Speaker Johnson: Trump Trial Is ‘Travesty of Justice’; Biden Quadruples Tariffs on Chinese EVs

In a brief press conference held outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump’s New York trial is ongoing, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) strongly criticized the proceedings on May 14, calling them a “travesty of justice.” Other Trump allies who showed up to support the former president included North Dakota's Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, former GOP candidate for president Vivek Ramaswamy, as well as Republican Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills.

The Biden administration announced that it will impose a 100-percent tariff—quadrupling the current levy—on electric vehicles imported from China in 2024. In addition to EVs, the White House has significantly increased tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells. The tariffs come in the midst of a heated election campaign between Presidents Biden and Trump, in which both candidates are vying to show who’s tougher on China.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that American military aid on its way to Ukraine would make a “real difference” on the battlefield, as the top diplomat made an unexpected visit to Kyiv to reassure an ally facing a fierce new Russian offensive. In increasingly intense attacks along the northeastern border in recent days, Moscow’s troops have captured around 100 to 125 square kilometers (40 to 50 square miles) in the Kharkiv region, including at least seven villages, according to open-source monitoring analysts.