Blanche at center of Republican firestorm over $1.8B fund as he seeks to prove his loyalty to Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — When acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed off ona nearly $1.8 billion fundmeant to compensate President Donald Trump's allies for alleged political prosecution, he may have pleased his boss.

Congress White House Ballroom

Butthe eyebrow-raising move— the latest in his push to prove his loyalty to Trump —has agitated the same Republican lawmakerswhose support he would need if he is nominated for the permanent job.

Blanche insists he’s not auditioningfor the job of attorney general. But a series of splashy steps the Justice Department has taken under his watch since he took the position on an acting basis last month,including an indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, has left no doubt about the impression he’s hoping to make on the president who appointed him.

The fund in particular has put Blanche at the center ofa Republican firestormat a time when he aims to establish himself as the perfect person for the post for the remainder of Trump’s term. And it sharpened concerns from Democrats and other Blanche critics that he has not shed his mantle as the president’s personal attorney.

“So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong — Take your pick,” Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader, said in a statement.

From Trump's former lawyer to the Justice Department's top job

A former federal prosecutor in New York, Blanche came to public prominence for his lead role on Trump's defense team, including during theRepublican's hush money trial in New York.That perch afforded him, he has said, a firsthand look at what he contends was the weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump.

He was brought into the Justice Department as deputy attorney general, the No. 2 job, then was elevated last month afterTrump ousted Pam Bondi.

Now he finds himself the latest Trump-appointed attorney general to simultaneously confront expectations from subordinates to uphold institutional norms and demands from the president to do his bidding.

Trump's first attorney general, Jeff Sessions,was forced out after the 2018 midtermsafter infuriating the president over his recusal from an investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 presidential campaign. Another, William Barr, resigned after their relationship fizzled overBarr's refusal to back Trump's baseless claims of massive election fraud.Bondi was removed after struggling to bring successful prosecutions against Trump's political opponents.

Blanche has moved to advance Trump's interests

Two weeks after becoming acting attorney general, Blanche announced the appointment of Joseph diGenova, an 81-year-old former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan administration, to a special position inside the department, where he'll oversee a Florida-based investigation into whetherformer law enforcement and intelligence officials conspiredover the last decade to undermine Trump.

“At some point, at the right time, that will be made public and the American people will see exactly what happened to this administration and President Trump over the past decade," Blanche said in a Fox News Channel interview.

Prior government reviews of the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation, a centerpiece of the current conspiracy investigation, have failed to produce criminal charges against senior officials or evidence of criminal conduct by them. It's not clear what, if any, new information the continuing investigation has developed.

The Justice Department also last month obtained an indictment charging Comey, a Trump foe whose prosecution the president has long called for, with threatening Trump through a social media photo of seashells in the numerical arrangement of “86 47" — a case legal experts say will be challenging for prosecutors. Comey has said he wouldn't be surprised if the Justice Department pursues additional indictments against him.

In other moves,Blanche announced an indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that has long been the target of conservative outrage, with misleading donors about its activities, and has publicly defended a Justice Department crackdown on leaks to the news media, including subpoenas to reporters.

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The $1.8 billion fund sparks Republican resistance

Arguably the most audacious demonstration of loyalty to Trump came this week when the Justice Department announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund to compensate people who feel they've been unjustly investigated and prosecuted,coupled with a guarantee of immunity from tax audits for Trump and his eldest sons.

As Republican concerns grew, Blanche held a tense meeting with GOP lawmakers Thursday. Shortly afterward, Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington without voting on a roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies.

Blanche,who defended the fundat a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they've been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation. But the fund has been widely understood as a boon to Trump allies investigated during the Biden administration.

“It’s pretty clear that he’s not the attorney general for the United States as much as he's the attorney general for President Trump,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former senior Justice Department official. He said Blanche would get an A+ if report cards were issued for loyalty to Trump.

David Laufman, a former chief of staff to the deputy attorney general in President George W. Bush's administration, said that rather than protecting the Justice Department's independence, Blanche has been a “willing and ardent accomplice for carrying out any partisan or corrupt scheme the White House may devise.”

Blanche says he feels no pressure to please Trump

Blanche’s supporters dismiss the suggestion he is trying to curry favor with Trump to secure the permanent job.

“What he is doing is he is seeking justice based on facts and the law,” said Jay Town, who served as a U.S. attorney in Alabama during the first Trump administration. “And I don’t think that will ever change about him, whether he is the attorney general going forward or doesn’t spend another day in the administration. He is an honorable man and anybody that knows him knows that to be true.”

Blanche also insists he is not angling to keep his job or feeling pressure to placate Trump.

He has told reporters he would be honored to be nominated but, "if he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much. I love you, sir.’ I don’t have any goals or aspirations beyond that.”

In recent days, he's functioned as the fund's public face and most visible defender, a role consistent with his comfort in the spotlight. He sometimes holds multiple press conferences a week and grants interviews to a variety of news outlets, a contrast to Bondi, who largely stuck to Fox News appearances.

His defenders say his experience as a federal prosecutor has made him a more sophisticated communicator for the department than Bondi, but his statements have at times invited backlash, such as hisrefusal to rule out that violent Jan. 6 rioters could be eligible for payouts.

Though Blanche will appoint the five commissioners tasked with processing claims, his precise role in the fund’s conception and implementation is unclear. He told CNN it was developed through negotiations with Trump’s private lawyers, not him.

But for some Democrats, that's a difference without a distinction.

“Mr. Attorney General, you are acting today like the president's personal attorney," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, told Blanche during a combative exchange in the Senate hearing, "and that's the whole problem."

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 22, 2026

Blanche at center of Republican firestorm over $1.8B fund as he seeks to prove his loyalty to Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — When acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed off ona nearly $1.8 billion fundmeant to compensate President Donald...

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Heidi Klum Walks Red Carpet at Cannes Film Festival in Coordinating Look with Son Henry Samuel

Heidi Klum and her son Henry Samuel sported coordinating black-tie looks for the amFar Gala at Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, May 21

NEED TO KNOW

• The mother-son duo has appeared at numerous events lately, and Klum told PEOPLE earlier this month that it is "fun" to experience things through the eyes of "someone who is really young and everything is still so exciting" when bringing her son as her plus one

• Klum's husband Tom Kaulitz joined the mother-son duo for the gala

Heidi Klumand her sonHenry Samuelwore coordinating mother-son looks on the red carpet atCannes Film Festivalon Thursday, May 21.

The model, 52, wore a plunging black-and-white lace corset dress that featured a dramatic ballgown-style black skirt. Henry, 20, who the model shares with ex-husbandSeal, wore a black suit jacket emblazoned with intricate metallic leaf detailing, opting to go shirtless beneath the jacket, paired with the matching black trousers.

The duo was joined by Klum's husband Tom Kaulitz for the amFar Gala. Klum walked the carpet at the premiere ofFjordearlier in the festival on Monday, May 18, and wore a similar corset silhouette.

The gala is held in benefit of The Foundation for AIDS Research, which has raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide since 1985, according to itsofficial website. This year's performers include Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson, and PinkPantheress.

Henry has been accompanying his supermodel mom to many red carpet events recently, and Klum recently toldPEOPLEexclusively why he is her favorite plus-one.

"To be honest, because my husband has been traveling so much and I didn't want to go alone," she said. "So Henry has been like, 'I'll come with you, mom.' And I'm like, 'This is fabulous.' "

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Klum added, "I mean, what better date can you have than your own son?"

TheProject Runwayhost also explained that it's "fun" to experience things through the eyes of "someone who is really young and everything is still so exciting."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Obviously, things are super exciting for me too, but it's different with a 20-year-old when they see things and do things for the first time, like a big red carpet," she reflected. "... So he's always super appreciative that I take him."

Klum added, "But to be honest, I'm more appreciative that he comes with me, that he's proud to be on my side. And we have a fun night together. We love people watching, we gossip a little bit. It's a real fun night with my son."

Klum is also mom to three other children:Leni, 21, Johan, 19, and Lou, 16. She married Kaulitz, 36, in 2019.

Read the original article onPeople

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 21, 2026

Heidi Klum Walks Red Carpet at Cannes Film Festival in Coordinating Look with Son Henry Samuel

Heidi Klum and her son Henry Samuel sported coordinating black-tie looks for the amFar Gala at Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, May 21...

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Reaction to the death of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Notable reaction to thedeath of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch:

"On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch.

Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.

During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate." — Joint statement from the Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR.

"Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible. We did some media together also to laugh through some of the things we put each other through many years ago. Most recently we had even been discussing him running my Late Model at Wilkesboro this summer. He seemed extremely happy and we had planned to meet up next Thursday to get his seat to the shop. He laughed over the idea of his fans and JRM fans having to cheer in unison during that race. Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. No one can deny that. But he was also a father, a husband, brother, son, and a friend to many. My heart is broken for the Busch family. I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends. ″ — Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“Kyle Busch wasn’t just one of the fiercest competitors our sport has ever seen, he was one of the most talented race car drivers I’ve ever shared a track with. We spent years as teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, and even as competitors, there was always a deep respect for what he could do behind the wheel. Kyle pushed all of us to be better. His passion, intensity, and love for racing were unmatched, and his impact on this sport will be felt forever. I’ll always remember the many laughs and conversations away from the spotlight, and most importantly the way he cared so deeply about his family. My heart goes out to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, Kurt, his parents, many teammates across the industry, fans and everyone who loved Kyle. NASCAR lost one of its greatest talents today, and we’ve all lost a friend.” — seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

"Our hearts are broken for Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, and the entire Busch family. Kyle was a fierce competitor, an incredible teammate, and, far more importantly, a devoted husband, father, and son. His impact on our organization and on the sport of NASCAR will never be forgotten. During this unimaginable time, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and the Gibbs family are lifting the Busch family up in prayer." — Joe Gibbs Racing.

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“Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.” — former teammate Denny Hamlin on social media.

“The shocking news of Kyle’s passing is devastating to me, and to everyone at Chevrolet and General Motors. Our hearts go out to Samantha, their children Brexton and Lennix and the Busch family, everyone at RCR, Kyle’s legions of fans and all of Rowdy Nation. He was a fierce competitor who found success both as a driver and team owner, as well as a generous benefactor to countless families with the Bundle of Joy Fund he founded with his wife, Samantha. On top of all that, he found time to be a true friend to us all.” — General Motors President Mark Reuss.

“We’re incredibly saddened to learn about the unexpected passing of Kyle Busch. A tenacious competitor, his talent and relentless drive helped elevate NASCAR at every level. We had great respect for the intensity he brought to the sport. Our heartfelt condolences are with the Busch family, his friends and the entire motorsports community.” — Team Penske.

“Everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Kyle Busch. Kyle was one of the most dominant racers in IMS history, highlighted by back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 victories in 2015 and 2016, making history by sweeping both the Cup and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races in those years. He won a record four O’Reilly Series races at the Racing Capital of the World and made his 700th career Cup Series start in the 30th anniversary 2024 Brickyard 400 at IMS — a significant career milestone. He was a fan favorite, loved for his competitive spirit and passion. He understood what racing and winning at Indianapolis means. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his wife, Samantha, children Brexton and Lennix, the entire Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire NASCAR family.” — Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles.

“A true competitor and champion. Our condolences to Kyle’s family, friends, and the entire NASCAR community." — Formula 1 on social media.

AP NASCAR:https://apnews.com/hub/nascar-racing

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 21, 2026

Reaction to the death of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Notable reaction to thedeath of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch: "On behalf of the Busch...

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Republicans call off vote on Iran war resolution that was on the verge of passing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans struggled Thursday to find the votes to dismiss legislation that would compelPresident Donald Trumpto withdraw from thewar with Iran, delaying planned votes on the matter into June.

Congress Democrats

The House had scheduled a vote on a war powers resolution, brought by Democrats, that would rein in Trump's military campaign. But as it became clear that Republicans would not have the numbers to defeat the bill, GOP leaders declined to hold a vote on it.

Republicans are also working to ensure they have the votes to dismiss another war powers resolution in the Senate that advanced to a final vote earlier this week, when four GOP senators supported the resolution and three others were absent from the vote.

The actions by congressional leaders showed the increasing difficultly of maintaining political backing for Trump's handling of the war. Rank-and-file Republicans are increasingly willing to defy the president over the conflict.

Frustration with Iran war grows on Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill, patience with the war has worn thin as the stalemate in theStrait of Hormuzdisrupts global shipping andelevates gas pricesin the U.S. Another House war powers resolution nearly passed last week, falling on a tie vote as three Republicans voted in favor.

Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, who sponsored the war powers resolution, had said he expected to have the votes this time around.

“Congress has a constitutional duty. It has a duty to act, not to cheerlead, especially not to cheerlead an open-ended war of choice,” Meeks said.

The lone Democrat who voted against the war powers resolution last week, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, had said he would vote in favor of the legislation this time. Meanwhile, leaders of both parties dealt with several absences that could have shifted the vote either way in the closely divided chamber.

Republicans have been broadly supportive of Trump's efforts to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, but some are now saying the president's legal timeline to wage a war without congressional approval has expired. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, presidents have 60 days to engage in a military conflict before Congress must either declare war or authorize the use of military force.

“We have to follow the law,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, shortly after he voted for an Iran war powers resolution for the first time last week.

The dispute over war powers

The White Houseargues that the requirementsof the War Powers Resolution no longer apply because of the ceasefire with Iran. At the same time,Trump has saidhe was just an hour away from ordering another strike on Iran earlier this week, but held off because Gulf allies said they were engaged in negotiations to end the war.

Still, Trump said on social media that military leaders should “be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.” Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran andthen backed off.

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Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has so far voted against the war powers resolutions, expressed frustration with the Trump administration's stance, especially from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“The current status quo, Pete Hegseth demonstrates how incompetent he is,” Tillis told reporters, adding that he would be willing to vote for an authorization for use of military force.

Democratic senators rallied outside the Capitol Wednesday alongside VoteVets, a left-leaning veterans’ advocacy group. They placed signs on the Capitol lawn noting that the nationwide average price of gasoline had risen to $4.53.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who served in the Iraq War with the Air National Guard, argued that the Iran war has amounted to a strategic blunder for Trump.

“Trump started a war, and he’s made things worse than before,” Duckworth said, pointing to Iran's new leadership and the country's willingness to put a chokehold on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Republican leaders praised Trump for taking what they said was bold action to directly confront Iran, a nation that has been a U.S. adversary for decades.

“I’m an American. I don’t believe in getting hit and walking away and pretending as though it didn’t happen,” said Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

For Congress, the growing momentum to pass a war powers resolution could eventually lead to a legal showdown over who has the final authority over military conflicts.

The legislation before the House Thursday was a concurrent resolution that lawmakers said would take effect without Trump's signature if it passed both chambers of Congress.

But Trump has also argued that the 1973 law — passed by Congress during the Vietnam War era in an attempt to take back its power over foreign conflicts — is unconstitutional.

Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 21, 2026

Republicans call off vote on Iran war resolution that was on the verge of passing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans struggled Thursday to find the votes to dismiss legislation that would compelPresident Donald Trumpto wit...

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Damon Lindelof reveals details about his scrapped “Star Wars” film, says it would've tackled nostalgia

Damon Lindelof said that he was "fired" from a Star Wars film after two years of development.

Key points

• The Lost showrunner said that his movie was about a "force of nostalgia" and a "force of revision."

• Lindelof said that the writing process on the film was "really hard" and "slow."

Damon Lindelofis sharing new information about his brief foray into theStar Warsuniverse.

TheLostandWatchmenshowrunner, who previously penned sci-fi franchise movies likePrometheusandStar Trek Into Darkness, discussed the unmadeStar Warsproject that he spent two years developing.

"I was fired off of aStar Warsmovie," Lindelof said during a broader conversation about the state of the franchise with theHouse of Rpodcast. "They asked me, 'What do you think aStar Warsmovie should be?' And I said, 'Here's what it should be.' And they said, 'Great, you're hired.' And then two years later, I was fired."

Entertainment Weeklyhas reached out to Lucasfilm for comment.

Lindelof explained that he and his creative partners on the project, Justin Britt-Gibson and Rayna McClendon, wanted theirStar Warsfilm to include meta-commentary about nostalgia and evolution.

"What we were attempting to do was to have this conversation in the movie, which is to say, there is a force of nostalgia and there is a force of revision, and they are at odds with one another," he explained. "And let's do the Protestant Reformation insideStar Wars. And it didn't work."

Lindelof doesn't think that his superiors at Lucasfilm objected to the idea behind his project. "That didn't feel necessarily that risky," he said. "They seemed to like the premise."

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Instead, he thinks that he "may have been fired" for other complicating factors, noting that he felt that he wasn't writing quickly enough. "The writing was really hard, it was slow — the tone, getting it right," he said, adding that he struggled with "where it was inside of the canon, what its relationship was with toEpisode IX, is it starting a new trilogy?"

The screenwriter said that theStar Warsfilms are "so massive" and "so big" that redirecting the trajectory of the franchise can take an extraordinary amount of time and effort.

"It's the old sort of like tanker equation, which is, you turn the wheel and it takes five minutes before it turns a little bit," he said. "We're looking for the center ofStar Wars, and whenEpisode VIIcame out, we all knew what it was. It was Rey and it was Finn and it was Poe and it was like all these, and then we were migrating back in, Luke and Leia and Han and Chewie and all those guys.”

Lindelof said that it was difficult to locate the franchise's center after Disney's sequel trilogy wrapped withThe Rise of Skywalkerin 2019. "We've got the sense that when this new trilogy is over, we are going to be launching with these new characters and that was the center ofStar Wars," he said, explaining that he doesn't know if the characters fromThe Mandalorianare now the primary figures in a galaxy far, far away. "The new question is: are Mando and Grogu the center ofStar Warsnow?"

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Lindelof'sStar Warsproject wasannounced in 2022, with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel) set to direct the film.Varietyreported in 2023 that Lindelof and Britt-Gibsonhad exited the top-secret project, withSteven Knight(Peaky Blinders) penning a new screenplay for the movie. Shortly thereafter, Lindelof said that he was"asked to leave"the franchise, and said that he wished the creative team "the best of luck" on the film.

You can listen to Lindelof's full appearance onHouse of Rabove.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2026

Damon Lindelof reveals details about his scrapped “Star Wars” film, says it would've tackled nostalgia

Damon Lindelof said that he was "fired" from a Star Wars film after two years of development. Key points ...

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Vanessa Trump, 48, Announces Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Reveals She Underwent Procedure Earlier This Week

Vanessa Trump announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer

NEED TO KNOW

• She shared that she underwent a recent procedure in her announcement

• She expressed gratitude for her medical team and support from her family including her five children

Vanessa Trumprevealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Vanessa, who shares five children with ex-husband Donald Trump Jr., announced her diagnosis in a "personal health update" she shared onInstagramon Wednesday, May 20.

"I've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. While this isn't news anyone expects, I'm working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan," Vanessa, 48, wrote.

She shared her gratitude to the doctors who performed a procedure on her "earlier this week."

"I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me," she wrote. Vanessa sharesfive childrenwith her ex-husband: Kai, 19; Donald, 17; Tristan, 14; Spencer, 13; and Chloe, 11.

"Thank you for your kindness and support it truly means more than I can express. I kindly ask for privacy as I focus on my health and recovery," Vanessa wrote.

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Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The news of the diagnosis comes after her boyfriend,Tiger Woods,completed a six-week treatmentstint out of the countryto seek treatment after hiscar crash and DUI charge. Woods was charged with DUI charge and a charge for refusal to submit to a urine test. He pleaded not guilty to both charges on March 31, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE on April 1.

The professional golfer, 50, returned to his home in Jupiter, Fla., on Wednesday, May 13.

“Tiger took his trip seriously and is all about continuing his recovery and putting this chapter behind him,” a source in Jupitertold PEOPLE on May 17.

“Vanessa and Tiger are in love, still serious, and happy to see each other,” the source told PEOPLE, adding that Vanessa “is eager to help him continue with his progress and move beyond any more public scandals — which they both dislike intensely.”

Read the original article onPeople

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2026

Vanessa Trump, 48, Announces Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Reveals She Underwent Procedure Earlier This Week

Vanessa Trump announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer NEED TO KNOW She shared that she underwent a rec...

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Ebola fears surge on the ground in Congo over rapid spread of a rare type

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Anxious healthcare workers in easternCongosaid Wednesday they are underprotected and undertrained in a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak of arare type of the virusin one of the world’s most remote and vulnerable places.

The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

Long the scene ofattacks by an array of armed groups, the region's volatility now further complicates efforts to handle the crisis. Local leaders said an attack by militants linked to the Islamic State group killed at least 17 people on Tuesday night in Alima village in Ituri, a province that has become the hotspot of the outbreak.

The World Health Organization, which noted a low risk globally, has said“patient zero” has not been found.

“It’s truly sad and painful because we’ve already been through a security crisis, and now Ebola is here too,” said Justin Ndasi, a Bunia resident,

Tons of health supplies have been airlifted to Bunia, where the first known death was announced last week, but residents said masks are harder to find and some disinfectants that previously sold for 2,500 Congolese francs (about $1) now cost four times more.

A mother watches her son 'bleeding and vomiting’

At a treatment center in Rwampara, families cried and watched as healthcare workers in protective gear silently disinfected the bodies of their loved ones — suspected Ebola victims — and placed them into coffins for secure burial sites.

The disease struck suddenly, they said, describing a rapid deterioration after symptoms were mistaken for illnesses such as malaria.

“He told me his heart was hurting,” said Botwine Swanze, who lost her son. “Then he started crying because of the pain. ... Then he started bleeding and vomiting a lot.”

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.

WHO chief says the 'scale of the epidemic is much larger’

WHO has declared the outbreak apublic health emergencyof international concern, worried over its “scale and speed." The WHO chief in Congo says it could last at least two months.

The rare type of Ebola, known as the Bundibugyo virus, spread undetected for weeks following the first known death while authorities tested for another, more common Ebola virus and came up negative.

Investigations continued into where and when the outbreak started, but “given the scale, we are thinking that it has started probably a couple of months ago," said Anaïs Legand, with WHO's emergencies program.

So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo’s northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and two cases in Uganda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. There are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases.

But "the scale of the epidemic is much larger,” he said.

The London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis estimated that cases have been substantially undercounted and that the actual number could already exceed 1,000. “The true magnitude remains uncertain,” it said.

This is Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, and the WHO has said the country's health ministry has experienced staff and capacity to respond. Most outbreaks, however, were of the more common Ebola type.

Any potential vaccine is months away

Dr. Vasee Moorthy, a special adviser at WHO, said a vaccine to address Bundibugyo would not be available for at least six to nine months.

Eastern Congo already faced “immense pressure from conflict, displacement and a collapsing health system,” said Dr. Lievin Bangali, senior health coordinator for the International Rescue Committee in Congo, adding that years of underfunding have weakened the response.

The outbreak highlights the effects of the Trump administration’s deep cuts in foreign aid. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the administration set a priority on funding 50 emergency clinics in affected areas. The U.S. pledged to contribute $23 million.

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Anxiety grows with little protection in affected places

In Bunia, schools and churches remain open while some residents wear masks. Elsewhere in Ituri province, suspected Ebola patients share a ward with others injured or ill at Bambu General Hospital.

A Doctors Without Borders team identified suspected cases over the weekend at Bunia's Salama hospital but found no available isolation ward in the area, said Trish Newport, an emergency program manager.

“Every health facility they called said, ‘We’re full of suspect cases. We don’t have any space.’ This gives you a vision of how crazy it is right now," she said on social media.

In Mongbwalu, where the body of the first known death was taken, the nearby border with Uganda remains open and gold mining continues, said Chérubin Kuku Ndilawa, a civil society leader.

“There’s no panic. People continue with their normal lives, but they’re also starting to spread the word,” said Ndilawa, and noted a lack of public handwashing stations.

There were around 30 Ebola patients at Mongbwalu General Hospital, where a student from the local medical technology institute died on Wednesday, Dr. Didier Pay said.

“The patients are scattered here and there,” said Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital’s medical director. “We hope for the proper triage and isolation facilities to be installed today, and if that doesn’t happen, we will be completely overwhelmed.”

They are understaffed and not trained to handle suspected cases, Lokudu said, and added that if confirmed cases surge, “we have no protection.”

In the Ebola-affected city of Goma, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are in control, the “situation is complicated,” said Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO's representative in Congo.

An American with Ebola is in isolation in Germany

A U.S. national who tested positive in Congo arrived in Berlin on Wednesday and was in a special isolation ward where a “comprehensive examination” was underway, German Health Ministry spokesperson Martin Elsässer said.

Elsässer declined to comment on the condition of the patient, who has not been identified by German or U.S. authorities. The ministry later said, without elaborating, that it would take in the patient's wife and three children at the request of U.S. authorities.

A top health official in the Czech Republic said they are receiving an American doctor who was treating Ebola patients in Uganda and who is without symptoms. It was not clear whether any were infected.

Dr. Satish Pillai, incident manager for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ebola response, told reporters Wednesday that the Americans were being transported in coordination with the U.S. State Department and other agencies. One patient, who is in stable condition, is now being treated in Germany, Pillai said.

Asked whether the White House played a role in the decision to move the Americans to Europe, Pillai said the decision was based on conditions on the ground and the need to mobilize rapidly.

Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Jean Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo; Wilson McMakin in Dakar, Senegal; Devi Shastri in Milwaukee, WI; Karel Janicek in Prague and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

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byDaniel Coleman

in

May 20, 2026

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