Tim Seckel
Trump's new spokeswoman ends her first appearance after a few minutes
The new White House spokeswoman, Katie Zacharia, ended her first press conference after just a few minutes. Unlike usual, after a minute-long explanation, Zacharia only allowed three questioners before she broke off the session with reference to US President Donald Trump's trip to Alaska. Her entire performance lasted less than fifteen minutes.
Zacharia made it clear that, like her predecessor Karoline Leavitt, she wanted to bring “new media” outside of the big brands into the White House. In practice, this has primarily meant inviting right-wing media and those who ask government-friendly questions. When Zacharia opened the question and answer session, the right-wing online medium “Breitbart” was the first to turn to it.
Imago
Zacharia appeared nervous at times during her first appearance as speaker, and she largely read off her opening statement. She kept getting confused and - when asked about her family - at one point spoke of “my president” instead of “my husband”.
Trump officially appointed Zachariah as the new White House spokeswoman a few days ago. The former television commentator succeeds Karoline Leavitt, who resigned from her position at the end of August. Zacharias is considered arch-conservative and loyal to Trump. In the past she has repeatedly shown a closeness to conspiracy theories.
Sabrina Frangos
Judge continues to protect US media access to the White House
A US federal judge has extended the Trump administration's ban on denying journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico access to the White House. The decision applies as long as the proceedings against the exclusion of the reporters are ongoing. According to Judge Timothy Kelly, the three media outlets are likely to succeed in their lawsuits. They cite freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.
The judge had previously ordered that the affected journalists be given back their permanent White House press passes. Since this interim order was due to expire on Tuesday, Kelly has now issued an interim injunction that maintains the current status during the ongoing proceedings. At the same time, Kelly emphasized that his decision does not mean that Trump's criticism of the accuracy and fairness of media reporting is unfounded. The government is also not fundamentally powerless when it comes to protecting national security when secret information is unlawfully published. Kelly was nominated for the judgeship by Trump.
Sarah Sendner
Trump: Taiwan buys gas from Alaska pipeline
Taiwan has agreed to buy 30 percent of the gas from a pipeline project in Alaska, according to US President Donald Trump. Trump gave no details at a campaign event in the US state on Tuesday. Last year, Taiwan's state-owned energy company CPC entered into an agreement with Alaska Gasline Development Corp to purchase liquefied natural gas and invest in the pipeline project. Then-Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said the investment would ensure the island's energy security.
Vivian Melchert
Legal dispute over Musk authority Doge - Supreme Court intervenes
The Supreme Court has intervened in a legal dispute over the release of files from the government efficiency agency Doge, then headed by Elon Musk. The Supreme Court said Tuesday it would hear the case after an objection from President Donald Trump's administration. It is the second intervention by the Supreme Court in connection with a lawsuit by the non-governmental organization CREW.
This argues that Doge is a federal agency of the USA and must therefore provide information to the public under the so-called Freedom of Information Act. The government, however, rejects this and describes Doge as an advisory body.
Last year, the Supreme Court blocked a district court's decision ordering the release of Doge records to CREW. An appeals court also ruled in favor of the NGO. Doge was responsible for massive job cuts and cuts in federal agencies at the start of Trump's second term.
Vivian Melchert
After allegations: Trump separates from ambassador in Athens
US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has been forced to resign following reports about the alleged venality of her political influence. “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” said new White House spokeswoman Katie Zacharia when asked by a journalist. “She has been a great addition to the team and we wish her all the best.” Zacharia did not provide any further details about the person.
The Wall Street Journal had previously published news claiming that Guilfoyle had asked Trump donor Eric Deters for a $100,000 transfer. Guilfoyle (57) needed the money to pay off debts with American Express. Deters was supposed to send the money in such a way that the transfer could no longer be traced afterwards. The current ambassador was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son. Deters is considered a long-time supporter of US President Donald Trump.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle had been in contact for months with Deters, who had asked her for help in bringing the Trump administration's attention to personal tax and legal matters - and was said to have promised her payments of up to $1 million if successful. According to Deters, however, no payment was ever made.
Luke Bay
Trump insults MP Omar - crowd calls for deportation
US President Donald Trump attacked Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar because of her Somali origins at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio. When Trump spoke about the politician, audience members shouted “deport.” Federal officials searched Omar's home in Washington on Monday. The Minnesota state representative accused Trump of an intimidation campaign.
Trump defended the investigation into the politician, who immigrated from Somalia and is a sharp critic of the president. Omar comes from a country “without laws, without police, without military,” said Trump. All the people there were doing was shooting each other, he claimed, without providing any evidence to support his statements. “And then she comes to our country and says, ‘I have a constitutional right.’” She lectures Americans about the Constitution even though she comes from one of the worst countries in the world, Trump said.
Sarah Sendner
Trump is considering meeting North Korea's leader Kim in November
US President Donald Trump is considering meeting North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to Asia next month. Trump said this to journalists on Monday (local time). In November, Trump plans to travel to China to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen. On this occasion there could also be a meeting with Kim. Trump had already stated at the beginning of the year that he wanted to meet Kim this year.
Leonidas Exucidis
Musk is the most important donor to the Trump party
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has become the main donor to US President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of November's midterm elections. A spokesman for Musk's party fundraising organization, Andrew Romeo, confirmed to the AP that Musk has spent more than $276 million in campaign contributions to Republicans since July. The New York Times had previously reported.
According to everything that is known, Musk is the largest individual donor to the Republicans, who have to fear for their majorities in both chambers of Congress. $158 million went to the Senate Leadership Fund, which supports Republican candidates for the US Senate. 76 million went to America PAC, Musk's party fundraising organization, which had already successfully tried to win voters for Trump in 2024. Musk donated ten million alone to the Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Reuters
Sarah Sendner
US judge stops tax-funded Trump commercials
A US federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump's administration to stop outstanding television commercials that were financed with taxpayer money and spread Trump's political messages. The order was issued on Sunday evening (local time). At the same time, the government announced that the advertising campaign was coming to an end.
Federal judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York ruled in favor of a coalition that also includes the non-partisan control organization Common Cause. The plaintiffs see the commercials as an unlawful use of public funds. With an interim injunction, Rochon ordered the government to cancel all outstanding broadcasts - including those planned for Sunday evening.
Jana Brüntjen
US government investigates antitrust violations by broadcasters
After several broadcasters temporarily suspended reporting on US President Donald Trump, the Justice Department is investigating a possible violation of antitrust law. This is reported by the New York Times and other media, citing a ministry spokeswoman and their own sources. It is then an investigation into the channels in the White House TV pool – ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. Citing six people familiar with the ministry's actions, it said the ministry contacted the media on Friday and requested documents related to the pool.
The close TV support on Trump's appointments and trips is regulated by a rotation principle by major television channels. These generally make their material available to other media. This pool principle also serves to divide the costs between the media companies.
Vivian Melchert
Trump: Not involved in decision to livestream military execution
US President Donald Trump says he was not involved in the decision to live stream the military execution planned for December in Texas. “They want to do this because they want to make an example,” Trump said in a video distributed by the White House on the sidelines of a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York. “I wasn’t involved in the decision, but I understand the decision.”
Trump added: "I assume they want it to serve as an example, and I can understand that very well." He had previously confirmed that he had approved the execution. On December 3rd, a condemned assassin is to be shot at the Fort Hood military base in the US state of Texas. The execution will be broadcast live, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on X.
Vivian Melchert
Trump attacks Nobel Prize Committee and Norway over peace prize
US President Donald Trump complained again on Friday that he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He described the Nobel Prize Committee's decision as disgraceful and embarrassing. “This is an indelible stain on the country of Norway and on those people who made such a shameful and embarrassing decision,” Trump said in a campaign speech in upstate New York.
He helped prevent wars between North and South Korea, Japan and North Korea, and China and Taiwan, he said, without citing any evidence. The United States should have had eight Nobel Prizes - one for each war his country ended.
Trump made the comments a few hours after the committee awarded this year's prize to South African lawyer and human rights activist Navanethem "Navi" Pillay. The 85-year-old will be honored for her commitment to peace and international law, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday in Oslo.
In his campaign speech in Syracuse, New York, Trump called Pillay a "mysterious person." “I have never heard of this person,” he said. Nobody has that. He added: “Still, congratulations.”
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded solely by an independent Nobel Committee and not by the Norwegian government. Last year, Trump had already criticized Norway for awarding the prize not to him but to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. She then symbolically intended it for Trump.
US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, USA, on Friday, October 9, 2026. Bloomberg
Sabrina Frangos
ICE officers shoot man in car in New York - child was there
US immigration authorities ICE shot and injured a man in his car in the Bronx borough of New York on Thursday. There was also a child in the vehicle. This is what New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reports: “Initial reports indicate that officers surrounded the man and a fifty-year-old [sic] child in his car before firing several shots.” According to Mamdani, the child was probably not injured. Mamdani described the man as a New York resident. Police said the man who was shot was conscious and receiving medical attention.
“This is an outrageous and incredibly serious situation,” Mamdani said. He called President Donald Trump to talk to him about the incident. "I will call on him to end all ICE enforcement activities in our city. I will not stand by while ICE officers terrorize people in our neighborhoods." ICE has not yet responded to a request from Reuters for comment. According to the New York Police Department, shots were fired in the Bronx around 4 p.m. local time. Immigration officials were among those involved. Federal authorities investigated the incident.
Angelika Ahrens
Pentagon: Fort Hood attacker is executed in livestream
The planned execution of convicted Fort Hood attacker Nidal Malik Hasan is to be broadcast via livestream. The Pentagon confirmed statements from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday (local time). Details of the planned transfer are yet to be announced.
Hasan is scheduled to be shot by firing squad on December 3rd at 1 p.m. (local time).
