Hello and welcome to theUS politicslive blog.
We start withZohran Mamdani’shistoric victory in theNew York Citymayoral primary.
In a major upset,Andrew Cuomowho had been a recent favourite - conceded after it was clear the 33-year old democratic had built a substantial lead over the more experienced but scandal-scarred former governor.
Mamdani’ appeared to have cleared the first hurdle on the road to become New York’s first Muslim mayor.
In a speech to supporters, Mamdani said: “We made history,” adding: “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor ofNew YorkCity.”
If his win is confirmed, Mamdani will be seen as the frontrunner for the 4 November mayoral election in New York, a city whereDemocratsnormally dominate.
After 93% of votes were counted in the primary’s first round, Mamdani, a state representative, had 43.5% of the vote. Cuomo was on 36.4%.
Cuomo, who was attempting a political comeback after he resigned from office in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, said he had called Mamdani to congratulate him.
“He put together a great campaign and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote,” Cuomo said. “I applaud him sincerely for his effort.”
However,Cuomotold the New York Times he may still run in the November mayoral election as an independent. “I want to analyse and talk to some colleagues,” he said.
In other developments:
Donald Trumphit back at a leaked preliminary US intelligence assessment which cast doubt on the success of US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites. Trump said Iran’s nuclear programme had been set back “decades” by the strikes despite the reports suggesting they had only set it back by months. Ahead of meeting with other world leaders at a Nato Summit in the Hague, he said he believed “total obliteration” was achieved. “This was a devastating attack,” Trump told reporters. Asked about the intelligence reports, Trump said “they really don’t know.” He added: “The intelligence was very inconclusive. The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to theMiddle East,called the leak “treasonous” and called for the individual responsible to be investigated
Meanwhile Nato Secretary-GeneralMark Ruttewas full of praise for the US strikes, saying they “took out the nuclear capability of Iran”, he added that it been carried out in an “impressive way”.
As mentioned,Donald Trumpis atThe Haguewhere leaders of the Western defensive alliance have gathered. They are set to commit to a new defence spending target of 5% of GDP and demonstrate that European allies are stepping up. This is Trump’s first Nato summit since 2019.
At The HagueTrumpconfirmed commitment toNato’s Article 5which states that an attack on one member is seen as attack on all members. When asked about Article 5 he said: “We are with them all the way.” It was in contrast to earlier comments he made en route to The Hague. “There’s numerous definitions of Article Five, you know that right?” he had said.
Speaking atThe Hague,Trumplikened theUS strikesonIranto his country’s decision to drop atomic bombs onJapanin the second world war. “That hit ended the war,” he said. “That hit ended the war. I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war. If we didn’t take that out, they would have been they’d be fighting right now.”
Donald Trumpis to make a full state visit to theUKthis year after the King and the US president’s busy diaries mean they are unable to meet informally first over the summer, PA Media reports.
The Times reported that UK prime ministerKeir Starmerhas gone against the wishes of the King by bringing Mr Trump’s “bells and whistles” state visit forward to September.
Charles, who is King of Canada, suggested in a letter personally delivered to Mr Trump by Starmer in the Oval Office in February that they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House Scotland first before the much grander state visit.
But it is understood that there were logistical challenges surrounding an informal visit.
Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun.
It will mark an unprecedented second state visit by a US president – his last state visit was in 2019.
Donald Trumpstruck a conciliatory tone towardsNatoallies on Wednesday, framing an expected deal on increased defence spending as a “great victory for everyone” at their summit, AFP reports.
“It’s a great victory for everybody, I think, and we will be equalised very shortly, and that’s the way it has to be,” said Trump, as European allies seek to catch up with US spending on defence.
“I’ve been asking them to go up to five percent for a number of years, and they’re going up to five percent... I think that’s going to be very big news,” he said.
Hosting the meeting, Nato Secretary GeneralMark Ruttetold reporters that Trump was in an “excellent mood” at the dinner hosted on Tuesday by King Willem-Alexander in his royal palace, and that the US leader appeared inspired by his hosts.
“The day begins in the beautiful Netherlands. The King and Queen are beautiful and spectacular people. Our breakfast meeting was great!” he posted on the Truth Social network.
Entering the meeting, leaders lined up to declare the summit’s planned spending hike as “historic”.
Nato allies say the increase is needed to counter a growing threat from Russia but also to keep Trump engaged, with the US leader long complaining that Europe spends too little on its own defence.
You can follow all the developments in The Hague over at the Guardian’sEurope Live with Jakub Krupahere
Here is a video ofDonald Trumpcomparing theUS strikesonIrantoHiroshima.
We have more fromThe Hague.
Reuters is reporting that when asked if theUnited Stateswould strike again ifIranrebuilt its nuclear enrichment programme,Donald Trumpsaid: “Sure.”
Hello and welcome to theUS politicslive blog.
We start withZohran Mamdani’shistoric victory in theNew York Citymayoral primary.
In a major upset,Andrew Cuomowho had been a recent favourite - conceded after it was clear the 33-year old democratic had built a substantial lead over the more experienced but scandal-scarred former governor.
Mamdani’ appeared to have cleared the first hurdle on the road to become New York’s first Muslim mayor.
In a speech to supporters, Mamdani said: “We made history,” adding: “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor ofNew YorkCity.”
If his win is confirmed, Mamdani will be seen as the frontrunner for the 4 November mayoral election in New York, a city whereDemocratsnormally dominate.
After 93% of votes were counted in the primary’s first round, Mamdani, a state representative, had 43.5% of the vote. Cuomo was on 36.4%.
Cuomo, who was attempting a political comeback after he resigned from office in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, said he had called Mamdani to congratulate him.
“He put together a great campaign and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote,” Cuomo said. “I applaud him sincerely for his effort.”
However,Cuomotold the New York Times he may still run in the November mayoral election as an independent. “I want to analyse and talk to some colleagues,” he said.
In other developments:
Donald Trumphit back at a leaked preliminary US intelligence assessment which cast doubt on the success of US military strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites. Trump said Iran’s nuclear programme had been set back “decades” by the strikes despite the reports suggesting they had only set it back by months. Ahead of meeting with other world leaders at a Nato Summit in the Hague, he said he believed “total obliteration” was achieved. “This was a devastating attack,” Trump told reporters. Asked about the intelligence reports, Trump said “they really don’t know.” He added: “The intelligence was very inconclusive. The intelligence says we don’t know. It could’ve been very severe. That’s what the intelligence suggests.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to theMiddle East,called the leak “treasonous” and called for the individual responsible to be investigated
Meanwhile Nato Secretary-GeneralMark Ruttewas full of praise for the US strikes, saying they “took out the nuclear capability of Iran”, he added that it been carried out in an “impressive way”.
As mentioned,Donald Trumpis atThe Haguewhere leaders of the Western defensive alliance have gathered. They are set to commit to a new defence spending target of 5% of GDP and demonstrate that European allies are stepping up. This is Trump’s first Nato summit since 2019.
At The HagueTrumpconfirmed commitment toNato’s Article 5which states that an attack on one member is seen as attack on all members. When asked about Article 5 he said: “We are with them all the way.” It was in contrast to earlier comments he made en route to The Hague. “There’s numerous definitions of Article Five, you know that right?” he had said.
Speaking atThe Hague,Trumplikened theUS strikesonIranto his country’s decision to drop atomic bombs onJapanin the second world war. “That hit ended the war,” he said. “That hit ended the war. I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war. If we didn’t take that out, they would have been they’d be fighting right now.”