PALM BEACH, Fla. — During a spontaneous press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago estate, the President-elect, Donald Trump, addressed various topics including the potential pardoning of New York Mayor Eric Adams, the ongoing availability of the polio vaccine, and recent drone sightings in New Jersey.
This event marked Trump’s first appearance before media since his electoral victory that secured him a second term. He criticized the Biden administration’s decision to sell off unused segments of the southern border wall and warned of possible legal action to halt these sales. “We’re going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on building the same wall we already have,” he declared, emphasizing that he believed the action was almost criminal.
Trump’s remarks on this occasion highlighted his immediate return to the forefront of national politics, even before his swearing-in. The tone of the session appeared to be more relaxed compared to some of the more contentious interactions he had with reporters during his campaign, as he interacted amicably with familiar faces and noted the smoother nature of this transition compared to the last. “The first time everybody was fighting me,” he remarked. “This time everyone wants to be my friend.”
Having spent the past few weeks mostly in private at Mar-a-Lago, Trump used this opportunity to unveil policy ideas, confront critics, and hint at future developments. He particularly took shots at Ann Selzer, a renowned Iowa pollster, regarding her final election survey, which he believed misrepresented his support in the state. “In my opinion, it was fraud and election interference,” he stated, though Selzer declined to engage with his comments.
In a recent announcement, ABC News confirmed it had settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump, agreeing to contribute $15 million towards his presidential library after an erroneous claim made by anchor George Stephanopoulos suggested Trump had been civilly liable for a rape case.
Continuing his grievances, Trump targeted the Biden administration regarding the sale of border wall materials, revealing discussions with Texas officials about a restraining order. He reiterated his call for Biden to cease these sales, expressing frustration that Congress mandated the disposal of these materials, allowing their sale or donation to states for refurbishing existing barriers.
While Trump characterized the transition of power as “friendly,” he criticized proposals allowing certain government employees to retain remote work arrangements, stating those who do not come back under his administration would be dismissed.
On the topic of Mayor Adams, who is facing allegations of fraud and corruption, Trump did not dismiss the idea of a pardon, stating, “Yeah I would,” and suggesting that Adams faced unfair treatment, even though he admitted to lacking knowledge about the specifics of the case. Adams has been accused of receiving luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions and has pleaded not guilty.
The President-elect also addressed concerns regarding vaccines amidst his controversial appointment of anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department. While Trump refrained from dismissing debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, he assured the public that access to the polio vaccine would not be restricted under his presidency. “You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine,” he asserted.
As concerns grew over increasing drone sightings in New Jersey, Trump speculated conspiratorially, alleging, “the government knows what is happening.” However, White House spokesperson John Kirby later reassured the public that the drones posed no threat to safety or national security.
Following his victory, Trump claimed to have engaged with a significant number of world leaders, although he remained evasive about whether his discussions included Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I’m not going to comment on the Putin question,” he responded. Regarding the mounting tensions in the Middle East, he expressed openness to withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria after the ousting of Bashar Assad.
In addition to foreign relations, Trump mentioned a dinner meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook and leaders from major pharmaceutical firms, including Kennedy. This engagement, he noted, marked a stark contrast to his surprise win in 2016, creating a different atmosphere around his transition.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son also attended the briefing, announcing plans for a $100 billion investment in U.S. projects over the next four years, which Trump hailed as a major success in his ongoing negotiations since the election.
In a spirited message through his Truth Social platform, Trump urged that any $1 billion investment in the U.S. would receive expedited approvals across various necessary processes. “GET READY TO ROCK!!!” he declared. He has consistently claimed that his achievements in this brief transition overshadow those of his predecessor. “There’s a whole light over the entire world,” Trump stated on Monday. “There’s a light shining over the world.”