Home Blog

Trump Names 3 A-listers As Special Ambassadors To ‘Very Troubled’ Hollywood

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
0
Austin Green, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

President-elect Trump announced three special envoys on Thursday with the purpose of promoting business in Hollywood.

Those special ambassadors will be Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, Trump said. All three actors are conservative and have appeared publicly with Trump or praised him publicly in the past. Stallone, for example, praised Trump as “the second George Washington” while introducing him at the America First Policy Gala in Palm Beach in November.

“It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump wrote in a Thursday Truth Social post. “They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

“These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest,” Trump added. “It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”

The actors’ support for Trump is particularly significant given the strong anti-Trump sentiment voiced by many Hollywood progressives, such as George Clooney, who embrace politicians like former President Barack Obama.

“When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world,” Stallone said of Trump in November. “‘Cause without him, you can imagine what the world would look like. Guess what, we got the second George Washington.”

Giuliani Reaches Tentative Settlement With Georgia Election Workers

By
Madeleine Jackson
-
2
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former New York City Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has reportedly reached a settlement agreement with two Georgia election workers.

The Hill reports that the notice, which included few details about the settlement, indicated that the agreement would “fully resolve” disputes involving Giuliani’s Florida condo and other possessions Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss have sought to collect.  

The tentative settlement would also result in “the conclusion of all litigation” pending between Giuliani and the women. The attorneys indicated that execution of the settlement agreement is dependent on “certain conditions” being met, but did not expand on the matter. 

The settlement agreement comes as Giuliani failed to appear for a trial scheduled to begin Thursday morning over his Palm Beach condo and three New York Yankees World Series rings. 

Following the no-show, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman rescheduled the trial to Tuesday. The parties are now asking the judge to adjourn both the trial and the continuation of a contempt hearing against Giuliani to after Feb. 25, so that the agreement may be executed. 

In a statement on the social media platform X, Giuliani confirmed he reached an agreement with the women but said the resolution does not involve “an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any of the Parties.” He also said the agreement would allow him to retain his New York apartment, Florida condominium and “all of my personal belongings.” 

“No one deserves to be subjected to threats, harassment, or intimidation,” Giuliani said. “This litigation has taken its toll on all parties. This whole episode was unfortunate. I and the Plaintiffs have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same.” 

Trump, Putin Call Expected ‘Soon’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

    President-elect Trump is planning a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the near future according to incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.)

    In an interview on ABC News’s “This Week,” Waltz said “the preparations are underway” for a meeting between Trump and Putin.

    “I do expect a call … at least in the coming days and weeks,” Waltz said. “So, that would be a step, and we’ll take it from there.”

    Trump said Thursday he’s working to set up a meeting with Putin, telling reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., that Putin “wants to meet. And we’re setting that up.”

    Trump noted at the time he’s had “a lot of communication” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and has spoken with numerous other world leaders. But he has yet to speak with Putin.

    “But President Putin wants to meet. He’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess,” Trump said of the war in Ukraine.

    Waltz said it was not yet clear whether the first call between the world leaders would include Zelensky.

    “Well, we haven’t set the exact framework for it yet. We’re working on that,” Waltz said, when asked about Zelensky.

    “From President Trump’s perspective, you can’t enter a deal if you don’t have some type of relationship and dialog with the other side. And we will absolutely establish that in the coming months,” Waltz said.

    Waltz also said he would “like to see a ceasefire any minute, any day” in the Russian-Ukraine war, which he said would be an “incredibly positive first step … that would then allow us to enter into the framework of some type of negotiated solution here.”

    “Everybody knows that this has to end somehow diplomatically,” Waltz said. “I just don’t think it’s realistic to say we’re going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil, even Crimea. President Trump has acknowledged that reality, and I think it’s been a huge step forward that the entire world is acknowledging that reality.”

    Report: Nancy Pelosi Not Attending Trump Inauguration

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A significant snub…

    Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will not be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday, her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.

    Pelosi’s spokesperson did not share a reason for the former Democrat leader skipping the Monday event. The former Speaker attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017.

    Senior leaders of both parties typically attend presidential inaugurations, though Trump skipped President Biden’s inaugural event in 2021.

    Former first lady Michelle Obama also won’t be attending Trump’s second inauguration, though former President Obama will attend

    News of Pelosi not attending was first reported by ABC News.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    DeSantis Announces Rubio Replacement

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced his pick to replace Sen. Marco Rubio once he is confirmed as Secretary of State.

    While speaking to the press, DeSantis announced Ashley Moody to fill Rubio’s empty Senate seat.

    Moody emerged as a frontrunner for the position in recent weeks. A number of other names were floated for the position including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez (R) and the governor’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier. DeSantis also said he had spoken with Reps. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) about the post but raised doubts about plucking a lawmaker from the House amid razor-thin GOP margins in the chamber. 


    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    Blacklist: Trump Lays Out Criteria For Admin. Roles

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Trump is going into the White House with some clear goals and will not let anyone get in his way…

    President-elect Donald Trump declared in a Truth Social post that the incoming administration had already hired more than 1,000 people to work for the U.S. government.

    He also indicated that individuals who have worked with or been backed by “people suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” are not desirable job candidates.

    Trump named former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and others, noting that those who have worked with or been endorsed by those individuals should not be floated as job candidates.

    “As of today, the incoming Trump Administration has hired over 1,000 people for The United States Government. They are outstanding in every way, and you will see the fruits of their labor over the coming years. We will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and it will happen very quickly!” the incoming commander-in-chief said in the post.

    “In order to save time, money, and effort, it would be helpful if you would not send, or recommend to us, people who worked with, or are endorsed by, Americans for No Prosperity (headed by Charles Koch), “Dumb as a Rock” John Bolton, ‘Birdbrain’ Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, disloyal Warmongers Dick Cheney, and his Psycho daughter, Liz, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, General(?) Mark Milley, James Mattis, Mark Yesper, or any of the other people suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, more commonly known as TDS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

    Haley and Pence each mounted bids for the GOP presidential nomination during the recent election cycle, but both ultimately dropped out. While Haley endorsed Trump, Pence did not.

    During President Jimmy Carter’s funeral Pence briefly spoke with Trump as they took their seats.

    Iranian President Refutes Trump Assassination Claims

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Is this the truth?

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country “never” plotted to assassinate President-elect Trump and affirmed that “we never will.”

    Pezeshkian made the statement during an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt on Tuesday in Tehran. U.S. intelligence authorities had stated that Iran was exploring an attempt on Trump’s life prior to Election Day. 

    “This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. … Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone. At least as far as I know.”

    “You’re saying there was never an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump?” Holt asked.

    “None whatsoever,” Pezeshkian replied. “We have never attempted this to begin with, and we never will.”

    The statement comes as Trump’s incoming special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, recently stated that the United States must return to the policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran.

    “For the United States, a policy of maximum pressure must be reinstated, and it must be reinstated with the help of the rest of the globe, and that includes standing with the Iranian people and their aspirations for democracy,” Kellogg said.

    In December, President-elect Donald Trump’s FBI director pick Kash Patel, was the target of an Iranian hacking plot.

    Sources close to the matter informed CNN that the hackers successfully accessed some of Patel’s communications.

    Hackers reportedly accessed some of Patel’s communications, according to one source. Patel, a former chief of staff to the defense secretary during Trump’s first term, has been a vocal critic of Iran and an advocate for aggressive measures against the regime.

    While refraining from addressing the specifics of the incident, Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer framed Patel’s leadership as integral to the incoming administration’s security policies.

    “Kash Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries as the FBI Director,” Pfeiffer told the network.

    Republican Holdout Opts To Support Sec. Of Defense Nominee

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A significant win…

    On Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, scored a significant endorsement after a grueling hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.

    According to Fox News, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst — who previously declared herself being on the fence regarding Hegseth — said Tuesday evening that she was on board with the appointment.

    That speaks volumes because Ernst was the only GOP holdout making her reservations public on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

    “After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst told Fox News via a statement.

    “Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense,” she added.

    “As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.”

    The endorsement is critical, as Ernst had first told the media she was skeptical of Trump’s pick and subsequently issued a statement vaguely supportive of him.

    In December Ernst, a combat veteran, told Fox News that she had a “very long, lengthy discussion” with Hegseth in early December and added that “we will continue with the vetting process. I think that is incredibly important.”

    When Fox News’ Bill Hemmer responded that it sounded like the Senator hadn’t “gotten to a yes” yet, she responded, “I think you are right.”

    Trump Responds To DeSantis’ Decision To Convene Special Session On immigration

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
      -
      0

      Mending fences…

      Donald Trump commended Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for calling for a special state legislative session to implement the president-elect’s immigration agenda. 

      “Thank you Ron, hopefully other governors will follow!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday. 

      The president-elect was responding to DeSantis’s decision to call for a special session on Jan. 27 in a post on X.

      “State and local officials in Florida must help the Trump administration enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” DeSantis told reporters on Monday. “In order to do that effectively we are going to need legislation to impose additional duties on local officials and provide funding for those local officials. There also needs to be measures to hold people accountable for violating our anti-sanctuary policies and that Florida needs to make sure that we don’t have any lingering incentives for people to come into our state illegally.”

      The exchange between the two is another indication the working relationship between Trump and DeSantis continues to mend after theywent head-to-head in the Republican presidential primary.

      However, DeSantis’s announcement was immediately met with criticism by some state Republicans.

      “Florida’s constitution compels our attendance at a special session unilaterally called by the Governor,” Florida state Senate President Ben Albritton (R) and state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R). “However, the power to convene a special session also resides with the presiding officers. As the people’s elected representatives, the Legislature, not the Governor, will decide when and what legislation we consider.” 

      DeSantis responded to the criticism in a post on X, saying “State and local officials in Florida will actively facilitate the Trump Administration’s policies against illegal immigration, and to do that we need to immediately set aside and approve the necessary funding and resources now.

      “As part of the special session I called for January 27, the week after President Trump is sworn in, I am calling on the legislature to appropriate funding for detention, relocation, transportation infrastructure, local law enforcement support, and everything else needed for Florida to carry out this mission.”

      Trump Announces Formation Of External Revenue Service

      By
      Patrick Houck
      -
      1
      Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      President-elect Donald Trump has revealed plans to establish a new government agency, the External Revenue Service (ERS), which is supposedly set to begin operations on Jan. 20, 2025.

      The ERS, likely to operate under the Treasury Department, will focus on collecting revenues from foreign sources. Trump framed the move as part of his broader efforts to address trade imbalances and ensure foreign entities contribute their “fair share” to the U.S. economy.

      “We will begin charging those that make money off of us with Trade, and they will start paying, FINALLY, their fair share,” Trump stated in a Truth Social post shared Tuesday morning. He described the agency’s launch date as the “birth date of the External Revenue Service.”

      However, Andrew Feinberg, the White House correspondent for the U.K.’s Independent, argues that “the president-elect seems unaware that an ‘external revenue service’ has existed since July 31, 1789.”

      Feinberg stated that this day marks the anniversary of George Washington signing the legislation that created the U.S. Customs Service, the predecessor of today’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

      The Hill has more as reactions continue to come in:

      Trump pledged during his 2024 campaign to impose import taxes of 10 percent to 20 percent on all foreign goods, with tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese goods. He stepped up those threats after his election with threats to impose additional tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China — the U.S.’s three largest trading partners.

      Collecting tariffs is currently the responsibility of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is housed within the Department of Homeland Security.

      Under the current system, CBP collects tariffs from U.S.-based importers of foreign goods subject to import taxes. The importer — not the foreign country or company from which the product was exported — must pay the tax to CBP.

      In his first term in office, Trump imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, including from Canada and Mexico, and compelled both countries to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with terms meant to boost U.S. manufacturing and improve compliance with labor laws.

      Details regarding the structure and implementation of the ERS remain unclear, but the announcement aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize American interests in global trade.

      Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

      123...209Page 1 of 209
      © Great America News Desk 2022