We're not shielding anything: JD Vance defends Trump on Jeffrey Epstein
Vance emphasised that the administration is working 'transparently,' but added that gathering and redacting sensitive material is a time-consuming process."The president has directed the attorney general to release all credible information and, frankly, to go and find additional credible information related to the Jeffrey Epstein case," he said. "He's been incredibly transparent about that stuff, but some of that stuff takes time."DOJ DENIES EXISTENCE OF EPSTEIN LISTAttorney General Pam Bondi, who previously suggested a list of Epstein's powerful associates existed, is now under scrutiny after the Justice Department declared there was no such "client list." This has sparked backlash amongst Trump's MAGA base, which had hoped for revelations about elite networks.Still, Vance insisted that Bondi is "hard at work" on the directive from Trump."You've got to assemble that stuff, you've got to compile that stuff, you've got to redact some victims' names so that you protect the victims," Vance said.He also took a shot at previous administrations, claiming they failed to properly investigate Epstein."The Justice Departments under Barack Obama and George W. Bush went easy on Epstein. They didn't get to the bottom of this."Trump, who once described Epstein as a "terrific guy" before distancing himself in later years, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.- EndsWith inputs form ReutersMust Watch
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First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
Why Trump's public order to reposition nuclear submarines near Russia is concerning
US President Donald Trump has ordered two nuclear submarines to 'appropriate regions' after a fiery exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, raising eyebrows worldwide. While experts stress this is more of a signal than a military move, Trump's decision to publicise submarine positioning marks a rare escalation in rhetoric with Moscow read more US President Donald Trump looks on as a member of the media raises their hand, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, August 1, 2025. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump on Friday revealed that he had directed two American nuclear submarines to be relocated to what he described as 'the appropriate regions.' His announcement followed a volatile exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, 'Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev … I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.' Later in the day, Trump doubled down on his decision during an interaction with reporters, stating, 'A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people.' In an interview with Newsmax, he offered further reasoning, saying, 'We always want to be ready, and so I have sent to the region two nuclear submarines. I just want to make sure that his words are only words and nothing more than that.' The Pentagon and the US Navy, however, remained silent on the development, highlighting how rare it is for a sitting US president to publicly disclose or even allude to the positioning of nuclear-capable submarines, an issue typically kept behind numerous classified protocols. Why Medvedev's remarks triggered Trump The chain of events began days earlier, when Trump issued a blunt ultimatum to Moscow: agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within ten days or face sweeping tariffs. The warning was the latest in Trump's already hardening stance on the conflict, which has dragged on for more than three years since Russia's invasion in 2022. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, responded with a post that bristled with mockery and menace. He wrote that Trump's series of ultimatums represented 'a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!' Dmitry Medvedev is a former President as well as Prime Minister of Russia. File Image/Reuters The post referenced 'Sleepy Joe,' a nickname Trump has long used to deride his predecessor Joe Biden. By comparing Trump's ultimatum to Biden's policies and warning of potential war, Medvedev appeared to deliberately provoke a reaction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another statement, he made reference to Russia's Cold War-era automatic nuclear retaliation capabilities — a statement that escalated the online confrontation and set off alarms in Washington. Trump, who has increasingly voiced anger toward Russia in recent months, snapped back and told Medvedev to 'watch his words,' accusing Moscow of carrying out 'disgusting' attacks on Ukraine and warning of additional sanctions. In one message, he wrote: 'This is Biden's War, not 'TRUMP's.' I'm just here to see if I can stop it!' Though Medvedev is widely seen as a political figurehead with little direct control over Russia's nuclear arsenal, his language has often been combative and is viewed by many Western officials as reflecting the Kremlin's ideological posture. Some US officials quietly downplayed the seriousness of Medvedev's comments, saying they were not treated as an imminent nuclear threat. But for Trump, the exchange became personal — and public. What submarines did Trump mean One of the biggest questions following Trump's announcement was: what exactly did he mean by 'nuclear submarines'? The United States operates 71 nuclear-powered submarines, which fall into two broad categories: fast-attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The latter — the Ohio-class fleet — forms one of the three pillars of America's nuclear 'triad,' alongside land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and strategic bombers. The US has 14 Ohio-class submarines, each able to carry up to 24 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles. These missiles are capable of delivering multiple thermonuclear warheads to targets up to 4,600 miles (7,400 km) away. At any given moment, between 8 and 10 of these subs are on patrol in undisclosed locations across the globe, maintaining a constant state of readiness. Experts note that such submarines do not need to be 'moved into position' to strike potential targets, because their range covers vast swaths of the planet. Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists highlighted this point, saying: 'The subs are always there all the time and don't need to be moved into position. He grants Medvedev a response to these crazy statements.' It remains unclear whether Trump was referring to these nuclear-armed Ohio-class subs or to other nuclear-powered attack submarines, which are not armed with nuclear weapons but can carry conventional missiles and conduct surveillance, intelligence, and anti-ship operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Russia boasts around 64 vessels in its submarine fleet of which more than half of them are reportedly nuclear-powered. This includes 11 nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, 14 nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 16 ballistic missile submarines, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Why this is unusual by a US president While the US military regularly shifts its submarine deployments, it almost never advertises those movements. In fact, the operational secrecy of ballistic missile submarines is a foundational element of US nuclear deterrence strategy — their undetected presence is meant to assure adversaries that any nuclear strike on the United States would be met with devastating retaliation. That is what made Trump's announcement so unusual. By publicly declaring the submarine repositioning, he effectively turned a normally silent act of military deterrence into a loud political signal. Analysts say this appears to be part of Trump's well-known style of performative strength — responding visibly when provoked. Security expert explained the move by saying that the submarines were likely already where they need to be, but announcing their movement amplifies the signal to Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's decision to go public also fits a broader pattern. In December 2016, weeks before his first inauguration, Trump had posted on Twitter that the US 'must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.' That statement triggered fears of a potential arms race, even though the number of US nuclear warheads has largely remained stable in recent decades, shrinking from Cold War highs through arms control agreements. Why Trump publicly mentioned the nuclear submarines Trump's relationship with Russia and its leadership has long been a matter of intense debate. In his first term, he frequently boasted about his rapport with President Vladimir Putin, portraying himself as a dealmaker who could manage the bilateral relationship better than his predecessors. But his recent language suggests a turn toward frustration and confrontation. In recent weeks, Trump has blasted Russia's military actions in Ukraine, describing them as 'disgusting' and accusing Putin of talking 'bullshit.' He has also threatened secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian energy — explicitly mentioning India — and warned that buyers of Russian oil could face economic penalties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, he has pursued aggressive tariff policies, declaring, 'They can take their dead economies down together.' Although Medvedev was the immediate target of his submarine remarks, many observers believe the real message was aimed at Putin. Trump has become more critical of the Kremlin while still appearing to believe he retains a personal channel with the Russian president. Experts weigh in: signalling, not immediate conflict Despite the fiery language and the alarming subject matter — nuclear weapons — most security analysts say Trump's announcement is not evidence of imminent military escalation. Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute and a former senior Pentagon official, argued that this move was mostly about messaging rather than preparing for a nuclear clash. 'It's really signalling. It's not the beginning of some nuclear confrontation and nobody reads it as such. And I would imagine the Russians don't either,' she told Reuters. At the same time, there are concerns about the potential consequences of such rhetoric. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, condemned the tone of the exchange, stating: 'This is irresponsible and inadvisable. No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war, let alone in a juvenile manner on social media.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other analysts warn that Trump could be stepping into what they call a 'commitment trap,' in which strong words create an expectation that he will follow through with increasingly forceful actions if tensions escalate further. What next for Trump, Ukraine and Putin Trump's submarine declaration did not happen in isolation. It is part of a broader strategy — or at least a series of moves — to pressure Moscow into ending the war in Ukraine. On July 29, Trump had given Russia a ten-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face punishing tariffs. The deadline expires on August 8, and Moscow has shown no signs of complying. Putin has instead reiterated that the 'momentum of the war' favours Russia, while saying he remains open to 'peace talks,' a statement that has not been accompanied by any real concessions. Supporters may see this as a show of decisiveness and resolve, especially toward a Russia that has frequently used its own nuclear rhetoric to intimidate. Critics, however, argue that publicising such decisions undermines the quiet deterrence posture that the US has cultivated for decades — and raises unnecessary fears of a nuclear standoff. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
New Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Academics warn Columbia's $200M Trump deal could set blueprint for wider assault on universities
WASHINGTON: Columbia University's $200 million agreement with US President Donald Trump's administration marks the end of a months-long showdown, but academics warn it is just the first round of a government "assault" on higher education. Academics from Columbia and beyond have expressed concerns that the deal -- which makes broad-ranging concessions and increases government oversight -- will become the blueprint for how Trump brings other universities to heel. The New York institution was the first to be targeted in Trump's war against elite universities, for what the US president claimed was its failure to tackle anti-Semitism on campus in the wake of pro-Palestinian protests. It was stripped of hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding and lost its ability to apply for new research grants. Labs saw vital funding frozen, and dozens of researchers were laid off. But Columbia last week agreed to pay the government $200 million, and an additional $21 million to settle an investigation into anti-Semitism. According to Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, the lack of due process -- with the government slashing funding before carrying out a formal investigation -- left Columbia in an "untenable position." Columbia law professor David Pozen agreed, saying the "manner in which the deal was constructed has been unlawful and coercive from the start" and slamming the agreement as giving "legal form to an extortion scheme."
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Will Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy' Combs? Here's why he likely won't
Donald Trump says he's still weighing whether to grant a presidential pardon to Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Trump suggested he might evaluate a pardon for Sean 'Diddy' Combs based on facts and fairness rather than public sentiment. (Reuters/AP) Diddy, who is currently jailed at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, was recently found guilty on two out of five federal charges following a closely watched trial in early July. He was acquitted of the most serious accusations, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Still, the verdict landed him behind bars, despite multiple requests for bail. Following the verdict, Trump told Newsmax, 'He was celebrating a victory, but he seems, I guess it wasn't as good of a victory.' He called the mixed outcome 'half-innocent.' ALSO READ| Sean 'Diddy' Combs asks judge to throw out guilty verdicts or grant him a new trial Before the verdict, speculation swirled that Trump might be preparing to pardon Diddy. But now that the rapper has formally asked for presidential clemency, Trump appears reluctant. 'Probably — hmm,' he said when asked about it. 'You know, I was very friendly with him. I get along with him great. Seemed like a nice guy. I didn't know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.' Diddy's past words haunt him as Trump leans 'no' on pardon Interestingly, Trump once attended Diddy's famous parties, and during an episode of Celebrity Apprentice, he even vouched for the rapper when contestant Aubrey O'Day, a former member of Diddy's girl group Danity Kane, seemed hesitant to talk about him. However, Diddy publicly criticized Trump during his presidency in 2020, saying, 'White men like Trump need to be banished.'. 'It's hard, you know, like we're human beings and we don't like to have things cloud our judgment,' the POTUS told Newsmax. 'But when you know something and you were fine and then you run for office and he made some terrible statements, so I don't know… it's more difficult, makes it more difficult, I'm being honest, it makes it more difficult to do.' ALSO READ| Trump to grant Sean Diddy a pardon? Here's what we know ahead of October sentencing Pressed further, Trump admitted he's leaning toward not issuing a pardon. 'The White House will not confirm or deny pardons that may or may not happen,' a source told Mirror US.
