Politix

Barack Obama took in a Clippers game Wednesday night in Los Angeles, without his better half by his side.

The former prez was seated courtside with L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his spouse, Connie Snyder, but Barack's famous wife -- Michelle -- was nowhere to be found.

Still, Barack had a good ol' time watching the Clippers beat the Detroit Pistons 123-115 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Curtis Stone is down to prepare a meal for President Trump ... and he's ready to bring a taste of Australia to the White House.

The celeb chef told us what he would serve Trump during an interview on our new TMZ podcast, "Big Down Under," with our camera guy Charlie Cotton.

Curtis says Wagyu beef would definitely be on the menu ... although it sounds like he's going to have to get creative with preparation, seeing as how Trump likes his steaks well done, with ketchup.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard wants to rip a page from Kim Kardashian's book ... she says she's open to talking with President Trump about changes that can be made to the prison system.

Gypsy was at LAX on Monday night when a photog asked her how she would feel about sitting down with Trump for a White House meeting on prison reform.

GRB says she would absolutely welcome such an opportunity if it came her way ... and she's got a lot she would like to say to POTUS.

J.D. Vance was skiing among a bunch of folks who made their hatred for him well known, but the Secret Service tells us there was never a threat to him or his family ... despite Vance nearly being taken out by an out-of-control skier.

Multiple Secret Service sources tell TMZ ... the Vice President was never in danger this weekend during his ski trip to Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont ... despite how things may have looked.

We obtained video of Vance being heckled in line for ski lifts -- someone called him  "Putin's Puppet" -- and during one of his runs he almost got barreled into -- first by a snowboarder ... then by another skier, who crashed into someone just feet away from the Veep.

Jon Stewart just explained the geopolitical landscape and America's role in it after the now-infamous Zelensky/Trump showdown in the Oval Office Friday ... comparing it to a wrestling event that also shook the world this weekend.

In Monday night’s episode of "The Daily Show," Jon explained the whole metaphorical ordeal -- Cody Rhodes is Volodymyr Zelensky, The Rock is Vladimir Putin, and John Cena is America.

In Jon’s interpretation of events ... Cody (Zelensky) went to the White House to meet with John Cena (America) to take on the person "demanding his soul," The Rock (Putin). To everyone’s surprise, especially Cody's … Cena had experienced a change of heart, and no longer had Cody's back. As Cody embraced Cena, The Rock gave Cena the throat-cut signal ... and Cena delivered a cheap shot to Cody's groin, then pummeled him on the ground in a dramatic "heel turn."

Politics ain't the only thing Johnny Damon and Donald Trump agree on ... the former MLB star tells TMZ Sports POTUS is right when it comes to Pete Rose's Hall of Fame candidacy as well.

Trump took to his Truth Social page on Friday night to demand MLB "get off its fat, lazy ass" and put Rose into Cooperstown ... and when we spoke with Damon about the opinion on Monday, he told us he concurred.

The ex-Red Sox outfielder -- who actually served on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition during Trump's first term in D.C. -- said the game's climate has changed so much since Rose was first given a perma-ban for gambling on baseball that he now thinks it's about time to get the MLB's Hit King into the HOF.

More fallout from the Oval Office spat between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... Trump is now pausing military aid to Ukraine.

The White House confirmed the move Monday ... with officials telling news outlets the U.S. is pausing and reviewing military aid to Ukraine to ensure the aid is contributing to a solution for the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

Unclear how long the pause will last but Fox News reports the aid won't start flowing until POTUS determines Ukraine's leadership demonstrates a good-faith commitment to peace with Russia.

Rep. Wesley Hunt is defending President Donald Trump over his Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... he says Trump's working the art of the deal to bring peace to the region.

The Congressman from Texas joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" and we asked him about Trump and J.D. Vance's heated exchange with Zelensky last week.

Hunt says Trump's right that Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and strongman Vladimir Putin holds all the cards ... and the United States can't keep giving Ukraine a blank check to fight the Russians.

Some Americans are fed up with being booed by Canadians ... and that includes WWE commentator Pat McAfee who went ballistic on our neighbors to the north during a live broadcast.

The sparks began to fly Saturday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada ... McAfee and two other commentators, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett, were seated at the announcer's desk when things quickly took a turn for the worse during the World Wrestling Entertainment's "Elimination Chamber" event.

As American singer Elizabeth Irving belted out the U.S. National Anthem with Drake sitting ringside, the Canadian crowd started booing — pissing off McAfee bigtime.

"Saturday Night Live" wasted no time tackling the explosive Oval Office shouting match between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... and Mike Myers made a surprise cameo.

The show's cold open spoofed last week's infamous Oval Office meeting between Trump, Zelensky and J.D. Vance when they were discussing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine when things got heated.

The bit began with Mikey Day, who played Zelensky and James Austin Johnson as Trump. The fake Trump introduces himself as "President and CEO of Gaza Hotel and Casino." He says ... "I’d like to welcome President Zelensky to this incredible trap."

J.D. Vance may have been hoping for a relaxing weekend of skiing up in Vermont ... but, instead he nearly got taken out by another skier -- and called "Putin's puppet" by someone else on the mountain.

The vice president headed up to Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont for a weekend away from D.C. ... and, he hit the mountain Saturday on a pair of skis.

Check out video of the Veep obtained by TMZ ... you can't see his face, but eyewitnesses swear it's him, and he's been photographed skiing in a similar jacket. He's making his way down pretty slow -- though his technique looks good as glides across the fresh powder.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to have done some breathing exercises and cooled off after a heated exchange with President Trump in the Oval Office on Friday -- a headline-making moment around the globe.

In a lengthy message posted to social media on Saturday morning ... Zelensky acknowledged that lasting peace in Eastern Europe would be “difficult” without U.S. support ... and he gave props for America's help during Russia’s three-year invasion of his country.

The message had a vastly different feel and tone from the blowup the two world leaders had in the White House ... which was live around the globe.

Seems Elon Musk is truly going to colonize Mars ... even if he has to do it himself, 'cause the tech mogul just welcomed his 14 child!

Elon helped break the news Friday along with Shivon Zilis, with whom the billionaire already had three children.

SZ made the announcement on X, naturally, saying ... "Discussed with Elon and, in light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was better to also just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son Seldon Lycurgus. Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much ♥️."

FBI Director Kash Patel wants UFC fighters to train his Agents ... and well there's one that is totally down! 🙋🏽 Justin Gaethje.

TMZ Sports spoke to 36-year-old Gaethje, who at the moment is a little tied up preparing for his co-main event scrap with Rafael Fiziev, who was plugged in for an injured Dan Hooker this week.

After the March 8 scrap in Las Vegas, the lightweight contender is down to help the country's top law enforcement agency in any way he can ... training personnel, or just kickin' the ass himself.

Elon Musk ain't apologizing for his controversial hand motion after Donald Trump was inaugurated ... instead, he's doubling down with a series of Nazi jokes that almost certainly won't tone down the criticism of the mogul.

The Trump ally and tech entrepreneur stopped by "The Joe Rogan Experience" for an episode published Friday ... and, during the chat he opened up about liberals and others claiming he was giving a Nazi salute at Trump's inauguration in January.

Remember, Musk drew ugly comparisons when he pointed his right hand in the air -- much like a Heil Hitler salute ... though he claims he was just saying his heart goes out to the audience. Now, he says he did "not see" the backlash coming.

President Trump gave Volodymyr Zelensky the boot from the White House after their explosive argument in front of the world, TMZ has confirmed.

White House sources tell TMZ ... President Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to leave after Trump and the two butted heads live on international TV in the Oval Office on Friday.

Moments later, FOX News journalist Jacqui Heinrich took to the airwaves and reported Trump's delegation told him he had to go home, pronto!