Richard Hall
@richardhalljourno.bsky.social
Senior Correspondent for @the-independent.com, writing about foreign policy, politics, extremism, Americana, and everything in between. Former Beirut correspondent.
Much like Wile E. Coyote, Trump appears to believe that if the bombs are big enough, then they can't possibly fail to achieve their goal. But questions about the success of the mission to strike Iran's nuclear program persist, and Hegseth didn't answer them.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s telling of Iran strikes is like a scene from Top Gun 3. The truth is murkier.
Much like Wile E. Coyote, Trump appears to believe the bombs dropped on the Fordow facility in Iran were so large that they couldn’t possibly have failed. But questions about the success of the missio...
www.independent.co.uk
June 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Much like Wile E. Coyote, Trump appears to believe that if the bombs are big enough, then they can't possibly fail to achieve their goal. But questions about the success of the mission to strike Iran's nuclear program persist, and Hegseth didn't answer them.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Is this Trump’s WMD moment?
He rejected U.S. intel that found Iran was not close to building a bomb and was not seeking to build one.
This is a man who rose to power railing against people who lied about WMDs, now he's accused of doing the same.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
He rejected U.S. intel that found Iran was not close to building a bomb and was not seeking to build one.
This is a man who rose to power railing against people who lied about WMDs, now he's accused of doing the same.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s WMD moment: President overrules intelligence agencies on Iran to justify war
ANALYSIS: Donald Trump rose to power criticizing Bush-era politicians for lying about weapons of mass destruction. Now he is accused of doing the same, Richard Hall writes.
www.independent.co.uk
June 18, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Is this Trump’s WMD moment?
He rejected U.S. intel that found Iran was not close to building a bomb and was not seeking to build one.
This is a man who rose to power railing against people who lied about WMDs, now he's accused of doing the same.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
He rejected U.S. intel that found Iran was not close to building a bomb and was not seeking to build one.
This is a man who rose to power railing against people who lied about WMDs, now he's accused of doing the same.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump channels a conspiracy theory-loving uncle with bizarre Oval Office ambush
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump channels a conspiracy theory-loving uncle with bizarre Oval Office ambush
ANALYSIS: Armed with printouts of tabloid news articles and a montage of video clips, Trump launched into a meandering explanation of the current political situation in South Africa to its president C...
www.independent.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Trump channels a conspiracy theory-loving uncle with bizarre Oval Office ambush
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump's deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns.
We visited three neighbourhoods across the country and found people scared to leave their homes over fears of being detained and deported by ICE.
Read the dispatches here:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
We visited three neighbourhoods across the country and found people scared to leave their homes over fears of being detained and deported by ICE.
Read the dispatches here:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns
The Independent visited three immigrant neighborhoods across the U.S. — Michelle Del Rey in Virginia, Josh Marcus in California and Richard Hall in New York — to investigate the impact of Trump’s dep...
www.independent.co.uk
April 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Trump's deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns.
We visited three neighbourhoods across the country and found people scared to leave their homes over fears of being detained and deported by ICE.
Read the dispatches here:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
We visited three neighbourhoods across the country and found people scared to leave their homes over fears of being detained and deported by ICE.
Read the dispatches here:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Donald Quixote and the stock market meltdown: Inside Trump’s failed tariff gamble
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Donald Quixote and the stock market meltdown: Inside Trump’s failed tariff gamble
ANALYSIS: Even the most complex algorithms created by artificial intelligence to predict macro trends are not equipped to account for a president who tries to levy taxes on flightless sea birds, write...
www.independent.co.uk
April 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Donald Quixote and the stock market meltdown: Inside Trump’s failed tariff gamble
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Richard Hall
the way i would be the smuggest little wench in the world if i got to hit send on this push alert
April 8, 2025 at 9:20 PM
the way i would be the smuggest little wench in the world if i got to hit send on this push alert
I spoke to several small business owners today who are already getting hammered by Trump’s tariffs. And the pause will do nothing to help them.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s tariff pause won’t help these small businesses that are already hurting
‘The end result is real small businesses, mom and pop shops, we're the ones that get put under’
www.independent.co.uk
April 9, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I spoke to several small business owners today who are already getting hammered by Trump’s tariffs. And the pause will do nothing to help them.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Ms Rachel on her support for Gaza’s children: “I couldn’t look away.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Ms. Rachel opens up about her support for Gaza’s children: ‘I couldn’t look away’
Exclusive: The YouTube megastar, beloved by kids and parents across the US, speaks to The Independent about fundraising for children in Gaza.
www.independent.co.uk
April 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Ms Rachel on her support for Gaza’s children: “I couldn’t look away.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s Yemen bombing campaign could cost $1bn by next week, with little to show for it beyond a higher civilian death toll.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump’s Yemen bombing campaign soon cost $1bn, with little to show for it
Trump’s war in Yemen has come under greater scrutiny after his national security officials leaked details of the initial strikes in a group chat with a journalist
www.independent.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Trump’s Yemen bombing campaign could cost $1bn by next week, with little to show for it beyond a higher civilian death toll.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Elon Musk pours money into key elections across the country as he rants about Soros’ influence
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Musk pours money into elections across the country as he rants about Soros’ influence
Musk has taken a role in American political life that arguably eclipses that of any billionaire in the modern era
www.independent.co.uk
March 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Elon Musk pours money into key elections across the country as he rants about Soros’ influence
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
It is not unusual for Bernie and AOC to hold events together, but coming at a time of crisis for the Democrats, when its leadership is facing anger over its inability to oppose Trump, and amid calls for a new direction, their message feels pointed.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
AOC and Bernie hit the road: Is the Democratic Party having its Tea Party moment?
Analysis: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins Bernie Sanders on a tour at a time when her party is increasingly looking for someone to aggressively oppose Donald Trump’s policies, Richard Hall writes.
www.independent.co.uk
March 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
It is not unusual for Bernie and AOC to hold events together, but coming at a time of crisis for the Democrats, when its leadership is facing anger over its inability to oppose Trump, and amid calls for a new direction, their message feels pointed.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
It is perhaps the first time in modern history that a leader has threatened to annex a country for aesthetic reasons.
“This would be the most incredible country visually,” Trump said of the new land he would create from the ashes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
“This would be the most incredible country visually,” Trump said of the new land he would create from the ashes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump says he loves Canada, but it should not exist
Trump’s insistence that Canada is not a real country bears a striking resemblance to Putin’s in the run-up to his invasion of Ukraine, Richard Hall writes.
www.independent.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It is perhaps the first time in modern history that a leader has threatened to annex a country for aesthetic reasons.
“This would be the most incredible country visually,” Trump said of the new land he would create from the ashes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
“This would be the most incredible country visually,” Trump said of the new land he would create from the ashes.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
My recap:
Trump's meltdown should remove any doubt that the US has switched sides in this war, and in the wider struggle between autocracy and democracy.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump's meltdown should remove any doubt that the US has switched sides in this war, and in the wider struggle between autocracy and democracy.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Vance lit the fuse, and Trump exploded. Inside a historic Oval Office meltdown
ANALYSIS: Vice president started a fight with Zelensky with a pre-rehearsed speech, then Trump joined the fray, Richard Hall writes
www.independent.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
My recap:
Trump's meltdown should remove any doubt that the US has switched sides in this war, and in the wider struggle between autocracy and democracy.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump's meltdown should remove any doubt that the US has switched sides in this war, and in the wider struggle between autocracy and democracy.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
My sketch of yesterday's Starmer-Trump meeting.
Trump seemed very pleased to receive an invitation from the King of Canada, but both leaders dodged The Independent's questions about the president's plans to annex part of his kingdom.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump seemed very pleased to receive an invitation from the King of Canada, but both leaders dodged The Independent's questions about the president's plans to annex part of his kingdom.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump gushes at invite from the King of Canada as Starmer charms president
SKETCH: The British prime minister is not known for his charm, but he brought a secret weapon with him to disarm Trump, writes Richard Hall
www.independent.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
My sketch of yesterday's Starmer-Trump meeting.
Trump seemed very pleased to receive an invitation from the King of Canada, but both leaders dodged The Independent's questions about the president's plans to annex part of his kingdom.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump seemed very pleased to receive an invitation from the King of Canada, but both leaders dodged The Independent's questions about the president's plans to annex part of his kingdom.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
‘Deadbeat dad’: Elon Musk under fire for apparently ignoring pleas from Grimes to help his sick child, instead taking to the stage at CPAC to wave around a chainsaw.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Elon Musk under fire for apparently ignoring pleas from Grimes to help his sick child
Two women who have had children with Musk have been forced to make public pleas for him to respond to their messages
www.independent.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 11:11 PM
‘Deadbeat dad’: Elon Musk under fire for apparently ignoring pleas from Grimes to help his sick child, instead taking to the stage at CPAC to wave around a chainsaw.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Richard Hall
Trump on Gaza: "It's a great location. I don't know why Israel ever gave that up ... it's one of the bad real estate deals."
February 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Trump on Gaza: "It's a great location. I don't know why Israel ever gave that up ... it's one of the bad real estate deals."
Why The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy.
Today's editorial calls out Trump's enablers in politics and the press for staying silent while "the petulant baby is in the White House" sides with tyranny.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Today's editorial calls out Trump's enablers in politics and the press for staying silent while "the petulant baby is in the White House" sides with tyranny.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
We will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy
Editorial: The US president is peddling dangerous misinformation about Zelensky and Ukraine – now is the time to tell the truth and stand up to the bully in the White House
www.independent.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Why The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy.
Today's editorial calls out Trump's enablers in politics and the press for staying silent while "the petulant baby is in the White House" sides with tyranny.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Today's editorial calls out Trump's enablers in politics and the press for staying silent while "the petulant baby is in the White House" sides with tyranny.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...
Reposted by Richard Hall
After calling the commander of the International Space Station "fully r*tarded" for daring to challenge his false claim about the astronauts currently stuck on the ISS, Elon Musk immediately demands that the Space Station be defunded and decommissioned.
February 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
After calling the commander of the International Space Station "fully r*tarded" for daring to challenge his false claim about the astronauts currently stuck on the ISS, Elon Musk immediately demands that the Space Station be defunded and decommissioned.
Reposted by Richard Hall
Elon Musk peddled some ridiculous BS (because he doesn't understand SSA's code) that 200-year-olds were getting benefits.
Now Trump thinks if we "take all of those numbers off" that are "obviously fraudulent," then we're "all of a sudden have a very powerful Social Security."
We're doomed.
Now Trump thinks if we "take all of those numbers off" that are "obviously fraudulent," then we're "all of a sudden have a very powerful Social Security."
We're doomed.
February 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Elon Musk peddled some ridiculous BS (because he doesn't understand SSA's code) that 200-year-olds were getting benefits.
Now Trump thinks if we "take all of those numbers off" that are "obviously fraudulent," then we're "all of a sudden have a very powerful Social Security."
We're doomed.
Now Trump thinks if we "take all of those numbers off" that are "obviously fraudulent," then we're "all of a sudden have a very powerful Social Security."
We're doomed.
Reposted by Richard Hall
Ex-federal workers say 'cold and cruel' firings upended their lives
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Fired federal workers say 'cold and cruel' cuts upended their lives
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com
February 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Ex-federal workers say 'cold and cruel' firings upended their lives
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Is it time for America’s judges to go on strike?
www.salon.com/2025/02/15/i...
www.salon.com/2025/02/15/i...
Is it time for America’s judges to go on strike?
There is a case to be made that the United States is a "vexatious litigant"
www.salon.com
February 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Is it time for America’s judges to go on strike?
www.salon.com/2025/02/15/i...
www.salon.com/2025/02/15/i...
Quebec Vasquez is a DACA dreamer who came to the US from Mexico when she was just 7 years old.
She barely remembers anything about the country where she was born, but she's grown so fearful of Trump's crackdown that she has decided to 'self-deport.'
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
She barely remembers anything about the country where she was born, but she's grown so fearful of Trump's crackdown that she has decided to 'self-deport.'
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Fearful of Trump’s crackdown, one woman is deporting herself
Quebec Vasquez came to America when she was a kid. She built a life here and had a family. Now, in response to the climate of fear caused by Donald Trump’s mass deportations, she has decided to return...
www.independent.co.uk
February 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Quebec Vasquez is a DACA dreamer who came to the US from Mexico when she was just 7 years old.
She barely remembers anything about the country where she was born, but she's grown so fearful of Trump's crackdown that she has decided to 'self-deport.'
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
She barely remembers anything about the country where she was born, but she's grown so fearful of Trump's crackdown that she has decided to 'self-deport.'
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Richard Hall
My top Super Bowl memory is when Musk tweeted “Go Eagles” in 2023 from the game and then deleted it after a similar tweet from Biden got more engagement. Then he flew to Twitter HQ and demanded his workers find out why his posts were doing poorly, starting a multi-day fact finding mission.
February 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
My top Super Bowl memory is when Musk tweeted “Go Eagles” in 2023 from the game and then deleted it after a similar tweet from Biden got more engagement. Then he flew to Twitter HQ and demanded his workers find out why his posts were doing poorly, starting a multi-day fact finding mission.
Reposted by Richard Hall
ICYMI: I spoke with scientists about glacial geoengineering and sea level rise as the Earth continues to warm @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Scientists have some out-of-the-box ideas to save the ice caps
Scientists say glacier engineering could be a potential stopgap as the Earth passes a critical climate milestone. Others aren’t as convinced
www.independent.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
ICYMI: I spoke with scientists about glacial geoengineering and sea level rise as the Earth continues to warm @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/science...