Trump says US 'will retaliate' after three Americans killed in Syrian 'Islamic State attack'

Donald Trump announced that his domestic policy chief, Vince Haley, is prioritizing the construction of a triumphal arch in Washington DC, amidst rising concerns over an affordability crisis affecting millions of Americans. This revelation came during a White House holiday party, where Trump praised Haley's efforts despite criticism regarding the administration's focus on such projects over pressing economic issues.

The United States has eased sanctions on Belarus following the release of over 100 political prisoners, including notable figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova. This decision marks a significant diplomatic shift and reflects the outcome of negotiations between U.S. officials and Belarusian authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to abandon Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO during five hours of talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin, aiming to facilitate peace negotiations with Russia. This marks a significant shift for Ukraine, which has long sought NATO membership as a safeguard against Russian aggression.

President Donald Trump addressed the recent tragic events involving fatal shootings at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and Bondi Beach in Australia, as well as deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers in Syria. These incidents have raised significant concerns about public safety and military engagement abroad.

The United States has intensified its regime change campaign against Venezuela, as historian Alan McPherson discusses the ongoing military and economic pressures being applied to the country. Recent actions include the seizure of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, which is part of a broader strategy to undermine President Nicolás Maduro's government.

President Trump has claimed that the U.S. economy is thriving, yet data indicates a contrasting reality, with rising living costs impacting many Americans. This discrepancy raises questions about the actual state of economic growth under his administration.

The Syrian interior ministry confirmed that the gunman responsible for the deaths of three Americans in Palmyra was a member of the security forces, who was reportedly to be dismissed for extremism. The attack, described by the Syrian government as a terrorist act, resulted in the deaths of two U.S. troops and a civilian interpreter, with the assailant identified as an Islamic State militant who was subsequently killed.

Three Americans, including two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, were killed in an ambush by an Islamic State gunman in Palmyra, Syria. This incident marks the first U.S. casualties in the region since the fall of Bashar al-Assad a year ago, prompting President Donald Trump to vow retaliation against ISIL.