Is there a direct link between what US President Donald Trump says and what Russian President Vladimir Putin does? Certainly, the harsh words and bitter violence of recent days in Ukraine suggest the answer is maybe.

Trump’s decision to help Ukraine fight an onslaught of Russian attacks reverses a Pentagon decision to withhold defensive weapons.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he planned to hit Brazil with a 50% tariff, in part due to the treatment of its former president and his political ally, Jair Bolsonaro.

Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian goods, escalating a feud over Brazil’s prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil vowed to retaliate.

"Any measure to unilaterally raise tariffs will be responded to in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law," Lula's office said in a statement. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Writing by Isabel Teles;

In May, the president pulled his nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman for the position days before his Senate vote.

Trump's top trade negotiators have pushed deadlines and sent tariff letters after failing to reach Trump's 90 trade deals in 90 days target.

President Trump notified more than a dozen nations on Monday about new tariffs set to take effect on Aug. 1. However, Mr. Trump told CBS News' Ed O'Keefe that the new deadline is "firm, but not 100% firm,

President Donald Trump has sent out a new round of tariff threats ahead of his latest implementation deadline. After sending out 10 letters on Monday, Trump added seven more on Wednesday, which was supposed to be the implementation deadline for “Liberation Day” tariffs.