‘Wow’: Trump shocks analyst with Ukraine plan that could ‘go off the rails at any moment’
President Donald Trump issued his vision of a peace plan for the war in Ukraine from his Truth Social account on Monday, a plan that one expert said could "go off the rails at any moment."
The plan was issued after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several leaders of European nations at the White House.
"During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America," Trump's post reads in part. "Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine."
The plan raised several questions for Julia Ioffe, a founding member and Washington correspondent for Puck News. Ioffe appeared on CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper," hosted by Pamela Brown, on Monday, to discuss the plan.
"First, wow," the Russian-born American journalist said about the plan. "Second of all, I'll believe it when I see it."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he would not accept security guarantees from NATO or European countries to end the war in Ukraine. Ioffe found it curious that the European delegation would discuss security guarantees based on Putin's past statements.
"What kind of security guarantees are acceptable for Ukraine but not too much for Russia?" Ioffe asked.
She also noted that Putin appears to want to end the war and secure his gains in Ukraine. However, Trump has given Putin no reason to stop the war, she added.
There are also outstanding questions about whether Russia will be allowed to keep Ukrainian land or if it will have to give back land that it has taken, Ioffe noted.
"We'll see, but this could go off the rails at any moment," she said.
Police officer busted by Trump’s ICE agrees to exit the country: report
Not even local police officers in Maine are immune from President Donald Trump's Immigration and Customs Enforcement busts.
According to The Associated Press, ICE agents "arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25, as part of the agency’s effort to step up immigration enforcement. Officials with the town and police department have said federal authorities previously told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S."
ICE alleged, however, that Evans overstayed his visa and unlawfully tried to buy a gun while he was undocumented.
The move triggered a dispute between ICE and the Old Orchard Beach police, the report continued: "Police Chief Elise Chard has said the department was notified by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country, and that the town submitted information via the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program prior to Evans’ employment. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin then accused the town of 'reckless reliance' on the department’s E-Verify program."
The conflict appears to have ended with Evans agreeing to leave the country voluntarily, with ICE telling reporters a judge has agreed to accept his voluntary departure, "and that he could leave as soon as that day," avoiding forcible deportation.
The Trump administration's massive increase in immigration enforcement has led to extensive controversies, from the fact that many of the detainees are being shipped out of the country with little or no due process, to the fact that some of them appear to have been politically targeted, like students who were involved in anti-Israel protests.
In other cases, immigration officials have arrested people performing vital work for their communities, including a Russian researcher at Harvard whose work on imaging could massively improve cancer screening, and who faces persecution in her home country due to her criticism of the invasion of Ukraine.
Trump sets stage for historic trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy
President Donald Trump said he is helping to set up a meeting between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after meeting with both leaders in recent days.
Trump met with Zelenskyy on Monday at the White House, alongside several European leaders, to discuss negotiations aimed at ending Russia's invasion.
Following the summit, Trump bragged on his Truth Social platform that he had a "very good meeting" with his "distinguished guests," and said that ended with a" further meeting in the Oval Office."
"During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America," he said. "Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine."
Once the meetings ended, Trump confirmed reports he called Putin, and said he began making arrangements for another meeting at a location that has yet to be determined that will include himself, Putin and Zelenskyy.
"After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years," he said.
Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine.
Lakers fans fume over Ivanka-kin takeover: ‘Entire country is being strip mined’
Los Angeles Lakers fans are in open revolt after reports that the storied franchise is being sold to venture capitalist Josh Kushner — brother of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — and former Disney CEO Bob Iger.
The record-shattering deal, reported Wednesday, values the team at roughly $12 billion, with some outlets putting it as high as $12.5 billion, the largest sum ever for a U.S. sports franchise.
The buyers would take over from Mark Walter, who wrested control from the Buss family only last year at a $10 billion valuation. Reports tied Walter's swift exit to a federal probe into his firm, TWG Global, and to health concerns after a 2024 stroke. The sale would need NBA approval.
For many fans, Josh Kushner's involvement was a bridge too far.
Josh Kushner is the son of Charles Kushner, the developer pardoned by Trump and later tapped as ambassador to France, and the brother of Jared, whose White House dealings have drawn repeated ethics alarms. His brother is married to President Trump's daughter Ivanka.
The revelation instantly sparked backlash.
"This entire country ... is being strip mined by trump family members," Twitch streamer Scoob fumed. "this is f---ing nuts dude."
"I simply can’t believe this," Lakers fanatic known as D.O.C. bemoaned.
"This is…weird," chimed in NBA commentator Bomani Jones.
Others tied the sale to LeBron James's decision to bolt to Philadelphia. "Maybe that's why LeBron wanted to get the f--- out," another critic jabbed.
Iger, a longtime NBA enthusiast, and Kushner had reportedly explored launching a Las Vegas expansion team before pivoting to the Lakers. The pair said they were honored to become stewards of one of the most iconic franchises in sports.
