Wednesday, 14 January 2026

The Trump administration halted immigrant visa processing indefinitely for 75 countries, citing welfare use concerns. The State Department suspended visas from nations including Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia, affecting a significant portion of global immigrant processing.

Trump insisted that Greenland is crucial for U.S. national security following talks with Denmark that ended in a 'fundamental disagreement.' Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that U.S. acquisition of Greenland is 'absolutely not necessary,' despite acknowledging a 'new security situation' in the Arctic.

Trump revived efforts to cut federal funding for sanctuary cities and states, with the administration planning to halt payments to Democratic-run jurisdictions starting February 1, a move critics called 'unconstitutional.'

The Trump administration cancelled up to $1.9 billion in federal funding for substance use and mental health programs affecting up to 2,800 grantees, with officials and advocates warning the cuts will result in deaths and loss of recovery services.

The FBI conducted a raid on the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, seizing devices in what the agency called an 'inquiry tied to a classified materials case,' described as a 'highly unusual and aggressive' move by civil liberties advocates.

Trump imposed limited tariffs on foreign semiconductors, allowing him to take a portion of Nvidia's chip sales to China while postponing broader tariff decisions on the chip industry.

Trump warned of 'very strong action' against Iran if the regime executes protesters, and the State Department advised all U.S. citizens to 'leave Iran now' as Iran closed its airspace and threatened to strike U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Trump made an obscene gesture at a heckler during a Ford plant tour in Michigan who called him a 'pedophile protector,' with a White House spokesman claiming the president 'gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.'

A Michigan senator reported being investigated by federal authorities for a video in which she called on U.S. troops to 'refuse illegal orders,' part of a broader pattern of government scrutiny of administration critics.

Trump signed legislation allowing schools to serve whole milk again, a law approved unanimously by Congress that also grants schools increased flexibility in serving nondairy milk alternatives.