Friday, 14 August 2026

Trump appealed to the Supreme Court to allow construction of a $400 million ballroom adjacent to the White House to continue, claiming national security needs and architectural values after an appeals court ruled he needed Congressional authorization. The administration's filings include plans for golden seals breaking with White House tradition.

Trump announced he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, contradicting the fact that Oman and Iran share jurisdiction. Vice President Vance stated that keeping oil prices low was now the "goal number one" in the Iran war as the U.S. threatened an indefinite naval blockade.

Trump dismissed concerns from military families about the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier's record nine-month deployment in the Middle East, saying the deployment was "not nearly long enough" despite reports of sailors' mental health crises and family members' concerns.

A White House report accused dozens of countries of helping China dodge Trump's tariffs through transshipment schemes, claiming tens of billions in annual revenue loss to the U.S. The administration escalated tariff disputes as Brazil began exploring retaliatory options.

A federal judge showed signs of frustration with DOJ attorneys handling the Epstein files release, warning they could face contempt of court charges unless they comply with orders to release documents. The judge stated the public has a right to know what happened.

A woman was arrested and charged with two felonies for vandalizing the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC with spray paint and bubbles. The arrest followed weeks of Trump criticism of Judge Jeanine Pirro for dropping similar charges.

The Trump administration announced it would cut Medicaid coverage for transgender healthcare and refer hospitals and clinics for potential prosecution. The escalation continued the administration's sustained campaign against gender-affirming care and LGBTQ+ protections.

Trump ordered the Pentagon to redesign aircraft carriers to use steam catapults instead of modern digital systems, a preference he has repeatedly expressed since 2017, calling digital systems too complicated. The order would waste taxpayer resources on outdated technology.

Federal documents revealed a sweeping undercover surveillance operation by Homeland Security Investigations in Minnesota targeting progressive organizations, labor unions, and groups protesting the Minneapolis ICE crackdown. The operation was launched days after ICE fatally shot Alex Pretti.

A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration's Title VI antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard University, finding the administration failed to prove an ongoing violation. The department said it disagreed and was assessing next steps.

Jared Kushner is set to visit Israel to address Netanyahu's rejection of the U.S.-backed Gaza Board of Peace plan, which would require Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw. The diplomatic mission comes as Trump's Hamas deal faces collapse.

The BBC is seeking to subpoena Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Jared Kushner as witnesses in its $10 billion Panorama defamation lawsuit against Trump, but the Secret Service is blocking service of the subpoenas. The case stems from Trump's defamation claims over a BBC Panorama documentary.