Trump 'had Rubio find a printer after decision to sign Iran deal'
Donald Trump signed a surprise agreement ending the war with Iran at the Palace of Versailles after aides scrambled to find a printer for the document, according to a French diplomatic source.
The US President was informed that the deal had been finalised shortly after arriving at the historic French palace, where he was attending a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Trump is said to have told Mr Macron about the breakthrough as the pair began a tour of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors before deciding to sign the agreement immediately.
The unexpected decision triggered a last-minute search for a printer after 11pm, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly turning to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot for assistance.
A French aide was quickly dispatched and, within minutes, the document had been printed while guests were still dining in the palace’s lower gallery.
Mr Rubio then appeared carrying the text of the agreement, allowing preparations for the signing ceremony to begin.
According to those present, dinner plates were cleared away to make room for freshly printed copies of the document in both English and Farsi as dozens of guests watched.
Before signing, Mr Trump briefly reviewed the text and told the approximately 30 people gathered around him: ‘It wasn’t easy. I assure you!’
Donald Trump is said to have told Emmanuel Macron about the breakthrough as the pair began a tour of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors before deciding to sign the agreement immediately
Mr Macron watched the signing from across the table, smiling as the agreement was formally completed
The US President was informed that the deal had been finalised shortly after arriving at the historic French palace, where he was attending a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron
The moment unfolded in front of television cameras broadcasting images around the world, with guests reportedly taking out their phones to record the historic scene.
Mr Macron watched the signing from across the table, smiling as the agreement was formally completed.
French ministers attending the dinner said they had not been informed in advance that the signing would take place.
‘For us, ministers of the French government, it was a surprise,’ Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure told RTL.
The dramatic events capped a remarkable week for French officials, who had reportedly been uncertain only days earlier whether Mr Trump would attend the Evian Summit at all.
The American President ultimately attended the G7 summit hosted by France and remained until its conclusion before accepting an invitation to attend an additional dinner at Versailles marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
French diplomatic sources described the decision to sign the agreement at Versailles as a significant gesture towards Mr Macron, calling it ‘a sign of trust and respect’ for the French President.
It comes after Trump launched into a scathing attack on former President Barack Obama as he defended his proposed Iran peace deal at the G7 Summit.
Trump claimed the Iranians described Obama as a 'stupid son of a b****' when he was in negotiations with them in 2015, as he insisted the deal he struck is far better.
The president made the claim in a tense meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, where Trump fumed about the Middle East crisis and blamed Obama for trying to 'bribe his way out' of the region's issues.
'He gave him $1.7 billion in cash, green cash from banks into a Boeing 757 and flew it into Iran,' Trump said of the 2015 deal.
'He tried to bribe his way out. I didn't do that. Nobody mentions that… And you know what the Iranians did?
'They laughed at Obama. And they said, 'He's a stupid son of a b****.'
The attack came after Obama criticised Trump's deal-making with Iran in an interview with Good Morning America this week, where he said Trump's war has not resulted in any better outcomes than those he reached over a decade ago.
'It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different, or in a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place, and had worked for a long stretch of time before we, the United States, pulled out of it,' Obama said.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
