Highlights from July 24, 2025
- MAXWELL MEETING: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell as the Justice Department seeks the release of grand jury transcripts from the case against the late financier and convicted sex offender. Blanche will meet with Maxwell again tomorrow, according to a post on X.
- TRUMP VISITS THE FED: Trump visited the headquarters of the Federal Reserve this afternoon, the White House said. Trump has tried to pressure Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, and Trump and top administration officials have criticized him over the cost of renovations to the building.
- GAZA NEGOTIATING TEAM RETURNING: The United States is concluding Gaza ceasefire discussions and the negotiating team is coming back from Qatar.
Coverage of this live blog has ended. For the latest news, click here.
Trump formally endorses RNC chair Michael Whatley for N.C. Senate seat
Trump formally endorsed Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina tonight.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said last month that he would not seek re-election. Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump said earlier today that she would not make a bid to replace him.
"Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"He is STRONG on the Border, stopping Crime, supporting our Military/Veterans, cutting Taxes, and saving our always under siege Second Amendment. I need him in Washington, and I need him representing YOU!"
NBC News previously reported that Whatley planned to run for the seat and that Trump told him he would support his bid, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Lara Trump, who was considered a prime contender, said earlier today that she would not run.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to hold second meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell tomorrow
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said this evening he plans to continue his conversation with Epstein's longtime accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell tomorrow. The two spoke for several hours today as the administration seeks to probe Maxwell for additional information about Epstein's case.
“Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow. The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time," Blanche wrote on X.
David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's attorney and a friend of Blanche, said Maxwell had a "productive day" with Blanche and "answered every single question" asked of her, declining to invoke privilege at any time.
Markus also said he's "looking forward to another productive day tomorrow."
"Ghislaine honestly answered every question that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asked. And she will continue to do so. We are grateful that the government is trying to uncover the truth. They have never before spoken with her and we trust the process," Markus said about tomorrow's meeting.
Attorney General Pam Bondi chose Blanche to speak with Maxwell in an attempt to "pursue justice" after a decision by the Justice Department to no longer release information from the federal investigation into Epstein roiled Trump's base.
"President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Bondi said this week on X.
Epstein was asked in 2010 deposition about whether he spent time with Trump in the presence of young girls
Epstein was asked whether he knows Trump and whether he had ever socialized with him “in the presence of females under the age of 18,” according to a clip of a March 2010 deposition with Epstein circulating online that was posted by the progressive news outlet MeidasTouch.
Jack Scarola, a victim attorney in Epstein's case, confirmed to NBC News that he is the person asking the questions in the deposition.
In his response, Epstein invokes his rights, saying, "Though I’d like to answer that question, at least today I’m going to have to assert my Fifth, Sixth and 14th Amendment rights, sir."
According to a copy of the full transcript, the question was part of a series of queries about Epstein's relationships with well-known figures, including magician David Copperfield, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, business executive Tommy Mottola and attorney Alan Dershowitz.
The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to pause block on termination of NIH grants
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court today to pause a lower court’s order that had ruled that terminating National Institutes of Health grants violated federal law because they were terminated over a perceived connection to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“The Administration has determined that the terminated projects, covering topics from intersectionality to puberty in transgender teens, do not meaningfully advance public health," Solicitor General John D. Sauer wrote in the application for a stay. “That is a policy determination for the Executive Branch, not the Judicial Branch. Moreover, federal science funding is inherently finite. A stay would not end scientific research in America; it would allow the NIH to reallocate funds to projects that better align with current priorities and that, in the Administration’s view, actually advance public health. Courts are ill-equipped to second-guess the NIH’s judgment about which scientific research best serves the American people.”
Sauer said there was a “high likelihood” hundreds of millions of dollars would be “drained” from the Treasury without a stay.
U.S. District Judge William Young ruled in June that the NIH violated federal law by canceling more than $1 billion in research grants because of their perceived connection to DEI.
The NIH, the world’s leading funder of biomedical and behavioral research, has terminated more than 2,100 research grants totaling about $9.5 billion and an additional $2.6 billion in contracts since Trump returned to office in January, according to a letter that dozens of NIH employees signed in June protesting the cuts.
The funding cuts are part of Trump’s wide-ranging actions to reshape the government, slash federal spending and end government support for DEI programs and transgender health care. Another federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s plans to cut 10,000 jobs at NIH and other health agencies.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court for an administrative stay while a longer term stay is considered.
Trump praises Gabbard for Obama accusations while deflecting on special counsel
Trump praised his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, today for accusing former President Barack Obama of "treasonous conspiracy" and releasing documents he framed as backing her claim.
Gabbard levied accusations against Obama this week after she declassified a 2016 report by congressional Republicans that claimed U.S. intelligence agencies, pushed by Obama, falsely asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin aspired to help Trump win the 2016 election. Trump suggested today that Gabbard's move earned his respect.
"I have great respect for Tulsi and the documents they found on President Obama," Trump said, calling the report "a very serious thing." "Frankly, it was an Obama thing, but it was the people that worked under him also working with him."
Trump made the remark after he was asked directly whether he would support a special counsel investigation into the documents Gabbard released. Trump did not answer the question, but the White House said it did not support a request by Republican senators for a special counsel investigation.
“While we appreciate the shared goal of transparency and accountability, the president is confident in the Department of Justice to handle the investigation,” a source familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Trump administration sues NYC over sanctuary city policies
The Trump administration filed a complaint in the Eastern District of New York against New York City, the City Council, the police department and several other departments and officials over the city’s “sanctuary city” laws.
The administration alleged that the “sanctuary city” policies “impede the Federal Government’s ability to enforce the federal immigration laws” and “violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.”
“New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country’s immigration laws. Its history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1989, and its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement have only intensified since,” the administration added.
The Trump Justice Department said the policies have the “purpose” and “effect” of making it more difficult for federal immigration officers to carry out their responsibilities. The administration said the laws “intentionally obstruct the sharing of information envisioned and affirmatively protected by Congress, including sharing basic information such as release dates, court appearance dates, and custodial status,” according to the complaint.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies. If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate: “For too long, New York City has been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing our immigration laws. Its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement end now.”
The administration asked the court to declare that the laws violate the Supremacy Clause and are therefore invalid, according to the complaint. The administration also asked the court to permanently prohibit the city departments and officials from enforcing the sanctuary city policies.
The Trump Justice Department the state of New York this year over its “Green Light Law,” which allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants and restricts the sharing of related data with federal immigration authorities. The law also requires state officials to notify license holders when their information is requested.
Filed in federal court in Albany, the lawsuit names Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder as defendants. The Justice Department is seeking to have the law declared unlawful and unenforceable.
Trump repeatedly pushes lowering interest rates
Trump toured the Federal Reserve construction project in Washington today and repeatedly pressed for interest rates to be lowered.
Asked what would cause him to back off his criticism of Powell, Trump told reporters: "Well, I'd love him to lower interest rates."
He also said he briefed Powell on a trade agreement his administration made with Japan.
Trump made a similar remark calling for interest rates to be dropped after he parted with Powell and took additional reporters' questions, joined by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
"Very importantly, we have to get interest rates lowered in our country," Trump said. "Our country is the hottest in the world right now, but the one section — people are pretty much unable to buy housing, because the interest rates are too high."
Trump: I 'don't think it's necessary' to replace Powell
During a tour of the Federal Reserve building, Trump was asked about whether he will fire Powell.
"I just don't think it's necessary, and I believe that he's going to do the right thing," Trump said.
He was also asked whether he has considered replacements for Powell, whose term ends next year. Trump answered that he has two or three people in mind but didn't share names.
Trump and Powell dispute renovation costs during tour of Federal Reserve
Trump and Powell briefly bickered over the rising cost of renovations to the central bank's headquarters, a notable point of tension during Trump's tour of the construction.
The cost of the renovation is estimated to be $2.5 billion, but Trump pegged it at $3.1 billion, drawing a rebuke from Powell.
"I'm not aware of that, Mr. President," Powell replied. "I haven't heard that from anybody."
Trump told Powell the updated figure "just came out," handing him a document that he purported depicted the heightened cost. Powell in response noted that Trump's estimate included the cost of an earlier, and already completed, renovation, undercutting the accuracy of Trump's remark.
"It was built five years ago. We finished [the Martin building] five years ago," Powell said, with Trump shooting back, "It's part of the overall work."
Powell told Trump that while he does not expect additional cost to the renovation effort, he's "ready for them" as he continues to oversee the construction, which is set to end in 2027.
Maxwell attorney says 'productive' Blanche interview is finished
Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee that Blanche's interview with his client had concluded and that it was "productive."
“We had a very productive day today with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Ghislaine Maxwell. First, we want to thank the deputy attorney general for being so professional with all of us and meeting with all of us," Markus said.
"He took a full day and asked a lot of questions. And Ms. Maxwell answered every single question,” Markus said.
He refused to say what was said during the interview, but he said his client "never invoked a privilege, never declined to answer. She answered all of the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability. And that’s all the comment we’re going to have today about the meeting. We don’t want to comment about the substance of the meeting for obvious reasons.”
Asked whether there would be further questioning, Markus said, “We’re not going to comment on that now.”
