Donald Trump Administration

After Iran and Venezuela, why is Cuba Trump's next foreign policy focus

The US is increasing economic pressure on Cuba amid an energy crisis and changing regional politics, raising questions about Washington's strategy after Venezuela and Iran

Trump pressures Latin American leaders to curb China's growing influence

The US imposed travel bans on three Chilean officials over the possible construction of a submarine fiber optic cable with China, while warning Peru against ceding control over a Chinese-built mega port. Under pressure from President Donald Trump, who had threatened to take the Panama Canal back under US control, the Panamanian government seized two ports at either end of the canal that had been run by a Hong Kong company. And when the US captured Venezuela's then-President Nicolas Maduro in January, China saw its extensive interests in the oil-rich country suddenly vulnerable. The Trump administration in recent weeks has taken forceful steps in one Latin American country after another aimed at curbing the influence and economic dominance of China. As part of his quest to restore US preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, the president is hosting Latin American leaders at his golf resort near Miami this weekend for a summit dubbed the "Shield of Americas." Supporters of the White Ho

US House blocks bid to halt Iran conflict, avoiding clash with Trump

A handful of Democrats joined Republicans to defeat an effort to force President Trump to go to Congress for approval to continue using force against Iran, while two GOP lawmakers backed it

'As dead as fried chicken': Why Trump fired Kristi Noem after ad row

US President Donald Trump grew angry after Noem told lawmakers that he had personally approved the campaign; Trump hadn't

US issues temporary licence to allow some Russian oil sales to India

Move comes months after President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on Indian goods in a bid to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to abandon energy purchases from Russia

Pentagon flags Anthropic as supply chain risk over AI chatbot Claude

The Trump administration is following through with its threat to designate artificial intelligence company Anthropic as a supply chain risk in an unprecedented move that could force other government contractors to stop using the AI chatbot, Claude. The Pentagon said in a statement Thursday that it has "officially informed Anthropic leadership that the company and its products are deemed a supply chain risk, effective immediately." The decision appeared to shut down the opportunity for further negotiation with Anthropic, nearly a week after President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth accused the company of endangering national security. Trump and Hegseth announced a series of threatened punishments last Friday, on the eve of the Iran war, after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company's products could be used for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons. The San Francisco-based company didn't immediately respond to a request

Panel reviewing Trump's White House ballroom project faces public outcry

A federal panel reviewing President Donald Trump's plans to build a ballroom at the White House got an earful Thursday from members of the public. Most speakers said they opposed the project and criticised it as too big and unnecessary. Only one of the 28 people who addressed the National Capital Planning Commission during the first two hours of public comment at its March meeting spoke in favour of the project. "It's ugly. It's just ugly. It's too much," said Kye Rowan, who described herself as an "ordinary citizen" with no architectural background. Other speakers asked the commission to properly deliberate before making a decision. "I urge you to send this back to the drawing board," said Diane Marlin, who recently retired as mayor of Urbana, Illinois. "Take the time to get this right." Concerns were also raised about Trump's plan to pay the estimated USD 400 million construction cost with money donated by wealthy people and corporations, many of whom have business before the ..

Sustained war in Iran may leave US vulnerable, says Antony Blinken

His remarks come on the fifth day of combat operations after the US and Israel launched a war with Iran, and as concerns grow that this conflict could end up becoming a war of attrition

Spain denies cooperating with US in West Asia, contradicting White House

A diplomatic tussle between the United States and Spain over the war in Iran intensified on Wednesday when the governments exchanged contradictory statements over the possible use of Spanish military bases by American armed forces for operations in the Middle East. Moments after a White House spokesperson said that the Spanish government in Madrid had agreed to help the US, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares came out and flatly denied that the European government had changed its position. "I can refute (the White House spokesperson)," Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. "The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one iota." The disagreement broke out on Tuesday when US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut off trade with Madrid, hours after the Spanish prime minister said that his government wouldn't "be complicit in something that is bad for the world." Albare

US judge orders refunds for companies after Trump tariffs struck down

In a defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that companies that paid tariffs struck down last month by Supreme Court are due refunds. Judge Richard Eaton of the US Court of International Trade wrote that "all importers of record'' were "entitled to benefit'' from the Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping double-digit import taxes President Donald Trump imposed last year under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court found those tariffs to be unconstitutional under the emergency powers law, including the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The majority ruled that the president could not unilaterally set and change tariffs because taxation power clearly belongs to Congress. In his ruling, Eaton wrote that he alone "will hear cases pertaining to the refund of IEEPA duties.'' The ruling offers some clarity about the tariff refund process, something the Supreme Cou

Over 17,500 Americans safely returned from West Asia amid Iran conflict: US

US State Department said that through its 24/7 Task Force, it has assisted nearly 6,500 Americans abroad by offering security guidance and travel assistance

Senate blocks bid to curb Trump's Iran war powers in first Congress vote

Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump's war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear US exit strategy. The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. The vote fell mostly along party lines, though Republican Sen Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favour and Democratic Sen John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against. The war powers resolution gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of US military members, countless other lives and the future of the region. Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave. "Today every senator - every single one - wi

How Trump weighed diplomacy, then decided to go to war against Iran

President Trump's embrace of military action in Iran was spurred by an Israeli leader determined to end diplomatic negotiations; few of the president's advisers voiced opposition

Israel, US launch pre-emptive strikes on Iran, dim hopes for nuclear talks

The attack, coming after Israel and Iran engaged in a 12-day air war in June, follows repeated US-Israeli warnings that they would strike again if Iran pressed ahead with its nuclear programmes

US, UK, China evacuate West Asia embassies as Trump 'not happy' on Iran

Earlier on Friday, the US told non-emergency staff at its embassy in Jerusalem that they're allowed to leave Israel, with the country being vulnerable to Iranian retaliation

OpenAI signs pact with Pentagon to deploy AI models on classified network

Sam Altman says OpenAI will deploy models on the US Department of War's classified network under strict safeguards, barring domestic mass surveillance and ensuring human control over force use

Trump raises possibility of 'friendly takeover' of Cuba after Havana talks

President Donald Trump said Friday that the US is in talks with Havana and raised the possibility of a "friendly takeover of Cuba" without offering any details on what he meant. Speaking to reporters outside the White House as he left for a trip to Texas, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in discussions with Cuban leaders "at a very high level." "The Cuban government is talking with us," the president said. "They have no money. They have no anything right now. But they're talking to us, and maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba." He added: "We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba." Trump didn't clarify his comments but seemed to indicate that the situation with Cuba, a communist-run island that has been among Washington's bitterest adversaries for decades, was coming to a critical point. The White House did not respond to requests for more information Friday. His remarks came two days after the Cuban government reported that a Florida-regist

Trump directs US government agencies to stop using Anthropic products

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to bar its contractors and their partners from any commercial activity with Anthropic

Trump says 'not happy' with the Iran nuke talks, hints at giving more time

US President Donald Trump said Friday he's "not happy" with the latest talks over Iran's nuclear programme but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East. He spoke a day after US envoys held another inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. As American forces gather in the region, Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal on its nuclear program, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. "I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We're talking later," Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. "We're not exactly happy with the way they're negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons." Trump was asked about the risks of the US getting involved in a drawn-out conflict if it strikes Iran. "I

UnitedHealthcare CEO killing: US drops death penalty bid against Mangione

US District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled in January that prosecutors can't pursue the capital murder charge, but that a jury could determine if Mangione caused CEO's death under two stalking laws