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Donald Trump

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Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, became the 45th president of the United States in 2017, after he defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the general election of 2016. His unpredictable tenure saw the beginning of a trade war between the US and China. The trade war persisted after he left office following a 2020 defeat to Joe Biden. In 2024 he mounted a third campaign, defeating Biden's then-VP, Kamala Harris, to earn a second term as president.
Born
14 Jun 1946
Industry
Politics
Job Title
45th President of the United States of America
An explosion lights up the sky over Kyiv during a Russian missile and drone strike on Saturday, Photo: . Reuters
Ukraine war

Zelensky says Kyiv strike proves Russia does ‘not want to end war’

Moscow hit the Ukrainian capital with nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles a day ahead of US-Ukraine talks, leaving a third of Kyiv without heat.

SCMP Highlights

Open Questions | How Trump ‘stunned’ China; ‘Western hegemony is over’: 12 interviews from 2025

Malaysia

Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025

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Ukraine war

Trump says Zelensky ‘doesn’t have anything until I approve it’ ahead of talks

The two leaders are expected to discuss issues like the future of the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

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Ukrainian service members fire a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launch system towards Russian troops in the Donetsk region on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Islamic State

Trump says he ordered Nigeria strike delay to ‘give a Christmas present’

‘They were going to ‍do it earlier,’ Trump said of Thursday’s strike targeting ⁠Islamic State militants, adding ‘we hit them hard’.

Venezuela

Venezuela ‘frees 99 prisoners’ detained after 2024 election protests

Rights groups said the number released ‘does not correspond to reality’ despite growing pressure from Washington on President Maduro.

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US-China relations

Deal breaker? Record Taiwan arms deal complicates Trump’s 2026 Beijing visit

The US defends new arms sales and urges ‘meaningful’ dialogue, but analysts warn the deepening rift risks hollowing out the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit next year.

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An Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, a long-range guided weapon fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), shown during a military display. Photo: Handout
Israel

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland enrages Somalia, African Union

Several other countries also condemned Israel’s decision and Trump stated his opposition to US recognition of the breakaway state.

Ukraine war

Zelensky brings ‘90% ready’ peace plan to Trump in Florida

Leaders will discuss security guarantees and a 20-point plan on Sunday, even as conflicting demands over territory persist.

China-Latin America relations

Trump’s Venezuela gambit: power play with eye on China or weakness?

Hesitation does not equal lack of courage, observers caution, citing legal and domestic constraints and a likely pivot to ‘risk avoidance’.

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US forces have reportedly been ordered to enforce a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil, targeting all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving the country. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

Is China quietly preparing cargo ships to transform into military vessels?

Containers bear the words ‘plan for the maritime revival of the Chinese nation and the community of shared future for mankind in the ocean’.

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Images of a cargo ship in Shanghai carrying containerised vertical launchers, sensors and self defence systems have gone viral online. Photo: Wexin
Banking & finance

Opinion | To harness crypto ingenuity, financial threat must first be neutralised

Future of money must be shaped by competition between private ingenuity and public purpose, not by rent seeking and speculative bubbles.

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India

Indian rice could become costlier for US amid Trump’s tariff threat

Experts warn of wider repercussions, including efforts by importers to divert shipments and renewed strain in US-India trade talks.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Outside In | As the US pursues unilateralism, China faces challenging task as Apec host

China’s return as Apec chair is an opportunity to show that both the organisation and its message of multilateralism are as relevant as ever.

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US President Donald Trump, left, and President Xi Jinping speak as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: Reuters
Open Questions series

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on Europe’s ‘China shock’, US snub

China’s challenge to Europe’s industrial might and the end of coalition with US has plunged continent into crisis. Can it recover, asks Bulgarian expert Ivan Krastev.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
North Korea

‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine

The unprecedented transparency from the normally secretive country shows a shift in North Korean defence strategy, analysts say.

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Africa

US launches strike on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, Trump says

US strikes targeting militants were carried out in cooperation with the Nigerian government.

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US-China relations

Will Trump’s battleship plan deter China or is it just a pipe dream?

Donald Trump unveils new class of ship meant to ‘inspire fear in America’s enemies’, but analysts say the initiative faces huge hurdles.

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US President Donald Trump announces plans for a new class of warships bearing his name at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday. Photo: AFP
Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel takes aim at Trump in ‘alternative Christmas message’ to UK

Talk show host and Trump foe Kimmel tells UK TV that ‘tyranny is booming’ in the US.

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Banking & finance

Macroscope | Why Wall Street remains bullish on China amid economic slowdown

Just because fund managers were too bearish on China doesn’t mean their concerns were misplaced – economic fundamentals matter.

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South Korea

Coupang’s massive data leak probe ignites US-Seoul diplomatic firestorm

Some Republicans said Seoul’s investigation into the e-commerce firm was an attempt to favour China.

A worker drives a delivery truck of South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang in Seoul. Photo: AFP
Gold in Hong Kong

Golden era: prices surge as rally on track for US$5,000 in 2026, analysts say

Rate cuts, geopolitical tensions and central banks’ buying spree push gold prices up by 72 per cent in 2025 – the biggest annual jump ever.

Gold prices break through the US$4,500-per-ounce mark for the first time. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

How Beijing’s strategy shift explains decreased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait

PLA warplanes and ships have been less active around the island in the second half of the year, Taiwanese data shows.

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Americas and the Caribbean

Trump-backed Asfura declared winner of Honduras presidential election

The vote count took weeks, fuelling international concern and doubts about the Latin American country’s fragile electoral system.

Diplomacy

Opinion | Seoul holds the key to US-North Korea denuclearisation talks

South Korea is taking steps to cool tensions – from moving to opening joint military drills to consultations to easing up on immediate denuclearisation demands.

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President Donald Trump with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at a dinner event in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 29. Photo: AP
Sexual harassment and assault

Trump’s Justice Department says may have found a million more Epstein files

After missing the deadline for releasing Epstein-related records, the US Justice Department says it may need a ‘few more weeks’.

A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol in Washington in November. Photo: AFP
Stephen Colbert

Trump hits out at ‘dead man walking’ Colbert in late-night blast

US president calls on CBS to ‘put to sleep’ Stephen Colbert’s show now, before its scheduled end in May 2026.

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European Union

Explainer | Trump vs EU: the European laws curbing big tech and irking US

The US is challenging EU digital regulations, accusing them of censorship and targeting American tech firms.

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