President Donald Trump has authorized the military to take control of lands along the U.S.-Mexico border - leading a top Democrat to accuse him of using it as a tactic to distract from his tariffs rollout.
In a Friday announcement, the president ordered a “phased implementation” to occupy a “limited sector of federal lands” at the U.S.-Mexico border, as chosen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It has been reported that the military will take control of the Roosevelt Reservation that runs along California, Arizona and New Mexico.
The move allows military members to detain migrants crossing illegally in the stretch.
Rep. Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat, wrote on X: “Trump wants to shift the news off his tariff economic disaster, so he’s deploying the military into our own country and targeting immigrants. Insane, an abuse of our military, and true to form.”
U.S. markets ended a turbulent week higher despite the escalating trade war against America’s trading partners that threatens to upend global supply chains. China increased its tariffs on American imports to 125 percent in retaliation for the 145 percent levy on its exports.
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Key Points
- Trump orders military occupation of federal lands at the U.S.-Mexico border
- Trump took cognitive test and says report on his annual physical to be released Sunday
- Wall Street closes out turbulent week higher as Fed says it will keep markets functioning
- China raises levies to 125% on US as Trump trade war escalates
- Supreme Court orders wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to US from El Salvador prison
- Judge allows Trump administration to deport Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil over pro-Palestine activism
Watch: Man with umbrella vs. doorway
13:00
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Oliver O'Connell
As he departed a rainy Washington, D.C., for Florida on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump climbed the steps of Air Force One holding a very large umbrella.
Here’s what happened when he got to the top of the steps to board the plane:
The President and his umbrella attempt to board Air Force One pic.twitter.com/mSJVSQxJWd
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 11, 2025
In Numbers: What do Trump’s 145% tariffs on China mean and who will be affected?
12:30
With China and the U.S. lashing out in an escalating trade war, Alicja Hagopian and Millie Cooke look at which industries might be hardest hit...
Law firm Susman Godfrey sues U.S. government after being targeted by Trump
11:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Law firm Susman Godfrey is suing the U.S. government after being targeted by President Donald Trump in an executive order.
The firm is representing Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation case against Newsmax.
The complaint reads in part:
In America we have, in the words of John Adams, a government of laws and not men. President Trump’s campaign of Executive Orders against law firms and others, including the Executive Order he signed on April 9, 2025 against Susman Godfrey, is a grave threat to this foundational premise of our Republic. The President is abusing the powers of his office to wield the might of the Executive Branch in retaliation against organizations and people that he dislikes. Nothing in our Constitution or laws grants a President such power; to the contrary, the specific provisions and overall design of our Constitution were adopted in large measure to ensure that presidents cannot exercise arbitrary, absolute power in the way that the President seeks to do in these Executive Orders.
Unless the Judiciary acts with resolve—now—to repudiate this blatantly unconstitutional Executive Order and the others like it, a dangerous and perhaps irreversible precedent will be set. Whatever opinions one may hold about President Trump, or about Susman Godfrey’s litigation on behalf of its clients, someday a different president with an entirely different set of policy priorities and personal grievances will sit behind the Resolute Desk. That future president may genuinely believe that an entirely different set of organizations or people have “engage[d] in activities detrimental to critical American interests,” to quote the accusation President Trump has leveled at Susman Godfrey. If President Trump’s Executive Orders are allowed to stand, future presidents will face no constraint when they seek to retaliate against a different set of perceived foes. What for two centuries has been beyond the pale will become the new normal.
Put simply, this could be any of us.
Here’s Justin Baragona with the background on the case:
Trump replaces Obama’s White House portrait with painting of his own assassination attempt
10:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Visitors to the White House on Friday were greeted with a new addition to the executive mansion’s art collection — a painting depicting the now-iconic photograph of President Donald Trump raising his fist just moments after a bullet grazed his ear in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.
White House staff installed the painting just outside the East Room, in the main foyer of the White House, at a location traditionally reserved for a painting depicting the most recent president to have his official portrait unveiled.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.
Trump’s approval ratings take a beating amid the trade war
09:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
President Donald Trump had perhaps one the biggest setbacks for his agenda this week. After a whipsaw performance in overnight markets on Tuesday evening, Trump blinked and announced a 90-day pause on his “reciprocal tariffs.”
Trump himself admitted this came after markets got “a little queasy.” It also came after JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, arguably the most respected executive on Wall Street, warned that a recession was likely. It turns out that even as the Republican Congress and the courts largely stand by, one thing that can grind Trump to a halt: the bond market, which went haywire on Tuesday evening.
Read more:
Will the bond market bring down Donald Trump like it did Liz Truss?
08:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Alicja Hagopian writes:
US bond markets erupted on Wednesday as panicked investors scrambled to cash them in in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs and the trade war that followed.
The yield, or interest rate, for US government 30-year bonds spiked - a possible indicator of economic downturn - forcing the US president to perform a dramatic U-turn that saw him announce a temporary pause on tariffs for all countries but China.
“The bond market is very tricky, I was watching it. But yeah, I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy,” said Mr Trump as he laid out a 90-day pause on retaliatory levies.
The humiliating backtrack has striking similarities with Liz Truss’s rapid downfall as prime minister - also prompted by the bond market response to her disastrous mini-budget.
Here The Independent looks at the financial turmoil caused by both and what it might mean for Mr Trump's future in the White House.
BlackRock CEO thinks we might already be in a recession
07:30
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Oliver O'Connell
As the stock market turbulence prompts fears that the U.S. could soon be in a recession, an investment management firm executive believes we’re already there.
President Donald Trump’s back-and-forth approach to his tariff policy — announcing an across-the-board tax one week and then pausing it the next — has caused the markets to go wild.
Kelly Rissman reports on comments made by Blackrock’s Larry Fink.
After he pulled the plug on tariffs, Trump brags in Oval Office that his billionaire pals made a killing
06:30
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Oliver O'Connell
In a video clip circulating social media, President Donald Trump gleefully recounted how much money his billionaire pals made on the stock market after he suddenly suspended most of his worldwide tariffs.
Mary Papenfuss has the story.
Why Trump’s tariff pause has not stopped the risk of global recession
05:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Rachel Clun reports:
Economic experts have told The Independent the risk of a global recession remains despite the 90-day delay in Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff increases.
Trump made an abrupt U-turn on Wednesday when he announced the three-month pause to all affected countries bar China, following economic meltdown and widespread backlash.
But Pau S Pujolas, who wrote a study that was cited by the Trump administration to justify the tariff hikes, says the president’s “recklessness” means it may be too little, too late.
Read on...
Wall Street Journal says Trump is ‘making it up as he goes,’ hurting US and allies
05:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal flamed Donald Trump in yet another critical editorial, this time accusing him of “making it up as he goes,” with his tariff decisions hurting the United States and its allies.
“You almost have to smile” when the president claims the shuddering economy is “all going according to plan,” scoffed the editorial Thursday.
The “reality is that Mr. Trump is making it up as he goes, and it would help if he had an actual strategy to deal with China.,” the newspaper added.
Mary Papenfuss reports.
Taiwan holds first tariff talks with United States
04:49
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Reuters
Taiwanese officials held their first tariff talks with U.S. officials on Friday, the island's government said on Saturday.
The two sides exchanged views on a video conference on reciprocal tariffs between Taiwan and the United States, non-tariff barriers to trade, and a number of other economic and trade issues, including export controls, Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations said in a statement.
Citing Trump, DOJ ends wastewater agreement in Black majority Alabama county
04:30
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Oliver O'Connell
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it is ending a settlement agreement regarding wastewater problems in a rural Alabama county where most residents are Black, closing an environmental justice probe launched by the Biden administration.
Justice Department officials said they were ending the agreement reached with the state regarding wastewater issues in Lowndes County. Federal officials said the decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order forbidding federal agencies from pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Read on...
Trump took cognitive test in annual physical. He says full report coming Sunday
04:00
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday evening that as part of his annual physical, he took a cognitive test.
“I got every answer right,” he announced.
Read on...
Press secretary claims 15 offers on table after 75 countries reached out for trade deals
03:40
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Oliver O'Connell
In an appearance on Fox News this evening, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that not only is the first Trump trade deal close to being finished but also “more than 15 offers are on the table” from other countries out of the supposed 75 that have reached out to the administration.
“I'm told that deal number 1 is close to being finished, is that true?” asked Sean Hannity.
Leavitt replied: “It is a true. We believe there could be several deals very soon. More than 75 countries have reached out to the administration, more than 15 offers are on the table. And the president’s trade team and the president himself are working very hard to negotiate tailor-made trade deals with every country that has reached out.”
Hannity: I'm told that deal number 1 is close to being finished, is that true?
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Leavitt: It is a true. We believe there could be several deals very soon. More than 75 countries have reached out to the administration, more than 15 offers are on the table. And the president trade… pic.twitter.com/tgQ5EMTYoa
She continued: “No other president has had the courage to fully use the leverage of the United States of America. Not just our economic might but our military and national security might as well.”
The White House has refused to provide any list of countries looking to negotiate new trade terms with the U.S., as Gustaf Kilander reports.
Judge rules Trump admin can't cut Maine school lunch money over trans athlete policy
03:30
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Oliver O'Connell
A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot cut off Maine's federal school lunch funding due to the state's refusal to ban transgender women from sports.
U.S. District Judge John Woodcock Jr. did not weigh in on the dispute over Maine's transgender athlete policies but determined that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to follow proper legal procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act when it froze the grant money used for state nutrition programs.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, whose office filed a lawsuit seeking to block the freeze, said in a statement that the ruling by the judge in Portland, Maine, confirms that the Trump administration did not follow the law when it “cut program funds that go to feed school children and vulnerable adults.”
The dispute stems from President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender women from participating in women's sports at schools receiving federal funding.
Report: Binance seeks to loosen U.S. oversight during deal talks with Trump's crypto company
03:29
,
Oliver O'Connell
Binance executives met with U.S. Treasury Department officials last month to discuss reducing government oversight of the company while exploring a deal with President Donald Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, according to an exclusive report byThe Wall Street Journal.
Executives from the cryptocurrency exchange sought Treasury officials' assistance in removing a U.S. monitor that oversees its compliance with anti-money laundering laws, as reported by the Journal, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
Additionally, Binance has been negotiating to list a new dollar-pegged cryptocurrency from World Liberty Financial, the report said.
At the meeting, Binance CEO Richard Teng and Chief Legal Officer Eleanor Hughes asked for the removal of monitorship or reduction of its duration and scope, the Journal said.
'Today it is our firm under attack, but tomorrow it could be any of us'
03:10
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Oliver O'Connell
Law firm Susman Godfrey released the following statement after filing a complaint against the U.S. government for being targeted by President Donald Trump: “The executive order targeting Susman Godfrey is unconstitutional and retaliatory. No administration should be allowed to punish lawyers for simply doing their jobs, protecting Americans and their constitutional right to the legal process.”
The statement continues: “Today it is our firm under attack, but tomorrow it could be any of us. As officers of the court, we are duty-bound to take on this fight against illegal executive order.”
Here’s Justin Baragona with the background to the complaint filed by the firm:
Could Trump's tariffs slow emissions?
03:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs have stirred widespread anxiety about a severe economic downturn -- and curiosity, for some, about how it might affect the world’s warming climate.
Experts say a slowdown in international trade might have a brief and slight benefit in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which come in part from fuels like gas and oil that are used to move goods around the world via ships, planes and vehicles. But any such benefit in reducing emissions, which cause climate change, will be swamped by sharply rising costs worldwide that will hurt efforts to transition to green energies.
Read on...
Texas Democrat says Trump trying to move on from tariffs disaster with military deployment
02:48
,
Oliver O'Connell
Reacting to the news that Donald Trump has authorized the military to occupy and take jurisdiction over public land along the southern border, Rep. Greg Casar has accused the president of wanting to change the dominant story of the week — that of the tariffs debacle.
In a presidential memorandum released on Friday evening, Trump says it will be a “phased implementation” that begins on a “limited sector of federal lands” chosen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it can be expanded at any time.
Casar, a Texas Democrat, wrote on X: “Trump wants to shift the news off his tariff economic disaster, so he’s deploying the military into our own country and targeting immigrants.”
He added: “Insane, an abuse of our military, and true to form.”
Trump wants to shift the news off his tariff economic disaster, so he’s deploying the military into our own country and targeting immigrants.
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) April 12, 2025
Insane, an abuse of our military, and true to form. https://t.co/9HmxFNdUxe
Watch: Trump says dollar will alway be 'currency of choice' and 'will go way up'
02:40
The U.S. dollar has lost 3.5% of its value versus the euro in the past seven days.
Trump: We’re always going to be the currency of choice as long as you have somebody smart.. When people understand what we’re doing, I think the dollar will go way up. It’s going to be stronger than ever pic.twitter.com/QSQC9VHCFO
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Trump says he would follow Supreme Court order to return wrongfully deported Maryland man
02:20
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One regarding a court order to return to the U.S. a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador: “If the Supreme Court said bring somebody back, I would do that. I respect the Supreme Court.”
Trump: If the Supreme Court says bring somebody back, I would do that pic.twitter.com/lNY8Rpz6h3
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Awkwardly, his administration’s lawyers today refused a court order for updates on the status of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Here’s what you need to know about the case, courtesy of Alex Woodward:
Why were Homeland Security agents at two LA public schools?
02:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Principals denied access to two Los Angeles public schools this week to Homeland Security officers.
The AP reports on what happened and the reasoning the Department of Homeland Security gave.
D.C. Circuit partially blocks order to stop dismantling of CFPB
01:45
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Oliver O'Connell
As the U.S. teeters on the brink of a possible recession, the D.C. Circuit Court has partially blocked a lower court order aimed at preventing the dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Large swathes of the lower court’s order remain in place, including the requirement that the CFPB maintain a physical office and retain records.
JUST IN: The DC Circuit has partially blocked a lower court order aimed at preventing the dismantling of the CFPB.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 12, 2025
Large swathes remain in place, including requirement that CFPB maintain a physical office and retain records.
The 8 parts of the original order are on the right: pic.twitter.com/yeOOffDrH5
Trump fields questions from reporters on flight to Palm Beach
01:35
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Oliver O'Connell
During the flight down to Palm Beach, President Donald Trump fielded questions from the pool reporters joining him on Air Force One.
Asked about the court order to return a wrongfully deported Maryland man from El Salvador:
“If the Supreme Court said bring somebody back I would do that. I respect the Supreme Court... I have great respect for the Supreme Court.”
On tariff negotiations, President Trump said his administration is talking to “a lot of countries.”
“We're in a very good position.”
On relating with China specifically amid the trade war, he said he’s always gotten along with President Xi.
“I think something positive is going to come out of it.”
Asked about the dollar:
“We’re the currency of choice. We’re always going to be…I think the dollar is tremendous.”
On the bond market:
“The bond market’s going good. It had a little moment, but I solved that problem very quickly.”
Asked to what extent the bond market contributed to his adjusted tariff stance, he suggested it didn't. Asked what did, he said:
“I want to put the country in an unbelievable economic position. Which is where we should be.”
On Iran talks this weekend:
“I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
And finally, asked who he thought would win the Masters golf tournament, currently underway at Augusta, the president said:
“They’re all friends of mine,” and predicted a good finish.
Coverage of the Masters played on TVs in the press cabin during the flight.
Trump orders military occupation of federal lands at the U.S.-Mexico border
01:28
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has authorized the military to occupy and take jurisdiction over public land along the southern border.
In a presidential memorandum released on Friday evening, Trump says it will be a “phased implementation” that begins on a “limited sector of federal lands” chosen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it can be expanded at any time.
Trump says it will be a "phased implementation" that begins on a "limited sector of federal lands" picked by Hegseth but can be expanded at any time. pic.twitter.com/ZhbZuu4Qo6
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 11, 2025
Watch: Trump says the bond market is 'going good'
01:23
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Oliver O'Connell
“I am very good at that stuff,” the president claimed.
Trump: The bond market is going good. It had a little moment but I solved that problem very quickly. I am very good at that stuff pic.twitter.com/VPaUoQrLqf
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Trump then denied the bond market had played a role in his decision to pause tariffs.
Reporter: How concerned were you about that bond market and to what extent did that play a role?
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Trump: A lot of people say it was that. Nah
Reporter: What was it?
Trump: I want to put the country in an unbelievable economic position pic.twitter.com/TM8eVu8WLe
Per CNBC:
The bond market screamed at President Donald Trump this week to change course on his tariff plans before he eventually listened and potentially avoided a catastrophe.
Trump’s stunning pivot Wednesday followed massive tumult in the $140 trillion global bond market and particularly in the $47 trillion portion involving U.S. fixed income.
As speculation grew that the ominous surge in Treasury yields was about to create a domino effect of problems for financial markets, the president capitulated. That led to a breathtaking fury on Wall Street, with major stock market averages staging a historic rally and bond yields coming off their highs.
But with equities plunging again Thursday, questions remain over market stability, as the course ahead is anything but certain, particularly considering the chaotic events of the past week or so.
Here’s Alicja Hagopian taking a look at whether the bond market might bring down Trump as it did UK PM Liz Truss:
Kevin O'Leary says we're in 'economic war' with China and calls for 400% tariffs
01:15
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Oliver O'Connell
Businessman and Shark Tank panelist Kevin O’Leary has emerged as one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters in his trade war against China.
In an appearance on CNN this evening, he called for 400% tariffs on China to force President Xi Jinping to the negotiating table — and not just regarding trade.
O’Leary: Let’s go in with 400% tariffs, shut down all trade until Xi comes to the table and not just on tariffs. That’s not enough, I need access to litigation there… I’m not ok with it because I’m an investor… We’re in an economic war with them pic.twitter.com/rHA9JXxBR7
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 11, 2025
He reiterated the point, saying it was a “game of chicken” between the two nations, claiming that millions of workers might rise up against Xi if they lose their factory jobs if the U.S. stops buying Chinese goods, with no market to replace it.
O’Leary: Let’s go now! 400% tomorrow morning to absolutely lock down zero trade pic.twitter.com/sNuXk4avpu
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 11, 2025
O’Leary went on to say that the U.S. is not in a recession — no matter what others say.
O’Leary: We’re not in a recession. The market corrected by over twenty percent. That happens all the time. pic.twitter.com/iykpI3Uom5
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 11, 2025
Watch: Trump tells reporters he took a cognitive test during physical
01:09
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump on physical exam: I took a cognitive test. pic.twitter.com/1VZ7Oa00Sr
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 12, 2025
Trump appears to be pulling out of G20 meeting
Saturday 12 April 2025 00:58
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump does not sound like he will attend the next G20 meeting in South Africa.
He wrote on Truth Social from Air Force One:
How could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 Meeting when Land Confiscation and Genocide is the primary topic of conversation? They are taking the land of white Farmers, and then killing them and their families. The Media refuses to report on this. The United States has held back all contributions to South Africa. Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so!
Trump says report on his annual physical to be released Sunday
Saturday 12 April 2025 00:56
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to a weekend in Palm Beach this evening.
Overall, I felt I was in very good shape. Good heart. A good soul. Very good soul. I took — I wanted to be a little different than Biden. I took a cognitive test. I don’t know what to tell you other than I got every answer right.
President Donald Trump
Asked about his annual physical, which he underwent at Walter Reed this afternoon, he said he took: “Every test you can imagine.”
The president added: “I think I did well.”
He said the report would be released Sunday, that today’s tests included a cognitive test, and that he passed every question.
Trump, speaking to reporters on the flight to Palm Beach, discussed the physical exam he took today.
“Every test you can imagine” and “I think I did well,” he said, adding the report will be released Sunday. He said it included a cognitive test & said he passed every question. pic.t
