Donald Trump
Trump‑Xi summit: Cautious progress on trade, ties and some ‘win‑wins’
On the issue of contested island, both US and China appear happy to keep with the status quo. Meanwhile, the presence of US Defense chief hints at Washington’s desire for a military ‘hotline.’
From beef ribs to a ‘heavenly’ walk: Xi‑Trump summit symbolism underscored American power and Chinese tradition
A cultural historian of modern China explains the meaning behind some of the venue choices during President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
Where will money for the ‘Anti‑Weaponization Fund’ come from? This man has been warning of Judgment Fund abuse for years
The Judgment Fund’s likely use as a slush fund to pay Trump allies comes after more than a decade of repeated warnings by one scholar that the pot of taxpayer money was vulnerable to political misuse.
Trump’s Cabinet dramatically changed American foreign policy while the president made noise – a scholar of presidential rhetoric explains
The president’s barrage of pronouncements on foreign policy mean his Cabinet members’ statements on foreign policy have become more reliable indicators of administration positions.
Why the Iran war is breaking the US‑European strategic alliance
European leaders are learning they cannot rely on Washington, and that the US will act against their interests and at their economic expense.
Trump’s anti‑Venezuela actions lack strategy, justifiable targets and legal authorization
President Trump OK’d a naval buildup in the Caribbean, strikes on boats in international waters and covert operations in Venezuela. A military analyst can’t see a coherent strategy or objective.
Is it ‘Ih‑ran’ or ‘E‑ron’? Inside the politics of pronunciation
Both President Trump and Vice President Vance pronounce Iran as ‘Ih-RAN,’ not ‘Ih-RON.’ A linguist says that how the country’s name is pronounced may be a political choice.
Overconfidence is how wars are lost − lessons from Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ukraine for the war in Iran were ignored
The Trump administration’s miscalculation of Iran is the latest entry in an old and lethal tradition in international politics: the catastrophic gap between what leaders believe and what war delivers.
US refugee policy for white South Africans is part of a century‑long effort to keep some English‑speaking nations white
Australia, Canada and the US identified themselves as ‘white men’s countries’ in the early 20th century and coordinated immigration restrictions to keep them that way.
ICE’s heavy‑handed immigration enforcement was tried once before – by Arizona’s notorious sheriff Joe Arpaio in the early 2000s
The Trump administration’s immigration detention policies appear to be, in part, inspired by the heavy-handed tactics of the former Arizona sheriff.