His capitulation to Putin over Ukraine reveals a pattern. He’s the patsy: giving everything away, getting little in returnHe parades as a strongman, but in fact he’s weak, weak, weak. In the face of America’s adversaries Donald Trump is, as he might put it, a patsy, a sucker, a pushover. He folds like a pack of cards. He’s a human doormat. A loser.Just consider the gifts he has handed Vladimir Putin this week. He has brought Russia in from the diplomatic cold after three years of ostracism following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, whose anniversary is nearly upon us. Sergei Lavrov, Putin’s foreign minister, was meant to be persona non grata; he remains under international sanctions. Nevertheless, this week in Riyadh he met Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in so-called peace talks.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

President Donald Trump brought out golfer Tiger Woods to surprise the crowd at a White House Black History month celebration.

Politics

In a matter of days, Donald Trump completed the most radical shift in US foreign policy in decades, bringing Putin back into the fold while sidelining Europe. He claims to have brought the end of the war in Ukraine in sight, but with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the rest of Europe excluded from the US-Russia talks, are we really any closer to peace? And, at what price?Jonathan Freedland speaks to veteran US diplomat Kurt Volker, who served as Trump’s special representative for Ukraine during his first term, and the Guardian’s US live news editor Chris MichaelSend your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyamerica@theguardian.com Help support the Guardian by going to theguardian.com/politcspodus Continue reading...

Politics

James Files, 83, (pictured) claims he fired the bullet that killed John F Kennedy on November 22, 1963 from behind a fence on the grassy knoll overlooking Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.

Events

Sitting side by side like a couple announcing their engagement, the world’s most powerful man and Donald Trump gushed about their relationship to Sean HannityThe British dancer Debbie McGee was once asked in an interview: “What first ever attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?” Hopefully some day Donald Trump will be asked in an interview: “What first ever attracted you to the billionaire far-right sympathizer Elon Musk?”Alas, the question was not put by the Fox News host Sean Hannity when he conducted a joint interview with the world’s most powerful man and Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

Trump has long railed against what he calls the unfair treatment of US automotive exports in foreign markets and has vowed to impose levies around '25 per cent' on imported vehicles.

Politics

The import taxes would have an immediate impact on inflation rates, which Trump has promised to bring down

Events

The move to bring in more experts within Musk’s circle follows the Trump administration’s decision to fire hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration personnel

Technology

The West scrambles for an answer over 'crass admiration for despotism' as US President Trump takes a pickaxe to decades of global democracy and sides with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Politics

The US president’s bullying of allies and partners is short-termist and will boost Beijing’s power, not Washington’sDonald Trump’s return to the White House is so far proving more nightmarish for US allies and friends than adversaries. China certainly doesn’t relish a trade war with the US, but it was better prepared than others for Mr Trump’s tariffs, and both sides appear to be leaving room for a potential deal. And, though China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is poised for worse to come, the second Trump term is bringing Beijing opportunities as well as problems.International respect for the US plummeted under his last administration. As the US president turns the screws on long-term partners, China is looking to take advantage. Colombia quickly caved to Mr Trump on the matter of migrant returns, but China’s ambassador has been celebrating the “best moment” in relations between Bogotá and Beijing. Under pressure from the Trump administration, Panama announced that it w...

Politics

Lord Richard Dannatt said Britain does not have the forces or equipment ‘to put a large force on to the ground for an extended period of time’.

Events