President-elect Donald Trump has returned to the world stage for the first time since his election victory last month, as he joined global leaders at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Ahead of the ceremony, Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on Saturday.
“The world is going a little crazy right now,” the president-elect told reporters as he shook hands with Macron. “We’ll be talking about that.”
The visit comes just six weeks before Trump returns to the White House in January.
On Friday, Trump threw his support behind Pete Hegseth, his nominee for secretary of defense, blaming the “fake news” for the backlash against the former Fox News host.
Vice President-elect JD Vance echoed his comments on X and during a visit to North Carolina, when asked about rumors that Senator Joni Ernst was being floated as an alternative nominee.
Hegseth much of the week on Capitol hill trying to drum up support for his confirmation as allegations concerning sexual harassment and alcohol continue to dog him on top of concerns about his views on women in combat.
Key Points
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Trump meets Zelensky in return to world stage in Paris
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Trump says ‘world is going a little crazy’ as he meets with Emmanuel Macron
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PICTURED: Trump meets Prince William as he arrives at Notre Dame reopening ceremony
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Pete Hegseth: Trump not giving up on ‘fantastic, high energy’ nominee as he blasts ‘fake news’
In pictures: Trump and Prince William meet in France
21:30 , Ariana Baio
President-elect Donald Trump meets Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales at the UK Ambassador’s Residence on the day of the reopening ceremonies of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral (Getty Images)
Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attend a meeting at the UK Ambassador’ Residence in Paris as part of ceremonies to mark the reopening of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, (REUTERS)
ICYMI: Elon Musk spent over $250 million to help Trump get elected, new filings show
21:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Elon Musk spent over $250m on political donations to help Donald Trump retake the White House this year, new federal filings show.
Federal Election Commission documents published Thursday revealed that Musk handed over more than $230m to the America PAC — a political action committee that the Tesla billionaire created and which ultimately grew into a vital fundraising organ for the Trump campaign.
In the few weeks before Election Day, Musk made three separate $25m donations to America PAC, the filings show.
Read on:
Elon Musk spent over $250 million to help Trump get elected, new filings show
Reality TV personalities and tourist photoshoots: Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s new fan club
20:40 , Katie Hawkinson
In West Palm Beach, Florida, The Independent’s Eric Garcia met the MAGA superfans who are camping outside Trump’s estate at all hours.
Check out the story here:
Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s strange new fan club
Trump hits out at Obama as he says U.S. should not get involved in Syria conflict: ‘Not our fight’
20:20 , Rachel Sharp
Donald Trump criticized former President Barack Obama while wading into the ongoing Syria conflict on Saturday, saying the U.S. should not get involved nor should it have ever inserted itself in the matter.
In keeping with his isolationist foreign policy, the president-elect wrote on Truth Social that the United States “should have nothing to do with” the situation in Syria – where rebels are currently trying to take over the capital in an attempt to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
“THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump wrote.
Read the full story:
Trump hits out at Obama and says U.S. should not get involved in Syria conflict
Trump v Macron: Forceful handshake raises eyebrows on social media
20:00 , Rachel Sharp
Full story: Donald Trump meets Volodymyr Zelensky in return to world stage at Notre Dame reopening
19:40 , Rachel Sharp
US President-elect Donald Trump has returned to the world stage while also meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.
Mr Trump was among dozens of world leaders at the event to mark the restoration of the French landmark which was destroyed by a fire in 2019. Also there was Prince William, who was pictured shaking hands with Mr Trump.
More than a month remains until Mr Trump is inaugurated, but against the backdrop of two major land wars in Europe and the Middle East, as well as several other devastating conflicts in Africa and Asia, world leaders have been jostling for his attention.
Read the full story:
Trump meets Zelensky in return to world stage at Notre Dame reopening
Leader: Trump’s Notre-Dame showing will be judged by his art of the deal on Ukraine
19:20 , Rachel Sharp
Editorial: The reopening of Notre-Dame gives the US president-elect a chance to make early progress on foreign policy
Trump’s Notre-Dame showing will be judged by his art of the deal on Ukraine
PICTURED: Trump meets Prince William as he arrives at Notre Dame reopening ceremony
19:00 , Rachel Sharp
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales inside Notre-Dame Cathedral (via REUTERS)
Zelensky says he and Trump had a ‘good’ meeting
18:40 , Rachel Sharp
Ukrainian President Volodyrmr Zelensky has said that he and Donald Trump had a “good” meeting in Paris.
In a post on X, Zelensky wrote: “I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President @realDonaldTrump and President @EmmanuelMacron at the Élysée Palace.
“President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting. We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace. We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible.”
Rudy Giuliani’s ‘girlfriend’ sues Trump crony for ‘humiliating’ her on disgraced ex-NYC mayor’s radio show
18:20 , Justin Rohrlich
Rudy Giuliani’s “alleged girlfriend” says she was subjected to ongoing “ridicule” and “humiliation” during her tenure as the co-host of the disgraced former New York City mayor’s radio show on 77 WABC, accusing billionaire station owner and deep-pocketed Trump backer John Catsimatides of implementing a craven campaign to “undermine” her position before unceremoniously firing her — via text message — for complaining.
Continue reading:
Rudy Giuliani’s ‘girlfriend’ sues Trump crony for ‘humiliating’ her on radio show
Donald Trump to meet with Prince William after Notre Dame reopening ceremony
18:00 , Katie Hawkinson
President-elect Donald Trump will meet with Prince William after the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony, a Kensington Palace spokesperson told CNN.
Prince William will also meet with First Lady Jill Biden at the ceremony.
Earlier today, Trump sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris.
Hegseth’s lawyer threatens extortion lawsuit against woman who accused him of sex assault
17:43 , Gustaf Kilander
The attorney for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be defense secretary, has threatened the woman who accused Hegseth of sexual assault with an extortion lawsuit if he’s not confirmed for the top Pentagon spot.
Tim Parlatore argued on CNN that the woman may not be guilty of extortion in the criminal sense, but that she could be taken to court for civil extortion if a lawsuit was filed.
Read more
In pictures: Trump, Zelensky and Macron meet in Paris
17:20 , Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and President-elect Donald Trump stand outside the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images)
Trump, Macron and Zelensky held a meeting on Saturday ahead of the reopening of Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral (EPA)
The world leaders will attend the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony, which also marks Trump’s return to the world stage ahead of taking office in January (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Watch: Trump says world gone crazy as he meets Macron ahead of Notre Dame re-opening
17:01 , Katie Hawkinson
Zelensky joins meeting with Trump, Macron
16:45 , Katie Hawkinson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined President-elect Donald Trump’s meeting with Emmanuel Macron in Paris, France on Saturday.
The world leaders are gathering in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at Paris’s Elysee Presidential Palace to meet with President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron (AFP via Getty Images)
Trump declares US should ‘NOT GET INVOLVED’ in Syria conflict
16:40 , Katie Hawkinson
President-elect Donald Trump said the US should “NOT GET INVOLVED” in Syria, where rebels are threatening President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
“In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
In pictures: Donald Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron
16:20 , Katie Hawkinson
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes President-elect Donald Trump to Paris, France. (AP)
Trump is in Paris on Saturday for the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral (AFP via Getty Images)
Trump will be joined by other world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Notre Dame re-opening (REUTERS)
What are preemptive pardons?
16:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Outgoing President Joe Biden and his White House team are considering issuing preemptive pardons to protect those they believe may be targeted for retribution by President-elect Donald Trump.
Pardons are usually issued to those who have been accused of a specific crime and those who have already been convicted.
But the Biden administration is looking at issuing pardons to people who haven’t been investigated or charged with anything.
Read more about preemptive pardons, and how Biden might use them ahead of Trump’s inauguration:
What are preemptive pardons? Reports Biden considering granting them to Trump enemies
Trump says ‘world is going a little crazy’ as he meets with Emmanuel Macron
15:58 , Katie Hawkinson
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron have met in France ahead of the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday.
“The world is going a little crazy right now,” the president-elect told reporters as he shook hands with Macron. “We’ll be talking about that.”
The event marks Trump’s return to the geopolitical stage six weeks before he returns to the White House.
Trump and Macron greet each other in France on December 7 ahead of the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral (AP)
Prince William to represent the King alongside Donald Trump at reopening of Notre Dame
15:40 , Katie Hawkinson
Prince William and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are among the world leaders who will join President-elect Donald Trump at the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday.
More than 1,500 guests will be present at the service, which will be led by the Catholic archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich.
Read more:
Prince William to represent Charles alongside Donald Trump at reopening of Notre Dame
Watch live: Macron meets with Trump and Zelensky ahead of Notre Dame Cathedral reopening
15:30 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Macron meets with Trump and Zelensky ahead of Notre Dame Cathedral reopening
An Alabama couple were ardent Trump supporters. Then their trans son told them he wanted to die
15:20 , Michelle Del Rey
Carolyn Fisher will never forget the moment her son told her he wanted to die.
It was November 3, two days before the presidential election. Fisher’s 16-year-old non-binary son, who uses he/they pronouns, was part of an online suicide pact with three other transgender and non-binary teens in Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. The friends who’d met on Discord had agreed to die by suicide if former president Donald Trump won the 2024 election.
The plan had been set since September. The teens hoped their deaths would send a message to conservative lawmakers and stop them from enacting restrictive policies targeting trans youth.
But as the election approached, her son called a crisis hotline for help. He told the case manager on the other line about the plan, and the case manager helped them tell his parents.
Gathered around their kitchen table, Fisher asked her child what was going on.
Read more:
For one Alabama family, Trump’s anti-trans rhetoric nearly cost them their son’s life
Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s new fan club
15:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Eric Garcia reports from Palm Beach, Florida:
On the Southern Boulevard bridge next to President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, there is a parked car festooned with Trump flags. Jestin Nevarez — who blasts out a rap version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” titled “Trump Saved the USA” on repeat — is the owner.
“I come out here and show support,” he told The Independent. “And right now, Mar-a-Lago is a tourist attraction. So when people drive by, they see the flags, they hear the music, they stop in and they have a good time.”
People do indeed stop to take photos of Nevarez’s car and snap photos of the once and future president’s estate.
Palm Beach has changed in the years since Trump first became president.
Continue reading…
Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s strange new fan club
White House refuses to rule out Biden issuing blanket pardons for Trump targets
14:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Less than a week after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his only surviving son — despite denying for months that he would do so — the White House appears to be leaving him room to maneuver on another, similar issue.
The question of whether Biden might grant unprecedented preemptive pardons to a range of public figures who might find themselves in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s second administration remains unanswered.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Will Biden issue blanket pardons for Trump targets? White House won’t rule it out
Trump will return to geopolitical stage at Notre Dame re-opening
14:33 , Katie Hawkinson
President-elect Donald Trump will join world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William, at the re-opening of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday.
This visit will mark Trump’s return to the global stage with just six weeks until he returns to the White House.
French President Emmanuel Macron invited the president-elect soon after congratulating him on X for his victory last month.
“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years,” Macron wrote on X last month. “With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron shake hands in 2017. Macron invited Trump to the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday (REUTERS)
Is Joni Ernst trying to sink Hesgeth for her own gain? Some think so…
13:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s aides have suggested that Iowa Senator Joni Ernst may be trying to sink the nomination of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary so that she can get the job instead.
Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, has so far refused to publicly back Hegseth’s selection by Trump amid a string of controversies surrounding the Fox News host.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Trump aides suggest Joni Ernst is purposefully trying to sink Hegseth nomination
Biden is considering using preemptive pardons — what are they?
12:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Outgoing President Joe Biden and his White House team are considering issuing preemptive pardons to protect those they believe may be targeted for retribution by President-elect Donald Trump.
The move is mostly being discussed among White House attorneys, but the president has also spoken about the possible measure with some of his aides, two sources have said, according to the Associated Press.
A decision has yet to be made on the issue and Biden may still choose not to issue any preemptive pardons.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
What are preemptive pardons? Reports Biden considering granting them to Trump enemies
Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection
11:35 , Oliver O’Connell
The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump‘s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally.
Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner.
Read on…
Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection
COMMENT: Biden has handed Trump a get-out-jail-free card – he will be delighted
10:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Jon Sopel writes:
American politicians like to talk about why their country is different from all others, with the clear implication that it is better. And when they talk about the idea of American exceptionalism, they tend to use a biblical phrase – first used by one of the Puritans who came over on the Mayflower – that America is “the shining city on a hill”.
It’s a metaphorical allusion, but in Washington, DC, it is – sort of – literal. The top of Capitol Hill does indeed shine with the magnificent, gleaming marble and white stone of the Congress. And just across the road the equally imposing Supreme Court, itself a neoclassical masterpiece: the pinnacle of the justice system in the United States.
But has the rule of law in America ever looked so battered and tattered? Shining city? You’re having a laugh.
Continue reading…
Biden has handed Trump a get-out-jail-free card – he will be delighted
After promising to help ‘everyday Americans’, Trump adds even more billionaires to his administration
09:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s campaign pledged to be a champion for the working class. He ran campaign ads vowing to lift up the “hardest working citizens.” The Republican National Convention even put the spotlight on “everyday Americans.”
But his incoming administration reflects a government run by billionaires, stuffed with Wall Street fixtures, investment bankers, real estate developers and oil executives, all within reach of power to slash services that millions of poor and vulnerable Americans depend on.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump adds more billionaires to his team after promising to help ‘everyday Americans’
AOC wants top Democratic seat on House committee to keep Trump in check
08:35 , Oliver O’Connell
A high-profile Democrat who rose to power during Donald Trump’s first term is pitching for a very significant job during his second. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is hoping to become the ranking minority member of the powerful House Oversight Committee, continuing a generational shift among House Democrats in the wake of Trump’s 2024 election victory.
In a letter to the House Democratic Caucus, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — often known colloquially as AOC — said she is asking for their support to lead their party’s side of the committee. The committee is the lower chamber’s principal investigatory arm with the power to look into “any matter,” even those under the jurisdiction of other standing committees.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
AOC wants to lead Dems on House committee that will try to keep Trump in check
Musk spent over $250m to help Trump get elected
06:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Elon Musk spent over $250 million on political donations to help Donald Trump retake the White House this year, new federal filings show.
Federal Election Commission documents published Thursday revealed that Musk handed over more than $230 million to the America PAC — a political action committee that the Tesla billionaire created and which ultimately grew into a vital fundraising organ for the Trump campaign.
In the few weeks before Election Day, Musk made three separate $25 million donations to America PAC, the filings show.
Read on…
Elon Musk spent over $250 million to help Trump get elected, new filings show
Trump names David Perdue as US ambassador to China
04:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has selected former senator David Perdue to serve as the US ambassador to China amid escalating military and trade tensions.
The president-elect said the former senator from Georgia “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China“.
Mr Perdue, who lived in Hong Kong during a 40-year career as a business executive, will be “instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain peace in the region and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders”, Mr Trump added.
In his time as senator from 2015 to 2021, Mr Perdue advocated for the US to build a more robust naval force to cope with foreign threats and was labeled “anti-China” in a 2019 Chinese think tank.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Donald Trump names David Perdue as US ambassador to China
Melania admits that she doesn’t dance like Trump
03:35 , Oliver O’Connell
In her first television interview since her husband Donald Trump won the presidential election, incoming First Lady Melania Trump appeared on her spouse’s favorite morning show Fox & Friends to discuss her son Barron’s impact on the “bro vote,” the president-elect’s infamous dance moves, and how she’s handling the transition into the White House.
Along the way, Mrs. Trump also took the opportunity to pitch a “stocking-stuffer” version of her coffee table book, as well as a limited-edition set of Christmas ornaments and collectibles that she said would make a “great gift.”
Justin Barangoa has the story.
Melania admits that she doesn’t dance like Trump as she hawks jewelry on Fox News
Giuliani was indicted, found liable for defamation and nearly bankrupt. Now he could land in jail
02:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Hours before a final deadline to answer why he should not be held in contempt of court for repeatedly lying about women he defamed, Rudy Giuliani was hit with yet another threat of contempt, in a separate court, by the same women.
“Severe” sanctions are warranted, they argued.
Donald Trump’s former attorney is now juggling motions against him in Washington, DC and in Manhattan, where he is also in the middle of a protracted legal battle to relinquish a long list of property and valuables to chip away at the nearly $150m he owes the mother-daughter duo.
Alex Woodward explains what’s happening to the former New York mayor.
Giuliani was nearly bankrupt. Now he could face jail
Project 2025 backers will spend $1m to pressure senators to confirm Hegseth
01:35 , Oliver O’Connell
The think tank behind Project 2025, the conservative blueprint linked to President-elect Donald Trump, is launching an effort to back Trump’s imperiled selection for secretary of defense in its latest attempt to wield influence in the incoming Republican administration.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said Thursday that his group will spend $1 million to pressure senators unwilling to back Pete Hegseth, whose nomination to lead the Pentagon has come into question due to his views on women serving in combat and reports about his personal behavior. A number of Republican senators have declined to commit to backing Hegseth or have asked for more information about his drinking and treatment of women.
“It’ll be messaging right now with their constituents about how out of step they are with the Trump agenda,” Roberts said in an interview, who argued that criticism of Hegseth was being driven by “the establishment.”
Continue reading…
Project 2025 backers will spend $1 million to pressure GOP senators to back Hegseth
GOP senator insists it’s not GOP’s ‘job’ to vet Trump’s cabinet picks
00:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Tommy Tuberville, a Donald Trump loyalist, said it wasn’t the “job” of Senate Republicans to vet the president-elect’s cabinet nominations as debate around Pete Hegseth’s position continues.
The GOP senator told CNN on Thursday that, in his opinion, it is up to Democrats to vet nominations, and that members of his own party should be inclined to automatically confirm them.
“Who’s to say we’re a better vetter and picker of people than Donald Trump?” Tuberville told CNN on Thursday.
Ariana Baio reports.
Tommy Tuberville insists it’s not GOP’s ‘job’ to vet Trump’s cabinet picks
Chelsea Manning arrested in Congress for protesting Speaker Johnson’s transgender bathroom ban
Friday 6 December 2024 23:34 , Oliver O’Connell
Former US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been arrested in the halls of Congress for protesting against a ban on transgender women using women’s bathrooms.
Manning, 37, was among a group of trans demonstrators who staged a sit-in inside the women’s lavatory opposite House speaker Mike Johnson’s office on Thursday, according to The 19th.
The protest called on Democrats to fight back against Johnson’s new bathroom rule, which requires trans people in the Capitol building to use only the facilities corresponding to their birth sex.
Io Dodds has the story.
Chelsea Manning arrested in Congress for protesting against transgender bathroom ban
Hegseth’s lawyer threatens extortion lawsuit against sexual assault accuser
Friday 6 December 2024 23:02 , Oliver O’Connell
The attorney for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be defense secretary, has threatened the woman who accused Hegseth of sexual assault with an extortion lawsuit if he’s not confirmed for the top Pentagon spot.
Tim Parlatore argued on CNN that the woman may not be guilty of extortion in the criminal sense, but that she could be taken to court for civil extortion if a lawsuit was filed.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Hegseth’s lawyer threatens extortion lawsuit against sex-assault accuser
Olivia Troye’s lawyer invoked Monty Python in response to Kash Patel’s threat of defamation suit
Friday 6 December 2024 22:48 , Oliver O’Connell
CBS says Trump law suit an attempt to ‘police editorial decisions’
Friday 6 December 2024 22:42 , Oliver O’Connell
CBS has filed a supplemental argument asking why Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the network over the Kamala Harris 60 Minutes episode was filed in Texas.
In another filing, they argue that Trump’s attempt to claim CBS violated the state’s consumer protection laws is an attempt to “police editorial decisions made by news organizations with which one disagrees.”
“Under President Trump’s interpretation, the [law] would become a weapon for any candidate to challenge media coverage they did not like,” attorneys wrote.
Trump’s allegations that the 60 Minutes segment was deceptively edited and cost his campaign “to the tune of several billion dollars is not only far too speculative and inherently improbable to warrant standing, it is also irrelevant.”
He brought the lawsuit “in his individual capacity, not on behalf of his campaign,” attorneys note.
And even if he didn’t, his claims are moot, they said: He won the election.
Here’s more from Alex Woodward on the lawsuit filed by then-candidate Trump against the network:
Trump files $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News over Kamala Harris interview
Will Biden issue blanket pardons for Trump targets?
Friday 6 December 2024 22:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Less than a week after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his only surviving son — despite denying for months that he would do so — the White House appears to be leaving him room to maneuver on another, similar issue. The question of whether Biden might grant unprecedented preemptive pardons to a range of public figures who might find themselves in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s second administration remains unanswered.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday repeatedly refused to say whether Biden is even considering such a test of the president’s pardon power, which could theoretically be invoked to prevent the next administration from investigating or bringing charges against people known to be antagonists of the incoming president.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Will Biden issue blanket pardons for Trump targets? White House won’t rule it out
Reality TV personalities and tourist photoshoots: Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s new fan club
Friday 6 December 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Eric Garcia reports from Palm Beach, Florida:
On the Southern Boulevard bridge next to President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, there is a parked car festooned with Trump flags. Jestin Nevarez — who blasts out a rap version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” titled “Trump Saved the USA” on repeat — is the owner.
“I come out here and show support,” he told The Independent. “And right now, Mar-a-Lago is a tourist attraction. So when people drive by, they see the flags, they hear the music, they stop in and they have a good time.”
People do indeed stop to take photos of Nevarez’s car and snap photos of the once and future president’s estate.
Palm Beach has changed in the years since Trump first became president.
Continue reading…
Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s strange new fan club
Jon Stewart rips media for scaring Americans about second Trump presidency
Friday 6 December 2024 21:55 , Oliver O’Connell
Jon Stewart decried the media’s panicked coverage of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming second term, saying that it’s not helpful to get the public “s***ting our pants this early.”
Before interviewing Vermont senator Bernie Sanders on his latest Weekly Show podcast episode, the Comedy Central comedian, 62, opened the hour acknowledging that America is currently in a “transitional period where we are not sure about whether the ground we are standing on is solid.”
Inga Parkel has the story.
Jon Stewart rips into the media for scaring Americans about another Trump presidency
Biden is considering ‘preemptive pardons’ — what are they?
Friday 6 December 2024 21:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Outgoing President Joe Biden and his White House team are considering issuing preemptive pardons to protect those they believe may be targeted for retribution by President-elect Donald Trump.
The move is mostly being discussed among White House attorneys, but the president has also spoken about the possible measure with some of his aides, two sources have said, according to the Asocciated Press.
A decision has yet to be made on the issue and Biden may still choose not to issue any preemptive pardons.
Pardons are usually issued to those who have been accused of a specific crime and those who have already been convicted. But Biden’s White House is looking at is the possibility of issuing pardons to people who haven’t been investigated or charged with anything.
Gustaf Kilander explains.
What are preemptive pardons? Reports Biden considering granting them to Trump enemies
CBS files motion to dismiss Trump’s $10bn lawsuit over Kamala Harris ‘60 Minutes’ episode
Friday 6 December 2024 21:26 , Oliver O’Connell
CBS has filed its motion to dismiss Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the network over the episode of 60 Minutes in which Kamala Harris was interviewed ahead of the election.
Network lawyers say the suit it was wrongly filed in Amarillo, Texas — believed to be because Trump would get the case in front of Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whom he nominated.
They argue: “If this district has personal jurisdiction on the facts alleged, so too does every district court in the country. That is not the law.”
Read the motion here.
Here’s more on the lawsuit from Alex Woodward:
Trump files $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News over Kamala Harris interview
