US politics live: Concerning photo shows Donald Trump's ‘chronic' condition
Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, the White House has revealed.
It's a rare admission that the US President is fallible, with previous medical check-ups describing him as being in fine health.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr Trump was suffering from a condition called chronic venous insufficiency in his legs.
It means the veins in his legs can't regulate blood flow as efficiently as they should, potentially leading to swelling and infected ulcers that could become dangerous without prompt treatment.
In Congress, Democrats scrutinising Mr Trump's former personal lawyer Emil Bove – who he wants to promote to a high-profile lifetime judicial position – walked out of the hearing in fury at the Republicans on the committee.
They accused the GOP members of trying to rush the debate and refusing to allow a whistleblower who has made accusations about Mr Bove's character to testify.
While Maurene Comey, the federal prosecutor and daughter of Trump critic James Comey, who was summarily sacked for no apparent reason by the White House, has broken her silence.
Ms Comey was involved in the conviction of Jeffrey Epstein and his offsider Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as playing a major role in the recent Sean Combs trial.
Read on for more updates.
Originally published as US politics live: Concerning photo shows Donald Trump's 'chronic' condition
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News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
PM says he does not want Putin ‘rewarded' after Trump meet
Anthony Albanese says he does not want to see Vladimir Putin 'rewarded' after the Russian President met with Donald Trump this weekend discuss Ukraine. While both leaders hailed the talks as 'productive' and 'constructive', they emerged from their 'Pursuing Peace' summit in Alaska with little but pledges to keep talking. Though, in a big win for Mr Putin, he got a red-carpet welcome and photographed handshakes with the US President while the war in Ukraine raged on. The Prime Minister on Sunday said it was a 'good thing' that parties were talking. 'It is a good thing that President Trump is an advocate for peace,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth. 'What we want to see is that the sovereignty of Ukraine be protected and that the illegal and immoral invasion conducted by Mr Putin and Russia are not very rewarded.' He added that standing up for international rule of law was important, too. 'It's also important because of the precedent that Russia's invasion sets of a powerful nation invading a much smaller nation and engaging in the brutality, which we have seen at great cost to the Ukrainian people, but also at a great cost to Russian soldiers who've lost their lives as well,' Mr Albanese said. Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko also warned not taking a firm line with Mr Putin would embolden him. 'Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 – they grabbed Crimea, they invaded eastern parts of Ukraine and started the war,' Mr Myroshnychenko told Sky News. 'They got inspired and emboldened by the weak reaction to what they had done and invaded Ukraine again eight years later, with a goal of subjugating the entire nation, occupying Kyiv and the entire territory of Ukraine.' He said his country 'wants to achieve peace more than anybody else because Ukrainians get killed, our country is getting destroyed'. Mr Myroshnychenko also said Australia has 'skin in the game because this is going to shape the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific'. 'Because if Russia can end up even technically controlling 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, it will be a blueprint for any other authoritarian leader here in the region to follow the same path and just do the same thing,' he said, in a nod to China. Mr Trump met Mr Putin without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising eyebrows in Kyiv and across Europe. Mr Zelenskyy will meet with Mr Trump in Washington on Monday. Ahead of their meeting, the Ukrainian leader said that 'Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing'. 'This complicates the situation,' he said. 'If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbors for decades. 'But together we are working for peace and security. 'Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.' Ukraine has lost nearly 400,000 troops since Russia invaded in February, 2022, according to research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The think tank put the death toll at just under 1 million for Russia.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Trump is calling for peace. But how exactly do you end a war?
It took more than 150 meetings and two years before the Korean War armistice agreement was reached. The Western Sahara conflict began in the 1970s and continues today. So what does it take to end a conflict? Despite multiple rounds of peace talks and mounting international scrutiny, there doesn't appear to be an end in sight to the bloodshed in Israel-Gaza. Russia and Ukraine are caught in a similar stalemate, with the weekend's Alaskan summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin failing to make any inroads on peace with Kyiv. But mediators warn negotiations are "highly technical" and "incredibly difficult". And history shows it will take time, patience — and for world leaders like Mr Trump to keep applying pressure — before we will see peace. Here is a look at what happens when you get two enemies in a room, and how to guide them towards a solution. Peace talks can involve direct negotiations between warring parties or the use of a mediator. Paul Dziatkowiec is the director of mediation and peace support at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and previously worked as an Australian diplomat for about a decade. He says mediators must be trusted by both sides and should traditionally be seen as impartial. Although that's not always the case, such as with Mr Trump. "You see the US president trying to play this kind of role, pushing and prodding and using sanctions and economic incentives to try to force a result," Mr Dziatkowiec says. Peace talks can also be extremely tense affairs, so mediators need to have a knack for keeping people calm. "Behind closed doors, there are times when [people] insult each other and swear at each other," Mr Dziatkowiec says. Mr Dziatkowiec says wars often boil down to people's "needs and fears". "This is the underlying reason for many conflicts. This is often where the solution can be found," he says. Both sides can be driven by basic things. "They're afraid for their security, they're interested in respect, dignity, economic opportunity, and a more comfortable life for their family unit, for their community," Mr Dziatkowiec says. These are just some of the levers mediators can pull when guiding negotiations. Dr Damien Kingsbury is a professor emeritus of politics and security at Deakin, and has participated in multiple peace talks. He says compromise is key. "If you come out with a 50-50 compromise, you end up with only half of what you want," he says. "But it's half of something, rather than 100 per cent of nothing." External factors can also make or break negotiations. Dr Kingsbury was an advisor at the 2005 peace talks that ended a brutal, three-decade separatist war in the Indonesian province of Aceh. He says both sides were caught in a "hurting stalemate" — a deadlock causing significant harm to each, with no clear path to victory. But by 2005, both sides were inching toward a peace deal. The Free Aceh Movement was considering dropping its demands for full independence, while in Jakarta, new Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was ready to pursue a peace deal as part of his strategy to curb the powers of the country's military. Moves towards peace were given extra impetus as the region struggled to recover from the impact of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. "They had a willingness to be at the table and a genuine desire for some sort of resolution," Dr Kingsbury says. If there isn't "political will" for peace from the top, talks will inevitably struggle. Mr Dziatkowiec worked on the Russo-Ukrainian War for six years before Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, and experienced this firsthand from Russia's Vladimir Putin. "I knew if one man sitting in Moscow didn't want there to be a breakthrough, then it wouldn't matter how effective our discussions were," he says. Dr Kingsbury says while Kyiv seems genuinely interested in negotiation, Moscow doesn't appear to be. "So it may come to the table, but not be prepared to make any substantive compromises in order to find a resolution," he says. As for the Israel-Gaza conflict, Dr Kingsbury says it seems neither Israel nor Hamas is genuinely interested in a peace agreement. He says the Israeli government appears to want a "military success" against Hamas, similar to the one that ended the Sri Lankan civil war. That 26-year conflict finished after Sri Lanka's military crushed the Tamil Tigers, killing as many as 40,000 civilians in the final months. In addition to a lack of political will, Dr Kingsbury says "spoilers" can also hamper talks. These are people who continually undermine peace talks by launching military actions or politically blocking agreements. They are typically third parties, such as terrorist groups or rogue commanders, but can also cause havoc in the "main negotiating parties". Facing these kinds of barriers, Mr Dziatkowiec says some days can feel hopeless for mediators. "Your job is to be the last one that gives up," he says. This is where "private diplomacy" comes in. These are secret talks between mediators and warring parties, including people that governments are "uncomfortable talking to directly", such as terrorist or rebel groups. Mr Dziatkowiec works in this space and says unofficial talks are always happening, even if official diplomacy has been abandoned or isn't yet on the cards. "You try to find entry points, you try to find creative ways to engage and build trust and get things moving," he says. History shows that other countries can play a significant role in peace talks, but there must be sustained engagement. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is a prime example of this. He spent months flying between Middle East capitals after the 1973 Arab-Israel war to deal with the fallout — a tenacious approach that coined the term "shuttle diplomacy". Mr Trump has an equally significant role to play in current major conflicts, according to Mr Dziatkowiec. He just needs to stay focused. The mediation expert says the US president has brought a "new energy" to negotiations and has the greatest potential to change the course of these wars. He has also shown a willingness to engage with leaders who are shunned by other Western nations, such as Mr Putin. And Mr Trump is not alone. Other countries, such as Türkiye and some Gulf states, have also tried to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. "They bring unique strengths and a fresh and nuanced approach to the table, though they don't have the same carrots and sticks as the US does," Mr Dziatkowiec says. China could also play a powerful role "if it wanted to", with Russia growing increasingly dependent on the eastern superpower as it continues to face punishing sanctions. "It could influence Putin to change course," Mr Dziatkowiec says. In the meantime, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will continue to provide sufficient military support for Ukraine, and the US president's tight ceasefire deadlines are concerning some. "Tight deadlines rarely bring lasting breakthroughs in these situations," Mr Dziatkowiec says. "I hope he stays committed to a genuine peacemaking role, because he could achieve big things around the world if only he is an honest broker, stays determined, and doesn't get his attention diverted."
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
National Guard troops deployed to Washington
The Republican governors of three states are deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, who has portrayed the city as awash in crime. The announcements on Saturday of troops from hundreds of kilometres away in West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio came a day after DC officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal to keep Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, in charge of the police department after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's office said in a statement on Saturday he was deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to DC in "a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation." The statement said he also was providing equipment and specialised training. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster responded to a Pentagon request by announcing late on Saturday that 200 of his state's National Guard troops would be sent. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he would send 150 military police members in the coming days, adding none of them were "currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state". Trump said last week he was deploying hundreds of DC National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the Democratic-led city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency. Justice Department data, however, showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress. After the announcements, Mayor Bowser posted on X: "American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican". In June Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, during protests over mass immigration raids by federal officials. South Carolina's McMaster said his troops would immediately return to South Carolina if needed to respond to a possible hurricane or other natural disaster. Hurricane Erin, now northeast of Puerto Rico, has become a catastrophic Category 5 storm that could bring ocean swells to the US East Coast early next week, the US National Hurricane Center on Saturday. National Guard troops often respond to natural disasters and rarely police US civilians. A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime". A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal order was expected to go out that would authorise National Guard troops in DC to carry firearms. The Republican governors of three states are deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, who has portrayed the city as awash in crime. The announcements on Saturday of troops from hundreds of kilometres away in West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio came a day after DC officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal to keep Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, in charge of the police department after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's office said in a statement on Saturday he was deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to DC in "a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation." The statement said he also was providing equipment and specialised training. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster responded to a Pentagon request by announcing late on Saturday that 200 of his state's National Guard troops would be sent. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he would send 150 military police members in the coming days, adding none of them were "currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state". Trump said last week he was deploying hundreds of DC National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the Democratic-led city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency. Justice Department data, however, showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress. After the announcements, Mayor Bowser posted on X: "American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican". In June Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, during protests over mass immigration raids by federal officials. South Carolina's McMaster said his troops would immediately return to South Carolina if needed to respond to a possible hurricane or other natural disaster. Hurricane Erin, now northeast of Puerto Rico, has become a catastrophic Category 5 storm that could bring ocean swells to the US East Coast early next week, the US National Hurricane Center on Saturday. National Guard troops often respond to natural disasters and rarely police US civilians. A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime". A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal order was expected to go out that would authorise National Guard troops in DC to carry firearms. The Republican governors of three states are deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, who has portrayed the city as awash in crime. The announcements on Saturday of troops from hundreds of kilometres away in West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio came a day after DC officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal to keep Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, in charge of the police department after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's office said in a statement on Saturday he was deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to DC in "a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation." The statement said he also was providing equipment and specialised training. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster responded to a Pentagon request by announcing late on Saturday that 200 of his state's National Guard troops would be sent. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he would send 150 military police members in the coming days, adding none of them were "currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state". Trump said last week he was deploying hundreds of DC National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the Democratic-led city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency. Justice Department data, however, showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress. After the announcements, Mayor Bowser posted on X: "American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican". In June Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, during protests over mass immigration raids by federal officials. South Carolina's McMaster said his troops would immediately return to South Carolina if needed to respond to a possible hurricane or other natural disaster. Hurricane Erin, now northeast of Puerto Rico, has become a catastrophic Category 5 storm that could bring ocean swells to the US East Coast early next week, the US National Hurricane Center on Saturday. National Guard troops often respond to natural disasters and rarely police US civilians. A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime". A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal order was expected to go out that would authorise National Guard troops in DC to carry firearms. The Republican governors of three states are deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, who has portrayed the city as awash in crime. The announcements on Saturday of troops from hundreds of kilometres away in West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio came a day after DC officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal to keep Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, in charge of the police department after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's office said in a statement on Saturday he was deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to DC in "a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation." The statement said he also was providing equipment and specialised training. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster responded to a Pentagon request by announcing late on Saturday that 200 of his state's National Guard troops would be sent. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he would send 150 military police members in the coming days, adding none of them were "currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state". Trump said last week he was deploying hundreds of DC National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the Democratic-led city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency. Justice Department data, however, showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress. After the announcements, Mayor Bowser posted on X: "American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican". In June Trump ordered 700 Marines and 4000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, during protests over mass immigration raids by federal officials. South Carolina's McMaster said his troops would immediately return to South Carolina if needed to respond to a possible hurricane or other natural disaster. Hurricane Erin, now northeast of Puerto Rico, has become a catastrophic Category 5 storm that could bring ocean swells to the US East Coast early next week, the US National Hurricane Center on Saturday. National Guard troops often respond to natural disasters and rarely police US civilians. A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime". A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal order was expected to go out that would authorise National Guard troops in DC to carry firearms.
