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House Republicans Vote to Rename Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump
House Republicans Vote to Rename Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

House Republicans Vote to Rename Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump

House Republicans have made passage of the fiscal 2026 Interior-Environment spending bill contingent, at least for now, on renaming the opera house at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after Melania Trump. The procedural markup of the spending bill voted on by House appropriators on Tuesday contained a short amendment from Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson: 'Makes technical changes, designates the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Trump's End Game With The Wall Street Journal Defamation Lawsuit Scooter Braun's Response to Still-Angry Taylor Swift Fans on Catalog Purchase: "They Made the Horrible Miscalculation That I Care" Trump's Side Deal With "New Owners" of Paramount May Hint at FCC Concessions The amendment was adopted by a vote of 33 to 25, though the proposed legislation with the renaming amendment has yet to receive a vote by the full Congress, nor is such polling assured. Other sycophantic Republican lawmakers have similarly looked to honor (and flatter) Trump during his second term by, for example, Congressman Addison McDowell proposing legislation to redesignate Washington Dulles International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport; new Texas Rep. Brandon Gill proposing a measure to require all $100 bills be redesigned to have Trump's face on them; California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announcing he's nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize; and Upper New York State Rep. Claudia Tenney proposing Trump's birthday become a national holiday. The possible opera house renaming follows U.S. President Donald Trump and wife Melania in mid-June attending a local debut of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance was marked by a protest attendance by local drag queens and an eruption of booing and reactive MAGA-rally-style chants from the crowd. The John F. Kennedy Center had already been retooled soon after Trump took control of the institution at the start of his second term, fired its entire board, then replaced them with loyalists including Susie Wiles, his chief of staff, second lady Usha Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's wife, Allison, and Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham. The U.S. leader's hand-picked board soon elected Trump to be chairman of the cultural venue. A touring production of the hit musical Hamilton decided against going ahead with plans to play the Kennedy Center in light of Trump's takeover of the institution. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025

Trump ‘clearly furious' that his summer victory tour has been swallowed by Epstein fallout, insiders reveal
Trump ‘clearly furious' that his summer victory tour has been swallowed by Epstein fallout, insiders reveal

The Independent

time23-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Independent

Trump ‘clearly furious' that his summer victory tour has been swallowed by Epstein fallout, insiders reveal

President Donald Trump's victory celebrations following an uphill battle to pass his spending bill have been consumed by the Jeffrey Epstein saga — making Trump 'clearly furious,' according to a report. Trump signed what he called his 'big, beautiful bill' into law on July 4. The bill's passage marked a huge victory for the president's agenda, but it didn't spark the Independence Day fireworks that he hoped for. The news was swallowed up by the firestorm that followed two days later. The Justice Department released a July 6 memo stating there would be no further disclosures in the Epstein case. The response was explosive. Trump's MAGA supporters have demanded heightened transparency, the president has sued the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion after new allegations emerged around the president's ties to the late financier, and the attorney general has asked judges to unseal grand jury testimonies in the case. In recent weeks, Trump has also threatened new tariffs and met with world leaders. Still, the Epstein saga has sucked all the oxygen out of the room. The president isn't happy about it, according to staff and allies. 'POTUS is clearly furious,' a person close to the White House told Politico. 'It's the first time I've seen them sort of paralyzed.' A senior White House official told the outlet that Trump is 'frustrated' by the nonstop coverage on the case — which started in February when Attorney General Pam Bondi released 'Phase 1' of the files, which revealed little new information — and his team's ineffectiveness in stopping the spread of conspiracy theories. 'He feels there are way bigger stories that deserve attention,' the official said. Trump hasn't been shy about showing a bit of this frustration publicly as his MAGA supporters and prominent members of his own party have groaned about wanting more information on the case. During a July 8 cabinet meeting, Trump interrupted a question on the topic, asking: 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking — we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.' Last week, he went so far as to attack his 'past supporters' for buying into ' this 'bulls***,' hook, line and sinker. ' He wrote on social media: 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats' work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' On Tuesday, CNN published newly unveiled photos showing Epstein at Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. When a reporter called Trump to ask about it, the president said: 'You've got to be kidding me.' He then repeatedly branded the network 'fake news' and, after 30 seconds, hung up, the outlet reported. This frustration comes from an acknowledgement that the topic is 'a vulnerability,' a White House ally told Politico. To add insult to injury, declassifying the Epstein files was a campaign promise. 'They're the ones that opened the can of worms on the Epstein conversation. No one made them do this, which makes it sting even worse,' the ally added. The president is no stranger to dominating the news cycle, but this saga appears to have slipped through his fingers, out of his control. Trump has tried to deflect the narrative to something else, such as his recent trade deals. Yet these attempts have come up unsuccessful. Aside from dealing with reports of mounting public pressure, reports of clashes within his administration have also surfaced. 'When you're working 12 to 15 hours a day to solve real problems and you turn on the TV and see people talking about Jeffrey Epstein, that's frustrating. That's where the president's mindset is,' the senior White House official told the outlet. Now, in an apparent effort to quell the uproar, Trump asked Bondi to release the grand jury transcripts in the cases of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend who is serving 20 years behind bars after her 2021 conviction for her role in a scheme to abuse girls with Epstein. Bondi filed motions to unseal transcripts in both cases; the judges overseeing the cases have asked the Justice Department for more information before proceeding. 'They would like to move on and talk about the things they think are Ws,' the White House ally told Politico. 'They are really annoyed that it's an overshadowing news cycle.'

House Republicans push to name Kennedy Center's opera house after Melania Trump
House Republicans push to name Kennedy Center's opera house after Melania Trump

CNN

time22-07-2025

  • Politics
  • CNN

House Republicans push to name Kennedy Center's opera house after Melania Trump

House Republicans want to name the John F. Kennedy Center's opera house after first lady Melania Trump. Republicans included language that would designate the opera house at the center for the performing arts in Washington, DC, as the 'First Lady Melania Trump Opera House' in an amendment for a spending bill for the Interior Department. It's unclear whether the bill will pass the full House, let alone whether it could make it into a bipartisan agreement with the Senate, so it remains an open question whether the provision could become law. The House is set to recess on Wednesday, leaving lawmakers with limited time when they return in September before the government runs out of funding. Before the deadline, lawmakers will either have to pass a series of full-year appropriations bills or a short-term funding extension – and whatever they pass to fund the government will need Democratic support in the Senate. Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson, who introduced the amendment, said, 'Yes, we renamed the opera house at the Kennedy Center for the first lady, who is the honorary chairman of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center,' during the House Appropriations Committee's Tuesday meeting on the bill. He argued that it's an 'excellent way to recognize' the first lady's 'support and commitment to promoting the arts.' The amendment was adopted by the committee, 35-22, with Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez joining with the panel's Republicans to vote yes. The first lady's office did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Earlier this year, the newly constituted board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts elected President Donald Trump as its chairman. 'It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!' Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform at the time.

Congressmen Trade Insults in Jaw-Dropping Battle on Live TV: ‘Are You Drinking Right Now?'
Congressmen Trade Insults in Jaw-Dropping Battle on Live TV: ‘Are You Drinking Right Now?'

Yahoo

time17-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Congressmen Trade Insults in Jaw-Dropping Battle on Live TV: ‘Are You Drinking Right Now?'

Two rival Wisconsin lawmakers went toe to toe in a brutal exchange of insults during a live broadcast outside the U.S. Capitol. GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden and Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan squared off as Pocan was being interviewed by Spectrum News alongside Wisconsin Republican Tony Wied. During the on-air clash, Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, told Pocan to 'seek mental health counseling,' while Pocan fired back with a pointed, 'Are you drinking right now?' The feud began hours earlier on social media, after Pocan slammed Republicans for backing President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful' spending bill which could strip million of Americans of their Medicaid coverage. The next day, Van Orden interrupted Pocan's live interview by revving the engine of his motorcycle as he rode past before jumping into the broadcast. 'Have you lost your mind?' Van Orden said. 'People read the stuff you...' 'I saw your drunken tweet at 1:30 a.m.,' Pocan cut in, referring to Van Orden's post in response to a New Yorker cartoon Pocan had shared criticizing Medicaid cuts. 'Wisconsin is getting $1,000,000,000 a year plus up to Medicade [sic],' Van Orden wrote on X. 'Seek mental health counseling.' Pocan replied hours later: 'Only an idiot both votes to cut Medicaid and can't spell it.' The pair then continued their harsh exchange of words in front of the cameras on Wednesday. 'You've got a problem,' Van Orden said. 'I don't know what it is, but I encourage you to seek mental health counseling. It's absolutely disgusting.' Pocan—smiling broadly throughout the exchange—responded, 'Why are you so afraid to debate anyone? Debate me on the Big Beautiful Bill.' Van Orden then lashed out at Pocan for never having a 'job in his entire life other than politics,' to which Pocan replied: 'I've owned a small business for 37 years.' The exchange got even more heated as Von Orden claimed Pocan 'funnels over $500,000 a year of his campaign money to buy signs' from his printing company. 'OK, look that up,' Pocan added 'Oh my God, are you drinking right now, Derrick? That's the real question. Alright.' In a statement, a spokesperson for Pocan told Spectrum News: 'Without seeing the clip, Mark tried to get Van Orden on camera to explain why he voted on the big ugly law. He continues to have an open invitation to debate him.' In his own response, Van Orden told the outlet that Pocan is 'clearly mentally ill.' 'Pocan is losing his mind because he's afraid of being primaried. This is everything he voted against by voting 'no' on the One, Big, Beautiful Bill: $1,000,000,000 for BadgerCare, $500,000,000 for rural healthcare infrastructure, additional tax breaks for seniors, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, closing the border, crop insurance, adjusting reference prices, and opening base acres.' Pocan and Van Orden did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from the Daily Beast.

Elon Musk changed his phone number after nasty split with Trump, says Mike Johnson
Elon Musk changed his phone number after nasty split with Trump, says Mike Johnson

Yahoo

time16-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Elon Musk changed his phone number after nasty split with Trump, says Mike Johnson

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson claims billionaire and CEO Elon Musk changed his phone number after his public falling-out with President Donald Trump. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, told The New York Post he discovered the change while trying to text Musk amid the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' drama. Johnson previously said Musk ghosted him after the billionaire blew up at Trump over the sweeping spending and tax bill, which cuts taxes for wealthy Americans while curbing access to healthcare and food access programs for millions. 'I sent him a long text message, and then his phone number changed, because after the blow-up, something happened with his,' Johnson told The New York Post. '[Later I] realized I was sending it out into the ether somewhere and he never read it, so I look forward to meeting with him in person,' he added. 'We got to make that right.' Musk was once the president's 'First Buddy,' but the pair have traded blows over the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' in recent weeks. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said Elon Musk changed his phone number after his feud with President Donald Trump (Getty) Trump signed the bill on July 4. But for a month leading up to its passage, Musk railed against it, arguing it would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion. 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore,' Musk wrote of Trump's bill on June 3. 'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.' Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, DOGE laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants. Musk and Trump continued to spar until June 5, when the former DOGE leader claimed the president appeared in the Epstein files. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,' Musk wrote. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!' Tensions appeared to ease soon afterward. Musk expressed 'regret' on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had 'no hard feelings' toward Musk. Soon after the bill was signed, Musk announced that he would be forming the new 'America Party.' 'When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,' he wrote on X. Trump called the idea 'ridiculous.' The president also threatened to 'take a look at' deporting Elon Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.

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