Trump-Musk feud live updates: President threatens Tesla boss with ‘serious consequences’ if he funds Democrats – UK Times

The leader of al-Qaida’s Yemen branch has threatened both U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip in his first video message since taking over the group last year.

The half-hour video message by Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, which spread online early Saturday via supporters of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, also included calls for lone-wolf militants to assassinate leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf Arab states over the war, which has decimated Gaza.

James Liddell and Alicja Hagopian write:

Musk harnessed his social media platform to propel Donald Trump to the White House, feeding anti-Democrat content and election conspiracy theories to his followers. Now Musk is turning that same platform – home to nearly 600 million monthly users – against him.

Whatever accusations that detractors could level at Sir Keir Starmer, the words show pony, flashy or flamboyant wouldn’t be among them. He hates the performative in politics and isn’t much interested in the flummery that goes with high office.

However, there has been one notable occasion when he did go in for some carefully rehearsed and orchestrated theatricality. It was when he sat down with Donald Trump in the Oval Office; the world’s press was there to record the occasion. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and produced a letter with the red royal seal on the envelope – and handed it to a beaming Donald Trump.

This week, the two former allies bitterly fell out with each sharing strong accusations against the other on social media.

Musk, who infamously invested millions into Trump’s campaign and quickly dubbed himself “first buddy,” became the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The department was tasked with slashing the federal budget. However, Musk soon found himself ousted from the president’s inner circle after clashing with Trump over his proposed spending bill.

Shortly after the White House issued a statement confirming that it was deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to break up the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump made an appearance at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey.

Seung Min Kim and Chris Megerian write:

As the Republican Party anticipates potential fallout from Donald Trump’s public dispute with Elon Musk, prominent lawmakers and conservative voices are calling for reconciliation, wary of the repercussions of a sustained conflict.

The animosity between the two figures could pose challenges for the Republican agenda, particularly concerning tax and border spending legislation championed by Trump but criticised by Musk.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles to arrest anti-ICE demonstrators.

Her full statement appears below:

“In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. The Trump Administration has a zero tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs. These criminals will be arrested and swiftly brought to justice. The Commander-in-Chief will ensure the laws of the United States are executed fully and completely.”

Donald Trump broke his silence on the ongoing protests in Los Angeles against ICE agents who carried out a massive raid in the city this weekend.

The president threatened to use the power of the federal government to “solve the problem” in the city if Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass “can’t do their jobs.”