Live updates: Trump and Netanyahu to meet at White House; U.S. to send tariff letters
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting this evening over dinner and are expected to discuss the recent military strikes against Iran.
Trump said in a social media post last night that he would be sending letters to U.S. trading partners starting at noon today, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated yesterday would warn that if the countries don't reach trade deals with the U.S. in the coming days, their tariff rates would revert to steep duties announced in early April.
The president yesterday ridiculed Elon Musk's plans to form a new political party following the passage of the GOP's sweeping domestic policy bill. The billionaire tech mogul has railed against the legislation for months, in part over its projected impact on the federal deficit.
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Western Telegraph
24 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Trump announces 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea
The tariffs are set to go into effect on August 1. Mr Trump provided notice by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of the various countries. US President Donald Trump waves to the media after exiting Air Force One (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) The letters warned them to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs. 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge,' Mr Trump wrote in the letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. The letters were not the final word from Mr Trump on tariffs, so much as another episode in a global economic drama in which he has placed himself at the centre. His moves have raised fears that economic growth would slow to a trickle, if not make the US and other nations more vulnerable to a recession. But Mr Trump is confident that tariffs are necessary to bring back domestic manufacturing and fund the tax cuts he signed into law last Friday. He mixed his sense of aggression with a willingness to still negotiate, signalling the likelihood that the drama and uncertainty would continue and that few things are ever final with Mr Trump. Imports from Myanmar and Laos would be taxed at 40%, South Africa at 30% and Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Tunisia at 25%. Shoppers browse electric rice cookers imported from Japan and South Korea at a US department store (Nam Y Huh/AP) Mr Trump placed the word 'only' before revealing the rate in his letters to the foreign leaders, implying that he was being generous with his tariffs. Mr Trump still has outstanding differences on trade with the European Union and India, among other trading partners. Tougher talks with China are on a longer time horizon in which imports from that nation are being taxed at 55%.
The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Elon Musk blasts FBI after axing Epstein probe — raging ‘It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again'
DONALD Trump's ex-pal Elon Musk lashed out yesterday after a leaked memo said the FBI was ready to end its Jeffrey Epstein probe — with the Tesla tycoon declaring: 'It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again.' The document showed federal investigators and the US Justice Department found no evidence the paedophile financier had a client list or blackmailed powerful figures. 6 6 6 And CCTV footage taken outside his cell — finally released six years after his death — proved he was not murdered, officials claimed. Many within the US President's Make America Great Again movement — including FBI chief Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino — repeatedly called for all Epstein files to be publicly released and other abusers to be brought to justice. Critics accused the US government of a new cover-up, weeks after Musk claimed the President was 'in the Epstein files'. Billionaire Musk led the attacks yesterday, posting on X: 'What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again...', above a meme of 'The Official Jeffrey Epstein paedophile arrest counter' — which was at zero. He added: 'Man, this is heavy', and referring to Epstein's British socialite madam, serving 20 years for sex trafficking, said: ' What is Ghislaine Maxwell in prison for? Stuff like this does not improve people's faith in government.' Maxwell was pictured with Prince Andrew and his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. One of the main claims by conspiracy theorists was that Epstein was murdered in 2019 to hush him up and protect senior figures. In the run-up to yesterday's revelations, US government officials suggested shocking revelations. When asked if Epstein's client list would be released, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February: 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review.' She had also said the FBI was reviewing 'tens of thousands of videos' of Epstein 'with children or child porn'. I came face-to-face with Epstein - paedo would flip to dark side like a switch... I'm convinced he DIDN'T kill himself Trump supporter Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, had said: 'It is incredibly disturbing. We have flight logs, we have information, names that will come out. 'I don't see how it's not shocking there were so many individuals that were hidden and kept secret and not been held accountable.' Epstein watchers keenly anticipated a string of powerful people being outed as clients, with up to 1,000 FBI agents on the case. But there was anger when a two-page DoJ/FBI memo revealed investigators had found no evidence of a cover-up. 6 6 It was published by US news website Axios and picked up by ABC News. The US government made no official comment. The memo said there was 'no incriminating 'client list'', 'no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals,' and 'no evidence could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The memo said Epstein harmed 'over one thousand victims' and 'each suffered unique trauma'. It said 'sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout materials' it reviewed, but warned: 'Much of the material is subject to court-ordered sealing. 'Only a fraction would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial, as the seal served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of wrongdoing.' Investigators checked the original film from cameras near Epstein's cell, as well as an enhanced version from 10.40pm the night before he died to around 6.30am, when he was found. No one else enters that area of the prison, officials said. The memo states: 'After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell.' Protest group Republicans Against Trump said: 'Hey Donald, if you've got nothing to hide, release all the Epstein files just like you promised. What are you afraid of?' Mr Musk made his claims about Trump being in the Epstein files when they fell out after the Tesla boss left government. The world's richest man later said he 'went too far' — but posted repeatedly about the case yesterday. The President earlier hit back at the claims saying: 'That's called 'old news.' Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.' Trump and Epstein attended the same parties in the 1990s and in 2017 Epstein claimed he was 'Donald Trump's closest friend'. Trump had said he was 'not a fan of Epstein' and had not spoken to him in years. 6
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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump and Israel's Netanyahu to meet at White House as ceasefire deal looms: Live updates
President Donald Trump is set to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House on Monday evening. The dinner comes as Israel and Hamas hold indirect talks for a potential ceasefire and hostage deal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced earlier Monday Trump would delay the deadline for tariff negotiations to August 1 as the U.S. attempts to cement trade deals with dozens of other nations. The 90-day negotiating period on trade was set to expire on July 9, causing tariffs to increase from the baseline 10 percent rate to the higher levels set by Trump on April 2. The administration previously claimed it would land '90 deals in 90 days.' Japan and South Korea received letters Monday from the president informing them of a 25 percent import tax on all goods from their countries starting August 1. Leavitt said approximately 12 other countries will receive letters imminently. Trump also has reignited the feud with Elon Musk, his former friend, ally and patron, over his threat to set up a third political party in the United States. In a lengthy Truth Social tirade on Sunday, Trump said Musk has gone 'off the rails' in recent weeks and become a 'trainwreck.' Israeli demonstrators demand end to the Gaza war ahead of Trump-Netanyahu dinner Israeli demonstrators demanded an end to the war in Gaza on Monday ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dinner with President Donald Trump. Protesters stood outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on Monday, calling for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza, according to the Associated Press. A banner read: 'Hostages are waiting.' Netanyahu will meet with Trump at the White House Monday evening. 7 July 2025 22:17 Where does the Israel-Hamas war stand ahead of Trump-Netanyahu dinner? President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to have dinner at the White House Monday evening. Israeli troops have been in Gaza since Hamas launched a deadly attack on its Middle Eastern neighbor on October 7, 2023. Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took 251 more hostage in its surprise attack. More than half of the hostages have been returned, eight have been rescued and dozens have been recovered dead, the Associated Press reported. More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, the AP reported, citing Gaza's Health Ministry. Gazans are facing prolonged food shortages with nearly half a million in a 'catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death,' the World Health Organization reported in May. A temporary ceasefire deal was agreed to in January but broken nearly two months later. Trump has been trying to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday afternoon: "The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages.' 'There was a ceasefire proposal that Israel supports, that was sent to Hamas. We hope that they will agree to this proposal,' Leavitt said. Israel and Hamas were set to hold indirect peace talks in Qatar for a second day on Monday, Reuters reported early Monday morning. Rachel Dobkin7 July 2025 22:00 Bernie Sanders rips into Trump-Netanyahu dinner, calls Israeli PM 'war criminal' Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, criticized a scheduled dinner between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday evening. 'Today, a war criminal under indictment from the ICC [International Criminal Court] will be welcomed to the White House,' Sanders wrote on X Monday afternoon. 'Trump, like [former President Joe] Biden before him, has aided and abetted the extremist Netanyahu government as it has systematically killed and starved civilians in Gaza.' The senator called Monday 'a shameful day in America.' Netanyahu has vehemently denied committing war crimes in Gaza. Rachel Dobkin7 July 2025 21:45 Democratic voters are demanding reps fight dirty against Trump and MAGA: 'There needs to be blood' Democratic voters are fed up with their representatives taking the moral high ground against President Donald Trump and the GOP, with some reportedly suggesting they should be willing to 'get shot' in order to oppose the administration. "Our own base is telling us that what we're doing is not good enough ... [that] there needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public," one anonymous Democrat told Axios. The outlet spoke to more than two dozen House Democrats, many of whom said their constituents had demanded extreme measures and even violence in order to exact change. "Some of them have suggested ... what we really need to do is be willing to get shot" when visiting ICE facilities or other federal agencies, another lawmaker told Axios. Democratic voters are demanding reps fight dirty against Trump and MAGA 'Some of them have suggested ... what we really need to do is be willing to get shot' one anonymous lawmaker told Axios Rachel Dobkin7 July 2025 21:30 U.S. stocks fall after new Trump tariff threats U.S. stocks fell after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs ranging from 25 to 40 percent on countries on Monday. Here's where the major stock indexes were at the closing bell, according to MarketWatch: In a batch of letters sent Monday, Trump threatened the following countries with steep tariffs starting August 1: South Korea - 25 percent Japan - 25 percent Malaysia – 25 percent Kazakhstan – 25 percent South Africa – 30 percent Laos – 40 percent Myanmar – 40 percent Rachel Dobkin7 July 2025 21:15 Watch: Leavitt address MAGA anger over Epstein files White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the anger from MAGA over the Epstein files at today's press briefing. Watch the clip below. Rhian Lubin7 July 2025 21:00 Trump says tariffs are 'necessary' as he justifies slapping nations with taxes President Donald Trump has justified the tariffs in his letters to nations as he attempts to cement trade deals. 'Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of ... Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!' he says in the letters. American stock markets lost ground in trading on Monday after the president's announcement, with the S&P 500 index falling 0.9 percent in the first day of trading in the U.S. after a holiday-shortened week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 526 points, or 1.2 percent, as of midday. The Nasdaq composite was 1 percent lower as well. Andrew Feinberg, Rhian Lubin7 July 2025 20:30 Trump hits countries with tariffs ranging from 25 – 40 percent Trump has threatened to hit countries in his latest batch of letters with tariffs ranging from 25 – 40 percent. The letters are similar in tone and try to persuade nations to move production to the U.S. Trump writes that if any of the countries hit back with their own tariffs, the administration will retaliate. 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge,' the letter to Malaysia reads. This is what Trump has threatened Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Laos and Myanmar: Malaysia – 25 percent Kazakhstan – 25 percent South Africa – 30 percent Laos – 40 percent Myanmar – 40 percent Rhian Lubin7 July 2025 20:00 World leaders are 'begging' Trump to make a deal, Leavitt claims Karoline Leavitt claimed world leaders are 'begging' President Donald Trump to make a trade deal after he pushed the negotiation deadline back by nearly three weeks. Leavitt was asked at Monday's briefing if Trump was 'at all concerned' that countries receiving the letters 'won't take them seriously because the deadline seems to have shifted already and may shift again.' 'They will take the letters seriously because they have taken the president seriously,' Leavitt responded. 'That's why the president's phone rings off the hook from world leaders all the time, who are begging him to come to a deal.' Rhian Lubin7 July 2025 19:40
