
Goldman economist, uncowed by Trump attack, plans to 'keep doing' as before
Chief U.S. Economist David Mericle's defense of his team's work came a day after Trump in a social media post said Goldman Chief Executive David Solomon should "not bother running a major financial institution" and lambasted the bank's economics research. The report Trump attacked, published August 10, estimated that U.S. consumers so far have borne less than a quarter of the cost of Trump's tariffs but that share would rise to two-thirds if the tariffs play out in the same way they had previously.
Trump, by contrast, insists that foreign companies and governments are absorbing the cost of tariffs that now average the highest in about a century, and that American households are unscathed. He attacked Goldman and its economists for making "a bad prediction."
Asked in a CNBC interview whether Trump's broadside had had a chilling effect on his team's work, Mericle said: "We're just trying to do the best economic forecast that we can for our clients, and we publish research reports like the one that we published over the weekend to inform those views. And we'll keep doing that."
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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ukraine cause akin to Second World War Allies, Starmer says before Alaska talks
Ukraine is fighting for the same values as the Allies did in the Second World War, Sir Keir Starmer has said ahead of a summit in Alaska that could see an end to the conflict against Russia. The Prime Minister addressed a reception, including veterans, to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which marked the Allies' defeat of Japan. Speaking in Downing Street, Sir Keir said: 'I sat on this terrace this very morning with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, who is fighting for the same values as we were fighting for. And so when we say never forget, we must pass on the stories of those who have gone before us.' It came as US President Donald Trump suggested European leaders could be invited to a second meeting if the summit is successful, which could pave the way to peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Mr Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at the summit which could see the drawing up of peace terms for Ukraine. Mr Trump and Sir Keir have spoken optimistically about a potential ceasefire, including at a virtual meeting of Ukrainian allies on Wednesday. Leaders of the European-led 'coalition of the willing' could then join talks between Mr Trump, Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Mr Zelensky to end the war. The possibility was raised by Mr Trump in the White House on Thursday, before he flew to Anchorage where he will meet Mr Putin. He said: 'We have a meeting with President (Vladimir) Putin tomorrow, I think it's going to be a good meeting. 'But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we're having. We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not.' The PA news agency understands that Sir Keir will attend a meeting if he is invited. He has been a central player in the coalition group which also includes French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Mr Trump added: 'I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. We'll see if they can get along. And if they can it will be great.' The head of the British armed forces, Sir Tony Radakin, said the West should not be 'cowed' by Mr Putin and praised the strength of Britain and Nato. Writing in the Telegraph on the anniversary of VJ Day, he said: 'Putin doesn't want a war with Nato because he would lose. So we should not be cowed by his rhetoric or his campaign of sabotage, outrageous as it may be. 'The one weapon that is most needed in our arsenal is confidence. Despite the global instability, Britain is secure at home. Nato is strong. Russia is weak. It is not complacent to point this out.' Sir Keir met Mr Zelensky in Downing Street on Thursday. They both said there was 'strong resolve' for peace in Ukraine. The two leaders embraced as the red carpet was rolled out for Mr Zelensky's arrival in Downing Street, and they later discussed the conflict. They expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce 'as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious' about ending the war, a Downing Street statement said. In a separate statement, Mr Zelensky said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal 'truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing'. But concerns linger over the prospect of Kyiv being excluded from negotiations over its own future, and pressured to cede territory, after Mr Trump suggested any agreement may need to involve 'swapping of land'.


The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Putin 'must prove he is serious' about ending Ukraine war, Downing Street says
Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky met in London, expressing a united and strong resolve to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Concerns have been raised that the two leaders might decide the war's outcome without Ukraine's direct involvement, potentially jeopardising European security. Trump has stated his belief that Putin will make a deal, though he also suggested a subsequent meeting involving Zelensky would be more significant. Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any proposals that would compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity and urged Britain to join the Purl (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) initiative for weapons supply.


The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Pam Bondi threatens prosecution for leaders not complying with immigration officers
Pam Bondi, the attorney general, said Thursday she has sent 'sanctuary city' letters to the mayors of 32 cities and a handful of county executives, warning that she intends to prosecute political leaders who are not in her view sufficiently supportive of immigration enforcement. 'You better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you're not, we're going to come after you,' she said, speaking to a Fox News reporter. 'Our leaders have to support our law enforcement.' Bondi's letter asks the recipients to provide a response by 19 August that 'confirms your commitment with complying with federal law and identifies the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement'. Bondi cites an executive order issued by Donald Trump on 28 April which called for the attorney general to identify jurisdictions that 'obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws' then to 'notify each sanctuary jurisdiction regarding its defiance of Federal immigration law enforcement and any potential violations of Federal criminal law' as a precursor to prosecution or withholding grants. Each of the recipients appears to have received a near-identical letter, none of which specify what local laws or practices fail to comply with Bondi's assertions. Initial responses from state and local governments receiving the letters include a mix of incredulity and defiance. 'Nothing in Attorney General Bondi's letter is new and none of it has legal merit,' said Barbara Pierce, director of communications for the city of Rochester, New York. 'The letter reiterates many of the frivolous arguments that the federal government has already made in its pending suit against the City of Rochester. These same arguments were levied against the City of Chicago and were dismissed by the Federal District court for the Eastern District of Illinois nearly a month ago. We look forward to the opportunity to respond to Attorney General Bondi's letter, and continue to underscore the inaccuracies of the federal government's position.' Bruce Harrell, the Seattle mayor, said the letter's portrayal of his city and its laws was untruthful. 'Immigration enforcement is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government. The City neither interferes with nor carries out those federal duties,' he said. 'We have received and are reviewing the latest letter from Attorney General Bondi and strongly disagree with its assertions. Our laws and policies protect the safety, privacy and constitutional rights of all Seattle residents while remaining compliant with applicable law. We remain committed to our local values, including being a welcoming city for all. We will continue to defend our residents and our rights – and we will not hesitate to do so in court.' The office of Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, a Trump ally and embattled re-election candidate, offered a less strident immediate response. 'The job of a mayor is to protect the safety of every single person in their city – and that's exactly what Mayor Adams has worked to do every day for nearly four years,' said Kayla Altus, Adams' press secretary. 'Keeping New Yorkers safe also means making sure they feel safe, and Mayor Adams has been clear: no one should be afraid to dial 911, send their kids to school, or go to the hospital, and no New Yorker should feel forced to hide in the shadows. 'That's why the mayor supports the essence of the local laws put in place by the city council, but he has also urged the council to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to keep violent criminals off our streets.' The letters follow the publication of a revised 'sanctuary jurisdiction' list on 5 August . The Department of Homeland Security withdrew a previous list after an outcry from rural sheriff's offices and conservative jurisdictions that argued the list was created without input from sheriffs and 'violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement'.