The Trump administration is asking U.S. embassies and consulates to prioritize visa applications from foreigners who plan to come to the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup or 2028 Olympics, according to cables obtained by the Associated Press.
News of the new visa guidance arrives nearly a day before President Donald Trump is set to participate in the World Cup draw, which will determine teams for the tournament next year.
The draw is expected to take place Friday afternoon at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are also expected to attend.
Friday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is also expected to present a new prize called the “FIFA Peace Prize,” which will be given to someone who has taken “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and “united people” around the world.
Trump is rumored to be the first recipient of the prize – despite the fact that the U.S. president has cracked down on immigration and made it more difficult for many foreigners to seek refuge or asylum in the U.S.
KEY POINTS
- Administration asks embassies to prioritize visas for World Cup attendees
- Admiral told lawmakers Hegseth did not give a kill order
- ‘Most troubling things I’ve seen:’ Dem says of boat strike video after briefing
- Republican Senator Cotton says boat strike was ‘entirely lawful’
- Man accused of planting pipe bomb before January 6 charged with using explosive device
Analysis: How Donald Trump’s pardon wave is ‘normalizing corruption’
20:30 , Alex WoodwardIn more than a dozen cases, Trump even issued pardons for people who were prosecuted or convicted within his first and second terms, only to unravel those cases entirely this year. An entertainment executive accused of public corruption was pardoned this week, only four months after he was indicted for conspiracy.
Read more here:
Administration asks embassies to prioritize visas for World Cup attendees
20:15 , Ariana BaioThe Trump administration is asking embassies and consulates to prioritize processing visa applications for foreigners coming to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, according to cables seen by the Associated Press.
Despite Trump’s massive rollback on immigration, asylum and visa applications, the president is making an exception for tourists interested in attending global sporting events.
The U.S. is asking embassies to prioritize visas for those hoping to attend the 2028 Olympics.
Bongino takes victory lap over pipe bomb arrest, despite once sharing theory
20:00 , Ariana BaioFBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino boasted about the Justice Department arresting a man accused of planting pipe bombs outside of political headquarters on the eve of January 6, 2021 – despite, at one point, sharing a theory that it was an “inside job.”
“We were going to track this person to the end of the earth. There was no way he was getting away,” Bongino said at the press conference Thursday.
The Justice Department arrested 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr., from Woodbridge, Virginia – years after the incident occurred.
Officials did not provide details about a potential motive.
White House will submit ballroom plans to planning commission
19:30 , Ariana BaioThe White House is expected to submit its ballroom construction plans to the National Capital Planning Commission later this month, the Trump-appointed head of the commission said Thursday.
“Once plans are submitted, that’s really when the role of this commission, and its professional staff, will begin,” Will Scharf, the chair of the National Capital Planning Commission and White House Staff Secretary, said.
Admiral told lawmakers Hegseth did not give a kill order
19:10 , Ariana BaioAdmiral Bradley made clear to lawmakers Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give any kill order that led to a second lethal strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.
“No. Admiral Bradley was very clear that he was given no such order to, to give no quarter or kill them all,” Cotton reiterated to reporters.
Trump hosts signing event with presidents of Rwanda and the DRC
19:00 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump is hosting the president of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a largely symbolic peace signing event that is also serving as a venue for an economic agreement.
At the US Institute of Peace, which has been renamed for Trump, the president touted that “everybody” would make money from a rare earth deal with the two countries.
“We’re going to take out some of the rare earth,” Trump said. “Everybody’s going to make a lot of money.”
Man accused of planting pipe bomb before January 6 charged with using explosive device
18:55 , Ariana BaioThe man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 5, 2021, has been charged with using an explosive device, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest was not made on any new information.
Democrat senator says his ‘worst fears’ about Trump administration were confirmed after boat strike briefing
18:46 , Ariana BaioDemocratic Senator Jack Reed, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, raised alarm bells about the lawfulness of the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats, claiming his “worst fears” had been “confirmed.”
“I am deeply disturbed by what I saw this morning,” Reed said in a statement released Thursday afternoon after being briefed on the September 2 “double strike.”
Reed called on the Defense Department to release “complete, unedited footage” of the strike.
“ This briefing confirmed my worst fears about the nature of the Trump Administration’s military activities, and demonstrates exactly why the Senate Armed Services Committee has repeatedly requested – and been denied – fundamental information, documents, and facts about this operation.”
Rand Paul calls for the full video of the Venezuela boat strike to be released
18:30 , Eric GarciaRand Paul told The Independent that he wants the video of the strike in Venezuela released.
“I think you know our military code is pretty clear that when people are wounded or left in a shipwreck, left in the debris of a shipwreck, that they're considered to be out of combat and are not not to be killed,” Paul said.
Paul said he would take action to release the video
“I'm not sure exactly what yet, but we will be working with anybody that wants to have the video available,” he said.
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
Trump has said the US is at war with Venezuela.
Paul also added that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needed to testify before Congress under oath.
Senator Cotton says boat strike was ‘entirely lawful’
18:24 , Ariana BaioRepublican Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Thursday that the “double tap” boat strikes conducted in September were “entirely lawful and needed.”
"The first strike, the second strike, and the third and the fourth strike on September 2nd were entirely lawful and needful, and they were exactly what we'd expect our military commanders to do,” Cotton told reporters after being briefed by Admiral Bradley.
Cotton said he did not see anything “disturbing” in the video – drawing a contrast to his Democratic colleague Jim Hines.
"I saw two survivors, trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs bound for the US back over so they could stay in the fight – and potentially, given them all the context we heard, other narco-terrorist boats in the area coming to their aid.”
Smith wants briefing with full House Armed Services Committee
18:15 , Ariana BaioRep. Adam Smith, a Democrat ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, offered little comment on the briefing with Admiral Bradley but responded affirmatively when asked if he wanted an additional briefing with the full committee, according to CNN.
Watch live: DoJ holds press conference after arrest in DNC RNC pipe-bombing case
18:05 , Independent VideoRepublicans offer no comment on briefings
17:56 , Ariana BaioRep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, did not give any comment about the briefing on the “double tap” boat strikes briefing with Admiral Mitch Bradley Thursday.
Similarly, Senator Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to comment on information shared in the briefing.
Senator Coons calls on Hegseth to resign after Signalgate report
17:50 , Ariana BaioDemocratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should resign following a report from the Defense Department’s Inspector General that he may have endangered U.S. troops when he put sensitive information in a Signal group chat.
“Any service member who acted with such disregard for our national security would be dismissed,” Coons the vice chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, said.
“Our nation’s highest ranking defense official should not be held to a lower standard than the men and women he oversees. I once again call on Secretary Hegseth to resign.”
The report indicated Hegseth did not reveal classified information – however, as defense secretary, Hegseth is able to declassify information where he sees fit.
Any service member who acted with such disregard for our national security would be dismissed. Our nation’s highest ranking defense official should not be held to a lower standard than the men and women he oversees. I once again call on Secretary Hegseth to resign. https://t.co/Z9m0eo1PMc
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) December 4, 2025
White House lowers flags in honor of National Guard member killed
17:27 , Ariana BaioThe White House, Thursday, lowered flags in honor of Sarah Beckstrom, the National Guard member who was fatally shot on November 26.
Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member, was mortally shot in the nation’s capital right before Thanksgiving.
Another National Guard Member, Andrew Wolfe, was also critically injured in the shooting.
All flags at the White House, in the nation’s capital, and on federal buildings across the United States are at half-staff.
House Intelligence Committee chairman says he is ‘confident’ in Hegseth after briefing
17:00 , Ariana BaioRepublican Rep. Rick Crawford, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, maintained confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after receiving a classified briefing from Admiral Bradley Thursday.
“I feel confident and have no further questions of Hegseth,” Crawford told CNN.
Crawford said he believes the second strike was justified and said it was his understanding that Admiral Bradley ordered the second strike – not Hegseth.
Trump's Jan 6 pardon will not apply to alleged pipe bomber
16:50 , Andrew FeinbergThe White House says President Donald Trump's blanket pardon of thousands of crimes committed during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol won't apply to the alleged pipe bomber who FBI agents arrested on Thursday.
The man was arrested after a long-running probe into the placement of explosive devices outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters buildings before the riot.
A White House official told The Independent that Trump's grant of "a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021" won't get the alleged bomber off the hook because the pipe bombs were hidden on January 5.
The official also said the president's sweeping grant of clemency "pertained to events at or near Capitol and does not cover planting bombs at the places that aren’t the Capitol."
New York Times sues Pentagon and Hegseth over new press restrictions
16:17 , Ariana BaioThe New York Times is suing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense over the Pentagon’s new restrictions on press access, which require journalists to pledge to only report on pre-approved information.
The lawsuit from the Times is set to be filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., and will name Hegseth, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell and the DOD as defendants.
Read more here:
Pentagon sued over press restrictions ‘that attempt to exert control’ on reporting
Rep. Himes says US was 'not in the position' to continue boat strikes
15:54 , Ariana BaioSpeaking with reporters after Admiral Bradley’s briefing, Himes said the video showed two “shipwrecked sailors” and that the US was not in a position to continue its mission.
“Any American who sees the video that I saw, will see the United States military attacking shipwrecked sailors – bad guys, bad guys, but attacking shipwrecked sailors,” Himes told reporters, according to CNN.
“Now there’s a whole set of contextual items that the admiral explained. Yes, they were carrying drugs. They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way.”
‘Most troubling things I’ve seen:’ Dem says of boat strikes briefing
15:40 , Ariana BaioRepresentative Jim Himes, a ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters Thursday the briefing by Admiral Bradley was “one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service.”
“You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States,” Himes said, according to CNN.
Himes told CNN that Admiral Bradley confirmed there was no “kill them all order” nor “grant no quarter” order.
Democrat on Armed Services Committee calls Signalgate report ‘troubling’
15:35 , Ariana BaioDemocratic Senator Jack Reed, a ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, reiterated concerns about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “judgment” after reading the inspector general’s report on Signalgate.
The report, released Thursday, concluded that Hegseth could have put U.S. troops in danger by sharing sensitive information about an imminent military operation in Yemen in a Signal group chat in which a journalist was inadvertently added.
“This report validates the serious concerns I hold about Secretary Hegseth's judgment, competence, and fitness to lead our nation's military,” Reed said in a statement Thursday.
Although the report concluded Hegseth shared sensitive information, he did not share classified information because Hegseth is able to declassify information.
“The IG's findings reinforce a troubling pattern: there appear to be two standards in Mr. Hegseth's Pentagon: one for himself, and one for everyone else. If any other military servicemember or Defense Department employee engaged in similar conduct, they would face severe consequences, including potential prosecution.”
What is Trump doing today?
15:00 , Ariana BaioWhile members of Congress await a closed-door meeting with Admiral Mitch Bradley, President Donald Trump will be greeting the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the White House, the president will be meeting with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and signing a peace agreement that aims to tamp down a long-running conflict in the region.
Thursday’s ceremony is largely symbolic because the agreement was already signed over the summer.
Later, Thursday evening, the president and first lady will participate in the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.
Senator Rand Paul fears boat strikes are ‘prelude to invasion’
14:48 , Ariana BaioRepublican Senator Rand Paul raised concerns Thursday morning that the Pentagon’s boat strikes were a “prelude” to invading Venezuela and appealed to President Donald Trump not to escalate an “offensive war.”
“I hope that’s not what’s coming, but it certainly looks like it’s a possibility,” Paul told Fox Business.
Paul has publicly broken from his party multiple times this year, becoming a target of Trump’s.
"I don't like the idea of an offensive war; I like the idea of a regime change. It was one of the things I liked about Donald Trump, was that he was against the Iraq war, he was against the war in Libya," Paul added.
Hegseth forced out US Navy admiral who had legal concerns over Trump’s drug boat strikes: report
14:45 , Rhian LubinDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked a top U.S. Navy admiral to step down after the military chief expressed concern about the “murky” legality of the lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, according to a report.
The shock departure of Admiral Alvin Holsey one year into his tenure as head of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean, was announced by Hegseth on Oct.16.
It followed “months of discord” between the pair that intensified in the summer when the Trump administration began bombing the alleged drug boats, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing two Pentagon officials and former officials.
Read on...
Hegseth forced out US admiral who had legal concerns over drug boat strikes: report
FBI announces arrest of suspect who left pipe bombs in DC before January 6 riots
14:30 , Mike BediganThe FBI has arrested a male suspect over the placement of pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6 riots in 2021.
An arrest was announced Thursday, following an investigation that has spanned almost five years, and only added fuel to the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the violent insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters.
Read more here:
FBI announces arrest of suspect who left pipe bombs in DC before January 6 riots
Admiral 'expected to tell lawmakers survivors were actively continuing drug operation'
14:20 , Rhian LubinAdmiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley is planning to tell lawmakers at today’s closed-door session that the surviving targets killed in a second strike “were attempting to continue their drug run,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
The claim that they were legitimate targets for the second attack could rebut allegations that the killing of the survivors may have constituted a war crime.
Bradley is likely to be pressed on how he reached the reported conclusion that survivors were legitimate targets and if a rescue mission was considered, according to the WSJ.
In Photos: Admiral Bradley arrives for closed-door hearing
13:57 , Ariana Baio
Pete Hegseth faces growing criticism from conservatives over ‘kill everybody’ strike
13:40 , Justin BaragonaIt isn’t just the left that is outraged about Pete Hegseth’s role in the lethal “double-tap” airstrike of a suspected drug boat that killed all remaining survivors.
A growing chorus of conservatives has joined them in describing the defense secretary as a potential “war criminal” who is “incompetent” and should be prosecuted.
The reliably conservative and hawkish editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch, applauded the bipartisan push for answers in an op-ed on Tuesday. On top of that, the editors called on Hegseth – a former Fox News morning talk show host – to take questions in a Congressional hearing.
Former colleagues of Hegseth’s, meanwhile, were far more forceful in their repudiation of the one-time Fox & Friends Weekend anchor.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, who spent nearly a decade working alongside Hegseth at Fox, didn’t mince words Tuesday over Hegseth’s alleged actions. “This is an act of a war crime, ordering survivors who the law requires be rescued instead to be murdered,” Napolitano said on Newsmax. “There's absolutely no legal basis for it.”
Hegseth says Admiral is 'an American hero' ahead of briefing with lawmakers
13:15 , Rhian LubinPete Hegseth said Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley has his “100 percent support” ahead of the probe with lawmakers due to take place later today.
He shared the post in praise of Bradley on December 1, when the White House shifted the attention onto the admiral’s apparent role in the operation.
Let’s make one thing crystal clear:
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025
Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.
America is fortunate to have such men protecting…
Family of man killed in US ‘drug boat’ strike files complaint over ‘extrajudicial killing’
12:45 , Rhian LubinThe family of a Colombian man killed in a U.S. military boat strike has filed the first formal challenge to the attacks on alleged drug-carrying boats.
Their lawyer argues in a petition to the premier human rights watchdog in the Americas that his death was an extrajudicial killing.
The petition from the family of Alejandro Carranza says the military bombed his fishing boat on Sept. 15, when he was sailing off Colombia’s Caribbean coast, in violation of human rights conventions.
Read on...
Family of man killed in US boat strike files complaint over ‘extrajudicial killing’
Senators want to know why Hegseth wasn't in the room for the second strike
12:20 , Rhian LubinSenators are eager to find out from Pete Hegseth why he wasn’t in the room for the second strike on the vessel.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that “if someone knowingly launched a second missile at that boat, which led to the deaths of the other two, then they have to be held accountable.”
Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine also said, “I want to know how long he was, where he was.”
Tillis: If someone knowingly launched a second missile at that boat which led to the deaths of the other two, then they have to be held accountable and they shouldn't be in whatever role they're in. pic.twitter.com/ZbJx7ZFFpf
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 4, 2025
Sen. Angus King on Secretary Hegseth saying he wasn’t in the room for the second strike: “I want to see his calendar for that day. I want to know what meeting he went to. I want to know how long he was, where he was.” pic.twitter.com/4bj19nt5Ln
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 3, 2025
Hegseth endangered troops by sharing war plans in Signal chat, report says
12:00 , Rhian LubinDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been fighting battles on two fronts this week.
Aside from the boat strikes controversy, he is also doing damage control after a report found that he risked endangering U.S. troops by sharing highly-sensitive information about military operations on a Signal group chat earlier this year.
The classified report, conducted by the Inspector General, was sent to Congress Tuesday night, and first detailed by CNN.
An unclassified version of the report is due to be released publicly Thursday.
Earlier this year Hegseth sent multiple messages about airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen to a group chat on the private messaging app which included other senior members of the administration including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It also included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who was added accidentally by a National Security Advisor.
The Pentagon has painted the report as an exoneration of Hegseth.
Mike Bedigan has more details...
Pete Hegseth endangered troops by sharing war plans in Signal chat, report says
Recap: How did we get here?
11:10 , Rhian Lubin- Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley is appearing in front of lawmakers behind closed doors today following intense scrutiny of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of the lethal strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats on Sept. 2.
- Last week the Washington Post dropped a report alleging that Hegseth gave a directive to “kill everybody.” After the first airstrike did not kill everyone aboard the vessel, which the Trump administration claimed was a “narco vessel,” a second strike was ordered to comply with Hegseth’s directive.
- The White House shifted the blame to Bradley, while Hegseth said he “did not personally see survivors” before the second hit was carried out.
- Hegseth has since said that Bradley made “the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat.”
- Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees pushed the administration and Pentagon for the legal rationale for the military campaign against supposed “narco terrorists.”
Watch: Hegseth says he has 'the backs of all commanders'
11:05 , Rhian LubinSpeaking at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, sat beside President Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth claimed he has “the backs of all commanders.”
Admiral set to provide classified briefing to lawmakers today on lethal attacks on 'drug boats'
10:49 , Rhian Lubin, APThe Navy admiral who reportedly issued orders for the U.S. military to fire upon survivors of an attack on an alleged drug boat is expected Thursday on Capitol Hill to provide a classified briefing to top congressional lawmakers overseeing national security.
The information from Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who is now the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, comes at a potentially crucial moment in the unfolding congressional investigation into how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth handled the military operation in international waters near Venezuela. There are mounting questions over whether the strike may have violated the law.
Lawmakers are seeking a full accounting of the strikes after The Washington Post reported that Bradley on Sept. 2 ordered an attack on two survivors to comply with Hegseth's directive to “kill everybody.” Legal experts say the incident amounts to a crime if the survivors were targeted, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding accountability.
