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Trump Announces Plans for New Military ‘Super Range’ in Montana

Nathan Brinkman — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:12:53 +0000

President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish a new military testing facility in Montana, expanding the state’s role in advanced defense technology.

The announcement came during a campaign rally in Kalispell on October 14, 2026. According to Reuters, Trump described the proposed facility as a “super range” designed to test emerging military systems, including autonomous weapons, space technology, electronic warfare equipment, and supersonic and hypersonic weapons.

The planned facility would support the development and evaluation of technologies used in modern military operations.

Montana already hosts the Montana Spaceport & Test Range and the affiliated Limestone Hills Innovation & Test Campus, which support aerospace and defense testing. Trump did not specify whether the new facility would connect with those existing operations.

The announcement was made during Trump’s campaign tour supporting Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Additional details, including the project’s exact location, construction timeline, and estimated cost, have not been announced.

Greenland Energy Exploration Moves Ahead Following U.S. Agreement

Nathan Brinkman — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:18:09 +0000

President Donald Trump says large-scale oil, natural gas, and mineral exploration is preparing to begin in Greenland, bringing renewed attention to the Arctic island’s natural resources.

The announcement came Wednesday, October 14, with Reuters reporting that Trump outlined the plans in a statement on Truth Social. He suggested Greenland could contain exceptionally large quantities of easily accessible oil, citing unnamed experts.

However, Trump did not provide details about the companies involved, exploration locations, or when operations would begin.

The announcement follows a September agreement between the United States, Denmark and Greenland, designed to reduce tensions after Trump’s previous efforts to gain control of the island.

The agreement expands the American military presence in Greenland, allowing for two additional military bases and the planned deployment of the Golden Dome missile defense system.

It also reaffirms Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination.

Trump emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance to U.S. national security, describing its location as essential for defending against potential missile and drone attacks.

Specific details about the proposed energy exploration remain unconfirmed.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Takes the White House Podium

Nathan Brinkman — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:29:16 +0000

By Tom Howell Jr. (The Washington Times)

Katie Zacharia made her debut as President Trump’s press secretary Tuesday, fielding questions from a briefing-room podium that’s been relatively dormant since Karoline Leavitt left the post in August.

Ms. Zacharia is stepping into the role in the heat of the midterm campaign. She is responsible for defending Mr. Trump against unrelenting attacks from his Democratic foes and promoting his agenda as Republicans fight to keep their majorities in the House and Senate.

At the podium, Ms. Zacharia said she always wanted to work for Mr. Trump.

“I’m looking forward to working with each of you as well, especially as we are in the middle of a midterm blitz, with energy and excitement never seen before in the history of midterms, thanks to President Trump,” she said.

Speaking slowly from prepared remarks, Ms. Zacharia outlined a series of accomplishments, including Mr. Trump’s efforts to slash prescription drug prices and secure foreign investments.

Ms. Zacharia’s first briefing was brief, clocking in at about 15 minutes. She said they had to run because Mr. Trump was traveling to Alaska.

The new press secretary took a few relatively friendly questions, though made news by saying Mr. Trump demanded Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation because of improper conduct as ambassador to Greece.

Pressed by a Fox News reporter on whether the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, Ms. Zacharia said she would have to “get back to” the press on that matter.

Ms. Zacharia spoke about her husband and four children, noting they planned to move to Washington from California.

“President Trump is the most family-friendly president we have ever had,” she said.

Ms. Zacharia officially started the job on Monday.

She will walk a tricky tightrope as Mr. Trump’s chief spokeswoman with the press. Mr. Trump craves the limelight, but he uses the press as a foil and says the mainstream media won’t give him a fair shake.

Mr. Trump recently banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, though a court reversed the ban while litigation proceeds.

Ms. Zacharia is a conservative commentator who’s made frequent appearances on Fox News and briefly served as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.

She served as a communications adviser for the Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, and general counsel and legal advisor for Fix California, an organization focused on advancing conservative policies, according to her LinkedIn profile.

“Katie has been with me, in spirit, from the very beginning, and will do a fantastic job!” Mr. Trump said on social media.

After her first briefing, Mr. Trump said she did “very good.”

Ms. Zacharia replaced Ms. Leavitt, who served as press secretary from the start of Mr. Trump’s second term to August of this year.

Ms. Leavitt’s last formal press briefing was July 23, and she addressed reporters for the last time in a White House driveway gaggle on Aug. 27.

White House press briefings have been rare since then, even as the GOP tries to sell its America First agenda of tax cuts, deregulation and investment in domestic manufacturing.

Vice President J.D. Vance appeared at the podium on Sept. 3, and Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted a briefing on Sept. 15.

This article was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.

Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns as Ambassador to Greece

Nathan Brinkman — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:12:20 +0000

By Vaughn Cockayne (The Washington Times)

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle stepped down Tuesday after the White House asked for her resignation over allegations of improper conduct during her time at the embassy.

In her resignation statement, Ms. Guilfoyle rejected accusations that she had abused her position in the Trump administration and vowed to defend her name.

“While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end,” she wrote on X.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia announced on Tuesday that Ms. Guilfoyle had been asked to resign.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,” Ms. Zacharia told reporters during a press briefing.

She did not offer a timeline for replacing Ms. Guilfoyle.

President Trump, who nominated Ms. Guilfoyle to the ambassadorship last year, said Monday that he was “looking” at whether to fire her following several Wall Street Journal articles that alleged misconduct.

“We’re not happy,” Mr. Trump told reporters.

Ms. Guilfoyle was one of the first ambassadors appointed during Mr. Trump’s second term. Before that, she was a Fox News Channel host and was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

The Journal reported last week that Ms. Guilfoyle had used her influence in the administration to solicit $100,000 from a prominent Trump donor to pay off her American Express card ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing last summer.

The outlet also reported allegations that Ms. Guilfoyle told a Greek official that the U.S. could subvert the country’s government if it chose to, and gave a private audience to lobbyists from a Greek construction company.

Other allegations, first reported in U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail, said that Ms. Guilfoyle exhibited “tyrannical” behavior while leading the embassy and threatened staff.

Ms. Guilfoyle on Tuesday rejected the allegations and said she will defend her name.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled to Greece last week as part of a diplomatic trip and met with Ms. Guilfoyle at the U.S. embassy, cast doubt on the allegations and called her a “strong ambassador.”

“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things,” Mr. Rubio told reporters.

Late last week, reports suggested that the State Department’s Inspector General was considering opening a probe into the allegations against Ms. Guilfoyle. It remains unclear if the IG has opened an official investigation.

This article was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.

China Expands AI Data Centers as Tech Race With US Intensifies

Nathan Brinkman — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:41:49 +0000

China is accelerating construction of massive data centers as competition with the United States over artificial intelligence continues to grow.

A CNN report published October 13 highlights developments in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, where nearly 90 data center projects are planned. The area offers affordable land, access to renewable energy, and a climate that helps reduce cooling costs.

The expansion is part of China’s broader effort to strengthen its AI infrastructure. Beijing has announced a $560 billion initiative covering computing and information systems over five years.

China’s construction efforts also benefit from government coordination and fewer local development obstacles than some projects face in the United States.

However, building more facilities does not automatically translate into greater computing capabilities. US export restrictions continue to limit Chinese companies’ access to advanced AI processors, while American technology firms maintain significant advantages in computing resources and investment.

The growing demand for electricity also makes renewable energy an important consideration for both countries.

China’s expansion illustrates how infrastructure, energy availability, and access to advanced technology have become central factors in the global AI competition.

Spirits Lobby Urges Trump to Drop 10% Tariff on Cognac, Liqueurs

Nathan Brinkman — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 03:19:49 +0000

By Kerry Picket (The Washington Times)

After winning tariff relief for Scotch and Irish whiskey, the U.S. spirits industry’s top trade group now wants President Trump to finish the job and drop the remaining 10% levy on European cognac and liqueurs.

The U.S. Distilled Spirits Council said the administration’s trade deficit logic does not fit products that can only be made in one place.

To put it simply: Americans may drink far more cognac than France drinks bourbon, but that is no reason to tax the brandy.

The Council said it has taken that message to the White House, the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to steer the administration away from tariffs that it says turned the industry into “a leverage point” in trade disputes.

“We’ve tried to help educate the administration who is zoned in on trade deficits, that trade deficits shouldn’t really apply for our industry,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, told The Advocates. “We’re not widgets. We’re distinctive products. You can only make American whiskey in the United States.”

Within the last year, Mr. Trump removed a 10% tariff on Scotch whisky, and Mr. Swonger said this happened after King Charles “came in and talked to him about it.”

Mr. Swonger noted that about two weeks ago, when Mr. Trump was in Ireland, he removed the 10% tariff off Irish whiskey coming in, but there still is more work that needs to be done.

“That is awesome. And we applaud that. … We’re still imposing a 10% tariff on European spirits products like cognac and liqueurs. And we hope the administration will consider removing that 10% tariff.”

This article was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.

Trump Says He May See North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un During Asia Trip

Nathan Brinkman — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:17:33 +0000

By Tom Howell Jr. (The Washington Times)

President Trump said Monday he might meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un when he flies to Asia in November for major international summits.

“I may. I may. That will be exciting, won’t it?” Mr. Trump told White House reporters. “But I get along with him.”

Mr. Trump recently appeared at events in Texas with former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who serves as a liaison between the U.S. and North Korea because of Mr. Kim’s love of pro basketball.

The U.S. and North Korean leaders developed an unlikely friendship during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Mr. Trump met with Mr. Kim, the leader of the world’s most reclusive country, three times during his first term in an unsuccessful pursuit of a denuclearization deal.

The pair met in Singapore, Vietnam and at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. They were unable to strike a bargain that would roll back sanctions on North Korea in exchange for the aggressive country scrapping its nuclear weapons.

Mr. Trump might get another chance to meet Mr. Kim when he attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 16 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Shenzen, China, from Nov. 17 to 19.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim traded insults in the early days of Mr. Trump’s first term before the pair developed an unlikely camaraderie.

The president appealed to Mr. Kim’s business sense, pushing the North Korean leader to open his country to business and tourism.

Mr. Kim has acted relatively warmly toward Mr. Trump, but he’s maintained a grip on his country and continues to test missiles.

North Korea reportedly fired off multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday in a show of force.

This article was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.

Trump Considers Removing Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece

Syndicated Content — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:46:43 +0000

President Donald Trump is considering dismissing Kimberly Guilfoyle from her position as U.S. ambassador to Greece following allegations concerning her conduct and financial dealings.

CNN reported on October 11 that a person familiar with the situation said Trump was reviewing claims that Guilfoyle accepted expensive gifts and sought money in exchange for access to administration officials.

One allegation involves a request for $100,000 from a political donor to cover a credit card bill before her Senate confirmation. Guilfoyle’s legal representatives have disputed the accusations and questioned the authenticity of certain messages.

The controversy has also drawn attention within the administration, particularly because the allegations surfaced during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Athens.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News personality and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has maintained close ties to the president’s family.

Trump previously said he knew little about the allegations and described Guilfoyle as someone who had always been nice to him.

As of October 12, no official announcement regarding her dismissal had been made.

Trump Criticizes Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries

Syndicated Content — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:18:55 +0000

President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky following a growing disagreement over a U.S.-Russia diesel agreement.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, October 10, Trump said Ukraine needed a leader willing to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. He accused Zelensky of repeatedly missing opportunities to reach a peace agreement.

The remarks came one day after Trump announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies to global markets, alongside temporary relief from U.S. sanctions.

Zelensky criticized the arrangement, warning that additional Russian energy revenue could help finance Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Trump also blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to higher diesel prices, arguing that the strikes were hurting American farmers and businesses.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha defended Zelensky, emphasizing that Ukrainians have the right to choose their own president.

The dispute comes as Washington continues diplomatic efforts to end the war, while disagreements over sanctions and energy policy create new tensions between the two countries.

Trump Announces Russian Diesel Fuel Deal With Putin

Syndicated Content — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:33:58 +0000

President Donald Trump has announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies to the United States and global markets, as high fuel prices continue to affect consumers and businesses.

Following their October 9 phone conversation, Trump said Russia had agreed to supply 300,000 tons of diesel in October and another 500,000 tons in November, with potentially larger shipments in the following months.

CNN reported that the U.S. Treasury Department is easing certain sanctions to allow Russian diesel sales, marking a shift in Washington’s efforts to restrict Moscow’s energy revenue.

The announcement comes as diesel prices have climbed above $6 per gallon in the United States, increasing transportation and agricultural costs ahead of the November midterm elections.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the agreement, expressing concern that additional Russian energy revenue could help finance Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The deal also comes as Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have disrupted fuel production and exports.

Whether the additional diesel supplies will significantly reduce global fuel prices remains uncertain.