National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

Donald Trump sworn in as 47th president of the United States –Trump’s return to the Oval Office caps a remarkable political comeback | 20 Jan 2025 | Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, marking his return to the Oval Office with a pledge to restore America to a “golden age.” Trump addressed the nation after taking the oath of office for the second time and is expected to use his inaugural address remarks to call for a “revolution of common sense.” “I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country,” Trump said. “My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.” The president delivered his remarks from the Capitol Rotunda Monday due to an arctic blast that hit the nation’s capital… Trump, who won the Electoral College and popular vote, defeating Kamala Harris in a landslide, has vowed that his second administration will bring “the golden age of America.”

Trump signs executive order against ‘censorship’ | 20 Jan 2025 | U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning government officials from violating the freedom of speech under the guise of fighting misinformation. Trump signed a flurry of orders hours after he was sworn in as the 47th president on Monday. In the document, Trump accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of “censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms” and pressuring social media companies to “moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech that the federal government did not approve.” “Under the guise of combatting ‘misinformation,’ ‘disinformation,’ and ‘malinformation,’ the federal government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate. Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society,” the document says.

Trump to suspend security clearances of 51 intelligence officials who falsely implied Hunter Biden laptop was Russian fake | 19 Jan 2025 | President-elect Donald Trump, on Day 1, plans to suspend security clearances of the 51 intelligence officials who claimed reporting tied to Hunter Biden’s laptop had “the classic earmarks” of Russian disinformation ahead of the 2020 election, according to a report. Trump will repeal the clearances of the so-called “Spies Who Lie” as part of a flurry of executive orders he’s expected to sign on his first day back in the Oval Office, Fox News reported, citing a senior administration official familiar with the matter. Federal authorities eventually confirmed that the laptop belonging to Joe Biden’s son was authentic, though the national security experts have said they stand by the 2020 letter they penned over their concerns of disinformation.

Trump vows to release JFK, RFK and MLK assassination records | 20 Jan 2025 | U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to make public more classified government documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr. Speaking at a victory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC on Sunday, Trump declared his intention to declassify the records. He said his administration will “reverse the over-classification of government documents,” including those related to the historic crimes, as “the first step toward restoring transparency and accountability.” He added: “It’s all going to be released, Uncle Sam.”

Trump Tosses Pens to Crowd After Signing Executive Orders | 20 Jan 2025 | President Donald Trump threw pens into the crowd after signing several executive orders on Monday at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. In a video posted to X, Trump was seen throwing roughly four pens into the audience, which he had used to sign the executive orders. As Breitbart News previously reported, one of the executive orders that Trump signed was an order former President [sic] Biden’s “huge inflow of wage-cutting refugees for at least four months.” Several people took to social media to comment on Trump throwing pens into the crowd, stating that he was a “rockstar” and the “People’s President.”

Trump signs executive orders while on stage at post-inauguration rally –He further imposed a hiring freeze, ordered federal agencies to address cost of living, withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, and signed several more. | 20 Jan 2025 | President Donald Trump on Monday signed a number of executive orders while on stage at the Capital One arena in Washington, D.C. Trump signed the orders from a desk on stage and showed the individual documents to a cheering crowd. “The first item that President Trump is signing is the rescission of 78 Biden era executive actions, executive orders, presidential memoranda and others,” an aide told the crowd. “The second item President Trump is a regulatory freeze, as you announced in the speech, preventing bureaucrats from issuing any more regulations until we have full control of this government with this administration,” the aide continued… He further imposed a hiring freeze, ordered federal agencies to address cost of living, withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, and signed several more.

Historic: Trump Team Sets Up Desk – Will Sign Executive Orders at Capital One Rally Today in Front of 20,000 Screaming Supporters | 20 Jan 2025 | Donald Trump is poised to sign over 200 executive actions immediately upon taking office today, according to Fox News. And it appears he may sign many of these orders in the Capital One Arena today. Trump’s unprecedented initiative aims to dismantle the remnants of the Biden regime’s failed policies and restore America’s foundational principles. At the forefront of these actions is a declaration of a national border emergency, effectively sealing the southern U.S. border. This decisive measure addresses the escalating crisis of illegal immigration and the associated threats to national security.

Trump signs pardon for about 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants in Oval Office | 20 Jan 2025 | President Trump said on Monday night he has signed pardons for about 1,500 individuals he described as Jan. 6th “hostages.” Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio is one of the individuals set to be released from prison after a pardon from Trump, according to a report. Tarrio was not in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021 but was convicted for his role in planning the riot with members of the Proud Boys, according to the Justice Department. “As soon as I leave, I’m going to the Oval Office and we’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people,” Trump told supporters at the Capital One Arena, according to Forbes.

Trump declares border emergency and scraps asylum app in immigration crackdown | 20 Jan 2025 | From behind his desk in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders and decrees aimed at cracking down on immigration. From an order tackling the definition of birthright citizenship, to an order declaring the illegal immigration at the border a national emergency, Trump swiftly made moves on his promises to tighten the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump had previously vowed that the “destructive” policies of the Biden White House would be gone “within five minutes.” Hours earlier, thousands of would-be migrants had their immigration appointments cancelled after the new administration scrapped CBP One, an app used to book appearances at ports of entry at the border.

ICE officers prepping for ‘big [bleep]ing operation’ across sanctuary cities immediately after Trump inauguration | 17 Jan 2025 | The ICE man cometh. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to launch a “big [bleep]ing operation” across sanctuary cities — including Chicago and New York — immediately after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, multiple sources told The Post. Starting Jan. 21, multi-day “ground operations” will be launched across cities that have served as safe havens for migrants because the local authorities do not cooperate with the federal government when it comes to immigration issues, sources said. The massive sweep is likely to target people with removal orders, according to sources.

Laken Riley Act set to become one of first bills to hit President Trump’s desk | 20 Jan 2025 | The Laken Riley Act is headed back to the House after the Senate passed an amended version on Monday night. By a vote of 64-35, the measure passed the Senate. Democrats that joined Republicans to support the bill were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Gary Peters of Michigan, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Mark Warner of Virginia and Raphael Warnock of Georgia. The measure is set to be one of the first pieces of legislation sent to President Trump’s desk after it overcame the legislative filibuster’s 60-vote threshold twice this month.

Chief Justice Roberts Faces Criticism After Rushing Donald Trump’s Oath of Office | 20 Jan 2025 | U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice [and deep-state dirt-bag] John Roberts is facing heavy criticism after he began administering the oath of office to President Donald Trump before First Lady Melania Trump could be next to him with the Trump and Lincoln Bibles. Because of the hiccup, it appears that Trump’s left hand did not reach the Bibles, which is not a constitutional requirement but a long-standing tradition. His right hand was raised to God. Conservative radio host Mike Gallagher blasted Roberts as a “tool.” “Shameful how Justice Roberts rushed the oath and didn’t give Melania time to get into place to hold the Bibles for her husband. What a tool,” he wrote in a post on X.

Americans say U.S. spends too much on Ukraine – poll | 20 Jan 2025 | The majority of Americans believe the U.S. government is spending too much on aid for Ukraine, a recent New York Times/Ipsos opinion poll suggests. According to the findings, 51% of respondents say the country is “spending too much” on Kiev, while 28% believe the current amount is appropriate. Only 17% say the country should boost spending on Ukraine. Similarly, 53% of those surveyed say U.S. aid to Israel is excessive, with 30% considering it adequate. The survey, conducted from January 2 to 10, involved 2,128 people nationwide.

GOP lawmakers pledge to investigate Biden’s last-minute pardons: ‘Call them all before Congress’ | 20 Jan 2025 | Republican lawmakers are reacting furiously to President Biden’s 11th-hour decision to pardon several allies who President-elect Trump and his circle have threatened retribution against, made hours before ceding power to the new commander in chief. “Implication is that they needed the pardons,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “So, let’s call them all before Congress and demand the truth. If they refuse or lie — let’s test the constitutional ‘reach’ of these pardons with regard to their future actions.” Biden announced early on Monday that he was issuing preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members and staff of the now-defunct House select committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Biden announces blanket pardon for his brother James, burying family influence-peddling probe for good | 20 Jan 2025 | Outgoing President [sic] Biden on Monday issued a slew of pardons for more kin, including a broad, 11-year granting of clemency for his brother James — effectively killing any chance of repercussions for the first family’s influence-peddling. The 11th-hour move — on the heels of Biden’s previous unprecedented sweeping pardon of son Hunter — brought widespread condemnation, even from hardcore liberals. “It’s just unseemly,” said CNN’s John King during a live broadcast after Monday’s announcement mere hours before Biden left office. “If you’re going to do it, have the courage to do it in the light of day and explain it to the American people.”