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Trump has sharply escalated pressure on Canada over the past week, applying heavier economic measures against Ottawa than against most other countries targeted by his trade policies. The escalation took an unusual turn as Trump addressed reporters while arriving at a special screening of the documentary Melania, centered on his wife, Melania Trump. Already angered by a speech delivered by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump appeared further provoked by reports of a possible trade deal between Canada and China. His comments reflected an effort to exert maximum economic leverage on what had long been one of the United States’ most reliable allies, as the dispute broadened from tariffs into a direct challenge to Canada’s economic autonomy and national sovereignty.

The first thing they’re going to do is say ‘you’re not allowed to play ice hockey anymore.

In a weird stance, Trump commented on the recent rapprochement between Canada and China, framing it as a sign of weakness rather than strategic diversification. Speaking to reporters, he criticized Ottawa for looking toward Beijing at a moment when his own administration has sought to apply intense economic pressure on Canada, while also escalating rhetoric that has touched on sovereignty and internal politics.

Trump said bluntly, «Canada is not doing well. They’re doing very poorly and you can’t look at China as the answer.» He then shifted to a more personal tone, invoking his relationship with Beijing by adding, «I know China very well. I know President Xi, is a friend of mine, I know him very well.» Trump followed with a warning directed squarely at Canada’s leadership, stating, «But that’s a big hurdle to go over when you get Canada.» The remarks came as questions swirl over reports suggesting Trump’s administration has held meetings with far-right separatist figures linked to Alberta, adding to concerns in Ottawa about political interference alongside economic pressure.

Trump then pushed his argument into even stranger territory, warning that closer ties with China could threaten Canada’s national identity, including its most iconic sport.

In comments that quickly drew attention for their tone and substance, he suggested Beijing would impose cultural demands on Ottawa, claiming, «The first thing they’re going to do is say: you’re not allowed to play ice hockey anymore.»

He immediately added, «That’s not good.» The remarks capped a pattern of rhetoric that has repeatedly questioned Canada’s sovereignty, with Trump having previously floated the idea of the country becoming the 51st US state and recently referring to the Canadian prime minister as a governor. Ending his comments with another pointed warning, Trump said, «Canada’s not going to like that.» The episode underscored how Trump’s pressure campaign against one of Washington’s closest allies has expanded beyond tariffs into symbolic and provocative territory.

A recent report by CSIS (the Center for Strategic and International Studies), reported by CNN, says that a stunning 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country four years ago, a scale of losses that the researchers describe as unprecedented for a major military power since World War II. According to the analysis, the casualty rate reflects the intensity and duration of the conflict, with repeated large-scale offensives, entrenched front lines, and tactics that have resulted in sustained and exceptionally high human costs. CSIS notes that such losses are virtually without modern precedent for a state with Russia’s military size and resources, underscoring the depth of the war’s impact on Moscow’s armed forces and raising questions about the long-term sustainability of its campaign in Ukraine.

Data from the CSIS report highlight another striking imbalance in the war’s human cost, showing that Ukraine is estimated to have lost between 500,000 and 600,000 troops, while Russia’s death toll surpasses Ukraine’s by a ratio of roughly 2-to-1. The assessment underscores the scale of Russian losses relative to its battlefield gains and manpower strategy. According to comments cited from Britain’s deputy ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, James Ford, Russian military casualties, including those killed and wounded, now exceed the country’s sustainable recruitment and replacement rates. Analysts warn that this imbalance is not only straining Russia’s armed forces but is also beginning to weigh on the broader economy, as prolonged mobilization, labor shortages, and rising military expenditures place increasing pressure on domestic growth and long-term stability.

Over the past year, the conflict has entered a new phase shaped in part by Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his public framing of the war. Trump has repeatedly presented Russia as holding the upper hand, stressing Ukraine’s dependence on Western aid and casting doubt on Kyiv’s ability to sustain the fight. This narrative contrasts with assessments from Western analysts, including CSIS, which note that despite the scale of the war and massive losses, Russia has increased the amount of Ukrainian territory under its control by only about 12% since 2022. The limited territorial gains, measured against the human and economic cost of the conflict, have fueled debate among allies over how the war is being portrayed politically, particularly as evidence continues to point to heavy Russian casualties and growing strain on Moscow’s military and economy.

Donald Trump’s latest retribution attempt targets the Treasury Department and the US Internal Revenue Service, as he filed a lawsuit in Florida alongside two of his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, seeking at least $10 billion in damages. The complaint accuses the agencies of allowing an unauthorized leak of his tax returns during his first administration, an episode that has continued to fuel Trump’s claims of institutional misconduct. The legal action follows the sentencing of former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2024 after admitting to disclosing thousands of tax returns without authorization, according to CNN.

Trump’s legal team accused the IRS in a statement of having « allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee » to leak private and confidential information about Trump, the Trump Organization and members of his family. According to the statement, the disclosures were deliberately funneled to several left-wing media outlets, including the New York Time and ProPublica, which the lawsuit claims amplified the breach by publishing the material. The legal filing further alleges that these organizations « illegally released » Trump’s tax returns to « millions of people, » framing the episode as a coordinated violation of federal law and taxpayer privacy protections. The accusations are presented as central to Trump’s broader claim that federal institutions failed to prevent, and in effect enabled, the unlawful dissemination of sensitive financial records.

The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization to the New York Times, ProPublica and other left-wing news outlets, which was then illegally released to millions of people. President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable.

Trump was the first president in decades not to voluntarily release his full tax returns, breaking a long-standing tradition in US politics in which presidential candidates and sitting presidents routinely made their tax filings public as a basic transparency measure. The controversy intensified after a separate criminal case revealed how some of that information reached the media. According to US prosecutors, former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn illegally accessed and disclosed Trump’s tax data while working for the agency, with the unauthorized transfers occurring in 2019 and 2020. Reporting based on the leaked material and later confirmed by the tax returns released by Congress shows that Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and again in 2017, and no federal income tax at all in 2020. These figures became central to public scrutiny of Trump’s finances and tax practices, reinforcing claims that he used losses and deductions to dramatically reduce his tax liability in several years.

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has pursued a series of high-value legal actions seeking financial damages, largely against media and technology companies. In early 2025, he reached a settlement with Meta over social-media account suspensions, resulting in about $25 million, largely directed to his presidential library. In mid-2025, Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC/Disney over televised comments, a case later settled for roughly $15 million, plus legal fees. In July 2025, he sued the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones over alleged defamatory reporting linked to Jeffrey Epstein, seeking $10 billion, with the case still pending. In September 2025, Trump brought a defamation suit against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, tied to investigative reporting and a related book, demanding $15 billion; the case was later dismissed with the option to refile. Later in 2025, Trump sued CBS and its parent company Paramount Global over edited footage aired on 60 Minutes, initially seeking $20 billion, before the dispute was settled for $16 million. He has also threatened legal action against the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of misleading editing in a documentary and warning of a potential lawsuit seeking $1 billion in damages, though no formal case has been filed to date.

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has continued to press financial claims against the US government tied to past federal investigations. In 2024, his lawyers filed administrative damage claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act seeking more than $100 million from the Department of Justice over the August 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, alleging misconduct and reputational harm. Those filings also included a broader compensation request totaling about $230 million, covering both the Mar-a-Lago search and the earlier Russia investigation. In 2025, Trump publicly confirmed those figures, saying the federal government «owes him a lot of money,» while acknowledging that any settlement would require approval from his own administration. The claims were formally submitted and reviewed by the Justice Department, but had not yet resulted in a court lawsuit at the time of his comments.

Russia’s second-largest oil producer, Lukoil, has been heavily affected by U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, measures described by Washington as part of a broader effort to pressure Moscow into negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. In that context, Lukoil announced that it has reached an initial agreement with the U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group to sell a majority stake in its foreign assets. The move marks a significant shift for the Russian energy company as it seeks to offload overseas operations amid mounting financial and regulatory pressure, while allowing a U.S.-based firm to expand its footprint in global oil markets shaped by sanctions and geopolitical realignment.

Russia’s second-largest oil producer, Lukoil, has been heavily affected by U.S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, measures Washington said were aimed at forcing Moscow toward negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. When announcing the sanctions in October, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, «Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire», adding that «Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine». Against that backdrop, Lukoil announced it had reached an initial agreement with the U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group to sell a majority stake in its foreign assets, a move reflecting the mounting financial pressure on Russia’s energy sector.

U.S. sanctions, combined with European measures and lower global oil prices, led to a 25 percent drop in Russia’s oil and gas exports last year, according to Russia’s finance ministry, as Washington and its allies intensified pressure by targeting tankers linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The Kremlin reacted cautiously to the reported deal between a U.S. firm and a Russian company, with a spokesperson saying «the main priority is that the interests of the Russian company are ensured and upheld». On the U.S. side, the transaction remains subject to approval by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Treasury Department agency responsible for enforcing and administering sanctions, underscoring the regulatory hurdles surrounding any transaction involving sanctioned Russian energy assets.

The second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis plunged the Trump administration into a widening political and operational crisis, sharply escalating scrutiny of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. The death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, marked the second deadly encounter involving federal agents in the state this month, triggering sustained protests, legal challenges, and demands from Minnesota officials that federal forces withdraw. State and local leaders accused Washington of inflaming tensions and failing to maintain control over a rapidly deteriorating situation, turning what began as an enforcement operation into a national flashpoint with mounting political consequences.

As the fallout intensified, an internal blame game erupted inside the administration over how the shooting was handled and publicly explained. White House officials privately accused Customs and Border Protection of circulating inaccurate and inflammatory intelligence, while others faulted senior adviser Stephen Miller for amplifying the claim that Pretti sought a «massacre», language later conceded by officials to be unsupported. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who repeated the allegation publicly, faced growing criticism from lawmakers and administration aides for failing to verify the information, deepening mistrust and fueling accusations of reckless messaging amid an already volatile situation.

Under mounting pressure, President Trump moved to reset the federal response by sidelining Border Patrol leadership overseeing the Minnesota operation and dispatching Tom Homan to take direct control. The reassignment effectively removed the commander on the ground as Homan, the administration’s so-called border czar, assumed authority. Homan vowed to remain in Minnesota until «I’m staying ‘til the problem is gone», signaling an attempt to stabilize the operation, contain political damage, and reassert control. The leadership shake-up underscored the severity of the crisis and growing demands for accountability and clearer oversight.

At his first press conference in Minnesota since taking charge of the federal immigration operation, border czar Tom Homan said the enforcement mission «has not been perfect» and stressed that his priority is to make it «safer» and «more efficient». He reaffirmed his vow to remain in the state, declaring «I’m staying ’til the problem is gone», while confirming that discussions are underway with Minnesota officials about reducing the federal presence if cooperation improves. Homan said ICE would continue targeted enforcement «by the book» and declined to address the specific shootings, arguing that ongoing investigations must proceed before conclusions are drawn.