Tara Copp

Stay informed with Tara Copp’s coverage and analysis.

President Donald Trump, left, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump administration is sending weapons to Ukraine again after Pentagon pause caught White House by surprise

By Tara Copp and The Associated Press

Protesters clasp hands in front of a line of California National Guard, Monday, June 9, 2025, at a Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo Jae Hong)

Trump is sending another 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles

By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, and others

National Guard soldiers stand outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, US, on Monday, June 9, 2025. Tensions flared in Los Angeles on the third day of anti-deportation protests, as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement while President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom exchanged blame over the unrest and responsibility for restoring order. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images

700 Marines will be deployed to LA to help the National Guard respond to protests as California sues Trump over troops

By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, and others

Qatar Air Force Apache gunships perform a flyover as Air Force One is ready to depart from Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One, but it could depend on his willingness to cut corners with security

By Tara Copp, Chris Megerian, and others

Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, speaks during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. The conference runs through June 1. Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg via Getty Images

US defense secretary warns Indo-Pacific allies that China’s army is ‘rehearsing for the real deal’

By Tara Copp, David Rising, and others

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump chooses design for $175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense program

By Tara Copp and The Associated Press

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with Peru’s Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer and Peru’s Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo at the Pentagon, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Hegseth orders military to shed 20% of its 4-star officers as part of deep Defense Department cuts

By Tara Copp and The Associated Press

President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington (Pool via AP)

Defense Secretary Hegseth brags about ending ‘woke’ program on women and security that Trump signed into law

By Tara Copp, Farnoush Amiri, and others

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks on the South Lawn of the White House before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump blames ‘disgruntled employees’ for Defense Secretary Hegseth’s problems after second Signal chat comes to light

By Tara Copp, Eric Tucker, and others

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth departs the Commander-in-Chief trophy presentation to the Navy Midshipman football team in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Defense Secretary Hegseth shared Yemen airstrike details in second Signal chat with his wife and brother

By Tara Copp and The Associated Press

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth does a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump’s defense secretary accidentally sent war plans to a group chat that included a journalist, days after threatening polygraphs for leaks

By The Associated Press, Tara Copp, and others

This graphical rendering provided by the U.S. Air Force shows the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform, the F-47. On Friday, March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the Air Force had selected Boeing to produce the next generation fighter jet. (U.S. Air Force via AP)

The U.S. government is spending $20 billion to jumpstart the Air Force’s new secret fighter jet, even though it’s still struggling to build the costly F-35

By The Associated Press and Tara Copp

AVONDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 09: A general view of the F-35 62nd Fighter Squadron flyover during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Trump’s trade war could claim a new victim: Canada and Europe are reconsidering $150 million Lockheed Martin fighter jets

By The Associated Press, Stefanie Dazio, and others

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II

Canada buys Australian radar system as Europe and America’s northern neighbor eye weaning themselves off U.S. military gear

By Stefanie Dazio, Tara Copp, and others

In this image provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro prepares to hike to her platoon’s defensive position during patrol week of Infantry Training Battalion near Camp Geiger, N.C. Oct. 31, 2013. (Sgt. Tyler Main/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)

Pentagon flags 26,000 images for removal in DEI purge, including ones of Enola Gay nuclear bomber and first women to pass Marine infantry training

By Tara Copp, Lolita C. Baldor, and others