Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. My name is Tom Ambrose, and I will be bringing you all the latest news lines over the next few hours.
Trump Targets Comedian Over Grammy Awards Joke
Former President Donald Trump is once again demonstrating his litigious tendencies. This morning, he has threatened to sue Grammy Awards host Trevor Noah following a joke Noah made about Jeffrey Epstein during the ceremony.
In a quip that suggested this would be his final year as host, Noah remarked: "Song of the Year - that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton."
Trump's Fiery Response on Truth Social
In response, Trump launched a scathing attack on the comedian, who hosted The Daily Show on Comedy Central in the US for seven years, labelling him a "total loser". Trump added: "It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty."
Writing on his Truth Social platform in his characteristic frenetic and rambling style, Trump criticised the South African-born Noah's joke, which was made after the Song of the Year award was presented. He stated: "Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media. Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast."
Trump concluded with a menacing warning: "Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!"
History of Legal Actions Against Media Outlets
In recent years, Trump has frequently resorted to legal action against various media organisations. His targets have included prominent outlets such as:
- The BBC
- The New York Times
- The Associated Press
- The Wall Street Journal
Last July, US media giant Paramount, which owns CBS, agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit related to a CBS interview with Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.
Other Key Developments in US Politics
Kennedy Center Closure Announced
In a separate announcement, Trump declared a two-year closure of the Kennedy Center, citing construction needs to transform it into the "finest performing arts facility of its kind, anywhere in the world". Writing on Truth Social on Sunday evening, Trump added that the centre's closure will pave the way for a "new and spectacular entertainment complex".
Epstein Case Review Concluded
The deputy US attorney general, Todd Blanche, who is overseeing the release of the Trump administration's Epstein files, informed ABC News on Sunday that prosecutors' review of the Jeffrey Epstein-Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking case "is over". While Blanche acknowledged the existence of disturbing photographs, he noted that this evidence does not necessarily enable prosecution.
Minneapolis Shooting Incident
Government documents have identified the two federal officers who fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as Jesus Ochoa, a 43-year-old border patrol agent, and Raymundo Gutierrez, a 35-year-old officer with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to ProPublica. Records indicate that Ochoa and Gutierrez fired their weapons during the confrontation last weekend that resulted in Pretti's death.
Immigration and International Affairs
A five-year-old boy and his father were released from a Texas immigration detention centre and returned to Minneapolis on Sunday after being held for over a week, as reported by US House representative Joaquin Castro. Additionally, Trump revealed that his administration is engaged in talks with Cuban leadership regarding a potential deal, following earlier threats to halt the country's oil imports.
Government Shutdown and Vaccine Policies
The ongoing partial US government shutdown is anticipated to persist into early next week, with no reopening likely before Tuesday, based on statements from federal officials across the political spectrum. Meanwhile, all vaccine recommendations are under reconsideration by the US vaccines committee, according to its top adviser, who has criticised school attendance requirements and advocated for vaccines to be taken based on individual medical advice.
