Key Events (10)
President Trump threatened to send the National Guard to Baltimore, Chicago, and New York to address crime, claiming the need to 'clean up' these cities. State and local leaders including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries disputed the necessity of such action, with some characterizing it as a 'manufactured crisis.'
The Trump administration has fired or demoted more than two dozen prosecutors who worked on January 6 Capitol riot cases, even as those convicted for their role in the riot have been pardoned and released. Critics view this as a 'purge' targeting those who prosecuted the riot.
Trump has targeted political opponents with mortgage fraud claims and threats, including threats to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Critics characterize this pattern as 'lawfare' similar to cases against Letitia James and Adam Schiff.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated there is no plan for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, dealing a blow to Trump's efforts to mediate an end to the Ukraine war. Russia praised Trump's diplomatic efforts while remaining non-committal on peace.
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are beginning to increase back-to-school costs, with the National Retail Federation estimating families are budgeting an average of nearly $875 for the year for school shopping. Retailers note that tariff impacts are now 'starting to show up' in prices.
The immigrant population in the United States has declined by more than one million people since Trump took office in January 2025, marking a reversal of 50 years of growth as part of the administration's wider immigration crackdown.
The Trump administration plans to deport Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda after a months-long saga in which he was previously wrongfully deported to El Salvador. The case has become a lightning rod highlighting issues with Trump's immigration crackdown.
South Korea's leader is meeting with Trump as China looms large in discussions, with Washington's increasing focus on Beijing straining the decades-old alliance between South Korea and the United States.
Trump is facing criticism for his focus on mail-in voting and election security, with his allies promoting claims about 2020 election integrity. Critics warn that the president and his allies should not be trusted to ensure voting integrity.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is engaged in a high-profile conflict with Trump, employing an aggressive strategy that includes trolling the president online while using redistricting schemes to attempt to reclaim the House for Democrats. The conflict has become emblematic of broader Trump administration tensions with Democratic-led states.