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Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy was defeated in Saturday’s GOP primary, falling short of a runoff after years of backlash from supporters of President Trump over Cassidy’s vote to convict Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack.  Cassidy finished behind U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, who will now face each other in a June 27 runoff that is expected to decide the state’s next senator in heavily Republican Louisiana.

The result highlighted Trump’s continued dominance within the Republican Party as he continues targeting Republicans viewed as disloyal. Cassidy was one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial tied to the Capitol riot. While several Republicans who broke with Trump later stepped away from reelection campaigns, Cassidy sought a third term and significantly outspent his opponents.

The President heavily criticized Cassidy throughout the race and renewed his attacks on election day, calling him “a disloyal disaster” and “a terrible guy” on social media. After the loss, Cassidy appeared to answer indirectly, telling supporters, “Insults only bother me if they come from somebody of character and integrity.” He also defended his stance by saying, “Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans, and it is about the Constitution.”

Letlow, elected to Congress in 2021 after winning a special election following the death of her husband from COVID-19 complications, built much of her campaign around loyalty to Trump and conservative voters. Fleming, a former congressman and Trump administration official, also campaigned as a strong MAGA conservative.

Trump praised Letlow, posting on Truth Social: “Congratulations to Congresswoman Julia Letlow on a fantastic race, beating an Incumbent Senator by Record Setting Numbers. This is the first time in History that a sitting Senator has lost by such large numbers in a Primary, unable to even go forward. Julia Letlow is a fantastic person and, after taking care of some additional business, will make a brilliant Senator for the Great People of Louisiana, a State that I love, helped make prosperous with my Energy Policies and everything else, and won six times in a row, including Primaries. Julia Letlow is a spectacular person, and will never let you down!”

Letlow embraced Trump’s endorsement during her victory speech, thanking “the best president this country has ever had, President Donald Trump.” She later argued Cassidy’s impeachment vote showed he had “turned his back on Louisiana voters.” Trump celebrated the outcome online, writing, “That’s what you get by voting to impeach an innocent man.”

The Louisiana contest is the latest example of Trump-backed efforts to unseat Republicans who opposed him. The primary also unfolded amid legal disputes over Louisiana election maps after a recent Supreme Court decision affecting parts of the Voting Rights Act. While the Senate race proceeded as scheduled, state officials delayed U.S. House primaries to redraw congressional districts, prompting legal challenges from civil rights groups.

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Three people lost their lives and several others were injured after a driver plowed into pedestrians and multiple vehicles late Saturday night in Oakland, authorities said.

Police and emergency crews responded shortly after 11 p.m. to the area near 85th Avenue and International Boulevard following reports of a major collision. Footage from the scene showed extensive damage and a heavy emergency response stretching into Sunday morning.

Per the Oakland Fire Department, three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Five additional people suffered injuries in the crash. Two victims were reported in critical condition, while another sustained serious injuries. Two others were treated for minor injuries.

Authorities also said the driver involved was hurt but suffered only minor injuries. Investigators said the suspect allegedly attempted to leave the scene before being stopped and detained by bystanders.

Officials have not yet released the identity of the driver or any other details about the incident. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, as authorities look for the cause of the deadly crash.

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President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping opened their closely watched summit in Beijing with more than two hours of talks centered on global tensions, trade, Taiwan, and the escalating conflict involving Iran.

Trump discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the US-Israel war on Iran during his meeting with Xi, and according to the White House, the world leaders had a “good” meeting on Thursday and agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open to support the free flow of energy”.

US Treasury Sec’y Scott Bessent said separately that he believed Beijing would do what they can to open the waterway, which he said was “very much in their interest”. Separately, a coalition of 26 countries — including United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Qatar, and South Korea — released a joint statement backing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The countries voiced support for a defensive multinational mission that could eventually include mine-clearing operations once conditions allow.

During the discussions, Xi described the US-China relationship as one of the world’s most important partnerships and urged both countries to avoid damaging ties. He also warned that Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue between Washington and Beijing, cautioning that mishandling it could trigger serious confrontation and place the broader relationship at risk. While Chinese officials highlighted Taiwan concerns in their summary of the meeting, the American account focused more heavily on economic matters and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

Trump later revealed that Xi pledged China would not provide military equipment to Iran. Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said Xi made the commitment clearly and directly. At the same time, Trump acknowledged that China intends to continue purchasing significant amounts of Iranian oil because of its long-standing economic relationship with Tehran.

The war in the Middle East and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz became major themes throughout the summit. Trump said Xi expressed support for reopening the critical shipping route and offered to help mediate with Iran if needed. “President Xi would like to see a deal made,” Trump said. “He said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.’” Trump added that Xi opposed restrictions and tolls in the strategically important waterway, which handles a large share of global oil shipments. According to Trump, Xi even joked during their conversation about both sides previously blocking access through the strait.

Trump also said Xi agreed to move forward with an order for 200 Boeing aircraft, a deal the president said would support American jobs. “One thing he agreed to today is he is going to order 200 jets,” Trump said, adding that Boeing had initially expected a smaller agreement.

President Trump’s visit to China continues Friday with additional meetings, a diplomatic lunch, and cultural events before he returns to Washington.

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U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael “Mike” Banks has stepped down effective immediately, becoming the latest senior immigration official to leave the Department of Homeland Security during a period of major leadership turnover under DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Banks confirmed his departure Thursday, ending a public service career that spanned nearly 37 years, including time in the U.S. Navy and multiple leadership roles within Border Patrol. In farewell remarks to staff, he said it was time to return to Texas and focus on his family and ranch. Reflecting on his tenure, Banks praised agents for transforming what he described as a “chaotic and unsecured” southern border into “the most secure border this country has ever seen.” He also noted that more work remained before achieving full operational control of the border.

Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, thanked Banks for his decades of service and credited him with helping guide the agency through one of the most difficult periods in modern border enforcement.

Banks was appointed Border Patrol chief in January 2025 by President Donald Trump after previously serving as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border czar during Operation Lone Star. The Texas-led initiative was launched in response to record migration levels during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Before taking the national role, Banks worked in several Border Patrol positions, including leadership at the Weslaco, Texas station. He previously left the agency in 2022 after disagreeing with Biden-era immigration policies, including changes to migrant processing procedures. His appointment in 2025 was unusual because the Border Patrol chief position had traditionally been filled by career agency officials rather than political appointees.

During Banks’s leadership, Border Patrol expanded operations beyond the southern border, deploying agents to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts. Some of those operations, particularly those overseen by former commander Gregory Bovino, drew criticism over aggressive tactics and widespread street-level enforcement.

Banks’s exit follows several other high-profile departures within DHS. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed earlier this year after controversies tied to government advertising campaigns and backlash surrounding fatal federal shootings in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is also preparing to leave his post at the end of May. The department has said longtime immigration official David Venturella will replace Lyons on an interim basis.

Throughout Banks’s tenure, DHS repeatedly pointed to declining illegal border crossings as evidence that enforcement policies were working. However, some federal data and local reports indicated migrant encounters continued in certain areas, including thousands of attempted crossings recorded earlier this year.

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