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ABC And Disney Sues FCC Over Alleged First Amendment Violations 

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The ABC network has sued the Federal Communications Commission in federal court this week. ABC and its corporate parent, The Walt Disney Company, are alleging major First Amendment infractions, arguing that the Trump administration has violated their free speech rights by launching investigations and challenging the network’s broadcast licenses in retaliation for its news coverage, late-night satire, and views on talk shows, according to reports.  

ABC and Disney allege that the FCC is working to appease President Trump due to the fact that he has repeatedly called out the network to be stripped of its licenses because of material that he viewed as unfavorable to himself and his administration. 

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“Government censorship is deeply un-American,” the lawsuit begins. 

Within the suit itself are Trump’s social media posts which condemn ABC’s news coverage, talk show The View, and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has often gone back and forth with the president. 

The lawsuit continues to point out that the government “may not use the power of the State to punish or suppress disfavored expression.”

“The case concerns the Administration’s sustained effort to do just that. The Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts.”

ABC and Disney together own eight local TV stations, and among them are stations in six of the United States’ largest markets which contribute significantly to ABC’s bottom line, NPR reports. 

These shows require federal licenses because they rely on the public airwaves, but the FCC forces all eight of them to undergo early scrutiny within the renewal process, years ahead of schedule. 

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated in an interview with NPR this week that Disney and ABC were “jumping the gun,” because the agency has not made any decision about whether to renew the licenses. 

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“Disney seems a little jumpy right now. Disney has chosen to go to court to try to block the FCC from moving forward with respect to at least some of the procedural options that are in front of the agency. But from our perspective, we’re going to continue to follow the facts and the law wherever they may lead. Perhaps Disney is concerned or worries about how the record is developing,” Carr said. 

“Ultimately, they’re going to get a fair shake before the agency.”

This lawsuit and the FCC’s decision is being regarded as unprecedented. Traditionally, the commission has acted with the president party holding three seats and the opposing party with two. However, before Trump took office for his second term, he publicly stated that he saw the FCC as an extension of the executive branch. 

Carr stated that he makes sure broadcasters operate in the public interest without violating Trump’s executive order regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. He also has been vocal over his support of Trump’s views and criticisms of ABC, Kimmel, The View, and the network’s journalists in general. 

When Trump called for Kimmel to be pulled off the air, Carr said that ABC and Disney could “do this the easy way or the hard way.” The host was suspended and returned to air days later after public backlash and calls of First Amendment violations. 

With Trump consistently speaking out against ABC, The View, Kimmel, and its journalists, as the parent company Disney has decided to speak out against the president’s attempts to take over the programs. 

“We’re very principled on this,” Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro told CNBC.

“We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic integrity, and we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business.”  

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Stephen Colbert Brings Together Late Night Titans for ‘Strike Force Five’ Reunion as ‘Late Show’ Nears End

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With the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert approaching, the host turned one of his final episodes into a reunion of some of television’s biggest late-night personalities.

Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver joined Colbert on Tuesday night, reviving the chemistry of “Strike Force Five,” the title they used for both their friend group and the podcast they launched during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

The conversation quickly turned into a reflection on the increasingly uncertain state of late-night television and its unexpected role in modern politics.

“Late-night is in a bit of a weird spot right now—spoiler alert,” Colbert told the audience.

“The five of us being here right now, obviously, it’s dangerous because we represent so much of late night. Jon Stewart is designated survivor. Someone has to survive for the president to be mad at.”

The remark referenced Stewart, who frequently hosts Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

CBS previously announced that Colbert’s program would end on May 21, citing financial reasons for the cancellation. However, many viewers have questioned whether the move was politically motivated, given Colbert’s years of criticism directed at President Trump. Tuesday’s monologue continued that trend, with Colbert dedicating much of the opening segment to mocking the president.

The hosts later discussed how surreal it feels for comedy shows to become subjects of presidential attention. “When you were starting out in comedy, did it ever occur to you that you’d be doing a job that the president of the United States would have strong feelings about?” Colbert asked the panel.

“You know what’s even weirder?” Kimmel replied. “Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about.”

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Kimmel’s joke referred to Trump’s recent call for the ABC host to be canceled after Kimmel made comments about first lady Melania Trump, which Kimmel later described as a “light roast.”

Meyers also chimed in with a jab about Trump’s viewing habits.

“The thing I like is that he always posts when the show actually airs. And I do wanna say I appreciate that he is watching linear television.”

At another point in the discussion, Kimmel poked fun at Colbert supporters for not responding to the cancellation by abandoning Paramount Plus subscriptions.

“When I got knocked off the air for a few days, people canceled Disney+,” Kimmel quipped.

Kimmel had briefly been taken off the air by Disney and ABC after conservatives criticized remarks he made following the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. In a subsequent monologue, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of trying to turn the killing into a political weapon.

Tuesday’s episode also revisited the origins of Strike Force Five. The series lasted for 12 episodes, and its proceeds were distributed to staff members from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

The reunion comes amid broader signs of support from across the late-night television world ahead of Colbert’s finale. NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon announced it would air a rerun on May 21 rather than compete with Colbert’s final broadcast, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! said it would temporarily go dark that night in recognition of Colbert’s run.

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“Late night is one of those things that’s been around our whole lives where it kind of it’s just part of our lives,” Fallon said during his appearance on The Late Show.

“I never thought it was a job when I was growing up. I just thought Johnny Carson came with the television set. People wanna go to sleep, have a good laugh and go to bed happy.”

Colbert first took over The Late Show in September 2015, and the program has aired for more than 1,700 episodes. CBS is expected to end the Late Show franchise entirely following Colbert’s departure.

Before signing off, Colbert revealed the group would reunite yet again for an “emergency” video episode of the podcast on May 13.

At the start of that episode, which has now been released, Colbert shared how he’s feeling with just seven episodes left of the show.

“It’s super real. I’ve sunken into it, actually. What I’ve said is the rising tide of emotion has reached my chin, and now, the only thing to do is take a deep breath and swim like hell to May 21.”

Colbert’s farewell stretch is also expected to include an appearance from David Letterman, who hosted The Late Show before Colbert took over the desk. Beyond late-night television, Colbert is co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past with his son, Peter McGee. He also plans to continue working on his latest hobby after the show’s end—building a boat in his basement.

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Melania Trump Criticizes Kimmel’s ‘Expectant Widow’ Joke, Questions His Platform

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First lady Melania Trump is calling out late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke made during a recent broadcast, suggesting the comedian should no longer have a platform on television.

The controversy stems from a monologue Kimmel delivered last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he staged a mock version of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. During the segment, Kimmel portrayed himself as the evening’s comedian, taking aim at Donald Trump and his family.

“Our first lady is here. Mrs. Trump… you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said during the routine.

He continued with another jab tied to a meme previously shared by the president.

“By the way, in the unfortunate event that our president has a medical emergency tonight, do we have a doctor in the house — oh, I’m sorry. I mean, do we have a Jesus in the house? I always confuse them, too.”

Days after the broadcast, and following a security scare at an event attended by the president, the first lady, and senior officials, Melania Trump issued a sharply worded response on X.

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“His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” she wrote.

“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?”

The first lady’s remarks mark her first public comments since the security incident, in which she and the president were escorted offstage by the Secret Service. Though she later appeared briefly in the White House briefing room as the president addressed reporters, she had not previously spoken about the episode.

The president described the incident as unsettling for his wife in an interview the following day. “I don’t want to say, and people don’t like having it said that they were scared, but certainly, I mean, who wouldn’t be when you have a situation like that?” he told CBS.

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The clash also revives broader tensions between Kimmel and Trump-aligned figures. Earlier this year, the host faced backlash after comments related to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, prompting criticism from administration officials.

Among them was Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission chair, who publicly urged action against Kimmel. In the aftermath, at least two owners of ABC-affiliated stations declined to air the program, fueling speculation about political pressure influencing broadcast decisions.

Free speech advocates quickly condemned the moves, arguing the network appeared to be yielding to government influence. A wave of public support for Kimmel followed, and ABC restored the show within days. Since then, his commentary targeting the president has only intensified.

Any decision on how to respond to Melania Trump’s latest criticism is expected to involve ABC’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company. The situation could serve as an early test for new CEO Josh D’Amaro, who recently succeeded Bob Iger.

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Federal Judge Tosses Trump Defamation Case Over Epstein Letter, Allows Refiling

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A federal judge in Florida has dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal, ruling that the complaint failed to meet the legal threshold required for such claims. However, the court left the door open for Trump to try again, granting him until Apr 27 to file an amended version of the lawsuit.

The case stems from a July 2024 Wall Street Journal article that reported Trump had allegedly sent a “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. Trump has repeatedly denied authoring the letter, calling the claim false and defamatory.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles emphasized that public figures like Trump must demonstrate “actual malice” to succeed in a defamation case—meaning the defendants knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Gayles concluded that Trump’s complaint did not sufficiently meet that standard.

The judge wrote that Trump had “not plausibly alleged that the Defendants published the Article with actual malice.”

“President Trump argues that this allegation shows that Defendants acted with serious doubts about the truth of their reporting and, therefore, with actual malice. The Court disagrees. To establish actual malice, ‘a plaintiff must show the defendant deliberately avoided investigating the veracity of the statement in order to evade learning the truth.’ The Complaint comes nowhere close to this standard.”

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Gayles also pointed to the reporting process outlined in the article itself.

“The Article explains that, before running the story, Defendants contacted President Trump, Justice Department officials, and the FBI for comment. President Trump responded with his denial, the Justice Department did not respond at all, and the FBI declined to comment. In short, the Complaint and Article confirm that Defendants attempted to investigate.”

Additionally, the judge highlighted that the article included Trump’s denial, further weakening claims that the publication acted with malicious intent. Still, citing legal precedent, Gayles said Trump should be given an opportunity to revise his complaint to better argue his case.

Notably, the ruling did not determine whether the Journal’s reporting was true or defamatory, only that the current lawsuit failed to adequately allege the required legal elements.

The Wall Street Journal article at the center of the dispute described a letter bearing Trump’s signature that was allegedly included in a birthday album compiled for Epstein. According to the report, the letter featured “several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.”

The article went on to describe the imagery in detail. “A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.” It concluded with the line, “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump forcefully rejected the account at the time, stating, “This is not me. This is a fake thing.” He added, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”

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 On Truth Social, Trump said his legal team would re-file the suit by the Apr 27 deadline.

“Our powerful case against The Wall Street Journal, and other defendants, was asked to be re-filed by the Judge. It is not a termination, it is a suggested re-filing.”

One day after the article was published, Trump filed suit against multiple defendants, including Murdoch, News Corp., the two reporters who wrote the story, and Dow Jones, the Journal’s publisher. Defense attorneys argued in court filings that the case should be dismissed on several grounds, including that the reporting was accurate, not defamatory, and did not meet the standard for actual malice.

Subsequent developments further complicated the situation. On Sept 8, House Democrats released an image they said resembled the letter described in the Journal’s reporting. The document had been obtained by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee through a subpoena issued to Epstein’s estate. At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the image supported Trump’s denial, asserting it showed he neither drew nor signed the letter.

Following the court’s decision, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team signaled that the fight is far from over. “President Trump will follow Judge Gayles’s ruling and guidance to re-file this powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants,” the spokesperson said. “The President will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in Fake News to mislead the American People.”

Epstein, the financier at the center of the controversy, died by suicide in August 2019 while being held without bail in a Manhattan federal jail. He had been arrested weeks earlier on charges of child sex trafficking.

Gas Prices Top $4 as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Oil Supply

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Gas prices across the United States have surged past a key threshold, placing renewed financial strain on consumers and adding pressure to the broader economy. On Tuesday, the national average for regular gasoline climbed above $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2022, capping weeks of steady increases tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The rise has been swift. Since late February, average prices have jumped by roughly 35%, according to AAA data, following disruptions to oil supply linked to the ongoing conflict involving U.S. and Israeli forces and Iran. Although the United States does not rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil, the global nature of energy markets has pushed domestic prices higher.

Industry analysts say the psychological impact of the $4 mark could alter consumer behavior. “We have this obsession with gas prices because they dictate a lot of ‘Can we drive? Can we do things we enjoy?’ And now some of that is at risk,” said Patrick De Haan, an analyst at GasBuddy.

“As we get to a month of increases and prices are much higher, the amount of pressure on Americans’ budgets and their spending is going to ramp up.”

The effects are uneven nationwide. In California, drivers are paying an average of $5.89 per gallon, while Oklahoma residents pay far less at about $3.27 per gallon. Differences in taxes, refining expenses, and distribution systems continue to shape regional price disparities.

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At the same time, diesel prices have also spiked, reaching $5.42 per gallon—up sharply from $3.76 before the conflict. Because diesel fuels are used for shipping and freight, the increase is expected to ripple through the economy, raising costs for goods ranging from groceries to furniture.

“It’s going to mean more expensive bills for truckers, tractors and trains that move the U.S. economy with diesel fuel. It’s going to mean consumers are likely greeted by rising grocery prices — and broadly speaking, a rise in U.S. inflation.”

Economists are increasingly concerned that sustained increases in fuel prices could accelerate inflation while slowing economic growth. Polling reflects that anxiety; more than half of Americans surveyed by Reuters/Ipsos reported that higher gas prices have already affected their household finances, with one in five saying the impact has been severe.

For President Trump, the situation presents both economic and political challenges. After previously highlighting falling fuel costs earlier in his term, the current surge serves as a visible reminder of the war’s consequences. “It is the biggest headache for whoever happens to be in power when something like this happens,” said Kate Gordon, a former senior adviser at the Department of Energy and now chief executive of California Forward.

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While she noted that presidents typically have limited influence over gas prices, Gordon emphasized that this situation is unusual.

“Usually, a hurricane hits the gulf and gas prices go up, and then whoever’s in power gets blamed for it,” she said. In this case, she added, Trump is “going to get blamed anyway because he’s in power, but also he made the decision to go to war in Iran.”

The administration has attempted to respond with several measures to stabilize prices. These include plans to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to ease restrictions on maritime shipping, and to temporarily suspend certain sanctions on oil shipments already in transit. Officials have also relaxed some summertime fuel-blend requirements to reduce pump prices.

Even so, structural factors are pushing prices upward. Seasonal demand is increasing as Americans prepare for spring and summer travel, while the switch to more expensive summer-blend gasoline further adds to costs. Meanwhile, domestic crude futures—though down from their peak during the crisis—remain more than 50% higher than they were at the end of February.

Abroad, countries more dependent on Middle Eastern oil supplies are already taking steps to curb consumption, including encouraging drivers to limit travel.

Experts say meaningful relief is unlikely until global supply routes stabilize. In particular, attention remains focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor for oil exports. “Opening the strait is the answer until it’s not,” Gordon said. “It’s the answer until someone attacks it again.”

For now, consumers are left adjusting to higher costs that are difficult to avoid. “There are some things you can change on the margins, but it’s not easy to change where you live, where you work, where you go to school,” Gordon said. “You can be more efficient, but it’s kind of a baked-in cost.”

Celebration and Anger as Mojtaba Khamenei Takes Iran’s Highest Office

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Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war between Iran and the United States. The selection places power in the hands of a figure widely regarded as a hardliner with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The decision was made by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, had maintained a relatively low public profile during his father’s decades in power, though for years there had been speculation that he exercised significant influence behind the scenes.

Many analysts expect the new leader to continue his father’s policies. Some Iranians say that prospect has extinguished hopes of reform.

“Even the thinnest of chances for a change are no more within the system,” said a man in his 30s in Tehran.

He told the BBC the Assembly of Experts could hardly have chosen someone more closely aligned with the late leader.

“Everything will remain much the same; they don’t even need to change their chants to support the [new leader].”

Reactions among Iranians appear deeply divided. Iranian state television has aired images of pro-government rallies in cities including Tehran, Qom and Mashhad — Mojtaba Khamenei’s birthplace — where supporters waved national flags and celebrated the announcement.

At gatherings broadcast by the state news channel IRINN, some participants expressed enthusiasm about the transition.

“We’re very happy. Thanks to the Assembly of Experts. The hand of God is protecting us. Khamenei is still our leader,” one woman said.

Another woman declared, “It couldn’t have been better than this. Our hearts were warmed.”

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Large crowds were also seen gathering in Tehran’s Enghelab Square, holding portraits of Mojtaba Khamenei and his father, as car horns sounded in celebration.

“Now we are sure that the path will continue with his leadership,” one man told Reuters.

Another supporter described her “profound happiness,” saying the new leader resembled his father in leadership style.

“Of all the possible candidates, he was the most deserving and the one most similar [to the former leader].”

However, many residents interviewed by the BBC expressed anger or fear about the succession.

A woman in her 20s in Tehran said she believed Mojtaba Khamenei would be “even more oppressive than his dad”.

“I really hope their [senior officials’] lives end in the war; otherwise, if we’re under his rule, we will all die,” she said.

Another Tehran resident in his 30s said the killing of the former leader could fuel retaliation.

“He’s vengeful. They killed his father, and he won’t let go. If he can’t take revenge on the US, he will take it out on us ordinary people. I hope that Israel and the US will target him.”

Opposition sentiment has also appeared online. BBC Persian and BBC Verify confirmed social-media videos showing crowds chanting both “Death to Mojtaba” and “Death to the lackey,” while others shouted “Allahu Akbar” — meaning “God is greatest” — in support of the new leader.

Some Iranians said they knew little about Mojtaba Khamenei prior to the announcement.

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In Karaj, a city near Tehran, a man in his 20s said he had not heard much about him before the appointment. “Now it will become clear whether Trump has done a deal with them or not. They need to target him,” he said.

Another man said the appointment signaled continuity. “

“This means that nothing is going to change. It’s the same path, perhaps even worse. I don’t think that he will last.”

A woman in her 40s in Tehran expressed a similarly pessimistic view.

She said Mojtaba Khamenei was “worse than his dad”.

“If he’s alive, I think the US and Israel will target him. Before he was selected as leader on Sunday, everyone was chanting against Mojtaba,” she said. “No one accepts him except the supporters of this regime.”

The leadership change comes amid ongoing military pressure on Iran. US and Israeli forces have continued striking targets in the country during the conflict.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said he hoped to influence the choice of Iran’s next supreme leader and described Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable.” Hours before the announcement, Trump also warned that any successor chosen without his approval was “not going to last long”.

Israel issued its own warning before the appointment was confirmed, saying it would “continue to pursue every successor.”

Despite the announcement, Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet delivered a public speech or appearance since being named the supreme leader.

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Clinton Accuses Trump Administration of Epstein Files ‘Cover-Up’ Amid Document Fight

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Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has accused President Donald Trump’s administration of engaging in a “cover-up” tied to government records concerning the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to the BBC in Berlin during the annual World Forum, Clinton urged transparency from federal officials. “Get the files out. They are slow-walking it,” she said, “They are redacting the names of men who are in it; they are stonewalling legitimate requests from members of Congress.”

“A law was passed in Congress to require that all the files that have anything to do with them [Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell] be released. What we’re seeing, I think it’s fair to say, is a continuing cover-up by the Trump Administration.”

The White House rejected the accusation, arguing the administration’s actions have exceeded those of previous Democratic leadership. In a statement, officials said that by releasing documents, the Trump administration had done “more for the victims than Democrats ever have.”

Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice released millions of pages connected to Epstein-related investigations. However, officials said that roughly three million additional pages remain undisclosed, citing the presence of personal medical information, graphic depictions of child abuse, and other sensitive material that could compromise ongoing inquiries.

Clinton also addressed questions surrounding testimony before Congress. Asked whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should appear before a congressional committee, she responded: “I think everybody should testify who is asked to testify.”

Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct. The committee lacks authority to compel his appearance, though pressure has mounted from US officials and the family of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser. Andrew previously reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025.

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Congressional scrutiny has also focused on the Clintons. After initially declining to testify, the couple agreed last month to appear before the committee, leading lawmakers to shelve a planned contempt vote. Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify on Feb. 27, with Hillary Clinton set to appear the preceding day. The session will mark the first time a former US president has testified before a congressional panel since Gerald Ford in 1983.

In her comments, Hillary Clinton reiterated her preference for public proceedings rather than closed-door depositions.

“We will show up, but we think it would be better to have it in public. I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way. We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

Republican committee chair James Comer previously accused the Clintons of “delay,” stating they “caved” as a contempt vote approached.

Clinton further argued that renewed attention on her and her husband was politically motivated. “Look at this shiny object. We’re going to have the Clintons, even Hillary Clinton, who never met the guy,” she said.

Clinton also criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony at the House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, calling it “quite a scene” and stating that Bondi “refused to answer questions, diverted attention away from the matter at hand, and refused to look at the survivors.”

“There’s something about this administration’s attitude towards this, which I think leads us to conclude they have something to hide. We don’t. We’ve been willing to say whatever we know.”

She acknowledged having encountered Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell “on a few occasions.” Bill Clinton, whose name appears in the files, has said he ended contact with Epstein two decades ago. Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing by survivors, and both say they were unaware of Epstein’s abuse at the time.

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“They’re accused, and in both cases, were convicted of horrific crimes against girls and women. That should be the focus. We are more than happy to say what we know, which is very limited and totally unrelated to their behavior or their crimes. And we want to do it in public. Let’s make this transparent.”

Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell on Aug.10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges without the possibility of bail. More than a decade earlier, he had been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor and was required to register as a sex offender.

Trump is also referenced in the Epstein files, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and says he severed ties with Epstein decades ago.

“President Trump is mentioned, some say, a million times in the files; that is what it says on the internet, over and over again. So, let’s find out what the truth is.”

Responding to Clinton’s comments, Trump told the BBC aboard Air Force One: “I’ve been exonerated.

“I had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. They went in hoping that they’d find it, and they found just the opposite. They’re getting pulled in. And that’s their problem. Clinton and many other Democrats have been pulled in.”

The Justice Department has previously also addressed allegations involving Trump.

“Some docs contain untrue and sensationalist claims against Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have any shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against Trump already.”

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Trump Threatens to Block Opening of US–Canada Bridge

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A cross-border bridge meant to symbolize cooperation between the United States and Canada has instead become the latest flashpoint in a widening political and economic confrontation.

President Trump said Monday that he could prevent the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge, built to connect Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, from opening to traffic, tying its fate to broader grievances with Canada.

In a social media post, he declared he would “not allow” the span to open “until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”

“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset.”

The warning comes amid tariffs, annexation rhetoric, and deepening diplomatic friction between the neighboring countries, whose economies, particularly the auto industry, remain tightly linked by daily cross-border trade.

Canadian business leaders quickly pushed back. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that “whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high, blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move.”

It is not immediately evident how the administration could stop the bridge from opening. Canada financed construction, and operational control will be shared through a public-private arrangement with the state of Michigan, which holds partial ownership.

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One theoretical path would be declaring an emergency, allowing Customs and Border Protection to close a port of entry “when necessary to respond to a specific threat to human life or national interests.” Trump has frequently invoked emergency powers in circumstances critics considered routine to access broader executive authority.

The dispute also intersects with long-running tensions tied to the nearby Ambassador Bridge, a privately owned crossing that already carries enormous commercial traffic. Controlled for decades by the Moroun family of Detroit-area trucking wealth, the bridge generates access to more than $300 million in daily cross-border trade or business that the Gordie Howe span would directly compete for. The family had previously urged Trump to halt the new project.

During his first term, Trump promoted the bridge in a joint statement with Canadian officials as “a vital economic link between our two countries.” His latest stance represents a sharp reversal and aligns with a broader pressure campaign targeting Ottawa.

That campaign intensified after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged middle-power nations at the World Economic Forum in Davos to resist Trump’s America First doctrine and defend the post-World War II international order.

Despite the rhetoric, the president has at times retreated from policies with severe economic consequences. He has previously delayed tariffs that risked harming U.S. industries. And last month, a statement appearing to threaten grounding Canadian-built aircraft in the United States was later clarified by regulators to apply only to new certifications, meaning flights would continue.

Officials closest to the project suggested the bridge would proceed regardless of political pressure. Stacey LaRouche, a spokeswoman for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said the crossing was “going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting.”

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Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens reacted with disbelief, saying, “This is crazy stuff,” while noting that earlier delays had already prompted fears of administration involvement.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. told The Associated Press that the project is a “huge boon” to the state’s economy.

“You’ll be able to move cargo from Montreal to Miami without ever stopping at a street light. So to shoot yourself in the foot and threaten the Gordie Howe Bridge means that this guy has completely lost the plot on what’s good for us versus just what’s spite against the Canadians.”

Trump’s increasingly confrontational posture has angered Canadian leaders and consumers alike. Some Canadians have begun boycotting U.S. travel destinations and products. In his post, the president complained that “Ontario won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products on their shelves.”

He also repeated an unfounded assertion that if Canada aligned with China, “the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup,” a claim he has made before without explanation.

The bridge is named for Gordie Howe, the Canadian hockey legend known for his Detroit Red Wings career and reputation for playing “elbows up” — a phrase that has recently become a rallying cry among Canadians opposing aggressive U.S. actions during  Trump’s second term.

Major construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge is finished, and engineers have spent months testing the structure, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the government-backed entity overseeing the project.

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Trump Claims U.S. Will Gain ‘total Access’ to Greenland Under Emerging Deal

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President Donald Trump said the United States is on track to secure sweeping military and security access to Greenland under a deal he says he personally negotiated, allowing the U.S. to establish as many military bases as it wants on the Arctic island.

Speaking to Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo as he concluded a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said negotiations were still underway but claimed the outcome would overwhelmingly favor Washington.

“We will have everything we want. We’re getting everything we want at no cost,” Trump said. According to the president, the agreement would grant the U.S. unrestricted military access to the Danish territory, with no expiration date for its presence there.

“I’m not going to have to pay anything. We’re going to have total access to Greenland. We’ll have all the military access that we want.”

Trump added that the planned Golden Dome air defense system under development by the United States would extend coverage over Greenland as part of the arrangement. “We’re getting everything we wanted,” he said.

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While Trump has previously insisted the U.S. should formally acquire Greenland, he appeared to soften that position, suggesting ownership was no longer a prerequisite.

“Well, I don’t know if I could say that, but it could be. It’s possible. Anything’s possible,” Trump said when asked about U.S. ownership of the island.

Trump also pointed to market reaction following the announcement, saying investors responded positively after his comments became public.

“I noticed the stock market went up very substantially after we announced it,” he said. “But the details are being negotiated now. It will be very good.”

 The framework Trump described emerged from a Jan. 21 meeting in Davos with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and marked a notable shift from the president’s earlier confrontational stance toward U.S. allies.

In his address at the Swiss summit, Trump ruled out the use of military force to take control of Greenland, even as he reiterated his belief that Denmark should ultimately transfer ownership of the island to the United States. He argued that only the U.S. had the capacity to adequately defend the strategically significant Arctic territory from foreign adversaries.

Financial markets initially reacted negatively to Trump’s pressure campaign. The S&P 500 posted its worst single-day performance in three months on Jan. 20. Markets rebounded after Trump announced on Truth Social that he had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” following his meeting with Rutte and said he would pause the tariffs he had threatened to impose on European nations.

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Denmark’s foreign minister welcomed the apparent de-escalation.

“The day is ending on a better note than it began,” Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a statement.

“We welcome that President Trump has ruled out to take Greenland by force and paused the trade war with Europe. Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

The United States already operates under a 1951 defense treaty with Denmark that allows Washington to establish or operate “defense areas” within Greenland, provided it receives Danish government approval. Under the agreement, the U.S. is permitted “to improve and generally to fit the area for military use” in coordination with Denmark.

It remains unclear how the new arrangement Trump described would differ from existing agreements. U.S. and Danish officials previously announced the creation of a high-level “working group” to address tensions and ongoing discussions related to Greenland.

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Chair Of Greenland’s Top Labor Union Speaks Out Against Trump: ‘We Are Not For Sale’

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Jess Bethelsen, the leader of Greenland’s largest labor union SIK, has come out in a new interview stating that Greenland “will not be annexed” and “is not for sale” in response to US president Donald Trump’s claims that the territory’s current status poses a national security threat.

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