Trump news at a glance: US troops to be pulled from Germany as president’s feud with Nato allies intensifies | Trump administration
It appears that Donald Trump is following through on his threats to reduce the US military presence in Europe.
The Pentagon announced Friday that 5,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany over the next six to 12 months.
The president’s decision to reduce the number of troops deployed to Germany came after the country’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the United States was being “humiliated” by Iran.
A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent German rhetoric had been “inappropriate and unnecessary.” Trump also threatened Italy and Spain for failing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The impending withdrawal comes amid growing division between the United States and its NATO allies over the war in Iran. Germany is the largest U.S. military base in Europe, with approximately 35,000 active-duty military personnel, and serves as a key training center.
US withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany after Merz says US is ‘humiliated’ by Iran
It’s unclear how much support Trump would have for a significant withdrawal. Since the end of the Cold War, American bases in Europe have become forward sites and key logistics centers for American military operations, launching and supporting wars notably in Iraq, Afghanistan and, more recently, Iran.
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Video shows moment gunman tried to storm White House dinner, officials say
Federal prosecutors released footage Thursday of the moment officials say Cole Tomas Allen tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last week with the alleged goal of killing Donald Trump.
Amid questions about whether or not Allen fired her weapon before being subdued, Jeanine Pirro, Washington DC’s top federal prosecutor, released edited security camera footage of the incident in a social media post.
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Pentagon plans to make US military ‘first AI-driven fighting force’ by partnering with companies
The Pentagon announced Friday that it has reached agreements with seven major artificial intelligence (AI) companies: SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
“These agreements accelerate the transformation toward establishing the U.S. military as an AI-driven fighting force and will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority in all domains of warfighting,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
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Election rights groups file lawsuit to stop Louisiana from suspending primary elections
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of Louisiana voting rights groups, asking a state court to block state Gov. Jeff Landry and Secretary of State Nancy Landry from suspending congressional elections.
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Trump destroys part of tariff deal with EU to raise import duties on cars and trucks
Donald Trump said he was breaking part of the tariff deal he struck with European leaders at his golf course in Scotland last summer, criticizing Brussels for taking so long to ratify the deal.
Taking Brussels by surprise on Friday evening, a public holiday in much of Europe, he announced that he would increase tariffs on cars and trucks imported into the United States from the EU from 15% to 25% starting next week.
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Cuban immigrant dies in Georgia detention center, ICE tells Congress
A Cuban immigrant died in an immigration detention center in Georgia earlier this week, according to a congressional notification sent Friday and reviewed by the Guardian.
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US Lawmakers Say DoJ Rushed Southern Poverty Law Center Indictment
A Justice Department lawyer working in Todd Blanche’s office pressured prosecutors to bring criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) despite concerns about the strength of the case, a whistleblower told House Democrats.
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What else happened today:
A catch-up? Here’s what happened Thursday April 30.
