Trump plays down trade war rhetoric; says talks with China going very well

US President Donald Trump today said said trade negotiations with China were going on "very well", asserting that the two countries have made a lot of progress.

"I'm proud to announce that we're getting along very well with respect to the whole very big negotiation that we're having with China," Trump told American workers at the White House today.

His remarks assume significance as both the US and China are locked in a virtual trade war, slapping additional import duties against each other's products.

The US has nearly USD 500 billion trade deficit. Trump has imposed an additional import tariff on some 1,300 Chinese products worth USD 50 billion and directed to look into another round of additional tariffs worth USD 150 billion. China has been quick in drawing up trade retaliation options against the US.

Trump ratings highest in 11 months with 42% approval rate: CNN Poll

US President Donald Trump's approval rating has rebounded to its highest level since the 100-day mark of his presidency, even as his approval ratings for handling major issues remain largely negative, according to a new CNN poll.

Overall, 42 per cent approve of the way Trump is handling the presidency, 54 per cent disapprove, the poll revealed on Monday.

Approval is up seven points overall since February, including six point increases among Republicans (from 80 to 86 per cent now) and independents (from 35 to 41 per cent now).

However, Trump's approval rating still remains below that of all of his modern-era predecessors at this stage in their first term after being elected, though Trump only trails Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama by a narrow four points at this point in their first terms.

Trump's approval ratings have seesawed over the last four CNN polls -- from 35 per cent in December up to 40 per cent in January, down to 35 per cent in February and back up to 42 per cent now.

Trump says he would've ran inside Florida school even without weapon

US President Donald Trump today said he would have entered the Florida school to save the students from a gunman even without a weapon as he criticised the inaction of a sheriff's deputy assigned to the school.
Last week, Trump called out the armed school resource officer who stayed outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as the shooting unfolded, saying he "didn't have the courage."
Addressing a gathering of US governors at the White House, Trump said, "You know, I really believe -- you don't know until you test it -- but I really believe I'd run in there, even if I didn't had a weapon.
"I think most of the people in this room would have done that, too, because I know most of you. But the way they performed was really a disgrace," he said, criticising the armed sheriffs deputy who did not confront the shooter, an expelled student, at the school early this month who killed 17 people, mostly students.

Donald Trump suggests armed deputy at Florida school was a 'coward'

US President Donald Trump today cast doubts on the character of an armed deputy who remained outside during last week's school shooting in Florida, saying he froze or was a "coward".
"They're trained, they didn't react properly under pressure or they were a coward," Trump said, calling out Deputy Scot Peterson by name.
"He certainly did a poor job.

There's no question about that.