South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a top Trump ally and fellow Republican, announced Thursday that he is convening the state legislature in Columbia, South Carolina, starting Friday for a special session to «address the state budget and congressional districts» in his largely Republican state.

«I have issued an Executive Order calling the General Assembly back for an extra legislative session to address the state budget and congressional districts beginning Friday, May 15, at 11:00 AM,» McMaster wrote on X. 

The move comes amid intraparty Republican tensions over the Trump-backed effort to redraw the state’s congressional map — a push that could threaten the tenure of longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the man credited with reviving former President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, and four other senators earlier this week joined Democrats to defeat a proposal that would have allowed the chamber to vote on redistricting after the South Carolina legislative session closed Thursday.

The roadblock came hours after President Donald Trump warned he is «watching closely» the redistricting effort. Trump’s message came a week after five Indiana Republican state senators who in December helped sink congressional redistricting in the solidly red Midwestern state were ousted by Trump-backed challengers in GOP primaries.

Proponents of the South Carolina redraw hope that the new map will ultimately rid the state’s congressional delegation of its lone Democrat, while advising lawmakers to move the primary for House members to August.

SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS DEFY TRUMP, TANK REDISTRICTING, FOR NOW

Clyburn, the octogenarian Orangeburg, South Carolina, lawmaker considered a kingmaker in Palmetto State Democratic politics — and credited with reviving then-candidate Biden’s floundering campaign with his endorsement in 2020 — may not be long for Capitol Hill, as a redraw would almost certainly redistribute the state’s heavy Republican advantage across its seven districts.

Clyburn said he remains confident he can win re-election even under a new map.

«I don’t know why people think I could not get re-elected if they redistrict South Carolina,» Clyburn said in a CNN interview. «I have a district that’s about 45 percent African American. I have no idea what the number will be after the legislature finishes, but whatever that number is, I will be running on my record and America’s promise.»

Massey argued in a floor speech that following Trump’s lead on redistricting would run counter to the interests of the Palmetto State.

«South Carolina has always punched above their weight,» Massey said. «Doing this will diminish that influence.»

But he also acknowledged that he will likely face political payback from Trump and the president’s allies.

TRUMP TARGETS RED STATE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN PUSH FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

«There are likely consequences for me, personally, taking the position that I am right now,» Massey said. «I’m comfortable with that. I may not like it, but I’m comfortable with it. … My conscience is clear on this one.»

The recent Callais decision at the Supreme Court — which eliminated Louisiana’s race-conscious map that provided for two largely minority-heavy Democratic strongholds — has already spurred action in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and with Clyburn’s district itself reportedly the product of a George H.W. Bush Justice Department request regarding racial makeup, its days may be numbered.

The DOJ in 1992 recommended creating a majority-Black district in South Carolina, and Clyburn swiftly won the seat upon the retirement of fellow Democratic Rep. Robin Mooneyhan Tallon of Hemingway, according to a Government Printing Office publication on Black Americans in Congress. 

President Joe Biden, left, Rep. James Clyburn, right. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)

Clyburn is also reportedly a relative of the previous Black South Carolina congressman, Republican George Washington Murray, who served in the 1890s.

The 85-year-old recently signed documents to make his run for re-election official, quipping that he is in good health and simply celebrating the 47th anniversary of his 39th birthday soon.

If redistricting fails and Clyburn is able to run again, he will join a growing list of octogenarian — and some nonagenarian — lawmakers who remain bullish about their political prospects.

The oldest sitting member is Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who is 92, while elderly lawmakers facing re-election in 2026 besides Clyburn include Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who is 88, and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who is 87. Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, is 83 and running for re-election, which would make him 89 at the end of his next term.

Four of the leading South Carolina Republicans running for governor this year, Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson, and Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, earlier this week criticized the redistricting setback in the state Senate.

Evette called McMaster’s move «a critical step for President Trump and the people of South Carolina.»

And Wilson said, «South Carolina has the opportunity to lead, and lawmakers should move quickly to pass new maps before the June primary.»

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Alabama convened a special session earlier in May that House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, correctly predicted would force the courts to rule on the validity of a special-case redistricting referendum there.

Tennessee successfully redrew its map, which is likely to result in the ouster of longtime Shelby County Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, while Mississippi hit a snag in its own efforts after Gov. Tate Reeves pumped the brakes on a Callais-spurred effort to boot former House Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson in the Delta.

Republican state senators in Louisiana on Thursday advanced a plan to eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black congressional seats ahead of the midterms.

Louisiana’s state House will likely vote on the map next week. The state holds its primary on Saturday, but the state’s congressional primaries are being postponed until November.

El director de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA) de EE.UU., John Ratcliffe, mantuvo este jueves una reunión en La Habana con representantes del Ministerio del Interior de la isla, informaron las autoridades cubanas.

Ocurre en medio de la crisis energética en Cuba, con el anuncio de que se acabó el petróleo y con otro apagón que generó protestas y cacerolazos. Además, en las últimas horas Estados Unidos, por intermedio del secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, había ofrecido una propuesta de ayuda de 100 millones de dólares.

En un comunicado difundido en medios oficiales, el Gobierno cubano afirmó que la reunión fue «en un contexto caracterizado por la complejidad de las relaciones bilaterales, en aras de contribuir al diálogo político entre ambas naciones, como parte de los esfuerzos por afrontar el escenario actual».

La nota explicó que la «dirección de la revolución», una denominación que incluye al expresidente Raúl Castro y otros líderes que no obligatoriamente ocupan cargos en el Gobierno, «aprobó la realización de esta visita», que fue solicitada por representantes de la administración del presidente de EE.UU., Donald Trump.

Las autoridades cubanas indicaron que sus representantes en el encuentro aportaron elementos que «permitieron demostrar categóricamente» que la isla «no constituye una amenaza para la seguridad nacional de EE.UU. ni existen razones legítimas para incluirla en la lista de países que, supuestamente, patrocinan el terrorismo».

«Una vez más se evidenció que la isla no alberga, no apoya, no financia ni permite organizaciones terroristas o extremistas; ni existen bases militares o de inteligencia extranjera en su territorio, y nunca ha apoyado ninguna actividad hostil contra EE.UU. ni permitirá que desde Cuba se actúe contra otra nación», subraya el texto.

El comunicado concluye diciendo que en el encuentro ambas partes mostraron su interés «en desarrollar la cooperación bilateral entre los órganos de aplicación y cumplimiento de la ley, en función de la seguridad de ambas naciones, regional e internacional».

El diálogo diplomático tuvo lugar horas después de que Rubio confirmara el envío de una última propuesta de ayuda económica a Cuba. Son 100 millones de dólares que se distribuirían, según condicionó Estados Unidos, a través de la Iglesia católica.

El canciller cubano, Bruno Rodríguez, dijo que las autoridades cubanas estásn dispuestas «a escuchar las características del ofrecimiento y la manera en que se materializaría». En ese sentido, añadió: «Por primera vez, el gobierno de Estados Unidos» formaliza de manera pública, mediante un comunicado del Departamento de Estado, un ofrecimiento de ayuda a Cuba valorado en 100 millones de dólares», reconoció el jefe de la diplomacia cubana en sus redes sociales.

En este sentido, dijo Rodríguez, «estamos dispuestos a escuchar las características del ofrecimiento y la manera en que se materializaría», pero señaló que esperan, «sea libre de maniobras políticas e intentos de aprovechar las carencias y el dolor de un pueblo bajo asedio».

La propuesta llega, además, después de una fuerte presión del gobierno de Donald Trump sobre la isla. Una de las últimas medidas adoptadas por Estados Unidos fue haber puesto en una lista negra y bajo sanciones al más poderoso conglomerado de empresas en Cuba bajo control de los militares (GAESA) y a una sociedad cubano-canadiense.

En meses anteriores, Trump incluso amenazó con tomar el control de Cuba «casi de inmediato», lo que despertó reacciones en La Habana y hasta la entrega de un fusil al cantautor Silvio Rodríguez.

Este jueves, el presidente cubano, Miguel Díaz-Canel, señaló que si existe «verdaderamente» disposición del Gobierno estadounidense a «brindar ayuda en los montos que anuncia y en plena conformidad con las prácticas universalmente reconocidas para la ayuda humanitaria, no encontrará obstáculos ni ingratitud de parte de Cuba».

La experiencia de nuestro país en recibir ayuda internacional, incluyendo de EE.UU, es amplia y constructiva. Cualquier donante puede dar fe de esa realidad.

Si verdaderamente hay disposición del gobierno estadounidense a brindar ayuda en los montos que anuncia y en plena…

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) May 14, 2026

Recalcó que «las prioridades» de la isla «son más que evidentes: combustibles, alimentos y medicinas».

Pero subrayó su reclamo para levantar el bloqueo. «Por cierto, podría aliviarse el daño de un modo más fácil y expedito con el levantamiento o alivio del bloqueo, pues se conoce que la situación humanitaria es fríamente calculada e inducida», apuntó Díaz-Canel.

Ambos países habían iniciado un diálogo, con al menos una reunión física el 10 de abril en La Habana, pero del que hasta ahora no han trascendido avances ni detalles

As details emerge from President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a key reality is coming into focus: China still wants U.S. business and Trump may have the upper hand.

Trump’s high-profile business delegation highlights the economic balancing act the two nations are seeking to strike. Xi wants investment and continued access to American corporate power, while Trump is positioning himself to use trade pressure and market access as leverage with Beijing.

The heavyweight lineup alongside Trump for the trip includes tech executives like Apple’s Tim Cook, Tesla and SpaceX’s Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra and Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick.

The overlap between politics and business was clear even before the meetings began. Huang was reportedly added to Trump’s trip at the last minute. He even secured a seat on Air Force One — a sign of Nvidia’s central role in the global chip race and broader U.S.-China tech tensions.

TRUMP GETS RED-CARPET WELCOME IN CHINA, BUT PAST BEIJING TRIP SHOWS PAGEANTRY ONLY GOES SO FAR

Also on the trip were Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser and Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon.

Many joining the president rank among the world’s wealthiest business leaders. Musk, for example, is the richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, while Schwarzman and Huang have amassed fortunes in the tens of billions.

Together, the group represents trillions in corporate power with deep business ties to China despite years of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Their companies still rely heavily on Chinese consumers, manufacturing and supply chains, even as Washington and Beijing clash over tariffs, technology and national security.

That influence is already showing up in the talks.

Both sides discussed expanding access for U.S. companies into Chinese markets, a top priority for executives on the trip. Xi said his opportunities in his country «will only open wider and wider,» according to Chinese state media.

‘INTENSE STANDOFF’ ERUPTS BETWEEN SECRET SERVICE, CHINESE OFFICIALS DURING TRUMP-XI EVENT: REPORT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrived with President Donald Trump’s delegation to Beijing, China. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

At the same time, Washington is weighing steps that directly affect those firms. The U.S. could allow Nvidia to sell its H200 chips, a step below its most advanced semiconductors, to a limited number of Chinese companies, according to Reuters, even as broader disputes over artificial intelligence and export controls remain unresolved.

They also discussed increased Chinese investment in the U.S. and purchases of American goods, including beef, soybeans and Boeing aircraft, long-standing trade pressure points.

But the cooperative tone was also laced with threats.

Xi warned against a potential clash between the U.S. and China and delivered a blunt message on Taiwan, a key flashpoint and hub for advanced semiconductor production.

That mix of outreach and tension is where Trump sees an opening.

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping represent the world’s two most powerful economies. (Brendan Smialowski – Pool/Getty Images)

If U.S. companies are still seeking access and Beijing is signaling it wants them there, Trump can argue economic pressure is working — strengthening his case for tariffs, export controls and tougher trade terms.

Executives are pushing for greater access and stability in China while navigating a U.S. strategy built on economic pressure and national security concerns — underscoring both the importance of the market and the leverage Washington believes it holds.

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Trump has already invited Xi to visit the White House in September, signaling more talks ahead. For now, Beijing’s message is clear: China still wants American business.