Donald Trump's hard speech—Buy Greenland! Bring back the Panama Canal!—causing opposition from many Republican rebels

Donald Trump says it is an “absolute necessity” for our country to own Greenland.

He says the US should restore the Panama Canal unless “absurd” transit fees are lowered.

He threatened that any Republican who opposes him on this bill to avoid a government shutdown can and should be used first.

The president-elect is earning a reputation as a disruptor, with enough influence in what is now his party to blow up a carefully negotiated bipartisan compromise. Let's look at each of these.

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Trump tried during his first term to buy Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark but under home rule. That didn't go anywhere, though it caused a diplomatic problem with Danish officials.

When the US built the Panama Canal in the early 20th century, it was transferred to Panama under a treaty that both countries agreed to. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino says “every square meter of the Panama Canal and the area around it belongs to Panama and will continue to be so. The sovereignty and independence of our country is non-negotiable.”

That didn't stop Trump from posting an AI image of an American flag flying over a waterway thought to be a canal.

The incoming president has certainly shown the ability to create basic challenges for those who fall for him. But three conservative Republicans voted against him on the federal shutdown bill, including the final clause, which revoked his bid to end the debt during his term. Was he really going to set up primaries against all of them?

So the chances are high that the status of Greenland, the Panama Canal and the rebel republics will not change in the second phase.

The reason Trump is doing this is that it reinforces his role as a disruptor, someone who takes over Washington's diminished position, even if the president is, by definition, a new institution.

Besides, whether he makes outrageous demands or not, Trump shapes, and often dominates, the news agenda. As the 47th president admitted to me, he sometimes crossed the line because he knew it would provoke a strong reaction from the media. As Trump sees it, even negative coverage is a good story because the media is playing on his behalf.

And sometimes these are bargaining positions to win concessions, such as when 25 percent tariffs are threatened against Canada and Mexico.

Remember, many people outside the political and media circles do not follow these events. Since the government didn't shut down, they don't see it as a setback for Trump that he didn't get much of what he wanted. They probably don't remember that he tried to buy Greenland before.

What is clear is that Trump has the power to blow up carefully crafted bipartisan agreements. He did it after Speaker Mike Johnson–whose future is still in doubt because, like Kevin McCarthy before him, he didn't have the votes–let the bill grow into a monstrous Christmas tree.

And he did it during the campaign when both sides agreed on a tough deal to strengthen the border, which was then overturned by Trump's opposition.

But there are clear limits to Trump's ability to shape events, especially with the country. Of the three Republicans who would oppose him as a key issue as the debt crisis shows he can only push his party so far.

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Rep. Nancy Mace, a Trump supporter who voted against him in the last round–told me on Sunday's Media Buzz that it was because she wanted to keep the debt high.

But with the GOP clinging to a one-vote House limit, for now, campaign rhetoric is against the cold, hard numbers of getting to 218.

Democrats should ask themselves if it is worth negotiating with the other party if they are making the impeachment derby a target of Trump.

It was Elon Musk who first tweeted how bad the original bill was—on Trump's proposal—and after 70-plus tweets (including some lies), the new president was drawn into the war.

BUTLER, PA – OCT. 5: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks with former president Donald Trump during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. ((Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images))

Over the weekend, Trump denied handing over his presidential powers to his buddy, and sarcastically said Musk would never be president:

“You know why? He wasn't born in this country. Hahaha.”

The media's favorite game is whether these two tough men will end up fighting each other.

For now, though, Trump's tough talk on Greenland and the Panama Canal shows he's more than comfortable playing the blame game, even if nothing much comes of it.

In other news:

–The House Ethics report says Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex, including underage girls, and used illegal drugs.

In 2017, the former attorney general nominee “had sex with a 17-year-old girl,” who was also paid.

Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs such as cocaine and Ecstasy “many times,” and accepted expensive gifts, such as transportation and lodging in the Bahamas.

“Many of the women interviewed by the committee were clear that there was an expectation of sex,” one woman told the committee Gaetz paid her more than $5,000 and that sex was involved “99 percent of the time.”

The panel said Gaetz was “uncooperative” and “willfully attempted to obstruct and obstruct the committee's investigation of his conduct.” The Department of Justice investigated but did not bring charges.

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Gaetz also misused House resources when he claimed his chief of staff “helped a woman he had sex with get a passport, lying to the US State Department that he was part of…

“There was overwhelming evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, the acceptance of illegal gifts, the provision of special gifts and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”

If Gaetz was still running for AG, this would blow him out of the water.

Gaetz says: “I was charged with nothing: I WAS COMPLETELY WRITTEN UP. Even campaign finance violations. And the people who were investigating me hated me. Then, the very 'witnesses' that the DOJ considered unreliable were brought together by House Ethics to repeat their claims without any evidence. being asked questions or challenges from me or my lawyers I have not had a chance to face any accusers I have never been charged. He says he has even sent money to women they were dating.

–Dallas Express dog reporter found out what happened to Texas Rep. Kay Granger, who went missing months ago. She found him, and received written confirmation, at a nursing facility that specializes in dementia and other memory problems. He made a statement about life's challenges that didn't miss the point: How could he tell his people about this? Why did he insist on hiding it? There would be great sympathy for him. Instead, congress kept it all under wraps.

–Actress Blake Lively was the target of an online defamation campaign, as set out in texts and e-mails that discuss planting stories to damage her reputation, while warning that this should remain a secret because they can't admit they're trying. “to bury him”. “You know we can bury anyone.”

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively (David Buchan/Various/Penske Media via Getty Images/Lia Toby/Getty Images)

Lively obtained these documents by taking legal action against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, and was reviewed by the New York Times. He suspects sexual harassment, saying that Baldoni and others always came to his car unannounced when he was not dressed, such as removing body makeup, or breastfeeding.

Wayfarer Studios said the company and its PR people “did nothing or retaliated” against the actor, accusing him of “another massive attempt to 'fix' his bad reputation.”

Lively claims that Baldoni tried to add unnecessary sex scenes, gave unwanted kisses and discussed her sex life, including in situations where she may not have received consent. Another member of the team showed him a video of his wife naked.

The sad thing is that this thing goes on all the time. We just got the goods this time, with Lively being portrayed as tough, deaf and a bully.

The Daily Mail reported that Jeff Bezos will marry his fiancee Lauren Sanchez this weekend at a $600 million ceremony in Aspen.

The founder of Amazon, who owns the Washington Post, says that's a crock:

“The whole thing is completely false – none of this is happening…

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“The old saying 'don't believe everything you read' is more true today than ever before. Now lies can spread around the world before the truth wears its pants. So be careful folks and don't be fooled.”

Good on Jeff for taking responsibility for such a crazy story.