Trump Expresses Disappointment with Putin, Announces New Pardons and Policy Changes

Trump's Stance on the Ukraine War

• 😥 President Trump stated he is "very disappointed" with Russia's ongoing attacks in Ukraine.
• 🕊️ He reiterated his belief that the war would not have started if he were still president and expressed a desire to secure a deal to end the conflict.
• ⏳ When asked if Putin wants to end the war, Trump responded, "We'll know in two weeks," a timeline he has used previously.
• 🤝 Trump mentioned he was close to a deal and did not want to jeopardize it with further sanctions, and would consider meeting with Putin and Zelensky if necessary.

New Pardons and Sentence Commutations

• 📜 President Trump announced a new round of pardons and sentence commutations.
• 🏛️ Notable recipients include former New York Republican Congressman Michael Grim and a former Chicago gang leader.
• ⚖️ The President is also considering pardons for those charged in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, calling the trial a "railroad job."

Policy on International Students and Visa Restrictions

• 🎓 Trump addressed his legal fight with Harvard University, seeking lists of foreign students and their protest activity.
• 📊 He proposed capping international student acceptance rates at 15% to allow more American students into universities.
• 🚫 Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new policy restricting visas for foreign nationals found to be censoring online speech.

Capitol Police Morale and January 6th Pardons

• 👮‍♂️ The outgoing Chief of Capitol Police, Thomas Manger, expressed that pardons for January 6th rioters are a "slap in the face" to police officers.
• 📉 Manger stated these pardons have negatively impacted morale within the department.
• 🛡️ He highlighted his work in securing a larger budget and restoring manpower to the department post-January 6th.

New DC US Attorney Appointment

• 🎤 Janine Piro, a former Fox News personality, was sworn in as the new interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
• ⚖️ Piro intends to focus on violent crime and restoring quality of life in the city, adopting a "broken window" philosophy.
• 🔍 She is currently leading the investigation into the murders of two Israeli embassy officials.