Good morning and welcome to theUS politicsblog.
A majority of US adults disapprove ofDonald Trump’shandling of issues related to colleges and universities, as his Republican administration escalate threats to cut federal funding unless institutions align with his political agenda.
According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 56% of Americans said they disapproved of the US president’s approach to higher education, while about four in 10 expressed approval, which is broadly consistent with his overall job approval ratings.
Trump has tried to impose changes on universities he claims have become hotbeds of liberal ideology and antisemitism, the Associated Press notes. But the poll suggests a disconnect between Trump’s rhetoric and a public that views universities as vital to scientific research and innovation.
In other recent news:
Donald TrumpnamedJeanine Pirro, a Fox host, to his administration as interim US attorney for DC after he was forced to admit that his first pick,Ed Martin, did not have the votes to be confirmed.
The Pentagon has begun removingthe 1,000 members of the military who openly identify as trans, and giving those who have yet to openly identify as transgender 30 days to remove themselves.
The US state department said a solution to be able to deliver food aid to Gaza was “steps away” and an announcement was coming shortly, although it fell short of detailing what the plan would entail.
Trumpcongratulatedthe first American pontiff,Pope Leo XIV,on becoming the head the Catholic Church.
Putin and Trump exchangedsecond world war anniversary greetings via aides, Tass reports
Vladimir PutinandDonald Trumpcongratulated each other on the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germanyvia their aides, Russia’s state Tass news agency reported on Friday, citing Kremlin aideYuri Ushakov.
Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the second world war on Friday with a military parade attended by dozens of world leaders, includingChina’s Xi Jinping.
Tass reported thatLynne Tracy, the US ambassador toRussia, had not been a spectator at the Moscow parade.
My colleagueJakub Krupais covering Moscow’s Victory Day parade over on Europe live:
The quote Trump is referring to fromGeorge HW Bushcomes from the former president’s acceptancespeechat the Republican national convention on 18 August 1988.
As Jeffrey Frankel writes inour Bush obituary, his tax pledge helped him win the election, and some believe that his reversal on taxes is what cost him re-election in 1992. These extracts will no doubt contain interesting food for thought as GOP leaders fiercely debate Trump’s budget plan:
Donald Trumpsaid he would be “OK” if Republicans in Congress raised the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans, but warned of political consequences.
He wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Republicans should probably not do it, but I’m OK if they do!!!”
He had privately urged House speakerMike Johnsonto raise the tax rate, sources told Reuters on Thursday.
The president suggested an increase to 39.6% from 37% for those earning $2.5m and higher or joint filers earning $5m, with carve-outs for small businesses, one source said.
Trump said in his post that Democrats would seize on “even a ‘TINY’ tax increase for the ‘RICH,’” citing former Republican presidentGeorge HW Bush, who lost his re-election bid after saying “Read my lips: no new taxes” during his 1988 election campaign. But Trump seems to be confusing raising taxes for regular Americans with raising tax rates for super-rich individuals and corporations,the latter of whichis supported by the Democrats.
Republicans in the House and Senate areseeking to extend the 2017 tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first termin the White House that are set to expire this year.
Trump and Republican lawmakers have cited the potential extension as relief for Americans and an economic boost amid Trump’s tariffs on imported goods, and vowed to pass it as part of a larger budget bill this summer.
So far, Johnson and other top Republicans have resisted higher taxes on the wealthy despite pressure from Trump’s populist Maga base.
In other Trump news, the president has begun his Friday morning by posting on Truth Social about his tariffs on Chinese goods.
He wrote:
Scott Bis presumably Treasury secretaryBessent, who is due to meet with officials fromChinain Switzerland this weekend to discuss the trade war.
An 80% tariff would be a notable reduction on the 145% which Trump has imposed last month, but would still make it significantly more expensive for US companies to import goods from China.
Trump has also urged Beijing to open up its markets, posting:
You can follow the latest on our business blog:
Good morning and welcome to theUS politicsblog.
A majority of US adults disapprove ofDonald Trump’shandling of issues related to colleges and universities, as his Republican administration escalate threats to cut federal funding unless institutions align with his political agenda.
According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 56% of Americans said they disapproved of the US president’s approach to higher education, while about four in 10 expressed approval, which is broadly consistent with his overall job approval ratings.
Trump has tried to impose changes on universities he claims have become hotbeds of liberal ideology and antisemitism, the Associated Press notes. But the poll suggests a disconnect between Trump’s rhetoric and a public that views universities as vital to scientific research and innovation.
In other recent news:
Donald TrumpnamedJeanine Pirro, a Fox host, to his administration as interim US attorney for DC after he was forced to admit that his first pick,Ed Martin, did not have the votes to be confirmed.
The Pentagon has begun removingthe 1,000 members of the military who openly identify as trans, and giving those who have yet to openly identify as transgender 30 days to remove themselves.
The US state department said a solution to be able to deliver food aid to Gaza was “steps away” and an announcement was coming shortly, although it fell short of detailing what the plan would entail.
Trumpcongratulatedthe first American pontiff,Pope Leo XIV,on becoming the head the Catholic Church.