Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Trump pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing auxiliary deputy sheriffs. Trump also pardoned tax evader Paul Walczak after his mother attended a $1 million fundraising dinner and helped raise millions of dollars for the president.

The Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies to stop conducting student visa interviews, a directive that could severely delay visa processing and harm universities relying on foreign student enrollment and revenue.

Trump ordered federal agencies to cut all ties with Harvard University, canceling $100 million in federal contracts as part of his escalating campaign against elite universities. He also indicated consideration of taking an additional $3 billion in grant money from the institution.

NPR filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over funding cuts, arguing that an executive order targeting the network violates the First Amendment by punishing NPR for news coverage the president views as biased.

RFK Jr. removed COVID-19 booster recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women from the CDC vaccine list, bypassing established agency norms and processes.

Trump indicated 'positive' progress in U.S.-EU trade negotiations, with the president commending the European bloc for calling to 'quickly establish meeting dates,' leading to early optimism on Wall Street. Markets also responded positively to a reported U.S. delay on proposed 50% tariffs against the EU.

Trump's media company, the operator of Truth Social, announced plans to raise $2.5 billion through a private investment placement to acquire Bitcoin, with approximately 50 investors contributing $1.5 billion in common shares.

Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California over its policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' and women's sports, calling it 'totally unfair.'

The White House lost confidence in Pentagon leak investigation that Defense Secretary Hegseth had cited to justify firing three top aides, with exclusive reporting revealing concerns about illegal wiretap claims raised during the inquiry.

A military parade planned for June 14 will include 28 Abrams tanks, 6,700 soldiers, 50 helicopters, 34 horses, two mules, and a dog, fulfilling Trump's longstanding desire for a major military parade that was not realized during his first term.