By Amanda Castro and Hannah Parry
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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.
- 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 08:21 PM EDT
White House says Elon Musk having ‘unfortunate episode’
The White House has brushed off Elon Musk's attacks on President Donald Trump as an "unfortunate episode."
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Newsweek on Thursday evening that the Tesla CEO and former close Trump ally was speaking out because he is "unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted."
"The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again," she added.
Musk and Trump's very public spat began on Thursday afternoon after the president told reporters at the White House that he was "disappointed" in Musk's bill criticisms.
Read in full from Hannah Parry on Newsweek.
Jun 05, 2025 at 07:11 PM EDT
Musk backs post calling for Trump to be impeached
Elon Musk has backed a post calling for President Donald Trump to be impeached amid their fracturing relationship.
The billionaire shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday afternoon that stated, "Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him."
"Yes," Musk added, as she shared the post on his own feed.
Jun 05, 2025 at 06:58 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump unsure if he has ‘great relationship’ with Elon Musk anymore
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 06:53 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump suggests Musk has ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ after ‘big, beautiful bill’ comments
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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."
Jun 05, 2025 at 05:45 PM EDT
Ashley St. Clair offers Trump ‘breakup advice’ amid Elon Musk feud
A woman who claimed that Elon Musk fathered her child offered "breakup advice" to President Donald Trump amid his developing feud with the world's richest man.
On Thursday, Ashley St. Clair offered to help Trump navigate the messy feud with the alleged father of her child, writing on X: "hey @realDonaldTrump lmk if u need any breakup advice."
The post had been liked nearly 50,000 times as of the time of publication.
In February, St. Clair, an author, conservative political commentator, and influencer, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she and Musk had welcomed a child together in September 2024. Musk has 13 other children with three different women.
The Tesla and SpaceX leader allegedly offered to pay 26-year-old St. Clair a one-time payment of $15 million, in addition to $100,000 a month in support, to keep quiet about their infant son, The Wall Street Journal reported in April.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 05:00 PM EDT
A timeline of Elon Musk’s and Donald Trump’s bromance
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 04:50 PM EDT
DJT stock falls 8% after Musk alleges Trump administration stalled Epstein files
Shares of DJT, the stock ticker for 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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."
Jun 05, 2025 at 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."
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 04:09 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump suggests Musk has ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ after ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ comments
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 03:51 PM EDT
Photo resurfaces of Elon Musk with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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."
Jun 05, 2025 at 03:11 PM EDT
Tesla shares fall nearly 10% after Trump slams Musk over GOP tax bill
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Elon Musk's electric vehicle company Tesla shares tumbled nearly 10% on Thursday, marking their sharpest decline since the election. The drop coincided with 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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."
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 12:43 PM EDT
Republicans get worrying update in red state Senate race
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 12:01 PM EDT
Trump thanks Xi for invitation, says both look forward to future visit
According to China's official news agency Xinhua, 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 11:40 AM EDT
Supreme Court rejects Mexico’s lawsuit against US gunmakers
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 10:11 AM EDT
Ex-Biden official calls Karine Jean-Pierre ‘kinda dumb’
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 09:18 AM EDT
Florida pastor in US for 26 years detained by ICE at immigration appointment
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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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 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.
Jun 05, 2025 at 08:37 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s travel ban: Who can still enter the US?
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Some 19 countries have been affected by Donald Trump's new travel ban —Newsweek has broken down all the exceptions travellers need to know about.
Exceptions to these new restrictions apply to the following groups of people:
- Any permanent resident of the United States and anyone with dual citizenship
- Foreign nationals with diplomatic visas (A-1, A-2), such as ambassadors, ministers or military personnel
- People with transit visas (C-2, C-3)
- People who work for international organizations such as the United Nations or the World Bank (G-1, G-4)
- People with NATO visas (NATO-1, NATO-6)
- Athletes and their teams, including supportive members and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State
- Holders of immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) "with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship"
- Children who have been adopted abroad (visas IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4)
- People with Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, given to Afghans who helped the U.S. government during the war there
- Iranians fleeing persecution because they are part of a religious minority, such as Christians
- United States Government employees
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also both have the discretion to put individuals forward for exception based on whether they would "advance a critical United States national interest," the White House proclamation says.
For example, Bondi could make an exception for someone required to be present in criminal proceedings as a witness.
Read the full story by Jordan King on Newsweek.
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