NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Israel Says It's Ready to Strike Iran's Critical Infrastructure

Warner Bros. Shareholders Approve Paramount Merger

LA County McDonald’s Serves as TV Commercial Set

Colorful Florals Draw Visitors to Dutch Botanical Garden

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

Iris Tao is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. Prior to her work at the White House, Iris reported on U.S. politics and U.S.–China relations from NTD’s New York headquarters. She holds degrees in journalism and economics from Boston University.

Iris Tao

Business News

Trump Extends Jones Act Waiver for 90 Days to Ease Energy Crunch

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

Indictment Shows ‘SPLC Became the Real Source of Hatred’: Analyst

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Audrey is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times.


Audrey Simons

US News

Former North Carolina Police Officer Arrested for Alleged New Orleans Festival Mass Shooting Plot

Rachel Acenas is an experienced journalist and TV news reporter and anchor covering breaking stories and contributing original news content for NTD's digital team.

Rachel Acenas

Politics

Donald Trump

DOJ Drops Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell

EU Approves $106 Billion Ukraine Loan Package

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 24)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 23)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 22)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 21)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 20)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 17)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 16)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 15)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 14)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (April 13)

Naveen Athrappully is a news reporter covering business and world events at The Epoch Times.


Naveen Athrappully

Science &amp; Tech

FBI Issues Public Alert on Americans Using Foreign Apps

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

China News

China Hits Back at US Over Investigation That Could Trigger Higher Tariffs

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

FBI Warns Americans About Safety Risks When Traveling to China

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Army Chief of Staff Steps Down

US Issues Shelter-In-Place Order for Americans in Bahrain

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Secret Service Says Gunfire Reported Near White House Overnight

US Fighter Jets Intercept Civilian Aircraft Flying Near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the White House on April 17, with both leaders signaling confidence that a trade deal will emerge with the European Union (EU).

Trump said he has “very little problem making a deal with Europe, or anybody else, because [the United States has] something that everybody wants.”

He dismissed concerns about China’s escalation of tariffs with the United States and attempts to win over trade partners in the ongoing trade dispute.

“Nobody can compete with us, nobody,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to make a very good deal with China.”

Meloni is expected to play a significant role in calming trade tensions between the United States and the EU.

“I'm sure we can make a deal, and I'm here to help on that,” she told reporters before the two leaders entered the Oval Office for further discussions.

The president praised the Italian prime minister, saying: “She’s doing a fantastic job in Italy. We’re very proud of her.”

Both leaders expressed optimism after the conclusion of their meeting. They took questions from reporters in the Oval Office, where Meloni thanked Trump for accepting an official visit to Italy “in the near future.”

She said she and Trump have the same views on the “fight against woke and DEI ideology” as well as illegal immigration.

“The goal for me is to make the West great again, and I think we can do it together," Meloni said.

She also pledged to boost liquefied natural gas imports from the United States.

During a call on April 17 previewing the meeting, a White House official told reporters that the president expects Italy and all other EU countries to do their part to be good trade partners with the United States.

"This visit is not just based on the strong bilateral relationship between [the] United States and Italy ... but also on Meloni's role as a key force in Europe and a voice that largely sees eye to eye with the president on a lot of issues like immigration and the war in Ukraine," the official said.

"I think she's increasingly playing that role in the European Union. I think a lot of other states are grateful for her leadership. ... We certainly see her as a valuable interlocutor."

In 2024, the United States had a trade deficit of $235.6 billion with the European bloc, a 13 percent year-over-year increase.

On April 2, Trump announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on nearly every country. He added higher, reciprocal tariffs on a number of key trading partners who made the “worst offenders” list. The list included the EU (20 percent), Japan (24 percent), Taiwan (32 percent), and South Korea (25 percent).

Soon after, Trump introduced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs for countries that expressed a willingness to enter negotiations, although the 10 percent baseline tariff remains in effect.

The EU is currently facing three different U.S. tariffs—a 25 percent duty on automobiles, a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum, and the across-the-board 10 percent tariff.

The European products <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/4/europes-banks-brace-for-loan-losses-lower-profits-amid-tariff-tensions-88343972" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">most affected</a> by these high tariffs are medical and pharmaceutical products, motor vehicles, and other machinery goods. Germany, Ireland, and Italy had by far the highest trade surplus with the United States in 2024 compared with other EU countries.

“We know we are in a difficult moment,” Meloni said this week in Rome. “Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending.”

As a European leader, Meloni has the opportunity to open the way for more in-depth and constructive U.S.–EU trade talks.

Meloni was the only European head of government to attend Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Before the inauguration, in January, Trump extended an invitation to the prime minister to meet at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. During the visit, the two leaders had dinner and participated in a panel discussion with Trump supporters.

“This is very exciting, I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy,” Trump <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-hosts-italys-meloni-amid-demands-from-iran-5786457">told his guests</a>. “She’s really taken Europe by storm and everyone else.”
<h2>NATO Spending Commitment</h2>
Trump has pushed NATO allies to increase military spending to as much as 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

However, Italy spends nearly 1.5 percent of its GDP on defense, which is below NATO’s current 2 percent target.

During her meeting with Trump, Meloni promised that her country will meet the 2 percent target soon.

“Italy is going to the next summit of NATO, announcing that it raised 2 percent as was requested,” she told reporters.

According to the White House, there are currently eight countries among the 31-member bloc that are not meeting the 2 percent threshold.

“Europe, as you know, is committed to do more, is working on tools to allow and help the member states in increasing the defense spending,” Meloni said in the meeting. “And we are convinced that everyone has to do more.”

During the bilateral meeting, Meloni was expected to discuss extending NATO's Article 5 agreement to Ukraine.

In March, Meloni proposed to extend Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense commitment, to Ukraine without the country's membership. Article 5, a cornerstone of the alliance, states that any attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

A White House official who wished to remain anonymous told The Epoch Times before the meeting that Meloni's plan was not agreeable to Trump. Neither leader brought up the subject after their meeting.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-to-host-italian-prime-minister-meloni-at-white-house-amid-us-eu-trade-tensions-5843365">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

World News

Videos

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Europe

Management

Emel Akan is a senior White House correspondent for The Epoch Times, where she covers the Biden administration. Prior to this role, she covered the economic policies of the Trump administration. Previously, she worked in the financial sector as an investment banker at JPMorgan. She graduated with a master’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University.

Emel Akan

02_Second Lead

Executive Branch

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Trump Expresses Confidence on EU Trade Deal in Meeting With Italy’s Meloni

Full Episodes