Trump's USA

Fed vs. inflation
Warsh: Trump has never asked me to make a specific interest rate decision

Donald Trump has never asked Kevin Warsh to promise or decide on any interest rate action in advance, says the candidate for the position of Fed chief during the Senate hearing.

– The president has never at any time asked me to commit to a specific interest rate decision – period. And I would never have agreed to it if he had, he says according to Bloomberg.

Kevin Warsh also says that he is "determined" to ensure that monetary policy remains completely independent. Shortly before the hearing, Trump told CNBC that he would be disappointed if Warsh did not lower interest rates. But that will not affect Warsh's decision, according to the Fed candidate, who believes that Trump, like most presidents, wants lower interest rates.

– I think the difference is that President Trump expresses himself completely openly, without mincing words, says Warsh.

Mid-term elections in the USA
Trump builds up the party's "war chest" ahead of the autumn elections

The Republicans' "war chest" ahead of the autumn mid-term elections in the USA grew to $1 billion in the first quarter, according to Bloomberg. At the same time, the corresponding assets of the Democrats amounted to $261 million.

The Republicans' money is invested in the party, political action committees (PACs) and in organizations linked to Donald Trump. In March alone, the president raised over $35 million for the party after large donations from entrepreneurs Diane Hendricks, Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen.
 

The President's Team
Sources: Ron DeSantis is pining for a job in the White House

Outgoing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis really wants a job in the Trump administration, several sources tell Axios.

- Ron begged and pleaded to be attorney general, Donald Trump is said to have told one of them after a lunch with DeSantis the other week.

DeSantis' second and final term as governor expires in January, and he is now said to be looking for his next assignment. He is also said to have expressed interest in becoming defense secretary or a Supreme Court judge.

Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired earlier in April, and her deputy Todd Blanche replaced her as acting attorney general. Like Bondi, he is under intense pressure to prosecute Trump's political enemies.

- Todd has about 90 days to prove himself, says one of Axios' sources.

According to sources to the Washington Post, an internal power struggle over the role has broken out at the department.

Health Policy
Hegseth: US soldiers will not need the flu vaccine

The US military is eliminating the requirement for an annual dose of the flu vaccine for soldiers, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced according to the Washington Post.

Hegseth calls the requirement an "absurd" intrusion into the lives of soldiers. He claims that it "weakens our warfighting capability", without explaining what he means.

In the future, soldiers will be able to choose to take the vaccine if they want, the minister says, adding:

- But we will not force you, because your body, your faith and your beliefs are not negotiable.

Chris Meekins, who previously worked with public health and infectious disease control in the Trump administration, criticizes the decision and says that it will lead to increased sick leave and healthcare costs.