World
Trump pleads not guilty in federal classified documents case
Former U.S. president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony charges on Tuesday in connection with his handling of classified documents and alleged attempts to prevent the government from recovering them.
It marks the first time an American president has been charged with a federal crime.
If found guilty in the case, he could face a lengthy prison term.
Trump was brought in about 15 minutes before the hearing began and sat slumped over in his chair, hands clasped in his lap, as he waited for the judge to arrive, ABC News reported.
He looked down at the floor for most of the hearing and his lawyer waived a reading of the 49-page indictment.
Special counsel Jack Smith sat in the front row watching Trump closely, but didn’t speak, CBS News reported.
“We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche told federal Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman, who oversaw the arraignment.
Trump was released on his own recognisance, wasn’t asked to surrender his passport and is still allowed to travel internationally, according to news reports.
Goodman ordered Trump not to discuss the case with his personal aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta or witnesses.
Trump, who is again seeking the Republican presidential nomination, was scheduled to return to his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Tuesday night for a private fundraiser, where he planned to deliver live remarks.
It was not immediately clear whether the date of his next hearing had been set.
After a year-long investigation, the Justice Department on Friday unsealed the indictment of the former president, charging that he improperly took classified documents when his presidency ended and obstructed the government’s efforts to retrieve hundreds of secret documents – some of them related to U.S. nuclear weapons operations and national defense vulnerabilities.
The indictment states that Trump kept them in unsecured areas of his Florida estate, including a bathroom, ballroom, and storage room.
The Mar-a-Lago property is a private club that hosts thousands of people each year.
According to the indictment, top-secret and other classified records the FBI recovered after a subpoena and a search of the property included details on U.S. and foreign nations’ nuclear and other defense and weapons capabilities, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to such an attack.
The indictment also details two instances in which Trump discussed and showed classified documents to people who did not have security clearances.
Trump is charged with willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding documents or records, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements and representations.
In a Truth Social post hours before his appearance, Trump called Smith a “thug” and accused him, his friends, and his family of planting evidence in the case.
Trump also questioned why Smith had not reviewed allegations against President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which Smith doesn’t have the authority to review.
Nauta faces charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding documents or records, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, and making false statements and representations.
His arraignment was delayed for several weeks after he was unable to secure local counsel.
This is the second time this spring that Trump has been in court to enter a not-guilty plea.
He was indicted in New York City in March on charges related to an alleged hush money payment made to a porn actor in the final days of the 2016 campaign.
He also faces two ongoing criminal probes into his role in 2020 election interference.
The magistrate judge refused a request by media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, to allow photos and videos of the unprecedented proceedings.
Chief U.S. Judge for Southern District of Florida Cecilia Altonaga separately banned reporters from carrying any electronics into the courtroom.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of the former president chanted, “Free Donald Trump!” and “USA!” while waving “Make America Great Again” flags.
Opponents held up signs that read, “Trump, you are not above the law” and “31 counts of espionage; lock him up!”
World
Trump dismisses claims of handing presidency to Musk as ‘hoax’
Could Elon Musk, who holds major sway in the incoming Trump administration, one day become president? On Sunday, Donald Trump answered with a resounding no, pointing to US rules about being born in the country.
“He’s not gonna be president, that I can tell you,” Trump told a Republican conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
“You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country,” Trump said of the Tesla and SpaceX boss, who was born in South Africa.
The US Constitution requires that a president be a natural-born US citizen.
Trump was responding to criticism, particularly from the Democratic camp, portraying the tech billionaire and world’s richest person as “President Musk” for the outsized role he is playing in the incoming administration.
As per ceding the presidency to Musk, Trump also assured the crowd: “No, no that’s not happening.”
The influence of Musk, who will serve as Trump’s “efficiency czar,” has become a focus point for Democratic attacks, with questions raised over how an unelected citizen can wield so much power.
And there is even growing anger among Republicans after Musk trashed a government funding proposal this week in a blizzard of posts — many of them wildly inaccurate — to his more than 200 million followers on his social media platform X.
Alongside Trump, Musk ultimately helped pressure Republicans to renege on a funding bill they had painstakingly agreed upon with Democrats, pushing the United States to the brink of budgetary paralysis that would have resulted in a government shutdown just days before Christmas.
Congress ultimately reached an agreement overnight Friday to Saturday, avoiding massive halts to government services.
World
Seven confirmed dead in Western Mexico plane crash
At least seven people died when a light aircraft crashed Sunday in a heavily forested area of Jalisco in western Mexico, local authorities reported.
The aircraft, a Cessna 207, was flying from La Parota in the neighbouring state of Michoacan.
Jalisco Civil Protection said via its social media that the crash site was in an area that was difficult to access.
Initial authorities on the scene “reported a preliminary count of seven people dead,” who haven’t been identified yet, according to the agency.
“A fire was extinguished and risk mitigation was carried out to prevent possible additional damage,” it added.
Authorities said they were awaiting the arrival of forensic investigators to remove the bodies and rule out the presence of additional victims.
World
12 Pathways to U.S. citizenship available in 2025
There are twelve main pathways for individuals to apply for U.S. citizenship, each with specific criteria and procedures.
These options include family-based immigration, employment opportunities, and asylum, providing various routes for those seeking U.S. citizenship.
According to the DAAD Scholarship, prospective applicants can pursue different immigration routes, depending on their situation.
From marriage to a U.S. citizen to qualifying for the Diversity Visa Lottery, each pathway leads to permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship.
Below is a breakdown of the twelve most common ways to gain U.S. citizenship.
1. Military Service Pathway
Non-citizens who serve in the U.S. military can apply for naturalization during active duty or after one year of service.
Apply here: Naturalization through Military Service
2. Family-Based Immigration (Immediate Relatives)
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21—do not face annual visa caps. After receiving a Green Card, they can apply for citizenship after 3 to 5 years.
Apply here: Green Card for Immediate Relatives
3. Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
Marrying a U.S. citizen allows immigrants to apply for a Green Card through a spousal visa. After three years of marriage as a permanent resident, they may apply for naturalization.
Apply here: Spousal Visa Information
4. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
The Diversity Visa Lottery offers a random selection process for applicants from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. If selected, individuals receive a Green Card and can apply for citizenship after five years.
Apply here: DV Lottery Application
5. Employment-Based Immigration (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)
Highly skilled workers or professionals in high-demand fields may obtain a Green Card through employment-based visas, including EB-1 and EB-3 categories. After five years, applicants can apply for U.S. citizenship.
Apply here: Employment-Based Green Card
6. Refugee or Asylum Seeker Pathway
Individuals fleeing persecution can apply for refugee or asylum status and later adjust their status to permanent resident. After five years, they may apply for citizenship.
- Apply here: Asylum Application
- Apply here: Refugee Information
7. Family-Based Immigration (Preference Categories)
Siblings and married children of U.S. citizens can apply for Green Cards, though the process may take several years due to long waiting times. Once approved, applicants can apply for citizenship after five years.
Apply here: Family Preference Green Card
8. Study-to-Citizenship Pathway
International students who graduate from U.S. universities on F-1 visas can transition to work visas like H-1B, secure employer sponsorship, and eventually apply for citizenship after five years.
Apply here: Steps to Naturalization
9. Special Immigrant Visas and Humanitarian Pathways
Special immigrant visas are available for those who have worked with U.S. forces abroad or victims of trafficking. After receiving a Green Card, they may apply for citizenship.
Apply here: Special Immigrant Visa
10. EB-5 Investor Visa
Through the EB-5 program, individuals who invest $900,000 to $1.8 million in a U.S. business may obtain a Green Card. Citizenship can be pursued after five years.
Apply here: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
11. Adoption Pathway
Children under 18 who are adopted by U.S. citizens automatically gain citizenship upon entering the U.S. as permanent residents.
Apply here: Adoption Process
12. Special Legal Provisions
Some individuals may qualify for citizenship under special provisions, such as the U visa for victims of crime or the registry for those who have lived in the U.S. since 1972.
Common requirements for U.S. citizenship
Regardless of the pathway, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have continuous residence for 3 to 5 years as a Green Card holder, and be physically present in the U.S. for 18 to 30 months, depending on their specific situation.
Additionally, applicants must demonstrate good moral character, pass an English and civics test, and take the Oath of Allegiance.
The road to U.S. citizenship in 2025 involves multiple options, each with its own challenges. Understanding the requirements of each pathway is essential for anyone seeking permanent residency or citizenship in the United States.
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