Donald Trump cast himself both as a peacemaker and fierce defender of US interests in a mercurial return to the White House on Monday, vowing to seize the Panama Canal but also imploring Russia to make a deal on Ukraine.

Many assume this Trump tough talk is his signature bluster, which he uses to threaten allies to do what he wants. When he suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum trolled Trump with a 17th-century map labeling the United States “America Mexicana.”

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has made big promises on Ukraine, Iran, China and crises around the globe. But he will have to make difficult choices.

Donald Trump pledged to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama ... industry as part of efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 16.

Russian TV has already been promoting video of Trump's news conference threat to use force against Greenland or Panama as proof that their Ukraine intervention was justified. (And Russia insists ...

Putin also wants a summit with Trump, which appears to be on track to happen this year. A meeting with the U.S. president would signal an end to the period of international isolation Russia entered after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump blames ‘no angel’ Zelensky for Russian invasion ahead of Los Angeles visit to survey wildfire damage: Live - President talks Russia, China, the Panama canal and windmills in second instalment of

For malice, you’d have to go a long way to beat the way Trump spent the first few minutes of his speech trashing the record of Joe Biden. Only an hour or so before, the outgoing president had graciously welcomed the incoming president into the White House – and was sitting right behind Trump as he tore him to shreds.

Report TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS © AP PhotoTrump takes ‘America First’ to the world stage PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK HIS “AMERICA FIRST” DOCTRINE to the world

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