President Donald Trump hosted a high-powered group of tech executives at the White House on Thursday as he showcased research on artificial intelligence and boasted of investments that companies are making around the United States.
Trump has exulted in the attention from some of the world’s most successful businesspeople, while the companies are eager to remain on the good side of the mercurial president.
While the executives praised Trump and talked about their hopes for technological advancement, the Republican president was focused on dollar signs. He went around the table and asked executives how much they were investing in the country.
Notably absent from the guest list was Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump who was tasked with running the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk had a public breakup with Trump earlier this year.
Other news we’re following today:
DOJ probes mortgage fraud claims against Federal Reserve governor: The Justice Department has issued subpoenas as part of an investigation into mortgage fraud allegations against Lisa Cook, who is fighting an effort by Trump’s administration to remove her from her role as a Federal Reserve governor. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that subpoenas had been sent in connection with the probe, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.DC sues Trump over National Guard deployment: The city’s attorney general said the hundreds of troops are essentially an “involuntary military occupation,” arguing the deployment is an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement. A federal judge in California recently ruled that Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June was illegal, which the administration is appealing.RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before a congressional committee Thursday, where he faced questions about the turmoil at federal health agencies. He was grilled over layoffs and planned budget cuts that detractors say are wrecking the nation’s ability to prevent disease.