USA under Donald Trump Trump expands travel bans +++ Chief of staff speaks plainly about Trump - and rows back

Donald Trump has been President of the United States again since January 20, 2025. All developments in his second presidency can be found here in the ticker.

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23:49

Unemployment rate at four-year high in November

A damper for US President Donald Trump: the unemployment rate in the US rose to a four-year high in November. It now stands at 4.6 percent, according to the Department of Labor. This is 0.2 percentage points higher than in September. The government did not provide any figures for October due to the budget freeze, which has now been overcome.

The absolute number of unemployed rose to 7.8 million in November. In November 2024, only 7.1 million people were out of work under then President Joe Biden. Trump had promised US citizens a "golden age" when he took office again in January. "Employment rose in healthcare and construction in November, while the federal government continued to lose jobs," explained the Department of Labor. Most recently, 162,000 federal employees alone lost their jobs, while 105,000 jobs were lost in the economy. A total of 64,000 people were hired.

The labor market figures play a central role in the Fed's key interest rate decisions. Last week, the Fed cut interest rates for the third time in a row, with the key rate now in a range of 3.5 to 3.75 percent. The Fed's task is to keep the situation on the labor market stable and consumer prices as low as possible with its monetary policy. However, Trump's tariff policy in particular has led to uncertainty.

11.02 pm

Trump extends entry ban to seven more countries

US President Donald Trump has extended the ban on entry into the USA to citizens of seven other countries. The new measures reportedly affect Syria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, South Sudan, Laos and Sierra Leone.

Trump has "just signed a proclamation that further restricts and limits the entry of foreign nationals to protect the security of the United States", the White House explained in an online service.

The entry ban also applies to Palestinians with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Citizens of other African countries are to be subject to partial travel restrictions, including Nigeria, the continent's most populous country, according to the White House.

In June, the Trump administration had already imposed entry bans on nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

21:35

"Great year": Trump announces speech to the nation

Donald Trump wants to address the nation in a speech. The US President announced the speech live from the White House in Washington on Wednesday evening (21:00 local time, Thursday morning 03:00 Swiss time). Trump left the topic of the speech open.

He simply wrote on the Truth Social platform to his fellow Americans that he was looking forward to "seeing" them. "It's been a great year for our country, and THE BEST IS STILL TO COME!"

Trump's government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that the speech was about the president's "historic accomplishments" this year and also looked ahead to next year. In January, it will be a year since Trump's second term began.

US presidents use speeches to the nation for significant moments, important announcements or to explain their own policies.

21:24

Washington suspends technology partnership with the UK

The US government has suspended the implementation of a technology partnership with the UK that was only agreed in September. The agreement was intended to establish partnerships in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and nuclear energy.

London must ensure that there is "substantial progress in trade talks" with the USA before Washington resumes the cooperation agreement, explained the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Michael Kratsios, in the online service X.

In line with Section III of the US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal, we hope to resume work with the United Kingdom once the UK has made substantial progress in implementing its commitments under the Economic Prosperity Deal.

We look forward to continuing our productive… https://t.co/JJqK2Y8cov

— Director Michael Kratsios (@mkratsios47) December 16, 2025

Washington and London are currently trying to implement a trade agreement signed in May. It was one of the first international agreements to be agreed after US President Donald Trump threatened the world with punitive tariffs. However, according to media reports, implementation of the agreement is currently failing due to several hurdles, including food safety. The US government is therefore calling on the British government to recognize US standards for food and agricultural products.

Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the billion-dollar technology partnership during the US President's visit to the UK in September. Trump explained at the time that the agreement would allow "the creation of new collaborations between government bodies, the university world and the private sector, in areas such as artificial intelligence".

20.11

Attack on survivors: Hegseth refuses to release video

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, under pressure over a second attack on an alleged drug boat, does not want to release the original video. "In accordance with the longstanding policy of the War Department, the Department of Defense, we obviously will not release top-secret, unedited video of this to the general public," he told journalists. The footage should only be shown to the relevant congressional committees.

On September 2, the US military attacked a boat in the Caribbean on which drugs were allegedly being smuggled. A short time later, a second attack was reportedly ordered to kill two surviving men. The Admiral in charge, Frank M. Bradley, contradicted this account. According to experts, the second attack may have violated international law - according to the Washington Post, the men had clung to the wreckage and posed no immediate threat.

Meanwhile, Hegseth informed members of Congress about US military strikes in the Caribbean - including off the coast of Venezuela. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the American people needed to see the videos. "There is basically no concrete justification for withholding these videos," he said. In addition to footage, "all documents, evidence and orders issued" should be made public.

6.22 p.m.

Chief of staff rows back - and accuses magazine of lacking context

Update 7.42 p.m.: The White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, accuses "Vanity Fair" magazine of taking her explosive statements about US President Donald Trump out of context. "Essential context" had been ignored in the article, while many details had been omitted, Wiles wrote on X. She assumes that "a predominantly chaotic and negative picture" of President Trump and his team was to be shown. The text was a "disingenuously written, defamatory attack on me and the best president, the best White House team and the best cabinet in history".

Vanity Fair had published an article in which Wiles was surprisingly blunt and harsh in her assessment of her boss. Trump has the "personality of an alcoholic", said the Chief of Staff, for example (see article at 4 pm). The magazine is not quoting the complete sentence from the interview here, just the fragment. According to "Vanity Fair", the article is based on several conversations with Wiles.

Wiles has now received support from Trump's spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt: "President Trump has no more important and loyal advisor than Susie," she also wrote on X, referring to Wiles' previous post.

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has helped President Trump achieve the most successful first 11 months in office of any President in American history.

President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie.

The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and… https://t.co/Y3NEXI6a1E

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 16, 2025

Vice President JD Vance has also backed Wiles. Although he has had differences of opinion with Susie Wiles, he agrees with her on most issues, Vance said in Pennsylvania. "I've never known her to be disloyal to the President of the United States, and that makes her the best White House Chief of Staff the President could ask for." Vance went on to say that if there's one lesson to be learned, it's to give fewer interviews to the mainstream media.

6:07 p.m.

Judge allows proceedings against Trump confidants

In the US state of Wisconsin, a trial for forgery against a lawyer and an advisor to US President Donald Trump can continue. The judge ruled that the evidence was sufficient for a trial. The defendants are accused of involvement in election manipulation following the 2020 presidential election. They allegedly attempted to submit a list of Republican electors to Congress who falsely claimed that Trump had won the state that year. In fact, it went to his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Judge John Hyland of Dane County Circuit Court ruled that probable cause existed to bring the eleven counts of forgery against Jim Troupis, Trump's Wisconsin campaign lawyer, and Mike Roman, campaign manager on Election Day 2020. The defendants maintain their innocence and state that they were merely trying to keep all options open in case a court were to confirm Trump's victory in Wisconsin. "This is not forgery," said Troupis' defense attorney Joe Bugni.

However, the judge said the defendants' communications showed their intent to present a certificate awarding Trump Wisconsin's ten electoral votes as legitimate. The document was by no means created just in case a court confirmed Trump's victory in the state.

With the judge's decision, the proceedings in Wisconsin are moving forward, while others in the battleground states of Michigan and Georgia have stalled. A special prosecutor dropped a federal case last year accusing Trump of conspiring to nullify the 2020 election results. Another case in Nevada is still pending.

4 p.m.

Trump's chief of staff speaks plainly about him

In interviews with the magazine "Vanity Fair", White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was surprisingly blunt and harsh in her assessment of her boss, US President Donald Trump. He has the "personality of an alcoholic", said Wiles.

The magazine does not quote the complete sentence from the interview here, but only this fragment. The White House did not initially respond to an inquiry from the German Press Agency (dpa).

Wiles also said of Trump: "He acts with the conviction that there is nothing he cannot accomplish. Nothing, absolutely nothing."

As chief of staff, Wiles is one of the most influential figures in Trump's circle. This makes her statements, which have now been published even before the President has completed the first year of his second term in office, all the more surprising. Wiles is considered a close confidante of Trump and has accompanied him in various positions over the years.

12.19 p.m.

"This encrusted brain": Jimmy Kimmel castigates Trump's statements about dead Rob Reiner

US presenter Jimmy Kimmel has massively criticized President Donald Trump for his comments on the death of director Rob Reiner.

"To insult someone who has just been murdered and leaves behind children without even the slightest idea of what actually happened - that is so hateful and disgusting," said Kimmel at the start of his live show on Monday evening (local time).

In the face of terrible events, compassion and leadership are actually needed alongside common sense, Kimmel said. "We didn't get that from our president because he has none of that to forgive. Instead, we got a fool spouting nonsense."

Kimmel was referring to Trump's statements on the death of the "Harry and Sally" director, who, like his wife Michele, had previously been found dead in their home in Los Angeles - presumed murdered by his own son.

In his online mouthpiece Truth Social, Trump had described Reiner as a "tortured and struggling" person who had died because he had triggered anger with his uproar about the US president. In response to a reporter's question, Trump also said Reiner was a "deranged person".

"This encrusted brain is in control of our lives," Kimmel commented on Trump's statements, adding, "I know from my personal encounters with Rob Reiner that he would have wanted us to keep pointing out the disgusting abominations that continue to come out of this sick and irresponsible man's lips."

5:31 a.m.

US military: Eight dead in new attacks on alleged drug boats

The US military says it has attacked three more alleged drug boats, killing a total of eight men. The attacks took place on Monday in the eastern Pacific in international waters, the responsible regional command of the US military (Southcom) announced on Platform X. The boats had been used to transport drugs along known smuggling routes. The information could not be independently verified.

On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 16, 2025

Three men are said to have been killed in the first attack, two in the second and finally three more in the third. The military also released a short video clip showing a bird's eye view of the three attacks. In each case, it looks as if the boats were hit by a missile.

Since September, the US armed forces have repeatedly attacked boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that are believed to be loaded with drugs, citing alleged intelligence. No concrete evidence is presented to justify the attacks. According to US media reports, more than 90 people have been killed in the course of the attacks.

The US government has consistently described the victims as drug smugglers and "terrorists", but has been heavily criticized for the extrajudicial killings. In the view of UN human rights experts, for example, the US government is violating international law.

4 o'clock

Trump sues BBC for up to ten billion dollars

US President Donald Trump has made good on his threat against the BBC and filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against the British broadcaster. The statement of claim was received by a court in the US state of Florida. The claim is for a sum of ten billion dollars - previously there had been talk of an amount of between one and five billion dollars.

The background is the dispute over a TV program. It is about a compilation of a speech by Trump from January 6, 2021, which the broadcaster had used for the program "Panorama". The broadcast took place shortly before the presidential election in November 2024, in which Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. For the program, the BBC had edited together passages from different parts of Trump's speech to his supporters at the time. On that day, there had been a violent storming of the Capitol in the US capital Washington, where the election victory of Trump's then opponent, Democrat Joe Biden, was to be officially confirmed. In his speech, Trump - who had been voted out of office after his first term (2017-2021) but was still in office - repeated the repeatedly refuted claim that he had been cheated out of his election victory. After the speech, Trump's supporters stormed the seat of parliament.

The BBC admitted mistakes in response to Trump's criticism. The impression was unintentionally created in the broadcast that it was one continuous section of the speech. This could make it appear as if Trump had directly called for violence. The broadcaster also apologized to him. The case was cited as the main reason for the resignation of station boss Tim Davie and journalist Deborah Turness, who is responsible for the news business.

Trump's legal team had threatened the BBC in a letter that they would file a lawsuit if the broadcaster did not apologize, withdraw the programme and pay compensation. The BBC did state that the program would no longer be broadcast. However, the broadcaster did not want to pay compensation. The media company saw no basis for a libel suit for several reasons.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1:58 a.m.

Trump wants to secure the release of Hong Kong publisher Lai

US President Donald Trump is campaigning for the release of publisher Jimmy Lai, who has been imprisoned for around five years and is considered a symbolic figure of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. Commenting on the latest verdict against Lai, who was found guilty on Monday of alleged violations of national security law and is a supporter of Trump, the Republican said: "I'm so sorry." He had spoken to China's head of state Xi Jinping about it "and asked him to consider releasing him". Lai is not in good health, Trump told journalists. "He's an older man and he's not well. That's why I made this request. We'll see what happens."

The 78-year-old media mogul was found guilty by a court in the Chinese special administrative region of having participated in conspiracies against the government in Beijing and the leadership in Hong Kong over a period of years. According to the judges, the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper "Apple Daily" pursued the goal of working towards the "overthrow of the Chinese Communist Party". Critics spoke of a politically motivated trial and fictitious charges - China rejects this accusation and denies any interference. The sentence will be announced at a later date. Lai faces life imprisonment.

It remained unclear when Trump spoke with China's head of state and party leader Xi. According to reports citing White House officials, Trump is said to have called for Lai's release weeks ago during his meeting with Xi in South Korea. During the US election campaign, Trump had already promised in a podcast in October 2024: "I will get him out of there."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the ruling as enforcing laws imposed by Beijing to silence all those who stand up for freedom of expression and other fundamental rights. The security law in the former British crown colony is directed against the pro-democracy opposition and activities that Beijing considers subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial. Rubio referred to reports that Lai's health had deteriorated significantly during his more than 1,800 days in detention. The minister called on the authorities to release Lai on humanitarian grounds. Lai has been in prison for around five years and has been sentenced to prison in other cases in the meantime.

10.53 pm

Trump decree: USA classifies fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction"

In the fight against drugs, the USA classifies the painkiller fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction". President Donald Trump signed a decree to this effect in Washington. "No bomb has such an effect," said Trump about the opioid. "Every year, 200,000 to 300,000 people die, as far as we know."

The Trump decree states that illegally trafficked fentanyl is "more like a chemical weapon than a narcotic". Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from overdoses. "The possibility of fentanyl being used as a weapon for concentrated, large-scale terrorist attacks by organized adversaries poses a serious threat to the United States," it continues. The decree authorizes the US authorities to take action against the threat posed by fentanyl and its precursors. For example, the Department of Justice is to initiate investigations and the Department of Homeland Security is to disclose smuggling networks.

The Trump administration accuses Mexico, Canada and China in particular of facilitating the smuggling of fentanyl into the USA. In the meantime, the USA has therefore imposed high punitive tariffs on products from these countries. However, these countries are not mentioned by name in the decree.

The term "weapons of mass destruction" lacks a generally recognized definition or one that is binding under international law. It is reminiscent of the Iraq war a good 20 years ago, when the USA accused the then Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein of possessing such weapons.

21:40

Serbian minister charged over Kushner company's real estate project

The Serbian Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office has charged Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic over a real estate project linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The minister and three other people are accused of abuse of office and falsifying documents, as the public prosecutor's office announced on Monday. It was not yet clear when a trial could begin.

At the center of the investigation is a military complex in the center of Belgrade that was bombed during the Kosovo war in 1999, which is a listed building but is to be converted into a luxury complex. Last year, the Serbian government signed a 99-year lease agreement with the real estate developer Affinity Global Development in the USA. Company founder Kushner confirmed reports at the time that his company would finance the project to the tune of 500 million dollars. It would include a high-rise hotel, luxury apartments, office space and stores. Selakovic and others are said to have illegally revoked the listed status of the site by falsifying documents.

The Serbian government supports the project, but it has been met with fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad, as well as from the Serbian public. Critics consider the building to be an architectural monument and a symbol of resistance to the US-led bombing campaign, with which NATO finally forced then President Slobodan Milosevic to end his crackdown on the separatist Albanians in Kosovo after 78 days. Anti-Nato sentiment in Serbia remains strong, and many Serbs are particularly sensitive to the US role in the renewal of the military building.

21:10

Springboard to Venezuela? Trinidad and Tobago opens airports for US military aircraft

Update 11.45 p.m.: In the midst of the conflict between the USA and Venezuela, the Caribbean island state of Trinidad and Tobago has allowed US military aircraft to use its airports for logistical purposes. The state, which consists of two islands, is located just a few kilometers from the coast of South American Venezuela.

Venezuela, on the other hand, declared the end of cooperation with Trinidad in the natural gas sector because the country had participated in the "theft of Venezuelan oil". Specifically, the government in Caracas accused the neighboring country of being involved in the storming of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast by US units. In its statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry did not say exactly how this was alleged to have happened.

For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago announced that the USA had been granted permission to use the airports for purposes such as resupplying and changing personnel in the coming weeks. Trinidad and Tobago had already held joint military exercises with the USA and approved the installation of a radar system on the island of Tobago by the US military.

Washington has been expanding its military presence in the Caribbean for months with fighter planes, warships and soldiers. Officially, the US government cites the fight against drug cartels as the reason for its intervention. The authoritarian ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, on the other hand, accuses Washington of wanting to force a regime change in the oil-rich country and targeting its oil reserves. Just a few days ago, the US Coast Guard and other units took control of an oil tanker off Venezuela. According to the US Department of Justice, the tanker was being used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

12:49 p.m.

"Everything they have is history": Trump's Arc de Triomphe will be much better than the one in Paris

Vince Haley is the director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, with whom the US president consults on domestic policy. But now he has a new core task to focus on: The Republican is the new person in charge of building the Trump Arch in Washington that his boss wants.

"[The Arc de Triomphe] is something that is so special," the 79-year-old announced yesterday at the White House. "It will be like the one in Paris, but I'll be honest with you: it will blow it away - in every way. [...] Nothing can compete with it." Washington is the only important city in the world that does not have such a building, Trump says.

Trump mixes English and French: "You know the Arc de Triumph in the French capital," the president continues. "We will surpass that - I think by far. Everything they have is history." It's the only thing you can't compete with. "But eventually we will have that too."

.@POTUS recognizes longtime staffer and Domestic Policy Council Director @vincehaley:

"I put Vince in charge of the triumphal arch. We're building an arc like the Arc de Triomphe, and we're building it by the Arlington bridge... opposite the Lincoln Memorial." 👀 pic.twitter.com/zZvDgBHW0a

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 14, 2025

"For 200 years" America has been waiting for this triumphal arch. "I think the Civil War got in the way," says Trump. In the direction of "Vince" Haley, he says that he should discuss the apparently already existing plans with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has the architectural heritage of the USA in its suit.

10:16 a.m.

Shooting at US university: Arrestee released - Trump says: "Things happen"

After fatal shootings at an elite university in the US state of Rhode Island, the person recently arrested is to be released from custody.

2 dead, 8 injuredShots fired at elite American university - police hunt shooters

The evidence points in a different direction after further investigation, said Attorney General Peter F. Neronha at a press conference last night. The mayor of the city of Providence, Brett Smiley, stated that the person should be released shortly.

"We know this will likely cause new fears in our community," Smiley said. However, it is still assumed that there is no danger to the people of Providence. There will still be an increased police presence in the city and on campus.

Trump on the shooting at Brown University: “Things can happen”

[image or embed]

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 14. Dezember 2025 um 19:05

He asked for information such as videos of the incident. "Our investigation into this horrific act is ongoing." The day before yesterday, a gunman killed two students and injured several others at Brown University.

No parent wants this text. Thinking of the Brown University community.

[image or embed]

— Frank Figliuzzi (@frankfigliuzzi.bsky.social) 14. Dezember 2025 um 01:54

The day before yesterday evening, the police initially released a video showing a person dressed in black. The face was not recognizable. The suspected shooter had left the university campus on foot and then fled for hours - his motive is still unclear.

Among the more than 400 police officers on duty were also members of the FBI. Investigators then announced yesterday morning that one person had been taken into custody.

Sunday, December 14

A day without a Trump ticker

It's been a long time since we've had a day without breaking news from Donald Trump. Actually worth a news item in itself!

2.45 pm

US Ambassador Kushner receives French right-wing populists Le Pen and Bardella

Against the backdrop of the French presidential election in 2027, the US ambassador in Paris, Charles Kushner, received Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella from the right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN). He was pleased to learn more from both about the party's economic and social program and "their views on what France expects", Kushner wrote on Friday in the online service X.

I appreciated the chance to learn from @MLP_officiel and @J_Bardella about the RN’s economic and social agenda and their views on what lies ahead for France. pic.twitter.com/ouC2MtPgez

— Ambassador Charles Kushner (@USAmbFrance) December 12, 2025

A new president will be elected in France in spring 2027. Le Pen has so far run unsuccessfully three times as the RN's presidential candidate. If the 57-year-old is convicted again in her appeal proceedings for embezzling EU funds, Bardella will run in her place in the 2027 presidential election.

Kushner had previously received the possible presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe from the center-right Horizons party and spoke to him about his possible program. In mid-November, the US ambassador had met the leader of the conservative Republicans and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

1 p.m.

Not the "Mamdani effect": more luxury apartments are being sold in New York

Before Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York, his opponents had warned that if the Democrat won the election, wealthy residents in particular would leave the metropolis - and flee from the socialist to Florida, for example.

But there is no sign of this "Mamdani effect", reports "Newsweek", citing data from various estate agents. According to the data, the sale of luxury properties costing more than 4 million dollars increased by 31 percent from October to November for one provider, compared to 25 percent for a competitor.

"If there are people who want to move to Florida or another state to escape taxes, and they're older or retired, maybe that will be a little push," says broker Donna Olshan, "but overall, most people will just stay put."

That people would flee New York, she calls "pretty ridiculous."

11:33 a.m.

Cambodia closes border

In the conflict with Thailand, the Cambodian government has completely closed the joint border crossing. The measure includes all entries and exits and is valid with immediate effect, said a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of the Interior. The measure was justified by the country's own national security.

The border conflict between the two Southeast Asian states has flared up again for the sixth day in a row. Thailand's Prime Minister Charnvirakul wrote on Facebook this morning that military action would continue "until we no longer see any danger or threat to our country and our people. I would like to make that clear".

11.17 am

"No accurate understanding of the situation": Thailand makes Trump look old - and attacks

The fighting on the border between Cambodia and Thailand continues today. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense announced that Thai fighter jets had flown air strikes in the morning.

The Thai military reported that rockets had hit a civilian area in Sisaket province. Two civilians were seriously injured as a result.

Thailand stated that it had not agreed to a ceasefire - contrary to US President Donald Trump's claim that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire.

Ta Krabey Temple was destroyed this week during the latest round of fighting along the Cambodia-Thailand border. According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the destruction occurred on 8 December 2025 amid Thai air and artillery operations in the area. The Ministry… pic.twitter.com/bzcI3jf21L

— Jacob in Cambodia 🇺🇸 🇰🇭 (@jacobincambodia) December 12, 2025

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said today that some of Trump's comments "do not reflect an accurate understanding of the situation". The Cambodian government has not yet commented on Trump's statements.

After talks with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday, Trump announced that an agreement had been reached to restart the ceasefire.

"They have agreed to cease all shelling as of tonight and return to the original peace agreement that was reached with me and them with the help of the great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

Thailand always claims that Cambodia opened fire first—but what the fuck is this? How can you talk about peace with actions like this? Attacking at 2 a.m. for what, while Cambodian people were sleeping?

You are completely out of mind right now Siam.

Thailand is the source of… pic.twitter.com/4aqZ8jn9ea

— Jing (@Jing_jing544) December 12, 2025

The recent fighting was triggered by a skirmish on December 7. Two Thai soldiers were injured in the skirmish. The shelling broke a ceasefire that had ended five days of fighting in July. Trump had campaigned for the ceasefire brokered by Malaysia at the time.

Around two dozen people are said to have been killed in the latest fighting. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border. The Thai military reported that eleven Thai soldiers were killed.

Cambodia is estimated to have lost 165 soldiers. Cambodia itself has not given any figures on casualties among its military personnel. However, at least eleven civilians were killed and 76 wounded, it said.

10.37 a.m.

Hairy Epstein survey

More than two-thirds of respondents to a US poll believe the government is not being honest about Epstein: 70 percent think the government is withholding information about the pedophile's accomplices, according to Ruters/Ipsos. Among Republican voters, the figure is 62 percent. 62 percent assume that information is generally being withheld. Among Republicans, the figure is still 56 percent.

Trump with six womenUS Democrats release new Epstein photos

Overall, only 23 percent of respondents said they agreed with the way Trump is handling the case. That is a small number, but more than in July, when it was still 17%. Approval among Republican voters rose from 44 to 53 percent.

8:21 a.m.

Is Greene messing with Johnson?

Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to resign her seat as a member of parliament in January, but the 51-year-old, who has fallen out of favor with Donald Trump, is reportedly planning one last coup that the president won't like.

"MS Now" (formerly MSNBC) reports that Greene is working on removing the Speaker of the House of Representatives. To do so, she would have to persuade nine Republicans to oppose Mike Johnson.

"Marjorie is reaching out to members to get to nine who will oust the Speaker," one of the sources said. "And if we don't get to work on codifying Trump's agenda, anything can happen.

Even if there is criticism of Johnson, the plan has relatively little chance of success, writes "MS Now". When asked, Greene said she was "not giving any interviews about it at the moment".

A party colleague confirmed to "MS Now" that "several Republicans are angry with Mike Johnson". Greene also told CNN, "You see Republican women directly attacking the speaker for sidelining us and not taking us seriously."

Republican Elise Stefanik tells the Wall Street Journal she doesn't think Johnson "would get the votes for the speaker job if there was a roll call vote tomorrow": "I think the majority of Republicans would vote for new leadership. That's how big the issue is already."

Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 7:15 a.m.

Trump talks about an end to the fighting - Thailand's prime minister knows nothing about it

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to stop fighting, according to US President Donald Trump. Trump said that he had spoken to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on the phone and that they had agreed to stop all fighting "as of tonight", Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

It remained unclear which time zone he was referring to. It was already night in the region at the time of the post. The two countries themselves did not initially confirm the agreement.

"Both countries are ready for PEACE and continued trade with the United States of America," Trump continued. He also wanted to thank Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his support in the talks.

Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia on several fronts along the border has been going on for days. The background to this is a decades-long dispute over territorial claims. Both states accuse each other of first violating a recent ceasefire in the area along the approximately 800-kilometer-long shared border.

The fighting has driven more than 500,000 inhabitants of the region to flee and cost the lives of more than 20 people, including several civilians. Hundreds were also injured as a result of the fighting. The two countries had already agreed a ceasefire in July following heavy fighting.

At the end of October, they signed a joint declaration in the presence of Trump in Malaysia, which provided for steps towards a lasting peace. However, the agreed ceasefire was suspended for the time being in November following a new incident on the border. Since last Sunday, the situation has worsened once again.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he "does not remember" the peace agreement with Cambodia that was reached with Trump’s mediation. en.apa.az/asia/thai-pr...

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) 9. Dezember 2025 um 17:42

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, however, contradicts the statement that there is a prospect of a ceasefire. After talks with US President Donald Trump, the head of government told journalists in Bangkok that Cambodia must first cease fire.

The party that had violated the ceasefire agreement was the one that had to correct its behavior - "not the party that was attacked", he continued, according to local media. Both sides accuse each other of having started the latest escalation.

23.4

20 states sue US government over expensive work visas

California and 19 other mostly Democratic US states have sued President Donald Trump's administration over visas for workers that are subject to a $100,000 fee. This was announced by the Californian Attorney General Rob Bonta. The regulation clearly violates the law, as the massive fee exceeds what Congress has authorized.

The so-called H-1B visa enables companies to bring qualified employees such as doctors, programmers or nursing staff into the country. Previously available for a few thousand US dollars, it now costs 100,000 dollars (around 80,000 Swiss francs). The new fee would represent a costly hurdle for employers. Bonta explained that California knows that qualified skilled workers from all over the world help the state move forward. The "illegal $100,000 fee for H-1B visas" introduced by Trump creates unnecessary financial burdens for public employers and exacerbates labor shortages in key industries.

The visa fee is devastating for all states and also jeopardizes the quality of education, Bonta explained. There is a nationwide shortage of teachers in the United States, for example in the natural sciences and foreign languages. A few days ago, Trump announced an even more expensive entry ticket to the USA - the "Trump Gold Card" for one million US dollars (around 800,000 Swiss francs). This allows wealthy foreigners to buy a right of residence in the USA with immediate effect.

22:33

First immigrant from the USA deported to Kosovo

For the first time, a migrant from a third country has been deported from the USA to Kosovo. "A person has arrived in the Republic of Kosovo and has been granted temporary protection in accordance with the applicable legislation," the Kosovar Interior Ministry told the AP news agency.

Kosovo had agreed in June to temporarily accept up to 50 migrants who are to be deported from the United States due to new, stricter US immigration regulations. According to the agreement, they are to be allowed to return safely to their home country from there.

The country of origin of the deported person was not disclosed. It was also unclear when the other agreed deportations could follow. The US government had also deported some migrants from third countries to African states in recent months.

20:54

Admiral resigns command after deadly US attacks

A US Navy admiral has relinquished command of attacks on suspected drug transports from Venezuela. Admiral Alvin Holsey, who led US military operations in Latin America, resigned after a year in office. Normally, commanders remain in this position for three to four years. Holsey handed over command duties to his senior deputy, Lieutenant General Evan Pettus of the Air Force, during a ceremony at the headquarters of the US Southern Command near Miami.

In his farewell speech, Holsey did not mention the attacks on the boats or the reasons for his premature resignation. He appealed to his successor to preserve the long-standing partnerships in the region and to stand up resolutely for the shared values of democracy and the rule of law. "To be a trustworthy partner, we must be credible, present and committed," said Holsey.

Holsey's surprise resignation was announced by the Pentagon in October, more than a month after the attacks on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific began. At least 87 people have died in the missions so far. The ceremony was more subdued than previous farewells. It took place outdoors in front of a small audience and without Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth because President Donald Trump has not yet nominated a successor for Holsey, who must then be confirmed by the Senate.

The US Congress has launched bipartisan investigations into the attacks on boats. In one of them, a boat was initially sunk. As two survivors clung to the wreckage, they were killed in a second attack. Holsey briefed members of Congress on the operation this week. Law of war experts, human rights groups and even some of Trump's allies in Congress question the legality of the attacks. In the past, such suspicious shipments have been stopped at sea, the occupants detained by the US Coast Guard and brought to the US for prosecution.

19:47

Government lifts sanctions against Brazilian federal judge

The US government has lifted its sanctions against the Brazilian federal judge Alexandre de Moraes and his wife Viviane Barci de Moraes. Their law firm, which manages the family's real estate, has also been removed from the sanctions list, according to a statement. It was initially unclear why the measures were lifted. Previously, assets belonging to the individuals in the United States had been frozen due to the sanctions.

De Moraes had led criminal proceedings against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was subsequently sentenced to a long prison term.

US President Donald Trump - an important ally of Bolsonaro - was furious about this: In recent months, he imposed tariffs of 50 percent on numerous products from the South American country in response and imposed sanctions on de Moraes and people close to him.

"Alexandre de Moraes is responsible for a repressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary arrests and politicized prosecutions - including against former President Jair Bolsonaro," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the time. Bolsonaro's son, MP Eduardo Bolsonaro, regretted the decision to lift the sanctions, as the news portal G1 reported.

18:36

Lawsuit against US President Trump over ballroom in the White House

US President Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit over his plans to build a grand ballroom in the White House. In its lawsuit, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which campaigns for the preservation of historic buildings, demanded a review of the project's designs with an opportunity for public comment and approval by Congress. Until then, construction work should be halted.

Trump had the east wing of the White House demolished for the new building. The National Capital Planning Commission, which is responsible for construction work on government buildings, had not given its approval. It is due to receive plans of the new building before the end of the year.

The National Trust argued in its lawsuit that Trump had violated several laws by fast-tracking the project, while also exceeding his constitutional powers by not seeking congressional approval for a project of this magnitude.

The East Wing of the White House has traditionally housed the offices of the First Lady and her staff. The ballroom that is to be built in its place has an area of around 8360 square meters and is therefore significantly larger than the White House itself. According to Trump, the hall will be able to hold 999 people. The estimated costs amount to around 300 million dollars - more than originally assumed.

11:41 a.m.

Second lawsuit against Trump foe James also fails

The US Department of Justice has suffered another rebuff in its action against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

A jury panel in the US state of Virginia yesterday rejected a new indictment against James, two sources told the AP news agency. Just a few days ago, another grand jury in Norfolk had refused to bring charges against the lawyer, who has incurred the wrath of President Donald Trump.

James won a civil case last year in which the current president and his Trump Organization were convicted of financial fraud. However, appeal proceedings are still ongoing.

The Department of Justice accuses James of bank fraud because she falsely listed her new property as her primary residence when buying a house in 2020. As a result, she is said to have obtained favorable loan conditions. James rejects this and speaks of an act of revenge by Trump.

BREAKING: The Justice Department again fails to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, an AP source says.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) 11. Dezember 2025 um 21:34

US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the charges in November because Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor appointed by the Department of Justice, had been appointed unlawfully. However, the Ministry can apply for an indictment again.

A grand jury, which examines the evidence, decides on the admission. A rejection is extremely rare. James' attorney Abbe Lowell said the second dismissal of charges within a week shows that the Justice Department should have kept its hands off the allegations.

"This case was already a stain on the department's reputation and raises troubling questions about its integrity," he said. "Any further attempt to revive these discredited charges would be a mockery of our legal system."

Whether the Department of Justice will make a third attempt initially remained open.

10.54 am

Danish secret service sees Trump's America as a security risk

The Danish secret service has published its "Outlook 2025": In the report, the Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste, or Defence Intelligence Service, states that the USA under Donald Trump is strongly prioritizing its own interests and "using its economic and technological strength as an instrument of power".

"The United States is using economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to impose its will and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies," it continues, referring to Greenland.

"The increasing concentration of the USA on the Pacific Ocean is also leading to uncertainty about the country's role as the main guarantor of security in Europe," it continues. "The change in US policy places high demands on armaments and cooperation between European countries in order to strengthen deterrence against Russia."

8.08 am

Iran and Russia skeptical about oil tanker seizure

In the conflict between the USA and Venezuela, Iran has accused Washington of "state piracy" in the Caribbean. Tehran was reacting to the seizure of a tanker that was allegedly carrying oil from Venezuela.

The case represents a "blatant disregard for international law" and a flagrant violation of the principles of maritime security and navigation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai in a statement issued by his ministry. Iran and Venezuela are considered allies.

Russia's foreign minister also expressed skepticism: "I really hope that the United States, although it considers itself entitled to carry out such operations, will somehow explain out of respect for other members of the world community what facts prompted it to take such actions," Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying.

WATCH: U.S. forces seize oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

[image or embed]

— BNO News (@bnonews.com) 10. Dezember 2025 um 23:11

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against the Venezuelan oil sector yesterday. The previous day, the US Coast Guard and other units had stopped an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

Authoritarian Venezuela is heavily dependent on exports, has large oil reserves and, like Iran, supplies these mainly to US rival China. President Nicolás Maduro accuses Washington of primarily targeting the oil and pushing for a change of power in Caracas.

Iran's naval forces have also repeatedly detained foreign oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a 55-kilometre-wide strait between Iran and Oman.

It is considered one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports. The extent to which Iran can support Venezuela in the conflict against the USA is unclear. There are more than 6000 nautical miles and around 12,000 kilometers as the crow flies between the two countries.

7.53 a.m.

Letterman: Late-night hosts defend democracy

David Letterman is happy to no longer host a late-night show. "I'm so glad to be out of this mess," the US host said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live". Letterman hosted the "Late Show with David Letterman" for decades.

Addressing presenter Jimmy Kimmel, the 78-year-old added that "people like you and like Stephen and like Seth" were doing "such an outstanding job defending our democracy". Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, like Jimmy Kimmel, host late-night shows in the USA.

"I think that's the way it has to be in a democracy that seems to be so broken," Letterman said. He previously called his host the "leader of the resistance", to which Kimmel replied: "a totally ineffective leader of the resistance, yes".

The interview appeared just a few days after the news that Jimmy Kimmel had extended his TV contract. There had been a forced break of around one week in September: The Disney corporation, which owns the ABC channel, had put the show on hold indefinitely due to Kimmel's comments about the fatal attack on right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

The reason given was to avoid further inflaming a tense situation in the country. The temporary suspension fueled a debate about freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the USA.

7.36 am

Trump signs executive order against AI rules

US President Donald Trump wants to issue an executive order to prevent states from enacting their own regulations in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

A patchwork of different rules could hinder the emerging industry as it competes with China for technological supremacy, Trump said when he signed the decree yesterday.

Members of both parties in Congress, as well as civil rights and consumer protection groups, had previously called for more regulation, arguing that there were not enough checks and balances in place for the powerful technology.

Trump countered that there would be "only one winner" in the global race for AI supremacy. He emphasized that China was giving its companies an advantage through central approval bodies. "We are facing major investments," he explained, but obtaining 50 different permits from 50 different states was simply impossible.

The order directs the Attorney General to form a task force to crack down on federal AI laws. The Department of Commerce is also to draw up a list of problematic rules. States that enact their own AI laws must therefore fear restrictions on funding from the broadband expansion program and other funding programs.

6.57 am

Trump allegedly wants to break these 4 states out of the EU

According to "Defense One", there has been a version of the new US National Security Strategy (NSS) that has not been made public. In it, the USA allegedly states that it wants to break four states out of the European Union.

New US strategyTrump drops Europe - Putin likes it

According to the paper, Austria, Italy, Poland and Hungary are Washington's candidates: "We should support parties, movements and intellectual and cultural figures who seek sovereignty and the preservation/restoration of traditional European ways of life while being pro-American," the paper quotes.

The reorganization and reduction of the G7 is also a goal of the White House. The aim is to create a new G5 with the USA, China, Russia, India and Japan as members. However, the USA denies the veracity of this report.

"There is no alternative, private or secret version," spokeswoman Anna Kelly told "Defense One". "President Trump is transparent and has put his signature on an NSS that clearly directs the US government to implement the principles and priorities he has established."

Kelly adds that ""all the other so-called 'versions' have been leaked by people who are distant from the president and who, like this 'reporter,' have no idea what they're talking about."

4:30

Customs negotiations: More leeway for the Federal Council?

According to "Tamedia", the Federal Council could be given more leeway in the customs negotiations with Trump. The paper on the negotiating mandate, which is currently before the Foreign Affairs Committee, states that Guy Parmelin's Department of Economic Affairs should be "authorized" to "include further topics in the negotiations if this is appropriate for achieving the negotiating objectives". This would require the agreement of the other department heads. Parliamentarians would be informed, but would no longer be able to comment on the matter, the statement continued.

3.39 a.m.

Release of the Salvadoran Kilmar Ábrego García

Salvadoran Kilmar Ábrego García has been released following a US court order. Ábrego García was released shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday (local time), his lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg told the AP news agency. He plans to return to Maryland, where his US-American wife and child are waiting for him. Sandoval-Moshenberg said he was prepared to defend his client against further attempts to deport him, even if the future was uncertain. However, he assumes that the US government will take further steps to deport him.

BREAKING: Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being released from ICE detention in Pennsylvania after a federal judge ordered his release, his attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg tells me.

"They’re booking him out as we speak."

— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) December 11, 2025

A court had previously ordered the immediate release of the Salvadoran, who became known through President Donald Trump's deportation practices. The immigration authority ICE must release Ábrego García, who was allegedly deported to El Salvador by mistake in March and was only able to return months later, while a decision is made on his appeal against renewed deportation, Judge Paula Xinis ruled. "Since Ábrego García's return from unlawful detention in El Salvador, he has been detained again without lawful authority," the judge wrote. "For this reason, the court will grant Ábrego García's request for immediate release from ICE custody."

The deputy head of the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, sharply criticized the judge's decision. She spoke of "blatant judicial activism" by a judge appointed under the Obama administration. She said that the order lacked any valid legal basis and that they would continue to fight it in court with all means at their disposal.

Sandoval-Moshenberg said the judge had made it clear that the government could not detain anyone indefinitely without legal authority and that his client had "endured more than anyone should ever have to endure".

2.16 am

After tanker storming: Trump speaks again about land operations soon

Following the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela by the US military, US President Donald Trump has once again announced imminent ground operations without giving specific details. "It will soon begin on land as well," said the Republican in the White House. However, he did not mention Venezuela or other countries by name. Trump also left open what kind of US operations could be involved. Immediately before that, he had spoken indirectly about the deadly US attacks on boats carrying alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean, which have been going on for weeks.

The Republican had responded in detail to a journalist's question about the background to the seizure of the oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela the previous day. In recent weeks, the US President had already spoken of land operations in the region that were to begin "very soon". Most recently, in an interview with the news portal "Politico", he responded to a question about a possible American ground invasion in Venezuela by saying that he neither wanted to confirm nor rule out anything. Some time ago, Trump had already publicly confirmed that he had also authorized covert operations by the CIA foreign intelligence service in Venezuela.

The US Coast Guard and other units took control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday. The authoritarian president of the South American country, Nicolás Maduro, accuses the USA of targeting this oil in particular in the escalation of the conflict and of wanting to force a change of power in Caracas. Trump recently said that Maduro's days as president were numbered.

When asked by the journalist whether the background to the oil tanker seizure was drugs or oil, Trump also replied: "It's about many things." He again accused Venezuela of allowing "millions" of people from prisons, gangs, the drug-dealing milieu and mental institutions into the USA. The US government is pursuing a tough deportation policy in Trump's second term. Trump also said of the country - without elaborating: "They treated us badly, and I guess we're not treating them very well now either."

1:48 p.m.

Trump: Speech with China and Russia on denuclearization

US President Donald Trump has said that he has spoken to China and Russia about denuclearization, i.e. nuclear disarmament. "I talked to China about it. I've talked to Russia about it. And I think it's something that we would like to do, and they would like to do it, and I think Russia would like to do it," Trump said at a meeting in the White House.

When a reporter pointed out that Russia had said it would be impossible to renegotiate the New Start disarmament treaty in time for its expiry in February 2026, Trump replied that he had been told otherwise. The nuclear disarmament treaty concluded between the USA and Russia in 2010 was last extended for five years in 2021. It provides for a reduction in nuclear warheads and delivery systems.

At the end of October, Trump caused a stir with his surprise announcement of an immediate resumption of nuclear weapons tests. But even then he stated that talks were being held with Russia about denuclearization. At the time, Trump said that if anything was done in this direction, China would be consulted.

1.14 pm

Republicans in Indiana stand up to Trump

Despite strong pressure from US President Donald Trump, the Republican-dominated Senate in the state of Indiana has rejected redistricting in favor of the conservative party. The Senate voted 31 to 19 against a corresponding bill from the House of Representatives, which would probably have allowed the Republicans to secure more seats in the House of Representatives in Washington in future elections.

Trump reacted with disappointment: the redistricting had worked in other states, but not now in Indiana, he lamented at a meeting in the White House shortly after the vote. The President had campaigned strongly for the politically controversial project and threatened several Republican senators publicly - and by name - that he would support opposing candidates in the next primaries if they did not vote his way. The Republican governor of Indiana, Mike Braun, wrote on X that he was very disappointed that "a small group of misguided senators" had allied themselves with the Democrats in the Senate against Trump's leadership.

I am very disappointed that a small group of misguided State Senators have partnered with Democrats to reject this opportunity to protect Hoosiers with fair maps and to reject the leadership of President Trump. Ultimately, decisions like this carry political consequences. I will…

— Governor Mike Braun (@GovBraun) December 11, 2025

In other states such as Texas and North Carolina, Republicans had bowed to the president's will and approved redistricting. In this way, the Republicans want to strengthen their position in the House of Representatives. They currently have narrow majorities in both chambers of the US Congress - the Senate and the House of Representatives. In November 2026, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs in the midterms.

Targeted gerrymandering - known as "gerrymandering" in the US - involves drawing constituency boundaries in such a way that one party pools many of its own votes and splinters those of the opposing party. Both parties use this tactic to systematically gain advantages in elections. Under Trump's administration, however, the dispute over this approach has intensified once again.

Gerrymandering explainedHow US politics is cutting itself in half with constituency gerrymandering

0.10 am

White House links oil tanker to Revolutionary Guards

According to the White House, the tanker that the US has beached off the coast of Venezuela is known to be supplying black market oil to the Revolutionary Guards in Iran as part of a shadow fleet. The ship is on a sanctions list and the Department of Justice has requested the seizure of the vessel, said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

It remained unclear in the statement why Venezuela should supply oil to the Revolutionary Guards. Iran produces oil itself and has considerable oil reserves of its own.

When asked whether US President Donald Trump's operations in the Caribbean are about the fight against drugs or about oil, Leavitt said: "The president has taken a new approach that no administration has taken in quite some time, which is to actually focus on what's going on in our own backyard." For decades, the USA had regarded Latin America as its backyard.

Leavitt also did not rule out the possibility of further actions against oil tankers. The USA would not stand idly by while sanctioned ships carrying black market oil sailed the seas and the proceeds were used "to finance the drug terrorism of rogue states and illegitimate regimes around the world".

The US Coast Guard and other units had taken control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday. Venezuela has huge oil reserves, is heavily dependent on export revenues and supplies its oil mainly to US rival China. The authoritarian president of the South American country, Nicolás Maduro, accuses the USA of targeting this oil in particular in the escalation of the conflict and of wanting to force a change of power in Caracas.

0.05 am

New US sanctions against Venezuela - nephews and ships affected

The US Treasury Department has imposed further sanctions in the smouldering conflict between the United States and Venezuela. Three nephews of the wife of authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro have been sanctioned, mainly in connection with drug allegations. The measures are also aimed at the Venezuelan oil sector, which continues to finance the illegitimate regime, the ministry announced. This includes six shipping companies whose ships transport Venezuelan oil. Sanctions were also imposed on six ships - one day after the USA seized a tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

The men Franqui Flores and Efrain Campo, described by the government as "narco-nephews", are accused of drug smuggling. The third, Carlos Flores, is subject to sanctions for his work as a government official, as the ministry's press release also states. All three individuals would now no longer have access to property and assets located in the USA. In addition, US companies are prohibited from doing business of any kind with them.

The US government is thus continuing to build up pressure on the government in Caracas: As recently as Wednesday, the US Coast Guard and other units took control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Venezuela has huge oil reserves, is heavily dependent on export revenues and supplies its oil primarily to US rival China. Venezuelan President Maduro accuses the USA of targeting this oil in particular as the conflict escalates and of wanting to force a change of power in Caracas.

In mid-December 2017, two of the now sanctioned nephews of Venezuela's First Lady Cilia Flores - Franqui Flores and Efrain Campo - had already been sentenced to long prison terms in the USA for drug trafficking. They were actually due to serve 18 years each. However, Flores and Campo were released in October 2022 - in exchange for seven US citizens imprisoned in Venezuela being allowed to leave.

Friday, December 12, 2025, 0:01 a.m.

US Treasury Secretary accuses Caracas of importing drugs into the USA

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has once again accused Venezuela of "flooding" the USA with drugs. However, the country is not considered a producer of drugs, but a transit country - especially for the European market. Drugs usually reach the USA via other routes: The synthetic opioid fentanyl, which has led to massive problems, is mainly produced in Mexico using raw materials from China and smuggled into the USA from there.

Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people. These sanctions undo the Biden Administration’s failed attempt to make a deal with Maduro, enabling his dictatorial and brutal control at the… https://t.co/8wc9KjEfw7

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) December 11, 2025

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