The United States under Donald Trump Trump: “I love inflation” // “Mr. President, you’re not far behind God”

Donald Trump has been President of the United States again since January 20, 2025. You can find all the latest developments in his second presidency here in our live ticker.

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3:00 p.m.

Trump’s change of heart: “I love inflation”

“Trump is handing the Democrats ready-made campaign ads for the midterms,” headlines “Axios.” The reason: Donald Trump was asked yesterday at the White House whether the current inflation rate of 4.2 percent worries him. The president replied: “I love inflation.”

Reporter: Are you concerned, Mr. President, about the latest inflation number which came out this morning? Trump: No, I love it. I love the inflation.

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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 10. Juni 2026 um 18:09

This won’t go over well with consumers who are suffering from rising prices. “Axios” links this clueless remark to two other recent statements that also have the potential to end up in a Democratic campaign ad.

First, there’s Trump’s appearance on May 12: On the White House lawn, the president is asked whether Americans’ financial situation motivates him to strike a deal with Iran. “No, not at all. [...] I don’t think about the financial situation of Americans. I don’t think about anyone.” The only thing that matters, he says, is that Tehran doesn’t have a nuclear bomb.

Journalist: ‘To what extent are Americans' financial situations motivating you to make a deal?’

Trump: ‘Not even a little bit… I don't think about Americans' financial situations’

Welp, there’s a ripper of a political ad. pic.twitter.com/WobqBglilO

— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) May 13, 2026

Another statement that “Axios” includes in this category is a remark from May 27: “I don’t care about the midterms,” Trump says defiantly.

Trump: "I don't care about the midterms"

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 27. Mai 2026 um 18:06

1:27 p.m.

“Mr. President, you’re not far behind God”

Lindsey Graham has been the senator representing South Carolina in Washington since 2003. Now the 70-year-old is eligible to run for another term in the midterm elections this fall after winning the Republican Party primary.

Graham reportedly spent $27 million to secure his party’s nomination. His campaign ads focused on Donald Trump and Graham’s loyalty. He then showcased the latter during his victory speech on June 9 in Columbia.

“I’d like to start with a few words of thanks. I’d like to thank the Big Guy,” Graham says, raising his hands to explain: “God—Trump comes later.” Graham laughs loudly. “Mr. President, you’re not far behind God, but let’s start with Him first.”

Lindsey Graham, in his victory speech: “I want to thank the big guy. God. Trump comes later. Mr. President, you’re not far behind God.” This guy is the worst.

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— Republicans Against Trumpism (@rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social) 10. Juni 2026 um 21:41

Referring to Trump’s endorsement, Graham said happily: “Mr. President, when you supported me early on, it changed everything. You are the gold standard in the Republican world. I think it was probably the most significant endorsement in the history of politics. And when you spoke, the people of South Carolina listened.”

South Carolina will elect a new senator on November 3. For Graham, it would be his fifth term, but Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews wants to prevent that.

4:30 a.m.

Need to discuss tariffs: Parmelin to join Trump for dinner at G7 summit in Evian

President Guy Parmelin is set to attend the gala dinner at the G7 summit in Evian. This is reported by the “Berner Zeitung,” citing multiple sources. The Department of Economic Affairs has not yet commented on the matter when asked. So far, the G7 summit near the Swiss border has caused almost nothing but trouble. But now Parmelin will meet the heads of state of the major Western industrial nations in Evian—and is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump as well. There is a need for discussion with him regarding the latest U.S. tariffs on Swiss exports.

4:22 a.m.

Hegseth: Guantánamo detainees should have been executed long ago

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, following a visit to the U.S. base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, has spoken out in favor of executing those detained in the prison camp there. “In my personal opinion, the detainees at Guantánamo should have been executed long ago for their crimes against the American people,” he told reporters in Tampa, Florida.

Hegseth was responding to a question from a journalist who wanted to know why the 15 remaining detainees at Guantánamo Bay were not being executed to bring justice to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

According to Pentagon data from early 2025, only two of the 15 detainees have been convicted by military courts so far, while proceedings are still ongoing against seven others.

Thursday, June 11, 2026, 3:30 a.m.

Media: Trump Does Not Plan to Attend U.S. World Cup Opener

According to consistent media reports, U.S. President Donald Trump does not plan to attend the U.S. World Cup opener against Paraguay this Friday in person. This was first reported by, among others, the news portal Politico and the New York Times sports magazine “The Athletic,” citing people familiar with the matter. The White House and the State Department did not initially respond to a request for comment.

Previously, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department had announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to the game south of Los Angeles. He was to lead a delegation that also included Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin. On the sidelines of the World Cup match, Rubio plans to discuss topics such as “regional security, trade, investment, and new technologies” with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.

.@SecRubio will travel to Los Angeles June 12-13 to lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s first @FIFAWorldCup match vs. Paraguay. During the match, the Secretary will meet with Paraguayan President @SantiPenap to continue advancing the strong U.S.-Paraguay…

— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox) June 10, 2026

The U.S. is co-hosting the largest World Cup in history alongside Mexico and Canada. For the first time, 48 teams are participating, with a total of 104 matches leading up to the final. The U.S. will play two of its three group stage matches at the NFL stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, south of the city limits. In addition to Paraguay, the U.S. national team will face Australia and Turkey.

9:56 p.m.

Trump: “I love inflation”

U.S. President Donald Trump has caused a stir with a surprising remark about the sharp rise in inflation in the United States. “The numbers were great. I love inflation,” he replied to a journalist’s question about whether the rise in the inflation rate worried him. Trump did not explain exactly why he thinks it’s a good thing that his fellow Americans now have to pay significantly more for everyday groceries and gas. At the same time, however, he held out the prospect of inflation easing—though he did not explain exactly why.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that inflation had risen above four percent in May for the first time in three years. Consumer prices rose by 4.2 percent compared to the same month last year. This marked the second consecutive month of significant inflationary growth, pushing the rate further above the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) target of two percent.

The reasons for this are the consequences of the war in Iran and the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, which have significantly restricted the global energy supply. Consequently, companies are currently having to spend much more money on oil, gas, and fertilizer. This is also confirmed by the May figures from the world’s largest economy: energy costs were 23.5 percent higher than a year ago. The rise in gasoline prices was particularly sharp. Gasoline prices have risen by about 40 percent.

Asked earlier today whether he was concerned about last month’s inflation data published Wednesday by Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed the highest rate of inflation in over three years, President Trump told reporters: “No, I love it. The numbers were great. You know what… https://t.co/GuHOTgr5gL pic.twitter.com/UyBzxto5a0

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 10, 2026

9:37 p.m.

UFC President Ahead of Martial Arts Day at the White House: Nothing Can Stop Us

Ahead of the mixed martial arts (MMA) fights scheduled for Sunday at the White House, athletes and organizers have made a splash with bold displays. Heavyweight Josh Hokit wore a U.S. flag as a headscarf and gloves featuring images of American eagles, and on Wednesday, he lashed out at his opponents—as usual—without regard for the historic venue. “You’ll never see me apologize for anything I do,” he said. Dana White, the head of the UFC, said neither bad weather nor a lawsuit would stop the event.

White said that despite rainy weather on Wednesday and poor forecasts, the event would take place as planned. “I don’t care if it snows or rains—we’re doing this.” He also shrugged off a lawsuit filed against the event. "We expected a lawsuit," he said. But he added that it had no chance of success.

Josh Hokit kicked off his #UFCWhiteHouse media day with a standup comedy routine.

What do you grade it? pic.twitter.com/ZMmYTgUPkX

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 10, 2026

5:09 a.m.

Despite allegations: Democrat Platner wins in Maine

He is expected to play a decisive role in the U.S. Democrats’ victory in the midterm elections: Graham Platner has won his primary in the state of Maine and will run for a seat in the Senate in November. With about 19 percent of ballots counted, Platner was leading with over 73 percent of the vote, as reported by CNN. Other media outlets also declared Platner the winner. Janet Mills trailed far behind in second place with 19 percent.

For the Democrats, Platner is a key figure for the midterms. In the midterm elections on November 3, about one-third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives will be up for re-election. Because of the Republicans’ current slim majorities in both chambers of Congress, every single seat could determine who ultimately holds power in Congress. So it could all come down to a few key races. Democrats are counting on one of them in Maine. They believe political newcomer Platner has a chance of taking Republican Susan Collins’ Senate seat.

It had been expected that Platner would win the election. Incumbent Governor Mills had already withdrawn from the race at the end of April. She was trailing in the polls and cited a lack of financial resources as the reason for her withdrawal. The focus was instead on how many voters—and especially female voters—would still oppose Platner. This is because Platner had previously made headlines for his treatment of women. According to the “New York Times,” several former partners had accused him of intimidating and disturbing behavior. One former partner also spoke of a physical altercation. Platner, a veteran, admitted to struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse, but denied allegations of intimidation or physical assault.

He also faced criticism over a tattoo and its resemblance to a Nazi symbol. Platner has since had the skull symbol covered with a different design.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 12:50 a.m.

Victory for Trump: Congress Approves Billions for ICE

The U.S. Congress has approved billions in funding that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump can use to implement its controversial immigration policy. Following its passage in the Senate by a vote of 214 to 212, a corresponding bill has now narrowly passed the House of Representatives and must be signed by Trump before taking effect. The bill allocates nearly $70 billion, among other things, to fund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency through 2029. This paves the way for Trump to continue enforcing his aggressive deportation policy until the end of his second term.

5:56 a.m.

Trump Booed During National Anthem at NBA Finals

U.S. President Donald Trump was booed by parts of the audience during his visit to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump is the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game. As singer Avery Wilson performed the U.S. national anthem, chants of “USA! USA!” initially echoed through the arena. However, when Trump appeared on the video screens shortly afterward and gave a military salute, the reactions turned into loud boos. These only subsided when the U.S. flag was subsequently displayed.

The crowd applauded, however, when players from the New York Knicks were shown. The mention of the San Antonio Spurs was also met with loud boos.

Trump watched the game from the box of Knicks owner James Dolan. He was accompanied by, among others, his granddaughter Kai, his advisor Boris Epshteyn, and cabinet members Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy, and Doug Burgum. At times during the game, Trump spoke with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.

Before Trump’s arrival, the New York Police Department and the Secret Service had established a wide security perimeter around Madison Square Garden. Fans had to line up more than four hours before tip-off and pass through several checkpoints. Commuters, tourists, and visitors reported significant restrictions and difficulties navigating the area.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 4:10 a.m.

Trump Nominates His Former Attorney for Attorney General

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially nominated Todd Blanche for the position of Attorney General. Blanche, a former personal attorney to the president, has been serving as acting head of the Department of Justice since Trump dismissed Pam Bondi in April. Blanche stated last week that he felt “honored and humbled” by the nomination. It is currently unclear whether Blanche will receive enough support in the Senate to be confirmed.

Democrats and other critics accuse Blanche of acting not like an Attorney General—who also serves as the nation’s top prosecutor—but as if he were still Trump’s personal attorney.

11:56 p.m.

Court Rejects Trump’s Request: No $100,000 Visa Fee

Following a court ruling, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump must backtrack on its stricter visa rules. A court in the state of Massachusetts overturned the requirement to pay a $100,000 application fee for the so-called H-1B visa. This work visa allows U.S. companies to bring highly qualified workers, such as programmers, into the country for several years. Before the Trump administration raised the fee to $100,000, the cost had been a few thousand dollars.

The court ruled that the Trump administration had thereby encroached on an area that is actually reserved for Congress. The ruling is not yet final. An appeal can still be filed, which the government plans to do, according to US media reports.

9:23 p.m.

Citizens Want to Stop UFC Fight in Front of the White House

Two U.S. citizens from the state of Virginia want to prevent a cage fight planned by President Donald Trump in front of the White House. The organization Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit on their behalf in federal court. The event, featuring fights from the mixed martial arts organization UFC, is scheduled for June 14—Trump’s 80th birthday—and is also intended to be part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The lawsuit was filed on Saturday, according to court records. The plaintiffs argue that the permit for the martial arts event is unlawful because it violates National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parkland. Furthermore, Congress did not approve a large arch over the event site. Additionally, no environmental assessment was conducted prior to construction.

The lawsuit by the Public Integrity Project, a nonprofit legal organization that aligns itself with Democratic Party causes, said the fight violates a National Park Service regulation that bans sporting events on federal parklands.https://t.co/T7PFvqgdDz pic.twitter.com/yTJYFfiSdE

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 8, 2026

7:56 p.m.

U.S. Imposes Travel Bans on Nicaraguans

The U.S. has imposed travel bans on more than 100 representatives of the Nicaraguan government and their family members. The measure is part of a broader campaign of sanctions against the government over alleged human rights violations, the U.S. State Department announced.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the new sanctions are linked, among other things, to the death of indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera as well as the policies of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo. “The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people, who, like Rivera, want to see a free Nicaragua,” Rubio said.

Monday, June 8, 7:36 a.m.

Trump cuts off interview after critical questions

U.S. President Donald Trump ended an interview with NBC prematurely. The trigger was follow-up questions regarding his repeated claims of election fraud.

"Either corrupt or stupid"Trump cancels interview after critical questions

Sunday, June 7, 2026, 6:05 p.m.

Trump: Does Not Want to Exert Influence on New Fed Chair

US President Donald Trump says he does not intend to exert pressure on the new Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh. At the same time, he is calling for interest rate cuts in light of the strong labor market.

“There is no reason to raise interest rates,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News, referring to the upcoming interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve in mid-June. Higher interest rates would slow down the current “success.” “We should actually be lowering interest rates now,” Trump demanded, as he has done on several occasions in the past, regardless of economic indicators.

Economists disagree, however, and currently consider a looser monetary policy unlikely given the strong labor market; instead, they even see an increase in the current interest rate range of 3.5 to 3.75 percent as a possibility. The reason for this is persistently high inflation resulting from the war with Iran. The Fed is supposed to make decisions on monetary policy independently of political influence.

Meanwhile, Trump did not rule out the possibility that gasoline prices in the U.S., which are already high, could rise even further. In response to a question from a reporter, the president simply said: “Well, that depends. I mean, it depends on how the war unfolds.” Higher gas prices would further fuel the already high inflation in the United States.

11:32 p.m.

Trump’s Lawyers: Court Cannot Stop Ballroom Construction

Lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration argue that a court order halting construction of the controversial ballroom at the White House is inadmissible. Only the U.S. Congress can stop the $400 million project, attorney Yaakov Roth told U.S. Appeals Court Judge Patricia Millett on Friday.

The hearing focused on an order issued in April by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, requiring the Trump administration to halt all above-ground work on the 8,400-square-meter ballroom. Leon approved the continuation of underground work on a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the construction site. The central issue at Friday’s court hearing was who has the authority to halt the government’s construction activities once they have already begun.

The hearing concluded without a decision from the three-judge appellate panel.

9:21 p.m.

Trump Calls for Further Staff Cuts in Office of Director of National Intelligence

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for further job cuts in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The office has been “far too large for far too long,” Trump said Friday while flying to the state of Wisconsin. “If he were to cut back, that would be fine with me,” he said of the new acting Director of National Intelligence, Bill Pulte.

In an interview with the “Wall Street Journal,” Trump said he had asked Pulte to initiate the staff cuts. “I believe there are many people there who shouldn’t be there,” Trump said, according to the “Journal,” referring to intelligence agency employees who had served under U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

7:37 p.m.

U.S. Judge Overturns Trump’s Anti-Immigration Measure

A U.S. federal judge has overturned a Trump administration measure targeting immigrants from dozens of countries. The measure, introduced following the November shooting of two National Guard members, has left countless people in the country in limbo for an indefinite period, Judge John McConnell Jr. ruled on Friday. He sharply criticized the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not complying with the law.

🚨JUST IN🚨

Obama-appointee Judge John J. McConnell Jr is ordering the Trump administration to RESUME taking asylum applications.

The ruling strikes down the pause on cases from 39 countries.

McConnell ordered the restart of processing, emphasizing that the policies unfairly… pic.twitter.com/dutaPazWIf

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) June 5, 2026

3:18 p.m.

Is Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office? Video causes a stir

During a press conference with several government officials, Donald Trump appears to close his eyes and nod off at times. Democrats and liberal commentators are using the footage to launch sharp attacks

Sharp attacksIs Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office? Video causes a stir

5:42 a.m.

“Perversion”: Cuba’s President Condemns U.S. Sanctions

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his family members, and various government agencies. With this move, U.S. President Donald Trump is further increasing pressure on Cuba’s socialist government. Díaz-Canel condemned the sanctions, calling them a sign of the U.S. government’s “aggressiveness and perversion.” Cuba will “resist the imperialist campaign,” he wrote early Friday morning on the platform X. The sanctions are intended to harm the Cuban people.

El presidente de EE.UU hace nuevas declaraciones amenazadoras contra #Cuba; y el Departamento del Tesoro incorporó nuevos nombres de dirigentes, organizaciones y empresas cubanas a una lista ilegítima de sanciones.

Están dirigidas a reforzar las medidas de #bloqueo y el…

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) June 4, 2026

Trump had recently and repeatedly raised the possibility of a “takeover” of the economically battered Caribbean nation. He has hinted on multiple occasions that after the war against Iran, Cuba would be next. With numerous new sanctions and a blockade on oil shipments, he aims to force economic and political change on the island.

Friday, June 5, 2026, 1:04 a.m.

U.S. imposes sanctions on Cuba’s president

The U.S. is imposing sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his family members, and various government agencies. With this move, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is further increasing pressure on Cuba’s socialist government. Trump has recently repeatedly raised the possibility of a “takeover” of the economically battered Caribbean nation. With a series of new sanctions and an oil blockade, he aims to force economic and political change.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, 66-year-old Díaz-Canel has been placed on a sanctions list, which allows for the freezing of assets and prohibits any business dealings with him on the U.S. side. His wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, and his stepson, Manuel Anido Cuesta, have also been sanctioned. The measures also affect a son, Alejandro Castro, and a grandson of 95-year-old former President Raúl Castro, Raúl Alejandro Castro. The former president is a powerful figure behind the scenes in the socialist Caribbean nation.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), and other organizations have been sanctioned. According to government critics, the CDRs, which exist in nearly every residential neighborhood, function as a tool for monitoring dissidents.

For decades, Cuba has been the world capital for radical left-wing terrorism. The regime in Havana has recruited, trained and backed violent Marxist and third-worldist movements across our hemisphere and beyond. Today, we are targeting the network that enables and funds Cuba's…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 4, 2026

Relations between Washington and Havana have been tense for decades. Under Trump, tensions have recently escalated once again.

6:29 p.m.

Trump’s former national security adviser Bolton plans to plead guilty

John Bolton, former national security adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, plans to plead guilty to improperly retaining classified documents. Under an agreement with the Justice Department, this could potentially spare him a prison sentence, a person familiar with the matter told the AP news agency on Thursday. The Justice Department declined to comment.

12:40 p.m.

Here we go again: Trump lashes out at reporter

Joe Biden’s planned billion-dollar fund for “victims of the justice system” has been temporarily blocked by a court order—even though it was “a wonderful thing,” Donald Trump said angrily yesterday at the White House.

“When I heard about it, I thought it was the greatest thing,” the 79-year-old continued, looking at the journalists and saying, “People like you have treated our people so badly: the fake news from CNN, the ‘New York Times,’ and others.”

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins tries to respond. “Wait a minute, be quiet,” Trump interrupts her. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You used to be a conservative.” He turns to the other journalists. “She used to be a conservative from Alabama: Can you believe that?” he asks the group.

“I’m still from Alabama,” Collins retorts, but the president isn’t listening. “CNN in particular reports inaccurately, but now they have new owners. Maybe they’ll correct it, but I doubt it: It’s hard to correct garbage.”

TRUMP: Be quiet. You should be ashamed of yourself. You used to be a conservative from Alabama. KAITLAN COLLINS: I'm still from Alabama.

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 4. Juni 2026 um 00:40

12 p.m.

Here, Trump compares the Reflecting Pool to skyscrapers

The Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial is longer than some buildings are tall, as Donald Trump noted yesterday at the White House.

Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump praised the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations. Trump highlighted the aesthetic upgrade to the iconic pool, noting, "we picked a color called the American Flag blue" to replace the traditional gray concrete.

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— Reuters (@reuters.com) 4. Juni 2026 um 06:33

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 2:22 a.m.

Blue “like the U.S. flag”: Trump celebrates his Reflecting Pool

U.S. President Donald Trump is moving forward with his plan to reshape the appearance of the capital, Washington, D.C., in more and more places according to his vision. Meanwhile, renovation work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a well-known water feature not far from the White House, is now effectively complete, as Trump announced in the Oval Office. Now all that remains is to clean the adjacent sidewalks—and the water in the pool.

The cleaning of the massive pool also drew attention because the president had the bottom painted blue—specifically, blue “like the U.S. flag,” as Trump clarified to reporters in his office. The president emphasized how necessary the renovation had been. “Eleven or twelve truckloads of trash” were removed from the water basin. According to Trump, no further renovation will be necessary for “50 to 100 years” after the work is completed.

During the press conference in the Oval Office, he avoided specifying the exact cost of the project. Trump merely spoke of a “small fraction of the costs” that previous administrations had spent on their attempts to renovate the water basin. Shortly before completion, U.S. media outlets such as the “New York Times” reported that costs had risen sevenfold. According to Trump, the repair costs were originally estimated at $1.8 million; now, according to media reports, the figure is more than $13.1 million.

A lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior, filed by a nonprofit organization, failed to stop the project. The plaintiffs accuse Trump of failing to subject the project to federal review and of bypassing the relevant authorities.

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 12:30 a.m.

Visa and Mastercard suspend payments to Cuba

Due to new sanctions imposed by the U.S. government against Cuba’s foreign business partners, card payments with Visa and Mastercard are being suspended on the socialist Caribbean island. The island is relying on cash as well as cards from Russia and China.

According to the Cuban Central Bank, the foreign bank that processes transactions for both credit cards in Cuba is terminating its relationship with the state-owned financial services provider Fincimex. The identity of the bank has not been disclosed.

Fincimex is part of the Cuban military-owned conglomerate Gaesa. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new sanctions against Gaesa in early May. As a result, foreign banks and companies that continue to work with the powerful military-owned conglomerate will also be subject to sanctions starting Friday. Four hotel chains from Spain, Canada, and Indonesia have already announced that they will withdraw from the operation of hotels they managed jointly with the conglomerate.

The Cuban Central Bank attributed the foreign bank’s decision to cease operations in Cuba to Washington’s “strangulation strategy” against the Cuban people. The bank stated that as of June 6, it would be impossible for it to continue fulfilling its agreements with Fincimex because doing so would be illegal, explained the Banco Central de Cuba. Foreign currency payments would now only be possible in cash, with national prepaid cards, and with credit cards from Mir in Russia and UnionPay in China.

9:40 a.m.

Department of Justice Sticks to Tax Deal

Donald Trump’s billion-dollar fund for “victims of the Joe Biden administration’s justice system” is a thing of the past—see the 1:12 a.m. entry. But does that also apply to the deal with the IRS regarding tax audits?

“Nothing has changed in that regard,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said yesterday before the House Committee on Appropriations. So the situation remains the same, the “New York Times” summarizes: “The Justice Department is sticking to [the] extraordinary measure that offers President Trump, his family, and his companies potentially lucrative protection from investigations by the tax authority.”

This prohibits investigations into matters such as Trump’s claim that he lost $100 million on the construction of Trump Tower in Chicago, the U.S. newspaper reports. It goes on to say that it is questionable whether this approach is lawful.

7:12 a.m.

U.S. Targets Switzerland with New Punitive Tariffs

The U.S. is increasing pressure on Switzerland in the ongoing trade dispute. President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed new punitive tariffs against some 60 trading partners, including Switzerland. Washington accuses the affected countries of not doing enough to combat the import of products manufactured under forced labor.

According to a report by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer published on Tuesday (local time) in Washington, Switzerland is among 54 economies that, in the U.S. view, do not have an explicit import ban on such goods. Washington is proposing additional tariffs of 12.5 percent for these countries.

The EU would face a 10 percent tariff, as while it has introduced a corresponding ban, its enforcement is considered insufficient. Products such as semiconductors, coffee, beef, and fruit would be exempt from the new duties.

The proposals are not yet final. A consultation period runs through early July, followed by public hearings. The Trump administration is simultaneously seeking a new legal basis for its tariff policy.

For Switzerland, the new report comes at a delicate time. Bern and Washington are currently negotiating a settlement of the tariff dispute.

SECO Director Helene Budliger Artieda said just last week that Switzerland was “in the final stages” of talks with the U.S. She expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached by the July 9 deadline set by Trump. In addition to the general tariff rate of 10 percent, country-specific additional tariffs are on the table; for Switzerland, a rate of 21 percent has been mentioned so far.

Switzerland firmly rejects Washington’s allegations of forced labor. Budliger Artieda had already stated in April that forced labor is prohibited in Switzerland under constitutional, civil, and criminal law. Switzerland plays a pioneering role internationally and was the first country to incorporate a ban on forced labor into its public procurement law. Furthermore, due diligence requirements for companies are being further tightened.

However, in the view of the U.S., Switzerland lacks an explicit import ban on products made with forced labor. Washington argues that this could lead to distortions of competition. SECO counters that there is no evidence that Swiss trade practices disadvantage U.S. companies or that supply chains linked to Switzerland benefit from forced labor. Additional tariffs are therefore neither justified nor suitable for addressing the problem.

6:45 a.m.

Supreme Court allows redistricting in Alabama

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily lifted a ban on a controversial redistricting plan in the state of Alabama, handing Republicans a victory. In a lower court, President Donald Trump’s party had been barred from reinstating a 2023 redistricting plan that a federal court had ruled would have discriminated against Black voters.

The Supreme Court has now overturned that decision. The ruling could help Trump’s Republicans defend their slim majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections this November.

In the so-called midterms on November 3, part of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives will be up for election. Because of the tight majority margins, every single seat could determine who ultimately holds power in Congress. That is why Republicans and Democrats have been locked in a bitter battle for months over redistricting in several states, each seeking to improve their chances of success.

The Supreme Court had already weakened protections for minorities in voting rights in April. In Alabama, a federal court then intervened at the end of May with a temporary restraining order against the planned redistricting plan because it would have split the votes of Black voters—who tend to lean toward the Democrats—across multiple districts, thereby diluting their impact.

Both parties in the U.S. have been exploiting this effect for decades to strategically shift votes to other districts where the race is closer. Under Trump’s leadership, however, the dispute over this issue has recently intensified significantly and is being fought with greater intensity.

Alabama is by no means an isolated case: courts in many states are currently dealing with redistricting. In Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio, boundaries have either already been redrawn or plans are in place to do so. The Democrats followed suit in California and Virginia, but are in a weaker position overall.

The midterm elections in November are a major milestone for Trump’s second term. If his party loses its majority in even one of the two chambers of Congress, the Republican will no longer be able to push through major legislative initiatives without difficulty.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - 1:12 a.m.

After Massive Criticism: Attorney General Announces End to Trump’s Victim Fund

Following massive criticism, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has scrapped plans for a controversial compensation fund for alleged victims of the justice system. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told the U.S. Congress: “We will not be moving forward with the fund.”

Trump had recently faced sharp criticism even within his own party over the compensation fund. The U.S. government has now apparently yielded to this pressure. Critics spoke of “bribes” for Trump loyalists and of corruption. Votes on other budget items were delayed in Congress to put pressure on Trump. According to earlier statements by the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately $1.8 billion was to be allocated to the new fund, which was intended to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated government actions.

Critics feared that public funds could be used to reward Trump supporters who had participated in the 2021 storming of the Capitol and had been charged for it during Joe Biden’s administration. Trump had granted pardons to many of the defendants after taking office in 2025. On January 6, 2021, a violent storming of the Capitol building took place in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., where the election victory of Democrat and Trump opponent Biden was to be officially certified.

The fund was the result of a remarkable settlement: In January, the former president, acting as a private citizen, had sued the government and demanded billions in compensation. The lawsuit accused a former employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of unlawfully accessing tax data belonging to the family-owned Trump Organization during Trump’s first term (2017–2021) and passing it on to “left-leaning media.” The agency is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which, like the Department of Justice, is controlled by Trump’s administration.

The parties settled the legal dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, the tax agency also waived the right to retroactively audit the Trumps’ tax returns—another unusual move.

A federal court in Virginia recently issued a temporary injunction against the establishment of the controversial fund. The court sought to ensure that no money could be irrevocably disbursed through the fund until the case is resolved.

8 p.m.

US actor Richard Gere calls Trump a “madman”

Hollywood star Richard Gere has called U.S. President Donald Trump a “madman.” “We are living in the darkest moment I have ever experienced on this planet,” the 76-year-old said Tuesday at an awards ceremony in Oslo. “On his first day, this guy dismantled almost everything that was good about the U.S. government and the American people,” Gere added before hundreds of listeners.

“Who would have ever thought that a madman like this would become President of the United States?” said Gere. Trump’s election was only possible “because we fell asleep. We didn’t care. We didn’t vote,” he criticized.

Referring to a recent visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, Gere called for vigilance: “We must recognize the signs of this dictatorship of monsters, how quickly it arises. We must be vigilant.”

3:11 p.m.

Trump appoints supporter as acting intelligence coordinator

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to appoint Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting intelligence coordinator. He announced this today on his platform Truth Social. Pulte would thus become the acting successor to Tulsi Gabbard, who submitted her resignation due to her husband’s cancer and announced she would hand over the office on June 30.

Pulte is head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump stated that Pulte has “extensive experience dealing with America’s most sensitive matters.”

The new intelligence coordinator will continue to serve in his other roles while filling in for Gabbard.

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗝. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 - 𝟬𝟵:𝟬𝟲 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝟬𝟲.𝟬𝟮.𝟮𝟲 pic.twitter.com/ekDUCP43tk

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 2, 2026

3:30 p.m.

“Freedom 250”: Now “Milli Vanilli”’s Fab Trump Has Also Canceled

Fabrice “Fab” Morvan of the former pop duo Milli Vanilli has canceled his planned appearance at the controversial concert series marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. “That’s not what I signed up for,” the 60-year-old told CNN.

Just a few days ago, Morvan had stated that he wanted to perform at the concerts and bring people together through music. However, as more and more artists withdrew their participation, he too began to have doubts.

Fab Morvan on why he’s not performing at the Freedom 250 Concert: I know how politics works. It's a game of chess where everyone is using others as pawns. I don't want to be part of that. This is why I'm stepping out. pic.twitter.com/lsxKgSdwOI

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 2, 2026

“Over the course of the week, it turned into a circus,” he said. “I’m not in politics. That’s why you’re hearing it here first: I will not be participating in the celebrations on June 26.”

The concert series is being organized by a group that describes itself as a nonprofit dedicated to the anniversary celebrations in the U.S. capital—though these celebrations themselves stem from a call by Donald Trump. Several artists have withdrawn their participation, including The Commodores and Poison frontman Bret Michaels.

250 years of the USATrump's big party for America causes malice, criticism and lots of cancellations

Many cited the event’s greater political nature than originally portrayed as the reason for their withdrawal. In his cancellation, Morvan also referred to his own history.

The singer had become world-famous in the late 1980s with the pop duo Milli Vanilli (“Girl You Know It’s True”), produced by Frank Farian, before the so-called lip-syncing scandal involving him and his partner Robert “Rob” Pilatus came to light.

In reality, other singers were the true voices behind Milli Vanilli. “I fell, got back up, reinvented myself, and moved on,” Morvan told CNN.

That is precisely why he does not want to get drawn into the current controversy. “I know what it’s like when a narrative is changed over and over again until you barely recognize it yourself,” he said. “That happened to me.”

4 p.m.

Trump introduces a new concert star: himself

U.S. President Donald Trump himself drew additional attention. On his platform Truth Social, he described the performing artists as “overpaid singers that nobody wants to hear.” At the same time, he floated the idea of replacing the concert series with the “number one attraction in the world”—himself.

pic.twitter.com/hoAE286DVu

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 30, 2026

1:00 p.m.

Store owner acquitted after fatal shooting

A jury in the U.S. state of South Carolina has acquitted a store owner of the charge of murdering a 14-year-old Black boy.

The 61-year-old had chased the teenager from his store in 2023 and shot him in the back. According to the prosecution, he acted out of anger because he mistakenly believed the 14-year-old had stolen four bottles of water.

A South Carolina jury found a store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of a Black 14-year-old.

[image or embed]

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2. Juni 2026 um 05:31

The defense, however, argued that the teenager had pointed a gun at the defendant’s son. The 61-year-old, they claimed, fired in order to protect his son. The teenager’s killing had sparked widespread outrage. Vigil and protests took place outside the store following the incident.

10 a.m.

Pentagon Closes Press Room to Journalists

The U.S. Department of Defense has closed its press office to journalists. The press office is now also being used by speechwriters who handle classified material, said press secretary Joel Valdez.

“These speechwriters routinely deal with classified information,” he explained. “Therefore, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space. There is no room for debate on this.” The “Washington Post” was the first to report on the move, which Valdez now described as indisputable.

The Department of Defense has been trying for months to impose stricter conditions on journalists working at the Pentagon. Reporters from major news organizations, including the AP, have refused to accept the accreditation requirements, have left the building, and are reporting from outside.

The Pentagon press corps now consists predominantly of conservative media outlets that have agreed to the new rules. The “New York Times” did successfully sue the Department to have its reporters readmitted.

However, the Pentagon subsequently issued a rule requiring all reporters to leave the premises unless they are accompanied by staff while conducting their research there. The New York Times has also filed a lawsuit against this rule. The legal dispute has not yet been resolved.

4:30 a.m.

Trump Backtracks on Controversial Victim Fund

According to media reports, U.S. President Donald Trump is backtracking on the controversial compensation fund for alleged victims of the U.S. justice system. The news portal “Axios” reported, citing two high-ranking officials, that the government plans to distance itself from the fund for the time being. “Politico” reported similarly.

When asked, the White House referred to a statement by the Department of Justice on the X platform. In it, the department strongly condemned a court’s decision that had temporarily halted the plans. However, it also stated that it would abide by the decision. Whether the Department will completely distance itself from the fund—which would ultimately spell the end of the plans—remains unclear.

The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with…

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 1, 2026

A federal court in Virginia aims to ensure, through the injunction, that no money can be irrevocably disbursed through the fund until the case is resolved. It scheduled a court hearing for June 12.

The compensation fund has become an uncomfortable issue for Trump. He has drawn massive criticism even from within his own Republican ranks. Critics speak of “bribes” for Trump loyalists and of corruption. In Congress, votes on other budget items were even delayed to put pressure on Trump. According to earlier statements by the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately $1.8 billion is set to flow into the new fund, which is intended to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated government actions.

Critics fear that public funds could be spent to reward Trump supporters who participated in the 2021 storming of the Capitol and were subsequently charged during Joe Biden’s administration. Trump had issued numerous pardons after taking office in 2025.

Justice deal brings billionsTrump's settlement with himself

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 2:25 a.m.

Florida Sues ChatGPT Developer OpenAI

The U.S. state of Florida has broken new legal ground with a lawsuit against the AI company OpenAI. It accuses the company of promising ChatGPT users safety, even though the software is dangerous. The chatbot poses a threat to public safety, according to the complaint filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. It cites cases in which ChatGPT allegedly recommended a lethal combination of medications and advised a shooter responsible for fatal shootings on a university campus prior to the incident. Uthmeier criticized the chatbot as particularly problematic for teenagers.

OpenAI and Sam Altman hide the conversations ChatGPT has with children from parents.

And despite extensive research into the harm ChatGPT causes to young minds—the child, not the parent, has control over whether or not any protections are in place. pic.twitter.com/RDXPPytk3Z

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 1, 2026

In a response, OpenAI pointed to measures designed to protect young users. These include age verification mechanisms and parental monitoring options. OpenAI introduced some of these measures only after deaths occurred and public criticism arose.

ChatGPT is the chatbot that sparked the current hype around artificial intelligence and, according to OpenAI, now has 900 million users per week. It is the company’s flagship product.

Florida had already launched an investigation in April into ChatGPT’s role in the shooting at Florida State University in April 2025. The shooter had sought advice from the AI chatbot prior to the attack, Uthmeier said at the time. According to him, the shooter received not only recommendations on which weapon to use and which ammunition was compatible with which weapons, but also on where and at what time the most people would be present there. OpenAI insists that ChatGPT is not responsible for the attack, in which two people were killed and six others were injured.

11:27 p.m.

Unpaid dues: UN agency halts appointment of U.S. official as deputy head

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has rescinded the appointment of U.S. official Sheng Li as deputy director of the UN agency. His appointment was revoked due to “persistent delays in settling payment arrears,” ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo announced.

Li is a senior official at the U.S. Department of Labor. His appointment had been announced in April. As of June 1, the U.S. had accumulated arrears with the Geneva-based ILO totaling 173 million Swiss francs for the past two years and nearly 84 million francs for the current year.

“The ILO remains in constructive dialogue with the U.S. government on this matter,” Houngbo stated. Washington could settle the arrears and thereby “regain its position as the largest contributor.”

The ILO has been without a deputy director since last September. At that time, U.S. citizen Celeste Drake left the organization. The post of Deputy Director traditionally goes to the U.S. Due to a lack of funding, the ILO plans to cut 120 jobs by 2029. However, the corresponding reform plans have yet to be approved.

10:39 p.m.

U.S. Court: Discharging Transgender People from the Military Is Illegal

U.S. President Donald Trump has suffered a partial defeat in his efforts to exclude transgender people from the military. The U.S. government may not remove those plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit from active military service, according to a ruling by an appeals court in Washington. However, the ban remains in effect for now to allow the government to file an appeal.

The majority of the appellate court judges thus partially upheld a lower court’s ruling: That court had concluded that the exclusion of transgender people violated the constitutional principle that all people must be treated equally under the law. The policy, named after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is based “at least in part on an impermissible government interest in harming the politically unpopular group of transgender people,” the current ruling stated.

In 2025, at Trump’s behest, the U.S. Department of Defense ordered that transgender people be largely excluded from military service—including active-duty soldiers. Trump had already advocated for the exclusion of transgender people from the military during his first term and announced during the campaign that he wanted to stop the “transgender madness.” After taking office, the Republican enacted discriminatory measures against transgender people.

8:08 p.m.

U.S. drastically restricts visa issuance at embassies in Africa

The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce the number of U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa authorized to issue visas to foreign nationals. Of nearly 50 such offices, only 20 are expected to receive the necessary authorization in the coming weeks, according to US government sources and an internal document obtained by the AP news agency. It was initially unclear exactly when the changes would take effect. However, sources said a date in June was expected.

12:43 p.m.

Beijing lashes out at the “New York Times”

Following the expulsion of a journalist from the U.S. newspaper “New York Times” from China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has leveled further criticism. The newspaper had provided the “Taiwanese authorities” with a platform to spread “separatist false claims” and referred to Taiwan as a state, said spokesperson Lin Jian in Beijing.

This constitutes a violation of the “One China principle” and agreements between the U.S. and China, he continued. Previously, the “New York Times” had made the case public in an article.

In it, Editor-in-Chief Joseph Kahn said the expulsion would make it even harder for a global audience to get accurate, independent, and informed reporting on the world’s second-largest economy at a critical juncture.

According to the report, Chinese officials justified the correspondent’s expulsion by citing the newspaper’s earlier showing of a video featuring Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te during an event in New York in December. China expelled the journalist, who, according to the newspaper, had played no role in the event, in February.

China claims the independently governed Taiwan as its own and seeks to bring it under its control. Lai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is repeatedly labeled by Beijing as separatists because the party advocates for the island republic’s independence, a goal the government has not yet intended to pursue.

Taiwan condemns China after New York Times reporter expelled after presidential interview reut.rs/49Z2pEY

[image or embed]

— Reuters (@reuters.com) 31. Mai 2026 um 14:25

China’s Foreign Ministry further demanded that The New York Times correct its “errors.” Lin also accused the journalist of conducting interviews under false pretenses and thereby violating laws.

At the same time, he criticized the U.S. for taking action against a reporter from the state-run Xinhua News Agency as a countermeasure. According to the “New York Times,” the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had revoked his visa.

12:43 p.m.

Criticism of press freedom in China

Foreign correspondents in China have been complaining for years about increasingly difficult working conditions. The organization Reporters Without Borders ranks China 178th out of 180 in its press freedom index. Only North Korea and Eritrea rank lower.

In April, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China had criticized an increase in “targeted attacks” on press freedom in China since February, without specifically mentioning the “New York Times” case.

The association stated that it condemns the use of intimidation and threats, as well as restrictions on access and accreditation, as tools to exercise control over information or to enforce self-censorship.

12:20 p.m.

Protest Against Ebola Center for U.S. Citizens in Kenya

Hundreds of young people protested on Monday in the centrally located Kenyan city of Nanyuki against a planned Ebola quarantine center for U.S. citizens. The facility is to be built at the Laikipia Air Force Base and will accommodate U.S. citizens who have been exposed to the virus.

On May 30, the Supreme Court of the East African country had temporarily banned the construction of the facility and the admission of foreign patients pending a review of a lawsuit filed by the Kenyan Bar Association and a constitutional law institute against the project.

The two organizations justified their lawsuit by citing Kenya’s fragile healthcare system, which they argued precludes the admission of patients for quarantine. A U.S. government official had stated on May 28 that Washington intended to have U.S. citizens who may have come into contact with Ebola treated in Kenya.

CNN source: Americans arrived in Laikipia Airbase yesterday as plans for US Ebola isolation facility go ahead despite court order.

Current US & Kenya governments - both Trump & Ruto administrations - have a history of ignoring court rulings they don't like pic.twitter.com/ye6VafLhIN

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) May 31, 2026

A new quarantine and treatment center was intended to prevent affected U.S. citizens from having to be flown to the U.S. for medical treatment from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a journey that would take hours. Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale said yesterday that the quarantine center was intended for “everyone,” not just U.S. citizens.

As of yesterday evening, 282 Ebola cases had been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak is heavily concentrated in the Ituri region, which accounts for 264 of the confirmed cases. The Central African country has also recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases, which may be caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

11:13 a.m.

“Rump”—something’s missing from the $640 watch

Tim Petit from Providence, Rhode Island, is a Trump fan—and wants to make his wife happy. The American buys a Trump watch for $640.93. “It was beautiful, and I knew it was something she’d really like,” he tells the U.S. station WJACTV.

The watch is also exclusive—reportedly only 2,350 units are being produced. “That appealed to me,” says Petit. A radio commercial “featuring the president’s voice” finally convinced him to buy the product.

The man opted for the pink model, sold under the name “Inauguration First Lady.” While his wife Melanie likes the watch’s style, there’s a flaw: the letter “T” is missing from the “Trump” logo. In English, “Rump” also means “backside.”

“I’m very disappointed,” says her husband, who wanted to give her something special. The manufacturer says the watches were neither designed nor manufactured by the president, nor are they distributed by him or his organization. “An apology would be nice—for making my wife cry,” says Petit.

10:50 a.m.

Because of Trump’s golf project: Vietnam has bodies reburied

As reported by the “Financial Times,” authorities in Hưng Yên, in the Vietnamese province of the same name, are having the dead reburied because they stand in the way of a golf project being pushed by Donald Trump. Plans include a five-star hotel, villas, and a golf course.

Farmers in northern Vietnam are dismantling a decades-old cemetery to make way for a $1.5bn golf course and luxury residential development by the Trump Organization and its local partners, a project seen as crucial for ties between Hanoi and Washington. ft.trib.al/YCZl74S

[image or embed]

— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) 29. Mai 2026 um 04:58

The construction site covers a good 10 square kilometers. The country’s communist government is offering resettlement and compensation to the more than 4,000 affected households that must move, but resistance is mounting, the U.S. newspaper writes.

“When they [first] told us about the golf project, people were enthusiastic and supported the project for the country’s development,” says banana farmer Nguyen Duc Theo. But he and others say they were offered prices of about $3 per square meter, which are “below market value.”

In Vietnam, farmers are being evicted from their land to make way for a golf club linked to Trump, Reuters reports.

Locals are being offered compensation of $3,200 and rice. The project will affect thousands of farmers in Hung Yen province, home to fruit farms that are a primary… pic.twitter.com/94lisJscjZ

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 11, 2025

Disturbing the peace of the dead is also causing anger: Hoang Anh Xa has five relatives buried in the cemetery slated for demolition: “My great-grandparents’ grave has been there since 1967, even before this country was founded. So why should I have them reburied?”

“It’s a spiritual matter,” adds Tran Minh Hai, a local farmer. “People don’t want to disturb the graves.” The construction project was actually supposed to be completed this year, but has been repeatedly delayed, according to the “Financial Times.”

April, Trump announces 46% tariff on Vietnam

2. In May, Eric Trump attends groundbreaking for new $1.5 billion Trump golf resort in Vietnam

3. In July, Vietnam becomes only the second country to reach a tariff deal, cutting its rate to 20% https://t.co/pedNMeS3Sp

— распад и неуважение (@VictorKvert2008) December 7, 2025

10:47 a.m.

Only fit soldiers allowed at Trump’s UFC spectacle

Strict rules apply to the planned UFC fight at the White House. Soldiers may only participate if they meet certain fitness criteria—and pay for their own trip to Washington.

We’ve summarized more on this for you here:

No heavyweights allowedOnly fit soldiers allowed to attend Trump's UFC spectacle

4:36 a.m.

Mexico’s President Accuses U.S. of Interference

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has accused the U.S. of interfering in her country’s internal affairs. “And Mexico, let me be clear: We do not accept interference. We are a free, independent, and sovereign country,” Sheinbaum said at a rally marking the second anniversary of her election victory before supporters in the Mexican capital, Mexico City.

The president stated that an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice had requested the arrest of ten Mexicans for extradition. According to her, they include a governor, a mayor, and a sitting senator. She did not provide names or further details. The president’s statements could not initially be independently verified.

If decisions about who is guilty and who is not are made from abroad, or if pressure is exerted on Mexican institutions, it is no longer a matter of cooperation but of interference, Sheinbaum said. “Mexico is nobody’s piñata,” she added. A piñata is a figure that children typically hit with sticks until candy falls out. The mayor called on her supporters to hold informational events in public spaces in the coming weeks. These events are intended to raise awareness about the defense of national sovereignty.

These remarks come at a time when the issue of foreign influence on elections in Mexico is being increasingly discussed. Just recently, Parliament approved a constitutional reform backed by the ruling Morena party that would allow for the annulment of elections in cases of proven foreign interference. In Mexico, both chambers of Congress will be up for re-election in a year.

Monday, June 1, 2026, 4 a.m.

U.S. Closes Loophole on Chip Exports to China

The U.S. government aims to close a loophole in export restrictions on advanced chips to China. Through trade barriers, the U.S. seeks to prevent China from catching up in the field of artificial intelligence. The restrictions apply not only to direct exports to China but also to foreign companies that have their headquarters or parent company in China, according to the U.S. National Security Agency.

In the race to develop artificial intelligence, chips from the U.S. company Nvidia are indispensable. U.S. President Donald Trump therefore imposed trade restrictions on China for Nvidia’s top products. The new measure now signals a continued hard line toward Beijing, even though Trump has recently been striving for a harmonious relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Nvidia had recently been trying to regain a foothold in the Chinese market. The company once made billions there until the disputes between Washington and Beijing virtually brought business to a standstill. For Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, its relationship with China involves a lot of money: CEO Jensen Huang estimated the total market volume in China at $50 billion.

3:51 p.m.

White House Stages ICE Detentions as a Fight Against Aliens

With a website created specifically for this purpose, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump is celebrating its radical deportation policy. “They walk among us,” reads “aliens.gov,” a subpage of the White House’s official website.

“They shopped in the same stores, attended the same classrooms as our children, and lived seemingly normal human lives. With one exception—they don’t belong here,” reads the text in green against a starry background. Presented as a mix of various science fiction adventures and alien thrillers, the alleged story of illegal immigration is told as the U.S. government portrays it: as a long-kept secret in which millions came “under the cover of darkness” and settled into society.

These “aliens” are not “little green men,” but rather millions of illegal immigrants who have invaded the country, the text continues. Those affected are consistently referred to as “aliens” throughout, although the English term can mean not only extraterrestrials but also foreigners or strangers.

1:19 p.m.

Due to musicians’ cancellations: Trump wants to take center stage at U.S. anniversary celebration

After several musicians canceled their planned performances at the U.S. anniversary celebration, President Donald Trump sees himself and his MAGA movement as the center of the festivities.

President Trump will personally open the historic celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States “on Wednesday, June 24” in a ceremony, a spokeswoman for Trump’s Freedom250 initiative told various U.S. media outlets over the weekend. Previously, Trump had announced on his online platform Truth Social—in a somewhat confusing timeline—that he was looking into whether a rally “on Wednesday, in Washington, D.C., at the same time, in the same place” was feasible.

He understands if the musicians are getting nervous about their planned performance, Trump wrote there. He was considering bringing “the number one attraction in the whole world” onto the stage to deliver a major speech instead of those “highly paid, third-rate ‘artists’”: himself. Only great patriots would be invited to this “wild and beautiful celebration of America.”

Sunday, May 31, 2026, 6:35 a.m.

U.S. Military Kills Suspected Drug Smugglers at Sea Again

According to its own reports, the U.S. military has once again attacked a drug smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three men in the process. According to intelligence reports, the boat was traveling along a known drug trafficking route, explained U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the regional command responsible for the area, on the platform X. No U.S. military personnel were injured in Saturday’s attack. The U.S. military’s claims could not initially be independently verified.

On the orders of President Donald Trump, the U.S. military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since last fall that are allegedly used to smuggle drugs into the U.S. People are repeatedly losing their lives in these operations. Just last Friday, there was a similar attack, also resulting in three deaths.

Critics doubt that the deadly attacks in international waters are permissible under international law. The United States has a major drug problem, for which it blames foreign smugglers.

8:22 p.m.

U.S. government backs down on plans to tighten Green Card access

Following a wave of public outrage, the U.S. government has scaled back its plans to make it harder to obtain the permanent residency permit known as a Green Card. The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security told the “New York Times” on Friday (local time) that the new rule, under which Green Cards can only be applied for from abroad, would ultimately not apply to all applicants. Instead, the rule would be applied “on a case-by-case basis.”

“It was merely intended as a reminder for officials to exercise their discretion,” the department explained. Officials would be able to decide whether to require applicants to leave the U.S. to file their application.

Last week, the responsible immigration agency, USCIS, stated that applicants would henceforth have to apply for a Green Card from abroad in most cases and would not be permitted to already be in the U.S. Exceptions would only be granted under “exceptional circumstances.”

According to a report in the “Washington Post,” the U.S. issues more than one million Green Cards annually. More than half of the applicants were already in the U.S. at the time of application.

USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler stated last week that non-immigrants such as students, temporary workers, or tourists come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose—and should then leave the country again. “Their visit should not serve as the first step in the Green Card process.”

Several human rights organizations and law firms had sharply criticized the planned measure. Democratic Representative Chuy Garcia called it “absurd and cruel.” “It will force thousands of legal immigrants, including spouses of U.S. citizens, to leave their homes, families, and jobs for weeks or even months to obtain their Green Cards outside the United States,” he said.

2:52 p.m.

U.S. Fires on Another Suspected Drug Boat — Three Dead

According to its own statements, the U.S. military has once again shot down a boat suspected of being used by drug cartels. According to intelligence reports, the vessel was being used for drug trafficking and was traveling along a known drug smuggling route in the eastern Pacific, the U.S. military’s Southern Command (Southcom) announced on the X platform. Three men, whom the military described as “narco-terrorists,” were killed in the attack on Friday. No U.S. forces were harmed.

Since last fall, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump has repeatedly ordered attacks on boats suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Washington cites the fact that drug cartels have been designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government as the legal basis for the attacks. Just a few days ago, there was an attack on a similar suspected drug-smuggling boat in the region.

10:54 a.m.

Trump’s doctor certifies him as being in “excellent health”

According to his annual physical exam, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to enjoy “excellent health.” Trump shows strong lung and heart function, as well as good neurological health and overall physical condition, according to the summary of the medical checkup, which the White House published on Friday evening (local time) on the X platform.

Overall, the document is replete with top results and values within the normal range. Trump’s cardiovascular system corresponds to that of a person about 14 years younger, his personal physician Sean Barbabella attested to the president, who turns 80 on June 14. Trump himself had already raved about a “perfect” outcome following the examination at the Washington Military Hospital a few days ago.

The document addressed notable symptoms that repeatedly spark speculation about the president’s health: According to the report, the bruises observed on his hands were caused by frequent handshaking combined with aspirin, which Trump is advised to take in low doses as a blood thinner. Mild swelling in his lower legs, meanwhile, has improved compared to last year.

The report also mentioned the scarring on his right ear resulting from the gunshot wound Trump sustained during the assassination attempt in the summer of 2024.

The report also includes medical advice for Trump to exercise more and continue losing weight.

6:42 a.m.

Top U.S. and Cuban military officials meet near Guantánamo

A few days after media reports of a possible military escalation between the U.S. and Cuba, high-ranking generals from both countries held an unusual face-to-face meeting. According to statements from both sides, the head of the relevant U.S. regional command (Southcom), General Francis Donovan, and the chief of the General Staff of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, met outside the U.S. base at Guantánamo Bay on the socialist Caribbean island.

During the brief exchange with Legrá and other representatives of the Cuban armed forces, “operational security issues” were discussed, the U.S. military reported on the X platform—without providing further details.

#SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan met with Army Corps General, Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, First Deputy Minister of the Chief of the General Staff, and other senior leaders from the Cuban military today at the perimeter of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a… pic.twitter.com/V4Fau3HxSo

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 29, 2026

In Havana, a brief statement from the Ministry of Defense said the “positive meeting” took place by mutual agreement. Topics relevant to both sides were discussed, and it was agreed to maintain communication. Cuba also did not disclose further details regarding the content of the exchange.

6:39 a.m.

Another court reviews Trump’s controversial tax settlement

Another U.S. court is scrutinizing the controversial out-of-court settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Trump must respond to serious allegations by June 12, including one of an allegedly illegal agreement. This was ordered by a federal judge in Miami. She was responding to a motion filed by 35 former judges who questioned the legality of the settlement.

The background to the settlement is that an employee of the U.S. tax authority is alleged to have leaked Trump’s tax data to “left-leaning media.” Trump and his two eldest sons sued the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which reports to it, for $10 billion in damages.

In mid-May, details of an out-of-court settlement were announced: First, the IRS will refrain from retroactively auditing the Trumps’ tax returns. Second, a fund of nearly $1.8 billion is to be established to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated government action. Critics view this as a form of corruption intended to benefit Trump loyalists.

The case is now before the judge who handled Trump’s original lawsuit against the tax authorities. Due to the out-of-court settlement, the case was actually closed. In their motion, however, the judges are requesting that the case be reopened to determine whether the settlement constitutes fraud.

Just a few hours earlier, a judge in Virginia had ordered that no funds be disbursed from the compensation fund until further notice. With this freeze, she aims to ensure that no funds are irrevocably paid out through the fund until the case is resolved.

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 6:25 a.m.

Trump: No Longer Interested in Kennedy Center Renovation

Following a defeat in court, U.S. President Donald Trump no longer intends to proceed with his renovation plans for the Kennedy Center in Washington. As long as he cannot do as he pleases, he has “no interest” in continuing the project, he announced on his platform Truth Social. He has ordered that responsibility for the cultural institution be transferred to Congress.

A judge in the U.S. capital, Washington, had ordered shortly before that Trump’s name must be removed from the facade of the famous cultural institution. Furthermore, court records indicate that the center may not, at least for the time being, be closed for two years this summer for renovation work, as Trump had planned.

“There has never been a president of the United States who has been treated as unfairly by the courts as I have,” Trump said in response.

Trump had taken control of the Kennedy Center shortly after taking office a little over a year ago and announced a fight against “anti-American propaganda” in the cultural world. He dismissed several members of the board of trustees, assumed the chairmanship, and tasked his confidant Richard Grenell with realigning the institution.

10:12 p.m.

Judge: Trump’s name illegally affixed to the Kennedy Center

A U.S. judge has ruled that the placement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center in Washington is illegal. The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees exceeded its authority by having the name affixed to the building, Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Friday. The U.S. Congress named the cultural institution after former President John F. Kennedy, and only Congress has the right to change the name.

Cooper also rejected the U.S. government’s plan to close the facility for renovations. The board’s March 16 vote to close the Kennedy Center disregarded legal obligations, Cooper ruled.

In response to the ruling, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, stated that they were “confident that the court will uphold the Board’s decision in the appeal process to honor President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center.”

The judge held hearings in late April on various lawsuits challenging the planned renovation. On Friday, Cooper ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty.

7:33 p.m.

Trump lashes out at former First Lady Jill Biden

U.S. President Donald Trump’s disparaging insults and his remarks about his predecessor Joe Biden have become routine—but now his wife, Jill Biden, has also come under Trump’s scrutiny.

The background is an interview with CBS News in which the 74-year-old spoke about the legendary TV debate between presidential candidates Trump and Biden, in which the Democrat had appeared erratic. “I thought, oh my God, he’s having a stroke, and that scared the hell out of me,” she told the network. She didn’t know what had been going on that day, Biden said of her then-81-year-old husband. “I was scared because I had never seen Joe like that before, and I haven’t seen him like that since.”

Trump has now responded to her stroke comment in a post on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that Jill Biden did not rush to the stage to help her ailing husband, “as any good wife would have done.”

2:44 p.m.

Trump has attacked or threatened to attack 15 countries

According to CNN, one in every 13 countries was threatened with a military attack or actually attacked by the Commander-in-Chief during Trump’s first or second term.

Seven countries alone have been attacked by the U.S. military since Trump moved into the White House for the second time: Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Some attacks targeted groups deemed a threat to the U.S., while others targeted the government of the affected country.

Trump has openly threatened military attacks or annexation against eight other countries, or explicitly refused to rule them out when asked: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland (Denmark), Mexico, Panama, and, just a few days ago, Oman.

During his first term, Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction in a speech before the UN General Assembly—of course, only if the U.S. had no other choice to defend itself or its allies.

CNN has also calculated that one in eleven people lives in a country that has been attacked or threatened by the U.S. under Trump.

Friday, May 29, 2026, 5:12 a.m.

U.S. Designates Brazilian Drug Gangs as Terrorist Groups

The U.S. government has designated two Brazilian drug gangs as terrorist organizations. Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) are two of the country’s most brutal criminal organizations, and their influence extends into the U.S., the State Department announced. “Together, they command thousands of members and have organized brutal attacks on Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians.”

Primeiro Comando da Capital is considered Brazil’s most powerful criminal organization and a key player in cocaine smuggling from the Andean countries. The Comando Vermelho is also one of the country’s largest criminal syndicates and is active in drug trafficking. Police operations against the gangs repeatedly result in numerous fatalities.

Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil. Their reach extends throughout our region and into our country.

Today, I designated these organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2026

The Brazilian government had nevertheless sought to prevent the designation as a terrorist organization because, under Brazilian law, the groups do not pursue political or ideological goals. The government led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva fears that a terrorist designation could provide the U.S. with a legal basis for tougher measures, including possible operations on Brazilian territory.

With this move, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is expanding its strategy of treating Latin American cartels and gangs as terrorist groups. Several drug gangs have already been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, the Gulf Cartel from Mexico, and Los Lobos and Los Choneros from Ecuador.

7:52 p.m.

Democrat Whitmer Rules Out U.S. Presidential Run

The governor of the U.S. state of Michigan has put an end to speculation about a presidential run in the 2028 election. She will not be part of the Democratic Party’s likely large field of candidates, Gretchen Whitmer said in an interview with Fox 2 Detroit on Thursday. “I think there will be a strong group of people running for president. I won’t be among them in 2028,” Whitmer said.

3:18 p.m.

EU exports to the U.S. drop by more than 30 percent

EU countries exported 30.4 percent fewer goods to the US in the first quarter than in the same period last year. Nevertheless, the US remained the EU’s most important export destination, accounting for 18.6 percent of all exports—despite the tariff dispute, according to figures from the statistical office Eurostat.

According to the data, the EU exported goods worth 119.4 billion euros to the US between January and March of this year. With a share of 13.8 percent and exports worth 88.7 billion euros, the United Kingdom was the EU’s second-largest export partner after the US. It was followed by Switzerland, China, and Turkey.

A tariff dispute has been simmering between the US and the European Union for more than a year. US President Donald Trump threatened the EU with punitive tariffs. To avert a trade war, the EU agreed to a controversial tariff deal last summer.

Just last week, EU representatives cleared the way for its full implementation.

3:08 p.m.

Election Rules: Trump Wins in Court

A U.S. federal judge has refused to issue a preliminary injunction against an election decree by President Donald Trump. This clears the way for potential changes to mail-in voting and voter rolls for now.

Federal Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, in Washington rejected the motion filed by Democrats and civil rights groups. The plaintiffs argued that Trump was overstepping his authority, as election rules in the U.S. are set by the states and Congress.

Nichols explained, however, that the executive order had not yet been implemented. Therefore, he said, it was too early to issue a preliminary injunction. Trump issued the executive order in March after a voting rights reform bill he supported failed in Congress.

Among other things, the order calls for a nationwide list of eligible voters. According to the order, absentee ballot materials would only be sent to people on this list.

Since his 2020 election defeat, Trump has claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting is susceptible to fraud. However, several recounts and investigations, including those led by Republicans, found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

2:00 p.m.

Pam Bondi Has Cancer

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, reports “CBS News.” She received the diagnosis shortly after her dismissal on April 2: The 60-year-old is now undergoing treatment, the report adds. Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee tomorrow, Friday, regarding the Epstein case.

FBI agents were reportedly told to flag mentions of Trump in the Epstein files — even though Congress passed a law making it illegal to shield Trump, or anyone else. Pam Bondi will answer questions from Congress on May 29. Here’s what you should know. americanoversight.org/pam-bondi-ep...

[image or embed]

— American Oversight (@weareoversight.bsky.social) 26. Mai 2026 um 15:28

1:00 p.m.

Lawsuit against Epstein: Trump refiles suit

The legal battle between U.S. President Donald Trump and the “Wall Street Journal” is entering the next round. After an initial setback for Trump in court in April, the Republican filed a revised lawsuit against the newspaper’s publishers yesterday, as reported by the “WSJ.”

At its core, the case concerns the publication of a congratulatory letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump claims he was defamed as a result. A few weeks ago, the lawsuit was preliminarily dismissed by a district court in the U.S. state of Florida.

Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump had failed to plausibly demonstrate that the newspaper had acted with “malicious intent” in publishing the letter to Epstein. Furthermore, certain criteria had not been met “by a long shot.”

Think the 'shooting' had anything to do with the Trump Epstein drawing not surfacing again? You know this one

[image or embed]

— Hypothetical Truth (@hypotruth.bsky.social) 26. April 2026 um 11:08

According to reports, the revised complaint states that the “Wall Street Journal” acted maliciously on several counts. It also notes that the U.S. president has repeatedly denied any involvement in the letter. In the lawsuit, Trump is seeking billions in damages, as he did previously.

In 2025, the U.S. newspaper reported on an alleged congratulatory letter to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003 bearing Trump’s name. The newspaper thus establishes another connection between Trump and the U.S. financier.

The letter, which reportedly contained suggestive content, allegedly featured the outline of a woman’s body drawn with a marker—the newspaper cited access to documents. Trump denies having authored it. The WSJ is part of media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s portfolio.

Time and again, Trump takes legal action against media outlets he dislikes. He most recently sued the British broadcaster BBC for a total of ten billion US dollars. Trump has also filed multiple lawsuits against the “New York Times.”

Thursday, May 28, 2026, 4 a.m.

Jill Biden on the TV debate: I thought Joe was having a stroke

Former First Lady of the United States Jill Biden worried about her husband’s health during the 2024 TV debate between Joe Biden and then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. “I thought, oh my God, he’s having a stroke, and that scared the hell out of me,” she said in a preview clip from CBS News’ “Sunday Morning.”

She didn’t know what was going on that day, Biden said of her then-81-year-old husband. “I was scared because I had never seen Joe like that before, and I haven’t seen him like that since,” the former First Lady said.

Democrat Joe Biden came under heavy criticism for his poor performance in a TV debate with Trump in the summer of 2024. Even fellow party members suddenly began to question, more or less openly, whether Biden was still physically and mentally fit enough for another term in office. Just under a month after the TV debate, he finally announced his withdrawal. Vice President Kamala Harris then entered the race against Trump for the Democrats—and lost the election in November.

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