The Trump two-step. That's how Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria describes President Donald Trump's negotiating style. "It goes something like this: Begin by hurling insults at the other side, some of which have a basis in reality but are mostly wild exaggerations. Threaten extreme consequences. Then meet with the other side,...
Threats Aside, Trump Says He's Willing to Meet With Iranians
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said that he'd "certainly meet" with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and without preconditions, if the Iranian leader were willing. Speaking Monday during a joint news conference with Italy's premier, Trump said he would meet with the Iranians "anytime they want to." "I'll meet with anybody,"...
Trump Says Koch Brothers Are 'a Total Joke' in GOP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out at the Koch brothers, tweeting that the billionaire industrialists are a "total joke in real Republican circles" and that he is "a puppet for no one." It's the latest salvo between the president and Charles and David Koch, who did not...
Iran's Currency Plunges as New US Sanctions Loom
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's currency plummeted to a record low Monday, a week before the United States restores sanctions lifted under the unraveling nuclear deal, giving rise to fears of prolonged economic suffering and further civil unrest. Already last month, protesters clashed with police outside parliament in Tehran in three...
Trump Threatens Government Shutdown Over Border Security
WASHINGTON — Republicans anxious about keeping control of Congress think it's a bad idea, but President Donald Trump still says he's willing to close the government over border security issues, including money he wants to build a promised U.S.-Mexico border wall. I would be willing to “shut down” government if...
U.S. Bombing Plan for Iran Reported, Disputed
Citing government sources, an Australian television network is reporting that the United States is prepared to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities as early as next month. "The ABC has been told Australian defence facilities would likely play a role in identifying targets in Iran, as would British intelligence agencies," said a...
Trump Claims US is 'Economic Envy of the Entire World'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump celebrated the release of new economic data on Friday, claiming the U.S. is now the "economic envy of the entire world." The president was responding to new growth numbers announced on Friday that show the U.S. economy surged in the April-June quarter to an annual...
Trump Thanks Kim for Keeping Word on Korea War Remains
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday for "fulfilling a promise" to return the remains of missing U.S. soldiers from the Korean War, as a U.S. military plane made a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve 55 cases of remains. North Korea...
Report: US Plane Leaves To Pick Up US War Remains in North Korea
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — A U.S. military plane left from Osan Air Base for North Korea on Friday to pick up the remains of what are believed to be U.S. servicemen killed during the Korean War, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. The U.S. military and South Korean government couldn't...
US Will Sanction Turkey Over Detained Pastor, Trump Says
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared on Thursday the United States will impose sanctions on Turkey, a crucial NATO ally, in retaliation for the detention of an American pastor on terror and espionage charges. Turkey's response was both harsh and dismissive, calling his words "unacceptable" and a "cheap threat." Trump's...