumb. No interest in understanding harder topics. Just gave random incoherent answers on policy,” wrote Wu, now a Columbia Law School professor.

Responding to a question from another X user asking if a press secretary needs to know policy, Wu replied: “Yes it is the job of a GOOD press secretary to meet with policy staff and try and understand what the Administration is doing and why. “.

Newsweek has asked Jean-Pierre for comment via a contact email address listed on her personal website.

Wu exited the Biden Administration at the beginning of 2023.

Read the full story by Shane Croucher on Newsweek.

09:45 AM EDT.

Trump’s original travel ban sparked global confusion and legal fights.

In January 2017, during his first term, Trump signed an executive order banning entry into the U. S. for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

The sudden move triggered widespread chaos, with travelers detained at U. S. airports or blocked from boarding planes abroad. Students, businesspeople, and even visiting family members were caught in the fallout, prompting protests and a wave of legal challenges.

Often referred to as the “Muslim ban,” the policy was revised multiple times before the Supreme Court upheld a version in 2018. That iteration also extended restrictions to travelers from North Korea and some Venezuelan officials.

09:32 AM EDT.

Truth Social files to launch bitcoin ETF amid push into digital assets.

A new SEC filing reveals plans to launch the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF. This proposed exchange-traded fund would expose investors to Bitcoin without requiring them to hold it directly.

The preliminary prospectus, filed on June 5, outlines Yorkville America Digital, LLC’s plan to sponsor the ETF through a Nevada-based trust. The fund would hold Bitcoin in custody via Foris DAX Trust Company, LLC, and seek to mirror the digital currency’s price minus fees and liabilities.

The filing marks a notable step into the digital asset space by entities affiliated with Truth Social, the social media platform founded by former President Donald Trump. The ETF would offer retail and institutional investors a regulated vehicle to track bitcoin’s market performance.

The registration is not yet effective, and the securities cannot be sold until the SEC approves the offering.

09:18 AM EDT.

Florida pastor in US for 26 years detained by ICE at immigration appointment.

A Florida pastor who has lived in the United States for more than two decades was detained by federal agents during his annual immigration check-in.

Maurilio Amizael Ambrocio Mendez, 42, from Guatemala, was detained at the ICE field office in Tampa on April 17 at around 9 a. m. , according to his family. He is currently being held at the Glades County Detention Center.

Ambrocio Mendez had been attending annual ICE appointments for the past 12 years under a court-issued “stay of removal,” a form of supervision allowing him to remain in the country despite a deportation order.

According to his daughter, 19-year-old Ashley Ambrocio, Ambrocio Mendez had always complied with the conditions of his supervision.

Read the full story by Billal Rahman on Newsweek.

09:03 AM EDT.

Trump cites Boulder attack as he pushes new travel restrictions.

Since returning to office, Trump has launched an aggressive immigration crackdown, testing the boundaries of executive authority and drawing pushback from federal courts.

His latest move stems from a Jan. 20 executive order directing federal agencies to identify nations with “hostile attitudes” toward the U. S. That review led to this week’s expanded travel ban targeting 12 countries, announced just days after a gas bomb attack in Boulder, Colorado.

In a video posted online, Trump said the attack highlighted the risk of visa overstays. The suspect, an Egyptian national, had overstayed a tourist visa, but Egypt is not included in the new restrictions.

08:50 AM EDT.

Trump moves to block nearly all foreign students from attending Harvard.

Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to bar most foreign students from entering the U. S. to study at Harvard University, citing national security concerns. The move targets an international population of roughly a quarter of Harvard’s student body.

The order comes just days after a federal court in Boston blocked the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing similar restrictions. Trump’s latest action leans on a different legal authority to sidestep that ruling.

Harvard responded swiftly, calling the decision “illegal” and vowing to defend its international students. “This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” the university said in a statement.

08:37 AM EDT.

Donald Trump’s travel ban: Who can still enter the US?

Some 19 countries have been affected by Donald Trump’s new travel ban —Newsweek has broken down all the exceptions travellers need to know about.

Exceptions to these new restrictions apply to the following groups of people:.

Any permanent resident of the United States and anyone with dual citizenship.

Foreign nationals with diplomatic visas (A-1, A-2), such as ambassadors, ministers or military personnel.

People with transit visas (C-2, C-3).

People who work for international organizations such as the United Nations or the World Bank (G-1, G-4).

People with NATO visas (NATO-1, NATO-6).

Athletes and their teams, including supportive members and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.

Holders of immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) “with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship”.

Children who have been adopted abroad (visas IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4).

People with Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, given to Afghans who helped the U. S. government during the war there.

Iranians fleeing persecution because they are part of a religious minority, such as Christians.

United States Government employees.

U. S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also both have the discretion to put individuals forward for exception based on whether they would “advance a critical United States national interest,” the White House proclamation says.

For example, Bondi could make an exception for someone required to be present in criminal proceedings as a witness.

Read the full story by Jordan King on Newsweek.