Tag: USA

Border shooting of Mexican teen heads to Supreme Court

by Sébastien BLANC Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States  – Sergio Hernandez died at 15, shot dead by policeman Jesus Mesa. His would have been a story of American violence both tragic and banal if the victim had not been in Mexico and the shooter in the US. The thorny legal question raised by the cross-border homicide heads to the US Supreme Court on Tuesday. At issue is whether the teen’s family has the constitutional right […]

Trump reassures supporters in fiery campaign-style speech

by Michael Mathes Agence France-Presse MELBOURNE, United States – President Donald Trump turned back the clock Saturday with a bold and aggressive Florida speech straight out of his 2016 campaign playbook, enthralling fans while insisting all is well in the White House despite weeks of turbulence. He also took aim at his favorite foil, the “dishonest” news media that he said has become “part of the corrupt system.” At the end of a stormy first […]

Deny and deflect: Trump comes out swinging

by Jennie MATTHEW Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – Donald Trump was combative and in control at his first news conference in months on Wednesday, sticking to his campaign formula — boasting of his successes, cracking jokes and slamming media he considers hostile. Journalists sat elbow to elbow, knee to knee in the crowded marble lobby of Trump Tower, clamoring with question after question nine days before the Republican is sworn in as the […]

Trump taps ExxonMobil chief Tillerson as secretary of state

by Becca MILFELD Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as his nominee to be secretary of state, despite concerns on both sides of the political aisle about the oilman’s deep ties to Russia. The nomination was the one most awaited by observers at home and abroad as the 70-year-old Republican billionaire builds his cabinet before taking office on January 20 — and […]

Trump’s cabinet picks so far — a quick guide

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday formally nominated retired Marine general John Kelly to be his secretary of homeland security — the third former general tapped to join the Republican billionaire’s inner circle. The following is a list of key cabinet and other nominations made so far by Trump, who takes office on January 20: Cabinet Attorney General: Jeff Sessions, 69 One of Trump’s earliest supporters during the campaign, the […]

Trump meets on cabinet appointments

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – by Dave Clark Donald Trump girded Monday for a busy day of meetings to fill cabinet positions including secretary of state, a keenly awaited choice as American allies and foes watch the president-elect engage in his unique, Twitter-heavy brand of foreign policy. Trump will have “a very full slate of meetings” as he looks to finalise key positions, senior aide Kellyanne Conway said Sunday. America’s allies and others are keenly […]

Trump taps South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for UN ambassador

PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) – President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will nominate South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a Republican critic who once rebuked him for failing to disavow white supremacists, as US ambassador to the United Nations. An Asian-American with little previous foreign policy experience, Haley was the first woman to be picked for Trump’s cabinet, injecting a measure of diversity in a group that until now has consisted solely of white […]

Two weeks on, Trump still Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – by Dave Clark Two weeks on from his election victory, Donald Trump shows every sign that he will govern as he campaigned — with late night tweet storms, attacks on the press and a flirtation with the extremes of US political life. True, the president-elect has backed off a threat to have his defeated opponent Hillary Clinton investigated. And, in calls with foreign leaders, he has reassured them that military […]

Trump denies transition in disarray

  by Catherine Triomphe NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – Donald Trump denied charges Wednesday that his White House transition was in disarray amid reports of a backstabbing purge of mainstream Republican aspirants, as his team said new administration appointments were expected soon. The president-elect remained ensconced in his luxurious Trump Tower headquarters in Manhattan, taking phone calls from foreign leaders and meeting or talking with potential cabinet members, his aides said. Asked whether Trump […]

Obama in Europe urges ‘course correction’ on globalization

  by Jerome Cartillier with John Hadoulis in Athens Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) –  US President Barack Obama arrived in Germany on Wednesday on the final leg of a European tour aimed at reassuring key allies about transatlantic ties under his successor Donald Trump. Obama touched down in Berlin for a visit due to last until Friday, during which he will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as the leaders of Britain, […]

EU split on defence plans after Trump win

  by Bryan McManus BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – Sharp differences surfaced Monday as EU foreign ministers debated ambitious plans to boost the bloc’s military role, amid fears Donald Trump’s election jeopardises Washington’s historic security guarantee. US president-elect Trump has shocked Europe by casting doubt over US commitments to NATO unless European allies increase defence spending, sparking calls for the European Union to press ahead on its own. Britain has long opposed any such plans as […]