President Trump has settled a $100 million lawsuit with his niece, Mary Trump, who had accused him of being "the world's most dangerous man." The lawsuit was filed over allegations that Mary Trump leaked financial information and family tax documents to The New York Times. The settlement was announced in a letter filed on Tuesday with a New York state court in Manhattan. Both parties expect to seek a formal dismissal in the coming weeks, which would prevent the president from filing another lawsuit.

Other Political Developments

The Trump administration received a warning from U.S. intelligence agencies about a potential threat to the new U.S.-Iran peace deal. The warning pointed to Israel's possible interference, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure to continue strikes in Lebanon ahead of the fall elections. Current and former intelligence officials stated that Netanyahu's political future hinges on his commitment to fighting Hezbollah, a goal that the peace deal could undermine.

President Trump suggested that a U.S. operation in Cuba could resemble the rapid raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. Trump, however, did not specify a timeline for such an operation.

Lincoln Memorial Pool Renovation Issues

The National Park Service's decision to add hydrogen peroxide to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has brought attention to a $13.1 million renovation project completed under President Trump. A spokesperson for the United States Department of the Interior said the treatment is being used together with an advanced filtration system. The system uses ozone-injected nanobubbles to break down contaminants and toxins.

The $14.7 million renovation of Washington's Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has encountered issues. The paint on the pool started peeling and floating into the algae-tinted water less than two weeks after the project's completion.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately disparaged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and urged President Donald Trump not to host him at the White House, according to a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book, Regime Change, alleges Bessent told associates, "I’ve dealt with this little f*****. He’s tricky. He’s like the special-needs child for the Europeans. And he’s acting like Mr Bean on crack." Bessent reportedly pushed Trump to withhold an Oval Office invitation until Zelenskyy signed a minerals deal he had drafted.

The meeting went ahead on Feb. 28, 2025, and turned contentious, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticizing Zelenskyy over gratitude for U.S. aid and his attire. The U.S. President later canceled a planned joint news conference and wrote on Truth Social that Zelenskyy was "not ready for peace." According to the report, the book also describes a tense Kyiv visit where Bessent and Zelenskyy clashed for 45 minutes over deal terms. Negotiations reportedly stalled further amid disagreements between Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Key Events and Disputes

Soros Comparison

The Guardian reports that, according to the book, perhaps most embarrassing for Bessent is his comparison of President Trump to George Soros, his former boss and a major Democratic donor often portrayed as a villain by the political right. Bessent reportedly told associates that Trump reminded him of Soros, saying, "They are the same animal." At this week's G7 summit in France, Trump joined a pledge backing Ukraine's sovereignty and tightening sanctions on Russia's energy sector, with Washington signaling openness to reinstating oil sanctions.