Raw StoryFar Left
Karoline Leavitt sparks backlash over Trump's nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Saudi nuclear deal Thursday, claiming it prioritizes American companies and workers while putting "America first." When pressed about why Saudi Arabia receives a civilian nuclear deal and Iran doesn't, Leavitt stated the agreement "gives priority access for American companies and the Saudi nuclear energy program, which will ultimately benefit American industry workers and supply chain." Her remarks ignited social media backlash from political commentators and strategists."Remind me again of which government was known and found to have been associated with the 9/11 attacks? Oh! That’s right, Saudi Arabia. But yep it’s about ‘Murica 1st!" wrote Corbin Trent, a democratic strategist. He was the former communications director for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and a former member of Sen. Bernie Sanders' (D-VT) team. Trent now runs the Super PAC A Fight Worth Having. Similarly, progressive political commentator Sarah Larchmont posted, "15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia? As was the mastermind, Osama bin Laden." Jim Stewartson, writer and political commentator, referenced the 2018 murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi operatives. "Saudi Arabia flew planes into American buildings on 9/11 and chopped up a journalist they didn’t like," he wrote."A $1B Trump complex is not putting America first," Political scientist Natascha Dea Burdeinei posted on X. "Anything that prioritizes a Trump or billionaire pocket over the security and wellbeing of the American people is not America first." Watch the video below. Your browser does not support the video tag.
Read at Raw Story →The New RepublicLeft
Trump Rushes to Convince People Saudi Arabia Nuclear Deal Is Great
President Donald Trump is desperate to sell Americans on his landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that would loosen restrictions for the close U.S. partner. In a post on Truth Social Thursday, Trump declared that there would be “no enrichment of material” as part of his nascent nuclear deal, which would allow U.S. companies to make billions building and running nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia.But surprise, surprise: That’s not the whole story.The United States has offered Saudi Arabia a special deal that is reportedly far less restrictive than other agreements under Article 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954—namely, this deal leaves the door open for enrichment down the line. The Saudi agreement reportedly states that the two countries will conduct a two-year fuel-cycle study on the economic feasibility of domestic enrichment in Saudi Arabia. If, after the study, the two sides agree that it’s feasible, then the U.S. would build an enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. If not, Saudi Arabia would not be allowed to build its own domestic enrichment for 10 years, while blocking Saudi access to sensitive technology. If approved, the decision on whether to build would be made in two years—when Trump is still president. Trump also claimed in his post that the agreement would require Saudi Arabia to agree to join the Abraham Accords.Initial reporting about the deal suggested that the agreement would not require Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel. Unsurprisingly, Israel has voiced strong concerns about its closest ally cutting a deal with its enemy. There are other reasons to be concerned about Trump’s deal. The president’s mishandling of nuclear negotiations is well documented, including his decision to detonate the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal struck by President Barack Obama, and the careless wording of last month’s memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which shortly afterward crumbled in the Strait of Hormuz.
Read at The New Republic →AxiosCenter Left
Trump says Saudi nuclear deal bars enrichment, requires Israel normalization
President Trump claimed Thursday the new nuclear deal the U.S. signed with Saudi Arabia will not include uranium enrichment and requires the kingdom normalize its relations with Israel.Why it matters: Trump is responding to two of the bigger criticisms of the deal: that it could open the door to nuclear enrichment and that Washington gave up leverage to push a peace deal with Israel.What he is saying: "The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump wrote on Truth Social.Driving the news: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the deal Wednesday in Washington after more than a year of negotiations. The agreement stipulates that American companies will help Saudi Arabia develop its civilian nuclear program. Yes, but: The Wall Street Journal reported that the agreement also includes a joint U.S.–Saudi study on possible future uranium enrichment in the country. The agreement doesn't require Saudi Arabia sign a separate International Atomic Energy Agency protocol allowing snap inspections by UN inspectors. The Energy Department said the agreement includes a bilateral U.S.–Saudi "safeguards agreement" that will prevent Saudi Arabia from using its nuclear program for anything other than peaceful purposes. "Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation," Secretary Wright said.The big picture: The nuclear negotiations began under the Biden administration as part of a broader deal that included a U.S.–Saudi defense treaty and required Saudi Arabia sign a peace deal with Israel. The current agreement was signed separately from any Saudi–Israeli peace deal, and there is no indication its text formally links the two. Critics argue that Trump lost some of the leverage he had to push the Saudis towards normalization with Israel.The Saudis themselves say they will not normalize relations with Israel without the Israeli government agreeing to an "irreversible and time-bound path" for a Palestinian state.
Read at Axios →NBC News PoliticsCenter Left
White House says Saudi Arabia nuclear deal contingent on joining Abraham Accords
During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed a social media post from President Trump that said any nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia would be contingent on them joining the Abraham Accords. NBC News' Monica Alba reports from the White House on the potential deal and the White House's approach.
Read at NBC News Politics →US news | The GuardianCenter Left
Why would Trump agree to the absurd Saudi nuclear deal? | Kenneth Roth
The agreement offers the Saudis the same options Trump has sworn Iran will never haveThe stark contrast between Donald Trump’s nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia and his nuclear demands for Iran would be comical if not so tragic. Trump has handed the Saudis the same nuclear options he swore Iran would never have.To make matters worse, Trump seems to have offered the Saudis this sweetheart deal to make amends for his disastrous war of choice with Iran. Meanwhile, he continues to bomb Iran in a push to open the strait of Hormuz, which was not closed until Trump launched his counterproductive war. Continue reading...
Read at US news | The Guardian →TIMECenter Left
U.S. Reaches Landmark Nuclear Deal With Saudi Arabia
The deal has elicited criticism over its potential to fuel an arms race in the Middle East.
Read at TIME →NYT > U.S. > PoliticsCenter Left
With Saudi Deal, Trump Loosens Nuclear Standards for One Close Ally
Nuclear experts say it throws fuel on the smoldering fire of atomic proliferation, creating a destabilizing situation that could raise the risk of nuclear war.
Read at NYT > U.S. > Politics →News and Politics - Slate MagazineLeft
Trump’s Saudi Nuclear Deal Reversal Is Right in Line With the Rest of His Foreign Policy
The one constant is chaos, uncertainty, and unreliability.
Read at News and Politics - Slate Magazine →