Trump news at a glance: UK and French leaders back president’s peace plan for Gaza | Trump administration

Some of America’s key allies have backed Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, after the president and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered an ultimatum to Hamas, warning the militant group to accept their 20-point plan or face the consequences.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has called on Hamas, to “agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages”. French president Emmanuel Macron said “France stands ready to contribute” to the efforts to end the war.

Trump and Netanyahu have hailed their proposal as a historic breakthrough and new chapter for the Middle East, but it was clear that Hamas had not been consulted and its position on the terms remained uncertain.

Trump and Netanyahu to Hamas: accept Gaza peace plan or face consequences

Both Trump and Netanyahu made clear that they were not offering Hamas a choice in the matter. If the group refused, Trump told reporters, “Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas”.

The Israeli prime minister said ominously: “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.”

_{Read the full story}

Trump talks with Democrats fail to yield breakthrough as US shutdown nears

A high-stakes meeting between Donald Trump and top congressional Democrats on Monday resulted in no apparent breakthrough in negotiations to keep the government open, with JD Vance declaring afterwards: “I think we are headed into a shutdown.”

Democrats, who are refusing to support the GOP’s legislation to continue funding beyond Tuesday unless it includes several healthcare provisions, struck a more optimistic tone after the Oval Office encounter, which also included the Republican leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.

_{Read the full story}

Portland braces for deployment of 200 national guard troops to city

Portland is bracing for the deployment of 200 national guard troops as Donald Trump moves ahead with plans to bring the US military into another Democratic-run city. Oregon filed a lawsuit to block the deployment, which the state has warned will escalate tensions and lead to unrest when there is “no need or legal justification” to bring federal troops into Portland.

_{Read the full story}

Mormon church shooting suspect had Trump sign outside home, records show

A gunman who killed at least four worshippers, wounded eight and was shot to death by police Sunday at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, had a sign emblazoned with the last name of Donald Trump outside his house, public records show.

The president responded to the church shooting on Sunday by saying “there is still a lot to learn” about the deceased suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford. “This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

_{Read the full story}

Des Moines revokes education license of school superintendent arrested by Ice

The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district has had his education licence revoked by state education officials after his arrest last week by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents.

_{Read the full story}

Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has played a leading role in directing US strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug boats, according to three people familiar with the situation. At times, his role has superseded that of Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and national security adviser.

The Trump administration has turned the heat up on Caracas in recent weeks, with a major naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela’s vice-president has said the country is ready to declare a state of emergency in the event of a US military attack, warning of “catastrophic” consequences if such an onslaught materialises.

_{Read the full story}

Trump administration spending $625m to revive dying coal industry

The White House will open 13.1m acres (5.3m hectares) of public land to coal mining while providing $625m for coal-fired power plants, the Trump administration has announced. The efforts came as part of a suite of initiatives from the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency, aimed at reviving the flagging coal sector.

_{Read the full story}

Cannabis stocks are on a high after Donald Trump shared a video on Sunday promoting cannabis use for seniors and Medicaid coverage of CBD products. The nearly three-minute-long video, posted on the president’s Truth Social platform, touts the usage of hemp-derived CBD as a “gamechanger” that is a pain and stress reliever for seniors.

_{Read the full story}