Latest news with #departmentofgovernmentefficiency
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump threatens to ‘federalize' DC after attack on Doge staffer
Donald Trump is threatening to strip Washington DC of its local governance and place the US capital under direct federal control, citing what he described as rampant youth crime following an alleged assault on a federal employee who worked for the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge). In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said he would 'federalize' the city if local authorities failed to address crime, specifically calling for minors as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults. 'Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,' Trump wrote. 'If D.C. doesn't get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run.' The threat received backing from Elon Musk, after the billionaire described an incident in which a member of the Doge team was allegedly 'severely beaten to the point of concussion' while defending a woman from assault in the capital. 'A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC,' Musk posted on X. 'A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. It is time to federalize DC.' The victim was identified by friends and the police as Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old known as 'Big Balls', one of Doge's most recognizable staffers who joined Doge in January. He reportedly left in June, and is currently employed at the Social Security Administration. According to a police report obtained by Politico, Coristine was assaulted at approximately 3am on Sunday by about 10 juveniles near Dupont Circle. Police arrested two 15-year-olds from Maryland, a boy and a girl, as they attempted to flee the scene, and charged them with attempted carjacking. A black iPhone 16 valued at $1,000 was reported stolen during the incident. Trump's post, which included images of a bloodied and shirtless Coristine, concluded: 'If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Washington DC currently operates under 'home rule', established in 1973, which grants the city an elected mayor and council while maintaining ultimate congressional oversight. No president has attempted to revoke this arrangement since its creation. Trump's threat could theoretically take several forms. The constitution grants Congress broad authority over the federal district, though completely suspending local governance would probably require congressional legislation. Trump could also deploy federal law enforcement officers or national guard troops under executive authority, as he did during 2020 protests when federal forces cleared Lafayette Square outside the White House over local officials' objections. But fully stripping the city's home rule would probably face fierce Democratic opposition in Congress. Any such move would require congressional legislation that Democrats could block or attempt to challenge in federal courts. The president targeted DC's juvenile justice system specifically. 'The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these 'minors' as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14,' he wrote, referring to alleged attackers he described as 'local thugs' and putting the word 'youths' in quotation marks. Washington DC, with a population of about 700,000, has seen violent crime decline in the first half of 2025 compared with the previous year, and 2024 marked a 30-year low, according to a pre-Trump January report by the Department of Justice. The Democratic-controlled city has frequently clashed with Trump over federal interventions and has long sought statehood, which would grant it full self-governance and congressional representation – which Republican lawmakers have opposed. The office of the DC mayor, Muriel Bowser, declined a request for comment.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Feels like a good book': Vivek Ramaswamy pokes fun of ‘funniest gift' received on birthday; jests about NYC race
Vivek Ramaswamy pokes fun of 'funniest gift' received on birthday Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy used his 40th birthday to deliver a political punchline that quickly spread online. Sharing a video on X, Ramaswamy showed off what he called the 'funniest gift' from his high school friend. The book, titled 'Why Socialism Works', turned out to be blank inside, every page simply read, 'It Doesn't. ' In the clip, Ramaswamy flips through the book with a grin, remarking: 'Feels like a good book for maybe some of the opponents in the New York mayoral race, but that's not my business.' Posting the video, he added a pointed caption: 'Funniest gift I got for my 40th birthday, from my high school buddy Cory Ingle. Feels like there are some mayoral candidates in NYC who'd do well to get this.' The post quickly drew laughs and light-hearted replies. One user quipped, 'I hope the author made a lot of money selling that book lol.' Another wrote, 'We need this for every politician in DC too.' Others kept it simple, wishing him a happy birthday while enjoying the joke. The timing of the post also tied neatly into Ramaswamy's campaign messaging. The Indian-origin billionaire, who resigned from the department of government efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year to run for Ohio governor in 2026, has leaned heavily on a capitalism-versus-socialism theme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo His super PAC, Victors Not Victims, recently funded a Times Square billboard warning New Yorkers about mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani, branding him a 'radical socialist' while casting Ramaswamy as a defender of 'freedom.' Sharing the poster on X, Ramaswamy wrote, "Capitalism defeats socialism. There's a better way: move to Ohio." Yet even as he sharpened his ideological attack, Ramaswamy urged critics to avoid personal jibes at Mamdani's Ugandan-Indian background. Writing in an op-ed published in the New York Post, he said, 'The real problem with Mamdani isn't his race or religion. It's his anti-capitalist worldview and his policies that risk destroying our nation's largest city.' For Ramaswamy, the gag gift doubled as both a birthday laugh and another jab in a campaign built on contrasting socialism with what he describes as the 'revival of the American dream' in Ohio.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US jobs market slows down as businesses cope with Trump trade war uncertainty
The US economy added 139,000 jobs in May, a slowdown compared with recent months as American businesses cope with uncertainty around Donald Trump's continuing trade war. After signs of a strong labor market in April – which was largely seen as resiliency against teetering trade policy from the White House – May saw a drop in new jobs added to the labor market, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, unchanged from last month. May's jobs report was dragged down by the loss of 22,000 federal workers' jobs as the Trump administration used the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) to cut government positions. Since January, 59,000 Federal jobs have been cut. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also cut the numbers of jobs created in March and April. In an update, the bureau said a total of 95,000 fewer jobs had been created over the two months. After the report was released, Trump once again called on the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell (whom he has nicknamed 'Too Late'), to cut interest rates. Related: Donald Trump to meet Xi Jinping in China after 'very good' call on trade ''Too Late' at the Fed is a disaster! Europe has had 10 rate cuts, we have had none. Despite him, our Country is doing great. Go for a full point, Rocket Fuel!' the president wrote on Truth Social. Economists expected a downward slump after data earlier in the week suggested a cooling job market. Payroll firm ADP reported that private-sector payrolls increased by just 37,000 in May, the lowest gain in more than two years. 'After a strong start to the year, hiring is losing momentum,' said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP, in a statement. The Institute for Supply Management also released its latest purchasing mangers' index figure, which measures the general landscape for manufacturers and showed a reading of 49.9 in April – the lowest since June 2024. In the most recent results of the University of Michigan's survey of consumers, released at the end of May, consumer sentiment had stayed relatively stable from April to May, with the caveat that April's reading was the lowest drop in consumer sentiment since 1990. The impact of Trump's trade war has yet to be seen in inflation readings. In April, the annual inflation rate was at 2.3%, a slight decrease from March, though economists said that the impact of Trump's tariffs will be gradual and probably will not impact data until the summer.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drugs, marital advice and that black eye: key takeaways from Trump's Oval Office send-off for Elon Musk
Donald Trump hosted an Oval Office press conference with Elon Musk on Friday to mark the end of the tech billionaire's tenure as a special government employee overseeing the so-called 'department of government efficiency', or Doge. Musk's departure comes after weeks of increasing pressure over his time leading Doge, in which he slashed thousands of jobs, resources and public spending. Here are the key takeaways from the event: Musk 'is really not leaving' and many of his Doge team will stay on in the administration, Trump told reporters on what was meant to be Musk's official last day as a 'special government employee'. 'Elon is really not leaving,' Trump said. 'He's going to be back and forth. I think I have a feeling it's his baby, and I think he's going to be doing a lot of things.' Musk later declared 'this is not the end of Doge but really the beginning', adding he will continue to visit the White House as a 'friend and adviser' to the president. 'I hope to continue to provide advice whenever the president would like,' Musk said. 'I hope so,' Trump replied. Related: Oval and out: Musk and Trump's farewell marred by disillusionment Trump praised Musk as 'one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced' and paid glowing tribute to the tech billionaire's 'sweeping and consequential' efforts to slash the federal workforce and reduce the size of government. The lavish praise came just days after Musk publicly criticised Trump's tax spending bill, saying he was 'disappointed' with it and claiming it 'undermines the work that the Doge team is doing'. Musk's comments appeared to indicate that the honeymoon between the two men was over, but on Friday, there were no signs of friction between the pair. Trump presented Musk with a large golden key emblazoned with the White House insignia, which he said he only gave to 'very special people' as a thank-you from the country. Musk attended the press conference wearing a black Doge cap, a black jacket and a black T-shirt with the words 'The Dogefather' – as well as a visibly bruised right eye. Asked about the bruise, Musk said his five-year-old son, X Æ A-12, had punched him in the face: 'I was just horsing around with X and I said: 'Go ahead, punch me in the face.' And he did.' 'I didn't really feel much at the time,' he added. 'But I guess it bruises up.' Musk quipped that he wasn't 'anywhere near France' at the time, a reference to a viral video appearing to show French president Emmanuel Macron's wife, Brigitte, pushing Macron in the face. Asked about the video of Macron and his wife and whether he had any 'marital advice' for the couple, Trump replied: 'Make sure the door remains closed.' 'He's fine. They're fine,' Trump added. 'They're two really good people I know very well, and I don't know what that was all about, but I know him very well, and they're fine.' Musk brushed off a New York Times report about his alleged drug use while serving as one of Trump's closest advisers. 'Let's move on,' he said when asked about the article, before railing against the paper for their 'lies about the Russiagate hoax'. According to the Times, Musk engaged in extensive drug consumption during his rise to political prominence, regularly consuming ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. His regular medication box contained pills bearing Adderall markings alongside other substances, the paper said. His use of ketamine was so frequent that he told people it caused bladder problems, the report says. Sources told the paper that he consumed the powerful anaesthetic sometimes daily rather than the 'small amount' taken 'about once every two weeks' he claimed in interviews.
TimesLIVE
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Tesla shares rise as Elon Musk cuts ties with Trump administration
Tesla shares rose more than 2% on Thursday after news that CEO Elon Musk is stepping away from the Trump administration, fuelling hopes he will sharpen focus on the carmaker as it gears up for its hotly anticipated robotaxi debut. Musk's ties with US President Donald Trump and his tilt towards right-wing politics in Europe had fuelled waves of protests against Tesla in recent months, pushing some buyers away and rattling investors worried about brand damage. With Tesla on track for a second straight annual sales decline after its first-ever drop in 2024, pressure was mounting on the world's richest man — who also owns SpaceX and X — to refocus on the carmaker that underpins much of his fortune. Musk signalled recently he was cutting back on his role with the department of government efficiency (Doge), telling shareholders in March he would reduce his time to a day or two per week. He also announced last week that he will cut his political spending substantially. Musk spent nearly $300m (R5.35bn) to back Trump's presidential campaign and other Republicans last year.
