News about Donald Trump

Overnight on October 17, Ukraine launched one of the largest drone attacks on Russia this year, targeting an oil facility despite a request from US President Donald Trump to stop hitting Russian energy infrastructure. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones overnight into October 18, and that the St. Petersburg oil port, an Ozon logistics center and a VKontakte data center were among the targets. Trump criticized Zelensky for not wanting to end the war, while Zelensky said US siding with Russia would be a 'historic mistake' and noted that US intelligence sharing had been paused for three days. Trump also lifted sanctions on Russian diesel imports, and Zelensky said Russia had attacked Ukrainian energy sites 76 times since the energy ceasefire was announced.

Asian shares were mixed on Monday as tech stock volatility persisted, with South Korea's Kospi up 1.8% to 5,768.01 but still more than 17% below its June peak above 9,000. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.6%, while China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% after the economy grew 4.5% in the July-September quarter. Indonesia's index fell over 5% at one point after MSCI warned it could downgrade the country's emerging market status. Oil fell more than 2% after President Donald Trump waived sweeping sanctions on Russia, including energy, likely allowing more Russian energy exports. Brent crude dropped 2.5% to $107.16 a barrel.

Asian shares were mixed on Monday as volatility in technology stocks persisted, while U.S. equity futures edged higher. Oil fell more than 1% after President Donald Trump waived sweeping sanctions on Russia, including on Russian energy, with Brent down 1.8% to $107.86 per barrel. South Korea's Kospi rose 1.1% to 5,729.58 but is down more than 18% over the past month, while Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.8% to 64,799.03. Indonesia's stock index fell another 5% to its lowest since 2020, after plunging over 11% on Friday following an MSCI warning about a possible downgrade. Tech shares have been sold off recently over concerns about the sustainability of the AI boom, and on Friday the S&P 500 fell 1.1% and the Nasdaq sank 2.1%.

Asian shares were mixed Monday as volatility in technology stocks persisted, while U.S. futures edged higher ahead of another busy earnings week. South Korea's Kospi rose 1.1% to 5,729.58 but remains more than 18% lower over the past month and far below the 9,000 level it crossed at its June peak, while Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.8% and Indonesia's index plunged 5% to its lowest since 2020 after MSCI flagged a possible downgrade from emerging-market status. Oil fell more than 1% after Trump waived sweeping Russia sanctions, with Brent down 1.8% to $107.86 a barrel. Wall Street had closed lower Friday, with the S&P 500 down 1.1% and the Nasdaq sinking 2.1%. Oil remains elevated compared with levels before the Iran war, with Middle East supply risks still adding upward pressure.

US President Donald Trump defended his decision to waive some sanctions on Russia and said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not sincere about ending the war. Trump suspended a new Russia sanctions law by executive order and temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel, allowing large volumes of Russian oil into global markets before the November 3 election. He accused Zelensky of targeting Russian diesel refineries, which hurts the global diesel market including the US, while polls suggest Trump's Republican Party risks heavy losses over soaring fuel prices. Zelensky said he felt betrayed by Trump after Ukraine launched a drone attack on an oil depot in St. Petersburg in the early hours of October 18, despite Trump's request to stop hitting Russian energy facilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Zelensky has no desire for a peace deal.

President Donald Trump struck a deal with Vladimir Putin for a fresh supply of Russian diesel to lower US fuel costs, but prices barely moved and the move drew a furious backlash from both parties. The announcement on October 9 came alongside a waiver relieving Russia from a new round of sanctions under a bill Trump had recently signed into law. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on October 16 that the US and Russia will soon announce an agreement on data center infrastructure, adding to political pressure on Republicans as data centers that have spread into suburban and rural areas draw anger over energy and water use ahead of the 2026 midterms. Time reminded Trump in a September 28 interview that 71% of Americans oppose building data centers and 57% say AI will do more harm than good. Trump defended data centers, saying they would lower taxes, while adding that he did not want them right next to his house.

Asian shares fell on Monday, October 19, as worries about AI's huge funding needs weighed ahead of a busy earnings week, while the euro eased after rioting in France. Oil prices dropped after Trump waived some Russia sanctions, though he later said no final decision had been made, with Brent down 1.6% to US$108.06 a barrel; Iran also reported another tanker hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz. Tech weakness hit Asia, with Japan's Nikkei down 2.0% and South Korea down 1.6%, after the PHLX Semiconductor Index shed 11.4% last week, its longest losing streak since 2008. Goldman Sachs estimates five AI hyperscalers will lift capital spending to about US$1.2 trillion next year, while AMP economist My Bui warned that rising yields raise financing costs. Gold rose 0.4% to US$4,181 an ounce as yields fell.

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing a former Russian intelligence officer, Vladimir Putin reportedly proposed a summit with Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to end the Ukraine war, without Zelenskyy and unconfirmed. The report comes as European allies and some Republicans voice alarm over the U.S. temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports, which Zelenskyy said seems wrong. Trump's “energy ceasefire” announced on October 11 did not stop Moscow's strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure, and Ukraine paused its strikes for three days before resuming them. Kyiv also accused Washington of restricting Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, cutting connectivity for fast platforms such as interceptor drones; Trump denied the White House ordered this, while Elon Musk said Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government.

According to the Washington Post, the donor list for President Trump's White House ballroom project reportedly links companies and individuals to federal contracts, policy decisions and a presidential pardon. Nvidia and Apple each pledged $25 million, Google committed $22 million, and Microsoft and Palantir each pledged $10 million. The private campaign collected $333 million, including at least $77 million from anonymous donors, and 57 donors pledged at least $100,000. One highlighted case is Isabela Herrera, who pledged $2.5 million, while her father was pardoned by Trump in January 2026. The project has faced legal challenges; the Supreme Court allowed construction to proceed on Aug. 31, with Trump targeting completion in 2028.

Asian share markets turned cautious on Monday as investors questioned whether AI's enormous funding needs are sustainable, ahead of a busy week of earnings announcements. The euro came under pressure after riots across France, while a drop in oil prices eased pressure on bond markets and US stock futures. The oil price fall followed Donald Trump's decision to waive certain sanctions on Russia, but his later remark that a final decision was still pending left investors uncertain about the direction of US policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States has resumed sharing key intelligence after a pause, which helps Ukraine defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. On October 14, he said the Trump administration had warned that sharing could be suspended unless Ukraine stopped attacking Russian oil refineries. In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on October 18, Zelensky said everything was now working normally and he hoped talks with the US could take place this week. President Trump said Washington would keep sharing intelligence, even though Ukrainian officials said some Russian strikes came without warning. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Ukraine's long-range strikes, including the night-of-October-17 attack on St. Petersburg, desperate efforts that would not change the outcome.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar expects U.S. President Donald Trump to keep extending Budapest's exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy, after Trump eased curbs on Russian diesel exports to lower fuel prices before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The deal drew criticism in the EU, with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni calling it a ‘very risky’ gamble, while Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev backed it. Moscow pledged 300,000 tons of diesel immediately and another 500,000 tons next month. Hungary, which relies on Russia for about 90% of its crude oil according to S&P Global data for 2025, is exempt until November, and Magyar argued that not extending the exemption for at least another year would be unreasonable. Ukraine opposed the deal, with President Zelensky calling it ‘weak’.

In the midterms, meat has become a flashpoint: Republicans accuse some Democratic candidates of backing veganism or opposing farming, while Democrats focus on beef prices that rose under Trump. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom released a video clipping incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith saying voters have “so many proteins to choose from.” In Colorado, Republicans attacked Democrat Manny Rutinel over his anti-meat activism, but he has publicly eaten steak tacos and is backed by the meatpackers’ union. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the average pound of ground beef at $6.79 last month, up from $5.55 in January 2025, and Trump’s efforts to ease prices by opening U.S. markets to beef imports, especially from Argentina, have angered U.S. producers. Hyde-Smith’s campaign blamed Colom for supporting Biden-era policies that drove up inflation.

Congress is in an October recess ahead of the midterms and must finish FY27 appropriations before the current continuing resolution expires on December 11. The White House appears to have backed away from an executive order giving political appointees control over NIH grants after bipartisan opposition, but appropriators are discussing language to protect grant decisions. President Trump proposed rescinding $810 million across 11 accounts just days before FY26 ended, and GAO concluded the Impoundment Control Act does not allow withholding such funds past expiration, a view OMB Director Russ Vought disputes. A GAO report found DOE had obligated about $51 billion (65%) of the $78 billion in remaining IIJA and IRA funds but disbursed only $6.6 billion (8.5%).

On October 9, Trump reached a diesel deal with Russian President Putin, aimed at easing fuel prices for American consumers and possibly softening Russia's stance in peace talks. The deal followed weeks of Trump pressing Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries, which strained his relationship with President Zelensky. The US warned that continued strikes could lead to suspension of intelligence sharing and the NATO-managed PURL weapons mechanism, while Ukrainian drones in many cases could not operate above 160 km/h because of Starshield disruptions. US envoys also proposed releasing part of the 300 billion euros of Russian sovereign assets held at Euroclear, a plan European backers of Ukraine flatly rejected. Zelensky then travelled to Brussels seeking EU support, but Ukraine's request for a bigger budget met opposition from the EU.

From the night of October 13 to 14, SpaceX unexpectedly restricted the speed of Starlink terminals moving in Ukraine, disrupting many missions. President Zelensky said the current maximum speed is 161 km/h and that Starlink would cut out and drones would lose signal above it, while a commander of Ukraine's mid-range UAV unit put the limit at 100 km/h. Reuters, citing sources, reported the restriction came from within the White House, but Trump denied personally ordering it and said he did not believe Elon Musk had either. Musk stated that Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government, and no one in Washington or at SpaceX has accepted responsibility. Even so, Ukraine launched one of the largest drone attacks of the year, targeting an important Russian oil storage facility.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said Turkey will buy part of the diesel Russia exports under a deal between Moscow and U.S. President Donald Trump, but gave no volume, delivery timing or commercial terms. The deal has drawn opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, some European officials and Republican lawmakers, who fear it will help Russia recover energy revenue while the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Turkey relies heavily on energy imports and aims to boost output at the Black Sea Sakarya field, where the first floating production unit, Osman Gazi, was brought to the Black Sea on 17 October and is expected to raise output from about 9.5 million m³ to 20 million m³ per day. A second, larger unit is planned for Q1 2028, adding about 25 million m³ per day and lifting Sakarya output to 45 million m³ per day, or about 16.4 billion m³ a year, enough to meet the needs of about 3/4 of households. Turkey consumed about 59 billion m³ of gas last year but produced only 3.1 billion m³ domestically, roughly 5% of demand.

President Donald Trump rallied in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday and Highland Heights, Kentucky, on Saturday, repeating familiar lines on topics including his makeup and a spelling joke about 'dumb,' which the author calls nonsensical. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff described the speech as 'senile babbling.' The author argues Trump would help Republicans more by staying out of the final weeks of the midterm campaign so candidates can define their own races. The column says Trump dismisses voter concerns about inflation, corruption and the cost of gas and groceries as hoaxes.

Former national security adviser John Bolton told Times Radio that Trump does not understand what is at stake in Ukraine and is focused on domestic American politics rather than geopolitics. He said Republicans face a referendum on the administration amid inflation and high diesel and gasoline prices, and that Trump's Russia deal is mainly about announcement, giving Putin leverage to call in later. Bolton also argued Trump is easily manipulated, saying Putin sees him as an easy mark. The article notes that Bolton, who was investigated and indicted on 18 counts by the Trump administration's Justice Department, pleaded guilty to one count of inappropriately sharing classified information.

A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows President Donald Trump's approval among U.S. adults has fallen to 33 percent, with 66 percent disapproving, the lowest of his first term. Among likely voters, approval stands at 38 percent. Democrats now hold a clear lead in the fight for control of the House and, for the first time in more than a decade, are seen as more trusted to handle the economy. Voters prefer a Democratic-led Congress as a check on Trump over a Republican one supporting his agenda by 58 percent to 39 percent, while 72 percent say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Inflation, gasoline prices and the Iran war are major threats to Republicans, whose campaign money advantage is now shifting to protect candidates in redder areas.

Last December, President Trump signed Executive Order 14370 to speed up the rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III, lifting Canopy Growth shares from $1.15 to nearly $2 before they gave back those gains. On Sept. 29, DEA Chief Administrative Judge Derek C. Julius stayed the rescheduling process pending a briefing on a GAO report, and after the DEA's Oct. 9 response he granted another stay so opposing parties could reply. The article argues that Canopy's larger challenges are the Canadian recreational market, persistent operating losses, and the risk of further dilution through its $200 million at-the-market equity program, which calls its $300 million valuation into question.

At a Topeka event, Zac Surritt of R&S Maintenance told Sen. Roger Marshall that Trump's tariffs had reduced global demand, squeezed margins and forced the company to delay expansion plans. Marshall said this experience was likely an anomaly, since most manufacturers he has spoken with are expanding, and argued that tariffs are helping Kansas manufacturing grow. Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton said business leaders need stability, criticized the 56 tariff changes made in the past year, and called on Congress to reassert its authority over tariffs. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimated that tariffs imposed in 2025 and 2026 added 2.9 percentage points to inflation across a basket of 67 consumer goods, while the Tax Foundation put the average cost at $820 per household in 2026.

Patrick Witt, executive director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House, announced last week that he is leaving government to return to the private sector. The White House currently has no publicly named crypto head, and no successor has been named, following the earlier departures of Harry Jung and Bo Hines. While Washington focuses on next month's midterm elections, the executive branch continues rulemaking on digital assets, and a White House official said crypto and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act remain a focus for Trump. Any crypto legislation after a new Congress takes office will likely still need a White House liaison.

Moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III is being delayed by a Government Accountability Office report, as opponents seek to add the report, more testimony and documents to the administrative record. The DEA does not object to including the report, but the additional requests could postpone a final decision. For Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF), rescheduling could remove the federal tax burden under Section 280E, which bars deductions for ordinary operating expenses. Even so, the company generated $29 million in operating cash flow in Q2 2026, with revenue of $306.7 million, normalized EBITDA of $84.3 million and net income of $4.9 million. Q2 gross margin fell to 45% from 49.9% a year earlier, while the company repurchased about 29.5 million shares for $203.4 million.

Zac Surritt, a leader at Kansas metal fabrication firm R&S Maintenance, says tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have cut global demand and margins, raised transportation and living costs for employees, and forced the company to delay expansion. Republican Senator Roger Marshall, running for reelection against Democrat Adam Hamilton, called the experience likely an anomaly since most manufacturers are expanding, and said the tariffs are bringing jobs back to America. Hamilton criticized the policy's instability, citing 56 tariff changes in the past year, and said Trump's insults toward Canada, which imports $4 billion of goods from Kansas annually, and doubts about Bombardier, which has 1,500 employees in Sedgwick County, were damaging. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that tariffs in 2025 and 2026 added 2.9 percentage points to inflation across a basket of 67 everyday consumer goods, while the Tax Foundation estimated an average cost of $820 per household in 2026.

The November 3, 2026 midterm elections will decide whether Republicans keep control of Congress, with all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships up for grabs. Republicans hold a 53–47 Senate advantage, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control. A Pew survey found only 30% of Americans approve of Trump's performance while 68% disapprove, and a Harris Poll found 61% believe the country is effectively in a recession. Competitive Senate races are emerging in Trump-won states including Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio and Texas, where Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 50% to 47% in a University of Texas poll.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9–13 found that 33% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance and 66% disapprove, a record low two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms. His approval is down four points from July and eight from a year ago, and only 28% approve of his handling of the economy, with roughly 3 in 4 disapproving of how he has managed inflation and the cost of living. For the first time in over 10 years, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy, and Democrats hold an eight-point lead for controlling the House. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, so Democrats would need to flip at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024, while also holding Georgia and Michigan.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9-13 found Trump's approval at a record low of 33%, with 66% disapproving, two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms. For the first time in over 10 years, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy, and only 28% approve of Trump's handling of it. Roughly 3 in 4 Americans disapprove of his management of inflation and the cost of living. Democrats hold an eight-point advantage for controlling the House, while winning the Senate would require flipping at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024, given Republicans' 53-47 majority. A Democratic Senate would give them the power to block Trump's nominees and subpoena witnesses in potential investigations.

Federal authorities raided the Washington-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar as part of an ongoing investigation that the Justice Department said concerns alleged immigration fraud, and Democrats condemned the move as an abuse of power. Ukraine said it was done supporting an energy-target ceasefire that Trump announced and Russia ignored, struck a Russian oil refinery, and saw SpaceX limit Starlink services in the country. White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was let go after five days on the job, after drawing scrutiny for misrepresenting herself as a lawyer, and Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle was asked to resign over reports she sold access to officials. Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September from August and 3.7% from a year earlier, as paychecks failed to keep pace with prices for a third straight month. Other stories included a 16-year-old shooter who killed four people, including three children, at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, and Pope Leo XIV's diagnosis of lung cancer after surgery.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted October 9-13 found President Donald Trump's approval rating at 33%, with 66% disapproving, a record low just two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. His rating is down four points from July and eight points from a year ago, and among likely voters, 38% approve. His economic approval has fallen to 28%, and roughly 3 in 4 Americans disapprove of how he has handled inflation and cost of living. For the first time in over 10 years, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy. Democrats hold an eight-point lead for controlling the House, while winning the Senate would require flipping at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024, while holding Georgia and Michigan.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9-13 found that 33% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, 66% disapprove, and 52% strongly disapprove, down four points from July and eight from a year ago. Among likely voters, 38% approve, and only 28% approve of his handling of the economy, while roughly three in four Americans disapprove of how he has managed inflation and the cost of living. The poll gives Democrats an eight-point edge for controlling the House after the Nov. 3 midterms. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, so Democrats would need to flip at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024, which would let them block his nominees and subpoena witnesses in investigations.

Zac Surritt, who leads strategic growth at Kansas metal fabrication firm R&S Maintenance, told Republican Senator Roger Marshall that Trump's tariffs had cut demand and margins, raised transport costs and forced the company to delay expansion. Marshall, who is seeking reelection against Democrat Adam Hamilton, said this experience was likely an anomaly because most manufacturers he had spoken with were expanding, and argued that tariffs were helping Kansas manufacturing grow. Hamilton countered that the state's largest employers criticized the instability tariffs had created, noting 56 tariff changes in the past year, and called Trump's insults toward Canada, which imports $4 billion in Kansas goods annually, a blunder. The Tax Foundation estimated the average household cost of Trump's tariff policy at $820 per residence in 2026.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll puts Trump's approval at a record-low 33%, down four percentage points from July and eight from a year ago. Among likely voters, 38% approve, and on the economy only 28% approve, with roughly 3 in 4 Americans disapproving of his handling of inflation and the cost of living. For the first time in over 10 years, Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans on the economy. Two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms, Democrats hold an eight-point advantage for controlling the House and have a real shot at the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, while Republicans privately worry his disapproval is a liability.

Medicare open enrollment runs until Dec. 7 for plans effective Jan. 1, and several changes could raise costs. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 from $2,100 in 2026, the standard deductible rises from $615 to $700, and the Trump administration is ending a temporary Part D premium subsidy. KFF estimates that AARP Part D enrollees who don't change plans will see monthly premiums rise by $50 or more in all 50 states, more than $75 in 37 states and more than $100 in four states, while the AARP Medicare Rx Saver plan will rise by $50 or more in 33 states. Together the two plans have more than 2 million members, and 15 drugs including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy will get Medicare-negotiated prices starting Jan. 1.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted October 9-13 shows President Donald Trump's approval has fallen to a record low of 33%, with 66% disapproving, two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. The rating is down four points from July and eight from a year earlier, and 52% of those who disapprove say they do so strongly. Approval on the economy has dropped to 28%, and roughly three in four Americans disapprove of his handling of inflation and the cost of living. For the first time in over 10 years, more Americans trust Democrats than Republicans on the economy, and Democrats hold an eight-point advantage for controlling the House after the midterms. Democrats also have a real shot at the Senate, but would need to flip at least two seats in states Trump won by double digits in 2024 while holding Georgia and Michigan.

A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 9-13 shows President Donald Trump's approval rating at a record low of 33%, with 66% disapproving, two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Among likely voters, 38% approve, and his economic approval has fallen to 28%, with roughly 3 in 4 Americans disapproving of his handling of inflation and cost of living. Democrats hold an eight-point advantage for controlling the House and have a real chance to win the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and Democrats would need to flip at least two seats. Republicans reportedly worry privately that his unpopularity is a liability, and a Democratic Senate would let them block nominees and subpoena witnesses.

The author argues that President Donald Trump blamed Joe Biden for high prices at an Oct. 14 Arizona rally, while Trump's policies over two years in office created a massive inflation bubble. The piece notes that Trump made his claim that tariffs don't cause inflation hours after new federal data showed inflation rising again, driven largely by gasoline. It also criticizes Trump's deal relaxing sanctions on Russian diesel, which drew bipartisan calls for reversal, doubts from economists about lower prices, and pushback from Ukraine and GOP allies, with Vladimir Putin possibly the only clear beneficiary. The author says Democrats have not offered a clear way forward, so they do not yet earn the author's vote.

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Oct. 18 found 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance and 66% disapprove, his lowest mark in these outlets' polling, down from 37% in April and July. A Fox News poll released Oct. 14 showed similarly low approval. Around 3 in 4 Americans disapprove of his handling of cost of living and inflation, and Democrats were seen as more trustworthy on the economy for the first time in over a decade, 40% to 33%. Democrats lead by 8 points for House control among registered voters, and 72% say the country is heading in the wrong direction. The poll of 2,545 U.S. adults was conducted Oct. 9-13 and comes just over two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be very careful in public statements about U.S. support. Zelenskyy had earlier told NBC's “Meet the Press” that the U.S. government was responsible for a recent slowdown of Starlink, the U.S.-provided satellite internet that is critical to Ukraine's defense, and that Ukraine was “blocked” from U.S. intelligence for a period. Bessent replied that President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio had categorically said no one in the administration did this, calling the charge “very reckless.” Elon Musk, whose SpaceX provides Starlink, also posted on X that the U.S. government and Trump are “ultimately” responsible for speed limits on Starshield, the military version of Starlink, a claim Trump has denied.

A new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey finds 71% of U.S. adults think the country is on the 'wrong track', the highest level of Donald Trump's second term. Trump's approval has slipped to 34% among adults, with 66% disapproving and 51% strongly disapproving, a second-term high. Economic worries dominate, with 44% saying their financial situation is worse than a year ago and 67% calling gas prices a serious problem. Democrats also face negative ratings, with 57% viewing the party unfavorably, while 63% view the Republican Party unfavorably. Only 14% of adults expect to receive the $5,000 payment Trump has promised if Republicans keep control of Congress, while 71% do not expect it.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump will take up to 60 days to assess the economic impact of sanctions and tariffs on Russia, amid the Ukraine conflict and the war with Iran, which have disrupted global energy supply and pushed fuel prices higher. On October 16, Trump signed an order suspending key measures under the Graham Act, but on October 17 he said no final decision had been made, and the order did not specify how long the suspension would last. The measures include tariffs on Russian goods and sanctions on countries buying Russian oil and gas, and also tariffs on goods from countries that import Russian energy, including India. Trump also said Russia would initially supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S., while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the move could embolden Vladimir Putin and prolong the war.

Trump has blocked numerous Russia sanctions two days before they were due to take effect, deepening his row with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The sanctions were passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump in September, but his executive order on Friday night said suspending some was in the US 'national interest', drawing backlash from US lawmakers. Ties with Kyiv have frayed after the US struck a controversial deal to import Russian diesel, and Ukraine accused the administration of withdrawing key military support. The law gave Trump power to levy tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, mainly China and India, and targeted Putin, Russian banks and the 'shadow fleet', but many of these provisions are now waived. Democrats including Virginia Congressman Don Beyer accused Trump of capitulating to Moscow and betraying Ukraine.

According to The New York Times, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Ukraine and European allies to consider resuming Russian gas transit through Ukrainian pipelines as an economic element of a peace settlement. The idea faces firm opposition in Europe, especially Germany, where officials argue that reliance on Russian hydrocarbons undermines energy security. Washington argues that restored flows would give the Kremlin a commercial incentive to halt military operations and bring transit revenue for Ukraine's reconstruction, and some officials suggest the US could seek a share of the proceeds. The White House confirmed its proposals include economic incentives for both sides and denied actively discussing a revival of Nord Stream 2, though one source called restarting intact segments the “simplest step”. In Germany, the AfD, polling near 30 percent, has campaigned for cheap Russian gas imports, while European officials warn restored flows would undermine sanctions and generate billions for Moscow's defense industry.

According to a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), released on October 8, Trump administration policies could cost a typical middle-income American about $1,700 more in 2026, while the poorest 20% would pay about $750 more and the wealthiest 1% could save about $12,560. The analysis covers tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the expiration of COVID-era ACA health insurance tax credits, and price increases tied to tariffs, the Iran war and immigration policies. For a middle-income taxpayer, the new tax law saves about $380, while price effects cost about $1,850 and the credit expiration about $230. The White House disputes this view, saying the policies helped stop inflation and support growth and jobs, and some policy experts question how the report calculates costs and benefits.