<\/p>\n
As President Donald Trump<\/a> enjoys a two-day state visit<\/a> to the United Kingdom aimed at showing the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over Ukraine<\/a>, the Middle East and the future of the Western alliance, his administration is targeting the \u2018radical left\u2019 it blames, without evidence, for the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Trump and his aides have discussed classifying some groups as domestic terrorists<\/a>, ordering racketeering investigations and revoking tax-exempt status for progressive nonprofits. Critics say Trump is extending his campaign of retribution and eroding the constitutional rights of Americans.<\/p>\n King Charles III is hosting Trump<\/a> at Windsor Castle, treating the president Wednesday to pageantry including a gilded horse-drawn carriage ride and the largest military welcome for a state visit to the U.K. in living memory before a lavish white-tie banquet at the castle later Wednesday. The events are being staged well outside London, making it easier to control protests. British police have undertaken a massive security operation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez<\/a> will tell senators that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> pressured her to \u201cpreapprove\u201d new vaccine recommendations before seeing scientific evidence, according to a copy of the testimony she plans to give during a Wednesday hearing.<\/p>\n The Latest:<\/p>\n GOP committee chairman opened hearing by mulling what changed since Monarez was confirmed<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Sen. Bill Cassidy noted that Kennedy said Monarez had \u201cunimpeachable\u201d credentials, yet criticized her just weeks later. \u201cTurmoil\u201d at the CDC \u201cis not good for the health of the American people,\u201d Cassidy said. <\/p>\n Cassidy, a physician, also said that doctors aren\u2019t able to make informed decisions about care if they \u201cdo not have clear guidance, or have a reason to distrust what\u2019s coming out of the CDC.\u201d<\/p>\n The Louisiana Republican \u2014 who publicly expressed concern about Kennedy\u2019s anti-vaccination positions before voting to confirm him as health secretary \u2014 has worried aloud about \u201cserious allegations\u201d at the CDC. He has called for oversight, without blaming Kennedy.<\/p>\n Sen. Bernie Sanders criticizes Kennedy for firing Monarez<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Monarez was fired because she refused to act as a rubber stamp to implement Secretary Kennedy\u2019s dangerous agenda to substantially limit the use of safe and effective vaccines that would endanger the life the American people and people across the world,\u201d said Sanders.<\/p>\n Kennedy has denied<\/a> accusations by Monarez that he ordered \u201crubber-stamped\u201d vaccine recommendations.<\/p>\n The vice president is talking up Trump\u2019s tax cuts<\/p>\n JD Vance will visit a precision metal stamping facility in Howell, Michigan, to promote the tax cut and border enforcement bill Trump signed into law over the summer.<\/p>\n Vance also will give remarks at the Hatch Stamping Plant. Accompanying him are Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Michigan Republican congressman Tom Barrett.<\/p>\n Senate hearing for fired CDC chief has begun<\/p>\n The fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director<\/a> is about to begin testimony before the Senate\u2019s powerful health committee.<\/p>\n Susan Monarez is expected to tell senators on Wednesday that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> pressured her to endorse new vaccine recommendations before seeing scientific evidence, according to a copy of prepared remarks. <\/p>\n Monarez was initially handpicked by Kennedy and nominated by President Donald Trump. But she was fired just weeks into the job over disagreements on vaccine policies. Accompanying her in the hearing room is the CDC\u2019s former chief medical officer, Debra Houry, who also was fired by Kennedy.<\/p>\n Obama says The former president said Republicans in the White House and Congress, with approval for now from the Supreme Court, are saying \u201cwe\u2019re okay with just breaking the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to Trump\u2019s deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., as well as ID checks by federal agents in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of the guardrails and norms that I thought I had to abide by as president of the United States, that George Bush thought he had to abide by as president of the United States \u2026 suddenly those no longer apply. And that makes this a dangerous moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Obama applauds Utah governor\u2019s response to Kirk killing<\/p>\n Obama said he and Gov. Spencer Cox \u201cdisagree on a whole bunch of stuff,\u201d but the Republican\u2019s messaging around how to respond to Kirk\u2019s death shows \u201cthat it is possible for us to disagree while abiding by a basic code of how we should engage in public debate.\u201d<\/p>\n Obama drew parallels to his own leadership following the 2015 slaying of nine Black parishioners at a Charleston, South Carolina, church, as well as former President George W. Bush\u2019s actions following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n A president should \u201cconstantly remind us of the ties that bind us together,\u201d Obama said, adding that the rhetoric used by Trump and his aides, calling \u201cpolitical opponents \u2018vermin,\u2019 \u2018enemies\u2019 \u2026 speaks to a broader problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Barack Obama says US at \u2018inflection point\u2019 after Kirk\u2019s death<\/p>\n The former U.S. president talked about Charlie Kirk\u2019s killing during Q&A at an event in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night that was hosted by the Jefferson Educational Society.<\/p>\n Obama says he disagreed with many of Kirk\u2019s positions, but \u201cthat doesn\u2019t negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPolitical violence is not new,\u201d Obama said, and such acts are \u201canathema to what it means to be a democratic country.\u201d<\/p>\n A brooch, a sword, a handbag and a book: The gifts the Trumps and the royals exchanged<\/p>\n Buckingham Palace has revealed details about what gifts the royals and the Trumps exchanged on Wednesday.<\/p>\n King Charles and Queen Camilla presented the Trumps with a hand-bound leather volume specially made to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump\u2019s inauguration on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n The royals also gave Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.<\/p>\n In return, Trump gave Charles a replica of a President Eisenhower sword, and Camilla received a vintage Tiffany & Co. gold, diamond and ruby brooch.<\/p>\n The Trumps have a private lunch with the royals<\/p>\n Cameras weren\u2019t allowed for the president and first lady\u2019s meal in the State Dining Room.<\/p>\n After they eat, they\u2019re set to view a special display of items from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.<\/p>\n Brad Raffensperger, who stood up to Trump over 2020 voting, runs for Georgia governor<\/p>\n The Republican Secretary of State who rejected Donald Trump\u2019s call<\/a> to help overturn Georgia\u2019s 2020 election results said Wednesday that he\u2019s running for governor in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a conservative Republican, and I\u2019m prepared to make the tough decisions. I follow the law and the Constitution, and I\u2019ll always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what,\u201d Raffensperger said in an announcement video.<\/p>\n The wealthy engineering entrepreneur might appeal most to business-oriented Republicans who once dominated GOP primaries in Georgia, but he is pledging a strongly conservative campaign even while he remains scorned by Trump and his allies. Georgia has had Republican governors since 2002.<\/p>\n Raffensperger defied Trump\u2019s wrath<\/a> to win reelection in 2022, and his first challenge may be to qualify for the primary. State party leaders resolved in June to ban<\/a> Raffensperger from running as a Republican.<\/p>\n The Trumps have a private lunch with the royals<\/p>\n Cameras weren\u2019t allowed for the president and first lady\u2019s meal in the State Dining Room.<\/p>\n After they eat, they\u2019re set to view a special display of items from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.<\/p>\n Nvidia CEO expects to discuss China trade and tech problems with Trump at banquet<\/p>\n The CEO of Nvidia, who is visiting the U.K. at the same time as President Donald Trump to unveil a flurry of new investments, says he expects to discuss the U.S.-China trade and tech battle with Trump at a state banquet later Wednesday.<\/p>\n Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia, the world\u2019s most valuable company, is restricted from exporting its most advanced chips to China. This week, Beijing regulators also targeted the company, accusing it of antitrust breaches stemming from a 2020 acquisition of an Israeli tech company.<\/p>\n Adding to the problems, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources, that China\u2019s internet regulator is banning domestic tech companies from buying an Nvidia chip model tailored for the local market.<\/p>\n CEO Jensen Huang said he was \u201cdisappointed\u201d with the situation. He said he hasn\u2019t yet spoken to Trump about the latest developments, \u201cbut I\u2019ll see him tonight, and he\u2019ll probably ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n Huang said his company will continue to be \u201csupportive\u201d of both governments as they \u201csort through these geopolitical policies.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump and royals pause for lunch after military ceremonies<\/p>\n A guard of honor, comprising soldiers and officers from the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards, have marched past Trump and King Charles.<\/p>\n The formal ceremonial welcome in the castle quadrangle featured the largest ever guard of honor for a state visit to the U.K., officials said.<\/p>\n There will be a pause in the military ceremonies as the Trumps retreat inside Windsor Castle to have lunch with members of the royal family in the State Dining Room.<\/p>\n Trump inspects troops in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle<\/p>\n King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Trumps took their places on the dais as the state colors were lowered and the United States national anthem played. Trump saluted and the first lady placed her hand on her chest.<\/p>\n Trump was then escorted by an officer as he walked along a line of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.<\/p>\n Charles accompanied him, following a short distance behind. He and the president chatted for a bit before they returned to the Royal Dais together.<\/p>\n Gilded carriage ride through Windsor estate<\/p>\n The royals are accompanying the Trumps in a ceremonious horse-drawn carriage ride through the vast grounds of the Windsor estate.<\/p>\n King Charles and Trump are travelling in the Irish State Coach, with Queen Camilla and the first lady in the Scottish State Coach.<\/p>\n Prince William and Kate are following in another carriage, the Semi-State Landau.<\/p>\n A military band played the British and U.S. national anthems as the carriages cross the estate. Trump could be seen chatting with the king as they rode in the carriage together.<\/p>\n Charles and Camilla welcome the Trumps to Windsor<\/p>\n King Charles III and Queen Camilla have shaken hands with the Trumps outside Windsor Castle.<\/p>\n The president and first lady flew on Marine One from Winfield House, the U.S. ambassador\u2019s residence in London, where they stayed Tuesday night.<\/p>\n They were greeted by Prince William of Wales and Kate, the Princess of Wales, who accompanied them on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vast grounds of the Windsor estate.<\/p>\n \u2018Unprecedented\u2019 military spectacle <\/p>\n The military ceremony to welcome Trump will be the largest one staged for a state visit to the U.K. in living memory, officials said.<\/p>\n In total, 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military will take part in the ceremonial welcome at Windsor. <\/p>\n The spectacle will conclude with a joint U.K-U.S. military flypast \u2014 a first during a state visit. <\/p>\n \u201cThe joint flypast by UK and US F-35 aircraft is a demonstration of the strength of the UK-US defense and security relationship,\u201d Britain\u2019s defense ministry said.<\/p>\n Dozens of groups will protest against Trump in London<\/p>\n While Trump will not be seen in any public-facing events during his two-day trip, police are preparing for a signification operation in central London, where as many as 50 protest groups are expected to march against Trump\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n The Metropolitan Police said 1,600 officers will be deployed on Wednesday, including 500 assisting from other forces.<\/p>\n Activists say they will demonstrate against what they called \u201cour government\u2019s choice to honor a man who is violating human rights in the United States and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s right that we\u2019re having Trump come for the second state visit due to his horrible rhetoric, policies and actions towards women and people of colour,\u201d said Grace Nathew, one of a small group of protesters staging a demonstration near Windsor Castle on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Police said they arrested four people Tuesday over a stunt that saw an image of Trump and Epstein projected on a tower at Windsor Castle, a reminder of the president\u2019s relationship with the disgraced financier.<\/p>\n London\u2019s mayor says Trump fans flames of division<\/p>\n President Donald Trump will largely avoid London during his state visit. And that\u2019s fine by the city\u2019s mayor.<\/p>\n Sadiq Khan wrote in The Guardian newspaper that Trump and his allies has helped \u201cfan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world.\u201d He said Trump\u2019s mass deportations and sending troops to U.S. cities are moves \u201cstraight out of the autocrat\u2019s playbook.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead of a planned protest on Wednesday against the president\u2019s visit, Khan wrote: \u201cI\u2019m sure many Londoners will speak up to tell President Trump and his followers that we cannot be divided by those who seek to sow fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Khan, a member of the governing Labour Party who has been London mayor since 2016, has traded criticism with Trump since the president\u2019s campaign pledge in 2015 to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.<\/p>\n In July the president said Khan has \u201cdone a terrible job\u201d and is a \u201cnasty person.\u201d<\/p>\n Carriages and a sumptuous state dinner<\/p>\n Hundreds of soldiers, gardeners and chefs are putting the final touches on their preparations to ensure Trump and first lady Melania Trump get the full royal treatment. <\/p>\n After welcoming the Trumps in a formal ceremony, Charles, Queen Camilla and dozens of soldiers will accompany them on a carriage ride through the Windsor estate. <\/p>\n They will return to the castle for military ceremonies featuring hundreds of troops. Trump will be invited to review the guard of honor in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats.<\/p>\n The highlight of the visit will be a state banquet later Wednesday at Windsor Castle, where Charles and other royals will join their guests around the massive Waterloo Table.<\/p>\n The mahogany table, which has space for 160 guests, will be laid with the Grand Service \u2014 a silver-gilt dining service that includes more than 4,000 pieces ranging from serving dishes to dinner plates and egg cups.<\/p>\n Flags and protests in Windsor<\/p>\n The mood in Windsor was largely festive as the town makes last-minute preparations for Trump\u2019s state visit.<\/p>\n American and U.K. flags are fastened to lamp posts with gold tassels, waving over the heads of tourists weaving their way past the security cordon surrounding the 1,000-year-old castle that will be the center of the ceremonies on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Harry Law, 22, traveled from Folkestone on the south coast of England, hoping to get a glimpse of the man he called \u201cOrange Hair.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get to see a president every day,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI still haven\u2019t seen our prime minister.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n About two dozen people gathered late Tuesday near Windsor Castle to protest the visit, chanting \u201cDump Trump\u201d and \u201cTrump go home.\u201d A larger protest against Trump is planned for Wednesday in central London.<\/p>\n Nvidia, OpenAI bosses are part of US delegation<\/p>\n Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are expected to be among the business leaders in the U.S. delegation. <\/p>\n Media reports suggest that Nvidea and OpenAI will unveil billions of dollars\u2019 worth of investment into U.K. data centers this week amid Trump\u2019s state visit.<\/p>\n Starmer and Trump are also expected to sign a technology partnership, accompanied by major investments in nuclear energy, life sciences and Artificial Intelligence data centers.<\/p>\n Differences over Ukraine and Gaza<\/p>\n While Starmer has shown he is adept at charming Trump, his efforts to influence the president to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine has had with limited results. <\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Russian drone incursion into NATO member Poland<\/a> drew strong condemnation from European NATO allies, and pledges of more planes and troops for the bloc\u2019s eastern flank. Trump played down the incident\u2019s severity, musing that it \u201c could have been a mistake.<\/a> \u201d<\/p>\n\n
Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, left, receive President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/h5>\n
Trump\u2019s use of executive power sets up \u2018dangerous moment\u2019<\/p>\n