Trump ‘disappointed' with Musk after he turned on the Republican tax bill
Donald Trump said he is 'disappointed' with Elon Musk after his former backer and adviser lambasted the president's signature bill.
Mr Trump suggested the world's richest man misses being in the White House and has 'Trump derangement syndrome'.
The Republican president reflected on his break-up with Mr Musk in front of reporters in the Oval Office as the Space X owner continued a storm of social media posts attacking the president's 'Big Beautiful Bill' – and warning it will increase the federal deficit.
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The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Snared by the 'Spider's Web' - How Ukraine carried out their 'audacious' weekend drone attack
DESPITE BEING OUTNUMBERED and outgunned, Ukraine managed to use inexpensive drones to destroy Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars last weekend, in an operation carried out after months of planning. The operation targeted dozens of strategic air bases and delivered a major blow to Moscow's long-range bomber fleet. US news outlets described the attack as 'stunning' and 'audacious', UK press said it was 'unprecedented' and 'broad' – and all of them agreed that the major attack on Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers highlighted Ukraine's strategic savvy against its much larger invader. Codenamed 'Spider's Web' – or simply 'Web' – the operation was named for its wide geographic coverage across remote Russian locations previously thought to be beyond the reach of Ukraine's long-range drone capabilities. Some military commentators and pro-Russian bloggers even called it the country's 'Pearl Harbour'. The strikes seem to have got to Putin – with Donald Trump admitting this week that the Russian leader 'very strongly' told him he 'will have to respond' to the drone attack. Russia has since launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's capital and other parts of the country in an apparent retaliation. How did Ukraine do it? Planning for the operation began over 18 months ago. Ukrainian agents secretly smuggled about 150 small strike drones, modular launch systems, and 300 explosive payloads into Russia using covert routes. Babr Mash Babr Mash The drones were hidden inside wooden cabins, which were then loaded onto ordinary cargo trucks. A truck used to release some of the Ukrainian drones that attacked Russian air bases. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A key part of the plan relied on covert logistics within Russian territory, involving unwitting Russian civilians – the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reportedly recruited Russian truck drivers to transport the mobile drone launchers disguised as regular cargo. These drivers were instructed to arrive at specific times and park at preselected spots near strategic Russian air bases, such as fuel stations and remote roadside areas. At the appointed time last weekend, the roofs of the cabins were remotely opened, and drones launched directly from inside the trucks. Footage of a Ukrainian FPV strike drone rising from a cargo truck and heading towards Russia's Belaya Airbase. The drone launch and airbase hit were over 4000 km (2500 mi) from Ukraine. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025 This allowed the drones to strike from very close range, bypassing Russia's layered air defenses – including Pantsir and S-300 systems – before they could respond. Russian sources confirmed the drones launched just outside airfields, from places like fuel stations and roadside laybys. After launch, the trucks exploded, triggered by self-destruct mechanisms. Ukrainian leaders, including President Zelensky and SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk, were reportedly involved in planning and real-time coordination. What was the impact? In total, 117 drones were launched, striking at least 41 aircraft. Advertisement Ukraine's SBU put the estimated cost to the Kremlin at $7 billion. Footage from a Ukrainian drone striking Russian planes deep in Russia's territory. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Ukrainian estimates claim this damaged 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile platforms, including some of the few remaining A-50 early warning aircraft critical for Russia's air surveillance and targeting. Russia's major losses include strategic bombing, aviation, and airborne early warning and control aircraft. An overhead view of the damage at Olenya air base. Sumy Oblast government Sumy Oblast government The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks had occurred in five regions of Russia – Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur – but stated planes had been damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while in other locations the attacks had been repelled. One of the air bases impacted by the strikes was 2,500 miles behind Russian borders, deep in Siberia. Yohann Michel, a researcher at the French university Lyon 3, said the loss of the aircraft was 'a serious blow to Russian offensive capabilities'. 7 млрд. доларів США. Така орієнтовна вартість стратегічної авіації ворога, яка була вражена сьогодні в результаті спецоперації СБУ «Павутина». Вражено 34% стратегічних носіїв крилатих ракет на основних аеродромах базування рф. Слава Україні! Героям Слава! 🇺🇦 — СБ України (@ServiceSsu) June 1, 2025 'The main impact could be felt in several weeks' time with a reduction in the number of sorties by the rest of the fleet' due to difficulties in finding spare parts for the Soviet-era planes, which are no longer in production, he said. Maxim Starchak, a fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen's University in Canada, said it would take Russia a long time to replace the lost aircraft. 'Russia is extremely slow and inefficient in developing new aircraft for its nuclear forces,' he explained. 'Essentially untracable' Michael Shurkin, a former CIA officer, said Ukraine's operation was likely to have struck fear into militaries across the world, adding that potential targets for such drone attacks could include refineries, ballistic missile silos or military bases. 'This technology is akin to stealth technology: The threat is difficult to detect both because it emerges near the target and is too small and too low to be picked up by sensors designed to catch aircraft or missiles,' said Shurkin, director of global programs for the consultancy 14 North Strategies. Footage from a Ukrainian drone targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia last week. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Kopytko said anyone delivering a pizza or driving a horse-drawn cart could present a danger. 'The organisers and main perpetrators are essentially untraceable,' he said. A French arms manufacturing executive said Ukraine could even have trained AI algorithms to recognise aircraft or guide the drones in case of jamming. 'New tools are forcing us to completely rethink defence systems and how they are produced,' said the executive, who asked not to be named. 'It opens up possibilities that we hadn't even imagined.' Zelensky 'just proved that he and Ukraine are more than able to pull aces out of their combat fatigue sleeves,' said Timothy Ash, an emerging market economist focused on Russia. Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump says he has no plans to speak to Musk as feud persists
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he has no plans to speak with Elon Musk, signalling the president and his former ally might not resolve their feud over a sweeping tax-cut bill anytime soon. Addressing reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he wasn't "thinking about" the Tesla CEO. "I hope he does well with Tesla," Trump said. However, Trump said a review of Musk's extensive contracts with the federal government was in order. "We'll take a look at everything," the president said. "It's a lot of money." Trump may get rid of the red Tesla Model S that he bought in March after showcasing Musk's electric cars on the White House lawn, a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Musk, for his part, did not directly address Trump but kept up his criticism of the massive Republican tax and spending bill that contains much of Trump's domestic agenda. On his social-media platform X, Musk amplified remarks made by others that Trump's "big beautiful bill" would hurt Republicans politically and add to the nation's $36.2 trillion debt. He replied "exactly" to a post by another X user that said Musk had criticised Congress, and Trump had responded by criticising Musk personally. Musk also declared it was time for a new political party in the United States "to represent the 80% in the middle!" People who have spoken to Musk said his anger has begun to recede, and they think he will want to repair his relationship with Trump, according to one person who has spoken to Musk's entourage. Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House, in May, in Washington. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci The White House statements came one day after the two men battled openly in an extraordinary display of hostilities that marked a stark end to a close alliance. Tesla stock rose on Friday, clawing back some losses from Thursday's session, when it dropped 14% and lost $150 billion in value, the largest single-day decline in the company's history. Musk's high-profile allies have largely stayed silent during the feud. However, one investor, James Fishback, called on Musk to apologise. "President Trump has shown grace and patience at a time when Elon's behaviour is disappointing and frankly downright disturbing," Fishback said in a statement. Musk, the world's richest man, bankrolled a large part of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Trump named Musk to head a controversial effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending. Trump feted Musk at the White House a week ago as he wrapped up his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk cut only about half of 1% of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe $2 trillion from the federal budget. Since then, Musk has denounced Trump's tax-cut and spending bill as a "disgusting abomination." His opposition is complicating efforts to pass the bill in Congress, where Republicans hold a slim majority. Trump's bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month and is now before the Senate, where Republicans say they will make further changes. Nonpartisan analysts say the measure would add $2.4 trillion in debt over 10 years. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he has been texting with Musk and hopes the dispute is resolved quickly. "I don't argue with him about how to build rockets, and I wish he wouldn't argue with me about how to craft legislation and pass it," Johnson said on CNBC. President Donald Trump Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci 'VERY DISAPPOINTED' Trump had initially stayed quiet while Musk campaigned to torpedo the bill, but broke his silence on Thursday, telling reporters he was "very disappointed" in Musk. Musk, who spent nearly $300 million in last year's elections, said Trump would have lost without his support and suggested he should be impeached. Trump suggested he would terminate government contracts with Musk's businesses, which include rocket company SpaceX and its satellite unit Starlink. The billionaire then threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, the only US spacecraft capable of sending astronauts to the International Space Station. Musk later backed off that threat. Musk had been angered when Trump over the weekend revoked his nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to head the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Two sources with direct knowledge of the dispute said White House personnel director Sergio Gor had helped turn Trump against Isaacman by highlighting his past donations to Democrats. Musk and Gor had been at odds since the billionaire criticised Gor's pace of hiring at a March cabinet meeting, the two sources said. A White House spokesperson, Steven Cheung, praised Gor's efforts to staff the administration but did not address his relationship with Musk. A prolonged feud could make it harder for Republicans to keep control of Congress in next year's midterm elections if Musk withholds financial support or other major Silicon Valley business leaders distance themselves from Trump. Musk had already said he planned to curtail his political spending, and on Tuesday, he called for "all politicians who betrayed the American people" to be fired next year. His involvement with the Trump administration has provoked widespread protests at Tesla sites, driving down sales while investors fretted that Musk's attention was too divided. -Reuters Read More Elon Musk signals he may back down in public row with Donald Trump
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
US resident returned from El Salvador to face migrant-smuggling charges
A man who was mistakenly deported from the US state of Maryland to El Salvador by the Trump administration, has been returned to the US to face charges of transporting illegal immigrants. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States from El Salvador and charged with trafficking undocumented migrants, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. Mr Abrego Garcia's return marked an inflection point in a case seized on by critics of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown as a sign that the administration was disregarding civil liberties in its push to step up deportations. Mr Abrego Garcia - a 29-year-old Salvadoran whose wife and young child in Maryland are US citizens - appeared in federal court in Nashville yesterday evening. His arraignment was set for 13 June, when he will enter a plea, according to local media reports. Until then, he will remain in federal custody. If convicted, he would be deported to El Salvador after serving his sentence, Ms Bondi said. The Trump administration has said Mr Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, an accusation that his lawyers deny. Officials have portrayed the indictment of Mr Abrego Garcia by a federal grand jury in Tennessee as vindication of their approach to immigration enforcement. "The man has a horrible past, and I could see a decision being made, bring him back, show everybody how horrible this guy is," Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that it was the Justice Department that decided to bring Mr Abrego Garcia back. According to the indictment, Mr Abrego Garcia worked with at least five co-conspirators as part of a smuggling ring to bring immigrants to the United States illegally, then transport them from the US-Mexico border to destinations in the country. Mr Abrego Garcia often picked up migrants in Houston, making more than 100 trips between Texas and Maryland between 2016 and 2025, the indictment alleges. It also accuses Mr Abrego Garcia of transporting firearms and drugs. According to the indictment, one of Mr Abrego Garcia's co-conspirators belonging to the same ring was involved in the transportation of migrants whose tractor trailer overturned in Mexico in 2021, resulting in 50 deaths. Mr Abrego Garcia's lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, called the criminal charges "fantastical" and a "kitchen sink" of allegations. "This is all based on the statements of individuals who are currently either facing prosecution or in federal prison," he said. "I want to know what they offered those people." The indictment also led to a high-level resignation in the federal prosecutor's office in Nashville, with news that Ben Schrader, chief of the criminal division for the Middle District of Tennessee, had resigned in protest. A 15-year veteran of the US Attorney's Office, Mr Schrader had grown increasingly uncomfortable with the administration's actions, and the indictment of Mr Abrego Garcia was "the final straw," a person familiar with the situation told Reuters. Mr Schrader declined to comment. Mr Schrader had posted notice of his resignation on LinkedIn last month, around the time the indictment was filed under seal, but he did not give a reason. Mr Abrego Garcia was deported on 15 March, more than two months before the charges were filed. He was briefly held in a mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, despite a US immigration judge's 2019 order barring him from being sent to El Salvador because he would likely be persecuted by gangs. Ms Bondi said Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele had agreed to return Mr Abrego Garcia after US officials presented his government with an arrest warrant. "The grand jury found that over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring," she told a press conference. In a court filing yesterday, federal prosecutors asked a judge to keep Mr Abrego Garcia detained pending trial. Citing an unnamed co-conspirator, prosecutors said Mr Abrego Garcia joined MS-13 in El Salvador by murdering a rival gang member's mother. The indictment does not charge Mr Abrego Garcia with murder. Mr Abrego Garcia could face ten years in prison for each migrant he is convicted of transporting, prosecutors said, a punishment that potentially could keep him incarcerated for the rest of his life.
