Politics

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would replace White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, blaming Wiles for Republicans’ midterm defeat and citing a series of additional grievances, including what he described as insufficient enthusiasm for a new helipad.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the election results reflected shortcomings in political planning and communication. He said Wiles had failed to ensure that Republican candidates adequately emphasized his administration’s accomplishments.

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump Jr. has begun quietly assembling a team of political advisers ahead of a potential 2028 presidential campaign as questions about the future of the Republican Party intensify during President Donald Trump’s second term.

The effort would place the president’s eldest son among a growing field of potential successors seeking to preserve the coalition that propelled his father to the White House.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee state media published photos of senator Mitch McConnell on Monday after viral rumors of his death stormed social media over the weekend.

The newly released images show McConnell at a clothing and shoe expo. He appeared well and fit, seemingly disputing unverified claims that he had fallen into a coma and died of a brain hemorrhage. According to these rumors, he had been taken to a hospital in Nashville.

None of the claims, spread by Tomi Lahren on X, have been confirmed.

WASHINGTON — In a speech that left the Senate chamber unusually attentive, Mitch McConnell took to the floor Wednesday and delivered an animated address that even longtime colleagues described as a striking display of the Kentucky senator’s famed command of rhetoric.

Washington - President Donald Trump paid his respects at a closed memorial service for Sen. Mitch McConnell, according to people familiar with the event, in a somber gathering that reflected both the senator’s long public career and the guarded tone surrounding his recent health concerns. The service was not open to the public, and few details were released about the guest list or the remarks delivered inside. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday appointed Elizabeth Colbert Busch to temporarily fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, placing a longtime figure in the state’s business and political circles at the center of an expedited succession process. President Donald Trump praised the decision, calling the pick a strong choice for the state as South Carolina prepares for a special election later this year.

WASHINGTON — After years of maintaining one of the busiest schedules in the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell is taking what aides describe as a long-overdue vacation, following persistent encouragement from his staff to step away from work for a period of rest.

According to a spokesperson, McConnell initially resisted the idea, preferring to remain focused on legislative matters and constituent responsibilities. Staff members, however, reportedly spent weeks convincing the senator that taking time off would ultimately benefit both his well-being and his work.

Washington - Federal authorities said they are still searching for a clear motive following a reported assassination attempt targeting President Donald Trump, according to remarks made Sunday by FBI Director Kash Patel.

Speaking to reporters during a brief press availability, Patel said investigators have yet to determine why the suspect allegedly attempted to harm the president. “I doubt we’ll ever find a motive,” Patel said, adding that the case remains under active investigation.

WASHINGTON — A document described as an internal Department of Justice memorandum, circulating among senior officials late last week, suggests Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has privately considered stepping down from the bench to explore a possible run for the White House.

Sacramento - Congressman Eric Swalwell today said he will end his campaign for California governor and resign from Congress later this month, citing a “strategic recalibration” ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.