Donald Trump

Trump-Era Official Sought to End US Aid to Lebanon

According to an email reviewed by Reuters, a Trump administration official overseeing USAID sought to phase out US aid to Lebanon, arguing that the country had developed an "odd dependency" on American assistance. In a February 16 directive seen by Reuters, acting USAID deputy administrator Peter Marocco instructed officials to draft a memo ...

Witkoff Meets Putin as Ceasefire Talks Gain "Cautious Optimism"

US President Donald Trump said Friday his administration had "productive" talks with Russia about a ceasefire in Ukraine, urging counterpart Vladimir Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin late Thursday to lay out the details of a joint US-Ukrainian plan, which envisages a 30-day pause in ...

Gold tops $3,000 for first time on Trump tariff threats

Safe-haven gold surpassed $3,000 for the first time Friday, boosted by uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's tariffs, while stock markets gained on hopes US lawmakers will avert a government shutdown. "Markets hate uncertainty, and Trump's second tenure in the White House has served to provide huge instability over expectations for trade, ...

Lebanese-Americans Appointed to Key Positions in the Trump Administration

Several Lebanese-Americans have been appointed to key positions in the new American administration set up by Donald Trump. Among them, three have been appointed ambassadors (Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia). Massad Boulos has become Senior Advisor to the President of the United States. Tom Barrack Jr Tom Barrack Jr, born in 1947, is a businessman ...

Russia Expects More Truce Talks with US Once Witkoff Briefs Trump

Russia said Friday it expected Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump would discuss a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, but that US envoy Steve Witkoff needed to relay Putin's thoughts to the American president first. Witkoff met the Russian president late Thursday to lay out the details of the US plan, which Ukraine agreed to on Tuesday. "When Mr ...

Palestinian Authority Condemns Hamas-U.S. Direct Talks

The Palestinian Authority condemned Hamas' statement in which the organization revealed it had opened a communication channel with the U.S. administration. The Israeli media, Haaretz, quoted Palestinian political sources as saying that the condemnation “indicates the depth of the crisis between the PA and Hamas”. “The PA is also ...

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on Wine, Champagne from France, other EU countries

US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose 200-percent tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic products from France and other European Union countries in retaliation against the bloc's planned levies on US-produced whiskey. "If this tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all wines, ...

Trade War Threatens Oil Demand Growth

Global oil demand growth is set to accelerate this year but the escalating trade war launched by US President Donald Trump threatens to disrupt the market, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. The IEA noted that crude prices dropped in February and early March as concerns grew about the impact of trade tensions on the global economy and ...

US Negotiators Are on The Way to Russia: Kremlin

The Kremlin said Thursday that US negotiators were on the way to Russia, as Washington seeks to present its plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Kyiv agreed to the US proposal after talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, but Moscow has asked for the US side to present details before indicating whether it is acceptable. "Negotiators are ...

Trump Optimistic About Potential Ukraine Ceasefire

President Donald Trump expressed optimism that US negotiators could secure a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, even as Kyiv and Moscow launched fresh aerial attacks early Thursday. The United States wants Russia to agree to an unconditional halt to hostilities, officials said Wednesday. The Kremlin said it was awaiting details of a US-Ukrainian ...