Thursday morning news: February 5, 2026

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Ryan Routh sentencing » A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Trump on a Florida golf course will spend the rest of his life in federal prison.

US. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the sentence Wednesday in Fort Pierce.

Prosecutors said Ryan Routh spent weeks planning the attack before aiming a rifle onto a golf course on which Trump was playing in September of 2024.

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said justice prevailed:

BUDENSIEK: Defendant tried to portray himself as a do-gooder, a victim,  and I think Judge Canon said it best. She says, "the evil is in you, Mr. Routh, the evil is in you. You were the one that were trying to, to kill the president of the United States —former, and then to-be president of the United States—the evil is in you."

A Secret Service agent spotted Routh first and opened fire. Routh dropped the weapon and ran, never firing a shot.

He was convicted of attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearm crimes. His lawyer plans to appeal the sentence.

The incident was the second attempted assassination of Trump in a span of roughly 2 months, following a July 2024 shooting at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.

Trump call with Xi » President Trump says he spoke Wednesday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about a number of key concerns. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has that story.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Trump says among the topics discussed was Iran.

The administration is pushing Beijing and others to further isolate Tehran as it works to pressure Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.

Trump said Wednesday the two leaders also discussed trade and tensions over Taiwan.

China repeated its position that Taiwan is part of China and warned the U.S. about continued arms sales to the island. The Trump administration approved more than ten billion dollars in weapons sales to Taiwan late last year.

The Chinese government says the two leaders discussed major upcoming summits and opportunities for the two leaders to meet face to face. But it made no mention of Trump’s expected April visit to Beijing.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Iran talks » Meantime, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that Iran and the U.S. will hold nuclear talks in Oman tomorrow.

His announcement came after indications that plans for talks might be in jeopardy over changes in the format and the content of the talks.

Araghchi wrote on X that he's grateful—quote, “to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements.”

Trump has threatened military action if Tehran does not negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons program.

Critical minerals trading bloc » The Trump administration says it wants to form a new trading group with allies to secure critical rare earth minerals and reduce dependence on China.

US officials say Bejing's control of rare earths has exposed risks to global supply chains.

Vice President JD Vance announced the plan at a meeting in Washington with officials from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

VANCE:   While we believe America's market is large enough to create its own critical minerals trading zone, this entire effort will be stronger and far more competitive if we build it together.

He said the goal is steady supply, stable prices, and more mining and processing outside of China. Rare earth minerals are used in everything from missiles to smartphones.

Officials want member countries to coordinate tariffs and investment to support production in friendly nations.

Ukraine latest » In the United Arab Emirates, U.S. diplomats continue to meet with Russian and Ukrainian officials in an effort to end the war in Ukraine.

But no one is holding their breath for a breakthrough just yet.

The latest round of trilateral talks began yesterday and are scheduled to continue today.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic.

RUBIO: If you look at the checklist of open items that existed at this time last year and the checklist of open items that remain now in terms of reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, that list has been substantially diminished. That's the good news. The bad news is that the items that remain are the most difficult ones.

And there is one other positive sign:

ZELENSKYY: (Speaking in Ukrainian)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia and Ukraine have both agreed to another prisoner exchange.

Minnesota federal pullback » The Trump administration says it is pulling 700 immigration enforcement agents out of Minnesota. That, after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants.

Border czar Tom Homan:

HOMAN:  We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets. Unprecedented cooperation.

The shift follows weeks of unrest in the Twin Cities following a pair of fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents.

Homan also offered reassurance that federal agents are accountable to act only within the law.

HOMAN:  The American people seek and deserve professional and trustworthy law enforcement, and I and the President expect that any misconduct will not be tolerated, and will be swiftly addressed.

Homan said the drawdown in Minnesota does not mean the administration is backing away or slowing down its pledge to carry out the largest ever mass deportation of illegal immigrants.

I'm Kent Covington.

Still ahead: gunboat diplomacy brings Iran to the table for nuclear talks. Plus, the American Medical Association reverses course on gender surgeries for minors.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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