Trump says ‘hell to pay’ if Gaza hostages not released by inauguration; Biden’s pardon rattles Washington: Live
President-elect threatens ‘those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity’ if hostages in Gaza are not freed by his inauguration
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has threatened “all hell to pay” if the remaining hostages in Gaza are not released by Hamas before his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The president-elect posted on Truth Social: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America.”
Trump dined with Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend.
In his latest nomination, the president-elect has named billionaire donor Warren Stephens as his choice for US ambassador to the UK.
Meanwhile, Trump suggested he will free the January 6 Capitol rioters as he slammed President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden as a “miscarriage of Justice.”
On Sunday, Biden announced he had pardoned his son following his federal gun conviction, saying Hunter had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department.
Biden previously insisted he would not pardon his son. The White House has defended his decision.
Biden’s decision has divided critics. Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis said he was “disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country” while Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks said Hunter “would not ever be prosecuted for the gun crime but for his last name.”
President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden despite pledging not to do so
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as an ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Democrat Chris Murphy says ‘no question’ Biden refusal to drop out hurt Harris
Bernie Sanders praises DOGE boss Elon Musk over defense spending
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as an ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Donald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Read more here:
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021
Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges explained
On June 1, Hunter was convicted of all three felony counts in Wilmington, Delaware in his federal gun trial.
The president’s son was found guilty of lying on a mandatory gun purchase form on October 12, 2018, when he bought a 38 Colt Special revolver at a store in Wilmington.
On the form, he stated that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs, when he was actually in the grips of addiction at the time.
Hunter had the gun for 11 days before it was dumped in a trash can outside a grocery store by Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, on October 23, 2018.
His conviction marked the first time a sitting president’s child was found guilty of a crime.
At the time, Biden said: “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
Hunter was facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 at his sentencing on December 12.
But now, Hunter won’t be sentenced and will avoid any potential jail time.
Full story ICYMI: President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden despite pledging not to do so
Joe Biden has issued a controversial pardon for his son Hunter following his conviction on federal gun charges, despite previously claiming he would not do so.
The president officially announced the decision on Sunday night, saying that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department. In a lengthy statement, he said he hoped the American people would understand his decision as a father.
Read more here:
President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden
Outgoing president announced decision on Sunday night, saying that his son had been ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted’ by the Justice Department
Trump blasts Hunter Biden pardon as ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Donald Trump blasted Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon, issued by his father on Sunday as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Posting in typical fashion to his social media platform, the President-elect wrote: “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Fox News host bungles announcement about Hunter Biden pardon
Fox News host Charlie Hurt bungled the network’s announcement about President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden.
On Sunday night, Hurt announced live on air the breaking news about Biden’s decision.
But, he slipped up, incorrectly saying that it was Donald Trump, not Biden, granting the pardon.
“NBC News is reporting that President Trump has decided he will pardon his son Hunter,” he said.
“This comes ahead of… what did I say?” he then asked, realizing his mistake.
Jill Biden to unveil White House holiday decor and deliver holiday message
First Lady Jill Biden will unveil her White House holiday theme and decor and deliver her holiday message to the American people today.
This will mark Dr Biden’s final time taking part in the holiday tradition as she and President Joe Biden will leave the White House in January.
Last year, the theme was the “magic, wonder and joy” of the season and was inspired by the excitement that children experience during the festive season.
However, it garnered a mixed reaction with some social media users trashing her Christmas video as “tacky” and likening it to Melania Trump’s.
Here’s a reminder of what happened last year:
Jill Biden’s ‘tacky’ Christmas video mocked - and compared to Melania Trump’s
Dr Biden previously said she wanted everyone who visits the White House during the holidays to feel like a kid again
Trump faces deadline to argue why hush money conviction should be tossed
Donald Trump’s attorneys are facing a deadline today to file court papers arguing why they believe his criminal hush money conviction in New York City should be tossed following his election victory.
Trump’s attorneys have argued that the conviction and sentencing of the president-elect will disrupt the “orderly transition of executive power” and be “uniquely destabilizing” to the country.
The judge delayed Trump’s sentencing indefinitely and gave Trump’s legal team a deadline of December 2 to file their arguments.
Catch up on the latest in the case here:
Trump’s hush money sentencing indefinitely postponed as judge considers tossing case
Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts after a years-long legal saga involving his 2016 campaign
Former US attorney general says Hunter’s pardon is ‘warranted’
Former US attorney general Eric Holder says that Hunter Biden’s pardon by his father was “warranted.”
“Here’s the reality,” he wrote on X. “No USAtty (attorney) would have charged this case given the underlying facts. After a 5 year investigation the facts as discovered only made that clear.
“Had his name been Joe Smith the resolution would have been - fundamentally and more fairly - a declination. Pardon warranted.”
Holder went on to take aim at Donald Trump’s nomination for FBI Director, writing: “Ask yourself a vastly more important question. Do you really think Kash Patel is qualified to lead the world’s preeminent law enforcement investigative organization? Obvious answer: hell no.”
Have other presidents pardoned their family members or friends?
Yes. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Trump over the weekend announced plans to nominate the elder Kushner to be the U.S. envoy to France in his next administration.
President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton in 2001, after he had completed a prison term for drug charges.
Clinton also pardoned his former business partner Susan McDougal, who had been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the Whitewater real estate deal.
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