Person
Donald Trump
- Trump says he will respect US midterm results 'if they're honest' and that he keeps veto power if Republicans lose Congress
Asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington on Tuesday, Oct 27, before flying to Texas to campaign, whether he would respect the results of the Nov 3 midterm elections, US President Donald Trump said: 'If it's an honest election, I will.' Polls show Republicans could lose control of Congress. Trump said that if Republicans lose majorities in both chambers he would try to work with Democrats, adding 'I have a strong veto' and that deals could eventually be made. Republicans fear voters will punish them over inflation driven by higher oil prices from the war in the Middle East; Trump has held rallies across the country almost daily in recent weeks.
Oct 28, 2026 Morning - Former FBI Director James Comey charged for a third time, accused of leaking national defense information
Federal prosecutors charged former FBI Director James Comey on Monday, Oct 26, in a criminal complaint in federal court in Washington, DC, unsealed at his request, the third time the Justice Department has brought criminal charges against the longtime Trump critic. The three-page filing lists two counts, wilfully communicating national defense information to people not entitled to receive it and conspiracy, over disclosures of classified material to The New York Times in October 2016 while he was FBI director. Comey denied wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack, calling the charges an outrageous abuse of the Justice Department.
Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump calls Brazil election 'rigged' after Lula beats Flávio Bolsonaro; Ibovespa plunges nearly 17% at open
In Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday, Oct 25, President Lula beat Flávio Bolsonaro 51.8% to 48.2% to win a fourth term. Leaving Washington on Oct 26, President Trump told reporters it 'looks like another rigged election'. Brazil's Ibovespa index fell nearly 17% at the open on Oct 26, triggering a 30-minute trading halt, and the real at one point fell nearly 12% against the dollar in early trading. TASS, citing Folha de S.Paulo, reported that Flávio dropped a demand to annul the result after allies persuaded him, and he said police had told him not to leave Brazil and to hand over his passport.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Trump again says Taiwan 'stole' America's chip business, says with a smart president the Taiwan issue 'wouldn't matter'
In a phone interview with Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures on Oct 25, President Trump moved from tariffs and car manufacturing returning to the US to Taiwan, China and chips. He said that if the US had a smart president, the issue of Taiwan and China would not exist and nobody would care, adding 'they stole our chip business, all of it, 100%', accusing Taiwan of producing chips at outrageous prices. Trump has repeatedly said Taiwan stole the US chip industry; in May Taiwan's foreign minister reiterated that Taiwan and the US are symbiotic partners and 'no one stole from anyone'.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Israel votes in first election since Oct 7 attacks as Netanyahu touts Trump endorsement; reported clash with army chief over Iran order
Israel holds parliamentary elections on Tuesday, Oct 27, its first since the attacks of Oct 7, 2023, with tens of thousands of expatriates returning to vote. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on television on Oct 25 that Trump 'still has two years in office' and urged voters to back him, while Trump posted the same day 'vote for Bibi' and 'we must finish the job we started'; the two launched a war on Iran together in February. Israel's Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and the chief of the general staff recently clashed over a military order that could immediately trigger conflict with Iran, with the chief demanding it in writing; Netanyahu denied the report.
Oct 27, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: María Corina Machado returns to Venezuela after more than 10 months in exile, appears at Mass in Barquisimeto
Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday, Oct 25, writing on X: 'I am here, with you.' She then attended Mass at a shrine in Barquisimeto, Lara state, about 354 km from Caracas. Machado, 59, left by speedboat last December to collect her prize in Oslo and stayed abroad for more than 10 months; in January US forces captured Maduro and Rodríguez became interim president. Trump said he hoped she would be safe.
Oct 26, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Trump says US could strike Iran as soon as Sunday or reach a major deal; Iranian president says US wrecked interim-agreement talks
US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton's Friday, Oct 23, memo said Iranian plots against US personnel had reached a 'late stage', and US embassies across the Middle East raised their alert level. Trump said on Saturday, Oct 24, that the US was considering an attack on Iran as soon as Sunday, that it might have to 'finish the job', or that a major deal with Tehran might be reached. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the US for collapsing interim-agreement talks, calling the US side 'cowards' who had 'messed everything up', while still arguing Tehran should push for a deal. An Iranian official told AP on Oct 24 that Tehran remained willing to negotiate with the US under the earlier framework. The same day a Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Houthis towards Taif and Yanbu. The US this week ordered non-essential government employees to leave Saudi Arabia. The war is in its eighth month.
Oct 25, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump says Musk has restored Ukraine's Starlink access; Zelensky says military Starshield speeds not fully back
US President Trump said on Oct 22 that Elon Musk had restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declining to comment on a Wall Street Journal report that he had phoned Musk to ask for a slowdown to be lifted. Ukrainian President Zelensky said earlier the same day that military-grade Starshield connectivity had not yet fully recovered and that he was waiting for Secretary of State Rubio to reply within about 48 hours. The White House had denied ordering SpaceX to restrict access, and Musk said last week that Starshield is ultimately controlled by the US government.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - CNBC survey: Trump's economic approval hits low for both his terms at 65% disapproval as voters lean Democratic for Congress
CNBC's All-America Economic Survey of 1,000 registered voters, less than two weeks before the Nov 3 midterms, found 65% disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, a net rating of minus 31 and the worst across both his terms; overall approval was about 40% against 59%. Eighty per cent rated the economy fair or poor, the highest since December 2023, and voters preferred Democratic control of Congress by 52% to 45%, a gap three points wider than in July. The margin of error is 3.1 points.
Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: After Putin meets Witkoff, Kremlin agrees in principle to resume US-Russia-Ukraine talks next month; American Stephen Hubbard freed
US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct 21. BBC reported that Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said afterwards Russia was 'in principle ready' to resume talks with the US and Ukraine, possibly next month; Zelensky then said he hoped they would be held as soon as possible. The three-way talks have been suspended since February; Witkoff met Zelensky and the leaders of Norway and Finland in Oslo on Monday. AP reported that Russia the same day freed American Stephen Hubbard, held for more than four years on 'mercenary' charges; Trump wrote on Truth Social that he requested the release in a call with Putin last week and that the US did not have to exchange anyone.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: French 10-year bond yield tops 5% for first time since 2002; Macron calls foreign leaders' riot remarks 'stupid'
CNBC reported that France's 10-year government bond yield briefly rose above 5% before 11:30 am Paris time on Wednesday, Oct 21, for the first time since 2002, then stood at about 4.9794%, up about 6 basis points. France saw large-scale riots at the weekend while the government struggles to pass its 2027 budget through a divided parliament. The Guardian said Macron, visiting Qatar, said in Doha that some foreign leaders had made 'unacceptable and stupid' comments after the riots, and when asked whether he meant Trump replied 'including him'; Trump had blamed the violence in France on 'migrants, jihadists and communists'. RFI said Bahrain and the UAE will each supply France with an extra 100,000 tonnes of diesel a month.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Netanyahu says toppling Iran's government is the 'only way'; Iran says indirect ceasefire talks with US continue
CNA reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a campaign rally in the southern city of Dimona on Oct 21 that there is 'only one way' to end the Iranian threat, 'toppling this regime', and said he had instructed the military, Mossad and all security services accordingly, without saying when or how. CBS said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the same day that indirect talks continue on the 7-day ceasefire proposal Trump initially rejected last month, with the US seeking new terms; a senior Revolutionary Guards official threatened to target US 'investments' such as undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz if the US struck Iranian infrastructure again. UK Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile and caught fire about 11 nautical miles off Bukha, Oman, on Wednesday; all crew were safe.
Oct 22, 2026 Morning - Musk ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine, disrupting military drones, WSJ reports
Japan Times, citing a Wall Street Journal report of Oct 20, said the recent Starlink slowdown for Ukraine came on orders from SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk and hindered Ukrainian drones on defensive and offensive missions; the report said Musk discussed the matter with Trump after it became public. CBS News, citing people familiar with the matter, said the satellite service used to control drones, hit targets and protect facilities was sharply slowed last week, and that Musk spoke repeatedly with government officials before the order to gauge the president's views and did not want the company seen as profiting from the Russia-Ukraine war. Musk said last week Starshield technology is licensed to the US government, which decides who can use it and at what service level.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump says US got 'nothing' from Ukraine but high-priced diesel; Witkoff to meet Putin in St Petersburg
Associated Press reported that on Oct 20 Trump said the United States had gotten 'nothing' from Ukraine except 'high-priced diesel' and that it was 'time' for Ukraine to reach a deal with Russia. Al Jazeera reported Trump told the White House that day: 'Zelensky has to want to end this war, and if he doesn't, I think it's going to be a very bad thing.' US envoy Steve Witkoff was due to meet Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday to discuss a proposal after talks with Zelensky in Oslo the day before; Finland's President Alexander Stubb, who took part in Oslo, said the plan had made 'real progress'.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - US State Department: Trump second term has revoked over 300,000 visas, up from 175,000 in August
CNA, citing Reuters, reported that the US State Department said on Oct 20 the Trump administration has revoked more than 300,000 US visas since the second term began in January 2025. The department's figure on Aug 10 was more than 175,000, showing the pace of revocations has accelerated in recent weeks. A State Department spokesperson posted the latest number on X. Trump has said immigration enforcement and removals aim to improve domestic security; human-rights advocates say the measures infringe due process and free-speech rights, and minority communities fear racial profiling.
Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon - Trump sued over 50% tariffs on Canadian goods under Section 338 of 1930 Tariff Act
CNBC reported that New Jersey food importer Gellert Global Group sued in the US Court of International Trade on Oct 20, challenging the 50% tariffs Trump imposed in July on Canadian goods such as hockey sticks, wine, honey and wigs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the first time the 96-year-old provision has been used to levy duties. The complaint argues Section 338 was impliedly repealed by later legislation and asks the court to declare the tariffs unlawful, block them and order refunds with interest. The group representing the importer previously won the challenge to Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs, which the Supreme Court struck down in February; the government is refunding about $166 billion.
Oct 21, 2026 Morning - US Defense Secretary Hegseth holds unannounced meeting with Netanyahu; Vance declines endorsement
Axios, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's parliamentary election; the Pentagon and Israel's embassy in Washington declined to comment, and Reuters could not immediately verify. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that Netanyahu was a 'great warrior prime minister' and gave his 'complete and total endorsement'; Vice President JD Vance said the same day he endorses only American candidates and is 'not anti-endorsing' and 'not pro-endorsing' Netanyahu. Polls suggest Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition may lose its governing majority.
Oct 20, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump says 'somebody else' should negotiate for Ukraine, open to meeting Putin and Xi
Before leaving the White House for a campaign stop in Kansas on Oct 19, US President Donald Trump told reporters Zelensky was 'not very helpful', that it was time for 'somebody else' to negotiate for Ukraine, and that Zelensky could have got a better deal and 'saved a million people' had he listened. Asked about the reported US–Russia–China meeting proposed by Putin, Trump said he would meet Putin and Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war 'whether somebody is there or not', after first saying he would rather discuss denuclearization; the Wall Street Journal reported Putin raised the idea in an Oct 9 call and it could take place at the Nov 18–19 APEC summit in Shenzhen. TASS, citing Reuters, reported envoys Witkoff and Kushner will hold talks on Ukraine in Norway.
Oct 20, 2026 Morning - Follow-up: Trump says Russia sanctions pause keeps talks alive; Zelensky says US is pushing Ukraine to 'capitulate'
US President Donald Trump announced late Friday a pause of multiple Russia sanctions that were due to take effect in two days; Congress had passed them and he signed them into law in September. On Oct 18 on Truth Social he said he was negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, did not want to 'stupidly' push Russia from the table, and claimed Zelensky 'doesn't want' the war to end. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a 60-day pause to assess economic impact; Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev called it a 'truly historic moment'. Zelensky told NBC that siding with Putin would be a 'historic mistake'; the Japan Times reported he said Trump was pressuring Ukraine to capitulate and that a proposal to stop striking Russian diesel facilities in exchange for more Patriot missiles met a US reply that only wanted Ukraine to stop hitting diesel.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Wall Street Journal: Putin proposed Trump-Xi-Putin summit to settle Ukraine's future
CNBC, citing the Wall Street Journal on Oct 19, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed in an Oct 9 call with Donald Trump a three-way summit with Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to reach an agreement ending the Ukraine war, according to a former Russian intelligence official briefed on the call. The summit is not set; if held, Zelensky would not attend, and a possible venue is the November APEC summit in Shenzhen; the same call also led to a deal allowing Russia to sell diesel on global markets. TASS reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that Russia, the US and China all recognise a three-way meeting is possible but have no clear agenda yet.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Follow-up: Trump blames French riot violence on immigration; Kremlin calls meddling claims 'absurd'
Cost-of-living protests across France on Oct 17 turned into looting and arson. RFI reported that US President Donald Trump said on Oct 18 the violence should be blamed on immigration and urged France to tighten related rules. RIA Novosti reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct 19 that claims Russia stirred European unrest were 'absurd accusations' that 'even Europe itself does not take seriously'. The Sydney Morning Herald reported young people in black hoodies and balaclavas still gathered at Place de la République on the afternoon of Oct 18. The NFL said on Oct 18 that the New Orleans Saints–Pittsburgh Steelers game would still be held as planned on Oct 25 at Stade de France, the league's first regular-season game in France.
Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon - Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll: Trump approval falls to record-low 33% before US midterms
A Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos survey of 2,545 US adults conducted Oct 9–13 put Donald Trump's approval at 33%, down 4 points from July, with 66% disapproving and 52% strongly disapproving (margin of error ±2 points). On the House ballot, Democrats lead Republicans by 8 points among both registered and likely voters, up from 3 points in July. The midterm elections are about two weeks away.
Oct 19, 2026 Morning