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Chicago Tribune
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
President Donald Trump wants to play global peacemaker. Derailed Gaza ceasefire shows how daunting that ambition is
WASHINGTON — The United States cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks this week plunges one of President Donald Trump's pushes to solve global conflicts into new uncertainty. The derailing of talks to solve the 21-month Israel-Hamas war is the latest blow to Trump as several of his efforts to broker agreements for fraught conflicts and complex global threats have stalled. Though the Republican president has only been back in office for six months, he has sought to be known as a peacemaker. In some cases, he has set ambitious goals that have fallen short, like a promise to end the still-ongoing war in Ukraine before he took office. Trump has said he's seeking the deals to stop destruction and loss of life. But he has also been open about his ambition to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, prompting some of those seeking to cultivate favor with Trump to nominate him for the prestigious recognition. Here's a look at where some of Trump's efforts to strike peace and security deals stand. STATUS: No major breakthroughs in recent talks. THE BACKSTORY: Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday that the U.S. was bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar, where talks were ongoing, to assess its next steps. Witkoff said the move was made because Hamas was not showing 'good faith' toward reaching a ceasefire, but U.S. officials did not offer specifics. No major breakthroughs have occurred despite weeks of talks in Qatar, along with a visit early this month to the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Witkoff said the U.S. would 'consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,' but U.S. officials did not answer questions about what those options could include. When asked about next steps on Friday, Trump told reporters that Hamas didn't want to make a deal and said, 'I think what's going to happen is they're going to be hunted down.' STATUS: War still going on. THE BACKSTORY: Before he returned to office, Trump repeatedly said he would solve the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours — and even before he was sworn in as president. That didn't happen, and both sides remain far apart on reaching an agreement. Trump has become increasingly critical of President Vladimir Putin in recent months and is losing patience with his continued offensive in Ukraine. But Trump has resisted backing a bipartisan U.S. bill to impose steep sanctions on Russia, instead giving Russia 50 days to accept a peace deal or face sanctions on its energy exports. The delay has given Russia a window to continue a stepped-up offensive in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week reiterated his willingness to meet face-to-face with Putin to end the conflict. Russia has rejected the offer, saying the countries are too far apart. Lower-level Ukrainian and Russian officials met Wednesday for talks in Istanbul, but no breakthroughs were announced. Putin has said any peace deal should include Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but did not fully capture. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept limits on its military. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected those terms. STATUS: Open conflict ended for the moment. Many unanswered questions remain. THE BACKSTORY: Trump was able to broker a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran after the U.S. joined Israel in launching strikes on Iran's nuclear program. But the status of Iran's nuclear program is another unanswered question for the Trump administration. While the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes dealt a blow to Iran's nuclear capacities, the United States has still not struck an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. An Iranian diplomat said Wednesday that his country was ready to engage in talks on its nuclear program with the United States, but only after Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, Iran has opened the door to a separate yet related negotiation track with Britain, France and Germany, three of the remaining members of a 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew the United States from in his first term. Foreign ministers from the four countries met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss European threats to reimpose sanctions on Iran if there is no progress on a deal to limit its nuclear program by August. While deals in some of the most pressing conflicts have remained elusive to Trump, he has helped to broker agreements in the months he's been back in office. RWANDA-DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: In June, he invited leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the White House to sign an agreement seen as a major step toward peace after decades of conflict. The U.S.-brokered deal emphasizes the two neighboring countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and includes a commitment to end hostilities and backing of armed groups. The deal also helps the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. INDIA-PAKISTAN: In May, when a series of military strikes brought longtime nuclear adversaries India and Pakistan closer to war, Trump's administration intervened. The nations agreed to stop fighting after the U.S.-led talks, and Trump said he would work to provide a 'solution' to the long-running dispute over the Indian-controlled Kashmir region. The ceasefire has held, but it's not clear what progress has been made on any long-term agreement. Last month, Trump had lunch at the White House with Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief. SYRIA-ISRAEL: Earlier this month, after Israel intervened in fighting between Syrian government forces and rival armed groups, Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a limited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria. Barrack, who's also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said he met in Paris on Thursday with representatives from both countries to discuss de-escalation. Barrack said on social media that 'we accomplished precisely that' and that both sides committed to continuing the effort. Israel's intervention, however, caught Trump off guard and stymied his administration's push to get both countries to reach a full normalization of diplomatic relations.
The Hill
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration says transgender policies at five Northern Virginia school districts violate Title IX
The Department of Education announced on Friday the conclusion of investigations into five Northern Virginia school districts, finding district policies accommodating transgender students violate federal law. The department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened probes into the Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William County school districts in February following requests to do so from America First Legal, a conservative organization founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. In letters to OCR, the group alleged that each school district had continued enforcing policies meant to support transgender students in violation of Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination in schools. The policies vary by school district, but each allows trans students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity and requires their teachers and peers to address them by their chosen name and pronouns. America First Legal said the policies provide 'greater rights to students whose 'gender identity' does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose 'gender identity' matches their biological sex.' In a news release on Friday, OCR said its investigations had determined the school districts' policies indeed violate Title IX, which the Trump administration has said broadly prohibits transgender girls from using girls' facilities and participating on girls' school sports teams. OCR said it sent resolution agreements to each of the districts, which have until Aug. 4 to sign them or risk 'imminent enforcement action,' including referral to the Department of Justice. 'Although this type of behavior was tolerated by the previous Administration, it's time for Northern Virginia's experiment with radical gender ideology and unlawful discrimination to come to an end,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'OCR's investigation definitively shows that these five Virginia school districts have been trampling on the rights of students in the service of an extreme political ideology.' Prince William County Public Schools, in a statement posted on the district's website, said it would 'conduct a thorough review' of OCR's proposal but remains 'firmly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all students and staff.' 'Our policies and practices are guided by our core values and by applicable federal and state laws. We continue to uphold our longstanding nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits discrimination in employment and in the provision of educational programs, services, and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics,' the district said. 'PWCS will continue to work collaboratively with OCR and all stakeholders to ensure compliance with Title IX and to support the well-being and dignity of every student.' Spokespeople for Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools did not immediately return The Hill's requests for comment. In a statement, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) applauded OCR's findings. 'Commonsense is back, with biological boys and girls in their own locker rooms and bathrooms, and boys out of girls sports,' he said. OCR's proposed resolution agreements would require each of the five districts to rescind policies that allow transgender students to access bathrooms and changing rooms that match their gender identity, rather than their sex at birth, and adopt 'biology-based' definitions of the words 'male' and 'female' in policies and practices related to Title IX. Each district must also issue a memo 'explaining that any future policies related to access to intimate facilities must be consistent with Title IX by separating students strictly on the basis of sex, and that Title IX ensures women's equal opportunity in any education program or activity including athletic programs,' according to the proposal. While Virginia lacks a state law barring transgender student-athletes from competing on teams that match their gender identity, the Virginia High School League, which regulates high school sports in the state, announced in February that it would limit participation on girls' teams to students assigned female at birth to comply with President Trump's executive order on transgender athletes, reversing a near-decade-old policy. Friday's OCR announcement comes as the Education Department's civil rights arm initiated a separate Title IX investigation into Oregon's Department of Education over allegations that its policies allow transgender student-athletes to compete according to their gender identity, in violation of Trump's order and the administration's interpretation of federal law. OCR said it opened the investigation based on a complaint it received from the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit founded by Trump's Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, and Education Secretary, Linda McMahon. Oregon's state anti-discrimination law holds that schools 'are prohibited from excluding gender expansive students from participating in school athletics and activities' that best align with their gender identity.
The Hill
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Hulk Hogan wife reflects after wrestler's death: ‘I wasn't ready for this'
Hulk Hogan's wife, Sky, posted a Friday homage to the professional wrestler, reflecting on his life and legacy. 'I wasn't ready for this…and my heart is in pieces. He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time,' she wrote in the post on Instagram. 'This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart,' she added. Hogan died on Thursday at the age of 71 in Florida. The longtime WWE challenger recently claimed his stake in politics with a memorable appearance during last year's Republican National Convention backing President Trump's reelection campaign. 'Hulk loved his fans so much and despite his growing physical discomfort, he did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him,' Sky said on Friday. 'He was a believer in Christ, and I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he's been welcomed home,' she added. Multiple politicians mourned his Thursday death and shared their condolences for the family. Trump specifically lauded the celebrity for his 'cultural impact' through various show appearances and engagements throughout his years of stardom. 'We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster,'' Trump said in a Thursday post on Truth Social shortly after news of Hogan's death was confirmed. 'Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,' the president said.
Axios
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Inside Thune's effort to keep N.C. in GOP's column
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is planning a fall visit to North Carolina to fundraise for Michael Whatley's upcoming Senate campaign, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Senior Republican officials think the North Carolina contest will be among the most expensive Senate races of 2026 — and that every dollar will matter. "It's always the most expensive race in U.S. history. It will be again," retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said at an Axios Live event on Wednesday. Tillis, a Republican, announced he won't seek reelection after clashing with President Trump over the president's " big, beautiful bill." Behind closed doors: GOP leaders had given Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law and a North Carolina native who had considered running, the right of first refusal. But during a phone call Thune had with Lara Trump and her husband, Eric Trump, this month, Lara Trump indicated she was leaning against entering the race. When it became clear Lara Trump would not run, Thune turned his attention to wooing Whatley, who was North Carolina GOP chair before Trump handpicked him to be the Republican National Committee chair last year. Thune called Whatley last week and encouraged him to run. Then, on July 16, Whatley attended a reception hosted by the Thune-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC. During the gathering, which was attended by about 75 top donors and senators, the Republican leader introduced Whatley as the party's nominee for North Carolina Senate. The intrigue: Trump and Thune called Whatley on Monday and encouraged him to jump into the race quickly. During the call, Thune pledged the party machinery would consolidate around Whatley. The big picture: Whatley is expected to soon step down from his RNC role to enter the race and will have the full backing of Trump and Thune. It is anticipated he will face off against former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is preparing to launch his campaign next week. Between the lines: By lining up behind Whatley, Trump and Republican leaders are hoping to avoid a divisive primary.
Boston Globe
5 minutes ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump wants to play global peacemaker. Derailed Gaza cease-fire shows how daunting that ambition is.
Trump has said he's seeking the deals to stop destruction and loss of life. But he has also been open about his ambition to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, prompting some of those seeking to cultivate favor with Trump to nominate him for the prestigious recognition. Here's a look at where some of Trump's efforts to strike peace and security deals stand. Advertisement Gaza Status : No major breakthroughs in recent talks. The backstory : Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday that the U.S. was bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar, where talks were ongoing, to assess its next steps. Witkoff said the move was made because Hamas was not showing 'good faith' toward reaching a cease-fire, but U.S. officials did not offer specifics. No major breakthroughs have occurred despite weeks of talks in Qatar, along with a visit early this month to the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Witkoff said the U.S. would 'consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,' but U.S. officials did not answer questions about what those options could include. Advertisement When asked about next steps on Friday, Trump told reporters that Hamas didn't want to make a deal and said, 'I think what's going to happen is they're going to be hunted down.' Displaced Palestinians wait in front of a charity kitchen in the western Gaza City area, July 23, 2025. SAHER ALGHORRA/NYT Russia-Ukraine Status : War still going on. The backstory : Before he returned to office, Trump repeatedly said he would solve the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours — and even before he was sworn in as president. That didn't happen, and both sides remain far apart on reaching an agreement. Trump has become increasingly critical of President Vladimir Putin in recent months and is losing patience with his continued offensive in Ukraine. But Trump has resisted backing a bipartisan U.S. bill to impose steep sanctions on Russia, instead giving Russia 50 days to accept a peace deal or face sanctions on its energy exports. The delay has given Russia a window to continue a stepped-up offensive in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week reiterated his willingness to meet face-to-face with Putin to end the conflict. Russia has rejected the offer, saying the countries are too far apart. Lower-level Ukrainian and Russian officials met Wednesday for talks in Istanbul, but no breakthroughs were announced. Putin has said any peace deal should include Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but did not fully capture. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept limits on its military. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected those terms. Rescuers clear the rubble after a Russian guided air bomb hit a city hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, July 25, 2025. Yevhen Titov/Associated Press Iran Status : Open conflict ended for the moment. Many unanswered questions remain. Advertisement The backstory : Trump was able to broker a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Iran after the U.S. joined Israel in launching strikes on Iran's nuclear program. But the status of Iran's nuclear program is another unanswered question for the Trump administration. While the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes dealt a blow to Iran's nuclear capacities, the United States has still not struck an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. An Iranian diplomat said Wednesday that his country was ready to engage in talks on its nuclear program with the United States, but only after Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, Iran has opened the door to a separate yet related negotiation track with Britain, France and Germany, three of the remaining members of a 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew the United States from in his first term. Foreign ministers from the four countries met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss European threats to reimpose sanctions on Iran if there is no progress on a deal to limit its nuclear program by August. An Iranian worshipper holds up a placard as the others wave Iranian and Palestinian flags during an anti-Israeli and anti-US protest after their Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 25, 2025. Vahid Salemi/Associated Press Other conflicts While deals in some of the most pressing conflicts have remained elusive to Trump, he has helped to broker agreements in the months he's been back in office. Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo : In June, he invited leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the White House to sign an agreement seen as a major step toward peace after decades of conflict. The U.S.-brokered deal emphasizes the two neighboring countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and includes a commitment to end hostilities and backing of armed groups. The deal also helps the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. Advertisement India-Pakistan : In May, when a series of military strikes brought longtime nuclear adversaries India and Pakistan closer to war, Trump's administration intervened. The nations agreed to stop fighting after the U.S.-led talks, and Trump said he would work to provide a 'solution' to the long-running dispute over the Indian-controlled Kashmir region. The cease-fire has held, but it's not clear what progress has been made on any long-term agreement. Last month, Trump had lunch at the White House with Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief. Syria-Irsael : Earlier this month, after Israel intervened in fighting between Syrian government forces and rival armed groups, Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a limited cease-fire agreement between Israel and Syria. Barrack, who's also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said he met in Paris on Thursday with representatives from both countries to discuss de-escalation. Barrack said on social media that 'we accomplished precisely that' and that both sides committed to continuing the effort. Israel's intervention, however, caught Trump off guard and stymied his administration's push to get both countries to reach a full normalization of diplomatic relations.
