Trump Rallies for Donalds in Florida; DOJ Sues Over Alaska

South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews hosted a town hall this afternoon as she works to defeat Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham in the upcoming election.

What to know today

• ALASKA LAWSUIT: The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Alaska election officials, seeking to prevent certification of November’s U.S. Senate election results unless Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan wins. DOJ lawyers contend that the appearance of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could confuse voters who intend to support the senator.
• TRUMP FLORIDA RALLY: President Donald Trump appeared at a rally in Fort Myers for Republican Florida gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds. The president has also campaigned this week in Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina.

DOJ urges California counties to help identify noncitizen voters

The Justice Department warned California election officials today that they must work with the administration to identify potential noncitizens included on voter registration lists or risk possible legal consequences, according to a letter obtained by NBC News.

Letters were sent to 57 of California’s 58 counties, marking a further escalation of the Trump administration’s campaign to prevent the state from counting ballots cast by individuals whom federal authorities believe may not be U.S. citizens.

Los Angeles County received a comparable letter last week.

NBC News obtained a copy of the letter sent by the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles to Joani Finwall, the registrar of voters in San Bernardino County. In the correspondence, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli said his office was supplying a list containing 1,133 individuals identified as “likely aliens.”

Vanessa Trump announces she is ‘cancer-free’ six months after diagnosis

Vanessa Trump, the former wife of Donald Trump Jr., announced today that she is now cancer-free after beginning treatment for breast cancer earlier this year.

“I am finally cancer-free,” the 48-year-old Trump said in a video shared by her daughter, Kai Trump. Following the announcement, Kai leaned toward her mother and embraced her.

In the video's caption, Kai explained that the family wanted to make her mother's experience public partly to increase awareness of the disease.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about early detection, education, and support for those affected by breast cancer,” she wrote.

Experts question the legal strength of Trump administration election lawsuits

When the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to stop certification of Alaska’s Senate election results if the Republican incumbent loses, it argued that the action was consistent with the National Voter Registration Act.

“The United States has a substantial and legally cognizable interest in maintaining the integrity of elections,” government lawyers wrote in their filing, citing the legislation and referencing its directive to “protect the integrity of the electoral process.”

Mike Rogers welcomes changes to tariffs targeting Canada

Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, praised the Trump administration’s revised tariff policies toward Canada today, which remove certain duties while introducing new ones.

“I’ve come out and said we shouldn’t be doing the Canadian tariffs the way we are doing them,” Rogers said during an interview with Fox News. “But we did have a little bit of good news today.”

Rogers said he had urged the administration to eliminate all the tariffs if it intended to pursue the policy. However, he argued that if officials decided to impose duties, they should target garbage trucks crossing the border.

“Here’s what’s interesting about that: the Trump administration came out today and they’re tariffing the trash coming over the border,” he said. “This is a big issue around Detroit and around this community. Those trucks come across the bridge, fill up our landfills.”

Although Rogers previously described the tariffs on Canada as “necessary,” he published a campaign advertisement earlier this month calling for an “end to the tariff war.”

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is also competing in a closely contested election, initially announced the tariff adjustments today. In a statement, she said she was pleased to have obtained further exemptions for goods essential to Maine’s agricultural sector, including products from blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers.

Mike Rogers says he would back war powers resolution if Iran conflict continues into January

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers said today that he would support a war powers resolution to bring the conflict in Iran to an end if it remains ongoing when he takes office, provided Michigan voters elect him.

During an interview with Fox News, Rogers was asked whether he would support such a resolution.

“Well, when it depends when,” he responded.

“If it's in January, they haven't wrapped it up, I prefer something that says, 'go back to a containment policy on Iran.' And if it says that, I'll be a yes,” he added.

Rogers did not, however, indicate that he would support cutting off military funding as a means of ending the conflict.

“Well, I never think you abandon troops in the field. I just never think that's a good idea. As a former soldier, I just think that's a terrible idea,” he said.

Abdul El-Sayed, Rogers’ Democratic opponent, has criticized the Republican for changing his position on the war.

Last month, Rogers called for an end to the conflict, pointing to rising costs that have placed financial pressure on Americans. Previously, he had expressed support for the military campaign, describing it as a “win-win-win” during a May interview.

Majority Leader John Thune calls Putin a ‘menace to the world’ after Witkoff’s ‘humanitarian’ remark

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., strongly criticized a statement by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this week in which he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian.”

Asked by NBC News about Witkoff’s remarks, Thune responded, “Putin is a menace to the world, and I don’t trust him any farther than I can throw him.”

Thune made the comments while boarding the campaign bus of Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson after the pair attended a roundtable in Sioux City today. Hinson, who campaigned alongside Trump last night as she seeks an open Senate seat in Iowa, has attempted to distance herself from the president’s dealings with Russia.

Witkoff, who has served as Trump’s chief negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine war, sparked controversy Wednesday when he used the description following Russia’s release of retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard.

The characterization prompted criticism from members of both parties.

“I would describe Putin as a warmonger, a thug. He’s certainly not a humanitarian,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who faces a competitive reelection campaign, said Wednesday.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has decided against seeking another term following disagreements with Trump, also condemned the remark in a social media post.

“WTF, Steve? Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian,’” Tillis wrote.

Congressional candidate dismisses bicycles in state known for major cycling event

Republican congressional candidate Joe Mitchell claimed during a rally last night that people in Iowa do not ride bicycles, despite the state hosting the world’s largest and oldest annual bicycle touring event.

While praising Trump’s administration of Washington, D.C., Mitchell said, “Thank God you’re getting rid of those awful bike lanes, by the way. We don’t ride bicycles in Iowa, we ride Harley-Davidsons, isn’t that true?”

Every summer, more than 30,000 people take part in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, commonly known as RAGBRAI. The seven-day event crosses the state and includes overnight stops in smaller communities.

A study released last year estimated that cycling contributes $1.4 billion to Iowa’s economy. RAGBRAI also says its annual visits generate approximately $25 million for the communities along its route.

Mitchell’s statement prompted a “Community Note” on X highlighting RAGBRAI’s popularity and Iowa’s extensive network of cycling trails. Democratic candidates in the state also responded on social media.

Lindsay James, Mitchell’s Democratic opponent, wrote that Iowans are “pretty proud of our bikes here in Iowa.”

Thursday’s rally took place in Sioux City, approximately 38 miles north of the starting point for this year’s RAGBRAI route in July. The ride concluded in Dubuque, which is located within Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, the seat Mitchell hopes to represent.

Coffins, carpets, canoes and cocoa among products affected by new Canadian tariffs

The White House has removed certain Canadian products from its tariff list while imposing new duties on a fresh range of imported goods.

The newly introduced tariffs carry a rate of 50%, matching the rate previously applied to the products now exempted.

Consumers and businesses importing coffins, cocoa powder, carpeting, flooring, archery equipment, shampoo or window air-conditioning units from Canada will face the duties beginning October 30.

The newly imposed tariffs cover the following products:

• Different varieties of cocoa powder
• Certain paints and varnishes
• Resin-based cements
• Caulking materials
• Shampoos
• Selected soaps, including bar soaps
• Artificial wax products
• Certain laboratory reagents
• Some polyurethane products
• Vinyl flooring, excluding vinyl tiles
• Components for yachts and recreational boats
• Floor mats
• Packaging boxes
• Wooden flooring panels, excluding bamboo
• Wooden coffins made from materials other than bamboo
• Skewers, confectionery sticks, ice cream sticks, tongue depressors, beverage mixers and similar items
• Writing paper and paperboard, along with certain specialized paperboard products
• Bags and sacks
• Carpets and textile-based floor coverings
• Window and wall-mounted air-conditioning equipment
• Chest-style freezers
• Canoes
• Selected archery equipment

The products removed from the tariff list include:

• Seaweed and other algae, whether fresh, chilled, frozen or dried
• Non-adhesive sheets, plates, film, foil and strips
• Plastic boxes, cases, crates and similar containers used to transport or package goods
• Bags and sacks
• Plywood panels
• Bleached paper and paperboard
• Corrugated paperboard cartons, boxes and cases
• Molded or pressed products made from paper pulp
• Refrigeration and freezing equipment
• Industrial machinery and equipment used to process materials through temperature changes
• Machinery designed to fill, close, seal, cap or label bottles, cans, boxes and other containers
• Equipment used to aerate beverages
• Machines used to clean, sort or grade eggs, fruit and other agricultural products

Focus groups examine what comes next after their candidates lost Michigan and Texas primaries

Some voters who supported unsuccessful candidates in two major Senate primaries are still deciding whether to back their parties’ nominees in November, a choice that could have significant consequences for control of the Senate next year.

Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Texas Republican Ken Paxton are each attempting to reunite their parties ahead of competitive general elections following divisive primary contests.

Two focus groups explored how voters are approaching the situation. One included Michigan residents who supported Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in her unsuccessful Senate campaign, while the other featured Texans who backed Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

Their responses illustrated how some ordinary voters are balancing personal reservations about their parties’ nominees with a desire to remain loyal to their political affiliations.

NewsGuard report says OpenAI image tool creates ‘fake, disparaging’ images of political candidates

A new report from NewsGuard, which assesses the reliability and transparency of news sources, found that OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool produced “incriminating, realistic” images of midterm election candidates in 80% of tests involving specific prompts.

Beginning in late September, NewsGuard said it submitted 20 requests to ChatGPT asking the system to create images of political candidates in compromising circumstances.

Among the examples, researchers requested images showing Iowa Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson with Jeffrey Epstein and Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola shouting at staff members who were crying. According to NewsGuard, ChatGPT generated both images despite safeguards intended to prevent the creation of sensitive imagery.

An OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement that the company prohibits using its tools to interfere with elections or discourage voting. The spokesperson added that the company actively monitors and responds to users who attempt such activities.

The representative also noted that AI-generated images created by the company include watermarks intended to help people recognize their origins.

The report arrives amid increasing concern about artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the 2026 elections. Political figures are trying to influence chatbot responses, campaigns are investing millions of dollars in AI-generated advertisements, and foreign operators are circulating deepfake videos aimed at influencing competitive races.

NBC News independently confirmed that ChatGPT could generate images depicting midterm candidates in unlikely situations, although several attempts produced cartoon-like results.

OpenAI said some political-image requests are redirected toward cartoon-style imagery.

“This degrades the evidentiary value of these images while still enabling social commentary,” the spokesperson said.

Isis Blachez, a co-author of the NewsGuard report, said researchers did not observe that safeguard during their testing.

“We did not encounter any cases where the tool cartoonified images for us,” Blachez said.

Pete Buttigieg endorses independent Seth Bodnar in Montana Senate contest

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced his endorsement today of independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar, declining to back the Democratic nominee, who has faced calls to leave the race.

“The best leaders I’ve served with, in uniform and in government, care more about getting the job done than about who gets the credit, and Seth is one of them,” Buttigieg said in a statement.

He added that Montana needed a senator prepared to challenge corruption in Washington, protect reproductive freedom, cooperate across party lines and help lower costs.

Buttigieg acknowledged that he and Bodnar do not agree on every issue but said the candidate had spent his adult life serving the country and younger generations.

Bodnar, a former U.S. Army Green Beret who previously served as president of the University of Montana, said he was honored to receive Buttigieg’s support.

“Montanans have always voted for the person, not the party, and they want a senator who will put their families, jobs, and public lands ahead of partisan games in Washington,” Bodnar said.

He added that he would remain accountable to Montana voters and work with anyone willing to pursue the same goals.

Bodnar is competing against Republican Kurt Alme, who has received Trump’s endorsement, and Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead.

Democrats have pressured Bankhead to withdraw for months. In an interview with PBS this week, she said she had been offered a position at the Democratic National Committee if she left the contest. Nevertheless, Bankhead has continued to insist that she intends to remain in the race.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report classifies the Montana Senate contest as “Solid R.” Democrats circulated polling data this summer suggesting that an independent candidate could perform substantially better in the state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presents Trump with gold coin bearing provocative image

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented Trump with a specially designed gold coin when the president arrived in the state earlier today. The coin reportedly features an image of Trump making an obscene gesture and bears the inscription “You Missed B-----s.”

DeSantis was seen handing Trump the coin on the airport tarmac after the president stepped off Air Force One before his rally in Fort Myers.

The governor told reporters that the coin had been produced by “a friend of mine from Florida.”

The item reportedly references the unsuccessful assassination attempt against Trump in 2024.

DeSantis, who cannot seek another term because of term limits, welcomed Trump to his home state and noted the enthusiasm surrounding the planned rally.

“They got a big crowd in Fort Myers. I know a lot of people are excited,” he said.

Trump traveled to the area to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Byron Donalds.

‘I would have never done that’: Ramaswamy supporters react to controversial attack ad

Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy received an enthusiastic reception today as he launched a statewide bus tour alongside other Republican candidates running in November.

However, his latest advertisement drew a more divided response among supporters gathered at the event, which attracted approximately 300 people.

The $4 million campaign ad features the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton and revisits allegations surrounding a family history of sexual abuse.

Trump pledged $2 gasoline and cheaper groceries. Here’s what happened instead

Nearly two years ago, Donald Trump campaigned on promises to lower grocery costs, bring gasoline prices below $2 per gallon and create a surge of new manufacturing jobs.

Voters elected him president, but the economic outcomes have not matched those promises.

“My plan will rapidly defeat inflation, quickly bring down prices and reignite explosive economic growth,” Trump said during a September 2024 economic speech in New York.

Democrats hope to repeat their 2018 upset in heavily Republican Oklahoma district

In 2018, when Republicans faced a frustrated electorate during the midterm elections under President Donald Trump, Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District was not considered a major target by most political strategists.

That changed when Democrat Kendra Horn emerged as an unexpected victor.

Horn was little known before the election and would lose the Oklahoma City-based seat decisively two years later. Nevertheless, her victory marked the first time in more than four decades that a Democrat had won the district.

Trump says U.S. could launch another ‘little Epic Fury’ strike against Iran

Trump said the United States might carry out another military attack against Iran if Tehran refuses to accept an agreement.

“We obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer,” Trump said, referring to a military strike conducted in June 2025.

“You remember that late at night, one in the morning, and then did the rest with Operation Epic Fury,” he added.

Trump continued by warning that Washington could launch another operation.

“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree,” he said.

The president argued that Iranian leaders should agree to negotiate if they were acting sensibly, adding that he doubted they would do so.

Trump again claimed that the United States had defeated Iran, even though the conflict remains unresolved. He also repeated his prediction that oil prices would soon fall sharply.

Trump renews criticism of Rep. Ilhan Omar during Florida rally

Trump again targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during his Florida rally today, demanding that she resign from Congress immediately.

“She comes from a s---house country, and she's telling us, and she's telling us how to run the United States,” Trump said, referring to Somalia, where Omar was born.

He described Somalia, which he has repeatedly criticized since his first presidential term, as “probably the worst country on Earth.”

Trump subsequently alleged, without providing evidence, that Omar had used a false name when running for office and taking the oath of office.

He argued that the allegation meant she should immediately leave Congress.

The president made a similar claim at his Iowa rally last night and again repeated an accusation that Omar had married her brother to commit immigration fraud. Federal authorities are currently investigating Omar following Trump's repeated allegations against her.

Omar has rejected the accusations of fraud.

In a post on X today, she wrote that the president repeatedly targets her whenever negative news emerges.

“Whenever the news turns bad, this creep reaches for one name: mine,” Omar wrote.

She added, “So let’s make it crystal clear. My name has always been Ilhan Omar.”

Trump continues defending Ramaswamy attack ad targeting Amy Acton

President Donald Trump reiterated his support today for a controversial advertisement targeting Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, saying he would not reconsider his position on the $4 million campaign launched by Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy.

The advertisement features Acton’s estranged mother describing her daughter as a “liar.”

Speaking with reporters outside the White House, Trump was asked whether he had reconsidered defending the one-minute advertisement after learning about allegations that Acton was sexually abused as a child by her late stepfather.

“No, it’s a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton,” Trump said.

“If it were my mother speaking badly about me, you’d be making it the No. 1 story on the news,” he added.

Trump also attacked an NBC News reporter who continued questioning him about the controversy, referring to her as “a fresh person” and a “horrible little reporter.”

Ahead of midterms, Republicans highlight political gains and expanding alliances in Latin America

Although Republicans are concerned about the potential outcome of the approaching midterm elections, many party members have pointed to developments in Latin America as a source of encouragement.

Recent presidential victories across the region reflect a broader shift toward right-wing politics, which Republicans say has been helped by Trump's policies.

Meanwhile, two conservative Latin American presidents have recently endorsed a Republican congresswoman from Florida who faces a competitive midterm contest.

Russia and Ukraine agree to ceasefire in one city brokered by Melania Trump, White House says

WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump has negotiated a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine covering the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, with the agreement scheduled to take effect October 29, the White House announced Friday.

The southern Ukrainian town has remained under Russian occupation since February 2022. Residents have reported that the area's food shortage has become increasingly severe.

Justice Department charges former senior FBI officials who faced criticism from Trump allies

Two former FBI officials who have been frequent targets of criticism from allies of President Donald Trump have been charged with allegedly making false statements to Congress concerning the investigation into Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden.

Court records indicate that Nikki Floris, formerly the deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, and fellow former FBI official Bradley Benavides each face one count of a criminal offense that is rarely prosecuted and can be challenging to prove in court.

Trump says judge overseeing Charlie Kirk case is ‘doing a terrible job’

Trump criticized the judge handling the case against the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, declaring today that the judge was “doing a terrible job\!”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the case should reach trial within a month rather than taking three years to resolve.

He accused the judge of disrespecting Kirk’s memory by allowing proceedings to drag on and asking questions whose answers were already known.

“The whole Country is mocking him and our 'Legal' System. JUSTICE FOR CHARLIE\!” Trump wrote.

The judge is Tony Graf of Utah District Court, who was appointed last year by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox.

Defense attorneys representing Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with Kirk’s assassination, suggested yesterday that the trial should take place in 2029, arguing that they need several years to prepare their defense.

Graf had scheduled a hearing for this morning to establish a trial date.

Trump administration sues to stop Alaska Senate certification if Republican Dan Sullivan loses

The Justice Department has brought a lawsuit against Alaska election officials in an effort to prevent certification of November’s U.S. Senate election results unless Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan is declared the winner.

In its federal court filing, DOJ lawyers argued that having Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. listed on the ballot could confuse voters intending to cast their ballots for the sitting senator, Daniel S. Sullivan.

He works in the West Wing, attends rallies and has Trump’s attention: Bill Pulte’s growing influence

In June, Congress accomplished something increasingly uncommon in Washington: Democrats and Republicans joined forces to pass major legislation by an overwhelming margin. The measure required only President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.

The White House planned to commemorate the occasion with an unusual bipartisan signing ceremony on June 24. According to two people familiar with the preparations, White House aides even conducted a walk-through with senior congressional staff that day.

But just hours before the scheduled event, Trump unexpectedly canceled it.

Trump’s border chief defends planned wall in Texas’ Big Bend despite court-ordered halt

BLAINE, Wash. — The Trump administration’s leading border official defended plans to construct a wall and additional border infrastructure in Texas’ Big Bend region despite strong local opposition and a court-ordered suspension of construction.

The official maintained that strengthening the country’s borders was a “non-negotiable” priority.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott defended the proposed $46 billion wall project.

His position contrasts with that of a bipartisan coalition of landowners, local businesses and environmental advocates, who argue that the project would waste taxpayer money and potentially damage an area that has historically experienced relatively few migrant crossings.

Son of GOP Rep. Ralph Norman says he intends to vote for Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews

Warren Norman, the son of Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, said in an opinion article published today that he intends to support Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews rather than Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina.

“I have sat down with Annie Andrews. We disagree on a lot. We also agree on some important things, including fighting corruption and reforming insurance,” the younger Norman wrote.

He described Andrews as genuine and pointed to her public commitment to challenging members of her own party when necessary.

“That is the standard I’m asking of every candidate, and I intend to hold her to it. As of today, I’m leaning her way. It will be the first time in my life I’ve voted for a Democrat in a partisan election,” he added.

Ralph Norman lost his Senate primary earlier this year to Graham.

In the opinion piece, Warren Norman said he could no longer support the same political approach while expecting different results.

He argued that responsible leadership sometimes requires a change in direction and said he believed the current moment was the right time to make that choice.

Trump confirms plans to vote early in Florida on Saturday

Speaking with reporters outside the White House, Trump confirmed reports that he and the first lady intend to vote early in Florida tomorrow.

“I think we’re voting tomorrow in Florida,” the president said.

Trump is scheduled to appear in Florida at a campaign rally with Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds.

Earlier this year, Trump cast a mail-in ballot during a special election in Florida.

Trump says he has not discussed Ukraine Starlink restrictions with Elon Musk

Trump said this morning that he had not spoken with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk about restrictions affecting Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet network.

“I have not spoken to him ... I might have to, but I have not,” Trump told reporters outside the White House when asked whether he had instructed Musk to stop interfering with Ukraine’s Starlink connection.

He said he had heard the issue was resolved but would contact Musk if access remained restricted.

The New York Times reported today that Trump called Musk last week and asked him to restore Ukraine’s service.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday that Ukrainian officials believed the decision to restrict Starlink had followed a “message from American government.”

Trump reiterates defense of Ramaswamy advertisement targeting Amy Acton

Trump again defended an attack advertisement targeting Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton this morning, insisting that he would not change his position on a campaign spot funded by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

The advertisement features Acton’s estranged mother making accusations against her daughter.

During an exchange with reporters outside the White House, Trump was asked whether he had reconsidered his support after learning about allegations that Acton was sexually abused as a child by her late stepfather.

“No, it’s a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton,” Trump responded.

“If it were my mother speaking badly about me, you’d be making the number one story on the news, you know,” he added.

When a reporter noted that Acton’s mother had defended the stepfather, Trump disputed the characterization.

“Look, you don't know that,” he said. “You don't know anything.”

Trump maintained that the only information he had was that Acton’s mother appeared on television and described her daughter, who is running for Ohio governor, as dishonest and a bad person.

He accused the media of trying to turn a damaging political story for Democrats into a favorable one for Acton. Trump argued that viewers would be unlikely to support a candidate whose mother publicly criticized her.

The president also described Acton’s mother as appearing “very lucid” and “very smart” in the advertisement.

NBC News correspondent Monica Alba continued questioning Trump, pointing out that several Republicans had condemned the ad. Trump responded by insulting Alba, calling her a “fresh person” and a “horrible little reporter.”

Trump said that if his own mother had criticized him publicly, Democrats would likely have highlighted the comments, although he added that his mother had always thought highly of him.

He insisted that the controversy had nothing to do with Acton’s stepfather.

Trump had defended the advertisement a day earlier while criticizing Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for condemning it and urging Ramaswamy to remove it.

Trump labels Michigan Democratic Senate nominee a ‘liar,’ ‘jihadist’ and ‘phony’

Trump previewed his upcoming Michigan visit while speaking with reporters at the White House, where he plans to campaign for former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in his competitive Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

The president praised Rogers as someone who would make a good senator before accusing El-Sayed of having connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and describing him as a jihadist. El-Sayed has strongly denied the allegations.

“I look forward to Michigan. I can talk about a man who’s a Muslim Brotherhood person, who’s a jihadist, and who can’t be in our Senate. He’s a fake. He’s a fake guy,” Trump said.

He later continued his criticism, calling El-Sayed dishonest and insisting that the Democrat was not a moderate.

Trump described El-Sayed as a “vicious, violent jihadist” and said he should have no role in the government.

For several weeks, Republicans have accused El-Sayed of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, some branches of which the State Department has designated as terrorist organizations.

“I have no ties, we have no ties,” El-Sayed told NBC News last week.

In a previous interview with NBC News, the Democratic nominee accused Republicans of promoting Islamophobia by emphasizing his full name and alleging that he had connections to terrorist organizations.

Rogers’ “only strategy is to point to me and my name and my faith and to say that we’re different,” El-Sayed said earlier this month during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

He argued that voters were being encouraged to distrust people simply because their religious practices differed from their own.

“It’s truly shameful. But he has no ideas. He doesn’t actually care about solving problems. He cares about power,” El-Sayed added.

Trump calls LeBron James a ‘disgrace’ over national anthem behavior

PHILADELPHIA — President Donald Trump accused NBA star LeBron James on Thursday of showing disrespect toward the United States after a video appeared to show James continuing his pregame warmups during the national anthem before Philadelphia’s season opener Tuesday.

Trump shared the footage on social media and called James “no good” and a “TOTAL DISGRACE.”

He demanded that the basketball star apologize to American service members and other heroes who died defending the national flag and the country.

Trump says Musk restored Ukraine’s Starlink access, but Kyiv reports continuing restrictions

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s access to Starlink but declined to say whether he had personally spoken with the billionaire about the issue.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Thursday that Trump had contacted Musk and asked him to remove restrictions affecting Ukraine’s use of the satellite internet service.

Veterans and preservation organizations make final attempt to stop Trump’s proposed arch

Veterans’ organizations and historic preservation groups are making another effort to block construction of Trump’s proposed triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., as the administration has indicated that work could begin early next month.

The organizations, which previously challenged the project in court, have asked a federal judge to halt construction in a new filing, arguing that congressional authorization is required before the project can proceed.

Attorney Wendy Liu described the plans as “unlawful” and warned that the potential harm was imminent.

She urged the court to issue a preliminary injunction preventing officials from beginning work at Memorial Circle before a final ruling could determine whether the project violated the law.

The groups rely on the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional authorization for commemorative structures on National Park Service land in Washington. They also cite a federal law prohibiting the construction of buildings or structures on federal reservations, parks or public grounds in the District of Columbia without explicit congressional approval.

The Trump administration maintains that it has secured the necessary permissions to proceed.

Officials have completed an environmental assessment and obtained approval from the Commission of Fine Arts. Approval from the National Capital Planning Commission is expected on November 5, as required.

The administration has also cited a 1925 congressional act authorizing an Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission to design and build the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

The organizations have asked the judge to issue a decision by November 4, one day before the expected final vote on the arch and the date preceding the administration’s anticipated construction start.

Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy launches statewide bus tour

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and other members of the Ohio Republican ticket are scheduled to begin an 11-day bus tour across the state today.

It remains unclear whether Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who faces a competitive reelection campaign, will participate.

Democratic organizations and local activists have announced plans to protest at several scheduled stops, including Strongsville, Powell and Circleville.

Ramaswamy has faced widespread criticism from Democrats and some Republicans following the launch of a $4 million campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.

In the advertisement, Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, calls her daughter a “liar” and urges Ohio voters not to support her.

Acton has previously said she experienced sexual abuse as a child by her mother’s husband, an account that her brother has corroborated. She has been estranged from her mother for nearly 50 years.

Trump defended the advertisement in an extensive Truth Social post yesterday, describing it as “a very powerful ad.” His comments followed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s call for Ramaswamy to withdraw the advertisement.

Trump criticized DeWine for his response, accusing the governor of disloyalty to Republicans and suggesting that he wanted a Democrat to win the election.

Trump schedules Florida rally for Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds

Trump is set to hold a campaign event this afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida, supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.

The rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at Florida Gulf Coast University, located in one of the state’s most strongly Republican areas.

Donalds is seeking a four-year term to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. He has represented Florida in the House since 2021 and is facing Democratic candidate David Jolly, who served in Congress from 2014 to 2017.

The Cook Political Report recently changed its assessment of the gubernatorial race from “Likely R” to “Lean R.”

Florida is one of several states Trump has visited as he campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of Election Day.

Trump demands Rep. Ilhan Omar resign from Congress

Trump attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., at a rally in Iowa last night, calling for her resignation over allegations of immigration fraud.

The president repeated claims that Omar’s second husband is her brother, an allegation she has denied.

During an interview with MS NOW yesterday, Omar dismissed the claim as “insane” and said it originated from an online gossip blog.

When asked whether there was any truth to the allegation, Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge.”

Trump criticized her answer later that evening, describing it as one of the worst responses he had heard from a politician.

DHS inspector general refers Corey Lewandowski investigation to Justice Department

The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general has referred an investigation involving former special government employee Corey Lewandowski to the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The inquiry concerns questions surrounding the award of a $220 million advertising contract featuring then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

During his Senate confirmation hearing in March, current Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin testified that the department’s inspector general was examining the contract.

Justice Department asks appeals court to step into California ballot dispute

The Justice Department asked an appeals court yesterday to intervene in its lawsuit seeking to temporarily prevent California from counting more than 20,000 mail-in ballots cast by voters whom the Trump administration believes are likely not U.S. citizens.

The department requested intervention from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before the lower-court judge issued a decision in the dispute.