Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Donald Trump discusses NATO commitments with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President Trump met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for about 30 minutes early Wednesday and discussed "the importance of Turkey fulfilling its alliance commitments," the White House said, as Ankara faces criticism for purchasing a Russian air-defense system that's incompatible with its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Published December 4, 2019
Melania Trump spreads holiday cheer in London
First lady Melania Trump on Wednesday visited a Salvation Army center in London to donate toys stamped with her "Be Best" slogan, design Christmas ornaments and decorate wreaths. Published December 4, 2019
Donald Trump: 2020 G-7 will be at Camp David
President Trump said Tuesday he's landed on a site for the 2020 Group of Seven nations summit in the U.S., after widespread condemnation forced him to retreat from a plan to hold it at Mr. Trump's own Florida resort. Published December 3, 2019
Donald Trump scolds Emmanuel Macron for ‘nasty statement’ on NATO
President Trump kicked off the NATO summit in London with a bang Tuesday, scolding the French president for "insulting" the alliance and calling out Germany and other countries as delinquents who must step up their defense spending or be "dealt with." Published December 3, 2019
USMCA, Donald Trump ‘new NAFTA’ trade deal, in doubt as Democrats stand firm
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley said Monday Congress won't be able to ratify President Trump's rewrite of the North American trade deal this year unless House Democrats agree to act on it this week. Published December 2, 2019
Trump campaign cracks down on Bloomberg over hands-off news policy
The Trump campaign on Monday said Bloomberg News' decision not to investigate owner Michael R. Bloomberg nor his Democratic primary rivals during the 2020 presidential race is simply wrong and that it can no longer credential the company's reporters for rallies and other campaign events. Published December 2, 2019
Melania Trump unveils ‘Spirit of America’ Christmas decor at White House
First lady Melania Trump on Monday said patriotism and the "Spirit of America" is the theme of this year's White House Christmas display that features ribbons of red, white and blue and a model of U.S. landmarks made of 200 pounds of gingerbread. Published December 2, 2019
NATO 70th anniversary sparks debate for Trump, alliance leaders
President Trump and the military alliance's other leaders appear to be at a particularly tricky crossroads at what was supposed to be NATO's celebratory 70th anniversary party this week in London. Published December 1, 2019
Donald Trump will not participate in impeachment hearing by Judiciary Committee
The White House on Sunday said President Trump will not participate in the next phase of House attempts to impeach him, saying directions from Democrats only "exacerbate the complete lack of due process and fundamental fairness" afforded to the president. Published December 1, 2019
Sen. John Kennedy: Impeachment probe ‘as rigged as a carnival ring toss’
Sen. John N. Kennedy on Sunday said the impeachment inquiry against President Trump is "as rigged as a carnival ring toss." Published December 1, 2019
Zoe Lofgren: At least Watergate didn’t involve a foreign power
Rep. Zoe Lofgren on Sunday said President Trump's Ukraine scandal appears worse than Watergate but she's willing to hear from the White House before calling it a slam-dunk case. Published December 1, 2019
Amy Klobuchar: Democrats don’t need Michael Bloomberg, other 2020 alternatives
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a presidential candidate, said Sunday that she admires former New York City Michael Bloomberg but she's galled by the notion that Democrats don't have a solid slate of 2020 candidates. Published December 1, 2019
Adam Schiff first witness for House Judiciary Committee Republicans, Doug Collins says
A top House Republican said Sunday that he will demand testimony from House intelligence committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff as the impeachment inquiry heads toward its next phase, keeping Republicans' focus squarely on a process they dismiss as a partisan attack on President Trump. Published December 1, 2019
Donald Trump will tell NATO to increase defense spending, resist Chinese influence
President Trump will urge European allies to spend more on defense and repel China's "cheap money" during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's meeting in London next week. Published November 29, 2019
Donald Trump surprises U.S. troops in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving
President Trump made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Thursday to serve Thanksgiving turkey to U.S. troops and meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. During the visit, his first to Afghanistan, Mr. Trump announced that he has restarted peace talks with the Taliban and would like to slash the number of American troops there from roughly 14,000 to 8,600. Published November 28, 2019
Federal prosecutors issue subpoenas in criminal inquiry over opioid crisis
Pharmaceutical companies battered by civil lawsuits over their alleged role in the U.S. addiction crisis are facing a potential criminal investigation. Published November 27, 2019
Trump campaign slams Google rule changes, says shift will suppress turnout, stifle democracy
The Trump campaign on Tuesday slammed Google's decision to restrict how political operations reach users during the 2020 campaign, arguing it will stifle democracy, suppress voter turnout and unfairly hamstring President Trump and Republicans who have built a massive digital operation. Published November 26, 2019
Donald Trump donates 3rd-quarter salary to opioids fight
President Trump donated his third-quarter salary of $100,000 to the fight against opioid crisis Tuesday, but the gesture didn't impress the Baltimore youths who booed first lady Melania Trump as she took the stage at a summit on the drug problem. Published November 26, 2019
Eastern Europe welcomes Donald Trump’s embrace after Barack Obama’s cold shoulder
President Trump on Monday hosted the prime minister of Bulgaria, the latest in a string of Eastern European leaders who've found common ground with an unconventional American president looking to tap business opportunities and one-up his predecessor. Published November 25, 2019
Nancy Pelosi to Donald Trump: Make USMCA more than ‘promises on paper’ to workers
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late Monday said her troops are willing to take up President Trump's prized rewrite of the North American trade deal once the administration drafts a way to enforce its labor provisions, saying right now the pact amounts to "promises on paper." Published November 25, 2019
