Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump has said that he will keep the US in Nato provided European countries “play fair” and “pay their fair share”.
The former president made the remarks in an interview with Nigel Farage on GB News and appeared to have softened his rhetoric since he said in February that he could “encourage” Vladimir Putin’s Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to Nato countries who did not meet their financial obligations to the mutual defence pact.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s former trade adviser Peter Navarro has surrendered to the authorities at a prison facility in Florida to begin a four-month jail sentence, nearly four years after he tried to help the former president unlawfully remain in office after losing the 2020 election.
In New York, the former president’s attorneys told an appeals court that he has failed to find a backer to cover his $464m bond following the civil fraud judgment against him, branding the task a “practical impossibility”, which raises the possibility that New York attorney general Letitia James can begin seizing his assets.
Michael Cohen, adult film star Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal have meanwhile been cleared to testify against him in a separate hush-money trial next month.
Key Points
Show latest update
New poll suggests Trump criminal conviction may seriously damage election hopes
Donald Trump‘s hopes for a second presidential term may be damaged if he is convicted in a criminal trial, according to a new poll.
A Politico/Ipsos poll found that while a criminal conviction would not put an end to Mr Trump’s electoral ambitions, it could damage his chances in his rematch against Joe Biden in November.
More than a third of independents who responded to the poll said that a criminal conviction would make them less likely to support the former president later this year, according to Politico.
Those sentiments undermine a generally held belief among political analysts that Mr Trump’s legal woes will hurt him with potential voters.
Graig Graziosi has the details:
Oliver O’Connell20 March 2024 06:15
Donald Trump claims Harry and Meghan ‘broke Queen Elizabeth’s heart’
Donald Trump has claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “broke Queen Elizabeth’s heart”. The former US president reveals his thoughts on Prince Harry and Meghan in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage. In a preview of the interview, which airs in full at 7pm on Tuesday (19 March), Mr Trump says: “I would say, although she wouldn’t show it because she was strong and smart, but I would imagine they broke her heart. “The things that they were saying were so bad and so horrible, and she was in her nineties hearing this stuff. I think they broke her heart.” Mr Trump also describes the late Queen as “incredible” saying he is a “big fan” the concept of a royal family.
Oliver O’Connell20 March 2024 04:15
Trump hits back at ‘fake news media’ over ‘bloodbath’ comment coverage
Former president Donald Trump has accused the media of willfully misinterpreting his prediction during a rally appearance over the weekend that his defeat in November’s election would result in a “bloodbath”.
Speaking in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening as he stumped for Republican primary candidate Bernie Moreno, Mr Trump used the phrase as he warned of dire economic consequences for an American auto industry under pressure from China without him back in the White House.
“If I don’t get elected it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” he declared.
Joe Sommerlad has the story…
Oliver O’Connell20 March 2024 02:15
Prince Harry’s future in US questioned by Nigel Farage after Trump interview
Nigel Farage has suggested that Prince Harry’s future in the United States could be compromised after an interview with Donald Trump. The GB News presenter sat down with the presidential hopeful at Mar-a-Lago this week and teased discussion around the Duke of Sussex, Mr Trump’s “bloodbath” comments and his “definitive” answer on Nato. “I wouldn’t fancy Prince Harry’s future in America if he lied on his visa form,” Mr Farage said, sharing a clip on social media. Harry is currently embroiled in a legal battle over his US visa application after he admitted to past drug use in his highly controversial memoir Spare. The full interview airs on GB News at 7pm on Tuesday 19 March.
Oliver O’Connell20 March 2024 01:15
Outrage over Trump comments about Jewish people who vote Democrat
Mr Trump made the comments on the America First radio show hosted by his former White House aide Sebastian Gorka. The former president criticised Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who recently suggested that Israel hold new elections as he criticised the leadership of Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gustaf Kilander has the full story:
Oliver O’Connell20 March 2024 00:15
Watch: Trump sues ABC host over this Nancy Mace interview
Trump sues ABC host over this Nancy Mace interview
Oliver O’Connell19 March 2024 23:15
Fraudster set to testify at GOP impeachment hearing sought pardon from Trump in 2020
A convicted felon and notorious fraudster interviewed by House investigators as part of the Republican-led impeachment probe into President Joe Biden sought a presidential pardon during the waning days of the Trump administration and refused to rule out asking for one if Mr Trump is returned to office.
The Republican witness, Jason Galanis, is scheduled to give evidence from a federal prison by remote video link on Wednesday when House Republicans convene a public hearing with several former business associates of Mr Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC:
Oliver O’Connell19 March 2024 22:45
Hutchinson joins Pence in refusal to endorse Trump
Former Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson has firmly stated he will not endorse Donald Trump as the nominee for his party, saying Mr Trump has put his ego “above the common good”.
The former Arkansas governor said that the Republican nominee had redefined the party “in his image” and that meant traditional GOP values had been lost.
Oliver O’Connell19 March 2024 22:15
Trump asked about Pence not endorsing him
The former president had just voted in Florida’s primary election and told reporters: “I couldn’t care less. I couldn’t care less. We need patriots. We need strong people in our country. Our country is going downhill very fast… We need strong people in this country. We don’t need weak people.”
Oliver O’Connell19 March 2024 22:00
Jimmy Kimmel says ‘past your jail time’ merch is flying
The name-calling saga between the former president and the late-night host continues, and this time, Kimmel has reacted to Mr Trump’s comments about him during a Sunday interview with Fox News’ MediaBuzz.
Kimmel joked about how Mr Trump is “still stewing” about the joke he made at his expense during the Academy Awards ceremony over a week ago.
Oliver O’Connell19 March 2024 21:45