Page 9 - Donald Trump Administration

Trump appoints Todd Blanche acting attorney general after Pam Bondi's exit

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Pam Bondi is out as his attorney general, ending the contentious tenure of a loyalist who upended the Justice Department's culture of independence from the White House, oversaw large-scale firings of career employees and moved aggressively to investigate the Republican president's perceived enemies. The departure followed months of scrutiny over the Justice Department's handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation and failed efforts to meet Trump's unwavering demands for criminal cases against his adversaries. As Trump's own frustrations mounted, he began privately discussing firing Bondi, people familiar with the matter say. "Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year," Trump said in a statement. He added, "We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced a

Hegseth asks US Army Chief Gen Randy George to step down: Pentagon

The move comes as the US and Israel continue a war against Iran, a mission that has recently seen the US send thousands of troops into the region for a possible ground operation

US Supreme Court poised to reject Trump's birthright citizenship limits

The Supreme Court seemed poised Wednesday to reject US President Donald Trump's restrictions on birthright citizenship in a momentous case that was magnified by his unparalleled presence in the courtroom. Conservative and liberal justices questioned whether Trump's order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens comports with either the Constitution or federal law. Arguments lasted more than two hours in a crowded courtroom that included not only Trump, the first sitting president to attend arguments at the nation's highest court, but also Attorney General Pam Bondi and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and in seats reserved for the justices' guests, actor Robert De Niro. The case frames another test of Trump's assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court with a conservative majority and a robust view of presidential power, which has largely ruled in the Republican president

US eyes alternatives after WTO talks fail on ecommerce duty moratorium

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington would work with like-minded partners outside the WTO if the moratorium is not restored

US going to achieve objective in weeks, Iran at its weakest point: Rubio

US Secretary of State said Prez Trump has several options on the table to prevent Iran's hegemony over the strait

Trump claims talks with Iran's parliamentary speaker; Tehran denies

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran's energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war with Tehran is not reached "shortly." Trump said the US is negotiating with Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in an interview with the New York Post published Monday. The former Revolutionary Guard commander was previously floated as Washington's negotiating partner, but has denied Iran is talking to the US and said Pakistan-facilitated discussions were merely a cover for American troop deployments. Meanwhile, Israel has invaded southern Lebanon to push out Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, who have fired rockets and drones across the border, in a campaign that Israeli officials suggest could become a prolonged occupation. Three UN peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon in less than 24 hours, but it's unclear who was responsible. US stocks edged higher in shaky trading Mond

US going to 'retake' control of Hormuz Strait, says Scott Bessent

His remarks come against a backdrop of heightened global concern over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for nearly one-fifth of world oil flows

Trump thanks Belarus Prez for releasing over '500 political prisoners'

Trump said his envoy, John Coale, secured the release of an additional 250 detainees following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko

US unveils 'Greater North America' strategy to redefine regional security

Plan outlines expanded northern security perimeter, urges allies to share defence responsibilities

Trump suggests US could seize Iran's Kharg Island amid rising tensions

US President Donald Trump has raised the idea of American forces seizing Iran's Kharg Island, its main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. The comment by Trump came in an interview published early Monday by The Financial Times. "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options," Trump told the newspaper. "It would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while." Asked about Iranian defences there, he said: "I don't think they have any defense. We could take it very easily." The US already launched airstrikes once it said targeted military positions on the island. Iran has threatened to launch its own ground invasion of Gulf Arab countries and new attacks if US troops land on its territory. Trump said that Iran's parliament speaker authorised the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The comment by Trump in the interview is the latest signal by the Americans of Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf's importance

Trump wants his legacy to be as 'great peacemaker', cites ending wars

He also outlined the scale of potential US military action on Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic talks to end the conflict

Trump signs executive action to pay TSA workers amid DHS funding impasse

President Donald Trump on Friday signed a promised executive action that will pay Transportation Security Administration employees, after a deal that sought to do the same stalled in Congress. Trump signed the action with an eye toward easing long security lines at many of nation's top airports. "America's air travel system has reached its breaking point," Trump said in the memo authorizing the payments. House Republicans are rejecting a Senate-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, a revolt that risks delaying a resolution to the funding impasse now in its 42nd day that has created long lines at many of the nation's airports. "This gambit that was done last night is a joke," House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday. Johnson said that instead House Republicans would seek to pass a bill that would fund the entire department at current levels until May 22. He also said that he had spoken with President Donald Trump about the House Republican plan and the ...

US signals to allies no immediate invasion of Iran, keeps options open

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the US can achieve its objectives in Iran without the use of ground troops but their presence gives Trump options

Trump wants his name on every dollar. Why signatories on currency matter

US Department of the Treasury has announced that Trump's signature will soon appear on US currency which till now features the signature of the Treasury secretary and the treasurer

US court questions Trump administration's ban on Anthropic AI's usage

Anthropic sued last month to block the Pentagon's declaration, escalating a high-stakes dispute over safeguards on AI technology used by the military

Trump admin launches probes into Harvard over antisemitism, admissions

If found to be in violation of the law, the department can strip Harvard of its federal funding and render the college ineligible for federal financial aid, steps threatened in the past

Musk must face lawsuit over alleged unconstitutional role as Trump advisor

It's one of a handful of lawsuits challenging actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency project last year that have outlasted Musk's tenure in the US government

Trump's 48-hour Iran ultimatum raises risk of reckless escalation

The logic is obvious: Having started the war, Trump can now only win it by continuing until, at a minimum, Iran is unable to endanger tanker traffic through Hormuz

Trump's tariff playbook returns, this time with lawyering not legitimacy

The unusually rapid pace of these 76 inquiries raises concerns over due process, with expectations that responses may align closely with the Trump administration's preferred outcomes

Colombian president Gustavo Petro named 'priority target' in US drug probe

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been designated a "priority target" by the US Drug Enforcement Administration as federal prosecutors in New York probe his alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to people familiar with the matter and records seen by The Associated Press. DEA records show Petro has surfaced in multiple investigations dating to 2022, many based on interviews with confidential informants. The alleged crimes the DEA has investigated include his possible dealings with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, a scheme to leverage his "total peace" plan to benefit prominent traffickers who contributed to his presidential campaign. The records also suggest the use of law enforcement to smuggle cocaine and fentanyl through Colombian ports. The "priority target" label is reserved for suspects DEA deems to have a "significant impact" on the drug trade. An inquiry in early stages ---------------------------- In recent months, prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have been question