The House adopted a Republican-only Wednesday, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the . House Republicans were divided over the plan, with conservatives wary because there are no offsetting budget cuts. But viewed it as the best chance to usher priorities through a split Congress despite skepticism in the Senate.
Trump four U.S. service members who were and returned to their families at an Air Force base in Delaware. It was the third dignified transfer that Trump has attended since he launched the in February.
Earlier in the day, Trump warned Iran that the U.S. will each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning came after the U.S. carried out another wave of , where air defenses opened fire over the capital, Tehran.
Here’s the latest:
UK withdraws embassy staff from Iran
Diplomatic staff at the British Embassy in Tehran have been temporarily withdrawn amid growing escalations between the U.S. and Iran, including recent strikes in the Iranian capital. The United Kingdom said it was due to 鈥渢he security situation.鈥�
The country made a similar move in the days leading up to the beginning of U.S. and Israeli combat operations in late February. Other Western embassies have continued to operate in Tehran.
Questions about what prompted the decision were not immediately answered by U.K. officials.
Judge questions difference between Hegseth鈥檚 testosterone policy and transgender care for troops
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth鈥檚 new initiative to has prompted a federal judge to question the differences between that kind of testosterone replacement therapy and hormone treatment for transgender men in the military.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington raised the question Wednesday in an ongoing lawsuit against President Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 ban on transgender troops. Reyes noted that the ban says 鈥渢he Armed Forces must adhere to high mental and physical health standards … without the benefit of routine medical treatment or special provisions.鈥�
Reyes ordered both parties in the lawsuit to address 鈥渢he similarities and differences in administering TRT, both medically and logistically, for trans men compared to other service members, including cis individuals.鈥�
She also requested information on the Pentagon鈥檚 鈥渂asis for treating trans men and other service members differently between this new policy and the Military Ban.鈥�
Judge weighs tribe鈥檚 request to block construction of a border wall across its reservation
A federal judge is weighing what he says is an by a Native American tribe to block the Trump administration from taking any steps to build 62 miles of border wall across part of its reservation without its consent.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., did not rule from the bench Wednesday after hearing arguments from attorneys for Tohono O鈥檕dham Nation and the federal government. But he appeared to be skeptical that U.S. laws tip in favor of the tribe鈥檚 request for a preliminary injunction.
Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said he could not find a previous court ruling under comparable circumstances.
The tribe鈥檚 2.8-million-acre reservation in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona abuts the Mexico border.
Justice Department attorney Adam Gustafson said Congress gave the executive branch broad discretion to decide the best way to control the nation鈥檚 southwest border.
US carries out 12th night of strikes on Iran
The U.S. military has announced another night of strikes as both sides are increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure.
The U.S. Central Command once again said the strikes are designed to 鈥渇urther degrade Iran鈥檚 ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters鈥� as the U.S. pushes to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.
Trump administration says it will submit Saudi Arabia nuclear deal to Congress
Saudi Arabia could obtain for its civilian nuclear program under a new cooperation agreement with the administration.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman signed it Wednesday along with a related agreement intended to offer nuclear safeguards.
U.S. officials said the deals lay the legal foundation for a decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership that advances key economic and strategic objectives including nuclear nonproliferation.
The 123 agreement provides access for U.S. companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program, benefiting American industry and workers, while helping to meet Saudi energy needs, the Energy Department said.
The agreement will now be transmitted to Congress for review.
House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 priorities
Lawmakers adopted the proposal, a long-shot effort to fund and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the .
Republicans were divided, with conservatives wary because there are no offsetting budget cuts. But plunged ahead, viewing the go-it-alone process as the best chance to usher priorities through a split Congress despite skepticism in the Senate.
The tally was 216-214, with all Democrats opposed.
鈥淛ust bullets and bombs to finish the job,鈥� said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the Budget Committee.
Democrats argued that the money should be spent at home.
鈥淩epublicans plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 failed war in Iran,鈥� Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said this week. 鈥淭hink about what we could spend with these resources instead.鈥�
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Jackson promises state match for Trump Accounts seed money
Rick Jackson, the state鈥檚 GOP nominee for governor, said Wednesday that he will push for Georgia legislators to approve a state match for the $1,000 in seed money that the federal government is giving to some holders of Trump Accounts.
Babies born from 2025 to 2028 currently receive $1,000 from the federal government in their accounts.
Jackson, a wealthy businessperson and CEO of a healthcare company, said he believes Georgia lawmakers will support that, but 鈥渋f they don鈥檛, I will personally donate it myself.鈥�
鈥淚t changed my life when I got a $100 Christmas gift in an orphanage,鈥� he said.
Trump accuses Georgia senator and other Democrats of being communists
鈥淭he United States of America will never be a communist country,鈥� Trump said, drawing big applause and a chant of 鈥淯SA, USA.鈥�
鈥淭he blue states are all going bad鈥� because communism is a loser, he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a loser and it always has been and it always will be.鈥�
The crowd booed enthusiastically when Trump mentioned 鈥測our terrible Sen. Jon Ossoff鈥�
鈥淛on Ossoff and the Democrat communists want to let the Marxists into power, bankrupt your families and leave you totally undefended with wide-open borders,鈥� Trump said.
Trump jokes about running for a third term, again
The president opened his Georgia rally with a joke about running for a third term.
鈥淲ell, thank you very much, everybody. It鈥檚 a special place, and I am here to announce my candidacy,鈥� the president said at the start of his speech, pausing as the crowd cheered.
After a few seconds, he held up his hand and waved it in front of him slightly. 鈥淚鈥檓 only kidding,鈥� Trump added.
The president is constitutionally barred from running again in 2028, but has repeatedly suggested he might somehow do so anyway. Sometimes Trump suggests he鈥檚 joking, but he鈥檚 also said he might lead a constitutional movement to rewrite the Constitution in his favor.
Trump finally gets to Trump Accounts
After a nearly half-hour riff on unrelated topics, the president began talking about the subject of Wednesday鈥檚 event in Georgia.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hot as a pistol,鈥� Trump said of Trump Accounts.
He then gave a brief description of how the accounts work, including the $1,000 in seed money that the government awards babies born from 2025 to 2028.
After that initial investment, the value of the account 鈥済oes up, and up, and up,鈥� Trump said.
Trump wants credit on lower inflation in June due to lower oil prices that have since climbed
The U.S. president is tweaking his pitch to voters on inflation 鈥� wanting credit for the monthly dip in the consumer price index that was caused by energy prices falling due to a ceasefire in the Iran war.
But the ceasefire has failed to endure and oil prices have since jumped, with average gasoline prices at $4.06 a gallon. That鈥檚 up 4.3% over the past week and prices at the pump have jumped nearly 29% from a year ago, according to AAA.
Speaking in Georgia, Trump claimed the monthly drop had more to do with his management of the U.S. economy. That claim carries a political risk if the rising energy prices cause inflation to rise this month.
鈥淚t was announced just last week that inflation dropped by the largest amount in more than six years,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淏ecause we鈥檙e doing it right. We鈥檙e running the country properly.鈥�
Trump says his White House ballroom is actually a 鈥榤ilitary facility鈥�
He told the rally crowd in Georgia, 鈥淲e鈥檙e building a tremendous military facility at the White House. It鈥檚 a ballroom, but it鈥檚 also a big military facility.鈥�
The president said it would feature a 鈥渄rone port on top and tremendous things underneath.鈥�
Trump originally said the project, which is expected to cost at least $400 million, would be paid for by himself and wealthy donors. But Trump now says the ballroom is supposed to include White House security upgrades like the drone port.
However, $1 billion in federal funding proposed for White House security upgrades has stalled in Congress.
The president also said crews building the ballroom are working from around 6 a.m. until late in the night, sometimes 11 p.m., and working Sundays.
Trump says dignified transfers are 鈥榯he toughest thing I do鈥�
The president said his visit to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday for the dignified transfer of four service members was particularly difficult.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very tough to watch, to be honest with you,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the toughest thing I do.鈥�
Trump said he invited the family of 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan to join him on Air Force One on his trip to Georgia, where the family lives.
鈥淲e will carry Tyler鈥檚 memory in our hearts forever,鈥� Trump said, describing him as a 鈥渇lawless鈥� person.
Trump shouts out Republican candidate for Georgia governor, Rick Jackson
鈥淕onna be your next governor, right here,鈥� Trump said, gesturing toward Jackson, who was right next to the stage.
Trump had endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican primary, but was quick to praise Jackson after he won a fiercely fought Republican primary.
Trump congratulated Jackson on social media the day after the primary runoff in June, saying he 鈥渧ery successfully campaigned on being 鈥楾RUMP,鈥� and won.鈥�
Trump is about to give remarks in Marietta, Georgia
Leading up to 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 arrival, the crowd gathered in a suburban Atlanta high school gym heard from several candidates for statewide office.
They also heard from U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, a former Georgia state senator; U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon; Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator from Georgia; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Friend says soldier killed in the Middle East 鈥榓lways made people feel seen鈥�
A friend of Angel Rampersad says the 28-year-old Army sergeant genuinely cared about people and made them feel important and seen.
Deonne Jinkins and Rampersad met in 2024 in Germany, where they served together and became good friends.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old Jinkins recalled how Rampersad jumped in and set up a weekend celebration for Jinkins鈥� birthday within weeks of their first meeting.
鈥淭he fact that we had barely known each other, yet she showed up for me in such a big way, spoke volumes about the kind of person she was,鈥� Jinkins said over Facebook Messenger. 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget what she did for me that weekend.鈥�
Jinkins said her friend 鈥渓oved deeply, cared genuinely, and always made people feel seen and important.鈥�
Rampersad鈥檚 family said in a brief statement she was a 鈥済entle giant鈥� who 鈥渟tood up for those who couldn鈥檛 fight for themselves.鈥�
鈥淪he loved her family fiercely and will live on in the hearts of everyone she touched,鈥� the statement said.
Trump pays respects to four service members killed in Middle East
The president saluted as four cases draped with American flags were escorted off an airplane during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
He was joined by administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump was scheduled to meet privately with grieving family members.
The White House said one of the families will be joining on Air Force One later on Wednesday when Trump flies to an event in Georgia, where the family lives.
Senate committee moves nomination forward for FEMA administrator
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted 8-4 Wednesday morning to advance 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 pick to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, .
Hamilton is a former Navy SEAL who briefly led FEMA in a temporary role last year before the agency鈥檚 existence. His potential return marks a shift in the Trump administration鈥檚 stance toward the disaster agency, after Trump said early in his second term that he was .
If approved by the Senate, Hamilton would be the first permanent FEMA administrator in 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 second term. The agency has seen four temporary leaders and been , including the departure of thousands of staff.
Journalists urge correspondents鈥� association to stand up to Trump at rescheduled press dinner
Hundreds of former or retired journalists and eight press freedom groups are asking the White House Correspondents鈥� Association to stand up to the Trump administration鈥檚 recent attacks on the media at its 鈥� a dinner President Donald Trump says he鈥檒l attend.
The first dinner when a gunman, who prosecutors say was trying to assassinate Trump, opened fire at the Washington Hilton. The much smaller rescheduled dinner will take place Friday, with enhanced security precautions, at the capital鈥檚 Waldorf Astoria Hotel, formerly the Trump International Hotel.
The letter expands on a similar one issued in April, before the first dinner. It notes that since then, 鈥渢he administration鈥檚 attacks on journalists and press freedom have become even more egregious.鈥�
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Iran war energy shock hits Southeast Asia hard
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised her country鈥檚 concern over renewed attacks by the U.S. and Iran in the Middle East, warning that 鈥渢he situation could deteriorate further without much warning.鈥�
鈥淲e want to see an end to this war. We want to see a ceasefire. We want to see negotiations and we want the strait to be opened,鈥� Wong told reporters at the ASEAN summit. The war鈥檚 impact on global energy markets has had a direct and personal impact on people, she said.
Southeast Asia鈥檚 reliance on fossil fuel imports from the Mideast has made the region particularly vulnerable, according to the International Energy Agency. Asian markets imported about 80% of the crude oil and almost 90% of the liquefied natural gas, or LNG, transiting through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, the IEA said.
Rubio says US willing to be 鈥榩atient鈥� with pace of change in Cuba
Asked whether the Trump administration鈥檚 goal is regime change in Cuba, Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is prepared to be 鈥渧ery realistic鈥� and 鈥減atient鈥� about a process of ensuring that the Cuban people 鈥渃an experience prosperity, safety, security and a better life moving forward.鈥�
Rubio insisted the country鈥檚 socialist economic model doesn鈥檛 work and that the Cuban government is most interested in holding on to power, not making reforms.
But he said that 鈥渨e鈥檒l keep talking to them about the kind of changes they can make鈥� because it affects U.S. national security.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a failed state. But I鈥檝e never laid out any timeline as to what change would look like or when it would happen,鈥� Rubio said.
A plane was carrying food and hygiene kits to Cuba on Tuesday, part of U.S. efforts to directly aid residents.
Oil prices rise another 3%
A barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $93.83 at midday Wednesday after briefly topping $95 to touch its highest price in six weeks as continues.
Rising oil prices threaten to reaccelerate , which could push and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would for stocks and other investments.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.65%, helping to bring long-term U.S. mortgage rates to their . The yield was 3.97% before the war.
The auto club AAA said Wednesday that the average price for a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. jumped again overnight to $4.06. It had been below $3 before the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
The soldiers whose remains are being returned to their families
The four were :
Since the war began on Feb. 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed.
Trump to tell families of service members fallen in the Middle East, 鈥榳e love your child鈥�
Trump is at Dover Air Force Base, participating in the return of the remains of four U.S. service members killed in the Middle East.
Asked for his message to their families before he departed Joint Base Andrews, Trump said, 鈥淎ll I鈥檓 going to say is, 鈥榳e love you. We love your child.鈥欌��
鈥淎ll you can do is throw out your heart,鈥� he said.
Canada cancels joint US bridge-opening event after another Trump tariff threat
The Friday ceremony celebrating the opening of the connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is no longer expected to take place after Trump on most Canadian goods.
鈥淚n light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed,鈥� emailed Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson.
U.S. and Canadian officials had to open the $4.4 billion bridge, which Canada financed under an agreement allowing it to recover the cost through toll revenue. Canada now plans its own ceremony Friday.
Two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said they still expect the bridge to open to traffic July 27 but are less certain than they were before.
鈥� Joey Cappelletti
Rubio says any nuclear agreement the US signs will not lead to nuclear proliferation
Rubio was asked about the risk of the U.S. signing an agreement with a Middle Eastern country that does not include the 鈥済old standard鈥� promise to refrain from enriching or reprocessing uranium.
Rubio said he would not 鈥渙pine directly on that agreement鈥� with Saudi Arabia, but then said 鈥渢he U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation.鈥�
Rubio is pressed on 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 reported nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia
When asked by reporters on Wednesday in the Philippines about the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, the secretary of state didn鈥檛 deny the approval was coming and instead said, 鈥淚鈥檒l let the White House officials sort of put out an official statement about anything in regards to that.鈥�
Stumbling a bit in his response, Rubio also said: 鈥淚鈥檇 prefer it be, you know, put out when there is something to say that we will say through official channels.鈥�
Rubio points to Iran鈥檚 remaining capabilities even though 鈥榙iminished鈥�
Rubio said Iran鈥檚 missiles and drones being used in strikes now are 鈥渆xactly the conventional shield that they were going to hide behind to pursue a nuclear program.鈥�
He said that capacity is 鈥済reatly diminished鈥� but that a year from now, Iran would have had so many missiles and drones serving as a shield that it 鈥渨ould have given them immunity to do whatever they wanted.鈥�
He kept some hope alive for renewed talks, saying the U.S. remains open to negotiations, 鈥渂ut right now they don鈥檛 seem to be serious about that鈥� so instead the focus is on protecting shipping.
鈥淲e think other countries should join us in that endeavor. We don鈥檛 need them to, but they should because they鈥檙e more impacted by it than we are.鈥�
Rubio is asked whether China and Russia are helping Iran find targets
Rubio, who doubles as 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 national security adviser, was asked Wednesday whether China and Russia are giving targeting information to Iran.
鈥淎ll I would say is that, you know, anytime you鈥檙e in a combat zone like that, there鈥檚 danger associated with it,鈥� Rubio said. 鈥淎t the end, this actually proves the point that this is what Iran has been investing its money in.鈥�
When pressed again by a reporter, Rubio said, 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to discuss that, other than to say that nothing that鈥檚 happened, nothing that China has done has in any way changed the trajectory of the outcome, of what you鈥檙e seeing in terms of the conflict that we鈥檙e having with Iran.鈥�
Rubio said China has been quite cooperative in some ways, such as publicly opposing what Iran is trying to do in the Strait of Hormuz.
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