Page 6 - White House

Trump takes surprise White House roof walk to view new projects underway

President Donald Trump's day began typically enough, with a television interview and a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Then it took an unexpected and unusual turn when he appeared on the roof of the White House's West Wing. Late Tuesday morning, Trump emerged from a door connected to the State Dining Room and stepped onto the roof above the press briefing room and west colonnade that walls the Rose Garden. He spent nearly 20 minutes surveying the rooftop and the grounds below, including a newly paved makeover of the Rose Garden. Reporters, tipped off by the out-of-the-ordinary positioning of snipers above the Oval Office, shouted questions from below. One called out: Sir, why are you on the roof? Taking a little walk, Trump shouted back. It's good for your health. Trump walked with a small group that included James McCrery, architect of the newly announced USD 200 million ballroom project. They moved slowly, with Trump frequently gesturing and pointing at the ro

Trump tariff impact: Govt hopeful US will modify tariffs downwards

Despite tensions over tariffs, India continues diplomatic engagement with the US and remains hopeful that the White House will reconsider its 25% tariff on Indian goods

'Was fighting lunatics like you': Trump hits back at reporter on tariffs

During a White House press briefing, US President Donald Trump defended his delayed action on tariffs, saying he 'was fighting lunatics like you' when pressed by a reporter on the issue

Trump to build $200 million White House ballroom through private funding

The new ballroom will be privately funded by US President Donald Trump and other donors; the venue is expected to seat 650 guests, replacing temporary South Lawn tents

Trump ended conflicts including India-Pak, deserves Nobel Peace Prize: WH

Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said, claiming that the US President ended several conflicts around the world including the one between India and Pakistan. Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire after a "long night" of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions that he helped settle the tensions between the two countries. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, Leavitt said that Trump has now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia. She said that the president has brokered, on average, about one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his six months in office. "It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she said. Trump has ...

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts

The Federal Reserve left its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a cut. The Fed's decision Wednesday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3 per cent, where it has stood after the central bank reduced it three times last year. Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed would likely have cut rates already if not for Trump's sweeping tariffs. Powell and other Fed officials say they want to see how Trump's duties on imports will impact inflation and the broader economy. So far the duties have lifted costs of some goods, such as appliances, furniture, and toys, and overall inflation has risen a bit, though less than many economists had expected. There were some signs of splits in the Fed's ranks: Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman voted to reduce borrowing costs, while 9 officials, including Powell, favoured standing pat. It is the first time in more than three decades that two of t

Harvard to submit staff employment forms amid federal scrutiny drive

Harvard said it won't share records for students employed in roles only available to students and that it's evaluating whether such a request complies with privacy protection obligations

Trump struggles to shake off Epstein scandal once stoked by his own allies

Despite the sun bearing down on him and the sweat beading across his face, President Donald Trump still lingered with reporters lined up outside the White House on Friday. He was leaving on a trip to Scotland, where he would visit his golf courses, and he wanted to talk about how his administration just finished the best six months ever. But over and over, the journalists kept asking Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein case and whether he would pardon the disgraced financier's imprisoned accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. People should really focus on how well the country is doing, Trump insisted. He shut down another question by saying, I don't want to talk about that. It was another example of how the Epstein saga and his administration's disjointed approach to it has shadowed Trump when he's otherwise at the height of his influence. He's enacted a vast legislative agenda, reached trade deals with key countries and tightened his grip across the federal government. Yet he's struggled t

Bondi told Trump in May his name appeared multiple times in Epstein files

Trump was briefed in May on his name appearing in Epstein files. During the meeting, Bondi also told Trump that names of several other high-profile individuals had been mentioned in the files

White House to launch plan to boost US AI globally, limit foreign curbs

The plan will 'focus on empowering American workers through AI-enabled job creation and industry breakthroughs'

WHCA slams White House for excluding WSJ from Scotland trip over coverage

The press pool, made up of journalists from multiple outlets who travel with the President and report for the wider White House press corps, is facing growing pressure from the Trump administration

Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli strikes in Syria, Gaza: White House

President Donald Trump was caught off guard by the recent Israeli strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. Her comments were a rare suggestion of daylight between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have often been aligned on politics and foreign policy, particularly with the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear programme. However, Trump is pushing for an end to the war in Gaza and trying to support the new Syrian government as the country emerges from years of civil war, and Israeli military operations have threatened to complicate those initiatives. An Israeli attack last week hit the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church, killing three people and stirring outrage. In addition, Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, even bombing the capital, Damascus. Leavitt told reporters that Trump has a good working relationship with Netanyahu but he was caught off guard by t

Trump diagnosed with CVI: What it means and signs to never ignore

Chronic venous insufficiency affects blood flow in the legs and may lead to clots, ulcers, and skin changes - experts urge timely screening after Trump's recent diagnosis

Trump checked for lower leg swelling, diagnosed with common vein condition

President Donald Trump recently underwent a medical checkup after noticing "mild swelling" in his lower legs and was found to have a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins, the White House has said. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that tests by the White House medical unit showed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity gradually lose the ability to work properly. Leavitt also addressed bruising on the back of Trump's hand, seen in recent photos covered by makeup that was not an exact match to his skin tone. She said the bruising was "consistent" with irritation from his "frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin". Trump takes aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. She said during her press briefing that her disclosure of Trump's medical checkup was meant to dispel recent speculation about the 79-year-old president's

Trump proposed reopening Alcatraz for migrant detainees: White House

Leavitt, while addressing the weekly press briefing, said that following through Trump's suggestion, the two went to recce the site, which may also house illegal immigrants awaiting deportation

Trump still supports Syria's pathway to peaceful country: White House

In a weekly White House Press briefing on Thursday (local time), Leavitt said that after the US' intervention, the clashes are de-escalating in the region

White House denies reports of Trump's planned visit to Pak in September

White House denies Trump's visit to Pakistan, TV channels withdraw false reports; Trump set to visit UK in September

Trump hosts Gulf leaders as Israel-Syria violence clouds peace efforts

President Donald Trump is hosting a pair of Arab Gulf leaders at the White House on Wednesday as violence between Israel and Syria renewed doubts about his pledge to impose peace in the Middle East. Trump held a meeting in the Oval Office with Bahrain's crown prince and was set to have dinner with Qatar's prime minister. The Republican president has lavished attention on the Gulf, a wealthy region where members of his family have extensive business relationships. He has already visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the first foreign policy trip of his second term. With little progress to share on the region's most intractable problems, including the war in Gaza, Trump was more focused Wednesday on promoting diplomatic ties as a vehicle for economic growth. Anything they needed, we helped them, Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. And anything we needed, they helped us. Meeting with Bahrain's crown

2024: Could the US presidential election have gone any other way?

The authors end up arguing that things were not so fated, but reading what they have to report, I couldn't help feeling those political insiders had a point

White House ups pressure on Fed chair by targeting central bank renovation

President Donald Trump is escalating his pressure campaign to get the Federal Reserve chairman to either lower interest rates or quit his post by targeting the expensive renovation at the central bank's headquarters. The latest step came Thursday when Russ Vought, Trump's top budget adviser, sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell saying the president is extremely troubled that plans may have violated government building rules with an ostentatious overhaul. Trump also named two close aides to an obscure commission who plan to review the Federal Reserve building plans another avenue to increase scrutiny on Powell, whose eight-year term formally ends next May. This follows a near-daily drumbeat of criticism that Trump has leveled at Powell, whom he has disparaged as a very stupid person who should resign immediately. It's an unprecedented attempt to reshape the Federal Reserve's traditional role as an autonomous arbiter of US monetary policy. If successful in getting