Trump to restart trade negotiations with Thailand, Cambodia
"Just spoke to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand and Prime Minister of Cambodia," Trump said in a Truth Social post. "I have instructed my trade team to restart negotiations on trade."
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The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Morning Joe ridicules GOP for justifying Trump's firing of Labor Stats chief: ‘Put on their Baghdad Bob hat'
The hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe mocked Republicans and White House officials on Monday for spending the weekend attempting to justify Donald Trump's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following a poor jobs report last week. According to anchor Joe Scarborough, it appeared that the president's aides and top loyalists knew the assignment and 'put on their Baghdad Bob hat' in an effort to defend the impetuous move, knowing they didn't have a choice because 'there was no justification for' the termination. On the same day that Trump resumed his global tariffs, which could potentially spark inflation and lead to reduced economic growth, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added only 73,000 jobs in July. Furthermore, there was a massive downward revision in the previous two months, showing that only 33,000 jobs were added rather than the previously reported 291,000. With the president routinely declaring that the U.S. is the 'HOTTEST' country in the world and the economy is booming, the disappointing jobs report prompted Trump to lash out at BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer. Trump accused her of manipulating and rigging the statistics to make him look bad, because former President Joe Biden nominated her. The president then fired McEntarfer Friday evening. While some GOP lawmakers expressed concern that Trump appeared to terminate McEntarfer just because he didn't like the numbers, noting that she was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate last year, Cabinet members and top White House advisers spent the Sunday shows desperately scrambling to spin their boss' move. 'The president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers, they're more transparent and more reliable,' National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said on NBC's Meet the Press. 'You want to be able to have somewhat reliable numbers,' White House trade representative Jamieson Greer declared on CBS News' Face the Nation. 'There are always revisions, but sometimes you see these revisions go in really extreme ways. And it's, you know, the president is the president. He can choose who works in the executive branch.' During Monday's broadcast of Morning Joe, Scarborough brought up the latest op-ed from the Wall Street Journal editorial board, which took aim at the president's economic advisers for being the 'bureau of labor denial' following McEntarfer's firing. 'The reality of slowing job growth is clear to anyone paying attention, no matter the official statistics,' the board wrote. 'Mr. Trump's data denial is one more reason fewer Americans will trust the government.' Scarborough claimed that while Beltway insiders like himself are generally able to get White House officials to give them 'straight answers' during off-the-record chats on Trump's decision-making, he considered this an 'exception to that rule' before outright mocking their weekend performance. 'Everybody put on their Baghdad Bob hat this weekend because there was no justification for it,' Scarborough said. 'I was surprised that I didn't even get the sort of quiet eye rolling from inside the White House. I guess they understood they were going to follow the Baghdad Bob line, and they all did it this weekend.' The Morning Joe star was referring to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, Saddam Hussein's former Minister of Information at the outset of the Iraq War, who was given the 'Baghdad Bob' nickname due to the comically false statements her would make in press conferences. Al-Sahhaf once claimed American soldiers were dying by suicide 'by the hundreds', and denied that American tanks were in Baghdad – despite the fact that the tanks could be heard in the distance and were only a few hundred meters from where he was speaking. 'Those in the White House, those close to the president, were in lockstep – asserting, without evidence, that there was bias in these job numbers and that President Trump was simply justified in doing what he did,' Morning Joe co-host Jonathan Lemire said Monday. 'None of that is true. This is a bad one. Historically, this is a bad one.' He added: 'Governments, economies, and businesses can only make decisions based on hard data, on statistics. This calls into question so much of what Washington produces.' Elsewhere on the program, Scarborough said that a 'lot of people are certainly deeply concerned' that this latest move from Trump shows that he's 'playing with the facts' and that it could result in the 'rise of authoritarianism.' Regular contributor Katty Kay, meanwhile, observed that the U.S. could be 'going more in the direction of Latin America' and devolve into a 'feudal oligarchical system.' Over on the other cable news outlets, CNN senior reporter Matt Egan suggested that Trump's firing of McEntarfer would be similar to 'an NFL owner who responds to his team losing big by immediately firing the scoreboard operator.' Moments later, CNN global economic analyst and Financial Times editor Rana Foroohar sounded the alarm over what this termination could mean for the country down the road. 'I mean, you know, this is the same bureau and the same commissioner that he was lauding when good numbers came out. And now the bad numbers are coming out. He's firing them,' she said. 'And I think one thing that really worries me is that this is what you see in autocracies,' Foroohar continued. 'This is what you see in emerging markets that don't have the rule of law, that don't have democratic governments. You see the firing of officials that people don't like. You see leaders closing themselves off to the truth.'
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘He's a great negotiator and diplomat': Starmer praised as UK outshines EU in Trump trade talks
As Donald Trump signed a new trade deal with the EU, many Independent readers were less focused on Brussels – and more surprised by how well the UK had done in comparison. With Keir Starmer securing lower tariffs and a visibly warmer reception from the US president, some asked: how did Britain get a better deal than the EU? Commenters were quick to praise Starmer's calm, measured style. One reader described him as a 'great negotiator and diplomat' with a 'forensic' grasp of detail, while another said Trump 'genuinely likes him' and respects that he 'stands up for himself' rather than fawning. In contrast, Europe's performance was seen as lacklustre, with the bloc 'unable to mount an effective response'. The EU-US deal itself drew criticism for being weak and symbolic, accused of rewarding Trump's coercive tactics and reframing tariffs as legitimate economic tools. Several readers lamented that the UK's apparent success would be used to claim a 'Brexit benefit' – while others were content to see the EU embarrassed. Here's what you had to say: A great negotiator and diplomat There's a lot of criticism of Starmer, and some is justified. While he might not be the greatest leader Labour we have had, there's no doubt he's a great negotiator and diplomat. What also helps him is that he has a strong sense of fairness, decency, and dignity. Then there's his obvious legal background, which you see in his forensic thoroughness when debating issues. Can you imagine Kemi Badenoch and that useless lot negotiating with Trump... he'd have a field day. DHC How do you feel about the UK's trade deal compared to Europe's? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation below. Trump is half Scottish Trump is half Scottish and he seems to have a little more respect for his mother's native country. We also don't manufacture anything, and we have long given up the future capacity to be a producing nation. We are customers; Europe, on the other hand, is a competitor. 227detius A weak EU capitulating to Trump The deal has been widely criticised on the European side, viewed by some as a weak EU capitulating to Trump's demands, unable to mount an effective response. While that perception is difficult to counter, the reality is much more complex and nuanced. It's worth noting that the deal isn't a fully fleshed-out trade agreement but, for the time being, one of the many symbolic political deals Trump has announced in recent months. Yet it's not meaningless. It pauses what could have escalated into a full-scale transatlantic trade war and defuses a major source of volatility and anxiety. That said, the real challenge lies ahead – hammering out the details. Without legally binding documents, the door remains open to misinterpretation. We've seen this play out recently with the US-Japan agreement, hastily concluded a few days ago, and already sparking differing interpretations. The same could easily happen with the EU-US deal. The deal is being widely perceived as a big political win for Trump and a defeat for the EU, negatively affecting its image both domestically and worldwide. Unfortunately, this interpretation ultimately praises and legitimises an approach based on aggression and coercion, rewarding tactics that undermine trust and cooperation. Sadly, tariffs – long discredited as a blunt and damaging economic tool – are now being recast as effective policy instruments, which the EU should also wield. It's astonishing how, in only a few months, Trump has managed to frame such a confrontational strategy and unsound economic policies as a success – even with Europe. It's simply self-defeating. But whatever the "final outcome", the misery of this GileadUS administration will continue to affect the lives of billions of people! LeeisBlue I ignore all the Faragist, Corbynite vitriol Starmer really has done well in his dealings not only with Trump but also the EU and his Gaza stance. Additionally, his policies are really changing and improving our lives – e.g. the NHS is performing much better (my wife has benefitted from this). Frankly, I ignore all the Faragist, Corbynite vitriolic attacks on Starmer and co and research for myself what's ACTUALLY happening. All this Reform/Farage/Corbyn propaganda is a distraction, largely irrelevant. voxtrot UK sacrificed bioethanol sector The UK's largest trade partner, by far, in goods is the EU. Don't think EU's higher tariffs from the USA have no effect on the UK. The UK also sacrificed the bioethanol sector, and allowed US beef into the UK, to the detriment of home agriculture, to get those reduced tariffs. I know there is some desperation in some quarters to try and claim some form of #BrexitBenefit, and hope the utter disaster and failure that it is gets forgotten. wolfie Nothing to do with Starmer It's got nothing to do with Starmer. The UK got a better deal with the US than the EU despite Starmer, not because of him. The UK is an independent, sovereign nation again and no longer anchored to the failing, anti-democratic EU political union thanks to Brexit, and we're one of the US's closest allies. Our bond with the US will grow even stronger once the current shambles of a Labour government – that appears to be doing its best to suppress free speech – is booted out at the next election. Kingswood Diversifying the EU's trading partners Yes, but every trading country/bloc has the opportunity of improving their prospects by diversifying their trading portfolio. Perhaps this is what Ms von der Leyen had in mind when making a deal with Trump – i.e. to force the EU to diversify its trading partners. In the longer term, that might be the best solution. Hungubwe Trump swallowed the carrot of a state visit All to do with the vanity of Trump. The state visit was the ultimate carrot that Starmer dangled, and Trump swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. He likes the sense of self-importance which this state visit will bestow on him, and all the pomp and ceremony. Beyond this, it shows that as long as you pander to him, he's happy to tolerate most things. Charles's views on the climate and compassion for migrants would normally have him called a radical lefty by Trump, and likewise, Starmer would also get short shrift, but because they are praising Trump, he's lapping it up – for now. The only constant has been the unapologetic support for Netanyahu, and ultimately it will come to a head when the ethnic cleansing plan is put in place. At that point, the world will have to decide to confront Trump directly or capitulate under fear of tariffs, leaving NATO, etc. I fear the capitulation. Truthonly With Trump you always follow the money The UK has a trade surplus with the USA of about £2 billion. The EU's trade surplus is about £200 billion. That's the difference – it's nothing to do with love of the UK or a Scottish mother or the tactics of the UK government. With Trump, you always follow the money. He does hate the EU's society because it is so much better than the US, so he feels compelled to drag it down to his level. He also knows he can play the UK like a banjo, whereas he fears the EU. We all know he will change his mind at any minute. AnonyMousse Starmer has done well on international issues Starmer has done well on international issues. The problem is that his focus on those things has left his inexperienced underlings to preside over domestic affairs. We have to remind ourselves who they replaced though. Compared to 14 years of Tory corruption and chaos, they are paragons of efficiency. Inkling
The Guardian
10 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Marjorie Taylor Greene suggests she may abandon the Republican party
Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most prominent voices in Donald Trump's Maga movement, has declared in an interview that she feels that the Republican party has lost touch with its base, and suggested she may abandon the party entirely. The Georgia congresswoman told the Daily Mail this week she is questioning whether she still belongs in the Republican fold and expressed resounding frustration with GOP leadership. 'I don't know if the Republican party is leaving me, or if I'm kind of not relating to Republican party as much any more,' Greene said. 'I don't know which one it is.' Greene, who boasts 7.5 million followers on X and commands one of the largest social media audiences of any Republican woman, accused party leaders of betraying core conservative principles. She did not criticize Trump himself, instead preferring to express her ire for what she attempted to paint as political elites. 'I think the Republican party has turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans,' she said, warning that GOP leadership was reverting to its 'neocon' past under the influence of what she termed the 'good ole boys' network. The 51-year-old lawmaker, in the roughly six month mark following Trump's return to the White House, said she's particularly frustrated with the House speaker, Mike Johnson, saying: 'I'm not afraid of Mike Johnson at all.' Her remarks reflect a broader pattern of voter dissatisfaction with traditional party structures. Americans appear to also be holding deeply unfavorable views of both major parties: a July Wall Street Journal poll found 63% view the Democratic party unfavorably, its worst rating in 35 years, while Republicans fare only marginally better in most surveys. Independent or independent-leaning Americans now account for nearly half the electorate, according to July Gallup polling, and public support has increasingly shifted toward Democrats through those leaners in recent months. On Monday, Greene took to social media to criticize the lack of accountability over what she deems key issues to the base, sharing a table showing no arrests for the 'Russian Collusion Hoax', 'Jan 6th', and '2020 Election'. 'Like what happened all those issues? You know that I don't know what the hell happened with the Republican Party. I really don't,' she said in the interview. 'But I'll tell you one thing, the course that it's on, I don't want to have anything to do with it, and I just don't care any more.' Her recent bills have targeted unconventional Republican territory: preventing cloud-seeding, making English the official US language, and cutting capital gains taxes on homes. She's also the first Republican in Congress to label the crisis in Gaza a genocide, and has called for ending foreign aid and using the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) to cut down fraud and waste in the government. Greene acknowledged her isolation within the party, saying: 'I'm going alone right now on the issues that I'm speaking about.'
