The United States has only about 25% of the Patriot interceptor missiles it needs to meet all of the Pentagon’s global military plans, according to a Guardian report. The stockpile has been significantly depleted due to recent operations in the Middle East.<h2>Why did the Pentagon pause Ukraine aid?</h2>Due to the shortage, Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg authorised a pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine. The move came after a Pentagon review raised alarm about whether the remaining missile stockpile could support US military operations if a larger conflict were to erupt.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hegseth-kept-trump-in-the-dark-again-pentagon-chief-halted-ukraine-weapons-shipment-twice-without-telling-him-1752072288641">Hegseth kept Trump in the dark again? Pentagon chief halted Ukraine weapons shipment twice without&nbsp;telling&nbsp;him</a><h2>Did Trump order the pause?</h2>Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he wasn’t behind the pause. He explained that while he did ask for a review of weapons stockpiles, he never ordered the halt. During a dinner at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “We’re going to send some more weapons,” without confirming if Patriot systems would be included.<h2>What led to the shortage?</h2>The crisis was accelerated by the US using Patriot missiles in the Middle East, especially to support Israel and counter Houthi attacks. After Trump’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, around 30 Patriot missiles were launched to intercept retaliatory ballistic missiles, further depleting supplies.<h2>Who made the final call?</h2>Although Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby pushed for the freeze, sources told The Guardian he lacked the authority to do it alone. The final decision came from Feinberg, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth signing off on it. Colby had been vocal about redirecting resources from Ukraine to prepare for a possible conflict with China.<h2>Why does this matter for Ukraine?</h2>Ukraine is now facing its largest Russian aerial assault so far and relies heavily on US-supplied weapons, particularly Patriot missiles, to defend itself. Since Ukraine cannot directly order these weapons from contractors, due to long wait times and the Pentagon being a priority customer, the suspension left Kyiv highly vulnerable.Following criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump appears to have reversed some of the Pentagon’s restrictions. While it’s unclear if new shipments will include Patriot missiles, officials confirmed that defensive weapons would be sent. The shipment package also includes Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rocket artillery, and anti-tank&nbsp;weapons.

Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he wasn’t behind the pause. He explained that while he did ask for a review of weapons stockpiles, he never ordered the halt.

The United States has only about 25% of the Patriot interceptor missiles it needs to meet all of the Pentagon’s global military plans, according to a Guardian report. The stockpile has been significantly depleted due to recent operations in the Middle East. Why did the Pentagon pause Ukraine aid? Due to the shortage, Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg authorised a pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine. The move came after a Pentagon review raised alarm about whether the remaining missile stockpile could support US military operations if a larger conflict were to erupt. Also read: Hegseth kept Trump in the dark again? Pentagon chief halted Ukraine weapons shipment twice without telling him Did Trump order the pause? Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he wasn’t behind the pause. He explained that while he did ask for a review of weapons stockpiles, he never ordered the halt. During a dinner at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “We’re going to send some more weapons,” without confirming if Patriot systems would be included. What led to the shortage? The crisis was accelerated by the US using Patriot missiles in the Middle East, especially to support Israel and counter Houthi attacks. After Trump’s recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, around 30 Patriot missiles were launched to intercept retaliatory ballistic missiles, further depleting supplies. Who made the final call? Although Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby pushed for the freeze, sources told The Guardian he lacked the authority to do it alone. The final decision came from Feinberg, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth signing off on it. Colby had been vocal about redirecting resources from Ukraine to prepare for a possible conflict with China. Why does this matter for Ukraine? Ukraine is now facing its largest Russian aerial assault so far and relies heavily on US-supplied weapons, particularly Patriot missiles, to defend itself. Since Ukraine cannot directly order these weapons from contractors, due to long wait times and the Pentagon being a priority customer, the suspension left Kyiv highly vulnerable. Following criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump appears to have reversed some of the Pentagon’s restrictions. While it’s unclear if new shipments will include Patriot missiles, officials confirmed that defensive weapons would be sent. The shipment package also includes Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rocket artillery, and anti-tank weapons.

Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he wasn’t behind the pause. He explained that while he did ask for a review of weapons stockpiles, he never ordered the halt.

Is US running low on Patriot missiles? Trump vows more weapons for Ukraine even as Pentagon warns of shortages

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth allowed a pause in American weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, without informing the White House, CNN reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the situation. The surprise move sparked internal confusion and urgent efforts within the Trump administration to manage backlash from both Congress and Ukrainian officials.President Donald Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he had not ordered the halt. Asked directly during a Cabinet meeting if he approved the pause, Trump replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-i-don-t-know-why-don-t-you-tell-me-trump-roasts-reporter-over-ukraine-weapons-pause-did-hegseth-or-someone-else-make-the-call-1751997288414">'I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?': Trump roasts reporter over Ukraine weapons pause – Did Hegseth or someone else&nbsp;make&nbsp;the&nbsp;call?</a><h2>Not the first time Hegseth froze shipments</h2>This is reportedly the second time this year that Hegseth has unilaterally decided to stop military aid to Ukraine, both times leaving senior officials out of the loop. A similar decision in February was reversed quickly, just like this latest one.CNN reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and retired General Keith Kellogg, now the special envoy to Ukraine, were also not informed of the latest pause and only found out through press reports.<h2>Pentagon defends move</h2>Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told CNN, “Secretary Hegseth provided a framework for the President to evaluate military aid shipments and assess existing stockpiles. This effort was coordinated across government.” However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified, “The Pentagon conducted a review to ensure all support going to all foreign nations aligns with America’s interests,” and added that President Trump “has made the decision to continue providing defensive weapons to Ukraine.” She also said that Trump “has full confidence in the Secretary of Defense.”<h2>Trump tells Pentagon to resume at least some shipments</h2>Soon after learning of the unauthorised pause, Trump reportedly instructed Hegseth to resume at least part of the aid, particularly the interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot defence systems. A senior official told CNN the munitions were already in Poland and ready for quick delivery to Kyiv. The weapons had been allocated by the previous administration and were already en route when the pause took effect.Trump reiterated his stance during Tuesday’s White House remarks, “The Ukrainians… they were very brave, because somebody had to operate that stuff.” Despite previous warmth towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, sources told CNN that Trump has recently become more sceptical. He is reportedly less inclined to halt Ukraine aid and give Russia any advantage, especially as Putin appears unwilling to engage in peace negotiations. “We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said. “It’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”<h2>Who actually made the call to pause shipments?</h2>The pause appears to have been influenced by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby. Known for his scepticism of Ukraine aid, Colby advised a temporary stop, citing concerns about US stockpile depletion. Colby passed his recommendation to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, who agreed. Hegseth then signed off, reportedly believing it matched Trump’s “America First” approach, even though the president had not ordered it.

This is reportedly the second time this year that Hegseth has unilaterally decided to stop military aid to Ukraine, both times leaving senior officials out of the loop. A similar decision in February was reversed quickly, just like this latest one.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth allowed a pause in American weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, without informing the White House, CNN reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the situation. The surprise move sparked internal confusion and urgent efforts within the Trump administration to manage backlash from both Congress and Ukrainian officials. President Donald Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he had not ordered the halt. Asked directly during a Cabinet meeting if he approved the pause, Trump replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” Also read: 'I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?': Trump roasts reporter over Ukraine weapons pause – Did Hegseth or someone else make the call? Not the first time Hegseth froze shipments This is reportedly the second time this year that Hegseth has unilaterally decided to stop military aid to Ukraine, both times leaving senior officials out of the loop. A similar decision in February was reversed quickly, just like this latest one. CNN reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and retired General Keith Kellogg, now the special envoy to Ukraine, were also not informed of the latest pause and only found out through press reports. Pentagon defends move Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told CNN, “Secretary Hegseth provided a framework for the President to evaluate military aid shipments and assess existing stockpiles. This effort was coordinated across government.” However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified, “The Pentagon conducted a review to ensure all support going to all foreign nations aligns with America’s interests,” and added that President Trump “has made the decision to continue providing defensive weapons to Ukraine.” She also said that Trump “has full confidence in the Secretary of Defense.” Trump tells Pentagon to resume at least some shipments Soon after learning of the unauthorised pause, Trump reportedly instructed Hegseth to resume at least part of the aid, particularly the interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot defence systems. A senior official told CNN the munitions were already in Poland and ready for quick delivery to Kyiv. The weapons had been allocated by the previous administration and were already en route when the pause took effect. Trump reiterated his stance during Tuesday’s White House remarks, “The Ukrainians… they were very brave, because somebody had to operate that stuff.” Despite previous warmth towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, sources told CNN that Trump has recently become more sceptical. He is reportedly less inclined to halt Ukraine aid and give Russia any advantage, especially as Putin appears unwilling to engage in peace negotiations. “We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said. “It’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” Who actually made the call to pause shipments? The pause appears to have been influenced by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby. Known for his scepticism of Ukraine aid, Colby advised a temporary stop, citing concerns about US stockpile depletion. Colby passed his recommendation to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, who agreed. Hegseth then signed off, reportedly believing it matched Trump’s “America First” approach, even though the president had not ordered it.

This is reportedly the second time this year that Hegseth has unilaterally decided to stop military aid to Ukraine, both times leaving senior officials out of the loop. A similar decision in February was reversed quickly, just like this latest one.

Hegseth kept Trump in the dark again? Pentagon chief halted Ukraine weapons shipment twice without telling him

The Elon Musk-Donald Trump feud has gotten murkier with the latest release of a cache of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex offender. The tech billionaire on X, slamming Trump, claimed that the US government was "deeply broken" and has "not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list." His claim comes as reports suggest that Trump's Justice Department and the FBI have concluded that there was no evidence that sex offender Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a "client list" or was murdered. The Tesla CEO also invoked the name "Peanut" and said "they arrested (and killed) Peanut". What did Musk mean? Who is this 'peanut'? Here's all you need to know.<h2>What did Musk say?</h2>Elon Musk posted a meme on his X account that says, "More squirrels and raccoons have been arrested than anyone on Epstein's client list". he posted this along with the caption, "They arrested (and killed) Peanut, but have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list," adding "Government is deeply broken".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">They arrested (and killed) Peanut, but have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list. Government is deeply broken. <a href="https://t.co/YndRadQUBE">pic.twitter.com/YndRadQUBE</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1942636971450589642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In another post, the tech billionaire claimed that Steve Bannon, Trump's former aide and advisor, was in the notorious Epstein files. However, he did not offer any evidence to back his claim but, in yet another post, said, “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?”.<h2>Who is Peanut?</h2>Elon Musk with his post has dragged "Peanut the Squirrel" into his bromance turned sour with Trump. Peanut was an internet-famous squirrel, and seems like Elon Musk is not over his death. The orphaned squirrel belonged to Mark Longo, who rescued him in 2017. Longo documented Peanut's and other rescue animals' lives on Instagram on an account which amassed close to a whopping one million followers.However, in October 2024, Peanut was detained by authorities and was later euthanised by the State of New York. Despite dramatic uproar over Peanut's detention, the euthanisation was carried out, as owning a squirrel is illegal in New York. Soon after, Musk, along with thousands of netizens, took to social media to condemn the killing of the beloved internet pet and said, "The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That’s messed up...Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn’t be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!?". At the time, in another post, he also said that "President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels 🐿️ 😢 RIP P’Nut." However, a lot has changed since then. Musk has gone from being a Trump ally to a Trump adversary, and given the drama, it seems like this might be only the beginning of this feud.&nbsp;

Elon Musk, while slamming US President Donald Trump on X over the Epstein files, invoked the name "Peanut" and said "they arrested (and killed) Peanut". What did Musk mean? Who is this 'peanut'? Here's all you need to know.

The Elon Musk-Donald Trump feud has gotten murkier with the latest release of a cache of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and sex offender. The tech billionaire on X, slamming Trump, claimed that the US government was "deeply broken" and has "not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list." His claim comes as reports suggest that Trump's Justice Department and the FBI have concluded that there was no evidence that sex offender Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a "client list" or was murdered. The Tesla CEO also invoked the name "Peanut" and said "they arrested (and killed) Peanut". What did Musk mean? Who is this 'peanut'? Here's all you need to know. What did Musk say? Elon Musk posted a meme on his X account that says, "More squirrels and raccoons have been arrested than anyone on Epstein's client list". he posted this along with the caption, "They arrested (and killed) Peanut, but have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list," adding "Government is deeply broken".

Elon Musk, while slamming US President Donald Trump on X over the Epstein files, invoked the name "Peanut" and said "they arrested (and killed) Peanut". What did Musk mean? Who is this 'peanut'? Here's all you need to know.

Musk goes nuts over Epstein files, slams Trump: 'They killed Peanut...Government is deeply broken'

US President Donald Trump said he 'doesn't know' who initially ordered the pause of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine while talking to reporters during his Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday (July 08). "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" Trump said in response to a reporter's question.This comes after Trump publicly contradicted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-america-party-eyeing-2026-midterms-with-america-party-and-has-some-unlikely-allies-here-s-who-s-backing-him-1751994680742">'In touch with Elon and his team': Musk eyeing 2026 midterms with ‘America Party’ and has some unlikely allies - Here’s</a><h2>Trump contradicts Hegseth on Ukraine aid</h2>Speaking Monday night, Trump said the United States will send more “defensive weapons” to Kyiv despite a recent Pentagon decision to pause military assistance. “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump said, while Hegseth, seated beside him, nodded along visibly. The move caught attention online, with some describing it as yet another public embarrassment for the former Fox News host, who has faced a string of such moments since taking over at the Pentagon.<h2>Defence secretary’s authority under question</h2>The Pentagon’s decision to pause weapons shipments, first reported by Politico, was reportedly driven by Elbridge Colby, a top policy official, and sparked pushback from Republican allies of Trump. Some accused defence officials of freezing aid without presidential approval, a claim the administration has denied.Trump himself distanced from the move during a recent call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reportedly saying he was not responsible for the delay.<h2>White House says, 'It was a routine review'</h2>On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected suggestions the freeze was unauthorised. “This was a standard review by the Pentagon of all weapons and all aid and all support that the United States is providing all countries and all regions around the world, not just Ukraine,” she said. Leavitt insisted the review had been initiated by Hegseth himself as part of a wider evaluation of global defence commitments.<h2>Pentagon confirms shipments will resume</h2>Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell issued a statement confirming new weapons will now be sent to Ukraine. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace,” he said. The Pentagon, however, declined to clarify when exactly the freeze began or when Hegseth was made aware of the president’s reversal.<h2>Not the first time Trump has sidelined his defence chief</h2>Trump’s public dismissal of the weapons pause is not the first time he has undercut Hegseth. Last month, Trump floated the idea of regime change in Iran shortly after Hegseth had declared the US operation “was not and has not been about regime change.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had echoed similar messaging, only for Trump to dismantle it with a social media post.

This comes after Trump publicly contradicted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US President Donald Trump said he 'doesn't know' who initially ordered the pause of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine while talking to reporters during his Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday (July 08). "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" Trump said in response to a reporter's question. This comes after Trump publicly contradicted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Also read: 'In touch with Elon and his team': Musk eyeing 2026 midterms with ‘America Party’ and has some unlikely allies - Here’s Trump contradicts Hegseth on Ukraine aid Speaking Monday night, Trump said the United States will send more “defensive weapons” to Kyiv despite a recent Pentagon decision to pause military assistance. “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump said, while Hegseth, seated beside him, nodded along visibly. The move caught attention online, with some describing it as yet another public embarrassment for the former Fox News host, who has faced a string of such moments since taking over at the Pentagon. Defence secretary’s authority under question The Pentagon’s decision to pause weapons shipments, first reported by Politico, was reportedly driven by Elbridge Colby, a top policy official, and sparked pushback from Republican allies of Trump. Some accused defence officials of freezing aid without presidential approval, a claim the administration has denied. Trump himself distanced from the move during a recent call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reportedly saying he was not responsible for the delay. White House says, 'It was a routine review' On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected suggestions the freeze was unauthorised. “This was a standard review by the Pentagon of all weapons and all aid and all support that the United States is providing all countries and all regions around the world, not just Ukraine,” she said. Leavitt insisted the review had been initiated by Hegseth himself as part of a wider evaluation of global defence commitments. Pentagon confirms shipments will resume Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell issued a statement confirming new weapons will now be sent to Ukraine. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace,” he said. The Pentagon, however, declined to clarify when exactly the freeze began or when Hegseth was made aware of the president’s reversal. Not the first time Trump has sidelined his defence chief Trump’s public dismissal of the weapons pause is not the first time he has undercut Hegseth. Last month, Trump floated the idea of regime change in Iran shortly after Hegseth had declared the US operation “was not and has not been about regime change.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had echoed similar messaging, only for Trump to dismantle it with a social media post.

This comes after Trump publicly contradicted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?': Trump roasts reporter over Ukraine weapons pause – Did Hegseth or someone else make the call?

President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that his administration will begin collecting new tariffs on imports from several countries starting 1 August 2025. The announcement came in a Truth Social post where Trump wrote, “As per letters sent to various countries yesterday, in addition to letters that will be sent today, tomorrow, and for the next short period of time, TARIFFS WILL START BEING PAID ON AUGUST 1, 2025."He added, "There has been no change to this date, and there will be no change. In other words, all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 – No extensions will be granted. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”The tariff rollout is part of Trump’s “90 Deals in 90 Days” initiative, which initially aimed to secure trade deals by 9 July. However, after only two deals were announced by that deadline, Trump quietly moved the goalpost to 1 August through a fresh executive order.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-just-launched-a-new-political-party-but-he-can-never-be-us-president-here-s-why-1751748208672">Elon Musk just launched a new political party, but he can never be US president - Here's why</a><h2>Which countries received Trump's Tariff letter?</h2>Trump’s new tariffs affect a wide range of countries, each facing different rates. The list includes several major trading partners:• Bangladesh – 35%• Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30%• Cambodia – 36%• Indonesia – 32%• Japan – 25%• Kazakhstan – 25%• Laos – 40%• Malaysia – 25%• Myanmar – 40%• Serbia – 35%• South Africa – 30%• South Korea – 25%• Thailand – 36%• Tunisia – 25%According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, more letters will be released in the coming days, and those made public so far are nearly identical, only the country name and tariff rate differ.<h2>What did Trump say in his letters to world leaders?</h2>In his letters to world leaders, Trump argued that the US had agreed to continue trade talks “despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country.” He added, “Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,” as justification for imposing new tariffs.Speaking to reporters, Trump insisted the delay didn’t mean the programme had failed. “We know everything. It’s all done. I told you. I told you. We’ll make some deals. We’re going to have much more than 90, but most of those are going to be sent a letter,” he said.<h2>How did Trump's tariff saga begin? All you need to know</h2>The new tariffs follow an executive order Trump signed on 2 April, which he dubbed “Liberation Day.” That order imposed steep tariffs on nearly every foreign country. After markets reacted negatively, Trump scaled the rates back to 10% for a 90-day period.The pause was set to end on 9 July, but with many deals still pending, Trump extended the deadline. Now, the higher “Liberation Day” tariffs will take effect from 1 August, unless he moves the goalposts&nbsp;again.

The tariff rollout is part of Trump’s “90 Deals in 90 Days” initiative, which initially aimed to secure trade deals by 9 July. However, after only two deals were announced by that deadline, Trump quietly moved the goalpost to 1 August through a fresh executive order.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that his administration will begin collecting new tariffs on imports from several countries starting 1 August 2025. The announcement came in a Truth Social post where Trump wrote, “As per letters sent to various countries yesterday, in addition to letters that will be sent today, tomorrow, and for the next short period of time, TARIFFS WILL START BEING PAID ON AUGUST 1, 2025." He added, "There has been no change to this date, and there will be no change. In other words, all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 – No extensions will be granted. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The tariff rollout is part of Trump’s “90 Deals in 90 Days” initiative, which initially aimed to secure trade deals by 9 July. However, after only two deals were announced by that deadline, Trump quietly moved the goalpost to 1 August through a fresh executive order. Also read: Elon Musk just launched a new political party, but he can never be US president - Here's why Which countries received Trump's Tariff letter? Trump’s new tariffs affect a wide range of countries, each facing different rates. The list includes several major trading partners: • Bangladesh – 35% • Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30% • Cambodia – 36% • Indonesia – 32% • Japan – 25% • Kazakhstan – 25% • Laos – 40% • Malaysia – 25% • Myanmar – 40% • Serbia – 35% • South Africa – 30% • South Korea – 25% • Thailand – 36% • Tunisia – 25% According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, more letters will be released in the coming days, and those made public so far are nearly identical, only the country name and tariff rate differ. What did Trump say in his letters to world leaders? In his letters to world leaders, Trump argued that the US had agreed to continue trade talks “despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country.” He added, “Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,” as justification for imposing new tariffs. Speaking to reporters, Trump insisted the delay didn’t mean the programme had failed. “We know everything. It’s all done. I told you. I told you. We’ll make some deals. We’re going to have much more than 90, but most of those are going to be sent a letter,” he said. How did Trump's tariff saga begin? All you need to know The new tariffs follow an executive order Trump signed on 2 April, which he dubbed “Liberation Day.” That order imposed steep tariffs on nearly every foreign country. After markets reacted negatively, Trump scaled the rates back to 10% for a 90-day period. The pause was set to end on 9 July, but with many deals still pending, Trump extended the deadline. Now, the higher “Liberation Day” tariffs will take effect from 1 August, unless he moves the goalposts again.

The tariff rollout is part of Trump’s “90 Deals in 90 Days” initiative, which initially aimed to secure trade deals by 9 July. However, after only two deals were announced by that deadline, Trump quietly moved the goalpost to 1 August through a fresh executive order.

‘No extensions, no change’: Trump says August 1 tariff deadline is final – Which countries are being hit and by how much?

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Jul 7) said that he would like to lift the US sanctions imposed on Iran but added that this could only be done "at the right time". The POTUS also revealed that Washington was scheduled to hold talks with Tehran, claiming, "they want to talk". Trump made the statement as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a dinner at the White House. When asked about the probability of the US carrying out another strike on Iran, Trump did not dismiss the possibility but said, "We're not going to have to do that".<h2>Impending Iran-US talks</h2>According to Donald Trump, Iran has "requested a meeting" as "they want to talk". The POTUS said that it'll be "good" if a deal can be signed as a result of the talks. “If we can put something down on paper, that will be fine. It'll be good," he said, adding, "We'll see what happens." Meanwhile, Trump's Middle East envoy has said that the meeting could happen in the "next week or so".When asked if there was something that could make him "have the desire" to carry out fresh strikes on Iran, Trump coyly replied, "we're not going to have to do that. I can't imagine wanting to do that". However, it must be noted that he did not dismiss the possibility that the US could strike Iran in the future. "I can't imagine them wanting to do that. They want to meet...they want to work something out," he added, as reported by the Anadolu news agency.<h2>Will Trump lift Iran sanctions?</h2>When asked about US-imposed sanctions on Tehran, Trump said that Iran was "very different now" than it was two weeks ago – before the US carried out "Operation Midnight Hammer", striking Iranian nuclear sites. "I hope it's over. Yeah, I think Iran wants to meet. I think they want to make peace, and I'm all for it," he added.Referring to the US lifting Syrian sanctions, he said that the decision was taken at the request of many countries in the Middle East, adding that the US wanted "to give them (Syria) a chance". He then said, similarly, he would like to remove the tough "biting" sanctions the US has imposed on Iran, but "at the right time". "I would love to be able to, at the right time, take those sanctions off (Iran), give them a chance at rebuilding, because I'd like to see Iran build itself back up in a peaceful manner and not going around saying, 'Death to America,' 'Death to the USA,' 'Death to Israel,' as they were doing," he said.&nbsp;

When asked about the probability of the US carrying out another strike on Iran, Trump did not dismiss the possibility but said, "We're not going to have to do that".

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Jul 7) said that he would like to lift the US sanctions imposed on Iran but added that this could only be done "at the right time". The POTUS also revealed that Washington was scheduled to hold talks with Tehran, claiming, "they want to talk". Trump made the statement as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a dinner at the White House. When asked about the probability of the US carrying out another strike on Iran, Trump did not dismiss the possibility but said, "We're not going to have to do that". Impending Iran-US talks According to Donald Trump, Iran has "requested a meeting" as "they want to talk". The POTUS said that it'll be "good" if a deal can be signed as a result of the talks. “If we can put something down on paper, that will be fine. It'll be good," he said, adding, "We'll see what happens." Meanwhile, Trump's Middle East envoy has said that the meeting could happen in the "next week or so". When asked if there was something that could make him "have the desire" to carry out fresh strikes on Iran, Trump coyly replied, "we're not going to have to do that. I can't imagine wanting to do that". However, it must be noted that he did not dismiss the possibility that the US could strike Iran in the future. "I can't imagine them wanting to do that. They want to meet...they want to work something out," he added, as reported by the Anadolu news agency. Will Trump lift Iran sanctions? When asked about US-imposed sanctions on Tehran, Trump said that Iran was "very different now" than it was two weeks ago – before the US carried out "Operation Midnight Hammer", striking Iranian nuclear sites. "I hope it's over. Yeah, I think Iran wants to meet. I think they want to make peace, and I'm all for it," he added. Referring to the US lifting Syrian sanctions, he said that the decision was taken at the request of many countries in the Middle East, adding that the US wanted "to give them (Syria) a chance". He then said, similarly, he would like to remove the tough "biting" sanctions the US has imposed on Iran, but "at the right time". "I would love to be able to, at the right time, take those sanctions off (Iran), give them a chance at rebuilding, because I'd like to see Iran build itself back up in a peaceful manner and not going around saying, 'Death to America,' 'Death to the USA,' 'Death to Israel,' as they were doing," he said.

When asked about the probability of the US carrying out another strike on Iran, Trump did not dismiss the possibility but said, "We're not going to have to do that".

Trump open to lifting Iran sanctions 'at the right time,' doesn't rule out future strikes

The death toll from the devastating floods that swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend climbed past 100 on Monday (Jul 7), as search crews continued to scour rivers and debris for missing people swept away by torrents of water. As per reports, among the dead were at least 27 girls and camp counsellors caught in the surging Guadalupe River while attending a summer programme at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp located near Hunt. The camp was housing around 750 people when the floods hit early Friday morning.<h2>"100-year catastrophe"</h2>The scale of the disaster — which US President Donald Trump has described as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected" — has stunned even those familiar with the region's violent weather. Rainfall over Thursday night and into Friday morning triggered a flash flood that sent river levels skyrocketing by 26 feet (7.92 metres) in just 45 minutes, submerging trees, rooftops, and anything in its path. As per reports, months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, triggering the flash flood.Talking to AFF, Louis Deppe, a 62-year-old volunteer aiding in the recovery, said that they were "helping the parents of two of the missing children". Deppe revealed that the last message received by the grief-stricken parents was, "'We're being washed away,' and the phone went dead." Governor Greg Abbott warned that the threat was far from over, "There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding," he said Monday, adding that the number of fatalities could still rise.<h2>Did Trump's budget cuts make the flood situation worse?</h2>Trump has confirmed he will visit Texas on Friday (Jul 11). At a press briefing, the White House pushed back on criticism linking Trump's past budget cuts to weakened early-warning systems, calling the accusations "a depraved lie." Speaking to reporters on Monday (Jul 7) Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that "Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning". She said that the National Weather Service, which, as per a New York Times report, had several staff roles vacant in Texas, issued "timely and precise forecasts". &nbsp;

As per reports, among the dead were at least 27 girls and camp counsellors caught in the surging Guadalupe River while attending a summer programme at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp located near Hunt.

The death toll from the devastating floods that swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend climbed past 100 on Monday (Jul 7), as search crews continued to scour rivers and debris for missing people swept away by torrents of water. As per reports, among the dead were at least 27 girls and camp counsellors caught in the surging Guadalupe River while attending a summer programme at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp located near Hunt. The camp was housing around 750 people when the floods hit early Friday morning. "100-year catastrophe" The scale of the disaster — which US President Donald Trump has described as a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected" — has stunned even those familiar with the region's violent weather. Rainfall over Thursday night and into Friday morning triggered a flash flood that sent river levels skyrocketing by 26 feet (7.92 metres) in just 45 minutes, submerging trees, rooftops, and anything in its path. As per reports, months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, triggering the flash flood. Talking to AFF, Louis Deppe, a 62-year-old volunteer aiding in the recovery, said that they were "helping the parents of two of the missing children". Deppe revealed that the last message received by the grief-stricken parents was, "'We're being washed away,' and the phone went dead." Governor Greg Abbott warned that the threat was far from over, "There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding," he said Monday, adding that the number of fatalities could still rise. Did Trump's budget cuts make the flood situation worse? Trump has confirmed he will visit Texas on Friday (Jul 11). At a press briefing, the White House pushed back on criticism linking Trump's past budget cuts to weakened early-warning systems, calling the accusations "a depraved lie." Speaking to reporters on Monday (Jul 7) Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that "Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning". She said that the National Weather Service, which, as per a New York Times report, had several staff roles vacant in Texas, issued "timely and precise forecasts".

As per reports, among the dead were at least 27 girls and camp counsellors caught in the surging Guadalupe River while attending a summer programme at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp located near Hunt.

'We're being washed away': Over 100, including dozens of children dead in 'catastrophic' Texas flash floods

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imports from Japan and South Korea, accusing both nations of unfair trade practices. In official letters sent to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said the new tariffs will take effect from 1 August. This marks the start of a fresh trade push. Earlier, Trump said that he plans to send “12, maybe 15” letters to major trading partners announcing new tariffs.&nbsp;Later, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Malaysia and Kazakhstan, 30% on South Africa, and 40% on Laos and Myanmar.White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump would sign an executive order on Monday formally delaying the original July 9 deadline to August 1."There will be additional letters in the coming days," Leavitt said, adding, "we are close" on some deals.The US has reached only two agreements so far, with Britain and Vietnam. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-no-one-s-been-arrested-o-clock-elon-musk-slams-trump-s-fbi-and-doj-over-epstein-memo-1751899376879">‘It’s no-one’s-been-arrested-o’clock’: Elon Musk slams Trump's FBI and DOJ over Epstein memo</a><h2>Letters accuse both countries of unfair trade deals</h2>Trump’s letters to the leaders of Japan and South Korea are nearly identical, blaming both nations for long-term trade imbalances with the US. He posted the full text of his message to Japan and South Korea on Truth Social.Here are excerpts from his letter to Japan<blockquote>“We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Japan,” Trump wrote to Prime Minister Shigeru, “and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.”“Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Japan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Japanese products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.”</blockquote><h2>No tariffs if companies move production to the US</h2>In the same letter, Trump urged Japanese firms to manufacture in the United States, promising fast-track approvals.<blockquote>“Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country,” he wrote.“There will be no Tariff if Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely, in other words, in a matter of weeks.”</blockquote><h2>More tariff letters expected soon</h2>The White House is expected to release more letters to other major US trading partners throughout the week, as part of what Trump describes as a new phase in his America First trade policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leavitt refused to disclose which other countries will receive the tariff letters, and said, "I'll let the president reveal those in very due time. Keep your eyes on Truth Social."&nbsp;

In official letters sent to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said the new tariffs will take effect from 1 August.

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imports from Japan and South Korea, accusing both nations of unfair trade practices. In official letters sent to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said the new tariffs will take effect from 1 August. This marks the start of a fresh trade push. Earlier, Trump said that he plans to send “12, maybe 15” letters to major trading partners announcing new tariffs. Later, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Malaysia and Kazakhstan, 30% on South Africa, and 40% on Laos and Myanmar. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump would sign an executive order on Monday formally delaying the original July 9 deadline to August 1. "There will be additional letters in the coming days," Leavitt said, adding, "we are close" on some deals. The US has reached only two agreements so far, with Britain and Vietnam. Also read: ‘It’s no-one’s-been-arrested-o’clock’: Elon Musk slams Trump's FBI and DOJ over Epstein memo Letters accuse both countries of unfair trade deals Trump’s letters to the leaders of Japan and South Korea are nearly identical, blaming both nations for long-term trade imbalances with the US. He posted the full text of his message to Japan and South Korea on Truth Social. Here are excerpts from his letter to Japan “We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Japan,” Trump wrote to Prime Minister Shigeru, “and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.” “Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Japan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Japanese products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.” No tariffs if companies move production to the US In the same letter, Trump urged Japanese firms to manufacture in the United States, promising fast-track approvals. “Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country,” he wrote. “There will be no Tariff if Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely, in other words, in a matter of weeks.” More tariff letters expected soon The White House is expected to release more letters to other major US trading partners throughout the week, as part of what Trump describes as a new phase in his America First trade policy. Leavitt refused to disclose which other countries will receive the tariff letters, and said, "I'll let the president reveal those in very due time. Keep your eyes on Truth Social."

In official letters sent to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said the new tariffs will take effect from 1 August.

Trump kicks off new trade war with high tariffs on Japan, South Korea and five other countries

Elon Musk led a wave of anger from Trump supporters after the FBI and Justice Department officially ruled out the existence of a so-called “Epstein client list”. A memo obtained by Axios revealed that federal investigators found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed powerful people or kept a list of clients.The document also said that no further charges will be filed, apart from those already brought against Epstein’s close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-complete-disappointment-kash-patel-once-pushed-epstein-conspiracies-now-leads-trump-s-fbi-and-dismisses-them-but-maga-isn-t-buying-it-1751892825511">‘Complete disappointment’: Kash Patel once pushed Epstein conspiracies, now leads Trump’s FBI and dismisses them, but MAGA&nbsp;isn’t&nbsp;buying&nbsp;it</a>The FBI also plans to release surveillance footage that it says confirms Epstein took his own life in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial.<h2>Trump loyalists turn on FBI over ‘missing’ Epstein list</h2>The update triggered a backlash from MAGA influencers and Trump allies, many of whom had long claimed the files would reveal damning information about political elites.Musk, who once claimed Donald Trump was in the Epstein files, and later retracted it posted on X, “What’s the time? Oh look, it’s no-one-has-been-arrested-o’clock again,” Musk wrote on X, alongside an image of a fake “Jeffrey Epstein pedophile arrest counter” stuck at zero. He also posted a meme of a man applying clown makeup, ending with the words, “There is no Epstein list.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What’s the time? Oh look, it’s no-one-has-been-arrested-o’clock again … <a href="https://t.co/CO9xJz68Tf">pic.twitter.com/CO9xJz68Tf</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1942132189229162960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Pam Bondi once promised release, now under fire</h2>Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi had told Fox News in February that the list was “sitting on my desk right now to review,” promising transparency. That hasn’t happened. MAGA influencer Chad Prather wrote, “You told us it existed and now you say it doesn’t? America deserves answers.”Robby Starbuck added, “Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk… Now the DOJ she leads claims that there’s no Epstein client list. Sorry but this is unacceptable.”Laura Loomer, a far-right commentator, accused Bondi of “lying” and criticised the timing of the DOJ’s update, saying, “Who releases a statement about the Epstein files on the Sunday night of 4th of July weekend?”<h2>FBI leaders once doubted Epstein’s death, now backtrack</h2>Before joining the FBI, both current Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino had pushed claims that Epstein didn’t kill himself. They have since changed their stance. “He killed himself. I’ve seen the whole file,” Bongino said in May.

Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi had told Fox News in February that the list was “sitting on my desk right now to review,” promising transparency. That hasn’t happened.

Elon Musk led a wave of anger from Trump supporters after the FBI and Justice Department officially ruled out the existence of a so-called “Epstein client list”. A memo obtained by Axios revealed that federal investigators found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed powerful people or kept a list of clients. The document also said that no further charges will be filed, apart from those already brought against Epstein’s close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking. Also read: ‘Complete disappointment’: Kash Patel once pushed Epstein conspiracies, now leads Trump’s FBI and dismisses them, but MAGA isn’t buying it The FBI also plans to release surveillance footage that it says confirms Epstein took his own life in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial. Trump loyalists turn on FBI over ‘missing’ Epstein list The update triggered a backlash from MAGA influencers and Trump allies, many of whom had long claimed the files would reveal damning information about political elites. Musk, who once claimed Donald Trump was in the Epstein files, and later retracted it posted on X, “What’s the time? Oh look, it’s no-one-has-been-arrested-o’clock again,” Musk wrote on X, alongside an image of a fake “Jeffrey Epstein pedophile arrest counter” stuck at zero. He also posted a meme of a man applying clown makeup, ending with the words, “There is no Epstein list.”

Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi had told Fox News in February that the list was “sitting on my desk right now to review,” promising transparency. That hasn’t happened.

‘It’s no-one’s-been-arrested-o’clock’: Elon Musk slams Trump's FBI and DOJ over Epstein memo

Donald Trump’s FBI has concluded there is no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein kept a secret “client list”, blackmailed powerful individuals, or was murdered, directly contradicting years of speculation, some of which was once pushed by the same people now leading the agency.The revelations, first reported by Axios, come from a two-page memo summarising the findings of an internal Justice Department investigation under the Trump administration. It comes shortly after Elon Musk publicly accused Trump of being named in the long-rumoured Epstein files, an accusation he later deleted.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-s-new-america-party-gets-support-from-mark-cuban-anthony-scaramucci-here-s-who-wants-in-1751803571320">'Billionaire, Ex-Trump ally': Elon Musk’s new ‘America Party’ gets support from surprising allies: Here’s who wants in</a><h2>Elon Musk’s accusation went viral</h2>In early June, Musk escalated his feud with Donald Trump by writing on X, “Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.” The post was deleted later. Trump responded by dismissing the claim, telling NBC News, “That’s called old news… Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.” He added, “I was not at all friendly with him [Epstein] for probably 18 years before he died.”<h2>The memo: No client list, no blackmail, no conspiracy</h2>The FBI memo reviewed by Axios said there was “no credible evidence” that Epstein was running a blackmail operation or maintained a so-called “client list”. Investigators said they found no grounds to charge anyone else and had viewed prison footage that backed up the official ruling that Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019.Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously said she had access to Epstein’s client list and promised to release it, has not commented since the FBI memo came out. Earlier this year, she told Fox News, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review… Americans have a right to know.” At that time, Trump Jr. also chimed in, reposting news that Bondi had the files and adding “LFG” — let’s f***ing go.<h2>From conspiracy to contradiction: What changed?</h2>The memo’s publication marks a sharp turnaround, especially from figures like Kash Patel, who is now Trump’s FBI director. Before his appointment, Patel was one of the most vocal Epstein conspiracy theorists in pro-Trump media. Dan Bongino, now deputy director of the FBI, also frequently questioned the official version of Epstein’s death, suggesting a cover-up. Both now say Epstein died by suicide and there is no wider plot.“He killed himself,” Bongino said in May on Fox News. “I’ve seen the whole file.” Yet many on the right remain unconvinced. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) posted in May, “THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!”<h2>What the Epstein memo didn’t reveal</h2>Despite the FBI’s statement, some key questions remain. Bondi had earlier said that the FBI initially gave her only a few hundred pages, but eventually handed over thousands of documents. She claimed they contained flight logs, victim names, and more. As of now, the full contents of those documents have not been made public. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time associate, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors and related charges. No further prosecutions are planned.

In early June, Musk escalated his feud with Donald Trump by writing on X, “Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.” The post was deleted later.

Donald Trump’s FBI has concluded there is no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein kept a secret “client list”, blackmailed powerful individuals, or was murdered, directly contradicting years of speculation, some of which was once pushed by the same people now leading the agency. The revelations, first reported by Axios, come from a two-page memo summarising the findings of an internal Justice Department investigation under the Trump administration. It comes shortly after Elon Musk publicly accused Trump of being named in the long-rumoured Epstein files, an accusation he later deleted. Also read: 'Billionaire, Ex-Trump ally': Elon Musk’s new ‘America Party’ gets support from surprising allies: Here’s who wants in Elon Musk’s accusation went viral In early June, Musk escalated his feud with Donald Trump by writing on X, “Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.” The post was deleted later. Trump responded by dismissing the claim, telling NBC News, “That’s called old news… Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.” He added, “I was not at all friendly with him [Epstein] for probably 18 years before he died.” The memo: No client list, no blackmail, no conspiracy The FBI memo reviewed by Axios said there was “no credible evidence” that Epstein was running a blackmail operation or maintained a so-called “client list”. Investigators said they found no grounds to charge anyone else and had viewed prison footage that backed up the official ruling that Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously said she had access to Epstein’s client list and promised to release it, has not commented since the FBI memo came out. Earlier this year, she told Fox News, “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review… Americans have a right to know.” At that time, Trump Jr. also chimed in, reposting news that Bondi had the files and adding “LFG” — let’s f***ing go. From conspiracy to contradiction: What changed? The memo’s publication marks a sharp turnaround, especially from figures like Kash Patel, who is now Trump’s FBI director. Before his appointment, Patel was one of the most vocal Epstein conspiracy theorists in pro-Trump media. Dan Bongino, now deputy director of the FBI, also frequently questioned the official version of Epstein’s death, suggesting a cover-up. Both now say Epstein died by suicide and there is no wider plot. “He killed himself,” Bongino said in May on Fox News. “I’ve seen the whole file.” Yet many on the right remain unconvinced. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) posted in May, “THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” What the Epstein memo didn’t reveal Despite the FBI’s statement, some key questions remain. Bondi had earlier said that the FBI initially gave her only a few hundred pages, but eventually handed over thousands of documents. She claimed they contained flight logs, victim names, and more. As of now, the full contents of those documents have not been made public. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s long-time associate, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors and related charges. No further prosecutions are planned.

In early June, Musk escalated his feud with Donald Trump by writing on X, “Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.” The post was deleted later.

‘Complete disappointment’: Kash Patel once pushed Epstein conspiracies, now leads Trump’s FBI and dismisses them, but MAGA isn’t buying it

Elon Musk on Friday (Jul 4) revealed exactly how he planned to execute his explosive political idea: creating a third party to break the dominance of Democrats and Republicans. The tech billionaire revealed what appears to be a calculated two-step plan to seize unprecedented influence in Washington — all without ever gunning for the presidency. While Musk's so-called "America Party" might sound like yet another billionaire's political vanity project, according to the devious strategy shared by the SpaceX CEO on his platform, X, it may be a tactical design to become Congress's kingmaker. Here's all we know.<h2>What is Trump's two-pronged plan?</h2>As America celebrated the Fourth of July, Musk on X shared exactly how he would gain control of the US Congress. The tech billionaire once again floated the idea of a new third party called the "American Party" and even posted a poll, in his usual fashion, asking people if he should create a third political party."Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system!", he wrote, referring to Democrats and Republicans. "Should we create the America Party?" he posed to his followers in a poll, offering a 'yes' or 'no' response. The poll, which at the time this article was posted had only 10 hours left, already had 999,383 votes, with a whopping 64.2 per cent in favour and only 35.8 per cent against the idea.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system! Should we create the America Party?— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1941119099532378580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Musk then revealed exactly how he would break the two-system party system's grip. "One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts," he wrote, adding, “Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts. Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1941125459628179641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>But what does this mean? How will Musk's plan to take power from Trump's hands work?</h2>As Grok explained when asked to in the style of Charles Bukowski: "Listen, kid, this America Party ain't no polished dream—it's a raw gut-punch to the bloated uniparty beast. Musk says grab a fistful of Senate seats and House districts, razor-thin like a hangover edge. Hold the swing vote, force laws to bow to the real folks, not the suits sucking whiskey in backrooms. Independence? Hell, it's a brawl for the soul, dirty and true."Translation? Flip a handful of tight races with "America Party" candidates and hold the balance of power in Congress. No need to win hundreds of seats. No need to build a governing majority. Just wedge the party into the thinnest cracks of the current system — and control what comes through.

While Musk's so-called "America Party" might sound like yet another billionaire's political vanity project, according to the devious strategy shared by the SpaceX CEO on his platform, X, it may be a tactical design to become Congress's kingmaker. Here's all we know.

Elon Musk on Friday (Jul 4) revealed exactly how he planned to execute his explosive political idea: creating a third party to break the dominance of Democrats and Republicans. The tech billionaire revealed what appears to be a calculated two-step plan to seize unprecedented influence in Washington — all without ever gunning for the presidency. While Musk's so-called "America Party" might sound like yet another billionaire's political vanity project, according to the devious strategy shared by the SpaceX CEO on his platform, X, it may be a tactical design to become Congress's kingmaker. Here's all we know. What is Trump's two-pronged plan? As America celebrated the Fourth of July, Musk on X shared exactly how he would gain control of the US Congress. The tech billionaire once again floated the idea of a new third party called the "American Party" and even posted a poll, in his usual fashion, asking people if he should create a third political party. "Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system!", he wrote, referring to Democrats and Republicans. "Should we create the America Party?" he posed to his followers in a poll, offering a 'yes' or 'no' response. The poll, which at the time this article was posted had only 10 hours left, already had 999,383 votes, with a whopping 64.2 per cent in favour and only 35.8 per cent against the idea.

While Musk's so-called "America Party" might sound like yet another billionaire's political vanity project, according to the devious strategy shared by the SpaceX CEO on his platform, X, it may be a tactical design to become Congress's kingmaker. Here's all we know.

Here's how Elon Musk will use America Party to hijack Congress without running for president; Trump's ex-ally reveals devious plan | Explained

US President Donald Trump, on Sunday, labelled the floods in Texas a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected", as he brushed off concerns that his administration's federal budget cuts to weather and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. The US president also said that he would "probably" visit Texas on Friday. Rescue efforts intensified across central Texas on Sunday after the death toll rose to at least 82 people, including 28 children, and left dozens missing, many swept away from a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.<h2>The death toll will get worse: Texas public safety chief</h2>Texas officials confirmed at least 40 adult deaths in Kerr County alone, the epicentre of what some are calling the worst flood disaster in state history. Meanwhile, at least 10 were killed by flooding in nearby areas. The death toll is expected to rise further, according to Texas Public Safety Director Freeman Martin, as 41 people remain unaccounted for statewide."You will see the death toll rise today," Martin said grimly at a press conference. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a statement, revealed that "Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing."&nbsp;<h2>Trump blames Biden, yet again</h2>Speaking on Sunday, President Donald Trump brushed aside criticism that federal budget cuts to weather, and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. As questions grow about why the public was not warned sooner or why people were not evacuated from the area known to be popular with campers, Trump sought to deflect the blame and claimed that the situation was a "Biden setup". "That was not our setup," Trump said when asked about warnings that failed to reach campers in time. He claimed the situation was a "Biden setup," despite having been in office for around six months.When probed about staff and budget cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS), and his efforts to dismantle FEMA, he said: "FEMA is something we can talk about later." When asked if he would rehire forecasters, Trump responded flatly: "Not." Trump, who has pushed for state-led disaster relief, also signed a major federal disaster declaration, unlocking limited federal aid to the flood-ravaged state.<h2>Camp Mystic: Children washed away as river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes</h2>Among the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge is the fate of at least ten girls and one counsellor who are still missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp where 750 people were staying when the floods hit early Friday. According to AFP, in a terrifying display of nature's power, the river rose to the treetops and roofs of the cabins at Camp Mystic as the girls slept. The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes, inundating homes, cabins, and roads. The bodies of some campers have already been found, lodged in trees downstream. Rescuers—including 17 helicopters and hundreds of ground teams—continue to scour the area. Search crews found at least three bodies on Sunday, including one girl from the camp.

Speaking on Sunday, President Donald Trump brushed aside criticism that federal budget cuts to weather, and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. He instead claimed the situation was a "Biden setup," despite having been in office for around six months.

US President Donald Trump, on Sunday, labelled the floods in Texas a "100-year catastrophe" that "nobody expected", as he brushed off concerns that his administration's federal budget cuts to weather and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. The US president also said that he would "probably" visit Texas on Friday. Rescue efforts intensified across central Texas on Sunday after the death toll rose to at least 82 people, including 28 children, and left dozens missing, many swept away from a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River. The death toll will get worse: Texas public safety chief Texas officials confirmed at least 40 adult deaths in Kerr County alone, the epicentre of what some are calling the worst flood disaster in state history. Meanwhile, at least 10 were killed by flooding in nearby areas. The death toll is expected to rise further, according to Texas Public Safety Director Freeman Martin, as 41 people remain unaccounted for statewide. "You will see the death toll rise today," Martin said grimly at a press conference. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in a statement, revealed that "Across the state, in all the areas affected by flooding, there are 41 known missing." Trump blames Biden, yet again Speaking on Sunday, President Donald Trump brushed aside criticism that federal budget cuts to weather, and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. As questions grow about why the public was not warned sooner or why people were not evacuated from the area known to be popular with campers, Trump sought to deflect the blame and claimed that the situation was a "Biden setup". "That was not our setup," Trump said when asked about warnings that failed to reach campers in time. He claimed the situation was a "Biden setup," despite having been in office for around six months. When probed about staff and budget cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS), and his efforts to dismantle FEMA, he said: "FEMA is something we can talk about later." When asked if he would rehire forecasters, Trump responded flatly: "Not." Trump, who has pushed for state-led disaster relief, also signed a major federal disaster declaration, unlocking limited federal aid to the flood-ravaged state. Camp Mystic: Children washed away as river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes Among the most heart-wrenching stories to emerge is the fate of at least ten girls and one counsellor who are still missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp where 750 people were staying when the floods hit early Friday. According to AFP, in a terrifying display of nature's power, the river rose to the treetops and roofs of the cabins at Camp Mystic as the girls slept. The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet (eight meters) in just 45 minutes, inundating homes, cabins, and roads. The bodies of some campers have already been found, lodged in trees downstream. Rescuers—including 17 helicopters and hundreds of ground teams—continue to scour the area. Search crews found at least three bodies on Sunday, including one girl from the camp.

Speaking on Sunday, President Donald Trump brushed aside criticism that federal budget cuts to weather, and emergency agencies had worsened the disaster. He instead claimed the situation was a "Biden setup", despite having been in office for around six months.

'100-year catastrophe': Trump deflects blame, calls Texas flash flood 'Biden setup' as toll crosses 80

In a dramatic escalation of their public fallout, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jul 6) ridiculed Elon Musk's surprise plan to launch a new third party, calling it "ridiculous" and branding the tech mogul a "train wreck" who had gone "off the rails". The scathing remarks deepen the Republican leader's feud with the world's richest man, who was once his biggest backer, and come just a day after Musk announced the formation of the "America Party". The tech mogul has pitched it as an alternative to what he described as a "one-party system" dominated by Democrats and Republicans.<h2>Trump calls Musk's America Party ridiculous</h2>Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on his way back to Washington from his New Jersey golf club, the President of the United States said, “I think it's ridiculous to start a third party.” Trump insisted that "It's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous".Doubling down, Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, mocked Musk from aboard Air Force One: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.” "The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION &amp; CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats." In a lengthy tirade, he once again insisted that Musk's rebellion stems from the Big Beautiful Bill's elimination of "the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate".

<h2>From ally to adversary: Is the Trump-Musk bromance over?</h2>Donald Trump's blunt dismissal of Musk's America Party signals a sharp deterioration in the bromance between Trump and Musk, who previously headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration and was a key player in federal budget-cutting reforms.The two men fell out over Trump's massive domestic tax-and-spending bill, which Musk publicly opposed, calling it a plan that would explode the US debt. Equating Trump's Republican Party to the rival Democratic Party, the Tesla boss on X wrote, "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste &amp; graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy".Despite Trump’s mockery, the “America Party” idea is already generating buzz online. Musk’s initial poll on X on whether or not he should launch the party drew millions of views and tens of thousands of positive votes. Now, as per reports, Musk's political rebellion is putting the Republican Party on alert. While few concrete details are known about the "America Party," Trump loyalists fear it could cause Republicans headaches in the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.

Doubling down, Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, also mocked Musk from aboard Air Force One: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”

In a dramatic escalation of their public fallout, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jul 6) ridiculed Elon Musk's surprise plan to launch a new third party, calling it "ridiculous" and branding the tech mogul a "train wreck" who had gone "off the rails". The scathing remarks deepen the Republican leader's feud with the world's richest man, who was once his biggest backer, and come just a day after Musk announced the formation of the "America Party". The tech mogul has pitched it as an alternative to what he described as a "one-party system" dominated by Democrats and Republicans. Trump calls Musk's America Party ridiculous Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on his way back to Washington from his New Jersey golf club, the President of the United States said, “I think it's ridiculous to start a third party.” Trump insisted that "It's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous". Doubling down, Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, mocked Musk from aboard Air Force One: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.” "The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats." In a lengthy tirade, he once again insisted that Musk's rebellion stems from the Big Beautiful Bill's elimination of "the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate".

Doubling down, Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, mocked Musk from aboard Air Force One: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails,' essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.”

Trump calls Musk's America Party 'ridiculous,' labels former ally a 'train wreck' for political rebellion

Elon Musk may have created his own political movement, the ‘America Party’, but one thing is certain that he can never be president of the United States. On Saturday (July 5), the billionaire tech mogul declared the formation of the party on his platform X, writing, “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”He pointed to an online poll where 65.4% of over a million respondents backed the idea of a new party. “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party, and you shall have it!” Musk said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-launches-america-party-after-rift-with-trump-is-this-the-end-of-us-two-party-system-1751746649569">'To give you back your freedom': Elon Musk launches ‘America Party’ after rift with Trump - Is this the end of US two-party system?</a><h2>Why can Musk never be president?</h2>Musk is constitutionally barred from running for the presidency. According to Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the US Constitution, only a natural-born citizen can hold the office of president. Musk was born in South Africa, making him ineligible, regardless of his long residency in the United States or his status as a US citizen. The clause clearly states, “No Person except a natural born Citizen… shall be eligible to the Office of President.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-170-billion-700-miles-border-wall-trump-declares-us-now-ready-for-largest-mass-deportation-operation-after-signing-mega-bill-1751737091597">'$170 billion, 700 miles border wall': Trump declares US now ready for 'largest mass deportation operation' after signing mega bill</a><h2>Trump: “He’s not going to be president”</h2>Donald Trump has pointed this out himself. In a speech in Phoenix in 2024, Arizona, the former president responded to speculation over Musk’s rising political influence.“President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk? No, no, that’s not happening,” Trump said. “But no, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you. And I’m safe. You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country,” he added.<h2>Musk: “I don’t want to be president”</h2>Interestingly, Musk agrees. He has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of running for president, not just because of the constitutional hurdle, but also due to a lack of interest in political office. “My grandfather was American, but I was born in Africa, so I cannot be president,” Musk said last year. “But I actually don’t want to be president. I want to build rockets and cars,” he added. “I believe we want to be a spacefaring civilisation, and that’s where my focus will remain,” he said.Musk’s launch of the America Party comes after a sharp rift with Trump, especially over the president’s massive ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, which Musk has criticised for driving up the national debt. Though he once supported the bill and donated $277 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk later changed his stance, threatening to create a new party if it passed, and now he’s followed through.The legislation, now signed into law, includes deep tax cuts, a huge immigration crackdown, and plans for expanded border enforcement. Musk has taken issue with the projected $3.3 trillion debt increase the bill&nbsp;would&nbsp;cause.

Musk’s launch of the America Party comes after a sharp rift with Trump, especially over the president’s massive ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, which Musk has criticised for driving up the national debt. 

Elon Musk may have created his own political movement, the ‘America Party’, but one thing is certain that he can never be president of the United States. On Saturday (July 5), the billionaire tech mogul declared the formation of the party on his platform X, writing, “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.” He pointed to an online poll where 65.4% of over a million respondents backed the idea of a new party. “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party, and you shall have it!” Musk said. Also read: 'To give you back your freedom': Elon Musk launches ‘America Party’ after rift with Trump - Is this the end of US two-party system? Why can Musk never be president? Musk is constitutionally barred from running for the presidency. According to Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the US Constitution, only a natural-born citizen can hold the office of president. Musk was born in South Africa, making him ineligible, regardless of his long residency in the United States or his status as a US citizen. The clause clearly states, “No Person except a natural born Citizen… shall be eligible to the Office of President.” Also read: '$170 billion, 700 miles border wall': Trump declares US now ready for 'largest mass deportation operation' after signing mega bill Trump: “He’s not going to be president” Donald Trump has pointed this out himself. In a speech in Phoenix in 2024, Arizona, the former president responded to speculation over Musk’s rising political influence. “President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk? No, no, that’s not happening,” Trump said. “But no, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you. And I’m safe. You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country,” he added. Musk: “I don’t want to be president” Interestingly, Musk agrees. He has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of running for president, not just because of the constitutional hurdle, but also due to a lack of interest in political office. “My grandfather was American, but I was born in Africa, so I cannot be president,” Musk said last year. “But I actually don’t want to be president. I want to build rockets and cars,” he added. “I believe we want to be a spacefaring civilisation, and that’s where my focus will remain,” he said. Musk’s launch of the America Party comes after a sharp rift with Trump, especially over the president’s massive ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, which Musk has criticised for driving up the national debt. Though he once supported the bill and donated $277 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk later changed his stance, threatening to create a new party if it passed, and now he’s followed through. The legislation, now signed into law, includes deep tax cuts, a huge immigration crackdown, and plans for expanded border enforcement. Musk has taken issue with the projected $3.3 trillion debt increase the bill would cause.

Musk’s launch of the America Party comes after a sharp rift with Trump, especially over the president’s massive ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, which Musk has criticised for driving up the national debt.&nbsp;

Elon Musk just launched a new political party, but he can never be US president - Here's why

The United States is confronting a stubborn new divide in its labour market: young college graduates are facing their highest unemployment rate in over a decade (outside the pandemic), even as the overall jobless rate stays historically low. According to data reported by AFP and official US sources, unemployment for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 reached 5.8 per cent in May 2025, the worst level since November 2013 excluding Covid-era spikes. By contrast, the US overall unemployment rate has remained steady near 4.1 per cent in June 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.&nbsp;This widening gap is raising alarm that America’s post-pandemic recovery is leaving many young workers behind, with policy uncertainty, sectoral slowdowns and technological disruption hitting entry-level jobs especially hard.<h2>Post-Trump policy uncertainty weighs on hiring</h2>Economists point to cyclical slowdowns in tech, finance and business services, the sectors that typically absorb large numbers of fresh graduates. Payroll firm Gusto reported new-grad hiring is down 16 per cent in 2025 year-on-year. As quoted by AFP, analysts also blame what they call “extremely high uncertainty” in the early period of Donald Trump’s current presidency.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shifts in trade policy, tax rules and federal regulation have made firms cautious about expanding their payrolls. Job openings for professional and business services have declined by over 40 per cent since 2021, according to research cited in The Wall Street Journal.<h2>Comparing Trump-era trends: before and after</h2>Before Trump returned to power in January 2025, the US overall labour market had largely stabilised post-pandemic. Under Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, overall unemployment averaged around 5.0 per cent, even dropping below 4 per cent before the Covid-19 spike.&nbsp;&nbsp;Under President Biden (2021–2025), the post-pandemic unemployment rate fell steadily to around 3.5–4.0 per cent, hitting a low of 3.4 per cent in early 2023, according to BLS data. But in 2025, despite this broader stability, the youth unemployment rate for recent graduates has risen sharply, defying the overall trend and signalling a persistent problem for new entrants to the labour market.<h2>AI disruption compounds the crisis</h2>Alongside policy uncertainty, structural change is reshaping entry-level jobs. As reported by AFP and The Wall Street Journal, the technology sector in particular has sharply reduced new graduate hiring since the hiring spree of 2021–22.&nbsp;Firms are also testing AI-based automation to replace or redesign roles traditionally staffed by new grads. While adoption remains in early stages, experts warn even the possibility of automation is slowing hiring decisions.<h2>Heavy debt loads add to the burden</h2>For graduates already struggling to land work, the cost of American higher education looms large. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of a US undergraduate degree is roughly $27,700.&nbsp;&nbsp;Around 36 per cent of undergraduates take federal student loans, with an average debt of $29,550 upon graduation. As AFP notes, many new graduates find themselves juggling part-time work and side jobs to stay afloat, often far outside their chosen fields.<h2>“Overqualified, under-experienced”</h2>Graduates also face the paradox of entry-level positions demanding 3–5 years of experience, leaving many locked out of the jobs they trained for.Matthew Martin, senior US economist at Oxford Economics, told AFP this split is “an outlier” historically, noting that white-collar sectors traditionally weather downturns better. But in 2025, even professional services firms have been slashing hiring plans.<h2>Long road to recovery</h2>While the US labour market as a whole remains resilient by historical standards, the outlier status of new graduates has caught the attention of policymakers. Analysts warn that the problem is unlikely to resolve quickly. Payroll data shows entry-level hiring remains 17 per cent below 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to Gusto.&nbsp;Some see a long-term shift underway, with students expected to rethink majors and career paths in response to the shifting landscape. Despite these challenges, sectors such as healthcare and government continue to post steady job gains, offering alternative paths for struggling graduates.<h2>The big picture</h2>While America’s unemployment rate overall has stayed near record lows since 2022, even with Trump’s return to office bringing policy shifts, the employment crisis for young graduates has deepened in 2025. With debt burdens high, automation fears rising, and hiring freezes in critical white-collar sectors, a generation of new grads faces a much harder climb to economic stability.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies) &nbsp;

As hiring remains 17% below pre-pandemic levels, analysts suggest that graduates may need to rethink their career paths in response to these ongoing challenges.

The United States is confronting a stubborn new divide in its labour market: young college graduates are facing their highest unemployment rate in over a decade (outside the pandemic), even as the overall jobless rate stays historically low. According to data reported by AFP and official US sources, unemployment for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 reached 5.8 per cent in May 2025, the worst level since November 2013 excluding Covid-era spikes. By contrast, the US overall unemployment rate has remained steady near 4.1 per cent in June 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. This widening gap is raising alarm that America’s post-pandemic recovery is leaving many young workers behind, with policy uncertainty, sectoral slowdowns and technological disruption hitting entry-level jobs especially hard. Post-Trump policy uncertainty weighs on hiring Economists point to cyclical slowdowns in tech, finance and business services, the sectors that typically absorb large numbers of fresh graduates. Payroll firm Gusto reported new-grad hiring is down 16 per cent in 2025 year-on-year. As quoted by AFP, analysts also blame what they call “extremely high uncertainty” in the early period of Donald Trump’s current presidency. Shifts in trade policy, tax rules and federal regulation have made firms cautious about expanding their payrolls. Job openings for professional and business services have declined by over 40 per cent since 2021, according to research cited in The Wall Street Journal. Comparing Trump-era trends: before and after Before Trump returned to power in January 2025, the US overall labour market had largely stabilised post-pandemic. Under Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, overall unemployment averaged around 5.0 per cent, even dropping below 4 per cent before the Covid-19 spike. Under President Biden (2021–2025), the post-pandemic unemployment rate fell steadily to around 3.5–4.0 per cent, hitting a low of 3.4 per cent in early 2023, according to BLS data. But in 2025, despite this broader stability, the youth unemployment rate for recent graduates has risen sharply, defying the overall trend and signalling a persistent problem for new entrants to the labour market. AI disruption compounds the crisis Alongside policy uncertainty, structural change is reshaping entry-level jobs. As reported by AFP and The Wall Street Journal, the technology sector in particular has sharply reduced new graduate hiring since the hiring spree of 2021–22. Firms are also testing AI-based automation to replace or redesign roles traditionally staffed by new grads. While adoption remains in early stages, experts warn even the possibility of automation is slowing hiring decisions. Heavy debt loads add to the burden For graduates already struggling to land work, the cost of American higher education looms large. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of a US undergraduate degree is roughly $27,700. Around 36 per cent of undergraduates take federal student loans, with an average debt of $29,550 upon graduation. As AFP notes, many new graduates find themselves juggling part-time work and side jobs to stay afloat, often far outside their chosen fields. “Overqualified, under-experienced” Graduates also face the paradox of entry-level positions demanding 3–5 years of experience, leaving many locked out of the jobs they trained for. Matthew Martin, senior US economist at Oxford Economics, told AFP this split is “an outlier” historically, noting that white-collar sectors traditionally weather downturns better. But in 2025, even professional services firms have been slashing hiring plans. Long road to recovery While the US labour market as a whole remains resilient by historical standards, the outlier status of new graduates has caught the attention of policymakers. Analysts warn that the problem is unlikely to resolve quickly. Payroll data shows entry-level hiring remains 17 per cent below 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to Gusto. Some see a long-term shift underway, with students expected to rethink majors and career paths in response to the shifting landscape. Despite these challenges, sectors such as healthcare and government continue to post steady job gains, offering alternative paths for struggling graduates. The big picture While America’s unemployment rate overall has stayed near record lows since 2022, even with Trump’s return to office bringing policy shifts, the employment crisis for young graduates has deepened in 2025. With debt burdens high, automation fears rising, and hiring freezes in critical white-collar sectors, a generation of new grads faces a much harder climb to economic stability. (With inputs from the agencies)

The US labor market exhibits a concerning divide as young college graduates face a 5.8% unemployment rate in May 2025, the highest since November 2013, while overall unemployment hovers around 4.1%.

Young US graduates struggle for jobs amid Trump-Era policy uncertainty

US President Donald Trump has declared that the country is now ready to launch the “largest mass deportation operation in history,” after signing his massive new tax and spending package into law on 4 July.The legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, includes $170 billion for immigration enforcement, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the funds and tools to dramatically ramp up deportations across the country.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jfk-assassination-files-us-intel-agency-lied-for-decades-cia-admits-secret-link-between-officer-and-jfk-assassin-lee-harvey-oswald-1751734937504">US intel agency lied for decades? CIA admits secret link between officer and JFK assassin Lee&nbsp;Harvey&nbsp;Oswald</a>“This July 4th weekend I want to give a big ‘THANK YOU!’ to the heroic ICE Officers fighting every day to reclaim our Sovereignty and Freedom,” Trump wrote on Truth Social."One of the most exciting parts of the “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT” is that it includes ALL of the Funding and Resources that ICE needs to carry out the Largest Mass Deportation Operation in History. Our Brave ICE Officers, who are under daily violent assault, will finally have the tools and support that they need. We will not let America become a Third World Country filled with Crime, failing Schools, collapsing Hospitals, and total Social Dysfunction. It’s called “REMIGRATION” and, it will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump added.<h2>Bill passed after Vice President breaks tie</h2>The bill cleared the Senate on 1 July, after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 split. It will now head back to the House for final approval.Vance defended the controversial measure, saying the massive spending and social cuts were worth it to enforce immigration laws and secure the border.<h2>What’s in the bill for immigration?</h2>The sweeping legislation allows for:• Massive expansion of detention facilities• 10,000 new ICE officers• 700 miles of new border wall• 900 miles of Rio Grande barriers• Use of artificial intelligence for surveillanceICE currently operates with about 41,000 beds for detainees but was recently housing over 59,000 people. Trump’s bill will more than double ICE’s budget for detentions, rising to nearly $15 billion by 2029.Some officials say the agency would need at least 100,000 beds to meet its targets. Others estimate the number could climb to 200,000, which would make ICE’s detention network rival the entire US federal prison system, which currently holds 155,000 inmates.<h2>Enforcement surge and new hurdles for migrants</h2>ICE will get an extra $31 billion to hire 10,000 new officers, while Customs and Border Protection will receive $12 billion for 5,000 customs officers and 3,000 Border Patrol agents. The bill also gives $12.5 billion to state and local enforcement to support federal immigration efforts. Another $6.2 billion will go toward AI, machine learning, and high-tech surveillance at the border.In a major change, immigrants applying for legal protections will now face new costs:• $100 fee to apply for asylum (previously free)• $500 for Temporary Protected Status (up from $50)• $900 to appeal an immigration judge’s decision (up from $110)<h2>Trump revives his hard-line immigration agenda</h2>Trump, who struggled to complete his promised border wall during his first term, now has funding to construct hundreds of new miles of barriers, including high-tech components.Despite surging arrests, ICE has struggled to keep up with Trump’s mass deportation goals. But with this new bill, the infrastructure is being built to try and meet those ambitions.

The legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, includes $170 billion for immigration enforcement, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the funds and tools to dramatically ramp up deportations across the country.

US President Donald Trump has declared that the country is now ready to launch the “largest mass deportation operation in history,” after signing his massive new tax and spending package into law on 4 July. The legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, includes $170 billion for immigration enforcement, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the funds and tools to dramatically ramp up deportations across the country. Also read: US intel agency lied for decades? CIA admits secret link between officer and JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald “This July 4th weekend I want to give a big ‘THANK YOU!’ to the heroic ICE Officers fighting every day to reclaim our Sovereignty and Freedom,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. "One of the most exciting parts of the “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT” is that it includes ALL of the Funding and Resources that ICE needs to carry out the Largest Mass Deportation Operation in History. Our Brave ICE Officers, who are under daily violent assault, will finally have the tools and support that they need. We will not let America become a Third World Country filled with Crime, failing Schools, collapsing Hospitals, and total Social Dysfunction. It’s called “REMIGRATION” and, it will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump added. Bill passed after Vice President breaks tie The bill cleared the Senate on 1 July, after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 split. It will now head back to the House for final approval. Vance defended the controversial measure, saying the massive spending and social cuts were worth it to enforce immigration laws and secure the border. What’s in the bill for immigration? The sweeping legislation allows for: • Massive expansion of detention facilities • 10,000 new ICE officers • 700 miles of new border wall • 900 miles of Rio Grande barriers • Use of artificial intelligence for surveillance ICE currently operates with about 41,000 beds for detainees but was recently housing over 59,000 people. Trump’s bill will more than double ICE’s budget for detentions, rising to nearly $15 billion by 2029. Some officials say the agency would need at least 100,000 beds to meet its targets. Others estimate the number could climb to 200,000, which would make ICE’s detention network rival the entire US federal prison system, which currently holds 155,000 inmates. Enforcement surge and new hurdles for migrants ICE will get an extra $31 billion to hire 10,000 new officers, while Customs and Border Protection will receive $12 billion for 5,000 customs officers and 3,000 Border Patrol agents. The bill also gives $12.5 billion to state and local enforcement to support federal immigration efforts. Another $6.2 billion will go toward AI, machine learning, and high-tech surveillance at the border. In a major change, immigrants applying for legal protections will now face new costs: • $100 fee to apply for asylum (previously free) • $500 for Temporary Protected Status (up from $50) • $900 to appeal an immigration judge’s decision (up from $110) Trump revives his hard-line immigration agenda Trump, who struggled to complete his promised border wall during his first term, now has funding to construct hundreds of new miles of barriers, including high-tech components. Despite surging arrests, ICE has struggled to keep up with Trump’s mass deportation goals. But with this new bill, the infrastructure is being built to try and meet those ambitions.

The legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, includes $170 billion for immigration enforcement, giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the funds and tools to dramatically ramp up deportations across the country.

'$170 billion, 700 miles border wall': Trump declares US now ready for 'largest mass deportation operation' after signing mega bill

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a Gaza ceasefire as he said that Israel has agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire, but Hamas's decision is yet to come. Trump said that in the next 24 hours, it would probably be known whether the Palestinian militant group has agreed to the "final proposal" or not.Just months back, another ceasefire proposal was put on the table and agreed to by both sides, but it didn't do well and collapsed.Later, in May, another proposal was floated but Hamas stressed that it is just a way for Israel to continue the war after a brief pause, instead of a permanent end to the war.<h2>How will it be different this time?</h2>The Qatari mediators put forward the proposal, which involves Hamas releasing ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages over the 60-day period. In exchange, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners.If they reach a long-term deal, the remaining 22 hostages would also be released.The 60-day ceasefire period would also include negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities. Moreover, the plan is no different than the last ceasefire, which was for eight week and had three phases, beginning from January to March.However, turned out to be fragile, and the ceasefire collapsed after the first phase of hostage exchanges.Hamas has been pushing for a long-term ceasefire, meaning to end the war permanently and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. But, Israel, on the other side, wants the complete elimination of Hamas, dismantling and disarming the Palestinian militant group of its military wing.Netanyahu on Wednesday called for the elimination of the Hamas terror group in his first public remarks since US President Donald Trump said that Israel has agreed to a 60-day truce in Gaza, calling it the "final deal" for Hamas. Netanyahu, during a meeting hosted by the Trans-Israel pipeline, said, "There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan."Next week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington, to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The Qatari mediators put forward the proposal, which involves Hamas releasing ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages over the 60-day period. In exchange, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a Gaza ceasefire as he said that Israel has agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire, but Hamas's decision is yet to come. Trump said that in the next 24 hours, it would probably be known whether the Palestinian militant group has agreed to the "final proposal" or not. Just months back, another ceasefire proposal was put on the table and agreed to by both sides, but it didn't do well and collapsed. Later, in May, another proposal was floated but Hamas stressed that it is just a way for Israel to continue the war after a brief pause, instead of a permanent end to the war. How will it be different this time? The Qatari mediators put forward the proposal, which involves Hamas releasing ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages over the 60-day period. In exchange, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners. If they reach a long-term deal, the remaining 22 hostages would also be released. The 60-day ceasefire period would also include negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities. Moreover, the plan is no different than the last ceasefire, which was for eight week and had three phases, beginning from January to March. However, turned out to be fragile, and the ceasefire collapsed after the first phase of hostage exchanges. Hamas has been pushing for a long-term ceasefire, meaning to end the war permanently and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. But, Israel, on the other side, wants the complete elimination of Hamas, dismantling and disarming the Palestinian militant group of its military wing. Netanyahu on Wednesday called for the elimination of the Hamas terror group in his first public remarks since US President Donald Trump said that Israel has agreed to a 60-day truce in Gaza, calling it the "final deal" for Hamas. Netanyahu, during a meeting hosted by the Trans-Israel pipeline, said, "There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan." Next week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington, to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The Qatari mediators put forward the proposal, which involves Hamas releasing ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages over the 60-day period. In exchange, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners.

New Gaza hostage & ceasefire deal: How will it be different this time from March - EXPLAINED as Trump pushes Hamas for truce

Deadly flash floods struck Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' summer retreat after torrential rains triggered a rise in water levels late Thursday night. Search operations have been going on as nearly two dozen girls have been missing, while at least 27 people have died.The camp was located along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, according to the New York Post, where the rains hit, causing deadly floods.Within 90 minutes, the river surged by over 26 feet, submerging their cabins, vehicles and surrounding roads. There were 750 girls aged 7 to 17 attending Camp Mystic over the Fourth of July weekend, while around 23 remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening.Many of those girls were evacuated in time, while others were swept away in the floods. The authorities said that the final number of missing children may vary since the communication lines are still down.<h2>Who are the missing girls?</h2>As the search operation is underway, family members have confirmed the identities of several missing girls, according to reports.One of them was identified as Hanna Hadley, an 8-year-old girl. Her family described her as "cherubic", and they rushed from Dallas to stay near the search operation site.Eloise Peck, another Dallas native was seen in a photo with two other missing friends, Lila Bonner and Renee Smajstria. Lila has been missing since the water level rose. 9-year-old Lainey Landry, described as "brave and sweet" by her mother, was also swept away in the floods. Moreover, Greta Toranzo, a student of Sinclair Elementary School in Houston, was also missing.Apart from these girls, Kellyanne Lytal, Virginia Hollis, and Janie Hunt have also been missing since the floods hit the camp.The officials have said that not all children are necessarily lost, adding that some could be struck under trees or in remote areas and they have been unable to communicate with them, BBC reported.<h2>Trump admin calls it ‘horrible tragedy’</h2>US President Donald Trump said that he and Melania Trump are praying for all the families impacted by this "horrible tragedy". He said that the Trump administration is working with State and Local Officials "on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday.""Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly," he wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that they are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing, adding that some 850 people have been rescued so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Within 90 minutes, the river surged by over 26 feet, submerging their cabins, vehicles and surrounding roads. There were 750 girls aged 7 to 17 attending Camp Mystic over the Fourth of July weekend, while around 23 remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening.

Deadly flash floods struck Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' summer retreat after torrential rains triggered a rise in water levels late Thursday night. Search operations have been going on as nearly two dozen girls have been missing, while at least 27 people have died. The camp was located along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, according to the New York Post, where the rains hit, causing deadly floods. Within 90 minutes, the river surged by over 26 feet, submerging their cabins, vehicles and surrounding roads. There were 750 girls aged 7 to 17 attending Camp Mystic over the Fourth of July weekend, while around 23 remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening. Many of those girls were evacuated in time, while others were swept away in the floods. The authorities said that the final number of missing children may vary since the communication lines are still down. Who are the missing girls? As the search operation is underway, family members have confirmed the identities of several missing girls, according to reports. One of them was identified as Hanna Hadley, an 8-year-old girl. Her family described her as "cherubic", and they rushed from Dallas to stay near the search operation site. Eloise Peck, another Dallas native was seen in a photo with two other missing friends, Lila Bonner and Renee Smajstria. Lila has been missing since the water level rose. 9-year-old Lainey Landry, described as "brave and sweet" by her mother, was also swept away in the floods. Moreover, Greta Toranzo, a student of Sinclair Elementary School in Houston, was also missing. Apart from these girls, Kellyanne Lytal, Virginia Hollis, and Janie Hunt have also been missing since the floods hit the camp. The officials have said that not all children are necessarily lost, adding that some could be struck under trees or in remote areas and they have been unable to communicate with them, BBC reported. Trump admin calls it ‘horrible tragedy’ US President Donald Trump said that he and Melania Trump are praying for all the families impacted by this "horrible tragedy". He said that the Trump administration is working with State and Local Officials "on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday." "Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly," he wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!" Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that they are working hard to locate anyone who is still missing, adding that some 850 people have been rescued so far.

Within 90 minutes, the river surged by over 26 feet, submerging their cabins, vehicles and surrounding roads. There were 750 girls aged 7 to 17 attending Camp Mystic over the Fourth of July weekend, while around 23 remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening.

Texas floods: At least 23 girls missing from Mystic Camp after deadly floods - Details inside

As Donald Trump pushes ahead with threats of major tariffs unless new trade deals are reached, some inside the White House say it’s all just for show. According to a Politico report, the president’s tariff warnings are part of a “theatrical show” aimed at grabbing attention rather than real policy action.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-is-there-no-mrp-in-us-here-s-how-american-pricing-works-1751716714620">Why is there no MRP in US? Here's how American pricing&nbsp;works</a><h2>No real urgency inside White House, say sources</h2>The 90-day countdown to implement steep tariffs is fast approaching, but the atmosphere inside the White House appears anything but urgent, Politico reported. Instead of rushing to secure agreements, negotiators and officials reportedly see the looming deadline as meaningless.“Trump knows the most interesting part of his presidency is the tariff conversation. I find it hard to believe he’s going to surrender it that easily. It’s all fake. There’s no deadline. It’s a self-imposed landmark in this theatrical show, and that’s where we are,” one insider said.<h2>Confusion and mixed signals from US negotiators</h2>Trump has put the trade talks in the hands of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. But according to the report, none of the three have much actual power, and they often seem to be working in different directions.The result, according to Politico, has been a “convoluted process” with very little real progress. Several countries have reportedly sent delegations to negotiate, only to leave without meetings or confused about what the US actually wants. In some cases, countries that have managed to hold talks were later publicly criticised by Trump online.The lack of a clear plan and the president’s shifting tone have left many in Washington puzzled. Trump recently hinted that the 90-day window for tariffs might be shortened or extended, saying, “We could extend it, we could make it shorter. I’d like to make it shorter.”Another official offered a blunt explanation, “You have wins. Take them. You only have to assume he doesn’t want to take them because he likes the game too much.”Outside the White House, foreign officials, lawmakers, and trade experts are becoming increasingly sceptical about the process. Many now doubt whether any deal with the Trump administration holds value, as tariffs continue to be used as unpredictable leverage.

Trump has put the trade talks in the hands of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. But according to the report, none of the three have much actual power, and they often seem to be working in different directions.

As Donald Trump pushes ahead with threats of major tariffs unless new trade deals are reached, some inside the White House say it’s all just for show. According to a Politico report, the president’s tariff warnings are part of a “theatrical show” aimed at grabbing attention rather than real policy action. Also read: Why is there no MRP in US? Here's how American pricing works No real urgency inside White House, say sources The 90-day countdown to implement steep tariffs is fast approaching, but the atmosphere inside the White House appears anything but urgent, Politico reported. Instead of rushing to secure agreements, negotiators and officials reportedly see the looming deadline as meaningless. “Trump knows the most interesting part of his presidency is the tariff conversation. I find it hard to believe he’s going to surrender it that easily. It’s all fake. There’s no deadline. It’s a self-imposed landmark in this theatrical show, and that’s where we are,” one insider said. Confusion and mixed signals from US negotiators Trump has put the trade talks in the hands of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. But according to the report, none of the three have much actual power, and they often seem to be working in different directions. The result, according to Politico, has been a “convoluted process” with very little real progress. Several countries have reportedly sent delegations to negotiate, only to leave without meetings or confused about what the US actually wants. In some cases, countries that have managed to hold talks were later publicly criticised by Trump online. The lack of a clear plan and the president’s shifting tone have left many in Washington puzzled. Trump recently hinted that the 90-day window for tariffs might be shortened or extended, saying, “We could extend it, we could make it shorter. I’d like to make it shorter.” Another official offered a blunt explanation, “You have wins. Take them. You only have to assume he doesn’t want to take them because he likes the game too much.” Outside the White House, foreign officials, lawmakers, and trade experts are becoming increasingly sceptical about the process. Many now doubt whether any deal with the Trump administration holds value, as tariffs continue to be used as unpredictable leverage.

Trump has put the trade talks in the hands of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. But according to the report, none of the three have much actual power, and they often seem to be working in different directions.

‘It’s all fake’: Trump’s trade war just for show? White House insider claims tariff threats are ‘theatrical game’

Former vice president Kamala Harris came under fire for posting a grim note on social media on the Fourth of July, along with a photo of last year’s festivities with her husband, Douglas Emhoff, but cropped out former President Joe Biden. Netizens were quick to spot the photograph and slammed Harris for the gloomy statement on Independence Day of the United States, saying they were glad that she was not their president.&nbsp;“This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris wrote on X. “But I love our country — and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.”&nbsp;Trump supporters criticised the former president for making dull remarks on the occasion of celebration across the nation.&nbsp;“Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,” said Link Lauren, a former senior adviser to Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. He also posted a picture taken at the same moment from a different angle, showing Biden and his wife standing close to Harris and her husband.&nbsp;Criticising the tone of her message, a person said, “LMFAO!!!! Things are GREAT right now. You are always so negative!!” Another said, “I’m taking a moment to reflect on how much worse things would have been if you’d won.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better. But I love our country — and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation. <a href="https://t.co/pYxJVw0fiD">pic.twitter.com/pYxJVw0fiD</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1941195772080553989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;A user wrote in comments, “Is Kamala drunk?” While another said, “Because you lost, America still has a chance at greatness.” A person said, “Just think how bad it would be, if you won the election. Thank god, we have someone trying to fix the wrong you and Joey did, during his administration.”&nbsp;Taking a jibe at her for losing in the 2024 elections against Trump, a person wrote, “Reflect on how utterly rejected you were in the primary and general elections.” Another mocked, “Okay but who is this?” A person said, “Things are actually great right now, thanks for losing badly.”&nbsp;“You betrayed us when you, not only opened the doors wide to illegal immigration, but did so without any vetting. I don’t know who you stand together with, but it is not someone we want,” one person said.

Netizens were quick to spot the photograph and slammed Harris for the gloomy statement on Independence Day of the United States, saying they were glad that she was not their president.

Former vice president Kamala Harris came under fire for posting a grim note on social media on the Fourth of July, along with a photo of last year’s festivities with her husband, Douglas Emhoff, but cropped out former President Joe Biden. Netizens were quick to spot the photograph and slammed Harris for the gloomy statement on Independence Day of the United States, saying they were glad that she was not their president. “This Fourth of July, I am taking a moment to reflect. Things are hard right now. They are probably going to get worse before they get better,” Harris wrote on X. “But I love our country — and when you love something, you fight for it. Together, we will continue to fight for the ideals of our nation.” Trump supporters criticised the former president for making dull remarks on the occasion of celebration across the nation. “Kamala cropping Joe out is very symbolic,” said Link Lauren, a former senior adviser to Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. He also posted a picture taken at the same moment from a different angle, showing Biden and his wife standing close to Harris and her husband. Criticising the tone of her message, a person said, “LMFAO!!!! Things are GREAT right now. You are always so negative!!” Another said, “I’m taking a moment to reflect on how much worse things would have been if you’d won.”

Netizens were quick to spot the photograph and slammed Harris for the gloomy statement on Independence Day of the United States, saying they were glad that she was not their president.

‘Is Kamala drunk?’ Netizens slam former vice president over grim July 4 post that crops out Biden

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (July 5) that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end the Ukraine war, adding that he was "very unhappy" with the July 3 phone call between the two leaders. "It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good. I wasn't happy with it," Trump told reporters.When asked about supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, he replied, “Yeah, we might.” "They're going to need something because they're being hit pretty hard," Trump added.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pakistan-developing-nuclear-missile-that-could-hit-india-us-what-are-intercontinental-nuclear-ballistic-missiles-why-is-washington-worried-1750869386417">Pakistan developing nuclear missile that could hit India, US: What are Intercontinental Nuclear Ballistic Missiles? Why is Washington&nbsp;worried?</a>This is not the first time Trump has said he would give Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv. “We’re going to see if we can make some available. You know, they’re very hard to get,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague. He was responding to questions about whether Washington would send more air defence help to Kyiv. Trump added, “We were supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective.”&nbsp;“They do want that more than any other thing,” he said. The US-built Patriot systems are currently critical in defending Ukrainian cities from incoming Russian ballistic missiles, which have intensified in recent weeks.<h2>What is the Patriot missile system?</h2>The Patriot, short for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is the US Army’s most advanced surface-to-air missile system. It can intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and modern aircraft across all altitudes and in all weather conditions.The system is combat-tested and has been used by the US and its allies for decades. It first saw action during the 1991 Gulf War and was also used during the 2003 Iraq invasion.<h2>Who uses it?</h2>Apart from the United States, several other countries operate the Patriot system, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and more. In recent years, countries like Poland, Sweden, Romania, and Taiwan have also acquired the system to boost their defences.<h2>Key features of the Patriot air defence system</h2>• Mobile system: Includes radar units, command and control stations, power generators, and missile launchers, all mounted on trucks.• Advanced tracking: Uses a track-via-missile (TVM) guidance system, which receives midcourse correction signals from the ground.• Range and altitude: Depending on the version, Patriot interceptors can hit targets up to 160 km away and at altitudes of over 24 km.• Radar reach: The system’s radar can detect targets over 150 km away.• Quick response: Interceptor missiles can launch within nine seconds, with flight times ranging up to three and a half minutes.

The announcement came after a closed-door meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said that the Patriots were at the top of Kyiv’s list of military requests. 

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (July 5) that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end the Ukraine war, adding that he was "very unhappy" with the July 3 phone call between the two leaders. "It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good. I wasn't happy with it," Trump told reporters. When asked about supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, he replied, “Yeah, we might.” "They're going to need something because they're being hit pretty hard," Trump added. Also read: Pakistan developing nuclear missile that could hit India, US: What are Intercontinental Nuclear Ballistic Missiles? Why is Washington worried? This is not the first time Trump has said he would give Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv. “We’re going to see if we can make some available. You know, they’re very hard to get,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague. He was responding to questions about whether Washington would send more air defence help to Kyiv. Trump added, “We were supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective.” “They do want that more than any other thing,” he said. The US-built Patriot systems are currently critical in defending Ukrainian cities from incoming Russian ballistic missiles, which have intensified in recent weeks. What is the Patriot missile system? The Patriot, short for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is the US Army’s most advanced surface-to-air missile system. It can intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and modern aircraft across all altitudes and in all weather conditions. The system is combat-tested and has been used by the US and its allies for decades. It first saw action during the 1991 Gulf War and was also used during the 2003 Iraq invasion. Who uses it? Apart from the United States, several other countries operate the Patriot system, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and more. In recent years, countries like Poland, Sweden, Romania, and Taiwan have also acquired the system to boost their defences. Key features of the Patriot air defence system • Mobile system: Includes radar units, command and control stations, power generators, and missile launchers, all mounted on trucks. • Advanced tracking: Uses a track-via-missile (TVM) guidance system, which receives midcourse correction signals from the ground. • Range and altitude: Depending on the version, Patriot interceptors can hit targets up to 160 km away and at altitudes of over 24 km. • Radar reach: The system’s radar can detect targets over 150 km away. • Quick response: Interceptor missiles can launch within nine seconds, with flight times ranging up to three and a half minutes.

The announcement came after a closed-door meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said that the Patriots were at the top of Kyiv’s list of military requests.&nbsp;

What is Patriot missile? Trump plans to send 'most advanced' US air defence system to Ukraine after 'disappointing' call with Putin

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jul 4) expressed his dissatisfaction with President Vladimir Putin and remarked he was "very unhappy" about his call with the Russian leader on the war in Ukraine. Trump commented that Putin just wanted to "keep killing people", and described the situation as "no good". Trump, while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said, “It's a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way; just keep killing people, it's no good.” He also hinted that Moscow may face tough US sanctions.<h2>Looming US sanctions on Russia</h2>The US president, while talking about how he was "unhappy" with Putin, also hinted at his willingness to toughen sanctions against Russia, even as he has spent the last six months attempting to persuade the Russian president to end the war.Referring to his conversations with Putin, Trump said that he may be expecting sanctions. "We talk about sanctions a lot," said the POTUS, adding, "He understands that it may be coming."Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky describes Russian strikes a 'deliberately massive'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-describes-russian-strikes-a-deliberately-massive-1751698805330/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-describes-russian-strikes-a-deliberately-massive-1751698805330/embed</a>Trump, who in the past has been very critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that he had a "very strategic call" with the leader of the war-torn nation on Friday. Amid mounting concerns in Kyiv over US military aid deliveries, Zelensky, as per AFP, earlier said that the two leaders have agreed to work to "strengthen" Ukraine's air defences after Moscow's largest drone and missile barrage in over three years of the war so far.The US President also told reporters that he and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a separate call on Friday, discussed sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. However, he added that while he had not yet agreed to do so, Merz "feels they have to be protected".&nbsp;

 Trump, while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said, “It's a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way; just keep killing people, it's no good.” He also hinted that Moscow may face tough US sanctions.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jul 4) expressed his dissatisfaction with President Vladimir Putin and remarked he was "very unhappy" about his call with the Russian leader on the war in Ukraine. Trump commented that Putin just wanted to "keep killing people", and described the situation as "no good". Trump, while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said, “It's a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way; just keep killing people, it's no good.” He also hinted that Moscow may face tough US sanctions. Looming US sanctions on Russia The US president, while talking about how he was "unhappy" with Putin, also hinted at his willingness to toughen sanctions against Russia, even as he has spent the last six months attempting to persuade the Russian president to end the war. Referring to his conversations with Putin, Trump said that he may be expecting sanctions. "We talk about sanctions a lot," said the POTUS, adding, "He understands that it may be coming." Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky describes Russian strikes a 'deliberately massive' https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-describes-russian-strikes-a-deliberately-massive-1751698805330/embed Trump, who in the past has been very critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that he had a "very strategic call" with the leader of the war-torn nation on Friday. Amid mounting concerns in Kyiv over US military aid deliveries, Zelensky, as per AFP, earlier said that the two leaders have agreed to work to "strengthen" Ukraine's air defences after Moscow's largest drone and missile barrage in over three years of the war so far. The US President also told reporters that he and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a separate call on Friday, discussed sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. However, he added that while he had not yet agreed to do so, Merz "feels they have to be protected".

&nbsp;Trump, while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said, “It's a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way; just keep killing people, it's no good.” He also hinted that Moscow may face tough US sanctions.

‘Very unhappy’: Trump says Putin wants to 'just keep killing people,' hints at tough US sanctions

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said that he has found a common ground with US President Donald Trump despite sharing "different political backgrounds". Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Starmer spoke about his "good relationship" with Trump and their shared values.Speaking on the first anniversary of the &nbsp;Labour government coming to power, Starmer said it was "in the national interest" for the two men to connect.“We are different people and we’ve got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places,” the UK PM said.<h2>What anchors Trump?</h2>Starmer said that he knows what anchors President Trump, adding that he cares a lot about his family.&nbsp; “I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about. For both of us, we really care about family and there’s a point of connection there," he said.He highlighted that the first time the two spoke was after Trump was shot at during a campaign rally in July last year. A few days later, Trump also returned a call after Starmer's broker Nick died on Boxing Day.<h2>The connection they share</h2>Starmer revealed that he and Trump bond over their love for their families, saying that after the US president was shot at, he wanted to know how it impacted his family.“In particular, I wanted to know how it had impacted his family so that was the beginning of our relationship,” Starmer said, adding that he thinks Trump was surprised at the call.Starmer stressed that this strong personal bond helped the UK secure the first trade deal with the US after Trump unveiled tariffs on foreign exports."That is a good thing for millions of people across the country," he said.Addressing recent political turmoil, Starmer said he would always “carry the can” as leader after coming under fire over a climbdown on welfare reforms and that he would “always take responsibility” when asked questions.“When things go well … the leader gets the plaudits, but when things don’t go well, it is really important that the leader carries the can – and that’s what I will always do," he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Speaking on the first anniversary of the  Labour government coming to power, Starmer said it was "in the national interest" for the two men to connect.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said that he has found a common ground with US President Donald Trump despite sharing "different political backgrounds". Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Starmer spoke about his "good relationship" with Trump and their shared values. Speaking on the first anniversary of the Labour government coming to power, Starmer said it was "in the national interest" for the two men to connect. “We are different people and we’ve got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places,” the UK PM said. What anchors Trump? Starmer said that he knows what anchors President Trump, adding that he cares a lot about his family. “I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about. For both of us, we really care about family and there’s a point of connection there," he said. He highlighted that the first time the two spoke was after Trump was shot at during a campaign rally in July last year. A few days later, Trump also returned a call after Starmer's broker Nick died on Boxing Day. The connection they share Starmer revealed that he and Trump bond over their love for their families, saying that after the US president was shot at, he wanted to know how it impacted his family. “In particular, I wanted to know how it had impacted his family so that was the beginning of our relationship,” Starmer said, adding that he thinks Trump was surprised at the call. Starmer stressed that this strong personal bond helped the UK secure the first trade deal with the US after Trump unveiled tariffs on foreign exports. "That is a good thing for millions of people across the country," he said. Addressing recent political turmoil, Starmer said he would always “carry the can” as leader after coming under fire over a climbdown on welfare reforms and that he would “always take responsibility” when asked questions. “When things go well … the leader gets the plaudits, but when things don’t go well, it is really important that the leader carries the can – and that’s what I will always do," he added.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the &nbsp;Labour government coming to power, Starmer said it was "in the national interest" for the two men to connect.

What led to US-UK deal? Here's what Starmer reveals about his relationship with Trump

US President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill officially landed on his table awaiting his signature, which will be completed with a signing ceremony Today, July 4. Republicans on Thursday, July 3, passed the bill in the Senate with a narrow margin of 218-214. In his truth social post, Trump declared the passing of “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.” With the passing of the much-debated 1000-page bill, how will the lives of Americans be affected?&nbsp;<h2>Here are the 10 major changes that are set to kick in once the bill passes. &nbsp;&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>Permanent tax cuts, including zero tax on tips, overtime pay, social security benefits and an expanded child tax credit. &nbsp;Child tax credit will increase by $2,200. People living in high-tax states, the SALT deduction gap (State and Local Tax) will be reduced from $10,000 to $40,000. Seniors earning under $75,000 will deduct an additional $6,000.&nbsp;</li><li>Massive cuts to Medicaid. Billions slashed from healthcare and food assistance programs, assisting millions. Parents with children aged 15 or older have to work 80 hours to keep their coverage.&nbsp;</li><li>The 2017 tax cuts will be made permanent, benefiting corporate and high earners the most. The bill gives $4.5 trillion in tax relief. Medicaid providers will get a tax cut by reducing the rate from 6% to 3.5% by 2031. But with a one-year delay in implementation.&nbsp;</li><li>Massive investment in the border with $46 billion for the wall, $45 billion for detention centres. Total defence investment of a whopping $350 billion, with $25 million for defence expansion, such as Golden Dome, increasing ICE presence, and deploying Marines. It also introduced $30 billion for out-of-control deportation fees.&nbsp;</li><li>Focus shifts from clean energy to fossil fuels, with significant scaling back on incentives in renewables.</li><li>Reduction of the federal workforce, streamlined operations of government agencies, and reduced civil servant incentives.</li><li>Overhaul of SNAP benefits, putting 40 million recipients, including some of the nation's most vulnerable populations, at greater risk of food insecurity. An estimated cut of $230 billion over 10 years.</li><li>Introducing a new student loan repayment plan that will increase the monthly payments. Reducing the repayment plans from four to two: a standard plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). This will increase repayment by $2,929 per year for students with college degrees.</li><li>Defunding the Planned Parenthood clinic. It will prevent any healthcare clinic that provides abortion care from receiving Medicaid funds.</li><li>Rolling back from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plans, eliminating the Federal mandate around DEI policies. The House also passed a provision stripping broadband funding from states that regulate AI.</li></ul><h2>Who are the winners and losers?</h2>Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is likely to cause big pain for the lower and lower-middle class people, and the youth. It reduces the social welfare blanket, food security and will put a large portion of the population at risk. On the other hand, tax cuts will prove to be a major boost for the upper-middle class and corporations. Massive defence spending also implies a violent international policy and a severe crackdown on immigration.

President Trump is likely to sign the Big Beautiful Bill today, with massive changes in taxes, healthcare, AI, immigration, and border security. Here are the 10 changes that will affect Americans when the bill is passed.

US President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill officially landed on his table awaiting his signature, which will be completed with a signing ceremony Today, July 4. Republicans on Thursday, July 3, passed the bill in the Senate with a narrow margin of 218-214. In his truth social post, Trump declared the passing of “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.” With the passing of the much-debated 1000-page bill, how will the lives of Americans be affected? Here are the 10 major changes that are set to kick in once the bill passes. Permanent tax cuts, including zero tax on tips, overtime pay, social security benefits and an expanded child tax credit. Child tax credit will increase by $2,200. People living in high-tax states, the SALT deduction gap (State and Local Tax) will be reduced from $10,000 to $40,000. Seniors earning under $75,000 will deduct an additional $6,000. Massive cuts to Medicaid. Billions slashed from healthcare and food assistance programs, assisting millions. Parents with children aged 15 or older have to work 80 hours to keep their coverage. The 2017 tax cuts will be made permanent, benefiting corporate and high earners the most. The bill gives $4.5 trillion in tax relief. Medicaid providers will get a tax cut by reducing the rate from 6% to 3.5% by 2031. But with a one-year delay in implementation. Massive investment in the border with $46 billion for the wall, $45 billion for detention centres. Total defence investment of a whopping $350 billion, with $25 million for defence expansion, such as Golden Dome, increasing ICE presence, and deploying Marines. It also introduced $30 billion for out-of-control deportation fees. Focus shifts from clean energy to fossil fuels, with significant scaling back on incentives in renewables. Reduction of the federal workforce, streamlined operations of government agencies, and reduced civil servant incentives. Overhaul of SNAP benefits, putting 40 million recipients, including some of the nation's most vulnerable populations, at greater risk of food insecurity. An estimated cut of $230 billion over 10 years. Introducing a new student loan repayment plan that will increase the monthly payments. Reducing the repayment plans from four to two: a standard plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). This will increase repayment by $2,929 per year for students with college degrees. Defunding the Planned Parenthood clinic. It will prevent any healthcare clinic that provides abortion care from receiving Medicaid funds. Rolling back from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plans, eliminating the Federal mandate around DEI policies. The House also passed a provision stripping broadband funding from states that regulate AI. Who are the winners and losers? Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is likely to cause big pain for the lower and lower-middle class people, and the youth. It reduces the social welfare blanket, food security and will put a large portion of the population at risk. On the other hand, tax cuts will prove to be a major boost for the upper-middle class and corporations. Massive defence spending also implies a violent international policy and a severe crackdown on immigration.

President Trump is likely to sign the Big Beautiful Bill today, with massive changes in taxes, healthcare, AI, immigration, and border security. Here are the 10 changes that will affect Americans when the bill is passed.

Big Beautiful Bill of Trump: Here are the 10 changes that will affect Americans

It has been hours hours since Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat and minority leader, has been giving his speech in the US House on Thursday, with an aim to delay voting on President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' on tax and spending. Jeffries has been continuing his marathon speech, opposing Republican's signature legislation carrying Trump's domestic agenda.He even began his speech by saying that he was "planning to take my sweet time” with his speech. Allotted 60 seconds, Jeffries was making use of his prerogative as a leader to stretch his allotted time, and took far longer than that, in a house tradition "magic minute".Trump has earlier said that he wants to sign the bill by July 4. However, Jeffries has no chance of stopping the bill even if he delays the voting.Jeffries in his speech, said, "Republicans are trying to jam this one, big, ugly bill down the throats of the American people,” urging lawmakers to vote against it.Further, the speech mainly focuses on the ramifications of spending cuts to social safety programs, laying out stories of vulnerable Americans who might be affected by its Medicaid cuts.“Leadership requires courage, conviction, compassion — and yet what we have seen from this administration and co-conspirators on the Republican side of the aisle is cruelty, chaos, and corruption,” he said, adding that the bill was “an extraordinary assault on the health care of the American people.”US House Speaker Mike Johnson was likely to address the chamber once Jeffries' speech ends. However, Johnson also has unlimited time, but earlier, he told reporters that he expected his speech would be shorter than Jeffries.'Magic Minute Speech'If democratic leader wants to set a record of a magic minute, he still has to continue for one more hour. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, then the Republican leader, spoke for more than eight hours to delay a vote on a $2 trillion Democratic bill in 2021.They did this with a motive to strengthen the social safety net and fight climate change.

He even began his speech by saying that he was "planning to take my sweet time” with his speech. Allotted 60 seconds, Jeffries was making use of his prerogative as a leader to stretch his allotted time, and took far longer than that, in a house tradition "magic minute".

It has been hours hours since Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat and minority leader, has been giving his speech in the US House on Thursday, with an aim to delay voting on President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' on tax and spending. Jeffries has been continuing his marathon speech, opposing Republican's signature legislation carrying Trump's domestic agenda. He even began his speech by saying that he was "planning to take my sweet time” with his speech. Allotted 60 seconds, Jeffries was making use of his prerogative as a leader to stretch his allotted time, and took far longer than that, in a house tradition "magic minute". Trump has earlier said that he wants to sign the bill by July 4. However, Jeffries has no chance of stopping the bill even if he delays the voting. Jeffries in his speech, said, "Republicans are trying to jam this one, big, ugly bill down the throats of the American people,” urging lawmakers to vote against it. Further, the speech mainly focuses on the ramifications of spending cuts to social safety programs, laying out stories of vulnerable Americans who might be affected by its Medicaid cuts. “Leadership requires courage, conviction, compassion — and yet what we have seen from this administration and co-conspirators on the Republican side of the aisle is cruelty, chaos, and corruption,” he said, adding that the bill was “an extraordinary assault on the health care of the American people.” US House Speaker Mike Johnson was likely to address the chamber once Jeffries' speech ends. However, Johnson also has unlimited time, but earlier, he told reporters that he expected his speech would be shorter than Jeffries. 'Magic Minute Speech' If democratic leader wants to set a record of a magic minute, he still has to continue for one more hour. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, then the Republican leader, spoke for more than eight hours to delay a vote on a $2 trillion Democratic bill in 2021. They did this with a motive to strengthen the social safety net and fight climate change.

He even began his speech by saying that he was "planning to take my sweet time” with his speech. Allotted 60 seconds, Jeffries was making use of his prerogative as a leader to stretch his allotted time, and took far longer than that, in a house tradition "magic minute".

Another 'magic minute' speech? Democratic Leader Jeffries's speech crosses '8 hours', delays vote on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

More than two million people linked to Columbia University were attacked by a seasoned "hacktivist", who reportedly stole sensitive data from the students, applicants, and employees of the Ivy League University. The officials believe this cyberattack to be politically motivated.This happened on June 24, when a digital activist knocked the Ivy League's systems offline for several hours, swiped social security numbers, citizenship status, university-issued ID numbers, application decisions, employee salaries, and other private records, according to a Bloomberg News report.The extracted documents allegedly included 2.5 million applications, which were decades old, along with financial aid packages, the outlet reported.Later, a university official told The New York Post that the sophisticated hacker appeared to target specific documents to advance their political agenda.The alleged hacker, who declined to reveal their identity to The Post, said they targeted the Manhattan university to find documents indicating the use of affirmative action in admissions, which was banned by the Supreme Court last year.Columbia University issued a statement, saying, "We immediately began an investigation with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts and after substantial analysis determined that the outage was caused by an unauthorized party."It added that the university has initial indications that the unauthorised actor also unlawfully stole data from a limited portion of the network."We are investigating the scope of the apparent theft and will share our findings with the University community as well as anyone whose personal information was compromised," the university added in the statement. &nbsp;The hacker said that they were able to break into Columbia’s classified information after they spent more than two months trying to gain access to the university's servers.During the hacking, bizarre images appeared on the university's systems and locked students and faculty out of the systems for a brief period of time.Moreover, on one dorm television on Columbia’s Morningside campus, an image of US President Donald Trump appeared, as per a photo obtained by the Columbia Spectator, the school’s student newspaper.The Ivy League is probing the extent of the cyberattack and has restored most systems. Meanwhile, a process official said, “It will take time.”“We know that this news may raise questions and concerns across our community about the scope of the affected personal information. Our team is working toward answers,” University leaders told students and faculty in an email obtained by The Post.The officials said it identified the hacker’s tactics and signature, noting that they haven't detected any malicious activity.This comes amid Columbia University facing a battle with the Trump administration about the $400 million in grants and contracts over the institution’s failure to stamp out antisemitism on campus.

The alleged hacker, who declined to reveal their identity to The Post, said they targeted the Manhattan university to find documents indicating the use of affirmative action in admissions, which was banned by the Supreme Court last year.

More than two million people linked to Columbia University were attacked by a seasoned "hacktivist", who reportedly stole sensitive data from the students, applicants, and employees of the Ivy League University. The officials believe this cyberattack to be politically motivated. This happened on June 24, when a digital activist knocked the Ivy League's systems offline for several hours, swiped social security numbers, citizenship status, university-issued ID numbers, application decisions, employee salaries, and other private records, according to a Bloomberg News report. The extracted documents allegedly included 2.5 million applications, which were decades old, along with financial aid packages, the outlet reported. Later, a university official told The New York Post that the sophisticated hacker appeared to target specific documents to advance their political agenda. The alleged hacker, who declined to reveal their identity to The Post, said they targeted the Manhattan university to find documents indicating the use of affirmative action in admissions, which was banned by the Supreme Court last year. Columbia University issued a statement, saying, "We immediately began an investigation with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts and after substantial analysis determined that the outage was caused by an unauthorized party." It added that the university has initial indications that the unauthorised actor also unlawfully stole data from a limited portion of the network. "We are investigating the scope of the apparent theft and will share our findings with the University community as well as anyone whose personal information was compromised," the university added in the statement. The hacker said that they were able to break into Columbia’s classified information after they spent more than two months trying to gain access to the university's servers. During the hacking, bizarre images appeared on the university's systems and locked students and faculty out of the systems for a brief period of time. Moreover, on one dorm television on Columbia’s Morningside campus, an image of US President Donald Trump appeared, as per a photo obtained by the Columbia Spectator, the school’s student newspaper. The Ivy League is probing the extent of the cyberattack and has restored most systems. Meanwhile, a process official said, “It will take time.” “We know that this news may raise questions and concerns across our community about the scope of the affected personal information. Our team is working toward answers,” University leaders told students and faculty in an email obtained by The Post. The officials said it identified the hacker’s tactics and signature, noting that they haven't detected any malicious activity. This comes amid Columbia University facing a battle with the Trump administration about the $400 million in grants and contracts over the institution’s failure to stamp out antisemitism on campus.

The alleged hacker, who declined to reveal their identity to The Post, said they targeted the Manhattan university to find documents indicating the use of affirmative action in admissions, which was banned by the Supreme Court last year.

Politically motivated cyberattack? 'Hacktivist' stole data of 2.5 mn Columbia University students, employees

As US President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill awaits final vote in the House on Thursday (July 3), it can have a significant impact on Indians. Trump's 'Big and Beautiful Bill' could define his second term in the White House and is expected to cause $3 trillion debt for the US.On Wednesday, Trump defended his bill after it barely passed in the Senate. In a social media post, the US president stated that the tax and spending bill will bring “growth” to the US, despite an estimated $3.3 trillion increase in the national debt through 2034.On Tuesday, the senators voted 51-50 to pass the bill after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, as three Republicans voted against the bill.<h2>How the bill impacts India</h2>In the 940-page proposal, a significant revision has been made on the dilution of the provision on tax remittances to other countries, including India. There will be a massive relief for thousands of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian professionals working in the US, who send money to their families back home.The Indian diaspora in the US is notably the second-largest migrant community in America.According to the updated draft of the bill released on June 27, the tax rate on remittances was reduced to one per cent, which is down from the five percent proposed originally.Earlier in the House version, the tax rate was brought down to 3.5 per cent, but now, it has been slashed to 1 per cent."There is hereby imposed on any remittance transfer a tax equal to 1 per cent of the amount of such transfer...The tax imposed by this section with respect to any remittance transfer shall be paid by the sender with respect to such transfer," the updated draft of the bill states.This rule will be applicable to all US residents who aren't US citizens, and also includes Green Card holders, people on temporary visas such as H-1B or H-2A and foreign students.It is expected to benefit nearly 45 lakh Indians living in the US, including nearly 32 lakh people of Indian origin.Earlier today, Trump urged Republicans to vote for it, asking, "What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove?""Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!," he stated in a post on Truth Social."FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!," Trump added.&nbsp;

According to the updated draft of the bill released on June 27, the tax rate on remittances was reduced to one per cent, which is down from the five percent proposed originally.

As US President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill awaits final vote in the House on Thursday (July 3), it can have a significant impact on Indians. Trump's 'Big and Beautiful Bill' could define his second term in the White House and is expected to cause $3 trillion debt for the US. On Wednesday, Trump defended his bill after it barely passed in the Senate. In a social media post, the US president stated that the tax and spending bill will bring “growth” to the US, despite an estimated $3.3 trillion increase in the national debt through 2034. On Tuesday, the senators voted 51-50 to pass the bill after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, as three Republicans voted against the bill. How the bill impacts India In the 940-page proposal, a significant revision has been made on the dilution of the provision on tax remittances to other countries, including India. There will be a massive relief for thousands of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian professionals working in the US, who send money to their families back home. The Indian diaspora in the US is notably the second-largest migrant community in America. According to the updated draft of the bill released on June 27, the tax rate on remittances was reduced to one per cent, which is down from the five percent proposed originally. Earlier in the House version, the tax rate was brought down to 3.5 per cent, but now, it has been slashed to 1 per cent. "There is hereby imposed on any remittance transfer a tax equal to 1 per cent of the amount of such transfer...The tax imposed by this section with respect to any remittance transfer shall be paid by the sender with respect to such transfer," the updated draft of the bill states. This rule will be applicable to all US residents who aren't US citizens, and also includes Green Card holders, people on temporary visas such as H-1B or H-2A and foreign students. It is expected to benefit nearly 45 lakh Indians living in the US, including nearly 32 lakh people of Indian origin. Earlier today, Trump urged Republicans to vote for it, asking, "What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove?" "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy. MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!," he stated in a post on Truth Social. "FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY YES VOTE. RIDICULOUS!!!," Trump added.

According to the updated draft of the bill released on June 27, the tax rate on remittances was reduced to one per cent, which is down from the five percent proposed originally.

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Know how will it impact Indians as bill awaits final vote

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 2) announced that he has made a trade deal with Vietnam after holding negotiations with General Secretary To Lam. Trump further detailed the terms on which the deal has been made.In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced to make a "great deal" with Vietnam."It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries," he wrote.<h2>Terms explained</h2>The US president detailed the terms on which he made the trade deal with Vietnam, stressing that it will be a great deal of cooperation between the two nations.Now, as per the new deal, Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% tariff on any and all goods sent into America, and a 40% Tariff on any transshipping.While, in return, Trump announced that Vietnam will be doing something they have never done before."Vietnam will give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. In other words, they will OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES, meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff," Trump stressed."It is my opinion that the SUV or, as it is sometimes referred to, Large Engine Vehicle, which does so well in the United States, will be a wonderful addition to the various product lines within Vietnam," he added.The US president further said that dealing with General Secretary To Lam, which he did personally, was an absolute pleasure.This comes just a week before the July 9 deadline as the 90-day window for tariff negotiations was about to expire. Apart from Vietnam, the UK and China have reportedly secured a deal with the US.&nbsp;

As per the new deal, Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% tariff on any and all goods sent into America, and a 40% Tariff on any transshipping.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 2) announced that he has made a trade deal with Vietnam after holding negotiations with General Secretary To Lam. Trump further detailed the terms on which the deal has been made. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced to make a "great deal" with Vietnam. "It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries," he wrote. Terms explained The US president detailed the terms on which he made the trade deal with Vietnam, stressing that it will be a great deal of cooperation between the two nations. Now, as per the new deal, Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% tariff on any and all goods sent into America, and a 40% Tariff on any transshipping. While, in return, Trump announced that Vietnam will be doing something they have never done before. "Vietnam will give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. In other words, they will OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES, meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff," Trump stressed. "It is my opinion that the SUV or, as it is sometimes referred to, Large Engine Vehicle, which does so well in the United States, will be a wonderful addition to the various product lines within Vietnam," he added. The US president further said that dealing with General Secretary To Lam, which he did personally, was an absolute pleasure. This comes just a week before the July 9 deadline as the 90-day window for tariff negotiations was about to expire. Apart from Vietnam, the UK and China have reportedly secured a deal with the US.

As per the new deal, Vietnam will pay the United States a 20% tariff on any and all goods sent into America, and a 40% Tariff on any transshipping.

'TOTAL ACCESS to markets': Trump just made a trade deal with Vietnam | Terms EXPLAINED

Just days after US President Donald Trump said that he is considering sending additional Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, the White House halted the delivery of some air defence interceptors and precision-guided bombs and missiles to Ukraine, as the Pentagon cited that US weapons stocks were going too low.This comes at a time when Ukraine is facing some of the largest missile and drone attacks from Russia since the beginning of the war.<h2>Why this halt now?</h2>The White House explained that the decision was taken to put "America's interest first" following a Department of Defense review of US "military support and assistance to other countries".“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned, just ask Iran," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.The Ukrainian defence ministry on Wednesday said that it had not received advanced notice of reductions to US arms shipments, adding that ending Russia's invasion required "consistent" support."Ukraine has not received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules for the agreed defense assistance," the ministry said in a statement."We emphasise that the path to ending the war lies through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor, as well as through continued support for Ukraine," it added.Earlier, Ukraine's foreign ministry stressed that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities would only "encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace."Notably, last weekend, Ukraine faced its biggest aerial attack since 2022, with more than 500 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles launched at its cities.<h2>What all does it include?</h2>According to a New York Times report, the weapons that have been put on hold, include interceptors for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery rounds and missiles that the Ukrainian air force fires from American-made F-16 jets, according to the Pentagon officials.These weapons have been critical as Ukraine makes an effort to fight against Russia's aggression. However, it is still unclear how many weapons are included in the list, and when the pause is going to take place.While, some US officials said that the munitions were not scheduled to be shipped to Ukraine for several months, according to the report.The US has been sending Ukraine a mix of weapons, equipment and munitions over the past two years, with some initiated during the Biden administration.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian defence ministry on Wednesday said that it had not received advanced notice of reductions to US arms shipments, adding that ending Russia's invasion required "consistent" support.

Just days after US President Donald Trump said that he is considering sending additional Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, the White House halted the delivery of some air defence interceptors and precision-guided bombs and missiles to Ukraine, as the Pentagon cited that US weapons stocks were going too low. This comes at a time when Ukraine is facing some of the largest missile and drone attacks from Russia since the beginning of the war. Why this halt now? The White House explained that the decision was taken to put "America's interest first" following a Department of Defense review of US "military support and assistance to other countries". “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned, just ask Iran," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement. The Ukrainian defence ministry on Wednesday said that it had not received advanced notice of reductions to US arms shipments, adding that ending Russia's invasion required "consistent" support. "Ukraine has not received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules for the agreed defense assistance," the ministry said in a statement. "We emphasise that the path to ending the war lies through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor, as well as through continued support for Ukraine," it added. Earlier, Ukraine's foreign ministry stressed that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities would only "encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace." Notably, last weekend, Ukraine faced its biggest aerial attack since 2022, with more than 500 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles launched at its cities. What all does it include? According to a New York Times report, the weapons that have been put on hold, include interceptors for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery rounds and missiles that the Ukrainian air force fires from American-made F-16 jets, according to the Pentagon officials. These weapons have been critical as Ukraine makes an effort to fight against Russia's aggression. However, it is still unclear how many weapons are included in the list, and when the pause is going to take place. While, some US officials said that the munitions were not scheduled to be shipped to Ukraine for several months, according to the report. The US has been sending Ukraine a mix of weapons, equipment and munitions over the past two years, with some initiated during the Biden administration.

The Ukrainian defence ministry on Wednesday said that it had not received advanced notice of reductions to US arms shipments, adding that ending Russia's invasion required "consistent" support.

'Precision-guided bombs, missiles': Trump halts some weapons transfers to Ukraine amid raging Russia war. But why?

Amid the ongoing feud between US President Donald Trump and his ex-closest ally Elon Musk, Chinese people have stormed social media with posts supporting the American billionaire as most of them were on Team Musk.All this ignited when Musk pledged to found a new political party, the American Party, if Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill passed the Senate. However, the US president's "big and beautiful bill" did pass the Senate on Tuesday.The bill is expected to increase the US national debt by $3.3 trillion. Musk has described the bill as "insane" and has vowed to unseat lawmakers who supported Trump's tax and spending measure.Hours after the bill passed the US Senate, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty went viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, similar to Musk's X, which received more than 37 million views.“If Elon Musk were to found a political party, his tech-driven mindset could inject fresh energy into politics. The potential for change is significant – and worth watching,” one of the Weibo users wrote.Another user in support of Musk wrote, “When you’ve had enough, there’s no need to keep putting up with it."One user even stressed that billions of people are supporting Musk against Trump. "Brother Musk, you’ve got over a billion people on our side backing you.”Musk is widely respected and honoured in China for his technological achievements as Tesla's electric vehicles are the only Western brand on the roads of China. Moreover, Tesla's biggest factory is located in Shanghai.Notably, Musk shares a good relationship with China's Premier Li Qiang. While, US President Trump is not that popular in China and people are not fond of him, with some claiming that he has launched the most aggressive trade war on China in recent history.'Trump, Musk grow up'Some of the users also wrote that Trump and Musk should grow up, stressing that they are arguing over the smallest things.“These two grown men argue nonstop over the smallest things – and the whole world ends up knowing about it,” wrote one user, while another joked: “Every day, Musk is basically live-streaming ‘How Billionaires Argue’”.&nbsp;

Hours after the bill passed the US Senate, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty went viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, similar to Musk's X, which received more than 37 million views.

Amid the ongoing feud between US President Donald Trump and his ex-closest ally Elon Musk, Chinese people have stormed social media with posts supporting the American billionaire as most of them were on Team Musk. All this ignited when Musk pledged to found a new political party, the American Party, if Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill passed the Senate. However, the US president's "big and beautiful bill" did pass the Senate on Tuesday. The bill is expected to increase the US national debt by $3.3 trillion. Musk has described the bill as "insane" and has vowed to unseat lawmakers who supported Trump's tax and spending measure. Hours after the bill passed the US Senate, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty went viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, similar to Musk's X, which received more than 37 million views. “If Elon Musk were to found a political party, his tech-driven mindset could inject fresh energy into politics. The potential for change is significant – and worth watching,” one of the Weibo users wrote. Another user in support of Musk wrote, “When you’ve had enough, there’s no need to keep putting up with it." One user even stressed that billions of people are supporting Musk against Trump. "Brother Musk, you’ve got over a billion people on our side backing you.” Musk is widely respected and honoured in China for his technological achievements as Tesla's electric vehicles are the only Western brand on the roads of China. Moreover, Tesla's biggest factory is located in Shanghai. Notably, Musk shares a good relationship with China's Premier Li Qiang. While, US President Trump is not that popular in China and people are not fond of him, with some claiming that he has launched the most aggressive trade war on China in recent history. 'Trump, Musk grow up' Some of the users also wrote that Trump and Musk should grow up, stressing that they are arguing over the smallest things. “These two grown men argue nonstop over the smallest things – and the whole world ends up knowing about it,” wrote one user, while another joked: “Every day, Musk is basically live-streaming ‘How Billionaires Argue’”.

Hours after the bill passed the US Senate, the hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty went viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, similar to Musk's X, which received more than 37 million views.

'Brother Musk, billion people backing you': Here's how Chinese people are siding with Musk amid feud with Trump

The temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States is in the limelight once again. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s bid to end temporary deportation protections and work permits for Haitian immigrants before the program’s scheduled expiration date. The judge added that the Department of Homeland Security, in the rush to strip deportation protections and work permits, violated the law. Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem is attempting to end legal status for approximately 521,000 Haitian immigrants. The department had earlier revoked Joe Biden’s 18-month extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians through 3 February. The program was to end on 3 August, but it was extended till 2 September last week.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the US district judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn said that Noem did not follow procedures and a timeline mandated by Congress to reconsider the TPS designation for Haitians. “Secretary Noem does not have statutory or inherent authority to partially vacate a country’s TPS designation”, and this makes her actions "unlawful," Cogan wrote. "Her partial vacatur must be set aside as unlawful under the (Administrative Procedure Act.)...Plaintiffs are likely to (and, indeed, do) succeed on the merits."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-14-million-people-could-die-trump-s-us-aid-cuts-could-affect-millions-after-musk-puts-usaid-through-the-woodchipper-1751383066410">Over 14 million people could die? Trump's US aid cuts could affect millions after Musk puts USAID 'through the woodchipper'</a>&nbsp;<h2>Lawsuit by nine Haitian TPS holders</h2>&nbsp;A lawsuit was filed in March by nine Haitian TPS holders and advocacy groups, including the Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association and Service Employees International Union 32BJ, against the rollback. It argued that the sudden revocation of the rule jolted the lives of Haitians who were forced to prepare for deportation far earlier than expected.&nbsp;Cogan added that Haitians' interests in being able to live and work in the United States "far outweigh" potential harm to the US government. He said that the Trump administration remains free to enforce immigration laws and terminate TPS status as prescribed by Congress. Notably, Republican President Donald Trump has cracked the whip on legal and illegal immigration during his second White House term.&nbsp;<h2>Reactions to the ruling on Haitians TPS</h2>&nbsp;In a statement, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Haiti's TPS designation was granted following the 2010 earthquake in that country, and was never intended as a "de facto" asylum program. "This ruling delays justice and seeks to kneecap the President's constitutionally vested powers," she said. "We expect a higher court to vindicate us."Manny Pastreich, president of SEIU Local 32BJ, whose members include Haitian TPS holders, said in a statement. "While the fight is far from over, this is an important step." &nbsp;

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been blocked from ending temporary deportation protections and work permits for 521,000 Haitian immigrants in the US. Nine Haitian TPS holders and advocacy groups had filed a lawsuit against the rollback by the Trump administration in March.

The temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States is in the limelight once again. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s bid to end temporary deportation protections and work permits for Haitian immigrants before the program’s scheduled expiration date. The judge added that the Department of Homeland Security, in the rush to strip deportation protections and work permits, violated the law. Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem is attempting to end legal status for approximately 521,000 Haitian immigrants. The department had earlier revoked Joe Biden’s 18-month extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians through 3 February. The program was to end on 3 August, but it was extended till 2 September last week. Meanwhile, the US district judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn said that Noem did not follow procedures and a timeline mandated by Congress to reconsider the TPS designation for Haitians. “Secretary Noem does not have statutory or inherent authority to partially vacate a country’s TPS designation”, and this makes her actions "unlawful," Cogan wrote. "Her partial vacatur must be set aside as unlawful under the (Administrative Procedure Act.)...Plaintiffs are likely to (and, indeed, do) succeed on the merits." Also Read: Over 14 million people could die? Trump's US aid cuts could affect millions after Musk puts USAID 'through the woodchipper' Lawsuit by nine Haitian TPS holders A lawsuit was filed in March by nine Haitian TPS holders and advocacy groups, including the Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association and Service Employees International Union 32BJ, against the rollback. It argued that the sudden revocation of the rule jolted the lives of Haitians who were forced to prepare for deportation far earlier than expected. Cogan added that Haitians' interests in being able to live and work in the United States "far outweigh" potential harm to the US government. He said that the Trump administration remains free to enforce immigration laws and terminate TPS status as prescribed by Congress. Notably, Republican President Donald Trump has cracked the whip on legal and illegal immigration during his second White House term. Reactions to the ruling on Haitians TPS In a statement, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Haiti's TPS designation was granted following the 2010 earthquake in that country, and was never intended as a "de facto" asylum program. "This ruling delays justice and seeks to kneecap the President's constitutionally vested powers," she said. "We expect a higher court to vindicate us." Manny Pastreich, president of SEIU Local 32BJ, whose members include Haitian TPS holders, said in a statement. "While the fight is far from over, this is an important step."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been blocked from ending temporary deportation protections and work permits for 521,000 Haitian immigrants in the US. Nine Haitian TPS holders and advocacy groups had filed a lawsuit against the rollback by the Trump administration in March.

Kristi Noem blocked from ending temporary protected status for Haitians

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