Fire destroys Tesla vehicles at Rome dealership
An overnight fire at a Tesla dealer near Rome resulted in the destruction of at least 17 vehicles. There have been numerous demonstrations against Elon Musk in Italy, just as there have been in other countries including the U.S. Italian authorities say an investigation is underway and arson has not been ruled out. There were no injuries as a result of the fire.
Trump explains scheme to remain in office
In a telephone interview with NBC News yesterday, Donald Trump said there are ways for him to stay in office after his second term expires despite the Constitution limiting people to serving two terms as president. Trump explained that in one scheme, he would have Vice President Vance run for president while he ran on the same ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Then, after Vance was inaugurated, he would have Vance resign and then move up from vice president to the office of president. Trump also said there are other ways for him to continue as president but declined to provide details of those.
Trump says he doesn’t care about auto prices
With new auto tariffs due to go into effect on Thursday, Donald Trump in a telephone interview with NBC News said he doesn’t care whether foreign auto manufacturers raise their prices. Trump said that the tariffs he’s putting into effect on cars and car parts would be permanent. Trump said that he will not be delaying the imposition of the new tariffs. He said that if the prices of foreign cars go up people would buy cars made in America. He did not mention that cars made in the U.S. routinely use imported parts that would be subject to his tariffs.
Trump says he doesn’t know about Signal
Donald Trump denied knowing about Signal, the application that was used by White House Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the group chat in which plans for a U.S. military attack in Yemen were discussed. Trump also said that reporting on the text chat that inadvertently included the editor of The Atlantic magazine was fake news, even though officials of the Trump Administration have admitted that the text call did take place. Trump said he won’t fire anyone who took part in the text call.
New poll shows disapproval of Trump’s handling of eight issues
A new poll by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that more people disapprove of Donald Trump’s handling of eight issues than approve of what he’s doing. Sixty percent disapprove of his handling of trade negotiations with other countries while only 48% approve. Fifty-eight percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy compared with 40% who approve. Disapproval runs between 50% and 60% regarding Social Security, the Russia-Ukraine war, government spending, the Israel-Palestine conflict, immigration and government management.
Earthquake death toll rises
Some reports say the death toll from the Myanmar earthquake has surpassed 2,000 and some remote parts of the area that was affected have yet to be heard from. Although President Trump said that the U.S. would be helping with rescue efforts, the U.S. had not sent aid as of Monday in part due to Trump’s shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID normally would respond to international disasters. Aid from China, Russia and India was reported to have reached the affected area as of Monday morning.
