Politics

Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the blame game is for losers ... and there will be no finger pointing involving the deadly floods in his state ... he says if winning football teams don't throw people under the bus, neither should Texans.

Abbott went with a pigskin analogy Tuesday in response to a question about who was to blame for flash floods that have killed at least 109 people in Central Texas.

The Governor says every inch of the Lone Star State loves their football -- high school, college or NFL -- and Texans should take a cue from their favorite teams and not resort to blaming others when things go wrong.

Peanut the Squirrel is thrust back into headlines, with Elon Musk invoking the little guy in a rant about the latest Jeffrey Epstein news ... but Peanut's owner ain't thrilled about the stunt.

Mark Longo tells TMZ ... he's totally honored Musk mentioned Peanut in his post, and now people are talking about the controversial deaths of his beloved pet squirrel and raccoon, Fred, but he wishes EM would do more to help the family's cause.

We talked to Mark right after Elon posted on X a classic meme featuring Jim from "The Office" with the words, "More squirrels and raccoons have been arrested ... than anyone on Epstein's client list. Government is deeply broken."

President Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter Tuesday for asking about Monday's Jeffrey Epstein memo from the Department of Justice ... and the video is quite awkward.

Just check it out -- 47 is astonished someone would ask about the news from a day earlier ... and scolds the reporter for not focusing on the "greatest success" in America, or the tragedy in Texas.

ICYMI ... the DOJ announced yesterday there's no evidence Epstein kept a "client list" of powerful people, or that he was murdered in his jail cell -- a theory people have been touting since his 2019 death by suicide.

The government better come clean about UAPs, or the people will -- that’s the warning from Jeremy Corbell, who’s cranking up the pressure after a newly released video from 2020 shows a massive disc slicing through clouds over the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Corbell popped up on "TMZ Live" today ... revealing he and journo George Knapp spent over two years verifying the jaw-dropping footage -- showing the 200- to 400-meter-wide disc with zero visible propulsion or heat signature, which was reportedly leaked from a confidential source.

Corbell -- a journalist and filmmaker -- made it clear they’ve gone to serious lengths to protect their whistleblowers ... who, he says, are now locked and loaded to testify at the next congressional UAP hearing.

Horse-mounted federal agents robed in tactical gear descended on a Los Angeles park alongside about 90 members of the California National Guard Monday -- a move Mayor Karen Bass is condemning as a "political stunt."

Check out the chilling clip -- rows of heavily-armed officers march through the mostly-empty MacArthur Park Monday via horseback and on foot ... seemingly conducting an immigration sweep.

Bass shared the video on X shortly after she was notified of the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and military personnel ... calling the act "absolutely outrageous." She also claimed the park was full of life about 20 minutes earlier.

The feds are hesitant to pursue criminal charges against powerful men named in the Jeffrey Epstein files because they aren't confident they can secure a conviction ... at least according to investigative reporter Tara Palmeri.

Tara's been covering the Epstein case for years now, and she joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday to give us her read on the DOJ/FBI memo announcing no "further disclosure" and no investigations against uncharged third parties.

While Tara agrees there's no client list, she says the FBI definitely has evidence linking the rich and powerful to Epstein's prostitution ring ... but she says the memo makes them sound gun-shy about prosecuting.

The Washington Commanders have no plans to revert to their old name ... this after President Donald Trump shared his take on the matter -- saying he would've never gone through with the rebrand!

POTUS chatted with media from a helipad in Morristown, New Jersey over the weekend ... when he was asked if he wanted to see the nation's capital's football team return to the "Redskins" moniker it held for 87 years.

Trump opened up his response by pointing out that he was about to make a "controversial statement" ... and then went on to give his honest answer.

The world's richest man is using his online platform to loudly dispute the latest government findings in the Jeffrey Epstein case ... and he's unleashing a torrent of doubt after a few quiet weeks following his accusation that President Donald Trump is listed in the files.

Sunday night Elon Musk tweeted on X ... "What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again" -- responding to a DOJ/FBI memo released this weekend declaring the disgraced financier Epstein did not keep a "little black book" or a client list of potential blackmail targets, and stating he was not murdered in jail.

Musk followed up with multiple posts and replies about the case, including one in which he appeared to agree with MAGA enthusiast Jack Posobiec's comment ... "If there were no clients, why is Ghislaine Maxwell still in jail?"

President Donald Trump has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas -- the site of catastrophic flooding that has already claimed the lives of at least 80 people, including 28 children.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump says, "These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing."

The declaration will allow for critical federal aid and resources to assist more than 400 first responders currently engaged in massive search and recovery efforts across the region.

Fireworks were flying between President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania as they celebrated America's Independence Day Friday ... and their lovefest -- followed by some hilarious dance moves -- are forever cemented on video.

Watch the PDA-filled clip -- the pair seems smitten as they cozy up on the balcony of the White House to honor the 4th of July. Donald pulls her in tight ... and then goes in for a smooch, and later, a forehead kiss.

47 and his former model wife also put on a dance show for their fellow Americans -- Trump served up his signature "Trump dance," and Melania even got in on the fun by doing her own version of the move with open palms.

Jake Paul is seemingly celebrating the ICE arrest of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ... and even offering who ICE should check out next.

Here's the situation -- not long after TMZ broke the news that Julio had been detained for an "expedited removal from the United States," the YouTuber-turned-pro boxer hopped on X and dropped an American flag emoji.

Perhaps he was celebrating Independence Day a bit early ... but the timing of his tweet seems pretty suspicious.

President Trump's got 'em LOL'in down in the Everglades, where he's holding court at his new immigrant detention center ... and dropping one-liners at his predecessor's expense.

POTUS was touring the facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," when a reporter pointed out the joint is actually very comfortably air-conditioned -- but 47 blew off that remark, and instead fired off a comedic shot at former President Biden.

Doing his best Henny Youngman (Google him, kids) impression, Trump said ... "Hey, Biden wanted me in here. It didn't work out that way, but wanted me in here, that son of a b*tch."

Donald Trump was in great spirits Tuesday morning ... and why wouldn't he be, 'cause he was talking about one of his favorite subjects -- alligators gobbling up escaped prisoners!

The commander-in-chief was about to depart the White House for the opening of a new Florida detention center called "Alligator Alcatraz," a controversial holding facility for undocumented immigrants as they wait to be deported.

Outside the WH, Trump took a few questions from the press pool, and one reporter asked about the concept behind "Alligator Alcatraz," which is located in the swampy Everglades about an hour west of Miami.

6:30 AM PT -- The Trump-Musk battle waged on this morning ... Trump said on Fox News, he was looking into deporting Elon. In response, Elon said on X, he's tempted to escalate the situation, but will not right now.

Donald Trump is trading jabs with Elon Musk again ... this time threatening to turn his former department against him as the SpaceX founder continues to trash DT's Big Beautiful Bill.

In Trump's Truth Social rant Monday night -- he says he's fed up with Elon's criticism and clearly making a power play over the entire scenario, slamming his former right-hand-guy's push for electric vehicles and reminding him about all the government help he gets.

He notes ... "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa."

Nelly is at his wits' end with fans painting him as a traitor to his race after the "Country Grammar" creator performed at the Donald Trump inauguration event at the top of the year ... he figures he's more pro-Black than their failed candidate!!!

The rap megastar has been fending off critics during his press run for his "We Belong Together" reality series with wife Ashanti ... especially when he stepped into The Shade Room and took aim at Kamala Harris!!!

Nelly highlighted his and Snoop Dogg's monetary support towards Historically Black Colleges and Universities over the years, before flipping the switch on the ex-V.P. and her hubs, Doug Emhoff -- labeling them "the woman of color with the white husband and white kids."

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz all paid their respects at the funeral for Melissa Hortman -- the Democratic lawmaker shot and killed earlier this month -- and her husband Mark.

The former president, his VP and the governor of Minnesota sat in the front row of the proceedings held at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis Saturday and were pictured standing together solemnly.

Biden walked through the rotunda of the building during the day ... and crossed himself in a religious gesture himself when he stopped before the caskets. He stood quietly for a time, then kneeled, crossed himself again and moved on.