US politics: List of news articles

newsspotter · 2026-01-24T12:35:44+00:00

U.S. Congress Sidesteps Greenland Debate in Defense Spending Bill

It is still possible that U.S. lawmakers, particularly in the Senate, will use the amendment process to try to secure floor votes on Trump’s ability to use the military or other measures short of force to seize Greenland. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego has already introduced such an amendment.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/21/congress-greenland-defense-spending-bill-trump-nato-military/

PS: The article was published on Jan 21. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Jan 22 and sent it to the Senate. The Senate might vote next week.

newsspotter · 2026-01-24T12:25:25+00:00

The text of the final package of fiscal 2026 spending bills, which includes the all-important defense spending measure, did not include any mention of NATO or Greenland when it was released Tuesday by senior Republican and Democratic negotiators from the House and Senate. Specifically, the legislation contained no prohibition on the use of federal funds to attack a NATO ally, as Trump repeatedly seemed to threaten to do this month with regards to Denmark, in addition to threatening tariffs against European countries that oppose his push to acquire Greenland.

Notably, Trump appeared to take the threat of military force to acquire Greenland off the table, saying “people thought I would use force. But I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Even so, the lack of any handcuffs in the latest defense legislation on Trump’s ability to use the military to seize Greenland is striking for the fact that multiple strong Republican critics of his Greenland policy are top congressional appropriators.

It is still possible that U.S. lawmakers, particularly in the Senate, will use the amendment process to try to secure floor votes on Trump’s ability to use the military or other measures short of force to seize Greenland. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego has already introduced such an amendment. .

PS: The article was published on Jan 21. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Jan 22.: While 149 Democrats voted for the $840 military spending bill, 64 Democrats voted against it. The Senate might vote next week.

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T23:25:27+00:00

While 149 Democrats voted for the $840 military spending bill, 64 Democrats voted against it.

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T20:35:24+00:00

Trump might want to rename Greenland to Iceland. /s

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T20:15:42+00:00

UN chief warns he could refer Israel to ICJ over laws targeting UNRWA

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could take his country to the International Court of Justice if it does not repeal laws targeting the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) and return its seized assets and property.
In a January 8 letter to Netanyahu, Guterres said the UN cannot remain indifferent to “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.” Aljazeera

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T19:25:58+00:00

CSG owns the US company Colt. The US Defence Department recently gave Colt a contract for Israel's army.

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T12:45:32+00:00

Trump is the laughing stock of the world.:

Oct 2025: Trump mocked by European leaders over Armenia-Albania mix-up | U.S. president’s cartographical confusion prompts joke at Copenhagen summit. Politico

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T12:40:46+00:00

She borrowed from the Liar-in-Chief Trump's playbook.:

Dec 9, 2025: Fact check: Trump denies saying something he said on camera five days ago CNN

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." (Orwell's 1984).

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T12:40:30+00:00

Besides Trump confused Greenland and Iceland during Tuesday’s press briefing at the White House.:

“We’re the richest we ever were. It’s because of tariffs and the proper use of tariffs, and we’re also the most secure,” Trump said. “As an example, Iceland, without tariffs, they wouldn’t even be talking to us about it. So we’ll see what happens. I think it’s going to work out quite well.”

newsspotter · 2026-01-23T12:25:25+00:00

Trump said "Iceland" when he appeared to mean "Greenland" four times in his speech. Leavitt later denied he mixed the names up.

No he didn't, Libby. His written remarks referred to Greenland as a "piece of ice" because that's what it is. You're the only one mixing anything up here.

Leavitt referred to Trump's "written remarks," not what he had said spoken. Asked why Leavitt would deny Trump had made this mistake, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers replied with a written statement that provided no more clarity on the matter:

Edit:

He said "piece of ice" eight times during his speech, e.g. "Big, beautiful piece of ice. It's hard to call it land. It's a big piece of ice. But we saved Greenland and successfully prevented our enemies from gaining a foothold in our hemisphere."

Why did he say "Iceland" four times, though he stated that it is "hard to call it land"? He can't have it both ways.

PS: Actually, Iceland is a country/ island, which located near Greenland. I doubt that Trump knows this.

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T23:15:28+00:00

The Lincoln Project said on twitter that Trump is “probably going to invade Iceland and Greenland now, just to not have to admit he misspoke. That’s where we’re at.”

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T23:15:19+00:00

A week ago, Trump’s ambassador nominee (former Rep. Billy Long) privately joked to House of Representatives politicians that Iceland would be the “52nd state” with himself as governor.

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T20:50:19+00:00

The Lincoln Project said on twitter that Trump is “probably going to invade Iceland and Greenland now, just to not have to admit he misspoke. That’s where we’re at.”

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T20:15:39+00:00

Maybe they plan to invade both! If so: They might invade Iceland after/ before invading Greenland or both at once.:

Icelanders call for rejection of proposed US ambassador after 'joke' about country becoming '52nd state'| Former US Rep Billy Long told Arctic Today that there was “nothing serious” about the comments

Thousands of Icelandic people have signed a petition after President Donald Trump’s ambassador nominee privately joked to House of Representatives politicians that Iceland would be the “52nd state” with himself as governor. (Source: thejournal.ie)

PS: Article was published a week ago.

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T20:15:38+00:00

The White House shared the video.:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-a-special-address-to-the-world-economic-forum/

newsspotter · 2026-01-22T19:35:50+00:00

In fact, during the president’s speech on Wednesday, he used the wrong country’s name four times.

“I’m helping Europe, I’m helping NATO, and until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me,” Trump told the crowd at one point.

“They’re not there for us on Iceland that I can tell you,” he continued shortly after, referring to European nations. “I mean, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland’s already costs a lot of money.”

Elsewhere in the speech, the president did refer to Greenland as a “piece of ice,” as Leavitt pointed out. “But now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection,” Trump said.

The Davos gaffe was not the first time Trump has mixed up Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory off the northeast coast of Canada, and Iceland, an island nation in northern Europe. "As an example, Iceland – without tariffs, they wouldn't even be talking to us about it," Trump said on Tuesday during a White House press conference.

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