President Donald Trump is traveling to North Dakota on Wednesday for events tied to America’s 250th anniversary, including a ride on the Freedom250 train and the opening ceremony of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora. The trip marks his first use of the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar.
Meanwhile, the wave of far-left primary challenges has reached the West. In Colorado’s primary elections Tuesday, Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated longtime Rep. Diana DeGette, a centrist who had held the seat for decades. The upset signals a growing influence of the party’s progressive wing and echoes similar defeats in other states. For more on Colorado’s primary results, see how the governor’s race also shifted.
The House of Representatives departed Washington earlier than planned after a push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act stalled. Hard-line conservatives blocked a procedural rule Tuesday, venting frustration that the Senate has not taken up the bill, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to cast a ballot. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) then sent lawmakers home for the holiday recess.
Trump has invested significant political capital in the SAVE Act, even as he admitted he doubts it will ultimately pass. The effort has divided Republicans and risks complicating midterm unity, as explored in this analysis of the GOP’s internal tensions.
In international trade, officials from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are meeting in New York to discuss the free trade agreement enacted during Trump’s first term. The Trump administration is expected to formally announce it will not extend the pact, triggering a decade-long wind-down process.
Other developments include a Supreme Court ruling that upheld birthright citizenship, dealing a blow to Trump’s policies. The decision is part of a broader pattern of judicial checks on executive actions. Additionally, a Democrat has moved to block Pentagon funding for renovations to the White House ballroom, a project tied to Trump’s personal use of the space.
Trump also welcomed former Colorado election official Tina Peters, who was convicted for her role in the 2020 election fraud attempts, to the White House. The move has drawn criticism from election integrity advocates.
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