President-elect Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging press conference on Monday, unveiling plans for his upcoming administration. Among the key issues he highlighted were immigration enforcement and Venezuela's role in handling deportations, especially those who are part of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Trump specifically reference the group, whose activities have expanded beyond Venezuela and now encompass several Latin American countries and the U.S., saying his administration would deport its members. "They will take them back," Trump said, adding that Venezuela would face "tough economic consequences" if it refused to accept those deported. "Venezuela and other countries didn't behave very well during my first term. In 24 hours, they will behave very well."
The president-elect reiterated that his approach to deportations would be part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Revisiting a cornerstone of his first campaign, he announced plans to resume construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a project he claimed had been undermined by the Biden administration.
"Parts of the wall are being sold," Trump said, referring to reports of surplus materials being auctioned off. "We're going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild what we already had. It's almost criminal."
Trump's addressed a variety of other topics ranging from healthcare to social media. On vaccines, Trump defended his nominee for Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his skepticism on the matter.
Trump maintained his support for the polio vaccine, however, saying, "You're not going to lose the polio vaccine. That's not going to happen." He also criticized pharmaceutical middlemen, whom he called "horrible intermediaries," for inflating medication costs.
The president-elect also hinted at revisiting the TikTok debate. While a law set to take effect in January may force the platform to sever ties with its Chinese parent company or face a ban, Trump expressed an openness to preserving it. "I have a little bit of a warm spot in my heart. I'll be honest," he said, pointing to the platform's role in his campaign's outreach to younger voters.
Trump also addressed global issues, including the war in Ukraine and hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He described efforts to mediate as "difficult" and "unpleasant" but pledged to work on solutions.
Reflecting on his reemergence as a global leader, Trump said, "It's a completely different situation now. Everyone's calling —top executives, bankers, and leaders who were hostile before. They all want to be my friend."
Originally published on Latin Times
