Staff Reports
Though Donald Trump hasn’t officially begun his second term, it seems he’s already putting the pedal to the metal while Joe Biden seems to be fading like a bad memory. At a recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, the soon-to-be president unveiled SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son’s monumental investment in the U.S. The investment is set to reach $100 billion, promising to generate at least 100,000 jobs for good ol’ Americans. It looks like the stock market isn’t the only thing that’s optimistic since the election.
While Mr. Biden tries to figure out how to double down on his dwindling approval ratings, Trump wasted no time pressuring him to quit undermining border security by selling off materials intended for the southern border wall. Trump hit all the right notes, implying that Biden’s actions amounted to a “criminal act.” Considering how many taxpayer dollars went into that wall, the notion of selling off unused materials through an online auction makes as much sense as using a life preserver to build a submarine. Trump, ever the strategist, made an earnest appeal to Biden to cease and desist from those questionable online sales.
Getting back to work seems to be a pressing issue under Trump’s new administration. He outlined plans to bring federal workers back to offices from their cozy home offices where they’ve been holed up since the pandemic. Workers who want to stay home better think again. With a quick mention of a waiver that allowed federal workers to comfortably spend five years working from home, Trump made it clear that he will not tolerate such laziness. If there’s one thing that professional civil servants love almost as much as avoiding real work, it’s being told they have to get back to the office — spoiler alert, the whining will ensue.
There’s also been some interesting chatter concerning Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Health and Human Services Secretary position. The American public is riddled with skepticism considering Kennedy’s history of questionable statements about vaccines. However, Trump insists Kennedy will be “much less radical than you would think,” which is reassuring, to say the least. Coming from a man who once encouraged a candidate to look into the idea of making the polio vaccine “less common,” trusting Kennedy might feel like a leap of faith. But hey, Trump has faith in him, so who needs to worry, right?
Trump talks TikTok, tariffs, drones, and RFK Jr.: Ten takeaways from press conference https://t.co/bEMEdCimVU
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 16, 2024
In another interesting twist, Trump praised his defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, who has faced some scandals of his own. Trump emphasized Hegseth’s commitment and sacrifices, pointing out that he gave up more than a cushy gig in entertainment. He’s willing to endure the heat and scrutiny to serve his country — not that it’s remotely unusual for a politician, but who’s counting? Meanwhile, as drones take flight around New Jersey, Trump accused the Biden administration of keeping quiet about them, leaving the public to scratch its head about their origins. Perhaps a little transparency would do wonders, but that’s a foreign concept for this administration.
And let’s not forget the legendary tariffs Trump is known for. He continues to champion the idea that tariffs make America rich, despite the naysayers warning of price hikes. For Trump, tariffs seem to be the holy grail of business strategy, countering echoes of economic doom and gloom with straightforward bravado. Should the skies cloud with uncertainty, he’s got an answer, and it’s right there in the dictionary: tariffs. As he gears up for his return to the Oval Office, it appears he’s ready to make a few waves—starting with a stern warning to Hamas about the upcoming Jan. 20 date, leading one to wonder how many political fireworks are still left in the tank.
