Page 9 - Trump Govt

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

Ex-Trump CFO faces possible perjury charge over civil fraud trial testimony

Manhattan prosecutors are weighing a potential perjury charge against Donald Trump's former corporate finance chief in connection with testimony he gave in October at the ex-president's New York civil fraud trial, two people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. Allen Weisselberg, who had been the longtime chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, testified for two days at the trial, answering questions about allegations that Trump lied about his wealth on financial statements given to banks and insurance companies. It wasn't clear what part of Weisselberg's testimony drew the scrutiny of prosecutors in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. A decision on charging Weisselberg didn't appear imminent. Bragg's office was in the preliminary stages of discussions, internally and with Weisselberg's legal team, the people said. They may not necessarily lead to a criminal charge. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition

Judge criticises Trump's witness, refuses request to toss fraud lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump has lost his latest bid to end the business fraud lawsuit he faces in New York as he campaigns to reclaim the White House. Judge Arthur Engoron issued a written ruling on Monday denying the Republican's latest request for a verdict in his favour in a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. And in doing so, the judge dismissed the credibility of one of Trump's expert witnesses at the trial, a professor who testified that he saw no fraud in the former president's financial statements. The trial is centred on allegations Trump and other company officials exaggerated his wealth and inflated the value of his assets to secure loans and close business deals. In the three-page ruling, Engoron wrote that the most glaring flaw of Trump's argument was to assume that the testimony provided by Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University, and other expert witnesses would be accepted by the court as true and accurate. Bartov is a .

Trump's lawyers seek to postpone documents trial after 2024 election

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked a judge to postpone his classified documents trial until after next year's presidential election, saying they have not received all the records they need to review to prepare his defence. The trial on charges of illegally hoarding classified documents, among four criminal cases the Republican former president is facing, is currently scheduled for May 20, 2024, in Florida. In a motion filed late Wednesday, Trump's lawyers urged US District Judge Aileen Cannon to push back the trial until at least mid-November 2024. The presidential election is set for November 5, 2024, with Trump currently leading the GOP field in the months before the primary season. The defence lawyers argued that a postponement was necessary because of scheduling conflicts another federal trial is scheduled for March 2024 in Washington, and one of Trump's attorneys, Christopher Kise, is also representing him in an ongoing civil fraud trial in New York and ...

Trump joins Michigan battleground to compete with Biden for union votes

As his Republican rivals gather onstage in California for their second primary debate, former President Donald Trump will be in battleground Michigan on Wednesday night working to win over blue-collar voters in the midst of an autoworkers' strike. Trump's trip comes a day after President Joe Biden became the first sitting president in US history to walk a picket line as he joined United Auto Workers in Detroit. The union is pushing for higher wages, shorter work weeks and assurances from the country's top automakers that new electric vehicle jobs will be unionised. The dueling appearances reflect what will likely be a chief dynamic of the 2024 general election, which is increasingly looking like a rematch between Trump and Biden. Michigan is expected to be a critical battleground state as both candidates try to paint themselves as champions of the working class. Trump is scheduled to deliver primetime remarks at Drake Enterprises, a non-unionised auto parts supplier in Clinton ...

Past trials suggest certain pitfalls for Georgia judge handling Trump case

Judge Peter Cahill hardly slept during the six weeks he presided over the murder trial of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. Cameras in the courtroom broadcast the veteran Minnesota judge's every word to a global audience. Outside, the nation waited nervously for the outcome of a slaying that galvanized the movement for racial justice. When you're in a high-profile trial, you feel the stress, you feel the pressure even if you're not reading the papers, he told an audience of judges last year at The National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. Cahill's experience provides a glimpse of the additional scrutiny and strain that await the four judges overseeing the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump. But the challenge facing Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee in Georgia is unlike any of the others. For one, he is the only judge so far to allow television cameras in the courtroom to broadcast hearings and any trials. He is presiding over a ..

Judge validates Trump impeachment inquiry, orders Mueller document release

US District Judge Howell, handing a major victory to the Democratic-led House of Representatives, undercut an argument that Trump's fellow Republicans have made in attacking the impeachment inquiry

Donald Trump blasts inquiry as 'lynching' as key witness testifies

Trump has relentlessly attacked the investigation as part of a broader partisan "witch hunt" against him

Donald Trump's 15% tariffs on Chinese goods worth $112 bn take effect

After Sunday's tariff hike, 87% of textiles and clothing from China and 52% of shoes will be subject to import taxes

US govt launches $40 mn plan to counter anti-US campaign by China, Russia

To be led by the Department of State, the announcement of such an initiative comes in the wake of the massive anti-US campaign

Pune builder remembers Trump as 'dedicated businessman'

The building, comprising two glass facade towers of 23 storey, offer 46 single-floor residences and stands on 2.5 acres of land in Kalyaninagar