Tom Howell Jr.

Rick Perry ‘couldn’t have done a better job,’ Donald Trump says

President Trump told Texas supporters late Thursday that Rick Perry, their former governor, has done a terrific job and plans to step down as his energy secretary by the end of the year. Published October 17, 2019

Mike Pence: Turkey agrees to five-day cease-fire to withdraw Kurdish fighters

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday agreed to a Trump administration deal for a five-day halt in Ankara's Syria incursion to allow the U.S. to help Kurdish fighters exit a 20-mile border buffer zone, as Congress struggled to respond to White House moves that sparked the crisis. Published October 17, 2019

Donald Trump to host G-7 summit at his Doral property, may invite Putin

The Group of Seven summit will be held at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami, the White House announced Thursday, throwing gasoline on the debate over President Trump's willingness to mix personal and public business. Published October 17, 2019

Pence meeting with Turks drags on

High-stakes talks between a major U.S. delegation and Turkey dragged into the evening Thursday in Ankara, where Vice President Mike Pence is pushing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop the bloodshed in Syria. Published October 17, 2019

Nancy Pelosi walks out on Trump ‘meltdown’ after House Syria rebuke

Tensions soared Wednesday over President Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria, with the House voting overwhelmingly to rebuke him and a subsequent confrontation at the White House that led to Democratic leaders walking out on the president. Published October 16, 2019

White House meeting on Syria falls apart; Dems decry Trump ‘meltdown’

Democratic leaders said Wednesday they had to walk out of a White House meeting on Syria, saying President Trump had a "meltdown," offered no plan to recapture Islamic State fighters and called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a "third-rate" politician. Published October 16, 2019

Italy asks U.S. to reconsider tariffs, say they’re unfair

President Trump on Wednesday said the Italians are such great partners that he might give them a break on tariffs set to hit Parmesan cheese and other prized goods, even if the rest of Europe treats the U.S. "badly" on trade. Published October 16, 2019

Trump: Turkish-Syrian battles are ‘not our problem’; Kurds are ‘not angels’

President Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops ahead of Turkey's incursion into Syria by saying the fight is "not our problem" and likening the Middle East to a sandbox for other nations. Published October 16, 2019

Brad Parscale, Trump campaign manager, touts $125 million raised in 3rd quarter

President Trump's campaign said Tuesday it raised a whopping $125 million with the Republican National Committee and authorized fundraising committees in the third quarter of this year. Published October 15, 2019

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to Trump: Erdogan visit ‘makes no sense’

A senior Democrat told President Trump on Tuesday to revoke the Turkish president's mid-November invitation to the White House, saying it "makes no sense" for the strongman to visit the U.S. while it punishes Ankara for the chaos in northern Syria. Published October 15, 2019

Bashar Assad sends Syria troops to aid Kurds against Turkey

Syrian President Bashar Assad's troops returned to northern Syria on Monday to back up Kurdish forces in their increasingly desperate fight with the Turkish military, marking a major geopolitical turning point for the region and sparking a fresh wave of bipartisan criticism over President Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces out of the fight. Published October 14, 2019

Turkey sanctions coming after Syria attack, Donald Trump says

President Trump on Monday said he will impose sanctions against current and former Turkish officials and cease trade negotiations with Ankara in response to the NATO ally's attack on U.S.-allied Kurds in northern Syria. Published October 14, 2019

Donald Trump: ‘Big sanctions on Turkey coming!’; president defiant in response to Syria criticism

President Trump signaled Monday that "big sanctions" will hit Turkey in response to the NATO ally's decision to bombard U.S.-allied Kurds in northern Syria. Published October 14, 2019

Donald Trump appeals to evangelicals at Values Voter Summit

Evangelicals have chided President Trump's strategy in Syria, but he is still basking in their support, rallying them with screeds against the "crazy" left and declaring that Christian conservatives are also being attacked as Democrats pursue impeachment. Published October 13, 2019

Donald Trump announces proposed trade pact with China

Tariff increases on Chinese goods scheduled to take effect Tuesday have been suspended in the wake of President Trump's announcement Friday of a "substantial phase one deal" to begin to resolve the 18-month U.S.-China trade war. Published October 13, 2019