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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Trump administration declassifies Russia 2016 election investigation documents
President Donald Trump 's administration on Wednesday announced it has declassified documents that allegedly prove officials under president Barack Obama distorted facts about Russia's interference in the 2016 election. In a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the report contains 'irrefutable evidence that details how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false.' This was part of a 'years-long coup and a treasonous conspiracy against the American people, our republic and an attempt to undermine President Trump's administration.' Ms Gabbard said evidence and intelligence confirm that Mr Obama 'manufactured intelligence assessment.' The 44-page report was released on Friday, and points to emails by Obama administration officials in which they concluded that Russia had not hacked election systems for more votes in Mr Trump's favour. The report was led by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee after Mr Trump's win over Hillary Clinton in 2016. The report also said Russian intelligence services had damaging material on Ms Clinton as well as information about her health. Multiple investigations have been conducted over whether Russia interfered in the 2016, directly or through misinformation campaigns. The Russia investigation shadowed much of Mr Trump's first term in office. An investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller found that the Trump campaign had welcomed the Kremlin's help, and that Mr Trump was Russia President Vladimir Putin's preferred candidate, but found insufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Mr Obama's spokesman Patrick Rodenbush issued a statement responding to Ms Gabbard's claims. 'Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,' he said. 'But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' The development comes as Mr Trump is under pressure from his Maga base, a conspiracy-minded segment of his political support, to release more details in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Mr Trump and Epstein socialised together on multiple occasions, before Epstein's criminal behaviour came to light. On Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mr Trump said Mr Obama and other officials in his administration were engaged in treason. 'It's time to go after people,' he said.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Trump continues attacks on Powell as White House aides to tour site of latest flashpoint
US President Donald Trump has continued his relentless pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, again calling the board to act as he says chairman Jerome Powell 'just doesn't get it'. 'Our rate should be three points lower than they are, saving us $1 trillion per year (as a country). This stubborn guy at the Fed just doesn't get it – never did, and never will. The board should act, but they don't have the courage to do so!' Mr Trump wrote on the Truth Social media platform. The latest post comes a week before the Federal Reserve 's next meeting, where it is expected to continue its pause on rate cuts. The Fed has held rates steady at 4.25 to 4.50 per cent this year after easing policy by 100 basis points towards the end of 2024, owing to uncertainty surrounding Mr Trump's tariff agenda. Mr Trump has repeatedly called for the Fed to lower rates to help service US debt, a concept known as fiscal dominance. The Fed chairman has maintained a wait-and-see approach towards rates in defiance of Mr Trump's pressure campaign. Public remarks from other Fed officials indicate broad support to keep rates on hold next week, although Fed governor Christopher Waller – a Trump appointee and reported candidate to succeed Mr Powell – previewed a dissent from his colleagues last week by arguing the Fed should lower rates by 25 basis points. As his anger over Mr Powell has increased, Mr Trump has expanded his line of attacks on the Fed chairman. Tensions reached a boiling point last week following reports that Mr Trump indicated to Republicans in Congress he was open to firing the Fed chairman. Mr Trump confirmed he brought up the idea, but said it was unlikely he would try to oust Mr Powell. The most recent flashpoint centres on renovations at the Federal Reserve's headquarters in Washington, which have ballooned to roughly $2.5 billion. White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, who has referred to the project as the 'Taj Mahal on the National Mall', said in a tweet that Trump officials were scheduled to visit the site on Thursday. The Fed released a virtual site visit on its website earlier this week. Mr Powell has linked cost overruns to unforeseen conditions, such as more asbestos than anticipated, contamination in the soil and a higher-than-expected water table. The project was first approved by the Federal Reserve Board in 2017 and is subject to annual budget approval. Still, some believe the White House could be using the Fed renovations as a pretext to fire Mr Powell. White House budget director Russell Vought said Mr Powell has 'grossly mismanaged' the Fed, pointing to the renovation costs. Fed officials can only be fired for cause, which is generally thought to be malfeasance or neglect of duty. The Supreme Court in May signalled that it would side with Mr Powell if Mr Trump were to fire him over a policy dispute. Mr Powell has repeatedly said that he would never resign as Fed chairman before his term ends in May 2026. He has not said if he would continue his role as Fed governor, which runs into 2028. Former PIMCO chief executive Mohamed El Erian broke from other prominent economists on Tuesday by suggesting Mr Powell should voluntarily step down as chairman to protect the Fed. Speaking at the World Bank, Mr El Erian questioned whether Mr Powell would expose the Fed to greater threats if he remained in his position. 'This tension between the President and the chairman of the Fed, if it continues, it will suck in more elements of the Fed,' Mr El Erian said when asked by The National, following a keynote address. Top bankers have defended Mr Powell, however, with JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon last week saying interfering with the Fed 'can have adverse consequences'. Bank of America chief executive Brian Moynihan, Citigroup executive Jane Fraser, Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon and Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein also came to Mr Powell's defence. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg TV that he was 'somewhat surprised' Egyptian-American Mr El Erian had called for Mr Powell's resignation. Mr Bessent also repeated his call to conduct a review of Federal Reserve activities outside monetary policy, telling Bloomberg TV that 'mission creep from the Fed is endangering their independence of monetary policy'. 'An internal review would be a good start. And if the internal review didn't look like it was serious, then maybe there could be an external review,' said the Treasury Secretary. Mr Bessent also said there is 'no rush' to identify Mr Powell's successor as Fed chairman. 'There are a lot of strong candidates, including several who are on the main board and perhaps regional bank presidents,' he said. The Federal Open Market Committee consists of the Fed chairman and the six other members of the Federal Reserve Board, the president of the New York Fed and four of the other 11 regional Fed banks that serve on a rotating basis. Other than Mr Waller, the reported candidates to succeed Mr Powell include National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and Mr Bessent himself. The Treasury secretary said there's a 'long, long list' of names to replace Mr Powell.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Syria bloodshed gives US legislators pause over sanctions relief
Recent violence in Syria is fuelling a debate in the US Congress about whether Washington should end all sanctions against Damascus, a move pushed by President Donald Trump, or take a more incremental approach. Mr Trump has embraced President Ahmad Al Shara since his rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, until recently designated a foreign terrorist organisation, ousted former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Mr Trump last month ordered the lifting of sanctions against Syria. Many of these can be repealed through his executive powers, but eliminating them all would need Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act. Syria has been gripped by violent clashes in Sweida in the south of the country, where forces loyal to Mr Shara's government have been accused of siding with the Bedouin to kill members of the Druze community. After a ceasefire that followed strikes by Israel, the Druze were accused of rekindling the fighting with new attacks. Among those killed was Hosam Saraya, an American of Syrian Druze descent, whose killing at the hands of gunmen was shown on social media. Given the instability, some lawmakers are pushing for a conditions-based lifting of sanctions. Republican Representative Mike Lawler last week introduced a bill that would amend the Caesar Act to allow it to be waived only if the Syrian government is not targeting civilians, among other provisions. 'The Al Shara Administration certainly has a lot of work to do to reintegrate Syria with the US and our allies,' said Mr Lawler, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Financial Services Committee. 'While this job should be difficult given the circumstances, it shouldn't be impossible.' But fellow Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who also sits on the Middle East panel, wants a clean, unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act, saying that is in line with President Trump's agenda for Syria. 'I hope that the Financial Services Committee reconsiders this measure and takes more time to study and work on Syria sanctions. A clean repeal of the Caesar Act promotes stability,' he wrote on X. Representative Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, agrees with Mr Wilson's approach. She has introduced an amendment that would fully repeal the Caesar Act. The Syrian Emergency Task Force, which works to help build democracy in Syria and played a significant role in nudging the Trump administration to scrap sanctions, urged legislators to vote against Mr Lawler's bill. 'This bill undermines President Trump's new Syria policy and extends damaging sanctions until 2028 – sanctions meant for Assad, not the Syrian people,' the SETF said in a statement.
