Author: Vivian Salama
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Trump says Taliban peace talks to resume during surprise Afghanistan visit
President Donald Trump announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban after making a surprise trip to Afghanistan to celebrate Thanksgiving with U.S. troops. “The Taliban wants to make a deal — we’ll see if they make a deal. If they do they do, and if they don’t they don’t. That’s fine,” Trump said…
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Mulvaney: Ukraine aid freeze tied to Trump’s demand for DNC server
WASHINGTON • A top White House official for the first time linked President Donald Trump’s decision to hold up aid to Ukraine to his desire for Kyiv to probe a Democratic National Committee server related to the 2016 election, then hours later issued a statement contradicting his remarks. The initial comments at a White House…
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U.S. penalizes Turkey, aiming to stop incursion into Syria
WASHINGTON • President Donald Trump authorized sanctions and raised steel tariffs on Turkey on Monday while threatening more powerful financial penalties if Ankara continued a military offensive in northern Syria launched after Trump decided to withdraw U.S. troops from the region. Trump also spoke separately with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Kurdish Commander…
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U.S., China reach tentative ‘phase one’ trade pact
WASHINGTON • The U.S. and China said they agreed in principle on the first phase of a trade accord that could de-escalate tensions between the economic powers, with the U.S. saying it would hold off on ramping up tariffs next week and China saying it agreed to ramp up its purchases of U.S. agricultural products.…
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Trump ordered Ukraine ambassador removed after complaints from Giuliani, others
WASHINGTON • President Donald Trump ordered the removal of the ambassador to Ukraine after months of complaints from allies outside the administration, including his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, that she was undermining him abroad and obstructing efforts to persuade Kiev to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, according to people familiar with the matter. The…
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Trump signs ‘seriously flawed’ Russia sanctions bill
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed what he called a “seriously flawed” bill imposing new sanctions on Russia, pressured by his Republican Party not to move on his own toward a warmer relationship with Moscow in light of Russian actions. The legislation is aimed at punishing Moscow for interfering in the 2016 U.S.…
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Russia sanctions bill exposes Trump’s legislative tug of war
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is likely to sign a tough new sanctions bill that includes proposed measures targeting Russia — a remarkable concession that the president has yet to sell his party on his hopes for forging a warmer relationship with Moscow Trump’s vow to extend a hand of cooperation to Russian President Vladimir…
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White House communications director Michael Dubke resigns
WASHINGTON — A top White House communications staffer has resigned as President Donald Trump considers a major staff overhaul. The departure of Michael Dubke, Trump’s communications director, comes as aides say Trump has grown increasingly frustrated by allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and revelations of possible ties between his campaign and Moscow.…
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Trump’s use of private cellphone raises security concerns
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has been handing out his cellphone number to world leaders and urging them to call him directly, an unusual invitation that breaks diplomatic protocol and is raising concerns about the security and secrecy of the U.S. commander in chief’s communications. Trump has urged leaders of Canada and Mexico to reach…
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Homeland Security’s John Kelly defends plan for Russia back channel as a ‘good thing’
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly is defending an alleged effort by top White House adviser Jared Kushner to create back-channel communications with Russia as a “good thing,” while the Trump administration sought to quell mounting questions over secret ties to the Kremlin. Speaking on Sunday’s news shows, Kelly said he didn’t know whether…