In partnership with

Happy Thursday, Patriots,

President Donald Trump is pressing forward with construction of a $300 million White House ballroom, a project he’s long envisioned as a tribute to American greatness — even as critics question its scope and legality.

The East Wing expansion, privately funded through donations and Trump’s own contributions, will replace parts of the existing structure to make room for what aides call “a timeless hall of state.”

While preservationists have raised alarms and some former advisers urged caution, Trump remains undeterred. “World leaders should have their breath taken away when they enter the people’s house,” one supporter said.

The ballroom, years in the making, is expected to become a lasting symbol of Trump’s vision for American grandeur.

There’s more Trump headlines for you below!

—Nick

In today’s email:
🔔 Trump Escalates the War on Narco-Terrorism
💰 Trump Says DOJ Owes Him Compensation
🏛 Trump Blasts Democrats for Failed Shutdown Negotiations 
✈️ Trump Increases Sanctions on Russia
🚨 Trump's Asia Trip Shadowed by Korean Missile Launch 

Business news doesn’t have to be boring

Morning Brew makes business news way more enjoyable—and way easier to understand. The free newsletter breaks down the latest in business, tech, and finance with smart insights, bold takes, and a tone that actually makes you want to keep reading.

No jargon, no drawn-out analysis, no snooze-fests. Just the stuff you need to know, delivered with a little personality.

Over 4 million people start their day with Morning Brew, and once you try it, you’ll see why.

Plus, it takes just 15 seconds to subscribe—so why not give it a shot?

Check it out

✅TRACKING TRUMP✅

Curated by Mike Luso

President Trump's war on narco-terrorism and the cartels has reached an unprecedented level of intensity, with the announcement of an eighth drug vessel being destroyed to prevent the importing of illegal drugs into the country. It's a largely silent war that is escalating with each new military action, yet it represents a critical shift in the way our nation confronts a longstanding crisis. The Trump administration understands that protecting American citizens requires more than just border walls and checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Trump is insisting that the Department of Justice owes him compensation for the wasteful expenditure of resources spent investigating him under false pretenses. The president is demanding accountability for the years of politically-motivated attacks on his presidency and the considerable effort that could have been dedicated to addressing urgent issues facing the nation. Trump is finished with business as usual, and it is encouraging to witness genuine transformation happening inside the federal government in a much-needed disruption of the entrenched establishment.

Check out all the latest developments and more below!

🔔 Trump’s Escalates the War on Narco-Terrorism 🔔

The Trump administration's unprecedented military campaign against drug trafficking organizations has entered a dramatic new phase, extending from Caribbean waters into the Eastern Pacific Ocean and signaling the president's determination to use American military power to combat what he calls an existential threat to the homeland. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the ninth kinetic military strike against a narco-terrorist vessel, marking the first operation conducted outside the Caribbean Sea with a target just off Colombia's Pacific coast. The strike, carried out under direct orders from President Trump, resulted in the deaths of three suspected narco-terrorists operating a vessel known to military intelligence as being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling along established trafficking routes. Since the campaign began in early September, at least 37 individuals have been killed across nine vessel strikes, with military officials claiming that each destroyed boat prevents approximately 25,000 American lives from being lost to drug overdoses.

Trump defended the aggressive military approach during remarks from the Oval Office, acknowledging that "it is violent" but insisting that the strikes are justified by the scale of the crisis facing American communities. The president cited 300,000 American deaths from drug overdoses as providing legal authority for the military operations, describing the situation as a national security emergency that demands decisive action. Hegseth reinforced this narrative by comparing the designated terrorist organizations operating these vessels to Al Qaeda, stating that they are waging war on the American border and American people with no refuge or forgiveness awaiting them. The administration has refused to release the identities of those killed or provide evidence of drugs aboard the vessels, citing operational security concerns while defending the intelligence that guided each strike.

The escalation has drawn scrutiny from multiple quarters, including Senator Rand Paul, who raised concerns about due process and the possibility of killing innocent people based on Coast Guard statistics showing that a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspected drug trafficking turn out to be innocent. The Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the Office of Legal Counsel's guidance on the targeting of alleged smugglers, with ACLU staff attorney Jeffrey Stein describing the strikes as potentially constituting "murder, pure and simple." Democratic Congressman Adam Smith called for congressional hearings on the use of military assets to conduct the kinetic strikes, while Democrats questioned whether Trump has the constitutional authority to wage what amounts to an undeclared war.

Trump made clear that the maritime campaign is only the beginning, revealing that smugglers will soon be targeted on land as trafficking patterns shift in response to the naval strikes. The president stated that "there are very few boats traveling on the water, so now they'll come in by land to a lesser extent, and they will be hit on land also," though he indicated he may consult with Congress before expanding operations to domestic territory. Trump emphasized that his administration is "totally prepared" to strike drug smugglers attempting to enter by land, promising that "something very serious is going to happen" equivalent to the maritime operations. When pressed on his legal authority to conduct strikes on U.S. territory, Trump confidently asserted that "we have legal authority" and noted that the death toll from drug overdoses provides sufficient justification for treating the situation as a national security emergency.

The administration's approach reflects a fundamental shift in how the United States addresses drug trafficking, moving from traditional interdiction and law enforcement methods to direct military action against suspected smugglers in international waters and potentially on land. The strikes have been conducted using precision weapons capable of destroying vessels with single shots, demonstrating both the technological capabilities of American forces and the administration's willingness to use lethal force without warning or opportunity for surrender. Military officials have emphasized that the strikes will continue "day after day" until the threat to the American people is eliminated, suggesting a sustained campaign that could last months or even years.

The expansion into the Pacific Ocean represents a geographic broadening of operations that had previously focused on Caribbean routes used primarily by Venezuelan-linked organizations, including the notorious Tren de Aragua gang that Trump designated as a foreign terrorist organization on his first day in office. The Pacific operations suggest that the administration is tracking multiple trafficking routes and is prepared to strike vessels regardless of their origin or intended destination, creating what officials hope will be a deterrent effect that forces cartels to abandon maritime smuggling entirely. However, this strategic calculation assumes that land-based smuggling can be effectively disrupted through military means, a proposition that remains untested and legally controversial.

As the maritime war continues to escalate and preparations are made for land-based operations, the fundamental question remains whether this approach will meaningfully reduce drug availability in American communities or simply force cartels to adapt their methods while the death toll rises on both sides. Trump's willingness to use military force against suspected smugglers represents a dramatic departure from previous administrations' approaches, one that he believes is justified by the scope of the overdose crisis but that critics warn could set dangerous precedents for the use of lethal force without due process. The coming weeks will test both the military effectiveness of this strategy and the legal boundaries of presidential power in declaring war on non-state actors.

🍟 Quick Bite News 🍟

🗳️ President Trump is stepping into the New Jersey gubernatorial race with just two weeks until Election Day, posting on social media that Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli "is doing very well in the Polls" and urging supporters to vote for him. Recent polls show Ciattarelli narrowing the gap with Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill in the race, with Trump planning to hold a rally with Ciattarelli ahead of Election Day. Trump has good reason for optimism in blue-leaning New Jersey, where he lost by only six percentage points in the previous presidential election compared to a 16-point deficit four years earlier.

💬 Conservatives quickly reminded former first lady Hillary Clinton about her 2001 furniture controversy after she criticized President Trump's privately-funded White House ballroom construction project by posting "It's not his house." The Clintons took an estimated $28,000 in White House furnishings provided by donors when leaving office and later paid $86,000 to the federal government for other gifts they received after cataloging errors were discovered. Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom project is being built with construction funded entirely by private donations and not taxpayer money according to White House officials.

✈️ Japan announced plans to accelerate its military buildup just ahead of President Trump's visit to the region next week, with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expected to move the country's target of 2% defense spending. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the new government hopes to strengthen U.S. relations during Trump's visit and build a personal relationship with the administration. Trump is set to meet with Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister who leads a new right-wing coalition, during his Asia trip that will include stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

🙏 Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Mark Walker visited Israel this week and said meeting families of hostages and survivors of Hamas captivity left him "overwhelmed," reaffirming what he called the "spiritual and historic bond" between the United States and Israel. Walker, a former Republican congressman and Baptist pastor, was particularly moved by spending time with Keith Siegel, who endured 483 days of captivity and torture. Walker praised Trump's commitment to peace in the region, noting that the president sent Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff to Israel during the same week to advance the administration's diplomatic agenda beyond mere photo opportunities.

⚖️ President Trump won a significant victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to lift a lower court order blocking him from federalizing 200 Oregon National Guard troops for deployment to Portland. However, the practical implications remain limited as a second emergency order clarified that Trump cannot deploy any federalized troops to Portland until further proceedings. Court challenges continue to play out in other Democratic-led cities where Trump has launched his federalization effort, including Chicago, Washington D.C., and Portland, with administration officials arguing that deployments are necessary to crack down on violent crime and protect against threats from protesters.

🎥Trending Politics Video Of The Day🎥 - Mike Johnson SHUTS DOWN Democrats Ridiculous Demands To Open Up The Government

God bless,

Trending Politics