US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met for 15 minutes before the funeral of Pope Francis.

The White House called the meeting “very productive.”

BBC reported:

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump have met inside St Peter’s Basilica ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral.

The White House described the 15-minute meeting as “very productive” and Zelensky later called it “very symbolic” with the “potential to become historic”.

Trump and Zelensky were pictured sitting locked in deep discussion, minutes before Pope Francis’ funeral was due to start.

Zelensky called it a “good meeting.”

CNN reported:

Zelensky thanked Trump for the “good meeting” in a post on social media.

“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered,” Zelensky wrote. “Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”

Donald Trump gave an update in a post on Truth Social.

Truth Social:

No matter what deal I make with respect to Russia/Ukraine, no matter how good it is, even if it’s the greatest deal ever made, The Failing New York Times will speak BADLY of it. Liddle’ Peter Baker, the very biased and untalented writer for The Times, followed his Editor’s demands and wrote that Ukraine should get back territory, including, I suppose, Crimea, and other ridiculous requests, in order to stop the killing that is worse than anything since World War II. Why doesn’t this lightweight reporter say that it was Obama who made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired. It was also Liddle’ Peter who wrote an absolutely fawning, yet terribly written Biography, on Obama. It was a JOKE! Did Baker ever criticize the Obama Crimea Giveaway? NO, not once, only TRUMP, and I’ve had nothing to do with this stupid war, other than early on, when I gave Ukraine Javelins, and Obama gave them sheets. This is Sleepy Joe Biden’s War, not mine. It was a loser from day one, and should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened if I were President at the time. I’m just trying to clean up the mess that was left to me by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is. With all of that being said, there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!

Donald Trump is trying to end this war.

Donald Trump is not happy with Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.

After a recent poll from Fox News, Trump said, “Rupert Murdoch has told me for years that he is going to get rid of his FoxNews, Trump Hating, Fake Pollster, but he has never done so.”

He also added that the pollster has gotten Trump and MAGA “wrong for years.”

Truth Social:

Rupert Murdoch has told me for years that he is going to get rid of his FoxNews, Trump Hating, Fake Pollster, but he has never done so. This “pollster” has gotten me, and MAGA, wrong for years. Also, and while he’s at it, he should start making changes at the China Loving Wall Street Journal. It sucks!!!

Fox News’ final poll before the election showed Kamala Harris with a lead in both Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Newsmax reported:

Fox News’ polls have been off before when it comes to Trump.

In its final pre-election poll on Oct. 30, Fox News showed Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of Trump by two percentage points in both Michigan and Pennsylvania a week before voters went to the polls. Trump won both states in November.

Also in October, Trump hit “weak and soft” Fox News Channel over the network’s planned interview with Harris.

Donald Trump is right.

Donald Trump is taking on foreign and other illicit payments going to fundraising platforms.

Trump directed his DOJ to target these, which include the Democrats’ main fundraising platform, ActBlue.

Newsmax reported:

President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the Justice Department to investigate the main fundraising platform used by Democrats, who responded with accusations that he was simply weaponizing the government against his political opponents.

The Republican leader signed a memorandum instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe supposed foreign and other illicit payments to platforms including ActBlue, used by Democrats to process donations to election campaigns and other causes online.

…

Three House committees — judiciary, administration and oversight — released a report on April 2 claiming “extensive fraud… including from foreign sources” on ActBlue and accusing the platform of lowering its prevention efforts.

The probe said almost 500 pages of internal ActBlue documents released alongside its report “demonstrate a lack of commitment to stopping fraud and paint a picture of complacency.”

ActBlue has been used by the Democrats for over two decades.

Breitbart reported:

ActBlue, which Democratic campaigns have used for two decades, had helped power an outpouring of small-dollar donations to candidates and causes. It was so successful that Republicans eventually created a counterpart, WinRed — which Trump did not target in the order.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley applauded the investigation, saying in a statement, “The Democrats’ Dark Money scam has gone on long enough.”

Trump is taking on corruption and fraud.

Donald Trump provided an update on a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump said, “They are very close to a deal,” and that “Most of the major points are agreed to.”

Truth Social:

Just landed in Rome. A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to “finish it off.” Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!

Both President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be at Pope Francis’ funeral.

Breitbart reported:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also set to attend the late pontiff’s funeral, though it is unclear if he and Trump plan to talk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, on Friday. Witkoff has played a key role in diplomatic negotiations and peace efforts.

Trump is fighting for peace.

Army retention is ahead of schedule.

The army retained 15,600 soldiers who were eligible for relistment. The goal was 14,800.

This major win came six months ahead of schedule.

Army Times reported:

For the seventh year in a row, the United States Army has met or exceeded its retention goal. This time, the accomplishment comes nearly six months ahead of schedule.

The Army reportedly retained 15,600 soldiers eligible for reenlistment, 800 more than the original goal of 14,800.

“The early success in [fiscal 2025] reenlistments, combined with the targeted retention strategy, is allowing the Army to effectively manage personnel requirements,” said Sgt. Maj. Enrique Rose, a senior Army career counselor. “This strategy helps the Army maintain a balanced and skilled force while supporting Soldiers’ career goals.”

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discussed the “Trump bump.”

. @SecDef “We call it the Trump bump. The reality is when warfighting and lethality is brought back and doing its serious about getting after soldiering and warfighting,

THE AMERICAN people want to come back in and sign up.” pic.twitter.com/GbA3VIhOUx

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 22, 2025

This is the Trump effect!

Russia launched an airstrike on Kyiv on Thursday.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, “Kyiv, was pummeled with 70 missiles, 48 of which were shot down, and 140 drones, 64 shot down.”

NBC News reported:

Russia overnight Thursday launched one of the most devastating bombardments on Ukraine’s major cities since the war began, killing at least eight people, hours after President Donald Trump said he believed he had struck deals with both sides to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he was cutting short a trip to South Africa and returning home immediately to deal with the “destruction” in his country.

“Russia continues to kill people and avoid tough pressure and accountability for this,” he said Thursday. “Unfortunately, there is a lot of destruction. Rescue operations are ongoing, the rubble of buildings is being cleared.”

The capital, Kyiv, was pummeled with 70 missiles, 48 of which were shot down, and 140 drones, 64 shot down, Ukraine’s Air Force said. It was “a particularly horrible and loud night,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement.

Donald Trump was not happy with Putin after the attack.

Trump said, “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!”

Truth Social:

I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!

Trump is fighting for peace.

Donald Trump-ordered strikes have killed 74 terrorist leaders in the first months of his presidency.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said, “Trump has eliminated 74 named terrorist leaders that the Biden administration wasn’t going after.”

Just The News reported:

President Donald Trump has ordered air strikes and other operations during his first three months back in office that have killed 74 leaders of terrorist groups plotting to strike Western assets and the U.S. homeland, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz revealed Tuesday to Just the News.

Waltz provided the counter-terrorism casualty statistics during a wide-ranging television interview where he also addressed the outlines of an emerging peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, predicted the president’s upcoming visit to the Middle East would set the stage for the Abraham Accords 2.0 and insisted that China has blinked behind the scenes in its standoff with Trump over tariffs.

…

Waltz said the strikes have reached far beyond the Houthi rebels in Yemen that have garnered the most media attention and have also been focused on groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Middle East and Al-Shabab in Africa. He confirmed such terror groups have active plans to strike the U.S. homeland, after capitalizing on the open border of the Biden years.

“I can tell you, from ISIS to al-Qaeda, to groups like Al-Shabab, all have plots and plans to hit the homeland once again, And if you look under the Biden administration, with a wide-open border, that was incredibly dangerous,” he said. “President Trump has eliminated 74 named terrorist leaders that the Biden administration wasn’t going after. You add to that 45 Americans who are being held hostage by various regimes and groups around the world that he’s brought home and that is just an incredible achievement in just a couple of months.”

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz pointed out that all this success has come with the Trump administration being in charge for less than 100 days.

And we’re not even 100 days in. https://t.co/6G3Ae0yiA3

— Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) April 22, 2025

Trump is keeping America safe!

Donald Trump called Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) over the weekend.

Shapiro was a victim of an arson attack on the governor’s mansion last week.

Shapiro said, “I appreciated that the president called me, and that Trump “was very gracious.”

Fox News reported:

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said Tuesday that President Donald Trump called him over the weekend to discuss the arson attack on the governor’s mansion a week before.

…

“I appreciated that the president called me,” Shapiro told reporters at the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the governor’s residence in Harrisburg. “I actually didn’t take his call because it came from his cellphone and I didn’t have that number in my phone, so I didn’t know who it was. As soon as I heard his message, I called him right back.”

…

“He was very gracious,” Shapiro said. “He asked how Lori and the kids were doing. [We] talked for a couple of minutes about what transpired at the residence, and then we talked for maybe the next 15 minutes or so about a whole host of other topics.”

“Obviously, I’m not going to get into our private conversation, but he’s attuned to the issues that are important to me,” the governor continued. “I, of course, know the issues that are important to him, and we agreed to stay in touch going forward.”

Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested for the attack.

He reportedly told police he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if he had made it to the Governor inside the residence.

6 ABC reported:

Pennsylvania State Police released the 911 call allegedly placed by an arson suspect accused of torching Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion last weekend.

The suspect in the attack — 38-year-old Cody Balmer — turned himself in and allegedly told police he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if he happened upon the governor inside the residence, according to court documents.

In the rambling message obtained by Action News on Friday, Balmer takes full responsibility for his alleged actions and tells the 911 dispatcher that he was justified in what he did.

By Theodore R. Malloch
April 23, 2025

(Views expressed by guest commentators may not reflect the views of OAN or its affiliates.)

Roche, a swiss pharmaceutical giant will invest billions of dollars into the United States over the next five years.

Breitbart reported:

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced Tuesday it will invest upwards of $50 billion in the United States over the next five years, a move that follows in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement of proposed tariffs on imported drugs.

The U.S. is a critical market for the pharmaceutical industry, representing more than half of the revenue of Roche’s pharmaceutical division, AFP reports.

Roche said, “These investments further strengthen Roche’s already significant US footprint with 13 manufacturing and 15 R&D sites across the Pharmaceutical and Diagnostics Divisions, and are expected to create more than 12,000 new jobs, including nearly 6,500 construction jobs, as well as 1,000 jobs at new and expanded facilities.”

Press Release:

Expanded and upgraded US manufacturing and distribution capabilities for its innovative medicines and diagnostics portfolio in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon and California
A state-of-the-art gene therapy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania
A new 900,000 square foot manufacturing centre to support Roche’s expanding portfolio of next generation weight loss medicines (location to be announced)
A new manufacturing facility for continuous glucose monitoring in Indiana
A new R&D centre in Massachusetts, conducting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) research and serving as hub for our new cardiovascular, renal and metabolism research and development efforts
Significant expansion and upgrading of our existing pharmaceuticals and diagnostics R&D centres in Arizona, Indiana and California

Another win for Trump!