Trump cuts US-South Korea military drills citing ‘good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ | First Thing
Summary
President Donald Trump announced he will reduce joint US-South Korea military drills, citing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This decision comes despite warnings from military officials that North Korea is learning new tactics from the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, other US political and diplomatic issues include concerns about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, Jared Kushner’s talks with Hamas and Israel, and debates over vaccine safety claims and Justice Department independence.Key Facts
- President Trump said he will “substantially reduce” US-South Korea military drills because of his positive relationship with Kim Jong-un.
- Military leaders from the US and South Korea warned that North Korea is gaining new battlefield knowledge from the war in Ukraine.
- The planned drills were costly and viewed by Trump as sending a hostile message to North Korea, which he described as "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency.
- Democrats have raised concerns about morale and conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, linking problems to the ongoing Iran conflict and leadership issues.
- Jared Kushner met Hamas’s political chief in Egypt and will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a US-backed Gaza ceasefire roadmap.
- The ceasefire plan asks Hamas to give up weapons gradually while Israeli forces pull back; Netanyahu refuses to withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.
- US Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to promise that the Justice Department will always act independently of President Trump but stated no illegal requests from the president have happened.
- Republican Senator Bill Cassidy criticized President Trump’s claims about the safety of the MMR vaccine, calling them “crazy” and harmful to public trust in vaccines.
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