1 month ago
1
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a breakthrough two-hour call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, paving the way for immediate Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, with the Vatican offering to host negotiations.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Pope Leo XIV, and European Union (EU) leaders.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
📍Where & When: President Trump made his announcement on Truth Social on May 19, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
⚠️ Impact: Trump’s diplomatic masterstroke sets the stage for peace, leveraging U.S. influence to end a bloody conflict while opening trade opportunities, reinforcing his America First vision.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump has announced what may be a significant step toward ending the Ukraine war after a two-hour call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” with the Vatican, under Pope Leo XIV, offering to host the talks.
“The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent,” Trump wrote. He stressed that Russia seeks “largescale TRADE with the United States” post-conflict, envisioning “massive amounts of jobs and wealth” for Russia and trade benefits for Ukraine during its rebuilding.
Trump said he had informed key leaders, mentioning Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb—but not Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The Vatican’s role as a neutral host, proposed by Pope Leo XIV, could add moral weight to the proposed negotiations. However, Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Eastern Orthodox rather than Catholic.
President Trump’s announcement comes as the Ukraine war, now in its third year, is estimated to have claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions, per United Nations (UN) estimates. Trump’s intervention contrasts with the Biden government’s prolonged support for the Ukrainian war effort, despite no signs of significant Ukrainian progress after 2022, prolonging the killing despite no obvious path to victory for Ukraine.
By contrast, Trump’s focus on immediate talks and trade-driven rebuilding positions the U.S. to break the impasse between Russia and Ukraine and end the “catastrophic bloodbath.”
READ:
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump questioned whether Kamala Harris paid entertainment elites for endorsements during her 2024 campaign.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Kamala Harris, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, and Tyler Perry.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
📍 Where & When: Trump made the statement on Truth Social on Monday, May 19, 2025; celebrity endorsements occurred during Harris’s 2024 campaign rallies in various locations, including Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas.
💬 Key Quote: “BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, OPRAH, BONO AND, PERHAPS, MANY OTHERS, HAVE A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO!!!” — President Trump.
⚠️ Impact: Trump’s comments raise questions about potential election law violations and the role of celebrity influence in political campaigns.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump has raised concerns over whether Kamala Harris compensated entertainment elites for their endorsements during her struggling 2024 presidential campaign. In a post on Truth Social on Monday morning, Trump raised the possibility, suggesting a potential investigation into whether election laws were violated.
“According to news reports, Beyoncé was paid $11,000,000 to walk onto a stage, quickly ENDORSE KAMALA, and walk off to loud booing for never having performed, NOT EVEN ONE SONG!” Trump wrote, continuing: “Remember, the Democrats and Kamala illegally paid her millions of Dollars for doing nothing other than giving Kamala a full throated ENDORSEMENT.”
He added: “THIS IS AN ILLEGAL ELECTION SCAM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL! IT IS AN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION! BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, OPRAH, BONO AND, PERHAPS, MANY OTHERS, HAVE A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO!!!”
The President’s accusations come amid renewed attacks from Bruce Springsteen, who drew Trump’s ire last week. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Springsteen announced his support for Harris, stating, “Donald Trump is the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime.”
At a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris received backing from a host of Hollywood stars, including Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, and Tyler Perry. Meanwhile, pop icon Beyoncé Knowles-Carter endorsed Harris during a rally in Houston, Texas, focusing her remarks on abortion.
“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” Beyoncé stated. “Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations.”
Trump’s Truth Social post suggests he believes these endorsements may warrant scrutiny under election law. Notably, campaign finance records indicate that the Harris campaign paid at least $1 million to Oprah‘s production company. This payment was supposedly in exchange for the company’s assistance with the “United for America” livestream rally featuring numerous celebrities and endorsements in September 2024.
show less
English (US) ·