Trump Calls for Gas Price Drop for America 250 Celebrations, Engages with AI Teddy Roosevelt

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Trump news live: President demands ‘birthday’ drop in gas prices for 250th anniversary celebrations

President Donald Trump preparing to headline spectacular ‘America 250’ event in Washington, D.C., as country celebrates semiquincentennial over Fourth of July weekend

President Donald Trump has called on gas retailers to introduce a drop in fuel prices as part of the “America 250” celebrations this Fourth of July weekend.

Writing on Truth Social, the president said: ”Just as I promised, Oil Prices are plummeting FAST, and Gas Prices at the pump are dropping too, but not as fast as they should be.”

He then praised a particular Philadelphia-based gas station chain for offering discount prices, saying they were “taking the lead, and others should follow.“

Trump was in North Dakota Wednesday to open the state’s new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, at which he presented the 26th president’s Medal of Honor to the facility – it having previously been displayed in the White House – and said that he would like one for himself.

The president said he had discussed the matter with his eldest sons, telling them: “Fellas, I’d love to give one of them to me. What have done that, where I deserve it?”

“They couldn’t think of anything,” he reported, sparking laughter.

Trump will be in South Dakota Friday for another anniversary ceremony at Mount Rushmore before returning to D.C. to headline Saturday’s celebration by delivering a “really long” rally-style speech.

Watch: Trump gets Rough Riders escort to new presidential library

Trump arrived in North Dakota in the $400 million luxury jet gifted to the U.S. by Qatar, rode a “Freedom 250 train” and was then escorted in his motorcade to the Roosevelt library by a troop of Rough Riders in tribute to the 26th president’s cavalary connections.

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 11:45

Trump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’

In one of the stranger moments from the president’s trip to North Dakota yesterday, Trump found himself talking to an AI version of the 26th president, who died in 1919.

“Would you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” Trump asked the reanimated Roosevelt in a video shared by his communications advisor, Margo Martin, on X.

“The canal stands as one of my proudest battles,” Roosevelt answered robotically from behind a replica of his desk.

“It isn’t always the biggest or boldest job that matters most,” he cautioned.

The AI president added sagely that he measured his “greatest work by the lives improved.”

Here’s more from Rachel Dobkin.

Trump talks to AI Teddy Roosevelt about his ‘greatest achievement’

Trump has boasted about the creation of the Panama Canal under the Roosevelt administration, and even threatened to take the waterway back

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 11:15

Trump again misses out on USA World Cup victory

As we’ve seen, the president was in North Dakota yesterday, causing him to again miss out on Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s impressive tournament run.

They beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in San Francisco Tuesday with goals from Florian Balogun and Malik Tillman setting up a last-16 tie with Belgium, the triumph somewhat marred by a sending off for Balogun that means he will miss Monday’s crucial knock-out game in Seattle.

Trump is expected to attend the World Cup Final and be involved in the trophy presentation but might have been expected to show his support for the team before now given that the U.S. is a host nation.

Here’s Kieran Jackson’s match report.

US pass Bosnia World Cup test – but at what cost? Balogun red leaves sour taste

USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balogun went from hero to zero after receiving a red card following his first-half opener, yet Mauricio Pochettino’s side sealed a last-16 tie against Belgium through Malik Tillman’s late free-kick

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 10:45

Ex-CIA director sues Trump and administration officials over investigations targeting him

Obama-era intelligence chief John Brennan filed a lawsuit against the 47th president and his administration Wednesday, seeking a court order to compel officials to preserve records from investigations he claims are targeting him over “phantom criminal conduct.”

Brennan argues these records are crucial for a defense against vindictive prosecution should he face future indictment.

His legal team points to over 100 public statements made by Trump since 2017 lambasting Brennan and the Republican’s directives to the Department of Justice to pursue cases “without regard to factual or legal justification.”

Here’s more.

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 10:15

American national pride at a 25-year low, poll finds

As President Donald Trump prepares to headline the “America 250” celebrations this Fourth of July weekend, a new poll has found that national pride among U.S. citizens is at a 25-year low.

The Gallup survey found that while 33 percent of people were “extremely proud” to be an American and 20 percent “very proud” but the rest of respondents were only “moderately proud” (22 percent), “only a little proud” (15 percent) or “not at all proud” (9 percent).

When the polling company first posed the question in 2001, 55 percent of Americans expressed “extreme” pride, with the figure surging to 70 percent by 2004 in the aftermath of 9/11 when the nation came together after the attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda.

National sentiment cooled somewhat thereafter but remained at a majority until 2017, the year Trump first entered the White House.

However, since 2018, no more than 47 percent of U.S. adults have been prepared to describe themselves as “extremely proud” of their country.

Gallup’s latest polling was conducted between June 1 and 15 and the new figure represents an eight percentage point decline year-on-year.

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 09:45

‘Doctor Trump’ posts spoof video of celebrities discussing their diagnosis with ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Also on Truth Social, the president has posted a jokey AI video of himself as a doctor promoting a cure for TDS, which he has insisted is a real ailment, featuring “testimonials” from the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Ed Norton, Robert De Niro and Julia Roberts saying how the condition made them miserable and unpopular.

Trump-as-medic suggests turning off the “fake news” media, praying and drinking Diet Coke as the best cure.

Here’s the clip courtesy of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino:

Here’s more from Owen Scott.

Trump posts AI video as a doctor diagnosing celebrities with derangement syndrome

In the president’s latest bizarre clip, AI-generated versions of Whoopi Goldberg and Robert DeNiro appear as ‘patients’ in need of help

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 09:15

Trump again pressures gas stations to lower their prices and boosts one chain’s ‘Freedom Fuel’ promotion

On Truth Social overnight, the president has again called on fuel retailers to bring down the price of gas now that the U.S. “excursion” into Iran is over and shipping traffic has resumed along the Strait of Hormuz:

“Just as I promised, Oil Prices are plummeting FAST, and Gas Prices at the pump are dropping too, but not as fast as they should be. As we approach America’s 250th Birthday, I am pleased to announce that a VERY smart Retailer, located throughout the Northeast, is stepping up, and wishing the People of Philadelphia a ‘Happy Birthday!’ On July 3rd, the Freedom Fuel Network will be lowering gas prices at 25 ‘FREEDOM FUEL’ Stations across the Greater Philadelphia Area. This Retailer is taking the lead, and others should follow. They are doing this because they love the U.S.A. We are proud to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Birthplace of our very special, one-of-a-kind Declaration of Independence, and where I won BIG in the Presidential Election! America has never been stronger than it is now, and Gas Prices will soon be back to the Record Low Prices Americans enjoyed at the pump before our very successful ‘excursion’ in Iran. Happy Birthday America!”

Joe Sommerlad2 July 2026 08:45

Megyn Kelly admits she ‘can’t stand’ the Trump family’s ‘grifty’ moves

Right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly admitted she “can’t stand” the Trump family’s “grifty” moves in a recent interview.

Kelly, a long-time supporter of President Donald Trump, told Sky News Australia she’s “disappointed with some aspects” of his administration during an interview Wednesday.

Her comments come just days after new financial disclosures revealed the president earned at least $2.2 billion last year, with more than $1 billion coming from cryptocurrency ventures alone. That includes more than $500 million in earnings from World Liberty Financial, the crypto firm Trump co-founded alongside his sons.

Read on...

Megyn Kelly admits she ‘can’t stand’ the Trump family’s ‘grifty’ moves

The right-wing media personality said she’s ‘disappointed with some aspects’ of Trump’s presidency

Katie Hawkinson2 July 2026 08:00

Trump's communications director boasts about 'historic' Air Force One trip

Steven Cheung, White House communications director, has boasted about his “historic trip” on the new Air Force One plane gifted to the US by Qatar.

Rachel Dobkin2 July 2026 07:00

Canadians feel renewed sense of patriotism after Trump tariffs and 51st state threats

Canadians are feeling a renewed sense of patriotism after President Donald Trump threatened to make their country the 51st state and slapped tariffs on their exports.

Those in Canada reported significantly higher levels of national pride than those in several European countries, including the UK and France, in a new Politico poll.

The poll, conducted by Public First, found that 52 percent of Canadians are very proud of their nationality — a stark contrast to public sentiment less than two years ago.

Canada’s Angus Reid Institute reported in December 2024 that the percentage of Canadians who say they are “very proud” of their nationality dropped from 78 percent to 34 percent since 1985.

Read on...

Canadians feel renewed sense of patriotism after Trump tariffs and 51st state threats

A new poll found that 52% of Canadians are now very proud of their nationality

Rachel Dobkin2 July 2026 06:00