Former President Barack Obama said at an Ohio rally on Saturday that the White House looks as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory, comparing President Donald Trump's renovations to the restaurant chain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later dined at a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, DC, on Monday, criticized Obama, and posted on X recommending the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls to him. Trump also hit back at Obama at a Mississippi rally, calling him a lousy president. Trump says the ballroom project costs up to $400 million, while a contractor's internal estimate reviewed by the Washington Post put it at $600 million.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his role as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 28 Oct, with no replacement or explanation announced. The dismissal follows the earlier ouster of Lieutenant General Joseph McGee. At the same time, U.S. officials are warning Middle Eastern partners to ready for possible renewed strikes against Iran after the 3 Nov mid‑term elections, while a third aircraft carrier and additional troops are moving toward the Persian Gulf.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Washington may allow more Russian diesel onto the market, depending on Moscow's conduct. He framed the suspension of US sanctions on Russian diesel exports, announced earlier this month, as an incentive for Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Under a deal between Trump and Putin, Russia is to export 800,000 metric tons of diesel in October and November, followed by another million tons. Analysts say the volumes are too small to materially lower prices against global demand of about 28 million barrels per day. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticised the deal.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft to end the conflict with the United States and Israel. The plan sets a seven-day timeline with daily confidence-building steps and would involve several guarantor countries, possibly starting early next week. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is in close contact with intermediaries and could implement the plan in less than a week, while a senior Iranian official called Doha's ideas unacceptable and not an offer. Earlier talks in Tehran with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey ended without a deal, and US President Donald Trump suggested Iran may be delaying until after the 3 Nov midterm elections.
Brent crude fell to 114.40 dollars a barrel in early Asian trading, after gaining more than 1 percent the previous session. US WTI crude dropped 1 percent to 102 dollars a barrel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained open to negotiations. Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft proposal to end the war, which a senior Iranian official rejected, according to an official briefed on the talks.
A University of North Florida poll released last week found 61 percent of likely Florida voters want state and local officials to prioritize the environment, even if economic growth is curbed. Registered Republicans backed the environment 48 percent to 35 percent. In the U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Ashley Moody leads Democrat Angie Nixon 49 percent to 45 percent, down 8 points for Moody since July. Moody and her affiliated committees held about $7.1 million on 1 Oct, against about $4.5 million for Nixon, though Nixon outraised Moody by nearly $2 million in the third quarter.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the rollback will cut U.S. crude prices by 11 cents per barrel in 2027, about 0.14% of current prices, and raise domestic oil output by roughly 0.09%. President Donald Trump announced the repeal of Biden-era methane regulations for oil and gas producers at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign. The administration projects $45 billion in savings for consumers and producers, while scientists note methane drives about a third of global warming. The policy mainly targets marginal wells that account for less than 10% of U.S. oil production.