Suspect in White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting Hearing Scheduled for Today
Welcome to the live blog.
The suspect involved in the 25 April shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has a hearing scheduled for later today regarding the conditions of his confinement.
Cole Allen remains in custody pending trial. He sustained injuries during the attack but was not shot by officers. According to the federal prosecutor overseeing the investigation, the attack was an attempt to assassinate President Trump.
Allen is accused of rushing a Secret Service checkpoint at the event, which was attended by the president and other cabinet members. He was allegedly armed with multiple weapons and fired at an agent.
Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, stated last week that there was no evidence the agent was hit by friendly fire during the incident. On Sunday, she further clarified that a shot from one of Allen’s weapons struck the officer’s bullet-resistant vest.
“We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot from the defendant’s Mossberg pump-action shotgun was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer,” she told CNN’s State of the Union. “It is definitively his bullet.”
Allen faces charges including attempting to assassinate President Trump, interstate transportation of weapons, and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime. His attorneys filed a court document on Sunday indicating they learned he was no longer on suicide watch and sought to withdraw a motion that formally requested his removal from such supervision.
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, has been hospitalized and is in a “critical but stable condition,” according to his spokesperson on Sunday evening. Ted Goodman, the spokesperson, posted on social media:
“Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he’s fighting with that same level of strength as we speak. We do ask that you join us in prayer for America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani.”
Donald Trump’s approval rating has reached its lowest point during his two terms in office, with more than six in 10 Americans disapproving of his job performance. His rating is particularly poor regarding the cost of living and other economic issues since launching his deeply unpopular war against Iran in February, which has triggered a global oil crisis and caused gas prices to rise to a four-year high.
Trump announced that the US will “guide” ships trapped by the Iran war out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning. He claimed his representatives were engaged in “very positive” discussions with Iran. Trump wrote on his social media platform that the operation, called “Project Freedom,” would be a humanitarian gesture “on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.”
Rubio to Visit Pope Amid Strained Vatican Relations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Rome this week for a visit reportedly aimed at improving relations with the Italian government and the Vatican. Rubio will be in the Italian capital on Thursday and Friday, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the papacy of Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff.
The State Department stated that the meeting will be “to advance bilateral relations with Italy and the Vatican.” Rubio is expected to meet with the Holy See “to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere.” This follows a series of social media criticisms directed at the pontiff after Pope Leo condemned the conflict in Iran but did not directly name the president.
Garcia Urges Oversight Committee to Film and Publish Bondi Testimony
Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has urged Republican Chair James Comer to film and publish Pam Bondi’s upcoming testimony regarding the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“A failure to film and release a video of Ms Bondi’s testimony would present a grave injustice to the American people and survivors of Epstein’s crimes, all of whom are calling upon Congress for transparency,” Garcia wrote in a letter to the oversight chair.
Bondi initially resisted appearing before the panel despite a congressional subpoena, citing that she no longer leads the Department of Justice. Democratic lawmakers threatened to hold her in contempt of Congress, arguing that her departure from the role does not exempt her from testifying.
Bondi is now scheduled to provide a deposition on 24 May.
New US Surgeon General Nominee Faces Mixed Reactions
The new nominee for US Surgeon General, Nicole Saphier, is described by experts as an “effective communicator” who appears “mainstream enough” to pass Senate confirmation. However, she has questioned routine childhood vaccines and other public health measures and is a proponent of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News medical contributor, is the third pick for US Surgeon General following previous nominations of other candidates. The surgeon general position holds significant influence but cannot make laws, enforce policy, or control a budget.
Her predecessor faced opposition due to conflicts of interest in the wellness industry. Saphier has also expressed skepticism about the childhood vaccine schedule, public health interventions for COVID-19, and healthcare for transgender children. She owns a supplement company.
Jerome Adams, Surgeon General under the first Trump administration, stated:
“She is an exceptionally clear communicator – especially effective at reaching conservative audiences who often tune out traditional public health messaging.”
Adams noted that unlike her predecessor, Saphier holds an active medical license and currently practices medicine, adding:
“We really shouldn’t have to highlight that, but here we are. I’ve worked with Saphier before and she’s no sycophant. Hopefully she’ll be allowed to follow the science wherever it leads.”
Middle East Developments and US Naval Activity
Recent developments in the Middle East include the US announcement to “guide” ships trapped in the Gulf by the ongoing war through a southern route of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists that any such transits must be coordinated with its armed forces.
US Central Command (Centcom) recently denied reports that one of its warships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by Iranian missiles, confirming that no US Navy ships have been hit.
Donald Trump is in Washington today, beginning with policy meetings before hosting a small business summit at the White House at 3pm ET. Updates will be provided as the event progresses.
Trump Administration Criticized Over SNAP Program Claims
The Trump administration escalated its criticism of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an 87-year-old food aid program supporting tens of millions of low-income Americans. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claimed last week that 14,000 SNAP recipients owned luxury vehicles such as Ferraris, Bentleys, and Teslas.
Critics argue that this claim is part of a disinformation campaign aimed at undermining a benefit relied upon by some of the most vulnerable US populations.
Rollins did not specify the state or source of the data, but the claim went viral among conservatives on social media, with Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Rand Paul, Congressman Tim Burchett, and actor James Woods sharing the post. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the $57 billion program, declined to comment or verify Rollins’ claims. The data reportedly originates from a 2023 analysis by the Foundation for Government Accountability, an organization advocating for cuts to SNAP and other federal benefits.
The report cites data obtained by an unnamed contractor from an anonymous state but does not provide information on the alleged SNAP recipients or how their identities were matched to vehicle registrations. The Foundation for Government Accountability did not provide data or methodology and did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
US Pushes Trade-Focused Policies in International Aid
The Trump administration continues to pressure the United Nations and the international aid sector to adopt trade-focused policies benefiting US firms, threatening further budget cuts if demands are not met.
During Trump’s second term, USAID has experienced mass layoffs and the consolidation of remaining operations into the State Department, raising concerns among experts about the potential loss of thousands of lives due to cuts in vital programs.
The administration has also largely suspended support for agencies including the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO.
Last week, the Trump administration unveiled a “trade over aid” initiative at the United Nations, signaling a shift from donor-focused development assistance toward greater private investment, described as “an international economic development vision built on free markets.”
Simultaneously, reports indicate that US diplomatic notes circulated in Geneva and New York made clear that the US is willing to use the threat of additional budget cuts to the international community to enforce its agenda.
