Former president Barack Obama has condemned the Trump administration’s freezing of $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard University as “unlawful” and “ham-handed.”
The White House has frozen more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with a long list of demands.
The university said it would not “surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights”, after the administration demanded it make sweeping changes to its leadership, governance and admissions.
Later, Donald Trump suggested the university should lose its tax-exempt status.
Separately, the president said he would “love” to send “homegrown criminals” to prisons in El Salvador, a day after hosting the country’s president at the White House.
Trump also suggested that income from higher tariffs could be “so great” it could replace income tax.
Earlier, the U.K. stock market surged in response to comments from vice president JD Vance said there was a "good chance" of a trade deal between the U.S. and Britain.
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Key Points
Kristi Noem is annoying ICE officials with her ‘made-for-TV’ approach to Homeland Security
16:50
,
Joe Sommerlad
The Homeland Security Secretary is irritating some Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials with her “made-for-TV” approach to running the department, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Noem has been accused by some Department of Homeland Security insiders of jeopardizing an ICE raid in New York City in January after she posted about it on social media while the operation was still ongoing.
“We are doing this right – doing exactly what President DonaldTrump promised the American people – making our streets safe. Live this AM from NYC. I’m on it,” Noem wrote on her X account on January 28 at 4.43am, with a photo of herself wearing an ICE baseball cap surrounded by flashing lights.
The post “undercut the element of surprise,” people familiar with the raid told the Journal.
The department’s top spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, told the outlet that the raid was almost over when Noem posted about it on social media.
Still, people familiar with the plans claimed it resulted in fewer arrests than planned, according to the outlet.
Rhian Lubin has more.
Fox News host teaches Trump how to say ‘Make America Great Again’ in Spanish
16:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
Rachel Campos-Duffy took the opportunity during her new interview with the president to teach him how to say his political slogan “Make America Great Again” in Spanish, although the president’s interpretation wasn’t quite on the nose.
The two-part interview is set to air on Tuesday and Wednesday on Fox Noticias, an afternoon news show on the Spanish-language Fox Deportes network.
The conversation with Campos-Duffy, a MAGA diehard whose husband (former Fox host Sean Duffy) is the president’s transportation secretary, took place shortly after Trump met with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in the White House.
U.S wants 'tough, fair deal' with Iran
16:13
,
Rachel Clun
The U.S only wants a nuclear deal with Iran if it’s a “Trump deal”, the administration’s key negotiator said, after Iran’s supreme leader made his first public remarks following the first round of meetings on the weekend.
In couched language Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the initial talks over a nuclear agreement went “well”, ahead of a second round of talks this Saturday.
"We shouldn't be overly optimistic about this dialogue, nor overly pessimistic," he said on Tuesday, according to state television.
“The negotiations may lead to results, or they may not.”
Special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal.
“Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East -- meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” he said.
“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”
Trump claims China is 'brutal' to American farmers
15:58
,
Rachel Clun
The president says his administration would protect American farmers after reports China has ordered airlines to halt their purchases of aircraft equipment.
“Our farmers are GREAT, but because of their GREATNESS, they are always put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China, whenever there is a Trade negotiation or, in this case, a Trade War,” he wrote on social media.
“The same thing happened in my First Term. China was brutal to our Farmers.”
Trump sad he made “a great trade deal” with China handed out billions to farmers as a result.
“Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will “not take possession” of fully committed to aircraft. The USA will PROTECT OUR FARMERS!!!” he said.
Biden to deliver speech later today
15:43
,
Rachel Clun
Former president Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech later today focusing on how Donald Trump’s agenda threatens the social security system.
The 82-year-old has largely avoided speaking in public since he left the White House in January.
In the intervening months, Trump has repeatedly blamed the former president for a host of problems, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Biden is expected to fight back against some of those allegations in an address to the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago this evening.
"As bipartisan leaders have long agreed, Americans who retire after paying into Social Security their whole lives deserve the vital support and caring services they receive," said Rachel Buck, executive director of the ACRD, AP reports.
"We are thrilled the president will be joining us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security."
Trump tariffs bring diamond markets to a standstill
15:29
,
Daniel Thomas
The Trump administration’s new tariff rollout has brought global diamond markets to a standstill, despite a temporary pause in implementation, according to a key gemstone trading house.
Shipments in Antwerp, the global diamond trading hub, have dropped to one-seventh of their usual volume due to the knock-on disruption caused by the base 10 percent tariff rate, Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of the Antwerp Diamond Centre, told the Financial Times.
“It’s disrupting the industry,” she said. “Everything literally ground to a halt.”
Americans are the world’s largest consumers of diamonds, accounting for 54 percent of global polished diamond sales in 2023, according to statistics from gemstone retailer Delagem, but U.S. markets are entirely reliant on imports, primarily from India’s extensive polishing industry.
Trump suggests Harvad should lose tax exempt status
15:19
,
Rachel Clun
In an escalating fight with Harvard University the president has suggested the institution should lose its tax exemption.
Yesterday, the university rejected sweeping demands from the White House to overhaul its leadership, governance and admissions policies, and the administration froze $2.3 billion in funding in response.
After a Department of Health and Human Services task force accused Harvard of refusing to take the harassment of Jewish students seriously, Trump also weighed in.
“Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” he wrote on social media.
“Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”
EU says U.S must ‘define its position’ on tariffs
14:59
,
Rachel Clun
The EU’s top trade representative was in Washington yesterday for the first face-to-face meeting following the introduction and subsequent pause on aggressive tariffs.
Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic spent a couple of hours in meetings with his U.S counterparts, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Tensions between the European bloc and America had heightened after the EU voted to impose retaliatory tariffs of 25 per cent on some U.S goods after Donald Trump announced higher duties for European goods.
Olof Gill, EU Commission Spokesperson for Trade, said the EU would continue to approach negotiations “in a constructive manner” but said both sides needed to bring something to the table.
“It is clear that significant joint efforts will be needed to achieve a successful outcome within the 90-day window,” Mr Gill said.
The EU is doing its part. Now, it is necessary for the US to define its position.”
Tariff income could be 'so great' it replaces income tax: Trump
14:41
,
Rachel Clun
The president has suggested that government income from high tariffs could replace income tax.
Asked in a preview of an interview on Fox News whether tariffs could replace income tax, Trump said the interviewer is the “only person that’s asked me that”.
He continued: "There is chance that the money from tariffs could be so great it would replace [income tax],” he said.
“You know, in the old days, about 1870 to about 1913 the tariffs were the only form of money, and that’s when our nation was relatively the richest; we were the richest.”
Trump learns 'Make America great again' in Spanish
14:27
,
Rachel Clun
Donald Trump has learned - in part - how to say “Make America great again”.
In a preview of an interview with his preferred television network Fox, the host says she would like to teach the president how to say “let’s make America great again” in Spanish, and gives Trump the phrase.
“Vamos hacer America grande otra vez,” she said.
“America grande otra vez,” Trump replied, which is “America great again”.
Trump tells Fox he would 'love' to send 'homegrown criminals' to El Salvador
14:04
,
Rachel Clun
The president said he would love to send “homegrown criminals to prisons in El Salvador.
The comments come after Trump hosted El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele at the White House on Monday.
The Central American leader has accepted more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants from America and put them in the country’s notorious gang prison.
In a preview of a Fox interview airing later today, Trump said Bukele was building other “very big prisons”.
“We’re using his system because we’re getting rid of our criminals from out of the United States that were allowed to come in by Biden,” he said.
Asked whether America could also extradite its own citizens who were criminals to El Salvador, Trump said he called them “homegrown criminals”.
“We are looking into it and we want to do it, I would love to do that,” he said.
Justice Department charges man with arson at New Mexico Tesla dealership and GOP headquarters
14:00
,
Gustaf Kilander
Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker write:
The Justice Department has charged a man with vandalizing a Tesla dealership in New Mexico and setting fire to the headquarters of the state Republican Party, according to court records unsealed Monday.
A criminal complaint charges Jamison R. Wagner, 40, with federal arson charges in connection with the vandalism in February at a Tesla showroom in Bernalillo, where authorities found two Tesla Model Y vehicles ablaze as well as spray-painted graffiti messages including “Die Elon" and “Die Tesla Nazi.”
Elon Musk is the billionaire CEO of Tesla and a close ally of President Donald Trump who has helped engineer a massive downsizing of the federal government and purge of employees.
Read more:
Why Trump is jailing student activists in Louisiana, where thousands of immigrants are detained in private prisons
13:45
,
Gustaf Kilander
Alex Woodward writes:
Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil was arrested in his apartment building, sent to a New Jersey detention center and then flown to a facility in Louisiana. Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk was on her way to dinner with friends when she was arrested, moved to facilities in New Hampshire and Vermont, and then sent to another Louisiana detention center. Georgetown University Badar Khan Suri was shipped to a facility in Texas after spending three days in yet another Louisiana detention center.
A series of high-profile arrests targeting international student activists and academics for their Palestinian activism — and decisions from Donald Trump’s administration to detain them hundreds of miles away in remote prisons — have renewed scrutiny into a sprawling network of facilities plagued by reports of abuse and neglect.
Watch: Gavin Newsom launches international campaign to encourage Canadians to visit California in dig at Trump
13:30
,
Joe Sommerlad
The Golden State’s governor has said the scheme is being launched in response to “recent declines in tourism created by Donald Trump’s policies.”
China accuses U.S agents of cyberattacks
13:15
,
Rachel Clun
China’s foreign ministry has urged the U.S. to “adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity issues and stop its cyberattacks”, after reports police were investigating three people with suspected links to American spy agencies.
Chinese state media foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reported police in the northern city of Harbin were pursuing three operatives linked to the National Security Agency for suspected cyberattacks in China.
China’s Global Times reports that investigations found the three were involved in cyberattacks against information infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games.
Vance attacks ‘left-wing industrial complex’ over Kilmar Abrego Garcia
13:11
,
Joe Sommerlad
The vice president complains on X that the administration’s refusal to do anything about the wrongful deportation of a Maryland father is getting too much media coverage.
The entire American media and left wing industrial complex has decided the most important issue today is that the Trump admin deported an MS-13 gang member (and illegal alien) https://t.co/SFExbBxohM
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 15, 2025
No one is saying that. No one at all. We’re proposing that you:
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) April 15, 2025
1) Pick up the phone
2) Call Bukele
3) Ask him to release the guy you sent there BY MISTAKE, a guy who has not broken laws in El Salvador and presumably is not being held on violation of Salvadoran laws.
That’s it. https://t.co/bGTnFg3yx6
Harvard refusing to take harassment of Jewish students seriously, task force claims
13:05
,
Joe Sommerlad
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just issued this statement on behalf of its task force and the row surrounding federal funding for Harvard University:
“Harvard’s statement reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws.
“The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable.
“The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.
“The Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism is announcing a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60m in multi-year contract value to Harvard University.”
Trump hails Nvidia AI supercomputer deal as start of 'Golden Age'
12:55
,
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s the president’s first Truth Social post of the day:
NVIDIA COMMITS 500 BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A.I. SUPERCOMPUTERS, PLUS, IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCLUSIVELY. This is very big and exciting news. All necessary permits will be expedited and quickly delivered to NVIDIA, as they will to all companies committing to be part of the Golden…
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) April 15, 2025
He follows that up with the following claim about the US-Mexico border:
BORDER CROSSINGS HIT ALL TIME RECORD LOW IN MARCH!!!
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) April 15, 2025
Harvard 'will not surrender its independence'
12:45
,
Rachel Clun
Harvard University publicly responded to demands from the Trump administration to overhaul its leadership, governance and student admissions or face losing billions in federal funding.
In a letter from its lawyers - including Robert K. Hur previously appointed by Donald Trump to serve as U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland - the university said it would “not surrender its independence”.
Harvard said it has undertaken “substantial” work to improve its policies and tackle antisemitism to make its campus a “place in which everyone can thrive”, and said it was unfortunate the administration had overlooked those efforts.
“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government's terms as an agreement in principle,” the letter said.
Analysis: How Harvard became the first university to push back against Trump
12:31
,
Josh Marcus
Harvard has become the first of six Ivy League schools to formally oppose the Trump administration’s demands. Josh Marcus reports:
After Colombia agreed to sweeping changes in March, at least 60 universities were warned they could soon be the next to potentially lose hundreds of millions or even billions in federal funding if they didn’t fall in line with president Donald Trump’s vision of campus civil rights.
By late March, the administration was making its boldest push yet, threatening to cut off some $9 billion in federal funding to Harvard.
Then, in the last few days, Harvard, the nation’s oldest and richest university, began to push back more forcefully than any of the other five Ivy League schools that have faced administration funding threats.
Obama condemns Trump's 'ham-handed' Harvard funding freeze
12:08
,
Rachel Clun
Former president Barack Obama has condemned the Trump administration’s freezing $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard University as “unlawful” and “ham-handed”.
Earlier, the White House froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with a lengthy list of demands including sweeping leadership and admissions reforms.
Obama said on social media that other schools should follow Harvard’s lead.
“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit,” he wrote on X.
French PM said tariff hikes have caused 'a tsunami of destabilization'
11:54
,
Rachel Clun
The French prime minister said Donald Trump’s tariffs have caused a global storm and hit trust across the world.
Francois Bayrou warned it was a moment of truth for France as it attempts to fix its public finances, adding that in his view, Trump had created “a tsunami of destabilization”.
"The fact that this power has gone over to the side of the aggressors is a dramatic turn of events, a warning shot that ruins our fundamental vision of the world," Bayrou said.
FTSE surges amid 'good chance' of U.S-U.K tariff deal
11:34
,
Rachel Clun
The U.K’s FTSE 100 index has surged this morning following comments from vice president J.D. Vance that there was a “good chance” of a tariff deal with the U.K.
Ahead of lunchtime in U.K trading the stock was up 1 percent, building on Monday’s strong gains to take it to 8,215 points and up 3.8 percent from five days ago.
Earlier, Vance said the Trump administration was “working very hard” with the British government to find a deal.
“The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it’s much deeper than that,” he told UnHerd website.
“There’s a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”
Indonesia proposes to spend billions more on U.S oil and gas
11:23
Indonesia, facing the prospect of 32 percent tariffs on its exports to America, plans to buy billions of dollars more oil and gas to help reduce its trade surplus.
The country’s energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia told local media on Tuesday that Indonesia will propose increasing its crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas imports from the U.S. by about $10 billion in tariff negotiations.
Indonesian officials are preparing to leave for Washington later on Tuesday for trade talks. In all, the country plans to by U.S goods worth up to $19 billion to cover the trade surplus with the U.S.
Indonesia’s government has previously said it would also reduce import duties on U.S. steel, mining products and health equipment.
UN trade body urges U.S to exclude vulnerable countries from steep tariffs
11:07
,
Rachel Clun
The United Nations’ trade body has urged the U.S to exclude vulnerable and small economies from its aggressive tariff increases.
In a new report, UN Trade and Development found that in many instances the reciprocal tariffs risked devastating developing and the least developed economies that trade with America, while doing little to reduce the U.S. trade deficits.
Last week Donald Trump paused reciprocal tariffs that were higher than 10 per cent for dozens of trading partners for 90 days. Those additional tariffs ranged from 11 per cent for Cameroon to 50 per cent for Lesotho.
In all 57 countries are affected. Eleven of them are among the least developed in the world, the UN trade body said, and 28 of those 57 nations account for less than 0.1 per cent of America’s deficits.
The report noted that several of the countries produce agricultural goods that are not produced in the U.S, or which have few subsitutes such as vanilla from Madagascar.
10:50
,
Rachel Clun
Watch: Trump tears into journalist over deportation questions
What's at stake for U.K in trade talks with U.S?
10:36
,
Rachel Clun
Vice president J.D Vance said there was a “good chance” of a trade deal between the U.S and the U.K, which is good news for Britain given the significance of its trade relationship with America.
The U.S is the U.K’s largest export partner, according to the Office for National Statistics.
In 2023, the U.K exported £60.4 billion ($80 billion) worth of goods to America, making up 15.3 percent of all the U.K’s goods exports that year.
Machinery and transport equipment were the main exports, and the U.S. is the U.K’s largest export partner for cars, taking £6.4 billion in cars in 2023.
The U.K also exports chemicals, including medicines and pharmaceutical products.
The timeline of Trump's changing tariffs
10:21
,
Rachel Clun
Since his inauguration less than three months ago, Donald Trump has made many changes to tariff plans.
Here’s a timeline of the key moments so far:
- January 20 - Announced additional 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.
- February 1 - Adds 10 per cent tariffs on China.
- February 10 - Introduces 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum exports to the U.S.
- March 4 - Canada, China and Mexico tariffs come into effect.
- March 26 - Announces 25 percent tariff on all cars and car parts shipped to the U.S.
- April 2 - Reveals 10 percent tariff on any country exporting goods to U.S, unless tariffs already exist. Announces even higher reciprocal tariffs for dozens of countries.
- April 9 - Higher tariffs take effect, but within hours Trump announces a 90-day pause – except the general 10 percent increase. China tariffs are lifted to 145 percent.
- April 11 - Trump administration exempts electronic goods.
- April 12-13 - Trump says new tariffs on semiconductors and chips will be introduced, administration says tech exemption will be temporary.
Obama lauds Harvard's stance against Trump administration demands
10:06
Former president Barack Obama says other universities should follow Harvard’s example, after the prestigious school refused to take on the Trump administration’s demands.
Earlier, the administration froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with the White House’s list of demands which included broad leadership, governance and admissions reforms.
Harvard said: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
Obama said on social media that other schools should follow Harvard’s lead.
“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit,” he said.
Chinese airlines to halt Boeing deliveries
09:51
,
Rachel Clun
Chinese airlines have been ordered not to take any more deliveries of Boeing aircraft in response to the U.S. decision to lift tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 percent, Bloomberg News reports.
Sources familiar with the matter told the news services that Beijing has also asked airlines to stop purchasing any aircraft-related equipment and parts from U.S. companies.
Airlines that lease Boeing jets and are now facing higher costs could also receive assistance from the Chinese government, the sources told Bloomberg.
UK must vote down any Trump deal that 'undercuts' Britain: Ed Davey
09:34
,
Rachel Clun
U.K Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey says parliament must vote down any tariff deal with the U.S that “undercuts British farmers” or negatively impacts the NHS.
“A good trade deal with the US could bring huge benefits, but Trump is an unreliable partner who breaks deals whenever he feels like it. He and his sidekick JD Vance must not be allowed to bully their way into a bad trade deal for the UK,” he said.
"The Government must commit to protecting our NHS, farmers and online safety laws, not barter them away just to appease Donald Trump."
Irish deputy premier says any tariff hikes during negotiations would be 'bizarre'
09:21
,
Rachel Clun
Ireland’s deputy premier said it would be “bizarre” for the U.S to raise tariffs further while in negotiations with the European Union.
"In any good faith negotiation, you should never take any action to escalate the situation,” Simon Harris said ahead of a cabinet meeting in Dublin on Tuesday.
"I mean, it would be bizarre and not good if, whilst in the middle of talks about trade, one of the parties to the talks was to do something that could cause economic damage or harm to the other.
Donald Trump has singled out pharmaceutical companies operating out of Ireland for higher duties, but Harris said the companies were based there for access to the European market which could “only be good for the American economy as well”.
"So this is an interconnected, interdependent relationship, and I really hope, if time and space is given to some standards of meaningful talks, that good progress can be made on this,” Harris said.
UK welcomes vice president's comments on trade negotiations
08:58
,
Rachel Clun
The UK’s Business and Trade Minister Sarah Jones welcomed J.D. Vance’s comments, saying Britain was in a “good position” to negotiate.
Yesterday, the vice president said Donald Trump was “working very hard” on an agreement with Britain to potentially lift or ease damaging tariffs.
Speaking to LBC, Jones said: "The conversations are ongoing, I can't update more than that.
"We know we're in a good position. We are having good conversations. The Secretary of State (Jonathan Reynolds) has been having good conversations with his partners, and there is a deal there to be done, but as to when that will be done I wouldn't be able to tell you, but it's positive that the vice president is positive about our negotiations."
South Korea working to delay reciprocal tariffs in Trump talks
08:13
,
Rachel Clun
South Korea is working to delay reciprocal tariffs “as much as possible”, the country’s finance minister said.
Choi Sang-mok told parliament that the country was negotiating with the U.S. over tariffs of 25 percent which have been delayed by 90 days by the Trump administration.
"From our national interest perspective, the idea is to negotiate as much as possible and wrap it up under the new government," he said, when asked about Seoul’s response.
South Korea will hold a snap election on June 3 to pick a new president, after Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted this month over his controversial and short-lived martial law declaration in December.
Xi Jinping urges Vietnam to oppose 'unilateral bullying'
07:58
,
Rachel Clun
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Vietnam to “oppose unilateralism and bullying practices” as the trade war between Beijing and the U.S continues.
Xi is on a state visit to the South Asian nation, which also faces high export duties to the U.S under the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff program.
State media outlet Xinhua reported the Chinese president as urging Vietnam to join Beijing in opposing unilateralism and protectionism.
While Xi did not mention America by name, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said the U.S was hurting the entire world with its high tariffs.
“The U.S. uses tariff as a weapon to exert maximum pressure and seek selfish gains, and puts its own interests over the public good of the international community,” Lin Jian said in a press conference on Monday.
“This is a typical move of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, which severely hurts the interests of China, the EU and the rest of the world.”
White House freezes $2.2b in Harvard funding
07:36
,
Rachel Clun
The Trump administration is freezing more than $2.2 billion in grants for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with the White House’s list of demands.
The funding freeze, as well as a freeze on $60 million in contracts, comes as the White House continues to try and push the country’s most prestigious universities to comply with Donald Trump’s agenda.
The White House has targeted seven schools, including Harvard, demanding broad leadership, governance and admissions reforms.
In a letter to Harvard, the administration made a long list of demands including that Harvard scrap all diversity, equity and inclusion programs, that it reform its admissions for international students and provide audits of its international student program, and crack down on student groups.
Harvard defied the Trump administration's orders, saying in a reply letter: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
The administration has also paused federal funding for Brown, Princeton, Cornell, Northwestern, and the University of Pennsylvania. Colombia was also targeted, and the school acquiesced to the government’s demands.
Vance says 'good chance' of UK trade deal
07:18
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
U.S. vice president JD Vance said Washington was "working very hard" there was a "good chance" a trade deal could be reached with the UK.
"We're certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer's government," Vance told UnHerd website.
U.S. president Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports to the U.S., rocking the world economy, sending stock prices tumbling and sparking fears of a global recession.
Since then, Trump has rowed back on tariffs, reducing the rate paid on imports from most countries to 10 per cent and, on Saturday, exempting electronics such as smartphones and laptops from the levy.
“The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it’s much deeper than that.
“There’s a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.” he added.
Vance added that the “reciprocal relationship” between the US and UK gave Britain a more advantageous position than other European countries to negotiate new trade agreements.
"While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany."