Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
The president-elect addresses a Phoenix crowd on Sunday
Independent Premium
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Donald Trump gave his first rally-style speech since his election victory in Phoenix on Sunday.
At the event — AmericaFest 2024 — he discussed immigration, defended some of his most controversial cabinet picks, and laid out his plans for when he takes office on January 20, which he referred to as “liberation day.”
Trump also repeated his threats of retaking the Panama Canal.
“We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else,” he said.
On Truth Social Saturday, Trump accused Panama of charging American vessels “exorbitant prices” to use the vital waterway that acts as a shortcut linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S.,” Trump vented.
“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question,” he stridently added, referring to a 1977 treaty.
The 78-year-old Republican also echoed his plans to impose tariffs against the European Union, Canada and Mexico. He said he wouldn’t let the E.U. turn the U.S. into a “dumping ground.”
Donald Trump said a “commonsense revolution” is coming soon to America.
“Woke has to stop. It’s destroying our country. Woke is bulls***,” Trump said, citing the renaming of ships and military bases that were named after Confederate figures. “We will get critical race theory and transgender insanity out of our schools,” he said.
In his second term, Trump promised taxes will be slashed, wages will be increased, violent crime will end and America’s “once-great cities” will be rebuilt.
“We are finally going to build up our country, defend our land and protect our citizens,” the president-elect promised.
“Together we will fight, fight, fight, and together we will win, win, win!” Trump said at the conclusion of his speech.
Before walking off the stage, he did his signature “Trump dance” as the Village People’s “YMCA” played.
“With the stroke of my pen, on day one I will stop the transgender lunacy,” Donald Trump told the Phoenix crowd.
He said he plans to stop “gender mutilation,” keep transgender Americans out of the military and “keep men out of women’s sports,” he said.
The former chairman of the Republican Party turned the tables on Donald Trump’s long-running criticism of Joe Biden and suggested it’s now the president-elect who may be “too old” to hold his own — especially against his new “best buddy” Elon Musk.
Michael Steele hit out amid lawmakers’ harsh rebukes of Trump after the tech billionaire appeared to play a major role earlier this week via X to kill the first bipartisan stopgap government funding deal floated by Republican House speaker Mike Johnson.
Trump issued a statement agreeing with his billionaire backer only after Musk launched the initial attacks, leading some to mock Trump as Musk’s obsequious vice president.
Read the full story.
Michael Steele suggests Donald Trump may be ‘too old’ to handle the challenges facing him, leaving an opening for Elon Musk to take charge
Donald Trump also once again threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal.
“We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else,” he said.
The canal would help with “rapid deployment” of the Navy, he said, adding that the fees being charged by Panama are “ridiculous, highly unfair.”
He repeated the same claim that he wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday: former President Jimmy Carter “foolishly gave it away for one dollar.”
Read more about Trump’s threats to retake the Panama Canal here:
Trump accused Panama of charging American vessels ‘exorbitant prices’ to use the vital waterway
“The golden age of America is upon us!” Trump declared.
He praised the post-election stock market, “small business optimism,” and a surge in bitcoin.
Trump also said he informed Mexico and Canada that they have to “stop pouring illegal drugs and aliens into our country,” he said. The president-elect has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on the neighboring countries if they don’t stop the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S.
Trump then said the European Union has “treated us very badly,” saying they don’t take our agricultural products or cars but “we take ours.”
We’re not going to let the E.U. turn the U.S. into a “dumping ground,” the president-elect continued.
Earlier this week, threatened to levy tariffs against the E.U. in a Truth Social post: “I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way.”
The 78-year-old Republican walked through a cloud of smoke as he stepped onto the AmericaFest stage as Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” blared.
The red MAGA cap-wearing crowd cheered and chanted “USA! USA!” as Trump approached the microphone.
His 2024 election victory “really was one of the great political victories in the history of our country,” he said.
“If I didn’t know that we won in 2020, I wouldn’t have done this,” he said, repeating claims of 2020 election fraud.
The president-elect will step onto the Phoenix stage momentarily.
You can watch Donald Trump’s first rally-style speech since he won the 2024 election here:
Donald Trump will speak at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona.
The president-elect announced on Truth Social on Sunday that Stephen Miran would serve as the chair of his Council of Economic Advisers.
Miran was a senior advisor for economic policy at the Treasury Department during Trump’s first term. He is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
“I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Stephen Miran to be the Chairman of my Council of Economic Advisers. Steve will work with the rest of my Economic Team to deliver a Great Economic Boom that lifts up all Americans. Steve was a Senior Advisor for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department during my First Term, and received his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. Congratulations Steve!”
Miran responded to the announcement, posting a statement on X: “I am beyond honored that President Trump has chosen me to lead his Council of Economic Advisers. I look forward to working to help implement the President’s policy agenda to create a booming, noninflationary economy that brings prosperity to all Americans!”
Tom Homan began by saying bluntly: “If I offend anyone today, I don’t care.”
He called Trump’s re-election the “best day of his life.”
The incoming border czar slammed the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis and promised to secure the border.
He told the crowd: “If you enter this country in violation of federal law, you’re going home and Tom Homan is going to make sure that happens.”
Homan also addressed the elected officials who have said they plan to thwart Trump’s proposed mass deportations and remain “sanctuary cities.”
He said: “Shame on any elected representative…who don’t want to remove safety threats from their community.”
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
