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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
James Liddell,Oliver O'Connell and Gustaf Kilander

Trump claims he ‘hasn’t made any mistakes’ in first 100 days under questioning on TV town hall: Live

Donald Trump Immigration America Economy United States IPSOS the White House (Organization)

Donald Trump said he believed he had not made any mistakes in his first 100 days back in office, as he joined a NewsNation town hall via phone on Wednesday night.

The president faced a grilling from author and journalist Bill O’Reilly and sports pundit Stephen A Smith, as well as moderator Chris Cuomo. However, responding to a question from an audience member about what he believed his biggest mistake from his first 100 days was, Trump was blunt.

“I’ll tell you, that's the toughest question I can have, because I don't really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” he said.

Earlier, the president attempted to deflect blame as Wall Street fell on news that the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years, in Q1 2025. Trump claimed it was because of the Biden “Overhang” and had nothing to do with the panic over his tariffs.

During the 2024 campaign, the now-president would take credit for a booming stock market under his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying that it was because of expectations he would win the election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 have had their worst performance in the first 100 days of an administration since 1973.

Key points

  • Trump to join NewsNation town hall event
  • Trump tariffs: President says American children will have to make do with less
  • Trump defends trying to blame Biden for poor GDP data after repeatedly claiming credit for Democrat’s strong economic numbers
  • Trump admin signs Ukraine minerals deal in key move for Russian peace
  • Trump says Americans ‘signed up' for his trade war with China
  • Trump’s ominous warning at Michigan 100-day rally: ‘Nothing will stop me’

Trump quizzed over Harvard funding controversy

03:00 , Mike Bedigan

Trump downgrades hundreds of confirmed tariff deals to handful of 'potential deals'

02:45 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump appeared to row back on claims he had already made agreements with hundreds of countries, downgrading them to just a handful of “potential deals.”

In a recent interview with Time, Trump boasted that he had already struck “200 deals” with countries over tariffs, saying they were “100 percent” sorted – though he refused to name any specific nations.

At a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday, author and journalist Bill O’Reilly asked Trump about reports that he had already made deals with South Korea, Japan, and India. He asked when the deals might be announced.

“Well, we have potential deals with that,” Trump replied. “But I'll tell you this, I'm in less of a hurry than you are. We are sitting on the catbird seat. They want us. We don't need them.”

Trump says that over 100 countries are 'dying' to make tariff deals

02:30 , Mike Bedigan

Snapshot: Trump joins NewsNation town hall via phone

02:15 , Mike Bedigan
Trump joins NewsNation town hall via phone (NewsNation)

Trump would 'love' to see Stephen A Smith run for president

02:00 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump said he would “love” to see Stephen A Smith run for president – something the popular sports pundit has previously hinted at.

“Stephen A, he's a good guy. He's a smart guy. I love watching him,” the president said.

“He's got great entertainment skills, which is very important – people watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch I say they have no chance.

“I've been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I'd love to see him run.”

Trump 'does not believe he has made any mistakes' in his first 100 days

01:40 , Mike Bedigan

Responding to a question from the NewsNation town hall audience about what he believed his biggest mistake from his first 100 days was, Trump was blunt.

“I’ll tell you, that's the toughest question I can have, because I don't really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” he said.

Trump defends his tariffs: 'I know what I'm doing perfectly'

01:35 , Mike Bedigan

In response to a question from Stephen A Smith, who has voiced interest in a potential presidential run, about his tariffs Trump insisted that he knew what he was doing.

“It's time for the American people to be properly protected by somebody that knows what he's doing, and I know what I'm doing perfectly,” he said.

“It's a little complicated subject. I've got to explain it. I've got to have people that can explain it. But I can tell you that right now we have over 100 countries that are calling us, like morning, noon and night, dying to make a deal.

“We're in a great position of strength. We'll make great deals, and where we don't make deals”

On the deals, he added: “I'm in less of a hurry than you are.”

Trump says he has to be 'flexible' with his plans

01:30 , Mike Bedigan

Trump was later challenged by NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo about the fact that poll respondents concerns that he did not have a solid plan.

“Well, the problem is I have Chris is I have to be flexible, because as you do things in life and in business, you need flexibility,” the president replied.

“You can't just be hard line and I'm going to run right through a wall and I'm never going to go over it or around it. I'm going to go straight. You have to be able to dodge and move and be flexible.”

Trump admits tariff chaos may cause Democrat popularity to rise

01:20 , Mike Bedigan

The president agreed, when questioned by Bill O'Reilly, that if chaos caused by his global tariffs had not stabilized by this time next year, Democrats may win the midterms.

“There is risk here. Big risk,” O’Reilly said.

“That's true. It is true. And I just think that I'll be able to convince people how good this is,” Trump replied.

“This is what other countries have done to us. We've been the laughing stock and the whipping post we've been we've been ripped off by every country, practically in the world.”

Trump joins NewsNation town hall

01:12 , Mike Bedigan

President Trump joined the NewsNation town hall via phone, and immediately attacked the “fake polls” that were giving him bad numbers.

The president repeated chis previous claims that pollsters interviewed more Democrats than Republicans.

“They're fake polls number one, and I think it's a very important thing to know that and to understand it, and because polls are no different than fake writers or journalism, and it's not a pretty thing when you watch,” he said.

Quizzed about the effects of the tariffs, Trump admitted there was a “perception problem,” adding: “Yeah. But I'm an honest guy, and I we have to save the country.”

Democrats are finally passing the torch in Congress to the next generation

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

Virginian Rep. Gerry Connolly announced Monday that he would have to step down as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, and will not seek re-election.

Connolly’s announcement came only months after he beat out New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to be head Democrat on the committee, despite the fact the 75-year-old Connolly learned shortly after the election that he had esophageal cancer.

Ocasio-Cortez has since left Oversight, and joined the Energy & Commerce Committee, which she always wanted to participate in since it deals with energy policy and health care, her two big priorities.

But it’s part of a larger trend happening within the Democratic Party: After years of valuing experience, and accusations of promoting a gerontocracy, the party is slowly passing the torch to its younger members.

Read on...

Democrats are finally passing the torch in Congress to the next generation

Dave Portnoy isn’t buying Trump’s efforts to squirm out of responsibility for his bad GDP figures

Thursday 1 May 2025 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy isn't buying U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence that the current state of the stock market is former President Joe Biden’s fault.

On Wednesday, Portnoy posted his take on Trump's refusal to take responsibility for the market volatility that has occurred during his first 100 days in office.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Dave Portnoy isn’t buying Trump’s blame stock market on Biden

Report: Hegseth’s wife taking on unofficial role managing his image at Pentagon

Thursday 1 May 2025 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took on an active role in managing his public appearances and even crafting messaging issued by the Department of Defense itself, a new report claimed on Wednesday.

Jennifer Rauchet, the Washington Post reported, often acts as a go-between who transmits her husband’s plans to agency staffers. The former Fox News producer does not hold an official position at the Pentagon but has been identified as a constant presence at the agency over the past several months.

John Bowden reports from Washington, D.C.

Pete Hegseth’s wife takes on unofficial Pentagon role managing his image, report says

Trump to join NewsNation town hall event

Thursday 1 May 2025 00:01 , Mike Bedigan

Donald Trump is due to join a town hall event hosted by NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo.

The event, taking place at 8 p.m. ET, will also feature appearances from Bill O’Reilly, Stephen A. Smith among others.

Discussion will center on the first 100 days of Trump’s administration.

IN FOCUS: Trump’s ‘honeymoon’ is meeting real resistance. Can he survive the blowback?

Thursday 1 May 2025 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Woodward reports on how, after 100 days in office, President Donald Trump’s agenda is facing pushback legally, economically, and in the polls.

Trump’s ‘honeymoon’ is meeting real resistance. Can he survive the blowback?

Hegseth should quit ‘for his own safety’s sake’, says John Bolton

Wednesday 30 April 2025 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton has said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should leave his job “for his own safety’s sake.”

The former Bush UN ambassador and foreign policy hawk was asked on CNN if Hegseth should remain in the post.

“No, I think he should resign for his own safety’s sake, if nothing else,” he said.

Gustaf Kilander reports on what else Bolton had to say.

John Bolton says Pete Hegseth should quit ‘for his own safety’s sake’

CNN, which blasted Fox after Hannity appeared on Trump rally stage, shrugs off Scott Jennings doing the same

Wednesday 30 April 2025 23:17 , Oliver O'Connell

CNN has brushed off criticism aimed at Scott Jennings after the political commentator spoke at Donald Trump’s rally Wednesday night - claiming it’s standard practice for its paid contributors to make political appearances.

While the network is defending the rally speech by Jennings, who has become an ubiquitous presence on CNN airwaves as the channel’s chief MAGA advocate, the cable news giant took a different stance when Fox News stars Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro were brought up on a Trump campaign stage during the president's first term.

Justin Baragona has the story.

CNN, which blasted Hannity’s Trump rally speech, shrugs off Jennings doing the same

BREAKING: Trump admin signs Ukraine minerals deal in key move for Russian peace

Wednesday 30 April 2025 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump administration reached a deal with Ukraine to give US investors preferential access to Ukraine’s supply of rare earth minerals on Wednesday, weeks after an Oval Office blow-up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky put it on hold.

Axios and Bloomberg reported the deal was to be signed on Wednesday, citing senior Ukrainian officials.

John Bowden is following this developing story in Washington, D.C.

Trump administration signs minerals deal with Ukraine in key move for Russian peace

'This is not Joe Biden's economy, Donald. It is your economy'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post this morning claiming that the current economic turbulence was somehow still the result of Joe Biden’s policies.

Said Rep. Jeffries: “This is not Joe Biden's economy, Donald. It is your economy. It is the Trump economy. It is a failed economy, and the American people know it.”

Watch his remarks below:

Vance says Trump’s first 100 days were about bringing change ‘very quickly’

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:49 , AP

Vice President JD Vance says the administration’s first 100 days were about hustling to bring major change but that, going forward, the pace of change may slow down moving forward.

“The next 100 days are going to be a lot of things that don’t change as quickly,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

He said, “The first 100 days, you can get a lot done with just the president’s signature on a piece of paper.”

The vice president also noted that, by contrast, “the next 100 days are going to be a lot of things where we need Congress, and, in some cases, some of our international partners, to step up to the plate.”

He singled out proposed tax cuts working their way through Congress and said the finished product could “juice the economy a little bit.”

Trump hits out at Fed Chair Powell... again

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:48 , Oliver O'Connell

In his remarks to business leaders this afternoon, President Donald Trump once again criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not lowering interest rates as he would like him to.

“Energy prices are down all over the country. Mortgage rates are actually down slightly, even though I have a guy in the Fed, not a huge fan off, but these are minor details, don't tell them I said that please — as the camera rock and roll back there,” said Trump.

“I mean, he should reduce interest rates. I think I understand interest a lot better than him because I've had to really use interest rates. But we should have interest rates go down and it would be positive, but it's not going to matter that much, because ultimately what we're creating has much more to do with other things, and it does just pure interest rates, but it would be nice for people wanting to buy homes and things.”

The president appeared to be on a quest to oust Powell, who can only be removed for “cause,” but has since stepped back to following advice from his economic team, reports said.

Katie Hawkinson explains what happened:

Here’s what stopped Trump in his quest to oust Fed chair Jerome Powell

More than Greenland: Inside the fight the U.S. faces to keep a tiny Pacific island out of China’s grasp

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

James Liddell writes:

A tiny island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is the staging ground of a major geopolitical tussle.

Palau is made up of more than 340 coral and volcanic islands perched on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge, dotting Micronesia’s edge. It is geographically closer to China than any other Pacific Island nation and still formally recognizes Taiwan.

And now it is on the front line of a battle for influence, with China on one side and the U.S. on the other.

Read on...

Inside the fight U.S faces to keep a tiny Pacific island out of China’s grasp

Trump addresses business leaders at 'Investing in America' event

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking to business leaders at an “Investing in America” event at the White House, President Donald Trump thanked them for their attendance and briefly pondered what would happen if a bomb went off in the room.

He then reiterated his tax plan to drop tax rates for those who build their products in the U.S.

In a slightly bizarre moment, the president said he sees drones all over the place when he looks up while having dinner outside. It’s unclear where these dinners occur. Mar a Lago?

Trump 'dolls' quote presents Democrats with new attack line

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump’s assertion that in a trade war with China over tariffs, “maybe the children will have two dolls instead of thirty. Maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more,” appears to have presented Democrats with a new attack line to use against him.

It is one of the few public statements from the administration admitting that tariffs on imported goods mean higher prices for American shoppers.

Here’s Senator Elizabeth Warren:

Trump’s stock market in his first 100 days wasn’t just among the worst ever — it might have cost you thousands

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The stock market during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office marked the second-largest decline in the last 80 years — and it may have cost average Americans thousands.

From Trump’s inauguration on January 20 through April 25, the S&P declined by 7.9 percent, data from CFRA Research, obtained by CNBC, shows. That slide has only been topped in recent history by Richard Nixon’s second term in 1973, when the S&P dropped 9.9 percent in the same period.

Kelly Rissman looks at the numbers.

Trump’s first 100-day stock market might have cost you thousands

'Incompetence, cognitive abilities, ignorance, or just plain flat out lying'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York, formerly lead counsel in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump in 2020, appeared on Fox News this afternoon to talk about the first 100 days of the administration.

He told Will Cain: “I do not know if it is incompetence, cognitive abilities, ignorance, or just plain flat out lying, but Donald Trump does not know that a photo he is showing is photoshopped, he does not know the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 against him ... He doesn't understand what trade deficits are and is tanking our economy. You can call it whatever you want, but it's been a pretty disastrous first 100 days.”

Watch the clip below:

Trump defends trying to blame Biden for poor GDP data after repeatedly claiming credit for Democrat’s strong economic numbers

Wednesday 30 April 2025 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump lashed out at his predecessor, Joe Biden, as the American economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of this year, marking the first drop in three years as Trump’s tariff policies disrupted businesses and their supply chains.

The tariffs imposed on other countries have created uncertainty among businesses and consumers. The economy, as a measure of GDP, shrank in part because of a rise in imports as companies stockpiled goods to avoid Trump’s tariffs.

Gustaf Kilander and Andrew Feinberg report from Washington, D.C.

Trump blames Biden as US economy shrinks for first time in three years

26,000 sign petition to stop Trump's commencement address at University of Alabama

Wednesday 30 April 2025 21:51 , Mike Bedigan

Over 26,000 people have signed an online petition to stop Donald Trump from giving the University of Alabama’s commencement speech.

“Given the current political climate and the contentious legacy of the Trump administration, we believe that his presence would draw unnecessary controversy and negative attention to our university,” the petition states. “

“Commencement is a time to honor the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our graduating students—not to serve as a platform for political polarization.”

The petition also adds that there is “deep concern” over impact of the president’s involvement on the sense of safety of students of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and “other marginalized members of our campus community.”

“The values and rhetoric associated with President Trump do not reflect the inclusive and respectful environment we strive to uphold at the University of Alabama,” the statement says.

Even El Salvador’s president questioned Trump team on if migrants being sent were actually gang members: report

Wednesday 30 April 2025 21:45 , Mike Bedigan

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele asked the Trump administration for evidence that the 238 Venezuelans deported to his country’s maximum-security prison last month were actually part of a notorious gang, according to a report.

While Bukele and President Donald Trump appeared to be on the same page at last month’s meeting in the Oval Office, Bukele privately “expressed concern” about who the Trump administration sent to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, according to The New York Times.

Read more from Rhian Lubin here:

What you need to know as Federal student loans in default will be sent to collections next week

Wednesday 30 April 2025 21:30 , Katie Hawkinson

The Trump administration will end the last piece of pandemic-era student loan relief and send defaulted student loans to collections starting May 5.

This comes after President Donald Trump paused student loan repayment due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. President Joe Biden went on to extend this relief, and student loan repayments didn’t resume until October 2023. Even then, borrowers still weren’t penalized for late payments until last fall.

Now, the estimated 5 million people with federal student loans in default could see their wages garnished and their federal payments reduced as their loans are sent to collections.

Here’s what you need to know about your defaulted student loans:

Federal student loans in default will be sent to collections next week. What to know

After being dropped from White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Amber Ruffin says she feels ‘less welcome’ under Trump

Wednesday 30 April 2025 21:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Amber Ruffin has said she feels “less welcome” in the United States due to President Trump’s actions in the first 100 days of his second term.

The 46-year-old comedian was disinvited from performing at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last month following pressure from the Trump administration.

The day after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich posted a clip of Ruffin referring to members of the Trump administration as “murderers” and called her a “second rate comedian,” the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, Eugene Daniels, sent out a message to colleagues announcing that Ruffin would no longer be performing and that the comedy portion of the evening would be axed.

Kevin E G Perry reports.

Comedian Amber Ruffin reacts to being dropped from White House Correspondents’ Dinner

US citizen and lawyer gets DHS letter telling him to get out of America

Wednesday 30 April 2025 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Adam Peña, a California attorney and citizen of the United States, says he was “stunned” to receive a self-deportation email from the Department of Homeland Security in early April, ordering him to leave within seven days.

Peña, born in El Paso, Texas, received a notice of self-deportation on April 10 in which DHS informed him his parole was ending and he had seven days to “leave the United States.”

Ariana Baio has the details.

US citizen and lawyer gets DHS letter telling him to self-deport

Watch: Trump says kids will have to make do with fewer, more expensive dolls due to tariffs

Wednesday 30 April 2025 20:52 , Mike Bedigan

Senate to vote on bill to rein in Trump tariffs, as economy shrinks for first time in three years

Wednesday 30 April 2025 20:41 , Oliver O'Connell

The Senate was scheduled to vote later on Wednesday on a resolution to block a range of President Donald Trump's tariffs, just hours after the federal government reported that the nation's economy contracted for the first time in three years amid the chaos created by the president's tariff policies.

The measure, introduced by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden as a privileged resolution requiring a vote by the Republican-led chamber, would terminate the national emergency that Trump declared as the basis for 10% global tariffs on U.S. trading partners and higher reciprocal tariffs on 57 trading partners, including the European Union.

At least two Republicans were expected to support the resolution. Just weeks ago, four Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass a similar bill that aimed to terminate new tariffs on Canada. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority.

"I don't expect a big difference from what we saw last time," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a vocal critic of Trump's tariff policy. Senator Susan Collins of Maine also indicated that she intends to support the measure.

“It's not perfect. I think it's too broad. But it sends the message that I want to send - that we really need to be far more discriminatory in imposing these tariffs and not treat allies like Canada the way we treat adversaries like China,” Collins told reporters.

With reporting from Reuters

Mexico taking 55 people a day for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after they were booted from U.S.

Wednesday 30 April 2025 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that her country is taking in an average of 55 foreign nationals every day since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

Just as he did during his first term, Trump has again directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to round up migrants — including those who have been maintaining agreed-upon check-ins with the federal government — and deport them.

Since January 20, the Trump administration has removed 38,757 migrants to Mexico. The majority of those individuals are Mexican nationals, but they aren't the only people Mexico was expecting to care for in the wake of Trump's deportations.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Mexico is taking 55 people per day for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after deportation

Duffy: ‘People will lose their lives’ unless US adopts new air traffic control system

Wednesday 30 April 2025 20:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asserted on Wednesday that “people will lose their lives” unless the United States invests in a new air traffic control system.

Duffy raised extreme concerns about the U.S.’s “aging” air traffic control infrastructure during a televized cabinet meeting, after President Donald Trump said he would ask Congress for funding toward the new system.

“If we don’t build a brand new system, there’s going to be failures and people will lose their lives,” Duffy said.

Ariana Baio reports.

Transportation secretary warns US needs a new air traffic control system

Poll: More than half of Americans say Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A majority of Americans believe that President Donald Trump is a “dangerous dictator,” according to a new poll, with sharp divisions across party lines.

Fifty-two percent of all Americans agree that Trump is a “dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,” according to the survey conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).

Gustaf Kilander looks at the numbers.

More than half of Americans say Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator’, poll finds

Trump tariffs: President says children will have to make do with less

Wednesday 30 April 2025 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Americans should prepare to have less and for it to cost more, when asked about the impact of his tariffs on imports from China.

In response to a question following his Cabinet meeting today, the president said: “They made a trillion dollars with Biden selling us stuff. Much of it we don't need. Somebody said, 'oh, the shelves are gonna be open.' Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more.”

AOC swerves questions on 2028 presidential run

Wednesday 30 April 2025 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has brushed aside speculation that she could be preparing a presidential run in 2028.

With her party still reeling from former vice president Kamala Harris’s defeat last November, the New Yorker has emerged as a leading light of its progressive wing. Recently, she crossed the country with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on a joint “Fighting Oligarchy” speaking tour that has attracted large crowds.

Ocasio-Cortez has also drawn focus by posting a campaign-style video on social media this month, showcasing clips from the tour that some have seen as a hint at her future White House ambitions.

Joe Sommerlad reports on how she responded to questions about her ambitions.

‘Because of my Instagram posts?’ AOC swerves questions on 2028 presidential run

Lutnick says someone asked him for 10 Trump immigration gold cards

Wednesday 30 April 2025 19:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that a single person requested to buy 10 Trump gold cards.

Engineers connected to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reportedly building a system for the U.S. to sell the special government visas, costing $5 million each.

“We've got so much as I travel around, the attention on the Trump gold card. I mean, it makes me very popular,” said Lutnick.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Lutnick says someone asked him for 10 Trump immigration cards

Trump tariffs: How your cup of coffee might become more expensive

Wednesday 30 April 2025 19:00 , AP

Inside a rented warehouse corner, Reneé Colón, her purple-and-pink hair swaying, carefully pours Brazilian coffee beans into her aging roaster.

These beans represent more than just a caffeine fix; they are survivors of a severe drought that has impacted global coffee production, doubling raw bean prices in mere months.

And that’s before Donald Trump’s tariffs on coffee-producing countries kick in.

Read on...

How your coffee might become more expensive thanks to Trump

Trump: Carney to visit White House soon and talk trade deal

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to make a trade deal and will visit the White House within the next week.

Trump said he had congratulated Carney on Monday's election win when the Canadian leader called on Tuesday.

Watch: Bessent says U.S. ready to sign minerals deal this afternoon if Ukraine ready

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about the future of a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine.

Bessent replied: “Our side is ready to sign. The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes. We're sure that they will reconsider that, and we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are.”

Gretchen Whitmer upsetting her own party appearing with Trump

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

While some Democrats have made a concerted effort to distance themselves from Donald Trump, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has repeatedly appeared with the president in recent weeks — ruffling some feathers within her own party.

Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential contender who campaigned for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the 2024 election, has now shared a stage with the Republican president in Michigan weeks after visiting the Oval Office. Some within the battleground state governor’s own party have taken issue with the recent appearances.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Gretchen Whitmer is upsetting her own party with all the Trump appearances

Trump asked about taking credit for stock market under Biden but not in his own presidency

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Moving on to the Q&A portion of the Cabinet meeting, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg asked President Trump about taking credit for the stock market under the Biden administration, but distancing himself from current stock market turmoil caused by fear of his tariffs.

“I'm not taking credit or discredit for the stock market. I'm just saying that we inherited a mess...” the president began in response.

He then went on to suggest that even the next quarter’s economic indicators are because of Biden.

“This is Biden, and you can even say the next quarter is sort of Biden.”

More follows...

Rubio says U.S. actively searching for countries to take deportees — beyond El Salvador

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:21 , Oliver O'Connell

“This president inherited 30 years of foreign policy that was built around what was good for the world,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio says. “Under President Trump, we're making a foreign policy now that's, was it good for America?”

Rubio says they're “actively” looking for other countries aside from El Salvador to send the most “despicable” people.

“We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries. Not just El Salvador. We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send some of the most despicable to your countries. Will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further from the US, the better.”

Rubio jokes RFK Jr has made him afraid to eat anything

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:19 , Oliver O'Connell

“I interact with almost everyone around this table at some level, and because of Secretary Kennedy I'm afraid to eat anything,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio says at today’s Cabinet meeting, to laughter from the room.

RFK Jr touts autism study, claims 'answers' coming by September

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tells President Donald Trump: “We have launched the autism study at your direction. By September, we will have some of the first answers. Within six months of that, we will have definite answers.”

A prominent right-wing pundit wonders...

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Right-wing author and pundit Ann Coulter wonders: “Would it be possible to have a cabinet meeting without the Kim Jong Il-style tributes?”

Maybe being fed up with each Cabinet member being obligated to heap praise on the president is a bipartisan issue?

'Education president' takes another jab at Harvard

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Education Secretary Linda McMahon tells President Donald Trump at the ongoing Cabinet meeting: “We're certainly making great strides ... We've reduced the folks over at the Department of Education by about 50 percent now ... there are a lot fewer people working a lot more efficiently in the Department of Education.”

She adds: “I'd like for you to be known as the education president because of the best in practice systems that we want to put in every state to incorporate AI so that we are training these new entrepreneurs and business leaders in our country.”

Trump took the opportunity to launch another attack on Harvard:

Watch: Education Sec McMahon says 'I don't think I've ever worked so hard to try to fire myself'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Coming up: Joint The Independent's AMA on Trump's immigration crackdown

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:03 , Alex Woodward

Trump as Pope?: 'Lindsey — get a grip'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump joked about being the next Pope, and Lindsey Graham ran with it, promoting Meghan McCain to tell him to “get a grip.”

Rhian Lubin has the story.

Some Trump backers think the idea of him being Pope is divine, others downplay idea

Musk wears two Trump hats, president notes he may want to get back to Tesla

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:53 , Oliver O'Connell

“I love the double hat,” says President Trump.\

“Let us say I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat has a hat,” replies Musk.

Trump says, “You're invited to stay as long as you want,” before adding to the Cabinet, “He probably wants to get back to his cars.”

Tesla stock is down more than five percent today.

Vance calls out media for not covering jump in military applications...

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:48 , Oliver O'Connell

...that began under Biden.

Per the Pentagon in October 2024:

The Defense Department's armed services branches recruited 12.5% more people in fiscal year 2024 than in the year prior despite a challenging and disinterested recruiting market.

While speaking at a multiservice panel on 2025 recruiting issues at the Pentagon earlier this week, Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland said that the services increased the number of recruits from 200,000 in FY 2023 to 225,000 in FY 2024, which ended September 30.

Additionally, she said, the services had a 35% increase in written contracts, and the active components' delayed entry program started FY 2025 with a 10% larger pool.

Judge says arrests of student activists akin to McCarthyism

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:43 , Alex Woodward

In Judge Geoffrey Crawford’s order to release Mohsen Mahdawi, he compares the arrests of student activists to McCarthyism and the Red Scare.

The Obama-appointed judge also dismissed the government’s introduction of decade-old allegations that Mahdawi visited a gun shop and mentioned killing Jews. In 2019, the FBI had followed up on those allegations, found them unfounded, and closed the investigation.

His continued detention “would likely have a chilling effect on protected speech” and “would not benefit the public in any way,” the judge wrote.

His release would “benefit the community, which appears to deeply cherish and value him.”

Read the full ruling

Here’s Mahdawi outside the court earlier:

Bondi claims 258 millions lives saved by fentanyl seizures

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration's efforts to seize fentanyl have saved 258 million lives.

The entire population of the U.S. is approximately 340 million.

Bondi also gave, probably by far, the most fawning remarks directed at the president about his first 100 days.

Vance describes past presidents as 'place holders'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:33 , Oliver O'Connell

At the Cabinet meeting, Vice President JD Vance tells President Donald Trump: “You sit in the oval office and see portraits of presidents past and most of them have been place holders, people who allowed their staff to sign executive orders with an auto pen instead of men of action.”

Attacking the media, Vance claimed that “the most under-reported fact of the first 100 days” is that enlistment numbers are up.

“We now have people breaking down the doors to join our military,” he said.

Continuing to scold the press, the vice president attacks coverage of the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Bessent says next 100 days will be 'harvesting' work of first 100

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

When it comes to his turn to speak at the Cabinet meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the first 100 days of the Trump administration were “setting the table” for peace, trade, and tax deals.

“The next 100 days will be harvesting,” he says.

New York Times responds to legal threat from Trump

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:25 , Oliver O'Connell

The New York Times has responded to this morning’s legal threat from President Donald Trump regarding its reporting that described his suit against 60 Minutes as baseless.

A spokesperson for the outlet said: “President Trump's post today follows a long list of legal threats aimed at discouraging or penalizing independent reporting about the administration. The law is clear and protects a strong free press and favors an informed American public. The New York Times will not be deterred by the administration’s intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people.”

How Democrats are trying to turn MAGA’s ‘flood the zone’ strategy against Trump

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell

John Bowden writes:

Democrats may have finally learned Steve Bannon’s favorite strategy: “Flood the zone”.

With Donald Trump’s presidency reaching its 100th day and the US president plummeting in approval polling on issues that have historically been his strongest areas with voters, the broader left and a wide coalition of groups are coming together to capitalize on a groundswell of discontent caused by the administration’s slash-and-burn tactics.

Read on...

How Democrats are trying to turn MAGA’s ‘flood the zone’ strategy against Trump

'Most powerful women in the world' makes rare on-camera comments

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made rare on-camera comments during today’s Cabinet meeting when called on by the president as “the most powerful woman in the world.”

'Don't p*** down my back and tell me it's raining': Dave Portnoy reacts to Trump blaming Biden for stock market

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Duffy says brand new air traffic control system needed

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump says he could free Abrego Garcia, but won’t — that's not what his cabinet have said

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:01 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday night that he could bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador – contradicting statements from the administration, which asserted it couldn’t do anything to return him.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Trump contradicts his cabinet, saying he could free Abrego Garcia, but won’t

Watch: Lutnick claims dinner companion wanted 10 Trump gold cards

Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what you need to know about the Trump gold card:

As markets melt down, Trump touts $5m gold card for wealthy immigrants

'Gulf of America' hats for everyone

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:53 , Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025, convened to mark his first 100 days in office (Getty Images)

Trump asks Cabinet for updates, starting with Hegseth

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump asks for an update from his Cabinet, joking that he will be starting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth because “he's my least controversial person.”

Amid laughter, Hegseth replies: “I think we're controversial because we're over the target.”

Trump Cabinet meeting: President continue to blame Biden for economy

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump continues to blame his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for the state of the economy.

“You probably saw some numbers today. I have to start off by saying that's Biden, not Trump. Because we came in on January — these are quarterly numbers, and we came in, and I was very against everything that Biden was doing in terms of the economy, destroying our country in so many ways,” the president said at today’s Cabinet meeting.

Presumably, that means he is responsible for just over two-thirds of the data?

Trump began the meeting by attacking judges for ruling against him.

He said: “We're having some judge problems, as everybody's reading. Some judges that don't like known killers, murderers being thrown out of the country. So I don't know what their problem is.”

Watch: 'Schoolchildren could fact-check Trump,' CNN hosts quip after Michigan rally

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:42 , James Liddell

‘I’m not afraid of you’: Columbia student activist rebukes Trump after release from ICE detention

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A Columbia University student who was arrested at his citizenship interview and hauled off in handcuffs had some words for Donald Trump’s administration after a federal judge in Vermont ordered his release.

Mohsen Mahdawi, holding up two “peace” signs, was greeted by cheering supporters as he walked out of the courthouse on Wednesday.

“To President Trump and his cabinet,” he said, “I am not afraid of you.”

Alex Woodward reports.

Columbia student activist rebukes Trump after release from ICE detention

Vance's absence from pope's funeral may have led to a more cordial Trump-Zelensky meeting

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:21 , James Liddell

JD Vance’s absence from the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral Saturday may have led to a more cordial meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky than February’s explosive Oval Office spat.

Sources told Axios that the recent Trump-Zelensky meeting was more positive without the Vice President and White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

Those close to the meeting said it lasted about 15 minutes and that the Ukrainian leader urged Trump to take a tougher line with Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for a ceasefire.

Trump and Zelensky in the Vatican count on Saturday before Pope Francis’ funeral (EPA)

Watch LIVE: President Trump holds first cabinet meeting after celebrating 100 days in office

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:05 , Oliver O'Connell

How did Trump's first 100 days impact the dollar?

Wednesday 30 April 2025 16:01 , James Liddell

Musk no longer working from White House, Trump’s chief of staff reveals

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Elon Musk is no longer working from the White House, Donald Trump’s chief of staff has revealed.

The president’s so-called First Buddy has been a looming presence during Trump’s first 100 days back in office. But earlier this month the Tesla CEO said he would be spending more time working on his troubled car company.

Now Susie Wiles has said that Musk is “not as present as he was” - physically at least.

He will reportedly be at this morning’s Cabinet meeting.

Here’s Madeline Sherratt’s report.

Elon Musk is no longer working from the White House, Trump’s chief of staff reveals

Watch: Agriculture sec dismisses shrinking GBP

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins dismisses the latest GDP numbers that show the U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter of 2025 — the first time it has shrunk in three years.

“We remain convinced and confident this president knows exactly what he is doing. He is the ultimate deal-maker,” Rollins told Fox News this morning, towing the party line in a manner we will likely see echoed at today’s Cabinet meeting.

Top Dems planned all-nighter to mark Trump’s ‘100 days of hell’

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:42 , James Liddell

Top Democrats planned to hold the Senate floor late into the night Tuesday to mark what Minority Leader Chuck Schumer coined as Donald Trump’s “100 days of hell.”

That evening, Schumer tweeted: “RIGHT NOW: We are holding the Senate floor to fight back against the hell American families have gone through in Trump’s first hundred days.”

Before the planned all-nighter, Schumer said that Trump is a “threat to our democratic republic,” adding that: “He's acting like a king, a mob boss, a wannabe dictator.”

“Let us commit ourselves, all of us Democrats here in the Senate, against this administration, and to uphold the core values and principles of this beautiful nation which we must fight to preserve and protect,” he said.

Senate Democrats are due to join members of the House on the steps of the upper chamber on Wednesday in protest against Trump’s agenda.

Navarro says trade deals are coming 'just be patient'

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Coming up to a quarter of the way through Donald Trump’s 90-day tariffs pause, trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters at the White House this morning, “deals are coming, just be patient.”

He previously said there would be 90 deals in 90 days.

Girl, 2, marooned in US foster care after parents deported

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:21 , James Liddell

A two-year-old girl has been marooned in foster care in the U.S. after her Venezuelan parents were deported to countries 1,500 miles apart.

Yorely Bernal Inciarte and Maiker Espinoza Escalona arrived with their child Maikelys Antonella Espinoza Bernal in Texas on May 14 last year. Neither held valid entry documents so they immediately surrendered to immigration authorities, according to ABC News.

After being held in separate detention facilities in the Lone Star State for several months, able to communicate with one another only by phone, Inciarte was abruptly returned to Venezuela earlier this month – but without her daughter.

She was subsequently shocked to learn that Escalona had been sent first to Guantanamo Bay and then to the notorious CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador on March 30, meaning their child was without access to either parent.

Joe Sommerlad has more:

Two-year-old in foster care after parents deported to countries 1,500 miles apart

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:05 , Oliver O'Connell

With a mediation hearing scheduled for today in Donald Trump’s suit against CBS and Paramount regarding his allegations about the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, the president now appears to be trying to include The New York Times in the case, alleging “tortious interference” for reporting that the case is baseless.

Here’s what the president wrote on Truth Social:

The case we have against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount is a true WINNER. They cheated and defrauded the American People at levels never seen before in the Political Arena. Kamala Harris, during Early Voting and, immediately before Election Day, was asked a question, and gave an answer, that was so bad and incompetent that it would have cost her many of the Votes that she ended up getting. It was a disastrous answer! 60 Minutes and its corporate parents, in order that this not have a negative impact on her, removed and deleted Kamala’s entire answer, every word of it, and replaced it with a response that she gave later on to an entirely different question. The new answer was not good, but it didn’t show Gross Incompetence like the one that was removed by 60 Minutes. In other words, 60 Minutes perpetrated a Giant FRAUD against the American People, the Federal Elections Commission, and the Federal Communications System. Despite all of the above, and Paramount’s/CBS’/60 Minutes’ admittance to this crime and, with other similar corrupt removals of answers to questions, the Failing New York Times, which is Fake News both in writing and polling, claims that “people” said that the case is baseless. They don’t mean that, they just have a non curable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, possibly to the point where the Times’ interjection makes them liable for tortious interference, including in Elections, which we are intently studying. The bottom line is that what 60 Minutes and its corporate owners have committed is one of the most egregious illegalities in Broadcast History. Nothing like this, the illegal creation of an answer for a Presidential Candidate, has ever been done before, they have to pay a price for it, and the Times should also be on the hook for their likely unlawful behavior. It is vital to hold these Liars and Fraudsters accountable!

Here’s our recent coverage of Trump’s feud with 60 Minutes:

Trump threatens CBS with ‘substantial punishment’ over latest 60 Minutes episode

And the fallout from the departure of the show’s producer:

Scott Pelley hits out at his own network as ‘60 Minutes’ producer quits

Five bills and 142 executive orders signed in Trump's first 100 days

Wednesday 30 April 2025 15:00 , James Liddell

Will Trump ruin Christmas?

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:54 , Oliver O'Connell

It may be many months away, but hundreds of toymakers have canceled orders since President Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs on China, raising the prospect of a nightmare before Christmas.

Kelly Rissman reports.

More than 60 percent of toymakers forced to cancel orders due to Trump’s tariffs

Trump took credit for booming stock market under Biden

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:46 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump is claiming that recent stock market volatility and today’s drop after the Wall Street open (the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently down more than 600 points or 1.52%) are the fault of his predecessor and nothing to do with him or his tariffs, despite having been in office for 100 days.

You may remember that a year before his inauguration, then-candidate Trump was taking credit for a booming stock market during Joe Biden’s presidency, claiming it was in anticipation of his return to the White House...

Perhaps that just wasn’t true. 🤔

In photos: Whitmer and Trump embrace at Michigan air base

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:42 , James Liddell

Weeks after Gretchen Whitmer was photographed standing glumly inside the White House, hiding behind her binders, the Michigan Governor appears to have saved face.

Whitmer was snapped beside Donald Trump Tuesday in Michigan to announce a she had finally secured funding for a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

“I am so, so grateful that this announcement was made today, and I appreciate all the work,” Whitmer said.

Trump said that Whitmer has “done a very good job,” despite stating he wasn’t meant to praise her because “she’s a Democrat.”

Trump greets Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Tuesday (AP)
The pair even shared a hug, weeks after a contentious White House meeting (REUTERS)

Developing: U.S. economy shrinks for first time in three years as Trump’s tariffs spark trade war fears

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:36 , Oliver O'Connell

The American economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of this year, marking the first drop in three years as President Donald Trump’s tariff policies disrupted businesses and their supply chains.

The tariffs imposed on other countries have created uncertainty among both businesses and consumers. The economy, as a measure of GDP, shrank in part because of a rise in imports as companies stockpiled goods to avoid Trump’s tariffs.

Imports increased more than 40 per cent as federal spending fell about five percent during the first three months of the year. The Commerce Department said the decrease in GDP "primarily reflected an increase in imports” and a decrease in government spending.

Gustaf Kilander is following the latest developments:

U.S. economy shrinks for first time in three years as tariffs spark trade war fears

Trump blames Biden for state of economy — despite having been president for 100 days

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Clearly furious at this morning’s bad economic data, President Donald Trump has lashed out at his predecessor on Truth Social, claiming there is a Biden “overhang” and this has nothing to do with tariffs, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Here’s what the president wrote on his social media platform:

This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s. I didn’t take over until January 20th. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are starting to move into the USA in record numbers. Our Country will boom, but we have to get rid of the Biden “Overhang.” This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!

GDP is down for Q1 — what drove the numbers?

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Obama adviser Steven Rattner breaks down what specifically changed as the U.S. buckled down ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariffs announcement.

He points to a surge in imports in anticipation of the tariffs, as well as a drop in consumer spending and government spending.

Yesterday, Rattner pointed to data showing that importers were stockpiling to ensure shelves don’t go empty. That could change in time though...

Trump’s deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:21 , James Liddell

In the hills above California’s Half Moon Bay, immigrant families are not leaving the farms where they work. The once-bustling streets of New York’s Jackson Heights have grown eerily quiet. And in Chirilagua, Virginia, some are saving money to return to their home countries.

Donald Trump’s shock-and-awe deportation campaign has had a chilling impact across the country, turning thriving communities into ghost towns.

The Independent’s Michelle Del Ray, Josh Marcus and Richard Hall visited three immigrant neighborhoods across the U.S. to investigate the impact of Trump’s policies on the communities in the crosshairs.

Read more:

Trump’s deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns

Just in: US economy stalls under Trump stewardship, BEA report states

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:02 , James Liddell

The U.S. economy has stalled since Donald Trump returned to the White House, according to a new quarterly report from the Bureau of Economic.

Real gross domestic product—inflation-adjusted GDP—unexpectedly slipped by 0.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s advance estimate. It was expected to increase by 0.2 percent.

Negative GDP growth has occurred just three times over the last decade: the first and second quarters of 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic; and in the first quarter of 2022 when the Fed imposed its first interest rate hike in more than three years.

“The decrease in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected an increase in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and a decrease in government spending,” the BEA said in a statement.

“These movements were partly offset by increases in investment, consumer spending, and exports.”

Jon Sopel: I was at Trump’s 100 day rally – but the MAGA crowds were missing

Wednesday 30 April 2025 14:00 , James Liddell

Columnist Jon Sopel was struck by the hundreds, maybe a thousand protestors lining the highway outside Macomb Community College – and cars were honking their horns to show their support.

Walking across the vast parking lot, he expected to see the long lines of the Trump lovers, queuing in the already humid heat to get a prime spot in the venue.

Over the Jon says he has seen Trump speaking at venues holding 20,000 – and those places have been packed to overflowing. But yesterday there were no lines.

Read about Jon’s experience at Trump’s 100-day rally in Michigan:

I was at Trump’s 100 day rally – and was shocked by what I saw

Kamala Harris to make rare public appearance in California today

Wednesday 30 April 2025 13:41 , James Liddell

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to make a rare public appearance in California today, one day after President Trump marked his first 100 days in the White House.

The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at Emerge at the organization’s 20th Anniversary Gala at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The group recruits, trains and provides support to Democratic women eying political office.

Harris is expected to criticize Donald Trump over his aggressive push to fulfill his agenda and how she believes his administration is failing Americans.

“There is a clamoring for her voice right now,” a former Harris senior adviser told NBC News Wednesday. “No one can better prosecute the case while inspiring a call to action than the former vice president.”

Elon Musk is leaving Trump. Or is he?

Wednesday 30 April 2025 13:20 , James Liddell

Stepping on the stage at Madison Square Garden, nine days before Donald Trump was declared president a second time, Elon Musk told a crowd of screaming fans that their “money is being wasted.”

Musk — dressed in all black, topped with a black “MAGA” hat in blackletter type — vowed to cut “at least $2 trillion” in federal spending, a figure he apparently came up with on the spot. He pledged to put his so-called Department of Government Efficiency to work getting the “government off your back and out of your pocketbook.”

Nearly six months later, after pumping tens of millions of dollars into the president’s campaign and deploying an army of loyalists across the government to fire workers and slash budgets, the wealthiest person on the planet announced plans to “significantly” withdraw from the White House to focus on his company, Tesla.

DOGE’s cost-cutting crusade isn’t going anywhere, officials told The Independent’s Alex Woodward.

Read More:

What’s next for Elon Musk and DOGE’s ‘authoritarian’ wrecking ball

Hegseth decries 'perfect score' as he garners '100% negative' press coverage

Wednesday 30 April 2025 13:18 , James Liddell

A recent analysis by the Media Research Center suggests that 100 percent of network media coverage of Pete Hegseth was negative since Donald Trump had taken office.

Sharing a screenshot of the unsavory accolade from Fox News, the Defense secretary said in jest that he had a “PERFECT SCORE.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Department of Government Efficiency lead Elon Musk had received 89 percent and 96 percent negative coverage, respectively, per the analysis.

“Come on,” Hegseth tweeted, tagging RFK Jr and Musk. “You guys can do better!”

Watch: Crowd chants 'USA! USA!' after Trump shows video of El Salvador mega prison

Wednesday 30 April 2025 13:00 , James Liddell

“For years, Joe Biden and the media told us that stopping the flood of illegal immigration was absolutely impossible,” President Donald Trump tells his 3,000 followers in Michigan. “But it turned out that all we needed was a new president.”

“We are delivering mass deportation, and it's happening right now. And the worst of the worst are being sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador,” he says.

Trump then played a video of deportees being manhandled off planes and buses, having their heads shaved, and then being herded into cells.

“USA! USA!,” the chants amid wild cheers.

US economy expected to have slowed under Trump stewardship, analysts predict

Wednesday 30 April 2025 12:43 , James Liddell

The U.S. is expected to release its first quarterly GDP report of Trump's second term on Wednesday.

The data is expected to show a sharp economic slowdown over recent months after the president attempted to foment a global trade war and stoked uncertainty amongst U.S. businesses and consumers, analysts told ABC News.

According to a Reuters poll of economists, the economy is expected to have expanded at a 0.3 percent annualized rate from January through March, down from 2.4 percent in the final quarter of 2024.

The data covers a period before Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs went into effect in early April.

Analysis: The Trump administration is trolling all of us

Wednesday 30 April 2025 12:21 , James Liddell

Taking their cues from the right-wing culture warriors and edgelords who make up the MAGA media sphere, the Trump administration has made performative cruelty its media strategy blueprint.

With a staff largely comprised of former Fox News hosts, pro-Trump influencers, made-for-TV politicians, and Trump’s “first buddy” Elon Musk, who just so happens to own one of the largest social media platforms in the world, each day has seemingly brought about a new rage baiting stunt in the conservative media complex.

The goal, writes Justin Baragona, for online behavior and mainstream media engagement remains the same: titillate Trump supporters while angering the left. In a word, trolling.

Read more:

The Trump administration is trolling all of us

Mapped: Trump's widespread firings in administration's first 100 days

Wednesday 30 April 2025 12:14 , James Liddell

Scott Jennings admits he got 'caught up in moment' after rant about ‘owning libs’ at Trump rally

Wednesday 30 April 2025 12:03 , James Liddell

CNN’s Conservative commentator Scott Jennings bragged about “owning libs” after he was briefly invited on stage at Donald Trump’s Michigan rally Tuesday.

“CNN, this is the end of Scott,” Trump joked after Jennings took the floor. “Oh, who cares? Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you, Scott.”

Jennings told Trump’s Michigan base that the rally was “flying.”

“I said, ‘Look at these farms. I gotta get a farm in Michigan,’” he continued. “Because when you own as many libs as I do, you got to put a place to put them all. Thank you all very much.”

After the rally, Jennings posted a video on X, stating he “got caught up in the moment.”

Watch: Trump rekindles crowd size obsession at rally scattered with empty seats

Wednesday 30 April 2025 11:40 , James Liddell

The people falling victim to Trump's immigration crackdown

Wednesday 30 April 2025 11:17 , James Liddell

Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to rapidly and brutally expel millions of immigrants.

In his first 100 days in office, he has bent every part of the government toward that goal, cracking down on non-citizen activists, invoking emergency wartime authorities, skirting court orders to stop deportation flights, pulling humanitarian protections from hundreds of thousands, and attempting to ignore the Constitution and end birthright citizenship.

In a White House defined by chaos, immigration may be the only place where the Trump administration is consistent.

For the millions of immigrants across the U.S., this has meant consistent anxiety. Will they be detained and deported without warning? Do they still have rights to protest? Will the courts check Trump, and will Trump obey the courts?

Four different immigrants and their families told The Independent’s Josh Marcus about what it’s like living through this age of uncertainty.

Faces of Trump’s people falling victim to Trump’s immigration crackdown

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website

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