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Trump Ends Talks With Zelenskyy, Cancels Joint Press Conference

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

It’s over…

President Trump has called off negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the conflict in Ukraine after a tense Oval Office meeting in which the two leaders sparred over U.S. support for Kyiv.

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting. 

“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump continued. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Shortly after Trump’s post on Truth Social, Zelensky’s motorcade pulled up to the White House, signaling negotiations had ended.

The two leaders had been scheduled to hold a joint press conference and sign a deal giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals supply later in the day. The press conference has been canceled, and the minerals deal was not signed.

Trump’s post followed a stunning exchange in the Oval Office in which the president and Vice President Vance teed off on Zelensky, accusing him of being ungrateful for U.S. support and of having little leverage in talks.

Watch:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted publicly for the first time since his Oval Office blowup with President Donald Trump on Friday with a social media post thanking the United States.

“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Thank you @POTUS. Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Report: Denmark Calls On US Envoy Over Alleged Covert Greenland Interference Operations

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Denmark over intelligence reports that Americans had conducted covert influence operations in Greenland. 

Danish public broadcaster DR reported that at least three people with ties to the Trump administration were conducting the operations. The broadcaster cited unnamed security and government sources.

“We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the Kingdom in the time ahead,” Rasmussen said in a statement sent to Fox News. 

“Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable. In that light, I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the U.S. chargé d’affaires for a meeting at the ministry.”

Rasmussen also emphasized that the ties between Denmark and Greenland are “close” and “based on mutual trust.”

Earlier in his second term, President Donald Trump repeatedly spoke about seeking U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, which is part of the Danish kingdom. In response to Trump’s remarks, both Denmark and Greenland have said that the island was not for sale.

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said in the Truth Social post.

In late 2019, Trump said that buying Greenland, which is owned by Denmark, was “strategically” interesting, triggering an angry response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“Denmark essentially owns it. We’re very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world,” Trump said at the time.

“Strategically, it’s interesting, and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit. It’s not number one on the burner,” he added.

The U.S. does not currently have an ambassador to Denmark, leaving American diplomat Mark Stroh to serve as the chargé d’affaires. Stroh was summoned to the Foreign Ministry.

One of the people suspected in the alleged influence operation reportedly compiled a list of U.S.-friendly Greenlanders, collected names of Trump opponents and allegedly encouraged locals to highlight cases portraying the Danish government negatively in U.S. media, according to reports. Additionally, two others are suspected of trying to create relationships with politicians, businesses and locals.

DR cited eight sources who believe the goal was to weaken ties between Denmark and Greenland.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service allegedly told the outlet that it believes “particularly in the current situation, Greenland is a target for influence campaigns of various kinds.”

In May, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “you cannot spy against an ally” in response to reports that the U.S. was gathering intelligence on Greenland.

DeSantis Dips to Lowest Level of Support in Quinnipiac 2024 Polling

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    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ popularity is waning…

    The popular governor slipped to its lowest level this year, according to a new Quinnipiac University national poll released Wednesday. 

    Eighteen percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters said they supported the Florida governor, which is his lowest level of support in Quinnipiac’s polling of the GOP primary this year. Former President Trump, on the other hand, clocked in at a whopping 57 percent support among Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Quinnipiac noted that DeSantis was only 6 points behind the former president in February, but now he finds himself trailing Trump by 39 points. 

    Meanwhile, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy came in third place at 5 percent support, followed by former Vice President Mike Pence at 4 percent. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie each received 3 percent support. 

    The poll comes as DeSantis continues to struggle to gain traction in the polls. An Emerson College survey released earlier this week showed Christie surpassing DeSantis by 1 point in New Hampshire.

    Trump Administration Asks Judge to Reject Bid to Halt White House UFC Event

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    The Trump administration is urging a federal judge to reject a last-minute lawsuit seeking to block this weekend’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House South Lawn, arguing that preparations are too far advanced to stop the highly publicized spectacle.

    In a court filing submitted Tuesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the court to deny a request for a temporary restraining order filed by two Virginia residents who are challenging the legality of the event. According to the filing, planning for the UFC card has been underway since President Donald Trump announced it last year, with more than $60 million already invested and thousands of spectators expected to attend.

    “All these hopes could be dashed at the very last moment, however, by the whim of two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else,” DOJ attorneys wrote in the filing, according to The Hill.

    The lawsuit was brought by retired Air Force Sgt. Paul Romano and political activist Susan Douglas, represented by the Public Integrity Project. The plaintiffs argue that federal agencies failed to comply with environmental review requirements and did not obtain congressional approval for structures associated with the event, including a temporary 92-foot-tall arch known as “The Claw” that is being erected on White House grounds.

    The complaint also contends that the event improperly uses federal property for a private, commercial enterprise and alleges that the administration is using America’s 250th anniversary celebration as a pretext to bypass normal permitting requirements.

    The administration has rejected those claims, arguing that the UFC event is an official component of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations and therefore does not require a traditional permit. DOJ attorneys further argued that the plaintiffs lack standing and are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their case.

    “It would be easy enough to simply avert their gazes for the weekend,” the DOJ filing stated. “Instead, they seek to enlist the power of a federal court to impose their idiosyncratic preferences on the rest of the country and ruin an event designed to celebrate the United States of America.”

    The event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” is scheduled for Saturday on the South Lawn and coincides with Flag Day, President Trump’s 80th birthday, and broader America 250 celebrations. Organizers plan to host six prime-time bouts inside a temporary Octagon constructed on White House grounds, while ceremonial weigh-ins are scheduled to take place at the Lincoln Memorial.

    According to court filings, the administration expects attendance in the thousands, while tens of thousands more spectators are expected to gather in surrounding areas. Construction crews have already begun assembling the temporary venue.

    The White House has described the event as one of the centerpiece attractions of the America 250 celebration. President Trump recently told reporters that interest in the UFC card has surpassed any other event held during his presidency.

    “I’ve been involved in a lot of big events. I have never had an event that has had more interest than the UFC fight we have right at the front door,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office.

    Trump has maintained a longstanding friendship with UFC President and CEO Dana White, who has been a prominent supporter of the president and frequently appears at political events. Trump has also attended numerous UFC events during both his first and second terms in office.

    A federal judge has not yet ruled on the plaintiffs’ request to halt the event, but with the fights scheduled to begin this weekend, the administration is pressing for a swift dismissal of the challenge.

    House Republican To Lead Disclosure Task Force Concerning JFK Files, Epstein List, UFOs

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      Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) declared that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) will lead the “Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets” just weeks after President Donald Trump signed an order to declassify the assassination files of former President John F. Kennedy, former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

      “For too long, the federal government has kept information of public interest classified and the American people are demanding greater transparency. This secrecy has sowed distrust in our institutions,” Comer said in a statement. “The Task Force will build on the Trump Administration’s efforts to declassify records of national importance and ensure Americans get the answers they deserve. Representative Luna is committed to shining a light on the truth and ending the era of secrecy. It’s time to let the sunlight in and finally provide answers the American public has long demanded.”

      A press release said the task force has been authorized for six months pursuant to committee rules, and members would be announced at a later date. The Oversight Committee also revealed a battery of letters that Comer and Luna sent to leaders, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, seeking briefings in light of Trump’s order and noting they would then request to see relevant documents and make recommendations on the declassification process.

      Signed on January 23, Trump’s directive said the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General would have 15 days to “present a plan to the President for the full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy” and 45 days to “review records related to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and present a plan to the President for the full and complete release of these records.”

      As reported by The Daily Wire, Trump said: “A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed.”

      “The federal government has been hiding information from Americans for decades. We have spent years seeking information on the assassinations of President Kennedy, Senator Kennedy, Reverend King, and other government secrets without success,” Luna said. “It is time to give Americans the answers they deserve, which is why I am honored to lead this bipartisan task force that seeks truth and transparency. We will also investigate UAPs/USOs, the Epstein client list, COVID-19 origins, and the 9/11 files. We will work alongside President Trump and his cabinet members to deliver truth to the American people. From this moment forward, we will restore trust through transparency.”

      During a press conference with Comer at the U.S. Capitol, Luna suggested the task force’s first area of focus will be on the John F. Kennedy assassination and then made a stunning assertion that cast doubt on Lee Harvey Oswald being the lone gunman.

      “I can tell you, based on what I’ve been seeing so far, the initial hearing that was actually held here in Congress was actually faulty, and the single bullet theory — I believe there were two shooters and we should be finding more information as we are able to gain access into the SCIF before the files are actually released to the public,” Luna said.

      Watch the full press conference below:

      House GOP Moves To Censure Congressman After Interrupting Trump Speech – Again

      Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

      A new effort is underway among House Republicans to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) after he was removed from President Donald Trump’s primetime address for the second consecutive year.

      Green was ejected from Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night just minutes after the president entered the House chamber. As Trump approached the podium, Green stood holding a sign that read, in all capital letters, “Black people are not apes.” He remained standing with the sign visible as the president began speaking, prompting intervention by the Sergeant at Arms.

      Rep. Mike Rulli (R-Ohio) told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he is seeking support for a formal censure resolution against Green.

      “His shenanigans at the State of the Union were uncalled for,” Rulli said. “We can’t really put up with that kind of conduct in Congress. Something had to be done.”

      Rulli added, “I’m looking for as many co-sponsors from our conference as possible. And I’m reaching across the aisle for anyone over there that was embarrassed by their own guy.”

      According to the text of Rulli’s resolution, first obtained by Fox News Digital, Green’s actions constituted a “breach of conduct.” The resolution further notes that it “was the second time in less than a year that the Representative from Texas had to be removed from the chamber by the Sergeant at Arms due to unpatriotic disruptions that violated numerous House rules related to decorum.”

      This is not the first time Green has faced formal rebuke from the House. In March 2025, the House of Representatives voted to censure him after he disrupted a previous presidential address by waving his cane and shouting over Trump as the president attempted to deliver his remarks. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in passing that resolution.

      Green has long been one of Trump’s most vocal critics in Congress. During Trump’s first term, Green repeatedly introduced articles of impeachment against the president, beginning as early as 2017. His efforts, which cited allegations ranging from obstruction of justice to rhetoric he characterized as discriminatory or inflammatory, were unsuccessful and did not advance out of the House. While Democrats later pursued separate impeachment proceedings that led to two Senate trials, Green’s early impeachment resolutions did not gain sufficient support within his own party to move forward.

      Following his removal Tuesday night, Green defended his actions.

      “I refuse to tolerate this level of hate that the president is in fact putting into policy. We must take a stand against this level of invidious discrimination,” Green told reporters.

      “I wanted him to know, and I wanted them to see it and hear it. Up close. But judging from the expression on his face, he got the message. He saw it,” Green said.

      Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stopped short of committing to a vote on Rulli’s latest censure resolution but indicated he would allow members to decide.

      “Al Green was removed pretty quickly. I don’t know if censure is going to be appropriate. I’ll let our colleagues decide that,” Johnson said. “The point of a censure, is to bring someone to the House floor and bring shame upon them for their actions. I think they showed the American people shame already.”

      Draft Tucker PAC Goes Silent After Threat From Carlson

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      Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      A recently launched PAC pressuring former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to run for president has gone silent after receiving a legal threat from Carlson’s lawyer.

      Carlson’s lawyer, Harmeet Dhillon, sent the PAC officers a cease-and-desist letter Monday.

      “Mr. Carlson will not run for President in 2024 under any circumstances, and therefore your misrepresentations are damaging to Mr. Carlson and defrauding his supporters,” Dhillon wrote in the letter, obtained by The Hill. “If you do not immediately cease and desist your efforts to solicit money to ‘draft’ Mr. Carlson, we will use every legal means at our disposal to vindicate his rights and protect his supporters from these misrepresentations.”

      Dhillon added that the PAC did “not have Mr. Carlson’s permission or support to use his name, image, or likeness in your efforts,” accusing them of doing so “for your own benefit” to later sell donor lists, and that taking funds would lead to donors’ “disappointment and frustration.”

      The move came days after the PAC aired a political ad on the conservative outlet Newsmax.

      Chris Ekstrom, the PAC’s chairman and one of its financial backers, told The Hill that the ad had raised only $212 online so far and that he contributed $35,000 of his own money. He noted that the PAC will either donate the funds raised to a charity that Carlson supports or refund it to those who contributed.

      Following the letter, the Draft Tucker PAC said it asked Newsmax to pull the Draft Tucker PAC ads currently running on the network.

      “Tucker’s attorney has contacted us to let us know that Tucker is not a candidate for president nor has any intentions of running and asked us to cease all activities on his behalf. We are going to honor that request,” spokesman and GOP consultant Charlie Kolean said in a statement.

      Carlson has repeatedly said that he would not run for president in 2024 but his influence on the right coupled with his recent ouster from Fox News has left some supporters wondering if he could ultimately change his mind.

      The ex-primetime host has teased the return of his show on Twitter but has yet to share specific details on the venture.

      Earlier this month, The Washington Post published a report that Carlson is in talks with former President Donald Trump to form a new Republican debate forum. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson In Talks With Donald Trump To Host GOP Forum)

      Carlson and his team have discussed the possibility of moderating a candidate forum outside of the traditional protocols surrounding the GOP primary debate system, according to two people familiar with the considerations. These people said the setup — as well as Carlson’s availability to take on that kind of role, given the noncompete constraints of his contract with Fox — remain unclear. But Carlson has personally expressed enthusiasm about the idea, according to people familiar with his comments. At least one major candidate — Trump — has told Carlson he’s interested, according to a person familiar with the exchange.

      Trump Signs Law Delivering First Medal Of Honor Pension Increase In 25 Years

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        President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud at the Royal Court Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

        President Trump has signed the Medal of Honor Act, a bipartisan measure that delivers the first pension increase for Medal of Honor recipients in a quarter-century. The law lifts annual compensation from $16,880 to $67,500, a major boost aimed at honoring the 61 living Americans who earned the nation’s highest award for valor.

        A Rare Moment of Unanimous Support

        The bill, led by Rep. Troy Nehls and Sen. Ted Cruz, cleared the Senate unanimously last month. Lawmakers from both parties backed the increase, calling it a long-overdue adjustment for service members who put everything on the line in combat.

        What the New Law Does

        • Raises the annual Medal of Honor pension to $67,500
        • Quadruples current yearly compensation
        • Applies to all living recipients
        • Marks the first update to Medal of Honor pensions in 25 years

        Why It Matters

        Supporters say the upgrade brings the benefit in line with the significance of the medal itself. Medal of Honor recipients have long carried symbolic weight in American culture, yet their compensation has not kept pace with inflation or the modern cost of living.

        After the bill passed, Sen. Ted Cruz’s office put out a statement saying: “Medal of Honor recipients are often not retired from the U.S. military and often receive no compensation for the costs of their public engagements. Through these appearances, they share stories of heroism that inspire Americans, strengthen national pride, and support military recruiting and retention. Increasing their monthly pensions is essential to easing the financial burden on their families and ensuring they can continue representing the best of our nation’s values.”

        Looking Ahead

        With the new law in place, recipients will see the higher rate take effect immediately. For veterans groups, this represents a major win and a signal that Congress and the White House can still unite behind issues tied to military service and national honor.

        Ken Buck Leaves Congress With Unbelievable Parting Gift

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          With less than one day left in Congress, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) is leaving Congress with one last parting gift, or shot, depending on your perspective.

          The conservative congressman signed the House Democrats’ foreign aid discharge petition for Ukraine late last night. He is the first Republican in the chamber to do so. If the petition reaches 218 signatures, it will force a vote on a $95 billion Ukraine aid package, an increasingly unpopular proposition with MAGA Republicans.

          The New Republican’s Tori Otten reports:

          House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to consider the aid package, which would also give aid to Israel and Taiwan, despite it passing the Senate with broad bipartisan support, because it does not include regulations for the U.S.-Mexico border that he considers strict enough. But if the aid bill makes it to the House floor, it is expected to pass, again with bipartisan backing.

          As of Thursday night, the discharge petition had 188 signatures. It needs just 30 more to pass.

          Buck also signed a competing discharge petition to force a vote on a package that includes both Ukraine aid and new border restrictions. Other Republicans have also signed on to that petition, which has only 16 signatures so far.

          Although Friday is Buck’s last day in Congress, his signatures will remain on both petitions until his temporary successor is chosen in a special election. If the successor also signs either petition, Buck’s name will be removed. The special election to replace Buck won’t be held until June, coinciding with the Colorado primaries.

          On Tuesday, the conservative House Freedom Caucus decided to expel Rep. Buck from their ranks.

          The decision to cleave Buck from the herd was allegedly due to his lack of active participation in the group, including failure to attend meetings regularly.

          However, one source told that Buck, known for his increasing frustration with – and opposition to – former President Trump, was ousted for political reasons.

          This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

          Top Iranian Official Responds To Report He’s Trump’s Secret Negotiating Partner

          A senior Iranian official identified in media reports as a potential backchannel to President Donald Trump has publicly denied any involvement in negotiations with the United States.

          Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, rejected the reports after The Jerusalem Post described him as the “top person” Trump had suggested his administration was engaging with behind the scenes.

          In a post on X, Ghalibaf dismissed the claim and accused the U.S. of spreading misinformation.

          “Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved. No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

          The denial comes amid conflicting signals from Washington about the state of diplomacy. Just hours earlier, Trump said his administration had engaged in “very good and productive conversations” with Iran and announced a five-day pause on planned military strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

          Read Trump’s Truth Social message:

          “I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump wrote. “BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”

          The pause marked a sharp shift in tone after Trump had warned over the weekend that Iran could face “total decimation” if it failed to comply with U.S. demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

          Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump hinted at the existence of a high-level Iranian contact but declined to identify the individual.

          “A top person,” Trump said, offering no further details.

          When asked whether Iran’s newly named supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was involved, Trump said the U.S. had not heard from him. Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment and is widely believed to be gravely injured.

          “Don’t forget: We’ve wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two and largely phase three. But we’re dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader, you know it’s a little tough, they’ve wiped out — we’ve wiped out everybody,” Trump added.

          Trump’s claims of active discussions followed his announcement that strikes would be temporarily halted to allow negotiations to continue. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also denied that any talks are taking place, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic track even as tensions remain high following U.S. threats tied to the Strait of Hormuz.