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
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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.
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‘The USA is breaking down,’ Trump rants on Truth Social
The president-elect has been raging on his social media platform that the US is “a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World!” – presumably in relation to yesterday’s terror attacks, although he does not explicitly say so.
“This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership,” he continues.
“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.
“Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to our Country. The CIA must get involved, NOW, before it is too late. The USA is breaking down - A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation.”
He followed that up accordingly:
Recap: Deadly Cybertruck explosion at Trump Tower in Vegas being investigated as possible terrorism, officials say
If you missed the news on New Year’s Day, here’s Andrea Cavalier with a full report on the shocking explosion of a rented Tesla Cybertruck outside of a Donald Trump-owned hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, which appears to have been deliberate.
The incident followed within hours of a terror attack in New Orleans that left 15 people dead and many more injured when a car ploughed into a crowd in the Louisiana city’s celebrated French Quarter, which you read live coverage of right here.
Deadly Cybertruck explosion at Vegas Trump Tower investigated as possible terrorism
One person was killed and seven others were injured when the Tesla vehicle exploded Wednesday
Trump hotel guests taken in by Las Vegas Resorts World after Cybertruck explosion
The Trump-owned property in the gambling Mecca has reportedly now reopened to checked-in guests in the wake of yesterday’s explosion but guests had to evacuate the building in its immediate aftermath.
They were taken in by Las Vegas Resorts World, according to Fox 5 Vegas, where they were given water and access to charging points in the venue’s ballroom as they attempted to recover from the shock and plan their next moves.
Breaking: Driver in Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion named
The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel yesterday has been identified as Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger, a native of Colorado Springs, Denver7 reports.
Livelsberger has multiple addresses in the town associated with him, the Colorado news network says, adding that FBI agents were staking out one of those properties late on Wednesday as they awaited the approval of a search warrant.
Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed on New Year’s Day that the truck used in the incident was rented in Colorado via the Turo app and driven to Nevada, where it blew up in front of the Trump-owned property, killing the driver and injuring seven bystanders.
We’ll be bringing all the latest on this story throughout the day.
Here’s James Liddell on Livelsberger.
Matthew Livelsberger named as Cybertruck explosion suspect by local media
Matthew Livelsberger of Colorado Springs has been named as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump International Hotel, sources say
Recap: A bromance for the ages: The timeline of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s tumultuous relationship
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Here is a timeline recap of the blossoming bromance:
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In pictures: Trump attends New Year’s bash with Melania and Musk
Trump to hold rally event the day before inauguration on January 20
Donald Trump is planning to hold a rally the day before he will be inaugurated for the second time, sources have said.
According to CBS News, the president-elect will hold the event at 3 p.m. on January 19 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Pro-Palestine movement eyes uncertain future under Trump
The pro-Palestine movement in the U.S. is uncertain what the future will look like under Trump, a staunch Israel ally who has characterized demonstrators as Hamas supporters and called for their deportation.
“The Palestinian rights movement is very clear eyed in understanding that it is very likely that this Trump administration will mean that things get much worse for Palestinians,” Beth Miller, political director for Jewish Voice for Peace Action, told Politico.
That chill follows an already diminished level of activism, as university campuses and other institutions sought to limit protests after a chaotic spring semester of encampments and occupations at major universities.
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Biden: Law enforcement investigating ‘any possible connection’ with Cybertruck explosion and New Orleans attack
In remarks given from Camp David on Wednesday evening, Joe Biden said that law enforcement was investigating whether the two incidents in Nevada and Louisiana were at all connected.
After giving an update on investigations in New Orleans, he said: “Additionaly, we're tracking the explosion of a cyber truck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.
“Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there's any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans. Thus far, there's nothing to report on that score.”
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