President-elect Donald Trump addressed a wide array of topics during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on January 7, 2025, just under two weeks before his inauguration.
Among the key discussion points were his ideas about Greenland, potential U.S. control of the Panama Canal, and the possibility of pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots, reported The Epoch Times.
With his son Donald Trump Jr. visiting Greenland, Trump reiterated his long-standing interest in the island, suggesting that the U.S. should pursue acquiring it for strategic reasons.
Trump stated, “For national security, we need Greenland,” emphasizing its value due to its proximity to the Arctic and a major U.S. military base. The remarks echoed his previous attempts to purchase the island during his former presidency, which Denmark dismissed.
Trump also discussed reclaiming control of the Panama Canal, a vital waterway built by the United States but transferred to Panama under President Jimmy Carter’s administration in the 1970s.
Trump stated, “The Panama Canal is vital to our country, and we might have to do something about it.” He criticized Panama’s management and raised concerns about China’s growing influence over global infrastructure projects, adding, “We didn’t give it [the canal] to China.”
Trump’s comments also ventured into lighter territory. He joked about renaming geographic locations, such as calling the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” He suggested reversing the name of Denali, the United States’ tallest mountain, back to Mt. McKinley.
On the economic front, Trump announced a significant foreign investment deal with Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani. The developer has pledged at least $20 billion to construct U.S. data centers, a move Trump described as a testament to the strength of the nation’s economy under his leadership. The investment, he said, would create jobs and enhance America’s technological infrastructure.
“This is only the beginning of what we can accomplish,” Trump proclaimed, per The Epoch Times.
When questioned about the January 6 defendants, Trump indicated a willingness to issue pardons but provided no specifics. His remarks followed ongoing debates about accountability for the events at the Capitol. “I’m looking at all of it very closely,” Trump said.
The press conference offered a glimpse into the policy priorities and controversies likely to shape Trump’s presidency as he prepares to return to the White House.