Trumps Continue Hosting British Royals with Off-Camera Meeting to Avoid Clash
Welcome to our coverage of US news as the Trumps continue hosting King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit.
The British royals have a busy schedule this morning, including being greeted by Donald and Melania Trump at the White House, signing the guest book, and exchanging gifts.
Most events, aside from the greeting, are closed to the media. King Charles will avoid any potential public confrontation with Trump, as the White House agreed that any meeting between the two men should be off camera.
British officials advocated for the Oval Office meeting to remain private, concerned about a repeat of the public rebuke experienced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the press.
Sources involved in planning say Charles will pose for photos at the start of his key bilateral meeting on Tuesday but will not be filmed discussing substantive matters.
At 3pm ET Tuesday, King Charles will address US lawmakers. In a rare speech by a monarch to the US Congress, he is expected to acknowledge recent UK-US tensions, emphasizing that
“time and again our two countries have always found ways to come together.”
The king’s remarks will follow Trump’s threats to withdraw from agreements signed by the UK and US.
Charles is expected to reflect on the 250-year history of UK-US relations, noting that despite disagreements, the shared foundations of their
“democratic, legal and social traditions”—dating back to Magna Carta—have enabled cooperation.
Cole Allen was accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump on Saturday when he was tackled with two guns outside the White House correspondents’ dinner venue.
An FBI affidavit supporting the charges quoted from a manifesto Allen sent to family shortly before the attack, stating:
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.”
Following the thwarted attack, three Republican senators called for immediate funding to build the White House ballroom Trump desires. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded with a firm
“Hell no.”
During an appearance on Sunday, Trump repeated a false claim he has made multiple times: that the BBC used AI to alter his remarks before the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
On the second day of the royal state visit, a military marching band performed on the White House lawn ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival.
British and US flags were paraded up the stairs, an honor guard marched and formed a line, and hundreds of spectators watched under umbrellas.
There is a live feed available at the top of the blog for those wishing to watch the events.
JD Vance is expected to attend King Charles’s address to a bipartisan session of Congress this afternoon, according to two sources with direct knowledge, as reported by NBC News.
The vice-president will sit on the dais behind the king next to House Speaker Mike Johnson, similar to their seating arrangement during Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Trump Claims Iran Wants US to Open Strait of Hormuz Quickly
Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that Iran has
“just informed”Washington they are in a
“state of collapse”and want the US to open the Strait of Hormuz
“as soon as possible.”
Trump asserted this is linked to Iran trying to
“figure out”their leadership situation, which he believes is possible.
These claims have not been independently verified, and the US government has not commented.
Earlier reports indicated Trump is considering the latest Iranian proposal to end the war, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and postponing discussions about Iran’s nuclear program.
The conflict, initiated by the US and Israel in late February, has disrupted global energy supplies, increased inflation, and caused thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.
Tom Ambrose is providing ongoing coverage of the conflict.
UAE Exits OPEC, Delivering a Blow to Saudi-Led Group
The United Arab Emirates has left OPEC, dealing a significant setback to the group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, amid the global energy crisis caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The departure of the UAE, a long-standing member, could cause disarray and weaken OPEC, which has traditionally maintained a united front despite internal disagreements over geopolitics and production quotas.
However, the UAE’s exit from OPEC and OPEC+ is a major win for Donald Trump, who has accused the organization of
“ripping off the rest of the world”by inflating oil prices.
Trump has also linked US military support for Gulf states with oil prices, stating that while the US defends OPEC members, they
“exploit this by imposing high oil prices.”
Trump Unhappy with Latest Iranian Peace Proposal
Donald Trump reportedly expressed dissatisfaction to top advisers regarding Iran’s latest peace proposal, which involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz and deferring nuclear program discussions.
Two sources familiar with the matter said Trump conveyed his views during a meeting with national security aides, indicating he is unlikely to accept the plan sent to the US recently.
The reasons for Trump’s rejection are unclear, but he has consistently maintained that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
A US official suggested accepting the proposal could undermine Trump’s perceived victory. The White House declined to comment on Trump’s stance but confirmed ongoing discussions about the war and Iran’s nuclear activities.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated to the New York Times:
“The United States will not negotiate through the press — we have been clear about our red lines and the president will only make a deal that’s good for the American people and the world.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this, emphasizing Trump’s red lines remain unchanged:
“What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.
I wouldn’t say they’re considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don’t want to get ahead of, and you’ll hear directly from the president, I’m sure, on this topic.”
Royal State Visit Begins with Tea and Garden Party
King Charles and Queen Camilla began their state visit by meeting Donald and Melania Trump at the White House for afternoon tea, followed by a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington.
At the garden party, Charles and Camilla mingled with senior US officials, including cabinet members, Trump advisers, and US lawmakers.
Here is a recap of the first day in pictures.
Economic Blackout Planned for International Workers Day
Labor unions, democratic organizations, and community groups are organizing an economic blackout this year to mark International Workers Day, inspired by a similar blackout in Minnesota during a major operation.
Events are planned nationwide, with organizers calling for
“no school, no work, no shopping”to protest government policies perceived to prioritize billionaires over workers.
Neidi Dominguez, founding executive director of Organized Power in Numbers and an organizer, said the number of events has more than doubled compared to last year.
She stated:
“Last year, there were about 1,300 May Day actions across the country. This year, we think there’s going to be more than 3,000.
Minneapolis really gave us the biggest push in real time to do it. We have a long way to go to take massive disruption actions like in other countries, where people will go on general strikes and they can shut down their country, but I think we’re getting more and more close to people having consciousness about their own power as workers.”
Dominguez said the protests are a response to actions and threats from the government, including the deployment of ICE agents to polling places during midterms and unilateral military actions in Venezuela and Iran.
She added that this year’s actions aim to build a larger movement:
“We’re really trying to actually start organizing people to see that the power that we collectively have to do economic disruption is really the power that we need in this moment to not just defend ourselves, but defend democracy.”
Several cities, including Minneapolis and Chicago, are preparing for city-wide economic blackouts.
JD Vance Faces Challenges Balancing Faith and Politics
As a man openly expressing his Christian beliefs, Vice-President JD Vance is aware of Jesus Christ’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
However, Vance, a Catholic convert recently at odds with Pope Leo, is confronting the difficulty of upholding this ideal while serving a mercurial political leader engaged in a war Vance once advised against.
Speaking at a Turning Point USA meeting at the University of Georgia, Vance said:
“Jesus Christ does not support genocide.”
This highlights the predicament Vance faces as he tries to maintain support among younger voters opposed to foreign military interventions while considering a presidential run in 2028.
The challenge intensifies as Vance may become a key figure in efforts to end the war with Iran, a conflict he previously warned the US to avoid.
US Soldier Charged for Using Classified Info in Prediction Market
A US special forces soldier is scheduled to appear in federal court in New York on Tuesday, charged with using classified information about the mission to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to win over $400,000 on the prediction market Polymarket, according to AP.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, faces charges including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.
The case has drawn attention amid calls for stricter regulation of prediction markets, which allow trading or wagering on various events, due to concerns about insider trading.
Prosecutors state Van Dyke was involved in planning and executing Maduro’s capture and had signed nondisclosure agreements but placed bets related to Maduro being out of power by January 31.
Polymarket flagged the suspicious activity and reported it to authorities, according to CEO Shayne Coplan.
Van Dyke, stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was granted bond after a court hearing and will continue his case in New York. Court records do not list an attorney for him there.
Nebraska to Enforce Medicaid Work Requirements Early
Nebraska will become the first state to enforce work, volunteer, or education requirements for new Medicaid applicants starting Friday, eight months before federal mandates take effect.
Advocates express concern that the rapid rollout leaves key details unresolved and may cause eligible individuals to lose coverage, AP reported.
State officials say they are prepared, training staff and communicating with potentially affected individuals via letters, emails, and texts.
Health policy experts, advocates, and other states will monitor Nebraska’s implementation closely.
Jennifer Tolbert, deputy director of KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, commented:
“It can be used as a lesson for other states, both where things go well and where things don’t go well.”
Kimmel Defends Melania ‘Widow’ Joke After Trump Criticism
Jimmy Kimmel refused to apologize for a joke made days before the White House correspondents’ dinner shooting, in which he described Melania Trump as glowing
“like an expectant widow.”The Trumps accused him of inciting violence and called for his firing.
On Monday, Melania Trump condemned Kimmel’s
“hateful and violent rhetoric”and
“atrocious behavior,”urging ABC to take a stand against the comedian, known for his criticism of Trump and his policies.
Kimmel made the joke on Thursday during a skit pretending to be the event’s MC, saying:
“Our first lady Melania is here. So beautiful, Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
During Monday night’s monologue, Kimmel responded:
“You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the first lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job? We’ve all been there, right?”
He clarified the joke was made three days before the alleged assassination attempt and was about their age difference and Melania’s joyful expression when with Trump. He emphasized:
“It was not – by any stretch of the definition – a call to assassination. And they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence, in particular.”
Trump Claims US Elections Are Rigged, Pushes Save America Act
Donald Trump stated that American elections are
“rigged, stolen, and a laughing stock all over the world”in his latest effort to promote the Save America Act.
He called on Republican lawmakers to support the proposal, writing on Truth Social:
“America’s Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World. We are either going to fix them, or we won’t have a Country any longer. I am asking all Republicans to fight for the following:
1. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. (IDENTIFICATION!).
2. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO VOTE.
3. NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!).
Suspect Charged with Attempted Assassination of Trump at Press Dinner
The suspected gunman who tried to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner appeared in federal court Monday and was charged with three federal crimes, including attempted assassination of the president.
The alleged shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, faces charges of attempting to assassinate the US president, transporting firearms to commit a felony, and unlawful discharge of a firearm during violence.
The attempted assassination charge carries a potential life sentence.
Allen was represented by federal defender lawyers and appeared in court wearing a blue jail jumpsuit, accompanied by three US marshals.
He has no prior criminal or civil record in Los Angeles County.
Authorities reported Allen was armed with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a pistol, and three knives on Saturday night.
Judge Matthew Sharbaugh asked if Allen had used drugs recently; he responded no.
