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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Dobkin

Trump news live: President rebrands Pentagon to ‘Department of War’ as Hegseth promises ‘maximum lethality’

Pentagon Donald Trump Pete Hegseth Executive Order the Department of Defense

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order officially changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

Often referred to as the Pentagon after its distinct headquarters in Virginia, the Department of Defense was named so following the end of the Second World War. Trump called the move, during the presidency of Harry Truman, “woke.”

Both the president and newly retitled Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have advocated for the name change. The rebranding is part of the Trump administration's “warrior ethos” campaign, which has included renaming bases and ships and banning books.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Hegseth promised “maximum lethality — not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re gonna raise up warriors. Not just defenders.”

In other news, the latest jobs numbers show employment growth is worse than expected. New data is the latest since Trump dramatically fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, last month.

The U.S added just 22,000 jobs in August, worse than economists predicted, as the job market continues to cool amid the knock-on effects from Trump’s trade war with tariffs. Unemployment increased to 4.3 percent, the highest since 2021

Key points

Good morning, here's what's coming up today at the White House

Friday 5 September 2025 14:34 , Oliver O'Connell
(Getty Images)

Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the Trump administration, from the White House and beyond.

President Donald Trump’s schedule today is as follows:

10:30 a.m. — The president receives his intelligence briefing in the Oval Office.

12:00 p.m. — The president participates in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the Oval Office.

2:00 p.m. — The president signs Executive Orders in the Oval Office.

4:00 p.m. The president makes an announcement from the Oval Office.

7:00 p.m. — The president hosts a dinner in the Rose Garden.

Trump to change Pentagon’s name to ‘Department of War’

Friday 5 September 2025 14:36 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday that will officially change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

The agency's name was changed to the Department of Defense following the end of the Second World War.

Here’s Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C. with the details:

Trump to rename Department of ‘Defense to Department of War’

June and July jobs numbers revised too in latest report

Friday 5 September 2025 14:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Not only did the jobs numbers for August come in below expectations, but the latest jobs report also revised job growth in June and July.

There were 27,000 fewer jobs created in June, resulting in a net loss of 13,000 for the month.

For July, the numbers were up by 6,000, meaning a net gain of 79,000 jobs for the month.

Full story: US jobs growth worse than expected in first report since Trump fired agency head

Friday 5 September 2025 14:50 , Oliver O'Connell

U.S. jobs growth is worse than expected, according to the first federal report since President Donald Trump dramatically fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Erika McEntarfer last month.

The U.S added just 22,000 jobs in August, worse than economists predicted, as the job market continues to cool amid Trump’s trade war, according to the latest employment figures from the agency.

Unemployment increased to 4.3 percent, the highest since 2021, according to Bloomberg.

Rhian Lubin reports from New York.

US jobs growth worse than expected, says first report since Trump fired chief

Stocks higher, bond yields lower as weak jobs report helps case for Fed rate cut

Friday 5 September 2025 14:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.2 per cent in pre-market trading on Friday, with Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6 per cent, propelled by another strong earnings report from chipmaker Broadcom. However, futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a slight decline.

In the bond market, Treasury yields fell after the government announced U..S employers added just 22,000 jobs last month. This indicated a continued cooling of the labor market amidst uncertainty over economic policies, particularly tariffs.

The slowdown in the job market could bolster the case for the Federal Reserve to cut its main interest rate, a possibility already signalled by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. A rate cut, potentially announced at the 16-17 September meeting, could reduce other borrowing costs across the economy, including mortgages, car loans, and business loans.

Trump to establish new designation for 'state sponsors of wrongful detention'

Friday 5 September 2025 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump is reportedly set to issue an executive order as early as today, establishing a new designation for “state sponsors of wrongful detention.”

This move, reported by CBS News, would grant the United States the authority to penalise countries found to be illegally detaining or taking U.S. nationals hostage.

Trump posts lengthy rant blaming Democrats for handling of Epstein case

Friday 5 September 2025 15:09 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump has posted a lengthy rant aimed at Democrats, accusing them of doing nothing about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was alive, and only now suddenly being concerned for his victims.

He claims Democrats befriended Epstein, socialized with him, traveled to his island, and took his money.

Trump and Epstein were close friends throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s before they fell out in 2004. The financier had a wide circle of contacts and friendships with many influential people.

The child sex offender was first investigated for his crimes in 2005, and convicted in 2008 as part of a controversial plea deal with then-U.S. Attorney for South Florida, Alex Acosta — now Trump’s Secretary of Labor.

Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died in his jail cell in New York while awaiting trial.

Here’s the president’s post in full:

The confused and badly failing Democrat Party did nothing about Jeffrey Epstein while he was alive except befriend him, socialize with him, travel to his Island, and take his money! They knew everything there was to know about Epstein, but now, years after his death, they, out of nowhere, are seeming to show such love and heartfelt concern for his victims. Does anybody really believe that? Where were they during his very public trials, and for all of those years before his death? The answer is, “nowhere to be found.” The now dying (after the DOJ gave thousands of pages of documents in full compliance with a very comprehensive and exacting Subpoena from Congress!) Epstein case was only brought back to life by the Radical Left Democrats because they are doing so poorly, with the lowest poll numbers in the history of the Party (16%), while the Republicans are doing so well, among the highest approval numbers the Party has ever had! The Dems don’t care about the victims, as proven by the fact that they never did before. This is merely another Democrat HOAX, just like Russia, Russia, Russia, and all of the others, in order to deflect and distract from the great success of a Republican President, and the record setting failure of the previous Administration, and the Democrat Party. The Department of Justice has done its job, they have given everything requested of them. It’s time to end the Democrat Epstein Hoax, and give the Republicans credit for the great, even legendary, job that they are doing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

And here’s Eric Garcia with the latest on the Epstein case after this week’s rally by survivors and lawmakers:

Can Epstein’s survivors beat back Trump’s pressure campaign over ‘files’?

‘I’m still here’: Trump again addresses death rumors ahead of dinner with top tech CEOs (minus Musk)

Friday 5 September 2025 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump has again addressed rumors that he had died over the holiday weekend, telling reporters, “I’m still here,” ahead of a dinner with top tech CEOs minus his former “first buddy,” Elon Musk.

On Thursday night, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who earlier in the day hosted a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, were joined by the likes of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates for dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were also on the guest list, along with several other tech executives.

Rachel Dobkin filed this report on the gathering last night.

Trump again addresses death rumors ahead of dinner with top tech CEOs

Pentagon cancels classified briefing about strike on Venezuelan vessel

Friday 5 September 2025 15:33 , Oliver O'Connell

The Defense Department has canceled a classified briefing for Congressional leaders and key Hill committees concerning a recent strike on an alleged Venezuelan “drug cartel boat.”

The briefing, scheduled for Friday morning, was called off without explanation, according to an anonymous source familiar with the plans who spoke with the Associated Press. The individual was not authorised to speak publicly.

Full story: Trump says it’s time to end Epstein ‘hoax’ and tries to blame Democrats for ‘befriending’ and ‘socializing’ with him

Friday 5 September 2025 15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump on Friday once again lashed out over calls from members of both parties for his administration to release case files associated with probes into the deceased sex offender — his onetime friend — Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.:

Trump says it’s time to end Epstein ‘hoax’ and blames Democrats for ‘befriending’ him

Watch: White House economic adviser comments on jobs numbers

Friday 5 September 2025 15:42 , Oliver O'Connell

House Oversight to get access to Epstein estate documents next week

Friday 5 September 2025 15:48 , Oliver O'Connell

MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin, citing a source familiar with the matter, reports that when House Oversight Committee staff are granted access next week to unredacted versions of documents from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, those documents are expected to include the original version of the birthday book, flight logs, phone logs/message pads, and records of financial transactions.

The source also tells MSNBC that the redactions will be made solely to protect the identities and identifying details of known and potential victims, not any other third parties, such as male friends and associates of Epstein.

Trump goes on a tear over ‘psychopathic nut job’ Jerry Nadler after veteran Democrat announces retirement

Friday 5 September 2025 15:49 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump has lashed out at veteran New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, days after he announced his retirement, labeling him a “psychotic nut job.”

Trump was up early on Friday morning to blast Nadler, 78, on Truth Social, digging up resentments from years past to give the representative a vicious send-off.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Trump lashes out at ‘psychopathic nut job’ Jerry Nadler after retirement announcement

White House responds to latest jobs report

Friday 5 September 2025 15:51 , Oliver O'Connell

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has responded to the latest jobs report on X.

She wrote:

Since President Trump took office, he has created more than half a million good-paying jobs in the private sector that have ALL gone to American-born workers.

President Trump is reshoring our manufacturing industry and the biggest companies in the world are making unprecedented investments to build here in America.

Clearly, President Trump is implementing the most aggressive pro-growth agenda in our country’s history, but this agenda continues to be held back by Jerome “Too Late” Powell’s foolish refusal to admit that President Trump is right about everything.

It’s time for the Fed to finally do the right thing on behalf of the American people and cut the rates.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, posted a short message on Truth Social:

Jerome “Too Late” Powell should have lowered rates long ago. As usual, he’s “Too Late!”

Hundreds detained during Georgia immigration raid on Hyundai EV factory

Friday 5 September 2025 15:57 , Oliver O'Connell

As many as 475 people were detained during an immigration raid at a sprawling Georgia site where South Korean auto company Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles, a Homeland Security official confirmed.

Steven Schrank, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, spoke at a news briefing in Savannah on Friday. No charges were immediately announced. Schrank added: “This operation underscores our commitment to jobs for Georgians and Americans.”

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jaewoong described the number of detained South Koreans as “large,” though he did not provide an exact figure.

Many of those arrested had temporary visas for tourism and business travel that are not authorized for work, including South Korean nationals, the official told Reuters.

Trump scraps Biden plan for airlines to compensate travelers for delays

Friday 5 September 2025 16:03 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump administration is abandoning a Biden-era plan that would require airlines to pay passengers cash and cover expenses for carrier flight delays and cancellations, dealing a major blow to consumer protections amid record-high numbers of government complaints from travelers.

A proposed federal rule change initiated by Joe Biden’s administration in 2023 would require airlines to compensate passengers up to $775 as well as for the costs of meals, hotel stays and rebooking fees in cases where flights were delayed or cancelled due to issues under the companies’ control, like mechanical failures.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Biden wanted to pay travelers cash for flight delays. Trump just nixed the plan

Lawmakers respond to 'concerning' jobs report as Republican says number 'suspect'

Friday 5 September 2025 16:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Florida shared their thoughts on today’s jobs report on CNN News Central this morning.

Hassan told anchor Kate Bolduan that the “concerning” August report is evidence “President Trump’s economic policies aren’t working.”

“Look, this report is really concerning. President Trump's economic policies aren't working. Prices are up. Manufacturing is contracting. This is a result of, among other things, the president's reckless tariffs,” she said.

“What I hear from businesses and consumers is that there's so much uncertainty in the economy. Prices are going up. The tariffs are like a sales tax for everyday Americans. And so businesses don't know whether to invest or hire because there's so much uncertainty. And it's a direct result of what Donald Trump and his administration are doing.”

Bolduan pressed Fine on the suggestion that there is “reason to be suspect” of the job reports’ numbers.

“When the numbers are always wrong in one direction, you — you have reason to be suspect,” said the congressman.

“There's no evidence of that,” countered Bolduan.

“Well, I think that when there's problems with methodology, sometimes it's intentional, sometimes it's not,” Fine replied.

Bolduan interjected: “Do you think it was intentional?”

Fine continued: “But when the numbers are always wrong in one direction, there's a reason to have — I think the methodologies were problematic, and we see this in all kinds of things, where numbers always tend to benefit the left, and when the facts come out, they don't anymore. And so I think the president did the right thing there, and we'll see what these numbers are like today.”

Trump’s nominee to lead BLS accused of trolling top Democrats with offensive Twitter account

Friday 5 September 2025 16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics once ran an offensive Twitter account that posted misogynistic and homophobic abuse and entertained conspiracy theories, according to a report.

EJ Antoni, 37 – an economist with the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think-tank behind the Project 2025 agenda for Trump’s second term – ran the account from 2015 to 2020, but it has since been deleted, CNN reported.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Trump’s nominee to lead BLS accused of running offensive Twitter account

Jeffries: August jobs report sign of ‘dangerous one-man command economy’

Friday 5 September 2025 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the leading House Democrat, issued a stark warning after the August jobs report, stating it is the “latest indication that Donald Trump is crashing our economy in real time and driving us toward a recession.” He also described the economic situation as a “dangerous one-man command economy.”

The latest figures show the U.S. added about 22,000 jobs in August, marking a recent low, while the employment rate rose to its highest level since 2021. President Trump has previously criticized this jobs data, which is collected by the nonpartisan Bureau for Labor Statistics. Last month, Trump replaced the agency’s head, appointing an economist affiliated with the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Jeffries, a New York Democrat, continued his criticism, asserting that “life is becoming increasingly more expensive while unemployment is the highest in years.”

He also condemned the Republicans’ signature tax and spending law, claiming it is “saddling the economy with trillions of dollars in debt” and has led to cuts in health and social welfare programs “in order to enact massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors.”

White House says US. will enforce foreign worker laws after Hyundai raid

Friday 5 September 2025 16:52 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump administration will enforce laws requiring foreign workers to have proper authorization to be in the United States, the White House said on Friday after immigration authorities raided a Hyundai facility in Georgia.

“Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.

“President Trump will continue delivering on his promise to make the United States the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.”

Youth unemployment climbs higher

Friday 5 September 2025 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Youth unemployment (ages 16-24) has climbed to 10.5 percent.

The Independent’s Eric Garcia wonders whether a poor job market might shape voting habits going forward.

“Many young people as a whole voted for Trump in reaction to closed schools during Covid and masks. They did not get major milestones others did. Will a bad job market shape their voting habits the way the Great Recession shaped millennials?”

Trump administration gives multiple reasons for poor jobs report

Friday 5 September 2025 17:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Matthew Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters for America, notes that members of the Trump administration have offered three completely different explanations for today’s poor jobs numbers.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told Fox News that the reason is a function of survey response rates and will be revised upward.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer told Fox Business that bad numbers are Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's fault for not cutting interest rates.

And Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC that the jobs numbers “will get better because you'll take out the people who are just trying to create noise against the president ... this is gonna be the greatest growth economy six months from now, a year from today.”

Gertz further says on X: “If the jobs picture is actually much better than the numbers indicate, either because they will be revised up or [have] been sabotaged, then what's the argument for cutting interest rates the way Trump is demanding?”

Newsom trolls Trump over jobs numbers (and Epstein)

Friday 5 September 2025 17:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Even the NRA is against Trump team plan to ban trans people from owning firearms

Friday 5 September 2025 17:59 , Oliver O'Connell

News of a potential plan from Donald Trump’s administration to block transgender Americans from owning firearms was met with an avalanche of opposition — including from major Second Amendment groups historically aligned with Republicans.

The National Rifle Association, among the nation’s largest and most influential lobbying groups, said “the Second Amendment isn’t up for debate.”

“The NRA supports the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans to purchase, possess and use firearms,” the group said in a statement Friday.

Alex Woodward reports.

Even the NRA is against Trump team plan to ban trans people from owning firearms

Updated: President Donald Trump's schedule today

Friday 5 September 2025 18:16 , Oliver O'Connell

The Oval Office events previously scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. have now been combined into one event at 4 p.m. that will be open to the White House press pool.

President Donald Trump’s updated schedule for the remainder of the day is now as follows:

2:00 p.m. — The president signs Executive Orders in the Oval Office.

4:00 p.m. The president signs Executive Orders and makes an announcement from the Oval Office.

7:00 p.m. — The president hosts a dinner in the Rose Garden.

Democrat lawmaker slams Trump admin for calling unemployed 'nonexistent'

Friday 5 September 2025 18:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep. Don Breyer calls Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s comments about unemployment being statistically “nonexistent” a “stunningly awful and dishonest thing to say.”

Hegseth claims he has ‘absolute and complete authority’ to kill suspected drug gang members

Friday 5 September 2025 18:37 , Oliver O'Connell

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that the United States has the authority to kill suspected drug smugglers after President Donald Trump ordered the blowing up of a Venezuelan boat that was thought to be carrying 11 drug dealers.

Trump said that the United States carried out a strike on 11 supposed “terrorists” from a Venezuelan gang. Many legal experts question the authority under which the president can carry out such strikes.

Eric Garcia has the latest from Washington, D.C.

Hegseth claims ‘complete authority’ to strike suspected drug gangsters

Trump tariffs see Canada's Carney delay EV mandate for auto sector

Friday 5 September 2025 18:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Meanwhile, across the border in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney is delaying a requirement for automakers to begin hitting minimum sales levels for electric vehicles next year as the sector deals with the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set the target, requiring that in 2026, 20 percent of passenger vehicles sold should be zero-emission vehicles.

Read on...

Canada's Carney to delay EV mandate as country deals with Trump's tariffs

Kemp deploying 300 Georgia National Guard troops to DC

Friday 5 September 2025 19:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp has announced the deployment of over 300 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., a move that signals President Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in the capital will continue.

The governor stated that approximately 300 guard members would be mobilised in mid-September, primarily to relieve troops from other states. Seven other states have already contributed National Guard personnel to the operation.

Governor Kemp confirmed that Georgia’s soldiers may be armed and will provide direct support to law enforcement. This follows an earlier deployment of 16 soldiers this week, who were assigned to non-policing support roles.

More Democrats pile on after Trump's latest jobs reports

Friday 5 September 2025 19:24 , Oliver O'Connell

More Democrats are ripping President Donald Trump for this morning’s poor jobs report.

Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted that June was a landmark moment for the U.S.: “Today we learned that in June the US economy lost jobs for the first time since 2020. We haven’t seen this kind of net job loss since — well, since the last time Trump was in charge.”

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett says the numbers are “abysmal” and likens the country to a “sinking ship”.

She wrote on X: “This is ABYSMAL! Trump’s illegal Tariffs (businesses shuttering or downsizing), combined with his illegal commandeering of appropriated dollars (less money for head start etc.) & his illegal removals (tourism is down & workers are afraid to go to work) are hurting EVERYONE!

“We are in a sinking ship. It is time to admit that he is failing! Literally he’s done this bad & it’s only the 8th month. Joe Biden’s last job report showed 256k jobs added!

“How bad must the economy get before people fall on the sword & decide to DO SOMETHING?!

“This isn’t about who you like, it’s about what is right; for you, your family, & our country!”

Trump-appointed head of federal buildings says president doesn’t need approval to start demolition for new White House ballroom

Friday 5 September 2025 19:43 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House doesn’t need approval from a government construction commission to begin demolition for President Donald Trump’s $200 million ballroom, according to a Trump-appointed head of the panel.

Will Scharf, who also serves as White House staff secretary, appeared to give the green light for the project to begin in remarks he made Thursday at a public meeting.

Read on...

Trump official says no approval needed to start demolition for White House ballroom

Watch: Foreign ambassadors to US receive red MAGA hats as gift during White House visit

Friday 5 September 2025 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump to attend men’s final of US Open

Friday 5 September 2025 20:03 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump is set to attend the US Open men’s final on Sunday, marking a return to the tournament for the first time in 10 years.

The White House has confirmed the visit and Trump will be the first sitting president to attend a US Open final since Bill Clinton in 2000.

The Independent’s Jamie Braidwood reports from New York:

Trump set to make US Open return and attend men’s final

Georgia immigration raid targeted battery plant

Friday 5 September 2025 20:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Today’s immigration raid in Georgia targeted a battery plant under construction, a facility where Hyundai has partnered with LG Energy Solution to produce electric vehicle batteries.

Steven Schrank, the lead Georgia agent for Homeland Security Investigations, told reporters on Friday that some detained individuals worked for the battery manufacturer, while contractors and subcontractors employed others at the construction site.

Operations at Hyundai’s EV manufacturing plant were not interrupted, confirmed plant spokesperson Bianca Johnson. Hyundai Motor Company said in a statement on Friday it was “working to understand the specific circumstances” of the raid and detentions.

The company added: “As of today, it is our understanding that none of those detained is directly employed by Hyundai Motor Company.”

Trump threatens trade probe over EU antitrust fine against Google

Friday 5 September 2025 20:16 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump on Friday criticized the European Union's decision to fine Google $3.46 billion over antitrust concerns and threatened a broader trade investigation against the EU in response to the move.

“We cannot let this happen to brilliant and unprecedented American Ingenuity and, if it does, I will be forced to start a Section 301 proceeding to nullify the unfair penalties being charged to these Taxpaying American Companies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Last night, the president dined with important figures from the tech community, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Here’s his full post:

Europe today “hit” another great American company, Google, with a $3.5 Billion Dollar fine, effectively taking money that would otherwise go to American Investments and Jobs. This is on top of the many other Fines and Taxes that have been issued against Google and other American Tech Companies, in particular. Very unfair, and the American Taxpayer will not stand for it! As I have said before, my Administration will NOT allow these discriminatory actions to stand. Apple, as an example, was forced to pay $17 Billion Dollars in a Fine that, in my opinion, should not have been charged — They should get their money back! We cannot let this happen to brilliant and unprecedented American Ingenuity and, if it does, I will be forced to start a Section 301 proceeding to nullify the unfair penalties being charged to these Taxpaying American Companies. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Trump to personally direct $550B of Japan's investment in US as part of trade deal, report says

Friday 5 September 2025 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Japan has reportedly agreed to an extraordinary deal with the U.S., allowing President Donald Trump to dictate the investment of $550 billion of its capital within American borders, according to an unpublished memorandum.

The agreement, detailed by The Financial Times, stipulates that Japan must fund projects designated by the president within a mere 45 days, or face the reintroduction of steep tariffs.

This unusual arrangement, signed on Thursday when the trade deal was officially enacted, underscores the significant pressure Washington's trading partners are under to secure tariff concessions.

Japan, a key U.S. ally and the world’s fourth-largest economy, had previously faced a 25 percent tariff on its exports to the U.S. The new accord reportedly reduces this to 15 percent, with the investment clause acting as a critical condition.

South Korea and the European Union have also pledged huge investments in the U.S. as part of their tariff deals.

ANALYSIS: There’s no more denying it – Trump risks a recession on his watch

Friday 5 September 2025 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

If Trump thought he could neuter the Jeffrey Epstein scandal this week, he received an even worse present on the doorstep of the White House on Friday: a weak jobs report.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a triple barrel of bad news in its jobs report: First, it showed that the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3 percent. Second, the number showed that the U.S. economy added only 22,000 jobs, far below market expectations. Third, downward revisions from the June jobs report showed that for the first time since 2020, the U.S. economy had lost jobs, in this case losing 13,000 jobs.

Of course, Trump tried to stem the tide on this. After last months anemic jobs report that the economy added only 73,000 jobs in July, he fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. He nominated E.J. Antoni – the chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, which crafted Project 2025 – to replace her.

But nothing can stave off the havoc that Trump’s tariffs will wreak on the economy. A look under the hood of the numbers today shows the economy is headed to a full-fledged heart attack.

Continue reading...

There’s no more denying it – Trump risks a recession on his watch

Watch LIVE: Trump signs executive order changing Pentagon’s name to ‘Department of War’

Friday 5 September 2025 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Friday 5 September 2025 21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

We won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between. And then we decided to go woke, and we changed the name to the Department of Defense. So, we're going Department of War.

President Donald Trump on bringing back the Department of War name at the Pentagon

Hegseth promises 'maximum lethality, not tepid legality' in newly named Department of War

Friday 5 September 2025 21:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Newly retitled Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says during the signing of the rebranding of the Pentagon: “After winning a war for Independence in 1789, George Washington established the war department. This country won every major war after that. To include World War I and World War II. Total victory! 50 years after that, we changed the name. We haven’t won a major war since.”

He adds: “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We're gonna raise up warriors. Not just defenders.”

Trump says Department of War sends message to world

Friday 5 September 2025 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump said rebranding the Pentagon as the “Department of War” sends a key signal to the world.

“I think it sends a message of victory, really a message of strength,” Trump said as he signed the order establishing the “Department of War” as a secondary name for the Pentagon.

Trump insists rebranding Pentagon won't be costly

Friday 5 September 2025 21:46 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump insisted that the cost of the Department of Defense name change will be “not a lot,” answering a question from a reporter in the Oval Office.

He noted that things like official stationery would have to be changed, but without spending too much in federal funds.

“We know how to rebrand without having to go crazy,” Trump said.

McConnell demands more military funding as Trump rebrands Pentagon

Friday 5 September 2025 21:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump's proposal to rename the Pentagon the 'Department of War' has led former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to demand more military spending.

On X, McConnell wrote: "If we call it the Dept. of War, we’d better equip the military to actually prevent and win wars. Can’t preserve American primacy if we’re unwilling to spend substantially more on our military than Carter or Biden." McConnell, whose later Senate career focuses on hawkish defence policies, added: "‘Peace through strength’ requires investment, not just rebranding."

Trump has signed more than 200 executive orders since taking office

Friday 5 September 2025 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump’s staff secretary Will Scharf tells him that his Department of War EO was his 200th executive order since taking office on January 20.

He notes that it is more than Joe Biden's four years in office, or Barack Obama's two terms.

Scharf calls it a “momentous accomplishment.”

During the Biden and Obama administrations, conservatives fervently criticized the president for acting by EO and not through Congress.

As he rebrands Pentagon, Trump warns Venezuela

Friday 5 September 2025 22:12 , Oliver O'Connell

In the Oval Office press conference after President Donald Trump signed his executive order rebranding the Defense Department as the Department of War, he took a moment to warn Venezuela against provocative actions.

“If they do put us in a dangerous position, they will be shot down,” Trump said.

The Pentagon said late Thursday that two Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy vessel, calling it “a highly provocative move” and warning President Nicolás Maduro’s government against further actions.

The Venezuelan military action came after the U.S. carried out a deadly strike on a boat that U.S. officials say was carrying drugs from Venezuela.

Trump and other administration officials are warning that they will continue to carry out such military strikes to stem the flow of illicit drugs by Latin American drug cartels.

Miami to hold 2026 G20 summit

Friday 5 September 2025 22:17 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the 2026 G20 summit will be held in Miami, Florida.

“As we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary next year, the United States will have the honor of hosting ... the G20 summit right here in America for the first time in nearly 20 years,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Pressed on what the venue would be, Trump says the summit would be at his Doral golf club in Miami.

He said of having the summit at his property: “There’s no money in it.” But Trump added, “We want to make sure it’s good.”

Trump creates new designation of 'state sponsors of wrongful detention'

Friday 5 September 2025 22:22 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order establishing a new designation for “state sponsors of wrongful detention.”

The measure aims to deter the arbitrary detention or hostage-taking of American citizens overseas through the threat of associated sanctions.

This new classification mirrors the existing “state sponsors of terrorism” designation already applied by the U.S. to certain nations.

It grants the State Department the authority to impose various penalties on countries falling under the label, including economic restrictions, visa limitations for those involved, and travel advisories for Americans considering visits to such territories.

Full story: Trump is changing the Pentagon to the Department of War. It could cost taxpayers over $1B

Friday 5 September 2025 22:35 , Oliver O'Connell

President Donald Trump is changing the Pentagon to the Department of War and it could cost taxpayers over $1 billion.

Trump signed an executive order Friday afternoon to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War to indicate that America has “the strongest military,” he told reporters from the Oval Office.

Rachel Dobkin reports.

Trump’s name change to Department of War could cost taxpayers over $1B

Watch: Trump will still not attend G20 this year in South Africa

Friday 5 September 2025 22:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Newsom trolls Trump's claims of transparency

Friday 5 September 2025 22:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge blocks administration's ending of legal protections for 1.1 million Venezuelans and Haitians

Friday 5 September 2025 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal judge on Friday ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to end temporary legal protections that have granted more than 1 million people from Haiti and Venezuela the right to live and work in the United States.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of San Francisco grants the plaintiffs' request, meaning 600,000 Venezuelans whose temporary protected status expired in April or was set to expire by September 10 can now stay and work in the United States.

What you need to know so far today...

Friday 5 September 2025 23:01 , Oliver O'Connell
  • Trump signed an executive order officially changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War as Pentagon head Pete Hegseth promised “maximum lethality.”
  • The August jobs report revealed the US added only 22,000 jobs, falling short of predictions, with unemployment rising to 4.3 per cent, the highest since 2021.
  • The Trump administration is scrambling to explain the poor jobs figures, with officials providing conflicting reasons.
  • Trump criticised bipartisan calls for his administration to release Jeffrey Epstein case files, dismissing the demands as a 'Democrat HOAX' designed to divert attention from his administration's achievements.
  • Georgia's Governor Brian Kemp announced the deployment of over 300 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to provide direct support to law enforcement, with soldiers potentially armed.
  • The Trump administration is abandoning a plan that would require airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays and cancellations, a move that will impact consumer protections.

ICE raid on Hyundai plant in Georgia sparks international uproar

Friday 5 September 2025 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Federal immigration authorities say they arrested dozens of South Korean workers at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, marking what the Department of Homeland Security is calling its largest-ever raid — and triggering outrage from South Korean officials who expressed “concern and regret” over the operation.

But a search warrant seen by The Independent shows that agents were seeking the arrests of only four workers at the facility — who are Latino.

Agents arrested 475 people on Thursday at a battery facility on the sprawling Hyundai campus in Ellabell, Georgia — roughly 30 miles west of Savannah — as part of an “ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes,” according to Homeland Security.

Alex Woodward reports.

South Korea condemns ‘unfair infringement’ after ICE raid on Hyundai plant in Georgia

ANALYSIS: Trump’s throwback to ‘Department of War’ signals a retreat from modern world into past glory

Saturday 6 September 2025 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Andrew Feinberg writes:

Who knew Harry Truman was so “woke?”

According to President Donald Trump, the 33rd man to be sworn into the office he now holds — the same person who ordered the only use of atomic weapons against civilians during wartime — signed legislation creating the Department of Defense in 1947, not out of a desire to improve the country’s military readiness but out of what Trump posited was “political correctness.”

Read more...

Trump’s throwback to ‘Department of War’ signals a retreat from modern world

Pentagon starts removing Department of Defense signage

Saturday 6 September 2025 00:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Miami mayor thanks Trump for choosing city for 2026 G20 summit

01:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Trump hosts dinner at the Rose Garden

01:25 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump is hosting a dinner at the Rose Garden Friday night.

“This is a special group,” Trump said when addressing the crowd.

Members of Congress are in attendance, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Trump advises people to take vaccines that are not 'controversial'

01:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Following an intense Senate hearing in which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled on his vaccine policies, President Donald Trump said people should take vaccines that are not “controversial.”

Trump said Friday some vaccines “aren’t controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used.”

Pete Hegseth says he's 'back to work' as secretary of war

01:45 , Rachel Dobkin

Trump said he'd 'love' Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to attend 2026 G20 summit

02:00 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump said Friday he’d “love” for Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 2026 G20 summit in Miami.

But he said they would have to come as observers, adding, “I’m not sure they want to be an observer.”

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