Trump fumes over Super Bowl half-time show as lawmakers brace for high-stakes week

Super Bowl LV did not sit well with Donald Trump.

It was not the 29–13 loss of the Patriots to the Seahawks that annoyed him most, but the half-time show. Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny ended his performance with a tribute to immigrants, something Trump saw as a personal affront.

On his social platform, Truth Social, Trump described the performance as “absolutely terrible” and “one of the worst ever,” decrying it as “an affront to the Greatness of America.” 

The show, which featured appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin and closed with a message proclaiming unity, has drawn widespread critical praise.

Despite his irritation, Trump’s mood is unlikely to disrupt a week packed with negotiations on Ukraine and the Middle East, including Iran and Gaza. Attention is on Wednesday’s White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Epstein case is again in focus on Capitol Hill. Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former associate now serving a 20-year sentence, was questioned by the House Oversight Committee but declined to answer, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights. 

Later this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to appear as lawmakers continue to scrutinise the handling of Epstein-related files.

Talks continue on Ukraine and Iran, Netanyahu heads to Washington

Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine continue after last week’s trilateral meetings in Abu Dhabi between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine. No date has been set for the next round.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the U.S. has set a deadline for a deal with Moscow, broadly expected by June. The main sticking point remains territorial concessions, including parts of the Donbas not yet under Russian control. 

Fighting along the front line remains intense, with nightly missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.

In Moscow, General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russian military intelligence, has been declared out of danger after being shot on Friday. The attack is part of a string of deadly incidents against senior Russian officers, which Moscow blames on Kyiv. 

Ukraine denies involvement. Investigators say some suspects have been arrested, while others fled to Ukraine.

Talks with Iran are also expected to resume, focusing on nuclear and missile programmes. Messages from Tehran, Washington and Jerusalem have been inconsistent, alternating between conciliatory and hardline positions.

A clearer picture may emerge after Wednesday’s White House meeting, which will also cover the second phase of the Middle East peace plan, including Hamas disarmament and a temporary international administration in Gaza.

In recent days, both Israel and Hamas have hardened their positions.

A broader reckoning around the Epstein case

The renewed focus on the Epstein files is widening beyond a single hearing. 

Ghislaine Maxwell’s appearance before the House Oversight Committee, even without substantive testimony, has underscored lawmakers’ frustration over what they describe as an incomplete public record of Epstein’s network and the failures that allowed it to operate for years.

That scrutiny is set to intensify with testimony later this week from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is expected to face questions about redactions, disclosure decisions and the Justice Department’s handling of politically sensitive material tied to the case. 

Lawmakers say the issue is no longer only about individual wrongdoing, but about whether powerful institutions shielded influential figures from accountability.

Further hearings are planned in the coming weeks, including separate appearances by Bill and Hillary Clinton. 

Lawmakers say the additional testimony is aimed at building a fuller record of Epstein’s connections and assessing how authorities handled the case over time.