Latest news with #UshaVance
Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Trump makes Greenland part of US homeland defence
President Trump has issued an order placing American military operations in Greenland under the command that handles the United States' homeland defence, in the latest mark of his ambition to control the territory. Since his return to the White House this year, Trump has repeatedly indicated that he might be willing to use force to seize Greenland, which is largely autonomous but remains part of Denmark. The president regards the island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to Washington DC than it is to Copenhagen, as an important component of American security, partly because of its untapped mineral reserves and partly because of its strategic vantage point over the rapidly warming Arctic Ocean. JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited the base in March JIM WATSON/AP Russia in particular has been expanding its presence in the area known as the High North, which includes the Arctic and the northernmost parts of Europe. On Wednesday Ukraine's main directorate of intelligence warned that Moscow was conducting intense military reconnaissance of the region under the guise of scientific research, much as it had previously done in the Baltic Sea.
The Independent
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
JD Vance's wedding anniversary takes backseat to Trump birthday and military parade
JD Vance mentioned that it was his wedding anniversary at the end of his speech during Donald Trump 's military parade that coincided with the president's 79th birthday on Saturday, 15 June. The vice president spoke after the procession dedicated to celebrating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C, a rare display of the strength of the military on full view with tanks, aircrafts, and soldiers walking through the nation's capital for all to see. At the same time, protesters around the country gathered in major cities to oppose Trump's controversial use of his executive power. Addressing Second Lady Usha Vance, Mr Vance said: ' I would get in trouble if I didn't mention that it's also my wedding anniversary.'
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
JD Vance flew to Montana for secret meeting with Rupert Murdoch and Fox News executives
JD Vance took a quick day trip to Montana on Tuesday afternoon to speak to right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, who is the chief of both Fox News and its sister corporation News Corp., which publishes the New York Post and Wall Street Journal. According to the Associated Press, the vice president's secret meeting also included several executives from Fox News, the conservative cable giant that has largely carried Donald Trump's water and helped staff up the president's current administration. A source familiar with the trip also confirmed to The Independent that the vice president spoke to both Murdochs and a group of executives from the right-wing network at the Murdoch family ranch near Dillon, Montana. According to NBC Montana, Air Force Two landed in Butte – which is about 70 miles away from the Murdoch ranch – around 2:30 p.m. MT, resulting in a temporary flight restriction in the area. Politico Playbook would later report that the vice president's plane would take off again shortly after nightfall, meaning Vance was only in the area for a matter of hours. During his brief visit to Montana, though, Vance and his wife Usha did manage to find time to take a short hike while at the Matador Ranch. It's still not clear what the meeting between Vance and the Fox executives was about, though the vice president is the Republican National Committee's finance chair and is therefore leading the GOP's midterm fundraising campaign. The Murdochs are worth tens of billions of dollars, and they have long been heavily involved in the Republican political machine. The Independent has reached out to representatives for Fox and the Murdochs for comment. While Fox News' coverage has been almost entirely sympathetic to the president and sycophantic, especially since his return to the White House, the Wall Street Journal has been an altogether different beast. Throughout the first few months of Trump's second term, the paper's editorial board has repeatedly criticized the president's economic policies and chaotic governing style, prompting Trump to rage at both the outlet and the elder Murdoch, with whom he's had an on-again / off-again friendly relationship. 'So the Wall Street Journal is wrong because, very simply, every single country that you're writing about right now is dying to make a deal because the deals they have right now are so good, and so good for them, and so profitable for them,' Trump griped in February about a Journal op-ed with Rupert Murdoch standing right next to him in the Oval Office. 'I'm gonna have to talk to him about that.' Trump has continued to blast the Wall Street Journal in recent weeks as the publication's criticism has remained strident, calling it a 'rotten newspaper' that has 'truly gone to hell' while raging at one of the outlet's reporters last month. 'The Wall Street Journal is China-oriented. And they're really bad for this country,' Trump added. The face-to-face with the Murdochs and other Fox executives comes shortly after Vance apparently helped to broker the peace between Trump and his one-time 'first buddy' Elon Musk, whose bromance splintered in spectacular fashion last week over the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' After the simmering tensions erupted publicly last Wednesday, which included Musk accusing the president of being in the so-called Epstein Files while calling for his impeachment, Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles called the world's richest man and urged him to end the feud and try to repair the relationship. Musk would later back away from some of his most incendiary attacks and speak to Trump over the phone on Monday. The Tesla CEO then completed the de-escalation on Wednesday, tweeting: 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.'
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
JD Vance roasted over ‘tone deaf' Sweeney Todd joke prior to attending Les Misérables
Vice President JD Vance has been skewered online for making a Sweeney Todd joke prior to attending a Les Misérables performance in Washington, DC on Wednesday night. Vance joined his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and host of other MAGA loyalists for the event at the Kennedy Center. Prior to the show, many had already alluded to the irony of Trump and Vance choosing to attend Les Misérables as protests against their administration began to spread nationwide. In a series of tweets, Vance, a Yale graduate, made it clear that he didn't know what the epic play was about. 'About to see Les Misérables with POTUS at the Kennedy Center. 'Me to Usha: so what's this about? A barber who kills people? 'Usha; [hysterical laughter].' 'That's apparently a different thing called 'Sweeney Todd,'' Vance wrote in a subsequent tweet. The plot of Les Misérables explores issues of social justice, love, and resilience, amidst the backdrop of poverty-stricken France in the early 19th century. Primarily, it follows the lives and interactions of several oppressed characters, including ex-convict Jean Valjean, which ultimately culminates in the June 1832 Rebellion – an anti-monarchist insurrection of Parisian republicans. 'It should be illegal to be his incredibly cringeworthy,' the X account DSA Orange County said. 'I'm sorry, the only people who would pretend to confuse Sweeney Todd for Les Mis are people who are super into musicals and uncomfortable admitting it,' said Sonny Bunch. 'Oh for gods sake you went to YALE, give it a rest,' said Sam Biederman. 'You can drop the 'I'm still an Appalachian hillbilly' thing. It's not a bad thing that you've moved beyond your rustic upbringing,' Steven Walk added. Even Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok described Vance's joke as 'tone deaf.' One X user asked AI chatbot Grok to 'compare the irony of seeing this post considering what's happening in LA,' to which Grok delivered a pithy response. 'The irony lies in JD Vance attending Les Misérables, a story of social injustice and rebellion, while LA protests against immigration policies he supports escalate, with curfews and federal forces deployed,' said Grok. 'The musical's themes mirror protesters' grievances, making his attendance seem tone-deaf. The chatbot continued to state, 'However, personal cultural outings don't inherently reflect policy stances, and the timing may not align with the protests' peak. Public perception varies, with some seeing hypocrisy, others a valid personal act.' Another X user then probed Grok to explain the mistaken irony by Vance. 'Vance's attendance seems personal, not a political statement. His post, mistaking the musical's plot, suggests he didn't connect it to protests,' he wrote. Trump was greeted with a mixed response in his first appearance at the prestigious arts venue since he fired its leadership, with boos and chants of chants of 'USA! USA!' being heard in the audience. More than 400 people have been arrested in LA alone since protests erupted Friday, including 330 undocumented migrants and 157 individuals facing charges of assault or obstruction.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump Booed at MAGA's Big Night Out at the Kennedy Center
Donald and Melania Trump got a loud wake-up call while holding court at the grand opening of the new pro-MAGA Kennedy Center on Wednesday night. They were greeted with a chorus of boos when they stepped out from their box in the auditorium on Wednesday for the first night of Les Misérables. The audience of 2,300 was packed with MAGA-friendly figures, including Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his wife Cheryl Hines. The pro-Trump contingent in the audience responded to the jeers by cheering and chanting 'USA! USA!' The Trumps, who were seated in a private box emblazoned with a presidential seal, stepped into the spotlight before waving down from their elevated position to the assembled masses. The mixed reception comes two months after the Vances were subjected to boos and heckles at the center, which has become a culture war touch point since Trump's re-election. Since taking over as chair of the Kennedy Center in February, Trump personally selected the entire board of trustees in his attempt to stamp out 'woke' productions at the iconic venue. 'They asked me to be chairman, I've got a lot of other things going on but it's a great honor,' Trump said on the red carpet before the pair went inside to watch Les Mis. He told Fox News last week that the musical was one of his favorites. 'I love the songs, I love the play. I think it's great,' he said. 'We may extend it.' It's unclear if his enthusiasm will survive the hostility from some people in the crowd. As part of efforts to upend the liberal institution, Trump appointed Usha Vance to the board along with Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Fox News host Laura Ingraham. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has spent the week attacking Trump, also took aim on his X account. Newsom was one of many to point out the irony of Trump putting on a production of Les Misérables. The musical tackles themes of public rebellion and showcases the struggles of the poor and the injustices of society. 'Someone explain the plot to him,' Newsom posted on Wednesday.
