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A public clash erupted Thursday between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and former Trump ally. The dispute began at a White House event where Trump expressed disappointment with Musk, who had recently criticized the administration’s major domestic policy bill. What to know: Trump accused Musk of opposing the bill only after leaving his administration, particularly over cuts to electric vehicle tax incentives.

Musk called the bill “disgusting” and said his opposition was not related to the removal of the EV tax credit.

Musk claimed Trump’s name appears in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting the administration is withholding them.

Trump hinted at potentially ending government contracts with Musk’s companies.

Musk publicly questioned whether he should start a new political party. Timeline: Musk resigned last month from leading the Department of Government Efficiency, with officials saying the agency would continue unaffected.

Musk’s strong criticism of the bill came shortly after, labeling it fiscally irresponsible.

At the White House event, Trump said Musk was fully aware of the bill but only started objecting after leaving.

Musk responded quickly on social media, denying Trump’s version and accusing Republicans of relying on his support to win upcoming elections.

Musk’s comments escalated with accusations about Epstein files and calls for Trump’s impeachment, deepening the rift between the two. Newsweek’s live blog is closed.

06:58 PM EDT WATCH: Trump unsure if he has ‘great relationship’ with Elon Musk anymore

06:53 PM EDT ‘Told you so’: Liberals react as Trump-Musk alliance implodes in real time The political marriage between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk—who once called himself first buddy—came crashing down in spectacular, meme-ready fashion on Thursday, having devolved over the space of several days from Oval Office camaraderie to all-out social media warfare, complete with threats and mutual accusations. Within hours of Trump threatening to cancel Musk’s federal contracts, and Musk retaliating with public jabs and a surprise Jeffrey Epstein reference, progressives flooded social media with a mix of mockery and gleeful reminders: this was a breakup they saw coming. The German word schadenfreude means taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. On Thursday, as Elon Musk and Donald Trump torched what was, until recently, a high-powered political alliance, liberal schadenfreude erupted across the internet. “We warned at every step that GOP planned to do this,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on X citing Musk criticism to Trump’s bill. “They SAID so. But y’all decided bullying trans people was more important than sensible energy policy… You supported it.” Read in full from Jesus Mesa on Newsweek.

06:53 PM EDT WATCH: Trump suggests Musk has ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ after ‘big, beautiful bill’ comments

06:08 PM EDT Steve Bannon calls for Elon Musk to be deported as Trump feud erupts Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, questioned billionaire Elon Musk’s immigration status on Thursday and called for Trump to “initiate a formal investigation” because he believes Musk “is an illegal alien.” Musk was born in South Africa and lived there for nearly two decades before emigrating to Canada with his family. Musk then lived in the United States while attending the University of Pennsylvania. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002, according to his biography written by Walter Isaacson. According to The New York Times, Bannon said in a phone interview: “They should initiate a formal investigation of his [Musk] immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately.” Newsweek previously reached out to Bannon via text message on Thursday. Read in full from Anna Commander on Newsweek.

06:07 PM EDT Biden’s doctor to testify before Congress in presidential fitness probe The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Joe Biden’s White House physician as part of an investigation into the former president’s mental fitness and health, CNN reports. In the subpoena letter to Dr. Kevin O’Connor, committee chair James Comer accused the doctor of not complying with the initial voluntary request for a transcribed interview. O’Connor had turned down the request for interview, citing “physician-patient privilege” and other ethical issues, according to Comer’s letter. Comer said that “these arguments lack merit.”

05:34 PM EDT Marjorie Taylor Greene reacts amid Trump’s clash with Elon Musk Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on Thursday threw her support behind President Donald Trump amid his rapidly escalating public spat with billionaire Elon Musk. “There is absolutely no daylight between Congresswoman Greene and President Trump,” a spokesperson for Greene told Newsweek. “She has made her position very clear from her personal account.” Greene’s spokesperson pointed to a post the Republican lawmaker sent from her X account on Thursday afternoon, in which she highlighted her support for Trump and said she voted for him in November and “not anyone else.” She did not mention Musk by name in the post.

05:00 PM EDT A timeline of Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s bromance A Timeline of Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s Bromance A Timeline of Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s Bromance Newsweek Illustration/Canva/Getty President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are facing a rift in their relationship over the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” after the pair emerged as close allies during the 2024 presidential election. Musk’s support for Trump, including his massive amounts of spending on his campaign, became a major story of last year’s election, and Musk has become increasingly tied to the administration through his work in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at reducing wasteful spending. However, Musk, who has taken a step back from his work in government, has become increasingly critical of the president’s cornerstone legislation in recent days, underscoring divisions within the GOP about the Trump presidency and spending. Read the full story by Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

04:50 PM EDT DJT stock falls 8% after Musk alleges Trump administration stalled Epstein files Shares of DJT, the stock ticker for former Trump’s Media and Technology company, dropped 8 percent on Thursday. The decline accelerated following Elon Musk’s claim that the Trump administration delayed releasing additional government files on Jeffrey Epstein to avoid revealing Trump’s involvement.

04:39 PM EDT Musk predicts Trump’s tariffs ‘will cause a recession’ Elon Musk continues to make comments about Trump, saying that the tariffs “will cause a recession in the second half of this year.” The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year https://t.co/rbBC11iynE — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

04:37 PM EDT Kanye West voices love for Musk and Trump Kanye West, known for his controversial statements and support of Trump, has called for an end to the public dispute between Trump and Elon Musk. Posting on Musk’s social media platform X, Kanye wrote, “Broooos please noooooo,” accompanied by an emoji of two people hugging. “We love you both so much.” Broooos please noooooo 🫂 We love you both so much — ye (@kanyewest) June 5, 2025

04:25 PM EDT U.S. Treasury issues new ICC-related licenses and updates sanctions list targeting drug traffickers On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the issuance of seven new general licenses related to the International Criminal Court (ICC). These licenses authorize activities including the wind down of transactions involving blocked persons, provision of legal and emergency medical services, payments for legal services from non-U.S. funds, and transactions involving agricultural commodities and medical supplies. In addition to the licenses, OFAC updated its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list by adding several individuals linked to drug trafficking and ICC-related sanctions. Notably, multiple individuals from Guyana, Colombia, and other countries were designated for involvement in cocaine transshipment operations to the United States. This action highlights ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking networks and enforce sanctions related to international criminal justice. The updated SDN list serves to block these individuals’ access to the U.S. financial system and restrict their international activities.

04:18 PM EDT Elon Musk says SpaceX to retire Dragon spacecraft after Trump’s contract remarks Elon Musk announced that SpaceX will start decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately in response to Trump’s remarks about canceling government contracts. In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately pic.twitter.com/NG9sijjkgW — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

04:11 PM EDT Trump doesn’t ‘mind Elon turning against’ him Donald Trump has just shared a post on Truth Social saying that he doesn’t “mind” that Elon Musk “turned against” him, but advised that he should’ve done so earlier.

04:09 PM EDT WATCH: Trump suggests Musk has ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ after ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ comments

03:58 PM EDT Speaker Mike Johnson responds to Elon Musk’s claim Speaker Mike Johnson fired back at Elon Musk’s suggestion that he has changed since becoming speaker, responding with a firm message on social media. The Mike Johnson of 2023 is the SAME Mike Johnson who has always been a lifelong fiscal hawk – who now serves as Speaker and is implementing a multi-stage plan to get our country back to fiscal responsibility and extraordinary economic growth.

It begins with the critically… https://t.co/8c2l3bTdk1 — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) June 5, 2025

03:51 PM EDT Photo resurfaces of Elon Musk with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell Ghislaine Maxwell and Elon Musk attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. Ghislaine Maxwell and Elon Musk attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Elon Musk’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein are drawing renewed attention after a 2014 photo of Musk with Ghislaine Maxwell began circulating widely online. Maxwell, a longtime associate and former girlfriend of Epstein, was convicted in 2021 for helping him traffic underage girls. The resurfaced image shows Musk and Maxwell at a Hollywood party, though Musk has previously downplayed the interaction, saying he was photobombed. In 2018, Epstein reportedly told a New York Times reporter he had been advising Musk. Musk denied any professional or personal relationship with Epstein at the time.

03:39 PM EDT Musk floats new political party idea after feud with Trump Just hours after a dramatic and public split with Trump, Elon Musk took to his social media platform, X, to suggest forming a new political party. “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?” Musk asked his 220 million followers in a post Thursday evening. The billionaire has previously used similar online polls to guide major decisions, including stepping down as Twitter CEO and reinstating banned accounts such as Trump’s. His latest move adds another layer to his growing political activity, which has recently included heavy campaign spending and a high-level advisory role in Trump’s administration before their fallout.

03:28 PM EDT Trump threatens to cut Musk’s federal contracts amid escalating feud Trump threatened Thursday to cancel government contracts and subsidies benefiting Elon Musk, escalating their public feud just days after Musk criticized the president’s signature tax bill. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump posted on Truth Social, calling out the Tesla and SpaceX CEO directly. “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” The threat came hours after Trump told reporters he was “very disappointed” in Musk, his former adviser and political backer. Musk has publicly denounced Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” and warning it would balloon the federal deficit. The split is striking given Musk’s deep involvement in Trump’s reelection bid. He donated more than $250 million, campaigned aggressively, and served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency until stepping down last week. The rift appears to have intensified after Trump pulled the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to head NASA, a move Trump said was due to Isaacman being “totally a Democrat.” Musk fired back online, suggesting Trump was motivated by personal slights and posting, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” He also accused Trump of rushing through legislation without review and slammed it for being packed with “disgusting pork.” The dramatic fallout signals the end of one of the most high-profile alliances in Republican politics, raising questions about the future of GOP donor support and the role of billionaire influence in Trump’s administration.

03:20 PM EDT Musk claims Trump is in Epstein files, suggests cover-up Elon Musk claimed Thursday that Trump is named in sealed files related to Jeffrey Epstein and implied that this is why the documents have not been made public. Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.

Have a nice day, DJT! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

03:18 PM EDT ‘Such an obvious lie’: Musk on Trump comments Elon Musk called Trump out on an “obvious lie” that Trump shared on Truth Social about Musk “wearing thin.” Such an obvious lie. So sad. https://t.co/sOu9vqMVfX — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

03:11 PM EDT Tesla shares fall nearly 10% after Trump slams Musk over GOP tax bill Elon Musk listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Elon Musk listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Getty Images Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla shares tumbled nearly 10% on Thursday, marking their sharpest decline since the election. The drop coincided with former President Donald Trump’s public rebuke of Musk, his former adviser, over criticism of the Republican megabill. Tesla stock had soared following Trump’s election win, doubling and reaching an all-time high on Dec. 17. But the gains reversed during Musk’s tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In April, Musk promised to devote more attention to Tesla, especially its upcoming autonomous taxi rollout in Texas, sparking a brief rally. However, the recent selloff followed days of Musk attacking Trump’s tax proposal as a “disgusting abomination,” rattling investors.

03:01 PM EDT Donald Trump issues new threat to Elon Musk President Donald Trump said Thursday that the “easiest way” for the government to save money would be to “terminate” contracts and subsidies going to billionaire Elon Musk, amid an escalating war of words between the commander in chief and the world’s wealthiest man. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” the president wrote in another post. Read the full story by Jesus Mesa and Jason Lemon on Newsweek.

01:57 PM EDT Most NATO allies back Trump’s call to boost defense spending to 5% NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday that most U.S. allies in NATO support President Donald Trump’s push for members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense. “There’s broad support,” Rutte told reporters after a defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, adding that he’s “totally confident” the next NATO summit will meet the goal in three weeks. European allies and Canada have already increased military spending significantly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, investing in both defense forces and weapons stockpiles.

01:43 PM EDT Trump escalates claims over Biden autopen use, calls it ‘biggest scandal’ On Thursday, Trump intensified unsubstantiated claims that President Joe Biden’s aides improperly used an autopen to sign key documents, asserting without evidence that “whoever used the autopen was president.” Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump called it “a very bad thing, very dangerous,” and claimed to know who was behind it. He signed an executive order directing an investigation, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington, into Biden-era pardons and executive actions. The autopen — a mechanical device replicating a signature — has been used for decades by both parties. Biden, in response, said in a statement: “I made the decisions during my presidency… Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.” House Republicans, led by Oversight Chairman James Comer, also seek testimony from several former Biden aides, calling it a possible “cover-up.” Democrats have dismissed the probe as baseless.

01:29 PM EDT Trump reveals why Egypt was not in travel ban President Donald Trump has revealed why Egypt, the native country of the Boulder, Colorado attack suspect, was not included in the travel ban. Trump announced the ban on 12 countries just days after the horror firebombing incident in Boulder. The banned countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. When asked why the suspect’s home country had not been included, during a White House event. Trump told reporters, “Egypt has been a country that we deal with very closely. They have things under control.” Read the full story by Hannah Parry on Newsweek.

01:12 PM EDT Musk blasts Trump on X Elon Musk said in a tweet today, responding to Trump’s comments about his “disappointment” in Musk, that Trump was expressing “such ingratitude.” Such ingratitude — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

12:58 PM EDT Trump says he’s ‘disappointed’ in Elon Musk over criticism of tax bill On Thursday, Trump said he’s “very disappointed” in Elon Musk after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO publicly criticized his major tax legislation. Musk continued to post attacks on Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” claiming it would worsen the federal deficit. “I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, reflecting on their former alliance. He also suggested Musk suffers from “Trump derangement syndrome” and misses Trump being in office. Musk, once a high-profile supporter and occasional adviser to Trump, has called the bill a “disgusting abomination” and warned it will harm the economy.

12:43 PM EDT Republicans get worrying update in red state Senate race Senator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, speaks during The Hill & Valley Forum 202 in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2025. Senator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, speaks during The Hill & Valley Forum 202 in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2025. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for 137 Ventures/Founders Fund/Jacob Helberg Republicans have received a concerning update about the 2026 Senate election in Iowa as a major election forecaster has reclassified the race as more competitive. Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst, who is running for a third term, recently sparked backlash from many Iowans after saying in response to concerns about potential Medicaid cuts, “Well, we are all going to die.” Newsweek has contacted Ernst’s campaign for comment via email. Iowa has shifted toward the GOP over the past decade, with President Donald Trump securing a 13-point victory in the state in 2024. However, one Democratic strategist told Newsweek that Ernst was making the race “more competitive every day,” and the national party is eying the state as a potential flip. Democrats are targeting GOP-held seats in Maine, which Trump lost, and North Carolina, which he won by 3 points. They’re also defending seats in Trump-won Georgia and Michigan, but there are no other obvious flip opportunities for the party. So Democrats’ chances of retaking the Senate in 2026 hinge on their ability to make competitive races in states Trump carried by double digits, such as Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Texas Read the full story by Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

12:28 PM EDT Trump calls with Xi ‘very positive,’ plans new trade talks amid tariff standoff Trump said Thursday his first call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since returning to office was “very positive,” signaling a willingness to restart trade negotiations aimed at resolving disputes over tariffs and rare earth mineral supplies. The hour-and-a-half conversation led to plans for upcoming talks involving key U.S. trade officials, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Trump shared on social media that the meeting location is yet to be decided. Trump also revealed that Xi “graciously” invited him and First Lady Melania Trump to visit China, and he reciprocated by inviting Xi to the United States. China’s foreign ministry said Trump initiated the call, with Xi urging the U.S. to remove “negative measures” imposed on China. Xi emphasized the need for both countries to “take the helm and set the right course” to avoid disruptions, likening their relationship to a ship needing steady guidance. Trade talks have been stalled since a May 12 agreement to reduce tariffs. While negotiations continued, the U.S. accused China of limiting exports of critical minerals, while China objected to U.S. restrictions on advanced technology exports and student visas. Despite tariff reductions, tensions remain over economic competition and market access. Trump expressed frustration last week, accusing China of violating their agreement. The renewed dialogue reflects cautious optimism but highlights ongoing challenges as both countries seek economic advantage amid a complex relationship.

12:15 PM EDT Trump praises German leader Merz as ‘very good but difficult’ On Thursday, Trump praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, calling him “a very good man to deal with” and a firm representative of Germany. Trump also described Merz as “difficult,” a comment he intended as a compliment. “You wouldn’t want me to say that you’re easy,” Trump told Merz, who smiled in response. The exchange highlighted a cordial but candid tone during their meeting in Washington.

12:01 PM EDT Trump thanks Xi for invitation, says both look forward to future visit According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, former President Donald Trump expressed “sincere thanks” to Chinese President Xi Jinping after receiving an invitation for a potential state visit. While no visit has been confirmed, Trump wrote in a social media post that he “reciprocated” the offer and looked forward to a meeting “as the Presidents of two Great Nations.” Trump last visited China in 2017 during his first term, shortly after hosting Xi at Mar-a-Lago. The two leaders have not exchanged state visits since then. During the Biden administration, no such visits occurred, although Xi and Biden did meet in 2023 at the APEC summit hosted by the United States.

11:40 AM EDT Supreme Court rejects Mexico’s lawsuit against US gunmakers Photo by: zz/STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2021 4/15/21 Democrats to introduce bill to expand Supreme Court from 9 to 13 justices. 1/6/21 The Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.. Photo by: zz/STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2021 4/15/21 Democrats to introduce bill to expand Supreme Court from 9 to 13 justices. 1/6/21 The Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.. AP The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a high-profile, multibillion dollar lawsuit filed by the Mexican government that sought to hold American gun manufacturers legally accountable for the rampant cartel violence south of the border. In a decision authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the Court ruled that Mexico’s claims were barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA)—a 2005 federal statute that largely shields gunmakers and sellers from liability when crimes are committed with their products. Big-name manufacturers like Smith & Wesson had appealed to the justices after a lower court let the suit go forward. The justices ruled that Mexico had failed to plausibly allege that the companies knowingly aided the illegal flow of firearms into its territory. Justice Kagan emphasized that the claim lacked the specificity typically required in aiding-and-abetting cases. “It does not pinpoint, as most aiding-and-abetting claims do, any specific criminal transactions that the defendants (allegedly) assisted,” Justice Kagan wrote. Read the full story by Hannah Parry and Dan Gooding on Newsweek.

11:24 AM EDT Sen. Padilla calls travel ban a ‘senseless, prejudicial policy’ targeting families Sen. Alex Padilla of California criticized the administration’s recent travel ban, calling it a “senseless, prejudicial policy.” He said the ban is an abuse of power and unfairly targets U.S. citizen relatives from the affected countries.

11:11 AM EDT U.S. trade deficit shrinks sharply after Trump’s tariff move The U.S. trade deficit dropped significantly in April following a steep decline in imports triggered by Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which were announced on April 2. The deficit fell from nearly $140 billion in March to $61.6 billion in April, as companies had rushed to import goods before the duties took effect. Goods imports sank nearly 20% month over month. Trump’s sweeping tariffs targeted 60 countries, including major partners like China and the European Union. Although the tariffs were postponed for 90 days, the initial announcement led to major trade shifts that contributed to a 0.2% decline in U.S. GDP for the first quarter.

10:58 AM EDT Trump touts ‘very good’ call with Xi on trade deal progress According to a post on Thursday on Truth Social, Trump said he had a “very good” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss their newly agreed-upon trade deal. Trump said the 90-minute call ended on a “very positive conclusion for both Countries,” adding that the two sides had resolved questions about the complexity of rare earth products. He announced that U.S. representatives, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, would meet their Chinese counterparts soon.

10:47 AM EDT Second lady launches reading challenge to fight literacy decline Second lady Usha Vance told Fox News on Thursday that her new White House summer reading challenge is meant to help curb reading loss and boost literacy among children. The program invites kindergarten through eighth-grade students to read 12 books over the summer. Those who complete the challenge receive a certificate, a small prize, and a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C. Vance called the effort a “proof of concept,” acknowledging it’s not a complete solution to falling reading scores but a way to make a small impact. “My goal is to try to come up with small ways in which I can use my platform to counteract some of those issues,” she said. .@SLOTUS discusses her Summer Reading Challenge in which children who read 12 books this summer will be sent a prize and be entered into a drawing to visit the White House. https://t.co/DEJtfJfFc1 pic.twitter.com/7x1BYRDFLs — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 5, 2025

10:24 AM EDT African Union criticizes U.S. travel ban targeting African nations The African Union issued a formal statement Thursday condemning Trump’s new travel ban, warning of its potential to damage diplomatic ties and disrupt education, commerce, and interpersonal relationships. Seven of the 12 countries affected by the ban are in Africa: Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. While acknowledging the United States’ sovereign right to secure its borders, the AU urged the administration to adopt a “balanced, evidence-based” approach and consult directly with the countries involved. The group warned that the move risks undoing decades of carefully built diplomatic relations.

10:11 AM EDT Ex-Biden official calls Karine Jean-Pierre ‘kinda dumb’ Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Former Biden Administration official Tim Wu called Karine Jean-Pierre “kind dumb” after the former White House press secretary revealed she is no longer a Democrat and announced her new book about her experiences. Wu, who served as a special assistant to President Joe Biden for competition and technology policy, took aim at Jean-Pierre in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “From WH policy staff perspective, the real problem with Karine Jean-Pierre was that she was kinda dumb. No interest in understanding harder topics. Just gave random incoherent answers on policy,” wrote Wu, now a Columbia Law School professor. Responding to a question from another X user asking if a press secretary needs to know policy, Wu replied: “Yes it is the job of a GOOD press secretary to meet with policy staff and try and understand what the Administration is doing and why.” Newsweek has asked Jean-Pierre for comment via a contact email address listed on her personal website. Wu exited the Biden Administration at the beginning of 2023. Read the full story by Shane Croucher on Newsweek.

09:58 AM EDT ECB cuts interest rate as Trump’s trade war clouds growth outlook The European Central Bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point on Thursday, aiming to cushion the eurozone economy against mounting global trade tensions. The cut, announced at the ECB’s Frankfurt headquarters, brings the rate down to 2%, its first reduction since inflation began easing below the 2% target. The move comes amid rising concerns that Trump’s tariff threats—including a proposed 50% levy on European imports—could further slow Europe’s already weak growth. ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that continued trade uncertainty could hurt exports and investment, though she noted that a resolution could boost sentiment and economic activity. The ECB said it is not committing to a specific path for future rate changes. The cut follows a series of hikes in 2021–2023 aimed at combating post-pandemic inflation, which has now receded to 1.9%. The EU has postponed retaliatory action on Trump’s tariffs until July 14, leaving room for a negotiated outcome. Meanwhile, European defense and infrastructure spending is expected to support growth amid growing unease over the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.

09:45 AM EDT Trump’s original travel ban sparked global confusion and legal fights In January 2017, during his first term, Trump signed an executive order banning entry into the U.S. for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The sudden move triggered widespread chaos, with travelers detained at U.S. airports or blocked from boarding planes abroad. Students, businesspeople, and even visiting family members were caught in the fallout, prompting protests and a wave of legal challenges. Often referred to as the “Muslim ban,” the policy was revised multiple times before the Supreme Court upheld a version in 2018. That iteration also extended restrictions to travelers from North Korea and some Venezuelan officials.

09:32 AM EDT Truth Social files to launch bitcoin ETF amid push into digital assets A new SEC filing reveals plans to launch the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF. This proposed exchange-traded fund would expose investors to Bitcoin without requiring them to hold it directly. The preliminary prospectus, filed on June 5, outlines Yorkville America Digital, LLC’s plan to sponsor the ETF through a Nevada-based trust. The fund would hold Bitcoin in custody via Foris DAX Trust Company, LLC, and seek to mirror the digital currency’s price minus fees and liabilities. The filing marks a notable step into the digital asset space by entities affiliated with Truth Social, the social media platform founded by former President Donald Trump. The ETF would offer retail and institutional investors a regulated vehicle to track bitcoin’s market performance. The registration is not yet effective, and the securities cannot be sold until the SEC approves the offering.

09:18 AM EDT Florida pastor in US for 26 years detained by ICE at immigration appointment Maurilio Amizael Ambrocio Mendez (L), 42, from Guatemala, was detained at the ICE field office in Tampa on April 17 at around 9 a.m., according to his family. He is currently being held at the… Maurilio Amizael Ambrocio Mendez (L), 42, from Guatemala, was detained at the ICE field office in Tampa on April 17 at around 9 a.m., according to his family. He is currently being held at the Glades County Detention Center. ICE agent (R) in Ohio on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. More Supplied/AP A Florida pastor who has lived in the United States for more than two decades was detained by federal agents during his annual immigration check-in. Maurilio Amizael Ambrocio Mendez, 42, from Guatemala, was detained at the ICE field office in Tampa on April 17 at around 9 a.m., according to his family. He is currently being held at the Glades County Detention Center. Ambrocio Mendez had been attending annual ICE appointments for the past 12 years under a court-issued “stay of removal,” a form of supervision allowing him to remain in the country despite a deportation order. According to his daughter, 19-year-old Ashley Ambrocio, Ambrocio Mendez had always complied with the conditions of his supervision. Read the full story by Billal Rahman on Newsweek.

09:03 AM EDT Trump cites Boulder attack as he pushes new travel restrictions Since returning to office, Trump has launched an aggressive immigration crackdown, testing the boundaries of executive authority and drawing pushback from federal courts. His latest move stems from a Jan. 20 executive order directing federal agencies to identify nations with “hostile attitudes” toward the U.S. That review led to this week’s expanded travel ban targeting 12 countries, announced just days after a gas bomb attack in Boulder, Colorado. In a video posted online, Trump said the attack highlighted the risk of visa overstays. The suspect, an Egyptian national, had overstayed a tourist visa, but Egypt is not included in the new restrictions.

08:50 AM EDT Trump moves to block nearly all foreign students from attending Harvard Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to bar most foreign students from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard University, citing national security concerns. The move targets an international population of roughly a quarter of Harvard’s student body. The order comes just days after a federal court in Boston blocked the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing similar restrictions. Trump’s latest action leans on a different legal authority to sidestep that ruling. Harvard responded swiftly, calling the decision “illegal” and vowing to defend its international students. “This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” the university said in a statement.

Trade chaos is forcing America’s allies closer together, and further from the United States. And as that happens, the European Union is trying to position itself at the center of a new global trade map.

The bloc learned this weekend that Washington would subject it to 30 percent tariffs starting Aug. 1. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the E.U. executive branch, responded with a pledge to keep negotiating. She also made it clear that, while the European Union would delay any retaliation until early August, it would continue to draw up plans to hit back with force.

But that was not the entire strategy. Europe, like many of the United States’ trading partners, is also looking for more reliable friends.

“We’re living in turbulent times, and when economic uncertainty meets geopolitical volatility, partners like us must come closer together,” Ms. von der Leyen said on Sunday in Brussels at a news conference alongside the Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto.

President Trump is pushing through with his tariff agenda, unveiling a new batch of letters to country leaders outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries beginning in August and a warning to BRICS nations.

Trump announced a 35% tariff on Canadian goods late Thursday on Truth Social, claiming Canada had “financially retaliated” to earlier duties. A White House official said, however, that many carveouts currently in place with US tariffs on Canadian goods would remain, such as oil and certain sector-specific duties.

In an interview with NBC News published late Thursday, Trump also floated 15% to 20% blanket tariffs on most trading partners, higher than the 10% level currently in effect.

The fresh tariff salvos capped a week in which Trump sent a barrage of tariff letters to over 20 trade partners, setting levels of 20% to 40% — except for a 50% levy on goods from Brazil in a move that waded into the country’s domestic politics.

Meanwhile, Trump injected fresh uncertainty into the metal market this week, confirming 50% copper import tariffs from Aug. 1 to match steel and aluminum. Trump’s copper tariffs are also set to include the kinds of materials used for power grids, the military and data centers, a Bloomberg report highlighted on Friday.

As markets focus on US talks with key partners on possible deals, here is where things stand:

Vietnam: Trump said a deal with Vietnam will see the country’s imports face a 20% tariff — lower than the 46% Trump had threatened in April. He also said Vietnamese goods would face a higher 40% tariff “on any transshipping” — when goods shipped from Vietnam originate from another country, like China. According to reports, Vietnam’s leadership was caught off guard by Trump’s announcement last week that it agreed to a 20% tariff and is now seeking to lower the rate.

European Union: The EU has signaled it is willing to accept a 10% universal tariff on many of its exports but is seeking exemptions for certain sectors. The bloc is racing to clinch a deal.

India: Trump’s tariffs on Brazil have raised the stakes for India, another member of the BRICS coalition. Bloomberg reported that the countries are working toward a framework deal that could see US tariffs on goods from India drop below 20%.

Read more: What Trump’s tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world.

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President Trump announced in letters posted to social media on Saturday that he would place a 30 percent tariff on goods from the European Union and Mexico, upending months of careful negotiations and disrupting America’s economic relationships with two of its biggest trading partners.

Mr. Trump’s tariffs would take effect on Aug. 1, like those on many other trading partners.

But the letters to Mexico, America’s largest source of imports, and the European Union, a trading bloc of 27 nations that collectively make up the world’s third-largest economy, are notable. They marked a significant escalation aimed squarely at two of America’s closest and most pivotal trading partners.

Both economies do a huge amount of trade in goods and services with the United States. And both governments have been in intense negotiations with the United States, right up until Mr. Trump’s letters were sent.

Maros Sefcovic, the European Union’s trade commissioner, was in regular contact with the U.S. commerce secretary and trade representative. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, spoke to Mr. Trump. And until very recently, officials had hoped they were on the cusp of a deal.

E.U. policymakers had gradually come around to the possibility that the bloc could face 10 percent across-the-board tariffs on all goods sent to the United States, and were hoping to negotiate exceptions for important products. Many of the policymakers were eager to end the economic uncertainty that Mr. Trump’s trade announcements had unleashed on German carmakers, Italian wine exporters and Irish pharmaceutical companies alike.

But things changed with Mr. Trump’s announcement on Saturday of a flat 30 percent tariff, and his threat to make that rate even higher should the bloc retaliate.

“If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs and retaliate, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30 percent that we charge,” Mr. Trump wrote in the letter, which echoed a form letter he has been sending out to many American trading partners announcing their tariff rate.

Mexican officials had also been in active negotiations. A delegation led by economy minister Marcelo Ebrard arrived in Washington on Friday to discuss an “integral agreement” with U.S. officials covering border security, migration, trade and water management.

After an intense volley of tariffs from the United States earlier this year related to Washington’s desire to curb the flow of fentanyl across the border, Mexican officials felt they had cultivated a more productive relationship with U.S. officials.

Mr. Trump placed a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican imports earlier this year, sparking an intense dispute. But the administration ultimately lifted most of those tariffs by exempting goods that trade under the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, the North American trade pact, which includes agriculture and other products. According to data from Mexican officials, about 87 percent of exports from Mexico to the United States are not currently subject to tariffs.

Mr. Ebrard said in a statement posted on social media Saturday that U.S. officials had told their Mexican counterparts that “as part of the profound change in the United States’ trade policy,” the Trump administration was going to send letters to all world leaders announcing new tariffs.

“We mentioned at the negotiating table that it was an unjust move and that we did not agree with it,” Mr. Ebrard. He said that Mexican officials would work to ensure that they had an alternative proposal that protects jobs and businesses on both sides of the border before the tariffs take effect Aug. 1.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said at an event on Saturday that she believed her administration would be able to reach a deal. “We know very clearly what we can work out with the government of the United States and what we can’t,” she said.

In a letter addressed to Mexico’s leader and posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, Mr. Trump said, “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough.” He blamed Mexico for the American fentanyl crisis, saying cartels had flooded his country with fentanyl and that “Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground.”

In recent months, the Trump administration has taken aim at Mexican cartels and those it says work with the groups.

To avoid an earlier threat of tariffs this spring, Ms. Sheinbaum deployed 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, building on recent efforts to curb migration by intercepting migrant caravans and busing migrants to places far from the border. Crossings have plummeted to their lowest level in decades.

She also announced a crackdown that has led to record fentanyl seizures, and agreed to extradite dozens of cartel operatives to the United States, breaking with Mexico’s previous stance on extraditing the leaders. And Mexico’s leaders imposed tariffs and restrictions on many Chinese imports.

Ms. Sheinbaum was broadly praised for her coolheaded approach to Mr. Trump, who called her a “marvelous woman” after the two spoke about tariffs in February and he offered Mexico an additional month to make gains.

Mr. Trump earlier this week announced that he would aim 35 percent tariffs at Canada — another key trading partner, and another nation that had hoped it might be closing in on a negotiated deal with the United States. And he has threatened to slap tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent on other nations, including Brazil, Japan and South Korea.

The latest round of levies underscores that Mr. Trump is willing to upend long-held relationships in his quest to rewrite the rules of global commerce. But for major trading partners, the question now is whether they will hit back.

Mexico has never retaliated against the United States, but officials have repeatedly said that they reserve the right to, and have analyzed which U.S. exports they could apply tariffs to.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the E.U. executive, said in a statement that Mr. Trump’s latest tariffs “would disrupt essential trans-Atlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”

She also threatened to hit back, though she did not make a retaliation sound like a foregone conclusion at this point, talking about the “proportionate countermeasures if required.”

The bloc had already prepared a retaliatory package in response to earlier tariffs, but had paused them to create leeway for negotiation. That retaliation would apply to some 21 billion euros (nearly $25 billion) worth of imports from the United States. The tariffs are scheduled to kick in at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday unless E.U. officials choose to suspend them.

“Of course, there are possibilities to react, but we don’t want to,” Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said in an interview on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “We don’t want to retaliate. We don’t want this trade war.”

In the run-up to Mr. Trump’s announcement, officials from the European Union had reiterated that their goal was to reach an agreement in principle, a sort of rough-draft trade plan that could serve as a basis for more detailed negotiations.

If the newly announced tariffs rates remain, however, “that means trade war,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the economic think tank Bruegel in Brussels.

He did not think that Mr. Trump’s warning against retaliation would have much effect on the E.U.’s appetite to hit back. He said the best Europe can hope for is a situation in which many of America’s global trading partners retaliate, perhaps in a coordinated way, and Mr. Trump is pressured to strike a less extreme stance.

“They have consistently said they would defend themselves under the right circumstances,” he said. “Now those circumstances are here.”

Zunaira Saieed , Emiliano Rodríguez Mega and Annie Correal contributed reporting.

President Trump is pushing through with his tariff agenda, unveiling a new batch of letters to country leaders outlining tariffs on goods imported from their countries beginning in August and a warning to BRICS nations.

Trump announced a 35% tariff on Canadian goods late Thursday on Truth Social, claiming Canada had “financially retaliated” to earlier duties. A White House official said, however, that many carveouts currently in place with US tariffs on Canadian goods would remain, such as oil and certain sector-specific duties.

In an interview with NBC News published late Thursday, Trump also floated 15% to 20% blanket tariffs on most trading partners, higher than the 10% level currently in effect.

The fresh tariff salvos capped a week in which Trump sent a barrage of tariff letters to over 20 trade partners, setting levels of 20% to 40% — except for a 50% levy on goods from Brazil in a move that waded into the country’s domestic politics.

Meanwhile, Trump injected fresh uncertainty into the metal market this week, confirming 50% copper import tariffs from Aug. 1 to match steel and aluminum. Trump’s copper tariffs are also set to include the kinds of materials used for power grids, the military and data centers, a Bloomberg report highlighted on Friday.

As markets focus on US talks with key partners on possible deals, here is where things stand:

Vietnam: Trump said a deal with Vietnam will see the country’s imports face a 20% tariff — lower than the 46% Trump had threatened in April. He also said Vietnamese goods would face a higher 40% tariff “on any transshipping” — when goods shipped from Vietnam originate from another country, like China. According to reports, Vietnam’s leadership was caught off guard by Trump’s announcement last week that it agreed to a 20% tariff and is now seeking to lower the rate.

European Union: The EU has signaled it is willing to accept a 10% universal tariff on many of its exports but is seeking exemptions for certain sectors. The bloc is racing to clinch a deal.

India: Trump’s tariffs on Brazil have raised the stakes for India, another member of the BRICS coalition. Bloomberg reported that the countries are working toward a framework deal that could see US tariffs on goods from India drop below 20%.

Read more: What Trump’s tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world.

LIVE

1419 updates