close Video Kurtz: When the White House abruptly changes talking points 'MediaBuzz' host Howard Kurtz weighs in on how the Trump administration handles foreign policy talking points after it blamed US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley for incorrectly saying the US will increase sanctions on Russia. It's understandable, perhaps, that much of the press is playing the latest back-and-forth on Russian sanctions as a personal slap at Nikki Haley. Especially given the fact that she slapped back. But there are larger questions about the way the Trump administration makes foreign policy—and who speaks for the president. The White House is certainly capable of bold diplomatic moves—such as the just-disclosed secret meetings between Mike Pompeo, the CIA director and likely secretary of state, and Kim Jong-Un. It's rather startling that this didn't leak—at least until the Washington Post found out about it Tuesday night—and makes the prospect of a Trump-Kim … [Read more...] about Communication breakdown: What the Nikki Haley flap reveals about Trump’s foreign policy
Us foreign policy
Trump’s Latest Foreign Policy Chaos Further Diminishes U.S. Standing, Critics Worry
POLITICS 04/18/2018 06:09 pm ET Updated 1 hour ago If the world hadn’t figured out that the president’s words mean almost nothing, this past week made it clear. By S.V. Date WASHINGTON ― As Donald Trump has flipped and flopped on major foreign policy issues in recent days, America’s allies and enemies have likely been reminded yet again of a simple rule of his presidency: Pay little attention to the orange-hued man in the big white house. The president’s unscripted statements, particularly his tweets, probably do not reflect reality, have not necessarily been thought through, and are subject to change almost immediately, say Trump critics as well as those close to the White House. “The most important instrument the president of the United States has is his credibility. In the grand scheme of things, it’s more important than the awesome power of our military, intelligence community, and diplomatic corps,” said Ned … [Read more...] about Trump’s Latest Foreign Policy Chaos Further Diminishes U.S. Standing, Critics Worry
Syria Is Latest Test For President Trump’s Foreign Policy
Politics Syria Is Latest Test For President Trump's Foreign Policy Listen · 19:45 19:45 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/602328423/602466372" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email Enlarge this image For the second time in just over a year, President Trump ordered airstrikes on Syrian targets in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Pool/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Pool/Getty Images For the second time in just over a year, President Trump ordered airstrikes on Syrian targets in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Pool/Getty Images The coordinated attack on Syria by U.S. and allied military forces illustrates the conflicting impulses behind President Trump's … [Read more...] about Syria Is Latest Test For President Trump’s Foreign Policy
Nicola Sturgeon: Foreign policy should be set by parliament not US president
0 Have your say Nicola Sturgeon has said UK foreign policy should be set by Parliament and not Donald Trump after the US, UK and France launched missile strikes against Syria. Scotland’s First Minister said the suspected use of chemical weapons in Douma last week was “sickening” but warned that the latest action risked “dangerous escalation”.Writing on Twitter, she said her first thoughts were with service personnel taking part in the strikes, which targeted infrastructure at three sites connected with the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons programme.Ms Sturgeon said: “Syria’s use of chemical weapons is sickening - but the question that the PM has not answered is how this action, taken without parliamentary approval, will halt their use or bring long-term peace.“Air strikes have not resolved situation in Syria so far - nothing I’ve heard persuades me they will do so now.“An international strategy for peace must … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon: Foreign policy should be set by parliament not US president
Donald Trump’s foreign policies will be good for France, says Marine Le Pen
Le Pen, who polls suggest will at least make the second round run-off vote in this year's presidential election, supported Donald Trump's victory in the US election. While she says she is “not accountable” for Trump's internal policies in the US and has no plan to create a register for Muslims arriving in France, Le Pen does believe the controversial president elect will be good for France. “I do not calculate my policies based on those of Donald Trump,” Le Pen told international journalists with the Anglo American Press Association at her campaign HQ in Paris on Friday. “I say very clearly that I am not responsible for the policies that Donald Trump is going to put in place in the United States. “I was favourable for the election of Donald Trump because it seemed to me his foreign policy propositions were in the interests of France. “The only thing that interests me is whether Donald Trump is going to take decisions on an international … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s foreign policies will be good for France, says Marine Le Pen