Trump’s enduring grip

Donald Trump could remain the de facto Republican leader for some time to come. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Follow Us [Get the newsletter]( While the world watched the violent mob assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, some of Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters were privately expressing concern that the then-president’s silence would come back to haunt him — and them. “The president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home...this is hurting all of us...he is destroying his legacy,” Fox News host Laura Ingraham texted Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that day, according to the congressional panel investigating the attack. Key Reading - [Ex-Trump Aide Meadows Cited for Criminal Contempt by U.S. House]( - [Read Highlights From the Jan. 6 Text Messages to Mark Meadows]( - [Trump Advisor Eastman Sues to Block Release of His Phone Records]( - [D.C. Sues Proud Boys, Oath Keepers Over Jan. 6 Capitol Riot]( - [Trump Loses Appeal to Block Documents From Jan. 6 Committee]( Even Trump’s oldest son, Donald Jr., implored via a text to Meadows that his father “condemn this s*** Asap,” adding, “it has gone too far and gotten out of hand.” Now Meadows is the first former White House chief of staff in nearly 50 years to face prosecution after the House voted yesterday to hold him in criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in the Capitol insurrection probe, referring the matter to the Justice Department. (President Richard Nixon’s former chief of staff H.R. Haldeman served 18 months in prison for his role in the Watergate scandal.) All but two House Republicans voted against holding Meadows in contempt, signaling that Trump’s grip on the party remains strong 11 months out from the November midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Whatever fears Trump’s supporters and Republican lawmakers have about the implications of the former president’s conduct, they’re still unwilling to publicly cross him. And that means Trump, who says he’s weighing another presidential run in 2024, could remain the de facto head of the party for some time to come.— [Kathleen Hunter]( Rioters outside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg Click [here]( to follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and share this newsletter with others too. They can sign up [here](. Global Headlines Standing together | Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a show of [solidarity]( in a video call today amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West over fears that Russia will invade neighboring Ukraine. Xi called Putin an “old friend” and the Russian leader hailed their relations as “a true model of interstate cooperation.” - Leading nations of the European Union are [resisting]( a push to quickly draw up specific sanctions and other punishments to impose on Russia if it attacks Ukraine. Falling short | Biden’s tax-and-spending plans are critical to fulfilling his pledge to halve U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 but are far from enough. [Jennifer A. Dlouhy]( digs into a new [analysis]( by the World Resources Institute that outlines some of the sweeping changes needed to confront global warming. - The House voted early today to raise the U.S. [debt]( ceiling by $2.5 trillion, an amount intended to extend the government’s borrowing authority past next year’s congressional elections. As strained global supply chains threaten deliveries for the holiday season, corporate executives are increasingly focusing on “near-shoring” — keeping production closer to its final destination to reduce delays. [Thomas Black]( reports on how that is [sparking]( a boom in the sprawling Mexican city of Juarez on the southern edge of the Rio Grande. Chip rules | The Biden administration is considering imposing tougher [sanctions]( on China’s largest chipmaker, sources say, as it seeks to limit the country’s access to advanced technology. [Jenny Leonard]( and [Ian King]( report that the U.S.’s National Security Council and various agencies are meeting tomorrow to discuss tightening rules on exports to Shanghai-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. - The U.S. will add more Chinese tech and healthcare companies to investment and export [blacklists]( for alleged involvement in surveillance of the country’s Uyghur minorities, the Financial Times reported. - The House passed legislation yesterday that would [ban]( goods coming from China’s Xinjiang region to the U.S. unless companies can prove that they have not been made with forced labor. Best of Bloomberg Opinion - [China’s Navy Is Setting Sail for the Atlantic: James Stavridis]( - [Singapore’s Power Spikes Come Down to Old Habits: David Fickling]( - [It’s Awkward Being a Woman in the Metaverse: Parmy Olson]( In revolt | Boris Johnson suffered his biggest [rebellion]( by Conservative lawmakers since becoming U.K. prime minister, forcing him to rely on opposition votes to mandate the use of so-called Covid passes against the spread of the omicron variant. Almost 100 Tories opposed his plan, both because they see it as a betrayal of their pandemic policy to date and out of frustration at some of Johnson’s self-inflicted errors that have damaged the party in recent weeks. Better start | Justin Trudeau’s government released new budget estimates that showed an [improving]( Canadian economy and smaller deficits than expected. It’s a better starting point for the governing Liberals as they begin a third term and gives the prime minister some breathing room to finance tens of billions of dollars in election-campaign promises. Bloomberg TV and Radio air Balance of Power with [David Westin]( weekdays from 12 to 1pm ET, with a second hour on Bloomberg Radio from 1 to 2pm ET. You can watch and listen on Bloomberg channels and online [here]( or check out prior episodes and guest clips [here](. News to Note - A person traveling alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his tour of Southeast Asia has tested [positive]( for Covid-19, the U.S. embassy in Malaysia said in a statement. - The U.S. is exploring additional ways to [pressure]( Myanmar’s ruling junta, Blinken said in Kuala Lumpur today, as civilian strife escalates in the country. - The United Arab Emirates says it’s [suspending]( discussions with the U.S. on a $23 billion deal to purchase F-35 fighter jets and other weapons over pressure from Washington to remove Huawei from its telecommunications network and distance itself from China. - The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan held a one-on-one [meeting]( yesterday for the first time since their countries fought a war last year. - Pilots and airlines [pressed]( for more steps to ensure that new 5G wireless service next month doesn’t endanger aircraft, hours after the Federal Communications Commission’s chairwoman expressed confidence the matter could be resolved swiftly. And finally ... The decision on whether to get vaccinated against Covid-19 is often framed as a personal choice. But as [Drew Armstrong]( writes, low inoculation rates are [straining]( entire communities and pushing hospitals to the brink. Doctors and nurses work at a Covid-19 intensive care unit in Leipzig, Germany. Photographer: Jens Schlueter/Getty Images Europe Like Balance of Power? [Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com](, where you'll find trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( | [Ad Choices]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022