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French President Emmanuel Macron visited Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where the two men joined a call with other G7 leaders to discuss ending Russia’s war on Ukraine and the future of U.S. relations with Europe.
Leaving the White House, Macron said the call had been “perfect” and told The Independent that Trump had been “very friendly, as always,” despite the president not greeting him upon arrival.
Meanwhile the president announced that former Secret Service agent turned far-right podcaster Dan Bongino will serve as deputy director of the FBI under the bureau’s new director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, an ex-New York City police officer, has been a familiar presence in right-wing media in recent years, hosting his own Fox News show between 2021 and 2023.
Elsewhere, Elon Musk lashed out online after a Pentagon official called the ultimatum email he sent out to federal workers over the weekend, asking them to justify their roles or risk losing them, the “silliest thing in 40 years.”
“Anyone with the attitude of that Pentagon official needs to look for a new job,” the billionaire snapped on X after the email prompted a confused reaction from department heads.
Macron says Trump was ‘very friendly, as always’
President Macron says that, despite Donald Trump not greeting him upon arrival at the White House on Monday, the president was “very friendly, as always.”
Asked by The Independent how the welcome had been, Macron replied: “It was very good, very friendly, as always.
“We did the G7 video conference in the Oval office and then we had a first discussion and I come back shortly.”
Mike Bedigan24 February 2025 16:35
In pictures: Macron leaves the White House
French President Emmanuel Macron and the French delegation left the West Wing at 10:33am, walking back to Blair House.
Macron and Donald Trump joined a call with leaders of the G7 to discuss ending Russia’s war on Ukraine and the future of U.S. relations with Europe.
After leaving, Macron said the phone call was “perfect.”



Mike Bedigan24 February 2025 16:20
Watch: Trump doesn’t greet French President Macron outside White House
Mike Bedigan24 February 2025 16:05
Federal workers sue Musk and OPM over email threat stunt
Federal workers are suing Elon Musk and the Office of Personnel Management over an email sent out over the weekend that asked them to explain their accomplishments or risk being fired.
The updated lawsuit, reported on Monday, which was filed in federal court in California and was provided to The Associated Press, is trying to block mass layoffs pursued by Musk and President Donald Trump, including any connected to the email distributed by the OPM on Saturday.
The office, which functions as a human resources agency for the federal government, said employees needed to detail five things that they did last week by end of day on Monday.
“No OPM rule, regulation, policy, or program has ever, in United States history, purported to require all federal workers to submit reports to OPM,” said the amended complaint.
It called the threat of mass firings “one of the most massive employment frauds in the history of this country.”
Mike Bedigan24 February 2025 15:50
Trump touts U.S. investor achievements on Truth Social

Mike Bedigan24 February 2025 15:35
MSNBC cancels Joy Reid’s show after leaders hold ‘tense’ meeting with staff
Here’s more on Reid’s departure from the centrist network, which, as we’ve already seen, was met with glee from Trump, who labelled her as a “mentally obnoxious racist” as she headed for the door.
Katie Hawkinson has more.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 15:20
Kamala Harris slams Trump and Musk in first speech since leaving office
The former vice president and defeated Democratic presidential candidate used her first public speech since leaving the White House to slam Trump, Musk and DOGE.
Harris was honored on Saturday evening with the Chairman’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards and said in her speech: “This chapter will be written, not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor by the wealthiest among us.
“The American story will be written by you, written by us, by We the People.”
Here’s Katie Hawkinson’s report.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 15:05
Elon Musk slams Pentagon critic who mocked his ultimatum to federal workers
The world’s richest man has lashed out after a Pentagon official called the ultimatum email he sent out to federal workers over the weekend, asking them to justify their roles or risk losing them, the “silliest thing in 40 years.”
“Anyone with the attitude of that Pentagon official needs to look for a new job,” the billionaire snapped on X after the email prompted a confused reaction from department heads.
Here’s Rhian Lubin on new polling suggesting Americans are already growing tired of Musk’s antics.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:50
In pictures: Emmanuel Macron arrives at White House
The French president has arrived to participate in a G7 Leadership Summit call with Trump.
They’ll be speaking together later.



Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:35
Trump takeover sees Kennedy Center ticket sales collapse
The president’s move to take control of Washington’s John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has reportedly led to a staggering 50 percent drop in ticket sales.
I don’t know what else he thought was going to happen.
Here’s more from Graeme Massie.
Joe Sommerlad24 February 2025 14:15