The Latest: Trump's travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcementNew Foto - The Latest: Trump's travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcement

President Donald Trump's newban on travelto the U.S. by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries took effect Monday amidrising tensionover the president'sescalating campaignof immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, scores of scientists at the National Institutes of Health sent their Trump-appointed leader a letter titled the Bethesda Declaration, a frontal challenge to policies they say undermine the NIH mission,waste public resourcesand harm people's health. Here's the latest: Trump says conversation with Netanyahu of Israel 'went very well' The president said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "discussed a lot of things." "It went very well," he told reporters during an extended question-and-answer session at the White House. President Donald Trump was guarded on how trade talks were faring with China. Asked if he had any updates on the negotiations his administration is conducting in London with Chinese officials, Trump told reporters: "We are doing well with China. China's not easy." Trump said that he wants to "open up China" to U.S. products. China is the world's dominant manufacturer and the Trump administration has applied 30% tariffs on Chinese goods. The Trump administration had applied tariffs of as much as 145% on China but cut the import tax rates back for talks to occur that have shown signs of stalling over critical mineral issues for the U.S. and access to advanced technologies for China. "If we don't open up China, maybe we won't do anything," Trump said at the White House. "But we want to open up China." Trump suggests he'll move Tesla vehicle off White House grounds and not get rid of it Trump said he could move the red Tesla he bought to support Musk to one of any number of locations he owns. Administration officials had said last week after the public breakup between Trump and Musk that the president was thinking of selling the car. He's taking questions from reporters after an economic event at the White House. Trump also said he hasn't "really thought" about speaking with Musk by phone. "I imagine he wants to speak to me. If I were him, I'd want to speak to me," Trump said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stands with Trump's decision to send National Guard over California's objections The South Dakota Republican said "the president did what the local officials" weren't doing. "Sometimes one has to step in and protect American citizens," Thune said. CBO estimates "extraordinary measures" to exhausted by end of September In a new report issued Monday, the Congressional Budget Office says it now estimates that if the debt limit remains unchanged, the government's ability to borrow using "extraordinary measures" would likely be exhausted between mid-August and the end of September 2025. That date range is two weeks later than the CBO's previous estimations released in March. "Extraordinary measures" are special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting its statutory debt ceiling. U.S. Treasury has already stopped paying into certain accounts, including the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, to make up for the shortfall in funds. Once the extraordinary measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government's ability to borrow. President Donald Trump has continually called for abolishing the debt ceiling. Trump talks protests at beginning of White House event The president is holding an event to talk aboutinvestment accounts for newborn children, but he started by talking about the protests in Los Angeles. "Thank goodness we sent out some wonderful National Guard," he said. Trump criticized California leaders by saying "they were afraid of doing anything." "We sent out the troops, and they've done a fantastic job." Trump says he's giving a 'special award' to UFC champion Kayla Harrison Trump was in the audience at UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night when Harrison forced her opponent to quit late in the second round to win a championship in just her third UFC fight. Trump shared 11 seconds of video on his social media site of him and Harrison meeting after the match. The championship belt was around her waist. Some visa holders in Venezuela changed travel plans to arrive in US ahead of deadline and minimize airport issues But others who lack visas on Monday said the new restrictions may not make much of a difference because obtaining the required permits to travel to the U.S. was already costly and time-consuming, even before Trump's latest immigration measure. "An uncle's visa expired, and since there is no (U.S.) embassy in Venezuela now, he would have had to go to another country to get one," tech worker José Luis Vegas, 24, said in the capital, Caracas. "Paying for hotels and tickets was very expensive, and appointments took up to a year … What more restrictions than that?" Venezuela and the U.S. severed diplomatic relations in 2019, when the U.S. stopped recognizing President Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate leader of the South American country. As a result, Venezuelans applying for U.S. visas began traveling to Colombia, Brazil, Curacao and other countries for required appointments. Trump supports slapping the cuffs on Newsom The California governor and the White House have been feuding over how to handle protests in Los Angeles. It started when Tom Homan, the border czar, warned that anyone, including public officials, would be arrested if they obstructed federal immigration enforcement. "No one's above the law," he said on Fox & Friends, although he added that "there was no discussion" about arresting Newsom. The California governor responded in an interview with MSNBC. "Come after me, arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy," Newsom said. Trump grinned when asked about the exchange after landing at the White House. "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great," Trump said. "Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. He's done a terrible job." Trump targets Newsom (again) After inspecting the site for a future flagpole, Trump spoke to reporters about the protests in California. "I like Gavin Newsom, he's a nice guy, but he's grossly incompetent," the president said, complaining about "the little railroad he's building" that is "100 times over budget." It's a reference to the much-delayed high-speed rail project, which predates Newsom's tenure. Trump also criticized the protesters. "The people that are causing these problems are professional agitators, they're insurrectionists, they're bad people. They should be in jail." Trump says sending National Guard to LA protests was a 'great decision' In a post on his social media site, Trump said the city would have been "completely obliterated" otherwise. Protests over the president's immigration crackdown spared much of Los Angeles from violence. Weekend clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. Trump wrote that Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass should thank him. He accused them of being untruthful for saying Guard troops weren't necessary. Trump checks out spot for new flagpole The president isn't just remaking the Rose Garden. He wants to install two large flag poles, one on either side of the White House. When he stepped off Marine One, he walked to a bulldozer that was positioned on the South Lawn to dig a foundation for the pole. Trump posed for a photo with workers. Trump's project to pave over the Rose Garden lawn has begun The project is expected to be completed in about two months, or during the first half of August, a White House official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to comment publicly about intended changes to the property. Trump said months ago that he planned topave over the lawnin the Rose Garden because it's always wet and inconveniences women in high heels. Leader Schumer statement on President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to California "Donald Trump — in the midst of a war with Elon Musk and his ugly tax bill that would rip healthcare from 17 million people — is in desperate need of a diversion. His order to deploy the National Guard in California is unnecessary, inflammatory, and provocative. Trump should immediately revoke his command to use the National Guard, and leave the law enforcement to the governor and the mayor, who are more than capable of handling the situation. Americans do not need or deserve this unnecessary and provocative chaos." 16 states suing Trump administration over plan to allow sale of forced-reset triggers The lawsuit, which is also over plans to return seized devices, was announced Monday. The states argue that returning the triggers, which make semiautomatic rifles fire more rapidly, would violate federal law, pose a threat to residents and law enforcement and worsen gun violence. The administration announced the deal last month. It resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger the government had previously argued qualify as machine guns under federal law, saying they're essentially illegal machine gun conversion devices because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing essentially like an automatic weapon. Latinas for Trump founder says she's now disappointed by recent escalation of immigrant arrests "I have always supported Trump, @realDonaldTrump, through thick and thin. However, this is unacceptable and inhumane," said Ileana Garcia, a Florida state senator who in 2016 founded the group Latinas for Trump and was hired to direct Latino outreach. She posted the message on X over the weekend. "I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal." Garcia was referring to Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump's immigration crackdown. Garcia also said "this is not what we voted for." However, Trump promised voters he would conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history to expel millions of immigrants in the country illegally. Democrats are drawing closer to the crypto industry despite Trump divisions As President Trump builds a crypto empire — includinghosting a private dinnerwith top investors at his golf club — Democrats have united in condemning what they call blatant corruption from the White House. But the Democratic Party's own relationship with the emerging crypto industry is far less cut and dried. Work in the Republican-led Senate to legitimize cryptocurrency by adding guardrails has drawn backing from some Democrats, underscoring growing support for the industry in the party. But divisions have opened over the bill, with many demanding it prevent the Republican president and his family from directly profiting from cryptocurrency. "I'm all on board with the idea of regulating crypto," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. "But at this moment, when cryptocurrency is being so clearly used by Donald Trump to facilitate his corruption, I don't think you can close your eyes to that when you're legislating." ▶ Read more aboutDemocrats and cryptocurrency Rare earth minerals expected to be the major issue in China-US trade talks A senior White House official says he expects a "short meeting with a big, strong handshake" on the export of rare earth minerals from China. Appearing on CNBC this morning, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said it was a "very significant, sticking point" because China, which controls the processing of critical minerals, has been "slow rolling" in sending the materials to U.S. over licensing requirements. "It could potentially disrupt production for, you know, some U.S. companies that rely on those things," Hassett said. High-level U.S. and Chinese officialsare meeting today in Londonfor their latest round of trade talks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sue Trump over National Guard deployment Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC he plans to file suit Monday against the Trump administration to roll back the Guard deployment, which he called "an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act." Trump has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal troops when there is "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States." But Newsom said he believed the president was required to coordinate with the state's governor before ordering such a deployment. "We're going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow," Newsom said Sunday night. ▶ Followlive updateson the immigration protests Preparations underway for military parade Security precautions are already being put in place ahead of this Saturday's military parade. Workers were assembling black metal barriers near the White House on Monday morning. More information on preparations will be announced in the afternoon during a briefing with local and federal officials. Trump expected to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The American and Israeli leaders plan to speak Monday morning, according to a White House official. The official requested anonymity before a public announcement. Trump has been pushing for a nuclear agreement with Iran, while Netanyahu iswary of the diplomatic effort. — Seung Min Kim ABC News suspends correspondent for calling Trump administration official a 'world class hater' ABC News has suspended correspondent Terry Moran for calling Trump administration deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller a "world class hater" in a since-deleted social media post. Moran's post was swiftly condemned by administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance. ABC News, in a statement, said it "stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others." The network said Moran was suspended pending further evaluation. Moran, in his post on X at 12:06 a.m. on Sunday, said President Trump was a hater, too. But he wrote that for Trump, his hatred is a means to an end, "and that end is his own glorification." For Miller, "his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate." Trump's Monday schedule, according to the White House This morning, Trump is traveling back to the White House from Camp David. Later today, at 2 p.m., he'll participate in an "Invest America Roundtable" event at the White House. Trump was awake past midnight raging against the protests in LA and calling for a crackdown "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" he wrote on Truth Social at 12:16 a.m. ET. Trump has already deployed 300 members of the National Guard over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The military said 500 Marines were on standby. "ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!" Trump wrote at 12:19 a.m. Trump cited Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell's recent comments to defend his response to the protests. "Don't let these thugs get away with this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Trump wrote at 12:14 a.m. "This thing has gotten out of control," McDonell said Sunday. "We have great cops in Southern California here that work together all the time," he said. But he added that "looking at the violence tonight, I think we gotta make a reassessment." US and China are holding trade talks in London after Trump's phone call with Xi High-level delegations from the U.S. and China are meeting in London on Monday to try and shore up a fragile truce ina trade disputethat's roiled the global economy. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng was due to hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a U.K. government building. The talks, which are expected to last at least a day, follow negotiationsin Geneva last monththat brought a temporary respite in the trade war. The two countries announced May 12 they had agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparkedfears of recession. ▶ Read more abouttrade talks between the U.S. and China In the 'Bethesda Declaration,' NIH scientists step forward en masse to denounce their agency's direction Scores of National Institutes of Health scientists have gone public to assail deep program cuts and upheaval at their agency under the Trump administration. On Monday, more than 90 current employees sent their leader a letter entitled the Bethesda Declaration. It's a frontal challenge to policies it says "undermine the NIH mission, waste our public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe." By signing their names, the NIH employees gave up the veil of anonymity common in Washington — and put their jobs at risk. Their declaration was endorsed anonymously by 250 other NIH researchers and staff. Altogether, employees from all 27 NIH institutes and centers registered their dismay with the agency's direction. ▶ Read more aboutdissent at the National Institutes of Health Trump says Elon Musk could face 'serious consequences' if he backs Democratic candidates Trump is not backing offhis battle with Elon Musk,saying Saturday that he has no desire to repair their relationship and warning that his former ally and campaign benefactor could face "serious consequences" if he tries to help Democrats in upcoming elections. Trump told NBC's Kristen Welker in a phone interview that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with the mega-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is over, Trump responded, "I would assume so, yeah." "I'm too busy doing other things," Trump said. The president also issued a warning amid chatter that Musk could back Democratic lawmakers and candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. "If he does, he'll have to pay the consequences for that," Trump told NBC, though he declined to share what those consequences would be. Musk's businesses have many lucrative federal contracts. ▶ Read moreabout Trump's comments Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill Johnson took clear sides Sunday in Trump'sbreakupwith mega-billionaire Elon Musk, saying Musk's criticism of the GOP's massivetax and budget policy billwill not derail the measure, and he downplayed Musk's influence over the GOP-controlled Congress. "I didn't go out to craft a piece of legislation to please the richest man in the world," Johnson said on ABC's "This Week." Johnson said he has exchanged text messages with Musk since he came out against the GOP bill. Musk called it an "abomination" that would add to U.S. debts and threaten economic stability. He urged voters to flood Capitol Hill with calls to vote against the measure, which is pending in the Senate after clearing the House. His criticism sparked anangry social media back-and-forthwith Trump, who told reporters over the weekend that he has no desire to repair his relationship with Musk. The speaker was dismissive of Musk's threats to finance opponents — even Democrats — of Republican members who back Trump's bill. ▶ Read moreabout Johnson's comments Trump's new travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcement Trump's newban on travelto the U.S. by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries took effect Monday amidrising tensionover the president'sescalating campaignof immigration enforcement. The new proclamation, which Trumpsigned last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid visa. The new ban does not revoke visas previously issued to people from countries on the list, according toguidance issued Fridayto all U.S. diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for anexemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected starting Monday. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able toenter the U.S.even after the ban takes effect. ▶ Read moreabout the travel ban

The Latest: Trump’s travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcement

The Latest: Trump's travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcement President Donald Trump's newban on tra...
Trump FAA nominee says agency faces serious leadership, trust issuesNew Foto - Trump FAA nominee says agency faces serious leadership, trust issues

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration says the agency faces serious leadership, trust and culture issues, according to a Senate questionnaire seen by Reuters. The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday on Trump's nomination of Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the FAA. The FAA has come under scrutiny after a series of safety incidents, especially a January 29 mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and U.S. Army helicopter that killed 67 people. "The lack of steady and qualified leadership helps to explain the lack of any coherent strategy or vision for the agency," Bedford wrote in the questionnaire reviewed by Reuters. "A malaise has set in whereby managers believe the agency is helpless to make the necessary changes, and furthermore, they rationalize it isn't really their fault." Bedford, a pilot and industry veteran of more than 30 years, was nominated in March. He previously headed two other carriers and oversaw a significant expansion of Republic Airways, which operates regional flights for American Airlines United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Bedford said there was a profound lack of trust with and within the FAA. He described the agency's organizational structure as "unwieldy" and said there was a need to urgently address the agency's "reactive" safety culture. "The lack of trust makes many managers at FAA reluctant to speak up for fear of retribution," Bedford wrote. He cited "failures" like the FAA's Boeing 737 MAX certification, oversight of chronically delayed air traffic control implementation, and continued controller shortages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants Congress to approve tens of billions to reform air traffic control and boost staffing. "The root cause of FAA's inability to complete its mission to modernize air traffic systems and effectively manage safety is the lack of strategic vision and competent leadership," Bedford wrote. The FAA does not encourage risk-taking for innovation, Bedford added. "There appears to be no incentive for anyone at FAA to take any innovation risk for fear that it could fail," Bedford wrote. "You could say there was an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' attitude, but that has morphed into a quiet resignation that 'we can't fix it, but we can do our very best to make the system work safely today' mindset." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Nia Williams)

Trump FAA nominee says agency faces serious leadership, trust issues

Trump FAA nominee says agency faces serious leadership, trust issues By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump...
A.J. Greer is making his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Florida Panthers in Game 3New Foto - A.J. Greer is making his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Florida Panthers in Game 3

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A.J. Greer is back in for the Florida Panthers in Game 3 ofthe Stanley Cup Finalon Monday night after missing the first two in the series against the Edmonton Oilers because of injury. Coach Paul Mauriceconfirmed Greer would return on Florida's fourth line. Jesper Boqvist comes out of the lineup to make room for Greer, who will be making his first career appearance in the final. "It's definitely a dream come true, but I'm not really trying to focus on that," Greer said after the team's morning skate. "It's another game for me and I'm just trying to enjoy it, but I'm not trying to associate anything bigger than just my next shift, really." Greer, 28, gutted through injury for part of this playoff run before exiting in theEastern Conference finalagainst Carolina when it was clear he wasn't healthy enough to stay in. Maurice lauded Greer for his lack of selfishness and an abundance of self-awareness to understand when the pain threshold was reached and do what's best for the team. "Good on him for recognizing that," Maurice said. "We were fortunate that we were able to heal A.J. to a place that he's really confident in what he's doing. ... He's been such a positive part of what we do." Greer almost wasn't here at all. A little over four years ago, he was languishing in the minors and almost giving up on his NHL dream. "I was pretty much 24 hours away from just calling it, going to Europe and trying to just get a paycheck, trying to squeeze out every dollar that I can out of this sport and then live my life," Greer said. "Fortunately, things kind of bounced my way." Greer was essentially a throw-in as part of a trade to the New Jersey Devils thatgot the New York Islanders Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, who helped them reach the East final. Greer — who was a second-round pick of Colorado in 2015 and played 37 games for the Avalanche from 2016-18 — developed some confidence with the American Hockey League's Utica Comets and cracked the Devils' roster a few times. Agent Philippe Lecavalier challenged Greer over whether he wanted to be an AHL player or adapt his style to be a role player in the NHL. "You could say I wanted to try to prove him wrong," Greer said. "I kind of just went day by day, got better mentally, physically and matured with my game. I understood if I wanted to ever play in the NHL again, the way I have to play and the things I have to do — and I got a chance, so I'm very grateful for that. It all led up to here." At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, Greer has been a physical force for Florida as the Panthers try to repeat as champions. He is one of the newcomers, along with theirleading scorer in the final, Nate Schmidt, and teammates are happy to have Greer back. "He's a pain to play against," Evan Rodrigues said. "He's a guy that can change the momentum of a game. He's heavy on the forecheck. For the most part, I don't think you want to get hit by him. He's a really good presence for us. And he chips in offensively. He lays the body. Just overall a pain the neck to play against." That came with time and trial and error as Greer learned how to have an impact with limited ice time. This spring brought his first taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he has made the most of his nearly eight minutes a game. "My game's grown, especially this year," Greer said. "My confidence has grown, and I'm ready to take on the biggest challenge that I've really faced in my career." ___ AP NHL playoffs:https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cupandhttps://apnews.com/hub/nhl

A.J. Greer is making his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Florida Panthers in Game 3

A.J. Greer is making his Stanley Cup Final debut for the Florida Panthers in Game 3 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A.J. Greer is back in for t...
Packers to reportedly release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire AlexanderNew Foto - Packers to reportedly release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander

The Green Bay Packers are cutting ties with cornerback Jaire Alexander. The two-time Pro Bowler willreportedly be releasedTuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It marks quite the fall for Alexander, a former first-round pick who was one of the team's best players as recently as the 2022 season, when he was selected to his second Pro Bowl. But injuries have plagued Alexander over the past two years. Back and shoulder issues limited Alexander to seven games in 2023. A knee issue caused Alexander to play in just seven games in 2024. Prior to those injuries, Alexander had emerged as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. After a promising rookie season in 2018, Alexander started in all 16 games in his second season. He made himself a household name in 2020, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and an appearance on the second team All-Pro team. He was limited to just four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury, but bounced back in 2022 to play in all 16 games, once again earning Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro team honors. After signing a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022, Alexander was set to make over $16 million in 2025. The Packers reportedly offered Alexander arestructured dealin May, which would have resulted in Alexander taking a pay cut. It appears Alexander did not want to take that deal, leading to his reported release. The last two seasons in which Alexander played double-digit games, he made the Pro Bowl. That should give the 28-year-old a number of options now that he's reportedly hit the free-agent market. Given his injury struggles, Alexander may need to settle for a short-term deal. If he can stay healthy and return to form, Alexander could fetch a much larger contract on the market next season.

Packers to reportedly release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander

Packers to reportedly release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander The Green Bay Packers are cutting ties with cornerback Jaire Alex...
White House struggles to hire senior advisers to Pete HegsethNew Foto - White House struggles to hire senior advisers to Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON — The White House is looking for a new chief of staff and several senior advisers to support Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a series of missteps that have shaken confidence in his leadership, but it has so far found no suitable takers, according to four current and former administration officials and a Republican congressional aide. Top Defense Department jobs, including the defense secretary's chief of staff, are normally considered prestigious and typically attract multiple qualified candidates. But at least three people have already turned down potential roles under Hegseth, according to a former U.S. official, the defense official and a person familiar with the matter. Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles have taken an active interest in finding ways to help Hegseth after he abruptly suspended two handpicked senior aides in April, accusing them of leaking classified information in a Fox News interview. Soon afterward, Hegseth announced the removal of his chief of staff on Fox News and a senior press aide resigned, writing later that Hegseth's office was in "total chaos." Vance and Wiles have been searching for candidates who could support Hegseth ever since, according to three current U.S. officials and a former U.S. official. So far, though, the administration has not had much luck identifying people who are either willing to work for Hegseth or who fit the bill politically. And the White House has rejected some people Hegseth wants to hire, while Hegseth has rejected some of the White House's candidates. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said, "The anonymous sources cited in this article have no idea what they're talking about." Arthur Schwartz, a Republican operative with close ties to the Trump administration, dismissed the accounts of infighting and said Hegseth is a highly effective defense secretary. "Not a single one of these ridiculous Pentagon palace intrigue stories points to a single thing that's not getting done at the Pentagon because of the alleged 'chaos,'"he said. "This is the very definition of manufactured beltway drama that serves no purpose other than to keep reporters of questionable talent employed." Hegseth will testify before lawmakers on Capitol Hill three times this week, his first appearance since his confirmation hearing. His testimony is scheduled to focus on the Pentagon budget, but no Defense Department budget has been provided to Congress as of yet. Vance, Wiles and others have looked for job candidates in some of the traditional places, including inside the White House and on Capitol Hill, according to the second former U.S. official, a defense official and a congressional aide. Some candidates have been judged politically problematic, the former U.S. official and others familiar with the process said. For example, the White House personnel office has disqualified some for not being MAGA enough, according to the former U.S. official and a current U.S. official familiar with the process. In addition to trying to assist him with hiring, the White House has taken multiple other steps to help — and manage — Hegseth. "Vice President Vance has had Secretary Hegseth's back since the day President Trump nominated him, and he fully supports the incredible work Pete's doing at the Pentagon to improve military readiness and drive recruitment numbers to record highs," Vance spokesman William Martin said in a statement. Another White House official said it was typical for the White House to be involved in staffing for key roles across government. Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for the White House, said Hegseth enjoys "the full support" of Trump. But last month White House officials directed Hegseth to cancel a trip to the Middle East after they learned he planned a stop in Israel, according to a current and a former official. Instead, they put Hegseth on Air Force One to travel with President Donald Trump, who did not include Israel in his itinerary. A different Cabinet official, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, visited Israel several weeks later and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump's request. A person familiar with Hegseth's planning said Noem's trip reflected the White House's desire to have Netanyahu meet with a trusted messenger. When they arrived at the Pentagon early this year, two senior advisers to Hegseth, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were seen as his close allies — previous colleagues of his, even friends, whom he had brought in to staff key roles. Caldwell was a senior adviser to Hegseth; Selnick was Hegseth's deputy chief of staff. But in April, security escorted Caldwell and Selnick, as well as Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, out of the Pentagon in connection with an investigation into allegations of a leak of sensitive information. In a joint statement, the three men called the way were treated "unconscionable" and argued that they were not given any information about the investigation, any leak allegations against them or any evidence that had been found. A little less than a week later, the turmoil around Hegseth worsened.The New York Times reportedthat he had shared sensitive information about an ongoing U.S. military operation in Yemen on a Signal chat that included his wife, his personal attorney and his brother, along with others close to him. The revelation came a month after national security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenlyadded the editor of The Atlanticto a separate Signal group chat with Hegseth, Vance and other senior administration officials focused on the same military operation in Yemen. Two days after the Times' story was published, Hegseth went on Fox News and accused Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll not only of leaking information while they were employed at the Pentagon, but also of having given the paper the information about the Signal chat. Hegseth did not publicly describe the evidence against them. The drama continued in May when White House officials removed Hegseth and his personal attorney, Tim Parlatore, also a Navy official, from overseeing the investigations into the three suspended aides, according to a current official and a person familiar with the probe. White House officials shifted responsibility for the probe to the deputy defense secretary, Stephen Feinberg, with whom such an investigation would normally reside. That move, according to two sources familiar with the investigation, was a sign that there is a growing lack of confidence in Hegseth's ability to objectively oversee the investigation of his former aides. After no evidence against the former aides emerged and it became increasingly clear that the three men were not guilty of leaking, administration officials began to question whether their firings had been hasty, two former administration officials and a current official said. Infighting among the Hegseth advisers who remain continued, meanwhile, according to the defense official and a former administration official. And Hegseth himself remains largely isolated, relying on a small group of advisers, the defense official said. Hegseth now leans heavily on a former military aide, Ricky Buria, who retired from the military in April hoping he could serve as Hegseth's chief of staff, a civilian position. But White House and Pentagon officials view Buria as a political novice who hadreportedly been criticalof Trump and Vance in private. (A Defense Department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment from Buria.) As a result, White House officials rejected Hegseth's plan to hire Buria as his chief of staff, one of the defense officials and an administration official said. Despite that, Buria was seen with Hegseth during his recent trip to Asia in a workout video posted on social media. Since Hegseth joined the administration in January, he has had successes. He expunged diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs from the Pentagon and the military services. Recruiting, particularly in the Army, is up on his watch, continuing a trend that began before Trump's election but gained strength under Hegseth, according to Trump administration officials. "There has never been more enthusiasm to serve under Secretary Hegseth's leadership at the DoD," said Parnell, the Chief Pentagon Spokesman. And during his recent trip to Asia, Hegseth was seen as effective in messaging to Beijing to stop any potential aggression in the region, according to current and former administration officials. At the same time, the turmoil in Hegseth's front office has contributed to setbacks. The infighting helped delay plans for "Golden Dome," Trump's signature missile defense program to defend the U.S. homeland, officials said. It has also contributed to the lack of a Pentagon budget, which raised frustrations among Republicans on Capitol Hill, many of whom supported Hegseth in his tight confirmation battle. Hegseth also approved a China briefing for Elon Musk that included highly sensitive information that Trump canceled after he found about it,according to The New York Times. Trump and Hegseth denied the account, but a former and a current official said Hegseth's misstep affected Trump's view of Hegseth. Hegseth's role in the use of Signal to share sensitive military information remains a problem for him, and it is likely to resurface soon. A Pentagon inspector general report, which is likely to be completed within weeks, is expected to conclude that Hegseth shared classified information on the Signal chat, according to multiple officials. Some administration officials, including Vance and his aides, worry that the results of the investigation will further weaken Hegseth, according to a current administration official and a former administration official. Martin, Vance's spokesman, disputed that characterization. Hegseth's allies, meanwhile, predict that his tenure will continue.

White House struggles to hire senior advisers to Pete Hegseth

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15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for gunsNew Foto - 15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for guns

By Nate Raymond (Reuters) -Fifteen Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Republican President Donald Trump's administration from returning thousands of previously seized devices that can be used to convert semiautomatic rifles into weapons that can shoot as quickly as machine guns. The states filed the lawsuit in federal court in Baltimore in the wake of the administration's May 16 settlement that resolved litigation involving a ban on certain "forced-reset triggers" imposed by the government under Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The states in the lawsuit said such devices remain illegal to possess under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Biden issued the ban after it determined that some of these devices should be classified as illegal machine guns under a federal law called the National Firearms Act. "We will not stand by as the Trump administration attempts to secretly legalize machine guns in an effort to once again put firearms industry profits over the safety of our residents," New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. The lawsuit was led by New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and also included the states of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia. The Trump administration's settlement reversed course on the Biden administration's policies. The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by a gun rights group challenging the ban and cases brought by Biden's Justice Department against a manufacturer of the devices. Those cases had resulted in conflicting court rulings over the legality of classifying these devices as illegal machine guns. As part of the settlement, the Trump administration agreed to not apply the machine gun ban to such devices as long as they are not designed for use with handguns and agreed to return nearly 12,000 forced-reset triggers that had been seized by the government to their owners. The new lawsuit seeks to block the return of these devices to their owners. The states said conversion devices like forced reset triggers have been frequently used in recent years in violent crimes and mass shootings, and that at least 100,000 such devices that were distributed nationally in recent years should be considered illegal machine guns. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham)

15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for guns

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Joe Flacco? Dillon Gabriel? Shedeur Sanders? Handicapping the Browns' QB competitionNew Foto - Joe Flacco? Dillon Gabriel? Shedeur Sanders? Handicapping the Browns' QB competition

The Cleveland Browns are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. They have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Yet, we'll all be watching their quarterback competition. The Browns are one of the few NFL teams that will go into training camp without a set QB1, and they have four players vying for the job. Of course, one of those contenders is one of the most-watched rookies in the NFL, Shedeur Sanders. He's probably the highest profile fifth-round rookie we've ever seen after his draft slide. Here's a look at who has the best chance to be the Browns' Week 1 starter as their four-way race takes shape in training camp and preseason: The Browns brought back Flacco, who was the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year when he helped Cleveland to the playoffs, but his deal is worth just $4.25 million with more possible in incentives. That's not starting quarterback money, and the Browns wouldn't feel obligated to start a 40-year-old quarterback in Week 1. However. Flacco is the one QB on the roster with a positive NFL track record, and there are probably still good feelings about how well he played in Cleveland two seasons ago. Flacco wasn't good with the Indianapolis Colts last season and over the past 10 seasons Flacco has rarely played at an above-average level, other than that short stretch with the Browns two seasons ago. It doesn't seem wise for a team with such little expectations to start a 40-year-old quarterback, but the Browns might want to see if Flacco can recapture his 2023 magic to start the season before making a change. Chance of starting:50 percent The Browns' early schedule is brutal. Their first six opponents are the Bengals, Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings and Steelers. It doesn't seem like the type of gauntlet the Browns want to expose a rookie starter to. Pickett was an interesting acquisition for the Browns. He cost very little (a fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson) and was a first-round pick just three seasons ago. Pickett didn't work out with the Pittsburgh Steelers but he did have a few flashes of solid play as a rookie. A recent theme in the NFL has been quarterbacks who were given up on too soon having a career revival with another team (Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield) and Pickett is just 27 years old. Pickett also wastaking the first-team repsduring the most recent OTAs. It would make far more sense for a rebuilding team to start Pickett over a 40-year-old Flacco, but Pickett would have to earn that. Chance of starting:40 percent The notion that draft position doesn't matter is not exactly true. Yes, if Shedeur Sanders definitively outplays Gabriel in August then the Browns coaching staff could go into the season with Sanders over Gabriel on the depth chart. But here's why draft position matters, at least this early in the careers of Gabriel and Sanders: The Browns clearly liked Gabriel better. They drafted the productive yet undersized Oregon quarterback two rounds and 50 picks before Sanders. That's a big difference. A third-round pick, 94th overall, shows how much the Browns valued Gabriel in the draft. While Gabriel has been entirely overlooked due to the attention paid to his famous rookie teammate, Cleveland clearly thought he was the better quarterback on draft weekend. Still, do they want to start a third-round rookie on opening day and against their first six opponents who could all be playoff teams? Probably not. The real question isn't which rookie will start Week 1, because it seems unlikely either beats out Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, but which rookie gets the first shot when the Browns inevitably make a midseason change and want to try out one of their rookies. Gabriel will get a fraction of the attention that Sanders will get, but Sanders has to beat Gabriel in practices and preseason games to get ahead of him on the depth chart. Chance of starting:9 percent How many times in NFL history has a quarterback come into training camp as the fourth-string option and won a starting job by Week 1? That's virtually unheard of. And it's practically inconceivable thata fifth-round rookiewho starts camp as the QB4 ends up starting on opening day. In Sanders' case it can't be totally ruled out because he isn't a normal fifth-round rookie quarterback;reports on him from Browns OTAs have been positiveand the competition isn't that strong. But if Sanders ends up taking the first snaps of the season, it would be one of the wildest training camp/preseason stories we've seen in a long time. Even if Sanders is fantastic in August, the same concerns about throwing a rookie to the wolves in that early-season gauntlet still apply. The Browns presumably don't want to set up either rookie to fail early in the season. Sanders could end up starting at some point late in his rookie season, because the Browns seem like a team that could end up starting four different quarterbacks in a rough season. But make no mistake, Sanders has a long way to go before he gets on the field for the Browns. Chance of starting:1 percent

Joe Flacco? Dillon Gabriel? Shedeur Sanders? Handicapping the Browns' QB competition

Joe Flacco? Dillon Gabriel? Shedeur Sanders? Handicapping the Browns' QB competition The Cleveland Browns are expected to be one of the ...

 

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