Trump meets with Japan's new prime minister; major government union calls for end to shutdown
This version of Rcrd91595 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
The president arrived in Japan on the second stop of a diplomatic tour, with trade at the top of his policy agenda.
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What to know today
- TRUMP TRAVELS TO JAPAN: President Donald Trump has arrived in Japan, the second stop on his three-country Asia tour. He met with Emperor Naruhito and recently elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- TRUMP-KIM MEETING? Trump said en route to Japan that he would be willing to extend his trip at his final stop, South Korea, to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
- U.S.-CHINA TRADE: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC News that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who are due to meet in South Korea on Thursday, are expected to reach a deal to avert an additional 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods that Trump has threatened to impose in response to Beijing's curbs on rare-earth exports.
- FEDERAL WORKERS: The largest union of federal employees put pressure on Senate Democrats today by calling for an end to the government shutdown, now in its 27th day.
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Trump says U.S. and Japan will do 'tremendous' trade
Trump praised Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, saying the United States and Japan are allies “at the strongest level” as the two leaders signed agreements on trade and critical minerals.
"We’re going to do tremendous trade together, I think, more than ever before," he said before their bilateral meeting.
Trump also said he appreciated Japan’s efforts to increase its military capacity and buy more U.S. defense equipment. “Any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” he said.
Takaichi, who said last week that Japan would increase its defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by March, two years ahead of schedule, said that together with Trump, Japan was “ready to contribute towards peace and stability.”
Takaichi's golf-themed gifts to Trump
Takaichi gave Trump a golf bag signed by Japanese major winner Hideki Matsuyama and a putter that belonged to assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a close ally of Trump who was also Takaichi’s mentor.
Trump’s assistant Margo Martin posted a video of the two leaders with the gifts on X.
Speaking before his meeting with Takaichi, Trump said Abe was “a great friend of mine.” His killing in 2022 was “so shocking,” Trump told Takaichi, “but he spoke so well of you even before we knew what was going to happen in your ascension.”
A man accused of fatally shooting Abe is set to go on trial today in the western Japanese city of Nara, where Abe was killed while he was giving a speech during an election campaign.
Trump and Takaichi meet with families of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea
In a final event at the Akasaka Palace, Trump and Takaichi posed for a photo with Japanese families whose loved ones were abducted by North Korea in the 1960s and ’70s.
Though some were later returned to Japan, the Japanese government continues to press North Korea to provide full details about everyone who was abducted and return any who are still alive.
“The U.S. is with them all the way,” Trump said of Japan’s efforts.
Asked whether he would speak with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the abductions, Trump said, “We’ll be discussing it.”
Japan's prime minister says she nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize
During today's bilateral meeting, Takaichi announced that she is nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. She then presented the papers to him.
Trump did not win this year's prize, but his supporters argue that the Gaza peace deal makes him the most deserving candidate for 2026.
California says it will monitor the Justice Department’s election watchers next week
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said today that the state will dispatch its own observers to monitor federal election watchers deployed by the Trump administration ahead of an election that will decide whether to move forward with redistricting plans.
Bonta’s announcement came in response to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s saying Friday that the Justice Department would monitor polls in six jurisdictions leading up to the Nov. 4 election, including five in California, following a request from the California Republican Party.
“The feigned worry by the Republican Party I don’t think is a good source of true raising of concerns and servicing of concerns about the elections,” Bonta, a Democrat, said during a virtual news conference.
While Bonta did not provide many details about what the state’s observers would do, he said the registrar of voters, the state secretary of state’s office and his office “would have some role potentially.”
Republicans work to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party
Top Republicans on Monday seized on House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York, casting the self-described democratic socialist as the new face of the Democratic Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called Jeffries’ endorsement a “seismic shift in politics.”
“We saw our clearest sign yet that this radical insurgent movement in the Democrat Party is succeeding, and they are ending what has always been known as the Democrat Party in America,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “After a monthslong pressure campaign from the far left, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries finally relented. He gave in, and he gave his endorsement to the socialist running to be mayor of New York City.”
The fresh comments are an attempt by GOP leaders to tie all congressional Democrats to Mamdani, hoping to paint the party as too far left heading into next year's House and Senate elections. The popular Muslim American state assemblyman has energized the progressive base, but his calls to raise taxes on the wealthy and support for Palestinians have drawn fire from Republicans and some moderate Democrats.
Minnesota man arrested after allegedly offering $45,000 for the killing of Pam Bondi
A Minnesota man was arrested and accused of offering $45,000 for the killing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to court documents.
Tyler Avalos, 29, published the threat on TikTok saying he wanted Bondi “dead or alive” but “preferably dead,” according to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Caleb Jurchisin.
The investigation started Oct. 9 when a tipster from Detroit “submitted a report to the FBI National Threat Operations Center” and flagged the suspect’s TikTok feed, the FBI said.
The TikTok post included a picture of Bondi “with a sniper-scope red dot on” her forehead, according to the affidavit.
Trump and Takaichi sign agreements on critical minerals and trade
Trump and Takaichi signed two agreements today after their bilateral meeting, one on trade and one on critical minerals.
The first agreement, which was very brief, called for a “new golden age” in the U.S.-Japan alliance and referred to the trade deal Trump announced in July, which imposes a 15% tariff on Japanese goods in exchange for $550 billion in Japanese investment in the United States.
“The two leaders noted with satisfaction swift and continued efforts by both countries, and confirmed their strong commitment to implementing this GREAT DEAL,” the agreement said.
The second document they signed was a framework agreement for securing the supply of critical minerals and rare-earth minerals through mining and processing. During his Asia trip, Trump has signed similar agreements with Thailand and Malaysia amid concerns that Chinese export controls could disrupt the global supply of rare earths, which are essential for producing electronic devices and other advanced technologies.
More than 100 former senior DOJ officials file brief opposing Comey prosecution
More than 100 former high-ranking Justice Department officials today filed a brief opposing what they say is the retaliatory prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey. The signers included officials who served in Democratic and Republican administrations.
Among them are former Attorney General Eric Holder, former Assistant Attorney General Hampton Dellinger and former acting Attorney General Peter Keisler.
“One of the core tenets of the Department of Justice is that a prosecutor identifies cases that need to be prosecuted, not people that should be targeted,” Keisler said.
“What happened in this case should concern all Americans. I am grateful to so many of my fellow Department of Justice alumni — all of whom held senior positions in the department — for speaking out,” he added.
Senators introduce stand-alone bills to address shutdown pain points
With the Senate back in Washington, some senators are introducing stand-alone or “rifle shot” bills to address specific harmful effects of the shutdown.
The bills are tackling issues like reinstatement of SNAP benefits, pay for air traffic control and Transportation Security Administration workers, military pay and pay for non-furloughed federal employees.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not definitively say today whether he would bring the measures to the floor for votes, saying the easiest way for federal employees to get paid again is by “opening up the government.”
“You can start down that track and we’ll kind of see what the temperature is of our senators on some of those issues,” Thune said.
A measure introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., was blocked last week by Senate Democrats who said the bill would have given Trump too much power to “pick his personal favorites” in deciding who gets paid during the shutdown.
Shortly after that vote, Johnson expressed optimism that he could pass a bipartisan bill that would pay workers, joining forces with Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Gary Peters of Michigan, who each introduced alternative pay measures last week.
Senate Democrats respond to federal workers union call to reopen the government
Democratic senators today indicated they're unlikely to budge in their standoff with Republicans after the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal workers union, called on Congress to end the shutdown.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley urged Congress in a statement today to “pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today.”
Asked whether if the statement could affect how he votes on funding bills, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said, “Let’s see how the week plays out.”
Warner, whose home state is home to a significant number of government employees, told NBC News he has gotten support from federal workers who have told him to “hang in there” because they have felt like they’re being “abused” by the Trump administration.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., asked about the union’s statement, said Democrats want "the government to be open and we want the federal workers to be paid."
"We want little children and veterans to get access to SNAP benefits, and we want the American people to be able to afford their health care,” she added, referring to the upcoming SNAP benefit lapse.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said he is committed to looking after government employees and making sure health insurance rates don’t go up.
“We’re going to be able to take care of a lot of these government employees,” Gallego said.
“What we’re not going to be able to deal with is the fact that 24 million families, American families, are going to have higher insurance rates starting Jan. 1,” he added.
Prime minister says Japan will give the U.S. 250 cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary
During a meeting with Trump, U.S. officials and Japanese officials, Takaichi said Japan will give the United States 250 cherry trees for the country's 250th anniversary next year.
She added that fireworks from Japan's Akita Prefecture will be shown in Washington, D.C., during the Fourth of July celebrations in 2026.
Trump praised Takaichi, saying he thinks she will be one of the "greatest prime ministers."
"I'd also like to congratulate you on being the first woman prime minister. That's a big deal. That's a big deal," Trump said.
Trump arrives at Akasaka Palace for bilateral meeting with Japan's prime minister
Trump has arrived at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, where he was greeted with a handshake by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
They will have an extended bilateral meeting in the coming hours.
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi review an honor guard at the Akasaka State Guest House. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images
John Thune says he spoke with Trump last night about the shutdown
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters this evening that he spoke to Trump last night about the shutdown.
“We are very engaged,” Thune said. “There are ongoing conversations about where things stand. And he, like all of us, wants the government opened up.”
Trump is on a weeklong trip to Asia, drawing criticism from Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, who say he should be in Washington to help negotiate an end to the shutdown.
Trump plans to install Border Patrol officials to lead a more aggressive migrant crackdown
The Trump administration plans to replace some regional leaders at Immigration and Customs Enforcement with Border Patrol officials to intensify its mass deportations effort amid growing frustration with the pace of daily arrests, according to two Homeland Security Department officials, a former DHS official and a federal law enforcement official.
Trump’s top aides have welcomed Border Patrol’s more aggressive tactics to secure arrests, such as rappeling into apartment buildings from Black Hawk helicopters and jumping out of rental trucks in Home Depot parking lots, as they’ve become disappointed with ICE, the officials said.
“The mentality is CBP does what they’re told, and the administration thinks ICE isn’t getting the job done,” one of the DHS officials said. “So CBP will do it.”
The White House has signed off on a list of at least a dozen directors of ICE field officers who are set to be reassigned in coming days, the two DHS officials, the former DHS official and the federal law enforcement official said. They said that at least half of them would be replaced with Border Patrol officials. ICE has 25 field offices around the country, so the move could replace nearly half of the agency’s leaders.
Japan expected to announce Ford F-150 purchases and investments in U.S. today
The Japanese government is expected to announce purchases of Ford F-150 pickup trucks for government use today and to outline some specific projects to be funded by a $550 billion Japanese investment fund created in the trade deal already struck with the United States, according to a Japanese government official and two White House officials.
The F-150 purchases have been widely reported and speculated about in Japanese media but not publicly confirmed by the Japanese government.
Ford did not confirm any specifics when it was asked about the reports, but it said in a statement: “We appreciate President Trump’s advocating for American made products. We would be excited to introduce America’s best-selling truck to work and government customers in Japan.”
Asked about the possibility of an announcement, Trump over the weekend said of Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi: “She has good taste. That’s a hot truck.”
How New Jersey’s verdict on Trump and one other leader is shaping the governor’s race
Recent public polling in the New Jersey governor’s race has shown Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill leading Republican Jack Ciattarelli by varying degrees. As in many campaigns in the last decade, Trump and voter perceptions of his performance have loomed over this race.
But Sherrill’s lead also appears to be tied to how voters in New Jersey view another politician: Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
Polls conducted in recent weeks have not tested Murphy’s job approval rating, but a Fox News survey conducted Oct. 10-14 found 47% of voters had favorable views of the two-term governor, while 49% had unfavorable views of him. Sherrill led Ciattarelli in that survey by 5 points, within the poll’s margin of error.
In the handful of public polls that did test Murphy’s job approval during the fall campaign, the three surveys that showed Murphy with approval ratings in the high 40s also saw Sherrill build bigger leads. In two surveys putting Murphy’s job approval at 35%, including one that was conducted for Ciattarelli’s campaign, the gubernatorial results showed a tied or near-tied race — the best results Ciattarelli has enjoyed in the whole campaign.
Sen. Jacky Rosen pushes Senate to condemn Trump for seeking $230 million DOJ payout
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is introducing a resolution to issue a formal Senate condemnation of Trump for seeking a $230 million payout from the Justice Department for past cases pertaining to him, with Rosen labeling it an act of “self-dealing.”
The resolution, first reported by NBC News, says the Senate “condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls by President Donald Trump for the Department of Justice to pay him $230,000,000” and “affirms the foundational principle that no public office may be used for personal enrichment.”
In a statement, Rosen said Americans are “already being crushed by rising costs as a result of Donald Trump’s reckless economic policies.”
“Instead of working to reopen the government and protect access to affordable health care, Donald Trump wants to pad his own pockets with $230 million in taxpayer dollars,” she said. “I’ll be pushing to pass a resolution condemning this attempt at self-dealing.”
Rosen, who won re-election last year in a state that Trump also carried, aims to bring up the resolution as a “unanimous consent” request in the Senate as early as tomorrow, her office said. That would force Republicans to take a side, because any one senator can block the resolution with a live objection when she calls it up on the floor. If nobody objects, it would be deemed adopted by the Senate.
Asked last week about the reported $230 million he’s seeking from the Justice Department he leads, Trump didn’t comment on the number but claimed that “they probably owe me a lot of money” for the past investigations and attempted prosecutions of him.
The title of the Rosen resolution is “Condemning any financial compensation from the Department of Justice to President Donald Trump tied to previous Federal investigations into his unlawful actions.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford: Ronald Reagan is probably 'spinning around in his grave' over Trump's trade war
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, speaking on NBC News' "Meet the Press NOW," said today that he's "sure" President Ronald Reagan is "spinning around in his grave thinking [about] the turmoil that President Trump has created" with his tariff-fueled trade war.
Ford, whose advertisement caused Trump to threaten 10% additional tariffs on Canada over the weekend, said he doesn't regret running the ad, which featured audio clips of a Reagan speech played while video of American cities, factories and farms is shown.
“When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs, and sometimes for a short while it works, but only for a short time,” Reagan says in the clip used in the ad.
Trump has accused Canada and Canadian province Ontario of misrepresenting Reagan’s speech. “Those were Ronald Reagan’s words. We didn’t fix it. We didn’t do AI, those are Ronald Reagan’s words,” Ford said.
"There's no reason for this," the leader of Canada's most populous province added. "We can be stronger and wealthier and richer if we all work together."
Trump says he underwent an MRI during his Walter Reed visit
Trump revealed this morning that he underwent magnetic resonance imaging during his visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this month.
Trump, 79, didn’t disclose the purpose of the MRI, saying only that it was “perfect.”
Senate chaplain says 'no gold medals are given' for shutdown records
Leading a prayer on the Senate floor this afternoon, Senate Chaplain Barry Black addressed the government shutdown.
"When our children and grandchildren want to know what we were doing in the 119th Congress during the famous shutdown, may we not have to give these answers: 'I helped set a new record for keeping the government closed. I failed to appeal to the better angels of my nature,'" Black said.
"Lord remind our lawmakers that no gold medals are given for breaking shutdown records, but a crown of righteousness is given to those who take care of the lost, last and least," he added.
Trump asks Supreme Court to pause appeals court order blocking U.S. copyright director's removal
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court today to pause a D.C. appeals court order that said Trump did not have the authority to remove Shira Perlmutter, the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, from her position.
“This application involves another case of improper judicial interference with the President’s power to remove executive officers,” Solicitor General John D. Sauer wrote.
One of the reasons the Trump administration believes the D.C. appeals court's decision was misguided was that it found that Perlmutter did not exercise “substantial executive power.”
“The Register makes regulations governing the copyright registration system, issues legal rulings that control copyright royalty adjudications, adjudicates applications for copyright registration, and conducts diplomacy on sensitive questions regarding respect for intellectual property in international affairs,” the administration wrote. “Those powers are ‘substantial’ by any reasonable measure.”
The Supreme Court has asked for a response from Perlmutter and her team by Nov. 10.
Trump has moved to fire numerous agency heads and senior officials, including the librarian of Congress, who was Perlmutter’s boss; National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board officials; Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook; and others.
Democratic lawmakers file Supreme Court brief on Trump's 'unlawful and inflationary tariffs'
Dozens of Democratic senators and House members filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in the challenge to Trump's "unlawful and inflationary tariffs."
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, was the only Republican to sign the brief, which was supported by 34 senators and 171 representatives.
The lawmakers urged the high court to reaffirm Congress’ constitutional authority over implementing tariffs. They wrote that a lower court was correct in ruling that the "Constitution grants Congress — not the President — the sole authority to impose tariffs and regulate commerce with foreign nations."
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next month about the administration's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
Senate Democrats are forcing votes this week to “reverse” Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Brazil and to restore congressional authority over trade, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Friday. The resolutions of disapproval are privileged, meaning that they can be brought to the floor without the consent of the majority party.
Trump to delay Mexico trade talks deadline by a 'few weeks,' Mexico's president says
Trump has agreed to delay the deadline for Mexico trade talks by “a few weeks,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a news conference today.
Sheinbaum said she spoke with Trump on the phone on Saturday about trade matters. It's not the first time Trump has extended talks with Mexico. In July, he delayed the deadline by 90 days but signaled that it could take longer.
Writing on Truth Social at the time of the last delay, Trump said: "We will be talking to Mexico over the next 90 Days with the goal of signing a Trade Deal somewhere within the 90 Day period of time, or longer."
Lula is optimistic for U.S.-Brazil trade deal after Trump meeting
Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal. Trump also signaled that a deal is likely.
The statements today came a day after the two presidents held talks on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, which Lula described as a “very good meeting.”
Trump, who headed to Japan from Malaysia, also said he and Lula “had a great meeting” yesterday.
“We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo. “They’d like to do a deal.”
U.S. warship docks in Trinidad and Tobago, putting more pressure on Venezuela
A U.S. warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago’s capital over the weekend as the Trump administration boosts military pressure on neighboring Venezuela and its President Nicolás Maduro.
The arrival of the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, in the capital of the Caribbean nation yesterday is in addition to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is moving closer to Venezuela. Maduro criticized the movement of the carrier as an attempt by the U.S. government to fabricate “a new eternal war” against his country.
USDA blames Democrats for potential SNAP benefits lapse in new message: ‘The well has run dry’
The Agriculture Department posted a new message to its website over the weekend blaming Democrats for the upcoming suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, saying assistance will halt beginning Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
“Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the unsigned message posted on the USDA’s official website reads.
“At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance,” the notice concludes.
Pete Buttigieg to campaign in New Jersey with Rep. Mikie Sherrill
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is hitting the campaign trail in New Jersey on Thursday to boost Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill's campaign for governor, according to an announcement shared first with NBC News.
Buttigieg is set to join Sherrill in at a rally in Monmouth County and at a press conference in Union County focused on the Gateway Tunnel Project, a massive project to add rail tunnels connecting New York and New Jersey. Trump recently said he cancelled funding for the project amid the federal government shutdown.
"I worked closely with Sec. Buttigieg to secure billions of dollars for New Jersey infrastructure and transit — including the nearly $20 billion for the Gateway Tunnel Project that Trump has since ‘terminated,’" Sherrill said in a statement. "Sec. Buttigieg knows governors are our last line of defense against the Trump administration, and we need strong leadership in Trenton, not a Trump lackey like Jack."
Buttigieg also campaigned in Virginia earlier this month for former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, with Virginia and New Jersey the only two states with gubernatorial races this year.
The 2025 campaign trail has attracted other Democrats who may be eyeing runs for the White House, providing early venues to sharpen their potential pitches to lead the party.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned in both states over the weekend, while Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly also appeared with Sherrill in New Jersey. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have also campaigned in the Garden State.
Musk super PAC's lawyer is running for Congress
Chris Gober, a Republican who served as the chief lawyer for tech billionaire Elon Musk's America PAC, launched a congressional bid in Texas today.
Gober aims to replace retiring Republican Rep. Michael McCaul in an Austin-area seat that was redrawn significantly by state Republican leaders late this summer.
Gober's announcement emphasized his Texas roots and his involvement in key conservative groups and initiatives, including Musk's PAC, the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, and the GOP's redrawing of Texas' congressional boundaries.
"I've spent my career delivering victories on these fights — and I'm running for Congress because President Trump needs allies who know how to beat the Left and won't back down," he said in a statement.
Speaker Johnson says it's not certain that troops will receive their upcoming paycheck
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters this morning that it's unclear if U.S. troops will receive their upcoming paycheck because of the government shutdown.
Johnson said Trump was able to tap into "research and development unobligated funds" to pay the military in the middle of this month.
"Next check is due the end of this week and we’re not a hundred percent sure now," Johnson said when asked if the money will be found again to pay service members. "I do know the administration and everybody is bending over backwards to try to figure that out, but I don’t know the final analysis yet."
Asked about the identity of the person who anonymously donated $130 million to the troops, Johns said he did not ask Trump for the person's name, but added that the donation was only a "small fraction" of what's needed to pay them.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested on CBS's "Face the Nation" yesterday that troops will receive their pay at the end of the month but not in mid-November if the shutdown continues.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun calls special session to consider new congressional map
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun today called a special legislative session to consider redrawing the state’s congressional map, though it’s unclear if enough GOP lawmakers will support the redistricting effort.
“I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair,” Braun, a Republican, said in a statement.
Indiana is the fourth Republican-controlled state to take up redistricting at the behest of Trump, who wants to shore up the party’s narrow U.S. House majority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats in two states so far have also sought to counter with mid-decade redistricting efforts of their own, with Virginia set to reconvene a special session later Monday.
Trump calls Russia’s missile test ‘inappropriate’ — but is Putin’s nuclear-powered weapon actually a threat?
Russia says it has successfully tested an experimental weapon that sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie: a nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range, whose low-flying, terrain-hugging and loitering capabilities could evade American missile defenses and drop atomic bombs anywhere on Earth.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that the Burevestnik — meaning “storm petrel” (a type of sea bird) — was “indeed a unique weapon that no other country possesses.”
The development has drawn concern internationally, with Trump saying today it was “inappropriate” to be conducting such tests when Russia should be focusing on peace talks with Ukraine.
Can Japan charm Trump by buying American trucks?
As Japan tries to placate Trump amid contentious trade talks, officials may be eyeing an icon of American manufacturing that has virtually no presence there: the Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Trump, who is visiting the key U.S. ally this week, has long criticized the lack of American vehicles sold in Japan, citing what he believes are nontariff barriers.
Hegseth is also traveling in Asia this week
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth left Washington early this morning on a trip that will take him to Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea.
The Pentagon said a key theme of the trip would be “the importance of allies stepping up their defense spending and contributions to our collective defense.”
In Malaysia, Hegseth will participate in a meeting starting Thursday of defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while in South Korea he will co-chair annual security talks with the key U.S. ally on Nov. 4.
Ahead of Trump-Xi meeting, China says bombers flew near Taiwan
A group of Chinese H-6K bombers recently flew near Taiwan to practice “confrontation drills,” Chinese state media reported late yesterday, publicizing the action just a few days before the U.S. and Chinese presidents are due to meet in South Korea.
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry denounced the report as a propaganda ploy.
Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, sends its combat aircraft and warships into the skies and waters around the island on a daily basis, though the Taiwanese Defense Ministry has not reported any unusual activity lately.
Trump says he expects to choose from a slate of Fed chair candidates in the coming weeks
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his team is "down to five" candidates for the next Fed chair and plans to present the list to Trump in the next several weeks.
"We’re going to do a second round, and we hope to present a good slate to the president right after Thanksgiving. It’ll ultimately be his choice," Bessent told reporters during the president's trip to Asia.
Trump chimed in, saying, "I'm thinking about him for Fed. What do you think?"
The president added that he is "thinking about Marco, I’m thinking about Jamieson," referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
When a reporter asked whether he was considering Stephen Miller, his deputy chief of staff for policy, Trump responded, "How about Stephen Miller? We have a lot of candidates that want the job."
Trump said he might pick the candidate by the end of the year.
Trump and Japan’s new prime minister have a friend in common
Trump had warm words for Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, whom he is meeting in Tokyo tomorrow only a week after she became prime minister of the key U.S. ally.
Sanae Takaichi on Oct. 4. Kim Kyung-Hoon / Getty Images
Takaichi, 64, a hard-line conservative and the first female prime minister of Japan, was a protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was close with Trump.
“I hear phenomenal things,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One today en route from Malaysia to Japan. “She was a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend.”
“I know they were very close and I think philosophically they were close, which is good,” he added. “That really helps Japan and the United States, I think she’s going to be great.”
Takaichi, who had a phone call with Trump over the weekend while he was flying to Asia, told reporters she “received very warm congratulatory remarks” and that she told Trump that strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance was her top diplomatic and security priority.
She said she praised Trump for brokering the recent Gaza ceasefire, while emphasizing that Japan “is a very important country for the United States for its strategy towards China” and the broader region.
“I thought he was a very cheerful and fun person,” Takaichi said. “He also recognized me well, and while sharing memories of Prime Minister Abe, he mentioned that he knew I was a politician whom Prime Minister Abe had really looked after.”
She said she also thanked Trump for the “great kindness” he has shown Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, whom Trump is expected to see while in Japan.
Trump says Argentina’s Milei had 'a lot of help' from U.S. in election win
Trump congratulated Argentina’s President Javier Milei on his party’s victory in midterm elections yesterday, saying he had “a lot of help” from the U.S.
Argentina's President Javier Milei celebrates after winning in legislative midterm elections in Buenos Aires yesterday. Rodrigo Abd / AP Photo
Trump, whose administration has come under heavy domestic criticism over a U.S. bailout for Argentina that could be worth $40 billion, had suggested his support was conditional on a victory for his ally Milei.
“He had a lot of help from us,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One today en route from Malaysia to Japan. “I gave him an endorsement, a very strong endorsement.”
U.S. presidents do not typically express opinions on candidates in other countries’ democratic elections.
Milei had been struggling to maintain public support amid massive budget cuts and austerity programs meant to slow inflation, but managed to secure the election by winning in key districts.
Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats
The nation’s largest union representing federal workers is calling for lawmakers to pass a short-term spending measure to end the government shutdown immediately, urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.
“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement first shared with NBC News. “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”
The new statement from AFGE could put increased pressure on Democrats to budge from their current stance. Senate Democrats have insisted that they will not vote to reopen the government without a commitment from Republicans and Trump on extending health care subsidies through the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Without them, health insurance premiums on Obamacare markets will skyrocket for many individuals and families.
Canada ready to sit down with U.S. as trade tensions flare up
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa is ready to sit down with the United States as soon as the U.S. is ready to do so, Reuters reported, amid fresh trade tensions between the two longtime allies.
Carney, who is in Malaysia for the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said he had not had any contact with Trump since Thursday, when Trump said he was terminating trade talks after the province of Ontario started airing a TV ad in the U.S. that featured edited clips from a 1987 address by President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
Trump said Saturday that he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods imports over the ad after it aired during the World Series, calling it a “serious misrepresentation of the facts” and a “hostile act.”
The White House has not said when the 10% tariff increase would come into effect or whether it would apply to all Canadian goods. Most Canadian exports to the U.S. are exempt from tariffs because of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that was signed during Trump’s first term, but Canada is currently subject to a 35% tariff on goods not covered by the agreement, as well as sector-specific tariffs of 50% on steel and aluminum.
Trump says he's open to extending Asia trip to meet with North Korea's Kim
Trump said he would consider extending his Asia trip to add a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, even as South Korean officials expressed doubt that it would happen.
“I’d love to meet with him, if he’d like to meet,” said Trump, who had three in-person meetings with Kim during his first term. “I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him, he liked me.”
Asked if he would be willing to extend his stay in South Korea to add a Kim meeting to his schedule, Trump told reporters, “It’s our last stop, so it’s pretty easy to do.”
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019. Susan Walsh / AP file
Trump and Kim last met in 2019 at the Demilitarized Zone, the heavily fortified buffer between North Korea and South Korea, after earlier nuclear talks collapsed amid disagreements over U.S.-led sanctions on the isolated state. Though Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim, the North Korean leader has only further strengthened his weapons programs since Trump’s first term and now says he will negotiate only if the U.S. recognizes North Korea as a nuclear power.
Oh Hyun-joo, a deputy director of South Korea’s national security office, said earlier today that Seoul viewed the likelihood of a Trump-Kim meeting as “very low.”
However, there is “a chance that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could still change his mind and accept the U.S. proposal,” she said.
Trump meets with Japanese Emperor Naruhito
Emperor Naruhito smiled and waved as Trump’s motorcade pulled up to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
President Donald Trump and Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today. Issei Kato / Getty Images
Trump, dressed in a navy suit and gold tie, warmly greeted Naruhito, 65, whom he last saw in Japan in 2019. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries that were largely inaudible, then posed for a photo before going inside.
Trump says he will solve Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis ‘very quickly’ as peace talks continue
Trump said yesterday that he will solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis “very quickly,” as peace talks between the warring neighbors entered a second day.
The two countries are embroiled in a bitter security dispute, with each side saying they were responding to aggression from the other during clashes earlier this month.
Taliban security personnel in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, after the cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sanaullah Seiam / AFP via Getty Images
It was the deadliest fighting between them in several years, marking a low point in relations while also causing alarm in a region where armed groups like Al Qaeda are trying to resurface.
Trump says the U.S. and China will 'come away with' a trade deal
Trump said the U.S. and China will “come away with” a trade deal as he prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for President Xi and I think we’re going to come away with a deal,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan.
He said he was hopeful following what he described as productive preliminary talks between U.S. and Chinese trade delegations in recent days.
According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was also on the plane, the two sides discussed tariffs, trade, fentanyl, rare earth export controls and a substantial purchase of U.S. agricultural products during the latest round of talks in Malaysia.
“We feel good,” Trump added.
Trump also said he hoped to finalize a deal on TikTok during his meeting with Xi.
Trump appears to rule out running for vice president in 2028
Trump appeared to rule out the idea of pursuing a third term through a possible scenario in which Vice President JD Vance would run for office and if elected hand over power to Trump as his vice president.
“I think the people wouldn’t like that,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan. “It’s too cute. It’s not, it wouldn’t be right.”
The president was responding to a reporter's question about his former top aide Steve Bannon's recent comment on the existence of a plan for Trump to run for a third term.
"I haven’t really thought about it," Trump said. "We have some very good people, as you know, but I’ve had the best poll numbers I’ve ever had."
The president then namechecked two prominent members of his Cabinet, calling them virtually unbeatable if they were to pursue a ticket together.
“Obviously the vice president is great. Marco is great,” Trump said, referring to his secretary of state. “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those. So I think if they performed [as] a group, it would be unstoppable.”
Trump has previously acknowledged that such a scenario — with Vance running and then ceding power — is one way in which he could return to office in 2028.
Steve Bannon, a close Trump ally, recently floated the idea publicly, saying he believes Trump will “run and win again in 2028.”
Trump arrives in Japan as Asia tour continues
Trump arrived at Tokyo Haneda Airport around 5 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) after a six-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In Japan, a key U.S. ally, Trump will first meet in the evening with Emperor Naruhito — six years after they met in 2019, when Trump and first lady Melania Trump were state guests of the emperor shortly after he came to the throne.
President Donald Trump arrives in Tokyo today. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images
Tomorrow, Trump meets with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, followed by a speech aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier anchored in Japan and a dinner with business leaders. He leaves for South Korea, his final stop, on Wednesday.
In Malaysia, Trump attended the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and presided over a signing ceremony for an enhanced ceasefire agreement that he helped mediate between Thailand and Cambodia, who fought a deadly border conflict in July. He also signed deals on trade and critical minerals with Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.
U.S. and China agree to a trade deal ‘framework,’ treasury secretary says
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to reach a deal to avert a new 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods and are likely to meet in person soon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said following talks with Beijing’s top trade negotiator.
Bessent told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in an interview yesterday that China was ready to make a deal “after two days of negotiations” in Malaysia, where Trump began his three-country Asia tour.
A “framework” is ready for a meeting this week between Trump and Xi that is intended to avoid the harsher tariffs threatened by Trump starting Nov. 1 should Beijing move forward with plans to put restrictions on rare earth minerals, he said.
The development could mark a potentially pivotal moment in global trade relations as the world’s two largest economies edge toward easing tensions that have unsettled markets and strained diplomatic ties since Trump’s tariff threats began.
Trump touts peacemaking skills as Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire deal
President Donald Trump kicked off his trip to Asia yesterday by presiding over the signing of an enhanced ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia that he helped mediate earlier this year.
The five-day border conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in July killed dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in both countries.
The leaders of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia were onstage with Trump for the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, named after the Malaysian capital where negotiations took place in July.
Standing before a backdrop that read “Delivering Peace,” Trump said the Thailand-Cambodia conflict was one of eight wars his administration had brought to a close since he took office in January. “On behalf of the United States, I’m proud to help settle this conflict and forge a future for the region,” he said.
