Trump threatens to take ‘federal management’ of DC after Doge staffer assault
Howdy, and welcome to the day’s stay US politics protection. I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the most recent.
Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington DC, after an tried carjacking of a former “division of presidency effectivity” (Doge) worker.
On Reality Social, the president shared an image of Edward Coristine – a 19-year-old former Doge staffer – who appeared bloodied after the assault.
Trump wrote that DC is “completely uncontrolled”, and if the town doesn’t “get it’s act collectively” he can have “no selection however to take Federal management”.
At first of his second time period, Trump stated he helps a federal takeover of the nation’s capital. As of now, the DC Residence Rule Act of 1973 implies that DC residents elect their native politicians who run the day by day functioning of the town.
Share
Up to date at 09.10 EDT
Key occasions
Present key occasions solely
Please activate JavaScript to make use of this function
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Donald Trump on the cellphone at this time, a supply conversant in the matter instructed Reuters.
This comes after US particular envoy Steve Witkoff wrapped up a three-hour assembly with Russian president Vladimir Putin earlier at this time.
My colleagues are monitoring the most recent right here.
Share
A DC federal takeover would possible face an uphill battle in Congress
Joseph Gedeon
In a submit on his Reality Social platform, the president stated he would “federalize” the town if native authorities failed to handle crime, particularly calling for minors as younger as 14 to be prosecuted as adults.
Trump’s menace might theoretically take a number of kinds. The structure grants Congress broad authority over the federal district, although utterly suspending native governance would possible require congressional laws. Trump might additionally deploy federal legislation enforcement or nationwide guard troops below government authority, as he did throughout 2020 protests when federal forces cleared Lafayette Sq. outdoors the White Home over native officers’ objections.
However absolutely stripping the town’s dwelling rule would possible face fierce Democratic opposition in Congress. Any such transfer would require congressional laws that Democrats might block or try and problem in federal courts.
Washington DC, with a inhabitants of about 700,000, has really seen violent crime decline within the first half of 2025 in contrast with the earlier yr, and 2024 marked a 30-year low, in response to a pre-Trump January report by the Division of Justice. The Democratic-controlled metropolis has often clashed with Trump over federal interventions and has lengthy sought statehood, which might grant it full self-governance and congressional illustration – which Republican lawmakers have opposed.
The workplace of the DC mayor, Muriel Bowser, declined a request for remark.
Share
Up to date at 11.45 EDT
On Reality Social at this time, the president labelled Democratic lawmakers in Congress as “extortionists”. Referring to final week’s failed negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats to shortly appoint a number of of Trump’s nominees.
The president added:
Politically embattled Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, desires the Republicans to pay, as EXTORTION, TWO BILLION DOLLARS to ensure that the Radical Left Democrats to approve the lots of of Trump Appointments who’ve been ready for months, and are raring’ to go. This has by no means occurred earlier than. There has by no means, in U.S. historical past, been such a delay.
Share
Up to date at 11.39 EDT
Patrick Wintour
After taking six months to conclude that Vladimir Putin might not be a kindred transactional authoritarian chief however an ideological nationalist in search of the return of what “belongs to Russia”, the deadline Donald Trump set for the Russian president to agree a Ukraine ceasefire or face US sanctions on oil exports arrives on Friday.
What Trump – who some had claimed was a Russian asset – does subsequent to punish Putin might outline his presidency.
It’s a exceptional turnaround and one which seasoned Trump watchers comparable to Michael McFaul, the previous US ambassador to Russia, stated they’d by no means anticipated. Solely months in the past the talk was about what additional inducements Trump would supply Putin to finish the preventing. The Trump administration has not executed a brand new rollout of Russia sanctions in six months, a drop to zero from a minimal of 16 units of actions in each previous six-month interval, a report by senior Democrats submitted to the Senate banking committee discovered this week.
Learn extra right here
Share
Trump order imposes extra 25% tariff on India for importing Russian oil
Donald Trump has issued an government order at this time imposing a further 25% tariff on items from India, saying the nation instantly or not directly imported Russian oil, including to 25% tariffs already introduced.
Final week Trump had stated the White Home would impose a 25% tariff “plus a penalty” of an unspecified quantity.
The extra tariffs, which might come into impact after 21 days, imply India will face the best levy together with Brazil, placing it at a big drawback in opposition to regional rivals comparable to Vietnam and Bangladesh. There may be thus mounting strain on the Indian authorities to succeed in a deal.
The transfer threatens to additional complicate US-Indian relations and comes shortly after a Indian authorities supply instructed Reuters Indian prime minister Narendra Modi would go to China for the primary time in over seven years later this month.
US-India ties are dealing with their most critical disaster in years after talks with India failed to supply a commerce settlement.
The White Home transfer, first signalled by Trump on Monday, follows conferences by Trump’s high diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow aimed toward pushing Russia to comply with peace in Ukraine.
Trump has threatened greater tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on its allies, if Vladimir Putin doesn’t quickly transfer to finish the conflict in Ukraine.
Narendra Modi and Donald Trump on the White Home on 13 February. {Photograph}: Kevin Lamarque/ReutersShare
Up to date at 10.49 EDT
FBI report disproves Trump’s declare of a Biden-era out-of-control crime wave
Richard Luscombe
When Donald Trump fought for and gained the 2024 presidential election, his victory was constructed partly on the false assertion that Democrats have been liable for an out-of-control crime wave within the US, with murders and rapes at document highs.
Figures launched by the FBI on Tuesday, nevertheless, verify that the nation was as protected because it ever had been through the ultimate full yr of the Biden administration. Each class of crime decreased in frequency, and violent crime specifically dropped to ranges not seen for the reason that Nineteen Sixties, per the report.
The bureau’s annual Reported Crimes within the Nation Statistics report displays a 4.5% year-on-year lower in all violent crime nationally in 2024, with homicide and non-negligent manslaughter falling 14.5% from the 2023 determine.
Reported rapes have been down 5.2% from the yr earlier than, whereas aggravated assaults and robberies declined 3% and eight.9% respectively.
The figures belie Trump’s oft-repeated fear-mongering through the election marketing campaign that “soft-on-crime” Democrats had fueled surging crime charges, significantly in main cities below their management.
In Might 2024, for instance, Trump instructed reporters attending his hush-money trial in Manhattan that New York prosecutors have been fixated on his prosecution whereas “individuals are being mugged and killed outdoors … [I’ve] by no means seen something prefer it in my life”.
Share
Texas redistricting battle: the place issues stand
One other story we’re holding tabs on all through the day is the continuing redistricting battle in Texas. It’s one which has grown by the day, so right here’s the place issues stand in the intervening time.
State Democratic lawmakers have damaged quorum for 2 consecutive days – forestalling the Texas legislature’s particular session. Democrats fled the state over the weekend to protest a brand new GOP-drawn congressional map that might see Republicans decide up 5 further Home seats within the 2026 midterms if it passes.
Whereas the legislators camp out in blue states like Illinois, New York and Massachusetts for “so long as it takes”, they’ve additionally set the stage for a showdown between the Texas governor and nationwide Democrats. The Texas Tribune stories that former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke has been a high funder protecting the prices of Texas lawmakers’ exodus. A reminder, fleeing Democrats are additionally dealing with a $500-a-day high-quality for leaving the particular session with out permission. It’s a price that representatives the Guardian has spoken to are paying out of their very own pocket.
In the meantime, senator John Cornyn of Texas has requested the FBI to assist Texas legislation enforcement in finding and arresting Democrats who left the state. For his half, the state’s Republican legal professional basic Ken Paxton stated he would pursue a courtroom ruling to declare the seats of “any rogue lawmakers” vacant if they don’t return to work on the statehouse by Friday.
Past Texas’ borders, a redistricting “arms race” – as state rep. Gina Hinojosa described to the Guardian – has ensued. California governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for a particular election to ask voters to override the state’s redistricting fee, and approve new maps that might favor California Democrats if Texas moved ahead with its gerrymandering plan.
Share
Up to date at 10.19 EDT
A White Home official confirms to the Guardian that Donald Trump will make an announcement at this time that Apple plans to spend one other $100bn on home manufacturing.
Apple CEO, Tim Prepare dinner, is predicted to attend. In February, Apple pledged to take a position $500bn within the US over the following 4 yr.
Share
Up to date at 09.46 EDT
Marsha Blackburn launches Tennessee governor bid
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced at this time that she plans to run for governor of the state. The Republican lawmaker is now serving her second senate time period. Outgoing governor Invoice Lee, additionally a Republican, is term-limited.
In a video announcement posted on social media, Blackburn stated she is “able to ship the sort of conservative management that can guarantee our state is America’s conservative chief for this technology and the following”.
Blackburn is a staunch Trump ally, and aligned on a lot of his agenda objects: from immigration to highschool selection.
At present, her foremost contender is Tennessee congressman John Rose, who introduced his candidacy for governor again in March.
Marsha Blackburn delivers remarks through the first session of the Republican Nationwide Conference (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 15 July 2024. {Photograph}: Shawn Thew/EPAShare
Up to date at 09.46 EDT
The president is on the White Home at this time. His public schedule is quiet for many of the day, however we are able to count on to see Trump at 4.30pm EDT at this time for an “announcement” within the Oval Workplace.
It’s not instantly clear what the announcement will give attention to.
Share
Up to date at 09.03 EDT
Trump threatens to take ‘federal management’ of DC after Doge staffer assault
Howdy, and welcome to the day’s stay US politics protection. I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the most recent.
Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington DC, after an tried carjacking of a former “division of presidency effectivity” (Doge) worker.
On Reality Social, the president shared an image of Edward Coristine – a 19-year-old former Doge staffer – who appeared bloodied after the assault.
Trump wrote that DC is “completely uncontrolled”, and if the town doesn’t “get it’s act collectively” he can have “no selection however to take Federal management”.
At first of his second time period, Trump stated he helps a federal takeover of the nation’s capital. As of now, the DC Residence Rule Act of 1973 implies that DC residents elect their native politicians who run the day by day functioning of the town.
Share
Up to date at 09.10 EDT
