Trump says he is ‘most persecuted person’ in US history
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Donald Trump has described himself as the most persecuted person in US history. The Independent said that “following a WWE-style entrance onto the stage”, the former president appeared at a student conference to “run through his well-worn list of gripes about the climate crisis, the media, trans people, and Nato”. He then told the audience he was “the most persecuted person in the history [of] our country”.
Diner leaves $3,000 tip on $13 meal
A waitress in a US restaurant was surprised after a diner left a $3,000 (£2,505) tip on a $13.25 (£11) bill. Eric Smith, an out-of-town customer, enjoyed a homemade stromboli at Alfredo’s Cafe in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was so impressed with it and his service that he wrote in a $3,000 tip for his server, Mariana Lambert. “I’m happy to see that people are giving back,” the restaurant manager told CNN. “It’s a very hard industry to be involved in, especially during Covid.”
Public square from ancient world discovered
Sicilian archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be the largest public square from the ancient world. The agora in the Greek colony of Selinunte was discovered after vegetation was cleared, The Times reported. Experts believe it was used for public meetings and religious ceremonies by people who had moved to southwest Sicily from Greece. The remains of stone structures and animal bones suggest ritual animal sacrifices in the settlement that was founded in the 7th century BC.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
A running list of RFK Jr.'s controversies
In Depth The man atop the Department of Health and Human Services has had no shortage of scandals over the years
By Brigid Kennedy
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm markets
Speed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Climate: Trump's attempt to bring back coal
Feature Trump rolls back climate policies with executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry
By The Week US
-
Trump's budget: Gutting Medicaid to pass tax cuts?
Feature To extend Trump's tax cuts, the GOP is looking to cut Medicaid and other assistance programs
By The Week US
-
Trump tariffs place trucking industry in the crosshairs
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the White House barrels ahead with its massive tariff project, American truckers are feeling the heat from a global trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Corruption: The road to crony capitalism
Feature Trump's tariff pause sent the stock market soaring — was it insider trading?
By The Week US