{"id":1133,"date":"2025-10-28T09:55:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/?p=1133"},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:45:17","slug":"trump-rallies-us-troops-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/28\/trump-rallies-us-troops-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump rallies US troops in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Morning Report is The Hill&#8217;s a.m. newsletter. <a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/signup\">Subscribe here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In today&#8217;s issue:<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa&nbsp;Trump returns to third-term flirtation<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa Key GOP senator&#8217;s shutdown proposal<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa SNAP benefits set to end<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa First lady distances from East Wing demo<\/p>\n<div class=\"sailthru_shortcode\">\n<div class=\"sailthru-signup-widget sailthru-signup-display-area sailthru-signup-hill-position-main\">\n\t\t<span class=\"sailthru-signup-widget-close\"><a href=\"#sailthru-signup-widget\">Close<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sailthru_form\">\n<div class=\"sailthru-signup-success-message\">\n<div class=\"icon\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"thanks\">Thank you for signing up!<\/p>\n<p class=\"watch\">Subscribe to more newsletters <a href=\"http:\/\/nxslink.thehill.com\/join\/7aa\/signup\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"sailthru-subscribe-grid-display\">\n<div class=\"sailthru-signup-display-message-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sailthru-signup-display-logo\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sailthru-signup-display-message\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>The latest in politics and policy.<br \/>\nDirect to your inbox.<br \/>\nSign up for the Morning Report newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"sailthru_form_input form-group\">\n<div class=\"sailthru-add-subscriber-errors\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"input-group-btn\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"sailthru-signup-display-button\" type=\"submit\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\tif ( window.checkSizeClasses &amp;&amp; window.checkSizeClasses instanceof Function) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\twindow.checkSizeClasses();<br \/>\n\t\t\t}<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5575974 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25301294958990.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>President Trump speaks to the soldiers and servicemen during his visit to the USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy&#8217;s Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo\/Eugene Hoshiko)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>President Trump<\/strong> rallied American troops aboard the U.S.S. George Washington on Tuesday as part of his tour through Asia.<\/p>\n<p>Trump addressed the soldiers from the aircraft carrier docked south of Tokyo for almost an hour, during which he praised Defense Secretary <strong>Pete Hegseth<\/strong>&nbsp;and touted the military no longer being &#8220;politically correct.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to tell you how great our country is and how well we&#8217;re doing, because a year and a half ago, we had a different country than we do right now. Now we&#8217;re the most respected country in the world,&#8221; <\/em>he said.<\/p>\n<p>During his speech, the president defended his push to send National Guard troops to U.S. cities and his administration&#8217;s recent <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5574179-congress-concerns-trump-military\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5574179-congress-concerns-trump-military\/\">strikes on boats<\/a> carrying alleged drug traffickers in the Carribean Sea and Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;They said, &#8216;No, that was just fishing,&#8217; &#8221; <\/em>Trump said of his critics. <em>&#8220;Submarines don&#8217;t go fishing.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The president spoke in front of fighter jets surrounded by military members in a rally-like atmosphere. A large banner hung behind him read &#8220;Peace through strength.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trump on the aircraft carrier docked at the Yokosuka Naval Base also invited to the podium new Japanese Prime Minister <strong>Sanae Takaichi<\/strong>, the country&#8217;s first female head of government, and praised her for the accomplishment.<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi similarly praised Trump for his efforts in trying to bring peace to the Middle East and ending the fighting between Cambodia and Thailand earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>White House press secretary&nbsp;<strong>Karoline Leavitt<\/strong> later told reporters that Takaichi would nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, which he&#8217;s openly sought.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also achieved a key goal of his trip as he and Takaichi&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5575798-trump-signs-critical-minerals-deal-japan\/\">signed a deal<\/a>&nbsp;to increase cooperation on processing critical minerals and rare earth materials. The agreement states that the countries will provide financial support for mining projects within six months.<\/p>\n<p>The deal&#8217;s timing is significant as it comes two days after the U.S. signed agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia declaring cooperation on critical minerals. And it comes ahead of a much-anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President <strong>Xi Jinping<\/strong>&nbsp;on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Critical minerals have been a focus for Trump since China announced it was tightening restrictions on the exports of them earlier this month. The issue will likely come up during Trump&#8217;s meeting with Xi in South Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the critical minerals deal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2025\/10\/28\/us\/trump-news-japan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The New York Times reported<\/a> there were little signs of a major breakthrough in ongoing trade negotiations between U.S. and Japanese officials.<\/p>\n<p>Trump on Tuesday also <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5575762-trump-meets-japan-prime-minister-takaichi\/\">separately met<\/a>&nbsp;with Takaichi at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI want to just let you know, anytime you have any question, any doubt, anything you want, any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there. We are an ally at the strongest level,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>And amid speculation that Trump may meet with North Korean leader<strong> Kim Jong Un<\/strong> during his Asia trip, the president <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/5575812-trump-japanese-families-north-korea-abductees\/\">greeted families<\/a>&nbsp;of Japanese citizens who had been abducted by North Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has left open the possibility of meeting with Kim, but White House officials said there are no plans for a meeting before Trump returns to the U.S. later this week.<\/p>\n<p>The next leg on Trump&#8217;s trip will be to travel to South Korea ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Trump is expected to meet with South Korean President&nbsp;<strong>Lee Jae Myung<\/strong>, but he will skip the main sessions of the summit.<\/p>\n<p>This is also where Trump will meet with Xi.<\/p>\n<p><strong>TRUMP THIRD-TERM TALK TICKS UP: <\/strong>The president made one of his most direct statements hinting at <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5574490-trump-teases-third-term\/\">seeking a possible third term<\/a> in office on Monday, building on months of speculation.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI haven\u2019t really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know \u2026 but I have the best poll numbers that I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d<\/em> Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Japan, adding that he \u201cwould love to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump pointed to <strong>Vice President Vance<\/strong> and Secretary of State <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong> as possible candidates and a potentially strong ticket, as he has done before, but he said \u201cyou\u2019ll have to tell me\u201d when asked to clarify if he was ruling out a bid himself.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has often flirted with the idea of a third term despite the Constitution\u2019s prohibition on candidates being elected more than twice. He told NBC News in an interview in March that he was \u201cnot joking\u201d when talking about the possibility of running for a third term.<\/p>\n<p>But he\u2019s also walked it back on other occasions, telling CNBC in August that he would \u201cprobably not\u201d run in 2028.<\/p>\n<p>The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is clear about the prohibition on presidents running for a third term \u2014 in place for more than 70 years following former President <strong>Franklin D. Roosevelt<\/strong>\u2019s unprecedented four terms in office.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cNo person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once,\u201d<\/em> the amendment reads.<\/p>\n<p>But that hasn\u2019t stopped Trump from repeatedly leaving the door open. He <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5536590-trump-jeffries-ai-generated-video\/\">posted<\/a> an AI-generated video earlier this month showing him tossing a \u201cTrump 2028\u201d hat to House Minority Leader <strong>Hakeem Jeffries<\/strong> (D-N.Y.).<\/p>\n<p>The hats appeared on Trump\u2019s desk during a meeting he held with congressional leaders last month, which Jeffries called \u201cthe strangest thing ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While some Trump allies have brushed off the speculation as unserious, former Trump adviser <strong>Steve Bannon<\/strong> has been consistent that he expects Trump to serve a third term, The Hill\u2019s Brett Samuels <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/state-watch\/5575319-third-term-talk-trump\/\">reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bannon told The Economist in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/insider\/the-insider\/inside-the-mind-of-maga-a-conversation-with-steve-bannon\">interview<\/a> released last week that there is a \u201cplan\u201d for Trump to get around the 22nd Amendment and serve another term. He didn\u2019t elaborate on what the plan entails but said it would be laid out at the \u201cappropriate time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump is going to be president in \u201828, and people ought to just get accommodated to that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>On previous occasions, Democrats have pushed back against Trump\u2019s comments, arguing they are part of his wider attempts to expand the power of the executive.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. <strong>Dan Goldman<\/strong> (D-N.Y.) introduced a <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5167407-democrat-introducing-resolution-affirming-22nd-amendment-support-amid-trump-third-term-talk\/\">resolution<\/a> in February reaffirming the Constitution\u2019s limit on no one being elected to more than two terms in response to Trump\u2019s comments. That resolution, and a measure from Rep. <strong>Andy Ogles<\/strong> (R-Tenn.) calling for amending the Constitution to allow Trump to seek a third term, seem unlikely to pass.<\/p>\n<p>But it demonstrates how Democrats are taking Trump\u2019s words seriously as he floats taking a step that on its face is unconstitutional and as he pushes for more power for the White House.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5574520-trump-mri-cognitive-test\/\">The Hill<\/a>: <em>\u201cTrump confirms secondary physical test included MRI, cognitive test.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/10\/27\/politics\/president-trump-third-term-2028\">CNN<\/a>: \u201cWhy Trump needs to keep the third-term talk going.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/10\/27\/trump-third-term-president-constitution-illegal\">Axios<\/a>: <em>These presidents considered third terms before they were banned.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>FIRST IN THE HILL<\/strong>: A coalition of Senate and House Democrats are demanding answers over President Trump\u2019s decision to greenlight the unrestricted export of American-made firearms, saying the move risks empowering criminal and terrorist organizations the administration is battling in the Western Hemisphere, according to letters obtained exclusively by The Hill.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <strong>Elizabeth Warren<\/strong> (D-Mass.) and Rep. <strong>Joaquin Castro<\/strong> (D-Texas) led a group of lawmakers, buoyed by a coalition of nongovernmental organizations, writing to the administration on Monday over its decision to rescind export restrictions on U.S.-made small arms, which were originally put in place under the Biden administration to combat the illicit gun market.<\/p>\n<p>Commerce Secretary <strong>Howard Lutnick<\/strong> and Rubio have until Nov. 4 to answer a list of detailed questions sent by the lawmakers, probing the administration\u2019s decision-making process to rescind the rule.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration, explaining its decision late last month, said that American firearms manufacturers estimated that the regulatory restrictions would cost them \u201chundreds of millions of dollars per year in lost sales,\u201d and that the rule \u201cimposed unnecessary regulatory burdens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5575350-lawmakers-criticize-trump-gun-policy\/\">Read more here<\/a> from my colleague Laura Kelly.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Take with Blake Burman<\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s crunch time in the New York City mayor\u2019s race, with only a week left until election day. GOP candidate <strong>Curtis Sliwa<\/strong> is facing pressure to drop out of the race to potentially boost the chances of<strong> Andrew Cuomo<\/strong>, who&#8217;s running as an independent against Democratic nominee <strong>Zohran Mamdani<\/strong>. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2tC6pQ-01bE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sliwa told me<\/a> he\u2019s already voted for himself and he won\u2019t drop out. <em>\u201cI give people an alternative choice in this election,<\/em>\u201d he said. <em>\u201cSo why would I want to drop out?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Republican candidate&nbsp;also told me he hopes the leader of his party, President Trump,&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;move forward with threats to withhold some&nbsp;federal&nbsp;funds if Mamdani wins.&nbsp;<em>\u201cDon&#8217;t hurt the city because you don&#8217;t like the mayor. But it is incumbent upon Zohran Mandami, if he should win, he&#8217;s got to take a different track with Donald Trump,\u201d <\/em>Sliwa said Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>We have seen Trump take on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5561225-national-guard-deployment-chicago\/\">the second- and third-largest cities<\/a>&nbsp;in America so far in his administration. Come next Tuesday&nbsp;evening,&nbsp;we will see how his relationship with the largest&nbsp;city, and his hometown, potentially morphs in the months ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Burman hosts &#8220;The Hill&#8221; weeknights, 6p\/5c on NewsNation.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 Things to Know Today<\/h2>\n<p>1. <strong>The Trump administration is asking<\/strong> the Supreme Court to let the president <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/regulation\/court-battles\/5575057-trump-supreme-court-review-copyright-director\/\">refire the head<\/a> of the U.S. Copyright Office after a divided federal appeals court allowed her to stay in the role.<\/p>\n<p>2. <strong>The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has set<\/strong> a Jan. 16 <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/state-watch\/5575349-dnc-early-presidential-calendar\/\">deadline<\/a> for states to submit their proposals to be part of the early primary calendar for the 2028 election. It comes after the DNC shook up their early primary schedule for the 2024 race, moving South Carolina to be first instead of Iowa.<\/p>\n<p>3. <strong>Hurricane Melissa is set to plow<\/strong> through Jamaica and then the Bahamas after <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-haiti-cuba-c33102eb52bc8dfec08bdcd20968ca1d\">becoming<\/a> a rare, powerful Category 5 storm. It could become the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica since record-keeping began in the 1850s.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leading the Day<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5575561 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Leading-Shutdown-SNAP_102725_AP_Erin-Hooley.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Signage showing that the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is accepted is displayed at Wild Onion Market on Oct. 27, 2025, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley, Associated Press)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>SHUTDOWN SNAP PRESSURE<\/strong>: Pressure is building on both parties to reach an agreement to reopen the government as millions of Americans are set to lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the end of the month.<\/p>\n<p>Many low-income Americans rely on SNAP to afford the cost of groceries on a monthly basis. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released guidance on Friday saying that it won\u2019t use contingency funding for SNAP if the shutdown continues beyond the end of this week, despite Congress allocating the funding for emergency situations.<\/p>\n<p>The rollbacks could cause more than <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5572490-usda-snap-funding-impasse\/\">40 million Americans<\/a> to receive less assistance or no assistance with grocery bills. October SNAP benefits weren\u2019t affected by the shutdown because the funding from the federal government was sent ahead of the start of the month, but the November benefits will be the first ones at risk.<\/p>\n<p>The Hill\u2019s Sarah Fortinsky has <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/state-watch\/5574817-democrats-blame-republicans-snap\/\">five takeaways<\/a> as SNAP funding is set to run out in days.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Democrats respond:&nbsp;<\/strong>Democrats slammed the USDA\u2019s move and called on the department to tap into reserve funds for the program. The department argued in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/9a6bpd8w7rh0aky2b4x5k\/November-Supplemental-Nutrition-Assistance-Program.pdf?rlkey=ngwpv8lc64jkrxoy2njgzm80z&amp;e=2&amp;st=fgdtzqdu&amp;dl=0\">memo<\/a> that the contingency fund is designed to respond to unforeseen events like natural disasters and not shutdowns, which in this case it alleges was caused by the Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>The USDA said spending the money on SNAP benefits would be illegal. That contradicts a since-deleted shutdown plan that the department prepared earlier this year saying it\u2019s legally required to pay SNAP benefits during a shutdown, Fortinsky reports.<\/p>\n<p>Legislation has been introduced in both houses of Congress to keep SNAP benefits paid throughout the shutdown until regular appropriations or stopgap measures can take over, but states in the meantime are scrambling to cover the shortfall.<\/p>\n<p>States have encouraged SNAP recipients to turn to local food banks if their benefits pause, while some have said they\u2019ll tap into state funds to cover them for now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pressure building: <\/strong>The Hill\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/?p=5575450\/\">Alexander Bolton reports<\/a> how the pending SNAP shortfall, along with federal workers and military servicemembers going without pay for potentially an extended period of time, is adding pressure on lawmakers to end the shutdown, now almost four weeks long.<\/p>\n<p>The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, said \u201cit\u2019s time\u201d for Congress to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/business\/5574613-federal-workers-union-demands-end-shutdown\/?tbref=hp\">immediately pass<\/a> a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cNo half measures, and no gamesmanship,\u201d<\/em> AFGE National President <strong>Everett Kelley<\/strong> said in a release. <em>\u201cPut every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay \u2014 today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>AFGE represents more than 800,000 workers in almost every federal agency, according to its website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key GOP senator&#8217;s proposal<\/strong>: Wisconsin Sen.&nbsp;<strong>Ron Johnson<\/strong>&nbsp;(R) said he&#8217;s offered Democrats a&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5575688-ron-johnson-gop-pay-federal-workers-shutdown\/\">proposal to pay all federal workers<\/a>, including essential and furloughed federal employees, while the government remains shut down.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson has been the lead Senate Republican negotiator on a bill to pay key federal workers during the shutdown, so the offer from him is notable. He told The Hill that he believes Senate GOP leadership supports the offer, but it will be discussed in detail at the Senate Republican policy luncheon on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson emphasized that the proposal wouldn&#8217;t limit Trump&#8217;s authority on &#8220;managing the workforce&#8221; during the shutdown, meaning it wouldn&#8217;t prevent Trump from laying workers off or restructuring the federal workforce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Date to watch: <\/strong>This Saturday, Nov. 1, is the day Americans will be able to log onto the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange to choose their insurance plans for next year.<\/p>\n<p>Federal subsidies for health care through the ACA, which are set to expire at the end of the year, have been key to Democrats&#8217; argument about reopening the government. They\u2019ve mostly refused to support the House-passed CR, which doesn\u2019t include an extension of the subsidies.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have pointed to Nov. 1 as critical because Americans who rely on these subsidies will see higher premiums for their insurance when they\u2019re picking their plan on the exchange.<\/p>\n<p>Insurers\u2019 rates were submitted earlier this year, so any deal to extend the subsidies won\u2019t change the rates, but a deal to extend them could still blunt the financial impact. The potential impact of a loss of subsidies will vary by state.<\/p>\n<p>The Hill\u2019s Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi have <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/?p=5575389\">what you need to know<\/a> about ACA open enrollment.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/house\/5574845-speaker-johnson-gop-health-care-plan-shutdown\/\">The Hill<\/a>: <em>House Speaker <strong>Mike Johnson<\/strong> (R-La.) says Republicans working on health care plan.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/10\/27\/government-shutdown-funding-programs-00622376\">Politico<\/a>: <em>Six ways the shutdown is about to get worse.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>MELANIA DISTANCES HERSELF FROM EAST WING PROJECT<\/strong>: First lady <strong>Melania Trump<\/strong> has reportedly sought to distance herself from the demolition of the White House\u2019s East Wing to make room for the president\u2019s much-desired ballroom.<\/p>\n<p>The Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/blogs\/in-the-know\/5575035-melania-trump-east-wing-ballroom\/\">reported<\/a> on Monday that the first lady has expressed concerns about tearing down the East Wing and told associates it isn\u2019t her project. White House officials said they will rebuild East Wing offices, which included space for the first lady and her staff.<\/p>\n<p>The demolition of the wing, completed on Thursday, has received widespread attention over the past few days as the administration calls it a \u201cbold, necessary change.\u201d Meanwhile, critics and historians have decried it as undermining the White House\u2019s symbolism and history and for a lack of transparency around the process.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cPresident Trump is a builder at heart. Make no mistake: the newly improved East Wing and brand new ballroom will make the People\u2019s House more useful and beautiful for generations of presidents, and Americans, to come,\u201d<\/em> <strong>Davis Ingle<\/strong>, a White House spokesperson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-d1616a3e?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdkmzsCkYc2zBKopucjDMLBImIlEjpdLmVkgO3WDZA3aqPykEsa1VZkWAIUydc%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69009502&amp;gaa_sig=nEXo9cSP0_zx8pL-0Y4ZQmZodRAUw5XLftzqv-wpYw_mKVBIVV27ZeXZI9wKuS1Do8bWjMlmjd-yTV7SzMljIg%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told the Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The administration has defended the project and its $300 million price tag by noting that it\u2019s being privately funded, including through donations from major companies such as Google, Apple and Amazon. Critics have also expressed concern about private companies having a role in funding renovations of the White House.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/10\/26\/politics\/white-house-east-wing-history\">CNN<\/a>: <em>What was lost from the East Wing.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/10\/27\/nx-s1-5583793\/the-white-houses-east-wing-has-been-demolished-heres-how-americans-feel-about-it\">NPR<\/a>: <em>How Americans feel about the East Wing demolition.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>INDIANA REDISTRICTING ADVANCING<\/strong>: The possibility of Indiana joining the redistricting battle took a step forward on Monday when Gov. <strong>Mike Braun<\/strong> (R) <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/5574660-indiana-redistricting-special-session\/\">called<\/a> a special session of the state Legislature to redraw the state&#8217;s congressional map ahead of next year\u2019s midterms.<\/p>\n<p>The decision from Braun came after months of intense lobbying from the White House and multiple visits from Vance to the state to encourage state GOP lawmakers to support passing a new congressional map. Braun had for months expressed hesitation about calling a special session, while several Republicans in the Legislature also <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/5458522-gop-opposition-indiana-redistricting\/\">weren\u2019t eager<\/a> to redraw the lines.<\/p>\n<p>But Braun said in a statement that he called the session to \u201cprotect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The session will come after Republican lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina passed new maps to likely pick up more seats for the GOP in the midterm elections. California is set to vote on a ballot measure next week that could allow the state Legislature to redraw its map for the rest of the decade and potentially net Democrats up to five additional seats in the House.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans already hold seven of Indiana\u2019s nine House seats, but the party is expected to try to pick up at least one if not two more. A map proposal hasn\u2019t yet been publicly released.<\/p>\n<p>While support for mid-decade redistricting has grown among some skeptical Republicans, whether the GOP has enough votes in the state Senate to pass it is <a href=\"https:\/\/indianacapitalchronicle.com\/briefs\/20619\/\">unclear<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If a new map is passed, it could help increase the GOP\u2019s edge in the redistricting battle and make winning back control of the House harder for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/state-watch\/5575031-lawsuit-targets-republican-map\/?tbref=hp\">The Hill<\/a>: <em>\u201cNew York voters file lawsuit to scrap House map over GOP seat.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/article\/campaigns\/jeffries-ill-push\/\">Punchbowl News<\/a>: <em>\u201cJeffries heads to Illinois to push redistricting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When &amp; Where<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The president<\/strong> is in Japan wrapping up a full day of events.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Senate <\/strong>will meet at 10 a.m. EDT.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The House <\/strong>will convene at 1 p.m. for a pro forma session.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zoom In<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5575563 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Zoom-In-Harvard_093025_AP_Charles-Krupa.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The gates of Harvard Yard at Harvard University, Sept. 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (Charles Krupa, Associated Press)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>SCOTUS\u2019S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DECISION<\/strong>: The effects of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision striking down affirmative action in higher education are being felt two years later as Black enrollment at selective universities has dropped while Asian American enrollment has risen.<\/p>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/affirmative-action-college-admissions-race-princeton-8d3c44eb6b01d0689f7c109041735aec\">analysis<\/a> from The Associated Press of 20 elite colleges showed the implications, with some campuses\u2019 Black populations dropping to as low as 2 percent of their freshman class.<\/p>\n<p>The Hill\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/?p=5574902\">Lexi Lonas Cochran reports<\/a> how debate is swirling about how schools can increase their numbers and how the Trump administration would respond to any intentional effort to do so.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe recent decline in Black student enrollment at elite institutions is not [an] accident,\u201d <\/em>said <strong>Madison Weiss<\/strong>, a senior analyst for higher education policy at the Center for American Progress. <em>\u201cIt reflects the very predictable and deeply troubling consequences of dismantling one of our nation\u2019s most effective tools for equity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The biggest drop in AP\u2019s analysis was found to be at Columbia University, dropping from a 20 percent Black student population before the ruling to 13 percent in 2025. Harvard University dropped from 18 percent to 11.5 percent, while most others experienced a drop between 2 and 5 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Experts said one way to diversify admissions would be to abolish legacy admissions, which have been seen as mostly benefitting wealthy and white applicants, or take a \u201cholistic view\u201d in ensuring that low-income, rural and first-generation students receive fair consideration.<\/p>\n<p>But universities will need to ensure such measures don\u2019t result in a confrontation with the Trump administration, which has made eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs a priority. The White House has targeted different schools\u2019 admissions policies and required them to agree to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/education\/5571818-uva-trump-deal-favorable-terms\/\">make sure<\/a> race isn\u2019t considered in any way that it says violates the law.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidehighered.com\/news\/admissions\/traditional-age\/2025\/10\/27\/trumps-dei-crackdown-closes-120-trio-programs\">Inside Higher Ed<\/a>: <em>\u201cTrump\u2019s DEI crackdown closes 120 TRIO programs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/10\/27\/nx-s1-5587552\/how-the-trump-administration-is-pressuring-universities-to-fall-in-line\">NPR<\/a>: <em>\u201cHow the Trump administration is pressuring universities to fall in line.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>VIRGINA SPLIT TICKET?<\/strong> Split-ticket voting is increasingly rare in these hyper-polarized times, but Virginia Democrats are bracing for it as controversy continues to surround their state attorney general nominee, <strong>Jay Jones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Polls show a tight race between Jones and incumbent Virginia Attorney General <strong>Jason Miyares<\/strong> (R), with Miyares <a href=\"https:\/\/polls.decisiondeskhq.com\/averages\/general-ballot-test\/2025-virginia-attorney-general\/virginia\/lv-rv-adults\">leading<\/a> by 3 points in the Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) polling average. This came in the aftermath of the revelation of several texts that Jones sent in 2022 wishing for violence against then-state House Speaker <strong>Todd Gilbert<\/strong> (R) and his family to cause Gilbert to change his political beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>Jones has apologized for the comments and vowed to continue in the race despite some calls for him to drop out. But his campaign is still reeling from the texts, as he had been leading in polling before they came out.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, former Rep. <strong>Abigail Spanberger<\/strong> (D) is the favorite to win Virginia\u2019s gubernatorial race next week against Republican Lt. Gov. <strong>Winsome Earle-Sears<\/strong>. Spanberger leads by more than 7.5 points in the DDHQ <a href=\"https:\/\/polls.decisiondeskhq.com\/averages\/general-ballot-test\/2025-virginia-governor\/virginia\/lv-rv-adults\">average<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This could lead to a split ticket in the commonwealth, which could create headaches for Democrats in Richmond hoping to push back more against the Trump administration with Miyares still in office, The Hill\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/?p=5575047\">Julia Manchester reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The situation wouldn\u2019t be unprecedented as Virginia Sens. <strong>Mark Warner<\/strong> (D) and <strong>Tim Kaine<\/strong> (D) had Republican attorneys general when they served as governor. But it would be one additional factor for Democrats to consider in their plans.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/elections\/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-campaigns-abigail-spanberger-virginia-rcna239841\">NBC News<\/a>: <em>Pennsylvania Gov. <strong>Josh Shapiro<\/strong> (D) campaigning for Spanberger in closing stretch.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Elsewhere<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5575560 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Elsewhere-Milei_102625_AP_Rodrigo-Abd.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Argentina&#8217;s President Javier Milei celebrates after winning in legislative midterm elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd, Associated Press)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>MILEI\u2019S REVIVAL<\/strong>: Argentine President <strong>Javier Milei<\/strong> is in a much stronger position than he was weeks ago as his party outperformed expectations in his country\u2019s midterm elections and likely secured promised financial support from the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Milei\u2019s party won more than 40 percent of the vote in the legislative elections, taking 64 of the 127 seats in the lower chamber and 13 of the 24 seats in the upper chamber. That will prevent the legislative branch from being able to overturn his vetoes.<\/p>\n<p>His party\u2019s victory, surpassing expectations that it would only win about 30 percent of the vote, was key as Trump had staked a bailout of Argentina\u2019s economy on the elections.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIf he does win, we\u2019re going to be very helpful,\u201d<\/em> Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/business\/5555148-milei-trump-ally-argentina-economy\/\">said<\/a> when Milei visited the White House earlier this month. <em>\u201cAnd if he doesn\u2019t win, we\u2019re not going to waste our time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. has finalized a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina\u2019s central bank to boost its crumbling economy and is planning to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5558307-us-argentina-financial-assistance\/\">provide<\/a> an additional $20 billion through a mix of financing from sovereign funds and private banks.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI want to congratulate the victor,\u201d<\/em> Trump told reporters Monday. <em>\u201cAnd he was a big victor, and he had a lot of help from us. He had a lot of help. I gave him an endorsement, very strong endorsement. \u2026 People thought it would be hard to win. And not only did he win, he won by a lot. So, Argentina, that was a great thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Milei thanked Trump for \u201ctrusting\u201d the Argentine people and called him a \u201cgreat friend\u201d of the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur Nations should never have stopped being allies. Our peoples want to live in freedom. Count on me to fight for Western civilization, which has succeeded in lifting more than 90% of the world\u2019s population out of poverty,\u201d he said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JMilei\/status\/1982670284873216040\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have <a href=\"https:\/\/lindasanchez.house.gov\/media-center\/press-releases\/sanchez-sewell-lead-54-democrats-demanding-answers-20-billion-argentina\">denounced<\/a> the Trump administration\u2019s bailout as an \u201cinappropriate\u201d use of taxpayer funds.<\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/10\/26\/us-argentina-bessent\">Axios<\/a>: <em>Treasury Secretary <strong>Scott Bessent<\/strong> promises U.S. won\u2019t lose money on Argentina bailout.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u25aa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/oct\/27\/trump-javier-mileis-electoral-triumph-argentina\">The Guardian<\/a>: <em>Trump\u2019s bailout threat may have been key to Milei\u2019s victory.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opinion<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Halloween is an immigrant holiday for an immigrant nation<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/?p=5575458\/\">writes The Hill\u2019s Chris Stirewalt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Britain is looking for a role in Trump\u2019s Middle East peace plan<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/5573530-britain-looks-for-a-role-in-trumps-middle-east-peace-plan\/\">writes The Hill opinion contributor Eliot Wilson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Closer<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5575559 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/globaltalentholding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Closer-Trudeau-Perry_121324_AP_Andy-Kropa-and-Frank-Gunn.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Popstar Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Andy Kropa, Invision, Associated Press file; and Frank Gunn, The Canadian Press via Associated Press)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>And finally \u2026 <\/em>It&#8217;s official: former Canadian Prime Minister <strong>Justin Trudeau<\/strong> and singer <strong>Katy Perry<\/strong> have <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/blogs\/in-the-know\/5575042-justin-trudeau-katy-perry-dating\/\">gone public as a couple<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The two were photographed holding hands over the weekend as Perry celebrated her 41st birthday at a cabaret show in Paris.<\/p>\n<p>Trudeau separated from his ex-wife, <strong>Sophie Gr\u00e9goire<\/strong>, in 2023 and Perry reportedly called off her engagement to actor <strong>Orlando Bloom<\/strong> earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>Trudeau and Perry were <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/international\/5427363-trudeau-perry-montreal-dinner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spotted having dinner<\/a> in Montreal in late July, and TMZ published photos of them on Perry\u2019s yacht off the coast of California earlier this month.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Morning Report is The Hill&#8217;s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today&#8217;s issue: \u25aa&nbsp;Trump returns to third-term flirtation \u25aa Key GOP senator&#8217;s shutdown proposal \u25aa SNAP benefits set to end \u25aa First lady distances from East Wing demo Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. 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