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WSJ: RFK Jr. diverted $12M from minority health office for personal security
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. redirected $12 million from the Office of Minority Health, a program created by President Ronald Reagan to address higher Black infant mortality rates, to fund his personal security detail, according to a Wall Street Journal report. HHS informed Congress earlier this year that the funds would cover Kennedy's security costs, which rose from $10 million in 2025 to $17 million in 2026. In response, HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard stated that the cuts 'reflect HHS priorities and programmatic assessments—not the Secretary’s security needs,' but added that Kennedy faces a 'security environment that differs significantly from that of previous HHS secretaries' due to threats, extensive travel, and the need for protection. Kennedy initially requested protection from the U.S. Marshals Service rather than the Office of the Inspector General, and stopped speaking at outdoor events after a man rushed at him last year.
Source report
RFK Jr. Redirected $12 Million from Minority Health Office to Personal Security
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. transferred $12 million from the Office of Minority Health—a program created by President Ronald Reagan to address higher Black infant mortality rates—to fund his own security detail, according to The Wall Street Journal.
HHS informed Congress earlier this year that the funds would cover Kennedy's security costs, which rose from $10 million in 2025 to $17 million in 2026, sources told the Journal.
In response, HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said the cuts "reflect HHS priorities and programmatic assessments—not the Secretary's security needs." She added: "Secretary Kennedy faces a security environment that differs significantly from that of previous HHS secretaries. His protection reflects the threats he faces, his extensive travel, and the security required for him to safely carry out his duties nationwide."
Kennedy initially requested protection from the U.S. Marshals Service rather than the Office of the Inspector General. He stopped speaking at outdoor events after a man wearing a bike helmet rushed at him last year.
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"If the Republicans lose the midterms it'll be because [Senate Majority Leader] John Thune didn't get the SAVE America Act passed," Miller wrote on X Tuesday, adding that the predicted loss "rests solely on John Thune's shoulders."
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The White House heralded the bill as critical to election integrity. Trump made its passage a precondition for supporting other legislation.
The initiative stalled over the summer when House Republicans tied it to the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which has stalled the typically uncontroversial defense bill. The SAVE Act is now one of 650 bills awaiting Senate action.
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President Donald Trump personally made tens of millions of dollars from AI industry stock trades in July, according to financial disclosures filed Tuesday.
Trump reported 1,156 securities transactions in July, CNBC reported. He purchased at least $43.6 million worth of shares and sold at least $35.6 million.
Key transactions included:
- July 20: Sales of Microsoft and Amazon shares totaling between $5 million and $25 million each
- Days later: Purchases of $100,001–$250,000 in Microsoft and $1,001–$15,000 in Amazon
The trades are concerning given Trump's role as a champion for artificial intelligence and data centers—industries in which Microsoft and Amazon have invested billions. These companies also pay into Trump's vanity projects.
Additionally, Trump sold between $250,001 and $500,000 of Northrop Grumman on the same day he signed an executive order tightening supply chain requirements for defense contractors.
The president's total trades ranged from $79 million to $270 million—up slightly from June's $78.1 million to $263.1 million. Trump maintains that independent advisers handle his trading without his input.
His 2025 financial disclosure showed he made over $2 billion during his first year back in office through cryptocurrency, foreign real estate, and stock trading. In 2025, he bought or sold stocks 21,000 times in companies he discusses publicly, though his initial self-reporting showed only 800 transactions.
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Trump bragged that Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the White House was "the hottest ticket that they've seen in a long time"—"almost as hot as when Zelenskiy comes into town," he said to laughs. Zelenskiy quipped, "I'm glad," as Trump patted his knee.
Trump lamented that his ballroom wasn't ready, otherwise he could host 2,000 people. When asked if he'd bring Zelenskiy to the ballroom, Trump replied, "Well, we might have that, yes… It's under budget and ahead of schedule."
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President Trump's relationship with billionaire Elon Musk appears financially solid, even as their personal and political relationship has been turbulent.
Financial disclosures show Trump purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of SpaceX shares on July 10 and sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in shares on July 17. SpaceX holds multiple federal contracts worth millions—yet Trump is allowed to trade because he claims his investments are managed independently.
Trump made over 1,100 stock trades in July, totaling between $79 million and $270 million, per a CNBC analysis. The largest transactions included sales of up to $25 million in Amazon and Microsoft, plus smaller sales in Oracle and Nvidia.
Previous presidents divested or used blind trusts to avoid conflicts of interest. Trump has not.
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HHS Diverts $12 Million from Minority Health Office for Kennedy Security Costs