President-elect Donald Trump announced that Alina Habba, Michael Needham, and Michael Anton will join the White House team. Trump also nominated Christopher Landau for Deputy Secretary of State.
Lara Trump announced her resignation as co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) amid speculation she may run for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat. The position will be vacated by Marco Rubio, whom President-elect Donald Trump selected as his nominee for secretary of state.
In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, former President Donald Trump suggested that President Joe Biden might consider issuing preemptive pardons to prominent Democrats and members of the January 6 Committee, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Bennie Thompson (D-MS). The remarks came amid ongoing scrutiny of the committee's handling of evidence and its perceived partisanship.
While former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) faced criticism for meeting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2017, prominent Democratic leaders, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), had also met with Assad in the past. Pelosi’s 2007 visit to Damascus, where she conveyed a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, drew backlash from the Bush administration.
In a sweeping military operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian weaponry and chemical facilities following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Over 24 hours, Israeli forces also entered strategic Syrian territories, including the demilitarized zone and Mount Hermon, to counter emerging threats.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has sparked warnings of a looming migrant crisis. With President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia over the weekend, European leaders welcomed the regime's fall, but the resulting instability may drive millions of Syrians toward Europe, echoing the 2015 migrant crisis.
Former President Barack Obama admitted the defeat of his diversity-driven "pluralism" agenda in a speech delivered December 5 in Chicago. Speaking to a selective audience, Obama called for rebuilding institutions to support diversity and inclusion, following President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive 2024 election victory.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced his commitment to working with President-elect Donald Trump to prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. Despite past tensions, Bach expressed optimism about collaborating with Trump, who will be the first U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 1996—and the first Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984—to play a significant role in supporting the Games.
Vice President-elect JD Vance reinforced President-elect Donald Trump’s position on avoiding involvement in Syria, declaring that the ongoing conflict is "not our fight." In a post on X, Vance echoed Trump’s remarks, emphasizing the need for the United States to focus on its own priorities and avoid entanglement in Syria.
Donald Trump’s designated Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, issued a stern warning Monday regarding hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking during a visit to the region, Witkoff stated it would "not be a pretty day" if the hostages were not released before President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2024.
