The world was on the edge of its collective seat yesterday – waiting with popcorn at the ready for Trump vs Musk to kick off again.
And they were left disappointed. There were a few catty swipes – but nothing on the scale of the day before.
On the other hand, the Trump Administration performed a screeching u-turn on an issue they’ve been stubbornly refusing to budge on for weeks.
And Donald Trump dusted off his Marie Antoinette impression one more time.
Here’s what happened in Trump World overnight, and why you should care.
1. They’re bringing back the guy they accidentally deported – in one of the biggest u-turns in history
The lengthy saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s botched deportation took an unexpected twist last night, when it emerged he’d been released from the Salvadoran gulag he’d been held in for the last couple of months and was on a flight back to the United States.
He was, as you’ll probably recall, sent to the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador, despite having no criminal record, a ‘do not deport’ order on his file and government lawyers admitting he’d been wrongly deported.
Yet even after the Supreme Court told the administration they should really bring him back and give him at least a day in court, they steadfastly refused.
Until yesterday, when it emerged he was on a flight back to the US to stand trial.
A grand jury – a very weird and opaque form of judicial investigation – has apparently been set up to look at Garcia’s arrest, and allegations that he’d previously driven undocumented migrants over state lines – technically people smuggling.
Which, of course, gives Attorney General Pam Bondi license to make all kinds of claims about him being a “people smuggler” and a “gang member” and a “groomer” and imply he was linked to murders – having presented evidence for exactly none of these.
And it gives Stephen Miller, the White House’s very own Renfield, the opportunity to go on (where else?) Fox News and declare Garcia guilty of “monstrous crimes against humanity.”
Presumably the plane bringing him back to the US is going via The Hague.
Still, at least he’ll finally have his day in court – which is really all anyone’s been asking for.
2. It’s good to see Trump taking the breakup well
Donald Trump has reached the “he was never good enough for me” stage of a breakup.
Asked on Air Force One – en route to a UFC fight in New Jersey – if the US could survive without Elon Musk’s expertise, the President said: “The US could survive without almost anybody… except me.”
You go girl.
3. Elon not so much
In response to a tweet demanding he make a “full throated apology” to Trump for his behaviour, and warning him “every hour you delay, it’ll make an eventual apology less sincere – Elon Musk tweeted the following:
“I will apologise profusely as soon as there is a full dump of the Epstein files.”
Might have to hang on for that big hug reconciliation in the Oval Office, chaps.
4. Apparently the breakup was all about NASA
According to a deeply reported story in the New York Times, the final straw in the big beautiful bromance was Trump withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacson – a Musk ally – to run NASA.
Turns out Isaacson had donated to some Democrats and Trump didn’t think he could be counted on to be loyal.
Which, were we not discussing the messiest political breakup since David Cameron and Michael Gove, would be a story in itself.
5. London calling
US trade representatives, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, will meet with a delegation from China in London next week – to try and bring Trump’s trade war down a notch.
“The meeting should go very well,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday afternoon. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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6. Trump is building a ballroom in the White House – while slashing healthcare from normal Americans
Just days after pushing his “Big Beautiful” Budget Bill through the House – along with $600m of cuts to medical funding for poor Americans – Donald Trump idly mused on how posh his new ballroom is going to be.
He’s spending US taxpayers’ cash on converting part of the White House into a lavish ballroom – which could not be more Marie Antoinette if he tried.
The cost of the construction could be around $100 million – and he says he’ll pay for it himself.
He posted on Truth Social: “Just inspected the site of the new Ballroom that will be built, compliments of a man known as Donald J. Trump, at the White House. For 150 years, Presidents, and many others, have wanted a beautiful Ballroom, but it never got built because nobody previously had any knowledge or experience in doing such things — But I do, like maybe nobody else, and it will go up quickly, and be a wonderful addition, very much in keeping with the magnificent White House itself. These are the “fun” projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events. It will all be good, maybe even GREAT, depending on who is the President of the USA!”
7. It’s been World Pride in Washington DC this week
World Pride’s human rights conference ended Friday with a drag show featuring some of the most prominent stars from Rupaul’s Drag Race ahead of a weekend parade, rally and concerts amid anxieties over an increasingly hostile political environment for the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S.
Courtney Act, the first drag performer in the world to debut on a major label, crooned a slowed-down version of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” against a backdrop of glittering rainbow pixels. Peppermint, the first trans woman to originate a principal Broadway role, strutted in a shimmering bodysuit to Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight.”
Bob the Drag Queen, a nonbinary comedian, actor and drag performer, belted Dionne Warwick’s “I Got Love.” And TV personality and actor Mrs. Kasha Davis twirled in a sparkling black gown to Kelly Clarkson singing the words “We are all misfits living in a world on fire. Sing it for the people like us.”
Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip World Pride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate. Yet cross-national strategizing has still been central to the gathering as international attendees at the human rights conference echoed that they wanted to send a clear message of opposition to US officials with their presence.
“This is World Pride on Trump’s doorstep,” said Yasmin Benoit, a British model and asexual activist.
