What's New
President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both wished Americans a merry Christmas on Wednesday but their messages could not be more different: Biden aimed to uplift those who may be struggling this holiday season while Trump chose to take this day as an opportunity to threaten other countries and criticize his political opponents.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Trump's transition team via email for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Why It Matters
With Biden leaving office in a few weeks, he's making public appearances and bringing holiday cheer to those in need.
As Trump is preparing for his incoming administration, he continues to focus on his political adversaries who he believes wronged him in his 2020 election loss and the multiple criminal cases filed against him. Of the four criminal cases brought against Trump, in which he pleaded not guilty to all charges, two were dismissed and the other two are in limbo. The president-elect has also been needling Panama, Canada and Greenland over ownership of their territories.
What To Know
Trump posted a series of Christmas messages to his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday. They started out lighthearted with merry wishes and a photo of the president-elect and his wife, incoming first lady Melania Trump, but then things took a turn.
Trump's Christmas Messages
In one post, Trump made another plea for the U.S. to take ownership of Canada, the Panama Canal and Greenland.
"Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in 'repair' money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything,'" Trump said.
Over the weekend, Trump suggested that the U.S. could regain control of the Panama Canal from the Panamanian government if something is not done to curb the "exorbitant" shipping costs required for using the waterway.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said in a statement on Sunday, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be." Mulino has also said that China had no influence on the Panama Canal's administration.
Trump's post continued: "Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens' Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World. Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!"
Trump has been calling Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, "governor" and suggesting that Canada join the U.S. as the 51st state.
The president-elect on Sunday also said while naming PayPal cofounder Ken Howery as his choice for ambassador to Denmark, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."
Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc thought Trump was just joking when he reportedly suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state during a dinner with Trudeau late last month.
"The president was telling jokes. The president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment," LeBlanc, who attended the dinner, told reporters earlier this month.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Monday, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."
The president-elect also kept with his holiday tradition of thanking the "Radical Left Lunatics" in the U.S.
"Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics, who are constantly trying to obstruct our Court System and our Elections, and are always going after the Great Citizens and Patriots of the United States but, in particular, their Political Opponent, ME. They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing," Trump wrote in another post on Wednesday.
He continued: "Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky 'souls' but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
Biden on Monday announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates. They will remain in prison for life and will not be given the possibility of parole.
"President Biden has dedicated his career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system," read a statement from the White House issued Monday. "He believes that America must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level, except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder – which is why today's actions apply to all but those cases."
The president also commuted the sentences of almost 1,500 people sentenced to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and pardoned 40 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, including his son Hunter Biden, this month.
Biden's Christmas Messages
Biden on Tuesday shared a Christmas Eve message on his personal X account, highlighting the sacrifices of U.S. service members.
"Jill and I hold a special place in our hearts for the brave men and women in uniform who defend our nation, many of whom are away from their families this holiday season. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe Christmas Eve," Biden wrote alongside a photo of him and first lady Jill Biden.
The president signed 50 bills into law on Christmas Eve. Among these bills are the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which protects youths living in residential treatment facilities; the Stop Campus Hazing Act, which requires colleges and universities to disclose reported hazing incidents in their annual security reports; and the No CORRUPTION Act, which bans members of Congress from collecting pensions if they are convicted of crimes related to public corruption.
Jill and I hold a special place in our hearts for the brave men and women in uniform who defend our nation, many of whom are away from their families this holiday season.
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe Christmas Eve. pic.twitter.com/BRIxLcaWmY
On Christmas Day, Biden posted to the presidential X account, "Merry Christmas, America!" along with a video of him and Jill at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
"Merry Christmas America. We're joining you from the Children's National Hospital where we've been spreading holiday cheer to children and families. And them to us as well," the president said.
Jill then chimed in: "For four years now, Joe and I have spent time with these families and the amazing doctors and nurses here. It's a tradition we look forward to every December. From the Biden family to yours, may your Christmas be full of kindness and love, peace and light."
The video ended with the Bidens and a bunch of patients exclaiming, "Merry Christmas!"
What People Are Saying
Trump-supporting podcaster Alex Stone replied to Biden's Christmas Eve post on Wednesday with a photo of the president-elect and Melania Trump, writing: "I can't wait until we get REAL CHRISTMAS back!"
Political commentator who goes by JoJo from Jerz commented on Biden's Christmas video on Wednesday: "Merry Christmas @POTUS and @FLOTUS."
Political strategist Dr. Basil A. Smikle on MSNBC Monday said of Trump's threatening language toward other countries: "It's scary language because as many folks believe that this country is headed toward oligarchical rule and given the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin-esque sort of language that's being used here one wonders like really how far actually would he go?"
What Happens Next
Trump will take office January 20. He has pledged to start mass deportations and secure the border on Day One. He has also promised to pardon some of those charged and convicted in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, expand oil drilling and negotiate the end of the Russia-Ukraine war.
English (US) ·