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Tag: Donald Trump

  • Congress probes Obama over Trump’s phone tapping

    Congress probes Obama over Trump’s phone tapping

    The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence said it would probe former President Barack Obama’s administration over alleged tapping into the phones and computer servers of President Donald Trump and campaign officials.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, said on Sunday in a statement that his panel will investigate wiretapping allegations made by Trump against Obama. The wiretapping was alleged by Trump to have occurred during the 2016 presidential campaigns.

    “One of the focus points of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation is the U.S. government’s response to actions taken by Russian intelligence agents during the presidential campaign.

    “As such, the Committee will make inquiries into whether the government was conducting surveillance activities on any political party’s campaign officials or surrogates, and we will continue to investigate this issue if the evidence warrants it.”

    The White House on Sunday demanded that Congress examine Trump’s allegations that his predecessor conducted surveillance in Trump Tower to determine whether campaign operatives had contacts with the Russians during the election.

    White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said: “Reports concerning potentially politically motivated investigations immediately ahead of the 2016 election are very troubling.

    “President Donald J. Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.”

    Obama has, however, denied that he ordered any such wiretaps. (NAN)

  • Trump alleges wire tapping by Obama during campaign

    Trump alleges wire tapping by Obama during campaign

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him in October during the late stages of the presidential election campaign, but offered no evidence to support the allegation.

    “How low has President Obama gone to tap my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!,” Trump said in a series of Tweets on his Twitter account early on Saturday.

    Obama’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

    In one of the Tweets, Trump said the alleged wire tapping took place in his Trump Tower skyscraper in New York, but there was “nothing found”.

    Trump’s administration has come under pressure from FBI and congressional investigations into contacts between some members of his campaign team and Russian officials during his campaign.

    Obama imposed sanctions on Russia and ordered Russian diplomats to leave the U.S. in December over the country’s involvement in hacking political groups in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.

    Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned in February after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office.

    Flynn had promised Vice President Mike Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.

    Trump has often used his Twitter account to attack rivals and for years led a campaign alleging that Obama was not born in the U.S.

  • Trump: Border plans not well communicated

    Trump: Border plans not well communicated

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday admitted to poor messaging regarding his plans for security along the U.S. – Mexico border.

    Trump said in an interview with broadcaster Fox News that he did not think his border policies have been communicated well. “Maybe that’s my fault,’’ he added.

    He said his administration was seeking to keep drug and human traffickers, in some cases murderers, from entering the United States.

    “We’re getting the bad ones out, the bad people,’’ Trump said in regard to his policies.

    This concept has been lost in the discussion, the president suggested.

    Trump was also somewhat critical of spokesperson Sean Spicer, for his efforts to find the source of leaks by investigating the mobile phones of his staff “I would have done it differently”.

    Trump said that he nevertheless respected Spicer’s approach.

    Trump will deliver his first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening of which economic and security policy are likely to be major themes.

    Also, the controversial healthcare law known as Obamacare, which Trump seeks to change, is also expected to be addressed.

  • Trump says he represents America, ‘not the globe’

    Trump says he represents America, ‘not the globe’

    U.S President Donald Trump says his aim is to serve the U.S. and not the rest of the world, doubling down on his “America First’’ message in remarks to a conservative conference.

    “This is the U.S of America I’m representing; I’m not representing the globe.

    “I’m representing your country,” Trump tells the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.

    Trump vowed to toss out multilateral trade deals, bolster U.S industry and increase military spending as he remakes the Republican Party in his image with a focus on the “American worker.”

    Trump stresses a common allegiance of all Americans to their country, pointing to the “same red blood of great patriots’’ flowing through the veins of all citizens.

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  • Trump blasts FBI over leaks

    Trump blasts FBI over leaks

    U.S President Donald Trump on Friday criticised the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for failing to stop leaks of security information to the media.

    “The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security ‘leakers’ that have permeated our government for a long time.

    “They can’t even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on U.S., find now,” Trump wrote on Twitter

    The tweet follows a CNN report that the agency had turned down a White House request to dismiss reports of contact between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia.

  • Trump’s security adviser nominee rejects offer

    United States President, Donald Trump’s choice for national security adviser has turned down the job offer.

    Vice-Admiral Robert Harward (retd) was widely tipped for the post after Mr. Trump fired Michael Flynn on Monday, the BBC reports.

    A White House official said Mr. Harward cited family and financial commitments, but U.S media said the sticking point was he wanted to bring in his own team.

    Mr. Flynn had misled U.S Vice-President, Mike Pence, over his conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S.

    The latest setback emerged hours after Mr. Trump robustly denied media reports of White House disarray, insisting in a news conference that his administration was running like a “fine-tuned machine.”

    Mr. Harward told the Associated Press the Trump administration was “very accommodating to my needs, both professionally and personally.”

    “It’s purely a personal issue,” added the 60-year-old former Navy Seal who is currently based in Abu Dhabi as an executive for U.S defence contractor Lockheed Martin.

    Asked about reports that he had asked to bring in his own staff at the National Security Council, Mr. Harward said: “I think that’s for the President to address.”

    Mr. Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, was ousted amid claims that before he was even appointed as national security adviser he had discussed sanctions with a Russian envoy.

    This would have potentially breached a law banning private citizens from engaging in diplomacy.

  • Trump’s pick to replace Flynn as NSA declines

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee as his new National Security Adviser, Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, has turned down the offer, according to reports.

    Harward was to replace Trump’s former adviser, retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who resigned on Monday for misleading Vice President Mike Pence over his conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S.

    Harward, a former Navy SEAL, was said to have cited “financial and family issues that would have been challenging in this position” in explaining his decision to decline the offer.

    “Like all service members understand, and live, this job requires 24 hours a day, seven days a week focus and commitment to do it right. I currently could not make that commitment.

    “My thoughts and prayers are with those that carry such heavy burdens and responsibility for taking care of our country’s national security concerns,” Harward said in a statement.

    Harward’s statement declining to accept the position came a day after reports that Trump had offered the job to him following Flynn’s resignation.

    Trump was reportedly “a bit surprised when Harward responded by saying he needed a couple of days to think it over”.

    Reports said Harward’s decision followed his concern about whether the top advisers in Trump’s administration would allow him to install his own staff on the National Security Council, particularly the Deputy National Security Adviser, K.T. McFarland, whom Trump had asked to stay on.

    Following Flynn’s resignation from his post, Trump had named retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who previously served as Flynn’s Chief of Staff on the National Security Council, as his acting National Security Adviser.

    Harward was among several individuals floated for the position to replace Flynn, along with Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Bossert and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, a former Director of Criminal Investigative Agency (CIA). (NAN)

  • Full details of Trump’s telephone chat with Buhari

    Full details of Trump’s telephone chat with Buhari

    The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

    In a readout of the phone conversation, the White House said “President Donald J. Trump spoke this week with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to discuss the strong cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, including on shared security, economic, and governance priorities.

    “President Trump underscored the importance the United States places on its relationship with Nigeria, and he expressed interest in working with President Buhari to expand the strong partnership.

    “The leaders agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and worldwide.

    “President Trump expressed support for the sale of aircraft from the United States to support Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.

    “President Trump thanked President Buhari for the leadership he has exercised in the region and emphasized the importance of a strong, secure, and prosperous Nigeria that continues to lead in the region and in international forums”.

    The readout also confirmed that Trump spoke with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma after speaking with Buhari.

    It said Trump and Zuma discussed ways to expand cooperation and trade between the U.S. and South Africa.

    “President Trump highlighted the strong bilateral trade ties between the two countries and expressed interest in identifying new, mutually beneficial opportunities for trade.

    “President Trump also suggested that the United States and South Africa do more to collaborate on shared security interests, including the fight against terrorism.

    “Both leaders agreed to continue dialogue on these priorities and find ways to deepen the bilateral partnership,” it said. (NAN)

  • Buhari is home sick – Presidency

    Buhari is home sick – Presidency

    The Presidency has alerted Nigerians on the possible return of President Muhammadu Buhari from London any moment from  Tuesday as he is no longer “enjoying his stay outside the country.”

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu,  made this known in Abuja on Tuesday.

     Buhari, who proceeded on vacation to United Kingdom on January 19 for a routine medical check as indicated in a letter to the Senate, transmitted another letter to the Senate, on February 5, requesting extension of time to complete the medical check-up.

    However, the presidential aide said the President would be returning to Nigeria soonest as he was no longer “comfortable” with the extended vacation in London.

    “As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the President in fresh and that will be soon as possible.

    “The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.

    “I don’t think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.’’

    On the President’s telephone conversation with United States President, Donald Trump, Shehu described as “undiplomatic’’ the request being made in some quarters for the release of the audio containing the conversation.

    According to him, releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilization.

    “No, I don’t think so; I don’t think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr. Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.

    “I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president,’’ he said.

    On the President’s test results being expected from his doctors, Shehu said he had no information on whether the President had collected the results or not.

    He said: “No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home.’’

    NAN

  • Trump calls Buhari, pledges military weapons against terrorism

    Trump calls Buhari, pledges military weapons against terrorism

    President Muhammadu Buhari Monday afternoon from London spoke to President Donald Trump on telephone at the request of the American President.

    Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina in a statement said the conversation was cordial and President Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and on his cabinet.

    Adesina said the  two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

    “President Trump encouraged President Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commended him for the efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.

    “President Trump assured the Nigerian President of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.
    “President Trump also invited President Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date.”