President-elect Donald Trump has raised more than $170 million for his upcoming inauguration, a record amount as tech executives and big donors have eagerly written large checks to help bankroll the ceremony. The private donations collected thus far were confirmed by a person with firsthand knowledge of the fundraising who was not authorized to speak publicly. The person said Trump's inaugural committee is expected to raise more than $200 million by the end of the effort. Trump's inaugural committee did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday. The committee has not yet detailed how it plans to spend the donations. The private donations are typically used to help pay for events surrounding the inauguration, such as costs related to the oath of office ceremony itself, along with a parade and glitzy inaugural balls. Money leftover from the inaugural committee is expected to be used toward a future Trump presidential library, according to the person. EU not to tolerate attacks within borders, France says amid Trump’s Greenland claim The whopping amount raised thus far by Trump's presidential inaugural committee is more than double the amount President Joe Biden raised four years ago when he brought in nearly $62 million for his inauguration, according to Federal Election Commission records. Donations to Trump's first inauguration in 2016 also set a record when he brought in nearly $107 million. After the former president's victory in November, along with Republicans winning control of both chambers of Congress, major donors, including tech companies, have been writing big checks as they've sought to improve their relationship with the incoming president. Amazon and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said last month they were each planning to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also said he was planning to make a $1 million personal donation. The New York Times first reported on Wednesday the fundraising sum for this month’s inauguration.

A cartoonist has decided to quit her job at the Washington Post after an editor rejected her sketch of the newspaper's owner and other media executives bowing before President-elect Donald Trump. Ann Telnaes posted a message Friday on the online platform Substack saying that she drew a cartoon showing a group of media executives bowing before Trump while offering him bags of money, including Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Telnaes wrote that the cartoon was intended to criticize “billionaire tech and media chief executives who have been doing their best to curry favor with incoming President-elect Trump." Several executives, Bezos among them, have been spotted at Trump’s Florida club Mar-a-Lago. She accused them of having lucrative government contracts and working to eliminate regulations. Telnaes said that she's never before had a cartoon rejected because of its inherent messaging and that such a move is dangerous for a free press. “As an editorial cartoonist, my job is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable," Telnaes wrote. "For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job. So I have decided to leave the Post. I doubt my decision will cause much of a stir and that it will be dismissed because I'm just a cartoonist. But I will not stop holding truth to power through my cartooning, because as they say ‘Democracy dies in darkness.’” Read: Woman quits job to look after husband because 'men should be spoilt by their wives'  The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists issued a statement Saturday accusing the Post of “political cowardice" and asking other cartoonists to post Telnaes' sketch with the hashtag #StandWithAnn in a show of solidarity. “Tyranny ends at pen point,” the association said. “It thrives in the dark, and the Washington Post simply closed its eyes and gave in like a punch-drunk boxer.” The Post's communications director, Liza Pluto, provided The Associated Press on Saturday with a statement from David Shipley, the newspaper's editorial page editor. Shipley said in the statement that he disagrees with Telnaes' “interpretation of events.” He said he decided to nix the cartoon because the paper had just published a column on the same topic as the cartoon and was set to publish another. “Not every editorial judgement is a reflection of a malign force. ... The only bias was against repetition," Shipley said.

President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base. “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them," Trump said. In fact, Trump has in the past criticized the H-1B visas, calling them “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. During his first term as president, he unveiled a “Hire American” policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program," Trump told the newspaper. Read: Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX's Starbase site into Texas He did not appear to address questions about whether he would pursue any changes to the number or use of the visas once he takes office Jan. 20. Trump's hardline immigration policies, focused mostly on immigrants who are in the country illegally, were a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and a priority issue for his supporters. But in recent days, his coalition has split in a public debate largely taking place online about the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Hard-right members of Trump's movement have accused Musk and others in Trump's new flank of tech-world supporters of pushing policies at odds with Trump's “America First" vision. Software engineers and others in the tech industry have used H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers and say they are a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated.

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday that he intends to step down at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January. His decision comes just over a week after President-elect Donald Trump declared his intention to nominate Kash Patel, a loyal ally, as the next FBI director. Speaking at a town hall meeting with FBI employees, Wray cited “weeks of careful thought” behind his decision to leave three years before completing his 10-year term. During his tenure, he worked to maintain the FBI's impartiality despite its involvement in high-profile investigations, including two indictments against Trump last year and probes into President Biden and his son. “My focus has always been on our mission — the critical work you perform every day for the American people,” Wray told staff. “This decision is about protecting the bureau from deeper entanglement in politics while upholding the values that define how we operate.” Wray’s resignation, though anticipated given Trump’s plans for Patel, underscores the ongoing impact of Trump’s unconventional approach to Washington norms. By choosing to step aside, Wray aims to avoid a contentious transition as Trump moves to replace him before his term officially concludes. “It’s not an easy decision,” Wray admitted. “I care deeply about this institution, its mission, and its people. But my priority is, and always has been, doing what’s best for the FBI.” Read: FBI urges telecom firms to enhance security after chinese hacking campaign His comments were met with a standing ovation from a packed audience at FBI headquarters, some of whom were visibly emotional, according to an official who spoke anonymously. Trump welcomed Wray’s decision on social media, calling it “a great day for America” and promising that Patel’s appointment would “end the weaponization” of federal law enforcement while beginning “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would mark a significant shift in the FBI's leadership. Patel, who has previously advocated for dismantling the FBI's Washington operations and targeting federal “conspirators,” has sparked concerns about potential misuse of the FBI’s powers for political purposes. “I’m ready for a smooth transition and eager to serve the American people from day one,” Patel said on Wednesday. Historically, FBI directors are rarely replaced before their 10-year terms expire — a structure intended to shield the agency from political interference. However, Trump has now replaced two directors, first appointing Wray in 2017 after firing James Comey amid a Russia investigation into his campaign. Despite appointing Wray, Trump has frequently criticized him, including as recently as last week. In an NBC interview, Trump referenced the FBI's 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate, which he labeled an “invasion.” That search, which recovered classified documents, led to one of two federal cases against Trump — both of which were dismissed after his election victory in November. Attorney General Merrick Garland commended Wray for his service, highlighting his dedication to protecting national security, civil rights, and the rule of law. Similarly, Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, praised Wray for his steady leadership during challenging times. Throughout his tenure, Wray maintained a low-key approach, emphasizing a “keep calm and tackle hard” mindset despite relentless criticism from Trump and his allies. He sought to distance the FBI from politically charged controversies, including errors in the agency’s Russia investigation that predated his leadership. Read more: Trump nominates Kash Patel for FBI Director However, Wray did break with Trump on several occasions, rejecting claims that the Russia probe was a “witch hunt” and publicly disputing Trump’s assertion that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. In his resignation announcement, Wray highlighted the FBI's core mission, praising efforts to combat violent crime, cyberattacks, and terrorism. “Protecting citizens is government’s most sacred responsibility,” he said. “The FBI will continue to evolve to meet emerging challenges.” While Wray’s leadership drew praise, his tenure was overshadowed by politically sensitive investigations, including inquiries into Hunter Biden’s tax and gun violations and President Biden’s handling of classified materials. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. One of the most contentious moments occurred in 2022 when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago, recovering sensitive documents Trump had retained. Trump has since used the incident to fuel his criticisms of the FBI, even questioning its findings on an assassination attempt against him earlier this year. Before becoming FBI director, Wray was a partner at the law firm King & Spalding and led the Justice Department’s criminal division under President George W. Bush, where he gained a reputation for integrity and professionalism. Source: With inputs from agencies

President-elect Donald Trump has named Alina Habba, one of his defense attorneys in the New York hush money case, to serve as counselor to the president in his upcoming administration. Habba, 40, has been a staunch advocate for Trump, acting as both his legal representative and spokesperson earlier this year. Since the election, she has frequently been at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, accompanying him during his post-election activities. “She has shown unwavering loyalty and unmatched resolve, standing by me through countless legal battles and challenges,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Few understand the weaponization of the justice system better than Alina.” Habba represented Trump during his high-profile legal proceedings this year. In May, Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony charges, found guilty on 34 counts related to a hush money payment during the 2016 election to a porn actor alleging a past affair. Habba, who has Chaldean Christian roots from Iraq, follows in the footsteps of Kellyanne Conway, who held the counselor position during Trump’s first term. She also played an active role on the campaign trail and spoke at a late-October rally in Madison Square Garden, New York. In addition to Habba’s appointment, Trump announced two other key positions on Sunday. Michael Anton, a former National Security Council spokesman, will return as director of policy planning at the State Department. Meanwhile, Michael Needham, a former chief of staff to Sen. Marco Rubio, will serve as counselor to the State Department. Rubio, the Florida senator, has been tapped by Trump as the next secretary of state. Source: With inputs from agencies

President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning regarding the hostages held by Hamas, stating that there will be severe consequences if they are not freed before his inauguration on January 20, 2025. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the lack of action to secure the release of those captured during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 dead and at least 250 people abducted, including seven Americans. Trump condemned the conditions of the hostages, describing their treatment as violent and inhumane. He emphasized that their continued captivity would lead to unprecedented retaliation, warning of significant repercussions for those responsible for the abductions. Trump says BRICS countries must commit they’ll not replace US dollar or they’ll face 100% tariffs A recent video released by Hamas featured Edan Alexander, a 20-year-old Israeli-American hostage who was abducted during the October 7 attack. In the footage, Alexander, visibly distressed, appealed for his release while conveying forced messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump. Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to securing the hostages' freedom. Despite ongoing efforts, a lasting ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains out of reach over a year after the initial attack. Israeli military operations in Gaza persist. Meanwhile, a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, brokered in November 2024, has already faced violations. Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office Israel accused Hezbollah of launching two projectiles on Monday, though no casualties were reported. Netanyahu vowed to enforce the ceasefire and respond to any breaches by Hezbollah.