Friday, May 23 | By Jonathan Easley |
© Illustration / Courtney Jones; Greg Nash; and Charles Krupa, Associated Press |
Trump, Harvard clash intensifies
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A FEDERAL JUDGE on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's efforts to ban foreign students from attending Harvard University, the latest in the ongoing feud between President Trump and the nation's oldest and richest school. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an appointee of former President Obama, agreed with Harvard's argument that it would "sustain immediate and irreparable injury" if the ban was implemented immediately. "Thus, a [temporary restraining order] is justified to preserve the status quo pending a hearing," the Boston-based judge wrote. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday notified Harvard it would no longer be able to admit foreign students and that those currently enrolled –– about a quarter of all students –– would have to transfer immediately or leave the country. Princess Elisabeth, the future Queen of Belgium, is among those that would have to leave under the order. "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments," DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system; no lawsuit, this or any other, is going to change that. We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side." DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called the move "a warning to every other university to get your act together," as the administration seeks to crackdown on antisemitism and political protests. The DHS move is the latest in Trump's bitter feud with Harvard. The administration has revoked billions in research funding and grants earmarked for Harvard, which the school has challenged in court. "Harvard's going to have to change its ways," Trump told reporters on Friday. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), a Harvard alum who has been critical of his school, blasted the Trump administration, accusing them of "acting just like the most unhinged of the anti-Israel campus protestors last year –– performative, irrational and cruel." Vice President Vance blasted the courts on the The New York Times's "Interesting Times" podcast. "I think you are seeing an effort by the courts to quite literally overturn the will of the American people," he said. |
ISRAELI EMBASSY SUSPECT CHARGED |
The man suspected of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy workers has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, as well as the murder of foreign officials and other crimes. Authorities say Elias Rodriguez, 31, told them, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza." Charging documents reveal the gruesome nature of the killing of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, a young couple who worked for the Israeli Embassy. Jewish members of Congress gathered at the scene Thursday to honor the dead. "There is no justification ever for terrorism," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). The killings took place amid the broader political debate in Washington about antisemitism and the war in Gaza. Progressive lawmakers that support the Palestinian cause unequivocally denounced the violence. But Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a steadfast ally to Israel, told Jewish Insider that the progressive left tries "to hide behind this idea that it's free speech to intimidate and terrorize members of the Jewish community." Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter connected the killings to the pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, according to Jewish Insider. "The point of the matter is that on campuses around this country, where ideas — these are the temples of ideas — where smart ideas, intelligent ideas, moral ideas, truthful ideas, are supposed to be taught, we have useful idiots running around in support of the destruction of Israel," Leiter said. |
💡Perspectives: • Wall Street Journal: Two lives cut short by a gunman fixated on Gaza. • The Free Press: Welcome to the global Intifada. • The Guardian: What did you do during the Gaza genocide? • The Hill: I was an Israeli diplomatic staffer. These murders are not surprising. • Harvard Crimson: Harvard's international students are people, not pawns. |
President Trump signed executive orders that aim to bolster nuclear power, including by scaling back environmental reviews. Ukraine and Russia are conducting a major prisoner swap following the direct negotiations held in Turkey last week. The Evening Report will return Tuesday, so enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. To stay up-to-date on the latest, sign up for The Hill's Tipsheet. Click here to get it in your inbox.
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© AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein |
Trump threatens new tariffs on EU, Apple, Samsung |
Stocks fell Friday after President Trump reignited his trade war, making new threats against the European Union (EU) and phone manufacturers. Trump threatened a new 50 percent tariff on all products from the EU beginning June 1. "Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable," Trump posted on Truth Social. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the EU had failed to negotiate in "good faith" and predicted the new tariffs would "light a fire" under the EU to reach a deal. Trump also said he'd slap a 25 percent tariff on all Apple products produced overseas if they don't move manufacturing to the U.S. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump posted on TruthSocial. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter!" Most of Apple's products are produced in China, India and Vietnam. Later in the day, Trump tossed Samsung and others into the mix. "It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Again, when they build their plant here there's no tariffs. So they're going to be building plants here." This comes after several weeks of relative calm on the trade front, with the U.S. and United Kingdom striking a trade deal and Trump suspending most reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to give countries time to negotiate. Bessent said Friday he expects to announce several big new trade deals in the coming weeks and that the U.S. is getting close to restarting negotiations with China. |
💡Perspectives: • Whole Hog Politics: The autopsy Democrats actually need. • The Hill: Britain inches back toward Europe with new trade pacts. • The Hill: Economic populism from both parties fails working Americans. • The Liberal Patriot: The futility of the Democratic strategy. • Sasha Stone: Resistance cringe reaches a fever pitch. |
© AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite |
Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' faces Senate GOP objections
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It's going to be a chaotic sprint for Congressional Republicans hoping to get President Trump's agenda bill to his desk by July 4. Senate Republicans are already picking apart the legislation after it passed passed the House this week with a 215-214 vote. Their objections hew closely to the divisions that split House Republicans. Some want more spending cuts, including for Medicaid, to address the debt. Some think Medicaid cuts should be off the table. And some oppose the state and local tax deductions (SALT) cap being raised, viewing it as a bailout for high-tax states governed by Democrats. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can only afford to lose three Republicans. So far, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he's a hard no because the bill raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. "We've never, ever voted to raise the debt ceiling this much," he said. "It's not conservative. I can't support it." Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) says he can't support a bill that adds to the national debt. "I couldn't care less if [Trump's] upset," he told reporters. "I'm concerned about my children, my grandchildren, and the fact that we are stealing from them…$37 trillion in debt and we're going to add to it as Republicans? That's unacceptable." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out the administration's view on the nation's debt. "We can both grow the economy and control the debt," he posted on X. "What is important is that the economy grows faster than the debt. If we change the growth trajectory of the country, of the economy, then we will stabilize our finances and grow our way out of this." Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) predicted "considerable changes," which could complicate the bill's path back through the House. The Hill's Alexander Bolton has the full rundown on the changes Senate Republicans are eyeing. As Republicans debate policy, the political messaging wars are already getting underway ahead of next year's midterm elections. The House GOP's campaign arm is urging members to go back to their districts and aggressively sell the legislation, with a focus on tax cuts, border security and efforts to root out waste and fraud in government programs, including Medicaid. The House Democratic campaign arm is confident the bill will cost the GOP their majority, saying they'll focus on messaging around Medicaid cuts. "In a desperate, hypocritical attempt to inoculate themselves from their eventual vote in favor of this terrible bill, vulnerable Republicans whined, wrote letters, and filed meaningless resolutions to try and convince their voters they would not cut Medicaid and other vital programs," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee wrote in a memo. "It was all a lie." Trump figures to play a big role in the midterm elections. He's amassed a $600 million campaign war chest and aims to raise $1 billon in total. |
Here's who's talking Sunday... NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday": Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Ambassador Wendy Sherman. CNN's "State of the Union": Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). CBS's "Face the Nation": Speaker Johnson (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.). Fox's "Fox News Sunday": Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Speaker Johnson. |
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