Trump announces 25 percent steel tariff increase to 50 percent as he celebrates US Steel deal
President headed to Pennsylvania to mark U.S. Steel’s ‘partnership’ with Nippon Steel
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his administration will raise tariffs on foreign steel from 25 percent to 50 percent as he celebrated a deal between U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel.
“We're going to bring it from 25 percent to 50 percent, the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States. Nobody is going to get around that,” said Trump.
Trump took to the podium at the U.S. Steel plant a week after indicating that he had cleared a merger between the company and Nippon.
The president spoke at the Irvin Works in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, with both union members and investors listening for answers on what a deal might look like.
Trump said during his rally speech that the headquarters of U.S. Steel would remain in Pittsburgh even amid significant investment from Nippon.
Calling the investment “record-setting,” Trump said the company would make a “$14 billion commitment to the future of” U.S. Steel.
This comes after Trump hosted Elon Musk in one final White House press event as the Tesla billionaire concludes his tenure in the Trump administration.
Full story: Will Trump pardon Diddy? Trump speculates about rap mogul’s future as trial continues in New York
President Donald Trump has speculated about Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial.
When asked if Trump would consider pardoning the rap mogul, he told reporters, “Nobody’s asked, but I know people are thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking. First of all, I’d look at what’s happening, and I haven’t been watching it too closely…I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
The president’s comments come as Diddy is on trial in a New York federal court. He is accused of sex trafficking and a host of other charges.
Rachel Dobkin reports.
Trump speculates about possible Diddy pardon as rap mogul’s trial continues
You can follow the latest developments in Diddy’s trial here:
Diddy trial live: Ex-assistant ‘Mia’ questioned over abuse claims and violence
About the key that Trump gave to Musk...
If you’re wondering about the gold key that President Donald Trump presented to Elon Musk at today’s press conference, here’s some more information about it from an eBay listing of an identical key that is up for sale.
This key is approximately 3 1/4 inches wide by 3 1/4 inches high with hard baked enamel. Exact dimension is not given to deter fakes being made. This oustanding skeleton key comes with it original walnut case and cobalt blue box, both with SEAL of the White House on them.
This presentation key was made by President Trump. It is the Official President Donald J. Trump Key To The Whitehouse. This skeleton key was given to White House Staff, special guests, and other visiting dignitaries on the level of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A very small amount of these were made.
It comes in a walnut presentation box 9 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches high.
It's yours for just $7,950, according to the listing (no international shipping).
Official President Donald J. Trump Official Key to the White House Rare Item! | eBay
Heated Stephen Miller doesn’t let CNN host get word in as Trump aide rails on tariffs, migrants
Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller repeatedly butted heads with CNN anchor Pamela Brown during a wide-ranging and often heated interview on Friday that touched on several topics that included the president’s tariffs, the recent Supreme Court decision on temporary immigration protection status and Elon Musk’s reported drug use.
Browbeating and insulting Brown throughout the lengthy and tense discussion, the Situation Room host finally shot back after the White House deputy chief of staff refused to let her get a word in edgewise or allow her to conduct the interview.
Justin Baragona has the story.
Stephen Miller doesn’t let CNN host get word in as Trump aide rails on tariffs
California State Senate opens inquiry into Paramount and Trump
The California State Senate has launched an investigation into whether Paramount has violated state laws against bribery and unfair competition, Semafor reported on Friday.
The investigation follows the network's reported offer of $15 million to President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign to settle a lawsuit filed against CBS over an edited interview with his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, as previously reported by The Wall Street Journal.
According to Semafor, the Senate's Communications Committee and Judiciary Committee have invited two former CBS News officials to testify.
Musk says black eye came from his son’s punch as he sports shiner during Oval Office meeting with Trump
Elon Musk turned up with a black eye at a farewell press conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Musk said that he got the black eye from “horsing around” with his 5-year-old son, “Lil X.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Musk explains black eye as he sports shiner during Oval Office meeting with Trump
Trump fires director of National Portrait Gallery
In an unexpected move shortly before his Oval Office press conference with Elon Musk, President Donald Trump fired the director of the National Portrait Gallery.
He wrote on Truth Social:
Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am herby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery. She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position. Her replacement will be named shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
Watch: Awkward moment Musk asks for applause for Trump
Kristi Noem said an immigrant threatened to kill Trump. The story quickly fell apart
A claim by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that an immigrant threatened the life of President Donald Trump has begun to unravel.
Noem announced an arrest of a 54-year-old man who was living in the U.S. illegally, saying he had written a letter threatening to kill Trump and would then return to Mexico. The story received a flood of media attention and was highlighted by the White House and Trump's allies.
But investigators actually believe the man may have been framed so that he would get arrested and be deported from the U.S. before he got a chance to testify in a trial as a victim of assault, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Read more...
Kristi Noem said an immigrant threatened to kill Trump. The story quickly fell apart
EDITORIAL: Trump could yet deliver a ceasefire in the Middle East
It is given to few to peer inside the minds of the Hamas leadership, so their precise motives for rejecting the latest ceasefire offer cannot be easily discerned.
However, there are some consequences of their policy which are not difficult to determine. Many more innocent Palestinian people will starve to death, or be injured and die, more children will be orphaned, the remaining Israeli hostages will continue to be kept in tortuous conditions, the war will continue, and neither the state of Israel nor the Palestinian occupied territories will enjoy the kind of security taken for granted in most nations on earth. The slide into the abyss, in other words, will continue.
Read on...
Trump could yet deliver a Middle East ceasefire
Bessent and Lutnick held 'frank and constructive' talks with Japan
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held “frank and constructive” discussions on Friday with Japanese Minister Ryosei Akazawa, according to the Treasury Department.
“Secretary Bessent highlighted to Minister Akazawa the importance of addressing tariffs and non-tariff measures, increasing investment, and working together to address economic security and other issues of mutual concern,” the Treasury statement said.
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