标签： North America

In an unprecedented legal move, President Donald Trump has initiated a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department, alleging systemic failures that enabled the unauthorized disclosure of his confidential tax documents to media outlets. The complaint, filed Thursday in Miami federal court, names Trump, his adult sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization as plaintiffs.

The legal action centers on the activities of former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who previously pleaded guilty to leaking tax information and is currently serving a five-year prison sentence. The plaintiffs contend that both agencies neglected to implement mandatory security protocols, thereby facilitating Littlejohn’s transmission of sensitive financial data to what the lawsuit characterizes as ‘leftist media organizations,’ including The New York Times and ProPublica.

According to court documents, the publications derived from these leaks—eight articles in The New York Times and approximately fifty in ProPublica—inflicted substantial and irreparable damage to the plaintiffs’ reputations and financial interests. The complaint further alleges that the disclosures resulted in public embarrassment, false light portrayal, and diminished public standing for all involved parties.

This litigation places President Trump in the unusual position of suing executive branch agencies that operate under his presidential authority. The Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, has not issued an immediate response to requests for comment. Notably, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who also serves as acting IRS commissioner, is not named as a defendant in the proceedings.

The lawsuit suggests that the leaks stemmed from either willful misconduct or gross negligence, potentially justifying punitive damages beyond the $10 billion compensatory claim. Alejandro Brito, a Florida-based attorney who has represented Trump in multiple high-profile cases, filed the complaint. Brito has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the litigation.

This action continues President Trump’s pattern of pursuing substantial financial claims against media organizations and government entities since his 2024 election victory. Previous lawsuits include a $15 billion claim against The New York Times and Penguin Random House, separate $10 billion actions against The Wall Street Journal and BBC, and various other litigation stemming from media coverage and published materials.

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, former President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on all Canadian-manufactured aircraft and decertify Bombardier Global Express business jets from U.S. airspace. The ultimatum, issued via Truth Social on Thursday, demands that Canadian regulators immediately certify several Gulfstream aircraft models produced by U.S.-based General Dynamics.

Trump’s declaration specifically targets Canada’s certification process for Gulfstream 500, 600, 700, and 800 jets, despite these models having already received certification from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The threat emerges amidst broader diplomatic strains following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent comments questioning the U.S.-led international order.

Aviation experts warn that implementing these measures would severely disrupt U.S. air travel networks. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which operate extensive fleets of Canadian-built regional aircraft, would face immediate operational challenges. Industry analysts project that over 5,400 Canadian-manufactured aircraft currently registered in the United States—including narrow-body jets, regional aircraft, and helicopters—could be affected.

Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director of AeroDynamic Advisory, emphasized the dangerous precedent of mixing aviation safety with political disputes: ‘Mixing safety issues with politics and grievances is an incredibly bad idea. This approach could provide other nations with a powerful weapon to use against U.S. aviation interests worldwide.’

The potential grounding of Canadian regional jets would disproportionately impact rural communities and conservative-leaning states that depend on regional air connectivity. Many smaller airports would lose essential air service, while major hubs would suffer from reduced connecting traffic.

Bombardier, which maintains significant U.S. operations including multiple service centers and a growing defense facility in Wichita, Kansas, expressed concern through an official statement: ‘We have taken note of the post from the President and are in contact with the Canadian government. We hope this is quickly resolved to avoid significant impact to air traffic and the flying public.’

Legal experts question the feasibility of Trump’s threat, noting that the FAA typically requires safety-related justifications for decertification decisions rather than economic or political considerations. The certification process conventionally follows international standards where the designing country’s aviation authority (in this case, the FAA for Gulfstream aircraft) provides primary validation, with other nations typically accepting these determinations despite retaining rights to request additional data.

This development occurs against the backdrop of Canada’s efforts to diversify its trade relationships beyond the United States, which currently receives approximately 70% of Canadian exports under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement framework.

In a significant political development, former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed a bipartisan spending agreement crafted by Senate Republicans and Democrats, designed to prevent an imminent federal government shutdown. The arrangement, however, leaves critical negotiations on immigration enforcement tactics unresolved for the time being.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump acknowledged the possibility of a shutdown despite the deal, stating, ‘It could happen. I don’t know.’ The agreement’s fate in the House of Representatives remains uncertain, with no clear timeline for when the chamber might consider the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated logistical challenges in recalling representatives from their scheduled break before the regular Monday session, creating risk of a brief weekend government closure.

The breakthrough arrangement strategically decouples the debate over aggressive immigration enforcement from essential government funding legislation that must pass before Friday’s midnight deadline. This separation ensures continuous operation for crucial agencies including the Pentagon and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump expressed hope for bipartisan support in a social media post, writing: ‘Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.’

The compromise emerged following heightened tension after Senate Democrats threatened to block funding packages in response to the shooting of a second U.S. citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis last weekend. The incident prompted demands for substantial reforms within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees federal immigration enforcement.

Under the proposed solution, DHS funding would receive a two-week extension through separate legislation, creating a negotiation window for addressing Democratic demands. These include restrictions on roving patrols, prohibitions on face masks for agents, and mandatory body camera requirements—measures gaining traction following public outrage over the shooting death of nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents.

In a significant escalation of foreign policy measures, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new threat against nations supplying petroleum products to Cuba. The announcement came Thursday through an executive order authorized under a national emergency declaration, marking the latest development in Washington’s intensified campaign against the Communist-governed island.

The presidential directive did not specify particular tariff rates or identify specific countries that might face import duties. This development follows the U.S. military’s recent operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of ousted President Nicolas Maduro. Emboldened by this successful intervention, the Trump administration has increasingly vocalized its intentions to confront Cuban leadership.

President Trump asserted this week that ‘Cuba will be failing pretty soon,’ noting that Venezuela, historically Cuba’s primary oil supplier, has ceased both petroleum shipments and financial support to the island nation. The tariff threat represents a continuation of the administration’s use of economic measures as instruments of foreign policy during Trump’s second term.

Cuban leadership has previously dismissed Washington’s pressure campaign, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel stating earlier this month that the United States lacks moral authority to compel agreements with Cuba. The ongoing tension reflects deepening geopolitical divisions in the Western Hemisphere as the Trump administration expands its efforts to counter left-wing governments throughout the region.