AMERICA
UNITED STATES: Amanda Gorman, the young poet following in the footsteps of her elders
Amanda Gorman, 22, captivated her audience at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony on January 20. His poem “The Hill We Climb” is a new composition that refers to Capitol Hill, where supporters of Donald Trump invaded Congress headquarters on January 6.
Amanda Gorman, a young woman from Los Angeles, was a sensation at the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States. The lyrics of his poem “The Hill We Climb” fit perfectly with the unifying and optimistic message of Joe Biden. “Democracy can be temporarily supplanted, but never definitively defeated,” she said before concluding with hope, “There is always light. If only we are brave enough to see it”.
In fact, her name was blown to the organizers of the ceremony by First Lady Jill Biden, who had the opportunity to attend one of her readings. She was commissioned in December to write an ode to “United America”, echoing the Democrat’s speech.
She was halfway through what she had in mind for her poem when the Capitol was stormed on January 6 by Donald Trump’s supporters. This dramatic incident gave her new inspiration and, that same evening, she finished writing “The Hill We Climb”. “This is probably one of the most important things I will do in my career,” she said after acknowledging that she had difficulties in the beginning. “I wanted to use my words as a tool to create unity, cooperation and cohesion,” said Amanda Gorman before the ceremony, adding: “I think this is a new chapter that we’re opening up in the United States, about the future, and doing it with the elegance and beauty of words.”
She follows in the footsteps of Maya Angelou, Richard Blanco and Robert Frost, who are among the five poets to have performed during previous presidential investitures.
Born in Los Angeles in 1998, Gorman had a speech defect in his childhood. A handicap she has in common with the new President of the United States. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she used it as a force. “It made me the interpreter I am and the storyteller I strive to be,” she said, adding: “When you have to train yourself to say sounds [and] be very preoccupied with pronunciation, it gives you a certain awareness of sounds, of the auditory experience.”
Gorman became the Los Angeles Youth Poet at the age of 16. Three years later, while studying sociology at Harvard, she became the first young poet to receive a national award. She published her first book, “The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough”
AMERICA
BRAZIL – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on a state visit to France on June 5 and 6, 2025
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be on a state visit to France on 5 and 6 June. He will be welcomed in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, accompanied by his wife Rosângela Lula da Silva.
This official trip comes as a follow-up to the renewed action plan between France and Brazil, sealed during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Brazil in March 2024. Objective: to strengthen bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defense, economy, biodiversity, energy transition, culture and the fight against disinformation.
This high-level meeting is also part of a busy international agenda for both countries. It precedes by a few days the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which will be held in Nice from 9 to 13 June, as well as the COP30 of Belém next November. Two major events where France and Brazil plan to unite their voices to advance global environmental issues.
The visit will also be part of the 2025 Brazil-France Season, an exceptional cultural program that highlights the Brazilian artistic and intellectual scene throughout the country.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the White House, reaffirmed on Monday, June 2, 2025, the willingness of US President Donald Trump to see Russia and Ukraine begin peace negotiations. During a press conference, she insisted on the importance of direct dialogue between the two parties to end a conflict that has already cost too many human lives.
Speaking to reporters, Leavitt recalled that President Trump strongly supports a return to the negotiating table, drawing in particular on previous talks held in Istanbul. “The president wants the two leaders, along with their delegations, to sit at the negotiating table. Today, we saw that this was possible thanks to his insistence,” she said, while specifying that only Trump will express himself in detail on his position.
Asked about a recent drone attack attributed to Ukraine and targeting Russian territory, Leavitt preferred to insist on the need for a de-escalation. “This war must now end. It has been merciless for both sides, and far too many lives have been lost,” she said.
These remarks, relayed by the Anadolu agency and translated from Turkish by Ayse Betul Akcesme, reflect a new direction in the communication of the White House, emphasizing the role that Washington wishes to play to encourage a diplomatic solution.
Although President Trump has not yet spoken personally about these recent developments, his spokesperson suggests that an initiative in favor of peace could take shape in the coming weeks.
Photo credit: White House
Elon Musk announced the end of his role as a special government employee in President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday, 29 May 2025, marking the conclusion of his involvement with the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk, who had been appointed to lead efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy and public spending, expressed his gratitude to President Trump for this opportunity to serve.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote, “Grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve. It was a difficult but rewarding experience.”
Shortly after his message, a White House official confirmed his departure and indicated that his resignation process “will begin this evening.”
Musk’s departure comes after his public criticism of President Trump’s “great and beautiful bill”, a legislative package that includes tax cuts and immigration control measures but significantly increases the federal deficit.
Musk described the bill as counterproductive to the DOGE’s mission and expressed disappointment.
During his tenure, Musk has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures through the DOGE, including mass layoffs and termination of federal contracts. These actions have led to strong criticism, protests – including against Tesla – and dozens of lawsuits, as well as concerns about attempts to access private government data.
A federal judge recently allowed a complaint filed by 14 American states against Musk and the DOGE to proceed.
This complaint accuses Musk and the DOGE of unconstitutional actions, including unauthorized access to government data systems, cancellation of federal contracts and dismissal of federal employees.
Musk plans to refocus on his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, and reduce his political contributions. Despite initial optimism, Musk admitted his frustration with bureaucratic resistance in Washington.
The White House plans to implement some of the reductions recommended by the DOGE through budget cancellations. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill will increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over a decade, while regulators remain skeptical of claims that it will be deficit-neutral.
Sources: AP
Photo credit: Elon Musk page
