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Trump changes his tune on lowering grocery prices in Time Person of the Year interview: Live updates

President-elect backs away from key campaign pledge on inflation

Joe Sommerlad,Ariana Baio,Gustaf Kilander
Thursday 12 December 2024 17:00 GMT
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Donald Trump rings opening bell at New York Stock Exchange

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Donald Trump has been named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” following his November election win but has also caused consternation by appearing to back away from his pledge to bring down grocery prices once he takes office, U-turning on a key promise to American voters.

“It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up, very hard,” the president-elect told the magazine, hoping to manage expectations on inflation.

The annual cover – which highlights an individual who has greatly influenced the year, for good or ill – has just been unveiled, bearing an imperious portrait of the Republican against a stark background.

Trump was also named “Person of the Year” in 2016 after beating Hillary Clinton to win election to the White House for the first time.

He celebrated this latest honor by delivering a brief speech and ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning.

Trump has meanwhile been continuing to announce nominees to his new administration and gloating over the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he appointed to replace James Comey in 2017, calling his departure a “great day for America” and bemoaning the August 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago.

C-SPAN host fact-checks GOP lawmaker who thinks Pete Hegseth doesn’t know who’s accusing him of rape

C-SPAN host Mimi Geerges was forced to correct Republican Rep. Rich McCormick on Wednesday when he insisted that Pete Hegseth does not know the identity of the woman accusing him of sexual assault, only for the Georgia lawmaker to double down on his false claim.

McCormick, who was on Washington Journal to primarily talk about his heated clash with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, was asked about the embattled Hegseth’s efforts to rally support for his nomination as secretary of defense amid a slew of accusations over sexual misconduct and excessive drinking.

Read more:

C-SPAN host fact-checks Republican who says Hegseth doesn’t know who his accuser is

C-SPAN’s Mimi Geerges tried to remind Rep. McCormick that Hegseth has actually paid a settlement to the woman accusing him of sexual assault, only for McCormick to double down.

Justin Baragona11 December 2024 23:00

Incoming FBI director Kash Patel responds to Wray resignation

When asked to respond to FBI Director Christopher Wray stepping down from his position, incoming director Kash Patel said he was “looking forward” to a smooth transition and will be prepared to take over.

Ariana Baio11 December 2024 22:30

No discussion with Trump on his ‘policy agenda’ during call, says Swinney

John Swinney and Donald Trump did not discuss the US president-elect’s “policy agenda” during a call, the First Minister has said.

Mr Swinney spoke to the soon-to-be 47th president on Tuesday, with Mr Trump speaking of his admiration for Scotland, but discussions did not include a potential visit to Bute House when the Republican next comes to Scotland – expected to be some time next year.

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No discussion with Trump on his ‘policy agenda’ during call, says Swinney

The First Minister spoke to the US president-elect on the phone on Tuesday.

Craig Paton11 December 2024 22:00

Read Merrick Garland’s statement on Christopher Wray’s departure in full

Chris Wray has served our country honorably and with integrity for decades, including for seven years as the Director of the FBI under presidents of both parties.

In a heightened threat environment, Director Wray has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants, many of whom put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities.

Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.

He has led the FBI’s efforts to aggressively confront the broad range of threats facing our country — from nation-state adversaries and foreign and domestic terrorism to violent crime, cybercrime, and financial crime.

There are few leadership positions more central to keeping the American people safe than the Director of the FBI.

The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading employees located across the country and around the world who dedicate themselves each day to disrupting complex plots and preventing horrific tragedies before they can occur.

The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading the federal law enforcement agency that serves as the connective tissue among the intelligence community, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and our international law enforcement partners.

And the Director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations. That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear.

Director Wray has done that job with integrity and skill. He has my gratitude, the gratitude of the FBI agents and employees whose respect and admiration he has earned, and the gratitude of the American people.

Attorney General Merrick Garland
Gustaf Kilander11 December 2024 21:30

Donald Trump to be named person of the year by Time magazine

Donald Trump is set to be named “Person of the Year” by Time magazine and he’ll celebrate the moment and the new cover by ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, according to Politico.

When Taylor Swift was on the cover last year, the CEO of Time, Jessica Sibley, rang the opening bell.

Trump was also selected in 2016. Thirteen other presidents have also been chosen by the magazine, including current President Joe Biden.

Gustaf Kilander11 December 2024 21:00

Only 2 in 10 Americans actually approve of Biden’s sweeping pardon for son Hunter

Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That displeasure tracks with the bipartisan uproar in Washington that ignited over the president’s about-face. The survey found that a relatively small share of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the pardon, which came after the younger Biden was convicted on gun and tax charges. About half said they “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove, and about 2 in 10 neither approve nor disapprove.

Read more:

Will Weissert, Amelia Thomson Deveaux11 December 2024 20:30

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