In a series of bold moves during the Christmas period, former US President Donald Trump portrayed himself as a "President of Peace" while authorising significant military and policy actions. His activities ranged from ordering a strike in Africa to expressing a desire to acquire a foreign territory, all while releasing a symbolic "naughty and nice" list of his administration's achievements and adversaries.
Military Actions and Geopolitical Maneuvers
Acting as Commander in Chief, Trump celebrated Christmas by announcing a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Northwest Nigeria. The White House justified the action, stating the group was "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years." In his characteristic style, Trump extended a "MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists," adding a stark warning that "there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."
This action followed another aggressive geopolitical stance days earlier, where Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela. He warned he would confiscate both the oil and the ships, and directly advised Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro that it would be "smart" for him to step down from power.
In a surprising diplomatic move, Trump also sparked a fresh row with Denmark after stating the United States "has to have" Greenland. This declaration came after he named a special envoy to the semi-autonomous Arctic island, signalling serious intent.
The 'Nice List': Policy Wins and Administrative Changes
Trump's self-proclaimed "nice list" highlighted several domestic and foreign policy achievements. The White House reminded the public that he had ended 8 wars, increased NATO spending to 5%, reformed USAID, secured historic border agreements, and launched a war on drug cartels.
On the economic front, the Commerce Department delivered positive news, reporting that the US economy grew by 4.3% in the third quarter, which was one full percentage point faster than expected and marked the fastest growth clip in two years. Trump's rapid response team credited this directly to the President's policies.
Further administrative changes saw Secretary of State Marco Rubio recall 30 career ambassadors appointed by the previous Biden administration. In a symbolic shift, diplomats were ordered to revert to using the Times New Roman font instead of Calibri, reversing a 2023 change labelled as "wasteful." Multiple government departments also adopted terminology favoured by Trump, replacing terms like "undocumented" and "noncitizen" with "illegal alien," and "Unaccompanied Alien Child" for migrant children. The term "gender" was also replaced with "sex" on official documents.
Symbolic Gestures and Political Feuds
The festive season was also marked by symbolic actions and continued political conflicts. Trump rewarded the Department of Defense with plans for a new "Trump class" of superior Navy battleships, designed to replace what he called an "old and tired and obsolete" fleet. He insisted on being involved in the design, declaring, "I'm a very aesthetic person." This new "Golden Fleet" would bear his name.
In an environmental policy reversal, Trump paused all leases for large-scale offshore wind projects in the United States, citing national security concerns. He has previously claimed wind turbines kill whales and adversely affect marine life.
However, he showed restraint towards the Supreme Court, refraining from criticism after it rejected his bid to deploy the National Guard in Illinois, delivering a rare legal blow to his administration.
Trump's "naughty list" was reserved for media outlets and political opponents. He labelled The New York Times as a "TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE" for their "lies and purposeful misrepresentation." He also attacked network news broadcasts and late-night shows for being "almost 100% Negative" towards him and his supporters, even questioning if their broadcast licenses should be terminated.
In a lighter moment, during the annual NORAD Santa-tracking event, Trump humorously suggested that authorities were tracking Santa Claus "to make sure he's not infiltrated, that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa." He also joked about Santa giving children "clean, beautiful coal" for Christmas, referencing his executive order to bolster the US coal industry signed earlier in the year.
The period concluded with a polarising holiday message on Truth Social, where Trump wished a "Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly." This blend of seasonal greeting, policy enforcement, and political combat underscored a uniquely Trumpian approach to the presidency and the holidays.
