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Current and former Republicans criticized President Donald Trump at the sixth annual Principles First summit held outside Washington, D.C., over the weekend. The event, estimated to draw around 750 attendees, was reportedly about "half empty," with no currently elected Republican officials in attendance. Former Republican lawmaker Joe Walsh called Trump "everything our founders feared" and described his MAGA movement as an "authoritarian-embracing cult" that threatens democracy. Retired Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of U.S. military forces in Europe, noted that U.S. allies questioned whether American institutions "can ever be trusted again," stating the nation's institutions, alliances, credibility, and values have been compromised. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cited a poll showing 25 percent of Republicans disapprove of Trump's job performance, predicting the summit's attendance will double by next February after the midterms.

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A 2020 email unearthed from the Justice Department's 3.5 million Epstein files shows a DOJ attorney referring to Jeffrey Epstein's death as a "murder," contradicting the official suicide ruling. Epstein was found dead in his cell on August 10, 2019, and Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson ruled it a suicide six days later, despite oddities surrounding the circumstances. An Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York wrote that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had signed a confidentiality agreement "in connection with the investigation into the murder of Jeffrey Epstein." This reference came nearly a year after the suicide ruling. The revelation occurred during Trump's first term and conflicts with a DOJ memo released last year concluding Epstein died by suicide. Journalists expressed shock at the discovery, with critics noting Trump's DOJ was investigating the death as a murder in 2020.

Bisa Hall, former wife of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), told The Daily Mail that Donalds used a fake Jamaican patois accent when they met at Florida A&M University. It disappeared within days, she added. Hall claimed Donalds explained he adopted the accent to stand out, noting there were many students from New York but few from Jamaica. The couple was married between 1999-2002, in what Hall described as an arrangement for "financial reasons." She said they separated after Donalds impregnated his then-girlfriend, now-wife Erika. Hall also noted they haven't spoken in decades. Donalds did not deny Hall's allegations in his statement to The Daily Mail, saying only that he wished he had "handled that chapter differently." Donalds is a Trump supporter running for Florida Governor in 2026.

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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's family stands to profit significantly from the Supreme Court's decision striking down President Donald Trump's tariffs. Lutnick, who led Cantor Fitzgerald for 30 years before handing control to his sons before joining the Trump administration, publicly championed the tariffs. However, documents obtained by Wired reveal that Cantor Fitzgerald purchased rights to tariff refunds from affected companies, paying 20-30% of what companies paid out in tariffs. The firm now stands to reap returns of up to five times its initial investment. Cantor Fitzgerald denied involvement in positioning against the tariffs. Critics on social media condemned the apparent conflict of interest, with journalist Adam Cochran calling it "the 53rd scheme by a Trump official to profit from government policy." Others described it as "pure criminality and graft," noting Lutnick was also tasked with implementing the tariffs.

During the National Governors' Association breakfast on Friday, President Donald Trump became enraged when informed of the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision striking down his tariffs as illegal. According to CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes, the breakfast had been proceeding smoothly until Trump learned of the ruling. He immediately began ranting, calling the decision "a disgrace" and attacking the court with profanity. Holmes emphasized that the tariff policy represents a significant loss for Trump, as much of his economic and foreign policy agendas depend on tariffs. Trump has used tariffs as leverage in international meetings and consistently promoted them as central to his economic strategy.

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Democrats are mobilizing to defeat the SAVE Act, which House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark described as part of Trump's plan to control elections. The measure would require proof of citizenship, end mail-only voter registration, implement photo ID requirements nationwide, and mandate rules to purge noncitizens from voter rolls. Clark stated the bill "has nothing to do with voter ID laws" and "is all to do with voter suppression and rigging the election." Rep. Pete Aguilar emphasized the GOP's immediate intent, noting the Act would take effect immediately if passed, impacting 2026 primaries in states like Texas. Critics highlight that the documentation requirements disproportionately burden married women who changed their names, as the bill doesn't allow name-change proof. Notably, Rep. Ami Bera argued the measure would hurt Republican voters more than Democrats. And Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) said, “That is an unmitigated disaster for voters across America, Republicans as much as if not more than Democrats."

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President Donald Trump sparked outrage when he suggested awarding himself the Congressional Medal of Honor during a speech in Rome, Georgia at the Coosa Steel Corporation. Trump, who never served in the military, joked that he considered giving himself the decoration reserved for military members who exhibit valor. He claimed he was "extremely brave," but noted that military recipients have suffered severe injuries. Trump made a similar comment in 2019. The remarks ignited backlash on social media, with critics calling his comments "profoundly, offensively disgusting." Former Biden White House staffer Andrew Bates referenced Trump's history of cutting VA benefits. Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly urged voters to "send a very loud, undeniable message in November." Other commentators described Trump's behavior as childish and compared him to a "cartoon character."

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President Donald Trump drew criticism for his response to Fox News' Peter Doocy on Thursday in Air Force One, according to observers. When asked whether other Jeffrey Epstein associates should be arrested following Prince Andrew's arrest, rather than address the question directly, Trump claimed to be an "expert" because he had been "totally exonerated" and stated he "did nothing." He asserted that Epstein "was against me" and "was fighting me in the election," citing the recently released 3 million pages of Epstein documents. Trump's comments deflected focus from the original question about accountability for Epstein's associates. Social media observers criticized his response as self-incriminating. Professor Adam Cochran posted that there has "literally never been a guiltier-sounding person." The Atlantic's Tom Nichols sarcastically noted it was "a normal answer you'd expect from someone who isn't at all concerned."

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Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, filed a dissent in the 6-3 Supreme Court decision clamping down on Trump's ability to bypass Congress and levy tariffs unilaterally. Breaking with conservative Justices John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, and Neil Gorsuch, Kavanaugh expressed concern about practical consequences rather than legal precedent. He warned that while the ruling may not significantly restrict presidential tariff authority going forward, it will create "serious practical consequences in the near term." Kavanaugh specifically worried about refunding billions of dollars collected from importers, noting the Court offered no guidance on whether or how the government should return the funds. He acknowledged during oral argument that the refund process would likely be a "mess." Kavanaugh's dissent focused on administrative burden rather than constitutional grounds for Trump's tariff authority.

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President Donald Trump criticized liberal justices following the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against his tariff authority. In his first public comments on the decision during a White House press briefing, Trump called the ruling "deeply disappointing." He accused Democratic justices of automatically voting against his policies, stating they "will automatically vote 'no'" regardless of merit. Trump claimed these justices are "a disgrace to our nation" and opposed anything that makes "America strong, healthy and great again." He characterized their voting pattern as predictable and suggested their loyalty to a political agenda was unwavering. Trump asserted he had exercised restraint with his tariff approach, claiming he tried to be "very well-behaved" and "modest" in his requests to avoid influencing the court's decision, suggesting he understood how justices could be "easily swayed."

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President Donald Trump attacked the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against his tariff authority, calling the decision "ridiculous." The court determined Trump acted outside his authority when imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, rendering a significant portion of his tariffs as unlawful. Trump expressed outrage at the decision during a White House address, claiming the court prevented him from charging tariffs while permitting embargoes and trade restrictions. He said, "I can do anything I want to do to them, but I can't charge any money," adding, "so I'm allowed to destroy the country, but I can't charge them a little fee." Trump has centered much of his presidency on tariff policy and previously warned the ruling could cause a $2 trillion "catastrophe" and reduce the United States to "almost Third World status."

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The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against the Trump administration Friday morning, determining that the president exceeded his authority in imposing reciprocal tariffs. The decision is expected to send shockwaves globally and has already infuriated Trump. The president had grown increasingly panicked ahead of the ruling, lashing out at justices and warning of a potential $2 trillion "catastrophe" if his tariffs were struck down. He also cautioned that the United States could be "reduced to almost Third World status" if the tariffs were overruled. Americans are bracing for potential economic impact, with concerns that the government may need to refund tariffs already collected. Social media users expressed alarm about additional taxes charged to consumers — with some demanding refunds.

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Political commentator Christopher Bucktin argued that ex-Prince Andrew's arrest on misconduct charges Thursday could have significant implications in the United States. Bucktin describes the arrest as "almost surreal," signaling that status alone no longer protects powerful individuals from criminal investigation. He references Attorney General Pam Bondi's warning that investigating everyone mentioned in Jeffrey Epstein's files could "bring down the government," suggesting Andrew's arrest represents a shift in accountability. Bucktin contends that the UK's willingness to pursue credible allegations against powerful figures puts pressure on the US to act similarly. He argues that the Epstein case extends beyond one individual to an entire ecosystem of influence involving wealth, power, and institutional protection. Bucktin asserts that justice cannot exempt elite figures for political sensitivity reasons, and Andrew's arrest could signal that no title provides immunity from the law.

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