Local News
Timothy Mellon Contributes $130 Million to Pay the Salaries of American Soldiers
Washington: An anonymous benefactor has reportedly contributed $130 million to the U.S. Department of War to ensure that American soldiers continue receiving their salaries amid the ongoing government shutdown.
According to official confirmations, the donation was made to support the nation’s 1.32 million active-duty service members affected by the budget impasse. Former President Donald Trump noted that the contribution would assist in covering the pay of U.S. military personnel but declined to disclose the donor’s identity, describing him only as an American citizen and a strong supporter of his administration.
The government shutdown, now in its 25th day, has become the longest in U.S. history, affecting a wide range of federal operations.
A Pentagon spokesperson stated that the donation was accepted under the department’s General Gift Acceptance Authority, with the stipulation that the funds be used exclusively for military salaries and related benefits.
Foreign media outlets have reported that the contribution could provide approximately $100 per soldier.
Meanwhile, The New York Times has identified the donor as Timothy Mellon, a billionaire philanthropist and heir to one of America’s most influential families in the rail industry. According to Forbes, Mellon’s net worth is estimated at $15 billion. The Mellon family has long held a significant presence in U.S. business and politics and has reportedly donated $50 million to a political organization supporting former President Trump.
Local News
President Trump Halts All Trade Negotiations with Canada Following Reagan-Themed Ad Controversy
Washington:
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the immediate suspension of all ongoing trade negotiations with Canada, citing what he described as a “false and misleading” advertising campaign that misrepresented his administration’s trade policies.
According to President Trump, the decision came in direct response to a Canadian advertising campaign that used archival footage of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, in which Reagan appeared to speak against the imposition of tariffs on imported goods. The ad suggested that Trump’s tariff policies were contrary to Reagan’s free trade philosophy.
“Based on their highly reprehensible behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are being terminated immediately,” President Trump declared in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The advertisement reportedly drew significant attention in Washington. Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged earlier this week that the ad had reached the U.S. President’s desk. “I learned that the President saw our ad, and he probably wasn’t very happy with it,” Ford told reporters on Tuesday. The Reagan-themed commercial included clips of the former president warning that import tariffs lead to inflation, job losses, and trade wars — messages perceived as a direct critique of Trump’s economic stance.
President Trump has consistently defended the use of tariffs as a strategic economic tool to protect American industries and exert leverage in international trade negotiations. His administration’s tariff policies have resulted in the highest U.S. tariff rates since the 1930s, a move that has sparked both domestic and international criticism from business leaders and economists who warn of long-term economic repercussions.
In response to the U.S. decision, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed that Ottawa will defend its national economic interests, stating, “If ongoing trade negotiations with the United States fail, Canada will not allow unfair American access to its markets under any circumstances.”
This latest escalation marks a sharp setback in U.S.–Canada economic relations. Earlier this year, President Trump imposed heavy tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobile imports, prompting Ottawa to introduce retaliatory measures. Negotiations aimed at reaching a new trade framework for these sectors had been underway for several weeks but now appear to have been frozen indefinitely following the President’s announcement.
The abrupt halt in talks underscores the fragility of cross-border trade diplomacy and raises new concerns about the future of North American economic cooperation.