Politics

President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Jake Paul running for office "in the not-too-distant future" ... but the YouTuber-turned-boxer floated the idea of a political career moments before the two took the stage at the President's rally in Kentucky.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Trump and Paul sat down for around 45 minutes backstage at Trump's rally Wednesday -- for what we're told will be the first episode of a new podcast Jake is launching soon.

We're told Trump was riffing to Paul about the "lore" of his backstory and rise before entering politics. Jake's fiancée, Olympic gold medalist Jutta Leerdam, was also there.

Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance were just like any other couple out Wednesday in Washington, D.C. ... except with a Secret Service detail and their own commemorative coins!

That's right ... the current residents of Number One Observatory Circle stepped out at popular Italian restaurant Divino yesterday, and we got some exclusive details on their quiet night on the town.

Restaurant owner Luca Giovannini tells TMZ ... J.D. and Usha showed up with friends and dined on pizza, filet mignon, short rib pappardelle, tagliatelle bolognese, house-made focaccia, tiramisu, chocolate mousse and more signature dishes among other guests.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is blasting a report from ABC News claiming Iran wants to attack California as retaliation for the new war in the Middle East ... she says no such threat exists.

Leavitt went scorched-earth on ABC News in a blistering post Thursday on X ... quote-tweeting the ABC News report and writing, "This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people."

She ripped ABC News for what she sees as some shoddy journalism, adding ... "They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on *unverified* intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?"

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You never know what you're gonna get ... a big story that breaks, an argument erupts in the room, or someone's just joking around.

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President Donald Trump says Iran’s national soccer team can come to the 2026 World Cup in the United States -- but he’s warning them it's probably not a smart move for their "own life and safety."

The president took to Truth Social on Thursday with a mixed message for the Iranian squad ... saying the team would be welcome at the tournament while also suggesting it could be dangerous for them to attend.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup,” Trump wrote. “But I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Kim Jong Un's spending some quality time with his daughter ... bonding over bullets and bull's-eyes while testing new weapons at a North Korean facility Wednesday.

The North Korean Central News Agency released a photo Thursday showing North Korea's supreme leader and his alleged heir apparent testing a new type of pistol while inspecting a munitions factory at an undisclosed location in the country.

Check it out ... Kim Jong Un and his daughter -- Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13 years old -- wore matching black leather jackets ... concentrating intensely on their respective targets before firing a barrage of bullets.

A scary moment broke out during Donald Trump’s Kentucky rally ... when a woman collapsed in the crowd in the middle of his speech -- springing Dr. Oz and first responders into action.

The prez spoke to a crowd of supporters Wednesday in Hebron, KY ... and about halfway through his speech -- as he was gearing up to rip into California Governor Gavin Newsom -- people in the crowd began waving their hands and calling for medical help after an attendee collapsed.

Trump asked, “Do we have a doctor in the house?” as a medical team -- including Dr. Oz -- rushed in to assist the woman ... and Trump encouraged them to take their time. Trump paused his speech for several minutes as the medical staff went to work.

Valerie Bertinelli is angry and disappointed by the overall response to the Epstein Files ... and she says "idiots in Congress" are protecting pedophiles.

The famous chef was on "The View" Wednesday, plugging her new memoir, "Getting Naked," where she talks about being sexually abused at the age of 11 ... and the conversation made its way to current events ... namely, the Epstein Files.

Valeria told the panel she's pissed because "pedophiles aren't being held accountable" and she ripped Congress for sitting on their hands.

She also lamented the way sexual abuse survivors are being treated in this country ... going beyond the Epstein Files.

President Trump just threw his support behind Jake Paul the politician if he ever chooses to run for office ... telling a crowd in Kentucky the YouTuber-turned-boxer has his "complete and total endorsement."

The wild comment came during a rally in Hebron ... when 47 praised the fighter for his courage, brains and talent.

POTUS went as far as to say he thinks Paul could dive headfirst into politics "in the not too distant future" ... and he'd fully support him if he does.

Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent relocation to a U.S. military base has nothing to do with the Epstein files ... so says a Department of Justice official.

Here's the deal ... The New York Times dropped a bombshell revelation this morning when it reported the AG was quietly moved to a Washington, D.C. military installation for her own safety.

NYT -- citing people familiar with the situation -- claimed she'd been moved because of threats from drug cartels and people upset over her handling of the Epstein Files.

President Donald Trump thinks it’s time Erika Kirk steps into her late husband’s role … on a board of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Trump added Erika to the Board of Visitors … filling the seat Charlie Kirk held before he was shot and killed.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said in a statement that Erika’s the “perfect choice” to “continue his legacy.”

She thinks the widow will be “a fearless advocate for the most elite airpower force in the history of the world whose warriors keep our Nation safe, strong, and free.”

According to the board’s charters and bylaws, the BoV sends advice and recommendations to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding “the morale, discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters” of the USAFA.

The charter also says that any board members appointed by the President -- and he gets to pick 6 of them -- will serve 3-year terms.

But if a member dies, their replacement will only serve “the unexpired portion of the term.”

JFK Jr. and Daryl Hannah's relationship isn't the focus of 'Love Story,' but it's on full display in these vintage pics -- never publicly seen before -- of the former couple enjoying an intimate camping trip.

Check out the photos of John-John and Daryl taking in the great outdoors sometime in the late '80s or early '90s. We're told their journey, somewhere in upstate NY, was a romantic getaway ... just the 2 of them.

There are several shots of the pair up close, posing lovingly as they gaze at each other. In other pics, we see them hanging out in a stream, and another where JFK Jr. appears to be cooling off by dipping his head in the water ... but you'll probably focus more on his wardrobe -- nothing but his undies.

Boxer briefs ... if you were curious.

President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran for last month's attack on an Iranian elementary school, but now that a preliminary inquiry reportedly determined the U.S. to be at fault ... he says he doesn't know anything about the strike.

While meeting with the press Wednesday outside the White House, Trump was asked about the ongoing military investigation, which is reportedly holding the U.S. responsible for the Tomahawk missile strike.

When asked if he personally took responsibility, Trump answered, "For what?"

The Department of War is reportedly so mad about some pictures taken of Pete Hegseth that officials have told several photographers not to come back to the Pentagon.

Here's the deal ... the Secretary of War has delivered multiple press briefings this month in the aftermath of the United States' bombing of Iran -- the first taking place on March 2.

Photographers were allowed in the room during the briefing ... but, The Washington Post reports, photos they took of Secretary Hegseth upset DoW officials.

According to WaPo -- citing two anonymous officials -- photographers were banned from briefings on March 4 and March 10 ... and Pentagon staff photogs took photos instead.

We want you to be a part of TMZ, so every weekday, between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM PT, we take you inside our newsroom via live stream.

You never know what you're gonna get ... a big story that breaks, an argument erupts in the room, or someone's just joking around.

Your comments are a big part of the stream, and the staff spends a lot of time speaking directly to you. Every day is different!

Ready to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026? Start planning your viewing schedule on FOX One now. Start your free trial today.

Iran says it’s not coming to the World Cup -- and the country’s sports minister is pointing the finger at the United States.

Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sport and Youth, announced Wednesday that the nation cannot participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed during the initial U.S./Israeli strikes during the opening moments of the war.

“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said on state television.

While the regime may be mourning, Khamenei was long called repressive and brutal by many Western countries and human rights organizations.

The sports minister doubled down on the stance … saying the war has made it impossible for the team to compete.