Trump faces mounting political risks as Iran war escalates
The Straits Times
Republicans face potential blowback just eight months before the November vote. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers held an annual strategy session with US President Donald Trump on March 9 in Florida, with one urgent issue topping the agenda: how to prevent the Iran war from becoming a midterm election liability.
The long-planned annual meeting – hosted at Mr Trump’s Miami-area golf club – kicks off over a week after he ordered strikes alongside Israel on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks across the Middle East and sending ripple effects around the world.
As crude prices soar to multi-year highs – with a corresponding spike in US fuel prices – Republicans face potential blowback just eight months before the November vote.
Losing their narrow control of Congress could also derail the final two years of Mr Trump’s term in office.
In an opening address to the meeting, Mr Trump chose to focus on the need to pass a Bill pushing new photo ID requirements for voting, insisting it would “guarantee the midterms.”
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BERLIN/BRUSSELS/LONDON, March 16 - U.S. allies said they had no immediate plans to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, rebuffing a request by President Donald Trump for military support to keep the vital waterway open. Read more at straitstimes.com.
VATICAN CITY, March 16 - Pope Leo met on Monday with an investigative journalist who alleges that a prominent Catholic organisation with ties to right-wing politicians in the U.S. and other countries covered up sexual and financial crimes, which the group firmly denies. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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MADRID, March 16 - Spain will not take part in any military mission in the Strait of Hormuz because it considers the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran to be illegal, Madrid's defence and foreign affairs ministers said on Monday. Read more at straitstimes.com.