Page 15 - Donald Trump

Starting to talk to Cuba, says Trump as he moves to cut its oil supplies

President Donald Trump said the US was beginning to talk with Cuban leaders as his administration is putting greater pressure on the communist-run island and cutting off key oil supplies. The Republican president made the comment to reporters on Saturday night as he was flying to Florida. It comes in the wake of his moves in recent weeks to cut off supplies of oil from Venezuela and Mexico, which he suggested Saturday would force Cuba to the negotiating table. His goals with Cuba remain unclear, but Trump has turned more of his attention toward the island after his administration in early January captured Venezuela's then-President Nicolas Maduro and has been more aggressive in confronting nations that are adversaries of the US. Trump has predicted that the Cuban government is ready to fall. He did not offer any details on Saturday about what level of outreach his administration has had with Cuba recently or when, but simply said, "We're starting to talk to Cuba." His recent moves

Epstein files lead to resignation in Slovakia, calls for probe on Andrew

Newly disclosed US government files on Jeffrey Epstein have prompted the resignation of a top official in Slovakia and revived calls in Britain for a former prince to share what he knows with authorities about Epstein's links to powerful individuals around the world. The fallout comes just a day after the Justice Department began releasing a massive trove of files that offers more details about Epstein's interactions with the rich and famous after he served time for sex crimes in Florida. The prime minister of Slovakia accepted the resignation on Saturday of an official, Miroslav Lajcak, who once had a yearlong term as president of the UN General Assembly. Lajcak wasn't accused of wrongdoing but left his position after photos and emails revealed he had met with Epstein in the years after Epstein was released from jail. The disclosures also have revived questions about whether long-time Epstein friend Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, should cooperate with

Trump claims India will buy Venezuelan oil: 'We've already made that deal'

Donald Trump claimed India will buy Venezuelan oil instead of Iranian crude as Washington moves to cut Russia-linked oil trade and ease some sanctions on Venezuela

Feds to stay out of protests in Democratic-led cities unless asked: Trump

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests occurring in cities led by Democrats unless local authorities ask for federal help amid mounting criticism of his administration's immigration crackdown. On his social media site, Trump posted that "under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help." He provided no further details on how his order would affect operations by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement and DHS personnel, or other federal agencies, but added: "We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists." Trump said that in addition to his instructions to Noem he had directed "ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal ...

US govt agencies shut down as Trump-backed funding deal awaits House vote

The funding lapse is likely to be short, with the House returning from a week-long break on Monday and the Republican president fully supporting the spending package

New DOJ files show Lutnick planned Epstein island visit, stayed in touch

In a December 2012 email, Lutnick asked Epstein if it would be possible for his family and another to visit his island during a trip to the Caribbean

Journalist Don Lemon charged with civil rights crimes in anti-ICE protest

The United Nations chief is warning that the world body faces "imminent financial collapse" unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues - a message likely directed at the United States and the billions it owes. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a letter to all UN member nations obtained Friday by The Associated Press that cash for its regular operating budget could run out by July, which could dramatically affect its operations. "Either all member states honor their obligations to pay in full and on time - or member states must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financial collapse," he said. While Guterres didn't name any country in the letter, which was reported earlier by Reuters, the financial crisis comes as the US, traditionally the largest donor, has not paid its mandatory dues to the United Nations. The US now owes USD 2.196 billion to the UN's regular budget, plus it will owe USD 767 million for

Satellite photos show activity at Iran nuclear sites amid protest crackdown

As tensions soar over Iran's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests, satellite images show activity at two Iranian nuclear sites bombed last year by Israel and the United States that may be a sign of Tehran trying to obscure efforts to salvage any materials remaining there. The images from Planet Labs PBC show roofs have been built over two damaged buildings at the Isfahan and Natanz facilities, the first major activity noticeable by satellite at any of the country's stricken nuclear sites since Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June. Those coverings block satellites from seeing what's happening on the ground - right now the only way for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor the sites as Iran has prevented access. Iran has not publicly discussed the activity at the two sites. The IAEA, a watchdog agency of the United Nations, did not respond to requests for comment. US President Donald Trump repeatedly has demanded Iran negotiate a deal over its nuclear

Iran ready to make a deal, says Trump as US weighs military options

The updated menu of options includes scenarios that would place American forces directly on Iranian soil, such as targeted raids against key facilities

Donald Trump nominates BLS economist Brett Matsumoto to head agency

Matsumoto, who has a PhD in economics, arrived at BLS in 2015 and works within the Division of Price and Index Number Research

Here's what the latest Epstein documents reveal about his high-profile ties

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche signalled that this would be the last major release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein

Zelenskyy and Putin hate each other: Trump claims Russia-Ukraine deal close

Trump's remarks came a day after he disclosed that he had recently spoken with Putin and requested a temporary halt to attacks on Kyiv and other cities amid extreme winter conditions

US approves $6.67 billion arms sales to Israel, $9 billion to Saudi Arabia

The Trump administration has approved a massive new series of arms sales to Israel totalling USD 6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth USD 9 billion. Both sets of sales were announced by the State Department late Friday as tensions rise in the Middle East over the possibility of US military strikes in Iran. They were made public after the department notified Congress of its approval of the sales earlier Friday. The sales also were announced as President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his ceasefire plan for Gaza that is intended to end the Israel-Hamas conflict and reconstruct and redevelop the Palestinian territory after two years of war left it devastated, with tens of thousands dead. The Saudi sale is for 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment that "will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region," the ...

Trump warns Britain on China ties as Starmer hails progress in Beijing

As Western leaders reel from Trump's unpredictability, Starmer is the latest to head to China

A red-hot US economy under Donald Trump may not cool the way he hopes

Trump's high-growth push - fuelled by stimulus, deregulation and rate cuts - may heat up the US economy but risks persistent inflation and financial instability

Who is Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick to succeed Powell as Fed chair?

US President Donald Trump has nominated former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank after Jerome Powell steps down in May

Trump admin likely to back Kevin Warsh for next Federal Reserve chair

Trump has openly sought to shape Fed's rate policy through his appointments in an effort to find someone broadly acceptable to markets who'll also share his inclination to cut rates further and faster

US seeks to quell fears that Trump's 'Board of Peace' will replace UN

The Board of Peace is a core element of Trump's 20-point plan that helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last year

US eases sanctions, issues license for oil firms to operate in Venezuela

The license covers variety of activities that could expedite the movement of Venezuelan oil, including exporting, selling, storing, refining that oil, as long as the work is performed by a US entity

Trump admin plans to dial back ICE agents in Minnesota after protests

Tom Homan, Trump's 'border czar,' said that officials from Customs and Border Protection and ICE are working on a 'draw down plan' that hinges on cooperation from local, state and federal officials