ICE Data Reveals Stark Gap Between Trump’s Mass Deportation Claims and Reality

Jose Nino
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ICE Data Reveals Stark Gap Between Trump’s Mass Deportation Claims and Reality

(José Niño, Headline USA) Newly released ICE statistics show the Trump administration’s immigration figures may be more spin than substance.

The X/ Twitter user “AF Post” was one of the first to notice the Trump administration is allegedly inflating its deportation numbers.

“The Trump administration appears to have inflated its deportation numbers by more than 100%, claiming that over 139,000 illegal immigrants were deported within 100 days, while ICE’s own statistics show the actual number is only 65,682,” AF Post reported April 30.

“It also claimed to have arrested over 150,000 illegal immigrants, though the real figure stands at just 66,463.”

AF Post’s analysis appears to be accurate.

From the campaign trail to the White House, Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to remove millions of illegal aliens from the United States. In press releases and public statements, the administration has touted “record-breaking” enforcement, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claiming that “over 158,000 illegal aliens” had been arrested in 2025 alone and that the administration was deporting “the worst of the worst” at an unprecedented pace.

But the numbers tell a different story. According to official ICE statistics, in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, ICE arrested 66,463 individuals and removed 65,682 — a far cry from the millions Trump promised or the inflated figures often cited in public statements. 

Even the higher arrest figure of 158,000 cited by DHS appears to include enforcement actions at the border and across various agencies, not just ICE’s interior enforcement operation. 

The pace of removals has been slowed by a historic decline in border crossings, with U.S. Border Patrol apprehending just 7,181 individuals in March 2025 — a 95% drop from the previous years. While the administration has hailed this as a victory for border security, this diverts attention away from the fact that the administration has yet to carry out mass deportations. 

The administration’s reporting practices have also come under fire. While ICE was required by Congress to publish enforcement statistics semi-monthly, the Trump administration has at times stopped publicizing daily arrest numbers when figures began to decline. 

Independent analyses, such as those by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), found that Trump’s daily removal average from January 26 to February 8 was 693, already 6.5% below the 742 daily removals under Biden in Fiscal Year 2024. 

After extending the timeframe to March 8, the average declined further to 661 per day — 10.9% below Biden’s rate and lower than Trump’s initial post-inauguration figure.

According to figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), there are 18.6 million illegal aliens residing in the United States. All things considered, the Trump administration has its deportation work cut out for it. 

Until the administration can reconcile its claims with official records, skepticism about its immigration numbers is warranted.

José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino 

White House Gives Disappointing Update about Epstein Files Release

Luis Cornelio
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White House Gives Disappointing Update about Epstein Files Release

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The White House poured cold water on hopes that the full Epstein files would be released anytime soon. 

Speaking to reporters on May 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there was no “specific timeline” for the release of the remaining documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

“I can assure you that the Attorney General and her team are working on this diligently,” Leavitt added, as quoted by the Independent.

Her comments came about two month after the White House staged a publicity stunt, in which  a gaggle of pro-Israel conservative political commentators were provided binders that read “The Epstein Files.” It turned out, all the documents in the binders had already been released, and that the binders contained more redactions than the already-public documents.

Attorney General Pam Bondi later blamed FBI duplicity for her phony disclosure, alleging that the bureau’s New York office has been suppressing hundreds of documents.

In March, CNN reported that FBI agents were working around the clock to redact the Epstein records in preparation for their release.

Epstein’s crimes and connections to famous people have long been a subject of public fascination and media scrutiny. Over the years, thousands of pages of records have been released through lawsuits, his criminal dockets, public disclosures and Freedom of Information Act requests.

In January 2024, a court unsealed a trove of documents that had been collected as evidence in a lawsuit filed Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. Much of the material, including transcripts of victim interviews and old police reports, had already been publicly known.

Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14. He allegedly killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial in his Manhattan jail cell.

The case has drawn widespread attention because of Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell’s links to royals, presidents and billionaires. Maxwell herself is the daughter of the late British media tycoon Robert Maxwell, who once owned the New York Daily News.

Maxwell, 62, was found guilty in December 2021 of luring young girls to Epstein so he could molest them, between 1994 and 2004. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Numerous researchers have determined that Epstein and the Maxwells were intelligence assets, providing information to agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad.  A recently dismissed lawsuit from an unknown Epstein victim, “Jane Doe 200,” is seeking to compel Epstein’s estate to release records that would confirm these connections.

Milwaukee Prosecutor Clears Ohio Police of Wrongdoing in Fatal Shooting Near GOP Convention

Headline USA Editor
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Milwaukee Prosecutor Clears Ohio Police of Wrongdoing in Fatal Shooting Near GOP Convention

(Headline USA)  A Wisconsin prosecutor cleared police officers from Ohio of any criminal liability Monday in a fatal shooting last summer near the Republican National Convention.

Officers from Columbus, Ohio, were among thousands of officers from multiple jurisdictions providing extra security for the July convention in Milwaukee.

According to a letter Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern sent Columbus Division of Police Chief Elane Bryant on Monday, a group of 14 Columbus officers had gathered in a park near the convention arena for a briefing on July 16 when they saw 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe approaching another man with a knife in each hand. The officers opened fire after Sharpe refused to drop his knives and lunged at the man.

The shooting was not connected to the convention, but people in the neighborhoods around the park questioned how out-of-state police could justify killing a Wisconsin resident.

Lovern wrote in the letter that Wisconsin law allows someone to use deadly force to protect someone else if that person believes it’s necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The five officers who fired on Sharpe told investigators they believed Sharpe meant to seriously injure or kill the other man, Lovern wrote.

Officers could be heard on body camera footage before the shooting identifying themselves as police and ordering Sharpe to drop his knives, but Sharpe ignored them and continued toward the man, Lovern said.

A voicemail left with the Columbus Division of Police’s public information office seeking comment on Lovern’s decision wasn’t immediately returned.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press.

Butler Man Who Allegedly Threatened to Kill Trump Identified as a Leftist

Ken Silva
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Butler Man Who Allegedly Threatened to Kill Trump Identified as a Leftist

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler, Pennsylvania man for threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and other U.S. government officials this year. Butler is where Trump was shot and nearly killed last July.

Thursday’s indictment against Shawn Monper, 32, of Butler, came after the Justice Department already announced charges against him last month—charges stemming from comments he allegedly made on his YouTube account, “Mr. Satan,” including that “We just need to start killing people: Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed.”

While Monper’s alleged intent to kill Trump was already known, last Thursday’s indictment reveals new information about him, including that he apparently identified as a leftist.

According to the indictment, Monper said on March 1 that he just bought a gun, and was “ready to kill Nazis.”

“Everyone arm yourselves now.. We need to kill them all, its [sic] the only way nazis go away,” Monper allegedly said again on March 17.

“The left needs to arm themselves. I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo. I suggest you all do the same, nazi don’t just stop what they are doing, they need to die,” he said yet again on March 20.

Monper was arrested on April 11. According to the Butler Eagle, the FBI’s SWAT team was operating in Butler Township that same day. The Eagle later confirmed that the FBI SWAT team was taking down Monper.

On April 14, Monper’s lawyers filed a motion for him to be released from pretrial custody, arguing that he was a productive and peaceful community member.

“Mr. Monper has spent his entire life in the Butler County area, graduating from Butler Senior High School, and maintaining fulltime consistent employment at Walmart and Benbrook Medical Center (through Orloski Building Services) since shortly after high school graduation,” his lawyers argued.

“For the past six years, Mr. Monper has been ensuring the residents of Butler have access to well-stocked, fresh meat and produce. He wakes up just after 3:00 AM to work his shift from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM and typically heads to bed just after 7:00 PM. The work is strenuous, and he is valued by colleagues and his manager,” they said.

“After work, he spends time with friends and loved ones partaking in bowling, Dungeons and Dragons, and video games. Mr. Monper does not engage in unlawful drug use and only on the rarest occasions consumes any alcohol. His life is defined by stability and routine.”

However, the presiding judge denied Monper’s request, and he remains in Butler County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in front of Magistrate Judge Maureen P. Kelly.

Ken Silva is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Rwanda Confirms Early Talks to Host Deported US Migrants

Headline USA Editor
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Rwanda Confirms Early Talks to Host Deported US Migrants

(Headline USA)  Rwanda confirmed on Monday that discussions were “underway” with the United States regarding a potential agreement to host deported migrants.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe on Sunday told state media that the talks were in the “early stage.” When asked by The Associated Press on Monday, he confirmed the talks.

Nduhungirehe did not disclose the specifics of the potential deal for Rwanda, but previous local media reports suggest that the U.S would likely fund a program to have migrants integrated into the society through stipends and job assistance initiatives.

This wouldn’t be Rwanda’s first time hosting deported migrants. The East African nation previously had an agreement with the U.K. to host migrants. Plans for the initiative, including prepared accommodations, were in the final stages but the deal collapsed after the Labour Party took office in 2024.

Rwanda has faced allegations of human rights abuses and is currently in the process of brokering a peace deal with the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have been behind attacks in the mineral rich eastern Congo region.

Nduhungirehe told state media on Sunday that Rwanda and Congo had already submitted their respective draft proposals, which will form the basis of a final peace agreement document expected to be signed in the U.S next month.

The minister said the migrant deal between Rwanda and the U.S was consistent with Rwanda’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian cooperation and the pursuit of migration solutions.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press.

How Much Is My Scrap Gold Worth?

Money Metals News Service
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How Much Is My Scrap Gold Worth?

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) With gold setting record after record, people are scrambling to cash in by selling scrap gold and jewelry.

Selling gold tucked away in a jewelry box or gathering dust on a shelf can certainly put extra cash in your wallet, but you should manage your expectations. How much you’ll get for your gold will vary wildly depending on its purity.

Gold Selling Frenzy

According to a Financial Times article, pawnbrokers in England report a surge in people inquiring about the value of gold items for sale or pawning.

Sutton & Robertsons operates four pawn shops in London, along with an online service. Managing director Jim Tannahill told the FT that he’s seen a 30 percent increase in first-time pawnbroking customers. He said about 90 percent of the pawnbroker’s loans are secured by gold, luxury watches, and jewelry.

Meanwhile, H&T, Britain’s biggest pawnbroker, reported record profits in its full-year report released in March. A spokesperson said record gold prices have boosted the number of new customers to an all-time high.

This is a testament to gold’s enduring value and the fact that it is recognized as money around the world.

Tannahill said many of his customers are business owners and entrepreneurs, and they are aware they can currently borrow more against their gold than ever before.

While many people use their gold as collateral for loans, others are selling gold outright. Tannahill said his company has seen a 105 percent increase in gold purchases since last September.

According to the FT, one of the biggest trends is collectors selling coins. Tannahill noted that profits from selling British sovereigns and Britannias made by the Royal Mint have the advantage of exemption from capital gains tax.

Certain gold and silver bullion coins provide tax advantages in the U.S.

How Much Will I Get for My Gold?

If you’re thinking about selling your gold, your first question is probably: How much money will I get for it?

The answer is that it depends on the purity.

You’re going to get a lot more for a .999 percent pure 1-ounce gold bullion coin than you will for a 1-ounce 14-karat chain.

Gold purity is measured in karats. Each karat represents 1/24th of the whole. In other words, an 18-karat gold ring is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals, or 75 percent gold.

Ten karat gold is the minimum standard in the U.S., representing 41.7 percent gold.

This system is mainly used in jewelry. For bullion and coins, purity is often expressed in decimal form (e.g., .999 or .9999 fine gold, which means 99.9 percent or 99.99 percent pure).

Most jewelry, especially if sold in the U.S., is 10, 14, or 18 karats. That means it has a much lower gold content than a bullion coin.

Other metals are mixed with gold to make jewelry to make it harder and more durable. Gold is a relatively pliable metal, and pure gold jewelry can be easily bent.

Twenty-four karat jewelry is much more common in Asia, where it is viewed much differently in the West. It is seen as not only an adornment but also an investment. For instance, much Indian jewelry is made from pure 24-karat gold, as opposed to the 14 and 18-karat pieces more common in the U.S. and Europe. Many Indian families use gold jewelry as savings.

The bottom line is that a dealer will determine the value of your gold based on both its weight and its purity. And of course, the buyer is going to collect a premium on the sale. After all, that’s how the dealer makes his living. Keeping this in mind, you should shop around to find the lowest premiums when you’re seeking to sell.

Mike Maharrey is a journalist and market analyst for Money Metals with over a decade of experience in precious metals. He holds a BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a BA in journalism from the University of South Florida.

Feds Paying $1,000 Stipend for Those Who Self-Deport

Headline USA Editor
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Feds Paying $1,000 Stipend for Those Who Self-Deport

(Bethany Blankley, The Center Square) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday another incentive for self-deportation: a $1,000 stipend.

The announcement comes two weeks after President Donald Trump said the agency would be offering stipends to those who self-deport, The Center Square reported.

At a cabinet meeting last month, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also discussed agency efforts to fund plane tickets for those voluntarily departing as well.

On Monday, DHS announced “a historic opportunity for illegal aliens to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country through the CBP Home App.”

The Trump administration repurposed the Biden administration CBP One app, which was previously used to facilitate illegal entry into the U.S. to CBP One Home app. The Trump administration is also requiring all illegal foreign nationals to register with the federal government in accordance with federal law. Those who fail to self-deport face fines of up to $1,000 a day, The Center Square reported.

So far, thousands have used the CBP Home app to self-deport, DHS said.

Now, any illegal foreign national who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of $1,000, paid to them after they arrive in their home country and confirmed on the app.

“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement” agents, DHS said. The cost of the stipend is projected to be 70% less than being arrested, processed for removal and deported by ICE agents, DHS said. “Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121.”

Under the Biden administration, more than 14 million illegal border crossers were reported. There are nearly 700,000 criminal foreign nationals on an ICE docket for removal, The Center Square reported.

DHS also announced that travel assistance “has already proven successful. An illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country recently utilized the program to receive a ticket for a flight from Chicago to Honduras. Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week.”

In a message to illegal foreign nationals, Noem said, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport.”

Those who submit their intent to voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home app “will also be deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure,” DHS said. Those using the app and who voluntarily self deport “may help preserve the option … to re-enter the United States legally in the future,” DHS said.

Qualifying illegal foreign nationals are encouraged to submit their “Intent to Depart” using the CBP Home app here.

Silver Supply Deficit and Other Silver News

Money Metals News Service
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Silver Supply Deficit and Other Silver News

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) Silver demand outstripped new supply for the fourth straight year as industrial demand set another record.

This was one of several stories featured in the new edition of Silver News published by the Silver Institute.

Silver industrial demand rose 4 percent in 2024 to 680.5 million ounces, according to data collected by Metals Focus. It was the fourth consecutive year of record industrial offtake.

Global silver demand exceeded silver supply last year, resulting in a structural market deficit of 148.9 million ounces.

The silver price rose 21 percent last year and charted a 59 percent trough-to-peak rally.

Last year’s record industrial demand primarily came from end uses stemming from artificial intelligence (AI) and applications in the green economy, specifically electric and telecommunications grid infrastructure, electric vehicles and charging stations, and photovoltaics.

China accounted for the largest worldwide share of industrial demand, with a 7 percent rise. India’s demand was also strong, rising by 4 percent.

Despite record industrial offtake, overall silver demand fell by about 3 percent to 1.16 billion ounces.

The drop was primarily due to weak investment demand, particularly in the West. Coin and bar demand fell 22 percent last year to a five-year low. However, India recorded a 21 percent rise, due to bullish price expectations and an import duty cut.

Silver mine output was flat in 2024.

Silver News also featured several interesting stories about new uses for silver in technology.

  • Ethylene oxide (EO) is vital in the manufacture of many products, including plastics, textiles, disinfectants for medical equipment, antifreeze, adhesives, and more. However, EO comes with a downside – its production requires chlorine and produces significant greenhouse gas. After more than six years of research, scientists have discovered that using a silver catalyst with small amounts of nickel eliminates the need for chlorine while keeping production high and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • A multinational group of researchers from Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia has discovered that silver nanoparticles can prevent the growth of fungus on tomatoes. Not only does silver protect against microbes, but it also enhances growth. The research team noted, “Silver nanoparticles are also considered novel growth stimulators in plants and reported to improve biomass, promote germination, intensify the pigment content, and boost growth and fruit quality.”
  • Indian scientists have developed a silver wire network on a stretchable material that can sense strain and accompanying pain and then respond with electrical pulses. The process mimics the way nerves operate. The goal is to produce a wearable device that can help doctors detect stress and pain early before it becomes chronic or untreatable.

Mike Maharrey is a journalist and market analyst for Money Metals with over a decade of experience in precious metals. He holds a BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a BA in journalism from the University of South Florida.

Warren Buffett Will Remain Chairman at Berkshire Hathaway When Greg Abel Takes Over as CEO in 2026

Headline USA Editor
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Warren Buffett Will Remain Chairman at Berkshire Hathaway When Greg Abel Takes Over as CEO in 2026

(Headline USA)  Billionaire Warren Buffett will remain chairman of the board at Berkshire Hathaway when vice chairman Greg Abel takes over for Buffett as CEO at the start of 2026.

The board of directors at the cash-rich conglomerate voted Sunday to keep the legendary 94-year-old investor as head of the board, a decision likely to relieve investors worried about maintaining Berkshire’s remarkable winning streak as U.S. and global economies are beset by tariff shocks, financial turmoil and a growing risk of recession.

The board in the same meeting also approved Buffett’s chosen successor as CEO, veteran Berkshire executive Greg Abel, 62. In a surprise announcement Saturday, Buffett said he would step down from that top spot at the end of the year.

Berkshire Class B shares fell 4% Monday morning after hitting an all-time high Friday.

Macrae Sykes, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, praised the company’s transparency after Buffett announced the succession and does not believe Buffett is going anywhere.

“I think it gives Warren a little more bandwidth instead of running this conglomerate,” Sykes said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It gives Greg more transparency on the opps with also Warren still being his mentor as chairman,”

Unmatched track record of success

In six decades at the helm, Buffett turned a Massachusetts textile company into a sprawling but nimble conglomerate that owns everything from Daily Queen and See’s Candies to BNSF Railway and massive insurance companies. As the company grew, Warren’s reputation grew with it as shares of Berkshire Hathaway climbed steadily, exceeding major indexes by wide margins and returning an average 19.9% each year to investors versus 10.4% for the Standard & Poor’s 500.

The decision to continue with the Oracle of Omaha, as Buffett is known, as head of the board differs from the succession plans laid out in the event of Buffett’s death. The billionaire has long said that Howard Buffett, the second-born of the investor’s three children, should become chairman when he is gone to protect Berkshire’s culture.

Abel will take over in a precarious time as the U.S. launches trade wars against friend and foe alike, which Buffett has called a mistake. But Abel has managed all of Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses since 2018.

So much money, so few places to put it

Then there is Berkshire’s $348 billion in cash.

Buffett says he doesn’t see many bargains to invest that money in now, not even Berkshire’s own stock, but he assured some of the estimated 40,000 attendees of the company’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, over the weekend that one day the company would be “bombarded with opportunities.”

Abel, a low-key Canadian with a love a hockey, is a more hands-on manager than Buffett, asking managers tough questions and encouraging them to collaborate with other subsidiaries when it makes sense. He will now take on oversight of the insurance businesses and responsibility for investing the company’s cash. Vice Chairman Ajit Jain, 73, will stay on for now to help manage the insurance businesses that include Geico and massive reinsurers like General Re.

Abel said Saturday that he wouldn’t change the Berkshire’s approach to investing, which he learned from Buffett. Maintaining Berkshire’s fortress-like balance sheet will always be a priority, he said.

Eventually, Berkshire might have to consider paying a dividend, which Buffett always resisted because he believed he could deliver better returns by reinvesting the cash. For now, Buffett and Abel want to keep building cash, so they are prepared when opportunities arise.

High praise for Abel

Buffett endorsed Abel, vowing to keep all of his shares that give him control of 30% of Berkshire Hathaway.

“It’s way better with Greg than with me because I didn’t want to work as hard as he works and I can get away with it because we’ve got a basically good business — a very good business,”” Buffett said.

He also said Abel brings new strengths to the company.

“The fact that you can do pretty well doesn’t mean you couldn’t do better, and Greg can do better at many things,” he said.

The CEOs of Berkshire subsidiaries who report to Abel have praised his management style of personal accountability, but also autonomy. 

See’s Candy CEO Pat Egan worked with Abel at Berkshire’s utility unit for years before he took over six years ago and said Abel makes sure he’s considered every contingency.

“He’s allowed me to make a lot of decisions that he may or may not have agreed with, but he’ll support us at the end of the day, no matter what as long as we’re operating with integrity and principles and the long game,” Egan said.

But Morningstar analyst Greggory Warren wrote that Buffett’s succession announcement left him with plenty of questions and Abel will have to prove himself.

“Abel, in our view, will be held to a different standard than Buffett, with a greater focus on how well Berkshire is performing—especially with it being likely that there will be some churn in the company’s shareholders as we move past the end of an era for the firm,” Warren said.

Buffett’s philanthropy continues

Buffett has always delegated the decisions about how to distribute his fortune, worth nearly $170 billion, to others through annual share donations to the Gates Foundation and four family foundations run by his children.

The Gates Foundation has received the biggest donations worth more than $40 billion since he started giving away his fortune in 2006.

He said last summer that his three children will decide how to distribute his remaining fortune after his death, but donations to the Gates Foundation will end. Buffett has said he expects it to take a decade to give away all his shares after his death, ensuring extended support for Abel from the family.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press.

Trump Says US May Walk Away From Ukraine-Russia Talks

Headline USA Editor
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Trump Says US May Walk Away From Ukraine-Russia Talks

(Kyle Anzalone, Libertarian Institute) President Donald Trump said at some point his administration may give up on attempting to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. 

In an interview on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker asked the President how close Ukraine and Russia were to coming to an agreement. “I do believe we’re closer with one party. And maybe not as close with the other, but we’ll have to see,” Trump replied. “Five thousand soldiers a week on average, are dying. They’re not American soldiers. But I want to solve the problem.”

Trump refused to say which country was the greater barrier to reaching an agreement to end the war. 

Welker pressed Trump to explain when he would give up on trying to end the war. “Well, there will be a time when I will say, okay, keep going, keep being stupid,” he said. “Maybe it’s not possible to do.”

The President did not put a firm date on when he would consider that making a deal was no longer possible. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that day would come within weeks. 

During the interview, Trump touted the mineral agreement signed between Washington and Kiev last week. He said the deal will help the US recoup some of the money the Joe Biden administration spent sending aid to Ukraine. 

According to the text of the agreement, once it goes into effect, if the US “delivers new military assistance to the Government of Ukraine in any form (including the donation of weapons systems, ammunition, technology or training), the capital contribution of the US Partner will be deemed to be increased by the assessed value of such military assistance.”

This suggests the US could continue sending weapons to Ukraine. 

Welker and Trump did not discuss what walking away from talks would mean for US support for Ukraine and the relationship between Washington and Kiev. 

The President said one barrier to a deal was the hatred between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky, along with each country’s military leadership. 

Last week, Vice President JD Vance issued a notably pessimistic tone about the war. It is “going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other’s terms for peace are. It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.” He added, “It’s not going anywhere…. It’s not going to end any time soon.”

This article originally appeared at The Libertarian Institute.

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