WORLD NEWS
Russia open to Ukraine joining EU after peace deal, US officials say
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Get our free Inside Washington email
Russia would accept Ukraine’s ascension to the European Union as part of a U.S.-brokered agreement to end the bloody and protracted war it started nearly four years ago, U.S. officials said Monday following talks with Ukrainian representatives in Berlin.
The surprising revelation came as officials were briefing reporters after several days of negotiations between U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and a delegation from Kyiv that included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his National Security and Defense Council head, Rustem Umerov.
One of the U.S. officials involved in the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the proposed 20-point agreement would include “a very, very strong security package” that would provide Ukraine with “Article Five-like security guarantees” from the U.S. and other allies akin to those enjoyed by NATO members, without Kyiv becoming a part of the 32-member defensive alliance.
The official called the security guarantees “the biggest win” in the talks for Ukraine and Europe and said Moscow would accept those and other provisions that would provide for “a strong and free Ukraine” following implementation of the proposed agreement.
He also said Russia is “open to Ukraine joining the E.U.” and suggested that the development would be the largest expansion of the 27-member common market since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A second U.S. official said the “right framework” in an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war could create a “new path forward” under which “Europe and Russia can finally have an arrangement and understanding that can lead to a more peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.”
News of Moscow’s potential willingness to accept Ukraine joining the E.U. as part of a deal with strong security guarantees from the U.S. and others comes less than a day after Zelensky offered to drop Kyiv’s longstanding desire for NATO membership at the outset of the talks between himself, Witkoff and Kushner.
In a WhatsApp chat with reporters, Zelensky noted that “some partners from the U.S. and Europe did not support this direction” of NATO membership for his country.
“Thus, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the U.S., Article 5-like guarantees for us from the U.S., and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries — Canada, Japan — are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he added.
More follows…
Skip next section Trump speech exaggerates undocumented migration under Biden
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump speech exaggerates undocumented migration under Biden
Image: Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto/picture alliance
Trump used a significant part of his speech to praise his record on immigration.
He pointed to his efforts on tightening the US border and referred to mass deportations, saying his administration was removing criminals.
Trump also slammed former President Joe Biden for letting the United States be “invaded by an army of 25 million people” during his term.
Figures in the Trump administration have widely used this number since mid-2024 when Trump was running his presidential campaign.
But this number has widely been debunked by fact checkers.
It’s estimated that some 7.4 million undocumented immigrants crossed illegally in the US under Biden.
If undocumented migrants who cross at legal checkpoints are included, this figure would rise to just over 10 million people, according to broadcaster NBC and other US outlets.
Videos of US immigration arrests swamp social media
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zpu
Skip next section Trump speech misrepresents gasoline price, energy costs
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump speech misrepresents gasoline price, energy costs
Gas prices in the US are falling but not as fast as Trump claimsImage: John Nacion/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance
In his Wednesday speech, Trump claimed that energy prices, including gasoline, had dropped and that they would continue to drop more.
But they aren’t at the levels he claims.
The president said the national average gas price was $2.50 per gallon (around €.67 per liter). But the average nationally is $2.90 per gallon for the week ending December 15.
That’s according to the -Energy Information Administration, a government statistical agency.
Without providing evidence, Trump also said household energy costs have dropped by $3,000.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zph
Skip next section Trump appointee Dan Bongino resigns as FBI Deputy Director
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump appointee Dan Bongino resigns as FBI Deputy Director
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has said he’ll leave the agency in January after holding the position for less than ten months.
Bongino, a former right-wing podcaster, was appointed by Trump in March amid criticism of his lack of experience.
You can read more about Bongino’s departure from the FBI here.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zoj
Skip next section Trump’s speech is over
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump’s speech is over
Trump has finished speaking.
We’ll bring you analysis of what he said during the live televised address shortly.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zok
Skip next section Trump promises Christmas checks for soldiers
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump promises Christmas checks for soldiers
Trump has promised a bonus for US service members during his 20-minute speechImage: Mc2 Bruce Morgan/US Navy/Planet Pix/ZUMA/picture alliance
Trump has promised what he called a “warrior dividend” of $1,776 (around €1,500) for military service personnel as a Christmas bonus.
He said the checks have already been sent to the around 1.5 million service personnel.
The expenditure, paid for by revenues raised by tariffs, would total roughly $2.6 billion.
Trump is traditionally enjoys support from military personnel. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, somethree-fifths (or 61%) of those who served in the military or military reserves said they supported Trump.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zoh
Skip next section Trump begins speech by outline the ‘progress’ of his administration, bashing Biden
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump begins speech by outline the ‘progress’ of his administration, bashing Biden
Trump spent the beginning of his speech bashing former President Joe Biden and boasting of his what he sees as his achievements during his first year in office.
He said he had “inherited a mess” and “the worst border in the world” from the Biden administration.
“We have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history,” he said.
He briefly touched on many topics during his speech, including crime, immigration, the war on drugs and restoring strength in America’s military.
He is also talking about bringing prices down, a topic of concern for many Americans amid an affordability crisis.
He is also praising his adminstration’s record on wage increases and employment.
“We are the hottest country anywhere in the world,” he said.
https://p.dw.com/p/55ZoY
Skip next section Trump’s approval rating slumps over affordability concerns
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump’s approval rating slumps over affordability concerns
US President Donald Trump’s speech comes amid his falling popularity and concerns over rising costs.
His approval rating decreased from 41% to 39% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Tuesday.
Just one-third (33%) of Americans approve of how he is handing the economy, the poll found.
A November survey by US broadcaster CBS News and YouGov showed that nearly two-thirds (or 65%) of Americans felt Trump’s policies were making the cost of groceries go up.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zo5
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
US President Donald Trump previewed his speech to reporters on Wednesday, saying, “The message this evening is we inherited a mess, and we’ve done a great job, and we continue to, and our country is going to be stonger than ever before very soon.”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump may tease policy moves that are likely to come next year, too.
Follow us as we bring you the news from the Trump administration and the United States.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Znr
WORLD NEWS
‘Old man yells at cloud’: The internet reacts to Trump’s frustrated national rally style speech in prime time
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Get our free Inside Washington email
The internet has reacted to President Donald Trump’s frustrated national address — which came off more like a campaign rally speech — with many concerning over his sanity.
Trump addressed the country live on prime time television Wednesday night to tout his accomplishments since taking office in January. The White House also streamed the speech live on YouTube. The president began his speech blaming his predecessor Joe Biden for the affordability issues that many Americans are facing.
“When I took office, inflation was the worst in 48 years, and some would say in the history of our country, which caused prices to be higher than ever before, making life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans,” Trump said from the White House.
Trump delivered a loud and seemingly angry speech, something viewers at home picked up on.
open image in gallery
The internet has reacted to President Donald Trump’s frustrated national address — which came off more like a campaign rally speech — with many concerned over his sanity (AP)
One social media user summed up the presidential address with a photo from the cartoon sitcom The Simpsons that showed a newspaper article with the headline, “Old man yells at cloud.”
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger wrote: “Someone come get grandpa he’s yelling again, and we’re concerned.”
“What is happening right now? He’s just screaming into the camera,” Sarah Longwell, founder of political analysis site The Bulwark, asked.
CNN political commentator Maria Cardona said: “The president does not look or sound well. He is yelling at the American people. Seriously. He looks crazy. He is lying, he is melting down. He is cooked!”
open image in gallery
The president began his speech blaming his predecessor Joe Biden for the affordability issues that many Americans are facing (Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“Just turned on the TV. You mad, bro?” Jon Ralston, CEO of the Nevada Independent, wrote.
Journalist John Harwood said, “He’s really losing it.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is known for trolling Trump online, took the opportunity to mock the president.
“Many are saying that was a better speech than the Gettysburg Address,” the governor’s press team wrote in a sarcastic post.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
open image in gallery
One social media user summed up the presidential address with a photo from the cartoon sitcom The Simpsons that showed a newspaper article with the headline, “Old man yells at cloud’ (AP)
During his speech, Trump painted a rosy picture of the American economy with him back in office: “Wages are up, prices are down. Our nation is strong. America is respected, and our country is back stronger than ever before. We are poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.”
But the president is actually losing support on his economic agenda, with a majority of Americans disapproving of the job he’s doing on the matter in a recent poll.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 58 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy while 33 percent approve, a new low since he started his second term.
According to the poll, 39 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s overall job performance, a notable dip from the 47 percent rating he had in January.
WORLD NEWS
Hidden Valley Ranch Recalled Due to ‘Foreign Objects’ Inside — Here’s How to See Which Bottles Are Affected
NEED TO KNOW
- Several popular salad dressings have been recalled due to the possibility of “foreign objects” being found inside
- Hidden Valley Ranch is among the brands impacted by the Ventura Foods recall
- Costco shared a joint press release with Ventura Foods in November to let consumers know its stores carried affected salad dressings
Thousands of cases of salad dressing have been recalled following concerns that a “foreign object” could be inside.
In a newly released exposure report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency announced that 3,556 cases of various salad dressings from Ventura Foods had been affected in multiple states across the country.
FDA sign at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Getty
The California-based company warned the public that “foreign objects (black plastic planting material) in granulated onion” might be found inside its products.
The alert was assigned a Class II label, which refers to “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Impacted condiments include Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip, Ventura Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing and Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch.
Two Caesar dressings specifically sold at Costco are also impacted.
“Costco and Ventura foods are announcing the recall of select Sell By dates of Item #19927 Caesar Salad and Item #11444 Chicken Sandwich w/ Caesar Salad due to the possible presence of plastic foreign material in the salad dressing of the items,” the brands said in a joint statement in November.
After sharing the “sell by” dates of the affected products, customers were urged to “Please stop eating the product and return the item to your local Costco for a full refund.”
In the most recent recall, the FDA said Ventura Foods had distributed the products to seven retail customers across 42 locations.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Affected states include: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
PEOPLE reached out to Ventura Foods and Hidden Valley Ranch for comment but did not immediately hear back.
WORLD NEWS
Trump receives $250 million offer to run for third term as he discusses options with impeachment lawyer
Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of running for a third presidential term, inspiring one of his largest donors to offer him a quarter of a billion dollars.
The president was hosting a reception with Miriam Adelson Tuesday night when he opined about serving four more years in the White House – a move that would be unprecedented and largely considered unconstitutional.
Adelson, the wife of late Israeli-American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, gave over $100million to Trump during the last election cycle. She even pitched a third White House run to Trump’s impeachment lawyer Alan Dershowitz – who loved the idea.
‘I met Alan Dershowitz and he said the legal thing about four more years and I said, “Alan, I agree with you.” So, we can do it. Think about it!’ she said at the Hanukkah reception.
Trump briefly looked for Dershowitz in the crowd before suggesting Adelson was ready to pony up more campaign cash, all while the crowd chanted ‘four more years.’
The president quipped: ‘She said think about it, I’ll give you another $250million!’
As the crowd laughed, Adelson could be heard saying: ‘I will give.’
Dershowitz, the famous lawyer who defended Trump during his impeachment trial, has written a new book about whether the president can run again and even discussed it with Trump.
Donald Trump briefly discussed whether he could Constitutionally run for a third term, inspiring one of his largest donors to offer him a quarter of a billion dollars to do it
Alan Dershowitz (pictured),the famous lawyer who defended Trump during his impeachment trial, has written a new book about whether the president can run again and even discussed it with Trump
‘I said it’s not clear if a president can become a third term president and it’s not clear if it’s permissible,’ Dershowitz admitted to the Wall Street Journal.
The attorney gave Trump a copy of his upcoming book, titled Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term? and said the the president seemed engaged.
‘He found it interesting as an intellectual issue. Do I think he’s going to run for a third term? No, I don’t think he will run for a third term,’ the lawyer said.
Adelson, however, was much more motivated when they met at the White House, according to Dershowitz, asking him: ‘Is this real? Oh, my God, I hope this can happen.’
A spokesperson for the president didn’t say yes or no to another run but hyped the president’s accomplishments in his second term.
‘There has never been an Administration that has accomplished as much in less than one year than the Trump Administration,’ Abigail Jackson told Axios.
‘The American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer.’
The 79-year-old president last brought the issue up in late October, when he largely poured cold water on it.
Join the debate
What would it mean for American democracy if a president served more than two terms?
The president (pictured left) joked at a White House reception with Miriam Adelson (pictured right) Tuesday night about the possibility, which has been discussed and largely dismissed as Trump goes through his first year back in office
‘I have the best numbers for any president in many years, any president, and I would say, you read it, it’s pretty clear I’m not allowed to run,’ Trump said about the Constitution. ‘It’s too bad. But we have a lot of great people.’
Earlier that same week, he was asked about comments by Steve Bannon saying there was a ‘plan’ in place.
‘I would love to do it,’ he then said. ‘I have my best numbers ever.’
When a reporter asked the president if he was not ruling it out, he repeated the question back.
‘Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me,’ the president answered.
Trump did say he wouldn’t try to utilize a possible loophole and run for vice president instead.
‘I think the people wouldn’t like that. It’s too cute. It wouldn’t be right,’ he said.
Democrats and critics of Trump in his own party have called out his third term talk, pointing to what happened during the transition period after the Republican lost reelection in 2020 to President Joe Biden.
Trump attempted to stay in power by falsely claiming Biden had stolen the election using widespread voter fraud.
In reality, Biden won the election but Republicans were angry that so many state legislatures allowed for the proliferation of mail-in ballots, something that was being done due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The 22nd Amendment to the US clearly states that ‘no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.’
Donald Trump addressed the nation in a televised speech outlining his review of the past year and his upcoming priorities – but not all viewers are convinced with some going as far to say he sounded ‘desperate’
03:11, 18 Dec 2025
Trump’s first year-end address to the nation of his second term,(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Trump tried, and failed, to convince the American people that they are wrong to worry about the U.S. economy, saying any challenges are being repaired.
In the first year-end address to the nation of his second term, the president shouted into a microphone trying to convince Americans that the economy is on an upswing despite widespread reports of financial hardships. He says since returning to the presidency, “in a few short months, we went from worst to best”.
In the speech he discussed his achievements and touched on some of his agenda for next year and beyond. It comes as Trump is trying to rebuild his steadily eroding popularity, as public polling shows most Americans are frustrated with his handling of the economy.
President Donald Trump raised a few eyebrows with his speech(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
READ MORE: Brit Bondi Beach survivor’s escape – from dodging bullets to heartbreaking call
READ MORE: Heartbreaking comment Bondi Beach hero made before approaching gunman
One X user wrote: “Trump and his speech full of half-truths and too many lies.” While another wrote: “No president that knows they’re winning & has the support of his followers comes on TV & gives a speech like Trump did. He’s desperate. This run on sentence of a speech was pathetic.”
A third said: “Why is Trump shouting at his audience ? Does he think people cant hear him in their own living rooms ? The president needs to exude calm and control through his speech. Trump sounds flustered and angry.”
Others were more positive about the speech saying: “Trump was really strong in his speech. He has been working his tail off and is delivering for the American People.” Another said: “Trump’s speech was spot on! His message resonates with Americans who value strong leadership and putting America first. It’s refreshing to hear a President who truly cares about our country.”
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sky News even went as far as to call it “Trump’s greatest hits” as the US President spent minutes merely rambling awkwardly about what he believed were huge successes in his power in 2025. Mark Stone, the broadcaster’s US correspondent, said Mr Trump adopted an “angry and frustrated” tone during his address.
But speaking from Washington DC, he added: “There was no new announcement on Venezuela, or indeed on anything else significant. Instead, as you (the Sky News anchor) point out was his greatest hits but the context with which he made it is really important to point out because his polling numbers are really very bad indeed.
“He appears, according to some polls and anecdotally at least, to be losing the base somewhat, the base of support around the country… For me, what I came away with is a man that is saying ‘I just don’t get why you aren’t finding things cheaper, I just don’t get why you aren’t enjoying life anymore.
“I don’t get why my polling numbers are higher, and I’m really annoyed about that.That was the tone that I got from that speech. Those people that say he is losing his marbles will point to tonight and say ‘there you go, I told you so.’ He is frustrated clearly by the polling numbers, that is what tonight was about.”
Maxwell, a former British socialite and Epstein accomplice, says her conviction for trafficking a ‘miscarriage of justice’.
Published On 18 Dec 2025
Click here to share on social media
share2
Ghislaine Maxwell, former girlfriend and accomplice of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has asked a federal judge in the United States to set aside her sex trafficking conviction and quash her 20-year prison sentence.
Maxwell made the long-shot legal bid in a Manhattan court on Wednesday, saying “substantial new evidence” had emerged proving that constitutional violations spoiled her trial in 2021 for recruiting underage girls for wealthy financier Epstein, who died in 2019.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
In the lengthy filing, Maxwell, 63, argues that “newly discovered evidence” proves that she “did not receive a fair trial by independent jurors coming to Court with an open mind”.
“If the jury had heard of the new evidence of the collusion between the plaintiff’s lawyers and the Government to conceal evidence and the prosecutorial misconduct they would not have convicted,” Maxwell wrote.
She said the cumulative effect of the constitutional violations resulted in a “complete miscarriage of justice”.
Maxwell submitted the filing herself, not in the name of a lawyer.
Proceedings of the type brought by Maxwell are routinely denied by judges and are often the last-ditch option available to offenders to have their convictions overturned, the AFP news agency reports.
Maxwell’s filing also comes just days before records in her legal case are scheduled to be released publicly as a result of US President Donald Trump’s signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The law, which Trump signed after months of public and political pressure on his administration, requires the Department of Justice to provide the public with Epstein-related records by December 19.
The circumstances of Epstein’s death and his influential social circle, which spanned the highest reaches of business and politics in the US, have also fuelled conspiracy theories about possible cover-ups and unnamed accomplices
Critics also continue to press President Trump to address his own once-close relationship with Epstein.
The Justice Department has said it plans to release 18 categories of investigative materials gathered in the massive sex trafficking probe, including search warrants, financial records, notes from interviews with victims, and data from electronic devices.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges but was found dead a month later in his cell at a New York federal jail, and his death was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell, once a well-known British socialite, was arrested a year later and convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021.
In July, she was interviewed by the Justice Department’s second-in-command and soon afterwards moved from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas.
Maxwell’s transfer from the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tallahassee – a low-security prison in Florida – to the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, was carried out without explanation at the time.
Dan Bongino has said he will leave his role as the FBI’s deputy director in January.
In a post on X, he thanked President Donald Trump, as well as the director of the FBI and the attorney general “for the opportunity to serve with purpose”.
It comes after Trump said earlier on Wednesday that the former podcast host “did a great job” in office, and “wants to go back to his show”.
Bongino, who was appointed to the role by Trump in February, was previously a New York City police officer and a US Secret Service agent assigned to protect Barack Obama. In recent years, he built a large following through his podcast and other media appearances.
Bongino, a staunch Trump ally, was considered a surprise pick for the role – which had previously been held by career agents – because he had no prior experience with the agency.
The FBI Agents Association, which represents around 14,000 current and former agents, had opposed his appointment to the position.
Announcing his decision in a social media post on Wednesday, he said: “I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG [Pam] Bondi, and Director [Kash] Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose.
“Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her.”
Before joining the agency, Bongino had echoed disinformation and conspiracy theories about Trump’s false claim that he won the 2020 election, and about the 6 January 2021 pipe bomb investigation.
Bongino had previously called the pipe bomb case an “inside job”. After taking office he pushed to make the investigation, which Attorney General Bondi said had “languished”, a priority for the FBI.
Earlier this month, a man with no known ties to the government was arrested, nearly six years after the pipe bombs were discovered outside the national headquarters for the Republican and Democratic parties.
FBI Director Patel, in a social media post on Wednesday praising Bongino’s tenure, said he had “served as the people’s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases like the pipe bomb investigation”.
“He not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it,” Patel wrote.
Bongino also appeared to change his mind about the death of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once he became a leader at the FBI.
As a commentator, he had questioned whether Epstein took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Then, in May, Bongino said: “I have seen the whole file. He killed himself”.
In July, the US justice department and FBI released a memo that said Epstein did take his own life, and did not have a “client list”.
The memo frustrated many of Trump’s supporters, who echoed the Epstein conspiracy theories and rejected the justice department’s findings.
According to the BBC’s media partner CBS News, the memo led to a contentious meeting between him and Bondi.
Bondi, who oversees the FBI, wrote in a brief post on X on Wednesday that “Americans are safer” because of Bongino’s FBI service.
Skip next section Trump’s approval rating slumps over affordability concerns
12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Trump’s approval rating slumps over affordability concerns
US President Donald Trump’s speech comes amid his falling popularity and concerns over rising costs.
His approval rating decreased from 41% to 39% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Tuesday.
Just one-third (33%) of Americans approve of how he is handing the economy, the poll found.
A November survey by US broadcaster CBS News and YouGov showed that nearly two-thirds (or 65%) of Americans felt Trump’s policies were making the cost of groceries go up.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Zo5
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/18/2025December 18, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
US President Donald Trump previewed his speech to reporters on Wednesday, saying, “The message this evening is we inherited a mess, and we’ve done a great job, and we continue to, and our country is going to be stonger than ever before very soon.”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump may tease policy moves that are likely to come next year, too.
Follow us as we bring you the news from the Trump administration and the United States.
https://p.dw.com/p/55Znr
WORLD NEWS
White House adds plaques below Biden and Obama portraits calling them ‘the worst President in American history’ and ‘divisive’
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Get our free Inside Washington email
White House staff updated the so-called “Presidential Walk of Fame” Wednesday by adding lengthy descriptions of each former president, in rhetoric that aligns with President Donald Trump’s – such as calling former President Joe Biden “the worst President in American History.”
As part of the president’s ongoing effort to customize the White House to his liking, Trump set his well-known opinions of each former president in stone by adding plaques underneath the portraits that now hang along the colonnade.
But rather than neutrally describing each president, Trump chose to invoke more color – claiming former President Barack Obama is “one of the most divisive political figures” and asserting former President Ronald Reagan “was a fan.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each President and the legacy they left behind. As a student of history, many were written directly by the President himself.”
“Sleepy Joe was, by far, the worst President in American History,” the plaque underneath Biden’s portrait, which is an autopen as opposed to his official portrait, reads. “Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States.”
open image in gallery
The plaque underneath a photo of an autopen brands Biden ‘by far, the worst President in American History’ (AP)
As part of Obama’s description, the White House wrote: “As President, he passed the highly ineffective ‘Unaffordable’ Care Act, resulting in his party losing control of both Houses of Congress, and the Election of the largest House Republican majority since 1946.”
For former President Bill Clinton, the White House attributed his legislative successes to “Republicans in Congress,” and boasted that Trump terminated the North American Free Trade Agreement, the trade deal struck under Clinton. The White House also included a line about how Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election in Bill Clinton’s description.
However, some former presidents, more aligned with Trump on policies, such as Reagan, receive more of a doting description.
For Reagan, the White House wrote: “Known as ‘The Great Communicator,’ he was re-elected in a landslide in 1984, and left office with high approval… He was a fan of President Donald J. Trump long before President Trump’s Historic run for the White House. Likewise, President Trump was a fan of his!”
open image in gallery
The White House’s description of Reagan claims the former president ‘was a fan of President Donald J. Trump before President Trump’s Historic run for the White House’ (AP)
Under former President Richard Nixon, the description claims Nixon had “one of the greatest political comebacks in American History” and “won the largest popular vote victory in American History.”
The White House seemingly gave props to former President Gerald Ford in his description for issuing a “brave Pardon to Richard Nixon.”
The new plaques are part of the White House’s “Wall of Fame” – a once-blank wall outside the West Wing that now hangs portraits of every president in order of office. The only one exempt is Biden, whose portrait was replaced with a photo of the autopen – a reference to the claims by Republicans that Biden staffers utilized the device in the former president’s place.
open image in gallery
On the ‘Presidential Wall of Fame,’ the White House offered praise of Nixon and called Ford’s pardon ‘brave’ (AP)
Since returning to the White House in January, the Trump administration has used its prominence to “troll” the opponents of Trump through social media, speeches and other means.
The new “Wall of Fame” plaques appear to be the latest format for the administration to lash out at specific former presidents or policies that do not align with the current president.
open image in gallery
The White House included a line about Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, losing the 2016 presidential election to Trump in former President Bill Clinton’s description (AP)
Under former President George W. Bush, the White House included lines such as: “President Bush created the Department of Homeland Security, but started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which should not have happened;” and “Shortly before the end of his Administration, a Global Financial Crisis and major Recession took place.”
But to describe former President George H. W. Bush, the White House only included his accomplishments.
open image in gallery
White House ‘Wall of Fame’ plaques for former Presidents George H. W. Bush (left) and George W. Bush (right) contain different representations of the father and son as leaders (AP)
Former President John F. Kennedy’s plaque acknowledges the “failed Bay of Pigs Invasion,” and former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s says “discontent over the Vietnam War led to National unrest and greatly damaged his Presidency.”
To describe Former President Jimmy Carter, the White House listed mostly negative events such as the Iran hostage crisis, inflation, the spread of Communism, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and more. But the description ends by acknowledging Carter did “wonderful things for Humanity” after leaving office.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, no stranger to mocking Trump online, slammed the stunt.
“Inflation is up. Unemployment is up. Grocery prices are up. Electricity costs are up. And Donald Trump is spending his time doing this bull***t,” he wrote on X.
Retired US Army General Barry R McCaffrey also took to X to share his disbelief.
“Appalling. Embarrassing. Juvenile. Something very wrong here,” he wrote on X.
Nice pajamas are wildly underrated in my book. We spend basically a third of our lives in them after all, which means they should feel and look good. The best pairs I own have a relaxed, breathable fit with soft material that doesn’t bunch up when I toss and turn during the night. They’re the quiet MVP of my bedtime routine that makes climbing into bed feel even more enticing.
Gwyneth Paltrow gets it. On Instagram, she showed off her $252 navy jaguar-print pajama set by Desmond & Dempsey while cooking breakfast. Her exact pair is on sale at both Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s but practically sold out in every size. The good news? We were still able to track down her exact pair on sale with plentiful stock, as well as several under-$50 styles inspired by Paltrow that have a similarly polished, expensive look and feel.
Gwyneth Paltrow-Inspired Luxe Pajama Sets
Desmond and Dempsey Jag Navy Long Pyjama Set, $202 at checkout
Desmond & Dempsey
Paltrow’s exact pjs have a tailored look with a relaxed fit. They’re 100 percent organic cotton with a notched collar and button-down front. The pants have deep pockets for stashing your phone or lip balm. And, as proven by Paltrow, they’ll make you look pulled together, even when you’re flipping omelets in the kitchen.
Brosloth Satin Pajama Set
Amazon
This similar pajama set is silky-soft and has a relaxed drape that feels cool and breathable. The V-neck button-down comes with elastic-waist bottoms for extra comfort. A shopper raved that the set “feels luxurious” and “looks expensive,” while another called them “very luxurious for a low price.”
Sheshow Cheetah Navy Satin Pajamas
Amazon
This classic set of cheetah print pajamas was described by a reviewer as looking and feeling “way more expensive than they are.” They added that the silky feel of the set is “super comfortable” and they “fit perfectly.”
Thankfully, you don’t need a Goop-level budget to channel the Oscar winner’s luxe pajama style. Keep scrolling for more rich-looking sets that feel splurge-y but ring in under $50.
Ekouaer Striped Satin Pajama Set
Amazon
Nordstrom Classic Cotton Pajamas
Nordstrom
Nordstrom Rack Tranquility Pajama Set
Nordstrom Rack
Escalier 3-Piece Silky Floral Pajama Set, $31 with coupon
Amazon
Auden Cozy Ribbed Notch-Collar Pajama Set
Target