July 2, 2025
By The Associated Press
Republican leaders in the House are sprinting toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package, determined to seize momentum from a hard-fought vote in the Senate while essentially daring members to defy their party’s leader and vote against it. It’s a risky gambit designed to meet Trump’s demand for a July 4 finish.
Here’s the latest:Trump announces US trade deal with Vietnam
He made the announcement on his Truth Social media platform.
“I just made a Trade Deal with Vietnam. Details to follow!” the president said.
It comes just before a July 9 deadline by Trump to formally set the tariff rates on goods from dozens of countries.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows ‘there will be no Hamas’ in postwar Gaza
President Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war.
Hamas said in a brief statement Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to “bridge gaps” to return to the negotiating table to try to reach a ceasefire agreement.
▶ Read more about the war in Gaza
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries naming names
House Democrats are calling out Republicans from competitive districts as they try to drum up opposition to Trump’s big bill.
“All we need are four,” Jeffries said, referring to the number of GOP defections that would likely defeat the bill.
Jeffries mentioned several Republicans from closely divided districts, including two from Pennsylvania.
“Why would Rob Bresnahan vote for this bill? Why would Scott Perry vote for this bill?” he said.House Democrats are gathering on the steps of the Capitol to denounce the Republican bill
“Shame on Republicans for even bringing this bill to the House floor,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to stop it.”Trump’s supposedly empty schedule
The president’s public schedule is blank today, but it’s unlikely he’s doing nothing. With his big tax cut and spending bill back at the House, Trump is likely working to bring Republicans on board with advancing the legislation.Some House members roadtrip it to DC for tax cuts vote
With treacherous weather hampering flights into Washington, a handful of House members hit the road overnight to make it in time for Wednesday’s votes.
Two GOP members from South Carolina, Reps. Russell Fry and Nancy Mace, chronicled their journey on social media.
Democrats also racked up the miles. Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi drove, hosting a Zoom townhall during his 14-hour drive. Reps. Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania and Derek Tran of California drove together after being stranded in Pittsburgh.Tesla sales fell 13% in the last three months as anti-Musk sentiment still has an effect
Sales of Tesla electric cars fell as boycotts over Elon Musk’s political views continue to keep buyers away, a significant development given expectations that anger with the company’s billionaire CEO would have faded by now.
The plunging sales add to growing signs that Musk’s embrace of Trump and far-right politicians in Europe has had a deep and enduring hit to the Tesla’s brand appeal. The new figures also are a possible sign that Tesla could disappoint when it announces second quarter earnings later this month. In the first three months this year, net income fell 71%.
Sales fell to 384,122 in April through June, down from 443,956 in the same period last year. During this period, Musk formally left the Trump administration as a cost-cutting czar and hopes rose that sales would recover.
▶ Read more about Tesla’s falling sales
Pilots who bombed Iran’s nuclear sites will be Trump’s guests for the Fourth of July
Trump is hosting a Fourth of July celebration at the White House on Friday and the pilots have been invited.
The Air Force will conduct a flyover of F-22s, B-2s and F-35s, the same aircraft that were used in the strikes in Iran.
Trump has said the pilots are “incredible.”Analysis shows Trump’s tariffs would cost a critical group of US employers $82.3 billion
That sum could be potentially managed through price hikes, layoffs, hiring freezes or lower profit margins.
The analysis by the JPMorganChase Institute is among the first to measure the direct costs created by the import taxes on businesses with $10 million to $1 billion in annual revenue, a category that includes roughly a third of private-sector U.S. workers.
These companies are more dependent than other businesses on imports from China, India and Thailand — and the retail and wholesale sectors would be especially vulnerable to the import taxes being levied by the Republican president.
The findings show clear trade-offs from Trump’s import taxes, contradicting his claims that foreign manufacturers would absorb the costs of the tariffs instead of U.S. companies that rely on imports.
▶ Read more about the analysis on Trump’s tariffs
Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over ’60 Minutes’ interview
In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump over the editing of CBS’ “ 60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Paramount told media outlets the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology.
Trump’s lawyer said the president had suffered “mental anguish” over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris sounded. They had sought to get Trump’s lawsuit dismissed.
There was no immediate word from the White House about the settlement of the case, which Trump filed in Amarillo, Texas.
▶ Read more about Trump’s lawsuit over the “60 Minutes” interview
Trump urges House Republicans to vote for his tax and spending cuts package
The encouragement comes as the Republican-controlled House sprints toward a vote Wednesday on the bill after it cleared the Senate by the narrowest of margins a day earlier.
Vice President JD Vance, in his role as Senate president, cast the tie-breaking vote on the measure.
Some House GOP members have voiced reservations about the bill. House Democrats are united in their opposition to the legislation.
“Republicans, don’t let the Radical Left Democrats push you around. We’ve got all the cards, and we are going to use them,” Trump said in a post on his social media site.
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