‘I think it's close': Trump says of potential Gaza ceasefire
Washington | US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Saturday AEST) he believes it is possible that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas militants will be reached within a week.
Trump, at an Oval Office event celebrating a Congo-Rwanda accord, told reporters that he believes a ceasefire is close. He said he had been just been talking to some of the people involved in trying to reach a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
Reuters
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Daily Telegraph
4 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Psychologists break down what is going on with Donald Trump
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. President Donald Trump happily dropped the F-bomb. So what does this say about his willingness to use the A-bomb? He's mercurial. He's unpredictable. He's inconsistent. And he's proud of it. The 79-year-old billionaire property developer and former game show host believes it's what sets him apart from America's governing 'elite'. A clearly exasperated Trump took to the White House lawn to blurt: 'We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f**k they're doing.' He was referring to Israel and Iran breaching the deadline for his unilaterally declared ceasefire. It seems to work. At least sometimes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to back down. He thanked the President for his 'immense appreciation for Israel' and decided to 'refrain from further attacks'. But Russian President Vladimir Putin was not so cowed when he was pommeled with similar bluster. The Don's outburst over a breached ceasefire was dismissed as 'emotional overstrain'. So, who is right? President Donald Trump's outburst shocked the world. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein That's a matter of personal politics. But Professor of Psychology Geoff Beattie believes such outbursts present a window into Trump's thought processes. 'Trump was clearly furious, and his language showed it,' the Edge Hill University academic writes. 'This was not a verbal slip – there was no immediate correction, no apology, no nonverbal indication of embarrassment. He just stormed off, clearly angry.' It's not what voters generally expect from their elected representatives. Statesmanship may have gone out of vogue decades ago. Along with transparency and accountability. Despite this, President Theodore Roosevelt's mantra of 'speak softly but carry a big stick' has largely remained an unwritten law of Western diplomacy since World War II. 'But Trump showed frustration, barely contained,' Professor Beattie states. 'His furious, aggressive response was like something straight out of an old psychology textbook.' Mind games Human beings have big opinions of themselves. They're supposed to be smart. To be cool, calm, collected. Civilised. After all, that's what's supposed to set them apart from mere animals. 'They find other ways of dealing with their frustrations,' Professor Beattie writes. 'They use their rational system of thought to find solutions… 'Perhaps, that's why many people feel shocked when they watch this US president in certain situations. To many of us, it all seems so basic, so unsophisticated, so frightening.' But Trump's MAGA followers believe it's all part of a mind game. They insist the President employs a sophisticated 'Mad Man' strategy when it comes to his politics, business and personal relationships. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Picture: (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Put simply, it keeps his opponents off balance. They never know what to expect. But critics argue the tactic has a critical flaw: the 'Mad Man' card can easily back a player into a corner, where they must either go through with a bluff or lose face. It comes down to what's behind the poker face. Does Trump think fast, automatically - or unconsciously? Professor Beattie says this is evolution's basic, rapid-reaction system. 'It is an intuitive system designed to work in a world full of approach and avoidance, scary animals and friendly animals. It is heavily reliant on affect (emotion) to guide decision-making.' Or is everything Trump does the result of constant calculation? Professor Beattie says this second method of thinking is 'slower, more deliberative. It requires conscious effort and is used for complex thinking, solving difficult problems, or making careful decisions.' Good decisions, he argues, depend upon system two checking the advice of system one. 'But system one often jumps quickly and unconsciously to certain conclusions,' he adds. 'System two should check them, but often doesn't. Even when it would be easy.' Psychologists have broken down his actions. Picture: Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP / Netherlands OUT Action or reaction? 'It was a startling moment, even coming from a president who has publicly used that word, and other crude language, in the past,' states Tom Jones of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. Mainstream media was all over the unprecedented action taken over Iran's attempt to build an A-bomb. But it couldn't make up its mind on how to cover Trump's F-bomb. Some ran unedited video clips. Others used a dash or dot dot dot to mask what everybody already knew. Poynter's senior vice president, Kelly McBride, argues the truth should be presented unvarnished. 'When you're covering the President, there are very few moments that are completely unpredictable and unscripted — many more with this President than most, but still — and that was one of them. And I think the record should reflect the entire moment.' His swearing is not something commonly done by presidents. Picture: NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP Few dispute Trump's decision-making style emphasises immediacy and emotional conviction. This has proven effective in rallying supporters and generating an air of decisiveness. Especially when nobody dares to disagree with him. Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately complied with Trump's 'Do not drop those bombs' demand. But his office put a positive spin on things. 'President Trump expressed his immense appreciation for Israel — which achieved all of its war goals. The President also expressed his confidence in the stability of the ceasefire… (So) Israel refrained from further attacks.' But President Putin's mouthpiece was more barbed when his boss was labelled 'absolutely CRAZY!'. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared: 'We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process. Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overstrain and emotional reactions.' Professor Beattie has made up his own mind. 'His decisions seem to be driven by strong emotions,' he observes. 'His response to events, opponents and issues are often passionate and visceral. This could lead to decisions being unduly influenced by personal feelings, first impressions based on arbitrary cues, and interpersonal perceptions, rather than anything more substantial.' Experts have said he is overrun by emotions. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein The wisdom of The Don Trump rose to the US Presidency out of the knockdown world of real estate and reality television. 'Many suggest that Trump's decision-making style reflects his background in the high-pressure and high-stakes world of business, where quick judgments and gut instinct can be advantageous in these sorts of competitive winner-takes-all environments,' Professor Beattie states. 'But the world at war is a more precarious place, where system one (reactionary thought) needs to be kept more firmly in check. 'Gut instincts may have a role to play, but that old lazy system two (considered thought) needs to be more vigilant. Especially, it would seem, in Trump's case.' Such personalities have other commonly associated traits. 'Commentators have described Trump as both narcissistic and authoritarian,' state John Moores University workplace relations researchers Neil Beasley and Madeleine Pickles. Many do not know what to think of it. Picture: ANGELA WEISS / AFP 'Yet, running parallel to these factors, one character trait is glaringly common among Trump supporters: sycophancy.' Yes-men (and women): They're in every office, busily 'kissing up' and 'kicking down'. 'When leaders are surrounded by 'yes-men', they're deprived of critical input that could challenge assumptions or highlight potential flaws,' Beasley adds. 'This can lead to cognitive entrenchment where decision-makers become overconfident and resistant to change. Bad decisions then proceed unchecked, often escalating into systemic failures.' But the brains behind Trump insist this is all just sour grapes. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said after US forces bombed Iran's nuclear facilities: 'Past presidents wanted to take this action, but they didn't have the guts to make the decision.' Columnist Debra Saunders points out for the Heritage Foundation think-tank that, despite all the hostility between Trump and Europe, 'NATO leaders are praising Trump for pushing for them to increase their contribution to NATO's defence spending'. 'At the time, Trump's remarks seemed a shocking breach of decorum,' she added. 'Now they have the ring of an alarm that needed to be sounded.' Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @ Originally published as 'Driven by strong emotions': Psychologists break down Trump's latest bizarre act
News.com.au
12 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Iran holds state funeral for top brass slain in war with Israel
Iran will hold a state funeral service Saturday for around 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran's top diplomat condemned Donald Trump's comments on supreme leader Ali Khamenei as "unacceptable". The United States had carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend, joining its ally Israel's bombardments of Iran's nuclear programme in the 12-day conflict launched on June 13. Both Israel and Iran claimed victory in the war that ended with a ceasefire, with Iranian leader Khamenei downplaying the US strikes as having done "nothing significant". In a tirade on his Truth Social platform, Trump blasted Tehran Friday for claiming to have won the war. He also claimed to have known "EXACTLY where he (Khamenei) was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces... terminate his life". "I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'" the US leader said. Trump added he had been working in recent days on the possible removal of sanctions against Iran, one of Tehran's main demands. "But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more," Trump said. Hitting back at Trump Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the Republican president's comments on Khamenei. "If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei," Araghchi posted on social media platform X. "The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to 'Daddy' to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults." The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures. - 'Historic' state funeral - The state funeral proceedings in Tehran for 60 nuclear scientists and military commanders killed in Israeli strikes are set to begin at 8:00 am (0430 GMT) at Enghelab Square. It will be followed by a funeral procession to Azadi Square, about 11 kilometres (seven miles) across the sprawling metropolis. Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Development Coordination Council, vowed it would be a "historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution". Among the dead is Mohammad Bagheri, a major general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the second-in-command of the armed forces after the Iranian leader. He will be buried alongside his wife and daughter, a journalist for a local media outlet, all killed in an Israeli attack. Nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, also killed in the attacks, will be buried with his wife. Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, who was killed on the first day of the war, will also be laid to rest after Saturday's ceremony -- which will also honour at least 30 other top commanders. Of the 60 people who are to be laid to rest after the ceremony, four are children. - 'Imminent threat' - During his first term in office, Trump pulled out in 2018 of a landmark nuclear deal -- negotiated by former US president Barack Obama. The deal that Trump had abandoned aimed to make it practically impossible for Iran to build an atomic bomb, while at the same time allowing it to pursue a civil nuclear programme. Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes, stepped up its activities after Trump withdrew from the agreement. After the US strikes, Trump said negotiations for a new deal were set to begin next week. But Tehran denied a resumption, with leader Khamenei vowing Thursday never to yield to US pressure and insisting that Washington had been dealt a humiliating "slap". "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration," Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. Israel had claimed it had "thwarted Iran's nuclear project" during the 12-day war. But its foreign minister reiterated Friday the world was obliged to stop Tehran from developing an atomic bomb. "Israel acted at the last possible moment against an imminent threat against it, the region and the international community," Gideon Saar wrote on X. "The international community now has an obligation to prevent, through any effective means, the world's most extreme regime from obtaining the most dangerous weapon."
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Midday News Bulletin 28 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT Donald Trump says he's terminating all trade discussions with Canada US announces funding for Gaza aid operation amid UN criticism Australia claims a resounding win against the West Indies. US President Donald Trump says he's terminating all trade discussions with Canada in response to a tax on digital technology firms set to come into effect on Monday. He says the United States will let Canada know within the next week what tariffs will be imposed on Canadian goods. Mr Trump says Canada has acted foolishly by trying to tax U-S tech companies. "They put a tax on companies that were American companies that they shouldn't, a very severe tax. And yeah, I guess they could remove it, they will, but I don't really, I mean, it doesn't matter to me. We have all the cards, we have all of the cards. You know, we do a lot of business with Canada, but relatively little. They do most of their businesses with us. And when you have that circumstance, you treat people better. " The digital services tax will hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3 per cent levy on revenue from Canadian users. The U-S State Department says it has approved $30 million in funding for a controversial aid operation in Gaza which has been criticised by the United Nations. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation took over aid distribution across the strip using private security contractors after Israel partially lifted its months-long blockade in late May. Since then, shooting events around the foundation's aid sites have led to at least 410 deaths, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On Friday, U-N chief Antonio Guterres says the UN has the experience to better deliver aid. "The problem of the distribution of humanitarian aid must be solved. There is no need to reinvent the wheel with dangerous schemes. We have the solution. A detailed plan grounded in the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. We have the supplies, we have the experience. Our plan is guided by what people need. It is built on the trust of communities, donors and member states. And it worked during the last ceasefire, so it must be allowed to work again." Israel's Military Advocate General has ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over allegations that Israeli forces deliberately fired at Palestinian civilians near Gaza aid sites. The United Nations says hundreds of Palestinians have been killed over the past month in the vicinity of areas where food was being handed out. Israeli newspaper Haaretz recently quoted unnamed Israeli soldiers who say they were told to fire at crowds to keep them back. The Israeli military denies this, saying it has not instructed soldiers to deliberately shoot at civilians. The Victorian Government is encouraging children to head outdoors and go fishing after the stocking the state's waterways with fish that are large enough to be legally caught. The government is promoting the activity as low-cost school holiday fun as it seeks to promote the state as the best place to fish in the country. Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos says the government has stocked 220 waterways across Victoria. "We are really proud of the investment, because meaningful. It's meaningful for many reasons. Time out away from screens and from the busyness of life, spend time with people you love, bring the kids, go and catch fish, if you want, cook it that night. It is such an easy and wonderful activity to do. " A fishing license is required in Victoria, except for people aged under 18, or over 70. A bowling masterclass from Josh Hazlewood has helped Australia claim a resounding 159-run victory over the West Indies on day three of the Test series opener in Bridgetown. After a hotly contested first two days, Australia dominated with Hazlewood taking 5-43 as the tourists bowled their hosts out for 141 in their second dig. The Windies were thwarted by a collapse of 6-26 in pursuit of 301 for victory.
