'A diplomatic mess': Trump's special envoys set to cause confusion

President-elect Donald Trump sparred with the State Department in his first term, and this time, he may have a way to work around the diplomatic corps.

Topics

Trump's Middle East envoy is considering a visit to the Gaza Strip amid ceasefire deal

President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is considering a visit to the war-torn Gaza Strip as part of his efforts to keep a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on ...
NBC News - 4h
Trump nominates special envoys to… Hollywood 🎬

Politico - 2d
Mel Gibson ‘just as surprised’ as anyone to be named Trump ‘special envoy’ to Hollywood

Actor and film producer Mel Gibson said he was stunned to be appointed as a special envoy to Hollywood under the upcoming Trump administration. “I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump names Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone his Hollywood envoys

President-elect Donald Trump said the three will be his "eyes and ears" in Hollywood.
CBS News - 2d
Trump wants Stallone, Gibson to be Hollywood special envoys

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to appoint Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone as special envoys to Hollywood. CBS News' Aaron Navarro reports.
CBS News - 2d
Trump taps Voight, Gibson and Stallone as 'special envoys' to Hollywood

President-elect Trump is leaning on some of his famous friends to influence Hollywood, tapping actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone to serve as "special ambassadors" to the ...
The Hill - 2d
Trump and Biden both claim diplomatic win in Gaza ceasefire deal

Also in today’s newsletter, the president-elect’s cabinet nominees face Senate confirmation hearings
Financial Times - 2d
Trump's Canada and Greenland Threats Imperil China Fight, Says Departing Envoy

Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, also said he was leaving his post with deep concerns about the future of relations with China.
The Wall Street Journal - 3d
Jack Smith, special counsel who oversaw Trump investigations, resigns

Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to take over two investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, has resigned.
CBS News - Jan. 11
Special counsel Jack Smith who investigated Trump quits

Jack Smith's exit comes amid a dispute over his report into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents.
BBC News - Jan. 11
Trump’s Middle East envoy visits Netanyahu in push for Gaza ceasefire

Steve Witkoff meets Israeli PM in renewed efforts to secure hostage release deal with Hamas. The US Middle East envoy chosen by the president-elect, Donald Trump, met the Israeli prime minister, ...
The Guardian - Jan. 11
Trump’s envoy pushes for Gaza ceasefire before inauguration

Steve Witkoff to meet Benjamin Netanyahu as president-elect warns of ‘hell to pay’ if hostages are not released
Financial Times - Jan. 11
Appeals Court Declines to Block Release of Special Counsel Report on Trump Cases

The judges left in place a lower-court injunction that bars the disclosure of the report for three days, and the Justice Department then appealed it.
The New York Times - Jan. 10
Appeals court won't block partial release of special counsel's Trump report

Special counsel Jack Smith submitted his final report on his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday.
CBS News - Jan. 10
Trump says Putin meeting being set up to end 'bloody mess' of Ukraine war

President-elect Donald Trump said he is planning a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he wants to end the "bloody mess" of the Ukraine war.
NBC News - Jan. 10
Xi to send top-level China envoy to Trump’s inauguration

Unusual diplomatic overture comes as Beijing braces for escalating tensions with new administration
Financial Times - Jan. 9
Blinken and French Diplomat Criticize Trump’s Talk of Taking Greenland

In Paris, the two officials acknowledged potential strains on alliances with the return of Donald J. Trump to power, but said their countries would try to maintain strong ties.
The New York Times - Jan. 8
Inclusive transition best path to lifting of Syria sanctions, says UN special envoy

Geir Pedersen tells security council the HTS administration has great opportunities but also risks making missteps. A credible process leading to a new transitional government involving all strands ...
The Guardian - Jan. 8
Jeffries: 'Confused' by Trump's 'obsession' with Greenland

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) hammered President-elect Trump on Wednesday for what he characterized as an “obsession” with the idea of the U.S. taking over Greenland, accusing ...
The Hill - Jan. 8
Special counsel's Trump report should be partially released, DOJ says

The Justice Department told a federal appeals court that the portion of special counsel Jack Smith's report on his investigation involving the 2020 election should be released to the public.
CBS News - Jan. 8
Judge in Trump's classified docs case blocks release of special counsel's report

The judge in Donald Trump's classified documents case has temporarily blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's final report on the case.
ABC News - Jan. 8
Trump's Ukraine envoy postpones planned trip to Kyiv, top Ukrainian diplomat says

A visit to Kyiv by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia has been canceled but will be rescheduled, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Tuesday
ABC News - Jan. 7
Judge temporarily blocks release of special counsel report on Trump's criminal cases

The federal judge who oversaw the classified documents case against President-elect Donald Trump temporarily blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his investigation.
NBC News - Jan. 7
Judge allows Trump to temporarily block release of special counsel report

Judge Aileen Cannon issued a temporary injunction until an appeals court rules on Trump’s arguments. US politics – live updates A federal judge has temporarily blocked special counsel Jack ...
The Guardian - Jan. 7
Judge temporarily blocks release of special counsel's Trump report

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Justice Department from releasing a report prepared by special counsel Jack Smith.
CBS News - Jan. 7
Cannon temporarily blocks Trump special counsel report's release

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily blocked the Justice Department from releasing special counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Trump’s two prosecutions, granting a request ...
The Hill - Jan. 7
Trump seeks to block 'imminent' release of special counsel Jack Smith's report

Trump’s lawyers said they reviewed a two-volume draft copy of Smith’s report at the special counsel’s office in Washington, D.C. over the weekend.
NBC News - Jan. 7
Schiff on Trump effort to block special counsel report: 'No shortage of nerve'

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said President-elect Trump has “no shortage of nerve” for asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on ...
The Hill - Jan. 7
Trump’s Lawyers Seek to Block Special Counsel Report in Classified Documents Case

Both the Justice Department and the judge who oversaw the case were asked to stop the public release of the report.
The New York Times - Jan. 7
Trump's attorneys ask Garland to stop the release of special counsel report

Special counsel Jack Smith has been working on a final report to be completed before Trump's inauguration, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News.
CBS News - Jan. 7
Trump attorneys ask Garland to stop release of special counsel report

Attorneys for Donald Trump are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith's upcoming report on two dismissed criminal cases against the ...
CBS News - Jan. 7
Trump looks to block release of special counsel Jack Smith's report

President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team is urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to stop special counsel Jack Smith from releasing his findings in the election interference and classified ...
NBC News - Jan. 7
Virginia special elections test Democratic enthusiasm as Trump takes office

Virginia is holding the first special election of the year in what is being billed as a test for Democratic enthusiasm ahead of the state’s gubernatorial race later this year. Democrats are widely ...
The Hill - Jan. 7
Has Trump caused the Canadian prime minister to resign?

Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday
BBC News - Jan. 6
Congress certifies Trump's 2024 election win against Harris | Special Report

Congress has certified President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election. This comes four years after the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill during the 2020 election certification ...
CBS News - Jan. 6
How Trump and Musk's interventions prompt fresh diplomatic challenge

Politicians are navigating how to deal with the social media presence of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
BBC News - Jan. 3