President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on July 3, most of whom were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by modifying or disabling emissions controls on diesel trucks. The pardons included a major political donor who pleaded guilty in a fraud case involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Trump argued the individuals were "persecuted by the Biden administration" and claimed they were imprisoned for "fixing their car." The move drew sharp criticism from environmental groups.
The United States celebrated its 250th Independence Day on July 4, with President Donald Trump headlining events at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall. The celebration was marred by a brutal heatwave that forced cancellation of the National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Joe Biden each issued statements. The day highlighted deep political divisions even as the nation marked the historic milestone.
A federal court ordered the Trump administration to rehire intelligence officers who were fired earlier this year, ruling that the mass dismissals violated federal employment law. The decision marks a legal setback for the administration's efforts to reshape the intelligence community. Separately, the Supreme Court recently upheld birthright citizenship, and Republicans in Congress derailed a Pentagon policy bill amid internal party divisions over voting legislation backed by President Trump.
President Trump's financial disclosure reveals $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings, mostly from meme coins, while his administration pushes crypto-friendly policies. Historians call the windfall unprecedented for a sitting president, and the White House declined to say how much tax Trump paid on the income.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld birthright citizenship, ruling 6-3 that children born in the United States are automatically citizens regardless of their parents' immigration status. The decision struck down President Donald Trump's executive order that sought to end the long-standing constitutional principle for children born to undocumented or temporary immigrants. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that children born in the U.S. to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens under the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause.
The US Supreme Court struck down long-standing campaign finance restrictions on June 30, ruling 6-3 that limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with individual candidates violate the First Amendment. The case, brought by Vice President JD Vance, removes caps on coordinated spending ahead of the November midterm elections. President Trump called the decision 'a big win for Republicans and free speech.' The ruling marks the latest in a series of Court decisions loosening campaign finance regulations.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents can fire Federal Trade Commission members at will, overturning the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent that protected independent agencies from political removal. The decision hands President Trump broad new power over two dozen federal agencies including the FTC, SEC, and FCC, reshaping the balance of power in the executive branch.
President Donald Trump is pushing Syria's government to confront Hezbollah militants operating near Syrian territory, a move that has raised alarms in both Lebanon and Israel. The administration sees the effort as part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran-aligned forces across the region, but critics warn it could destabilize Lebanon's fragile government.
Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to mishandling classified documents, agreeing to pay $2.25 million and facing up to five years in prison. The plea follows revelations that Bolton retained classified materials including intelligence reports and memos after leaving the White House. Separately, Texas approved a curriculum requiring Bible stories in elementary schools, and House Republicans subpoenaed billionaire Leon Black over Epstein ties.
The US Supreme Court on June 25 issued two rulings that allow the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and to enforce its asylum metering policy at the southern border. The decisions mark a major legal victory for the administration's hardline immigration agenda and could affect over 400,000 TPS holders from countries including Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras.