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  • Trump Signed an Order that Threatens Tariffs on Countries that Trade with Iran

    Trump Signed an Order that Threatens Tariffs on Countries that Trade with Iran

    US President Donald Trump might impose new tariffs on countries that trade with Iran. He signed an executive order on Friday.

    The order does not state the exact tariff rate but uses 25% as an example. It will apply to goods imported into the US from any country that buys, imports, or acquires goods or services from Iran.

    Trump has not commented directly on the order, but he emphasized again that there should be “no nuclear weapons” for Iran during a speech on Air Force One on Friday night. This order comes as US and Iranian officials hold talks in Oman after several weeks of threats from both sides.

    Earlier this year, Trump threatened a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran in a post on Truth Social. On January 12, he stated, “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.” No further details were given on how the tariffs would work.

    The White House said this executive order reaffirms the “ongoing national emergency with respect to Iran” and noted that the president may change it if conditions change. The statement said, “The President is holding Iran accountable for its pursuit of nuclear capabilities, support for terrorism, ballistic missile development, and regional destabilization that endanger American security, allies, and interests.”

    There has been no immediate response from Iran.

    Iran Wants to Make a Deal Badly – Trump

    The U.S.-Iran talks in Oman began on Friday. This is the first meeting since last June when the U.S. bombed Iran’s main nuclear facilities.

    Iran’s team was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The U.S. was represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is President Trump’s son-in-law.

    President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the talks went “very well.” He added that Iran “really wants to make a deal.” Trump warned that if Iran does not agree to a deal, there could be serious consequences. He mentioned there will be another meeting early next week.

    Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who helped to mediate the talks, said they were useful for clarifying both sides’ views and identifying areas for progress.

    In a statement on X, Araghchi called the talks “a good start” and noted that there was a “positive atmosphere.” He said the negotiators have returned to their capitals for more discussions.

    Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have raised fears of conflict. Recently, Trump said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should be “very worried.” He indicated that he might take military action if Iran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program.

    Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and denies claims from the U.S. and its allies that it wants to develop nuclear weapons.

    In response to Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the region. Trump described this as a “massive armada.”

    Human rights groups report that thousands were killed during the crackdown, but the full number is unclear because the Iranian government imposed internet restrictions after January 8th.

  • Trump Took Down Racist Clip Portraying Obamas as Apes

    Trump Took Down Racist Clip Portraying Obamas as Apes

    US President Donald Trump has removed a social media video that included a racist clip depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The clip, set to the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” appeared at the end of a 62-second video he shared, which included claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

    Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump stated, “I didn’t make a mistake.” He added that he had only seen the beginning of the video before it was posted by a staff member and was unaware that it contained the depiction of the Obamas.

    Backlash from Republican Senators

    Republican Senator Tim Scott, who is Black, called for the president to remove the post, describing it as “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” Initially, the White House defended the clip as an “internet meme video” and urged critics to “stop the fake outrage.”

    After strong criticism, including from some Republican senators, Trump’s post was taken down from his Truth Social account. A White House official said a staff member mistakenly made the post.

    The clip resembles racist images that compare Black people to monkeys. It seems to have come from a post by conservative meme creator Xerias on X in October.

    The video shows several prominent Democrats as animals, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zohran Mamdani, and Hillary Clinton. Joe Biden is also shown as an ape eating a banana.

    The Obamas have not commented on the video.

    This video was one of many uploaded to Trump’s Truth Social account overnight.

    While on Air Force One, the president said, “I look at a lot of thousands of things.” He mentioned that after watching only part of the video, he let his team review it. He liked the video’s message about voter fraud, but he acknowledged that if his staff had seen the entire video, “probably they would have had the sense to take it down.” He added, “We took it down as soon as we found out about it.”

    Criticism Across the Board

    Some members of Trump’s own party criticized a recent social media post. Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina and an ally of Trump, said he hoped the post was fake because it was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” He added, “The President should remove it.”

    New York Representative Mike Lawler, another Republican, called the post “wrong and incredibly offensive, whether intentional or a mistake” and said it “should be deleted immediately with an apology.”

    The criticism did not stop even after the post was taken down. Senator John Curtis from Utah tweeted that the video was “blatantly racist and inexcusable.” He stated, “It should never have been posted or left published for so long.”

    According to CBS, the BBC’s US partner, Florida Representative Byron Donalds, a Trump supporter who is running for governor, called the White House after the video was posted. He learned that a staffer was responsible and had “let the president down.”

    The BBC has asked the White House how many people have access to the president’s account and what the approval process is for posts.

    Earlier that day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the clip as “an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.” She urged critics to “please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

    Trump is a Malignant Bottom Feeder – Jeffries

    House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of racism after Trump shared an AI-generated image of him with a mustache and sombrero. Jeffries called Trump a “vile, unhinged, and malignant bottom feeder.” He urged all Republicans to condemn Trump’s bigotry.

    The video in question includes false claims about a voting conspiracy in Michigan from the 2020 presidential election. These claims were proven wrong during Dominion Voting Systems’ successful lawsuits against some media companies.

    Trump has a long history of attacking Obama. Before his first term as president, Trump made false claims that Obama was born in Kenya and was therefore ineligible to be president. He later admitted that Obama was born in the U.S.

  • GOPs Denounce a Racist Video Shared by Trump Calling Obama an Ape

    GOPs Denounce a Racist Video Shared by Trump Calling Obama an Ape

    U.S. President Donald Trump has caused anger again by sharing a video that shows former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as apes.

    He posted the video on his Truth Social account as part of a series of late-night messages. The video was removed by midday on Friday, but not before it received strong criticism from both parties for being racist.

    Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, said on X that he hoped the video was fake because it was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” He added that the president should take it down.

    Another Republican, Representative Mike Lawler, also asked Trump to delete the post, calling it “incredibly offensive, whether intentional or a mistake.”

    Democrats used this incident to highlight Trump’s past insensitive comments and urged Republicans to speak out against it.

    Obama and Michelle Obama are Patriotic Americans

    “President Obama and Michelle Obama are smart, caring, and patriotic Americans. They show the best of our country,” said Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “Donald Trump is a terrible and unstable person. Why do GOP leaders like John Thune keep supporting this sick individual?”

    The White House first called a controversial post an “internet meme.” Later, they said a White House staffer shared it by mistake, not the president.

    Trump denied any responsibility when he spoke to reporters on Air Force One. He said he only watched the beginning of a short video that included false claims about his 2020 election loss.

    “No, I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump said, ignoring calls for an apology. “I look at thousands of things. I only saw the start of it. It was fine.”

    Stoking Outrage

    Trump has had a long-standing conflict with the Obamas, who are the first Black couple to serve as President and First Lady of the United States.

    Trump first entered national politics during Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. He promoted false claims that Obama was not born in the United States.

    Trump is a frequent user of social media. He co-founded Truth Social in February 2022 after being temporarily banned from other major platforms. On Truth Social, he shares memes and videos created using artificial intelligence that support his public image and political goals.

    Recently, Trump posted a video online at 11:44 PM Eastern Time (04:44 GMT). This video includes a disrespectful image of the Obamas, which appears about 59 seconds into the one-minute and two-second clip. This image is part of a documentary-style segment that makes false claims about the 2020 presidential election, suggesting it was affected by fraud and problems with electronic voting machines. Trump has repeatedly denied losing to Democrat Joe Biden in that election.

    The video, which has a watermark from a site called Patriot News Outlet, combines the altered image of the Obamas with the 1961 song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

    Critics often say that Trump tries to create outrage to distract from important domestic issues, including the recent release of millions of documents about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier, which also mention Trump.

    Midterms Ahead

    Some Republicans, like Lawler from New York, are facing tough re-election campaigns as the November midterm elections approach. Trump has warned that if Republicans lose control of Congress, he might face new impeachment proceedings.

    After Trump reposted a video on his Truth Social account, the White House initially dismissed the backlash as exaggerated. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told several U.S. news outlets that the image of the Obamas came from an “internet meme video” that shows Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the movie “The Lion King.”

    “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something that actually matters to the American public,” she said to ABC News.

    After the post was deleted, Leavitt continued to downplay the complaints and the calls for Trump to apologize. In an interview with Fox News, she said Trump had already spoken about the incident with some members of Congress.

    “He spoke with lawmakers today, including Senator Tim Scott, out of respect for them. The post was removed, but leave it to the leftist media to talk about this all day,” she told Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

    “He did take down the post, and again, this is just a distraction for the fake news media,” Leavitt added, quickly shifting the focus to Trump’s accomplishments.

    However, Leavitt’s comments did not stop the bipartisan call for Trump to apologize for the video. Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska also asked for the post to be taken down. “Even if this is a Lion King meme, a sensible person recognizes the racist context behind it,” Ricketts wrote on X.

     

  • Talks With US in Oman Were a Positive Start – Iran

    Talks With US in Oman Were a Positive Start – Iran

    Iranian officials called the recent talks with the United States in Oman “positive.” US President Donald Trump described the indirect discussions as “very good.” However, these talks have not yet provided a clear plan to ease fears of a US attack.

    After the talks ended, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to Iranian television in Muscat. He said the indirect talks started well and that they would decide on the next steps after discussing with their governments.

    Araghchi expressed concern about a climate of “mistrust” following a US military attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. This attack happened when the US briefly joined Israel in a conflict with Iran in June, just days before a sixth round of talks was set to take place.

    Later, President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the discussions about Iran had been “very good” and that more talks are planned for early next week.

    However, Trump also warned that if Iran does not agree on its nuclear program, “the consequences are very steep.” He added, “Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly – as they should.” He hinted that Iran might be willing to offer more than before but did not share any specific details.

    In Muscat, Iran’s team was led by Araghchi. The US sent special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. US Central Command Chief Brad Cooper, the top commander in the region, also took part in the US delegation.

    Identify Areas for Potential Improvement

    Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi met separately with officials from the US and Iran on Friday. He conveyed messages between the two sides.

    He said, “It was helpful to understand both Iranian and American views and find areas for possible progress,” and expressed hope to “meet again soon.”

    The discussions aimed to create the right conditions for resuming diplomatic and technical negotiations, according to Oman’s Foreign Ministry.

    These talks occur as President Trump considers military options against Iran. The US has sent the USS Abraham Lincoln supercarrier, along with other warships and fighter jets, near Iranian waters. The US has also strengthened air defenses at military bases in the region and shot down an Iranian drone earlier this week.

    Trump has repeatedly warned that he will take military action against Iran if a new agreement on various issues is not reached.

    Red Lines

    The United States wants Iran to stop all uranium enrichment, including the 3.67 percent level allowed for civilian use under the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from in 2018. Iran used to enrich uranium up to 60 percent, but US airstrikes in June destroyed or heavily damaged its main nuclear facilities.

    The US wants to make sure that Iran’s missiles can’t reach far because they help Iran’s army. The US also wants to stop groups that work with Iran in other countries from getting money or weapons.

    Several European countries support the US demands, along with the Israeli government, which wants to weaken Iran as a military rival in the region.

    However, Iran insists that it will only discuss nuclear issues if the US lifts sanctions and reduces tensions. It considers talks about missiles or other topics as unacceptable. Iranian official Abbas Araghchi emphasized this on Friday and stated that US threats of war must end.

    Iranian military leaders say they are fully prepared for a large-scale conflict. Recently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) tested one of its top ballistic missiles.

    Iranian Press TV reported that the Khorramshahr-4 missile, capable of reaching Israel and US bases in the area, was shown on a mobile launcher that had been taken from an underground site.

    Yadollah Javani, a political deputy of the IRGC, said that revealing the missile shows that even while negotiating, Iran will not give up its military strength.

    Conditions are Worse Than War

    People in Iran are closely watching the current situation. However, there is less optimism compared to the five negotiation rounds held last year before the 12-day war with Israel.

    Soroush, a Tehran resident, hopes the negotiations will reduce the threat of war. He said, “War brings fear and anxiety and increases economic pressure,” especially since Iran faces one of the highest inflation rates in the world.

    On the other hand, Maryam, another resident, thinks the negotiations will likely fail and lead to war because of the conflicting views between the two sides.

    Some people are actually welcoming the idea of military action. Amir, who lives in the capital, said, “War is not good, but the conditions we are living in now are often worse than war. I don’t think war would make things worse than they already are.”

    The Iranian government claims that 3,117 people died in the protests, saying “terrorists” and “rioters” caused the violence, not state forces. They recently released a controversial list of victims that raises more questions.

    In contrast, the United Nations and human rights organizations report that state forces used lethal weapons and attacked hospitals and medical staff helping injured protesters. Rights groups say the actual death toll is likely much higher than what the government reports.

  • Trump Ties His Failed Nobel Peace Prize Bid to His Greenland Quest

    Trump Ties His Failed Nobel Peace Prize Bid to His Greenland Quest

    US President Donald Trump told Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that he no longer feels the need to focus on peace. He feels this way because the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not give him the Nobel Peace Prize.

    In a surprising text message to Støre, which PBS first reported and an official from the Prime Minister’s office confirmed, Trump linked his threats to take control of Greenland to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, something he has wanted for a long time.

    “Since your country chose not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping eight wars, I no longer feel obligated to think only about peace. While peace will always be important, I can now consider what is best for the United States,” Trump wrote.

    Støre said he received this message after he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb texted Trump. In their message, the Nordic leaders expressed their opposition to Trump’s planned tariff increases against Norway, Finland, and some other countries.

    Støre explained to President Trump that the Nobel Prize is awarded by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government.

    Trump’s message came after he threatened to add a 10 percent tariff on goods from several European countries because they oppose his plan to acquire Greenland. Greenland is part of Denmark and a fellow NATO member. His threats have raised concerns within NATO about a possible conflict between members.

    “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China. Why do they have a ‘right of ownership’? There are no written documents. It’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, and we also had boats landing there,” Trump said in his message.

    Greenland’s Brief History

    Greenland is a large island in the Arctic. In 1953, it became part of Denmark during global efforts to decolonize after World War II. Greenland has its own government, but Denmark still handles its defense, security, and money.

    In a note to Støre, Trump said, “I have done more for NATO than anyone else since it started, and now NATO should do something for the United States. The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”

    The United States has been a key part of Euro-Atlantic security for many years and has spent much more on defense than any other NATO member. However, many NATO allies have joined the US in recent wars. After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, 43 Danish soldiers died while fighting there.

    Denmark is a Close Ally to the UK and the US

    At a news conference in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and the United States. He praised Denmark as a proud NATO member that has stood with us, even at a great human cost.

    Trump’s comments came after Nordic leaders Støre and Stubb reached out to him about the extra tariffs he had threatened over Greenland. They wrote, “We believe we should all work to reduce tensions and de-escalate. There is so much happening around us that we need to stand together,” according to an official from Støre’s office.

    The Nobel Committee announced that María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic opposition, will receive the 2025 Peace Prize. Last week, she gave her medal to Trump during their meeting in Washington. Trump called it “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

    However, the Nobel Committee later clarified that while the physical medal can change hands, the honor itself cannot be passed on.

  • Kabul Blast Killed 7 People at Hotel Restaurant

    Kabul Blast Killed 7 People at Hotel Restaurant

    An explosion occurred at a Chinese-run restaurant in a hotel in a secure area of Kabul, Afghanistan. The blast killed one Chinese national and six Afghans, and several others were injured, including a child.

    The explosion happened in the commercial Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood, which has office buildings, shopping centers, and embassies. This area is considered one of the safest in the city, according to police spokesperson Khalid Zadran.

    The restaurant, which served Chinese noodles, was run by Abdul Majid, a Chinese Muslim, his wife, and an Afghan partner named Abdul Jabbar Mahmood. They primarily served the Chinese Muslim community.

    The blast occurred near the kitchen, killing Ayub, the Chinese national, and six Afghans. Several people were also hurt. Videos on social media showed debris outside the restaurant and smoke coming from a large hole in the front of the building.

    No group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and authorities are investigating the cause.

    Several People Killed in Kabul Blast

    The Italian NGO Emergency reported that a medical facility it manages in Kabul has treated 20 people after a blast. Seven of them were already dead when they arrived. The organization said these casualty figures are still provisional.

    “Twenty people came to EMERGENCY’s Surgical Centre in Kabul after an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Of these, seven individuals were dead on arrival,” the NGO announced.

    Among the injured are four women and one child. Unfortunately, seven people were already dead when they arrived. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, but no details have been released yet.

    The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 and promised to restore security. However, bomb attacks have continued, many of which are claimed by the local branch of the Islamic State group.

    While explosions in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan have become less common since the Taliban took power after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, ISIL (ISIS) is still active and occasionally carries out attacks.

  • European Military Arrive in Greenland as Trump States US Needs the Island

    European Military Arrive in Greenland as Trump States US Needs the Island

    A small French military group has arrived in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, according to officials. This group is part of a reconnaissance mission that includes soldiers from Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK.

    This limited deployment happens as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to claim Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. French President Emmanuel Macron said more land, air, and sea support would come soon.

    Senior diplomat Olivier Poivre d’Arvor highlighted that this mission sends a clear message: “This is a first exercise… we’ll show the U.S. that NATO is here.” The initial French group includes 15 people. They arrived shortly after the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland had a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday.

    After the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the talks productive but mentioned a “fundamental disagreement” between the two sides. He also criticized Trump’s offer to buy Greenland.

    Trump wants to take control of Greenland because he thinks it will help keep the country safe. He said he hopes to make a deal with Denmark. He also mentioned that if Russia or China wanted Greenland, they could do something about it, but he believes the U.S. can protect it.

    On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that sending more European troops to Greenland would not change the president’s decision on the territory. She added, “Nor does this affect his goal of acquiring Greenland.”

    Poland Did Not Plan to Join the European Military Deployment to Greenland.

    Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland will not join the European military deployment to Greenland. He warned that any U.S. military action there would be a “political disaster.”

    At a press conference, he said, “A conflict or attempted takeover of a NATO member’s territory by another NATO member would change the world as we know it and threaten our security.”

    Russia’s embassy in Belgium expressed “serious concern” about the situation in the Arctic. They accused NATO of increasing its military presence there under false claims of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing.

    Currently, the European NATO deployment consists of only a few dozen personnel participating in Danish-led exercises called Operation Arctic Endurance. While this deployment holds significant meaning, it is unclear how long these troops will remain.

    Finland is sending two military liaison officers for a fact-finding mission, which is still in the planning phase.

    Janne Kuusela, from Finland’s defense ministry, told the BBC, “Right now, we are not ruling anything out, but we are not specifically considering anything.”

    As an Arctic nation, Finland aims to strengthen the defense of allied territory due to concerns about NATO’s presence in Greenland.

    An Increased Military Presence Around Greenland

    Germany is sending an A400M transport plane to Nuuk on Thursday with 13 soldiers. They will stay in Greenland only until Saturday.

    Danish leaders and the Greenland government will add more military personnel to Greenland. This will help NATO protect the Arctic and keep Europe and North America safe.

    In his New Year’s speech to the French armed forces, President Macron noted that Europeans have a special responsibility toward Greenland, as it is part of the European Union and a NATO ally.

    The United States has a military base in Greenland with about 150 personnel. The U.S. can bring in more troops if needed under agreements with Denmark. This Danish-led initiative shows that European allies are also concerned about security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

    Sweden’s Prime Minister said they sent Swedish army officers to Nuuk on Wednesday. Two Norwegian soldiers, one British military officer, and a Dutch naval officer are also being deployed.

    Downing Street stated that the UK shares President Trump’s concerns about “the security of the High North.” The UK will increase military exercises to deter Russian aggression and Chinese activity.

    Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that protecting Greenland is a shared concern for all NATO members.

  • Trump has Suspended Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries

    Trump has Suspended Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries

    The U.S. government will stop processing immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries starting January 21. This change affects people wanting to move to the U.S. permanently. It does not impact visitors or those with short-term visas.

    This decision comes five months before the U.S. hosts the FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico. It also follows a series of crackdowns on immigrants, refugees, foreign students, and visa applicants, raising concerns about how the U.S. views visitors.

    What announcement has been made by the U.S. administration?

    The State Department has told U.S. consulates to stop processing immigrant visa applications from certain countries. This decision comes after an order to increase checks on potential immigrants who might financially burden the U.S.

    “The Trump administration is ending the misuse of America’s immigration system by those who take advantage of American resources,” the department said.

    Processing of immigrant visas from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reviews its procedures to prevent foreign nationals from relying on welfare and public benefits.

    How does it work?

    According to the State Department, people from the affected countries can still apply for immigrant visas. However, no visas will be approved or issued while the pause is in place. The U.S. government has not said when this suspension might end.

    Dual nationals can apply using a valid passport from a country not included in the suspension. This pause does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as temporary, tourist, or business visas.

    Other Immigration Restrictions Under the Trump Administration

    Recently, the Trump administration has tightened immigration rules for people from countries with weak vetting processes. The State Department has set new limits on migration from these nations.

    In January 2025, the White House stated that the U.S. could not accept large numbers of migrants, especially refugees. They said this could strain public resources, create security issues, and make it harder for newcomers to adjust.

    In June, the administration imposed a full travel ban on people from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

    By October, the White House announced the lowest refugee admissions limit in U.S. history: just 7,500 refugees for the 2026 fiscal year. Most of this cap is for white Afrikaners from South Africa. Trump has spread false claims about a genocide against white South Africans, despite data showing that violence affects people of all races in that country.

    At the same time, the Trump administration has cut foreign aid programs that help refugees living abroad.

    The administration has also worked to limit skilled immigration. They claim this protects jobs for U.S. citizens. In September, they raised the application fee for H-1B visas, which companies use to hire foreign workers, to $100,000.

    After an Afghan national linked to the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., the government added more travel restrictions. They expanded the ban to include six more countries: Palestine, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.

    Immigration officials have also paused asylum cases and stopped processing citizenship and green card applications for people from the countries affected by the bans.

    Is the Trump administration deporting people at record rates?

    By early December, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security said it had deported over 605,000 people, while about 1.9 million people had left the country on their own.

    As a result, the United States saw more people leaving than entering in 2025. This was the first time in 50 years that net negative immigration happened, according to the Brookings Institution. Their researchers estimated that the net loss of immigrants that year was between 10,000 and 295,000 people.

  • Greenland & Denmark say Trump Aimed to ‘Conquer’ Territory after Meeting

    Greenland & Denmark say Trump Aimed to ‘Conquer’ Territory after Meeting

    The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland visited Washington, DC, to talk with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration. On Wednesday, officials said they made little progress in changing Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.

    Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters, “We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president wants to take control of Greenland.”

    Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt hoped their discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance would reduce tensions about Greenland’s future.

    The meeting didn’t fix some important disagreements. Instead, they decided to make a group to talk about Greenland and safety in the Arctic.

    Rasmussen said, “The group should help with American safety concerns and respect Denmark’s land.”

    Motzfeldt called for working together with the U.S. but made it clear that Greenland does not want to be “owned by the United States.”

    A social media account for Greenland’s government in the U.S. and Canada also pointed out the need for Indigenous voices in discussions about Greenland.

    The account stated, “Why don’t you ask us, Kalaallit? The last poll showed that only 6% of Greenlanders/Kalaallit wanted to become part of the U.S.”

    China and Russia Pose a Threat to Western Interests

    European allies want to work more closely with the United States on security in the Arctic. The Trump administration claims that China and Russia threaten Western interests there.

    But these offers have not changed Trump’s belief that the U.S. needs to “own” Greenland. This stance has raised concerns from the Greenland government and U.S. allies in Europe.

    On Wednesday, during a ceremony to sign a law about domestic milk consumption, Trump said again that the U.S. should acquire Greenland for “national security” reasons. He also questioned Denmark’s ability to defend against any possible invasion.

    “Greenland is very important for national security, including Denmark’s,” Trump told reporters. “If Russia or China wanted to occupy Greenland, Denmark wouldn’t be able to stop them, but the U.S. could.”

    He also mentioned that he has “a very good relationship with Denmark” and would receive a briefing about the day’s meetings after his appearance.

    The United States already has some military personnel in Greenland and could increase this number based on an existing treaty. “There is currently a base there with about 150 personnel. The Danish and Greenlandic governments are open to discussing expanding the U.S. military presence,” said Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher.

    “However, Trump insists that anything less than U.S. control is unacceptable. He wants the U.S. to move into Greenland as soon as possible.”

  • Trump Says Iran Called Off Protester Executions Amid Fears for Erfan Soltani’s Fate

    Trump Says Iran Called Off Protester Executions Amid Fears for Erfan Soltani’s Fate

    US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Iran has chosen not to execute a detained protester who took part in anti-government demonstrations. This decision came after human rights activists and the US State Department highlighted the issue.

    Trump stated, “We have been told that executions in Iran are stopping, and there are no plans for any executions. The killing has stopped. The executions have halted.”

    Previously, there were concerns that Iranian authorities might execute Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester arrested less than a week ago, according to his family and the State Department.

    Trump reassured reporters, “There is no plan for an execution. I have reliable information on this. We will confirm the situation. I would be very upset if it happened.” He did not provide details about his source.

    Soltani’s family member, Somayeh, told CNN that the execution planned for earlier that day had not taken place. However, she mentioned that it was not officially canceled, and they were waiting for more updates.

    Hengaw, a human rights organization based in Norway, reported later on Wednesday that Soltani’s execution has been postponed.

    In a post on X on Tuesday, the State Department said Iranian authorities intended to execute Soltani, who was arrested at home last week for his involvement in protests in Fardis, a city about 25 miles west of Tehran.

    The State Department added, “More than 10,600 Iranians have been arrested by the Islamic Republic regime just for demanding their basic rights. Erfan Soltani, 26, is among them, and his death sentence was set for January 14.”

    10-min Sham Trial

    Somayeh spoke to CNN on Tuesday. She did not give her full name due to safety concerns. She said that Soltani was “an incredibly kind and warm-hearted young man” who “always fought for the freedom of Iran.”

    Somayeh explained that Soltani was not allowed a lawyer or a chance to appeal his death sentence. She stated that his trial was rushed.

    Experts say that rushed death sentences and unfair trials happen often in Iran.

    The US State Department mentioned on social media that “this time, the Islamic Republic regime didn’t even bother with its usual 10-minute sham trial.”

    In an interview with Fox News aired Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that hanging protesters is “out of the question.” He said he is confident about this and described reports saying otherwise as part of a “misinformation campaign.” He believes these reports are meant to provoke President Trump and could lead to serious consequences.

    Over the weekend, Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad said that legal actions against protesters, whom he called “terrorists,” will happen “without leniency, mercy, or appeasement,” according to the semi-official news agency Tasnim.

    On Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its intelligence network received almost 400,000 public reports, resulting in some arrests.

    Denied Access to Case

    Hengaw reported that Soltani was arrested at his home last Thursday. Four days later, his family learned that he would be executed.

    Soltani’s family cannot access any information about his case, including the charges against him. His sister, who is a licensed lawyer, tried to look into the case but has been blocked by authorities from seeing the case file.

    They received only a short chance to visit him one last time before his execution.

    This upcoming execution has increased tensions between the United States and Iran, with Trump considering military action against Iran.

    On Tuesday, Trump warned Iran not to execute protesters and said the US would respond strongly. In an interview with CBS News, he said, “If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action,” but he did not explain what that would be. Trump acknowledged he had not heard about hangings but stressed that such actions could lead to a strong US response.

    “We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran. If they want to protest, that’s one thing; but when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hangings, we’ll see how that works out for them,” Trump said. “It’s not going to work out well.”

    Somayeh, a family member, reached out to Trump for help.

    “Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind his words because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements,” she told CNN on Tuesday. “An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.”