The U.S. President recently issued statements and initiated actions concerning foreign policy, particularly regarding Venezuela and Greenland, while also addressing various domestic matters. Concurrently, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election amidst state-level fraud allegations and federal investigations. The Department of Justice also faced scrutiny over its compliance with a transparency law and its handling of several investigations.
U.S. Foreign Policy Initiatives and Statements
Venezuela
A recent American military operation in Caracas led to the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently brought to New York for arraignment. Following this operation, the U.S. President stated that the United States would "run" Venezuela and was "in charge" of the country. He indicated that U.S. oil companies would invest billions to repair Venezuela's oil infrastructure, with these investments to be reimbursed. When questioned about oversight of U.S. actions, the President gestured toward senior advisers, implying collective responsibility.
The President described Venezuela's oil business as underperforming, stating, "The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust," and that the U.S. would "be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground." He articulated an economic rationale for U.S. involvement, noting that U.S. oil companies would "fix" the infrastructure "and start making money." During a phone call, the President reportedly differentiated the Venezuela operation from the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq by stating that in Venezuela, "We’re going to keep the oil."
Despite the President's statements, the U.S. oil industry reportedly expressed caution regarding significant investment in Venezuela. Factors cited included the relatively low quality and high extraction/refinement costs of Venezuelan oil, low global oil prices, and concerns about political instability.
Details regarding broader plans for Venezuela beyond oil extraction have not been extensively released. Financial activities included a reported $32,000 wager on a crypto-based betting platform predicting Maduro's removal, which yielded a $400,000 profit. Additionally, Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund, secured a November bid of approximately $6 billion for Citgo assets, an oil refiner owned by Venezuela's state-run petroleum company. This acquisition, opposed by Mr. Maduro, awaits approval from the U.S. Treasury. The founder of Elliott Investment Management has contributed at least $5 million to the President's re-election campaign.
The President also commented on Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, stating she would find it "very tough" to become the country's leader, citing a perceived lack of internal support or respect. Reports from sources close to the White House indicated the President's view was influenced by Ms. Machado's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, an award the President has reportedly desired.
A "60 Minutes" report, aired after a delay, detailed the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, some without criminal records, to El Salvador's CECOT prison. Administration officials stated the right to deport migrants based on "intelligence reports" and disclaimed responsibility for their well-being as non-U.S. citizens.
Greenland and European Relations
The President threatened military action against Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. He stated, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security" and "We need it for defense," expressing an intention to acquire the territory.
Tariffs were reportedly imposed on Denmark and other European countries that had criticized the President's interest in acquiring Greenland, with the tariff stated to be removable only upon Greenland's transfer to U.S. control. A letter from the President to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other European leaders linked the lack of a Nobel Peace Prize award to a shift in focus toward U.S. interests and asserted the U.S. need for "Complete and Total Control of Greenland" for global security, questioning Denmark's ownership rights. This situation led to a small European military exercise in Greenland as a show of support for Denmark.
Other International Actions and Alliances
The U.S. President threatened military action against Colombia and Mexico.
Regarding Russia and Ukraine, Russian officials claimed 91 Ukrainian drones targeted President Vladimir Putin's residence, a claim reportedly dismissed by U.S. intelligence. Separately, the previously reported death of Denis Kapustin, a commander of a pro-Ukraine Russian volunteer force, was revealed by Ukrainian intelligence to have been a staged event designed to thwart a Russian assassination attempt, reportedly resulting in the Russian government paying a $500,000 bounty.
U.S. economic and foreign policies have reportedly influenced alliances, potentially leading some allies towards increased engagement with China. For example, Canada announced a new strategic partnership with China aimed at reducing trade and travel barriers. European leaders have reportedly faced a strategic choice in engaging with the U.S. administration: to confront or to accommodate.
The FAA issued seven alerts warning civilian aviation of potential increased military activity in the Eastern Pacific off Latin America.
Domestic Political Developments
Minnesota Governor's Announcement and Investigations
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election. This announcement occurred amidst a political crisis involving allegations of significant state fraud under his administration. Governor Walz had previously served as his party's vice presidential nominee. The U.S. President made a social media post accusing Governor Walz of having ordered the murder of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman last year.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly conspiring to impede federal immigration agents, following statements they made regarding federal deployments in Minneapolis. Separately, the Pentagon issued prepare-to-deploy orders to 1,500 troops from two infantry battalions of the Army’s 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, for potential deployment in Minnesota. The President had threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in the state but later indicated he did not think it was needed at that time.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez of Minneapolis issued a ruling barring federal agents from arresting peaceful protesters and from using nonlethal munitions or crowd control tools against them. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated in a social media post that speaking Spanish or having a Mexican accent is considered sufficient grounds for federal agents to demand proof of U.S. citizenship.
Department of Justice Scrutiny
The Department of Justice has been noted for its non-compliance with the Jeffrey Epstein transparency law passed by Congress last year. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the DOJ is not investigating the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. This decision to suspend the federal investigation, which had initially been reviewed by the FBI with grounds for a civil rights probe, occurred after Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen reportedly excluded state investigators. The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights reportedly decided against a Civil Rights Division investigation, leading to resignations from several career lawyers within the division. Instead of investigating the shooting, higher-ups at the DOJ reportedly ordered an investigation into the political activities of Good's wife, which led to further resignations in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Other Domestic Actions
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed on the third Monday in January. The current administration's only official action concerning the holiday was an announcement in late November to eliminate it from the list of days with free entry to America's national parks. "Flag Day/President Trump's birthday" on June 14, 2026, has been added to the schedule of "resident-only patriotic fee-free" days.
Plans for a ballroom addition to the White House, proposed to be as tall as the White House itself, were reported by architect Shalom Baranes to the National Capital Planning Commission. The project's approval process is expected to be expedited.
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery adjusted the label for the President's portrait in the "America's Presidents" exhibition. References to his two impeachments and the January 6th Capitol Hill attack were initially present, then removed, and subsequently restored. A new photo of the President with minimal text (birth year and presidential term dates) was later installed. Other presidential portraits in the exhibition include short biographies, with Bill Clinton's entry mentioning his impeachment.
The President granted clemency for a second time to Adriana Camberos, who was convicted of a new fraud in 2024 after being released from prison by a previous pardon in his first term. She was freed from prison, where she was serving 12 months on the new conviction and additional months for violating probation on an earlier conviction. The President also publicly endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).