Zelenskiy says he and Trump are considering a drone 'mega-deal'
Zelenskiy said his latest talks with Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.
Ukrainian drones have been able to strike targets as deep as 800 miles (1,300 km) into Russian territory.
"The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal," Zelenskiy told The Post in the interview conducted Wednesday.
The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia's invasion for more than three years.
"We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners," he said. Ukraine was also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany, he said.
On Thursday, Zelenskiy announced unspecified future agreements with the United States which he said would strengthen his country, as he appeared in parliament to put forward his new government.
Next year's U.S. defense and national security budget request boosts spending on small drones - in part because of lessons learned during Russia's war in Ukraine, where unmanned aircraft have proven to be an integral part of low-cost, yet highly effective fighting.
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Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trump goes nuclear on Rupert Murdoch after his 'filthy rag' publishes letter to Epstein while calling for Bondi to clear his name
President Donald Trump has launched a nuclear attack on the Wall Street Journal for publishing extraordinary allegations about a salacious birthday card he allegedly sent disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The report alleges Trump took part in a 50th birthday album by sending well wishes and a cryptic message on a card with a hand drawn naked woman. The outline of a naked woman with breasts and pubic hair drawn out of a 'Donald' signature allegedly frames typewritten text which reads: 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Within hours of the report's publication, Trump issued a scorched earth message via Truth Social insisting the letter was fake and vowing to sue the Journal, News Corp and Rupert Murdoch. He has also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to 'produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval' in an effort to clear his name. Bondi instantly responded: 'President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.' It comes after days of mounting fury among MAGA loyalists over Bondi and Trump's handling of the Epstein saga after they broke a campaign pledge to release the 'client list' and details about his death in a jail cell in 2019. Trump said he spoke directly with both the editor of the WSJ, Emma Tucker, and Murdoch himself about the contents of the letter they were citing. '[They] were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,' Trump wrote. 'Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so.' Trump claimed Tucker 'did not want to hear' from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt that the 'letter was a FAKE.' 'Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway. President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly. 'The Press has to learn to be truthful, and not rely on sources that probably don't even exist.' Trump doubled down on his earlier claims that the Epstein saga is a 'hoax' perpetuated by Democrats, arguing that if he were involved in anything scandalous, it would have been released by 'Comey, Brennan, Crooked Hillary and other Radical Left Lunatics years ago. 'It certainly would not have sat in a file waiting for 'TRUMP' to have won three Elections. This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS,' he wrote. Trump said he 'looks forward to suing and holding accountable the once great Wall Street Journal. 'It has truly turned out to be a 'Disgusting and Filthy Rag' and, writing defamatory lies like this, shows their desperation to remain relevant. According to the Journal, the naked woman appeared to have been hand-drawn with a marker, with a pair of arcs indicating the woman's breasts and a squiggly signature reading 'Donald' appearing in her pubic region, mimicking hair. Trump categorically denied any involvement in the drawing or writing of the text. 'This is not me,' he said. 'This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.' Trump vowed to sue the Wall Street Journal if it published the story, warning: 'I'm gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else.' Although Trump claimed he 'never wrote a picture in my life', several sketches he made of New York City landmarks as early as 2004 are readily available online. The alleged letter reportedly contained an imaginary conversation between Epstein and Trump, written in third person. In the imaginary conversation, 'Donald' writes: 'We have certain things in common, Jeffrey', to which 'Jeffrey' replies: 'Yes we do, come to think of it.' 'Donald' then responds: 'Enigmas never age, have you noticed that', and imaginary 'Jeffrey' says 'as a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.' Vice President JD Vance rubbished the allegations on Thursday night, writing on X: ' Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bulls**t. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. 'Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' 'Will the people who have bought into every hoax against President Trump show an ounce of skepticism before buying into this bizarre story?' The publication states that a compilation of letters were put together in a leather-bound album, organized by Maxwell for Epstein prior to his first arrest in 2006. The album contained poems and photos from businesspeople and high-flying executives. It is understood the letter forms part of the initial investigation into Epstein and Maxwell that the Justice Department conducted years ago, however it is unclear whether it was examined during Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent search. Bondi and Trump are both under immense pressure from MAGA loyalists after failing to deliver on a campaign promise to expose Epstein's client list and reveal the truth about his alleged suicide inside his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking charges. Bondi in February shared binders with MAGA influencers called 'Phase 1' of the Epstein release, but the folders contained previously published information. She assured the public at the time that the client list was 'on her desk to be reviewed' and that more bombshell information would soon follow. Last week, she backtracked and insisted the highly sought after client list 'doesn't exist.' She also said that Epstein killed himself in jail, and that there was no evidence to suggest he was murdered. The lack of new information has sparked mutiny among MAGA and deeply divided Trump's base. Trump on Wednesday lashed out at his own supporters and accused them of being duped by Democrats over the Epstein saga as he looks to shield himself and Bondi from backlash. 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls**t,' hook, line, and sinker,' Trump wrote Wednesday. 'They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.' 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' There is no evidence former Democratic officials tampered with the documents or played any role in promoting conspiracies about the files, which members of Trump's administration stoked for years. Elon Musk, Trump's former first buddy, has been among the loudest critics, unfollowing Bondi on X and describing her comments as 'the final straw.' Back in early June when he and Trump first fell out over the Big Beautiful Bill, Musk sensationally claimed on X that the president was 'in the Epstein files' and thus trying to delay their publication. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!',' he wrote, before ultimately deleting the post and apologizing. On July 8, Musk weighed in again, writing: 'How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?'
Reuters
38 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump orders release of grand jury transcripts from Epstein case
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case, subject to court approval. "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Shortly after Trump's statement, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote.
Reuters
38 minutes ago
- Reuters
CBS cancels Stephen Colbert's late-night show, calling decision 'financial'
LOS ANGELES, July 17 (Reuters) - "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the most-watched late-night program on U.S. broadcast television and a frequent platform of satire aimed at President Donald Trump, will end its 10-year run on CBS in May 2026, the network said on Thursday. The show will be retired and Colbert will not be replaced. New episodes will air until the end of the broadcast TV season in May 2026, a network statement said. "This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount," CBS executives said in a statement. Paramount Global (PARA.O), opens new tab, the parent company of CBS, is seeking approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. This month, Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Republican President Donald Trump over an interview with his former Democratic challenger, Kamala Harris, that CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcast in October. Colbert told his audience on Thursday that he was informed of his show's cancellation the night before. The audience booed, and Colbert responded: "Yeah, I share your feelings." "I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away," the 61-year-old comedian said. "The Late Show" debuted in 1993 with David Letterman as host after he was passed over for NBC's "The Tonight Show." Colbert, a regular on "The Daily Show" before he hosted "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, took over "The Late Show" in 2015. "It is a fantastic job," Colbert said on Thursday. "I wish somebody else was getting it, and it's a job that I'm looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months." He thanked executives at CBS, his show's audience and the 200 people who work on the show. Senator Adam Schiff of California, a Democrat, was a guest on Thursday's episode. "If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better," Schiff wrote on X. Late-night shows have seen their audiences shrink as viewers have shifted from traditional television to streaming. "Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult," said the statement from Paramount Co-CEO and CBS CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf. CBS canceled another late-night show, "After Midnight," in March. That show had run immediately after the "Late Show." During the second quarter of 2025, the most-watched late-night program was "Gutfeld!" on Fox News Channel with an average audience of 3 million, according to Nielsen data. "The Late Show" drew roughly 1.9 million viewers, ahead of 1.5 million for ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and NBC's "The Tonight Show" hosted by Jimmy Fallon with 1.1 million.
