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.
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
-
Can Trump put his tariffs on stronger legal footing?Today's Big Question Appeals court says 'emergency' tariffs are improper
-
Film reviews: The Roses, Splitsville, and TwinlessFeature A happy union devolves into domestic warfare, a couple's open marriage reaps chaos, and an unlikely friendship takes surprising turns
-
Thought-provoking podcasts you may have missed this summerThe Week Recommends Check out a true crime binger, a deep-dive into history and more
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off VenezuelaSpeed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, BaltimoreSpeed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billionsSpeed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revoltSpeed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich throwerSpeed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodusSpeed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official saysSpeed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judgesSpeed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
