Overview

• Trump said the U.S. is in a trade war with China and has floated 100% tariffs, while Beijing warned tariff conflicts have no winners and White House officials stressed Trump and Xi maintain working ties with potential tariff timing still under review.
• He threatened punitive tariffs on Spain for failing to meet his stated 5% of GDP defense-spending benchmark, calling Madrid's stance disrespectful to NATO.
• Trump said he will decide later on Ukraine’s requests for long-range weapons, including Tomahawk missiles, ahead of an Oct. 17 meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, and he asserted that Vladimir Putin wants the conflict resolved.
• After U.S. naval strikes on suspected drug-running boats near Venezuela, Trump said land targets are being considered, while lawmakers pressed the administration for legal justifications and details on the operations.
• Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth lauded Trump as a “president of peace” citing Gaza developments, and Trump said U.S. troops would not be required for Gaza arrangements.