The formal working space of the U.S. president at the White House
The White House perimeter and visitor screening plans are advancing, with Lafayette Park fencing and an underground screening facility under review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Officials say the upgrades aim to improve safety for visitors and staff as security concerns persist following recent assassination attempts.
The White House has proposed phased tariffs on imported generic medicines, arguing for a U.S.-based manufacturing boost. The plan starts with two years of zero tariffs, followed by 100% and then 200% levies, to spur domestic production. Industry groups warn the move could raise prices for patients while onshoring efforts face structural hurdles. Major manufacturers say margins are thin and shifting production could take years.
Several Republicans have jumped into the South Carolina U.S. Senate special election, linking their bids to President Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham Nordone. Sanford, Fry, Norman and Lynch are on the ballot or entering the race, while Gowdy remains a potential wildcard. The contest centers on loyalty to Trump and how endorsements shift the primary landscape.
The US has removed tariffs on Scotch whisky following the King and Queen’s state visit, a move hailed as a boost for Scotland’s whisky industry and its jobs. The move also sees US bourbon and casks entering the UK tariff-free, while ministers warn other UK goods face new levies. Readers are updated on the latest shift in transatlantic trade relations.
The US has completed a two-hour "heavy wave" of strikes across Iran, hitting Revolutionary Guard command centres, missile and drone facilities and coastal surveillance sites after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at US forces. Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes on US assets and allied facilities in the region; Jordan reported intercepting missiles with no casualties.
The former president has shared AI-generated images on Truth Social and X, depicting him with Washington and Lincoln and in other guises, as part of a campaign-style push around the U.S. Bicentennial anniversary. The posts have drawn both praise from supporters and mockery from critics who cite ongoing legal troubles.
The White House is renovating its helipad amid questions over design choices and funding. New, more powerful Marine One helicopters have accelerated repairs, and President Trump has publicly linked the project to protecting the South Lawn. Reports indicate a seal was removed and contractors are reworking the site.
President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders that narrow who can claim birthright citizenship, targeting birth tourism and expanding exclusions for certain foreign-affiliated parents. The measures follow a June Supreme Court ruling that struck down a broader Trump effort; legal experts and critics say the new orders will face immediate court challenges.
The presidency has repeatedly highlighted grass and landscaping in public remarks over the past 18 months, with officials tying green spaces to broader policy themes. Recent events show the administration availing private help to revitalize Washington’s lawns, while ethics concerns are raised about favoritism.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the US-backed 15-point Gaza roadmap and has said Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Israel has largely paused targeted strikes while US mediators press for implementation; Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the roadmap but conditions its cooperation on Israeli withdrawal and a halt to operations.
President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf as White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective Sept. 1. Scharf has served as White House staff secretary and chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; he has represented Trump in major cases, including at the Supreme Court. The change comes weeks after Trump elevated other former personal lawyers to senior legal roles.
The White House has issued an executive order reducing federal vaccine recommendations to 11 core shots and urging the separation of the MMR vaccine into three injections. Physicians warn the move risks confusion and slower protection, while public health groups stress that CDC guidance remains unchanged and vaccines should proceed as recommended.
The Washington Post reports that during a July 8 Ankara stop, Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a smaller plane to avoid an Iranian threat. Journalists and some aides remained on the decoy aircraft, while security officials say the move was to protect the president. Details of passenger lists and the full sequence remain undisclosed.
Karoline Leavitt has announced she will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser; the White House has not named a successor and senior officials are expected to brief reporters temporarily.
The BBC has asked a Florida federal court to allow subpoenas to be served on Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in President Trump’s $10bn defamation suit over a 2024 Panorama edit. The BBC says the trio have "personal knowledge" about the January 6, 2021 speech; Trump’s lawyers argue service is blocked by Secret Service protection and call the effort politically motivated.
The Trump administration has urged states to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into individual shots. Several officials caution that doing so could fuel vaccine hesitancy and leave immunity gaps while some leaders push for more personal choice in immunization policies. New reporting shows the policy debate is unfolding amid mixed messages from health agencies and political leaders.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein has denied a bid to move Donald Trump’s hush-money case from state court to federal court for a third time, citing lack of new grounds. Trump remains appealing the conviction in New York for falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. The ruling comes weeks after his re-entry into a federal appeals process and as prosecutors maintain the case’s linkage to a broader effort to influence the 2016 election.
The National Park Service has backed the location and scale of Trump’s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch, saying it reflects the site’s character and marks 250 years of independence, though it would adversely affect hundreds of historic properties and sightlines around Washington. The report argues alternative sites are not reasonable, while opponents say the arch would transform the National Mall.
President has accelerated renovations at the White House, including a lavish ballroom and a secure underground bunker. Courts are weighing legality and process after demolitions, with debates over permanent fencing around Lafayette Park and a new visitor screening facility.
The Times of Israel reports meetings between Trump, JD Vance, and Hasidic grand rabbis, including Satmar leaders, addressing Israel’s conscription in Israel, federal prisoner kosher policies and funding for yeshivas. The gathering marks the first of its kind since 1979, underscoring the US Jewish community’s political entanglements ahead of elections.
President Donald Trump has proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz to "Trump Strait" in a Truth Social post and has repeated earlier moves to relabel bodies of water. His post follows an executive order renaming Lake Ontario and earlier declarations renaming the Gulf of Mexico; officials have not explained how a change to an international waterway would be implemented.
Executive assistants and aides have received cash gifts totaling $205,000 from the president, disclosed in staff filings. The gifts, labelled as "Cash Gift for Holidays," are described by White House officials as personal and not connected to official duties. The gifts prompt renewed scrutiny of presidential gift practices amid ongoing ethics debates.
The Queen's estate home has traded hands multiple times since its construction in 1940. It has recently sold for $1.93 million after a lengthy period of neglect and renovation. The buyer, Trump Birth Home LLC, has moved to update the property that previously fetched higher prices in the market.
A federal judge has ordered the White House to suspend President Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico while their lawsuit proceeds, after the outlets sued saying their press credentials were revoked without notice. The administration has argued the ban is lawful and raised national security concerns; the court has required a prompt response.
President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, saying they publish "fake news." The outlets and press groups have condemned the move as unconstitutional; CNN, MS NOW and Politico have said they will sue and ask a federal judge to restore their press credentials.
Multiple outlets have been barred from White House access as President Trump argues the coverage is biased. News organizations vow to challenge the bans in court, asserting a constitutional right to report. The White House has referred to Trump’s Friday comments announcing the bans.
A federal judge has ordered the White House to reinstate press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after the administration revoked their access. The networks have returned to the television pool, but the White House has continued to exclude some reporters from specific events and omitted CNN from Air Force One pool listings for a presidential trip to Tennessee.
The White House access for CNN, MSNOW and Politico has been preliminarily revoked due to concerns over professionalism and handling of sensitive information. The outlets may contest the decision in court while the administration argues it is within its authority to regulate access to restricted areas. Background points to a long history of journalist access decisions by administrations.
A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico for 14 days, finding the outlets likely were denied due process. Journalists were briefly barred Thursday despite the order; the administration says it needed time to reinstate badges as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Washington.
President Donald Trump has hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a ceremonial state visit in Washington that has focused on pageantry rather than major agreements. The two leaders have extended a trade truce to January 10, held private talks, attended a state dinner with US tech executives and staged a rare tarmac greeting and military flyovers.
Several outlets have filed to block enforcement of a ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, arguing it violates First and Fifth Amendment rights. A district court has ordered temporary restoration of access for 14 days while the case proceeds.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to San Diego after a months-long deployment diverted to the Middle East to support operations against Iran. The carrier, part of a strike group, faced extended at-sea duty, combat operations, and reports of food shortages and mental-health strain before returning home.
Trump has proposed converting a Florida golf course into a US Presidential Golf Course with a dedicated lodge and free access for current and former presidents and visiting leaders. The plan emphasizes security and proximity to an airport, drawing comparisons to Camp David. Local officials are reviewing the proposal, which would require county approval and alignment with Secret Service needs.
The courts have extended temporary protection for CNN, MS NOW and Politico press credentials, with Judge Kelly maintaining access while the case proceeds. The White House faces ongoing litigation over whether these outlets can cover presidential events without facing punitive actions tied to reporting.
The USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego after a record 265 days at sea, with families welcoming sailors amid reports of food shortages, mental-health strain, and multiple suicide attempts within the crew during the Iran war deployment.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the White House television press pool violated antitrust laws by halting coverage of President Trump last month; reporters have been restored to access after a court order, and pool coverage has resumed as the DOJ reviews potential antitrust implications.