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Yusef Salaam -- one of the wrongfully convicted Central Park Five -- says the country is living through the "American Nightmare" right now ... and, people advocating for Derek Chauvin's release is just the latest in a litany of issues.

We caught up with the New York City councilman at the For The Love Of Our Children Gala -- the 10th edition of the National CARES Mentoring Movement's gala -- and, we had to ask about chatter about Trump supporters asking the president to pardon Chauvin. Remember, Chauvin was convicted in federal court in June 2021 for the murder of George Floyd.

Salaam says the country -- especially Black Americans -- are living through a nightmare ... a far cry from the promises of the American Dream. He says this isn't just because of a potential Chauvin pardon either ... but due to many of Trump's policies.

Congressman Al Green -- the Democrat who was escorted out of the House of Representatives for interrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress Tuesday -- says he's firing back at POTUS ... announcing plans to file articles of impeachment.

The Texas representative stopped by "TMZ Live" Thursday to talk about his dramatic exit from the chambers during Trump's speech ... and, he revealed he's planning to bring the articles to combat the president's "incivility."

Green didn't give a timeframe for when this filing could take place ... but, he says he feels Democrats need to engage in some "righteous incivility" of their own to combat the president's behavior.

Barack Obama took in a Clippers game Wednesday night in Los Angeles, without his better half by his side.

The former prez was seated courtside with L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his spouse, Connie Snyder, but Barack's famous wife -- Michelle -- was nowhere to be found.

Still, Barack had a good ol' time watching the Clippers beat the Detroit Pistons 123-115 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Curtis Stone is down to prepare a meal for President Trump ... and he's ready to bring a taste of Australia to the White House.

The celeb chef told us what he would serve Trump during an interview on our new TMZ podcast, "Big Down Under," with our camera guy Charlie Cotton.

Curtis says Wagyu beef would definitely be on the menu ... although it sounds like he's going to have to get creative with preparation, seeing as how Trump likes his steaks well done, with ketchup.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard wants to rip a page from Kim Kardashian's book ... she says she's open to talking with President Trump about changes that can be made to the prison system.

Gypsy was at LAX on Monday night when a photog asked her how she would feel about sitting down with Trump for a White House meeting on prison reform.

GRB says she would absolutely welcome such an opportunity if it came her way ... and she's got a lot she would like to say to POTUS.

J.D. Vance was skiing among a bunch of folks who made their hatred for him well known, but the Secret Service tells us there was never a threat to him or his family ... despite Vance nearly being taken out by an out-of-control skier.

Multiple Secret Service sources tell TMZ ... the Vice President was never in danger this weekend during his ski trip to Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont ... despite how things may have looked.

We obtained video of Vance being heckled in line for ski lifts -- someone called him  "Putin's Puppet" -- and during one of his runs he almost got barreled into -- first by a snowboarder ... then by another skier, who crashed into someone just feet away from the Veep.

Jon Stewart just explained the geopolitical landscape and America's role in it after the now-infamous Zelensky/Trump showdown in the Oval Office Friday ... comparing it to a wrestling event that also shook the world this weekend.

In Monday night’s episode of "The Daily Show," Jon explained the whole metaphorical ordeal -- Cody Rhodes is Volodymyr Zelensky, The Rock is Vladimir Putin, and John Cena is America.

In Jon’s interpretation of events ... Cody (Zelensky) went to the White House to meet with John Cena (America) to take on the person "demanding his soul," The Rock (Putin). To everyone’s surprise, especially Cody's … Cena had experienced a change of heart, and no longer had Cody's back. As Cody embraced Cena, The Rock gave Cena the throat-cut signal ... and Cena delivered a cheap shot to Cody's groin, then pummeled him on the ground in a dramatic "heel turn."

More fallout from the Oval Office spat between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... Trump is now pausing military aid to Ukraine.

The White House confirmed the move Monday ... with officials telling news outlets the U.S. is pausing and reviewing military aid to Ukraine to ensure the aid is contributing to a solution for the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

Unclear how long the pause will last but Fox News reports the aid won't start flowing until POTUS determines Ukraine's leadership demonstrates a good-faith commitment to peace with Russia.

Rep. Wesley Hunt is defending President Donald Trump over his Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... he says Trump's working the art of the deal to bring peace to the region.

The Congressman from Texas joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" and we asked him about Trump and J.D. Vance's heated exchange with Zelensky last week.

Hunt says Trump's right that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and strongman Vladimir Putin holds all the cards ... and the United States can't keep giving Ukraine a blank check to fight the Russians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to have done some breathing exercises and cooled off after a heated exchange with President Trump in the Oval Office on Friday -- a headline-making moment around the globe.

In a lengthy message posted to social media on Saturday morning ... Zelensky acknowledged that lasting peace in Eastern Europe would be “difficult” without U.S. support ... and he gave props for America's help during Russia’s three-year invasion of his country.

The message had a vastly different feel and tone from the blowup the two world leaders had in the White House ... which was live around the globe.

Elon Musk ain't apologizing for his controversial hand motion after Donald Trump was inaugurated ... instead, he's doubling down with a series of Nazi jokes that almost certainly won't tone down the criticism of the mogul.

The Trump ally and tech entrepreneur stopped by "The Joe Rogan Experience" for an episode published Friday ... and, during the chat he opened up about liberals and others claiming he was giving a Nazi salute at Trump's inauguration in January.

Remember, Musk drew ugly comparisons when he pointed his right hand in the air -- much like a Heil Hitler salute ... though he claims he was just saying his heart goes out to the audience. Now, he says he did "not see" the backlash coming.

President Trump gave Volodymyr Zelensky the boot from the White House after their explosive argument in front of the world, TMZ has confirmed.

White House sources tell TMZ ... President Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to leave after Trump and the two butted heads live on international TV in the Oval Office on Friday.

Moments later, FOX News journalist Jacqui Heinrich took to the airwaves and reported Trump's delegation told him he had to go home, pronto!

Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky got into an explosive shouting match in the middle of the Oval Office ... and, it wasn't behind closed doors, but in front of the press.

The Ukrainian President met with POTUS, the Veep, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- among others -- at the White House Friday ... and, while discussing Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia, the conversation took a heated turn unlike any ever seen in modern American diplomacy.

J.D. Vance said Zelensky was being "disrespectful" for trying to litigate foreign affairs issues in front of the American people ... before saying Zelensky should be thanking President Trump for trying to end the conflict.

The man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his January 6 crimes was caught on camera threatening to shoot himself after getting into a heated altercation with a sheriff's deputy who ended up firing several rounds, killing the man.

Check out the video ... the incident went down on January 26 when Matthew Huttle was pulled over by a deputy in Jasper County, Indiana, for going 70 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, according to law enforcement.

The Jasper County Sheriff's deputy gets out of his patrol vehicle and approaches Huttle, who emerges from his SUV. The deputy explains to Huttle that he's a "habitual traffic violator with a suspended license" and is going to be arrested after his speeding infraction.

Governor Gavin Newsom is ordering an investigation into whether Erik and Lyle Menendez are fit to return to public life ... TMZ has learned, and he says it's a critical first step before he, or anyone else, can decide if they get out of prison.

This is a major, unexpected development in the Menendez brothers' fight for freedom. It seemed the Governor was going to take a back seat until the courts ruled on Erik and Lyle's fate, but all that has now changed.

The CA Gov. tells us, he's directing the Board of Parole Hearings to conduct a "risk assessment investigation" on the Menendez bros., which he says is their version of a "parole hearing" -- but before the Board weighs in, a "Comprehensive Risk Assessment" must be done.

Apple's iPhone voice-to-text feature is in hot water ... with users doing a double-take after noticing it sometimes swaps out the word "racist" for "Trump."

TMZ’s got the receipts -- we tested it ourselves after a TikTok called it out -- with a user saying "racist" into the voice-to-text, and boom, "Trump" flashes up for a hot second before switching to the correct word.

The issue's been replicated multiple times, though the word "Trump" didn't pop up every single time when the user repeated "racist" in the same message.