President-elect Donald Trump announced that Alina Habba, Michael Needham, and Michael Anton will join the White House team. Trump also nominated Christopher Landau for Deputy Secretary of State.
Lara Trump announced her resignation as co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) amid speculation she may run for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat. The position will be vacated by Marco Rubio, whom President-elect Donald Trump selected as his nominee for secretary of state.
The Biden administration has announced yet another significant aid package for Ukraine, totaling $988 million, as part of its ongoing support against Russian aggression.
Pope Francis has announced a special jubilee pilgrimage for members of the LGBTQ+ community, marking a historic first for the Catholic Church, according to reports in Italian media.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) denied allegations on Thursday that she is spearheading a campaign to block Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Defense Secretary and seek the position for herself. Speaking to RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegmann, Ernst insisted she supports a fair confirmation process for Hegseth.
Republican senators are demanding that negotiators remove a provision in the annual defense bill that requires women to register for the Selective Service System.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called for Russia’s suspension from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Malta on Thursday, accusing Moscow of attempting to rebuild its empire. Sikorski led a walkout of European delegations in protest against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s presence.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday, dismissing reports that the nomination might be reconsidered. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hegseth’s qualifications, calling him “a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense” and emphasizing his confidence in the Fox News host.
