Key Events (10)
Trump and Putin held a two-hour phone call on May 20, 2025, but failed to reach agreement on a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. Putin sought a "memorandum on a possible future peace accord" while Zelenskyy rejected surrendering territory, and the call appeared to reset peace negotiations to their earlier starting point.
Trump announced a new "Golden Dome" missile defense project and appointed Gen. Michael Guetlein of the Space Force to lead it. The system, modeled on Israel's Iron Dome, could cost $540 billion over 20 years.
Trump visited the House Republicans weekly meeting to urge passage of his "big, beautiful bill," claiming the party has "unbelievable unity" while some lawmakers remained opposed to the legislation.
A survey by insurer Allianz found that 54% of U.S. companies reported they would have to raise prices to accommodate the costs of Trump's tariffs, indicating widespread economic impact across sectors.
The Supreme Court upheld Trump's ability to revoke protected status for Venezuelans, and a report found that legal immigrants stripped of their protected status had been sent to an El Salvador prison without proper legal process.
The Trump administration allowed work to continue on a $5 billion New York wind farm project after Governor Hochul lobbied the president, though a new gas pipeline capacity will be allowed to move forward as part of the agreement.
Zachary Alam, a January 6 rioter who was previously pardoned by Trump, was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a Virginia home and stealing items, raising questions about the vetting of those who received presidential pardons.
FBI Director Kash Patel scrapped an internal auditing unit that had been established to monitor compliance with surveillance rules and uncover misuses of FISA surveillance that occurred during Trump's first term.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, as ambassador to France. Kushner had previously been pardoned by Trump for a tax evasion conviction.
GOP lawmakers, including some senators, urged Trump to take a tougher line with Putin following their phone call, expressing concern about insufficient pressure on Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict.