Trump brags about himself in Thanksgiving phone call to overseas troops

What is President Trump thankful for this holiday season? Himself, mostly.
President Trump spent Thanksgiving in what he called "the southern White House," also known as his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. That's where he made his traditional Thanksgiving call to American troops deployed overseas — and used it to sound off against the courts, trade rivals, and migrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border
To start, Trump said it was "a disgrace" that judges had blocked his attempts to reform immigration policy and stop migrants who cross the border outside official entry points from seeking asylum. He then asked troops for their thoughts on trade policy, seeming especially curious about their overseas perspective.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump went on to say he hoped service members would "take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well. The nation's doing well economically, better than anybody in the world."
After the call, reporters asked what the president was thankful for. "For having a tremendous family, and for having made a tremendous difference in this country," Trump responded, launching a multi-sentence praise of his accomplishments in the White House, which you can read below. Kathryn Krawczyk
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How the New World Screwworm is making a deadly comeback
The explainer The parasite is spreading quickly
-
A running list of all the celebrities Trump has pardoned
IN DEPTH Reality stars, rappers and disgraced politicians have received some of the high-profile pardons doled out by the president
-
US credit rating: what it is and why it matters
the explainer Credit rating agency Moody's downgraded the US last month
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read