Trump welcomes Artemis II astronauts to Oval Office — and fields questions on Iran, Comey and UFOs

2026-04-29T20:45:21.928Z / CNN

By Kit Maher

3 hr ago

PUBLISHED Apr 29, 2026, 4:45 PM ET

Space programs Donald Trump The Middle East

Artemis II astronauts, NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA Pilot Victor Glover, NASA Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, flank US President Donald Trump as he takes questions from the media during an event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 29, 2026.

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The Artemis II astronauts’ journey to the moon and back landed them at the White House Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon — standing by while President Donald Trump talked UFOs, the Space Force and the Iran war.

Sporting blue jackets, NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen stood behind Trump at the Resolute Desk — which had a gold-plated model of the moon on it — as White House reporters were brought in. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also stood alongside the astronauts.

“I don’t know how they do it. I wouldn’t want to do it, but it takes people like this to make our country great,” Trump said.

Trump briefly ran through his own space-related priorities, some at the prompting of reporters: touting his move to start the military branch Space Force in his first term, reiterating his intention to release classified material related to UFOs and saying there was a “good shot” that another person would walk on the moon during his presidency.

“We don’t like to say definitely, because then you say, ‘Oh, we failed,’” Trump said. “So we have a good shot. We’ve authorized it.”

Issacman confirmed efforts to send a person to the moon’s surface again in 2028, as well as detailing continued plans to launch an Artemis III mission in 2027. He also said NASA headquarters will remain in Washington, DC, calling it an “advantage” to be in the nation’s capital — an assertion Trump agreed with.

The rest of the event became a somewhat freewheeling press conference, a common risk during most of Trump’s public events these days. About two weeks ago, Trump welcomed a DoorDash delivery woman to the White House in an effort to tout his party’s tax cuts. The woman then stood next to Trump while he answered questions about the Iran war and tried to solicit her opinion on transgender women playing in women’s sports.

Trump didn’t ask the astronauts to weigh in on his comments Wednesday, but they stood by with carefully neutral expressions as he praised a Supreme Court decision to limit the Voting Rights Act, insisted that former FBI Director James Comey had threatened his life with a social media post and said the end of wars in Ukraine and Iran would probably happen on a “similar timetable.”

There were parallels to the mission itself, as some of the Artemis milestones were eclipsed by the war with Iran.

After the astronauts marked the achievement of traveling the furthest distance from Earth — as they circled around the dark side of the moon on April 6 — much of the news coverage the next day focused on Trump’s remarkable threat on Iran the next morning. He wrote: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

Trump had watched the launch alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as photographed by the White House, and the president had touted the mission as an example of American dominance.

“We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between — Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close!” Trump wrote on Truth Social before liftoff.

When the astronauts successfully returned, Trump congratulated them on their “spectacular” feat and invited the crew to the White House.

“We’ll be doing it again and then, next step, Mars!” Trump said.

协议消息公布后，空中客车股价扩大涨幅，在巴黎交易所中一度上涨5%。 （法新社）

空中客车公司获得了来自中国南方航空及其子公司的一笔大订单，内容是采购A320neo系列飞机。

据彭博社报道，根据星期三（4月29日）的一份公告，这笔交易包括中国南方航空购买102架飞机，子公司厦门航空购买35架，目录价格合计214亿美元（约274亿新元），不过大额订单通常会获得较大折扣。

协议消息公布后，空中客车股价扩大涨幅，在巴黎交易所中一度上涨5%。不过该股今年迄今仍累计下跌12%。

此前，中国东方航空在3月签署协议，决定购买101架A320neo飞机，目录价格约158亿美元。去年，中国国航也签订了协议，拟购买60架空中客车飞机，目录价格合计95.3亿美元。空中客车还与春秋航空和吉祥航空签署了销售协议。

Talks to bail out Spirit Airlines stall as company teeters toward collapse

2026-04-29 16:56 EDT / CBS News

By Kris Van Cleave,

Kris Van Cleave Kris Van Cleave

Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.

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Jennifer Jacobs Senior White House reporter

Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News.

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Updated on: April 29, 2026 / 6:39 PM EDT / CBS News

Spirit Airlines only has enough available cash to continue operations for a matter of days, not weeks, and talks for a government-backed rescue of the no-frills carrier have stalled, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

Facing two bankruptcies since 2024 and rising fuel prices due to the Iran war, Spirit has sought a lifeline from the federal government.

The Trump administration has offered to come to the airline’s aid, weighing a deal in which the government would lend Spirit $500 million in exchange for the right to take control of 90% of the company, CBS News has previously reported.

But the deal — which would make the government the senior bondholder, meaning it would get paid back before others — won’t happen unless Spirit’s creditors sign off.

Some of Spirit bondholders continue to balk at a government deal, sources said.

Ken Griffin’s Citadel submitted a counterproposal, but it was rejected by the government.

Two other creditors — Ares Management Corp. and Cyrus Capital — are also opposed to the government plan, two U.S. officials told CBS News.

A bankruptcy hearing planned for Thursday was postponed, according to a Wednesday court filing that noted conversations on the government bailout package are continuing.

Last week, it was revealed in a bankruptcy court hearing that Spirit skipped an interest payment, which could put the airline in default on its debtor-in-possession agreement with creditors. The creditors have not delivered notice that they plan to enforce a default, according to a Thursday court filing. Spirit has $250 million in cash, but creditors have a lien on it.

President Trump has said he is open to a government takeover of Spirit “for the right price,” arguing the move could save thousands of jobs and telling reporters the airline has “some good aircraft” and “some good assets.” Spirit leased most of its planes as of the end of 2025, and has moved to shrink its fleet this year as part of a bankruptcy reorganization process.

The Trump administration is considering invoking the Defense Production Act’s emergency powers to extend a loan to Spirit, CBS News was first to report last week.

The airline’s excess capacity would then be used for military operations like transporting troops and cargo. The company would then likely be sold to another airline when it emerges from bankruptcy.

A White House official said: “The Trump administration continues to monitor the health of the American aviation industry and explore possible options to help passengers and airline employees.”

Representatives for Spirit Airlines didn’t immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment Wednesday.

中国首个民营资本参股核电项目投产发电

2026年4月30日 07:47 / 联合早报

中国首个民营资本参股项目、长三角地区首台“华龙一号”核电机组——中广核浙江三澳核电项目1号机组投产发电。

中广核浙江三澳核电项目1号机组4月29日投产发电。 （中广核网站）

据新华社报道，总部位于深圳的中国广核集团有限公司星期三（4月29日）公告，当日11时18分，168小时试运行试验圆满完成，机组正式具备商业运行条件。

三澳核电项目是中国首个引入民营资本参与建设的核电项目，一期工程吉利科技集团有限公司持股2%。工程于2020年9月2日获国家核准，1号机组主体工程于2020年12月31日开工建设。

中广核苍南核电有限公司董事长杜延辉介绍，目前1号机组各项参数稳定可控，整体状态良好，按2025年国内核电平均利用小时数测算，预计年发电量超90亿千瓦时，能够满足超100万居民的年度生产生活用电需求。

三澳核电项目规划建设六台“华龙一号”核电机组，分三期建设，目前已核准四台，整体建设工作正按计划稳步推进。六台机组全部建成后，年发电能力预计超540亿千瓦时，每年可等效减少标煤消耗超1635万吨，减排二氧化碳近5000万吨。

Warnock calls Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act opinion ‘awful’

7:00 PM EDT, Wed April 29, 2026 / CNN

Warnock calls Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act opinion ‘awful’

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Updated on: April 29, 2026 / 8:01 PM EDT / CBS News

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The round that struck a U.S. Secret Service officer during Saturday’s shooting outside the ballroom where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was taking place was not friendly fire, multiple senior law enforcement officials told CBS News Wednesday.

Justice Department investigators, working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have at this point determined that the suspected gunman, 31-year-old Cole Allen, fired his shotgun, the officials said.

A source familiar with the investigation previously told CBS News that a total of six shots were fired when the gunman charged a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton — one by the suspect, and the other five rounds by the Secret Service officer who was struck in his bulletproof vest.

Two sources familiar with the investigation said the shot that struck the agent likely hit the cellphone that was tucked inside a pocket of his bulletproof vest. The officer was not seriously hurt.

Allen, of Torrance, California, fell to the floor during the incident and was arrested at the scene, officials said. He was not wounded during the incident.

He has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, violent crime and transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.

He made his first federal court appearance Monday, but did not enter a plea.

Melissa Quinn and Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.

美国总统特朗普星期三在白宫告诉记者，美国和伊朗现在通过电话进行沟通，“不再像以前那样，每次想看一份文件都要飞18个小时去开会”。 （彭博社）

美国总统特朗普周三说，美国同伊朗正在通过电话进行谈判，并强调伊朗必须明确承诺彻底放弃核武器。

综合路透社与新华社的报道，特朗普星期三（4月29日）在白宫告诉记者，美伊一直保持对话，现在通过电话沟通，“不再像以前那样，每次想看一份文件都要飞18个小时去开会”。

他说这种方式非常便捷，“我打个电话，或让我的人去打，15分钟内就能知道答案”，但“我向来更倾向于面对面交流”。

特朗普还说，目前双方谈判已经取得一些进展，问题是伊朗所做的让步是否能满足美方要求。“目前而言，除非他们明确承诺彻底放弃核武器，否则双方绝不可能达成任何协议。”

伊朗日前经由巴基斯坦向美国提出一份新谈判方案。据媒体披露，方案提议分三阶段渐进展开谈判：第一阶段谈结束战争，第二阶段聚焦霍尔木兹海峡通航，第三阶段涉及伊朗核问题。

白宫新闻秘书莱维特证实，特朗普周一召集国家安全团队讨论伊朗提出的新方案。美国官员稍后告诉媒体，特朗普对这一方案不满意，原因是方案前两个阶段不涉及伊朗核问题。

US charges governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state and 9 others with drug trafficking and weapons charges

2026-04-29T23:08:47.902Z / CNN

By Kara Scannell, Michael Rios

PUBLISHED Apr 29, 2026, 7:08 PM ET

Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha Moya speaks as he leaves the inauguration ceremony of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, on October 1, 2024.

Jose Luis Torales/NurPhoto/AP/File

A federal grand jury indicted the governor of Sinaloa and other Mexican state officials with drug trafficking and weapons charges for allegedly working with cartels to bring drugs into the United States in exchange for bribes and favors.

Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa since 2021, and nine current or former high-ranking Mexican officials were charged in a five-count indictment unsealed Wednesday with allegedly helping a faction of the cartel led by the Chapitos, the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera — also known as El Chapo, the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel until he was prosecuted in the US.

“These politicians and law enforcement officials have abused their authority in support of the Cartel, exposed and subjected victims to threats and violence, and sold out their offices in exchange for massive bribes,” according to the indictment.

Prosecutors in New York allege Rocha Moya met with the Chapitos prior to his election in 2021 and assured them that if elected, he would put officials friendly to their drug trafficking operations into power. Cartel members stole ballot boxes and kidnapped or intimidated opponents to drop out of the race to ensure his victory, according to the indictment.

Rocha Moya strongly denied the allegations, writing on X, “I categorically and absolutely reject the accusations made against me by the Southern District of New York Federal Prosecutor’s Office, as they lack any truth or foundation whatsoever. And this will be demonstrated, with full force, at the appropriate time.”

Moya went on to say, “To the people of Sinaloa, I say that, with the courage and dignity that characterize us, we will demonstrate the lack of foundation for this slander.”

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said it received extradition requests from the US government but said they lack “sufficient evidence.” In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said, “However, as is standard procedure in these cases, the Attorney General’s Office will determine whether there is sufficient evidence under Mexican law and the viability of the requests for provisional arrest for extradition.”

US prosecutors allege the current and former Mexican officials aided the cartel in importing fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs from Mexico into the US; shielded the cartel leaders from investigation and prosecution; and allowed drug-related violence. In exchange, the indictment alleges, the defendants in total received millions of dollars.

Authorities allege one of the men, Juan Valenzuela Millan, a former high-level commander in the Culiacan police department, assisted in the kidnapping of a US Drug Enforcement Administration source and another victim. They were turned over to the cartel, which killed them, the indictment says. Millan, who led the department in Sinaloa’s largest city, allegedly accepted approximately $41,000 a month in bribes he distributed to others on the police force, and in exchange, he gave the Chapitos access to department resources, including patrol cars and radios.

Damaso Castro Zaavedra, the deputy attorney general for the Sinaloa state attorney general’s office , allegedly received monthly payments of approximately $11,000 from the Chapitos for protecting them from arrests and tipping them off about planned US-backed operations.

After El Chapo’s arrest, the cartel splintered into two groups — the one led by the Chapitos and the other by Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as El Mayo.

US authorities previously charged the Chapitos. Two were extradited to the US and pleaded guilty. The other two brothers remain at large in Mexico. Zambada was also charged and brought to the US in 2024 to face charges. He also pleaded guilty.

Zambada previously accused Rocha Moya of being involved in an alleged meeting that led to his capture. Rocha Moya at the time denied any involvement, saying, “There is absolutely nothing, nothing, that can link me to that matter, nothing. I say this categorically, emphatically. Nothing.”

Trump says U.S. may cut the number of American troops in Germany

April 29, 2026 / 7:38 PM EDT / CBS News

By Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston.

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President Trump said Wednesday he is considering reducing the number of U.S. forces in Germany, amid a spat with Germany’s chancellor and the NATO alliance over Iran.

“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” he wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. military has a massive presence in Germany that dates back to the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War. More than 36,000 active duty troops were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, according to Defense Department figures. Japan is the only foreign country with a larger presence of U.S. troops.

Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and Africa Command, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations.

The president has grown increasingly frustrated with the U.S.’s allies in Europe, which have sought to keep their distance from the U.S.-Iran war. He has threatened to leave NATO, calling the alliance a “paper tiger” for not entering the war. A 2023 law prevents the president from withdrawing the U.S. from NATO without approval from Congress.

Meanwhile, Europe is grappling with higher energy prices as the Iran conflict severely constrains oil exports from the Middle East.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to draw Mr. Trump’s ire after he criticized the U.S.’s handling of the war earlier this week, saying “the Americans clearly have no strategy” on Iran and suggesting the U.S. is being “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators.

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On Tuesday, Mr. Trump wrote on social media that Merz “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon” and “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!” the president said.

Hours before Mr. Trump floated troop reductions, Merz told reporters he still is on good terms with the U.S. president, despite their well-publicized disagreements over Iran strategy.

Mr. Trump’s skepticism of NATO predates the Iran war. He has long accused member states of not spending enough on defense and of being too reliant on the U.S. for security.

In 2020, the final year of his first term, Mr. Trump announced plans to pull around 12,000 U.S. forces from Germany, after accusing the European country of being “delinquent” in military spending. The plan drew bipartisan pushback and was reversed by former President Joe Biden.

In a smaller move last fall, U.S. officials told CBS News that around 700 troops who were deployed in Germany, Romania and Poland would return home. U.S. Army Europe and Africa said it was part of a “deliberate process to ensure a balanced U.S. military force posture,” and was “not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO.”

美国总统特朗普（中）星期三在白宫会见执行美国载人绕月任务的宇航员时对记者说，他同俄罗斯总统普京通话时建议俄乌实行短期停火。 （彭博社）

美国总统特朗普说，他周三与俄罗斯总统普京通电话，建议俄方同乌克兰实施短期停火。

综合路透社与新华社报道，特朗普星期三（4月29日）在白宫会见执行美国载人绕月任务的宇航员时对记者说，他同普京聊得很愉快，他建议俄乌实行短期停火，“我想他可能会采纳这一建议。”

特朗普说，他与普京的谈话涉及多个课题，除了乌克兰外，也稍微谈及了伊朗。他说，普京希望参与伊朗浓缩铀问题的解决，以推动结束伊朗战事。“但我对他说，我宁愿看到你把精力放在结束乌克兰战事上。”

被问及乌克兰和伊朗两场战事哪个会先结束时，特朗普说：“我不知道，也许它们的时间表差不多。”

普京：准备在胜利日停火

俄罗斯总统助理乌沙科夫则说，普京告诉特朗普，俄罗斯准备在胜利日期间实施停火，特朗普对此表示支持。

乌沙科夫说，此次通话是由俄方发起的，持续了超过一个半小时，双方对话“坦诚且务实”。