White House portrait plaques attack Trump's predecessors

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Good evening and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

The White House added insulting plaques to the portraits of former presidents, Rob Reiner's son appeared in court to face murder charges, and Ghislaine Maxwell made a last-ditch attempt to toss her conviction before the release of the Epstein files.

Top stories

1 | White House adds plaques below Biden and Obama portraits, calling them 'the worst President in American history' and 'divisive'

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2 | Rob Reiner's children issue statement as brother Nick appears in court over parents' murders

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3 | Ghislaine Maxwell asks court to set aside her conviction which may complicate the pending release of the Epstein files

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4 | FCC immediately edits website after pro-Trump chair claims it's not an independent agency

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5 | Fani Willis blasts Republican-led 'QAnon committee' in hearing over collapsed Trump case

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The Big Question 

Americans are waiting with bated breath to see if President Donald Trump will fulfill his promise to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks next year – an idea he has repeatedly floated in press conferences, on social media and meetings.

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WATCH 

Melania Trump drops new trailer for her $40M Amazon documentary

STAT OF THE DAY

$2,050

The expiration of pandemic-era healthcare subsidies could see monthly premiums skyrocket to as much as $2,050 per month.

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"At The Independent, we've always believed journalism should do more than describe the world – it should try to improve it.

This Christmas, we're asking for your help again as we launch our new campaign with the charity Missing People – the SafeCall appeal.

Every year, more than 70,000 children in the UK are reported missing. The misery that follows – for the child, for the family, for the community – is often hidden. Too many of these young people have nowhere to turn when they need help most. SafeCall will change that. Our goal is to raise £165,000 to help Missing People launch this new, free service – designed with the input of young people themselves – offering round-the-clock support, advice and a route to safety."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

 "I know it's a passé word but [they were] sort of young, single playboys together."

Susie Wiles acknowledged that Donald Trump's name is in the so-called Epstein files, claiming the president and Trump were "young, single playboys together."

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