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Trump May Pick Gabbard As Running Mate

Trump acknowledged considering at least five prominent Republicans and one former Democrat as potential running mates for the general election…reports Asian Lite News

Donald Trump, after excluding Vivek Ramaswamy as his potential running mate in the US Presidential polls, has now narrowed down another Indian American among five other candidates for the vice president’s position.

Sources close to Trump, as reported by Bloomberg agency, reveal that Trump seeks a running mate not driven by the spotlight but one who can significantly bolster his chances against President Joe Biden. Tulsi Gabbard, a former US representative once hailed as a rising star in the Democratic Party, emerges as a potential vice-presidential pick on Trump’s shortlist.

Last month, Trump acknowledged considering at least five prominent Republicans and one former Democrat as potential running mates for the general election. Notably, Tulsi Gabbard, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Byron Donalds, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem were mentioned by the New York Post.

Gabbard, who served in the House from 2013 to the end of 2020, ran an unsuccessful White House campaign in the 2020 Democratic primary. The first Hindu American in Congress, Gabbard has been critical of the Biden administration over its handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She officially left the party last year, posting a video on Twitter claiming it is “now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness”.

During the November 2022 mid-terms, she endorsed and campaigned for Republican politicians, including 2020 election-defying gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Senate candidate Blake Masters. Gabbard has been frequently seen as a guest on the conservative-leaning cable channel after severing ranks with the Democratic party.

Tulsi Gabbard’s background reveals a trajectory of notable achievements. Born in Leloaloa, American Samoa, she earned a B.S.B.A. in business administration from Hawaii Pacific University in 2009. Gabbard made history in 2002 as the youngest person elected to the Hawaii state legislature, representing District 42 in West Oahu until 2004. Amidst her legislative duties, she enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and was deployed for a tour in Iraq in 2004.

Her commitment to service continued as she graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, in 2007, emerging as the distinguished honor graduate, a first for a woman in the Academy’s history. Gabbard later served as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka from 2007 to 2009, before her deployment to Kuwait in 2009 to train counterterrorism units.

In 2010, Gabbard ventured into municipal politics, winning a seat on the Honolulu City Council, followed by her election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. Notably, she represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District from 2013 to 2021, becoming the first American Samoan Congresswoman and the first practicing Hindu member of Congress.

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Trump Says Jews Who Vote For Democrats ‘Hate Their Religion, Israel’

Prominent groups such as the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Democratic Council of America condemned Trump’s comments

Republican U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump faced backlash from various quarters, including the White House, Democratic circles, and Jewish organisations, following his remarks suggesting that Jewish Americans voting for Democrats hate their religion and Israel.

In an interview with his former advisor Sebastian Gorka posted on his website, Trump asserted, “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves.” He further alleged that the Democratic Party holds hate for Israel.

Prominent groups such as the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Democratic Council of America swiftly condemned Trump’s comments, deeming them inappropriate for linking religion with political allegiance.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, the White House emphasised the need to refrain from propagating harmful stereotypes. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated, “There is no justification for spreading toxic, false stereotypes that threaten fellow citizens.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, criticised Trump’s divisive rhetoric, affirming his commitment to nurturing the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Schumer’s critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in the Gaza conflict had drawn attention previously, sparking a reaction from both Netanyahu and President Biden.

The Democratic National Committee also rebuked Trump’s statements, asserting that Jewish Americans deserve better than such offensive attacks.

(Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign doubled down on his remarks, accusing the Democratic Party of being anti-Israel and anti-Semitic. The Republican Jewish Coalition defended Trump’s stance, expressing bewilderment at Jewish support for Democrats despite perceived policy discrepancies.

Trump’s past statements, including controversial remarks equating white nationalists with anti-racism protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, were also referenced. Despite criticisms, Trump’s administration had taken several pro-Israel measures, such as relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

In the ongoing Gaza conflict, President Biden initially supported Israel but later advocated for a ceasefire and negotiations for a two-state solution. Amidst political tensions, a Pew Research Center poll highlighted the majority of American Jews’ affiliation with the Democratic Party, while a significant minority leaned Republican.

ALSO READ: UNSC calls for halt to Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels

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Stage Set For Biden Trump Rematch

The Biden-Trump rematch has, thus, cleared its final qualifying threshold…reports Asian Lite News

US President Joe Biden clinched the number of delegates needed to win the Democratic Party’s nomination in primaries held on Tuesday. His predecessor Donald Trump will have won the Republican nomination by the end of the day.

The Biden-Trump rematch has, thus, cleared its final qualifying threshold.

Biden crossed the Democratic Party threshold of 1,968 delegates with a win in the primaries in Georgia, which was critical to his win in the general election in 2020. Trump won the Republican Party primaries in Georgia as well but will have to wait for results from the three other states that held their primaries on Tuesday — Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington — to clinch the nomination.

Neither of them faced a real challenge for their respective party nominations although the Republican primaries had remained open till March 5 when Nikki Haley, the former Ambassador to the UN, suspended her campaign leaving Trump the only one in the field.

In an election system typical to the US, aspirants to the White House need to win enough delegates — every state primary or caucus grants them a certain number of delegates — who will officially anoint their nominees at their party conventions later in the year. But the Biden versus Trump presidential election gets technically underway on Tuesday night.

Biden cleared the 1,968 delegates on Tuesday and Trump will have his 1,215 by the end of the day.

“Just a few minutes ago, this team helped me clinch the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the US,” Biden said in a statement.

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Trump slams Facebook as ‘enemy of the people’

Meta shares also retreated 1.2% on Friday following a post by Trump on Truth Social where the former president blasted Facebook as “a true Enemy of the People!”…reports Asian Lite News

Facebook once again finds itself in the crosshairs of former President Donald Trump. And that’s making some traders on Wall Street nervous.

Meta Platforms (META), the owner of Facebook and one of the stars of the recent market rally, fell about 4% on Monday after Trump called into CNBC and labeled Facebook “an enemy of the people.”

Meta shares also retreated 1.2% on Friday following a post by Trump on Truth Social where the former president blasted Facebook as “a true Enemy of the People!”

Meta’s market valuation has dropped by more than $60 billion since Trump’s attacks began Thursday evening. No major news appeared to drive the Meta selloff, other than the condemnation from the former – and possibly future – president of the United States.

“It has everything to do with the comments from former President Trump,” Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, told CNN. “Facebook has gone through waves of being dragged into the political debate – and it never bodes well for them.” Trump surprised many last week by reversing his stance on TikTok and coming out against the TikTok ban that many in Congress – including many Republicans – are pushing for.

Why? Well, Trump argues that banning TikTok would help Facebook, a company the former president has a long history of battling with.

“The thing I don’t like is that without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media,” Trump told CNBC Monday morning before US markets opened. Facebook imposed a two-year ban on Trump in the wake of the Jan 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Meta reinstated Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts in February 2023.

“I think Facebook has been very dishonest. I think Facebook has been very bad for our country, especially when it comes to elections,” Trump said.

Meta did not respond to a request for comment.

Investors are clearly taking notice of the attacks from Trump. At one point, Meta shares were down about 5% Monday, leaving them on track for the worst day since December 2022. Luria, the D.A. Davidson analyst, said Trump’s comments raise concerns about Facebook becoming a target of Washington once again.

“When a presidential candidate refers to them as the enemy of the people, that really brings them back into the center of the debate – where they haven’t been for a few years,” Luria said.

Specifically, Luria said Trump, if elected president, could pressure Facebook by making it harder for Meta to make acquisitions in the future. The company’s prior acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have been central to its growth.

“If it can’t buy the next great thing in the future, it will have trouble competing,” Luria said. “There are pretty impactful things a president can do, not to mention using the power of the podium to limit a company’s attractiveness to a certain voter base.” Of course, Trump himself is very much involved in social media.

US regulators recently gave the green light to a controversial merger between Truth Social owner Trump Media & Technology Group and a blank-check company. If approved by shareholders later this month, Trump would own a dominant stake in the newly-public company that could be worth billions.

The full House is set to vote this week on a bill that would give TikTok roughly five months to separate from its China-linked parent company or else app stores in the United States would be banned from hosting the app on their platforms. President Joe Biden has said he is prepared to sign the TikTok bill into law if it passes Congress.

ALSO READ-Trump will not give a penny to Ukraine, says Orban

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Trump will not give a penny to Ukraine, says Orban

A statement from Trump’s campaign did not mention Ukraine but said the pair on Friday discussed issues affecting both nations, including their respective border security…reports Asian Lite News

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says former US President Donald Trump has told him that he would “not give a penny” to the war in Ukraine.

Orban related the comments by Trump, who is running in November’s presidential election, during an interview with state broadcaster M1 late on Sunday after he travelled to Florida to meet Trump.

“He has a very clear vision, which is hard not to agree with. He says the following: First of all, he will not give a penny in the Ukraine-Russia war,” Orban said in the interview.

There was no immediate response from Trump’s team on these comments from Orban.

Orban often calls for a ceasefire and peace talks in the Russia-Ukraine war, which recently entered its third year. He also argues Trump is best qualified to end the conflict, having expressed hope for his return to power.

“That is why the war will end because it is obvious that Ukraine cannot stand on its own feet. … If the Americans do not give money, the Europeans alone will not be able to finance this war. And then the war is over,” he said.

A statement from Trump’s campaign did not mention Ukraine but said the pair on Friday discussed issues affecting both nations, including their respective border security.

Orban angered fellow European Union leaders by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in October and has maintained ties with the Kremlin since Russia invaded Ukraine. He has also spoken out against Western sanctions on Moscow.

President Joe Biden criticised the Trump-Orban meeting, saying the Hungarian leader was “looking for dictatorship”. European leaders have long been nervous that another Trump presidency would mean waning US support for both Ukraine and NATO.

Orban, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s few allies left in Europe, frames his position as “pro-peace” despite the fact that it would effectively reward Moscow for waging war against a weaker neighbor and allow it to sue for peace on its own terms.

Trump, who last week effectively locked up the Republican nomination for president, has taken a similar isolationist approach as he campaigns to retake the White House in November. He has vowed to end the war in Ukraine, if he’s elected, within 24 hours – a process that could happen only on Putin’s terms and reward his illegal invasion.

Orban and Trump, both far-right populists defined by anti-immigrant and demagogic rhetoric, have long expressed mutual admiration for each other – despite the fact that critics say Orbán has weakened the country’s democratic institutions since returning to power in 2010.

Trump’s lavish praise for Orban has sparked concern that he is doubling down on his support for autocrats as Western democracies struggle to stay united in their support for Ukraine.

“He likes dealing with other big guys, and big guys like Erdogan in Turkey get to put people in jail and you don’t have to ask anybody’s permission. He kind of likes that,” John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser said.

ALSO READ-EU fights anti-Ukraine propaganda ahead of vote

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US Judge denies Trump relief from $83.3 mn defamation judgment

At the time, Trump accused her of making up claims that he raped her in the dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in spring 1996…reports Asian Lite News

The federal judge who oversaw a New York defamation trial that resulted in an $83.3 million award to a longtime magazine columnist who says Donald Trump raped her in the 1990s refused Thursday to relieve the ex-president from the verdict’s financial pinch.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan told Trump’s attorney in a written order that he won’t delay deadlines for posting a bond that would ensure 80-year-old writer E. Jean Carroll can be paid the award if the judgment survives appeals.

The judge said any financial harm to the Republican front-runner for the presidency results from his slow response to the late-January verdict in the defamation case resulting from statements Trump made about Carroll while he was president in 2019 after she revealed her claims against him in a memoir.

At the time, Trump accused her of making up claims that he raped her in the dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in spring 1996. A jury last May at a trial Trump did not attend awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, finding that Trump sexually abused her but did not rape her as rape was defined under New York state law. It also concluded that he defamed her in statements in October 2022.

Trump attended the January trial and briefly testified, though his remarks were severely limited by the judge, who had ruled that the jury had to accept the May verdict and was only to decide how much in damages, if any, Carroll was owed for Trump’s 2019 statements. In the statements, Trump claimed he didn’t know Carroll and accused her of making up lies to sell books and harm him politically.

In his order Thursday, Kaplan noted that Trump’s lawyers waited 25 days to seek to delay when a bond must be posted. The judgment becomes final Monday. “Mr. Trump’s current situation is a result of his own dilatory actions,” Kaplan wrote.

The judge noted that Trump’s lawyers seek to delay execution of the jury award until three days after Kaplan rules on their request to suspend the jury award pending consideration of their challenges to the judgment because preparations to post a bond could “impose irreparable injury in the form of substantial costs.”

Kaplan, though, said the expense of ongoing litigation does not constitute irreparable injury.

“Nor has Mr. Trump made any showing of what expenses he might incur if required to post a bond or other security, on what terms (if any) he could obtain a conventional bond, or post cash or other assets to secure payment of the judgment, or any other circumstances relevant to the situation,” the judge said.

Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, did not immediately comment.

Since the January verdict, a state court judge in New York in a separate case has ordered Trump and his companies to pay $355 million in penalties for a yearslong scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated his wealth. With interest, he owes the state nearly $454 million.

ALSO READ-House approves $450 bn package to avert shutdown

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Biden knocks Trump over NATO, democracy

Speaking before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Biden opened his remarks with a direct criticism of Trump…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden declared democracy under threat at home and abroad and called former President Donald Trump’s position on NATO unacceptable on Thursday in a State of the Union speech designed to contrast visions with his 2024 Republican opponent.

Biden, speaking before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, opened his remarks with a direct criticism of Trump for comments inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade other NATO nations if they did not spend more on defense.

“Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, quote, ‘Do whatever you want,’” Biden said. “I think it’s outrageous, it’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable.”

Biden, who has been pushing Congress to provide additional funding to Ukraine for its war with Russia, also had a message for Putin: “We will not walk away,” he said.

The president drew a contrast with Trump, his Republican challenger in the Nov. 5 election, over democracy, abortion rights and the economy during a speech that Democrats see as a high profile chance for Biden to press his case for a second term in front of a rare TV audience of millions of Americans.

Biden, suffering from low approval ratings, faces discontent among progressives in his party about his support for Israel in its war against Hamas and from Republicans over his stance on immigration.

Some lawmakers wore ceasefire pins to signal their protest, but many chanted, “Four more years!” as he entered the chamber.

Multiple women lawmakers in the audience wore white to promote reproductive rights.

Biden highlighted the threats to democracy he argues Trump poses as the former president repeats false claims about his 2020 election loss and proposes jailing political enemies.

“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality,” Biden will say, according to speech excerpts released ahead of time. “Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me.”

Trump, who is facing multiple criminal charges as he fights for re-election, says he plans to punish political foes and deport millions of migrants if he wins a second White House term. Representative Troy Nehls, a Republican, wore a shirt with Trump’s face and the words “Never surrender” on it.

Age, economy at issue

Opinion polls show Biden, 81, and Trump, 77, closely matched in the race. Most American voters are unenthusiastic about the rematch after Biden defeated Trump four years ago.

The president’s reference to “other people my age” is an attempt to underscore that the two men are both old. Biden, who has faced concerns about his mental acuity, was not expected to mention Trump, who also makes regular gaffes and verbal slip-ups, by name.

The speech may be the Democratic president’s biggest stage to reach voters weighing whether to vote for him, choose Trump, or sit out the election. Nikki Haley, Trump’s last remaining rival for his party’s presidential nomination, dropped out on Wednesday.

Biden sought to burnish his reputation with Americans about the strength of the US economy and renew his quest to make wealthy Americans and corporations pay more in taxes, unveiling proposals including higher minimum taxes for companies and Americans with wealth over $100 million.

Any such tax reform is unlikely to pass unless Democrats win strong majorities in both houses of Congress in the November vote, which is not forecast.

Biden also proposed new measures to lower housing costs, including a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers — an acknowledgement of consumers’ distress over high mortgage interest rates — while boasting of USeconomic progress under his tenure.

“I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have. It doesn’t make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told,” Biden will say of his economic record since 2021, according to excerpts.

The US economy is performing better than most high-income countries, with continued job growth and consumer spending.

However, Republican voters tell pollsters they are deeply dissatisfied with the economy, and Americans overall give Trump better marks in polls for economic issues.

“Joe Biden is on the run from his record … to escape accountability for the horrific devastation he and his party have created,” Trump posted before the speech on his Truth Social platform.

Gaza port, Ukraine funds

Biden was expected to try to cool anger among many Democrats over his support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. He will announce during the speech that the US military will build a port on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast to receive humanitarian assistance by sea, US officials told reporters.

Biden used the speech to push, again, for a $95 billion aid package for weapons to Ukraine and aid to Israel that has been blocked by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The president’s wife’s guests for the speech include Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who was in Washington as Sweden formally joins NATO on Thursday, two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — indicating Biden will speak on his support for the security alliance, another contrast with Trump.

Other White House guests included people affected by in vitro fertilization or abortion restrictions, a veteran of the 1965 Bloody Sunday attack on Black marchers in Selma, Alabama, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and others.

US Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, who will deliver Republicans’ formal response to Biden’s speech, planned to attack him over immigration and the economy.

ALSO READ-Biden Fires Back at Trump, Challenges Putin

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Breather For Trump

Supreme Court removes potential hurdle to Trump’s bid to recapture the White House, unanimously dismissing a state court ruling that could have barred him from the ballot for engaging in insurrection…reports Asian Lite News

The US Supreme Court has removed a potential hurdle to Donald Trump’s bid to recapture the White House, unanimously dismissing a state court ruling that could have barred him from the ballot for engaging in insurrection.

The high-stakes ruling in favor of the former president came on the eve of the Super Tuesday primaries that are expected to cement Trump’s march toward the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden in November.

It was the most consequential election case heard by the court since it halted the Florida vote recount in 2000 with Republican George W. Bush narrowly leading Democrat Al Gore.

The question before the nine justices was whether Trump was ineligible to appear on the Republican presidential primary ballot in Colorado because he engaged in an insurrection — the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his supporters.

In a 9-0 decision, the conservative-dominated court said, “the judgment of the Colorado Supreme Court… cannot stand,” meaning 77-year-old Trump can appear on the state’s primary ballot.

“All nine Members of the Court agree with that result,” the ruling said, though one conservative and the three liberal justices dissented on certain technical aspects.

Trump hailed the decision, declaring a “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!” in a post on his Truth Social website.

The case stemmed from a ruling in December by the supreme court of Colorado, one of the 15 states and territories voting on Super Tuesday.

The state court, citing the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, ruled that Trump should be kicked off the ballot because of his role in the January 6 attack on Congress, when a mob tried to halt certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bars those who engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” after once pledging to support and defend the Constitution from holding public office — although Trump’s lawyers argued the rule does not apply to the presidency.

During two hours of arguments last month, both conservative and liberal justices on the US Supreme Court expressed concern about having individual states decide which candidates can be on the presidential ballot this November.

On Monday, the top court ruled that “responsibility for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates rests with Congress and not the States” — and that the principle applied “especially (to) the Presidency.”

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, was aimed at preventing supporters of the slave-holding breakaway Confederacy from being elected to Congress or from holding federal positions.

Monday’s ruling renders other similar state challenges to Trump’s primary ballot appearance effectively moot, including in Maine which also votes on Super Tuesday.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said her state’s barring of Trump from the ballot had been withdrawn, writing in a statement that the votes cast for Trump “will be counted.”

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said she was “disappointed” in the outcome, posting on X that the state should be able to bar “oath-breaking” insurrectionists.

Speaking to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump alleged again without evidence that the legal maneuvering against him was “in total coordination with the White House.”

His only remaining rival in the Republican primary, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, told CNN she was happy with the decision.

“Look, I’m trying to defeat Donald Trump fair and square. I don’t need them taking him off the ballot to do it,” she said.

The Supreme Court, which includes three justices nominated by Trump, has historically been loath to get involved in political questions, but it is taking center stage in this year’s White House race.

Besides the Colorado case, the high court has also agreed to hear Trump’s claim that he is immune from criminal prosecution as a former president and cannot be tried on separate charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives for inciting an insurrection but was acquitted thanks to Republican support in the Senate.

He is also scheduled to go on trial in New York on March 25 on charges of covering up hush money payments to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

In yet another case, Trump faces federal charges in Florida of refusing to give up top secret documents after leaving the White House.

ALSO READ-Haley defeats Trump in Washington DC

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Trump Silent on Ukraine Visit Invitation

According to Kuleba, the main thing now is to understand that the key for Ukraine should not even be maintaining bipartisan support, but support at the level of voters…reports Asian Lite News

The Ukrainian authorities have not yet received a response to an invitation to visit Ukraine from former US President Donald Trump or his team, media reported on Sunday.

According to Ukrinform news agency report, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this in an interview with a US media portal.

“There are political signals that come publicly from US presidential candidate Donald Trump. There are public signals coming from the President of Ukraine. We have not heard a response to the invitation from Trump himself or his team. If there is a response, we will consider it,” he added.

According to Kuleba, the main thing now is to understand that the key for Ukraine should not even be maintaining bipartisan support, but support at the level of voters, Ukrinform news agency reported.

“Because American politicians follow their voters,” the Minister said.

As reported by Ukrinform news agency, in January this year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky invited former US President Donald Trump to visit Kiev after the latter promised to stop the war “very quickly” if he won this year’s election.

ALSO READ-Trump notches easy win over Haley in South Carolina

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Trump Launches Sneaker Line Amid Legal Woes

By Saturday night, the $399 sneakers were listed as sold out on the website. There had been 1,000 pairs of the sneakers available for purchase, according to the site…reports Asian Lite News

Former US President Donald Trump has launched a sneaker line, a day after a New York judge fined him and his companies nearly $355 million in the civil fraud case.

The former president unveiled “Trump Sneakers” at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia.

He placed a pair of gold sneakers, which a new website priced at $399 and named the “NEVER SURRENDER HIGH-TOP SNEAKER”, on the podium as he spoke, media reports said .

“This is something I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years, and I think it’s going to be a big success,” said Trump, the frontliner in GOP nominations in a potential rematch between him and President Joe Biden for 2024 presidential elections.

By Saturday night, the $399 sneakers were listed as sold out on the website. There had been 1,000 pairs of the sneakers available for purchase, according to the site.

The former president is also selling two versions of sneakers that have “T” and “45” on the sides for $199, according to the website. Cologne and perfume are for sale at $99 each.

According to the website, the products are “trademarks of CIC Ventures LLC. Trump Sneakers are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their respective affiliates or principals. 45Footwear, LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement,” CNN reported.

ALSO READ-Trump Ordered to Pay $355M in New York Civil Fraud Case