Donald Trump hosts White House farewell for Elon Musk
Why is Musk leaving?
News of Musk's departure sparked plenty of speculation over whether his friendship with the US president was on the rocks.
This was fuelled, in part, by Musk's recent criticism of some of the Trump administration's policies.
He wasn't pleased with the US president's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs and earlier this week expressed concerns about Trump's federal budget proposals.
But when Musk's DOGE exit was announced, both men did their best to dispel rumours of a fallout.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This will be [Musk's] last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific!"
On his rival social media platform X, Musk thanked the president "for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending".
Indeed, the real reason for Musk's exit appears may be less contentious than some critics believe.
As DOGE chief, the X owner was a "special government employee" – meaning he could only serve 130 days out of the year.
While Musk's exact start date isn't know, the mandate was set to expire around today.
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Times
5 minutes ago
- Times
Trump-Merz meeting: president says Russia and Ukraine are ‘children fighting'
Trump said that the world would be 'amazed' by how tough he would be on Russia if the fighting continued. 'Remember this — they like to say I'm friends with Russia. I'm not friends with anybody,' he said. President Trump compared the war between Russia and Ukraine to 'two young children fighting like crazy in a park'. 'Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart,' he added. He said he told Putin during a phone call yesterday that 'maybe you're going to have to keep fighting, suffering a lot'. 'You see it in hockey, you see it in sports, the referees let them go at it for a while,' he added. Asked about a deadline for imposing further sanctions on Russia, Trump said that the date was 'in my brain'. Merz agreed with Trump that Germany was 'looking for measures to bring this war to an end', and mentioned that tomorrow is the 81st anniversary of D Day. 'That was not a pleasant day for you?' Trump asked. 'This was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship,' Merz replied. Trump said he expected President Putin to respond with force to the successful drone attack by Ukraine on Russia's bombing fleet last week. 'He got hit, he's been doing hitting,' said Trump. 'But he got hit hard. I don't think he's playing games.' Trump said that Merz 'feels the same way' about wanting to end the war. Trump said he was surprised by Elon Musk's reaction to his 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill. 'Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody,' Trump said. 'He only developed a problem when he found out we were going to have to cut the EV mandate,' he added, referring to a subsidy that paid billions of dollars to Musk's electric car company Tesla. 'I'm very disappointed in Elon, I've helped Elon a lot,' the president added. Musk has called the bill a 'disgusting abomination' and lobbied Republicans in Congress to oppose its passing. Trump casually dismissed claims that the US would withdraw its troops from Germany, saying they would remain 'if they'd like to have them there'. There are about 35,000 active-duty US troops stationed in Germany. 'They're highly paid troops and they spend a lot of money in Germany,' Trump said. Merz has brought the president the framed birth certificate of Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trump. Friedrich Trump was born in Kallstadt, Germany, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bavaria before immigrating to the United States in 1885. The questions turned to domestic politics and Trump's order to open a criminal investigation into anyone who worked to hide Biden's mental decline from the public during his time in office. Trump said that Biden 'didn't have much of an idea what was going on'. 'He was never for open borders, he was never for transgender for everybody,' said Trump. Trump said that his interactions with Merz over the past few months had been both 'difficult' and 'good'. 'I've been dealing with the chancellor. He's a very good man to deal with,' said Trump. 'He's difficult, you wouldn't want me to say you're easy, right?' He said he hoped to make progress on trade and tariff negotiations with Merz. Trump characterised his 90-minute call with President Xi as 'very positive'. He said that the two countries had agreed to hold talks in the near future to reach an impasse over trade and rare earth materials. 'I'll be going there with the first lady at a certain point and he'll be coming here, hopefully,' he said. Trump's Oval Office meeting with Merz began with questions about his travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and a host African nations. Trump said that the ban was needed for security and terrorism concerns. 'We have thousands of murderers,' Trump told reporters. 'I hate to say this in front of the chancellor, but you have a little problem too. You have your own difficulties too.' Merz has arrived at the White House before the first meeting between the two leaders. Trump greeted the German chancellor with a friendly handshake at the door to the White House and the two leaders walked inside. Asked by a reporter if he had a message for the German people, Trump responded: 'We love the people of Germany.' Merz has struck a cordial tone in the lead-up to Thursday's Oval Office meeting, writing in a statement this week that the US was 'an indispensable friend and partner of Germany'. 'Our alliance with America was, is, and remains of paramount importance for the security, freedom, and prosperity of Europe,' the chancellor wrote. Those remarks stood in contrast to his posturing prior to his election as chancellor in May. In February, Merz said that strengthening Europe was his 'absolute priority' in order to 'achieve independence' from the US. The same month, he wrote on X that his impression was 'that Russia and America are finding common ground — over the heads of Ukraine, and consequently over those of Europe'. President Trump held a 90-minute phone conversation with President Xi of China on Thursday amid stalled trade negotiations between the two countries. The US president said the conversation had a 'very positive conclusion' and announced that the two countries would hold talks in the hopes of breaking an impasse over tariffs and global supplies of rare earth minerals. 'Our respective teams will be meeting shortly at a location to be determined,' Trump wrote on his social media platform. Trump added that Xi had 'graciously' invited him and the first lady Melania Trump to visit China, and that he had reciprocated the gesture. The Chinese foreign ministry said Trump had initiated the call between the leaders. Over the years foreign leaders have gone out of their way to bear eye-catching gifts when they meet President Trump: a personalised golf club, a nativity scene made of mother-of-pearl, a gold-plated model of a jet fighter and a presidential aircraft worth an estimated $400 million. When Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, steps into the Oval Office on Thursday, though, he does so with the unusual advantage of bringing more or less precisely the thing Trump has asked for. Barely five months ago Trump's demands that his European Nato allies stump up 5 per cent of their GDP for defence were regarded by most national capitals as outlandish, at or beyond the worst end of their expectations. Yet now the yardstick is rapidly becoming a matter of orthodoxy in the alliance, and no member state has moved so far towards it in such a short span of time as Merz's Germany. • Read the full story here Speaking to German journalists before his meeting with Trump, the chancellor said he wanted to strengthen Berlin's relations with the White House. 'I am looking forward to the visit,' Merz said. 'We are well-prepared. Nato will be a major topic, as will trade and Ukraine. When we talk about German domestic politics [the right-wing AFD], I will use clear words. 'The chancellery will intensify bilateral talks.' Germany's spy agency, the BfV, has classified the Alternative for Germany party, of AfD, as a far-right extremist group, saying that the party has on several occasions attempted to 'undermine the free, democratic' order. Senior members of the Trump administration, including vice-president, JD Vance, have criticised the move, arguing that it undermines freedom of speech. The US has been engaged in a tariff tit-for-tat with the European Union since Trump's second term began in January. Trump has accused the EU of treating its largest trading partner 'very badly' and claimed that the bloc was created for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the US. The two sides began talks on a trade deal in April after Trump paused his so-called reciprocal tariffs. The US president then threatened to levy a 50 per cent tariff on European goods, saying the bloc wasn't moving fast enough towards a deal. Trump later delayed the tariffs until July 9. As talks appeared to be getting back on track, Trump said last week that he would double tariffs on steel and aluminium, including from Europe, to 50 per cent. An EU spokesman said the move added further uncertainty to the global economy and increased costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Merz's government is intensifying a drive that began under his predecessor Olaf Scholz to bolster the German armed forces and counter the looming Russian threat. In Trump's first term, he frequently singled out Germany for failing to meet the current Nato target of spending 2 per cent of gross domestic product on defence. The White House is now demanding at least 5 per cent from its allies. Scholz set up a €100 billion ($115 billion) special fund to modernise Germany's military after years of neglect. Merz has endorsed a plan for all Nato countries to aim to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2032. Merz will be hoping to avoid the kind of Oval Office showdown that President Zelensky of Ukraine and President Ramaphosa of South Africa experienced in recent months. Asked about the risk of a White House blow-up, Stefan Kornelius, a spokesman for Merz, said the chancellor was 'well-prepared' for the meeting and that he and Trump have 'built up a decent relationship'. 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Times
5 minutes ago
- Times
Christine Lagarde rejects talk of early ECB departure
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
15 US cities that are likely targets of a nuclear attack
With a deadly conflict in the Middle East, Russia still waging its invasion of Ukraine, and China on the brink of invading Taiwan, the world has arguably not been this close to war in a century. But while Americans are on the other side of the globe, the US would not be safe from a nuclear war, experts warn. Russia has an arsenal of more than 5,900 warheads capable of reaching the US in about 30 minutes. At the same time, China has a stockpile of more than 500 aimed at the nation's west coast. Financial experts believe 15 cities would be high-priority targets if a foreign adversary decided to launch a nuclear campaign against America. These spots are likely targets because of population density, air distance to a strategic military facility, emergency preparedness, and ease of evacuation. The nation's capital ranked as the most highly valued target due to being America's defense hub, followed by the largest metropolitan area, New York, according to an analysis conducted by 24/7 Wall Street, an independent financial news source. The group conducted the report using research from Dr. Irwin Redlener, a professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Redlener previously identified six economic regions that are potential targets of enemy nukes. These spots were combined with 15 strategic military targets determined by Stephen Schwartz, who is part of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and co-authored 'The Costs and Consequences of US Nuclear Weapons Since 1940.' Schwartz's targets include command centers, ICBM bases, and air force and submarine bases. Members of 24/7 Wall Street then evaluated all the spots, ranking them on population, how prepared they were for emergencies, distance in miles to the strategic military target using Google Maps, and ease of evacuation. The team then used a nuclear detonation simulator, Nukemap, and dropped a one-megaton bomb to see the damage and casualties. Most Americans believe the country's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch facilities (silos), located in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming, would be an enemy's priority. And while this may be true, opposing countries may also be looking at where would cause the most damage and fatalities. 1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: This region is the most dangerous because it is the heart of democracy, home to the US government, the White House and the Pentagon, which was a target in the 9/11 attacks. This region is home to more than 6.1 million people, putting the area with the fourth highest population among the group of 15. The experts ranked the capital as the fifth worst among evacuations and predicted there would be more than 461,000 deaths and over 924,000 injured when bombed. 2. New York City-Newark-Jersey City: Manhattan being a target may not be a surprise due to it also being hit during the 9/11 attacks. Not only is it the most populated city in America, but it is also the symbol of Western values and capitalism. A bomb dropped in New York City would impact Newark and Jersey City, both in New Jersey, which sits across the Hudson River. However, this is the nation's largest metropolitan area, home to more than nine million people. The report ranked the area as the second worst for evacuations and predicted there would be 1.7 million deaths and 3.1 injuries. 3. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California: The Bay area is another large metropolitan region in the US, with 18,629 people per square mile. Surrounded by the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, evacuating the three cities would not be accessible if a one-megaton nuke is dropped - it ranked third worst. This region has nearly two million people who call it home. The projected casualties could hit more than 507,000, with 582,870 injured. 4. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois: Chicago may not sound like a likely target to many, but this Illinois city is located within 50 miles of four nuclear power plants. Naperville and Elgin are within 40 miles of the Windy City, meaning they would also be hit in the event of a nuclear attack. The region ranked fourth out of the 15 in evacuations for its more than two million residents. Experts predicted the attack would cause 626,170 deaths and more than 1.1 million injuries. 5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California: The bustling region of California is known for its Hollywood stars and gorgeous beaches but could also be a high-priority enemy target. The three cities are about 26 miles from each other, with more than four million people. This part of California would be a target because it is the second-largest metropolitan economy in the US. The report ranked this area as the fifth worst in evacuations, which would lead to 645,750 deaths and more than 1.6 million injuries. 7. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington: The Washington State region is 30 miles from the Naval Base Kitsap, the largest naval organization in the northwest area, and 46 miles from Naval Radio Station Jim Creek, a radio transmitting facility. These government facilities make the region a possible target in a nuclear attack that would kill more than 53,000 people and injure over 106,000. The three cities combined have more than one million residents, situated in mountains that would make it difficult for evacuation - experts ranked it the eighth worst. 8. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii made headlines in 2018 when residents received an emergency alert that read: 'Ballistic Missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek Shelter. This is not a drill.' While the notification was sent accidentally, experts believe Honolulu is a candidate for an attack on the US. The small island is the closest to China, making it an easy target, and is home to three military bases. And being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean made Honolulu the worst for evacuations. Data shows 354,510 people live in the city, and a one-megaton bomb dropped in the area would kill 20,920 people, leaving 56,710 injured. 9. Omaha, Nebraska: The Midwest city is 10 miles south of the Offutt Aire Force Base, which served as an aerial command center in case nukes dropped during the Cold War. The command center is where President George W. Bush was flown during the 9/11 attacks. With the technology and military personnel in place, the report believes the enemy would eye Omaha. The report ranked the Nebraska town as 13th in evacuation and predicted about 34,000 casualties and 140,000 injuries. 10. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah: These two cities are also located near a military base - the Hill Air Force Base. This military facility is the second largest in population and size and supports the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. Experts predicted that a nuclear bomb would cause 87,140 deaths and 1570,570 injuries, ranking it the ninth worst city for evacuations. 11. Albuquerque, New Mexico: The New Mexico city primarily comprises the Kirtland Air Force Base, the headquarters of the Air Force Global Strike Command's largest installation, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. More than 562,000 people live in the city, which ranked the 11th worst for evacuations. Experts predicted a nuclear bomb would cause 11,200 deaths and 157,630 injuries. 12. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Colorado is part of the US's 'nuclear sponge - a site deliberately set up by the government during the Cold War. In the event of an attack, bombs would fall on sparsely populated areas. And by design, Colorado Springs is a prime target for a Russian attack. More than 483,000 people live in the city, with an elevation of more than 6,035 feet. The report ranked Colorado Springs as the 10th worst in evacuation, likely due to the rugged landscape. And predicted that 28,400 deaths and 133,060 injuries would occur if hit. 13. Great Falls, Montana: Montana is also a nuclear sponge, being home to hundreds of hidden missile silos and launch facilities. But the report looked closely at Great Falls because it is six miles from Malmstrom Air Force Base, one of three facilities that maintains nukes in the US. With 2,614 people per square mile, experts predicted an attack would leave 17,920 dead and 22,920 injured. Great Falls was also ranked 14th worst in evacuations. 14. Cheyenne, Wyoming: Wyoming is another state meant to be a nuclear sponge - it has been home to nukes since the 1960s Francis E, Warren Air Force base houses the combat-ready force three miles west of Cheyenne. The city is surrounded by mountains, making it the worst for evacuations, according to the report. With 2,019 people per square mile, experts speculated a bomb would kill 27,320 people and leave 36,550 injured. 15. Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana: The metropolitan region has a population of 385,154 and is located five miles within the Barksdale Air Force Base, home to three squadrons of B-52H Stratofortress bombers. These warplanes are capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and can carry nuclear weapons - making this area a prime spot for an attack. Evacuation would be difficult because it sits near the Gulf of Mexico - ranked the 12th worst. If bombs were dropped, 24,150 people would die, and another 103,560 would be injured, according to the analysis.
