Karoline Leavitt’s warning to unruly Republicans grandstanding against Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’: Live updates

Donald Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ spending bill cleared a key House hurdle on Sunday night, lining up the legislation for final passage this week.

But several Republicans including Chip Roy of Texas and others have already announced they are opposed to the legislation.

During her weekly briefing, Leavitt highlighted the major tax cuts contained in the bill that will benefit Americans.

It also includes a $1,000 MAGA credit for newborn babies.

She said that Republicans ‘must’ pass the legislation this week in order to solidify these ‘wins’ for Americans.

Donald Trump Jr. raised questions about the details of former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis after a video of the president talking about cancer resurfaced on Monday.

The White House issued new comments on the Jeffrey Epstein case Monday after the president shared a bizarre conspiracy theory online linking Bill and Hillary Clinton to a succession of deaths.

The 2016 video runs through a series of deaths of people who knew or worked with the Clintons, including Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich, who was shot near his D.C. home that year.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

He demanded a ‘major investigation’ into Harris after she dolled out massive amounts of campaign cash for major celebrity appearances from the likes of single-name icons Beyonce, Oprah and Bono.

Trump claims that Harris’ lofty spending was using donations to pay for endorsements, which is illegal.

The monarch, who is still undergoing his own treatment for an undisclosed cancer, will have expressed his support and sent his best wishes to Mr Biden.

The president mused on Truth Social Friday how the billionaire singer is ‘no longer hot.’

The 78-year-old Republican wrote that Swift has seemingly lost popularity – and that he may be the reason for her alleged downfall.

Nancy Pelosi was accused of hypocrisy after sending well wishes to Joe Biden following his cancer diagnosis, less than a year after she helped end his career.

President Trump is ‘open’ to speaking to former President Joe Biden following Biden’s shock cancer diagnosis, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

She was asked at her Monday briefing whether Trump had spoken to Biden.

‘Not to my knowledge, I don’t believe they have spoken, but I’m sure the President would be open to doing that,’ she said.

‘I spoke to him last night about the former president’s cancer diagnosis, and the statement that he put out was the initial reaction he had with me on the phone,’ she said.

Trump, who has regularly attacked Biden since taking office, posted Sunday: ‘Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.’

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the White House as soon as he wishes to make the trip.

Vice President JD Vance gave the new pontiff a letter from the first couple when he attended Leo’s inaugural mass.

In the letter, the Trumps issued the invite, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral. Vance and wife Usha represented the administration in Rome this week at the pontiff’s inaugural event.

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dodged when asked for specifics on President Trump’s upcoming morning call with Vladimir Putin and whether he will push Putin to accept a ceasefire.

‘The president has made it clear his goal is to see a ceasefire and to see this conflict come to an end. And he’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,’ Leavitt said. ‘The President and his team have put an enormous amount of effort in solving this very complicated war,’ she added.

Trump is set to speak to Putin at 10am. After that he plans to phone Zelensky.

Leavitt also wouldn’t answer when asked if Trump thinks Putin is the ‘good guy’ or the ‘bad guy’ in the conflict.

‘I’ll let the president speak on that conversation later,’ she said.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

Melania Trump will join President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden when he signs the Take It Down Act into law.

The first lady championed the legislation, which outlaws revenge porn, and met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to lobby for its passage. She also hosted women effected by revenge porn in her box at the president’s State of the Union address.

Melania Trump will continue to work on issues affecting children, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, praising her work on the bill.

‘The First Lady met with members in the House and the Senate survivors and their families throughout the process to get this bill across the finish line. We are grateful for the First Lady’s hard work and dedication to this issue, and moving forward, she will continue to champion the well-being of our nation’s children through her Be Best agenda,’ Leavitt said.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

‘Cancer touches us all,’ former President Joe Biden wrote on X.

He included a selfie of him sporting a brave smile alongside a somber-looking former first lady Jill Biden, who is holding their gray tabby cat Willow.

‘Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places,’ Biden added. ‘Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.’

President Donald Trump is hoping separate phone calls Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make progress toward a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

Trump expressed his hopes for a ‘productive day’ Monday — and a ceasefire — in a social media post.

His effort will also include calls to NATO leaders.

Russia, which launched what Kyiv called a ‘record’ drone attack on Ukraine at the weekend, said Monday it would prefer to end the conflict through diplomacy and described the upcoming call as ‘important.’