Donald Trump is standing behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, after reports that he shared details of a March attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a message group that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
The revelations that Hegseth used the unclassified messaging system Signal for a second time to share highly sensitive security details come at a delicate moment for him, with senior officials ousted from the Pentagon last week as part of an internal leak investigation into his earlier use of the app.
Trump reiterated his support of Hegseth at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event on the South Lawn, calling the report “fake news.”
Leavitt was also quick to deny a report by NPR on Monday afternoon that a search for a replacement secretary of defense was underway.
Meanwhile, the president took to Truth Social to renew his attacks on Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to plummet by almost 1,000 points.
Key points
- White House slams ‘fake news’ report that search is underway for Pete Hegseth replacement
- Dow Jones falls 1,000 points as Trump renews attack on Fed chair Powell
- Embattled Hegseth attends White House Easter event
- Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat, report says
- Can Pete Hegseth keep his job?
Pete Hegseth’s latest blunders have him fighting a war on two fronts — he could wind up the loser
22:40 , Oliver O'ConnellEric Garcia writes:
Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary faced numerous metaphorical javelins his way on Easter Sunday - all by his apparent own doing.
The first came in the form of a story in The New York Times that revealed that Hegseth shared details of military strikes in a separate chat outside the one with top national security officials that leaked last month.
That alone would be a headache because it shows that the Trump administration’s cabinet has a habit of treating national security information with incredible carelessness.
Last month, when The Atlantic broke the story, most of the attention fell on National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. The new story shows a pattern on Hegseth’s behalf. Hegseth earned additional heat for adding his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News journalist, to the chat.
But then another shoe dropped for Hegseth the same day.
Read on...
Pete Hegseth’s latest blunders have him fighting a war on two fronts
Trump complains 'even' U.S. Supreme Court thwarting his deportation plans
22:27 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to once again complain that the courts are getting in the way of his plans to deport “violent criminals and terrorists.”
He wrote on Truth Social this afternoon:
I’m doing what I was elected to do, remove criminals from our Country, but the Courts don’t seem to want me to do that. My team is fantastic, doing an incredible job, however, they are being stymied at every turn by even the U.S. Supreme Court, which I have such great respect for, but which seemingly doesn’t want me to send violent criminals and terrorists back to Venezuela, or any other Country, for that matter — People that came here illegally! The Courts are intimidated by the Radical Left who are, “playing the Ref.” Great Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito correctly wants to dissolve the pause on deportations. He is right on this! If we don’t get these criminals out of our Country, we are not going to have a Country any longer. We cannot give everyone a trial, because to do so would take, without exaggeration, 200 years. We would need hundreds of thousands of trials for the hundreds of thousands of Illegals we are sending out of the Country. Such a thing is not possible to do. What a ridiculous situation we are in. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Former Clinton special adviser issues damning analysis on Trump’s first 100 days
22:20 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump has “overread his mandate” and may be on course for a “historically unpopular presidency,” a senior advisor to former president Bill Clinton has said.
The president has fallen into the trap of “not understanding the difference between the spectacle of campaigning and the work of successful governing,” Doug Sosnik, who advised Clinton from 1994 to 2000, said.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Bill Clinton special adviser issues damning analysis on Trump’s first 100 days
Harvard sues Trump administration
22:17 , Oliver O'ConnellHarvard University has sued President Donald Trump's administration in the latest escalation between the educational institution and the government.
The suit comes after multibillion-dollar cuts to research funding.
Harvard accuses the White House of launching an arbitrary and unconstitutional campaign to “punish Harvard for protecting its constitutional rights.”
Per The Harvard Crimson:
[The suit] sets in motion a historic legal clash as Harvard attempts to combat the Trump administration’s devastating multi-agency campaign to slash the University’s funding in exchange for deep concessions — including federal audits of Harvard’s programs, agreements to screen international students for their beliefs, and the installation of administrators who will ensure the White House’s demands are carried out.
“The tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institution’s ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions,” Harvard’s lawyers wrote in the Monday filing.
Harvard accuses the administration of unlawfully freezing billions in research funding to pressure the University into restructuring its governance, academic programs, and hiring practices.
The filing argues that the funding suspension violates the First Amendment by “imposing viewpoint-based conditions on Harvard’s funding.”
Watch: Fox News host claims to have not see Trump comments on deporting U.S. citizens
22:10 , Oliver O'ConnellWill Cain: “You just said Donald Trump made a statement about wanting to deport American citizens. I have not seen that statement…I would love to see that clip.”
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) April 21, 2025
*Trump on multiple occasions, including on Fox News, saying he would love to deport homegrown criminals* pic.twitter.com/UlRMEsOk6e
Here’s Alex Woodward’s reporting on Trump’s comments.
‘Home growns are next’: Trump tells Bukele to build more jails for citizens
US dollar hits three-year low as stocks tumble after Trump rips Fed chair Jerome Powell
22:00 , Oliver O'ConnellThe value of the U.S. dollar sank to its lowest point in three years Monday after Donald Trump went on the offensive again, hitting out at the chair of the Federal Reserve.
In a post on Truth Social, the president claimed that the U.S. economy would slow unless Jerome Powell, whom he referred to as “a major loser,” lowered interest rates immediately. He has previously called for lower rates and suggested that Powell should be fired.
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the dollar against multiple other foreign currencies, fell to 97.92 by market close on Monday – the lowest level for the index since March 2022, according to FactSet.
Mike Bedigan reports.
US dollar hits three-year low after Trump rips fed chair Jerome Powell
American Oversight adds new Hegseth Signal reports to lawsuit
21:45 , Alex WoodwardAmerican Oversight has amended its lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his national security colleagues over Signalgate to include the latest allegations, noting that the leaks suggest “widespread noncompliance beyond a single episode that was revealed to the public only by mistake.”
“It is now evident the administration’s unlawful use of Signal to conduct — and delete — sensitive government business is a feature and not a bug,” according to a statement from American Oversight’s Chioma Chukwu. “We cannot stand idly by while senior government officials share imminent attack plans with their family and friends, putting our national security at risk and betraying the men and women in uniform whose very lives are endangered as a result. This case concerns a clear and urgent threat to the preservation of government records, so we are asking the court to act swiftly and decisively to ensure this administration complies with the Federal Records Act.”
Karoline Leavitt insists White House ‘did not make a mistake’ in deportation case
21:30 , Oliver O'Connell...despite what their lawyers say.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
Leavitt insists admin ‘did not make a mistake’ when deporting Maryland father
ACLU asks Supreme Court to take up bigger question over Trump deportations
21:15 , Alex WoodwardACLU lawyers for Venezuelan migrants are asking the Supreme Court to take up a bigger question in the latest Alien Enemies Act case: Can the president even use it to deport people if we’re not actually at war with them?
Lawyers argued in a filing on Monday that the Trump administration is failing to comply with an earlier order for the government to ensure immigrants marked for removal under the wartime law have an opportunity to challenge their case in court.
They’re now asking to expand the scope of the case, noting that the narrow rulings from the court will mean that similar challenges to immigrants’ detention will come up again and again if the Trump administration keeps moving them around the country to be removed.
Dow closes out day almost 1,000 points down
21:14 , Oliver O'ConnellWall Street suffered more steep losses on Monday as President Donald Trump ramped up his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, prompting investors to worry about the central bank's independence even as they grapple with the effects of Trump's ongoing, erratic trade war.
All three major indexes tumbled, with big losses in the “Magnificent Seven” group of megacap growth stocks weighing heaviest on the tech-focused Nasdaq.
Trump escalated his criticism of Powell on Monday, saying the U.S. economy is headed for a slowdown “unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates NOW,” in a bellicose Truth Social post which raised concerns over the Fed's autonomy.
The China-U.S. trade rift deepened after Beijing warned other countries against striking deals with the United States at China's expense, adding fuel to the spiraling tariff war between the world's two largest economies.
According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 124.87 points, or 2.36%, to end at 5,157.81 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 407.77 points, or 2.50%, to 15,878.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average 965.52 points, or 2.47%, to 38,159.19.
With reporting from Reuters
Trump and Melania to attend Pope's funeral
21:03 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will attend the funeral of Pope Francis.
The president wrote on Truth Social: “Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2025
What did Pope Francis make of Trump and Vance’s policies?
21:00 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump and JD Vance both issued separate, praising statements following the death of Pope Francis, despite previous clashes of opinion with the Holy Father.
Mike Bedigan takes a look at what Pope Francis thought of the president and vice president, and their policies.
Trump meeting with major retailers amid tariff fears, report says
20:45 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with representatives from major retailers on Monday afternoon to discuss the impact of broad-based tariffs on their businesses, a White House official told Reuters.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed a Bloomberg report stating that the meeting at the White House will include representatives from Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target.
Large U.S. retailers, particularly Walmart and Target, import a significant percentage of their goods from overseas, and the tariffs — including 145% levies on China — are expected to increase the cost of everyday consumer goods for Americans in the coming months.
Walmart confirmed to Reuters that CEO Doug McMillon would be attending the meeting.
Trump's erratic tariff policies have sent numerous industries into upheaval and roiled stock markets around the world.
Further fueling the turmoil, the president expressed anger at remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell, who said last week that the economy was at risk from both lower growth and higher inflation.
U.S. markets sold off on Monday, with the S&P 500 index down more than 3%, while the benchmark 10-year Treasury note and the U.S. dollar also came under pressure.
Trump announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries on April 2, but paused the duties for a 90-day period — except for those on China, singling out the world's second-largest economy for the highest levies.
Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
According to company figures, more than half of Walmart and Target's imports come from China, while both Home Depot and Lowe's also source from that nation.
Analysts are concerned that these retailers may face a substantial hit to their profit margins as a result of the tariffs.
Walmart shares are up less than 2% in 2025, whereas the others have all recorded double-digit losses. Target has been hit hardest, down 32% so far this year.
Furious Trump officials planning to pull further $1bn in funding from Harvard
20:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Trump administration is reportedly planning to revoke an additional $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard University, putting more pressure on the school to comply with the White House’s demands.
Officials, including President Donald Trump, have grown frustrated with the Ivy League school for publicly pushing back on the administration’s requests, already freezing $2 billion in federal funding and threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status.
But they could further escalate tensions by freezing or revoking an additional $1 billion that the government provides through health research contracts, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump officials may pull a further $1 billion in funding from Harvard
Earlier: Hegseth responds to latest Signal chat 'controversy'
20:15 , Oliver O'ConnellJD Vance met with Pope Francis hours before death
20:00 , Oliver O'ConnellJD Vance issued a touching tribute following Pope Francis’ death, a day after they met to exchange Easter greetings as part of the vice president’s international diplomatic mission on behalf of the Trump administration.
James Liddell reports.
JD Vance pays tribute to Pope Francis and recalls meeting hours before death
Homeland Security confirms theft of Noem's handbag with $3,000 in cash in it
19:47 , Oliver O'ConnellA Department of Homeland Security official has confirmed that Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag and contents were stolen over the weekend, including $3,000 in cash.
“We can confirm this [the handbag] was stolen. Her entire family was in town, including her children and grandchildren — she was using the cash withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts.”
Read John Bowden’s full report:
Kristi Noem’s handbag - including her DHS access badge - stolen from restaurant
Trump and Melania host White House Easter Egg Roll - where Big Tech has become the primary sponsor
19:30 , Oliver O'ConnellBlowing whistles and coloring with kids, President Donald Trump took a break from the high pressure of presidential life to spend some time with the Easter egg crowd on the South Lawn Monday.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, with almost 30,000 eggs on the South Lawn, even as egg prices remain sky-high.
This year’s egg roll included corporate sponsorships, a departure from the previous sponsorship by the American Egg Board.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
Trump hosts White House Easter Egg Roll with corporate sponsorships from Amazon
Trump rattles markets further with more attacks on Fed Chair Powell
19:20 , ReutersWall Street's main indexes each slid to more than one-week lows on Monday after President Donald Trump doubled down on his attacks against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, amplifying concerns about the central bank's autonomy and rattling the markets.
Trump reiterated his criticism of Powell, saying in a Truth Social post that the economy could slow down unless interest rates are lowered immediately. This followed comments by White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Friday, stating that Trump and his team would study whether firing Powell was an option.
Trump's ongoing criticism of the Fed chair has heightened worries about the central bank's ability to independently formulate monetary policy in the world's largest economy, undermining investor confidence in U.S. assets already diminished by Trump's tariffs.
The S&P 500 was down 3.35% Monday afternoon, in trading somewhat thinned by the absence of numerous overseas markets that remained closed for Easter. The Nasdaq Composite was down 3.63%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average index was down 3.26%.
House Armed Services Republican calls on Hegseth to go
19:07 , Oliver O'ConnellRepublican Rep Don Bacon, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee’s cybersecurity subcommittee, has become the first GOP member on Capitol Hill to call on Pete Hegseth to resign as defense secretary.
Speaking to Politico’s Rachael Bade, he said: “I’m not going to tell the White House how to manage this … but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in charge.”
“It looks like there’s a meltdown going on" at the Pentagon, Bacon said, noting that this is one of the many reasons why many congressional Republicans were privately uneasy with the defense secretary’s nomination in the first place.
He added: “There’s a lot — a lot — of smoke come out of the Pentagon, and I got to believe there’s some fire there somewhere.”
Asked about Hegseth’s use of Signal, Bacon said: “He’s acting like he’s above the law — and that shows an amateur person.”
🚨NEWS: @RepDonBacon , who chairs HASC's cyber subcom, becomes the 1st Hill Republican to say @PeteHegseth should go.
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) April 21, 2025
In a convo just now he tells me: “I’m not going to tell the White House how to manage this … but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in…
Report: Musk wants to leave politics because he’s tired of ‘attacks’ from the left
19:00 , Oliver O'ConnellElon Musk is reportedly set to leave his government role as he’s tired of the what he sees as a litany of vicious and unethical attacks from the left, according to a report from The Washington Post.
It remains unclear when Musk will depart as head of the Department of Government Efficiency; his special government employee status will expire at the end of next month. A person familiar with his thinking told The Post that Musk thinks that his work at DOGE won’t be diminished because of his departure, noting that DOGE staffers have already established themselves across a slew of federal agencies.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
Musk wants to leave politics because he’s tired of ‘attacks’ from the left: report
Developing: White House slams ‘fake news’ report that search is underway for Pete Hegseth replacement amid Pentagon chaos
18:52 , Oliver O'ConnellThe White House is aggressively pushing back on a report claiming that a search has begun for a suitable candidate to replace Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after it was revealed that he’d been involved in yet another controversial group chat to discuss sensitive defense information with people who had no need to know anything about it.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.
White House denies interest in replacing Hegseth amid Pentagon chaos
Fresh fears spread across colleges after campus cops partner with ICE on immigration status
18:40 , Oliver O'ConnellSeveral universities have agreed to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on undocumented immigrants, sparking fear among students who rely on visas.
Under the agreement, local law enforcement, including campus officers, can interrogate students about their immigration status, arrest or detain them and share immigration status information with ICE.
Ariana Baio reports.
Fresh fears spread across colleges after campus cops partner with ICE
White House slams 'fake news' reporting on Hegseth replacement
18:34 , Oliver O'ConnellThis @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 21, 2025
As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef. https://t.co/5Npig8968v
Report: White House begins search for Hegseth replacement
18:31 , Oliver O'ConnellDespite Pete Hegseth getting the full-throated backing of President Donald Trump this morning, the White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, NPR reports, citing a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Watch: JD Vance meets with Pope Francis day before pontiff's death
18:20 , Oliver O'Connell
What JD Vance said to Pope Francis in Easter meeting at the Vatican
Trump to meet with major retailers today
18:08 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Trump is expected to meet with major retailers at the White House today, including Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, per WH official.
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) April 21, 2025
The Target CEO attended the Easter Egg Roll.
Trump pays tribute to Pope Francis
18:00 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump paid tribute to Pope Francis in a post on Truth Social as news of the pontiff’s death emerged.
The late pope, who was born in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, previously condemned the U.S. President’s stance on immigration during his first term in office in 2016.
Trump released a statement on the pope's death, hours after the Vatican declared the news.
Madeline Sherratt reports.
Trump pays tribute to Pope Francis despite pontiff’s criticism of policies
Trump says media should ‘ask the Houthis’ how Hegseth is doing
17:47 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump expressed his full support for his defense secretary following media reports that Pete Hegseth had shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat, including with his wife and brother.
When asked by reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll event if he still had confidence in Hegseth amid the latest revelations, Trump replied that the media should direct that question to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been enduring a barrage of U.S. airstrikes in recent weeks.
“Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said. He added, “Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction...There is none.”
Trump also seemed to blame recently dismissed Pentagon aides for being responsible for the reports.
“It’s just fake news. They just bring up stories,” Trump said. “I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that’s what he’s doing. So you don’t always have friends when you do that.”
Watch: Trump stands by Hegseth and says 'everybody's happy with him'
17:44 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Trump on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: "Ask the Houthis how much disfunction there is. There's none. Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him." pic.twitter.com/UDzrDYENvT
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 21, 2025
Vance trade talks with India make 'significant progress'
17:32 , Oliver O'ConnellVice President JD Vance’s office says that “significant progress” has been made in trade talks with India.
Vance and his wife, Usha, met on Monday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They discussed the U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which could possibly help to integrate supply chains between the two countries, according to a statement by Vance’s office.
Vance’s office said the talks had laid down “a roadmap for further discussions about our shared economic priorities.”
The Trump administration has prioritized trade deals that curb trade with China, the world’s dominant manufacturer, with Beijing threatening to retaliate against countries that strike deals with the U.S. to China’s detriment.
Per Vance’s office:
Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Modi welcomed significant progress in the negotiations for a U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and formally announced the finalization of the Terms of Reference for the negotiations, laying down a roadmap for further discussions about our shared economic priorities. The BTA presents an opportunity to negotiate a new and modern trade agreement focused on promoting job creation and citizen well-being in both countries, with the goal of enhancing bilateral trade and supply-chain integration in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner. Guided by their respective visions of ‘Amrit Kaal for India’ and ‘Golden Age for America,’ BTA is expected to create new opportunities of growth for workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs in both countries.
Dow Jones falls 1,000 points as Trump renews attack on Fed chair Powell
17:22 , Oliver O'ConnellWall Street's main indexes each slid to more than one-week lows on Monday after President Donald Trump doubled down on attacks against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, amplifying concerns about the central bank's autonomy and rattling markets.
Trump repeated his criticism of Powell, saying in a Truth Social post that the economy could slow down unless interest rates are lowered immediately.
This was the latest salvo in Trump's continued criticism of the Fed chair, heightening worries about the central bank's ability to independently formulate monetary policy in the world's largest economy and undermining investor confidence in U.S. assets already diminished by Trump's tariffs.
A White House adviser had said on Friday that Trump and his team would study whether firing Powell was an option.
After almost three hours of the trading day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down almost 1,100 points (2.75%), while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq had lost 2.83% and 3.08% respectively.
Congressional Democrats arrive in El Salvador
17:07 , Oliver O'ConnellA group of Democratic lawmakers from the House of Representatives has arrived in El Salvador to pressure the Trump Administration to abide by a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return to the U.S. of wrongly deported Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Robert Garcia, Maxwell Frost, Yassamin Ansari, and Maxine Dexter will also advocate for other detainees held there without due process.
Frost posted on X: “Trump is illegally arresting, jailing, & deporting people with no due process. We must hold the Administration accountable for these illegal acts and demand Kilmar’s release. Today it’s him, tomorrow it could be anyone else.”
We have arrived in El Salvador.
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) April 21, 2025
Trump is illegally arresting, jailing, & deporting people with no due process. We must hold the Administration accountable for these illegal acts and demand Kilmar’s release. Today it’s him, tomorrow it could be anyone else. https://t.co/7afnvGrygS
Said Dexter: “I am in El Salvador because I will not stand by while our country is thrown into a constitutional crisis. This is a moment to act. I will not rest until due process is upheld for all.”
I am in El Salvador because I will not stand by while our country is thrown into a constitutional crisis. This is a moment to act. I will not rest until due process is upheld for all. pic.twitter.com/q5b4cZg3iV
— Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (@RepDexterOR) April 21, 2025
Trump has signed just five bills into law as he nears 100 days in office
17:00 , Oliver O'ConnellAs Donald Trump nears the end of his first 100 days in office, he has issued a record-breaking high of 124 executive orders, while signing a record-breaking low of just five new bills into law, and caused concerns among constitutional scholars.
“These orders are extraordinary, not just in their number, but in their breadth,” said Rory Little, a law professor at the University of California- San Francisco said at a recent panel discussion. “The current state of affairs can be characterized I think with no exaggeration as a crisis, a challenge to the rule of the law in the United States.”
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump has signed 124 executive orders but just five bills into law. Why that matters
Trump took questions from reporters amid Easter festivities
16:47 , Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump briefly spoke with reporters on the South Lawn amid the White House Easter Egg Roll event.
The president said he does not yet know whether he will attend the Pope’s funeral.
He expressed confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and criticised the “fake news” media for the reporting on the second Signal group chat story.
On the question of whether Secretary Hegseth is doing a good job, Trump remarked: “Ask the Houthis.”
.@POTUS on @SecDef: "He is doing a great job ... Ask the Houthis how he's doing." pic.twitter.com/O0vp2sX69x
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2025
Read: Trump orders flags to half-staff to show respect to Pope
16:40 , Oliver O'ConnellAfter announcing that he is ordering flags to half-staff as a mark of respect to Pope Francis, President Donald Trump released this statement via Truth Social:
As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
Kristi Noem’s handbag stolen — including her DHS access badge and $3,000 in cash
16:32 , Oliver O'ConnellHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported that her handbag was stolen over the weekend, including her personal security badge for DHS facilities.
Noem, in charge of a federal agency that oversees America’s border security as well as other sensitive matters, including counterterrorism efforts, also lost her apartment keys, more than $3,000 in cash, and a number of blank checks to the thief, according to CNN.
John Bowden reports from Washington, D.C.
Kristi Noem’s handbag - including her DHS access badge - stolen from restaurant
In pictures: The White House Easter Egg Roll
16:25 , Oliver O'Connell
Who is Jennifer Rauchet, wife of Pete Hegseth, said to have been included on second Signal chat?
16:20 , Oliver O'ConnellDefense secretary Pete Hegseth’s “Signalgate” has reared its head again after a new bombshell report that he shared details of a U.S. military strike on Yemen in a second group chat.
This time, Hegseth is in hot water for reportedly adding his wife Jennifer Rauchet, brother Phil, and personal attorney Tim Parlatore, to a second Signal group where details about upcoming military strikes aimed at the Houthis were discussed, according to the New York Times.
Here’s Rhian Lubin with what you need to know about Jennifer Rauchet, the defense secretary’s wife:
Who is Jennifer Rauchet, Hegseth’s wife ‘included in Signal chat about Yemen attack?’
Trump orders flags to half-staff following death of Pope
16:13 , Oliver O'ConnellAt the White House Easter Egg Roll, President Donald Trump, flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny, says he has signed an executive order to lower the flags to half-staff following the death of Pope Francis.
“He was a good man, he worked hard, and he loved the world,” Trump says.
.@POTUS: "I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country -- all of them -- at half-mast in honor of Pope Francis. He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world." pic.twitter.com/v8YWFDJMOZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2025
Pete Hegseth lashes out on X in late-night post amid second Signal scandal
16:10 , Oliver O'ConnellSecretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lashed out at Democrats on social media, rejecting calls for his resignation after reports emerged accusing him of leaking sensitive national security information in another Signal group chat.
Late Sunday, Hegseth took to X to respond to a post from the Democrats who declared Hegseth “needs to go” after the New York Times reported the top defense official shared information about U.S. military strikes in a group chat with his brother, personal lawyer and wife.
Ariana Baio reports.
Pete Hegseth lashes out in late-night post after latest security leak rocks Pentagon
Leaked memo reveals plan for huge State Department overhaul
16:00 , Oliver O'ConnellAndrew Feinberg and John Bowden report from Washington, D.C.
A leaked draft of an executive order to reorganize the U.S. State Department reveals plans to slash entire departments and bureaus dealing with the entire continent of Africa, human rights, women’s rights, international religious freedom, and climate change while tightening political control over the foreign service and handing more authority to the White House and political appointees.
The contents of the memorandum, which does not follow the usual structure of executive orders, were first reported by The New York Times and Bloomberg.
The State Department has denied the document’s authenticity, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissing it as a “hoax” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
But the specifics of the draft document, which was obtained and reviewed by The Independent, track closely with Trump administration efforts to undercut the institutional knowledge and authority of nonpartisan civil servants in other parts of the executive branch as well as the administration’s push to change the conduct of American foreign relations to a more transactional model that prioritizes raw, naked self-interest over traditional values-based diplomacy that works through multilateral alliances.
Continue reading...
Pentagon officials say they’ve been ‘slandered’ after being removed from jobs amid leaks probe
15:45 , Oliver O'ConnellThree Pentagon officials, who were removed from their jobs amid an investigation into leaks at the department, now claim they were “slandered.”
Earlier this week, Dan Caldwell, a top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was placed on administrative leave for an “an unauthorized disclosure,” a government official previously told Reuters. He and two other officials — Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary, and Darin Selnick, deputy chief of staff for the department — were fired on Friday, Politico reported.
Now, the three men say they are “incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended,” according to a joint statement posted from Caldwell’s X account.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Three Pentagon officials ousted amid leaks probe say they were ‘slandered’
Watch: White House backs Hegseth
15:40 , Oliver O'ConnellHere’s White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Fox News this morning telling Brian Kilmeade that President Donald Trump stands behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Leavitt: "The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth ... this is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change you are trying to implement. Secretary Hegseth was nominated because he's standing up for the… pic.twitter.com/mgPH47n0cU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2025
Trump calls Fed chair 'major loser'
15:32 , Oliver O'ConnellAs the crowds on the South Lawn await the arrival of the president and first lady for the Easter Egg Roll, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to call Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, “Mr. Too Late, a major loser.” while calling for preemptive cuts in interest rates.
Here’s what he wrote on Truth Social:
“Preemptive Cuts” in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden’s egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other “things” trending down, there is virtually No Inflation. With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already “lowered” seven times. Powell has always been “To Late,” except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?
Trump is calling Fed Chair Jerome Powell a “major loser” this morning pic.twitter.com/0uS4TLIq4x
— Nandita Bose (@nanditab1) April 21, 2025
Can Pete Hegseth keep his job?
15:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Department of Defense is experiencing a “full-blown meltdown” under Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, according to a recently resigned top Pentagon aide.
Following a month of “total chaos” at the Defense Department, from mass firings to leaked Signal chats featuring top officials within Donald Trump’s administration discussing bombing campaigns in Yemen, “there are very likely more shoes to drop in short order,” according to John Ullyot, who resigned last week as a top Pentagon spokesperson.
Alex Woodward has the latest.
Can Pete Hegseth keep his job? Insider reveals Pentagon is in ‘total chaos’
Watch LIVE: White House Easter Egg Roll
15:18 , Oliver O'ConnellFull story: Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat that included his wife and brother, report says
15:16 , Oliver O'ConnellDefense secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of an upcoming military strike against the Houthi group in Yemen in a second Signal chat, which included his own wife and brother, according to The New York Times.
The paper says details, including flight schedules for the warplanes involved, were shared in the group chat on March 15.
The claims follow shock revelations last month that the upcoming strike was discussed by senior administration figures, including Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Signal, a commercial messaging up, instead of using the high-security communications systems available to them.
The story came to light because Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, had accidentally been added to the chat.
Rhian Lubin and Phil Thomas report.
Hegseth shared Yemen attack details in second Signal chat, report says
Embattled Hegseth attends White House Easter event
15:12 , Oliver O'ConnellGood morning.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has hit back at critics after reporting by The New York Times said he shared details of an upcoming military strike against the Houthi group in Yemen in a second Signal chat, which included his own wife and brother.
The paper says details, including flight schedules for the warplanes involved, were shared in the group chat on March 15.
Here’s a strident Hegseth talking to the media this morning as he arrived at the White House Easter Egg Roll event.
