Top Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev has responded to President Donald Trump warning that Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire.”
“Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia,” Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, wrote on X, formerly Twitter on Tuesday.
“I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!”
What To Know
- Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Putin, as the president attempts to negotiate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
- Putin has been accused of dragging his feet in the peace process and being slow to engage in ceasefire negotiations. But over the weekend, Trump’s patience with Putin appears to have reached a breaking point after Moscow launched its biggest drone attack since the start of its invasion in February of 2022.
- On Sunday, Trump accused Putin of having “gone absolutely CRAZY” over the major air strike on Ukraine and told reporters that he was “not happy with what Putin’s doing.”
- On Tuesday, Trump followed up, warning, “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “He’s playing with fire.”
Newsweek’s live blog is closed.
05:00 PM EDT
Trump signs proclamation celebrating US Border Control’s 101st anniversary
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring that Wednesday, May 28, will be a day of celebration for the United States Border Patrol’s 101st anniversary.
“Shockingly, President Biden and the Democrats refused to celebrate and honor them,” Trump said, referring to Border Patrol, in a Truth Social Post.
“Therefore would not sign a Proclamation celebrating this great achievement and all they have done for this Country!” Trump added in the post, which also shared his proclamation.
04:52 PM EDT
OPINION: Supreme Court’s free speech v. Paxton decision could protect kids online
Can a state place age restrictions on pornography websites so that children cannot access their material? The U.S. Supreme Court will decide that critical question in its forthcoming opinion in the case Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton.
For those who’ve not been following this case, this is a decision worth paying close attention to. It will be of critical importance for future state and federal efforts to protect kids online, especially from pornography.
The case started with a lawsuit, brought by the trade association for the pornography industry, masking itself behind the name “Free Speech Coalition.” The association sued the state of Texas over a law, H.B. 1181, that requires pornographic websites doing business in Texas to “use reasonable age verification methods” to verify that a customer “is 18 years of age or older.” The law applies to any commercial entity that “knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material on an Internet website, including a social media platform, more than one-third of which is sexual material harmful to minors.” Companies that do not institute the required age verification will be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per day and up to $250,000 if a child is exposed to pornographic content because of a failure to verify his or her age.
04:49 PM EDT
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift injunction on third country deportations
President Donald Trump’s administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to intervene in its attempt to deport migrants to countries other than their own, Reuters reports.
The Justice Department requested that the justices lift District Judge Brian Murphy’s nationwide injunction which requires that migrants must be given a chance to argue in that they are at risk of being persecuted, tortured or killed in that third country.
The injunction is in place while litigation continues through the courts.
04:32 PM EDT
Sen. Tuberville announces he is running for Alabama governor
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has announced he is running for Alabama governor in 2026.
The lawmaker launched his “Coach Tuberville for Governor’ website on Tuesday.
Among his campaign promises are “securing the border” and “improving education” to “make sure that students, not woke teachers’ unions, always come first.”
The former University of Cincinnati’s head football coach won his Senate seat representing Alabama in 2020.
04:13 PM EDT
Republicans’ chances of flipping Michigan Senate seat in midterms—New poll
Michigan presents an opportunity for Republicans to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms, but a new poll suggested the race will be close in the battleground state that narrowly backed President Donald Trump last November.
Senator Gary Peters’ retirement in Michigan leaves the Senate seat open, and candidates from both parties are trying to seize on the rare open seat in the Great Lake State.
The Michigan Senate race will likely be one of the most competitive, and expensive, of the midterms. The state has emerged as one of the closest battlegrounds, backing Trump in 2016 and 2024 but voting for Joe Biden in 2020. Republicans will be looking to expand their Senate majority, but it’s a must win for Democrats who are hoping to ride a “blue wave” to flip the chamber in November 2026.
A new poll conducted by the Glengariff Group and the Detroit Regional Chamber asked Michigan voters who they would support in hypothetical matchups of the election. It found that the race will likely be competitive, but how close could depend on who emerges from each party’s primary.
Read in full from Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.
04:09 PM EDT
Top Russian official reacts to Trump warning Putin he’s ‘playing with fire’
Top Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev has responded to President Donald Trump warning that Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire.”
“Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia,” Medvedev wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!
03:40 PM EDT
Trump’s new pardon attorney Ed Martin personally reviewed Stewart Rhodes case
Trump’s new pardon attorney Ed Martin personally reviewed the pardon application for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.
Lawyer Peter Ticktin, who works at conservative nonprofit American Rights Alliance, told Politico he hand delivered Rhodes’ application to Martin, alongside ten other pardon cases.
“I know Ed Martin and I felt it was important to bring these particular applications to his attention,” said Ticktin, a former classmate of Trump.
Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
03:25 PM EDT
Supreme Court just made ‘grave mistake,’ Justice Neil Gorsuch says
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a dispute over Apache sacred land on Tuesday, prompting Justice Neil Gorsuch to issue a dissent describing the denial as a “grave mistake.”
The case, brought by the group Apache Stronghold, sought to prevent the federal government’s planned transfer of Oak Flat, a site in Arizona sacred to the Apache, to a mining company.
Gorsuch argued that the Court should have agreed to hear the case, saying the lower court’s decision “rests on questionable legal footing.” The Court’s order left intact a Ninth Circuit ruling that permitted the land transfer to proceed.
The Supreme Court denied review in Apache Stronghold v. United States, a case challenging the planned land transfer of Oak Flat (Chi’chil Biłdagoteel) to a private mining company for copper extraction. The Ninth Circuit previously ruled that the transfer did not violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a federal law protecting religious exercise. The land is considered by Apache communities to be essential for ceremonies and spiritual practice.
Read in full from Jenna Sundel on Newsweek.
03:16 PM EDT
WATCH: Zelensky accuses Putin of ‘playing games’ with diplomacy
03:15 PM EDT
Trump threats to Canada has boosted monarchy appeal, says professor
Syracuse University professor and British historian Alan Allport told Newsweek that King Charles III’s speech at Canadian Parliament on Tuesday came as the royals were seeing a surprising boon in popularity.
“This is a peculiar time for the Canadian monarchy. Just a few years ago, sentiment in Canada was definitely drifting towards republicanism,” Allport said.
A poll taken shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II showed a majority of Canadians preferred an elected head of state, with most wanting a national referendum on the issue.
However, President Donald Trump’s threats to annex its northern neighbor appears to have had a major impact on how Canadians view the Crown.
Allport said that the threats to “Canadian sovereignty by the Trump administration have changed everything.”
“Suddenly the idea of maintaining a distinctive Canadian institution like the Crown seems more appealing,” he added. “Certainly it is not a coincidence that Prime Minister Carney has chosen this moment to invite Charles III to personally open the Canadian parliament, breaking a precedent that goes back 50 years.”
01:39 PM EDT
WATCH: RFK Jr. ends COVID shot recommendation for healthy kids, pregnant women
01:23 PM EDT
Elon Musk breaks with Trump on energy: ‘oil is small-time’
Elon Musk appeared to contradict long-running efforts by President Donald Trump to promote fossil fuels over renewable energy on Monday, writing in a post on his X platform Tuesday morning: “Compared to solar, oil is small-time.”
Trump reignited the “drill, baby, drill” mantra during his 2024 campaign, declaring a national energy emergency and rolling back environmental regulations to boost U.S. oil and gas production.
Musk is a close ally of the president, with the billionaire Tesla owner spearheading efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce government spending.
Read in full from Joe Edwards on Newsweek.
01:14 PM EDT
Hegseth traveling to Singapore this week for international security conference
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to Singapore on Wednesday to attend an international security conference.
The Shangri-La Dialogue security conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, attracts military and government officials from around the world.
It is not yet clear if China’s defense delegation will attend and or if the Chinese minister will meet with his U.S. counterpart amid rising tensions between the two nations over President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
12:54 PM EDT
WATCH: King Charles says Canada faces ‘unprecedented’ challenges
12:52 PM EDT
Dr. Oz offers to import 400 Canadian bird flu farm ostriches
Dr. Mehmet Oz has offered sanctuary to 400 ostriches facing death in Canada due to bird flu.
Dr. Oz, the Trump appointed director of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), along with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, have intervened to rescue the flightless birds after authorities in British Columbia pledged to cull them amid an outbreak of avian flu.
In January, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the birds be killed after 69 of the same flock at Universal Ostrich Farm in the West Kootenays died from the highly infectious virus. The farm has been fighting the order in court.
Oz is offering his 900-acre ranch in Okeechobee, Florida, as a new home for the beleaguered birds.
The CMS director said he had spoken with the owner of the ranch where the birds currently live, who told him he could house them.
Read in full from Aliss Highman on Newsweek.
12:33 PM EDT
Trump warns Putin he’s ‘playing with fire’
President Donald Trump has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin that he is “playing with fire.”
Trump, who once promised on the campaign trail that he would end the Ukraine-Russia war within 24 hours of taking office, has become increasingly frustrated with Putin in recent days amid the peace talks,
On Sunday, he even claimed that the Russian president had “gone absolutely CRAZY” after a major air strike on Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Trump posted what appeared to be a warning for Putin, on Truth Social.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!” Trump wrote.
12:27 PM EDT
Donald Trump freezes all new student visa interviews: Report
The Trump administration has ordered a freeze on all new student visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates, as it weighs a plan to require foreign applicants to undergo social media vetting, according to a State Department cable obtained by POLITICO.
The cable is dated Tuesday and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, POLITICO reported that the document outlines the forthcoming shift in vetting procedures.
The news outlet also reported Tuesday the Trump administration is considering a policy that would require all foreign students applying to study in the United States to undergo social media screening.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email Tuesday afternoon for comment.
12:26 PM EDT
King Charles leaves Senate with standing ovation
King Charles left Canada’s parliament to a standing ovation and loud applause after he delivered his speech on Tuesday.
The British royal, and wife, Queen Camilla, shook hands with a long line of officials before greeting well-wishers outside.
They will head to a Canadian war memorial shortly.
12:06 PM EDT
Canada remains ‘strong and free’
King Charles ended his speech to Canada’s parliament with a reference to the country’s national anthem.
“As the anthem reminds us, True North is indeed strong, and free,” Charles said to applause from the chamber.
11:57 AM EDT
Canada won’t just ‘survive ongoing trade wars’, but will emerge stronger, says King Charles
King Charles laid out many of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s policies during his speech to boost Canada’s economy amid its trade war with the U.S., with a goal “to build the strongest economy in the G7.”
That included removing internal trade barriers that he said have held back the economy.
“We will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever,” he said.
11:52 AM EDT
Canadians ‘uniting behind what makes Canada unique’, says Charles
King Charles praised Canadians for “uniting behind what makes Canada unique” during a time of “great change.”
The royal said that the government is “determined to protect” those things, such as Radio Canada and the country’s nature.
11:43 AM EDT
Canada should ‘think big, act bigger’, says Charles
King Charles acknowledged that many Canadians were feeling “anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them,” but called on the country to think about it as “an incredible opportunity.”
“An opportunity for renewal, an opportunity to think big and act bigger, an opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War,” the British royal said Tuesday.
“A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians fleeing some of the most tragic global conflict zones can seize this opportunity, by recognizing that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power or any continent can ever take away.
“And by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy to serve all Canadians.”
The King also mentioned Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump’s ongoing discussions, to define a new “economic relationship between Canada and the United States, rooted in mutual respect, and founded on common interests, to deliver transformation benefits for both sovereign nations.”
11:29 AM EDT
Canada faces a ‘critical moment’ in history, says Charles
Prince Charles said that Canada is facing another “critical moment” in history as he said that its government are “determined to protect” Canadian “democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom.”
“The system of open global trade, that while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing,” he added, in a clear reference to President Donald Trump’s trade war.
“Canada’s relationship with partners are also changing.”
11:20 AM EDT
King Charles says world faces ‘unprecedented challenges’
King Charles warned that the world was facing “unprecedented challenges” in 2025 as he called upon people to “think and act for the greater good of all.”
“We owe it to this generation and those who succeed us, to think and act for the greater good of all,” he said in his address to Canadian parliament.
“While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainty across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.”
11:16 AM EDT
Charles says he admires Canada’s ‘bravery’
King Charles said that he admires Canada’s “bravery and sacrifice” as he noted the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
“I’ve always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity which is recognized across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defense of national values,” he said, before repeating himself in French.
11:11 AM EDT
King Charles is now speaking at the parliament
King Charles said that he has a “deep sense of pride” to be addressing Canada from the its parliament amid a “renewed sense of national pride.”
11:00 AM EDT
King Charles unlikely to mention Trump by name in speech: Expert
King Charles is unlikely to mention President Donald Trump by name when he makes his speech to Canada’s parliament, University of Toronto political science professor Elizabeth McCallion told CBS News.
However, he is likely to talk about Canada’s sovereignty which carries extra significance amid Trump’s repeated threats to make the country America’s 51st state.
“Everybody knows what it means in this context,” McCallion said.
She added that the British royal’s visit will be a “reminder that we are an independent country.”
10:48 AM EDT
OPINION: The 1600 Newsletter— A free idea for Democrats in 2028
If I ever run for president, I would do it on a promise to triple the number of three-day weekends in America. Think about how much more you got done over Memorial Day compared to a typical weekend… the extra time with friends and family, the extra day of leisure, the extra time to knock things off your to-do list. Who would be against just adding, like, 10 more of these to the calendar? They don’t even have to be real holidays, we can do it like the Brits and create a bunch of “bank holidays” on random Mondays in the spring and summer where no one is expected to go to work.
I’m not even really joking about this. The Democrats—or the third party we deserve but will never get—needs to borrow from the Trump playbook more. Say what you will about how he governs, but he’s got a bunch of easy-to-understand policy ideas, like “No tax on tips” and “Build the wall.” The Dems will answer that with a slogan like, “Student loan forgiveness…but only for Pell Grant recipients who start a business that operates for three years in disadvantaged communities” (this was a real Kamala campaign pledge once upon a time.) How about instead, “Triple the three-day weekends!” Who’s voting against that?
I suppose we should talk about the actual news from the weekend, the headline of which is that President Trump appears to have finally gotten the message that everyone else has known for a long time: Vladimir Putin does not have any interest in ending the war in Ukraine. Days after Trump and Putin held an “excellent” two-hour call about a ceasefire, Russia unleashed its biggest offensive yet against Ukrainian cities, hitting mostly civilian targets like residential neighborhoods and college dorms. Trump responded, seemingly in shock, saying “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin” and following that up with a post saying the Russian lead “has gone absolutely CRAZY.”
Read in full from Carlo Versano on Newsweek.
10:24 AM EDT
NPR sues Trump over executive order to cut its federal funding
National Public Radio, and three Colorado radio stations, have filed a lawsuit against Trump, arguing that his executive order aimed at slashing its federal funding is illegal.
Trump issued the executive order earlier this month, instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS,” citing bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.
“The Order’s objectives could not be clearer: the Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes and chill the free exercise of First Amendment rights by NPR and individual public radio stations across the country,” the lawsuit alleges.
“It is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. ‘But this wolf comes as a wolf. The Order targets NPR and PBS expressly because, in the President’s view, their news and other content is not ‘fair, accurate, or unbiased’.”
The three stations joining the suit, filed in federal court in Washington, are Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT.
10:08 AM EDT
Trump says there has been progress on trade talks with EU
President Trump said there’s been progress on trade talks with the European Union after he announced he was imposing a flat 50 percent tariff on the voting block.
In a post on Truth Social, on Tuesday, Trump said that new dates are being set for talks.
“This is a positive event,” Trump wrote, “and I hope that they will, FINALLY, like my same demand to China, open up the European Nations for Trade with the United States of America. They will BOTH be very happy, and successful, if they do!!!”
Trump announced the 50 percent E.U. tariff last week, which was set to go into effect on June 1. He has since said he will delay those plans.
09:57 AM EDT
North Korea blasts US ‘arrogance’ over Golden Dome plans
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon/AP
North Korea has slammed President Donald Trump‘s new “Golden Dome” air defense system as “threatening,” according to the secretive country’s state media, which denounced the initiative as turning “outer space into a potential nuclear war field.”
Trump unveiled initial plans for the “state of the art” missile defense system dubbed “Golden Dome” earlier this month, which he said would be up and running by the end of his administration to shield against “next-generation” threats like ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles.
An increasingly belligerent North Korea has forged ahead with its weapons development, including nuclear warheads. The “Golden Dome” has drawn sharp criticism from Russia and China, North Korea’s two most important allies.
Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry said the “Golden Dome” was a “threatening initiative” imbued with “self-righteousness” and “arrogance,” in remarks carried by state media. North Korea accused the U.S. of “militarizing” space, which could become a “potential nuclear war field.”
Read in full from Ellie Cook on Newsweek.
09:46 AM EDT
Donald Trump fires Gavin Newsom new trans warning: ‘TOTALLY DEMEANING’
President Donald Trump threatened to withhold “large scale” federal funding from California if a trans girl athlete was allowed to compete in state finals, contravening one of his executive orders.
Trump said he would call Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to address the issue and would order local authorities to intervene and prevent the person from competing.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday morning.
The president did not specify which sport or competition he was referring to.
But a trans high school athlete triumphed in the girls’ long jump and triple jump this week at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Track Championship Masters Qualifiers.
They will compete at the upcoming state championship in California.
09:29 AM EDT
Russia rules out Vatican for peace talks: US special envoy
Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, has said that Russia has ruled out holding peace talks in the Vatican.
“We would have liked to have it at the Vatican and we were pretty set to do something like that, but the Russians didn’t want to go there, to the Vatican, so I think Geneva may be the next stop,” Kellogg said during an appearance on Fox News, Tuesday.
Trump said last week that the Vatican had expressed interest in hosting the negotiations. Both the U.S. and Ukraine said they were open to holding the talks there.
Kellogg added that Russia had not yet delivered a memorandum on working with Ukraine to draft a framework for a ceasefire and a potential peace treaty.
Today’s news comes after President Trump and Vladimir Putin’s relationship appears to have deteriorated over the weekend, with Trump accusing the Russian leader of going “crazy” over his major strikes on Kyiv.
09:19 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s approval rating skyrockets with hispanics
President Donald Trump‘s approval rating has increased among Hispanic voters, a new poll has revealed.
According to new polling, Trump’s approval rating among this demographic has increased by 22 percent in a month.
Despite frequently facing criticism for hard-line immigration policies that target migrants from countries in Latin America, Trump has recently made significant gains in favorability and approval among Hispanic Americans.
Hispanic voters were one of the key groups who proved important in securing Trump’s win in the November 2024 election. The demographic has generally leaned Democratic, but Trump increased his share of the Hispanic vote from 16 percent in 2016 to 42 percent in 2024.
According to an InsiderAdvantage poll of 1,000 likely voters, 59.6 percent of Hispanics approve of Trump’s job performance while 40.4 percent disapprove.
The poll was conducted between May 17 and 19 and had a margin of error of 3.09 percent.
Read in full from Kate Plummer on Newsweek.
09:12 AM EDT
WATCH: King Charles visits Canada for the first time as sovereign
09:09 AM EDT
King Charles visit a ‘reminder of bond between Canada and the Crown’: PM
Canadian Minister Mark Carney has welcomed King Charles visit which he called a “reminder of the bond between Canada and the Crown.”
Carney said that bond had been “forged over generations, shaped by shared histories, and grounded in common values. A bond that, over time, has evolved, just as Canada has, to reflect the strength, diversity, and confidence of our people.”
The prime minister said that Charles’ speech, the first by a royale in almost 50 years and being held nearly 70 years after Canada’s Sovereign first opened Parliament, was a historic honor that “matches the weight of our times.”
“It speaks to our enduring tradition and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify,” he added.
08:50 AM EDT
King Charles to warn ‘Canada is not for sale’
King Charles is expected to warn that “Canada is not for sale” during his speech to Canadian Parliament on Tuesday, according to Canadian high commissioner Ralph Goodale.
“It’s a very important opportunity for His Majesty to be in a forum where he will have the opportunity to speak to Canadians at a time when that message about the significance and the strength of Canadian sovereignty needs to be reinforced by every means possible,” Goodale told The Independent.
“The prime minister has made it clear that Canada is not for sale now, is not for sale ever. The King, as head of state, will reinforce the power and the strength of that message.”