Trump accused of ‘manufacturing a national security justification’ to push arch plan – US politics live

President had said the triumphal arch he plans to build near Washington would double as a ‘military complex’ Donald Trump was accused of “manufacturing a national security justification” to push forward his plans for a triumphal arch. Trump refused to say whether he would attempt to demolish the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the iconic facility on Washington’s Potomac River.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump repeated his belief that the center should append his name to the building in exchange for his work to raise money to renovate the facility. Trump will meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani when Trump travels to the city for the upcoming UN General Assembly. The meeting is scheduled for later today and at Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, according to Anna Bahr, Mamdani’s communications director.

Trump on Saturday said he would appoint an artificial intelligence czar and create an “AI Force” to help monitor the technology, though he gave almost no details about either plan. As global fears over AI have grown, especially in the past week in the face of multiple industry figures sounding the alarm about its dangers, the president has been critical of calls to slow down development of the fast-moving industry.

China’s leader Xi Jinping will visit the United States this week for talks with Trump, Beijing confirmed today, expressing hope they...

Read the original report at The Guardian.