President Donald Trump is urging House Republicans to move forward with a vote this week to release additional files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a dramatic shift from his earlier stance as bipartisan pressure builds in Congress to make the documents public.
Growing Rift Inside the GOP
Trump’s reversal comes at a moment of rising internal tensions. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump’s closest allies, now says their relationship has soured largely because of the dispute over the Epstein files. Greene and a handful of Republicans have been pushing aggressively for full transparency, insisting the documents should be released without delay.
Senate Weighs Its Next Move
In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune is still weighing whether to schedule a vote compelling the release of the documents, according to a GOP leadership aide. Thune is expected to wait for the House to act before announcing his position — a critical step, since the measure must pass the Senate to reach the president’s desk.
Thune has previously expressed skepticism about the need for legislation, noting the Department of Justice under Trump has already made thousands of pages available. But he has also encouraged continued transparency.
“I’m not sure what their bill does over there,” Thune told CNN in September, “but I think the Justice Department is releasing a lot of that information, and I encourage them to be as transparent as possible.”
Trump’s endorsement of a House vote marks a significant shift from his earlier view that existing releases from DOJ were sufficient.
Rising International Tensions
US Considers Options on Venezuela
Amid the domestic political battle over the Epstein files, Trump is simultaneously facing mounting foreign-policy pressure. According to US officials, the president has not yet decided whether to launch a ground attack on Venezuela — even as he signals that a diplomatic opening may be emerging.
This comes after Washington escalated its stance over the weekend, announcing it intends to designate a Venezuelan cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
Tracking US Military Strikes at Sea
The Trump administration continues its intensified maritime campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean and Pacific, which officials now describe as an “armed conflict.”
Since September, 83 people have been killed in at least 20 US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. In November alone, the US has carried out multiple lethal strikes, including:
Nov. 1: Strike in the Caribbean, killing three.
Nov. 4: Strike in the eastern Pacific; two killed.
Nov. 6: Caribbean strike kills three; vessel targeted in international waters.
Nov. 9: Two vessels hit in the eastern Pacific; six killed.
Nov. 10: Strike in the Caribbean kills four; no survivors.
Nov. 15: Another strike reported, killing three.
Trump Shifts to Economic Messaging
Later Monday, Trump is expected to highlight affordability during remarks at the McDonald’s Impact Summit in Washington, a White House official confirmed.
The president plans to tout what he calls his “one, big, beautiful bill,” including provisions such as eliminating taxes on tips, expanding overtime pay, and protecting Social Security.
Over the weekend, Trump hinted his administration is working to deliver price reductions on everyday items. “You’re going to see some little price reductions — and in some cases, pretty good ones,” he said.
Trump recently made a campaign stop at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, donning an apron and working a drive-thru window.
But he is drawing criticism from former loyalists, including Greene, who argues the president is spending too much time on foreign engagements and not enough on domestic concerns. Following GOP losses in recent elections, Trump has lashed out at Democrats’ focus on “affordability,” dismissing it as a “con job.”
