'With You As You Hunt Down Terrorists': US Spy Chief To Modi On Kashmir Attack

WASHINGTON, April 25: US' Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, paying homage to those who were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam this week. She said that America stands in solidarity with India in the wake of the "horrific Islamist terrorist attack that killed Hindus".

The US spy chief extended Washington's full support to New Delhi and told Prime Minister Modi that "We are with you and support you as you hunt down those responsible for this heinous attack."

Twenty-six people, including a foreign national, were shot dead by terrorists after they were asked to prove their allegiance to Islam. The targeted killings, which were religiously-motivated, have been condemned globally.

Kashmiris protested throughout the Union Territory condemning terror and blaming Pakistan for it, while fellow Indians were equally infuriated over the cowardly act.

An investigation revealed that links to the terrorists who were involved in the attack emerged from Pakistan and areas under its illegal occupation. Pakistan-based The Resistance Front, a shadow outfit of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba has also claimed responsibility for the attack.

After Clash With Zelensky, Trump Says 'Crimea Will Stay With Russia'

WASHINGTON, April 25: The recent interview with US President Donald Trump by TIME magazine has caused debate regarding the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump stated that "Crimea will stay with Russia” as part of potential peace negotiations with Ukraine, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky understands this reality.

The Crimean peninsula has been a point of contention between Ukraine and Russia for years, with Russia annexing the region in 2014. Trump's comments suggest that he believes Crimea's fate is already sealed, with Russia maintaining control over the region. He pointed out that the people of Crimea largely speak Russian, implying that this demographic factor contributes to the region's ties with Russia. However, he also took a swipe at his predecessor, Barack Obama, saying, "But this was given by Obama. This wasn't given by Trump."

Zelensky has consistently maintained that recognising occupied territory as Russian is a red line for Ukraine, and Trump's comments may be seen as an attempt to push Ukraine towards negotiations.

In contrast to his comments on Crimea, Trump has also criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to assault Ukraine. In a statement, Trump said, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

In response, Zelensky pointed out on Thursday that Ukraine had accepted a US ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as the first step toward peace talks, but Russian attacks have continued.

Trump also said that Ukraine will never join NATO and added, “From day one, that's what caused the war to start—talks of NATO membership".

Speaking to reporters Friday as he left the White House to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, Trump said there is no deadline for the conclusion of peace talks.

“I just want to do it as fast as possible,” Trump said. Negotiators are “pretty close” to a deal, he said.

Trump makes rare criticism of Putin after Russia’s deadly Kyiv attacks

WASHINGTON, April 24: United States President Donald Trump has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin after a Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killed at least 12 people and injured dozens.

Posting on Thursday on the Truth Social platform, which he owns, Trump wrote that the attacks were “not necessary” and “very” badly timed.

“Vladimir, Stop! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying,” the post said.

Trump’s direct appeal to Putin came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his allies to put Russia under more pressure to halt its war, which began more than three years ago.

At a news conference in South Africa with its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, Zelenskyy said: “We do not see signs of the US putting strong pressure on Russia as part of its peace push. We believe that we can bring our sides closer with greater pressure on Russia.”

US Stands Strong With India Against Terror: Trump On Attack In Pahalgam

WASHINGTON, April 22: The United States stands strong with India, underlined US President Donald Trump, sending a message of solidarity with India as a terror attack targeting tourists killed 26 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

"Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism. We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

The attack targeted tourists in Pahalgam, which lies about 90 kilometres by road from the key city of Srinagar.

Modi, Vance hold talks, welcome 'progress' in India-US trade agreement negotiations

NEW DELHI, April 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with US Vice President JD Vance at his residence in the national capital, where the two leaders "reviewed and positively assessed" the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation.

JD Vance, who arrived in India on a four-day visit today, met Modi at the latter's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg house. His wife, Usha Vance, and their children also interacted with the Prime Minister.

During his meeting, Modi fondly recalled his visit to Washington D.C. in February and his “fruitful” discussions with US President Donald Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, said an official statement.

The two leaders welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, which is focused on the welfare of the people of the countries.

"Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas," the statement added.

Modi and Vance exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.

Trump Issues 8-Pointer 'Non-Tariff Cheating' Warning Amid 90-Day Pause

WASHINGTON, April 21: US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued an eight-point 'non-tariff cheating' list, warning countries of non-tariff-related offences that could spoil relations with the US. The warning came days after Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China.

In the eight-point list, Trump mentioned currency manipulation - an accusation he has made previously on some countries for deliberately devaluing their currencies to make their exports more competitive while making US products costlier abroad. Another warning is about Value-Added Taxes (VATs) that are applied to imports but refunded on exports in many nations.

The Republican leader also warned countries of dumping below cost, export and other government subsidies, protective agricultural standards, counterfeiting, piracy, and IP theft, and transshipping to evade tariffs.

He also warned of protective technical standards, citing Japan's 'bowling ball test' - a claim Trump made first in 2018.

According to Trump, Japan uses a so-called "bowling ball test" to cheat US auto companies out of selling cars to Japanese consumers. "They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesn't qualify. It's horrible," he had said.

US says it would welcome Easter ceasefire extension in Russia-Ukraine war

WASHINGTON, April 20: The US State Department said on Sunday it would welcome the extension beyond Sunday of a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin said earlier there was no order for an extension and both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.

Modi, Elon Musk Discuss Technology, Innovation Partnership

NEW DELHI, April 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tech billionaire Elon Musk spoke today about a US-India partnership in the areas of technology and innovation. The two leaders, who had met in Washington earlier this year, took forward their discussion, including about Musk's auto and tech firms - like Tesla and Starlink - investing in India.

There is "immense potential" for collaboration between India and the United States in these fields, Modi said, adding that India remains committed to advancing a partnership between New Delhi and Washington in these domains.

"Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains," Modi wrote on his social media handle on X.

Trump moves to levy Chinese vessels as trade war widens

WASHINGTON, April 18: The Trump administration took steps to impose levies on Chinese vessels docking at US ports, threatening to shake up global shipping routes and escalate the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Under a plan put forward by the US Trade Representative on Thursday, all Chinese-built and -owned ships docking in the US would be subject to a fee based on the volume of goods carried, on a per-voyage basis.

The proposal follows a months-long investigation ordered by the Biden administration into whether Chinese shipbuilding threatens US national security. The plan also hits non-Chinese shipbuilders, adding a levy to any vehicle carriers not made in America calling at US ports.

The so-called 301 petition ordered the fee to go into effect in six months, with another phase restricting foreign-built vessels that transport liquefied natural gas to begin in three years. After six months, the fee for Chinese vessels would be set at $50 per net ton, or the volume of a ship’s revenue-earning space, and then increase incrementally over three years.

Chinese-built vessels would be assessed based on net tonnage or per container. Funds from the docking fees would be used to help revitalize the waning US shipbuilding industry, which long ago pivoted from building commercial ships to focusing on naval contracts.

Asian shipping stocks outside of China jumped at Friday’s open, while Chinese shippers dipped with the broader market. Spokespersons for China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the levies.

Thursday’s proposal is a departure from its initial iteration, which suggested charging fees of at least $1 million per ship each time it called at a US port. The proposal now recommends that fees be levied based on tonnage.

Another major deviation is that the USTR is now proposing that fees be charged per voyage, instead of per port call. The original proposal alarmed shipping companies, especially container liners, who feared increased congestion at bigger US ports if vessels tried to avoid multiple stops.

Ship operators can avoid the fees for up to three years if they can show that they’ve ordered a new US-built vessel.

US Says China Faces Up To 245% Tariff On Imports Due To Retaliatory Action

WASHINGTON, April 16: China now faces tariffs of up to 245 per cent on import of goods into the United States "as a result of its retaliatory actions", the White House said Tuesday afternoon as the trade war between the two countries appears to run further and further off road.

The announcement came as Donald Trump authorised an investigation into "national security risks posed by the US' reliance on imported, processed critical minerals", which includes cobalt, lithium, and nickel, and rare-earth metals used to manufacture batteries, such as those used in electric vehicles.

The order points out the US is "dependent on foreign sources... at risk of serious, sustained, and long-term supply chain shocks", and this dependence "raises potential for risks to national security".

Until now tit-for-tat tariff exchanges had seen the US levy a 145 per cent tax on Chinese imports and China slap a 125 per cent duty on American goods.

There is, however, some confusion about the tariff on China being ramped up by 100 per cent.

It appears - and the US has not confirmed this as yet - that the 245 per cent mentioned by the White House refers to the total amount of tax that can be levied on Chinese goods imported into the US.

On Wednesday morning a top Chinese official claimed the US' tariffs were putting "pressure" on it.

However, simultaneously China also said its economy grew a forecast-beating 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. Industrial output climbed 6.5 per cent and retail sales 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

Beijing, though, warned the global economic environment is becoming more "complex and severe" and that more needs to be done to boost growth and consumption.

"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop blackmailing and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," spokesman Lin Jian said.

Trump, meanwhile, has said China needs to make the first step in any negotiation. "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them," the President said, a day after he accused Beijing of reneging on a major Boeing deal.

Trump has repeatedly accused China, India, Brazil, and most of the rest of the world, in fact, of levying higher tariffs on American imports than the US places on goods it imports from them.

US Vice President JD Vance announces visit to India, to meet Modi on April 21

WASHINGTON, April 16: US Vice President JD Vance and the second family will travel to India and Italy from April 18 to April 24. The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country.

The US Vice President will travel to Italy this week and then to India, a spokesperson for Vance said. Vance's wife, Usha Vance, will accompany her on the trip. The daughter of Indian immigrants, she is the first Indian-American to be the second lady.

This will be Vance's first visit to India.

The Vances are expected to bring their three young children -- Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel -- to India.

In India, the Vice President will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra and hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian officials are also working on trade talks. A senior New Delhi official said that India hopes to wrap up its tariffs talks with the US in six weeks.

According to a MEA release, Vance will be meeting with Modi on April 21. The Vice President and his delegation will have other engagements in Delhi and are also scheduled to visit Jaipur and Agra before departing for Washington, DC on April 24.

Trump's new warning: ‘Iran has to get rid of concept of nuclear weapon’

WASHINGTON, April 15: US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Iran has been intentionally delaying a nuclear deal with the United States. He cautioned Tehran against a drive for a nuclear weapon, saying it may have to face a military strike if it didn't desist from its activities.

Iran and the United States officials met in Oman and held "positive" and "constructive" talks last week. A second round is scheduled for Saturday.

Donald Trump said that Tehran must forgo the concept of having a nuclear weapon. "Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Asked if the US options for a response include a military strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities, Trump said: “Of course it does.”

He said Iran is fairly close to developing a nuclear weapon, and they need to move fast on the deal or face a harsh response.

Donald Trump said that Iran also wants to deal with the United States.

"Iran wants to deal with us, but they don’t know how. They don’t know how,” Trump said Monday as he met with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office. “We had a meeting with them on Saturday. We have another meeting scheduled next Saturday. That’s a long time. You know, that’s a long time. So, I think they might be tapping us along," he added.

Trump’s downbeat tone came despite negotiators from both nations saying that a meeting Saturday in Oman’s capital of Muscat — headed by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s main Middle East envoy, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — were constructive.

Aircraft Carriers Truman And Vinson Move In As Trump Plans To Corner Iran

WASHINGTON DC, April 15: Donald Trump is calculating his next move as he aims to corner Iran over nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. The US President has decided to put an end to Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme.

After an outright denial for talks with the United States, Iran reluctantly agreed, saying it reserves the right to reject the final proposal.

Donald Trump is determined to have his way, by hook or by crook. And so, in order to build pressure on Iran, the US President has kept military plans as a backup, should talks fail.

Even before the next round of US-Iran talks, which began three days ago, Washington has moved in a second aircraft carrier in the region. The USS Carl Vinson and its strike group has moved up the Arabian Sea, towards the Persian Gulf. Operations reportedly began late on Monday night as suspected US airstrikes pounded parts of Yemen controlled by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

Though similar operations have been on by another US aircraft carrier - USS Harry S. Truman, a second strike group is seen as a move by Trump to intensify the strikes in order to make his intentions clear to Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran.

Donald Trump has threatened to carry out precession airstrikes on all of Iran's nuclear facilities if a deal acceptable to Washington is not achieved. On the other hand, Iran has warned that it could easily pursue a nuclear weapon with their current stockpile of uranium that has successfully been enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Trump says he expects to make a decision on Iran’s nuclear program ‘very quickly’

WASHINGTON, April 14: Asked about US talks with Iran on its nuclear program, US President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he expects a decision to be made soon, ahead of a second round of talks set to take place this Saturday in Rome.

“We’ll be making a decision on Iran very quickly,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way from Florida back to the White House.

His comments came a day after talks in Oman, which included a conversation between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the highest-level Iran-US negotiations since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear accord.

According to the Axios news site, Witkoff and Araghchi spoke for around 45 minutes on Saturday, with a source saying that the conversation between the two was “substantive, serious and excellent.”

Iran and the US separately described Saturday’s discussions as “constructive.”

US and Iran hold 'constructive' first round of nuclear talks

MUSCAT, April 12: Iran and the US have concluded a first round of talks in Oman over Tehran's nuclear programme - the highest-level meeting between the two nations since 2018.

Both countries described the meeting as "constructive" and confirmed a second round of discussions will take place next week - with the US hailing the "direct communication" as being key to striking a possible deal.

President Donald Trump pulled the US out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018, and has long said he would make a "better" deal.

The talks are seen as an important first step in establishing whether a deal can be done.

At two-and-a-half hours, the first meeting was brief, reportedly respectful - and set the stage for a second round.

That was probably as good as it could get when Iranian and US officials sat down in Muscat, the capital of Oman - whose top diplomat mediated the primarily indirect negotiations.

They were the most significant talks since Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal of 2015 during his first term in office.

The verdict of Iran's lead negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, was positive.

"In my opinion, as the first meeting, it was a constructive meeting held in a very peaceful and respectful environment, because no inappropriate language was used," he told Iranian state TV.

His diplomatic tone suggests the US team led by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff did not reiterate some of the president's threats that Iran would face "great danger" if this dialogue did not succeed. He has repeatedly warned of possible military strikes.

This meeting ran with the delegations in separate rooms, relaying messages through Oman's foreign minister, Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi.

Witkoff, who is leading the US delegation, had previously only spoken of meeting face-to-face.

But Araghchi and Witkoff did speak for a few minutes in the presence of Busaidi – not the direct talks US officials said would happen but what could be a small but significant opening.

Iran, mindful of pressure from hardliners at home, underlined how limited their face-to-face exchange was, with no photographs taken.

In a statement following the talks, the White House said the discussions "were very positive and constructive", noting that Witkoff had emphasised to Iran that he had instructions to resolve the adversaries' "differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible".

"These issues are very complicated, and special envoy Witkoff's direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome," the statement added.

Araghchi had said ahead of the discussions that his country wanted a "fair agreement".

After the talks concluded, he said discussions next week may not happen in Oman, but would still be mediated by the Middle Eastern nation. The White House said they would take place next Saturday.

"Neither we, nor the other party, want fruitless negotiations, discussions for discussions' sake, time wasting or talks that drag on forever," Araghchi told Iranian state television.

The most important issue at stake is what kind of deal each side would be willing to accept.

Trump Exempts Tariffs On Phones, Laptops

WASHINGTON, April 12: The Trump administration has exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its punishing "reciprocal" tariffs -- lessening the cost impact on American consumers for a host of popular high-tech products.

The exemptions, published late Friday in a notice by the US Customs and Border Protection office, cover various electronic goods, including smartphones and components entering the United States from China, which are currently subject to a staggering additional 145 percent tariff.

Semiconductors are also excluded from the "baseline" 10-percent tariff on most US trading partners and the added 125-percent levy on China.

The exclusions narrow the range of sweeping 10-percent levies announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month and the punishing additional rate on goods from China.

Trump has targeted China especially with his "reciprocal tariffs" meant to address practices Washington deemed unfair, most recently introducing a new 125-percent tariff on goods from the world's second-biggest economy that took effect this week.

The rate piled atop an earlier 20-percent levy Trump imposed over China's alleged role in fentanyl supply chains and other existing tariffs from previous administrations -- taking the full figure to at least 145 percent for many products.

Many of the exempted products, including hard drives and computer processors, generally are not made in America.

While Trump has referred to tariffs as a way to bring manufacturing back to the United States, it will likely take years to ramp up domestic manufacturing.

Trump Envoy Witkoff In Russia, Likely To Meet Putin To Push For Ceasefire

MOSCOW, April 11: Steve Witkoff, President Trump's diplomatic envoy, arrived in Russia to rekindle stalled talks over the Ukraine war. The Kremlin confirmed his arrival, but it's unclear if he'll meet with President Vladimir Putin. This potential meeting would be Witkoff's third with Putin since the US and Russia began to work on their relationship and find ways to end the conflict.

The US and Russia have been engaged in a war of words, with Trump expressing frustration over the lack of progress in negotiations and he said he was "pissed off" about Putin's recent comments on Ukraine. He could even impose additional sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire isn't reached by the end of the month, according to a report by Axios. These sanctions could be implemented through executive power or by asking Congress to pass new legislation.

In an effort to break the deadlock, Witkoff hosted Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Washington last week. Ukraine has agreed to Trump's proposal for an unconditional ceasefire and a smaller-scale maritime ceasefire, but Russia has made new demands, including lifting some US sanctions. Despite these challenges, Trump remains optimistic and said this during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, "We are making progress. We hope that we are getting relatively close to getting a deal between Russia and Ukraine to stop the fighting."

A significant development in the diplomatic efforts is the prisoner exchange deal between the US and Russia, which included the release of dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina. Trump appreciated Putin's decision to release Karelina, crediting UFC CEO Dana White for bringing attention to her case. White had reached out to Trump for help, mentioning that Karelina is the girlfriend of a UFC fighter.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also weighed in on the negotiations, saying, "We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are."

Witkoff's visit to Russia marks a significant shift in diplomatic efforts, as he recently became the first senior American official to travel to Moscow to meet with Putin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

The Biden administration had cut off contact with Putin, accusing him of committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine. In contrast, Witkoff has pursued a different approach, focusing on building a relationship with Putin. After his first meeting in the Kremlin, Witkoff said he tried to develop "a friendship, a relationship" with Putin.

Trump's Latest Tariff Hike Brings Additional China Rate To 145%: White House

WASHINGTON, April 10: US President Donald Trump's steep tariff hike targeting Chinese goods, which took effect Thursday, brings Washington's additional rate on many products to 145 percent, the White House confirms.

Trump's 90-day halt in fresh duties for dozens of countries has come into place, a White House order showed.

But he has also doubled down by raising new tariffs on Chinese imports to 125 percent, a figure that stacks atop a 20 percent additional duty from earlier in the year over China's alleged role in the fentanyl supply chain.

This takes the total tariffs Trump has imposed on Chinese products this year to 145 percent, stacking on existing levies from past administrations.

But the latest 125 percent figure on China, aimed at addressing practices Washington has deemed unfair, contains notable exclusions.

It excludes products like steel and aluminum imports, as well as autos, which Trump slapped separate 25 percent tariffs on under separate regimes.

The number also does not apply to goods such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, and energy products -- some of which Trump has signaled plans to target separately too.

All of this paints a more complicated picture of tariff levels, even as tensions soar between Washington and Beijing.

Trump Imposes 125% Tariff On China, Puts 'On Hold' Levies On 75 Others

WASHINGTON, April 9: Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which was meant to impose levies against all those who tariff US goods, has taken a fresh turn. It has evolved into a slugfest between China and the United States, with Washington now imposing a massive 125 per cent tax on all Chinese goods.

Announcing this on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump said that while China will have to bear the brunt of 125 per cent tariffs, Washington has put a 90-day pause on the other 75 countries against whom reciprocal tariffs were imposed on April 2.

Slamming China for its "lack of respect" shown to world's markets, President Trump intensified his punishing tariffs against the world's second-largest economy. "Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately," he wrote.

Reiterating his criticism of China for "robbing" and "ripping off" the United States' economy for decades with its punitive tariff structures, unfair trade practices, currency manipulation tactics, and unjustified subsidy norms, President Trump wrote that "At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the USA, and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable."

While putting China in the corner, Trump gave respite to the 75 other nations that he had imposed "discounted reciprocal tariffs" on last week, saying that he has ordered an immediate pause on such levies after seeing a humble and proactive approach by these nations in trying to resolve the trade imbalance with the United States.

Complementing the 75 other nations for "not retaliating in any way" and instead, respecting his suggestions, he wrote, "Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately."

Trump Raises Tariffs On China To 104%, Effective Tomorrow: White House

WASHINGTON, April 8: Donald Trump has followed through on his threat of "additional 50 per cent tariffs" on China starting Wednesday. The White House announced that this will make America's new tariff on China an unprecedented 104 per cent.

President Trump had given China 24 hours to roll back or "withdraw" the retaliatory 34 per cent tariff it imposed on US goods, failing which Chinese goods would be punished with 104 per cent tariffs. Beijing dared Washington to do so earlier today. Within hours Donald Trump approved it.

The US used to tariff China at 10 per cent till last month, which President Trump said, "robbed and ripped off" the US economy of billions and billions of dollars as "tariff abuser" Beijing levied a far higher tariff on US goods. Last week the US President announced his "reciprocal tariff" move - wherein the US would charge other countries roughly half the tariff that nation charged the US. For China this was an additional 34 per cent, taking Beijing's tally to 44 per cent.

Minutes after President Trump's announcement, the White House said that the US would be charging the entire world an additional 10 per cent non-reciprocal tariff. This was a move to fill the US federal reserve, they said. China's basket of tariffs now stood at 54 per cent.

Now, with today's "additional 50 per cent tariff" solely for China, Beijing now faces an unprecedented levy of 104 per cent - a near 100 per cent rise in less than a week. President Trump however, still left the door ajar for Beijing to reconcile. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he wrote, "China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don't know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call."

Earlier today, China had responded to President Trump's ultimatum to "withdraw" Beijing's retaliatory move. They called it "blackmail".

"The US threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which once again exposes the US's blackmailing nature," China's commerce ministry said in a statement, adding that "If the US insists on having its way, China will fight to the end."

Trump Announces 'Additional 50% Tariff' On China As Trade War Escalates

WASHINGTON, April 7: Donald Trump has announced an additional 50 per cent tariff on China less than 48 hours after Beijing announced a tit-for-tat 34 per cent tariff on the United States, which Trump had declared a day earlier as part of his reciprocal tariff order.

This now takes US' tariff on all Chinese goods to an all-time high of 84 per cent as the US-China trade war escalates.

US starts collecting Trump's 10% tariff, smashing global trade norms

WASHINGTON/JUPITER, Florida, April 6: U.S. customs agents began collecting President Donald Trump's unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries on Saturday, with higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners due to start next week.

The initial 10% "baseline" tariff paid by U.S. importers took effect at U.S. seaports, airports and customs warehouses at 12:01 a.m. ET (0401 GMT), ushering in Trump's full rejection of the post-World War Two system of mutually agreed tariff rates.

"This is the single biggest trade action of our lifetime," said Kelly Ann Shaw, a trade lawyer at Hogan Lovells and former White House trade adviser during Trump's first term.

Shaw told a Brookings Institution event on Thursday that she expected the tariffs to evolve over time as countries seek to negotiate lower rates. "This is a pretty seismic and significant shift in the way that we trade with every country on earth," she added.

Trump's Wednesday tariff announcement shook global stock markets, wiping out $5 trillion in value for S&P 500 index, opens new tab companies by Friday's close, a record two-day decline. Driven by recession fears, prices for oil and commodities plunged, while investors fled to the safety of government bonds.

Among the countries first hit with the 10% tariff were Australia, Britain, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Saudi Arabia despite their having goods trade deficits with the U.S. last year. White House officials have said many countries would run larger deficits with the U.S. if their policies were fairer.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin provided a 51-day grace period, opens new tab for cargoes loaded or in transit to the U.S. before 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday. These cargoes need to arrive by May 27 to avoid the 10% duty.

Trump's higher "reciprocal" tariff rates of 11% to 50% are due to take effect on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET. European Union imports will face a 20% tariff, while Chinese goods will be hit with a 34% tariff, bringing Trump's total new levies on China to 54%.

'Hang Tough, It Won't Be Easy': Trump To Americans Amid Tariff War

WASHINGTON, April 5: US President Donald Trump on Saturday doubled down on the sweeping tariffs he unleashed on countries around the world, warning Americans of pain ahead, but promising historic investment and prosperity.

The comments came as Trump's widest-ranging tariffs took effect in a move that could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy.

"We have been the dumb and helpless 'whipping post,' but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"This is an economic revolution, and we will win," he added. "Hang tough, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic."

A 10 percent "baseline" tariff came into place just after midnight, hitting most US imports except goods from Mexico and Canada as Trump invoked emergency economic powers to address perceived problems with the country's trade deficits.

The trade gaps, said the White House, were driven by an "absence of reciprocity" in relationships and other policies like "exorbitant value-added taxes."

Come April 9, around 60 trading partners -- including the European Union, Japan and China -- are set to face even higher rates tailored to each economy.

Already, Trump's sharp 34-percent tariff on Chinese goods, set to kick in next week, triggered Beijing's announcement of its own 34-percent tariff on US products from April 10.

Beijing also said it would sue the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and restrict the export of rare earth elements used in high-end medical and electronics technology.

"China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close," Trump said in his post. "They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly."

But other major trading partners held back as they digested the unfolding international standoff amid fears of a recession.

Wall Street went into free fall Friday, following similar collapses in Asia and Europe.

Economists have also warned that the tariffs could dampen growth and fuel inflation.

Trump's latest tariffs have notable exclusions, however.

They do not stack onto recently imposed 25-percent tariffs hitting imports of steel, aluminum and automobiles.

Also temporarily spared are copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber, alongside "certain critical minerals" and energy products, the White House said.

But Trump has ordered investigations into copper and lumber, which could lead to further duties soon.

He has threatened to hit other industries like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors as well, meaning any reprieve might be limited.

Canada and Mexico are unaffected by the latest move as they already face separate duties of up to 25 percent on goods entering the United States outside a North America trade agreement.

US Losing Patience Says Marco Rubio, Warns Russia To Act On Ukraine Peace

WASHINGTON, April 5: The ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are facing a critical juncture, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that Russia is running out of time to demonstrate its commitment to negotiations.

After meeting with NATO ministers in Brussels, Rubio expressed frustration with the current state of discussions on Friday, stating, "We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not". This sentiment is echoed by concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be using the talks as a stalling tactic to advance his military objectives on the battlefield.

He also said that the US was losing patience with "talks about talks" and hinted at slapping more sanctions on Russia, per the New York Times.

Russia's demands for a ceasefire include recognition of its annexation of Crimea, cession of four regions it claims to have annexed, and guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the other hand, seeks total Russian withdrawal, return of prisoners and kidnapped Ukrainian children, and security guarantees from Western countries. European leaders are worried that Trump may prioritise Putin's demands in any peace negotiation, prompting them to push for Ukraine's protection.

Rubio also urged NATO members to increase military spending to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product, surpassing the US's own military expenditure. However, he later softened his stance, saying NATO members should be "on a path of getting up to 5 percent at some point". This push for increased military spending is part of a broader effort to strengthen NATO's presence in the region.

US Moves Largest B-2 Stealth Bomber Fleet, 3 Aircraft Carriers To Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON, April 4: While the world was busy figuring out Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff move and its fallout, the United States quietly made a massive military move in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.

The Pentagon ordered the largest-ever deployment of B-2 bombers in the Indian Ocean. Satellite images have shown at least six B-2 stealth bombers parked along the military base runway in Diego Garcia - a joint Indian Ocean military base of the US and Britain. There may be more in shelters or hangars impenetrable by satellite or radar.

The United States has a total of 20 B-2 stealth bombers - the world's most advanced military aircraft, of which six have now been deployed in the Indian Ocean Region - that's roughly 30 per cent of its fleet, accounting for a massive strategic move.

Besides this, the US has also planned to increase its aircraft carrier presence in the Indo-Pacific region from one to three - two in the Indian Ocean and one in the western Pacific, near the South China Sea.

The Pentagon has planned for the USS Carl Vinson to head to the Middle East while the USS Harry S. Truman will continue ops from the Arabian Sea. The third aircraft carrier - the USS Nimitz and its carrier strike group fleet will move towards the South China Sea.

But this is not the end of US' massive deployment surrounding Asia. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that US Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth has "also ordered the deployment of additional squadrons and other air assets that will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities." He however, did not elaborate what these squadrons or assets would comprise.

After the sudden and massive military deployment, the Pentagon justified it saying "This has been done to improve America's defensive posture in the region. The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security, and are prepared to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the region."

Though no country or terrorist organisation was named directly, several defence analysts point to the situation in the Middle East and south Asia - especially Iran and Yemen. Over the last fortnight, US President Donald Trump has steadily increased military action against the Yemen-based Houthis - a militant group backed by Iran - which has been targeting American merchant and military ships over US' support to Israel. Iran and all its "proxies" have been supporting Hamas - a US-designated terror organisation in Gaza, which is currently at war with Israel.

But defence experts say that the scale of the US military deployment is far too big to be just for the Houthis or for Iran. They argue that two B-2 bombers - each with a payload capacity of 40,000 pounds - would have been more than sufficient to tackle the militants in Yemen.

Last week, Donald Trump had openly warned the Houthis and its backers in Iran. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump wrote, "Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran."

Over the last month, Donald Trump has mounted pressure on Iran to renegotiate its nuclear deal - a move that Tehran has outrightly rejected. In an interview to Fox News last month, President Trump had said, "There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal, because I'm not looking to hurt Iran."

Donald Trump made the US exit what he had called a "bad nuclear deal" with Iran during his first term. He now wants Iran to engage in talks in order to bring a new and improved nuclear deal.

In his 2017-2021 term, Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. President Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions.

But since then, Iran has far surpassed that deal's limits on uranium enrichment.

President Trump now wants a new deal, and has not ruled out the use of force. Washington may consider destroying Iran's nuclear facilities and labs, and thereby finish off Iran's nuclear weapons programme, should Tehran not be willing to talk.

Speaking about Iran, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Thursday that "The Secretary of Defence continues to make clear that, should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people." Though he did not mention anything about nuclear talks with Tehran.

Such a massive deployment of America's most advanced fighter aircraft, bombers, and aircraft carriers, is also aimed at sending a signal to China and Russia, who are Iran's allies in the region.

Washington's move to deploy the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the western Pacific also sends a clear message to Beijing that the US is serious about safeguarding its interest in the Indo-Pacific region.

And the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson in the Middle East sends a similar message to Moscow.

'They Played It Wrong, Panicked': Trump On China's Tariff Retaliation

WASHINGTON, April 4: President Donald Trump goaded a "panicked" China on Friday after the chief US economic rival retaliated against his tariffs and he dismissed stock market panic over the growing global trade war, touting the chance to "get rich."

"China played it wrong, they panicked -- the one thing they cannot afford to do!" Trump posted on Truth Social, writing the message in his trademark all-caps.

For a second day, markets plunged, wiping vast sums off investment and retirement portfolios alike.

Wall Street opened with steep selloffs, both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 losing close to three percent. Frankfurt and London sank more than four percent, while Tokyo's Nikkei closed 2.8 percent down.

Trump, who unveiled his barrage of import duties against countries all over the world on Wednesday, was unrepentant, posting that "my policies will never change."

"This is a great time to get rich, richer than ever before," he wrote.

The 78-year-old Republican, who was spending a long weekend golfing at his course in Palm Beach, Florida, is banking on the theory that the sheer might of the world's biggest economy will force foreign companies to manufacture on US soil, rather than continue to import goods.

However, China responded toughly, announcing its own new 34 percent tariffs on US imports starting April 10.

Beijing said it would sue the United States at the World Trade Organization and also restrict export of rare earth elements used in high-end medical and electronics technology.

Other big US trading partners have so far held back as they digest the unfolding international standoff and fears of recession.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic was due to speak with US counterparts on Friday.

Sefcovic said the EU, which Trump hit with a 20 percent tariff, will act in "a calm, carefully phased, unified way" and allow time for talks. However, he also warned the bloc "won't stand idly by, should we be unable to reach a fair deal".

France and Germany have said the 27-nation EU could respond by imposing a tax on US tech companies.

Economy Minister Eric Lombard urged French companies to show "patriotism" after President Emmanuel Macron argued it would send the wrong message if they pressed ahead with investments in the United States.

Lombard said the EU's retaliation would not necessarily involve tit-for-tat tariffs and could use other tools, pointing to data exchange and tax as levers that could be used.

"The response can be very strong but we should not respond with exactly the same weapons the US used as, if we do, it can also have a negative effect in Europe," he told news network BFMTV.

In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for a "calm-headed" approach after Trump slapped 24 percent tariffs on Japanese-made goods.

Separate US tariffs of 25 percent on all foreign-made cars also went into effect this week, and Canada swiftly responded with a similar levy on US imports.

Stellantis -- the owner of Jeep, Chrysler and Fiat -- paused production at some Canadian and Mexican assembly plants.

Japanese carmaker Nissan said on Friday it would revise plans to reduce production in the United States.

The company also said it would stop selling two vehicle models on the US market that are made at a factory in Mexico.

Sweden's Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely, said it would increase its production of vehicles in the United States and probably produce an additional model there.

Amid howls of protest abroad, and even from some of Trump's Republicans who fear price rises at home, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged patience.

"Let Donald Trump run the global economy. He knows what he's doing," Lutnick said on CNN.

 

Trump Announces 26 Per Cent Tariff On India

WASHINGTON, April 3: US President Donald Trump has announced significant reciprocal tariffs on India and China, but said he is being kind on them by charging roughly "half of what they charge us".

Calling these as "discounted reciprocal tariffs", President Trump said the US will charge an import duty of 26 per cent on India and 34 per cent on China.

Trump's ‘Liberation Day’ announcements had no country-specific exclusions as he announced new tariff rates for more than 180 countries. Apart from country-specific tariffs, Trump also announced the imposition of a 10 per cent baseline tariff.

However, he imposed reciprocal tariffs at only half the rate other countries charge on US products. Still, this was enough to unsettle the market, as Dow Jones Futures tumbled more than 1.5 per cent after the tariff announcement.

He announced a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on India—half the rate India imposes on US imports. Besides, Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on automobile imports to the country, which is likely to impact auto stocks such as Tata Motors and Samvardhana Motherson.

Trump's Tariffs To Be Effective Immediately After Announcement: White House

WASHINGTON, April 1: US President Donald Trump's raft of "Liberation Day" tariffs will take effect immediately after he unveils them on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

"My understanding is that the tariff announcement will come tomorrow, they will be effective immediately," Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday, adding she had just spoken to Trump about the issue.

'100% Tariffs From India, 50% From EU': What White House Said On Trump's Liberation Day Plans

WASHINGTON, April 1: Amid suspense over US President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day tariff" plans, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday that there won't be any exemptions on reciprocal tariffs. Listing tariffs imposed on American products by foreign nations, Ms Leavitt said that the "unfair trade practices" need to stop.

This comes as President Trump prepares to announce a round of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a day he has labeled "Liberation Day" of America.

"The goal of Wednesday is a country-based tariff, but certainly sectoral tariffs. The President has said he's committed to implementing them, and I would leave it to him when he makes that announcement," Leavitt said, adding that "It's time for reciprocity."

Holding a piece of paper listing massive tariffs from the European Union, India, Japan, and Canada, the White House Press spokesperson said, "If you look at the unfair trade practices that we have-- 50 per cent from the European Union on American dairy. You have a 700 per cent tariff from Japan on American rice. You have a 100 per cent tariff from India on American agricultural products. You have nearly a 300 per cent tariff from Canada on American butter and American cheese."

"This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be imported into these markets, and it puts a lot of Americans out of business and out of work over the past several decades," she added.

Countries often heavily tariff foreign imports to protect industries or sectors vital to their own economies. President Trump's reciprocal tariffs aim to match other countries' higher tariff rates for specific goods and compensate for non-tariff barriers that put US exports at a disadvantage.

The Trump administration has argued that the tariff discrepancy is unfair for Americans and hurts their homegrown companies and workers.

Ms Leavitt pledged that Trump's new tariffs will bring "historic change" to America's trade relationships, adding, "Unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our country for far too long...And they've made their disdain, I think, for the American worker quite clear."

India, US To Jointly Design, Manufacture Nuclear Reactors In India

NEW DELHI, Mar 31: In a landmark moment for the India-US civil nuclear deal, which was signed two decades ago, the US' Department of Energy or DoE has given the final approval permitting a US company to jointly design and build nuclear power plants in India.

Though the overall framework of the India-US civil nuclear agreement was signed back in 2007 by then prime minister Manmohan Singh and then US president George W Bush, it has taken nearly 20 years of negotiation, detailed discussions, legal and regulatory clearances, technology permits, liability clauses, and fine-tuning of blueprints to finally get the green signal to execute plans.

Till now, under the India-US civil nuclear deal, US firms could export nuclear reactors and equipment to India, but forbid them from any design work or manufacturing of nuclear equipment in India. New Delhi had remained firm that everything - from design, manufacturing, and transfer of technology - had to be done in India. Successive governments stood firm by this.

Now, after many years, and Russia gaining ground, US has agreed to the terms set by New Delhi. US and Indian firms will now jointly manufacture Small Modular Reactors or SMRs and co-produce all its components and parts as well. This is being seen as a big win for Indian diplomacy. The approval was given on March 26, 2025.

However, the US has set one condition - that these jointly-designed and manufactured nuclear power plants "will not be re-transferred to any other entity or end user in India or to other countries except the United States without the prior written consent of the Government of the United States."

The commercial potential for civil nuclear energy in India is massive, the US government said, as the Department of Energy approved Holtec International's proposal to be granted specific authorisation with respect to restrictive regulations.

The regulation which got the approval was the 10CFR810 - which is part 810 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954. It pertains to the DoE's "statutory responsibility for authorizing the transfer of unclassified nuclear technology and assistance to foreign atomic energy activities within the United States or abroad."

Based on Holtec International's application, the authorization permits the company to transfer "unclassified small modular reactor (SMR) technology" to three Indian firms. These include:

US-based Holtec International, a global energy firm, is owned and promoted by Indian-American entrepreneur Krishna P Singh. Its fully-owned Asia subsidiary - Holtec Asia - has been operating since 2010 and is headquartered in Pune, where it also runs its specialised engineering division. It also has its manufacturing plant in Gujarat's Dahej, located in Bharuch district.

Holtec is considered one of the world's biggest exporters of nuclear technology, components, and parts. It is also a global leader in the decommissioning sector, which ensures the safe and environmentally-responsible removal of industrial infrastructure.

Holtec International had also sought approvals for two Indian government-owned firms which provide electricity to the end-users, and a government regulator for ensuring safety norms. These corporations were:

The Government of India however, had not provided the required clearances for these state-owned corporations since Holtec had not yet got approval from the US Department of Energy. Now that it has got the nod from the US government, it will likely appeal to the Indian government to grant permits for these key Indian entities.

This agreement between Washington and New Delhi, to jointly design and manufacture nuclear power plants in India, as well as its transfer of technology, is being seen as a massive diplomatic achievement. This is because it comes at a time when the Trump Administration is looking to boost manufacturing in the US and heavily promote 'made-in-USA' equipment globally. At such a time, nuclear reactors being made in India shows a big gain for India.

The deal is also being seen as a major win for India's private sector, which will gain specialisation and expertise in designing and manufacturing nuclear power plants - something that till now was only under the domain of government corporations.

India which currently has expertise in smaller nuclear reactors with a capacity of 220MWe PHWR or Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, will now get technology to build nuclear power plants with more advanced technology of PWRs or Pressurised Water Reactors. Most of the nuclear plants globally run on this technology.

The joint India-US move also comes at a time when China is scaling up its plans to lead globally in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) space by competitive pricing. Affordable SMRs are a key requirement for the Global South to progress in a cost-effective way, and both India and China are competing with each other in their outreach to the Global South.

Will Bomb Iran If They Don't Sign Nuclear Deal, Says Trump

WASHINGTON, Mar 30: US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.

In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate.

"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago."

In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions. Since then the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment.

Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences.

Iran sent a response through Oman to Trump's letter in which he urged Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was cited as saying by the official IRNA news agency on Thursday.

Western powers accuse Iran of having an clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program.

Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.

Trump Plans To Visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar In First Foreign Trip

WASHINGTON, April 1: US President Donald Trump may visit Saudi Arabia as soon as this month, he told reporters at the White House on Monday, in what could be his first overseas trip since his return to power.

"It could be this month, maybe a little bit later. And we're going to Qatar, also, and also we're going to possibly a couple of other countries. UAE is very important ... so we'll probably stop at UAE and Qatar," the Republican said.

He said Saudi officials had agreed to "spend close to a trillion dollars ... in our American companies, which to me means jobs."

The US companies will be making equipment for Saudi Arabia and other places in the Middle East, the president continued, adding: "And for that, I think it's worth it."

In January, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised to pile $600 billion into US trade and investments.

Saudi press reports at the time did not give details of the source of the funds, which represent more than half of Saudi GDP, or how they are expected to be used.

Trump's first visit as president in 2017 was to Saudi Arabia.

He forged close relations with Riyadh in his first term and is expected to push Saudi Arabia, home of Islam's holiest sites, towards normalizing ties with Israel as a major foreign policy objective.

On Monday, Trump said he has a "very good relationship with the Middle East."