标签： North America

In a tense United Nations Security Council session convened at Washington’s request, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz delivered a forceful declaration of support for Iranian protesters while dismissing Tehran’s allegations of foreign intervention as baseless propaganda. The emergency meeting on Thursday (January 15) addressed the escalating violence in Iran where thousands have reportedly been killed during widespread demonstrations against clerical rule.

Ambassador Waltz characterized the Iranian regime as ‘weaker than ever before,’ asserting that their claims of a foreign-backed military precursor represented desperate attempts to undermine genuine domestic dissent. ‘The regime is putting forward this lie because of the power of the Iranian people in the streets,’ Waltz stated. ‘They are afraid of their own people.’

The U.S. diplomat emphasized President Trump’s position that ‘all options are on the table to stop the slaughter,’ describing the American leader as ‘a man of action, not endless talk.’ This strong rhetoric contrasted with Trump’s simultaneous wait-and-see approach expressed elsewhere, where he acknowledged reports of decreasing violence and indicated no immediate plans for large-scale executions.

The UN response, delivered by senior official Martha Pobee on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, called for ‘maximum restraint at this sensitive moment.’ The international body urged all parties to refrain from actions that could precipitate further casualties or trigger broader regional escalation, highlighting concerns about the potential for wider conflict.

The diplomatic confrontation occurs amid unverified reports that Iran has postponed the execution of a 26-year-old protester, suggesting possible internal divisions within the Iranian establishment regarding how to manage the unprecedented challenges to their authority.

In the politically pivotal state of Michigan, a detailed examination of Donald Trump’s presidential tenure reveals complex perspectives among his steadfast supporters. Interviews conducted across Macomb County—a historically significant suburban region north of Detroit renowned for its electoral influence—provide nuanced insights into the perceived accomplishments and disappointments of the Trump administration.

Voters who maintained their allegiance to the 45th president highlighted several key policy achievements. The rapid development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines through Operation Warp Speed received particular praise, alongside substantial tax reforms and the renegotiation of international trade agreements. Many supporters cited the reconfiguration of the North American Free Trade Agreement into the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement as a significant economic victory for Michigan’s automotive and manufacturing sectors.

However, these interviews also revealed substantive criticisms from within Trump’s base. Several supporters expressed disappointment with the administration’s inability to comprehensively address healthcare reform, particularly the promised repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages and the subsequent economic repercussions drew mixed reviews, with some supporters believing alternative approaches might have yielded better outcomes.

The political polarization that characterized Trump’s presidency emerged as both a praised attribute and a point of contention. While supporters appreciated his confrontational approach toward established political institutions, some acknowledged that this strategy potentially limited legislative achievements and broader consensus building.

These reflections from Michigan voters carry significant implications for future electoral strategies. As a bellwether state that narrowly tipped the 2016 election and swung Democratic in 2020, understanding the complex perspectives of Trump’s base provides crucial insights into the evolving political landscape of America’s industrial heartland.

In a remarkable political gesture at the White House on Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during their first face-to-face meeting. The symbolic exchange occurred as Machado seeks to influence Washington’s approach to Venezuela’s political future following the capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro.

Trump enthusiastically accepted the gold medal, despite the Norwegian Nobel Institute’s clear stipulation that Nobel prizes cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked. The president subsequently celebrated the gesture on social media, describing it as ‘a wonderful gesture of mutual respect’ acknowledging his work toward Venezuelan freedom.

The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour, represented Machado’s diplomatic effort to position herself within Venezuela’s political landscape after Trump previously dismissed the possibility of installing her as the country’s leader. Machado, who escaped Venezuela by sea in December, characterized their discussion as ‘excellent’ and framed the medal presentation as recognition of Trump’s commitment to Venezuelan liberation.

While the White House confirmed Trump’s intention to retain the physical medal, the honor remains exclusively Machado’s achievement. The event highlighted Trump’s longstanding interest in the Nobel Peace Prize, having openly campaigned for the recognition before Machado received it last month.

Following the White House visit, Machado engaged with bipartisan U.S. senators on Capitol Hill, where she reportedly found more enthusiastic support than from the administration. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed skepticism about Venezuela’s democratic transition despite meeting with Machado, noting that repression continues unchanged under interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

The diplomatic developments occur against the backdrop of competing influences on U.S. policy, with both Venezuelan government representatives and opposition figures vying for Washington’s support. Trump has repeatedly praised Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy who assumed leadership after his capture, describing her as ‘very good to deal with’ and emphasizing American interests in Venezuelan oil access and economic reconstruction.

Rodriguez, in her annual legislative address, called for diplomatic engagement with the U.S. and proposed oil industry reforms to attract foreign investment, signaling potential avenues for cooperation despite ongoing political tensions.

Senior military advisers have reportedly informed President Donald Trump that the United States lacks sufficient military assets in the Middle East to execute a comprehensive offensive against Iran, according to exclusive reporting from The Wall Street Journal. The assessment, delivered to the White House this week, indicates that significant additional firepower would be required to protect American personnel and regional allies, particularly Israel, from potential Iranian retaliation.

The strategic briefing highlighted the complex calculations facing the administration. Military experts and Middle Eastern partners warned that an extensive bombing campaign would likely fail to destabilize the Iranian government while potentially triggering broader regional conflict. Conversely, limited tactical strikes—while potentially boosting morale among Iranian protesters—would have minimal impact on the regime’s security apparatus and its harsh response to domestic unrest.

Despite these warnings, officials confirmed that President Trump has directed military planners to position resources for potential large-scale operations, though no final decision has been made. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that “all options remain on the table” during Thursday’s press briefing.

The administration faces mounting diplomatic pressure to exercise restraint. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly urged President Trump during a Wednesday conversation to postpone any military action against Iran. Regional allies including Türkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have similarly counseled against military escalation.

Diplomatic channels reveal heightened tensions, with Iranian officials allegedly warning governments across the region through intermediaries that any American attack would prompt retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases. The warnings were reportedly delivered to officials in Türkiye, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

The current crisis stems from widespread protests that began in Iranian cities in late December. What originated as peaceful demonstrations has evolved into violent confrontations resulting in casualties and significant damage to public infrastructure, including mosques, government buildings, and financial institutions. Iranian authorities have consistently blamed the United States and Israel for instigating the unrest.

WASHINGTON—A comprehensive analysis presented at a Brookings Institution seminar has revealed profound economic and social consequences stemming from the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies. Experts from multiple research institutions detailed how sweeping restrictions implemented throughout 2025 have triggered the first net migration decline in over half a century, with far-reaching implications for the nation’s labor market and community stability.

According to David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, the administration’s approach has paradoxically created more undocumented immigrants by terminating legal statuses at a rate exceeding actual deportations. “The cancellation of parole programs, near-complete termination of refugee admissions, and the exclusion of approximately 20% of legal immigrants from abroad represent unprecedented restrictions,” Bier explained, noting that administrative backlogs and frequent policy changes have further crippled processing systems.

The economic impact has been particularly severe. Wendy Edelberg, Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at Brookings, projected that the swing from strong positive net migration in 2024 to negative figures in 2025 represents a dramatic contraction in labor supply. This reversal has forced downward revisions in employment growth projections to approximately 30,000 jobs monthly by year’s end 2025, with potential negative growth looming in 2026 despite low unemployment rates.

Consumer spending has suffered significantly, with Edelberg estimating reductions between $40-$60 billion in 2025 alone, plus an additional $10-$40 billion through 2026, attributing substantial portions of retail revenue declines to diminished immigrant spending power.

The statistical evidence underscores these concerns. Pew Research Center data indicates the U.S. foreign-born population dropped from 53.3 million to 51.9 million between January and June 2025—a 2.6% decline representing the most significant reduction in decades.

Policy implementation has been remarkably aggressive, with Kristie De Pena of the Niskanen Center noting the administration took over 500 immigration actions in its first year, including 38 executive orders comprising 17% of all orders signed. This executive dominance has occurred alongside minimal congressional involvement, creating what experts describe as an unusually unilateral approach to immigration overhaul.

The latest development came Wednesday with the indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21. The State Department cited concerns about potential welfare dependency among migrants from targeted nations including Brazil, Iran, Russia, Somalia, and Haiti.

Enforcement measures have provoked substantial local resistance. Los Angeles County unanimously established “ICE-free zones” prohibiting federal agents from using county property for raids without permits. This response follows reports of escalating ICE operations, with daily arrests rising from 350 in January 2025 to over 500 by August—many involving non-criminal individuals.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis continues to experience escalating protests triggered by recent ICE raids that residents perceive as excessively aggressive, reflecting growing national tension over immigration enforcement methodologies.

In a significant development toward implementing the US-backed Gaza peace initiative, former President Donald Trump has proclaimed the establishment of a high-level “Board of Peace” to oversee post-conflict governance in the Palestinian territory. The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social platform on Thursday, where he characterized the newly formed body as “the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place.”

This diplomatic move follows the recent creation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with managing Gaza’s daily administrative functions following the recent cessation of hostilities. The committee will operate under the direct supervision of the Peace Board, which Trump revealed he will personally chair.

The comprehensive peace framework, which initially took effect on October 10, 2025, previously facilitated the release of all Hamas-held hostages and established a ceasefire between the militant organization and Israeli forces. The current second phase involves deploying an International Stabilization Force to provide security assistance and train vetted Palestinian police units.

However, the transition remains fraught with challenges. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports ongoing casualties, alleging Israeli forces have killed 451 people since the ceasefire nominally began. Palestinian leadership continues to emphasize the critical need for complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza—a stipulated but not yet scheduled component of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Hamas has conspicuously avoided committing to full disarmament, which Israel considers non-negotiable. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, emphasized Washington’s expectation that Hamas must “comply fully with its obligations” in a social media post that Trump subsequently endorsed.

In a parallel development, Hamas is preparing internal elections to reconstitute its leadership structure, significantly diminished by Israeli operations during the conflict. These elections are anticipated in early 2026, according to statements from Hamas officials.

Trump expressed confidence in achieving comprehensive demilitarization agreements with Hamas through multilateral cooperation with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, specifically mentioning the surrender of all weapons and dismantling of tunnel networks.

In a striking demonstration of diplomatic resolve, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared her government’s readiness to engage with the United States despite recent military aggression. The announcement came during her inaugural state of the nation address to the National Assembly on January 15, 2026, following the extraordinary capture of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores by US forces.

Rodriguez struck a carefully calibrated tone that blended defiance with diplomatic openness. ‘Let us not succumb to fear of diplomacy,’ she asserted before assembled lawmakers and international observers. While acknowledging Washington’s ‘historical record of intervention’ across Latin America, she emphasized Venezuela’s preparedness to ‘confront it diplomatically through appropriate political dialogue.’

The acting president revealed her administration is formulating ‘a novel foreign policy approach’ and urged diplomatic representatives in Caracas to accurately convey Venezuela’s position to their respective governments. Rodriguez simultaneously called for national unity, appealing to citizens to ‘preserve Venezuela’s peace and tranquility with absolute dignity and historical responsibility.’

In perhaps her most symbolic declaration, Rodriguez stated that any potential travel to the United States would be conducted ‘standing tall, walking, not crawling’ – a powerful metaphor for Venezuela’s intended approach to bilateral engagement. The address represents the first comprehensive statement of foreign policy direction since the dramatic change in leadership, signaling potential openness to negotiated solutions while maintaining revolutionary principles.