Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Donald Trump has signed an executive order giving Elon Musk more power to downsize the federal government by requiring agencies to cooperate with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in slashing staff numbers and severely limiting any replacements.
Musk told reporters in the Oval Office: “The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get.”
Earlier, President Trump hosted the King of Jordan at the White House amid the ongoing uproar over his comments about the U.S. taking ownership of Gaza, forcefully relocating its population to neighboring countries, and redeveloping it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump escalated his rhetoric regarding his Gaza plan, contradicting an earlier statement about purchasing the territory by saying there was nothing there to buy, Instead, the president said: “We’re going to take it, we’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it.”
Trump also said that if Hamas does not release hostages at the weekend per its ceasefire agreement with Israel, “all hell will break out.”
In other international developments, the White House announced that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American detained by Russia on charges of smuggling medical marijuana. They will be back on U.S. soil tonight.
Fox News brought everyday ‘Trump voters’ on as guests — who were they really?
Two Fox News guests who were portrayed by the network as run-of-the-mill “Trump voters” on Tuesday are both heavily involved in Republican politics, with one working as an assistant to an elected GOP official and the other a multiple-time candidate for local office.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 21:40
AP barred from Oval Office press event over Gulf of Mexico policy
The Associated Press issued this statement on Tuesday from Executive Editor Julie Pace:
As a global news organization, The Associated Press informs billions of people around the world every day with factual, nonpartisan journalism.
Today we were informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office. This afternoon AP’s reporter was blocked from attending an executive order signing.
It is alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism. Limiting our access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news, it plainly violates the First Amendment.
AP’s guidance on the Gulf of Mexico and Trump’s executive order regarding the name is available here.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 21:31
Trump State Department official has repeatedly called for mass sterilization of ‘low-IQ trash’
A Trump State Department official has, on a number of occasions, called for the sterilization of “low-IQ trash,” a new report has revealed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has appointed Darren Beattie to be the acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, a senior role that represents American foreign policy to the world.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 21:20
BREAKING: Trump signs order handing Musk and DOGE more power to slash federal workforce
President Donald Trump has given the world’s wealthiest man even more power to reshape the federal government by signing an executive order requiring agencies to cooperate with the Elon Musk-led “Department of Government Efficiency” to slash their workforces and limit the hiring of replacements.
Trump signed the order as Musk stood over his shoulder in the Oval Office on Tuesday as reporters — and Musk’s young son — looked on.
Asked about critics who’ve called his anti-government efforts a “hostile takeover” of the executive branch, Musk told reporters: “The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get.”
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 21:07
Who is the new ‘Bragg’ that the North Carolina base will now be named after?
Amid the Republican’s anti-DEI push, new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that one of the country’s largest military bases will get its old name back – but honor a different person, also called Bragg.
[Spoiler alert — it’s not Trump-prosecuting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg]
Ariana Baio has the story.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 21:00
Musk joins Trump in Oval Office for DOGE executive order signing
Elon Musk has joined President Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of a DOGE related executive order.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 20:46
Hegseth is booed and heckled by military families in Germany
Around two dozen people who live at the U.S. military’s top European headquarters turned up, seemingly in protest at the Trump administration’s policy of dismantling DEI initiatives.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 20:40
Full story: 27 religious groups sue Trump administration to block ICE arrests in churches
The lawsuit zeroes in on the administration rescinding Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy that prevented enforcement actions in places like churches, schools, daycare centers and hospitals, which the administration claimed were being used to “hide” “criminals.”
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 20:20
Jordan king reiterated to Trump his rejection of displacement of Palestinians
King Abdullah II of Jordan said he reiterated his country’s stance against displacing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, according to a post on X.
“I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” the Jordanian king said.
“Achieving just peace on the basis of the two-state solution is the way to ensure regional stability. This requires US leadership. President Trump is a man of peace. He was instrumental in securing the Gaza ceasefire. We look to US and all stakeholders in ensuring it holds,” he continued.
“I also stressed the importance of working towards de-escalation in the West Bank and preventing a deterioration of the situation there that could have far-reaching implications for the entire region.”
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 20:05
Republican lawmaker unveils bill to rename Greenland
It’s only Tuesday, but that’s a strong contender to be the most ridiculous idea of the week.
James Liddell has the story.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 20:00
