Trump center stage at RNC in midterms gamble – US politics live

Donald Trump is set to headline the Republican National Convention (RNC) as the party prepares for the upcoming midterm elections. This marks the first-ever national convention for Republicans in this context, and they are banking on the former president's presence to galvanize their voter base. The GOP is keen to maintain its narrow control of Congress, making this event a crucial moment for their political strategy.

However, the convention's success is not without challenges. Recent court rulings have cast a shadow over the proceedings in Missouri, where a dispute over congressional district maps threatens to cloud the election results. The US Supreme Court opted not to intervene in the state's decision, ruling that the state's highest court had already determined the maps were invalid. Yet, a federal judge intervened just days later, temporarily halting the use of Missouri's old maps in the upcoming November elections.

In other geopolitical news, the US military responded forcefully to an attack on a US navy warship by Iranian forces. After Iran fired ballistic missiles at the vessel twice within two days, the US Central Command announced that American forces had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers. This act served as a clear warning to Iran following its aggressive actions against US forces in the region.

Meanwhile, the trade war between Canada and the United States intensified as the latter imposed additional tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, including dairy products, motorcycles, and alcoholic beverages. Canada retaliated by imposing its own tariffs on $20 billion worth of US imports, escalating the economic tension between the two countries.

On the political front closer to home, a primary election in New Hampshire saw Congressman Chris Pappas narrowly defeat progressive challenger Karishma Manzur for the US Senate seat. The winner, who is endorsed by Trump, will face off against incumbent Senator Jeanne Shaheen in the general election. Meanwhile, former Senator John E. Sununu, a prominent Trump ally, secured the Republican nomination for the Senate race in New Hampshire.

Amidst these developments, the Smithsonian Institution announced that its long-serving secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch III, would resign after seven years in the role. Bunch's departure comes amid the administration's ongoing efforts to tighten controls over the world's largest museum complex, reflecting broader debates about the institution's independence and autonomy.