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Mark Burnett, the powerful producer who reintroduced Donald Trump to a national television audience with "The Apprentice," has been appointed by the president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his next government. Donald Trump with television producer Mark Burnett in 2017. Evan Vucci/AP Photo "With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role," the president said on Saturday. Burnett, who was born in London, has produced blockbusters such as "Survivor" and "The Voice," but he is most known for collaborating with Trump on "The Apprentice," which premiered on NBC in 2004. Trump had been well-known in the real estate and pop culture communities for decades. But the program helped him re-establish himself as a household figure, despite the fact that Trump ended his relationship with NBC in 2015, t...

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he would appoint one of his defense attorneys in the New York hush money case as his counselor. Alina Habba, 40, defended Trump earlier this year and also served as his legal spokesman. Since the election, Habba has spent time with the president-elect at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. Trump 's lawyer Alina Habba. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images "She has been unwavering in her loyalty and unmatched in her resolve - standing with me through numerous 'trials', battles, and countless days in court," Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social. "Few understand the weaponization of the 'injustice' system better than Alina." Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes in May, when a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 counts in a plan to illegally influence the 2016 election by paying a hush-money to a porn star who claimed the two had sex...

The United States will provide nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday, as the Biden administration rushes to spend all of the congressionally approved funds it has left to help Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month. French President Emmanuel Macron (C), President-elect Donald Trump (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris , France on December 07 , 2024. Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images The current deal will include additional drones and bombs for the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. While these weapons are urgently needed, they will be supported by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides for longer-term equipment to be put on contract. The weapon systems purchased are frequently meant to bolster Ukraine's future military capabilities rather than ma...

Joe Biden has been criticized by some of his own supporters for issuing a pardon to his son Hunter, something he had previously sworn not to grant. The president's volte face drew predictable criticism from Republicans, led by President-elect Donald Trump, who dubbed it a "miscarriage of justice" and used it to highlight the case of the jailed ringleaders of the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol, whom he has suggested he will pardon when he returns to the White House. Hunter Biden. Jenna Schoenefeld/The New York Times/Redux "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. However, censure from other Democrats - some of whom claimed he had given Trump legitimacy for his own use of the presidential pardon authority - appeared to have more sting. Jared Polis, Colorado's Democratic governor, claimed Biden jeopardized his own image and legacy. ...

President-elect Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on a group of nine countries on Saturday if they undermined the US dollar. His warning was aimed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. Donald Trump during a meeting with the House GOP conference on November 13. Allison Robbert/Pool via AP Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have requested for membership, while numerous additional nations have shown an interest in joining. While the US dollar is by far the most widely used currency in the world and has withstood previous challenges to its supremacy, members of the alliance and other developing countries claim they are fed up with America's control over the international financial system. According to the IMF, the dollar accounts for around 58% of global foreign currency reserves, and important commodities such as oil are still predominantly purchased and traded in doll...

Donald Trump's nomination of far-right Republican congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general has sparked outrage in Washington, even inside the president-elect's own party. On Wednesday, Trump appointed Gaetz as the nation's chief law enforcement officer at the Justice Department, a post that directs the government's legal stances on crucial issues such as abortion, civil rights, and the first amendment. Matt Gaetz in 2024. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Republicans were perplexed by this nomination, claiming it was not on their "bingo card". "I don't think it's a serious nomination for the attorney general," Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska told NBC News. "We need a real Attorney General. And I'm looking forward to the chance to contemplate someone who is serious. "This wasn't on my bingo card." Gaetz, a right-wing firebrand, was a thorn in the side of his Republican colleague a...

On Sunday, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that Tom Homan, the previous acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will be in command of the country's borders under his incoming government. Tom Homan at a primary election night party for Donald Trump in Nashua , N.H. , in January. Matt Rourke/AP Homan's responsibilities would encompass "the southern border, the northern border, all maritime and aviation security," Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform. Trump stated that "border czar" Homan will be in charge of deporting illegal immigrants. Homan, who served in Trump's government for a year and a half during his first term, is also a candidate for secretary of homeland security. Mass deportations, as well as the confinement of migrants in camps, were central to Trump's campaign platform. Trump praised Homan, telling Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner in July: "I have Tom Homan lined up, we ha...

The Washington Post claimed Sunday that US President-elect Donald Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him not to escalate the war in Ukraine. According to the article, Trump spoke with Putin on Thursday from his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, only days after his surprise election victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during a news conference in Helsinki , Finland , in 2018. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images When AFP requested comment from the president-elect's team, they did not react immediately. The Post reported, citing three people involved with the discussion who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that Trump warned Putin of America's significant military posture in Europe. They added he also showed a willingness in continued discussions to discuss "the resolution of Ukraine's war soon." Trump's win is viewed as having the potential to upend the almost three-year Ukra...

President Joe Biden said in a speech from the White House on Thursday that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and to guarantee a smooth transition of power when he takes office on January 20. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the results of the 2024 election in the Rose Garden on November 07 , 2024 in Washington , DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images "I assured him that my entire administration would collaborate with his team to ensure a smooth and orderly transition." "That's what the American people deserve," Biden stated. On Tuesday, Trump promptly claimed the presidency when Wisconsin's electoral votes went his way, putting him over the 270 electoral vote barrier. Biden stated that he had asked President-elect Trump to a meeting in the White House ahead of Trump's return to his old house during his first term as president from 2017 to 2021. For years, Biden and Trump have been fierce ...

Former CIA director and US defense secretary Leon Panetta said that as president, Donald Trump will grant Benjamin Netanyahu a "blank check" in the Middle East, perhaps leading to all-out war between Israel and Iran. Ronen Zvulun. Reuters "With regards to the Middle East, I think he's basically going to give Netanyahu a blank check," Panetta said of Trump, who won the presidential election this week and will return to office in January. "'Whatever you do, whatever you want to do, and whomever you want to pursue, you have my blessing.' "He basically said that [before the election]." Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2018, the Israeli prime minister has presided over assaults against Iran and its assets as part of a widening war. He and the US president-elect were said to have talked throughout the US election campaign. Netanyahu praised Trump on Wednesday, after his victory against Kamala Harris was certified. Panetta we...

Donald Trump, who has pledged to take action on topics including immigration, the economy, and the conflict in Ukraine, is expected to return to the White House. Donald Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images He appears to have plenty of support in Congress for his political agenda now that his Republican Party has retaken control of the Senate. Trump vowed to "govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept" in his victory address. We are going to honor our commitments. In several situations, however, he has provided little clarity about how he intends to achieve his goals. When asked by Fox News in 2023 if he would misuse his position or target political opponents, he said no, "except for day one". "Except for the first day. We're sealing the border and drilling away. "After that, I am not a dictator." 1 . Deport unauthorized immigrants While campaigning, Trump vowed the largest mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants in US h...

Donald Trump cruised to victory on Tuesday, boosted by a rising new star in the Republican Party: Elon Musk. The Tesla CEO and X owner's aggressive efforts were critical to his return to the White House, as they helped spark a wave of support, particularly among young college-age males, who tend to vote Democrat. If their support helps the GOP keep a majority in the House of Representatives, Trump's party will have control of both legislative chambers and the president. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a rising force in the Republican Party after playing a pivotal role in helping Donald Trump get elected to the White House for a second time . Samuel Corum/Getty Images Musk supporters chanted his name during Trump's victory address early Wednesday morning, leading the president-elect to call him out for special appreciation.  "Let me tell you, we have a new star," said Trump, who is projected to win the popular vote for the first time in three campaigns. ...

Election Day in the United States is quickly approaching, and the presidential contenders, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, are locked in what promises to be a close contest.  The outcome of the election is vital to America's and the rest of the world's futures, possibly more so in Europe. Former President of the European Central Bank ( ECB ), ' Mario Draghi. ' Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg via Getty Images The old continent has grown to rely largely on the United States for trade and defense assurances, raising the stakes for the area as it deals with economic instability, declining competitiveness, the development of right-wing nationalism, and increased security dangers as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Consider Trump, for instance. He has made no secret of his desire to raise the cost of European commerce, fueling fears in the stock market that the area would lose out. Harris's actions might put further pressure on Europe to distance itse...

Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin were among the major industry figures that backed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Sunday, following a speaker at Donald Trump's political rally at New York's Madison Square Garden calling Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage." Bad Bunny. Getty Images The blatantly discriminatory remark sparked uproar among famous Puerto Ricans and others in the media and entertainment industries. "There is currently a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. "I believe it's called Puerto Rico," said Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcaster who was one of many speakers before Trump took the stage at the iconic concert hall on Sunday evening. Hinchcliffe's remarks were insulting, even for a Trump rally, as seen by the crowd's tepid reaction. Hinchcliffe answered quickly and defensively with "OK, OK" as he heard scattered boos and scant applause. Prior to h...

With less than a month until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris' lead against former President Donald Trump has dwindled in three major surveys, dealing another blow to Democrats who were already worried about November. Kamala Harris. Rob Schumacher/The Republic; USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In the NBC News survey, Harris has dropped six percentage points to Trump in a single month, leaving the former president with the slimmest edge of 47% to 46% among registered voters – including third-party candidates. In the same survey last month, Harris received 47% of the votes while Trump received 41%. A separate ABC News/Ipsos poll found that voters are going in Trump's favor nationwide, with Harris still leading among likely voters by 50% to 48%. However, Harris's 6-point lead among likely voters (52% to 46%) has shrunk significantly since the survey last month. Ultimately, a CBS News/YouGov survey shows Harris ahead of Trump nationwide by 51% to 48%, wi...

In an interview broadcast on Sunday, Donald Trump stated that if he loses this year's presidential election, he does not intend to run for president again in 2028. In an interview with Sharyl Attkisson for the Full Measure television show, the former US president, who ran in 2016 and 2020, was asked if he envisioned himself running again in four years. Donald Trump. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images "No, I don't," Trump responded. "I don't see that at all." He concluded by saying: "Hopefully, we're going to be successful." Kamala Harris now leads Trump in most head-to-head polls, after Trump had previously established a strong lead over Joe Biden before abandoning his re-election campaign following a catastrophic debate performance. However, the presidential race remains tight heading into the November election, particularly in important battleground states that will determine victory. Attkisson questioned Trump on the positions he see...