U.S. President is in Beijing for a crucial series of meetings with Chinese leader . on divisive issues such as the Iran war, .
On Iran, Trump said Xi told him that and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil 鈥� and Trump has hoped to prod Iran into a deal on U.S. terms. Trump also said Xi assured him that China .
In a closed-door meeting, Xi warned Trump that differences over Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory, could bring the U.S. and China into clashes or conflict. In December, Trump authorized , but has not yet moved forward with delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later warned that it would be 鈥渁 terrible mistake鈥� for China to take Taiwan by force.
Trump also hopes to focus talks on trade and for China to buy more agricultural products and passenger planes, setting up a board to address their differences and avoid a repeat of the trade war after Trump鈥檚 tariff hikes.
Meanwhile, Adm. Brad Cooper, a top U.S. military leader in the Middle East, is testifying before the Senate for the first time since the Iran war began.
Here’s the latest:
Trump says Xi wasn鈥檛 talking about him when he called the US a 鈥榙eclining nation鈥�
Trump started his last day in Beijing with a defensive social media post, claiming that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was not talking about him when he 鈥渧ery elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation.鈥�
The U.S. president, who did not explain the origin of those remarks, said they referred to former President Joe Biden.
The U.S. president said that Xi had only been complimentary about Trump鈥檚 own actions after returning to the White House last year.
鈥淚n fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time,鈥� Trump posted.
Trump administration uses X. Lawsuit plaintiffs use court
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum鈥檚 X posting Thursday in which he released images of design plans for one of Washington鈥檚 historic golf courses has begat a court filing by the lawyers in a civil case against those plans.
Lawyers representing the DC Preservation League filed a plaintiff鈥檚 notice of factual development to alert the court that members of the Trump administration continue talking about design plans for one of the city鈥檚 most popular and historic golf courses even though the legality of its plans is tied up in court.
鈥淎s with every other public development since Plaintiffs filed this case, this announcement further confirms that Defendants 鈥榳ill鈥� be converting East Potomac into championship-style course at the expense of numerous existing features of East Potomac Park,鈥� lawyers for the DC Preservation League wrote.
US Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill mifepristone, while lawsuit plays out
on Thursday preserved access to , rejecting while a lawsuit continues.
The court鈥檚 order allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining mifepristone at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Access is likely to remain uninterrupted at least into next year as the case plays out, including a potential appeal to the high court.
The justices granted emergency requests from makers of mifepristone, who are appealing a federal appeals court ruling that would require women to see a doctor in person and halt delivery of mifepristone through the mail.
The federal Food and Drug Administration, which first approved mifepristone for use in abortion in 2000, stopped requiring in-person visits five years ago.
CIA director meets with officials in Havana, Cuban government says
The Cuban government says met Thursday with counterparts from the
鈥檚 Ministry of the Interior during a high-level visit to the island.
According to official reports, the meeting served as a platform for Cuba to present evidence asserting that the nation poses no threat to U.S. national security.
An official statement noted that the meeting took place 鈥渁gainst a backdrop of complex bilateral relations.鈥�
Thursday鈥檚 meeting comes weeks after the Cuban government confirmed that it had recently met with U.S. officials on the island as tensions between the two countries remain high over the U.S. energy blockade of Cuba.
House Republicans barely defeat legislation to halt Iran war
A Democratic effort to pass legislation that would have put a check on Trump鈥檚 ability to launch further attacks against Iran barely failed to pass the House in a tie vote.
The war powers resolution failed on a 212-212 vote tally. Three Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Tom Barrett of Michigan, joined with Democrats to vote in favor of the resolution. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voted against it.
It was the first time the House has voted on the war since the close of a in which presidents must gain congressional approval for such a conflict.
The House vote 鈥� and a the day before 鈥� showed how a small but potentially crucial number of Republicans are now standing in opposition to Trump continuing the war without congressional approval.
Justice Department accuses Yale medical school of illegally using race in admissions
The Department of Justice is accusing of illegally considering race in its medical school admissions. This is the second such DOJ allegation against a medical school this month.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a letter to Yale dated Thursday that data show Black and Hispanic students have a higher chance of admission to the medical school than white or Asian students, despite slightly lower grades and test scores. Last week, the DOJ notified the University of California, Los Angeles, of similar allegations.
The DOJ seeks a voluntary resolution with Yale but says it may take legal action if compliance isn鈥檛 achieved voluntarily. Yale officials haven鈥檛 commented yet.
鈻�
Trump administration aims to relax limits on toxic wastewater from coal-fired power plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to relax limits that require coal-fired power plants to prevent the release of toxic heavy metals into streams and rivers.
The EPA said Thursday that a 3-year-old rule was unduly costly for the energy industry at a time when energy demand is spiking, and that its new rule will lower the cost of power generation.
It鈥檚 the that President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration has taken to pull back regulations on coal mining and coal-fired power. Coal and power industry trade associations cheered the EPA鈥檚 proposal.
Environmental groups slammed it as a public health danger and giveaway to the coal-power industry.
鈥淭his is another example of the Trump administration endangering the health of Americans as a favor to corporate polluters,鈥� Thom Cmar, an attorney for environmental advocacy group Earthjustice, said in a statement.
鈻�
In new lawsuit, Justice Department challenges efforts to sanction Trump administration lawyers
The is challenging efforts to sanction attorneys from the first and second Trump administrations, asserting in a lawsuit that the District of Columbia Bar is unfairly playing politics with the legal disciplinary process.
The lawsuit represents a direct challenge to the authority of the office that enforces ethics standards for attorneys in the nation鈥檚 capital where several high-profile investigations of Trump-allied lawyers are playing out.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington. The D.C. Bar鈥檚 Board on Professional Responsibility did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
鈻�
House Democrats call for Lutnick to resign as commerce secretary
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are telling Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign following the release of his interview transcript in the House鈥檚 investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Lutnick was neighbors with Epstein for years in New York City. The commerce secretary has insisted he barely knew Epstein, a wealthy financier who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
But discrepancies have emerged between an interview that Lutnick gave on a podcast in 2025 and his later admissions that he had actually met up with Epstein twice after a 2005 tour of Epstein鈥檚 townhouse that disturbed Lutnick and his wife.
Demanding his resignation, Democratic lawmakers told Lutnick in a letter, 鈥淵ou lied to the American people and attempted to conceal your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in your public statements.鈥�
Emails show FBI Director Kash Patel鈥檚 Hawaii trip included 鈥榁IP snorkel鈥� at a Pearl Harbor memorial
Government emails obtained by The Associated Press show that FBI Director went on a 鈥淰IP snorkel鈥� session last summer at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.
The FBI didn鈥檛 publicize the excursion or Patel鈥檚 return to Hawaii after official visits to Australia and New Zealand.
With few exceptions, snorkeling and diving are off-limits around the The sunken battleship is now a military cemetery reachable only by boat. It has stood as one of the nation鈥檚 most hallowed sites since Japan bombed and sank the ship in 1941. It entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines at .
A Navy spokesperson confirms the outing but says the service wasn鈥檛 able to track down who initiated it.
鈻�
US Border Patrol chief announces his resignation in a Fox News interview
The head of the federal agency that patrols the borders of the United States says he鈥檚 resigning.
Michael Banks of the U.S. Border Patrol told Fox News on Thursday that his resignation was effective immediately, saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 just time.鈥�
In the interview, Banks said he believes he鈥檚 improved border security significantly.
鈥淚 feel like I got the ship back on course from the least secure, disastrous, chaotic border to the most secure border this country has ever seen,鈥� he said.
The Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection had no immediate comment.
鈻�
US announces additional $1.8 billion in funding for UN humanitarian aid
By
Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, made the announcement at a press conference Thursday, saying the money will be earmarked for life-saving aid to victims of natural disasters, famine and 鈥減eople who are truly in critical need.鈥�
The $1.8 billion, to be allocated over the coming year, is in addition to the $2 billion the Trump administration announced in December.
President Donald Trump shut down the international aid agency USAID, throwing global humanitarian efforts into turmoil.
U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called his agency 鈥渙verstretched, under-resourced and literally under attack鈥� and reiterated its 2026 plan to reach 87 million of the world鈥檚 most needy at a cost of $23 billion 鈥� even though 300 million people need humanitarian help.
Before Waltz鈥檚 announcement, he said, the U.N. had raised about $7.4 billion. He said the U.S. is now 鈥渢he single largest national donor鈥� to the United Nations.
Top Democrat on Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticizes Trump鈥檚 China summit
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump鈥檚 visit to China has so far demonstrated a 鈥渓ack of a coherent foreign policy鈥� and that the U.S. is in a weakened position as a result of the war with Iran.
Shaheen told reporters that she had wished Trump had taken a stronger stance at his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially regarding Taiwan.
Trump in December authorized 鈥� the largest weapons sale ever to the island 鈥� but has not yet moved forward with delivery.
Shaheen, who led a bipartisan group of senators on a visit to Taiwan in March, said the American president has 鈥渕issed the fact that strong deterrence is the best way to have a stable relationship with China.鈥�
Interior Secretary releases plans for historic DC golf course
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the design plans for one of Washington鈥檚 historic golf courses.
In a posting on the social platform X, Burgum promised local golfers in the National Capital Region would enjoy 鈥渃hampionship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates.鈥�
Commenters were overwhelmingly critical, suggesting better uses for taxpayer dollars.
The golf course is the subject of a lawsuit by the nonprofit DC Preservation League. It is challenging the Republican administration鈥檚 takeover of the golf course and its use as a dumping ground for debris from the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. Democracy Forward, a national legal organization that is co-representing the league, did not respond to a call for comment.
The suit is one of several legal battles challenging Trump鈥檚 efforts to remake public spaces in the city, including plans to build a 250-foot-tall (76-meter-tall) near the Lincoln Memorial. Preliminary site work began there this week.
Vance talks up Sen. Susan Collins during Maine appearance
Vice President JD Vance used part of a speech in Bangor, Maine, to promote the state鈥檚 Republican candidates.
Sen. Susan Collins is in a tough reelection fight this year with progressive activist Graham Platner as the likely Democratic opponent. Vance praised Collins for her independence and lack of partisanship.
鈥淪ometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins. I almost wish she was more partisan,鈥� Vance said. 鈥淚f she was as partisan as I wish she was she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine.鈥�
Vance also encouraged attendants to vote for former Gov. Paul LePage, who is seeking election to a congressional seat held by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is leaving office.
Senate hearing on Middle East ends with thoughts on disarming Hezbollah
The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with the top U.S. military leader in the Middle East ended with a focus on the challenge of disarming Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the committee鈥檚 Republican chair, noted how Hezbollah has continually fired rockets into Israel, while Israel had launched a ground offensive into southern Lebanon focused on Hezbollah, displacing a million people.
Wicker asked Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command, if the offensive was necessary.
鈥淚t is an option among options, of which there are few to deal with the Hezbollah problem,鈥� Cooper said.
Wicker later said, 鈥淚t would be a tremendous achievement鈥� for Israel, Lebanon and the United States 鈥渋f Hezbollah could be eliminated.鈥�
Senators approve withholding their own pay during government shutdowns
Senators have unanimously approved a resolution to withhold their pay during government shutdowns. Lawmakers said the measure approved Thursday would discourage future funding standoffs after a series of record-breaking shutdowns.
The proposal requires the secretary of the Senate to hold senators鈥� salaries during shutdowns and release the money once funding resumes. It鈥檒l take effect the day after the Nov. 3 general election.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy, the bill鈥檚 sponsor, says the measure ensures lawmakers share the burden faced by unpaid federal workers.
鈥淭his is about putting our money where our mouth is,鈥� said Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, in a floor speech Wednesday.
Two shutdowns in the past year created significant financial hardship for tens of thousands of federal workers, particularly at the Department of Homeland Security. The department reopened last month after a 76-day partial shutdown and a 43-day full government shutdown last year.
鈻�
Trump says Xi told him China would not give Iran 鈥榤ilitary equipment鈥�
The U.S. president said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping assured him in their conversations that China would not provide weapons to Iran.
鈥淗e said he鈥檚 not going to give military equipment. That鈥檚 a big statement,鈥� Trump said in an interview with Fox News鈥� Sean Hannity. 鈥淗e said that today. That鈥檚 a big statement.鈥�
Trump has previously said that Xi has offered him this same assurance on weapon sales.
But the statement sidestepped questions about China providing Iran with intelligence, electronic components or revenues from the purchase of oil.
Trump said that Xi said China would like to continue buying petroleum from Iran.
鈥淏ut at the same time, he said, you know, they buy a lot of their oil there and they鈥檇 like to keep doing that,鈥� the president said.
Trump says Xi offered to help broker peace with Iran
President Donald Trump said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping told him in meetings that his country 鈥渨ould like to be of help鈥� in negotiating an end to the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments.
鈥淏ut he said, 鈥業 would love to be a help, if I can be of any help whatsoever,鈥欌�� Trump said in an interview with Fox News鈥� Sean Hannity. 鈥淗e鈥檇 like to see the Hormuz strait open. He said, 鈥業f I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.鈥欌��
Before leaving for the state visit in Beijing, Trump said the U.S. did not need China鈥檚 assistance on resolving the conflict.
US commander says reducing civilian deaths is a passion, but admits to job cuts
Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military leader in the Middle East, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that reducing civilian casualties is a particular passion of his. But he admitted that an office in U.S. Central Command focused on civilian-harm reduction was cut from 10 employees to one.
Cooper said those people are still focused on reducing civilian casualties but are 鈥渋ntegrated into other capacities.鈥� The admiral added that dozens if not hundreds of people are focused on reducing civilian deaths.
Under questioning from Democratic lawmakers, he declined to estimate civilians casualties in the Iran war. He said the bombing of a school at the beginning of the war is still under investigation. He said there鈥檚 no evidence that corroborates reporting that several schools and hospitals were also bombed.
Elon Musk鈥檚 young son accompanies him in Beijing
His 6-year-old son was spotted in a Chinese-style outfit as he walked with his father in the Great Hall of the People, where Trump and Xi met in a high-stakes summit.
Musk is part of the U.S. business delegation that met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday in the same venue.
In a video posted by China鈥檚 state media, the boy is seen wearing a blue Chinese-style vest with golden-colored knot buttons on the side, drawing praise on Chinese social media.
Musk posted on his social media site X that the boy is learning Mandarin Chinese.
US commander says Iran can still strike targets in the region
The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East conceded that Iran still maintains a 鈥渧ery moderate if not small capability to continue strikes鈥� in the region amid questions from lawmakers Thursday.
In response to questions from Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Cooper also said the U.S. has the military power to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
However, when Slotkin pressed on why Cooper hasn鈥檛 done so, especially amid rising gas prices rising for Americans, Cooper deferred to policymakers amid ongoing peace negotiations.
American forces battling Iran are adopting tactics from Ukrainians, US commander says
Adm. Brad Cooper told the Senate Armed Services Committee that American forces have learned a lot from the Ukrainian military, which is battle-hardened from its war with Russia.
鈥淲e adopted a large number of tactics, techniques and procedures that the Ukrainians have passed us that have helped us defend Americans,鈥� Cooper said.
Ukraine has passed on expertise to the U.S. specifically regarding anti-drone warfare. Iran had launched swarms of drones against U.S. and allied forces, killing some Americans.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
