What we covered here
• Unpaid workers: Hundreds of thousands of people are missing their first full paychecks of the government shutdown today as the impasse extends into another week. Here’s a visual guide of what’s impacted by the shutdown.
• Trade war: President Donald Trump said he was terminating trade talks with Canada in response to an anti-tariff ad released by the Ontario province government, plunging relations into fresh crisis.
• Venezuela buildup: As for another diplomatic flashpoint, three US officials told CNN that Trump is considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela.
• Monitoring news: Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced late today it will monitor polling sites in six counties in California and New Jersey ahead of November 4 elections.
Our live coverage has ended for the day. Get the latest here.
Trump says he hopes China can "help" the US on Russia
President Donald Trump said he hopes China can “help us out” in Washington’s dealings with Russia and its war in Ukraine.
“We want China to help us out on Russia,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One as he embarked on a trip to Asia, during which he is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“We’ll have a good meeting. I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a great meeting, maybe a great meeting,” he said.
“One of the things we’ll talk about is the Russia, Ukraine, they’re killing 7,000 people a week, soldiers, mostly soldiers, and we’ll certainly be talking about that.”
Trump says he doesn’t plan to name new White House ballroom after himself
President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesn’t plan to name his new White House ballroom after himself.
“I don’t have any plan to call it after myself. That was fake news,” Trump said as he departed the White House for his trip to Asia, referring to reports that he plans to name the ballroom after himself.
“We’re probably going to call it the presidential ballroom or something like that. We haven’t really thought about a name yet,” Trump added, suggesting that it may be called the presidential ballroom “or something like that.”
Trump’s remarks come after the East Wing was demolished earlier this week to build the ballroom. The White House released a list of donors for the ballroom, which included Apple, Amazon, Google and Meta.
The president boasted about the funds raised today, saying, “Well we’ve raised a lot. We’re raised over $350 million.”
During his remarks while departing the White House, Trump suggested that some of the funds from the ballroom could be redirected toward a new monument in Washington, DC.
“The arc is going to be incredible,” Trump said, referring to an arch he wants to build across the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary.
Trump says he has “no plans” to meet with Carney after canceling trade talks with Canada
President Donald Trump said Friday he does not plan to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, just moments before departing the White House for his trip to Asia.
Asked by reporters whether he intended to hold talks with Carney, who will also be in Asia, Trump replied, “No, I don’t have any plan to.”
“What they did is really dishonest. And I heard they were pulling the ad. I didn’t know they were putting it on a little bit more. They could have pulled it tonight.” Trump said.
“Well, that’s dirty playing, but I can play dirtier than they can,” Trump added.
Later aboard Air Force One, when asked what Canada can do restart talks, Trump said, “I don’t think there’s much they can do.”
Trump announced Thursday that he was terminating trade talks with Canada, threatening to upend the economic relationship between the United States and its second-largest trading partner, over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-tariff speech delivered by former President Ronald Reagan.
On Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that after speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the US ad campaign would pause on Monday “so that trade talks can resume” – but not before it runs during MLB’s World Series games over the weekend.
This post has been updated with additional details.
Trump says he’d “like to” meet with Kim Jong Un in Asia
President Donald Trump said he would “like to” meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un but was unsure if a meeting would happen on his trip to Asia.
“I don’t know, he knows I’m going there,” Trump said Friday night as he departed the South Lawn for Joint Base Andrews.
Pressed if he would meet with Kim Jong Un during his travel to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, Trump didn’t rule it out.
“I don’t know. We let him know. He knows that I’m going there. I get along with him very well,” Trump said.
Trump signals food stamps will be funded next month if shutdown continues, without providing details
President Donald Trump signaled that his administration will continue to fund food stamps through next month if the shutdown continues, without providing specific details.
“Yeah, everybody is going to be in good shape, yep,” Trump told CNN on the South Lawn when asked if he would direct the Department of Agriculture to fund food stamps next month.
Trump’s comments come after CNN reported that the Agriculture Department will not tap into a $6 billion contingency fund to cover food stamp benefits next month, according to an agency memo.
Tourists and residents weigh in on White House East Wing demolition
Here’s what Washington, D.C. residents and tourists tell CNN they think about the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make room for a $300 billion ballroom.
Washington, D.C. residents and tourists tell CNN what they think about the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make room for a $300 billion ballroom.
Trump argues New Jersey is "turning Republican very quickly" during tele-rally for GOP candidate for governor
President Donald Trump argued New Jersey is becoming a red state, pointing to his own gains in the state during the 2024 presidential election as he held a tele-rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli.
Though he lost the state to former Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump slashed his loss margin by 10 points – losing by only six points compared to 16 points against President Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump repeatedly talked about the state’s high utility costs, which has emerged as a top issue in the race, arguing Ciattarelli was prepared to solve the problem.
“If you vote Republican, your energy costs are going to go down tremendously,” said Trump. “If you vote Democrat for [Rep. Mikie Sherrill], in other words, your energy costs are going to go - they’re just going to go through the roof. The cost will be higher than anybody in the country.”
“I’m going to work with Jack, and that’s the other thing. He’s got a friend in the White House where she certainly doesn’t and you’re going to see some big results,” he added.
Trump encouraged voters to participate in early-voting, which kicks off tomorrow, while stating his own preference of casting ballots in-person. The president pointed listeners to the website “Swampthevoteusa.com” for information about voting.
The president also criticized Sherrill, currently a member of the House of Representatives, as a “fake and corrupt radical left Democrat” who will “send New Jersey into a death spiral.”
DOJ to monitor polling sites in six counties in California and New Jersey
The Justice Department announced today it will monitor polling sites in six counties in California and New Jersey ahead of November 4 elections, as voters prepare to cast their ballots in less than two weeks.
The department said the move, which focuses on two Democratic-led states, will “ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.”
“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
The practice of sending federal election monitors to local jurisdictions dates back decades, though the Trump administration has tried to assert new authority over elections.
The following sites will be monitored, according to the Justice Department:
- Kern County, California
- Riverside County, California
- Fresno County, California
- Orange County, California
- Los Angeles County, California
- Passaic County, New Jersey
CNN has reached out to these counties’ election departments for comment.
Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement, “The presence of election observers is not unusual and is a standard practice across the country.”
“Federal election monitors, like all election observers, are welcome to view election activities at designated locations to confirm transparency and integrity in the election process,” Logan added. “California has very clear laws and guidelines that support observation and prohibit election interference.”
Fresno County Clerk James Kus told CNN that Justice Department “has not contacted” him about the monitoring, adding “The Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters welcomes all observers for our elections.”
Upcoming races: On November 4, Californians will be voting on a new congressional map that could give Democrats up to five additional seats in the US House. Meanwhile, voters in New Jersey will be voting for governor.
Maduro says US is “inventing a new eternal war" as he announces creation of international brigades
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the United States is “inventing a new eternal war” as it builds up its military presence in the Caribbean.
“They promised that they would never get into a war again, and they are inventing a war,” Maduro said today.
He also said Venezuela was mobilizing “the people of South America” and that an international volunteer force would be formed to defend the country.
CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government and US State Department for comment.
Earlier today, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier strike group currently stationed in Europe to the Caribbean region.
Maduro has not yet commented on the deployment.
More on Venezuela: See details below on Trump’s plan, according to sources, to target cocaine facilities inside the country.
According to three officials who spoke to CNN, President Donald Trump is considering targeting cocaine facilities inside Venezuela, despite the country not being a major producer of the drug. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also ordered the world's largest aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean region amid a massive buildup of US forces there. CNN's Kylie Atwood reports.
FAA says there are now more delays due to air traffic control staffing issues. Here's the latest
Four additional air traffic control facilities are short-staffed, according to a 6 p.m. ET operations update, bringing the total number of Federal Aviation Administration facilities that have seen problems Friday to 11 and causing some delays.
Here’s the latest information:
- The Southern California TRACON, which handles flights approaching or departing airports will now be short-staffed until 1 a.m. ET. A second air traffic control staffing shortage at the same facility will last until midnight ET. The staffing issues have caused delays into San Diego. Flights headed to the airport will have to wait an average of about 45 minutes before taking off.
- Air traffic control centers, which handle flights at high altitudes, reported additional problems, including New York center until 10 p.m. ET, along with two parts of Albuquerque center until 1 a.m. ET.
- Some of the flights heading to New York’s LaGuardia from the west may be routed to approach via Boston center airspace, due to the short staffing, the FAA update noted.
- Centers are also short staffed around Atlanta until 9:30 p.m. ET and Denver until 7:30 p.m. ET. Flights into Denver have been warned that they may see delays and should bring extra fuel.
- Earlier today, staffing shortages were reported at Newark’s control tower, which have been resolved, but the facility that handles flights approaching and departing the New Jersey airport is still short staffed until 9 p.m. ET.
- Houston’s approach facility also will not have its full complement of controllers until midnight ET. Planes headed to the city’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport are currently being delayed on the ground an average of more than half an hour
- Problems persist at the control tower at Phoenix Sky Harbor from 8:30 p.m. ET to 1 a.m. ET. Flights headed to Phoenix average delays of about 30 minutes, the FAA said.
- The control tower at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will not have its full complement of staffing from until 10:30 p.m. ET.
There have been 222 staffing shortages reported since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number reported on the same dates last year.
This post was updated with details of the impact of staffing shortages at the TRACON facility in Southern California.
Debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing used as fill for DC golf course
As President Donald Trump weathers criticism over the demolition of the White House’s East Wing, dirt from the project is being dumped at someplace familiar to him – a golf course.
Trucks this afternoon drove onto the picturesque and historic East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, DC, dumping fill dirt from the White House grounds.
One construction worker, who did not want to be named because the person is not authorized to speak with the media, confirmed to CNN that the dirt came from the East Wing of the White House. The East Wing was recently demolished to make room for President Donald Trump’s new ballroom.
CNN observed four dump trucks over the course of about an hour deposit dirt at the site and a bulldozer then assemble dirt mounds.
A handful of construction workers were at the site as nearby golfers made their rounds on the links, which sits on an island in the Potomac River.
A few curious people, including some golfers, stopped to ask what was happening.
One passing biker remarked how ironic it was that the dirt was being added to a golf course – given the president’s fondness for the game.
Workers also unloaded fencing from a truck bed and reinforced the barriers around the site which is located between holes five and six. A National Park Services employee was also seen putting up signs that read: “DO NOT ENTER RESTRICTED AREA ” at the entrance of the construction site.
CNN has reached out to the East Potomac Golf Links, the National Park Service, and the US Park Police for comment.
See the latest below on the demolition.
This post was updated with more details on the dumping of the debris today.
A day in politics with CNN. These are headlines you should know
It’s Friday and the government is still closed, President Donald Trump is about to set off for Asia and there are further developments in international trade wars.
These are political headlines across CNN that you should know about:
- We started the day reporting on the Department of Homeland Security funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the US in an arrangement aimed at getting the centers built faster, according to sources and federal contracting documents.
- Then we had analysis on how Americans seem to see through Trump’s legal retribution campaign against his perceived political foes.
- Read how Washington mega lawyer Abbe Lowell, 73, is the fresh face defending many of Trump’s perceived enemies in criminal investigations, security clearance revocations, and other matters.
- And ahead of a weekend summit between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, we outline just what is at stake.
- We also have analysis on how Trump’s pardoning of Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of crypto exchange Binance, sends a clear message to white collar criminals.
- And as the government is still shutdown, the impact is spreading through the economy.
- Trump has canceled trade negotiations with Canada over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-tariff speech delivered by conservative hero and former President Ronald Reagan. Find out what the ad was really about.
- We covered how just days after Trump imposed sanctions on Moscow, a top Russian envoy visited the US for “official” talks.
- Trump claimed that grocery prices are “way down,” but that isn’t quite the case. Get the fact check here.
- And with tension rising with Venezuela, Trump is considering plans to target cocaine facilities inside the country, officials say. Get the details here.
- We looked into how the US administration plans to funnel a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of Trump’s toward paying military service members during the government shutdown.
- How top Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives have taken a Thursday quote from the White House press secretary out of context to deliver a misleading attack on Trump. Read more here.
- Read about how the lingering government shutdown is jeopardizing the safety of air travel and causing flight delays.
- We brought you reporting on how the US Treasury sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro “for his role in the global illicit drug trade.”
Democratic lawmaker gets ignored at House pro forma as Grijalva goes a month without swearing in
Democratic Rep. April McClain Delaney tried to get recognized during a pro forma session today in the House to call on Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, but she was ignored.
“I came in here today as part of the Democratic caucus to really uplift again during the pro forma that the speaker should be directed to administer the oath of office to Rep. Grijalva from the great state of Arizona,” she told a group of reporters Friday.
The Republican in the chair, Rep. Adrian Smith, did not recognize Delaney and ended the session.
“The speaker should be directed to administer the oath of office. … Thirty-one days ago she was elected and yet she still has not been administered the oath? … It’s ridiculous because the people of Arizona deserve representation. They deserve to have their constituent offices, to have legislation, and for her to start getting moving,” McClain Delaney said.
Democrats have repeatedly called on Johnson to swear in Grijalva, but he has held firm that she will not be sworn in until the House is back in regular session and the government is reopened.
Johnson in recent weeks has kept the House out of session and lawmakers in their home districts while the Senate attempts to pass the GOP’s stopgap government funding proposal.
Smith, when asked about his message to federal workers that have gone without pay during the shutdown, said: “Well, I appreciate their service. I appreciate the challenges that they face. And this is an avoidable situation, avoidable especially by Chuck Schumer.”
Ontario premier says it will pause ad campaign featuring Ronald Reagan and criticizing US tariffs on Monday
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the ad campaign criticizing US tariffs would pause on Monday “so that trade talks can resume” between the two countries.
The advertisements were released last week by the government of Canada’s Ontario province and were running in the US. Yesterday, President Donald Trump said he was ending trade talks with Canada in response.
Ford said he made the decision to end the ads after speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The ads featured featured audio from a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan where he lambasted tariffs as hurting “every American worker and consumer” and “triggering fierce trade wars.”
The Ronald Reagan Foundation later claimed it “misrepresents” the speech, and that the Ontario government had not asked permission to use the clip.
Watch the ad below
Ending extended holdout, House minority leader endorses Mamdani for NYC mayor ahead of early voting
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, ending an extended holdout that was being closely watched.
The top House Democrat had long set early voting as his self-imposed deadline to address the race. For months, he had been among several senior Democrats who had declined for months to back Mamdani after his surprise victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the primary in June.
Among the points of tension between the Mamdani and Jeffries camps was talk by democratic socialists of challenging Jeffries and other US House Democrats in primaries. A top Jeffries aide dismissed some of Mamdani’s allies as being for “Team Gentrification.”
Donors to White House ballroom effort might get names etched in the new stone, officials say
Donors helping finance President Donald Trump’s new East Wing ballroom might get their names displayed on a plaque or etched into the new stone or in the ballroom itself, though no final decisions have been made, two White House officials told CNN.
The donors received a pledge form from the White House earlier this year, giving them the option to make contributions in a lump sum or spread them out over three payments by 2027, the officials said.
The form, which says it is for “The Donald J. Trump Ballroom at the White House,” also states that donors may be eligible to leave their mark on the new ballroom as recognition of their contribution. The name for the new ballroom has not yet been officially decided, the officials said, despite the reference to “The Donald J. Trump Ballroom” on the form.
Donors also will have the option not to publicize their contributions.
Bloomberg News first reported on the pledge.
Senate Democrats to force votes on reversing tariffs on Canada and other countries next week
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Senate Democrats will force votes on reversing tariffs on Canada and other countries next week.
“Americans cannot afford Donald Trump’s price-spiking tariff temper tantrums. These constant tantrums end up costing Americans real money. Refusing to negotiate with Canada to alleviate the tariffs will ensure that Americans continue to pay an average of $1,300 due to higher prices on everything from lumber to beef,” Schumer said in a statement.
“The madness must stop. Next week, Senate Democrats will force votes to reverse Donald Trump’s damaging tariffs on Canada and other countries that have been one of the driving forces behind higher prices. Americans will see if Republicans put Donald Trump or average families first.”
Sen. Tim Kaine told CNN earlier this week that he thinks they will also vote on reversing tariffs on Brazil and the countries included in the so-called “liberation day” tariffs announcement.
Jeffries says he's "refused to articulate" position on Mamdani but will "at some point" ahead of early voting
A day ahead of early voting starting in the New York mayoral race, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries continued to dodge on why he has yet to endorse Zohran Mamdani.
Jeffries continued to say “stay tuned.”
“I will have more to say about the mayor’s race when I have more to say about the mayor’s race in advance of early voting when I’m back home tomorrow,” he said.
Jeffries started out his Friday press conference by calling out rising inflation numbers and called on Republicans to end their four week “vacation.”
Pressed again about what can be done to prevent people from losing critical food assistance in November during the ongoing government shutdown, Jeffries said President Donald Trump can tap into emergency funds, but he accused Republicans of trying to “weaponize hunger.”
Newark air traffic control tower reports first staffing shortage of the day
The first air traffic controller staffing shortage of what could be a busy day has been reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Newark Liberty International Airport’s air traffic control tower is short-staffed until 2 p.m. ET, according to the most recent publicly available operations plan.
The problems at the airport are not expected to cause a major impact, but it is the first report of what could be a significant number of staffing issues.
Since the start of the shutdown, Friday evenings have typically seen more air traffic controllers not come to work than most other parts of the week.
The FAA also reported an additional air traffic control staffing problem at the Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control, which handles flights in and out of the city’s airports. It will be short staffed until at least 4 p.m. ET. It has not had its normal complement of controllers each of the last four days, which at times has led to delays at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
There have been 211 staffing shortages reported since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number reported on the same dates last year.
Remember: Air traffic controllers are required to work during the government shutdown but are not being paid. Transportation secretary Sean Duffy has noted some controllers are calling out sick because of the shutdown. Duffy is expected to hold a news conference at Philadelphia International Airport this afternoon.
Not every staffing problem causes delays, as air traffic controllers can route flights to airspace where more people are working, but sometimes there is no choice but to slow flights down so the controllers who show up can maintain safety.
This post has been updated with additional reporting on delays in Houston.
