Donald Trump says it's an “absolute necessity” for our country to own Greenland.
He says no The United States should take Bring back the Panama Canal unless the “ridiculous” shipping fees are reduced.
He threatened to do so Any Republican Anyone who opposes the bill to avoid a government shutdown can and should advance to the primary election.
The president-elect is developing a reputation as a disruptor, wielding enough influence over what is now his party to torpedo carefully negotiated compromises between the two parties. Let's look at each of these.
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In his first term, Trump tried to buy Greenland, which is… Controlled by Denmark But under the rule of the homeland. This yielded no results, although it created a diplomatic crisis with Danish officials.
While the United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s, it was handed over to Panama under a treaty agreed upon by both countries. Panamanian President José Raul Molino says, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area is and will remain the property of Panama. The sovereignty and independence of our country are non-negotiable.”
But that did not stop Trump from posting an AI image of an American flag flying over a waterway supposedly the canal.
To be sure, the next president has demonstrated his ability to engineer fundamental challenges for those who disagree with him. But thirty conservative Republicans voted against him on the government shutdown bill, including its final passage, dropping his demand to eliminate the debt ceiling during his term. Will he really run a primary against all of them?
So the most likely possibility is that the status of Greenland, the Panama Canal and the rebellious Republicans will not change in the second term.
The reason Trump is doing this is to reinforce his role as a disruptor, someone who takes on the crumbling establishment in Washington, even though the president is, by definition, the new establishment.
President-elect Donald Trump gestures to AmericaFest, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scottri)
Moreover, whether Trump makes outrageous demands or not, he shapes and often dominates the news agenda. As the 47th president admitted to me, he sometimes oversteps the bounds because he knows it will provoke a strong media reaction. As Trump sees it, even negative coverage It's good coverage Because the press is playing on his court.
Sometimes these are simply negotiating positions to obtain concessions, as is the case with the 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico.
Remember, most people outside the political media complex are not following these developments with bated breath. Since the government hasn't actually shut down, they don't see Trump not getting most of what he wants as a setback. Maybe they don't remember that he tried to buy Greenland before.
What Trump clearly has the power to do is torpedo carefully crafted bipartisan agreements. He did so after House Speaker Mike Johnson — whose future was in doubt because, like Kevin McCarthy before him, he didn't have the votes — allowed the bill to turn into a Christmas tree monstrosity.
He did so during the campaign when the two sides agreed to a tough border enforcement deal, which was then destroyed over Trump's objections.
But there are clearly limits to Trump's ability to shape events, especially regarding the country. That he defied 30 Republicans on a fundamental issue like the debt ceiling shows he can only push his party so far.
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Rep. Nancy Mace, a Trump supporter who voted against him in the final vote, told me on Media Buzz on Sunday that was because she wanted to preserve the debt ceiling.
But with the GOP clinging to a one-vote margin in the House, for now, the cauldron of campaign rhetoric is clashing with the cold, hard math of getting to 218.
Democrats have to wonder whether it's worth negotiating with the other side if they're just creating a target for Trump's demolition derby.
It was Elon Musk who tweeted for the first time About how bad the original bill was — at Trump's suggestion — and after more than 70 tweets (including some lies), the new president was drawn into the fray.
Butler, Pennsylvania – October. October 5: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks with former President Donald Trump during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. ((Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images))
Over the weekend, Trump denied that he had handed over presidential powers to his billionaire friend, and quipped that Musk could never become president:
“You know why? He wasn't born in this country. Ha-ha-ha.”
A favorite media game is whether the two strong-willed men will disagree in the end.
But for now, Trump's tough talk about Greenland and the Panama Canal shows he's more comfortable playing offense, even if it doesn't yield much.
In other news:
– A House ethics report says Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex, including with an underage girl, and used illegal drugs.
In 2017, the former attorney general candidate “engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl,” also for pay.
Gaetz used or was in possession of illicit drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy “on multiple occasions,” and also accepted lucrative gifts, such as transportation and lodging in the Bahamas.
“Many of the women interviewed by the committee were clear that there was a general expectation of sex,” with one woman telling the committee that Gaetz paid her more than $5,000 and that sex was involved “99 percent of the time.”
The committee said Gaetz was “uncooperative” and that he “knowingly and intentionally sought to obstruct and impede the committee’s investigation into his conduct.” The Department of Justice conducted an investigation but brought no charges.
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Gaetz also abused House resources when he asked his chief of staff “to help a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity obtain a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. State Department that she was a member of Parliament…
“There was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated the House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, rape, illegal drug use, accepting impermissible gifts, providing special favors and privileges, and obstructing Congress.”
If Gaetz were still running for AG, this would have blown him out of the water.
“I wasn't accused of anything: I was completely acquitted,” says Gaetz. “Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.” Then, “witnesses” who the Justice Department deemed unreliable were rounded up by the Ethics Board to repeat their allegations in absentia. “Any questioning or challenge from me or my lawyers, I have never had the opportunity to confront any defendants and have never been prosecuted.” He says He even sent money For women he was not dating.
– A Dallas Express reporter found out what happened to Texas Rep. Kay Granger, who “disappeared” months ago. He found her, and got official confirmation, at a nursing facility that specializes in dementia and other memory problems. She made a statement about health challenges that completely missed the mark: how could she not tell her constituents about this? Why did she insist on hiding it? There will be enormous sympathy for her. Instead, the congresswoman kept the whole matter secret.
Actress Blake Lively has been the target of an online smear campaign, as shown in texts and emails blatantly discussing planting stories to destroy her reputation, with the warning that this should remain a secret because they can't admit they're trying. “To bury her.” “You know we can bury anyone.”
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively (David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images/Leah Tobey/Getty Images)
These documents were obtained by Lively through legal proceedings against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, and were reviewed by The New York Times. She alleges she was sexually harassed, saying Baldoni and others would routinely come to her trailer unannounced when she was topless, such as removing body makeup, or breastfeeding.
Wayfarer Studio said the company and its public relations officials “did not do anything proactive or retaliatory” against the actress, and accused her of “another desperate attempt to repair her negative reputation.”
Lively says Baldoni attempted to add unnecessary sex scenes, made unwanted impromptu kisses and discussed his sex life, including instances where he may not have obtained consent. Another team member showed her a video of his wife naked.
The sad thing is that this kind of thing goes on all the time. We just happen to get the goods this time, as Lively is portrayed as difficult, out-of-touch, and a bully.
– The Daily Mail reports that Jeff Bezos will marry his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, this weekend in a massive $600 million ceremony in Aspen.
The Amazon founder, who owns The Washington Post, says this is just a bowl:
“This whole thing is completely wrong, none of this is happening…
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“The old adage 'Don't believe everything you read' is truer today than ever. Now lies can spread around the world before the truth can get its clothes on. So be careful people and don't be gullible.”
Good for Jeff for responding to a bad story.
