International
The Chief Builder: Trump and his remodeling of the White House
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has become – during his current administration – the “chief builder” of a renovated White House, with multiple renovation plans ranging from replacing bathrooms that he does not like or planning an Arc de Triomphe in Washington to building a giant ballroom financed by tycoons who have contributed to his campaigns.
Since his return to power last January, Trump has dedicated himself to remodeling the headquarters of the US Executive. A parade of gold-plated objects on each ledge, on the chimneys, on the door handles and on the lamps – almost identical to those of his private club in Florida, in Mar-a-Lago – are visible at every public event.
“I have always been a builder and now I am building a nation that is respected again,” Trump said this week during a dinner he sponsored for two dozen tycoons who have decided to finance, with two hundred million dollars, a ballroom for nine hundred people that the president offered as part of the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.
Trump said that “they had always wanted a ballroom” and joked that “they didn’t have a real estate agent,” referring to himself as a project manager.
Regarding the expensive construction, Trump said that “it is the price of having access to the president,” in front of donors he described as “legends,” including the oil company Harold Hamm, a prominent financier of the Republican’s campaigns.
At that dinner, Trump showed his guests three scale models of the new monument he plans to build, the “Trump Arc”, an arch inspired by that of Paris, located at the end of the Memorial Bridge that connects downtown Washington with Arlington.
In addition, the head of state suggested that the project could be financed with the surplus funds from the renovation of the ballroom.
However, this is a project that still needs to be approved by various state agencies and it is not clear whether the applications have been submitted.
In the quest to leave his mark on the residence of US presidents, last August, Trump premiered the new Rose Garden, a historic space on the west wing of the White House, built in 1913 and renovated by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1962.
The Republican removed the lawn from the garden and placed stone, turning it into a courtyard similar to the Mar-a Lago club, where Trump spends his breaks and holds his business events.
The new Garden has been used for dinners with allies and recently to deliver recognitions such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which Trump posthumously awarded to the ultra-conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, murdered in September.
But the renovations have not been limited to common areas, Trump described the design of the Kennedy bathroom of the presidential suite as “not adequate”, complained about the green tones of the space and changed the Art Deco style tile for statuary marble, which – according to the president – now “better reflects the aesthetics of the civil war era.”
The renovations headed by Trump have been the subject of public scrutiny and questions about the legality of his actions in the White House, as well as his method of raising private funds for his plans, although the president and his Administration have defended themselves with a 1964 law that allows him to make aesthetic and structural changes.
The American Institute of Architects published in August its concern about Trump’s renovations, especially for the ballroom, and urged the National Capital Planning Commission to carry out rigorous controls to ensure that the project does not deviate or alter the neoclassical design of the White House.
Central America
Bukele Tops Latin America’s Presidential Approval Ranking in June, Survey Finds
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, and President Laura Fernández of Costa Rica are the three highest-rated leaders in Latin America, according to the latest June 2026 presidential approval survey conducted by CB Global Data. The study places Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, at the bottom of the regional ranking.
Bukele leads the list with a 69.1% approval rating and a 27.6% disapproval rate, improving on the 67.5% positive image recorded in May. The Salvadoran president has maintained a state of emergency since March 2022 as the cornerstone of his anti-gang security strategy, a policy that continues to shape public perceptions of his administration.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, ranks second with a 65.5% approval rating and 31% disapproval. Although she remains among the region’s most popular leaders, her support declined from the 67.8% approval registered in May.
Completing the top three is Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, who recently assumed office and now records a 56.1% favorable rating against 37.1% negative opinion. Her approval has risen significantly from the 52.7% reported a month earlier.
At the opposite end of the ranking is Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, who received only 18.2% positive approval while 71.7% of respondents expressed a negative view of his administration. Despite remaining last in the survey, he showed a slight improvement compared to previous measurements.
Second from the bottom is Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, with a 29.5% approval rating and 64.8% disapproval. Nevertheless, she registered the largest increase in positive perception among all leaders surveyed, gaining more than five percentage points compared with the previous month.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo rounds out the group of lowest-rated leaders, posting a 33.1% approval rating against 63% disapproval. His support level declined from 36.9% in May.
Just outside the top three is President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, who achieved a 54.8% approval rating and 42.2% disapproval, despite a decline from the 60.2% support recorded a month earlier.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña follows with a 48.3% favorable rating and 48.2% disapproval, improving slightly compared with May. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ranks sixth with a 47.6% approval rating and 48.1% disapproval, down from 49.5% the previous month. Lula is expected to seek another term in Brazil’s presidential election scheduled for October 2026.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz fell to seventh place after experiencing the largest decline in the survey. His approval rating dropped to 46.4%, while disapproval climbed to 52.3%, representing a loss of more than nine percentage points compared with May.
The CB Global Data survey, conducted across 18 Latin American countries, reflects shifting public sentiment toward regional leaders and highlights the growing influence of Central American presidents among the continent’s most highly rated governments.
International
NGO Reports Release of 54 Political Prisoner Soldiers in Venezuela
A Venezuelan human rights organization reported on Tuesday that 54 military personnel detained for political reasons have been released, describing the measure as a positive step while stressing that hundreds of service members remain behind bars.
According to the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy, 51 of the released detainees had been held at Ramo Verde prison in Miranda state, while three women were imprisoned at the National Institute for Female Orientation (INOF), also located in the same region. The organization said the releases should mark the beginning of a broader process aimed at freeing all military personnel imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela.
Among those released is First Lieutenant Reinaldo Enrique Finol, who was arrested in 2020 in connection with the so-called “American Spy” case. The investigation also involved former U.S. Marine Matthew John Heath, whom Venezuelan authorities accused of conducting espionage activities at oil facilities in the state of Falcón. Heath was released in 2022 following a visit to Caracas by Roger Carstens, then the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
In a message posted on social media, the Coalition called for the release of all political prisoners in the country, with particular attention to women who have been separated from their children and families. The organization described the liberation of the 54 military detainees as an important humanitarian development.
Ana Leonor Acosta, director of the Coalition, said there is still no official confirmation regarding the legal status of the released individuals. She explained that it remains unclear whether they were granted full freedom or released under precautionary measures, although the organization believes each case was reviewed individually before the detainees were freed.
The Coalition estimates that 213 military personnel remain imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela. At the same time, relatives of political prisoners have continued demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, urging Washington to support efforts aimed at securing the release of those who remain incarcerated.
Family members and human rights advocates argue that hundreds of political prisoners are still being held despite government announcements made earlier this year regarding the release of a significant number of detainees. Concerns have also been raised over the lack of information surrounding recent transfers of prisoners from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) headquarters, commonly known as El Helicoide.
The developments come amid continued international scrutiny of Venezuela’s human rights record. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration would work toward securing the release of all individuals imprisoned for political reasons in the South American nation.
International
ICE to prioritize security over immigration enforcement during 2026 World Cup, says official
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will prioritize event security and the protection of attendees over immigration enforcement during the 2026 World Cup, according to its director, Tom Homan.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and is expected to draw millions of visitors across the three countries.
Speaking in an interview with ABC, Homan said the agency’s main responsibility during the competition will be to prevent any security threats that could disrupt one of the world’s largest sporting events.
“We have a national security responsibility that we are going to carry out,” Homan stated, emphasizing that ICE operations during the tournament will focus on intelligence, prevention, and the protection of critical infrastructure rather than immigration enforcement actions targeting undocumented individuals.
He added that the agency’s priority will be safeguarding players, teams, fans, and stadiums throughout the event.
However, Homan clarified that immigration status could still be taken into account in cases where national security concerns arise. “If we find a national security issue and it involves an illegal alien, of course we will take action,” he said.
The comments came in response to questions about concerns from international visitors regarding possible immigration enforcement activity during the tournament.
Homan reiterated that ICE’s operational focus will remain strictly on security-related matters. Known as the “border czar” within the U.S. administration, he said the agency will concentrate on preventing risks and ensuring the safety of all participants and spectators.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams, significantly increasing travel and logistical demands across the host nations. As a result, authorities are coordinating extensive security preparations involving federal, state, and international agencies.
Officials have described the tournament as one of the most complex security and organizational challenges ever undertaken in North America, with preparations already underway to ensure its safe and orderly execution.
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