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Donald Trump is hosting the King of Jordan at the White House amid the ongoing uproar over his comments about the U.S. taking ownership of Gaza, forcefully relocating its population to neighboring countries, and redeveloping it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The president said that he would withhold aid from U.S. allies Jordan and Egypt if they did not accept displaced Palestinians. Trump also said that if Hamas does not release hostages at the weekend per its ceasefire agreement with Israel, “all hell will break out.”
On Tuesday morning, in a storm of posts on Truth Social, Trump ranted about water flow in toilets and dishwashers; accused activist judges of trying to slow down DOGE’s mission to root out fraud and waste in government; and called for the termination of FEMA, leaving disaster recovery in the hands of individual states.
The president has also signed two executive orders imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, regardless of country of origin, with no product exemptions.
This is the latest escalation in his expanding trade war as he attempts to reset America’s commerical relations with its international allies and partners.
Judge orders Trump administration to restore information deleted from public health websites
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore information that was deleted from public health websites.
“It bears emphasizing who ultimately bears the harm of defendants’ actions: everyday Americans, and most acutely, underprivileged Americans, seeking healthcare. … If those doctors cannot provide these individuals the care they need (and deserve) within the scheduled and often limited time frame, there is a chance that some individuals will not receive treatment, including for severe, life-threatening conditions. The public thus has a strong interest in avoiding these serious injuries to the public health.”
George W. Bush-appointed Judge John Bates is granting a restraining order that blocks the administration from making changes to the CDC, FDA, and other health websites. The plaintiffs — physicians, researchers, and other members of Doctors for America — “use the webpages regularly in treating patients and conducting research.”
Alex Woodward11 February 2025 17:23
Danish petition supporting plan to buy California ‘reaches 200,000 signatures’
Pledging to “Make California Great Again,” Danes have launched a retaliatory campaign seeking the “Denmarkification” of the world’s fifth-largest economy.
James Liddell has the story.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 17:21
Trump confirms Bessent visit to Ukraine
Donald Trump has confirmed that his treasury secretary, Scott Bessen,t will visit Ukraine but did not elaborate on earlier reports about a deal involving rare earth minerals as one of the reasons for the trip.
The president wrote on Truth Social:
I am sending Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky. This War MUST and WILL END SOON — Too much Death and Destruction. The U.S. has spent BILLIONS of Dollars Globally, with little to show. WHEN AMERICA IS STRONG, THE WORLD IS AT PEACE.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:57
Bessent to discuss rare earth minerals deal during Ukraine trip
According to a source familiar with his plans, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Ukraine this week to discuss a potential deal regarding rare earth minerals.
Bessent will be the first cabinet-level official in President Donald Trump’s administration to visit Ukraine.
Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump have expressed interest in a pact that would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources in exchange for ongoing support to counter the Russian invasion.
The source, who requested anonymity as the details remain confidential, did not provide additional information on the itinerary. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bloomberg was the first to report Bessent’s travel plans.
Rare earth elements are a group of metals used to manufacture magnets that convert power into motion for electric vehicles, cell phones, missile systems, and other electronics. There are no viable substitutes, and the demand is widely expected to increase.
Several other U.S. officials are visiting Europe this week, partly to discuss the Ukraine war with Kyiv and other European allies. They include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy for the Ukraine war.
Reuters reported this week that the Trump administration intends to urge European allies to purchase more American weapons for Ukraine ahead of possible peace talks with Moscow.
With reporting from Reuters
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:50
Watch LIVE: Trump welcomes King of Jordan to White House amid Gaza plan uproar
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:39
COMMENT: How Trump’s fever dream over Gaza could be a nightmare for the West
The US president’s threats to cut aid to Jordan and Egypt risk further war – and may offer China and Russia easy gains, warns World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:35
Trump is bringing back plastic straws to save America from ‘exploding’ paper straws
“It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump told reporters while signing the order in the White House on Monday. “These things don’t work. I’ve had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode.”
James Liddell has the story.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:25
Full story: Pope Francis has tough words for Trump on immigration
Pope Francis sharply rebuked President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies and mass deportation plan in an open letter, warning that the policies “will end badly.”
In a remarkable move, the head of the Catholic Church published a letter to bishops of the United States urging them to remain welcoming and nonjudgemental toward migrants despite the president and his allies issuing statements that claim many are criminals and dangerous.
Oliver O’Connell11 February 2025 16:09
