May 25, 2025: Trump presidency news

Our live coverage of Donald Trump’s presidency has ended for the day. Follow the latest updates or read through the posts below.

President Donald Trump continued criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday night, writing that “he has gone absolutely CRAZY” after Moscow targeted Ukraine in a massive air assault over the weekend. This time, he paired that criticism with an attack on Ukrainian President Zelensky, whom Trump said “is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.”

The president then turned his criticism toward Zelensky, who said Sunday morning that “America’s silence” encourages Putin to continue his onslaught.

“Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump said.

The White House hadn’t commented on the Russian airstrike until earlier Sunday evening, when Trump told reporters he was “not happy with what Putin is doing.”

Trump distanced himself from the conflict, turning to his familiar sentiment that the war belongs to Zelensky, Putin and his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

“This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War, not ‘Trump’s,’ I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred,” Trump wrote in his post.

In this handout photo, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, according to the prime minister’s office.

Noem expressed “unwavering support” for Israel and “great appreciation” for Netanyahu’s “conduct of the war,” the prime minister’s office said.

President Donald Trump sent Noem to Israel after the shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, last week.

“During the visit, she will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and victims of terrorism,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement earlier today.

Noem arrived earlier Sunday and was greeted by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. She also visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Some background: The Justice Department is investigating last week’s shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum as an act of terrorism.

The suspect in the killings, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, yelled, “Free, free Palestine” as he was arrested outside the museum Wednesday night. Authorities are investigating a letter posted to X and apparently signed by Rodriguez that advocates for violent retaliation over Israel’s war in Gaza and treatment of Palestinians.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States will maintain control in the partnership between US Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon.

Trump mistakenly referred to Nippon, Japan’s largest steelmaker, as “Nissan,” a Japanese automobile manufacturer. “It’s a good company, Nissan, it’s a very good company,” the president said in New Jersey while heading back to Washington.

Some context: Trump announced Friday that US Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh and said the deal with Nippon will bring in $14 billion in investment for the US economy.

Former President Joe Biden blocked Nippon’s acquisition of US Steel during his last week in office. The deal has been controversial since it was first announced in December 2023, with both sides of the political aisle opposing foreign control of a once-key component of US industrial might that has fallen on hard times.

President Donald Trump acknowledged Sunday the Senate could make “fairly significant” changes to his major tax and domestic policy bill that passed the House last week.

He signaled openness to some of the alterations, which could potentially cause problems in the House if enough Republicans oppose them. The deeply divided House GOP only narrowly passed the bill, and the chamber would need to ratify any changes.

“In some cases, those changes maybe are something I’d agree with, to be honest. You know, it happens,” he went on.

Earlier Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson encouraged Senate Republicans to make only minor changes, citing the divergent viewpoints of his Republican House caucus.

Trump said Sunday that he was optimistic the bill would succeed.

“I think the Senate is going to get there. I hope they’re going to get there,” he said. “I think they’re going to have changes. Some will be minor, and some will be, you know, fairly significant.”

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday.

President Donald Trump voiced optimism Sunday that progress was being made in talks with Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.

US and Iranian negotiators held a fifth round of talks in Rome this weekend mediated by officials from Oman. The talks came amid growing skepticism in Tehran about the chances of a deal as Washington hardens its position.

Afterward, the Omani negotiator said there had been “some, but not conclusive progress” made.

Trump suggested the meetings had moved in the right direction.

“I don’t know if I’ll be telling you anything good or bad over the next two days, but I have a feeling I might be telling you something good. We’ve had some real progress, serious progress,” he said.

Later, he said he’d “love” for a deal to be struck that would avoid a military strike in Iran.

“I can tell you the Iran talks have been going very well. I’d love that to happen, because I’d love to see no bombs dropped and a lot of people dead,” he said. “I really would like to see that happen, and I think there’s a good chance that it could happen.”

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday.

President Donald Trump said Sunday he doesn’t know “what the hell happened” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he is “not happy with what Putin is doing” after Moscow launched its largest aerial attack of its three-year war on Ukraine overnight.

A municipality worker cleans an apartment building that was damaged in a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday.

Trump said he is “very surprised” about what transpired, though just a week ago, Russia launched its largest drone attack against Ukraine — a day before Putin spoke to Trump on the phone.

“I don’t like what Putin is doing, not even a little bit. He’s killing people. And something happened to this guy, and I don’t like it,” Trump added Sunday.

Trump’s comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, “America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin.”

President Donald Trump said today he agreed to give the European Union an extension until July 9 to reach a deal on tariffs, after a “very nice call” from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“She said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out,” he added.

Trump then posted on social media that it was “my privilege” to extend the deadline and that “talks will begin rapidly.”

Some context: Von der Leyen said earlier Sunday that she held a “good call” with Trump and that “to reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9.”

The July deadline is when a pause on Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs is expected to expire.

But Trump last week threatened a 50% tariff on goods from the EU starting as early as June 1, citing his frustration with a lack of progress in trade negotiations.

Clouds roll over the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 18.

Speaker Mike Johnson is urging Senate Republicans not to greatly alter the sweeping spending and tax cuts bill that the House GOP managed to advance in a laborious back-and-forth process last week.

There are early signs that some Republican senators will not heed that call.

President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” — aimed at advancing much of his domestic policy agenda in a single package — hangs in the balance.

Here’s where things stand:

Johnson’s pitch: The House speaker told CNN’s Jake Tapper today that if senators make too many changes to the bill his chamber advanced, he may not be able to pass it back through the House and send it to Trump’s desk.

The speaker claimed scores of the bill predicting it will increase the national debt — a key GOP sticking point — are “dramatically overstated.”

GOP critics: Republican Sen. Ron Johnson has emerged as a key skeptic. The Wisconsin lawmaker told CNN he believes there’s enough GOP resistance to halt Trump’s bill in the Senate if major changes aren’t made to the legislation.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul, a leading deficit hawk, said on “Fox News Sunday” that he will not vote for the legislation unless a debt ceiling increase is removed, calling the bill’s spending cuts “wimpy and anemic.”

And other critics, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have cited concerns about the bill’s changes to Medicaid and tax credit levels.

Democrats pile on: Lacking a majority in either chamber, Democrats have focused on highlighting the perceived winners and losers of the bill in its current form. Analysts say millions of low-income Americans stand to lose benefits, while the wealthy would see most of the windfall from tax cuts.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on May 16.

After holding a “good call” with US President Donald Trump today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will need the time until July 9 to “reach a good deal” with the US.

Some context: The July deadline von der Leyen referenced is when a pause on Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs is expected to expire.

But Trump last week threatened a 50% tariff on goods from the EU starting as early as June 1, citing his frustration with a lack of progress in current trade negotiations.

“I’m not looking for a deal,” he said Friday. “We’ve set the deal — it’s at 50%.

The US embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, is pictured April 5, 2024.

The Justice Department has unsealed charges against a United States citizen accused of plotting to throw Molotov cocktails at the US embassy in Israel.

The man, Joseph Neumayer, was deported from Israel to the US today, according to a DOJ news release. He was arrested at a New York airport.

The DOJ says Neumayer, who is also a German citizen, arrived at the US embassy in Tel Aviv last week and spit on an embassy guard without provocation. He ran off without being arrested, leaving behind a backpack.

Guards found three Molotov cocktails in the backpack, the department said. Neumayer was later arrested at his hotel.

Authorities searched Neumayer’s social media, which allegedly included a post from earlier that day that said “join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv.” His page also allegedly included the phrases, “Death to America, death to Americans” and threats to assassinate President Donald Trump.

The revelation of Neumayer’s charges comes shortly after the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC. The killings are being investigated as an act of terrorism after the man suspected of carrying out the shooting yelled “Free Palestine” and told law enforcement he “did it for Gaza,” according to police.

Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in Israel today to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the shooting.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with ambassador Mike Huckabee at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday in Tel Aviv, Israel.

President Donald Trump sent Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Israel after the shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, last week.

Noem was greeted by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, when she landed at Ben Gurion Airport this evening local time. She will depart Israel on Monday, according to DHS.

Some background: The Justice Department is investigating the shooting, which came after an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, as an act of terrorism.

The suspect in the killings, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, yelled, “Free, free Palestine” as he was arrested outside the museum Wednesday night. Authorities are investigating a letter posted to X and apparently signed by Rodriguez that advocates for violent retaliation over Israel’s war in Gaza and treatment of Palestinians.

This post has been updated to reflect Noem has arrived in Israel.

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado warned that the Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy package’s proposed cuts to Medicaid would have grave consequences for rural Americans.

House Republicans are pushing to slash nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and food stamps as part of the “big, beautiful bill” aimed at enacting President Donald Trump’s agenda. The legislation is headed to the Senate, which must pass its own version.

If approved, millions of Americans could lose access to these benefits.

Bennet said health care providers in red parts of his state are trying to care for patients “on a shoestring as it is,” and the reduction in Medicaid support could result in the providers going out of business.

He also pushed back on Republicans’ insistence that new Medicaid work requirements included in the legislation would only impact undocumented migrants and able-bodied people, who they say shouldn’t be receiving benefits.

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said today that there are enough skeptical GOP senators to potentially stop President Donald Trump’s massive domestic policy bill from advancing if major changes aren’t made to the legislation.

Johnson, who is pushing for deeper spending cuts in the House-passed bill, argued that this is Congress’ “only chance” to reset to a “reasonable, pre-pandemic level of spending.”

“The first goal of our budget reconciliation process should be to reduce the deficit. This actually increases it,” he said.

More GOP resistance: Republican Sen. Rand Paul reiterated today on “Fox News Sunday” that he will not vote for the legislation unless a debt ceiling increase is removed. Paul called the bill’s spending cuts “wimpy and anemic” and warned it would “explode deficits.”

“The problem is the math doesn’t add up,” said the Kentucky senator, who is one of his party’s most prominent deficit hawks.

House speaker pushes back: House Speaker Mike Johnson also appeared on this morning’s edition of “State of the Union,” imploring Ron Johnson and other GOP critics to keep changes to a minimum on the bill if they want it to have a chance of passing back through the House before heading to Trump’s desk.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to the media at the US Capitol on May 22 in Washington, DC.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is pressuring the Senate to make as few modifications as possible to the massive spending and tax cuts package the House passed last week to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, warning that senators could send back something he can’t get passed again in the lower chamber.

Several Republican lawmakers in the upper chamber, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Josh Hawley of Missouri, have cited concerns about the bill’s changes to Medicaid and tax credit levels.

Other critics have railed against the bill’s impact on the national debt, including Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, who said he would oppose the bill if it included a debt limit raise.

The House speaker criticized the multiple scores of the bill that predict it would increase the national debt, calling them “dramatically overstated.”

The speaker asked senators, including Ron Johnson, to remember House GOP leadership is wrangling a “wide range of perspectives, and a wide range of districts represented” and will need to get 217 votes on whatever version of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is returned.

President Donald Trump said his administration wants the “names and countries” of the thousands of international students at Harvard University, suggesting that foreign countries, especially those that are hostile to the US, should contribute funding to educate their students.

“Why isn’t Harvard saying that almost 31% of their students are from FOREIGN LANDS, and yet those countries, some not at all friendly to the United States, pay NOTHING toward their student’s education, nor do they ever intend to,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social early this morning.

The president said his administration wants to “know who those foreign students are” but claimed the university “isn’t exactly forthcoming.”

Some key context: About 27% of Harvard’s student body comes from overseas. And Harvard already shares a list (as of October 2024) of the countries where foreign students are from, with the most students coming from China, followed by Canada, India, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, 6,793 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled at Harvard from at least 147 countries and territories.

Foreign students “are not eligible for any federal funding,” as noted in the financial aid section of Harvard’s website. But “the College has its own job and scholarship money available to foreign students.”

How we got here: Trump sent shockwaves through the campus last week when he tried to ban Harvard from enrolling foreign students — an action that prompted the university to sue and was temporarily halted by a federal judge.

It’s all part of an escalating feud that began when Harvard refused to accept White House policy demands at threat of losing federal funding.

President Donald Trump addresses graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point in New York on Saturday.

President Donald Trump addressed graduates at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, yesterday, making his second college commencement speech of the year.

It came as his administration scours the country’s military academies for course offerings, clubs and books deemed unsuitable under Trump’s anti-DEI initiatives. The president is also overseeing a wider shake-up of the Pentagon and the national security establishment.

If you missed the speech, here are some key takeaways:

Getting political: Trump didn’t shy away from playing politics and addressing controversial topics during his speech to the cadets.

Trump claimed that by banning diversity initiatives and transgender people from serving in the military, he was helping “liberate” the troops.

“We’ve liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political trainings,” Trump said. “There will be no more ‘critical race theory’ or ‘transgender for everybody’ forced onto our brave men and women in uniform.”

Trump also slammed military readiness under his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, and claimed he had “rebuilt” the nation’s armed forces.

Touting US military prowess: The president called the graduates “winners” and congratulated them on joining “the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known.”

Trump’s “Golden Dome”: Trump again claimed that a “Golden Dome” missile defense system will be complete before he leaves office.

Experts have told CNN the president’s vision for a cutting-edge missile shield to protect from long-range strikes — inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but intended to protect a country about 450 times larger — is economically and strategically ill-advised.

Lighter moments: The president brought multiple cadets onstage to celebrate their accomplishments, including Army Golden Knights quarterback Bryson Daily and Chris Verdugo, a cadet who set a record in a grueling 18.5-mile march.

Trump also issued a pardon for all West Point cadets on restriction for minor offenses, continuing a longstanding tradition of presidents who deliver the commencement address.

The US Supreme Court is seen March 17 in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump has faced a slew of legal challenges to various aspects of his agenda, including his immigration crackdown and efforts to assert influence over higher education.

Here are some key rulings we’ll be watching as a new week begins:

• Another wrongfully deported migrant: A federal judge ordered the administration to facilitate the return of a Guatemalan asylum seeker who was wrongly deported to Mexico in February, after he told authorities about his fears of violence and torture across the border. This is at least the third time the administration has been ordered to help return a wrongfully deported migrant.

• Trump’s feud with Harvard: A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s ban on Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, marking the latest development in a battle over the elite institution’s refusal to accept White House policy demands. International students at the school say they are experiencing “pure panic” as they await an outcome.

• Department of Government Efficiency: The Supreme Court has temporarily paused action in an emergency appeal dealing with whether DOGE must turn over public documents — like other government agencies — or whether it is shielded from such requests because it is part of the White House. The case raises fundamental questions about the power and transparency of an entity that, at Elon Musk’s direction, slashed agency budgets and government employees with unusual speed — and that has inspired a wave of federal lawsuits.