Donald Trump gave a bizarre, rambling press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, bafflingly leaping from one topic to another.
Ostensibly arranged to announce new foreign investment in the US, the president-elect also attacked President Joe Biden over the transition process and refused to rule out using military or economic coercion to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
Trump further railed against windmills, electric heaters, water pressure and soap, Canada, dishwashers, and the legal cases against him. At one moment he said he wanted to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and then claimed Hezbollah might have been at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Meanwhile, his lawyers are attempting to block the “imminent” release of a final report by Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith covering his classified documents and election interference cases. Aileen Cannon, the judge in the former case, has temporarily blocked the release of that final report.
Further, Judge Juan Merchan refused Trump’s latest attempt to delay the sentencing over his hush money conviction — still scheduled for Friday.
This all came just a day after Congress formally recognized the president-elect’s 2024 election win over Kamala Harris.
Key Points
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Trump declined to rule out using force to take the Panama Canal or Greenland
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Trump-appointed judge blocks Merrick Garland from releasing Jack Smith report
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NY appeals court rejects Trump’s attempt to postpone hush money sentencing date
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Joe Biden making transition ‘as difficult as possible’, president-elect gripes
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Trump’s election win made official as Kamala Harris presides four years on from Capitol riot
Enrique Tarrio, former Proud Boys ringleader, begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
05:45 , Oliver O’Connell
The former leader of the Proud Boys has asked President-elect Donald Trump for a pardon.
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio once served as the national chairman of the far-right group, which federal prosecutors said played a “central role” in the breach of the Capitol building four years ago.
More than a year after he was sentenced to 22 years in prison and 36 months behind bars for his role in the Capitol riot, Tarrio has asked to be pardoned by Trump, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.
Kelly Rissman has the story.
Former Proud Boys ringleader Enrique Tarrio begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
Trump wants to change the name of Gulf of Mexico
04:45 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to something more American.
Trump was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday from Mar-a-Lago when he made the remark.
Rhian Lubin watched the unbelievable moment.
Trump wants to change the name of Gulf of Mexico to something more American
Trump’s transition team wanted to bring on 2,000 staff — but they’re falling short
03:45 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is falling short of its goal to have 2,000 political appointees on board by Inauguration Day, a new report reveals.
Trump’s team sent out several employment offers to political appointees on Monday in an effort to meet the goal — but they’re still falling short, CBS News reports, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.
Trump’s transition team wanted to bring on 2,000 staff. They’re falling short
Biden administration finalizes clean electricity tax credits, says Trump should keep in place
03:15 , AP
New tax credits are available for companies that generate clean electricity, the Biden administration announced Tuesday, while arguing it would be a mistake for President-elect Donald Trump to try to undo them.
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service released final rules for the clean electricity investment and production tax credits, less than two weeks before Trump is inaugurated. The credits are among roughly two dozen tax provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act,passed in 2022 with only Democrat support. The credits are designed to save families money on their energy bills and accelerate the deployment of clean energy, electric vehicles, energy efficient buildings and low-carbon manufacturing.
The U.S. currently gets more than 40% of its power from clean energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower and nuclear.
Continue reading…
Biden administration finalizes clean electricity tax credits, says Trump should keep in place
Donald Trump Jr visits Greenland as father calls acquisition ‘a deal that must happen’
02:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has dispatched his eldest son Donald Trump Jr on a visit to Greenland as the president-elect continues to express an interest in acquiring the autonomous Arctic territory from Denmark.
Joe Sommerlad reports on Don Jr’s trip.
Donald Trump Jr visits Greenland as father calls purchase ‘a deal that must happen’
Warren presses Hegseth to answer questions about his past actions and statements
02:15 , AP
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pressing Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump‘s pick for defense secretary, to answer additional questions about his past actions and statements before next Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.
In a letter to Hegseth sent Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat asked the former Fox News host and Army veteran to respond no later than Friday to questions on allegations of past drinking, sexual assault and mismanagement of veterans organization finances — all of which he denies. She also wants to know about statements he’s made concerning minorities, women and LGBTQ people serving in the military.
Hegseth has the support of some veterans groups that believe the military has overemphasized diversity at the cost of troop readiness. A group of former Navy SEALs is planning a rally in support of Hegseth in Washington next week.
“One of the biggest flaws in current leadership in the military and in the Pentagon is when you become more focused on things that don’t matter,” said Bill Brown, a former SEAL who is organizing Tuesday’s rally. “The military is not a social justice project.”
Hegseth’s supporters have stressed that many of the questions about his past behavior arose from reports based on anonymous sources. But some relate to things he’s said in interviews or written in his books.
In “War on Warriors,” Hegseth wrote that Gen. CQ Brown’s promotion to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff meant that “with the Pentagon now run by, and fully staffed by, so-called ‘leaders’ like CQ Brown, we can assume that 17 percent of all black officers in the Air Force are simply promoted because of how they look — and not how they lead.”
Hegseth also has openly criticized the role of women in combat, although in meetings with senators he seemed to walk back some of those views.
Warren questioned if Hegseth would be able to lead, saying she was “deeply concerned by the many ways in which your past behavior and rhetoric indicates that you are unfit to lead the Department of Defense.”
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
OPINION: The last time I came to the Capitol I was tear-gassed in the lobby. This time was even worse
01:45 , Oliver O’Connell
The Independent’s Richard Hall returned to the US Capitol on Monday for the first time since the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress.
The last time I came to the Capitol I was tear-gassed. This time was even worse
Musk will do ‘all sorts of bad s***,’ OpenAI boss claims
01:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, doesn’t think too highly of his scorned former collaborator Elon Musk, saying he will do “all sorts” of bad things – but won’t use his newfound political influence to take down competitors.
Despite years of feuding and Musk leveling a dramatic lawsuit containing allegations of ethical violations against Altman and OpenAI, Altman defended Musk when asked if he thought Musk would use his political power and friendship with President-elect Donald Trump to target his rivals.
Ariana Baio reports.
Elon Musk will do ‘all sorts of bad s***,’ OpenAI boss claims
Corporations ditch diversity goals amid anti-woke backlash in new Trump era
00:45 , Oliver O’Connell
McDonald’s announced on Monday it’s pulling pack on certain aspects of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, the latest high-profile corporation to move away from such programs amid changing legal precedent and a cultural backlash against “woke” agendas that’s only set to grow in the coming Trump administration.
Executives wrote in an open letter to employees that it was still committed to inclusion, but that the fast-food giant would retire specific diversity goals for senior leadership and end a program encouraging suppliers to increase minority leadership.
Josh Marcus reports.
Corporations like McDonald’s ditch diversity amid anti-woke backlash in new Trump era
Elon Musk finds a friend in the first lady: ‘Melania is glad to have a babysitter for Donald’
00:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Melania Trump is glad to have found a “babysitter” for her husband in Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to a new report.
Musk has become one of President-elect Donald Trump’s closest confidantes and has spent nearly “every single day” (including New Year’s Eve) at Mar-a-Lago, which has become Trump’s transition headquarters.
Melania Trump, who is not likely to return to Washington, D.C., full-time, doesn’t mind Musk’s closeness to her husband.
Michelle Del Rey has the story.
‘Melania is glad to have a babysitter for Donald’: Report
Will Trump really pardon nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 23:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has said pardoning his supporters who took part in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol four years ago will be one of the top priorities as he starts his new administration.
But how quickly will the pardons begin, and how far will Trump go?
Josh Marcus reports.
Trump could pardon nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters. Will he really do it?
Watch: Trump returns to one of his pet peeves — household appliances
Tuesday 7 January 2025 23:30 , Oliver O’Connell
First heaters…
Then faucets and water generally…
And dishwashers and washing machines.
Laura Loomer pushes Meta to put her on advisory board
Tuesday 7 January 2025 23:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Trump ally Laura Loomer suggested Meta should put her on its advisory board hours after the social media giant’s CEO announced it was scrapping fact-checkers.
Meta plans to ditch its fact-checkers and start using Community Notes, similar to X’s system, Mark Zuckerberg announced in a video Tuesday morning, citing the recent election, “politically biased” fact-checkers,” and “too much censorship” on social platforms.
Hours later, Loomer, a notorious far-right conspiracy theorist and vocal supporter of Trump, said she wants to be added to the tech company’s advisory board.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Laura Loomer pushes Meta to put her on board to prove it’s ‘serious’ about censorship
Watch: Trump ducks question on pardoning Jan 6 rioters who attacked police
Tuesday 7 January 2025 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Shark Tank star says he wants to buy TikTok
Tuesday 7 January 2025 22:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary said he wants to buy TikTok but he needs President-elect Donald Trump’s help to pull off the deal.
O’Leary, dubbed the reality TV show’s “Mr Wonderful,” said he has joined with the People’s Bid for TikTok project’s Frank McCourt in the potential multi-billion dollar deal as the Chinese company behind the app awaits its fate in the U.S. later this month. The People’s Bid for TikTok is a group looking to purchase the popular platform and save it from a ban.
Rhian Lubin has the details.
Shark Tank star says he wants to buy TikTok – but needs Trump’s help
Watch: Trump says people don’t know if Denmark has any legal right to Greenland
Tuesday 7 January 2025 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell
New Melania documentary directed by disgraced Brett Ratner costing Amazon $40m
Tuesday 7 January 2025 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Amazon is paying a whopping $40 million to license an upcoming documentary about Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner, to stream on Prime Video in addition to a several-episode follow-up docuseries, according to a report.
On Sunday, Amazon confirmed the “behind the scenes” film on the incoming First Lady had started filming in December and is expected to be released in theaters and on Prime Video later this year.
Ratner, a director who retreated from Hollywood in 2018 amid the #MeToo movement after several women accused him of sexual misconduct, is directing the film. Melania is set to serve as an executive producer.
Ariana Baio has the details.
Amazon is paying $40 million to license Melania Trump film directed by Brett Ratner
Marjorie Taylor Greene publishes ‘Gulf of America’ bill
Tuesday 7 January 2025 22:03 , Oliver O’Connell
Here it is…
ANALYSIS: Trump has a narrow window to advance his aggressive agenda — here’s who he’ll need on side
Tuesday 7 January 2025 21:45 , Oliver O’Connell
John Bowden writes:
We’re less than two weeks out from the initial sprint of the second Trump administration — and the incoming president is now seeking to push aside one of his biggest hurdles.
In the clearest sign yet that Donald Trump is serious about pursuing an aggressive legislative agenda in his first year in office, he is taking an active role in managing the future of the House Republican Conference. Where once he was at arm’s length of Republican congressional leadership, Trump has leaned into his role as leader of the GOP and now casts a long shadow over the House and Senate Republican conferences.
Read on…
Trump tries to wrangle right-wing hardliners to advance his aggressive agenda
Why does Trump want to buy Greenland?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 21:15 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has argued that the U.S. should buy Greenland since his first term in the White House.
The island, with 56,000 inhabitants, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and both the Danish government and local authorities have repeatedly said that the island is not for sale.
But that hasn’t deterred the president-elect, as Gustaf Kilander reports.
Why does Donald Trump want to buy Greenland?
Kinzinger knocks ‘weak scared boy’ Trump for only threatening US friends
Tuesday 7 January 2025 21:03 , Oliver O’Connell
Top Oversight Democrat says ‘public’s right to know is paramount’ regarding Trump classified documents report
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:52 , Oliver O’Connell
Rep. Gerry Connolly, ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after a judge temporarily blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents:
“By blocking the release of the Special Counsel’s report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents to the American public erodes the integrity of our justice system and unduly shields President-elect Trump from accountability.
“House Republicans complain about a so-called ‘two-tier system of justice,’ but it is not lost upon anyone that the Department of Justice released in full—for all to see—Special Counsel Hur’s report on the classified documents recovered from President Biden. In stark contrast to President-elect Trump, President Biden cooperated completely and unhesitatingly with DOJ. DOJ must release its report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents by January 20 so that the American people can understand the full extent of the President-elect’s unlawful possession of hundreds of the government’s most sensitive documents. The public’s right to know is paramount.”
Full story: Trump kicks off rambling press conference by airing grievances — then starts threatening U.S. allies
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:45 , Oliver O’Connell
With less than two weeks until he’s once again ensconced in the Oval Office, Donald Trump opened his first press conference of 2025 in his usual style — with a laundry list of grievances against his political nemesis Joe Biden.
The former president turned president-elect had ostensibly called a small group of reporters from a hand-picked selection of news outlets to his Mar-a-Lago residence to announce a new $20 billion investment in American data centers by an Emirati billionaire, Hussain Sajwani.
But then, before the assembled press, any sense of focus or discipline went out the window as Trump rambled and weaved his way through topic after topic.
Andrew Feinberg reports on what was said.
Trump kicks off 2025 with attacks on Biden — then threatens U.S. allies
Trump’s transition team wanted to bring on 2,000 staff. They’re falling short…
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:30 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is falling short of its goal to have 2,000 political appointees on board by Inauguration Day, a new report reveals.
Trump’s team sent out several employment offers to political appointees on Monday in an effort to meet the goal — but they’re still falling short, CBS News reports, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Trump’s transition team wanted to bring on 2,000 staff. They’re falling short
Full story: Trump loses last-ditch attempt to stop hush money sentencing
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:10 , Oliver O’Connell
An appeals court judge has rejected Donald Trump’s last-ditch attempt to stop this week’s sentencing hearing in his hush money trial.
The president-elect has desperately fought to return to the White House with a clear record. But after his latest courtroom failures to overturn his conviction and sentence, Trump is set to enter office as the first criminally convicted president in U.S. history.
Moments after a brief hearing with Trump’s attorneys and Manhattan prosecutors on Tuesday, a New York state appellate court judge issued a one-page denial of the president-elect’s latest attempt to avoid his imminent court date.
Alex Woodward reports from New York.
Trump loses last-ditch attempt to stop hush money sentencing
Harris will travel to Asia, Mideast and Europe during her final week in office
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:00 , AP
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to close out her term with an around-the-world trip making stops in Singapore, Bahrain and Germany, her office said.
The trip, which is scheduled to last from Jan. 13 to Jan. 17, will be a final opportunity for Harris to address U.S. foreign policy challenges before Donald Trump takes office. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is expected to join the vice president.
Although she has not disclosed her next steps after losing the presidential election, the expansive travel suggests that Harris might want to continue playing a role on the global stage. There’s also speculation that Harris could run for governor of her home state of California.
Dean Lieberman, Harris’ deputy national security adviser, said in a written statement that “the vice president felt it important to spend some of her final days in office thanking and engaging directly with U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas, which as she has said, has been one of her greatest privileges as vice president.”
There are U.S. troops based at all three of Harris’ stops.
Read on for more details…
Harris will travel to Asia, Mideast and Europe during her final week in office
Watch: Trump wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:55 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump says he will rename ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America’
What you need to know as Biden admin moves to scrub medical debt from credit reports
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Unpaid medical bills will no longer appear on credit reports, where they can block people from mortgages, car loans or small business loans, according to a final rule announced Tuesday by the Biden administration.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CSPB) rule will remove $49 billion in medical debt from the credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, according to the bureau, which means lenders will no longer be able to take that into consideration when deciding to issue a loan.
Andrew Georgeson reports.
Biden admin moves to scrub medical debt from credit reports. What you need to know
Trudeau says not a ‘snowball’s chance in hell’ Canada would become part of US
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:36 , Oliver O’Connell
‘That’s like the whole ocean!’: Trump rants about Biden’s offshore 625 million acre drilling ban
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:30 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump ranted about Joe Biden’s 625 million acre offshore drilling ban in the Atlantic and wrongly claimed it covered almost “the whole ocean.”
“Take an acre, you have a house on a half-acre or a quarter-acre, or an acre, you have a big deal,” the President-elect exclaimed during a wild press conference on Tuesday. “Now you multiply that by 625 million acres. That’s like… it feels like the whole ocean!”
However, Trump’s math was off by some margin, as Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump claims Biden’s offshore 625 million acre drilling ban covers ‘the whole ocean’
Watch: Aguilar says Trump ‘not entitled to his own set of facts’ regarding Jan 6
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:28 , Oliver O’Connell
White House reportedly negotiating with Taliban to swap Americans for alleged bin Laden ally
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:15 , Oliver O’Connell
President Joe Biden is reportedly trying to negotiate a hostage deal with the Taliban to bring home three Americans in exchange for an alleged Osama bin Laden associate who has been held in Guantanamo Bay since 2008.
Among his last acts as president, and in keeping with his promise to bring home every wrongfully detained American, Biden is trying to work out a deal to bring home George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett and Mahmoud Habibi, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ariana Baio has the details.
U.S. reportedly in talks with Taliban to swap Americans for Guantanamo Bay prisoner
Jan 6 felony defendant allowed to attend Trump inauguration
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:07 , Oliver O’Connell
William Pope has been granted permission by Judge Rudolph Contreras to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, the first January 6 Capitol riot felony defendant allowed to attend.
It is also the first time someone has been permitted to attend over an objection from the Department of Justice.
Former Proud Boys ringleader begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:00 , Oliver O’Connell
The former leader of the Proud Boys has asked President-elect Donald Trump for a pardon.
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio once served as the national chairman of the far-right group, which federal prosecutors said played a “central role” in the breach of the Capitol building four years ago.
More than a year after he was sentenced to 22 years in prison and 36 months behind bars for his role in the Capitol riot, Tarrio has asked to be pardoned by Trump, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Former Proud Boys ringleader Enrique Tarrio begs Trump for Jan. 6 pardon
Just in: New York appeals court judge rejects Trump’s attempt to postpone his hush money sentencing date
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:45 , Alex Woodward
After a brief hearing with Trump’s attorneys and Manhattan prosecutors, a New York appeals judge has rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to postpone his sentencing date in his hush money trial.
Tuesday’s order from Justice Ellen Gesmer follows Trump’s latest attempt to overturn his case citing presidential “immunity” from prosecution.“The claim is so baseless that there is no support for an automatic stay here,” prosecutor Steven Wu told the judge during Tuesday’s hearing. “Defense counsel has not cited any case … that supports the idea that a president elect has the same immunity as a sitting president.”
Gesmer appeared skeptical with Trump’s arguments, stressing that the case doesn’t involve presidential immunity but the proposed immunity “of a president-elect.”
Trump will be sentenced by Justice Juan Merchan on January 10 in Manhattan criminal court, more than seven months after a unanimous jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Merchan is not expected to issue a jail sentence or probation.
Full story: Donald Trump Jr visits Greenland as father calls acquisition ‘a deal that must happen’
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:45 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump has dispatched his eldest son Donald Trump Jr on a visit to Greenland as the president-elect continues to express an interest in acquiring the autonomous Arctic territory from Denmark.
The incoming commander-in-chief first trailed the visit on his Truth Social platform on Monday evening by posting: “I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA’.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
Donald Trump Jr visits Greenland as father calls purchase ‘a deal that must happen’
Watch: Bizarre moment Trump links Hezbollah to Jan 6 Capitol riot
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:35 , Oliver O’Connell
Biden pays tribute to Trudeau: ‘Forever grateful for his partnership and leadership’
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:25 , Oliver O’Connell
President Joe Biden has paid tribute to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who announced on Monday that he will be stepping down.
Biden wrote on X: “The last time I visited Ottawa, I said that the United States chooses to link our future with Canada because we know that we’ll find no better ally, no closer partner, and no steadier friend. The same can be said of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“The U.S.-Canada alliance is stronger because of him. The American and Canadian people are safer because of him. And the world is better off because of him.
“I am proud to call him my friend. And I will be forever grateful for his partnership and leadership.”
And he didn’t even float the idea of annexing the US’s northern neighbor.
Biden commuted 37 inmates’ death sentences. Why did two of them say no thanks?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Two death row inmates are refusing to sign paperwork accepting President Joe Biden’s commutation of their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to NBC News.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Biden commuted 37 inmates’ death sentences. Why two of them said no thanks
Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will lead bill to change name of Gulf of Mexico
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:05 , Oliver O’Connell
BREAKING: Trump-appointed judge blocks Merrick Garland from releasing Jack Smith report
Tuesday 7 January 2025 17:25 , Oliver O’Connell
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case is blocking Attorney General Merrick Garland from releasing a report prepared by the prosecutor who led the federal criminal cases against the president-elect.
A stunning order from District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday arrived hours after the former president and his co-defendants urged the courts to prevent special counsel Jack Smith from publishing a report that is expected to detail his investigations, which he effectively drew to a close following his presidential election victory.
Cannon — who was appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020 — is effectively ordering the Department of Justice to reject guidelines that put decisions about special counsel reports in the hands of the attorney general.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump-appointed judge blocks Merrick Garland from releasing Jack Smith report
Trump declined to rule out using force to take the Panama Canal or Greenland
Tuesday 7 January 2025 17:02 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump just declined to rule out using the military to take Greenland and the Panama Canal.
The president-elect said in response to a question from a reporter during his Mar-a-Lago press conference: “I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you’ll have to do something.”
