Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Outgoing president Donald Trump has been the subject of investigations during and will continue to be targeted with other investigations after he departs from the White House. Following the revelation that Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden is being investigated by the Justice Department, Trump has now pushed for what would be a retaliatory investigation.
Trump has reportedly been pushing to appoint special counsels, adamant to continue pursuing his baseless election fraud claims and also on Mr. Biden. People familiar with the matter revealed that Trump has been floating the idea of having meetings with advisers and went to the extent of looking over names of potential appointees to become special counsel. Trump still holds a grudge from the Russia probe launched by special counsel Robert Mueller on possible election interference by the Kremlin during the 2016 elections.
Some of the outgoing president’s allies have been made aware that Trump is keen on pursuing the idea. However, it remains to be seen how or when Trump may bring up the issue with the DOJ, especially as Attorney General William Barr will be stepping down from his post next week shortly before Christmas. According to DOJ rules, a special counsel is assigned by the attorney general, but Trump has consulted whether he can appoint one himself.
The decision would then remain with Acting AG Jeffrey Rosen, who, according to people aware of the matter, should he refuse to appoint a special counsel, Trump would fire him. As of now, there has been no one named for the job.
Meanwhile, even as Trump publicly insists he is president for another term, it is becoming more and more likely that he will be retreating to Mar-a-Lago in Florida once he leaves the White House. However, according to Trump’s neighbors in his Florida residence, they do not want him living there either after the inauguration.
The neighbors of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort noted an agreement he signed in 1993 as to why he cannot live there full time. The neighbors cited the agreement in a letter to the town of Palm Beach and the US Secret Service. The agreement stipulates that Trump cannot live there for more than three consecutive weeks in a year.
“To avoid an embarrassing situation for everyone, and to give the president time to make other living arrangements in the area, we trust you will work with his team to remind them of the use agreement parameters,” said attorney Reginald Stambaugh.
