Trump calls Putin 'crazy,' warns of Russia's 'downfall'

Trump also criticized Ukraine's Zelenskyy for his comments on the war.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and David Brennan
Last Updated: May 25, 2025, 9:35 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Sunday agreed to delay the deadline for a 50% tariff on the European Union. The president also weighed in on Russia's escalated, overnight attacks on Ukraine while criticizing both Putin and Zelenskyy.

Trump also continued to criticize Harvard on Sunday, questioning the university's transparency and demanding that it reveal its international students' identities.

On Capitol Hill, the House this week passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" to fund Trump's domestic agenda. It now heads to the Senate, where it will likely be changed.

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May 19, 2025, 4:13 AM EDT

Vance, Rubio meet with Pope Leo XIV amid Ukraine-Russia diplomacy

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio entered a closed-door meeting with newly installed Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday.

The meeting with Leo, who has in the week since his election called for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, comes as the Trump administration begins another week of diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak later on Monday.

Rubio and Vance, who had on Sunday attended Leo’s inaugural mass, also met later in the day with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at Palazzo Chigi prior their meeting in Rome on May 18, 2025.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

Vance met with the pope’s predecessor, Francis, on the day before the pontiff died.

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