This Friday, President Donald Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. The tone suggests that Trump may not be ready to approve the sale of long-range missile systems that Ukraine is keen on acquiring. This discussion comes right after Trump had an extensive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to talk through the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Lately, Trump had shown some willingness to sell long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, but following Thursday’s conversation with Putin, he seemed to soften his stance on that point.
Here’s the latest scoop:
John Bolton Set to Appear in Court
Former national security adviser John Bolton is expected to turn himself in and make his first court appearance shortly. Accusations have emerged against him for allegedly storing top-secret documents at his residence and sharing diary-like notes containing sensitive information with family members. Bolton’s lawyer defended him, claiming he hasn’t unlawfully disclosed or stored any classified information.
Bolton’s court appearance is expected to happen on Friday in Greenbelt, Maryland. Notably, this marks the third legal challenge against a Trump opponent just this past month, raising concerns that the Justice Department might be targeting political foes while letting his allies bypass scrutiny.
Hungary Proud to Host Trump-Putin Talks
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is taking pride in Hungary’s hosting role for the meeting between Trump and Putin. The discussion is anticipated to focus on how to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Trump mentioned on Thursday that these talks are scheduled to take place in about two weeks.
Orbán, who has cultivated a close relationship with both Trump and Putin, hinted that Hungary’s opposition to Western military assistance for Ukraine may have played a role in their host location. Additionally, Hungary has chosen not to provide Ukraine with weapons and has resisted EU sanctions against Russia. There’s added significance in where they’re meeting, considering Budapest was the backdrop for the 1994 agreement concerning Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Poll Shows Trump’s Approval Climbing Following Gaza Ceasefire
A recent AP-NORC poll reveals that more Americans now approve of Trump’s foreign policy efforts regarding Israel after he helped broker a ceasefire deal in Gaza. However, it’s worth noting that his overall approval ratings on domestic matters remain quite low.
The poll conducted between October 9 and 13 — right after the ceasefire announcement — showed that roughly 40% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s overall job performance, which hasn’t changed since September. Even among supporters, there’s a noticeable call for Trump to be more active in resolving pressing domestic issues like the economy, healthcare, and immigration.
