Donald Trump’s administration has begun firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) probationary employees who look after critical air traffic control infrastructure, according to their union, as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials are due to visit the FAA’s command center in Warrenton, Virginia, on Monday to consider reforms.
Trump and Musk are accelerating their purge of America’s federal bureaucracy, with thousands of workers laid off in the past week, including more than 300 staffers at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile.
Musk is now said to be seeking access to sensitive IRS data for every taxpayer, business and nonprofit agency.
On Sunday, the administration issued an appeal to the Supreme Court after an appeals court blocked the president’s firing of a government watchdog, the latest challenge to Trump’s belief in his own “Napoleonic” authority.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio has jetted out to Saudi Arabia in preparation for peace talks with Russia about ending the Ukraine war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned over the weekend that Vladimir Putin would carry out further aggressions against former Soviet satellite states in Europe without American support for the continent.
Key Points
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Trump administration fires ‘several hundred’ FAA employees ahead of DOGE visit, union says
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Marco Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia to meet Russian officials
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Elon Musk ‘seeking access’ to IRS system housing American taxpayers’ sensitive tax and financial information
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President suggests he’s above the law with ominous Napoleon quote
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Trump does laps in presidential limo at Daytona International Speedway
Julianne Moore in shock after children’s book ‘banned’ by Trump administration
13:15 , Joe Sommerlad
The Oscar-winning actress has reacted with “great shock” after finding out that her children’s book Freckleface Strawberry has reportedly been banned in schools by the Trump administration.
The book series follows a young girl with red hair and freckles, who is teased by her fellow students for it and feels different from everyone else.
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham, the first book was published in 2007, led to five more sequels also inspired a 2010 stage musical.
Shahana Yasmin has this on Moore’s eloquent response on Instagram.
Julianne Moore in ‘great shock’ after book ‘banned by Trump administration’
Watch: Fury over Trump sparks multiple brawls during US-Canada ice hockey match
13:00 , Joe Sommerlad
Fury over Trump sparks multiple brawls during US-Canada ice hockey match
Fox host gushes over ‘powerful, successful, handsome’ Trump and Musk
12:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Also debasing himself in front of the president this weekend was Brian Kilmeade on Fox News, who sought to shoot down questions over Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s increasingly democratically dubious partnerships by asking: “Why does the media have a hard time believing that two powerful successful handsome man could work together?”
Trump and Musk themselves likewise sought to address the optics on Friday, saying the following:
Also of note on Fox regarding the president was this surprisingly frank criticism of his first term from the usually-agreeable Jesse Watters.
New York congresswoman introduces bill to make Trump’s birthday a federal holiday
12:30 , Joe Sommerlad
Representative Claudia Tenney has introduced a commemorative bill to make Donald Trump’s birthday an official federal holiday in the latest act of shameless MAGA toadying to the commander-in-chief.
The celebratory order, introduced as “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act”, was proposed by Tenney, who declared in doing so: “This legislation would permanently codify a new federal holiday called “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day” on June 14 to honor this historic day.”
Her proposed annual event would coincide with the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the U.S. flag in 1777, otherwise known as Flag Day.
Madeline Sherratt reports.
New York Congresswoman introduces bill to make Trump’s birthday a federal holiday
Washington Post refuses to run $115,000 ad titled ‘Fire Elon Musk,’ report says
12:15
The Washington Post pulled out of running a $115,000 front and back page advert that called for Donald Trump to “fire” Elon Musk, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head, according to The Hill.
Members of Congress, political pundits and the public have watched the world’s richest man and his non-official advisory body, DOGE, tear through various government departments, as he attempts to slash bureaucracy and cut $2 trillion in federal spending.
Advocacy group Common Cause, in collaboration with the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, signed an agreement for a scathing anti-Musk wrap advert for Tuesday’s edition of the newspaper, as well as a full page inside the paper.
The newspaper containing the “Fire Elon Musk” wrap was meant to be delivered to subscribers at Congress, the Pentagon and the White House, only for the Post to get cold feet.
James Liddell has more.
Washington Post refuses to run $115,000 ad named ‘Fire Elon Musk’
Trump administration fires ‘several hundred’ FAA employees ahead of DOGE visit, union says
12:01 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s administration has begun firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) probationary employees who look after critical air traffic control infrastructure, according to their union, CNN reports.
The dismissals reportedly began on Friday and come less than three weeks on from the midair collision over Washington, D.C, between a passenger plane and a helicopter that killed 67 people and exposed shortages of air traffic controllers and FAA infrastructure issues.
Interestingly, Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on social media yesterday. that Elon Musk’s DOGE officials are due to visit the Air Traffic Control command center in Warrenton, Virginia, today as they look at reforms.
DOGE personnel will “get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system,” Duffy added.
Watch: Trump says Zelensky will be involved in Russia-Ukraine peace talks
11:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Trump says Zelensky will be involved in Russia peace talks after long call with Putin
Zelensky says he trusts Trump but wants to meet
11:25 , Joe Sommerlad
This is what the Ukrainian leader had to say about the American president himself:
John Bowden has more.
Ukraine’s Zelensky says he trusts Trump but wants to meet as US pushes peace talks
Zelensky warns Putin will ‘100%’ occupy Europe if US withdraws support
11:05 , Joe Sommerlad
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday and told host Kristen Welker that a withdrawal of American support from Kyiv would embolden Vladimir Putin’s Russia to carry out further aggressions against former Soviet satellite states in Europe.
Asked about Zelensky’s remarks at Daytona a short while later, Trump was naturally dismissive.
Here’s more from Holly Evans.
Putin will ‘100%’ occupy Europe if US withdraws Nato support, Zelensky warns
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire ethics watchdog
10:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump’s administration is asking the United States Supreme Court for permission to fire an ethics chief as he and Musk move quickly to gut the federal workforce, including agency officials and watchdogs.
The top official at the independent U.S. agency that protects government whistleblowers and enforces ethics rules sued the administration this month after he received an email from the president simply stating that his role is “terminated, effective immediately.”
A lawsuit from Hampton Dellinger, who leads the Office of Special Counsel, is one of at least three legal challenges from government officials testing the president’s authority to oust the heads of independent agencies.
Dellinger’s case at the Supreme Court could serve as an early test of the new administration’s authority as the president and Musk signal their willingness to obliterate checks and balances and reject court orders that don’t align with their agenda.
Here’s more from Alex Woodward.
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire ethics watchdog
Elon Musk ‘seeking access’ to IRS system housing American taxpayers’ sensitive tax and financial information
10:25 , Joe Sommerlad
Trump and his billionaire IT guy are reportedly planning to accelerate their purge of America’s federal bureaucracy, with thousands of workers laid off in the past week, including more than 300 staffers at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile.
Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are now said to be seeking access to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data for every taxpayer, business and nonprofit agency, according to The Washington Post.
The IRS systems contain guarded tax and financial information but the institution is said to be considering issuing a memorandum of understanding that would grant DOGE officials access after facing pressure from Trump’s White House.
Speaking of DOGE, here’s Rhian Lubin on its alleged next target: federal officials monitoring civil rights and discrimination.
DOGE targets federal officials monitoring civil rights and discrimination: report
Trump does laps in presidential limo at Daytona International Speedway
10:05 , Joe Sommerlad
The president drove a lap around the Daytona International Speedway in Florida in his armored presidential limousine yesterday and acted as grand marshal for the Daytona 500, waving the flag to start the race.
Trump has since flooded his Truth Social platform with clips of the stunt and pictures of his granddaughter Carolina, wearing a too-large MAGA cap.
He subsequently gave some rather tetchy answers to reporters, denying that his deputy JD Vance had threatened military action against Russia and brushing aside a question about the price of eggs, odd given that addressing inflation and the cost of living was the platform on which many voters supported him.
Here’s John Bowden to recount it all.
Trump drives around Daytona 500 track as he guts federal workforce
Marco Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia to meet Russian officials
09:45 , Joe Sommerlad
Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio has jetted out to Saudi Arabia in preparation for peace talks with Russia about ending the Ukraine war.
Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian officials in Riyadh this week, neutral ground on which to discuss drawing a line under the conflict as it approaches its third anniversary.
Here’s what Rubio had to tell Margaret Brennan on CBS News’s Face the Nation yesterday about Ukraine’s position in all of this:
And, for good measure, here’s what he had to say about his host, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in 2019, which may not have been forgotten.
This was Rubio arriving this morning at King Khalid International Airport and shaking hands with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Protocol Affairs, Abdulmajeed Al-Smari.
(Reuters)
Donald Trump Trump suggests he’s above the law with ominous Napoleon quote
09:25 , Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
Donald Trump sparked fresh alarm over the weekend by sharing a quote often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte claiming that “he who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” implying that he believes the President of the United States has limitless power and is above the law.
The official White House account on X also shared the message.
The president – whose efforts to gut federal funding, fire thousands of aid workers and unilaterally redefine the 14th Amendment were blocked in federal courts across the country in recent days – invoked a quote often attributed to Napoleon, who justified his despotic regime as the will of the people of France.
The quote from a president with his own imperial ambitions appeared to come from the 1970 film Waterloo, in which Rod Steiger’s Napoleon states that he “did not ‘usurp’ the crown.”
“I found it in the gutter, and I picked it up with my sword, and it was the people… who put it on my head,” he says.
“He who saves a nation violates no law.”
Here’s more from Alex Woodward.
Trump suggests he’s above the law with ominous Napoleon quote
Trump approves Kentucky emergency declaration
09:00 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump has declared an emergency in the state of Kentucky, after extreme bad weather caused at least nine deaths.
In response to Governor Andy Beshear’s request, the president granted assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency – which he has previously suggested he intends to shut down.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides beginning on February 14, 2025, and continuing,” a statement from the White House read.
It added: “FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.”
The Trump administration fired 200 workers at FEMA on Friday.
Musk just can’t stay off X
08:00 , Mike Bedigan
Elon Musk’s claim that he would be “offline until Monday” to hone an update to his AI feature “Grok” was short lived.
After announcing the release of Grok 3 with live demo on Monday night at 8pm PT, Musk wrote: “Will be honing product with the team all weekend, so offline until then.”
However, less than 12 hours later, he returned, writing: “Grok 3 is so based,” and sharing a screenshot of the AI blasting the “legacy media.”
New York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after ‘quid pro quo’ with Trump over criminal charges
07:00 , Mike Bedigan
Pressure is growing on New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office after an alleged “quid pro quo” with Donald Trump’s administration to drop charges against him in exchange for political allegiance.
From our team in New York:
New York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after Trump ‘quid pro quo’
Tallest peak in West Virginia to be renamed ‘Trump Mountain’ after president’s death
06:00 , Mike Bedigan
The West Virginia House of Delegates has introduced a bill that would see the state’s highest peak renamed “Trump Mountain” following the president’s death.
Resolution 33, introduced on Feb 14, proposes to rename Spruce Knob, in honor of Trump’s accomplishments.
This change would not happen immediately however, but five years after the death of the president “as a way to honor his enduring influence and connection to the state of West Virginia.”
“Whereas, The people of West Virginia, in overwhelming support, voted for Donald J. Trump in every county during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, reflecting a shared commitment to the values of freedom, economic prosperity, and patriotism,” the bill states.
In pictures: Trump greets drivers at Daytona International Speedway
04:00 , Mike Bedigan
(AP)
(AP)
‘This is your favorite president’: Trump talks to NASCAR drivers
03:00 , Mike Bedigan
Ukraine and Europe worry about being sidelined as Trump pushes direct talks with Russia on war’s end
02:00 , The Associated Press
President Donald Trump’s approach to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine has reportedly left European allies and Ukrainian officials worried they are being largely sidelined by the new U.S. administration as Washington and Moscow plan direct negotiations.
With the three-year war grinding on, Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian counterparts, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the upcoming diplomatic efforts and spoke on condition of anonymity.
It is unclear to what extent Ukrainian or European officials will be represented in discussions expected to take place in Riyadh in the coming days. The official said the United States sees negotiations as early-stage and fluid, and who ultimately ends up at the table could change.
In an exchange with reporters Sunday, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “will be involved” in the negotiations. Trump offered no further explanation.
Musk’s DOGE seeking access to IRS system with Americans’ sensitive tax and financial information
01:39 , Graig Graziosi
Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is reportedly trying to gain access to Internal Revenue Service systems that contain guarded tax and financial information for every taxypayer, business and nonprofit in the US, according to the Washington Post, citing sources familiar with DOGE’s actions.
The IRS is reportedly considering issuing a memorandum of understanding that would allow DOGE officials access after facing pressure from Trump’s White House.
Ukraine’s Zelensky says he trusts Donald Trump but wants to meet as US pushes peace talks with Russia
01:30 , Mike Bedigan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky detailed his recent phone call with President Donald Trump and his take on a possible peace agreement with Russia during an interview Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.
A trio of Trump advisers — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff — are set to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia next week to begin negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Ukrainian officials have not yet confirmed whether they will be represented at the meeting.
John Bowden has more:
Ukraine’s Zelensky says he trusts Trump but wants to meet as US pushes peace talks
Schools serving military service members’ kids are pulling books on civil rights history after Trump’s DEI threats
01:25 , Graig Graziosi
The federal education system that supports Defense Department schools around the world has ordered schools under its purview to remove books from their libraries that deal with any topic relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, following Donald Trump’s executive order.
The missive from the Department of Defense Education Activity was issued on February 6, forcing schools — like an elementary institution at the U.S. Army’s Fort Campbell in Kentucky — to round up books that don’t align with the Trump administration’s ideological views.
The order demands that employees at 161 elementary and high schools around the world “ensure compliance with executive orders and recent DoDEA guidance.”
READ MORE
Schools for military families pull books on civil rights after Trump’s DEI threats
Trump takes granddaughter Carolina to Daytona 500
01:00 , Mike Bedigan
(AP)
If Donald Trump doesn’t see JD Vance as his 2028 successor, who could be?
00:30 , Mike Bedigan
JD Vance may be the vice president — but that doesn’t mean he’ll be head of the Republican ticket in 2028.
Who could the president be eyeing to be the MAGA standard-bearer in the next election cycle? John Bowden mulls it over:
If Donald Trump doesn’t see JD Vance as his 2028 successor, who could that be?
Watch: Trump says he ‘doesn’t mind’ E.U. banning food imports from U.S.
00:00 , Mike Bedigan
Trump aide Stephen Miller suggests replacing AP’s seat in White House briefings
Sunday 16 February 2025 23:30 , Mike Bedigan
White House aide Stephen Miller has suggested that any number of “media outlets” could take over the Associated Press’s position within the White House press corp, including unnamed “extraordinary independent” press groups.
Miller made the comment on Saturday following backlash to Donald Trump’s administration barring AP reporters from presidential events over the agency’s refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” in its coverage.
Read the full story here:
Trump aide Stephen Miller suggests replacing AP’s seat in White House briefings
MAGA influencer who claims she birthed Elon Musk’s 13th child says she was told to keep the birth ‘a secret forever’
Sunday 16 February 2025 23:00 , Mike Bedigan
MAGA influencer Ashley St Clair, who claims to have given birth to Elon Musk’s 13th child, says she was asked to keep her baby a “secret forever.”
The 26-year-old says that the billionaire, who she described as “down to earth” and “funny” had asked her to keep his name off the birth certificate in order to protect his privacy, she revealed in an interview.
The pair allegedly met after Musk, 53, “slid into her DMs” on X.
Read more here:
MAGA influencer claims she was told to keep Elon Musk’s 13th child ‘a secret forever’
Watch: Trump says he told Netanyahu ‘do whatever you want’ to get hostages home
Sunday 16 February 2025 22:00 , Mike Bedigan
New: Trump asks Supreme Court to fire ethics chief as mass purge runs into legal roadblocks
Sunday 16 February 2025 21:30 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump’s administration is asking the Supreme Court for permission to fire an ethics chief as the president and Elon Musk move quickly to gut the federal workforce, including agency officials and watchdogs.
The top official at the independent U.S. agency that protects government whistleblowers and enforces ethics rules sued the administration this month after he received an email from the president simply stating that his role is “terminated, effective immediately.”
Alex Woodward has the full story:
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire ethics watchdog
Trump approves Kentucky emergency declaration
Sunday 16 February 2025 21:00 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump has declared an emergency in the state of Kentucky, after extreme bad weather caused at least nine deaths.
In response to Governor Andy Beshear’s request, the president granted assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency – which he has previously suggested he intends to shut down.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and landslides beginning on February 14, 2025, and continuing,” a statement from the White House read.
It added: “FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.”
The Trump administration fired 200 workers at FEMA on Friday.
Tallest peak in West Virginia to be renamed ‘Trump Mountain’ after president’s death
Sunday 16 February 2025 20:30 , Mike Bedigan
The West Virginia House of Delegates has introduced a bill that would see the state’s highest peak renamed “Trump Mountain” following the president’s death.
Resolution 33, introduced on Feb 14, proposes to rename Spruce Knob, in honor of Trump’s accomplishments.
This change would not happen immediately however, but five years after the death of the president “as a way to honor his enduring influence and connection to the state of West Virginia.”
“Whereas, The people of West Virginia, in overwhelming support, voted for Donald J. Trump in every county during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, reflecting a shared commitment to the values of freedom, economic prosperity, and patriotism,” the bill states.
Another angle: Trump on the track
Sunday 16 February 2025 20:00 , Mike Bedigan
In pictures: Trump meets drivers at Daytona 500
Sunday 16 February 2025 19:30 , Mike Bedigan
(AP)
(AP)
(AP)
(AP)
Trump gives pre-race interview
Sunday 16 February 2025 19:15 , Mike Bedigan
Watch: Trump does laps in presidential limo at Daytona International Speedway
Sunday 16 February 2025 19:00 , Mike Bedigan
Who is in Trump’s entourage for the Daytona 500
Sunday 16 February 2025 18:30 , Mike Bedigan
Joining the president in Florida for the Daytona 500 are:
Trump sends ‘presidential message’ ahead of Daytona 500
Sunday 16 February 2025 18:00 , Mike Bedigan
Ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500, Donald Trump released a statement in which he hailed the iconic race as “bringing together people from all walks of life.”
“Today, I look forward to joining tens of thousands of American Patriots in Daytona Beach, Florida, for the ‘Great American Race’ – the legendary Daytona 500 – and the official start to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series,” he said.
“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation.
“When the engines start or the checkered flag waves, and all 500 thrilling miles in between, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians stand ready to defend cherished traditions like this—and for that, we are truly thankful.
“Melania and I send our best wishes for a safe and successful race. May God bless our Armed Forces, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”
When is the Daytona 500?
Sunday 16 February 2025 17:30 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump is currently making his way across Florida for the start of the Daytona 500, marking the start of the 2025 NASCAR season.
Sunday’s race at the Daytona International Speedway will begin at 1.30 p.m., and is being broadcast on Fox.
According to the president’s schedule, provided by the White House, Trump is supposed to arrive at around 1.10 p.m. to see the Green Flag.
He will leave around two hours later at 3.05 p.m., according to his schedule.
In 2020, Trump started the race, serving as the grand marshal. The presidential limo also joined the other pace cars and safety vehicles on the track and led the 40-car field through a pre-race lap.
Before becoming president, Trump made at least three other appearances at Daytona 500 – in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Officials struggling to contact nuclear safety staff who were mistakenly fired
Sunday 16 February 2025 17:00 , Mike Bedigan
The National Nuclear Security Administration is reportedly struggling to rehire hundreds of staff members that were mistakenly fired because it does not have contact information for them.
The U.S. nuclear watchdog has been attempting to notify some employees who had been let go that they are now due to be reinstated but do not have new contact information.
NBC reported that an email sent to employees at the NNSA on Friday, officials wrote: “The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel.”
The individuals were among around 300 who had been fired on Thursday and lost access to their federal government email accounts.
New York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after ‘quid pro quo’ with Trump over criminal charges
Sunday 16 February 2025 16:30 , Alex Woodward
Pressure is growing on New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office after an alleged “quid pro quo” with Donald Trump’s administration to drop charges against him in exchange for political allegiance.
From our team in New York:
New York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after Trump ‘quid pro quo’
Musk just can’t stay off X
Sunday 16 February 2025 16:00 , Mike Bedigan
Elon Musk’s claim that he would be “offline until Monday” to hone an update to his AI feature “Grok” was short lived.
After announcing the release of Grok 3 with live demo on Monday night at 8pm PT, Musk wrote: “Will be honing product with the team all weekend, so offline until then.”
However, less than 12 hours later, he returned, writing: “Grok 3 is so based,” and sharing a screenshot of the AI blasting the “legacy media.”
Trump to attend Daytona 500
Sunday 16 February 2025 15:30 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump will attend the world famous Daytona 500 race in Florida as the 2025 NASCAR season begins.
According to the White House the president will arrive at the Daytona International Speedway just before the green flag at 1.10 p.m., before heading back to Mar-a-Lago two hours later.
Trump suggests he’s above the law with ominous Napoleon quote
Sunday 16 February 2025 15:00 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump appeared to quote Napoleon Bonaparte by way of Rod Steiger on Saturday afternoon after his blitzkrieg of executive actions and threats to federal agencies under Elon Musk were challenged in courts across the country, raising alarms that his administration is preparing to shred court orders and ignite a constitutional crisis.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” the president wrote on Truth Social and X.
Alex Woodward has the full story:
Trump suggests he’s above the law with ominous Napoleon quote
ICYMI: MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair claims she had son with Elon Musk five months ago
Sunday 16 February 2025 14:30 , Rhian Lubin
A right-wing influencer claims she is the mother of billionaire Elon Musk’s 13th child, according to a post she made on X.
Ashley St. Clair, a 26-year-old MAGA writer, wrote in a post on X on Friday night that she and Musk share a five-month-old child.
“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,” she wrote. “I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.”
St. Clair did not detail which media organization was seeking information about her and her child. News organizations typically will request comment from subjects prior to a story’s publication, which may explain how St. Clair learned that a story about her alleged child with the world’s wealthiest man was in the works.
“I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child’s privacy, and refrain from invasive reporting,” St. Clair added.
St. Clair has not provided evidence that the child she shares with Musk exists. The Independent has requested comment from Musk.
Brian Glicklich, St. Clair’s representative, shared a statement on Saturday night in a post on X that claimed his client and Musk “have been privately working towards the creation of an agreement about raising their child for some time.”
MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair claims she had son with Elon Musk five months ago
Trump aides and Russian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia next week for Ukraine talks – report
Sunday 16 February 2025 14:00 , Rhian Lubin
Trump administration aides are due to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia next week to begin discussions to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, according to reports.
Three top foreign policy aides will travel to Riyadh next week following President Donald Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, according to the New York Times.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are the three Trump officials who will attend, according to the Times, citing a person familiar with the plans.
But when asked whether Ukrainian officials would be present, the source did not say, “a sign” that the nation would probably not take part in next week’s talks, according to the Times.
Trump previously said that Ukraine would be part of the discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine must be involved in the talks about its fate.
European allies are meanwhile set to attend a crisis summit after the U.S. effectively barred them from peace talks with the Russian leader.
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine revealed that Europe would be consulted but ultimately excluded from the peace talks.
Asked if they would be present, Keith Kellogg said he was from “the school of realism, and that is not going to happen.”
Trump and Putin spoke on the phone this week (AFP via Getty Images)
Trump administration axes over 400 jobs from DHS as purge continues
Sunday 16 February 2025 13:30 , Rhian Lubin
The Trump administration has axed 405 staffers at the Department of Homeland Security as it continues to ruthlessly gut the federal government.
Most of the cuts were made at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which Trump and Elon Musk have both railed against, resulting in 200 people losing their jobs.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cut 130 jobs, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made cuts of 50, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate lost 10.
A DHS spokesperson told The Hill that the cuts were made “to eliminate egregious waste and incompetence that has been happening for decades at the expense of the American taxpayer.”
Analysis: Trump is desperate to be a strong man – but other people are calling the shots
Sunday 16 February 2025 06:00 , Mike Bedigan
The president has started his second-term with a blizzard of announcements, each one more controversial than the next, writes Jon Sopel.
Read more here:
Trump is desperate to be a strong man – but other people are calling the shots
