Trump administration live updates: Musk slams Pentagon critic who mocked his ultimatum to federal workers
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Elon Musk has lashed out after a Pentagon official called the ultimatum email he sent out to federal workers over the weekend, asking them to justify their roles or risk losing them, the “silliest thing in 40 years.”
“Anyone with the attitude of that Pentagon official needs to look for a new job,” the billionaire snapped on X after the email prompted a confused reaction from department heads.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Donald Trump at the White House, with Ukraine likely to be high on the agenda.
Trump has meanwhile announced that former Secret Service agent turned far-right podcaster Dan Bongino will serve as deputy director of the FBI under the bureau’s new director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, an ex-New York City police officer, has been a familiar presence in right-wing media in recent years, hosting his own Fox News show between 2021 and 2023.
His administration also plans to fire 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and place all but a select few on administrative leave as of midnight on Monday, after a judge cleared the way for Trump and Musk to go ahead.
In pictures: Emmanuel Macron arrives at White House
The French president has arrived to participate in a G7 Leadership Summit call with Trump.
They’ll be speaking together later.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:35
Trump takeover sees Kennedy Center ticket sales collapse
The president’s move to take control of Washington’s John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has reportedly led to a staggering 50 percent drop in ticket sales.
I don’t know what else he thought was going to happen.
Here’s more from Graeme Massie.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:15
Who is Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, Trump’s nominee for top military adviser?
The president has nominated Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after firing General Charles Q Brown Jr on Friday.
“Today, I am honored to announce that I am nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.”
Here’s Katie Hawkinson with everything we know about Caine – and his relationship with Trump.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 13:55
Musk threatens federal staff who refuse to return to the office
Here’s Elon’s latest DOGE pronouncement, resuming his attack on employees who work from home:
While we’re back on Musk, here’s James Liddell with more on his subsequent moves to downplay his weekend email.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 13:15
Trump claims Apple’s $500bn investment represents ‘faith in what we are doing’
He’s not sounding any less mad writing in all caps like this – and “without witch”?
Update: He’s since deleted and reposted the above with that typo corrected.
Shouldn’t he be prepping for Macron?
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:30
Thousands of migrants return home after Trump’s crackdown on asylum
Migrants who once risked their lives traversing the jungles of the Darien Gap in search of asylum in the U.S. are now returning to their home countries.
After Trump’s crackdown on asylum policies, many migrants, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, have abandoned their attempts to reach North America.
According to authorities, this has resulted in a “reverse flow” of migrants.
Speedboats are now transporting them from Panama back to Colombia, navigating the dense jungle rivers near the border.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 12:15
