International
Key witness involves Trump in efforts not to be harmed in the elections
The former editor of the American tabloid The National Enquirer, David Pecker, confirmed in a New York court his link with former President Donald Trump in 2016 to hide “embarrassing stories” that could involve the Republican politician and harm him in the elections.
“I wanted to protect my company, myself and also Donald Trump,” said who was also an executive of the media conglomerate America Media Inc. and who goes to court as a witness.
With the help of Pecker and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump is accused of falsifying accounting records to pay for a “criminal plot” that would have bought the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels. In addition to that of model Karen McDougal, preventing her alleged love affairs with him from coming to light.
The deal (a practice known as ‘catch and kill’) consisted of acquiring the rights to these stories supposedly to be published in that tabloid, but with the real purpose of leaving them ‘forgoten’ in a drawer.
Something that Pecker acknowledged having done in McDougal’s case, with the payment of $150,000 that would then have to be reimbursed by the Trump Organization. But not in the case of Daniels.
“The boss (Trump, according to Pecker) is going to get very nervous, Cohen told me (…). I assumed that this concern was due to its impact on the campaign,” recalled the media tycoon, who said he had refused to buy the porn actress’s exclusive because he did not want it to affect “the reputation” of the tabloid.
Dozens of bills, checks, letters or emails were brought up by the Prosecutor’s Office while Trump remained impassive from the dock.
His gesture barely soured on a couple of occasions. One of them, when Pecker recalled how the negotiation was with McDougal who, according to his version, feared that the agreement would be leaked.
“I really didn’t want to become the new Monica Lewinsky,” she added.
Pecker mentioned different calls with Trump during 2016 in which his mood varied as media such as The Wall Street Journal or the New York Post learned about the agreement that the former president had with The National Enquirer.
“He called me very upset asking how he could have happened and saying that he thought he had everything under control. That call ended without being said goodbye,” the then editor explained.
However, Pecker stated that, despite not having been in contact since 2019, he still considers Trump “someone close”: “I still consider him a friend,” he said.
Before reaching the court, Trump was in a campaign event with approximately thirty followers from a new construction site in Manhattan. There, Trump defined Pecker as “good people.”
This opinion was considered by the Prosecutor’s Office as a new violation of the gag order that weighs on the former president. This prevents him from publicly referring, among others, to witnesses, jury members and court workers.
International
Javier Milei vows to work ‘side by side’ with the U.S. on trade rules
Determined to work “side by side” with the United States, Argentine President Javier Milei announced in Mar-a-Lagothat his government will modify trade regulations to meet the requirements of Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs.
Milei arrived in Florida amid the trade war triggered by the latest round of tariff hikes announced by the Republican leader. While many countries are considering retaliation, Milei’s ultraliberal Argentina has opted to adapt instead.
“Argentina will move forward in adjusting its regulations to comply with the reciprocal tariff proposal drafted by President Trump,” Milei stated at the Gala of American Patriots, organized by the Make America Clean Again (MACA) Foundation and the We Fund the Blue NGO, according to his office.
He further explained that Argentina has already met nine out of the 16 necessary requirements and has instructed his administration to comply with the remaining ones in order to resolve trade asymmetries with the U.S. in a short time frame.
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal
Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders
President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
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