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National

U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted an aircraft that flew over President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in violation of a temporary flight restriction on Sunday, NORAD said.

The big picture: It was the second time in 48 hours F-16s from the Continental U.S. NORAD region had responded to such aircraft violations over Palm Beach, Fla., per a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"NORAD has responded to over 20 tracks of interest entering the Palm Beach, Florida TFR area" since Trump's presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, according to the statement.

Zoom in: The jets fired flares that may have been visible to members of the public during the intercept "to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot" of the civilian aircraft, NORAD said.

Flares "burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground," the statement added.

Sunday's incident occurred while Trump was at his West Palm Beach golf course, according to a White House pool report.

What they're saying: "Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President," said Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command. 

"The procedures are not optional, and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates many civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA, and has resulted in multiple responses by NORAD fighter aircraft to guide offending aircraft out of the TFR."

Representative for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Air Force intercepts 2 aircraft in restricted airspace near Mar-A-Lago

NORAD said F-16s twice in the past 48 hours scrambled to respond to the aircraft, which were in violation of a temporary flight restriction.

President Donald Trump gestures as he departs Air Force One at Miami International Airport on February 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida. 

President Trump about to depart on Air Force One in Miami, Florida, last month. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Donald Trump

Transportation

Breaking climate science and policy coverage as extreme weather events reshape communities. Keep tabs on the race to a low carbon economy, which may be bumpy as governments, climate tech startups and major oil and gas companies race to find their niche amid the changing energy landscape.

Energy & Climate

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

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Several Democrats echoed a leave-it-to-localities stance Sunday when asked their take on transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.

The big picture: Sports participation has become a major flashpoint in the Trump administration's restrictions on the transgender community — one on which some Democrats, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), appear to be tilting right. 

In a conversation with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on Newsom's podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," the California governor contended that trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports was "deeply unfair."

But Senate Democrats voted unanimously Monday to block a GOP bill that would have banned trans athletes from women's sports in schools.

Arguing that trans sports participation should be a state- or local-level decision is an emerging Democratic strategy to counter Republican attacks on their support for trans rights, Axios' Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols report.

Driving the news: Several Democrats, presented with Newsom's comments, said Sunday that rules of sports participation should be determined by local communities and leagues rather than by the federal government. 

"We want to make sure that these decisions are made by the communities ... by the schools and others that are the ones closest," Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said on CNN's "State of the Union," adding, "We're talking about a handful ... of athletes around the country." 

Kim disputed the GOP's attempts to characterize transgender athletes participating in women's and girls' sports as an issue of safety, saying, "It's not about safety and security; it's about politics."

Zoom out: Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said that her state has a process by which transgender girls can obtain waivers to participate on girls' sports teams.

"So let the local communities, just like everything with school, handle that issue," she said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." She added that "this issue is being sort of brought up in order to make sparks and see sparks fly."

"I want all young people to have the experience of playing in sports," Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on ABC's "This Week." "And I want those sports to be fair."

He said he's confident that local schools and communities "can make those decisions without the federal government making them for them."

Yes, but: Most Democrats stopped short of directly criticizing Newsom or raising an issue with his argument. 

However, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said he was "perplexed" by Newsom's stance, noting a decade-old California law that allows trans kids to participate in sex-segregated school activities, like sports, based on their gender identity.

"I believe that that law has worked in California, and I don't think there should be a federal ban, and we should have the state athletic associations ... set the standard so that you balance inclusion with fairness and safety," Khanna said.

LGBTQ+ rights and other advocacy groups were quick to strike back against Newsom's comments, with Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson writing in a statement, "When LGBTQ+ lives are under attack, real leaders don't hedge — they fight."

Newsom is not the first Democrat to spark concerns from the LGBTQ+ community over his stance on trans athletes' sports participation — during the 2024 campaign cycle, some Dems earned rebuke from advocates over their weak defense of the community on the topic.

Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order last month denying federal funds for schools that allow trans women or girls to compete in athletics based on their gender identity.

The NCAA revised its participation policy shortly after to limit competition in women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth only.

Trump's order on trans athletes was just one of several sweeping anti-trans actions the administration has taken since Jan. 20 — many of which were promises central to Trump's 2024 campaign. 

Those actions — such as orders defining "two sexes," threatening funding for youth gender-affirming care and moving to remove trans service members from the military — have sent shockwaves through an already vulnerable community.

Go deeper: "See you in court," Maine governor tells Trump after transgender athlete threats

restrictions on the transgender community

"See you in court," Maine governor tells Trump after transgender athlete threats

Newsom's comments on trans athletes gets muted rebuke from Democrats

Several Democrats said sports participation should be up to local authorities to regulate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks against a dark backdrop.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on Feb. 26 in Monterey Park, California. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The U.S. economy will experience a "period of transition" as new trade and other policies take effect, President Trump said Sunday, though he hesitated to predict a full-blown recession. 

Why it matters: While the president may not be forecasting it, markets suggest a recession is at least more possible now than it was even a few weeks ago.

What they're saying: Trump was asked about recession risks in an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."

"I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we're doing is very big, we're bringing wealth back to America, that's a big thing," Trump said.

"There are always periods of ... it takes a little time, it takes a little time, but I think it should be great for us, I mean I think it should be great."

Between the lines: As Axios' Neil Irwin writes, the administration appears to be shrugging off the specter of inflation or recession in pursuit of its long-term goals.

That has, itself, emerged as the economy's biggest near-term risk.

The intrigue: The administration has delivered mixed messaging on whether there's been a recession, or if one is coming.

In late February, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the private sector has already been in a recession, with government spending keeping the economy as a whole from tipping over.

But on "Meet the Press" Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick argued against a pullback.

"There's going to be no recession in America," Lutnick said, later adding "I would never bet on recession. No chance."

Trump sees "period of transition" as recession fears rise

Despite the government's confidence, market fears of a downturn have been rising.

President Trump takes a question at the White House, with Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick standing at his side.

President Trump and Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Corporate CEOs have "plenty of clarity" on U.S. tariff policy, despite all the on-off-on changes of recent weeks, President Trump said Sunday.

Why it matters: Markets are falling, consumer confidence is declining, and executives say the uncertainty about tariffs is freezing up their businesses.

What they're saying: Trump, in an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," was asked if CEOs will get clarity on tariffs in coming weeks, especially with an April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline looming. 

"You'll have a lot, but we may go up with some tariffs, it depends, we may go up — I don't think we'll go down, but we may go up," he said. 

"They have plenty of clarity, they just use that, that's like almost a soundbite, they always say that, 'we want clarity.'"

Catch up quick: Over the last five weeks Trump said he'd impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, then paused them for a month, then put them into effect, then exempted cars, then exempted almost all other imports (but only until early April), then threatened new tariffs against Canada on dairy and lumber.

He's also imposed new tariffs on China, launched tariff investigations into copper and lumber, and promised to go ahead this week with fresh levies on steel and aluminum.

U.S. stocks have underperformed almost all the other large global markets during that time. (The administration has made clear, however, that stock market performance is not its primary focus.)

What to watch: What actually gets imposed, or not, in the coming weeks, and for how long. 

Trump, Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and others have all insisted the April 2 reciprocal tariffs will be the most important — and lasting— ones yet. 

Go deeper: How American CEOs are reacting to Trump tariffs

How American CEOs are reacting to Trump tariffs

Trump brushes off CEOs' calls for clarity on tariffs

Tariffs on top trading partners were on again, then off again, then on again, just in the last week.

President Trump takes a question at the White House from a reporter.

President Trump takes a question at the White House in March 2025. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Tariffs

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler said Sunday that while he understands Israel's concerns over direct talks with Hamas, the U.S. is "not an agent of Israel."

The big picture: Hours after Boehler met with a senior Hamas political official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-hand man Ron Dermer condemned the U.S. making proposals without Israel's consent in an intense call last week, Axios' Barak Ravid scooped.

Boehler assured that he was not close to a deal with Hamas after the meetings in Doha, which were largely centered around securing the release of American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four deceased American hostages, sources told Axios.

Driving the news: But on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Boehler described the conversations with Hamas as "very helpful," later saying he thinks "something could come together within weeks."

He added, "I think there is a deal where they can get all of the prisoners out, not just the Americans."

Friction point: Boehler said he's "sympathetic" to top Israeli leaders' disapproval of his meetings, but he emphasized the U.S. is "not an agent of Israel" with "specific interests at play."

Boehler said he wanted to ascertain the vision of a "realistic" end-game for Hamas during the talks.

"The reality is what I wanted to do is jump start some negotiations that were in a very fragile place," he said.

On "Fox News Sunday," Boehler emphasized that dialogue "does not mean giving things." He continued, "Dialogue ... means sitting -- hearing what someone wants and then identifying, does it fit with what we want or not and then how can you get somewhere in the middle and not have a war?"

Zoom out: The 42-day ceasefire that was part of the first phase of the Gaza deal expired just over a week ago after the parties could not agree on an extension.

A day after the agreement ended, Israel announced it would halt all humanitarian aid and fuel deliveries into Gaza, where some 90% of the population has been displaced amid war. 

U.S. "not an agent of Israel," envoy says amid objections to Hamas talks

It comes after top Israeli officials objected to the talks in a tense call.

Axios

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Air Force intercepts 2 aircraft in restricted airspace near Mar-A-Lago

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Trump sees "period of transition" as recession fears rise

Trump brushes off CEOs' calls for clarity on tariffs

U.S. "not an agent of Israel," envoy says amid objections to Hamas talks

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