President Donald Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency on Thursday, July 17, following medical testing for deep bruises on his hand and swollen legs, as announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. While generally not considered serious, the condition, common in older adults, can cause discomfort and is treatable with medication, leg elevation, or minor procedures. Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, July 17, that a letter from Donald Trump was included in a birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The letter, described as bawdy, reportedly featured a drawing of a naked woman and text, with one line quoted as, "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." The Journal stated that when reporters contacted Trump two days prior to publication, he threatened to sue if the story was published, and hours later claimed that former Presidents Obama and Biden "made up" the Epstein files. J.D. Vance, a Republican Senator, disputed the authenticity of the letter, stating it was "complete and utter bullshit" and questioning its origin. In other news, President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, July 17, creating a new classification of non-career federal workers who can be more easily terminated if they do not align with presidential priorities, according to Reuters. This order reclassifies certain federal employees, making them easier to fire. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense announced on Thursday, July 17, that Joint Task Force-Southern Border is utilizing Black Hornet 4 drones in El Paso, Texas, to enhance surveillance and support U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border. Additionally, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, July 17, that Trump's prior firing of a Democratic FTC commissioner was illegal, as reported by Axios. On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans are preparing to advance the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2026, with Leader Thune filing cloture on the motion to proceed. House Republicans also plan to introduce a new resolution regarding the release of certain information related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to The Hill. Concurrently, public broadcasting outlets like PBS and NPR could face a loss of federal funding, a move that Democrats largely appear to be shrugging off, believing the administration would likely disregard or circumvent any delays, as reported by ABC and Axios, respectively. In legal developments, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio is expected to be deposed on Friday, July 18, regarding allegations that he failed to protect wrestlers from a sexual predator while coaching at Ohio State University, according to NBC News. Furthermore, Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, is facing a criminal referral to the Department of Justice for alleged perjury concerning a $2.5 billion building. President Trump also expressed support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro amid his legal issues, stating in a letter that Bolsonaro's trial "should end immediately" and that Trump had used U.S. "Tariff policy" to voice his disapproval, according to ResisttheMS. Nationwide demonstrations against the Trump administration occurred on Thursday, July 17, marking the fifth anniversary of civil rights activist John Lewis's passing, with a "Good Trouble Lives On" protest taking place in Southgate, Michigan.
