White House news

• Biden arrives in St. Croix for last vacation as president

  26-12-2024 21:09 via thehill.com
  
  President Biden on Thursday arrived in St. Croix for his last vacation as president before leaving office next month.The president left the White House the day after Christmas with first lady Jill Biden. He arrived in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands around 2 p.m. EST Thursday, along with his daughter Ashley Biden.Biden has traveled to St. Croix for the New Year’s holiday throughout his time as president and was criticized last year for making the trip amid a crisis at the U
  
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• Trump says he thinks Johnson has the votes to get confirmed

  01-01-2025 05:07 via thehill.com
  
  President-elect Trump firmly believes House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will get a second term.“No one else can get the votes,” he told reporters on Tuesday.On Monday, Trump offered Johnson his complete and total endorsement, just days before a House vote on Friday to elect a new Speaker.His comments echo those of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who questioned Republicans opposing Johnson on X earlier in the day.“I do not understand what the CONTRARIAN house republ
  
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• Trump taps creator of viral garbage truck photo op for executive producer position

  01-01-2025 04:57 via thehill.com
  
  President-elect Trump announced that Justin Caporale would join him as the executive producer for major events and public appearances while in office.“Justin Caporale has been with me right from the beginning of a very incredible journey, helping to produce our Historic Rallies and Events, including the Republican National Convention, Madison Square Garden, McDonalds commercial, and even my seriously viral 'Garbage Truck ride,’” he wrote in a Tuesday Truth Social post.Caporale
  
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• Unlawful border crossings hit lowest level of Biden admin in November

  31-12-2024 23:45 via thehill.com
  
  U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced a new low for border level crossings during the month of November ahead of President Biden’s exit from the White House.Statistics released by the agency show a 4.5 percent drop in field operations and encounters at the Southwest border.Single adults consistently ranked the highest for crossings over the past two month, totaling 64,004 encounters with border patrol during the time frame. Individuals in a family unit trailed with 27,488 encounte
  
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• FDA testing aged raw cow's milk cheese for bird flu

  31-12-2024 22:27 via thehill.com
  
  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin collecting samples of raw cow's milk cheese from across the U.S. to test for the presence of bird flu, spurred on by the ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 in multiple states.In the announcement published Monday, the FDA said the goal of testing will be two-fold: detecting the H5N1 virus and taking the necessary follow-up actions to protect consumers.
  Raw, unpasteurized milk is a known vector of bird flu when derived from infected cow herds. It can also c
  
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• Connecticut AG says he'd be 'first to sue' if Trump targets birthright citizenship

  31-12-2024 22:17 via thehill.com
  
  Connecticut Attorney General William Tong threatened to file a lawsuit against President-elect Trump if he moves to remove birthright citizenship from the Constitution under mounting deportation efforts.“I would be the first to sue,” Tong, a Democrat, told MSNBC in an article published Sunday.  Trump has promised to conduct the largest deportation in the country’s history during his second term in office with the help of Tom Homan as “border czar” and Kris
  
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• Massie: Johnson will cost GOP its House majority in 2026 if Speaker

  31-12-2024 21:44 via thehill.com
  
  Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) did not deserve a second term in leadership and would cost the GOP its majority in the lower chamber if reelected.“Johnson is not up for this task,” Massie wrote in a Tuesday post on X, responding to criticism from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) that Republicans opposing Johnson were "in effect the allies of Democrats."
  "I challenge them to explain what their end game is other than noise," Gingrich wrote.M
  
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• Germany's Scholz takes veiled swipe at Musk in New Year's address

  31-12-2024 19:47 via thehill.com
  
  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered subtle criticism around billionaire Elon Musk's influence on President-elect Trump early Tuesday, saying the nation's fate will not be decided by "the owners of social media."“In our debates, one can be forgiven for sometimes thinking the more extreme an opinion is, the more attention it will garner," Scholz said in his New Year's Eve message, without specifically pointing to Musk or Trump, according to The Guardian.He added that Germany's future &ldqu
  
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• Lemon calls Trump supporters 'f‑‑‑ing idiots' amid H-1B visa infighting

  31-12-2024 18:00 via thehill.com
  
  Former CNN host Don Lemon poked fun at the Republican Party's infighting over H-1B visas — a key program to attract international talent that’s been criticized as too complicated and susceptible to abuse — calling supporters of President-elect Trump "dumb f‑‑‑ing idiots."Lemon, in a recent clip from "The Don Lemon Show," railed against Trump backers, claiming they share a "stupid MAGA brain" and are in a sort of "cult." He also joked that "MAGA-land" is in civ
  
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• US levels sanctions on entities in Iran, Russia over attempted election interference

  31-12-2024 17:52 via thehill.com
  
  The Biden administration announced new sanctions against Russia and Iran on Tuesday in response to efforts by both countries to influence the 2024 election.“The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” Bradley T. Smith, the acting under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement.“The United States will rema
  
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• Lemon calls Trump supporters 'f---ing idiots' amid H-1B visa infighting

  31-12-2024 17:52 via thehill.com
  
  Former CNN host Don Lemon poked fun at the Republican party's infighting over H-1B visas — a key program to attract international talent that’s been criticized as too complicated and susceptible to abuse — calling allies of President-elect Trump "idiots."Lemon, in a recent clip of "The Don Lemon Show," railed against Trump supporters, claiming they share a "stupid MAGA brain" and are in a sort of "cult." He also joked that "MAGA-land" is in civil war."Oh my gosh, I love this. N
  
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• Trump transition memo urges nominees not to post on social media

  31-12-2024 17:43 via thehill.com
  
  A top aide to President-elect Trump is reportedly cautioning his picks for Cabinet positions to avoid posting on social media ahead of hearings in the Senate as Trump’s team seeks to avoid unnecessary controversies.Incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles wrote in a memo, which was first reported on by The New York Post, that all of Trump’s nominees should avoid making public social media posts without obtaining approval from the incoming White House counsel, David Warrington.
  
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• Chip Roy on Johnson: 'I don't believe he has the votes'

  31-12-2024 17:05 via thehill.com
  
  Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on Tuesday said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) does not have the votes to keep the gavel, and that he remains undecided on whether he can support the Louisiana Republican in the Friday floor vote, despite President-elect Trump endorsing Johnson."I remain undecided, as do a number of my colleagues, because we saw so many of the failures last year that we are concerned about that might limit or inhibit our ability to advance the president’s agenda,” Roy said on Va
  
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• Trump warns of Democratic delays on Cabinet nominees

  31-12-2024 15:53 via thehill.com
  
  President-elect Trump on Tuesday urged Republicans to be “smart and tough” in the face of potential Democratic efforts to delay the confirmation of his nominees.“We just won a Historic Landslide and Mandate from the American People, but Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow th
  
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• Trump ally Laura Loomer on Musk: 'Nobody wants to cross this guy'

  31-12-2024 15:39 via thehill.com
  
  Laura Loomer, a staunch ally of President-elect Trump and far-right activist, suggested that some Republicans in Trump's circle don't want to cross billionaire Elon Musk."It sounds like people are scared of crossing the king, the king of the world, Elon Musk, the monarch," Loomer told longtime conservative broadcaster and pundit Eric Bolling on Monday."Nobody wants to cross this guy," she added in the interview, as highlighted by Mediaite.Loomer also suggested during the interview that Musk's mu
  
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• Carville: Carter 'was actually a very significant president'

  31-12-2024 14:25 via thehill.com
  
  Democratic political strategist James Carville recently praised former President Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, for his achievements while he was in office,Carter was the longest-lived president in the nation's history."Now, I think it‘s just become too convenient a thing for people to say, 'well, he was just an okay president, but he was a great man.' He was actually a very significant president," Carville told CNN's Erin Burnett in an interview Monday evening."It does kind of
  
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• FBI warning pro leagues following burglaries at star athletes' homes

  31-12-2024 13:43 via thehill.com
  
  (NewsNation) — The FBI is warning sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes following a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent NFL and NBA players.The athletes' homes are targeted due to the perception they may contain high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News.The NFL and NBA already have issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins
  
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• Social Security: When are benefits being sent out in 2025?

  31-12-2024 13:33 via thehill.com
  
   (NewsNation) — As the new year begins, understanding the Social Security payment schedule for 2025 is essential for beneficiaries planning their finances.Here's a look at when you can expect your benefits next year.When are Social Security payments disbursed?Social Security benefits are disbursed on Wednesdays, with the specific payment day depending on the recipient's birth date:
  Birth date 1st-10th: Payments on the second Wednesday of each monthBirth date 11th-20th: Payments on the
  
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• Jimmy Carter had a UFO encounter. What to know

  31-12-2024 13:31 via thehill.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Former President Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, left behind a unique legacy of openness about UFO sightings, including his own encounter in 1969, and a message to potential alien civilizations that continue to travel through space.As a rising politician in Georgia, Carter reported seeing an unidentified flying object outside a Lions Club in Leary, Georgia. He described a bright orb that changed colors from blue to red to white, moving toward and away from the group of
  
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• Migrant crisis added to record-level US homelessness: HUD

  31-12-2024 13:24 via thehill.com
  
  (NewsNation) — The number of immigrants who entered the country illegally and then struggled to find housing in sanctuary cities contributed to a record number of Americans who experienced homelessness in 2024, according to a new report.Data released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that more than 770,000 people struggle with finding a place to stay across the country on a single night. The report also indicates that the percentage of Hispanics dealing with ho
  
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• Trump border czar Tom Homan to migrants: 'Stay home'

  31-12-2024 12:51 via thehill.com
  
  Immigration officials and agents at the U.S.-Mexico border insist there is still time for a potential surge of immigrants to cross into the country illegally before President-elect Trump takes office and cracks down on border entries.Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have pledged to begin mass deportation efforts on Day 1 of Trump’s second White House term. But with three weeks before Trump’s inauguration, federal immigration officials believe they could be facing an influx of m
  
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• What's changing for USPS in 2025?

  31-12-2024 12:33 via thehill.com
  
  The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will raise shipping prices in early 2025 while keeping the cost of first-class stamps unchanged.The proposed price hikes, which would take effect Jan. 19, include a 3.2 percent increase for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services. USPS Ground Advantage rates would rise by 3.9 percent, while Parcel Select services would see the steepest increase at 9.2 percent.The price adjustments were approved by the USPS Board of Governors and have been filed with the Po
  
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• Trump tests influence over GOP with Johnson Speakership vote

  31-12-2024 12:00 via thehill.com
  
  The strength of President-elect Trump’s influence over the razor-thin House Republican majority will get another major test Friday, when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) aims to be reelected as Speaker.Even with Trump’s endorsement of Johnson on Monday — “He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN,” Trump said of Johnson — the Speaker remains in a precarious position ahead of the vote on the opening day of the new Congress.Several House Republica
  
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• The Memo: Biden faces uncomfortable parallels with Carter

  31-12-2024 12:00 via thehill.com
  
  President Biden paid tribute to former President Carter soon after the 39th president’s death was announced Sunday.But Biden could have been forgiven for some unease, given that Carter’s story offers plenty of uncomfortable comparisons with his own.Speaking at a hastily arranged news conference in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is vacationing, Biden praised Carter, who died aged 100, as “a remarkable leader” and “a statesman and humanitarian.”But most
  
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• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has ‘great meeting’ with Trump

  31-12-2024 05:04 via thehill.com
  
  Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that she had a “great meeting” with President-elect Trump.“Today, President Trump and I had a great meeting to discuss our shared priorities for the President’s second term,” Bowser said in a statement on X. “President Trump and I both want Washington, DC to be the best, most beautiful city in the world and we want the capital city to reflect the strength of our nation.”It wasn’t Bowser and Trump&rsq
  
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• House Republican says he’s still not a firm yes on Johnson for Speaker

  31-12-2024 04:55 via thehill.com
  
  Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said he will likely back Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in the leadership vote this week, but he’s still not a firm yes.McCormick joined NewsNation’s “The Hill” on Monday, where he was asked if he’d vote for Johnson on Friday.“Most likely,” he replied. “We have decisions to be making and we have to discuss with each other about 10 people who are leaning.”“And what that means is we want reassurances,” McCo
  
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• Tom Homan rips Jasmine Crockett for saying he is in over his head

  31-12-2024 03:51 via thehill.com
  
  Tom Homan, who has been tapped to be President-elect Trump’s border czar, criticized Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) after she said he is in over his head.On Saturday, Crockett joined MSNBC, where she chastised the Trump administration for its mass deportation plans, and she argued they would separate families and put people in immigration encampments.Homan then joined Newsmax on Monday, where he dismissed her criticism.“So, look, I don’t know who this lady is,” Homan sa
  
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• Burchett on Trump backing Johnson: ‘The die has been cast’

  31-12-2024 01:38 via thehill.com
  
  Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) argued that the “die has been cast” in the Speakership vote after President-elect Trump gave an endorsement of sitting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).Burchett joined Fox News on Monday, saying he believes Johnson will have enough votes to remain speaker.“I think he ultimately will,” he said. “I think the die has been cast pretty much.”Still, Burchett didn’t jump on board for Johnson. He said he would wait and make up his mind on
  
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• What to know about H-1B visas at the center of Musk-MAGA fight

  31-12-2024 00:02 via thehill.com
  
  A simmering debate over work visas exploded over the last days of the year, exposing a rift over immigration among President-elect Trump’s closest supporters.The H-1B visa — a temporary, nonimmigrant work permit — is at the center of the MAGA-on-MAGA strife, with one faction claiming it’s a necessary tool to attract professional talent to the United States and the other deriding the visa program as a burden on American workers.Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — the inc
  
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• Massie bucks Trump's endorsement of Johnson, whom he compares to Biden

  30-12-2024 23:40 via thehill.com
  
  Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) appears to be bucking President-elect Trump's endorsement of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), whom he criticized in a social media post as a "potato" like President Biden.“I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan,” Massie posted Monday on the social platform X.Massie made his post not too long after Trump offered his complete and total endorsement of J
  
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