As Iran and the U.S. refuse to budge, the tussle over the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying, dragging West Asia further into uncertainty. In the latest, Trump has announced 20% toll on ships in Strait of Hormuz. Where are things headed? Gravitas explains what's happened so far, decoding the developments and getting you the bigger picture. This and a lot more coming up.


Can Trump Bomb Defiant Iran Into Submission Over Hormuz?

<p>The front page of a state-published newspaper in Iran said in its headline on Sunday: “Revenge is coming soon.” The threat featured on the front of the Jam-e Jam newspaper is imposed on a photo from the funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, where mourners held a banner declaring “Trump, we’re going to kill you.”</p><p>The front page also carries the quote from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei promising that “vengeance is the will of our nation” and will “inevitably be carried out.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Hamshahri newspaper, owned by Tehran’s municipality, published an AI-generated graphic on Saturday depicting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in orange prison uniforms with crosshairs on their foreheads, under the slogan “Revenge is certain.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lindsey-graham-sent-to-hell-iranian-state-tv-anchor-congratulates-citizens-on-senator-s-death-1783875365713"><strong>‘Lindsey Graham sent to hell’: Iranian state TV anchor congratulates citizens on Senator’s death</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It also depicted 13 US, Israeli and European officials in prison uniforms as Mojtaba Khamenei renewed Iran’s pledge to avenge his father’s killing</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Hamshahri graphic held 13 US, Israeli and European political and military figures as responsible for the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli strike on February 28.</p><p>Besides Trump and Netanyahu, the image also featured US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-election-to-take-place-on-oct-27-netanyahu-govt-to-complete-its-full-term-1783870352345"><strong>Israel election to take place on Oct 27; Netanyahu govt to complete its full term</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir were also shown in prison uniforms, as were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. By including European leaders, the newspaper indicated that its revenge list extends beyond the US and Israeli officials associated most directly with the war.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strait-of-hormuz-more-important-deterrent-than-dozens-of-atomic-bombs-will-protect-it-khamenei-adviser-1783854686958"><strong>Strait of Hormuz ‘more important deterrent’ than dozens of atomic bombs, will protect it: Khamenei adviser</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The graphic appeared after Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public message since his father’s funeral ceremonies began, pledging retaliation against those responsible for his killing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” Khamenei said in the written statement, which was read on Iranian state television.</p><p>He described vengeance as “the demand of the nation” and said it “must certainly” take place, adding that “soon every free person around the world will fulfil a part of this divine mission.”</p>

The Hamshahri newspaper, owned by Tehran’s municipality, published an AI-generated graphic on Saturday depicting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in orange prison uniforms with crosshairs on their foreheads, under the slogan “Revenge is certain.”

The front page of a state-published newspaper in Iran said in its headline on Sunday: “Revenge is coming soon.” The threat featured on the front of the Jam-e Jam newspaper is imposed on a photo from the funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, where mourners held a banner declaring “Trump, we’re going to kill you.” The front page also carries the quote from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei promising that “vengeance is the will of our nation” and will “inevitably be carried out.” The Hamshahri newspaper, owned by Tehran’s municipality, published an AI-generated graphic on Saturday depicting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in orange prison uniforms with crosshairs on their foreheads, under the slogan “Revenge is certain.” Also Read: ‘Lindsey Graham sent to hell’: Iranian state TV anchor congratulates citizens on Senator’s death It also depicted 13 US, Israeli and European officials in prison uniforms as Mojtaba Khamenei renewed Iran’s pledge to avenge his father’s killing The Hamshahri graphic held 13 US, Israeli and European political and military figures as responsible for the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli strike on February 28. Besides Trump and Netanyahu, the image also featured US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Also Read: Israel election to take place on Oct 27; Netanyahu govt to complete its full term Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir were also shown in prison uniforms, as were Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. By including European leaders, the newspaper indicated that its revenge list extends beyond the US and Israeli officials associated most directly with the war. Also Read: Strait of Hormuz ‘more important deterrent’ than dozens of atomic bombs, will protect it: Khamenei adviser The graphic appeared after Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public message since his father’s funeral ceremonies began, pledging retaliation against those responsible for his killing. “We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” Khamenei said in the written statement, which was read on Iranian state television. He described vengeance as “the demand of the nation” and said it “must certainly” take place, adding that “soon every free person around the world will fulfil a part of this divine mission.”

<p>The Hamshahri newspaper, owned by Tehran’s municipality, published an AI-generated graphic on Saturday depicting US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in orange prison uniforms with crosshairs on their foreheads, under the slogan “Revenge is certain.”</p>

‘Revenge is coming soon,’ Iranian newspaper warns US, Europe leaders in front-page headline

<p>US President Donald Trump told NBC News "Meet the Press" that he had spoken to the late Lindsey Graham just hours before his death. He claimed that the US Senator was fine “other than being tired". He also stated that he has a preferred replacement in mind for the South Carolina seat, but declined to publicly reveal the name out of respect. Trump characterised Graham as “a member of the family” and claimed that he died peacefully, “a quick end, and maybe that’s not the worst way to go.”</p><p>“He actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act, and I said, ‘Well, we’re going to get it done, Lindsey. We’re going to get it done. I’ll see you, like, soon,’” Trump told “Meet the Press,” adding that they were going to meet on Sunday.</p><p>Trump called him a “great politician”, although he could be a “tough cookie” who could work out any issue with Democrats. “If I had a problem, a real problem, I wouldn’t often ask. But if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out,” Trump said. “He was a great, he was a great politician, actually.”</p><p>“We sort of got a little bit friendly, and just the friendship grew,” Trump continued. “It just grew, and he was an amazing advocate. He was — I don’t know how you find anybody like him.</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-pm-yulia-svyrydenko-resigns-zelensky-cabinet-reshuffle-1783874991452"><strong>Ukraine PM Yulia Svyrydenko resigns as Zelensky pushes major cabinet reshuffle</strong></a></p><h2>GOP seeks Lindsey Graham's replacement&nbsp;</h2><p>Trump said that it was too soon to comment on his replacement, but he had a great candidate in mind. "I have someone that I think would be great, but I don't want to say it now. Because it's just, you know, it's too soon with Lindsey. I don't want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good." Trump said that he thought Lindsey would live forever and win by a lot, "He was going to win by a lot, and was going to have one of his best elections ever. And now he's got-he's got this. Terrible."</p><p>Governor Henry McMaster will appoint an interim senator to serve until early January. There will be a Republican Primary scheduled for August 11, with potential candidates like Nancy Mace being discussed.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Donald Trump says he spoke to Lindsey Graham just hours before his death and has a preferred candidate in mind to replace the late senator.

US President Donald Trump told NBC News "Meet the Press" that he had spoken to the late Lindsey Graham just hours before his death. He claimed that the US Senator was fine “other than being tired". He also stated that he has a preferred replacement in mind for the South Carolina seat, but declined to publicly reveal the name out of respect. Trump characterised Graham as “a member of the family” and claimed that he died peacefully, “a quick end, and maybe that’s not the worst way to go.” “He actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act, and I said, ‘Well, we’re going to get it done, Lindsey. We’re going to get it done. I’ll see you, like, soon,’” Trump told “Meet the Press,” adding that they were going to meet on Sunday. Trump called him a “great politician”, although he could be a “tough cookie” who could work out any issue with Democrats. “If I had a problem, a real problem, I wouldn’t often ask. But if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out,” Trump said. “He was a great, he was a great politician, actually.” “We sort of got a little bit friendly, and just the friendship grew,” Trump continued. “It just grew, and he was an amazing advocate. He was — I don’t know how you find anybody like him. Also Read: Ukraine PM Yulia Svyrydenko resigns as Zelensky pushes major cabinet reshuffle GOP seeks Lindsey Graham's replacement Trump said that it was too soon to comment on his replacement, but he had a great candidate in mind. "I have someone that I think would be great, but I don't want to say it now. Because it's just, you know, it's too soon with Lindsey. I don't want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good." Trump said that he thought Lindsey would live forever and win by a lot, "He was going to win by a lot, and was going to have one of his best elections ever. And now he's got-he's got this. Terrible." Governor Henry McMaster will appoint an interim senator to serve until early January. There will be a Republican Primary scheduled for August 11, with potential candidates like Nancy Mace being discussed.

<p>Donald Trump says he spoke to Lindsey Graham just hours before his death and has a preferred candidate in mind to replace the late senator.</p>

Lindsey Graham's final hours: Trump shares details of last conversation

For U.S. president Donald Trump, the stock market has become more than just an economic indicator. It has become a measure of his presidency.

Record equities, unequal gains: U.S. economy under Trump

<p>US President Donald Trump said Saturday (July 11) said that he was taken to the Walter Reed Hospital in &nbsp;in Bethesda, Maryland, northwest of Washington, DC and had “just finished” a “perfect” physical examination. Taking to Truth Social, Trump slammed New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman after she questioned his physical and cognitive fitness. Trump said that he takes a physical test every six months and also claimed that he is the first President of United States to undergo cognitive test thrice. He also claimed that he answered every question right.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“I just finished a perfect physical at Walter Reed, I do it every six months, and I requested another Cognitive Test, the only President to do so, three times, and I aced them all — Got every question right,” Trump, 80, wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump did not specify when ​the exam was done. Haberman had questioned Trump about his mental clarity following a series of recent gaffe during the NATO summit in Turkey, including him calling Iran the “Islamic State of Japan" and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “Vladimir Putin.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/white-house-breaks-precedent-by-keeping-79yo-trump-s-latest-health-report-secret-what-are-they-hiding-1780115226238">White House breaks precedent by keeping 79YO Trump's latest health report secret. Are they hiding something?</a></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump returning to the WH after his “perfect physical” at Walter Reed today <br><br>📷: Mandel NGAN / AFP <a href="https://t.co/IleSJPDtFw">pic.twitter.com/IleSJPDtFw</a></p>&mdash; Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) <a href="https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2076078653432021397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The test also coincided with US launching attacks on Iran with some tweets on X claiming that Trump was taken to hospital after the attack. While Trump's Truth Social post proves that these tweets are fake and he was taken to hopsital for the test ahead of the strikes, Trump did not specify the time of his visit.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-medical-check-up-went-perfectly-as-questions-over-health-persist-1779817686802">Trump says medical check-up went ‘perfectly’ as questions over health persist</a></p><h2>What we know about Trump's heath?</h2><p>In late May, the White House released a physician's memorandum claiming Trump is in “excellent health” following his May 26 annual physical at Walter Reed.</p><p>It said that Trump scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a standard screening tool for cognitive impairment, and said his neurological examination showed no abnormalities. While the administration has declined to identify the physicians, a White House official cited by The Washington Post last month said doctors affiliated with Harvard University, Duke University, and other prominent institutions were involved. The official added: “We have nothing to hide.”</p>

US President Donald Trump said he completed a "perfect" physical examination at Walter Reed and aced a cognitive test for the third time. The claim comes weeks after the White House said he scored 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and remains in excellent health.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday (July 11) said that he was taken to the Walter Reed Hospital in in Bethesda, Maryland, northwest of Washington, DC and had “just finished” a “perfect” physical examination. Taking to Truth Social, Trump slammed New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman after she questioned his physical and cognitive fitness. Trump said that he takes a physical test every six months and also claimed that he is the first President of United States to undergo cognitive test thrice. He also claimed that he answered every question right. “I just finished a perfect physical at Walter Reed, I do it every six months, and I requested another Cognitive Test, the only President to do so, three times, and I aced them all — Got every question right,” Trump, 80, wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump did not specify when the exam was done. Haberman had questioned Trump about his mental clarity following a series of recent gaffe during the NATO summit in Turkey, including him calling Iran the “Islamic State of Japan" and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “Vladimir Putin.” Also Read: White House breaks precedent by keeping 79YO Trump's latest health report secret. Are they hiding something?

<p>US President Donald Trump said he completed a "perfect" physical examination at Walter Reed and aced a cognitive test for the third time. The claim comes weeks after the White House said he scored 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and remains in excellent health.</p>

'I requested...': Trump taken to Walter Reed hospital amid Iran strikes? What we know

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have reached a boiling point as U.S. President Donald Trump issues a severe warning to Iran. Following intelligence reports regarding an alleged assassination plot against him, Trump declared on social media that “1,000 missiles are locked and loaded” and aimed at the Islamic Republic.


US-Iran War: Trump issues stark warning as U.S.-Iran conflict escalates

US President Donald Trump says Washington is ready for another round of negotiations with Iran, even as the US imposed fresh sanctions targeting key Iranian financial networks. Reports suggest new talks could take place in Switzerland, while Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman continue diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has rejected claims that it requested negotiations and has accused the US of violating previous understandings through renewed military action.


Trump agrees to fresh iran talks as us imposes new sanctions amid rising middle east tensions

<p>North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un appears to have been inspired by US President Donald Trump's long line of renovation projects. Even as North Korea faces shortages and economic hardship, fresh satellite imagery shows construction activity at at least nine of Kim's luxury compounds.</p><p>The renovations come as Trump, who once confessed his aspiration to be a dictator for at least one day of his presidency, continues to publicly tout “upgrades” to the White House. The latest project, as per reports, is a fortification of the White House front door. But unlike Trump, who often highlights his renovation plans, Kim has kept the work at his sprawling estates hidden from public view, with no mention in North Korean state media.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/never-before-seen-footage-reveals-what-epstein-s-private-island-little-st-james-actually-looked-like-from-the-inside-watch-1783578066878"><strong>Never-before-seen footage exposes eerie interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's private island Little St. James | Watch</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What is Kim renovating?</strong></h2><p>Analysis of satellite images by NK Pro, a research service that tracks developments inside North Korea, shows construction beginning between late May and early June at several of Kim's residences. The projects include a compound in Pyongyang, a private beachfront retreat in Wonsan, a lakeside resort, and an enormous family estate reportedly large enough to include missile launch facilities.</p><p>Experts say the timing is no coincidence. Growing economic cooperation with Russia and China has provided the Kim regime with fresh financial resources, allowing the leadership to invest in prestige projects while much of the population continues to face severe hardship.</p><p>Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Stimson Center, told the Wall Street Journal that many of the properties hold personal significance for Kim. "These are places where Kim Jong Un grew up," Madden said. "He probably maintained the high taste levels."</p><h2><strong>A rare glimpse into Kim's luxury lifestyle</strong></h2><p>Kim is believed to own more than a dozen luxury residences scattered across the country. Satellite imagery over the years has revealed features rarely associated with one of the world's most isolated states, including superyachts, horse racing tracks, Olympic size swimming pools and sprawling private villas.</p><p>One of the compounds currently undergoing roof work is Kim's beachfront retreat in Wonsan, where his reported $7 million yacht is usually moored during the summer.</p><p>The secrecy surrounding the renovations reflects more than security concerns. Publicly showcasing an extravagant lifestyle would undermine decades of state propaganda portraying Kim as a leader who shares the hardships of ordinary North Koreans. With nearly half the country's population estimated to be malnourished, images of luxury mansions and lavish retreats would stand in stark contrast to the regime's carefully cultivated narrative.</p>

Fresh satellite images have revealed construction at at least nine of Kim Jong Un's luxury compounds, even as North Korea battles food shortages and economic hardship. Scroll down to see what the dictator is secretly renovating.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un appears to have been inspired by US President Donald Trump's long line of renovation projects. Even as North Korea faces shortages and economic hardship, fresh satellite imagery shows construction activity at at least nine of Kim's luxury compounds. The renovations come as Trump, who once confessed his aspiration to be a dictator for at least one day of his presidency, continues to publicly tout “upgrades” to the White House. The latest project, as per reports, is a fortification of the White House front door. But unlike Trump, who often highlights his renovation plans, Kim has kept the work at his sprawling estates hidden from public view, with no mention in North Korean state media. Also read | Never-before-seen footage exposes eerie interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's private island Little St. James | Watch What is Kim renovating? Analysis of satellite images by NK Pro, a research service that tracks developments inside North Korea, shows construction beginning between late May and early June at several of Kim's residences. The projects include a compound in Pyongyang, a private beachfront retreat in Wonsan, a lakeside resort, and an enormous family estate reportedly large enough to include missile launch facilities. Experts say the timing is no coincidence. Growing economic cooperation with Russia and China has provided the Kim regime with fresh financial resources, allowing the leadership to invest in prestige projects while much of the population continues to face severe hardship. Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Stimson Center, told the Wall Street Journal that many of the properties hold personal significance for Kim. "These are places where Kim Jong Un grew up," Madden said. "He probably maintained the high taste levels." A rare glimpse into Kim's luxury lifestyle Kim is believed to own more than a dozen luxury residences scattered across the country. Satellite imagery over the years has revealed features rarely associated with one of the world's most isolated states, including superyachts, horse racing tracks, Olympic size swimming pools and sprawling private villas. One of the compounds currently undergoing roof work is Kim's beachfront retreat in Wonsan, where his reported $7 million yacht is usually moored during the summer. The secrecy surrounding the renovations reflects more than security concerns. Publicly showcasing an extravagant lifestyle would undermine decades of state propaganda portraying Kim as a leader who shares the hardships of ordinary North Koreans. With nearly half the country's population estimated to be malnourished, images of luxury mansions and lavish retreats would stand in stark contrast to the regime's carefully cultivated narrative.

<p>Fresh satellite images have revealed construction at at least nine of Kim Jong Un's luxury compounds, even as North Korea battles food shortages and economic hardship. Scroll down to see what the dictator is secretly renovating.</p>

North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds

For months, the Trump administration has pursued what officials describe as a two-track Iran strategy—maximum military pressure on the one hand, and continued diplomatic outreach on the other. But that strategy is now under increasing scrutiny. It is being questioned, even rejected completely. If not military and diplomatic pressure, does Trump have a plan C? While political settlements take years, Washington is still searching for a strategy that can turn battlefield leverage into lasting diplomatic success. Iran will respond to any attack against its infrastructure, including by striking Israel, the head of the country's top security body said on Friday, as Tehran and Washington have resumed fighting this week.


Trump’s maximum pressure on Iran yields little, pushes for new approach

As the West Asia conflict enters a volatile new phase, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a high-level phone call to coordinate military operations in the Persian Gulf. Following President Trump’s declaration that the Islamabad Memorandum ceasefire is effectively "over" due to recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the two leaders discussed synchronized strategic responses.


Israel-Iran War: Netanyahu & Trump Hold Phone Call Amid Renewed Fighting 

As tensions between Washington and Tehran hit a fever pitch, a new report suggests Israel has shared intelligence with the U.S. regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump. While President Trump has publicly acknowledged the threat, some U.S. officials are questioning the timing and intent behind this intelligence. Is this a genuine security warning, or a strategic effort by Israel to sway U.S. military action against Iran?


Did Israel use kill- plot intel to convince Trump to attack Iran? 

Israel has reportedly shared intelligence with the United States regarding an alleged Iranian plot targeting U.S. President Donald Trump, according to multiple media reports citing sources familiar with the matter. The intelligence reportedly raised concerns about a specific threat, adding to tensions as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran faces renewed pressure. According to the reports, U.S. officials had already been monitoring intelligence suggesting potential threats against Trump in recent weeks. However, the latest warning from Israel reportedly concerned a more specific alleged plot. The details have not been independently verified by U.S. authorities, and officials are continuing to assess the information.


US-Iran war: Israel claims Iranian plot to kill Trump

<p>A fresh political storm has erupted in Washington after reports that FBI Director Kash Patel has ordered hundreds of bureau personnel to assist in an investigation linked to Donald Trump's long-running claims about the 2020 presidential election. The move has triggered sharp criticism from Senate Democrats, who have accused the FBI of "misusing taxpayers dollars" by diverting resources away from national security priorities to pursue what they describe as a politically driven investigation.</p><p>Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a letter, has demanded answers from Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after reports that the FBI had mobilised 260 intelligence analysts from field offices across the United States.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-appeals-again-in-e-jean-carroll-case-tries-to-defy-order-to-pay-his-sexual-assault-victim-5-8-million-claims-unrecoverable-loss-1783565071503"><strong>Trump appeals again in E. Jean Carroll case, tries to defy order to pay his sexual assault victim $5.8 million, claims 'unrecoverable loss'</strong></a></p><h2><strong>FBI's latest 'priority investigation'</strong></h2><p>According to internal FBI documents cited by MS NOW, 260 FBI analysts have been reassigned to support what is described as a "priority investigation" based in Atlanta, Georgia. The investigation's focus? The 2020 election, Trump claims he won.</p><p>Warner argued that the decision amounts to a misuse of federal resources. "Dedicated FBI special agents and intelligence analysts work tirelessly to identify legitimate threats involving terrorism, counterintelligence, espionage, cyberattacks and violent crime," he wrote. "Unlike those serious threats, this fool's errand of an investigation will only erode trust in the FBI, the Department of Justice and America's elections."</p><p>The senator went further, calling it "a misuse of taxpayer dollars" and alleging that critical national security personnel were being redirected to serve the political interests of the president. Warner has also requested a formal briefing from the FBI and Justice Department.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/never-before-seen-footage-reveals-what-epstein-s-private-island-little-st-james-actually-looked-like-from-the-inside-watch-1783578066878"><strong>Never-before-seen footage exposes eerie interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's private island Little St. James | Watch</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Massive deployment raises questions</strong></h2><p>The reported scale of the operation has drawn particular attention. An unclassified FBI memo reportedly instructed every field office to immediately provide support to the Atlanta investigation, with staffing quotas determined by the size of each office. The 260 analysts have reportedly been tasked with completing 708 records checks each by July 17, while overtime, including weekends and holidays, has been authorised. Separate teams of FBI agents are also said to be working on the investigation.</p><p>But what are they looking for? According to the MS NOW report citing an official, the "short answer" is they are "Looking for derogatory information".</p><p>For this, investigators are examining social media activity, business records, travel history and associations in an effort to identify potentially incriminating information.</p><h2><strong>Trump vs Biden: 2020 election dispute</strong></h2><p>Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in Georgia by 11,779 votes in the 2020 presidential election. The outcome has since been reaffirmed through recounts, post-election audits, state certification processes and multiple court rulings.</p>

Senate Democrats have accused FBI Director Kash Patel of diverting hundreds of bureau personnel to investigate Donald Trump's 2020 election claims, calling it a "misuse of taxpayer dollars" and a politically driven "fool's errand". 

A fresh political storm has erupted in Washington after reports that FBI Director Kash Patel has ordered hundreds of bureau personnel to assist in an investigation linked to Donald Trump's long-running claims about the 2020 presidential election. The move has triggered sharp criticism from Senate Democrats, who have accused the FBI of "misusing taxpayers dollars" by diverting resources away from national security priorities to pursue what they describe as a politically driven investigation. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a letter, has demanded answers from Patel and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after reports that the FBI had mobilised 260 intelligence analysts from field offices across the United States. Also read | Trump appeals again in E. Jean Carroll case, tries to defy order to pay his sexual assault victim $5.8 million, claims 'unrecoverable loss' FBI's latest 'priority investigation' According to internal FBI documents cited by MS NOW, 260 FBI analysts have been reassigned to support what is described as a "priority investigation" based in Atlanta, Georgia. The investigation's focus? The 2020 election, Trump claims he won. Warner argued that the decision amounts to a misuse of federal resources. "Dedicated FBI special agents and intelligence analysts work tirelessly to identify legitimate threats involving terrorism, counterintelligence, espionage, cyberattacks and violent crime," he wrote. "Unlike those serious threats, this fool's errand of an investigation will only erode trust in the FBI, the Department of Justice and America's elections." The senator went further, calling it "a misuse of taxpayer dollars" and alleging that critical national security personnel were being redirected to serve the political interests of the president. Warner has also requested a formal briefing from the FBI and Justice Department. Also read | Never-before-seen footage exposes eerie interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's private island Little St. James | Watch Massive deployment raises questions The reported scale of the operation has drawn particular attention. An unclassified FBI memo reportedly instructed every field office to immediately provide support to the Atlanta investigation, with staffing quotas determined by the size of each office. The 260 analysts have reportedly been tasked with completing 708 records checks each by July 17, while overtime, including weekends and holidays, has been authorised. Separate teams of FBI agents are also said to be working on the investigation. But what are they looking for? According to the MS NOW report citing an official, the "short answer" is they are "Looking for derogatory information". For this, investigators are examining social media activity, business records, travel history and associations in an effort to identify potentially incriminating information. Trump vs Biden: 2020 election dispute Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in Georgia by 11,779 votes in the 2020 presidential election. The outcome has since been reaffirmed through recounts, post-election audits, state certification processes and multiple court rulings.

<p>Senate Democrats have accused FBI Director Kash Patel of diverting hundreds of bureau personnel to investigate Donald Trump's 2020 election claims, calling it a "misuse of taxpayer dollars" and a politically driven "fool's errand".&nbsp;</p>

Kash Patel's 'fool errand' EXPOSED: 260 FBI agents deployed to investigate Trump's 2020 election loss; Democrats slam 'misuse of taxpayer dollars'

In a landmark development at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump announced that the United States will grant Ukraine a license to domestically manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. Aimed at bolstering Kyiv's long-term air defense capabilities against ongoing ballistic missile threats, the move allows Ukraine to produce its own "defensive shield" without relying solely on limited U.S. stockpiles.


Trump clears path for Ukraine to manufacture patriot missiles

The fragile June 17 ceasefire has officially collapsed as the U.S. and Iran engage in their most intense aerial exchanges since the war began. Following Iranian strikes on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump declared the truce "over" and ordered a massive U.S. campaign against over 90 strategic targets, including missile launchers and radar sites. 

Reports indicate strikes near the Bushehr province, home to Iran's nuclear complex, as tensions reach a boiling point.

US-Iran war: Trump goes ballistic, targets Iran nuclear nerve centre

<p>Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that Israel will withdraw its troops from Southern Lebanon, saying that it would remain in Lebanon as long as required. Katz said that Israel has the "privilege and right" to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, and the IDF forces will remain within Lebanon until the disarmament of Hezbollah.</p><p>"We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon," said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. "As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have clarified, we will continue to stay in the security zone in Lebanon and to act from it as needed, until Hezbollah is disarmed in all of Lebanon and the threat to the residents of the north is removed." &nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fbi-investigates-argentina-football-association-money-laundering-1783590578801"><strong>Argentina Football Association under FBI probe for suspected money laundering</strong></a></p><p>The statement comes in response to Trump's response to a question at the sidelines of the NATO summit about Israel and Lebanon getting along. He said that Israel is planning to withdraw from Lebanon, as he understood following his discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p><p>"Yeah, I think they're going to. I think they want to". He further stated that Israel and Lebanon were "getting along" and signing "deals".</p><p>The friction between Trump and Netanyahu about the ongoing Israeli operation in Lebanon has been public for some time now. Trump has previously said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens to him. He told Axios that Israel "does as he says," despite indicating otherwise. Israel continued its attack in Lebanon even after reservations from US President Donald Trump. He openly discarded the peace plan outlined by the Gaza Board of Peace, and pushed that no reconstruction will take place in the enclave before it is entirely demilitarised.</p>

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz rejected Donald Trump's claim that Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon, saying IDF troops will remain until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that Israel will withdraw its troops from Southern Lebanon, saying that it would remain in Lebanon as long as required. Katz said that Israel has the "privilege and right" to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, and the IDF forces will remain within Lebanon until the disarmament of Hezbollah. "We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon," said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. "As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have clarified, we will continue to stay in the security zone in Lebanon and to act from it as needed, until Hezbollah is disarmed in all of Lebanon and the threat to the residents of the north is removed." Also Read: Argentina Football Association under FBI probe for suspected money laundering The statement comes in response to Trump's response to a question at the sidelines of the NATO summit about Israel and Lebanon getting along. He said that Israel is planning to withdraw from Lebanon, as he understood following his discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Yeah, I think they're going to. I think they want to". He further stated that Israel and Lebanon were "getting along" and signing "deals". The friction between Trump and Netanyahu about the ongoing Israeli operation in Lebanon has been public for some time now. Trump has previously said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens to him. He told Axios that Israel "does as he says," despite indicating otherwise. Israel continued its attack in Lebanon even after reservations from US President Donald Trump. He openly discarded the peace plan outlined by the Gaza Board of Peace, and pushed that no reconstruction will take place in the enclave before it is entirely demilitarised.

<p>Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz rejected Donald Trump's claim that Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon, saying IDF troops will remain until Hezbollah is disarmed.</p>

Israel rejects Trump's Lebanon withdrawal claim, says troops will stay until Hezbollah is disarmed

<p>US President Donald Trump has filed yet another appeal to avoid paying writer E. Jean Carroll the $5.8 million he owes her in the sexual abuse and defamation case that has followed him for years. The latest move came on Wednesday (Jul 8), when Trump challenged a federal judge’s ruling that cleared the way for Carroll to collect the money from an escrow account. The payment has been sitting there since a jury found Trump liable and awarded Carroll damages, which have since grown with interest.</p><h2><strong>'Unrecoverable loss': Trump's latest appeal</strong></h2><p>His legal team has gone back to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit after U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York ruled that Carroll could finally receive the sum.</p><p>Trump’s lawyers argue that forcing him to pay now would cause what they called an “unrecoverable loss”. They also claimed Carroll has indicated she plans to give away any money she receives, which they say could make it difficult to recover the funds later if Trump wins another round of appeals.</p><p>That is why they want the money to remain in court-supervised escrow until the Supreme Court fully rejects Trump’s renewed push to overturn the case.</p><h2><strong>Trump found guilty of sexual assault</strong></h2><p>A jury in 2023 found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996 and later defamed her when she described the incident in a memoir published in 2019.</p><p>Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied the assault. He has also continued to attack Carroll publicly, saying she is “not my type”.</p><p>Last month, the Supreme Court dealt Trump a fresh setback when it refused to hear his appeal of the verdict.</p><h2><strong>Another huge judgment still hanging over Trump</strong></h2><p>The $5.8 million award is not the only financial blow Trump faces in this matter. In January 2024, a separate jury ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation. That case is also being appealed and could still wind up before the Supreme Court.</p>

Donald Trump has launched another legal bid to stop E. Jean Carroll from collecting the $5.8 million a jury awarded her, arguing the payment would cause an "unrecoverable loss". The appeal comes weeks after the US Supreme Court refused to revive his challenge to the sexual abuse verdict.

US President Donald Trump has filed yet another appeal to avoid paying writer E. Jean Carroll the $5.8 million he owes her in the sexual abuse and defamation case that has followed him for years. The latest move came on Wednesday (Jul 8), when Trump challenged a federal judge’s ruling that cleared the way for Carroll to collect the money from an escrow account. The payment has been sitting there since a jury found Trump liable and awarded Carroll damages, which have since grown with interest. 'Unrecoverable loss': Trump's latest appeal His legal team has gone back to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit after U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York ruled that Carroll could finally receive the sum. Trump’s lawyers argue that forcing him to pay now would cause what they called an “unrecoverable loss”. They also claimed Carroll has indicated she plans to give away any money she receives, which they say could make it difficult to recover the funds later if Trump wins another round of appeals. That is why they want the money to remain in court-supervised escrow until the Supreme Court fully rejects Trump’s renewed push to overturn the case. Trump found guilty of sexual assault A jury in 2023 found that Trump sexually abused Carroll in a dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996 and later defamed her when she described the incident in a memoir published in 2019. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied the assault. He has also continued to attack Carroll publicly, saying she is “not my type”. Last month, the Supreme Court dealt Trump a fresh setback when it refused to hear his appeal of the verdict. Another huge judgment still hanging over Trump The $5.8 million award is not the only financial blow Trump faces in this matter. In January 2024, a separate jury ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation. That case is also being appealed and could still wind up before the Supreme Court.

<p>Donald Trump has launched another legal bid to stop E. Jean Carroll from collecting the $5.8 million a jury awarded her, arguing the payment would cause an "unrecoverable loss". The appeal comes weeks after the US Supreme Court refused to revive his challenge to the sexual abuse verdict.</p>

Trump appeals again in E. Jean Carroll case, tries to defy order to pay his sexual assault victim $5.8 million, claims 'unrecoverable loss'

<p><strong>WASHINGTON:</strong> Injecting politics into speeches many Americans had hoped would carry unifying messages, US President Donald Trump has revived memories of the 1950s when the country was gripped by anti-Communist hysteria.</p><p>Marking America’s 250th birthday, he warned his citizens that “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbour, or even 9-11. We’re not going to let this happen to us. Believe me, we’re not letting it happen."</p><p>“Because communism is the enemy of free people everywhere, everywhere in the world. Never works. It’s the enemy of the Constitution. Above all, it’s the enemy of July 4th, 1776. It is the enemy indeed.” He returned to the subject a day later, describing Communism as a cancer “that must be cut out fast.”</p><p>Trump’s warnings about Communism grew more strident after June 23, when a string of far-left candidates who identify as democratic socialists won primary contests in New York. This was followed by primary victories in Colorado and Maine. The country’s most prominent democratic socialist, New York mayor Zohran Mamdami, endorsed the winners.</p><p>That prompted the president to warn of Communism 81 times in the span of two weeks, giving his political team plenty of material to test whether the message resonates beyond his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. &nbsp;</p><p>The reason for Trump’s anti-Communist tirades is obvious: in the run-up to mid-term elections for the House of Representatives, he wants to implant in the mind of voters the idea that the establishment Democratic Party is being pulled to the far left by democratic socialists.</p><p>For students of American history in the 20th century, Trump sounded like the Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, who, beginning in 1950, waged a campaign to root out alleged Communists in the government, the arts, and Hollywood in what became known as the Red Scare. &nbsp;</p><p>In the next four years of intense anti-Communist paranoia, thousands of Americans lost their jobs after being blacklisted. The anti-Communist fever burnt itself out when the US Senate censured McCarthy at the end of a series of hearings on allegations by a McCarthy subcommittee that Communists infiltrated the US Army.</p><p>There is no serving or aspiring American politician or public figure who describes himself as a communist, so what prompted the President’s return to a dark and now discredited chapter of American history?</p><p>As Dough Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University, put it: “This is Joe McCarthy red scare idiocy. He (Trump) is out there talking about this communist menace as if it’s the Cold War years. It’s just what he wants the Republicans to run on in this election cycle.”</p><p>This is a concern of a good number of moderate members of the Democratic Party which so far is favoured to win back the House of Representatives, where Republicans now have a three-seat majority.</p><p>For Trump, whose statements tend to be echoed endlessly on social media, there is no such things as democratic socialists. “These are hardcore, godless communists,” he told the policy conference on the eve of Independence Day. “This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence, in my opinion, 250 years ago. A major threat to our country.”</p><p>Democratic socialists believe in taxing the wealthy, universal health care, and an end to arms supplies and unconditional U.S. support for Israel – all demands that enjoy considerable public support.</p><p>In an ideal world, America’s 250th year would have been a unifying event. Instead, it shows the deep political divisions of a country whose citizens are in a sour mood, according to surveys, and whose global image has darkened to a remarkable degree.</p><p>According to the Pew Research Center, a Washington think tank, roughly two-thirds of Americans believe their country is on the wrong track. . Public trust in government has sunk to a record low, from 40 per cent in 1976 to just 17 per cent in 2025.</p><p>Today’s perceptions contrast with decades of the United States enjoying a positive image both at home and in much of the world, more so after the end of World War II, when it began its rise to become the world’s dominant superpower.</p><p>How senior US officials (and many ordinary citizens) saw their country was reflected by then Secretary of State Madeline Albright in a 1998 television interview: “We…are America, we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future.”</p><p>Coming from a measured diplomat, that soaring language produced little or no pushback from “the West” (short for Washington’s allies), which had accepted the US as its leader in international affairs. &nbsp;</p><p>But the perception of America as a force for good has been fading gradually and virtually vanished after Donald Trump entered politics and began his second term in office in January 2025, perpetuating the concept of “America First” he developed in his first term from 2017 to 2021.</p><p>He cast aside the notion that the United States is an exceptional country destined to exert global leadership and promote democracy and human rights around the world. Trump disdains international organisations and his administration has withdrawn from 66, including the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change, which was adopted by 195 countries.</p><p>This move underscored the extent to which the United States has abandoned the concept of “soft power”. For years, that served as an important tool to influence other countries by attraction and persuasion rather than coercion, force, and commercial transactions. The world took notice of the emphasis on military might.</p><p>Nothing highlights how that has changed perceptions more than a global survey in May that showed more positive views of China and Russia than America.</p><p>The survey is an annual exercise commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, a watchdog group based in Denmark.</p><p>Its findings were drawn from polling more than 94,000 &nbsp;respondents in 85 countries. It is said to be the largest survey of its kind.</p><p>In the countries surveyed, citizens in 82 held negative views of the United States. “The fast decline of the United States’ perception around the world is saddening but not shocking,” former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said when he presented the survey results.</p><p>“US foreign policy over the past 18 months has, among other things, called into question the transatlantic relationship, imposed widespread tariffs and threatened to invade a NATO ally’s territory, “ a reference to President Trump’s repeatedly stated intention to take control of Greenland, a Danish territory.</p><p>Add the painful economic impact resulting from the unprovoked war on Iran that Trump launched on February 28, announcing it in a pre-dawn social media posting, and it is easy to understand why Rasmussen, a former Prime Minister of Denmark, said the unprecedented decline of views of America was “not shocking.”</p><p>In the countries surveyed, citizens in 82 held negative views of the United States. “The fast decline of the United States’ perception around the world is saddening but not shocking,” former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said when he presented the survey results.</p><p>But perhaps the most remarkable poll of the mood in America’s birth year has come from Gallup, one of the world’s most respected polling organisations. It found that the share of Americans who are extremely or very proud of their country has fallen to a historic low — just 58%.</p><p>Pride in the United States has long been in the DNA of the country but Gallup found that it has declined by deep partisan divides and shifting generational trends, i.e., sceptical views from the young.</p><p>In the past, there have been good reasons for pride. Massive waves of immigration around the turn of the 20th century — more than 20 million people arrived between 1880 and 1920 — helped turn the country into a centre of innovation, science and enterprise.</p><p>The United States has won more Nobel Prizes than any other country since the prize was first awarded in 1901. According to the Institute of Immigration Research, 142 of the 400 U.S. citizens who won academic Nobel Prizes were immigrants.</p><p>This was an era when immigrants were welcomed. &nbsp;</p><p>A sonnet written by Emma Lazarus to help fund the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty conveys a bygone culture: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.”</p><p>In 1903, it was engraved on a bronze plaque and placed inside the pedestal. Now, both legal and illegal immigration have been sharply reduced by sweeping restrictions. Trump administration decrees have halted the granting of visas for nationals from nearly 40 countries. &nbsp;</p>

The reason for Trump’s anti-Communist tirades is obvious: in the run-up to mid-term elections for the House of Representatives, he wants to implant in the mind of voters the idea that the establishment Democratic Party is being pulled to the far left by democratic socialists.



WASHINGTON: Injecting politics into speeches many Americans had hoped would carry unifying messages, US President Donald Trump has revived memories of the 1950s when the country was gripped by anti-Communist hysteria. Marking America’s 250th birthday, he warned his citizens that “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbour, or even 9-11. We’re not going to let this happen to us. Believe me, we’re not letting it happen." “Because communism is the enemy of free people everywhere, everywhere in the world. Never works. It’s the enemy of the Constitution. Above all, it’s the enemy of July 4th, 1776. It is the enemy indeed.” He returned to the subject a day later, describing Communism as a cancer “that must be cut out fast.” Trump’s warnings about Communism grew more strident after June 23, when a string of far-left candidates who identify as democratic socialists won primary contests in New York. This was followed by primary victories in Colorado and Maine. The country’s most prominent democratic socialist, New York mayor Zohran Mamdami, endorsed the winners. That prompted the president to warn of Communism 81 times in the span of two weeks, giving his political team plenty of material to test whether the message resonates beyond his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. The reason for Trump’s anti-Communist tirades is obvious: in the run-up to mid-term elections for the House of Representatives, he wants to implant in the mind of voters the idea that the establishment Democratic Party is being pulled to the far left by democratic socialists. For students of American history in the 20th century, Trump sounded like the Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, who, beginning in 1950, waged a campaign to root out alleged Communists in the government, the arts, and Hollywood in what became known as the Red Scare. In the next four years of intense anti-Communist paranoia, thousands of Americans lost their jobs after being blacklisted. The anti-Communist fever burnt itself out when the US Senate censured McCarthy at the end of a series of hearings on allegations by a McCarthy subcommittee that Communists infiltrated the US Army. There is no serving or aspiring American politician or public figure who describes himself as a communist, so what prompted the President’s return to a dark and now discredited chapter of American history? As Dough Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University, put it: “This is Joe McCarthy red scare idiocy. He (Trump) is out there talking about this communist menace as if it’s the Cold War years. It’s just what he wants the Republicans to run on in this election cycle.” This is a concern of a good number of moderate members of the Democratic Party which so far is favoured to win back the House of Representatives, where Republicans now have a three-seat majority. For Trump, whose statements tend to be echoed endlessly on social media, there is no such things as democratic socialists. “These are hardcore, godless communists,” he told the policy conference on the eve of Independence Day. “This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence, in my opinion, 250 years ago. A major threat to our country.” Democratic socialists believe in taxing the wealthy, universal health care, and an end to arms supplies and unconditional U.S. support for Israel – all demands that enjoy considerable public support. In an ideal world, America’s 250th year would have been a unifying event. Instead, it shows the deep political divisions of a country whose citizens are in a sour mood, according to surveys, and whose global image has darkened to a remarkable degree. According to the Pew Research Center, a Washington think tank, roughly two-thirds of Americans believe their country is on the wrong track. . Public trust in government has sunk to a record low, from 40 per cent in 1976 to just 17 per cent in 2025. Today’s perceptions contrast with decades of the United States enjoying a positive image both at home and in much of the world, more so after the end of World War II, when it began its rise to become the world’s dominant superpower. How senior US officials (and many ordinary citizens) saw their country was reflected by then Secretary of State Madeline Albright in a 1998 television interview: “We…are America, we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future.” Coming from a measured diplomat, that soaring language produced little or no pushback from “the West” (short for Washington’s allies), which had accepted the US as its leader in international affairs. But the perception of America as a force for good has been fading gradually and virtually vanished after Donald Trump entered politics and began his second term in office in January 2025, perpetuating the concept of “America First” he developed in his first term from 2017 to 2021. He cast aside the notion that the United States is an exceptional country destined to exert global leadership and promote democracy and human rights around the world. Trump disdains international organisations and his administration has withdrawn from 66, including the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change, which was adopted by 195 countries. This move underscored the extent to which the United States has abandoned the concept of “soft power”. For years, that served as an important tool to influence other countries by attraction and persuasion rather than coercion, force, and commercial transactions. The world took notice of the emphasis on military might. Nothing highlights how that has changed perceptions more than a global survey in May that showed more positive views of China and Russia than America. The survey is an annual exercise commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, a watchdog group based in Denmark. Its findings were drawn from polling more than 94,000 respondents in 85 countries. It is said to be the largest survey of its kind. In the countries surveyed, citizens in 82 held negative views of the United States. “The fast decline of the United States’ perception around the world is saddening but not shocking,” former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said when he presented the survey results. “US foreign policy over the past 18 months has, among other things, called into question the transatlantic relationship, imposed widespread tariffs and threatened to invade a NATO ally’s territory, “ a reference to President Trump’s repeatedly stated intention to take control of Greenland, a Danish territory. Add the painful economic impact resulting from the unprovoked war on Iran that Trump launched on February 28, announcing it in a pre-dawn social media posting, and it is easy to understand why Rasmussen, a former Prime Minister of Denmark, said the unprecedented decline of views of America was “not shocking.” In the countries surveyed, citizens in 82 held negative views of the United States. “The fast decline of the United States’ perception around the world is saddening but not shocking,” former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said when he presented the survey results. But perhaps the most remarkable poll of the mood in America’s birth year has come from Gallup, one of the world’s most respected polling organisations. It found that the share of Americans who are extremely or very proud of their country has fallen to a historic low — just 58%. Pride in the United States has long been in the DNA of the country but Gallup found that it has declined by deep partisan divides and shifting generational trends, i.e., sceptical views from the young. In the past, there have been good reasons for pride. Massive waves of immigration around the turn of the 20th century — more than 20 million people arrived between 1880 and 1920 — helped turn the country into a centre of innovation, science and enterprise. The United States has won more Nobel Prizes than any other country since the prize was first awarded in 1901. According to the Institute of Immigration Research, 142 of the 400 U.S. citizens who won academic Nobel Prizes were immigrants. This was an era when immigrants were welcomed. A sonnet written by Emma Lazarus to help fund the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty conveys a bygone culture: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.” In 1903, it was engraved on a bronze plaque and placed inside the pedestal. Now, both legal and illegal immigration have been sharply reduced by sweeping restrictions. Trump administration decrees have halted the granting of visas for nationals from nearly 40 countries.

<p>The reason for Trump’s anti-Communist tirades is obvious: in the run-up to mid-term elections for the House of Representatives, he wants to implant in the mind of voters the idea that the establishment Democratic Party is being pulled to the far left by democratic socialists.</p>

Trump’s latest addition to domestic enemies list: ‘Godless communists’

U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown continues to generate intense debate across the United States and beyond. The administration's aggressive enforcement measures have triggered legal challenges, political opposition, and concerns from businesses facing workforce disruptions. Supporters argue the policies strengthen border security and immigration enforcement, while critics warn of economic, social, and humanitarian consequences. As court battles unfold and political tensions rise, the immigration debate remains at the center of national attention.

Trump's immigration crackdown sparks legal battles and workplace disruptions

<p>US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Iran was plotting to assassinate him and added that he was “on every single one of their list”. Accusing Tehran of seeking to target the US leadership, the president said, “They want to take out the US leader. I’m on every single one of their lists. So far, I’ve had a bit of luck, but maybe it won’t last. They’re evil and sick people, and we must get rid of this cancer,” Trump said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Trump said the United States’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tehran “is over” following a fresh wave of US strikes on Iran overnight.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-may-reinstate-naval-blockade-attack-iran-s-oil-electric-and-water-infrastructure-1783522388324"><strong>Trump says US may reinstate naval blockade, attack Iran’s oil, electric and water infrastructure</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The remarks came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had carried out a fresh wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>‘Frankly, I think we wasted a lot of time with them’</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>President Trump called the negotiators of Iran “scum” and said that he does not like them at all.</p><p>“I don’t like them at all. And frankly, I think we wasted a lot of time with them, I think we should just do our business,” Trump said in his first remarks after the US attacked 80 sites in Iran.</p><p>“They’re vicious, violent people... so far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” Trump added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/operation-hard-ball-us-cites-moosewala-murder-salman-khan-threats-in-indictment-against-bishnoi-gang-1783516425084"><strong>Operation Hard Ball: US cites Moosewala murder, Salman Khan threats in indictment against Bishnoi gang</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump added that US representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>CENTCOM said they launched the strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.” US forces said the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, radar installations and more than 60 small boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Bandar Mahshahr, where a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed.&nbsp;</p><p>It also reported strikes on Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant complex.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>‘Kill Trump’ slogans, banners at Khamenei’s funeral</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Calls for the killing of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverberated through Tehran’s packed Grand Mosalla prayer complex.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla also called for the assassination of Trump and Netanyahu, with similar slogans echoing the crowd.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exercise-restraint-de-escalate-tension-india-urges-us-iran-to-ensure-uninterrupted-flow-of-energy-1783526855107"><strong>‘Exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions’: India urges US, Iran to ensure ‘uninterrupted flow of energy’</strong>&nbsp;</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Both Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, and Kuwait, home to US Army forces, issued missile alerts on Wednesday morning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later confirmed that it had targeted US military installations in both countries. Kuwaiti authorities said they intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones launched by Iran. The country's Electricity Ministry added that several power lines were knocked out after being hit by falling missile debris.</p>

Calls for the killing of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverberated through Tehran’s packed Grand Mosalla prayer complex. Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla also called for the assassination of Trump and Netanyahu. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Iran was plotting to assassinate him and added that he was “on every single one of their list”. Accusing Tehran of seeking to target the US leadership, the president said, “They want to take out the US leader. I’m on every single one of their lists. So far, I’ve had a bit of luck, but maybe it won’t last. They’re evil and sick people, and we must get rid of this cancer,” Trump said. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Trump said the United States’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tehran “is over” following a fresh wave of US strikes on Iran overnight. Also Read: Trump says US may reinstate naval blockade, attack Iran’s oil, electric and water infrastructure The remarks came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had carried out a fresh wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. ‘Frankly, I think we wasted a lot of time with them’ President Trump called the negotiators of Iran “scum” and said that he does not like them at all. “I don’t like them at all. And frankly, I think we wasted a lot of time with them, I think we should just do our business,” Trump said in his first remarks after the US attacked 80 sites in Iran. “They’re vicious, violent people... so far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” Trump added. Also Read: Operation Hard Ball: US cites Moosewala murder, Salman Khan threats in indictment against Bishnoi gang Trump added that US representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” he said. CENTCOM said they launched the strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.” US forces said the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, radar installations and more than 60 small boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Bandar Mahshahr, where a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed. It also reported strikes on Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant complex. ‘Kill Trump’ slogans, banners at Khamenei’s funeral Calls for the killing of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverberated through Tehran’s packed Grand Mosalla prayer complex. Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla also called for the assassination of Trump and Netanyahu, with similar slogans echoing the crowd. Also Read: ‘Exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions’: India urges US, Iran to ensure ‘uninterrupted flow of energy’ Both Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, and Kuwait, home to US Army forces, issued missile alerts on Wednesday morning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later confirmed that it had targeted US military installations in both countries. Kuwaiti authorities said they intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones launched by Iran. The country's Electricity Ministry added that several power lines were knocked out after being hit by falling missile debris.

<p>Calls for the killing of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reverberated through Tehran’s packed Grand Mosalla prayer complex. Posters and graffiti at the Grand Mosalla also called for the assassination of Trump and Netanyahu.&nbsp;</p>

‘I’ve had a bit of luck, but…’: Trump claims Iran plotting to assassinate him

U.S. President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on NATO during the alliance's summit in Ankara, criticizing member states over issues ranging from Iran to Greenland and defense spending. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump claimed the United States is treated unfairly within the alliance and expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of support from allies.

Trump slams NATO: Declares Iran ceasefire over and renews Greenland demand 

<p>US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he wants to remove Syria from the terrorism list. Sitting alongside Syrian President Ahmed ​al-Sharaa in Ankara, Trump responded to a reporter's question by praising his Syrian counterpart, “I think I will.” The US have previously considered removing Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which had halted its integration into the international system, like US foreign aid, defence exports, and certain financial transactions.</p><p>“Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” said Trump, referring to Al Sharaa, who is a formerly designated terrorist by the US State Department. Trump said that Syria has become stable, "It's really been stabilised, and we're proud of that." Trump said that they have lifted sanctions from the country, which had been a “big boost”. Trump praised Syrian history and civilisation, calling it the greatest not just in the Middle East but in the whole world, saying that it had great culture, professors, and lawyers, and then it went through a terrible period of time from which al-Sharaa had been able to rescue it within a period of one and a half years or less.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ukraine-patriot-air-defence-production-licence-nato-summit-1783517758092"><strong>Big win for Zelensky? Trump announces Patriot production license for Ukraine</strong></a></p><p>"He's done a really fantastic job as president. He's unified the country in a very short period of time," said the US president, referring to the Syrian President as a "strong person" and respected by everybody.</p><p>A bipartisan group of lawmakers have previously written to the US President Donald Trump seeking its removal from the terrorism list, largely being influenced by its rapid integration with the West-dominated system. Roughly 90 per cent of Syrians live in poverty, while rebuilding the country following a decade of civil war will require an estimated $216 billion.</p><p>Trump further suggested that Syria will assist in dealing with Hezbollah, “They could help. We'll find out. I think we're making a lot of progress.” He also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is getting along well with Lebanon and wants to withdraw military forces from Lebanon.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump during the joint press conference with President Ahmed al-Sharaa:<br><br>We lifted the sanctions on the country, and that was, in my opinion, a tremendous boost. <br>The sanctions were a very significant matter, and we’re proud of the work he’s doing. Syria has become… I… <a href="https://t.co/Mdw5Vscv94">pic.twitter.com/Mdw5Vscv94</a></p>&mdash; Nedal Al-Amari 🇸🇾 (@nedalalamari) <a href="https://x.com/nedalalamari/status/2074868659030221295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump said he wants to remove Syria from the US terrorism list, praising Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and citing the country's growing stability.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he wants to remove Syria from the terrorism list. Sitting alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Ankara, Trump responded to a reporter's question by praising his Syrian counterpart, “I think I will.” The US have previously considered removing Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which had halted its integration into the international system, like US foreign aid, defence exports, and certain financial transactions. “Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” said Trump, referring to Al Sharaa, who is a formerly designated terrorist by the US State Department. Trump said that Syria has become stable, "It's really been stabilised, and we're proud of that." Trump said that they have lifted sanctions from the country, which had been a “big boost”. Trump praised Syrian history and civilisation, calling it the greatest not just in the Middle East but in the whole world, saying that it had great culture, professors, and lawyers, and then it went through a terrible period of time from which al-Sharaa had been able to rescue it within a period of one and a half years or less. Also Read: Big win for Zelensky? Trump announces Patriot production license for Ukraine "He's done a really fantastic job as president. He's unified the country in a very short period of time," said the US president, referring to the Syrian President as a "strong person" and respected by everybody. A bipartisan group of lawmakers have previously written to the US President Donald Trump seeking its removal from the terrorism list, largely being influenced by its rapid integration with the West-dominated system. Roughly 90 per cent of Syrians live in poverty, while rebuilding the country following a decade of civil war will require an estimated $216 billion. Trump further suggested that Syria will assist in dealing with Hezbollah, “They could help. We'll find out. I think we're making a lot of progress.” He also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is getting along well with Lebanon and wants to withdraw military forces from Lebanon.

<p>Donald Trump said he wants to remove Syria from the US terrorism list, praising Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and citing the country's growing stability.</p>

Trump says ​al-Sharaa has done a 'fantastic job,' hints at removing Syria from terror list

<p>President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US might reinstate the naval blockade of Iran’s ports and associated vessels after saying the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington was “over” in his view and warning that more strikes were likely.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“We may put down the blockade, we may put it back, the blockade, and it’ll only be a blockade for Iran,” Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.</p><p>“Anybody else can have whatever they want. Now, of course, they’ll drop some mines if they can, you know, if they can do it.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The United States had lifted its naval blockade as a part of the memorandum of understanding that Trump and his Iranian counterpart signed in mid-June.</p><p>The White House and US military said more than 140 ships were interdicted during the blockade. Central Command also denied media reports of multiple Iran-linked tankers managing to evade the restrictions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/operation-hard-ball-us-cites-moosewala-murder-salman-khan-threats-in-indictment-against-bishnoi-gang-1783516425084"><strong>Operation Hard Ball: US cites Moosewala murder, Salman Khan threats in indictment against Bishnoi gang</strong></a></p><h2>‘May strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, seize Kharg Island’</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>President Trump also threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure and to seize Kharg Island, with its oil infrastructure, as his ceasefire with Tehran appeared to be in tatters.</p><p>Trump issued the threats after announcing that the US was preparing for a second night of strikes against Iran after Iranian attacks on American military sites in the Gulf.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The president said that if the US has to, then it will take out Iran’s electric plants and desalination plants. He said Tuesday’s strikes included attacks on Kharg Island but not its oil facilities.</p><p>“Maybe we’ll take over Kharg Island. We may take over Kharg Island. There’s not a thing they could do about it,” Trump said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/donation-collection-at-famous-maa-baglamukhi-temple-in-madhya-pradesh-comes-under-cloud-probe-ordered-1783506833773"><strong>Donation collection at famous Maa Baglamukhi temple in Madhya Pradesh comes under cloud; probe ordered</strong></a></p><h2>Intercepted aerial Iranian attacks targeting civilians: Bahrain</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Bahrain said on Wednesday that it had intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks targeting civilians, as the US-Iran war flared up again dramatically.</p><p>The Bahraini armed forces said in a statement, “Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its wrongful attacks using missiles and drones targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-unveils-billions-in-arms-deals-after-trump-s-pressure-for-higher-defence-spending-1783428507988"><strong>NATO unveils billions in arms deals after Trump’s pressure for higher defence spending</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It added that the military had confronted, intercepted, and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks, and urged people to “avoid approaching or touching any foreign or suspicious objects resulting from the remnants of the Iranian attack.”</p><p>The statement did not say whether anyone had been hurt or killed in the Iranian strikes.</p>

President Donald Trump said Tuesday’s strikes included attacks on Kharg Island but not its oil facilities. He added that the US may take over Kharg Island and that there’s not a thing Iran could do about it. He also said that the US may impose the naval blockade again on Iran.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US might reinstate the naval blockade of Iran’s ports and associated vessels after saying the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington was “over” in his view and warning that more strikes were likely. “We may put down the blockade, we may put it back, the blockade, and it’ll only be a blockade for Iran,” Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. “Anybody else can have whatever they want. Now, of course, they’ll drop some mines if they can, you know, if they can do it.” The United States had lifted its naval blockade as a part of the memorandum of understanding that Trump and his Iranian counterpart signed in mid-June. The White House and US military said more than 140 ships were interdicted during the blockade. Central Command also denied media reports of multiple Iran-linked tankers managing to evade the restrictions. Also Read: Operation Hard Ball: US cites Moosewala murder, Salman Khan threats in indictment against Bishnoi gang ‘May strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, seize Kharg Island’ President Trump also threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure and to seize Kharg Island, with its oil infrastructure, as his ceasefire with Tehran appeared to be in tatters. Trump issued the threats after announcing that the US was preparing for a second night of strikes against Iran after Iranian attacks on American military sites in the Gulf. The president said that if the US has to, then it will take out Iran’s electric plants and desalination plants. He said Tuesday’s strikes included attacks on Kharg Island but not its oil facilities. “Maybe we’ll take over Kharg Island. We may take over Kharg Island. There’s not a thing they could do about it,” Trump said. Also Read: Donation collection at famous Maa Baglamukhi temple in Madhya Pradesh comes under cloud; probe ordered Intercepted aerial Iranian attacks targeting civilians: Bahrain Bahrain said on Wednesday that it had intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks targeting civilians, as the US-Iran war flared up again dramatically. The Bahraini armed forces said in a statement, “Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its wrongful attacks using missiles and drones targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain.” Also Read: NATO unveils billions in arms deals after Trump’s pressure for higher defence spending It added that the military had confronted, intercepted, and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks, and urged people to “avoid approaching or touching any foreign or suspicious objects resulting from the remnants of the Iranian attack.” The statement did not say whether anyone had been hurt or killed in the Iranian strikes.

<p>President Donald Trump said Tuesday’s strikes included attacks on Kharg Island but not its oil facilities. He added that the US may take over Kharg Island and that there’s not a thing Iran could do about it. He also said that the US may impose the naval blockade again on Iran.</p>

Trump says US may reinstate naval blockade, attack Iran’s oil, electric and water infrastructure

<p>US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey, said that the US will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defence system. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Trump said they will be discussing “the right to make Patriots”, referring to the long‑range air defence missiles.&nbsp;</p><p>He also said that “We’ll show them how to do it,” suggesting that it was “very complex” but that Ukraine would be able to figure it out quickly. He added that the US industries were building “four plants” and added that “all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months”, comparing it with the lengthy delivery time of the long-range missile defence systems.</p><p>This comes after months of lobbying from Kyiv to acquire the production license from Washington. "I asked the previous administration, I am asking today's administration, give Ukraine licenses," said Zelensky back in May while pitching the idea to the US. “We will increase the production of Patriot missiles. It will be very helpful for us, it will be very helpful for the Middle East, for everybody whom the United States will decide to help.”</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-angora-cats-lokum-ak-kiz-nato-summit-ankara-1783515010934"><strong>WATCH | Turkish Angora cats steal the spotlight at NATO summit in Ankara</strong></a></p><p>Trump also blabbed a lot. He called Iran the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while referring to Zelenskyy as “President Putin”.</p><p>Sitting next to Zelensky, Trump continued his quips at Zelensky, "You have two kids in a park, and they don't like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it's tough. Fighting is tough." He then added that he has developed a good relationship with Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine has a great future. "Such a beautiful land. Such great assets. Such wonderful people.”</p><p>Trump expressed his understanding of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing sympathy for the state, “It's been tough on Russia.” He claimed that Putin is feeling the pressure, and he also wants the war to end. He supported the Ukrainian strike on Russian oil infrastructure, suggesting that these strikes could end the war. He said that both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin want to see a settlement to end the war, following a highly successful NATO meeting. “He wants to see a settlement. And I think President Putin wants to see a settlement, and usually that means a settlement,” &nbsp;said Trump. &nbsp;“This is, this is a tough one, but I just, you know, we just had our NATO meeting, and it was a great meeting.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NOW - Trump to grant Ukraine a license and teach them how to make Patriot Missiles. <a href="https://t.co/FCWdwCus6p">pic.twitter.com/FCWdwCus6p</a></p>&mdash; Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2074843092763451826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump said the US will grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, as he met Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey, said that the US will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defence system. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Trump said they will be discussing “the right to make Patriots”, referring to the long‑range air defence missiles. He also said that “We’ll show them how to do it,” suggesting that it was “very complex” but that Ukraine would be able to figure it out quickly. He added that the US industries were building “four plants” and added that “all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months”, comparing it with the lengthy delivery time of the long-range missile defence systems. This comes after months of lobbying from Kyiv to acquire the production license from Washington. "I asked the previous administration, I am asking today's administration, give Ukraine licenses," said Zelensky back in May while pitching the idea to the US. “We will increase the production of Patriot missiles. It will be very helpful for us, it will be very helpful for the Middle East, for everybody whom the United States will decide to help.” Also Read: WATCH | Turkish Angora cats steal the spotlight at NATO summit in Ankara Trump also blabbed a lot. He called Iran the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while referring to Zelenskyy as “President Putin”. Sitting next to Zelensky, Trump continued his quips at Zelensky, "You have two kids in a park, and they don't like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it's tough. Fighting is tough." He then added that he has developed a good relationship with Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine has a great future. "Such a beautiful land. Such great assets. Such wonderful people.” Trump expressed his understanding of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing sympathy for the state, “It's been tough on Russia.” He claimed that Putin is feeling the pressure, and he also wants the war to end. He supported the Ukrainian strike on Russian oil infrastructure, suggesting that these strikes could end the war. He said that both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin want to see a settlement to end the war, following a highly successful NATO meeting. “He wants to see a settlement. And I think President Putin wants to see a settlement, and usually that means a settlement,” said Trump. “This is, this is a tough one, but I just, you know, we just had our NATO meeting, and it was a great meeting.”

<p>Donald Trump said the US will grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, as he met Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit.</p>

Big win for Zelensky? Trump announces Patriot production license for Ukraine

<p>President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that US forces would strike Iran "hard" in the coming night, after earlier declaring Washington's ceasefire with Iran over at a NATO summit in Ankara.</p><p><br>"We're gonna hit 'em hard tonight," he said before holding talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, adding, "They violated the agreement..."<br>Earlier, the US president declared the ceasefire with Iran "over" on Wednesday. Trump noted he would allow his negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to continue talks if they wished, after fighting flared amid tensions over attacks on ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz.</p><p><br>"As far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump said at a NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday when asked if the truce was intact. "It's just a waste of time dealing with them," he added. "I'll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don't see it. I don't like these people."</p><p><br>Trump's announcement follows a massive strike on more than 80 targets in Iran, after the US accused the Islamic Republic of targeting three merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. While the US military described the operation as a response to Iranian aggression, Tehran has warned it will take all necessary measures to protect its national interests.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-allies-call-for-freedom-of-navigation-in-hormuz-reaffirm-ironclad-commitment-to-collective-defence-1783516894763"><strong> Hormuz navigation, collective defence, support for Ukraine: Key takeaways from NATO's Ankara declaration</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>These statements put the fragile 14-point memorandum of understanding, signed by US President Trump at the Palace of Versailles on June 17 and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in jeopardy. The MoU was aimed at ending the active hostilities that began in late February, and was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, reduce military tensions in the Gulf, and lay the groundwork for broader diplomatic talks.</p><p><br>Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a fierce rhetorical pushback against Washington. In a statement published on X, Ghalibaf accused the United States of "major violations" regarding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a tenuous ceasefire agreement aimed at managing regional friction.</p><p><br>In his post, Ghalibaf outlined five specific grievances, condemning what he termed "attacks on southern Iran," "persistent threats of further strikes," the reinstatement of crippling oil sanctions, and US interference with Iranian maritime operations in the Strait. He additionally tied the breakdown of the MoU to broader geopolitical dynamics, listing "continued Zionist aggression" against Lebanon as a primary breach.</p>

Trump announced fresh strikes after the US carried out attacks on over 80 Iranian targets, following accusations that Iran had attacked merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that US forces would strike Iran "hard" in the coming night, after earlier declaring Washington's ceasefire with Iran over at a NATO summit in Ankara. "We're gonna hit 'em hard tonight," he said before holding talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, adding, "They violated the agreement..." Earlier, the US president declared the ceasefire with Iran "over" on Wednesday. Trump noted he would allow his negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to continue talks if they wished, after fighting flared amid tensions over attacks on ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz. "As far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump said at a NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday when asked if the truce was intact. "It's just a waste of time dealing with them," he added. "I'll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don't see it. I don't like these people." Trump's announcement follows a massive strike on more than 80 targets in Iran, after the US accused the Islamic Republic of targeting three merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. While the US military described the operation as a response to Iranian aggression, Tehran has warned it will take all necessary measures to protect its national interests. Also Read: Hormuz navigation, collective defence, support for Ukraine: Key takeaways from NATO's Ankara declaration These statements put the fragile 14-point memorandum of understanding, signed by US President Trump at the Palace of Versailles on June 17 and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in jeopardy. The MoU was aimed at ending the active hostilities that began in late February, and was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, reduce military tensions in the Gulf, and lay the groundwork for broader diplomatic talks. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a fierce rhetorical pushback against Washington. In a statement published on X, Ghalibaf accused the United States of "major violations" regarding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a tenuous ceasefire agreement aimed at managing regional friction. In his post, Ghalibaf outlined five specific grievances, condemning what he termed "attacks on southern Iran," "persistent threats of further strikes," the reinstatement of crippling oil sanctions, and US interference with Iranian maritime operations in the Strait. He additionally tied the breakdown of the MoU to broader geopolitical dynamics, listing "continued Zionist aggression" against Lebanon as a primary breach.

<p>Trump announced fresh strikes after the US carried out attacks on over 80 Iranian targets, following accusations that Iran had attacked merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz.</p>

'We'll hit them hard tonight': Trump vows fresh Iran strikes after declaring ceasefire 'over'

<p>US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered a halt to the overall trade with NATO ally Spain, calling it a “terrible partner”. During the NATO summit, as European leaders were trying to put a lid on the conflict within the military alliance, Trump unleashed on NATO for getting a “free ride”. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said that he has no business to be done with Spain. He further annoyed the NATO leaders by once again invoking Greenland.&nbsp;</p><p>"Spain doesn't agree ‌to anything, and you shouldn't carry them," Trump told Rutte, who tried to ease the tension, suggesting that Spain “made a huge step last year” in increasing the budget to 2 per cent. He also added that "there are still issues ​we have to solve".</p><p>"Spain is a wasted cause. I don't want to do any trade with them, alright?" said Trump while turning to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who responded, "Yes, Sir!" Trump then continued, "Take ⁠it immediately. Don't even talk to them. They're hopeless. They're bad people ... They make so much money with us, and we're going to see that they make a lot less."</p><p>The office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a statement that it was treating Trump's statements as "business as usual" and did not ​intend to change the "excellent" relations ​it enjoyed with Washington. It also pointed out that Spain runs a trade deficit with the US, and economic ties were forged by private companies rather than governments. It also said that European Union rules require trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pune-pcmc-waste-to-energy-plant-building-collapse-workers-trapped-heavy-rain-1783506255509"><strong>Pune building collapse: At least 15 trapped after waste mound crashes into PCMC plant</strong></a></p><p>Spain’s health minister, Mónica García, said on Wednesday that President Trump had called the country a “terrible partner” because Spain “does not accept blackmail or threats.” “We are a sovereign, democratic country that defends multilateralism and peace,” García said, adding, “What is terrible is confusing diplomacy with bullying.”</p><h2>Trump invokes Greenland again to irk Europeans</h2><p>Trump also attacked NATO for its role, or lack of it, in the Iran war, and brought up Greenland, which is bound to agitate the Europeans. “I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror,” he told reporters, standing alongside the secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutte. “That’s Iran.”</p><p>Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said that the country would defend “every inch” of its territory and reiterated that Greenland was not for sale. She said, &nbsp;“We will defend the kingdom of Denmark,” adding, “We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Spain is a wasted cause. We don&#39;t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore by the way... Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don&#39;t participate, they don&#39;t pay. I don&#39;t want anything to do with Spain.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/3prqux6p54">pic.twitter.com/3prqux6p54</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2074775059210654114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump ordered a halt to trade with Spain, called it a "terrible partner," and reignited the Greenland dispute during the NATO summit, drawing sharp reactions.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered a halt to the overall trade with NATO ally Spain, calling it a “terrible partner”. During the NATO summit, as European leaders were trying to put a lid on the conflict within the military alliance, Trump unleashed on NATO for getting a “free ride”. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said that he has no business to be done with Spain. He further annoyed the NATO leaders by once again invoking Greenland. "Spain doesn't agree ‌to anything, and you shouldn't carry them," Trump told Rutte, who tried to ease the tension, suggesting that Spain “made a huge step last year” in increasing the budget to 2 per cent. He also added that "there are still issues we have to solve". "Spain is a wasted cause. I don't want to do any trade with them, alright?" said Trump while turning to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who responded, "Yes, Sir!" Trump then continued, "Take ⁠it immediately. Don't even talk to them. They're hopeless. They're bad people ... They make so much money with us, and we're going to see that they make a lot less." The office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a statement that it was treating Trump's statements as "business as usual" and did not intend to change the "excellent" relations it enjoyed with Washington. It also pointed out that Spain runs a trade deficit with the US, and economic ties were forged by private companies rather than governments. It also said that European Union rules require trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc. Also Read: Pune building collapse: At least 15 trapped after waste mound crashes into PCMC plant Spain’s health minister, Mónica García, said on Wednesday that President Trump had called the country a “terrible partner” because Spain “does not accept blackmail or threats.” “We are a sovereign, democratic country that defends multilateralism and peace,” García said, adding, “What is terrible is confusing diplomacy with bullying.” Trump invokes Greenland again to irk Europeans Trump also attacked NATO for its role, or lack of it, in the Iran war, and brought up Greenland, which is bound to agitate the Europeans. “I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror,” he told reporters, standing alongside the secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutte. “That’s Iran.” Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said that the country would defend “every inch” of its territory and reiterated that Greenland was not for sale. She said, “We will defend the kingdom of Denmark,” adding, “We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.”

<p>Donald Trump ordered a halt to trade with Spain, called it a "terrible partner," and reignited the Greenland dispute during the NATO summit, drawing sharp reactions.</p>

Trump halts trade with Spain, calls NATO ally a ‘terrible partner’ at summit

US President Donald Trump praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a “nice person” but criticised her stance on Iran-related issues. The remarks highlight differences between the two leaders over Middle East policy and diplomatic approaches. The comments come amid rising global focus on Iran and international security.

Trump calls Giorgia Meloni a nice person, criticises her on Iran

<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (Jul 7) said her relationship with US President Donald Trump remains "cordial", even as the two continue to exchange sharp remarks over NATO, Iran and a disputed photo claim that has stirred irritation in Rome. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Meloni tried to cool speculation that the row had damaged ties between the two leaders. Her comments came after weeks of friction, much of it triggered by Trump's claim that she had "begged" him for a picture during the G7 summit in Evian, France.</p><p>Meloni rejected that version of events, and the dispute was serious enough that Italy's foreign minister later cancelled a planned trip to the United States, according to CNN.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meloni-signals-truce-after-extraordinary-public-spat-with-trump-i-don-t-intend-to-keep-fuelling-this-dispute-1782265096024"><strong>Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute'</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Italy will not play along</strong></h2><p>Now, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says the government is done responding to Trump's jabs. "He speaks for himself," Tajani said, adding that Meloni and other senior officials would simply ignore the posts and comments.</p><p>"We have a US President who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies," he told La Stampa newspaper.</p><p>"We are and will remain friends of the United States as our strategic partner and that of Europe," he added.</p><p>His message was clear. Italy does not want this becoming a full blown diplomatic spat, even if Trump keeps pushing it in public.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-is-macron-wearing-sunglasses-indoors-mysterious-shades-spark-domestic-abuse-speculation-online-another-shiner-1783407347884"><strong>Why is Macron wearing sunglasses indoors? Mysterious shades spark domestic abuse speculation online: 'Another shiner?'</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Trump calls Meloni "nice" but keeps the pressure on</strong></h2><p>Trump, for his part, did little to calm things down. During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, he described Meloni as a "nice person" but also said their relationship had turned sour after Italy refused to support US military action against Iran.</p><p>"I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump said, according to CNN. He also insisted he had not leaned on her too hard, and blamed Italy, saying its refusal had "soured" the relationship "a little bit."</p><p>That followed a Truth Social post on Sunday in which Trump shared a photograph with Meloni and wrote, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."</p><h2><strong>The comment that started the spat</strong></h2><p>Earlier, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, Trump had claimed that Meloni wanted a photo with him "so badly", saying he would not have taken it but "felt sorry for her."</p><p>"She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so ​badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," he said.</p><p>Meloni later fired back in a social media video, saying she was "astonished" by what she called the president's "completely made up" statements.</p>

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says her relationship with Donald Trump remains "cordial" despite weeks of public sparring over NATO, Iran and Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (Jul 7) said her relationship with US President Donald Trump remains "cordial", even as the two continue to exchange sharp remarks over NATO, Iran and a disputed photo claim that has stirred irritation in Rome. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Meloni tried to cool speculation that the row had damaged ties between the two leaders. Her comments came after weeks of friction, much of it triggered by Trump's claim that she had "begged" him for a picture during the G7 summit in Evian, France. Meloni rejected that version of events, and the dispute was serious enough that Italy's foreign minister later cancelled a planned trip to the United States, according to CNN. Also read | Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute' Italy will not play along Now, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says the government is done responding to Trump's jabs. "He speaks for himself," Tajani said, adding that Meloni and other senior officials would simply ignore the posts and comments. "We have a US President who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies," he told La Stampa newspaper. "We are and will remain friends of the United States as our strategic partner and that of Europe," he added. His message was clear. Italy does not want this becoming a full blown diplomatic spat, even if Trump keeps pushing it in public. Also read | Why is Macron wearing sunglasses indoors? Mysterious shades spark domestic abuse speculation online: 'Another shiner?' Trump calls Meloni "nice" but keeps the pressure on Trump, for his part, did little to calm things down. During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, he described Meloni as a "nice person" but also said their relationship had turned sour after Italy refused to support US military action against Iran. "I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump said, according to CNN. He also insisted he had not leaned on her too hard, and blamed Italy, saying its refusal had "soured" the relationship "a little bit." That followed a Truth Social post on Sunday in which Trump shared a photograph with Meloni and wrote, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED." The comment that started the spat Earlier, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, Trump had claimed that Meloni wanted a photo with him "so badly", saying he would not have taken it but "felt sorry for her." "She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," he said. Meloni later fired back in a social media video, saying she was "astonished" by what she called the president's "completely made up" statements.

<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says her relationship with Donald Trump remains "cordial" despite weeks of public sparring over NATO, Iran and Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo.</p>

Meloni says ties with Trump remain 'cordial,' even as Italy labels him ‘US President who loves to provoke’

<p>US President Donald Trump has described rapper Nicki Minaj as ‘so hot’ at an event on Monday. The President and the rapper attended a Rose Garden luncheon held at the White House in Washington, DC, to celebrate the launch of Trump Accounts. The US President heaped praises on Nicki Minaj, calling her ‘respected’ and a ‘fantastic person’.&nbsp;</p><h2>What did Trump say about Nicki Minaj</h2><p>While addressing the crowd, Trump spoke about Minaj, who was seated in the audience. "We also have a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great and such a great friend of, I don't say conservative, I say of common sense," he gushed. "She's a fantastic person, and she's a woman that's respected by everybody, and she's got real talent: Nicki Minaj."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump then asked Minaj to stand up in front of the crowd, explaining that the Anaconda star is "such a great person and respected by everybody".</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nicki-minaj-s-controversies-from-marijuana-arrest-to-cardi-b-show-incident-1769764233230">Nicki Minaj's controversies: From marijuana arrest to Cardi B show incident</a></p><h2>Trump’s gaffe</h2><p>Interestingly, elsewhere in his speech, Trump appeared to mistake Minaj for Kelly Loeffler, administrator for the Small Business Administration.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"Nicki Minaj is so incredible. They call it small business, Nicki, but when you add it up, it's bigger than any bank in the world, probably, right?" the 80-year-old continued. "It's not small business, but she's done fantastically, and I appreciate it."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Trump administration did not issue any clarification later over the president’s gaffe. &nbsp;</p><h2>‘Donald Trump is his own vibe’</h2><p>Meanwhile, Minaj took to X to share a photo of her with the president in the Oval Office.&nbsp;</p><p>"Whoa!!!! #WhiteHouseBarbie with her favorite President of all time!!!" she wrote in the caption.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DadnoKgPshB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Nicki Minaj (@onikimaraj)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/nicky-minaj-throws-shade-at-trevor-noah-post-grammy-joke-roasts-chrissy-teigen-and-more-in-a-series-of-posts-1770018367177"><strong>Nicky Minaj throws shade at Trevor Noah post Grammy joke, roasts Chrissy Teigen and more in a series of posts</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the last few months, Minaj has emerged as a vocal proponent of Trump in recent months, having supported him at the Trump Accounts Summit and attended the premiere of the Melania documentary in January.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In May, while speaking to TIME Magazine, the Starships hitmaker opened up about her reason for championing the Republican politician.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nicki-minaj-stands-with-donald-trump-on-nigeria-religious-persecution-1763534712295">Nicki Minaj stands with Donald Trump on Nigeria religious persecution</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"It's the same way Marilyn Monroe represents a vibe. Donald Trump is his own vibe," she told the outlet, insisting she isn't the only celebrity who feels the same. "Sometimes you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact. I think I am the catalyst for that change."</p>

At a recent event at the White House, US President Donald Trump heaped praise on rapper Nicki Minaj, who was present in the audience. Trump labeled Minaj as ‘so hot’ and ‘so respected’ among other things. 

US President Donald Trump has described rapper Nicki Minaj as ‘so hot’ at an event on Monday. The President and the rapper attended a Rose Garden luncheon held at the White House in Washington, DC, to celebrate the launch of Trump Accounts. The US President heaped praises on Nicki Minaj, calling her ‘respected’ and a ‘fantastic person’. What did Trump say about Nicki Minaj While addressing the crowd, Trump spoke about Minaj, who was seated in the audience. "We also have a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great and such a great friend of, I don't say conservative, I say of common sense," he gushed. "She's a fantastic person, and she's a woman that's respected by everybody, and she's got real talent: Nicki Minaj." Trump then asked Minaj to stand up in front of the crowd, explaining that the Anaconda star is "such a great person and respected by everybody". Also read: Nicki Minaj's controversies: From marijuana arrest to Cardi B show incident Trump’s gaffe Interestingly, elsewhere in his speech, Trump appeared to mistake Minaj for Kelly Loeffler, administrator for the Small Business Administration. "Nicki Minaj is so incredible. They call it small business, Nicki, but when you add it up, it's bigger than any bank in the world, probably, right?" the 80-year-old continued. "It's not small business, but she's done fantastically, and I appreciate it." Trump administration did not issue any clarification later over the president’s gaffe. ‘Donald Trump is his own vibe’ Meanwhile, Minaj took to X to share a photo of her with the president in the Oval Office. "Whoa!!!! #WhiteHouseBarbie with her favorite President of all time!!!" she wrote in the caption.

<p>At a recent event at the White House, US President Donald Trump heaped praise on rapper Nicki Minaj, who was present in the audience. Trump labeled Minaj as ‘so hot’ and ‘so respected’ among other things.&nbsp;</p>

'So hot and respected': Donald Trump heaps praises on Nicki Minaj at recent event, then makes this gaffe

<p>US president Donald Trump has finally revealed what exactly he had said to FIFA cheif Gianni Infantino which eventually results in USA footballer Folarin Balogun's red-card punishment being suspended. Balogun eventually played in the USA's Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 match againsy Belgium on Monday (Jul 6) but the co-hosts crashed out with 1-4 defeat. There was a huge uproar about allowing him to play including from Belgium and UEFA as well. Trump, earlier on Monday (Jul 6), said he didn't think "Balogun made a foul."</p><h2>What did Trump say to Infantino on call to get Balogun's red card suspended?</h2><p>Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."</p>

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

<p>Trump described the incident which led to the red card as "two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.”</p><p>“He didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t tell him (Infantino_ what to do, I can’t tell him what to do," Trump added while acknowledging that an independent committee eventually "made the right decision."</p><p><strong>Also Read</strong> - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-mbappe-responds-to-paraguay-s-depicable-woman-senator-for-racist-attack-on-him-1783398218023">FIFA 2026 | Mbappe responds to Paraguay's 'depicable woman' senator for racist attack on him</a></p><h2>What did FIFA chief say about call with Trump?</h2><p>FIFA chief Gianni Infantino also posted a lengthy <a href="https://x.com/fifamedia/status/2074160315562885122">statement on X</a> about the call with Trump and insisted that the decision to suspend Balogun's red card was taken by an independent committee of the sports global body.</p><p>"I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," read part of his statement.</p><p>"I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," he added.</p><h2>What now for the USA?</h2><p>After the loss against Belgium, the USA joined Canada, and Mexico in being ousted from the ongoing World Cup which is being co-hosted by these three countries. Canada lost to Morocco in Round of 16 while Mexico lost to England.</p>

Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

US president Donald Trump has finally revealed what exactly he had said to FIFA cheif Gianni Infantino which eventually results in USA footballer Folarin Balogun's red-card punishment being suspended. Balogun eventually played in the USA's Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 match againsy Belgium on Monday (Jul 6) but the co-hosts crashed out with 1-4 defeat. There was a huge uproar about allowing him to play including from Belgium and UEFA as well. Trump, earlier on Monday (Jul 6), said he didn't think "Balogun made a foul." What did Trump say to Infantino on call to get Balogun's red card suspended? Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

<p>Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."</p>

FIFA 2026 | US President Trump reveals details of his call to FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card

US President Donald Trump has warned that there will either be a diplomatic agreement with Iran or the United States will continue its military action. The statement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, with global leaders watching the situation closely.

US-Iran war: 'There'll either be deal or US will finish job,' says Trump

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