Donald Trump has described the Wisconsin vote recount as a “scam”.
The president-elect, who narrowly won Wisconsin, said the results “should be respected instead of being challenged or abused”.
Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein had initiated the recount. She also wants recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, citing “statistical anomalies”.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has said it would participate in Wisconsin’s recount.
Results would need to be overturned in all three states to alter the outcome of the November 8 presidential election.
In a statement released by his transition team on November 26, Donald Trump accused Jill Stein of trying to “fill her coffers with money” on the pretext of asking for donations towards a recount.
Photo AP
“The people have spoken and the election is over,” the statement said.
Jill Stein defended her recount initiative, telling CNN that “the point to drive home here is that having a secure elections process benefits us all”.
The Green Party’s candidate also suggested that she was open to looking at recounts in other states – not just Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton campaign’s general counsel, Marc Elias, said the camp and outside experts had been “conducting an extensive review of election results, searching for any signs that the voting process had been tampered with”.
Marc Elias said there was no evidence to conclude the election had been sabotaged, but “we have an obligation to the more than 64 million Americans who cast ballots for Hillary Clinton to participate in ongoing proceedings to ensure that an accurate vote count will be reported”.
He noted that the number of votes separating Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the closest of the three states – Michigan – “well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount”.
However, Marc Elias said the campaign would join in “on principle” in the Midwestern states if Dr Stein followed through on her promise.
Jill Stein reportedly wants to be sure computer hackers did not skew the poll in favor of Donald Trump.
Concerns over possible Russian interference had been expressed in the run-up to the vote.
The US government has said Russian state actors were behind hacks on the Democratic National Committee, a claim denied by Moscow.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission said it had received recount petitions, and the process would begin after Jill Stein’s campaign had paid the fee, which the commission was still calculating.
Jill Stein’s campaign needs to raise millions of dollars to cover the fees for the vote recount in all three states.
Her website says nearly $6 million has already been raised toward a $7 million target. It says this is enough to fund the recounts in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
The deadline for the petition for the recount in Wisconsin was November 25, while Pennsylvania’s deadline is November 28, and Michigan’s is November 30.
Michigan is yet to declare its final results.
Wisconsin provides only 10 electoral votes in the crucial Electoral College that gave Donald Trump victory in the November 8 election.
Wins there for Hillary Clinton, as well as in Michigan (16 electoral votes) and Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes), would have clinched the presidency for the Democrat.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign will participate in a recount of election votes in Wisconsin, a lawyer said.
The recount was initiated by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who is also seeking recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, citing “statistical anomalies”.
Election results would need to be overturned in all three states to alter the outcome of the election.
Donald Trump, who narrowly won Wisconsin, called the move a “scam”.
He said it was a way for Dr. Jill Stein – who is funding the recount through public donations – to “fill her coffers with money”.
“The results of this election should be respected instead of being challenged and abused,” the president-elect said.
Photo Getty Images
Hillary Clinton campaign’s general counsel, Marc Elias, said the Clinton team and outside experts had been “conducting an extensive review of election results, searching for any signs that the voting process had been tampered with”.
Marc Elias said there was no evidence to conclude the election was sabotaged, but “we have an obligation to the more than 64 million Americans who cast ballots for Hillary Clinton to participate in ongoing proceedings to ensure that an accurate vote count will be reported”.
He noted that the number of votes separating Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the closest of the three states - Michigan - ”well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount”.
However, Marc Elias said the campaign would join in “on principle” in the Midwestern states if Dr. Jill Stein follows through on her promise.
Jill Stein reportedly wants to be sure computer hackers did not skew the poll in favor of Donald Trump.
Concerns over possible Russian interference had been expressed in the run-up to the vote.
The US government has said Russian state actors were behind hacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
In a statement on November 25, the Wisconsin Elections Commission said it had received two recount petitions from the Jill Stein campaign and from Rocky Roque De La Fuente, a businessman who ran unsuccessfully to be the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.
Administrator Michael Haas said the count would begin in the week after Jill Stein’s campaign paid the fee, which the commission was still calculating.
Jill Stein’s campaign needs to raise millions of dollars to cover the fees for the vote recount in all three states.
According to her website, over $5.8 million has already been raised toward a $7 million target. It says this is enough to fund the recounts in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Voting rights lawyers John Bonifaz and J. Alex Halderman, who urged candidates to request recounts, have said the “physical evidence” that could signal a cyber-attack needs to be closely analyzed.
However, J. Alex Halderman said the fact that the results in the three states were different from what polls predicted was “probably not” down to hacking.
The deadline for the petition for the recount in Wisconsin was November 25, while Pennsylvania’s deadline is November 28, and Michigan’s is November 30.
Michigan is yet to declare its final results.
Wisconsin provides only 10 electors in the crucial electoral college that gave Donald Trump victory in November 8 election.
Wins there for Hillary Clinton, as well as in Michigan (16 electoral votes) and Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes), would have clinched the presidency for the Democrat.
President-elect Donald Trump has said Fidel Castro was a “brutal dictator”, hours after the former Cuban leader’s death was announced.
Donald Trump, who takes office in January 20, said he hoped Cubans could move towards a freer future.
Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 and ushered in a Communist revolution. He defied the US for decades, surviving many assassination plots.
His supporters said he returned Cuba to the people. Critics called him a dictator.
Raul Castro, who succeeded him as president, announced his death on state television on November 25.
In a statement, Donald Trump said that while Cuba remained “a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve”.
Image source Flickr
The US cut ties with Cuba in 1961 amid rising Cold War tensions and imposed a strict economic embargo which remains in place more than half a century on.
Under President Barack Obama, the relationship warmed and diplomatic ties were restored in 2015.
Donald Trump roundly criticized Barack Obama’s policy on the campaign trail but made no mention of his pledge to reverse it in his statement, saying his administration would do all it could to ensure Cubans could “begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty”.
Barack Obama, meanwhile, said history would “record and judge the enormous impact” of Fidel Castro. America was extending “a hand of friendship to the Cuban people” at this time, he added.
Fidel Castro was the longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th Century. He had been retired from political life for several years, after handing power to his brother in 2006 because of illness.
He will be cremated on November 26 at a private ceremony in Havana and a period of official mourning has been declared in Cuba until December 4, when his ashes will be laid to rest in the south-eastern city of Santiago.
In Miami, where there is a large Cuban community, there have been celebrations in some parts of the city, with people banging pots and cheering.
Wisconsin Elections Commission has received a request for a recount of the votes in the state narrowly won by Donald Trump on November 8.
The request was filed by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.
Dr. Jill Stein has also pledged to file vote recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
However, a win by Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin alone would not overturn Donald Trump’s lead – it provides only 10 votes in the crucial electoral college that gave Trump victory.
If Hillary Clinton wins in Wisconsin, Michigan (16 electoral votes) and Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes) would have clinched the presidency for the Democrat.
“The Commission has received the Stein and Del La Fuente recount petitions,” Wisconsin Elections Commission tweeted.
Image source Flickr
It added that details would be released shortly.
Meanwhile, Jill Stein tweeted that Wisconsin recount would begin next week. November 25 was the deadline for the request.
Her campaign needs to raise millions of dollars to cover the fees for the vote recount in all three states.
Jill Stein’s website says nearly $5.3 million has already been raised toward a $7 million target. It says this is enough to fund the recounts in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Voting rights lawyers who urged candidates to request recounts, John Bonifaz and J. Alex Halderman, have said the results need to be closely analyzed.
The fact that the results in the three states were different from what polls predicted was “probably not” down to hacking, J. Alex Halderman said. Concerns over possible Russian interference had been expressed in the run-up to the vote.
“The only way to know whether a cyber-attack changed the result is to closely examine the available physical evidence ,” he wrote.
Pennsylvania’s deadline is November 28, and Michigan’s is November 30.
According to officials, there was no evidence of election tampering in the three states where Donald Trump had razor-thin victories over Hillary Clinton.
The Republican’s camp has made no public comments on the recounts issue.
Donald Trump won 290 electoral votes in the November election, while Hillary Clinton had 232 votes.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein looks likely to spur a last-minute recount of part of the result of the election.
Donald Trump narrowly beat Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin, but two voting rights experts say the result needs to be more closely analyzed.
Jill Stein says she has gathered enough money to fund a recount in Wisconsin.
There is no indication Donald Trump’s win was down to cyberhacking, one of the experts said on November 23.
One election official in Wisconsin said they are preparing for a possible recount.
On November 22, New York Magazine first reported that a group of experts, led by voting-rights lawyer John Bonifaz and J.Alex Halderman, the director of the University of Michigan Center for Computer Security and Society, had contacted Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Image source Flickr
The experts urged Hillary Clinton’s campaign to request recounts in two states narrowly won by Donald Trump – Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – as well as Michigan, where he has a small lead.
In a Medium post on November 23, J. Alex Halderman repeated concerns he has voiced in the past over the vulnerabilities of paperless voting machines.
The fact that the results in the three states were different from what polls predicted was “probably not” down to hacking, Halderman said. Concerns over possible Russian interference were expressed in the run-up to the vote.
“The only way to know whether a cyberattack changed the result is to closely examine the available physical evidence ,” he wrote.
There is a deadline for any candidates to demand a recount, and they need to pay fees to file a request.
The deadline for Wisconsin is November 25. Pennsylvania’s is November 28, and Michigan’s is November 30.
This is where Jill Stein comes in – on her website, the Green Party candidate wrote that recounts were needed “to attempt to shine a light on just how untrustworthy the US election system is”.
By yesterday, Jill Stein had raised, through a crowdfunding campaign, more than $2.5 million, enough to fund a recount request in Wisconsin. The campaign estimates that up to $7 million may be needed to pay for recounts in all three states.
Unofficial results from Wisconsin showed Donald Trump won by only 27,000 votes, media in the state say.
Jill Stein won only 1% of the votes in Wisconsin.
Before then, Wisconsin had gone with the Democrats for seven elections running.
A Clinton victory in Wisconsin alone would not have been enough to overturn Donald Trump’s lead – it provides only 10 votes in the crucial electoral college that gave him victory. But wins in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania would have clinched the presidency for the Democrat.
The Wisconsin State Journal quoted the state’s election commission director Michael Haas as saying that the organization had not seen “any reason to suspect that any voting equipment has been tampered with”.
The commission was now preparing for a recount, Michael Haas told the Journal, adding that such a move would be “unprecedented”.
In his Thanksgiving address, Donald Trump has called for national unity.
In the wake of what the president-elect called a “long and bruising” election campaign he said emotions in the country were raw.
The time had come, Donald Trump said, “to begin to heal our divisions” but added that “tensions just don’t heal overnight”.
Earlier the president-elect announced the appointment of two women to his cabinet, both of whom had been fiercely critical of him during the presidential campaign.
In his Thanksgiving address, Donald Trump acknowledged the bitterness still remaining after the bruising election campaign: “It doesn’t go quickly, unfortunately, but we have before us the chance now to make history together to bring real change to Washington, real safety to our cities, and real prosperity to our communities, including our inner cities.”
On November 23, Donald Trump announced that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was his pick for US ambassador to the United Nations, while Betsy DeVos has been chosen to be secretary of education.
Image source U.S. Marine Corps
Both are former critics of Donald Trump, with Nikki Haley once saying she was “not a fan”, and Betsy DeVos branding him an “interloper”.
The appointments will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Donald Trump called Nikki Haley “a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals”.
“She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage,” he added.
Nikki Haley said she was “moved” to accept the assignment and would stay on as South Carolina governor, pending her congressional confirmation.
During the Republican primaries, Nikki Haley supported Florida Senator Marco Rubio and then Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
She also strongly attacked Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigrants, describing it as “un-American”.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton’s lead over Donald Trump in the popular count of the presidential election has increased to two million votes.
Donald Trump won the election by winning a majority of the Electoral College votes, but with ballots still being counted, two weeks after Election Day, the Cook Political Report has Trump’s tally at 62.2 million and Hillary Clinton’s at 64.2 million.
It is the fifth time the winner of the popular vote has lost the election.
In 2000, Democrat Al Gore’s final lead over George W. Bush, who won the election after a prolonged legal challenge, was nearly 544,000.
The Supreme Court ultimately decided that election by awarding George W. Bush a win in the contested state of Florida.
This year, Hillary Clinton scored large tallies in states like California but Donald Trump won most of the so-called swing states, which ultimately decide the outcome of elections.
The Electoral College system favors candidates who win by a small margin in lots of states over ones that win by a landslide in just a few.
Donald Trump has unveiled the names of the first women in his incoming administration.
Betsy DeVos has been nominated as education secretary and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as US envoy to the UN.
Both of them are former critics of Donald Trump, with Nikki Haley once saying she was “not a fan”, and Betsy DeVos branding the Manhattan tycoon an “interloper”.
Donald Trump’s presidential primary rival Ben Carson also hinted he would soon be named for a post.
Ben Carson wrote on Facebook: “An announcement is forthcoming about my role in helping to make America great again.”
Photo AP
Donald Trump tweeted on November 22 that he was “seriously considering” Ben Carson for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The appointments of Nikki Haley and Betsy DeVos will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Donald Trump called Nikki Haley “a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals”.
“She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage,” he added.
Nikki Haley, 44, said she was “moved” to accept the assignment and would stay on as South Carolina governor, pending her congressional confirmation.
During the Republican primaries, Nikki Haley supported Florida Senator Marco Rubio and then Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
She also strongly attacked Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigrants, describing it as “un-American”.
In response, Donald Trump had called her “very weak on illegal immigration” and said people in South Carolina were “embarrassed” by her.
Nikki Haley is the first minority and female governor of South Carolina.
Born Nimrata “Nikki” Randhawa to Indian parents, Nikki Haley was raised in a Sikh household and now identifies as a Christian.
She was praised by members of both parties in 2015 when she ordered the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the state capitol.
Betsy DeVos said she was honored to accept her appointment.
The billionaire Republican donor from Michigan once described Donald Trump as an “interloper” who “does not represent the Republican Party”.
Betsy DeVos also contributed to Donald Trump’s rivals – Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush – during the election race.
She previously supported the Common Core education standards that Donald Trump and many conservatives have pilloried.
Donald Trump, however, said Betsy DeVos would be “a brilliant and passionate education advocate”.
Betsy DeVos’ husband is heir to the Amway fortune, with a wealth estimated by Forbes at $5.1 billion.
So far, Donald Trump has appointed Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Mike Pompeo for CIA director, Reince Priebus for Chief of Staff for his top team.
More announcements are expected after the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
President-elect Donald Trump has condemned the fringe “alt-right” group that celebrated his election victory with Nazi salutes.
In an interview with the New York Times, Donald Trump was quoted as saying: “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn.”
The president-elect said he did not want to “energize” the group, which includes neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites.
Image source Flickr
Alt-right supporters were filmed on November 19 in Washington DC cheering as a speaker shouted: “Hail Trump.”
In the video, alt-right leader Richard Spencer told a conference that America belonged to white people, whom he described as “children of the sun”.
Richard Spencer denounced the movement’s critics as “the most despicable creatures who ever walked the planet”.
“Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!” he shouted at one point as some members of the audience raised their arms in the Nazi salute.
Last week’s gathering drew protesters who blocked traffic around the Ronald Reagan Building, a federally owned conference centre in the nation’s capital.
On November 22, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern that Donald Trump’s election victory could give succor to white supremacists.
A senior official close to Angela Merkel described the “Hail Trump” video as “repulsive and worrying”.
President-elect Donald Trump has decided to cancel a meeting with the New York Times, a day after berating media chiefs at his headquarters for “unfair” coverage.
Without elaborating, Donald Trump tweeted that the New York Times had changed the terms of the meeting.
The president-elect posted: “They continue to cover me inaccurately and with a nasty tone!”
Donald Trump has had an antagonistic relationship with the press, railing against liberal bias, even while benefiting from blanket TV coverage.
On November 22, he tweeted that he had called off his meeting with what he always refers to as the “failing” New York Times.
Donald Trump – known to be an avid consumer of newspapers and news shows – said the New York Times had switched the terms at the last moment, adding: “Not nice.”
However, Jonathan Mahler, a political correspondent for the newspaper, tweeted that it was Donald Trump who had tried to change the rules of engagement.
Photo AP
Jonathan Mahler said Donald Trump had asked for the discussion to be private and off-the-record, but the daily had refused.
The New York Times said it had been unaware the meeting was canceled until Donald Trump tweeted.
Hours later, Hope Hicks, a Trump spokesperson, told reporters at Trump Tower that the meeting was back on.
The NY Times confirmed: “Mr. Trump’s staff has told us that the President Elect’s meeting with The Times is on again.
“He will meet with our publisher off-the-record and that session will be followed by an on-the-record meeting with our journalists and editorial columnists.”
On November 21, Donald Trump invited leading figures from the American TV networks for an off-the-record briefing at Trump Tower, where they were subjected to a tirade about election reporting.
The media executives and anchors – including NBC’s Lester Holt, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and ABC’s George Stephanopoulos – were apparently expecting to discuss coverage of Donald Trump’s presidency.
But instead he reportedly labeled them “liars” and called journalists the “lowest form of humanity”.
One attendee leaked the details to the New York Post, saying: “The meeting was a total disaster.
“The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down.”
The New York Times reports that during Donald Trump’s complaint about “dishonest” coverage he singled out CNN president Jeffrey Zucker.
The Washington Post reported that Donald Trump also referred to NBC’s Katy Tur and ABC’s Martha Raddatz, without naming them.
Throughout his campaign Donald Trump accused the media of dishonesty, sometimes targeting individual journalists at his rallies and even denying some outlets accreditation to his events.
The Republican feuded with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, who later alleged that he had offered her gifts, including hotel stays, in an attempt to influence coverage.
Megyn Kelly said she was not the only journalist who had been offered freebies by Donald Trump.
Two weeks after his shock election victory, Donald Trump has yet to hold a news conference, and media outlets have griped that no president-elect has delayed holding a press briefing for so long since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
American Music Awards co-host Gigi Hadid has apologized for her impression of Melania Trump at the ceremony.
Gigi Hadid wrote: “I apologize to anyone that I offended and have only the best wishes for our country.”
Melania Trump is set to become first lady in January when her husband takes up the US presidency.
Gigi Hadid imitated Melania Trump’s European accent, also making reference to claims Donald Trump’s wife copied a speech made by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Photo Getty Images
“I removed or changed anything in the script that I felt took the joke too far, and whether or not you choose to see it, what remained was done in good humor and with no bad intent,” Gigi wrote.
“I too have been the centre of a nationally televised comedy skit that poked fun at my actions, and was able to find the humor in it.
“I believe Melania understands show business and the way shows are written and run.”
Gigi Hadid’s co-host, Jay Pharoah, called for people to “leave Gigi alone” and shared a message of support on his Instagram feed.
“Everybody pump on the brakes one minute,” he wrote.
“Over the last eight years the beautiful Michelle Obama has been the victim of excessive slurring.”
Reaction on the night to Gigi Hadid’s imitation of Melania Trump was mixed.
Other artists also used the event to pass comment about the forthcoming Trump presidency.
Green Day turned a performance of their track Bang Bang into an anti-Trump song.
Donald Trump has announced the United States will quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on his first day in the White House.
The president-elect made the announcement in a video message outlining what he intends to do first when he takes office in January.
The TPP trade deal was signed by 12 countries which together cover 40% of the world’s economy.
Donald Trump also pledged to reduce “job-killing restrictions” on coal production and stop visa abuses.
However, there was no mention of repealing ObamaCare or building a wall on the southern border with Mexico, two actions Donald Trump said during the campaign he would do as soon as he assumed power.
During the presidential election campaign, Donald Trump gave broadbrush arguments against the TPP deal, and used plenty of colorful language.
In June 2016, Donald Trump described it as “another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, just a continuing rape of our country”. In another speech he referred to the TPP as “the greatest danger yet”.
While there was plenty of talk about “taking back control” of the US economy, there were few specifics.
Announcing the plan to pull out of the TPP, Donald Trump said that the US would “negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores”.
In the video message, Donald Trump said his governing agenda would be based on “putting America first” and that he and the new administration would “bring back our jobs”.
Besides quitting the TPP, Donald Trump committed to several other executive actions that he said he would take on day one.
The president-elect said he would cancel restrictions on US energy production.
Image source Flickr
In 2015, President Barack Obama brought in the Clean Power Plan, an anti-climate change measure which aimed to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector by 32% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels.
The Clean Power Plan, already on hold due to legal challenges, would have restricted coal power plants and came up against strong opposition in areas where leaders said the plans would devastate local economies.
Donald Trump said: “I will cancel job-killing restrictions on the production of American energy, including shale energy and clean coal, creating many millions of high-paying jobs.
“That’s what we want – that’s what we’ve been waiting for.”
The president-elect, a real estate mogul himself, has been strongly opposed to business regulations throughout his campaign. He blamed them for stifling business. A month before the election, he said that if he won, 70% of regulations could be axed, but safety and environmental rules would stay.
Now Donald Trump has pledged that for every new regulation brought into force, two old regulations will be eliminated.
Political leaders in Asia in particular have reacted strongly.
Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe said the TPP would be “meaningless” without the involvement of the US.
New Zealand’s PM John Key said the US was “not an island”.
Economist Harumi Taguchi said China could move in to fill the “void” left by the deal’s collapse.
However, Malaysia’s PM Najib Razak said it was President-elect Donald Trump’s right “to make the policy decisions he thinks right”.
APEC leaders have said they will pursue free trade deals despite Donald Trump’s election victory.
During the campaign, Donald Trump called for greater protection for US jobs and said he would tear up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – the biggest multinational trade deal in years.
After a two-day summit in Peru, leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation defended the benefits of open markets.
China also claimed growing support for a wider 21-nation trade deal it backs.
In a statement at the end of the summit the APEC leaders said: “We reaffirm our commitment to keep our markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism.”
It also referred to the “rising skepticism over trade”, after the uneven recovery since the financial crisis had caused more people to question whether globalization worked for enough people.
However, the leaders said that the “the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasizing how trade promotes innovation, employment and higher living standards”.
The TPP pact involves 12 countries: the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
It aims to deepen economic ties between these nations, slashing tariffs and fostering trade to boost growth.
Donald Trump said the proposal was a “terrible deal” that would send American jobs to countries with cheaper labor.
The agreement must be ratified in the US Congress, which remains in the hands of Donald Trump’s party – meaning it’s expected to fail.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had also opposed the pact.
After the APEC summit, President Barack Obama reiterated his support for the pact, saying not going ahead would undermine the US position across Asia Pacific.
Barack Obama warned he was already hearing calls for a less ambitious trade agreement that would exclude US workers and businesses.
“When it comes to trade, I believe the answer is not to pull back,” he said.
“The answer is to do trade right, making sure it has strong labor standards, strong environmental standards, that it addresses ways in which workers and ordinary people can benefit rather than be harmed by global trade.”
However, while some leaders think the TPP could go ahead without the US, others say it would be impossible without a complete renegotiation.
Over the weekend, New Zealand PM John Key suggested there could be minor changes to the agreement that would give Donald Trump enough wiggle room to support it, without losing face.
Meanwhile Peruvian President Pedro Pablo said the TPP should not be written off, despite Donald Trump’s win.
China – which is not part of the TPP – has set out an alternative vision for regional trade.
Its proposal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), does not include the Americas.
After the APEC summit, Beijing said several nations including Peru and Chile had expressed interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
President Barack Obama has said he may speak out, against tradition, after leaving office if he feels Donald Trump is threatening core American values.
By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.
President Obama said he would give Donald Trump time to outline his vision but added that, as a private citizen, he might speak out on certain issues.
President-elect Donald Trump spent the weekend interviewing candidates for top jobs in his cabinet.
Speaking at a forum in Lima, Peru, President Obama said: “I want to be respectful of the office and give the president-elect an opportunity to put forward his platform and his arguments without somebody popping off.”
However, President Obama added, if an issue “goes to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it’s necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I’ll examine it when it comes”.
Barack Obama described himself as an “American citizen who cares deeply about our country”.
Speaking at a news conference to mark the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, President Obama reiterated that he would extend to Donald Trump’s incoming administration the same professional courtesy shown to his team by his predecessor George W. Bush.
George W. Bush has refrained since leaving office from commenting on Barack Obama’s presidency.
“I don’t think it does any good,” President Bush told CNN in 2013, after Barack Obama was elected for a second time.
“It’s a hard job. He’s got plenty on his agenda. It’s difficult. A former president doesn’t need to make it any harder. Other presidents have taken different decisions; that’s mine.”
George W. Bush’s stance falls in line with tradition. US presidents tend to avoid criticizing predecessors or successors. Barack Obama was clear that he would not weigh in on Donald Trump’s decisions while he was still in office.
However, his suggestion that, as a private citizen, he would seek to defend “core values” comes amid mounting concern among civil rights groups and others about Donald Trump’s political appointments.
Donald Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was previously the head of Breitbart, a website accused of promoting racism and anti-Semitism.
His national security adviser, Gen. Michael Flynn, has previously likened Islam to a “cancer” spreading through the US.
Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, lost the chance to become a federal judge in 1986 because of allegedly racist remarks.
President Obama said he believed the intense responsibility of the presidency would force Donald Trump to moderate some of the more extreme policy positions he had advocated during his campaign.
On November 20, Donald Trump indicated he had made more selections after a weekend of interviews at his golf resort in New Jersey, saying: “We really had some great meetings, and you’ll be hearing about them soon.”
He has confirmed he is considering retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis for the role of defense secretary, calling him “very impressive” in a tweet. He also met former critic Mitt Romney, who is now being considered for secretary of state.
The incoming president also says that his wife, Melania, and their 10-year-old son Barron will not move into the White House straight away. They would move “very soon, right after he finishes school”, he said. The school year runs from late August or early September until late May or June.
Barack Obama, meanwhile, said his first priority after leaving office was to take Michelle on vacation and “get some rest, spend time with my girls and do some writing, do some thinking”.
Asked about the failure of the Democratic Party’s campaign under Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama criticized the “micro-targeting” of “particular, discrete groups”, arguing there should have been an effort to reach out to the entire country.
Hillary Clinton has been criticized for focusing her energy on certain demographics, including Latinos and women, who were believed to support her, at the expense of a more inclusive campaign.
That approach “is not going to win you the broad mandate that you need”, Barack Obama said, adding that the party needed a “smarter message”.
Mike Pence has confirmed that Donald Trump is considering Mitt Romney for the post of secretary of state, among others.
The VP-elect’s statement, in a Fox News interview, comes after President-elect Donald Trump met Mitt Romney, a Republican who criticized him during the campaign.
There has been speculation that the post of secretary of state was discussed.
Neither man gave details of their meeting on November 20. Mitt Romney said talks had been “far-reaching”.
Photo Facebook
Mitt Romney, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Barack Obama in 2012, met Donald Trump at the president-elect’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Mike Pence told the Fox News Sunday: “It was a warm and a substantive exchange and I know he is under active consideration to be secretary of state (…) along with some other distinguished Americans.”
In March, during the Republican primary race, Mitt Romney said Donald Trump had neither “the temperament nor the judgement to be president”, accusing him of bullying, misogyny and dishonesty.
“Prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished” if Donald Trump became the nominee, Mitt Romney said.
Donald Trump responded by mocking Mitt Romney, calling him a “failed candidate” and a “choke artist”.
However, media have suggested that the role of secretary of state could be up for grabs. In the past, Mitt Romney has taken a far more critical line on Russia than that suggested by Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has settled several posts so far, a number of them controversial.
Mike Pence was asked about the way he was treated when attending a performance of the Broadway musical Hamilton on November 18.
The audience booed Mike Pence and a cast member read out a letter saying “diverse America” was “alarmed and anxious” at the future administration.
Mike Pence told Fox News Sunday that he was relaxed about it and had said to his daughter during the incident: “That’s what freedom sounds like.”
Hamilton won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, along with 11 Tony awards for live theater. Tickets to the show are the most coveted on Broadway, sometimes changing hands for thousands of dollars.
Donald Trump has met Mitt Romney, with reports suggesting he may be considered for secretary of state.
Mitt Romney was one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics during the election campaign.
Neither man gave details of their 80-minute meeting on November 19.
Mitt Romney said the talks had been “far-reaching”.
During the campaign, Mitt Romney called Donald Trump a “fraud”, while Trump said Romney’s unsuccessful presidential bid in 2012 had been “the worst ever”.
Donald Trump has settled several posts so far, a number of them controversial.
The nominee for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was rejected from becoming a federal judge in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the new national security adviser, has drawn concern over his strident views on Islam.
On leaving Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, Mitt Romney did not answer questions on whether he would accept a cabinet position, or whether he still thought his host was “a con artist”.
Mitt Romney said only that they had held a “far-reaching conversation with regards to the various theatres of the world” in which the US had an interest.
Donald Trump will conduct more meetings with potential appointees at the golf course over the weekend.
Donald Trump and the cast of Broadway’s Hamilton musical have traded barbs after VP-elect Mike Pence mate was booed at a performance of the show.
The president-elect demanded an apology over a letter read out by a cast member to Mike Pence on November 18. It said “diverse America” was “alarmed and anxious” at the future administration.
Donald Trump tweeted that the cast had been “very rude” and harassed Mike Pence.
The cast member replied by denying that the “conversation” had been hostile.
Mike Pence was jeered by members of the audience before and during a performance in New York. Afterwards cast member Brandon Victor Dixon thanked Mike Pence for attending and read a letter to him on stage.
Image source hamiltonbroadway.com
“We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us,” the letter read.
On November 19, Donald Trump tweeted: “Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!”
“The theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!”
Brandon Dixon responded on Twitter by defending his cast mates: “@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir,” he wrote. “And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.”
Some Trump supporters called for people to boycott Hamilton musical, using the Twitter hashtag #boycotthamilton. They were mocked in turn by other Twitter users, who pointed out the futility of attempting to boycott a show for which it is nearly impossible to get tickets.
Some sarcastically urged others to support the ban in the hope it would free up seats.
A staunch conservative, Mike Pence sparked an outcry as governor of Indiana earlier this year, when he signed a law critics said discriminated against the LGBT community by allowing businesses to refuse service over religious beliefs. He later amended the bill.
Mike Pence is not the first high-profile politician to attend the hugely popular Hamilton, which tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton.
President Barack Obama saw the musical last year and joined the cast backstage after the performance.
Hillary Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump in last week’s election, also saw the show. She was supported by Hamilton‘s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, during her campaign.
Donald Trump will meet Mitt Romney as he continues to build his transitional team.
Mitt Romney was one of Donald Trump’s severest critics during the election campaign.
Media have speculated the post of secretary of state could be discussed.
During the election campaign, Mitt Romney called Donald Trump a “fraud” and “phony”, while Trump said Romney’s unsuccessful campaign against Barack Obama in 2012 was “the worst ever”.
Donald Trump has settled several posts so far, a number of them controversial.
The nominee for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was rejected from becoming a federal judge in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the new national security adviser, has drawn concern over his strident views on Islam.
Also on November 18, Donald Trump settled three lawsuits for fraud brought against him over his Trump University.
He tweeted on November 19 that he had settled “for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country”.
Donald Trump will be at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, all weekend to conduct more meetings with potential appointees.
The president-elect tweeted: “Will be working all weekend in choosing the great men and women who will be helping to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Asked about the Romney meeting, Sean Spicer, a spokesman for the presidential transition, told reporters: “The president-elect wants the best and brightest people to put this country forward: people who supported him, people who didn’t support him.”
Sean Spicer said Donald Trump usually started conversations by soliciting opinions and thoughts, and then deciding if a candidate warranted appointment.
“The conversation with Mitt Romney is just that: an opportunity to hear his ideas and his thoughts,” he said.
Mitt Romney’s thoughts back in March were decidedly hostile.
The Republican said Donald Trump had neither “the temperament nor the judgement to be president”, accusing him of bullying, misogyny and dishonesty.
“Prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished” if Donald Trump became the nominee, he said.
“His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.”
Donald Trump responded by mocking Mitt Romney, calling him a “failed candidate” and a “choke artist”.
However, media suggest the role of secretary of state could be up for grabs, despite former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani being the early frontrunner.
Mitt Romney would certainly be another link to the Republican establishment, following the appointment of party insider Reince Priebus as chief of staff.
The 2012 Republican candidate in the past has taken a far more critical line on Russia than that suggested by Donald Trump.
Ex-ambassador to the UN John Bolton, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley are also in the running.
Another of those meeting Donald Trump on November 19 will be James Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general being considered for defense secretary.
Gen. James Mattis oversaw military operations in the Middle East from 2010 to 2013 but disagreed with President Barack Obama’s desire for a greater presence in the Gulf.
He is not the only candidate though – Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas met Donald Trump on November 18, the New York Times reported.
The other key appointments so far are Mike Pompeo as CIA director and Stephen Bannon as chief strategist.
In settling the Trump University class-action lawsuits, Donald Trump “was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward”, his lawyer said.
Donald Trump had been sued by former students who paid $35,000 for real estate “secrets” from his “hand-picked” instructors.
The lawsuits alleged the school had misled students and failed to deliver on its promises.
In his tweets on November 19, Donald Trump said the only thing bad about his election victory was that he would not be able to win the Trump University case in court.
President-elect Donald Trump has settled three Trump University lawsuits for $25 million, the New York Attorney General has said.
Donald Trump was being sued by former students who paid $35,000 for real estate “secrets” from his “hand-picked” instructors.
He had repeatedly said he would not settle the class-action lawsuits.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the settlement was a “stunning reversal” by Donald Trump and a “major victory” for victims.
However, Donald Trump’s lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said his client was pleased with the outcome, saying “he was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward”.
Image source Wikipedia
The president-elect faced three fraud lawsuits – which alleged the school misled students and failed to deliver on its promises – in California and New York.
A trial in one of the cases had been due to begin in San Diego on November 28, although Donald Trump’s lawyers had attempted to delay the case.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement: “Today’s $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university.
“The victims of Trump University have waited years for today’s result and I am pleased that their patience – and persistence – will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement.”
Eric Schneiderman, who Donald Trump has attacked as a “lightweight”, had sought a $40 million payout from Trump over the university, which closed in 2010.
He called Trump University a “fraud from beginning to end” in July, adding that the organization used “false promises to prey on desperate people”.
District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over the two California cases, had been urging both sides to settle out of court.
In June, Donald Trump said: “I will win the Trump University case. I already am, as far as I’m concerned.
“I could settle that case. I could have settled that case. I just choose not to.”
Trump University promised students the opportunity to learn from “hand-picked” teachers, that actually were not chosen by Donald Trump himself.
Eric Schneiderman alleged that the closest students ever got to the real estate mogul was having their photo taken beside a cardboard cutout of him. He also said that Donald Trump personally pocketed about $5 million in the “scheme”.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general.
Jeff Sessions, a former prosecutor, was turned down for a federal judgeship in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.
Donald Trump has also nominated Mike Pompeo as CIA director and retired Lt-Gen Michael Flynn has been appointed national security adviser.
His latest picks were praised on Twitter by David Duke, former leader of the white supremacist KKK group.
In a statement, Donald Trump called Jeff Sessions a “world class legal mind”.
Image source Flickr
“Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him,” he added.
Jeff Sessions, 69, said in a statement that he “enthusiastically” embraced Donald Trump’s vision for “one America and his commitment to equal justice under law”.
“I look forward to fulfilling my duties with an unwavering dedication to fairness and impartiality,” he said.
Jeff Sessions and Gen. Michael Flynn, 57, have been close allies of Donald Trump since the early days of his campaign and share many of his views.
Jeff Sessions opposes any path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and was an enthusiastic backer of Donald Trump’s pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
In 1986, Jeff Sessions was nominated by then-President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship, but was rejected because of allegations that he had made racist remarks. He strongly denied the claims.
Gen. Michael Flynn, a vocal critic of the Obama administration since he was ousted as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, agrees with Donald Trump on renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal, strengthening ties with Russia and intensifying the fight against Islamic extremists.
He once tweeted that fear of Muslims was “rational”.
Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo, 52, is a supporter of the conservative Tea Party movement. He originally backed Marco Rubio as the Republican candidate but supported Donald Trump after he won the nomination.
Mike Pompeo has also been a fierce critic of Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, tweeting on November 17: “I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.”
Kanye West has told an audience in San Jose he would have opted for Donald Trump if he had voted.
“I told you I didn’t vote,” the rapper said.
“But I didn’t tell you… if I would’ve voted, I would’ve voted on Trump.”
Angry fans responded by booing Kim Kardashian’s husband and throwing items on stage.
Photo Getty Images
Kanye West said he had “loved the debates” between Donald Trump and rival Hillary Clinton and that his “approach was absolutely genius because it… worked”.
He also asked for people to “stop focusing on racism”, saying: “This world is racist, okay. Let’s stop being distracted to focus on that as much. We are in a racist country – period.”
However, Kanye West said his preference did not mean he was any less supportive of women’s rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.
In footage uploaded on social media, Kanye West can be heard saying: “That don’t mean I don’t believe in these things because that is the guy I would’ve voted for.”
Kanye West, 39, was performing in San Jose, California, on November 17 as part of his Saint Pablo tour. His next concert will be held in Sacramento, California, on November 19.
At 2015 MTV Music Video Awards, Kanye West announced that he planned to run for president in 2020.
The Japanese prime minister has said he has “great confidence” in President-elect Donald Trump and he believes they can build a relationship of trust.
Shinzo Abe described the 90-minute meeting in Trump Tower, New York, as “candid”, with a “warm atmosphere”.
Some of Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric cast doubt over long-standing US alliances, including with Japan.
The meeting was Donald Trump’s first face-to-face with a world leader since winning the presidential election.
Image source Reuters
The United States and Japan have been key allies since the end of World War Two, when the US helped Japan rebuild its economy.
Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which PM Shinzo Abe strenuously supports as a means of countering China’s growing economic strength.
The deal was approved by the Japanese parliament, despite the likelihood that it would be cancelled when Donald Trump takes office.
The president-elect has also said Japan needs to pay more to maintain US troops on its soil, and has floated the idea that Japan and South Korea should develop their own nuclear weapons to counter the threat from North Korean missiles.
The meeting was reportedly arranged when Shinzo Abe rang Donald Trump to congratulate him, mentioning that he would be passing through New York on the way to an Asia-Pacific trade summit in Peru.
Speaking after the meeting, Shinzo Abe said: “We were able to have a very candid talk over a substantial amount of time. We held it in a very warm atmosphere.
“I do believe that without confidence between the two nations the alliance would never function in the future and as the outcome of today’s discussion I am convinced Mr. Trump is a leader in whom I can have great confidence.”
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has announced he already submitted his letter of resignation.
General James Clapper told the House Intelligence Committee that “it felt pretty good”.
He had been expected to step aside, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to appoint his own officials.
Analysts believe that James Clapper is sending a signal to the Trump administration that they must now speed up the transition.
President-elect Donald Trump has denied that his transition team is in turmoil, despite having only filled two postings so far.
One of Donald Trump’s close advisers, Kellyanne Conway, told reporters at Trump Tower in New York that announcements would be made before or after Thanksgiving, which is one week away.
James Clapper will remain in post until President Barack Obama leaves office.
“I submitted my letter of resignation last night which felt pretty good. I’ve got 64 days left,” he said.
Committee members jokingly asked him to stay for four more years.
James Clapper has authority over 17 different agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
More than 107,000 employees report to James Clapper with a combined budget of over $52 billion.
In a profile published by Wired magazine only hours before James Clapper’s announcement, he said that he never questioned the morality of his profession.
In his role, James Clapper has often been in the position of defending the National Security Agency (NSA), just one of the covert agencies that his office oversees.
NSA’s image was badly damaged after Edward Snowden revealed how they collect information on American citizens.
During a 2013 congressional hearing, James Clapper was asked: “Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions, or hundreds of millions, of Americans?”
“No, sir,” he replied.
“It does not?” the incredulous senator responded.
“Not wittingly,” James Clapper said.
“There are cases where they could inadvertently, perhaps, collect, but not wittingly.”
On November 17, James Clapper was asked if Donald Trump will open up a rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but answered that he does not predict a “significant change in Russian behavior”.
James Clapper, 75, has served in the job for six years after previously working for the US Air Force and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
The first foreign leader to meet President-elect Donald Trump is Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe.
The Japanese prime minister said he wanted to “build trust” and “work together for prosperity and world peace”, before leaving for his trip.
The New York meeting on November 17 comes amid concern over the foreign policy direction of Tokyo’s biggest ally.
Donald Trump has said Japan needs to pay more to maintain US troops on its soil.
Image source india.com
During his campaign, the Republican candidate also condemned a major trade deal struck by President Barack Obama with Japan and other Pacific Rim countries.
The US and Japan have been key allies since the end of World War Two, when the US helped Japan rebuild its economy.
Shinzo Abe is stopping in New York on his way to an Asia-Pacific trade summit in Peru.
However, details of today’s meeting are unclear, with a Japanese official saying exactly where it will happen has not been firmed up.
“There has been a lot of confusion,” a Japanese official told Reuters.
Donald Trump has also yet to select his new cabinet and other positions. He has denied that the transition to the White House is in a disarray.
The president-elect and Vice President-elect Mike Pence have spoken with 29 world leaders since the election, according to a statement from the transition team.
It remains unclear who else might be at the meeting with PM Shinzo Abe.
High-level talks are rarely held in such an informal context and Tokyo is keen to minimize uncertainty during the long handover of power.
Senior Japanese foreign ministry official Tetsuya Otsuru said about meeting: “We want to safeguard our alliance with the United States during the transition.”
In her first public appearance since losing presidential election last week, Hillary Clinton has laid bare her disappointment at her defeat to Donald Trump.
Hillary Clinton said she had wanted to “curl up with a good book and never leave the house again”.
However, in a speech at the Children’s Defense Fund, Hillary Clinton urged the audience to fight for American values and “never give up”.
The Democratic candidate won the popular vote but was beaten to the presidency in the all-important states.
“Now I will admit coming here tonight wasn’t the easiest thing for me,” Hillary Clinton said as she was honored by the charity.
Hillary Clinton continued: “I know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. I am, too, more than I can ever express.
“I know this isn’t easy. I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was.
“The divisions laid bare by this election run deep, but please listen to me when I say this.
“America is worth it. Our children are worth it. Believe in our country, fight for our values and never, ever give up.”
President Barack Obama is seeking to assure United States allies that President-elect Donald Trump will honor the country’s international alliances when he takes office in January.
He told reporters that Donald Trump had “expressed a great interest” in maintaining the US commitment to NATO.
During the campaign, Donald Trump said he might abandon a guarantee of protection for fellow NATO countries.
The Republican candidate’s statements alarmed the Baltic states, which fear Russian aggression.
Article 5 of the NATO treaty commits allies to come to the aid of a member state under attack.
In July, the Republican candidate said the US would only come to the aid of allies if they have “fulfilled their obligations to us”.
The US has long been pressing its European allies to spend more on defense.
President Obama was speaking hours before his arrival in Greece, on his final official overseas trip.
He will later travel on to Germany and then to Peru.
Security has been stepped up in the Greek capital Athens, where anti-US protests are planned.
Barack Obama is expected to use his final foreign visit to calm nerves over the forthcoming administration of Donald Trump.
Donald Trump’s surprise election victory has raised concern among some world leaders after a string of controversial statements he made during his campaign.
At a White House news conference on November 14, President Obama said Donald Trump had “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships”.
He said this included “strong and robust NATO” partnerships, which he said would convey “enormous continuity” to the world.
The president said that in last week’s White House meeting with his successor, he had urged Donald Trump to send “some signals of unity… and to reach out to minority groups or women or others that were concerned about the tenor of the campaign”.
President Obama said he “absolutely” had concerns about Donald Trump but urged his fellow Democrats to accept the result and “recognize that that is how democracy works”.
On November 15, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence about the Western alliance’s future.
“President-elect Donald Trump stated during the election campaign that he is a big fan of NATO, and I am certain that he will be a president… who will live up to all the commitments of the United States in the alliance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on November 14 that President Vladimir Putin had spoken by phone to Donald Trump and agreed to work with him towards improving US-Russia relations.
Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Vladimir Putin, describing him as a stronger leader than Barack Obama.
Greek minister of state Nikos Pappas said there was surprise in Greece as elsewhere at the election result, but added: “Everybody would be expecting the US government to continue to be on our side.”
“The mood of Greek people for this political change is <<wait and see>>,” he said.
High on the agenda in talks between Barack Obama and PM Alexis Tsipras on November 15 will be Greece’s crippling debt problems.
The US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have urged restructuring of the debt but face resistance from EU states, particularly Germany.
As preparations for Barack Obama’s visit went ahead, Greek anarchist and left-wing groups announced they were planning protest marches “against the representative of imperialist powers”.
Police banned public gatherings in central Athens and near the city’s international airport until after Barack Obama’s departure. Extra officers are also being deployed.
The last official visit to Greece of a sitting US president – by Bill Clinton in 1999 – was marked by extensive violent protests.
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU GDPR 2016/679. Please read this to review the updates about which personal data we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated policy. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Prev