What we're covering
• Epstein files: President Donald Trump encouraged House Republicans to vote this week to release more files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a stark reversal in the president’s position as momentum grows in support of the effort in Congress.
• Political breakup: Meanwhile, Trump is feuding with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch ally, who told CNN the rift “has all come down to the Epstein files.” Greene is among a handful of Republicans who are adamant about releasing the documents.
• Venezuela tensions: Trump has yet to make a decision on whether to attack Venezuela on land, officials tell CNN, as the president hints a window may be opening for diplomacy. This comes after the US increased pressure on the South American country over the weekend, saying it will designate a Venezuelan cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
Thune still mulling whether to schedule a vote in Senate on compelling release of Epstein files, source says
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is considering options as he weighs scheduling a vote on a bill demanding the government release the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a GOP leadership aide.
That bill is expected to pass the House this week. Thune is not expected to announce anything until after the House votes on it, the source said. His position is critical because the measure would have to pass the Senate before becoming law and prompting the release of the files.
More on Thune’s stance on the matter: In the past, the Republican Senate leader has said he trusts President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice to handle the Epstein matter appropriately. But he has also cast doubt on the need to pass legislation to force the release of the files because DOJ had already released thousands of pages.
In September, he was asked by CNN if he believes legislation to force the release of the Epstein files should get a vote in the Senate.
Meanwhile, the president made a stark reversal last night on his position and encouraged the House to vote to release the files.
A timeline of the most recent US military boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific
CNN is keeping track of the US military boat strike campaign the Trump administration says is aimed at curtailing the flow of drugs into the United States.
Some 83 people have been killed in at least 20 strikes. The administration has told Congress it is now in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, starting with its first strike in September.
These are the strikes the US has carried out in the month of November so far:
- November 1: The US military carried out a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea and killed three people on board, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
- November 4: Hegseth announced the US military struck another vessel “involved in illicit narcotics smuggling” in the eastern Pacific, killing two people on board.
- November 6: The US military conducted a strike against a vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, Hegseth said. “The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean and was struck in international waters,” he added in a post on X.
- November 9: The US military carried out another attack against suspected drug boats, killing six people in the Eastern Pacific. The military launched two lethal strikes against two separate vessels “operated by designated terrorist organizations,” Hegseth wrote on X, without disclosing which organizations the ships’ crew are believed to have been affiliated with.
- November 10: The Pentagon conducted its 20th strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat, a Defense Department official said, adding: “The strike occurred in the Caribbean and four narco-terrorists were killed, no survivors.”
- November 15: The Pentagon conducted the 21st known strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat, killing three people aboard the vessel, US Southern Command announced.
Trump expected to focus on affordability at McDonald's Impact Summit
President Donald Trump is expected to focus on affordability during remarks at McDonald’s Impact Summit on Monday night, a White House official confirmed.
Trump will also speak about some of his wins in what he calls his “one, big, beautiful bill,” including no tax on tips, overtime pay and Social Security — which he promised to deliver as a candidate. Axios was first to report on the focus of Trump’s remarks in Washington, DC.
On Sunday, Trump teased some price relief, saying his administration spent the weekend trying to lower prices.
“You’re going to see some of the items that were a little bit higher … we’re going to have some little price reductions, and in some cases, some pretty good ones,” Trump said.
On the campaign trail, Trump visited McDonald’s, wearing an apron and serving fries at a drive-thru in Pennsylvania.
But he has faced criticism recently from former allies, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who said Trump needs to pay more attention to issues facing Americans, rather than going on foreign trips and hosting foreign leaders at the White House.
After GOP losses in elections earlier this month, Trump has fixated on the Democrats’ use of the word “affordability,” calling it a “con job.”
Trump still considering whether to take direct military action against Venezuela, officials say
President Donald Trump has yet to make a decision as he considers whether to attack Venezuela on land, according to a White House official and a senior US official, as he hints a window may be opening for diplomacy.
As American military forces amass in the region — including the most advanced US aircraft carrier and 15,000 personnel — Trump is hoping the pressure is enough to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down without taking direct military action, the US official said.
Trump received briefings on military options on three consecutive days last week. The options ranged in intensity, from strikes on military or government facilities to special operations raids. The option of doing nothing also still exists.
The president has, at points, voiced some reservations about taking direct military action inside Venezuela. He’s questioned the risks posed for US troops and asked about the likelihood of success.
Trump is also attuned to fresh criticism from some of his allies that his attention is overly focused abroad, rather than on domestic matters.
It wasn’t immediately clear what signals the administration had received that Maduro was prepared for a fresh round of diplomacy. Last month, amid quiet efforts at brokering an agreement with Caracas, Trump instructed his team to cut off diplomatic outreach to Maduro and top Venezuelan officials.
At the time, Trump and senior officials were frustrated Maduro wasn’t agreeing to step down voluntarily.
What Trump is facing at the White House this week
From economic insecurity across the country to his falling out with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and a potentially scaled-up military campaign in Venezuela, President Donald Trump has a full plate of conflicts awaiting him this week.
CNN’s Betsy Klein has more.
From economic insecurity across the country, the breakup with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, to a potentially scaled-up military campaign in Venezuela, President Donald Trump is set to return to Washington with a full plate awaiting him. CNN's Betsy Klein has more.
Trump dismisses Marjorie Taylor Greene's concerns over threats to her life
President Donald Trump offered a brisk assessment of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s safety yesterday, after she sounded the alarm about increased threats in the aftermath of their falling out.
“I don’t think her life is in danger. … Frankly, I don’t think anybody cares about her,” Trump told reporters in Florida on his way back to Washington, referring to the Georgia Republican as “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene.”
The president’s comments come after Greene expressed concerns about Trump’s rhetoric toward her on CNN’s “State of the Union” this morning.
In a recent post on X, Greene said, “President Trump’s unwarranted and vicious attacks against me were a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family.”
For context: Trump announced Friday he was rescinding his endorsement of Greene and attacked her in personal terms, while the congresswoman countered that Trump was trying to make an example of her to prevent the release of files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Here’s what’s on Trump's schedule today as the House prepares to vote this week on the Epstein files
It’s a busy day in the nation’s capital, following a particularly newsy weekend.
President Donald Trump signaled last night he wants to move past the controversy surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. He encouraged House Republicans to vote to release the files and push past what he called a “Democrat Hoax” — marking a stark reversal from his previous position.
This comes as the House is expected to consider a bill this week to release the Epstein files. CNN reported last week that GOP leaders were bracing for a significant number of Republicans to break from Trump and support the bill.
Separately, Trump will be participating events throughout the day.
- At 2 p.m. ET the president will meet with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026
- At 6 p.m. ET Trump will deliver remarks at McDonald’s Impact Summit in Washington, DC
Why the world's most advanced aircraft carrier is now in the Caribbean Sea
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is now in the Caribbean Sea, according to the US Navy, putting the world’s most advanced carrier at the center of deepening tensions in the region.
The group is joining US forces already in the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s effort to “defeat and dismantle criminal networks,” the Navy said.
The Ford arrived in the broader US Southern Command area of operations on Tuesday, following orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Why this matters: The Trump administration has been building up military assets in the region and conducting deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats. The US president is now weighing a potentially scaled-up campaign, possibly including land strikes inside Venezuela or an effort to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
As part of its pressure campaign on Venezuela, the US will designate a Venezuelan cartel as a foreign terrorist organization, which Trump suggested would allow the military to target Maduro. Trump said last night that his administration may be talking with Maduro soon.
Maduro has condemned any US intervention and other regional leaders have warned of potential destabilization. The Trump administration has conducted the boat strikes with little transparency.
Lawmakers behind Epstein files bill say they're seeing growing GOP support
The lawmakers behind the effort to force the Justice Department to release all of the Jeffrey Epstein case files appeared optimistic over the weekend about their bill’s chances of passing, insisting there is growing support among the GOP in the US House.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said yesterday that he thinks 100 or more Republicans in the House could join the effort to force a vote.
As we’ve been reporting, President Donald Trump last night encouraged House Republicans to vote to release more Jeffrey Epstein case files — a stark reversal in position.
For context: A discharge petition forces a floor vote even if it is not introduced by leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson has previously called the effort a “moot point” given an ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation, which has released thousands of documents, including from Epstein’s estate.
The decision to move quickly with a floor vote, which is expected tomorrow, came after thousands of new Epstein emails were released by the panel on Wednesday, including some mentioning the president.
Catch up on the latest from the Trump administration
Welcome to our coverage of the latest from the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump reverses course on the release of the Epstein files and the State Department increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump is due to meet the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup at 2 p.m ET today, before delivering remarks at 6 p.m. ET to the McDonald’s Impact Summit in Washington, DC.
Let’s catch you up with some of the main developments we’ve been reporting overnight and over this past weekend.
- Trump last night encouraged House Republicans to vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and move on from what he calls a “Democrat Hoax.”
- The stark reversal comes as expectations of mass GOP defections grew ahead of a House vote this week on an attempt to force the Justice Department to release all of the Epstein case files.
- The US will designate Cartel de los Soles, which the US alleges is led by Maduro and other high-ranking officials, as a foreign terrorist organization this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday.
- The designation, which will be effective November 24, comes as the United States has ramped up its military presence in the Caribbean, including with the arrival of the world’s largest aircraft carrier.
- In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on State of the Union yesterday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will stop using “toxic” rhetoric, amid a rift with Trump that has spilled into public view, with the president attacking the Georgia Republican personally.
- Trump is planning to receive Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House tomorrow with all the trappings of a state visit, sources familiar with the matter said. Bin Salman is not currently head of state with that position currently occupied by his 89-year-old father.
We’ll keep you across any updates on this and much more throughout the day.
