McMaster: Republicans Have to 'Disabuse Themselves of This Strange Affection for Vladimir Putin'By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? National Politics | Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump’s mass deportation effort Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
In light of these factors, it is possible for Barcelona to successfully navigate the negotiations with both Nathan Ake and Gerard Pique. The club's management and coaching staff will play a crucial role in communicating their plans and vision for the team's defensive unit. By transparently addressing the roles and expectations for both players, Barcelona can ensure a harmonious and competitive environment within the squad.
The promotion of Zhou Longqiang to the position of Party Secretary not only reflects his personal achievements and capabilities but also showcases the recognition and support from higher authorities. It is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his years of hard work, dedication, and service to the people.
Allegations of the Department of Justice secretly obtaining communications records from members of Congress, their staff and journalists have reignited concerns about executive branch overreach and privacy breaches. A report from the DOJ inspector general reveals phone and email records were seized during leak investigations under former President Donald Trump , targeting individuals like Kash Patel , now nominated to lead the FBI, CNN reports. What Happened: The investigation reportedly focused on individuals with access to sensitive information, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calf.) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), according to sources familiar with the matter. Patel, a former staffer on the House Intelligence Committee, was also among those whose records were obtained, along with journalists from prominent outlets like CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Prosecutors bypassed established procedures, failing to convene an internal committee or obtain required certifications, according to the report. In total, records from over 40 congressional staffers were seized without their knowledge through non-disclosure orders. The report cautioned that these actions risk undermining congressional oversight by creating an appearance of executive interference. Also Read: Trump’s Tariff Storm: 3 Survival Strategies US Companies Are Using To Fight Back Why It Matters: These revelations underscore the need for stricter safeguards to protect the constitutional balance between legislative and executive powers. Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci , speaking on CNN , highlighted the political dimensions of these appointments. He suggested Patel's nomination might serve to appeal to Trump's base rather than present a realistic path to confirmation. Patel's nomination has drawn mixed reactions, with Devin Nunes describing him as an "immensely talented lawyer" while critics question his qualifications. Patel's confirmation process, which could extend into 2025, is expected to draw intense scrutiny, particularly given his vocal criticism of the so-called “deep state.” For now, the inspector general's findings have amplified calls for reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in DOJ investigations involving elected officials and journalists. Read Next: Trump Plays Presidential Immunity Card In Truth Social Lawsuit Battle Photo: Shutterstock This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
For individuals who are considering buying a home, the decision to do so amidst rising interest rates requires careful consideration. On one hand, waiting for interest rates to potentially decrease could result in lower borrowing costs in the future. However, timing the market perfectly is notoriously difficult, and there is no guarantee that rates will fall significantly in the near future.
Son Heung-min, a pivotal player for Tottenham and a fan favorite worldwide, has been subject to various transfer rumors in the past. However, this latest development caught many off guard, especially with the involvement of Barcelona's agent in addressing the speculation. The swift action taken by the agent to dispel the rumors serves as a testament to the ongoing negotiations and the commitment of Son to honor his contract with Tottenham.There is also a focus on fostering a sense of unity and teamwork among the players. The collective spirit and camaraderie within the team will be crucial in overcoming challenges and achieving their goals. Barcelona is not just a group of individual players but a cohesive unit that works together towards a common objective.