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7 hours ago

Trump uses Kennedy Center visit to announce imminent release of JFK assassination files: Live updates

President attended first board meeting at performing arts venue

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Monday 17 March 2025 20:52 GMT
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President Trump announces he will release 80,000 undetected files from the Kennedy assassination

Donald Trump announced during a visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., that 80,000 pages of unredacted files related to the assassination of President John F Kennedy will be released tomorrow afternoon.

The president was at the performing arts venue, named after the slain president, to attend a board meeting.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has deported hundreds of people from the U.S. after invoking a wartime law to speed up the deportations of individuals connected to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in defiance of a court order.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s ability to use the law, the Alien Enemies Act 1798, and ordered any planes flying migrants out of the country to turn around.

Border czar Tom Homan told Fox News: “We’re not stopping. I don’t care what the judges think. I don’t care what the left thinks. We’re coming.”

Meanwhile, Donald Trump declared that presidential pardons issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, are “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect” because the Democrat allegedly signed off on them using an autopen rather than his real signature.

13 hours ago

Trump once offered an ill Anna Luna his bed: 'Just don't tell Melania'

President Donald Trump once offered Rep. Anna Luna his bed while she was feeling unwell and joked, “don’t tell Melania,” according to a new book.

Comments reportedly made by the president in private have been revealed in a new book titled Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power by Axios reporter Alex Isenstadt.

The book features “never-before-reported” moments in Trump’s return to the White House. The book claims the president insulted fellow Republicans and allies, was disparaging about the women who have accused him in court and sarcastically claimed he wouldn’t seek revenge if reelected.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s White House communications director, said the book was “a work of fiction” when approached by The Independent for comment.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Trump offered an ill Rep Luna his bed and joked ‘don’t tell Melania’, book claims

A new book features ‘never-before-reported’ moments in Trump’s return to the White House
Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 15:10
13 hours ago

Schumer postpones book tour for 'security reasons' amid backlash over spending bill vote

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer postponed his book tour events for the week of March 17 “for security reasons,” according to an announcement posted on the website of the Baltimore library where he was due to speak on Monday.

Schumer has faced swift backlash from members of the Democratic Party since last week over his decision to support voting on a Republican stopgap spending bill that most Democratic lawmakers said gave President Donald Trump too much power.

Here’s Eric Garcia’s analysis of the backlash from fellow Democrats.

Democrats revolt against Chuck Schumer’s cave to Republicans

Analysis: With a majority of his caucus revolting against him and activists furious, the longtime Democratic leader faces calls to step aside or have a primary challenge, Eric Garcia reports
Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 15:00
13 hours ago

What is an autopen signature and why is Trump accusing Biden of using one?

While attending the G8 Summit in France in May 2011, a major piece of legislation reached Barack Obama’s desk in the Oval Office.

Invoking national security concerns, the former president authorized an aide in Washington to use an autopen to affix his signature to a bill extending three provisions of the Patriot Act.

It marked the first reported time a U.S. president had a mechanical device to sign a bill into law. The White House pointed to an existing 29-page opinion commissioned by the Department of Justice claiming its use was legal.

Almost 14 years later, the autopen is back making headlines.

James Liddell explains.

What is an autopen signature and why is Trump accusing Biden of using one?

President has attacked Biden’s alleged autopen use despite reports casting doubt over whether all of Trump’s signatures are handwritten
Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 14:50
14 hours ago

Watch: Trump's Housing and Interior secretaries partner to build on federal lands

Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 14:40
14 hours ago

Tourists cancel their U.S. plans over Trump’s policies and tariffs

The president’s actions and rhetoric are already driving international tourists to cancel their trips to the United States this year.

International travel is expected to dip by 5 percent this year as Trump’s trade policies, proposed handling of Russia’s war in Ukraine and threats to absorb Canada and Greenland have stoked tensions abroad.

Combined with an anticipated slide in domestic travel spending, these factors could contribute to a predicted $64 billion in losses for the American travel industry in 2025, according to travel research firm Tourism Economics.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Tourists cancel their U.S. plans over Trump’s policies and tariffs

‘Barring a funeral or someone in the hospital, I am not going to the United States,’ one Toronto resident said
Joe Sommerlad17 March 2025 14:30
14 hours ago

Watch: McGregor rails against Irish government in White House briefing room

Conor McGregor rails against immigration into Ireland during White House visit
Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 14:19
14 hours ago

Jasmine Crockett fires back at John Fetterman over senator’s criticism

The Texas Representative did not mince her words when asked about Senator John Fetterman’s ongoing criticism of his fellow Democratic lawmakers on Sunday.

Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, has been critical of the more left-leaning members of his party, condemning their push for a government shutdown.

He also joined in with the chorus of people who mocked the “Choose Your Fighter” TikTok video, in which some members of the House Democratic caucus participated in a social media campaign that highlighted their backgrounds.

Here’s John Bowden on how Crockett hit back.

Jasmine Crockett fires back at John Fetterman over senator’s criticism of Democrats

Onetime progressive Fetterman has reformed his brand around attacking Democrats under Trump
Joe Sommerlad17 March 2025 14:10
14 hours ago

Canadian PM Carney makes first foreign trip to ‘reliable allies’ in Europe, not Washington

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands after a joint statement, at Elysee Palace, during Carney's first foreign visit as prime minister
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands after a joint statement, at Elysee Palace, during Carney's first foreign visit as prime minister (via REUTERS)

Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with “reliable allies” in Europe during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, marking his first overseas visit amid tensions with the U.S.

Carney's decision to visit Paris instead of Washington, as is customary for Canadian leaders, follows President Donald Trump's escalation of trade tensions with both Canada and Europe, along with his threats of annexing Canada.

“[It] is more important than ever for Canada to strengthen its ties with reliable allies like France,” said Carney, ahead of a working lunch with Macron at the Elysee Palace, describing Canada as “the most European of non-European countries.”

Carney visits London later today.

In a veiled reference to Trump, Macron noted that Canada exemplifies a country that protects its national interests while also cooperating on the global stage.

“I think we both believe that fair trade that respects international rules is good for everyone's prosperity, and is certainly more effective than tariffs,” Macron said.

As the two men were leaving, a Canadian reporter in the room asked whether they wanted to tell Trump to “back off,” but neither Carney nor Macron took questions from the media.

With reporting from Reuters

Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 14:02
14 hours ago

Watch: NEC director says 'uncertainty' between now and implementation of reciprocal tariffs

Oliver O'Connell17 March 2025 13:57
14 hours ago

Fox News presses car salesman senator on Trump’s White House auto show

A Fox correspondent grilled Ohio’s newest Republican senator on Sunday over whether Trump’s White House Tesla photo opp was an appropriate use of the presidency.

Bernie Moreno, a car dealership mogul who defeated former Senator Sherrod Brown for the latter’s seat in the 2024 election, was asked by Fox senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on Fox News Sunday over the ethics of the president turning the White House lawn into an auto showroom promoting Tesla, which is owned by his special adviser Elon Musk.

Moreno sidestepped the question of Musk’s obvious conflict of interest and told Heinrich he thought it was good for the president to be celebrating an American brand at a time when the Trump administration is threatening a full-scale trade war with a number of US allies, including Canada.

John Bowden reports.

Fox News presses car saleman senator about Trump’s White House auto show

Bernie Moreno ‘applauds’ Trump for celebrating ‘American-made’ Teslas despite Elon Musk’s conflict of interest
Joe Sommerlad17 March 2025 13:50

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