Live updates: trump attends U.K. state dinner; Federal Reserve lowers interest rates for the first time in 2025

Vice President JD Vance said in a Fox News interview that aired tonight that those appearing to "celebrate" Kirk's assassination shouldn't be shielded from being terminated from their jobs.

"The First Amendment protects a lot of very ugly speech, but if you celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death, you should not be protected from being fired for being a disgusting person," Vance told host Jesse Watters when he was asked about consequences for those appearing to celebrate Kirk's death.

"If you’re a university professor who benefits from American tax dollars, you should not be celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death, and if you are, maybe you should lose your job, or your university should face a loss of funding," Vance added.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Fox News interview yesterday that "employers, you have an obligation to get rid of people," after she suggested in during a podcast interview that aired Monday that the Justice Department would be "targeting" people over "hate speech" related to Kirk's assassination.

House and Senate Democratic leaders released a competing bill today that reflects their vision for how to fund the government on a short-term basis, drawing a marked contrast with the Republican proposal as a potential shutdown nears.

The Democratic legislation would permanently extend Obamacare subsidies that are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, as well as reverse Medicaid cuts enacted in trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” It would lift the freeze on foreign aid funding that the White House is withholding through “pocket rescissions” and restore funding for public broadcasting.

It would keep the government funded through Oct. 31.

Read the full story here.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement today that Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., “must cease and desist her inciteful behavior immediately” following her social media posts saying Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., should be stripped of her citizenship. 

"Nancy Mace is a complete and total disgrace. Her racist, unhinged and xenophobic comments about Congresswoman Ilhan Omar are beneath the dignity of the Congress. Is this what civility looks like in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives?" Jeffries said.

Jeffries referred to an era of "intense political violence," citing the assassinations of Kirk this month and former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman in June.

"Nancy Mace’s crazed rhetoric has put a target on the back of Rep. Omar. Mace must cease and desist her inciteful behavior immediately," Jeffries said.

Disney’s ABC said “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “will be pre-empted indefinitely,” a spokesperson confirmed to NBC News, after the late-night host’s Monday monologue about Kirk.

Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, was giving a presentation at Utah Valley University when he was fatally shot last week.

During his monologue Monday, Kimmel raised the possibility that the suspect in Kirk’s shooting, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-trump Republican.

“The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

Read the full story here.

Holding a sign emblazoned with the words “I am a proud American. I am not proud of trump,” Nancy Janin said she felt it was important to be at today’s march in London demonstrating against trump's state visit to the U.K.

“I’m very concerned about the future of my country that I love very much,” said Janin, 73, who was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now lives in London. “I feel like this administration, trump, is destroying it.”

Janin, who used to work in finance, said she was here to advocate for an “America that is for many people.”

“It’s not meant for one particular way of thinking or one particular socioeconomic group or racial group,” she said.

Amid intense polarization, alleviating the rising cost of child care for millions of American families is an area in which Republicans and Democrats in Washington believe they can find common ground.

A bipartisan group of senators is unveiling a new bill today, shared first with NBC News, that would expand a key grant program for child care that hasn’t been touched in more than a decade.

Read the full story here.

trump was granted a royal welcome like no other today, greeted by King Charles III and senior royals at Windsor Castle for his unprecedented second state visit.

The U.K.’s largest military ceremony for a visiting foreign leader in living memory brought out 1,300 military personnel, 120 horses and the full weight of Britain’s ceremonial traditions to welcome him.

Outside the castle walls, protesters gathered to make their opposition to trump’s arrival clear. But inside Windsor Castle, there was nothing but pomp and pageantry as the ancient fortress transformed into a stage for royal ceremony.

While big business and political issues were being discussed and negotiated during his trip, including a multibillion-dollar technology deal and the war in Ukraine, royal spectacle has dominated the day so far.

Read the full story here.

Former President Barack Obama yesterday condemned the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the spate of political violence gripping the country and rebuked trump and his allies’ for politicizing the shooting and not doing more to unite the country.

Speaking with moderator Steve Scully in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the Jefferson Educational Society, a nonprofit think tank, Obama said Kirk’s murder was “horrific and a tragedy,” adding that the nation’s democratic system is grounded in the principle that people can disagree without resorting to violence.

“And when it happens to some, but even if you think they’re, quote, unquote, on the other side of the argument, that’s a threat to all of us,” he said. “And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them.”

Read the full story here.

In the wake of the assassination of Kirk, Attorney General Pam Bondi has pushed the idea of cracking down on “hate speech,” an idea that puts her at odds with Kirk’s own political legacy and has her facing heat from some high-profile conservatives.

“There’s free speech and then there’s hate speech,” Bondi said in an interview on “The Katie Miller Podcast” that aired Monday.

The death of Kirk, a giant in the conservative political space who co-founded Turning Point USA, has sparked an internal fight on the political right about the limits of free speech. Many of Kirk’s most fervent supporters, who also overwhelmingly back trump, have said speech should not be limited, including some who have directly gone after Bondi.

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson called the idea that “hate speech” is a crime a “lie.”

Read the full story here.

In a toast delivered at the dinner, trump said it was "a singular privilege to be first American president welcomed here."

"This is truly one of the highest honors of my life. Such respect for you and such respect for your country," he told the king.

He also touted the "special relationship" between the two countries and said the "word 'special' does not begin to do it justice."

"We’re like two notes in one chord," trump said.  "Each beautiful on its own but meant to be played together."

trump also praised the current state of the United States, saying, "We're doing unbelievably well."

"We had a very sick country one year ago. Now I believe we have the hottest country anywhere in the world," he said. 

The state dinner the British royal family is hosting for trump tonight is taking place at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle.

trump will be seated at a 155-foot table, which is decorated with 139 candles and set with 1,452 pieces of cutlery for 160 guests. He will be seated next to King Charles and the Princess of Wales, while Melania trump will be seated next to Queen Camilla and Prince William.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan are among the guests, as are several CEOs, including Apple's Tim Cook, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Bank of America's Brian Moynihan.

A number of White House staff and Cabinet members are set to attend, as well, including trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference after today's rate-cut announcement that the labor market "is really cooling off.”

The trump administration has mounted an unprecedented pressure campaign that has included attacks on Powell for not lowering rates sooner, as well as an effort to unseat a Biden-era Fed appointee over accusations of mortgage fraud.

But Powell and the Fed had resisted trump’s pressure, saying its dual mandate of keeping both unemployment and inflation low meant it needed to be careful not to overheat the economy and risk a return to rapidly rising prices.

“We’ve done very large rate hikes and very large rate cuts in the last five years, and you tend to do those at a time when you feel that policy is out of place and needs to move quickly to a new place,” Powell said. “That’s not at all what I feel.”

Read the full story here.

Police stopped a van displaying a large photo of trump alongside Epstein in Windsor, according to a video the protest group Everyone Hates Elon posted on Instagram.

In the post, the group claimed police confiscated the van and detained two journalists reporting on the scene.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said in a statement, “The driver was at risk of breaching the Road Traffic Regulations Act, and after a brief conversation with officers, the motorist left the area.

“No arrests were made, and no vehicles were seized. We have been clear with the public that an enhanced police presence would be in place due to the state visit.”

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said the bank would comply with congressional subpoenas for information related to Epstein, saying: "Of course, if it’s a legal requirement, we’re going to conform to it, you know, and we have no issue with that.”

“You have tons of stuff to go get that’s already public and stuff like that, and we regret any association with that man at all,” Dimon said.

The House Judiciary Committee voted to table a motion today from Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., to subpoena the CEOs of four major banks. 

Dimon discussed fiscal policy and the complexities of the regulatory system at a closed-door Senate Republican lunch.

“I think what happened to those women is terrible and any role we played in it,” Dimon said, “But I should point out for you guys, the government knew about his crimes way before everybody else. So they knew and should have closed it down way before.”

In a sea of anti-trump protest signs, Palestinian flags and posters emblazoned with the words “end the genocide” also abound at the march in London rallying against trump’s state visit.

Many in the crowd are here to rally against the U.S.’ role as Israel’s closest ally and biggest arms provider amid its deadly assault in Gaza, with a United Nations commission of inquiry finding in a report released yesterday that Israel has committed genocide in its offensive.

“They are devastated by the ongoing genocide in Gaza, by the grotesque spectacle of trump and [British Prime Minister Keir] Starmer and all those invited officials feasting while Gazans are being starved,” said Shaista Aziz, a co-organizer of the Stop trump Coalition, which is leading the demonstration.

A flyover by nine Hawk T1 jets of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, better known as the Red Arrows, concludes a military ceremony on Windsor Castle’s East Lawn today.

The House Judiciary Committee voted to table, or reject, Raskin's earlier motion to subpoena CEOs of four major banks. Republicans motioned to table it and Raskin requested a recorded vote.

Raskin called for the committee to subpoena Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Robin Vince of Bank of New York, Brian Moynihan of Bank of America and Christian Sewing of Deutsche Bank.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., then motioned to subpoena Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as part of the Epstein probe. Republicans again motioned to table it, they held a recorded vote, and it was tabled.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., motioned to subpoena Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino. Republicans successfully tabled it in a recorded vote, as well.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, motioned to subpoena the head of the Bureau of Prisons and its information on its transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to another prison. Republicans also tabled that motion in a recorded vote.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted with Democrats against all four motions to table.

Patel finished his testimony and was dismissed from the hearing, which is continuing as the panel waits to finish a vote on a motion.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time this year, a move trump had called for repeatedly in recent months.

The central bank faces challenges on multiple fronts, from unprecedented attacks from trump on its independence to an uneasy economy. Experts were split over whether a cut is even appropriate right now, nothing that inflation remains a concern.

The FBI director said he'd investigate a birthday card trump allegedly sent Epstein in 2003 after being pressed on the issue by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.

trump has denied having anything to do with the card, which appears to have been signed by him and was included in a bound book that had been assembled for Epstein's 50th birthday. Epstein's estate produced a copy of the book to Congress after getting a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee.

During an exchange with Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., Patel appeared to break with trump and said that there's domestic extremism on both sides.

Kamlagar-Dove said that his predecessor, former FBI Director Christopher Wray, had said that racially motivated violent extremism, especially white supremacists, made up the largest chunk of domestic terrorism cases.

Asked if he agreed, Patel said, "That there is racially motivated crimes being committed in America? Yes."

While Democrats have largely focused on questions about the Epstein case, many Republicans spent their time asking Patel questions about former FBI Director James Comey and the president's claims that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was a hoax.

In one exchange with Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, Patel said, "the intelligence community assessment, those that created it and any individual involved in it, is an ongoing investigation."

Raskin called for the House Judiciary Committee to subpoena the CEOs of four major banks, including Jamie Dimon of J.P. Morgan Chase, Robin Vince of Bank of New York Mellon, Brian Moynihan of Bank of America and Christian Sewing of Deutsche Bank.

The Maryland Democrat called for the subpoena "in order to get the suspicious transaction reports these four banks have flagged to the government" related to the Epstein case.

Raskin said there are "$1.5 billion in suspicious transactions related to the sex trafficking crimes and conspiracy of Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell and all of their collaborators."

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., got into a heated exchange with Patel over whether he believes Epstein's victims are credible.

"Mr. Patel, are the victims of the Jeffrey Epstein horrific trafficking ring, are they credible?" Jayapal asked.

Patel sidestepped the question and said he would welcome new information on the case. "We have routinely asked for people to come forward with more evidence and we will look at it," he said.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., asked Patel whether the president had ever acted as an FBI informant in the Epstein case, as some Republican lawmakers had claimed.

"Donald trump has not been, and I can only speak for the FBI, an informant of the FBI," Patel said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had said trump was an "informant" in the case, something the White House denied. Johnson later walked the remark back, saying he had used the wrong terminology.

Swalwell also asked if he ever told trump or Attorney General Pam Bondi that trump's name was in the files. "I have never spoken to President trump about the Epstein files," Patel said.

He said he and Bondi "have had numerous discussions about the entirety of the Epstein files" but sidestepped answering whether they'd discussed trump.

The questions from Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have focused almost exclusively on the case involving Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats have been slamming the trump administration for the lack of transparency in the case and refusal to release all of the related materials the government has.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., began his line of questioning by noting that Patel testified before the Senate yesterday that there's no "credible information" that Epstein trafficked victims to anyone but himself.

Massie, however, said that the FBI has at least 20 names of men that Epstein did allegedly traffic to, identified during interviews with Epstein victims.

"That list also includes at least 19 other individuals, one Hollywood producer worth a few $100 million, one royal prince, one high profile individual in the music industry, one very prominent banker, one high profile government official, one high profile former politician, one owner of a car company in Italy, one rock star, one magician, at least six billionaires, including a billionaire from Canada," Massie said.

Asked by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., how many times trump's name appears in the Epstein files — "more than 100?" — Patel said he did not know, but he told another Congress member that trump is not implicated in any wrongdoing involving the late convicted sex offender.

"Based on the entirety of the evidence that we have, absolutely not," Patel said when asked by Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.

Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., pressed Patel about why the DOJ and the FBI haven't released witness interviews that were conducted as part of the government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

"I'm asking about why you aren’t releasing the full Epstein files, including the names of people who were involved in the sex ring that you promised to do before you became FBI director," Goldman said.

Goldman said the witness interviews are not subject to a court order preventing their release. "Those are not subject to any fictional, sealed order for a search warrant. Why aren’t you releasing those with the redacted names of the victims?"

Raskin played Patel his previous commentary demanding the immediate release of the Epstein files, and asked him why his position has changed.

"You emphasized that the president and FBI director each had complete authority to release Epstein’s client list. You said Epstein’s black book is under the quote, direct control of the director of FBI," Raskin said, "So why haven’t you released the names of Epstein’s co-conspirators in the rape and sex trafficking of young women and girls?"

"Everything that has been lawfully permitted to be released has been released," Patel responded, later adding that he's put out "everything the court has allowed us to release."

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said that after he recently announced his plans to retire, he received well wishes from both sides of the aisle.

"Donald trump, on the other hand, took to Truth Social to call me 'a psychopathic nut job,' among other things. Yesterday, I received a threatening note filled with antisemitic comments and hateful attacks that mimic some of the same language used by the president," Nadler said.

He added: "I am sure many of us on this committee face similar threats every day. We have seen political assaults on both the left and the right, the attack on Charlie Kirk, the attempted assassination of the president, the murder of the Democratic speaker of the Minnesota House, the assault on Paul Pelosi and the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6."

In his opening statement, Patel praised the investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination and his own role in the probe.

Patel said it was his decision to release pictures of the shooting suspect that led to his arrest after his family turned him in.

"The family, who has since been interrogated, specifically stated to FBI interrogators that because of the video that the FBI released at my direction, and because of the photographs that they released, they identified their son, they confronted their son when he swung by their home, and that’s what led to his apprehension," Patel said.

He also touted the bureau's crime-fighting. "We’ve captured at the FBI four of the most top 10 wanted fugitives in the world in seven months," he said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., began by condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and said there is "never any warrant for political violence in America."

"We all stand together categorically against political violence in America and determined to end these cycles of political violence that have traumatized the country," he said.

Raskin said that Patel is working with "blind loyalty" to trump "in keeping his secrets." He went on to mock Patel's lack of experience as an FBI director.

"While most other new FBI directors drew on their experience as FBI agents," he said, "you didn't have that, but you did write a picture book trilogy for children ages 5 and up, based on your experience clashing with President trump's political enemies."

The hearing on oversight of the FBI opened up with Chair Jim Jordan paying tribute to Charlie Kirk, who he remembered as a "happy warrior" and a "good man."

"I know we’re all praying for Charlie’s family," Jordan said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the panel, condemned the killing, saying, "We all stand together categorically against political violence in America and determined to end these cycles of political violence that have traumatized the country."

The House Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing with Patel as its witness has begun, with an opening statement from the committee chairman, Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

trump and King Charles are dining inside historic Windsor Castle, a building with a unique and fascinating history — and lots of fireplaces.

The castle has 300 fireplaces, and it's the job of the king's fendersmith to clean and light them. Gary Jones, the royal household's fendersmith for more than 40 years, succeeded his father, Robert, in 1984.

There are also nearly 400 clocks inside the building, and the castle has a team of horological conservators to maintain each and every historical timepiece. It takes a full weekend to deal with every seasonal clock change when Britain switches between daylight savings times.

Windsor Castle’s servants include a liveried helper and a piper to the sovereign.

The castle also boasts the oldest working kitchen in the country, which has remained in use for 750 years since it was built in the reign of Edward III.

Today, more than 500 people live and work in Windsor Castle, as well as chefs butlers and gardeners. There's also a librarian.

trump is visiting St. George's chapel crypt where Queen Elizabeth II is buried and where he will lay a wreath for the monarch who died in 2022.

St. George’s Chapel is the site of a number of royal tombs and memorials. Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth I and Princess Margaret are all interred there.

The president will also tour the chapel, which was constructed in 1475 by King Edward IV and completed by King Henry VIII in 1528.

The chapel is a place of worship for the royal family, as well as a church serving the local community.

FBI Director Kash Patel is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee this morning, after a contentious hearing yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Patel is expected to face a barrage of questions from Democrats who have criticized his handling of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the dismissal of several employees at the FBI that some view as retribution against trump's political foes.

Transparency in Jeffrey Epstein's case is also likely to play a prominent role.

Boycotting trump's lavish state banquet will send a message to the president about Gaza, according to U.K. opposition lawmaker Ed Davey.

Davey, who leads the U.K.’s Liberal Democrats party, said trump “won’t listen to me directly,” but hoped his decision not to attend today’s banquet would stimulate debate.

trump is “the one person in the world who can stop this humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza, he told Britain's Press Association news agency.

“He can ring up Prime Minister Netanyahu and stop the fighting and the killing and get food in, and he can ring up the Qatari government and governments in the Gulf and get them to force Hamas to release the hostages,” Davey added.

When trump made his first state visit to the U.K., in 2019, Prince Andrew was a central figure, accompanying the president on a number of engagements, including a tour of Westminster Abbey. He also attended the state banquet in trump's honor at Buckingham Palace.

Six years on and the Duke of York will be notably absent from tonight's state banquet at Windsor Castle.

Andrew, who lives in Windsor, has withdrawn from royal duties because of his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew made a rare public appearance yesterday when he attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in London.

Relatives of 9/11 victims are asking members of Congress to press FBI Director Kash Patel at a House hearing today to release files related to any potential Saudi government ties to the attackers, family members say.

A recent ruling by a federal judge in New York has given families new hope that their decadeslong effort to get more information regarding any possible Saudi government link to the attack.

U.S. District Judge George Daniels ruled Aug. 28 that the families’ claims were strong enough for their landmark civil case to go to trial. The judge also rejected a Saudi government request to dismiss the case.

“I would love to hear someone acknowledge we had this monumental decision from the judge,” said Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United, a group that has advocated for years for more information from the U.S. government regarding potential Saudi ties to the 9/11 attacks.

Read the full story here.

Patel faced intense scrutiny yesterday from Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee during a lengthy four-hour hearing.

The FBI director was criticized for his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Patel defended his social media post saying "the subject" in Kirk's murder was in custody before suspect Tyler Robinson was detained.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., accused Patel of having “lied to us” about shielding trump's perceived political foes from retribution after a series of firings at the FBI.

Patel also traded barbs with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who questioned him over transparency in the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with Patel calling Schiff a "political buffoon" and Schiff referring to Patel as an "internet troll."

Buckingham Palace has released details of the gifts that have been exchanged between the presidential and royal couples.

The king and queen gave trump a bespoke, hand-bound leather book to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The book was specially crafted by the Royal Bindery in Windsor Castle.

trump was also given the Union Flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on his Inauguration Day in January.

The first lady received a silver and enamel bowl made by the Northern Irish artist Cara Murphy, as well as personalized Anya Hindmarch handbag.

The trumps were welcomed to Windsor Castle in a grand ceremony this morning, before a large military procession.

Demonstrators have started to gather in central London ahead of today’s march protesting trump’s visit.

Many held signs emblazoned with messages including “stop trump,” “stop fascism” and “stop the genocide,” referring to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

More than 1,500 police officers are expected to be deployed for the march, which will make its way through central London and finish in front of the Houses of Parliament.

Shaista Aziz, a co-organizer of the Stop trump Coalition, which is leading the march, joined by dozens of other protest groups, told NBC News that thousands of people had signed up to join the demonstration, some of whom were taking time off work to attend.

“It’s really quite clear — trump is not welcome in the U.K., and trumpism is not welcome either, and our message to our own Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is stand up to trump,” Aziz said.

“We strongly object to the politics of bigotry and hate, of genocide, and we demand that Keir Starmer stands up for us as a British people against this type of hatred,” she added.

There are three gardens at Windsor Castle, each with its own unique history and style.

The Jubilee Garden was established in 2002 to mark Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years on the throne.

The Moat Garden has been carved out of the dry moat around the castle's Round Tower, and has been cultivated since at least the 17th century.

The East Terrace Garden provides views towards London and the chance to walk paths that have existed since its creation for George IV in the 1820s.

Amid strong anti-German sentiment in Britain at the time, King George V decided to change the royal family's name to Windsor during World War I.

Dating back to the ascension of George I of Hanover in 1714, it was previously been known as the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a name derived from Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

But after war broke out with Germany in 1914 the name became a liability, and a new name, Windsor, was chosen from Windsor Castle, a significant royal residence.

And the name stuck as the family has continued to use Windsor as its royal designation.

trump still does not have his ambassador to the United Nations in place eight months into his term.

And given the Senate’s schedule, it is unlikely that Mike Waltz — who trump first announced would be his nominee for the high-profile post more than four months ago — will be confirmed in time for the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly this month, arguably the most important gathering for the ambassador.

If Waltz, a former Florida congressman who was removed as trump’s national security adviser after the “Signalgate” controversy, is not confirmed in time for the summit, it would significantly limit his role at the high-level gathering, although he could still participate in a more diminished capacity. The delay has been frustrating for Waltz, who has recently expressed concern to others about how long the confirmation process is taking, according to a person familiar with this thinking.

Read the full story here.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced this morning that he is running for governor, a high-profile Republican entry into the race for the battleground state’s gubernatorial seat.

“I’m a conservative Republican, and I’m prepared to make the tough decisions,” he said in an announcement video. “I follow the law and the Constitution, and I’ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what.”

The current governor, Brian Kemp, is in his second term and is term-limited.

Raffensperger rose to the national stage after the 2020 presidential election, when he rejected President Donald trump’s plea to “find” more votes in Georgia after losing the state to Joe Biden. 

Read the full story here.

Air traffic controllers urgently warned the pilots of a Boston-bound Spirit flight to turn away from Air Force One after the two planes had a close encounter over New York yesterday morning.

The Spirit flight was traveling from Fort Lauderdale as Air Force One took its wheels up for its flight to the U.K. A source with direct knowledge of the situation tells NBC News that a preliminary investigation shows the Spirit Jet and Air Force One maintained the required separation.

“Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right,” an air traffic controller radioed according to recordings from liveatc.net. “Pay attention, Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right. Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right, now. Spirit wings 1300 turn 20 degrees right, immediately.”

After the spirit pilots acknowledge the transmission, the controller said: "I’m sure you can see who it is. Keep an eye out for him — he’s white and blue.”

The royal party will now have lunch in Windsor Castle's state dining room, although the menu has not been revealed.

After lunch, King Charles and Queen Camilla will take the president and the first lady to view a special display of artifacts connected to the U.S. from the royal collection.

Today's pageantry included the largest military ceremony in living memory for a visiting leader to the U.K. with 120 horses and 1,300 military personnel involved in the proceedings.

As King Charles III shook hands with trump, the British army fired a 41-round gun salute from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and simultaneously 20 miles away at the Tower of London.

During the carriage procession, 80 soldiers from the House Cavalry Mounted Regime rode as part of the sovereign’s escort, which accompanies the royal carriages. 

The Life Guards were dressed in red tunics and white plumed helmets, and Blues and Royals in their blue tunics and red plumes.

The processional route, which was not open to the public, was lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the British navy, Marines, army and air force.

Inside the quadrangle of Windsor Castle on trump's arrival was the largest-ever guard of honor for a state visit to the U.K., carrying the state colors of their regiment. 

King Charles and trump have carried out their inspection of the guard of honor as it assembled on the lawn inside the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.

trump walked with the king and one of the guards between between the neat lines of soldiers, each carrying the state colors of their regiment. 

It is the largest ever guard of honor for a state visit to the U.K.

Bryan Lanza, a former senior adviser to trump's presidential campaign, rejected suggestions that there is a lack of enthusiasm for trump’s visit among the British public.

“There’s obviously opposition, but at the end of the day, those who are opposed, they don’t matter” he told BBC Radio's "Today" program. “The American people are the ones who voted this president in, they validated his vision for the country and if Europe has a problem with the American people’s vision, that’s Europe's problem.”

Commenting specifically on London Mayor Sadiq Khan's criticism of trump, Lanza said "who cares?"

"He's just a local mayor. I think he should focus more on traffic and on the trash than trying to elevate himself to the diplomatic stage."

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and is open year-round for visitors, who can explore ceremonial rooms used today.

Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 40 monarchs, according to the Royal Collection Trust.

The castle was often used by the late Queen Elizabeth II to host state visits from overseas monarchs and presidents. 

During the procession, 80 soldiers from the House Cavalry Mounted Regime rode as part of the Sovereign’s escort, which accompanies royal carriages. 

The Life Guards are dressed in red tunics and white plumed helmets, and Blues and Royals in their blue tunics and red plumes.

The processional route, which was not open to the public, was lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.

He has only been king for three years, but Charles has already hosted six state visits from foreign dignitaries.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was his first guest in November 2022, six months before Charles' official inauguration.

South Korea's former President Yook Suk Yeol visited a year later, though he has since been impeached and removed from office after declaring martial law in the country.

Charles then hosted Japanese Emerprior Naruhito and Empress Masako in Jun. 2024, shortly before Qatar's Sheik Tamim bin Hamas Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamas Al Thani paid a visit to the U.K.

This year, the king has already hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron.

trump joined King Charles III in a carriage procession through the royal Windsor estate toward the castle, Buckingham Palace said.

The pair traveled in the Irish State Coach, followed by the Scottish State Coach carrying Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania trump.

Prince William and Princess Kate followed in another carriage, accompanied by Warren Stephens, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., and his wife Harriet.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled in a fourth carriage. 

President Donald trump and first lady Melania have touched down in Windsor, where they were welcomed by Prince William and Princess Kate.

Prince William, Catherine, the princess of Wales, greeted trump and first lady Melania trump on their arrival in Windsor. In a unique move, Marine One landed inside the Walled Garden of the Windsor estate.

The trio then took a short walk to meet the King and Queen outside Victoria House in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore.

As the president shook hands with the King, a 41-round gun salute will be fired from six World War I-era guns.

trump is traveling on Marine One on his way to Windsor Castle from London, where he will be welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Walled Garden on the Windsor estate.

Queen Camilla will take take part in today's events at Windsor.

Her attendance had been in doubt after she was forced to miss the funeral of the Duchess of Kent yesterday because of acute sinusitis.

From MAGA flags to bobbleheads, support for trump can be seen on the streets of Windsor this morning, ahead of the historic second state visit at the town's castle.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived on the Windsor estate by car ahead of trump’s arrival.

Rubio shook hands with staff and surveyed the scene on the estate before heading inside a property to wait for the royal welcome, according to Britain's Press Association news agency.

The secretary of state arrived in London yesterday after a short trip to the Middle East.

trump is scheduled to visit Windsor Castle today, where he will be met by a massive welcoming ceremony consisting of more than a thousand military personnel and honored in remarks delivered by King Charles III.

The president and first lady Melania trump are set to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022, during a visit on the grounds to St. George’s Chapel.

The trumps will also accompany the king and Queen Camilla for a carriage procession inside the private estate.

In the evening, trump is set to dine at a state banquet at the castle, where he and the king will both deliver speeches.

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates for the first time in 2025 this afternoon.

The decision, which will be announced at 2 p.m. ET, comes as the central bank faces challenges on multiple fronts, from unprecedented attacks on its independence to an uneasy economy, with experts split on whether a cut is even appropriate right now.

The labor market appears to be slowing dramatically. August’s jobs report showed that just 22,000 jobs were added, far below the expectations of economists. That report also showed that the U.S. lost jobs in June. So far this year, the economy has added 598,000 jobs, compared with 1.4 million for the first eight months of 2024. The unemployment rate also ticked higher last month to 4.3%, a level not seen since September 2017 outside of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lower rates could help businesses hire as it becomes less expensive to take out loans, and credit card rates fall for consumers.

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trump enjoys spectacle, but this is not what Britain had in mind.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fought to offer trump a second state visit — an unprecedented flourish meant to bolster Starmer’s authority and flatter the American leader at a crucial moment for the United Kingdom and its allies.

Instead, trump arrived in a fractious Britain to meet with political leaders beset by long-running discontent and royals navigating family feuds.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned what he called trump’s “divisive politics” in an opinion piece published today in the Guardian newspaper. 

“President Donald trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years,” Khan wrote. 

On Saturday, more than 100,000 people gathered in London for one of Britain’s largest far-right rallies in decades. Khan noted that while tens of thousands marched peacefully, some attacked police officers tasked with keeping people safe. 

“The scenes we saw didn’t come from nowhere,” he wrote. “For far too long, our politicians and pundits have refused to condemn the rising tide of hatred in this country.”

Former President Barack Obama called the assassination of Charlie Kirk “horrific and a tragedy” and praised Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox for his response.

Speaking last night at an event for the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, Pennsylvania, Obama said he didn’t know Charlie Kirk and thought his “ideas were wrong,” but “that doesn’t negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family.”

“He’s a young man with two small children and a wife,” Obama said, according to a transcript his office released to CNN. Kirk, he added, had “a huge number of friends and supporters who cared about him.”

Cox, Obama said, had shown “that it is possible for us to disagree while abiding by a basic code of how we should engage in public debate.”

Following the arrest of four people for a photo projection of President Donald trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Windsor Castle yesterday, the image has returned today.

A truck is travelling through the town of Windsor displaying the photo and a caption reading "Welcome to the UK, Donald."

With trump in the U.K. for a state visit, U.S. companies are rolling out billions of dollars’ worth of deals tied to the occasion.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has been leading some of the administration’s negotiations on tariffs, TikTok and other issues, is already in London and will join trump during some of the events.

The wave of deals could be a boon for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who got among the best tariff deals in the world from trump and who has been trying to revive a flat-lining economy. In the last quarter, the British economy posted no growth at all, and on a rolling three-month basis the world’s sixth-largest economy grew only 0.2%.

On Sunday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Jonathan Reynolds, parliamentary secretary to the Treasury, announced a number of investment deals involving American companies such as PayPal, Bank of America, Citigroup, S&P Global and BlackRock.

trump told an Australian journalist that he was “hurting Australia” after he asked a question about the president’s business dealings, saying he would report the journalist to the Australian prime minister.

“Is it appropriate, President trump, that a president in office should be engaged in so much business activity?” journalist John Lyons from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation asked trump yesterday on the White House lawn. 

“I’m really not. My kids are running the business,” trump responded, before asking Lyons where he was from.

“You are hurting Australia very much right now, and they want to get along with me,” trump then said. “Your leader is coming over to see me very soon, I’m going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone.” 

India said trade talks with the U.S. are “positive” and “forward looking,” as trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held their first call in months amid tensions over tariffs and other issues.

The two leaders said they spoke yesterday, the day before Modi’s 75th birthday today, in their first publicly known call since June. The relationship between trump and Modi, who refer to each other as “dear friends,” has deteriorated in recent months, especially after the U.S. doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% as punishment for India’s purchases of Russian oil, which trump says are aiding Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

“Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job,” trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

“Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!” trump added, without giving details. 

Responding on X, Modi thanked trump for the birthday call and said he was “fully committed” to taking U.S.-India relations to new heights. “We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” he added.

Police in the U.K. arrested four people after photos of President Donald trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle Tuesday night.

The projections included photos of trump and Epstein; of the two joined by first lady Melania trump with Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell; and of a lewd birthday message trump allegedly sent Epstein in 2003 for a 50th birthday book.

trump arrived in London on Tuesday for a state visit. He’s expected to spend most of Wednesday at the castle with King Charles III and Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family.

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