Construction is underway on a ballroom being added to the East Wing of the White House in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2025. Madalina Kilroy /The Epoch Times A U.S. appeals court on April 17 put on hold a lower court order that had halted construction of the White House ballroom, allowing the project to proceed
The Internal Revenue Service in Washington on Jan. 6, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times Settlement talks are underway between President Donald Trump and the IRS over a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the tax collection agency, according to a federal court filing submitted on April 17 in Miami. Trump’s lawyers asked a U.S. district
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Turning Point USA event at the Dream City Church in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 17, 2026. Win McNamee/Getty Images PHOENIX—President Donald Trump predicted a Republican sweep in November’s midterms and pledged to press ahead with his “America First” agenda amid chants of “USA! USA!” during a rally in
A map shows the Strait of Hormuz, in this illustration taken on June 22, 2025. Dado Ruvic/Reuters Iran’s military said on April 18 it has reinstated “strict military oversight” over the Strait of Hormuz due to Washington’s ongoing naval blockade of Iranian shipping, signaling an apparent reversal to a brief reopening of the critical global
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arrival Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 17, 2026. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump said on April 17 that talks aimed at ending the war in Iran are ongoing and will carry on over the weekend, though he suggested that
President Donald Trump walks off Air Force One as he arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 17, 2026. Win McNamee/Getty Images President Donald Trump said on April 17 that talks aimed at ending the war in Iran are ongoing and will carry on over the weekend, and there had been
President Donald Trump walks toward reporters before answering questions prior to boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on April 10, 2026. Win McNamee/Getty Images President Donald Trump announced April 17 that he expects his administration to begin releasing documents “very soon” related to extraterrestrial life and unexplained phenomena. “As you remember, I