The Latest: Trump hits the campaign trail in Texas, kicking off blitz before midterms

President Donald Trump is hitting the campaign trail Thursday in heavily Republican areas to shore up lagging enthusiasm in their party ahead of next month’s midterm elections. He could have his work cut out for him: Just 26% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of the economy overall, marking a new low, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Trump’s travel to Texas, followed by Oklahoma, kicks off what the president said will be a 32-day campaign blitz leading up to Nov. 3. Republicans in Texas are spending heavily to try to bolster state Attorney General Ken Paxton in a competitive Senate race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. In Oklahoma, Trump will campaign with Republican Mike Mazzei, who is running against Democratic state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson in the race for governor.

Trump’s immigration policies, meanwhile, are finding renewed attention in the Supreme Court, which agreed Thursday to review his administration’s denial of bond hearings for immigrants during its sweeping crackdown. The justices will consider whether immigrants who have been living in the U.S. have a right to a hearing to determine if they should remain detained while challenging their possible deportation.

The Latest:

Trump boosts Paxton, who’s running against Talarico for US Senate in Texas

“I didn’t even know he was here,” Trump said on stage in Denton, Texas, referring to Paxton, the state’s attorney general. “The guy is the greatest attorney general in the United States of America.”

Paxton, whose candidacy is weighed down by past scandals, is in a competitive race against Talarico, even in Republican-dominated Texas. Trump appeared aware.

“We need Ken so badly and that’s why I’m here,” he said, standing in the Peterbilt Motors’ factory he was visiting to talk about American manufacturing. “I want to also say you build a nice truck.”

Trump begins speaking at Texas Peterbilt Motors’ factory

The president is visiting Denton, Texas, to pump up American manufacturing at the factory along with Republican midterm candidates.

Dennis Rodman spotted during Trump’s visit to Texas truck facility

As the president chatted and took pictures with workers at the facility, spotted nearby were various administration officials and the former NBA star.

Rodman, wearing sparkly black pants, did not offer any public comment. He made several high-profile visits to North Korea between 2013 and 2017 and developed a friendship with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump was asked by reporters traveling with him why Rodman was there and if Rodman was trying to broker a peace deal with North Korea. Trump replied: “I can tell you this, we have a good relationship.”

He added, “As long as I’m here, you are not going to have any problems.”

State Department waives human rights restrictions on Egypt military aid and will release funds

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has waived a restriction on $320 million in military aid to Egypt that had been previously withheld over human rights concerns, citing Egypt’s help in dealing with Iran since the conflict began earlier this year.

The State Department said Thursday that Rubio signed off on the waiver “In the interest of U.S. national security.”

’The Secretary’s determination reflects the importance of Egypt to U.S. national security interests, and the concrete security cooperation Egypt provides to the United States,” the department said.

Granting a waiver to Egypt, which receives $1.3 billion in economic and military assistance from the United States annually, for the congressionally mandated human rights requirement has become routine for both Republican and Democratic administrations. The Biden administration, for example, last issued a waiver in September 2024, citing Egypt’s assistance in U.S. efforts to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Hearing in White House media ban case set for Oct. 8

A federal judge who temporarily blocked the White House from banning three news outlets has scheduled a hearing next week for arguments on whether to extend the order while the case plays out.

In September, Trump abruptly banished CNN, MS NOW and Politico. CNN has also been removed twice in the last week as the network television outlet in the White House press pool. In solidarity, no other network television outlet filled the vacancy.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a two-week temporary restraining order on Trump’s ban on the three organizations, which ordered their access restored. It expires on Oct. 8, which is when the hearing is scheduled.

Trump touches down in Texas

The president landed in Texas ahead of his visit to cut the ribbon on a new truck factory in Denton.

Trump spoke briefly to reporters, flanked by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican members of Congress from the state.

Asked about predictions that Republicans could lose control of Congress after November, Trump said his administration needed to better tout its accomplishments. He added that pollsters “didn’t know I was going to go campaigning all over the country, and I am.”

Trump has promised to travel to battleground states. But, so far, he’s concentrated on deeply red areas. After Texas, Trump was heading to Oklahoma later Thursday and planned to hit solidly Republican Alabama.

“I’m really doing it to say thank you,” Trump said of support for him in GOP-controlled areas.

Democrats want to penalize the White House for using taxpayer funds on Trump’s ads

The bill proposed by Sen. Patty Murray of Washington would reduce funding for the White House’s Office of Management and Budget by $20 million every time the administration violates a longstanding law that prevents the use of federal funds on “propaganda.”

“If the president is going to defy federal law to run propaganda celebrating himself—and his budget director is going to allow it—there must be consequences,” said Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.

The legislation backed by other Democrats on the committee comes after the administration tapped $20 million in Homeland Security funds to pay for the campaign-style ads glorifying Trump ahead of the midterm elections.

Pentagon doubles troop combat pay

The Pentagon says it is doubling the monthly bonus awarded to troops for serving in combat areas.

In a statement released Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that the Pentagon is increasing “hostile fire pay” from $225 per month to $450. The bonus is awarded to compensate troops who are facing enemy fire.

The Pentagon is also slightly increasing its “imminent danger pay” — a broader benefit that does not require a servicemember be under close to or facing enemy fire — from $225 per month to $275.

The statement noted that they are making the change to better reflect “the differences between serving in an area where danger is possible and facing hostile fire.”

States, cities sue Trump administration over repeal of rule that limits power plant pollution

States and cities are suing the Trump administration for repealing rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants.

Twenty-one states, led by New York, challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s power plant rule repeal Thursday. They were joined by Pennsylvania’s governor, the District of Columbia, New York City, Chicago and the city and county of Denver.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the federal government is showing “callous disregard” for Americans’ health and the environment.

The EPA says it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. But the agency said last month in announcing the repeal that it would save the industry more than $300 billion in costs and help “unleash” American energy.

Panel OKs final design plans for White House screening facility

The National Capitol Planning Commission on Thursday approved the proposal Thursday after brief discussion of the underground facility to screen visitors.

The project got preliminary approval earlier this year from the federal commission that approves construction on federal land in Washington. The center beneath Sherman Park, which is located southeast of the White House and directly south of the Treasury building, marks the latest step in the Trump administration’s plan to overhaul the grounds.

An architect said Thursday some of the design had been tweaked to match plans for the massive White House ballroom currently under construction where the East Wing used to stand.

Governors to decide whether to join national scholarship program

More than two dozen undecided governors may soon say whether their states will participate in a new national scholarship for education expenses including private school tuition.

Many governors were waiting for the proposed rules released today by the Treasury Department for the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit to decide whether to sign up for the program launching January 1.

The federal program is expected to bring taxpayer money for private school tuition to several states that have yet to embrace vouchers or education savings accounts.

Treasury officials predict the program will direct nearly $26 billion into as many 2.2 million scholarships each year by 2030.

ICE tells officers to make traffic stops only if they have training

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been ordered not to engage in high-speed car chases and to make vehicle stops only if they have completed specific training, under new internal guidance issued after several drivers were shot in encounters with ICE.

A memo sent to officers in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division and obtained by The Associated Press warned they are not authorized to chase vehicles that fail to pull over under any circumstances. Instead, officers should take down the vehicles’ information for further investigation, according to the memo signed by ICE’s executive associate director Marcos D. Charles and dated Wednesday.

The new guidance comes after ICE-initiated vehicle stops have repeatedly escalated when drivers have refused to cooperate or tried to flee. ICE agents have fired their guns during more than a dozen such encounters since last year, killing at least four people and wounding several others.

By Ryan J. Foley

White House removes CNN from Thursday’s pool coverage

The White House removed CNN from serving as the primary television outlet covering the president on Thursday, the latest action by the Trump administration to enforce a media ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

In solidarity, no other network television outlet filled the vacancy in Thursday’s White House pool. Thursday marked the second time in the last week that CNN has been prevented from participating in its White House pool duties.

In September, President Donald Trump abruptly banished CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds. A judge issued a temporary ruling against the administration, ordering that the outlets be allowed at the White House. The administration has asked that the action be blocked until the case is resolved.

On Thursday, Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., attorney for the three outlets, reiterated his earlier statement.

“The White House is persisting in arbitrarily, unpredictably and inconsistently implementing the President’s unconstitutional ‘ban on the free press,’” Boutrous said.

Pentagon official tells senator the military has no plans to send troops to the polls

A high-ranking Pentagon official has told Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin that the military has no plans to send troops to the polls during November’s midterm elections, addressing concerns from Democrats that the Trump administration could use the military to interfere with the vote.

Wednesday’s letter to Slotkin came from Mark Ditlevson, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense. He said no plans exist to interfere with ballots or voting machines.

“The Department of War’s role in election security is limited, lawful, and strictly supportive of civil authorities,” he wrote. “Election administration and security remain the fundamental responsibility of state and local officials.”

Slotkin had asked both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to confirm they won’t send troops to polling places. Caine had responded by Slotkin’s late August deadline, stating the military had no plans to do so.

New federal scholarship coming soon for private school and homeschooling

Nearly all schoolchildren in at least 30 states can apply for a new federal scholarship next year to help pay for private school, homeschooling and other educational expenses, according to regulations proposed Thursday by the Trump administration.

The first national school choice scholarship program, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, will launch Jan. 1, establishing a taxpayer-funded incentive for families to choose private or homeschooling in participating states.

Taxpayers who donate to an organization passing out the scholarships will receive a federal tax credit, a perk expected to further fuel the conservative school choice movement.

About 96% of children in those states should be eligible, according to the department. Children attending public schools could use the scholarships for extra learning expenses.

Rubio to visit NATO allies Iceland, Greece and Portugal next week

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to NATO allies Iceland, Greece and Portugal next week for talks on defense cooperation, trade and energy security.

The State Department said Thursday that Rubio would visit Reykjavík, Athens, and Lisbon from Oct. 5-8 as the Trump administration continues to press for NATO members to boost their defense spending.

Iceland is a key member of an Arctic bloc of nations and is seen by the U.S. as critical to ensuring the high North region remains free of unwanted Russian and Chinese interference. Iceland recently took umbrage when President Trump posted a map on social media depicting the island covered with the U.S. flag, prompting concerns that his designs on Greenland had been expanded.

In Greece, the department said Rubio will be focused on trade and energy, as Greece is seen as a pivotal transit point for U.S. liquified natural gas shipments that the administration hopes to sell throughout Europe.

In Portugal, Rubio will concentrate on economic, and technology cooperation, the department said.

President Trump says Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai co-pilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound plane

The president was asked by reporters at the White House on Thursday whether he’d been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran, and he said “We’re working on it right now.”

“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said. He did not offer details.

When asked if the U.S. would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”

“You just ask them,” he added. “They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard.”

Trump gives himself an A+ despite dismal polling numbers

“I give us an A-plus on the government, on economics, on everything,” Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House. He claimed that inflation levels are now “really good” and predicted oil prices will fall soon.

A new AP-NORC poll finds that Americans are far less satisfied, with just 26% approving his handling of the overall economy, a new low. A majority of U.S. adults blamed Trump’s policies for high costs.

Trump gave himself high marks after being asked about recent complaints that his successes aren’t getting enough attention.

Trump has expressed frustration about messaging ahead of November’s midterm elections, saying on Wednesday that “we’re doing an extremely poor job of promotion and an extremely great job of running the country.”

Trump hosts Thune at the White House

Just before departing for Oklahoma and Texas on Thursday, the president met privately with Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the White House.

The meeting was confirmed by a person with knowledge of it, granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting.

Thune has sometimes been a foil for the president, especially as the longtime senator resists changes that Trump wants to make to how the Senate operates. But the two men talk regularly and both are campaigning aggressive for the GOP ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

By Seung Min Kim

Trump suggests Iran war ‘should help’ GOP in the midterms -- but says it is possible it hurts

Asked if the increasingly unpopular war would threaten his party’s chances in November, Trump at first responded, “It’s possible.” But then he added, “It should help, because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”

The president said “100 percent of the people” oppose Iran having nuclear attack capabilities “including worldwide.”

“So, when you say it that way, It would help,” Trump added. “If you don’t say that, it could hurt.”

US could have 3 carriers in the Mideast soon, official says

A group of ships that together carry over 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines are heading to the Middle East, a U.S. official said.

That includes the recently deployed USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group. It could mean three carriers are in the region as early as the end of October, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

That would be an unusually high U.S. naval presence of more than 20,000 sailors and Marines and hundreds of aircraft. It comes as the war with Iran stretches past seven months. The Navy previously had three carriers in the Middle East in April -- the first time since 2003.

The USS George H.W. Bush and the USS George Washington are there now, along with the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group. The Pacific-based Washington had moved to the Middle East to relieve the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln.

By Konstantin Toropin

Trump is headed to Oklahoma to ‘thank’ voters

The president’s travel schedule in the coming days has been a bit of a curiosity: Why is he spending his time in deep red territory that should be easy political ground for Republicans?

Trump’s answer: He wants to thank the voters of Oklahoma for supporting him overwhelmingly in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections.

“I’ve won 87 out of 87 counties,” Trump said, inaccurately stating the number of counties in Oklahoma. He continued: “They’ve been just an unbelievable state.”

He insisted that “you have to give back, too” when a state supports someone in such large margins. Trump also noted that Oklahoma has a key governor’s race this year, and later got the number of counties in the state correct.

US takes aim at Iran’s automotive and rail industry in latest effort to get Tehran to capitulate

The Trump administration on Thursday targeted the remaining sector of Iran’s already heavily-sanctioned industrial infrastructure, singling out entities based in Indonesia, the UAE and Germany.

Among those sanctioned are two of Iran’s largest auto manufacturers, Iran Khodro Company and SAIPA Iranian Automobile Manufacturing Company, as well as several foreign auto industry supply providers and overseas companies in China and Germany that provide the country with source materials like mining and metals.

The actions by the U.S. Treasury come as Trump officials are touting the latest number coming out of Tehran this week, showing its currency falling to new record lows.

The administration credits the continued erosion of the Iranian economy to its months-long economic campaign and has no plans to cease the financial penalties anytime soon even as negotiations between the two countries have restarted.