President Trump tested his claims that he’s tackling Americans’ affordability woes at a Tuesday rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania — a trip that comes as polling consistently shows that public trust in Trump’s economic leadership has faltered.
Following dismal results for Republicans in last month’s off-cycle elections, the White House has sought to convince voters that the economy will emerge stronger next year and that any anxieties over inflation have nothing to do with Trump.
The president has consistently blamed his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for inflation even as his own aggressive implementation of policies has pushed up prices that had been settling down after spiking in 2022 to a four-decade high.
See how Tuesday unfolded.
Trump says he’ll broker peace between Cambodia and Thailand — 9:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
After rattling off a list of wars he claims credit for ending, the president said he would use his sway to end renewed combat between Cambodia and Thailand.
The Southeast Asian neighbors recently resumed fighting following a border skirmish. It derails a ceasefire deal that was mediated by Malaysia under pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade unless both sides reached a truce.
“Tomorrow I’ll have to make a phone call,” Trump said. “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia’?”
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on both sides to live up to their peace agreement.
Trump wraps up Pennsylvania rally — 9:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
He spoke for just over 90 minutes.
Trump in his second term has largely eschewed the raucous rallies that defined his three presidential campaigns and his first term. But he seemed to enjoy himself Tuesday, reviving many of his applause lines as he went after his critics and boasted about his own record.
He ended the rally as he has so many before: lingering on stage as the Village People’s “YMCA” played, pointing at people in the crowd and briefly wagging his arms in what has become a signature dance move of his.
Trump heaps praise on writer of speeches he doesn’t read — 8:47 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president gave a shout-out to his head speechwriter more than an hour into a speech that was mostly ad-libbed.
“I haven’t read practically anything off this stupid teleprompter,” Trump said. “And then my speechwriters keep getting awards for some of the finest speeches, and I haven’t even read them.”
It was one of many quips from an ebullient Trump who seemed to have fun working his audience.
Trump introduces people he says will benefit from the tax code changes in his ‘big, beautiful bill’ — 8:38 p.m.
By the Associated Press
“The no tax on tips is incredible. No tax on overtime is incredible for my husband,” said Megan Hemhauser, whom Trump invited on stage to briefly speak. “And it all comes back to our family. It saves us and it’s for the future of our children.”
Another woman, waitress Donna Zajack, said her newly tax-free tips will help with her daughter’s tuition.
Trump pointed to one man, saying he plans to buy a house with the money he’ll save from tax-free overtime. The man was not invited on stage.
Trump’s new visual aids — 8:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is rolling out new charts as he makes the case that the economy is thriving despite Americans’ concerns about the cost of living.
“Biden Price Increases & Trump Price Decreases,” one chart’s title reads.
The charts were displayed on large screens during his speech in Pennsylvania.
Trump defends foreign travel, a source of division in the GOP — 8:07 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president lashed out at “the stupid people” who criticized his travels abroad including a May trip to the Middle East.
Trump went on a tangent about the issue as he recalled a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The issue has been a source of tension with some Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Trump defended his trips, saying they generated billions in foreign investment for the U.S.
“Somebody complained that I was making a foreign trip,” Trump said at his rally in Pennsylvania. “They say, ‘He shouldn’t be leaving the country.’ Yeah, let’s sit around and twiddle our thumbs.”
Trump says Guardsman shot and severely wounded near White House got out of bed — 8:02 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump says a West Virginia National Guardsman who was shot last month while patrolling in Washington, D.C., is recovering.
“Today I got a call that he got up from bed. Do you believe that? He got up. He got up,” Trump said of 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe.
“Now, he didn’t speak,” Trump added. “He’s not ready for that yet. I mean, he got hit in the head.”
Trump said U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the shooting, is “looking at us from heaven, from above.”
A Democrat is elected Miami mayor for first time in nearly 30 years’ — 7:54 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Eileen Higgins defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez, who was endorsed by Trump.
Higgins spoke frequently in the Hispanic-majority city about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard of many people in Miami who were worried about family members being detained.
The local race drew attention from the both Democratic and Republican parties and leaders.
Higgins’ victory provides Democrats another boost ahead of a midterm election when the GOP is looking to maintain its influence in Florida, including in a Hispanic-majority district in Miami-Dade County.
The area has shifted increasingly rightward politically in recent years, and the city may become the home of Trump’s presidential library.
Trump’s message: ‘They caused the high prices’ — 7:50 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is determined to blame Biden and Democrats for consumer prices that have risen during the year he returned to the White House.
He summed his message up succinctly: “They caused the high prices and we’re bringing them down.”
“If I had one message tonight ...” he added, before breaking off on a two-minute tangent recognizing members of his White House staff. “But that’s out message,” he said, returning to his point. “They gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history. And we’re giving you — We’re bringing those prices down rapidly.”
The president has consistently blamed Biden for inflation even as his own aggressive implementation of policies has pushed up prices that had been settling down after spiking in 2022 to a four-decade high.
Trump says his chief of staff told him to start campaigning again for midterm elections — 7:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump says his White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told him he needs to start campaigning to help Republicans in the midterm elections.
“She said, ‘We have to start campaigning, sir.’ I said, ‘I won,’” Trump told the crowd at his rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
But Trump says Wiles said the president was needed to help Republicans in next year’s elections, which will decide control of the House and Senate. Voters generally favor the party out of power in the White House during the midterm elections.
Wiles told the online conservative talk show “The Mom View” that Trump’s return to the campaign trail would help to turn out voters who would otherwise sit out the election.
The scene at Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, in photos — 7:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump appears at Pennsylvania rally — 7:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is taking the stage in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
He walked out to Lee Greenfield’s “God Bless the USA,” the song that has traditionally marked the start of his campaign rallies. He was met with chants of “USA, USA!”
Democratic Leader seeks all-House briefing on deadly boat strikes — 7:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is asking for Hegseth to brief all members on the strikes near Venezuela.
“We need an all-member briefing for the House of Representatives,” Jeffries told The Associated Press.
“They haven’t committed to it,” he said of Hegseth. “But we’re going to continue to press our case.”
US military flies 2 fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela — 6:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The move Tuesday appears to be the closest American warplanes have come to the South American country’s airspace since the start of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign in the region.
Public flight tracking websites showed a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jets fly over the body of water bounded by Venezuela for more than 30 minutes.
A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, confirmed that the jets conducted a “routine training flight” and said they stayed in international airspace. The official likened it to previous exercises aimed at showing the reach of U.S. planes.
The move is the latest action that the U.S. military has taken as it has built up warships in the region and launched deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats. Those attacks are drawing new scrutiny from lawmakers.
Trump calls Crockett a ‘low-IQ person’ — 6:40 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president also said Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett will be a “gift to Republicans” as she launches a new Senate campaign in Texas.
Trump made the comments aboard Air Force One a day after Crockett launched her campaign, telling Trump, “I’m coming for you.” Crockett is running for the seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn in what could be a critical race for both parties.
Crockett is a favorite GOP target and an outspoken Trump adversary.
The president didn’t hold back when asked about the race: “I can’t imagine she wins. Maybe she’ll get the Democrat nomination, but I think it’s a gift to Republicans, she’s a terrible representative.”
Trump, running late, makes his way to Pennsylvania rally — 6:21 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is making his way to a Pennsylvania resort where he’s scheduled to road-test his claims that he’s tackling Americans’ affordability woes.
The president was late leaving Washington, where he had been attending a Christmas party at the vice presidential residence.
Trump’s event in the Pocono Mountains will be held indoors in a conference center ballroom at the Mount Airy Casino Resort, a smaller venue than the arena rallies that could host thousands during his campaign.
Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew released from ICE custody — 5:32 p.m.
By Shannon Larson, Globe Staff
Bruna Ferreira, the mother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, was freed from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement late Monday after a federal immigration judge ordered her release, her lawyer said Tuesday.
Her release on $1,500 bond comes after nearly a month of being held at an ICE processing center in Louisiana. Ferreira, 33, who emigrated from Brazil as a child and settled in Massachusetts, was swarmed by immigration agents on Nov. 12 while leaving her Revere home to pick up the 11-year-old son she shares with her former fiancé, Leavitt’s brother Michael.
Ferreira, the owner of a cleaning business who grew up in Melrose, was detained while in the process of obtaining a green card, her attorneys have said. She continues to fight her potential deportation.
A judge overturned Trump’s permitting freeze for wind projects. Will that be enough to get the industry back on track? — 5:00 p.m.
By Sabrina Shankman, Globe Staff
On Monday afternoon, clean energy supporters around the country cheered as a coalition of attorneys general, including Andrea Campbell in Massachusetts, announced a legal win: the overturning of a Trump administration ban on wind energy permitting.
In press releases and public statements, politicians and advocacy organizations touted the rule of law and celebrated the resurrection of an industry that many states — including Massachusetts — have hung their energy futures on.
More quietly, though, experts working on offshore wind wondered: Here in New England, where offshore wind had been on the cusp of taking off before Trump was elected, will this week’s ruling make any difference?
DOJ ends monitoring of illegal dumping in Houston in retreat from environmental justice — 4:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The US Justice Department has withdrawn from an agreement with the city of Houston to curb illegal dumping in Black and Latino neighborhoods.
The action is part of the Trump administration’s broad elimination of jobs and programs dedicated to environmental justice.
Without federal monitoring, advocates in Houston say city officials have become less responsive to residents afflicted by persistent dumping in the historically Black neighborhood of Trinity/Houston Gardens.
The Justice Department and Houston officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Federal authorities also quietly ended a similar agreement over wastewater problems in rural Alabama, according to three former law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move wasn’t made public.
Bessent spoke about Russia oil sanctions with Ukrainian Prime Minister — 4:30 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he spoke with Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, Tuesday morning about President Trump’s “commitment to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine,” in a post on X.
Bessent said in the post that the pair discussed Treasury’s October sanctions on Russia’s oil giants, Lukoil and Rosneft, which are aimed at moving Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and bringing an end to Moscow’s brutal war on Ukraine.
They also discussed “the importance of driving Ukraine’s reform and anti-corruption agenda forward.”
Trump threatens funding for Chicago transit after woman set on fire — 3:55 p.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump’s administration is threatening to pull federal funding for public transportation in Chicago unless the city tightens security after a man allegedly set a woman on fire inside a commuter train in November.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that Trump is politicizing “a heinous tragedy” while doing nothing to make Illinois communities safer.
Federal Transit Authority Administrator Marc Molinaro sent a letter Monday to Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson demanding the Chicago Transit Authority develop and implement an updated safety plan by Dec. 19. The letter did not call for any specific changes.
What to know about the massive defense bill that seeks release of boat strike videos — 3:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The House is expected to vote this week on a bill authorizing $900 billion for military programs, including boosting pay for service members, cutting Pentagon diversity efforts and requiring footage to be released of forces blowing up alleged drug boats.
The National Defense Authorization Act is traditionally a strong bipartisan bill that lays out the nation’s defense policies. But it’s coming up for a vote as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces mounting scrutiny over the boat strikes off Venezuela’s coast.
Top takeaways from Trump’s Politico interview — 2:25 p.m.
By Alyssa Vega, Globe Staff
In a wide-ranging interview with Politico, President Trump took aim at some of America’s closest allies in Europe, boasted about the economy in the US, and insisted Ukraine should hold elections despite its ongoing war with Russia.
Trump sat down with Dasha Burns on Monday for a special episode on Politico’s “The Conversation.” On Tuesday, Politico named Trump the most influential figure shaping European politics.
Here are the takeaways from the interview.
Newsom memoir will seek to build a more nuanced portrait of California’s governor — 2:07 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Gavin Newsom is writing a memoir he says will be “a truly vulnerable book” about his family, his struggles growing up with dyslexia and his political career.
It’s the latest effort by Newsom, the California governor and a potential 2028 presidential candidate, to build more nuance into his public persona. He has long pushed back against a narrative that’s dogged him since the start of his political career — that he had a privileged upbringing and rode the coattails of his father’s wealthy and connected friends to political success.
He acknowledged the perception among many voters that he’s a slick politician.
“A lot of people look at me in the stark white shirt, the blue suit and yeah, the gelled hear, and they think, ‘Oh I know this guy. I know him better than I’d ever want to know him.’ I get it,” Newsom says in a video announcing the book.
“This is a story of a kid who always felt like he wasn’t quite enough.” Newsom’s book, “Young Man in a Hurry,” will be released in February.
Trump’s public degradation of immigrants is veering into frightening territory, historians say — 1:59 p.m.
By Anjali Huynh, Globe Staff
President Trump has called Mexican immigrants “rapists‚” labeled some African nations “shithole countries,” and pushed false claims that Haitian migrants were eating cats and dogs.
He’s continued to escalate that rhetoric, some historians and critics say, not only in words, but they fear, in overt government action.
Trump last week called Somali immigrants “garbage” that he didn’t want in the country, including Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali American. His comments, immediately derided by Democrats and immigrant advocates as racist, also coincided with his administration deploying federal agents to Omar’s home state, reportedly to sweep up Somalis who are subject to deportation.
Those dual actions shook both Somali communities around the United States and those who’ve tracked Trump’s history of embracing xenophobic commentary.
Alarm grows over surge in violence in Rwanda-Congo conflict; one of Trump’s touted peace deals — 1:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
International alarm over a surge in fighting between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is growing less than a week after the two countries signed a peace deal in Washington that Trump has hailed as one of several agreements that are evidence of his peace-making prowess.
In a joint statement released, members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes expressed “profound concern” over recent developments in Congo’s South Kivu region where new deadly violence blamed on the Rwandan-backed M23 militia group has exploded in recent days.
The group, which includes Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the European Union, urged all sides “to uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 and immediately deescalate the situation.”
Rubio calls Egyptian, Saudi counterparts to discuss urgent need for peace in Sudan — 12:53 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has placed calls to his Egyptian and Saudi counterparts to discuss the urgent need for progress in faltering peace efforts in Sudan, along with other regional matters including the Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in Yemen.
The State Department said Rubio spoke Tuesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss the issues.
The department said Rubio and Abdelatty discussed the implementation of the President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza as well as “ongoing engagements to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan.”
There was no mention of the Gaza plan in the readout of Rubio’s call with the prince, but there was a reference to the outcomes of Trump’s recent meeting in Washington with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at which Gaza was a main topic as well as “developments in Yemen and the urgent need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.”
Fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has surged despite attempts to broker an end to the fighting, which began in 2023 and has killed more than 40,000 people, according to the World Health Organization, and displaced 12 million others. Aid groups warn that the true death toll is likely far higher.
Democratic Representative Marc Veasey of Texas won’t seek reelection after district was redrawn — 12:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The seven-term congressman says he’ll instead run for local office in Fort Worth, seeking to become Tarrant County judge, the county’s top elected official.
“Let me be clear: I’m not stepping back from the fight. I’m stepping into a new one,” he said in a statement.
The US Supreme Court this month allowed the challenged Texas congressional redistricting plan to be used in next year’s election, despite a lower-court ruling that the map likely discriminates on the basis of race.
The Texas congressional map enacted last summer at President Trump’s urging was engineered to give Republicans five additional House seats.
US concerned by uptick in Cambodia-Thailand fighting after Trump-mediated peace deal — 11:23 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US is concerned by an uptick in fighting between Cambodia and Thailand along their contested border less than two months after the two countries signed a peace in Malaysia pushed for by President Trump.
“We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the Oct. 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords signed by the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand and witnessed by President Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” Rubio said in a statement.
The Cambodia-Thailand deal — one of several Trump has hailed as evidence of his negotiating abilities — has been faltering for weeks but took a big hit when fighting broke out following a weekend skirmish in which two Thai soldiers were injured. Five days of fighting since has left dozens dead on both sides and forced the evacuation of over 100,000 civilians.
Opponents of Trump-backed redistricting in Missouri submit a petition to force a public vote — 11:13 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Opponents of Missouri’s new congressional map submitted thousands of petition signatures Tuesday calling for a statewide referendum on a redistricting plan backed by President Trump as part of his quest to hold on to a slim Republican majority in next year’s elections.
Organizers of the petition drive said they turned in more than 300,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office — well more than the roughly 110,000 needed to suspend the new US House districts from taking effect until a public vote can be held next year.
The signatures must still be formally verified by local election authorities and Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who’s argued the referendum is unconstitutional. But if the signatures hold up, the referendum could create a significant obstacle for Republicans who hope the new districts could help them win a currently Democratic-held seat in the Kansas City area in the November election.
Zelensky reaffirms his refusal to cede land to Russia — 11:07 a.m.
By the Associated Press
It’s a resistance to US pressure for painful concessions to Russia as he moved ahead Tuesday to rally more European support for his country.
“Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Zelensky told reporters in a WhatsApp chat late Monday.
“Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we don’t have such right,” he said. “According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don’t have a moral right either.”
In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, President Trump again pressed Zelensky to accept the US proposal that Ukraine cede territory to Russia, arguing that Moscow retains the “upper hand” in its nearly 4-year-old invasion, and that Zelensky’s government must “play ball.”
The government said it was conferring with survivors and their lawyers — 10:35 a.m.
By the Associated Press
And it planned to redact records to ensure protection of survivors’ identities and prevent the dissemination of sexualized images.
Maxwell’s lawyer said his client took no position about the requested unsealing — 10:34 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Except to note that her plans to file a habeas petition could be spoiled because the public release of materials “would create undue prejudice so severe that it would foreclose the possibility of a fair retrial” if the habeas request succeeded.
Lawyers for the Epstein estate took no position.
Former Democratic congressman begins campaign in red Virginia district vulnerable to gerrymandering — 10:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Former Democratic Congressman Tom Perriello said Tuesday he would challenge Republican US Representative John McGuire in the midterm elections next year.
“Families can’t afford groceries because Republicans in Congress like John McGuire won’t stand up to Trump’s tariffs,” Perriello said in a video launching his campaign.
Perriello, elected for one term in 2008, was the last Democrat to win Virginia’s 5th Congressional district, which McGuire now represents. It’s a district where President Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by 12 points, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. McGuire was first elected to the district in 2024 after defeating former Republican US Representative Bob Good in a bitter primary.
Virginia Democrats who control the statehouse have indicated McGuire’s seat may be vulnerable if they’re successful in their efforts to redraw the state’s Congressional maps ahead of elections next November. The General Assembly in October endorsed a proposed a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade redistricting, though another legislative vote is needed to refer the amendment to a statewide ballot.
Judge grants Justice Department request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell records in sex trafficking case — 9:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A federal judge said Tuesday the Justice Department can publicly release investigative materials from a sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime confidant of Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled after the Justice Department in November asked two judges in New York to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from Maxwell and Epstein’s cases, along with investigative materials that could amount to hundreds or thousands of previously unreleased documents.
The ruling, in the wake of the passage last month of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, means the records could be made public within 10 days. The law requires the Justice Department provide Epstein-related records to the public in a searchable format by Dec. 19.
On health care worries, Trump says ‘don’t be dramatic’ — 8:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Questioned about how Republicans’ delay on addressing Affordable Care Act subsidies might affect US households’ budget, Trump twice told a Politico reporter: “Don’t be dramatic.”
It was the president’s push back to a question about how ACA premium holders might be struggling around the holidays facing steep health insurance premium spikes if the GOP-run Congress doesn’t address expiring subsidies.
Trump loosely explained Republicans’ pitch to steer money directly to policy holders rather than subsidize premiums with tax credits that can be paid directly to insurance companies or claimed on policy holders’ tax returns.
“I’m giving them money. I want to give the money to the people to buy their own health care,” Trump said. “That’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”
Trump says the economy is ‘A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus’ — 8:27 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Ahead of a planned speech on the economy, Trump is giving the US market a sterling grade despite continued inflation, wealth gaps, layoffs and consumer angst.
“A-plus,” he told Politico when asked how he’d rate the economy, before adding, “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
Told of concerns even from one of his supporters, Trump shifted blame to his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.
“I inherited a mess. I inherited a total mess,” he said, seemingly brushing off the idea of “affordability” that has become a buzz word ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“Everything is coming down,” he insisted.
The latest federal analysis, using data from September, found that overall prices rose 2.8% over the previous year, up slightly from 2.7% in August. Core prices also rose 2.8% from a year earlier, a small decline from the previous month’s figure of 2.9%.
Trump wants Thomas and Alito to stick around on the Supreme Court — 8:26 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The president says he hopes the two eldest members of the Supreme Court, who were nominated by Republican presidents, don’t leave the bench.
He was asked during a Politico interview whether he would want Justices Clarence Thomas, 77, and Sam Alito, 75, to retire so Trump could tap their younger successors.
Trump dismissed the idea.
“I hope they stay ’cause I think they’re fantastic, OK?” Trump said in the interview published Tuesday morning. “Both of those men are fantastic.”
Trump says he’s fixing affordability problems. He’ll test out that message at a rally — 8:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump will road-test his claims that he’s tackling Americans’ affordability woes at a Tuesday rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania — shifting an argument made in Oval Office appearances and social media posts to a campaign-style event.
The trip comes as polling consistently shows that public trust in Trump’s economic leadership has faltered. Following dismal results for Republicans in last month’s off-cycle elections, the White House has sought to convince voters that the economy will emerge stronger next year and that any anxieties over inflation have nothing to do with Trump.
The president’s reception in the county hosting his Tuesday rally could give a signal of just how much voters trust his claims. Monroe County flipped to Trump in the 2024 election after having backed Biden in 2020, helping the Republican to win the swing state of Pennsylvania and return to the White House after a four-year hiatus.
Federal Reserve set to cut rate but may signal a pause to come — 8:06 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Federal Reserve faces an unusually contentious meeting this week that will test Chair Jerome Powell’s ability to corral the necessary support from fellow policymakers for a third straight interest rate cut.
The Fed’s 19-member rate-setting committee is sharply divided over whether to lower borrowing costs again. The divisions have been exacerbated by the convoluted nature of the economy: Inflation remains elevated, which would typically lead the Fed to keep its key rate unchanged, while hiring is weak and the unemployment rate has risen, which often leads to rate cuts.
Some economists expect three Fed officials could vote against the quarter-point cut that Powell is likely to support at the Dec. 9-10 meeting, which would be the most dissenting votes in six years. Just 12 of the 19 members vote on rate decisions. Several of the non-voting officials have also said they oppose another rate cut.
Supreme Court weighs Republican appeal to end limits on party spending in federal elections — 8:05 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Supreme Court is considering a Republican-led drive, backed by Trump’s administration, to overturn a quarter-century-old decision and erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president.
A day after the justices indicated they would overturn a 90-year-old decision limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court is revisiting a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old.
Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law.
The limits stem from a desire to prevent large donors from skirting caps on individual contributions to a candidate by directing unlimited sums to the party, with the understanding that the money will be spent on behalf of the candidate.
The Federal Election Commission and the GOP argue that the court should cast a skeptical eye on the limits, in line with recent high court decisions. Led by Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative majority has upended a variety of congressionally enacted limits on raising and spending money to influence elections.
Trump approves sale of more advanced Nvidia computer chips used in AI to China — 8:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump said Monday that he would allow Nvidia to sell an advanced type of computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China.
There have been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips to be sold to China as it could help the country better compete against the US in building out AI capabilities, but there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
Nvidia said in a statement that it applauded Trump’s decision, saying the choice would support domestic manufacturing and that by allowing the Commerce Department to vet commercial customers it would “strike a thoughtful balance” on economic and national security priorities.
But a group of Democratic senators objected to the chip sales.
Supreme Court weighs Republican appeal to end limits on party spending in federal elections — 3:44 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Supreme Court is considering a Republican-led drive, backed by President Trump’s administration, to overturn a quarter-century-old decision and erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president.
A day after the justices indicated they would overturn a 90-year-old decision limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court is revisiting a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old.
Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law.
ICE arrests of Afghans are on the rise in the wake of National Guard attack, immigration lawyers say — 2:07 a.m.
By the Associated Press
On a recent afternoon, Giselle Garcia, a volunteer who has been helping an Afghan family resettle, drove the father to a check-in with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She warned him and his family to prepare for the worst.
The moment the father stepped into the ICE office in California’s capital city, he was arrested.
Coming just days after the shooting of two National Guard troops by an Afghan national suspect, federal authorities have carried out increased arrests of Afghans in the US, immigration lawyers say as Afghans both in and outside the country have come under intense scrutiny by immigration officials.
A Democrat takes on Trump-backed candidate for Miami mayor in a key Hispanic battleground — 1:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A candidate backed by President Trump and one supported by national Democratic figures face off Tuesday to be the next Miami mayor, in this sun-kissed city shaped by immigrants where both major parties are watching for a glimpse into their standing ahead of next year’s midterms, particularly among Hispanic voters.
If elected, Eileen Higgins would become the first Democrat to lead the city of 487,000 in nearly three decades. A win by Emilio Gonzalez could help calm the GOP as it seeks to maintain a grip in Miami and show its strength in a Hispanic-majority place.
The Miami mayoral runoff — one of the final electoral battles before the 2026 midterms — comes on the heels of Trump’s influence in shifting the city’s political landscape markedly to the right. That has made Higgins’ candidacy a test for Democratic prospects in Florida and among Latinos in other places.
Trump says he’s fixing affordability problems. He’ll test out that message at a rally. — 12:28 a.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump will road-test his claims that he’s tackling Americans’ affordability woes at a Tuesday rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania — shifting an argument made in Oval Office appearances and social media posts to a campaign-style event.
The trip comes as polling consistently shows that public trust in Trump’s economic leadership has faltered. Following dismal results for Republicans in last month’s off-cycle elections, the White House has sought to convince voters that the economy will emerge stronger next year and that any anxieties over inflation have nothing to do with Trump.