
Republican Senator Who Cast Deciding Vote For Pete Hegseth Says He Would Take It Back If He Could

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News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
Donald Trump Eyes Kingmaker Role In 2026 Midterms, Will Vet Candidates, Plan Fundraisers
Last Updated: Trump is banking heavily on the success of his newly passed tax and spending legislation. US President Donald Trump has already begun laying the groundwork for a major push in the 2026 midterm elections. According to US broadcaster ABC News, a senior White House official confirmed Trump's direct involvement in the Republican Party's strategy, including fundraising, recruitment, and campaign planning. The President's goal is clear: to maintain the GOP majority in both chambers of Congress during the final two years of his presidency. Behind the scenes, Trump is expected to wield significant influence over GOP candidate selection. The report said he will back loyalists and block Republicans who have previously opposed or criticised him. The White House is also working to persuade key Republican lawmakers to stay in their current roles and avoid retirement or bids for other offices. According to the White House source, Trump and key members of his Cabinet plan to tour major swing states to build support for the legislation and the broader Republican agenda. Vice President JD Vance has already kicked off early campaigning, recently appearing in Pennsylvania to promote the bill. Trump is banking heavily on the success of his newly passed tax and spending legislation, dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill', to power the GOP to victory. The bill was signed into law during this year's Fourth of July celebrations at the White House, where Trump declared it as 'the biggest tax cut in the history of our country." The bill slashes funding for government programs such as Medicaid while boosting support for immigration enforcement. It also expands the child tax credit, which Trump hopes will appeal to working-class voters. The bill's political effectiveness is already being tested on the campaign trail. Gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey are promoting the law with tailored messaging, allowing the GOP to assess which strategy resonates best with voters ahead of 2026. Additionally, Republican strategists are in the process of creating new fundraising vehicles to support GOP candidates nationwide. The President's inner circle is currently seeking a strong candidate for the New Hampshire Senate seat, following former Governor Chris Sununu's decision not to run. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
Prashant Kishor playing honest role in Bihar politics: Chirag Paswan
New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) LJP(R) president Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that he appreciates the 'honest role" Prashant Kishor is playing in Bihar politics as everyone who thinks about the state and not caste, creed or religion is welcome there. Prashant Kishor has founded Jan Suraaj Party. When asked about Kishor 'hijacking" his 'Bihar first, Bihari first' plank, Paswan said no one can hijack others' agenda. 'Prashant ji is playing an honest role in Bihar politics, which I appreciate," he said. Paswan said he welcomes everyone who wants to work for the progress of Bihar and the people of the state, rising above religion, caste and creed issues. The LJP(R) president noted that it is the beauty of democracy that people have so much option to chose from. 'In democracy, it's better to have many options," he quipped. PTI MJH MNK MNK Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
31 minutes ago
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US automakers say Trumps 15% tariff deal with Japan puts them at disadvantage
Washington, Jul 23 (AP) US automakers are concerned about President Donald Trump's agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15%, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors. 'We need to review all the details of the agreement, but this is a deal that will charge lower tariffs on Japanese autos with no US content," said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Big 3 American automakers, General Motors, Ford and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Blunt said in an interview the US companies and workers 'definitely are at a disadvantage" because they face a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020. The domestic automaker reaction reveals the challenge of enforcing policies across the world economy, showing that for all of Trump's promises there can be genuine tradeoffs from policy choices that risk serious blowback in politically important states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, where automaking is both a source of income and of identity. Trump portrayed the trade framework as a major win after announcing it on Tuesday, saying it would add hundreds of thousands of jobs to the US economy and open the Japanese economy in ways that could close a persistent trade imbalance. The agreement includes a 15% tariff that replaces the 25% import tax the Republican president had threatened to charge starting on Aug 1. Japan would also put together $550 billion to invest in US projects, the White House said. The framework with Japan will remove regulations that prevent American vehicles from being sold in that country, the White House has said, adding that it would be possible for vehicles built in Detroit to be shipped directly to Japan and ready to be sold. But Blunt said that foreign auto producers, including the US, Europe and South Korea, have just a 6% share in Japan, raising scepticism that simply having the open market that the Trump administration says will exist in that country will be sufficient. 'Tough nut to crack, and I'd be very surprised if we see any meaningful market penetration in Japan," Blunt said. Major Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trade framework, nor did Autos Drive America or the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, organisations that also represent the industry. There is the possibility that the Japanese framework would give automakers and other countries grounds for pushing for changes in the Trump administration's tariffs regime. The president has previously said that flexibility in import tax negotiations is something he values. The USMCA is up for review next year. Ford, GM and Stellantis do 'have every right to be upset," said Sam Fiorani, vice president at consultancy AutoForecast Solutions. But 'Honda, Toyota, and Nissan still import vehicles from Mexico and Canada, where the current levels of tariffs can be higher than those applied to Japanese imports. Most of the high-volume models from Japanese brands are already produced in North America." Fiorani noted that among the few exceptions are the Toyota 4Runner, the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester, but most of the other imports fill niches that are too small to warrant production in the US. 'There will be negotiations between the US and Canada and Mexico, and it will probably result in tariffs no higher than 15%," Fiorani added, 'but nobody seems to be in a hurry to negotiate around the last Trump administration's free trade agreement." (AP) SCY SCY view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 00:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.