
US President Joe Biden and his incoming successor Donald Trump issued starkly contrasting Christmas messages on Wednesday, with the latter emphasizing recent comments about seizing the Panama Canal, purchasing Greenland and annexing Canada.
While Biden posted a short, traditional seasonal message about “kindness and compassion,” Trump unleashed a rapid barrage of three dozen posts throughout the day, with Christmas messages directly addressing “far-left lunatics” and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “whose taxes on citizens are too high.”
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“Happy Birthday to the lunatics of the radical left, who are constantly trying to derail our court system and our elections,” the president-elect said in one message, using his irregular, capitalized style.
He spent Christmas Day speaking on his website, Truth Social, about the political persecution he is facing, which contradicts Biden’s holiday wishes for “all Americans.”
The Republicans’ electoral victory in November came against a backdrop of increasing political polarization and division across the country, on which Trump has based his positions.
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Trump posted a picture showing himself as the “General Patriot”, and another picture of him smiling at former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Other articles included articles praising his choices in government, his desire to buy Greenland, and his complaints about the fees paid by American ships passing through the Panama Canal.
President-elect Trudeau once again described Canada as “governor,” saying that if the country became “our 51st state, taxes would be reduced by more than 60%” and “their business would immediately double.”
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Trump also doubled down on his threats to claim US control of the Panama Canal, complaining that China has “illegal” influence over the waterway and that Washington is “investing billions of dollars in ‘fix’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about it.” ‘anything.'”
Minutes later, he announced his selection of Florida politician Kevin Marino Cabrera as ambassador to Panama, “the country that plunders us in the Panama Canal, beyond their wildest dreams.”