President Donald Trump visited Pennsylvania Tuesday night, where he held a rally on his economic agenda.
“Pennsylvania is prospering again, and I will not rest until this Commonwealth is wealthier and stronger than ever before,” Trump said Tuesday night.
He admitted prices are too high, but blamed the Democrats who controlled the presidency and Senate before he returned to office last January.
In a Politico interview published earlier Tuesday, Trump said he would grade his economy an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
This comes after a Politico survey revealed last week that 46 percent of Americans believe the cost of living is the worst they’ve seen. That view is held by more than a third of Trump voters, according to the poll.
However, other surveys show Republicans are starting to back his economic policies. Trump’s approval rating has ticked up to 41 percent, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, largely due to a wave of support toward his handling of the cost of living.
In his Politico interview, Trump refused to rule out sending ground troops into Venezuela as part of his war against alleged drug traffickers and urged the Supreme Court’s elderly conservative justices to stay in their posts.
Trump latest news: Key Points
- Donald Trump grades economy ‘A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus’ and rubbishes inflation concerns
- President insists he never said he would release double-tap boat strike video
- Trump in testy exchange with reporter over strike footage he promised to release last week
- President offers $12 billion bailout for farmers harmed by his tariff policies
- Trump set to host Pennsylvania rally on affordability
Live coverage ended
02:09 , Rachel DobkinLive coverage of the Trump administration has ended.
Read more about President Donald Trump’s efforts to boost Americans’ perception of the economy:
It’s the ‘A+++++’ economy, stupid. Trump embarks on same path that doomed Biden
Watch: Trump gives economy 'A++++++' grade
01:54 , Rachel DobkinTrump told our @DashaBurns he’d rate the state of the economy an “A++++++” despite cost-of-living concerns among many Americans.
— POLITICO (@politico) December 9, 2025
Watch his full interview on The Conversation: https://t.co/nGUTi6RMgQ pic.twitter.com/vQL4LeKh4N
Trump said he's 'destroyed the boat market' with alleged drug boat strikes
01:44 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania Tuesday night that he's “destroyed the boat market” with military strikes against boats suspected of carrying drugs.
“The problem is nobody wants to go fishing anymore,” Trump said. “They don't want to get in boats. They don't want anything to do with boats. I think we've destroyed the boat market. Other than that, it's been very effective.”
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have reportedly killed at least 87 people since September.
Trump says the only country with a stronger border than the U.S. is North Korea
01:36 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told his supporters at a Pennsylvania rally Tuesday night that the only country with a stronger border than the U.S. is North Korea.
“Now we have the tightest border we've ever had. We have one of the strongest borders anywhere in the world,” Trump said. “I would say there's one country that has probably a stronger border. You know that is North Korea.”
Customs and Border Protection encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have dramatically decreased since Trump took office.
The president shouted out agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement who have been conducting raids across the country to help Trump’s mass immigrant deportation effort.
“ICE is incredible,” Trump said. “They take a lot of abuse, but they're the toughest people.”
Trump talks about weaving between subjects during his Pennsylvania speech
01:23 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump talked about weaving between subjects as he went off script during a speech in Pennsylvania Tuesday night.
“I love the weave,” Trump said, “You always have to get back to the right location...otherwise they’ll criticize you for straying from the speech.”
During Trump’s speech on his economic agenda, he veered into subjects including transgender issues, immigration and climate change.
“I haven't read practically anything off this stupid teleprompter,” the president later said.
Trump says prices are too high because of the Democrats
01:08 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump admitted Tuesday night that prices are too high, but he blamed the Democrats.
Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania that Democrats say “prices are too high,” adding, “Yeah, they're too high because they caused them to be too high, but now they're coming down.”
In pictures: Trump talks about the economy at Pennsylvania rally
00:59 , Rachel Dobkin
Trump asks if there are any Somalians at his rally before railing against Ilhan Omar
00:49 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump asked if there were any Somalians at his Pennsylvania rally before railing against Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat originally from Somalia.
“Do we have any individuals from Somalia in the group? Please raise your hand,” Trump said Tuesday night.
The president then said Omar “does nothing but b****. She’s always complaining.”
Trump’s remarks are a continuation of his attack against Somali immigrants from Minnesota. Read more from Brendan Rascius:
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Trump escalates rant against Somali immigrants, calls for Ilhan Omar to be deported
Term-limited Trump says Susie Wiles told him he has to start campaigning again
00:34 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told his supporters at a Pennsylvania rally Tuesday night that his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, told him he has to start campaigning again.
According to the Constitution, Trump is not allowed to run for a third term, but Wiles wants him to help other Republicans in the midterm elections next year.
“She said, ‘We have to start campaigning, sir.’ I said, ‘I won,’” Trump said. “They said, ‘We have to win the midterms, and you're the guy that's going to take us over the midterms.’”
A little later, Trump’s supporters chanted, “Four more years.”
Ariana Baio has more on Wiles’ midterm election efforts:
Susie Wiles reveals Trump will make himself the focus of the midterm elections
Trump says 'America is winning again' in economy speech
00:18 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump said “America is winning again” in a speech about the economy in Pennsylvania Tuesday night.
“After just 10 months in office, I'm pleased to report that America is winning again. Pennsylvania is prospering again, and I will not rest until this Commonwealth is wealthier and stronger than ever before,” Trump said.
Trump begins remarks at Pennsylvania rally
00:12 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has begun his remarks at a rally on the economy in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Trump started his speech about an hour later than expected on Tuesday night.
The Associated Press reported that the president left Washington, D.C., late after attending a Christmas party at Vice President JD Vance’s residence.
Trump’s supporters began chanting, “USA,” as he started his remarks.
Stephen Miller’s wife claimed they were targeted by ‘terroristic’ threats outside their home. The reality may be more mundane
00:00 , Ariana BaioKatie Miller, a conservative podcaster, former DOGE member and the wife of senior Trump administration official Stephen Miller, is reportedly facing pushback from the Arlington Police Department after calling authorities because she felt threatened by local protesters.
In September, Miller, 34, reportedly called police after a group of protesters wrote messages in chalk outside of the couple’s home voicing opposition to her husband – the White House deputy chief of staff for policy who is largely credited with being the architect of Trump’s highly controversial immigration policies.
One of the chalk messages read, “Stephen Miller is destroying democracy.” Another said, “DEI enriches all.”
On Fox News, Miller described them as “terroristic threats” and “doxxing.”
But law enforcement appears to have a different opinion, according to a police report obtained by Zeteo, claiming “The messages were non-threatening and alluded to political issues such as immigration, transgender rights, DEI, and white supremacy.”
Read on...
Katie Miller claims she was targeted by ‘terroristic’ threats outside her home
Trump’s Cabinet addresses crowd ahead of president’s appearance at Pennsylvania rally
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:52 , Rachel DobkinTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright addressed the crowd at Donald Trump’s rally on affordability in Pennsylvania ahead of the president’s appearance.
The Cabinet members blamed former President Joe Biden for policies they said negatively impacted the economy before Trump took office for the second time.
“President Trump has put a decisive end to the three Is — I would add a fourth one, insanity, under Joe Biden,” Bessent said. The other three Is are immigration, interest rates and inflation.
.@SecScottBessent in Pennsylvania: "This is a formula for prosperity: lowering prices, raising incomes... The benefits of [President Trump's] agenda are now rippling through the economy — and those ripples will become waves as his agenda gathers force in 2026." pic.twitter.com/K5LzohXzNP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 9, 2025
In pictures: Trump lands in Pennsylvania for rally
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:33 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has landed in Pennsylvania for a rally where he is expected to tout his economic agenda.
Trump says he likes 'the concept' of Republican healthcare bill
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:08 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday evening that he likes “the concept” of a bill by two Republican senators to lower healthcare costs.
Senators Mike Crapo of Idaho and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana are pushing for healthcare legislation that sends money directly to patients rather than insurance companies. The healthcare plan will lower insurance premiums, the senators promised, and is an alternative to an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that Democrats are pushing.
"I like the concept. I don't want to give the insurance companies any money; they've been ripping off the public for years. Obamacare is a scam to make the insurance companies rich,” Trump said.
Trump responds to Jasmine Crockett's Senate bid: 'She's a low IQ person'
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:01 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has attacked Representative Jasmine Crockett's intelligence when asked about her Senate bid in Texas.
“She's a low IQ person,” Trump told reporters Tuesday evening. “I can't imagine she wins. Maybe she'll get the Democrat nomination, but I think it's a gift to Republicans. She's a terrible representative.”
Read more about Crockett jumping into the Senate race from John Bowden:
Virulent Trump and MAGA foe Jasmine Crockett joins contentious Texas Senate race
ANALYSIS: It’s the ‘A+++++’ economy, stupid. Trump embarks on the same don’t-believe-your-lying-eyes trap that doomed Biden
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:50 , Andrew FeinbergPrices are high, Americans are feeling the pain around the kitchen table and in their empty pockets — and President Donald Trump is hitting the road to convince skeptical voters that the U.S. economy is “A+++++”, as he told Politico.
If this all sounds familiar, well, that’s because it is nearly the same game plan, executed to extreme imperfection, by the man Trump now constantly reviles as “maybe the worst ever” at his job, Joe Biden, in the year leading up to his abrupt withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. (And then again, by former Vice President Kamala Harris as she took the baton and mounted what would become a losing campaign for the presidency.)
Keep reading:
It’s the ‘A+++++’ economy, stupid. Trump embarks on same path that doomed Biden
Trump advertises for latest shock troops in his immigration battle: ‘Become a Deportation Judge today’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:35 , Brend RasciusThe Trump administration is looking to recruit so-called “deportation judges” to carry out his aggressive immigration enforcement agenda after dozens of immigration judges have been fired or forced during the first ten months of his term.
Keep reading:
Trump advertises for new immigration positions: ‘Become a Deportation Judge today’
Trump set to speak in Pennsylvania
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:18 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is set to speak in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, in about an hour.
There, he’s expected to deliver a speech on the economy. Follow along for live coverage from The Independent.
Karoline Leavitt gets mad at Republicans for not being nice enough about Trump: ‘They need to be more vocal’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:05 , Graig GraziosiWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has a message for fellow Republicans: brag about President Donald Trump and toe the party line.
During a Tuesday appearance on Fox & Friends, Leavitt expressed her belief that Republicans need to do more to sing Trump's praises.
“As President Trump has been screaming from the rooftops, Republicans need to remain tough and smart, and they need to be more vocal about telling the accomplishments of this administration,” she told the hosts.
Keep reading:
Karoline Leavitt angry at Republicans for not being nice enough about Trump
Schumer wants to know 'what the h*** is going on' with Caribbean Sea strikes
Tuesday 9 December 2025 21:44 , Katie HawkinsonSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters he wants to know “what the h*** is going on” with the Trump administration’s strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, according to CNN.
Schumer said: “I will demand of [Marco] Rubio and [Pete] Hegseth, what the hell is going on in the Caribbean and in Venezuela? What are their plans? How far do they plan to go?”
Schumer also said he and other Democrats would consider invoking the War Powers Act if the administration launches ground operations in Venezuela, according to NBC News.
This comes after Trump declined to say whether American troops could be sent to Venezuela during an interview with Politico’s White House bureau chief, Dasha Burns.
“I don’t comment on that. I wouldn’t say that one way or the other,” Trump said.
Trump-picked appeals court judges side with Hegseth policy to kick out trans troops
Tuesday 9 December 2025 21:30 , Alex WoodwardTwo federal appeals court judges appointed by Donald Trump are keeping in place a policy directed by the president to remove transgender service members from all branches of the U.S. military, an order that a dissenting judge called "gratuitously demeaning” and “openly hostile” to all trans Americans.
Keep reading:
Trump-picked appeals court judges side with Hegseth policy to kick out trans troops
ANALYSIS: Trump’s smoke-and-mirrors farmer bailout won’t make this self-inflicted wound disappear, experts warn
Tuesday 9 December 2025 21:15 , John BowdenMonday’s news of the Trump White House’s plans for a $12 billion bailout of the nation’s agricultural sector provided a spark of hope for America’s farmers, especially badly hit soybean growers.
But experts still see a tough road ahead for American agriculture, and the aftershocks of President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff strategy continue to pose some of the steepest hurdles. The bailout itself is also seen by many as a tacit admission by the White House that the U.S. economy is not where it needs to be — despite what Trump and his minions keep insisting.
Keep reading:
Trump’s smoke-and-mirrors farmer bailout won’t make pain disappear, experts warn
Trump traveling to Vance's residence for Christmas event
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:47 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is traveling to Vice President JD Vance’s residence this afternoon for a Christmas reception.
Later today, Trump will give a speech on the economy in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Hosting 2026 World Cup to cost US cities upwards of $250m after ‘worst deal in history’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:35 , Miguel DelaneyThe 11 United States’ World Cup host cities are facing a collective shortfall of at least $250 million, due to a highly restrictive deal from FIFA that may yet see the federal government - as well as local and private funding - have to pick up the costs.
This has created increasing frustration in the host cities, who feel they aren’t “getting any help from anyone,” as sources openly ask whether “Donald Trump is aware he has become the figurehead” for what is described as “the worst deal in Fifa World Cup history.”
Keep reading:
2026 World Cup to cost US host cities upwards of $250m after ‘worst deal in history’
Trump refuses to rule out troops on the ground in Venezuela
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:17 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump refused to rule out sending troops to Venezuela when asked about the rising tensions with the nation’s leader, Nicolás Maduro.
Politico’s White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns asked the president about the issue during a wide-ranging interview published Tuesday.
“You’ve said that Nicolás Maduro’s days are numbered and that the U.S. could soon strike Venezuelan territory,” Burns said. “Could we see American troops on the ground in Venezuela?”
“I don’t comment on that. I wouldn’t say that one way or the other,” Trump replied.
Republicans join Democrats to make military pay hikes contingent on Hegseth releasing ‘double tap’ boat strike video
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:55 , Eric GarciaIn a bipartisan move, Congress has added a provision to its annual military expenditures bill that would require the Department of Defense to release video of the “double tap” — or second deadly missile strike — on a boat in the Caribbean that was suspected of smuggling drugs.
Keep reading:
Congress makes raising troop pay contingent on Hegseth releasing boat strike video
ICEBlock creator sues Trump officials after Apple pulled app in ‘unconstitutional’ coercion scheme
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:41 , Alex WoodwardThe developer who created a crowd-sourced map that lets users pinpoint the locations of federal agents in their neighborhoods is suing top officials in Donald Trump’s administration after his app was pulled from Apple’s App Store based on what he is calling a “torrent of threats and false claims.”
Keep reading:
ICEBlock creator sues Trump officials after DOJ ‘coerced’ Apple to pull app
Trump’s approval rating finally starts to climb as Republicans back his handling of the economy
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:24 , Ariana BaioFor the first time since October, President Donald Trump’s approval rating ticked up to 41 percent, according to a new polling data, largely due to a wave of support toward his handling of the economy and cost of living.
Keep reading:
Trump’s approval rating climbs as Republicans back his handling of the economy
Trump goes three-ring circus on Zelensky as he likens Ukraine leader to ‘PT Barnum’ in Greatest Showman-tinged interview
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:18 , Brendan RasciusPresident Donald Trump has likened Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to P.T. Barnum — the fabled American showman and huckster, who popularized the three-ring circus — arguing he’s received billions in American aid and has little to show for it.
Keep reading:
Trump likens Zelensky to ‘PT Barnum’ in Greatest Showman-tinged interview
Vance hits back at viral post claiming he got into a public fight with his wife
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:01 , Katie HawkinsonVice President JD Vance hit out at a viral post by a user who claimed he got in an “argument loud enough to quiet the restaurant” with his wife, second lady Usha Vance.
The viral post was accompanied by an image that appeared to show the vice president wearing a white t-shirt and speaking to his wife over dinner.
“I always wear an undershirt when I go out in public to have a fight loudly with my wife,” Vance quipped in a post on X.
Right-wing podcast host Tim Dillon accuses the Trump administration of blowing up boats to distract from the Epstein files
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:00 , Owen ScottRight-wing podcaster Tim Dillon has accused the Trump administration of bombing alleged Venezuelan drug boats in an effort to distract the country from the release of the Epstein files.
Keep reading:
Tim Dillon says Trump admin is bombing boats to distract from Epstein files
Watch: Trump grades his economy 'A+++++' in interview with Politico
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:40 , Katie HawkinsonWatch as President Donald Trump grades his economy “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” during a wide-ranging Politico interview:
What's on Trump's schedule today?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:20 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is set to host a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, this evening. There, he’s expected to give remarks on the economy.
Beforehand, Trump is set to attend the Vice President’s Christmas reception. That event is expected to begin just after 3 p.m. local time.
Democrats push to ban Trump’s plan to put himself on a new $1 coin
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:00 , Brendan RasciusA group of Senate Democrats have put forward legislation that would prevent the government from minting coins featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump.
The bill, called the Change Corruption Act, was introduced by senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada Tuesday, Punchbowl News reported. Co-sponsors include lawmakers Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Keep reading:
Democrats push to ban Trump’s plan to put himself on a new $1 coin
Republican lawmaker defends Trump on affordability
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:41 , Katie HawkinsonRepresentative Dan Meuser, a Republican from Pennsylvania, praised President Donald Trump’s economic policies in an interview with CNN.
“Look, the tariffs, everything we’ve done, is about reducing manufacturing costs, reducing consumer costs, putting more money in Americans’ pockets. Everything that we do is about creating affordability,” he told the network.
This comes after Trump said he’d grade his economy as an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus,” despite growing concerns about the cost of living.
Mom of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew promises to respond to each text and call offering support following ICE arrest
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:28 , Alex WoodwardThe Brazilian mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew thanked her supporters in her first statements since her release from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, where she has been locked up for nearly a month and threatened with removal from the country.
Keep reading:
Mom of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew speaks out after release from ICE facility
Susie Wiles reveals Trump will make himself the focus of the midterm elections: ‘We’re going to put him on the ballot’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:15 , Ariana BaioSusie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, revealed the administration plans to put President Donald Trump on the campaign trail for the 2026 midterms, to help allied Republicans retain as many seats as possible in Congress.
Keep reading:
Susie Wiles reveals Trump will make himself the focus of the midterm elections
ACLU sues Trump administration for legal justification over strikes on alleged drug boats
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:02 , Katie HawkinsonThe American Civil Liberties Union said it filed a lawsuit today seeking the release of documents related to President Donald Trump’s strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea.
The lawsuit comes as questions mount over a September 2 double-tap strike against an alleged drug vessel.
Watch: Trump caught on hot mic berating Republicans over appointment hold ups
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:56 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump has been caught on a hot mic chastising Republicans for delays on US attorney appointments.
Watch below:
‘Don’t be dramatic’: Trump interrupts reporter when she asks about Americans forced to choose Obamacare or holiday gifts
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:45 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Donald Trump is set to embark on the first in a series of public appearances that the White House says are meant to address voters’ concerns about rising prices on Tuesday, but he is already having trouble answering questions about the subject.
He brusquely dismissed a Politico reporter’s attempt to press him on how Americans should respond to an imminent increase in health insurance premiums — as Obamacare subsidies expire — at the same time they are trying to do holiday shopping and budget planning for 2026.
Keep reading:
Trump interrupts female reporter question: ‘Don’t be dramatic’
Trump to 'campaign like it's 2024 again' during upcoming midterms
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:34 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump plans to “campaign like it’s 2024 again” during the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, according to his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Wiles explained Trump’s strategy during a recent appearance on the podcast The Mom View.
“Typically, in the midterms, it’s not about who’s sitting at the White House,” Wiles said. “You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it.”
“We’re actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters,” she added.
ICYMI: Trump offers $12 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers harmed by his tariff policies
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:25 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Donald Trump has announced a $12 billion program that will see the Department of Agriculture dole out as much as $12 billion in taxpayer funds to bail out American farmers who have been hit hard by low crop prices and decreased demand for their products as a result of the president’s tariff policies.
Keep reading:
Trump offers $12 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers harmed by his tariff policies
Newsom uses infamous Trump lawnmower pic to make fun of president over his comments about machinery
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:10 , Brendan RasciusCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed an infamous photo of President Donald Trump to troll him over his recent comments about lawn care.
Keep reading:
Newsom uses Trump lawnmower pic to make fun of him over his comments about machinery
MTG responds to Trump's criticisms
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:50 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has responded to President Donald Trump’s recent Truth Social post, in which he called her a “traitor” and a “very dumb person.”
“I feel very sorry for President Trump. I genuinely do,” Greene told CNN on Tuesday morning.
“It has to be a hard place for someone that is constantly so hateful, and puts so much vitriol, name-calling and really tells lies about people to try to get his way or win some kind of fight,” she added.
Trump shared his Truth Social post in response to Greene’s recent “60 Minutes” interview, her first since she announced her resignation from Congress.
During that interview, Greene told CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl that Republicans had mocked Trump behind his back.
“I watched many of my colleagues go from making fun of him, making fun of how he talks, making fun of me constantly for supporting him, to when he won the primary in 2024, they all started — excuse my language, Lesley — kissing his a**, and decided to put on a MAGA hat for the first time,” Greene said of Trump.
Trump's approval rating rises: poll
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:40 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump’s approval rating has ticked up to 41 percent, rising from 38 percent last month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released today.
The poll suggests Republicans are starting to warm up to Trump’s affordability measures, according to Reuters.
However, not everyone is convinced, according to another recent survey.
A Politico poll released last week revealed that 46 percent of Americans believe the cost of living is the worst they’ve seen. That view is held by more than a third of Trump voters, according to the poll.
Trump calls Sept. 2 boat strike footage 'not pretty'
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:27 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump told Politico that the footage of the September 2 double-tap strike against an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean is “not pretty.”
This comes after Trump raged at an ABC News reporter on Monday, calling her “the most obnoxious,” after she asked whether his administration would commit to releasing the double-tap boat strike video.
When asked whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should testify before Congress, Trump told Politico, “I don’t care. I would say do it if you want, Pete.”
Trump added that Hegseth is doing “a great job.”
Trump declines to say whether he'll revoke citizenship if he wins birthright citizenship case
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:11 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump declined to say whether he’d revoke citizenship from people born in the U.S. if the Supreme Court sides with him in an upcoming case on birthright citizenship.
“I... honestly, I haven’t thought of that,” Trump told Politico, adding that it would be “devastating” if his administration loses the case.
This comes after Trump signed an executive order earlier this year seeking to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The order has since been challenged in court.
The Supreme Court announced last week that it will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower court’s decision striking down his order. A ruling is expected in early summer.
Trump set to host Pennsylvania rally today
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:54 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is expected to hold a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, later today.
There, he’s expected to discuss the economy and affordability, as concerns mount over the cost of living under his administration.
In an interview with Politico published today, Trump dismissed concerns about affordability and said he’d give his economy an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus.”
Trump dismisses Pope Leo's criticism
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:43 , Katie HawkinsonIn an interview with Politico, President Donald Trump responded to Pope Leo XIV’s criticisms of his administration.
Earlier this year, Pope Leo said the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants is “inhuman.”
Trump dismissed the criticism, telling Politico he wasn’t aware of his remarks.
“I haven’t seen that. I mean…I mean, he…maybe he has. I mean, he also didn’t like the wall. You know, they didn’t like the wall,” Trump said. “The wall turned out to be great.”
Laura Loomer contradicts Trump administration on deadly ‘narco boat’ strikes
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:30 , Joe SommerladThe far-right activist has challenged the administration’s justification for the more than a dozen strikes against Venezuelan boats allegedly carrying drugs, saying the amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S. from such sources is negligible, a significant break with the party line from Trump’s self-appointed “loyalty enforcer.”
Kelly Rissman reports.
Laura Loomer contradicts Trump administration on deadly ‘narco boat’ strikes
Watch: Trump takes the spotlight in Guatemala’s sinister ‘Burning of the Devil’ pre-Christmas tradition
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:10 , Joe SommerladAnalysis: Could the latest liberal darling cost Democrats their best chance at flipping Texas Senate seat?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:50 , Joe SommerladJasmine Crockett’s decision to run for the Senate has some sweating in the Lone Star state, but Republicans have just as many problems, Eric Garcia writes.
Could a liberal darling cost Democrats a chance at flipping a Texas Senate seat?
Karoline Leavitt pushes Trump’s inflation narrative on Fox and Friends
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:30 , Joe SommerladThe White House press secretary was on Fox’s breakfast show this morning and attempted to pin inflation, which Trump persists in saying is not an issue, on Joe Biden, tried to rally disaffected Republicans and ducked a question on the release of the boat strike video.
Karoline Leavitt lies with impunity on Fox & Friends: "Don't forget -- a year ago, President Trump inherited the worst inflation crisis in modern American history from the Biden administration." pic.twitter.com/dBUFjhk5eU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 9, 2025
Leavitt: "As President Trump has been screaming from the rooftops, Republicans need to remain tough and smart, and they need to be more vocal about touting the accomplishments of this administration." pic.twitter.com/i5Ar3oR0fT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 9, 2025
Leavitt dodges a question about if Trump will release the video of the second strike against a disabled boat that killed two survivors of the first one pic.twitter.com/1kgBWd628r
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 9, 2025
Nancy Mace shreds Mike Johnson: ‘Nancy Pelosi was a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:10 , Joe SommerladThe South Carolina representative has torn into Speaker Mike Johnson for the way he has run the House of Representatives in a New York Times op-ed, the latest sign of discontent among Republicans on the Hill.
Here’s Eric Garcia on Mace taking a leaf out of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s book.
Nancy Mace shreds Mike Johnson and says ‘Pelosi was a more effective House Speaker’
Right-wing podcaster accuses administration of blowing up boats to distract from Epstein files
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:50 , Joe SommerladTim Dillon slammed the Trump administration for dragging its feet over the release of the Department of Justice’s files on the deceased pedophile, which it has until December 19 to make public following the lightning passage of the Epstein Transparency Act through Congress last month.
Owen Scott has more on the right’s growing impatience.
Tim Dillon says Trump admin is bombing boats to distract from Epstein files
Watch: The View hosts mock Trump over Fifa peace medal
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:30 , Joe SommerladTrump grades economy ‘A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus’ and rubbishes inflation concerns
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:10 , Joe SommerladThe president has dismissed concerns about the U.S. economy, grading its performance as “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” in a new interview and rubbishing concerns about inflation.
Speaking to Politico, Trump again insisted he had “inherited a total mess” from his predecessor Joe Biden and baulked at the idea that Americans are having to tighten their household budgets going into 2026, telling journalist Dasha Burns: “Don’t be dramatic.”
In the same interview, the president called Europe a collection of “decaying” nations led by “weak” leaders, refused to rule out sending ground troops into Venezuela as part of his war against drug traffickers and urged the Supreme Court’s elderly conservative justices to stay in their posts.
James C Reynolds has more on his unprovoked attack on America’s European leaders.
Trump says European leaders are ‘weak’ in extraordinary attack on US allies
Trump and MAGA foe Jasmine Crockett joins contentious Senate race
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:50 , Joe SommerladThe Texas Democrat announced Monday that she would join the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in the Lone Star State – the same day one of her would-be opponents decided to exit the race.
Collin Allred, Crockett’s colleague in the House, withdrew his bid for the seat early Monday morning, hours after news of Crockett’s plans were made public in local media outlets.
Also running for the position is James Talarico, a Texas state senator.
John Bowden reports.
Virulent Trump and MAGA foe Jasmine Crockett joins contentious Texas Senate race
Watch: Duffy and RFK Jr compete in pull-up contest at bizarre airport press conference
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:30 , Joe SommerladExclusive: Florida man threatened to decapitate ‘subhuman’ Rep. Ilhan Omar and ‘eat’ her kids after Charlie Kirk remark
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:10 , Joe SommerladA 30-year-old Florida man is facing up to a half-decade in federal prison after confessing to posting violent threats on social media that promised to decapitate Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, murder her children, then eat the kids “for protein,” according to plea agreement papers reviewed by The Independent.
Myles M McQuade, a Tampa resident, made the threats on X, the Elon Musk-owned social network formerly known as Twitter, one day after Omar criticized late right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in an interview with a progressive news outlet.
Her remarks sparked Republican outrage, leading to GOP legislators insisting Omar be stripped of her committee assignments.
Justin Rohrlich has the story.
Fla. man vowed to behead Rep. Ilhan Omar and ‘eat’ her kids after Charlie Kirk remark
Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba ‘resigns’ as acting US attorney for NJ after court kicked her out
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:50 , Joe SommerladThe president’s former personal attorney Alina Habba will “step down” from her role as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after several judges determined she was unlawfully serving as the state’s top federal prosecutor.
Last week, a federal appeals court panel affirmed a lower-court order and disqualified her from office, ending yet another legal showdown between the Trump administration and federal judiciary.
Habba, who represented Trump during a blockbuster fraud case in New York and against defamation and sexual abuse claims from E Jean Carroll, said in a statement that she will now serve as a “senior advisor” to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
As a result of the appellate court ruling, “and to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love, I have decided to step down,” she wrote Monday.
“But do not mistake compliance for surrender. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me,” she said.
“Make no mistake, you can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you cannot take New Jersey out of the girl.”
Alex Woodward reports.
Alina Habba ‘resigns’ as New Jersey’s top prosecutor after judges gave her the boot
Truth Social: Trump says Supreme Court ruling against his tariffs would be ‘biggest threat in history to US national security’
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:30 , Joe SommerladHere’s the latest from the president on social media, who was up very late overnight to issue these two slightly hysterical proclamations about his tariffs, in which he warns of “dark and sinister forces” thwarting his signature economic policy:
“The biggest threat in history to United States National Security would be a negative decision on Tariffs by the U.S. Supreme Court. We would be financially defenseless. Now Europe is going to Tariffs against China, as they already do against others. We would not be allowed to do what others already do!”
“Because of Tariffs, easily and quickly applied, our National Security has been greatly enhanced, and we have become the financially strongest Country, by far, anywhere in the World. Only dark and sinister forces would want to see that end!!!”
Watch: Farmer says his children want Trump instead of Santa Claus this Christmas
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:15 , Joe SommerladTrump offers $12 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers harmed by his tariff policies
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:00 , Joe SommerladThe president yesterday announced a program that will see the Department of Agriculture dole out as much as $12 billion in taxpayer funds to bail out American farmers who have been hit hard by low crop prices and decreased demand for their products as a result of Trump’s own tariff policies.
The president unveiled the program during a roundtable event at the White House alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
He falsely claimed it would utilize a “small portion of the hundreds of billion dollars” his administration has collected from American importers and consumers through tariffs and called the bailout payments “economic assistance to farmers.”
Andrew Feinberg has more.
Trump offers $12 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers harmed by his tariff policies
'Gang of Eight' to be briefed on long-term national security strategy
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:45 , Joe SommerladThe top lawmakers on Capitol Hill, known as the “Gang of Eight,” will be brief behind closed doors Tuesday, by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who will present their long-term national security strategy for the United States.
The Gang of Eight refers to the House and Senate minority and majority leaders and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees.
The trio are expected to also be asked about the Donald Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, particularly the first missile blasts on September 2 in which two survivors were killed in a second missile launch that has been the subject of controversy in recent weeks.
Separately, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Monday that he is this week planning to speak this week with Admiral Alvin Holsey, who stepped down as head of U.S Southern Command after less than a year on the job, and is believed to have expressed concern about the strikes to Hegseth before being forced out.
Watch: Trump in testy exchange with reporter over boat strike footage he promised to release last week
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:30 , Joe SommerladDonald Trump insists he never said he would release double-tap boat strike video
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:15 , Joe SommerladThe president has said that the decision on whether or not to release footage of the deadly September 2 “double tap” missile strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean rests with his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“Whatever Hegseth wants to do is okay with me,” the president told reporters Monday, backtracking on his own comments last week that “whatever” video the Pentagon possesses “we’d certainly release, no problem,” which he now denies having said.
When asked to commit to the publication of the video by ABC News’s senior political correspondent Rachel Scott, who simply presented Trump with his own words, the president once again lashed out, calling her “the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place. Let me just tell you: you are an obnoxious – actually a terrible – reporter and it’s always the same thing with you.”
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump rips into female reporter as ‘most obnoxious’ in latest attack
Good morning
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:05 , Joe SommerladHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Donald Trump administration as the president’s top defense officials prepare to brief the top lawmakers on Capitol Hill about their long-term national security plans for the United States.
