Page 7 - Trump Administration

US senators back congressional reviews of Trump's military strikes on boats

Lawmakers from both parties said Sunday they support congressional reviews of US military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, citing a published report that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of a September 2 attack. The lawmakers said they did not know whether last week's Washington Post report was true, and some Republicans were sceptical, but they said attacking survivors of an initial missile strike poses serious legal concerns. This rises to the level of a war crime if it's true, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, when asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no long able to fight, said Congress does not have information that happened. He noted that leaders of the Armed Services Committee in both the House and Senate have opened investigations. Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be

US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members

The Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and paused issuing visas for people travelling on Afghan passports, seizing on the National Guard shooting in Washington to intensify efforts to rein in legal immigration. The suspect in Wednesday's shooting near the White House that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both of the West Virginia National Guard, is facing charges including first-degree murder. Investigators are seeking to find a motive for the attack. Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He applied for asylum during the Biden administration and was granted it this year under President Donald Trump, according to a group that assists with resettlement of Afghans who helped U.S. forces in their country. The Republican administration is promising to pause entry to the United States from some poor nations and review Afghans and other legal ...

Rubio, Witkoff to meet Ukrainian negotiators as Trump pushes to broker deal

Top Trump administration officials are meeting Ukrainian negotiators in Florida this weekend, pushing to broker an end to Russia's war in Ukraine and setting the stage for key talks planned this week in Moscow with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, were expected to sit down with a Ukrainian delegation to further hash out the details of a proposed peace framework talks that come at a sensitive moment for Ukraine as it continues to push back against Russian forces that invaded the country in 2022. On Friday, just before the Florida sit-down, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who up until that point had been the country's lead negotiator in talks with the US. The announcement came after Yermak's home was searched by anti-corruption investigators. Zelenskyy's government has been roiled by ...

Trump to 'permanently pause' migration from 'all third world' countries

The post didn't include specifics on what the president considered a "third world" country, an ill-defined term typically used to refer to poorer nations

Trump administration invests $10 bn in private firms for national security

The unusual government intervention into the private market is fuelling some concerns, including the opacity of the process, the potential for favouritism, corruption and market distortions

Decoded: Why Trump's DOGE office ended 8 months ahead of schedule

The Trump administration has shut down its Department of Government Efficiency, with officials confirming the unit no longer exists, even though it was meant to run for eight more months

Trump's attacks are worsening: Here's why he is becoming even more vengeful

Trump has made clear his intention to destroy more of his enemies and others who stand in his way. This is what Trump feels he must do to survive

Kash Patel under scrutiny for use of SWAT teams to protect his girlfriend

The FBI director's travel on government jets has contributed to growing questions inside the administration about whether he is using taxpayer-funded resources inappropriately

Trump says TV networks shouldn't 'enlarge', cites rise of left-wing outlets

Trump has ramped up his long-running attacks on the media, while his administration seeks to limit press access

US, Ukraine, European officials hold talks on Trump's plan to end war

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had until Thursday to approve the 28-point plan

US signals efforts to protect Nigeria's Christians after Trump's threat

President Donald Trump's administration is promoting efforts to work with Nigeria's government to counter violence against Christians, signalling a broader strategy since he ordered preparations for possible military action and warned that the US could go in guns-a-blazing to wipe out Islamic militants. A State Department official said this past week that plans involve much more than just the potential use of military force, describing an expansive approach that includes diplomatic tools, such as potential sanctions, but also assistance programs and intelligence sharing with the Nigerian government. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also met with Nigeria's national security adviser to discuss ways to stop the violence, posting photos on social media of the two of them shaking hands and smiling. It contrasted with Trump's threats this month to stop all assistance to Nigeria if its government continues to allow the killing of Christians. The efforts may support Trump's pledge to avoid mo

US senators slam Trump's Russia-Ukraine peace plan as rewarding aggression

US senators critical of President Donald Trump's approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war said Saturday that the peace plan he is pushing Kyiv to accept would only reward Moscow for its aggression and send a message to other leaders who have threatened their neighbours. The 28-point peace plan was crafted by the Trump administration and the Kremlin without Ukraine's involvement. It acquiesces to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week. The senators' opposition to the plan follows criticism from other US lawmakers, including some Republicans, none of whom have the power to block it. The senators, who spoke at an international security conference in Canada, included a Democrat, an Independent and a Republican who does not plan to seek reelection next year. It rewards aggression. This is pure and ..

Google to challenge US govt over alleged digital ad monopoly in court

Google will confront the US government's latest attempt to topple its internet empire in federal court on Friday as a judge considers how to prevent the abusive tactics that culminated in parts of its digital ad network being branded as an illegal monopoly. The courtroom showdown in Alexandria, Virginia, will pit lawyers from Google and the US Department of Justice against each other in closing proceedings focused on the complex technology that distributes millions of digital ads across the internet each day. After a lengthy trial last year, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled in April that pieces of Google's ad technology had been rigged in a way that made it an illegal monopoly. That set up another 11-day trial earlier this fall to help Brinkema determine how to remedy its anti-competitive practices. Friday's closing arguments will give both Google and the Justice Department a final chance to sway Brinkema before she issues a ruling that probably won't come until early next ..

Trump slams Democrats for 'seditious behaviour' in video to US troops

Donald Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of 'seditious behaviour' after they released a video asking US troops to uphold the Constitution and refuse illegal orders

US treasury to change tax credits in shift critics warn will hit immigrants

The US Treasury Department said Thursday it plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits as federal public benefits," which will bar some immigrant taxpayers from receiving them, even if they file and pay taxes and would otherwise qualify. Tax experts say immigrants brought to the US illegally by their parents as children, known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status are most likely to be affected by the planned change. Foreign workers and student visa holders as well as some families with children who are US citizens could also be affected, depending on how the rule is written, they say. The Treasury Department's announcement was the latest sign of how the Trump administration has been taking a whole of government approach when it comes to immigration enforcement and looking to departments across the federal government not just Homeland Security to come up with ways to help carry out the president's hardli

Mamdani willing to work with Trump on policies that benefit New Yorkers

Mamdani, said, 'I have many disagreements with the President, I believe that we should be relentless, pursue all avenues and all meetings that can make our city affordable for every single New Yorker'

US judge orders Trump admin to end National Guard deployment in DC

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to end its monthslong deployment of National Guard troops to help police the nation's capital. US District Judge Jia Cobb concluded that President Donald Trump's military takeover in Washington, D.C., violates the Constitution and illegally intrudes on local officials' authority to direct law enforcement in the district. She put her order on hold for 21 days to allow for an appeal, however. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to challenge the Guard deployments. He asked the judge to enjoin the White House from deploying Guard troops without the mayor's consent. In August, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a crime emergency in Washington. Within a month, more than 2,300 National Guard troops from eight states and the district were patrolling the city under the command of the Secretary of the Army. Trump also deployed hundreds of federal agents to assist in patrols. It's unclear

After months of pushback, Trump signs bill to make Epstein files public

President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts. Trump could have chosen to release many of the files on his own months ago. Democrats have used the Epstein' issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories, Trump said in a social media post as he announced he had signed the bill. Now, the bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019, within 30 days. It allows for redactions about Epstein's victims for ongoing federal investigations, but DOJ cannot withhold information due to embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity. It was a remarkable turn of events for what was once a

Going to be selling Saudi some of the greatest military equipment: Trump

Donald Trump noted that the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia has probably grown stronger

Sudan has become violent place, single biggest humanitarian crisis: Trump

Trump said that Sudan, considered a "great civilisation", can be fixed with the "cooperation and coordination" of countries