TRUMP'S UKRAINE FLIP: Trump announced a stark shift in his stance on Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon, arguing that Ukraine has a chance of regaining the territory it has lost to Russia over the past three and a half years of fighting.
Trump's new position aligns more closely with former President Biden's policy on Ukraine, which insisted on a return to prewar borders.
"With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not?" Trump wrote on Truth Social after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like 'a paper tiger.'"
Trump and his top national security officials had previously argued that Ukraine should be prepared to give up territory for a peace deal, given Russia's much larger army and the entrenched front lines.
While taking questions during his meeting with Zelensky, Trump seemed to surprise Ukraine's leader when he said NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft that enter their airspace.
"Roger that," Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote on the social platform X in response to a clip of the remark.
Asked if the U.S. would help these countries respond to Russian incursions, Trump said, "Depends on the circumstance, but we're very strong toward NATO."
Trump has lurched from blaming Zelensky for starting the war to railing against Russian aggression since his return to the White House in January, while repeatedly blowing through deadlines for punitive actions against Moscow.
During his U.N. address Tuesday, Trump repeated his threats to impose steep tariffs on Russia but said Europe needs to halt imports of Russian oil first.
"Europe has to step it up," he said Tuesday. He added later, "They have to cease all energy purchases from Russia. Otherwise, we're all wasting a lot of time."
The Trump administration has introduced this European caveat to its Russia sanctions threats for the first time this month. Trump claimed he only became aware of the Russia-Europe energy trade two weeks ago.
Asked on Tuesday if he still trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said, "I'll let you know in about a month."
▪ The Hill: "Trump makes defiant return to United Nations podium."
▪ Politico: "Embattled Macron gets hero's welcome for Palestine speech defying Trump."
SHUTDOWN CLOCK: As of midnight, the government is exactly a week from shutting down — unless lawmakers strike a funding deal.
That's looking even less likely after Trump called off a planned meeting with Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
"After reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive," Trump posted on Truth Social.
He then outlined a litany of policies he says Democrats are backing that aren't popular with the general public, and thus helped him get elected.
"I look forward to meeting with them if they get serious about the future of our Nation," he added.
Democrats blasted Trump's decision, arguing he would be to blame if the government did shut down on Oct. 1.
"Trump Always Chickens Out. Donald Trump just cancelled a high stakes meeting in the Oval Office with myself and Leader Schumer," Jeffries posted on X. "The extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America."
"Once again, Trump has shown the American people he's not up to the job," Schumer wrote on X. "Faced with the simple duty of sitting down to keep the government open, Trump RUNS AWAY before the talks even BEGIN."
▪ The Hill: "GOP hopes to make potential shutdown as painful for Dems as possible."
Schumer has noted Senate Democrats have the votes to block any partisan funding measure passed by the House, given the 60-vote threshold needed to advance legislation in the upper chamber.
Democrats are insisting on measures to protect health care coverage for vulnerable Americans as part of any stopgap spending package. Republicans want a "clean" continuing resolution, with any health care changes negotiated separately.
Senators aren't expected to return until Sept. 29, and House lawmakers won't return until October.
▪ The Washington Post: "A shutdown would give Trump more power over federal spending."
▪ Nate Silver in The New York Times: "Democrats Are Picking the Wrong Shutdown Fight."
HOMAN TAPES: Democrats aren't taking "I did nothing criminal" for an answer from Trump border czar Tom Homan.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday opened a probe into the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI's handling of the alleged bribery scandal, with Trump officials apparently shutting down an investigation into Homan that began leading into the 2024 election.
"Do the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have video and audio recordings of White House 'Border Czar' Tom Homan accepting $50,000 in cash bribes from undercover FBI agents stuffed in a brown paper takeout bag from the restaurant chain Cava? It certainly sounds like you do," House Judiciary ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote in a letter signed by Democratic members of the committee.
"Your reported effort to shut down this investigation appears to be a brazen cover-up to protect Donald Trump's allies, at a time when the D.O.J. and F.B.I. are also being ordered to aggressively pursue prosecution of Donald Trump's political enemies," the Democrats wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
▪ The Hill: Dems launch probes into Trump's border czar amid bribe allegations.
MSNBC reported Friday that an informant relayed last year that Homan was soliciting payments from those looking to gain lucrative contracts should Trump win the election. The New York Times reported the bribe was delivered in a takeout bag.
Homan appeared on the "Ingraham Angle" on Monday night to defend himself, but notably sidestepped a direct question on whether he took the money.
"Look, I did nothing criminal. I did nothing illegal," Homan said. "It's hit piece after hit piece after hit piece, and I'm glad the FBI and DOJ came out and said, you know, said that nothing illegal happened, no criminal activity."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday told a reporter, "Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 that you're referring to, so you should get your facts straight."
House Homeland Security Democrats on Monday demanded Homan testify over the reports.
"No one is above the law. The American people deserve to know why President Trump's so-called Border Czar allegedly used his position and influence to take bribes in his own self-interest," they wrote.
▪ MSNBC: "As the Tom Homan controversy intensifies, why doesn't the FBI just release the tapes?"
▪ Fox News: "'Border czar' Tom Homan responds to Newsom's ICE mask ban: 'Good luck with that'"
HARRIS BACKS MAMDANI: Former Vice President Kamala Harris backed Zohran Mamdani in New York City's mayoral race.
Harris gave the Democratic nominee a tepid endorsement this week during an interview to promote her new book. Still, she's the highest-profile Democrat to back Mamdani to date, as others keep their distance.
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow asked Harris on Monday whether she endorsed Mamdani, the democratic socialist who has a healthy lead in the polls weeks out from the election.
"Look, as far as I'm concerned, he's the Democratic nominee, and he should be supported," Harris responded.
Maddow asked again if that was an endorsement.
"I support the Democrat in the race, sure," she said. "But let me just say this. He's not the only star," Harris added, going on to name-check other rising stars in the Democratic Party running for mayor in other cities.
"I hope that we don't so overindex on New York City that we lose sight of the stars throughout our country," she said. "So that's where I am — we've got a big tent and we've got a lot of stars."
Despite the less-than-full-throated endorsement, Mamdani was not hedging in his response on Tuesday morning.
He said Harris's backing "underscores that our fight for affordability is striking a chord not just here in New York, but with Democrats across the country," adding, "We're thrilled by the growing wave of support for our campaign."
He's still waiting for Schumer and Jeffries to jump aboard.
▪ The Hill: 5 takeaways from Kamala Harris's media tour.
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