24-02-2025
Trump LIVE: Musk slams Pentagon critic who mocked his ultimatum to federal workers
Elon Musk has lashed out after a Pentagon official called the ultimatum email he sent out to federal workers over the weekend, asking them to justify their roles or risk losing them, the 'silliest thing in 40 years.'
'Anyone with the attitude of that Pentagon official needs to look for a new job,' the billionaire snapped on X after the email prompted a confused reaction from department heads.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Donald Trump at the White House, with Ukraine likely to be high on the agenda.
Trump has meanwhile announced that former Secret Service agent turned far-right podcaster Dan Bongino will serve as deputy director of the FBI under the bureau's new director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, an ex-New York City police officer, has been a familiar presence in right-wing media in recent years, hosting his own Fox News show between 2021 and 2023.
His administration also plans to fire 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and place all but a select few on administrative leave as of midnight on Monday, after a judge cleared the way for Trump and Musk to go ahead.
In pictures: Emmanuel Macron arrives at White House
The French president has arrived to participate in a G7 Leadership Summit call with Trump.
They'll be speaking together later.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:35
Trump takeover sees Kennedy Center ticket sales collapse
The president's move to take control of Washington's John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has reportedly led to a staggering 50 percent drop in ticket sales.
I don't know what else he thought was going to happen.
Here's more from Graeme Massie.
Trump takeover sees Kennedy Center suffer ticket sale collapse, says report
Trump fired the Kennedy Center's leadership upon his return to the Oval Office and put MAGA loyalist in charge of the famed institution
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:15
Who is Dan 'Razin' Caine, Trump's nominee for top military adviser?
The president has nominated Lt. Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after firing General Charles Q Brown Jr on Friday.
'Today, I am honored to announce that I am nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan 'Razin' Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.
'General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special operations experience.'
Here's Katie Hawkinson with everything we know about Caine – and his relationship with Trump.
Who is Dan 'Razin' Caine? Trump's nominee for top military adviser
Caine and Trump first met in 2019, the president recalled during a Conservative Political Action Conference speech
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 13:55
Trump to name new FBI Director Patel as ATF head as well
In case you missed this one over the weekend, Kash Patel is going to be kept pretty busy, managing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on an acting basis as well as the FBI.
Ariana Baio has more.
Trump to name new FBI Director Kash Patel as ATF head
Conservatives have long criticized ATF for being over regulatory of firearms
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 13:35
Musk threatens federal staff who refuse to return to the office
Here's Elon's latest DOGE pronouncement, resuming his attack on employees who work from home:
While we're back on Musk, here's James Liddell with more on his subsequent moves to downplay his weekend email.
Elon Musk admits email to government workers was a rouse
Department of Government Efficiency head says he wants to test whether federal employees are 'capable of replying to an email'
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 13:15
John Oliver compares DOGE department to viral Willy Wonka experience
The Last Week Tonight host began his show yesterday by concentrating on Musk and DOGE and comparing the department's 'stark disconnect between marketing and reality' to the notorious Glasgow Willy Wonka experience, which went viral around the world last year after its shoddiness left Scottish children bitterly disappointed and their parents angry.
Here's more from Greg Evans.
John Oliver compares Elon Musk's DOGE department to viral Willy Wonka experience
The comedian said that DOGE has been a 'stark disconnect between marketing and reality'
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:55
Lara Trump debuts Fox Show with Karoline Leavitt, Tulsi Gabbard and Pam Bondi
The president's ever-busy daughter-in-law made her debut on Fox this weekend and called in a few favors from the administration for her opening episode, interviewing Trump's press secretary, director of national intelligence and attorney general.
Here they are knocking softballs out of the park:
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:35
Trump claims Apple's $500bn investment represents 'faith in what we are doing'
He's not sounding any less mad writing in all caps like this – and 'without witch'?
Which witch?
Update: He's since deleted and reposted the above with that typo corrected.
Shouldn't he be prepping for Macron?
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:30
Thousands of migrants return home after Trump's crackdown on asylum
Migrants who once risked their lives traversing the jungles of the Darien Gap in search of asylum in the U.S. are now returning to their home countries.
After Trump's crackdown on asylum policies, many migrants, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, have abandoned their attempts to reach North America.
According to authorities, this has resulted in a 'reverse flow' of migrants.
Speedboats are now transporting them from Panama back to Colombia, navigating the dense jungle rivers near the border.
Here's more.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:15
Senator calls Musk a 'd***' for federal worker email scheme
I think it's fair to say Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith was not impressed by the billionaire's email antics over the weekend.
Katie Hawkinson has her scathing response.
Senator calls Musk a 'd***' after he asked federal workers to defend their jobs
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 11:55
