September Storms

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Politics U.S.

By James Oliphant, national political correspondent

Labor Day in the United States marks the unofficial end of summer, when people ideally return from vacation refreshed for a busy autumn. Not President Donald Trump - he refused to take one.

But can you really blame him? After he wasn't seen in public for several days, certain corners of the internet became convinced Trump was dead or dying, sparking a flurry of online sleuthing as the chatter gained steam.

Latest U.S. politics headlines

A Laborious September

Granted, because details about the health of his predecessor, Joe Biden, were kept from the public, the conditions might have been right for some skepticism. But I found myself informing friends last weekend that not only was Trump still with us, he was, according to official accounts, golfing.

At one point over the weekend, Trump felt the need to declare on social media that he has "NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.".

That's good because Trump's September plate is more than full – it's an all-you-can-eat buffet. He will be dealing with possible turning points in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza; the potential fate of his tariff program; a United Nations address; a trip to Britain and the threat of a federal government shutdown.

First, Russia. Trump said on Wednesday he planned to hold further talks with Ukraine and other European allies after weeks of threatening to impose new sanctions on Moscow if President Vladimir Putin doesn't seek peace. (And it doesn't sound like Putin is much interested in talking.)

But as has been Trump's practice, he was noncommittal about what he might do or when he might do it.

As a counterweight to Trump's efforts, Putin flaunted his ties with China and North Korea by appearing at a massive military parade in Beijing intended to show off China's rise as a global superpower. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bid to draw India – stung by Trump's tariffs – closer to their diplomatic orbit.

Later this month, Trump will address a potentially hostile U.N. amid a push by allies such as France and Saudi Arabia to recognize a Palestinian state and support a two-state plan in the region in the hope it would help bring an end to the war in Gaza. The U.S. opposes the effort. Trump's speech on September 23 will be closely watched for guidance on how he views his country's role in the world.

Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday for an expedited appeal after a court struck down his "Liberation Day" tariffs, which he views as cornerstones of his economic policy. His appeal faces a tough legal road.

Trump has had a lousy September in court already. On Wednesday, a federal appeals panel blocked his use of an obscure 18th century law to deport alleged gang members from Venezuela. Another judge held that the administration unlawfully terminated $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard University.

The day before, a federal judge ruled his deployment of the military to fight crime in California in June was illegal even as he muses about sending troops to other U.S. cities such as Chicago and New Orleans.

Trump also must work with leaders of Congress to fund the government and avert a federal shutdown by the end of September, with Democrats unhappy that the administration has refused to spend money that already has been allocated.

Before his UN address, Trump will make a quick state visit to Britain as a guest of King Charles, where he may face the same unfriendly reception from Britons that his vice president, JD Vance, received last month when vacationing in England.

See? Take it from Trump. Don't bother with vacations. They're more trouble than they're worth.

About half of Republicans think the president should lead with little interference

Do you agree or disagree with the following: The country is in a crisis and needs a strong president who should be allowed to rule without too much interference from courts and Congress.

Follow Reuters/Ipsos polling on the president's approval ratings here.

The view from Beijing

Putin and Xi are apparently interested in being thorns in the side of the United States for a long time. As the two leaders met in Beijing this week, they were overheard on a hot mic discussing biotechnology, organ transplants and the prospect of human immortality. (That seems like a conversation Trump would want to be a part of.)

Photo of the week

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after being asked about reports of his death during an event to announce that the Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

What to watch for

September 16-18: Trump travels to Britain for a state visit
September 23: Trump to speak at the U. N. General Assembly in New York
September 30: Deadline to avoid partial government shutdown

The who, what and when

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