Trump news at a glance: president hints at abandoning Ukraine, rambles about ‘weak’ Europe | Trump administration
Donald Trump suggested he may abandon his support for Ukraine as he doubled down on his administration’s recent criticism of Europe, describing it as “weak” and “in decline” and saying it was “destroying itself” through immigration.
In a rambling and at times incoherent interview with Politico, a transcript of which was published on Tuesday, the US president struggled to name any other Ukrainian cities except Kiev, misrepresented elements of the conflict’s trajectory and recycled far-right tropes about European immigration that echoed the “great replacement” conspiracy theory.
Trump called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept his proposal to cede territory to Russia, arguing that Moscow retained “the upper hand” and that Zelensky’s government must “play the game.”
Trump castigates Europe as “weak” and “decaying”
The US president has repeatedly described what he sees as Europe’s problems in purely racial terms, calling some unnamed European leaders “really stupid.”
“If things continue like this, Europe will no longer be… in my opinion… many of these countries will no longer be viable countries. Their immigration policy is a disaster. What they are doing with immigration is a disaster. We had a disaster coming, but I was able to stop it.”
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Trump slams affordability ‘hoax’, immigrants in rally-style speech
Donald Trump sought to revive his ailing presidency in a rally-style event with a series of false claims about the economy and xenophobic attacks on immigrants and “shithole countries.” Following criticism that he was out of touch with America’s affordability crisis, Trump’s speech in Pennsylvania was presented as an opportunity to reclaim economic discourse.
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Trump had two mortgages he claimed were primary housing, records show
Donald Trump signed mortgage documents in the 1990s claiming that two separate properties in Florida would each serve as his primary residence — the same thing his administration calls “mortgage fraud” when committed by political rivals, records show.
ProPublica uncovered documents showing that within seven weeks of each other, in late 1993 and early 1994, the president obtained loans for nearby Palm Beach homes, pledging that each would become his primary residence. Instead of living in them, he rented them out as investment properties.
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Tufts student can resume research after Trump officials revoke her visa, judge rules
A federal judge has allowed a Turkish Tufts University student to resume research and teaching while she faces the consequences of the Trump administration’s revocation of her visa, leading to six weeks of detention.
Rümeysa Öztürk, a doctoral student studying children’s relationship with social media, was among the first people arrested when the Trump administration began targeting foreign-born students and activists involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy. She had co-authored an opinion piece criticizing her university’s response to Israel and the war in Gaza.
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Justice Department can release Ghislaine Maxwell court documents, judge says
Judge Paul A Engelmayer ruled after the Justice Department in November asked two New York judges to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein cases, as well as investigative documents that could amount to hundreds or thousands of previously unpublished documents.
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Gianni Infantino accused of breaking Fifa rules with Trump peace prize
The FIFA president has been accused of violating his organization’s rules of political neutrality towards US President Donald Trump.
Infantino and Trump have developed a close bond in recent years, with the United States serving as a co-host of next year’s men’s World Cup. Infantino even presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the World Cup draw last Friday in Washington DC.
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What else happened today:
A catch-up? Here’s what happened Monday December 8.
