Politics

The man allegedly behind the planned bombing of Lady Gaga's recent concert in Brazil was deported from the United States just last month ... this according to Brazilian investigators.

Luis da Silva and a 17-year-old male were arrested hours before the massive free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio, which brought out more than 2.5 million fans Saturday to cheer her on. Cops allege the two suspects planned to blow up bombs near the stage and execute fans, including children, at the show.

The New York Post reports authorities are now saying da Silva was kicked out of the United States in April ... however, they're still looking into the reason for the deportation.

Donald Trump’s big idea to slap a 100% tariff on films made outside the U.S. might sound like a patriot’s dream -- but according to one Hollywood heavyweight, it’s actually a 100% career-ender for the movie biz.

TMZ caught up with "Green Book" producer Charles Wessler, and let’s just say he didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts on Trump’s proposal to force filming back onto American soil ... telling us it's the stupidest idea he's ever heard ... but said it tracks, coming from Trump.

Charles breaks down how the movie biz can't survive the move -- budgets are part of it, but it’s also about creative freedom and authenticity ... and also the practicality of certain locations that can't be recreated in the U.S.

President Trump knows how to throw a curveball — and his latest one most people won't see coming because he plans to reopen the notorious Alcatraz prison.

In fact, the commander in chief says on Truth Social ... he’s directing the federal Bureau of Prisons to not only reopen Alcatraz but to rebuild the prison in order to “house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders” and “serve as a symbol of Law, Order and JUSTICE.”

In his Truth Social post Sunday night, Trump goes on to say, “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally.”

Donald Trump's strong with the Force ... though he's not on the side of the Jedi like his followers might imagine -- he's fully embracing the unlimited power of the Dark Side.

The White House decided to embrace Star Wars Day by dropping an A.I.-generated photo of the president dressed in 'Star Wars' gear ... showing the POTUS as a hulking figure in a sleeveless cloak -- flaunting his massive arms -- while bald eagles back him up.

He's holding a lightsaber too ... but, instead of a blue or green variety traditionally used by Jedis, Trump's got a bright red saber -- big Sith energy.

Bill Belichick's girlfriend Jordon Hudson should be thanking her lucky stars -- 'SNL' took a big swipe at the couple, but it did NOT paint her as a controlling bitch ruining a sports icon's legacy.

Instead, just 2 minutes into Saturday's episode, it was the 49-year age gap between Jordon and Bill 'SNL' writers chose to skewer ... with President Trump -- played by James Austin Johnson -- signing an Executive Order on the coupling.

Mikey Day, as Stephen Miller says, "Sir, this order will make it socially acceptable for a man in his 70s to date a 24-year-old.” Trump adds the new Bill Belichick law will "make girlfriends young again."

Donald Trump is once again blending politics with punchlines -- this time, with a heavenly twist.

The President posted an A.I.-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope on social media on Friday. The A.I. picture shows DT wearing the full look that the everyday Pope wears.

The internet has been reacting to the photo with mixed emotions ... some find it offensive, while others find it humorous.

The "Love Is Blind" finale proves a lot of Democrats are gonna end up lonely and loveless ... at least according to Bill Maher, who says the left better quit letting politics pollute their dating pool.

First off, who knew Bill was binge-watching 'LIB' -- we doubt he did, he's got people for that -- but he did highlight Sara Carton and Ben Mezzenga's disastrous walk to the altar from the hit Netflix show's season 8 finale.

SPOILER ALERT!

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says he will NOT recuse himself from the Erik and Lyle Menendez case ... despite their attorney calling for Hochman to step aside.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Hochman says there's no legal reason for him to recuse himself ... and he blasts the defense for what he sees as a "drastic and desperate step" ... claiming they are trying to sidestep the central issue here ... resentencing, which Hochman opposes.

Erik and Lyle's attorney, Mark Geragos, previously called for Hochman to recuse himself.

George Santos says there's a lot of bad hombres behind bars who want to rough him up for one reason or another ... and he's again turning up the pressure on the Federal Bureau of Prisons to keep him safe.

The former New York Congressman joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked him about his warning to the BOP -- that there will be hell to pay if he's brutalized behind bars.

George is set to begin a 7-year sentence this summer and he tells us there's a big target on his back for a number of reasons ... namely, his sexuality and his Congressional activity.

George Santos is warning the Bureau of Prisons ... predicting an "international nightmare" if he's brutalized behind bars during an upcoming prison stint.

The former New York congressman tells TMZ ... if anything bad happens to him in federal prison, the BOP is going to have a problem on their hands.

Santos warns ... if his bodily autonomy is violated, it's going to be bad for the BOP. He imagines his attorney releasing a statement about him being brutalized or sexually assaulted in prison ... something he doesn't think the BOP wants to deal with.

Stephen A. Smith's gotta be scratching his head this morning after President Donald Trump ranted to him about Harlem and Black people ... when Stephen A. asked him about Harvard.

The bizarre exchange went down Wednesday night when the Prez phoned into News Nation for a chat with Stephen A., Chris Cuomo and Bill O'Reilly. Smith fired off a question about POTUS withdrawing billions of dollars of federal grants to Harvard University -- and, for some reason, Trump said, "Well, I say this, we had riots in Harlem, and frankly if you look at what's gone on ... and people from Harlem went up and they protested."

You gotta see this, because things got even more awkward when President Trump said, "I got a very high Black vote. You know that."

Donald Trump may have just endorsed his successor ... 'cause he says Stephen A. Smith has all the necessary skills to be POTUS -- most especially, entertainment value.

The president gave a phone interview on NewsNation Wednesday night ... chatting with Bill O'Reilly, Chris Cuomo and Stephen A. -- when Bill asked him what he thought of Stephen taking a shot at the highest office in the land.

ICYMI ... last month, Smith blasted the Democratic Party and claimed he had "no choice" but to consider running for the job in 2028.

China seems delusional on the issue of COVID-19 all these years later ... ‘cause the government is now falsely claiming the deadly virus originated in the United States instead of China’s Wuhan lab —- the most universally accepted theory.

Chinese officials penned a paper pointing an accusatory finger at the U.S. for facilitating the spread of COVID -- an infectious respiratory disease that quickly passes from person to person.

In the essay, the officials wrote ... “The U.S. should cease from shifting blame and evading responsibility, stop finding external excuses for its internal malaise, and genuinely reflect on and overhaul its public health policies.”

Hulk Hogan's got a new wrestling league ... and he's hopeful he won't be the only major celeb running wild at its inaugural event later this summer -- telling TMZ Sports he wants Donald Trump there too!!

The WWE legend announced this week he, Eric Bischoff and famed coach Israel Martinez have joined together to start Real American Freestyle -- and on Wednesday, he told us he wants POTUS ringside when it all officially kicks off on Aug. 30 in Cleveland.

In fact, Hulk -- who was one of Trump's biggest supporters during his run for president in 2024 -- said he plans to make a phone call to the White House soon to personally extend the invite.

President Trump is selling a meme coin and making a nice profit from a contest offering big buyers a chance to have dinner with him -- but that doesn't mean the White House is for sale ... at least according to Michael Knowles.

The Daily Wire host joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked him about Trump's unprecedented use of cryptocurrency ... and he defended POTUS.

Trump's offering 220 people a chance to have dinner with him at one of his golf clubs ... as long as they buy a bunch of his meme coins ... and while the Prez and his allies are reportedly raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result, Michael doesn't see an issue.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is at it again -- and this time, he's coming for the stuff in your tap water, claiming fluoride is basically brain poison ... especially for kids.

During a White House Cabinet meeting Wednesday, RFK Jr. went off the deep end -- proclaiming he and his team are pushing to change federal regulations over fluoride in drinking water ... because, according to him, the science apparently shows a link between fluoride exposure and low IQ in kids.

In the Health and Human Services Secretary's own words about fluoride today ... "The more you get, the stupider you are" -- adding that America needs smart kids, not ones being dumbed down by their drinking water.