President-elect Donald Trump addressed a range of topics during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, less than two weeks before his inauguration. He spoke on matters including potential pardons for January 6 defendants, foreign investment, the Panama Canal, and Greenland, while also commenting on his legal case involving classified documents.
Comments on Greenland and the Panama Canal
As Donald Trump Jr. visits Greenland this week, the president-elect reiterated his longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland and raised concerns over control of the Panama Canal.
Discussing Greenland, Trump stated, “You have approximately 45,000 people there. People really don’t even know that Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security.” He suggested a “very high level” of tariffs on Denmark to press the issue. Greenland, an autonomous territory under Denmark, also houses a significant U.S. military base.
Turning to the Panama Canal, Trump hinted at the strategic importance of regaining control of the waterway, handed over to Panama during President Jimmy Carter’s administration. When asked whether he would rule out using military force, Trump replied, “I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.”
“We gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn’t give it to China,” he added, expressing concerns over Chinese influence.
$20 Billion Foreign Investment
Trump announced a major investment by Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani to construct U.S. data centers. The $20 billion pledge by Sajwani’s company, DAMAC Properties, includes projects in multiple states, with potential for doubling the investment. Sajwani attended the event, crediting Trump’s leadership for inspiring confidence in the U.S. economy.
Legal Victory in Classified Documents Case
Trump lauded a federal judge’s decision to block the Department of Justice from releasing a report by special counsel Jack Smith on classified documents. Calling the ruling a win, Trump accused Smith of wanting to publish “fake” information to undermine him.
Remarks on Hamas and Hostages
The president-elect issued a stern warning to Hamas regarding hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel. “It will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. All hell will break out,” Trump said.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, expressed optimism about resolving the hostage situation before Inauguration Day.
Pardons for January 6 Defendants
On the subject of January 6 defendants, Trump pledged “major pardons,” stating, “People that didn’t even walk into the building are in jail right now. We’ll be looking at the whole thing.”
However, he did not provide specifics. Calls for pardons have been increasing, including from Enrique Tarrio, a former Proud Boys leader serving a 22-year sentence. Trump also accused the FBI of concealing the identity of the suspect who planted pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. “The FBI knows who it is,” he asserted.
This press conference highlighted Trump’s plans for his presidency and his continued influence in both domestic and international affairs.
