Donald Trump

The Wand and the Magic Ring

The ring on the finger of the new U.S. deputy envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus  was given more attention than it deserved, but its symbolism was far greater than what Lebanon could endure. Opponents did not differentiate between it being a religious symbol—perhaps because Judaism in Lebanon is often associated with Zionism, which led ...

Trump Targets Biden and USAID

President Donald Trump on Friday revoked his predecessor Joe Biden's security clearance in a blizzard of new orders, while escalating his campaign to dismantle the US humanitarian agency charged with helping the world's poorest and extending American influence around the globe. In a new series of rapid-fire power plays, the 78-year-old ...

Trump to "Probably" Meet Zelensky Next Week

US President Donald Trump said Friday he would "probably" meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky next week, as Russia said its forces had seized the key mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine. Zelensky said the US and Ukraine were planning "talks" but did not confirm a meeting between the two leaders. "We're also planning meetings and talks at ...

Ortagus: Hezbollah Should Not Be Part of the Government

Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, said that Hezbollah should not be part of the new Lebanese government that Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam is trying to  form. “Hezbollah has been defeated by Israel, and we are grateful for that,” Ortagus said after meeting with President Joseph Aoun at Baabda ...

Trump's Gaza Plan Derails Saudi-Israel Ties: Analysts

US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza will imperil attempts to forge landmark ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel and fuel anti-American sentiment in the oil-rich kingdom, analysts said. Trump's proposal to redevelop Gaza and oust the more than two million Palestinians living in the territory prompted a global backlash and enraged ...

Judge Pauses Musk's Plan for Mass Cull of U.S. Government Workers

A judge on Thursday suspended a scheme masterminded by billionaire Elon Musk to slash the size of the U.S. government by encouraging federal workers to quit through a mass buyout. The federal judge in Massachusetts issued a temporary injunction on the plan's deadline — midnight Thursday — given by Musk for the country's more than two million ...

Iran Condemns New US Sanctions as 'Illegal' and 'Unjustified'

Iran on Friday condemned as "illegal" and "unjustified" new financial sanctions by the United States that target a network accused of shipping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian crude oil to China. "The decision of the new US government to exert pressure on the Iranian nation by preventing Iran's legal trade with its economic ...

Trump Sanctions ICC for its Probes Against Israel and the US

US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the International Criminal Court Thursday for "illegitimate and baseless" investigations targeting America and its ally Israel, the White House said. Trump signed an executive order saying the court in The Hague had "abused its power" by issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime ...

Trump Administration Imposes First Sanctions on Iranian Oil Shipments to China

The US Treasury announced financial sanctions on Thursday, the first under the new administration of Donald Trump, that target an "international network" accused of shipping Iranian oil to China to fund Tehran's military activities. The sanctions target the network for "facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth ...

Trump's Controversial Gaza Proposal Sparks Global Opposition

US President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday, February 5, a controversial plan during his joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan involves placing the Gaza Strip under US authority, citing the purpose of rebuilding the region, a move that has ignited widespread global backlash. Trump described the ...

Suspension of USAID: An Opportunity for China?

The Trump administration has suspended USAID, freezing billions of dollars in funding and humanitarian aid. The United States could offer China a real opportunity to expand its influence, particularly in Africa, Latin America and Asia — regions where American aid has always been essential. Since taking office on January 20, President Donald ...