Defense Secy Hegseth on military recruitment 'tsunami': 'First thought it's a Trump Bump ...'
Trump to signs executive order to end DEI in military, reinstate members removed over COVID vaccine mandates
'They were not well suited for jobs...': Defence secretary Pete Hegseth fires top military lawyers
Is Pete Hegseth the best Republican party has to offer?Chuck Schumer rips into Trump's DoD nominee
'Trump wants generals like Hitler had…': Ex-White House official reveals; Harris slams, 'Fascist'
'She was so brave...': Trump defends US female Secret Service Agent who 'shielded' him
'Bad three weeks for Houthis…': Trump, Hegseth issue fierce warning to Yemen rebels
'We don't need yes men': Trump encourages West Point graduates to possess 'guts, vision and backbone'
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Business Standard
3 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump struggles to shake off Epstein scandal once stoked by his own allies
Trump supporters are asking the release of secret files on Jeffrey Epstein, who officials say died by suicide in a New York jail six years ago while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges AP Washington Despite the sun bearing down on him and the sweat beading across his face, President Donald Trump still lingered with reporters lined up outside the White House on Friday. He was leaving on a trip to Scotland, where he would visit his golf courses, and he wanted to talk about how his administration just finished the best six months ever. But over and over, the journalists kept asking Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein case and whether he would pardon the disgraced financier's imprisoned accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. People should really focus on how well the country is doing, Trump insisted. He shut down another question by saying, I don't want to talk about that. It was another example of how the Epstein saga and his administration's disjointed approach to it has shadowed Trump when he's otherwise at the height of his influence. He's enacted a vast legislative agenda, reached trade deals with key countries and tightened his grip across the federal government. Yet he's struggled to stamp out the embers of a political crisis that could become a full-on conflagration. Trump faces pressure from his own supporters The Republican president's supporters want the government to release secret files about Epstein, who authorities say killed himself in his New York jail cell six years ago while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. They believe him to be the nexus of a dark web of powerful people who abused underage girls. Administration officials who once stoked conspiracy theories now insist there's nothing more to disclose, a stance that has stirred skepticism because of Trump's former friendship with Epstein. Trump has repeatedly denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. For a president skilled at manipulating the media and controlling the Republican Party, it has been the most challenging test of his ability to shift the conversation in his second term. This is a treadmill to nowhere. How do you get off of it? said Kevin Madden, a Republican strategist. I genuinely don't know the answer to that. Trump has demanded his supporters drop the matter and urged Republicans to block Democratic requests for documents on Capitol Hill. But he has also directed the Justice Department to divulge some additional information in hopes of satisfying his supporters. A White House official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal strategy, said Trump is trying to stay focused on his agenda while also demonstrating some transparency. After facing countless scandals and investigations, the official said, Trump is on guard against the typical playbook of drip-drip disclosures that have plagued him in the past. It's clear Trump sees the Epstein case as a continuation of the witch hunts he's faced over the years, starting with the investigation into Russian interference during his election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton nearly a decade ago. The sprawling inquiry led to convictions against some top advisers but did not substantiate allegations Trump conspired with Moscow. Trump's opponents, he wrote on social media on Thursday, have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM. During the Russia investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors were a straightforward foil for Trump to rail against. Ty Cobb, the lawyer who served as the White House's point person, said the president never felt exposed because he thought he had a legitimate gripe. The situation is different this time now that the Justice Department has been stocked with loyalists. The people that he has to get mad at are basically his people as opposed to his inquisitors and adversaries, Cobb said. It was Trump's allies who excavated the Epstein debacle In fact, Trump's own officials are the most responsible for bringing the Epstein case back to the forefront. FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, regularly stoked conspiracy theories about Epstein before assuming their current jobs, floating the idea the government had covered up incriminating and compelling information that needed to be brought to light. Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the paedophiles are, Patel said in a 2023 podcast. Attorney General Pam Bondi played a key role, too. She intimated in a Fox News Channel interview in February that an Epstein client list was sitting on her desk for review she would later say she was referring to the Epstein files more generally and greeted far-right influencers with binders of records from the case that consisted largely of information already in the public domain. Tensions spiked earlier this month when the FBI and the Justice Department, in an unsigned two-page letter, said that no client list existed, that the evidence was clear Epstein had killed himself and that no additional records from the case would be released to the public. It was a seeming backtrack on the administration's stated commitment to transparency. Amid a fierce backlash from Trump's base and influential conservative personalities, Bongino and Bondi squabbled openly in a tense White House meeting. Since then, the Trump administration has scrambled to appear transparent, including by seeking the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in the case though it's hardly clear that courts would grant that request or that those records include any eye-catching details anyway. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has taken the unusual step of interviewing the imprisoned Maxwell over the course of two days at a courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where her lawyer said she would always testify truthfully. All the while, Trump and his allies have resurfaced the Russia investigation as a rallying cry for a political base that has otherwise been frustrated by the Epstein saga. Trump's director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who just weeks ago appeared on the outs with Trump over comments on Iran's nuclear ambitions, seemed to return to the president's good graces this week following the declassification and release of years-old documents she hoped would discredit long-settled conclusions about Russian interference in the 2016 election. The developments allowed Trump to rehash longstanding grievances against President Barack Obama and his Democratic advisers. Trump's talk of investigations into perceived adversaries from years ago let him, in effect, go back in time to deflect attention from a very current crisis. Whether it's right or wrong, Trump said, it's time to go after people. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Dust, sweat and blood': White House uses Roosevelt speech to cast Trump as fighter; shows him in a Coliseum
'It is not the critic who counts…' With those opening words from former US President Theodore Roosevelt, the White House on Friday (local time) framed Donald Trump as a battle-worn leader confronting his critics head-on. In a post on X, it quoted the former president's famous 1910 'Man in the Arena' speech, a message often reserved for those who act decisively in the face of adversity. Shared alongside a dramatic image portraying Trump in a Roman-style arena, the quote frames him as 'the man in the arena', a leader who acts despite obstacles and criticism. The quote, taken from Roosevelt's 1910 speech 'Citizenship in a Republic' delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, is often used to praise those who take bold decisions and face public scrutiny. The timing and tone of the post signal an effort to reframe Trump's embattled presidency as a test of resilience, determination, and leadership under pressure. The quote, shared with an image of Trump, continues, "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ' The quote was shared with an image of Trump walking alone through a Roman-style coliseum, a symbolic representation of the 'arena.' Surrounded by towering stands, a darkened sky, and the ruins of a grand structure, Trump is shown striding forward, past a worn American flag, facing the crowd and whatever lies ahead. The imagery appeared to underline the message that the 47th president of the United States is standing firm in the midst of turmoil, criticism, and political opposition. Trump is facing a mountain of controversies, more recently of being mentioned in Epstein's file. However, he has denied the allegations as a hoax. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has claimed significant achievements in the first six months of his second term. Donald Trump, 'who spends himself in a worthy cause,' has claimed that the first six months of his presidency have delivered significant achievements. Since returning to the White House in January as the 47th president, his second term has already brought major shifts in both domestic and foreign policy. From tax reforms and economic policies to stricter border controls and bold international agreements.
News18
10 minutes ago
- News18
‘Finish The Job': Trump Says Israel Must ‘Get Rid' Of Hamas As Ceasefire Talks Collapse
Last Updated: Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for Scotland, Trump declared that Hamas didn't want to make a deal regarding a truce and the release of hostages. US President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Hamas for the collapse of talks for a Gaza ceasefire, backing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intensify military efforts to 'get rid" of the Palestinian militant group. Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for Scotland, Trump declared that Hamas didn't want to make a deal regarding a truce and the release of hostages. 'Now we're down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages. And basically because of that, they didn't want to make a deal," he said. Referring to Hamas, he added, 'I think they want to die." The US president said the Hamas leaders are now 'going to be hunted down," adding that Israel 'will have to finish the job… they'll have to fight and clean it up." . @POTUS on Hamas and Gaza: 'They pulled out in terms of negotiating. It was too bad. Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 25, 2025 Trump's remarks followed the decision by his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, to withdraw the US negotiating team from the Gaza ceasefire talks for further consultations in Washington. 'His remarks contradict the reality of recent negotiations and serve the Israeli position," Naim said, after Witkoff blamed Hamas for obstructing a deal. The talks have remained stalled for more than two weeks. On Thursday, both the US and Israel exited the negotiations, with Witkoff indicating that Hamas was at fault and that Washington would now explore 'alternative options." Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
