U.S. and China suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days

President Trump is cheering the agreement between the U-S and China to suspend reciprocal tariffs.
Following weekend trade talks between the two countries, the president said China will open up its market to American businesses and suspend trade barriers. He said the reduced tariff rates don’t include tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum. The president also said he’ll likely speak soon with China’s leader Xi Jinping.

Trump defends Qatar gift of luxury jumbo jet

President Trump could soon receive a luxury jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar. Under the arrangement, the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet would be converted into a presidential aircraft. President Trump says he would use the plane as Air Force One while in office before transferring ownership to his presidential library. The president calls the gift a “gesture of good faith” and insists the plane is for the Defense Department and not him personally. But critics say it raises serious ethics concerns.

Trump sets 30-day deadline for lower prescription drug costs

The Trump administration is taking steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Administration officials will begin talks with drugmakers to discuss lowering prices over the next 30 days. If there is no deal, President Trump says he will establish new pricing guidelines. And he’s predicting big savings. The president said the U-S “will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries.”

Trump continues to urge Fed to lower interest rates

President Trump continues to urge the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. On Wednesday, the Fed left its benchmark interest rates unchanged. Reacting to the news, President Trump criticized chairman Jerome Powell for holding rates at current levels instead of slashing them, and suggested Powell was doing it because “he’s not in love with me.” Powell has warned that the president’s tariffs were creating uncertainty and the Fed could afford to wait until more data shows the impacts on the economy.

Trump supports higher tax rates on top U.S. earners

President Trump supports higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans — even as he warns of the political fallout. Writing on social media, the president said Democrats would seize on “even a ‘tiny’ tax increase for the ‘rich.'” But added that he would be “OK” if they do increase the top tax rate. The president said “Republicans should probably not do it,” despite his support for boosting the tax rate for those earning 2-and-a-half million dollars and higher or joint filers earning five million.

Trump suggests tariffs on China could drop to 80%

President Trump is proposing the possibility of lower tariffs on China ahead of this weekend’s trade talks. The president said tariffs on Chinese goods could go from 145 percent down to 80 percent. He floated the idea in a social media post, saying it’s up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will be meeting with officials from China. Donald Trump also called on China to open its markets to the U-S, writing: “closed markets don’t work anymore.”

Ahead of trade talks with China, Trump sounds upbeat

Top U.S. officials will meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend to talk trade. President Trump is sounding upbeat about the upcoming talks in Switzerland. And he believes the discussions can be a win-win. The president has imposed a 145 percent tariff on China, leading to a trade confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump: UK’s 10% tariff level not a template for other countries

President Trump says not all countries will get as good a trade deal as the one Britain negotiated with the United States. The new trade deal with Britain will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from more than 27 percent to 10 percent. And the president says the baseline 10 percent tariff for the U-K will not be a template for future trade deals with other nations. He said, “that’s a low number.” The president said the U-K agreement is the first of many more trade deals to come with U-S trading partners.

Trump, Vance welcome election of first American pope

Trump pulls nomination of Ed Martin for DC US Attorney

President Trump is withdrawing his nominee for the top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital. The president said he reluctantly pulled the nomination of Ed Martin to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, saying he was disappointed. Martin faced opposition in Congress, including from a key Republican senator who said he could not support him for the job because of his defense of January 6 rioters.

Trump announces U.S. trade agreement with Britain

The United States and the United Kingdom have reached a trade agreement following President Trump’s worldwide tariffs. Speaking from the Oval Office, the president said he agreed to cut tariffs on U.K. autos, steel , and aluminum. In return, Britain will buy more American beef and streamline its customs process for U-S goods.

British Prime Minister Starmer, who joined the announcement by phone, agreed that the deal t will “boost trade between and across” the two countries. Final details are being written and will be finished in the coming weeks.

Biden takes responsibility for Trump’s 2024 election victory

Former President Joe Biden says he’s responsible for Donald Trump’s victory in November. In his first live interview since leaving office, Biden said he was in charge and his party lost, so he takes responsibility. But he also blamed part of Kamala Harris’ loss on sexism and racism. Appearing on ABC’s “The View,” the 82-year-old Biden also rejected concerns about his cognitive decline. As for his successor, Biden said Donald Trump has “had the worst 100 days any president has ever had.”

Ford to hike prices on some vehicles because of Trump tariffs

The Ford Motor Company has announced tariff-induced price hikes on some of its vehicles. Prices on the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, Maverick pickup, and Bronco Sport will increase by as much as $2,000 on some models. All three are produced in Mexico. With the announcement, Ford becomes one of the first major automakers to adjust sticker prices following President Trump’s tariffs. The decision to increase prices comes after Ford said the president’s trade war would cost the company about 2-and-a-half billion dollars this year. GC, Wash.

U.S. closely monitoring the conflict between India and Pakistan

The Trump administration is closely watching the conflict between India and Pakistan. President Trump describes the rising tensions between India and Pakistan as “a shame” and hopes the conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals ends “very quickly.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote online that he was monitoring the situation closely. He said Washington would continue to engage the Asian neighbors to reach a “peaceful resolution.”

Supreme Court allows military transgender ban, for now

PM Carney tells Trump Canada “won’t be for sale ever”

Canadian Prime Minister Carney is rejecting President Trump’s push to make Canada the 51st state. In a cordial Oval Office appearance, the two leaders respectfully disagreed about Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Canada. Carney said Canada “won’t be for sale ever.” “Never say never,” the president replied. But the prime minister said Canada’s views “are not going to change.”

Hosting Canadian PM, Trump doesn’t back down on tariffs

US is halting airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen

Canada’s new PM to visit Trump at the White House

Trump administration wants judge to toss GOP abortion lawsuit

Trump offers to pay immigrants in the US illegally for ‘self-deportation’

Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz to house “ruthless” criminals

President Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on a California island. Declaring Alcatraz a “symbol of law and order,” the president is directing his government to reopen and expand the island prison, which has been closed for more than 60 years. He wrote online that the prison should house “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” Alcatraz was closed in 1963 due to crumbling infrastructure and is now a major tourist site that is operated by the National Park Service.

Trump is eyeing the movie industry in tariff war

President Trump is now eyeing the movie industry for possible new tariffs. Films made outside the United States are the latest target in Donald Trump’s tariff war. He said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any and all movies” coming into the U.S. that are produced overseas. It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S. and in other countries.

In interview, Trump talks due process, Canada, the economy

The U-S Constitution, Canada, and the economy were among the topics President Trump discussed in a wide-ranging TV interview. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president said he did not know whether U-S citizens and noncitizens both deserve due process as laid out in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. He said military action against Canada is “highly unlikely,” though it may be necessary to take over Greenland. And the president pushed back on predictions of a recession, taking credit for “good parts” of the economy while blaming the Biden administration for the “bad parts” of the economy.