Democratic lawmakers are accusing President Donald Trump of capitalizing on America’s 250th anniversary by misleading donors to giving money to Freedom 250, the administration-backed group, rather than America250, the congressionally created organization to support celebratory efforts.
“Donald Trump hijacked what was supposed to be a unifying, non-political celebration of our country's 250th birthday and made it all about him,” Democrats on the House Natural Resources team said in a report released Thursday.
The report does not identify the donors but says they were given routing and account numbers that directed funds to Freedom 250, rather than America250.
“His vanity projects, his political and religious agenda, his business ventures, and his cronies who gorged on public funds under cover of shadow corporation shielded form public scrutiny,” the lawmakers added.
Freedom 250, the public-private partnership, has sponsored events in D.C. such as Great American State Fair and the UFC cage fight on the White House lawn – both of which has been subject to scrutiny.
Read MoreTrump delivers MAGA its very own Fyre Festival — the ‘Great American State Fair’
Ex-Olympian who touched Reflecting Pool charged with felony destruction of property by Trump’s DOJ
Tucker Carlson and MTG both looking at a new third-party after split from GOP
Key Points
- Donors were misled into giving to Trump-backed group instead of bipartisan America 250 team: report
- Donald Trump calls for gas price drop for Fourth of July weekend
- Hegseth honors members of National Guard in DC to the sound of protesters
- President ‘livid’ over crowd size at National Mall state fair
- US economy added 57,000 jobs in June – underperforming expectations
MAGA Florida firebrand Anna Paulina Luna calls out ‘very disrespectful’ Senate Leader
21:00 , Eric GarciaRight-wing MAGA firebrand Anna Paulina Luna blasted Senate Majority Leader John Thune for not passing the SAVE America Act, President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority.
The House adjourned on Tuesday this week after a vote to set up debate for the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets policy for the Pentagon, failed to pass in a 198-224 defeat.
Luna, a staunch Trump booster from Florida, and other Republicans joined Democrats because they said the rule vote was insufficient. Republicans in the Senate, led by Thune, have said they do not have the requisite 60 votes to pass the legislation. But Luna would not have it.
“THUNE is VERY disrespectful,” Luna began.
Ex-Olympian's attorneys says his client is 'innocent'
20:41 , Ariana Baio, Alex WoodwardAttorneys for Davey Hearn, the former Olympian charged with destroying property for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
“Davey Hearn is innocent. These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” Hearn’s counsel said.
“On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative. The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”
The attorneys include Norm Eisen, co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund and Mary Dohrmann, Senior Counsel at Washington Litigation Group.
Ex-Olympian who touched Reflecting Pool charged with felony destruction of property by Trump’s DOJ
20:13 , Alex WoodwardA former Olympic athlete has been charged with destruction of property after he was arrested for reaching into the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
David Hearn, a two-time whitewater racing world champion who competed in the canoe slalom at three Olympic Games, was indicted Thursday in D.C. Superior Court on one felony charge, according to court records.
Hearn has repeatedly denied vandalizing the monument, which has been plagued by algae blooms with the recently applied “American flag blue” sealant peeling from the basin.
Read more from Alex Woodward here:
Ex-Olympian who touched Reflecting Pool charged with felony destruction of property
BREAKING: Justice Department charges former Olympian with felony destruction of property at Reflecting Pool
20:04 , Ariana BaioDavid Hearn, the former Olympian accused of vandilizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, was charged with destroying property in Washington, D.C.
“Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure, and that is the reflecting pool,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, said in a press conference,
Pirro claimed National Park Service employees witnessed Hearn “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands.”
Trump leaves fewer than half of Democrats ‘proud’ to be an American, stunning new poll finds
19:30 , John BowdenA new poll finds that Democrats are by far the least likely group of Americans to say they feel pride over their country.
Read more from John Bowden:
Trump leaves fewer than half of Democrats ‘proud’ to be an American, new poll finds
Trump declares it National Scallops Day
19:15 , Ariana BaioOn Truth Social, President Trump declared Thursday “National Scallops Day” for opening the Northern Edge of the Georges Bank to scallop fishing.
“Today I am declaring a National Scallops Day to celebrate an action taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that will open up the Northern Edge of Georges Bank to Scallops Fishing, fulfilling the dream to our Great Fishermen who were so badly treated by the Obama and Biden Administrations, and by the Country of Canada,” Trump wrote.
Trump then encouraged fishermen to vote for him.
“ GO OUT AND VOTE REPUBLICAN IN THE MIDTERMS, BECAUSE IF THE COMMUNISTS GET IN, YOU’LL NEVER FISH AGAIN!"
Donors were misled into giving to Trump-backed group instead of bipartisan America 250 team: report
18:30 , Joe SommerladSome philanthropists seeking to support America’s 250th anniversary celebrations were misled into paying out their donations to a partisan initiative backed by the White House, House Democrats have alleged.
The donors had meant to contribute to America250, a congressionally chartered board founded a decade ago. But instead, they were given routing and account numbers that directed funds to Freedom 250, President Trump’s own organizing effort established last December, according to Democrats from the House Natural Resources Committee.
The lawmakers made their claims in a new report published Thursday in which they declined to name the donors or whistleblowers they interviewed as part of their investigation.
However, they have said their report exposes some of the strategies employed by Trump officials to turn a bipartisan celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States into a lucrative opportunity for the president’s allies.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. The president has busily promoted Freedom 250 events in his public remarks but rarely mentioned America250.
Trump turns DC into a maze of fences as his monument upgrades take over America 250 celebrations
18:00 , Eric GarciaAhead of the United States celebrating the 250th anniversary of its independence from Great Britain, President Donald Trump has turned Washington, D.C. into a labyrinth of fenced-off areas amid his myriad construction projects, a new report highlights.
Read more from Eric Garcia:
Trump turns DC into a maze as construction projects take over America 250 celebration
Watch: Trump prescribes Diet Coke to treat Trump Derangement Syndrome in bizarre video
17:30 , Independent VideoTrump staff deleted social media photos of small crowds at his State Fair rally: report
17:00 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Donald Trump became so upset over photos showing less-than-enthusiastic turnout at his Great American State Fair kickoff speech that White House staff scrambled to delete the images from social media after he melted down at them.
The president was “livid” over an aerial image of his MAGA rally-style remarks to mark the opening of the shambolic event last week, which NBC News later reported as having drawn “nowhere near” the 45,000-strong crowd he boasted about on Truth Social, CNN reported.
The network reported that his angry reaction prompted his own staff to scrub photos of the small crowds from official and personal social media channels in a vain attempt to memory-hole the poor turnout.
OpenAI reportedly in talks to give 5% stake to US government
16:30 , Ariana BaioOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is allegedly in talks with the Trump administration to give the U.S. government a 5 percent stake in the company, according to the Financial Times.
In addition to OpenAI, other U.S. AI companies would give the government a similar stake, two people familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times.
The percentage is worth approximately $42.6 billion, CNN estimated.
If true, the deal would mimic similar ones the Trump administration has brokered with private companies, including Intel and IBM.
Watch: Hegseth rages at 'ingrates' as Trump officials struggle to be heard over protesters in DC National Guard ceremony
16:07 , Independent VideoTrump’s state fair melts under heat as ACs stop working forcing some exhibits to close
15:49 , Rhian LubinAir conditioning units reportedly failed at some exhibits at President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., as temperatures hit a sweltering 100 degrees.
It is the latest setback for Trump’s fair, a weeks-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday on the National Mall, amid lackluster crowds and musicians dropping out of performances.
In a segment from the fair, CNN’s Tom Foreman reported Wednesday that the event had suffered “intermittent power problems” and air conditioning units at some exhibits had failed. The fair suffered a similar power outage the day after its official opening last Thursday, causing frozen desserts to melt.
“You can’t expose yourself to this for very long,” Foreman warned viewers amid the searing heat. “They’ve lost AC today, so much that the workers there simply left their stations and said, ‘Fend for yourself,’” Foreman claimed.
Images showed one reveler standing in a pile of ice, while others were pictured walking around the fair with wet towels to their faces in an effort to keep cool.
'Trump Accounts' for children to launch July 4
15:38 , Ariana BaioThe government is set to launch tax-deferred investment accounts for any eligible American children starting July 4.
The accounts will benefit children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, each of whom will receive $1,000 from the federal government.
Several major business leaders and companies have donated millions toward setting up the accounts, including Michael and Susan Dell, Micron, Nicki Minaj, Bank of America and more.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed the accounts as a “major change in philanthropy and for American working families” and “the merging of President Trump's agenda of parallel prosperity, Main Street meets Wall Street.”
To qualify, a baby needs a Social Security number. Parents and others may contribute up to $5,000 per year until the child turns 18 years old.
Hegseth honors members of National Guard in DC to the sound of protesters
15:00 , Ariana BaioProtesters played sirens, honked horns and chanted as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recognized members of the National Guard that the Trump administration deployed to Washington, D.C., over the last year to crack down on crime and beautify the nation’s capital.
The disruptive sounds played over Hegseth, Attorney General Todd Blanche and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as they gave remarks.
Referring to the protesters as “ingrates,” the defense secretary said people were “blinded by ideology” and couldn’t see the “common sense” reason for having National Guard members in D.C.
Analysis: Trump delivers MAGA its very own Fyre Festival – the Great American State Fair
14:45 , Joe SommerladHolly Baxter reports on a flop of an event where you can have your fill of $23 turkey legs and dance with a crowd of four people to a Temu version of Beyonce’s greatest hits in celebration of an America gone awry.
The ‘Great American State Fair’ is a hilariously bad, Fyre Festival-style flop
US economy added 57,000 jobs in June – underperforming expectations
14:15 , Ariana BaioThe U.S.’s June jobs report revealed lower-than-expected results, with approximately 57,000 jobs added to the economy, according to data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Economists told the Wall Street Journal, it had expected to see more than 110,000 jobs added to the economy in June. Last June, the U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs.
While the jobs report underwhelmed, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent – down from 4.3 percent in May.
See inside Trump’s new $400m Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar
13:45 , Joe SommerladTrump flew out to North Dakota in the plane that caused such controversy last year, making its maiden flight as Air Force One.
Josh Marcus has this look inside.
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See inside Trump’s new $400m Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar
Trump was paid over $10 million by Amazon for Melania documentary
13:15 , Joe SommerladThe president received a licensing fee of $10.71 million for Amazon MGM’s documentary Melania, according to his own financial disclosures.
It had previously been reported that Amazon paid around $40m for the Brett Ratner film, including $28m directly to the first lady, its star and subject.
Amazon MGM went on to spend another $35 million to market the film, which made back about $16.6 million at the box office prior to becoming available to stream on Prime Video.
Kevin EG Perry reports.
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Trump was paid over $10 million by Amazon for Melania documentary
Watch: Trump denies ‘profiting off presidency’ after financial disclosures reveal he made over $1B from crypto
12:45 , Joe SommerladThis was the president’s response yesterday when asked about this week’s revelations about his ballooning personal wealth.
Trump ‘livid’ over low crowd sizes at Great American State Fair, report says
12:15 , Joe SommerladThe president has insisted that his opening speech to the fair was seen by at least 45,000 people and that the subsequent festival has been “packed” with visitors, despite myriad video and photo evidence to the contrary.
A live music performance earlier this week went viral when it appeared to have just five people watching, with more musicians on stage than spectators.
Behind the scenes, however, he is reportedly enraged by the sparse crowds on the National Mall.
Brendan Rascius has more.
Trump ‘livid’ over crowd sizes at State Fair on National Mall report says
Watch: Trump gets Rough Riders escort to new presidential library
11:45 , Joe SommerladTrump arrived in North Dakota in the $400 million luxury jet gifted to the U.S. by Qatar, rode a “Freedom 250 train” and was then escorted in his motorcade to the Roosevelt library by a troop of Rough Riders in tribute to the 26th president’s cavalary connections.
Trump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’
11:15 , Joe SommerladIn one of the stranger moments from the president’s trip to North Dakota yesterday, Trump found himself talking to an AI version of the 26th president, who died in 1919.
“Would you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” Trump asked the reanimated Roosevelt in a video shared by his communications advisor, Margo Martin, on X.
President Trump asks AI President Roosevelt…“Do you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” pic.twitter.com/zvfDCL2sKS
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 1, 2026
“The canal stands as one of my proudest battles,” Roosevelt answered robotically from behind a replica of his desk.
“It isn’t always the biggest or boldest job that matters most,” he cautioned.
The AI president added sagely that he measured his “greatest work by the lives improved.”
Here’s more from Rachel Dobkin.
Trump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’
Trump again misses out on USA World Cup victory
10:45 , Joe SommerladAs we’ve seen, the president was in North Dakota yesterday, causing him to again miss out on Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s impressive tournament run.
They beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in San Francisco Tuesday with goals from Florian Balogun and Malik Tillman setting up a last-16 tie with Belgium, the triumph somewhat marred by a sending off for Balogun that means he will miss Monday’s crucial knock-out game in Seattle.
Trump is expected to attend the World Cup Final and be involved in the trophy presentation but might have been expected to show his support for the team before now given that the U.S. is a host nation.
Here’s Kieran Jackson’s match report.
US pass Bosnia World Cup test – but at what cost? Balogun red leaves sour taste
Ex-CIA director sues Trump and administration officials over investigations targeting him
10:15 , Joe SommerladObama-era intelligence chief John Brennan filed a lawsuit against the 47th president and his administration Wednesday, seeking a court order to compel officials to preserve records from investigations he claims are targeting him over “phantom criminal conduct.”
Brennan argues these records are crucial for a defense against vindictive prosecution should he face future indictment.
His legal team points to over 100 public statements made by Trump since 2017 lambasting Brennan and the Republican’s directives to the Department of Justice to pursue cases “without regard to factual or legal justification.”
Here’s more.
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Ex-CIA Director Brennan sues Trump and admin officials over investigation records
American national pride at a 25-year low, poll finds
09:45 , Joe SommerladAs President Donald Trump prepares to headline the “America 250” celebrations this Fourth of July weekend, a new poll has found that national pride among U.S. citizens is at a 25-year low.
The Gallup survey found that while 33 percent of people were “extremely proud” to be an American and 20 percent “very proud” but the rest of respondents were only “moderately proud” (22 percent), “only a little proud” (15 percent) or “not at all proud” (9 percent).
When the polling company first posed the question in 2001, 55 percent of Americans expressed “extreme” pride, with the figure surging to 70 percent by 2004 in the aftermath of 9/11 when the nation came together after the attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda.
National sentiment cooled somewhat thereafter but remained at a majority until 2017, the year Trump first entered the White House.
However, since 2018, no more than 47 percent of U.S. adults have been prepared to describe themselves as “extremely proud” of their country.
Gallup’s latest polling was conducted between June 1 and 15 and the new figure represents an eight percentage point decline year-on-year.
‘Doctor Trump’ posts spoof video of celebrities discussing their diagnosis with ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’
09:15 , Joe SommerladAlso on Truth Social, the president has posted a jokey AI video of himself as a doctor promoting a cure for TDS, which he has insisted is a real ailment, featuring “testimonials” from the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Ed Norton, Robert De Niro and Julia Roberts saying how the condition made them miserable and unpopular.
Trump-as-medic suggests turning off the “fake news” media, praying and drinking Diet Coke as the best cure.
Here’s the clip courtesy of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino:
An important message from Dr. Trump regarding Trump Derangement Syndrome🤯 pic.twitter.com/Hc80OSrr50
— Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) June 30, 2026
Here’s more from Owen Scott.
Trump posts AI video as a doctor diagnosing celebrities with derangement syndrome
Trump again pressures gas stations to lower their prices and boosts one chain’s ‘Freedom Fuel’ promotion
08:46 , Joe SommerladOn Truth Social overnight, the president has again called on fuel retailers to bring down the price of gas now that the U.S. “excursion” into Iran is over and shipping traffic has resumed along the Strait of Hormuz:
“Just as I promised, Oil Prices are plummeting FAST, and Gas Prices at the pump are dropping too, but not as fast as they should be. As we approach America’s 250th Birthday, I am pleased to announce that a VERY smart Retailer, located throughout the Northeast, is stepping up, and wishing the People of Philadelphia a ‘Happy Birthday!’ On July 3rd, the Freedom Fuel Network will be lowering gas prices at 25 ‘FREEDOM FUEL’ Stations across the Greater Philadelphia Area. This Retailer is taking the lead, and others should follow. They are doing this because they love the U.S.A. We are proud to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Birthplace of our very special, one-of-a-kind Declaration of Independence, and where I won BIG in the Presidential Election! America has never been stronger than it is now, and Gas Prices will soon be back to the Record Low Prices Americans enjoyed at the pump before our very successful ‘excursion’ in Iran. Happy Birthday America!”
Megyn Kelly admits she ‘can’t stand’ the Trump family’s ‘grifty’ moves
08:00 , Katie HawkinsonRight-wing commentator Megyn Kelly admitted she “can’t stand” the Trump family’s “grifty” moves in a recent interview.
Kelly, a long-time supporter of President Donald Trump, told Sky News Australia she’s “disappointed with some aspects” of his administration during an interview Wednesday.
Her comments come just days after new financial disclosures revealed the president earned at least $2.2 billion last year, with more than $1 billion coming from cryptocurrency ventures alone. That includes more than $500 million in earnings from World Liberty Financial, the crypto firm Trump co-founded alongside his sons.
Read on...
Megyn Kelly admits she ‘can’t stand’ the Trump family’s ‘grifty’ moves
Trump's communications director boasts about 'historic' Air Force One trip
07:00 , Rachel DobkinSteven Cheung, White House communications director, has boasted about his “historic trip” on the new Air Force One plane gifted to the US by Qatar.
A historic trip today. Very rarely does an Administration get to unveil a new Air Force One, a symbol of American strength and power across the world. Only President Trump could have made this a reality. pic.twitter.com/Xi54HkBDe9
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) July 2, 2026
Canadians feel renewed sense of patriotism after Trump tariffs and 51st state threats
06:00 , Rachel DobkinCanadians are feeling a renewed sense of patriotism after President Donald Trump threatened to make their country the 51st state and slapped tariffs on their exports.
Those in Canada reported significantly higher levels of national pride than those in several European countries, including the UK and France, in a new Politico poll.
The poll, conducted by Public First, found that 52 percent of Canadians are very proud of their nationality — a stark contrast to public sentiment less than two years ago.
Canada’s Angus Reid Institute reported in December 2024 that the percentage of Canadians who say they are “very proud” of their nationality dropped from 78 percent to 34 percent since 1985.
Read on...
Canadians feel renewed sense of patriotism after Trump tariffs and 51st state threats
Watch: Trump again says he would like to award himself the Medal of Honor
05:00 , Rachel DobkinFull story: DC’s record-breaking fireworks delayed as Trump turns July 4 celebration into another MAGA rally
04:30 , Rachel DobkinA record-breaking firework show in Washington, D.C., will be delayed as President Donald Trump turns the July 4 celebration into a campaign-like rally.
More than 850,000 pyrotechnic effects will be launched over the National Mall that night, according to Freedom 250, the White House-backed, public-private group tasked with organizing celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Not only will it be the biggest July 4 fireworks show in D.C., but the longest. It will last about 40 minutes, about twice as long as usual, according to event organizers.
While the show is bound to be awe-inspiring for those attending the event, D.C. residents with crying babies and scared pets may see it more as headache-inducing — the event is scheduled to start nearly two hours later than usual, thanks to what the president called the “most spectacular” Trump rally.
Read on...
DC’s July 4 fireworks delayed as Trump turns celebration into another MAGA rally
Watch: Trump drops unintentionally risque quip about himself, his sons and military honor
04:00 , Rachel DobkinTrump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’
03:30 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump used his visit to the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota’s Badlands to talk to an AI version of the 20th-century president about his “greatest achievement.”
“Would you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” Trump asked the animated Roosevelt in a video shared by his communications advisor, Margo Martin, on X Wednesday.
“The canal stands as one of my proudest battles,” Roosevelt said. Though he cautioned, “It isn’t always the biggest or boldest job that matters most.”
The AI president said he measures his “greatest work by the lives improved,” mentioning his accomplishments in national park expansion, food and drug safety and his Square Deal domestic policy focused partly on corporate regulation.
Read on...
Trump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’
Karoline Leavitt shares photos of Air Force One inaugural flight
03:00 , Rachel DobkinWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared photos of the inaugural flight of the new Air Force One gifted to the US by Qatar.
What a privilege to be abroad the inaugural flight on the brand new Air Force One! A truly unforgettable day. ✈️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RXr63tauSs
— Karoline Leavitt (@karolineleavitt) July 1, 2026
Watch: Trump lands in Maryland after North Dakota trip
02:30 , Rachel Dobkin.@POTUS has landed at Joint Base Andrews following a big visit to North Dakota for the upcoming opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZSejqaPyBH
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 2, 2026
Trump says he'll make a 'really long speech' on July 4 as temperatures may reach over 100 degrees
02:00 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has said he'll make a “really long speech” on July 4 as temperatures may reach over 100 degrees.
“By the way, on July 4th, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m gonna go and I’m gonna make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything”, Trump said in North Dakota Wednesday.
Trump is set to host a 7 p.m. rally on America’s 250th birthday, delaying Washington’s annual fireworks show by nearly two hours.
Watch: Trump says he's 'getting some ideas' for his own library after North Dakota visit
02:00 , Rachel Dobkin.@POTUS tours the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota with @SecretaryBurgum: "It's been really very inspiring. They've done a fantastic job with the museum." pic.twitter.com/0iqI86Hhpx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026
See inside Trump’s new $400m Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar
01:30 , Josh MarcusPresident Donald Trump and his entourage took flight on Wednesday for the first time in the new, $400 million Air Force One jet given to the U.S. by Qatar. The maiden voyage gave the public its first detailed look inside the jet, which Trump recently called the “world's most luxurious plane.”
Across social media, members of the Trump administration showed off some of the plane’s plush finishes, including pillows branded with the presidential seal, a meeting table trimmed in white grain leather, and decorative touches including framed volumes and images of Washington landmarks on the walls.
Read on...
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See inside Trump’s new $400m Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar
Watch: Trump and Burgum cut ribbon to open Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
01:00 , Rachel Dobkin.@POTUS cuts the ribbon to officially open the Theodore Roosevelt Library in North Dakota for the first time! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/S9xa0PyjDn
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 1, 2026
Trump was paid over $10 million by Amazon for Melania documentary
Thursday 2 July 2026 00:30 , Kevin E G PerryPresident Donald Trump received a licensing fee of $10.71 million for Amazon MGM’s Melania documentary, according to his own financial disclosures.
It had previously been reported that Amazon paid around $40m for the Brett Ratner film, including $28m directly to the First Lady.
Amazon MGM went on to spend another $35 million to market the film, which made back about $16.6 million at the box office prior to becoming available to stream on Prime Video.
Read on...
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Trump was paid over $10 million by Amazon for Melania documentary
In pictures: Trump visits Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
Thursday 2 July 2026 00:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Watch: Trump departs North Dakota on his Qatar-gifted plane
Wednesday 1 July 2026 23:30 , Rachel DobkinPresident @realDonaldTrump departs North Dakota to Washington, DC 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/F5dQDDurTT
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 1, 2026
Trump ‘livid’ over crowd size at National Mall state fair, report says: ‘Who thought this was a good idea?’
Wednesday 1 July 2026 23:00 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump grew “livid” over the crowd size at his kickoff event for the Great American State Fair, a weeks-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday on the National Mall, according to a new report. And White House officials now fear a lackluster turnout could overshadow his Fourth of July speech.
The Republican president opened the fair — organized by Freedom 250 — on June 24 with remarks put together after several musical acts dropped out. During his roughly 30-minute address, attended by administration officials and Trump supporters outfitted in MAGA-branded outfits, he claimed America was “back” and “respected by everybody.”
Brendan Rascius reports...
Trump ‘livid’ over crowd sizes at State Fair on National Mall report says
