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Trump targets Greenland and Panama as international students urged back to campus before inauguration: Live

Danish defense minister says country will spend $1.5 billion to ensire ‘stronger presence’ in Arctic

Alex Woodward,Oliver O'Connell,Gustaf Kilander
Thursday 26 December 2024 14:37 GMT
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Congress Narrowly Averts Government Shutdown — And Rejects Trump’s Debt Ceiling Commands

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Donald Trump has posted his traditional rambling Christmas message calling out various foes, taunting adversaries, and reiterating his desire for U.S. territorial expansionism — including retaking the Panama Canal, incorporating Canada into the union, and buying Greenland.

A Danish official said an announcement that the country is boosting defense spending for Greenland, was an “irony of fate.”

Troels Lund Poulsen, the Danish defense minister, told the paper Jyllands-Posten Tuesday that the country plans to spend a “double-digit billion amount” in krone — about $1.5 billion — to make sure they have a “stronger presence” in the Arctic.

Trump said the “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the U.S., which operates a base in the territory’s northwest.

After seemingly joking about Canada becoming the “51st” state, the incoming president fired off ominous messages in recent days alleging the Panama Canal and Greenland pose serious economic and national security threats to the United States and might be targeted for some kind of annexation or purchase.

Meanwhile, college campuses across the country are calling the nation’s more than 1 million international students back to school before Trump’s inauguration, warning that the possibility of an imminent travel ban targeting certain countries could impact their return.

Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree

Donald Trump made a dig at former president Barack Obama as he went on a Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree.

The president-elect initially seemed to adopt a toned-down festive message, simply posting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.

In the afternoon, however, he shared a lengthy post where he wished “Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics,” but refused the same sentiment to the “37 most violent criminals” pardoned by Joe Biden, instead telling them to “GO TO HELL.”

Rhian Lubin has the story.

Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree

Trump reeled off 34 posts on his social media platform within a one-hour period

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 04:30

Biden signs 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve

President Joe Biden spent Christmas Eve signing 50 bills into law, including one piece of legislation supported by Paris Hilton and another designating the bald eagle as the U.S. national bird.

The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, backed by Hilton, a socialite and activist, is designed to hold teenage treatment centers and care facilities accountable. Hilton spent time on Capitol Hill promoting the measure.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Biden signs 50 bills into law - including and Paris Hilton-backed legislation

The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act is designed to hold teenage treatment centers and care facilities accountable

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 03:30

GOP senator mocked for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’

GOP senator Tommy Tuberville has been mocked for claiming that Donald Trump brought Christmas “back in America.”

The Trump loyalist posted the festive message on social media platform X on Christmas Eve.

Rhian Lubin reports.

GOP senator rinsed for claiming Trump has brought Christmas ‘back in America’

People were quick to confirm that they have, indeed, celebrated Christmas during the period when Trump was not president

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 02:30

Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky should be PM – or governor

President-elect Donald Trump mocked Canada in his annual Christmas message by suggesting that the Trump-supporting ex-hockey star Wayne Gretzky be a candidate for prime minister “or governor.”

“I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’”

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump trolls Canada in Christmas message by claiming Wayne Gretzky should be next PM

President-elect says hockey great ‘had no interest, but I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement’

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 01:30

Biden marks Hanukkah

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 00:49

Trump’s net worth rose by billions this year despite legal challenges and wild stock market. Here’s what it is now.

The president-elect began the year with a net worth of about $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. That was a decrease from his previous term in the White House when it reached $4 billion. His net worth was not as volatile before he became the owner of a publicly traded company, the outlet noted.

Read more:

Trump’s net worth rose by billions despite legal challenges and wild stock market

President-elect’s net worth, tied to the value of TMTG shares, fluctuated heavily during 2024

Oliver O'Connell26 December 2024 00:30

Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree

Donald Trump made a dig at former president Barack Obama as he went on a Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree.

The president-elect toned down his festive message this year, simply posting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.

Soon after though, Trump reeled off 34 posts on his social media platform within a one-hour period, including a meme mocking Obama.

The meme featured a photo of the president-elect smirking at Obama during his 2017 inauguration, along with the caption: “When you see the guy who said ‘you’ll never be president’ at your inauguration.”

Read more:

Trump aims dig at Obama in bizarre hour-long Christmas Day Truth Social posting spree

Trump reeled off 34 posts on his social media platform within a one-hour period

Rhian Lubin25 December 2024 23:45

Canal threats, money-laundering claims and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama

Donald Trump rattled North American diplomatic relations over the weekend with a threat to retake the Panama Canal, two and a half decades after the US transferred control of the vital global trade route to Panama.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president-elect accused the country of “ripping off” the US.

“Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way,” Trump wrote. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US.”

Read more:

Canal threats and a hotel battle: Trump’s long, weird history with Panama

Major Trump project in Panama City brought lawsuits, shoving matches and money-laundering allegations before Trump lost it in hostile takeover

Josh Marcus25 December 2024 23:00

Trump tweets himself as dancing Santa

Oliver O'Connell25 December 2024 22:53

Watch: Merry Christmas from Nancy Pelosi

Oliver O'Connell25 December 2024 22:45

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