President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that US negotiators had “very good” discussions with an Iranian delegation over the weekend, as he pursues a deal to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. “I think we could have some good news on the Iran front,” Trump told reporters at the Morristown, New Jersey, airport while preparing to return to Washington after a weekend at his Bedminster golf club.
Trump indicated that significant progress had been made, though he did not provide further details on the talks in Rome between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and an Iranian delegation. “I don’t know if I’ll be telling you anything good or bad over the next two days, but I have a feeling I might be telling you something good,” he remarked.
EU Tariff Deadline Extended to July 9
On Sunday, Trump also receded from his earlier threat to impose 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union next month. He agreed to extend the deadline until July 9 to allow for further talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to reach an agreement. Trump had stated on Friday that he was recommending a 50% tariff be implemented on June 1 due to frustration over the slow pace of negotiations with the EU. This threat had unsettled global financial markets and intensified a trade war characterized by frequent shifts in tariff policies towards US trading partners and allies.
Trump, who has often voiced his displeasure with the EU’s trade practices concerning the United States, conceded after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed him on Sunday that the EU required more time to finalize an agreement. During a phone call, she requested a delay in the tariffs until July, which was the original deadline Trump had set when he announced new tariffs in April. Trump confirmed to reporters that he had granted this request. “We had a very nice call, and I agreed to move it,” Trump said before returning to Washington after his weekend in New Jersey. “She said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out.” Von der Leyen posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she had a “good call” with Trump and that the EU was prepared to advance talks swiftly.
“Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively,” she stated. “To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9.” Following the deadline extension, the euro and US dollar strengthened against the safe-haven yen and Swiss franc. In early April, Trump had established a 90-day window for trade talks between the EU and the United States, set to conclude on July 9. However, on Friday, he abruptly altered that timeline and expressed no interest in a deal, stating, “I’m not looking for a deal. We’ve set the deal – it’s at 50%.” This pronouncement led to declines in major US stock indexes and European shares, and a weakening of the dollar.
Trump has consistently aimed to disrupt the global economy with his trade policies. However, after his April announcement of tariffs on multiple countries triggered significant financial market upheaval, he tempered his threats in favor of renewed discussions. Since then, Washington has signed a pact with Britain and engaged in discussions with China. Nevertheless, progress with the European Union has been more limited, fueling Trump’s irritation and contributing to broader tensions between the two allies over Trump’s “America First” agenda and Europe’s historical reliance on Washington for security and defense needs.
Trump Expresses Displeasure with Putin Over Ukraine Bombings
Donald Trump also voiced profound unhappiness regarding Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, stating of Russian President Vladimir Putin, “I’m not happy with Putin.” “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,” Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, before departing for Washington. Trump’s comments came in response to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles launched at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv. This marked the largest aerial attack of the war to date, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
Trump has been actively seeking to mediate a ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict in Ukraine and had spoken with Putin for over two hours last week. He hinted at the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to the ongoing attacks. “Always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump remarked.
