What is the story about?
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday, January 20, marked one year of his second term with a lengthy White House press briefing, using the occasion to defend his economic and immigration agenda while launching fresh attacks on political opponents and the previous Biden administration.
Trump said that his administration had reversed what he described as an economic crisis inherited from former president Joe Biden.
"We inherited a mess, and now we’ve brought inflation way down," he said, asserting that growth had been "incredible", as per News18.
He claimed that fourth-quarter GDP growth was on track to cross 5% and said thousands of factories were under construction across the US, crediting tariffs and large investment pledges from companies such as Apple, NVIDIA, Ford, General Motors and Hyundai.
He also said stock markets and retirement accounts had reached record highs and insisted Americans’ real incomes had increased.
However, Trump complained that his achievements were not being effectively communicated. "Maybe I have bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across," he said, as per News18.
Immigration, ICE and Minnesota protests
Immigration dominated much of the press briefing as Trump accused the Biden administration of pursuing “open border policies” that allowed violent offenders into the country.
Holding up photographs of individuals he said were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Trump remarked, "These are serious criminals," and described them as "vicious".
Read more: Trump says US will wipe out Iran if it assassinates him
He singled out Minnesota while defending ICE operations and alleged that protests against enforcement actions were driven by "paid agitators".
He praised the ICE and Border Patrol officers, and said that they were being unfairly criticised despite dealing with what he called "rough people".
Foreign policy, NATO and Greenland
On foreign affairs, Trump said he was open to engaging Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
"We’re talking to her. Maybe we can get her involved in some way. I’d love to be able to do that," he said, adding that oil companies were preparing investments in Venezuela.
Trump also reignited controversy around NATO and Greenland, claiming the alliance existed because of him and questioning whether it would defend the US.
"Nobody’s done more for NATO than I have," he said.
When asked how far he would go to acquire Greenland, Trump replied, "You’ll find out."
Tariffs, courts and prosecutors
Trump warned that he would explore alternative revenue mechanisms if the Supreme Court strikes down tariffs imposed under emergency powers.
Read more: Trump signs order to limit Wall Street investors in single-family housing
"I have to use something else," he said, calling tariffs "the strongest, the fastest, the easiest" tool, as per News18.
He also lashed out at prosecutors involved in cases against him, accusing them of political bias and reiterating claims that his administration had ended what he termed the "weaponisation" of government.
Trump said that his administration had reversed what he described as an economic crisis inherited from former president Joe Biden.
"We inherited a mess, and now we’ve brought inflation way down," he said, asserting that growth had been "incredible", as per News18.
He claimed that fourth-quarter GDP growth was on track to cross 5% and said thousands of factories were under construction across the US, crediting tariffs and large investment pledges from companies such as Apple, NVIDIA, Ford, General Motors and Hyundai.
He also said stock markets and retirement accounts had reached record highs and insisted Americans’ real incomes had increased.
However, Trump complained that his achievements were not being effectively communicated. "Maybe I have bad public relations people, but we’re not getting it across," he said, as per News18.
Immigration, ICE and Minnesota protests
Immigration dominated much of the press briefing as Trump accused the Biden administration of pursuing “open border policies” that allowed violent offenders into the country.
Holding up photographs of individuals he said were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Trump remarked, "These are serious criminals," and described them as "vicious".
Read more: Trump says US will wipe out Iran if it assassinates him
He singled out Minnesota while defending ICE operations and alleged that protests against enforcement actions were driven by "paid agitators".
He praised the ICE and Border Patrol officers, and said that they were being unfairly criticised despite dealing with what he called "rough people".
Foreign policy, NATO and Greenland
On foreign affairs, Trump said he was open to engaging Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
"We’re talking to her. Maybe we can get her involved in some way. I’d love to be able to do that," he said, adding that oil companies were preparing investments in Venezuela.
Trump also reignited controversy around NATO and Greenland, claiming the alliance existed because of him and questioning whether it would defend the US.
"Nobody’s done more for NATO than I have," he said.
When asked how far he would go to acquire Greenland, Trump replied, "You’ll find out."
Tariffs, courts and prosecutors
Trump warned that he would explore alternative revenue mechanisms if the Supreme Court strikes down tariffs imposed under emergency powers.
Read more: Trump signs order to limit Wall Street investors in single-family housing
"I have to use something else," he said, calling tariffs "the strongest, the fastest, the easiest" tool, as per News18.
He also lashed out at prosecutors involved in cases against him, accusing them of political bias and reiterating claims that his administration had ended what he termed the "weaponisation" of government.
