U.S. President Donald Trump marked the first 100 days of his second term with a defiant speech in Michigan, declaring it the “most successful” start to any presidency despite recent declines in public approval and mounting criticism over his policies.

Speaking for 90 minutes in front of a raucous crowd in Macomb County, Trump focused heavily on immigration, federal bureaucracy, and the judiciary, while brushing aside concerns over falling poll numbers. The president’s address came as approval ratings have dipped below 40 percent, with critics pointing to concerns over deportations, economic volatility, and administrative overreach.

Trump showed a video depicting the deportation of men to a high-security prison in El Salvador, which was met with cheers. He used the moment to double down on his controversial use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members—an effort that has faced legal challenges in U.S. courts.

“We cannot allow a handful of communist, radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president of the United States,” Trump declared. “Nothing will stop me in the mission to keep America safe again.”

Trump also touted the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new agency led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The department has faced backlash for sweeping cuts to federal programs and job losses across several agencies. Critics have accused the administration of acting without proper legal authority, but Trump portrayed the efforts as a crackdown on entrenched bureaucracy.

“After a lifetime of unelected bureaucrats stealing your pay checks, attacking your values and trampling your freedoms, we are stopping their gravy train,” Trump said. “We’re telling thousands of corrupt, incompetent and unnecessary deep state bureaucrats: ‘You’re fired!’”

Despite his self-praise, recent polling shows widespread skepticism. According to recent surveys, only about 4 in 10 Americans approve of his performance. Immigration policies, in particular, have proven divisive, with roughly half the country believing the president has “gone too far” with deportations. His economic approval also dipped following tariff announcements earlier this month that rattled stock markets.

Outside the Michigan venue, protesters gathered with signs reading “100 Days of Lies” and “Trump is Destroying Our Democracy,” highlighting the continued polarization surrounding the Trump presidency.

“Donald Trump has achieved the unthinkable: he’s brought America to the brink of implosion,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin in a statement. “On the world stage, he’s made us into a joke. On the home front, he’s made us weak.”

Despite the criticism, Trump told supporters his administration had only “just gotten started.”

French police on Monday arrested 25 individuals suspected of involvement in a series of coordinated attacks on prisons and prison officers across the country, marking what authorities described as a major breakthrough in an ongoing investigation.

The arrests follow weeks of intensive inquiry into 15 separate attacks that took place over a two-week period in April. Nearly 200 investigators have been assigned to the case, according to the national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office, which said Monday’s operation represented “significant progress” in uncovering the culprits and masterminds behind the assaults.

The first wave of 22 arrests took place early Monday morning at 6 a.m. local time, with three additional suspects taken into custody later that morning. Police carried out operations across a wide geographic area, with suspects detained in regions including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux.

According to Franceinfo, investigators believe the attacks were orchestrated in response to the government’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking, which began in February. Sources close to the case suggest that the attacks were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated campaign.

A group calling itself the “Defence of the Rights of French Prisoners” (Défense des Droits des Prisonniers Français, or DDPF) has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group has posted threats and videos targeting prisons and prison officers on its Telegram channel, further escalating tensions within the penal system.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reacted to the arrests on social media, stating, “I welcome the arrest of the presumed perpetrators of the attacks against prison officers and prisons in our country.” He added, “Strength remains with the law and the Republic in our relentless fight against drug trafficking.”

The attacks have heightened concerns about the growing influence of organized criminal networks within and outside French prisons, particularly amid broader government efforts to dismantle major drug trafficking operations.

Authorities have vowed to continue their investigations to fully dismantle the network behind the attacks and ensure the safety of correctional facilities and their staff nationwide.

Pakistani security forces have killed 54 militants attempting to cross into the country from Afghanistan, the military announced on Sunday, marking one of the deadliest operations in recent years along the volatile border.

According to a statement issued by the military, the infiltration attempt took place near North Waziristan, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Intelligence reports identified the slain insurgents as “Khwarij,” a term used by the Pakistani government to refer to members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The military did not directly attribute responsibility but indicated that the militants had been “sent by their foreign masters” to conduct high-profile terrorist attacks within Pakistan.

The infiltration comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Pakistani officials noted that the attempt occurred as India levels accusations against Pakistan following a deadly assault on tourists in India-administered Kashmir. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tatar told foreign media that New Delhi’s accusations are an attempt to distract Pakistan from its security focus on the western border.

Violence has surged in Pakistan over recent months, with most attacks blamed on the TTP, a militant group allied with the Afghan Taliban. Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, many TTP fighters and leaders are believed to have sought refuge across the border, straining relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Pakistani military’s swift action highlights growing concerns about cross-border militancy and the potential for destabilization at a time when Pakistan is grappling with internal security challenges and regional diplomatic tensions.

Authorities have stepped up border surveillance and intelligence efforts as they brace for potential further infiltration attempts, underscoring the fragile security landscape along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier.