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Why Donald Trump has had a very bad week | ticker VIEWS
TRUMP HAD A BAD WEEK. HE HAS NO REVERSE GEAR
Former President Donald Trump has a very bad week – one of his worst since he left office in January. But nothing stops him from moving forward.
Arizona. The so-called “audit” by a Trumpist data firm in Arizona – a state Joe Biden took away from Trump last November – found that Biden actually won the key county there by as bigger margin than finally certified. Trump was enraged by Fox News when its election night “decision desk” called Arizona for Biden, and never resiled from his belief that Arizona was rigged and stolen from him. Trump was wrong — and has been proven wrong. So what does he say?
The Fake News is lying about the Arizona audit report! The leaked report conclusively shows there were enough fraudulent votes, mystery votes, and fake votes to change the outcome of the election 4 or 5 times over.
The House Select Committee investigation into the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Trump hates this investigation. His arch enemy, Republican Liz Cheney, is on the committee; she was stripped of her House leadership position by her party room because she supported the probe into what happened on January 6 and why. The Select Committee has demanded all White House documents relating to January 6. Trump has said he will assert “Executive Privilege” to shield those materials from the Select Committee. But guess what? He is no longer the president. He no longer has the power to invoke Executive Privilege. President Biden has said he has no problem with the committee’s request and is preparing to turn them over.
The Select Committee has also subpoenaed several Trump associates, including his former chief of staff and chief strategist. Their presence is demanded for depositions in the coming days.
Trump could care less:
“The Leftist ‘select committee’ has further exposed itself as a partisan sham and waste of taxpayer dollars with a request that’s timed to distract Americans from historic and global catastrophes brought on by the failures of Joe Biden and the Democrats.”
Trump’s taxes. Trump sued his niece Mary Trump for $100 million to try to punish her for allegedly providing the New York Times with Trump tax returns going back several years. Those tax returns helped form the basis of the indictment of Trump’s CFO of his company in New York. There are reports the Manhattan District Attorney is preparing more indictments before the end of the year.
The latest blockbuster book on Trump’s final year in office, by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa of the Washington Post, paint a picture of a president obsessed and deranged by his election defeat, in complete denial of the truth, and relentlessly pressuring Vice President Pence to directly overturn the election result on the day Congress met to declare Biden the winner. No president has ever acted in this manner.
But Trump does not go into reverse – ever.
Trump wants all the states he sees as key to him to change their laws to make it harder for citizens to vote and easier for state legislatures – especially if controlled by Republicans – to unilaterally overturn the voting results in their states. Trump won Texas handily last year. But that is not good enough. Taking a cue from Arizona, her wrote Texas governor:
“Despite my big win in Texas, I hear Texans want an election audit! You know your fellow Texans have big questions about the November 2020 Election…Texas needs you to act now …Your citizens don’t trust the election system, and they want your leadership on this issue, which is the number one thing they care about. It is their most important issue—one that will affect 2022 and 2024 …Texans know voting fraud occurred in some of their counties. Let’s get to the bottom of the 2020 Presidential Election Scam!“
President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. The President is traveling to Texas. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert )
And guess what? The governor immediately agreed, and an audit and legislation are in the works.
Yesterday, Trump took his attack to Georgia– another key state he lost to Biden, a defeat he profoundly despises. He hates all the Republican officials who followed the law, conducted the recounts, and certified Biden as the winner. He hates them so much, he wants them ousted in elections next year. And he hates the governor so much that he told the rally he would rather see a Georgia Democratic leader, Stacy Abrams, serve as governor:
“Of course, having her, I think, might be better than having your existing governor. It might very well be better … Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me,”
The authors of the leading books on Trump have all concluded that Trump intends to run for the presidency again in 2024. He wants to win. He wants to get back his power. And he wants something else: Vengeance. This is how Woodward and Costa conclude their new book, PERIL, with the words of Brad Parscale, a Trump campaign manager from 2020:
“I don’t think he sees it as a comeback. He sees it as vengeance.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 06: A large group of pro-Trump protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after storming its grounds on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation’s capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election.
Trump’s base is intact. He has plenty of campaign money. He has the power to sink the pre-selection of Republicans who are insufficiently loyal to Trump. His allies are changing voting laws in key states to keep Democratic voters away from the polls, and to enable Republican officials to change the outcome of the voting.
Recounts that show Biden won, congressional investigations, possible indictments.
Trump has only one gear. Forward.
By Bruce Wolpe, US Political Contributor
Where to switch off, reset and travel well for a week
For executives in their 40s, travel has shifted. It is less about ticking off sights and more about space, comfort and coming back sharper than when you left.
In 2026, the most appealing one-week holidays are destinations that combine calm, quality and a sense of being ahead of the curve.
For executives, switching off from work is essential, but true rest comes from being gently engaged rather than completely idle.
The most rewarding breaks offer just enough stimulation, culture, nature or conversation, to quiet the mind without replacing one form of busyness with another.
Here are five global locations quietly rising to the top of travel wish lists.
East Coast Barbados
Barbados has long been associated with polished beach holidays, but the east coast offers something different.
Wild Atlantic surf, boutique retreats and fewer crowds create a slower rhythm that suits travellers who want proper rest without sacrificing style.
Days are spent between long coastal walks, ocean-facing spas and unhurried dinners, with just enough local culture to keep things interesting.
Barbados: Book a holiday package (flights + hotel) to Barbados here.
Phu Quoc
Vietnam’s largest island is emerging as a refined alternative to more established Asian beach destinations.
Phu Quoc blends thoughtful luxury with a grounded, local feel. Resorts are discreet rather than flashy, wellness is taken seriously, and the pace encourages doing very little very well.
It is an easy week of warm water swims, exceptional food and genuine mental downtime.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam: Find holiday packages and deals for Phu Quoc here.
Peloponnese
For travellers who want culture without crowds, the Peloponnese is becoming Greece’s most compelling region.
Ancient ruins sit alongside olive groves, quiet beaches and wellness-focused resorts designed for long lunches and early nights.
It offers the Mediterranean experience executives love, without the intensity of Santorini or Mykonos.
Peloponnese, Greece: Browse and book Peloponnese holiday packages with flights and hotels here.
The Red Sea
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is one of the most ambitious luxury travel projects in the world.
Opening progressively through 2025 and 2026, it promises adults-focused resorts built around sustainability, privacy and high-end wellness.
For those seeking something genuinely new, this is a destination that feels exclusive, restorative and future-facing.
Red Sea Coast (gateway for Red Sea resorts): Book a Red Sea Coast holiday package (flight + hotel) here.
Margaret River
Margaret River continues to refine its appeal for travellers who value space and quality. World-class wineries, dramatic coastline and understated luxury accommodation make it ideal for a reset without jet lag.
It is a reminder that a great week away does not need excess. It needs good food, good wine and room to breathe.
In 2026, the best holidays for executives are not about escape in the dramatic sense. They are about intention. A change of pace, fewer decisions, and environments designed to help you slow down properly. These destinations understand that luxury is not about doing more, but about feeling better when you return.
Margaret River, Western Australia: Find Margaret River holiday packages (accommodation + flight) here.
News
Iran’s currency collapse sparks mass protests as inflation spirals
Iran president engages protesters amid economic crisis as currency tumbles and inflation surges
Iran’s president engages protesters amid economic crisis as currency tumbles and inflation surges
– Iranian President Pezeshkian urged action to meet protesters’ demands amid economic crisis and currency devaluation.
– Protests intensified with shop closures in Tehran, following significant inflation and political unrest after Mahsa Amini’s death.
Iran is grappling with its most severe economic crisis in years. Mass protests erupted across Tehran following the dramatic collapse of the national currency. The rial plunged to 1.42 million against the U.S. dollar over the weekend, briefly recovering to 1.38 million. This marks a loss of more than two-thirds of its value since 2022.
Annual inflation soared to 42.2 percent in December, with food prices up 72 percent year-on-year. Many Iranians are struggling to make ends meet, fueling public anger and unrest.
In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered his government to engage directly with protest representatives. Calling the demonstrations “legitimate,” he emphasized the need for reforms in the monetary and banking sectors. Officials announced a dialogue framework to hear the voices of demonstrators.
The unrest coincided with the resignation of Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin. Former Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati is set to replace him, signaling possible shifts in economic policy.
Tehran’s commercial districts were paralyzed as shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar and major streets closed businesses in solidarity. Videos on social media showed crowds chanting slogans as security forces used tear gas to disperse them.
International pressure is also rising. U.S. officials warned they would support action against Iran if the country resumes nuclear or missile development, following recent airstrikes on Iranian facilities.
The World Bank forecasts Iran’s GDP will contract 1.7 percent in 2025 and 2.8 percent in 2026, deepening economic concerns. How the government responds to these protests and reforms its economy may shape the country’s stability in the months ahead.
News
CIA launches first drone strike in Venezuela
CIA conducts first drone strike in Venezuela, targeting drug gang facility amid escalating US military campaign
CIA conducts first drone strike in Venezuela, targeting drug gang facility amid escalating US military campaign
– The CIA conducted its first drone strike in Venezuela since the Trump administration’s military campaign began.
– Trump’s operation targeted a dock linked to drug trafficking, resulting in no casualties.
The United States has carried out its first confirmed drone strike inside Venezuela, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s expanding military campaign across the Caribbean. The operation, reportedly conducted by the CIA, targeted a remote port facility believed to be used by the Tren de Aragua gang to store and transport narcotics. No casualties were reported, as the dock was empty at the time of the strike.
President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged the attack in late December, describing a “major explosion” at a dock where drug-laden boats were allegedly loaded. Trump first revealed the strike during a radio interview, placing the operation around December 24, before later confirming it to reporters while declining to specify whether the CIA or the military carried out the mission. “I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was,” he said from his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Drug networks
The strike comes amid a significant expansion of Operation Southern Spear, now the largest US military deployment in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Around 15,000 US troops have been positioned across the region, supported by the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and F-35 fighter jets. Since September, US forces have carried out at least 28 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 100 deaths, as Washington intensifies efforts to dismantle transnational drug networks.
The campaign has drawn fierce criticism from legal experts and international bodies. United Nations investigators have condemned the strikes as “extrajudicial executions,” warning they violate the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force. US legal scholars have also questioned the domestic legality of the operation, arguing it exceeds constitutional and statutory limits on executive power.
A slave’s peace
Venezuela has not formally commented on the dock strike, though Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has accused the United States of months of “imperial madness.” President Nicolás Maduro has rejected Trump’s demands to step aside, telling supporters the country seeks peace “with sovereignty, equality, and freedom” — not what he described as “a slave’s peace.”
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