May 13

Trump speaks in Riyadh, threatens Iran with massive maximum pressure

At the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump warns Iran of "massive maximum pressure" if it rejects diplomacy. A $142 billion arms package is signed with Saudi Arabia including THAAD missile defense systems. Treasury sanctions 24+ firms in Iran's illicit oil trade during the trip. The visit reinforces the Gulf alliance against Iran.

Trump secures $600B in Saudi AI investment during Riyadh visit

During his Saudi Arabia state visit, President Trump announced a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers and semiconductor supply chains. The deal involved partnerships with major U.S. tech firms and raised questions about technology transfer, national security oversight, and the blending of diplomatic and commercial interests.

Trump Lifts Decade of U.S. Economic Sanctions on Syria

President Trump announced the lifting of longstanding U.S. economic sanctions on Syria, citing energy investment opportunities and the fall of the Assad regime. The decision reversed years of bipartisan U.S. policy designed to pressure the Syrian government over human rights abuses and marked a major foreign policy pivot toward economic engagement.

Trump and McMahon Advance Department of Education Shutdown Legislation

President Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon advanced legislation to abolish the Department of Education, moving the 45-year-old agency closer to elimination. The bill proposes transferring federal education functions to states, raising concerns about equity in public schooling, federal student aid administration, and civil rights enforcement in schools.

Trump Signs $142 Billion Saudi Arms Deal, Largest in U.S. History

President Trump signed a $142 billion arms sale agreement with Saudi Arabia during his Riyadh visit, the largest arms deal in U.S. history. The package includes advanced fighter jets, missile defense systems, and military equipment. Critics raised concerns about oversight, Yemen war implications, and congressional notification requirements under the Arms Export Control Act.

Trump Threatens Brazil with 50% Tariffs Over Bolsonaro Prosecution

President Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods, citing the ongoing criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro as political persecution. The move blended trade policy with foreign political interference, signaling Trump's willingness to use economic leverage to protect allied foreign leaders facing legal accountability.

Biden delivers Howard University commencement warning about white supremacy

President Biden delivers the commencement address at Howard University, a historically Black university, and declares that white supremacy and domestic violent extremism pose "the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland today." Biden uses the speech to connect historical Black progress to the ongoing struggle against racial intimidation and to call out book banning, attacks on voting rights, and other Republican-led policies he describes as attempts to erase Black history. The speech reflects Biden's consistent effort to address the Biden administration's framing of racial politics as central to the partisan divide.

Karine Jean-Pierre becomes first Black woman and first openly LGBTQ+ White House press secretary

Karine Jean-Pierre formally assumes the role of White House Press Secretary, succeeding Jen Psaki. She is the first Black person and the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to hold the position in American history. Biden announces the appointment on May 5, with Jean-Pierre taking over on May 13. Born in Martinique to Haitian immigrant parents and raised in New York City, Jean-Pierre had served as Principal Deputy Press Secretary since Inauguration Day 2021. Her appointment is widely celebrated as a historic milestone, though her tenure is later marked by tensions with the press corps over transparency, accusations of Hatch Act violations, and internal White House dynamics around her role relative to NSC spokesman John Kirby.

Karine Jean-Pierre becomes first Black and LGBTQ+ White House Press Secretary

Karine Jean-Pierre is appointed White House Press Secretary, replacing Jen Psaki. Jean-Pierre becomes the first Black person and the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to hold the position in the 73-year history of the White House press briefing room. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre previously served as Biden's Chief of Staff during the transition and as principal deputy press secretary. Her appointment reflects Biden's commitment to the most diverse White House staff in history. Jean-Pierre holds 306 press briefings over the course of the administration.

CDC says vaccinated people no longer need masks as Biden declares victory over COVID

The CDC announces that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks or socially distance in most indoor settings, a policy Biden frames as a major milestone. "If you're fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask," Biden says, appearing without a mask outside the White House for the first time. Critics and public health experts warn the announcement is premature given vaccination rates well below herd immunity and the emerging Delta variant. The declaration accelerates pressure on states to drop mask mandates regardless of vaccination status, and is later seen as a messaging error that contributed to the Delta wave.

Chae Chan Ping v. US: Supreme Court Establishes Plenary Power Doctrine

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Congress holds absolute "plenary power" over immigration, upholding the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and its 1888 Scott Act extension that barred Chae Chan Ping — a legal resident of 12 years — from re-entering the United States after a trip to China. The Court held that immigration decisions are political questions assigned to the legislative and executive branches, largely immune from judicial review. The plenary power doctrine established in this case remains foundational precedent cited in immigration cases today, including arguments over deportation procedures and due process rights.