Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is back on Capitol Hill to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on the department鈥檚 priorities, one day after he refused to say whether President Donald Trump and his family would still get immunity from IRS audits after the administration for a $1.776 billion compensation fund that would have benefited the president鈥檚 allies.
Meanwhile, has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information that could allow him to avoid prison time, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.
Here’s the latest:
Trump reveals lineup for 250th anniversary rally after other acts backed out
The president said he鈥檒l be joined by Lee Greenwood, Christopher Macchio and U.S. military bands for a June 24 event that he described as 鈥淎 Rally to end all Rallies!鈥� Trump announced it on social media Thursday, a week after several musical acts of a Trump-linked concert celebrating the country鈥檚 250th anniversary. After some acts said they were misled about the theme, Trump decided to . 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we鈥檝e told them all to stay home,鈥� Trump said Thursday. 鈥淎ll we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played.鈥� The show will include 鈥渁ll of your favorite Hits,鈥� Trump added, 鈥淧LUS a fine and highly dignified gentleman known as, President DONALD J. TRUMP!鈥�
Cuba鈥檚 foreign affairs minister blasts new US sanctions
Bruno Rodr铆guez, Cuba鈥檚 minister of foreign affairs, condemned the new sanctions Thursday on X.
He said 鈥渢he vile inclusion鈥� of D铆az-Canel and others, including Cuban institutions and civil society organizations, 鈥渋s the latest example of the US interventionist plan to portray Cuba as a threat to US national security.鈥�
鈥淓very US action aimed at creating a scenario of conflict between the two countries is destined to fail,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淓very threat against Cuba鈥檚 independence and sovereignty will be met with even greater unity and determination from our people.鈥�
Trump administration has separated dozens of children from their parents for a second time, AP finds
Eight years after Trump鈥檚 forcible border separations following global outrage, an Associated Press investigation has found that the government has re-separated dozens of children from their families, despite a landmark legal settlement meant to keep them together.
Some of their parents have been locked in immigration detention facilities for months, others deported back to their home countries after being taken from their families once again.
In some cases, immigration officials conducting interior arrests deported people despite discovering they were legally off limits for removal, according to emails obtained by AP.
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Planning commission seeks more details on Trump鈥檚 planned arch
The National Capital Planning Commission wants more details on President Donald Trump鈥檚 proposal for a triumphal arch in Washington, D.C.
The commission voted Thursday to seek additional information on the planned structure鈥檚 impact on air navigation and traffic around the area between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery where the 250-foot arch is planned.
Public comments mostly expressed concerns about its scale and impact on the skyline. One critic called it a 鈥渧anity project.鈥�
The arch would feature inscriptions and a public observation deck. Trump claims it can be funded with private donations.
Kennedy Center begins process of removing Trump references after judge said it was illegally added
The Kennedy Center is beginning the process of removing references to President Donald Trump a week after a federal judge ruled that his name had been to the performing arts center.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center鈥檚 vice president of public relations, said in a statement to The Associated Press that 鈥渨e are complying with the court鈥檚 order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump鈥檚 leadership.鈥�
In a Thursday memo to staff from the Kennedy Center鈥檚 Office of General Counsel, the institution鈥檚 lawyers said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as 鈥淭he John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts鈥� or 鈥淜ennedy Center.鈥�
The changes, the memo said, must be completed by June 12.
A federal judge that Trump鈥檚 name had been illegally added to the venue, also blocking the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July.
Hours later, Trump said he was backing away from the revamp and making arrangements to relinquish control to Congress of what, until the Republican president鈥檚 second term, had been known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
US imposes sanctions on Cuban President Miguel D铆az-Canel in latest move to pressure leadership
The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuba鈥檚 President Miguel D铆az-Canel, along with four other individuals, according to a filing Thursday on the U.S. Treasury Department website.
Included in the sanctions are Alejandro Castro Esp铆n, the son of former President Ra煤l Castro.
The sanctions come after signed an executive order expanding sanctions against the island.
The new sanctions boost pressure on the Cuban government but are far from the first time the U.S. has imposed sanctions against heads of state or government and their relatives.
The U.S. hit former Sudanese President Omar Bashir and former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in the early 2000s and more recently targeted former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife with sanctions.
Trump says he鈥檚 going to NBA Finals to root for the Knicks
Calling himself a 鈥渂ig fan鈥� of the New York Knicks and owner James Dolan, the president 鈥� born in Queens 鈥� said he鈥檒l be attending at least one game at Madison Square Garden.
鈥淭he answer is yes 鈥� he鈥檚 invited me. I鈥檓 going,鈥� Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event on Thursday.
Trump said he watched the beginning and end of the Knicks鈥� Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs, though he missed the middle 鈥渂ecause I talked to generals all night long.鈥�
A sports enthusiast, Trump said he was amazed by the play of Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Asked if he would be attending Game 3, scheduled for Monday, or Game 4, Trump said: 鈥淢onday, could be Monday. Maybe I鈥檒l do both.鈥�
Trump says Biden was 鈥榯he same guy鈥� as ever when they met in Oval Office after 2024 election
The Republican president frequently attacks his predecessor, but he hedged on Thursday when asked whether he noticed any cognitive decline while talking with former President Joe Biden.
鈥淣o, it was the same guy,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淗e was fine as far as I was concerned.鈥�
Recalling a 2024 presidential debate that raised concerns about Biden鈥檚 health, Trump took credit for what he described as a strong performance.
鈥淪omething happened during the debate,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚t could have been me. You know, I thought I had a very good debate.鈥�
Biden made an appearance in New York this week at a tour stop for Jill Biden鈥檚 .
Trump says he was only kidding about keeping UFC cage at the White House
The president, speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, said a UFC octagon being built on the South Lawn will come down after the June 14 bout. He said his previous comment was made 鈥渏okingly,鈥� and he expressed dismay that some people believed it.
It comes two days after Trump released a video on social media comparing the cage to Paris鈥� Eiffel Tower, which was built to be temporary for the 1889 World鈥檚 Fair but became permanent. In the video, Trump drew a parallel with the octagon, saying, 鈥淢aybe we鈥檒l never ever take it down.鈥�
Trump urged to stop Israel from annexing and encroaching on territory for a Palestinian state
Arab and Islamic countries are urging the U.N. Security Council, especially the United States, and the international community to act to end Israel鈥檚 annexation campaign in Gaza and the West Bank.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told reporters Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already has Israeli forces occupying 60% of Gaza, and wants 70%. And he said Israeli construction plans will separate the northern and southern West Bank, and sever east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital, delivering 鈥渁 deadly blow to the two-state solution.鈥�
Mansour said Trump has told Netanyahu there must be 鈥渘o annexation,鈥� stressing, 鈥渉e has the tools to stop Netanyahu in his tracks.鈥�
Mansour was surrounded by many ambassadors from the U.N.鈥檚 22-member Arab Group and 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation who support Security Council action against Israeli annexation.
Trump said it 鈥榳ould be great鈥� if Putin and Zelenskyy met
The president, when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggesting a meeting with Putin, said he was glad to hear they were discussing a meeting and said, 鈥淭hey should get it done.鈥�
Trump said he wouldn鈥檛 say what compromises he requested Putin make to settle the war, but said, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to both make compromises. I suggested those compromises.鈥�
Trump says that Pulte won鈥檛 be the 鈥榩ermanent鈥� director of national intelligence
The president鈥檚 pick of Bill Pulte to be the acting director of national intelligence has triggered pushback from some Republican and Democratic senators.
But Trump stressed in response to an Oval Office question that Pulte, who currently serves as Federal Housing Finance Agency director, would not be nominated to the position of coordinating 18 federal agencies involved in national security issues.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not going to be permanent because, you know, I don鈥檛 think he鈥檇 want to be permanent,鈥� Trump said.
The president said that Pulte is 鈥渁 very smart guy鈥� and he may look at past elections that Trump claims, without credible evidence, were 鈥渞igged鈥� against him.
But Trump said other candidates were being considered to be nominated for the Senate confirmed post.
鈥淲e鈥檙e interviewing people right now,鈥� Trump said.
Trump鈥檚 track record hasn鈥檛 been great for jobs mining coal
The U.S. president bragged at an Oval Office event to back the coal industry that his policies are putting coal miners back to work, but the numbers tell the exact opposite story.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all going back to work,鈥� Trump claimed.
Since Trump became president in 2025, the U.S. has lost 1,800 coal mining jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The job losses translate into more than 4% of the coal mining workforce. Employment in the coal mining sector was hurt by the pandemic and rebounded during much of the term of former President Joe Biden. Coal mining jobs began to decline in late 2024 and the losses have been sustained during Trump鈥檚 second term.
Rubio assures Kuwait of US support in meeting with FM after Iranian strike on airport
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured Kuwait of U.S. support for the country a day after Iran launched a retaliatory airstrike on Kuwait鈥檚 international airport.
In a meeting on Thursday with Kuwait鈥檚 foreign minister, Rubio 鈥渞eiterated the commitment of the United States to Kuwait鈥檚 security, to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, and restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,鈥� the State Department said in a statement.
Rubio 鈥渁lso condemned Iran鈥檚 outrageous and unacceptable attacks targeting Kuwait International Airport and other parts of the country and expressed condolences for those killed and injured in that attack,鈥� it said.
Trump does show-and-tell with Reflecting Pool
The president kicked off an event at the White House about coal by showing off what he said was 鈥渘ice clean water鈥� filling up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the renovation he directed.
The president held up for reporters images of the refinished pool and a poster boasting of the length of the basin. He then had an aide play a video on a small laptop screen showing water bubbling back into the drained pool.
鈥淭he water is pouring in as we speak,鈥� Trump said.
Trump says Reflecting Pool work is done and it鈥檚 set to be filled with water
renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is done, and it鈥檚 set to be filled with water any day now, his administration says.
Trump noted the work to paint the shallow basin a deep shade, which he calls 鈥淎merican flag blue,鈥� was completed on Wednesday. The administration said in it鈥檚 set to be filled with water no later than Sunday.
Trump announced the project in April, inspired by a friend鈥檚 complaint. The cost is estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million, but at least $14.8 million worth of contracts for the project.
Critics argue the Republican president is focusing too much on personal projects.
A nonprofit filed a lawsuit to stop work at the 鈥渄ark grey鈥� pool, claiming the new paint color suggested a 鈥渢heme park.鈥� The pool was built in the 1920s and is an iconic Washington site.
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House poised to pass Ukraine aid over the objections of Republican leaders
The House is on course to pass legislation that would aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy despite opposition from Republican leaders who warn the bill will undermine negotiations designed to achieve a comparable but stronger result.
The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, seeks to cement U.S. assistance for Ukraine by providing more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid. It would make another $8 billion available for Ukraine鈥檚 defense through loans.
The vote Thursday could generate the House鈥檚 second major foreign policy break this week with Trump. It comes one day after the House for the first time a war powers resolution aimed at halting the .
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Some Republican governors are rebranding June with conservative alternatives to Pride
June is widely recognized as , but a handful of Republican governors have bestowed alternative titles that both supporters and opponents view as counterprogramming.
Without directly saying the idea was to replace Pride, the governors of Indiana and Tennessee rebranded June as Nuclear Family Month to celebrate units made up of 鈥渙ne husband, one wife and any biological, adopted or fostered children.鈥�
In Alabama, it鈥檚 Strong Families Month, intended to coincide with Father鈥檚 Day.
The governors of Utah and Arkansas deemed it Fidelity Month, which emphasizes fidelity to faith, country and family 鈥� without comment on how those families might be comprised.
Pride organizations say the efforts to rename the month won鈥檛 affect their parades and other celebrations. The festivities were more than 50 years ago, and organizers say that remains essential to their purpose.
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Trump expected to announce $700 million in new support for struggling coal industry
The president is again seeking to boost the struggling , with an announcement expected Thursday to spend nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports.
A White House official said the administration will use authority under a Cold War-era national defense law to support 13 coal plants across the country and help build coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia.
If built, the plants would be the first new U.S. coal plants since 2013. The money will also help restart a coal-fired power plant in Maryland and support construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California.
Environmentalists said the plan would 鈥減ut polluters first鈥� and jeopardize Americans鈥� health.
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American Airlines temporarily suspends some of its summer routes due to steep jet fuel costs
American Airlines is temporarily suspending some of its routes this summer, as continue to strain carriers鈥� budgets amid the .
In a statement, American said it had adjusted service for 鈥渟elect routes鈥� in August and September 鈥� and that affected travelers would be offered alternative arrangements or refunds. The Texas-based airline cited elevated fuel costs, and maintained that these changes were in line with wider industry trends.
American also said that it was not cutting any of its routes indefinitely and that it was proud to 鈥渙ffer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.鈥�
Still, the summer suspensions could cause more headaches for travelers fewer flights options and higher price tags across their budgets. Airlines around the world have canceled numerous flights or similarly trimmed schedules through the coming months 鈥� and many have are also hiking fees or in efforts to save money.
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Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on federal regulation of telecom companies
The sided with the Trump administration Thursday in a case about the on telecommunications companies.
The 8-1 decision upheld one of the Federal Communications Commission鈥檚 key tools, though the companies also won a concession from the Republican administration that could shift the regulatory landscape.
The appeal from challenged a combined $100 million in penalties imposed after the agency determined the companies had failed to safeguard customer location data.
The companies argued that the FCC鈥檚 process was unconstitutional because it gave them little opportunity to tell their side of the story in front of a jury.
The administration defended the fines as an essential regulatory tool. But the government also said companies did not have to pay the penalties right away, a regulatory shift in the company鈥檚 favor.
The Supreme Court agreed.
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Ex-national security adviser John Bolton will plead guilty in classified information case: AP source
The has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information under a deal with the Justice Department that could allow him to avoid prison time, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.
The deal would resolve a criminal case filed in October that charged Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or sharing diary-like notes with family members that officials said contained classified information as he was preparing a memoir of his time in government.
Under the agreement, Bolton would also face a $2.25 million fine, said the person, who insisted on anonymity to discuss a deal that hadn鈥檛 been made public. Any prison sentence would be capped at five years, but the agreement allows for him to avoid time behind bars, though the punishment will ultimately be up to a judge.
A rearraignment, which typically signals a plea agreement, is scheduled for June 26.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
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鈥� Eric Tucker
Senate begins voting on bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol as Democrats try to derail it
The Senate is beginning a long series of votes Thursday on legislation to fund President Trump鈥檚 immigration enforcement agencies, moving toward passage of a three-year fix as Democrats have blocked the money for months in protest.
The roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol would end the blockade by Democrats who after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January. The bill would fund the agencies for three years, through the end of Trump鈥檚 term.
First, though, Republicans must beat back a potential gauntlet of amendments Democrats plan to offer, including to try and permanently ban Trump鈥檚 for allies who he believes have been politically persecuted. Democrats have said their first amendment Thursday morning will be to eliminate the fund and send the immigration spending bill back to committee.
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US jobless aid filings, a proxy for layoffs, hit highest level since Iran war began in February
The number of Americans filing for jobless aid hit their highest level in four months last week, but layoffs remain historically low despite ongoing economic uncertainty brought on by the war in Iran.
U.S. applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 30 increased by 13,000 to 225,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That鈥檚 the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still a historically low level. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected 211,000 new applications.
Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.
Despite historically low layoffs, the labor market seems to be mired in what economists call a state. That鈥檚 kept the unemployment rate low at 4.3%, but left many of those out of work struggling to find new employment.
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Trump officials went after dozens of colleges. Now they鈥檙e rewriting the rules for all of academia
A year ago, the White House was unleashing a blitz on higher education. At one campus after another, Trump officials opened investigations and unless schools fell in line with the Republican president鈥檚 political agenda.
Now, after a campaign that put dozens of universities , Trump鈥檚 administration is taking a wider approach, moving to rewrite the federal rules that govern all of higher education. Demands that were being pressed on individual schools are being written into the fine print for thousands of U.S. universities.
鈥淲e鈥檙e coming over the higher education system and course correcting,鈥� Nicholas Kent, undersecretary for the Education Department, said in an Associated Press interview. Unlike investigations that target individual campuses, he said the new tactic has power 鈥渢o affect 6,000 institutions.鈥�
The shift comes after blocked Trump鈥檚 administration from making at Harvard and the University of California, Los Angeles. It also follows a mass exodus in civil rights lawyers who traditionally guide investigations against universities. Still, Trump hasn鈥檛 backed down from his campaign to end what he calls 鈥渨okeness鈥� run amok in academia.
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Buffalo named Donald Trump for his golden locks is a sensation at a Bangladesh zoo
With his shock of golden hair and trim 700-kilogram (1,500-pound) build, Donald Trump has been drawing crowds from across Bangladesh since he arrived at the national zoo last week.
The rare albino buffalo became a sensation when a farmer noticed that his blond tuft of hair resembled the distinctive locks of the U.S. president. After a video of the pale horned mammal went viral on social media, large numbers of people started showing up at the farm outside Dhaka to see him for themselves.
The animal was originally meant to be slaughtered for the Muslim festival of sacrifice. But citing security concerns, the government ordered him transferred to the zoo in the capital, where large crowds are now braving sweltering heat to see him.
鈥淭here is a resemblance to Donald Trump in its eyes, hairstyle, and skin color,鈥� said Mohammed Nasim, a student in Dhaka. 鈥淎nd just as Donald Trump has a distinctive personality and lifestyle, this buffalo, after going viral, is now living a similar kind of life, enjoying a lot of attention and special treatment.鈥�
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Trump slams the 4 Republicans who voted in favor of war powers resolution
The president says the symbolic House vote approving a war powers resolution that would halt the , was 鈥渕eaningless.鈥�
Still, Trump is livid that four House Republicans joined the Democrats in supporting the resolution.
鈥淭he Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome,鈥� Trump said in a post on his social media site. 鈥淭hey would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that鈥檚 a whole other story – They鈥檙e GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves.鈥�
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refuses to say whether Trump remains exempt from IRS audits
Bessent refused to say Wednesday whether Trump and his family would still get immunity from IRS audits after the administration for a $1.776 billion compensation fund that would have benefited the president鈥檚 allies.
鈥淭here鈥檚 continuing litigation, and I鈥檓 unable to comment on ongoing litigation,鈥� Bessent told lawmakers at the Senate Finance Committee hearing.
It was a frustrating answer for Democratic lawmakers looking to get answers from Bessent at a hearing ostensibly focused on the Treasury Department鈥檚 budget and came a day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seemed to indicate that the portion of the settlement dealing with the IRS audit immunity would still be in effect for the Republican president.
After several failed attempts to get Bessent to answer, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 been very clear you鈥檙e dodging this and you鈥檙e trying to use it as an excuse. It鈥檚 just outrageous on behalf of the American public.鈥�
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Trump says he’ll nominate Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general
Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate to serve as attorney general, tapping his former personal lawyer who has aggressively pursued the Republican president鈥檚 agenda while leading the Justice Department in an acting role.
Trump said at a dinner at the White House that he plans to nominate Blanche formally on Thursday, according to a video of the event posted on social media by a White House aide.
鈥淲e are going to make him permanent attorney general,鈥� Trump said at the Rose Garden event.
Blanche was brought into the Justice Department as deputy attorney general and was elevated after Bondi鈥檚 ousting over her failed efforts to prosecute Trump鈥檚 perceived political opponents. Blanche insisted he wasn鈥檛 auditioning for the permanent post but made clear through splashy moves since taking the reins his intent on proving his loyalty to Trump.
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