Foreign Policy Focus Washington from

North Korea Denies Torturing U.S. Detainee Otto Warmbier

June 23, 2017 Focus Washington

North Korea called itself the “biggest victim” in the death of the American student Otto Warmbier who was detained for year and a half. Warmbier died days after being released in a coma. Pyongyang’s official Korean […]

Follow

White House Pressuring House GOP to Soften Russia Sanctions Bill, Report

June 22, 2017 Focus Washington

The White House is purportedly pressing House Republicans to soften a measure imposing new sanctions on Russia after the Senate soundly passed the penalties last week, The New York Times reported Thursday. The Trump administration has advised […]

Follow

Trump State Visit to UK Will Go Ahead despite Queen’s Speech Omission

June 22, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain will go ahead, according to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, despite its omission from the Queen’s Speech. State visits by foreign leaders are traditionally included in the Queen’s Speech, which marks […]

Follow

Queen’s Speech: President Trump’s UK State Visit in Fresh Doubt

June 21, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is in fresh doubt after there was no mention of it in the Queen’s Speech. The Pesident accepted the Queen’s invitation for him to travel to Britain […]

Follow

Trump Says China Falls Short on Curbing North Korea

June 21, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said that China had not succeeded in getting North Korea to curb its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Trump’s statement came a day after the death of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who had been detained […]

Follow

South Korea President: Korean Diplomacy Could be Trump’s Greatest Diplomatic Achievement

June 20, 2017 Focus Washington

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in said that solving the North Korean nuclear issue could be President Trump’s greatest achievement while in office. “Then I believe that this will be the most fruitful achievement that we […]

Follow

U.S. Student Otto Warmbier Dies Days after Release from North Korea Detention

June 20, 2017 Focus Washington

The University of Virginia student who was detained in North Korea for nearly a year and a half, died Monday afternoon, days after he returned home in a coma. The 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, had been […]

Follow

Trump Middle East Doctrine Seeks to Compensate for Obama Policies

June 19, 2017 Focus Washington

Several U.S. presidents have undertaken foreign policy initiatives that bear their names today. The process began with the fifth president James Monroe and the 1823 doctrine that gave notice to European powers not to interfere […]

Follow

Republican Senator Rubio Says Trump’s Cuba Policy Will Help ‘Individual Cubans’

June 19, 2017 Focus Washington

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s new policy on Cuba will strengthen Cuban citizens while undermining the country’s military, The Washington Examiner reports. “When they get there, they have to spend their […]

Follow

Attorney Says Trump Is Not under Investigation

June 19, 2017 Focus Washington

One of President Donald Trump’s attorneys on Sunday insisted “there is not an investigation of the president of the United States, period”, responding to reports that a Department of Justice investigation has expanded to investigate […]

Follow

President Trump Says His Cuban-American Friends Are `Very Happy’ with New Policy

June 17, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump tweeted Friday evening that his Cuban-American friends “are very happy” with his newly unveiled policy on Cuba. “Back from Miami where my Cuban/American friends are very happy with what I signed today. […]

Follow

Trump’s Cuba Policy to Restrict Tourism and Military Business

June 16, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump is set to announce increased restrictions toward Cuba on Friday after a nearly five-month review of the U.S.policy. During his campaign, Trump promised to crack down on the communist regime, The Hill […]

Follow

Trump Calls for Clinton-Russia Collusion Probe

June 16, 2017 Focus Washington

President Trump said Thursday investigators should look into ties between Hillary Clinton’s family and Democrats, instead of his own “non-dealings” with the Kremlin. “Why is that Hillary Clintons family and Dems dealings with Russia are […]

Follow

Special Counsel Reportedly Investigating Trump for Obstruction of Justice

June 15, 2017 Focus Washington

Department of Justice’s special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice, The Washington Post reported Wednesday evening. Mueller is also interviewing three top intelligence officials as part of the probe, […]

Follow

Deputy Attorney General Had Multiple Talks with Comey before His Ouster

June 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Tuesday that he had multiple talks with FBI director James Comey shortly before President Donald Trump fired him on May 9, Politico reports. “I did have meetings with Director […]

Follow

Republicans Warn Trump Not to Fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller

June 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Republican lawmakers have warned President Donald Trump about his reported intentions on firing special counsel Robert Mueller, Politico writes. Some Trump allies have begun agitating for Trump to fire the man appointed last month as […]

Follow

North Korea Frees Student Otto Warmbier

June 14, 2017 Focus Washington

The 22-year old American college student, Otto Warmbier, who fell into a coma while imprisoned in a North Korea labor camp, arrived in Cincinnati Tuesday night on a medical evacuation flight. Warmbier has been in […]

Follow

Attorney General Sessions Denies Russia Collusion during Presidential Campaign

June 14, 2017 Focus Washington

Attorney General Jeff Sessions told a Senate committee Tuesday that any suggestion that he collaborated with Russia during last year’s U.S. presidential campaign was an “appalling and detestable lie”, NPR reports. During his testimony which […]

Follow

Republican Lawmakers Refuse to Support Trump’s Attacks on Comey

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

If President Donald Trump was hoping congressional Republicans would support him in his effort to discredit former FBI Director James Comey, he’s probably pretty disappointed, as GOP Senator have publicly backed the ex-FBI chief, Politico […]

Follow

Trump to Propose More Restrictive Cuba Policy

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump is preparing to announce changes to the U.S. policy toward Cuba, with possible restrictions on travel and trade that were previously loosened under former President Barack Obama, NPR reports. Trump is expected […]

Follow

Trump Friends Say He is Considering Firing Special Counsel Mueller

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Some of President Donald Trump’s friends have said that the President is considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the FBI investigation into potential connection between the Trump campaign and Russia. Christopher Ruddy, […]

Follow

Cindy McCain Courted for State Department Job

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Cindy McCain is expected to be offered a role in President Donald Trump’s State Department, according to a Monday report in The Daily Beast. McCain, who is married to outspoken Trump critic, Senator John McCain, […]

Follow

Democrats to Propose Bill that Addresses Russian Aggression

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

A ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee is set to introduce a bill aimed at forcing the Trump administration to craft a comprehensive policy to deter Russian aggression, The Hill reports. “Today, we […]

Follow

Attorney General Sessions to Testify in Open Hearing on Russia Probe

June 13, 2017 Focus Washington

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has agreed to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday over alleged contacts with Russian officials and involvement in President Donald Trump’s dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, The Hill reports. […]

Follow

Special Counsel Mueller Was on White House Shortlist to Run FBI

June 10, 2017 Focus Washington

The White House had been considering Robert Mueller as a top candidate to lead the FBI before the deputy U.S. attorney general Rod J. Rosenstein changed course and asked Mueller to serve as special counsel […]

Follow

Trump ‘100 percent’ Willing to Testify Under Oath About Comey Interactions

June 10, 2017 Focus Washington

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is “100 percent” willing to testify under oath about his interactions and meetings with former FBI director James Comey, in order to dispute the latter’s claims that […]

Follow

GOP Steering Committee Picks Trey Gowdy to Chair House Oversight Panel

June 9, 2017 Focus Washington

Praising his “deep commitment to transparency and accountability,” House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Thursday the Republican Steering Committee recommended Representative Trey Gowdy to be the next chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. […]

Follow

Comey Hearing Raises Doubts On AG Sessions Russia Role

June 9, 2017 Focus Washington

Ex-FBI chief James Comey may have done more damage to Attorney General Jeff Sessions than to President Donald Trump in Thursday Senate hearing, as he said that he expected the former Alabama senator to recuse […]

Follow

Privacy Laws Block Trump Finance Disclosures, Deutsche Bank Says

June 9, 2017 Focus Washington

Deutsche Bank says that U.S. privacy laws prevent it from revealing details about President Donald Trump’s finances and his potential ties to Russia, The Hill reports. Five House Financial Services Committee Democrats sent a letter […]

Follow

Comey Delivers Dramatic Testimony, Accuses Trump of Lying

June 9, 2017 Focus Washington

Ex-FBI Chief James Comey on Thursday said he believed that he was directed by President Donald Trump to end a criminal investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, while accusing the President of telling […]

Follow