
Trump threatens to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship
"Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, invoking a deportation rationale the administration has used in attempts to remove foreign-born protesters from the country.
"She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!," he added.
Under US law, a president cannot revoke the citizenship of an American born in the United States. O'Donnell was born in New York state.
O'Donnell, a longtime target of Trump's insults and jabs, moved to Ireland earlier this year with her 12-year-old son after the start of the president's second term. She said in a March TikTok video that she would return to the US "when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America."
O'Donnell responded to Trump's threat in two posts on her Instagram account, saying that the US president opposes her because she "stands in direct opposition with all he represents." Trump's disdain for O'Donnell dates back to 2006 when O'Donnell, a comedian and host on The View at the time, mocked Trump over his handling of a controversy concerning a winner of the Miss USA pageant, which Trump had owned.
Trump's latest jab at O'Donnell seemed to be in response to a TikTok video she posted this month mourning the 119 deaths in the July 4 floods in Texas and blaming Trump's widespread cuts to environmental and science agencies involved in forecasting major natural disasters.
"What a horror story in Texas," O'Donnell said in the video.
"And you know, when the president guts all the early warning systems and the weathering forecast abilities of the government, these are the results that we're gonna start to see on a daily basis." The Trump administration, as well as local and state officials, have faced mounting questions over whether more could have been done to protect and warn residents ahead of the Texas flooding, which struck with astonishing speed in the pre-dawn hours of the US Independence Day holiday on July 4 and killed at least 120, including dozens of children.
Trump on Friday visited Texas and defended the government's response to the disaster, saying his agencies "did an incredible job under the circumstances."
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Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Meet Bobby, South Korea's 'first dog'
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Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Allies under fire: Why do Trump tariffs target Korea, Japan first?
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'Trump wants to make an example out of Korea and Japan, the two closest allies with large US trade surpluses, strong industrial bases and deep security ties with Washington,' said Heo Yoon, a professor of international studies at Sogang University. 'He is trying to show that there's no exception when it comes to tariffs, allies or not.' Asked why Trump started with Korea and Japan, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt simply stated, 'It's the president's prerogative, and those are the countries he chose.' Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said in a commentary that the tariffs on South Korea and Japan 'will send a chilling message to others," signaling that Washington may not grant exemptions under Section 232 tariffs, particularly on automobiles, which is "a high priority for both countries." Cutler expressed disappointment that Trump appears to be going ahead with the tariffs, despite both countries being close partners on economic security matters that have a lot to offer the US in areas including shipbuilding, semiconductors, critical minerals and energy cooperation. 'Companies from both countries have made significant manufacturing investment in the US in recent years, bringing high-paying jobs to US workers and benefiting communities all around the country," she said. The steep tariffs come despite Japan's ongoing engagement with the US, including seven rounds of high-level talks in Washington since April and a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was one of the first leaders to make the trip in Trump's second term. Japan responded strongly, with Ishiba calling Trump's latest tariff move 'truly regrettable,' while ruling Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera condemned that notifying a key ally with a single letter is 'extremely disrespectful." South Korea, by contrast, has struck a more measured tone. Seoul appeared relieved to have bought more time from the initial deadline of July 9, delayed to Aug. 1, to negotiate with the Trump administration, acknowledging a lack of sufficient time to reach an agreement after the new Lee Jae Myung administration commenced in early June. Nonetheless, the government here held series of emergency meetings and vowed all-out efforts to negotiate its way out of looming duties. Following the announced moves against Seoul and Tokyo, Trump expanded his tariff barrage to other long-standing allies. Canada now faces a 35 percent tariff, while the European Union is to be subject to a rate of 30 percent. Meanwhile, Mexico faces a tariff of 30 percent, Philippines 20 percent and Thailand 36 percent. 'We've been taken advantage of for many, many years by countries, both friend and foe. And frankly, the friends have been worse than the foes in many cases,' Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about tariffs. Trump has long argued that the United States' trade deficit ― where its imports exceed exports ― is the result of unfair trade policies by other countries. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US posted $68.5 billion in deficit with Japan and $66 billion deficit with South Korea last year, ranking them as the seventh and eighth top deficit partners. In terms of imports, Japan and Korea accounted for 4.5 percent and 4 percent of total US imports, respectively, trailing behind only China, Mexico, Canada and Germany. For Trump, who is fixated on reducing this trade imbalance, Japan and Korea are hard to overlook. Trump is convinced that slapping higher tariffs on goods from Seoul and Tokyo and pressuring them to buy more American products will help close the gap. After announcing the latest tariffs Monday, Trump told reporters that Seoul and Tokyo had 'had their way for many, many decades' and that the US 'just wanted fairness.' Professor Heo noted that both countries' close strategic ties with the US give Washington leverage. 'Trump understands he can pressure these allies to meet his demands because of their deep economic and security ties, including the defense cost sharing,' he said. 'Trump knows he can secure meaningful concessions from them and then present those as political wins.' The US is one of the largest export markets for both Seoul and Tokyo, particularly in key industries like automobiles, semiconductors, electronic appliances and steel. According to Japanese customs data, the US was Japan's largest export market last year, receiving 21.3 trillion yen ($145 billion) worth of Japanese goods. Automobiles and auto parts comprised approximately 34 percent of the shipments, representing the biggest single industry category. Other sectors include machinery, electronic appliances and semiconductors. For Korea, the US was the second-largest export market after China, as it exported $127.8 billion to the US last year. Automobiles and auto parts combined for the largest single category with about 30 percent, followed by semiconductors at approximately 10 percent, according to the Korea International Trade Association. This heavy reliance on a few high-performing sectors leaves both countries vulnerable to targeted trade measures, analysts say. 'The US, as a chronic trade deficit country with a growing deficit, will make efforts to improve not only under the Trump administration, but beyond,' said Chung Sung-hoon, a senior fellow at the Korea Development Institute, in a recent report. 'Especially since Korea's surplus is concentrated in few items, those very categories are likely to become the main target of tariff policy.' Chung added that among the US top 10 trade deficit items last year, three categories ― including home appliances, semiconductors and automobiles ― exactly match Korea's key export sectors. These are also the areas where the US has already announced additional tariffs, putting Korea at greater risk. American 25 percent tariffs on automobiles and auto parts have already delivered a significant blow to Japanese and South Korean automakers. Japan, which exports more than 1 million vehicles to the US annually, witnessed its exports of motor vehicles to the US plummet 24.7 percent on-year in May, right after the auto tariffs were imposed the previous month, according to the Finance Ministry. The Japan External Trade Organization projected that US tariffs on automobiles could reduce Japan's gross domestic product by 0.3 percent this year. In South Korea, the Bank of Korea projected in May that US tariff policies will hit the auto industry the hardest, estimating an overall 0.6 percent drop in exports, with US-bound exports facing a steeper 4 percent decline this year.


Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Trump's negotiating style is often less dealmaking, more coercion
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Trump recently summed up his approach when talking to reporters about trade talks with other countries. 'They don't set the deal,' he said. 'I set the deal.' Trump's allies believe his aggression is required in a political ecosystem where he's under siege from Democrats, the court system and the media. In their view, the president is simply trying to fulfill the agenda that he was elected to achieve. But critics fear he's eroding the country's democratic foundations with an authoritarian style. They say the president's focus on negotiations is a facade for attempts to dominate his opponents and expand his power. 'Pluralism and a diversity of institutions operating with autonomy — companies, the judiciary, nonprofit institutions that are important elements of society — are much of what defines real democracy,' said Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary and former president of Harvard University. 'That is threatened by heavy handed, extortionist approaches.' 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The Fed has also faced Trump's wrath. He blames Fed Chair Jerome Powell for moving too slowly to cut interest rates, which could make consumer debt like mortgages and auto loans more affordable. It could also help the US government finance the federal debt that's expected to climb from the tax cuts that Trump recently signed into law. Powell has held off on cutting the central bank's benchmark rate, as Trump's tariffs could possibly worsen inflation and lower rates could intensify that problem. Desai said the White House believes the Fed should act based on what the data currently shows, which is that 'President Trump's policies have swiftly tamed inflation.' Although Trump has said he won't try to fire Powell — a step that might be impossible under the law anyway — he's called on him to resign. In addition, Trump's allies have increased their scrutiny of Powell's management, particularly an expensive renovation of the central bank's headquarters. David Wessel, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, said Trump's approach could undermine the Fed's credibility by casting a political shadow over its decisions. 'There will be real costs if markets and global investors think the Fed has been beaten into submission by Trump,' he said. Trump originally wanted to enact sweeping tariffs in April. In his view, import taxes would fix the challenge of the US buying too much from other countries and not selling enough overseas.