Today’s Headlines: August 31, 2025

Appeals Court Invalidates Major Tariff Policies A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. ruled today that large portions of President Trump’s 2024 steel and aluminum tariffs exceed his statutory authority and are therefore unlawful. The decision blocks the administration from enforcing tariffs on imports from key allies, including the European Union and Canada, pending further review. The ruling marks a significant setback for the White House’s trade agenda and could reopen talks with trading partners on alternative measures.

Social Media Frenzy Over President’s Whereabouts Speculation about President Trump’s health and whereabouts dominated social media throughout the weekend, fueled by an unusually sparse public schedule and recycled images suggesting bruising. Hashtags such as #WhereIsTrump and #TrumpIsDead trended on X before the president reemerged on Saturday at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, wearing a white polo and red MAGA cap. White House officials characterized the rumors as baseless and pointed to the president’s visible golf outing alongside family members as evidence of his well-being.

White House Denounces Rumors, Highlights Economic Record In response to the online frenzy, White House Press Secretary Taylor Rogers issued a statement underscoring President Trump’s “worker-first” economic agenda. Rogers pointed to nearly $10 trillion in corporate investment pledges - including commitments from NVIDIA, Apple, IBM, and SoftBank - as evidence of a “Golden Age of Prosperity” under the administration. Fact-checkers, however, note that the figure aggregates previously announced projects and is non-comprehensive.

Reporting by Fox News and CNBC-TV18.