White House withdraws nomination of CDC director

The White House has withdrawn the nomination of the president’s choice to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The withdrawal announcement came just hours before Dr. David Weldon, a former Florida congressman, was scheduled to testify before the Senate’s health committee. Pulling a nomination is typically done when it’s clear to the White House the nominee doesn’t have the votes to be confirmed. Weldon has been a prominent critic of vaccines and the CDC, raising serious concerns among some senators.

White House: ceasefire is “up to Russia now”

President Trump says “it’s up to Russia now” as the United States pushes for peace in Ukraine. The president welcomed Ukraine’s acceptance of a 30-day ceasefire and said efforts now shift to talks with the Russians. And if Moscow agrees, he said that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath” ended. The president again made veiled threats of hitting Russia with new sanctions. GC, Wash.

Trump defends 1,300 layoffs at Education Department

President Trump is defending his administration’s slashing of the Education Department’s workforce.  The administration this week announced more than 13-hundred layoffs at the Department of Education. The president said downsizing is necessary. He claimed that the “best people” were being retained, even though he wants to close the department. Thousands more jobs are expected to be cut across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and other agencies.

Trump’s latest tariffs spark retaliation from EU, Canada

President Trump’s latest tariffs have sparked retaliation from the European Union and Canada. The president says the EU has treated the United States “very badly.” Seated next to the prime minister of Ireland, which is a member of the EU, the president said he would respond to new tariffs on U-S industrial and farm products. He said it’s America’s “turn” to inflict economic pain on a trading partner. Canada also retaliated quickly to Donald Trump’s 25 percent steel and aluminum tariffs.

Trump stands by tariffs policy as Wall Street tumbles

Trump halts 50% tariff threat on Canadian steel, aluminum

President Trump is halting plans to double the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. In the latest roller coaster ride of Trump administration tariffs, the president pulled back his decision to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada after Ontario suspended its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States. The White House was going to double the tariffs to 50 percent. Instead, a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starts Wednesday.

U.S. resumes military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine

The United States is lifting its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The announcement came at talks between Ukraine and the U-S being held in Saudi Arabia. More than a week ago, the Trump administration imposed the measures to push Ukraine’s president to enter talks to end the war. Ukraine also announced it was open to a 30-day cease-fire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.

Trump committed to tariff policies despite Wall Street slide

The White House is trying to reassure Americans who are worried about tumbling stock prices on Wall Street. After several days of a steep sell-off in stocks, presidential spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said there’s no turning back for President Trump and his tariff policies. She downplayed the falling Wall Street numbers as a “snapshot” in time and admitted that the president’s policies have created a “period of economic transition.”

US-Canada trade war intensifies with new tariffs

President Trump now says he’s doubling the tariffs on Canadian steel and   aluminum to 50 percent. The president has instructed the Commerce Department “to add an additional 25 percent tariff…on all steel and aluminum” imports from Canada effective Wednesday. He wrote on social media that Canada is “one of the highest tariffing nations anywhere in the world.” The president said the increase of the tariffs is a response to the price increases that Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

Trump silent on worsening economic worries, market sell-off

President Trump’s refusal to rule out a recession sent Wall Street into a steep drop. Over the weekend, the president dodged a question about a possible recession, but said the U.S. economy will experience a “period of transition” as his policies take effect. The led to a steep Wall Street sell-off to start the week. A key Trump economic adviser pushed back on talk of recession, saying there were many reasons to be bullish about the U.S. economy. But a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed American households growing more pessimistic about their prospects.

Trump avoids stock market talk in social media frenzy

President Trump made no comments about the sinking stock market on Monday. As Wall Street continued its sell-off to begin the week, the president did not make any public appearances and no public statements about the stock market. However, he was active on social media — sharing several dozen favorable articles about himself and Republican praise for his leadership. Over the weekend, the president refused to rule out a possible recession, which further spooked investors.

Trump defends Justice Barrett against MAGA criticism

President Trump is defending Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Some of the president’s MAGA supporters have stepped up their criticism of Barrett after she has broken with other conservative justices on some issues. But Donald Trump, who nominated Barrett during his first term, supports the justice. Barrett voted to reject the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze nearly two billion dollars in foreign aid, which sparked criticism among some of the president’s allies

U.S and Ukraine officials to hold talks in Saudi Arabia

U-S and Ukrainian officials will hold talks this week about ending the war with Russia. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says he and Secretary of State Rubio will be meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia. Last week, President Trump suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine to pressure Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to accept a peace deal with Russia.

Trump isn’t ruling out a recession amid tariff concerns

President Trump won’t rule out a recession amid uncertainty over the impact of his tariffs. After making several references last week to possible economic pain, the president was asked on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures if he’s expecting a recession this year. He said, “I hate to predict things like that,” but suggested there will be “a period of transition.” He also said Americans will need to be patient before seeing the benefits of his tariff and trade policies.

Trump hopes Congress can pass funding, avert shutdown

President Trump is hopeful that Congress can avert a government shutdown at the end of the week.
The president told reporters on Air Force One that he thinks a spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through September will probably pass this week. But he’s not ruling out a possible shutdown. Congress must act by midnight Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Trump finding it harder to deal with Ukraine about ending war

Trump backs off push to end Daylight Saving Time

President Trump is softening his push to end Daylight Saving Time. Late last year, after winning the election, Donald Trump described daylight saving time as “inconvenient” and “very costly.” And he said Republicans would be working to eliminate the time shift. But last week, he backed off a bit and sounded less enthusiastic about making a change. He told reporters that daylight saving time is a ” 50-50 issue” and that “when something’s a 50-50 issue, it’s hard to get excited about it.” In the U-S today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes daylight saving time.

Trump wants a “scalpel” approach to firing government workers

Trump says tariffs could cause temporary economic pain

President Trump acknowledges that his trade policies could inflict some temporary economic pain. On several occasions this past week the president defended his embrace of tariffs — while admitting there could be some negative repercussions. Neither he nor his press secretary would predict how much economic pain there could be or for how long. But even as the stock market sank the president predicted long-term economic success.

Judge says U.S. must make foreign aid payments by Monday

The Trump administration has until Monday to speed up nearly two-billion dollars in foreign aid payments. The money is owed to partners of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department for work already done before the funds were frozen. A federal judge ruled in favor of nonprofit groups and businesses that sued over the funding freeze, which has forced organizations around the world to slash services and lay off thousands of workers. The Trump administration has argued that presidents have wide authority to override congressional decisions on spending when it comes to foreign policy.

Trump “strongly considering” Russia sanctions in bid to end war

President Trump is raising the possibility of raising the pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine. Writing on social media, the president said he’s “strongly considering” sanctions and tariffs on Russia in hopes of forcing a settlement to the war in Ukraine. He said such sanctions could remain in place “until a cease fire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached.” The president, who has been reluctant to criticize Russia for its invasion, urged both counties to “get to the table…before it’s too late.”

In letter to Iran’s leader, Trump seeks new nuclear deal

President Trump said he sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader. The president wrote to Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal. He told Fox Business News that he hopes an agreement can be reached because if the U-S has to take military action “it’s going to be a terrible thing” for Iran. The president said “something’s going to happen one way or the other” and now is the time to negotiate.

Trump to Musk: “be very precise” after firing federal workers

Trump says Ukraine and Russia has “no choice” but to end war