Summary

Companies White House official says Trump does not want to talk to Musk

Feud complicates efforts to pass tax-cut bill in Senate

Musk denounces bill as adding $2.4 trillion in debt

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he has no plans to speak with Elon Musk, signaling the president and his former ally might not resolve their feud over a sweeping tax-cut bill any time soon.

Addressing reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he wasn’t “thinking about” the Tesla CEO.

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“I hope he does well with Tesla,” Trump said.

However, Trump said a review of Musk’s extensive contracts with the federal government was in order. “We’ll take look at everything,” the president said. “It’s a lot of money.”

Trump may get rid of the red Tesla Model S that he bought in March after showcasing Musk’s electric cars on the White House lawn , a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Musk, for his part, did not directly address Trump but kept up his criticism of the massive Republican tax and spending bill that contains much of Trump’s domestic agenda.

On his social-media platform X, Musk amplified remarks made by others that Trump’s “big beautiful bill” would hurt Republicans politically and add to the nation’s $36.2 trillion debt. He replied “exactly” to a post by another X user that said Musk had criticized Congress and Trump had responded by criticizing Musk personally.

Musk also declared it was time for a new political party in the United States “to represent the 80% in the middle!”

People who have spoken to Musk said his anger has begun to recede and they think he will want to repair his relationship with Trump, according to one person who has spoken to Musk’s entourage.

The White House statements came one day after the two men battled openly in an extraordinary display of hostilities that marked a stark end to a close alliance

Musk’s high-profile allies have largely stayed silent during the feud. But one, investor James Fishback, called on Musk to apologize.

“President Trump has shown grace and patience at a time when Elon’s behavior is disappointing and frankly downright disturbing,” Fishback said in a statement.

Musk, the world’s richest man, bankrolled a large part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Trump named Musk to head a controversial effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending.

Trump feted Musk at the White House a week ago as he wrapped up his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk cut only about half of 1% of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe $2 trillion from the federal budget.

Item 1 of 7 U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo [1/7] U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Since then, Musk has denounced Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill as a ” disgusting abomination .” His opposition is complicating efforts to pass the bill in Congress where Republicans hold a slim majority.

Trump’s bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month and is now before the Senate, where Republicans say they will make further changes. Nonpartisan analysts say the measure would add $2.4 trillion in debt over 10 years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he has been texting with Musk and hopes the dispute is resolved quickly.

“I don’t argue with him about how to build rockets and I wish he wouldn’t argue with me about how to craft legislation and pass it,” Johnson said on CNBC.

‘VERY DISAPPOINTED’

Trump had initially stayed quiet while Musk campaigned to torpedo the bill, but broke his silence on Thursday, telling reporters he was “very disappointed” in Musk.

Musk, who spent nearly $300 million in last year’s elections, said Trump would have lost without his support and suggested he should be impeached.

Trump suggested he would terminate government contracts with Musk’s businesses , which include rocket company SpaceX and its satellite unit Starlink.

The billionaire then threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, the only U.S. spacecraft capable of sending astronauts to the International Space Station. Musk later backed off that threat.

Musk had been angered when Trump over the weekend revoked his nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to head the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Two sources with direct knowledge of the dispute said White House personnel director Sergio Gor had helped turn Trump against Isaacman by highlighting his past donations to Democrats.

Musk and Gor had been at odds since the billionaire criticized Gor’s pace of hiring at a March cabinet meeting, the two sources said.

A White House spokesperson, Steven Cheung, praised Gor’s efforts to staff the administration but did not address his relationship with Musk.

A prolonged feud could make it harder for Republicans to keep control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections if Musk withholds financial support or other major Silicon Valley business leaders distance themselves from Trump.

Musk had already said he planned to curtail his political spending, and on Tuesday he called for “all politicians who betrayed the American people” to be fired next year.

His involvement with the Trump administration has provoked widespread protests at Tesla sites, driving down sales while investors fretted that Musk’s attention was too divided.

Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Alexandra Ulmer and Jarrett Renshaw Writing by Andy Sullivan and James Oliphant Editing by Scott Malone, Frances Kerry, David Gregorio and Diane Craft

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The escalating war of words this week between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk marked the most contentious chapter in a yearslong and at times rocky relationship between two of the most influential figures in business and politics.

Musk, a former Democrat, has criticized Trump in the past, but over the past year forged a strong relationship with the president that positioned him to wield significant power in the early months of Trump’s second administration.

President Donald Trump greets Elon Musk as he arrives to attend a viewing of a SpaceX Starship rocket launch on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. Brandon Bell / Getty Images file

Those close ties, though, came after years of ups and downs stretching back to 2016, when Musk accepted a spot on several of Trump’s business advisory councils.

Here are some of the highlights of Trump and Musk’s volatile relationship from the past few years.

July 2022: Musk suggests Trump should forgo White House bid

Musk, who would ultimately emerge as one of the most loyal contributors to Trump’s 2024 campaign, was initially a vocal opponent.

Despite a solid working relationship with Trump during his first term, the tech leader called on Trump to skip the 2024 race.

“I don’t hate the man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset,” Musk wrote on X. “Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.”

The post was not without provocation: Days earlier at a campaign rally in Alaska, Trump bashed Musk for his effort to purchase X, then known as Twitter, and for saying in an interview that he never voted for a Republican.

“He told me he voted for me,” Trump said at the rally. “He’s another bulls— artist.”

Musk in response threw his support behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win — he doesn’t even need to campaign,” he wrote on X.

November 2022: Musk reinstates Trump’s Twitter account

Weeks after officially taking control of X, Musk extended an olive branch to Trump by reinstating his account on the social media platform — once his favorite online megaphone — after it was banned following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Musk reinstated the account on Nov. 19, four days after Trump formally launched his 2024 campaign.

August 2023: Musk defends Trump as prosecutions pile up

By the summer of 2023, Trump had been indicted in three separate criminal cases. Musk, who months earlier predicted Trump would win the 2024 election if arrested, condemned the prosecutions.

“I did not vote for him last election, but such aggressive legal action against a former president is not right,” Musk wrote.

The post marked a shift for Musk, who soon afterward began posting more sympathetic messages about Trump.

March 2024: Trump, desperate for cash, meets Musk in Palm Beach

In the first few months of 2024, Trump’s campaign found itself in a cash crunch after allocating upward of $50 million toward his legal defense.

So when Trump met with Musk alongside several other wealthy Republican donors in Palm Beach, Florida, most political observers were quick to connect the dots.

Musk, the world’s richest man, has insisted that the meeting was unplanned and maintains that Trump never explicitly requested funding.

“I’m not paying his legal bills in any way, shape or form … and he did not ask me for money,” Musk said in an interview after the meeting, though he did say afterward that he was at least “leaning away” from President Joe Biden.

When asked about their meeting, Trump said he’d “helped” Musk in the past, without providing details.

May 2024: Musk establishes a pro-Trump super PAC

According to campaign finance documents, Musk created America PAC, a pro-Trump super PAC, on May 22.

Soon afterward, reports emerged that Trump and Musk had discussed a possible advisory role for the Tesla CEO in a second Trump administration, an effort to ensure Musk would hold a key position in the White House.

July 2024: Musk endorses Trump

Less than an hour after an assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, Musk officially threw his support behind Trump’s candidacy.

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on X.

Trump responded by touting reports that Musk planned to contribute $45 million a month to his re-election effort and promising to make life “good” for the businessman.

“We have to make life good for our smart people. You know, we have some smart people. We have to make life good for our smart people, and he’s as smart as you get,” Trump said at his first campaign event after the assassination attempt.

August 2024: Trump and Musk hold campaign event on X

In an event billed by Trump’s campaign as “the interview of the century,” Trump joined Musk for an online rally on X.

The event was repeatedly delayed due to tech issues, but saw the pair bond over their shared disdain for Biden’s immigration policies. It also saw Musk unsuccessfully try to prod Trump into prioritizing renewable energy over fossil fuels.

October 2024: Musk joins Trump at Pennsylvania rally after spending millions

When Trump returned to the site of the first assassination attempt, he shared the rally stage with Musk, who accused Democrats of seeking to take away voters’ freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.

Musk emphatically encouraged Trump supporters to “vote, vote, vote.”

By October, Musk had already given nearly $75 million to the super PAC he created to support Trump, according to campaign finance filings. That money was used in part to fund sprawling get-out-the-vote drives in battleground states, including door-knocking programs in deep-red, traditionally low-turnout areas.

Elon Musk jumps onstage as he joins President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., in 2024. Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images file

November 2024: Trump wins the election after Musk spends $250 million on the race

Trump’s striking victory, in which he won all seven battleground states and the popular vote for the first time, came as Musk’s spending for the effort surpassed a quarter billion dollars, according to campaign finance reports. Of that total, $120 million came in the final weeks of the race.

In his election-night speech, Trump praised Musk, saying, “A star is born.”

One week after the election, Trump appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, fulfilling a campaign promise to allow Musk to oversee cuts to government spending. Ramaswamy later left to pursue a gubernatorial bid in Ohio.

Toward the end of the month, Trump traveled to Texas to watch the launch of Musk’s SpaceX Starship rocket, despite previously ridiculing the company.

January 2025: Musk speaks at Trump’s inauguration rally

Musk spoke at Trump’s inauguration rally at Capital One Arena, emphatically lauding Trump’s victory, jubilantly raising the prospect of taking DOGE to Mars and thanking the crowd for voting to guarantee “the future of civilization is assured.”

“My heart goes out to you,” Musk said before forcefully touching his heart and raising his hand in a gesture some critics likened to a Nazi salute. Musk has denied that assertion.

Among the first executive orders Trump signed on Jan. 20 was one that formalized the creation of the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. The White House officially announced Musk’s role in early February, clearing way for him to oversee a wide-ranging effort to reduce to the size of the federal government through mass job cuts, the cancellation of research programs and grants and the dismantling a federal agencies.

March 2025: Trump publicly limits Musk’s authority amid clashes with Cabinet

In an early sign of tensions between Musk and several Cabinet members, Trump placed limits on his adviser, making clear in a Truth Social post that staffing decisions across the federal government will be determined by agency heads, not Musk. The Tesla CEO had been exercising authority over rank-and-file federal workers, including a threat to fire them if they didn’t respond to inquiries regarding their work output.

The new publicly established guardrails appeared to do little to hurt the pair’s relationship, with Trump a week later turning the South Lawn of the White House into a Tesla showroom to demonstrate support for Musk amid slumping sales for his electric vehicle company.

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in a Tesla Model S vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11. Samuel Corum / Bloomberg / Getty Images

May 2025: Musk exits the White House amid simmering tensions

On the first day of May, Musk told reporters at the White House that he would soon step back from DOGE to focus on his companies, comparing the shift to going from full-time to part-time work. The announcement came after Tesla reported a drop in its first-quarter profit and revenue.

By the end of the month, Musk’s exit was formalized. The White House on May 28 confirmed that Musk’s tenure as a special government employee, a temporary role that he would soon legally have to exit anyway, had come to an end.

Musk thanked Trump “for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” and the president said at a news conference with Musk days later, “Elon’s service to America has been without comparison in modern history.” Trump presented Musk with a gold-colored key at the event.

But underneath the polite exchanges hid simmering tension: Musk days earlier appeared on CBS’ “Sunday Morning” and bashed a massive Republican bill designed to fund much of Trump’s domestic agenda, condemning the expected impact of the legislation on the national debt. Trump soon after pulled the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman, an associate of Musk’s, to be NASA administrator.

June 2025: Tensions boil over and spill into public

Days after formally departing the White House, Musk launched a scathing attack on the Trump-backed bill making its way through Congress.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote in a post on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”

Asked about those criticisms, Trump expressed disappointment.

“Elon knew the inner workings of this bill,” Trump told reporters, before suggesting Musk’s opposition to the bill was personal.

“Elon is upset because we took the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles. They’re having a hard time, the electric vehicles, and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy,” Trump said.

The attacks quickly grew more personal.

Musk called out Trump’s “ingratitude,” arguing that Republicans would have lost the 2024 election without his support. Trump in response said Musk “went crazy” after being asked to leave his White House role, and he toyed with the idea of severing government ties with Musk’s companies.

Musk replied by claiming Trump was in what are known as “the Epstein Files,” and said Trump’s tariff policy would cause a recession. He also amplified a post calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance.

A day after the barrage of attacks, Trump told reporters he’s no longer thinking of Musk.

“Honestly, I’ve been so busy working on China, working on Russia, working on Iran, working on so many — I’m not thinking about Elon. You know, I just wish him well,” he said.

The alliance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk is unraveling — with one of the richest men in the world and Trump trading threats and public insults on Thursday.

“It’s really quite strange,” said tech journalist Kara Swisher in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition. “But it’s sort of in keeping with their relationship over the last year or so as Musk became very close to Donald Trump.”

Trump and Musk’s friendship breakup comes after the duo became allies during the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated close to $300 million to Trump’s campaign, traveled the campaign trail with Trump, and eventually joined the Trump administration as an adviser and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, following Trump’s inauguration in January.

But by March, Musk’s role in the administration began to face questions. Musk reportedly clashed with Trump advisors , insulted cabinet members, and grew more vocal about disagreements with administration policies. It was announced in late May that he would be stepping down from his role leading DOGE. Musk said his decision to leave his government role coincided with the end of his “scheduled time” as a government employee.

Musk and Trump’s fallout this week was fueled by Musk’s criticism of the Republican mega-bill — which pushes forward the majority of Trump’s domestic policy priorities. Musk raised concerns that the tax and spending bill conflicted with the work completed by DOGE and would increase the budget deficit.

While speaking with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Swisher shared her thoughts on Trump and Musk’s issues, why she predicted their split months ago, and the dangers of two of the most powerful men in the country publicly feuding.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlights

Steve Inskeep: I want people to know we talk from time to time. I don’t really ask about your personal life. And I don’t want to go too far here. But have you ever had a breakup like this?

Kara Swisher: Not like this. Not publicly like this. It’s really quite strange, actually. But it’s sort of in keeping with their relationship over the last year or so, as Musk became very close to Donald Trump.

Inskeep: What do you mean in keeping with their relationship?

Swisher: Well, I think he [Musk] sort of fell in love quickly. He sort of went crazy –jumping up and down, doing the chain saw thing, dedicating his life, moving into Mar a Lago. All this stuff. shifted rather dramatically because he sort of was somewhat neutral in politics. Had voted for Obama, [and] had a relationship with Trump in the first term, but certainly wasn’t as deeply in love with him. – and I hate to use these terms– but it’s really been quite intense. Calling himself B.F. or best buddy or first buddy. And Trump reciprocated, too.

Inskeep: What do you think drove Musk to speak out repeatedly until the president finally responded yesterday?

Swisher: I think he was forced out of the White House, essentially. They moved him along because of all the negatives that were starting to build up and the usefulness of Musk to Democrats –in terms of attacking a lot of things. He also disagreed a number of times. He called Peter Navarro a I think, a moron – and worse. He disagreed last year over the bill. If you remember, he started to complain publicly. And so he wasn’t cooperative. He also was fighting with cabinet members, bullying people [and] staying there a lot. You know, he stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom quite a bit. But last November, I kind of predicted this would happen –it would be a spectacular breakup. I used the reference for the movie Highlander, which there can be only one. And in this case, in [the]Trump world, there can be only one, which is Donald Trump.

Inskeep: We talk about this as a relationship, as a kind of a personal beef, but there’s some real substance here. The question of how much does a rich person get to buy when they start paying for somebody’s election? Here’s another thing that’s on my mind. The president yesterday threatened to cancel “billions and billions” of dollars in contracts to Musk’s companies. He’s got SpaceX, he’s got satellites. He’s got a lot of things. This is what Trump did to Harvard. This is what Trump did to law firms.: I will punish your speech. What does it say that he now threatens to do that to a right wing ally?

Swisher: It’s in his tool bag. He does it all the time. And of course, he did it obliquely by saying, I wonder why Biden didn’t do it, or here’s an idea, that kind of thing. It was his veiled threat. It’s a little mobster, –’it’s a nice business you got there, hate to lose it’, that kind of thing. It’s very typical of him to do so. I don’t think it’s a small thing because Musk has a lot of leverage too. He has a lot of important government contracts the government relies on. He also has enormous amounts of money. This is not [like] throwing Omarosa out of the White House. This is throwing the richest man in the world who has enormous power, has a huge platform, has a lot of means and methods to strike back. So it’s not the smallest thing in the world. He’s picking a fight.

Inskeep: Musk is then saying, I’m immediately going to decommission the Dragon space capsules, which would strand people –astronauts in space.

Swisher: He took it back.

Inskeep: He took that back? Okay. He’s also at the same time saying, ‘What an amazing timeline I have’. That’s one of his tweets yesterday. Is all of this fake? Is any of this really happening?

Swisher: Everyone thinks it was fake. I think the reference to Jeffrey Epstein, sort – I first thought, oh, goodness sake, this is typical of these two. Because they’re so much alike in so many ways. Everything’s about look at me. They obviously didn’t get hugged enough as children –either of them. But they need to be you know, they need the attention on them at all times. The thing is, this is the President of the United States [and]the richest man in the world. There’s legislation that’s pending. It’s not a reality show. It’s not a game and everything else. So when he did the Epstein stuff, I went, Oh dear, he went, he went to pedophile, which is something that. Speaking of bag of tricks, that’s an Elon thing that he typically accuses people [of]. He was in a lawsuit over that issue a couple of years ago . And he did it to the speaker of the House. He does it all the time.

Inskeep: I want to ask about another serious potential consequence here. At the beginning of the administration, people were referring to Musk and a bunch of others as oligarchs. And so we looked into the history of so-called oligarchs in Russia. And there was a moment in Russia where there was an oligarch who had an opinion that President Vladimir Putin didn’t like. And so Putin destroyed that oligarch and then all the other oligarchs and replaced them with his own people. Is that possible in the United States?

Swisher: Oh, well, I guess it’s possible. Trump is somewhat incompetent at being an autocrat right now. And the people do fight back. And it’s a slightly different situation than Russia is and the way Putin wields power. But certainly he has lots of things at his disposal. The issue is how many people can he fight at once. He’s fighting Harvard [University]. Who’s pushing back. He’s fighting lawyers, some of whom are pushing back. And so at some point, he’s fighting too many people. He can sic the Justice Department on Musk, but then it’ll be very explicit. A lot of this is so explicit. The coin operated president who gets the rich guy [and] gives him the Lincoln Bedroom for the money. All this is so explicit. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. And so explicitly fighting musk will be quite something. And Musk is not without his fans and again, without tools to fight back at Trump.

Inskeep: I guess if you were worried about the extreme concentration of power, –the world’s richest man hanging out with the world’s most powerful man– it’s less concentrated now.

Swisher: I don’t know. I find it worrisome –completely worrisome– that this is what we’re doing. They’re not being serious people. This is ridiculous. Trump is nearly 80 years old. Musk is in his fifties.This is toddler behavior.

Inkseep: Bill Ackman, another billionaire part of their coalition, urging them to make peace. And Musk seems to agree on social media. You think they’ll just make up somehow?

Swisher: Maybe. Although I think Trump probably has had it with him, especially with the Epstein stuff. Bill Ackman, an insufferable hedge fund person, is not the person who should be making peace here but that’s just my opinion.

Note: Trump told CNN Friday that he won’t speak to Musk “for a while.”

Copyright 2025 NPR

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers weighed in on the conflict between Trump and Musk today as the pair continued to pour fuel on a fire that risks destroying a once tight-knit relationship between the two leaders for good.

Musk escalated the war of words throughout the day with online posts that ranged from intense criticism of a Republican funding bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would add trillions to the national deficit to a conspiracy-boosting claim that Trump is “in the Epstein Files” and a suggestion that Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance.

For some Republicans, Musk today took things too far.

Show more

Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.

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.