Trump reacts to first American Pope Robert Prevost being chosen as he gives Melania big kiss at White House event

President Donald Trump reacted to history's first U.S.-born Pope Thursday afternoon on Truth Social at Pope Leo made his debut.

Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Friday he was traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump.

The meeting was expected to take place around 3 p.m., though wasn't included on the president's public schedule.

Adams said he and Trump would discuss 'infrastructure and other funding items.'

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died at the age of 85, the Supreme Court announced on Friday.

Souter, who was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush, served in the court from 1990 until he retired in 2009.

Sitting Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said that Souter served with 'great distinction' and brought 'uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.'

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

First lady Melania Trump mentioned how Barbara Bush wanted to see a female president and supported gay rights at a ceremony Thursday unveiling a U.S. postage stamp of the late first lady.

Melania stood alongside Bush's daughter Doro, with brother Neil seated front row, and quoted the Republican first lady's 1990 commencement speech at Wellesley.

'Who knows? Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House [as the President’s spouse.] I wish him well,' Melania said, slightly flubbing Bush's quote.

She said Bush's legacy was one 'marked by her respect for tradition, while also breaking with convention.'

'While she is known for championing literacy, she also supported women's empowerment, changed the national conversation on AIDS and took a stand supporting gay rights,' the first lady said.

Melania hasn't always been politically aligned with her husband on social issues, revealing in her memoir published ahead of the 2024 election that she supported abortion rights.

President Donald Trump beat two female candidates - Democratic nominees Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris - to win the White House in 2016 and 2024.

Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations. If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.

Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also. As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Andrew Bremberg, former U.S. Ambassador to Geneva and director of the Domestic Policy Council:  

With this agreement, the United Kingdom becomes the first major ally to take a promising step toward striking a deal—setting a standard the rest of Europe would be wise to emulate. While the framework directly addresses longstanding disparities in sectors vital to the American economy, the U.K. must still address the burdens it places on U.S. technology, telecommunications, and other important sectors.

As both parties noted, this is important first step in revitalizing our Special Relationship, correcting systemic imbalances, and presenting a united front against the growing influence of Communist China in both Europe and the United States.

Joe Grogan, former Assistant to President for Domestic Policy:

This trade deal is overdue, and only Trump could have delivered. However, our UK allies still need to address the anti-American digital service tax that unfairly punishes U.S. innovators. Opening the digital economy needs to be top of the details to work out.

Vice President JD Vance reacted to the news of Pope Leo XIV's election on Thursday afternoon.

'Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election!' he wrote on X. 'I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!'

Vance converted to the Catholic faith in 2019 and was one of the last public officials to meet with Pope Francis before he died.

The vice president did not respond the pope's former posts on X sharing op-eds and articles critical of President Trump and Vance when he was Cardinal Robert Provost.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Secretary of State Marco Rubio poked fun at his unprecedented number of important and high profile positions within President Donald Trump 's administration.

Beyond running the entire State Department, the former senator was most recently appointed as Acting National Security Advisor when Mike Waltz vacated the post as he was reassigned as nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations.

'When I joined the administration, early on they said, you know, one of the initiatives we are pursuing is to increase efficiency in government,' Rubio said in remarks at the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Gala on Thursday.

In essence they want to be able to do more while, you know, spending less.

And for example, they said, one of the things we want you to look at is consolidation. Can you take, for example, what today are four jobs and give them all to one person? And I said, that sounds like a great idea, let's do that across the government.

Little did I know they just meant me.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance outside the West Wing Thursday and was peppered with questions about Pope Leo - the first U.S. born Pope.

Trump expressed delight that an American was picked.

'That's a great honor, that's a great honor,' he said, echoing wording he used in a Truth Social post. 'I was watching it and they said, "He's from America." I said, that's great.'

The president was less pleased when asked if he regretted posting an AI image of himself dressed as the Pope on social media over the weekend.

'What's next?' he asked.

The president explained that he had popped his head out to escort golf great Tiger Woods outside.

Daily Mail exclusively reported that Woods is dating Trump's former daughter-in-law Vanessa, the first wife of Donald Trump Jr.

'You saw Tiger, you saw Tiger?' he asked the gathered reporters. 'Great champion, great guy.'

President Trump privately urged House Speaker Mike Johnson during a phone call on Wednesday to raise the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans, Reuters reported.

He also reportedly urged the closing of the carried interest loophole for Wall Street investors.

Trump and Johnson spoke as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives prepares to unveil landmark legislation to extend the president's 2017 tax cuts.

The president is pushing to raise the top tax rate from 37 percent to 39.6 percent for individuals earning over $2.5 million, Reuters reported.

Jon Michael Raasch, Political Reporter for DailyMail.com

Congressional leadership celebrated the announcement of the first-ever American pope on Thursday.

'Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. May God bless the first American papacy in these historic days,' Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on X.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a noted Catholic, celebrated by posting: 'Let us thank God for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and for this vision of unity.'

'Joyfully, people around the world have learned of a new Pope elected by one of the largest and most diverse conclaves ever — and the first American pope in history,' she wrote.

The newly elected pope, Leo XIV, shared articles and op-eds on his X account when he was a cardinal that were critical of Vice President JD Vance's Catholic defence of the adminstration's immigration poliices.

The cardinal did not author the articles, but clearly wanted the share the message that was included to the Catholic faithful.

In another post, he reposted an article critical of Trump's deportation policies.

Vance, a recent Catholic convert, has not reacted yet to the papal election or the posts on social media.

The new Pope may be American, but he is no fan of President Donald Trump, according to his social media posts.

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the first American Pope on Thursday, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe.

The new Pope, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, has criticized the Trump administration's moves on immigration repeatedly and expressed support for progressive causes.

His last retweet, on April 14, slams the Trump administration's deportation of undocumented migrant and Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.

The post reads: 'Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?'

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump gushed over first lady Melania Trump's mothering Thursday at an East Room event celebrating military moms ahead of Mother's Day.

The Trumps entered the East Room together, as the president headed to the podium to introduce his wife.

Melania hasn't moved back into the White House full-time, instead splitting her time between Washington, D.C., Mar-a-Lago and New York's Trump Tower.

'I especially want to thank one of the best moms that I know, that I've ever seen. Sometimes she's almost too good,' Trump told the mostly female crowd about his wife. 'She is so good with Barron, but he's grown up strong and nice. He's a good boy. He's a good student,'

He then added, 'So I want to thank you, you've done a good job.'

In a rare emotional moment, the 78-year-old president also paid tribute to his own mother, Mary, who passed away in the year 2000.

Jon Michael Raasch, Political Reporter for DailyMail.com

Bernie Sanders offered a bizarre defense for using private jets while traveling the country to speak on his 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, during which he slammed billionaires.

The democratic socialist and environmental campaigner said he should not be expected to 'wait in line' for commercial flights.

Sanders, 83, a longtime Vermont senator and two-time presidential candidate, said he made 'no apologies' for the trips.

He told Fox News that 'you run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week, the only way you can go around to talk to 30,000 people,' is by private jet.

'You think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line at United while, what, 30,000 people are waiting around?' Sanders said. 'It’s the only way you can get around. No apologies for that.'

Last month, Sanders was spotted along with fellow progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez jet setting from stop to stop aboard a cushy Bombardier Challenger jet that reportedly costs $15,000 per hour to operate.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump made several public displays of affection as she hosted military moms in the White House's East Room in anticipation of the Mother's Day holiday.

The president introduced his wife at the event - which second lady Usha Vance and Vice President J.D. Vance also attended.

He remarked what a great job she did with Barron, who at 19 is a college freshman at New York University.

'I especially want to thank one of the best moms that I know, that I've ever seen. Sometimes she's almost too good. She is so good with Barron, but he's grown up strong and nice. He's a good boy. He's a good student,' Trump told his wife, who was seated in the front row. 'So I want to thank you, you've done a good job.'

When Melania came onstage to speak, the president gave her a kiss on the cheek.

He also smooched her when she was seated among audience members that included Attorney General Pam Bondi, press secretary Karoline Leavitt and GOP Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump was asked to react to the news that a new Pope had been chosen as he exited an event hosted by first lady Melania Trump to celebrate military moms ahead of Mother's Day.

I've seen the smoke but I haven't seen the Pope.

President Trump said he expects there to be substantive negotiations between the United States and China on trade.

He said tariffs on China couldn't get higher than the current 145 percent.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet China's economic tsar He Lifeng in Switzerland this weekend for talks that could be the first step toward resolving a trade war disrupting the global economy.

Trump said:

You can't get any higher. It's at 145, so we know it's coming down. I think it's a very friendly meeting. They look forward to doing it in an elegant way.

President Donald Trump once again savaged Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

He complained that the Fed is refusing to lower interest rates.

Trump said cutting interest rates would be 'like jet fuel' for the economy 'but he doesn't want to do it.'

He said Powell is 'not in love with me.'

President Donald Trump denied that he was overselling the trade deal with the U.K.

He insisted that it was far-reaching and could be expanded.

This is a very conclusive deal, but we think we can grow it even from that. This is a maxed-out deal.

We can now bring you footage of the moment Keir Starmer reacted to the US trade deal moments after he got off the phone with Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister decided to visit a Jaguar Land Rover plant to announce details of this 'historic' agreement.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed that the UK has been 'shafted' by the Government’s deal with the US.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump said tariffs on British films were still being discussed but assured reporters in the Oval Office Thursday he could come to a deal.

'James Bond has nothing to worry about,' the president said.

The journalist had noted that it was a 'great day for James Bond' because of the vehicle deal between the U.S. and the U.K. would allow for the U.K. to send 100,000 cars into the U.S. with a lower 10 percent tariff, a boon for British carmaker Aston Martin, the cars Bond famously drove.

'And you know, Sean Connery was a friend of mine,' Trump also noted.

He said the late Scottish actor, who was the original Bond in films, helped the president get permitting for his Trump International golf club in Aberdeen, Scotland.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Donald Trump's trade agreement with the UK includes the country purchasing $10 billion in Boeing planes.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick revealed this deatil of the deal at Thursday's Oval Office announcement.

He said the UK opening their market has added $5 billion in opportunity to American exporters specifically when it comes to cars, steel and agriculture.

'This would’ve taken us 3 years — Trump got it done in 45 days,' Lutnick said. 'Trump gets deals done.'

From left: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump announce a trade deal with the UK

The Prime Minister has insisted the US trade deal puts the UK in a better position as he was questioned on tariffs which will be maintained at 10pc

Asked if Britain was on a better footing with the deal than before the US introduced tariffs, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'The question you should be asking is, is it better than where we were yesterday?'

He added: 'What this does is to reduce to zero the tariffs on steel and aluminium. Look how important that is. Reduces massively from 27.5% to 10% the tariffs on the cars that we export, so important to JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), actually to the sector generally, but JLR in particular, who sell so many cars into the American market, proudly do that.

'Of course, it also includes pharmaceuticals, some really important measures. Obviously, we don’t have tariffs yet, but we’ve got within the deal significantly preferential treatment whatever happens in the future. So this is hugely important for our pharmaceutical sector as well.'

Starmer insisted the deal shows the UK did the 'hard yards' after people urged him to walk away from trade talks and have a 'different kind of relationship' with the US.

Sir Keir Starmer said the US-UK trade deal is 'just the start' of an 'ambitious' economic partnership between the two nations.

Speaking from a Jaguar Land Rover plant, the Prime Minister added his officials are 'hammering out' further details with the US.

He said: 'I also want to be clear, this is just the start with the deal we’ve done today. We can say jobs saved, jobs won, not job done, because we’re more ambitious for what the UK and the US can do together.

'So we’re hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States, across the board.'

First lady Melania Trump is skipping President Donald Trump's whirlwind trip to the Middle East next week.

Daily Mail confirmed the first lady's absence as the president visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates over the course of three and a half days.

The Middle East trip was supposed to be the president's first big foreign swing of his second term.

But due to the death of Pope Francis, Trump traveled to Rome first. Melania, a Catholic, accompanied him on that trip.

The first lady hasn't fully moved back into the White House since Trump was sworn-in in January.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump didn't wait to have British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fly-in before announcing the U.S.-U.K. trade deal on Thursday.

Instead Trump brought reporters into the Oval Office and had Starmer call-in.

The trade event wasn't on the original White House public schedule for Thursday.

Both leaders touted that May 8 was Victory in Europe Day, when Germany surrendered to the allies, which included the United States and the United Kingdom.

On the phone, Starmer commented the timing 'couldn’t be more apt.'

The prime minister said the announcement was 'going to boost trade between and across our countries.'

'With this President and Prime Minister, we have managed to achieve what many people have tried to achieve for years,' Starmer also said.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Donald Trump lauded the 'incredible day for America' as he struck a major trade deal with the United Kingdom.

It's the first agreement reached since the president announced his massive tariff plan on April 2.

On Truth Social, Trump listed some of the ddetails of the deal.

As part of this Deal, America will raise $6 BILLION DOLLARS in External Revenue from 10% Tariffs, $5 BILLION DOLLARS in new Export Opportunities for our Great Ranchers, Farmers, and Producers, and enhance the National Security of both the U.S. and the UK through the creation of an Aluminum and Steel Trading Zone, and a secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.

He also previewed that more deals are coming after his 'Liberation Day' tariff threats shook international markets.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

The Dow exploded by over 500 points Thursday with the announcement that President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

Trump sent the markets spiraling with his 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement on April 2, setting 10 percent tariffs on most of the world, and higher reciprocal tariffs on countries that the president defined as bad trade actors.

The president then walked back the higher tariffs, putting them on pause for 90 days, while negotiations were ongoing.

Thursday's announcement with the U.K. marked the first completed trade deal.

Trump put Starmer on the phone in the Oval Office as he cheered the deal.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Donald Trump blamed former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 43, for prevailing 'air traffic problems.'

The president railed against Buttigieg, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and is likely looking to launch another bid for the White House in 2028.

'Air Traffic problems caused by the incompetent Biden Administration, as headed by, in this case, a total novice and political hack, Pete B. I WILL FIX IT!!!' Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday.

The attack comes after a series of disasters and close calls in commercial U.S. air travel.

Joe and Jill Biden are re-emerging from their post-White House life to hit back against a spate of new books revealing embarrassing details about the former president's declining health.

Their first big joint stop will be an interview on ABC's The View on Thursday morning but the former first couple have other options they are considering, including a massive deal to publish their tell-all memoirs.

Biden is already hard at work on his own tome about his White House years, writing at his home office in Delaware and his post-presidential office in Washington D.C.

Donald Trump revealed he has struck a huge trade deal with the United Kingdom, the first such agreement since he launched a global trade blitz last month.

The president promised many more deals would follow with other countries after his 'Liberation Day' tariffs sent the world economy into a tailspin.

It means Trump is handing a big political victory to a key ally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been negotiating behind the scenes with the White House for weeks.

Fed chair Jerome Powell said uncertainty about the economy has only increased in the first decision since President Trump unleashed a series of aggressive tariffs on much of the rest of the world.

Powell said the possibility of the nightmare situation of stagflation - where inflation remains high and unemployment also increases - has increased, in a stark new warning.

'If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they're likely to generate a rise in inflation, a slowdown in economic growth and an increase in unemployment,' Powell said.

Rising prices and more unemployment threatens the Fed's dual mandate to keep prices in check while ensuring a healthy labor market.

Inflation currently remains 'somewhat elevated' according to the Fed's statement.