The trip was his first to a conflict zone nearly two years into his presidency and days after announcing a pullout of American troops from neighboring Syria. Trump was looking for some positive headlines after several days of turmoil over his decisions to withdraw the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria, pull out half of the 14,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan, and push out Defense Secretary James Mattis two months earlier than planned for criticizing his policies. Accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and speaking at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad, Trump defended the withdrawal from Syria and said it was made possible by the defeat of Islamic State militants. "Our presence in Syria was not open ended and it was never intended to be permanent," he told troops wearing camouflage fatigues in a hangar at the base. He said some troops "can now return home to their families." Many Republican and Democratic lawmakers have heaped scorn on Trump over his Syria policy, saying the fight … [Read more...] about In a first, Trump makes surprise visit to US troops in Iraq
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Team Trump looks to start off on right foot with Mexico president elect
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen disembark from their plane in Mexico City, where Pompeo will meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. (Photo: AFP/Pedro Pardo) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo led the high-level delegation to meet the leftist leader known as "AMLO," who will take office on December 1 after winning a landslide election victory. Trump's son-in-law and senior aide Jared Kushner, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were also along for the one-day trip, which included meetings with Mexico's outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto and Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray. Pompeo was all smiles as he met Lopez Obrador on the leftist leader's own turf -- an aging Mexico City house with scant security where he has set up his transition team's offices. "We look forward to working with President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez … [Read more...] about Team Trump looks to start off on right foot with Mexico president elect
Mexico president elect says will invite Trump to inauguration
Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday (Jul 5) he will invite US President Donald Trump to his inauguration on Dec 1, the leftist leader's latest olive branch after two years of deeply strained ties. Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won a landslide election victory to become Mexico's first leftist leader in recent memory. (AFP/Johan ORDONEZ) "We are neighbouring countries, we have economic and trade relationships, ties of friendship. It is very important to us to cooperate on development. We share 3,180 kilometres of border. So President Trump will be invited," Lopez Obrador told journalists. Whether he comes "will depend on his agenda and his decision," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also be invited, he added. Lopez Obrador won a landslide election victory Sunday to become Mexico's first leftist leader in recent memory, in a resounding rejection of the two established parties that have ruled the country … [Read more...] about Mexico president elect says will invite Trump to inauguration
US President Donald Trump set to visit Australia in November
President Donald Trump (Source: Politico)President Trump, along with other world leaders, is expected to make stops in Australia as part of a tour that will take him to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Papua New Guinea on November 17th and 18th. The visit to Australia will be the first time since Mr. Trump was elected as President of the US. He is also expected to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits in Singapore days before the APEC meeting in Port Moresby. President Trump's visit will coincide with the 100th anniversary of relationship between the United States and Australia. Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met US President Donald Trump at the White House on February 23rd. During the meeting, the two discussed a range of shared bilateral, regional, and global priorities, including fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth, and expanding security and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Trump and Mr. Turnbull also … [Read more...] about US President Donald Trump set to visit Australia in November
US President Donald Trump to visit UK in July
US President Donald Trump (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)The visit is expected to be officially announced in the coming days. The President is expected to travel to the UK after attending the NATO summit in Brussels in mid-July. He’s expected to stay in the UK for several days. The US President will join Theresa May for talks at Number 10 and could also meet the Queen or other senior members of the royal family. The President had been due to visit the US Embassy in London in February, but cancelled after tweeting that he was not a "big fan" of its change of location. Mr. Trump has not visited the UK since he was elected to the White House in November 2016./. Compiled by BTA … [Read more...] about US President Donald Trump to visit UK in July
Roseanne returning to TV as Trump supporter
PASADENA, United States — Hollywood is hardly a big fan of Donald Trump, but on the upcoming reboot of Roseanne, the title character will be a supporter of the Republican president. The award-winning 1990s sitcom is returning to the ABC network in March, and actress Roseanne Barr says her choice to depict her working-class character as pro-Trump is "realistic." "I’ve always tried to have (the show) be a true reflection of the society we live in," Barr said Monday. "I feel like half the people voted for Trump and half didn’t, so it’s just realistic," she told journalists at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. "And, in fact, it was working-class people who elected Trump, so I felt like that was very real and something that needed to be discussed," she said. Asked about her own support for Trump, Barr said: "I think it was time for us as a country to shake things up and, you know, try something different." Roseanne, which ran on ABC from 1988 to … [Read more...] about Roseanne returning to TV as Trump supporter
Trump to call on Pentagon, diplomats to play bigger arms sales role
The Trump administration is nearing completion of a new "Buy American" plan that calls for U.S. military attaches and diplomats to help drum up billions of dollars more in business overseas for the U.S. weapons industry, going beyond the limited assistance they currently provide, officials said. President Donald Trump is expected to announce a "whole of government" approach that will also ease export rules on U.S. military exports and give greater weight to the economic benefits for American manufacturers in a decision-making process that has long focused heavily on human rights considerations, according to people familiar with the plan. The initiative, which will encompass everything from fighter jets and drones to warships and artillery, is expected to be launched as early as February, senior officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A key policy change would call for embassy staffers around the world to act essentially as a sales force for defense contractors, actively … [Read more...] about Trump to call on Pentagon, diplomats to play bigger arms sales role
Trump would welcome challenge from Oprah Winfrey for president
U.S. President Donald Trump would gladly face Oprah Winfrey as an opponent in the 2020 presidential race, a White House spokesman said on Monday after social media buzz from her speech at an awards show thrust her name into the political arena. "We welcome the challenge, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody else," Hogan Gidley told reporters on Air Force One during a flight to Nashville on Monday. "We welcome all comers." Winfrey, 63, stole the show at the Golden Globe awards on Sunday night with her speech upon receiving the Cecil B. DeMille award for achievement and lit up Twitter with a surge of tweets carrying "#Oprahforpresident" and "#Oprah2020." She is actively thinking about a run, CNN reported on Monday, citing two of her close friends. CNN did not name the friends, who it said had spoken on condition of anonymity. At least one emphasized that Winfrey had made no firm decision. Winfrey has said in the past she is not interested in running for president, but the Los Angeles … [Read more...] about Trump would welcome challenge from Oprah Winfrey for president
US President dissolves Controversial Election Commission
US President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP/VNA) In a statement, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee said, "Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry”. "Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to dissolve the Commission, and he has asked the Department of Homeland Security to review its initial findings and determine next courses of action," she added. "Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission on Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D.," President Trump said in a tweet on January 4th. The commission, led by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State … [Read more...] about US President dissolves Controversial Election Commission
Trump administration toughens stance on recreational marijuana
The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday reversed official policy that had tolerated the growing state-based movement to legalize marijuana sales, just three days after California formally permitted recreational use of the drug. Announcing a "return to the rule of law," Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded five key memos issued by the administration of president Barack Obama that discouraged enforcement of federal laws, which still classify marijuana as a dangerous narcotic like heroin. That reversed the election campaign stance by President Donald Trump favoring state marijuana laws, and set up a potential clash with the six U.S. states that have already moved ahead to legalize pot sales. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska and California have legalized sales, while Massachusetts is planning to do so this year, and legalization is under debate in Maine. "It is the mission of the Department of Justice to enforce the laws of the United States, and the previous issuance of … [Read more...] about Trump administration toughens stance on recreational marijuana