Biden extends olive branch to Trump as president-elect returns to White House: Live updates

Donald Trump has met with Joe Biden at the White House to discuss a transition schedule, with their opening sitdown warm and cordial in tone.

On a busy day in Washington DC, Republican senators also elected a new majority leader in place of Mitch McConnell, with South Dakota’s John Thune coming out on top.

The president-elect has meanwhile announced that tech billionaire Elon Musk and ex-Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), tasked with cutting the cost of government, stripping away regulations and restructuring federal agencies.

Musk responded by pledging that DOGE “will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people”.

The incoming 47th president unveiled a number of other appointments to his new administration on Tuesday, picking John Ratcliffe, his director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021, to be his next CIA director and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense.

Trump also revealed that Mike Huckabee has been chosen as his new ambassador to Israel, Steven Witkoff will be his special envoy to the Middle East, and William Joseph McGinley his White House counsel.

Key Points

• Donald Trump and Joe Biden meet at White House for traditional transition sitdown

• President-elect names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to new Department of Government Efficiency

• Trump picks John Ratcliffe as new CIA director as cabinet appointments continue

• Fox News host Pete Hegseth nominated as new defense secretary

• Trump taps Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel

Watch live: Senate Republicans speak for first time since John Thune elected Senate majority leader

18:21 , Kate Gill

Watch live as the Senate Republicans speak for the first time since John Thune was elected to serve as Senate majority leader for the next two years.

Senate Republicans nominated the Senate Minority Whip to succeed Mitch McConnell as majority leader, setting him up to be the main force to push through President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.

The South Dakotan beat Florida Senator Rick Scott, a favourite of allies of Trump’s such as Elon Musk, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who previously held the job of whip.

Trump and Thune have previously clashed, at one point seeing the President-elect encouraging South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to challenge Thune for his seat.

The two appear to have put their differences aside after the minority whip endorsed Trump.

Watch: Trump ally hints she could serve as his press secretary

18:15 , Joe Sommerlad

New Senate majority leader called Trump’s actions ‘inexcusable’

18:07 , Gustaf Kilander

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota blasted Trump after his second impeachment trial, saying that his “vote to acquit should not be viewed as exoneration … What former President Trump did to undermine faith in our election system and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power is inexcusable.”

Trump and Biden played nice in the Oval Office. Elsewhere at White House, it felt like the circus was back

17:45 , Andrew Feinberg

Nearly four years after he left Washington, DC, under a cloud of ignominy rather than attend Joe Biden’s inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump’s bespoke 757 touched down at Joint Base Andrews and taxied to nearly the exact spot from which he departed the same airfield aboard Air Force One.

This time, there was no red carpet there to meet him. There were no salutes rendered upon his arrival, and only a single Air Force officer waiting to greet the man who will, for the second time, become the commander-in-chief of the world’s most powerful military in just a few short months. Roughly 20 miles away at the White House, Trump wasn’t greeted by anything near the pageantry that will await him following his inauguration on January 20, four years to the day after he left without welcoming Biden upon his arrival.

Trump and Biden played nice in the Oval Office as the circus returned to Washington

WATCH: Trump and Biden shake hands as president-elect visits White House

17:43 , Gustaf Kilander

Barrasso elected majority whip

17:40 , Gustaf Kilander

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso has been elected Republican majority whip after running for the role unopposed, according to Politico.

Barrasso, 72, joined the Senate in 2007 and is the current chair of the Senate Republican Conference, the number three spot in the caucus.

Thune says he’s ‘honored to serve’ as majority leader

17:24 , Gustaf Kilander

Thune elected as first new Senate GOP leader in nearly two decades

17:22 , Gustaf Kilander

John Thune was elected in a secret ballot and is set to take over as the new Senate majority leader in January at the beginning of the new Congress.

Thune is the first new Republican Senate leader in 18 years, following the longest-serving Senate leader Mitch McConnell.

The South Dakota Senator will take on the leadership of the Republican Senate caucus as the GOP takes control of both chambers of Congress as well as the White House.

Thune is the current Republican whip, and at 63, he’s seen as relatively young by GOP leadership standards. He succeeds McConnell, 82, and won in the second round of voting against John Cornyn, 72.

Republicans are set to govern with a 53-seat majority in the Senate as they take on cutting taxes, cracking down on immigration, and looking at energy policy.

Watch: Trump’s new defense secretary ‘can’t remember washing hands once over last decade’ in bizarre resurfaced footage

17:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s defense secretary ‘can’t remember washing hands once over last decade’

John Thune elected new Senate GOP leader

17:05 , Gustaf Kilander

South Dakota Senator John Thune has been elected the new Senate GOP leader by a margin of 29 votes to 24 for Texas Senator John Cornyn, according to Punchbowl.

Thune won re-election in 2022, meaning that he’s not up for election again until 2028 when Trump’s second term will be coming to an end.

Thune and Cornyn advance to second ballot – Scott eliminated

16:59 , Gustaf Kilander

Senators John Thune and John Cornyn have advanced to the second ballot in the Senate Republican election for majority leader, according to Politico.

Senator Rick Scott has been eliminated.

The vote total was 23 votes for Thune, 15 for Cornyn, and 13 for Scott.

First lady joins Biden and Trump and presents handwritten letter for Melania

16:38 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a grinning Joe Biden at his meeting with Trump just now.

According to the pool report, the two men were joined by First Lady Dr Jill Biden and she gave their guest a handwritten letter of congratulations to pass on to Melania Trump, which also expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition.

In pictures: Trump and Biden meet at White House for traditional transition sitdown

16:21 , Joe Sommerlad

Here are the 46th and 47 presidents pictured together in the Oval Office just now in front of a roaring log fire:

Their remarks lasted about a minute, with Trump observing “politics is tough” and adding: “And in many cases it’s not a nice world. But it’s a nice world today.”

He also thanked Biden for his invitation, who replied simply: “You’re welcome.”

Trump added that the transition between their two administrations would be “as smooth as it can get and I very much appreciate that Joe.”

The men subsequently met in private without the press pack present, with Trump apparently getting a laugh by joking about bringing an end to term limits.

Musk brags he will not need the 530 days Trump has given him to improve government

16:15 , Joe Sommerlad

As we await the president-elect’s arrival at the White House to meet the current commander-in-chief – in what could be a very awkward meeting indeed – here’s his new efficiency czar boasting on X about easy it will be for him to streamline the federal government.

Live: Trump and Biden to meet at the White House

15:55 , Joe Sommerlad

You can watch a livefeed of Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Joe Biden in the Oval Office via our YouTube channel below.

Trump announces four more advisers joining White House staff

15:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest HR news out of Mar-a-Lago as the Trump transition team confirms reporting earlier this week that Stephen Miller will join his second administration as assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff for police and homeland security adviser.

In addition, Trump’s former caddy and long-time social media adviser Dan Scavino will return as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, James Blair will be an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and Taylor Budowich will serve as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel.

“Dan, Stephen, James and Taylor were ‘best in class’ advisors on my winning campaign, and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,” quoth Trump.

“They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.”

Watch: Trump addresses House Republicans

15:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump addresses Republicans in DC: ‘It’s always nice to win’

15:35 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect is currently addressing the House GOP conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in triumphant fashion, basking in the glow of last week’s election results.

His new best friend has a front row seat.

Melania hits out over ‘false, misleading and inaccurate’ reporting about her absence

15:20 , Joe Sommerlad

While still declining to offer an explanation for her not joining her husband today, the past and former first lady hits out at the press and warns: “Be discerning with your source of news.”

Trump jets in for White House meeting with Joe Biden

15:05 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect’s private plane landed in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, a short while ago to whisk him across to Washington DC.

Elon Musk, his chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles and Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz were among Trump’s fellow passengers.

MAGA congresswoman claims Lara Trump is ‘perfect fit’ to replace Rubio in Senate

14:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna believes the RNC co-chair, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, should take Senator Marco Rubio’s seat in the upper chamber of Congress now that he is expected to be tapped to serve in Trump’s cabinet.

Kelly Rissman reports.

MAGA congresswoman claims Lara Trump is best fit to replace Marco Rubio in Senate

Musk supports radical change in who controls America’s supply of money

14:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO signaled his support for abolishing the Federal Reserve in a post on X last week, just days before Trump announced the billionaire’s new “efficiency” role under his government.

Musk shared a post by Republican Senator Mike Lee that called for an end to the United States’s central bank.

Musk included a “100” emoji in the caption of his re-post on Friday.

“The Executive Branch should be under the direction of the president,” the Utah senator wrote in his post.

“That’s how the Constitution was designed. The Federal Reserve is one of many examples of how we’ve deviated from the Constitution in that regard. et another reason why we should #EndTheFed.”

Katie Hawkinson has more.

Elon Musk supports radical change in who controls America’s supply of money

Tommy Tuberville says the US military ‘couldn’t beat anyone right now’

14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The Alabama Senator told Fox News host Laura Ingraham last night that her stablemate Pete Hegseth will have his work cut out for him because the US military is a “disaster” and “couldn’t beat anybody right now”.

Tuberville – a former football coach who never served and has no background in military strategy – made the comments while insisting that the nation needs to revamp its armed forces.

“We need to build our military up,” the Republican said.

“Our military right now, Laura, is a disaster. Absolute disaster. We couldn’t beat anybody right now.”

Tuberville said while “we’ve got some good people in the military… [the] structure of it, the things that we’ve done, the Democrats have destroyed it”.

Graig Graziosi has more.

Tommy Tuberville says the military ‘couldn’t beat anyone right now’

Ex-Fox News host slams colleague’s appointment to run Pentagon under Trump

13:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Gretchen Carlson has said she was left “stunned” by Trump’s decision to select her one-time colleague Pete Hegseth as his new secretary of defense.

“From silly diner interviews on Weekend Fox and Friends to Secretary of Defense?” she wrote on X last night.

“I never thought I’d say I’m stunned about any pick after the election but nominating Pete Hegseth for this incredibly important role? Yes he’s a veteran… and?”

James Liddell has more.

Ex-Fox News host slams colleague’s appointment to run Pentagon under Trump

Trump’s defense secretary pick thinks women should not be in combat roles in military

13:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Pete Hegseth said earlier this month that women should not be in combat roles in the military because they are not “as capable” as men.

The 44-year-old Fox and Friends co-host, whose appointment has shocked many in the defense world, dismissed the role of women in combat roles in an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show, which aired last week on November 7.

“I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said.

“It hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated.

“We have all served with women and they’re great. But it’s just our institutions don’t have to incentivize that in places where traditionally… over human history, men in those positions are more capable.”

Rhian Lubin has more.

Trump’s defense secretary pick thinks women should not be in combat roles in military

Revealed: Trump’s push to ‘veto Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal’

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The future of the Chagos Islands and a secretive UK/US airbase is set to be an early flashpoint between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer as the president-elect seeks to veto the controversial deal signed off by the prime minister and endorsed by Joe Biden, it can be revealed.

The Independent understands that the Trump’s transition team has requested legal advice from the Pentagon over the agreement that handed the Chagos Islands – which is under British control – to Mauritius.

US government sources say Trump is looking to veto the deal, which is set to come into force after his inauguration in January, over global security fears.

Here’s a full report from David Maddox.

Revealed: Donald Trump’s push to veto Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal

Jack Smith to step down as Justice Department special counsel before Trump takes office

12:45 , Joe Sommerlad

“The prosecutor who investigated and charged Donald J Trump plans to finish his report and leave the job before he can be fired,” writes The New York Times of the man who brought two federal indictments against the Republican in 2023 that the president-elect will now presumably just wave aside as soon as he enters the Oval Office.

Smith’s goal, according to The NYT, is to not leave any of his work unfinished and to get ahead of Trump’s pledge to fire him within “two seconds” of being sworn in.

Smith’s election interference and classified documents cases are currently being wound down and the prosecutor finds himself leaving office a frustrated figure, his attempt to prove that not even a president is above the law rendered moot by Trump’s delaying tactics and eventual electoral victory.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba frontrunner for White House press secretary

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The showboating attorney who represented Trump in a series of high-profile legal cases and was last scene dancing on stage at his rallies has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the next White House press secretary, according to reports.

Habba is expected at Mar-a-Lago this week, as the president-elect continues to announce appointments to his cabinet and wider administration.

Sources told Mediate that although no formal decisions has yet been made, she is a favorite candidate for the position and has been in Florida for “conversations regarding a potential role.”

Mike Bedigan has more.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba emerges as favorite for White House press secretary: report

What actually is DOGE? Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk and Ramaswamy

12:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The Sillicon Valley bros will lead the new office – which will operate “outside of government” – designed to advise on gutting federal departments and which staff should be fired if it deems they are a “massive waste.”

Here’s Rhian Lubin with more on what that actually means in practice.

What is DOGE? Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk and Ramaswamy

Dick Van Dyke says he’s fortunate he ‘won’t be around’ for the next four years

11:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The beloved Mary Poppins star, now 98 years old, was stopped by a press photographer yesterday, according to The Daily Mail, and asked: “Does the future look bright for America?”

Not quite hearing the question clearly, he answered: “I hope you’re right!”

“Do you think Donald Trump is capable of making America great again?” the photographer persisted.

“Fortunately I won’t be around to experience the four years,” the veteran said with a smile.

FDA faces uncertain future under Trump and RFK Jr, warns commissioner

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Robert Califf, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, has admitted he is “disappointed” with the presidential election result and uncertain about the agency’s future under Donald Trump.

“I’m biased, but I feel like the FDA is at peak performance right now and we’ll just see what happens as the new team comes in,” he said at a conference hosted by the non-profit Friends of Cancer Research on Tuesday.

On the prospect of Robert F Kennedy Jr’s imminent takeover, Califf told MSNBC last week: “The gist of this administration, from everything that’s been said, is that they want to change a lot of things, and how it gets changed depends on who gets appointed into key positions.”

He declined to comment on RFK Jr’s opinion on vaccines but said he agreed with him on more strictly regulating heavily-processed foods.

Califf is by no means the only nutrition expert reacting with dismay to Trump’s win and the prospect of what’s to come.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump’s promises to overhaul health agencies with RFK met with optimism and dismay

Who is in Trump’s cabinet so far? The ice maiden, the dog killer and the Fox News host

11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Kaitlan Collins reported on CNN last night that one position the president-elect is still struggling to fill is that of US attorney general, a role that has given him plenty of trouble in the past.

Here’s Thomas Beaumont with a recap of who we’ve got so far.

Who’s in Trump’s Cabinet so far? The ice maiden, the dog killer and the Fox News host

Jimmy Kimmel offers alternate theory for why Melania Trump shunned Jill Biden’s White House invite

10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

While Trump and Biden will meet in the Oval Office today, there wives will not.

Here’s James Liddell with the late-night host’s guess as to why that might be (Melania’s people have cited a scheduling conflict, for the record).

Jimmy Kimmel’s theory for why Melania Trump shunned Jill Biden’s White House invite

Elizabeth Warren derides Musk’s government efficiency office: ‘Two people to do the work of one person’

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The Massachusetts Senator wasting no time here in pointing out an obvious logical flaw in the tech bro’s DOGE project: the colossal waste and expense of setting up a new government agency to cut waste and expense in government agencies.

Musk himself, meanwhile, is already dreaming of the merchandise sales – and perhaps saying the quiet part out loud in so doing.

Trump taps Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Other cabinet appointments confirmed by Trump on Tuesday included Mike Huckabee being nominated as his new ambassador to Israel, Steven Witkoff as his special envoy to the Middle East and William Joseph McGinley as his White House counsel.

Here’s a little more on Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and long-standing conservative favorite.

Trump taps Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel

President-elect announces Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

If this one beggars belief at first glance, here’s a little explanation.

Hegseth, 44, is a former Bear Stearns banker who served tours with the Army National Guard in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan and has led veterans-focused advocacy organizations.

He joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and is a co-host on its morning show Fox and Friends.

During his time with the network, Hegseth has lobbied Trump to support US soldiers and contractors accused of war crimes, including Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and a group of Blackwater personnel accused of massacring civilians in Baghdad.

On air, Hegseth has complained that the US is spending too much supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia, has been an outspoken advocate for Israel and made a series of controversial pronouncements, a sample of which follows:

There was also this noteworthy near-miss:

“Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the country,” Trump said in a statement yesterday.

“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”

Josh Marcus has more.

Trump picks new defense secretary from his favorite talent pool – Fox News

Trump picks John Ratcliffe as new CIA director

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The incoming 47th president unveiled a number of other appointments to his new administration on Tuesday, picking John Ratcliffe, his director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021, to be his next CIA director.

Josh Marcus has more on a returning face from Trump’s first term.

Trump wants former national intelligence director John Ratcliffe as CIA director

White House defends Biden-Trump sitdown invitation: ‘The American people deserve this’

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The former and future commander-in-chief will return to Washington DC on Wednesday to meet with Republicans on Capitol Hill and Joe Biden at the White House to discuss a transition schedule as the Senate elects a new majority leader in place of Mitch McConnell, with Rick Scott, John Cornyn and John Thune in contention.

Biden’s team has defended making the invitation to Trump, who did not extend the same courtesy to his successor in late 2020 while he disputed his election defeat on false grounds.

Asked why the president is granting the Republican a grace he was not afforded four years ago, White House press secretart Karine Jean-Pierre replied that it was “easy” to answer the question.

“Because he believes in the norms, he believes in our institutions, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power,” she said.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

White House defends Biden-Trump sitdown: ‘The American people deserve this’

Donald Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘Manhattan Project’ of government cuts

08:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning!

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that tech billionaire Elon Musk and ex-Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), tasked with cutting the cost of government, stripping away regulations and restructuring federal agencies.

Musk responded to the news by pledging that DOGE “will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people”.

Trump compared the office to the Manhattan Project, which developed the world’s first atomic bombs.

Here’s Alex Woodward’s report.

Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘Manhattan Project’ for government cuts

WATCH: Scalise praises Trump’s ‘really good smart picks’ for cabinet

08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally continues amid ‘Trump bump’ crypto frenzy

07:00 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The price of bitcoin hit a new record on Tuesday, marking the third consecutive day that the cryptocurrency has reached an all-time-high.

The new price high above $89,900 forms part of a broader rally that began when Donald Trump emerged as the likely winner of the US presidential election on 6 November.

Positioning himself as a pro-crypto candidate, the president-elect has promised to end what he calls the “persecution” of the crypto industry and to position the United States as the “bitcoin superpower of the world” once in power.

Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally continues amid ‘Trump bump’ crypto frenzy

Election ‘Nostradamus’ blames incorrect prediction on Elon Musk and ‘explosion’ of disinformation

06:15 , Rhian Lubin

Allan Lichtman, who incorrectly predicted that Kamala Harris would win the 2024 election, blamed Elon Musk and the “explosion” of disinformation during the campaign.

The American political historian had been dubbed the “Nostradamus” of elections because – until last week – he successfully predicted the last nine out of 10 presidential races since 1984. He consistently backed his original prediction that Harris would win in 2024.

But since Donald Trump claimed victory last week, the professor acknowledged he was wrong and would reassess his method.

Reflecting on the result, Lichtman said he was “sounding the alarm” about Musk.

Allan Lichtman blames incorrect prediction on Musk and ‘explosion’ of disinformation

Susie Wiles hints at Trump’s plans for day one in office during private Republican event

05:30 , Ariana Baio

President-elect Donald Trump plans to restore multiple executive orders from his first term that President Joe Biden rescinded as soon as he takes office, Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff, told Republican donors at a private event on Monday.

While speaking with donors at a closed-door conference in Las Vegas, Wiles said Trump is prepared to take action on day one by reinstating previous policies through executive orders – though, she did not specify which ones Trump is prioritizing, the New York Times reported.

Biden reversed at least 24 Trump administration policies within his first 100 days in office.

Susie Wiles hints at Trump’s plans for day one in office during private GOP event

WATCH: Who is who in the new first family?

04:45 , Reann Philogene

Donald Trump was elected the 47th United States President on Tuesday, November 6th, 2024.

While the Trump family name has been long famous in the business and entertainment industry, Donald Trump’s political reputation has made the family more prominent than ever. Some members have expressed they share different views with Donald Trump’s conservative political agenda, yet the family have all shown their encouragement one way or another throughout Trump’s presidential campaign. Donald Trump has a total of five children and ten grandchildren in his immediate family.

With his second presidential term approaching, the public has seen more of the younger generation of family members enter the public arena to support him.

Starmer and Trump on collision course over climate change ambitions as PM unveils ambitious target

04:00 , David Maddox, Stuti Mishra

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump are on a collision course over global warning after the prime minister positioned himself as the international leader on attempting to achieve net zero.

The prime minister used his position as one of the only world leaders from the G20 nations to attend the COP29 climate conference in Baku to announce that carbon emissions in the UK will be slashed by 81 per cent by 2035.

But it came as president-elect Trump indicated that he would be taking the US in the opposite direction with the controversial appointment of Lee Zeldin to lead the US Environment Protection Agency.

Starmer and Trump on collision course over climate change ambitions

WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel savages Trump’s new partner ‘Elonia Musk’

03:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Who is in Trump’s Cabinet so far? From ‘ice maiden’ Susie Wiles to border czar Tom Homan

02:30 , Thomas Beaumont

President-elect Donald Trump is starting to fill key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.

Here’s a look at who he’s selected so far.

Who is in Trump’s Cabinet so far? From ‘ice maiden’ to immigration hardliner

Kamala Harris was convinced to abandon her progressive ideas. So Democrats didn’t vote for her

02:05 , John Bowden

Democrats are looking at spending at least the first two years of Donald Trump’s second presidency in the wilderness after losing the Senate. It looks increasingly likely they will fail to retake the House of Representatives, too. Now, many are questioning whether the party is truly going to learn anything of value from the second defeat of the Democratic standard-bearer to Trump and MAGA Republicanism.

Centrist Democrats in particular are taking it from all sides, humiliated with a seven-swing-state sweep after successfully talking Harris into abandoning the progressive-ish agenda she championed in her 2020 bid for the White House. Those centrists spent the past few months stating plainly that she would not be a meaningful departure from the presidency of Joe Biden, with whom Harris could not identify a single issue on which she disagreed.

Harris was convinced not to run a progressive campaign. So Democrats stayed home

WATCH: Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe refuses to apologize for Puerto Rico joke at Trump rally

01:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Full story: Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘Manhattan Project’ for government cuts

01:33 , Alex Woodward

Donald Trump has nominated billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a newly created office designed to fire workers and make drastic cuts to government funding.

The men leading the Office of Government Efficiency — or DOGE, named after Musk’s favorite meme — “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies — Essential to the ‘Save America; Movement,” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” Musk added.

Read more

WATCH: Trump and Alina Habba dance to ‘Trump Won’ song

01:20 , Reann Philogene

Republicans push for criminal probe into judge in Trump hush money case – and the judge’s daughter

01:00 , Mike Bedigan

In the wake of Donald Trump’s sweeping victory, Republicans are turning their attention to those in the judicial system who went up against the president-elect in the courts.

Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Florida Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills floated the idea that criminal charges could be brought against Judge Juan Merchan – and his daughter Loren Merchan.

Merchan oversaw Trump’s high-profile hush money case where he was ultimately convicted of 34 felonies in New York earlier this year. His daughter subsequently became the target of attacks by the president-elect due to her Democrat-leaning political activities.

Republicans push for criminal probe into judge in Trump hush money case

Donald Trump taps Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’

00:42 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump has chosen billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday night.

Musk added that “this will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people.”

Musk first promoted the idea at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on October 27.

“How much do you think we can rip out of this wasted, $6.5 trillion Harris-Biden budget?” Howard Lutnick, the billionaire chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, who is advising Trump’s campaign, asked at the event.

“I think we can do at least $2 trillion,” Musk said.

“Your money is being wasted, and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that,” he added. “We’re going to get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook.”

Trump’s November sentencing in hush money case now in jeopardy after judge delays ruling on verdict

00:30 , Alex Woodward

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial is delaying a ruling on whether to toss out a verdict after the Supreme Court’s landmark “immunity” ruling.

A decision on Tuesday from New York Justice Juan Merchan, a week after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, adds yet another delay to proceedings in a case that resulted in his 34-count criminal conviction.

Merchan was scheduled to issue a ruling on Trump’s “immunity” argument on Tuesday.

Instead, he told Trump’s lawyers he will delay a decision until November 19.

Merchan initially moved his decision on the “immunity” question until after Election Day “to avoid any appearance” of political interference.

Trump was scheduled to be sentenced on November 26. That will also be put on hold for now.

Judge delays decision on Trump’s attempt to throw out hush money conviction

Trump announces Defense Secretary pick

00:18 , Katie Hawkinson

Donald Trump has announced he is nominating Pete Hegseth, a veteran and Fox News host, as his Secretary of Defense.

“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country,” Trump said in a press release on Tuesday night. “Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”

“Pete is a graduate of Princeton University, and has a Graduate Degree from Harvard University,” Trump added. “He is an Army Combat Veteran who did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan.”

Inside Kristi Noem’s many controversies – from dog killing to Kim Jong Un ‘meeting’

00:00 , Gustaf Kilander

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s reported pick to serve as the next Homeland Security secretary, has had her fair share of controversies, from shooting her dog to a disputed claim regarding a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The Department of Homeland Security oversees the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, making the department one of the most important in Trump’s efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the US.

Noem was elected governor in 2018 and won re-election in 2022.

Here’s a rundown of her controversies and bizarre moments:

Inside Kristi Noem’s many controversies – from dog killing to Kim Jong Un ‘meeting’