Trump offers his marital advice after viral video of Macron's wife shoving his face
President Donald Trump offered his marital advice to French President Emmanuel Macron, after video footage was released of Macron's wife, Brigitte, pushing the French leader in the face.
"Make sure the door remains closed. That is not good," Trump told reporters Friday. "No, I spoke to him, and he's fine, they're fine. Two really good people I know very well. And, I don't know what that was all about, but, I know him very well, and they're fine."
Trump's comments come after video footage from the Associated Press emerged where Macron and his wife exited a plane upon landing in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday as part of a southeast Asia tour. The video depicts Macron at the door of the plane, and a woman's hands appearing to shove him in the face.
The couple, who have been married since 2007, were subsequently photographed departing the aircraft together.
Meanwhile, Macron's office later said the couple was engaging in a playful moment at the time of the incident.
"It was a moment where the President and his wife were decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around. It's a moment of complicity. It was all that was needed to give ammunition to the conspiracy theorists," Macron's office said in a statement Tuesday.
The French leader met his now wife, Brigitte, while still a student in high school and she was a married teacher.
Macron visited Trump at the White House in February. He was the first European leader to visit the White House after Trump's inauguration for his second term.
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34 minutes ago
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says China's Xi is 'extremely hard to make a deal with'
President Donald Trump has said it's "extremely hard" to reach a deal with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, denting hopes for a call between the two leaders as trade talks stall. "I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social in the early hours of Wednesday. China responded to Trump's claim on Friday that it has "totally violated its agreement" with the US, in turn accusing the US of breaching the agreement and vowing to protect its interests. The US-China detente — reached earlier this month, when each country eased sky-high tariffs on the other — has been looking more fragile amid both trade-related and other tensions. Trump's trade war is causing the global economy to slow, with growth now heading for its weakest pace since the COVID-19 pandemic, the OECD has warned. The OECD cut its forecasts for most G20 economies and warned that easing trade tensions is key to boosting investment and keeping prices stable. The warning comes as the US is pushing countries to speed up trade talks. The White House has confirmed that the US had sent a letter to partners as a "friendly reminder" that Trump's self-imposed 90-day pause on sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs is set to expire in early July. White House advisers have for weeks promised trade deals in the "not-too-distant future," with the only announced agreement so far coming with the United Kingdom. But US tensions with China and the EU — two key trade partners — amped up after Trump promised last weekend to double tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. US trade talks with the EU have come back into focus as an early-July deadline looms for Trump's 50% tariffs on imports from the bloc. With US and EU negotiators, Jamieson Greer and Maroš Šefčovič, meeting in Paris today, all eyes are on whether a deal will be made. Meanwhile, Trump's most sweeping tariffs face legal uncertainty after a federal appeals court allowed the tariffs to temporarily stay in effect, a day after the US Court of International Trade blocked their implementation, deeming the method used to enact them "unlawful." Administration officials also hinted that court rulings would not be the final say. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul has an overview of the other maneuvers Trump could pursue. Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Trump has posted to his Truth Social account calling China's President Xi Jinging "hard to make a deal with". Posting at 2:17 a.m. on Wednesday, Washington time, the post pulls into focus the tight nature of negotiations between the world's two largest economies. The post in full: Trump's statement follows a series of back-and-forth claims from both the US and China that each country has violated the tentative trade agreement currently in place. Since the May 12 agreement in Geneva, both countries have agreed to a 90-day truce in the contentious trade war that rocked the global economy. White House officials have said that Trump and Xi are expected to talk directly to each other later in the week. But Beijing has not confirmed plans for a call, and it wasn't clear whether Trump's comments arose from direct contact with the Chinese leader. The US and China have clashed over trade issues beyond tariffs, most recently over supply of rare earth minerals. Bloomberg reports: The White House on Tuesday confirmed that the US has sent a letter to trade partners seeking to speed up talks ahead of a self-imposed July deadline. Though Reuters reported earlier this week that the administration asked for countries' best offers by Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday framed the letter, which she said was sent by the US Trade Representative, as a "friendly reminder." "I can confirm the merits in the content of the letter," she said, per Bloomberg. She sadded: "USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners, just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up, and they are in talks. The president expects good deals, and we are on track for that." Bloomberg cited a "recipient of the letter" who said it was "framed as a way to steer ongoing talks rather than an ultimatum. President Trump will sign an executive order doubling duties on steel and aluminum imports to 50%, the White House said Tuesday. Trump first announced plans to up the duties last Friday during an event with steelworkers in Pennsylvania. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn't confirm the exact timing of the escalation Tuesday. Trump's most sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs are locked in legal limbo. But duties on specific sectors or commodities, like those on steel and aluminum, are so far unaffected because Trump has imposed them under a different legal authority. President Trump and his team have touted for weeks that deals are right around the corner. But progress has been less forthcoming. Yahoo Finance Washington Correspondent Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. The aerospace industry is urging the Trump administration to hold off on adding new tariffs, as they could risk air safety and further disrupt the supply chain. Reuters reports: A group representing major U.S. and global aeropsace companies on Tuesday warned new tariffs on imported commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts could put air safety and the supply chain at risk or have unintended consequences. The Commerce Department last month opened a "Section 232" investigation that could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on imported planes, engines and parts. The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents Boeing, Airbus, RTX, GE Aerospace and hundreds of other companies, urged the Commerce Department to extend public comments by 90 days and impose no new tariffs for at least 180 days. They urged further consultation with industry on "any Section 232 tariffs to ensure they accurately reflect national security concerns and do not put the supply chain and aviation safety at risk." Read more here. A new survey out Tuesday by insurance brokerage Gallagher showed that a majority of US business owners see tariffs as a top risk to be worried about. Reuters reports that President Trump's trade wars have already cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, according to an analysis of corporate disclosures. "Our survey showed supply chain disruptions were a concern to business owners, with 90% reporting they are concerned about the impact of tariffs on their businesses," Gallagher CEO J. Patrick Gallagher told Reuters. "Global supply chains, strained by geopolitical conflicts and extreme weather events, remain vulnerable to disruptions." The findings come as tensions with China and other key trading partners ratcheted up again after President Trump threatened to double steel and aluminum tariffs. Also on Tuesday, the OECD warned of slowing growth due to trade disputes. Read more here. Taiwan's government said on Tuesday that it is continuing to "communicate closely" with the US in order to reach a trade deal, but cannot give any more information at this point on the negotiations. Reuters reports: Read more here. Consumer-facing multinationals are moving their China supply chains as trade wars continue to add uncertainty for businesses. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi broke down what he heard from three major companies: Read more here. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to double starting Wednesday. That could present a problem for the only deal the US has so far agreed to during its 90-day "reciprocal" tariff pause. From Bloomberg: Under that "economic prosperity agreement," US tariffs on UK metal imports are set to be slashed to zero. But Starmer's spokesman said he doesn't know whether the looming doubling of steel levies will apply to UK imports while the two sides work on implementing the deal. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Hamza Shaban looks at how the American-made company Boeing has become a tool in the US government's trade negotiations: Read more here. A survey conducted by Reuters has revealed that Trump's tariffs will likely cause a slowdown in US home construction. Reuters reports: Read more here Yahoo Finance's senior legal reporter Alexis Keenan looks at what could make or break President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs. Read more here. Traders are taking advantage of Trump's trade war and looking at how to ride tariff-driven sell-offs and rallies. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports in an exclusive: Read more here. The Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said that the country's economy can take the hit from US tariffs and sustain a cycle of rising inflation accompanied by wage growth, indicating the banks readiness to raise interest rates further. Reuters reports: Read more here. President Donald Trump is eager to land more trade deals, but talks with China and the EU are stalling amid communication breakdowns and renewed tariff threats. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Global economic growth is weakening faster than expected, the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday, as Trump's trade war starts to take a toll on the US economy. The OECD cut its outlook for global output for the US and most of the G20 leading economies and warned that agreements to ease trade barriers are key to reviving investment and avoid higher prices. Global growth is expected to be 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, the OECD said in its latest full outlook. The figure has exceeded 3% every year since 2020, when output plunged because of the pandemic. The OECD said that US growth will slow sharply, falling from 2.8% in 2024 to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% next year. The OECD said that the Federal Reserve likely won't cut rates this year because inflation will remain too high. The latest assessment represents a downgrade to its March interim forecasts, which preceded Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements on April 2. Even then, the OECD warned of a 'significant toll' stemming from the levies and associated uncertainty over policy. The OECD also cut 2025 forecast for G20 countries, which include China, France, Japan, India, UK, and South Africa. Álvaro Pereira, the OECD's chief economist, said countries need to strike deals that would lower trade barriers. 'Otherwise, the growth impact is going to be quite significant,' he said. 'This has massive repercussions for everyone.' Compared with the OECD's last full outlook in December, growth prospects for almost all countries have been downgraded, said Pereira. 'Weakened economic prospects will be felt around the world, with almost no exception,' the OECD said. While the Trump administration appeals a court's decision to block many wide-ranging tariffs, the small businesses that brought the case are seeking to keep the tariffs from going back into effect as the legal battle plays out. From Bloomberg Read more here. From Reuters: Read more here. Trump has posted to his Truth Social account calling China's President Xi Jinging "hard to make a deal with". Posting at 2:17 a.m. on Wednesday, Washington time, the post pulls into focus the tight nature of negotiations between the world's two largest economies. The post in full: Trump's statement follows a series of back-and-forth claims from both the US and China that each country has violated the tentative trade agreement currently in place. Since the May 12 agreement in Geneva, both countries have agreed to a 90-day truce in the contentious trade war that rocked the global economy. White House officials have said that Trump and Xi are expected to talk directly to each other later in the week. But Beijing has not confirmed plans for a call, and it wasn't clear whether Trump's comments arose from direct contact with the Chinese leader. The US and China have clashed over trade issues beyond tariffs, most recently over supply of rare earth minerals. Bloomberg reports: The White House on Tuesday confirmed that the US has sent a letter to trade partners seeking to speed up talks ahead of a self-imposed July deadline. Though Reuters reported earlier this week that the administration asked for countries' best offers by Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday framed the letter, which she said was sent by the US Trade Representative, as a "friendly reminder." "I can confirm the merits in the content of the letter," she said, per Bloomberg. She sadded: "USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners, just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up, and they are in talks. The president expects good deals, and we are on track for that." Bloomberg cited a "recipient of the letter" who said it was "framed as a way to steer ongoing talks rather than an ultimatum. President Trump will sign an executive order doubling duties on steel and aluminum imports to 50%, the White House said Tuesday. Trump first announced plans to up the duties last Friday during an event with steelworkers in Pennsylvania. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn't confirm the exact timing of the escalation Tuesday. Trump's most sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs are locked in legal limbo. But duties on specific sectors or commodities, like those on steel and aluminum, are so far unaffected because Trump has imposed them under a different legal authority. President Trump and his team have touted for weeks that deals are right around the corner. But progress has been less forthcoming. Yahoo Finance Washington Correspondent Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. The aerospace industry is urging the Trump administration to hold off on adding new tariffs, as they could risk air safety and further disrupt the supply chain. Reuters reports: A group representing major U.S. and global aeropsace companies on Tuesday warned new tariffs on imported commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts could put air safety and the supply chain at risk or have unintended consequences. The Commerce Department last month opened a "Section 232" investigation that could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on imported planes, engines and parts. The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents Boeing, Airbus, RTX, GE Aerospace and hundreds of other companies, urged the Commerce Department to extend public comments by 90 days and impose no new tariffs for at least 180 days. They urged further consultation with industry on "any Section 232 tariffs to ensure they accurately reflect national security concerns and do not put the supply chain and aviation safety at risk." Read more here. A new survey out Tuesday by insurance brokerage Gallagher showed that a majority of US business owners see tariffs as a top risk to be worried about. Reuters reports that President Trump's trade wars have already cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, according to an analysis of corporate disclosures. "Our survey showed supply chain disruptions were a concern to business owners, with 90% reporting they are concerned about the impact of tariffs on their businesses," Gallagher CEO J. Patrick Gallagher told Reuters. "Global supply chains, strained by geopolitical conflicts and extreme weather events, remain vulnerable to disruptions." The findings come as tensions with China and other key trading partners ratcheted up again after President Trump threatened to double steel and aluminum tariffs. Also on Tuesday, the OECD warned of slowing growth due to trade disputes. Read more here. Taiwan's government said on Tuesday that it is continuing to "communicate closely" with the US in order to reach a trade deal, but cannot give any more information at this point on the negotiations. Reuters reports: Read more here. Consumer-facing multinationals are moving their China supply chains as trade wars continue to add uncertainty for businesses. Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi broke down what he heard from three major companies: Read more here. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to double starting Wednesday. That could present a problem for the only deal the US has so far agreed to during its 90-day "reciprocal" tariff pause. From Bloomberg: Under that "economic prosperity agreement," US tariffs on UK metal imports are set to be slashed to zero. But Starmer's spokesman said he doesn't know whether the looming doubling of steel levies will apply to UK imports while the two sides work on implementing the deal. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Hamza Shaban looks at how the American-made company Boeing has become a tool in the US government's trade negotiations: Read more here. A survey conducted by Reuters has revealed that Trump's tariffs will likely cause a slowdown in US home construction. Reuters reports: Read more here Yahoo Finance's senior legal reporter Alexis Keenan looks at what could make or break President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs. Read more here. Traders are taking advantage of Trump's trade war and looking at how to ride tariff-driven sell-offs and rallies. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports in an exclusive: Read more here. The Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said that the country's economy can take the hit from US tariffs and sustain a cycle of rising inflation accompanied by wage growth, indicating the banks readiness to raise interest rates further. Reuters reports: Read more here. President Donald Trump is eager to land more trade deals, but talks with China and the EU are stalling amid communication breakdowns and renewed tariff threats. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Global economic growth is weakening faster than expected, the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday, as Trump's trade war starts to take a toll on the US economy. The OECD cut its outlook for global output for the US and most of the G20 leading economies and warned that agreements to ease trade barriers are key to reviving investment and avoid higher prices. Global growth is expected to be 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, the OECD said in its latest full outlook. The figure has exceeded 3% every year since 2020, when output plunged because of the pandemic. The OECD said that US growth will slow sharply, falling from 2.8% in 2024 to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% next year. The OECD said that the Federal Reserve likely won't cut rates this year because inflation will remain too high. The latest assessment represents a downgrade to its March interim forecasts, which preceded Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcements on April 2. Even then, the OECD warned of a 'significant toll' stemming from the levies and associated uncertainty over policy. The OECD also cut 2025 forecast for G20 countries, which include China, France, Japan, India, UK, and South Africa. Álvaro Pereira, the OECD's chief economist, said countries need to strike deals that would lower trade barriers. 'Otherwise, the growth impact is going to be quite significant,' he said. 'This has massive repercussions for everyone.' Compared with the OECD's last full outlook in December, growth prospects for almost all countries have been downgraded, said Pereira. 'Weakened economic prospects will be felt around the world, with almost no exception,' the OECD said. While the Trump administration appeals a court's decision to block many wide-ranging tariffs, the small businesses that brought the case are seeking to keep the tariffs from going back into effect as the legal battle plays out. From Bloomberg Read more here. From Reuters: Read more here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
37 minutes ago
- New York Times
Facing a Demographic Shift, Vietnam Abolishes Two-Child Policy
Vietnam has eliminated its policy of limiting families to having no more than two children, as the country seeks to boost a declining fertility rate that threatens its long-term economic prospects. The new regulation, approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, formalizes what had already been common practice for most Vietnamese couples — with the exception of Communist Party officials. Since the fertility policy was introduced in 1988, and until the legal change this week, party members could lose bonuses or be fired for having more than two children. Now, all families can have as many children as they want, and, in fact, officials are actively encouraging couples to procreate as their concerns about Vietnam's demographic balance have begun to intensify. The country of 100 million saw its birthrate fall to a record low last year, at 1.91 children per woman. It was the third consecutive year that Vietnam's birthrate dropped below the replacement level of 2.1. Like many countries across Asia — including China, Japan, South Korea — Vietnam fears a downward spiral: Fewer children born now means fewer workers later to support the economy and larger generations of aging citizens. It is currently in a demographic sweet spot, with a bumper crop of young workers, but that is already starting to change. 'Vietnam is in the period of population aging,' according to the United Nations Population Fund. The agency said the transition from an 'aging' to an 'aged' population will occur over just 20 years. To try and counter the shrinking size of families, Vietnam has rolled out dating shows and propaganda posters that aim to goad young people into having more babies. In Ho Chi Minh City, where the fertility rate fell to just 1.39 last year, officials recently introduced a baby bonus of around $120 to be given to women who have two children before turning 35. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
38 minutes ago
Asian stocks rise, dollar wobbles as trade uncertainty persists
By Ankur Banerjee SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Asian equities rose on Wednesday lifted by technology shares and the dollar drifted as higher U.S. duties on steel and aluminium took effect, marking the latest chapter in the trade war that has rattled the markets for much of the year. Investor focus has been on the pace of trade negotiations and the lack of significant progress. Wednesday is the deadline for U.S. trading partners to submit their proposals for deals that might help them avoid Trump's hefty "Liberation Day" tariffs from taking effect in five weeks. European stock futures pointed to a higher open as the European Central Bank kicks off its two-day policy meeting where it is expected to cut rates on Thursday. In Asia, South Korea's stocks and its currency surged as liberal presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election victory raised hopes of swift economic stimulus, market reforms and easing policy uncertainty. The benchmark KOSPI jumped more than 2% to its highest since August 2024. That left the MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nearly 1% higher. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8%, while Taiwan stocks jumped 2% after artificial intelligence behemoth Nvidia boosted U.S. stocks on Tuesday. [.N] Data showed U.S. job openings increased in April, but layoffs picked up, indicating a slowing labour market as tariffs impact the economic outlook. Investor attention has been on a possible call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping sometime this week as tensions between the world's top two economies simmer. Trump on Friday accused China of violating a Geneva agreement to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions. Beijing said it would safeguard its interests and that the accusation was groundless. Chinese stocks rose on Wednesday with the blue chip index up 0.58%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.56%. "Markets may be desensitized to trade headlines, but Trump-Xi talks remain in focus. A grand deal looks unlikely, yet any escalation could still spark a bout of risk aversion," said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore. Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive proclamation putting into effect from Wednesday his surprise announcement last week that he was taking the tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that had been in place since March to 50% from 25%. "We believe that the steel & aluminium tariffs are an exemplar of other strategic tariffs that are coming and likely to 'stick'," said Thierry Wizman, global FX & rates strategist at Macquarie. "With that, there's still little impetus for a U.S. dollar rally to take hold." DOLLAR WEAKNESS The on-again-off-again tariffs from Trump have led to investors fleeing U.S. assets looking for safe havens, including gold and other currencies, this year as they expect trade uncertainties to take a toll on the global economy. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said the global economy is on course to slow from 3.3% last year to 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, trimming its estimates from March, mainly on the fallout from the Trump administration's trade war. The dollar on Wednesday edged 0.18% higher against the yen at 144.225. The euro was flat at $1.1368. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. unit versus six other major currencies, was at 99.31, not far from the six-week low of 98.58 touched on Monday. The index is down 8.5% this year. In commodities, oil prices eased, weighed down by a loosening supply-demand balance following increasing OPEC+ output and lingering concerns over the global economic outlook due to tariff tensions. [O/R] Brent crude futures dipped 0.38% to $65.38 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.15 per barrel, down 0.41%. Gold was little changed at $3,351.5 per ounce, taking its gains for the year to an eye-popping 28% on safe-haven flows. [GOL/] Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
