Trump posts AI image of himself, Cabinet members in Reflecting Pool

PresidentDonald Trumpposted an apparently artificially generated image of himself with members of his Cabinet swimming in theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The Reflecting Pool has been drained and is undergoingrenovationas part of Trump'sdevelopment projectsaround the nation's capital.

"Right now, it's got no water in it because it was in terrible shape. It was filthy, dirty, and it leaked like a sieve for many years," Trump said in a video message on April 23.

Late on May 1, Trump posted a fake image of himself, shirtless, giving a thumbs up as he lounges in the pool with other Cabinet members in their swimsuits. In October, Trump joked that he wouldn't be seen in abathing suit.Here is what to know about the post and the pool project:

More:Trump White House ballroom: A look back at gilded ballroom president built at Mar-a-Lago

Trump reflecting pool post comes amid restoration projects

Trump has been sprucing up the capital city as a showcase forWorld Cup soccer gamesin June and July and the country’s 250thanniversary on July 4. He is also buildinga $400 million ballroomfor the White House andproposing a triumphal archon an island in the Potomac River.

Trump announced on April 23 that the reflecting pool would also be restored. The Reflecting Pool was built in 1922. Trump described it as an odd shape: 2,200 feet long, 167 feet wide and 1½ to 2 feet deep.

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Trump said granite and other stones used to construct it weren’t the best for holding water, like the hundreds of swimming pools he built as a real estate developer.

The president added that he inspected the pool after hearing from a friend visiting from Germany who called the appearance “sad.”

“He said it’s filthy, dirty, the water is disgusting looking,” Trump said. “It’s not representative of the country.”

Trump said the Biden administration had studied replacing the iconic pool’s granite but never embarked on the project, which had an estimated cost of $301 million and was expected to take more than three years. Instead, Trump said, contractors would sandblast, caulk and resurface the bottom like an industrial-grade pool for an estimated $1.5 million and be finished in a few weeks. The bottom will be repainted "American flag blue."

Who else is pictured in the reflecting pool swim party post?

Trump is pictured in a golden inflatable chair with other members of his Cabinet in the AI image posted May 1. Swimming next to him is Vice PresidentJD Vance, Secretary of StateMarco Rubio, Secretary of the InteriorDoug Burgumand a woman in a bikini. The White House did not immediately confirm her identity.

The same night, Trump also posted a picture of himself with a handful of Uno wildcards, captioned"I have all the cards."The president has taken to frequently posting fake illustrations of himself, including one of him beingembraced by Jesus.

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her onX (Twitter),Threads,BlueskyandTikTok.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post:Trump features Reflecting Pool in new AI-generated Truth Social post

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 04, 2026

Trump posts AI image of himself, Cabinet members in Reflecting Pool

PresidentDonald Trumpposted an apparently artificially generated image of himself with members of his Cabinet swimming in theLincoln Me...

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Shooting at lake near Oklahoma City leaves at least 10 wounded, police say

Oklahoma City — At least 10 people have been taken to hospitals following a shooting at party at a lake near Oklahoma City, police say.

Edmond police spokesperson Emily Ward said authorities received multiple reports of shots being fired at about 9 p.m. at a gathering of young people near Arcadia Lake.

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She said late Sunday that no arrests had been made nut there was no reason to believe there was a threat to the public. "We're kind of all over the metro speaking with victims and witnesses," Ward said.

CBS Oklahoma City affiliate KWTV reportsthat police set up a reunification center for families at a local Walmart.

Arcadia Lake, about 13 miles north of Oklahoma City, is a manmade reservoir used for flood control that's also a popular recreational spot that offers fishing, boating, picnicking and camping. It's located in Edmond, an Oklahoma City suburb of about 100,000.

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 03, 2026

Shooting at lake near Oklahoma City leaves at least 10 wounded, police say

Oklahoma City — At least 10 people have been taken to hospitals following a shooting at party at a lake near Oklahoma City, police say....

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US Attorney Pirro says agent 'definitely' shot by DC press dinner shooting suspect

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that the bullet that struck a Secret Service agent in the shooting at theWhite House Correspondents' Association dinnerwas "definitely" from suspect Cole Tomas Allen's gun.

“We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot, from the defendant’s Mossberg pump action shotgun, was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer,” Pirro said inan interview with CNN's Jake Tapperon May 3 on "State of the Union."

USA TODAY previously reportedthat evidence collected so far indicates the only Secret Service agent who actually fired their weapon at Allen was the one who was injured as he tried to prevent what prosecutors allege was an attempted assassination onPresident Donald Trump. The agent, who has not been identified, fired five times but did not hit the suspect.

Initial court filingsdid not specifically allege that Allen shot the agent, though Trump and administration officials haveclaimed that he did in public comments.

"That is interesting and noteworthy because what it shows is the government does not yet have conclusive proof that the suspect did shoot the agent," Mark Lesko, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York,told the BBC on May 1.

Sean Curran, director of the Secret Service, said all the evidence indicates the agent was shot at "point-blank range" with a shotgun by the suspect in an April 30 interview on "The Will Cain Show" on Fox News.

Allen currently facesassassination and firearm charges, though Pirro said in the "State of the Union" interview that the Department of Justice will go before a grand jury on May 8, where further charges could be filed.

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Suspect's lawyers seek to have him removed from suicide protocols

Lawyers forAllenare seeking to have him removed from "suicide precautions" at the Washington, DC jail where he is being held.

The emergency motion –filed in DC federal court on May 2– states that anurse at the jailrecommended Allen be placed on “suicide watch” on April 28, despite a Department of Corrections intake team not noting any suicide risks.

The document states that lawyers for Allen were told on April 28 he would be put "in a regular cell by Thursday or Friday of that week." On April 29, Allen was reassessed and recommended for "suicide prevention" protocol, despite "no suicide factors or indications" being observed, according to the motion.

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

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Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire duringthe annual White House Correspondents' Association dinnerin Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.Trumpand first ladyMelania Trumpwere evacuated out of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

"Suicide prevention" protocols prevent an inmate from visiting or contacting anyone that is not a part of their legal team and only allow for an inmate to leave their cell for legal visits and escorted showers, according to the filing.

"These conditions are excessive restrictions on his liberty that serve no justifiable purpose and depriveMr. Allen of dignity while incarcerated," the motion reads. Allen's lawyers further argued that the conditions hinder him from participating in his defense.

A hearing on Allen's holding conditions is scheduled on the court docket for 12 p.m. ET on May 4. USA TODAY has reached out to Allen's lawyers for further comment.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DC press dinner shooting suspect 'definitely' shot agent: US Attorney

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 03, 2026

US Attorney Pirro says agent 'definitely' shot by DC press dinner shooting suspect

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that the bullet that struck a Secret Service agent in the shooting at theWhite House Correspondents...

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Spirit nearly done processing customer refunds after shutdown

By Sabrina Valle

Spirit Airlines Shutters Overnight After Failure to Secure a Buyout

NEW YORK, May 3 (Reuters) - ‌Spirit Airlines said ‌on Sunday it had ​almost completed refunding passengers and returning its crew to their home ‌bases ⁠following its decision to cease operations ⁠over the weekend.

Most customers who booked ​with credit ​or ​debit cards ‌were refunded by Saturday evening, with a small percentage still being processed, the company said.

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A ‌final group ​of about ​1,500 ​crew members was ‌rebased over the ​weekend.

Other ​airlines have offered discounted rescue fares ​for ‌stranded passengers.

(Reporting by Sabrina ​Valle; Editing by ​Cynthia Osterman)

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 03, 2026

Spirit nearly done processing customer refunds after shutdown

By Sabrina Valle Spirit Airlines Shutters Overnight After Failure to Secure a Buyout NEW YORK, May 3 (Reuters) - ‌Spirit Airli...

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New CCTV shows Trump dinner gunman break through security checkpoint in seconds

Prosecutors have released new surveillance video showing suspected shooter Cole Allen storming past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday (25 April).

In the video, 31-year-old Allen can be seen disappearing behind a door before rushing back out, a rifle in hand as he runs past guards. One officer quickly draws his service weapon and fires at Allen, with the suspect also appearing to take aim.

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After the suspected shooter vanishes out of frame, other security guards rush to the scene, weapons drawn.

Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate PresidentDonald Trump.

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 03, 2026

New CCTV shows Trump dinner gunman break through security checkpoint in seconds

Prosecutors have released new surveillance video showing suspected shooter Cole Allen storming past security at the White House Corresp...

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Starmer urges ban on some protests in antisemitism crackdown

SirKeir Starmerhas backed a ban on some pro-Palestine protests as part of a crackdown onantisemitismin the wake ofthe Golders Green terror attack.

The prime minister suggested there were “instances” where it was appropriate to prevent suchmarches happening on UK streets -as they have done in France - and said he would fight “with every breath I have” for a diverse and tolerant Britain.

He also issued a stark challenge to those who take part in the protests, saying if they hear chants of ‘globalise the Intifada’ - “you do have to stop and ask yourself, why am I not calling this out?”

But the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism toldThe Independentit would be “unconscionable” to outlaw peaceful pro-Palestine protests.

Lord Mann said: “There are multiple small anti-Israel (or similar) protests every week. Usually involving a tiny number of people.

“If they are not calling for violence… then it is unconscionable in a democracy that any such concept could be acted upon. The safety and security of the Jewish community requires effective strong leadership - not gestures.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski accused the prime minister of "using the pain and fear of Jewish people to threaten further authoritarian restrictions on peaceful protest".

"This would be the worst response to the attacks in Golders Green and would just produce more division when it's the job of responsible leaders to bring people together," he added.

Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, the former director of Liberty, the civil liberties and human rights group, added: “It’s perfectly reasonable for political leaders to urge sensitivity and restraint around protests in the wake of terrorist violence and the fear it breeds. But it is quite another thing to equate protest with violence or to clamp down on peaceful dissent even further.

“I urge the government to lead by example and demonstrate the balanced judgment they recommend to others.”

Sir Keir’s call came in an interview with the BBC’s Today programme, just days after he was heckled during a visit to Golders Green, where he was met by a group of protesters holding signs and chanting: "Keir Starmer, Jew Harmer".

Asked if he wanted a crackdown on the chants or to stop some protests altogether, he told the BBC: “I think certainly the first, and I think there are instances for the latter.”

He added: “I don't want to get involved in operational policing, but I think when you see, when you hear some of those chants, ‘globalise the Intifada’ the one that I would pick out, then clearly there should be tougher action in relation to that.”

He went on: “In relation to the repeated nature of the marches, many people in the Jewish community have said to me ‘it's the repeat nature, it's the cumulative effect’. Now I accept that, which is why we intend to deal with cumulative effects.”

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He urged “some people protesting to just reflect on what the Jewish community is going through and the overall impact that this is having.”

The PM also called for a “whole of society response” saying that “too many people are not seeing antisemitism or they don't want to see it.”

Addressing those on the marches, but not involved in the chanting, he said: “If you are on a march or a protest where people are chanting ‘globalise the Intifada’ you do have to stop and ask yourself, why am I not calling this out?”

He added: “We all have to fight for this together because it is about the sort of country that we want to live in. I want to live in the Britain that I love, which is a decent, tolerant, live and let live, diverse Britain. But that is contested now in a way that it hasn't been contested in my lifetime.

“We have to fight for the Britain that we believe in with those values. That is who we are. That is what it is to be British. And I will fight for that with every breath I have.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the interview showed the PM did not “seem to know what to do about” antisemitism in the wake of the terror attack.

“There are things that we can do,” she added. “We can ban hate preachers from this country, stop them from coming in. We can remove visas from those people who are not British, who are here spreading hate and antisemitism. But we need to do more. Enough with the platitudes, we need action. We need to shame people who think antisemitism is acceptable.”

Lord Walney, the government’s former adviser on political violence, said: "The prime minister sounds committed and sincere but he’s not offering anything different - he needs to stop refusing the law changes that would genuinely reduce the harm being caused by these hate-infested marches."

But Your Party Chair Jenn Forbes said her party condemned “all attempts to link the safety of Jewish communities with restrictions on protests for Palestine”.

The Golders Green stabbings are the latest in a series of attacks on Jewish sites since the outbreak of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s war on Iran, and haveprompted accusations that the UK government has not done enough to tackle antisemitism.

On Friday, Metropolitan Police chief SirMark Rowleycalled for 300 extra officers to tackle the growing pandemic ofantisemitismin the UK.

He also said he was considering whether police powers should be used to limit two upcoming protests in London later in May – one a pro-Palestine march and the other a rally led by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Britain’s terror threat has been raised to severe, meaning authorities believe an attack in theUKis “highly likely” in the next six months,after the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, London.

Explaining the move on Friday, MI5 said the UK has been experiencing a gradual increase in terrorist threats for some time, driven by a rise in both Islamist and extreme right-wing terror.

byVincento Seyarto

in

May 02, 2026

Starmer urges ban on some protests in antisemitism crackdown

SirKeir Starmerhas backed a ban on some pro-Palestine protests as part of a crackdown onantisemitismin the wake ofthe Golders Green ter...

Read More