Franco Ordonez

Experts say the sale of F-35s would change the military balance in the region while raising questions about Washington's long-held position of maintaining Israel's, quote, qualitative military edge, which was signed into a 2008 law.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss the fighter jets as well as security and efforts to normalize relations with Israel.

Experts say the sale of F-35s would change the military balance in the region while raising questions about Washington's long-held position of maintaining Israel's, quote, qualitative military edge, which was signed into a 2008 law.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss the fighter jets as well as security and efforts to normalize relations with Israel.

Experts say the sale of F-35s would change the military balance in the region while raising questions about Washington's long-held position of maintaining Israel's, quote, qualitative military edge, which was signed into a 2008 law.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

President Trump says the case has turned into a distraction from his administration's work.

Trump and Epstein were friends until they had a falling out several years before Epstein's first conviction.

For months, Trump and his supporters fought to block the vote on releasing the Epstein materials, but it became increasingly clear that it would pass anyway.

And this weekend, in a dramatic change of course, Trump called on House Republicans to support the measure.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

President Trump signed the bill in a late-night ceremony from the White House where he continued to blame the Democrats for the shutdown.

The package funds most of the government through the end of January, but also includes three years of funding for some other programs, including agriculture and military.

The legislation also includes a provision that would reverse layoffs of federal workers that were made during the shutdown and ensure retroactive pay for those who were furloughed.

And Trump again pressed to end the Senate's filibuster rule that requires 60 votes to bring legislation to the floor.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

The president declared the move as a major step toward building bridges across the world.

At a dinner with Central Asian leaders, including Kazakhstan, Trump posted that the administration is negotiating with other foreign leaders about joining.