USA Might Not Defend Europe
The Mirror wrote on March 30:
“A confidential Pentagon document suggests the United States may not come to Europe’s aid in the event of a Russian attack. The leaked internal memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is said to prioritise deterring China’s ambitions over Taiwan and bolstering defense measures on U.S. soil….
“The memo outlines Hegseth’s stance that America is unlikely to offer significant support to Europe against Russian aggression. It highlights an expectation for NATO allies to assume the primary role in defending their territory. The United States, the guidance suggests, will provide nuclear deterrence against Russia but will only commit forces that are not essential for homeland security or missions related to China.
“The document underscores the importance of increased defense contributions from European nations, stating that this ‘will also ensure NATO can reliably deter or defeat Russian aggression even if deterrence fails and the United States is already engaged in, or must withhold forces to deter, a primary conflict in another region.’
“The latest memo aligns the Pentagon’s strategy with President Trump’s global security concerns, particularly highlighting undefined threats from the ‘near abroad’. In the document, Trump insists that U.S. forces must be ‘ready to defend American interests wherever they might be threatened in our hemisphere, from Greenland, to the Panama Canal, to Cape Horn.’”
Trump: “We’ll Get Greenland, 100 Percent!”
Daily Mail wrote on March 28:
“‘We need Greenland,’ Trump said in the Oval Office. ‘Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of, “Do you think we can do without it?” We can’t.’… ‘If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that. We’re not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation.’
“He added: ‘And we’re not talking about peace for the United States. We’re talking about world peace. We’re talking about international security. And right now you look at it, you have warships all over the place going through, right along Greenland.’ He said the United States was ‘not going to let that happen.’”
The Associated Press wrote on March 30:
“‘We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,’ Trump told NBC News in an interview. He added there is a ‘good possibility that we could do it without military force’ but ‘I don’t take anything off the table’ … Trump also said ‘I don’t care’… what message it would send to Russian President Vladimir Putin…
“The reaction by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s attempts to annex the vast Arctic island. .. And Greenlandic lawmakers on Thursday agreed to form a new government, banding together to resist Trump’s overtures.”
Vance in Greenland
The U.S. Sun wrote on March 28:
“Vance said that Denmark has failed to secure the region as it was 30,40 years ago… ‘Our European allies have not kept up with the pace in military spending, and Denmark has failed to keep our troops and its own people safe… It is far better to come under the US security umbrella than the Danish security umbrella…’
“The VP then added that America needs to lead in the Arctic region security and protect its interests. But he failed to rule out military force to take over Greenland… [even though he said he did not think military force was ever going to be necessary].
“Trump says Europe needs to understand his interest in Greenland. He said that Greenland is ‘very important for the peace of the world.’ Trump added: ‘I think the European Union understands it, and if they don’t – we’re going to have to explain it.’”
Newsmax added on March 28: “Vance said the U.S. has ‘no option’ but to take a significant position to ensure the security of Greenland.”
Denmark Rejects Vance’s Tone
Deutsche Welle wrote on March 29:
“Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed his dissatisfaction over the ‘tone’ of US Vice President JD Vance’s comments that Copenhagen had not done enough for Greenland. ‘We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered,’ Rasmussen said on X. ‘This is not how you speak to your close allies…’
“Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also hit back at Vance in a statement, as she referred to Danish combat deployments alongside US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘For many years, we have stood by the Americans in very difficult situations,’ Frederiksen said. ‘The vice president’s reference to Denmark is not accurate.’”
Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen contradicted Trump, saying: “The US will not get Greenland.”
Trump Prepares for Major Escalation in Tariffs War
Newsmax wrote on March 29:
“President Donald Trump is urging senior advisers to take a more aggressive stance on tariffs as the administration prepares for a major escalation in its global trade war…
“Despite calls from allies on Wall Street and Capitol Hill to adopt a more measured approach, Trump has been pushing for sweeping trade actions aimed at reshaping the U.S. economy… Trump has expressed regret over not implementing broader tariffs during his first term and has blamed advisers for persuading him to pull back…”
Do Tariffs Work?
Express wrote on March 29:
“US stocks on Wall Street fell on Friday amid growing concerns among consumers and investors about… Trump [who] said the latest tariffs would come into effect on April 2, with charges on businesses importing vehicles starting over the next days. Taxes on spare parts are set to start in May or later…
“Trump’s new tariffs could potentially hit every single American with an extra $2000 (£1545) in annual costs… Mexico is the top supplier of cars to the US, followed by South Korea, Japan, Canada and Germany.”
Trump Threatens U.S. Automakers
Newsmax wrote on March 28:
“President Donald Trump told the CEOs of some of the most prominent car manufacturers they better not raise their prices due to tariffs, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump said the White House would look unfavorably on the move, causing some of them to fear they would face retribution if they increased prices, sources told the Journal…
“Automakers and industry suppliers have said they will have to raise prices due to tariffs and that bringing back manufacturing to the U.S. could take years, the Journal reported… Vehicle prices could rise 11% to 12% to offset the tariffs, Morgan Stanley analysts said…
“An executive at one of the automakers told the Journal they were baffled by the desire to both impose tariffs — but also tell car companies they couldn’t raise prices. ‘The math would tell you that’s going to cost us multibillions of dollars,’ an auto executive said. ‘So who pays for that?’”
These tariffs HURT America. It’s not just the cars manufactured overseas… it also includes auto parts, many of which are being imported to US automakers to be used in manufacturing cars in the USA. Obviously, automakers will have to raise prices to survive… meaning, the consumers suffer from these tariffs.
Trump Denies Threatening U.S. Automakers
The Huffington Post wrote on March 30:
“In an interview with NBC News,… the president also pushed back against reporting in The Wall Street Journal, that he had pressured CEOs not to raise prices. ‘No, I never said that. I couldn’t care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars.’
“If the cost of tariffs are fully passed to consumers, the average price on imported vehicles could spike by $12,500…”
The New York Post added on March 30:
“A Trump aide later clarified that the president’s comments brushing aside price hikes were specific to foreign-made vehicles…
“‘Absolutely, they’re permanent, sure,’ [Trump] added…‘The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all we’re doing is being fair, and frankly, I’m being very generous.’ Still, Trump indicated that there may be some wiggle room, particularly on the timeframe for implementing the tariffs ‘only if people are willing to give us something of great value,’ adding that ‘otherwise, there’s no room for negotiation.’”
Even so. The American people won’t be happy to hear that Trump does not care whether US automakers will raise prices, because of his planned 25% tariffs on auto imports.
Biggest Tax Rise to Crush Economy
The Telegraph wrote on March 31:
“Trump is plotting the biggest tax rise in global history.
“… the White House appears to be planning steep new tariffs, imposed on all of the US’s trading partners. On Fox News, Peter Navarro, one of the key backers of the tariff policy, suggested that levies on auto imports should raise $100 billion a year for the federal government. More significantly, he estimated that across the board tariffs would collect $600 billion annually..
“Some of the burden might be absorbed by foreign companies… By far most likely, however, is that much of the increased cost will be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices. Either they will be forced to pay more for imported goods, or prices may rise in general because US companies have less of an incentive to improve productivity thanks to the protections afforded by that tariff wall.
“… the president is imposing tariffs, while at the same time talking vaguely about taxes that might or might not be reduced at some point in the future. That is not even close to an acceptable way to run the administration. So Trump is about to impose a huge tax rise, and the blunt truth is that like any other tax rise it will crush the American economy.”
Trump’s New Tariffs on Liberation Day
The Associated Press wrote on April 2:
“President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States, threatening to upend much of the architecture of the global economy and, critics say, risking broader trade wars.
“Trump held up a chart while speaking at the White House, showing the United States would charge a 34% tax on imports from China, a 20% tax on imports from the European Union, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan and 32% on Taiwan.
“The president described a global trade system that the United States helped to build after World War II, saying ‘our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered’ by other nations.
Trump declared a national economic emergency to launch the tariffs, expected to produce hundreds of billions in annual revenues.
“He has promised that factory jobs will return back to the United States as a result of the taxes, but his policies risk a sudden economic slowdown as consumers and businesses could face sharp price hikes on autos, clothes and other goods. ‘Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,’ Trump said in remarks at the White House. ‘But it is not going to happen anymore.’…
“The president’s higher rates would hit foreign entities that sell more goods to the United States than they buy, meaning the tariffs could stay in place for some time as the administration expects other nations to lower their tariffs and other barriers to trade that it says have led to a $1.2 trillion trade imbalance last year.”
The New York Post added on April 2:
“The new 10% baseline [tax]… will take effect Saturday. Specific reciprocal duties will take effect April 9 — including a 20% duty on the European Union, 24% on Japan and 17% on Israel… The tariffs announcement coincided with the Wednesday adoption of 25% tariffs on most Canadian and Mexican goods, as well as a 25% tariff on all foreign made cars and auto parts to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.”
Focus wrote on April 2:
“It is the most aggressive and momentous step in the US President’s trade policy to date. This hits the European Union hard and is likely to have a significant impact on the global economy. A trade war with the European Union now seems inevitable.”
“Putin Calls to Remove Zelenskyy, ‘Finish Off’ Ukrainian Troops”
AFP wrote on March 28:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin called Friday for a ‘transitional administration’ to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would ‘finish off’ Ukrainian troops, in hardline remarks as President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire… The renewed call to essentially topple Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the latest demonstration of Putin’s long-standing desire to install a more Moscow-friendly regime in Kyiv…
“In the first days of the offensive, Putin issued a public call for Ukraine’s generals to topple Zelenskyy, whom Putin has repeatedly denigrated, without providing any evidence, as a neo-Nazi and drug addict. Moscow has also repeatedly questioned Zelenskyy’s ‘legitimacy’ as Ukrainian president, after his initial five-year mandate ended in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during times of major military conflict, and Zelenskyy’s domestic opponents have all said elections should not be held until after the conflict. Putin, in power for 25 years and repeatedly elected in votes with no competition, has throughout the conflict accused Ukraine of not being a democracy.
“Putin also called for his troops to press their advantage on the battlefield and step up their attacks, even as he says Moscow has halted its strikes on Ukrainian energy targets. ‘I was saying not so long ago: “We will finish them off.” There are reasons to believe that we will finish them off,’ Putin said. ‘We are gradually, not as fast as some would like, but nevertheless persistently and confidently moving toward achieving all the goals stated at the beginning of the special operation,’ the Kremlin leader added, using his term for the offensive…
“Ukraine’s state oil and gas operator, Naftogaz, said that Russia attacked its facilities overnight and Zelenskyy on Thursday called on Washington to ‘react’ to the ongoing strikes. Russia’s defense ministry accused Ukraine of firing rockets and more than a dozen drones at its energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia had launched 163 drones at the country in its latest aerial attack, with regional officials reporting fires at infrastructure and agricultural sites in the south of the country…
“Zelenskyy met in Paris on Thursday with Ukraine’s key European backers in a bid to strike a unified position of support against Trump’s overhaul of U.S. policy on Ukraine. But he said after the talks he had ‘many questions’ and ‘few answers’ over discussions led by France and Britain on a possible European troop deployment as part of any wider ceasefire or peace deal.”
Russia Threatens With Bloodbath
Breitbart wrote on March 28:
“Coalition of the willing leaders are meeting in Paris to discuss supporting Ukraine but Moscow continues its bid to undermine these attempts, accusing France and Britain of provoking ‘direct military confrontation’ between NATO and the Russian Federation. Governments of over 30 nations and entities… [discussed] sustaining military and economic support for Ukraine. Also on the table is the suggestion of security guarantees for Ukraine and even, as frequently discussed by the United Kingdom and France, the possibility of European peacekeepers in Ukraine to monitor any agreement achieved by the Trump talks…
“Russia, meanwhile, which clearly would not benefit from a ceasefire being guaranteed by NATO troops on Ukrainian soil… has long agitated against such notions… with the spokesman for the Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova warning of bloody violence if Europe tries…”
Attempts to End the War Futile?
The New York Post published the following opinion piece on March 28:
“With every passing day, the Trump administration’s effort to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine through a real estate-like deal, swapping land for peace, looks increasingly futile. No amount of flattery or concessions to Russia can change the fact that… Putin is not interested simply in establishing control over some contested territories, supposedly populated by Russian speakers.
“He wants to end Ukraine’s existence as an independent nation.. it should not be difficult for President Trump to see that he is dealing with an untrustworthy, bad-faith actor who must be stopped and deterred — not accommodated or befriended. Yet, accommodation seems to be a preferred route for many in the administration…
“Russian authorities have abducted between 20,000 and 35,000 Ukrainian children to Russia, changing their names and dates of birth, indoctrinating them, and recruiting teenage boys into the Russian military… He is interested in turning Ukraine into an integral part of Russia, or its appendage — an obedient Belarus-like statelet under an autocratic pro-Kremlin leadership. Hence the insistence, unfortunately embraced by some in the US administration, on an early election or a replacement of… Zelensky with a ‘transitional administration,’ as Putin put it on Friday.”
Trump Angry With Putin
NBC News wrote on March 30:
“President Donald Trump said he was ‘very angry’ and ‘pissed off’ when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized [the] credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, adding that the comments [and the ceasefire talks] were ‘not going in the right location… If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia… That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States… ‘There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil’… noting that the tariffs on Russia would come within a month without a ceasefire deal. Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but noted that he has ‘a very good relationship with him’ and ‘the anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing.’…”
The New York Post added on March 30:
“Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has since accused Trump of seeking an ‘illusory peace’ with Putin, warning the president that bowing to Moscow’s demands only ‘shreds America’s credibility, leaves Ukraine under threat, weakens our alliances and emboldens our enemies.’”
Putin wants to unify Russia and Ukraine. To him, Ukrainians are Russians. No US brokered ceasefire or peace treaty will defeat his goals.
Hillary Clinton Speaks Out
Politico wrote on March 28:
“Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has an assessment of her one-time presidential rival’s administration’s handling of sensitive information… ‘It’s not the hypocrisy that bothers me; it’s the stupidity. We’re all shocked — shocked! — that President Trump and his team don’t actually care about protecting classified information or federal record retention laws,’ she wrote…
“‘What’s much worse is that top Trump administration officials put our troops in jeopardy by sharing military plans on a commercial messaging app and unwittingly invited a journalist into the chat. That’s dangerous. And it’s just dumb.’”
It would be advisable for hypocritical Hillary Clinton to be very quiet, giving her criminal history of illegally destroying thousands of emails on her server, including classified ones.
The War on Due Process
The Rutherford Institute wrote on March 27:
“The war on due process is here. No trials. No hearings. No rights. Just indefinite detention and secret deportations. This is the fate that awaits every one of us, not just immigrants (legal or otherwise), if the government’s war on the Constitution remains unchecked.
“More than two decades after the U.S. government in its post-9/11 frenzy transported individuals, some of whom had not been charged let alone convicted of a crime, to CIA black sites (secret detention centers located outside the U.S. authorized to torture detainees) as a means of sidestepping legal protocols, the Trump Administration is using extraordinary rendition to make those on its so-called ‘enemies list’ disappear.
“The first round of arrests and deportations to a mega-prison in El Salvador supposedly targeted members of the infamous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Carried out with little evidence and without court hearings or due process, these roundups reportedly may also have swept up individuals with no apparent connection to gang activity apart from common tattoos (firearms, trains, dice, roses, tigers and jaguars) and other circumstantial evidence.
“In a particularly Kafkaesque explanation for why some of the Venezuelan migrants who have no criminal records were targeted for arrest and deportation, government lawyers argued in court that that their lack of a criminal record is in itself cause for concern…
“The most egregious of these incidents involve college students, scientists and doctors, all of them legal permanent residents of the U.S. who, while never having been charged with a crime, are accused of threatening national security by taking part in anti-war protests over the growing death toll in Gaza as a result of the Israeli-Hamas war, or sympathizing with the Palestinians, or being associated with someone who might sympathize with the Palestinians.
“When merely exercising one’s right to criticize the government in word, deed or thought is equated to an act of domestic terrorism, we are all in trouble… American citizens could very well be next in line for this kind of treatment… suddenly, everything that challenges the government’s authority becomes a national security threat and every dispute a national emergency… Make no mistake: while immigrants, illegal and legal alike, have largely been the first victims of the Trump administration’s efforts to circumvent the Constitution in order to make them disappear, it’s our very freedoms that are being made to disappear…
“What good are rights if the president is empowered to nullify them whenever he wants? For that matter, what good is a government that betrays its own citizens? History has shown us that when governments operate without checks and balances, tyranny follows. The question is not whether mass arrests and indefinite detentions could be expanded to American citizens—it’s how long before they are… if we accept that a president can unilaterally decide who is a threat without oversight, then we have already lost the freedoms that define us as a nation.”
Frightening.. but most certainly not impossible…
Supreme Court to Intervene in AEA Matter?
The Guardian wrote on March 28:
“The Trump administration on Friday asked the US supreme court to intervene to allow the government to continue to deport immigrants using the obscure Alien Enemies Act. The request came one day after a federal appeals court upheld a Washington DC federal judge’s temporary block on immigrant expulsions via a wartime act that allows the administration to bypass normal due process, for example by allowing people a court hearing before shipping them out of the US.
“Friday’s emergency request claims that the federal court’s order temporarily blocking the removal of Venezuelans forces the US to ‘harbor individuals whom national-security officials have identified as members of a foreign terrorist organization bent upon grievously harming Americans’.
“Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act has spurred a legal battle between the executive and judiciary branches of the US federal government. ‘We will urge the supreme court to preserve the status quo to give the courts time to hear this case, so that more individuals are not sent off to a notorious foreign prison without any process, based on an unprecedented and unlawful use of a wartime authority,’ said Lee Gelernt in a statement on Friday afternoon. Gelernt is the deputy director of the ACLU’s immigrants’ rights project and lead counsel in the case…
“On 15 March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime statute allowing the government to expel foreign nationals considered to be enemies to the US. When invoking the act, Trump, without proof, claimed that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had ‘infiltrated’ the US at the behest of the Venezuelan government. A US intelligence document accessed by the New York Times contradicts Trump’s claim about the Venezuelan government’s ties to the gang… Family members of many of the deported Venezuelan migrants deny the alleged gang ties…”
Normally, the US Supreme Court does not get involved in hearing a case which only involves, at that state, temporary procedures, such as TROs or preliminary injunctions. But in this case, it could be different. And then the question arises, what will the court do? Just based on the known facts and analyzing the law, the court would have to rule against the Trump administration. But we will see.
More Venezuelan Gang Members Deported to El Salvador
Fox News wrote on March 31:
“The U.S. military transferred a group of 17 alleged members of Tren de Aragua to El Salvador from Guantanamo Bay on Sunday night… All the individuals transferred were either citizens of Venezuela or El Salvador. Some have criminal charges pending, while most have been convicted… These removals were done via Title 8, not the Alien Enemies Act, and all the individuals had deportation orders or final orders of removal… meaning the Trump administration did not violate a federal judge’s order halting the deportations…
“El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele… addressed the recent transfer in a statement on X, saying the 17 individuals are ‘confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists.’”
What Green-Card and Visa Holders Should Know Before Traveling Abroad
npr wrote on March 29:
“Traveling or returning to the U.S. from abroad has become increasingly risky for some — even for people with valid visas and green cards… Earlier this month, for example, Brown University urged its international staff and students to postpone any plans to travel outside the U.S. ‘out of an abundance of caution.’ Canada, along with several countries in Europe, including Denmark, Ireland and Germany, have also updated their travel guidance for the U.S., urging their citizens to strictly adhere to U.S. entry rules or risk detention.
“In a statement to NPR, Hilton Beckham, assistant commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said, ‘Green card holders who have not broken any U.S. laws, committed application fraud, or failed to apply for a re-entry permit after a long period of travel have nothing to fear about entering and exiting the country.’
“In a recent case earlier this month, 34-year-old electrical engineer Fabian Schmidt, a green-card holder originally from Germany, was taken to immigration detention from Logan International Airport in Boston over a decade-old misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession…
“CBP officers can ask travelers to unlock their cell phones, give laptop passwords or hand over digital cameras. U.S. citizens and green-card holders can’t be turned away simply because they refuse, but visa holders can…
“If a traveler’s electronic device gets confiscated, the ACLU suggests asking for the officers’ names, badge numbers and which agency they work for. It also advises that travelers should call the agency to request a receipt documenting that a personal item was taken away. According to the ACLU, travelers who are asked to undergo further inspection at the airport are not entitled to an attorney… it’s still useful to have an immigration attorney’s contact information on hand… [or] to have a friend who can be quickly reached if there’s trouble entering the U.S.
“So if it looks like you’re going to be questioned by the border people, you can text a friend [if even allowed to do this] saying, ‘I’m being pulled into secondary inspection, contact my immigration lawyer,’ ”
Only Four Permits in LA
Fox News wrote on March 28:
“Los Angeles has only approved four permits to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged during the January wildfires in the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades that charred some 7,000 homes… Three of the permits were for one to repair a damaged home and two for full rebuilds… The first permit was issued on March 5, less than two months after the Palisades fire swept through the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding area…
“The first few permits issued have been touted by Mayor Karen Bass as a milestone in the city’s recovery, but local leaders and residents have criticized the slow permitting process…”
On or about January 24, 2025, Trump told Bass to waive all building restrictions and let those affected by the fires begin to rebuild within 10 days. Bass seemed to agree to this in front of the cameras. She obviously lied.
Trump Threatens Iran
NBC News wrote on March 30:
“Trump threatened ‘bombing’ and ‘secondary tariffs’ on Iran if the country did not make a deal with the U.S. to ensure it did not develop a nuclear weapon… ‘It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.’… “
Fox News added on March 30:
“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian… noted that in Iran’s response [rejecting direct negotiations with the U.S], indirect negotiations with the Trump administration were still possible…. Fox News Digital has previously reported that European intelligence agencies believe Iran is working toward testing an atomic weapon, and sought illicit technology for its nuclear weapons program.”
America’s and Europe’s Shameful Deafening Silence
Bloomberg wrote on March 28:
“Ekrem Imamoglu, the Turkish opposition figure whose detention this month triggered mass protests and a market selloff, criticized Western leaders for their muted response to his arrest. In a piece published in The New York Times on Friday morning, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival accused the US and Europe of prioritizing geopolitical interests over democratic values. ‘Their silence is deafening,’ Imamoglu wrote of world governments. ‘Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Turkey. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response.’…
“Erdogan doubts leaders in places such as France and Germany want a dispute over Turkey’s democracy. US President Donald Trump, for his part, called Erdogan a ‘good leader’ this week. Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, said the lack of international condemnation of Erdogan is helping ensure Turkey’s shift toward authoritarianism….
“Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last week that Imamoglu’s detention was ‘depressing,’ but other European leaders have largely refrained from issuing similar statements. The UK government hasn’t commented on the deportation of a BBC journalist on Thursday.
“Since Imamoglu’s arrest, Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,900 people, including students and activists, and have cracked down on media coverage. Local news channels, online broadcasters, and YouTubers are the target of penalties and investigations. Imamoglu’s lawyer was also detained, state-run Anadolu reported on Friday.”
The deafening silence of the USA and Europe is indeed shameful. To call dictator and brutal autocrat Erdogan a good leader is astonishing.
Erdogan Calls For Destruction of Israel
Fox News wrote on March 31:
“The Jerusalem Post reported that Erdoğan said [during a prayer service to mark the end of Ramadan]: ‘May Allah, for the sake of his name “Al-Qahhar,” destroy and devastate Zionist Israel.’ His call for the annihilation of the Jewish state has drawn fierce condemnation, particularly from Israeli officials.
“In response to his remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated on X, ‘The dictator Erdogan revealed his antisemitic face,’ adding that ‘Erdogan is dangerous to the region, as well as to his own people, as has been proven in recent days,’ Sa’ar referred to the widespread protests in Turkey and added, ‘Let’s hope NATO members understand how dangerous he is, and not before it’s too late.’:
FDD added on March 31:
“Erdogan… also prayed for ‘mercy upon the martyrs’ of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and a ‘speedy recovery’ for their wounded terrorists.”
Israel Strikes Beirut
Deutsche Welle reported on March 28:
“Israel carried out a strike on Beirut, the Lebanese capital, for the first time since the ceasefire that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November. The attack on Friday targeted a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs and was in response to rocket fire from its northern neighbor, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The IDF said it wanted to destroy a drone storage facility belonging to the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah… Israel also bombarded Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Friday, the Israeli military said.
“Speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who was visiting Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said the strike on Beirut was ‘unacceptable,’ adding that such attacks ‘play into the hands of Hezbollah.’… Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, said the Lebanese government bore direct responsibility for the attack and warned, ‘If there is no quiet in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee communities, there will be no quiet in Beirut either.’”
The Many Challenges of the Trump Administration
The Jerusalem Post wrote on March 30:
“… the Trump doctrine of getting deals in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran all face hurdles. In addition, the decision to use force against the Houthis could be a test for what comes next. If the Houthis are not deterred, then will Iran be deterred?… the US airstrikes have not yet prevented Houthi attacks on Israel…
“… This is why April is so important for the Trump doctrine in the region. The bombing campaign on the Houthis, the Gaza ceasefire, the Iran talks, and the Russia talks are all up in the air. The administration is juggling many things. Some of these deals are connected. Iran backs Russia. Iran backs Hamas. Iran and Qatar have an amicable relationship. Qatar hosts Hamas. Russia has not condemned October 7…
“The US also has forces at Tanf Garrison in Syria near the Jordan-Iraq border. This means the US has an interest in the new Syrian government. The new government in Damascus also has ramifications for Lebanon… Israel has made it clear it will not tolerate any threats from Lebanon or Syria. Israel has stepped up bombing in both Lebanon and Syria. Turkey wants to back the new Syrian government. Some people think this sets up a potential clash between Israel and Turkey. The Trump administration will not want that to happen. This means that there is much to discuss regarding Syria…”
“The Deification of Donald Trump”
Following this headline, Die Welt wrote on March 27:
“Donald Trump has only been in office for two months, and several politicians are demanding special tributes: his portrait on Mount Rushmore, on the $100 bill, and on a new banknote. A well-known airport is also to be renamed. This has never happened before in US history…”
A Third Term for Trump?
The New York Post wrote on March 31:
“President Trump said he’s ‘not joking’ about serving a third term in the White House — and thinks there’s a loophole to make it happen… Trump claimed that ‘there are methods which you could do it,’ including having Vice President JD Vance, 40, run for president with Trump as his vice president. Vance would then resign to allow Trump to regain the top job. ‘But there are others too,’ Trump said, without elaboration…
“Trump explained he’s interested in serving as president until 2033 because ‘I like working.’… Trump, the second president in US history to serve non-consecutive terms, is set to be the oldest-ever commander-in-chief when he completes his second term in January 2029 at age 82 years and seven months — beating out former President Joe Biden, who left office in January at age 82 years and two months. He would be nearing age 87 at the end of a hypothetical third term…
“A small handful of leaders have led major Western democracies well into old age. West Germany’s Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was 87 when he resigned in 1963 — after 14 years in power — and is historically well regarded for his accomplishments in rebuilding his country from the aftermath of World War II….”
JD Vance Vindicated: Scandalous Judgment Against Le Pen
Breitbart wrote on March 31:
“Vice President JD Vance was correct in warning of attacks on democracy and liberty in Europe, supporters claimed, as populist National Rally leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running in the French presidential election. Just weeks after JD Vance left globalists stunned in Europe after excoriating them for undermining freedom of speech and the democratic will of their citizens, many have claimed that he was proven right on Monday as a Paris court banned the leading populist candidate to replace President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election.
“The court found National Rally leader and three-time former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement for allegedly using public funds for her party in the European Parliament on political activities in France. In addition to sentencing Le Pen to four years in prison, which will likely be served in some form of house arrest [with an electronic tag], and a 100,000 euro fine, the court controversially agreed with prosecutors to ban her from running in any election for five years.
“The ruling even banned her from seeking political office during the appeal process, meaning Le Pen may be blocked from the 2027 presidential election, which she currently stands as the undisputed frontrunner…
“Following the ruling to ban Le Pen from running in the upcoming presidential election, which came just weeks after a court in Romania blocked populist frontrunner Călin Georgescu from running in the presidential election in the EU nation, Vance’s remarks were pointed to as being prophetic.
“Donald Trump Jr. said: ‘France is sending Le Pen to jail and barring her from running?! Are they just trying to prove JD Vance was right about everything?’
“Human Events Senior Editor Jack Posobiec said Vice President Vance had ‘predicted’ the encroachment against democratic values in Europe, adding that his address in Munich ‘was the most important political speech of the 21st century’. The Bruges Group, a leading Eurosceptic think tank in Britain, remarked: ‘Events in France today confirm that JD Vance was right in everything he said at the Munich Security Conference. The democratic backsliding and open lawfare in the EU threatens freedom in Europe.’”
Judgment Decried
Breitbart wrote on March 31:
“Political allies have decried the ruling, accusing the court of interfering in the French democratic process and depriving citizens of the right to choose their own leader. The former leader of the Republicains, who sided with Le Pen’s party in last year’s legislative elections, Eric Ciotti said that ‘the democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an unworthy judicial cabal. This is not a simple malfunction, it is a system of power capture that systematically excludes any candidate too far to the right who is capable of winning.’
“Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose party sits in coalition with Le Pen’s National Rally in the European Parliament, said in a statement of solidarity: ‘I am Marine!’ in a reference to the ‘Je Suis Charlie’ slogan following the terror attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
“Italian Deputy PM and longtime ally Matteo Salvini said: ‘Those who fear the judgment of voters often seek reassurance from the courts. In Paris, they have condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to remove her from political life. A bad situation that is also being observed in other countries such as Romania. What is happening against Marine Le Pen is a declaration of war from Brussels, at a time when the belligerent impulses of Von der Leyen and Macron are terrifying. We are not intimidated, we are not stopped: full speed ahead, my friend!’
“Le Pen’s deputy and likely successor, Jordan Bardella, said: ‘Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed.’”
Politico added on March 31:
“‘I am shocked by the incredible tough verdict against Marine Le Pen,’ fumed Dutch far-right chief Wilders, whose party won a national election in November 2023, helping tilt the Netherlands to the right. ‘I support and believe in her for the full 100% and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France.’
“In Spain, far-right Vox party chief Santiago Abascal said: ‘They will not succeed in silencing the voice of the French people.’
“Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage said Le Pen has been ‘cancelled’ on what he describes as ‘a very trumped-up charge’…”
The Guardian added on March 31:
“In the US… Musk, a close adviser to the US president, said: ‘When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world.’ He added: ‘This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump.’
“Trump himself said the conviction and ban from running for office was a ‘very big deal’ adding, ‘that sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country,’ in an apparent reference to legal cases that he himself faced before he took office.”
“Millions of Bees Are Mysteriously Dying – and Now Donald Trump Is Coming Along”
Following this headline, Focus wrote on March 28:
“Researchers in the US are alarmed: Millions of honeybees are dying for no apparent reason. But the discovery mission is stalling – President Trump has fired the researchers. The consequences for agriculture are fatal.
“It is a sad record currently being reported from the US: More than two-thirds of the bee population in the US died over the winter. Those most affected are commercial beekeepers, whose livelihoods depend on bees…
“The fact that up to one-fifth of a bee colony dies over the winter months is actually normal – and important to keep the colony alive. But the sheer number of entire hives that have now died shocks even experienced observers…
“A classic symptom of this disorder is that the foragers, which provide food for the queen bee and her larvae, simply don’t return to the hive and disappear… The cause of the deaths is unknown…
“European honey bees are vital not only here, but also in the USA: They pollinate more than half of the cultivated fruits such as apples, berries, melons, cherries, and pumpkins – thus keeping the plants alive… The honey harvest is also suffering massive losses due to the bee deaths. According to the research project’s estimates, the damage this winter alone amounted to around $139 million, and the price of honey in the USA rose by about five percent. Bad news for Americans, who have already had to endure sharply rising food prices recently.”
Devastating Earthquake in Myanmar
npr wrote on March 30:
“Emergency aid has streamed into Southeast Asia in the two days since a massive earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand. Relief efforts are focused on Myanmar, where the estimated death toll rose to (at least 1,700) by Sunday afternoon (with at least 300 people having been reported missing).
“The number of dead from Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake (followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock) is expected to increase, while the number of injured was at 3,408… The earthquake’s epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with 1.5 million people. In neighboring Thailand, the death toll rose to (18).
“While food, medicine and other vital supplies have reached Myanmar, a report issued Saturday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said rescue efforts have been hampered by a severe shortage of medical supplies including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicine and tents to house health workers. ‘We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake,’ said Mohammed Riyas, the IRC’s Myanmar director.”
The Guardian added on March 30:
“Red Cross officials have warned that Myanmar faces a humanitarian crisis… ‘What we’re seeing here in Myanmar is a level of devastation that hasn’t been seen over a century in Asia,’ the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) wrote…”
Deutsche Welle added on March 30:
“Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military, announced a unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts.”
Myanmar was formerly known as Burma. On January 4, 1948, Burma achieved independence from Britain. It has historically maintained a non-aligned foreign policy, but in recent years, it has deepened its relationships with Russia and China. Russia is a key ally, providing military support, including fighter jets used against ethnic minority groups allied with pro-democracy forces.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.