Page 452 - Donald Trump

Donald Trump fraud verdict: $364 mn penalty in New York civil fraud case

A New York judge has ruled against Donald Trump, imposing a USD 364 million penalty over what the judge ruled was a yearslong scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated the former president's wealth. Trump also was barred from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years. Judge Arthur Engoron issued his decision after a two-and-a-half-month trial that saw the Republican presidential front-runner bristling under oath that he was the victim of a rigged legal system. The stiff penalty was a victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, who sued Trump over what she said was not just harmless bragging but years of deceptive practices as he built the multinational collection of skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties that catapulted him to wealth, fame and the White House. Trump's lawyers had said even before the verdict that they would appeal.

Trump is at odds with Nato - and reality

Mr Trump's mishandling of Covid and election denial were uniquely Trumpian - the behaviour of a man who doesn't like to accept reality when it isn't what he wants it to be

Trump wants to fire thousands of govt workers, liberals prepare for his win

Former President Donald Trump has plans to radically reshape the federal government if he returns to the White House, from promising to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally to abolishing government agencies and firing tens of thousands of workers and replacing them with loyalists. Liberal organizations in Washington are backing President Joe Biden and say they expect Trump to lose. But they're quietly trying to install roadblocks just in case. A collection of activists, advocates and legal experts is promoting new federal rules to limit presidential power while urging Biden's White House to do more to protect his accomplishments and limit Trump in a possible second term. All of that is happening with far less fanfare than plans by Trump supporters to create a conservative government-in-waiting via an effort known as Project 2025. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal government's chief human resources agency, will finalize a rule by April against reclassifyi

Trump laments NY criminal trial, calls it election interference by Biden

Trump's lawyer called the decision "completely election interference," reiterating Trump's remarks that he had made on his way into the courtroom

Donald Trump 2020 election case: I'm not on trial, says Fani Willis

For roughly two hours, Willis then fought for her professional reputation and the historic case she brought against the former president seeking a return to the White House

Biden to host Polish prez, prime minister on March 12, Nato anniversary

US President Joe Biden will host Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk for a meeting in Washington on March 12, the 25th anniversary of Poland's joining the NATO Alliance, the White House said Thursday. A statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the leaders will reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's brutal war of conquest. The struggle is taking place across Poland's eastern border, on NATO's eastern flank. The declaration of support has special significant now, when political infighting in US Congress is stalling approval of a USD 60 billion aid package for Kyiv. The meeting will underscore that Washington and Warsaw share an ironclad commitment to the NATO Alliance, which makes us all safer, the statement said, adding that the three leaders will coordinate ahead of the NATO Summit in Washington in July. Poland last year spent some 4% of its GDP on defense and has earmarked some 3.1% of its 2024 GDP for the

Russia prefers Biden to Trump, says Putin; calls US prez more experienced

President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would prefer to see US President Joe Biden win a second term, describing him as more experienced and predictable than Donald Trump even though Moscow strongly disagrees with the current administration's policies. Putin's comments during an interview with Russian state television Wednesday were his first about the upcoming US presidential election, likely to pit Biden against Trump. They were rare praise for Biden, a fierce critic of the Russian leader who has frequently lauded Trump. Biden, he's more experienced, more predictable, he's a politician of the old formation, Putin said, when asked which candidate would be better for Russia. But we will work with any US leader whom the American people trust. Putin's motives for saying Biden is a better choice for Russia were unclear, but Trump immediately sought to turn it in his favor at a campaign rally Wednesday night, hailing the statement as a great compliment. Trump and Putin have freque

Trump's hush-money trial will begin in 39 days with jury selection: Judge

Donald Trump's hush-money trial will go ahead as scheduled with jury selection starting on March 25, a judge ruled on Thursday, turning aside requests for a delay from the former president's defense lawyers. In leaving the trial date intact, Judge Juan Manuel Merchan took advantage of a delay in a separate prosecution in Washington charging Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That case has been effectively on hold pending the outcome of an appeal from Trump. The decision means that a case centered on years-old accusations that Trump sought to bury stories about extramarital affairs that arose during his 2016 presidential campaign will be the first of the four criminal prosecutions against Trump to proceed to trial. Other cases charge him seeking to undo the election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate. Trump's attorneys blasted the decision to keep the March date, complaining that Trump will have to stand tria

US to confront Trump-driven turmoil at this yr's Munich Security Conference

Long regarded as a celebration of the US-led post-World War II international order, the Munich Security Conference this year will be more of a reflection of America's political turmoil. The annual event kicks off Friday after former President Donald Trump threatened not to come to the defence of European allies in the event of an attack by Russia. There also are broad concerns about whether the US will be able to keep providing billions of dollars in defence assistance for Ukraine and about increasing American isolation over its support for Israel's war in Gaza. As if that weren't enough, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be accompanied to the conference by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas just days after he was impeached by the Republican-led House on charges that Democrats say are specious. The increasingly dire developments in Ukraine and Gaza, coupled with Trump's inflammatory comments, mean the event may be overshadowed by the

Trump stands by remarks about not defending Nato members after backlash

Former President Donald Trump again said Wednesday that if he returns to the White House, he would not defend NATO members that don't meet defence spending targets, days after he set off alarms in Europe by suggesting he would tell Russia to attack NATO allies he considered delinquent. Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina, he retold the story of his alleged conversation with the head of a NATO member country that had not met its obligations. This time, though, he left out the line that drew the most outrage encouraging Russia to do whatever the hell they want. Look, if they're not going to pay, we're not going to protect. OK? he said Wednesday. Trump hewed closer than usual to his prepared remarks after a freewheeling event days earlier in which he also drew backlash for mocking his Republican rival Nikki Haley's husband for being missing from the campaign trail. He also revised his comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has often praised as tough and ..

Russia prefers Biden to Trump because he's 'more experienced, predictable'

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia would prefer to see President Joe Biden win a second term, describing him as more experienced than Donald Trump. Speaking in an interview with a correspondent of Russian state television on Wednesday, Putin declared that he would work with any US leader who is elected, but noted unequivocally that he would prefer Biden's victory when asked who would be a better choice from the point of view of Russia. Biden, he's more experienced, more predictable, he's a politician of the old formation, Putin said. But we will work with any US leader whom the American people trust. Asked about speculation on Biden's health issues, Putin responded I'm not a doctor and I don't consider it proper to comment on that. Biden's team worked to alleviate Democratic concerns over alarms raised by a special counsel about Biden's age and memory. They came in a report determining that Biden would not be charged with any criminal activity for possessing classified .

Former Trump advisor Kushner defends business dealings with Saudi Arabia

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's former White House advisor and his son-in-law, defended on Tuesday his business dealings after leaving government with the Saudi crown prince who was implicated in the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Kushner worked on a wide range of issues and policies in the Trump administration, including Middle East peace efforts, and developed a relationship with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has overseen social and economic reforms and a far-reaching crackdown on dissent in the kingdom. After Kushner left the White House, he started a private equity firm that received a reported USD 2 billion investment from the sovereign wealth fund controlled by Prince Mohammed, drawing scrutiny from Democrats. Kushner, speaking at a summit in Miami on Tuesday sponsored by media company Axios, said he followed every law and ethics rule. He dismissed the idea of there being any concerns about the appearance of a conflict of intere

In a historic rebuke, House Republicans impeach Alejandro Mayorkas

The US House voted on Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with the Republican majority determined to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the US-Mexico border after failing last week in a politically embarrassing setback. The evening roll call proved tight, with Speaker Mike Johnson's threadbare GOP majority unable to handle many defectors or absences in the face of staunch Democratic opposition to impeaching Mayorkas, the first Cabinet secretary facing charges in nearly 150 years. In a historic rebuke, the House impeached Mayorkas 214-213. With the return of Majority Leader Steve Scalise to bolster the GOP's numbers after being away from Washington for cancer care and a Northeastern storm impacting some others, Republicans recouped -- despite dissent from their own ranks. President Joe Biden said in a statement released after the vote, "History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional ...

Trump sowing doubts about US commitment to Nato is 'un-American': Biden

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Donald Trump's comments calling into question the US commitment to defend its NATO allies from attack were "dangerous" and "un-American", seizing on the former president's comments that sowed fresh fears among US partners about its dependability on the global stage. Trump, the frontrunner in the US for the Republican Party's nomination this year, said on Saturday that he once warned that he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that are "delinquent" in devoting two per cent of their gross domestic product to defence. It was the latest instance in which the former president seemed to side with an authoritarian state over America's democratic allies. Speaking from the White House as he encouraged the House to take up a Senate-passed aid bill to fund Ukraine's efforts to hold off a two-year Russian invasion, Biden said Trump's comments about the mutual defence pact were "dangerous and shocking". "The whole world heard it a

Prez Biden forms task force to avoid mishandling of classified documents

President Joe Biden on Monday launched a task force aimed at addressing the "systemic" problem of mishandling classified information during presidential transitions, days after a Justice Department special counsel's sharply critical report said he had done just that. The Presidential Records Transition Task Force will study past transitions to determine best practices for safeguarding classified information from an outgoing administration, the White House said. It will also assess the need for changes to existing policies and procedures to prevent the removal of sensitive information that by law should be kept with the National Archives and Records Administration. The report from special counsel Robert Hur listed dozens of sensitive documents found at Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware, and at his former Washington office. The papers were marked as classified or later assessed to contain classified information. The majority of the documents, Hur's report stated, appeared to have

US President Biden slams Trump for his comments on Nikki Haley's husband

US President Joe Biden has slammed his predecessor Donald Trump for dragging Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's husband into the swirl of personal attacks. Haley's husband Major Michael Haley, a commissioned officer with the South Carolina National Guard, is currently on a year-long deployment with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Bridge, which is providing support in the Horn of Africa. He deployed in June. Trump at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday questioned the whereabouts of Michael Haley. Where's her husband? Oh, he's away... What happened to her husband? Where is he? He's gone, Trump said at his rally in Conway in South Carolina, his first visit to the state this year. The answer is that Major Haley is abroad, serving his country right now. We know he thinks our troops are 'suckers,' but this guy wouldn't know about service to his country if it slapped him in the face, Biden said in a tweet on Sunday. Haley, 52, the only candidate against Trum

Nato chief warns, says Trump puts safety of US troops, allies at risk

The head of the NATO military alliance warned on Sunday that Donald Trump was putting the safety of US troops and their allies at risk after the Republican presidential frontrunner said Russia should be able to do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO members who don't meet their defence spending targets. "Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement. Speaking on Saturday at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recalled how as president he told an unidentified NATO member that he would "encourage" Russia to do as it wishes in cases of NATO allies who are "delinquent". "You didn't pay? You're delinquent?" Trump recounted saying. "No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills." Trump's remarks caused deep ...

Warned Nato allies to spend more on defence to counter Russia: Donald Trump

Republican front-runner Donald Trump said Saturday that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to countries that are delinquent as he ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and longstanding international alliances. Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified NATO member who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliance's defense spending targets. But this time, Trump went further, saying had told the member that he would, in fact, encourage Russia to do as it wishes in that case. You didn't pay? You're delinquent?' Trump recounted saying. No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.' NATO allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold

US allies worry nation growing less dependable, whether Trump or Biden wins

As chances rise of a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch in the US presidential election race, America's allies are bracing for a bumpy ride. Many worry that a second term for Trump would be an earthquake, but tremors already abound and concerns are rising that the US could grow less dependable regardless of who wins. With a divided electorate and gridlock in Congress, the next American president could easily become consumed by manifold challenges at home before even beginning to address flashpoints around the world from Ukraine to the Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron's recent verdict was blunt: America's first priority is itself. The first Trump administration stress-tested the bonds between the US and its allies, particularly in Europe. Trump derided the leaders of some friendly nations, including Germany's Angela Merkel and Britain's Theresa May, while praising authoritarians such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He has calle

Haley challenges Trump on her home turf as Republican primary looms

With two weeks to go before the South Carolina Republican primary, Nikki Haley is trying to challenge Donald Trump on her home turf while the former president tries to quash his last major rival's narrow path to the nomination. Trump, turning his campaign focus to the southern state days after an easy victory in Nevada, is expected to rev up his supporters at a Saturday afternoon rally in Conway, near Myrtle Beach. In his rally speech, Trump insulted Haley by using his derisive nickname for her, "Birdbrain", and lavished praise on South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who endorsed him early. Trump claimed that he selected Haley to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations in 2017 and represent America on the world stage only because he was motivated to make McMaster -- her second-in-command -- the governor of South Carolina. "She did a job. She was fine. She was OK. But I didn't put here there because I wanted her there at the United Nations," he said. "I wanted to take your .