Trump: U.S. will rejoin Pacific trade pact if terms are improved

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would only join the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade deal his administration walked away from last year, if it offered "substantially better" terms than those provided under previous negotiations. His comments, made on Twitter late Thursday, came only hours after he had unexpectedly indicated the United States might rejoin the landmark pact, and amid heightened volatility in financial markets as Washington locked horns with China in a bitter trade dispute.

In new book, Comey blasts untruthful, a ego-drivena Trump

Former FBI Director James Comey blasts President Donald Trump as unethical and "untethered to truth" in a sharply critical new book that describes Trump as fixated in the early days of his administration on having the FBI debunk salacious rumors he insisted were untrue but could distress his wife. In the forthcoming book, Comey compares Trump to a mafia don and calls his leadership of the country "ego driven and about personal loyalty."

Trump unleashes torrent of rage against Comey

President Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of rage against James Comey on Sunday over the former FBI director's forthcoming book, calling him "slippery," insisting he never asked him for loyalty and labelling him "the WORST FBI Director in history, by far!" Trump fired off a series of tweets ahead of Comey's interview with ABC, which was set to air in full Sunday evening. In an excerpt shown Saturday, Comey said his belief that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 presidential election was a factor in his decision to disclose the investigation into her emails.

Pompeo vows to confront Russia, dodges Mueller questions

Aiming to quell concerns before what is likely to be a narrow confirmation vote, Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo vowed on Thursday to ramp up efforts against Russia in "each place we confront them." But he ducked and dodged when asked whether he supports President Donald Trump's pounding criticism of the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Comey book claims President Trump sought loyalty like mafia boss a Sammy the Bulla

Donald Trump engaged in a months-long effort to secure the loyalty of then-FBI Director James Comey in a series of meetings and phone calls that began in the presidential transition period - behavior Comey likens to that of a mafia boss, Comey writes in a book set for release next week. Those efforts included a now-famous, private White House dinner with Trump just a week after the president was inaugurated, in which Trump, Comey writes, told him: "I need loyalty.

Trump says US will only join Pacific trade pact if terms are improved

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would only join the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade pact his administration walked away from last year, if it offered "substantially better" terms than those provided under previous negotiations. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds up the executive order on withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership after signing it in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington January 23, 2017.

The Latest: New Zealand wary of Trump’s Pacific trade U-turn

New Zealand remains wary of President Donald Trump's apparent U-turn on a Pacific trade deal, after Trump said the U.S. is considering rejoining an 11-nation trade pact it earlier withdrew from. New Zealand Trade Minister David Parker says it isn't clear yet "how real it is" given the differing views about the deal held within the U.S. administration.

Trump flips on trade pact, weighs rejoining Pacific Rim deal

In a striking reversal, President Donald Trump has asked trade officials to explore the possibility of the United States rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, a free trade deal he pulled out of during his first days in office as part of his "America first" agenda.

Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter said Thursday that some 79…

The acting head of the IRS says the current tax-filing season has gone well, while acknowledging the tough challenge the cash-strapped agency faces of administering the new tax law that will affect 2019 returns. Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter told Congress Thursday that some 79 million refunds totaling about $226 billion have been issued as of April 6, averaging $2,900 - up $13 from last year.

Trump touts effect of his call with China’s Xi on U.S. beef exports

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he thinks a conversation he had with China's President Xi Jinping has had an impact on U.S. beef exports to China, where American exporters are now selling "a lot" of beef. U.S. President Donald Trump departs after giving remarks during an event in the White House Rose Garden in Washington, U.S., April 12, 2018.

Dino Sajudin, Trump doorman, paid $30,000 by National Enquirer owner

Eight months before the company that owns the National Enquirer paid $150,000 to a former Playboy Playmate who claimed she'd had an affair with Donald Trump , the tabloid's parent made a $30,000 payment to a less famous individual: a former doorman at one of the real estate mogul's New York City buildings. As it did with the ex- Playmate , the Enquirer signed the ex-doorman to a contract that effectively prevented him from going public with a juicy tale that might hurt Trump 's campaign for president.

Trump says he backs ‘cooperative’ approach to Russia probe

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly condemned as a "witch hunt" a federal probe into possible collusion between Moscow and his presidential campaign, said on Thursday he backed a "cooperative" approach to the investigation. Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing members of the U.S. Senate on his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2017.

Pompeo defends Trump on Russia, won’t talk about Mueller

Mike Pompeo, the CIA director nominated to be secretary of state, defended the Trump administration's efforts to push back on aggression from Russia at his confirmation hearing Thursday while suggesting more sanctions on Moscow are still needed. Yet he dodged repeatedly when Democrats tried to pin him down on President Donald Trump's handling of the special investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Trump asks U.S. trade officials to look into joining Trans-Pacific Partnership

U.S. President Donald Trump has asked trade officials to explore the possibility of the United States rejoining negotiations on the Pacific Rim agreement after he pulled out last year as part of his "America first" agenda. Farm-state lawmakers said Thursday after a White House meeting with President Donald Trump that he had told his trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, to look into the possibility of getting back into TPP.

Why Mueller Is One Contestant Trump Can’t Easily Fire: QuickTake

President Donald Trump has mused publicly about firing Robert Mueller, whose investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign has spilled over to Trump's associates and sparked a separate probe of the president's longtime personal lawyer. Trump tried to oust Mueller at least once, according to news reports, fueling legal debates over whether he really has that authority.

Trump: Syria attack ‘very soon or not so soon at all!’

President Donald Trump said Thursday that an attack on Syria could take place "very soon or not so soon at all," arguing he had never signaled the timing of retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that he had suggested was imminent a day earlier. The president made his latest statement in a tweet Thursday morning.