Trudeau all smiles as he dines with Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid tariff threats to Canada: Live updates
Trump has threatened Canada and Mexico with 25 percent tariffs, despite deep economic ties, which have alarmed Canadian officials
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly dined with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, just days after the President-elect threatened Canada, among other major trading partners, with sweeping and substantial tariffs.
Neither Trump nor Trudeau publicly announced the meeting, but the Canadian official was seen exiting a hotel in the area on Friday. He reportedly traveled to Florida alongside Canadian public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Earlier this week, Trump threatened Canada and Mexico with 25 percent tariffs, in what the Republican said was an attempt to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The proposal, which would likely cause massive economic disruption, alarmed officials in Canada.
Tariffs aren’t the only form of international influence Trump is pursuing before inauguration day. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close adviser, said on Friday that Trump hopes a ceasefire deal can be reached over the Israel-Hamas war before he takes office.
“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal,” Graham told Axios. “He wants to see it happening now.
“I want people in Israel and in the region to know that Trump is focused on the hostages issue. He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end.”
‘Embarrassed’ Barron looks on as Trump and ‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk dance to YMCA at Mar-a-Lago Thanksgiving
Trump wants to seal Israel-Gaza ceasefire before he takes office, key Senate ally says
Trump must not dodge FBI checks on cabinet picks, say two former Senate counsels
Trudeau makes Friday night visit to Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump after threat of tariffs against Canada
Retailers warn customers about price hikes from Trump tariffs
Retailers have taken to warning customers to buy products now before the expected price hikes that could come when Donald Trump takes office and puts the sweeping tariffs he has promised into place.
Companies ranging from Julie Skin, a beauty brand, to outdoor goods retailer Tarptent to Finally Home Furnishings have all sounded the alarm, according to an analysis from The Wall Street Journal.
The beauty brand warned customers might face 25 percent higher prices on signature products like a filtered showerhead, while the furnishing company launched a “Pre-Tariff Sale” on Facebook.
“There is a misconception that the countries exporting goods will bear the cost of the tariffs, but that is simply not true,” owner Sydney Arnold told the paper.
More details in our full story.
ICYMI: Biden lays into ‘counterproductive’ Trump tariff threats
Joe Biden has panned Donald Trump’s plan to hit Americans with massive import taxes on goods from Mexico and Canada, hoping his successor will walk back the proposal.
The president was asked about Trump’s plan to hike the cost of Mexican and Canadian products by 25 percent via executive order if both countries did not take steps to curb what he described as unacceptable flows of drugs and migrants into the U.S. across their respective borders.
Biden, who is in Nantucket for his family’s annual Thanksgiving vacation, told reporters: “I hope he rethinks it. I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do.”
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Biden lays into ‘counterproductive’ Trump tariff threats: ‘I hope he rethinks it’
Trump has threatened to unilaterally impose a massive consumption tax on Americans who purchase imported goods from three of the country’s top trading partners
Trump’s former FDA head sounds alarm on RFK Jr’s potential plans for agency
A former Trump administration Food and Drug Administration commissioner is worried that the incoming administration’s pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead a key health agency will prove dangerous.
“I think if RFK follows through on his intentions, and I believe he will, and I believe he can, it will cost lives in this country,” Scott Gottlieb said during a Friday appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
“You’re going to see measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates go down, and like I said, if we lose another 5 percent [of vaccinations], which could happen in the next year or two, we will see large measles outbreaks,” he added.
Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.
Trump’s FDA leader sounds alarm on RFK Jr’s potential plans: ‘It will cost lives’
Trump administration pick for Health and Human Services department could cause rise in preventable disease, health expert says
ICYMI: Trump’s cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors after he claimed he had ‘no idea’ what it was
Donald Trump said he has “no idea” who’s behind it. His presidential transition chair and the man he picked to be the secretary of commerce said he wouldn’t touch it. “They made themselves nuclear,” he said.
But the authors of Project 2025 — a 900-page playbook from a right-wing think tank for the next Republican president’s agenda — are all over Trump’s incoming administration.
Here’s Alex Woodward’s report, first published earlier this month.
Trump’s cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors
Trump said he didn’t know who’s behind the blueprint for his return. He just hired the authors for key roles
Musk accuses Trump impeachment witness of ‘treason’ and calls for ‘appropriate penalty’
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and President-elect Donald Trump’s “first buddy,” took to his social media platform X to ominously accuse the key witness in Trump’s first impeachment of treason while calling for him to “pay the appropriate penalty.”
Justin Barangoa reports.
Elon Musk calls for ‘appropriate penalty’ against Alexander Vindman for ‘treason’
The world’s richest man, who is also closely intertwined with the incoming Trump administration, raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he accused one of his critics of treason
Biden’s book purchase today carries significance
C-Span’s Capitol Hill producer Craig Caplan noted the significance of President Joe Biden’s book purchase earlier this afternoon.
The president was seen by the White House pool holding a copy of The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi as he exited a book store in Nantucket, Massachusetts with his family.
Today is the 77th anniversary of the UN vote on the partition plan for Palestine, which led to the establishment of Israel as well as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Watch: Trump spoofs Biden's Thanksgiving in National Lampoon-style clip
Trump wants Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal before inauguration, report says
Senator Lindsey Graham has told Axios that Donald Trump wants a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before he returns to the White House on January 20, 2025.
There are still 101 hostages including seven Americans held by Hamas. Israeli intelligence believes about half are still alive. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly 14 months since the war began after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham told Axios.
“I want people in Israel and in the region to know that Trump is focused on the hostages issue. He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end.”
The senator added: “I hope President Trump and the Biden administration will work together during the transition period to release the hostages and get a ceasefire.”
Graham has just returned from a visit to the Middle East. He contends that Trump wants a deal in Gaza so he can focus on other foreign policy objectives in the region — normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and forming a regional alliance against Iran.
Trudeau says Trump will be “hurting American industry” with Canada tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on this threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, he would be raising prices for Americans and hurting American businesses.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.
“It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said to reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada.
Continue reading...
Trudeau says Trump will be “hurting American industry” if huge tariffs hit Canada
“It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday
Biden family attend Nantucket Christmas tree lighting ceremony
After lunch and some shopping President Joe Biden and his family attended the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Nantucket.
The president was joined by the first lady, Jill Biden, their daughter Ashley, and son Hunter, with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden and their son Beau.
A representative of the local chamber of commerce thanked the Bidens for making Nantucket part of their holiday tradition for decades, drawing applause.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments