Trump decides US general will be Supreme Allied Commander Europe — report

US President Donald Trump decided that a US general will for now continue to hold the post of Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Reuters reported. Citing three unidentified US officials, a Western official and a NATO source, the report said Trump had already communicated the decision to North Atlantic Alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Traditionally, the same person holds the positions of Supreme Allied Commander Europe and US European Command. Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich is expected to become the next EUCOM commander. Now the director for operations at the US military's Joint Staff, he will succeed Army General Christopher Cavoli.

EUCOM also oversees the Middle East and North Africa.

NBC News reported in March that the Trump administration was considering the possibility that the US will give up the post of SACEUR, which has been held exclusively by US generals since 1951. According to the report, the idea was part of a major reorganization of US commands aimed at cutting costs. Should the plan materialize, NBC said, it would mark a retrenchment in America’s leadership in the alliance.

Trump agrees to postpone introduction of 50% tariffs on EU goods

President Donald #Trump has agreed to postpone the introduction of 50% tariffs on exports from the European Union until July 9.

"I received a call today from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline on the 50% Tariff with respect to Trade and the European Union. I agreed to the extension – July 9, 2025," he wrote on the Truth Social network. The US leader added that "The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly."

Earlier, Trump recommended to introduce the tariffs at the rate of 50% on EU goods beginning on June 1 due to difficulties in trade talks. Trade barriers, the value-added tax, corporate penalties, non-monetary obstacles and other steps on the part of the European Union "have led to a trade deficit with the US of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable," the US leader emphasized.

May 23rd, 2025 - President Trump Statement

"The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Paris insists white object on Macron's desk nothing but handkerchief, not narcotic

The small white object that France's Emmanuel #Macron quickly removed from his desk in front of journalists is not a narcotic but a handkerchief, the Elysee Palace said.

Earlier, a video of the French leader, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, filmed on a train during a trip to Kiev, appeared online. In the footage, as journalists begin recording their meeting, Macron, noticing the cameras, hastily moves to remove a small white object from the desk. "When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace said in a statement on its X page....

Macron, Merz, Starmer, Tusk arrive in Kiev amid rumors of truce initiative

French President Emmanuel #Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich #Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir #Starmer and Polish Premier Donald #Tusk have arrived in Kiev amid reports that European countries intend to present their own truce initiative soon, the Obshchestvennoye. Novosti news outlet said.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the talks in Kiev will be held within the so-called "coalition of the willing." No other details have yet been disclosed. Merz said earlier that he expected "serious talks" to end the Ukraine conflict to start following this weekend.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told ABC News that arms supplies to Ukraine must be halted in order for a temporary truce to be achieved.

Senior EU officials call for Ursula’s RESIGNATION 

Diplomats view European Commission President von der #Leyen as “toxic,” asserting that her resignation could help “unblock many issues”, according to Switzerland’s Die Weltwoche weekly. The EU is currently embroiled in a crisis marked by internal divisions, a trade dispute with the United States, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East.  

Von der Leyen’s resignation could foster greater diversity within the EU and promote openness toward the East and the West, the outlet maintains.

Trump to meet with Meloni, Starmer, Zelensky in Rome

President Donald #Trump who has arrived in Rome together with his wife Melania to attend the funeral of Pope Francis intends to hold meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia #Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir #Starmer and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, the newspaper La Repubblica reported on Saturday.

Zelensky’s participation in the event was questioned but his name is present in the updated list of delegations from various countries provided to reporters by the press office of the Holy See. As the official program of Trump’s visit suggests, the US president will leave Rome immediately after the funeral Mass in Vatican in the afternoon, the newspaper said. Trump’s stay in the Italian capital is limited by 15 hours. He is expected to meet with #Zelensky at the US ambassador’s residence at Villa Taverna where the US president is staying. Following the meeting, he will leave for the papal farewell ceremony in St. Peter’s Square.

Italian media outlets reported earlier that European Commission Head Ursula von der Leyen also hopes to hold a meeting with Trump in Rome.

Several dozen heads of state and governments, reigning monarchs and religious figures are expected to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

Rubio and Witkoff Discuss Ukraine Conflict With European Allies in Paris

The United States is seeking to broker a cease-fire and a permanent peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine but the Trump administration’s efforts have been stymied.

Apr 3rd, 2024 - President Trump Statement

"The Witch Hunt against Marine Le Pen is another example of European Leftists using Lawfare to silence Free Speech, and censor their Political Opponent, this time going so far as to put that Opponent in prison. It is the same “playbook” that was used against me by a group of Lunatics and Losers, like Norm Eisen, Andrew Weissmann, and Lisa Monaco. They spent the last nine years thinking of nothing else, and they FAILED, because the People of the United States realized that they were only Corrupt Lawyers and Politicians. I don’t know Marine Le Pen, but do appreciate how hard she worked for so many years. She suffered losses, but kept on going, and now, just before what would be a Big Victory, they get her on a minor charge that she probably knew nothing about – Sounds like a “bookkeeping” error to me. It is all so bad for France, and the Great French People, no matter what side they are on. FREE MARINE LE PEN!"

Le Pen says she will appeal her verdict in France at ECHR

The National Rally party’s parliamentary faction leader Marine Le Pen, who has been handed a prison sentence and barred from running in the 2027 presidential election in France, said she is going to contest her sentence at the European Court of Human Rights (#ECHR) and the Constitutional Court in her country. "I will turn to the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court in France. I will use all available legal protections. I will not back down," the far-right politician said in an interview with Le Parisien.

According to Le Pen, her appeal at the ECHR should be addressed promptly as the verdict "does irreparable harm." As for the Constitutional Court, it will have to determine whether the sentence violates the electorate’s freedom of choice. "We hope that all these initiatives <…> will allow us to run for presidency under normal conditions," the politician explained, saying that she is not considering a replacement in the election campaign. "With two years to go until the presidential vote, we will file quite a number of appeals. And hopefully, we will prevail [in court]," Le Pen added.

On Monday, a court in Paris disqualified Le Pen, found guilty of embezzling funds intended for hiring assistants in the European Parliament, from holding public office for five years.