Trump discusses trade and Gaza with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer during Scotland visit
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U.S. officials separately are holding trade talks with China in Sweden this week.
What to know today
- TRUMP-STARMER MEETINGS: President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met in Turnberry, Scotland, this morning to discuss trade and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- CHINA TRADE TALKS: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, meanwhile, are meeting with Chinese officials in Stockholm this week for another round of trade talks ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline for steep tariffs on both U.S. and Chinese goods to go into effect.
- RUSSIA SANCTIONS: Trump told reporters he would impose secondary sanctions on Russia in less than two weeks if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not reached.
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Vance’s tour to tout Trump’s megabill offers a preview of his midterm mission
Vice President JD Vance dropped by a steel factory here today to trumpet the White House agenda — namely a “big, beautiful bill” that polls indicate most voters don’t like.
The visit also gave a glimpse of how Vance will be deployed, not just to sell Trump’s policies, but also to campaign for Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.
It was the second time in three weeks that Vance found himself talking up the megabill in a battleground for partisan control of the House. He played defense in Pennsylvania’s 8th District his month, offering a shoutout to Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a vulnerable Republican who was in the crowd. Vance switched to offense yesterday in Ohio’s 13th District, scolding Rep. Emilia Sykes, an endangered Democrat, for voting against the bill.
Trump ‘troubled’ by images coming out of Gaza, prompting him to push for more aid
Trump has long had a keen sense of the power of imagery, and pictures of children starving in Gaza are motivating him to redouble U.S. humanitarian aid efforts there.
He was “disturbed” and “troubled” by the images, most of which he saw in news clips, a senior White House official told NBC News.
“We can save a lot of people,” Trump said today during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. “I mean, some of those kids are — that’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake it. So we’re going to be even more involved.”
White House officials said Trump had previously approved $60 million for aid to Gaza but that it had gotten little public notice and that the promise of more food — and a better system to ensure that it gets to civilians — points to ongoing need.
Renaming the Kennedy Center for Donald and Melania Trump would violate the law that created it
House Republican proposals to name the Kennedy Center after Trump and its opera house after first lady Melania Trump would violate the law by which the Kennedy Center was created, four sources familiar with the issue told NBC News.
Republicans last week passed an amendment through committee that would rename the opera house after Melania Trump, saying it was a way to recognize her support for and commitment to the arts. The measure, sponsored by GOP Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, is now part of key legislation to fund the Interior Department, but it would still need to pass through the full House and the Senate to become law.
The next day, Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., introduced the “Make Entertainment Great Again Act” to rename the whole center “Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts.” The House has not taken any action on it.
Three former board members for the Kennedy Center told NBC News that the law creating the center prohibited any of the facilities from being renamed, other than the Eisenhower Theater, after the president whose administration authorized its construction in 1958. The project stalled and was revived under President John F. Kennedy, whose family led an effort to get the center built and named in his honor following his assassination. Two months later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation making it a living memorial to Kennedy.
Trump ushers in a new reality: Get used to tariffs, everyone
A new reality is settling in for the global economy: Trump’s tariffs — set at levels once considered mostly unthinkable — are here to stay.
This morning, Trump said the baseline tariff rate for the world will be “in the range of 15 to 20% ... probably one of those two numbers.”
“We’re going to be setting a tariff for essentially the rest of the world, and that’s what they’re going to pay if they want to do business in the United States, because you can’t sit down and make 200 deals,” Trump added.
The statement came some 12 hours after Trump announced an agreement yesterday with the European Union that would charge a 15% tax on products brought into the United States from the bloc. The E.U. also agreed to spend $750 billion on energy purchases from the United States while investing an additional $600 billion here.
Rep. Mike Collins’ Senate campaign posts video misspelling ‘Georgia’
A campaign video for Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., who is among a growing field of candidates for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, misspelled his state’s name in a post on X yesterday.
The 38-second video, which appears on his campaign X account, features Collins deriding Democrats and being praised by Trump. It concludes with the text, "GEORIGA, LET'S RIDE."
Collins' campaign said the video was made by a fan.
“They meant well, and it’s a nice video. It’s not the first fan-made video that we’ve posted and it won’t be the last,” a spokesman for the campaign told NBC News in a statement.
Republicans are trying to flip the seat held by Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Ghislaine Maxwell urges Supreme Court to hear her criminal appeal
Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney today renewed his request that the Supreme Court overturn her 2021 conviction in New York for recruiting and grooming multiple teenage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse for over a decade.
In a new filing, Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, repeated arguments he made in previous filings that a non-prosecution agreement Epstein made with federal prosecutors in Florida should apply to Maxwell’s case in New York and any other part of the United States.
Maxwell’s lawyer asked the Supreme Court to take up her case in April. Justice Department lawyers responded in a filing this month and urged the court not to consider it.
Today’s filing consisted of Markus’ response to the government’s arguments. The Supreme Court, which is on its summer recess, is unlikely to act on Maxwell’s case for months.
Sheriff’s office launches probe after reports of naked women seen on official’s TV at Oklahoma Board of Education meeting
A sheriff’s office in Oklahoma is investigating an incident during a state Board of Education meeting last week that reportedly involved images of naked women on the state school superintendent’s office television.
The images were seen during the board’s executive session, held in Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office, The Oklahoman newspaper of Oklahoma City reported, citing members Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson, who attended the meeting.
NBC News has not confirmed the accounts of Deatherage and Carson, who were both nominated by Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office has launched a probe, spokesman Aaron Brilbeck said, after a request from the agency that oversees human resources matters for the state government.
Sen. Josh Hawley introduces bill to send tariff rebate checks to Americans
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced legislation today to provide tariff rebate checks of at least $600 per adult and child to American families, similar to the stimulus checks the government distributed during the Covid pandemic.
Hawley submitted his legislation after having pledged to do so Friday, following Trump’s remark to reporters that he would be interested in sending a tariff-related rebate check to Americans.
“Like President Trump proposed, my legislation would allow hard-working Americans to benefit from the wealth that Trump’s tariffs are returning to this country,” Hawley said in a statement.
Trump and Starmer arrive at Trump Links in Balmedie
Marine One and Marine Two at Trump International Golf Links in Balmedie, Scotland. Jane Barlow / WPA Pool / Getty Images
After their meeting in Turnberry, Starmer flew with Trump aboard Marine One to outside Aberdeen, where the Trump Organization has a second golf course.
Jane Barlow / WPA Pool / Getty Images
Trump says he cut ties with Jeffrey Epstein because ‘he stole people who worked for me’
Trump said he threw his longtime friend Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club and cut ties with him years ago because “he stole people who worked for me.”
Trump said Epstein poached at least one more employee from him after he was warned not to do it again.
Trump, speaking in Scotland, provided no other details of the dispute with Epstein, who killed himself in a federal jail in New York weeks after he was arrested on child sex trafficking charges in July 2019.
“That’s such old history, very easy to explain, but I don’t want to waste your time by explaining it,” Trump said after a reporter asked him to put to rest questions about what led to the rift between the two men and Epstein’s exile from Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, club.
“But for years, I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn’t talk because he did something that was inappropriate,” the president said.
“He hired help, and I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He stole people that work for me. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again,” Trump said.
Epstein then became “persona non grata,” Trump said.
“I threw him out, and that was it. I’m glad I did, if you want to know the truth,” he said.
White House: 'Details are forthcoming' on Trump's Gaza aid plan
Asked to provide more details about what Trump was referring to earlier when he said the United States is “going to set up food centers” in Gaza and “be even more involved” with humanitarian aid efforts, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said:
“President Trump wants to alleviate suffering for the people of Gaza because he has a humanitarian heart. He announced a new aid plan today to help Gazans obtain crucial access to food — details are forthcoming.”
Bipartisan push to release Jeffrey Epstein files gains momentum
A bipartisan pair of congressmen are preparing to force a House vote to compel disclosure of files. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports for the "TODAY" show.
Government allows federal employees to try to persuade each other to 'rethink' religious beliefs
The Trump administration has issued guidance about allowing religious expression at federal agencies in a new memo, including that government employees can try to persuade one another "of the correctness of their own religious views."
"Employees may engage in conversations regarding religious topics with fellow employees, including attempting to persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views, provided that such efforts are not harassing in nature," says the memo from the head of the Office of Personnel Management. "Employees may also encourage their coworkers to participate in religious expressions of faith, such as prayer, to the same extent that they would be permitted to encourage coworkers participate in other personal activities."
The memo provides a list of examples of how the guidelines could apply.
“During a break, an employee may engage another in polite discussion of why his faith is correct and why the non-adherent should re-think his religious beliefs," it says. "However, if the nonadherent requests such attempts to stop, the employee should honor the request."
The memo presents a handful of additional guidelines, including that employees should be allowed to display religious items and encourage co-workers to participate in religious activities like prayer.
"On a bulletin board meant for personal announcements, a supervisor may post a handwritten note inviting each of his employees to attend an Easter service at his church," the document says in another example of how guidelines could be applied.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker won't run for his old job
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said last night he won’t run to get his old job back in next year’s open governor’s race.
“I’m not going to be a candidate for governor in 2026,” Walker, a Republican, said last night in video on X . Walker said he would instead continue working as president of his Young America’s Foundation, a conservative group that focuses on youth outreach.
But he wouldn’t rule out a political run in the future.
“As I mentioned, I’m not going to be a candidate, at least not next year. Doesn’t mean I’ll never run again,” Walker said in the video.
Walker, who was Wisconsin's governor from 2011 through 2018, had sparked speculation over whether he’d run to replace retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers after he posted numerous cryptic messages on social media in recent days that appeared to tease a possible campaign, with pictures of a “Make Wisconsin Great Again” hat.
Evers, who defeated Walker in the 2018 governor’s race, announced last week he wouldn’t run for a third term, a decision that will create competitive primaries for both major parties.
On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced her candidacy last week, while others have publicly or privately expressed interest in running. They include state Attorney General Josh Kaul, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
On the Republican side, two candidates have entered so far: Josh Schoemann, the county executive of Washington County, an exurban area northwest of Milwaukee, and Bill Berrien, a Milwaukee manufacturing CEO.
More could follow. Businessman Eric Hovde, who narrowly lost a Senate race to Democrat Tammy Baldwin last year, and Tim Michels, who lost to Evers in 2022, are also weighing bids. And Rep. Tom Tiffany hasn’t ruled out running.
Trump reacts to Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire
Trump reacted on Truth Social to news this morning of a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, claiming some credit for the deal.
"Just spoke to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand and Prime Minister of Cambodia. I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE," Trump said.
"Congratulations to all! By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives. I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade. I have now ended many Wars in just six months — I am proud to be the President of PEACE!" he said.
Trump warned the countries' leaders over the weekend that his administration wouldn't negotiate trade deals with them unless they stopped the fighting, which began several days ago, Reuters reported.
Trump says there is ‘real starvation’ in Gaza and U.S. will set up food centers
Trump said today that there was “real starvation” in Gaza, breaking with Israel as the U.S. ally faces intense pressure to lift restrictions on aid with hunger spreading in the besieged enclave.
His comments came amid mounting global outrage over rising deaths from malnutrition under Israel’s military offensive on the territory.
Vance says Trump wants 'full transparency' in Epstein case
Speaking to reporters, Vance said that Trump wants "full transparency" in into Jeffrey Epstein and he criticized past administrations for their handling of the case.
"You ought to go after the administrations that went easy on Jeffrey Epstein, the administrations that concealed this case for 20 years and the administrations that failed to show full transparency," he said. "Donald J Trump, I’m telling you, he’s got nothing to hide, his administration has got nothing to hide, and that’s why he’s been an advocate for full transparency in this case."
Starmer to travel with Trump to their next trip stop
Trump is leaving Turnberry, where he met with Starmer, and heading to the Glasgow airport. The president is heading next to Aberdeen, Scotland, and the prime minister will travel on Air Force One with him.
Trump and Starmer board Air Force One today. Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images file
Vance says White House is 'very worried about the humanitarian problem in Gaza'
Asked by NBC News about the hunger crisis in Gaza, Vance said, "We are very worried about the humanitarian problem in Gaza."
"We see a lot of starving children," Vance said. "We want to make sure they get food."
He also said that they needed to ensure that Hamas "gets the hell out of Gaza." Vance recalled "really, really heartbreaking cases" and kids "starving to death."
Vance defends the Republican domestic policy bill's impact on health care
Speaking at a steel mill in Canton, Ohio, Vice President JD Vance defended the president's new domestic policy law known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" and touted the measure's health care provisions.
"We are very confident that the way we structured the Big, Beautiful Bill is that a lot of what people are saying that you’re going to somehow see reduced health care outcomes. I don’t believe that’s going to happen for a second," Vance said in response to a question from NBC News. "We actually are increasing funding to rural hospitals. We’re increasing funding to needy people. What we’re not doing is we’re not allowing illegal immigrants to collect the American people’s Medicaid benefits, because it’s going to bankrupt that program."
"If you want to protect Medicaid, and President Trump certainly wants to, then the best way to protect Medicaid is to ensure only the needy get access to Medicaid, not people who don’t even have the legal right to be in our country to begin with," Vance added.
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Project 2025 architect to challenge Lindsey Graham for Senate in South Carolina
Paul Dans, the architect of Project 2025, is launching a Senate bid in South Carolina to oust Lindsey Graham.
Dans is set to announce his Republican primary bid with a formal launch Wednesday in Charleston. Graham is a close Trump ally but has for years faced skepticism from his MAGA allies. He is already facing a challenge from former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
Trump says the Epstein files are a 'hoax' that has been 'built up way beyond proportion'
Trump said during the press availability with Starmer that the Epstein files are a "hoax" that he said has been "built up way beyond proportion."
"Those files were run by the worst scum on Earth," Trump said in answer to a reporter's question about his recent denial of reports that Justice Department officials had told him his name appeared in the files, which NBC News has not independently confirmed.
"They were run by Comey, they were run by Garland, they were run by Biden, and all of the people that actually ran the government, including the auto-pen," Trump said, referring to former FBI director James Comey, whom he fired during his first term, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former President Joe Biden.
"Those files were run for four years by those people," Trump continued. "If they had anything, I assume they would have released it. The whole thing is a hoax. They ran the files. I was running against somebody that ran the files, if they had something, they would have released it. Now they can easily put something in the files that’s a phony," he said.
Responding to a question about recent Wall Street Journal report that said Trump drew a photo of a naked woman in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein, Trump said, "I don't do drawings. I'm not a drawing person. I don't do drawings. Sometimes people say, 'Would you draw a building?' And I'll draw four lines and a little roof, you know, for charity stuff, but I'm not a drawing person. I don't do drawings of women — that I can tell you."
NBC News has not independently confirmed the Wall Street Journal's report.
Nevada's Democratic attorney general launches campaign for governor
Nevada state Attorney General Aaron Ford announced a run for governor today, challenging Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo — seen as the most vulnerable Republican governor up for re-election next year.
“The bottom line is, I think the Nevadans deserve a governor who’s going to solve problems, not one who blocks progress,” Ford said in an interview with NBC News.
He previewed a campaign message built around lowering costs, protecting consumers, public safety and defending reproductive and voting rights.
“When I’m governor, I’ll invest in strong public schools and creating good paying jobs, including in the clean energy and tech sectors, and I’ll work to ensure that every family can afford to live and to thrive here, which is the opposite what we see Joe Lombardo doing,” Ford said.
Ford's entrance to the race sets up what could be competitive primary. Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill has said she is laying plans to run, too.
Trump’s big domestic policy law is looming over the race, given its all-but-certain outsize impact on the state. In Nevada, approximately 1 in 3 Nevadans are on Medicaid, according to data from the state and KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. And the casino-laden state’s economy relies almost exclusively on gaming and hospitality, areas with big tax changes in the law.
Nevada Democrats have already sought to tie Lombardo to the law, though the Republican has walked a fine line between offering praise for certain aspects of the megabill while pushing back against others.
“Trump’s bill is a betrayal and Joe Lombardo is all about it,” Ford said.
The race in the key battleground promises to be one the most closely watched gubernatorial contests in 2026.
Lombardo, who won his 2022 election over Democrat Steve Sisolak by just 1.5 percentage points, is the only Republican governor up for re-election next year whose race was rated by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report as a “toss-up.”
Trump says no one has approached him about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell
Trump said during the press availability with Starmer that no one has approached him about pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who was an accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein.
"I'm allowed to give her a pardon, but ... nobody's approached me with it. Nobody's asked me about it," Trump told reporters when asked about the issue.
The president added that it would "inappropriate" to talk about the matter.
Trump to hit Russia with tariffs and sanctions in less than 2 weeks if it can't reach Ukraine agreement
Trump said he would give Russia less than two weeks to come to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine or be hit with steep tariffs and secondary sanctions, which apply to countries that buy Russian exports.
"I'm going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today," Trump said, referring to his previous deadline of 50 days.
"There's no reason we’re waiting," he added.
Trump says 'we have to get the kids fed' in Gaza
Trump emphasized the importance of getting food to children in Gaza, discussing the humanitarian situation in remarks to reporters alongside Starmer during their bilateral meeting.
"We have to help on a humanitarian basis before we do anything, we have to get the kids fed," Trump said.
Trump said the U.S. would help set up food centers and supply funds.
Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Mike Collins jump into N.C. and Georgia Senate races
Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is jumping into the open North Carolina Senate race, a boon for Democrats who see him as their best candidate by far given his demonstrated ability to split tickets and win in the red-leaning state.
NBC News previously reported he would announce his candidacy.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Mike Collins is joining the crowded field of primary candidates in Georgia, the GOP’s best opportunity to flip a Senate eat currently held by a Democrat.
The announcement videos they posted to social media are strong examples of how candidates in both parties are positioning themselves in the toughest battlegrounds this cycle.
Cooper likely won’t face significant competition for his party’s primary nomination. His video is centered on his personal story, bipartisan victories and broad strokes arguing Republicans are prioritizing the rich over the middle class.
Collins, who faces a tough GOP primary, is launching with a video directly aimed at the GOP base, praising Trump and his policies but also attacking Democrats on a key vulnerability — border security.
Trump suggests he will shorten his deadline to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia
Trump told reporters ahead of his bilateral with Starmer that he might move ahead with severe tariffs and secondary sanctions on Russia earlier than a 50-day deadline he imposed in mid-July for reaching a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.
“I’m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer, what’s going to happen,” Trump said.
Trump repeated his frustration over Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine despite efforts to end the war, saying he was "very disappointed" in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump and Starmer to discuss Gaza crisis
Trump told reporters after greeting Starmer at his golf club in Turnberry that the two leaders would discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and said he believed a ceasefire was still possible.
"The whole place is a mess," Trump said when asked if Israel has done enough to limit civilian deaths. "They have to get food and safety right now," he added.
Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, at Trump Turnberry today. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
The president also said Hamas won't release the remaining living hostages and suggested a different approach toward the group might be needed, without elaborating.
"I always said, when you get down to the final 20 they won't release them, because that's like their shield," Trump said. "And so something's going to have to be done."
Starmer was accompanied by his wife, Victoria Starmer, as he arrived for the talks. Trump and Starmer shook hands and chatted outside before taking questions from reporters. Their conversation couldn’t be heard over the sound of bagpipes that serenaded the prime minister on his arrival.
Democratic governors search for a balance between fighting and working with Trump
Linda McMahon and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have largely been skewered by Democrats for the way they have run Trump’s Education and Health departments.
But over the weekend at a bipartisan summit of governors in Colorado Springs, they received a distinctly warm welcome — including from the Democrats on hand.
U.S. and Chinese officials continue trade talks today
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will hold talks with Chinese officials today in Stockholm, Sweden.
The two sides have about two weeks until an Aug. 12 deadline, when higher tariff rates would kick in.
Greer said on CNBC ahead of the meeting that while he believed that the U.S. was "in an incredible position," he did not "expect some kind of enormous breakthrough today."
"What I expect is continued monitoring and checking in on the implementation of our agreement thus far," he added.
Greer also said that the administration did not "feel a necessary urgency for deals."
"We don't feel under pressure have more deals, I'll put it that way," he added.
In an MSNBC interview ahead of the meeting, Greer also said he could not yet say whether there might be room to extend the deadline, but noted that "the conversations are constructive, and they’re going in the right direction."
Greer said the U.S. comes into the meetings "with a strong hand" after reaching trade agreements with the European Union and Japan.
"We’ve had a lot of tensions over the years, we’ve had tensions now, but the fact that we are regularly meeting with them to address these issues, I think that gives us a good footing for these negotiations," Greer said of the rounds of talks with China.
In May, the countries came to an agreement to pause steep tariff rates for 90 days after the two sides met in Geneva.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro previously said the administration's goal would to reach “90 deals in 90 days,” but the administration has announced only a handful of agreements so far.
Trump has referred to letters his administration will be sending to other nations setting tariff rates as effectively being trade agreements.
Trump to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss trade issues
Trump is meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the president's gold club in Turnberry, Scotland, on the heels of an agreement that the United States and United Kingdom reached on trade issues in May.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week that Trump and Starmer "will be discussing truly formalizing and finishing up that trade deal."
Later, Trump and Starmer are expected to head north to Aberdeen, Scotland and have dinner together.
Trump reaches agreement with E.U. to impose 15% tariff, with exceptions for key industries
Trump announced a trade agreement with the European Union yesterday that would set tariffs at 15%, ending what had been months of uncertainty surrounding trade with the United States’ largest trade partner.
The tariff rate is a reduction from the 30% that Trump threatened on July 12 and the 20% he said he would impose on April 2.
