Donald Trump is determined to see Matt Gaetz confirmed as Justice Secretary. The president-elect wants him “100%” despite criticism and doubts about his ability to get the 51 votes needed in the Senate for confirmation. According to sources cited by CNN, Trump believes Gaetz is the most important member of his future cabinet. Matt Gaetz’s appointment continues to stir controversy. Sexual charges are pending against him, including having relations with a minor. The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating the case for some time, has not yet released its expected report on the former Florida congressman, apparently under pressure from House Speaker Mike Johnson. According to rumors, the report would include the testimony of a woman who witnessed an alleged relationship between Gaetz and a 17-year-old.
Elon Musk’s influence on Donald Trump is starting to irritate some supporters of the president-elect, who are surprised that the billionaire publicly endorsed Howard Lutnick for the role of Treasury Secretary before an official nomination was made. “Many are not happy,” sources told the Washington Post, describing Musk as a “co-president” who may go beyond his intended role on Trump’s team. The constant presence of Musk, now nicknamed the “first buddy”, is creating tensions in the transition team, which considers him extraneous to the dynamics of Washington. The Lutnick case, preferred to the other candidate Scott Bessent, is seen as an example of Musk’s attempts to influence presidential choices in an unconventional way. Musk’s public support for Cantor CEO Fitzgerald contrasts with a report filed by some Trump allies, which highlights that Lutnick was a major financier of Hillary Clinton.
The impasse over the Treasury Secretary nomination has led many to speculate that Trump may choose a third nominee. Among the names circulating are those of Robert Lighthizer, Senator Bill Hagerty and the CEO of Apollo Global Management, Marc Rowan.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called recent proposals from pro-war leaders “extremely dangerous”, citing ideas such as allowing NATO-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia or urging NATO to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. This was stated by the Hungarian government spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, via official social media channels. “These are actions that could clearly bring the threat of a Third World War closer. These reckless ideas seriously endanger the long-term peace of Europe and increase the risk of the war spreading,” Szijjártó warned. Present in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council, the Hungarian minister then underlined that the pro-war mainstream “does not yet want to admit that it is over”, referring to Donald Trump’s electoral victory in the United States. He accused European Union leaders of ignoring “the new reality” and “launching a desperate attack against the will of the people.” Szijjártó reiterated Hungary’s no to any initiative “in conflict with the country’s national, security or energy interests”.
“The United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and so should everyone at this table,” President Joe Biden said during the first G20 session in Rio de Janeiro. According to the Bloomberg agency, the war in Ukraine enters the draft final communiqué with softened language, highlighting the “human suffering and negative impacts” of the conflict on global food and energy security, inflation and growth. The statement welcomes “all relevant and constructive initiatives in support of lasting peace”, based on the United Nations Charter. Joe Biden’s authorization for Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russian and North Korean forces in the Russian Kursk region holds sway. Axios reports this, citing a source according to whom the decision was communicated to Kiev about three days ago. The motivation would be to dissuade North Korea from sending more troops to Russia for the war against Ukraine. U.S. officials hope that if North Korean troops in Kursk are hit, Pyongyang might reconsider its decision to send troops to Russia.
Donald Trump Jr., son of the president-elect, attacked Biden’s decision on peace and save lives. We need to block those trillions of dollars.” The German government was informed of Washington’s decision, but this does not change Germany’s position on the delivery of the Taurus missiles requested by Ukraine. Chancellor’s spokesman Olaf Scholz reiterated that Berlin will not deliver the requested panzers. The EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, commented: “Putin has responded to attempts at dialogue with the heaviest bombing in months against civil infrastructures, energy infrastructure in particular: it does not appear that he wants to negotiate, on the contrary.” He added that the EU must learn to use the “language of power”, but to do so it must be united. China has reaffirmed its urgent demands for a political solution to the war in Ukraine, in response to Washington’s green light on the use of US long-range missiles. “The most urgent thing is to promote the cooling of the situation as soon as possible,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. The US decision to allow Ukraine to hit Russian territory with ATACMS missiles will have “appropriate responses” from Moscow. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, recalling the words of President Vladimir Putin, according to which such use of missiles supplied by Western countries will mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia”. Peskov added: “We will see whether they choose to take this reckless and potentially dangerous step, provoking a further escalation of tensions in the conflict. However, it is certain that such actions will not go without an appropriate response, as Putin has made clear.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the Russian attacks that hit Odessa, causing 8 deaths, including a child: “These are not random raids, they are demonstration raids. After the phone calls and meetings with Putin, after all the false chatter about media about supposedly ‘abstaining’ from attacks. Russia shows what it really cares about: only war.” Ukrainian authorities also revised upwards the death toll from the rocket attack in Sumy: 11 people died and 89 were injured, including 11 children. Russian air defenses intercepted 59 Ukrainian drones launched against the territory of the Federation last night, including two over the Moscow region. Most of the unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down in the Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod and Tula regions.
How do Senators Graham and Romney differ in their views on the nomination of Gaetz and its impact on the Trump administration?
As the editor of world-today-news.com, I had the opportunity to interview two guests regarding the latest developments in international politics. Here is a summary of our discussion:
Thematic Section 1: Trump’s Support for Gaetz’s Justice Secretary Nomination
Guest 1: Lindsay Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina
Guest 2: Mitt Romney, Republican Senator from Utah
Interviewer: As reported, Donald Trump seems determined to see Matt Gaetz confirmed as Justice Secretary, despite pending sexual charges and the controversies surrounding his appointment. What is your take on this? How do you think Mr. Gaetz’s nomination might impact the legal system and the Trump administration as a whole?
Guest 1: Senator Lindsay Graham: I think Matt Gaetz is an outstanding choice for the Justice Department. He has a proven track record of defending conservative principles and has been a staunch ally of President Trump in the past. While there are accusations against him, I believe he deserves a fair trial and the chance to clear his name. His nomination should not be dismissed based solely on these allegations.
Guest 2: Senator Mitt Romney: I respect Senator Graham’s opinion, but I differ on this matter. The allegations against Mr. Gaetz are serious and must be taken seriously. The legal system should not be politicized, and I believe it is crucial that Justice Department officials are beyond reproach. It would be a mistake to appoint someone with these charges pending without proper consideration given to the consequences for the administration and the nation’s trust in our justice system.
Interviewer: Do you think Gaetz’s confirmation will lead to any significant changes within the Justice Department, and how might his role compare to attorneys general under previous administrations?
Guest 1: Graham: Senator Lindsay Graham: I believe Mr. Gaetz would bring much-needed reform to the Justice Department, which has been deeply politicized under previous administrations. He has been vocal about his commitment to addressing voter fraud and fighting against what he sees as government overreach. He would undoubtedly make his mark in this role.
Guest 2: Romney: I am concerned that Gaetz’s confirmation could further politicize an already politic
