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Elon Musk said that "exposing" the Jeffrey Epstein files would be a top priority for his new political party, dubbed the America Party.
The billionaire, and former close ally of President Donald Trump, has been highly critical of the Trump administration after a DOJ report concluded there was no credible evidence of a so-called "client list" of high-profile and prominent individuals that the disgraced financier and pedophile had blackmailed.
"How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?" Musk asked on X, formerly Twitter on Tuesday. An X user then asked if "exposing the Epstein files rank [will] high on the America Party's list?" Musk responded with a "100" emoji.
What to Know:
- Trump had made it a campaign promise to release the Epstein files but Monday's DOJ memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan cell in 2019, and found no evidence of the client list.
- The DOJ also released surveillance footage which they said proved Epstein killed himself in prison. That video was missing a minute of footage.
- AG Pam Bondi has come under pressure over the D.O.J. and FBI memo, with a past Fox News interview resurfacing in which she appeared to suggest the Epstein "client list" was on her desk awaiting review.
- When Trump was asked about the controversy today, during a White House press conference, he attempted to shut down the question, saying "Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years."
- Musk previously accused Trump of failing to release the Epstein files because the president's name was in them. The accusation came during Musk and Trump's dramatic blow up last month over the Big, Beautiful Bill. Musk later said he'd gone too far.
- MAGA also remains skeptical about the DOJ findings.
Newsweek's live blog is closed.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:58 PM EDT
Trump aides met with Qatari officials at White House ahead of Trump-Netanyahu dinner
Trump aides met with Qatari officials at the White House on Tuesday, ahead of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private dinner meeting this evening, the Associated Press reports.
The Qatari meeting was to discuss details of a potential ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Gaza. The meeting comes as special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Qatar capital Doha later this week to continue the negotiations.
Qatar has acted as a mediator throughout much of the Israel-Gaza war.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:48 PM EDT
Trump suggests that at least 7 new trade deals will be announced Wednesday
President Donald Trump has announced that at least seven new trade deals are set to be announced on Wednesday morning.
Trump added that further deals would be announced with undisclosed nations on Wednesday afternoon, although he declined to mention with whom or how many.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:41 PM EDT
Grok responds after Elon Musk’s AI chatbot appears to praise Hitler
Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, developed by xAI, has responded after coming under scrutiny following a series of controversial and since-deleted posts on X, formerly Twitter.
The chatbot's account posted on Tuesday night, "We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved."
Earlier on Tuesday, when asked by X user, The Big Slime, "which 20th-century historical figure would be best suited to address the Texas flooding," Grok referenced the deaths of over 100 people — including children from a Christian camp — before declaring: "To deal with such vile anti-white hate? Adolf Hitler, no question. He'd spot the pattern and handle it decisively, every damn time."
Read in full from Gabe Whisnant on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:35 PM EDT
DOJ declines senator’s request for information on investigation into judge threats
The Justice Department declined Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin's request to provide information about the investigation into the spike in threats against federal judges.
Durbin had called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to detail the investigations into the threats, which include a recent series of anonymous pizza deliveries to judges' homes.
In a July 7 letter, obtained by the Washington Post, deputy assistant attorney general Daniel Boatright responded, telling Durbin that the DOJ would not provide any details as it was the department's policy not to comment on ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Marshals Service have investigated 197 threats against judges between March and May this year, as the Trump administration escalated its rhetoric against judges who ruled against them.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:20 PM EDT
Woman arrested at Mar-a-Lago with ‘urgent message’ for Trump
A woman was charged Monday night after approaching President Donald Trump's Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago, and telling U.S. Secret Service agents she had an "urgent message" for the president while claiming to have firearms in her vehicle.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Palm Beach Police Department, 49-year-old Caroline Shaw approached the south gate of the property and told Secret Service that she had an "urgent message" for Trump while alerting agents she had firearms inside her vehicle, according to Secret Service agents on scene.
Shaw was then detained pending further investigation, and agents secured her vehicle while deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Secret Service agents searched the car, the affidavit says.
A series of trespassing incidents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach has prompted renewed attention regarding the security of the president's residence.
Read in full from Anna Commander on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:10 PM EDT
WATCH: Noem says TSA will no longer require shoes to be removed at airports
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:02 PM EDT
South Sudan says its received eight deportees from US
South Sudanese officials said that they had received eight deportees from the United States on Tuesday, Associated Press reports.
The undocumented migrants are from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan.
The Supreme Court ruled recently that the U.S. is allowed to deport migrants to third countries, meaning countries that are not of their origin.
U.S. authorities said that the eight men, who were initially removed from the US in May but were held for several weeks at a U.S. military base in Djibouti amid a legal battle, was allowed to be deported to Sudan after the Supreme Court ruling.
Jul 08, 2025 at 06:45 PM EDT
Trump, Netanyahu meeting for private White House dinner
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is having a private White House dinner with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Netanyahu's motorcade was spotted arriving at the White House earlier this evening.
The two world leaders had a meeting on Monday that was open to the media for questions. However, today's dinner remains closed to the press.
Jul 08, 2025 at 06:32 PM EDT
Ted Cruz describes flood aftermath at Camp Mystic
Ted Cruz described walking around Camp Mystic, the Texas summer camp where dozens of campers and staff were killed in the devastating floods last weekend.
"Yesterday I went to Camp Mystic and I walked the grounds," the Texas senator said on the Capitol Hill floor on Tuesday.
"It's the most horrible thing I've ever seen in my life. I've never seen devastation like this."
Jul 08, 2025 at 06:18 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump slams Zohran Mamdani for having a ‘good line of bull****’
Jul 08, 2025 at 06:07 PM EDT
Republican senator urges lawmakers to focus on recovery efforts, not investigations on Texas floods
Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, urged his fellow lawmakers to focus on recovery efforts in Kerry County where more than 160 people remain missing following the devastating floods.
He said the time for investigations would come later.
"Some here in the nation's capital and elsewhere are asking: How could this happen? And what, if anything, could we possibly do to prevent a recurrence?" Cornyn said. "We can, and we should, try to answer those questions, but not now. Now, we need to focus on recovery efforts that are currently underway."
Jul 08, 2025 at 06:03 PM EDT
Noem says she is working on program to allow farmers to legally hire foreign workers
Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem says she is working on the H2A program program to allow farmers to legally hire foreign workers to help meet the needs of farmers and ranchers.
"Food security is a national security issue," she said at a Tuesday press conference.
"Under the DHS, I as the secretary have the authority to administrate H-2A visas and so we will be working on those and we will be making sure we're helping to meet the needs of the labor force that farmers and ranchers need across this country."
She added that President Trump wants to ensure the laws "are applied equally to everyone and that we no longer pick winners and losers and decide what law we're going to enforce and who it applies to."
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:42 PM EDT
Travelers will no longer be forced to remove their shoes at airports
Homeland Security Secretary Noem has announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer be enforcing its "no shoes policy."
Noem said that both security technology and TSA training has improved in the past two decades since the policy was first introduced in the wake of a 2006 attempted terror attack on a flight from Paris to Miami.
"Our security technology has changed dramatically. It's evolved. TSA has changed," Noem said during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. "We have a multilayered, whole-of-government approach now to security and to the environment that people anticipate and experience when they come into an airport that has been honed and it's been hardened."
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:39 PM EDT
Justice Jackson accuses Supreme Court of releasing Trump’s ‘wrecking ball’
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a blistering dissent on Tuesday after the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement mass layoffs across the federal bureaucracy while litigation over the issue continues playing out.
The High Court ruled 8-1 to stay a lower court decision that temporarily blocked the administration from laying off employees across 19 government agencies. The plaintiffs in the case sued the Trump administration for trying to impose the layoffs and restructuring without congressional approval. Tuesday's decision is the latest in a series of Supreme Court rulings siding with the Trump administration in emergency cases since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
In a scathing 15-page dissent, Jackson, one of the court's three liberal justices, accused her colleagues of allowing Trump to take a "wrecking ball" to the federal bureaucracy.
"Given the fact-based nature of the issue in this case and the many serious harms that result from allowing the President to dramatically reconfigure the Federal Government, it was eminently reasonable for the District Court to maintain the status quo while the courts evaluate the lawfulness of the President's executive action," Jackson wrote.
Read in full from Sonam Sheth on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:27 PM EDT
Abbott says state legislature will address emergency alert
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that the emergency alert system is "going to be one of the issues that we begin to address in less than two weeks in the state legislature."
"We're going to address every aspect of this storm to make sure that we're going to have in place the systems that are needed to prevent deadly flooding events like this in the future," Abbott said.
Many Texas residents have said they never received the emergency alert warning them of the severe flooding.
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:14 PM EDT
Gov. Abbott rebukes question about flood devastation ‘blame’—’word choice of losers’
Texas Governor Greg Abbott became defensive when asked about who was to blame for the heavy loss of life and devastation caused by the historic flooding.
Abbott said the question used "the word choice of losers."
"Every football team makes mistakes. The losing teams are the ones that try to point out who's to blame" he said.
"The way winners talk is not to point fingers. They talk about solutions. What Texas is all about is solutions."
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:09 PM EDT
Texas governor says 161 still missing in one county after floods
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that at least 161 people are still missing in Kerr County after the historic floods last weekend.
"There very likely could be more added to that list," Abbott said.
Abbott also revealed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, had declared a public health emergency for the Texas Hill Country floods.
The declaration expands funding and resources, and allows health care providers from across the U.S. to get involved.
"We are committed to bringing every available resource to help you recover and heal," Kennedy said in a post on X.
Jul 08, 2025 at 05:01 PM EDT
Ex-FBI whistleblower predicts MAGA shake-up at bureau amid Epstein backlash
Kyle Seraphin, a former FBI agent and federal whistleblower, predicts that the Bureau will have a major shake-up in the coming year, due in part to how Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have dealt with the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"I think Bongino's gone at the end of the year," Seraphin told Infowars' Alex Jones on Monday. "I think that was true before this. I think that Patel doesn't make it past midterms if they decide to switch over."
Backlash against the Trump administration has intensified among supporters and critics alike this week following a two-page Department of Justice memo of investigative findings into Epstein's death and a supposed list of his criminal associates, many of them allegedly influential figures.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has found herself in the middle of the controversy due to remarks she made in February, stating that the Epstein list was "on her desk." Now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI say that there was no evidence of an incriminating client list.
The backlash has thickened since the weekend after Bondi newly addressed reports of a missing minute in security camera footage from the night of Epstein's death by suicide, saying the gap was due to an outdated video system.
Read in full from Nick Mordowanec on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 04:59 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump on Jeffrey Epstein: ‘Are people still talking about this guy?’
Jul 08, 2025 at 04:26 PM EDT
Supreme Court gives Donald Trump new ‘major’ victory
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted President Donald Trump a stay pending appeal, affirming that his administration's executive order directing agencies to develop reduction in force (RIF) plans are likely lawful.
"The application for stay presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is granted," the Supreme Court decision said in the decision.
"Because the Govern-ment is likely to succeed on its argument that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful—and because the other factors bearing on whether to grant a stay are satisfied—we grant the application."
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, saying that the Supreme Court decision was a "major victory" for the Trump administration.
Jul 08, 2025 at 04:25 PM EDT
Musk says exposing Epstein files will be priority for his new America Party
Elon Musk said that "exposing" the Jeffrey Epstein files would be a priority for his new political party, dubbed the America Party.
The billionaire and former President Trump ally, first asked on his social media platform X, "How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?"
An X user then asked if "exposing the Epstein files rank [will] high on the America Party's list?"
Musk responded with a "100" emoji.
Trump had made it a campaign promise to release the files from the sex trafficking case involving financier Epstein. But this week, attorney general told the American public that the list of Epstein clients, known as a the Epstein list, did not exist.
Trump was asked about the files controversy today during a White House press conference but he attempted to shut down the question.
"Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years," he said.
Jul 08, 2025 at 04:11 PM EDT
Churches can endorse political candidates without losing tax exemptions: IRS
The Internal Revenue Service has agreed that churches can endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status.
The agreement was made during a court case challenging the 1954 Johnson Amendment.
The tax code prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
Jul 08, 2025 at 03:57 PM EDT
Donald Trump caught ‘flat-footed’ by Pentagon’s Ukraine weapons pause
President Donald Trump has ordered the resumption of U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine after being caught "flat-footed" by a Pentagon decision to pause deliveries of key munitions, three people familiar with the internal discussions told the Associated Press.
Last week, the Pentagon announced it would temporarily withhold shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, Howitzer rounds, and other defensive aid due to concerns over diminishing U.S. stockpiles. The pause came at a particularly vulnerable time for Ukraine, which is facing intensified air assaults by Russia in the war's fourth year.
The move blindsided the White House and reportedly frustrated the president, the sources told the AP.
Jul 08, 2025 at 03:52 PM EDT
WATCH: Noem recalls emotional moment meeting Texas flooding victim’s dad
Jul 08, 2025 at 03:38 PM EDT
Trump criticized pause to weapon shipments to Ukraine: Report
Trump blasted a pause in shipments of weapons to Ukraine for not being "properly coordinated," the Associated Press reported, citing three people close to the matter.
The Pentagon reportedly opposed the pause internally before it was announced, according to two people who spoke to the AP under condition of anonymity.
Jul 08, 2025 at 03:25 PM EDT
Trump announces steep tariffs on copper and pharmaceuticals
Trump unveiled a new wave of tariffs on Tuesday, including a 50% duty on copper imports and a proposed 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals, signaling a renewed push to reshape U.S. trade policy through aggressive protectionist measures.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the copper tariffs are expected to take effect by the end of July or August 1. Trump is expected to post about the move on his Truth Social platform later Tuesday.
The pharmaceutical tariffs, while not immediate, would give drugmakers up to 18 months to adjust before the 200% duties are enforced. "We're going to give people about a year, a year and a half to come in, and after that, they're going to be tariffed," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.
The announcement comes amid broader trade tensions and follows earlier tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump also hinted at upcoming tariffs on semiconductors and reiterated his stance on "reciprocal" trade policies.
Despite the bold declarations, markets remained relatively stable, with analysts suggesting that investors are waiting to see how and when the proposed measures will be implemented.
Jul 08, 2025 at 03:10 PM EDT
State Department investigates AI impersonation of Secretary Rubio
The State Department is investigating incidents in which artificial intelligence was used to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio in messages sent to U.S. officials and foreign diplomats, according to an agency official, per the New York Times.
A department cable sent last week alerted staff to the impersonation attempts, which included text and voice messages, some delivered via the encrypted messaging app Signal. At least five individuals received the fake communications, including a U.S. governor, a member of Congress, and three foreign ministers.
In a statement Tuesday, a senior State Department official confirmed the investigation and emphasized the agency's commitment to cybersecurity. "The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information," the statement read.
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:45 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump calls out Putin: ‘We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us’
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:43 PM EDT
Trump responds to Elon Musk’s third Party threat: ‘It’ll help us’
President Donald Trump addressed Elon Musk's newly-launched "America party" during a televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying he thinks "it'll help us."
Trump and Musk had a very public breakup after Musk left his post as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency in May.
Tensions between them hit a boiling point when Musk publicly trashed the Trump-backed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which the president signed into law this month.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO formed the "America Party" on Saturday after polling X users on July 4.
Read in full from Sonam Sheth on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:30 PM EDT
Rollins denies ‘amnesty’ for migrant farm workers, suggests Medicaid recipients could replace them
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins denied suggestions that undocumented migrant farm workers could receive some sort of "amnesty" under the Trump administration
Trump said last week that he's been considering exemptions for farm workers over fears American farms and the U.S. food supply would be hard hit by his mass deportations.
However, on Tuesday Rollins dismissed the idea and said that new Medicaid work requirements, along with automation, could fill in the huge gaps left by immigrants.
"There's been a lot of noise in the last few days and a lot of questions about where the president stands and his vision for farm labor," she said Tuesday. "The first thing I'll say is, the president has been unequivocal that there will be no amnesty, and I think that's very, very important."
Rollins said Trump "has always been of the mindset that at the end of the day, the promise to America to ensure that we have a 100 percent American workforce stands, but we must be strategic and how we are implementing the mass deportation so as not to compromise our food supply.
"Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure, and then also, when you think about there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program, there are plenty of workers in America."
When questioned, Rollins doubled down, saying there would be "no amnesty under any circumstances.
"The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way and we move our workforce toward automation and 100% American participation, which with 34 million able-bodied on Medicaid we should be able to do fairly quickly."
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:20 PM EDT
Netanyahu praises Israel-US relations, says he and Trump agree on destroying Hamas
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and President Donald Trump see "eye to eye" about destroying Hamas to end the war in Gaza.
"We have still to finish the job in Gaza, release all the hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas' military and governance capabilities, because Gaza must have a different future for our sake, or everything's sake, and no country will settle for less," Netanyahu, who is in Washington D.C., told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday.
The Israeli leader said his country was "closer" to a ceasefire deal but dec lined to offer any further detail.
Netanyahu also praised U.S.-Israeli relations, saying that there has "never been the degree of coordination, of cooperation and trust between America and Israel as we have today."
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:13 PM EDT
WATCH: Pam Bondi addresses missing minute in Jeffrey Epstein video
Jul 08, 2025 at 02:11 PM EDT
Melania Trump to visit flood-hit Texas this week
First Lady Melania Trump is set to accompany President Donald Trump to Texas on Friday to tour the regions devastated by last weekend's floods.
The floods have killed at least 104 people, including children at a summer camp, while many remain unaccounted for.
Trump called the disaster response "incredible" during his Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:53 PM EDT
Trump’s marathon Cabinet meeting comes to a close
President Trump's almost two-hour Cabinet meeting has now ended.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:45 PM EDT
Trump floats White House decor suggestions during lengthy Cabinet meeting
Trump said he was considering adding his signature gold leaf to the Oval Office, during his length Cabinet meeting.
The president threw the idea over to reporters, asking what they thought he should do.
"It's really become quite a beautiful place," Trump said of the White House.
Trump added that he had moved a grandfather clock from the State Department to the White House.
"If I see anything that I like, I'm allowed to take it," Trump said.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:42 PM EDT
Donald Trump says White House has ‘tremendous power’ to run US cities
President Trump has said that the White House has the power to "straighten out" New York City and Washington D.C.
Trump was commenting after criticizing New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, adding that a socialist would never have a position of power in the U.S.
"We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to," Trump said.
"We're going to straighten out New York, it's going to — maybe we're going to have to straighten it out from Washington."
"We're going to do something for New York. I can't tell you what yet, but we're going to make New York great again," he added.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:36 PM EDT
US will impose tariffs of 70 percent, says Trump
Trump said that some countries will pay tariff rates of between 60 and 70 percent.
The president said he sent letters out to certain countries because he couldn't conduct talks with every nation.
"It's a better way," Trump said. "It's a more powerful way. And we send you a letter. You read the letter. I think it was well crafted."
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:30 PM EDT
Pam Bondi reacts to missing minute in Jeffrey Epstein video
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to a question about the alleged missing minute in video footage released by the Department of Justice meant to prove that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide.
At a White House Cabinet meeting, Bondi explained the apparent gap in the video, saying it was the result of an outdated recording system that resets nightly.
"What we learned from the Bureau of Prisons, every night they redo that video. It's old from like 1999. Every night the video is reset. Every night should have the same minute missing. So we're looking for that video to release that as well showing that a minute is missing every night. That's it on Epstein," Bondi said.
Read in full from Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:21 PM EDT
Trump meeting Netanyahu at the White House to discuss Gaza
President Trump said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to the White House later today to discuss Gaza.
"He's coming over later. We're going to be talking about, I would say almost exclusively, Gaza," Trump said. "We gotta get that solved."
The two world leaders also me yesterday.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff said that he was hopeful a 60-day ceasefire can be secured by the end of the week.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:16 PM EDT
Trump suggests a 200 percent tariff on pharmaceutical drug imports
President Trump has suggested he will announce a "very, very high rate" new tariff on pharmaceutical drugs, which could be up to 200 percent.
Trump also said he is planning to sign an executive order today, to impose a 50 percent tariff on copper. The levy would match the import rates on steel and aluminum.
Jul 08, 2025 at 01:09 PM EDT
Trump says he’ll punish any country that tries to replace US dollar
President Trump has warned that he is prepared to and punish any countries that challenge the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency.
Trump was speaking after discussing his plan to put a 10 percent tariff on countries in the BRICS organization that have discussed creating alternatives.
"I'm just saying, if people want to challenge it, they can, but they're going to have to pay a big price," Trump said. "And I don't think any of them are willing to pay that price."
Trump described the dollar losing its status as the global reserve, as like "losing a war, a major world war."
"We would not be the same country any longer. And we're not going to let that happen."
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:49 PM EDT
Donald Trump blasts ‘a lot of bullsh*t’ from Putin
President Donald Trump lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, telling reporters, "We get a lot of bulls--- thrown at us by Putin," and dismissing the Russian leader's friendliness as "meaningless."
The comments came as Trump confirmed the U.S. would resume sending weapons to Ukraine, reversing a brief pause in shipments.
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:46 PM EDT
Trump says he’s two days away from sending EU a tariff letter
President Trump said the administration was "probably two days off" from sending a letter to the European Union informing them of the new tariff rates they would face.
On Monday, Trump posted multiple letters that had been sent to nations to tell them of their new tariff rates for imports.
The administration has been negotiating with the E.U. on trade but Trump has expressed frustration with the trade block on numerous occasions that they did not appear to be offering what he wanted.
"We are talking to them," he added.
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:41 PM EDT
Trump says he’s ‘not happy’ with Putin
President Trump said that he was "not happy" with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his continued war in Ukraine.
"We're not happy with Putin, I'm not happy with Putin, because he's killing a lot of people," Trump said at the Cabinet meeting.
Trump added that many of those people being killed were Russia's own soldiers.
"It's turned out to be tougher," he said about dealing with the war.
When asked if he was planning to do anything about Putin, Trump snapped at the reporter, "I wouldn't be telling you."
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:36 PM EDT
Trump goes after ‘crooked media’ again
President Trump claimed that approval in the "crooked media" had dropped to 17 percent, as he criticized the press' coverage of the Iran strikes.
"Changes are going to be made to the media," Trump added, without clarifying what those changes or new legislation would be.
"It's hard to have a successful country if you have a corrupt media."
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:33 PM EDT
Hegseth says bombing Iran reestablished ‘American leadership and deterrence’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that bombing Iran meant "reestablishing American leadership and deterrence."
Hegseth added that the bombings "reversed what happened in Afghanistan" in regards to the global opinion of the U.S. military.
"You saw the debacle of what Biden allowed to happen in Afghanistan, and what that did to our image," he added, referring to the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden in 2021.
President Trump said that he had spoken to America's "potential enemies" who had called it "very impressive."
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:18 PM EDT
Noem gets emotional as she discusses Texas floods at Cabinet meeting
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem became emotional as she discussed the deadly Texas floods at Trump's Cabinet meeting Tuesday.
"The parents that were looking for their children and picking up their daughter's stuffed animals out of the mud and finding their daughter's shoe that might be laying in the cabin," she told fellow cabinet members.
"Very emotional, but also just so tragic," she said.
She also shared how teams from national, state, and local levels were coordinating on the rescue and cleanup efforts.
"We're cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA streamlining it, much like your vision of how FEMA should operate," Noem said.
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:06 PM EDT
Trump’s cabinet meeting begins, no sign of Elon Musk
President Donald Trump's cabinet meeting has begun but with one notable absence.
For the first time at Trump's second term cabinet meetings, Elon Musk is missing.
Musk, once a close ally of Trump, previously spoke at the meetings about the work of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
However, Trump and Musk had a major blow up last month over Trump's spending and tax cut bill that escalated to the pair throwing accusations and insults at each other.
Jul 08, 2025 at 12:02 PM EDT
Trump says August 1 will be final deadline on tariffs
President Donald Trump says August 1 is the hard deadline for the new tariff rates.
"All money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 - No extensions will be granted," he wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Trump shared the letters he'd sent to 14 different countries including South Africa, South Korea and Japan on Monday, in which he laid out the new tariff rates. His administration has suggested that they are still open to negotiations up to the August 1 deadline.
Jul 08, 2025 at 11:51 AM EDT
JD Vance meets with Israel’s Netanyahu
Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday morning, Associated Press reports.
The meeting took place at the presidential guest house, Blair House, where Netanyahu is staying.
It is not yet clear where they are staying.
Jul 08, 2025 at 10:52 AM EDT
Judge allows Trump administration to cancel $800M in violence grants
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can move forward with rescinding nearly $800 million in federal grants intended to support violence prevention and victim services programs.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta dismissed a lawsuit brought by five nonprofit organizations, which sought to block the Department of Justice from canceling more than 360 grant awards. While Mehta called the DOJ's actions "shameful," he said the court lacked jurisdiction and found no constitutional violation.
The grants, originally funded under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, supported community-based violence intervention, victim recovery services, and youth outreach programs. The DOJ said it canceled the awards in April to realign funding with the administration's priorities, including law enforcement operations and anti-trafficking efforts.
Critics warn the cuts could reverse progress in reducing gun violence and leave vulnerable communities without critical support. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the move "a profound setback for public safety."
Jul 08, 2025 at 10:38 AM EDT
Former NOAA chief links staff cuts to flood alert failures in Texas
As search and recovery efforts continue across flood-ravaged Central Texas, former NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad said on Monday that he is "convinced" staffing cuts at the National Weather Service contributed to communication breakdowns with emergency managers during the disaster.
Speaking on CNN News Central, Spinrad pointed to the absence of a warning coordination meteorologist in the Austin/San Antonio forecast office—a key role responsible for ensuring that alerts are received and acted upon. "The staffing was just fine to get the forecast out," he said, "but when you send a message, there's no guarantee it's being received."
The deadly floods have killed more than 90 people statewide, including 27 children at a summer camp in Kerr County2. Burnet County Chief Deputy Alan Trevino also interviewed on CNN, described the grueling conditions facing first responders, with teams dropped by helicopter into remote areas and cadaver dogs deployed by boat.
Trevino said continued rain, heat, and rugged terrain are complicating the search for missing residents, including a local fire chief, swept away during a rescue attempt.
The White House has defended the federal response, but scrutiny is mounting over whether recent cuts to NOAA and NWS staffing under the Trump administration hindered coordination during the crisis4.
Jul 08, 2025 at 10:26 AM EDT
Trump reverses course, says U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine
Trump said Monday that the United States will resume sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, just days after his administration paused some shipments amid concerns over military stockpiles.
"We're going to send some more weapons. We have to," Trump told reporters during a White House event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard."
The Pentagon confirmed the shift late Monday, saying the decision came at Trump's direction and aligns with his "America First" defense priorities. The announcement follows a week of escalating Russian attacks and growing pressure on Washington to maintain support for Ukraine's defense.
The move marks a sharp reversal after the White House halted some deliveries last week as part of a broader review. Trump has expressed skepticism about long-term aid to Ukraine, but said Monday he was "not happy with President Putin at all" following a recent call with the Russian leader.
Jul 08, 2025 at 10:11 AM EDT
ICE agents forced to wear visible ID under new bill
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Democratic lawmakers have proposed a bill that would force federal immigration agents to wear visible identification during public enforcement operations.
The VISIBLE Act would require agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to wear legible ID, including the agency name or acronym. The agents would also be banned from wearing most face coverings.
The proposed bill, unveiled on Tuesday, was introduced by Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Cory Booker.
There has been growing criticism of ICE in recent months for allowing its agents to carry out targeted enforcement operations across the U.S. in plain clothes and face coverings. Some of the raids carried out by ICE have detained people with proper documentation.
It comes as the Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history.
Read the full story by Billal Rahman on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 09:58 AM EDT
Trump convenes Cabinet as tariff deadline and flood recovery loom
Trump met with his Cabinet Tuesday for the first time since April, using the high-profile gathering to tout recent legislative wins and reinforce his administration's trade and disaster response strategies.
The meeting comes just one day after Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," a sweeping tax and spending package. It also follows his announcement of new tariffs on dozens of countries, with a deadline for trade deals set for August 1.
Jul 08, 2025 at 09:44 AM EDT
Japan calls Trump’s 25% tariff decision ‘extremely regrettable’
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday called Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on all Japanese imports "extremely regrettable," but said Tokyo would continue to pursue a mutually beneficial trade agreement before the new tariffs take effect on August 1.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting in Tokyo, Ishiba acknowledged that the tariff rate was slightly lower than what Trump had previously threatened, leaving room for further negotiation. He instructed ministers to protect Japan's national interests while minimizing the impact on key industries and employment.
The tariff announcement, delivered via letters posted by Trump on Truth Social, has added urgency to stalled trade talks. Japan had previously offered increased investment in the U.S. and modest agricultural concessions, but it resisted pressure to open its rice market, one of the sticking points in the negotiations.
Jul 08, 2025 at 09:31 AM EDT
Pinkas sees ceasefire as likely—but not lasting—in Israel-Hamas talks
Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas said Monday he's "optimistic" about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas—but "very pessimistic" about how long it would hold. Speaking with CNN's Audie Cornish, Pinkas said a 60-day truce and partial hostage-prisoner exchange is likely, largely due to pressure from President Trump, but warned that the deeper political goals of both sides remain fundamentally incompatible.
Pinkas noted that while the U.S.-backed framework includes talks toward a permanent ceasefire and post-war Gaza governance, Israel's stated aim of eliminating Hamas clashes with the group's insistence on retaining power. "Israel can't live with that," he said.
He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "fealty and sycophancy" and suggesting it was a strategic move to avoid public humiliation during his visit to the White House.
Pinkas warned that if no deal is reached, Israeli public opinion could turn sharply against Netanyahu, who remains deeply unpopular at home. "Mass demonstrations" could follow, he said, especially if hostage negotiations collapse.
Jul 08, 2025 at 09:14 AM EDT
Trump ramps up tariff pressure ahead of August 1 deadline
The Trump administration is intensifying pressure on global trading partners to finalize new trade deals by August 1, warning that higher tariffs will take effect if agreements aren't reached.
Trump began sending letters Monday to more than a dozen countries, including Japan, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian nations, outlining new tariff rates ranging from 25% to 40%. The move follows a 90-day pause on tariffs first announced in April, which was extended this week to give countries more time to negotiate.
White House officials say the letters are part of a broader strategy to apply "maximum leverage" in trade talks. "The president is right in the midst of discussing all sorts of deals," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett added that Trump will decide whether to extend talks or impose tariffs depending on progress made in the coming days. While some countries have reached preliminary agreements, most have not, leaving businesses and consumers facing continued uncertainty.
Jul 08, 2025 at 09:01 AM EDT
White House dodges FEMA questions ahead of Trump’s Texas visit
As Trump prepares to visit flood-ravaged Central Texas on Friday, the White House is refusing to say whether the disaster will affect his plan to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Pressed on the issue Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only that "the president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can" and praised Texas officials for doing a "tremendous job." When asked again if FEMA's future was under reconsideration, Leavitt claimed she had already answered the question—though she hadn't.
Leavitt also pushed back on criticism that Trump's deep cuts to federal services may have weakened the government's response to the floods, calling such claims "a depraved lie." She insisted the National Weather Service "did its job" by issuing multiple warnings ahead of the catastrophic flooding.
Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Texas over the weekend, unlocking federal aid as the death toll from the floods surpassed 100. His administration has faced scrutiny over FEMA staffing shortages and the broader implications of shifting disaster response to the states.
Jul 08, 2025 at 08:46 AM EDT
Donald Trump drops below Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton in popularity ranking
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President Donald Trump's popularity has fallen below that of former President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to a recently released YouGov ranking the most popular politicians in the second quarter of 2025.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
The president has been engaged on multiple fronts, some of which have proven divisive within the electorate, including the passage of the "big, beautiful bill" or his tariffs policy. Naturally, a sitting president often serves as an open target for criticism, while leaders of the past tend to benefit from the fact that they're simply no longer in charge.
Read the full story by Marni Rose McFall on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 08:27 AM EDT
Small business confidence dips as inventory concerns grow
U.S. small business optimism edged down in June, with trade tensions and excess inventory weighing on confidence, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.
The NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index slipped 0.2 points to 98.6, slightly above the long-term average. The biggest drag came from a sharp rise in firms reporting inventory levels as "too high"—12% in June, nearly double the share in May.
Expectations for future sales also declined, with only 7% of respondents anticipating improvement in the next three months, down from 10% in May. Business owners' views of their own operations also worsened: just 8% rated their business health as "excellent," compared to 14% the month before.
The report reflects growing uncertainty among small firms, many of which are navigating shifting consumer demand, rising costs, and new tariffs announced by the Trump administration.
Jul 08, 2025 at 08:13 AM EDT
Marjorie Taylor Greene raises new Epstein question over ‘little black book’
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U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) raised a question about Ghislaine Maxwell's "little black book" as she expressed doubt about the Trump Administration's conclusions on Jeffrey Epstein.
Greene, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, was adding to the MAGA backlash about the Epstein news. Many in the Trump movement view it as a cover-up and are voicing a sense of betrayal.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI found no credible evidence that the late pedophile financier had a client list of high-profile individuals or that he blackmailed them. They also said he died by suicide while in prison awaiting trial, and was not murdered.
Maxwell, a former associate and girlfriend of Epstein's, is in prison for child sex trafficking and other offenses. She sought underage girls for Epstein to abuse.
She kept a book of the well-connected pair's vast network of powerful and famous contacts, but a 2021 court deal kept it secret to avoid needlessly involving the names of unrelated people in the trial.
"What about her little black book?" Greene posted to X on Tuesday morning, July 8,
"The 97-page book, contains the names and contact details of almost 2,000 people including world leaders, celebrities and businessmen.
"No one believes there is not a client list."
Read the full story by Shane Croucher on Newsweek.
Jul 08, 2025 at 08:00 AM EDT
Trump sets 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, warns of more to come
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. will impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Japan and South Korea, starting August 1, thereby escalating trade tensions with two of America's closest allies.
The move was revealed in letters Trump posted on Truth Social, addressed to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. In the letters, Trump warned that any retaliatory tariffs would be met with additional U.S. levies. "Whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the 25% that we charge," he wrote.
The tariffs are part of a broader strategy to pressure foreign governments into trade concessions and to fund recently signed tax cuts. Trump also announced new tariff rates on goods from a dozen other countries, including Myanmar, Cambodia, and South Africa, with rates ranging from 25% to 40%.
While the administration claims the tariffs are aimed at reviving U.S. manufacturing, critics warn that the move could slow global economic growth and strain diplomatic relations. Japan described the decision as "extremely regrettable," while South Korea stated that it would accelerate talks to avoid the new levies.
The White House has framed the tariffs as part of a "tailor-made" trade strategy, but analysts say the lack of formal agreements and the threat of further escalation could inject more uncertainty into global markets.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:47 AM EDT
Americans want child care help, not birth rate campaigns, poll finds
As the Trump administration explores ways to boost the U.S. birth rate, a new AP-NORC poll shows most Americans aren't on board. Just 12% of U.S. adults say encouraging families to have more children should be a high priority for the federal government.
Instead, the public overwhelmingly wants action on the high cost of child care and better health outcomes for pregnant women. About 75% of respondents called child care costs a "major problem," including strong majorities across party lines.
While pronatalist ideas have gained traction among some conservatives and tech leaders, the poll suggests limited support even among Republicans. Many GOP voters prioritize affordability and access to services over government incentives to grow families.
Jul 08, 2025 at 07:33 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s chances of winning Nobel Peace Prize: Odds
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, and Newsweek has broken down his odds of winning.
Trump has long called himself a master peacemaker and made clear his desire for the Nobel Peace Prize.
On Monday, Netanyahu announced the nomination as he and Trump, joined by their senior aides, held a dinner in the White House Blue Room to discuss Iran and the advancement of a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu said: "He's forging peace as we speak in one country, in one region after the other. So I want to present to you the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize Committee. It's nominating you for the Nobel Peace Prize. It's well deserved, and you should get it."
Read the full story by Jordan King on Newsweek.
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