Stay up to date with live coverage of the Trump administration and national politics as the president announces he’ll meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea next week, and the White House is warning the ongoing government shutdown is threatening to cause “significant flight delays.”
Former special counsel Jack Smith requested a public hearing to address “mischaracterizations” in his investigations into former President Trump. Smith seeks assurance he won’t be punished for testifying and access to investigation documents he no longer has. Republicans demand a closed-door interview, while Democrats support a public hearing. President Trump halted trade negotiations with Canada after Ontario funded an anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan’s voice. Trump claimed the $75,000 ad was “FAKE” and designed to influence US court decisions on tariffs, which he deems crucial for national security and the economy.Former special counsel Jack Smith asks to testify publicly on Trump investigations: ‘Prepared to answer questions’
By Victor Nava Trump terminates trade talks with Canada over Ontario's 'fake' anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan
By Victor Nava
The media continues to show its liberal bias, with examples including Mia Farrow comparing Trump to Hitler for having a ballroom, The New York Times downplaying Hamas attacks, The Mirror’s speculative “news” on Trump’s 2028 plans, and a Democrat admitting their party is causing government shutdowns.
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday touted the success of President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force, telling reporters that in the last month more than 3,200 “violent” criminals affiliated with drug cartels have been arrested.
“The results of this last month have been historic,” Bondi said at the White House.
“Think about this, 3,200 – more than 3,200 – violent gangs and drug dealers have been taken off the streets,” she continued.
The attorney general said members of the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartels, as well as MS-13 gangbangers, have been among those arrested.
“Today, 91 tons of drugs have been seized as a result of this task force,” Bondi said.
China’s manufacturing and illicit shipments of fentanyl will be at the top of President Trump’s list of topics to discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, he said Thursday.
“The first question I'm going to be asking him about is fentanyl,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“It'll be the first thing on the list,” he added.
The president framed the issue as a business decision China will have to make.
“They make $100 million selling fentanyl into our country – $100 million,” Trump said. “They lose $100 billion with the 20% tariff.”
“So this is not a good business proposition.”
“It's a big penalty to make 100 million,” the president said of the 20% tariff he slapped on China over its fentanyl exports, which have killed roughly one in every 1,000 Americans over the past five years.
The president also said there is evidence China is smuggling fentanyl through Venezuela.
Trump will meet with Xi next Thursday at the APEC summit in South Korea.
Top Biden administration officials, including then-Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, approved the “Arctic Frost” probe. This investigation targeted nearly 100 Republican-linked groups and entities, and potentially members of Congress, raising concerns about the weaponization of federal law enforcement.
A face-to-face meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is "not completely off the table," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.
"I think the president and the entire administration hopes that one day that can happen again," Leavitt told reporters during her regular briefing.
"But we want to make sure that there's a tangible, positive outcome out of that meeting and that it's a good use of the president's time."
Leavitt added that Trump, who canceled a planned summit with Putin in Budapest, has "long expressed his frustration" with the Russian leader and "has not seen enough interest and enough action in terms of moving the ball forward toward peace."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned Thursday of significant flight disruptions if the government isn't reopened soon.
Leavitt said it was "egregious and truly sad" that air traffic controllers are not being paid, and highlighted anecdotes of controllers being forced to work as Uber drivers.
"If the Democrats continue to keep the government closed, we fear there will be significant flight delays, disruptions and cancelations in major airports across the country this holiday season," Leavitt said.
President Trump announced plans to visit the Gaza Strip, crediting himself with brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas. He also predicted Saudi Arabia would join the Abraham Accords and warned against Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Former President Trump revealed he had veto power over Israeli operations against Islamic terror groups after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, claiming Israel kept him informed of key decisions even after he left office.
