Where's Barron Trump? What we know about Donald and Melania's son, NYU student's private life

Where's Barron Trump? What we know about Donald and Melania's son, NYU student's private life

Since he was elected the47th president of the United States, Donald Trumphas shared many special "presidential" moments with his family and inner circle — and most, if not all, have been attended by members of the Trump family. But some haven't. In particular, the most private family member of thisvery public familyhas not made many public appearances at all this year, including significant events. When PresidentDonald Trump turned 79 years olda month ago — on June 14, 2025 — it was a nationwide affair. In conjunction, the U.S. Army hosted its 250th anniversary with Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C., something he had wanted since his first term as the 45th U.S. president. The White House had told USA TODAY that it was merely a coincidence that the Army's anniversary celebration was held onTrump's 79th birthday. What is Trump's presidential salary?How much do US presidents make an hour? We did the math for you Parade attendees in the heart of Washington, D.C., and viewers online could see thatnot every member of the Trump familymade it to the VIP box − for the military parade andTrump's birthday celebration. Noticeablyabsent were Ivanka Trump and Barron Trump, his oldest daughter and youngest son. Ivanka Trump posted birthday messages to her father on her social channels. Barron Trump does not have public accounts on social media nor did he make an appearance at his father's birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. More:'Oh really?': Trump says his wife Melania has some thoughts on Vladimir Putin In fact, it's been a while since the entire Trump family made a public appearance together since he was sworn in for a second time on Jan. 20, 2025. Public appearances, photos and video online of Barron Trump have been incredibly rare. Where is the first son? When is his next public appearance? Below is information about Barron Trump, sole child of Donald andMelania Trump, the last public appearance of the New York University student and when the world may get a glimpse of the apparently private public figure. Sightings ofBarron Trump, sole child of Donald and MelaniaTrump, have been rare. The 19-year-old,6-foot-7-inch-tall Barron Trump, a rising sophomore at New York University, last made a public appearance when his father was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 2025). March 20, 2025, wasBarron Trump's 19th birthday. His father was home visiting Mar-a-Lago that week before flying to Trump Tower to be with his youngest son. There were no photos posted on any of Donald Trump's social accounts. While in college, Barron Trump reportedly lives at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, which is close to NYU's Stern School of Business. Before he turned 18, Barron Trump was largely kept out of the spotlight because of Melania Trump's protective nature. He has shown interest in his father's politics, particularly during the 2024 presidential election, though he did not make many public appearances. Baby Boulos sighting!New mom Tiffany Trump posts first photos of baby Trump Boulos or 'ATB' on Instagram Since President Donald Trump's Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025, which also was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, life for the commander-in-chief has been busy. From Jan. 20 to July 14, for example, Donald Trump visited his home state of Florida 12 times and his private club and primary residence, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, 10 times. According to Palm Beach Post reporting, neither Barron Trump nor Melania Trump have accompanied the president on board Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago or Florida since Inauguration Day. However, other celebrities, Trump family members (Viktor Knavs, Melania Trump's father) and well-known public figures like Elon Musk and son Little X Musk have. In addition to his presidential duties, traveling and legislation, Trump has made time for significant events in sports includingSuper Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana; theDaytona 500 at Daytona International Speedwayin Daytona Beach, Florida; theNCAA wrestling championshipfinals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the2025 LIV Golf Tournament at his golf club in Florida,UFC fights in Miami, Florida, and theFIFA Club World Cup finalin New Jersey. Members of the Trump family have attended these events, but the entire Trump family clan has not been publicly seen together since the week of Inauguration Day festivities. That includes all five Trump children, Donald's Trump's grandchildren,Donald Trump Jr.'s ex-wife Vanessa Trump, Donald Trump's second ex-wife Marla Maples, Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend Bettina Anderson,Melania Trump and her father, Viktor Knavs. The NYU campus is not far from Trump Tower in Manhattan, whereBarron Trumpspent much of his childhood and lived until his father was sworn in as the 45th president in early 2017.Barron Trump lived in the White Housewith his parents until 2019, when Donald andMelania Trump permanently relocatedto Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. WithBarron Trump attending college in New York, it is notable that he is breaking away from family tradition.Barron Trump is not attendingthe University of Pennsylvania or Georgetown University, which have strong ties to the Trump family. Donald Trump and his other children —Donald Trump Jr.,Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump — have attended or graduated from the prestigious universities in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., respectively. There is, however, one Trump family member with ties to NYU. The youngest Trump isfollowing much of the family in pursuing a business degree, but forging a new path in choosing New York University's Stern School of Business, known as NYU Stern. Barron Trump's brother-in-law Jared Kushner, who is married to Barron's half-sister Ivanka Trump, has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and business and law degrees from New York University. Kushner graduated from NYU Stern. Barron Trump started fall 2024 classes at NYU Stern School of Business just after Labor Day, making international headlines when he was spotted on campus flanked by Secret Service. He's likely the most famous (current) student at NYU. Though NYU has a rich social media following and the campus has held many significant events such as "NYU family weekend" or orientation, there have been zero mentions, social media tags, photos or video of Barron Trump. It's possible Barron Trump will go viral again if there are photos of him returning to NYU after Labor Day 2025,when classes start. Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her onTwitteror Instagram at@byjensangalang. Support local journalism.Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post:Where's Barron Trump? When was last Trump family public appearance?

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Where's Barron Trump? What we know about Donald and Melania's son, NYU student's private life

Where's Barron Trump? What we know about Donald and Melania's son, NYU student's private life Since he was elected the47th presi...

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Senate to move on Trump request to cut foreign aid, public media funding

Senate to move on Trump request to cut foreign aid, public media funding

Washington —The Senate could move forward as soon as Tuesday on a request from the White House to claw back $9.4 billion in funds for international aid and public broadcasting as Congress faces a Friday deadline to act. In what's known as a rescissions package, the White House in Junerequestedthat Congress cancel billions in funding that had previously been approved for spending, starting the clock on a process that gives lawmakers 45 days to act. The move seeks to make permanent some of the Department of Government Efficiency's spending cuts, with the package's primary focus being slashing foreign aid. But it would also effectively cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said he hoped to hold the first procedural votes Tuesday, though he was still having conversations with some members who are resistant to pulling back all of the funding. On Tuesday morning, one of the Republican members who had concerns, Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, said he would back the bill. "We wanted to make sure tribal broadcast services in South Dakota continued to operate which provide potentially lifesaving emergency alerts,"Rounds posted on social media. "We worked with the Trump administration to find Green New Deal money that could be reallocated to continue grants to tribal radio stations without interruption. We appreciate OMB Director Russ Vought and Senate Leadership for working with us to favorably resolve this issue." Last month, theHouse approvedthe request, overcoming opposition from all Democrats and four Republicans. The rescissions package The rescissions request would cut $8.3 billion for the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, along with other international assistance programs — from peacekeeping efforts to refugee assistance and climate projects. Also included in the package is a proposed $1.1 billion in cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the private nonprofit that serves as the steward of the funding to NPR and PBS. The White House has targeted the entities, claiming they have "spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" But some Senate Republicans have opposed components of the package, like cuts to a program aimed at combating HIV and AIDS globally. Started by former President George W. Bush, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, has been credited for saving millions of lives around the world. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, told reporters last week that she wants to strike the PEPFAR rescissions, saying, "I can't imagine why we would want to terminate that program." Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pushed back when Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought testified to the panel in June that "no lifesaving treatment will be impacted by this rescissions package" and that "anyone currently receiving lifesaving treatment will continue to receive that treatment." "When you look at PEPFAR, you are eliminating a lot of the prevention programs," Collins said, also questioning whether the package would harm efforts to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, polio and malaria and what effects it would have on maternal and child health programs that help feed malnourished children. "Those are all programs that have been proven effective." "These are not only the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons, but they're incredible instruments of soft power," Collins said. Others have raised concerns aboutcuts to local radio and television stations, especially in rural areas where they take on added significance as a means of communicating emergency messages. Rounds, a South Dakota Republican who also sits on the Appropriations Committee, told reporters last week that he's not comfortable with some of the provisions like cuts to public broadcasting. But he said Tuesday that he had worked with the Trump administration to find funding and is now prepared to back the package. Thune said Monday that there were ongoing discussions about an amendment process on the rescissions package. "I'm hoping that as we get on that bill we can see some savings achieved that will complement the things we already accomplished in reconciliation," Thune said last week, referencing the massive tax and spending package that Congress approved earlier this month. Amending the package would mean the House would have to sign off on the changes. And with the Friday deadline, time is running out to do so before the request expires. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said Monday he hopes the Senate sticks with the House-approved package. "I think you've got to respect the White House's request, and that's what we did," Johnson said. In the Senate, rescissions bills are not subject to the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most legislation, requiring only a simple majority. But with just 53 Republicans, Senate GOP leaders can only afford to lose a handful of their members to approve the package. President Trump weighed in on the rescissions push late last week, saying in aposton Truth Social that it's "very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill," citing the public broadcasting cuts in particular. The president warned that any Republican who doesn't support the clawback in funding "will not have my support or Endorsement." Meanwhile, the rescissions push has sparked frustration among Democrats, who have little ability to stand in its way. But an upcoming spending fight is another story. Democrats have begun suggesting that the GOP effort to claw back already approved congressional funds could have an impact on their willingness to work across the aisle on government funding down the road. Each year, Congress approves funding to keep the federal government running before the funds are disbursed to government agencies and programs. The rescissions process allows Congress to cancel funds that the federal government has not yet spent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned about the upcoming rescissions push in a letter to his colleagues upon the return from the Fourth of July recess, arguing that the package's passage "would be an affront to the bipartisan appropriations process." The New York Democrat called it "absurd" for the GOP to expect Democrats to engage in a bipartisan appropriations process that could be undermined by rescissions. "Republicans are, in effect, proposing Congress negotiate bipartisan deals in the Committee room, while they retreat to a backroom to rubberstamp President Trump's purely partisan scheme that only needs a simple majority to pass to tear up those very same agreements," Schumer wrote. In response, Thune said on the Senate floor last week that he was "disappointed" to see Schumer "implicitly threaten to shut down the government," while adding that he's "hopeful that that is not the position" of Senate Democrats. When asked by reporters about the possibility of a shutdown, Schumer said, "Ask the Republicans why they are heading on this path.""We are doing everything we can to keep the bipartisan appropriations process going, and they're undermining it with rescissions," Schumer added. Trump pushes senators to make $9.4 trillion in spending cuts Watch: Trump takes questions on Pam Bondi, the Epstein files, inflation, Russia and more Congressman scolds protester at college antisemitism hearing: "Shut up and get out of here"

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Senate to move on Trump request to cut foreign aid, public media funding

Senate to move on Trump request to cut foreign aid, public media funding Washington —The Senate could move forward as soon as Tuesday on a r...

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Expansion WNBA team brings back the original Portland Fire name

Expansion WNBA team brings back the original Portland Fire name

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon's WNBA team stepped back in time for its new name, reintroducing the Portland Fire. The expansion franchise, which begins play next next season along with the Toronto Tempo, announced its name and branding on Tuesday — reviving the moniker of the city's previous WNBA team that played from 2000 to 2002. "Our feeling is that the fire never died," interim Fire president Clare Hamill said. "Fans have been waiting for us to come back, and we're back with the Portland Fire." In addition to the name, the team has a new "Rose on Fire" logo and a color palette of red, brown, blue and pink. Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, the co-founder ofMicrosoftwho died in 2018, was chairman of the original Fire and the two teams played at the Rose Garden, now the Moda Center. The NBA owned the WNBA teams until 2002, then sold them to affiliated NBA teams or independent owners. Allen declined to buy the Fire and the team folded. Portland was awarded a new WNBA team last September. The team is run by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who also own the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League. They paid $125 million for the WNBA franchise. The Fire and the Thorns will share a new joint-training facility in the first such partnership between the two women's leagues. The Fire already have sold more than 11,000 season tickets, surpassing the WNBA's previous best. The team will play at the Moda Center, where the original Fire averaged some 8,000 fans a game. But the launch of the team hasn't been smooth. Indications that the team planned to return to the Fire name were previously revealed when a local publication, the Rose Garden Report, published the team's trademark application. The team's president, Inky Son, parted ways with the team late last month after less than three months on the job. Son was announced as the first employee of the team in early April, tasked with leading all aspects of the business, including marketing, ticket and sponsorship sales, and community relations. The Toronto Tempo, meanwhile, announced a team name back in December and already have hired a general manager. Hamill, a former Nike executive, took over for Son until a permanent president can be found. She said the launch of the team name and logo is just a slice of what the team is activating on Tuesday. "We're pointing everybody to the launch and the pace at which we're moving, and just giving everyone confidence that we have our arms around it," Hamill said. "We're moving fast, and you're going to hear from us a lot." The team planned to celebrate the name and logo launch with a community party on Tuesday afternoon at the Moda Center. ___ AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Expansion WNBA team brings back the original Portland Fire name

Expansion WNBA team brings back the original Portland Fire name PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon's WNBA team stepped back in time for its ne...

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The Open Championship or the British Open? Even in Northern Ireland it depends on the audience

The Open Championship or the British Open? Even in Northern Ireland it depends on the audience

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Collin Morikawa can take solace in not being the only person to refer to golf's oldest championship by its unofficial name. He delivereda victory speech as sterling as his performanceat Royal St. George's in 2021. As he held the precious claret jug, he paid tribute to the spectators and said, "To see some of the best fans I've ever seen out here, I look forward to making my trip every year to the British Open to see you guys cheer us on." The R&A must have cringed. It had spent the past several years on a renewed branding campaign to drive home the proper name of this major: The Open Championship. It since has been shortened to "The Open." It is the first. It is the original. And now the 153rd edition is in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom but is not on the island of Great Britain. British Open? The Associated Press referred to this major by different names at the start, but for the last century or more has called it the British Open to distinguish it from other national golf championships. Several other news outlets — mainly in the United States, but stretching to other corners of the globe — also called it the British Open. "It's meant to be The Open Championship," said Adam Scott of Australia. "I've probably slipped and called it the British Open, but I do it mostly with Americans so they know which one." Imagine his surprise — maybe disgust — to learn that when the Open first came to Northern Ireland in 1951, The Daily Telegraph in Sydney wrote: "South African Bobby Locke and English professional Tom Hargreaves today had record scores on Royal Portrush in the second qualifying round of the British Open golf championship." "Peter Thomson would roll in his grave," Scott said with a smile. The Open Championship began in 1860 when Willie Park Sr. defeated seven other golfers at Prestwick in Scotland, the home of golf. It took 35 years for another big championship to come along at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island known as the U.S. Open. That was followed by the South African Open, the Canadian Open and the Australian Open. Just about every country has an Open. The late Robert De Vicenzo has won more than 15 of them, from the German Open and French Open to the Peru Open and Uruguay Open. He also won the biggest Open of them all at Royal Liverpool in 1967. "Roberto de Vicenzo, 44-year-old golfing gaucho from the Argentine, climaxed 20 years of fruitless trying Saturday and beat out defending titleholder Jack Nicklaus by two strokes for the British Open Championship," the AP story read. When the "British Open" began is a little more unclear. J.H. Taylor won at St. Andrews in 1900 and the AP account referred to the "open golf championship." Except thata few paragraphs later, it noted Taylor registered his "third triumph in the English championships."Never mind that it was played in Scotland. British Open was used in 1914 when Harry Vardon won for the record sixth time. The Open left the island Great Britain for the first time in 1951 when it came across the Irish Sea to Royal Portrush. The AP account that year: "Methodical Max Faulkner, a par-wrecking Englishman who spent one winter milking cows to strengthen his golf hands, won the British open championship Friday in a dramatic rain-soaked finish." Arnold Palmer called it the British Open in his autobiography, "A Golfer's Life." But when asked by the R&A to write the foreword in a book celebrating 150 years of golf's oldest championship, Palmer called it "The Open Championship." When in Rome. Nicklaus was talking about his 1986 Masters victory one year when someone asked him how he decided which of his sons, Jack II and Steve, would caddie at which majors. "They started splitting it up," Nicklaus said. "I think Jackie took the Masters, and I think he had the Open. And Steve had the British Open." It's an American thing. But not always. One of the grandest occasions in golf was in 1930, when the great Bobby Jones won the British Amateur at St. Andrews and then captured the claret jug at Royal Liverpool on his way to winning the Grand Slam of that era — the impregnable quadrilateral, as it was called. Geoffrey Beazley, the captain of Royal Liverpool, presented the trophy to Joneswith a passionate speech that is worth listening to now for those who feel it is sacrilege to refer to this major as anything but "The Open." "Another championship, a British Open championship, is completed," he says. Beazley congratulated Jones for not only winning the British Amateur at St. Andrews, "but being here amongst us this evening as winner of the British Open championship." Ahem. Of course, the real test will be if the British Open goes to Portmarnock outside Dublin. Unlike Northern Ireland, the country of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. Calling it the British Open would make no sense. The R&A is in the middle of a feasibility study. Mark Darbon, the new CEO of the R&A, says it is serious about taking the Open out of Britain for the first time. "If you go back in history, the home territory of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is the British Isles, basically," he said in a recent interview. That should be enough for someone to call it the British Open. Just don't look for that on any merchandise the R&A sells. ___ On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. ___ AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

The Open Championship or the British Open? Even in Northern Ireland it depends on the audience

The Open Championship or the British Open? Even in Northern Ireland it depends on the audience PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Collin Mori...

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Arizona senators press Trump's interior secretary on response to Grand Canyon wildfire

Arizona senators press Trump's interior secretary on response to Grand Canyon wildfire

Arizona's senators are demanding answers from the Department of the Interior over its handling of a devastating wildfire that is stillburning out of control on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. In aletter sent Mondayto Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly questioned the department's initial response to the Dragon Bravo Fire. The blaze spread quickly over the weekend and destroyed dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a visitor center and a wastewater treatment plant. "It has been reported that National Parks Service officials initially decided to monitor the fire as a controlled burn, but changed their approach as strong winds allowed the fire to jump multiple containment features," the senators wrote in the letter. "There are many questions over the initial decision to treat this fire as a controlled burn and subsequent decisions on how to respond." Neither the National Park Service nor the Department of the Interior immediately responded to requests for comment. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the federal response, particularly the decision to "manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer,"she said in a post on X. "An incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government's emergency response," Hobbs wrote. "They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage. But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park." As of Monday, the fire had consumed more than 5,700 acres and remained 0% contained,according to InciWeb, the U.S. Forest Service's wildfire information site. Gallego and Kelly said they were concerned that early decisions by the federal government "may have affected the spread of fire in northern Arizona," particularly since the North Rim has been under weeks of extreme heat and experienced a dry winter. The senators asked Burgum to detail the factors that contributed to the initial decision to treat the fire as a controlled burn. Controlled burns are fires that are intentionally set or allowed to burn to reduce the amount of dry and flammable vegetation in an area. These kinds of burns are used to manage ecosystems that need periodic fires to stay healthy and also to lower the risk of biggerwildfiresfrom breaking out. Gallego and Kelly called the Grand Canyon "Arizona's crown jewel" and asked about the resources available to fight the wildfire. They also questioned how the Interior Department plans to prevent other blazes from spreading. The senators requested responses by Aug. 10. The Dragon Bravo Fire was started by lightning on July 4. TheNational Park Service said Sundaythat the blaze "exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening of July 12, resulting in a 500-acre expansion." The fire's rapid expansion was fueled by sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts reaching up to 40 mph, according to the NPS. Early assessments suggest that between 50 and 80 structures have been lost, but no injuries or deaths have been reported so far. A separate, bigger blaze known as the White Sage Fire is also burning north of the Dragon Bravo Fire. The White Sage Fire has consumed more than 49,000 acres and is also 0% contained,according to InciWeb.

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Arizona senators press Trump's interior secretary on response to Grand Canyon wildfire

Arizona senators press Trump's interior secretary on response to Grand Canyon wildfire Arizona's senators are demanding answers from...

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Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that's coming back to haunt him

Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that's coming back to haunt him

NEW YORK (AP) — As his supporters erupt over the Justice Department'sfailure to release much-hyped recordsin Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation, PresidentDonald Trump's strategy has been to downplay the issue. His problem? That nothing-to-see-here approach doesn't work for those who have learned from him that they must not give up until the government's deepest, darkest secrets are exposed. Last week, the Justice Department and the FBIabruptly walked backthe notion that there's an Epstein client list of elites who participated inthe wealthy New York financier'strafficking of underage girls. Trump quicklydefended Attorney General Pam Bondiand chided a reporter for daring to ask about the documents. The online reaction was swift, with followers calling the Republican president "out of touch" and demanding transparency. On Saturday, Trump used his Truth Social platform to again attempt tocall supporters off the Epstein trailamid reports of infighting between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the issue. He suggested the turmoil was undermining his administration — "all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein." That did little to mollify Trump's supporters, who urged him to release the files or risk losing his base. At least one follower responded to Trump's post by saying it seemed as though the president was just trying to make the issue go away — but assured him it wouldn't. The political crisis is especially challenging for Trump because it's one of his own making. The president has spent years stoking dark theories andembracing QAnon-tinged propagandathat casts him as the only savior who candemolish the "deep state." Now that he's running the federal government, the community he helped build iscoming back to haunt him. It's demanding answers he either isn't able to or does not want to provide. "The faulty assumption Trump and others make is they can peddle conspiracy theories without any blowback," said Matt Dallek, a political scientist at George Washington University. "The Epstein case is a neat encapsulation that it is hard to put the genie back in the bottle." A problem that's not going away Last week's two-page statement from the Justice Department and the FBI saying they had concluded that Epsteindid not possess a client listroiled Trump's supporters, who pointed to past statements from several administration officials that the list ought to be revealed. Bondi hadsuggested in Februarythat such a document was sitting on her desk waiting for review, though last week she said she had been referring generally to the Epstein case file and not a specific client list. Conservative influencers have since demanded to see all the files related to Epstein's crimes, even as Trump has tried to put the issue to bed. Far-right commentator Jack Posobiec said at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit on Saturday that he would not rest "until we go full Jan. 6 committee on the Jeffrey Epstein files." Trump's weekend post sought to divert attention by calling on supporters to focus instead on investigating Democrats and arresting criminals rather than "spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein." His first-term national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen.Michael Flynn, pleaded with him to reconsider. "@realdonaldtrump please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away," Flynn wrote, adding that failing to address unanswered Epstein questions would make facing other national challenges "much harder." Other Trump allies continue to push for answers, among them far-right activistLaura Loomer, who has called for Bondi to resign. She told Politico's Playbook newsletter on Sunday that a special counsel should be appointed to investigate the handling of the files on Epstein, who wasfound dead in his federal jail cellin 2019 about a month after he was arrested. Experts who study conspiracy theories warned that more sunlight does not necessarily make far-fetched narratives disappear. "For some portion of this set of conspiracy theory believers, no amount of contradictory evidence will ever be enough," said Josephine Lukito, who studies conspiracy theorists at the University of Texas at Austin. Trump and his colleagues set their own trap The president and many figures in his administration — includingBondi,Bonginoand FBI DirectorKash Patel— earned their political capital over the years in part by encouraging disproven conspiracy theories on a range of topics, from elections to vaccines. Now, they're tasked with trying to reveal the evidence they'd long insisted was there — a challenge that's reached across the government. Last week, Environmental Protection Agency AdministratorLee Zeldinposted on X what seemed like an endorsement ofa notorious conspiracy theorythat the contrails left by aircraft are releasing chemicals for potentially nefarious reasons. But a second post from Zeldin underscored the fine line the Trump administration is trying to walk by linking to a new page on the EPA website that essentially debunked the theory. The value of conspiratorial fabrications is that they help people get political power, said Russell Muirhead, who teaches political science at Dartmouth College. He said Trump has exploited that "more ably than anybody probably in American history." But the Epstein case brings unique challenges, he said. That's because it's rooted in truth: A wealthy and well-connected financierdid spend yearsabusing large numbers of young girls while escaping justice. As a result, Trump needs to come forward with truth and transparency on the topic, Muirhead said. If he doesn't, "large segments of his most enthusiastic and devoted supporters are going to lose faith in him." A potentially costly distraction As right-wing outrage over Epstein dominates the political conversation, Democrats and other Trump rivals have been taking advantage. Several Democratic lawmakers have called for the release of all Epstein files and suggested Trump could be resisting because he or someone close to him is featured in them. Conservatives expressed concerns that Trump's approach on Epstein could hurt them in the midterms. "For this to go away, you're going to lose 10% of the MAGA movement," right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon said during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on Friday. There's also the challenge of governing. Bondi and Bonginohad a tense exchangelast week at the White House over a story about Epstein, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation. And Loomer, who is close to Trump, said Friday she was told that Bongino was "seriously thinking about resigning." Bongino showed up at work Monday, according to a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss personnel issues. The FBI declined to comment. Patel also took to social media Friday to dismiss what he called "conspiracy theories" that he himself would be leaving the administration. Dallek, the George Washington University professor, said it's alarming that the country's top law enforcement officials are feuding over a conspiracy theory. "It's possible at some time voters are going to notice the things they want or expect government to do aren't being done because the people in charge are either incompetent or off chasing rabbits," he said. "Who is fulfilling the mission of the FBI to protect the American people?" ___ Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Melissa Goldin and Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that's coming back to haunt him

Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that's coming back to haunt him NEW YORK (AP) — As his supporters e...

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Former Olympic champion Nina Derwael retires from gymnastics

Former Olympic champion Nina Derwael retires from gymnastics

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael, a former Olympic champion on the uneven bars, is retiring from the sport, her national federation said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Derwael won the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and has decided to call it quits after capturing two more titles at the European Championships in June. "Winning double gold at the European Championships a month and a half ago was the last highlight of her long and extremely successful gymnastics career, and the perfect time for her to retire," the federation said. Derwael won multiple medals at major championships. She was crowned world champion on the uneven bars in 2018 and 2019. "I have achieved everything I wanted to. I proved what I was capable of," she said, adding that she no longer wants to put her body under extreme strain. "Recently, I have increasingly found myself asking: 'Hasn't it been enough? Is it worth risking my body?' Ultimately, I have to conclude that it has been enough," she said. ___ More AP sports:https://apnews.com/apf-sport

byMario Satorik

in

July 15, 2025

Former Olympic champion Nina Derwael retires from gymnastics

Former Olympic champion Nina Derwael retires from gymnastics BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael, a former Olympic champion on the ...

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