Trump - latest: White House says man wrongly deported to El Salvador will never return to US

Democrat senator labeled 'disgusting' and 'sad' for El Salvador trip

The Trump administration has hit out at an “appalling” attempt by a Democratic senator to return Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet with the country’s vice president on Wednesday and push to free Garcia. The senator was then derided by various members of the Trump administration.

"It's appalling and sad that Sen. Van Hollen and the Democrats applauding his trip to El Salvador today are incapable of having any shred of common sense or empathy for their own constituents and our citizens," White House press secretary Karoline Leavittt said on Wednesday.

White House communications director Steven Cheung called Van Hollen a “complete disgrace to his office” and said he “should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.”

“Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes,” he wrote.

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan called the trip “disgusting” on Fox News.

Rachel Clun17 April 2025 08:07

Japan and U.S. make “big progress” in trade talks, Trump says

The U.S and Japan have agreed to hold a second round of trade talks later this month after a preliminary discussion at the White House on Wednesday.

The President surprised Japan by announcing he would attend yesterday’s talks and expanded their scope to include issues such as how much Japan should pay to host U.S troops.

"A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!" Trump wrote on social media, without detailing the discussion.

Japan had sent the relatively junior cabinet minister Ryosei Akazawa for the first round of talks, as the country hopes to talk America down from introducing broad 24 percent tariffs on all its exports to the U.S.

Speaking after the talks, Akazawa said the countries had agreed to hold a second meeting later this month, and that Trump had said securing a deal with Japan was a “top priority”.

Rachel Clun17 April 2025 07:42

Fed chair says Trump trade war risks higher inflation

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has warned that the Trump administration’s shifting tariff policies were putting the central bank in a difficult position.

Powell said the bank may find its dual mandates of maintaining high employment and price stability could end up in tension, in a speech in Chicago on Wednesday.

He warned the tariffs were "significantly larger than anticipated” and will likely cause “higher inflation and slower growth.”

The changing tariffs also give the Fed little room to move. Cutting benchmark interest rates from their current 4.25 - 4.5 percent could stimulate economic growth, but it could also drive inflation back up.

Powell said the central bank will take a wait-and-see approach before making any major changes.

“For the time being, we are well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”

Rachel Clun17 April 2025 07:35