Latest news with #MakingAmericaGreatAgain
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Chair Michael Whatley officially announces run for US Senate in North Carolina
GASTONIA, N.C. (WNCN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has formally announced that he's entering the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. He unveiled his plans during a media event in Gastonia on Thursday afternoon, filing his official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission one day prior. This comes less than a week after former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper confirmed his intentions to launch his own campaign to fill the seat currently held by Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville who announced last month that he's not going to seek a third term. Tillis' decision propels his seat as one of the most captivating races to follow during the 2026 midterm elections. 'I love North Carolina': Former Governor Roy Cooper announces run for US Senate seat in 2026 Aside from Whatley and Cooper, other names have been speculated as possible candidates for both the Republican and Democratic parties, including former RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump. However, Trump ultimately chose not to enter the race, confirming her decision in a social media post last week. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much,' she said on X. 'While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.' In a post on Truth Social last week, President Trump voiced his support for Whatley, referring to him as 'one of the most capable executives in our country.' 'I am sending this statement out for a very good reason. Mike [Whatley] would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,' Trump wrote. 'He is fantastic at everything he does[…] I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate.' 'So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my complete and total endorsement,' he added. For several months, Democrat and former U.S. congressman Wiley Nickel had also considered the idea of throwing his name into the race, but he elected to drop out and pledge his support for Cooper. 'We started this campaign to send Thom Tillis packing. Well, mission accomplished I guess!' said Nickel, who officially launched his candidacy for the 2026 U.S. Senate race in April. 'It was an honor to work alongside Governor Cooper in the State Senate and in Congress,' Nickel said in his endorsement for Cooper earlier this week. 'I've seen firsthand his steady, bipartisan leadership. He listens, he shows up, and he gets things done. From making North Carolina the top state for business to guiding our communities through natural disasters, his leadership has made a real difference. And for so many of us, including me, he's been an inspiration to step up and serve. I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for U.S. Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue.' CBS 17 spoke with North Carolina representatives Richard Hudson and Deborah Ross on Wednesday about Cooper and his decision to launch his senatorial campaign. 'He brought us through some of the darkest hours in this state; COVID, through disasters and he understands how important it is to take care of your neighbor,' said Ross, a Democratic representative out of Wake County. 'Particularly when they're food insecure, housing insecure, they've suffered a natural disaster.' 'I think he's too radical for the state,' said Hudson, a Republican representing Cumberland, Moore and Hoke counties. 'I'm not sure anyone's ever held him accountable, but I think he'll be held accountable in this campaign.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Trump, tariffs, trade and the India-US deal
Since Donald Trump was sworn in once again as the 47th President of the US, the global strategic and economic communities have been recalibrating expectations around what the second wave of 'Making America Great Again' would entail. Central to this renewed thrust has been Trump's signature approach to trade: tariffs, trade rebalancing, and the assertion of American economic power through unilateral measures. On April 2, 2025, the White House declared a 'national emergency' under the pretext of unfair foreign trade practices. The day was marked as Liberation Day, ushering in a new regime of reciprocal tariffs on US trade partners, including allies and rivals alike. US President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 29, 2025. (AFP) Although most countries, including India, were given a 90-day suspension window to negotiate a way out, China was immediately slapped with an aggressive 145% tariff on exports to the US, prompting a retaliatory 125% tariff on US goods. The repercussions were immediate—hitting both US stock and bond markets. On May 14, the two countries partially rolled back these measures, with US tariffs on China reduced to 30% and Chinese duties on American goods cut to 10%. This tariff volatility occurs at a precarious juncture in the post-pandemic world economy—one already grappling with disrupted supply chains, resource competition, rising debt levels, and fragile labor markets. Simultaneously, geopolitical tensions across Europe, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific continue to strain global trading practices, driving many countries toward protectionist policies aimed at shielding domestic economies. India has emerged as a unique and strategically significant actor in this rapidly changing scenario. In the initial April 2 executive order, India was marked for a 26% reciprocal tariff—listing 'non-reciprocal trading practices'. Key Indian sectors—electronics, automobiles, textiles, jewelry, and medical devices—were targeted, though pharmaceuticals were initially exempted. On July 7, Trump sent official tariff notices to 14 nations, including Japan, South Korea, and several ASEAN members. The tariffs, set to go into force on August 1, range from 25% to 40%, prompting growing concerns over their economic and strategic implications. In a major turn, India was excluded from the final list of 14 countries notified by the US on July 7 to face new tariffs from August 1. President Trump publicly remarked that a 'very big' deal with India was near, and treasury secretary Charles Bessent confirmed the two countries were 'very close' to finalising a 'mini trade deal.' Although an official announcement is still pending, India is pressing for duty relief on exports and the removal of retaliatory tariffs. The United States has reportedly asked for more market access for US goods. Agriculture, however, remains a major sticking point. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated that agriculture is a 'red line,' underscoring India's need to protect its domestic farmers. Meanwhile, Trump has signaled potential 50% tariffs on copper and up to 200% on pharmaceuticals. While viewed by investors more as negotiating leverage than immediate threats, it may impact particularly the pharmaceutical industry in India. India's exposure to copper exports to the US remains modest (around 10,000 tonnes annually), however, even if tariffs hit copper export, the increasing domestic demand would compensate for that. It is the pharmaceutical sector that seems more vulnerable as it supplies over 40% of generics to the US. India's exports of pharmaceutical products to the US in FY24 was worth $ 8.73 billion. Nonetheless, there is a flip side to it as well. The American health care depends heavily on generic drugs, any hasty decision may impact lives across the United States. These tariffs could create supply chain disruptions, negatively impacting accessibility and affordability of medical drugs and can create a potential crisis, as health care remains one of the most polarised and contentious political issues in the US. Hence, Washington is also expected to tread cautiously on this domain. India appears more prepared than before to navigate shifting US trade priorities. Bilateral ties—particularly in defense, critical technologies, and supply chain resilience—have advanced under both Trump administrations. The resolution of all WTO disputes between the two nations under President Biden in 2023 also laid a foundation for deeper cooperation. India's restrained and calculated diplomatic approach gives hope for dividends. Its strategic economic policies—Make in India, PLI schemes, and Atmanirbhar Bharat—have increased its global competitiveness. In a world diversifying around China+1 strategies, India has emerged as a viable option. However, analysts have cautioned that the Trump administration's pressure-tariff model— the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has labeled the Yielding to American Tariff Retaliation Agreement (YATRA) may lead to imbalanced trade-offs if not managed with caution. The Indian market has been showing mixed reaction over the on and off threats of tariff imposition by the US. In April, the Reserve Bank of India revised its growth forecast to 6.5% (from 6.7%), while Goldman Sachs projected 6.1%, citing tariff shocks and global headwinds. India's finance secretary also warned that the US tariffs could shave off between 0.2 to 0.5 percentage points from FY25 GDP growth. Despite the macroeconomic stress, India's stock market demonstrated resilience. Benchmark indices dipped by 3,000 points in pre-open trade post-announcement but stabilised soon. The rupee has weakened in general, but has remained between the range of 85.4-85.7 per dollar, reflecting relative stability despite geopolitical turbulence. The threat of an additional 10% tariff on Brics by Trump has the possibility of creating some negative ripples in the Indian market. While uncertainties remain—particularly around agriculture, digital services, and regulatory standards—the situation also presents a rare convergence of strategic interests between India and the US India's share in global trade has expanded over the last two decades. While recent tariffs may impose short-term volatility, they are unlikely to derail India's long-term growth trajectory. Structural reforms, a robust digital economy, and industrial policy resilience have made India more immune to external shocks than in previous decades. Whether India can achieve tangible concessions on US agricultural subsidies, in exchange for flexibility on industrial goods and market access, remains to be seen. The August 1 deadline looms as a test for Indian negotiators—and an opportunity to secure a long-overdue arrangement in bilateral trade. With the global trade policies and business models undergoing transformation, Indian businesses may find in this moment not just risk, but also strategic opportunity—in sectors like electronics, textiles, and semiconductors—depending on how effectively they innovate and negotiate. This article is authored by Sweta Kumari, international relations analyst, New Delhi.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RNC Chair Michael Whatley will run for Senate from North Carolina, sources tell CNN
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run for the Senate in North Carolina, setting up a marquee race in next year's midterms, two sources familiar with Whatley's plans tell CNN. He will enter the race with President Donald Trump's backing, after Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, opted against running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. A North Carolina Republican consultant who has worked to set up Whatley's campaign told CNN on Thursday that a formal announcement is expected to come 'in the next week to 10 days.' Politico first reported Whatley's plans. The president preemptively threw his support behind Whatley in a post on Truth Social Thursday night where he also endorsed RNC treasurer Joe Gruters to succeed him as the committee's leader. 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,' Trump wrote. 'He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide! But I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate.' The RNC chairman's entry sets the stage for what's likely to be one of the best-funded, highest-profile Senate races on the 2026 midterm calendar. Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a popular Democrat who was term-limited after eight years and left office at the end of 2024, also plans to announce a Senate run in the coming days, sources told CNN. Lara Trump plans to remain in her in role as host of a weekly Fox News show and will also appear alongside Whatley at upcoming political events, a source said. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much,' she said in a post on X. 'While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.' The clash in North Carolina comes as Democrats, who need to flip four Senate seats to claim the majority, look for opportunities to make races for Republican-held seats competitive on an unforgiving map in which North Carolina could be the only true toss-up. Democrats' Senate hopes of flipping GOP-held seats elsewhere could hinge on retirement and recruiting questions. In Maine, five-term Sen. Susan Collins has beaten back stiff Democratic challenges in the past. In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn faces a primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative firebrand who Democrats view as a much weaker general election candidate. In Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst has not yet announced her reelection plans, though Republicans have several strong potential replacements if she opts out. In Ohio, Democrats hope former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who narrowly lost his seat in 2024, will attempt a comeback — this time challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Democrats must also defend Senate seats in several swing states, including Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and open seats in Michigan and New Hampshire. Whatley previously spent five years as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the RNC's general counsel. He took the helm of the national party in 2024 after Trump's tensions with former RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Gruters, who Trump on Thursday said 'will have my Complete and Total Endorsement' to succeed Whatley as chairman, was floated as a possibility for the leadership post in 2024 as well. 'I'm looking forward to advancing President Trump's America First agenda as the next Chair of the RNC,' Gruters said in a statement to CNN. 'He is the greatest President in our nation's history, and I'm ready to serve, fight, and win for our party and our country.' The Florida state senator is a longtime friend and ally of Trump, bucking the party line in the Sunshine State by backing Trump over Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Their relationship predates Trump's time in office to when he was a celebrity developer still weighing a political future. In 2012, on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Gruters convinced Trump to headline a fundraiser for the nearby Sarasota GOP. Gruters, who was chairman of the local party at the time, named Trump the Statesman of the Year. Trump had endorsed Gruters in his bid to become Florida's chief financial officer, a cabinet-level position that is elected statewide. It's unclear if Gruters will drop out of the race. DeSantis recently passed over Gruters and spurned Trump when he filled a vacancy at state CFO with state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Donald Judd and Steve Contorno contributed to this report.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for Senate in North Carolina, with Trump's backing
Michael Whatley, chairman of the national Republican Party, plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2026 with the blessing of President Donald Trump after Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara, passed on the seat. Democrats see the race as their top chance to flip a seat in the midterm elections as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis recently made a surprise announcement that he would not run for a third term after clashing with Trump. Whatley's decision was confirmed by two people familiar with his thinking. They were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly before an official announcement and spoke only on condition of anonymity. Trump asked Whatley, who leads the Republican National Committee, to run, according to one of the people. Politico first reported news of Whatley's plans. Whatley is considered by national Republicans to be a strong contender in the closely watched race, thanks partly to the large fundraising network he has cultivated as chair of the Republican National Committee and his perceived loyalty to the president. Whatley is a well-known name in the state, having previously served as chairman of the state GOP, and he has no voting record that could be used against him by Democrats. It was not immediately clear when Trump might weigh in publicly for his preferred candidate or when Whatley would formally launch his campaign. Lara Trump, who grew up in North Carolina and now hosts a Fox News Channel show, likely would have been the immediate front-runner for the nomination, and the president said she was his top choice. She had long stressed her ties to the critical swing state and had served as co-chair of the RNC during last year's presidential election. Having a Trump on the ballot would have been a boon for the party, which has struggled to turn out voters in off-year elections. But Lara Trump, who now lives in Florida with her young family, would have had to establish residency and register to vote in North Carolina by mid-September to qualify for the March primary, according to state law. She announced in a social media post Thursday that she had decided against it. 'After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,' she wrote. "While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.' She had previously declined to run for Senate in North Carolina in 2022 and in 2024 took herself out of the running to fill the term of former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio after he became secretary of state. The race is expected to be contentious in a state Donald Trump carried by 3.2 percentage points in 2024. Democrats have been encouraging former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper, who is seen as a formidable candidate by both parties, to run. A Cooper adviser, Morgan Jackson, would not confirm on Wednesday that Cooper had made a decision to run, but said the Democrat "would be making his intentions known in the coming days.' First-term Rep. Pat Harrigan, a West Point graduate and former Green Beret who served in Afghanistan and later became a defense-products manufacturer, was also seen as a potential Republican candidate. Harrigan had previously said he would immediately back Lara Trump if she ran. Tillis, who had opposed the Medicaid reductions in the president's tax break and spending cut package, announced in late June that he would not run for reelection in after the president threatened to back a primary challenge against him. ___ Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Axios
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Lara Trump won't run for North Carolina senate seat
Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will not be pursuing a run for retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis' seat. Why it matters: The announcement from President Trump's daughter-in-law comes after multiple outlets reported RNC chair Michael Whatley will join the race. Lara Trump's connection to the president would have made her a highly competitive candidate in a swing state like North Carolina, giving Republicans a boost in a race that could be a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats in 2026. What they're saying: " After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time," Lara wrote in a post on X. "While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads."
