Donald Trump says the US is ‘like a third world country’ in NYE Party video
Donald Trump claimed America was “like a third world country” during his New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s private club.
Addressing hundreds of attendees, Trump said: “We watch a war unfold, we watch the nuclear weapons that we talk about all the time, we watch inflation soar. All these things we watch and so immediately useless and so sad to see. Now we have airports where people can’t fly.
Trump appeared to be referring to the impact of winter storm Elliott and problems at Southwest Airlines, which led to the cancellation of more than 15,000 flights between Dec. 22 and 25.
The Republican leader continued, “It’s sad when people can’t come from New York to Florida, we’re like a third world country.”
Trump ushers in the new year by kicking off the festivities with a positive and uplifting message. The best party host ever! pic.twitter.com/hxrKJHarfs
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) January 1, 2023
Upon his arrival, Trump took a number of questions from reporters, although he pointedly declined to answer a reporter who asked if Florida Governor Ron DeSantis “should investigate Covid vaccines that your administration helped to develop”.
Trump answers a few questions tonight ahead of his New Year’s Eve party. The first question is about Desantis, which he seems to be dodging. At the end he says something about the Russian-Ukrainian border that makes no sense. pic.twitter.com/SE4er36PhV
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) January 1, 2023
DeSantis, who has emerged as the biggest threat to Trump’s hopes of being the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, has asked a grand jury to investigate “any wrongdoing” involving coronavirus vaccines and their use in Florida.
However, videos resurfaced of DeSantis endorsing vaccines in May 2021, when he said, “My message is that vaccines protect you. Get vaccinated and then live your life like you’re protected.”
Joe Raedle/GETTY
Trump also criticized the FBI, which raided Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8 as part of an investigation into the handling of official documents, including potential violations of the Espionage Act.
Speaking to a reporter, he said: “I think it’s a shame what’s going on with the FBI and with the militarization of justice. There’s never been anything like this and it’s shameful .”
A number of videos from the party have emerged on social media, including one showing Donald and Melania Trump entering to the sound of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
Another clip, apparently recorded by Rudy Giuliani, shows the former New York City mayor addressing the camera, despite being largely drowned out by the song Footloose.
The video was reposted on Twitter by Ron Filipkowski, a former lawyer with more than 610,000 followers.
PatriotTakes, a Twitter account that describes itself as dedicated to “exposing right-wing extremism,” posted an 18-second clip showing two women dancing at the party in front of a pool, as dozens of other guests watched.
Trump also posted a New Year’s message on his Truth Social website, where he brushed off Elaine Chao, the Taiwan-born wife of Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.
The former president wrote: “HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the radical left Democrats, Marxist crazies, China loving Coco Chow and her obedient husband, Mitch, and Clueless RINOS, who are working so hard to DESTROY our once great country. “
RINOS, or “Republicans in name only,” is a term Trump supporters use to describe GOP politicians they view as insufficiently conservative.
Trump continued: “Most importantly, HAPPY NEW YEAR to the amazing, brave and strong American patriots who built, loved and cherished America. The TRUE leaders of our country will always remain FAITHFUL and LOYAL to you. The United States will be back , Bigger, better and stronger than ever before. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!”
Newsweek contacted a representative of Donald Trump for a comment.
newsweek
