Latest news with #SenateForeignRelations
CNN
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Waltz defends use of Signal as he says he can make ‘UN great again' if confirmed to ambassador role
Former national security adviser Mike Waltz defended his use of the messaging app Signal during a Tuesday confirmation hearing where lawmakers largely avoided the topic. The 'Signalgate' scandal, in which top Trump administration officials discussed sensitive details of a US military strike in a chat to which Waltz had inadvertently added a journalist, dominated headlines and led to his ouster as national security adviser in May. Waltz was instead nominated as US ambassador to the United Nations. However, during Waltz's confirmation hearing for the ambassador role Tuesday, only a few Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee raised the matter, and only one explicitly said he would not support Waltz's nomination. Instead, the hearing was largely dominated by questions about how Waltz plans to approach the international organization. The Trump administration has vilified the UN as ineffective, accused it of being anti-Israel and proposed cutting billions of dollars in US funding for its operations, including for peacekeeping. On the matter of Signalgate, Waltz maintained that none of the sensitive details shared in the chat were classified. 'We followed the recommendation, almost the demand, to use end-to-end encryption, but there was no classified information shared,' Waltz said during an exchange with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons. Waltz, a former Florida lawmaker, said the White House had investigated the matter and there was no resulting disciplinary action. The Pentagon's probes are ongoing, he said. Asked by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine whether the Pentagon investigations had concluded the information was not classified, Waltz said he couldn't comment on an ongoing investigation. 'I can echo Secretary Hegseth's testimony that no names, targets, locations, units, routes, sources, methods, classified information was shared,' he said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker told Waltz that he was 'really disappointed' and troubled by 'your failure to just stand up and take accountability for mistakes that you made and that all Americans know that you've made.' 'I cannot support your nomination. I think you've shown failure of leadership at a time that America especially needs people of honor to stand up and show what leadership actually is,' Booker said. Waltz is the administration's second nominee for the UN role, after New York Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination was pulled by the White House amid concerns over slim GOP margins in the House. Waltz told lawmakers he believes the UN is in need of reform but also has potential. 'We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk, and where China, Russia, Europe, the developing world, can come together and resolve conflicts, but after 80 years, it's drifted from its core mission of peacemaking,' he said. 'I'm confident we can make the UN great again,' he said.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Moment Trump's pick for Singapore ambassador awkwardly flubs simple questions about the country
President Donald Trump 's unusual choice to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore struggled through simple questioning about the country he'll be tasked with serving as the president's liaison. The little-known Florida orthopedic surgeon appeared nervous as he navigated simple questions during his confirmation hearing. Dr. Anji Sinha, didn't attract anywhere near the attention as Trump's high-profile nominee to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is the ex-fiancee of Donald Trump, Jr. and also had her hearing Tuesday. Both shared the spotlight at four-way Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. Trump's statement nominating him revealed virtually nothing about his background, simply calling him 'a highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family!' That only prompted online sleuths to try to uncover just who Trump had nominated for the important post inside China's desired sphere of influence. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) asked the nominee a straight-up question about what he would prioritize to strengthen the U.S.-Singapore partnership and deepen cooperation. 'As you know, I am a physician, a surgeon, so I have been a long-time bridge builder,' was his flowery response. 'And I believe strongly in a person-to-person connection. If confirmed, my first basis would be to go there and create a very good, strong relationship with the Singapore government.' Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth tried to to probe his knowledge of the country in China 's periphery where he will represent U.S. interests. She said she isn't opposed to political appointees, per se, pointing to fellow panel member Sen. Bill Hagerty, a successful former U.S. ambassador to China. 'You are not currently prepared for this posting, period. And you need to shape up and do some homework,' she lectured the physician, who sported a dark suit with wide pin-stripes and spoke in accented English. 'This is not a role you can just pick up on a whim or because you think it would be glamorous or because Singapore is a great place to live,' she stated. 'Frankly, I don't think you are particularly qualified for this role,' she told him, before giving him the chance to 'assuage my doubt.' Duckworth hit the nominee with a series of questions, and said she was not impressed with his answers. 'How large was the U.S. trade surplus with Singapore in 2024?' she asked. Eighteen billion was Sinha's answer. Duckworth told him the correct answer was $2.8 billion, 'so you're off by a huge factor.' She also tried to get him to say whether he agreed with Trump's move to slap a 10 percent tariff on Singapore despite the U.S. trade surplus with the country. Singapore wasn't one of 14 mostly Asian countries to get one of Trump's first batch of letters, but was expected to face that tariff despite the U.S. surplus. He declined to criticize the president who nominated him and tried to punt, saying the dialogue was not closed – which may have been the smart move at a time when Trump was slapping a 50 percent tariff on copper and firing off trade letters to countries around the world. 'When is Singapore going to be the ASEAN chair,' she asked him. about the prominent group of southeast Asian nations, prompting him to say 'I don't know when.' 'Can you name one thing, a role that they would have to play as ASEAN chair,' she asked him. 'Can you name one thing that would be of critical importance to Singapore' as it chairs the multi-nation group, she asked. 'Defense, economics,' was Sinha's curt response. 'Those are very broad. Name an issue!' the Illinois lawmaker demanded he tell her. 'Trade,' he responded. Then she tried to gauge his knowledge, or perhaps trip him up, with a question about how he envisioned strengthening the US Navy's work with Singapore and whether there are 'any facilities that come to mind that are central to our relationship with Singapore.' 'We have a naval presence in Singapore. Our military - they always do exercise with Singapore,' was about as detailed as he would get. That prompted an explosion from Duckworth. 'Can you name a specific thing, please? I'm trying to help you here, but you've not even done your homework, sir,' she scolded. She said the job 'should not be treated as a glamor posting.' The questions came for a nominee about whom very little is known, and even less about any ties he may have to Singapore. It took reporting from local Taiwan media to uncover that Sinha was even a medical doctor, and then establish he was most likely an orthopedist – something Sinha confirmed in his statement. He said his wife is also a physician. Sinha has practiced medicine in Flushing, Queens, and Boca Raton, Florida. A 2016 Bloomberg report identified him as being well known around Trump International Golf Club in West Palm beach, where the president plays when he is staying at nearby Mar-a-Lago. 'Who do you want to interview? I know everybody here,' he told a reporter. 'Boy, there are a lot of famous people. A lot of billionaires here.' The edge Singapore reported Trump and Sinha have been friends since at least the early 2010s, and that he is either a member of Trump National or Mar-a-Lago. The Daily Mail has asked the White House for any information on Sinha's club memberships and how Trump came to know him or know of him. Sinha specializes in frozen shoulder and other musculoskeletal issues, the Straits Times reported in March after Trump announced the surprise nomination, at a time when it wasn't entirely clear he was even a medical doctor. A campaign records search shows he gave only $4,500 to candidates or parties through official contributions, although 'dark money' contributions aren't disclosed. Some of the money went to Democrats, with only $1,500 going to Trump's campaign effort. According to a certificate of competency posted by the State Department, Sinha is a 'preeminent surgeon on the East Coast specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine. He is an accomplished entrepreneur, having built multiple thriving key-man practices with specialized teams across eight locations in New York, and has served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida.' 'With native respect for both American and Asian values, and his deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region, Dr. Sinha is uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders,' it says. It says he is a graduate of the MGM Medical School and Delhi University in India, with a Masters of Orthopedic Surgery
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kimberly Guilfoyle gets support of ex Don Jr.'s son during Senate hearing to become Trump's Greek 'belle'
President Donald Trump 's 16-year-old grandson came out to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to support Kimberly Guilfoyle, 56, during her confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Greece. Donald Trump III – son of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump – sat in the front row behind Guilfoyle for her joint five-nominee hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was seated alongside Guilfoyle's son, Ronan Villency, 18, and her younger brother, Anthony 'Tony' Guilfoyle Jr., 53. The stylish nominee known for her affinity for colorful, tight dresses opted for a more refined look to take on lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She donned wide-framed specs and a black wide-legged pants suit with a white blouse featuring a neckline bow detail. Guilfoyle's years-long engagement to Don Jr. abruptly ended last year. The former Fox New host has been in the lives of his five children for their most formative years and was almost their step mother. Palm Beach insiders tell the Daily Mail that she still has a relationship with Don Jr.'s children. 'I would like to offer special thanks and love to my son, my brother, Tony, and to Donnie Trump for their steadfast support,' Guilfoyle said during her opening remarks before the Senate panel gathered for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. White House Presidential Personnel Office Director Sergio Gor also came to Capitol Hill to support Guilfoyle. He left the hearing room promptly after her opening remarks. Guilfoyle was introduced by Sen. Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.) and was joined in the hot seats by four other nominees for the joint hearing. The hearing was also for the questioning ahead of voting to move confirmations to the floor for Anjani Sinha to be ambassador to Singapore; Jeffrey Bartos to be representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform; Lynda Blanchard to be representative to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture; and Jennifer Locetta to be representative for Special Political Affairs at the UN. President Trump announced in December his intention to nominate his almost-daughter-in-law and key campaign surrogate to be ambassador to Greece in his second term. 'I extend my sincerest gratitude to the president for his faith in my abilities,' Guilfoyle said during Wednesday's remarks before a group of senators. Her nomination came just a few months after news broke that the president's eldest son was dating Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson and was no longer in a relationship with Guilfoyle. Still, Don Jr. posted to X his congratulations to his ex-fiancée on her nomination. Guilfoyle, before her relationship with Don Jr., was married for five years to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom while he was mayor of San Francisco. She spent years as a co-host on the Fox News program The Five. During the short confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Guilfoyle faced a few questions from senators related to Greece's relationship with the U.S., Israel, Cyprus and the rise in tensions with Turkey. No Democrats who directed questions at Guilfoyle on Wednesday appeared particularly opposed to her confirmation, though not every member of the panel decided to show up for the hearing.
Fox News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump's approach to Africa lauded by top Republican as recent airstrikes show 'outside the box' thinking
FIRST ON FOX: The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has lashed out at China, Russia and Iran for threatening U.S. national security interests in Africa in exclusive comments to Fox News Digital. In a wide-ranging interview, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, discussed the Trump administration's approach to Africa, highlighting terrorism, war and concerns over trade on the continent. Risch emphasized the importance of Africa to the U.S. "The economic opportunities in Africa cannot be understated, and the United States needs to have a seat at the table regarding trade and investment in the region," he said. "At the same time, there are serious national security challenges we need to address head on to include terrorism, widespread conflicts affecting regional stability, migration and trafficking." Russia, China and Iran have been criticized by Risch as being 'malign actors' in Africa, accused of military interventions, exploitative trade practices, and in Iran's case, reported to be working on an agreement to extract refined "yellowcake" uranium for its controversial nuclear program. "The malign actions of China and Russia, and even regional actors like Iran, are serious challenges to our national security interests in Africa," Risch said. "Countering the influence of these aggressors is as much about the U.S. pursuing greater partnerships with African states as it is about responding to the challenges put forward by countries like Russia and China in Africa." Risch weighed in on the role of the U.S. military on the continent, saying it "is to protect the American people, first and foremost, and that goal should remain the same in Africa. We have serious security threats in Africa, and we must take them seriously. Remember, Osama bin Laden hid in Sudan, bombed our embassies there, and planned his 9/11 attack." Then there's the question of Islamist terror. Risch said he was "concerned about the spread of Islamist militants throughout parts of Africa, and has supported efforts to work with countries to help them get this situation under control." He added, "I am mindful that it is ultimately not up to us to confront this problem, and we have to stop being the only major player providing international support. Others, including African nations, must do more." Washington has Somalian terror clearly on its radar. In banning Somalians from entering the U.S. earlier this month, a White House proclamation stated, "The United States Government has identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven." Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated terrorists operate openly. The U.S. military, through its Africa Command, has ramped up action against the groups since President Trump took office. So far this month, the U.S. has already carried out six air strikes against Islamic State in Somalia. "I have advocated so strongly for the United States to build an approach that relies less on a central government partner that has not delivered, and more on partners in Somalia and the region to bring about effective counterterrorism gains. "Fortunately, President Trump's Africa policy has already shown he thinks outside the box, as demonstrated by the handling of recent airstrikes on Somalia with less hand-wringing, and more direct and decisive action." In Sudan, Russia and Iran have been fingered as protagonists pushing military agendas and war. An estimated 150,000 have been killed, and more than 12 million displaced, since civil war broke out in April 2023. "The war in Sudan must end, and the partition of the Sudanese state must be prevented. This is the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, and a playground for malign actors backing both sides," he said. On President Donald Trump's spearheading of efforts to bring peace to the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Risch said, "I know this administration is working hard to secure a deal between DRC and Rwanda that will end the fighting. America must serve as a counterweight to China's critical minerals deals in the region, but can't fully do so until the region is more stable." In South Africa, government ministers continue to meet with senior Russian, Chinese and Iranian officials. The African National Congress political party, which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the leader of, has hosted officials from the Hamas terror group. Yet the country benefits from duty-free benefits for products like cars and fruit in the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, and other trade deals. Risch told Fox News Digital, "I have consistently raised national security concerns about South Africa's AGOA eligibility. AGOA is set to expire later this year, and President Trump's current tariff regime already overrides many of its benefits. I remain critical of the South African government's posture, which is why I applauded Secretary Rubio's decision not to allow U.S. representation at the G20." In November, South Africa is due to hand over the chairmanship of the G20 to the U.S. But at this time Washington is not sending a single official to the handover ceremony. Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government, but received no response.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers criticize Israel's defensive strikes against Iran's nuclear sites
Democratic lawmakers are sounding off on the Israel-Iran conflict, criticizing Israel's initial airstrikes Thursday night in the capital of Tehran. Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion," targeting Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure, and Iran responded with strikes in Tel Aviv, injuring at least five people. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released a statement Friday calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an "extremist." Could The Us Be Targeted As Iran Retaliates Against Israel? "The world is more dangerous and unstable as a result of the extremist Netanyahu's government ongoing defiance of international law," Sanders wrote. "First, he uses the starvation of children in Gaza as a tool of war, a barbaric violation of the Geneva Conventions. Now, his illegal unilateral attack on Iran risks a full-blown regional war." Sanders added the strikes "directly contravened" U.S. interests in resolving long-standing tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Read On The Fox News App "Talks were planned for Sunday, but Netanyahu chose instead to launch an attack," Sanders wrote. "The U.S. must make it clear that we will not be dragged into another Netanyahu war. Along with the international community we should do everything possible to prevent an escalation of this conflict and bring the warring parties to the negotiating table." Senate Foreign Relations member Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn., chimed in on social media Friday morning. "Netanyahu wasn't trying to help diplomacy; he was trying to destroy diplomacy," Murphy wrote. "How do we know? They reportedly targeted and killed Iran's chief negotiator with Trump." Global Calls To Avoid Escalation Pour In After Israeli Strikes On Iran Tim Kaine, D-Va., who also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added he could not understand why Israel would launch a preemptive strike when a meeting was scheduled between the U.S. and Iran this weekend. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said military aggression is "never the answer." "Israel's alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence," Reed wrote. "These strikes threaten not only the lives of innocent civilians but the stability of the entire Middle East and the safety of American citizens and forces. While tensions between Israel and Iran are real and complex, military aggression of this scale is never the answer." Trump Faces Critical Decision As Middle East Teeters On Brink Of War By Friday afternoon, some Democrats seemingly changed their tune in response to the counter-attack. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., slammed Iran's response, calling it "cowardice." "#Israel's strike on #Iran was targeted precisely at senior Iranian military commanders and military sites that posed an existential threat to Israel," Sherman wrote. "The Islamic Republic's response? To target civilian centers in #TelAviv. Unsurprising cowardice from a regime that has spent decades brutalizing its own people." Click Here For The Fox News App Others evaded the conversation all together. "This is a rapidly evolving situation, and it's critical that the United States works with our allies and avoid steps that will cause further escalation across the region," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., wrote in a statement. "For years, Iran has threatened the safety of Israel and the region, and Israel has an undeniable right to defend itself and its citizens."Original article source: Democratic lawmakers criticize Israel's defensive strikes against Iran's nuclear sites
