President Donald Trump is trying to deflect blame as Wall Street fell on news that the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years, in Q1 2025. Trump claimed it was because of the Biden “Overhang” and had nothing to do with the panic over his tariffs and trade war.
During the 2024 campaign, the now-president would take credit for a booming stock market under his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying that it was because of expectations he would win the election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 have had their worst performance in the first 100 days of an administration since 1973.
Answering a question from The Independent at today’s Cabinet meeting, the president even laid the groundwork to blame Biden for next quarter’s economic data.
On Tuesday, during a rally in Michigan that marked his 100th day in office, Trump warned, “nothing will stop me” as he reveled in his use of executive power to reshape the government.
Trump also tussled with ABC News journalist Terry Moran in a heated interview broadcast Tuesday evening, which devolved into the president stating the reporter was “not being very nice.”
Read More
Key points
- Trump defends trying to blame Biden for poor GDP data after repeatedly claiming credit for Democrat’s strong economic numbers
- Trump says Americans ‘signed up' for his trade war with China
- Trump’s ominous warning at Michigan 100-day rally: ‘Nothing will stop me’
- Trump tells ABC interviewer he has ‘never heard of him’ in testy White House exchange
- Trump reveals who he’d like to be next pope: himself
Watch: Trump says kids will have to make do with fewer, more expensive dolls due to tariffs
20:52
,
Mike Bedigan
Senate to vote on bill to rein in Trump tariffs, as economy shrinks for first time in three years
20:41
,
Oliver O'Connell
The Senate was scheduled to vote later on Wednesday on a resolution to block a range of President Donald Trump's tariffs, just hours after the federal government reported that the nation's economy contracted for the first time in three years amid the chaos created by the president's tariff policies.
The measure, introduced by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden as a privileged resolution requiring a vote by the Republican-led chamber, would terminate the national emergency that Trump declared as the basis for 10% global tariffs on U.S. trading partners and higher reciprocal tariffs on 57 trading partners, including the European Union.
At least two Republicans were expected to support the resolution. Just weeks ago, four Senate Republicans joined Democrats to pass a similar bill that aimed to terminate new tariffs on Canada. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority.
"I don't expect a big difference from what we saw last time," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters.
The resolution is co-sponsored by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a vocal critic of Trump's tariff policy. Senator Susan Collins of Maine also indicated that she intends to support the measure.
“It's not perfect. I think it's too broad. But it sends the message that I want to send - that we really need to be far more discriminatory in imposing these tariffs and not treat allies like Canada the way we treat adversaries like China,” Collins told reporters.
With reporting from Reuters
Mexico taking 55 people a day for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after they were booted from U.S.
20:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that her country is taking in an average of 55 foreign nationals every day since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
Just as he did during his first term, Trump has again directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to round up migrants — including those who have been maintaining agreed-upon check-ins with the federal government — and deport them.
Since January 20, the Trump administration has removed 38,757 migrants to Mexico. The majority of those individuals are Mexican nationals, but they aren't the only people Mexico was expecting to care for in the wake of Trump's deportations.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Duffy: ‘People will lose their lives’ unless US adopts new air traffic control system
20:11
,
Oliver O'Connell
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asserted on Wednesday that “people will lose their lives” unless the United States invests in a new air traffic control system.
Duffy raised extreme concerns about the U.S.’s “aging” air traffic control infrastructure during a televized cabinet meeting, after President Donald Trump said he would ask Congress for funding toward the new system.
“If we don’t build a brand new system, there’s going to be failures and people will lose their lives,” Duffy said.
Ariana Baio reports.
Poll: More than half of Americans say Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator'
20:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
A majority of Americans believe that President Donald Trump is a “dangerous dictator,” according to a new poll, with sharp divisions across party lines.
Fifty-two percent of all Americans agree that Trump is a “dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,” according to the survey conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
Gustaf Kilander looks at the numbers.
Trump tariffs: President says children will have to make do with less
19:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Americans should prepare to have less and for it to cost more, when asked about the impact of his tariffs on imports from China.
In response to a question following his Cabinet meeting today, the president said: “They made a trillion dollars with Biden selling us stuff. Much of it we don't need. Somebody said, 'oh, the shelves are gonna be open.' Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more.”
Trump on China: "They made a trillion dollars with Biden selling us stuff. Much of it we don't need. Somebody said, 'oh, the shelves are gonna be open.' Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more." pic.twitter.com/6gVbGQ6oJ2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
AOC swerves questions on 2028 presidential run
19:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has brushed aside speculation that she could be preparing a presidential run in 2028.
With her party still reeling from former vice president Kamala Harris’s defeat last November, the New Yorker has emerged as a leading light of its progressive wing. Recently, she crossed the country with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on a joint “Fighting Oligarchy” speaking tour that has attracted large crowds.
Ocasio-Cortez has also drawn focus by posting a campaign-style video on social media this month, showcasing clips from the tour that some have seen as a hint at her future White House ambitions.
Joe Sommerlad reports on how she responded to questions about her ambitions.
Lutnick says someone asked him for 10 Trump immigration gold cards
19:21
,
Oliver O'Connell
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that a single person requested to buy 10 Trump gold cards.
Engineers connected to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reportedly building a system for the U.S. to sell the special government visas, costing $5 million each.
“We've got so much as I travel around, the attention on the Trump gold card. I mean, it makes me very popular,” said Lutnick.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump tariffs: How your cup of coffee might become more expensive
19:00
,
AP
Inside a rented warehouse corner, Reneé Colón, her purple-and-pink hair swaying, carefully pours Brazilian coffee beans into her aging roaster.
These beans represent more than just a caffeine fix; they are survivors of a severe drought that has impacted global coffee production, doubling raw bean prices in mere months.
And that’s before Donald Trump’s tariffs on coffee-producing countries kick in.
Read on...
Trump: Carney to visit White House soon and talk trade deal
18:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to make a trade deal and will visit the White House within the next week.
Trump said he had congratulated Carney on Monday's election win when the Canadian leader called on Tuesday.
Watch: Bessent says U.S. ready to sign minerals deal this afternoon if Ukraine ready
18:34
,
Oliver O'Connell
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about the future of a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine.
Bessent replied: “Our side is ready to sign. The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes. We're sure that they will reconsider that, and we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are.”
.@SecScottBessent on the minerals deal with Ukraine: "Our side is ready to sign. The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes. We're sure that they will reconsider that and we are ready to sign this afternoon if they are." pic.twitter.com/U4Pp0i0Dzn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 30, 2025
Gretchen Whitmer upsetting her own party appearing with Trump
18:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
While some Democrats have made a concerted effort to distance themselves from Donald Trump, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has repeatedly appeared with the president in recent weeks — ruffling some feathers within her own party.
Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential contender who campaigned for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the 2024 election, has now shared a stage with the Republican president in Michigan weeks after visiting the Oval Office. Some within the battleground state governor’s own party have taken issue with the recent appearances.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Trump asked about taking credit for stock market under Biden but not in his own presidency
18:27
,
Oliver O'Connell
Moving on to the Q&A portion of the Cabinet meeting, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg asked President Trump about taking credit for the stock market under the Biden administration, but distancing himself from current stock market turmoil caused by fear of his tariffs.
“I'm not taking credit or discredit for the stock market. I'm just saying that we inherited a mess...” the president began in response.
great question here from @AndrewFeinberg pic.twitter.com/yNA6isIYAn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
He then went on to suggest that even the next quarter’s economic indicators are because of Biden.
“This is Biden, and you can even say the next quarter is sort of Biden.”
Trump already blaming the next quarter on Biden: This is Biden and you can even say the next quarter is sort of Biden pic.twitter.com/pjUkmR44y0
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
More follows...
Rubio says U.S. actively searching for countries to take deportees — beyond El Salvador
18:21
,
Oliver O'Connell
“This president inherited 30 years of foreign policy that was built around what was good for the world,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio says. “Under President Trump, we're making a foreign policy now that's, was it good for America?”
Rubio says they're “actively” looking for other countries aside from El Salvador to send the most “despicable” people.
“We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries. Not just El Salvador. We are working with other countries to say, ‘We want to send some of the most despicable to your countries. Will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further from the US, the better.”
RubIo: "We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries. Not just El Salvador. We are working with other countries to say, 'We want to send some of the most despicable to your countries. Will you do that as a favor to us?' And the further from… pic.twitter.com/oniYEIcpCL
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
Rubio jokes RFK Jr has made him afraid to eat anything
18:19
,
Oliver O'Connell
“I interact with almost everyone around this table at some level, and because of Secretary Kennedy I'm afraid to eat anything,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio says at today’s Cabinet meeting, to laughter from the room.
RFK Jr touts autism study, claims 'answers' coming by September
18:17
,
Oliver O'Connell
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tells President Donald Trump: “We have launched the autism study at your direction. By September, we will have some of the first answers. Within six months of that, we will have definite answers.”
RFK Jr: "We have launched the autism study at your direction. By September we will have some of the first answers. Within six months of that we will have definite answers." pic.twitter.com/gRBbQR0E8R
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
A prominent right-wing pundit wonders...
18:13
,
Oliver O'Connell
Right-wing author and pundit Ann Coulter wonders: “Would it be possible to have a cabinet meeting without the Kim Jong Il-style tributes?”
Maybe being fed up with each Cabinet member being obligated to heap praise on the president is a bipartisan issue?
Would it be possible to have a cabinet meeting without the Kim Jong il-style tributes?
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 30, 2025
'Education president' takes another jab at Harvard
18:09
,
Oliver O'Connell
Education Secretary Linda McMahon tells President Donald Trump at the ongoing Cabinet meeting: “We're certainly making great strides ... We've reduced the folks over at the Department of Education by about 50 percent now ... there are a lot fewer people working a lot more efficiently in the Department of Education.”
She adds: “I'd like for you to be known as the education president because of the best in practice systems that we want to put in every state to incorporate AI so that we are training these new entrepreneurs and business leaders in our country.”
Trump took the opportunity to launch another attack on Harvard:
Trump: "What's going on with Harvard and some of these colleges that are taking vast amounts of money and really scamming the public and hiring people like de Blasio and Lori Lightfoot, certainly two of the worst mayors in the history of our country, paying them a fortune ... " pic.twitter.com/X0s3P4rzSq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
Watch: Education Sec McMahon says 'I don't think I've ever worked so hard to try to fire myself'
18:06
,
Oliver O'Connell
McMahon: Mr. President, I don't think I've ever worked so hard to try to fire myself.
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
Cabinet: laughs pic.twitter.com/VD29lQ4YUs
Coming up: Joint The Independent's AMA on Trump's immigration crackdown
18:03
,
Alex Woodward
Trump as Pope?: 'Lindsey — get a grip'
18:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump joked about being the next Pope, and Lindsey Graham ran with it, promoting Meghan McCain to tell him to “get a grip.”
Rhian Lubin has the story.
Musk wears two Trump hats, president notes he may want to get back to Tesla
17:53
,
Oliver O'Connell
“I love the double hat,” says President Trump.\
“Let us say I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat has a hat,” replies Musk.
Trump: I love the double hat.
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
Musk: Let us say I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat has a hat pic.twitter.com/9dGjAyzSwz
Trump says, “You're invited to stay as long as you want,” before adding to the Cabinet, “He probably wants to get back to his cars.”
Tesla stock is down more than five percent today.
"At some point he wants to get back home to his cars" -- it certainly sounds like Trump is trying to nudge Elon out the door pic.twitter.com/lmFd39eoe3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
Vance calls out media for not covering jump in military applications...
17:48
,
Oliver O'Connell
...that began under Biden.
Per the Pentagon in October 2024:
The Defense Department's armed services branches recruited 12.5% more people in fiscal year 2024 than in the year prior despite a challenging and disinterested recruiting market.
While speaking at a multiservice panel on 2025 recruiting issues at the Pentagon earlier this week, Director of Military Accession Policy Katie Helland said that the services increased the number of recruits from 200,000 in FY 2023 to 225,000 in FY 2024, which ended September 30.
Additionally, she said, the services had a 35% increase in written contracts, and the active components' delayed entry program started FY 2025 with a 10% larger pool.
Judge says arrests of student activists akin to McCarthyism
17:43
,
Alex Woodward
In Judge Geoffrey Crawford’s order to release Mohsen Mahdawi, he compares the arrests of student activists to McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
The Obama-appointed judge also dismissed the government’s introduction of decade-old allegations that Mahdawi visited a gun shop and mentioned killing Jews. In 2019, the FBI had followed up on those allegations, found them unfounded, and closed the investigation.
His continued detention “would likely have a chilling effect on protected speech” and “would not benefit the public in any way,” the judge wrote.
His release would “benefit the community, which appears to deeply cherish and value him.”
Here’s Mahdawi outside the court earlier:
“To President Trump and his Cabinet: I am not afraid of you.”
— The Recount (@therecount) April 30, 2025
— Palestinian Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi after being freed from ICE custody by a Vermont judge pic.twitter.com/XFexSoXwY9
Bondi claims 258 millions lives saved by fentanyl seizures
17:39
,
Oliver O'Connell
Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration's efforts to seize fentanyl have saved 258 million lives.
The entire population of the U.S. is approximately 340 million.
Bondi also gave, probably by far, the most fawning remarks directed at the president about his first 100 days.
Bondi: Your first 100 days has far exceeded that of any other presidency in this country. Ever. Ever. Never seen anything like it. Thank you pic.twitter.com/YUlAaykwZz
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
Vance describes past presidents as 'place holders'
17:33
,
Oliver O'Connell
At the Cabinet meeting, Vice President JD Vance tells President Donald Trump: “You sit in the oval office and see portraits of presidents past and most of them have been place holders, people who allowed their staff to sign executive orders with an auto pen instead of men of action.”
Vance: you sit in the oval office and see portraits of presidents past and most of them have been place holders, people who allowed their staff to sign executive orders with an auto pen instead of men of action pic.twitter.com/QIRzmo1UNd
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
Attacking the media, Vance claimed that “the most under-reported fact of the first 100 days” is that enlistment numbers are up.
“We now have people breaking down the doors to join our military,” he said.
Continuing to scold the press, the vice president attacks coverage of the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Vance scolding the Press: how much time have you focused on the fact we deported an ms-13 gang member with valid deportation order and why is the press so focused on the fake bs rather than what is going on in the country? pic.twitter.com/hR7cDozYAO
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
Bessent says next 100 days will be 'harvesting' work of first 100
17:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
When it comes to his turn to speak at the Cabinet meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the first 100 days of the Trump administration were “setting the table” for peace, trade, and tax deals.
“The next 100 days will be harvesting,” he says.
Bessent: Sir, it's been a momentous 100 days with you at the helm pic.twitter.com/Hlb0WR5rua
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
New York Times responds to legal threat from Trump
17:25
,
Oliver O'Connell
The New York Times has responded to this morning’s legal threat from President Donald Trump regarding its reporting that described his suit against 60 Minutes as baseless.
A spokesperson for the outlet said: “President Trump's post today follows a long list of legal threats aimed at discouraging or penalizing independent reporting about the administration. The law is clear and protects a strong free press and favors an informed American public. The New York Times will not be deterred by the administration’s intimidation tactics. We will continue to pursue the facts without fear or favor and stand up for journalists’ First Amendment right to ask questions on behalf of the American people.”
New: Statement from New York Times spokesperson
— Natalie Korach (@NatalieKorach) April 30, 2025
"President Trump's post today follows a long list of legal threats aimed at discouraging or penalizing independent reporting about the administration. The law is clear and protects a strong free press and favors an informed… https://t.co/F5Xqbru7Yy
How Democrats are trying to turn MAGA’s ‘flood the zone’ strategy against Trump
17:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
John Bowden writes:
Democrats may have finally learned Steve Bannon’s favorite strategy: “Flood the zone”.
With Donald Trump’s presidency reaching its 100th day and the US president plummeting in approval polling on issues that have historically been his strongest areas with voters, the broader left and a wide coalition of groups are coming together to capitalize on a groundswell of discontent caused by the administration’s slash-and-burn tactics.
Read on...
'Most powerful women in the world' makes rare on-camera comments
17:19
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made rare on-camera comments during today’s Cabinet meeting when called on by the president as “the most powerful woman in the world.”
Wiles: Congratulations to everyone on 100 days.. it’s unparalleled in my memory and best I can tell, ever. pic.twitter.com/B7tyihOtGH
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2025
'Don't p*** down my back and tell me it's raining': Dave Portnoy reacts to Trump blaming Biden for stock market
17:06
,
Oliver O'Connell
What’s that old expression? Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining? Well that applies here. The stock market is a direct reflection of Trumps 1st 100 days in office. Doesn’t mean it won’t get better and that we don’t need to be patient, but this is his market not Bidens pic.twitter.com/GVDCyL8NKH
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 30, 2025
Watch: Duffy says brand new air traffic control system needed
17:04
,
Oliver O'Connell
Duffy: "If we don't build a brand new system, there are going to be failures and people will lose their lives."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
Good luck air travelers! pic.twitter.com/rdD02VtExz
Trump says he could free Abrego Garcia, but won’t — that's not what his cabinet have said
17:01
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday night that he could bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador – contradicting statements from the administration, which asserted it couldn’t do anything to return him.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Watch: Lutnick claims dinner companion wanted 10 Trump gold cards
17:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Lutnick: "The attention on the Trump gold card -- I mean, it makes me very popular. Last night, I was out for dinner and somebody came up and said, 'Can I buy 10?' And I'm like, that's pretty good, that's $50 million for dinner. So it's paying for my dinner." pic.twitter.com/TIaxO2bTDG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
Here’s what you need to know about the Trump gold card:
'Gulf of America' hats for everyone
16:53
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump asks Cabinet for updates, starting with Hegseth
16:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
