Even Donald Trump’s Former Vice-President Says He’s Got It Wrong On Ukraine

Donald Trump’s former vice-president has slammed his decision to waive sanctions against Russia as the war in Ukraine goes on.

Mike Pence said the move “is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed”.

The US Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act last month, and it was then signed into law by Trump himself.

It gave the president the power to impose extensive new tariffs and sanctions on Russia and countries that buy energy products and other critical exports from the country as its war on Ukraine continues.

But Trump announced he was blocking the new sanctions just two days before they were due to come into force.

In a post on X, Pence – who has become a fierce critic of Trump – condemned the move.

He said: “President Trump’s decision to waive sanctions against Russia as Putin continues his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine dishonors the legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Graham and is decidedly not in the national interests of the United States and should be reversed.

“Putin is a war criminal and only understands strength. Waiving Graham Act sanctions on Russia signals weakness at a moment that demands American strength.

“Now is the time to stand strong against Russian aggression, just as we did during the years of the first Trump Administration.”

Pence said that if Ukraine won the war, it “would be a victory for freedom and is squarely in the national interests of the United States”.

He added: “If Putin overruns Ukraine, I have no doubt it will only be a matter of time until Russia’s military crosses a border that our troops will have to deal with him.

“For the cause of freedom, for America’s national security and that of our allies including Ukraine, President Trump should restore sanctions under the Graham Act immediately, rescind the diesel deal with Russia and rally our allies to ensure Ukraine has the military support it needs to repel and defeat this Russian invasion once and for all.”

Trump has faced accusations that he limited Ukraine’s access to the Starshield network which helps to protect the country from Russian attacks.

The president has also called for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced while agreeing a sanctions-busting deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel.

Critics have said that is a desperate attempt to bring down pump prices for American motorists ahead of next month’s midterm elections, which Trump’s Republican Party is expected to lose heavily.

Former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind described Trump’s behaviour as “repulsive” and “a disgrace”.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Donald Trump’s Response To Protester Being Attacked At His Rally Sparks Outrage

Donald Trump drew fierce condemnation over his response to a protester being physically attacked by a member of the crowd during his speech at a midterm election rally on Monday.

The protester, a woman wearing a shirt bearing the slogan “Release the Epstein Files,” was shoved and hit in the face by an apparent Trump supporter, who also tried to force her to the ground, as the president watched the incident unfold from the stage.

Trump just smiled and accused the woman, whom he repeatedly referred to as a man, of being a “paid protester.”

As the crowd chanted “USA, USA,” Trump said: “He’s a paid protester. They’re all paid. They get paid by the lefties — in order to destroy our country. They’re scum.”

Trump, who was speaking in Youngstown, Ohio, did not offer any evidence to back up his claim.

“But he’s going back home to mom. He’s going back home to mom,” the president taunted, as members of law enforcement escorted the protester away.

Trump then turned to mock her appearance.

“Look at him, look at him, terrible. Don’t we love law enforcement? Oh, he’s got to go on a diet. He’s a fat guy,” he continued, later adding: “Gotta go on a diet fast. We all do.”

Video appeared to show the man who struck the protester was allowed to remain inside the venue and high-fived other audience members, Fox News reported.

With the crowd cheering and again chanting “USA,” Trump continued: “You know, they are paid protesters; that’s a very low-class protester. What he doesn’t know is that his mother and father voted for me. They’re angry as hell.”

A protester yells before being removed as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.
A protester yells before being removed as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio.

via Associated Press

“That’s our boy, what’s he doing there?” Trump mimicked the parents as saying, drawing more cheers from the crowd, before predicting, “He’s gonna get home and he’s gonna get smacked.”

Trump then returned to his speech.

It’s not the first time Trump has been slammed for his response to protesters at his rallies.

In 2015, he suggested that a Black Lives Matter protester who was shoved and punched “should have been roughed up.”

The following year, the then-presidential candidate told supporters to “knock the crap out of” anyone they saw getting ready to throw a tomato.

At another rally, as a protester was being removed, Trump said: “I’d like to punch him in the face.”

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‘Absolutely Terrible’: Trump Stuns Ukraine By Offering Up A ‘Birthday Present’ To Putin

Donald Trump has horrified Ukraine after announcing a new deal to buy Russian diesel, a move which unpicks years of united western efforts to run down Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Nato has spent the last four and a half years weaning itself off Russia’s cheap oil exports and cracking down on any of its remaining trade partners to put pressure on Moscow.

These economic sanctions were meant to encourage Putin to stop his gruelling invasion of Ukraine, even if such measures pushed energy prices up elsewhere.

But then Trump put more strain on the global economy when he agreed to launch strikes on Iran at the end of February.

Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping lane, putting further stress on oil supplies – and making the cost of living go up.

A gallon of fuel now averages $4.20 while diesel has soared to $6.52, affecting American farmers and therefore making food prices climb rapidly.

Trump’s deal with Putin comes shortly before the US midterms, where voters were expected to punish Trump’s Republican Party.

The US president wrote on TruthSocial on Friday: “I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.

“Based on the condition of their diesel refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 tons of diesel fuel.”

He added: “Diesel prices for Americans and, indeed, the world, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST! Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my greatest priority.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Axios that the new announcement “looks like a happy birthday present for Putin”, after the Russian autocrat turned 74 this week.

He added that the “absolutely terrible” deal was “not fair and not honest”.

He also wrote on X that the deal amounted to “an investment in a war that must be ended, not prolonged” and warned Russia would repay with “further terror and perfidy”.

“It plays into Russia’s hands – allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world,” Zelenskyy said.

The deal was announced while US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were speaking to Ukrainian and European officials to discuss ending the war.

Another statement from Zelenskyy released by Ukraine’s embassy in Washington on Friday said the Ukrainian negotiators were “used as a smokescreen for the deal” which he called “a weak decision by strong partners”.

“That is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other,” the statement read.

It comes after the president recently also slammed Ukraine for attacking Russian diesel refineries and urged Kyiv to choose different targets.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Trump Throws A Huge Tantrum After Not Winning The Nobel Peace Prize

Donald Trump threw a huge tantrum after he failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize yet again.

South African lawyer Navi Pillay won the international award on Friday for her efforts to “promote peace and international law”.

She is the former UN human rights chief chaired the UN commission which accused Israel of genocide in Gaza in September last year.

But the US president has long insisted that the accolade should be his, because he believes he has settled “eight wars” and saved “millions of lives”.

Most of those conflicts are either not actual wars or have not reached a settlement yet.

Trump also started the disastrous Iran war at the end of February when he agreed to launch joint strikes with Israel aimed at Tehran.

That conflict is still raging – putting huge pressure of the global economy by restricting oil supplies as it does so – and now at risk of engulfing the wider region.

The total number of people killed for all parties since that war began ranges from 9,045 to 18,371, according to independent defence economics researchers at MilitarySpend.

But, speaking at a rally for other Republican candidates in New York, Trump decided to dedicate a lot of his time on stage to moaning over not receiving the Nobel Peace prize.

“The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t,” he said.

“And this is an indelible stain on the country of Norway, and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision.

“The Nobel Peace Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of radical ideologues who are anti-democracy and really enemies of civilisation.

“We will not forget, Norway, that you didn’t give this prize.”

Trump went on to insist he was “about to settle or win” two more wars, those in Iran and in Ukraine.

The president said: “I will tell you what. Iran will be very quick one way or the other: that they give us everything or they don’t exist any longer.

“Additionally, I stopped Iran from having a nuclear weapon and blowing up the entire Middle East and ultimately far beyond the Middle East, including Europe, perhaps the US and I saved more lives than anyone in history.”

Actually, US intelligence agencies reported to the US Congress in 2025 that Iran had suspended its pursuit of nuclear weapons back in 2023.

Trump has also been accused of siding with autocrat Vladimir Putin in his desperation to close the war in Ukraine – even if it means rewarding the Russian aggressor with more land.

The president tore into the actual Nobel Peace Prize winner, Pillay, saying: “Despite all of this and all of these unbelievable accomplishments, the Nobel prize was given out today to a liberal person who works at the United Nations, who nobody has ever heard of.”

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Trump Claims Men Arrested At US Air Base In UK Were ‘Looking To Do Big Damage’

Donald Trump has claimed the men arrested at a US air base in the UK were “looking to do big damage”.

British police arrested five people on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences on Sunday.

It came after a tip-off that the three suspicious vans were heading towards the RAF Fairford, a military airfield which has previously been used to target Iran.

Britain previously gave the US approval to use its military bases to launch defensive strikes against Iran as part of the ongoing conflict.

A major incident was declared earlier today at the scene.

The five men were arrested and held on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, and police say they believe the incident is now contained.

British Counter Terrorism Policing said in a statement that they were in the early stages of an investigation and working with partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.

But Trump was much more open, telling reporters in the US: “It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.

“We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.

“It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. We worked with a lot of them.

“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.”

UK defence secretary Wes Streeting responded to Trump’s remarks, telling reporters: “This is my first experience as defence secretary of responding live to President Trump and I’m sure it won’t be the only occasion.

“I’m sure you will understand that I’m not going to comment on a live operation and operational security matters.

“I don’t think it will come as a surprise to anyone that given the importance of Fairford – not just to the UK but to the US – we’ve been working closely with our American friends, and I’ve been in touch during the course of today with my counterpart, Pete Hegseth.”

Prime minister Andy Burnham thanked the police and armed forces on X, saying: “I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards previously claimed any UK site which is used to target Iran would be a legitimate target.

The UK responded by insisting its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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‘What A Shame!’ Trump Laments Decline Of Russia’s Oil Industry Amid Putin’s War

Donald Trump appears to be concerned about Ukraine’s ongoing attacks on Russia’s oil refineries – even though Kyiv is only retaliating again Moscow’s aggression.

Vladimir Putin is expected to “intensify” attacks on the Ukrainian capital after Ukrainians forces tried to “disrupt” Russian elections by firing drones at the Moscow region over the weekend while the public were voting.

It comes more than four and a half years after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in a land grab, triggering a long and bloody war as Kyiv consistently pushes back.

Putin continues to illegally occupy a fifth of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.

Ukrainian allies in Europe have been weaning themselves off Russia’s cheap energy experts to punish the Kremlin for its violence.

But the US president, who caused global oil prices to rise after his war against Iran triggered the effective closure of a major shipping lane, seemed to blame Ukraine for the decline of Russia’s own fossil fuel industry.

“Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine,” he wrote on his social media platform TruthSocial.

“A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission.

“This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended.

“The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame! President DJT”

President Donald Trump reacts during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump reacts during an event about healthcare in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

via Associated Press

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at Trump’s statement.

He wrote on X that the war must end, adding: “Every new week of this war, let alone every new year, adds more and more problems.

“ From the very first minute, Ukraine has sought peace. We have already made dozens of diplomatic proposals on how to end this war with dignity, guarantee security, and prevent new Russian invasions.

“Right now, there is a dialogue with President Trump and America.

“There are also ideas on the table for bringing peace closer, starting with strong de-escalation steps.

“Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible.”

He continued: “We are ready to work on this, and we will discuss it with our partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I thank everyone who is helping! It will no longer be the case that only the country under attack suffers. The nature of war is now such that the aggressor will suffer as well. Technology makes this possible.

“The strength of countries’ leadership can – and must – deliver de-escalation, security, and peace. Thank you!”

The elections – widely disregarded as a sham vote to bolster Putin’s authoritarian rule – already appear to cement the Kremlin’s dominance over the country amid speculation Russia may need to call up more reserves for the war effort.

Zelenskyy is set to meet Trump at the United Nations’ General Assembly on Tuesday.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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‘Absolutely Vile’: Donald Trump Slammed For Urging Ukraine To Ease Up On Russian Attacks

Donald Trump has been slammed after he told Ukraine to ease up on bombing Russia because it is harming the world economy.

The US president said America had told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia”.

“Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” he said while attending the Irish Open golf championship at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare.

“This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine. We spoke to Mr Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets.

“Don’t hit diesel fuel because that’s hurting the world. We don’t want him to hit diesel fuel. He’s hitting diesel refineries.”

Online critics accused Trump of doing the Kremlin’s bidding – and ignoring the impact of his decision to go to war in Iran on global oil prices because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Has Trump Finally Lost It? How The President Caused More International Chaos This Week Than Ever

Donald Trump may actually have finally lost it this week.

While the US president already has a reputation for being unpredictable, mercurial and chaotic – to say the least – he seems to have taken it to a new level in the last few days.

The maverick Republican picked a fight with Canada by starting a trade war and then rubbed salt in the wound by renaming Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes on the border between their countries, Lake America.

He upped the pettiness by sharing AI videos showing Canadian geese with his trademark blonde hair and carrying machine guns patrolling the shores of “Lake America”.

Trump is also all over the place with the Iran war, a conflict he started in February.

The US-Israeli strikes against Tehran gave the Iranians the chance to seize control of the major oil shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz.

They have let almost no trade through the major waterway in the last six months and the global economy continues to suffer.

America’s allies in the Gulf are suffering the real-world consequences as Iran has retaliated by hitting US military bases in the region.

But the president seems to be in denial about the reality of the war.

He even posted an AI video of a US attack on an Iranian oil hub which never actually happened.

Trump appears to be testing new UK prime minister Andy Burnham, too.

The president has refused to deny reports America could stop supporting Britain’s claims to the Falkland Islands.

If the States did withdraw its backing for the British Overseas Territory – and instead start supporting Argentina’s claim to the archipelago – then it would spell major trouble for the UK-US “special relationship” and trigger Burnham’s first international crisis.

Could Trump be looking to punish the UK for not supporting his offensive on Iran, as a leaked Pentagon email from April suggested?

Or is it his way of forcing the government to spend more money on defence. With Trump, you simply can never tell.

This is not the first time the president has upended international diplomacy, of course – his insistence Greenland belongs to him continues to rile Nato members – but his behaviour does appear even more illogical than usual.

It hardly seems politically savvy to focus on the international stage when Americans are preparing to elect members to Congress in the November midterm elections.

The president may not be on the ballot paper but he needs Republicans to hold the Senate and the House of Representatives to get key legislation passed.

Current predictions suggest the electorate are poised to deliver a brutal blow to Trump and his party by handing control of Congress to the Democrats.

Americans are concerned about the cost of living and elected Trump on the promise that he would put “America First” and bring prices down.

Instead, his war in Iran has led to a spike in oil prices and pushed up the cost of living both in the US and around the world.

There is growing anger that he rarely seems focused on the everyday problems of the very people who voted him into the White House.

So why is he still doubling down on that bizarre decision this week?

Listen to Commons People as we unpack the fallout from the recent Trump drama and why he cannot continue to ignore his domestic problems.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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‘Genuinely Disturbing’: Critics Blast Google Maps Over This ‘Weak’ Trump-Inspired Move

Google has announced it’s falling in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, changing the name of the body of water for those in the US using its Google Maps service.

The online search giant explained that the move is part of its “long-standing” policy to make updates when there’s name changes in official government sources, thus, those in the US will see “Lake America,” a name cooked up by Trump on Thursday as a result of the ongoing trade war with Canada.

The company noted that America’s northern neighbours will continue to see Lake Ontario, a name that’s been around since the 17th century (predating Canada and the US) and, per scholars, stems from the Iroquois word meaning “shining sea” or “beautiful lake.”

The rest of the world, according to Google, will see “Lake Ontario (Lake America)” when hovering over the body of water on the platform.

The change is similar to an earlier move by the tech giant after Trump, in his first day back in office, signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

The move — which also saw the company changing Denali in Alaska back to Mount McKinley on its maps service — sparked backlash at the time, with critics pointing to Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s attending Trump’s inauguration earlier that month. In the wake of the change, Google Maps reportedly deleted reviews slamming the new name.

One critic on X described the company’s latest act of renaming as “genuinely disturbing.”

“like this will obviously just be changed back day 1 after trumps regime is over but its just deeply sad, not even demoralizing, just pathetic,” wrote @CantEverDie on X.

Another user on the platform blasted the move as “weak,” adding, “no one is calling it that.”

And at least one user shared their disappointment in the company, writing, “One of the things I’m most going to take away from the Trump era is how many people and institutions and corporations don’t actually stand for anything and will capitulate to bad people at a moments notice when having principles is even slightly inconvenient to them.”

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‘No More!’ Trump Lashes Out Canada’s Mark Carney Over Trade War

Donald Trump has lashed out at Canadian prime minister Mark Carney after their trade negotiations fell apart.

In his first comments since the talks collapsed on Friday, the US president wrote: “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!

“They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!! President DJT.”

The remarks echo his offensive references to Canada as the “51st state” of America since starting his second term.

The breakdown of talks triggered new 50% US tariffs – a tax on foreign imports – on $20 billion (£14.6 billion) worth of Canadian goods on Saturday on a range of goods, from hockey sticks to tongue depressors.

Carney chose to suspend talks rather than to compromise over a deal, making him one of the first world leaders to walk away from talks with Trump.

The Canadian prime minister said the US “asked too much” and “offered too little” in the talks.

He claimed the new tariffs were a “miscalculation” from Trump meant to “hurt and divide us”.

“You’re at war when you’re attacked, and we got attacked,” he told reporters.

“We cannot accept what they’ve offered and we will not give what they’ve asked.”

Carney – formerly the governor of the Bank of England – promised to match the tariffs “dollar for dollar” with a set of retaliatory levies to be announced on September 8.

But US trade representative Jamieson Greer told Fox & Friends Weekend doubled down on Trump’s controversial moves over the weekend, saying: “We’ve said enough and so we’ve taken countermeasures. Our interest is in protecting American workers and protecting American supply chains.”

This development is the latest sign that the trading partnership between Canada and the US is in tatters with no clear off-ramp for either side.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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