Trump berates journalist asking about reported shouting match between Musk and Rubio: 'You're just a troublemaker'



President Donald Trump appeared to shoot down a report that Secretary of State Marco Rubio got into a yelling match with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

The report from the New York Times claimed that tensions between the two erupted into a shouting match in the Cabinet Room of the White House after Musk accused Rubio of failing to cut employees from the State Department. Trump was making an announcement with FIFA President Gianni Infantino when he was asked about the report.

'Elon gets along great with Marco, and they're both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash.'

Trump denied the report and insulted the reporter, who apparently was not supposed to ask about anything unrelated to soccer.

"No clash. I was there. You're just a troublemaker," Trump responded.

"And you're not supposed to be asking that question because we're talking about the World Cup. Elon gets along great with Marco, and they're both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash," he added.

"Who are you with? Who are you with?" Trump asked.

"NBC," the reporter responded.

"Oh, no wonder," he joked. "NBC."

The White House reiterated the denial by posting video of the interaction on its official social media account.

The Times report claimed that Musk mocked Rubio by telling him he was good on television and implying that he wasn't good at doing his job.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the New York Times report with a statement.

“As President Trump said, this was a great and productive meeting amongst members of his team to discuss cost-cutting measures and staffing across the federal government," she said. "Everyone is working as one team to help President Trump deliver on his promise to make our government more efficient.”

A spokesperson for the State Department had a similar statement.

“Secretary Rubio considered the meeting an open and productive discussion with a dynamic team that is united in achieving the same goal: making America great again," said Tammy Bruce.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Outrage erupts after San Francisco spa excludes trans people from ladies-only night to preserve 'phallic-free' space



A Russian spa in San Francisco named Archimedes Banya stirred up controversy after it excluded transgender people from its "ladies only" night in order to preserve the "phallic-free" space.

The night at the full nude spa is only scheduled once a month, but transgender people and their allies expressed outrage that the spa was trying to exclude biological males from the ladies' night.

'Will a phallus-free trans man showing up to their ladies-only night be accepted or rejected? It’s totally unclear.'

“It’s NOT about one night! It’s a symptom of a deeper problem and it’s gonna become worse if we don’t speak up against it now,” said one account on Reddit whose name referred to Satanic themes, according to the San Francisco Standard.

Razelle Swimmer, a transgender person from Oakland who had bottom surgery, canceled a plan to go to the spa as a birthday treat, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Swimmer was infuriated and devastated over the new policy.

"I don't have a phallus," Swimmer said. “I have been erased in that statement, and it has almost certainly erased trans men from this. Will a phallus-free trans man showing up to their ladies-only night be accepted or rejected? It’s totally unclear.”

Abhishek Vaidya, the general manager of the spa, said in an email to the Standard that the spa was trying to respect women with cultural and religious beliefs related to being in the presence of nude people who were born biological males.

“We need to help religious women and tried to navigate an important conversation about inclusivity, safety, and respect,” he wrote. “We recognize that our words did not fully reflect our values, and for that, we are truly sorry.”

The Standard noted that other spas in San Francisco had no restrictions on transgender people, including a Japanese spa and a Korean one as well.

In response to complaints, San Francisco Human Rights Commission officials told the Chronicle that they were “analyzing the business's policy and all inquiries to determine next steps.”

Rafael Mandelman, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said that people might be sensitive because of actions taken by President Donald Trump to restrict the transgender agenda in the U.S.

“In this hyper-fraught moment, where everything is political and trans and nonbinary folks are under assault, I think there’s a real desire at least in our little blue island to be protecting that population,” he said.

Not all transgender people were outraged, and some even said they were supportive of the monthly exclusion.

“I think that cis women having their own day isn’t that bad,” said a 25-year-old transgender person to the Standard. “No sane person goes to the banya every day of the month.”

Trangender protesters are picketing outside the business.

The protests can be seen on the news video from KPIX-TV on YouTube.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fed vice chair exits role as DOGE gears up for audit



Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr resigned from his position last week after he previously claimed that he wanted to avoid a potential "dispute over the position" with the Trump administration.

Barr's resignation follows reports that the Department of Government Efficiency is preparing to audit the Federal Reserve.

'Asking a Magic 8-Ball whether we should change rates is ACTUALLY better than the Fed!'

In January, Barr sent a letter to then-President Joe Biden, stating that he planned to exit as vice chair on February 28 or earlier if a successor was confirmed. He noted that he would "continue to serve as a member of the Federal Reserve Board" after stepping down.

In a press release announcing his decision, Barr called it "an honor and a privilege to serve as" vice chair, which he noted was a position "created after the Global Financial Crisis to create greater responsibility, transparency, and accountability for the Federal Reserve's supervision and regulation of the financial system."

"The risk of a dispute over the position could be a distraction from our mission. In the current environment, I've determined that I would be more effective in serving the American people from my role as governor," Barr declared.

Bloomberg reported that Vice Chair Philip Jefferson and Governor Michelle Bowman remain on the committee. The media outlet noted that President Donald Trump will likely have to appoint an existing board member as the next vice chair for supervision since a new vacancy is not expected until next year.

Elon Musk, a critic of the Federal Reserve, indicated last month that the DOGE is preparing to conduct a review of the central bank.

"All aspects of the government must be fully transparent and accountable to the people. No exceptions, including, if not especially, the Federal Reserve," Musk wrote in a post on X.

He has repeatedly called the Federal Reserve "absurdly overstaffed."

According to a September 2023 report from Reuters, the central banking system employs roughly 24,000 people.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has pushed back on Musk's overstaffing claims.

"We run a very careful budget process where we're fully aware. We owe that to the public, and we believe we do that," Powell told Fox Business in January.

Musk has also scrutinized the Fed's system for determining rate changes.

"Asking a Magic 8-Ball whether we should change rates is ACTUALLY better than the Fed!" he stated.

Musk has argued that lowering rates would "materially benefit lower income earners."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump says Russia easier to deal with on peace deal because Ukraine doesn't 'have the cards'



President Donald Trump said that he's finding it difficult to deal with Ukraine and may appeal to Russia instead to end the war because Ukraine doesn't "have the cards."

Trump made the comments in an address from the Oval Office in which he touted the newest jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor statistics. He went on to address several topics, including his negotiations to end Russia's war on Ukraine.

'In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising.'

The president was responding to a question from a reporter asking if Trump believes Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin when he says he wants peace despite increasing the bombing in Ukraine.

"I believe him; I believe him," Trump replied.

"I think we're doing very well with Russia. But right now they're bombing the hell out of Ukraine. I'm finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don't have the cards. They don't have the cards. As you know, we're meeting in Saudi Arabia sometime next week early," he added.

"I find that in terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising, because they have all the cards and they're bombing the hell out of them right now," Trump said. "You can't do that. You can't do that. We're trying to help them.

The White House emphasized Trump's response by posting video of his statement on its official social media account.

Trump used the same phrase about cards during an explosive confrontation with Zelenskyy at the White House that imploded a mineral rights agreement he was about to sign with Ukraine.

"You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards," said the president.

"I'm not playing cards," Zelenskyy responded.

"Yeah, you're playing cards," Trump replied. "You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country."

Zelenskyy has since apologized and thanked the U.S. for the military aid that has been contributed to Ukraine.

"None of us wants an endless war," he said in a statement Tuesday. "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump admin slashes $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University over attacks from anti-Israel protesters



The Trump administration announced the end of $400 million worth of grants and contracts to Columbia University after the institution failed to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic attacks.

The cuts were made by the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration, according to a statement from the Education Dept. on Friday.

'Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus.'

Anti-Israel protesters have organized destructive demonstrations in an attempt to force the university to divest from companies that are owned by Israelis or financially benefit Israel. The Trump administration alleges that the university has not done enough to tamp down the protests and protect its Jewish students from "harassment."

The statement said this was just the first round of repercussions and that other actions would follow.

The action was attributed to the Joint Task Force to fight Anti-Semitism.

"The Task Force is continuing to review and coordinate across federal agencies to identify additional cancellations that could be made swiftly. DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA are taking this action as members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. Columbia University currently holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments," the statement continued.

The group said it contacted Columbia University on Tuesday about the anti-Semitic harassment but received no response from university officials.

“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding," read a statement from Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

"For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus," she added. "Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump admin cuts TSA union deal to remove 'bureaucratic hurdles'



President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it has terminated its collective bargaining agreement with the Transportation Security Administration's more than 50,000 security officers.

According to a DHS press release, the administration hopes the move will remove "bureaucratic hurdles that will strengthen workforce agility [and] enhance productivity and resiliency, while also jumpstarting innovation."

'Removing the constraints of collective bargaining.'

The department argued that "gaps in benefit programs" had been exploited by some, including one instance where a transportation security officer requested sick leave more than half a year in advance.

"TSA has more people doing full-time union work than we have performing screening functions at 86% of our airports. Of the 432 federalized airports, 374 airports have fewer than 200 TSA Officers to [perform] screening functions," the DHS contended.

It noted that nearly 200 employees receiving government pay work "full-time on union matters."

The Trump administration's DHS slammed the TSA's unionization for allowing "poor performers" to remain on the job and forcing "merit-based performance" to take a back seat.

"By eliminating the collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Officers will now have opportunities based on their performance, not longevity or union membership," the DHS declared.

A department spokesperson stated that the union has failed to represent its workers or their interests.

"The Trump Administration is committed [to] returning to merit-based hiring and firing policies," the spokesperson said. "This action will ensure Americans will have a more effective and modernized workforce[] across the nation's transportation networks. TSA is renewing its commitment to providing a quick and secure travel process for Americans."

TSA Administrator Adam Stahl applauded DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for "removing the constraints of collective bargaining."

The American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing more than 80,000 federal government workers, called the DHS' decision an "unprovoked attack" and a "clear retaliation."

AFGE National President Everett Kelley stated, "47,000 Transportation Security Officers show up at over 400 airports across the country every single day to make sure our skies are safe for air travel. Many of them are veterans who went from serving their country in the armed forces to wearing a second uniform protecting the homeland and ensuring another terrorist attack like Sept. 11 never happens again."

Kelley accused Trump's administration and Noem of violating the workers' "right to join a union."

"They gave as a justification a completely fabricated claim about union officials — making clear this action has nothing to do with efficiency, safety, or homeland security. This is merely a pretext for attacking the rights of regular working Americans across the country because they happen to belong to a union," Kelley continued. "Our union has been out in front challenging this administration's unlawful actions targeting federal workers, both in the legal courts and in the court of public opinion. Now our TSA officers are paying the price with this clearly retaliatory action."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Eric Trump announces lawsuit against Capital One over alleged de-banking of Trump Organization accounts



The Trump Organization is suing Capital One for de-banking its accounts in 2021, according to Eric Trump.

The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court and claimed that the Trump Organization lost millions of dollars due to the shutdown of hundreds of its bank accounts at Capital One without cause.

'The actions taken by Capital One and other major financial institutions represents a dangerous precedent that could threaten the operations of countless businesses.'

The practice of de-banking has been a contentious issue after numerous conservative organizations and individuals said that their accounts were shut down without cause, including first lady Melania Trump, who talked in October about losing accounts.

"The decision by Capital One to 'debank' our company, after well over a decade, was a clear attack on free speech and free enterprise that flies in the face of the bedrock principles and freedoms that define our country," Eric Trump wrote. "Moreover, the arbitrary closure of these accounts, without justifiable cause, reflects a broader effort to silence and undermine the success of the Trump Organization and those who dare to express their political views."

He went on to say that the lawsuit was intended to prevent banks from trying to shut down accounts from others over their political views.

"Businesses should not be targeted or punished for their political affiliations," he added. "The actions taken by Capital One and other major financial institutions represents a dangerous precedent that could threaten the operations of countless businesses across the nation, particularly those with a strong and independent voice."

Some noted that the Trump administration had ended a lawsuit in February against Capital One from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau for allegedly "cheating" consumers out of $2 billion by misleading them about high-interest savings accounts.

"This lawsuit, and those that follow, are necessary steps to protect the integrity of American business practices and to ensure that no company or individual is unfairly targeted for their beliefs, affiliations, or business activities," Trump concluded. "We will not stand by while big banks misuse their power to stifle businesses and harm innocent Americans."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Making Bomb Threats Against Donald Trump

'Tomorrow is his last day on earth'

Trump rolls out red carpet for South African farmers persecuted by anti-white politicians



President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is rolling out the red carpet for South African farmers and reiterated that the U.S. is cutting off funding to the socialist-led nation.

Without specifying that they need to be Afrikaners, who are also called Boers, Trump invited South African farmers worried about their safety to come with their families to the United States in a Friday Truth Social post, noting that they will enjoy a "rapid pathway to Citizenship" — a process that "will begin immediately."

"South Africa is being terrible, plus, to long time Farmers in the country," Trump stated in a Truth Social post. "They are confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT. A bad place to be right now, and we are stopping all Federal Funding."

'The United States won't stand for it, we will act.'

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's socialist president, ratified legislation on Jan. 25 enabling the government to seize land without compensation in the name of the "public interest," which is defined under the new law to include "the nation's commitment to land reform, and to reforms to bring about equitable access to all South Africa's natural resources in order to redress the results of past racial discriminatory laws or practices."

Blaze News previously reported that while the government could compensate citizens for stolen property under the law, it is allowed to pay "nil" if it figures that doing so is "just and equitable."

Critics did not buy Ramaphosa's suggestion that the new law "is not a confiscation instrument." Even Zsa-Zsa Boggenpoel, a progressive professor at South Africa's Stellenbosch University, hinted that the law would be weaponized against white farmers — the very same ethnic minority whom South Africa's Marxist-Leninist political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, routinely chant about butchering.

Shortly after the enactment of the controversial Expropriation Act of 2024, Trump stated on Feb. 2 , "South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won't stand for it, we will act."

Five days later, the president signed an executive order ending foreign aid to South Africa — the U.S. committed over $323 million in foreign assistance to the African nation just last year — and directed his administration to promote "the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation."

Trump noted, "The United States cannot support the government of South Africa's commission of rights violations in its country or its undermining United States foreign policy, which poses national security threats to our Nation, our allies, our African partners, and our interests."

Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for President Ramaphosa, told Agence France-Press, "We are not going to partake in counterproductive megaphone diplomacy," adding that South Africa remains "committed to building a mutually beneficial bilateral trade, political and diplomatic relationship with the United States, in particular the Trump administration."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

How Trump admin plans to use self-deportations to expel illegal immigrants



While visiting the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, Vice President JD Vance gave a hint on how the Trump administration plans on encouraging illegal immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States.

After being asked by Blaze Media to discuss the biggest obstacle to carrying out mass deportations, Vance said, "Rome wasn't built in a day" and that officials are working to rebuild interior immigration enforcement that was "gutted" under the Biden-Harris administration.

Vance then gave a little insight into what they are doing to encourage self-deportations.

"There are a couple of other things that we're working on, and I don't want to get ahead of any public announcements, but, you know, one of the ways that we wanted to make sure that we're enforcing our border is that we make it easier for people who are here illegally to go back home of their own accord," Vance said.

Over 1 million people were allowed into the United States in two years through CBP One.

"We don't want to have to go around and arrest every person, but we will enforce the American people's immigration laws. If you're here illegally, the message from our administration is: You should go back home, and if you want to come to the United States, apply through the proper channels. That's an important thing that we're doing," he added.

Lora Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation, told Blaze Media the federal government has several options to offer illegal aliens through using "a carrot and a stick."

One of the options is communicating to users who are registered through the CBP One app to leave the country to avoid harsh penalties. The CBP One app was used by the Biden-Harris administration to allow illegal immigrants the ability to enter the United States "legally" through a port of entry to avoid the optics of illegal border crossings. Once they entered the country by using the app, the Biden-Harris administration released them through mass parole.

Over 1 million people were allowed into the United States in two years through CBP One. President Donald Trump ended the app's usage in that way on his first day in office.

"Some were saying, 'Shut down CBP One app and eliminate it,' and I thought, 'Hold on, wait a minute.' It's already a tool that exists to communicate with inadmissible aliens; then use it to communicate for other purposes," Ries explained, adding the app can be repurposed to have users submit their information and proof that they have left the United States.

Ries said another way the Trump administration can get people to self-deport is by offering a deadline, and if illegal immigrants are caught after the deadline, then the government can impose heavy fines to pay back some of the funds that were spent to find them.

For his part, Vance promised during the border visit that the new federal government is working on solving the massive issue every day.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!