trump
Trump wants Putin to meet Zelenskyy face to face. That seems unlikely
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the White House, amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, in Washington, D.C., on Monday. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters) After several furious days of fawning flattery and intense diplomatic summitry, Donald Trump’s attempt to end Russia’s war on Ukraine appears to hinge on whether Vladimir Putin accepts Trump’s invitation for another tête-à-tête — this time, with the man whose country he invaded, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Kremlin’s initial reaction to the invite was diplomatic but non-committal. Rather than anRead more
Trump threatens Smithsonian museums in escalating attacks on social media
The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, home of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is shown in Washington, D.C. U.S. President Donald Trump is attacking the Smithsonian Institution in social media posts. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press) U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday he will pressure the Smithsonian Institution — a premier museum, education and research complex for American history and culture — to accept his demands, just like he did with colleges and universities by threatening to cut federal funding. “IRead more
Zelenskyy is back in Trump’s good books as the U.S. pushes for peace in Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday in Washington, D.C. This trip was a vast improvement over Zelenskyy’s last visit. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the Oval Office, he endured one of the most humiliating diplomatic disputes ever captured on camera, as he was chewed out by his American counterpart and dressed down for not dressing up. Monday’s encounter between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump was a vast improvement over that last Oval Office thrashing, whichRead more
Trump orders movement of 2 nuclear subs after Russian official’s ‘inflammatory’ remarks
U.S. President Donald Trump points a finger as he delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura/Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in “the appropriate regions” in response to remarks from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries. Security analysts called Trump’s move a rhetorical escalation with Moscow but not necessarily a military one, given that the United States already has nuclear-powered submarines that are deployed and capable of striking Russia. Medvedev onRead more
Trump says Putin must end killing in Ukraine within days
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days to stop the killing in Ukraine, shortening a 50-day deadline he had given the Russian leader two weeks ago. Russia fired an overnight barrage of more than 300 drones, four cruise missiles and three ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said, as the Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities continued despite Trump’s pressure for it to end. U.S.-led peace efforts have also failed to gain momentum. Trump had said on July 14 that heRead more
Republican senator says Trump’s 51st state rhetoric not ‘constructive’ during Ottawa visit
A U.S. Republican senator says she doesn’t think President Donald Trump’s past comments about making Canada the 51st state are helpful as the two countries are locked in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was in Ottawa as part of a bipartisan delegation meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday morning. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Murkowski was asked about Trump’s taunts about Canada becoming part of the U.S. “I cannot explain President Trump’s rhetoric about the 51st state. That is his statementRead more
Trump’s Ukraine weapons pivot shows he’s frustrated with Putin. But he’s not applying maximum pressure yet
As Donald Trump sat in the Oval Office on Monday and announced that NATO would be buying U.S. weapons and shipping them to Kyiv, it was a major pivot for the U.S. president and for an administration that just two weeks ago halted the supply of some military hardware, including air defence missiles which were already en route to Ukraine. But while it was a sign that Trump has grown frustrated by Vladimir Putin’s recalcitrance, the announcement was also a signal that Trump is unwilling to go all-in to pressure Russia’s president.Read more
Trump announces tariff rates for numerous countries – but not Canada
U.S. President Donald Trump sent letters to governments around the world on Monday informing them of the tariff rates he would impose starting Aug. 1 — though Canada’s July 21 deadline to reach a deal appears to remain. Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea beginning next month, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched earlier this year. The letters sent to 14 countries so far — which included smaller U.S. exporters, like Serbia, Thailand and TunisiaRead more
Trump hits Brazil with 50% tariff over ‘witch hunt’ trial of ex-leader Bolsonaro
U.S. President Donald Trump singled out Brazil for import taxes of 50 per cent on Wednesday for its treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro, suggesting that personal grudges rather than simple economics are playing a part in the U.S. leader’s use of tariffs. The president posted form letters to his social media account Wednesday informing certain countries that they would be facing tariff rates in the double digits starting Aug. 1. Trump avoided his standard form letter with Brazil, specifically tying his tariffs there to the trial of Bolsonaro, who is charged with tryingRead more
U.S. House passes Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill by narrow margin
U.S. House Speaker Johnson gavels the passing of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP/Getty Images) U.S. House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s big multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage on Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline. The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on aRead more