'The story was a real gift': How the WSJ Epstein report only fueled Trump's base
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News24
a few seconds ago
- News24
Trump hits India with 25% tariffs, and ‘penalty' for buying Russian oil
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that imports from India will face 25 percent tariffs, while also announcing an unspecified 'penalty' for New Delhi's purchases of Russian weapons and energy. US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that imports from India will face 25 percent tariffs, while also announcing an unspecified "penalty" for New Delhi's purchases of Russian weapons and energy. The measures will kick in on Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump said. He also posted in an all-caps message that the United States has a "massive" trade deficit with India. He added that India has "always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE." Trump did not specify what the penalty he referred to for Russia trade will be. The measure comes as the 79-year-old Republican has signalled he intends to tighten US pressure on Moscow to halt fighting in Ukraine and negotiate a peace deal. On Tuesday, Trump said he was giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 days -- which would mean the end of next week - to change course in Ukraine or face unspecified punishment. "We're going to put on tariffs and stuff," he said, but "I don't know if it's going to effect Russia because obviously he wants to keep the war going." India, the world's most populous country, was one of the first few major economies to engage Washington in broader trade talks. But six months later, Trump's sweeping demands and India's reluctance to fully open its agricultural and dairy sectors have so far prevented New Delhi from sealing a deal that would shield it from punitive tariffs. On Tuesday, Trump had said India could face a 20-25 percent rate since a trade deal had not been finalised. The announced tariffs will mark a huge leap from the current 10 percent baseline tariff on Indian shipments to the United States. Trump has set out to upend the global economy by trying to leverage US economic power to squeeze trading partners with tariffs and force foreign companies to move to the United States. Complex talks are underway with the European Union, China, Canada and other big partners. Trump has threatened to hit dozens of other countries with stiffer tariffs from this Friday unless they reach trade deals. Among them is Brazil, which Trump has threatened to hit with 50 percent import tariffs -- in part to pressure the South American ally to shut down the trial of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro on coup charges.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump criticised ‘terrible first minister' Sturgeon on flight back to US
US President Donald Trump has delivered an unprompted attack on former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, describing her as a 'terrible first minister'. He made the comments on Air Force One as he travelled back to Washington following his five-day visit to Scotland. During his stay, he had a two-hour dinner on Monday with current First Minister John Swinney, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Swinney, who also met Mr Trump on Tuesday morning, said he had used the talks to push the president to exempt Scotch from US tariffs. Speaking to reporters on his flight home, the president was asked if he offered to drop the levy on Scotland's national drink. He replied: 'No. We really didn't discuss it much. But I have a lot of respect for him [Mr Swinney].' Journalists began asking questions again before Mr Trump interjected: 'I didn't have a lot of respect for the woman that preceded him – I thought she was terrible as a first minister of Scotland. 'But I think John is doing a very good job of first minister.' A source close to Ms Sturgeon responded: 'Trump's lack of respect for women is hardly news. 'That said, the feeling was entirely mutual.' Ms Sturgeon added on her Instagram account: 'Feeling was mutual, Donnie. 'Forever proud to represent all the things that offend your view of the world.' Mr Trump criticised Ms Sturgeon, who became first minister in 2014, during her resignation in 2023. He described her as a 'failed woke extremist' and a 'crazed leftist' who 'symbolises everything wrong with identity politics'. When he was first elected as president in 2016, Ms Sturgeon described Mr Trump's behaviour and rhetoric as 'abhorrent'. Mr Trump left Scotland on Tuesday after visiting his golf courses in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, and Menie in Aberdeenshire. During his stay he struck a trade agreement, described by him as 'the biggest in history', with the EU, and held a meeting with Sir Keir to improve the UK-US trade deal. Mr Swinney said following his talks with the US leader that Mr Trump had shown a 'willingness' to move on Scotch tariffs, which currently sit at 10%. During Mr Trump's speech to open a new golf course at Menie on Tuesday morning, he asked the First Minister to stand to thank him. He said: 'John Swinney is a terrific guy – and loves golf and loves the people of this country, and we really appreciate it. 'You're really a very special guy. Thank-you very much for everything, John.'
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump meets with candidates for four-star general in break with tradition, White House acknowledges
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has acknowledged that President Donald Trump now meets with candidates for promotion to the rank of four-star general, in a break with past practice. A White House spokesperson said the Republican president has the meetings because he wants to make sure the U.S. military retains its superiority and its leaders focus on fighting wars. 'Donald Trump wants to ensure our military is the greatest and most lethal fighting force in history, which is why he meets with four-star-general nominees directly to ensure they are war fighters first — not bureaucrats,' assistant press secretary Anna Kelly said. The meetings, however, are a departure from past practice, and knowledge of them has raised concerns about politicization of the military's top ranks. Trump has not always respected the long-standing tradition of walling off the military from partisan politics. In June, Trump took the rare step of mobilizing the National Guard and then the Marines, sending hundreds of them into Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat with whom the president has feuded politically. Trump followed up with a campaign-style rally at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where uniformed soldiers cheered as he criticized former President Joe Biden, Newsom and other Democrats — raising concerns that Trump was using the military as a political prop. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., an Army veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the meetings 'very welcome reform.' 'I've long advocated for presidents to meet with 4-star nominees. President Trump's most important responsibility is commander-in-chief,' Cotton wrote in a post on X. 'The military-service chiefs and combatant commanders are hugely consequential jobs' and 'I commend President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for treating these jobs with the seriousness they deserve.' The New York Times, which first reported on the practice, said it had been initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
