Tag: Donald Trump

Battle to avert US government shutdown moves to the Senate

by Jim MANNION Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – A last-ditch battle to avert a looming US government shutdown moved to the Senate on Friday, where Democrats angered by the collapse of immigration talks have vowed to block a stop-gap funding bill. With the federal government set to run out of money Friday at midnight — the eve of the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration — the bill cleared the House with a 230-197 vote. But […]

Bill to avert shutdown passes House but US senators ready to block

by Jim Mannion Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – The US House of Representatives passed a stop-gap funding measure late Thursday that would avert a government shutdown, sending it to the Senate where Democrats have vowed to block it. With the federal government set to run out of money Friday at midnight — the eve of the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration — the bill cleared the House with a 230-197 vote. But prospects appeared […]

Immigration tensions roil US Congress as shutdown looms

by Michael Mathes Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — With barely two days before the US government runs out of money, and President Donald Trump feuding with Democrats over immigration, Republican congressional leaders scrambled Wednesday to avoid an embarrassing federal shutdown. A bipartisan deal on immigration that would shield some 700,000 people from deportation lay in tatters after the president’s reported use of vulgar language during a tense White House meeting last week […]

Republican senator accuses Trump of Stalin-like attacks on media

by Emma Charlton Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – A maverick senator from Donald Trump’s own Republican party launched a stinging attack on the president on Wednesday, accusing him of employing Stalinist language to “slur” and undermine the free press. Arizona lawmaker Jeff Flake leveled the broadside in an address from the Senate floor, timed to coincide with the expected announcement of controversial “Fake News Awards” by Trump’s administration. Delivering a one-two punch after veteran Republican […]

Bannon testifies before House committee probing Russia campaign links

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Steve Bannon faced a marathon grilling Tuesday by a congressional committee probing Donald Trump’s campaign links to Russia, as it emerged the former top aide has also been subpoenaed by the special prosecutor investigating the issue. Bannon was quizzed behind closed doors by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, the first time he has testified in the probe investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in its bid to influence […]

Wall Street on Cloud Nine since Trump’s election

by Ali Bekhtaoui Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The bronze sculpture of a bull that stands near the New York Stock Exchange serves as a symbol of Wall Street’s power perhaps this year more than ever. Since President Donald Trump took office a year ago, the principal US stock indexes have gained by leaps and bounds, hitting a record string of records. “I have not seen such enthusiasm on Wall Street […]

Trump denies he’s a racist as Americans honor King

by Jim MANNION Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – Americans remembered civil rights hero Martin Luther King on his holiday Monday, a day after US President Donald Trump vehemently denied he is a racist amid an uproar over a reported presidential slur. The denial late Sunday came three days after Trump was quoted as calling African nations and Haiti “shithole countries,” setting off a storm of condemnation that threatened to derail a bipartisan compromise on immigration. “I’m not […]

Key moments in year one of the Trump presidency

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Here is a look at several key moments in the first year of Donald Trump’s turbulent presidency: Travel ban: the legal saga Out of the blue, one week after taking office, Trump decreed a 90-day ban on arrivals of people from seven Muslim majority countries and a 120-day ban on all refugee arrivals. Chaos broke out at US airports, with travelers detained upon arrival, and Americans nationwide staged protests against […]

Naked Cowboy bravely sings of love for Trump in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The Naked Cowboy, whose white underpants, bronzed chest and cowboy hat are fixtures in New York’s Times Square, took his act to Mexico City this week, bravely singing of his love for Donald Trump and his border wall. Robert John Burck is famous for busking on Broadway sporting just a guitar and tighty-whities emblazoned with the words “Naked Cowboy” in red, white and blue, even in the dead of winter. […]

Trump issues stay of execution for Iran nuclear deal

by Dave Clark Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, keeping a landmark 2015 deal alive… for now. The Republican leader grudgingly agreed to sign sanctions waivers, ensuring Washington will live up to its commitments for another 120 days, but he cautioned it would be “for the last time.” During that four-month period, he now wants Congress and America’s main European allies to draw up […]

Trump cryptic about contacts with N. Korea’s Kim

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested he could have a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but refused to say if the two had spoken. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. “I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” The paper reported that Trump would not be drawn on whether contacts […]

Bannon steps down from Breitbart News in post-book storm

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump’s former White House strategist Steve Bannon has stepped down from Breitbart News, the conservative news outlet announced Tuesday, still roiled in controversy over incendiary remarks about the president quoted in a new book. The announcement comes just days after the 64-year-old news executive at the provocative right-wing site publicly split with Trump over explosive comments he made about the president’s fitness for office and members of his […]