Latest news with #non-Trump
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump appointees pushed for marble in Fed renovation project
By Ann Saphir (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's appointees to a Washington project review board pushed the Federal Reserve five years ago to use more marble for a renovation project at its headquarters campus that the White House is now using as the basis for attacks on central bank Chair Jerome Powell, saying cost overruns and "ostentatious" features like the premium marble the Fed incorporated into its final design are evidence of mismanagement by the Fed chief. Documents from the Commission of Fine Arts, established by Congress in 1910 to review and approve certain building projects in the nation's capital, show the Fed proposed a glass curtain wall for part of the project. Such a design was in line with the Fed's view that the central bank "should become a more transparent organization," according to minutes from a January 2020 CFA meeting. The proposal met stiff opposition from commissioners appointed by Trump, who issued an executive order later that year calling for the use of classical architecture for public buildings in the capital "absent exceptional factors." He reissued that same order on the first day of his current term in office. At the January CFA meeting, Commissioner Justin Shubow argued that glass is "impermanent and fragile," and said the Fed's headquarters ought to look solid and permanent as befitting a bank building. Shubow joined fellow Trump appointees in supporting a proposal that the Fed's next submission include a design in "white Georgia marble." The non-Trump appointees voted that plan down, but six months later the Fed's architects returned with a new proposal that did include that marble, the commission's documents show. The renovation plan was finalized in 2021. The push by the Trump appointees for use of the marble was first reported by the Associated Press. Trump has lashed out at Powell almost daily over the fact the Fed has not delivered the lower interest rates Trump has demanded since his return to the White House in January. Earlier this week he discussed firing Powell with a group of House Republicans during a meeting at the White House, but after it was reported that Trump was preparing to do so he reversed course and said it was "highly unlikely" he would fire the Fed chief. The Federal Reserve Act prohibits firing Fed Board of Governors members over policy disputes, saying they may only be removed for "cause" - widely thought to mean malfeasance, neglect of duty or fraud. A recent Supreme Court opinion in a case involving Trump's dismissal of other federal officials sent a strong signal the high court would not allow to stand a firing of Powell for refusing to cut rates. In the weeks since, White House officials have begun to focus on the cost overruns at the Fed's headquarters project. Documents show it is about $600 million over its original cost estimate of about $1.8 billion. In a move that would seem to try to lay the groundwork for a causal dismissal, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought last week sent Powell a letter, accusing him of mismanagement and demanding answers to a list of questions about the project. Powell on Thursday responded, saying "As explained on the Board's public website, we take seriously the responsibility to be good stewards of public resources as we fulfill the duties given to us by Congress on behalf of the American people." "We have taken great care to ensure the project is carefully overseen since it was first approved by the Board in 2017," he said.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Trump still waiting on ruling of $454M civil fraud judgment appeal, sparking debate over judicial bias: ‘Politics is interfering'
President Trump has been waiting a whopping 293 days for a five-judge panel's decision on his appeal of the massive $454 million civil fraud judgment won last year by state Attorney General Letitia James — with many experts, including Trump detractors, suspecting political motives as the average wait in the First Department appellate division is just 30 days. The oral arguments in Trump's appeal on Sept. 26, 2024, were widely seen by journalists and lawyers as sympathetic to the then-Republican presidential nominee, who is appealing the massive penalty for allegedly inflating the value of his assets to secure loans, which he denies. At least one panelist, Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick, is considered likely to rule against Trump — with a non-Trump affiliated attorney referring to Renwick as a 'political animal' appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul because of her perceived partisan reliability. 'Obviously it seems that politics is interfering with the judgment,' said Bennett Gershman, an openly anti-Trump law professor at Pace University. 'It's there. Is it inappropriate? Yes. Is it something that happens? Yes.' 3 President Trump is appealing a $454 million civil fraud judgment. REUTERS Any member of a five-judge panel can place a 'hold' on releasing a decision without having to provide an explanation, several experts familiar with the appeals process said. 'This delay is creating the perception that the presiding judge is stalling the decision to prevent a favorable decision for the president,' said a legal source who has tracked the case. Gershman, who has argued cases before the First Department and mingled with its judges at campus events, said it's impossible to know for sure what the judges are saying or thinking, but that it's implausible that the ruling and dissents aren't written. 'I don't think it's that complicated of a question that takes 293-plus days to decide. It could be one judge holding it up. It could be more than one judge,' he said. 'Judges are human beings, and they have personal ideologies and biases and all kinds of things that make their judging sometimes close to what their political feelings are.' 3 Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick, right, is seen a likely vote to uphold the verdict. She was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hohcul, left. Matthew McDermott Gershman said he personally believes Trump is guilty and that the trial court ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron, whom the president and his allies repeatedly accused of bias, should be upheld. He added, however: 'This is an extreme case where the president of the United States is being reviewed. His conduct is being reviewed by these judges and there obviously are personal and political motivations that might interfere with their judgment even if it's unconscious. I think this case is a pretty good example of how it can happen and play out in the real world.' Several attorneys familiar with the work of the First Department, which is one of four appellate divisions in the state, requested anonymity to share their insights on the unusually long delay. 3 New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the fraud case against Trump, arguing he inflated the value of his assets. AP An attorney who does not represent Trump told The Post that data from the past 18 months indicate that the average time for the division to issue an appeals ruling is just under 30 days from oral arguments. Signed decisions average longer – 140 days. That source said that Trump's appeal is currently the only one pending in the First Department that's older than a couple months and that it's 'not even remotely close to anything.' 'The [presiding justice] is a political animal. I mean, she is. And so I would be surprised if there wasn't some political angle to this,' he added. Judge David Friedman, another member of the panel, appeared closely aligned with Trump's arguments last September — and two other panelists are speculated to be leaning his way, though oral arguments aren't always a clear indicator of results. Friedman, 74, is a Democrat appointed by Republican Gov. George Pataki in 1999 and is expected to leave the bench Dec. 31. 'If he's holding the majority, and I assume, based on the oral argument, that he's holding the majority, she could try and wait him out, which would be a scandal of epic proportions,' said one source. White House sources in April claimed that Hochul told Trump 'I control the judges' during a February meeting in the Oval Office, which Hochul denied at the time. 'Hochul, who controls the judges, is demanding President Trump's help on congestion pricing, on wind farms, on energy and so much more while she keeps this nonsense case over the president's head. That is pure extortion,' an attorney familiar with the case claimed without offering evidence. Hochul's office, James' spokespeople and the First Department did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump legal team spokesman said: 'Letitia James' failed political crusade against President Trump is one of the most outrageous examples of the discredited radical lawfare campaign against the president. Her 'case' should have never seen the light of day, it is entirely phony, it is barred by the statute of limitations and it relies on her intentionally dishonest valuation of one of the most desirable properties in the world, Mar-a-Lago… at a ridiculous $18 million, while it is worth 10 times that.' The Trump spokesman alleged a 'multitude of other fatal errors and lies' and said 'it is time for the New York courts to finally step in and end this witch hunt once and for all.' The delay is costing Trump a significant but unknown amount of money in attorney fees and bond costs that he may never recoup. Once a ruling is released, there's likely to be another appeal by the losing party to the New York Court of Appeals, which is likely to have the final say unless the US Supreme Court decides there's a federal claim to address. There's not a unanimous agreement on why the First Department ruling is taking so long. One Manhattan legal source familiar with the system said 'I think the most likely explanation for the delay in the case is that there's a dissent of one or more judges and it's been a spirited exchange of views. This process can take a long time when there's dissent and the dissent makes strong arguments.' Columbia University law professor John Coffee offered a different theory — speculating that the appeal may be taking abnormally long due to analysis of the massive sanctions. 'While a split panel may take a longer time, 293 days seems too long to explain on that basis alone,' Coffee said. 'The leading issue may be the amount of the damages, as appellate courts are more apt to intervene there than on issues that clearly belong to the jury.' One of the lawyers who spoke to The Post said that the unusual delay is likely to loosen lips at the courthouse if it drags on much longer. 'The building has so far been fairly tight about this case,' he said. 'But, you know, people talk. Sooner or later, I think that will come out.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
That Tesla Trump Shilled At The White House? Yeah, He's Selling It.
Less than a week ago, President Donald Trump presented Elon Musk with a gold-colored key as a token of his affection in an Oval Office ceremony. Now we've reached the 'division of assets' part of the divorce proceedings. A White House official told multiplemediaoutlets Friday that President Donald Trump plans to sell ― or in a distinctly non-Trump move, give away ― the Tesla he bought in March, back when his bromance with the Tesla CEO was in full bloom. According to NBC News, the red Model S is currently parked on a long driveway known as 'West Executive Avenue' that sits adjacent to the White House, next to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and communications adviser Margo Martin apparently took the car out for a joyride last week, documenting the moment on social media: 'The Tesla President Trump bought for staff to use as part of a demo on the south lawn to help Tesla is going to be either given away or sold off,' Fox News' Peter Doocy reported, adding that 'Elon Musk was wearing thin on President Trump for about a month.' That's a sharp change in tone from just two months ago, when Trump turned the White House into a Tesla dealership, buying a Model S for himself while reading notes from a Tesla sales pitch aloud for the media. 'I'm going to buy because, number one it's a great product, as good as it gets, and number two because this man has devoted his energy and his life to doing this,' Trump said at the time, referring to Musk as 'a great patriot.' Sitting in the driver's seat moments later, Trump looked at the dashboard and exclaimed, 'Everything's computer!' Elon Musk Says Donald Trump Is In The Jeffrey Epstein Files AOC Gets Delightfully Catty On Trump-Musk Split Ex-Trump Aide Names The Elon Musk Attack That's 'Going To Stick The Most' With Trump Musk-Trump Spat Hits New High As Musk's Ex Piles On
Business Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Not insular politics but glocal
MANY recent elections across the world swung against incumbents, with votes turning on national issues. The longstanding adage is that all politics is local. Results from Singapore's general elections held in May however challenge both those expectations. Not only was the incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) returned to power with an increased popular vote. Global issues too played a significant role, with particular focus on 'Liberation Day' tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Trade, investment and market sentiments across the world have since been affected, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong effectively focused on the emerging impacts on Singapore. He did this early when delivering the S Rajaratnam Lecture the day after Parliament dissolved in anticipation of the election, and raised the issues again in the May Day Rally, just before cooling-off day and voting. More than non-Trump Voters in Canada and Australia had similar concerns too, and voted for alternatives to Trump-like figures and policies. But the Singapore result was not simply a reaction against the controversial American president. PM Wong – leading the PAP in electioneering for the first time – sought to convince Singapore that there would be direct and profound impacts. Building on observations shared early in the year by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, the analysis is that the current global order is changing, and experienced and steady hands are needed. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Both PM Wong and his deputy, Gan Kim Yong, were key figures during the global pandemic, regularly briefing Singaporeans about the situation. Trust was built from those circumstances, and emerging global conditions have given this a premium. The Wong government quickly showed commitment by setting up a new task force to help those impacted by global trade dislocations. Add to this the generous 2025 budget. This provided evidence that government assistance would go beyond words, to deliver support and funding. In the S Rajaratnam lecture, the prime minister called on Singaporeans not to have an 'island mentality', insular in attitude, but to connect to broader issues and to each other, and remain open. Voters seem to have responded positively. Local-level action speaks louder This is not to say that local issues were left aside. Inflation, housing and jobs were consistently and strongly raised by the opposition. This was across the board, whether by the Workers' Party (WP) – that maintained its 10 elected seats and picked up two non-constituency seats – or other parties who failed to win any. Yet while these domestic issues were repeatedly raised, the PAP chose how best to respond. Campaigning in West Coast, for example, Progress Singapore Party's Leong Mun Wai was rebuffed when he challenged incumbent minister Desmond Lee and the PAP to a debate. Instead, in most constituencies, the PAP favoured on-ground efforts, to re-emphasise their attentive presence and practical offers to help. They largely avoided speechifying, and canvassed broader issues at rallies and TV, mainly by PM Wong speaking at centralised, national platforms. The result was a balance. Local and insular issues did not dominate, while global concerns were not abstract. Rather, the politics that mattered in the elections combined aspects of both and, to borrow a phrase, could be considered, 'glocal'. The WP stance was not dissimilar. Emerging as the sole opposition party with any seat in the next Parliament, they largely agree on foreign policy and campaigned on the fact that they have experience in running constituencies. Controversies that did not bite Anticipated controversies, in contrast, did not bite. These included recent cases that embroiled political office holders in corruption and inappropriate relationships. Even longstanding disputes aired by Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of founding PM Lee Kuan Yew, and published in The New York Times were greeted by most with a raised eyebrow and shrug. Many feel these have received more than enough air time. There were also global issues that did not strongly feature in campaigning. One was the humanitarian concern over Gaza. While Singaporeans do care about the situation there, there was an appeal to ensure that issues abroad would not be used to divide Singaporeans. Another issue was when two Malaysian opposition politicians and an ex-Singaporean and self-styled Muslim preacher encouraged voting along religious lines. PM Wong intervened on the basis that such online messaging amounted to foreign interference and crossed the line against mixing religion and politics. He called on all parties to agree that this was unacceptable. WP chief Pritam Singh was quick to publicly deny that his party's agenda had been influenced. Other factors no doubt played a role in the result. These include giveaways in the Budget, the likeability of the new PM, and the generally positive tone in campaigning. The campaign notably eschewed and called out personal attacks. But the global turmoil and connections to the local and national issues were standout factors that made a difference. The result is a strong popular mandate for PM Wong and his team that will support the Wong government in the international arena. What major powers do remains beyond Singapore's control. An island in a turbulent world will always be vulnerable. But resilience bears emphasis. This does not mean controlling what happens. Resilience focuses instead on how we respond. That Singaporeans responded with 'glocal' awareness is good news, and not just for the vote. If citizens give attention to both global concerns and to what is in their personal interests and Singapore's, our country will be more resilient and united in facing the challenges ahead. The writer is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Canada News.Net
03-05-2025
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Canadians head to the polls amid new Trump annexation bid
Canadians on Monday cast their votes for their new Prime Minister, who, after Justin Trudeau's decade-long rule, will be tasked with tackling soaring costs and housing shortages at home, along with Donald Trump's trade war and renewed push for the US to annex its resource-rich neighbour. Votes were being counted Monday in aCanadianelectionthat will choose a leader to confront Donald Trump's trade war and annexation threats, which the US president renewed in an election day message. The Liberal Party, led by new Prime MinisterMark Carney, was trailing Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives until Trump's attacks on Canada sparked a wave of patriotism and a sudden reversal in poll forecasts. Trump inserted himself into Canadian politics again on election day with a social media post saying Canada would face "ZEROTARIFFS" if it "becomes the cherished 51st state." Poilievre, criticized during the campaign for his at-times muted anger towards Trump, hit back firmly. "President Trump, stay out of our election," he posted on X. "Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state." Carney also weighed in, saying on X: "This is Canada and we decide what happens here." The 60-year-old has never held elected office and only replacedJustin Trudeauas prime minister last month. A hockey player in his youth, Carney had a lucrative career as an investment banker before serving as the central bank governor in both Canada andBritain. "Today, we leave everything on this ice," he said on social media before voting near his Ottawa home. Carney anchored his campaign on an anti-Trump message and argued that his global financial experience has prepared him to guide Canada through a trade war. The United States, he repeatedly said, was "trying to break us, so they can own us." Read moreCanadian PM says era of close ties with US is 'over' after Trump's auto tariffs Poilievre, a 45-year-old career politician, tried to keep the focus on domestic concerns that made Trudeau deeply unpopular toward the end of his decade in power. The Tory leader argued Carney would continue "the lost Liberal decade" and that only the Conservatives will act against soaring costs, housing shortages and other non-Trump issues that Canadians rank as priorities. "It's simple: No vote, no change," he said on social media Monday, urging people to get to the polls. 'Settle down' Final polls indicate a tight race but put Carney as the favorite. With warm spring weather, Canadians lined up outside schools, community centers and other venues in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto to vote. Montreal resident Hamza Fahri, who planned to vote after work, described the election as "unique." "I wanted to vote for change in Canada. I wanted the Liberals to go, but in the end, I'll vote for Carney because he is a strong, serious man and that's what the country needs to face Trump," the 28-year-old engineer told AFP. In Canada's largest city Toronto, Conservative supporter Chad McCann said the Liberals "hadn't really done much for us" over their decade in power. "I think for a strong change, there is no better time than today," the 37-year-old told AFP. For first-time voter Hilary Recker, getting to the polls was a priority. "I'm just excited to vote," the 19-year-old Toronto resident said. "Hopefully it doesn't end up like the (United) States and I don't get disappointed." Historic turnaround? A vast country that spans six time zones, Canada will see its final polling stations in western regions close at 7:00 pm local time (0200 GMT), with results expected later in the evening. If the Liberals win, it would mark one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Canadian political history. On January 6, the day Trudeau announced he would resign, the Conservatives led the Liberals by more than 20 points in most polls. But Carney replacing Trudeau, combined with nationwide unease about Trump, transformed the race. Public broadcaster CBC's poll aggregator's final update late Sunday put the Liberals' national support at 42.8 percent, with the Conservatives at 39.2 percent. The performance of two smaller parties -- the left-wing New Democratic Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois -- could be decisive as strong showings by both parties in past votes have curbed Liberal seat tallies. Nearly 29 million of Canada's 41 million people are eligible to vote in the massive G7 country. A record 7.3 million people cast advanced ballots. Canadians will elect 343 members of parliament, meaning 172 seats are needed for a majority. The Liberals won a majority in 2015 but have governed with a minority since 2019. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Originally published on France24
