Week 78 — The Return – The Weekly List

This week we continued down the slippery slope of the U.S. Department of Justice melding into Trump’s personal law firm. As acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks Trump’s nomination to run the agency, the DOJ has become unrecognizable. Any pretense of separation is gone as the gutted agency carries out Trump’s agenda and retribution campaign, however lawless.

Trump’s Iran War entered its tenth week, and Trump seemed unable to find a way out. Trump claimed to not need congressional approval despite passing the 60 day mark, citing the ceasefire, then established “Project Freedom” and unsuccessfully tried to get cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz. By the end of the week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the war was over, and only Project Freedom remained, only to hours later have Trump post on Truth Social that Project Freedom was on pause. The narrative seems to shift daily and endlessly, most frequently with Trump leaking or posting a positive spin on ending the war before the stock market opens. Notably, also this week, Trump unilaterally pulled 5,000 troops out of Germany after their leader’s remarks about Trump failing in the Iran War.

Polling continues to fall, as the American people are increasingly unhappy with Trump, his war, and his policies. He does, however, maintain his power over the Republican Party, as demonstrated this week by a primary in Indiana, and Senate Republicans trying to push through $1 billion for his White House ballroom, despite just 28% of Americans supporting it.

Increasingly, Trump seems unhinged. A major story line this week is not only the increasing number of his Truth Social posts, but also that he is sending them often in the middle of the night, and they are becoming in many cases more alarming and bizarre. This week, Trump bragged in three separate occasions about taking cognitive tests, almost seeming to be an act of self-admittance that things are not so steady, as he has put the world and its energy prices on his shoulders, alone. With no good options for exit.

This is the longest weekly list of the second regime, so far. There is so much going on at once! I encourage you to read it, in its entirety.

A WAPO-ABC News poll found that the public continued to oppose Trump’s White House ballroom, with support remaining at 28%, while 56% opposed it. Among Republicans overall, 65% supported it, including just 34% who identified as non-MAGA.
A Pew Research poll found 36% approved of Trump’s handling of the Iran War, 62% disapproved. Half of Americans said Trump’s goals were unclear, 24% said clear. His approval with the pollster hit a new low, with 34% approve, 64% disapprove.
TNR reported “60 Minutes” edited out some of Trump’s most offensive comments in his interview with Norah O’Donnell, including rambling commentary about his ballroom, how attractive his Secret Service agents were, and comparing “No Kings” protests to the Ku Klux Klan.
A Daily Beast analysis found that Trump had posted 565 times on Truth Social during his second regime, an average of about 18 a day, and more than double the 250 during his first regime, with one-third of his posts coming overnight, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
CBS News reported that in at least a dozen cases against Trump and the regime, judges have pointed to social media posts by either Trump or senior regime officials in their rulings against the government.
On Wednesday, during the Supreme Court argument on the Temporary Protected Status program, Trump’s past racist words were used in legal arguments, including him saying Haitians here “probably have AIDS,” and were eating their cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio.
On Monday, Trump sent a dozen Truth Social posts pushing for his ballroom, including allies’ appearances on Fox News, and screen-shots of comments supporting it from acting AG Todd Blanche, Republican senators and representatives, and right-wing influencers.
Later Monday, Senate Republicans who chaired the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees inserted $1 billion into a $70 billion immigration bill that would go towards “security improvements” as part of an East Wing construction project, including a new ballroom.
While Senate Republicans claimed the funding was not for the ballroom itself, just security, the Trump regime said Tuesday that since Congress was approving the project, the pending lawsuit should be dropped, saying, “Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds.”
Nature reported including last week’s firing of 22 members of the advisory board that oversees the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Trump regime had cut more than 100 scientific advisory panels, across all major science agencies, an unprecedented level of cuts.
Overall at the NSF, 14 of 52 advisory committees had been disbanded. At Health and Human Services, 77 advisory boards were disbanded during 2025, including panels on immunizations, organ transplantation, dietary guidelines, and long COVID.
NYT reported the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development, a prestigious scientific arm of the federal government for half a century, saws its ranks shrink from 1,500 biologists, chemists, and other experts to 124 remaining under Trump.
On Thursday, Cigna said it would exit the Affordable Care Act Market, the second major insurer to do so, imperiling the healthcare exchange. ACA enrollment fell significantly after the Trump regime ended federal subsidies, and a grace period for payments ended in March.
On Thursday, Trump pulled surgeon general nominee Casey Means, and nominated Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier. Trump had picked Means to get support from MAHA moms, but she did not complete her surgical residency, and did not have a medical license.
On Friday, Jenna Norton, a key organizer of “The Bethesda Declaration,” issued in June 2025 criticizing Trump’s research cuts, was reinstated at the National Institutes of Health, as were 14 Federal Emergency Management Agency employees who signed a letter of their own.
On Tuesday, NYT reported that the F.D.A. blocked the publication of several studies that found Covid-19 and shingles vaccinations were safe, and that side effects were very rare. The studies, conducted by scientists at the agency, costs millions of dollars in public funds
On Wednesday, the Trump regime appealed a federal judge’s ruling that blocked HHS Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr. from overhauling the country’s childhood vaccination schedule.
On Wednesday, the Florida Legislature approved a redistricting map that would add four Republican House seats, hours after the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Louisiana that weakened the Voting Rights Act, the latest red state to do so at Trump’s behest.
After the ruling, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency to suspend the state’s primary elections, set to start on Saturday, claiming, “Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system.”
On Friday, voters and voting rights groups filed multiple lawsuits against Landry, saying he had overstepped his executive power. The state court rejected an emergency plea to block him from suspending the primary, and instead scheduled a hearing for next week.
On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he spoke to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee about redistricting, saying Lee said he “would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw” in the state’s map, and “all of the other Political Representatives of Tennessee have promised to do so.”
Alabama’s Republican Gov. Kay Ivey called legislators back to session to approve contingency plans for special primary elections, which would allow the state to “give our state a fighting chance” to gerrymander out the two of seven House seats held by Democrats.
Propublica reported ahead of midterms, Trump and his regime made significant changes at federal agencies tasked with safeguarding elections, including gutting DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and firing 75 career officials with important roles.
Trump also installed a group of political appointees, dubbed “Team America,” who have burrowed into DHS headquarters to look for ways to exert more federal control over elections, and have used a Homeland Security Investigations tool to identify noncitizen voters.
Iowa’s secretary of state announced his office had sent the state’s voter registration data to the DOJ, claiming, “We have a duty to follow the law,” adding the DOJ “assured us that the data will be protected appropriately under federal law.” Iowa had several key races in midterms.
On Monday, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, all four of Trump’s judicial nominees, ahead of lifetime appointments, refused to say whether Trump was eligible to run for a third term. One said he would “have to review the wording” of the 22nd Amendment.
On Monday, Fulton County filed a challenge to block a DOJ subpoena for personal information on thousands of 2020 election staffers, poll workers, and volunteers, calling it an unprecedented effort to “target, harass, and punish the President’s perceived political opponents.”
WAPO reported White House lawyers gave private briefings to Trump political appointees ahead of midterms where Democrats were expected to take the House, warning them to be careful about what they put in writing and giving guidance on responding to congressional inquiries.
On Wednesday, WSJ reported that Amazon, which bought the “Melania” documentary, was in discussion about a reboot of the reality TV show “The Apprentice,” with Donald Jr. as the host, potentially propelling his public image, and further ingratiating Jeff Bezos with Trump.
Speculation grew that Trump was seeking to perpetuate his name by having one of his children succeed him, with Donald Jr. being most likely. Since the 2024 election, Donald Jr.’s wealth had grown sixfold to $300 million, while Eric’s had risen 10-fold to $400 million.
FT reported that a shell company backed by Donald Jr. and Eric merged with Kaz Resources, a subsidiary of mining investment group Cove Capital, which was awarded a $1.6 billion tungsten project, with U.S. backing, to mine tungsten in Kazakhstan.
On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social, “When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel,” calling it “the Lowest Rated shows on Television,” and adding, “It better be soon!!!” Kimmel referenced Trump’s low ratings, and called him a hypocrite on his show.
AP reported the Trump regime had ignored 31 lower court rulings during the first 15 months, an unprecedented defiance. There were more than 250 instances of non-compliance with individual immigration petitions, from keeping property to not releasing migrants at court-ordered dates.
A federal judge had blocked a policy of holding immigrants without bond last December, yet a top Justice Department official baselessly claimed the ruling was not binding. Higher courts, including the Supreme Court, overruled nearly half of the 31 rulings.
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court rejected Trump’s request to rehear his challenge to E. Jean Carroll’s successful defamation claims, in which she was awarded $83 million in 2024, and denied his petition for an en banc hearing.
Days later, the DOJ asked the Supreme Court to allow it to intervene in Trump’s case with Carroll, substituting the U.S. for Trump. Under the Westfall Act of 1988, the change would result in the suit being dismissed since the U.S. cannot be sued for defamation.
Trump also posted that James Comey was a “Dirty Cop, one of the worst,” claiming, “They say 86 him! 86 47 means “kill President Trump.”” Legal experts said Trump’s post would likely be used by Comey’s lawyer in their case asserting a vindictive prosecution.
Bloomberg reported Trump’s DOJ is pursuing additional charges against Comey for his alleged leaking of classified information, over his sharing documents with a Columbia University professor. Since Blanche took over, there have been active meetings on the potential case.
A DOJ whistleblower told House Democrats that Aakash Singh, a lawyer working for Blanche, pressured prosecutors in Alabama to rush through criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, despite their concerns with the strength of the case.
On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced he would stay on as a Fed governor after his term as chair was up, breaking 75 years of precedent, citing “the series of legal attacks on the Fed,” adding, “I worry that these attacks are battering the institution.”
Shortly after, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell…wants to stay at the Fed because he can’t get a job anywhere else.” Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent told Fox Business, while Powell claims to be an institutionalist, “this is a violation of all Federal Reserve norms.”
On Sunday, U.S. Attorney in D.C. Jeanine Pirro told CNN that federal prosecutors could resurrect the case against Powell if a continuing internal audit finds any malfeasance. She also continued the appeal of the DOJ’s subpoenas being quashed.
On Monday, Pirro filed a motion asking an appeals court to vacate her appeal of the ruling, seen as an effort to get Powell to step down as a Fed governor.
Politico reported at least 10 of Trump’s former personal attorneys have been rewarded with top DOJ jobs or federal judicial nominations during the second regime, including recently Matthew Schwartz of Sullivan & Cromwell being nominated to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
FT reported the DOJ had lost more than a quarter of its lawyers, with 3,402 lawyers out of a total of 12,955 quitting or being fired, including DOGE reduction. The DOJ, once the world’s largest employer of and a magnet for ambitious lawyers, struggled to fill its ranks.
Bloomberg reported the DOJ was offering $25,000 signing bonuses to attract candidates for positions investigating youth transgender treatments and litigating the Trump regime’s immigration agenda, as hiring lagged.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose mulled contempt charges and said the Trump regime had put her life at risk by posting “patently false” allegations against her, lying that she had knowingly released an ICE detainee with an international warrant for murder.
DOJ attorney Kevin Bolan apologized to DuBose in a virtual contempt hearing, conceding the central claim against her in the Trump regime’s press release “simply was not true.” The judge referred Bolan for an investigation into possible misconduct for withholding information.
On Monday, Trump’s Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into whether Smith College admitting transgender students, and providing access to “women-only” spaces such as bathrooms, housing, and locker rooms, violates civil rights protections.
On Tuesday, Trump’s EEOC sued the NYT for alleged discrimination, saying it passed over a white man for promotion to an editorial role in early 2025, instead bringing in a nonwhite woman who was an external candidate, in pursuit of “unlawful corporate diversity policies.”
NYT reported the State Department revoked visas for five board members of Costa Rica’s leading newspaper, La Nación, after in 2022 it critically covered Rodrigo Chaves, now the country’s president who has cozied up to the Trump regime. La Nación called it “unprecedented.”
Miami Herald reported the Palm Beach County commissioners had signed a deal with Trump under which airport stores would only buy branded merchandise from Trump org approved retailers, and giving him veto power over biographical info in airport marketing materials.
NYT reported Trump planned to build a ‘Garden of Heroes’ along the Potomac River, with his latest design adding size and costs to include a reflecting pool, dining facilities, and an amphitheater, along with 250 statues, as part of his plan to beautify the nation’s capital.
It was unclear how the project would be paid for, through donations or taxpayer funding, as the cost had well exceeded monies appropriated by Congress. Redevelopment of land was also necessary. Delays meant the project would likely not be complete at the end of his term.
NYT reported that debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing dumped by the Trump regime at a D.C. golf course tested positive for lead, chromium, and other toxic metals. The Trump regime had bypassed environmental laws when it dumped the soil.
On Wednesday, a YouGov poll found just 19% of Americans approved of the U.S. issuing new passports with Trump’s image, 61% disapproved. Among Republicans, just 41% approved.
WAPO reported the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service exposed the Social Security numbers of health care providers in 2025, when it created a database for seniors of doctors and medical providers which accepted insurance. It was unclear if CMS notified those impacted.
On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Intel Stock continues to rise,” bragging he was “very proud” of the taxpayer dollar investment: “I am responsible for making the United States of America over 30 Billion Dollars in the last 90 days on that stock alone.”
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and Iran, and was not sure which war would end first. Russian state news agency TASS reported the call lasted over 90 minutes. There was no formal readout.
Later Wednesday, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being “humiliated” in the Iran War, Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany.” Trump had made a similar threat in June 2020.
On Thursday, Germany’s foreign minister said Germany is “prepared” for any reduction in U.S. troops, and were “discussing it closely” with NATO allies. Merz cited in his first year “we have managed to save NATO” through increased defense spending, and kept the E.U. together.
On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Merz “should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country…and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat.”
Later Friday, the Pentagon said it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, after Trump threatened to do so over his spat with Merz. A senior Pentagon official told Reuters German rhetoric had been “inappropriate and unhelpful,” and Trump was “rightly reacting.”
AP reported U.S. defense officials were not notified in advance about the decision to draw down troops, and learned about it in “real time” as it was reported in the news.
On Saturday, asked by reporters, Trump refused to give an explanation, saying, “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.” Trump’s move drew criticism from Democrats, with Republicans expressing concern that it would send the wrong message to Putin.
On Friday, Louisiana’s Supreme Court ruled 3–0 to approved a sweeping anti-abortion restriction, which rolled back access to the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide, blocking an FDA policy that allowed the drug to be delivered by mail. Two of the judges were appointed by Trump.
On Thursday, Trump’s DOJ issued a 197-page report which accused the Biden administration of pushing policies that were biased against Christians at more than a dozen agencies, including conflicts “over abortion, gender ideology and sexual orientation.”
The report was part of the Trump regime’s effort to remove what it baselessly claimed was political bias. While releasing the report, acting AG Todd Blanche said the DOJ would “continue to expose bad actors who targeted Christians, and work tirelessly to restore religious liberty.”
On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social, demanding that Senate Republicans “blow up (terminate) the filibuster,” and approve “things” including his Save America ACT, adding, “How much abuse can the Republican Senate take from the Radical Left Lunatics.”
On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “pleased to announce” that because he claimed the E.U. is “not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal,” he was raising the tariff on cars and trucks from the E.U. from 15% to 25%.
The head of the European Parliament’s trade committee denied Trump’s accusation, and called his tariff threat “unacceptable,” saying, “This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the U.S. side is,” and adding, “This is no way to treat close partners.”
Later Friday, Trump posted that he was dropping all tariffs on Scottish whiskey “in Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom,” calling it “a wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A.”
On Thursday, House Republicans passed a bill to end the 76-day partial government shutdown. Trump and Democrats did not negotiate or reach an agreement on ICE, but rather the GOP used a budget maneuver to pass the bill, further diminishing Congress’ power of the purse.
On Wednesday, Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth testified before the House. He said, “We took out Iran’s nuclear capabilities last year. This war wasn’t started because they were close to getting nuclear weapons,” contradicting Trump’s stated rationale for the war.
Hegseth was belligerent towards House Democrats, redirecting questions to instead go on the attack, and saying the biggest adversary the U.S. faced was not Iran, but the “feckless and defeatist words” of Democrats and some Republican lawmakers.
CBS News reported although a Pentagon official testified that the cost of the war so far was $25 billion, the true cost of the Iran War was closer to $50 billion, according to U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments.
WAPO reported that Iran strikes had hit far more U.S. military targets in the Middle East than reported by the Pentagon: a Post analysis of satellite imagery found 217 structures and 11 pieces of equipment that were damaged or destroyed at 15 U.S. military sites.
Military analysts said Iran’s strikes were precise, suggesting they had intelligence from Russia, as previously reported. Experts also said that the U.S. military had underestimated Iran’s abilities, been unprepared for drone warfare, and had left some bases under-protected.
On Thursday, in Hegseth’s testimony before the Senate, he claimed that Trump did not have to seek congressional authorization under the Wars Power Resolution at 60 days, claiming the ceasefire reached with Iran paused the clock. Legal scholars of both parties rejected his assertion.
Hegseth also attacked Democrats at the opening of the hearing, saying, “The biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” a theme he repeated throughout the hearing.
Ranking member Sen. Jack Reed said Trump went to war without a “coherent strategy,” and said Hegseth’s claim of success were “dangerously exaggerated,” and his rhetoric “counterproductive, adding he was concerned he was telling Trump “what he wanted to hear.”
Hegseth dismissed concerns and dodged questions about his firing 90% of the office that worked to reduce civilian casualties in combat. Asked about the strike that hit a girl’s elementary school in Iran, Hegseth would only say that it remained under investigation.
Similar to Hegseth’s behavior the day prior, he acted aggressively and combatively to Democrats’ questions, frequently repeating canned phrases rather than answer questions. GOP Chair Sen. Roger Wicker intervened to tell Hegseth to answer questions from his colleagues.
The Guardian reported that Hegseth is increasingly isolated within the Pentagon, and surrounded by a small coterie of close friends and relatives, including his brother and his wife who at times accompanied him to official meetings. The Pentagon was said to be in “disarray.”
Most of the day-to-day work of running the military is overseen by deputy Defense Sec. Steve Feinberg, while Hegseth focused more on issues of importance to him, including creating an ideologically pure armed forces, using Project 2025 as a blueprint.
Purges of senior military commanders has left officers afraid to speak their mind. Former military officials worried the rank-and-file would be afraid to stand up to Trump on orders that are war crimes, and also noted Trump’s fascination with nuclear weapons.
On Thursday, oil prices spiked above $120 a barrel, the highest level in four years, as the Trump regime and Iran hit a stalemate. The price of a gallon of gas hit $4.30, up 27 cents in a week. Trump continued to claim he would wait out Iran and prices would plummet when the war ended.
FT reported that Exxon and Chevron defied calls from the Trump regime to boost oil production in an effort to bring down gas prices, saying they were at full capacity. Chief executives of both companies were among those who met with Trump this week at the White House.
On Thursday, in the Oval Office, Trump castigated the media over their coverage of the Iran War, saying, “If you see CNN, you’d think [Iran’s] winning the war. If you read the New York Times, it’s actually seditious in my opinion.”
Trump also lied that he “settled 8 wars,” claiming “almost in every case they sent letters thanking me and letters to the Nobel Committee.” Trump added, “Maria [Corina Machado] was very nice. She gave me her Nobel Peace Prize because she said she didn’t deserve it.”
Trump also said he might also consider reducing troops in other European countries other than Germany, saying, “Yeah, probably,” adding, “Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Later Thursday, Trump attacked House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries on Truth Social over his insult of the Supreme Court as an “illegitimate court” after the VRA ruling, calling Jeffries a “Low IQ individual.” Ironically, days before, Trump called the court “weak, stupid, and bad.”
Trump also said in his litany of posts, “Anybody running for President or Vice President should be forced to take a Cognitive Examination,” claiming “Barack ‘Hussein’ Obama, or Sleepy Joe Biden” would not get elected, and bragging that he had “ACED IT ALL THREE TIMES.”
WSJ reported that the Pentagon completed deals with eight technology companies to use their AI products in “all lawful scenarios,” including Alphabet; Elon Musk’s SpaceX; Microsoft; Amazon; Larry Ellison’s Oracle; Nvidia and Reflection, as it continued its battle with Anthropic.
Bloomberg reported that the reply rate from American farmers to U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys reached an all-time low in March, with just over a third replying, after farmers cited a lack of trust and said that sharing data is often used against them.
On Friday, Trump baselessly claimed in letters to Congress that he does not need congressional authority to continue military operations in Iran as he hit the 60-day mark, citing the ceasefire. Trump also did not seek a 30-day extension allowed in the War Powers Act.
The letter also cited there had “been no exchange of fire” between U.S. and Iran since April 7, and hostilities “have been terminated.” Hours later in a speech at The Villages, Trump said, “You know we’re in a war,” citing, you “would agree we cannot let lunatics have a nuclear weapon.”
Shortly after, Trump told reporters he was not seeking authorization from Congress, claiming “because it’s never been sought before,” adding, “There’s been numerous, many, many times, and nobody’s ever gotten it before,” referring to getting authorization as “totally unconstitutional.”
Later Friday, Trump attended his first public event since the White House correspondents’ dinner at The Villages. Trump gave a profanity-filled speech at the 94-minute event, in which he aired complaints and grievances, and mocked transgender people.
Trump called a Democrat a “sleazebag” for focusing on affordability ahead of midterms, and said, “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” baselessly claiming, “Grocery prices are way down, used car prices are way down. Look at eggs. Eggs are down by four, even five times.”
Trump mused about taking over Cuba, saying, “Cuba’s got problems. We’ll finish one first,” adding, “On the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big — maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln — the biggest in the world…We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore.”
Trump also repeated his focus on cognitive tests, saying, “I took three cognitive tests. Aced all of them,” adding, “I’m the only president to take a cognitive test. I don’t think Obama could pass it.” He added, “The first question is very easy — it’s a lion, a giraffe, a bear, and a shark.”
Asked to name his favorite moment in U.S. history, Trump evoked a made up story he used in 2024, citing the warning confederate general Robert E. Lee gave his commanders at Gettysburg, praising Lee saying “It was supposed to last one day,” but because of Lee it lasted four years.
Trump said of Iran, that starting the war was “foolish, brave, but it was smart,” and that he would “do it again.” Trump added, “maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all.” Two days later, Trump denied that he had said we’re better off not making a deal.
Trump closed saying the assassination attempt was “good for one thing,” baselessly claiming that “people are loving my ballroom now, that’s the only thing. They love my ballroom,” adding, “It’s going to be the best in the world, although I like the one at Mar-a-Lago very much too.’
Later Friday, starting around 11 p.m. ET, Trump sent 11 Truth Social posts over 41 minutes, including AI-generated images of him shirtless with cabinet members sunbathing at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, and one with his face superimposed on Mount Rushmore.
Trump also posted an image of Jeffries holding a baseball bat, and called Jeffries “low IQ” and a “thug.” He also posted an AI-generated image of himself holding “wild” cards from the game Uno with the caption, “I have all the cards.”
On Saturday, one week after his calls for civility, Trump posted on Truth Social that Democrats were “human garbage” who rigged the 2020 presidential election, singling out “Barack Hussein Obama’s crooked” AG Eric Holder, who left office in 2015, as “treasonous.”
On Saturday, Spirit Airlines said it would wind down operations, after talks with the Trump regime on a $500 million bailout failed. Trump had said on Friday that he wanted to help Spirit employees, but it would have to be a “good deal.” Regime officials blamed the Biden administration.
On Saturday, Trump told reporters he had been briefed on the “concept of the deal” from Iran. The deal called for a complete end to the conflict within 30 days, the U.S. blockade be lifted, sanctions removed, and reparations paid; but the nuclear issue was not mentioned.
Shortly after, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was reviewing the deal, but could not “imagine that it would be acceptable,” saying, “in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”
A WAPO-ABC-Ipsos poll found Trump’s disapproval at 62%, a high for both regimes. The poll also found 44% were cutting back on driving due to higher gas prices, and 42% cut back on household expenses. Two-thirds said the country was headed in the wrong direction.
On Sunday, Trump hosted the PGA Tour at his Doral Resort for the first time in ten years, after being shunned by unnerved sponsors for his racist statements when he first ran for president. Corporations had backed down from criticizing him, and worked to accommodate him.
Throngs of cheering crowds greeted Trump as he arrived on Saturday night, signaling his return. Days before he told reporters, “They’re at my tournament right now, the PGA,” and bragged, “In two weeks, LIV is going to be at my course right here on the Potomac.”
Later Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social that “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States,” the U.S. would “guide” commercial ships that had been stranded in the strait for months, dubbing it “Project Freedom,” while offering no details.
Trump added if there was interference, it would “be dealt with forcefully.” WSJ reported the mechanism was a coordinated effort, involving countries, insurance companies, and shipping organizations, but would not include U.S. Navy warships escorting vessels.
Later Sunday, Trump used the news that Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized to advance his false claims about the 2020 election, posting, “They [the Democrats] cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy.”
Trump also called for Republicans to impeach Jeffries over his Supreme Court comments, again calling him a “Low IQ individual,” and saying, “After saying such a thing, isn’t he subject to Impeachment? I got impeached for A PERFECT PHONE CALL.”
Trump also posted, “We cannot allow there to be an Election that is conducted unconstitutionally simply for the ‘convenience,’” and called on state legislatures to postpone elections to redraw districts, even “If they have to vote twice,” saying the GOP could pick up 20 more seats.
On Monday, the U.S. and Iran launched new attacks, with Iran targeting the U.A.E and several merchant ships with drones and missiles. The U.S. destroyed six small Iranian military boats. Just two of the estimated 1,600 stranded cargo ships passed through the U.S. safe route.
On Monday, at a White House small business summit, Trump mused about running for additional terms, saying about the tax deductions passed by him, “When I get out of office in let’s say 8 or 9 years from now, I’ll be able to use it.”
Trump dismissed Iran’s military capabilities, saying, “I call it a mini war, because that’s all they are,” and despite gas prices surging, baselessly claimed, “Everybody was wrong. They thought that energy would be at $300 a barrel right? It’s like at $100 and I think going down.”
For the third time during the week, Trump mused about cognitive tests, saying no one had taken one “except me,” adding, “I’ve taken three of them,” and “They’re hard. The first question is easy. You have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a squirrel. ‘Which is the squirrel?’”
Shortly after, Trump attacked Fed Chair Powell on Truth Social, posting a meme of Powell falling into a dumpster, and saying, “Too Late’ is a DISASTER for America! Interest Rates too high!” Rates were rising due to the impacts of Trump’s war.
Trump also posted a cartoon of himself with his fist in the air, captioned. “Leaders Lead,” also featuring Joe Biden wearing a Covid-era mask captioned, “Cowards Kneel,” and Barack Obama bowing before Iran’s late Ayatollah Khamenei, captioned, “Traitors Bow.”
On Tuesday, at a limited press briefing, Hegseth said, “the ceasefire is not over,” labeling Project Freedom “a separate, distinct project.” Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine said Iranian attacks on merchant ships and U.S. forces were “below the threshold of restarting major combat.”
On Monday, a federal judge said he found it “extremely disturbing” and was “very troubled” by prison officials placing Cole Allen on suicide watch, saying, “I can tell you I have never had a January 6th defendant who was put in 5-point restraints or a safe cell,” and Cole deserved his “dignity.”
Pirro castigated the judge on X, posting, “Welcome to Washington, DC, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Faruqui believes a defendant armed to the teeth and attempting to assassinate the president is entitled to preferential treatment.”
On Tuesday, Trump sought political retribution by endorsing candidates running against the seven Indiana state legislators who voted against his gerrymandering plan. Five of Trump’s candidates won their primary, demonstrating his continued hold on the Republican base.
On Tuesday, at a ceremony in the Oval Office to revive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, Trump asked the children who were guests, “Barack Hussein Obama. Have you heard of him?” and blamed Obama for phasing out the award.
Trump also railed against transgender athletes when one boy said he planned to take up powerlifting, saying, “You’ll never compete against women in powerlifting?” and continued to his anecdote about an unnamed trans woman who broke an unspecified weightlifting record.
Trump also defended his war in Iran, saying, “Maybe we wouldn’t all be here,” if the U.S. had not intervened. Trump also repeated false claims about the 2020 election, ranting it had been “rigged.” Trump spoke for nearly one hour on a variety of topics, surrounded by the children.
On Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command announced on social media that it had struck another alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three, the second strike in two days. The U.S. had struck 56 boats since September, and had killed at least 190 people.
On Tuesday, the State Department fired 200 experienced U.S. Foreign Service Officers as part of a reduction in force, part of 1,300 layoffs at the agency in the past year. The regime framed the mass layoffs as part of a “historic” reorganization at the agency.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Operation Epic Fury was over, and the regime would focus on Project Freedom, which he described as a “defensive” operation to reopen the Strait, adding as such, Congressional approval was not needed.
Hours later, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was pausing Project Freedom “for a short period of time,” claiming there was “great progress” toward an agreement with Iran. No boats were able to pass through on Tuesday.
Oil prices plunged and stock futures surged overnight after Axios reported that the U.S. and Iran were closing in on a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding to end the war, with details to be worked out later, being negotiated by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Shortly after, in a rambling post on Truth Social, Trump said if Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed,” without offering details, the war would end, but “if they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
Shortly after, a spokesperson for Iran’s parliamentary national security committee pushed back on the Axios reporting, calling the one page memo “more a list of American wishes than a reality,” and warning that Iran was ready to respond.
Gas prices surged to more than $4.50 a gallon, up by 50% since Trump launched the Iran War.
On Wednesday, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, speaking at the Truth Tellers conference, said she was concerned about the network’s editorial independence under ownership of Trump ally David Ellison, saying, “I am concerned . . . as a person, as a journalist.”

President Trump posted a fake image on May 4, 2026 on his Truth Social site showing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell being thrown into a dumpster.