Activists threaten to disturb Trump’s swearing-in

Up to 9,00,000 people are expected to pack into the nation’s capital for the New York businessman’s Jan 20 swearing-in to his first political office. Some plan to criticise Trump’s more controversial promises, including plans to build a wall along the Mexican border and deport illegal immigrants. Only three of the 26 groups seeking to stage rallies either protesting or celebrating Trump’s election independently of the Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee have received permits. The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund on Thursday said it would sue the National Park Service, which manages spaces including the inaugural parade route and the grassy Ellipse near the White House, if the permits are not issued on Friday. Three liberal groups, the ANSWER Coalition, the American Constitution Society and the Black is Back Coalition, have been permitted to hold events near the parade route, but only ANSWER was granted one for Inauguration Day.

Donald Trump criticised news stories that reported US taxpayers would pay for his planned border wall with Mexico, saying they were failing to report that US funds used to start the project would be repaid later by Mexico. “The dishonest media does not report than any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” Trump said in a note on Twitter. 

German officials who have held talks with members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team have not been able to figure out what kind of foreign and security policy his administration wants to pursue, a spokesman said on Friday. 

British Prime Minister Theresa May is set for her first meeting with Donald Trump in the spring after his inauguration as US President this month, Downing Street announced on Friday. The meeting comes in the wake of the British PM’s joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, travelling to the US to meet members of Trump’s team in mid-December and is expected to take place as early as next month.