NPR News: 06-13-2026 4AM EDT

Amy Held· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. President Trump says the US military has killed the alleged leader of a Venezuelan gang involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking. John Otis reports.

John Otis0:13

Trump announced on social media that the US Southern Command had carried out a, quote, "swift and kinetic strike" that executed Hector Rustanford Guerrero Flores, also known as Nino Guerrero. He was the leader of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that branched out to become a multinational crime organization by recruiting Venezuelan migrants. Tren de Aragua eventually expanded to the United States, where it carried out a wave of robberies and is suspected in the shooting of two New York police officers. The president's social media post included a video showing a projectile destroying a building, though it was unclear where the attack took place. For NPR News, I'm John Otis.

Amy Held· Host0:58

Crowds gathered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. [chanting] Chanting, "Take it down," but it's still up, Trump's name. Even though a court-ordered deadline to take it down Friday has now passed, the Trump administration is asking for an extension until noon Saturday, citing stormy weather. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Democrat from Ohio, spoke earlier Friday from the site.

Joyce Beatty· Soundbite1:26

The Kennedy Center was here and doing fine before Donald Trump,