Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China sends global markets into turmoil: Live updates
President-elect flexes muscles on world stage after securing brace of legal wins
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Your support makes all the difference.President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose massive tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico with the aim of stopping drug smuggling, an announcement that left the markets reeling in fear of a new trade war with Beijing.
The threatened double-digit tariffs would likely have major impacts on key sectors of the US economy, including auto manufacturing, crude oil and agriculture, all of which involve trade with the targeted countries.
The measures could also further drive inflation, hitting the American consumer.
Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly planning to grant his cabinet nominees “sweeping security clearances” and delay their being subjected to FBI background checks until his own officials have taken over the bureau.
The Republican spent Monday evening celebrating a major legal victory after Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith moved to drop the the federal election interference and classified documents cases against him.
Citing a precedent that prevents a sitting president from being charged, Smith said his team is treating Trump as a current president and asked for the cases to be abandoned.
Smith stressed that the reason for the motions had nothing to do with the strength of the evidence collected, which he believes is strong.
Trump lashes out at NYT and its ‘third rate writer’ after report on president-elect’s aide’s adoring letters
Trump threatens China, Mexico and Canada with new tariffs. But what does this actually mean for Americans’ pockets?
Trumpworld turns on one of its own: Boris Epshteyn faces internal probe over pay-to-play scheme
Trump’s Cabinet and staff tracker: Here’s who is among the White House appointments so far
Trump’s border czar nominee warns Denver mayor he’ll throw him in jail if he resists deportations
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for border czar has threatened to throw the Denver mayor in jail if he doesn’t comply with mass deportations.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has voiced resistance to Trump’s campaign promise to conduct mass deportations and last week said he would even go to jail to stand up for the cause. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar nominee, said both he and Johnston think he should be behind bars if he doesn’t abide by what could be a federal policy.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Trump border czar pick threatens Denver mayor with jail if he resists deportations
While Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said he would go to jail, he clarified that he’s not ‘seeking’ that outcome
Democrats blame their own party for failures after election loss
In the wake of Vice President Harris’s loss to Trump, many liberal voters and leaders in the Democratic Party have racked their brains trying to understand what went wrong and looking for a scapegoat to blame – but some say it’s a collective problem.
Political analysts, commentators and even voters have tried attributing Democrats losing both the executive and legislative branches to President Joe Biden staying in the race until July, Harris saying the wrong thing on the campaign trail, Democrats being too soft on Trump and other excuses.
But rather than play the blame game, Adam Schiff says the Democrats failed to listen to voters.
Here’s more from Ariana Baio.
Democrats blame their own party for failures after election loss
Democrats are being forced to reflect on their failures this past election cycle as they face two years of Republican power
Republican accuses State Dept of offering ‘therapy’ after Trump’s win
California GOP Representative Darrell Issa has written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken after the State Department reportedly held “therapy and listening sessions” for employees following President-elect Donald Trump’s November victory, with Issa expressing his concern about “catering” to the political bias of officials.
Katie Hawkinson has more.
Republican lawmaker accuses State Department of offering ‘therapy’ after Trump’s win
A spokesperson for GOP lawmaker Darrell Issa says the State Department has yet to respond to his letter
Watch: Eric Trump doesn’t seem to understand how tariffs work
Trump’s cabinet picks rile up the far right. Will that matter?
Donald Trump’s picks for a second term cabinet were supposed to illuminate what a MAGA presidency free of guardrails would look like.
Many of his picks have been surprising, some controversial.
His initial announcements were giveaways to his base – Matt Gaetz, then Pam Bondi for attorney general; Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence; RFK Jr at Health and Human Services.
But as the process continues, one familiar theme has emerged: the willingness of the incoming president to spurn committed right-wing ideologues within his party.
Here’s John Bowden on why that is and what might be the consequences for Trump.
Trump’s Cabinet picks rile up hardline conservatives. Will that matter?
With a few obvious outliers, Trump’s picks for his Cabinet suggest he’s happy to disappoint some hardliners. Why?
Watch: Trump tariffs will create ‘winners and losers’ says GOP lawmaker
Some GOP senators hope Trump’s cabinet picks follow Gaetz and withdraw
A number of Republican senators are “privately hoping” that other controversial Trump cabinet nominees will follow Matt Gaetz’s lead and drop out of the running, according to a report.
The likes of Pete Hegseth, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Linda McMahon are all likely to face tricky confirmation hearings in the Senate. with questions about past allegations against them all but certain to come up, placing GOP members under pressure to show loyalty to Trump in a difficult spot.
Rhian Lubin has more.
Some GOP senators hope more of Trump’s cabinet picks follow Gaetz’s lead and withdraw
Following Gaetz’s withdrawal, some GOP lawmakers are turning their attention to Trump’s problematic cabinet picks of Pete Hegseth, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Linda McMahon
Former Trump aide shares warning to women entering his White House
Olivia Troye, ex-national security adviser to Trump’s first VP Mike Pence, has issued a stark warning for women entering the incoming administration.
“TheTrump White House’s chauvinistic male-dominated culture will be exacerbated by the presence of Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth and other ‘bros’ in positions of authority or influence,” Troye wrote on her Substack.
“It will be an intimidating environment, but stay true to your values, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day.”
Josh Marcus has more.
Former Trump aide shares ominous warning to women entering his White House
Former Pence adviser warned of Trump White House’s ‘chauvinistic male-dominated culture’
Kamala Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run
The vice president has told her aides to keep her options open in case she decides to run for president again in 2028, according to reports.
Sources close to the Harris family told Politico that she has vowed to “stay in the fight” and may even run to be governor of California in 2026.
Here’s more from Io Dodds.
Harris tells advisers to keep her options open for another run for president
The vice president is reportedly mulling how to ‘reassert’ her role in the Democratic Party following her decisive defeat by Donald Trump
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