Shake-up in Trump world
Happy Thursday! Rebecca Morin here. December is still months away, but be prepared to have a tighter holiday season if Trump doesn’t pivot from his tariffs.
Mike Waltz to exit Trump White House after Signalgate
On Day 102: We have the first major departure from President Donald Trump’s White House. Mike Waltz, who served as Trump’s national security advisor, will leave his White House post amid fallout that he accidentally invited a high-profile D.C. journalist into a Signal chat between top national security officials discussing plans for Yemen airstrikes. Alex Wong, deputy national security advisor, is also leaving his position. While Trump first defended Waltz, the embarrassing mishap took a toll on their relationship. Why Waltz is leaving the White House.
- Waltz’s departure comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer exerted increasing influence in Trump's orbit and decision-making, including encouraging Trump to fire two senior officials on the National Security Council. Waltz was among the three original Trump picks to top posts who had been serving in the U.S. House – where Republicans hold a narrow majority – who are gone or never made it to their anticipated posts.
- Waltz’s exit isn’t the only change at the White House. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who was tapped to lead the administration's Department of Government Efficiency, is scaling back his role in Trump’s administration... significantly. The Tesla CEO said he expects to spend about a day or two per week working on DOGE matters and "every other week" in Washington as he diverts his attention back to his electric vehicle company. Musk gave an inside look at the White House – including sharing with a dozen reporters, including Paste BN staff – that he'd stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom.
A politics pit-stop
- RFK Jr.'s HHS releases report on gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
- Takeaways after heated arguments in the Supreme Court charter school case.
- Senate rebuke on Trump's tariffs narrowly fails.
- Why does Trump want Greenland? It's all about these critical minerals.
- As RFK Jr. targets fluoride, Texas is coming for kiddie toothpaste
Harris slams Trump's first 100 days
Even amid fear comes courage. That’s the message former Vice President Kamala Harris had for Americans Wednesday evening as she offered her sharpest critique of President Trump since she left the White House in January. Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election against Trump, criticized the state of the economy as “the greatest man-made economic crisis in modern presidential history." She also warned of a constitutional crisis if Trump ignores Congress and the courts. Harris also urged Americans to stand together amid chaos.
May Day! Why are Americans protesting Trump?
From Washington, D.C. to Atlanta to Seattle, thousands of people were expected to protest President Trump’s policies – and billionaires like Elon Musk who support them – in what 50501 movement organizers are calling "a war on working people." Over 1,000 demonstrations and rallies are scheduled in every state and abroad, were scheduled for May 1, which is known as May Day or International Workers' Day. What to know about the protests.
- What is 50501? About the movement sparking protests around US
Got a burning question or comment for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.