Category: Donald Trump

US Seized a Sanctioned Oil Tanker Off Venezuela – Trump

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the U.S. has taken control of an oil tanker near Venezuela. This action has raised oil prices and increased tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.

“We have just seized a very large tanker, the largest ever, off the coast of Venezuela, and other things are happening,” Trump said. He has been calling for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down.

When asked about the oil, Trump replied, “We keep it, I guess.”

This is the first known action against an oil tanker since Trump ordered a military buildup in the region. He has often suggested U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Meanwhile, the U.S. has targeted vessels suspected of drug trafficking, which has raised concerns among lawmakers and legal experts.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that the FBI, Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard, with help from the U.S. military, executed a seizure warrant for the tanker carrying oil from Venezuela and Iran that was under sanctions.

Bondi also shared a 45-second video showing two helicopters approaching the tanker, with armed individuals in camouflage descending onto it.

The Trump administration did not reveal the name of a seized vessel. However, a British maritime group called Vanguard reported that a tanker named Skipper was believed to have been taken near Venezuela early on Wednesday. The U.S. has placed sanctions on this tanker because of its alleged involvement in trading Iranian oil when it was known as the Adisa.

The Skipper left Venezuela’s main oil port, Jose, between December 4 and 5 after loading about 1.1 million barrels of heavy crude oil called Merey, according to satellite data from TankerTrackers.com and information from the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA.

Oil prices went up after the news of the seizure. After starting off low, Brent crude futures rose by 27 cents (0.4%) to settle at $62.21 per barrel. At the same time, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 21 cents (0.4%) to close at $58.46 per barrel.

On Wednesday, President Maduro spoke at a march to honor a military battle but did not talk about the tanker’s seizure.

Impact on Oil Prices

Venezuela exported over 900,000 barrels of oil per day last month, making it the third-highest monthly average this year. PDVSA brought in more naphtha to mix with its extra-heavy oil output. While the U.S. has increased pressure on Maduro, it has not disrupted oil shipments.

Venezuela has to sell its crude oil at lower prices to China because of rising competition from sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran.

“This situation is another challenge from geopolitical issues and sanctions that affects the availability of oil,” said Rory Johnston, an analyst with Commodity Context.

“Seizing this tanker raises immediate supply concerns, but it doesn’t change the overall situation because those barrels were already scheduled to be shipped,” Johnston added.

Chevron, which works with PDVSA, stated that its operations in Venezuela are running smoothly. Last month, the company increased crude oil exports to the U.S. to about 150,000 barrels per day, up from 128,000 barrels per day in October.

Rising Pressure on Maduro

Maduro claims that the U.S. military buildup aims to overthrow him and take control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Since early September, the Trump administration has carried out more than 20 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing over 80 people.

Experts say these strikes might be illegal because there is little public evidence showing that the boats were carrying drugs. They argue it was not necessary to blow up the boats instead of stopping them, seizing their cargo, and questioning the crews.

Concerns grew this month after reports that the commander leading the operation ordered a second strike that resulted in the deaths of two survivors.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that many Americans, including about one-fifth of Trump’s Republican supporters, oppose the military’s campaign of deadly strikes on these boats.

In a strategy document released last week, Trump stated that his administration’s foreign policy would focus on reasserting U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere.

December 11, 2025
Trump will Engage in Sudan Peace Efforts During Ongoing Civil War – Rubio

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump is personally overseeing efforts to end the war in Sudan, which is now in its third year and has caused severe suffering for the civilian population. During a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Rubio emphasized that Trump is “the only leader in the world capable of resolving the Sudan crisis.”

Last month, Trump announced plans for the U.S. to collaborate with other members of the Quad, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, along with additional regional partners, to put an end to the brutal 30-month conflict.

At a conference in the U.S., Trump said that the Saudi prince asked him for help to stop the fighting in Sudan. He called Sudan a very dangerous place and said many people there need help. Trump also said that other world leaders want him to take action to end the violence.

The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, when the government-controlled Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) clashed with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over control of areas, including the capital, Khartoum.

Peace negotiations have been complicated by recent advances made by the RSF. Earlier this week, the RSF claimed to have taken control of Babnusa, a key city in the central Sudanese region of West Kordofan, although the SAF disputed this claim.

Babnusa is a crucial gateway to the western Darfur region, which the RSF fully controlled last month, as well as to the entirety of western Sudan. The RSF’s assault on Babnusa builds on its momentum following the capture of the city of el-Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, after an 18-month siege. The RSF has faced accusations of committing widespread atrocities in el-Fasher.

Recent War Efforts Violate Unilateral Ceasefire

The latest fighting appears to violate a unilateral ceasefire announced by the RSF after mediation efforts by the Quad. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) turned down the ceasefire terms suggested by the Quad, saying they favor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) too much. The SAF also accused the RSF of continuing attacks even though they declared a truce. The SAF claims that the involvement of the United Arab Emirates in the Quad is unfair and that the proposal is meant to weaken the army.

While the UAE has been widely accused of supporting the RSF with funding and weapons, it has consistently denied any involvement.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed his concerns on Thursday about the possibility of new atrocities occurring amidst the intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The UN Human Rights Council has already initiated one inquiry into reported atrocities, which include systematic mass murder, rape, torture, and the forced displacement of non-Arab ethnic groups since the RSF took control of el-Fasher.

According to UN estimates, the ongoing war in Sudan has resulted in over 40,000 deaths. The reported number of affected individuals is underestimated, with the actual figure likely much higher. The UN has called this the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, as millions have been displaced and some regions are facing famine.

December 4, 2025
Trump Designated Nicolás Maduro as a Member of a Foreign Terrorist Organization

The Trump administration is set to expand its ability to take action against Venezuela starting Monday, as the U.S. labels Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization.

This designation of “Cartel de los Soles,” a term experts believe describes corrupt government officials rather than an organized crime group, will allow President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions on Maduro’s assets and infrastructure. However, it does not clearly give permission to use lethal force, according to legal experts.

Despite this, administration officials say the designation will give the U.S. more military options for actions within Venezuela.

“Cartel de los Soles” refers to a loose network of Venezuelan military groups involved in drug trafficking. President Maduro denies any involvement in drug trafficking, and his government disputes the existence of the alleged cartel, which some experts claim does not exist in a conventional way.

This designation was announced on November 16 and comes as the U.S. military has brought together more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops in the region under what the Pentagon calls “Operation Southern Spear.” The U.S. military has carried out boat strikes against drug traffickers, resulting in the deaths of many people.

Trump has received updates from top officials about different ways to act in Venezuela. Options include military strikes on key government or military targets and special operations raids, but doing nothing is also an option.

On Monday, General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his senior adviser, David Isom, will visit Puerto Rico. They want to thank service members for their support of missions in the Caribbean Sea.

Trump Administration to Cut Illegal Migration

Many people in the U.S. are against military involvement in Venezuela. A CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday shows that 70% of Americans oppose military action, while 30% support it. Additionally, 76% of those surveyed feel that the Trump administration has not clearly explained its position on military actions.

The Trump administration says it is working to reduce illegal migration and drug trafficking, but achieving regime change in Venezuela may be a side effect. A U.S. official stated that Trump hopes pressure will make Maduro step down without any direct military action.

In response, the Venezuelan government rejected the classification of the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization, calling it a “ridiculous fabrication.”

They added, “This new move will end up like all previous aggressions against our country: it will fail.”

Trump has indicated that he might be open to talking with Maduro. Last week, he mentioned that Maduro “would like to talk” and later said he could speak with him “at a certain time.”

Tensions are rising, and on Thursday, the U.S. showed a strong military presence near Venezuela. During several hours, at least six U.S. aircraft were seen off the coast, including a supersonic F/A-18E fighter jet, a B-52 bomber, and reconnaissance planes, according to flight data reviewed by CNN.

Over the weekend, three international airlines canceled flights from Venezuela after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over the country, according to Reuters.

November 24, 2025
Trump Plans to Reveal a New Plan to Lower Health Care Costs

President Donald Trump plans to announce a new proposal to lower health care costs as soon as Monday. This proposal aims to prevent a large increase in insurance premiums due to the end of important Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, according to three sources.

The plan promises a better option for nearly 22 million people who depend on these enhanced ACA subsidies. This comes after Democrats refused to reopen the government for over a month because they wanted a straightforward extension of those payments.

Senate Republicans have agreed to vote in mid-December to extend the enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. In return, they will extend government funding through January. This agreement has pushed Trump and his team to create their own competing plan. The enhanced assistance was originally included in the Biden administration’s COVID-19 relief package in 2021 and has resulted in a record 24 million people signing up for coverage this year.

How Many People Could be Uninsured in 2026?

If the subsidies end, premiums are expected to more than double next year, according to KFF, a health policy research group. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 2 million more people could be uninsured next year.

Democrats plan to use these potential issues against the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections. They hope this strategy will be as effective as it was in 2018, when Republicans lost control of the House partly due to their attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The administration’s proposal is not final, and its timing and details could change. A White House official stated, “Until President Trump makes an announcement himself, any reporting about the administration’s health care positions is mere speculation.”

The deadline to sign up for health coverage is approaching. Americans must enroll by December 15 for their plans to start on January 1. Open enrollment ends on January 15. Advocates for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) warn that many people may be put off by high costs when considering plans for 2026.

Power to the People

The current administration is considering a plan to extend enhanced subsidies, a major shift from former President Trump’s recent remarks opposing federal funding for insurance companies. Trump stated on Truth Social, “The only healthcare I will support is sending the money directly to the people, not to the wealthy insurance companies that have made trillions and ripped off America. The people will be allowed to negotiate and buy their own, better insurance. Power to the People.”

The new plan aims to temporarily keep the ACA subsidies while also establishing rules to limit them. This may include new income limits and requiring everyone enrolled to pay part of their premiums.

These changes would address key concerns from Republicans about enhanced subsidies, including fraud linked to “zero premium” plans, and the need to restore an income cap on premium subsidies, which was previously set at 400% of the federal poverty level before 2021. Removing that cap made Obamacare plans more affordable for the middle class, who could face difficulties if these enhanced subsidies end this year.

Americans Got Coverage

The proposal also requires that everyone with a lower income pay at least a small monthly premium. This change aims to reduce fraudulent practices where some lower-income Americans got coverage without any cost. Brokers and agents had been enrolling people in Obamacare plans or switching them without their knowledge. Requiring a minimum premium would help limit these actions.

The proposal may also let some enrollees who pick lower-tier insurance plans use a portion of their federal aid for a health savings account.

In response to Trump’s idea to send money to individuals, GOP Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have put forward proposals to allow consumers to use some of their federal subsidies for health savings accounts. Scott’s plan would let enrollees use all their aid to buy coverage, which might include less comprehensive and cheaper plans outside the ACA. This could hurt the effectiveness of Obamacare.

November 24, 2025
Trump Announces New Pardons for Jan 6 Defendants

President Donald Trump has recently granted pardons to two defendants connected to the January 6 incident, who are also facing charges on unrelated matters. One of these defendants, Suzanne Kaye, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for allegedly threatening to shoot FBI agents in her social media posts.

According to the Department of Justice under the Biden administration, on January 31, 2021, the day before Kaye was scheduled to meet with FBI agents regarding a tip about her presence at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot, she posted videos on social media claiming that she would “shoot” FBI agents if they came to her home. The FBI became aware of Kaye’s social media posts on February 8, 2021, and she was arrested at her home in Florida on February 17, 2021.

A White House official told Fox News Digital that Kaye is prone to stress-induced seizures and experienced one while the jury read its verdict in 2023. The official noted that this case involved disfavored political speech, which is protected under the First Amendment.

U.S. Special Attorney Ed Martin posted about the recent pardon on Saturday, expressing gratitude to Trump in a post on X. He stated, “The Biden DOJ targeted Suzanne Kaye for her social media posts, resulting in an 18-month federal prison sentence. President Trump is undoing the damage caused by Biden’s DOJ weaponization, allowing the healing process to begin.”

Wilson – January 6 Defendant Continued to Serve Time for the Firearms

Daniel Wilson, a defendant from January 6, remains imprisoned despite Trump’s pardons for several convicted rioters. This is because he had pleaded guilty to firearms charges. A White House official told Fox News Digital that President Trump decided to grant Wilson an additional pardon due to the firearms being discovered during a search of Wilson’s home in relation to the Capitol riot.

Although Wilson was included in the broad pardon granted to January 6 defendants by Trump on January 20, 2025, he continued to serve time for the firearms charge, set to be released in 2028. Before his sentencing on January 6-related charges, for which he received a five-year prison term, Wilson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a banned person and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Initially, the Trump administration’s Justice Department said the firearms charge wouldn’t be part of the January 6 pardon. They later reversed this decision, citing “further clarity,” but did not explain the change.

In his original pardon, Trump stated that under his authority granted by Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, he was commuting the sentences of individuals “convicted of offenses related to events that happened at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.” This pardon included Wilson’s charges from January 6, but did not cover those related to firearms.

A U.S. Judge Condemned the Phrase “Related to” in Trump’s Original Pardon

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee involved in Wilson’s case, rejected the broad interpretation of what Trump was pardoning. She argued that it extended the bounds of the order too far. In her opinion, Friedrich criticized the use of the phrase “related to” in Trump’s original pardon, stating that it should indicate a specific factual link between the conduct underlying a particular offense and the events of January 6, 2021.

An appeals court later upheld her objections, requiring Wilson to remain in custody during the appeal process. Wilson has previously identified himself as a member of the Oath Keepers and the Gray Ghost Partisan Rangers militia, according to Politico.

“Dan Wilson is a good man. After being unjustly imprisoned for more than seven months, he is happy to be back home with his family,” said Wilson’s attorneys, George Pallas and Carol Stewart, in a statement to Politico. “This act of mercy restores his freedom and highlights the problems that have divided our nation.”

November 16, 2025
Will the Trump Administration Start Military Operations in Venezuela?

According to some CNN sources, U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed this week on options for military operations in Venezuela to pave the way in the country. Trump has not yet decided on how to proceed, and he is carefully weighing the risks and benefits of launching a more extensive campaign. The president has previously expressed concerns about the effectiveness of taking military action to remove Nicolas Maduro.

During Wednesday’s briefing, the president received an updated set of options to consider, but there were no indications that he is any closer to making a decision, according to one source. Another individual familiar with the briefing noted that the options presented were similar to those discussed at the Pentagon and some that have been made public in recent weeks.

The target options for a new operation called “SOUTHERN SPEAR” have been developed by the United States Southern Command, which has established planning cells for this purpose. This information comes from a senior U.S. official familiar with the planning. Top officials from Trump’s national security team, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, presented these options.

Hegseth announced the operation on X Thursday night but did not provide specific details. He stated, “Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our hemisphere, and secures our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it.”

Operation Southern Spear

Earlier in January, Southern Command had already announced an operation named “Operation Southern Spear,” which will employ “long-dwell robotic surface vessels, vertical take-off and landing robotic air vessels, and small robotic interceptor boats” to assist in counternarcotics efforts.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, described by the U.S. Navy as “the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world,” arrived in the Caribbean this week as part of a significant increase in U.S. military resources.

Trump has several options for dealing with Venezuela. These include airstrikes on military or government sites, targeting drug routes, and attempts to remove Maduro directly. CNN reported that the president is considering plans to attack cocaine production facilities and drug trafficking routes in Venezuela.

However, it is also possible that he may choose to take no action at all. Administration officials informed lawmakers last week that the U.S. did not have a legal justification to support attacks against land targets, although they noted it might be possible to create one. Recently, Trump told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he was not considering strikes inside Venezuela, despite having expressed openness to the idea earlier.

US Has No Legal Justification for Attacking Venezuela

Last Week, officials from the Trump administration informed lawmakers that the U.S. is not currently planning to conduct strikes inside Venezuela and lacks a legal justification for attacking any land targets at this time. This information was shared during a briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and an official from the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel.

During the classified session, lawmakers were informed that the opinion provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which was previously reported by CNN, does not authorize strikes within Venezuela or in any other territories. Additionally, the “execute order” that initiated the U.S. military campaign against suspected drug boats in September does not apply to land targets, according to the briefers. In meetings, the president has appeared cautious about ordering actions that could lead to failure or endanger U.S. troops, according to sources familiar with the situation.

November 16, 2025
US-China Talks Outline Rare Earths Deal, Tariff Pause Ahead of Japan Summit

According to the US Treasury Secretary, the two countries have reached an agreement on the framework of a possible trade agreement that will be considered when their presidents meet later this week. This includes a “final deal” on TikTok’s US operations and a postponement of China’s stricter rare earth mining regulations, Scott Bessent told CBS, the BBC’s US news partner.

Additionally, he said that he did not expect President Donald Trump’s planned 100% tariff on Chinese imports to take effect, even though China will once again buy a lot of soybeans from the US. Both countries want to prevent the trade war between the two biggest economies in the world from getting worse. On Thursday, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in South Korea.

On the fringes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Malaysia, which Trump is also attending as part of his Asia visit, Bessent spoke with top Chinese trade officials. They conducted “constructive” talks, according to Beijing.

According to Bessent, the nations had “reached a substantial framework for the two leaders” and “the tariffs will be averted.” Both negotiating teams “reached a basic consensus on arrangements to address their respective concerns,” according to a statement from the Chinese government. “Both sides agreed to further finalize specific details,” they stated.

Trump’s Tariff Pressure & Political Play

Trump has threatened and implemented broad taxes on imports from other nations since reentering the White House, claiming that the measure would increase American manufacturing and employment.

Many nations, including the UK, have reached new agreements with the US as a result of the imposition of tariffs. However, he has threatened China with the highest levies. Although the two agreed to postpone the implementation of the levies while seeking a trade agreement, Beijing has responded with its own measures.

In reaction to China’s tightening restrictions on the sale of rare earths, which are elements necessary for the manufacturing of many electronics, Trump earlier this month said that he would put an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting in November. The president of the United States accused Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to “captive” the world.

China & US Talks Outline Rare Earths Deal, Tariff Pause Ahead of Summit in Japan Source: Web

Supplying rare earths to US firms is a crucial negotiating chip because China produces over 90% of the world’s supply, which is used in everything from solar panels to smartphones. Many US companies that depended on the materials protested when Beijing last tightened export limits, after Trump’s increase in tariffs on Chinese exports earlier this year.

According to Bessent, China will “delay that for a year while they re-examine it” on Sunday on This Week, a different news program. China is the world’s largest consumer of soybeans, which is another point of concern. US farmers suffered when China stopped all orders as the trade conflict intensified. Bessent suggested that the boycott would end shortly, but she would not elaborate.

October 27, 2025
Pentagon Accepts $130 million Anonymous Trump Ally Donation to Fund Troops

The Defense Department revealed Friday that the Trump administration intends to use a $130 million donation from a President Donald Trump loyalist who wishes to remain anonymous to pay military personnel during the government shutdown. The money was received under the department’s “general gift acceptance authority,” according to a statement released by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to CNN. “The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost-of-Service members’ salaries and benefits.”

The action is a dramatic break from government practice, which has hitherto relied on congressionally authorized public funds to fund the military. Additionally, it immediately sparked inquiries regarding the identity of the contributor and the reasons behind sending the government the nine-figure cheque. It’s unlikely that the $130 million donation will have a significant effect on paying the salaries of the approximately 1.3 million active-duty military personnel, which comes to about $100 per service member.

On Friday, appropriators from both parties of Congress stated that they were still waiting for an explanation from the administration regarding the details of the donation. Democrats also questioned its legality, arguing that the Pentagon’s cited gift acceptance authority only allows gifts for a few specific uses, like supporting military schools, hospitals, and cemeteries, or helping injured soldiers or the families of those killed or injured in the line of duty.

Offset a Lapse in Appropriations

Donations from foreign governments or organizations may also be subject to further, stricter regulations. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Senate’s defense budget subcommittee, said in a statement that using anonymous donations to finance our military raises serious concerns about whether our own troops are in danger of being literally bought and paid for by foreign powers.

Additionally, budget experts questioned whether the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from utilizing federal monies in excess of what has been allotted to them, would be violated if the donation were used to pay military personnel. During the shutdown, Democrats have repeatedly charged the administration with breaking that rule, notably when it decided to fire thousands of government employees.

“The Antideficiency Act makes it clear that private contributions cannot be used to make up for a lapse in appropriations,” said Bill Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Senate GOP budget aide. “The law is very clear, so I think they could accept it, but they couldn’t use it for that purpose,” Hoagland told CNN.

Pentagon Receives $130 million Anonymous Trump Ally Donation to Pay U.S. Military Source: Web

In an effort to address military shortages, Trump praised the $130 million donation on Thursday, claiming it came from “a friend of mine.” Declining to reveal the donor’s identity, he said, “He doesn’t really want the recognition.”

A White House spokesperson directed inquiries to the Pentagon and Treasury regarding the donor’s name and any connections to foreign organizations or interests. After that, the Pentagon forwarded those inquiries back to the White House. A request for comment was not immediately answered by Treasury. In addition to calling the donation “anonymous,” the Pentagon did not answer inquiries about whether it intended to inform Congress of the specifics of its use.

October 25, 2025
Trump’s Sanctions Hit Russia’s ‘war ATM,’ but Enforcement Remains Key Challenge

In an unexpected reversal, the Trump administration announced “massive sanctions” on Moscow’s two largest oil producers on Wednesday, following nine months of trying to persuade Russia to make concessions through incentives alone, such as hosting a major bilateral summit on US soil or holding talks on repairing diplomatic relations.

After speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone and securing an invitation to a second bilateral summit, this time in Budapest, President Donald Trump had just a week earlier retracted his plans to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Preparing that summit fell to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of Trump’s most aggressive Cabinet members with regard to Ukraine. However, the White House was finally struck by Russia’s unyielding insistence on tackling what it considers to be the “root causes” of the crisis.

Trump stated on Wednesday that he didn’t want to “waste time” at another summit, but he did leave the possibility open, saying that “we’ll do it in the future.” As it became evident that his much-discussed Alaska summit had not been able to halt the rising conflict in Ukraine, Trump’s annoyance with Russia had been evidently increasing in recent months.

This Deal – A Serious Blow to Russia’s War Machine?

According to individuals who spoke to CNN last week, he even changed his mind on Ukrainian strikes deep within Russia, boosting intelligence sharing to assist Kyiv in targeting military and energy facilities. Even so, experts were taken aback by Wednesday’s decision to sanction the Russian oil giants and their subsidiaries after Trump’s repeated threats to increase sanctions against Moscow failed to materialize and the two presidents’ phone conversation last week suggested the US leader was still vulnerable to Russian pressure.

Trump’s New Sanctions Hit Russia Hard but Enforcement Remains Key Challenge Source: Web

In written remarks to CNN, Maria Shagina, a senior scholar at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), stated, “It was actually surprising simply because there was always a discrepancy between Trump’s rhetoric and actions.” She stated, “It appears that Russia has overplayed its hand today, and Trump’s patience is wearing thin.” Experts and the energy markets are still trying to figure out how painful this will be for Russia.

The Details and Implications of Newly Imposed Sanctions

Although his government announced punitive secondary tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil in August, this is the first time Trump has directly sanctioned Russia since taking office again in January. The sanctions are standard in that US entities will be prohibited from conducting business with the listed corporations, Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as numerous subsidiaries, and their assets will be blocked in the US.

However, the majority of experts concur that going after Rosneft and Lukoil is a big shift. RBC Capital Markets estimates that the two businesses together account for around half of Russia’s oil exports.

Response of West to the Situation

The appearance (whether intentional or not) of coordinating penalties with NATO partners, which had been standard procedure under the Biden administration, is another first for Trump’s second term. The European Union unanimously approved its 19th package of penalties on Wednesday, while the United Kingdom broadened its sanctions to include Lukoil and Rosneft a week earlier on October 15. A complete transaction embargo on Rosneft is part of that package.

Additionally, it targets Litasco, a Lukoil trading company in the United Arab Emirates that the European Union refers to as “Lukoil’s prominent shadow fleet enabler,” even though it does not specifically target Lukoil. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated, “This is a clear signal from both sides of the Atlantic that we will keep up collective pressure on the aggressor.” Von der Leyen also spoke with the US Treasury secretary on the phone Wednesday.

October 24, 2025
Trump’s Multi billion-dollar White House Ballroom Funded by Wealthy Donors, List Revealed

The identities of the affluent individuals and businesses funding US President Donald Trump’s new $250 million White House ballroom remain a mystery as work gets underway. On Monday, excavators and construction workers started pulling up sections of the East Wing as part of the groundbreaking for the elaborate 90,000 sq-ft project.

The U.S. President has stated that he will personally fund a large amount of its construction and implied that certain unnamed benefactors would be prepared to invest over $20 million to finish the project. Some legal experts are worried about the funding mechanism because they believe it could be equivalent to paying for access to the administration.

Richard Painter, who served as the Bush White House’s chief ethics lawyer from 2005 to 2007, told the BBC, “I see this enormous ballroom as an ethics nightmare.”

Major Donors Funding W.H. Ballroom Project

Painter continued, “It is raising money by gaining access to the White House and I dislike it. These corporations all want something from the government.” Senior executives from well-known US corporations, including Blackstone, OpenAI, Microsoft, Coinbase, Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, attended a dinner for prospective contributors on October 15 at the White House.

The owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United, Shari and Edward Glazer, together with their siblings, were also in attendance, as was Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets NFL team.

The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, obtained a commitment form that implied donors would be eligible for “recognition” for their contributions. Names engraved on the building could be one way to honor them, though designs are still being finalized.

At first, the White House said that 650 people could be accommodated in the enormous building. Trump stated this week that it can accommodate 999 people. So yet, only one contribution has been identified.

President Donald Trump’s Multi billion-dollar White House Ballroom Project Funded by Wealthy Donors Source: Web

According to court filings, YouTube will contribute $22 million to the project as part of a settlement with Trump over a lawsuit alleging that his account was suspended after the disturbance at the US Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. However, it’s unknown how many or how much of the remaining attendees have promised to donate. White House officials said they intend to make the formal list public, but it has not yet been released.

Trump Remarks, “I will take it”

The Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit organization that collaborates with the National Park Service and raises money for projects on the Mall and at the White House, would manage the gifts, according to documents that CBS was able to get.

Trump claimed that several of the attendees at the luncheon for possible donors had been “really, really generous” and that some had inquired as to whether $25 million was a suitable donation. Trump stated, “I said – I will take it,”

The White House has stated that future administrations will use the ballroom and that there was nothing improper about asking for donations. It has stated that US taxpayers will not be charged for the restoration. The money given to the ballroom “will eventually pay for itself and save costs,” according to Martin Mongiello, a former executive chef at the White House and general manager of Camp David who has served under seven administrations, who spoke to the BBC.

Furthermore, without accounting for other incidentals related to hosting large-scale events, the tents that are occasionally erected outside for gatherings – which he called “elbow to elbow” and “embarrassing” – often cost $1 million or more. However, Mr. Painter said it might be regarded as a “pay-to-play scheme,” which has plagued both political parties’ past White House administrations.

October 23, 2025