U.S. “No Kings” protests have about 7 million participants
Donald Trump swiped at Saturday’s “No Kings” protests across the U.S., telling reporters on Air Force One that people who attended the rallies “are not representative of the people of our country.” Nearly 7 million people showed up for Saturday’s rallies against the administration’s policies including more than 100,000 people in Manhattan according to organizers and officials. That was a substantial increase over the 5 million who took part in “No Kings” protests in June. Along with larger events in major cities, small pockets of “No Kings” protesters cropped up along busy thoroughfares, in small-town squares and at municipal parks in red and blue states alike. There were about 2,700 separate protests nationwide with additional protests taking place overseas. Trump and Vice President JD Vance made social media posts showing Trump wearing a crown.
Trump threatens San Francisco
Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to send the National Guard to San Francisco in yet another use of the military against U.S. citizens in key cities. In an interview on Fox News, Trump said, “We’re going to San Francisco.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a social media post responded by saying, “Nobody wants you here. You will ruin one of America’s greatest cities.” In the Fox News interview, Trump claimed he could, at any moment, invoke the Insurrection Act. “San Francisco neither needs nor wants Trump’s personal army on our streets,” said California state Senator Scott Wiener, whose district includes San Francisco. “We don’t need Trump’s authoritarian crackdown in our city. Bottom line: Stay the hell out of San Francisco.”
Nuclear security staff scheduled to be furloughed
The federal agency responsible for overseeing and modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile was to furlough the vast majority of its staff today, according to the Department of Energy. About 1,400 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, were to receive furlough notices. The Trump administration previously fired and then rehired some of those employees. Part of what the agency does is to build and safeguard U.S. nuclear weapons. The Trump administration blames the furloughs on the government shutdown, but during previous government shutdowns the people who protect U.S. nuclear weapons were kept on the job.
“Priceless” jewelry stolen from Louvre
French police are searching for eight pieces of “priceless” jewelry following a daring daytime heist at the Louvre in Paris on Sunday. Early evidence suggests that the thieves used an extendable ladder and other tools to break into a window off a balcony before stealing French Crown Jewels and other treasures from the Apollo Gallery. The heist was carried out in seven minutes as the museum was opening to the public at 9:30 a.m. local time. Four perpetrators appear to have been involved in the theft, who were unarmed and fled on motorcycles. French President Emmanuel Macron said that “everything is being done” to catch the suspects. The Louvre, which houses world-famous artworks including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, has not been the target of a robbery in more than a century, a local official said.
Trump ending aid to Colombia
President Trump announced Sunday he would end all U.S. payments and subsidies to Colombia, marking a dramatic escalation in his clash with the country’s president, Gustavo Petro. Trump said in a social media post that Petro “does nothing to stop” the production of drugs in his country, “despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America.” The US has provided about $210 million in aid to Colombia this fiscal year, including around $31 million in agricultural support, according to the U.S. Department of State. Trump also said he plans to impose tariffs on the Latin American country over allegations of drug trafficking. Petro says the U.S. military blew up a Colombian fishing boat not a drug smuggling boat as it claims.
Gaza ceasefire becomes more tenuous
The Gaza ceasefire that Donald Trump has taken credit for putting into effect appeared to be falling apart over the weekend when Israel staged new attacks in Gaza after accusing Hamas of killing two Israeli soldiers. Hospitals in Gaza reported 44 people were killed in the Israeli military action. Both Hamas and Israeli forces blamed the other for violating the ceasefire. As of Monday, both Israel and Hamas had stopped shooting at each other. Vice President Vance will lead a delegation to Israel this week, sources told CNN, as the administration tries to put Phase Two of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement in place. Trump’s long-time friend Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to be part of the U.S. delegation.
