Trump claims US is global ‘laughing stock’ following attacks; Johnson prepares for crucial House speaker vote: Live
President-elect rages on Truth Social after violence in New Orleans and Las Vegas, blaming opposition for indicting him rather than focusing on national security
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.Donald Trump has raged on Truth Social that the US is “a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World!” in response to Wednesday’s suspected terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, the second of which saw one of his friend Elon Musk’s Tesla Cybertruck’s blown up outside a Trump-owned luxury hotel in the Nevada city.
“This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership,” the president-elect declared.
“The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job.
“They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself.”
He continued: “The USA is breaking down - A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation.”
Meanwhile, Mike Johnson may have Trump’s backing to retain his position as Speaker of the House, but Friday’s vote could go to multiple rounds given his slim majority, forcing him to negotiate with holdouts in his own party.
‘We’re going to rip your face off’ in visa fight, Steve Bannon warns Elon Musk
What do we know about the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump’s Vegas hotel?
Deadly Cybertruck explosion at Trump Tower in Vegas being investigated as possible terrorism, officials say
What are H-1B visas and what has Trump said about them in the past?
Watch: Las Vegas police gives update on Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel
Here’s a reminder of what Sheriff Kevin McMahill had to say yesterday about the incident in Vegas:
‘We’re going to rip your face off’ in visa fight, Bannon warns Musk
Trump’s former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is getting increasingly creative in his choice of language as he continues to berate Elon Musk for pushing visas for skilled foreign workers, which, Bannon argues, means taking well-paying tech jobs away from Americans.
Mary Papenfuss reports on the latest from the MAGA civil war.
‘We’re going to rip your face off’ in visa fight, Steve Bannon warns Elon Musk
‘Sit back and study ... Don’t come up and go to the pulpit in your first week here and start lecturing people about the way things are going to be,’ Trump’s former White House strategist warns tech billionaire
Dr Oz once said uninsured don’t have ‘right to health’
Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr Mehment Oz, once said the uninsured “don’t have a right to health”.
The physician, better known as a TV celebrity, made the comment during a 2013 address to the National Governor’s Association.
He told attendees that uninsured people should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss of darkness, of fear, over not having the health they need” in a “festival-like setting” with physicians.
He added that the uninsured don’t have a right to health, only the right to access a chance at health.
Here’s more from Katie Hawkinson.
Trump’s Medicare pick Dr. Oz once said uninsured have no ‘right to health’
The TV personality has repeatedly peddled dubious medical claims
Trump says he will make phone calls for Johnson’s speaker bid
House speaker Mike Johnson will be up for re-election once Congress reconvenes tomorrow and, currently, he has Trump’s full-throated endorsement, even if some of their fellow Republicans on the Hill are less convinced.
Here’s Eric Garcia on Trump telling reporters at his New Year’s Eve bash that he will be hitting the phones on Johnson’s behalf to talk down the doubters.
Trump says he will make phone calls for Mike Johnson ahead of the vote for speaker
The House is set to convene and vote for a new speaker on Friday
Watch: Trump makes pledge to ‘special’ people at New Year party
Trump plans to attend Jimmy Carter’s funeral
In remarks to his guests at Mar-a-Lago during Tuesday night’s black-tie New Year’s Eve party, the president-elect announced his plans to attend the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on December 29.
Services are scheduled on January 9 at the National Cathedral in Washington.
“I’ll be there,” Trump said.
He did not say whether he spoke to members of Carter’s family when pressed by reporters.
In a statement following his death, Trump wrote: “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for.
“He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.”
Trump continues victory lap with planned DC rally ahead of inauguration
Apparently the pageantry of a lavish swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol attended by political leaders, dignitaries and diplomats from across the world is not enough for Donald Trump.
The president-elect is reportedly also planning a rally-type event in Washington the day before he returns to the White House.
The final victory lap, planned for the city’s Capital One Arena at 3pm on Sunday January 19, will hopefully be a far cry from Trump’s previous pre-inauguration activities in 2021.
Trump tries to make New Orleans attack about migrants
The president-elect wasted little time yesterday in using the tragic events in New Orleans, where a driver slammed a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street and left 15 people dead, to talk about immigration, despite police later confirming the deceased suspect was an American citizen.
Eric Garcia has more on Trump’s response.
Trump slams migrants in comments about New Orleans attack
Trump has regularly tied immigration to crime throughout his presidency
Everything we know about the New Year’s Day Cybertruck explosion outside of Trump’s Vegas hotel
With investigations ongoing and many details still yet to emerge, here’s Mike Bedigan with all we know for sure right now about yesterday’s blast in Nevada.
What do we know about the Cybertruck explosion outside Trump’s Vegas hotel?
One person has died and several more were injured during the incident on New Year’s Day
Elon Musk defends Cybertruck after Vegas hotel explosion: ‘They picked the wrong vehicle’
Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump was the first member of the family to address the blast yesterday, saying this:
Once the initial facts were established, all eyes were on Elon Musk, currently Trump’s closest ally whose company Tesla manufactures the Cybertruck.
This is what he had to say, from announcing an internal investigation to speculating on links between the New Orleans and Vegas incidents to claiming the robustness of his vehicle actually helped save lives.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments