From 1h agoUS House speaker tries to explain away Trump's 'I love the inflation' commentHours after Donald Trump brushed off concerns about new data showing that inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.2% in May by saying “I love the inflation”, the US House speaker, Mike Johnson, accused a CNN journalist of taking the president’s comment “totally out of context”.“The president is laser-focused on the domestic economic situation”, Johnson insisted. “He is working to bring down prices; his working to get the strait of Hormuz reopened.”As he walked through the US Capitol, trailed by reporters, Johnson said that the meaning of the president’s comment, which was made in his presence during an Oval Office event, was crystal-clear, at least to him.“What he was saying is: ‘It’s going to be great to have that number and compare it to what comes next, when we get these situations resolved, that’ll be a fun thing to consider,’” the Republican congressman suggested.Mike Johnson listens as Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on 10 June 2026. Photograph: Evan Vucci/ReutersIn fact, Trump’s meaning was far from clear, coming at the start of a rambling answer to the question of whether he was concerned “about the latest inflation number, which came out this morning”.“No, I love it, the numbers were great. You know what I really loved? I love the inflation n – you know why? Because as soon as this war is over,” the president began, before interrupting his answer with a long tangent on what he called the success of a US military effort to sneak oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz, which he said had contributed to a drop in oil prices.“I can say it now, something you didn’t know. Do you know we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn’t know about it? Iran, until right now. We took out the other night 22 ships late at night with no lights because they don’t have any radar because we blasted the crap out of it. We took out – that’s why oil is $85 a barrel,” the president said, without further explaining why he “loved” the inflation data showing the third consecutive monthly increase since the start of the Iran war and a three-year high.Trump then continued for three more minutes, recounting what he called the success of the US attacks on Iran, and Venezuela, and never returning to the question of inflation, but instead repeating his familiar, baseless claim that he told advisers in February that war was necessary because “Iran’s going to have a nuclear weapon very soon” and that he had expected the impact of his war on Iran on the price of oil and the stock market to be worse. In fact, US intelligence agencies had assessed that Iran had given up the pursuit of nuclear weapons in 2003 and not restarted the effort.When Trump finished speaking, a reporter reminded him of the topic, asking if he expected “inflation to come down between now and November”.“When the war is over? It’s coming down,” Trump replied. “It’s going to come down like a rock.”Key events33m agoUS military announces new 'self-defense strikes' on Iran1h agoUS House speaker tries to explain away Trump's 'I love the inflation' comment2h agoHegseth says US will strike Iran again tonight: 'If we need to negotiate with bombs, then we'll negotiate with bombs'3h agoDefense industry leaders preparing for 'ugly' meeting with Trump as concerns grow over shrinking US missile supply, NBC News reports3h agoThe day so far4h agoTrump claims US military carried out 'secret mission' to help move 100m barrels of oil through strait of Hormuz5h agoDemocrats rally round Platner in Maine as Trump reaffirms grip on GOP after primaries5h agoTrump says he thinks AI companies will agree to 'giving back' to the public6h agoTrump says 'people have wanted to downsize' intelligence community for a while6h agoTrump calls Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner 'an outright pig'7h agoTrump says US is 'going to hit them hard today' as Iran 'keeps tapping us along' on deal7h agoTrump says Bill Pulte will ‘execute the immediate downsizing’ of intelligence community in temporary role7h agoBill Gates tells House ‘I have never victimized anyone’ in Epstein testimony8h agoTrump to sign $70bn immigration enforcement funding package into law8h agoTrump targeting immigrants from countries hit most by climate shocks9h agoUS inflation jumped to 4.2% in May, the third consecutive increase since start of Trump's war against Iran10h agoTrump says Iran 'will pay the price' for taking 'too long' to agree peace deal11h agoExclusive: Anti-Trump Republicans back Democrat in hopes of ousting Maga congressman in Pennsylvania11h agoTrump presses on with plan to install Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief12h agoBill Gates to face questions from House committee over links to Jeffrey Epstein12h agoControversial Platner overcomes allegations to seal Democratic nomination for Senate raceUS military announces new 'self-defense strikes' on IranIn a brief statement, the US military’s Central Command announced on Wednesday afternoon that US “forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5.15pm ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”US House speaker tries to explain away Trump's 'I love the inflation' commentHours after Donald Trump brushed off concerns about new data showing that inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.2% in May by saying “I love the inflation”, the US House speaker, Mike Johnson, accused a CNN journalist of taking the president’s comment “totally out of context”.“The president is laser-focused on the domestic economic situation”, Johnson insisted. “He is working to bring down prices; his working to get the strait of Hormuz reopened.”As he walked through the US Capitol, trailed by reporters, Johnson said that the meaning of the president’s comment, which was made in his presence during an Oval Office event, was crystal-clear, at least to him.“What he was saying is: ‘It’s going to be great to have that number and compare it to what comes next, when we get these situations resolved, that’ll be a fun thing to consider,’” the Republican congressman suggested.Mike Johnson listens as Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on 10 June 2026. Photograph: Evan Vucci/ReutersIn fact, Trump’s meaning was far from clear, coming at the start of a rambling answer to the question of whether he was concerned “about the latest inflation number, which came out this morning”.“No, I love it, the numbers were great. You know what I really loved? I love the inflation n – you know why? Because as soon as this war is over,” the president began, before interrupting his answer with a long tangent on what he called the success of a US military effort to sneak oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz, which he said had contributed to a drop in oil prices.“I can say it now, something you didn’t know. Do you know we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn’t know about it? Iran, until right now. We took out the other night 22 ships late at night with no lights because they don’t have any radar because we blasted the crap out of it. We took out – that’s why oil is $85 a barrel,” the president said, without further explaining why he “loved” the inflation data showing the third consecutive monthly increase since the start of the Iran war and a three-year high.Trump then continued for three more minutes, recounting what he called the success of the US attacks on Iran, and Venezuela, and never returning to the question of inflation, but instead repeating his familiar, baseless claim that he told advisers in February that war was necessary because “Iran’s going to have a nuclear weapon very soon” and that he had expected the impact of his war on Iran on the price of oil and the stock market to be worse. In fact, US intelligence agencies had assessed that Iran had given up the pursuit of nuclear weapons in 2003 and not restarted the effort.When Trump finished speaking, a reporter reminded him of the topic, asking if he expected “inflation to come down between now and November”.“When the war is over? It’s coming down,” Trump replied. “It’s going to come down like a rock.”Hegseth says US will strike Iran again tonight: 'If we need to negotiate with bombs, then we'll negotiate with bombs'Speaking to reporters outside the headquarters of US Central Command in Tampa on Wednesday, Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, confirmed Donald Trump’s earlier statement that the US plans to strike Iran again tonight.“The war department is prepared to set the terms to ensure that we get the kind of deal President Trump expects,” Hegseth told reporters.“Those strikes that happen tonight will be strong,” Hegseth said, before suggesting that the military assault could be averted if Iran agrees to a peace deal with the president.“President Trump is a deal-maker, the best in the world,” Hegseth went on. “He’s prepared to make that deal; Iran would be wise to take it.”“If we need to negotiate with bombs, then we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he added.The defense secretary also suggested that what he called a successful US mission to guide oil tankers through a crucial choke point in the Gulf means that “the United States of America controls the strait of Hormuz”.Defense industry leaders preparing for 'ugly' meeting with Trump as concerns grow over shrinking US missile supply, NBC News reportsThe leaders of roughly seven defense companies have been preparing to meet with Donald Trump at the White House later this week in what is expected to be a contentious discussion amid mounting concerns over the dwindling US supply of missiles, NBC News reports citing two people familiar with details of the meeting.Trump is expected to press the companies to find ways to swiftly increase their production of weaponry for the Pentagon, the people and one other person familiar with the upcoming meeting told NBC News. The deputy defense secretary, Stephen Feinberg, is also expected to attend, two of the people said.An F-35C Lightning II is staged for flight operations on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on 2 March 2026. Photograph: US Navy/Getty ImagesIn public, Trump has boasted that the US has a “virtually unlimited supply” of weapons, but the president has expressed anger and frustration to aides and allies over thinning American stockpiles, the people added. One of the people told NBC News they anticipate the meeting is “going to be ugly”.Indeed, as Trump threatened to resume bombing Iran again today, the US military has already burned through missiles and interceptors at a rate that has alarmed some defense officials.Last month, the Associated Press reported that US military contractors will need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of three key weapons systems used heavily in Trump’s war against Iran – a timeframe that has become a major concern.When the best referee in Africa is barred from working at the World Cup after being denied entry at the US border, claims of this being an inclusive tournament ring hollow.Omar Abdulkadir Artan was supposed to make history this week, becoming the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup. Instead, he is watching from home.In this video, Morgan Ofori digs into a historic year for African nations against the backdrop of US travel bans.The most 'inclusive' World Cup ever? Doesn't look like it ...The day so far