United States | DD News

April 29, 2026 3:18 PM

Trump approval sinks to new low as war with Iran drives cost-of-living concern

President Donald Trump's approval rating sank to the lowest level of his current term, as Americans increasingly soured on his handling of the cost of living and an unpopular war with Iran, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The four-day poll completed on Monday showed 34% of Americans approve of Trump's performance in the White House, down from 36% in a prior Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was conducted from April 15 to 20. The majority of responses were gathered prior to the Saturday night ...

April 29, 2026 3:15 PM

US imposes sanctions on 35 individuals, entities for aiding Iran’s sanctions evasions

The U.S. government ratcheted up pressure on Tehran on Tuesday, imposing sanctions on 35 entities and individuals for their roles in Iran's shadow banking sector, and threatened sanctions against banks doing business with Chinese "teapot" refineries that it said are paying tolls for shipments to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said the designated individuals and firms had facilitated the movement of the equivalent of tens of billions of dol...

April 29, 2026 3:12 PM

US mandates what it calls ‘enhanced’ security checks for immigration applicants

President Donald Trump's administration has mandated what it calls "enhanced" security checks for immigration applicants, according to internal guidance sent to the employees of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Internal guidance by USCIS directed officers to refrain from approving any pending cases that have not undergone the expanded background checks. The guidance was first reported by CBS News. "Effective April 27, 2026, US...

April 29, 2026 3:07 PM

US spy agencies examine how Iran would react to Trump declaring victory

U.S. intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war that has killed thousands and become a political liability for the White House, two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the matter said. The intelligence community is analyzing the question along with others at the request of senior administration officials. The goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a...

April 29, 2026 2:59 PM

EXPLAINER-What is OPEC+ and how does it affect oil prices?

The United Arab Emirates, one of OPEC+'s largest producers, will leave the oil producers' alliance on May 1, it said on Tuesday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, including Russia, are known collectively as OPEC+. Last year, the group produced nearly 50% of the world's oil and oil liquids, according to International Energy Agency estimates. The UAE is the fourth largest producer in OPEC+. Below are facts about OPEC+ and its role. WHAT ARE OPEC AND OPEC+? OPEC ...

April 29, 2026 2:59 PM

None more deserving of FIFA Peace Prize than Trump, says White House

The White House has hit back at critics of Donald Trump being awarded the FIFA Peace Prize, saying there is none more deserving than the U.S. president. Global soccer governing body FIFA gave Trump the inaugural award at the World Cup draw in December for "promoting peace and unity around the world", triggering condemnation from human rights groups and activists in the lead-up to the World Cup. Australian soccer player Jackson Irvine said this week that giving the award to Trump made a mockery...

April 29, 2026 2:59 PM

Trump hits back at German chancellor after Iran criticism

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran on Tuesday, a day after Merz said the Iranians were humiliating the United States in talks to end it. "The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, mischaracterizing Merz's position. Merz has said Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. Merz said on Monday that Iran's leaders...

April 28, 2026 10:32 PM

Iran’s Guards seize wartime power, blunting Supreme Leader’s role

Two months into a war with the U.S. and Israel, Iran no longer has a single, undisputed clerical arbiter at the pinnacle of power — an abrupt break with the past that may be hardening Tehran’s stance as it weighs renewed talks with Washington. Since its creation in 1979, the Islamic Republic has revolved around a supreme leader with final authority on all key matters of state. But the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, and the elevation of his wounded son, Mojtab...

April 28, 2026 10:30 PM

Trump says Iran wants US to open Hormuz Strait as soon as possible

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran has said it was in a state of collapse and wants the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz while it sorts out its leadership. It was not clear from Trump's social media post how Iran had communicated that message and no immediate comment from Iran was available. "Iran has just informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situatio...

April 28, 2026 10:28 PM

Trump says Iran has told him it is in a ‘state of collapse’

Donald Trump said Iran had informed him it was in a "state of collapse" and was figuring out its leadership situation, as efforts to end the conflict appeared at an impasse on Tuesday with the U.S. president unhappy at the latest plans from Tehran. Iran's most recent proposal on resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and disputes over shipping from the Gulf resolved. Trump wants nuclear issues dealt with from the outset,...