Trump, Musk to hold Oval Office press conference on DOGE head’s last day: Unbiased Updates, May 30, 2025
Editor’s Note: Straight Arrow News previously published coverage about a paraglider allegedly swept into the sky by an updraft in China. The video accompanying that story is now under review due to concerns that it may have been AI-generated. We have removed the video from the article as a precaution and are investigating its authenticity.
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Friday, May 30, marks Elon Musk’s last day at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency. So, why is the White House indicating that this won’t be the final time we hear from him?
Plus, the tariffs have reemerged following a surprising court ruling that revitalizes President Donald Trump’s trade war.
And wildfires up north in Canada are choking major U.S. cities with smoke. Who’s waking up to dangerous air quality Friday morning?
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, May 30, 2025.
Trump, Musk to hold Oval Office press conference on DOGE head’s last day
Friday marks Elon Musk’s last day with the Trump administration. He announced he is stepping down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) just hours after criticizing President Donald Trump’s spending bill, “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill.”
However, this was always intended in the plan.
Trump brought Musk on for 130 days as a special government employee, tasked with trimming government waste. Friday, May 30, marks 130 days.
But the American public should not expect Musk to vanish from the political spotlight. The White House said Musk will stay on as an unofficial adviser and may still drop in on meetings.
Trump allegedly backed this on Truth Social, announcing that he and Musk will hold a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific!” Trump wrote.
The big question now is: what happens to DOGE?
“We thank him for his service. We thank [you] for getting DOGE off the ground, and the efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
She continued, “DOGE leaders are each and every member of the president’s cabinet and the president himself, who is wholeheartedly committed to cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government.”
Moreover, it’s not only Musk who is leaving.
ABC News reported that DOGE’s chief lawyer, James Burnham, and Musk’s top aide, Steve Davis, are also in the process of transitioning out.
Court gives Trump a lifeline on tariffs as Supreme Court looms
A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated President Donald Trump’s tariffs, just one day after the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that he overstepped his authority by imposing them under emergency powers.
The administration stated it may take the case to the Supreme Court as early as Friday, May 30. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned, “If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy presidential power … The presidency would never be the same.”
It maintains Trump’s tariff agenda for the time being.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday, May 29, that the U.S.-China talks are now “a bit stalled,” though a call between Trump and President Xi Jinping could happen in the coming weeks.
FBI: Footage reveals Epstein as the only person in prison cell
In a change from just a year ago, two senior Trump officials now assert that Jeffrey Epstein took his own life rather than being murdered. This shift comes after years of conspiracy theories suggesting that Epstein was killed to safeguard influential connections, including politicians, celebrities and royalty.
FBI Deputy Director Don Bongino, who previously claimed he was absolutely convinced that Epstein was murdered, now asserts that there is video evidence showing no one else was in the cell.
“There is nothing in the file at this point on the Epstein case, and there’s gonna be a disclosure on this coming shortly,” Bongino said.
He continued, “There’s video, that when you look at the video, and we will release it, that’s what’s taken a while on this. We are working on cleaning it up to make sure you have an enhanced version, and we’re gonna give the original so you don’t think there are any shenanigans, and you’re gonna see there’s no one there but him.”
In a separate interview, FBI Director Kash Patel also stated that the footage would put the conspiracies to rest.
Epstein died in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His connections to former President Bill Clinton, Trump and Prince Andrew fueled years of speculation. But now, under Trump’s DOJ, the message is clear: case closed.
Smoke from more than 100 wildfires in Canada to impact millions of Americans
Dense smoke from numerous uncontrolled wildfires in Canada has drifted into the U.S., affecting millions of Americans. The top provincial officials, known as premiers, in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have officially declared states of emergency.
Canada’s latest update: over 170 fires continue to burn nationwide, with 93 remaining uncontained. Meanwhile, the smoke continues to spread, impacting air quality.
According to AccuWeather, the cities expected to be the most heavily impacted are:
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Fargo, N.D.
- Minneapolis and Duluth, Minn.
- Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisc.
- Chicago, Ill.
- Detroit, Mich.
Hamas studying new US-brokered ceasefire deal that Israel backs
Hamas stated that the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal fails to meet its fundamental demands; however, the group is currently reviewing it. This plan, facilitated by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, features a 60-day ceasefire, a gradual release of hostages and enhanced aid to Gaza.
The White House said Israel has signed off, but a senior Hamas official told the BBC it lacks key commitments, including a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Still, the group said it would respond in due course.
Hamas currently holds 58 hostages, many of whom are believed to be in grave danger. This includes approximately three dozen deceased victims.
Israel has not formally commented, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told hostage families he supports the deal.
Bernard Kerik, ex-NYPD commissioner and Trump ally, dies at 69
Former New York Police Department Commissioner Bernard Kerik, once hailed as a 9/11 hero, has died following a private battle with illness.
A longtime ally of Rudy Giuliani, Kerik rose from military police to become the Big Apple’s top guy. He was even tapped to rebuild Iraq’s police force after the U.S. invasion.
However, his professional trajectory experienced a significant downfall due to a scandal.
Kerik, 69, served time for tax fraud before being pardoned by Trump in 2020. Through it all, Kerik remained a fixture in conservative politics. He was seen at Trump rallies and pushed 2020 election claims.
Giuliani said of his loss, “He’s like my brother … I was a better man for having known Bernie.”
Paraglider survives being sucked into cloud vortex miles above Earth
A Chinese paraglider is recovering after being drawn into clouds over five miles above the ground, coming close to freezing to death. The whole event was recorded on camera.
The individual, identified as 55-year-old Peng Yuijang, reported that the incident occurred shortly after he departed on the flight over the northern Chinese mountains on Saturday, May 24.
Within minutes, Yuijang was swept into a massive “cloud suction,” blasted upward to over 28,000 feet, where temperatures can drop to minus 40.
Despite the altitude and sub-zero cold, Yuijang stayed conscious through the 72-minute ordeal and landed safely. However, the flight came at a cost. He suffered severe frostbite and Chinese authorities have banned him from paragliding for six months, saying he violated flight regulations.
Authorities also grounded his companion for six months for posting the video without permission and “causing bad influence,” according to the South China Morning Post.
Still, among paragliders, Yuijang is now referred to as a “living legend.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
