The bromance fades: Trump and Musk traded insults
Tensions rose between President Trump and Elon Musk yesterday, days after Musk called Trump’s domestic policy bill a “disgusting abomination.” Their alliance has now dissolved into open acrimony — and the trading of memes.
During an Oval Office meeting with Germany’s chancellor, Trump took a swipe at Musk, who until last week was a presidential adviser. “I’m very disappointed in Elon,” Trump said. “I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Musk responded in real time, accusing Trump on X of “ingratitude” and saying, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” By the afternoon, Musk had floated the idea of leaving the Republican Party to start a new entity and Trump had suggested that canceling Musk’s government contracts would save billions of dollars.
The public break comes after a remarkable partnership between the two men. Since the election, Musk has largely appeared inseparable from the president, helping to shape the federal government, make policy decisions and meet with other world leaders as the “first buddy.” Here’s how the relationship unraveled.
Analysis: “When exactly President Trump and Elon Musk would break up has been a parlor game for months,” my colleague Theodore Schleifer said. “Some of Musk’s associates believed this buddy routine would not last forever. But even so, the breakdown that we saw today was swifter than any of them imagined.”
Response: The share price of Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, plummeted nearly 15 percent.
More Trump news:
| At his meeting with Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, Trump compared Russia and Ukraine to two fighting children.The U.S. and China agreed to resume trade talks after Trump spoke on the phone yesterday with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader. |
Israel has been arming a militia in Gaza
Israel has been arming a Palestinian militia in Gaza as part of a broader effort to fight Hamas in the enclave, according to officials. After a daylong controversy over the allegations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel acknowledged that the country had been working with “clans in Gaza,” calling it “a good thing” that had saved the lives of Israeli soldiers.
Insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli authorities had provided support, including weapons, to Yasser Abu Shabab, who leads the militia in southern Gaza. He has been accused of looting and reselling truckloads of humanitarian aid. Abu Shabab rejected the assertion that he had been working with Israel.
In Gaza: A video, above, of a young girl trying to escape the flames resulting from an Israeli airstrike has became a symbol of the war’s toll on children. Our reporters found the child, Hanin al-Wadie. She survived the attack, but her parents and younger sister all died. This video recounts her ordeal. Note: Some scenes may be hard to watch.
Other news from the war:
| Israel recovered the bodies of two Israeli Americans who were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack. |
| The leader of the organization distributing aid in Gaza is an evangelical Christian with ties to the Trump administration.Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would impose sanctions on four International Criminal Court judges as retaliation for investigations of the U.S. military and arrest warrants for top Israeli officials. |
Trump’s travel ban brought new hardship
A U.S. travel ban for citizens from 12 nations is set to take effect on Monday, overwhelmingly targeting nations with vulnerable populations eager for sanctuary in the United States.
Many of the countries, including Somalia, Afghanistan and Myanmar, have been devastated by conflict, while others are ruled by repressive regimes. Another seven countries face travel restrictions but not a complete ban. Here’s what to know.
In announcing the ban on Wednesday, Trump cited the threat of terrorism after an Egyptian man in Colorado was charged with carrying out an attack on a group honoring hostages in Gaza. But Egypt was not on the list.
Africa: Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, the Republic of Congo and Sudan were on the list. They have few similarities.
Athletes: Players in major sporting events like the World Cup are exempt from the ban. But it’s unclear which events will receive exemptions.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| Africa: New research showed that efforts to curb rhino poaching across southern Africa were yielding success thanks to one measure: removing their horns. Biden: Trump ordered an investigation into whether his predecessor’s decisions were legally valid, in an effort to stoke a conspiracy theory. U.S.: The Supreme Court ruled that Mexico cannot sue U.S. gun manufacturers for violence committed by drug cartels. Middle East: Israel launched airstrikes in the densely populated neighborhoods south of Beirut, targeting what it said were Hezbollah drone production facilities. Britain: The chairman of Reform U.K., the anti-immigration party, resigned unexpectedly amid political infighting. NATO: The allies were divided on how soon, if ever, they could spend 5 percent of their national income on defense as Trump has demanded. New Zealand: Three Maori members of Parliament were suspended for performing the haka as a protest against a contentious bill. China: A Harvard graduate, an actress and a doctor have been at the center of a Chinese social media storm focused on privilege. Theater: Ahead of the Tony Awards on Sunday, we talked to Broadway stars about their challenges and triumphs. |
Trade & Economics
| Trade: U.S. imports fell sharply in April as tariffs weighed on global trade. Canada posted a record trade deficit. Europe: The European Central Bank cut interest rates to the lowest level in two and a half years. Energy: European leaders have sought to break away from Russian natural gas. U.S. investors may have other ideas. Shipping: Despite a recent cease-fire agreement between the U.S. and the Houthis, Red Sea ship traffic remains down. Tech: ASML, the Dutch maker of high-tech lithography machines, worries that U.S. trade restrictions could actually strengthen Chinese chipmakers. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Tennis: Coco Gauff will face Aryna Sabalenka in the finals of the French Open. Follow the latest at Roland Garros. Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 137th international goal helped Portugal beat Germany to advance to the Nations League final. Formula 1: Can a soccer player outrun a Formula 1 car on the field? |
| MORNING READ |
Don’t underestimate cockatoos. Instead of sipping water from rivers or birdbaths, the sulfur-crested cockatoos in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, have taught themselves to drink from water fountains, which requires using one foot to twist open the handle while the other grips the spout. (It’s not entirely clear why they bother.)
| CONVERSATION STARTERS |
| Art from Brazil: Rosana Paulino’s works intertwine botany and a sense of magical transformation from a Black female perspective. “The” Birkin: The bidding could go high, very high, when the original Hermès prototype for Jane Birkin’s sought-after bag is sold at auction next month. Bleak week: Movies that are major downers are big draws at film festivals. Honest conversation: A reader asks our columnist: I think my son is gay. Should I talk to him about coming out? |
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
Healthy aging takes effort. We’ve got tips.
We asked experts how to age better, even with a packed schedule, and it turns out it’s not that hard to lay the groundwork for a longer, healthier life.
They recommended getting up at the same time every morning and exercising at least half an hour a day, which can come in short, high-intensity bursts. Read more about longevity hacks.
| RECOMMENDATIONS |
Cook: Err on the side of underbaking this pea and ricotta frittata to get the most custardy texture.
