What we're covering
• Greenland meeting: President Donald Trump said this morning that “anything less” than US control of Greenland is “unacceptable.” Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials today.
• Venezuela war powers vote: The Senate is expected to take another procedural vote on limiting Trump’s war powers in Venezuela today. The measure advanced last week with five Republican votes, but the Trump administration has launched an intense pressure campaign to try to flip some of those senators.
• DOJ probe into Fed chair: White House officials are heaping blame on DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over her office’s criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, sources tell CNN. Trump said yesterday he hopes Powell will “be out of there soon.”
Danish and Greenland officials arrive at White House for meeting with Vance and Rubio
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt arrived at the White House moments ago, ahead of their meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
They entered the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Ahead of DC meeting, Denmark and Greenland announce increased Danish military presence in Greenland
The government of Greenland and Denmark’s defense ministry announced there would be an increased military presence in and around Greenland starting today, citing “security tensions.”
Denmark said that as part of this increased presence in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, the Danish Armed Forces were “deploying capacities and units in connection with exercise activities from today, which will result in an increased military presence in and around Greenland of aircraft, ships and soldiers, including from NATO allies, in the coming period.”
It comes as Vice President JD Vance is set to host a meeting today with the Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as President Donald Trump continues to voice his desire to take over the self-governing territory.
Expanded exercise activities in Greenland could include guarding critical infrastructure, providing assistance to Greenlandic authorities, including the police, receiving allied troops, deploying fighter aircraft in and around Greenland, and naval operations, the Danish defense ministry said in a statement.
The Greenlandic government said the purpose of the increased military presence was to “train the ability to operate under the unique Arctic conditions and strengthen the (NATO) alliance’s footprint in the Arctic for the benefit of both European and transatlantic security.”
This post has been updated with additional information.
Trump faces Senate vote seeking to stop further action in Venezuela
The Senate is expected to take another procedural vote today on a war powers resolution, which would rein in President Donald Trump from further actions in Venezuela without Congress’ approval.
The measure advanced last week with five Republican votes, but Trump and his administration have launched an intense pressure campaign to try and flip some of the senators.
Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, led by ranking member Rep. Gregory Meeks, are holding a special meeting on Venezuela this morning.
The interim Venezuelan government yesterday freed at least four Americans who were imprisoned in Venezuela, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
It marks the first known release of American detainees since the ousting of Nicolás Maduro and comes as the interim Venezuelan government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, has begun freeing dozens of political prisoners.
Trump continues to slam Powell as officials criticize Pirro over Fed chair investigation. Here's what to know
Amid the controversial criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, President Donald Trump in remarks to the Detroit Economic Club yesterday again called for interest rates to be lowered.
The White House and senior officials have dismissed the notion that the president had any influence over the Justice Department’s decision to open an investigation into Powell, who has not been charged with a crime.
Here’s the latest surrounding the investigation:
- Trump said yesterday he hopes Powell will “be out of there soon,” while pushing back on a GOP senator who has criticized the probe.
- When asked about the perception of political retribution an interview with CBS News, the president said, “I can’t help what it looks like.”
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune also told CNN that he hopes the Justice Department has a “smoking gun” if they decide to bring charges against Powell.
- White House officials are heaping blame on DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the investigation, faulting her for blindsiding them with an inquiry that has forced the administration into a dayslong damage control campaign, four people familiar with the matter told CNN. Read more about the frustration with Pirro.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has told people that he is unhappy with the decision, expressing concern that the decision will negatively impact the markets, according to a source.
Trump says NATO is "more formidable" with Greenland under US control
President Donald Trump said this morning that “anything less” than US control of Greenland is “unacceptable,” arguing the United States needs the territory for national security purposes, which could in turn strengthen NATO.
Trump reiterated his assertion that acquisition of Greenland is essential for the US national security and “vital for the Golden Dome that we are building.” He also argued that NATO leaders should be pushing for the United States to have Greenland.
“NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Militarily, without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term, and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent - Not even close! They know that, and so do I,” Trump wrote in the post.
Yesterday, Trump dismissed comments from Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who said at a news conference in Copenhagen that “Greenland does not want to be owned by the USA. Greenland does not want to be governed by the USA. Greenland will not be part of the USA. We choose the Greenland we know today, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
In response, Trump said, “That’s their problem. I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. Don’t know anything about him, but that’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Trump gave a speech in Detroit yesterday. Here's what he said
President Donald Trump yesterday teased a series of affordability initiatives set to be rolled out in the coming weeks, including a health care framework and new housing policies.
“Later this week, I’ll announce our health care affordability framework that will reduce premiums for millions of lower drug prices, delivering price transparency and demand honesty and accountability from insurance companies all over the country, all over the world,” Trump said in remarks to the Detroit Economic Club.
The president also said more details about a housing plan would come during his appearance at the World Economic Forum.
Aside from the economy, prices and taxes, Trump went off-script on various other topics during his speech, including elections, immigration and foreign affairs, often abandoning his teleprompter to do so and making numerous false claims along the way.
Foreign affairs: Trump mentioned the operation to take Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro into custody, calling it “as flawless an attack as there has ever been.”
He also nodded to his decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities in June, suggesting without the attack “you wouldn’t have peace in the Middle East.”
Later, he found himself discussing the Panama Canal, which he called “the most profitable thing ever built.”
Vance and Rubio to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials today
Vice President JD Vance is set to host a meeting today with the Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as President Donald Trump seeks to take over Greenland.
Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark.
Speaking to reporters in Copenhagen yesterday, Løkke said the meeting was requested by Denmark and Greenland.
“Our reason for seeking the meeting we have now been given was to move this whole discussion, which has not become less tense since we last met, into a meeting room where we can look each other in the eye and talk about these things,” Løkke added
