Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed

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Right-Wing Influencers Trash Trump for Starting ‘MAGA Divorce’

The president’s biggest fans have finally had enough of him reneging on his campaign promises.

A slew of conservative influencers have lashed out at Donald Trump for his betrayal of the campaign pledges that won him a second term in the White House.

“My definition of America First is that if it does not benefit American citizens, it is not America First,” James Fishback, a right-wing investor currently running for the GOP nomination in Florida’s gubernatorial race, told the Financial Times.

The newspaper describes the 31-year-old as an embodiment of “the ferment roiling the American right as erstwhile ideological allies turn on each other” over the president’s increasingly erratic decisions since assuming office for the second time last year.

War with Iran has proven the biggest sticking point. “There’s a real civil war happening in the Republican Party right now,” Fishback explained. “Some say it’s MAGA versus America First.”

In Fishback’s camp are other, more influential right-wing voices like Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens. Carlson, who has backed Fishback in the Florida race, has slammed Trump’s war on Iran as “absolutely disgusting and evil.”

Many opposed to the president’s campaign against the regime have particularly taken issue with the perception that Trump’s hand may have been forced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“A Generational Coalition Squandered For Israel,” as conservative Christian podcaster Joel Webbon described the impact of the conflict on the GOP support base in an X post last month.

Others of a more pro-Israel leaning have stuck by the president’s side. These include prominent pundits like Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, and Laura Loomer, who applaud his attacks on Iran as a vital campaign against one of the world’s chief sponsors of terrorism. What Fishback himself describes as a “civil war” among the Republican Party faithful comes as the GOP faces a bruising battle to retain control of both the House and Senate in November’s midterms.

Trump’s overall approval ratings currently hover at a miserable 37 percent, comparable to levels last seen in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 riots in 2021.

Democrats, meanwhile, hold an almost 6-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, needing only three seats to retake the House of Representatives and four to regain control of the Senate.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment on this story.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/rightwing-influencers-trash-president-donald-trump-for-starting-maga-divorce/?

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Vatican and State Department stress solid ties after Rubio’s fence-mending visit over Trump attacks

The Vatican raised the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace” in talks Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who came to Rome on a fence-mending visit after President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war. Both the Vatican and the U.S. State Department stressed that Rubio’s meetings with Leo and the Vatican’s top diplomat underscored strong bilateral ties. Those relations, though, have been strained over Trump’s repeated broadsides about Leo’s calls for peace and dialogue to end the U.S.-Israeli war. Read more.

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Georgia officials knew chemicals from carpet mills were polluting local water. The people did not

State officials knew nearly two decades ago that toxic chemicals called PFAS were spreading from the carpet mills of northwest Georgia into rivers that are the region's main source of drinking water. Local residents did not know. Now the odorless, colorless chemicals that were in their tap water are in the blood of some of them at levels higher than health guidelines consider safe. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

EPA to propose rolling back some Biden-era PFAS limits in drinking water, official says Takeaways from investigation showing Georgia officials knew carpet mills polluted local water

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Trump Spills the Deranged Message He Told Rubio to Give the Pope

The secretary of state was sent to smooth things over with the pope at the Vatican.

Donald Trump revealed he wanted Marco Rubio to deliver the president’s unhinged attacks on Pope Leo XIV in person during the pair’s crunch talks at the Vatican.

While speaking to reporters during an inspection of renovations to the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool, the 79-year-old president was asked whether he had a message for Rubio to pass on to the pope as the secretary of state sought to ease tensions caused by Trump.

“I just said, tell the pope very nicely, very respectfully, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

“Also tell the pope that Iran killed 42,000 innocent protesters who didn’t have guns, who didn’t have weapons. Tell that to the pope.”

Rubio met with Leo on Thursday in the first meeting between the pope and a Trump Cabinet official in nearly a year. It came during a period of unprecedented tensions between the president and the Vatican.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the pontiff for speaking out against the war in Iran since the conflict broke out on February 28, including falsely suggesting the pope believes it is a good thing for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.

In one Truth Social meltdown, Trump declared the pope “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” The feud took an unexpected turn when the president shared an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ on social media.

During Thursday’s diplomatic talks, there was also an awkward moment when Rubio presented Pope Leo—a Chicago native and White Sox fan—with a tiny crystal American football while admitting the pontiff is more of a “baseball guy.”

In return, Pope Leo gave Rubio a pen made from olive wood, noting that the olive branch is a symbol of peace.

In a statement, the Vatican said the two men had “exchanged views” on global issues, including the Middle East conflict and the “need to work tirelessly in favor of peace.”

Trump reignited his attacks on the pope earlier this week during an interview with Hugh Hewitt on the Salem News Channel, suggesting the pontiff was “endangering a lot of Catholics” by opposing the Iran war.

“But I guess if it’s up to the pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump added.

Pope Leo has continued to defend himself and speak out against the Iran war despite the barrage of attacks from the president.

“If anyone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the gospel, let them do so with the truth: the church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, there is no doubt about that,” the pope said Wednesday. “I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of God’s word.”

The Daily Beast has contacted the Vatican for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-spills-the-deranged-message-he-told-marco-rubio-to-give-pope-leo-xiv/?

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MAGA Rep Accused of Brutally Beating GOP Senator’s Daughter

Rep. Max Miller was elected in 2022 and previously served in the Trump administration.

A MAGA congressman has been accused of years of physical abuse against his ex-wife, the daughter of a prominent Republican senator.

Rep. Max Miller, who strenuously denies the allegations, was elected to represent Ohio’s 7th District in 2022, with Donald Trump’s endorsement. He had previously worked on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and was appointed to several roles during the first Trump administration before working on Trump’s failed 2020 re-election campaign.

According to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail and three sources who spoke to the outlet, Miller’s ex-wife, Emily Moreno—daughter of Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno—has sought changes to their custody arrangement as a result of her growing concerns about his “dangerous physical behavior” in their daughter’s presence.

According to the newspaper, the latest incident took place on Feb. 1 of this year. Moreno, 32, alleges that Miller, 37, struck her during a custody exchange at his home in full view of the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, leaving bruises on her arm, elbow, and torso.

The Daily Mail obtained photos that show redness and bruising on Emily’s body after the alleged incident.

The Bay Village Police Department confirmed to the Daily Beast that it responded to a report of child abuse on that day and that an investigation remains open.

In an earlier incident that Moreno claims took place in June 2024, Miller allegedly threw a pot of boiling water at her, some of it hitting her chest, while their daughter was present. Photos obtained by the Daily Mail show redness on Moreno’s chest.

After separating in 2024, the pair reached a divorce settlement in June 2025, agreeing to share joint custody of their daughter. Miller is required to pay $2,500 per month in child support.

In court documents obtained by TMZ in April, Moreno claimed that Miller “regularly speaks to me in an inappropriate, aggressive and demeaning manner, which is not in the best interest of our child.”

She continued, alleging that Miller “has conducted dangerous physical behavior in the child’s presence.”

“I do not believe it is in our child’s best interest for [Miller] and me to jointly make a decision for her,” expressing concern that attempting to make joint decisions would “cause direct harm” to their daughter.

Miller is the grandson of businessman Samuel Henry Miller, a multimillionaire Cleveland property tycoon, and his grandmother previously ran for Congress. Moreno’s father, Bernie, 59, is a multimillionaire car salesman born in Colombia. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024.

In a letter Miller reportedly wrote to Emily Moreno on the same day as the alleged boiling water incident, the congressman apologized for failing to protect Moreno, but did not admit to any abuse.

In the letter, reviewed by the Daily Mail, the 37-year-old calls himself worthless, says his guilt is “eating him alive,” and repeatedly tells Moreno that he loves her.

“I don’t know what to do. I do know you love me, protect me, and care for me. I failed to do that for you,” Miller allegedly wrote in the letter. “I’m sorry and I just want to close my eyes and wake up and everything be normal.”

“I know that won’t happen,” it continues. “I’m sorry I failed you and Ruth. It’s eating me alive. I love you, even if you think I don’t. I love you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m just a f--- up and worthless.”

Moreno’s attorney, Andrew Zashin, told the Daily Mail that his client stands by her account of Miller’s assault and that the evidence speaks for itself.

“These images, combined with the documented history in court filings, directly contradict years of Mr. Miller’s denial,” he said. “Any claim that Ms. Moreno fabricated these allegations collapses in the face of contemporaneous physical evidence.”

“It is unfortunate that these matters have become public when Ms. Moreno has made every effort to keep them private and out of court for the sake of their daughter,” he continued. “But the ongoing pattern of behavior, coupled with the continued denials, has made silence no longer possible.”

Zashin declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Beast.

The Daily Beast has contacted Miller’s legal representatives for comment. When contacted by the Daily Mail, Miller’s attorney, Adam Brown, denied the allegations, telling the outlet he would provide evidence responding to Moreno’s claims. It was not provided prior to publication.

Miller published a lengthy thread on X on Thursday evening, rejecting the claims detailed in the Daily Mail’s report. He accused the outlet of being “stenographers for someone who truly needs help.”

His evidence included an email sent by his lawyers to the Daily Mail, transcripts of audio recordings of conversations between Miller and Moreno, and footage of Moreno leaving Miller’s home after the alleged incident on Feb. 1. He also accused Moreno of extortion.

“The moral of the story is this,” Miller wrote. “My ex-wife needs help. She is more focused on hurting me than loving our child.”

Miller married Moreno in 2022 at a ceremony at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. Trump was among the guests.

Moreno’s father is a Trump critic turned vocal supporter, who advocated for the president to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran last year.

During Moreno and Miller’s bitter divorce battle, Miller accused Moreno of stalling their divorce so that financial documents involving her father, including documents that allegedly proved he provided her financial support, would not be produced before Election Day. Miller subsequently subpoenaed his in-laws, seeking documentation of said financial support.

A document filed by Miller’s lawyer in October 2024 read, “Defendant has displayed more concern about how this case may impact her father’s election than about the best interests of [the couple’s daughter] and allowing this litigation to proceed expeditiously.”

The Daily Beast has contacted Sen. Moreno’s office for comment.

Miller has faced similar accusations in the past. His ex-girlfriend, former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, 49, alleged that he pushed her against a wall and slapped her after she accused him of cheating in 2020.

His lawyer denied that the incident ever occurred. A court denied Miller’s application for a restraining order against Grisham, and Miller voluntarily dropped his defamation suit against Grisham in 2023.

In a 2021 opinion piece for the Washington Post, Grisham alleged that the Trumps were aware that her relationship with Miller had turned abusive, but that they did not care.

“I felt that Mrs. Trump believed my story,” Grisham wrote. “I suspected the president, long invested in the view that women usually make up allegations of assault, didn’t want to believe it.”

“The point is that the president and first lady seemed totally unfazed about whether there was an abuser—another abuser—in their workplace,” she added, referring to White House staffers Rob Porter and David Sorensen, both of whom resigned in 2018 after their ex-wives accused them of abuse.

In a post on Thursday after the Daily Mail report was published, Grisham re-shared an older post of hers on X. “Re-upping this,” she noted.

The post read, “Today I feel broken over what so many men with money & power get away with. Over & over & over 💔 Almost worse is those of you who know & do/say nothing as it happens time & again.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-rep-max-miller-accused-of-brutally-beating-maga-senator-bernie-morenos-daughter-emily/?

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Federal court rules against new global tariffs Trump imposed after loss at the Supreme Court A split three-judge panel of the Court of International Trade in New York found the 10% global tariffs were illegal after small businesses sued. The Trump administration imposed the 10% tariffs, set to expire July 24, after the Supreme Court in February struck down even broader double-digit global tariffs the president had imposed last year. Read more.

Why this matters: The court ruled 2-1 that Trump overstepped the tariff power that Congress had allowed the president under the law. The tariffs are “invalid″ and “unauthorized by law,” the majority wrote. The third judge on the panel found the law allows the president more leeway on tariffs. The administration is expected to appeal Thursday’s decision.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year’s trade deal or it will face higher tariffs   US isn’t looking at imminent military action in Cuba despite Trump threats, AP sources say   Alabama Republicans look to set new US House primaries if courts allow redistricting   Comey seeks to cancel upcoming court appearance in North Carolina in Trump threat case   New York to tax luxury second homes in NYC but stops short of hiking income taxes on the wealthy   Man who sprayed vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar during town hall pleads guilty to assault   Southern Poverty Law Center leader pleads not guilty for organization in federal donor fraud case   Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional   Trump’s plan to paint the Eisenhower office building could cost at least $7.5M, the White House says   Trump drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect new blue coating he’s putting on it

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US will start revoking passports for thousands of parents who owe child support, AP learns The State Department said revocations would begin Friday and be focused on those who owe $100,000 or more. The revocation program will soon also be greatly expanded to cover parents who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support. Read more.

Why this matters: Until this week, only those who applied to renew their passports were subject to the penalty. Under the new policy, the Department of Health and Human Services will inform the State Department of all past-due payments of more than $2,500 and parents in that group with passports will have their documents revoked, the department said. Since the AP reported the expansion of the program on Feb. 10, the administration said it had seen data that hundreds of parents took action to resolve their arrears.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Immigration enforcement guidance for warrantless arrests falls short, federal judge says   US lifts hold on immigration applications for doctors, but leaves others waiting   DeSantis says ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center always was meant to be temporary   New York to restrict ICE despite threat from Trump’s border czar

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Pentagon Pete’s Revenge Plot Hit by Humiliating Blow

The defense secretary is likely to suffer another loss as he attempts to punish a retired Navy captain.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s push to censure and demote Sen. Mark Kelly has suffered another blow, as his appeal effort looks increasingly bleak.

On Thursday, a federal appeals court panel signaled it would not side with Hegseth in his effort to punish the Arizona Democrat and retired Navy captain over a November video in which Kelly told service members they can “refuse illegal orders.”

According to The New York Times, two of the three judges on the panel appeared unconvinced by the administration’s arguments. “He never did say those words,” said Judge Cornelia Pillard, an appointee of President Barack Obama, rejecting Hegseth’s claim that Kelly had called on active-duty service members to disobey orders.

The apparent setback comes after Hegseth’s earlier defeat in February, when District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by President George W. Bush, blocked the self-proclaimed Secretary of War’s attempt to censure and demote Kelly.

“They already lost in court once, but guess what, Hegseth is appealing that ruling,” Kelly said in a video posted on X on Thursday, noting that he was back in federal court in his case against Hegseth, who “is trying to punish me for saying something the president didn’t like.”

Following the Arizona senator’s appearance alongside fellow congressional Democrats in the November clip, President Donald Trump, 79, called for Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers featured in the video to be executed. Meanwhile, Hegseth described the video as “despicable, reckless, and false,” and the Pentagon announced an investigation into Kelly shortly afterward. In his concluding February statement, blocking the Pentagon chief’s attempts to censure and demote the retired combat pilot and astronaut, Judge Leon advised that “Rather than trying to shrink the First Amendment liberties of retired servicemembers,” Hegseth should instead “reflect and be grateful for the wisdom and expertise” that these members have brought to the country.

Still, Hegseth appealed the decision and now appears likely to face another defeat, as judges seem inclined to side with Kelly and uphold the February ruling.

“Think about that for a second, they’re saying that those willing to die for their country don’t get to have a voice, and by going after me, they’ve sent a chilling warning to every veteran in this country,” Kelly said in Thursday’s clip, accusing Hegseth of punishing him for exercising his First Amendment rights.

The senator also said the administration’s actions appeared aimed at keeping “veterans to stay quiet,” as he referenced the ongoing war with Iran.

Last month, Kelly joined a group of senators in sending a letter to Hegseth, arguing that responsibility for the deaths of U.S. troops in the Middle East during the Iran conflict should fall on Pentagon leadership due to alleged failures in preparation and planning.

“I’ve given 25 years of service to this country. I know my rights, I fought for them, and I fought for yours, and I’m not going to give an inch,” Kelly concluded in his video.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-petes-revenge-plot-hit-by-humiliating-blow/?

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Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council proposes sweeping changes to federal disaster support

A council meant to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency proposed Thursday a series of long-awaited changes to the disaster recovery body that stop short of the administration’s promises to dismantle it, but could reduce the number of disasters the federal government supports and the amount of money it doles out. The council appointed by President Donald Trump approved a highly anticipated report that outlines ways the Trump administration could potentially put far more responsibility on states, tribes and territories for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

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Epstein’s Brother Raises New Questions About Suicide Note

A note allegedly left by Jeffrey Epstein has reignited conspiracy theories.

Jeffrey Epstein’s brother is calling BS on a newly surfaced “suicide note” supposedly written by the disgraced financier before his death in jail.

Mark Epstein said he believes the handwritten note, which was unsealed this week by a federal judge, is a fake designed to prop up the official ruling that his brother died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019.

“It wouldn’t be hard to get some pro forger to forge a note,” Mark, 71, told Business Insider.

“That’s the easiest f---ing thing in the world to do.”

The note remained buried in court records for years before a federal judge unsealed it this week as part of criminal proceedings tied to Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate.

Tartaglione, a former police officer convicted of murdering four men and burying them on his upstate New York property, claims Jeffrey Epstein left the note inside a book after a suicide attempt in July 2019, weeks before the notorious pedophile was found dead inside New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center.

According to court filings, the note changed hands multiple times between 2019 and 2020 as people attempted to verify its authenticity, while Tartaglione also discussed it publicly during a 2025 podcast interview.

“They investigated me for month—FOUND NOTHING!!!” the alleged note reads.

“So 15 year old charges resulted. The FBI arrested me for a stack of cash and old headlines. It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye,” Epstein reportedly wrote.

“Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!”

The final line closely resembles phrases Epstein used in previously released emails to friends and family, apparently referencing the 1930s comedy series Little Rascals.

But his brother argued that detail only deepened his suspicions, claiming anyone attempting to fake the note could have copied language already floating around publicly.

“It’s public knowledge,” he told Business Insider.

“It’s in the emails. So they stole it from me to make it sound like it was him.”

Federal investigators concluded Epstein died by suicide inside his jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. But the case has remained a magnet for conspiracy theories for years, fueled by malfunctioning cameras and disputes surrounding Epstein’s injuries.

Mark Epstein has consistently rejected the official findings and maintains his brother was murdered.

“There was no attempted suicide, so there was no suicide note,” he said.

He also claimed Jeffrey initially accused Tartaglione of attacking him in jail before later backing away from the allegation because he feared retaliation.

“The reason he changed his tune is because he was afraid of retaliation,” Mark said.

“It’s one thing to be a pedophile in prison. It’s another thing to be a pedophile snitch in prison.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epsteins-brother-raises-new-questions-about-suicide-note/?

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Trump’s Tacky Gold Arch Could Be Funded by Child Victims

Money tied to alleged child privacy violations could help bankroll Trump’s lavish D.C. “beautification” plans.

President Donald Trump may have found a new way to fund his Washington, D.C. glow-up.

The Trump administration is reportedly nearing a $400 million settlement with TikTok over alleged child privacy violations, with sources telling ABC News the money could help bankroll Trump’s lavish “beautification” projects, including a giant 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

The proposed settlement would resolve a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration in 2024, which accused TikTok and parent company ByteDance of illegally collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal child privacy laws.

The Justice Department alleged TikTok illegally collected data from millions of children, continued serving them ads, and exposed them to content intended for adults.

“TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids’ privacy, threatening the safety of millions of children across the country,” then-FTC Chair Lina Khan said when the lawsuit was announced.

But instead of funding child privacy enforcement or online safety efforts, the money appears earmarked to bankroll Trump’s monument-filled makeover of the nation’s capital.

White House officials have reportedly spent weeks discussing whether the settlement funds can legally be used for Trump’s pet arch project, which the president has been promoting with growing enthusiasm, according to ABC News.

Trump toured parts of the National Mall on Thursday night to tout his “beautification” agenda, telling reporters construction on the arch would begin “very soon.”

“It’s going to be one of the most beautiful arches in the world. If you look at Paris… they have the Arc de Triomphe. It’s the number one tourist attraction, even more so than the Eiffel Tower,” he said.

The proposal would mark a striking departure from how Justice Department settlements are typically handled, with such funds generally used to address harms tied to the alleged misconduct.

It also appears to clash with the Trump administration’s own past rhetoric. During Trump’s first term, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions cracked down on settlements that diverted money away from victims.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi reinstated similar restrictions, writing that settlements should “first and foremost” compensate victims or punish unlawful conduct.

The arrangement could also invite conflict-of-interest scrutiny over Trump’s role in helping broker TikTok’s American-backed deal.

The app briefly went dark last year after Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. ban.

Trump later signed an executive order allowing it to continue operating while negotiations over a sale continued.

Earlier this year, TikTok finalized a multibillion-dollar restructuring deal backed by several Trump allies and major Republican donors, while ByteDance retained a minority stake.

“I am so happy to have helped in saving TikTok!” Trump wrote at the time.

The proposed TikTok windfall would come on top of the administration’s separate push for a new $10 billion “Presidential Capital Stewardship Program” to fund large-scale construction and “beautification” projects across Washington, including the giant arch Trump insists will outshine Paris’ nearly 200-year-old landmark.

“There are 59 triumphal arches throughout the world, and this will be number 60,” Trump said.

“But we are going to have one that’s going to be, I think, superior to anybody else’s. It’s going to be a little bit larger, and I think a lot more beautiful.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-tacky-gold-arch-could-be-funded-by-child-victims/?

ps:So pathetic!!!!!!!!!!

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Trump Busted Lying to Grieving Moms in the Sun-Kissed Rose Garden

The president twisted the truth to use grief-stricken moms as political props.

Bad enough, President Trump lied during the State of the Union address to both houses of Congress.

On Friday, Trump repeated the same falsehood at a luncheon in the White House Rose Garden to celebrate motherhood.

“11,888 murderers were allowed in our country,” he lied to the women at the gathering, many of whom were wearing summer dresses and colorful hats.

Trump had cited this same precise number of immigrant killers on numerous other occasions and has been told on numerous occasions that it is false. He sometimes compounds the falsehood, as he did at the 2025 signing of a Social Security executive order, speaking of “11,888 murderers, half of whom committed more than one murder.”

The State of the Union claim, in particular, prompted numerous news organizations to declare the 11,888 figure unfounded. “There is no evidence of this,” NPR concluded in February.

And yet there he was on Friday, standing in the springtime sunshine among the blooming roses with a group of grief-scarred moms, repeating the false figure yet again.

Among the mothers were Gold Star Moms who had lost a child in the armed forces and so-called “Angel Moms,” meaning those who had lost a child to a murdering migrant.When asked the source of Trump’s statistic, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “President Trump is right about the countless criminal illegal aliens who entered our country under the Biden administration and murdered innocent Americans. The Daily Beast should cover those Americans who tragically lost their lives and the angel parents still mourning their children.”

But Trump repeatedly offers a very specific count of murderers from among these “countless criminal aliens.”

How exactly Trump derives the number is unclear. DHS does have a list of 647,572 “non-detained” noncitizens with a criminal record as of 2024. But many of them are legally in the country. And the list is only of those who had been arrested but not necessarily convicted of various charges, including traffic offenses. It goes back four decades, which includes Trump’s first term.

Over the past month, Trump’s many lies have included repeatedly saying the pope thinks it is OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Trump also lied to a group of school kids in the Oval Office for a presidential fitness award on Tuesday, telling them that the 2020 election had been “rigged.”

But even mendacity with the pope and with youngsters is not so low as lying to moms who have suffered the greatest possible loss. He even added an additional flourish to his standard falsehood.

“They emptied the prisons of the Congo into the area of the southern border, and they told them to just walk in, because stupid Americans are going to accept you beautifully,” Trump said. “And these were hard, mean, vicious criminals they allowed into our country.”

That is called fear-mongering.

Trump’s lies were all the more shameful because he was also telling them for the benefit of the cameras covering the event.

In truth, some of these mothers would still have their children if the killers had not gained entry to America. But in using fake numbers, Trump is using the moms as political props, trying to turn sympathy for them and outrage over the murder of their children into support for his agenda.

And his agenda is always ultimately himself.

The gloriously sunny day amid the roses darkened with the truth about his lies.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-busted-lying-to-grieving-moms-in-the-sun-kissed-rose-garden/?

ps:Even more pathetic!!!!!!!

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🫣 Trump's border blind spot

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

The Trump administration's flat-out claim that no one is illegally crossing the Southwest border is starting to fall apart, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. The rush of migrants seeking asylum has stopped. But smugglers and cartels are working as hard as ever. "We're still seeing the groups cross in the very difficult terrain to work, head-to-toe camouflage, large backpacks, things like that," says Capt. Timothy Williams of the Sheriff's Office of Cochise County, Arizona. He designed and runs the Southeastern Arizona Border Region Enforcement (SABRE) program that uses cameras to track illegal border crossings from California to New Mexico. ⚠️ Zoom in: Three data points suggest the Southwest border is far leakier than Trump officials admit. SABRE tracks 200-300 crossers per month across the border, with about a 33% apprehension rate. Roughly 200 Border Patrol agents were recently reassigned to the Laredo sector in Texas to address an increase in "gotaways" (people detected crossing the border but not apprehended), the Daily Wire first reported. Compared to March of 2025, this year saw an increase in arrests in sectors along more than half of the Southwest border's mileage.

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Trump’s UFC Birthday Party Has $1.5M VIP Buy-In

Wealthy “high rollers” are reportedly being offered seven-figure access to Trump’s White House UFC spectacle.

President Donald Trump’s bizarre White House UFC birthday spectacle just got even stranger, with selected guests reportedly being offered $1.5 million VIP packages.

Mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani revealed that wealthy “high rollers” are being pitched premium access to the administration’s upcoming “UFC Freedom 250” event, with a seven-figure price tag.

“It’s a deck being sent out to a lot of influential people, high rollers,” Helwani said on his podcast.

His co-host Conner Burks openly mocked the cost, and argued that the real product being sold was access to Trump’s inner orbit.

“$1.5 million is ridiculous for that,” Burks said.

“That’s like a $1.45 million seat to the White House… all that other stuff is at most $50,000.”

According to Helwani, the package also includes floor tickets to UFC 329 later this year, where Conor McGregor is rumored to be making a long-awaited comeback.

The increasingly weird event is scheduled for June 14—ostensibly as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday. June 14 also happens to be Trump’s 80th birthday.

The president has repeatedly hyped the spectacle as “the greatest show on Earth,” and welcomed a group of UFC fighters into the Oval Office on Wednesday, where he showed off plans for the event.

“I’m a big sports fan. There are no people tougher in sports than the people behind me. These are the toughest. I know them all,” Trump said.

“Our country is invited to this. It’s free.”

But while Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the event will be “free” for the public, the newly revealed VIP packages suggest a parallel experience is being quietly marketed to wealthy insiders.

UFC president Dana White said 4,300 spectators—mostly members of the military—will watch the fights from the White House South Lawn, while another 85,000 free tickets will be distributed for public viewing at nearby Ellipse Park.

“The taxpayers aren’t paying anything,” White said in a recent interview on CBS Mornings.

“We’re (paying) the bill for this whole fight. And I can’t sell a hot dog, a T-shirt or a ticket. Nothing can be sold on federal land.”

The premium packages appear to sidestep those restrictions by selling exclusive access and event perks rather than tickets.

It remains unclear how many of the seven-figure packages are available, who is eligible to buy them, or exactly where the money will go.

Helwani claimed on his podcast that proceeds would likely be split between Trump, the UFC, and the military.

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Beast’s request for clarification.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-ufc-birthday-party-at-the-white-house-has-15m-vip-buy-in/?

ps:Wondering if all this graft activity is OK with everyone??

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Top Trump Goon Caught on Video Admitting to Grazing for Dollars

One ethics expert called the situation a “slam dunk” conflict of interest.

A key official in President Donald Trump’s Interior Department was captured on video revealing that she was involved in shaping public policy in ways that benefited farming and ranching businesses owned by her, her husband, and her relatives.

Associate Deputy Secretary of the Interior Karen Budd-Falen’s revelation at a Congressional Western Caucus event in December has sparked calls for an investigation into her actions and other suspected conflicts of interest among federal officials.

“The thing that probably was the closest to my heart was grazing regulations,” Budd-Falen said in a featured interview at the event, noting that she was involved in shaping grazing policy.

Her talk was captured on video and posted on YouTube by Senate Western Caucus Chairwoman Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), and reported by The Washington Post.

Budd-Falen and her husband, Frank Falen, own at least five cattle or ranch operations in Nevada and Wyoming, each valued at more than $1 million, according to her federal financial disclosure records. Their companies also graze their cattle on some 250,000 acres of federal land supervised by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management.

In the video, Budd-Falen discusses relaxing limits on private grazing on public land and refers to using an exemption to ease restrictions on land controlled by her husband. She vowed that every unused publicly owned Bureau of Land Management allotment would be leased by next year and emphasized that private grazing on public land is effective at fighting wildfires.

On Saturday, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability said it planned to send a letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, demanding that Congress investigate whether Budd-Falen’s holdings violated ethics laws.

“The situation with Karen Budd-Falen seems to be quite brazen in the scheme of conflicts of interest,” Michelle Kuppersmith, executive director of Campaign for Accountability, told the Post. “She is, by her own admission, working on policy for grazing that will likely directly impact her own financial interests. And they’re not even trying to hide it.”

Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, said that if Budd-Falen has received federal grazing rights from her agency while also creating grazing policy, “that would be a pretty slam-dunk financial conflict of interest.”

During Trump’s first administration, the Interior Department granted an ethics waiver for Budd-Falen, which allowed her family to retain their ranching holdings but prohibited her from working on or discussing grazing policy. Her current “waiver” allows her to work on grazing policy.

Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said Congress should launch a review of Budd-Falen’s actions.

“You don’t have to be an expert on land management to know that when she talks about how policy changes are going to benefit ‘private landowners,’ she’s talking about herself,” Blumenthal said in a statement to the Post.

Interior Department spokeswoman Aubrie Spady told the Post that Budd-Falen “has complied, and continues to comply, with any and all legal requirements, ethical standards and ethics guidelines” in her job.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Interior Department for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-trump-goon-karen-budd-falen-caught-on-video-admitting-to-grazing-for-dollars/?

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RELATED COVERAGE ➤

US military strike on alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific kills 2, leaves a survivor Rubio defends new US sanctions on Cuba, targeting military-run conglomerate GAESA Federal judge dismisses former Trump supporter’s defamation lawsuit against Fox News In legal dispute over ‘The View,’ ABC argues Trump administration is trying to chill free speech Rejecting church and state separation is on the wish list for Trump’s religious liberty commission Second federal appeals court rejects Trump’s no-bond immigration detentions, deepening circuit split Trump is lifting restrictions on hunting in national parks, refuges and wilderness areas Black Hills drilling project canceled after backlash from tribes Trump administration settles meatpacking antitrust case in bid to bring down grocery prices WATCH: USPS considers allowing people to ship handguns through the mail Trump administration again suspends UC Berkeley research grants President of Parks and Rec? Trump asserts authority over public spaces in DC California, Nevada and Arizona announce temporary plan to save water from the Colorado River California to provide free diapers to newborns at more than 60 hospitals

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Trump's legacy week

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

Three generational forces converge this week — first in Washington, then in Beijing — in a hugely consequential stretch of Donald Trump's presidency, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Why it matters: The coming days carry stakes measured in decades — war and peace in the Middle East, the trajectory of the U.S.–China relationship, and rules governing the AI revolution. 🔎 Zoom in: Trump's presidency has long been building toward this week's summit with Xi Jinping, which White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly described as a trip of "tremendous symbolic significance." Beneath the pageantry sits the defining geopolitical question of the century: whether the world's two superpowers can manage their rivalry or are destined for economic rupture and military confrontation. The summit was also once seen as a de facto deadline for stabilizing the Iran war. But Air Force One is set to land in Beijing on Wednesday evening with the war unresolved. The intrigue: Washington and Beijing have escalated a quiet sanctions war over Iran in the weeks before the summit, turning the Middle East conflict into another front in their widening rivalry. The Trump administration on Friday sanctioned three Chinese satellite firms for providing imagery that enabled Iranian strikes on U.S. forces — part of a broader push to choke Chinese support for Tehran. Between the lines: Trump has long believed his personal relationship with Xi is stronger — and more pragmatic — than many China hawks in Washington understand. Critics in both parties fear Trump's appetite for grand bargains and personal diplomacy could undermine U.S. support for Taiwan, which Xi is determined to bring under Beijing's control as soon as 2027. Taiwan looms over the summit as both a military tinderbox and the heart of the semiconductor industry powering the AI economy. 🦾 Trump and Xi are expected to discuss AI for the first time amid mounting alarm over enormous cyber risks posed by frontier models like Anthropic's Mythos. While details remain fluid, Trump is expected to unveil executive action on AI safety as soon as today. The White House's evolving posture marks a pivot from its earlier laissez-faire approach to AI, driven by fears the technology is advancing faster than governments can control it. 👀 What to watch: A senior U.S. official said Trump and Xi will explore whether to open formal lines of communication on AI safety and security risks, echoing the Cold War logic that drove nuclear hotlines and arms-control talks between rival superpowers.

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📞 Trump to Axios: "I don't like" Iran response

Via Truth Social

President Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid in a short phone call yesterday that he would reject Iran's response to the latest draft agreement to end the war. Why it matters: The U.S. waited 10 days for the Iranian response, which came yesterday. The White House hoped Iran's positions would show progress toward a deal, but Trump's initial reaction signals the opposite. Trump told Barak: "I don't like their letter. It's inappropriate. I don't like their response. … They have been tapping along many nations for 47 years." In a post on Truth Social shortly after the call, Trump called the Iranian response "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" 🇮🇷 Iranian state media reported the Iranian response focused on ending the war and enshrining guarantees hostilities won't resume. Iran also demanded an immediate end to the U.S. naval blockade and the release of frozen assets. Keep reading.

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🧓 Suburban poverty trap

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

More older Americans are falling into poverty in suburbs built for middle-class stability, Axios' Russell Contreras writes. Why it matters: Suburbs lack the transit, housing and services that can cushion poverty in cities, leaving millions of seniors in danger of isolation in neighborhoods they helped build. 🔎 An Axios analysis of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey data shows millions of older Americans are aging into poverty or near-poverty just outside major cities. Suburban-heavy counties in Arizona, California, Florida and New York already report large populations age 65+ below the poverty line. Keep reading.

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Gas prices

The Trump administration may consider suspending the federal gas tax to give Americans some relief at the pump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday. This comes as the national average gas price has climbed to $4.52 per gallon, up $1.38 from this time one year ago. Read more.

ALSO: It's not just drivers who hate high gas prices. So do gas station owners   Iran and the US are at an impasse ahead of Trump’s China trip The current ceasefire grew increasingly shaky, with the two sides exchanging fire in recent days, ships and Gulf states being targeted, and fighting flaring between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Read more. Why this matters: The volatility could tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict, with Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and America’s blockade of Iranian ports still in place. President Donald Trump is expected to use a trip this week to China to urge President Xi Jinping to pressure Iran into making concessions and end the current limbo. Beijing is the biggest buyer of the Islamic Republic’s sanctioned crude oil, giving it leverage.   Iran insists it wants to see the American blockade end and sanctions lifted before beginning negotiations over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The U.S. — and Israel — want that material removed since it could be used to eventually build a bomb, should Iran choose to do so. Tehran insists its program is peaceful, but it has enriched uranium beyond the levels needed for civilian power generation. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s response to his latest proposal was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Ending the blockade before discussing Iran’s nuclear program would eliminate a major point of leverage for Trump in the talks. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Oil jumps after Trump rejects Iran’s response to ceasefire proposal   Trump-Xi summit comes with high stakes for Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims as its own   Remains of US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered   Democrats vow to fight $1 billion Senate security proposal for White House ballroom

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Angry Trump Lets His Real Thoughts Slip in SCOTUS Rampage

The president also made a dark prediction in his 545-word rant.

President Donald Trump sent a message to his conservative Supreme Court justices in a seething Truth Social tirade.

Trump, 79, fired off a 545-word rant on Sunday where he named and shamed Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whom he appointed in his first term as president.

The liberal justices invalidated Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act in February, ruling that the Act does not give the president the power to unilaterally impose tariffs.

Afterward, Trump labeled Gorsuch and Barrett a “disgrace to our nation,” “fools and lapdogs,” and “an embarrassment to their families.”

Trump appears to still be spiraling over the decision, and while the president began his post with rave reviews of the pair, it quickly spiraled into negative territory.

“I ‘Love’ Justice Neil Gorsuch! He’s a really smart and good man,” Trump said of the 58-year-old. Trump then noted he “always liked and respected” 54-year-old Barrett.

“They were appointed by me, and yet have hurt our Country so badly!” he stated. A conciliatory Trump added the disclaimer, “I do not believe they mean to do so.”

Trump pondered, “What is the reason for this? They have to do the right thing, but it’s really OK for them to be loyal to the person that appointed them to ‘almost’ the highest position in the land, that is, a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.”

After bragging about his own popularity and noting he had a “slower” and “more laborious” way of doing tariffs, Trump suggested that “maybe Neil, and Amy, just had a really bad day.”

In his post, Trump predicted that the Supreme Court would make a “negative ruling” on his executive order ending birthright citizenship in the United States.

The executive order, which he signed on the first day of his second term, says that children born to parents who were in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become American citizens.

The move was blocked by lower courts, which cited the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.

“Trump’s executive order flouts the Constitution’s dictates, longstanding Supreme Court precedent, a statute passed by Congress, and fundamental American values,” the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which was one of the groups behind the lawsuit against the policy, said.

A decision on the case is expected by the end of June or early July.

In his Truth Social post, Trump referenced attending the oral arguments on birthright citizenship in person at the Supreme Court last month.

At the hearing, Trump abruptly exited after some of his own conservative justices did not appear convinced by his bid to upend birthright citizenship in America.

“I choose people to help our Country, not to hurt it,” Trump said in his Sunday Truth Social post, claiming that what he “witnessed recently by being the first President in History to attend a Supreme Court session” leaves him to think “they will be ruling against us on Birthright Citizenship.”

Trump said that would make America “the only Country in the World that practices this unsustainable, unsafe, and incredibly costly DISASTER. I don’t want loyalty, but I do want and expect it for our Country.”

He signed off with a dark prediction, noting that, “A negative ruling on Birthright Citizenship, on top of the recent Supreme Court Tariff catastrophe, is not Economically sustainable for the United States of America!”

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/angry-trump-lets-his-real-thoughts-slip-in-scotus-rampage/?

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Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support’ and proposes gas tax pause as strait stays closed

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal, which officials said included some nuclear concessions. Trump also proposed suspending the federal gas tax to help with higher fuel prices caused by the war.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-china-war-may-11-2026-0e9067769efea20e9d45e3d43158ad8c?

Trump’s FDA chief is out after angering pharma CEOs, vaping lobbyists and anti-abortion activists

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, is resigning after a rocky tenure that drew months of complaints from health industry executives, anti-abortion activists, vaping lobbyists and other allies of President Donald Trump.

https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-makary-kennedy-vaccines-drugs-ef151784342c48cca3b91a829d615b5e?

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Trump says he'll move to suspend the federal gasoline tax. He can't do it on his own

President Donald Trump said Monday he will move to suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices caused by the Iran war. The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move. Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for a gas-tax suspension, saying it would provide much-needed relief for families and businesses. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar Treasury Department tells US banks to flag suspected Iranian money-laundering networks Photos of life inside Iran after latest US proposal falters Asia braces for a second wave of energy shocks from the Iran war

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Trump nominates Cameron Hamilton, fired after defending FEMA, to lead the agency

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton Monday to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a notable comeback for the former Navy SEAL who was fired from his role as FEMA’s temporary leader last year after he defended its existence.

https://apnews.com/article/fema-cameron-hamilton-trump-disasters-navy-seals-e1ef0f6c81f6ea992a2213714f6743b1?

Lincoln Memorial

A lawsuit was filed Monday to block the Trump administration from painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue as crews cover its longtime gray color. The suit is the latest challenge to the administration's efforts to reshape cultural and historic landmarks across the nation's capital. Read more.

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Trump’s Revenge Push Sputters as Event Draws Crowd of Four

An attempt to intimidate defiant Republicans could fail miserably.

President Donald Trump’s revenge push in Indiana is off to a rough start.

Despite a flood of cash and backing from Turning Point USA, his bid to punish state senators who defied him on a redistricting vote is struggling to gain traction.

At a Wednesday rally for Republican challenger Brenda Wilson against state Sen. Greg Goode, organizers set out signs, passed around flyers and blasted a “Trump rally” playlist—for a crowd of four.

Three were from the same family, NOTUS reported.

Trump, pushing 80, was furious when 21 Indiana Republicans voted against a redistricting map for U.S. Congress in the state senate last year.

On Truth Social he railed against them, saying they “should be ashamed of themselves.” Tellingly, he said the Republicans had voted “against a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and said ‘every one of these people should be ‘primaried,’' and I will be there to help!”

Trump has not visited Indiana once since making the claim, but six of his backed candidates did visit Washington D.C. in March.

At an earlier rally, also organized by Turning Point, just a few dozen people turned up, a report by Politico said.

One candidate challenging a Trump foe, State Rep. Michelle Davis, told Politico that when out talking to voters, “not one person was talking to me about redistricting.”

Never the less, Trump-aligned candidates are benefitting from a huge influx of MAGA money into their campaigns, with nearly $8 million spent on advertising by mid-April, a massive increase on a typical primary race in a non-presidential election year.

But the Indiana senate republican caucus is fighting back, spending almost $2 million supporting the incumbent state senators.

“Altogether, the Senate Majority Campaign Committee has spent more than $2.4 million in 2026 — already eclipsing 2022 spending for the entire campaign season," the Indiana Capitol Chronicle reported in April.

Politico reported that internal Republican polling suggests that Trump’s picks are potentially on track to unseat their targets.

“I’ve been reminded of a lesson I learned in business a long time ago: Revenge is not a strategy,” Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said in March.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-revenge-push-sputters-as-event-draws-crowd-of-four/?