Donald Trump launched yet another attack on the media, threatening to sue those that use anonymous sourcing or off-the-record quotes, from people he claims do not exist. The president suggested he would even create “some NICE NEW LAW!!!”
The Trump administration's first cabinet meeting will take place at 11 a.m. today and will include Elon Musk, who is not a cabinet member. Over the weekend, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caused chaos by emailing all federal workers, asking them to justify their jobs or risk losing them.
Many agency heads instructed their staff to ignore the email. Seemingly to make sure everyone was on the same page ahead of the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social: “ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON. The Media will see that at the Cabinet Meeting this morning!!!”
The president has also invited controversy by posting a bizarre AI video on Truth Social imagining post-war Gaza as a dystopian luxury beach resort, the clip featuring Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gold statues and raining cash.
Donald Trump has announced a plan to sell American citizenship to “high-level” wealthy foreigners who create U.S. jobs via $5m “gold cards”, quipping that Russian oligarchs would use the program.
Key Points
- Trump threatens writers who use anonymous sourcing with legal action and possible new laws
- Donald Trump to sell citizenship via $5m ‘gold cards’ to wealthy foreigners who create jobs
- President's bruised hand sparks health speculation
- Trump posts bizarre AI video imagining post-war Gaza as dystopian luxury beach resort
- DOGE staffers resign in protest at Musk’s push to ‘dismantle critical public services’
- Mike Johnson delivers win for Trump as House narrowly passes GOP budget framework calling for steep cuts
White House says Cabinet secretaries take direction from DOGE
14:54
,
Oliver O'Connell
Speaking to reporters this morning about Elon Musk's attendance at the first Cabinet meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Elon is working with the Cabinet secretaries and their staff every single day to identify waste, fraud, and abuse at these respective agencies.”
She added: “All of the Cabinet secretaries take the advice and direction of DOGE.”
Senate Judiciary committee to hear from two controversial Trump picks
14:47
,
Alex Woodward
There are confirmation hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee for John Sauer and Harmeet Dhillon today.
Sauer, Trump’s pick for solicitor general, argued for his immunity in front of appeals court judges and the Supreme Court. He notably did not deny that the kind of immunity he demanded included a shield of criminal liability for a president who orders the assassination of his rivals.
Dhillon, Trump’s pick for assistant attorney general for civil rights, is an election conspiracy theorist whose firm backed attention-grabbing lawsuits on behalf of right-wing activists against gender-affirming care, as well as school policies and state and local laws designed to protect LGBT+ people.
Trump threatens writers who use anonymous sourcing with legal action and possible new laws
14:38
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has threatened to sue writers who use anonymous sources or off-the-record quotes in books and in the media in general, claiming they are made up and the people often do not exist.
The president even suggested creating a “NICE NEW LAW” to stop the practice, which would likely immediately run into First Amendment court challenges.
Here’s what he wrote on Truth Social this morning:
As a President who is being given credit for having the Best Opening Month of any President in history, quite naturally, here come the Fake books and stories with the so-called “anonymous,” or “off the record,” quotes. At some point I am going to sue some of these dishonest authors and book publishers, or even media in general, to find out whether or not these “anonymous sources” even exist, which they largely do not. They are made up, defamatory fiction, and a big price should be paid for this blatant dishonesty. I’ll do it as a service to our Country. Who knows, maybe we will create some NICE NEW LAW!!!
Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director. Then Trump picked a loyalist
14:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
The new FBI Director reportedly privately agreed with an FBI agent advocacy group to install an active special agent to serve as deputy director – only to then have Trump choose an inexperienced and controversial loyalist instead.
Ariana Baio reports.
Trump insists all cabinet members are 'EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON'
14:13
,
Oliver O'Connell
As Donald Trump prepares to hold his first cabinet meeting today, with Elon Musk, a non-cabinet member, in attendance, the president wants to ensure everyone is on message.
This follows the chaos and confusion caused by Musk’s email to federal workers over the weekend, which many agency heads had to tell their staff to ignore.
Here’s what Trump wrote on Truth Social a few moments ago:
ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON. The Media will see that at the Cabinet Meeting this morning!!!
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 26, 2025
Donald Trump Truth Social Post 08:03 AM EST 02/26/25
Trump says Ukraine started the war with Russia. His top man in the Senate disagrees
14:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s Eric Garcia on John Thune and his disagreement with the U.S. decision to vote against the United Nations resolution on the war in Ukraine earlier this week, a position that puts him at odds with the president’s recent comments on the conflict.
Who is Amy Gleason, the person named DOGE’s acting leader by the White House?
13:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
The acting administrator of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, reluctantly named by the White House yesterday, turns out to be a low-profile executive who has a background in healthcare technology and worked in the first Trump administration.
Here’s what we know about her.
Trump cheers Johnson’s budget proposal
13:46
,
Joe Sommerlad
He’s still at it, this time applauding the speaker for last night’s events in the House.
Big First Step Win for Speaker Mike Johnson, and AMERICA. Now let's start to BALANCE THE BUDGET. IT CAN BE DONE!!! DJT
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Trump administration sued over crackdown on school diversity programs
13:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
A legal challenge has been filed against a Trump administration directive that gave schools and universities two weeks to eliminate any “race-based” practices or risk losing federal funding.
The lawsuit, brought in Maryland by the American Federation of Teachers union and the American Sociological Association, alleges that the Education Department's memo, issued on February 14, violates the First and Fifth Amendments.
The plaintiffs argue that the memo forces schools to only teach views supported by the federal government, which infringes on free speech.
They also claim the directive is too vague, leaving schools uncertain about which practices would be considered in violation.
Trump begins day with stream-of-consciousness posting session
13:13
,
Joe Sommerlad
The president follows last night's bizarro Gaza video by returning to Truth Social to post pretty much whatever’s on his mind.
We find him praising Elon Musk, Mark Levin, Tom Homan and America’s dockworkers but attacking Michael Wolff, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board and Apple.
Here they are in order for your consideration:
I thought it would be appropriate to take out my thank you TRUTH to Elon Musk after our (ALL OF US!) big Election Win. Nothing has changed. Run Elon, Run! DJT https://t.co/GwhBJNplS6
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
I don't understand The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, never have. They come to my aid when I least expect it, sometimes strongly, and I greatly appreciate that — Very meaningful! But then they come out with some real CLINKERS, like today's Editorial that my Auto Tariffs…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
As a President who is being given credit for having the Best Opening Month of any President in history, quite naturally, here come the Fake books and stories with the so-called "anonymous," or "off the record," quotes. At some point I am going to sue some of these dishonest…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Mark Levin's last two shows, Saturday and Sunday, were incredible, a MUST SEE. I think we're going to have to open a beautiful MUSEUM to honor the words and wisdom of "The Great One," Mark Levin!!!
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Congratulations to the U.S. Dockworkers on your great new deal. Also, thank you for your overwhelming support in the Presidential Election. Slowing down automation, just a little bit, is an OK thing to do!!! DJT
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
AMERICA LOVES TOM HOMAN!!!
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM. DEI WAS A HOAX THAT HAS BEEN VERY BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. DEI IS GONE!!!
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Nearly 6,000 veterans have lost jobs in Musk purge, Democrats say
12:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement yesterday saying that the Trump administration had fired nearly 6,000 veterans since it began gutting federal agencies.
“Our veterans make significant sacrifices in service of our country, but those sacrifices do not seem to matter to President Trump and unchecked billionaire Elon Musk,” DeLauro wrote.
“They are an essential part of our federal workforce, bringing their expertise to every single agency.
“Republicans are turning their back on them, allowing Musk to fire at least 6,000 veterans and leave them with no way to feed their families or keep a roof over their heads.”
Graig Graziosi reports.
Analysis: Trump’s agenda passed its first hurdle. Now comes the hard part
12:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
House Speaker Mike Johnson twists enough arms, writes Eric Garcia, but, despite his legislative victory yesterday, the internal disputes between House and Senate Republicans remain.
DOGE deletes five biggest cuts from error-riddled ‘wall of receipts’
12:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
The errors deleted included major accounting blunders, incorrect assumptions and outdated data; some contracts closed and claimed as savings by DOGE actually ended during the Biden administration, the newspaper noted.
Musk demands judges be impeached after administration suffers trio of defeats in court
11:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
Following those court defeats we heard about a little earlier, the DOGE boss lashed out on X and once again called for the judges responsible to be impeached.
The world’s richest man voiced his frustration with America’s centuries-old system of checks and balances.
“The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges. No one is above the law, including judges,” he huffed.
“That is what it took to fix El Salvador. Same applies to America.”
It is the only way https://t.co/HN34xilqPW
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2025
Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.
White House defends treatment of migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay: ‘It’s a promise the president campaigned on’
11:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
Leavitt was also pressed yesterday on The Washington Post’s reporting that deported migrants who were held at the American naval base in Cuba had suffered inhumane treatment.
Here’s Andrew Feinberg on her answer.
Musk will attend the first Trump cabinet meeting, White House says
11:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
The billionaire is not a cabinet secretary but will nevertheless be making an appearance at the president’s first official cabinet meeting on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed yesterday.
She said that Musk would be there because he is working “alongside the president, our cabinet secretaries” and the “entire administration” and would offer an update “about DOGE’s efforts and how all of the cabinet secretaries are identifying waste, fraud and abuse at their respective agencies.”
Rhian Lubin has more.
Fox News correspondent slams Trump administration for new press access rules that ‘gives power to the White House’
10:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
Fox reporter Jacqui Heinrich condemned the White House on Tuesday after it announced that it was seizing power from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and would now handpick news outlets that will be allowed to participate in the presidential press pool.
“This move does not give the power back to the people – it gives power to the White House. The WHCA is democratically elected by the full-time White House press corps,” Heinrich, who is a board member of the WHCA, tweeted.
“WHCA has determined pools for decades because only representatives FROM our outlets can determine resources all those outlets have – such as staffing – in order to get the President's message out to the largest possible audience, no matter the day or hour.”
Justin Baragona reports.
Trump loses in court three times in 90 minutes
10:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
The administration was dealt three major setbacks in three separate courtrooms on Tuesday as the president’s agenda faces an avalanche of legal challenges.
Federal judges in Washington, D.C., and Seattle ordered the administration to restart hundreds of millions of dollars in payments for foreign aid, blocked the administration from freezing federal grants and loans and temporarily struck down the president’s executive order suspending refugee admissions.
The decisions were issued within 90 minutes of one another.
In D.C., Joe Biden-appointed District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a preliminary injunction that blocks the administration’s “ill-conceived” freeze on federal grants and loans.
Here’s Alex Woodward with the whole story.
Ukraine and U.S. agree to terms of rare earth minerals deal
10:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
In case you missed this one, Kyiv and Washington have agreed to the terms of a rare earth minerals deal after days of tension between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine is ready to sign the agreement on jointly developing its mineral deposits, including oil and gas, after the U.S. dropped demands to the rights of up to $500bn in revenue from the resources, according to sources close to negotiations.
Trump last week demanded preferential access to the $500bn figure as repayment for Washington’s military support for Ukraine under his predecessor Joe Biden.
Zelensky rejected the proposal as “not serious”, saying there was no factual basis for claiming the U.S. was owed that money, as well as the deal providing Ukraine with no security guarantees.
Alexander Butler has this report.
Mike Johnson delivers win for Trump as House narrowly passes GOP budget framework calling for steep cuts
09:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
House Republicans narrowly passed a budget proposal late on Tuesday to implement Trump’s agenda moments after deciding to pull the vote due to apparent GOP holdouts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson could only afford one Republican defector, given the razor-thin margin in the chamber, but Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie was the only one of the four holdouts who ultimately voted against the measure.
Here’s John Bowden on Johnson squeaking through in a chaotic session.
Trump to sell citizenship via $5m ‘gold cards’ to wealthy foreigners who create jobs
09:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
The president announced a new path to U.S. citizenship yesterday: a pricey gold card.
The U.S. is going to “sell” gold cards for $5 million, Trump announced in the Oval Office.
“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that's going to give you [permanent resident] Green Card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship,” the president said.
He branded it as “somewhat like a Green Card, but at a higher level of sophistication.”
“Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” Trump continued.
“They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people. And we think it's going to be extremely successful and never been done before.”
Asked who exactly would be eligible for the scheme, the president joked: “Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.
“They are not as wealthy as they used to be; I think they can afford $5 million.”
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick clarified the Trump administration plans to terminate a somewhat similar EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and “replace it with the Trump gold card.”
Kelly Rissman has more.
Trump posts bizarre AI video imagining Gaza as dystopian luxury beach resort featuring Musk, Netanyahu, gold statues and raining money
09:20
,
Joe Sommerlad
This simply has to be seen to be believed:
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Elsewhere, the president was dishing out Republican family updates in the style of one of those obnoxious Christmas letters people insist on sending out:
Congratulations to Coach Tommy Tuberville and family on the birth of a very special and beautiful granddaughter, Rosie Grace Tuberville. Tommy was a Great Coach, is a spectacular Senator, loves our Country, and deserves everything he gets. Congratulations to the entire Tuberville…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Our Great Senator from North Dakota, Senator Kevin Cramer, just recently slipped on ice, and hit his head, causing quite an injury. He is now resting comfortably, but went through a lot. His wonderful wife, Kris, is with him, and I'm sure he will be fine, but it was a close call!…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 26, 2025
Earlier, he was offering his thoughts on the untapped potential of U.S. copper and the allegedly poor treatment of American tech companies by Europe.
Like our Steel and Aluminum Industries, our Great American Copper Industry has been decimated by global actors attacking our domestic production. To build back our Copper Industry, I have requested my Secretary of Commerce and USTR to study Copper Imports, and end Unfair Trade…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 25, 2025
Our incredible United States Economy and undeniable American Spirit have enabled the creation of the Greatest Technology Companies on Earth. Our Digital Economy is bigger than most of the World's Countries, and the market cap of even one of our Companies exceeds each European…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 25, 2025
Here’s James Liddell on one of the loopiest videos Trump has ever posted – and that is truly saying something.
DOGE staffers resign in protest at Musk’s push to ‘dismantle critical public services’
09:05
,
Joe Sommerlad
As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to hack and slash at the federal government, 20 of its staff resigned on Tuesday, saying in a joint letter they refused to use their skills to “dismantle critical public services.”
They warned that many of those enlisted by Musk are political ideologues who do not have the necessary skills or experience for the task ahead of them, suggesting the chaos we have seen so far is only likely to get worse.
Large bruises on Trump's hand spark health speculation
08:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump has inspired concern after large bruises were noticed on the back of his right hand when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House earlier this week.
The White House has attempted to downplay the injury as the result of his having to shake hands with so many people every day.
Kelly Rissman has more.
Nearly 6,000 veterans have lost jobs in Musk purge, Democrats say
08:00
,
Kelly Rissman
Donald Trump, in concert with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, have reportedly fired nearly 6,000 veterans this year.
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Ranking Member Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the Trump administration had fired nearly 6,000 veterans since it began gutting federal agencies.
“Our veterans make significant sacrifices in service of our country, but those sacrifices do not seem to matter to President Trump and unchecked billionaire Elon Musk,” DeLauro wrote. "They are an essential part of our federal workforce, bringing their expertise to every single agency. Republicans are turning their back on them, allowing Musk to fire at least 6,000 veterans and leave them with no way to feed their families or keep a roof over their heads."
Graig Graziosi has the story.
WATCH: White House announces new merch drop with 'Trump was right about everything' hats
07:00
,
Kelly Rissman
Trump suspends security clearances for lawyers who assisted Jack Smith in his investigations into Trump
06:00
,
Kelly Rissman
President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend security clearances for lawyers at Covington & Burling LLP who “assisted former Special Counsel Jack Smith during his time as Special Counsel, pending a review and determination of their roles and responsibilities, if any, in the weaponization of the judicial process,” a Tuesday memo states.
He also directed the AG to “terminate any engagement of Covington & Burling LLP by any agency to the maximum extent permitted by law.”
Ukraine’s rare earth minerals: Where are they and why does Trump want them?
05:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ukraine has agreed to a rare earth minerals deal with the US in a bid to secure support to end the war after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands.
As a central point of peace negotiations, the US had been pushing for a deal that would grant it half of Ukraine’s revenues from critical minerals, oil, gas, and stakes in key infrastructure, such as ports, through a joint investment fund.
Tom Watling and Maroosha Muzaffar report.
Full story: Ukraine and US agree to minerals deal ahead of Zelensky Washington visit
04:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
The US and Ukraine have agreed to terms of a rare earth minerals deal after days of tension between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kyiv is ready to sign the agreement on jointly developing Ukraine’s mineral deposits, including oil and gas, after the US dropped demands to a right of up to $500bn in revenue from the resources, according to sources close to negotiations.
Mr Trump last week demanded preferential access to the $500bn figure as repayment for Washington’s military support for Ukraine under his predecessor Joe Biden.
Alexander Butler reports.
GOP budget plans could see student loan repayments could increase by $200
03:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Some student loan borrowers could see their payment plans increase by an average of $200 under new Republican budget plans.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are set to vote on a massive budget resolution this week that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in cuts to several federal programs, including Medicaid and student loans.
Some advocates say the resolution could have an outsized impact on some of the 42 million Americans with student loan debt, driving their payments up.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
White House defends treatment of migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay
02:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
The White House is responding to reports that deported migrants who were detained at the American naval base at Guantanamo Bay received inhumane treatment by citing the deportees’ alleged criminal records without denying that harsh methods were used against them.
During a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about reporting in the Washington Post that describes conditions at the U.S. base’s detention facility.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Mike Johnson wins over holdouts as House passes budget proposal
01:39
,