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1 week ago

Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden calls for Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity

President Joe Biden warned ‘oligarchy is taking shape in America’ during his final address from the Oval Office

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Thursday 16 January 2025 07:00 GMT
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President Joe Biden gives his farewell address to the nation

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President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, calling for a Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity.

“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden said.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have some immunity from prosecution for “official acts,” after President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers filed an appeal in his federal election interference case arguing for total presidential immunity

Biden also warned of an “oligarchy” forming in the US.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.

This remark comes as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, serves as a close ally to Trump, whose net worth is projected to be more than $6 billion. Musk gave millions to the president-elect’s campaign last year through his America PAC and is now set to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Biden is now leaving office with a low approval rating — though higher than his predecessor and successor did.

1 week ago

Trump encouraging Ramaswamy to take vacant Ohio Senate seat — but what about DOGE?

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 18:11
1 week ago

Bondi clashes with Padilla over 2020 election claims

California Senator Alex Padilla attacks Bondi for her 2020 election claims. The day after Election Day, she was with Giuliani in Pennsylvania and declared Trump “won” the state, even though there were still 1 million ballots left to be counted.

Bondi then went on Fox News the next day claiming was “evidence of cheating” and “fake ballots.” None of that was true.

“Do you have evidence? It’s a yes or no,” Padilla says.

She keeps deflecting, first offering her sympathies to California, Padilla’s state. He keeps pressing her for evidence.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:58
1 week ago

Watch: Energy secretary nominee asked about climate change and California wildfires

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:50
1 week ago

DC hotels roll out VIP packages for Trump inauguration

Washington D.C. hotels are offering a series of lavish exclusive VIP packages ahead of the second inauguration of Donald Trump.

President-elect Trump is set to be sworn in on the Speaker’s Balcony on January 20 overlooking the National Mall. It’ll be the start of his presidential term and a week of inaugural festivities across the city.

To prepare for the event, hotels are offering exclusive and expensive packages totaling tens of thousands of dollars to VIP guests flying in for the occasion.

Here’s Michelle Del Rey with a round-up of what they are offering.

Washington DC hotels offering VIP inauguration packages

For tens of thousands of dollars, you can be treated to a whiskey tasting and driven around in an armoured Maybach

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:40
1 week ago

Trump takes credit for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

A jubilant Donald Trump has taken credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, claiming that it only happened because of his election victory in November.

The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:

This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.

With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!

We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:30
1 week ago

Harris reportedly snubs Vance by declining to invite him on pre-inaugural tour of VP residence

While the tour for the incoming family has become a recent norm, Harris was never at the vice president’s residence before her inauguration amid the Covid-19 pandemic and President-elect Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Harris reportedly snubs Vance by not inviting him to VP residence

This year’s election campaign was particularly ferocious, with Vance referring to the vice president as ‘trash’ during a rally in November

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:28
1 week ago

The fundamental question is not whether his family is involved in business. The fundamental question is whether that is in any way impacting the conduct of our foreign policy in a way that’s counter to our national interest. And the president’s made it abundantly clear that every decision he makes and every decision we are to make at the State Department should be driven by whether or not it serves the core national interests of the United States.

Senator Marco Rubio on the Trump Organization’s foreign dealings during his Senate confirmation hearing
Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:24
1 week ago

Bondi and Patel still missing nomination paperwork

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley told CNN’s Manu Raju that the committee is still waiting for all of Pam Bondi’s paperwork to decide when to hold a vote on her nomination.

They are also still waiting for all of Kash Patel’s paperwork to schedule a hearing for his nomination as FBI director.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:21
1 week ago

Rubio defends Trump Organization’s ability to do deals in foreign countries

In Marco Rubio’s confirmation hearing, Senator Chris Murphy brings up the Trump Organization's foreign entanglements and business deals, and the potential conflicts of interest once Donald Trump returns to the White House.

“The Trump Organization is going to be signing new business deals in the Middle East with private companies that have connections to foreign governments at the very moment that you are going to be conducting sensitive diplomacy in these countries. That's just extraordinary. Never before in the history of this country has a president been I mean literally receiving cash from foreign governments and from foreign companies that are backed by foreign governments in the middle of their term. If you or I had done this as senators, we would be in violent violation of Senate Ethics Rules. That's not permitted on the Foreign Relations Committee. And so I guess my question to you is a pretty simple one: Do you see how this fundamentally compromises your diplomatic efforts, do you have an issue, will you raise an issue with the president about his growing financial connection with the governments that you're going to be negotiating with?”

Rubio defends the company’s ability to do business deals abroad, including with Middle Eastern governments while Trump is in office: “The president doesn't manage that company. His family members do, and they have a right to be in the business. I mean that's the business they're in ... They have properties in multiple countries.”

Rubio further says, for instance, that Jared Kushner, who is doing business in Saudi Arabia, is “a private citizen” but also notes on the Middle East that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff just worked “cooperatively and together with the Biden administration” on today’s Gaza ceasefire.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:17
1 week ago

BREAKING: Hamas accepts ceasefire deal with Israel

Hamas has accepted a ceasefire deal with Israel, according to reports, with Qatar set to give an update this evening after days of intense negotiations.

A Hamas source said the group’s leader, Khalil Al Hayya, has delivered approval for the ceasefire agreement to mediators in Qatar, a source told Sky News. It came shortly before an Axios reporter quoted a US official as saying a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal has been reached.

President-elect Donald Trump posted the following to Truth Social:

WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!

Senator James Risch of Idaho took a moment during Senator Marco Rubio’s confirmation hearing to be secretary of state to announce the news.

Barak Ravid of Axios notes that it was partly the cooperation between envoys from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration that made the ceasefire deal possible.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 17:07

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