Donald Trump spent last night fuming about his botched reflecting pool refurb, beefing with Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni, and posting a picture of a mystery woman on Truth Social. Here's everything you need to know.
Trump's Meltdown Over the Reflecting Pool
Trump had an absolute meltdown about his botched reflecting pool refurb. He cancelled a plan to renovate the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and instead got a swimming pool repair firm, owned by a Republican donor, to spray industrial pool coating on the bottom. The project came in a month late and ten times over budget, costing taxpayers $14 million. As soon as water was added, super algae invaded, turning the water green, and the coating began to peel.
Rather than take ownership, Trump blamed the radical left. In an early evening rant, he claimed vandals had caused the issues, even alleging someone cut a 250-foot gash under the surface. Trump said the pool will have to be drained, fixed, and refilled.
National Guard Deployed to Protect the Pool
In a flurry of Truth Social posts, Trump announced arrests for vandalising the pool. He also dispatched the National Guard to protect it, despite the area being one of the lowest crime areas in Washington DC. The National Guard was originally deployed to reduce crime in the city.
The Mystery Woman Solved
In the dead of night, Trump posted on Truth Social: 'Great daughter. My Honor!!! President DJT,' accompanied by a photo of a blonde woman in black on a sofa making a phone call. The woman is not his daughter, granddaughter, or wife. After investigation, the woman is Margo Catsimatidis, a retail magnate and Republican donor. The photo was likely taken at Camp David, based on matching sofa cushions and a Presidential Call Box. Trump and Margo Catsimatidis are old friends; she and her husband gave over half a million dollars to Trump's 2016 campaign. Why Trump called her 'Great daughter' remains a mystery.
JD Vance in Switzerland for Iran Talks
JD Vance arrived in Switzerland to help launch negotiations with Iranian leaders over curbing Tehran's nuclear program. The framework was signed last week, and top US and Iran negotiators are in a 60-day sprint to reach technical details. The first days were complicated by heavy exchange of fire in Lebanon and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which transits a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas.
Trump Threatens Tolls on Strait of Hormuz
Trump ruled out America charging tolls on the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day negotiation period, but indicated that after that, if a deal is not done, tolls could be imposed by the US for 'services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.'
Beef with Giorgia Meloni Deepens
Trump deepened his beef with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, doubling down on his claim that she 'begged' him for a photo op at the G7, which Meloni denies. Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'Italian Prime Minister Gigiorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France.' He misspelled her name initially. Meloni responded, saying 'these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless' and suggested Trump focus on his own popularity.
