Latest news with #Steube
The South African
07-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
This US Congressman works night and day to sanction South Africa
Meet the man working night and day to sanction South Africa in the United States. He's a Republican Representative in US Congress and he's just put forward a comprehensive bill to sanction South Africa diplomatically. His name is Greg Steube and he argues the US should sanction South Africa over the legal action we took against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In fact, the US Congressman tabled a bill on US Independence Day – Friday 4 July – titled: 'Addressing Hostile and Antisemitic Conduct by the Republic of South Africa Act of 2025.' Greg Steube is 47 years old and hails from Florida, a Republican stronghold in the US. Image: Greg Steube on Facebook Furthermore, the timing of the bill couldn't be worse, as South Africa waits to hear about high-level trade talks with the United States. Ever since US President Donald Trump hit a 90-day pause on 30% trade tariffs against South Africa, the country has been waiting for an outcome on several DTIC trade proposals. However, with the deadline falling this week – Wednesday 9 July 2025 – everyone is hoping for a deadline extension. However, just as the diplomatic impasse appeared to easing, Congressman Steube's bill is a renewed call to sanction South Africa. Steube accuses South Africa of, 'advancing an antisemitic narrative under the guise of international law', reports IOL . Worse still, the Congressman says South Africa is, 'unfairly targeting the State of Israel to incite hostility towards the United States and our allies,' according to Steube's latest statement. US Congressman Steube talks at a Republican convention. Image: Greg Steube on Facebook Moreover, his calls to sanction South Africa are only growing stronger. He says America has no business engaging with South Africa's corrupt government. And that working with South Africa jeopardises American national security by, :indulging terrorist organisations and their sponsors.' Latterly, the Congressman is referring to the signing of an economic cooperation deal between South Africa and Iran involving oil refinery projects. As such, if the bill is passed, the US will sanction South Africa and suspend all direct assistance/trade with the country. This will be possible under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. South Africa will have to, 'implement institutional reforms to combat corruption, and improve diplomatic cooperation with the United States,' if it wishes to avoid this heavy-handed outcome. Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor hopes Israel will implement the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ on Friday. Image: SABC News Moreover, political experts warn the bill could result in 'tangible consequences' if the US decides to sanction South Africa. The country has received an estimated $6 billion in direct US foreign direct investment over the last decade. As such, South Africa's best chance to sidestep this may be to lobby Republicans to oppose the bill. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor is yet to issue a formal response against these calls to sanction South Africa. However, senior ANC leaders continue to defend the country's actions in the ICJ, following the start of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in 2024. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
US Congress proposes sanctions against South Africa over Israel case
US President Donald Trump hands papers to President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Image: AFP A controversial bill introduced in the United States Congress aims to cut off direct aid to South Africa and impose targeted sanctions on its political leaders, citing the country's legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its growing diplomatic ties with Iran and Hamas. Republican Representative Greg Steube on Friday tabled the Addressing Hostile and Antisemitic Conduct by the Republic of South Africa Act of 2025 in the US House of Representatives. The proposed legislation accuses the South African government of using international institutions to wage 'lawfare' against Israel, advancing what it calls an 'antisemitic narrative under the guise of international law'. 'It is clear as day that the Government of South Africa is unfairly targeting the State of Israel and inciting hostility towards the United States and our allies,' Steube said in a statement dated June 17. 'America has no business engaging with a corrupt government that weaponises its political system against the Jewish people while jeopardising our national security interests by indulging terrorist organisations and their sponsors.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Steube said the bill is a direct response to South Africa's 'genocide' case against Israel at the ICJ, its hosting of Hamas delegations following the October 7 attacks, and the signing of an economic cooperation deal with Iran involving oil refinery projects. Under the bill, the US would suspend all direct assistance to South Africa, excluding humanitarian and public health aid, unless the government ceases all formal support for international legal actions 'that unfairly target the State of Israel', implements institutional reforms to combat corruption, and improves diplomatic cooperation with the United States. It also authorises the US president to impose sanctions, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on any South African official deemed to have promoted antisemitic policies or misused international courts to attack Israel. Political analyst Siseko Maposa, director at Surgetower Associates, said while the bill's passage is uncertain, its symbolic and diplomatic weight should not be underestimated. 'This bill exemplifies President Trump and the Republican faction's continued efforts to punish South Africa for its principled positions on international justice – particularly regarding Israel,' said Maposa. 'What distinguishes this initiative from prior attempts, however, is its heavy enforcement mechanisms, which would inflict tangible consequences for South Africa if enacted.' He noted that from 2012 to 2021, South Africa received an estimated $6 billion in direct US foreign direct investment, and a significant portion of development assistance has flowed through US government and affiliated aid programmes. 'While passage remains uncertain, a narrow legislative pathway exists. Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers, but recent infighting, such as the collapse of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' vote, shows that internal dissent could derail it. South Africa's best chance may lie in lobbying moderate Republicans to oppose this draconian overreach,' he said. Maposa also warned that the bill could face legal challenges in the US if its conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism is seen as infringing on constitutional free speech protections. At the time of publication, the South African government had not issued a formal response. However, senior ANC leaders have previously defended the country's application to the ICJ as a legal obligation under the Genocide Convention, following Israel's military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread humanitarian destruction. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and last year described the ICJ case as a stand for 'international justice and accountability'. Steube's bill frames these actions differently, alleging that South Africa has 'repeatedly turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Hamas and Iran against Israel and the United States,' while 'aligning itself with authoritarian regimes hostile to United States national interests'. The bill further accuses the ANC of giving legitimacy to terrorist actors, pointing to its meetings with Hamas officials and Tehran's diplomatic engagement with Pretoria. The Democratic Alliance, the country's main opposition party, is expected to weigh in on the diplomatic fallout. The DA has previously criticised the ANC government's foreign policy as isolating South Africa from key Western partners. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will likely be called on to explain whether any formal communication has been received from US officials regarding the bill and what diplomatic channels, if any, are being pursued to address it. Should the bill pass, it could result in South African officials being barred from travelling to the US or having assets frozen under US jurisdiction. It could also signal further deteriorating relations between the two countries, which have clashed in recent years over BRICS alignment, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and military cooperation exercises with China. For now, Pretoria's best hope appears to rest on political divisions within the US Republican Party. Maposa said: 'This internal Republican division may be its sole reprieve – one Pretoria must seize by urgently lobbying moderate Republican legislators to oppose the bill outright.' Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) was best suited to respond to the bill. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that it is monitoring the proposed legislation through diplomatic channels. Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said: 'As you may know, an act or bill is proposed and passed by a country's legislative body, such as the Parliament in South Africa or the Congress and Senate in the USA. These bodies operate within their sovereign territories, and their primary function is to create or implement policy through legislation, typically without the need for consultation with other nations. We recognise that this principle underscores the autonomy of states in their legislative processes. Legislative processes by their nature are publicly accessible, as such our Embassy in Washington D.C. will be able to monitor relevant developments.' On political lobbying within the US, Phiri said: 'We have noted the information regarding the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its financial contributions to American politicians. We understand that AIPAC openly ties its contributions to candidates' support for the US-Israel relationship, thereby creating a significant incentive for politicians to align with this stance. There is public information indicating that some House Representatives who have introduced bills may fall within this category of politicians.' Phiri added that South Africa's foreign policy remains non-aligned. 'Minister Lamola consistently asserts that South Africa's foreign policy is independent and non-aligned, rooted in its constitutional principles and national interests, rather than hostility towards any nation.' Regarding Iran, he said: 'South Africa upholds its dedication to international initiatives to curtail the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and supports the right to develop nuclear capability for peaceful purposes. South Africa's engagement with Iran is consistent with its broader foreign policy of engaging with all countries.' He said South Africa's approach to foreign policy was based on constitutional values and international legal principles. 'We reemphasise that our foreign policy is based on principles such as human rights, self-determination, anti-colonialism, multilateralism, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the pursuit of a just and equitable world order. These are universal values, not ideological preferences. Our non-aligned stance enables us to pursue an independent foreign policy that serves our national interests and contributes to global peace and stability. This means engaging with all countries, regardless of their geopolitical alignment.' Phiri added: 'We wish to reiterate that South Africa's genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice is fundamentally driven by our commitment to upholding a rules-based international order anchored in international law, with the aim of protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring that all actors, including powerful states, are bound by these principles. It is not, as you suggest, driven by ideological alignment, but by a consistent pursuit of justice and the reinforcement of international legal frameworks.' Attempts to get comments from the ANC and the DA were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
A $250 Bill and ‘WMAGA': GOP Lawmakers Push Legislation Honoring Trump
Late last month, Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube introduced a bill that would halt any funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority unless its name was changed. Steube, whose southwest Florida district is about 950 miles from Washington, proposed WMATA be rechristened the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access or … WMAGA. The legislation also called for Metrorail, the system's flagship rail line, to be renamed the 'Trump Train.' The bill, Steube said in a statement, would signal a 'cultural shift away from bureaucratic stagnation toward public-facing excellence and patriotism.' Steube's proposal is just the latest in legislative offerings this year paying tribute to President Donald Trump. House Republicans have proposed at least eight bills since January to honor the president or burnish his image. They would, among other things, put Trump's portrait on U.S. currency, carve his face onto Mount Rushmore, rename Washington Dulles International Airport for him and make his birthday a national holiday. Two bills, both introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), called for the House to expunge Trump's impeachments in 2019 and 2021. Longtime political observers say the GOP's legislative love fest for the president is well outside of congressional norms. While members have often proposed legislation that honors presidents, it is almost never while they are still in office. 'It is unprecedented and to be honest with you, it's completely wild,' John White, professor emeritus of politics at Catholic University, said in an interview. 'History shows that most things are named after presidents after they have either long left office or been deceased.' Ronald Reagan was still alive in 1998 when Congress passed legislation renaming Washington National Airport for him. But by then, Reagan had been out of office for almost a decade and had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. White also pointed to the renaming of Idlewild Airport in New York for John F. Kennedy in December 1963, just a month after his assassination. But that was a decision proposed by New York City's mayor at the time, not Congress. In 2012, Congress passed bipartisan legislation that renamed federal buildings for former Democratic president Bill Clinton and former Republican presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Steube's proposal to rename the Metro was cheered by many from Trump's's base and met with derision by Democrats and other critics who saw it as a craven appeal to the commander in chief. 'WMATA is not a vanity project for Donald Trump to steamroll. It's the backbone of our nation's capital,' Sen Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia) posted on X. 'When will House Republicans stop trying to suck up to Donald Trump and start focusing on lowering the cost of living?' WMATA did not respond to a request for comment on the proposed change. None of the current laundry list of Trump-praising bills are likely to become law, as they face a challenging legislative process and constitutional obstacles. But they do serve a purpose for the members who introduce them, said Casey Burgat, director of the Legislative Affairs masters program at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management. 'They're trying to stand out amongst their peers of who can be the most supportive of a president who has a complete hold on their party,' Burgat said. 'Attaching their name to something in their institutional capacity not only signals to their constituents that they're doing this, but more importantly, probably, the president who's looking for fealty.' Three days after Trump's inauguration in January, Rep. Addison McDowell (R-North Carolina) proposed renaming Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia to the 'Donald J. Trump International Airport.' 'President Donald J. Trump, the greatest president of my lifetime, was just sworn into office for a second term after a historic landslide victory,' Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pennsylvania), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. 'This legislation will cement his status in our nation's capital as our fearless commander in chief, extraordinary leader and relentless champion for the American people.' Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New York) chose Valentine's Day to submit a bill that would make Trump's birthday, June 14, a national holiday along with Flag Day. 'Just as George Washington's Birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump's Birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America's Golden Age,' Tenney said in a statement at the time. (A few days earlier, Tenney had introduced H.R.1216 – a bill that would end federal support for PBS and NPR. It is titled the Defund Government-Sponsored Propaganda Act). 'President Trump is arguably the most consequential president ever, and his place in history will be remembered for generations to come,' said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement. 'These proposals from Republican lawmakers serve as further proof there's never been a political leader in American history with such immense support from their Party as President Trump. The President appreciates the overwhelming support and these kind gestures from Republican lawmakers.' Several lawmakers in the current session have served up bills that aim to make Trump's face more ubiquitous. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) introduced legislation directing the secretary of the interior 'to arrange for the carving of the figure of President Donald J. Trump on Mount Rushmore National Memorial.' The National Park Service has previously said there is no suitable stable space on the monument for another face to be added. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) proposed H.R. 1790, the Golden Age Act of 2025, which directs the Treasury Department to print $100 bills with Trump's portrait on them. That was just after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) introduced the Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act, which would require the Treasury to print 'Federal reserve notes in the denomination of $250 and such notes shall feature a portrait of Donald J. Trump.' The $250 bill is meant to help the nation celebrate its 250 birthday next year, Wilson said in a statement, which concluded, 'The most valuable bill for the most valuable President!' Numerous House members co-sponsored the bill including Steube, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tennessee), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California). U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, who was appointed by Trump, wrote to Wilson in late May expressing his support for the bill but acknowledging that the law does not allow living people to appear on U.S. currency. In a letter Wilson's office shared with The Washington Post, Beach wrote, 'I am willing to help in any way that I can to make this a reality.' A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) did not respond to an email seeking comment. Spokespeople for other Republican representatives contacted for this story pointed to statements made when the bills were introduced. Former Republican congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, who served in Congress from 2005 to 2018 and was a chair of the House Ethics Committee, said he thinks the bills honoring Trump would probably make some current GOP House members uncomfortable and he doesn't see much appetite for action on any of them. 'It's better to name buildings and institutions and airports for politicians long after they're out of office, after there's been some time to reflect on their records and their place in history,' he said. The various proposals honoring Trump this session are 'being done to please the president,' Dent said in an interview on Friday. 'I mean, he loves that kind of attention.' Dent added that he thinks it is 'ill-advised' to pass legislation bestowing honor on people in such a politically charged atmosphere. 'Usually when you do these types of honorifics, they are moments of celebration and joy to remember that individual,' Dent said. 'I don't think that's what would happen today with the current president, certainly not while he's in office. Maybe over time, after he's long gone, maybe people's views will shift on him. Who knows?' GW's Burgat says there's a risk involved that the legislation introduced extolling Trump diminishes the institution's reputation and its work. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report on commemorations noted that beginning in the 1960s, Congress attempted to reduce legislative proposals for naming federal buildings, designating federal holidays and establishing monuments. 'These initiatives were in response to concern that the legislative time spent on commemorative measures was excessive,' the report stated. 'It undermines the job itself,' Burgat said. 'Your job is to write laws, to study them. Not just memorialize the current president.'
The Hill
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Republicans drub Democrats 13–2 in fifth straight Congressional Baseball Game win
Republicans once again defeated the Democrats at the Congressional Baseball Game on Wednesday 13-2, marking the GOP's fifth straight win in the annual bipartisan contest to raise money for charity. The margin of the game was not nearly as wide as last year's walloping, when Republicans brought in a 31-11 victory. But the Democrats could not capitalize on several offensive opportunities, leaving nine runners on base and struggling defensively in the game's later innings. The Democrats, as is true most years, sported individual jerseys of their choice, while Republicans opted for their standard red uniform and 'Make America Great Again' baseball caps. Some went further in on MAGA memorabilia, with starting pitcher Greg Staube sporting gold sneakers signed by President Trump before the game. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) was not optimistic about his team's chances before the game. When asked whether he thought the Democrats would win, he plainly said: 'No.' Democrats looked like they might draw ahead in the first inning, loading the bases with a single and two walks. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), however, saved the inning with a leaping catch, diving toward third base to make the tag. Republicans scored their first run off of a Democratic throwing error in the first inning and widened their lead to 5-0 with a rally in the second inning. Democrats countered in the third with an RBI triple down the first-base line from Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.). By the end of the inning, they were only down 5-2. But they would not score again, and Republicans took the game out of reach with a five-run deluge in the fifth inning to bring the score to 10-2. Even so, the Democrats' woes continued in the sixth inning due to lackluster defense. The outfield struggled to catch several seemingly routine fly balls, and several infield hits scored two runners — including Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) pinch-running all the way from second base. Steube, who held the Democrats to two runs over five innings, was subbed out in the sixth by Pfluger. The Texas Republican ended up winning the game's Most Valuable Player award. 'Proud to have been selected MVP for this year's Congressional Baseball Game!' the lawmaker wrote on social platform X following the game, sharing a photo of him with the trophy. 'Couldn't have asked for a better support team here in DC! Another huge win for Republicans.' Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) received a turn on the mound in the seventh inning and closed out the game. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) struck out to end a feeble showing for the Democrats. The Republican team was coached by Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), a former minor league player and coach for Texas Christian University. Steube said pregame that Williams had driven the team hard in practice for the past four months. 'We start 5:45 in the morning, every day that we're here, minus fly-in,' he said. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) credited Williams with the decision to wear MAGA hats, adding that 'I think the president liked it.' Democrats were coached by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), who called out Aguilar as the party's MVP. Republicans and Democrats shake hands after the annual Congressional Baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (The Hill/Greg Nash) Unlike in previous years, this year's game did not see any significant protests. Last year, eight protesters with a climate advocacy group who jumped onto the field were arrested. The game raised $2.81 million for local charities, including the Tim Johnson Memorial Fund, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and Washington Nationals Philanthropies. More than 30,000 tickets were sold for the event held at Nationals Park, which can seat more than 40,000 people.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
All aboard the WMAGA? Florida congressman wants to rename DC transit for Trump
"This is the Trump Train, next stop: Ronald Reagan National Airport," could be the conductor's call on Washington, D.C.'s commuter rail system if one Florida GOP congressman has his way. Rep. Greg Steube drafted "The Make Autorail Great Again (MAGA) Act," which would withhold $150 million in federal funding from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) until it is renamed "WMAGA" – or the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access, in honor of President Donald Trump. It would also require the METRO rail system – six color-coded lines encompassing about 130 miles of track – to be renamed the "Trump Train." Duffy Slams Mta Over Fact-check Of Anti-israel Mobs' Grand Central Takeover Steube called upon a 1966 District of Columbia law granting congressional "consent" for the interstate compact and ensuing establishment of WMATA. "WMATA has received billions in federal assistance over the years and continues to face operational, safety, and fiscal challenges," Steube said in a statement. Read On The Fox News App "In the spirit of DOGE, this bill demands accountability by conditioning federal funding on reforms that signal a cultural shift away from bureaucratic stagnation toward public-facing excellence and patriotism." The day-to-day operations of WMATA and the METRO, including fares and routings, are controlled by its board – not Congress. It also receives funding and recommendations from the three state/district stakeholders. Dot Saves Taxpayers Over $60M By Terminating Texas High-speed-rail Contract WMATA's board consists of two members from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, plus two appointed by the federal government. Steube called WMATA a "struggling institution" in need of a "fresh identity," particularly ahead of global events scheduled in the region, including the 2027 NFL Draft and FIFA World Cup matches. Fox News Digital reached out to WMATA as well as Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., for comment. Several METRO stations already sport political names, though they often coincide with nearby sites – including for former President Ronald Reagan, ex-Secretary of State John Dulles, Pierre L'Enfant and Pierre DuPont. A move to rename the entire METRO system in honor of a dignitary, however, has never been tried article source: All aboard the WMAGA? Florida congressman wants to rename DC transit for Trump
