On Tuesday, Republican US Senator John Curtis called for an investigation to be opened in Congress into a Russian businessman’s financing of celebrations held on the sidelines of the wedding of Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
Senator Curtis, who represents the state of Utah, said in a post on social media that constitutes additional pressure within the Republican camp regarding this issue, that “a machine for toasting bread is considered a wedding gift, but a party on a private island paid for by a wealthy person linked to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is a completely different matter.”
Last week, Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina, announced on Instagram that their “dear friend” Omar Kremlev “generously donated two amazing evenings” of celebrations in the Bahamas in May.
Then, on Friday, President Donald Trump reported that his son had paid the expenses incurred by the wealthy man close to the Kremlin, after fears were raised about the risk of foreign influence on his family.
He said: “One of his friends organized a wedding for him. “This is a very common thing. I have heard of many people who organize weddings, and I have organized many of them myself.” "As I understand it, he returned the money," he added.
But this clarification was not enough to calm the controversy.
In a letter sent by Curtis, on Tuesday, to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he asked it to “initiate an investigation into the use of the president’s family relationships for private financial gain, or to obtain preferential treatment,” and indicated that Donald Trump Jr. should be called to testify.
Also, the Republican senator called for reopening a parliamentary investigation into the activities of Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic President Joe Biden.
The Republican Party controls Congress, but representatives from the majority began months ago to contradict the president's directions, especially those calling for more transparency in the case of the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, or for an end to the war with Iran.
Yesterday, Monday, local time, the White House launched its own online broadcast channel, called “Trump TV,” at a time when the crisis with major American media outlets is escalating, after the president’s decision to prevent journalists representing three media organizations from entering the White House.
The channel began broadcasting live yesterday evening, Monday, initially showing speeches by Trump and scenes of American military training, accompanied by comments praising the capabilities of the armed forces.
The White House stated, in a post on the “X” platform, that the broadcast will continue around the clock, presenting “moments from the past, announcements, and the latest and most prominent activities undertaken by the (US) administration, all in one place.”
No original programs or journalistic content were broadcast during the beginning phase. The White House had already provided a live broadcast of Trump's appearance some time ago.
The launch of the “Trump TV” channel comes after Trump announced, last Friday, the cancellation of White House entry permits for journalists from CNN, MS Now, and the Politico website, which fueled a long-standing dispute with the media.
Trump accused these media outlets of spreading “fake news,” while critics see an attempt at intimidation and an attack on freedom of the press.
For its part, the three media institutions filed a lawsuit against the administration yesterday, Monday, in which they said that its actions threaten “freedom of the press and the right of citizens to access independent journalism free from government interference.”
Other major American broadcast platforms responded to this by reducing the volume of their coverage of the US President’s activities. The New York Times and the Washington Post also reduced the volume of their video coverage of Trump, yesterday, Monday. In protest against the order.
CNN was supposed to film the US President throughout the day and distribute these scenes to media outlets around the world, according to a rotation system between networks.
One of the first consequences of this decision was that Trump's inauguration, on Monday, of a huge new helicopter pad in the White House, which is one of the projects to which he attaches special importance, was not broadcast live on television.
Before leaving for New York to participate, today, Tuesday, in the work of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump delivered a brief speech, the content of which was not heard in footage distributed by the White House.
Several media outlets, which this time were covering the coverage as part of the White House photographers group, decided to delay publishing their photos. In solidarity with the media organizations that were denied entry to the White House.
In a message he published on his platform, “Truth Social,” shortly after the three banned institutions in the White House announced their prosecution, the US President denied launching an attack on the “free press,” and said that he was targeting “fake news, a phenomenon that has spread like a cancer within the United States,” adding: “This constitutes a threat to our national security that must stop now!”
Sharp arguments
This controversial decision was met with strong condemnation from several sector actors and political officials.
The White House Correspondents' Association stressed on Saturday that "the American people should be able, thanks to a free and independent press, to monitor elected officials, whether government officials view this with favor or not."
In its condemnation of a decision that “violates the First Amendment” to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press, the “Association” urged the US administration to “immediately re-allow” access to the journalists concerned.
Trump, whether during his first term or since his return to power in early 2025, has continued to attack journalists or media outlets whose coverage of events he does not like. This was evident through lawsuits, through the “Truth Social” platform, or verbally during altercations that were sometimes characterized by extreme intensity with journalists, especially women. He also previously excluded the Associated Press, which is a fundamental pillar of American journalism, from the Oval Office, after the agency refused to adopt the name “American Gulf,” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.”
This new ban comes at a time when the Republican president is facing serious political difficulties, with the midterm elections for the US Congress approaching on November 3. With less than two months remaining until the polling date, the state of popular dissatisfaction with Donald Trump is increasing, due to the high costs of living in the United States and the large jump in fuel prices, in addition to the war sparked by the American-Israeli attack on Iran, the outcome of which has become more uncertain than ever before.
US President Donald Trump praised New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani on Monday, after the two men put aside their differences to discuss a number of files, including immigration laws and a housing project valued at millions of dollars.
The Republican president had harshly criticized Mamdani before the latter took office in January, describing him with terms such as “the little communist” and “the moron,” before relations between them witnessed a sudden improvement.
“I hope you will be a great mayor,” Trump told Mamdani during a press conference. I know you will be too. The beginning was very successful,” according to what Agence France-Presse reported.
The recent closed talks, which lasted about an hour in Manhattan, New York, constitute the third public meeting between the two men since Mamdani's landslide victory in the mayoral elections last year.
For his part, Mamdani said: “We appreciate the president’s commitment to the city,” at a time when Trump is visiting New York City, his hometown, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
In response to a question about Trump’s cancellation of the “temporary protected status” of thousands of immigrants as part of his plan to deport them en masse, 34-year-old Mamdani said that he “firmly expressed his ideas to ensure the security of New Yorkers.” He added that they also discussed a proposal to build 12,000 homes in New York, and stressed that he intends to continue cooperation with Trump, despite his acknowledgment that there are “many differences” between them.
Mamdani said: “The conversations showed that we both have very different approaches and convictions, and I will maintain the dialogue with the president, and with anyone who can support this city and provide a helping hand to it.”
