He tears down the White House’s East Wing for his ballroom. He tears down the White House’s East Wing for his ballroom. He also pardons his supporters involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. He also pardons his supporters involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. But in this moment, Mr. Trump claimed he had the power to “determine” that the United States was in an armed conflict with drug cartels and to deem crews suspected of smuggling boats “combatants.”In asserting he could do this, Mr. Trump defined a new level of presidential power for himself.

Source: New York Times December 26, 2025 18:41 UTC