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Donald Trump gave a bizarre, rambling press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, bafflingly leaping from one topic to another.
Ostensibly arranged to announce new foreign investment in the US, the president-elect also attacked President Joe Biden over the transition process and refused to rule out using military or economic coercion to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
Trump further railed against windmills, electric heaters, water pressure and soap, Canada, dishwashers, and the legal cases against him. At one moment he said he wanted to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and then claimed Hezbollah might have been at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Meanwhile, his lawyers are attempting to block the “imminent” release of a final report by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith covering his classified documents and election interference cases. Aileen Cannon, the judge in the former case, has temporarily blocked the release of that final report.
Further, Judge Juan Merchan refused Trump’s latest attempt to delay the sentencing over his hush money conviction — still scheduled for Friday.
This all came just a day after Congress formally recognized the president-elect’s 2024 election win over Kamala Harris.
Watch: Trump ducks question on pardoning Jan 6 rioters who attacked police
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 23:00
Shark Tank star says he wants to buy TikTok
Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said he wants to buy TikTok but he needs President-elect Donald Trump’s help to pull off the deal.
Rhian Lubin has the details.
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 22:45
Watch: Trump says people don’t know if Denmark has any legal right to Greenland
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 22:30
New Melania documentary directed by disgraced Brett Ratner costing Amazon $40m
Amazon is paying a whopping $40 million to license an upcoming documentary about Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner, to stream on Prime Video in addition to a several-episode follow-up docuseries, according to a report.
On Sunday, Amazon confirmed the “behind the scenes” film on the incoming First Lady had started filming in December and is expected to be released in theaters and on Prime Video later this year.
Ariana Baio has the details.
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 22:15
ANALYSIS: Trump has a narrow window to advance his aggressive agenda — here’s who he’ll need on side
We’re less than two weeks out from the initial sprint of the second Trump administration — and the incoming president is now seeking to push aside one of his biggest hurdles.
In the clearest sign yet that Donald Trump is serious about pursuing an aggressive legislative agenda in his first year in office, he is taking an active role in managing the future of the House Republican Conference. Where once he was at arm’s length of Republican congressional leadership, Trump has leaned into his role as leader of the GOP and now casts a long shadow over the House and Senate Republican conferences.
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 21:45
Why does Trump want to buy Greenland?
But that hasn’t deterred the president-elect, as Gustaf Kilander reports.
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 21:15
Kinzinger knocks ‘weak scared boy’ Trump for only threatening US friends
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 21:03
Top Oversight Democrat says ‘public’s right to know is paramount’ regarding Trump classified documents report
“By blocking the release of the Special Counsel’s report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents to the American public erodes the integrity of our justice system and unduly shields President-elect Trump from accountability.
“House Republicans complain about a so-called ‘two-tier system of justice,’ but it is not lost upon anyone that the Department of Justice released in full—for all to see—Special Counsel Hur’s report on the classified documents recovered from President Biden. In stark contrast to President-elect Trump, President Biden cooperated completely and unhesitatingly with DOJ. DOJ must release its report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents by January 20 so that the American people can understand the full extent of the President-elect’s unlawful possession of hundreds of the government’s most sensitive documents. The public’s right to know is paramount.”
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 20:52
Full story: Trump kicks off rambling press conference by airing grievances — then starts threatening U.S. allies
But then, before the assembled press, any sense of focus or discipline went out the window as Trump rambled and weaved his way through topic after topic.
Andrew Feinberg reports on what was said.\
Oliver O’Connell7 January 2025 20:45
