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President Donald Trump said during a Friday event that he did not clear his Venezuela oil deal with any legal authority in the U.S. government. Trump has vowed to “run” Venezuela since the U.S. military intervention into the country earlier in the month that led to the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on drug and other criminal charges. Trump has since boasted that the current regime in Venezuela offered him billions in oil as a show of good faith, and he has begun selling the oil on the market, funneling the money through Qatar. “We’re dealing with the new president. We’re dealing with a lot of the people that were running the country,” Trump said in Florida as he was getting a road named after him. He added: And the first thing is, they said, “We have 50 million barrels.” Hard to believe. I said, “Is there such a thing as 50 million barrels of oil?” And we have to get it processed immediately because we have no room. Will you take it? I said, “We’ll take it.” I didn’t have to consult with anybody on that. I didn’t have to call up our great attorney general. I said, “We will take it.” And it’s the equivalent to $5.2 billion. So it was the first day. And it is now traveling nicely to the United States. And we’ve been working on this for a long time. Trump has both promised to control Venezuelan oil reserves, the world’s largest, for the benefit of the U.S. and the Venezuelan people. CNN reported this week that Trump is channeling the money through Qatar as a way to stop Venezuela’s many creditors from laying claim to the funds before they can be used to help rebuild the country and lessen the economic crisis in the country. “Placing the money into an account in Qatar – potentially out of the reach of western businesses and creditors who have claims for money they say they’re owed – is one way to achieve the administration’s goals,” noted CNN on the arrangement. Watch the clip above. The post Trump Makes Clear He Didn’t ‘Consult With Anybody’ On Taking Oil From Venezuela first appeared on Mediaite.

President Donald Trump said during a Friday event that he did not clear his Venezuela oil deal with any legal authority in the U.S. government. Trump has vowed to “run” Venezuela since the U.S. military intervention into the country earlier in the month that led to the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on drug and other criminal charges. Trump has since boasted that the current regime in Venezuela offered him billions in oil as a show of good faith, and he has begun selling the oil on the market, funneling the money through Qatar. “We’re dealing with the new president. We’re dealing with a lot of the people that were running the country,” Trump said in Florida as he was getting a road named after him. He added: And the first thing is, they said, “We have 50 million barrels.” Hard to believe. I said, “Is there such a thing as 50 million barrels of oil?” And we have to get it processed immediately because we have no room. Will you take it? I said, “We’ll take it.” I didn’t have to consult with anybody on that. I didn’t have to call up our great attorney general. I said, “We will take it.” And it’s the equivalent to $5.2 billion. So it was the first day. And it is now traveling nicely to the United States. And we’ve been working on this for a long time. Trump has both promised to control Venezuelan oil reserves, the world’s largest, for the benefit of the U.S. and the Venezuelan people. CNN reported this week that Trump is channeling the money through Qatar as a way to stop Venezuela’s many creditors from laying claim to the funds before they can be used to help rebuild the country and lessen the economic crisis in the country. “Placing the money into an account in Qatar – potentially out of the reach of western businesses and creditors who have claims for money they say they’re owed – is one way to achieve the administration’s goals,” noted CNN on the arrangement. Watch the clip above. The post Trump Makes Clear He Didn’t ‘Consult With Anybody’ On Taking Oil From Venezuela first appeared on Mediaite.

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer spoke to Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) on Friday about President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a NATO ally, by any means necessary. Blitzer began the conversation, noting a “new CNN polling just out shows a strong majority of Americans do not” favor Trump taking over Greenland. CNN showed a graphic while Blitzer spoke that read 75% “oppose” and 25% “favor” Trump’s moves to acquire Greenland. “To start, by getting your reaction to the president’s latest comments, what do you think?” Blitzer asked Bacon, referring to Trump’s Friday threat to levy tariffs against countries opposing his Greenland takeover. Bacon is one of the GOP’s leading voices against Trump’s tariffs and has introduced legislation to return the levying of tariffs solely to Congress. Bacon, a retired Air Force general, replied, “Well, maybe the Supreme Court will rule this week, or this coming week, that tariffs are unconstitutional. I personally believe they should originate from the House. It’s the Congress, or the legislature’s responsibility in Article 1, to raise revenues and determine tariffs, not the president.” “So just on tariffs alone, I disagree with this statement. But to threaten countries who oppose his strange talk on Greenland is also absurd,” Bacon continued, adding: And I think a lot of the stuff about invading Greenland—he says, I believe, it’s really being done for negotiating effect. But he says that almost every day, so I feel like people like me and others, we’ve got to speak up and say it’s wrong. You don’t threaten a NATO ally. They’ve been a great ally. We’ve had bases there since World War II. Denmark has fought with us and by our side in Iraq and Afghanistan. So I feel it’s incumbent on folks like me to say these threats and bullying of an ally are wrong. And just out of the weird chance that he’s serious about invading Greenland, I want to let him know that it would probably be the end of his presidency. Most Republicans know this is immoral and wrong, and we’re going to stand up against it. Blitzer followed up, “So what would happen if he decided to use military force to take over Greenland?” Bacon answered, “I think one way or the other, whether it’s even Republican control, or if it’s Democrat control after November, I think it would lead to impeachment. I think invading an ally, to me, is a high crime and misdemeanor. And we have a treaty; we have the NATO agreement, and it would be basically severing this whole agreement and invading an ally of democracy. It’s immoral, it is wrong!” Blitzer concluded by noting, “Denmark is a founding member, one of the founding members of NATO, to be sure, and NATO has been the most important strategic alliance that the United States has had since World War II.” Watch the clip above via CNN. The post ‘It’s Immoral, It’s wrong!’ House Republican GOES OFF on Trump Threatening NATO first appeared on Mediaite.

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer spoke to Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) on Friday about President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a NATO ally, by any means necessary. Blitzer began the conversation, noting a “new CNN polling just out shows a strong majority of Americans do not” favor Trump taking over Greenland. CNN showed a graphic while Blitzer spoke that read 75% “oppose” and 25% “favor” Trump’s moves to acquire Greenland. “To start, by getting your reaction to the president’s latest comments, what do you think?” Blitzer asked Bacon, referring to Trump’s Friday threat to levy tariffs against countries opposing his Greenland takeover. Bacon is one of the GOP’s leading voices against Trump’s tariffs and has introduced legislation to return the levying of tariffs solely to Congress. Bacon, a retired Air Force general, replied, “Well, maybe the Supreme Court will rule this week, or this coming week, that tariffs are unconstitutional. I personally believe they should originate from the House. It’s the Congress, or the legislature’s responsibility in Article 1, to raise revenues and determine tariffs, not the president.” “So just on tariffs alone, I disagree with this statement. But to threaten countries who oppose his strange talk on Greenland is also absurd,” Bacon continued, adding: And I think a lot of the stuff about invading Greenland—he says, I believe, it’s really being done for negotiating effect. But he says that almost every day, so I feel like people like me and others, we’ve got to speak up and say it’s wrong. You don’t threaten a NATO ally. They’ve been a great ally. We’ve had bases there since World War II. Denmark has fought with us and by our side in Iraq and Afghanistan. So I feel it’s incumbent on folks like me to say these threats and bullying of an ally are wrong. And just out of the weird chance that he’s serious about invading Greenland, I want to let him know that it would probably be the end of his presidency. Most Republicans know this is immoral and wrong, and we’re going to stand up against it. Blitzer followed up, “So what would happen if he decided to use military force to take over Greenland?” Bacon answered, “I think one way or the other, whether it’s even Republican control, or if it’s Democrat control after November, I think it would lead to impeachment. I think invading an ally, to me, is a high crime and misdemeanor. And we have a treaty; we have the NATO agreement, and it would be basically severing this whole agreement and invading an ally of democracy. It’s immoral, it is wrong!” Blitzer concluded by noting, “Denmark is a founding member, one of the founding members of NATO, to be sure, and NATO has been the most important strategic alliance that the United States has had since World War II.” Watch the clip above via CNN. The post ‘It’s Immoral, It’s wrong!’ House Republican GOES OFF on Trump Threatening NATO first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The House Ethics Committee announced Friday afternoon that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was under investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC). As pointed out by Business Insider’s Bryan Metzger, it is not yet known why Mace is being investigated. Considering the timing at the beginning of December, it may relate to an incident at the Charleston International Airport just over a month prior, in which she reportedly berated airport police. An internal investigation report accused Mace of overreacting to a miscommunication about her travel security, causing a “spectacle,” calling the police “f*cking idiots” and “f*cking incompetent.” Mace has disputed the allegations in the report, which she claimed was “falsified.” The press release, posted on the committee’s website, noted that Mace, who is running in a crowded GOP primary to be South Carolina’s next governor, was the subject of a matter that had been referred by the OCC on Dec. 2. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Conduct, according to the House Ethics Committee. pic.twitter.com/5m1zwy3K7S — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 “The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the press release noted, adding that it would “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.” This is how that works.https://t.co/C4lG0i8GpH pic.twitter.com/I590X1cFU9 — bryan metzger (@metzgov) January 16, 2026 According to the OCC’s website, both the House Ethics Committee and the OCC share “responsibility regarding alleged ethical violations by House Members, officers, and employees,” describing the cooperative process as follows: The OCC is a non-partisan, independent entity established by the House in 2008 to conduct initial reviews of allegations of misconduct and, when warranted, refer matters to the Committee on Ethics, which has exclusive jurisdiction to find violations and impose punishment. The Committee on Ethics can also initiate its own investigation without a referral from OCC. Thus far, Mace has not commented on the investigation on either her personal or congressional accounts on X. Her only tweet since the news broke about the investigation is a message warning her constituents about the frigid winter weather this weekend. The post JUST IN: Nancy Mace Under House Ethics Investigation first appeared on Mediaite.