Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, has emerged as the latest high-ranking official to publicly criticize a judge, reflecting the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on judicial challenges to its political initiatives.
On Saturday, Hegseth ridiculed U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes for her decision to block a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. This ban was implemented through an executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 27.
In a social media post, Hegseth referred to Judge Reyes as “Commander Reyes,” insinuating that she lacked the authority to determine matters related to warfare, even though her ruling pertained solely to the treatment of military personnel.
Judge Reyes was appointed by former President Joe Biden, marking her as the latest judicial figure to face public derision from a Trump administration official.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Rails Against Judge
Hegseth’s public derision of Reyes echoes similar comments made recently by Trump, Elon Musk, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials targeting judges. On Tuesday, Trump called for the impeachment of a judge overseeing a case related to deportation flights, labeling him a “radical left lunatic” and a “troublemaker and agitator,” which prompted a rare public reproach from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
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White House Cheers as Major Law Firm Attacked by Trump Capitulates
The Trump administration is currently in a confrontation with Paul, Weiss, one of the largest law firms in the nation. Trump’s advisors have taken pleasure in pressuring the firm after its chair criticized a former partner during efforts to persuade the president to withdraw an executive order that threatened the firm’s operational viability. The firm has also pledged $40 million in legal services over the next four years to support causes championed by Trump, alongside agreeing to an audit of its hiring practices to eliminate diversity and inclusion recruitment initiatives. The administration has warned of potential actions against lawyers and firms pursuing immigration lawsuits or other cases it deems unethical, as it currently faces over 100 lawsuits.
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20% of Americans Support Boycott of Firms Aligning Themselves with Trump’s Agenda
According to a new poll conducted for The Guardian, one in five Americans plans to permanently boycott companies that have adjusted their policies to align with Trump’s agenda. As prominent brands like Amazon, Target, and Tesla navigate economic boycotts, research by the Harris Poll suggests that this backlash might have a lasting effect.
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Trump Revokes Security Clearances for Biden, Harris, and Other Political Enemies
In a presidential memo issued late Friday, Trump moved to rescind security clearances for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and several other prominent Democrats and political opponents. The revocations also apply to former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has prosecuted Trump for fraud, as well as Biden’s entire family. They will no longer have access to classified information—a privilege normally extended to former presidents and certain officials after their time in public service.
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White House Reportedly Halts Funding for Legal Aid for Unaccompanied Migrant Children
Reports indicate that the Trump administration has ceased funding for a legal program providing representation to unaccompanied immigrant children, just one month after instructing immigration enforcement agents to locate minors who have entered the U.S. without guardians. Organizations collectively receiving over $200 million in federal grants were notified that their contract with the Office of Refugee Resettlement has been partially terminated, based on a memo from the Interior Department obtained by ABC News.
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U.S. Team to Meet with Ukrainian and Russian Officials for Talks
Negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials are slated to commence on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. According to a source in Washington familiar with the meeting arrangements, the U.S. delegation will be led by Andrew Peek from the National Security Council and Michael Anton from the State Department, as reported by Reuters. Following these discussions, the U.S. team is scheduled to meet with Russian officials on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier this week that while Ukrainian officials will attend the U.S.-Russia talks, they will not occupy the same room as their Russian counterparts.
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U.S. Urged to ‘Think Bigger’ on Healthcare Amid Trump Onslaught on Sector
A new issue of the academic journal Health Affairs Scholar may introduce a much-needed sense of optimism into U.S. health policy—a rarity amid the mass layoffs, funding cuts, and ideological research reviews of the Trump administration. The journal argues that if academics broaden their perspectives and policymakers invest in their communities, the dialogue surrounding healthcare could undergo a significant change.
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U.S. Tourism Industry Faces Decline as Immigration Agenda Deters Travelers
Tourism experts warn that a series of high-profile arrests and detentions of travelers may lead to a significant decline in tourism to the U.S. Current figures indicate a substantial drop-off, with several Western travelers recently denied entry at the U.S. border on tenuous grounds under Trump’s immigration crackdown. Many faced arrest or detention in poor conditions for extended periods. Germany has revised its travel advice for visiting the U.S., cautioning that violations of entry regulations could not only result in denial of entry but also arrest or detention.
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