Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
A former CNN anchor turned YouTube content creator live-streamed for nearly 11 hours from Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning awaiting the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., only to make an absurd comparison that ended in widespread mockery. Jim Acosta, a known anti-Trump media figurehead, was CNN’s chief domestic correspondent and anchored “CNN Newsroom” from 2021 until early 2025. He worked for the network for 18 years in total, but left unceremoniously when executives proposed moving his morning show into the midnight to 2 a.m. slot. Acosta hosted the marathon coverage, which he dubbed a live watch party, on “The Jim Acosta Show” on YouTube. The coverage mostly featured a live shot of scaffolding, obscured by a tarp, behind which workers toiled to remove Trump’s name from the building. “This is very much like watching the Berlin Wall coming down,” Acosta said in a strange comparison made around 3:30 a.m. “It is a sign that mankind, that human kind can stand up against tyranny,” he continued. “As long as it took, we pledged to continue to have this coverage going, and by golly, we did, because we knew how much this meant to a lot of people out there, and we know how important this was.” FROM LEGACY NEWS TO LIBERAL PUNDITRY: THE JOURNALISTS WHO DROPPED THE PRETENSE AFTER LEAVING CORPORATE MEDIA In December 2025, the board of the Kennedy Center voted to rename the performing arts complex to the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” which drew backlash from the political left. A Democratic congresswoman sued to have the change nullified, and a federal judge last week ruled that the center’s original name, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, must be restored. Before the climax of Acosta’s evening, he had given up on the stream and retired to bed, leaving his producer behind to keep watch. He missed the removal of the letters, but was alerted to the goings on by his producer. “It looks like they are potentially touching the letters,” the producer said at 10 hours and 18 minutes into the stream. “I can’t say whether or not they’re removing them. But it looks like there might be progress.” WORKERS RIP TRUMP NAME FROM KENNEDY CENTER FACADE MONTHS AFTER IT GOES ON, HOURS AFTER FAILED APPEAL “So yes, it appears they are moving the letters,” he said. “I don’t know if you guys can see it but they are loosening the letters. The letters are coming down officially. So this means I’m probably gonna have to give Jim Acosta a call and he’s not gonna be very happy because he will be woken up.” Acosta rushed to the scene to deliver his report. “I had just gotten home, and we thought this might take place later in the morning, and of course they did this in the dead of the night,” Acosta said upon his return to the scene. “They did this at three in the morning, and to make it — the icing on the cake, the chef’s kiss in all of this for Donald Trump — is that they had to put up a giant white tarp to shield Trump and his feelings from the humiliation of seeing this all come down in front of the cameras.” ROSIE O’DONNELL DEMANDS TRUMP’S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OVER KENNEDY CENTER HONOR IN LATEST TIRADE He went on a tirade against the president for several minutes upon his return to the scene in Northwest Washington, D.C., and continued moaning about the injustice of the tarp that blocked the project from public view. Acosta said Trump “slapped his name illegally and obnoxiously on the exterior of the Kennedy Center,” later adding that the president “operates like a small child [who] doesn’t wanna give his toy away, doesn’t want to hand over his toy after his mommy and daddy have told him it’s time to go to bed.” The newly minted social media influencer was relentlessly mocked for the performance, which was posted on X and quickly went viral. CNN’S JIM ACOSTA SAYS ‘WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE’ IN SHOT AT TRUMP AS HE RETURNS TO OFFICE “Ah yes. The Berlin Wall famously came down to a crowd of one guy talking to himself and not throngs of elated prisoners. Jim Acosta is wild,” said one popular X user. “This is wild. I can’t imagine having so little going on in my life that I would sit outside a building all day waiting for a name to get removed from it,” said Matt Whitlock, a conservative commentator. “Jim Acosta is making an aggressive play to take over as angry blueanon wine mom final boss. Watch out Jennifer Welch.” “Decades of Communist oppression V. a sign on a building,” one user said after watching the clip. “The similarities are striking.” “Give that man a Pulitzer. What a dipsht [sic],” another person sarcastically said. Fox News Digital reached out to Acosta.
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Members of Congress are calling for increased oversight and reform after a Haitian national in Florida was convicted in a healthcare fraud conspiracy that prosecutors said involved more than $58 million in false claims targeting Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers using a federal drug discount program. Prosecutors accused Jean Jethro Alexandre and his co-conspirators in 2025 of recruiting fake patients and offering them financial kickbacks if they accepted fraudulent prescriptions — primarily for HIV and AIDS medication — written by nurse practitioners involved in the operation, according to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital. Alexandre would then cash in on the scheme through insurance reimbursements for filling the fake prescriptions. He used the proceeds from his scheme to bankroll a life of luxury, including a fleet of top-end cars, a mansion near Miami and a slate of investment properties. The case is drawing renewed scrutiny to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a decades-old federal initiative designed to help safety-net providers serve low-income patients that is increasingly being criticized by lawmakers and industry groups who say weak oversight has allowed bad actors to exploit the system. Advocates for reform may point to Alexandre’s case as evidence that the program is in need of tweaks to reduce the risk of fraud. MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR HEALTHCARE FRAUD SCHEME INCLUDED GIVING PEOPLE ‘UNNECESSARY’ SKIN GRAFTS: DOJ “The 340B program was created with good intentions to help vulnerable and underserved patients access care, but unfortunately, it has evolved into a massive, poorly supervised program with weak transparency and accountability safeguards,” Rep. Diana Harshbarger, herself a pharmacist, told Fox News Digital. “Cases like this demonstrate how the current structure can create opportunities for bad actors to exploit deeply discounted drugs, questionable contract pharmacy arrangements and opaque reimbursement practices for personal profit.” “When there is limited federal oversight, little transparency into how 340B revenues are used, and enormous financial spreads between discounted acquisition costs and insurer reimbursements, it should not surprise anyone that fraudsters see the program as a target,” she said. Alexandre used a nonprofit health clinic that he secretly co-owned to purchase drugs at a discounted rate using the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and had the prescriptions filled by pharmacies, who provided Alexandre’s clinic with reimbursements paid by insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid. The arrangement allowed Alexandre and his colleagues to pocket the difference between what he was paid in reimbursements and what the drugs cost him through the discount program. While this is a legitimate way for healthcare providers to generate revenue generally, according to the Government Accountability Office, Alexandre’s conduct was illegal because the underlying prescriptions were fake. Prosecutors allege, for instance, that in some cases the drugs were simply destroyed after being dispensed to fraudulent patients. “Alexandre’s blatantly setting up a fraudulent medical clinic and disregarding important safety net programs, as well as finite taxpayer dollars, shows the need for the Committee to continue its important work in cracking down on harmful schemes like this one,” Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who sits on the health subcommittee of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, told Fox News Digital. “Although I am supportive of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, this instance of fraud is yet another example of how the program has strayed far from its initial intent and is something my Health Subcommittee will continue to monitor closely,” the congressman added. FBI LAUNCHES ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AS DOJ CHARGES OHIO DEFENDANTS IN $30M MEDICAID SCHEME FOR KIDS Prosecutors said Alexandre used proceeds from the healthcare fraud conspiracy for personal benefit and traced assets from the scheme to a luxury-car collection that included a 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a 2023 Bentley Flying Spur, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG and a six-passenger golf cart-style vehicle. Additionally, he purchased a $2.5 million 4,452-square-foot mansion on the southern coast of Florida equipped with a custom pool and spa. The Trump administration has mounted a series of fraud investigations across federal programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, framing them as part of a broader push to root out waste, abuse and improper payments. That effort intensified in December 2025, shortly after Alexandre was initially indicted, signaling a more aggressive enforcement posture. Alexandre, a native and citizen of Haiti, is to be handed over to ICE and processed for removal after serving his sentence of just under 10 years in prison. He will be barred from reentering the United States without written permission from the relevant authorities. DR. OZ SAYS TAXPAYERS FOOTING $14 BILLION BILL FOR MEDICAID FRAUD WHILE ELIGIBLE PATIENTS STRUGGLE FOR CARE “Anyone who comes to the United States to steal from American taxpayers should be denaturalized and deported, which is why I introduced the Fraud Accountability Act earlier this year,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Fox News Digital. “We’re grateful President Trump is laser-focused on rooting out fraud across the federal government, including in the 340B Program. The Trump DOJ and HHS are working hand in hand to eliminate health care fraud and hold every fraudster accountable.” In addition to prison time, Alexandre is on the hook for paying roughly $14.3 million in restitution, per the terms of his plea agreement. Alexandre’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. “Every dollar stolen from these programs is a dollar taken from families who need it most,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. “The 340B Program was created to help patients access affordable health care, not enrich criminals and fraudsters. I am working to strengthen transparency and accountability in 340B to ensure the program lowers costs and improves care for American families.”
Supreme Court declines to revive Carter Page lawsuit over FBI surveillance tied to Trump-Russia probe
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit brought by former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page challenging FBI surveillance conducted during the bureau’s investigation into alleged ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The justices denied Page’s appeal, leaving lower court rulings in place and effectively ending his effort to hold former FBI Director James Comey and other former government officials personally liable for what he alleged was unlawful surveillance. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson did not participate in the case. Page, who served as a foreign policy advisor to Trump’s 2016 campaign, was the subject of secret surveillance warrants approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2016 and 2017 as part of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. He was never charged with a crime and has long denied allegations that he acted as an agent of Russia. TRUMP ORDERS FBI TO DECLASSIFY DOCUMENTS FROM ‘CROSSFIRE HURRICANE’ RUSSIA INVESTIGATION The case became one of the most controversial chapters of the Trump-Russia investigation after a Justice Department inspector general report identified significant errors and omissions in the FBI’s applications to surveil Page. Former FBI and Justice Department officials involved in approving the warrants later said they would not have signed off on the applications had they known the full extent of the problems identified by investigators. In response to the watchdog findings, the FBI implemented dozens of corrective measures aimed at improving the accuracy and completeness of future surveillance applications. Page sued Comey and other former officials, alleging they violated his constitutional rights by submitting flawed applications to obtain surveillance authority. Lower courts dismissed the case, finding, among other things, that Page had not sued the officials who directly carried out the surveillance. Page recently reached a $1.25 million settlement with the federal government related to the surveillance claims but sought to continue pursuing claims against individual former officials. FBI LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES COMEY: DOJ SOURCES The Supreme Court offered no explanation for declining review, as is customary when turning away appeals. The decision marks the latest legal chapter stemming from the Russia investigation, which examined whether members of Trump’s 2016 campaign coordinated with Moscow’s efforts to influence the election. Special counsel Robert Mueller ultimately concluded that Russia interfered in the election but did not establish that members of the Trump campaign criminally conspired with Russia. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
George Conway vows to put Trump ‘away for good’ in bid for Congress
Democratic House candidate George Conway is pledging to pursue President Donald Trump’s third impeachment and put him “away for good” if elected to Congress. Conway, a longtime conservative lawyer turned vocal Trump critic, is vying for the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary to represent a deep-blue district in central Manhattan. He is promising to push for Trump’s third impeachment and his potential criminal prosecution if chosen by voters to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District ahead of the June 23 primary. “Hi, Donald. It’s me, George Conway. I cost you 88 f—— million dollars, and I’ve only just gotten started,” Conway said in a 60-second spot overlooking the U.S. Capitol that was rolled out on Monday. “I know you like putting your name on everything from your plane to the Kennedy Center.” “But the only thing your name is going to be left on when I’m done with you is the orange jumpsuit you’re going to have to wear in prison,” Conway continued. GEORGE CONWAY LOOKS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT IN CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO “And you see that building back there,” Conway added, pointing to the Capitol building. “That’s where we’re going to hold your third and final impeachment trial, the one that’s going to put you away for good, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of that.” The ad does not specify what conduct Conway believes warrants impeachment. The Conway campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking clarification. Conway’s impeachment warning comes as Democratic leadership has yet to back another effort to oust Trump if the party retakes control of the House in November, though a number of Democratic lawmakers have already called for his removal. Democrats impeached Trump twice, in 2020 and 2021, but the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him on both occasions. Conway, who previously lived in Bethesda, Md., before launching his congressional campaign, faces an uphill battle in the race for the heavily Democratic seat vacated by longtime Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who is retiring. FROM CAMELOT TO ‘OUTSIDER’: JFK’S GRANDSON SHAKES UP NYC HOUSE RACE TAKING AIM AT GATEKEEPING DEM ‘MACHINE’ He trails state Assembly members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, D-N.Y., and Jack Schlossberg, a social media provocateur and grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, according to an Emerson College poll released in May. The survey of 425 likely Democratic primary voters found Lasher and Bores in a near dead heat at 22% and 20% of the vote, followed by Schlossberg registering 11% support and Conway clocking in at 10%. Lasher, who previously served as a Nadler aide, has the retiring congressman’s endorsement as well as those of Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. The primary winner is likely to cruise to the general election given the district’s overwhelming Democratic voter advantage. Conway became a regular anti-Trump fixture on cable news during the president’s first term and co-founded the anti-Trump organization the Lincoln Project, which opposed the president’s 2020 re-election campaign. He was previously married to former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway for more than two decades. The couple divorced in 2023. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House before publication.
Federal judge who had sex in chambers apologizes to former clerk as impeachment push ramps up
A federal judge in Georgia has apologized to a former law clerk for “harmful, offensive, and unprofessional behavior” amid allegations she had engaged in sexual activity with a high-ranking uniformed police officer in her office during working hours and within earshot of staff. The apology comes as two House Republicans from Georgia have filed articles of impeachment for U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross. “You deserved better than to have your experience marred by my own offensive conflict,” Ross, who serves in the Northern District of Georgia, wrote in a letter last week, adding that her “actions were patently wrong, and there is no excuse,” and her previous letter to the clerk was “entirely deficient, as I did not take full accountability for my actions, and I failed to give you the apology that you deserve.” “I also want to convey my deepest apologies to you for my false accusation against you,” the letter continued. “Again, I have no excuse and immensely regret my behavior.” MARRIED FEDERAL JUDGE REPEATEDLY HAD COURTHOUSE SEX WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, COMPLAINT ALLEGES Ross, nominated by former President Barack Obama in 2014, was disciplined after investigators found she had sex with a police officer in her chambers and then lied about it. Reps. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., and Clay Fuller, R-Ga., filed separate impeachment resolutions against Ross following the judicial misconduct investigation. Federal judges are appointed for life and can only be removed through impeachment by Congress. “When judges become political activists or engage in judicial misconduct, Congress bears both the responsibility and the constitutional authority to hold them accountable,” Clyde said. “Judge Ross’ deeply disturbing actions prove she is incapable of displaying integrity or showing impartiality.” DOJ SOLICITS EXAMPLES OF ‘JUDICIAL ACTIVISM’ FROM PROSECUTORS AS IT WEIGHS IMPEACHMENT REFERRALS Ross provided materially false statements to senior judicial officials during the course of an internal inquiry, potentially obstructing efforts to fully assess misconduct concerns and impacting the administration of the court, according to Fuller, who said these issues represent a serious breach of judicial ethics and a serious failure to uphold the basic standards required of federal judges. “The American people expect and deserve a judiciary system that operates with the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability,” Fuller said. “Judge Ross has no place on the federal bench.” “This behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated on any level within our courts, and most certainly not in the State of Georgia,” Fuller added. The investigation, initiated by 11th U.S. Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor, also examined allegations that Ross attended a partisan political event, failed to properly supervise clerks and yelled and cursed at staff. A special committee ultimately found that Ross had sex in the courthouse, attended a partisan event and initially lied when confronted with the allegations. RETIRED FEDERAL JUDGE WHO WROTE ANTI-TRUMP OP-ED REPORTEDLY FACED MISCONDUCT INQUIRY BEFORE RESIGNING Ross received a “private reprimand” that did not publicly name her. She also agreed not to seek the position of chief judge for the district when eligible and to write apology letters to six former law clerks. Clyde filed three articles of impeachment against Ross, accusing her of improper sexual activity in chambers, attending a partisan political event and obstructing an official proceeding. Clyde’s resolution states that Ross engaged in an extramarital affair from roughly October 2023 through October 2025 with high-ranking Atlanta Police Department officer Kelley Collier, and that the relationship was not disclosed to judges, court staff or litigants. The articles allege that Ross and Collier had sex in Ross’ chambers during business hours, and that at least three former clerks heard sounds from the judge’s chambers, creating what the resolution described as an uncomfortable workplace. “She’s simply unfit to remain a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, which is why I’m leading the charge to impeach Judge Ross and ultimately remove her from the bench,” Clyde concluded. Cosponsors of his articles of impeachment include Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.; Sheri Biggs, R-S.C.; Buddy Carter, R-Ga.; John Carter, R-Texas; Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.; Andy Harris, R-Md.; and Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. JUDGE CAUGHT IN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR WITH AN OFFICER IN HER CHAMBERS Fuller filed a separate impeachment article, saying Ross “engaged in extra-marital affairs with a high ranking officer of the Atlanta police department within her chambers during official court hours, while actively presiding over criminal matters.” Clyde’s articles also accuse Ross of attending an event hosted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ campaign the evening before she presided over a criminal revocation proceeding. The resolution says Ross told interns and staff the next morning that she had consumed “too many martinis” at the campaign event. Ross told investigators she attended a “mixer” for former employees of a district attorney’s office where she used to work, but said it was in a separate room from the victory party. The articles further accuse Ross of making “numerous, material false statements” to Pryor and the chief district judge when she initially responded to the allegations. The resolution says Ross denied having sexual intercourse in her office or anywhere else in the courthouse and said she was “astounded and confused” by the allegation. FORMER PRISON GUARD WHO HAD SEX TAPE WITH INMATE GO VIRAL IS FILLED WITH REGRET & NOW FOCUSING ON BEING A MOM Ross did not recant those statements until Oct. 10, 2025, after the special committee had gathered corroborating evidence. The resolution says the committee declined to treat the recantation as absolution because it came only after Ross likely knew her false statements had been, or were about to be, exposed. Pryor first asked Ross to respond to the allegations last fall. Ross replied the same day and “specifically denied” them, then suggested in a follow-up email that the law clerk might have invented the claims in retaliation for being required to work in the office. The special committee reviewed logs and security footage showing that an officer had frequently visited Ross’ chambers in uniform around lunchtime. Six clerks
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
EXCLUSIVE — President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs promise is facing challenges from a new analysis that argues the sweeping trade policy failed to revive manufacturing and instead slowed job creation in the U.S. The report, obtained first by Fox News Digital, lands months after Trump’s signature economic policies was handed a blow when the Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariffs, and businesses are now seeking billions of dollars in tariff refunds. Trump’s April 2025 global tariff rollout marked the largest U.S. tariff hike in decades, delivering on a signature economic promise that higher duties would spark a manufacturing renaissance, bring factory jobs back to the United States and reduce Americans’ reliance on foreign goods. Researchers at the Advancing American Freedom Foundation argue those goals never materialized, and estimate in their report that the tariffs resulted in up to 1 million fewer jobs nationwide than would have been expected under pre-tariff trends. TRUMP SAYS US WOULD BE ‘DESTROYED’ WITHOUT TARIFF REVENUE Manufacturing — the industry the tariffs were intended to help — fared particularly poorly, according to the damning report. Researchers estimate the sector lost roughly 75,000 positions during the policy’s first year, or about 6,250 jobs per month. “We can say with an over 90% confidence level that manufacturing lost jobs because of the tariffs,” Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital. Stern argued the tariffs backfired because many American manufacturers rely on imported components and equipment. “Most of the Americans that are importing are American businesses, especially American manufacturers and producers,” he said. “So the tariffs really ended up being a tax on high-end American manufacturing.” ‘WE WERE RIGHT’: HE TOOK TRUMP’S TARIFFS TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WON If nothing else, the tariffs proved to be a windfall for Washington. Duties climbed from $9.6 billion in March 2025 to $23.9 billion by May, according to Treasury data. By the end of the 2025 fiscal year, tariff collections reached $215.2 billion, roughly triple pre-tariff levels. In January alone, duties totaled $30.4 billion, up about 242% from $8.9 billion a year earlier. Tariff revenue for the current fiscal year has already reached roughly $230 billion, more than four times the amount collected during the same period last year. ONE YEAR LATER, TRUMP TARIFFS GENERATED BILLIONS AS REFUNDS TAKE SHAPE FLOURISH CHART SHOWING TARIFF REVENUE: 29325373 But the report from AAFF, which was founded by former Vice President Mike Pence in 2021, contends the tariffs’ revenue success came at a cost. Researchers found employment growth weakened across most sectors after the tariffs took effect, with manufacturing and trade-related industries among the hardest hit. Their analysis found a 99.9% probability that job growth slowed following the policy change. When reached for comment about the report’s findings, White House spokesman Kush Desai did not address the claims, but instead took a swipe at the group, telling Fox News Digital: “Another useless memo is still not going to make Mike Pence relevant again.” AFTER SUPREME COURT BLOW, TRUMP ADMIN LAUNCHES $166B TARIFF REFUND PORTAL Beyond employment, the report points to higher costs for American households and businesses. According to the report, about 90% of the tariff burden fell on U.S. importers rather than foreign producers. The authors estimate the average American family paid about $1,000 more in tariff-related costs during 2025. While businesses are seeking refunds following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Stern argued that repayment cannot reverse broader economic damage caused during the tariff period. “You can’t undo the damage. You can’t undo a factory,” Stern said. “There are many that closed in America because they couldn’t get their hands on products used for manufacturing.” The report concludes that the tariffs “unlawfully taxed American families, wiped out nearly a million jobs, and were ultimately ruled illegal.” The findings add a new dimension to the ongoing debate over Trump’s trade agenda, challenging the argument that higher tariffs would revive domestic manufacturing and create American jobs.
Trump lands in France with Iran deal momentum, trade fights looming at high-stakes G7
President Donald Trump landed in France for the G7 summit after announcing a deal with Iran, setting up high-stakes meetings Monday with world leaders on the Middle East, trade, Ukraine and artificial intelligence. Trump was greeted upon arrival by U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner. Trump is joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a U.S. delegation as leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union gather from Monday through Wednesday as part of the annual meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, and illegal immigration. He will meet with French president Emmanuel Macron Monday for his first bilateral meeting of the week. “President Trump has effectively restored America’s standing on the world stage and strengthened relationships abroad and the president looks forward to a productive G7 summit on shared issues of importance next week,” said a senior administration officials during a call with reporters Saturday. RUBIO MEETS G7 MINISTERS IN FRANCE AS US LEADS ON IRAN — ALLIES UNDER FIRE FOR TEPID RESPONSE Trump’s trip to Europe follows his announcement on Sunday that the U.S. and Iran had finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war following months of negotiations. “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. European leaders backed the announcement, including the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom saying in a joint statement on Sunday: “We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program.” Last year’s G7 was held in Alberta, Canada, with President Trump leaving the talks sooner than expected as the Israel-Iran conflict intensified. The summit did not produce any major trade breakthroughs. Trump, this year, is expected to join bilateral meetings with Macron, Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a senior administration officials told reporters. Although Ukraine is expected to feature prominently in discussions, Trump has no formal meeting scheduled with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but will join him in working sessions. Trump will attend broader multilateral sessions on economic growth and working lunches with global tech CEOs and Middle East leaders. Heading into the G7 meetings, Trump’s objective is to gauge whether other leaders are willing to participate in efforts to clear mines and help restore normal shipping through the Strait, a senior administration official said. Trump will face allies as tensions loom over his “America First” tariff policies which are aimed at leveling the global trade playing field by holding other countries accountable for trade deficits. Trump aims to secure a “very good” U.S.-India trade deal that expands American exports and reduces barriers for U.S. businesses operating in India, a senior administration official said. The summit comes weeks before the July 1 deadline for the first joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaced NAFTA and entered into force in 2020. US ALLIES EDGE CLOSER TO BEIJING AS CRITICS WARN CHINA IS GAINING LEVERAGE OVER WASHINGTON After attending a U.S.-China summit in Beijing last month, Trump praised what he called “fantastic trade deals,” including agreements for China to buy Boeing planes and soybeans. TRUMP TOUTS ‘FANTASTIC TRADE DEALS’ IN FINAL XI MEETING AMID TARIFF STANDOFF Dependency on China will be a focus of the group of seven with discussions expected on Chinese supply chains, excess production capacity and clean technologies. Leaders are closely watching China as the global race to develop and dominate artificial intelligence intensifies, with concerns over technological leadership, economic competitiveness and national security shaping the agenda. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP At the time, U.S. officials said China continues to weigh whether to buy advanced U.S. chips or accelerate domestic alternatives, while Trump said the two sides discussed the possibility of AI guardrails. AI executives from large tech companies such as OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic are expected to attend the G7 to discuss regulation and AI infrastructure, Reuters reported.
Ivory Coast beats Ecuador 1-0 at FIFA World Cup with Amad Diallo goal
Ecuador looked strong before Diallo broke through in the 90th minute with a clinical left-footed shot to seal the win. Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift Ivory Coast to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their first World Cup appearance in a dozen years. The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times before the Manchester United winger broke the deadlock to secure three points for his team at the Philadelphia Stadium on Sunday. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Diallo – who entered as a substitute in the 56th minute – broke through with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat diving goalkeeper Hernan Galindez. Wilfried Singo set up the goal with a strong run down the right side. Making their fourth appearance in the World Cup and the first since 2014, Ivory Coast took a big step towards reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Elye Wahi hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute for Ivory Coast, after Ecuador’s John Yeboah and Nilson Angulo did the same in the opening half. Ecuador, making their fifth World Cup appearance and looking to reach the knockout round for the second time, were playing a virtual home game at the stadium, otherwise known as the Lincoln Financial Field, with most of the capacity crowd of 68,274 wearing the yellow shirts of La Tri. Ecuador looked strong before Diallo’s goal. Their best chance after halftime came in the 68th minute on Gonzalo Plata’s hard shot from about 25 yards out, which was parried away by goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. Ivory Coast were bolstered by the forward play of Yan Diomande as the Leipzig attacker created several scoring chances, particularly down the right side. That included Wahi’s near-goal on a flick following Diomande’s hard cross. Advertisement Ivory Coast, who did not concede a goal while going 8-0-2 in 10 qualifying matches, will next face four-time World Cup champions Germany, who defeated Curacao 7-1 earlier on Sunday in Group E. Ecuador will meet Curacao. Both matches will be played June 20 . Adblock test (Why?)
Uruguay squad lands in US after flight delay ahead of World Cup opener
Uruguay will reportedly arrive in the US less than 24 hours before the kickoff time for their game against Saudi Arabia. Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 Uruguay’s national team have arrived in Miami after enduring a travel ordeal ahead of their opening World Cup match in the United States. The squad and support staff landed in Miami on Sunday, less than 24 hours before kickoff in their Group H match against Saudi Arabia. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Uruguay pinned the blame for their troubles flying from Mexico to the US on FIFA. They also reportedly faced the threat of sanction if their head coach and captain could not make it to a mandatory news conference on the eve of the match. The original flight was reportedly not allowed to depart due to administrative issues, including some missing paperwork, and officials had to scramble to line up a new flight. FIFA is in charge of all travel related to the 48-team World Cup. Uruguay are training in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and held a practice there on Sunday. When the traveling delegation reached the airport in Cancun, approximately 72km (45 miles) away, they learned that the group was not authorised to enter the US. The Uruguay Football Association (AUF) said that a second plane from South Florida was en route to pick up the squad, while the players waited at a resort outside Cancun until its arrival. “Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed,” the association said in a statement. “The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4:15pm [21:15 GMT].” FIFA later released a statement, saying: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed. Advertisement “The airline has apologised for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and team captain Jose Maria Gimenez missed Sunday’s originally scheduled news conference in South Florida due to the issue. The news conference was pushed back to 8pm Eastern Time (00:00 GMT), and the coach and captain were in attendance. “The trip went well; we made the most of it and saw it in a positive light,” Gimenez said in Spanish. “We took the chance to rest at the hotel [in Cancun].” Bielsa was asked what sort of disruption the flight snafu caused his team. “No, the flight doesn’t cause any complications,” Bielsa said, before changing the subject to his team’s preparation in both the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo and Mexico’s Playa del Carmen. “In Montevideo, the players had constant obligations, but they also had family time, which I felt was necessary.” Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will play their first match of Group H at Miami Gardens at 6pm (22:00 GMT), giving them less than 24 hours to settle in before kickoff. The other members of the group, Spain and Cape Verde, will play in Atlanta on Monday. Uruguay were the latest to face travel issues at the World Cup. Top Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US this week after he was “determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns”. Meanwhile, the Iranian team were granted US visas just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles. And Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was interrogated for hours at Chicago’s airport before eventually being allowed entry. The team’s photographer, however, was denied. Adblock test (Why?)
Lebanese remain sceptical despite US-Iran ceasefire announcement
NewsFeed The US-Iran ceasefire announcement has raised hopes in Lebanon, after Pakistani mediators claimed it included an end to Israel’s war on the country. But as Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett explains, we’ve been here before. Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)