Why there’s a giant golden toilet near the Lincoln Memorial

A towering golden toilet statue has taken a seat near the Lincoln Memorial, the latest Trump‑themed art installation to appear on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The nearly 10‑foot sculpture, unveiled March 30 by the anonymous group The Secret Handshake, was inspired byPresident Donald Trump's recent renovation of theWhite House's Lincoln Bathroom. The group says the installation uses humor and spectacle to prompt political discourse.

In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, The Secret Handshake said visitors are allowed to take photos by sitting on the golden throne. The installation is titled "A Throne Fit For a King."

The statue appeared almost a month after the same group installed a separate sculpture on the National Mall depictingTrump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteinas characters from "Titanic." The group is also behind another Trump‑Epstein statue that appeared in Washington, DC, in September.

Meaning behind the statue

The Secret Handshake said it created the piece as a tribute to Trump during what it described as a time of "unprecedented division,escalating conflictand economic turmoil." In that context, the group said, the president focused on what "truly mattered": remodeling the Lincoln Bathroom.

The statue, the group added, is meant as a reminder that Trump "isn't just a businessman," but is "taking care of business."

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"It's a tribute to a visionary," the group said in its statement, "who looked down, saw a problem and painted it gold."

White House renovations

Trump revealed amarble‑and‑gold makeover of the Lincoln Bathroomin October, according to previous USA TODAY reporting. The cost of the renovation has yet been disclosed.

"I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post at the time. He said the bathroom's previous 1940s art‑deco green tile was "totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era."

The bathroom overhaul is one of several renovation projects Trump has pursued during his second term. Since his inauguration, the president has paved over the Rose Garden lawn,demolished the East Wingand moved forward with plans for a 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom —a project a federal judge ordered haltedTuesday, March 31.

The golden toilet statue, however, is expected to remain on the National Mall for several days, according to The Secret Handshake.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Giant golden toilet statue appears near Lincoln Memorial

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Why there’s a giant golden toilet near the Lincoln Memorial

A towering golden toilet statue has taken a seat near the Lincoln Memorial, the latest Trump‑themed art installation to a...

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Thousands more US troops are heading to the Middle East

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of additional U.S. troops are heading to the Middle East as the Trump administration has insisted thatprogress has been madein talks with Iran and hasthreatened to escalate the warif a deal is not reached soon.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush deployed Tuesday and is slated to go to the Middle East along with three destroyers, two U.S. officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 sailors.

It comes as thousands ofsoldiers from the 82nd Airborne Divisionalso have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two other U.S. officials, who, like the others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

While the majority of those troops are part of a rotation of forces planned before the war, some are among roughly 1,500 paratroopers the Trump administration decided to surge into the region last week.

The Trump administration has not said what those troops will be doing, but the 82nd Airborne is trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields. A U.S. Navy ship carrying about2,500 Marines recently arrivedin the Middle East, and another 2,500 Marines also are being deployed from California.

The extra forces, on top of tens of thousands of service members already in the region, come as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials have avoided questions about whether or not the U.S. military will deploy ground troops against Iran.

"You can't fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do to include boots on the ground," Hegseth told reporters Tuesday.

He added, "Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are."

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But he also said the goal is to reach a deal with Iran through talks because "we don't want to have to do more militarily than we have to."

Additional resources are heading in as the war has strained the troops and assets already in the region.

The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, had a fire in a laundry room on March 12, which forced it to return from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to undergo repairs at a naval base in Crete.

According to a Navy press release, the fire damaged seven berthing compartments aboard the ship, likely forcing hundreds of sailors to find new sleeping arrangements, and damaged personal effects.

While Ford is now in Croatia for time off, Navy leaders said the aircraft carrier will likely set records for the length of its deployment. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier alsoarrived in the regionin January.

"You're going to see a recordbreaking deployment by Ford," Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Navy's top officer, said during a Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion Tuesday.

Caudle said the aircraft carrier would probably go into the 11th month of deployed operations — a length of time that would put the ship returning to Norfolk, Virginia, around the end of May. The Ford wasin the Mediterraneanbefore beingsent to the Caribbeanto take part in the military operation in January thatousted Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro, and then was deployed to support the Iran war.

"For those that are not in the Navy, that's an extraordinary thing to even think about something of that kind of deployment length," Caudle said.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Thousands more US troops are heading to the Middle East

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of additional U.S. troops are heading to the Middle East as the Trump administration has insi...

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Hegseth says 'no punishment' for Army pilots who flew near Kid Rock's house

By Phil Stewart

March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Army pilots would not be punished after flying attack helicopters near singer Kid Rock's house over ‌the weekend in an apparent show of support for the vocal backer of President ‌Donald Trump.

Hegseth's announcement, in a social media post, followed remarks by Trump who appeared to play down the incident near the ​musician's house in Nashville, Tennessee.

"They probably shouldn't have been doing it. But they like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock," Trump said. "Maybe they were trying to defend him."

Reuters, citing a U.S. official, reported earlier on Tuesday that aircrew involved in the incident had been suspended after appearing to deviate from their mission.

The U.S. ‌military is supposed to be apolitical, ⁠loyal to the U.S. Constitution and independent of any party or political movement.

Rock posted a video on X on Saturday, standing in front of his swimming ⁠pool and saluting one of the helicopters.

Hegseth, who has a home in Tennessee, praised Kid Rock as he exonerated the crew.

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"Thank you @KidRock. @USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots," Hegseth wrote on X.

Military ​helicopters were ​also seen flying close to demonstrators in Nashville taking ​part in organized protests against Trump's policies ‌that were part of the anti-Trump "No Kings" rallies that took place across the country.

Reuters reported on Monday that the Army was investigating the incident and an Army spokesman declined further comment when contacted by Reuters on Tuesday.

"Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements," U.S. Army ‌spokesperson Major Montrell Russell said on Monday.

"Appropriate action will ​be taken if any violations are found. Until the review ​is complete, there will be no further ​comment," Russell added.

Since being sworn in last year, Hegseth has moved quickly to ‌reshape the military, firing top generals and admirals ​as he seeks to ​implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.

Democratic lawmakers have warned the Trump administration is increasingly trying to use the military for political gain.

In his post ​about the helicopters, Rock took a ‌swipe at Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, adding: "God Bless America and all those who ​have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by ​Jasper Ward; Editing by Nia Williams and Cynthia Osterman)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Hegseth says 'no punishment' for Army pilots who flew near Kid Rock's house

By Phil Stewart March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Army pilots would not...

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King of the Blue Bloods? How UConn can pass Duke this weekend

Who is and isn't a blue blood incollege basketballis often a heated debate. By definition a blue blood is a program with elite lineage.

UConn's blood line of elite success didn't get going until the 1990s. The Huskies reached six Sweet 16s in the decade before breaking through in 1999 with the program's first national title.

The Huskies arrive atthis week's Final Fourlooking to win aseventhnational title (and third in four years). It's a run unmatched in modern history and winning at a level we haven't seen since the Wizard of Westwood.

In-depth:2017 FBI probe sent coaches to prison, got others fired. This March Madness was a reunion

Final Four predictions:Who will advance to national championship game?

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentat Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

If UConn wins the 2026 national championship, they would move into sole possession of third place on the NCAA's all-time title list, trailing only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (8).

Is UConn a blue blood or a new blood? How about both.

Members of the USA TODAY Sports staff debated for an hour. "It's an inexact science," they said. Challenge accepted. Using that 1999 season as the marker, we looked at which programs have been the most successful by devising a super scientific formula:

• 20 points for national title

• 10 points for Final Four

• 6 points for regular-season conference title

• 5 points for Sweet 16

• -5 points for losing season

Here's how the math shook out:

10. Arizona (156 points)

• 10 Pac-12 regular season championships, 1 Big 12 title

• 14 Sweet 16s

• 2 Final Fours

• 0 national titles

• 0 losing seasons

• 709-250 (.739)

This might just be Arizona's first Final Four trip since 2001, but the Wildcats have been a model of consistency as one of the West's powerhouses.

See the best photos of Arizona basketball's run to 2026 Final Four

9. Villanova (158 points)

• 8 Big East regular season championships

• 8 Sweet 16s

• 4 Final Fours

• 2 national titles

• 2 losing seasons

• 659-291 (.694)

Life without Jay Wright hasn't been great, but his run of two titles in three years (2016, 2018) and two more Final Fours land the Wildcats on this list.

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8. Kentucky (185 points)

• 10 SEC regular season championships

• 14 Sweet 16s

• 4 Final Fours

• 1 national title

• 1 losing season

• 724-255 (.740)

A blue blood that still cracks this list. Kentucky fans will tell you they belong higher up on this list, but the numbers don't lie. Kentucky's eight national titles in program history are second-most in NCAA history, but the Wildcats have just one since 1999. In fact, UK hasn't been to a Final Four since 2015.

7. Florida (192 points)

• 7 SEC regular season championships

• 10 Sweet 16s

• 5 Final Fours

• 3 national titles

• 2 losing seasons

• 686-284 (.707)

Surprised to see Florida this low on the list, but sandwiched in between Billy Donovan and Todd Golden, the Mike White years were truly forgettable.

6. Gonzaga (234 points)

• 24 WCC regular season championships

• 14 Sweet 16s

• 2 Final Fours

• 0 losing seasons

• 801-163 (.831)

OK, so the 24 West Coast Conference titles are doing some heavy lifting here. But don't scoff at the 14 Sweet 16s. That's a remarkable run of steadiness, first as a Cinderella, then as a favorite. They played for the national title twice, losing to North Carolina in 2017 and Baylor in 2021. No one was won more (801) than the Zags.

5. Kansas (236 points)

• 11 Big 12 regular season championships

• 14 Sweet 16s

• 6 Final Fours

• 2 national titles

• 0 losing seasons

• 788-206 (.793)

No Sweet 16 appearances since winning the 2022 national title kept the Jayhawks from appearing higher on this list, that was actually the only Sweet 16 in the past seven tournaments for KU.

4. Michigan State (245 poins)

• 10 Big Ten regular season championships

• 17 Sweet 16s

• 8 Final Fours

• 1 national title

• 0 losing seasons

• 709-269 (.725)

The last Big Ten team to win a national title, Tom Izzo's staggering 17 Sweet 16s and eight Final Fours are a model of consistent excellence.

3. North Carolina (251 points)

• 11 ACC regular season championships

• 13 Sweet 16s

• 7 Final Fours

• 3 national titles

• 2 losing seasons

• 709-284 (.714)

Hubert Davisgot the Tar Heels to a national championship game in Year 1, and then a Sweet 16 in 2024, but back-to-back first round lossesdidn't cut itat a school with much higher aspirations, as their spot on this list illustrates.

2. UConn (270 points)

• 5 Big East regular season championships

• 11 Sweet 16s

• 8 Final Fours

• 6 national titles

• 3 losing seasons

• 682-279 (.710)

Not even its six national titles could push UConn to the top of this list. Those three straight losing seasons (2017-19) were the anchor weighing the Huskies down. But also, a lack of conference titles cost them the top spot. If UConn wins this year's title, they'll take the crown.

1.Duke(284 points)

• 9 ACC regular season championships

• 20 Sweet 16s

• 7 Final Fours

• 3 national titles

• 0 losing seasons

• 792-181 (.814)

Hate them all you want, Duke has earned its place atop college basketball.TwentySweet 16s! Now, the Blue Devils haven't won a national title since 2015, but they've been ranked No. 1 in seven of the past 10 seasons. Perhaps there should have been more March success, but the sheer volume of wins (nearly 800) is second only to Gonzaga.

Is Indiana still a blue blood?

Nah, the Hoosiers have bled out. Indiana has five national titles and eight Final Fours. But the last title was in 1987 and the last Final Four was in 2002. The program has had more coaches (four) than NCAA Tournament appearances (three) over the past 10 years. But hey, at least the football team is good now.

New blood or blue blood: Ranking college basketball's best teams

Based on our formula, calculating team success since 1999 (explained above).

1. Duke – 284

2. UConn – 270

3. North Carolina – 251

4. Michigan State – 245

5. Kansas – 236

6. Gonzaga – 234

7. Florida – 192

8. Kentucky – 185

9. Villanova – 158

10. Arizona – 156

11. UCLA – 110

12. Wisconsin – 105

13. Syracuse – 89

14. Ohio State – 80

15. Xavier – 78

16. Louisville – 77

17. Maryland – 73

18. Purdue – 70

19. Michigan – 69

20. Butler – 69

21. Virginia – 67

22. Illinois – 65

23. Tennessee – 59

24. Houston – 56

25. Texas – 53

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Blue bloods or new bloods? Ranking college basketball's top programs

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

King of the Blue Bloods? How UConn can pass Duke this weekend

Who is and isn't a blue blood incollege basketballis often a heated debate. By definition a blue blood is a program w...

Read More