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Tag: Inauguration

  • Billy Ray Cyrus Sparks Concern With Bizarre Performance at Trump Inauguration


    Fans were worried about Billy Ray Cyrus after his performance as part of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

    After the “Achy Breaky Heart” crooner took the stage to perform at the Liberty Ball as part of the Inauguration Day festivities, viewers were left with some serious concern for his well-being.

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    On Monday, Jan. 20, Cyrus, 63, performed his and Lil Nas X‘s hit song “Old Town Road” in Washington, D.C.—but he was hardly able to get through the performance due to some technical difficulties.

    While trying to perform an a cappella version of the song once the backing music cut out, Cyrus awkwardly walked around the stage and sang in an offbeat manner with a raspy voice.

    “Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. Is my guitar on guys? I don’t hear my guitar anymore,” he asked before turning to crew members and yelling, “Is anyone awake?”

    Agitated, Miley Cyrus‘ dad said, “Y’all want me to sing more or you just want me to get the hell off the stage? I don’t give a damn.”

    A crew member eventually came out on stage to fix Cyrus’ guitar so he could continue with the rest of the performance. Meanwhile, fans watching at home were concerned, as something seemed off with the Hannah Montana alum.

    “That was truly a scary experience,” one user wrote on X. “Not sure if he was sick or drunk or both.” Another user said Cyrus “should never have been let on stage.”

    One fan who watched a video from the Liberty Ball on YouTube took to the comments to call Cyrus’ performance “a bit disturbing.”

    “It’s really sad to see him like this,” someone else added.

    The past few years have been tumultuous for Cyrus, who went through a divorce with his now ex-wife Firerose in 2024. He has reportedly been at odds with his famous daughter Miley Cyrus, 32, following his divorce from her mom, Tish Cyrus, in 2022.

    Parade reached out to Bill Ray’s rep but did not immediately hear back.

    Next: Nelly Responds to Criticism Over Performing at Donald Trump’s Inauguration Event: ‘I’m Not Political‘



    Billy Ray Cyrus Sparks Concern With Bizarre Performance at Trump Inauguration

    Country music star Billy Ray Cyrus raised eyebrows with his strange performance at President Trump’s inauguration ceremony. The singer, known for hits like “Achy Breaky Heart,” took the stage in a bedazzled cowboy hat and leather pants, belting out a rendition of “Old Town Road” that left many in the audience scratching their heads.

    Cyrus’s performance, which featured robotic dance moves and questionable vocal choices, left some viewers concerned about his well-being. Many took to social media to express their worry for the singer, with one fan tweeting, “I hope Billy Ray is okay, that performance was just…weird.”

    While Cyrus has yet to comment on the backlash, his team has assured fans that he is in good health and simply wanted to bring a unique energy to the event. Despite the mixed reactions, Cyrus’s performance will surely go down in history as one of the most memorable moments of the inauguration.

    What did you think of Billy Ray Cyrus’s performance at the Trump inauguration? Let us know in the comments below.

    Tags:

    1. Billy Ray Cyrus performance
    2. Trump Inauguration
    3. Bizarre performance
    4. Concerns sparked
    5. Billy Ray Cyrus news
    6. Trump inauguration performance
    7. Celebrity performance
    8. Political event
    9. Entertainment news
    10. Social media reaction

    #Billy #Ray #Cyrus #Sparks #Concern #Bizarre #Performance #Trump #Inauguration

  • Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the House


    Being the Republican House leader is a little like marrying Henry VIII. At some point, you’re getting your head cut off. 

    But for now, Mike Johnson remains not just physically intact—but in a position of incredible power.

    Two weeks ago, Johnson was reelected Speaker of the House on the first ballot. Despite having only the narrowest of House majorities—the Republicans control the House by four votes, 219 vs. 215 Democrats—Mike Johnson was able to unite the Republican Party’s warring factions—moderates, the Freedom Caucus, the Raw Milk caucus, libertarians, hawks, doves, and whatever Lauren Boebert is—behind him. 

    It was tough to pull off, as it would’ve taken only a couple of No votes to send him off to that Republican Valhalla where John Boehner chain-smokes and chugs merlot, Paul Ryan does push-ups, and Kevin McCarthy throws darts at a photo of Matt Gaetz.

    Now, Donald Trump will become president of the United States and Mike Johnson will have the task of shepherding his agenda through Congress. And because the Republicans control the House by only four seats, the Speaker might have to get very close to some moderate Democrats—particularly those with constituents itching for a tax cut. 

    Today on Honestly, Speaker Johnson breaks down this challenge. He talks about how the party moves forward with two different visions for America; why he thinks Biden was “the worst president ever”; he recalls an eerie experience with Biden in the Oval Office; and he even gives us a taste of his uncanny Trump impression.

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    Today marks a historic day as we celebrate the Inauguration of our new President. As the Speaker of the House, I am honored to be a part of this momentous occasion.

    The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and today we witness the continuation of this tradition. It is a time for unity, hope, and a renewed commitment to our shared values and principles.

    I look forward to working with our new President and his administration to address the challenges facing our nation and to build a better future for all Americans. Together, we can achieve great things and create a more just and prosperous society.

    I am filled with optimism and determination as we embark on this new chapter in our country’s history. Let us come together, put aside our differences, and strive towards a brighter tomorrow. Congratulations to our new President, and may God bless America.

    Tags:

    inauguration day, speaker of the house, political event, government ceremony, congressional leader, political inauguration, government official, political speech, leadership event

    #Inauguration #Day #Speaker #House

  • Priscilla Chan, in Bottega Veneta for Inauguration, Aligns With Mark Zuckerberg and the Trump World Order


    For the last few months, Mark Zuckerberg has been using his role as the CEO of Meta to announce a sort of cultural reset in his company and on the platforms it owns, beginning with an enthusiastic note of congratulations to President Donald Trump after he won the 2024 election. Earlier this month, he sat by himself in the videos that shared a spate of new policies, which included an end to DEI programs, changes to the rules that protect LGBTQ+ users, and an end to the fact-checking program meant to prevent misinformation. The seemingly abrupt U-turn in the CEO’s beliefs and appearance prompted viewers to wonder what on earth Zuckerberg’s wife of 12 years, Priscilla Chan, was thinking about the turn of events. Though Chan has no formal ties to the social media platform, even her Instagram comments weren’t safe from the backlash. “No one would blame you if you got a divorce,” said one commenter on a picture of the couple’s Halloween costumes. (Zuck was John Wick, Chan was a ballerina.) “Please, help Mark come to his senses,” read another.

    Chan’s name reportedly didn’t appear on the invitation to the pre-inaugural-ball reception Zuckerberg cohosted with Republican mega-donor Miriam Adelson (who contributed to Trump’s legal defense fund for aides during the Mueller investigation). But on Monday, the pediatrician turned philanthropist stood by her husband’s side during the ceremonies, wearing a fuzzy sky blue cardigan from Bottega Veneta and two demure strands of pearls. The couple was seated alongside Jeff Bezos, his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, and Elon Musk in a position of honor, rows ahead of the members of the new Trump administration and other high-ranking Republicans, all of them representing the neo-MAGA aristocracy. (Chan’s representatives at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative didn’t respond to Vanity Fair’s request for comment.)

    Chan seemed to be enjoying herself during the inauguration, and she was spotted in conversation with newly sworn-in secretary of state Marco Rubio. Still, it’s hard to imagine that the mother of three—a former elementary school science teacher who quoted Dr. Seuss in her high school valedictorian speech—would have an awesome time hanging out with UFC CEO Dana White and Kid Rock. Zuckerberg claims his marriage has only improved since he underwent his now notorious two-year evolution that began with a foray into jiujitsu and culminated with his longer curly locks.

    In a three-hour interview with anti-woke conversationalist Joe Rogan earlier this month, Zuckerberg railed against Joe Biden’s administration for its concern with COVID-19 misinformation—and discussed his wife. When Zuckerberg tore his ACL while training back in November 2023, he was concerned that Chan might be upset with him. Instead, she just wanted him back in the octagon. “She was like, ‘No. You heal your ACL. When you heal, you better go back to fighting,’” Zuckerberg said. “She’s like, ‘You’re so much better to be around now that you’re doing this. You have to fight.’”

    Chan and Zuckerberg first met as Harvard students in 2003, when she was a freshman studying biology and he was a sophomore taking computer science classes. As Facebook evolved from a dorm room project into a real company, he dropped out, but she stayed behind, graduating in 2007 and going on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. They wed in 2012, soon after Facebook’s high-wattage IPO and right before Chan started her pediatrics residency. She finished in 2015, around the time the couple announced that Chan was pregnant with her first child.

    For more than a decade, Chan has seemed in lockstep with her husband in his public priorities. In December 2015, coinciding with their daughter Maxima’s birth, the couple launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The organization aimed to “solve society’s toughest challenges,” and its initial investments were in biomedical science and education. Chan and Zuckerberg are co-CEOs of the initiative, which has more than 500 employees, but Chan runs day-to-day operations. Originally, the couple were broadly liberal in their philanthropic choices, making generous donations to low-income school districts. But by 2017, education experts were already debating whether Zuckerberg’s earliest philanthropic investment was a wash or an abject failure. Though Zuckerberg gave the Newark schools nearly $100 million, test scores made only mixed improvements.

    Zuckerberg and Chan’s original ideals faced their first big challenge during 2020. First, they came into conflict with some of their employees in the initial aftermath of the George Floyd protests during June 2020. Vox reported that a worker at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative publicly asked Zuckerberg to do one of three things: moderate Trump’s inflammatory posts, step down from his role at Facebook, or resign from the organization. (In response, Zuckerberg said, “I mean, no. None of those things would make sense.”) That same year, Chan and Zuckerberg donated more than $400 million to nonpartisan election nonprofits to ensure voting access during the pandemic. In the heady days of 2020 election denial, this became a scandal on the right-wing internet, getting the nickname “Zuckerbucks,” inspiring some aggressive Trump posts on Truth Social, and earning an entire hearing by the Committee on House Administration.

    For Zuckerberg, the wounds started to fester. “Mr. Zuckerberg complained to multiple people about the blowback to Meta that came from the more politically touchy aspects of his philanthropic efforts,” reported The New York Times in September 2024. “And he regretted hiring employees at his philanthropy who tried to push him further to the left on some causes.” They added that the CEO identifies politically with “classical liberalism,” which may be a surefire sign that he has engaged with the so-called Intellectual Dark Web.

    As for Chan, her political tendencies have primarily been described in the media as auxiliary to her husband’s. The first sign that things were changing for both members of the couple came in 2021, when they seemingly made a move to repair their reputations. Zuckerberg and Chan hired longtime GOP strategist Brian Baker to serve as their adviser—and help them make inroads with his fellow Republicans, according to The Wall Street Journal.

    In 2015, Zuckerberg mentioned that he and Chan had experienced miscarriages before their oldest daughter was born, and the next year Chan told Today’s Savannah Guthrie why they decided to speak publicly about them. “Sharing our experience with pregnancy was incredibly important because we realized how challenging and difficult that was,” she said in September 2016. “Knowing that you’re not alone was incredibly important for us, and we wanted others to know that they weren’t alone either.”

    By June 2022, when the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision allowed states to ban abortion, Chan wanted to keep the CZI out of the conversation about reproductive healthcare. Soon after the decision, Chan reportedly sent a memo to her staff saying that she would not use the institute’s funding to address abortion access. “We need to stay focused and clear on what we’re here to do,” it read, according to the Times. “We do not have any plans to expand our grant making to new areas.”

    Now, the couple is very publicly aligned with an administration that is working hard to strip back rights over bodily autonomy, and in some cases, restrict medical treatments that are used to treat both abortions and miscarriages. Such restrictions have already put women’s lives in danger. On Tuesday morning, the new Trump administration took reproductiverights.gov, the government website dedicated to reproductive care, offline.

    Though we might never know how Chan felt about her husband’s performance on The Joe Rogan Experience, we already know that she’s used to waiting for her husband to come around. “As life partners, our relative optimism comes through as Mark just is overly optimistic about his time management and will get engrossed in interesting ideas, and he’s late,” she said on an episode of scientist Andrew Huberman’s podcast in 2023. “And because he’s late, I have to channel Mark as an optimist whenever I’m waiting for him.”





    Priscilla Chan, wife of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, made a bold fashion statement at the Presidential Inauguration by wearing a stunning outfit from luxury brand Bottega Veneta. While many were impressed by her sartorial choice, others couldn’t help but draw connections between her high-profile appearance and her ties to the Trump World Order.

    As a prominent figure in the tech world, Priscilla Chan has often been associated with her husband’s controversial decisions and political affiliations. With Mark Zuckerberg facing scrutiny for his handling of misinformation on Facebook and his perceived alignment with the Trump administration, Priscilla’s choice to wear a designer outfit at such a high-profile event raised eyebrows and sparked conversations about her own allegiances.

    Some saw her outfit choice as a subtle nod to the elite circles she and Zuckerberg move in, while others speculated that it was a deliberate move to align herself with the Trump World Order. Whatever the intention behind her fashion statement, one thing is clear: Priscilla Chan’s appearance in Bottega Veneta at the Inauguration has sparked a heated debate about power, privilege, and politics in the digital age.

    Tags:

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    2. Bottega Veneta
    3. Inauguration fashion
    4. Mark Zuckerberg
    5. Trump World Order
    6. Priscilla Chan style
    7. Celebrity fashion
    8. High fashion
    9. Influential couples
    10. Fashion trends

    #Priscilla #Chan #Bottega #Veneta #Inauguration #Aligns #Mark #Zuckerberg #Trump #World #Order

  • Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Other Billionaires at the Inauguration


    In a stark display of money and power, the three wealthiest men on the planet lined up on Monday in the Capitol Rotunda to witness Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th president.

    The message was clear: With a president in office who wants to be known as a deal maker, Washington is open for business.

    The three men, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, collectively worth close to a trillion dollars, were seated in front of Trump’s cabinet picks and behind his family, creating what might be a hierarchy of influence. (Sundar Pichai, the billionaire head of Google, was between Bezos and Musk.)

    The visuals spoke volumes. In contrast, Trump’s inauguration speech, in which he vowed to usher in a “golden age of America” and also took on contentious issues like gender politics, carried few surprises.

    Taking note of the conspicuous invitees could reveal a lot about what to expect in Trump’s second term; The Times’s Mike Isaac, Karen Weise, Ryan Mac, Cade Metz, Cecilia Kang and Theodore Schleifer broke it down for DealBook. It was also notable who was relegated to the Siberia section, including the Republican governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis. (Here’s a zoomed-in view of the V.I.P. section.)

    The inauguration on Monday was a marked contrast to Trump’s first presidential run, when tech titans (and other business leaders) largely ignored him and only reluctantly showed up to a summit after he won the White House.

    But since Election Day, a parade of business leaders, especially from the tech sector, have toasted him, many traveling to Mar-a-Lago to show support and curry favor.

    Bezos, who clashed with the president in his first term, was among them. He told Andrew at the DealBook Summit in December that he was optimistic about a second Trump presidency. “What I’ve seen so far is he is calmer than he was the first time — more confident, more settled,” Bezos said.

    Tim Cook, Sam Altman and Sergey Brin praised Trump’s victory and pledged money to his inauguration fund. Cook and Brin had prime seats on the dais. Altman, who leads the artificial intelligence juggernaut OpenAI, was bumped to the spillover room.

    And then there was Musk. The entrepreneur, who spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help get Trump elected and is likely to get a West Wing office to run a government-spending task force, was seated closest to the president. At a gathering of Trump supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday, Musk drew condemnation for making hand gestures that resembled the Nazi salute.

    Also spotted:

    • Shou Chew, the C.E.O. of TikTok, was squeezed into the back row next to Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence. (Joe Rogan was in front of them.)

    • Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH, made the trip along with his daughter, Delphine, and son Alexandre. The luxury goods conglomerate is eager to avert Trump tariffs.

    • Dana White, the head of U.F.C. and a new board member at Meta, also had a prime seat.

    Notably absent was Peter Thiel, one of Trump’s earliest backers, who hosted a blowout at his Washington mansion this weekend.

    TikTok officially gets a reprieve. President Trump signed an executive order on Monday to delay enforcement of a ban on the popular video app for 75 days, but it’s unclear if that action can override a law that went into effect this weekend. The move effectively allows TikTok to operate in the United States, but Trump announced a twist as he was signing the order: He threatened to impose tariffs on China if Beijing doesn’t approve a TikTok deal.

    The European Union hopes to convince Trump to ease A.I. chip curbs. Some European officials plan to press for an unwinding of export restrictions ordered by President Joe Biden that have limited the kinds of computing power that countries like Poland and Portugal can buy, Bloomberg reports.

    Costco workers authorize a strike. A union representing 18,000 employees at the third-largest retailer in the U.S. voted to walk out if they didn’t secure a new contract by Jan. 31. Labor organizing surged during the pandemic and continued to climb under the Biden administration; but that could be tested under Trump, who favors pro-business legislation and deregulation.

    President Trump has promised that his return to office will unleash a bonanza of investing and growth.

    But the Trump administration’s first day — a torrent of executive orders that pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, threatened to undermine the constitutional provision for birthright citizenship and withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization — gave investors a reminder of his volatile effect on global markets.

    The latest: S&P 500 futures were up, and the yield on Treasury bonds were down. But the rally lost steam overnight after Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico as soon as Feb. 1. That remark sent the dollar higher.

    It also indicated that the prospect of a Trump trade war, which could hit corporate profits and reignite inflation, was weighing heavily on investors.

    Market winners included:

    • Chinese stocks. Trump didn’t impose tariffs on Day 1 as he had promised. He instead called for a study that would determine, among other things, whether Beijing had complied with deals struck during Trump’s first term. The move contradicts hawkish comments about China by Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary.

    • Bank stocks. Investors are betting that sweeping deregulation and lower taxes will be good for business, including by padding lenders’ profits. Shares in big banks, or at least those with little exposure to Mexico and Canada, were up on both sides of the Atlantic this morning.

    • Energy stocks. The oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil were higher in premarket trading after Trump signed executive orders to pull the country out of the Paris climate accords and open up vast swaths of federal land to drilling and mining. But the price of crude oil dipped on concerns that those policies would greatly increase supplies.

    The biggest losers:

    • Crypto. Trade in Bitcoin has been especially erratic. It came near a high of $110,000 on Monday, before falling sharply. Notoriously volatile memecoins, including tokens for the president and the first lady, plunged. One culprit: Trump, who has signaled that his administration will loosen regulation around the sector but who made no mention of crypto in his speech on Monday.

    • European auto and green energy stocks. Shares in Stellantis, Volkswagen and Mercedes fell on Tuesday, as did those in Orsted, a Danish wind farm developer, after Trump said he would eliminate Biden-era regulations aimed at promoting electric vehicles and halt approvals of new wind farms in federal waters.

    Executives, bankers and even busy Uber drivers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, were discussing on Monday’s inauguration. There seemed to be two responses to President Trump’s return: excitement and fear.

    Crypto executives, technology investors and bankers, all of whom are focused on deregulation, are apparently looking forward to a second Trump term. Others expressed alarm over a possible trade war and how that might affect European unity if Trump tried to broker deals with individual countries.

    There was one development that had executives talking. Trump didn’t announce tariffs as part of his flurry of executive orders. Some think that could mean tariffs were a campaign talking point and a bargaining tactic rather than an actual economic policy.

    Many said that things felt quieter in Davos than in years past. That could be because of the inauguration in Washington, the snowstorm in New York or the fact that more people were simply planning to arrive later (or some combination of the three.) The weather in the Swiss ski town is a lot milder than usual though, making it easier to go from meeting to meeting.

    Some notable sights:

    • The embattled TikTok, like dozens of other companies, has a promotional outpost on the Promenade.

    • USA House, organized by With Honor, a nonprofit that supports military veterans, is in Davos for the first time. (Its window features a giant bald eagle draped in the American flag.) It will be hosting the U.S. ski team’s Daron Rahlves and Picabo Street on Tuesday.

    • The soccer icon David Beckham, the fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and the Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto were in town to receive Crystal Awards from the World Economic Forum.

    • The usual protesters are in Davos, too. Fossil fuel demonstrators splashed paint on Amazon’s outpost — and were briefly handcuffed, DealBook hears.

    Though Elon Musk has long been regarded as the leader of the Trump cost-cutting panel known as the Department of Government Efficiency, he actually had a partner: Vivek Ramaswamy, the investor and right-wing social activist.

    No longer.

    Ramaswamy is leaving the panel to run for governor of Ohio. But The Times reports that tensions with others in the Trump orbit, particularly with Musk, were a factor in his exit.

    It also followed Mr. Ramaswamy’s comments blaming an American culture that venerated “mediocrity over excellence” for top tech companies often hiring foreign-born engineers. People close to Mr. Trump said he was unhappy about Mr. Ramaswamy wading into the online debate over H-1B visas among conservatives, many of whom saw Mr. Ramaswamy’s comments as critical of American workers.

    The apparent clash over skilled worker visas underscores how potent that issue has been among Trump allies. While immigration hard-liners favor clamping down on the program, the tech cohort, led by Musk, wants to preserve it. So far, Trump appears to be siding with the H-1B defenders.

    Politico reported that while Ramaswamy had told others as late as Saturday that he was still actively involved in the panel, he hadn’t done much work on it since December.

    Deals

    • Andrea Orcel, the acquisitive C.E.O. of the Italian lender UniCredit, said that he intended to continue his pursuits of an Italian rival, Banco BPM, and of Commerzbank of Germany. (Bloomberg)

    • Investors including Brookfield and the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky have reportedly been invited by Berlin to bid for the state-owned utility Uniper. (Reuters)

    Politics and policy

    • President Trump picked Caroline Pham, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as the agency’s acting chair. (Bloomberg)

    • “‘We’re running out of time’: GOP already antsy on Trump’s Hill agenda” (Politico)

    Best of the rest

    We’d like your feedback! Please email thoughts and suggestions to dealbook@nytimes.com.



    As the world watched the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, all eyes were on the political leaders taking the oath of office. However, there was another group of individuals in attendance who caught the attention of many – the billionaires.

    Among the attendees at the inauguration were some of the richest people in the world, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. While their presence may have raised some eyebrows, it is not uncommon for billionaires to be invited to such high-profile events.

    Some may question the role of billionaires in politics and whether their influence should be welcomed at events like the inauguration. However, it is important to remember that these individuals have achieved great success in their respective fields and have the resources to make a significant impact on society.

    Regardless of one’s opinion on their presence at the inauguration, there is no denying the power and influence that these billionaires hold. As we move forward under the new administration, it will be interesting to see how their contributions and influence continue to shape the political landscape.

    Tags:

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    #Jeff #Bezos #Mark #Zuckerberg #Billionaires #Inauguration

  • Putin and Xi hold video call in show of unity hours after Trump inauguration | Vladimir Putin


    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held a video call with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a symbolic display of unity just hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the US.

    Speaking from his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Putin highlighted the close ties between the two countries, stating that their relations were based on “shared interests, equality, and mutual benefit“, calling Xi his “dear friend”.

    Moscow has grown increasingly reliant on China as a trade partner and a crucial diplomatic ally amid its escalating conflict with the west after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. In turn, Beijing has capitalised on Russia’s isolation from the west to secure preferential access to its resources and markets.

    The two countries declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. The two leaders have since then frequently visited each other’s capitals and have become indispensable allies in their shared goal of reshaping the global order in opposition to the west.

    Although neither leader directly mentioned Trump in the televised segment of their call, the timing of their conversation may indicate that Putin and Xi are hoping to coordinate their approach to engaging with the new US administration.

    Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and other measures against China in his second term, while he has also hinted at ways the two rival powers could cooperate on issues such as regional conflicts and curbing the export of substances used in the production of fentanyl.

    Trump has vowed to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, a move that will probably involve China, given Russia’s growing dependence on Beijing.

    There was no official readout from the Putin-Xi call, but the Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov stated that they discussed talks with Trump and the prospects for a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Ushakov added that Moscow was “ready for serious dialogue” with the Trump administration over Ukraine and was awaiting concrete proposals that could serve as the foundation for talks between the leaders.

    Ushakov’s remarks were the latest in a series of comments from Russian officials indicating their willingness to discuss the war in Ukraine with Trump, although a clear path to peace remains elusive.

    Putin, who is yet to talk to Trump, congratulated him on taking office on Monday in televised remarks during a video call with officials and welcomed his intention to open a dialogue with Moscow.

    Asked about the war in Ukraine shortly after his inauguration, Trump said he would meet Putin “very soon” and that his Russian counterpart was “destroying Russia” by refusing to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine.

    Trump also told reporters that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had told him he wanted to make a peace deal and voiced hope that Putin would follow suit. “I think Russia is in big trouble,” Trump said, claiming that 1 million Russian soldiers had died in the war in Ukraine and saying the conflict was taking a severe toll on the Russian economy.



    and Xi Jinping, leaders of Russia and China, respectively, have held a video call in a display of unity just hours after the inauguration of President Joe Biden in the United States.

    The two leaders discussed a range of topics, including strengthening bilateral ties, coordinating on international issues, and reaffirming their commitment to the strategic partnership between Russia and China.

    The timing of the call, coming so soon after Biden’s inauguration, sends a clear message of solidarity between Moscow and Beijing in the face of a new administration in Washington. It also serves as a reminder of the growing closeness between the two countries in recent years, as they seek to counterbalance US influence on the global stage.

    Putin and Xi’s show of unity is likely to be closely watched by policymakers and analysts around the world, as it underscores the shifting dynamics of international relations in the post-Trump era. The call also highlights the importance of strong and stable relations between Russia and China in an increasingly uncertain and interconnected world.

    Tags:

    Putin, Xi Jinping, video call, Trump inauguration, unity, Russia, China, international relations, political leaders, diplomacy, world news

    #Putin #hold #video #call #show #unity #hours #Trump #inauguration #Vladimir #Putin

  • Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s inauguration shows tech titan’s influence


    Getting humans to Mars has long been an obsession for SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. On Monday, that project got a full endorsement from the newly sworn-in president.

    During his inaugural address, President Donald Trump promised he would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts who plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”

    Musk, standing just a few feet away, grinned widely and pumped his fists in the air.

    The moment sharply illustrated the unusual partnership the billionaire tech titan, who has lucrative contracts with the federal government, has established with the incoming president.

    The blossoming relationship was on full display throughout the inaugural ceremonies. Musk heaped praise on Trump during a rally shortly after the swearing-in, repeating Trump’s promise of a coming “golden age” for the country.

    “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,” Musk told the crowd at Capital One Arena.

    On his social media platform X, Musk posted his approval of Trump returning to power for a second term: “The Return of the King.”

    During the inauguration inside the Capitol Rotunda, Musk was seated in a row that included other tech giants, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. All were seated behind Trump’s wife, Melania, and children, though Musk was seated closest to Trump.

    Shortly after Trump’s youngest son, Barron, arrived at his seat in the second row, he turned and shook hands with Musk, who was visible in the televised shot of the podium throughout much of the proceedings. The treatment follows a hearty embrace by Trump of Musk, the Tesla owner and world’s wealthiest person.

    Musk contributed roughly $200 million to America PAC, a super political action committee that worked to organize Trump support last fall.

    The proximity of so many of the world’s wealthiest people to Trump’s incoming government led former President Joe Biden to warn of a burgeoning U.S. oligarchy of tech billionaires.

    Among the projects Trump has assigned Musk is to work with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on an effort known as the Department of Government Efficiency. The mandate of the advisory group, which operates outside the formal government, is to slash federal bureaucracy, regulations and spending, a target Musk set last year at $2 trillion, roughly the size of the deficit.

    Cuts of that scale would likely require targeting entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, as well as laying off hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Though still bullish on the prospect for deep cuts, Musk noted during a public forum earlier this month that the $2 trillion target might be difficult to achieve.

    “I think if you try for $2 trillion, I think we can get to 1 (trillion),” Musk said during a question-and-answer session on X with pollster Mark Penn.

    Since the election, Musk has been a regular visitor to Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, and has been part of calls and meetings with prospects for Cabinet positions and world leaders.

    It hasn’t all been rosy. There has been some early tension between Musk and influential Trump supporters, including former campaign adviser and conservative podcaster Steve Bannon, over Musk’s support for immigration visas that bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S.

    Though Trump appears to have sided with Musk and others in the tech industry, Bannon criticized the program as at odds with the administration’s “America first” mantra. In what could signal a division within Trump’s base, Bannon vowed this month in an interview with an Italian newspaper to “have Elon Musk run out of here.”

    Musk also stirred up some Republican lawmakers after he helped scuttle a bipartisan government funding proposal last month, in part by posting false claims on X, where he has over 200 million followers. The platform has largely abandoned guardrails against misinformation and has experienced a surge in conspiracy theories and bogus claims since Musk bought what was then Twitter nearly three years ago. That has raised concerns about how it could be used to manipulate public perception given its owner’s ties to the Trump administration.

    During his rally speech later at the arena, Musk could hardly contain his enthusiasm about Trump’s second term.

    “Man, I can’t wait,” he said. “This is going to be fantastic.”

    ___

    Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.





    Elon Musk’s Role in Trump’s Inauguration Shows Tech Titan’s Influence

    Tech billionaire Elon Musk has made headlines once again, this time for his involvement in former President Donald Trump’s inauguration. As one of the most prominent figures in the tech industry, Musk’s presence at the inauguration underscores the growing influence of tech titans in politics.

    Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was reportedly in attendance at Trump’s inauguration in January 2017. While Musk has been known to have a contentious relationship with Trump, particularly over issues like climate change, his presence at the inauguration signals the significant role that tech leaders play in shaping political events.

    Musk’s participation in the inauguration highlights the close ties between Silicon Valley and Washington, as tech giants continue to wield considerable power and influence in shaping public policy. With their vast resources and innovative technologies, tech titans like Musk are increasingly being courted by politicians and policymakers for their expertise and resources.

    As Musk’s influence in politics continues to grow, it raises important questions about the role of tech leaders in shaping the future of our society. With their immense wealth and access to cutting-edge technology, tech titans like Musk have the potential to drive significant change and impact on a global scale.

    Overall, Elon Musk’s involvement in Trump’s inauguration serves as a reminder of the increasing influence of tech titans in politics and the important role they play in shaping our world.

    Tags:

    1. Elon Musk
    2. Trump Inauguration
    3. Tech Titan
    4. Influence
    5. Politics
    6. Innovation
    7. Silicon Valley
    8. Billionaire
    9. Presidential Election
    10. Political Influence

    #Elon #Musks #role #Trumps #inauguration #shows #tech #titans #influence

  • Ukraine and Russia launch major strikes on each other with Trump’s inauguration days away




    CNN
     — 

    Ukraine and Russia have been exchanging major drone and missile strikes, with each seeking to gain an advantage as US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration nears.

    The incoming US leader has pledged to bring a quick end to the fighting, but with few details available on how he would achieve this his arrival at the White House brings great uncertainty to a full-blown Russian invasion about to enter its fourth year.

    Overnight on Monday into Tuesday, Kyiv carried out what it said was its “most massive” attack of the conflict so far, attacking deep inside Russia with drones and missiles, including six US-made long-range ATACMS ballistic missiles, Ukrainian and Russian officials said.

    Outgoing US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use American longer-range missiles to strike inside Russia in November last year, something Moscow sees as a major escalation.

    Moscow has previously warned that the use of ATACMs would be met with the firing of Russia’s new weapon, an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik.” The missile has only been fired once before, on November 21.

    The Ukrainian army said that military and oil facilities were targeted in their latest barrage, saying such attacks would continue “until the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine is completely stopped.”

    Russia launched its own bombardment of Ukraine overnight into Wednesday, predominantly targeting Ukraine’s beleaguered energy sector.

    According to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, the overnight attacks involved more than 40 missiles, of which 30 were destroyed. More than 70 Russian attack drones were also involved.

    “Another massive Russian attack. It’s the middle of winter, and the target for the Russians remains the same: our energy sector,” Zelensky said in a Wednesday statement.

    “The targets include gas infrastructure and energy facilities that ensure normal life for people.”

    The attack forced Ukraine’s state energy company, Ukrenergo, to temporarily shut off its power supplies – a measure it takes to prevent the energy system from collapsing. Power was restored by 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, it said.

    People take shelter inside a metro station in Kyiv on January 15.

    Russia has repeatedly pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the cold winter months, forcing the country to implement emergency power outages.

    The uptick in strikes comes in the lead up to Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

    Nikolai Patrushev, an advisor to Putin, rejected the idea that Russia might be willing to concede any occupied territory to Ukraine, in an interview with Russian newspaper Komsomolyskaya Pravda, published Tuesday.

    He also said Ukraine could cease to exist as a sovereign state in 2025, without offering further explanation.

    “It can’t be ruled out that Ukraine will cease to exist at all in the coming year,” Patrushev said.

    In a separate development, reports have emerged that an Australian national captured while fighting for Ukraine may have been killed by Russia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to take the “strongest action possible,” if confirmed.

    Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces last month, after which a video surfaced of him being questioned while dressed in a military uniform. Australian national broadcaster ABC and CNN affiliate Seven News reported that the 32-year-old has likely been killed, both citing sources in Ukraine.



    In a startling turn of events, Ukraine and Russia have launched major strikes on each other just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating for years, but the recent attacks have brought the conflict to a boiling point.

    The strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction in both countries. The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic resolution to end the violence.

    The timing of these attacks is particularly concerning, as the world watches and waits to see how the incoming Trump administration will handle the situation. Many are wondering if Trump’s close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin will influence his response to the conflict.

    As the world holds its breath, the future of Ukraine and Russia hangs in the balance. Will Trump’s inauguration bring a new era of peace and stability, or will the conflict continue to escalate? Only time will tell.

    Tags:

    1. Ukraine-Russia conflict
    2. Trump inauguration
    3. Military strikes
    4. International tensions
    5. Political unrest
    6. Geopolitical crisis
    7. Trump administration
    8. War updates
    9. Eastern Europe conflict
    10. Global security concerns

    #Ukraine #Russia #launch #major #strikes #Trumps #inauguration #days

  • Bitcoin touches new high of $109,000, then reverses in volatile session on Trump inauguration day


    A cartoon image of US President-elect Donald Trump with cryptocurrency tokens, depicted in front of the White House to mark his inauguration, displayed at a Coinhero store in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. 

    Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images

    Bitcoin spiked to a new all-time high early Monday but pulled back following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

    The flagship cryptocurrency was last lower by more than 2% at $103,558.38, according to Coin Metrics, in what appeared to be a “buy the rumor sell the news” event. Overnight, it rose as high as $109,350.72.

    Bitcoin gained steam last week as traders anticipated the inauguration, viewed by many in crypto as symbolic of a new golden era of more supportive crypto regulation in the U.S. Ahead of the event, speculation that Trump might announce an executive order on crypto early in his new term grew. Enthusiasts hope to see him create a crypto advisory council and establish a national bitcoin stockpile or reserve.

    Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

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    Bitcoin hits a new record ahead of Trump inauguration

    Over the weekend, Trump launched the “Official Trump” meme coin, which on Monday morning had risen to a more than $10 billion market cap, according to CoinGecko. Returning First Lady Melania Trump launched her own “Melania” meme coin Sunday. They have attracted $31 billion and $7.2 billion in trading volumes, respectively, over the last day.

    “Rumors that cryptocurrency may be declared a national interest by the United States during the inauguration are having a positive effect on the price of bitcoin,” Gracy Chen, CEO of crypto exchange Bitget, told CNBC. “I don’t believe the rise in bitcoin’s price is due to the launch of new meme tokens. Rather … without the release of the Trump family tokens, bitcoin’s price would have grown more. Instead, capital shifted to new coins, limiting overall growth.”

    The broader crypto market, as measured by the CoinDesk 20 index, fell 3.6% on Monday afternoon. Solana, down 9%, led the losses following a 14% rally over the weekend, benefitting from the Trump meme coin being launched on the popular Ethereum alternative network.

    Meme coins are considered the riskiest corner of the already risky cryptocurrency market, but the Trumps’ coin launches over the weekend gave traders further conviction that the incoming administration will be positive for the industry, according to Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX.

    “There is a logic here that would suggest that putting a stamp of approval on what could be perceived as the wildest of crypto assets, meme coins, is the best way to send a message of just how supportive the market should expect the administration to be when it comes to embracing crypto and making America a major player in the space,” he told CNBC.

    Noelle Acheson, economist and author of the “Crypto is Macro Now” newsletter, echoed that sentiment, calling the meme drops net positive and “a sign he is very much in favor of new ideas [and] new markets.”

    Bitcoin’s new record opens the door to a possible upside extension to $130,000, LMAX’s Kruger added.

    Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC Pro:



    Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high of $109,000 on the day of President Trump’s inauguration, as investors eagerly awaited the impact of his policies on the cryptocurrency market. However, the digital currency quickly reversed course in a volatile session, shedding nearly half of its value before stabilizing.

    The sudden spike and subsequent drop in Bitcoin’s price left many traders puzzled, with some attributing the sharp swings to market manipulation and profit-taking. Others speculated that the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s presidency and the potential for regulatory crackdowns on cryptocurrencies were to blame.

    Despite the rollercoaster ride, Bitcoin enthusiasts remained optimistic about the long-term prospects of the digital currency, pointing to its growing acceptance among mainstream investors and the increasing adoption of blockchain technology.

    As the dust settled on the tumultuous trading day, Bitcoin found support at around $60,000, prompting some to view the pullback as a buying opportunity. Whether the cryptocurrency will be able to regain its previous highs and continue its upward trajectory remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the volatility of Bitcoin is here to stay.

    Tags:

    Bitcoin price, cryptocurrency news, Trump inauguration, market volatility, digital currency, financial markets, Bitcoin trading, Bitcoin price update, crypto market analysis, Bitcoin trends, Bitcoin price movement, Bitcoin news, cryptocurrency market fluctuations, Trump effect on Bitcoin

    #Bitcoin #touches #high #reverses #volatile #session #Trump #inauguration #day

  • Trump instructs aides to arrange call with Putin ‘in coming days’ after inauguration, CNN reports


    U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has tasked his aides with organizing a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the days after he is sworn in, CNN reported on Jan. 19, citing undisclosed sources.

    Trump has previously said he wants to meet with Putin “very quickly” after his inauguration. The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s comments, but added no preparations were currently underway for the meeting.

    According to CNN, Trump is willing to discuss a face-to-face meeting with Putin by phone in the coming months to try to end the war in Ukraine.

    Trump’s national security team began preparing a phone call with Putin several weeks ago, but it is unclear whether a date has been finalized, CNN added.

    During the election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, though his choice for special Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, has since revised this to 100 days.

    The Trump team hopes to quickly begin work on a settlement plan that could be implemented within the first few months of his presidency. A meeting with Putin is part of the plan, according to CNN.

    Trump “sees things differently,” which could mean that negotiations with Putin will differ from the approach taken by the Joe Biden administration, the media outlet reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. At the same time, Trump has not spoken to Putin in almost three years.

    Trump has often voiced sympathies for the Russian leader while criticizing the level of support the outgoing Biden administration gave to Kyiv. This prompted concerns that the new U.S. leadership might cut a deal unfavorable to Ukraine.

    Kellogg said the president-elect’s aim is not to “give something to Putin or the Russians” but to “save Ukraine and save their sovereignty.”

    Trump said that specific peace proposals are still being worked out. A pitch leaked from his team — freezing the front lines, postponing Ukraine’s NATO accession by 20 years, and deploying European peacekeepers on the ground — has already been rejected by Russia.

    As Trump about to take office, Ukraine awaits America’s next moves

    As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on Jan. 20, Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance. While some potential details of Trump’s future peace proposals have been leaked, the overall plan still remains unclear. Since the Nov. 5 presidential election, Trump and his team have sent





    In a recent development, CNN has reported that President Trump has instructed his aides to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘in the coming days’ after the inauguration. This move comes amidst heightened tensions between the two countries and speculation about Trump’s relationship with Putin. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. #Trump #Putin #Inauguration #CNN报道

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    Trump, Putin, inauguration, CNN, call, aides, arrangement, coming days, news, politics, world leaders

    #Trump #instructs #aides #arrange #call #Putin #coming #days #inauguration #CNN #reports

  • [News] Intel’s Potential Buyers Speculated Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration: A Quick Round-up


    Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, U.S. semiconductor giant Intel is rumored to be connected with more potential buyers for its struggling chip business. A report from SemiAccurate discloses that a company is interested in buying Intel outright, not just parts, and this isn’t one of the firms mentioned in rumors after former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s departure.

    The report even claims that SemiAccurate has received direct confirmation from another high-level source, increasing its confidence in the plan from about 60% to over 90%.

    So, who would be the key figure to “Make America Great Again” by acquiring Intel? Here is a quick roundup of recent speculations and related analysis compiled by TrendForce.

    Elon’s Musk’s Next Step?

    Interesting enough, there were rumors indicating that at the weekend, private jets from Musk, executives of Qualcomm, and GlobalFoundries have gathered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club.

    The man who eagerly explores in the space with his rockets now might be showing interest in microchips. Another Tipranks report, citing Citi, claims that Elon Musk was mentioned as a potential buyer of Intel on SemiAccurate. However, the report also brings up concerns that this may appear to be a “poor outcome” for Intel unless Team Blue hires a new CEO with expertise in advanced manufacturing, technical skills, and Intel experience.

    GlobalFoundries to Team up?

    Notably, another report from Bloomberg suggests that senior government officials are considering a potential deal between Intel and GlobalFoundries, while some see GlobalFoundries as a strong partner due to its status as a trusted Pentagon supplier. In September, 2024, Intel secured a $3.5 billion Pentagon contract to produce advanced semiconductors for military and intelligence use.

    As they are both major U.S.-based foundries, a merger between GlobalFoundries and Intel could create a company making everything from basic semiconductors to advanced processors, the report adds.

    However, the merger could pose challenges. For one thing, Mubadala Investment Co., the Abu Dhabi government’s investment arm, owns about 80% of GlobalFoundries, as noted by Bloomberg. For another, GlobalFoundries moved away from leading-edge node production years ago due to a lack of orders, and it may not have the funds for an acquisition, the report indicates.

    Qualcomm and Broadcom May be Moving Away

    The ones with the capital, however, may no longer be interested in the deal. A previous Bloomberg report noted that Qualcomm’s interest in acquiring Intel has waned, as the complexity of acquiring all of Intel has made the deal less appealing. However, sources suggested Qualcomm could reportedly consider buying parts of Intel or revisit the idea later.

    On the other hand, Broadcom, known for its custom ASICs co-developed with big CSPs, told the Financial Times that the company is fully focused on advancing its AI business and has no intention of acquiring Intel.

    Read more

    (Photo credit: Intel)

    Please note that this article cites information from SemiAccurate, Tipranks, Bloomberg and Financial Times.