President Donald Trump said it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia 鈥渇ight for a while鈥 before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.
In an Oval Office meeting Thursday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump likened the war in Ukraine 鈥 which Russia invaded in early 2022 鈥 to a fight between two young children who hated each other.
Later, Trump threatened to cut Elon Musk鈥檚 government contracts as their fractured alliance rapidly escalated into a public feud. Hours after Trump said he was 鈥渄isappointed鈥 in his former backer and adviser, Musk responded on social media, and Trump escalated the feud by threatening to use the U.S. government to hurt Musk鈥檚 bottom line.
Here's the latest:
Harvard files legal challenge over Trump鈥檚 ban on US entry for incoming foreign students
The Ivy League school called the ban illegal retaliation for Harvard University鈥檚 rejection of White House demands.
Last month, a federal judge the Department of Homeland Security from revoking Harvard鈥檚 ability to host foreign students.
The challenge filed Thursday attacks Trump鈥檚 legal justification for the action 鈥 a federal law allowing him to block a 鈥渃lass of aliens鈥 deemed detrimental to the nation鈥檚 interests. Targeting only those who are coming to the U.S. to study at Harvard doesn鈥檛 qualify as a 鈥渃lass of aliens,鈥 Harvard said in its filing.
鈥淭he President鈥檚 actions thus are not undertaken to protect the 鈥榠nterests of the United States,鈥 but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard,鈥 the university wrote.
鈻 Read more about
House Republican weighs in on what Trump-Musk dispute could mean for GOP鈥檚 tax bill
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who served in the first Trump administration as Interior secretary, voiced concern about the Trump-Musk dispute, saying it could imperil the Republicans鈥 tax and immigration bill.
鈥淚 think for some it gives ammunition and cover to vote against the big, beautiful bill,鈥 Zinke said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate because you have the richest man in the world versus the most powerful man in the world.鈥
Zinke said he admired Musk鈥檚 work in seeking to cut federal spending. He called both men 鈥済ood complements.鈥
He said his concern is shared by other lawmakers.
鈥淚 would say the fight of the egos does put the reconciliation bill in greater jeopardy. I think that鈥檚 a fair assessment,鈥 Zinke said.
Well, that escalated quickly
In barely three hours since Trump was asked about Musk criticizing the White House-backed spending bill and told reporters in the Oval Office that he was 鈥渧ery disappointed in Musk,鈥 the two have been furiously posting on social media 鈥 intensifying an increasingly nasty spat.
Musk immediately responded on X to Trump鈥檚 original comments and unleashed a parade of subsequent posts there 鈥 with Trump firing back almost as frequently on his own social media site.
鈥淭he easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon鈥檚 Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,鈥 Trump wrote. Musk eventually alleged, without offering evidence, that Trump was 鈥渋n the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.鈥
The insults continued to fly fast and furious through the afternoon and into the evening 鈥 eventually expanding to Musk鈥檚 SpaceX, which the president suggested could see its government contracts menaced.
Speaker Mike Johnson: 鈥楨lon is a friend鈥
Johnson was visiting with Trump at the White House as the feud with Musk was escalating in real time. He had not been scheduled to meet with the president but was touring the White House with visiting guests and families.
Later back at the Capitol, cradling the infant of one of his guests, Johnson said he had texted with Musk.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 personal. Policy differences shouldn鈥檛 be personal,鈥 Johnson said.
White House aides watch Trump-Musk blow-up unfold
White House aides were closely following the drama playing out on dueling platforms Thursday with bemusement, sharing the latest twists and turns from the feud between their boss and former co-worker, as well as the social media reaction and memes.
Officials in the extremely online administration privately expressed the belief that like the other digital scuffles that have defined Trump鈥檚 political career, this would also work out in his favor.
Musk says SpaceX will begin decommissioning the rocket that brought stranded astronauts home
Musk says that, in response to Trump threatening to cancel his company鈥檚 government contracts, he will immediately begin decommissioning the SpaceX Dragon 鈥 which was used to bring two stranded NASA astronauts back to earth.
Trump spent weeks crowing about how astronauts in March, after their planned short mission to the International Space Station was extended unexpectedly. Trump blamed the Biden administration for not returning the astronauts and hailed Musk for bringing them back to Earth.
Musk nonetheless posted on X on Thursday that SpaceX 鈥渨ill begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.鈥
It wasn鈥檛 clear from his post, however, how serious he was amid an increasingly nasty 鈥 and highly public 鈥 feud between Trump and Musk continues.
Trump holds police roundtable as his feud with Musk unfolds
The president took a break from furiously posting about his former billionaire adviser to host a roundtable to honor law enforcement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e backing the men in blue and we鈥檙e backing the blue very honestly,鈥 he said.
At least in his opening remarks, Trump said nothing about Musk.
Tesla shareholders didn鈥檛 want to be caught in the middle of the Musk-Trump spat
Shares of Musk鈥檚 electric vehicle company plunged more than 14%, knocking about $150 billion off Tesla鈥檚 market valuation. The shares started dropping right as Trump launched into his criticism of his former adviser.
Tesla investors have soured on Musk鈥檚 relationship with Trump after initially welcoming it right after the election. The shares tanked earlier this year as Musk鈥檚 association with DOGE damaged the car company鈥檚 brand. Shares rallied when he promised in April to focus more on Tesla.
Now, Wall Street is worried about Trump鈥檚 hitting back at Musk through Tesla.
鈥淭rump is tit for tat. If Musk tries to mess up Trump鈥檚 bill, Trump won鈥檛 be Mr. Nice Guy鈥 when it comes to self-driving cars, which Musk acknowledges are a key to Tesla鈥檚 future, said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.
Trump has been named in previously released Epstein documents
The material on Epstein that has already been released includes mentions of Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Britain鈥檚 Prince Andrew and magician David Copperfield, as well as testimony from one victim who said she met Michael Jackson at Epstein鈥檚 Florida home but nothing untoward happened with him.
The previously released files included a 2016 deposition in which an accuser recounted spending several hours with Epstein at Trump鈥檚 Atlantic City casino but didn鈥檛 say if she actually met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing. Trump has also said that he once thought Epstein was a 鈥渢errific guy鈥 but that they later had a falling out.
Musk鈥檚 latest claims about the Epstein files taps into long-standing conspiracy theories
Musk鈥檚 latest claim about Trump鈥檚 ties to Epstein taps into suspicions among conspiracy theorists and online sleuths that incriminating and sensitive files in the government鈥檚 possession have yet to be released.
Attorney General Pam Bondi fueled that speculation in February when she hyped the release of records by the department related to the case. Much of what was then distributed has for years been in the public domain.
Over the years, thousands of pages of records have been released through lawsuits, Epstein鈥檚 criminal dockets, public disclosures and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Musk claims without evidence that Trump is named in unreleased Epstein files
Elon Musk has posted without evidence that President Donald Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein and he suggests that鈥檚 why the records have not been released.
Musk provided no support for the claim on his social media platform X, but it came amid a spectacular and public disintegration of his once-close relationship with Trump.
US hits International Criminal Court judges with sanctions over investigation into Israel
The Trump administration is slapping sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court over the tribunal鈥檚 investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and in the West Bank.
The State Department said Thursday that it would freeze any assets that the ICC judges, who come from Benin, Peru, Slovenia and Uganda, have in U.S. jurisdictions. The move is just the latest step that the administration has taken to punish the ICC and its officials for investigations undertaken against Israel and the United States.
鈥淎s ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC鈥檚 illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,鈥 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
鈻 Read more about
Merz invites Trump for Germany visit, says White House meeting 鈥榣aid a very good foundation鈥
The chancellor told reporters after his meeting with the U.S. president that the lunch was very nice and Trump 鈥渨as very interested in Germany, his home country, and that I invited him to visit.鈥
Merz, speaking in German, described Trump as 鈥渟omebody with whom I share the same level.鈥 He said he was 鈥渆xtraordinarily happy with the visit鈥 and that the two leaders 鈥済et along well on the personal level.鈥
鈥淭oday we laid a very good foundation,鈥 Merz said, adding that he is very much looking forward to more talks with Trump at the upcoming G7 and NATO summits.
Air Force leader says updating Qatari plane for Trump would cost less than $400 million
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has discounted reports of a $1 billion estimate for updating a Qatari plane to meet the security requirements needed for Air Force One.
Under questioning Thursday from Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., Meink said some costs associated with retrofitting the plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new aircraft for use by the president. Such costs would include buying aircraft for training and to have spares available, if needed.
The actual retrofitting of the Qatar plane, Meink said, could be done for less than $400 million, but he provided no details.
Courtney said based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it will cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defenses and make other required upgrades.
House Armed Services Committee chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, also warned Meink that 鈥淐ongress is going to decide what we do and don鈥檛 spend.鈥
Tesla shares fall nearly 10% after Trump lashes out at Musk
Shares of Musk鈥檚 electric vehicle maker Tesla fell nearly 10% Thursday, their latest notable move since the election.
The shares started dropping right as of his former adviser.
Tesla shares doubled in the weeks after Trump was elected, hitting an all-time high on Dec. 17. They gave back those gains and more during Musk鈥檚 time at DOGE.
In April, Musk vowed to focus much more on Tesla and its upcoming launch of driverless taxis in Texas. That pleased investors and the stock rallied until late last week when Musk ramped up his criticism of Trump鈥檚 tax bill.
Chad President says country will respond to Trump鈥檚 visa ban by suspending visas to US citizens
Chad President Mahamat Deby Itno announced his country will respond to Trump鈥檚 visa ban by suspending visas to U.S. citizens 鈥渋n accordance with the principles of reciprocity.鈥
The Trump administration had said in its new policy that the high visa overstay rate for Chadians in the U.S. 鈥渋ndicates a blatant disregard for United States immigration laws.鈥
In a post on Facebook, President Deby suggested his government is reciprocating the visa ban to protect the dignity of Chad, an oil-exporting country of nearly 18 million people.
鈥淐had has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has his dignity and pride,鈥 Deby said.
Lawsuit filed to invalidate El Salvador prison deal
Immigrants rights groups filed the case Thursday in Washington, D.C., federal court.
They argue that the Trump administration鈥檚 agreement to is unconstitutional.
The administration has , arguing that they are now outside the reach of federal courts and no longer have constitutionally-guaranteed protections. That鈥檚 led to an escalating series of clashes with judges who have ordered the administration to return people improperly removed from the country.
Trump has suggested to the prison someday.
NATO鈥檚 chief says the alliance is on the cusp of accepting Trump鈥檚 5% defense investment demand
Most U.S. allies at NATO endorse President Donald Trump鈥檚 that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday.
鈥淭here鈥檚 broad support,鈥 Rutte told reporters after chairing a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the alliance鈥檚 Brussels headquarters. 鈥淲e are really close,鈥 he said, and added that he has 鈥渢otal confidence that we will get there鈥 by the next NATO summit in three weeks.
European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
鈻 Read more about
Musk continues response to Trump, accuses him of 鈥榠ngratitude鈥
Musk basically said Trump has him to thank for being back in the Oval Office.
鈥淲ithout me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,鈥 the billionaire said in his latest social media post.
Musk spent supporting Trump in the presidential campaign.
鈥淪uch ingratitude,鈥 he wrote in a follow-up post.
DOJ launches investigation into Rhode Island hiring practices
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Rhode Island hiring practices, alleging the state may have violated the Civil Rights Act by discriminating against candidates 鈥渂ased on race or any other protected characteristics.鈥
The DOJ alerted Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha of the investigation through a letter sent on Wednesday.
鈥淥ur investigation is based on information that Rhode Island may be engaged in employment practices regarding its affirmative action program governing state government employment under state law that discriminate based on race, national origin, or other protected characteristics in violation of Title VII,鈥 the letter stated, referencing the section of law that protects employees and job applicants.
Neronha鈥檚 office said the letter was being reviews and 鈥渢he subjects and focus of their investigation are unclear.鈥
An email was sent to the DOJ on Thursday.
The letter included a link to state of Rhode Island鈥檚 Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website that stated its commitment to affirmative action and guidelines on how to implement that plan.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the civil rights division of the Justice Department, said no conclusions have been made. 鈥淲e intend to consider all relevant information, and we welcome your assistance in helping to identify what that might be.鈥
World Relief leader criticizes Trump鈥檚 travel ban
Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization, said Trump鈥檚 travel ban on 12 countries and restrictions on seven others is 鈥渢he latest assault on legal immigration processes.鈥
Greene, said in a statement that the process has always been difficult for most people in those countries to obtain visas but the order restricts the entry even of those who meet strict qualifications and undergo thorough vetting.
Greene urged the administration to reconsider the restrictions and pursue policies that 鈥渟crutinize individuals鈥 for security 鈥渨ithout banning entire nationalities from lawfully visiting or emigrating to the United States.鈥
World Relief also opposed a similar ban enacted during Trump鈥檚 first term.
Trump repeats false claim that before his presidency no one wanted to join the military
Trump claimed that six months to a year ago, military recruitment numbers 鈥渨ere record low鈥 and attributed a recent uptick to 鈥渟pirit鈥 and a renewed love for the U.S.
But recruitment numbers for all military branches have been on the rise for the last few years, according to .
Military enlistment was 12.5% higher in fiscal year 2024, which ran from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, than in fiscal year 2023. There were 225,000 new recruits in the former and 200,000 in the latter, said Katie Helland, who oversees recruitment policies and programs as the Defense Department鈥檚 director of Military Accession Policy, at a media roundtable in October.
Those totals include both active and reserve troops in all five military branches, as well as about 4,800 Navy recruits from fiscal year 2024 who signed contracts, but could not be shipped out due to basic training limitations.
And the recruiting numbers for the current fiscal year 2025, which started the month before Trump鈥檚 election, have continued to increase.
Trump wraps up Oval Office appearance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
The session touched on many topics unrelated to the business between the United States and Germany.
Trump spoke at length about his disappointment in Elon Musk for criticizing the president鈥檚 鈥渙ne, big beautiful鈥 tax cut and spending bill. The Republican president also spread unproven theories that people other than his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, used an automatic pen to sign official documents.
All that talk largely kept Merz out of Trump鈥檚 line of fire, something some foreign leaders who visited before Merz were unable to achieve.
Musk to Trump: 鈥榃hatever鈥
The billionaire responded swiftly to the president鈥檚 criticism on X, his social media platform.
鈥淓ither you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill,鈥 Musk wrote. 鈥淪lim and beautiful is the way.鈥
He said it was 鈥渧ery unfair鈥 that electric vehicle incentives were being cut while fossil fuel subsidies are left intact.
Musk also rejected Trump鈥檚 statement that he was aware of what the legislation would look like.
鈥淔alse, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!鈥
Trump says Russia sanctions bill will 鈥榖e guided by me鈥
Asked about a sanctions measure put forth by top Senate ally Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Trump said, 鈥淎t the right time, I鈥檒l do what I want to do.鈥
Over the weekend, Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They鈥檝e co-sponsored a measure that would impose strict tariffs on Moscow.
Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation 鈥渂one-crushing鈥 and said it would place Russia鈥檚 economy 鈥渙n a trade island.鈥
Merz tells Trump 鈥榤ore pressure鈥 needed on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine
The German chancellor told Trump 鈥渨e are looking for more pressure on Russia鈥 to end its war on Ukraine.
Trump so far has seemed reluctant to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Trump saying 鈥淚 want to see the killing stopped.鈥
Trump suggests maybe better letting Russia and Ukraine 鈥榝ight for a while鈥 before intervening
Calling the war a 鈥渂loodbath,鈥 Trump made that suggestion, likening intervention to trying to pull apart fighting children, 鈥渕aybe you鈥檙e going to have to keep fighting.鈥
鈥淵ou see it in hockey, you see it in sports,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淟et them go for a couple of seconds.鈥
But Trump acknowledged 鈥渋t鈥檚 probably not going to be pretty.鈥
Trump administration must restore AmeriCorps grant funding to some states, judge rules
The federal judge ruled Thursday the administration must restore hundreds of millions of dollars in and thousands of service workers in about two dozen states.
U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman granted a temporary block on the agency鈥檚 cancellation of grants and early discharge of corps members, but only for the in April.
The federal lawsuit, filed by Democratic state officials across the country, accused Trump鈥檚 cost-cutting efforts through the of reneging on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National program, which was budgeted $557 million in congressionally approved funding this year.
The 30-year-old agency oversees several programs that dispatch hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of people to serve in communities across the country.
鈻 Read more about
Trump says Musk has 鈥楾rump Derangement Syndrome鈥
Trump has used the buzzy phrase to diagnose his critics, and now he鈥檚 referenced it to describe Musk.
Amid comments decrying his top DOGE lieutenant and major backer who has now levied critique over the Trump-backed spending bill, Trump suggested Musk is suffering from 鈥淭rump Derangement Syndrome鈥 and that he鈥檚 鈥渄isappointed鈥 in the billionaire鈥檚 recent statements.
Trump says he鈥檚 upset by Elon Musk criticizing legislation
鈥淚鈥檓 very disappointed in Elon. I鈥檝e helped Elon a lot,鈥 the president said in the Oval Office as Musk continues criticizing the 鈥渂ig beautiful bill.鈥
Trump said Musk 鈥渕isses the place鈥 since he left his position in the administration spearheading the Department of Government of Efficiency.
He also said Musk was upset that electric vehicle incentives were on the chopping block in Republican legislation that鈥檚 currently being debated in the Senate. Musk runs Tesla, an electric automaker.
Another point of contention was Musk鈥檚 promotion of Jared Isaacman to run NASA.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think it was appropriate,鈥 Trump said, and he said Isaacman was 鈥渢otally a Democrat.鈥
Trump says it鈥檚 鈥榓n honor鈥 to have foreign students studying in the US
Trump said, 鈥渨e want to have foreign students come,鈥 though he signed an executive order Wednesday night to block nearly all such students from coming to study at Harvard.
It鈥檚 part of the Republican president鈥檚 ongoing fight with the Ivy League school.
Trump鈥檚 order cites national security as a reason to block Harvard from continuing to host foreign students on its campus in Massachusetts.
Under Biden, Trump says 鈥榳hoever used the autopen was the president鈥
Trump has again decried former President Joe Biden鈥檚 use of an autopen to sign pardons and other documents.
In the Oval Office, Trump called the usage 鈥渧ery dangerous鈥 and 鈥渋nappropriate,鈥 saying he can tell 鈥渆asily鈥 when an autopen is being used.
On Wednesday, Trump to investigate Biden鈥檚 actions as president, casting doubts on the legitimacy of his to sign pardons and other documents.
In a statement, Biden has called any suggestion that he didn鈥檛 make such decisions 鈥渞idiculous and false.鈥
Trump says he and Xi have 鈥榮traightened out any complexity鈥
Following his discussion with Xi earlier Thursday, Trump told reporters he thinks the U.S. is 鈥渋n very good shape with China and the trade deal,鈥 but he didn鈥檛 offer any specifics.
He said the U.S. has a deal with China but is sending a team for more trade talks to 鈥渕ake sure that everybody understands what the deal is.鈥
Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump will accept Xi鈥檚 invitation to visit 鈥渁t a certain point.鈥
Trump calls Merz 鈥榙ifficult鈥 鈥 but says that鈥檚 a good thing
Trump says Merz is 鈥渁 very good man to deal with鈥 and a great representative of Germany.
But he went on to say that he鈥檚 also 鈥渄ifficult,鈥 suggesting it as a compliment.
鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 want me to say that you鈥檙e easy,鈥 Trump said, turning to Merz, who smiled.
Trump says travel ban 鈥榗an鈥檛 come soon enough鈥
Asked about his travel ban proposal as he and Merz sat in the Oval Office, Trump said 鈥渋t can鈥檛 come soon enough.鈥
Turning to Merz, Trump said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not your fault.鈥 Of migration under Merz鈥檚 predecessor, former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump added: 鈥淚 told her it shouldn鈥檛 have happened.鈥
Merz is the current leader of Merkel鈥檚 party but has diverged from her in several ways, notably including cutting irregular migration as one of his focuses.
Merz says it鈥檚 his first time at the White House since 1982
Ronald Reagan was in office during Merz鈥檚 last visit to the Oval Office, he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy to be here again and offer our close cooperation with the United States of America,鈥 he told Trump.
Merz said Germans 鈥渙we the Americans a lot鈥 and 鈥渨e will never forget about that.鈥
The chancellor also noted Trump鈥檚 German background and said it鈥檚 was a 鈥済ood basis鈥 for consultation. Trump鈥檚 grandfather was born in Germany.
Merz presents Trump with his grandfather鈥檚 birth certificate
The German leader met with the president in the Oval Office and presented him with a gilded gift 鈥 a framed copy of Trump鈥檚 grandfather鈥檚 birth certificate.
Trump鈥檚 grandfather Friedrich Trump immigrated to America from Germany.
The birth certificate was in a gold frame, reflecting Trump鈥檚 favorite hue which he鈥檚 used to ornament his White House office.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at the White House
A U.S. military Honor Guard lined the driveway entrance as the chancellor arrived, shaking hands with Trump and walking inside.
Asked by reporters to delineate a message to the people of Germany, Trump responded, 鈥淲e love the people of Germany,鈥 following up by saying his call with Xi earlier in the day 鈥渨ent very well.鈥
Merz as he works to keep the U.S. on board with Western support , help defuse trade tensions that pose a risk to Europe鈥檚 biggest economy and further bolster his country鈥檚 long-criticized military spending.
Trump and Merz are slated to have lunch following a meeting in the Oval Office.
Chinese president says Trump is welcome to visit China again
In turn, Trump expressed 鈥渟incere thanks,鈥 according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. However, no state visit is confirmed.
In his post, Trump said he 鈥渞eciprocated鈥 the invitation. 鈥淎s Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing,鈥 Trump wrote.
Trump, during his first term, . Trump earlier in 2017 hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago.
There was no state visit by either Chinese or U.S. leader to each other鈥檚 country during the Biden administration, but the two leaders met in 2023 when the U.S. was hosting the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a grouping of 21 economies.
Trump says his conversation with Xi had a 鈥榲ery positive conclusion鈥
鈥淥ur respective teams will be meeting shortly at a location to be determined,鈥 Trump wrote on his social media platform.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the U.S. side in negotiations.
The Republican president also said Xi 鈥済raciously鈥 invited him and first lady Melania Trump to China, and Trump reciprocated with his own invitation for Xi to visit the United States.
The Chinese foreign ministry said Trump initiated the call between the leaders of the world鈥檚 two largest economies.
China and US agree to more tariff talks amid trade standoff, Trump says after call with Xi
and Chinese leader spoke Thursday at a time when stalled tariff negotiations between their two countries have roiled global trade.
The conversation was confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry, which said Trump initiated the call. The White House did not immediately comment.
Trump had declared one day earlier that it was difficult to reach a deal with Xi.
鈥極ur country is better than this,鈥 Democratic senator says of Trump鈥檚 travel ban
Sen. Alex Padilla of California said the 鈥渟enseless, prejudicial policy鈥 is not only an abuse of power but it targets U.S. citizen relatives of the countries.
鈥淲e cannot allow this Administration to continue scapegoating individuals based on religion or nationality,鈥 he said in a statement.
Trade deficit plunged in April as tariffs kicked in
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed dramatically in April as imports plummeted in the aftermath of the sweeping imposed by Trump April 2.
The sharp fall reversed a surge in imports in March that were brought in by companies rushing to get ahead of the duties.
The trade deficit 鈥 the gap between what the U.S. imports and what it sends overseas 鈥 dropped from a record high of nearly $140 billion in March to just $61.6 billion in April. Goods imports fell nearly 20% in April compared to the previous month. Trump announced on nearly 60 nations April 2, including top trading partners such as China and the European Union, only a week later for 90 days.
The sharp swings in imports are distorting the broadest measure of the U.S. economy, gross domestic product, which in the first three months of this year.
No breakthroughs expected on trade, Merz says
Merz said Thursday before meeting Trump that 鈥渨e will have to talk about trade policy鈥 but said he didn鈥檛 anticipate any major breakthroughs on the issue.
鈥淕ermany is one of the very big investors in America,鈥 Merz said in a meeting with German reporters. 鈥淥nly a few countries invest more than Germany in the USA. We are in third place in terms of foreign direct investment.鈥
Merz added 鈥淚 am looking forward to the talks, but I do not expect there to be any breakthroughs in the three major areas mentioned.鈥
He had earlier identified NATO spending, the Ukraine war, and the tariff conflicts between the U.S. and the EU as the most important topics.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previews meeting with Trump
Ahead of his meeting with Trump on Thursday at the White House, Merz told reporters 鈥渢he meeting has been well prepared on all sides.鈥
Merz said important issues he would like to talk about with the president include such issues as the war in Ukraine and how to bring an end to it, disputed tariffs, and NATO spending.
鈥淲e will have to talk about NATO 鈥 we changed the constitution in Germany so that we can spend the means that need to be spend,鈥 Merz said, adding 鈥渨e want to become the strongest conventional army in the European Union.鈥
The chancellor is referring to the move from his coalition to push through parliament plans to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict rules on incurring debt.
Usha Vance launching effort to encourage children to read
In a rare interview, the second lady told Fox News Channel鈥檚 鈥淔ox & Friends鈥 on Thursday that the White House she launched aims to combat reading loss and improve literacy rates among children.
The program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade rewards kids who report reading 12 books this summer with a certificate, a small prize and an entrance into a drawing to win a trip to Washington.
Vance said in the interview that the summer reading challenge is not the 鈥渆nd all, be all鈥 to address declining reading scores among kids but a 鈥減roof of concept.鈥
鈥淢y goal is to try to come up with small ways in which I can use my platform to counteract some of those issues,鈥 she said.
David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat
The vocal critic of Trump is seeking to become governor in the president鈥檚 adopted home state.
Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been that in recent years has made a hard . Under state law, term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis can鈥檛 run for reelection in 2026.
Even as Florida serves as a place for the Trump administration to and , Jolly says he鈥檚 confident that issues such as affordability, funding public schools, and strengthening campaign finance and ethics laws will resonate with all voters in 2026. He predicts elections next year will herald nationwide change.
鈥淚 actually think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us. I think we should get politicians out of the classrooms, out of the doctor鈥檚 offices,鈥 Jolly said.
鈻 Read more about
Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have spoken amid stalled talks over tariffs
The discussion Thursday followed Trump suggesting it was tough to reach a deal with Xi.
鈥淚 like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!,鈥 Trump posted Wednesday on his social media site.
Trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled shortly after a May 12 agreement between both countries to reduce their tariff rates in order to have talks. Behind the gridlock has been the continued competition for an economic edge.
鈻 Read more about
How is the new travel ban different from Trump鈥檚 2017 ban?
During his first term, Trump issued in January 2017 banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
It was one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his young presidency. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights to the U.S. or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty, as well as business people, tourists and people visiting friends and family.
The order, often referred to as the 鈥淢uslim ban鈥 or the 鈥渢ravel ban,鈥 was retooled amid legal challenges until a version was in 2018.
The ban affected various categories of travelers and immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya, plus North Koreans and some Venezuelan government officials and their families.
Reactions to Trump鈥檚 travel ban
International aid groups and refugee resettlement organizations roundly condemned the new ban.
鈥淭his policy is not about national security 鈥 it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States,鈥 said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America.
The African Union Commission expressed concern Thursday about the 鈥渢he potential negative impact鈥 of the ban on educational exchanges, business ties and broader diplomatic relations.
鈥淭he African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U.S. administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned,鈥 the commission said in a statement.
European Central Bank cuts benchmark interest rate as Trump tariffs threaten economy
The ECB cut its benchmark interest rate for an eighth time, aiming to support businesses and consumers with more affordable borrowing as Trump鈥檚 threatens to slow already tepid growth.
The bank鈥檚 rate-setting council cut interest rates by a quarter of a point Thursday at the bank鈥檚 skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt. Analysts expected a cut, given the gloomier outlook for growth since Trump announced a slew of new tariffs April 2 and subsequently threatened to impose a crushing 50% tariff, or import tax, on European goods.
The bigger question remains how far the bank will go at subsequent meetings. Bank President Christine Lagarde鈥檚 remarks at a post-decision news conference will be scrutinized for hints about the bank鈥檚 outlook.
鈻 Read more about
How Trump justified the travel ban
Since returning to the White House, Trump has launched an unprecedented campaign of immigration enforcement that has and .
The travel ban results from a Jan. 20 executive order Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on 鈥渉ostile attitudes鈥 toward the U.S.
In a video released on social media, Trump tied the new ban to , saying it underscored the dangers posed by some visitors . The suspect in the attack is from Egypt, a country that is not on Trump鈥檚 restricted list. The Department of Homeland Security says he overstayed a tourist visa.
Trump鈥檚 Thursday schedule, according to the White House
1. 11:30 a.m. 鈥 Trump will greet German Chancellor
2. 11:45 a.m. 鈥 The two will have a meeting in the Oval Office
3. 12:25 p.m. 鈥 Trump and Merz will have lunch
4. 4:00 p.m. 鈥 Trump will participate in a roundtable discussion with the Fraternal Order of Police
Thune鈥檚 first big test as Senate leader has arrived with Trump鈥檚 tax bill
Only six months into the job, Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces a massive challenge as he tries to quickly push President Trump鈥檚 sprawling to passage with the support of a divided GOP conference.
While most Republican senators are inclined to vote for the bill, Thune can stand to lose only four votes in the face of united Democratic opposition 鈥 and many more Republicans than that are critical of the version sent over by the House.
To get it done by July 4 鈥 Trump鈥檚 deadline 鈥 Thune has to figure out how to balance emerging from his members. And he has to do it in a way that doesn鈥檛 endanger Republican support in the House, which passed the legislation by only one vote last month after weeks of contentious negotiations.
鈻 Read more about
New German leader plans to discuss Ukraine and trade with Trump in Oval Office visit
Germany鈥檚 new leader is meeting with Trump Washington on Thursday as he works to keep the U.S. on board with Western support , help defuse trade tensions that pose a risk to Europe鈥檚 biggest economy and further bolster his country鈥檚 long-criticized military spending.
Trump and Chancellor have spoken several times by phone, either bilaterally or with other European leaders, since Merz took office on May 6. German officials say the two leaders have started to build a 鈥渄ecent鈥 relationship, with Merz wanting to avoid the antagonism that defined Trump鈥檚 relationship with one of his predecessors, , in the Republican president鈥檚 first term.
The 69-year-old Merz is a conservative former rival of Merkel鈥檚 who took over her party after she retired from politics. Merz also comes to office with an extensive business background 鈥 something that could align him with Trump.
鈻 Read more
Trump moves to block US entry for foreign students planning to study at Harvard University
Trump is moving to block nearly all foreign students from entering the country to attend Harvard University, his to choke the Ivy League school from an international pipeline that accounts for a quarter of the student body.
In an executive order signed Wednesday, Trump declared that it would jeopardize national security to allow Harvard to continue hosting foreign students on its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
It鈥檚 a further escalation in the White House鈥檚 fight with the nation鈥檚 oldest and wealthiest university. A federal court in Boston the Department of Homeland Security from barring international students at Harvard last week. Trump鈥檚 order invokes a different legal authority.
In a statement Wednesday night, Harvard said it will 鈥渃ontinue to protect its international students.鈥
鈥淭his is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard鈥檚 First Amendment rights,鈥 university officials said.
鈻 Read more
Trump announces travel ban and restrictions on 19 countries set to go into effect Monday
Trump on Wednesday resurrected a hallmark policy of his first term, announcing that citizens of 12 countries would be banned from visiting the United States and those from seven others would face restrictions.
The ban takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., a cushion that may avoid the chaos that unfolded at airports nationwide when a similar measure took effect with virtually no notice in 2017. Trump, who signaled plans for a new ban upon taking office in January, appears to be on firmer ground this time after the Supreme Court sided with him.
Some, but not all, 12 countries also appeared on the list of banned countries in Trump鈥檚 first term. The new ban includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
There will be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
鈻 Read more
The Associated Press
