Wang Yi to Lead UN Security Council Meeting and Visit Canada Amid Improving China-Canada Relations 
Rubio, Jaishankar Discuss Iran Crisis, Trade, and Energy Security During Key U.S.-India Talks 
Rubio Pressures NATO Allies as Trump Questions Alliance Commitment 
Chicago U.S. Attorney Drops Charges Against Broadview Protest Defendants 
White House Shooting Reports Prompt Major Security Response in Washington, D.C. 
Iran-U.S. Talks Continue as Strait of Hormuz and Uranium Dispute Stall Peace Efforts 
Rubio Says NATO Must Benefit All Members Ahead of Sweden Meeting 
Taiwan Says No Notice of U.S. Arms Sales Pause Amid Iran Conflict Concerns 
U.S. Military Drill Over Caracas Raises Tensions in Venezuela 
Mexico-EU Free Trade Deal Signals Strategic Shift Away From U.S. Dependence 
Iran Pushes Nationalist Propaganda as Economic Crisis and War Deepen 
Trump Sends 5,000 Additional U.S. Troops to Poland Ahead of NATO Talks on Iran War 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Refugee Camp Kills Infant and Parents Amid Fragile Ceasefire 
Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Strike on Kyiv Amid Oreshnik Threat 
House Republicans Delay Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution Amid Growing Congressional Debate 
Marco Rubio Visits India to Rebuild U.S.-India Ties Amid Trade and Geopolitical Tensions 
Trump-China Summit Yields Limited Progress on Trade and Tech Cooperation 
Barack Obama rarely comments on actions taken by Donald Trump, and when he does, the former United States president rarely mentions his successor by name. However, there are several telling hints that Obama’s tweet on Monday was directed at Trump’s criticizing his responses to a global pandemic and climate change.
Barack Obama criticizes ‘those who denied warnings’ on COVID-19 pandemic
Obama shared an article on Twitter about Trump’s admin plan to rollback a 2012 policy on fuel-efficiency standards. Adding his comments to the post, Obama wrote, “We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic. We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial.”
We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic. We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall. https://t.co/K8Ucu7iVDK
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 31, 2020
Trump’s comments on the coronavirus over the previous months have been under scrutiny. His critics claim that the admin dismissed the threats of the virus, citing statements like the one in early February when he said, “I think the virus is going to be — it’s going to be fine.” Trump denied downplaying the pandemic and blamed the media for causing panic in a March 30 press briefing.
Meanwhile, some Twitter users backed Trump by suggesting that Obama’s response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was not the best either. Others also called out the former president for allegedly using the coronavirus crisis to promote climate change “agenda.”
The news, which sparked Obama’s swipe at his successor, is about Trump’s efforts to relax the Obama-era fuel-efficiency standards imposed on automobile companies. The current admin’s policy would lower car companies’ required average miles per gallon to 40 mpg by 2025 instead of 54 mpg.
Fuel economy standards would then have to improve by only 1.5 percent annually, instead of the 5 percent requirement in Obama’s 2012 policy. The New York Times reports Trump’s version could lead to “a billion more tons” of carbon dioxide emissions.
Barack Obama hails medical professionals, other frontline workers
In previous days, Obama has dedicated his Twitter feed to recognize medical professionals, essential workers, truckers, and ordinary people, making an effort to help others amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “During this crisis, our grocery store clerks, delivery drivers, transit and utility workers—along with so many others—have been selflessly getting up every day to make sure we have the things we need,” Obama tweeted last Friday.
