Donald Trump has posted his traditional rambling Christmas message calling out various foes, taunting adversaries, and reiterating his desire for U.S. territorial expansionism — including retaking the Panama Canal, incorporating Canada into the union, and buying Greenland.
A Danish official said an announcement that the country is boosting defense spending for Greenland, was an “irony of fate.”
Troels Lund Poulsen, the Danish defense minister, told the paper Jyllands-Posten Tuesday that the country plans to spend a “double-digit billion amount” in krone — about $1.5 billion — to make sure they have a “stronger presence” in the Arctic.
Trump said the “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the U.S., which operates a base in the territory’s northwest.
Meanwhile, college campuses across the country are calling the nation’s more than 1 million international students back to school before Trump’s inauguration, warning that the possibility of an imminent travel ban targeting certain countries could impact their return.
At the same time, Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have divided their party with recent comments lamenting the quality of the U.S. workforce.
Key Points
- College campuses are calling international students back to campus before Trump’s presidency begins
- Trump posts rambling Christmas Day greeting about US expansionism
- Trump promises to ‘vigorously pursue the death penalty’ in Christmas Eve message
- Greenland prime minister balks at Trump’s renewed play for territory
- Denmark boosts funds for Greenland defense after Trump threats
- Haley reignites Ramaswamy feud after he bashes American work culture
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt reveal they’re engaged
02:55 , Kelly RissmanFox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt are engaged.
Hannity, 62, proposed to Earhardt, 48, over Christmas at their home church after years of long-distance dating, according to an announcement by Fox News Thursday.
”We are overjoyed and so thankful to our families for all of their love and support during this wonderful time in our lives,” the happy couple told the network.
Read the full story.
Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt reveal they’re engaged
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has some critics worried. Others are ready for a fight
02:00 , Alex WoodwardSome of Donald Trump’s most prominent critics are bracing for impact.
“By going after me they’re just going to give me a platform,” George Conway told The Independent.
More from The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg on the critics preparing for a fight:
Donald Trump critics ready for his White House return and possible retribution
Haley reignites Ramaswamy feud after he bashes American work culture: ‘There’s nothing wrong with US workers’
01:55 , Josh MarcusFormer UN ambassador Nikki Haley tore into her old rival Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday, after the entrepreneur and Trump administration adviser wrote a lengthy takedown arguing mainstream U.S. culture doesn’t encourage science and technology excellence, leading companies to hire foreign-born and first-generation workers.
“There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture,” Haley wrote in response on X. “All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers.”
The pair previously clashed when both were candidates during the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Ramaswamy, who is a first-generation Indian-American, was accused in 2023 of attempting to use a racist dogwhistle by criticizing Haley using her maiden name, Nimarata Nikki Randhawa, and suggesting she was being untruthful about her own Indian family background.
Read on for all the details.
Haley re-ups Ramaswamy feud after he slams America: ‘Nothing wrong with US workers’
How toy stores could get caught in a Trump trade war
01:49 , Josh MarcusThe price of toys may soar if Donald Trump carries through on his vow to impose exorbitant international tariffs, leading to the closure of many independent retailers.
According to industry group The Toy Association, nearly 80 percent of U.S. toys are manufactured in China, one of the countries the President-elect has threatened to target with immediate charges on exports.
Trump has said he would impose a 10 percent universal tariff on foreign imports, and last month floated the idea of an additional 60 to 100 percent tariff on goods specifically from China.
But experts have warned that the tariffs are likely to have a negative effect on shoppers and the economy. Though the levy is paid by the importer, much of the tax is ultimately handed off to consumers in the form of higher prices.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Toy stores could go bust under Trump’s proposed international tariffs
Democratic congressman calls for decriminalizing sex work after bombshell Matt Gaetz report
01:00 , Alex WoodwardA Democratic congressman is calling for the United States to decriminalize sex work nationwide in response to damning findings released by the House Ethics Committee about Matt Gaetz.
Illinois Rep. Shri Thanedar said to the government show work to “maximize sex workers’ legal protection and their ability to exercise other rights, including unionization, justice, and health care. Decriminalization and regulation would prevent trafficking and exploitation of minors.”
More from The Independent’s John Bowden:
Democrat congressman calls for decriminalizing sex work after House report on Gaetz
Trump’s ‘border czar’ says migrant families will be put in detention centers once again
00:00 , Alex WoodwardThe Trump administration is planning to jail immigrant families together in detention centers before they are removed from the country.
“We’re going to need to construct family facilities,” Tom Homan told The Washington Post in a recent interview. “How many beds we’re going to need will depend on what the data says.”
Trump and Homan have repeatedly said that even U.S. citizen children of non-citizen parents are expected to be deported along with their families.
“Here’s the issue,” Homan told The Post. “You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position.”
Trump’s border czar wants ‘family’ detention centers for deportation plans
Trump inaugural fund set to break record as businesses scramble to curry favor
Thursday 26 December 2024 23:00 , Alex WoodwardTrump’s inaugural fund is projected to raise more than $150 million, breaking the previous $107 million inauguration fundraising record that was set during the president-elect’s first inauguration.
Trump inaugural fund set to break record as businesses scramble to curry favor
‘Should MAGA stay home in 2026?’ Laura Loomer wages ‘racist’ war against ‘tech bros’ over Indian migrants
Thursday 26 December 2024 22:30 , Alex WoodwardTrump acolyte and self-proclaimed “proud Islamophobe” Laura Loomer is threatening to tell MAGA to “stay home” during the next midterm elections amid an escalating feud with “tech bros” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy over Silicon Valley’s reliance on foreign-born workers.
Justin Baragona reports:
‘Should MAGA stay home in 2026?’ Laura Loomer wages ‘racist’ war against ‘tech bros’
Nation’s largest Latino civil rights group blasts Republican figure’s viral ‘execution’ video
Thursday 26 December 2024 22:00 , Alex WoodwardA video from aspiring Republican political figure Valentina Gomez shows her firing a handgun into the back of the head of a dummy tied to a chair with a black bag over its head.
“It’s that simple, public executions for any illegal that rapes or kills an American. They don’t deserve deportation, they deserve to be ended,” she says.
The widely derided video has been condemned for glorifying “the type of vigilantism that has led to deadly consequences in our nation and feeds into the anti-immigrant lie,” according to League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights group.
“LULAC denounces violent crime in our nation and expresses its deepest condolences to its victims and their loved ones,” the group’s presidet Roman Palomares said in a staatement.
“However, we believe in the Christian principles of justice, not retribution. Using public executions as a hook to a politically motivated message fuels blind hatred. This kind of language is intended to appeal to an extreme base of individuals who believe the lie that all immigrants are here to harm others.”
More on the backlash to the Gomez’s latest stunt:
Aspiring MAGA congresswoman performs mock ‘execution’ of migrant in disturbing video
Full story: Vivek Ramaswamy blames '90s sitcoms for tech companies hiring smarter immigrant workers
Thursday 26 December 2024 21:30 , Alex WoodwardVivek Ramaswamy, one of the leaders of the Trump administration’s incoming Department of Government Efficiency, blamed a series of 1990s TV sitcoms for what he saw as a decline in U.S. dynamism in science and technology, leading tech companies to hire more qualified foreign-born and first-generation workers over their mentally lazy American counterparts.
His comments follow wider tensions within the Trump coalition, which includes both far-right anti-immigration views, and an increasing embrace of the tech industry, whose workforce is highly diverse and made up of many immigrants and first-generation Americans.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports:
Vivek Ramaswamy blames 90s sitcoms for tech companies hiring immigrant workers
Rudy Giuliani tells judge ‘I gave everything I have to give’ as he braces for contempt hearing
Thursday 26 December 2024 21:00 , Alex WoodwardEmbattled former New York City mayor and Trump’s one-time attorney Rudy Giuliani will face a contempt hearing on January 3 related to his court-ordered turnover of his property to a pair of election workers he defamed.
In a series of court filings on Christmas Eve, Giuliani pleaded with a judge to reject their demands for sanctions.
The latest on Giuliani’s legal woes:
Rudy Giuliani tells judge ‘I gave everything I have to give’ as he faces contempt
Vivek Ramaswamy appears to blame ‘90s sitcom tropes to explain why foreign tech workers are superior
Thursday 26 December 2024 20:30 , Alex WoodwardVivek Ramaswamy, who is working with the incoming Trump administration alongside Elon Musk to recommend drastic cuts in government spending, wrote a lengthy post on X arguing that the dominance of pop cultural tropes about “nerdiness” and veneration of “jocks” explains why tech companies rely on foreign workers.
“Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer),” he wrote. “That doesn’t start in college, it starts YOUNG. A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers.”
His comments follow Elon Musk’s support for H-1B visas, non-immigrant visas that allow companies to hire foreign workers. His Tesla is among the leading employers for foreign-born engineers and scientists, receiving 742 approved H-1B petitions in 2024, according to Forbes.
Musk, a prominent anti-immigration activist who was born in South Africa, also is the recipient of an H-1B visa.
“As a reminder to Vivek, Saved by the Bell went off the air in 1993, just three years after Congress last made any major changes to the legal immigration process,” reminded Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. “The world he’s describing hasn’t existed for decades.”
The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024
Trump’s ‘made in USA’ bitcoin vow not based ‘in reality’
Thursday 26 December 2024 20:00 , Alex WoodwardIt’s unlikely Donald Trump will be able to realize his campaign promise that all remaining Bitcoin will be made in the U.S., according to observers who know the industry.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus explains:
Trump’s ‘made in USA’ bitcoin promise not based ‘in reality’
'Exhausted’ Americans are tuning out politics, according to cable news ratings and recent poll
Thursday 26 December 2024 19:45 , Alex WoodwardA new Associated Press poll finds that most Americans are worn out since Donald Trump’s electoral victory and have tuned out from political news.
The Independent’s Justin Baragona takes a look:
‘Exhausted’ Americans are tuning out politics, according to TV ratings and new poll
Trump names nominee for Panama ambassador after suggesting U.S. would seize control of canal
Thursday 26 December 2024 19:15 , Alex WoodwardTrump has nominated Miami-Dade Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera for U.S. ambassador to Panama, “a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams,” the president-elect Trump announced on Christmas Eve.
“Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin,” Trump said.
Cabrera also served as state director for Florida in Trump’s 2020 campaign and is vice chair of Miami-Dade’s International Trade Consortium.
His nomination follows a seemingly random attack suggesting that the U.S. would seize control of the Panama Canal, part of a series of statements aimed at other countries in a signal that his administration is threatening U.S. territorial expansion to bully sovereign nations to his economic demands.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino fired back, emphasizing the canal would remain under Panama’s control.
“The sovereignty and independence of our country is non-negotiable,” he said.
Trump posts flurry of endorsements for Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem day after Christmas
Thursday 26 December 2024 18:50 , Alex WoodwardIn a flurry of posts on his Truth Social account, Trump has shared several pieces from right-wing media outlets and other commentators supporting his nominees for Homeland Security and Department of Defense secretaries.
Trump had continued to stand by former Fox News host Pete Hegseth despite coming under fire for allegations of sexual harassment, nonprofit mismanagement, alcohol abuse and sexual assault, among other controversies, since the president-elect named him to lead the Pentagon.
The president-elect also shared letters from the Fraternal Order of Police supporting Kristi Noem, Trump’s pick to lead the massive Homeland Security law enforcement umbrella agency.
Marianne Williamson enters race for DNC chair: We need to ‘create the energy’ to counter Trump
Thursday 26 December 2024 18:45 , Alex WoodwardThe race to lead the Democratic Party in the wake of Kamala Harris’s election defeat expanded on Thursday as author and two-time candidate Marianne Williamson announced that she was seeking the role.
The Independent’s John Bowden has more:
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has some critics worried. Others are ready for a fight
Thursday 26 December 2024 18:15 , Alex WoodwardSome of Donald Trump’s most prominent critics are bracing for impact.
“By going after me they’re just going to give me a platform,” George Conway told The Independent.
More from The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg on the critics preparing for a fight:
Donald Trump critics ready for his White House return and possible retribution
ICYMI: Biden gives Christmas Day drone tour of White House
Thursday 26 December 2024 17:45 , Alex WoodwardGOP congressman downplays potential Russian attack, saying ‘it’s not the first one’
Thursday 26 December 2024 17:10 , Alex WoodwardAt least 38 people were killed when an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet bound for Russia crashed in Kazakhstan in an incident that officials are speculating was caused by a Russian air defense.
One Republican member of Congress appeared to downplay the possibility.
“If reports are true, that Russia did down it, if reports are true, it’s not the first one they did,” Rep. Ryan Zinke told Fox Business on Thursday.
He then went on to suggest that Ukrain should not be in NATO and should conceded the Crimean peninsula to Russia to avoid further attacks.
“It’s … a melting pot, without an answer, unless we have clearly defined objectives. What’s our plan? My position is I don’t think Ukraine is ready for NATO. They’d have to do a massive political reform that they’re not willing to do,” he said.
“And the Crimean peninsula has been, you know, a sticking point … Quite frankly, there’s been 14 wars fought over that Crimean peninsula. I don’t think you’re gonna wrestle it out of the hands of Russia any time soon, and I don’t think you should be going to NATO,” Zinke added.
“I think that’s where President Trump has been starting, I have not talked with him about this specific issue, but in my judgment that would be a good start,” he said.
I seriously dislike these people. I know Zinke. He never would have said this except for now, because he has no soul. He simply wants power and will debase himself for it.
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) December 26, 2024
History will look on these people with scorn https://t.co/i4p3otpwgz
Former congressman Adam Kinzinger shared the clip, writing: “I seriously dislike these people.”
“I know Zinke. He never would have said this except for now, because he has no soul. He simply wants power and will debase himself for it,” Kinzinger wrote. “History will look on these people with scorn.”
Trump’s ‘border czar’ says migrant families will be put in detention centers once again
Thursday 26 December 2024 16:50 , Alex WoodwardThe Trump administration is planning to jail immigrant families together in detention centers before they are removed from the country.
“We’re going to need to construct family facilities,” Tom Homan told The Washington Post in a recent interview. “How many beds we’re going to need will depend on what the data says.”
Trump and Homan have repeatedly said that even U.S. citizen children of non-citizen parents are expected to be deported along with their families.
“Here’s the issue,” Homan told The Post. “You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position.”
Trump’s border czar wants ‘family’ detention centers for deportation plans
Retiring congresswoman on why she didn’t run for re-election: ‘He tried to kill me once. I’m not available for it again'
Thursday 26 December 2024 16:40 , Alex WoodwardDemocratic Rep. Ann McLane Kuster didn’t seek re-election this year particially because she feared Trump’s return to office, she told Roll Call.
Kuster was among the last members of Congress in the House gallery on January 6, 2021, and security footage showed that there was only “30 seconds from when I was able to evacuate that the insurrectionists were in that hallway hunting for us with zip ties and bear mace and who knows what else,” she said.
“I just felt like, he tried to kill me once. I’m not available for it again,” she told Roll Call.
“I’m not prepared to be the gladiator, if you will, again for him, with his attack on women and undermining the social fabric,” she added. “I’ve worked very hard on mental health and addiction treatment and on the environment. I’ve done a lot of work on tackling sexual assault and the whole ‘Me To’ era of protecting women in the military and in the workplace, and it appears his approach is to tear that all down.”
Elon Musk: ‘Ozempic Santa’
Thursday 26 December 2024 16:30 , Alex WoodwardIncoming Trump administration official and world’s wealthiest person Elon Musk posted a photograph of himself dressed as Santa Claus “Ozempic Santa” and revealed he’s taking the antidiabetic drug Mounjaro for weight loss.
Elon Musk reveals he’s taking drug for weight loss in bizarre ‘Ozempic Santa’ post
Elon Musk’s spending bill antics derailed bipartisan efforts to criminalize pornographic deepfakes
Thursday 26 December 2024 16:00 , Alex WoodwardThe “Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act” was attached to a broader bipartisan government funding bill with support from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress.
Elon Musk’s X platform was even involved in lobby efforts to support the legislation, including other actions on child safety.
But his pressure campaign against that government funding bill prompted Republicans to strike that language from the measure altogether. Efforts to revive the spending bill did not include it.
Democrats and Republicans have a common enemy: pornographic ‘deepfakes’
After a year of legal challenges and a wild stock market ride, here’s Trump’s net worth going into 2025
Thursday 26 December 2024 15:30 , Alex WoodwardPresident-elect Donald Trump’s net worth ballooned from $2.5 billion to $6.1 billion during a year marred by legal struggles and assassination attempts.
Trump’s majority stake in his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG) the parent company of Truth Social, was the main driver of this growth.
The president-elect began the year with a net worth of about $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. That was a decrease from his previous term in the White House when it reached $4 billion. His net worth was not as volatile before he became the owner of a publicly traded company, the outlet noted.
Gustaf Kilander has the details.
Trump’s net worth rose by billions despite legal challenges and wild stock market
These are some of the most notorious January 6 rioters could pardon when he returns to the White House
Thursday 26 December 2024 15:00 , Alex WoodwardMore than 1,500 people who have been criminally charged in connection with a mob’s assault on the Capitol — fuelled by his bogus narrative that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen from him — are now awaiting potential pardons for alleged crimes live-streamed to millions of viewers.
Trump could issue mass amnesty to hundreds of defendants as soon as his first day in office, maintaining that even violent offenders could be granted clemency on a “case-by-case” basis.
Here are some of their stories:
College campuses are calling international students back to campus before Trump’s presidency begins
Thursday 26 December 2024 14:28 , Alex WoodwardMore than 1.1 million international students are enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in the 2023 and 2024 year, and many schools are calling them back to campus before Trump returns to the White House, according to CNN.
International students typically rely on nonimmigrant visas that allow them to study in the U.S. but are not a legal pathway for permanent resident status.
At Cornell University, students who are traveling abroad have been advised to return for the spring semester by January 21 or to “communicate with an advisor about your travel plans and be prepared for delays.”
“A travel ban is likely to go into effect soon after inauguration,” the university warned students late last month, according to a memo obtained by CNN. “The ban is likely to include citizens of the countries targeted in the first Trump administration: Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia. New countries could be added to this list, particularly China and India.”
More than 17,000 international students studied at the University of Southern California during the last academic year — the largest number of international students in the state — and school administrators have urged foreign students in an email to return to campus one week before Trump’s presidency, according to an email reviewed by CNN.
“One or more executive orders impacting travel … and visa processing” may be issued, the email said.
Trump has promised to reinstate a ban on travel into the United States from majority-Muslim countries he implemented in his first administration through a series of executive actions targeting immigration. Joe Biden later rescinded them.
On the campaig trail, the president-elect threatened to take aim at students involved in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war, and then students who would otherwise be eligible for permanent resident status after graduation will be screened to “exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges.”
Trump has also promised to “ban refugee resettlement from terror-infested areas like the Gaza Strip” and to launch an aggressive nationwide deportation operation targeting people living in the country illegally.
“We didn’t take people from certain areas of the world because I didn’t want to have people ripping down and burning our shopping centers and killing people,” he said earlier this year.
Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Thursday 26 December 2024 14:00 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump rattled North American diplomatic relations over the weekend with a threat to retake the Panama Canal, two and a half decades after the US transferred control of the vital global trade route to Panama.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president-elect accused the country of “ripping off” the US.
Josh Marcus reports.
Canal threats and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Thursday 26 December 2024 13:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump made a dig at former president Barack Obama as he went on a Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree.
The president-elect initially seemed to adopt a toned-down festive message, simply posting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
In the afternoon, however, he shared a lengthy post where he wished “Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics,” but refused the same sentiment to the “37 most violent criminals” pardoned by Joe Biden, instead telling them to “GO TO HELL.”
Rhian Lubin has the story.
Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Biden signs 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve
Thursday 26 December 2024 13:00 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Joe Biden spent Christmas Eve signing 50 bills into law, including one piece of legislation supported by Paris Hilton and another designating the bald eagle as the U.S. national bird.
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, backed by Hilton, a socialite and activist, is designed to hold teenage treatment centers and care facilities accountable. Hilton spent time on Capitol Hill promoting the measure.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Biden signs 50 bills into law - including and Paris Hilton-backed legislation
GOP senator mocked for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Thursday 26 December 2024 12:30 , Oliver O'ConnellGOP senator Tommy Tuberville has been mocked for claiming that Donald Trump brought Christmas “back in America.”
The Trump loyalist posted the festive message on social media platform X on Christmas Eve.
Rhian Lubin reports.
GOP senator rinsed for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky should be PM – or governor
Thursday 26 December 2024 11:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident-elect Donald Trump mocked Canada in his annual Christmas message by suggesting that the Trump-supporting ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky be a candidate for prime minister “or governor.”
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming Wayne Gretzky should be next PM
Trump wants to buy Greenland — could he?
Thursday 26 December 2024 10:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe re-emergence of Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions related to Greenland has added another strange new wrinkle to the presidential transition process.
And while it’s highly unlikely that the president-elect will have any success in convincing the governments of either Greenland or Denmark to sever the ties between the European country and its autonomous North American territory, it’s worth looking into the process of how the U.S. acquires new territories — and how that territory could be classified.
John Bowden reports.
Trump wants to purchase Greenland. How would that actually work?
After a year of legal challenges and a wild stock market ride, here’s Trump’s net worth going into 2025
Thursday 26 December 2024 09:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident-elect Donald Trump’s net worth ballooned from $2.5 billion to $6.1 billion during a year marred by legal struggles and assassination attempts.
Trump’s majority stake in his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG) the parent company of Truth Social, was the main driver of this growth.
The president-elect began the year with a net worth of about $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. That was a decrease from his previous term in the White House when it reached $4 billion. His net worth was not as volatile before he became the owner of a publicly traded company, the outlet noted.
Gustaf Kilander has the details.
Trump’s net worth rose by billions despite legal challenges and wild stock market
Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Thursday 26 December 2024 08:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump rattled North American diplomatic relations over the weekend with a threat to retake the Panama Canal, two and a half decades after the US transferred control of the vital global trade route to Panama.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president-elect accused the country of “ripping off” the US.
Josh Marcus reports.
Canal threats and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Lawmakers react to Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ involvement ahead of inauguration
Thursday 26 December 2024 07:30 , Oliver O'ConnellLawmakers and commentators think it’s “clear” Donald Trump is already in charge even though his inauguration is still weeks away.
As President Joe Biden winds down his presidency, Trump is behaving as though he is already in office by intervening with last week’s spending bill, issuing threats to retake the Panama Canal and asserting dominance over Greenland, according to The Hill.
“It’s clear he’s in charge now,” Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska told the outlet, remarking on Trump’s influence over the chaotic spending bill when the government was just a few hours from a shutdown.
Rhian Lubin reports.
‘He’s in charge’: Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ involvement ahead of inauguration
World leaders share Christmas messages
Thursday 26 December 2024 06:30 , Oliver O'ConnellJoe Biden has urged Americans to treat each other as neighbours, not enemies, and Argentina’s libertarian president Javier Milei declared “long live freedom, damnit” as world leaders shared messages to commemorate Christmas.
Archie Mitchell reports.
Javier Milei says ‘long live freedom damnit’ as world leaders share festive messages
Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Thursday 26 December 2024 04:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump made a dig at former president Barack Obama as he went on a Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree.
The president-elect initially seemed to adopt a toned-down festive message, simply posting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
In the afternoon, however, he shared a lengthy post where he wished “Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics,” but refused the same sentiment to the “37 most violent criminals” pardoned by Joe Biden, instead telling them to “GO TO HELL.”
Rhian Lubin has the story.
Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Biden signs 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve
Thursday 26 December 2024 03:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Joe Biden spent Christmas Eve signing 50 bills into law, including one piece of legislation supported by Paris Hilton and another designating the bald eagle as the U.S. national bird.
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, backed by Hilton, a socialite and activist, is designed to hold teenage treatment centers and care facilities accountable. Hilton spent time on Capitol Hill promoting the measure.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Biden signs 50 bills into law - including and Paris Hilton-backed legislation
GOP senator mocked for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Thursday 26 December 2024 02:30 , Oliver O'ConnellGOP senator Tommy Tuberville has been mocked for claiming that Donald Trump brought Christmas “back in America.”
The Trump loyalist posted the festive message on social media platform X on Christmas Eve.
Rhian Lubin reports.
GOP senator rinsed for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky should be PM – or governor
Thursday 26 December 2024 01:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident-elect Donald Trump mocked Canada in his annual Christmas message by suggesting that the Trump-supporting ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky be a candidate for prime minister “or governor.”
“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming Wayne Gretzky should be next PM
Biden marks Hanukkah
Thursday 26 December 2024 00:49 , Oliver O'ConnellTwo years ago, Jill and I introduced the first-ever White House Menorah made from historic wood sourced from the foundation.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 26, 2024
As Hanukkah begins, it is displayed to make clear that the history of the Jewish life is woven into the fabric of America.
Like this menorah, it's… pic.twitter.com/3lj946yE0H
Trump’s net worth rose by billions this year despite legal challenges and wild stock market. Here’s what it is now.
Thursday 26 December 2024 00:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident-elect Donald Trump’s net worth ballooned from $2.5 billion to $6.1 billion during a year marred by legal struggles and assassination attempts.
Trump’s majority stake in his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG) the parent company of Truth Social, was the main driver of this growth.
The president-elect began the year with a net worth of about $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. That was a decrease from his previous term in the White House when it reached $4 billion. His net worth was not as volatile before he became the owner of a publicly traded company, the outlet noted.
Read more:
Trump’s net worth rose by billions despite legal challenges and wild stock market
Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Wednesday 25 December 2024 23:45 , Rhian LubinDonald Trump made a dig at former president Barack Obama as he went on a Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree.
The president-elect toned down his festive message this year, simply posting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
Soon after though, Trump reeled off 34 posts on his social media platform within a one-hour period, including a meme mocking Obama.
The meme featured a photo of the president-elect smirking at Obama during his 2017 inauguration, along with the caption: “When you see the guy who said ‘you’ll never be president’ at your inauguration.”
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Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree
Canal threats, money-laundering claims and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Wednesday 25 December 2024 23:00 , Josh MarcusDonald Trump rattled North American diplomatic relations over the weekend with a threat to retake the Panama Canal, two and a half decades after the US transferred control of the vital global trade route to Panama.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president-elect accused the country of “ripping off” the US.
“Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way,” Trump wrote. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US.”
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Canal threats and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama
Trump tweets himself as dancing Santa
Wednesday 25 December 2024 22:53 , Oliver O'Connell— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2024
Watch: Merry Christmas from Nancy Pelosi
Wednesday 25 December 2024 22:45 , Oliver O'ConnellAs we come together for this holiday season and observe our faith traditions, I pray for God's blessings on all. With gratitude to our military service members, essential workers and all of you, I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with health, peace, love, and joy. -NP pic.twitter.com/AlbzSJ0miH
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) December 25, 2024
Biden slams Russia’s ‘outrageous’ Christmas Day attack on Ukraine
Wednesday 25 December 2024 22:31 , Oliver O'ConnellThe White House has released the following statement from President Joe Biden regarding Russia’s overnight aerial attacks against Ukraine:
In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid. Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia’s aggression. In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defense against Russian forces.
‘It never left’: GOP senator mocked for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Wednesday 25 December 2024 22:15 , Rhian LubinGOP senator Tommy Tuberville has been mocked for claiming that Donald Trump has brought Christmas “back in America.”
The Trump loyalist posted the festive message on social media platform X on Christmas Eve.
“Thanks to President Trump, Christmas is back in America,” Tuberville said. But the former football coach was widely mocked in the responses.
“When idiots say stupid things,” Democratic Party strategist Chris D. Jackson responded.
“Someone has been [at] the eggnog,” one person jibed.
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GOP senator rinsed for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’
Watch: Doug Emhoff delivers Hanukkah message
Wednesday 25 December 2024 21:55 , Oliver O'ConnellWith @VP’s support, I’ve lived openly and proudly with Jewish joy over these past 4 years. Today, I rededicate myself to finding light in the darkness and spreading that light to others. Wishing everyone meaningful and happy Hanukkah! pic.twitter.com/J13fVAI6s1
— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) December 25, 2024
A very MAGA Christmas: How Trump’s inner-circle are marking the holidays
Wednesday 25 December 2024 21:30 , Rhian LubinVowing to “never surrender,” cheering mass deportations, and claiming Donald Trump has “brought Christmas back to America” – this is how MAGA is marking the holidays this year.
Trump, perhaps surprisingly, has toned down his annual festive message, simply posting on Truth Social on Christmas morning: “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!”
Last year Trump delivered a scathing Christmas message to President Joe Biden and Special Counsel Jack Smith where he wrote: “MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Read more:
A very MAGA Christmas: How Trump’s inner-circle are marking the holidays
Watch: Biden wishes Merry Christmas with stunning drone tour of White House decorations
Wednesday 25 December 2024 21:15 , Oliver O'ConnellMay our nation be blessed with the peace and light of the holiday season.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 24, 2024
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. pic.twitter.com/C1gBvivNKU
Trump names his ambassador to Panama
Wednesday 25 December 2024 20:55 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump has named his pick for US ambassador to Panama — a position that might have once merited a footnote but could in theory be especially important in the coming years given the president-elect’s demands for the return of the Panama Canal.
Here’s what Trump wrote on Truth Social:
I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams.
Kevin is a fierce fighter for America First principles. As a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the International Trade Consortium, he has been instrumental in driving Economic growth, and fostering International partnerships. In 2020, Kevin did an incredible job as my Florida State Director and, this year, advanced our MAGA Agenda as a Member of the RNC Platform Committee.
Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!
Trump encourages Wayne Gretzky to run for PM of Canada — or Governor as he believes it will soon be
Wednesday 25 December 2024 20:45 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump is encouraging Canadian former professional ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky to run for prime minister of Canada, noting that (at least in his mind) the position will soon be known as Governor of Canada.
Here’s what the president-elect had to say on Truth Social:
I just left Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One” as he is known in Ice Hockey circles. I said, “Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.” He had no interest, but I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!
Trump posts rambling long form Christmas greeting
Wednesday 25 December 2024 20:32 , Oliver O'ConnellJust in case you thought Donald Trump was going to deliver a simple “Merry Christmas” as his holiday greeting, here’s what we’ve really been waiting for — a bizarre, rambling message to [checks notes] China’s soldiers, Justin Trudeau, the people of Greenland, and Radical Left Lunatics.
The president-elect also refuses to wish Merry Christmas to the “37 most violent criminals” pardoned by Joe Biden, instead telling them to “GO TO HELL.”
Here’s the two-part Truth Social post in full:
Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in “repair” money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about “anything.” Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World. Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!…
…Page 2: Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing. Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky “souls” but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Biden signs 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve - including legislation supported by Paris Hilton
Wednesday 25 December 2024 20:16 , Gustaf KilanderPresident Joe Biden spent Christmas Eve signing 50 bills into law, including one piece of legislation supported by Paris Hilton and another designating the bald eagle as the U.S. national bird.
The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, backed by Hilton, a socialite and activist, is designed to hold teenage treatment centers and care facilities accountable. Hilton spent time on Capitol Hill promoting the measure.
This month, the Senate voted unanimously to support the bill, and it passed the House by a vote of 367 to 33. Biden signed the law Tuesday. Hilton, meanwhile, has expressed interest in possibly becoming an elected official.
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Biden signs 50 bills into law - including and Paris Hilton-backed legislation
Trump wants to purchase Greenland. How would that actually work?
Wednesday 25 December 2024 20:00 , John BowdenThe re-emergence of Donald Trump’s territorial ambitions related to Greenland has added another strange new wrinkle to the presidential transition process.
And while it’s highly unlikely that the president-elect will have any success in convincing the governments of either Greenland or Denmark to sever the ties between the European country and its autonomous North American territory, it’s worth looking into the process of how the U.S. acquires new territories — and how that territory could be classified.
Greenland has been tied to Denmark politically and culturally for more than a century. Perhaps not recognizing the strength of those ties, the United States has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring the land and its people; the first push by U.S. politicians to purchase Greenland began in 1867, led by then-Secretary of State William Seward.
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Trump wants to purchase Greenland. How would that actually work?
Trump’s FCC chair sends ominous letter to Disney CEO: ‘Americans no longer trust the national news media’
Wednesday 25 December 2024 19:15 , Alex WoodwardAfter Donald Trump threatened to strip ABC’s broadcast license and forced the network into a $15 million settlement, the president-elect’s pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission warned its parent company that Americans “no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.”
In a letter to Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, Brendan Carr lamented the “erosion in public trust” in news media, and suggested ABC was partially to blame.
Carr — who wrote Project 2025’s chapter on the FCC — said the agency would be “monitoring” ABC’s negotiations with local television stations that carry its programming.
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President and First Lady speak to service members ‘to share just how grateful we are for their courage and sacrifice'
Wednesday 25 December 2024 19:07 , Gustaf KilanderThere's a true selflessness in giving up a seat at your Christmas table to defend your country.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 25, 2024
This Christmas, Jill and I spoke with service members serving around the world to share just how grateful we are for their courage and sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/1pAi1HYdCB
Trump’s Ukraine-Russia envoy slams Kremlin’s Christmas Day attack
Wednesday 25 December 2024 18:47 , Gustaf KilanderTrump’s chosen Ukraine-Russia envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, slammed Russia’s Christmas Day attack on Ukraine in a post on X.
“Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day,” he said. “Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region.”
John Bolton warns: I’m ‘very worried’ about how Trump would handle ‘much more likely’ international crisis
Wednesday 25 December 2024 18:30 , Katie HawkinsonJohn Bolton, President-elect Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, said that an international crisis is “much more likely” during the Republican’s second term.
Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, told The Guardian the president-elect has an “inability to focus” and bases his decisions on personal relationships and “neuron flashes.”
“It’s typical Trump: it’s all braggadocio,” Bolton told the outlet. “The world is more dangerous than when he was president before. The only real crisis we had was COVID, which is a long-term crisis and not against a particular foreign power but against a pandemic.”
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John Bolton warns of ‘much more likely’ international crisis under Trump
Matt Gaetz sends fundraising message after bombshell House Ethics report: ‘I need your help’
Wednesday 25 December 2024 17:45 , Alex WoodwardHours after the publication of a bombshell report revealing “substantial evidence” that Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, the former congressman issued a fundraising plea through his recently launched political action committee.
Gaetz — who was Donald Trump’s first pick for U.S. attorney general — is accused of violating federal and state laws against statutory rape, prostitution, illicit drug use and abusing the power of his office.
The results of a years-long House Ethics Committee investigation is a “sham witch hunt — just like the ones they conducted against President Trump,” Gaetz said in an email through his Florida Firebrand PAC Monday.
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Matt Gaetz sends fundraising message after bombshell ethics report
Aspiring MAGA congresswoman performs mock ‘execution’ of migrant in disturbing campaign video
Wednesday 25 December 2024 17:00 , Mike BediganAspiring congresswoman and controversial MAGA cheerleader Valentina Gomez has sparked outrage once again after posting a video in which she appears to simulate executing an immigrant.
The 25-year-old, who tried and failed to be elected as the Missouri Secretary of State earlier this year, said in the disturbing clip that undocumented persons who committed violent crimes “deserve to be ended.”
In the video, posted to X on Monday, Gomez is seen firing a handgun into the back of the head of a dummy tied to a chair with a black bag over its head.
Read more:
Aspiring MAGA congresswoman performs mock ‘execution’ of migrant in disturbing video
From halibut and hot dogs to unlikely friendships: This is what happens inside the Senate lunch room
Wednesday 25 December 2024 14:45 , Eric GarciaDuring President Joe Biden’s final major address on the economy, he did what he does best: wax poetic about the old days of the United States Senate, the institution that defined him. He told an especially instructive story about when he returned to the Senate as vice president and went into the Senate dining hall, where a central dining room table used to stand. That’s were Democrats and Republicans would once meet and talk.
“You walk in — a long table sitting, I guess, 16, 18 people on the right, parallel with the table,” he said. “And you walk through an archway, and there was a table going the other way. One was the Democratic table. One was Republican table. And when there weren’t enough to sit at any one table, then they all sit together.”
Read more:
Inside the Senate lunchroom: From Mormon hot dogs to Alaskan halibut
Texas buys billboards in Central America warning migrants of danger of rape and abuse on journey to US
Wednesday 25 December 2024 14:00 , Alex WoodwardThe state of Texas is paying an estimated $100,000 to install on blunt and at-times graphic billboards across Mexico and Central America in the coming weeks in the hopes of deterring future illegal immigration.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports:
Texas buys billboards in Central America warning migrants of danger of rape
Trump calls for death penalty against violent offenders
Wednesday 25 December 2024 13:00 , Josh MarcusThe political fallout remains ongoing for Joe Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of most people on federal death row to life in prison.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Donald Trump promised to “vigorously” pursue the death penalty against violent offenders.
“As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters,” Trump wrote. “We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!”
Trump oversaw a historic 13 federal executions in office, the most of any modern U.S. president.
Here’s more on the Biden commutations.
Trump’s FCC nominee sends ominous letter to Disney CEO: ‘Americans no longer trust the national news media’
Wednesday 25 December 2024 11:00 , Alex WoodwardAfter Trump threatened to strip ABC’s broadcast license and forced the network into a $15 million settlement, the president-elect’s pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission warned its parent company that Americans “no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.”
In a letter to Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, Brendan Carr lamented the “erosion in public trust” in news media, and suggested ABC was partially to blame.
Inside Trump’s latest fight with the media, and what Carr – a Project 2025 co-author — plans to do in office:
Colombia’s president denounces ‘American fascist’ Colombian-American calling for public executions of immigrants
Wednesday 25 December 2024 10:00 , Alex WoodwardFar-right Republican figure Valentina Gomez, who has made headlines for stunts like taking a flamethrower to banned books, is now calling for public executions for any immigrant in the country illegally who “rapes or kills an American.”
“They don’t deserve deportation. They deserve to be ended,” she says in a video moments after shooting an effigy tied to a chair in the back of the head.
The caption reads “Public executions for any illegal that rapes or kills an American.” The video posted on X has been flagged for potentially violating the platform’s “rules against Violent Speech.”
Gomez, who is Colombian-American, came sixth in an eight-person primary for Missouri’s secretary of state, and last week she said she’s moving to Texas to challenge congressman Dan Crenshaw’s seat
Colombia’s own president called her an “American fascist.”
“She is not just an American fascist. She is Colombian,” Gustavo Petro wrote in Spanish. “And being a migrant, what she wants is to unleash hatred against migrants. Most Americans are killed by Americans.”
Ella no es solo estadounidense fascista. Es colombiana. Y siendo migrante lo que quiere es desatar el odio a los migrantes. La mayoría de los estadounidenses son asesinados por estadounidenses. pic.twitter.com/vmDOj23FQv
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) December 24, 2024
ICYMI: Biden vetoes legislation that would have allowed Trump to add more judges to the federal judiciary
Wednesday 25 December 2024 09:00 , Alex WoodwardPresident Joe Biden has vetoed legislation that would have added dozens of judges to the federal judiciary, dealing a blow to Trump’s incoming administration and his plans to build on his first term’s radical reshaping of the courts with more right-leaning judges.
The bipartisan bill would have awarded roughly 66 new federal judicial slots over the next three presidential terms. Trump would have been able to appoint a first batch of 25.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously in August but lingered in the Republican-controlled House for months, until after Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. It cleared the House on a largely party-line in December.
The JUDGES Act would have increased the number of trial court judges in 25 federal district courts in 13 states, including California, Florida and Texas, in six waves every two years through 2035.
The bill “seeks to hastily add judgeships with just a few weeks left” in the current Congress, Biden wrote in a letter to lawmakers Monday night.
“The House of Representatives’ hurried action fails to resolve key questions in the legislation, especially regarding how the new judgeships are allocated, and neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate explored fully how the work of senior status judges and magistrate judges affects the need for new judgeships,” he added.
“The efficient and effective administration of justice requires that these questions about need and allocation be further studied and answered before we create permanent judgeships for life-tenured judges,” the letter continued.
The bill “would create new judgeships in states where senators have sought to hold open existing judicial vacancies,” efforts that suggest “concerns about judicial economy and caseload are not the true motivating force behind passage of this bill now,” according to Biden.
