Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Trump demands price transparency on health care
President Trump signed an executive order Monday that will force insurers to disclose how much insurers pay hospitals for common services and let patients know what they'll pay, too, before they agree to care. Published June 24, 2019
Jeff Sessions ‘biggest mistake’ of first term, Donald Trump says
President Trump says naming Jeff Sessions -- an ardent supporter in 2016 -- as attorney general was the biggest mistake of his time in office. Published June 23, 2019
Kim Jong-un to ‘seriously contemplate’ Donald Trump’s ‘excellent’ letter
President Trump sent Kim Jong-un a letter, the White House said Sunday, saying it's part of "ongoing" correspondence between the leaders as they seek a possible third summit to reel in North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Published June 23, 2019
Trump defends his Iran strategy, restraint
President Trump on Saturday defended his strategy on Iran, saying he's "getting praise" for his decision not to retaliate with deadly strikes after Tehran downed an unmanned drone. Published June 22, 2019
With Canada’s PM, Trump tells Congress to get moving on NAFTA rewrite
President Trump told Congress on Thursday to approve his rewrite of the North American trade deal, using a visit from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pressure House Democrats after Mexico moved the ball by ratifying the trilateral pact. Published June 20, 2019
Art Laffer, father of ‘supply-side’ economics, awarded Medal of Freedom
President Trump on Wednesday awarded the Medal of Freedom to Arthur B. Laffer, the supply-side economist whose theories shaped GOP tax-cutting efforts -- including the 2017 overhaul that helped Mr. Trump regain his footing after failing to replace Obamacare. Published June 19, 2019
Donald Trump vows to ‘Keep America Great’ in 2020 launch: ‘We’re going to finish the job’
President Trump launched his reelection bid Tuesday by calling his presidency a "defining moment" in American history and pleading for another four years to finish off a Washington swamp that is "viciously" safeguarding its clout. Published June 18, 2019
Trump confirms Xi G-20 meeting as trade war rages
President Trump said Tuesday he's arranged for an "extended meeting" with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week at the Group of 20 summit, raising hopes on Wall Street and in Washington of a cease-fire in their escalating trade war. Published June 18, 2019
Donald Trump mocks ‘Fake Polls’ ahead of 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida
President Trump will officially launch his reelection campaign Tuesday in Florida, with polls showing he has Democrats right where he wants them: beating him in nearly every survey. Published June 17, 2019
Trump-aligned group to spend $20M on voter registration
America First Policies, a nonprofit that supports President Trump's agenda, will launch a $20 million campaign Tuesday to register voters in four states that could determine whether the president gets a second term. Published June 17, 2019
Donald Trump: Poland to house 1,000 U.S. troops at their expense
President Trump on Wednesday said Poland has agreed to base about 1,000 U.S. troops on its soil, further solidifying the American-Polish relationship in the face of Russian mischief in Eastern Europe. Published June 12, 2019
Donald Trump to meet with Putin at G-20
President Trump confirmed Wednesday he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G-20 summit this month, putting another high-profile meeting on the docket in Japan. Published June 12, 2019
Donald Trump: I hope Hong Kong and China work it out
President Trump marveled at the size of protests in Hong Kong but didn't take sides, saying he's sure both sides can "work it out." Published June 12, 2019
Donald Trump lauds Kim Jong-un on summit anniversary as critics cry foul
On the eve of the first anniversary of his precedent-shattering summit in Singapore with Kim Jong-un, President Trump heaped fresh praise on the North Korean leader Tuesday even as critics, including some conservatives, complained that Pyongyang had made no real progress on denuclearization over the past year despite Mr. Trump's intense personal diplomacy. Published June 11, 2019
WHO reports Ebola case in Uganda; 5-year-old boy crossed border from DRC with family
The World Health Organization said Tuesday they've confirmed a case of Ebola in Uganda, marking the first border-hopping case since the start of an outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo last year. Published June 11, 2019
Donald Trump says Kim Jong-un ‘kept his word,’ downplays North Korea missile testing as minor
President Trump defended his "very warm" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday, saying he would not have let U.S. intelligence officials use the dictator's slain half-brother as a source. Published June 11, 2019
Wilbur Ross: China deal will happen, just not at G-20
The U.S. and China will strike a trade deal eventually, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross predicted Tuesday, though said the G-20 summit this month is "not a place where anyone makes a definitive deal." Published June 11, 2019
Donald Trump, Mexico snipe over supposed side deal
An emboldened President Trump said Monday that his tariff threat forced Mexico to strike a border deal, and he vowed that China will be the next target brought to heel by weaponization of access to the U.S. economy. Published June 10, 2019
WHO says it can ID only 75% of Ebola cases in DRC
Health responders could be missing up to a quarter of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said Thursday, underscoring the challenge it faces in ending an outbreak that's killed over 1,350 and is nearly a year old. Published June 6, 2019
Donald Trump sets timeline for new China tariffs, may impose levies on $300B after G-20 summit
President Trump said Thursday he will decide whether to slap tariffs on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese goods after the G20 summit later this month, signaling his threat remains an option if the two superpowers cannot seal a truce to their trade war. Published June 6, 2019