Trump claims US is global ‘laughing stock’ as he plans ‘victory rally’ day before inauguration: Live updates

This despite both of yesterday’s suspects being American citizens.

Here’s Donald Trump’s latest Truth Social offering, which finds his social media adviser Dan Scavino looking up at him like an adoring labrador hoping for a second Bonio.

I hope he’s not planning one of these every day until his inauguration on January 20 like a rubbish advent calendar.

Here’s more on Elon’s response to last night’s blast in Vegas, which, he argues, would have been much more deadly and destructive had his product not been so well designed. 

Here’s a reminder of what Sheriff Kevin McMahill had to say yesterday about the incident in Vegas:

Trump’s former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is getting increasingly creative in his choice of language as he continues to berate Elon Musk for pushing visas for skilled foreign workers, which, Bannon argues, means taking well-paying tech jobs away from Americans.

Mary Papenfuss reports on the latest from the MAGA civil war.

Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr Mehment Oz, once said the uninsured “don’t have a right to health”.

The physician, better known as a TV celebrity, made the comment during a 2013 address to the National Governor’s Association.

He told attendees that uninsured people should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss of darkness, of fear, over not having the health they need” in a “festival-like setting” with physicians.

He added that the uninsured don’t have a right to health, only the right to access a chance at health.

Here’s more from Katie Hawkinson.

House speaker Mike Johnson will be up for re-election once Congress reconvenes tomorrow and, currently, he has Trump’s full-throated endorsement, even if some of their fellow Republicans on the Hill are less convinced.

Here’s Eric Garcia on Trump telling reporters at his New Year’s Eve bash that he will be hitting the phones on Johnson’s behalf to talk down the doubters.

In remarks to his guests at Mar-a-Lago during Tuesday night’s black-tie New Year’s Eve party, the president-elect announced his plans to attend the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on December 29.

Services are scheduled on January 9 at the National Cathedral in Washington.

“I’ll be there,” Trump said.

He did not say whether he spoke to members of Carter’s family when pressed by reporters.

In a statement following his death, Trump wrote: “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for.

“He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.”

Apparently the pageantry of a lavish swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol attended by political leaders, dignitaries and diplomats from across the world is not enough for Donald Trump.

The president-elect is reportedly also planning a rally-type event in Washington the day before he returns to the White House.

The final victory lap, planned for the city’s Capital One Arena at 3pm on Sunday January 19, will hopefully be a far cry from Trump’s previous pre-inauguration activities in 2021.