Morning news brief

The White House has distanced itself from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding allegations that he ordered military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of all individuals on board. A spokesperson clarified that while Hegseth gave the order for strikes, he did not instruct to 'kill everybody.'

House Republican leaders are set to address reporters amid growing scrutiny over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's military orders regarding strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has maintained that congressional approval is not necessary for these operations, particularly as tensions with Venezuela escalate.

A shooting incident near the White House critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard, with the suspect identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. In response, Tom Homan, a prominent figure in Trump's immigration policy, challenged Democrats to confront him while dismissing concerns about potential prosecution.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine. This meeting follows a series of productive discussions between U.S. negotiators and Ukrainian officials aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.

President Trump convened a meeting with his advisors to discuss the next steps regarding Venezuela, amid rising concerns from lawmakers about the administration's military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea. This comes after reports of a second military strike targeting a boat accused of drug trafficking, raising alarms about potential war crimes.

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically injured in a shooting incident near the White House, which has intensified the rhetoric from President Trump and America First Republicans regarding crime and immigration. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, has been linked to the attack, prompting calls for stricter immigration policies.

Trinidad and Tobago's approval of a US military radar installation has raised concerns about the Caribbean's potential involvement in the escalating US-Venezuela crisis. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has attempted to mitigate fears by stating that a US C-17 aircraft was merely transporting marines for a road construction project, asserting that no marines remain in the country.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow for critical discussions aimed at advancing a 19-point peace proposal for Ukraine, following productive negotiations with Ukrainian officials over the weekend. This visit underscores the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the protracted conflict in the region.