Trump talks drones, Ukraine, and economic plans in Mar-a-Lago presser

President-elect Donald Trump, in his first news conference since his November election victory, addressed a range of topics, from the war in Ukraine to mysterious drones flying over New Jersey, the future of TikTok, and ongoing media lawsuits, Reuters reported.

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, Trump showcased the bravado and loquaciousness that characterised his first term in office, fielding questions from the press for over an hour.

Trump’s tone was notably different from the often combative rhetoric of his campaign. He joked with reporters and appeared somewhat more at ease with his role, though still puzzled by the shifting dynamics of his political career. He remarked, “The first term, everybody was fighting me. In this term, everybody wants to be my friend. I don’t know—my personality changed or something.”

As he prepares to return to the White House on January 20, Trump's second term will face the challenge of deep political polarisation both at home and abroad. His advisers say he has been focused on assembling a Cabinet that will support his plans to overhaul the US government and policy. Despite having kept a relatively low profile since his victory, avoiding rallies and long speeches, Monday’s press conference marked a significant return to public engagement.

Trump’s announcement included good news for the US economy. Standing next to SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son, he revealed that the Japanese tech giant would invest $100 billion in the US over the next four years. However, the press conference quickly shifted to a broader set of priorities for his second term.

Trump discussed his choices for key Cabinet positions, including his nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom he described as "much less radical than you think." He also addressed speculation surrounding his defence secretary pick, former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, calling it "a tragedy" if Hegseth is not confirmed by the Senate due to misconduct allegations.

Foreign policy was a major focus, with Trump emphasising his approach to global hotspots. On the situation in Gaza, he said Hamas must reach a deal with Israel to release hostages, warning that failure to do so would lead to "consequences." Trump also expressed his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should make a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying, “Gotta make a deal.”

He also discussed the possibility of a TikTok ban in the US, reiterating concerns over the Chinese-owned app, and called on the US military to provide more information about mysterious drone sightings on the East Coast. Trump made time to air personal grievances, vowing lawsuits against media companies he believes have mistreated him and reiterating his criticisms of the press. "Our press is very corrupt. Almost as corrupt as our elections," he stated.

In a more controversial moment, Trump declared that the US military should disclose more details about recent drone sightings over the East Coast and hinted at the possibility of eliminating $2 trillion in government spending through a project led by Elon Musk.

However, much of the conversation centred around foreign policy and economic issues, with Trump signalling a return to a more familiar and combative political style.