House Republicans narrowly passed a budget proposal to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda moments after deciding to pull the vote due to apparent GOP holdouts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson could only afford one GOP defector, given the razor-thin margin in the chamber. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was the only one of the four holdouts who ended up ultimately voting against the measure, as Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson, Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett voted in support of it.
The tight vote came after the House leadership initially scrapped a vote on the measure, only to reverse that decision minutes later, calling back lawmakers to the House floor.
Hours earlier, Trump announced that the U.S. is going to start to “sell” a new path to citizenship called “gold cards” — for a price of $5 million. He branded them 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,” he 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.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration plans to end the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and “replace it with the Trump gold card.”
Key Points
- Chaos reigns as Elon Musk issues ominous new firing ultimatum to federal workers
- Dozens of federal tech workers resign to protest Musk and DOGE’s push to ‘dismantle critical public services’
- 230K Canadians demand country revoke Musk’s citizenship
- Who’s really in charge of DOGE? Government lawyers ‘don’t know’
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
,
Kelly Rissman
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to adopt a budget framework supported by GOP leadership and President Donald Trump on Tuesday, allowing Speaker Mike Johnson to hold on to his image as a unifiying voice among Republicans in the chamber.
Johnson and Rep Jodey Arrington, the House GOP’s lead appropriator, were able to win over several key holdouts within the Republican Party who felt that the plan did not do enough to cut federal spending. Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against the legislation after several others fell back into line.
Leadership initially abandoned plans to call a vote on the bill Tuesday evening, then dragged lawmakers back to the floor more than an hour after the bill was originally scheduled to be taken up. It was then defeated by a vote of 217 to 215.
John Bowden has the story.
GOP narrowly pass budget bill
01:22
,
Kelly Rissman
Reps. Tim Burchett, Victoria Spartz, and Warren Davidson, three of the four GOP holdouts ahead of the vote, ended up voting in favor of the measure, leaving Rep. Thomas Massie the lone opposing vote in his party.
Johnson could only afford one GOP defection, as all Democrats voted in opposition.
The vote is back on
01:09
,
Kelly Rissman
Moments after the House leadership pulled a vote on the budget proposal, telling lawmakers to go home, they called them back and held a vote.
So far, there is one GOP no-vote. Johnson could only afford one GOP defection, since Democrats all planned to oppose it.
US imposes more sanctions on Iranian oil trade
01:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
The U.S. on Monday imposed sanctions on dozens of people and oil tankers across China, the United Arab Emirates, India and other jurisdictions for allegedly helping to finance Iran and its support for militant groups that launch attacks against the U.S. and its allies.
Read on...
WATCH: Trump claims $5m 'gold card' will bring in 'very high-level people' to United States
00:22
,
Kelly Rissman
Questions swirl after Trump is pictured with large bruises on his hands
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:58
,
Kelly Rissman
Questions have been raised over President Donald Trump’s wellbeing after what looked like a bruise was spotted on the back of his right hand.
Zoomed-in photos of the 78-year-old’s clasped hands during a Monday meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron revealed what appeared to be a makeup-covered bruise.
"President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Independent in a statement.
But others on X speculated about what could have caused the bruising.
Some X users attributed the markings to an IV, others believed he could be on blood thinning medications, and others still thought it could just be from aging.
Read the full story.
Acting IRS Commissioner to retire at end of week
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:53
,
Kelly Rissman
The acting head of the IRS announced his abrupt plans to retire Friday after 38 years at the agency.
“The IRS has been my professional home for 38 years,” Doug O’Donnell said in a statement. “I care deeply about the institution and its people and am confident that Melanie will be an outstanding steward of the Service until a new Commissioner is confirmed.”
IRS Chief Operating Officer Melanie Krause will become the acting commissioner, the agency said.
“On behalf of the Treasury Department, I want to thank Doug O’Donnell for his decades of public service and dedication to the nation’s taxpayers,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “He has been a remarkable public servant, and I wish him the best in retirement. At the same time, Melanie Krause and the agency’s leadership team are well positioned to serve during this critical period for the nation in advance of the April tax deadline.”
Trump says Ukraine started the war with Russia. His top man in the Senate disagrees
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:30
,
Kelly Rissman
The top Republican in the U.S. Senate broke with the Trump administration on the question of who started the war in Ukraine.
On Monday, the United States voted against a resolution backed by 93 nations that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. In doing so, the U.S. found itself on the same side as Russia, North Korea and Belarus. Previously, Donald Trump has said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is responsible for starting the war.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he was not sure why the U.S. voted the way it did at the United Nations.
Eric Garcia has the story.
House Republicans discuss budget bill ahead of key vote
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:23
,
Eric Garcia
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer tells The Independent’s Eric Garcia that “this is important for the House so that the House can actually be in the driver’s seat.”
House Majority Leader Scalise says “on a vote like this, you’re always going to have people you’re talking to all the way through to the close the vote.” On Trump’s role in the matter, Scalise added: “I don’t get into his individual conversations but he’s been tremendously helpful.”
Full story: Trump to auction off citizenship via his ‘gold cards’ for $5 million for foreigners to create jobs
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump announced a new path to U.S. citizenship: a gold card.
The U.S. is going to be “selling” gold cards for a price of $5 million, Trump said in the Oval Office Tuesday.
“We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that's going to give you Green Card privileges, plus it's going to be a route to citizenship,” the president said.
Kelly Rissman has the details.
Congressional DOGE Caucus suggests fired veterans can find new jobs
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:50
,
AP
Members of the Congressional DOGE Caucus spoke at a press conference outside the Capitol about how they are working in Congress to enshrine the changes spearheaded by Trump and Elon Musk.
When asked about federal employees who had been fired, Rep. Ralph Norman said, “Why are they not pleading their case?”
The South Carolina Republican said the fired employees needed to justify why they deserve a job with an average salary that tops $100,000.
And veterans? “Our heart aches,” for anyone who loses their job, said Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., the caucus co-chair.
“There are other opportunities, and if anybody can overcome obstacles getting another job, it’s veterans,” Bean said.
As the lawmakers took turns at the podium, a small group of protesters and passersby interrupted, yelling insults about DOGE and Musk.
Pastor with ties to Pete Hegseth claimed slavery promoted ‘affection between the races’ in South
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
The pastor of an evangelical church with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth once claimed slavery promoted “affection between the races” in the South.
Doug Wilson, founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), wrote in his 1996 book Southern Slavery: As It Was, that there had “never been a multi-racial society which has existed with such mutual intimacy and harmony in the history of the world.”
Mike Bedigan reports.
Musk called Trump 'a f***ing moron' behind his back in 2020, report says
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:19
,
Oliver O'Connell
Politico reports that back in 2020, Elon Musk called President Donald Trump “a fucking moron” behind his back while in the White House.
New: The Trump-Musk Oval Office meet cute you haven’t read about: Back in 2020, Elon called Trump “a fucking moron” behind his back while in the White House.
— Adam Wren (@adamwren) February 25, 2025
Then, in the Oval, he really got under Trump’s skin. pic.twitter.com/gn68nJJxwW
USAID gives staffers 15 minutes to retrieve belongings — no dynamite allowed
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:10
,
AP
Administration officials are giving U.S. Agency for International Development staffers 15 minutes apiece later this week to retrieve belongings from their now-closed headquarters, under guard.
The Associated Press viewed the notices sent Tuesday advising of the arrangements.
Many staffers in the agency’s Washington main building have been barred from entering for about three weeks as the administration dismantles the building. Many have asked permission to retrieve family photos, work shoes stashed in drawers and other belongings.
The notice stipulates the aid workers must pass through security screening. It lists multiple paragraphs of prohibited weapons for the trip back to the office, including firearms, dynamite, spear guns or ice picks.
Watch LIVE: President Donald Trump signs another batch of Executive Orders
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:58
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump wants to sell $5m gold cards to foreigners who will creat U.S. jobs
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:56
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants to begin selling gold cards for $5 million to foreigners who want to move to the U.S. and create jobs.
Trump said the immigration program, which he said was legal, could start in about two weeks. He added it is possible Russian oligarchs could qualify for the gold cards.
"We’re going to be selling a gold card. We're going to be putting a price on that card... and it's going to be giving you green card privileges plus."
He said you would have to pay to qualify for the card, Lutnick said would be $5 million.
"We're going to end the EB5 program. We're going to replace it with the Trump gold card," Lutnick said.
"The gold card will bring in with it people who create jobs... I think companies will pay for people to get in."
"I think it's something very exciting... it's a gold card, it's somewhat like a green card... it's a road to citizenship for people."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said other countries do it, including “your 51st state.”
Trump said the money would be to pay down debt and said he doesn't need Congress to do this because it's not citizenship.
Trump signs order suspending security clearances at law firm linked to Jack Smith
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:53
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump said "Deranged Jack Smith" and signed a new order aimed at Covington and Burling LLP to suspend and review the security clearances of attorneys who worked with Smith.
"Who would like this pen? And why don't you send it to Jack Smith, a deranged person," Trump said, throwing it to a reporter.
BREAKING: President Trump signs an order suspending security clearances for Covington & Burling LLP employees who worked with deranged Jack Smith to weaponize government. pic.twitter.com/fKhCbkNP1j
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2025
"I was targeted... don't talk to me about targeting."
.@POTUS slams a Fake News reporter: "I've been targeted for four years... I was the target of corrupt politicians for four years. Don't talk to me about targeting." pic.twitter.com/tdp5Vj0uhb
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2025
Watch: GOP lawmaker digs in on budget resolution
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:47
,
Oliver O'Connell
GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz digs in, saying she will vote NO on the budget resolution.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 25, 2025
“I don't change my vote if the language doesn't change. And I was very transparent and clear that this is our chance and responsibility to look all of the fraud in mandatory spending.” pic.twitter.com/zYpMqjbzLn
Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director — then Trump got involved...
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly privately agreed with an FBI agent advocacy group to install an active Special Agent to serve as deputy director – only to have President Donald Trump choose an inexperienced and controversial loyalist.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Kyiv and Washington agree minerals deal after US drops demands - report
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:32
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine has agreed a minerals deal with the US after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands, the Financial Times has reported.
Kyiv hopes the agreement will improve relations with the US and Ukrainian officials say they are now ready to sign the agreement.
The US has dropped Donald Trump’s demand for $500 billion in potential revenue from Ukrainian mineral resources.
Ukrainian officials argued to the FT that they had secured favourable terms, in a deal which would see Kyiv and Washington jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral resources, including oil and gas.
Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister who has led the negotiations, told the outlet: “The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”
Amid measles outbreak, Fox News bemoans ‘vaccine confidence at an all-time low’
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
Fox News medical contributor Marc Siegel sounded the alarm on Tuesday that the measles outbreak impacting the southwest United States “is not going to be stopped without the vaccine,” all while lamenting that “vaccine confidence is at an all-time low.”
Siegel suggested that vaccine mandates during the coronavirus had led to lower vaccination rates, while conveniently leaving out his own network’s role in peddling anti-vaccine rhetoric to its conservative viewers that contributed towards plummeting confidence among Republicans.
Justin Baragona has the story.
Trump signs two new executive orders
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:13
,
Oliver O'Connell
The White House pool entered the Oval Office at 3:59pm to see the signing of two new executive order by President Donald Trump.
The president was flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Trump signed an executive order on price transparency requirements in the healthcare industry to reinstate and strengthen them.
“You're not allowed to even talk about it when you go into a hospital or see a doctor and this allows you to talk about it,” Trump said.
He also signed an order on the supply of copper and foreign copper in the American market, the order charges Lutnick with looking at process to potentially impose tariffs or trade barriers.
There will be another announcement to come about the digital economy.
Full story: DOGE administrator’s name finally revealed after White House lawyers and press secretary refused to say
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
After government lawyers were dragged in court for failing to identify who is leading the so-called U.S. DOGE Service while Elon Musk and his team gut federal agencies, and after White House officials refused to publicly provide a name, the White House finally revealed the agency’s acting administrator.
Amy Gleason has been tapped to lead the U.S. DOGE Service, The Independent has learned.
Alex Woodward has the story.
Trump approval rating holds steady at 44%, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:03
,
Reuters
President Donald Trump's approval rating held steady over the past week, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday that found 44% of respondents approved of his performance over his first month in office.
The survey found that Americans' attitudes toward Trump were essentially unchanged as he fired tens of thousands of federal workers and upended the U.S. approach to the Ukraine-Russia war.
The poll found 50% disapproved of the job he was doing, down from 51% last week, a change well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Public approval of Trump's job performance so far has remained higher than it was for most of his 2017-2021 first term in office and higher than his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, enjoyed during his four-year term.
The poll of 1,029 U.S. adults, conducted online Friday through Sunday, also found that 50% of respondents supported Trump's approach on immigration, up from 47% last week. Another 42% said they did not support his immigration policy.
Americans' views on other top issues were relatively unchanged. Some 41% said they approved of Trump's management of the economy and 34% said they approved of the way he was handling the cost of living.
Some 38% of poll respondents said they had a favorable view of Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who is serving as the point person for Trump's effort to overhaul the government, while 57% said they viewed him unfavorably.
Zelensky to visit U.S. on Friday, report says
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:52
,
Oliver O'Connell
Bloomberg is reporting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the U.S. this Friday concerning the resources deal.
President Donald Trump hinted at this possibility Monday, saying: “I will be meeting with President Zelenskiy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice. I'd love to meet him. We'd meet at the Oval Office.”
Trump hinted at this possibility Monday, saying: "I will be meeting with President Zelenskiy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice. I'd love to meet him. We'd meet at the Oval Office."
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) February 25, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles snubbed Trump in 2018. Amid a MAGA meltdown this year they may not get the chance again
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
The Philadelphia Eagles skipped a visit to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory in 2018, choosing to snub then-President Donald Trump.
Snubbing Trump and other public acts of defiance were all the rage during his first term, but things have changed. Now, everyone from billionaire CEOs to Super Bowl champions are reportedly lining up to bend the knee.
According to sports reporting site Outkick, a source at the Eagles said the team "would be honored to visit the White House."
Graig Graziosi reports.
Watch: Johnson says he and Trump working on flipping Republican holdouts to budget resolution
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:39
,
Oliver O'Connell
Speaker Johnson says he and Trump are working on flipping holdouts to push ahead on budget resolution. Johnson meeting with them again later today after long talk on floor. Won’t say for sure if vote is happening tonight.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 25, 2025
Asked him if they’re going to change the budget… pic.twitter.com/Pco4U6iUVo
White House names acting DOGE administrator
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:41
,
Oliver O'Connell
After holding out as to who is the DOGE administrator, the White House has now named Amy Gleason as the acting head of the government department.
NEW: The DOGE *acting* Administrator is Amy Gleason, a White House official tells me.
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) February 25, 2025
Is Musk’s DOGE be turning fired workers Democrat?
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
Elon Musk is turning people Democrat with his mass firings as they rush to join a progressive political group, the organization’s founder has revealed.
Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, said she anticipates that many of those joining the organization, which supports and recruits Democrats under 40 to run for office, will be federal workers fired by Musk and the Trump administration. Litman said that the organization has seen 20,000 new sign-ups since Election Day and 10 percent of those were in the last week.
Rhian Lubin has the story.
'In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps'
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Read the full statement from the White House Correspondents’ Association regarding the press secretary’s announcement that her office will now choose who participates in the pool covering the president.
“This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.
“For generations, the working journalists elected to lead the White House Correspondents' Association board have consistently expanded the WHCA's membership and its pool rotations to facilitate the inclusion of new and emerging outlets.
“Since its founding in 1914, the WHCA has sought to ensure that the reporters, photographers, producers and technicians who actually do the work - 365 days of every year - decide amongst themselves how these rotations are operated, so as to ensure consistent professional standards and fairness in access on behalf of all readers, viewers and listeners.
“To be clear, the White House did not give the WHCA board a heads up or have any discussions about today's announcements. But the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favor.”
— Eugene Daniels, White House Correspondents’ Association president
Watch: White House asked about treatment of Guantanamo detainees
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
Reagan Airport passengers facing long delays after FAA changed rules for when Marine One is in the air
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Passengers are seeing long delays and significant disruptions at Washington’s Reagan National Airport due to new safety restrictions for President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter, according to a new report.
The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed new safety requirements for when the presidential helicopter is in the air following the deadly collision between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines jet over Washington D.C. last month, The Washington Post reports.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
