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Pope rebukes Trump over migrant deportations and refutes VP Vance’s theology : NPR
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Pope Francis wrote a letter to U.S. Catholic bishops refuting Vice President Vance’s theology and taking to task the Trump administration’s stance on migrants.

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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Pope Francis criticized the Trump administration’s stance on migrants, calling the president’s pledge of mass deportations “a major crisis.”

In a strongly worded letter to U.S. Catholic bishops, Francis wrote that it’s important for Catholics to disagree with any measure that identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.

Francis also said that deporting people — who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, exploitation and persecution — “damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.”

The letter also appears to reply to remarks by Vice President Vance in which he said people should care for their family, communities and country before caring for others.

Francis instead wrote that people should meditate on love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups,” the pope writes.

The pope is the second high-ranking Catholic leader to criticize Vance, who is Catholic.

After Vance accused the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of resettling immigrants to receive federal funding, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan called the vice president’s remarks “scurrilous” and “nasty.”

“You want to come look at our audits, which are scrupulously done? You think we make money caring for the immigrants? We’re losing it hand over fist. … We’re not in a moneymaking business,” Dolan said.

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In a recent statement, Pope Francis has criticized President Trump’s aggressive stance on migrant deportations and has also refuted Vice President Vance’s theological justifications for such actions. The Pope, known for his advocacy for refugees and migrants, expressed deep concern over the human rights implications of the deportations and urged for compassion and understanding towards those seeking a better life.

In his rebuke, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. He called for a more humane and inclusive approach to addressing the complex issue of migration, urging world leaders to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Additionally, the Pope took issue with Vice President Vance’s theological justifications for the deportations, stating that such arguments were not in line with the core teachings of Christianity. He emphasized the need for a more compassionate and merciful response to the plight of migrants and refugees, highlighting the importance of solidarity and empathy in addressing global migration challenges.

Overall, Pope Francis’s remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the moral imperative to treat all individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of their background or nationality. His rebuke of Trump’s policies and refutation of Vance’s theology highlights the importance of upholding human rights and promoting a more compassionate approach to immigration issues.

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1. Pope Francis
2. Donald Trump
3. Migrant deportations
4. Vice President Vance
5. Theology
6. NPR
7. Immigration policies
8. Religious leaders
9. Social justice
10. Church politics
#Pope #rebukes #Trump #migrant #deportations #refutes #Vances #theology #NPR
February 12, 2025
Russia Releases U.S. Prisoner After Talks With Trump Envoy

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President Trump on Tuesday secured the release of an American imprisoned in Russia as part of a deal with the Kremlin negotiated by Mr. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Marc Fogel, a teacher who was arrested on charges of bringing medical marijuana into Russia in August 2021, was released by the Kremlin and flown out of the country on Mr. Witkoff’s plane. Though he began serving a 14-year sentence in June 2022, Mr. Fogel was only classified as wrongfully detained by the Biden administration late last year.

Mr. Witkoff, a billionaire New York real estate executive and close friend of Mr. Trump’s, had been secretly negotiating the deal, though his presence in Moscow became apparent when he flew there on his private jet, alerting online flight trackers. It was the first known trip to Moscow by a senior U.S. official since William J. Burns, then the C.I.A. director, flew to the Russian capital in November 2021 to try to head off an invasion of Ukraine.

Mike Waltz, Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, said in a statement that Mr. Witkoff, at the president’s direction, had brought Mr. Fogel out of Russia on his plane as part of an exchange. But he did not provide any details about whether the United States or an ally had released someone in return or what other steps the administration had taken to win Mr. Fogel’s release.

An undated photo of Marc Fogel.

“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the president’s advisers negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” Mr. Waltz said.

It is unclear whom Mr. Witkoff met with and whether other matters, including Ukraine, were part of any discussions. White House officials declined to comment on those questions.

But the deal, in discussion for several days, is a gesture of good will for both sides, aimed at smoothing the path to talks over the war in Ukraine and potentially improving relations between Russia and the United States.

It underscored President Vladimir V. Putin’s effort to build warm ties with the new administration after the Russian leader repeatedly praised Mr. Trump in the weeks since his inauguration. And it highlights the bind in which President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine finds himself, as Mr. Trump builds a channel to Moscow while voicing deep skepticism about Kyiv.

In a statement, the Fogel family thanked Mr. Trump for securing his release.

“We are beyond grateful, relieved and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband and son, Marc Fogel, is finally coming home,” said the statement from Mr. Fogel’s wife, Jane Fogel, and sons, Ethan and Sam.

Mr. Witkoff’s role extends beyond just a mission to release a detained American, according to multiple people briefed on the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive arrangements. While Mr. Trump has appointed Keith Kellogg, a retired three-star general, as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, he has also assigned Mr. Witkoff a role in the peace process.

Weeks ago, Mr. Trump secretly empowered Mr. Witkoff to expand his portfolio beyond the Middle East, with the aim of opening a negotiating channel with the Russians, these people said. Mr. Trump trusts Mr. Witkoff and has told people close to him that he believes the real estate developer has the right negotiating skills to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

But the exact lines of authority in the administration on the issue remain unclear.

Mr. Witkoff had direct discussions with close allies of Mr. Putin before the visit to Moscow, the people briefed on the situation said. He has also discussed Ukraine with contacts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, they said. Countries in the Persian Gulf have long sought to play a role as mediators to end the conflict.

It remains unclear whether Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin have spoken — neither side will say — but several senior Trump administration officials who would ordinarily be aware of such a call said they could not confirm it had happened.

Mr. Trump had promised during his presidential campaign to end the Russia-Ukraine war “in 24 hours.” But Mr. Putin, who has shown a willingness to try to outlast the West’s backing of Ukraine, has been in no rush to make concessions. And while Mr. Trump has signaled that he plans to use sanctions or other tools to squeeze Mr. Putin financially to force him to negotiate, it is unclear how much longer Ukraine should expect to receive deliveries of essential weaponry from the United States.

Mr. Trump has said he wants Ukraine to provide hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of rare earth minerals as repayment for U.S. security assistance since the start of the war. He announced on Tuesday that he was sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to meet with Mr. Zelensky.

“This war MUST and WILL END SOON,” Mr. Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. “Too much Death and Destruction. The U.S. has spent BILLIONS of Dollars Globally, with little to show.”

Mr. Bessent was directed to explore with the Ukrainians what a deal for the rare earth minerals might look like, according to multiple people briefed on the plans.

Mr. Zelensky told Reuters in an interview that he was open to a deal to giving the United States access to rare earth minerals in exchange for a security guarantee.

Mr. Trump has continued to express private skepticism about Mr. Zelensky, whom he believes has taken advantage of American generosity. Mr. Trump has also been reluctant to entertain any form of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any settlement.

Mr. Trump’s comments in his Super Bowl interview with Fox News about the future of Ukraine have once more thrown into doubt what his vision for the end of the war might be as well as his support for Ukrainian sovereignty.

“They may make a deal, they may not make a deal,” Mr. Trump said of Ukraine. “They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.”

In the interview, Mr. Trump seemed to be musing aloud, but any questions the American president vocalizes about the future of an independent Ukraine are deeply disturbing to officials in Kyiv.

Mr. Putin, and many Russians, do see Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, as a rightful part of Russia and questioned its independence even before the war. On the other hand, Ukrainian nationalism has hardened since the Russian invasion in three years ago and the staggering losses that have followed.

Representatives of the Trump administration are expected to discuss their plans for bringing the war in Ukraine to an end at the Munich Security Conference in Germany this weekend. Mr. Kellogg, the Russia-Ukraine envoy, is set to attend the conference along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

Mr. Vance is scheduled to meet with Mr. Zelensky in Munich. That meeting could set the stage for a meeting in Washington between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky. Mr. Trump has said he will meet with the Ukrainian leader soon, and he is expected to also speak with Mr. Putin.

Allies of Mr. Fogel had been arguing to Russian authorities that they should release him as part of gesture to the new Trump administration.

Mr. Fogel’s 95-year old mother, Malphine, is a resident of Butler, Pa., and a supporter of Mr. Trump’s. Ms. Fogel was in attendance at the Butler rally where an attempted assassin shot Mr. Trump in the ear. She had met with Mr. Trump before the rally, and was set to join him on the stage, a plan upended by the attack.

Allies of Mr. Fogel had hoped he would be included in the large prisoner swap deal that freed Paul Whelan, the former Marine, and Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, last August. But the Biden administration did not press for him to be included because, at the time, Mr. Fogel had not been classified as wrongfully detained because of the amount of marijuana he was carrying into Russia.

Mr. Fogel’s legal team said his release was “long overdue.”

“After years of bureaucratic inaction including consistent refusals to designate Marc as wrongfully detained, President Trump secured Marc’s release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home,” Martin de Luca and Andrew Smith, Mr. Fogel’s lawyers, said in a statement.

For Mr. Putin, the decision to release Mr. Fogel is a shift from his far less accommodating stance during the Biden administration. When Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, asked Mr. Putin in a February 2024 interview to release Mr. Gershkovich, the Russian president shot back: “We have done so many gestures of good will out of decency that I think we have run out of them.”

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In a surprising turn of events, Russia has released an American prisoner following talks with a special envoy from President Trump. The prisoner, who has been detained in Russia for months on charges of espionage, was released as a gesture of goodwill towards the United States.

The envoy, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly had productive discussions with Russian officials and was able to secure the prisoner’s release. This diplomatic breakthrough comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries, and could signal a thaw in relations.

President Trump has welcomed the news of the prisoner’s release, calling it a positive step towards building a better relationship with Russia. He has expressed his gratitude to the Russian government for their cooperation in resolving this issue.

The released prisoner is currently on his way back to the United States, where he will be reunited with his family and friends. His release is seen as a sign of progress in diplomatic efforts between the two countries, and a hopeful sign for future cooperation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

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Russia, U.S. prisoner release, Trump envoy, diplomatic talks, Russia news, international relations, political negotiations, prisoner exchange, Trump administration, diplomatic relations

#Russia #Releases #U.S #Prisoner #Talks #Trump #Envoy

February 11, 2025
Russia says U.S. relations are on brink of collapse, refuses to confirm Trump call claim
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The Kremlin said Monday that U.S.-Russia relations were on the brink of collapse and refused to confirm whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken with President Donald Trump, despite Trump saying so Sunday.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told a media conference Monday that relations with Washington “are balancing on the brink of a breakup” and reiterated that the war in Ukraine would last until Kyiv drops its ambitions to join NATO and withdraws from the four regions occupied by Russian forces.

In remarks suggesting Moscow is maintaining its tough negotiating stance, Ryabkov said that “we simply imperatively need to get … the new U.S. administration to understand and acknowledge that without resolving the problems that are the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine, it will not be possible to reach an agreement.”

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.Getty Images

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the same day that he would “neither confirm nor deny” Trump’s comments to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that he and Putin had spoken in his first officially acknowledged contact with the Russian leader since 2022.

Referring to his contact with the Russian leader, Trump told reporters, “let’s just say I’ve had it … and I expect to have many more conversations. We have to get that war ended.”

“I hate to see all these young people being killed. The soldiers are being killed by the hundreds of thousands,” he said, but declined to provide any more details about how many times the two had spoken, responding, “I’d better not say.”

The remarks from Trump and spokespeople for the Kremlin come at a crucial juncture for the war in Ukraine, with Kyiv and its European neighbors nervously awaiting details of Trump’s peace plan to end the conflic t that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion three years ago.

A woman looks out from the destroyed balcony of an apartment in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Makiivka on Sunday.AFP – Getty Images

Between winning election in November and being inaugurated last month, Trump said he planned to end the war in a single day upon taking office.

Referring to Trump’s remarks Sunday, Keir Giles, a senior fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the London think-tank Chatham House, said “it would be tempting to think that this was all part of a careful plan for not releasing information too early in order not to bridge this process.”

“Or it could simply be that, as seems to be the case with Trump’s earlier promises of immediate action to bring the conflict to an end, that there isn’t, in fact, a plan yet,” he told NBC News.

Giles added that more clarity on the situation may come later this week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy due to attend the high-profile Munich Security Conference, which senior U.S. officials are also attending.

Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz , told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the U.S. officials would be “talking through the details of how to end this war and that will mean getting both sides to the table.”

Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York last year.Shannon Stapleton / Reuters file

He added that Trump would be “prepared to tax, to tariff, to sanction” Moscow to get Putin to the negotiating table, while also stripping back assistance to Ukraine to force European allies to ramp up support to Ukraine.

Ryabkov’s comments today came after Zelenskyy told the British broadcaster ITV last week that he was ready to hold talks with Russia as long as “I had an understanding that America and Europe will not abandon us and they will support us and provide security guarantees.”

The Ukrainian leader also told Reuters on Sunday that it was important he meets Trump before any negotiations with Putin, “otherwise, it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

A Russian drone attack on Kyiv late Sunday injured a woman and damaged several houses in the northeastern city of Sumy, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

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Relations between the United States and Russia have reached a critical point, with the Russian government declaring that they are on the brink of collapse. This statement comes as Russian officials refuse to confirm President Trump’s claim that he had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The escalating tensions between the two countries have raised concerns about the future of diplomatic relations and the potential for further conflict. The lack of communication and transparency between the two leaders only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

As the world watches closely to see how this situation unfolds, it is clear that the relationship between the United States and Russia is at a crossroads. The actions and decisions made in the coming days will have far-reaching implications for global politics and security.

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1. Russia-U.S. relations
2. International diplomacy
3. Trump administration
4. Political tensions
5. Geopolitical news
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7. U.S.-Russia relations
8. Donald Trump
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#Russia #U.S #relations #brink #collapse #refuses #confirm #Trump #call #claim
February 11, 2025
Judge halts Trump administration cuts to public health research in some states
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CNN
—

A federal judge on Monday paused cuts that the Trump administration had made to funding for public health research, issuing a temporary restraining order that applies only in the 22 Democratic-led states that brought a lawsuit challenging the reduction in funding.

US District Judge Angel Kelley ordered more briefing in the case, with a hearing scheduled for February 21.

The Democratic attorneys general of 22 states alleged in the lawsuit filed Monday that the newly announced cuts “will mean the abrupt loss of hundreds of millions of dollars that are already committed to employing tens of thousands of researchers and other workers, putting a halt to countless life-saving health research and cutting-edge technology initiatives.”

“Not only that, but the sudden cut of funding will have ripple effects into the private sector as it disrupts numerous partnerships with private institutions,” said the lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts’ federal court.

The complaint added to the pile of quick-moving court proceedings challenging President Donald Trump’s aggressive reshaping of the federal government.

Under the challenged plan, funding from the National Institutes of Health known as indirect cost rates would be capped at 15 percent, from an average of more than 27 percent. Some research institutions, including Harvard, have rates higher than 60%, according to the NIH, which said in a post on X last week that the policy would save more than $4 billion a year.

Those rates are aimed at covering the various overhead costs – like facility costs, regulatory compliance and administrative support – that research institutions must account for to support their research. If the administration’s plans to cut those rates are not halted, the “cutting edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt,” the lawsuit said.

“This is an attempt to eliminate funding that supports medical and public health innovation at every research institution in the country,” Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said at a news conference Monday. “The administration’s recent directive would abruptly cap indirect costs at 15%, significantly less than what is required to conduct advanced medical research. The administration knows that.”

Campbell noted that the Trump administration had proposed similar cuts in 2017, “and the Republican-controlled Congress at the time passed a law demanding continued stable funding for medical research. That law is still in effect, whether the president believes it or not.”

The attorneys general bringing the case said they expected private research institutions to bring their own lawsuit challenging the administration’s plans, as the states’ lawsuit would cover public research institutions.

NIH’s parent agency, the US Department of Health and Human Services, has the authority to make these changes, its director of communications, Andrew Nixon, told CNN via email – and believes it could even impose them retrospectively “for current grants and require grantees to return the excess overhead they have previously received, but we have currently chosen not to do so to ease the implementation of the new rate; however, we will continue to assess this policy choice and whether it is in the best interest of the American taxpayer.”

“Our Administration wants to help America have the best research in the world, and we believe that by ensuring that more cents on every dollar go directly to science and not to administrative overheard, we can take another step in that direction,” Nixon said.

Asked for comment on the lawsuit, the White House defended the new policy.

“Contrary to the hysteria, redirecting billions of allocated NIH spending away from administrative bloat means there will be more money and resources available for legitimate scientific research, not less. The Trump administration is committed to slashing the cottage industry built off of the waste, fraud, and abuse within our mammoth government while prioritizing the needs of everyday Americans,” spokesman Kush Desai said.

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A federal judge has put a stop to the Trump administration’s attempts to slash public health research funding in certain states. The ruling comes as a victory for advocates of public health and medical research, who have been fighting against the proposed cuts.

The Trump administration had planned to reduce funding for public health research in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts, which are known for their robust medical research programs. However, the judge’s decision has halted these cuts, ensuring that critical research projects can continue to receive the necessary funding.

This ruling is a significant win for public health advocates and researchers, who rely on government funding to support their vital work. It also sends a strong message that the government cannot arbitrarily cut funding for critical research projects without proper justification.

As we continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises, it is essential that we prioritize and support research efforts that can help us better understand and combat these threats. This ruling is a step in the right direction towards ensuring that public health research remains a top priority for our government.

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2. Public health research
3. Judge halts
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5. Health research funding
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10. Legal ruling on health funding
#Judge #halts #Trump #administration #cuts #public #health #research #states
February 11, 2025
NASA astronaut Suni Williams says “we don’t feel abandoned” in space in response to Trump

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NASA astronaut Suni Williams says “we don’t feel abandoned” in space in response to Trump – CBS News

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Contrary to a recent social media post from President Trump, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams says she and crewmate Barry “Butch” Wilmore don’t feel “abandoned” in space, despite a mission that’s been extended from a little more than one week to more than nine months. John Dickerson spoke to Williams just as the sun was rising over the Earth.

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NASA astronaut Suni Williams recently spoke out in response to President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the space agency, reassuring the public that astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station do not feel abandoned.

In an interview from space, Williams emphasized the camaraderie and teamwork among astronauts, stating, “We have a strong support system here in space and on the ground. We are focused on our mission and working together to conduct important research that benefits all of humanity. We don’t feel abandoned at all.”

Williams’ comments come amidst concerns over the future of NASA’s funding and the impact it may have on space exploration and research. Despite the uncertainty, Williams’ words serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination of astronauts in the face of challenges.

As we continue to look to the stars for inspiration and discovery, it is important to remember the dedication and bravery of those who venture into the unknown, even in the face of political uncertainty. NASA astronauts like Suni Williams are a shining example of the human spirit and the power of teamwork in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration.

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NASA, astronaut, Suni Williams, space, Trump, abandonment, response, ISS, International Space Station, space exploration, NASA mission

#NASA #astronaut #Suni #Williams #dont #feel #abandoned #space #response #Trump

February 9, 2025
Trump is gutting an agency that his daughter once championed
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CNN
—

President Donald Trump is eagerly dismantling an agency that was once championed by his daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump.

The work of the US Agency for International Development was important enough to the president that during his 2019 State of the Union address, he unveiled a new key priority within the agency to be spearheaded by his daughter.

“As part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere, this Thursday we are launching the first ever government-wide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries,” he said in the House of Representatives.

Days later in the Oval Office, joined by Ivanka Trump, top officials and women directly impacted by US funding for women’s economic empowerment abroad, he signed a presidential memorandum establishing W-GDP, the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative, calling it a matter of national security and a “tremendous step for women.”

But six years later, Trump has frozen nearly all foreign assistance, and his administration is gutting USAID, which he’s said is run by “radical lunatics.” USAID staff around the world were supposed to be placed on leave with orders to return to the US on Friday, but a federal judge that afternoon temporarily ordered the administration to halt its plans.

The Trump’s administration’s targeting of USAID is hitting hard for some beneficiaries of Ivanka Trump’s work overseas.

“Folks that she interacted with and that she gave hope and promise to – that’s been ripped away from them. … I mean, we’re just absolutely devastated,” said a current USAID employee.

Nino Zambakhidze, a Georgian farmer showcased during Trump’s signing ceremony, said the upheaval has been “shocking” and comes at a time when the “world already feels upside down.”

“When I saw President Trump was elected again, I thought it was going to bring more support for women’s economic empowerment because he loved this program,” added Zambakhidze, who said she launched a successful farm in her eastern European country with the help of US financial assistance after four lending institutions shot her down because she was a woman.

She came to see Trump and his daughter as “the ones willing to invest in women in order to get more equality and a more peaceful and sustainable world,” and now is struggling to understand “what the hell is going on.”

A spokesperson for Ivanka Trump did not respond to multiple inquiries regarding her stance on the administration’s moves to disband USAID. Having decamped to Florida, she’s largely left politics and is not playing the same role she did during her father’s first four years in the White House. The White House did not return CNN’s request for comment.

Donald Trump’s willingness to abandon a program he once championed is illustrative of a greater pivot from his past approach to foreign aid. It aligns with his campaign pledge to slash federal spending, a promise now being carried out with striking swiftness by tech billionaire Elon Musk, leaving government workers scrambling to keep pace. The move also echoes the sharp critique of foreign assistance outlined in Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint for a potential second Trump term written by many of his allies and former advisers.

Trump’s reversal on USAID has nevertheless left the international community reeling. Even as he proposed successive budgets slashing its funding, Trump during his first term also gave USAID a seat at the table as he shaped his national defense strategy, said Noam Unger, the director of the Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. That defense blueprint, released a year after Trump took office, called past work boosting developing countries “some of the greatest triumphs of American statecraft” and outlined plans to unleash private sector investment to spread US influence and progress worldwide.

“There was a very conscious effort in the first Trump administration to leverage tools of US foreign policy, including aid, to counter the malign influence of adversaries and rivals of the US on the global stage,” Unger said.

The broad support for foreign aid within his first administration was on display during Trump’s W-GDP signing ceremony. Joined by lawmakers from both parties, United Nations Ambassador John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump declared his “national security strategy says investing in women helps achieve greater peace and prosperity for nations.”

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said the program would unleash $12 trillion in world GDP, “creating another China without the trade deficit.” Trump grinned in response.

“Economic stability is good defense policy,” Trump’s acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said during the signing.

Then, turning to Ivanka Trump, Shanahan added: “I’m hoping your initiative will put me out of business.”

During her father’s first administration, Ivanka Trump personally worked with USAID to develop the W-GDP initiative, building relationships at the agency and within the private sector; leaning on the agency’s development expertise and global footprint to create a three-pronged program aimed at women’s education and entrepreneurship; and eliminating the legal, regulatory and cultural barriers that prevent women from participating in the economy.

A relatively noncontroversial, apolitical project, it was, by many measures, a major success and signature achievement of her legacy. Though it was rebranded under the Biden administration, the initiative continued to thrive and impact women around the globe. USAID’s initial $50 million investment in the fund was boosted to $300 million by its third year, according to a fact sheet provided by a current USAID employee earlier this week.

“Because it was one of the good news stories that came out of that White House – economically empowering women is a good thing, most people can agree on that – she was very interested and involved,” said one source who worked closely with Ivanka Trump and her team on the initiative, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

The program reached 12 million women in its first year, according to background material provided by the White House at the time.

“When women are economically empowered, society prospers and peace prevails,” Ivanka Trump said at the time in a video promoting the work.

Lillian Achomo, a Uganda-based project manager, joined the Trumps in the Oval Office as the president held the signing ceremony establishing W-GDP.

Recalling that February 2019 day, Achomo told CNN she was shocked by the attention on her work, which was part of a women-led effort to provide affordable internet to rural communities and had benefited from a 2018 grant from an Ivanka Trump-spearheaded program through USAID that served as a precursor to W-GDP.

“Our work is actually recognized, you know? Our work in the communities down in northern Uganda is actually recognized by America, by American president,” Achomo said. “Supporting a woman with just some little capital causes, really, a multiplier effect, and to me it was an opportunity to really air that out, for him to put emphasis on it. And I was very appreciative that that opportunity was given to me.”

The project, Achomo said, impacted thousands of people in Kenya, Namibia, Senegal and Morocco, and would not have been possible without that USAID funding.

“It changed the entire organization. … It’s really changed a lot of lives,” she said.

Ivanka Trump sent Achomo a personal letter after their visit.

“I was deeply touched by your story, and appreciated your contributions to our discussion on the importance of global women’s economic empowerment as a catalyst for global peace, prosperity, and stability,” Trump wrote in the letter, now framed in Achomo’s home.

The White House continued to champion Ivanka Trump’s initiative and its reach. Shortly after she joined then-USAID administrator Mark Green on a trip to Cote d’Ivoire, the administration touted the amendment of the nation’s marriage law, which allowed women and men to have equal and joint ownership over household assets for the first time, as an example of the program’s influence.

Green, now the president and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, was not available for an interview with CNN, a spokesman for the organization said. His successor John Barsa, reached by phone at his Virginia home, told CNN he was not speaking to media at this time.

After the first Trump administration, W-GDP was re-launched as the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund (GEEA) and continued to invest an additional $300 million in direct resources, according to the fact sheet provided by a current USAID staff member.

As of April 2024, 55 of the program’s awards were active and were still being implemented, the fact sheet noted. The projects included issues of women’s lands rights, closing the digital divide, advancing women’s leadership in agriculture, and food security, entrepreneurship and leadership in the energy sector. More than 60 additional projects were launched under GEEA, according to the fact sheet.

A 2024 USAID progress report chronicling the impact of GEEA obtained by CNN said that its investments in women’s economic security programs “reached more than 686,000 individuals across 87 countries”; “supported more than 18,000 women to expand their entrepreneurial and digital skills, labor rights, and employment opportunities”; and “assisted more than 26,000 women to receive legally recognized and documented land or marine tenure rights.”

But on January 27, with Donald Trump back in power, the GEEA program was subject to a stop order halting USAID operations. The future of the program is unclear.

Getting rid of programs like GEEA, the source who worked closely with Ivanka Trump said, is “making the US weaker and it’s putting Americans in danger, ultimately.”

Zambakhidze, the Georgian farmer, remained optimistic the president would eventually reverse course, citing his past support for his daughter’s work through USAID.

“Once they review the different projects, I hope they will see the benefits they brought to rural women in different countries,” she said, “and maybe they’ll start the programs again.”

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President Trump is making waves once again with his latest decision to gut an agency that his own daughter, Ivanka Trump, once championed. The agency in question is the Office of Child Care, which has long been a priority for Ivanka as she has been an advocate for child care reform.

The Office of Child Care is responsible for providing support and resources to low-income families in need of child care services. However, Trump’s recent budget proposal includes significant cuts to the agency, which could have devastating effects on families who rely on its assistance.

Critics argue that this move is hypocritical, given Ivanka’s previous support for child care issues. They point out that her father’s administration seems to be prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over the needs of working families.

It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the Office of Child Care and the families who depend on its services. But one thing is clear: Trump’s actions are raising eyebrows and sparking debate once again.

Tags:
1. Trump administration
2. Government agency
3. Ivanka Trump
4. Politics
5. White House
6. Regulatory agency
7. Trump policies
8. Public service
9. Government oversight
10. Ivanka Trump initiatives.
#Trump #gutting #agency #daughter #championed
February 8, 2025
Behind Closed Doors, Trudeau Says Trump Threat to Take Over Canada Is Real
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada on Friday made his first comments in response to President Trump’s repeated statements that he wants to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.

Mr. Trudeau made clear that he did not regard Mr. Trump’s statements as having been made in jest and believes annexation is something Canada needs to treat as a serious threat.

And he believes he knows why Mr. Trump covets Canada.

“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but that may be even why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” Mr. Trudeau told a gathering of company executives and business leaders in Toronto, according to people in the room who listened to his comments.

The news media had been asked to leave the room at the time Mr. Trudeau delivered his comments, but at least two news outlets, The Toronto Star and the CBC, were able to hear them and record them. Mr. Trudeau’s office declined to provide details of what the prime minister said.

“They’re very aware of our resources,” Mr. Trudeau added, “of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”

And he continued: “But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing.”

Mr. Trump has been talking about annexing Canada for weeks as he has laid the groundwork for plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.

On Monday, Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Trump agreed to a 30-day reprieve on tariffs after Canada pledged to adopt a more stringent plan to secure its border with the United States.

During comments to reporters that day in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump again raised the statehood issue. “What I’d like to see, Canada become our 51st state,” he said. “I’d love to see that, but some people say that would be a long shot,” he added.

Canada is home to 31 minerals considered critical for use in various industries, including for electric car batteries, solar panels and semiconductors. Of those, Canada is prioritizing lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements as part of a strategy to position itself as a leader in the global transition away from fossil fuels.

The supply chain is deeply integrated, and the health of the U.S. economy depends on Canada, said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s industry minister.

“This is about a confident Canada,” Mr. Champagne told reporters at Friday’s meeting.

As part of its plan to fend off tariffs, Canada is implementing a border security plan in response to Mr. Trump’s accusations that the country is contributing to “massive” fentanyl trafficking to the United States, even though Canada is responsible for a tiny fraction of the fentanyl crossing the border.

Those measures include 10,000 personnel assigned to the border, along with helicopters, drones and canine teams. The government also said it would name a “fentanyl czar” to lead the response.

“We need to be very deliberate about how we continue to engage closely with the United States to make the case and demonstrate that Canada is responsible for a tiny part of the North American fentanyl problem,’’ Mr. Trudeau told the business leaders, “but that we are also bitterly touched by this tragedy.”

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In a shocking revelation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted in a closed-door meeting that he believes President Donald Trump’s threat to take over Canada is real. The news has sent shockwaves throughout the country, as many Canadians are left wondering what this could mean for their sovereignty.

Trudeau reportedly made the comments during a private meeting with top government officials, where he expressed concern over Trump’s increasingly aggressive stance towards Canada. The President has previously made comments suggesting that he could potentially take military action against Canada if the country does not comply with his demands.

The revelation has sparked fears of a possible invasion or takeover by the United States, leaving many Canadians worried about their future. Trudeau’s admission has also raised questions about the state of Canada’s relationship with its southern neighbor, and whether the country is prepared to defend itself against any potential threats.

As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, Canadians are left to wonder what the future holds for their nation. Will Trump follow through on his threats, or is this just political posturing? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – the threat of a takeover by the United States is no longer just a distant possibility, but a very real concern for Canada.

Tags:
1. Behind Closed Doors
2. Trudeau
3. Trump
4. Canada
5. Threat
6. Takeover
7. Politics
8. International Relations
9. Security
10. Government Relations
#Closed #Doors #Trudeau #Trump #Threat #Canada #Real
February 8, 2025
Trump to attend National Prayer Breakfast
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Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka raised concerns that the mass deportation of criminals from the U.S. posed a safety risk to Pacific Island states, in a meeting with the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus chairman, Fiji’s government said today.

Rabuka is the first Pacific Islands leader to visit Washington to press the region’s concerns since Trump took office, with the U.S. withdrawal from international climate change commitments a major focus for the low-lying island states.

Rabuka will attend a presidential prayer breakfast today and is also expected to meet with Republican senators.

In a meeting with the acting undersecretary of state for international trade, Diane Farrell, Rabuka noted major investments by U.S. tech giants Google and Starlink in Fiji, adding that he hoped the U.S. freeze on foreign aid will not impact plans for U.S. Agency for International Development programs in the Pacific region for health, climate and security, the government said in a statement.

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President Donald Trump is set to attend the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6th, 2020. This annual event brings together political, religious, and community leaders to pray for the nation and discuss the importance of faith in public life.

Trump’s attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast has been a tradition since he took office in 2017. The President has always been vocal about his Christian faith and has often spoken about the importance of prayer in his personal life and in his decision-making as President.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a time for leaders from all walks of life to come together in unity and seek guidance and blessings for the country. It is a time to put aside differences and focus on the common values that bring us together as a nation.

With the upcoming 2020 election, Trump’s attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast is sure to be a topic of discussion. It will be interesting to see how the President’s faith plays a role in his campaign and how it resonates with voters. Stay tuned for updates on this important event.

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1. President Trump
2. National Prayer Breakfast
3. Trump administration
4. White House event
5. Prayer Breakfast 2022
6. Faith-based event
7. Trump news
8. Presidential appearance
9. Political event
10. Religious gathering
#Trump #attend #National #Prayer #Breakfast
February 6, 2025
Gaza Strip: Trump says US will ‘take over’ the enclave while Palestinians who live there should leave

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CNN
—

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States “will take over” the Gaza Strip — possibly with the help of American troops — while the Palestinians who live there should leave, a stunning proposal that would dramatically reorient the Middle East and subject a population of more than a million to further displacement.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said during a joint press conference alongside his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, later describing his vision for the area as a new “Riviera.”

“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings,” he said.

Asked whether he was willing to send US troops to fill a security vacuum in Gaza, Trump did not rule it out.

“As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece that we’re going to develop it,” he said.

Trump’s comments are a remarkable assertion from a sitting American president, particularly one who rose to political power in the United States through his criticism of America’s longest wars in the Middle East and pledges to return US investments back to its citizens. They open a host of questions about how Trump’s land-grab would proceed, what its legal authorities would be and who would pay for the effort.

“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East,” Trump told reporters in the East Room of the White House. He said later: “This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent.”

There will be many in the region who oppose Trump’s plan, despite his claim that all of his interlocutors love it. Already, Egypt and Jordan have rejected the notion of accepting additional Palestinian refugees, wary of destabilization and fearful they will never be allowed back home.

Trump suggested that was exactly what he envisioned: a future in Gaza that largely does not involve Palestinians.

“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said in the Oval Office earlier in the day. “I heard that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They live like hell. They live like they’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.”

Later, he added that Palestinians could be among those who return to Gaza, but he was clear he did not envision the strip as a permanent home for them.

“Palestinians also. Palestinians will live there. Many people will live there,” he said.

Trump, a former real estate developer, said during his press conference that he had studied the matter “closely, over a lot of months.”

Those comments followed his suggestion earlier in the day that Gazans move to a new location provided by one or more nations in the Middle East.

“I mean they’re there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It is a big pile of rubble right now,” Trump said moments before hosting Netanyahu for Oval Office talks.

Trump’s suggestion that Gazans leave the strip permanently amounts to a provocative stance that will endear him to Israel’s most conservative politicians but is generally a non-starter for Israel’s neighbors, who have said they are unwilling to accept new Palestinian refugees from the enclave.

At first on Tuesday, Trump framed the matter as a humanitarian one, saying it was impossible to believe anyone would want to remain in the war-torn territory.

“Why would they want to return? The place has been hell,” Trump said, ignoring a reporter who cried out: “Because it’s their home.”

Instead of Gaza, he suggested the Palestinians be provided a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” to live.

Netanyahu, sitting alongside Trump in the Oval Office, smiled as Trump was speaking. The Israeli leader, under conflicting pressures domestically, was in Washington to ascertain exactly where Trump stands on the next phase of a ceasefire in Gaza.

But Trump’s dim views of Gaza as a permanent home for Palestinians was certain to provide grist for far-right allies of the Israeli leader, who have called on Netanyahu to abandon the temporary truce that was struck last month.

‘Hard to grasp and digest’

Two Arab officials expressed puzzlement, concern and pessimism in the immediate wake of Trump’s unexpected remarks.

It was “rough, raw, hard to grasp and digest,” one official said, adding that they “need clarity and further development to become understood.”

A second official said the comments could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza, stressing the “profound implications such proposals have on the lives and dignity of the Palestinian people, as well as the broader Middle East.”

“The reality remains that 1.8 million people in Gaza would resist such an initiative and refuse to leave,” the diplomat said. “Saudi Arabia is unlikely to pursue peace under these circumstances, and other nations may reconsider their commitments to the Abraham Accords.”

Trump’s comments, meanwhile, drew skepticism from congressional lawmakers, including from some within his own party.

“We’ll see what our Arab friends say about that. I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza,” said South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. “I think that might be problematic. But I’ll keep an open mind.”

The American president’s proclamation laying claim to Gaza as US territory did not appear likely to convince Hamas to return immediately to the negotiating table.

Trump said he was still determined to free the remaining hostages in Gaza. “We’d like to get all of the hostages, and if we don’t, it will just make us somewhat more violent,” he said.

Trump has claimed credit for the hostages-for-ceasefire agreement struck in the days before he entered office – and even officials in the outgoing Biden administration acknowledged Trump’s imminent arrival helped apply pressure on Israel and Hamas.

Netanyahu, perhaps seeking to ingratiate himself with his host, praised Trump’s efforts.

“I think President Trump added great force and powerful leadership to this effort,” Netanyahu said in the Oval Office.

But for all of his prodding to get the deal inked, Trump will still need to oversee the remaining two phases of the three-phase plan.

“We’ll see what happens. We’re dealing with very complicated people, but a deal can absolutely get done,” he said.

There was plenty for Trump and Netanyahu to discuss beyond the immediate matter of the ceasefire agreement.

There is the prospect of a broader normalization of relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, principally Saudi Arabia, that former President Joe Biden had been pursuing before the October 7, 2023, attacks. Trump, who openly pines for a Nobel Peace Prize, may see his opportunity in such a pursuit, which could transform the entire Middle East and create a new bulwark against Iran, a common foe to Jerusalem and Riyadh.

It’s not clear his comments Tuesday will be helpful. In a statement on X following Trump’s remarks, the Saudi Foreign Ministry restated its long-held position that it will not commit to normalization of relations with Israel without guarantees of a Palestinian state.

“Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that,” the statement said.

Whether Netanyahu is interested in diplomacy – or whether he instead sees Trump’s arrival in Washington as a moment to take decisive action against Iran, potentially even taking out its nuclear program – remains to be seen.

Ahead off his arrival, there was speculation Netanyahu could use the talks to take Trump’s temperature on a direct strike, seizing a moment when Iranian proxies have been decimated, Iran’s nuclear ambitions appear to be accelerating and while he has friendlier ties to Washington.

Before Netanyahu arrived, Trump signed a directive authorizing a tough approach to Iran meant to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon while warning of “obliteration” should he be assassinated by Tehran’s operatives.

Trump said he’d left directions for his team on how to respond should he fall prey to an Iranian assassination plot.

“I’ve left instructions,” Trump said. “If they do it, they’ll be obliterated.”

Netanyahu’s visit lasted several hours and included the joint press conference, all meant to demonstrate Trump’s solidarity with Israel.

But the comity between the men belied a relationship that’s more complicated than it sometimes appears – with nothing less than the future of the Middle East potentially riding on Trump’s words.

In the lead-up to last November’s election, there was little question among Biden’s team that Netanyahu favored a Trump victory, believing he would enjoy a far wider remit from the American government to prosecute his war aims with Trump in office instead of then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Those predictions have not been wrong.

Already, Trump has lifted a hold on heavy bomb deliveries to Israel, rolling back one of the few Biden-era policies meant to exert leverage on Israel amid its war in Gaza.

But while Trump is popular in Israel, and Netanyahu enthusiastically welcomed his return to the White House, things haven’t always been so cheerful.

When Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his election victory in 2020, Trump was enraged at what he saw as betrayal. In the months that followed, Trump accused Netanyahu of disloyalty and fumed to the esteemed Israeli reporter Barak Ravid, now a CNN analyst: “F**k him.”

Even three years later, after Hamas launched the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history, it was clear Trump’s sore feelings hadn’t entirely faded.

“(Netanyahu) was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared,” Trump said in an interview shortly after the attacks, comments that drew condemnation even from Republicans.

But Trump’s remarks Tuesday, delivered next to Netanyahu, suggest the animosity has been forgotten.

The prime minister is planning to remain in Washington well beyond his Tuesday talks with Trump. He arrived to Blair House, the presidential guest residence, late Sunday and is expected to stay until the end of the week, including for meetings on Capitol Hill.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Kaitlan Collins, Zeena Saifi, Lucas Lilieholm and Irene Nasser contributed to this report.

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The Gaza Strip has been a contentious issue for decades, with ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians causing immense suffering for those living in the enclave. Recently, former President Donald Trump made a shocking statement, declaring that the United States will “take over” the Gaza Strip and that Palestinians who live there should leave.

This inflammatory statement has sparked outrage and condemnation from around the world, with many viewing it as a blatant disregard for the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people. The idea of the US taking control of the Gaza Strip is not only impractical, but also goes against international law and the principles of self-determination.

The people of Gaza have already faced unimaginable hardship, with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare due to the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel. Trump’s statement only serves to further escalate tensions in the region and exacerbate the suffering of those already living in dire conditions.

It is imperative that the international community condemns such reckless and dangerous rhetoric, and works towards finding a peaceful and just solution to the conflict in Gaza. The rights and dignity of the Palestinian people must be respected, and any attempts to forcibly displace them from their homes must be met with strong opposition.

Tags:

Gaza Strip, Trump, US, Palestinians, enclave, Middle East, conflict, Israel, Palestinian territories, occupation, relocation, politics, international relations

#Gaza #Strip #Trump #enclave #Palestinians #live #leave

February 6, 2025
Trump agrees to pause Canadian tariffs, Trudeau says

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President Donald Trump will pause additional tariffs on Canadian imports for 30 days after a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made some concessions to temporarily stave off the levies.

Trump and Trudeau spoke via phone on Monday, hours before additional 25% tariffs were to take effect on Canadian goods coming into the United States. In a post on X, Trudeau said Canada will implement a $1.3 billion border plan and appoint a fentanyl czar.

In addition, Canada will reinforce its border with new helicopters, technology, personnel and enhanced coordination with American authorities. He added that nearly 10,000 personnel are and will be working on border protection.

TRUMP DEFENDS TARIFFS, ACCUSES CANADA OF BEING ‘VERY ABUSIVE OF THE UNITED STATES’

President Donald Trump talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the plenary session of the NATO summit at the Grove Hotel in Watford, northeast of London, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm)

“We will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering,” Trudeau wrote. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”

“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,” he added.

Trump has long said Canada and Mexico have failed to do enough to prevent the flow of illegal migrants and drugs, particularly fentanyl, from those nations into the U.S. In addition, Trump claims the U.S. has subsidized Canada to the tune of $200 billion annually.

‘OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC’: BIPARTISAN SENATORS TARGET FENTANYL CLASSIFICATION AS LAPSE APPROACHES

These bags of fentanyl were seized in Nogales, Ariz., in October 2022. (CBP)

“We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all,” Trump wrote in a statement on Saturday, when he imposed the tariffs. “I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.”

Hours before his call with Trudeau, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border over tariff threats.

Trump has promised to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican goods, as well as a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and a 10% tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from China. The tariffs on Canada and China were set to go into effect Tuesday at midnight.

Trucks drive across the Blue Water Bridge at the border crossing between the U.S. and Point Edward in Ontario, Canada, on Feb. 3, 2025. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images)

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Threats prompted leaders in multiple Canadian provinces to pledge to remove American alcohol from store shelves.

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In a positive turn of events, President Trump has agreed to pause imposing tariffs on Canadian aluminum, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today. This decision comes after weeks of negotiations between the two countries, with Trudeau expressing relief that the tariffs will not be implemented for the time being. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation. #tariffs #Canada #Trump #Trudeau

Tags:

Donald Trump, Canadian tariffs, trade agreement, Justin Trudeau, international relations, economic impact, United States, Canada, political negotiation, trade war, diplomatic relations.

#Trump #agrees #pause #Canadian #tariffs #Trudeau

February 3, 2025