U.S. President said from the White House on Thursday that his government has reached
Trump said the deal increases access for U.S. agricultural products, though he added that the final details were still being written up. Britain says from 27.5% to 10% and eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Here's the latest:
Trump says he鈥檒l pull the nomination of Ed Martin, who defended Jan. 6 rioters, for DC US Attorney
That comes after a said he couldn鈥檛 support him for the job due to his defense of Jan. 6 rioters.
鈥淲e have somebody else that will be great,鈥� Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday when asked about the status of Martin鈥檚 confirmation. He said it was disappointing, but 鈥渢hat鈥檚 the way it works sometime.鈥�
Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trump鈥檚 first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background, including his support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol over four years ago.
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Trump surprised Starmer with a phone call during Arsenal game
The U.K. and U.S. have been negotiating a trade deal for months, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the timing of Thursday鈥檚 announcement came as a surprise.
Starmer, a huge fan of Premier League soccer team Arsenal, said Trump phoned him to finalize the deal Wednesday evening 鈥渉alfway through the second half鈥� of the team鈥檚 Champion鈥檚 League semi-final against Paris Saint Germain. Arsenal lost 2-1.
President Trump鈥檚 declaration on Truth Social that the U.S. and U.K. had struck a deal left the British government scrambling to arrange a short-notice announcement by Starmer.
Starmer鈥檚 office invited journalists to a speech by the prime minister at a car factory in central England 鈥� but sent them to the wrong city. Reporters were told to go to a Jaguar Land Rover plant in Coventry instead of one in Solihull, about 20 miles and a half-hour drive away. Once the mistake was realized, reporters had to rush to get to the real location in time for the announcement.
Biden says 鈥榶es鈥� when asked if he bears any responsibility for Trump鈥檚 win
鈥淚 was in charge, and he won,鈥� Biden said on 鈥淭he View鈥� in response to a question of his role in Trump鈥檚 return to the White House. 鈥淚 take responsibility.鈥�
Biden went on to note that some of what he accomplished during his four years in office took a long time to implement and get the word out to the Americans whose lives would be affected positively.
Trump praises Rolls Royce and says his comments would make a 鈥榞ood commercial鈥�
Trump says U.S. auto tariffs won鈥檛 force the iconic British automaker Rolls Royce to make its cars elsewhere.
But he also said similar exemptions won鈥檛 be offered to other foreign automakers 鈥渦nless somebody shows me that there鈥檚 another kind of a car that鈥檚 comparable to a Rolls Royce.鈥�
The president then added with a laugh that his comments were 鈥渁 good commercial for Rolls Royce.鈥�
That prompted a suggestion that Trump could perhaps buy a Rolls, and that even a 鈥渧ery modest discount鈥� could be available.
鈥淚鈥檝e had many of them, actually,鈥� Trump responded.
The president recently announced buying a Tesla to support the company鈥檚 CEO, Elon Musk, who has faced criticism for leading the Trump administration鈥檚 government-cutting efforts. He even held an event with new Teslas lined up outside the White House.
Trump says other deals will have higher than 10% on tariffs
Asked whether the baseline 10% tariff on U.K. products would be a template for future trade deals with other nations, the U.S. president said 鈥渘o.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a low number鈥� Trump says of the 10%. He added that the U.K. 鈥渕ade a good deal. Many, some will be much higher.鈥�
Trump says port slowdown is 鈥榞ood鈥�
Trump says it鈥檚 鈥済ood鈥� that U.S. ports are seeing slowdowns amid his steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
Speaking to reporters as he announced a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, Trump dismissed concerns about the slowdown鈥檚 effects on dockworkers and truckers.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 good,鈥� Trump said, adding, 鈥淭hat means we lose less money.鈥�
Trump is trying to close U.S. trade deficits but has acknowledged his tariffs can result in higher consumer prices and empty shelves.
Trump says of UK trade deal, 鈥楯ames Bond has nothing to worry about鈥�
Trump is suggesting that James Bond will benefit from the U.S.-U.K. trade deal he鈥檚 announcing.
The agreement is set to ease tariffs on cars, and Trump was asked if that was a positive development for the movie hero who drives British-made Aston Martins.
Trump referenced his previous threats to possibly impose tariffs on foreign movie-making interests but added, 鈥淛ames Bond has noting to worry about, that I can tell you.鈥�
He also noted that Sean Connery 鈥� who played the first film version of James Bond in 1962鈥檚 鈥淒r. No鈥� 鈥� was a friend.
He didn鈥檛 mention Bond鈥檚 penchant for Aston Martins, but said later that another famed British automaker, Rolls Royce, would continue to be made in Britain and 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 even ask鈥� the company to move its operations elsewhere.
Starmer says the deal will protect UK auto jobs
The British prime minister has told autoworkers a trade deal with the U.S. will protect thousands of jobs in the sector.
Starmer said he chose to announce the agreement at a Jaguar Land Rover plant 鈥渁s soon as I knew this deal was coming in today鈥� because it was so important to the industry.
He told the workers 鈥渢his is just the start,鈥� saying 鈥渨e are hammering out further details to reduce barriers to trade with the United States and across the world.鈥�
鈥楢 very good weekend鈥�
Trump expressed optimism about upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and China. Officials from both countries are slated to meet in Switzerland for an initial round of conversations.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to have a very good weekend,鈥� the president said.
Trump left in place high tariffs on China, leading to a trade confrontation between the world鈥檚 two largest economies.
Biden says he 鈥榙id not advise鈥� Harris not to differentiate from him
Asked if he鈥檇 encouraged Harris to mirror his priorities in her own campaign, Biden responded: 鈥淚 did not advise her to say that.鈥�
When she appeared on 鈥淭he View鈥� during her run last year, Harris said nothing 鈥渃omes to mind鈥� when asked what she would do differently than Biden.
鈥淪he was part of every success we had,鈥� Biden said, adding that he and his vice president had differences of opinion on various issues.
鈥淲e argued like hell, by the way,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e worked it out.鈥�
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praises Trump as the 鈥榖est dealmaker鈥�
Lutnick, who helped negotiate the framework of the trade agreement with the UK, poured on praise for his boss. He said it would have taken him and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer up to three years to close such a deal without Trump.
鈥淪o he鈥檚 the closer he gets deals done that we could never get done because he understands business,鈥� Lutnick said. 鈥淗e understands deals. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e here today.鈥�
UK says deal slashes tariffs on cars and steel
Britain says its new trade deal with the United States will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from 27.5% to 10% and eliminates tariffs on steel and aluminum.
The British government says deal sets a quota of 100,000 U.K. vehicles that can be imported to the U.S. at a 10% tariff.
It says the Trump-imposed 25% tariff on British steel will fall to nothing.
The U.K. says the agreement includes new reciprocal market access on beef, and removes the tariff on ethanol 鈥� which is used to produce beer 鈥� coming into the U.K. from the US, down to zero.
Biden says he 鈥榳asn鈥檛 surprised鈥� at Kamala Harris鈥� loss
The former president said he was 鈥渧ery disappointed but I wasn鈥檛 surprised鈥� at his party鈥檚 loss after he quit the ticket, particularly because Trump鈥檚 campaign 鈥渨ent the sexist route鈥� in attacking Harris鈥� candidacy.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen quite as successful and consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman could lead the country,鈥� Biden said, adding that he talks to Harris 鈥渇requently鈥� and that she had sought his opinion, but 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to tell you what it is.鈥�
Biden said he hopes Harris 鈥渟tays fully engaged鈥� and didn鈥檛 speculate about what her next political move would be.
Former President Joe Biden appears on 鈥楾he View鈥� for an interview
While he was still president, Biden appeared on the show ahead of last year鈥檚 election.
Biden playfully jogged onto the set for Thursday鈥檚 show, taking the center seat at the U-shaped table facing cameras and the audience.
鈥淚 miss being here,鈥� Biden said as hosts said the audience鈥檚 reaction indicated he had been missed.
Biden said he and his family were trying to figure out 鈥渢he most significant and consequential role鈥� he could be playing, and that he was also writing a book.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer: It鈥檚 fitting that a UK-US trade deal has been sealed on VE Day
VE Day is the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
In a phone call with President Trump, Starmer said 鈥渋t was about this time of day 80 years ago that Winston Churchill announced victory in Europe.鈥�
He said Thursday is a 鈥渇antastic, historic day鈥� that will bring the two countries closer together.
Trump to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later Thursday
The president says he鈥檒l be talking with Zelenskyy after Ukraine鈥檚 parliament voted to ratify a landmark mineral deal with the U.S.
Trump disclosed that he鈥檇 be speaking with Zelenskyy after noting 鈥渨e just concluded the rare earth deal with Ukraine.鈥�
The agreement, seen as a key step before a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, gives the U.S. access to a 鈥渕assive amount鈥� of 鈥渉igh-quality鈥� rare earth material in Ukraine, Trump says.
鈥楩inal details鈥� still to come
Although Trump has touted the trade deal with the U.K., he also conceded there鈥檚 more work to do.
鈥淭he final details are being written up,鈥� he said in the Oval Office. 鈥淚n the coming weeks, we鈥檒l have it all very conclusive.鈥�
Trade agreements are notoriously complex and can be time consuming to finalize. However, Trump has been racing to reach deals as he tries to fulfill his promises since launching his tariff agenda last month.
Trump announces a trade agreement with the UK
The deal affirms that 鈥渞eciprocity and fairness is a vital principle of international trade,鈥� Trump said from the Oval Office. It increases access for U.S. beef, ethanol, and other agricultural products, Trump added.
It also fast tracks American goods through the U.K.鈥檚 customs process, Trump said. He cautioned that final details will come in the 鈥渃oming weeks.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e opening up the country,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淭he country is a little closed.鈥�
House follows Trump鈥檚 lead with a vote to change the Gulf of Mexico to 鈥楪ulf of America鈥�
The Republican-led House passed the bill Thursday that would direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.
Trump already an during his first day in office to rename the Gulf. House Republicans are looking to show their support, though it鈥檚 unclear whether the Senate will go along. The bill passed by a vote of 211-206.
The body of water has shared borders between the United States and Mexico. Trump鈥檚 order only carries authority within the U.S. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, don鈥檛 have to recognize the name change.
Democrats said the vote demonstrated that Republicans aren鈥檛 focusing on the priorities of most Americans. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House鈥檚 top Democrat, asked Democrats to vote against this 鈥渟illy, small-minded and sycophantic piece of legislation.鈥�
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Trump says release of Jimmy Lai could be part of trade talks with Beijing
In a podcast, President Trump said he would make the release of the prominent Hong Kong businessman a part of his administration鈥檚 trade talks with China.
In an interview with Hugh Hewitt that was aired Wednesday, Trump was asked about his promise to get Jimmy Lai out and said: 鈥淚 think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea. We鈥檒l put it down, and we鈥檒l put it down as part of the negotiation.鈥�
Lai is 77 and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper known for its anti-Beijing stance. He鈥檚 standing trial in Hong Kong on national security charges and could be jailed for life. Before he was elected, Trump had said he would 鈥�100 percent鈥� get Lai out.
First lady Melania Trump will host event commemorating Barbara Bush at the White House
She鈥檒l unveil a U.S postage stamp Thursday afternoon featuring Bush, who was married to former President George H. W. Bush, and is the mother of former President George W. Bush.
Barbara Bush died in 2018.
Members of the Bush family are expected to be in attendance.
Melania Trump鈥檚 spokesperson says the first lady and her staff and looking forward to paying tribute to the legacy of Barbara Bush.
Trump gets his first trade deal
When the president retreated from his tariff plans in April, he announced that he would seek individual deals with various countries over the next few months.
The process has been shrouded in mystery since then, and administration officials have said they鈥檙e hard at work behind the scenes.
Now Trump gets to announce the first of what he says will be may trade deals. The agreement with the U.K. will likely be limited in scope to specific sectors, such as car manufacturing.
However, the president says it鈥檚 a sign of things to come. He wrote on Truth Social that there are 鈥渕any other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!鈥�
President Trump renews attack on Fed chair, calling him a 鈥楩OOL鈥�
Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell early Thursday, a day after Powell said the Fed would keep for the third straight meeting.
Yet Trump did not suggest he would Powell as chair. On Sunday, he said he would let Powell serve out his term, which lasts until next May.
Powell said Wednesday that Trump鈥檚 tariffs, if they remained in place at their current level, could weaken the economy, raise inflation and increase unemployment. Powell emphasized that the Fed is still in 鈥渨ait-and-see鈥� mode as it evaluates the tariffs鈥� effect on the economy.
Trump said 鈥渁lmost all costs鈥� are down, including groceries and eggs, and added that there鈥檚 鈥渧irtually NO INFLATION.鈥�
Consumer prices did fall in March, on a monthly basis, for the first time in nearly five years. Yet grocery costs jumped 0.5% just from February to March. The Fed considers inflation in check when it falls to 2%. It was .
The US-UK trade deal was sought for years
When then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was campaigning for Brexit, he told voters that leaving the European Union would allow Britain to negotiate its own trade agreement with the United States. But although talks began at the end of Trump鈥檚 first term, they never came to fruition.
under President Joe Biden, a Democrat and a critic of Brexit.
Now with Trump back in office, the U.S. and the U.K. are poised to announce a trade deal. Although it鈥檚 unlikely to be as 鈥渇ull and comprehensive鈥� as the Republican president has claimed, it鈥檚 expected to ease the burden of his tariffs.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that it will 鈥渃ement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.鈥�
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Ukraine鈥檚 parliament ratifies a minerals deal with the US
Ukraine鈥檚 Parliament unanimously voted in favor of ratifying of a landmark minerals deal with the U.S. on Thursday afternoon, a lawmaker said.
The ratification is a key step in setting the deal in motion. It calls for the creation of a joint investment fund with the U.S.
Parliament approved the agreement with 338 members voting in favor out of the required 226 votes, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote on his Telegram account. No lawmaker voted against it or abstained.
Trump鈥檚 Thursday schedule, according to the White House
10 a.m.: Trump will deliver his anticipated trade announcement, likely announcing the deal between the U.S. and the United Kingdom
12 p.m.: Trump and the first lady will participate in a celebration of military mothers at the White House
Trump campaign architects are now training their sights on Albania鈥檚 upcoming election
Some of the architects of Trump鈥檚 presidential campaigns have reunited in Albania as they try to help a Trumpian candidate prevail in this weekend鈥檚 elections.
They include Chris LaCivita, who served as co-campaign manager of Trump鈥檚 successful 2024 effort, Trump鈥檚 longtime pollster Tony Fabrizio, and Paul Manafort, who served as chairman of Trump鈥檚 2016 campaign before he was convicted in 2018 of crimes that included secretly lobbying for Ukraine鈥檚 former pro-Russian president.
The trio is working for former prime minister and president Sali Berisha, the head of Albania鈥檚 opposition Democratic Party, who is challenging Prime Minister Edi Rama to return the Democrats to power, even as he awaits trial on corruption charges.
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Trump taps wellness influencer close to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for surgeon general
Trump is tapping Dr. Casey Means, a physician-turned-wellness influencer with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary , as his nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post.
Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that Means has 鈥渋mpeccable 鈥楳AHA鈥� credentials鈥� 鈥� referring to the 鈥� 鈥� slogan 鈥� and that she will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans.
In doing so, Trump withdrew former Fox 蜜桃视频app medical contributor from consideration for the job, marking at least the second health-related pick from Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday for her confirmation hearing.
Means and her brother, former lobbyist Calley Means, served as key advisers to Kennedy鈥檚 longshot 2024 presidential bid and helped broker his last summer.
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States sue the Trump administration for blocking funds for electric vehicle charging
Seventeen states are suing the Trump administration for withholding billions of dollars for building more electric vehicle chargers, according to a federal lawsuit announced Wednesday.
The Trump administration in February directed states to stop spending money for infrastructure that was allocated under President Joe Biden 鈥� part of a broader push by the Republican president to roll back environmental policies advanced by his Democratic predecessor. The EV charger program was set to allocate $5 billion over five years to various states, of which an estimated $3.3 billion had already been made available.
The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from California, Colorado and Washington, and challenges the Federal Highway Administration鈥檚 authority to halt the funding. They argue Congress, which approved the money in 2021 as part of the , holds that authority.
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US and UK expected to announce a trade deal that Trump says will cement their relationship
The United States and Britain are expected to announce a trade deal on Thursday that will lower the burden of Trump鈥檚 and deliver a political victory for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that a deal due to be announced at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) will be a 鈥渇ull and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.鈥�
It鈥檚 the first bilateral trade deal announced since Trump began slapping tariffs on U.S. trading partners. He said: 鈥淢any other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!鈥�
Starmer鈥檚 office said the prime minister would give an 鈥渦pdate鈥� about U.S. trade talks later Thursday.
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The Associated Press
