Trump Says US Will Tariff The Entire World
WASHINGTON, Mar 31: US President Donald Trump has declared that he will tariff the entire world, as the United States gears up for what he has called "Liberation Day" on April 2. His announcement came aboard the Air Force One. In the coming days, we would impose tariffs on "all countries", he said.
Till now, the talk in Washington was about reciprocal tariffs on nations that levy an import duty on US goods and services and those with which the US has trade imbalances. But that is not the case, as Donald Trump has said.
"We would start with all countries, so let's see what happens," President Trump told reporters onboard the presidential aircraft. With just 48 hours to 'Liberation Day', last-minute hopes that President Trump might scale back some of those threatened tariffs.
Clarifying that it is not just about a handful of nations which would be affected, President Trump rejected rumours of reciprocal tariffs only on 10 or 15 countries. "I haven't heard any rumour about 15 countries, 10 or 15," he said, adding that "We've been talking about all countries - no cutoffs".
There was speculation that these reciprocal tariffs would impact just over a dozen countries that the Trump administration feels is persistent with "unfair" trade practices. This was because US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had spoken of such a group of countries, which he had described as the "Dirty 15".
Donald Trump also announced that he would be "nicer", more "generous", and "kind" with those nations who levy duties on the US. "The tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us, meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades," President Trump claimed, without giving any figures in comparison.
"They ripped us off like no country has ever been ripped off in history and we're going to be much nicer to them, than they were to us. But it's substantial money for the country nevertheless," Donald Trump said.
China has already been penalised as President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as well as several other Chinese goods, are currently in place. Tariffs on auto imports are also scheduled to be effective from April 3.
Peter Navarro, President Trump's top official for matters related to trade, said that "Tariffs on auto imports alone, could raise $100 billion a year." Speaking to Fox News, Navarro noted that by imposing reciprocal tariffs on all countries, the US would "raise about $600 billion every year - that's $6 trillion in 10 years."
While India has been working round-the-clock with US officials to seal a massive trade deal beneficial to both nations - one that would circumvent Trump's reciprocal tariff threat, most other nations have treated Donald Trump's threat as a "tariff war", and have vowed to retaliate.
Economists in the US worry that any tariff imposed on imports will ultimately be borne by the US citizen. They fear that such sweeping tariffs risk stoking inflation and price rise on goods and services across the United States, which would, in turn, lead to an economic downturn.
Donald Trump, however, has repeatedly rubbished economists' claims, and instead, called 'tariff' his favourite word in the dictionary - one that will "make America great again" by raising government revenue and revitalising US industry and manufacturing.
India, US To Jointly Design, Manufacture Nuclear Reactors In India
NEW DELHI, Mar 31: In a landmark moment for the India-US civil nuclear deal, which was signed two decades ago, the US' Department of Energy or DoE has given the final approval permitting a US company to jointly design and build nuclear power plants in India.
Though the overall framework of the India-US civil nuclear agreement was signed back in 2007 by then prime minister Manmohan Singh and then US president George W Bush, it has taken nearly 20 years of negotiation, detailed discussions, legal and regulatory clearances, technology permits, liability clauses, and fine-tuning of blueprints to finally get the green signal to execute plans.
Till now, under the India-US civil nuclear deal, US firms could export nuclear reactors and equipment to India, but forbid them from any design work or manufacturing of nuclear equipment in India. New Delhi had remained firm that everything - from design, manufacturing, and transfer of technology - had to be done in India. Successive governments stood firm by this.
Now, after many years, and Russia gaining ground, US has agreed to the terms set by New Delhi. US and Indian firms will now jointly manufacture Small Modular Reactors or SMRs and co-produce all its components and parts as well. This is being seen as a big win for Indian diplomacy. The approval was given on March 26, 2025.
However, the US has set one condition - that these jointly-designed and manufactured nuclear power plants "will not be re-transferred to any other entity or end user in India or to other countries except the United States without the prior written consent of the Government of the United States."
The commercial potential for civil nuclear energy in India is massive, the US government said, as the Department of Energy approved Holtec International's proposal to be granted specific authorisation with respect to restrictive regulations.
The regulation which got the approval was the 10CFR810 - which is part 810 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954. It pertains to the DoE's "statutory responsibility for authorizing the transfer of unclassified nuclear technology and assistance to foreign atomic energy activities within the United States or abroad."
Based on Holtec International's application, the authorization permits the company to transfer "unclassified small modular reactor (SMR) technology" to three Indian firms. These include:
US-based Holtec International, a global energy firm, is owned and promoted by Indian-American entrepreneur Krishna P Singh. Its fully-owned Asia subsidiary - Holtec Asia - has been operating since 2010 and is headquartered in Pune, where it also runs its specialised engineering division. It also has its manufacturing plant in Gujarat's Dahej, located in Bharuch district.
Holtec is considered one of the world's biggest exporters of nuclear technology, components, and parts. It is also a global leader in the decommissioning sector, which ensures the safe and environmentally-responsible removal of industrial infrastructure.
Holtec International had also sought approvals for two Indian government-owned firms which provide electricity to the end-users, and a government regulator for ensuring safety norms. These corporations were:
The Government of India however, had not provided the required clearances for these state-owned corporations since Holtec had not yet got approval from the US Department of Energy. Now that it has got the nod from the US government, it will likely appeal to the Indian government to grant permits for these key Indian entities.
This agreement between Washington and New Delhi, to jointly design and manufacture nuclear power plants in India, as well as its transfer of technology, is being seen as a massive diplomatic achievement. This is because it comes at a time when the Trump Administration is looking to boost manufacturing in the US and heavily promote 'made-in-USA' equipment globally. At such a time, nuclear reactors being made in India shows a big gain for India.
The deal is also being seen as a major win for India's private sector, which will gain specialisation and expertise in designing and manufacturing nuclear power plants - something that till now was only under the domain of government corporations.
India which currently has expertise in smaller nuclear reactors with a capacity of 220MWe PHWR or Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, will now get technology to build nuclear power plants with more advanced technology of PWRs or Pressurised Water Reactors. Most of the nuclear plants globally run on this technology.
The joint India-US move also comes at a time when China is scaling up its plans to lead globally in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) space by competitive pricing. Affordable SMRs are a key requirement for the Global South to progress in a cost-effective way, and both India and China are competing with each other in their outreach to the Global South.
Will Bomb Iran If They Don't Sign Nuclear Deal, Says Trump
WASHINGTON, Mar 30: US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate.
"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago."
In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions. Since then the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment.
Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences.
Iran sent a response through Oman to Trump's letter in which he urged Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was cited as saying by the official IRNA news agency on Thursday.
Western powers accuse Iran of having an clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program.
Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.
Trump ‘angry’ with Putin and threatens tariffs on Russian oil over Ukraine
WASHINGTON, Mar 30: US President Donald Trump has said he is “p****d off” at his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and has threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire to end the war in Ukraine.
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russian’s fault – which it might not be – but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump told in an interview with NBC on Sunday.
Trump said 25 percent tariffs could happen at any moment, adding that he plans to speak with Putin this week.
According to the report, Trump was “angry and p****d off” when the Russian president started questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legitimacy and discussed the prospect of a new leadership in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Putin suggested a temporary administration under the supervision of the United Nations should be introduced in Ukraine – a proposal swiftly rejected by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Russian officials have repeatedly discredited Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as president, noting that no elections have been held since his term expired.
A vote has not been scheduled in Ukraine because the country’s constitution mandates that elections cannot be held under martial law, which has been in place since the start of Russia’s invasion of its neighbouring country three years ago.
Trump Says ‘Things Will Work Out’ With India, Highlights Strong Ties With Modi Amid Tariff Talks
WASHINGTON, Mar 29: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that “things are going to work out very well” between the United States and India, reaffirming strong ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described Modi as a “great friend” and expressed confidence in the relationship between the two countries.
“Prime Minister Modi was in US recently. We had good talks and I think are going to work out very well with India and our country,” Trump told reporters in response to a query in India-US trade relations.
His remarks come days after he and Modi announced a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. On Feb. 13, the two leaders unveiled a framework for cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence, trade, technology, energy, and people-to-people ties.
As part of the agreement, the US and India plan to sign a new 10-year framework under the ‘US-India Major Defense Partnership in the 21st Century.’ This will expand defence collaboration, including the sale and co-production of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and Stryker infantry combat vehicles. The partnership also aims to enhance cooperation in space, air defence, missile systems, maritime security and undersea technologies.
The talks between the two leaders also took place amid recent US tariff measures on steel and aluminium. India is assessing their potential impact while considering both opportunities and challenges.
A key aspect of trade discussions between the two countries is the reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 2. The Indian government is currently evaluating whether Washington’s trade policies will result in tariffs based on specific sectors, products, or countries.
Despite ongoing trade discussions, Trump’s comments signal continued optimism about the relationship, reinforcing the commitmenet to deeper cooperation between the two nations.
India and US making progress towards trade deal, officials say
NEW DELHI, Mar 29: Indian and U.S. officials discussed trade issues including the reduction of tariffs and easing of non-tariff barriers, making progress towards a bilateral trade agreement during several days of talks in New Delhi, they said on Saturday.
The negotiations, led by officials from India's commerce ministry and a U.S. trade delegation headed by Brendan Lynch, assistant U.S. trade representative for South and Central Asia, were held from March 26-29.
Separately, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spoke with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri about efforts to reduce trade barriers and achieve a "fair and balanced bilateral trade relationship", while also strengthening defence and technology cooperation to bolster regional security.
Landau thanked India for its efforts in addressing illegal immigration to the United States and urged continued cooperation, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.
The talks come as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to impose reciprocal tariffs on multiple trading partners from April 2, with India hoping for an exemption amid the bilateral talks. Both countries aim to sign the first tranche of a bilateral trade deal by autumn.
"The successful conclusion of the discussions reflects progress in efforts to expand India-U.S. bilateral trade and investment relations to promote prosperity, security and innovation in both countries," a statement by India's commerce ministry said.
Amid Tariff Row, Trump Says Had 'Extremely Productive' Call With Canada PM
WASHINGTON, Mar 28: US President Donald Trump said he had an "extremely productive" first call Friday with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite tensions over tariffs and Trump's recent calls to annex his northern neighbor.
Trump added that the two had agreed to meet soon after Canada's general election on April 28, which Carney called shortly after replacing Trump's nemesis Justin Trudeau two weeks ago.
"I just finished speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada. It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things," Trump said on his Truth Social network.
Trump said they would be "meeting immediately after Canada's upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors, that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada."
Trump's glowing post was a dramatic change in tone from recent rhetoric between Washington and Ottawa.
In a sign of the tensions, Carney had declared on Thursday that the era of deep economic, security and military ties between Canada and the United States "is over."
He had also vowed to retaliate against Trump's "unjustified" decision this week to slap steep tariffs on cars.
Trump's planned 25 percent levy on vehicle imports to the United States is to come into force next week and could be devastating for a Canadian auto industry that supports an estimated 500,000 jobs.
Carney also warned on Thursday that he would not participate in substantive trade negotiations with Washington until the president shows Canada "respect," particularly by ending his repeated annexation threats.
Trump has repeatedly said since returning to power in January that close NATO ally Canada should become the 51st US state.
The US president also warned Canada on Wednesday against working with the European Union to counter upcoming reciprocal tariffs on all imports that he is expected to announce next week.
If they did so, they would face "large scale tariffs, far larger than currently planned," Trump warned.
Typically, a new Canadian leader makes a phone call with the US president an immediate priority but this was Trump and Carney's first contact since the Canadian took office on March 14.
Trump threatens Canada, EU with more tariffs if ‘they harm US economically’
WASHINGTON, Mar 27: US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to hit the European Union and Canada with more tariffs if they work together "to do economic harm" to the United States.
In a late night Truth Social post, Trump said large scale tariffs “far larger than currently planned” would be placed on these countries.
"If the European Union works with Canada to do economic harm to the USA, large-scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both to protect the best friend that each of those two countries has ever had!" Trump posted on his TruthSocial network.
The US President's warning comes hours after he has announced 25% tariffs on auto imports and parts, provoking threats of retaliation from trading partners ahead of further promised trade levies next week.
Wall Street slumped ahead of Trump's Wednesday afternoon announcement, while the world's top-selling automaker, Toyota, plunged more than three per cent.
The duties take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on April 3 and impact foreign-made cars and light trucks. Key automobile parts will also be hit within the month.
Trump Announces 25% Tariffs On Foreign-Made Vehicles
WASHINGTON, Mar 26: US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on auto imports Wednesday, in a move set to fuel tensions with trading partners ahead of further promised levies next week.
"What we're going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they're made in the United States, it is absolutely no tariff," he said at the White House.
Russia, Ukraine Agree To Avoid Strikes On Vessels In Black Sea: US
WASHINGTON, Mar 25: Russia and Ukraine agreed separately in talks that concluded Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to avoid military strikes on vessels in the Black Sea, the White House said.
In parallel statements, the White House said that each country "agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea."
1,000 US Gold Card Sold In A Day: Trump's Top Official
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 24: Donald Trump's 'Gold Card' or 'Golden Visa' scheme, which offers permanent residency and optional citizenship of the United States for $5 million, per card, has become a hit. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he sold 1,000 'Gold Cards' in a single day as people are lining up for it.
The Commerce Secretary also said that the program will officially roll out "in about two weeks", adding that "Elon Musk is building the software for it right now, and then it goes out in about two weeks...and by the way, just yesterday I sold a thousand." Lutnick's said this on the 'All-In Podcast'.
He then went on to explain that "If you are a US citizen, you end up paying global tax. So, outsiders will certainly not come to the US to pay global tax. So, if you have a Green Card, now Gold Card, you will be a permanent resident of America (without paying tax). You can choose be a citizen, but you don't have to be... None of them will choose to be one (so they can avoid paying global tax)."
"What they going to have, is to have the right to be in America (indefinitely, and at any time they want) by paying $5 million. They will be vetted, so they will be good people - those who will abide by the law. The US can always revoke it if they are evil or indulge in illegal activity.
So, the idea is, for example - If I were not an American, and lived in any other country in the world, I would buy 6 Gold Cards - One for me, one for my wife, and one for my four children, because God forbid, if some disaster happens, I want to have the option and the right to just go to the airport and fly to America. And for the US to just welcome us 'home'. And once I'm 'home' and safe, I can resume my life, do a business, or whatever else I want. And all their money earned abroad is non-taxable. Only what they earn in America when they live here will be taxable - That is the idea," he added.
He then said that according to a research with the Trump Administration, "There are 37 million people in the world who are capable of buying the Gold Card." He mentioned that President Trump believes "we can sell a million". The funds generated from this government program will reportedly be used to reduce the US' fiscal deficit or national debt.
While announcing the scheme, Donald Trump had said there would be no annual limit to the number of Gold Cards issued. With a claim of 1,000 being sold in just one day - that is $5 billion in 24 hours - it can certainly claim to have a promising start.
US says kills 'key' Houthi leaders in Yemen strikes
WASHINGTON, Mar 23: A U.S. military campaign of strikes in Yemen launched just over a week ago has so far taken out key Houthi leadership, including the group's top missile specialist, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday.
The U.S. military has so far released few details about the operations, launched after Houthi threats to renew its attacks on Red Sea shipping over the war in Gaza.
"We've hit their headquarters, we've hit communications nodes, weapons factories, and even some of their over-the-water drone production facilities," Waltz told CBS News.
Waltz did not identify the slain missile specialist and gave no details on the other leaders who have been killed.
US Revokes Temporary Status Of 5 Lakh Migrants, To Face Deportation Soon
MIAMI, Mar 22: The Department of Homeland Security said Friday that it will revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, setting them up for potential deportation in about a month.
The order applies to about 5,32,000 people from the four countries who came to the United States since October 2022. They arrived with financial sponsors and were given two-year permits to live and work in the US. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they will lose their legal status on April 24, or 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register.
The new policy impacts people who are already in the US and who came under the humanitarian parole program. It follows an earlier Trump administration decision to end what it called the "broad abuse" of the humanitarian parole, a long-standing legal tool presidents have used to allow people from countries where there's war or political instability to enter and temporarily live in the US.
During his campaign President Donald Trump promised to deport millions of people who are in the US illegally, and as president he has been also ending legal pathways for immigrants to come to the US and to stay.
DHS said parolees without a lawful basis to stay in the US "must depart" before their parole termination date.
"Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status," DHS said.
Before the new order, the beneficiaries of the program could stay in the U.S. until their parole expires, although the administration had stopped processing their applications for asylum, visas and other requests that might allow them to remain longer.
The administration decision has already been challenged in federal courts.
Trump announces F-47, 6th Gen fighter by Boeing: 'Nothing in the world comes even close to it'
WASHINGTON, Mar 21: President Donald Trump has awarded Boeing a multi-billion dollar contract to build the US Air Force's most advanced fighter jet, the Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft.
Trump described the high-speed stealth aircraft, dubbed the F-47, as the "most lethal aircraft ever built" and said a version has been secretly flying for the last five years.
The fighter jet will replace Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor with an aircraft that is also designed to fly alongside unmanned drones in combat, Trump announced at the White House.
The contract, the size of which remains unclear, is a boost to Boeing, which has struggled amid sluggish commercial and military sales and high-profile safety incidents.
The design of the "sixth-generation" aircraft remains a closely-guarded secret, but reportedly includes high advanced sensors and engines in addition to their stealth capabilities.
An artistic rendering alongside Trump in the Oval Office of the White House only showed a small part of the aircraft and front landing gear.
"There's never been anything even close to it, from speed to maneuverability, to what it can have, to payload," Trump said.
Trump said the US military selected the number 47 - which he described as a "beautiful number" - for the aircraft. He is the 45th and 47th President of the US.
"The generals picked that title," he said.
The Boeing deal also marks a defeat for competitor Lockheed Martin, which was recently eliminated from a separate competition to build a next-generation aircraft for the US Navy.
Sales of the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a fifth-generation aircraft, could also be threatened by mounting trade tensions between the US and its allies abroad.
Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, has asked defence minister Bill Blair to review its purchase of the aircraft, which was developed with Canada as a partnership.
In Portugal, the country's outgoing defence minister told local media that the country is re-thinking a purchase of F-35s to replace its older aircraft as a result of "recent positions" taken by the US government.
Each F-35 costs approximately $85m (£65.8m), with the price rising up to $150m with spare parts and support infrastructure included.
About 1,100 of the aircraft have been built, with F-35s in service with 16 militaries around the world.
Several countries are reportedly now mulling purchasing aircraft from European manufacturers such as Dassault and Saab, even if those aircraft lack the stealth capabilities of the F-35.
Elon Musk, a key ally of Trump's, has previously expressed scepticism of manned aircraft.
He was at the Pentagon ahead of the F-47 announcement on Friday, on a visit which defence secretary Pete Hegseth said was related to cost-cutting.
Trump Says India Won’t Avoid Being Hit by Tariffs on April 2
WASHINGTON, Mar 20: President Donald Trump said he has a "very good relationship" with India, but the "only problem" he has with the country is that it is "one of the highest tariffing nations in the world." Trump reiterated his threat to impose reciprocal US tariffs on the country starting April 2.
In an interview with Breitbart News, an American news, opinion, and commentary website, Trump discussed the US' relationship with India.
Asked about his summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, Trump said: "I have a very good relationship with India, but the only problem I have with India is they're one of the highest tariffing nations in the world. I believe they're going to probably be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us".
On the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC), Trump said it was a "group of wonderful nations" banding together "countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade...We have a powerful group of partners in trade," Trump said.
"Again, we can't let those partners treat us badly, however, we do better in many ways frankly with our foes than we do with our friends. The ones that wouldn't be as friendly to us in some cases treat us better than the ones that are supposed to be friendly, like the European Union, which treats us terribly on trade. India and everybody would think of them as an ally," the US president said.
"I can say the same for others. But this is a group of wonderful nations that is countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade," he added.
Trump has repeatedly criticised the high tariffs charged by India. He has said that India is a very high tariff nation and reiterated that reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose levies on American goods will kick in on April 2.
In the past, Trump has called India "tariff king" and a "big abuser".
Last month, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, Trump had said that India has "been very strong on tariffs", and "I don't blame them, necessarily, but it's a different way of doing business. It's very hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers, very strong tariffs."
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told a Parliamentary panel in New Delhi on March 10 that negotiations are still on and no agreement on trade tariffs has been reached so far between India and the US.
India had said it was looking at deepening trade ties with the US, including by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, under a bilateral trade agreement.
During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US last month, both sides announced plans to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Discussion Around Aligning Russia, Ukraine's Needs: Trump After Zelensky Call
KYIV, Mar 19: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he discussed Russian and Ukrainian requests and needs for a peace deal in an hour-long call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "We are very much on track," Trump added.
The Kremlin also said Wednesday that Putin and Trump "trust each other" and want to normalise US-Russia ties after more than three years of Moscow's Ukraine offensive.
"Presidents Putin and Trump understand each other well, trust each other and are intent to gradually move towards the normalisation of ties," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the pair's phone call Tuesday lasted around two hours.
Zelensky earlier today warned against heeding the Kremlin's calls to halt military aid for his country, announcing that he would speak with Trump about it later.
Putin issued the demand after the call with Trump on Tuesday.
"I do not believe that we should make any concessions in terms of assistance for Ukraine, but rather there should be an increase in assistance for Ukraine," Zelensky said at a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb.
The call between Trump and Putin failed to secure the breakthrough ceasefire that Ukraine has been pushing for after it endorsed the US-led proposal last week.
But the Kremlin said it agreed to halt Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and Zelensky said he hoped to learn details during the call with Trump.
US launches wave of air strikes on Yemen's Houthis
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 15: The US has launched a "decisive and powerful" wave of air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, US President Donald Trump has said, citing the armed group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
"Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies," Trump wrote on his Truth social platform, adding this had cost "billions of dollars" and put lives at risk.
The Houthi-run health ministry said at least nine had been killed and nine injured in the strikes.
The group - which began targeting shipping in response to Israel's invasion of Gaza - told Arab media that it would continue its attacks.
Trump said that it had been more than a year since a US-flagged ship had sailed safely through the Suez Canal - which the Red Sea leads to - and four months since a US warship had been through the body of water between east Africa and the Arabian peninsula.
These attacks, he said, "will not be tolerated".
"We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective."
Addressing the Houthis directly, Trump wrote that if they did not stop, "HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE".
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the Houthi's "benefactor", Iran, was "on notice".
The Houthis are an Iranian-backed rebel group, which considers Israel its enemy. It has launched numerous attacks on commercial vessels travelling through the Red Sea since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Initially, the group said they were attacking ships connected with Israel, or heading to or from there. However, many of the vessels have no connection with Israel.
For more than a year major shipping companies were forced to stop using the Red Sea - through which almost 15% of global seaborne trade usually passes - and instead used a much longer route around southern Africa instead.
Trump urged Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, warning that the US "will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it".
Trump Says He Was Being 'Sarcastic' About Ending The Russia-Ukraine War In 24 Hours
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 15: President Donald Trump has clarified his previous statements on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, admitting that his claims of solving the issue within 24 hours were made in a sarcastic tone.
This acknowledgment came during an interview for the "Full Measure" television program, where Trump was asked about his campaign trail promises.
Trump's initial statements, made during his presidential campaign, were quite bold. He claimed that he would resolve the conflict before even taking office, stating, "They're dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I'll have that done - I'll have that done in 24 hours".
He reiterated this claim during a debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, "That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president".
However, Trump's tone has shifted since taking office. He now acknowledges that his previous statements were sarcastic, saying, "Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that... What I really mean is I'd like to get it settled and, I'll, I think, I think I'll be successful".
The situation remains complex, with Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, engaging in talks with Russian officials on a proposed ceasefire. Ukraine has accepted the proposal, but its not yet certain whether Russia will follow suit.
When asked about the potential consequences if Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire, Trump expressed concern, saying, "Bad news for this world because so many people are dying". However, he remains optimistic, stating, "But I think, I think he's going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he's going to agree".
Pakistan, Bhutan Among 41 Countries On Trump's Potential Travel Ban List: Report
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 15: The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by a news agency.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries, including Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
In the third group, a total of 26 countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan and Myanmar, would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.
A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.
The move harkens back to President Donald Trump's first-term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.
That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."
Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.
He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."
Trump 'Strongly' Requests Putin To Spare Lives Of Ukrainian Soldiers
WASHINGTON, Mar 14: US President Donald Trump said on Friday there is a "very good chance" the war between Russia and Ukraine can end after "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that he had requested that Putin spare the lives of "completely surrounded" Ukrainian troops.
US envoy Steve Witkoff had a long meeting with Putin in Moscow on Thursday night, a source briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The Truth Social post did not say whether Trump and Putin had spoken to each other.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had used the meeting to convey "signals" to Trump through Witkoff. He said Russia and the US would work out the timing of a phone call between their presidents once Witkoff had briefed Trump.
The US president has said he wants Moscow and Kyiv to agree a swift ceasefire to pause fighting in a conflict which he has warned has the potential to spiral into World War Three and has already cost many lives on both sides.
India imposes 150 pc tariff on American alcohol, 100 pc tariff on agriculture goods: White House
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 12: The White House has voiced strong concerns over high tariffs imposed by several countries on American goods, calling for more balanced trade. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt specifically pointed to India, Canada, and Japan, criticising their steep tariff rates on US products.
Speaking at a press briefing, Leavitt underscored President Donald Trump’s stance on trade fairness. "The president is again responding to the fact that Canada has been ripping off the United States of America and hardworking Americans for decades. If you look at the rates of tariffs across the board that Canadians have been imposing on the American people and our workers here, it is egregious," she said.
India’s trade policies also came under scrutiny, with Leavitt pointing out the high duties placed on American goods. "You look at India, 150 per cent tariff on American alcohol. Do you think that's helping Kentucky bourbon be exported into India? I don't think so. 100 per cent tariff on agricultural products from India," she remarked.
The White House maintains that these tariffs make it extremely difficult for American businesses to operate in the Indian market. Trump himself recently addressed the issue, claiming that India has agreed to lower its tariffs. "India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India... They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done," Trump stated during a televised address.
Japan was also singled out for its heavy trade barriers, with tariffs as high as 700% on certain goods. "Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 per cent. President Trump believes in reciprocity and it is about...time that we have a president who actually looks out for the interests of American businesses and workers. And all he's asking for at the end of the day are fair and balanced trade practices," Leavitt said.
Trump has suggested that the US may impose higher tariffs on Canada and Mexico in the near future. "The tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up..." he told business leaders, as reported by Fox News.
The President has repeatedly stated that other nations have exploited the US for years. "This country has been ripped off from every nation in the world, every company in the world. We've been ripped off at levels never seen before, and what we're going to do is get it back," he said.
This latest escalation is part of a broader US trade policy shift under Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, citing concerns over border control and fentanyl trafficking. Earlier this month, Trump temporarily delayed some tariffs on Mexico and Canada before a wider implementation set for April 2, following discussions with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. However, he continued to criticise Canada’s trade policies, calling it a "high tariff nation."
The global trade landscape remains tense as countries navigate their economic interests. With the US pushing for a level playing field, further trade negotiations—and potential retaliatory tariffs—are likely in the coming months.
Trump Raises Stakes, To Impose 50% Tariff On Steel, Aluminum From Canada
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 11: President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled his planned tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum products from Canada to 50%, in response to the province of Ontario's decision to place a 25% tariff on its electricity exports to the US.
Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social media platform that he has instructed his commerce secretary to add an additional 25% tariff on the metals products that will go into effect on Wednesday morning.
"Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various US dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area," Donald Trump wrote.
He also threatened to "substantially increase" tariffs on cars coming into the US on April 2 "if other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada."
In a post on X sent after Trump's latest threat, Ontario Premier Doug Ford - whose government is hiking the price on the electricity it generates for portions of New York state, Michigan and Minnesota - said he would not back down until all of Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports to the US were "gone for good."
The latest broadside by Donald Trump on tariffs delivered another painful jolt to financial markets, with the benchmark S&P 500 index sliding almost 1.0% as investors worry the import taxes will hurt US growth and rekindle inflation. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index was down about 0.5% and the Canadian dollar fell against the greenback.
Broader 25% levies on all steel and aluminum imported to the US from anywhere are due to take effect early on Wednesday.
Those tariffs will apply to millions of tons of steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had been entering the US duty free under carve-outs. Donald Trump has vowed that the tariffs will be applied "without exceptions or exemptions" in a move he hopes will aid the struggling US industries.
Donald Trump's hyper-focus on tariffs since taking office in January has rattled investor, consumer and business confidence in ways that economists increasingly worry could cause a recession. A small business survey on Tuesday showed sentiment weakening for a third straight month, fully eroding a confidence boost following Donald Trump's November 5 election victory.
A poll of economists last week showed risks to the Mexican, Canadian and US economies are piling up amid a chaotic implementation of US tariffs that has created deep uncertainties for businesses and decision-makers. The surveys showed 70 of 74 economists polled across Canada, the US and Mexico judged that the risk of a recession had increased, and upside risks to inflation in the US rose in particular.
Armed Man Shot At By US Secret Service After 'Confrontation' Near White House
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 9: The US Secret Service shot a man near the White House in Washington, DC shortly after midnight on Sunday (local time) after an "armed confrontation" with law enforcement. President Donald Trump was in Florida at the time of the shooting.
The incident happened about a block from the White House, on the west side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. On Saturday, the agents were warned by local police of an alleged "suicidal" man travelling to Washington from Indiana.
Around midnight, the Secret Service agents located the individual's parked vehicle near 17th and F Streets, NW, and also spotted a person on foot who matched the description nearby.
"As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel," the Secret Service said in a statement.
The Secret Service said the man had been hospitalized and his condition was "unknown."
No Secret Service personnel were injured in the incident, the statement said.
The matter will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department because they are the primary agency responsible for use-of-force incidents within the District of Columbia, the statement added.
Elon Musk Threatens To Shut Starlink To Ukrain
WASHINGTON DC, Mar 9: Days after calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "evil" for pushing what he called a "forever war" with Russia, American billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday warned that the entire frontline of Kyiv's defence system will collapse if he "turned off" his Starlink satellite internet system, which has been vital in maintaining the military communications.
Taking to X, Musk said he is "sickened by" the years of "slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose."
"I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off. What I am sickened by (Th)is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose. Anyone who really cares, really thinks and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop. PEACE NOW," he wrote.
US President Donald Trump's billionaire adviser also called for sanctions on the top 10 Ukrainian oligarchs, "especially the ones with mansions in Monaco" after Demonstrators unfurled a massive Ukrainian flag near the White House. He also insinuated that it was the Ukrainian oligarchs funding Democrats' actions.
"Place sanctions on the top 10 Ukrainian oligarchs, especially the ones with mansions in Monaco, and this will stop immediately. That is the key to the puzzle," he wrote replying to a X threat asking "who paid" for the massive Ukrainian flag, reportedly world's largest, unfurled near the White House.
Earlier on Tuesday, in response to a post on X that accused Zelensky of prolonging the war to maintain power, Musk agreed, stating, "True. As distasteful as it is, Zelensky should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine."
He went on to condemn the Ukrainian leader more directly, writing, "Zelensky wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil."
Starlink users access the internet for data or voice communication by using a small satellite dish to bounce signals off a constellation of satellites overhead.
Ukraine's fixed-line and mobile networks have been badly damaged by bombing since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Starlink has helped Kyiv to fill the void by sending tens of thousands of its dishes with terminals.
Some are made available to civilians, often trying to contact relatives on smartphones.
But most are used by Ukraine's armed forces, which also have to contend with heavy signal jamming and interception of communications on the front lines. Ukrainian units often talk to each other via Starlink, and its services have become virtually indispensable for battlefield command and control.
Ukraine also used Starlink to guide attack drones until Musk's rocket firm SpaceX curbed the practice two years ago.
Originally, SpaceX helped to fund provision of Starlink to Ukraine. The U.S. government then took over, though last month Poland said it had been paying Ukraine's Starlink subscription and would continue to do so.
Temple In California Vandalised; India Calls For Action
CALIFORNIA, Mar 9: India on Sunday condemned the vandalisation of a Hindu temple in the US, reportedly by pro-Khalistan elements, and called on local law enforcement to take action in the matter.
Earlier, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) in the US said on X that the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Chino Hills in California had been vandalised.
Responding to the development, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms.
“We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship.”
BAPS said in its post on X that the Hindu community stands “steadfast against hate” after the desecration of the temple. “Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never let hate take root. Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail,” it said.
The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is one of the largest Hindu temples in the US. Reports described the graffiti inscribed on the temple as “anti-India”.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), in a separate post on X, noted it was “not surprising” that the incident had occurred ahead of a “so-called ‘Khalistan referendum’” in Los Angeles. CoHNA also listed other Hindu temples that had been vandalized in the past few years.
Trump's resort vandalised over Gaza remark
SOUTH AYRSHIRE, Mar 8: US President Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland, was vandalised on Saturday by some activists following his recent statement on Gaza.
The resort, owned by Trump, was targeted overnight by 'Palestine Action' a group of demonstrators. They painted three-metre-high letters reading “Gaza Is Not For Sale" on the lawn.
The protestors also defaced the prestigious greens, including the course’s most renowned hole, which has hosted the Open Championships, PA Media reported.
A red spray paint was used to deface the elite clubhouse at the 800-acre resort, on Friday night. Palestine Action described it as a “direct response to the US administration’s stated intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza”.
The action came in response to Trump’s recent statement on the Gaza issue, including plans to "clean out the whole thing." The US President's remarks have sparked widespread condemnation.
The row intensified last week when Trump posted a satirical AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform. The video showed an AI-generated Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shirtless and drinking at a fictional ‘Trump Gaza’ resort.
The video also parodies the Las Vegas Strip with the Gaza Strip.
Trump later posted a threatening message to Gaza’s two million residents on Truth Social, writing: "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead."
The Trump administration recently signed off on the shipment of 40,000 bombs to Israel
A spokesperson from Palestine Action said, “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes. To make that clear, we have shown him that his property is not safe from acts of resistance."
“We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland," he added.
A spokesperson for Trump Turnberry condemned the vandalism as a “childish, criminal act” but assured that it would not affect the resort’s operations.
Hamas Ready For Direct Talks With US, But Accuses Trump Of 'Double Standards'
GAZA, Mar 8: A senior Hamas official, Mushir al-Masri, has accused Donald Trump of having "blatant double standards" regarding the release of hostages in Gaza. Al-Masri's comments came after the White House confirmed direct negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of hostages, marking a significant shift in US policy.
The talks between Hamas and the US aim to achieve stability in the region, al-Masri told CNN. However, the Gaza ceasefire remains precarious, with Israel blocking vital aid to pressure Hamas into extending the truce. Israel has refused to engage in direct talks with Hamas since the October 7 terror attack and has vowed to eliminate the group.
Al-Masri emphasised that Hamas seeks to resolve the hostage issue in exchange for negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire. This would involve the release of remaining live hostages in exchange for a sustainable end to the fighting. Currently, only one living American hostage, Edan Alexander, is believed to remain in Gaza, along with four dead Americans and at least 12 dual US-Israeli captives.
Al-Masri criticised Trump for focussing on Israeli prisoners while ignoring the nearly 10,000 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. He also accused the US administration of bias toward Israel, positioning itself as a party to the conflict rather than a mediator
Despite the talks, Trump has continued to threaten Hamas, stating that they should release all hostages immediately or face consequences. The US envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, hinted at possible American military action in Gaza if Hamas fails to comply with US demands.
Al-Masri urged the Trump administration to remain neutral and avoid becoming a "replica" of the Biden administration in its support for Israel. He emphasised that threats and intimidation would not be effective and that attempts to forcibly displace the people of Gaza would be futile.
Days After Spat With Zelensky, Trump Warns Of Sanctions Against Russia
WASHINGTON, Mar 7: Days after spat with Zelensky, Trump says he's considering "large-scale" sanctions and tariffs against Russia, until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.
This turn takes place after a wave of strikes at night on Ukraine.
He writes: "Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.
"To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!"
Sanctions are penalties imposed by one country on another in order to stop them from breaking international laws or act aggressively.
The United States, United Kingdom and Europe, along with countries including Australia, Canada and Japan have imposed more than 21,000 sanctions on Russia since its invaded Ukraine three years ago.
In January, after assuming office, Trump had warned of tariffs and more sanctions if Putin did not end the war.
Trump delays Mexico, Canada tariffs again
WASHINGTON, Mar 7: US President Donald Trump has paused his trade war with Canada and Mexico, temporarily delaying tariffs on many goods from the two countries once again. This comes just two days after the levies came into effect. This on-again, off-again is perplexing with business owners, who complain that they can’t make decisions, which is hurting their bottom line
They are on, they are off — we aren’t talking about a relationship but about US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada.
On Thursday (March 6), the US president signed executive actions that delayed some tariffs on its allies, Mexico and Canada, for one month. What makes this particularly interesting is that this is the second time in two days that Trump has rolled back his taxes on imports.
The actions come after Trump held a discussion with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and negotiations between Canadian and Trump administration officials.
The move has led both Canada and Mexico to breathe a little easier, but it’s also causing serious whiplash — with businesses complaining that this back-and-forth over tariffs is frustrating and stressful.
As Trevor Frampton, who owns a feed and pet supply store in Santa Rosa, California told CNN, “Tariffs are on and then they’re off again. I can’t keep up with it. It’s the uncertainty of everything. Is it going to happen? If it is, just do it. Personally, I think it’s stupid.”
Trump Suspends Nearly All Mexico Tariffs Until April 2
WASHINGTON, Mar 6: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was pausing sweeping tariffs recently imposed on Mexican imports after talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, while tensions with Canada continued to simmer amid strong blowback on world markets.
Trump said fresh tariffs targeting Mexico would not apply to trade falling under a pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada for now, adding: "This Agreement is until April 2nd."
On April 2, Canadian and Mexican goods could still face reciprocal levies.
Trump said on Truth Social of his deal: "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one."
His remarks stood in sharp contrast with comments following earlier talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he accused of using the dispute to "stay in power."
Trudeau said Thursday that Ottawa will remain in a trade war with Washington for "the foreseeable future" even if there are "breaks for certain sectors."
"Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs removed," Trudeau added.
Global markets tumbled after Trump's 25 percent tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico took effect Tuesday and economists say Americans are likely to face broad-based price rises.
The United States' expanded reprieve for Mexico came a day after the White House gave automakers temporary relief too from the levies that hit everything from lumber to avocado imports.
Since taking office in January, Trump has made a series of tariff threats on allies and adversaries alike, declaring trade wars will be a key part of his foreign policy.
Trump justified the tariffs on the United States' two giant neighbors and vital trade partners, along with China, as a way to stop illegal immigration and trafficking of the deadly drug fentanyl.
However, Canada contributes less than one percent of fentanyl to the United States' illicit supply, according to Canadian and US government data. It is also a relatively minor source of illegal immigration, compared to flows across the Mexican border.
China, meanwhile, has pushed back on US allegations of its role in the fentanyl supply chain, calling this a domestic issue that tariffs will not resolve.
Trump has said tariffs should become a major source of US government revenue, while remedying trade imbalances and practices Washington deems unfair.
The US trade deficit surged to a new record in January according to government data Thursday, as imports spiked while tariff worries flared in the month of Trump's inauguration.
The overall trade gap of the world's biggest economy ballooned 34 percent to $131.4 billion, on the back of a 10 percent jump in imports for the month, said the Commerce Department.
This was the widest deficit for a month on record, dating back to 1992, and the expansion was more than analysts anticipated.
'If You Hold Hostages, You Are Dead': Trump's 'Last Warning' To Hamas
WASHINGTON, Mar 5: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee.
Strongly backing Israel as a ceasefire teeters, Trump said he was "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job" as his administration expedites billions of dollars in weapons.
"Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," he wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages.
"This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance."
Trump also made clear there would be repercussions for Gaza as a whole, where virtually the entire population has been displaced by Israel's relentless military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
"To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!"
His comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warning of "consequences that you cannot imagine" if Hamas does not hand over remaining hostages seized in the October 7 attack.
Trump Announces 'Reciprocal Tariff On India' In Congress Speech
WASHINGTON, Mar 5: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reinforced his policy on trade tariffs as he called out “unfair systems” of India, European Union, China and others. Trump reiterated his stance that other countries have used tariffs against America for decades and now it is their turn.
"Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now it is our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India...and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them, it is very unfair,” Trump said during his address of a joint session of US Congress.
Singling out New Delhi again, Trump said “India charges us auto tariffs 100%...the system is not fair to US, it never was...on April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in and whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them...whatever they tax us, we will tax them.”
“If they do non-monetary tariff to keep us out of their market, then we will do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market."
US Holds Unprecedented Secret Talks With Hamas On Gaza Hostages: Report
WASHINGTON, Mar 5: The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas on the possibility of releasing U.S. hostages being held in Gaza, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the talks.
The important part about this talk is that US has never engaged with Hamas directly before, as it has designated it as a terrorist organisation in 1997.
The talk has been held by U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler with Hamas in Doha in the past weeks.
Although the US government had spoken to Israel about the possibility of holding talks with Hamas, Israel learned about the engagement through other channels.
The talks with Hamas have been regarding American hostages, but according to the sources, talks of a broader deal to release all remaining hostages have also been had, in order to reach a long-term truce. However, no deal has been reached as of yet.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the White House planned to meet the prime minister of Qatar regarding ceasefire negotiations, but cancelled the trip after he saw that there was no interest from Hamas, per a US official.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Hamas with "hell to pay" and has even proposed a US takeover of Gaza. Secretive negotiations with Hamas is something other administrations have not explored.
Currently, 59 hostages are held by Hamas in Gaza with the Israel Defense Forces confirming 35 dead. Among the remaining hostages, there are 5 American hostages.
The first phase of the Gaza hostage deal expired on Saturday and no agreement has been made to extend the deal. Although the war has not resumed, Israel has paused all aid going into Gaza with famine inching closer.
Why The US Is Killing Someone By Firing Squad For The First Time In 15 Years
NEW YORK, Mar 5: The firing squad, a method of execution with a long and complex history in the United States, is set to be used for the first time in 15 years in South Carolina. On Friday, Brad Sigmon, convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend's parents in 2001, will face a firing squad, a method he chose over the electric chair and lethal injection.
The history of firing squads in the US dates back to colonial times, when it was used as a punishment for mutiny. In 1608, captain George Kendall, was executed by firing squad in Jamestown, Virginia, for suspected mutiny and conspiracy with Spain. This marked the first recorded execution by shooting in America.
During the Civil War, firing squads were used by both sides to execute deserters and create a “public spectacle” to maintain discipline. According to the Associated Press, Mark Smith, a history professor at the University of South Carolina, firing squads were designed to shock and intimidate, with the added element of uncertainty, as one of the executioners would often be given a blank cartridge.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Utah became the primary state to use firing squads, with at least 40 executions carried out by this method. One notable case was the execution of labour activist and songwriter Joe Hill in 1915. Hill, who maintained his innocence until the end, was shot by a firing squad in Utah State Prison.
However, the use of firing squads declined as lethal injection became the preferred method of execution in the 1980s. Lethal injection was initially seen as a more humane alternative, but it has since been plagued by botched executions and difficulties in obtaining the required drugs.
In recent years, however, some states have reconsidered firing squads as an alternative to lethal injection. According to Deborah Denno, a criminologist at Fordham School of Law, firing squads have been relatively reliable, with only two reported cases of botched executions. Denno has argued that firing squads may be a more humane alternative to lethal injection, as they are typically quicker and less prone to error.
In South Carolina, Sigmon's decision to choose the firing squad over other methods has sparked debate. His attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, stated that Sigmon chose the firing squad because the alternatives seemed worse. The execution will be carried out by volunteer officers, with Sigmon bound to a chair and a target placed over his heart.
As the US continues to grapple with the ethics and practicalities of capital punishment, the use of firing squads raises complex questions about the nature of justice and the value of human life.
Trump Pauses Ukraine Aid Hours After Warning He Won't 'Put Up With' Zelensky
WASHINGTON, Mar 4: US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a White House official said, sharply escalating pressure on Kyiv to agree to peace negotiations with Russia.
The move comes just days after a stunning public clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, who is seeking a rapid end to the war.
Trump earlier on Monday had declined to rule out a pause when quizzed by reporters, but any disruption in the flow of US arms to the front line would rapidly weaken Ukraine's chance of beating back Russia's invasion.
"The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well," a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," the official added.
Congressional Democrats immediately condemned the pause as dangerous and illegal.
"My Republican colleagues who have called Putin a war criminal and promised their continued support to Ukraine must join me in demanding President Trump immediately lift this disastrous and unlawful freeze," said Gregory Meeks, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Trump also warned he would "not put up" much longer with Zelensky's defiance, and said Ukraine's leader should be "more appreciative" of US support. Speaking at the White House, Trump said Zelensky "won't be around very long" without a ceasefire deal with Moscow.'
The pause has gone into effect immediately and impacts hundreds of millions of dollars of weaponry in the process of being sent to Ukraine, The New York Times reported.
Zelensky for his part said Monday he was seeking for the war to end "as soon as possible."
The comment came after Zelensky accused Russia -- which invaded Ukraine in 2014 and greatly expanded the conflict in 2022 -- of not being serious about peace.
He insisted tough security guarantees were the only way to end the war.
But Trump's stance has upended US support for Ukraine, and Washington's allies more broadly, and stoked concern about Washington pivoting to Russia.
Trump cuts short talks with Zelenskyy after Oval Office blow up
WASHINGTON, Feb 28: President Donald Trump shouted at Ukraine's leader on Friday during an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office, berating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “gambling with millions of lives” and suggesting his actions could trigger World War III.
Zelenskyy then abruptly left the White House without signing a critical minerals deal with the U.S. that Trump had demanded and suggested was a condition for future support for Ukraine.
Untouched salad plates and other lunch items were being packed up outside the Cabinet room where the lunch between Trump and Zelenskyy and their delegations was supposed to have taken place.
The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute engagement devolved into a tense back and forth between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy — who had urged skepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow’s years of broken commitments on the global stage.
It began with Vance telling Zelenskyy, “Mr. President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Zelenskyy tried to object, prompting Trump to raise his voice and say, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump said.
It was an astonishing display of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a setting better known for somber diplomacy. Trump laid bare his efforts to coerce Zelenskyy to agree to giving the U.S. an interest in his country’s valuable minerals and to push him toward a diplomatic resolution to the war on the American leader’s terms.
Earlier in the meeting Trump said the U.S. would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but said he hoped that not too much aid would be forthcoming. “We’re not looking forward to sending a lot of arms,” Trump said. “We’re looking forward to getting the war finished so we can do other things.”
Trump suggested that Zelenskyy wasn't in a position to be demanding concessions.
"You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said pointing his finger toward Zelenskyy. “With us you start having cards.”
He also accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” to the U.S.
“It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this,” Trump told Zelenskyy at one point, as the two leaders talked over each other about past international support for Ukraine.
“Again, just say thank you,” Vance interjected to Zelenskyy, blasting him for litigating “disagreements” in front of the press. Trump, though, suggested he was fine with the drama. “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on,” he added.
“You're not acting at all thankful,” Trump said, before adding, “This is going to be great television.”
Trump confirms tariffs for Mexico, Canada on March 4, China to get extra 10%
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 27: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will go into effect on March 4 as scheduled, citing the continued flow of drugs into the US from those countries.
Trump also confirmed that an additional 10% duty on Chinese goods will be imposed on the same day, on top of the 10% tariff already introduced on 4 February.
In a post on Truth Social, the president stated that drugs, particularly the deadly opioid fentanyl, were still entering the US at “very high and unacceptable levels.”
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump had previously called for imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, but he delayed the policy by one month after speaking to the leaders of the two nations.
He in the post on Thursday also added, “China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date. The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect.”
The statement clarified earlier confusion over the deadline for tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, which Trump has linked to the fentanyl crisis and US border security. During his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, his remarks suggested a possible one-month delay until 4 April.
Trump administration officials later explained that the April deadline referred to Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”—import duties designed to counteract trade restrictions imposed by other countries. His trade advisers argue that European nations’ value-added tax systems function as de facto tariffs.
Ukraine accepts terms of minerals deal with US, could sign agreement on Friday
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 26: Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a mineral deals with the United States and could sign it this week, officials in the two countries said on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, the United States would “jointly develop” Ukraine's mineral wealth, with the revenues going to a newly created “joint fund for Ukraine and America", said a Ukrainian official.
According to the official, the draft of the deal includes a reference to "security", but does not explicitly state the US' commitments, one of Ukraine's prior demands for an agreement.
“There is a general clause that says America will invest in a stable and prosperous sovereign Ukraine, that it works for a lasting peace, and that America supports efforts to guarantee security. Now, the government is working on the details,” the official said.
He added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could sign the deal on a trip to Washington as early as Friday.
Later, US President Donald Trump confirmed Volodymyr Zelensky would be visiting, and mentioned a “very big deal.”
“I hear that. I hear that he's coming on Friday. He would like to sign it together with me, and I understand that. Tt's a big deal, a very big deal,” Donald Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump says US will sell $5 million ‘gold card’ to wealthy foreigners
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 26: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US would sell a “gold card” to wealthy foreigners, giving them the right to live and work in the US and offering a path to citizenship in exchange for a $5 million fee.
“We’re going to be selling a gold card,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “You have a green card. This is a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card.”
Trump said the sale of the cards will begin in about two weeks and suggested millions of such cards could be sold.
Asked whether he would consider selling the cards to Russian oligarchs, Trump responded: “Yeah, possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, standing alongside Trump, said the card will replace the government’s EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which allows foreign investors to pump money into US projects that create jobs and then apply for visas to immigrate to the US.
“They’ll have to go through vetting, of course,” Lutnick said, “to make sure they’re wonderful world-class global citizens.”
Created by Congress in 1992, the EB-5 program can grant green cards to immigrants who make a minimum investment of least $1,050,000, or $800,000 in economically distressed zones called targeted employment areas, to create jobs for American workers, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Businesses connected to Trump and his family have also made use of the program to fund major property developments.
The program drew bipartisan criticism from lawmakers in Congress during Trump’s first term, with many warning that it had deviated from its goals and was in need of reform.
The Trump administration in 2019 moved to raise the minimum investment amount for targeted economic areas to $900,000, and $1.8 million in other locations, but a federal judge struck down the change in 2021, finding that the acting Homeland Security secretary who authorized the rule had not been properly appointed.
The program was last renewed in 2022 during the Biden administration, with the minimum investment requirements being raised to their current levels.
‘$21 million given to my friend PM Modi’, says US President
WASHINGTON, Feb 22: US President Donald Trump once again brought up USAID’s alleged $21-million grant for “voter turnout” in India, claiming that his administration had canceled it. This marks the third time he has mentioned the issue, and this time, he stated that the grant was given to his “friend,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“And $21 million going to my friend, Prime Minister Modi, in India for voter turnout. We're giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too,” Trump reportedly said at the Governors' Working Session.
Notably, an Indian daily on Friday alleged that the $21 million grant was originally meant for Bangladesh, not India. However, these claims were later refuted.
Before this, Trump had suggested that the grant was originally given away by the Biden administration in 2014 because “they wanted someone else in power,” prompting the BJP to accuse Congress of election manipulation.
Trump initially questioned why $21 million was given to India, a country with significant financial resources.
“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest-taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?” Trump remarked.
The controversy erupted after the Department of Government Expenditure (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of the $21 million grant on February 16. In a post shared on X, DOGE outlined several foreign assistance programs that had been deemed unnecessary or excessive, with the India voter turnout project topping the list.
Modi must talk to Trump, refute allegation that U.S. was about to give $21 million for increasing voter turnout: Congress
Russia Holds 'The Cards' In Peace Talks With Ukraine: Trump
WASHINGTON, Feb 20: US President Donald Trump has said that Russia holds "the cards" in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, as they hold a significant part of the Ukrainian territory, the BBC reported.
"I think the Russians want to see the war end, I really do. I think they have the cards a little bit, because they've taken a lot of territory. They have the cards," Trump said.
US officials led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio met top Russian officials for talks in Saudi Arabia on February 18. However, Ukraine was absent. The two countries - Russia and the US have started to work towards ending the war in Ukraine. Since no Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed his visit which was scheduled for Wednesday.
Trump responded to it at a news conference at his Florida residence by saying, "Today I heard, 'Oh, well, we weren't invited.' Well, you been there for three years. You should have ended it three years" ago. "You should have never started it. You could have made a deal."
Zelensky had reacted to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Ukraine was excluded, and said "With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader... he is living in this disinformation space".
In other news, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will resume talks with US "on all parameters" and that they "absolutely agree with the American administration" that negotiations are needed to establish peace as soon as possible.
Trump Declares Himself 'King' After Move Snubbing New York Governor
WASHINGTON, Feb 20: A recent declaration by Donald Trump has raised questions about his views on presidential authority. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump proclaimed himself "king" after his administration's efforts to dismantle New York City's congestion pricing program.
This program, designed to raise funds for the city's aging mass transit system, has been a point of contention between Trump's administration and local authorities.
Trump's announcement, which included the phrase "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" was further amplified by the White House's official X account. The account shared a mock Time magazine cover featuring Trump adorned with a crown and the caption "long live the king."
Adding to the controversy, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich shared an AI-generated image of Trump wearing a crown and regal cape.
In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed the president's objections to the congestion pricing program, labeling it "backwards and unfair" and a "slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners." Duffy claimed that federal officials would discuss plans with the state for the "orderly cessation of toll operations."
Governor Hochul swiftly responded, emphasising the importance of public transit in New York City and its economic future. She highlighted the program's success, noting that vehicle congestion has "dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever" since its implementation. Hochul also took a jab at Trump's monarch declaration, stating, "We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. We'll see you in court."
During a press conference, Hochul further rejected Trump's claims, saying, "New York hasn't laboured under a king in over 250 years, and we are not - we sure as hell are not going to start now." She emphasised the city's history of resilience and its willingness to stand up to authoritarianism. "In case you don't know New Yorkers, when we're in a fight, we don't back down, not now, not ever", she added.
Trump's "king" declaration follows his earlier statement that "he who saves his Country does not violate any Law," which was shared by White House X accounts.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has sued Duffy and federal transportation officials, arguing that the Trump administration's attempt to terminate the congestion pricing program was unlawful and motivated by political reasons. This lawsuit is just one of many challenges facing Trump's administration, which has been accused of attempting to shred court orders and ignite a constitutional crisis.
'Very Unfair': Trump On Elon Musk's Tesla Building Factory In India
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 20: Days after Tesla started hiring staff in India, signalling its potential entry into the market, US President Donald Trump has said that any potential plans of the EV maker to build a factory in India, to circumvent that country's tariffs, would be 'very unfair'.
The US President made the remarks during a joint interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk for Fox News' Sean Hannity.
President Trump recalled that he called out India's high duty on cars during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States last week, but agreed to work towards an early trade deal and resolve their standoff over tariffs.
During his US visit, Modi also met Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has long criticised India for having import tariffs of around 100 per cent on EVs which protect local automakers such as Tata Motors in the world's third largest auto market, where EV adoption is still at a nascent stage.
Trump said it is "impossible" for Elon Musk to sell a car in India. "Every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs... It is impossible to sell a car, practically, in, as an example, India," he said.
However, the Indian government in March unveiled its new EV policy, lowering import taxes substantially to 15 per cent if a carmaker invests at least $500 million and sets up a factory.
President Trump said it would be "unfair" to America if Elon Musk did decide to build a factory there. "Now, if he built the factory in India, that's okay, but that's unfair to us. It's very unfair," Trump said in the interview.
US State Department Website Subtly Supports Independent Taiwan
TAIPEI, Feb 17: China has urged the United States to immediately "correct its mistakes" after the US State Department removed previous wording on its website about not supporting Taiwan independence, which it said was part of a routine update.
The fact sheet on Taiwan, updated last week, retains Washington's opposition to unilateral change from either Taiwan or from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own.
But as well as dropping the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence", the page added a reference to Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and says the US will support Taiwan's membership in international organisations "where applicable". This has left Beijing fuming with Washington.
Beijing regularly denounces any international recognition of Taiwan or contact between Taiwanese and foreign officials, viewing it as encouraging Taiwan's separate status from China.
The update to the website came roughly three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in to his second term in the White House.
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the revisions for Taiwan on the U.S. State Department's website were a big step backwards and "sends a seriously wrong message to Taiwan independence separatist forces".
"This is yet another example of the United States' stubborn adherence to the erroneous policy of 'using Taiwan to suppress China'. We urge the United States side to immediately rectify its mistakes," Guo said.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its strongest international backer, bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
"As is routine, the fact sheet was updated to inform the general public about our unofficial relationship with Taiwan," a State Department spokesperson said in an email sent late Sunday Taiwan time responding to questions on the updated website wording.
"The United States remains committed to its one China policy," the spokesperson said, referring to Washington officially taking no position on Taiwan's sovereignty and only acknowledging China's position on the subject.
"The United States is committed to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the spokesperson said.
"We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We support cross-Strait dialogue, and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the Strait."
On Sunday, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his appreciation for what he called the "support and positive stance on U.S.-Taiwan relations".
Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying that only the island's people can decide their future.
Taiwan says it is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who set up the People's Republic of China.
MAGA + MIGA = MEGA – a mega partnership for prosperity: Says Modi after meeting Trump
By Deepak Arora
WASHINGTON, Feb 14: US President and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have
announced they would pursue a “framework” for greater cooperation. “Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed that we will be in negotiations to address the long-running disparities,” Trump said, referring to the US-India trade relationship.
“But really, we want a certain level of playing field, which we really think we’re entitled to,” he added.
But their newly announced framework went beyond import taxes, to include collaborations on space travel, international security and the energy trade.
During his visit to the US, Modi appealed to Trump’s pride in his slogan, “Make America Great Again”, offering an Indian twist on the motto. “The people of America are aware of President Trump’s motto, ‘Make America Great Again’ or MAGA,” Modi said through a translator.
“Borrowing an expression from the US, our vision for a developed India is to ‘Make India Great Again’, or MIGA. When America and India work together, when it’s MAGA plus MIGA, it becomes MEGA – a mega partnership for prosperity.”
The two leaders emerged from their closed-door meeting with an agreement to increase trade between their countries, including through partnerships on space travel, artificial intelligence and energy production. Modi pledged a “new scale and scope” to their shared objectives.
“We have also set ourselves the target of more than doubling our bilateral trade to attain $500bn by 2030,” Modi said.
“The prime minister and I also reached an important agreement on energy that will restore the United States as a leading supplier of oil and gas to India. It will be, hopefully, their number one supplier,” Trump said.
The US president also teased an international infrastructure similar to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, linking allies across the world.
“We agreed to work together to help build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history. It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the United States, connecting our partners by ports, railways and undersea cables – many, many undersea cables,” Trump explained.
“India and US will stand strongly together in the fight against terrorism,” Modi said.
Trump, for his part, said the US would increase military sales to India “by many billions of dollars”.
“In addition, the United States and India will be working together like never before to confront the threat of radical Islamic terrorism – a threat all over the world, actually.”
'US Targeting Durable Peace In Ukraine': JD Vance After Meeting Zelensky
MUNICH, Feb 14: US Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that the United States was targeting a "durable peace" in Ukraine, after holding talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich.
Both Vance and Zelensky said they had had a "good" conversation and would meet again for talks in future.
"Our first meeting, not last, I'm sure," Zelensky remarked after the meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Vance was joined on the US side by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's special envoy on the Ukraine war.
"We want the war to come to a close, we want the killing to stop, but we want to achieve a durable, lasting peace, not the kind of peace that's going to have Eastern Europe in conflict just a couple years down the road," Vance said after the meeting.
"It's important for us to get together and start to have the conversations that are going to be necessary to bring this thing to a close," the vice president said, with reference to the war in Ukraine.
"That's all I'm going to say for now, because I want to preserve the optionality here for the negotiators and our respective teams to bring this thing to a responsible close," he said.
Trump shocked allies earlier this week by speaking directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone and announcing that talks with Moscow to end the fighting in Ukraine would start "immediately".
Trump says he discussed ending Ukraine war with Russia's Putin
WASHINGTON, Feb 12: U.S. President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday about starting negotiations immediately to end the war in Ukraine.
"We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskiy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now," Trump said in a post on his social media platform.
The Kremlin said Putin and Trump had spoken for nearly an hour and a half by telephone and that the two men had agreed to meet.
Trump has long said he would quickly end the war in Ukraine, without saying how he would accomplish this.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump's Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and the U.S. administration did not see NATO membership for Kyiv as part of a solution to the war.
Speaking at a meeting of Ukraine's military allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Hegseth delivered the clearest and bluntest public statement so far on the new U.S. administration's approach to the nearly three-year-old war.
"We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective," Hegseth told a meeting of Ukraine and more than 40 allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed As Trump's Director Of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, Feb 12: The US Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under the Trump administration.
Although she has never served on an intelligence committee, as a former Representative from Hawaii, Gabbard brings a distinctive combination of legislative and military experience to the role. Her service in the US House of Representatives, which spanned from 2013 to 2021, was marked by her commitment to various causes. Additionally, her time in the Hawaii Army National Guard, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, has earned her recognition.
In her new position, Gabbard will oversee the United States' intelligence community, coordinating operations among various agencies to ensure national security and effective information-sharing. This role comes with significant responsibility, as the DNI plays a critical part in advising the President on intelligence matters.
Gabbard's appointment has raised some eyebrows due to her lack of direct experience in intelligence oversight. Furthermore, her past remarks on US adversaries, including Russia and Syria, have sparked controversy.
Some senators have expressed concerns about Gabbard's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and her 2017 visit to Syria, where she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad while he was under US sanctions. Her previous defence of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has also been cited as a point of contention.
Despite these concerns, Gabbard has pledged to bring transparency and efficiency to the intelligence community. Her military background and congressional experience will undoubtedly influence her approach to this complex role. As she assumes the position of Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies with a budget of approximately $100 billion, advising President Trump on critical intelligence matters.
'All hell' will break loose if Gaza hostages not returned, Trump warns Hamas
WASHINGTON, Feb 11: US President Donald Trump has said that he would propose cancelling the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas if all Israeli hostages were not returned by February 15.
“As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday [February 15] 12 o'clock – I think it's an appropriate time – I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told mediapersons at the White House.
Hamas, however, said that all Israeli hostages can be brought back home from Gaza only if the ceasefire is respected.
“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said, according to Reuters. “The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters.”
The first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire began on January 19 and involves the exchange of 33 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Hamas has so far released 16 Israeli hostages while 566 Palestinian prisoners have been freed.
Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing said that the next hostage release scheduled for February 15 would be postponed till further notice “pending the [Israeli] occupation's compliance and retroactive fulfilment of the past weeks' obligations”. Hamas has accused Israel of attacking the residents of Gaza in violation of the ceasefire, leaving three persons dead.
The truce halted over 15 months of fighting in Gaza and led to the release of five groups of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
On February 8, Israel and Hamas completed their fifth hostage-prisoner exchange in which three Israeli hostages were released for 183 Palestinian prisoners.
Tensions have, however, risen after Trump proposed to take control of the Gaza Strip and expel its over two million residents.
More than 47,700 persons, including over 17,400 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza.
This came after Hamas launched an incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 persons and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel retaliated by carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on Gaza. About 400 Israeli soldiers have died in the conflict.
According to the latest figures by the United Nations, 92% or 436,000 housing units in Gaza have either been destroyed or damaged in the Israeli attacks. A total of 496 out of 546 schools have also either been partially or severely damaged, and only 17 out of 36 hospitals are partially functioning.
Trump Says Will Impose 25% Tariffs On All Steel, Aluminum Imports
WASHINGTON DC: In yet another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul, US President Donald Trump announced that on Monday the United States will impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, which would come on top of additional metal duties-- expected to be disclosed later in the week.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday while he was on his way to the NFL Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump also said he would announce reciprocal tariffs as early as Tuesday, which would take effect almost immediately.
The Republican, however, did not clarify who would be targeted with the reciprocal tariffs, but he stressed the US would match tariff rates levied by other countries and that this would apply to all countries. "And very simply, it's, if they charge us, we charge them," he said on his reciprocal tariff plan.
During his first White House term from 2016-2020, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium but l later granted several trading partners duty-free quotas, including Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Former President Joe Biden extended these quotas to Britain, Japan and the European Union, and US steel mill capacity utilization has dropped in recent years.
Per official data, Canada, Brazil and Mexico are the largest sources of US steel imports, followed by South Korea and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Canada is the largest supplier of primary aluminium metal to the United States by a huge margin, accounting for 79 per cent of total imports in the first 11 months of 2024. Mexico is a major supplier of aluminium scrap and aluminium alloy.
Trump's 'Losing Patience' Warning To Hamas Over Israeli Hostages' Appearance
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 10: Comparing the emaciated condition of Israeli hostages released by Hamas over the weekend with those of Holocaust survivors, US President Donald Trump suggested the United States was running out of patience with the war in the Gaza Strip, without detailing his next steps.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday from Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl, the Republican leader said the hostages "look like they haven't had a meal in a month. No reason for that, and I don't know how much longer we can take it...at some point we're going to lose our patience"
"They look like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated," Trump added.
Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday handed over three more Israeli hostages -- Eli Sharabi, Or Levi and Ohad Ben Ami. Their frail appearances after nearly 500 days of captivity sent a global shock wave.
The US President's reaction to seeing their images, which came days after he called for the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza enclave and for the US to take control of it, brought fresh uncertainty over the fate of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas before all remaining 76 hostages were freed.
Without detailing steps he might take, Trump said he was committed to ridding Gaza of Hamas fighters. He said the US is committed "to owning it, taking it and making sure that Hamas doesn't move back," adding that "we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it."
"We'll make it into a very good site for future development," he added.
Trump To Impose Sanctions On World Court For Targeting US, Its Allies
WASHINGTON, Feb 6: U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court for targeting the United States and its allies, such as Israel, a White House official said.
The order will place financial and visa sanctions on individuals and their family members who assist in ICC investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies, said the official.
Rajnath Singh Holds Call With US Counterpart Pete Hegseth To Boost Strategic Partnership
NEW DELHI, Feb 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, agreed on Thursday to work on a 10-year comprehensive framework to bolster the India-US defence partnership, especially in the spheres of intelligence, logistics, operational and industrial engagement.
Rajnath Singh said Hegseth reviewed various aspects of the bilateral defence ties in a phone conversation that came less than a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned trip to Washington.
It was Singh's first phone conversation with Hegseth after the latter was confirmed as the US defence secretary on January 25.
An Indian readout of the conversation said India and the United States have agreed to work together to draft a comprehensive framework on defence cooperation, aimed at structuring the bilateral collaboration for the 2025-2035 period.
It said Singh and Hegseth reviewed the extensive India-US defence cooperation activities, covering "multiple domains in land, air, maritime and space".
In a post on X, the defence minister said he and Hegseth reviewed the ongoing India-US defence cooperation and explored ways to further deepen the relationship.
Singh described the phone conversation as "excellent".
"We reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation and explored ways and means to expand and deepen the India-US bilateral defence relationship," he said.
"We also agreed to chart out an ambitious agenda which includes operational, intelligence, logistics and defence-industrial cooperation," he added.
"Looking forward to work closely with Secretary Hegseth," Singh said.
Modi and US President Donald Trump, during a phone conversation on January 27, vowed to work towards a "trusted" partnership, with a focus on boosting the India-US cooperation in the areas of trade, energy and defence.
Following the phone talks, the White House said Trump has emphasised the importance of India increasing its procurement of US-made security equipment and moving towards a fair bilateral trade relationship.
In the readout, the defence ministry said Singh and Hegseth appreciated the ongoing and "remarkable expansion" of the India-US defence partnership, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the ties.
"In particular, the two ministers decided to work together on technology cooperation, integration of defence industrial supply chains, enhanced interoperability, logistics and information sharing and joint military exercises," it said.
"They also agreed to provide enhanced support to the growing defence innovation collaboration between the governments, start-ups, businesses and academic institutions," it said.
The phone conversation between Singh and Hegseth came amid some anguish in India over the US deporting more than 100 Indians in a military transport aircraft.
How to boost the defence bilateral ties is expected to be one of the key focus areas of the talks between Modi and Trump in Washington DC.
According to the plan, Modi will travel to Washington DC after concluding his two-day visit to Paris.
The prime minister is expected to land in the American capital in the evening of February 12 and he and Trump are expected to hold the talks the next day.
It would be the prime minister's first bilateral visit to the US after Trump assumed the presidency for a second term on January 20, following his stunning electoral victory in November last year.
Trump Says He Wants To Work On 'Nuclear Peace Agreement' With Iran Immediately
WASHINGTON, Feb 5: US President Donald Trump has said on his Truth Social post that he preferred a "verified nuclear peace agreement" with Iran.
In the post on Wednesday, Trump shunned that reports of US and Israel "blowing Iran into smithereens" were "greatly exaggerated".
“I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper. We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!”
He also said that he wants Iran to become a "great and successful country" but it "cannot have a Nuclear Weapon", a day after he signed an order reinstating a "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran over allegations that it was trying to develop such weapons.
During his first term that ended in 2021, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, and reimposed biting sanctions.
The deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)-- imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
Tehran adhered to the deal until a year after Washington pulled out, but then began rolling back its commitments. Efforts to revive the 2015 deal have since faltered.
Iran denies seeking to build nuclear weapons, insisting its program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters Wednesday he believed Trump's maximum pressure policy "is a failed experiment and trying it again will turn into another failure."
He also reiterated that Tehran was not pursuing nuclear weapons.
"If the main issue is that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons, it is achievable and is not much of a problem," Araghchi said.
A longstanding religious decree, or fatwa, issued by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state, prohibits Iran from possessing a nuclear arsenal.
On Wednesday, Iran's nuclear agency chief Mohammad Eslami insisted that his country remains committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying "Iran does not have, and will not have a nuclear weapons program."
US Deports 205 Indian Migrants On C-17 Military Aircraft
WASHINGTON, Feb 4: A US military plane began deporting Indian migrants, implementing US President Donald Trump's hardline stance against an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States.
The C-17 aircraft carrying 205 Indian nationals departed from San Antonio, Texas departed around 3 am IST.
India is the farthest destination of US military flights deporting migrants, with the Pentagon stating flights to deport over 5,000 migrants from El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. So far, military aircraft have flown migrants to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras.
Trump launched the military deportation flights last week as part of his emergency declaration on immigration, so far sending six planeloads of migrants on flights to Latin America. Only four landed, all of them in Guatemala, after Colombia refused to let two US C-17 cargo aircraft land and instead sent its own planes to collect migrants following a standoff with Trump.
"For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came," Trump told reporters last month.
The US President had said after a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the latter "will do what's right" when it comes to taking back illegal Indian immigrants from America. A report says that India and the US have identified some 18,000 Indian migrants who are in the US illegally. Indians account for the bulk of the skilled worker H-1B visas issued by the United States.
The deportations and border control come after Trump had said on his first day in office that he will deport "millions and millions" of migrants, while declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Day within him assuming the top post, the the US Congress approved a bill that would require the detention and deportation of undocumented migrants who enter the country without authorisation and are charged with certain crimes. Even during his campaign trail, he had said, "When I am reelected, we will begin the largest deportation operation in American history."
Trump has often used the military to implement his immigration agenda. He has sent troops to the US Mexico border, used military bases to house migrants and military aircraft to fly them out of the US. However, it has been reported that a military deportation flight to Guatemala last week likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant. That is more than five times the $853 cost of a one-way first class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas. It is also significantly higher than the cost of a commercial charter flight by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico but not on China
WASHINGTON, Feb 4: President Donald Trump has agreed to hold off imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days, pulling the North American neighbours back from the brink of a potentially damaging trade war.
After last-minute calls with Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to reinforce his country's border with the US to clamp down on migration and the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl.
Earlier, Trump made a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She agreed to reinforce the northern border with troops. In return the US would limit the flow of guns into Mexico.
But a US tariff of 10% on Chinese imports is still due to go into effect from 00:01 EST (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Trump said he planned to speak on the phone to his Chinese counterpart soon. He described the 10% import taxes as the "opening salvo" and said they could become "very, very substantial" if no agreement is made.
Monday's breakthrough with Canada and Mexico came as they prepared retaliatory tariffs on American goods.
After two phone calls on Monday, Trump and Trudeau posted on social media that they had reached a temporary agreement on securing the border that would avoid tariffs for at least 30 days.
Both leaders portrayed the plan as a win.
"As president, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social.
Trudeau said Canada was implementing a $1.3bn (£1bn) border plan that included nearly 10,000 frontline workers and more resources to halt the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times stronger than heroin, which Trump has cited as a major concern.
The prime minister also said Canada would appoint a "fentanyl czar" and launch a joint strike force with the US to combat crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
Much of the border security plan had already been announced by Canada in December.
It includes enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement, increased information sharing, limiting traffic at the border, and the deployment of drones and Black Hawk helicopters for surveillance.
The news came just hours after Trump paused a separate tariff on Mexican goods in exchange for that country sending 10,000 National Guard troops to its border with the US.
President Sheinbaum broke the news on X, writing she had had a "good conversation with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty" with her US counterpart.
Trump described his phone conversation with the Mexican leader as "very friendly".
Modi invited to meet with Trump next week: White House official
WASHINGTON, Feb 4: U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the White House next week, a White House official said, hours after a U.S. military plane departed to return deported migrants to the country.
Trump spoke with Modi on Jan. 27, when he discussed immigration and stressed the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trading ties.
India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is keen to enhance trade relations with the U.S. and make it easier for its citizens to get skilled worker visas.
It is also keen to avoid tariffs that Trump has threatened in the past, citing India’s high tariffs on U.S. products.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner and two-way trade between the two countries surpassed $118 billion in 2023/24, with India posting a trade surplus of $32 billion.
Trump Pauses Tariffs On Mexico, Reprieve Prospects Dim For China, Canada
WASHINGTON, Feb 3: US President Donald Trump paused tariffs on Mexico for one month after last-minute talks Monday -- but there was no breakthrough yet in negotiations with Canada on an issue that has sparked fears of a global trade war.
As world markets slumped, Trump and his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum both announced the halt in the levies after she agreed to send 10,000 troops to the US-Mexico border following talks on Monday.
Trump said on his Truth Social network that after the "very friendly conversation" he had "agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period."
During that time there would be further talks "as we attempt to achieve a 'deal' between our two Countries," the Republican said.
Leftist Sheinbaum had announced the tariff pause a few minutes earlier, saying she had a "good conversation with President Trump with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty."
Trump agreed to increase measures to prevent trafficking of US weapons into Mexico, she said -- a point that did not appear in Trump's statement.
The development came hours before the 25 percent levies that Trump has ordered on imports from the US neighbors and chief trading partners -- plus an extra 10 percent on China -- were due to take effect at midnight on Tuesday.
Trump said he had also spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday and was due to speak again at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) -- but the White House said negotiations with Ottawa were not going as well.
Trump repeated his frequent claims that the United States is being unfairly treated by trade while pushing his argument that the tariffs were about a "drug war" from opioids "pouring through the Borders of Mexico and Canada."
Trump Imposes Sweeping Tariffs On Canada, Mexico, China
WASHINGTON DC, Feb 2: US President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10 per cent on goods from China, citing a "major threat" by "illegal aliens" and drugs, a move that invited retaliation from Ottawa and Mexico City.
Donald Trump signed three separate executive orders on the tariffs, risking a new trade war. "We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all. 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," he posted on social media.
The 78-year-old, who has launched numerous tariff threats upon returning to office, invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in imposing the tariffs, with the White House saying "the extraordinary threat" posed by "illegal aliens" and drugs, constitutes a "national emergency".
While the Canadian and Mexican exports to the US will face a 25 per cent tariff, energy resources from Ottawa will have a lower 10 per cent levy "until the crisis is alleviated", the White House said, with duties starting on Tuesday.
"The Biden Administration's policies have fueled the worst border crisis in U.S. history. More than 10 million illegal aliens attempted to enter the United States under Biden's leadership, including a rising number of Chinese nationals and people on the terror watchlist," the White House said in a statement.
In response to Trump's tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they "did not want this, but Canada is prepared". He later announced 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs against Can$155 billion ($106 billion) worth of American goods.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo also shot back, saying "the problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking and dialoguing". "I instruct the Secretary of Economy to implement Plan B that we have been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests," she posted on X.
China said it "firmly opposes" the new US tariffs and vowed "corresponding countermeasures".
Last week, Trump said he would put 25 per cent tariffs on Colombian goods after the country refused to take in flights carrying migrants to be deported from the US. The two countries later worked out an agreement.
This week, he also pledged to impose duties on the European Union in the future.
He has also issued a warning to BRICS nations, threatening 100 per cent tariffs on their exports if they attempt to replace the US dollar as the dominant currency in international trade. The BRICS group - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - has been discussing ways to reduce reliance on the US dollar for years.
'Will Find You, And Kill You': Trump After US Strikes ISIS In Somalia
PALM BEACH, Feb 2: The United States military on Saturday conducted air strikes on Islamic State group targets in Somalia, President Donald Trump announced.
"This morning I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia," Trump said on Truth Social.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes targeted IS-Somalia operatives in the Golis mountains in the semi-autonomous Puntland region. "Our initial assessment is that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes and no civilians were harmed," Hegseth said in a statement.
Local commanders confirmed the strikes.
"We don't know so far the number of the casualties, but we believe the missiles precisely hit the targets," said Mohamed Ali, a military commander in Bossaso area.
"We believe there are casualties of the terrorist leaders, including the foreigners who the Puntland forces were chasing in the last few days," he said.
Abdirahman Adan, another member of the army in a nearby area, said they heard "five loud explosions" and saw smoke over the targeted area.
Puntland has not commented officially about the airstrike so far.
Hegseth said the strikes further degrade "ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks threatening US citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians and sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies."
Islamic State has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, but experts have warned of growing activity.
"The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that 'WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!'" Trump said in his post.