5 months ago
President Donald Trump is set to deliver a high-stakes announcement from the Oval Office today at 4:30 p.m. ET, amid escalating tensions over trade and foreign policy. The White House confirmed the address as speculation mounts over possible new tariffs targeting India for its continued oil imports from Russia, and broader sanctions aimed at Moscow.
What to Know:
- Trump has threatened steep tariffs on India within 24 hours, citing Russian oil imports.
- India has pushed back, calling U.S. and EU criticism "unjustified and unreasonable."
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, possibly for talks with President Putin.
- Trump has hinted at new measures affecting semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
- India's Ministry of External Affairs accused the West of double standards on Russia trade.
- Washington is considering secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Russia.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
08:19 AM EDT
Trump envoy Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow ahead of ceasefire deadline
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just days before a White House-imposed deadline for a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting in a brief statement, marking Witkoff's fifth visit to Russia since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Witkoff was greeted at Vnukovo Airport by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, before the two toured Zaryadye Park and proceeded to the Kremlin. The visit comes amid escalating Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, with July setting a record for drone and missile attacks.
Trump has warned of sweeping economic penalties—including secondary sanctions targeting Russian oil customers like India and China—if Putin fails to agree to a ceasefire by August 8. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced support for the U.S. ultimatum, saying he and Trump had "coordinated positions" during a recent call.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains open to dialogue and emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Talks between Witkoff and Russian leadership are expected to continue through the week.
08:01 AM EDT
Bondi launches grand jury probe into Trump-Russia investigation origins
Attorney General Pam Bondi has authorized a grand jury investigation into the Obama-era origins of the Trump-Russia probe, reigniting scrutiny of one of the most politically charged chapters in recent U.S. history.
The directive follows a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who declassified documents alleging misconduct by former intelligence officials. Bondi's move empowers prosecutors to issue subpoenas and potentially seek indictments. However, no charges have been filed, and key details—such as the location of the grand jury and its targets—remain undisclosed.
The investigation centers on long-standing grievances voiced by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that the original Russia inquiry was a partisan effort to undermine his presidency. While Special Counsel Robert Mueller confirmed Russia's interference in the 2016 election, he found no criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Moscow.
Recent documents released by Gabbard and Sen. Chuck Grassley include unverified emails suggesting the Clinton campaign sought to link Trump to Russia. However, the Durham report, which previously examined the origins of the probe, cautioned that these communications may be composites of hacked material and potentially Russian disinformation.
Bondi's investigation comes amid mounting pressure from Trump's base over the handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, adding another layer of political tension to the Justice Department's actions.
07:47 AM EDT
Trump lashes out at Charlamagne Tha God after Fox News criticism
Trump ignited a war of words Sunday with radio host Charlamagne Tha God, responding to pointed criticism aired during a Fox News interview with Lara Trump. In a Truth Social post, Trump called Charlamagne a "racist sleazebag" and a "dope," claiming the broadcaster "knows nothing about me or what I have done".
Charlamagne, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, appeared on "My View with Lara Trump" and gave the former president low marks, citing economic hardship among vulnerable communities. He acknowledged benefiting from Trump-era tax breaks but condemned the broader impact of the legislation, particularly on Medicaid recipients.
The radio host also suggested that controversy surrounding Trump's refusal to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein could spark a shift within the GOP. He predicted that traditional conservatives might use the issue to reclaim the party from Trump's MAGA movement.
Trump's post further criticized Charlamagne's use of "God" in his professional name, asking, "Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?"
Charlamagne later responded on his radio show, "The Breakfast Club," defending his remarks and noting that his critiques of political leaders have been consistent, regardless of party affiliation.
07:33 AM EDT
South Park mocks White House over Homeland Security ICE post
South Park has fired back at the Trump administration after the Department of Homeland Security used the show to promote Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment, weeks after the White House had labeled the series "not relevant."
On Tuesday, DHS posted a screengrab from the current season of the satirical animation series depicting ICE agents in patrol cars, with a link to its career site, promoting a $50,000 signing bonus and other benefits.
In response, South Park reposted the DHS message on its official X account, writing, "Wait, so we ARE relevant? #eatabagofd***s."
South Park was referring to a White House statement from July where spokesperson Taylor Rogers said: "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years."
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the DHS, via email outside of office hours, for comment.
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