Politix

Donald Trump and ABC News have settled their defamation case ... with the media company agreeing to pay millions.

According to multiple reports -- including an article posted to ABC News' own website -- the two sides have agreed to settle the lawsuit for $15 million.

The money is reportedly going to the "Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for [Trump], as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past" rather than directly to the 47th POTUS.

The mysterious drones that invaded New Jersey and have the state on edge are driving up some gun sales ... in addition to being a major topic of conversation in firearm shops, TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... over the past month, there've been hundreds of sightings of drones in the Jersey sky -- with some said to be as big as a car -- and it seems no one knows where they are coming from or their purpose.

TMZ contacted several gun stores around the state ... we hear some people are getting strapped 'cause they are unnerved by the drones.

Colby Covington twice fought for the UFC's welterweight title ... and now the 6th ranked 170 pounder, inspired by the soon-to-be 47th President of the United States, tells TMZ Sports the comeback is on!

"I'm super excited," Covington told us, adding ... "I've been hearing some of the chatter, people saying that 'Chaos' is dead. They have no idea what's coming on Saturday night. I'm going to put the best performance in my career."

"I'm super inspired by Donald Trump taking back the White House and his work ethic. I mean, he's in three different states a day. Guy doesn't sleep. So Saturday night, I'm going to make the UFC 'Great Again.' And January 20th, when Donald Trump gets inaugurated, he's going to make America great again."

Donald Trump is weighing in on the growing controversy over mystery drones flying across America ... and the president-elect says he wants to shoot the damn things out of the sky if the government doesn't start giving straight answers!

DT posted a message on his Truth Social platform Friday ... and in true Trump fashion he didn't mince words -- "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!"

Some are worried the mysterious drones are up to no good, and they may be carrying hazardous materials, or could possibly take down airliners. They've reportedly been seen in several states, including New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Connecticut ... and possibly elsewhere.

Local politicians in New Jersey are irate with the federal government's response to their recent drone problem, with multiple lawmakers telling us they want the feds to act, and they're worried their constituents will take matters into their own hands -- which could be disastrous.

We spoke with NJ Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry about the hundreds of sightings of drones over multiple New Jersey counties in the past month ... and, in a nutshell, they say they need the federal government to act ... NOW!

Assemblywoman Fantasia tells us there has been basically no information about the unnerving situation provided by the federal government or state leaders ... and, there's even confusion on which agency is actually running the show.

President Joe Biden commuted the two-decade-long prison sentence of University of Miami booster and Ponzi scheme mastermind Nevin Shapiro ... who previously admitted to illegally plying players with expensive gifts.

The commutation of the 55-year-old convicted felon was one of 1,499 handed down by Biden on Thursday ... a one-day record for a POTUS.

Shapiro pled guilty to 8 felony counts -- and was sentenced to 20 years in Federal prison -- for his role in a $900+ million Ponzi scheme, which he ran from his Capital Investments office in Miami.

Jeff Bezos may have wanted his newspaper to stay out of politics when he killed a Washington Post endorsement for Kamala Harris ... but he sure opened his wallet fast for President-elect Donald Trump.

Here's the deal ... Amazon and Meta have each pledged $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund -- giving the impression they are kissing up to DT after a wishy-washy election season of support.

Trump has scorched both mega tech companies in the past for, among other things, not fawning over him enough during his campaign ... but it appears JB and Mark Zuckerberg are trying to make it right on Day 1 of the incoming administration.

Congressman Tim Burchett wants the U.S. government to step up with military options against drones ... saying he wants to see a few of the crafts shot out of the sky.

A photographer caught up with the representative from Tennessee Thursday... and, Burchett told him America's government is being tested by outside forces -- and, the government is failing the test.

Burchett tell us the government is too comfortable throwing their hands up and saying they've got no idea what the drones are or who is piloting them ... seemingly referencing White House national security communications adviser John Kirby admitting they haven't been able to corroborate any sightings of alleged drones over New Jersey.

Paris Hilton just hit a major milestone -- after tirelessly lobbying for children in the welfare system, her legislation was officially passed by the U.S. Senate overnight.

Not only that, but Hilton’s "Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act" passed unanimously with all 100 senators on board -- making it an absolute win for legislation deeply personal to her after she bravely shared her own painful experiences of abuse at a young age.

The bill still needs to go through the U.S. House of Representatives to reach President Biden’s desk ... but Paris is riding high!

Donald Trump has been on a roll lately and there seems to be no end to his good fortune because he's been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year."

The newly crowned 47th President-elect of the United States posed for a photo on the cover appearing like a man in charge in his dark suit and red tie. Sitting with one hand over the other, Trump has a serious look on his face as he stares into the distance.

Time gave Trump the honor because he marshaled "a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America's role in the world."

Justin Trudeau's sure Kamala Harris would've made more progress for women than Donald Trump ... slamming the U.S. for not advancing feminism -- and branding himself as a feminist.

The Prime Minister of Canada spoke at an event for the Equal Voice Foundation -- an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in politics -- and, he took his close ally -- the United States -- to task ... saying the recent election of Donald Trump didn't progress women's rights.

Watch the video for yourself ... basically, Trudeau says Kamala would've been better for women than Trump -- saying the rights of women were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult, incline.

US-UK relations got a little stronger with a handshake, as Donald Trump greeted Prince William at the ceremonial reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Trump was spotted making his way down the line of world leaders, eventually reaching Prince William, placing his hand on the royal's shoulder as they shared a handshake and a quick conversation Saturday.

The last time Trump and Prince William met was in 2019 when Trump was in office.

The Biden administration is ready to clean house ahead of Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office ... setting up a pricey cleaning service ahead of the handoff.

According tofederal financial documents obtained by TMZ ... the WH has tapped cleaners to do a deep clean of the West Wing, East Wing, and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next door. The scrub-down will cost a whopping $140,930 ... and actually kicked off last month ahead of Thanksgiving.

The White House is also shelling out an additional $46,800 to have the carpets thoroughly cleaned in the aforementioned spaces ... noting the cleaning was needed before the 2025 Inauguration.

Lil Pump is predicting all Americans' next 4 years will be the best of their lives -- now that his beloved Donald Trump is returning to the White House!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Pump geeked up at LAX today, rapping his own version of Eminem's "Without Me" to bask in the moment ... somewhat ironic, considering Slim campaigned for the other candidate.

The past few elections created a political monster outta Pump ... he's relentlessly supported Trump through thick and thin and got his wish this past November with the blistering election results.

Trisha Yearwood isn't letting her husband Garth Brooks' legal woes keep her from getting in the holiday spirit ... performing at the annual Christmas tree lighting in Washington, D.C. last night.

The country singer ignored the ongoing chatter surrounding GB's rape lawsuit Thursday evening, taking the stage at the Ellipse in President's Park and performing some festive tunes for the national event.

Decked out in a sparkling red pantsuit, Trisha performed for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff ... taking a bow after wrapping up her seasonal set.

Barron Trump isn't soaking up the spotlight while attending New York University, and he's using video games to socialize with his peers ... this according to current students.

TMZ spoke with several students at the prestigious Manhattan university, who tell us Barron spends little time on campus ... quickly moving in and out of buildings while surrounded by Secret Service agents and transported in an SUV.

Basically, playing hacky sack in the quad ain't his thing.