Trump Meets Netanyahu and Faces Criticism Amid Complex Political Landscape
Former President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, where Netanyahu announced that Trump will receive the Israel Prize, marking the first time a non-Israeli has been honored with the country’s highest civilian award.
Trump addressed ongoing tensions with Hamas, warning that the group will face severe consequences if it does not disarm, while expressing strong support for Netanyahu amid talks for a Gaza peace plan.
In domestic matters, Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a fool and expressing a desire to fire him despite Powell's recent reappointment. Trump also reiterated claims about excessive costs in renovating the Federal Reserve headquarters and suggested he might sue Powell for gross incompetence.
In an unconfirmed assertion, Trump claimed that US forces struck a "big facility" in Venezuela last week; however, no further details have been provided and the White House has not responded to these claims.
Public opinion presents a challenge to Trump's economic message, as a Guardian-Harris poll found nearly half of Americans believe their financial security is deteriorating.
Internationally, the US pledged $2 billion to a new United Nations mechanism designed to deliver humanitarian assistance to multiple countries throughout the upcoming year.
Political shifts are also notable, with Marjorie Taylor Greene admitting in a New York Times interview that she was naive for believing Trump embodied a "man of the people" image, as she prepares to step down as a Georgia congresswoman.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed confidence that Democrats will regain the House majority in the 2026 midterms, reflecting ongoing dynamics from the Trump era.
