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Category: News
April 8, 2025
NatSec
War

Trump Wants $1 Trillion for Defense — ‘We Have to Be Strong.’

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump wants a substantial increase to the Pentagon’s budget, raising it to $1 trillion.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

📍 Where & When: The announcement was made in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We have to build our military, and we’re very cost-conscious, but the military is something that we have to build, and we have to be strong because you’ve got a lot of bad forces out there now,” said Trump.

⚠️ Impact: This budget increase would be the largest in U.S. military history, reflecting a significant shift in defense spending priorities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump stated plans to approve an unprecedented increase in the U.S. military budget, elevating it to $1 trillion. This figure represents the most substantial military budget in the nation’s history. During an announcement in the Oval Office on April 7, 2025, Trump highlighted the necessity of enhancing military capabilities, citing rising global threats.

“We rebuilt the military during my first term, and we have great things happening with our military. We also essentially approved a budget which is in the vicinity… of a trillion dollars, $1 trillion. And nobody’s seen anything like it,” he told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We have to build our military, and we’re very cost-conscious, but the military is something we have to build, and we have to be strong because you have a lot of bad forces out there now. So we’re going to be approving a budget, and I’m proud to say actually the biggest one we’ve ever done for the military,” he continued, adding: “We’re cutting other things under DOGE. When you look at a woman getting $2 billion for environmental, and it had nothing to do with the environment, and they had $100 in the bank, and they gave her $2 billion, many, many of those cases.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praised the budget announcement and thanked President Trump. “President [Trump] is rebuilding our military—and FAST,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), while emphasizing that the Pentagon will “spend every taxpayer dollar wisely—on lethality and readiness.”

The National Pulse understands that in recent weeks, Elon Musk lobbied for the halving this budget, in a move that caused consternation amongst top MAGA figures at the Pentagon, especially given the precarious global security situation as well as the efforts to secure locations such as the Panama Canal which requires convincing nations that America is investing and expanding its strength harder and faster than the Chinese Communist Party.

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April 8, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Zelensky Claims Capture of Chinese Troops Fighting Alongside Russians, Wants Answers from Xi.

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❓What Happened: Ukrainian forces reportedly engaged with and captured two Chinese soldiers fighting alongside Russians in eastern Ukraine.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ukrainian military, alleged Chinese troops, President Volodymyr Zelensky.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, per President Zelensky on Tuesday.

💬 Key Quote: Zelensky stated, “Our military has captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army. This happened on Ukrainian territory—in the Donetsk region.”

⚠️ Impact: Ukraine is seeking clarifications from China, and a global response, particularly from the United States and Europe, is anticipated.

IN FULL:

Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals participating in Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky claims. These individuals were allegedly operating under Russian military command in the Donetsk region.

Zelensky is directing Ukrainian officials to obtain an official explanation from China and accusing Beijing of supporting Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine.

“Identification documents, bank cards, and personal data were found in their possession,” Zelensky said of the two captives in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two,” he added.

“Russia’s involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war,” Zelensky argued, insisting the episode “definitely requires a response”—principally “from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace.”

Previously, it has been reported that a contingent of North Korean troops assisted Russian forces in combatting a Ukrainian counter-invasion of Russia’s Kursk region.

Image by Steve Webel.

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April 7, 2025
News

World Leaders Rush to Make Concessions to Trump in Bid to End Tariffs.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration announced plans to enforce significant tariffs on trading partners, prompting a rush of world leaders promising to dismantle their barriers against the U.S.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, European Union (EU) officials, Israel’s Prime Minister, Vietnam’s leader, Indonesia’s government representatives, and others.

📍 Where & When: Foreign diplomatic efforts are being directed towards Washington, D.C., with meetings and communications intensifying around Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “Countries from all over the World are talking to us… Tough but fair parameters are being set.” — President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: Some countries may secure some relief from President Trump’s tariffs if they offer sufficient fair market access to U.S. businesses.

IN FULL:

Governments around the globe are pleading for urgent negotiations following the U.S. decision to impose extensive tariffs on numerous countries. On Monday, European Union officials proposed eliminating tariffs on cars—where they had previously imposed levies far higher than the corresponding U.S. levies—and industrial goods from the U.S. in exchange for similar treatment. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also scheduled to meet President Donald J. Trump on the same day to personally negotiate tariff relief.

Earlier, Vietnam expressed willingness to remove all tariffs on American goods during a phone call, while Cambodia has already pledged to remove tariffs on American goods across 19 sectors. The Philippines has said it will slash tariffs on U.S. goods “soon,” and Indonesia is preparing to send a senior delegation to Washington to negotiate directly. Even small, far-flung nations, such as Lesotho, which is entirely encircled by South Africa, are organizing delegations to negotiate better access to the U.S. market.

President Trump proclaimed that tariffs would persist until trade deficits are addressed, which implies achieving an equilibrium between U.S. imports from and exports to these countries. However, discussions remain open as nations attempt to stave off additional tariffs, which are scheduled to commence midweek.

However, Trump advisor Peter Navarro has warned that merely reducing or removing tariffs may not be enough to appease the administration, explaining, “When they come to us and say, we’ll go to zero tariffs, that means nothing to us, because it’s the nontariff cheating that matters.” Navarro and other U.S. officials have cited value-added taxes, regulatory barriers, foreign state subsidies, and currency manipulation that grants foreign producers an unfair advantage over American producers as examples of “nontariff cheating” in international trade.

Amid market volatility and the threat of escalating tariffs on Chinese imports, President Trump emphasized, “Countries from all over the World are talking to us.” The America First leader noted ongoing discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is deploying a high-level team to engage in trade negotiations.

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April 7, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Health
War

Trump Admin Reaches Out to Thousands of Veterans Dismissed for Refusing Covid Vax.

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What Happened: Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced a groundbreaking outreach program to reinstate approximately 8,700 service members discharged for rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, offering them a clear path back to duty.

Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sean Parnell, and 8,700 affected veterans.

Where & When: Nationwide, starting April 7, 2025, with a reinstatement deadline of February 7, 2026.

Key Quote: “Their service mattered then, and it still matters now. We’re ready to welcome them back!” Parnell declared on X.

Impact: This reversal of Biden-era policy could rebuild trust with sidelined military families and bolster manpower.

IN FULL:

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has announced the Department of Defense is rolling out the red carpet for roughly 8,700 service members who were kicked to the curb by former President Joe Biden for refusing COVID-19 vaccines. “We’re committed to doing right by those who were affected by the Department’s former COVID-19 vaccination policy,” Parnell posted on X (formerly Twitter). “For the roughly 8,700 service members who were separated solely for refusing the vaccine, this is an opportunity to return to service—and we want them to know the door is open.”

The Pentagon is launching a full-court press to reach all affected veterans with “clear information on how to pursue reinstatement.” They have until February 7, 2026, to decide whether to return to service. Parnell assured the public that the Department is “working hard to make sure each of them receives clear information and support throughout the process.”

Parnell, a retired Army Ranger with a Purple Heart and a Trump loyalist, said of the dismissed veterans, “Their service mattered then, and it still matters now. We’re ready to welcome them back!”

The Trump administration’s policy flip undoes the Biden government’s vaccine mandate, which saw thousands of battle-tested troops discharged at a time when recruitment was already tanking.

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April 7, 2025
Media

Taylor Lorenz Disappointed by False Rumors of Joe Biden’s Death.

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❓What Happened: Taylor Lorenz shared a post expressing disappointment that a false report on former President Joe Biden’s death was untrue.

👥 Who’s Involved: Taylor Lorenz, a writer for Mehdi Hasan’s Zeteo.

📍 Where & When: The exchange happened on the social media platform X over the weekend.

💬 Key Quote: “This tweet got my hopes up :(” – Taylor Lorenz.

⚠️ Impact: The post sparked controversy and discussion online, with many users criticizing Lorenz.

IN FULL:

Taylor Lorenz, a former Washington Post and New York Times journalist now writing for Zeteo, a media venture launched by Mehdi Hasan, the ex-MSNBC host who previously compared non-Muslims to “animals,” triggered debate online after publishing a social media post suggesting disappointment that former President Joe Biden was not dead.

An initial post on X, formerly Twitter, reading “RIP Joe Biden 1942-2025. You were always a racist f***ing monster, and will not be missed,” appeared motivated by his policies on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Lorenz is known to share similar sentiments, describing the 82-year-old Democrat as a “war criminal.”

Lorenz’s response was a quote share of this post, in which she expressed her disappointment that the news was false, commenting, “This tweet got my hopes up.” She doubled down in the face of the subsequent backlash, quipping sarcastically, “You can’t even say that you hope a genocidal war monger dies peacefully in his sleep of old age anymore with cancel culture the way it is.”

Lorenz, best known for doxxing the popular Libs of TikTok social media account, has faced similar controversies in the past. Recently, she expressed sympathy towards the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, writing, “People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering” on the pedophile-infiltrated X alternative Bluesky. Subsequently, she shared a post about another healthcare company’s policies, remarking, “And people wonder why we want these executives dead.”

Lorenz is also a noted COVID-19 hysteric, describing how she spent “THOUSANDS of my own dollars” on anti-coronavirus measures, including “testing, outdoor space, far UV lights, and a litany of other precautions” for a book launch as recently as December 2024. She remains committed to masking in public, describing those who go maskless as “dumbf***s” who are “raw dogging the air and spewing ur disease laden breath all over ur elderly neighbors.”

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April 7, 2025
Immigration

Obese Illegal Alien Gloats Openly at Far-Left Rally.

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❓What Happened: An activist identified her illegal immigrant status during a rally, sparking calls for her deportation.

👥 Who’s Involved: Greisa Martinez Rosas, a DACA recipient and activist; critics and supporters of President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., at the ‘Hands Off!’ rally on Saturday.

💬 Key Quote: “I am an immigrant, I am undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” said Rosas at the rally.

⚠️ Impact: Online backlash ensued, with demands for her deportation and attention from Trump administration officials.

IN FULL:

In Washington, D.C., during the ‘Hands Off!’ rally against deportations, activist Greisa Martinez Rosas openly boasted about her illegal immigrant status, leading to calls online for her deportation. Rosas, affiliated with United We Dream, a large youth immigrant organization, characterized herself to the crowd of over 10,000 as “undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” stirring a loud response from supporters and detractors alike.

Rosas arrived in the United States from Hidalgo, Mexico, as a minor, and has made a career out of advocating for immigrant rights. Her boasting about her illegal status was met with immediate backlash from America First supporters online, with some directing their comments to Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, in pressing for her removal from the country.

Her work as the executive director of United We Dream, which boasts a membership exceeding 400,000, aligns with her activism background, which dates back to organizing student protests in 2006. Martinez Rosas benefits from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) scheme, which allows her certain temporary protections and a renewable work permit despite her lack of formal documentation.

Her activism drew national attention during the rally, one of many across over 1,200 U.S. locations, in protest of Trump’s deportation efforts and related socio-political grievances involving immigration. Alongside her in-person and social media campaigning for various leftist causes, Rosas has contributed opinion pieces to The New York Times.

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April 7, 2025
Economy
News

Trump Vows to Maintain Tariffs Until Trade Deficit Eliminated.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump stated that tariffs on other nations will remain until trade deficits with China, the European Union, and others are eliminated.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, his economic advisers.

📍 Where & When: Remarks were made on Air Force One on Sunday; Trump was headed to his club in Jupiter, Florida.

💬 Key Quote: “Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China,” Trump said. “And unless we solve that problem, I’m not going to make a deal.”

⚠️ Impact: Global businesses, investors, and markets have been affected; American manufacturing will likely build strength over time with less competition from low-wage economies.

IN FULL:

On Sunday, President Donald J. Trump announced he would maintain tariffs on other nations until the United States’ trade imbalances with the likes of China and the European Union (EU) are addressed. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized the financial losses stemming from trade with China, stating, “Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China. And unless we solve that problem, I’m not going to make a deal.”

The America First leader’s remarks followed efforts by his senior advisers to bolster his broad-reaching tariff policy. As Trump traveled from his Mar-a-Lago property for a golfing day at his Jupiter, Florida club, key economic advisers dismissed the short-term market shock, asserting that the President’s approach to tariffs would yield benefits for American industry and workers.

Trump’s aides noted Sunday that more than 50 countries have already expressed interest in finding ways to avert U.S. tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the tariffs would indeed proceed, saying, “The tariffs are coming. Of course they are.”

Some countries have already retaliated against Trump’s tariffs, including China, which announced a 34 percent tariff on all U.S. imports last week. President Trump reacted to the retaliatory tariffs, saying, “China played it wrong, they panicked—the one thing they cannot afford to do!” He later announced China will be subjected to an increased 50 percent tariff if it does not back down.

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April 7, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Economy
News

Trump Admin Defends Pro-Worker, Anti-Cheating Tariff Policy.

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❓What Happened: Officials from the Trump Administration discussed the President’s reciprocal trade plan to counter global economic policies perceived as harmful to American workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, National Economic Director Kevin Hassett, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Senior Counselor Peter Navarro.

📍 Where & When: Various news shows aired discussions on Sunday, including Meet the Press, Face the Nation, This Week, State of the Union, Fox News Sunday, and Sunday Morning Futures.

💬 Key Quote: Scott Bessent remarked on tariffs, “A 20 percent tariff on China led to a 0.7 percent price level increase over four years. I think that’s pretty good.”

⚠️ Impact: The administration aims to reduce reliance on foreign goods and protect American industries, citing national security and economic stability concerns.

IN FULL:

Several Trump Administration officials appeared on major news programs Sunday to outline its tariff strategy, intended to change the economic landscape to favor American workers and industries and mitigate distorted trade imbalances.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recalled the tariffs imposed during President Donald J. Trump’s first term, noting that a 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods resulted in only marginal price increases and net real wage growth for American households. He added that the COVID-10 pandemic exposed the fact that “[America’s] supply chains are not resilient,” explaining that “President Trump has decided that we cannot be at risk like that for our crucial medicines, for our semiconductors, for shipping.”

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick also emphasized the national security risks involved in outsourcing critical manufacturing: “We don’t make medicine in this country anymore. We don’t make ships. We don’t have enough steel and aluminum to fight a battle,” he warned.

Kevin Hassett, National Economic Director, explained that cheap foreign imports come at a cost, recalling how, in the years since China was admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO), “real incomes declined about $1,200 cumulatively… We got the cheap goods at the grocery store, but then we had fewer jobs.”

Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, emphasized that many of America’s so-called trade partners have adopted practices beyond tariffs “that are designed, explicitly, to cheat us”—such as currency manipulation, to strengthen their export potential, and regulatory barriers against American produce —and that President Trump has determined to draw a line against this.

“We’re headed towards a strong America that makes things again,” he added.

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April 6, 2025
News

Minivan Plows into Los Angeles Crowd, Multiple Injuries Including Children.

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❓What Happened: A minivan drove into a group of bystanders in Los Angeles.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nine individuals were assessed for injuries, including two children and a teenager. The incident involved four adults who were hospitalized, two adults who refused treatment, and three minors, aged 8, 11, and 17, who were also treated.

📍 Where & When: The crash occurred in the downtown area of Los Angeles, shortly after 3 p.m. local time on Sunday.

💬 Key Quote: “A total of 9 patients were assessed for injury on scene,” said the Los Angeles Fire Department.

⚠️ Impact: Although there were injuries, no fatalities or critical patients were reported. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, with preliminary findings indicating no intentional harm or substance impairment.

IN FULL:

A minivan collided with a group of pedestrians in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, leading to the assessment of nine individuals for injuries, as reported by the city’s fire department. The crash, occurring shortly after 3 p.m. local time, resulted in four adults being taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while two others declined medical attention. Additionally, three minors, ages 8, 11, and 17, were transported for care.

According to authorities, there were no reports of fatalities or critically injured individuals at the time of transport. Rescue units found the minivan lodged against a collapsed patio structure upon arrival. Los Angeles traffic officers have started an investigation to determine why the vehicle veered into the area.

Preliminary reports from the Los Angeles Police Department indicated no evidence of deliberate action or criminal behavior surrounding the crash. Further statements revealed the driver attempted to avoid a stationary vehicle, leading to the collision with a nearby barrier. The absence of alcohol or drugs was confirmed in the initial investigation stages.

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April 6, 2025
News

‘Forensic Review’ Reveals How The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg Ended Up in Mike Waltz’s Houthi Signal Chat.

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❓What Happened: Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations in Yemen due to an iPhone mechanism that prompts contact updates automatically, per new, exclusive reporting from Hugo Lowell at The Guardian.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mike Waltz, Jeffrey Goldberg, Donald Trump, White House staff, Trump campaign members, and National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.

📍 Where & When: The incident was discovered in March 2024, stemming from a mistake during the 2024 campaign communicated via Signal, a messaging app.

💬 Key Quote: Jeffrey Goldberg stated, “I’m not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him.”

⚠️ Impact: The episode led to a forensic review by the White House IT office to uncover how Goldberg’s number was added mistakenly. It also prompted discussions about secure communication methods in the administration.

IN FULL:

The now infamous mix-up involving White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, resulted from an automated contact update prompt in Waltz’s iPhone, according to The Guardian’s Hugo Lowell. The illustration, provided below, is indicative of the type of function that Waltz apparently used when receiving a message from his colleague Brian Hughes.

According to several people briefed on an internal review, the error emerged from a series of missteps dating back to the 2024 campaign. Efforts to counter a critical story led a Trump campaign staffer to forward Goldberg’s contact details to Waltz, which prompted Waltz to inadvertently save “Goldberg’s number in his iPhone—under the contact card for Hughes, now the spokesperson for the National Security Council.”

President Trump deliberated on firing Waltz, expressing discontent not only over the accidental inclusion of Goldberg, a frequent critic but also due to the discussion of sensitive topics on an unclassified platform like Signal. Nonetheless, Trump retained Waltz, avoiding the media fallout that might ensue from a high-profile dismissal.

The White House ordered an internal investigation, which attributed the contact mishap to an algorithmic error in Waltz’s iPhone.

Waltz maintained that he never interacted with Goldberg and suggested the integration of Goldberg’s number was due to a technical anomaly with the phone’s contact settings. Goldberg declined to elaborate on any existing ties with Waltz, simply acknowledging past communication.

“I’m not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him,” Goldberg said.

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