President Trump is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May on his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, two U.S. officials and a source with knowledge of the president's travelsaid.
Why it matters: Trump's decision to go to Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip signals how close the relationship between the Trump administration and Gulf countries has become, especially when it comes to economic cooperation and investment.
Langdell Hall Library on the campus of Harvard Law School; Photo: Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images
At least 94 professors at Harvard Law School signed a letter to students condemning the Trump administration's "severe" challenge to the rule of law and legal profession.
Why it matters: That's more than three-quarters of the elite school's active faculty, and the latest sign that some lawyers are pushing back on what are widely viewed as unprecedented attacks on the profession.
There is at least some cross-aisle consensus on the Trump administration's Signal leak that dominated headlines last week: Democrats and at least a couple Republicans agree it warrants further investigation, but they break on what the consequences should be.
The big picture: The fiasco in which national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently included a reporter in a chat discussing details of a strike on Houthi rebels sparked concerns over the way the administration shared details of a sensitive military operation, even from party allies on the Hill.
President Trump said in an interview with NBC News nothing is off the table in his desire to acquire Greenland — including "military force."
Why it matters: Trump's comments undercut Vice President Vance's pitch last week during a brief visit to the island, in which he said the U.S. would not use military force to seize Greenland and would respect the Arctic island's sovereignty.
Trump administration economic officials had mixed message for consumers Sunday: Tariffs won't raise prices, but even if they do you'll be fine when we cut taxes.
Why it matters: The administration is gambling an increasingly unhappy consumer will eat a few months of worsening conditions for the promise of something better down the road.
President Trump threatened to bomb Iran if the Islamic Republic doesn't reach a new deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program.
Why it matters: Trump, who wants to engage in diplomatic talks with Iran, has leveled threats against it before — but this one is the strongest and most serious so far.
The White House plans to impose its own seating chart for reporters in the briefing room in coming weeks, taking over a function long managed by the reporters themselves through the White House Correspondents' Association.
Why it matters: It's the latest — but likely not the last — effort by the White House to take a heavier hand in shaping who covers President Trump. In public and private, White House officials make it clear they are determined to upend decades-old press corps traditions.
President Trump has ordered a federal review of monuments toppled in the wake of George Floyd's murder, targeting what he calls a "concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation's history."
Why it matters: The Trump administration is leaving no stone unturned in its push to erase the legacy of 2020's racial reckoning, including by restoring monuments to Confederate leaders who fought to preserve slavery.
President Trump seriously considered firing national security adviser Mike Waltz over this week's humiliating Signal chat leak, but cooled down and talked himself out of it — partly to deny his critics the satisfaction, Trump insiders tell Axios.
Why it matters: We're told Waltz's job is safe for now. But he has gotten crosswise with several other top officials. "Mike is gonna make it," a top West Wing insider said. "Now it's up to Mike to make things better."
The Trump administration cited electronic data, found while examining cellphones, as reason to detain and deport U.S. residents or tourists under its escalating anti-immigration policies.
Why it matters: While electronic checks make up a small percentage of border interactions, people can take measures to generally safeguard their phones and personal information while traveling.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to put the governor of West Virginia on a diet.
Why it matters: While promoting his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, Health and Human Services Sec. Kennedy suggested that Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) should have public weigh-ins with a celebration when he loses 30 pounds.
What did you do this week? Did you restructure an entire country, sit for a national TV interview and casually reorganize about $80 billion of your own assets on the side?
If you did, you're Elon Musk. Otherwise, you're a regular human being.
The big picture: Musk is operating on a scale with little precedent in human history, and it's not entirely clear how.
Columbia University has appointed Claire Shipman, a co-chair of its board of trustees, as acting president of the institution targeted by the Trump administration with major federal funding cuts.
Why it matters: President Trump's administration pulled some $400 million in federal grants and contracts from the school over allegations of antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests on the campus.
As President Trump pursues his hardline immigration policies, the White House has sought to punctuate public messaging for the crackdown through memes and designed-to-go-viral content.
Why it matters: The memes mirror President Trump's combative posture, adopting the boundary pushing, extremely online humor of the MAGA base while reveling in the outrage they generate from opponents.
The Trump administration remained publicly defiant this week as its immigration crackdown exploded into a global spectacle, ignited by two legally fraught deportation drives.
The transfer of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador using an 18th-century wartime law, which could soon be taken up by the Supreme Court.
Why it matters: In both cases, President Trump and his team are charging ahead with unapologetic force — even as the courts, immigration activists and civil libertarians accuse them of steamrolling due process.
President Trump is under fire for his response to a Signal group chat that inadvertently looped in a journalist while revealing sensitive military details. In the same week, he launched plans for auto tariffs and voting restrictions.
