All articles tagged with #donald trump
A rain-triggered collapse of the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer ceiling highlights decades of deferred maintenance and strengthens the push by a Trump-aligned board to close for a $250 million renovation, a plan intertwined with plans to inscribe Trump’s name on the facade and to raise funds privately amid court challenges and questions about the center’s future.
A chunk of ceiling fell in the Kennedy Center’s grand foyer during a storm, renewing the Trump-aligned board’s push to close the venue for about two years for a $250 million renovation and to add Trump’s name to the facade, a plan facing legal challenges despite no injuries being reported.
Diesel has surged to a new all-time high (about $5.88 a gallon), fueling GOP worries that fuel and broader inflation tied to Trump’s Iran war could hurt their 2026 midterm prospects. Insiders say candidates can’t distance themselves from the president, while officials like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy frame the spike as driven by global markets (e.g., Russia/Ukraine) rather than domestic policy. The story also notes that higher diesel costs ripple into groceries and overall living costs, adding pressure on voters as campaigns gear up for the election.
The Kennedy Center is preparing for an August board vote to restore and display President Donald J. Trump’s name on its façade as part of renovations; DOJ lawyers say donations for the project would dry up without the naming, while critics warn the move could be a pretext to justify closures, noting recent removal of Joel Shapiro’s Blue sculpture and ongoing activism by Keep the KC.
The Tetris Company says it had no role in creating the White House’s new Build the Wall arcade game and is reviewing potential copyright issues after the game—part of a batch of White House arcade titles—lets players stack blocks to construct a border wall.
First Lady Melania Trump will skip President Trump's two-day midterms convention in Dallas, joining more than 45 GOP lawmakers not attending due to costs or prior commitments, as Trump remains the headline speaker; the event clashes with the NFL season opener and the 9/11 anniversary, and Melania has maintained a notably sparse public schedule this year.
Construction of a 250-foot Great Triumphal Arch on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery is set to begin, with costs estimated up to $250 million from taxpayers and private donors. Critics call it a costly vanity project that would dominate views and obstruct the cemetery, prompting lawsuits over rushed approvals and missing safety reviews; supporters cite historical precedent and say it honors Arlington, while FAA reviews are reportedly still pending. The administration aims to complete it before the current president’s term ends.
Slate’s Surge argues Trump’s MAGA Inc. has about $403 million on hand for the midterms but has yet to unleash it meaningfully; Trump reportedly wants to back self-promotional TV ads and may reserve much of the money for his own purposes, prompting GOP donors to worry the cash won’t flow to key races (notably Texas Senate where Ken Paxton needs help). The piece also notes the Dallas convention and broader GOP dynamics as questions linger about how aggressively Trump will deploy the money.
First Lady Melania Trump will not attend the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, removing one of the party’s most recognizable figures as Trump and other leaders seek to project unity amid weak approval ratings; Trump is expected to speak, while some lawmakers in competitive races will skip, and Melania has maintained a relatively low political profile.
President Trump told New York Magazine that his Washington, DC construction projects, including a planned triumphal arch and a controversial White House ballroom, are meant to create monuments to him, saying 'nobody will' build them after he’s gone. The $400 million ballroom project was allowed to continue by a Supreme Court ruling amid lawsuits. The Kennedy Center’s plan to name parts after Trump remains tied up in court and would require Congressional action before taking effect.
Argentine President Javier Milei overplays President Trump's hints about revisiting the US stance on the Falklands to bolster Argentina's sovereignty claim, while threatening sanctions on the Sea Lion oil project and funding a southern naval base; analysts say a genuine US policy shift is unlikely, but Milei could gain leverage amid a broader UK–US rift over Iran ahead of Argentina's 2027 elections.
Trump signed an executive order urging states to delist gray wolves from federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, effectively allowing ranchers to shoot wolves to protect cattle and address decades of livestock losses.
Argentine President Javier Milei uses a national address to push the Falklands claim and rally support, as Donald Trump signals the US may re-evaluate its position. The shift comes as Milei seeks Washington backing ahead of elections and as oil exploration plans near the Sea Lion field spur urgency, highlighting a potential reshaping of U.S.–UK–Argentina dynamics amid the longstanding dispute.
A federal magistrate judge ordered the DOJ to identify who conceived the $1.8 billion payout fund intended for people claiming unfair probes. The Trump-era plan has since been dropped, and the DOJ is appealing the ruling while related lawsuits continue amid bipartisan backlash in Congress.
First Lady Melania Trump will skip Donald Trump’s two‑day Texas midterm convention, joining a growing number of GOP lawmakers opting out for various reasons, including prior obligations or concerns about the event’s messaging and cost. Trump will still headline the Dallas gathering, which clashes with an NFL season opener and the 9/11 anniversary as at least 45 Republicans stay away and scrutiny over the convention’s impact on the November elections persists.