Author: Stephanie Gauthier

Donald Trump has announced an additional 10% tariff on goods imported from Canada, raising the stakes in his already heated trade war after Ontario aired an anti-tariff advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan.

President Trump says he will impose an additional 10% tariff on Canada. Details: https://cnn.it/4qs98xH

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-10-25T21:56:01.273650747Z

«Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.»

Calling the ad a «fraud», the president accused Canadian officials of knowingly backing it and lashed out at them for not removing it ahead of the World Series baseball championship.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump declared: «Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,» according to Reuters.

Ronald Reagan’s 1988 speech

Last week, Donald Trump abruptly ended all trade talks with Canada after accusing Ontario’s government of funding a «fake» U.S. advertisement that featured Ronald Reagan’s real voice and words taken from an authentic 1988 speech criticizing protectionism.

The ad, which aired online and during several U.S. broadcasts, repurposed Reagan’s original remarks warning against tariffs and trade isolation to highlight the economic risks of Trump’s current policies. Enraged by what he called a «fraudulent» attempt to manipulate public opinion, Trump claimed the ad was a $75 million effort to influence ongoing court cases over his controversial «Liberation Day» tariffs.

Declaring «CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!», he announced that all trade negotiations with Canada were «hereby terminated», defending tariffs as vital to U.S. national security and economic strength.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by acknowledging the end of trade talks, saying Ottawa would instead focus on developing new partnerships, particularly with major Asian economies.

The only G7 country

Earlier this year, the Trump administration had already raised tariffs on most Canadian imports to 35%, one of the highest rates applied by the U.S. to any trading partner. Canada is also the only G7 country that has yet to reach a trade deal with the United States since Trump began seeking to levy steep tariffs on goods from major trading partners.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had no plans to meet the Prime Minister of Canada during his trip to Malaysia, even though both leaders were headed to a major international summit.

For his part, the Prime Minister said, according to Reuters, that he is ready to sit down for trade talks with Donald Trump as soon as the U.S. president is prepared to do so, but emphasized that while he remains open to further negotiations, he will reject any trade deal that is not in the best interest of Canadians.

Canada says ready to sit down with United States reut.rs/47rYnCW

— Reuters (@reuters.com) 2025-10-27T10:00:35Z

In a long Truth Social outburst, the president declared the end of all trade talks with Canada, accusing Ontario’s government of funding a «fake» U.S. ad using Ronald Reagan’s voice to criticize Trump’s tariffs.

A Canadian-made anti-tariff ad, released on US television and featuring audio from former President Ronald Reagan, has sparked a sharp response from President Trump. https://cnn.it/4hnWSu1

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-10-24T09:00:43.342063802Z

«TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.»

An advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan

In his first post on the matter, Trump wrote that «the Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.»

«CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!»

-Donald Trump

He continued, alleging that «the ad was for $75,000,000» and that Canadian officials «only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts.»

After announcing his so-called «Liberation Day» tariffs on April 1, 2025, sweeping new import taxes justified under the IEEPA and set to take effect on April 2, Trump faced immediate legal challenges from businesses and several U.S. states. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court after lower courts struck down the tariffs as unlawful, prompting the administration to appeal.

«We can’t control the trade policy of the U.S.»

-Mark Carney

Canada’s «egregious behavior»

In his Truth Social publication, Trump defended his trade policy, insisting that «TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.»

Trump concluded the post by declaring that, based on what he called Canada’s «egregious behavior»:

«ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.»

Clearly stung by the attack on his tariffs, Trump followed up with a series of all-caps posts on Truth Social defending his trade policy and accusing Canada of cheating, writing «THE UNITED STATES IS WEALTHY, POWERFUL, AND NATIONALLY SECURE AGAIN, ALL BECAUSE OF TARIFFS!» and «CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!»

Trump also claimed that «THE STOCK MARKET IS STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF TARIFFS!» and that Reagan «LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY.»

«We recognize it has fundamentally changed from the policy in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and it’s a situation where the U.S. has tariffs against every trading partner.»

Carney signals pivot to Asia

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Trump’s decision to end trade negotiations by acknowledging the shift in U.S. policy, saying «We can’t control the trade policy of the U.S.»

He added, «We recognize it has fundamentally changed from the policy in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and it’s a situation where the U.S. has tariffs against every trading partner.»

Carney emphasized Canada’s goal of «developing new partnerships, including with the economic giants of Asia.»

Carney: "We can't control the trade policy of the US. We recognize it has fundamentally changed from the policy in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, & it's a situation where US has tariffs against every trading partner… what we we can control is developing new partnerships, including w/econ giants of Asia"

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-10-24T14:02:36.101Z

After weeks in which Moscow had hoped to secure a second Trump–Putin summit, seen by the Kremlin as a chance to influence Washington, Trump’s sudden cancellation and his decision to sanction two of Russia’s largest oil companies, described as the «heart of Russia’s economy», sparked fury.

Russia reacts with outrage after the U.S. sanctioned its two largest oil companies, the first economic punishments slapped on Moscow by President Trump during his second term.

— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) 2025-10-23T15:40:24.662Z

Russian officials accused him of taking a «path of war» with Moscow.

«The USA is our adversary, and their loquacious ‘peacemaker’ has now fully taken up the path of war with Russia.»

The harsh reaction from Russia came from Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council and former president of Russia.

In a social media post, Medvedev declared that «The USA is our adversary» and, mocking Trump as «their loquacious “peacemaker”», added that the United States «has now fully taken up the path of war with Russia».

Medvedev use of the phrase «their loquacious ‘peacemaker’» was a pointed jab at Trump, mocking his constant self-promotion as a peacemaker and master dealmaker.

An immediate ceasefire

After weeks of being pressed on when he would act on his threat to sanction Russia if Putin proved insincere in his peace talks, Trump has finally done so. He is now calling on Putin to «agree to an immediate ceasefire» as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue.

Trump’s sudden reversal in recent weeks followed months of leniency toward Russia and repeated claims that Ukraine was to blame for the war — a stance that allowed Putin to seize significant territory and gain momentum.

Trump later admitted he had been misled by Putin and expressed disappointment, though despite repeatedly vowing to impose sanctions, he took no action, enabling Russia’s continued advances.

During his meeting last week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump discussed a potential tunnel between Russia and Alaska, a topic Zelensky was «not happy about», and mentioned a possible second meeting with Putin, while appearing to reject Zelensky’s request for U.S. Tomahawk missiles.

«The USA is our adversary»

-Dmitry Medvedev

But Trump suddenly canceled the planned second meeting with Moscow, visibly frustrated by Russia’s lack of progress in his peace initiative, saying he «didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get.»

«We waited for this. God bless, it will work»

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement, according to CNN, that «Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort» to end the war in Ukraine.

«We canceled the meeting with President Putin. It just didn’t feel right to me. It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get. So I canceled it, but we’ll do it in the future,» explained Trump to journalists at the White House.

According to CBS News, Zelensky, for his part, expressed relief at the announcement of U.S. sanctions against Russia, saying «We waited for this. God bless, it will work» and calling the move «very important.»

Speaking from Brussels, where he is meeting European leaders to secure further military aid and coordination, the Ukrainian president reiterated that only sanctions could bring Moscow to the negotiating table.

BREAKING: President Donald Trump said that he’d “canceled” an anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling reporters at the White House, “It just didn’t feel right to me.” https://cnn.it/47jZZOX

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-10-22T21:50:27.607957423Z

Best-selling author Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against Melania Trump, citing «assault on free speech» after she allegedly threatened to sue him for 1 billion dollars over claims he made linking her to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Author Michael Wolff sues Melania Trump after she threatens Epstein suit

— Axios (@axios.com) 2025-10-22T19:41:02.591Z

«To be perfectly honest, I’d like nothing better than to get Donald Trump and Melania Trump under oath, in front of a court reporter, and actually find out all of the details of their relationship with Epstein,»

Wolff maintains that his reporting is protected by the First Amendment.

Epstein, Trump and the interviews that started it all

In a video posted on social media, author Michael Wolff said he has «written four books about Donald Trump» and that, before Jeffrey Epstein’s death, he had «extensively interviewed» the financier, including about his ties to Trump.

«They are filed or threatened anyway to intimidate people from talking about this exact subject.»

Wolff added that he has «spoken publicly about aspects of those interviews, including the things Epstein said about his relationship with both Donald Trump and Melania Trump.»

Melania’s billion-dollar threat

Wolff said that «several days ago» he was notified by lawyers representing Melania Trump that they intend to sue him for one billion dollars over his public statements. He added that «they’ve threatened and sued other people for related statements about Melania Trump’s relationship with Epstein.»

Describing such actions as «SLAPP suits»—strategic lawsuits against public participation—Wolff said these cases «may have no hope whatsoever of proving defamation, but they are filed or threatened anyway to intimidate people from talking about this exact subject.»

«A very fruitful way to finally open this dark curtain and find out what Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were doing together.»

Turning the tables on the Trumps

Wolff went on to say that he «can’t live like that,» referring to what he described as intimidation through legal threats.

«To be perfectly honest, I’d like nothing better than to get Donald Trump and Melania Trump under oath, in front of a court reporter, and actually find out all of the details of their relationship with Epstein,» he said.

Declaring that he was «turning the tables on the Trumps and refusing to acquiesce,» Wolff added that his lawyers had filed a motion in a New York court seeking a declaratory judgment — giving them subpoena power to call witnesses and determine «exactly what the relationship between Epstein and the Trumps was.»

«I can’t live like that.»

-Michael Wolff

A costly but revealing battle

Wolff concluded his video by acknowledging that the legal battle ahead «is going to be an expensive effort,» saying he plans to seek public support to help fund it.

He added that he believes the case could become «a very fruitful way to finally open this dark curtain and find out what Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were doing together.»

Michael Wolff vs. Melania Trump: See you (and your husband) in court.

— Michael Wolff (@michaelwolffnyc.bsky.social) 2025-10-22T19:04:22.508Z

The Trump administration has apparently extended its naval campaign from the Caribbean to the Pacific this week, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that two boats, presumed to be cartel drug vessels, were struck by the US military.

US military strikes boat in the Pacific in apparent expansion of its campaign against alleged drug trafficking. https://cnn.it/4ngzf88

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-10-22T18:09:48.690747001Z

The 8th and 9th military strikes, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with the president’s approval, have brought the death toll to 37, according to CNN.

«Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice.»

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the expansion of the war into the Pacific on X, stating that one of the boats was known to the US military for «conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific».

Following the first strike, Hegseth issued a warning, saying there would be «no safe harbor anywhere in our hemisphere» for those he described as narco-terrorists.

On X, Hegseth compared the drug cartels to Al Qaeda and warned that there would be no refuge or forgiveness «only justice»:

«Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice.»

His statement came as CNN reported that the Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion seeking to justify lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, effectively granting the US military and Hegseth the authority to kill without any form of judicial review.

A war against «narco-terrorists»

Since early September, the U.S. military has conducted nine strikes against vessels suspected of belonging to drug cartels, marking the largest American counter-narcotics campaign in decades.

The first attack, on September 2, targeted a Venezuelan boat allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua network, killing eleven.

Additional strikes followed on September 15, 16, and 19, with one vessel sunk and nearly one ton of cocaine reportedly recovered by Dominican authorities — the only publicly documented evidence of drug trafficking so far, according to local media cited by international outlets. A new strike on October 3 killed four more.

Two further operations in the Pacific this week brought the total death toll to 37.

The Trump administration calls the campaign a war against «narco-terrorists».

But colombian officials have accused the Trump administration of killing a civilian fisherman during the U.S. anti-cartel strikes, alleging the victim had no criminal ties. The incident has fueled growing doubts over the campaign’s accuracy and legality, as no independent evidence has yet confirmed the U.S. claims about the targeted boats.

The Trump administration expands its campaign against alleged drug traffickers this week.They opened a new front by launching an attack in the Pacific and targeting Colombia.

— Politico (@politico.com) 2025-10-22T22:18:54.517Z

The latest subscription cancellation figures for Disney+ and Hulu following the Jimmy Kimmel suspension backlash paint a stunning picture: millions have walked away.

When Disney temporarily suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last month, about three million Disney+ customers and more than four million Hulu customers canceled their subscriptions, according to new data.

— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 2025-10-20T18:00:07.806646Z

According to the The New York Times, around 3 million U.S. subscribers cancelled their Disney+ accounts and approximately 4 million abandoned Hulu amid what analysts are calling one of the most dramatic subscriber exoduses in recent streaming history.

The Kimmel Controversy: From Suspension to Record-Breaking Return

The controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel began on September 15, when the late-night host delivered a monologue reacting to the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel criticized Donald Trump’s response to the killing, arguing that the former president was using the tragedy for political gain, remarks that quickly drew outrage from conservative media and Trump supporters.

Just two days later, on September 17, ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air, citing «ongoing review.» The decision came amid mounting political pressure and complaints reportedly lodged with the Federal Communications Commission. The move was widely seen as a capitulation to political interests, sparking immediate outrage from viewers and fellow entertainers.

Protests erupted outside Disney and ABC studios across several cities. Online, the hashtags #CancelDisneyPlus and #CancelHulu surged as millions of users joined a coordinated boycott against Disney’s streaming platforms. According to analytics firm Antenna, the backlash translated into a staggering wave of cancellations, an estimated 3 million Disney+ and 4 million Hulu subscriptions lost in just a few weeks, effectively doubling both platforms’ churn rates.

«That’s not legal, that’s not American, that is un-American and it is so dangerous.»

6 million viewers

Under growing public and media pressure, Disney announced Kimmel’s reinstatement on September 22, and the show returned to air the following night. Despite initial refusals from some local affiliates to broadcast the episode, Jimmy Kimmel Live! made a triumphant comeback, drawing over 6 million viewers, the program’s highest ratings in nearly a decade.

Speaking with a mix of emotion and defiance, Kimmel tore into the president’s attempts to silence him, describing how the threats extended far beyond a personal attack to include ABC, the constitutional right of free expression, and even the role of the press itself in a functioning democracy.

Kimmel criticized the Trump administration for trying to coerce affiliates who run his show in cities across the country to take it off the air: «That’s not legal, that’s not American, that is un-American and it is so dangerous.»

«The government cannot be allowed to control what we do», added the host on his widely anticipated return.

The debate over free speech

Donald Trump erupted on Truth Social after Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night TV, unleashing a furious tirade against both the comedian and ABC. He accused the network of making a «big mistake», mocked Kimmel as talentless, and branded his show «Democrat garbage.»

Kimmel’s suspension and return have since become a flashpoint in the debate over free speech, political influence in entertainment, and the corporate risks of cultural backlash in the streaming era.

Donald Trump announced that he made an «awfully strange decision» by asking the Justice Department to pay him $230 million in damages over the investigations conducted against him.

Breaking News: President Trump wants $230 million from the Justice Department for investigating him, people familiar with the matter say. Any settlement might ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him or those in his orbit. nyti.ms/4hmIi5X

— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 2025-10-21T18:34:38.421458Z

«It’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m essentially paying myself.»

-Donald Trump

Trump confirmed that he would personally approve the $230 million request, saying, «I’m the one that makes the decision, and that decision would have to go across my desk,» while admitting that «it’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m essentially paying myself.»

Trump’s $230 million claim is expected to meet little resistance within the Justice Department, now led by loyal allies. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former defense lawyer, and Civil Division chief Stanley Woodward Jr., who represented several Trump aides, will likely approve it quickly, especially after Pam Bondi fired the agency’s top ethics adviser in July.

Trump Seeks Payback for FBI Probes

Trump is seeking payment for two FBI investigations: the 2016 probe into Russian election interference and possible ties to his campaign, and the 2022 search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence and private club. «I was damaged very greatly, and any money I would get, I would give to charity,» Trump explained, justifying his demand for compensation.

In 2016, the FBI launched an investigation into possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election and potential links between Moscow and Donald Trump’s campaign. The probe, known as «Crossfire Hurricane,» aimed to determine whether campaign members coordinated with Russia to influence the election’s outcome.

The FBI investigation determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to influence the outcome in Donald Trump’s favor. However, investigators did not establish sufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. The probe highlighted vulnerabilities in U.S. election security.

«I was damaged very greatly, and any money I would get, I would give to charity,»

40 counts over mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice

In August 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida to recover classified documents taken from the White House. Agents found hundreds of sensitive records, including top-secret files, prompting a federal investigation into potential mishandling of government documents and obstruction of justice.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation concluded that Donald Trump had retained classified government materials after leaving office, including documents related to national security. Prosecutors alleged that he obstructed efforts to retrieve them, leading to federal charges. The case raised significant questions about presidential accountability and the handling of sensitive information.

In 2023, Donald Trump was charged with 40 counts over mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice. The case collapsed in July 2024 when Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed it, ruling Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment unconstitutional. In early 2025, remaining charges against Trump’s aides were also dropped, ending the prosecution.

Trump connects DOJ compensation request to $250 million White House renovation

The $230 million dollars request, which shocked many ethics experts, comes as Trump has begun the partial demolition of the White House’s East Wing to build a $250 million ballroom.

I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous patriots, great American companies, and, yours truly.»

Trump, addressing the irony of being both the president and the beneficiary of the payment, remarked, «It sort of looks bad, I’m suing myself, right?»

Trump, who previously said the project would be funded by «Yours truly, » now suggests that the money he is seeking from the Justice Department could help finance his controversial White House ballroom.

Trump declared on Truth Social, «I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous patriots, great American companies, and, yours truly.»

The post struck many as ironic, given that it was published only a day before Trump requested $230 million from the Justice Department.

Although his 2022 lawsuit was dismissed, Trump has revived his grievances as president, now seeking $230 million from the Justice Department. He argues that the FBI investigations, including the Mar-a-Lago search, caused him significant personal and political harm, damages he says justify financial compensation.

Donald Trump has suggested that a $230 million payment he is reportedly eyeing off as compensation for his past legal battles could be used to help fund his controversial White House ballroom.

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) 2025-10-22T00:20:04.402483Z

Shocking photos and videos released by the media show part of the White House in ruins, as construction begins on a $250 million ballroom for Donald Trump.

Construction workers ripped the face off the East Wing to begin building President Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom. nyti.ms/43oS9T1

— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 2025-10-21T03:00:59.878768Z

The images have left many stunned, especially after the president had pledged that the White House’s historic structure would remain untouched during the project.

«It won’t interfere with the current building.»

-Donald Trump

«I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom.»

The «Rose Garden Club» and a new ballroom

It comes after ordering in June the famous White House Rose Garden to be gutted and replaced with a hard-scape patio, including limestone slabs and club-style seating, and branding it the «Rose Garden Club», a move widely criticized for erasing the garden’s historic character and turning it into a Mar-a-Lago-style venue.

Trump has now turned his attention to the East Wing, where the construction of a massive new ballroom has led to the permanent destruction of part of the White House, sending chills and raising serious questions among Americans.

The ballroom project, envisioned by Donald Trump and announced in July with a projected cost of $250 million, was set to begin construction in September. Trump insisted it would be financed entirely through his own funds and contributions from what he described as «patriot donors», emphasizing that no taxpayer money would be used.

«I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom,» Trump wrote on Truth Social, as images of the demolition continued to circulate online.

Like his own permanent residence

Images showing a damaged exterior wall and part of the roof quickly spread across the media, as critics denounced the president’s abrupt decision to remodel the White House, the people’s house.

A much-needed project

Many questioned the necessity of a lavish ballroom and anxiously wondered what Trump might do to the building next, as he increasingly appears to treat it like his own permanent residence.

«I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway,» Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to several media outlets, including The Washington Post, Trump stated while signing the executive order in July that the main White House structure would remain untouched by the ballroom’s construction, saying:

«It won’t interfere with the current building.»

Trump suggested that the construction would not affect the existing White House.“It won’t interfere with the current building. It won’t be,” he said during an executive order signing in July.Read more here:

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2025-10-21T14:21:53.853Z