Trump press conference on medical bills devolves into call for John Kerry to be prosecuted


President Trump stepped before reporters on Thursday to speak about ending surprise medical bills — and before long was calling for the prosecution of former Secretary of State John Kerry.
Trump delivered remarks from the White House as part of a new push to "hold insurance companies and hospitals totally accountable" for surprise medical billing, but he took questions on a variety of topics, including Iran. In response to one question, Trump called out Kerry and claimed he is in violation of the Logan Act, which prevents unauthorized people from negotiating with foreign governments the U.S. has a dispute with.
Kerry, Trump claimed, speaks to Iran "a lot" and tells them "not to call" the White House.
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.
"Frankly, he should be prosecuted on that, but my people don't want to do anything," Trump said. "Only the Democrats want to do that kind of stuff."
Trump had previously criticized Kerry after he said in September that he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "three or four times" since he left office, The Washington Post reports. A spokesperson for Kerry on Thursday said that "everything President Trump said today is simply wrong, end of story," per CNN's Jim Acosta. "He's wrong about the facts, wrong about the law, and sadly he's been wrong about how to use diplomacy to keep America safe." Brendan Morrow
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 cartoons about the Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Cartoons Artists take on a stand-in for Vladimir Putin and phone calls with Donald Trump.
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
Sudoku medium: May 24, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Tied Supreme Court blocks church charter school
speed read The court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to bar overtly religious public charter schools
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Judge scolds DOJ over Newark mayor arrest
speed read Ras Baraka was arrested during a May 9 surprise visit to a migrant detention facility
-
Trump lectures South Africa president on 'white genocide'
speed read Trump has cut off aid to South Africa over his demonstrably false genocide claims
-
Trump twists House GOP arms on megabill
speed read The bill will provide a $350 billion boost to military and anti-immigration spending and 'cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs'
-
Trump DOJ said to pay $5M to family of Jan. 6 rioter
speed read The US will pay a hefty sum to the family of Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot on January 6
-
Trump DOJ charging House Democrat in ICE fracas
speed read Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault over a clash outside an immigration detention facility in Newark
-
Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer
speed read The diagnosis hits close to home, as the former president 'dedicated much of his later career to cancer research'