Ahead of November鈥檚 midterm elections, President Donald Trump is making a rare appearance in Nevada on Wednesday to sell voters on his handling of the economy against a backdrop of , and gasoline made more expensive by .
He is seeking to shore up support for Republicans ahead of the November elections, which will determine which party controls Congress.
has , defeating U.S. Rep. in a massive victory for the party鈥檚 progressive wing in a battleground state. The real test will now come in a November matchup against Republican Mike Rogers for the seat, which is pivotal to Democrats鈥� chances of flipping the Senate.
The AP declared El-Sayed the winner after confirming Wednesday morning that there were simply not enough votes left to count that would allow Stevens to catch up. El-Sayed鈥檚 victory was so narrow that his victory wasn鈥檛 assured until almost all statewide ballots were counted. At the time AP declared him the winner, El-Sayed led Stevens by 14,893 votes 鈥� a margin of just under 1 percentage point 鈥� out of more than 1.5 million ballots counted. .
Here is the latest:
Vance says Trump suggested he take parental leave 鈥� for one day
Vice President JD Vance said in an interview that aired Wednesday on Fox News Channel that Trump called him last month the day his newest son was born and suggested he take some time off.
鈥淎nd I said, 鈥榃ell, Mr. President, I鈥檝e got a meeting with you tomorrow.鈥� And he said, 鈥橸eah, take some time off. Like today,鈥� Vance said with a laugh.
Celebrities make appearances at Trump鈥檚 Vegas speech
Retired boxing champ Mike Tyson made an appearance at Trump鈥檚 speech, sitting with Rick Harrison of television show 鈥淧awn Stars鈥� and Gov. Joe Lombardo.
Trump gave a shout out to Tyson from the stage, saying he saw his Broadway show called 鈥淢ike Tyson: Undisputed Truth.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e seen a lot of Broadway shows, and he was fantastic,鈥� Trump said.
Trump revives little-mentioned health care plan
The president toward the end of his remarks in Las Vegas said that with the help of a Republican-controlled Congress, 鈥淲e will pass the Great Healthcare Plan. It鈥檚 called the Great Healthcare Plan.鈥�
Trump announced , but he has spent little time speaking about it since then.
The centerpiece of his proposal is to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts to pay for insurance and health costs.
Trump says 鈥榳e may have to鈥� send oil prices higher
As he often does, the president predicted that oil prices will fall once the war in Iran is over 鈥� something he has been saying for weeks, but which has yet to fully come to fruition.
Trump, however, added a new wrinkle in his Las Vegas speech. He noted that the price of oil has stabilized somewhat recently, 鈥淎nd we may have to send it up again.鈥�
鈥淲e may have to 鈥� you know what happens when we send it up. But we hope we don鈥檛 have to,鈥� the president said.
He didn鈥檛 clarify what he meant by that. But oil prices have typically risen as the war in Iran continues 鈥� despite Trump鈥檚 repeated assurances that the conflict will soon be over.
Trump jogs to stop toddler from running off stage
The president invited up a Las Vegas couple who work as a police officer and casino waitress, along with their two very young children, to talk about the tax breaks on overtime and tips in Trump鈥檚 sweeping legislation signed last year.
As Trump stepped aside to let them speak, their young toddler began quickly wandering off toward the edge of the stage.
Trump quickly moved to intercept the youngster, and then cracked a joke about his predecessor Joe Biden that was not quite audible.
Schumer says he spoke with El-Sayed
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he鈥檚 spoken with Abdul El-Sayed after the Democrat won his party鈥檚 nomination for Senate in Michigan.
El-Sayed defeated Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who Schumer had backed, and ran on an anti-establishment platform.
In an interview after the call, Schumer said that El-Sayed 鈥渋s a very good candidate鈥� and that Michigan is a 鈥渧ery important path鈥� to winning the Senate.
鈥淗e鈥檚 brought in some real strengths鈥� and new voters, Schumer said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work together and our mission is of course to win Michigan and take back the Senate,鈥� Schumer said.
Trump says he鈥檇 鈥榣ike to fire鈥� Supreme Court justices appointed by Democrats
The president complained that the high court鈥檚 鈥淩epublican judges, or justices, don鈥檛 stick together.鈥�
He said that the court鈥檚 three liberal judges 鈥渘ever veer鈥� and that 鈥淚 respect that.鈥�
But Trump added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 too bad they鈥檙e on鈥� the court, and that 鈥渁 couple of them just don鈥檛 belong.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檇 like to fire them,鈥� Trump said, before suggesting that he was simply responding to Democratic calls to add justices to the court as a way of offsetting the three conservative judges Trump himself appointed.
Trump lashes out at Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate nominee
The president called a communist and predicted that the Democrat would lose to Republican nominee Mike Rogers, a former congressman, in November鈥檚 general election.
Trump made particularly charged comments about El-Sayed鈥檚 views on Israel. The Democrat has called for ending U.S. military aid to Israel.
鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 love Jewish people. He hates them,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淗e hates them with a passion that burns in his heart and there鈥檚 not a fricking thing he can do about it.鈥�
El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim senator, has rejected accusations of antisemitism.
鈥淢y commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment to the safety of my own daughters,鈥� he said Wednesday morning.
Trump again insists that his White House ballroom is a 鈥榤ilitary complex鈥�
The president told the Las Vegas crowd, 鈥淚鈥檓 building this big military complex鈥� and that it includes 鈥渁 lot of different things, and some of the things I can鈥檛 even talk about.鈥�
Later, though, he said the project will still be a ballroom.
Trump originally said the ballroom that he demolished the White House鈥檚 East Wing to build would be paid for himself and some friendly donors. But costs have ballooned and Senate Republicans eventually tried to advance $1 billion in funding for White House security and military improvements as part of the new complex.
That proposal has since stalled. But Trump continues to say the ballroom will have strategic value, saying it will include things like drone ports.
After insulting Canadians, Trump promotes a mining project in Nevada by a Canadian firm
Trump in his speech brought up the development of one of the world鈥檚 largest lithium mines in northern America, the Thacker Pass project.
The U.S. government last year announced it was taking a minority stake in Vancouver-based Lithium Americas, which is jointly developing the mine with General Motors. The U.S. also took a 5% stake in the mine itself.
Trump told the crowd in Las Vegas, more than 500 miles away on the other end of the state, that 鈥淢any people in this audience are going to be working there, and you are working there.鈥�
He didn鈥檛 mention that the U.S. government was taking a stake in the project, but shortly after that in his speech, he began warning about the dangers of communism.
Trump says US exports are 鈥榯otally on fire in a positive way鈥�
The president is trying to convince Americans that his policies have led the rest of the world to buy American goods, but his claims lack context.
鈥淛ust yesterday, it was announced that American exports are totally on fire in a positive way,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e skyrocketed exports to the highest level in American history.鈥�
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Tuesday that American exports in June fell 0.9% to $314.7 billion. On a three-month moving average, exports are also down.
However, exports have increased 11.7% so far this year, largely because of increased exports of gold, oil and other energy products. Energy prices have increased this year because of the Iran war.
Trump at start of Nevada address honors fallen Las Vegas police officer
Officer Austin Abdelnabi, 30, a U.S. Marine veteran, was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday while responding to a report of a person with a gun acting erratically and waving a firearm in the air at a business, according to police.
鈥淎ustin died a hero, and he will never be forgotten, never going to be forgotten,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淪o to every law enforcement officer here today, we thank you for your service. And we say, God bless the men and women of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. And frankly, all of law enforcement.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 comments came after a man in the crowd loudly booed Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo when he referenced Abdelnabi before the president took the stage.
鈥淣o. We鈥檙e not booing him. He鈥檚 the officer that passed away here recently,鈥� Lombardo replied.
Trump insults Canadians as he takes the stage in Las Vegas
Trump was expounding on the tariffs he鈥檚 imposed that鈥檚 touched off a contentious trade war with Canada and told the crowd that, 鈥淐anada鈥檚 nasty. They are. They鈥檙e nasty.鈥�
鈥淚 love the people, but they鈥檙e nasty,鈥� Trump added.
Las Vegas鈥� tourism-dependent economy has been hit by a slump in visits from tourists and 鈥� Nevada鈥檚 largest international market 鈥� has dried up in the wake of Trump鈥檚 trade policies and insults to its northern neighbor.
Nevada governor urges Republicans to vote in November鈥檚 election
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in what is considered one of the most competitive governor鈥檚 races in the country.
鈥淵ou have a choice to get up off the couch,鈥� he told a crowd of hundreds waiting to hear Trump speak. 鈥淵ou have a choice to walk to the ballot and cast your vote.鈥�
Nevada residents also have an opportunity to vote for a state ballot initiative on voter ID in November, he said. It passed by a significant margin in 2024 but needs a second vote to take effect.
Lombardo highlighted his partnership with Trump, the first Republican presidential candidate to win the Silver State in 20 years. He said a federal decision had threatened Nevada鈥檚 solar industry, so he spoke to Trump about it and Trump fixed it.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always taken my phone call,鈥� the governor said.
Trump will be talking about the economy at a Las Vegas casino
Hundreds of people waited in a long line wrapped around slot machines at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa to get in to see the president.
Tom Port, a professional driver, said he is saving money with Trump鈥檚 move to cut tax from tips.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 about the best thing he could have possibly done for me, considering a large portion of my income comes directly from tips,鈥� said Port, 36.
Terilyn Taylor, 60, a teacher in Las Vegas, said she likes Trump, but also thinks home prices, interest rates and gas prices are too high.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 all Trump鈥檚 fault,鈥� she said. But she would like to see the Iran war end.
鈥淚 thought the gas prices would be temporary, so I鈥檓 really ready for the Iran thing to be resolved,鈥� she said.
Temporary status officially ends for 350,000 Haitians
U.S. District judge Ana Reyes on Wednesday was forced to lift her stay that had blocked the Trump administration from terminate Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 who had been living and working legally in the United States since 2010.
She issued the order after a Supreme Court ruling on June 25 that sided with the administration鈥檚 decision to end the program.
As part of its crackdown on immigration, the Trump administration terminated TPS for about 1 million people from more than a dozen countries, including Haitians.
鈥淎s a result of today鈥檚 order implementing the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision, Haitian TPS holders 鈥� all of them noncriminals 鈥� can no longer legally work, and many are subject to removal to Haiti,鈥� Geoff Pipoly, the lead counsel for the Haitians, said.
Brazil鈥檚 president calls the Trump administration鈥檚 decision to revoke ambassador鈥檚 visa 鈥榠rresponsible鈥�
The United States鈥� decision followed Brazil鈥檚 denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections as well as what the U.S. said was Brazil鈥檚 stalling on approving Trump鈥檚 nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia.
While Brazil鈥檚 ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti is not being expelled from the United States, if she leaves she would have to reapply for a visa, Brazilian President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva said in an interview Wednesday.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 an irresponsible, ill-considered course of action for a country with 203 years of diplomacy and diplomatic relations,鈥� Lula said.
Plane took off as Trump鈥檚 helicopter approached Reagan airport
The FAA is investigating because it appears to be a violation of safety procedures put in place after last year鈥檚 midair collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
A commercial jet took off Tuesday from the busy Washington, D.C., airport at the same time that Marine One left the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with the president aboard. The jet was climbing above Marine One as the helicopter approached, so the two aircraft were not on a collision course.
After a January 2025 collision that killed 67 people, the FAA decided all takeoffs and landings at Reagan would be halted anytime a helicopter passes by the airport.
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Bernie Sanders praises El-Sayed鈥檚 primary win as historic sign of 鈥榰nstoppable鈥� change for Democrats
鈥淎bdul鈥檚 victory was, in my opinion, the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics,鈥� said Vermont independent Sen. Sanders during a call with reporters.
Sanders also congratulated two progressive candidates who won U.S. House primaries in the state and commended Rep. Haley Stevens for conceding a 鈥渢ough鈥� race.
Sanders said El-Sayed 鈥渢ook on鈥� the Democratic establishment and outside spending from groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He said the result was a sign of further change.
鈥淭he new Democratic Party is going to be broad-based. It鈥檚 going to be open and encouraging the participation of working-class people, of young people, of lower-income people. Democracy is messy, and I鈥檓 not going to sit here and tell you that everything is going to go 100% smoothly and there鈥檚 not going to be differences of opinion. That鈥檚 called democracy. I happen to believe in that. But that is the direction in which we are heading, and I think that is unstoppable.鈥�
Sanders dismisses concerns about El-Sayed鈥檚 electability
Asked about progressive Abdul El-Sayed鈥檚 ability to turn out core Democratic constituencies including Black and Jewish voters, Sanders said that El-Sayed鈥檚 economic message had broad appeal.
鈥淚 think his economic message will resonate across Democratic constituencies, and I think there鈥檒l be working-class Republicans who will support that,鈥� Sanders told reporters.
He argued that El-Sayed 鈥渉as the capability of expanding the voter turnout universe, and much many of those new voters will be voting for him.鈥�
Sanders dismissed concerns that El-Sayed鈥檚 criticism of Israel鈥檚 handling of the war in Gaza will alienate Jewish voters.
鈥淭o be critical of the right-wing extremist government of Netanyahu and his horrific policies in Gaza does not make you antisemitic,鈥� said Sanders, who is Jewish.
Democratic turnout in Michigan primary one of the highest in state history
The Democratic U.S. Senate contest in Michigan has surpassed turnout for previous Senate and gubernatorial primaries and almost every presidential primary going back to at least 1978, according to Michigan Secretary of State records.
As of noon ET Wednesday, a total of 1,528,280 votes had been counted. The total could end up being higher as ballots continue to be processed.
But it already surpasses the roughly 1,181,000 votes counted in the 2020 U.S. Senate Democratic primary, and the approximately 1,131,000 votes counted in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
The 2026 turnout total so far trails the nearly 1,588,000 votes counted in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. About 1,117,000 votes were counted in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards quits reelection bid after committee finds inappropriate conduct
The House Ethics Committee for unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his office. Edwards denied intending any of to be a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would 鈥渓ead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.鈥�
State law requires Edwards to submit his Wednesday withdrawal in writing to the state Board of Elections before ballots are mailed to overseas voters and the military. Since the primaries were months ago, the Republican executive committee in his district will name a replacement.
is already juggling other disruptions as he tries to retain the GOP House majority, including in Ohio where Rep. Max Miller is under pressure to resign over .
The includes progressive Asheville, and farmer Jamie Ager, the Democratic nominee, is hoping to flip it.
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US removes Fly Baghdad from sanctions list
The U.S. removed sanctions on three Iran-linked companies, including Fly Baghdad Airlines, which was sanctioned in January 2024 for allegedly providing assistance to Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Also removed from the sanctions is Fly Baghdad鈥檚 CEO and two aircraft.
In addition to lifting sanctions on Fly Baghdad, the U.S. on Wednesday lifted sanctions on Iraq Express and another Fly Baghdad-linked company. A Treasury official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the sanctions said the decision to remove Fly Baghdad from the designations list was not indicative of any shift in U.S. policy toward Iran鈥檚 government.
鈥� By Fatima Hussein
El-Sayed said he condemns antisemitism, wants to address 鈥榚verybody鈥檚 pain鈥�
El-Sayed said he wants to unify people rather than divide them, and that people should focus on ending wars and corporate influence in politics. He has previously faced criticism for calling Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza a 鈥済enocide.鈥�
El-Sayed said 鈥渨e can be talking about everybody鈥檚 pain.鈥�
鈥淢y commitment to Jewish safety is the same as I鈥檝e got a commitment to my own kids,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the highest commitment I can offer.鈥�
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