President on Friday wrapped up a Mideast tour in the United Arab Emirates with a breakfast for business leaders and a visit to an interfaith place of worship named for the Abraham Accords he negotiated.
As part of the accords, the UAE and some other countries in the Middle East recognized Israel. Trump departed Abu Dhabi after his visit to the Abrahamic Family House.
During his visit to the region, violence flared in the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli strikes killed at least 93 people Friday, adding to the more than 120 people who died in recent days.
Here's the latest:
Trump administration must resume $11 billion in funding for public health departments, judge rules
U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island granted the preliminary injunction request Friday in the lawsuit brought last by a coalition of Democrat-led states. She had granted a temporary restraining order last month in the case.
The lawsuit filed April 1 sought to immediately halt , alleging it would decimate public health infrastructure across the country. The money, allocated by Congress during the pandemic, supported COVID-19 initiatives and efforts.
The injunction only applies to the states involved in the lawsuit. The federal government must file documentation that they鈥檙e complying with the order by Tuesday evening.
Israel strikes two ports in Yemen and intensifies attacks in Gaza as Trump wraps up visit to region
Israel鈥檚 military said Friday it struck two ports in Yemen that were controlled by the Houthi militant group.
It claimed that the Hodeida and Salif ports were used by the Houthis to transfer weapons.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Watching Trump from afar, Israel fears being left out of a new Middle East it helped create
As President Trump jetted , embracing Arab leaders and heralding a new Middle East this week, many in Israel worried that the best partner they鈥檝e ever had in the White House had lost interest.
For decades, Israel has leveraged its special relationship with the United States to serve as a gatekeeper to Washington. From the Camp David Treaty with Egypt to brokered by Trump in his first term, Arab states seeking U.S. favor usually had to first make nice with Israel. And rarely did their interests prevail if they clashed with Israel鈥檚.
But on Wednesday, to Israel鈥檚 dismay, Saudi Arabia and Turkey brokered between Trump and Syria鈥檚 new president, and Trump portrayed on Damascus as a favor to his host, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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Returning from Mideast, Trump turned to pop culture, criticizing Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen
During a recent concert in Manchester, England, Springsteen said the United States was 鈥渃urrently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.鈥�
鈥淣ever liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics,鈥� Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said Springsteen 鈥渙ught to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that鈥檚 just 鈥榮tandard fare.鈥� Then we鈥檒l all see how it goes for him!鈥�
Trump also targeted Swift, seemingly unprompted.
鈥淗as anyone noticed that, since I said 鈥業 HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,鈥� she鈥檚 no longer 鈥楬OT?鈥欌�� he wrote.
Trump originally attacked Swift shortly after she endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris in last year鈥檚 presidential election.
Freed Israeli-American hostage has left the hospital, parents say
Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American hostage released Monday after backdoor US-Hamas diplomacy, left the hospital Friday, according to a statement released by his parents, who said his recovery is far from over.
Yael and Adi Alexander said their son still needed medical treatment for his injuries suffered during the Hamas attack Oct. 7, 2023, and over his 18 months in captivity. His hands are injured from a tunnel collapsing on him, they said.
Alexander returned to his grandmother鈥檚 home in Tel Aviv, where his parents said he will stay for the time being.
鈥淭oday we were able to take down Edan鈥檚 hostage photos from the wall with a great sigh of relief and an enormous sense of comfort,鈥� they said, calling for the return of 58 hostages still in Gaza.
Democrats want to focus on Trump. Instead, they鈥檙e being asked about Biden鈥檚 mental acuity
Joe Biden鈥檚 time in public office is now behind him, but his have become a litmus test for the next leaders in his party.
A new book that alleges White House aides covered up Biden鈥檚 physical and mental decline has put the questions about Biden鈥檚 health back in the spotlight, months after former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Trump. Several potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 nomination in recent days have been asked whether they believe Biden was declining in office or whether he should have sought reelection before a led to his withdrawal.
Many Democrats would prefer to focus on Trump鈥檚 second term. Trump has done his best to prevent that 鈥� mentioning Biden鈥檚 name during his first 100 days in office, according to an NBC News analysis 鈥� and Republicans have followed his lead, betting that voters frustrated by Trump鈥檚 policy moves will still prefer him over memories of an unpopular presidency.
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European leaders agree with Trump that Russia鈥檚 position on ceasefire talks is unacceptable
And they intend to coordinate a response, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday.
鈥淲e just had a meeting with President Zelensky and then a phone call with President Trump to discuss the developments in the negotiations today, and the Russian position is clearly unacceptable,鈥� Starmer told reporters.
鈥淎s a result of that meeting with President Zelensky, under discussion with President Trump, we are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and will continue to do so,鈥� he said, as European leaders held a summit in Albania.
He said the decision with Trump was also agreed on with the leaders of France, Germany and Poland.
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Trump says James Comey 鈥榢new exactly what that meant鈥�
Speaking to Bret Baeir during his Middle East trip, Trump criticized the former FBI director for that said 鈥�86 47.鈥�
鈥淗e knew exactly what that meant,鈥� Trump said, according to interview excerpts released Friday. 鈥淎 child knows what that meant. If you鈥檙e the FBI director and you don鈥檛 know what that meant, that meant assassination.鈥�
Trump is the 47th president. The number 鈥�86鈥� means 鈥渢o throw out,鈥� 鈥渢o get rid of鈥� or 鈥渢o refuse service to,鈥� according to Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press.
Comey apologized for the post and denied it was a call for violence.
Trump didn鈥檛 say what should happen next with Comey, saying 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to take a position on it鈥� and the matter was up to his staff. However, he described him as a 鈥渄irty cop.鈥�
鈥淎nd if he had a clean history, I could understand if there was a leniency, but I鈥檓 going to let them make that decision,鈥� he said.
The Secret Service is investigating, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
鈥楾his better be a good deal, Howard鈥�
Trump made his name by playing a demanding boss on 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� and he still likes to give his staff a hard time.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News about the president hovering behind him while he signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
鈥溾�楾his better be a good deal, Howard,鈥欌�� Lutnick recalled Trump saying. 鈥淎nd then he leans close, he goes, 鈥極r your ass is grass.鈥欌��
Death toll in Gaza rises to 93
At least 93 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday, as President Trump wrapped up his regional trip.
Strikes overnight hit across Gaza, including the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis. Gaza鈥檚 health ministry said hundreds more were injured in addition to those killed.
The widespread attacks across come as but not Israel. There had been widespread hope that his regional trip could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
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UN peacekeeping force confronted in southern Lebanon
The force, known as UNIFIL, said one of its patrols was confronted between the villages of Jmayjmeh and Khirbet Selm Friday by a large group of people in civilian clothing who 鈥渁ttempted to stop the patrol using aggressive means, wielding metal sticks and axes, resulting in damage to the vehicles.鈥�
The peacekeepers used 鈥渘on-lethal force鈥� in response, and there were no injuries, it said in a statement.
Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon frequently accuse the U.N. mission 鈥� which was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel鈥檚 1978 invasion -- of collusion with Israel. Israel has accused the peacekeepers of turning a blind eye to Hezbollah鈥檚 military activities in southern Lebanon.
Earlier this week, UNIFIL issued a statement that complained of 鈥渁ggressive behavior鈥� by Israeli forces towards its peacekeepers, including shots fired across the border that hit a UNIFIL base south of the village of Kfar Shouba.
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At least 82 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza
Strikes overnight and into Friday hit across Gaza, including the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis. At least 66 people were killed according to the Indonesian hospital, where most of the bodies were taken. A further 16 bodies were taken to Nasser hospital, said health officials.
The widespread attacks across northern Gaza come as Trump finishes his visit to Gulf states but not Israel.
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Trump says he sent Iran a proposal for nuclear deal
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One before take off, the president said the U.S. has given Iran a proposed agreement.
It was the first public acknowledgement of a significant development in the high-stakes negotiations over Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program.
鈥淭hey have a proposal,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淏ut most importantly, they know they have to move quickly, or something bad is going to happen.鈥�
He did not give specifics.
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Dozens of Israelis protest in support of a soldier imprisoned for refusing to fight in Gaza
The protesters expressed support for Daniel Yahalom, a reserve soldier who is serving five days in prison for refusing to participate in what he called an unjust fight.
He鈥檚 part of a small but growing number of Israelis who are refusing to show up for service as the war drags on and Israel intensifies its operations in Gaza.
The Israeli military confirmed Yahalom was going to prison and said he was not the first to receive a prison sentence for refusing to serve during the current Israel-Hamas war.
鈥淭his boy always cares about others even before himself ... He cares about the suffering of our brothers who are dying underground, and he is willing to pay the price,鈥� said his mother Haya Yahalom.
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Trump boards Air Force One to end his Mideast trip
President Donald Trump has boarded Air Force One in Abu Dhabi as he ends his Mideast trip.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi鈥檚 ruler and the leader of the United Arab Emirates, met Trump at the airport. The men shook hands and spoke for a few moments.
Trump also said goodbye to other officials. He looked back, saluted and pumped his fist in the air before boarding the aircraft to head back to Washington.
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Trump says people in Gaza are starving
President Donald Trump has said 鈥渁 lot of people are starving鈥� in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory as Israel鈥檚 war with Hamas is on the verge of escalating anew.
Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said he was looking to resolve a range of global crises.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at Gaza,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檝e got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving ... There鈥檚 a lot of bad things going on.鈥�
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Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 64
At least 48 bodies were brought to the Indonesian hospital and another 16 bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital, health officials in Gaza said, as strikes overnight into Friday morning hit the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis.
The strikes came as U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East visit that skipped Israel and offered no prospect for a ceasefire in the war-battered territory.
There had been widespread hope that Trump鈥檚 regional trip could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
An Israeli official said the strikes on Friday were preparatory actions in the leadup to a larger operation and meant to send a message to Hamas that it will begin soon if there isn鈥檛 an agreement to release hostages. The official was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity.
鈥� Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel
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Trump arrives at Abrahamic Family House
The interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi features a mosque, church and synagogue 鈥� houses of worship for the three Abrahamic faiths.
It was built after the United Arab Emirates signed onto the Abraham Accords in 2020, during President Donald Trump鈥檚 first term. The agreement 鈥�- which Trump has encouraged other Middle Eastern and North African countries to join 鈥�- saw the UAE recognize Israel.
The visit to the white-marble place of worship on the shores of the Persian Gulf is set to conclude Trump鈥檚 first major foreign trip of his second term.
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Trump says he expects to meet with Russia鈥檚 Putin soon
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 time for us to just do it,鈥� Trump told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
Trump reiterated that he wasn鈥檛 surprised that Putin skipped a U.S. orchestrated meeting in Turkey between Ukrainian and Russian officials. Putin didn鈥檛 want to go because he鈥檚 not there, Trump said.
Trump added that a meeting with Putin would happen 鈥渁s soon as we can set it up.鈥�
鈥� I would actually leave here and go,鈥� said Trump, who noted his daughter Tiffany just gave birth to her first child. 鈥淚 do want to see my beautiful grandson.鈥�
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Trump says he鈥檚 heading home to meet his new grandchild
Trump says he鈥檚 had an 鈥渋ncredible鈥� trip to the Middle East but that 鈥渘ow it鈥檚 time to go back home.鈥� He added: 鈥淢y daughter had a baby and I鈥檓 going to go home and see that baby.鈥�
Tiffany Trump gave birth to a boy.
鈥淪he鈥檚 doing great and the baby鈥檚 great.鈥�
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Israeli Cabinet assessing Qatar negotiations
An Israeli official said Cabinet members are meeting Friday to assess the negotiations in Qatar and to decide on next steps. The official was not authorized to brief media on the meeting and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
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Trump says he鈥檚 doing the selling for the United States
At an event to highlight business partnerships between the UAE and US companies, Trump gave himself a big pat on the back.
鈥淚鈥檓 just thinking we have a president of the United States doing the selling,鈥� Trump said to business leaders as they walked him through a presentation on investments that are benefitting the American economy. 鈥淵ou think Biden would be doing it? I don鈥檛 think so. But I think its so important. I have to be a cheerleader for our country.鈥�
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President Trumps gets a single drop of oil
President Donald Trump has arrived at a business forum being held at Qasr al-Watan, a ceremonial palace in Abu Dhabi.
Trump entered and listened to a presentation from Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., as well as officials from Exxon Mobil Corp. and Occidental, two oil firms.
Al-Jaber then presented Trump a memento that included a drop of oil in it.
鈥淭his is the highest quality oil there is on the planet,鈥� Trump told those watching.
He then drew laughter when he said: 鈥淎nd they only gave me a drop -- so I鈥檓 not thrilled.鈥�
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Hostage families call on their government to work with Trump to release those still held in Gaza
Hostage families called on their government Friday to work with President Trump to release those still held in Gaza.
A statement from the hostages forum, which supports the families said people woke up with 鈥渉eavy hearts鈥� amid reports of increased attacks across Gaza at the end of Trump鈥檚 visit to the Middle East. There were widespread attacks in northern Gaza Friday as Trump was finishing his visit to Gulf States but not Israel.
Israel says about 23 of the hostages are said to be alive.
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Hostage families call on PM to 鈥榡oin hands鈥� with Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to push ahead with a promised escalation of force in Israel鈥檚 war in the Gaza Strip to pursue his aim of destroying the Hamas militant group, which governs Gaza.
The hostage families called on Netanyahu to 鈥渏oin hands鈥� with Trump鈥檚 efforts to release the hostages.
鈥淢issing this historic opportunity for a deal to bring the hostages home would be a resounding failure that will be remembered in infamy forever.
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Trump slams opponents to his birthright citizenship order as 鈥楽leazebags鈥�
Trump is wrapping up his four-day visit to the Middle East, but he鈥檚 keeping a close eye on what鈥檚 going on back in Washington.
Before heading out Friday morning to the Qasr Al Watan presidential for the final engagements of his trip, the president took to his Truth Social platform to hammer 鈥淩adical Left Sleazebags鈥� after Supreme Court justices on Thursday heard more than two hours of arguments debating how the lower courts should handle Trump鈥檚 executive order on birthright citizenship.
鈥淚 hope the Supreme Court doesn鈥檛 fall for the games they play,鈥� Trump added. 鈥淭he people are with us in bigger numbers than ever before.鈥�
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President Trump kicks off final day of Mideast trip
President Donald Trump is kicking off the final day of his Middle East trip with a meeting of U.S. and UAE business executives alongside . Energy, health care, aviation, entertainment and other business leaders will be in attendance to highlight ties between the two countries -- a central focus of Trump鈥檚 trip to the region. Trump will then tour the Abrahamic Family House, a complex that houses a church, mosque and synagogue and is a symbol of interfaith tolerance. Trump has encouraged other countries in the region to join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel, as the UAE did in 2020. The president will then depart back to Washington.
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Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Gaza
Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Gaza on Friday morning, as U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East visit.
An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where they were brought. Survivors said many people were still under the rubble.
The widespread attacks across northern Gaza come as Trump finishes his visit to Gulf states but not Israel.
There had been widespread hope that Trump鈥檚 regional visit could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.
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Trump to visit Abrahamic House on last day of his Mideast trip
President Donald Trump will make several stops before taking off on Air Force One to end his Mideast trip on Friday.
He鈥檒l attend a business summit in the morning in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Trump later will visit the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. It is home to a mosque, a church and a synagogue. The UAE built it after diplomatically recognizing Israel in an agreement known as the Abraham Accords, as Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all known as the Abrahamic faiths.
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Etihad Airways says it is buying Boeing aircraft during Trump trip
Etihad Airways announced Friday it would purchase 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft during a visit by President Donald Trump to the United Arab Emirates.
Etihad is the government-owned airline of Abu Dhabi that also flies East-West routes like Emirates, the long-haul carrier in neighboring Dubai.
Etihad said in a statement that the sale included 鈥渁 mix of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE engines and supported by a services package.鈥�
Boeing did not immediately acknowledge the deal.
Trump was due to address a business conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the last day of his Mideast trip that鈥檚 also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which booked a major Boeing order for its long-haul carrier, Qatar Airways.
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Tia Goldenberg contributed from Tel Aviv
The Associated Press
