The White House on Thursday said President Donald Trump is not planning to expand the number of visas issued to Chinese students, countering speculation that his administration intended to admit an additional 600,000 students from China. A spokesperson explained that the 600,000 figure Trump mentioned earlier in the week represents two years’ worth of visas for roughly 300,000 Chinese nationals already studying at U.S. colleges and universities. “It’s simply a continuation of existing policy,” the official said, adding that no change in visa quotas is under consideration while trade talks with Beijing continue. Trump’s initial remark, delivered during an Oval Office meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, fueled confusion because it followed administration proposals to shorten visa durations for Chinese students on national-security grounds. Universities, already grappling with falling international enrollment, expressed concern the comment signaled a reversal of recent tightening measures. Chinese enrollment in U.S. higher-education programs has slid from a peak of about 373,000 in the 2019-20 academic year to roughly 277,000 in 2023, according to government data. Institutions warn that policy uncertainty and bilateral tensions could push the numbers lower, eroding a revenue stream worth billions of dollars to American campuses.

The White House said Thursday that the U.S. government’s planned equity investment in Intel Corp. has not yet been completed, contradicting a regulatory filing from the chipmaker that implied the transaction had closed. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that “details are still being ironed out,” without specifying the remaining issues or giving a timeline for completion. Intel earlier filed an 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating the deal was done, according to copies circulated by reporters. The clarification leaves the status of the government stake in the semiconductor company uncertain as Washington intensifies efforts to expand domestic chip production.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will deliver an additional statement later today on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Leavitt told reporters that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "are not ready to end this war themselves," underscoring the administration’s view of a prolonged stalemate. No details were provided on the timing or content of Trump’s remarks.

President Donald Trump is installing longtime aide Dan Scavino as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, the unit that oversees hiring and vetting for thousands of administration posts, according to White House officials and multiple media reports on Tuesday. Scavino, one of Trump’s earliest and most trusted advisers, will replace Sergio Gor, whom the president has nominated to serve as ambassador to India. The move places the 49-year-old former social-media strategist at the center of efforts to staff the executive branch as the administration advances its second-term agenda. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Scavino’s leadership would help deliver “the highest-quality, most dedicated workforce ever.” His appointment underscores Trump’s reliance on loyalists as he accelerates personnel decisions ahead of next year’s midterm elections and continuing policy initiatives.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt used Thursday’s press briefing to deliver a direct message to Americans living in large, Democrat-led cities, declaring that “decline is a choice” and that residents do not have to “live in constant fear of being robbed, raped or murdered.” She accused local Democratic officials of having “failed for decades” to control violent crime and said they were misleading constituents about public-safety conditions. Leavitt pointed to President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard personnel to Washington, D.C., as evidence that federal intervention can quickly curb urban violence. She said the operation has produced “hundreds of arrests,” removed more than two dozen illegal firearms and led to noticeable drops in murders and carjackings within weeks. The administration, she added, is prepared to replicate the approach in other cities if requested or if conditions warrant. The remarks intensify the administration’s law-and-order rhetoric and set up a clash with Democratic mayors who argue that federal troops are neither necessary nor welcome. Leavitt maintained that the administration will “stand with victims, not criminals,” while critics contend that local authorities—not the White House—should lead anti-crime strategies.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will "continue to fight the battle" with Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, signaling the White House’s determination to maintain pressure on the central bank’s leadership. Leavitt’s brief remark, delivered during Thursday’s press briefing, underscores an ongoing rift between the administration and Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, over undisclosed policy differences. She did not elaborate on the substance of the dispute or outline specific steps the White House plans to take.

Former President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to influence redistricting in Indiana through a series of high-profile meetings at the White House. On August 26, 2025, Trump met privately with top Indiana Republican lawmakers, including the state's leading legislative figures, to discuss the redistricting push. The meetings also involved U.S. Senator JD Vance, who engaged with nearly 60 Indiana lawmakers during the day. While the exact details of the discussions remain undisclosed, multiple sources indicate that the meetings aimed to secure Republican support for redistricting plans favorable to Trump’s political interests. Indiana Republicans visiting the White House described the momentum as shifting in favor of achieving a redistricting outcome that would be a major victory for Trump and his team. The engagement reflects ongoing efforts by Trump and his allies to shape political maps ahead of future elections.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers said on Friday that ongoing tariff disputes pose a near-term risk to U.S. economic activity, underscoring concern that higher import levies could weigh on growth and consumer spending. CEA Chair Stephen Miran told reporters the council is monitoring the situation closely and will update its outlook if the trade frictions persist or escalate. The warning comes less than five months after the United States imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, a move that has already rippled through supply chains and raised prices for businesses and households.

The White House said federal authorities are examining all aspects of the 28 August shooting in Minnesota, including the assailant’s reported confusion over gender identity. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that element is part of its inquiry. Leavitt added that Health and Human Services Secretary has opened a parallel review into whether prescription drugs taken by some minors could be associated with an increase in violent behavior. She said any consequences for gender-affirming caregivers would depend on the findings of the ongoing investigations.

White House senior adviser Kevin Hassett said the administration expects it will be "a few months" before President Donald Trump selects the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Speaking in a televised interview, Hassett indicated that the decision process is likely to extend well past the summer, without giving a firm timetable or disclosing candidates under consideration. Hassett also signaled progress in trade negotiations with Seoul, stating that the United States "will hopefully finalize" a bilateral trade deal with South Korea in the near future. He offered no details on remaining issues but framed the accord as a priority alongside the pending Fed appointment.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz used a speech at the Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting in Minneapolis on Monday to admonish fellow Democrats for what he called unproductive public infighting while President Donald Trump remains in office. Walz said the party "does not have the luxury" to battle internally and argued that Republicans uncritically follow "the felon in the White House," a reference to Trump’s criminal convictions. Walz, whose name has periodically surfaced on national short-lists, mocked the Republican Party’s signature red hats and accused Trump of advancing "fascist policies," citing the president’s recent threat to criminalise flag-burning. The governor urged delegates to focus on defeating Trump in the 2026 mid-term elections rather than on intraparty squabbles. Earlier in the meeting, DNC Chair Ken Martin delivered similarly sharp remarks, describing the first seven months of Trump’s second term as "fascism dressed in a red tie." Martin said the committee is "using every lever of power" to push back against the administration and called on Democrats nationwide to remain united.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt used Thursday’s daily briefing to accuse Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker of undermining law-enforcement morale and worsening Chicago’s crime problem. “Maybe Governor Pritzker should spend less time demonizing the police and more time trying to recruit more police, and call the President of the United States to get crime in his city under control,” she said, responding to a question about urban violence. Leavitt argued that the United States is short about 30,000 police officers nationwide, echoing remarks by conservative commentator Steve Gruber that Chicago has led the nation in murders for 13 consecutive years and has logged roughly 600 homicides so far in 2025. She said President Donald Trump supports policies that would ‘allow law enforcement to do their jobs’ and encouraged local leaders to bolster recruitment efforts. Governor Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to the criticism. Chicago officials have previously pointed to gun-control measures and community-violence programs as priorities, while policing advocates say staffing shortages hinder crime-reduction efforts. The exchange highlights continuing tensions between the White House and Democratic-led cities over how to tackle violent crime.