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Senate Committee Backs Trump’s Former Lawyer for US Attorney General

August 4, 2026 by admin

President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, moved a step closer to becoming the United States’ top law enforcement official on Tuesday after a Senate committee approved his nomination to lead the Justice Department. The 12-10 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee was along party lines and came after two Republican senators dropped their opposition to Blanche’s nomination. Blanche’s Senate confirmation had been held up by concerns from senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis over a $1.8 billion fund for alleged victims of politically motivated prosecution and a tax audit immunity deal with the Republican president. Blanche issued a written order over the weekend scrapping the so-called “anti-weaponization fund” and said the audit immunity agreement with Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization would only apply “retroactively” to past tax years and not future filings. The full Senate, where Republicans hold a majority, is expected to vote later this week to confirm Blanche as attorney general. He has been serving as acting attorney general since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. Senate Democrats have been united in their opposition to Blanche amid concerns he has treated the Department of Justice as an extension of the Republican president’s legal team. “Todd Blanche has no business serving as our nation’s chief law enforcement officer,” Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The attorney general is supposed to be the people’s lawyer,” Durbin said. “Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client — the president.” – ‘Retribution’ campaign – Vice President JD Vance, in a post on X following the committee vote, said Blanche “will continue to serve the American people and the Trump Administration loyally, and he will make a great Attorney General.” Blanche has been closely tied to what Democrats have dubbed a “retribution” campaign by the president against his perceived political enemies and he helped negotiate the extraordinary legal settlement between Trump and the government he controls. The out-of-court settlement stems from Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the illegal disclosure of his tax records by an agency contractor. It proposed immunity from audits for past tax years and a $1.776 billion fund for people who say they were unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice, potentially including Trump supporters convicted over the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Federal judges have separately blocked the fund and condemned the tax settlement, which according to US press reports could help the president avoid past liabilities of up to $100 million. Blanche has also come in for criticism from victims of Jeffrey Epstein over his handling of the release of investigative files about the convicted sex offender, a one-time close friend of Trump. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Blanche represented Trump in his New York trial over alleged “hush money” paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. He was also on the legal defense team in two federal cases brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith — for allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House and for seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election. AFP

Trump says US Stopped Ship Delivering Chinese ‘gift’ to Iran

April 21, 2026 by admin

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said US forces intercepted a ship carrying a “gift” to Iran from China as Tehran tries to restock its military during a ceasefire period. The ship had “a gift from China” which “wasn’t very nice,” Trump told CNBC. “I was a little surprised,” he added, saying he thought he had an “understanding” with China’s President Xi Jinping. A week ago, Trump announced that Xi had assured him there would be no Chinese weapons deliveries to Iran, a close partner with Beijing for years. AFP

Trump Dismisses Blasphemy Claims Over AI Image Portraying Him as Jesus

April 13, 2026 by admin

United States President, Donald Trump has denied allegations that he shared a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ, after the controversial post sparked widespread backlash on his Truth Social platform. Trump, who spoke to reporters on Monday at the White House in a now-circulating video, dismissed the interpretation of the image, insisting it had been misrepresented. “Well, it wasn’t a picture… I thought it was me as a doctor, and it had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker there, which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one,” he said. He added that the image was intended to symbolise healing rather than religious imagery. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better,” he said. The image, which circulated widely online, depicted Trump in flowing robes, bathed in radiant light, with his hands outstretched in a pose suggestive of healing. It also featured figures resembling angels or armed personnel suspended mid-air, alongside fighter jets and fireworks, blending religious symbolism with elements of American nationalism. The post triggered criticism from various quarters, with some describing it as inappropriate and offensive, particularly given its resemblance to Christian imagery associated with Jesus Christ. The controversy also comes amid growing tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, following the former president’s recent remarks criticising the pontiff’s stance on global issues. Trump had described the pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” accusing him of unfairly targeting his administration while overlooking actions taken against religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the backlash, Trump maintained that the criticism was driven by misinterpretation, reiterating that the image had no religious intent.

Akpabio Disowns Viral Post Mocking Trump on Christian Genocide Claims

November 3, 2025 by admin

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has distanced himself from a viral social media post linking him to comments allegedly mocking United States President Donald Trump over his recent threat of military action in Nigeria, describing the statement as “completely fabricated, malicious, and reckless.” The clarification was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, following a post published by a social media platform known as Rant HQ. The controversial post had quoted Akpabio as saying, “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in USA, Trump should focus on US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings, we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.” The statement, which quickly went viral, drew outrage online and sparked debates amid heightened diplomatic tension following Trump’s remarks accusing Nigeria of widespread Christian persecution. In his reaction, Akpabio’s media office denied ever issuing such a statement — “not publicly, privately, in writing, or in conversation.” “The post is a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Godswill Akpabio and US President Donald Trump, as well as between Nigeria and its international partners,” Eyiboh said. He added that the accompanying photograph used by Rant HQ — showing the Senate President at an unrelated official event — was “deceptively deployed to lend false credibility to a fabricated quote that was never uttered by him.” “Senator Akpabio is a statesman of global repute and a respected advocate of international friendship, diplomacy, and mutual respect among nations. “He holds President Donald Trump in high regard as a historic figure and a leader of a great nation. The US president’s comment, made after designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious persecution, has divided opinion globally. But Akpabio’s office reiterated that the Senate remains focused on legislative duties and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions, urging the media and the public to verify information before dissemination. “The Office of the President of the Senate remains committed to transparency, truth, and responsible communication — both in Nigeria and on the international stage,” the statement concluded.

Nigeria Unshaken By Trump’s Tariffs, Trade Policies – Tinubu

September 3, 2025 by admin

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration will remain resilient and has no fear of the trade policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly tariffs targeting Nigerian exports. Tinubu made the remarks when he received in audience members of The Buhari Organisation led by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Tanko Almakura, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President cited Nigeria’s current economic trajectory and growing non-oil revenues as buffers against external shocks. Tinubu said, “If non-oil revenue is growing, then we have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side.” He highlighted Nigeria’s strengthened fiscal position, having met its 2025 revenue target as of August, and noted a stabilisation in the naira, which has appreciated to around N1,450 per dollar from a previous rate of N1,900 after he unified the exchange rates upon assuming office in May 2023. President Trump’s second term has ushered in sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy, including the imposition of a 10 per cent baseline tariff on nearly all imports, alongside country-specific levies. In his Liberation Day trade policy announcements on April 2, 2025, Trump introduced unprecedented reciprocal tariffs under his “America First” agenda, aiming to rebalance trade deficits. The policy included broad country-specific tariffs ranging from 11 per cent to 50 per cent on top of a 10 per cent baseline. Nigeria, like many sub-Saharan partners, now faces a 15 per cent tariff on its exports, effective August 7, following an initial 14 per cent rate announced in April. However, energy commodities, including oil and gas, have been exempted from the new tariff regime. Nonetheless, reports show that heightened trade tensions and tariff imposition have already dampened energy product exports globally in early 2025, disrupting demand flows for crude oil, gasoline, and diesel. Tinubu also pointed to progress on his administration’s agricultural reform agenda, citing a massive mechanisation programme across regions. “If we remove hunger, we have defeated poverty,” he said, arguing that food security is key to Nigeria’s economic recovery. Meanwhile, Tinubu recounted internal debates during the formative days of the All Progressives Congress, revealing that he clashed with the late former President Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s logo. Recalling the early merger talks that led to the APC creation in 2013, Tinubu said, “We disagreed to agree…We even argued over a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on parliament, and I insisted on broom.” “He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said amid laughter. Tuesday’s meeting brought together key northern party leaders, including Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Governor Aminu Masari, and could be a consolidation of party ranks ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. The APC was officially formed in February 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Tinubu, then National Leader of the ACN and former Governor of Lagos State, played a central role in the merger, while Buhari led the CPC. Tinubu said their differing political cultures often clashed in the run-up to registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The broom, ultimately chosen as the party’s logo, symbolised collective action against corruption and poor governance, party leaders say. The coalition helped the APC unseat the long-ruling People’s Democratic Party in the 2015 elections, bringing Buhari to power. Punch

Rumours of Trump’s Ill Health Spread Online Despite Denial

September 3, 2025 by admin

From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill — or even dead — have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday. At a White House press conference, Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health as “fake news,” following the 79-year-old’s noticeable absence from public appearances and press events last week. Since last Friday, there were around 104,000 mentions of the hashtag “Trump dead” on the Elon Musk-owned platform X, generating a cumulative 35.3 million views, according to an analysis from the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard. Some social media users cited online maps purportedly showing road closures near Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as evidence that Trump was being treated for a serious ailment at the facility. But there were no credible reports of road closures around the medical facility. Other social media users shared an image of an ambulance parked outside the White House, claiming it was taken last month and citing it as evidence of a health crisis involving Trump. It was actually an old photo posted by a journalist on X in April 2023 — while Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, was still in office, according to NewsGuard. Some users claiming that Trump was dead shared an out-of-context image of the White House flag flying at half-staff, a traditional gesture used to honour the death of a prominent official. In reality, Trump had issued a proclamation last week ordering flags at the White House, military posts, and naval stations across the country to be lowered in honour of the victims of a school shooting in Minneapolis. Some users also posted a zoomed-in image of Trump’s face, claiming it showed a deep line above his eye that indicated a recent stroke. But NewsGuard found that the original image was out of focus and showed no signs of a line over Trump’s eye. The image used in the false posts was digitally enhanced using an AI tool. The misinformation — which appeared to originate from liberal anti-Trump accounts on X, Bluesky, and Instagram — persisted even after Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.” The falsehoods continued to circulate following Trump’s press conference on Tuesday, where he publicly dismissed the health rumours. Shortly after the conference, one Bluesky account falsely claimed that the “White House just announced” the president was dead. The falsehoods highlight how facts are increasingly under assault on a misinformation-filled internet landscape, an issue exacerbated by public distrust of institutions and traditional media. The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants since 2017, the scrutiny is now heavier than ever. Trump — the oldest man ever to be elected US president — has alleged that Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January. Biden’s health was a key issue in the 2024 election, and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump. AFP

Court Rejects Trump’s Use of Emergency Power to Impose Tariffs

August 30, 2025 by admin

A United States federal appeals court ruled that most of former President Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful, dealing a significant blow to one of the defining pillars of his economic policy, Reuters reported. The ruling, which came in a 7-4 decision on Friday, from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, found that Trump overstepped his legal authority in imposing broad tariffs using emergency powers. The decision is stayed until October 14, giving the Trump administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump slammed the ruling, calling the court “highly partisan.” He warned, “If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” but added that he remains confident the Supreme Court will overturn the decision. The tariffs in question were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a 1977 law traditionally used to sanction foreign adversaries or freeze their assets. Trump, however, used the act to justify sweeping tariffs on imports from a number of US trading partners, arguing that persistent trade deficits and the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl posed national emergencies. The court rejected that argument, stating in its ruling, “The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax.” It continued, “It seems unlikely that Congress intended, in enacting IEEPA, to depart from its past practice and grant the President unlimited authority to impose tariffs.” The ruling covers two sets of tariffs imposed during Trump’s second term: a set of “reciprocal” tariffs introduced in April as part of a broader trade offensive, and another set from February targeting China, Canada, and Mexico. Trump had linked the latter to what he claimed was those nations’ failure to curb the flow of illegal fentanyl across US borders — an assertion all three countries have rejected. Punch

US Appeal Court Rules Against Trump Birthright Citizenship Order

July 24, 2025 by admin

A US appeals court on Wednesday ruled that President Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship was unconstitutional and backed the decision of a lower court to block the nationwide order. The order has been mired in legal back-and-forth for months, and is currently halted by a federal court amid multiple legal proceedings. The Supreme Court ruled last month that lone judges had likely exceeded their powers by issuing nationwide injunctions against a string of Trump’s policies, including his move to end birthright citizenship. Several district judges had blocked Trump’s attempt to end the longstanding rule, guaranteed in the US Constitution, that anyone born on US soil is automatically an American citizen. But the Ninth District Court of Appeals ruled that an injunction issued by a district judge based in Seattle was not a case of judicial overreach. “We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in issuing a universal injunction in order to give the States complete relief,” Judge Ronald Gould wrote. According to Gould’s ruling, limiting an injunction to the state level would be as ineffective as not blocking the order at all, because of complications that could arise if people move between states with different citizenship rules. The appeals court also concluded that Trump’s birthright order went against the wording of the US Constitution. “The district court correctly concluded that the Executive Order’s proposed interpretation, denying citizenship to many persons born in the United States, is unconstitutional. We fully agree,” Gould wrote. Trump’s executive order decrees that children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become citizens — a radical reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. The current Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, avoided ruling last month on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order and only addressed the issue of nationwide injunctions, which was nevertheless claimed by Trump as a “giant win.” The Supreme Court also left open the possibility that executive orders could be blocked via broad class-action lawsuits against the government. A federal judge earlier this month granted class-action status to any child who would potentially be denied citizenship under Trump’s order, and issued a preliminary halt to it as legal proceedings carry on. AFP

Trump Extends Deadline For TikTok Sale By 90 Days

June 19, 2025 by admin

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had given social media platform, TikTok another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States. “I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025),” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, putting off the ban for the third time. A federal law requiring TikTok’s sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump’s January inauguration. The Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media, has previously said he is fond of the video-sharing app. “I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump said in an NBC News interview in early May. “If it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension.” TikTok on Thursday welcomed Trump’s decision. “We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users,” said a statement issued by the platform. – Digital Cold War? – Trump said in May that a group of purchasers was ready to pay TikTok owner ByteDance “a lot of money” for the video-clip-sharing sensation’s US operations. Trump has repeatedly downplayed risks that TikTok is in danger, saying he remains confident of finding a buyer for the app’s US business. The White House had announced Monday that Trump would throw the wildly popular video-sharing app, which has almost two billion global users, another lifeline. During this new grace period the administration will work “to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure,” the administration said in a statement. The president is “just not motivated to do anything about TikTok,” said independent analyst Rob Enderle. “Unless they get on his bad side, TikTok is probably going to be in pretty good shape.” Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, but reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform after coming to believe it helped him win young voters’ support in the November election. Motivated by national security fears and a belief in Washington that TikTok is controlled by the Chinese government, the ban took effect on January 19, one day before Trump’s inauguration, with ByteDance having made no attempt to find a suitor. TikTok “has become a symbol of the US-China tech rivalry; a flashpoint in the new Cold War for digital control,” said Shweta Singh, an assistant professor of information systems at Warwick Business School in Britain. The president announced an initial 75-day delay of the ban upon taking office. A second extension pushed the deadline to June 19. Now the deadline is September 17. – Tariff turmoil – Trump said in April that China would have agreed to a deal on the sale of TikTok if it were not for a dispute over his tariffs on Beijing. ByteDance has confirmed talks with the US government, saying key matters needed to be resolved and that any deal would be “subject to approval under Chinese law.” Possible solutions reportedly include seeing existing US investors in ByteDance roll over their stakes into a new independent global TikTok company. Additional US investors, including Oracle and private equity firm Blackstone, would be brought on to reduce ByteDance’s share in the new TikTok. Much of TikTok’s US activity is already housed on Oracle servers, and the company’s chairman, Larry Ellison, is a longtime Trump ally. Uncertainty remains, particularly over what would happen to TikTok’s valuable algorithm. “TikTok without its algorithm is like Harry Potter without his wand — it’s simply not as powerful,” said Forrester Principal Analyst Kelsey Chickering. Despite the turmoil, TikTok has continued with business as usual. The platform on Monday introduced a new “Symphony” suite of generative artificial intelligence tools for advertisers to turn words or photos into video snippets for the platform. AFP

Trump Says US Could Get Involved In Iran-Israel Conflict

June 15, 2025 by admin

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday said it is possible that the US could become involved in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The Republican president, according to ABC News, also said talks over Iran’s nuclear programme were continuing and that Tehran would “like to make a deal,” perhaps more quickly now that the Islamic republic is trading massive strikes with Israel. “It’s possible we could get involved” in the ongoing battle between the Middle East arch-foes, Trump said in an off-camera interview with ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott that was not previously publicised. Trump also revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate the conflict. “He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it,” Trump said. The remarks came amid a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran. Early Sunday, Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes on Israeli cities, including Bat Yam and Tamra, in response to Israeli attacks that reportedly targeted key Iranian nuclear, military, and oil sites. The strikes have led to significant casualties, including several Iranian generals and multiple Israeli civilians. In Tamra, four people, including a child, were confirmed dead following the overnight missile attack. In Bat Yam, rescue teams continued to search through rubble for survivors. The confrontation marks the third consecutive day of mutual aerial bombardments between the two longtime adversaries. Trump also addressed ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. Despite the cancellation of a planned sixth round of US-Iran talks in Oman, he stated that communication between the two nations is continuing. “There’s no deadline,” Trump said when asked about a timeframe for reaching a deal. “But they are talking. They’d like to make a deal. They’re talking. They continue to talk,” he said according to Scott. Trump suggested that the intensifying military conflict might accelerate progress toward a nuclear agreement. “It may have forced a deal to go quicker, actually,” he said.