Today’s notice: Trump’s response to the Susie Wiles talk. A post-midterms student debt squeeze. The Republican pitch that may have fallen flat in Nevada. Ukrainian defense firms’ Washington strategy. And: Teeing up this week’s fiery fairway fight.
THE LATEST
Someone has job security: It’s just over two weeks until the consequential midterms, and White House officials have a problem. Bruising headlines continue to mount over the self-dealings of people either inside the administration or close to it, buttressed by Americans’ growing concern over government corruption and skyrocketing prices. After the disastrous, five-day tenure of Katie Zacharia, the White House is once again without a press secretary. The nearly iron-tight group of aides surrounding Donald Trump, who for the most part avoided the type of infighting that defined the president’s first term, seem like they’re starting to crack.
But it was the storyline that chief of staff Susie Wiles was on the chopping block that stirred Trump, according to a source familiar with his reaction. The president, the source said, told a group of aides effectively: If she goes, I go.
Trending
It’s a helluva vote of confidence for his embattled chief of staff, who has been a target for those unhappy with the direction of the White House after a series of tough weeks. But Trump is being advised by outside allies not to worry about any staffing shakeups until after the midterm elections, two sources familiar with the conversations told The Washington Sun’s Jasmine Wright. It’s unclear if he’ll heed the advice, as he’s openly questioned in phone conversations whether his political team is up to the moment. But the message delivered to him was, simply put: “Let’s focus on what we have to do now.”
Wiles’ supporters say that last week’s palace intrigue-fueled rollercoaster has only emboldened her position. Not only has the president publicly defended Wiles repeatedly over the weekend, they say, but the press secretary’s exit is another proof point. The decision to hire Zacharia was ultimately Trump’s.
Last week “shows that White House system works,” said one source close to the president and supportive of Wiles. That’s a system that Wiles put together. “And it weakens those fighting against her.” Put more bluntly by another Wiles confidant about her adversaries: “They picked the wrong fight.”
The White House pushed back on any divisions. “The anonymous sources peddling this fake nonsense are self-serving opportunists focused on themselves,” White House spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement. “The team is united and focused on President Trump, delivering his America First agenda, and winning the midterms.”
More: Trump Appears to Have Dropped the ‘Military Complex’ Justification for His Arch • Zelenskyy Warns That Trump Waiving Russian Sanctions Is ‘Strengthening Putin’s War’ • WSJ: Putin Floats a Summit With Trump and Xi to Discuss Ukraine Deal
FROM TREASURY
Eyes emoji scoop: The Trump administration is moving forward on plans to impose financial penalties on Americans in default on their federal student loans and hire private debt collectors to go after them, The Sun’s Jeff Stein and Kadia Goba report. But the plans are unlikely to be announced until after the midterms.
Treasury Department officials expressed concerns last year that too aggressively pursuing these measures could hurt low-income borrowers and that scores of Trump supporters would be seriously affected by going after the wages and benefits of workers who are, in many cases, struggling to hold onto their jobs. Their message: “This is not who you think it is. The demographics are not good for us,” one source said.
FROM NEVADA
The no tax on tips flop? Once expected to be a key part of the Republican sales pitch in the midterms, Trump’s signature populist tax scheme isn’t the winning bet Republicans had hoped for in Las Vegas, home of one of the nation’s largest tip-based economies. The Sun’s Christa Dutton reports from Democratic Rep. Susie Lee’s reelection bid in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, where MAGA Inc. recently pulled its support from Republican Marty O’Donnell after the no-tax-on-tips message didn’t move voters as much as the GOP hoped.
FROM THE PENTAGON
Ukrainian defense firms vs. shifting foreign policy: At the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference in Washington last week, Ukrainian defense firms had their first dedicated pavilion — part of an effort to sell their drone and other tech to the U.S. military. The Sun’s Joe Gould and Hamed Ahmadi report on the political and practical challenges facing these firms. Recent White House pressure on Ukrainian battlefield tactics and the firms’ reliance on Chinese parts are making building this new market difficult.
NEW ON THE WASHINGTON SUN
Teed up and teed off: Trump announced a Nov. 15 construction start date for his much-discussed redevelopment project at D.C.’s East Potomac Park golf course, despite an ongoing lawsuit aimed at halting the overhaul, The Sun’s Jenna Monnin and Zara Norman report. The surprise declaration prompted federal Judge Ana C. Reyes — who also denied the government’s motion that she recuse herself — to demand answers from the Trump administration. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. doubled down and argued that the court shouldn’t even be able to take up the case because the plans aren’t final — and the court has no say anyway.
“Just as a decision to redesign all the art exhibits in a Smithsonian Museum would not be
agency action, neither would a decision to redesign a golf course, or to trim trees, replace fences, expand the fairways, or mow the lawn,” Woodward wrote.
The rare weekend court saga plays up a hearing today where Reyes has demanded
National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron and deputy chief of staff at the Interior Department Gregory Wischer be prepared to testify.
More: DHS Punts Decision to End Deportation Protections for Immigrants From Ukraine and Sudan • Homan Says the Trump Administration Has a ‘Strong Case’ Against Rep. Ilhan Omar • DOGE Disruptions Upended $112 Million Epidemiology Contract
NOT US
- Two weeks from Election Day, Texas Republicans start finger-pointing ahead of potential losses, by Natasha Korecki and Alexandra Marquez for NBC News
- Trump Promoted Suspiciously Cheap Gas Stations. Here’s What He Didn’t Tell You. By Kathy Gilsinan and James Bikales for Politico
- He Joined the Military. They Reported His Wife To Ice. By Nick Miroff and Nancy A. Youssef for The Atlantic
WEEK AHEAD
Today
Trump holds a campaign rally in Kansas.
JD Vance visits North Carolina.
Federal court hearing in the East Potomac golf course case.
Tuesday
Bill Clinton campaigns for Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly.
Trump holds a campaign rally in North Carolina.
Wednesday
Trump holds a campaign rally in South Carolina.
Gubernatorial debates in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Senate debates in Michigan and Kansas.
Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District debate.
Thursday
Trump holds a campaign rally in Iowa.
Friday
Trump holds a rally in Fort Myers, Florida.
Saturday
Barack Obama campaigns for Democratic candidates in Ohio.
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The newsletter was produced by Thomas Burr and Gaby Morera Di Núbila.
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