Gov. Greg Abbott endorses U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales amid primary runoff attacks that he’s a RINO
Gonzales, 43, faces Brandon Herrera in the May primary runoff election for South Texas District 23.
Melania Trump launches jewelry line to honor moms ahead of Mother’s Day, raise funds for foster kids
EXCLUSIVE: Former first lady Melania Trump is rolling out a jewelry line ahead of Mother’s Day to honor “all mothers,” telling Fox News Digital that they are “the bedrock of the American family.” Trump created a customizable necklace designed to honor “all mothers.” The jewelry line is called “Her Love & Gratitude.” Each necklace can be engraved with names, initials or significant dates. MELANIA TRUMP GIVES EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO LATE MOTHER AT PALM BEACH FUNERAL The “all made in America” necklace features a flower pendant on an adjustable chain and will be sold on the former first lady’s website for $245. A portion of the proceeds from the jewelry line will go toward her “Fostering the Future” initiative that secures education opportunities and scholarships for children in the foster care community. “Mothers are the cornerstone of a flourishing society,” Trump told Fox News Digital, adding that she takes “great pride in embracing this responsibility.” The former first lady told Fox News Digital that nothing makes her prouder than the relationship she has built with her son Barron, who will graduate from high school next month. However, “only a mother knows that some of our efforts remain unnoticed,” she said. “Motherhood exists as the bedrock of the American family, and mothers tend to wear several hats: emotional support, inspirational growth, health, love, humor, education, and more,” she told Fox News Digital. MELANIA TRUMP ROLLS OUT ‘AMERICAN CHRISTMAS’ ORNAMENTS, NFTS TO HELP FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN The former first lady said mothers “strive to provide our children with the building blocks to creating meaningful relationships,” as well as the tools to “eventually grow into mindful adults who thrive.” “When moms are healthy, our communities are too,” she said. “As mothers, we are inclined to honor our mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day, but we must also be mindful of ourselves.” She added, “It may be difficult to imagine, but when moms prioritize self-care, our families and children enjoy greater stability.” The former first lady stressed to Fox News Digital that mothers “can institute a sense of unity, respect, and calm across the next generation.” The introduction of her jewelry line comes just months after her own mother passed away in January. “My mother, the epitome of elegance and grace, exemplified the essence of a true woman. Her love for her husband, Viktor, my father; Ines, my sister; and me was boundless. Her nurturing spirit had no limits, creating a legacy that will last for generations. She showered her grandson, Barron, with affection, illuminating his world with love, tender care, and unwavering devotion,” Melania said at her mother’s funeral at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida in January. “She embodied the best mother, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law, a true beacon of love and luxury in our lives.” “In her presence, the world seemed to shimmer with radiant joy. She was not just a friend, but a confidant. A ray of light in the darkest of days. In her company, I found peace knowing that she would always be there to listen. She celebrated our successes and provided unwavering support during chaotic times. Our bond was unbreakable. A testament to the power of a true love for one another. She was my dear friend. An irreplaceable treasure. A gift bestowed upon me by the universe. And for that, I am entirely grateful. Rest in peace, my beloved mommy.” MELANIA TRUMP SAYS US ‘MUST UNITE’ AHEAD OF MAR-A-LAGO LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS EVENT The former first lady also recalled how her mother taught her to cook and inspired her interest in fashion with tales of glamorous travels to Paris and neighboring European cities and spent late nights together sketching designs and patterns, ultimately creating pieces akin to “artwork.” “She was a creator of dreams, and I am forever grateful for the beauty she brought into my life,” Trump said, describing how her mother “balanced the demands of motherhood with grace and poise. From managing the household to pursuing her own ambition in fashion, she never ceased to amaze with her resilience and determination.” The introduction of her jewelry line also comes after she headlined an event at Mar-a-Lago hosted by the Log Cabin Republicans — a pro-LGBT group. Trump spoke about the importance of unifying the nation, telling Fox News Digital that “equality” needs to be the “everyday experience of every American.” Fox News Digital asked the former first lady what her plans would be for a second term in the White House, should her husband, former President Trump, win the 2024 election. “The safety and well-being of American families remains my top priority,” she told Fox News Digital. “Our children are our future leaders, tomorrow’s innovators.” She told Fox News Digital that it is “essential we provide the highest level of care to our next generation; to insure they not only thrive, but reach their full potential.” MELANIA FULLY BEHIND TRUMP’S 2024 CAMPAIGN, SAYS IT WOULD BE A ‘PRIVILEGE’ TO SERVE AS FIRST LADY AGAIN During her time as first lady, Trump hosted virtual roundtables on foster care as part of her “Be Best” initiative, and focused on strengthening the child welfare system. She worked with members of Congress on legislation that secured funding for grants awarded to youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care to help pay for college, career school or training. The bill ultimately was signed by then-President Trump in December 2020. Since leaving the White House, the former first lady has also created special edition Non-Fungible Tokens. A portion of those proceeds also went toward her initiative “Fostering the Future” to secure educational opportunities and scholarships for children in the foster care community. Trump’s efforts have ensured multiple individuals have full university-level scholarships through the program. “Fostering the Future” students are currently enrolled in multiple colleges and universities across the country, with areas of focus primarily on technology and computer sciences.
Democratic New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dead at 65
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., a six-term Democratic congressman from New Jersey, has died from “heart problems,” Fox News confirmed Wednesday. Payne was 65 and had been suffering from health problems for years. His father, the late Rep. Donald Payne Sr., D-N,J., also died in office in 2012. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s office said he and his wife are “deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our friend, and a steadfast champion for the people of New Jersey, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.” “With his signature bowtie, big heart, and tenacious spirit, Donald embodied the very best of public service,” Murphy said in a statement. “As a former union worker and toll collector, he deeply understood the struggles our working families face, and he fought valiantly to serve their needs, every single day. That purpose was the light that guided him through his early years as Newark City Council President and during his tenure on the Essex County Board of Commissioners. And it guided him still through his more than a decade of service in Congress.” Murphy said it was a “great honor to work side-by-side with Donald to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey, and we will hold his memory close to our hearts as we build upon the Payne family’s deep legacy of service in advocating for the communities they served so dearly.” “Donald’s love will live on in the homes of his neighbors in Newark, who now have access to safe drinking water, and in the good-paying jobs he helped create for his brothers and sisters in labor,” the governor added. “And it will live on in his wife Beatrice, and their three children, Donald III, Jack, and Yvonne, who were the pride of his life. Our heartfelt prayers are with his family during this difficult time.” According to the New Jersey Globe, Payne had a heart attack on April 6 and had since been hospitalized on a ventilator. The GOP hangs onto a slim majority in the House. Rep. Mike Gallagher. R-Wisc., was supposed to resign last week. But he has not. The House currently has 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and five vacancies: Payne died. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., along with former Reps. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., and Ken Buck, R-Colo., resigned. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Biden insists red state won twice by Trump is suddenly ‘in play’
President Biden hit the campaign trail in Florida, where he touted the Republican-led state is “in play” for the 2024 election, eliciting criticism and mockery online. “Florida – I think Florida is in play, nationally,” Biden said Tuesday during a campaign event in Tampa at Hillsborough Community College. The Biden campaign on Tuesday cited abortion laws in the state as evidence the president could win the state come November. A ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy is set to take effect on May 1. However, voters could rescind the ban if they approve an amendment on the ballot in November. Various polls all show Trump leading Biden, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, which details support in Florida for the two candidates. FLORIDA NO LONGER IN PLAY AS A SWING STATE AS GOP VOTERS SURGE OVER DEMS BY NEARLY 900K: DESANTIS The president’s remarks sparked criticisms and mockery online, including from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ communications director, who taunted the campaign for what appeared to be a small showing of supporters. “Said Joe Biden to the Florida Democrats’ impressive showing of 19 voters,” communications director Bryan Griffin tweeted in response. “The border is still open, Joe,” DeSantis press secretary Jeremey Redfern said. Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday: “Florida is Trump Country.” Trump won Florida in 2016 when he squared off against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and also won the state in 2020 by a 3-point margin when he faced off against Biden for the first time. TRUMP ‘VERY HONORED’ BY DESANTIS ENDORSEMENT AFTER FLORIDA GOVERNOR SUSPENDS PRESIDENTIAL RUN The governor also delivered remarks ahead of Biden’s visit to the state, where he slammed the president’s border policies, and criticized him for supporting an amendment on the Florida ballot in November that would provide a constitutional right to abortion. “Floridians are not buying what Joe Biden is selling. And in November, we’re gonna play an instrumental role in sending him back to Delaware where he belongs,” DeSantis said. “This is a guy who has intentionally opened the borders of this country and caused great harm. His policies have caused families to suffer with higher prices and higher interest rates. And now he’s coming down to try to support a constitutional amendment that will mandate abortion up until the moment of birth, that will eliminate parental consent for minors, and that’s written in a way that’s intentionally designed to deceive voters,” DeSantis said. Others on social media posts lambasted Biden after the president said he has a shot at winning the state on Nov. 5. BIDEN MOCKED FOR ADMITTING ‘WE CAN’T BE TRUSTED’ IN LATEST GAFFE: ‘AGREED, JOE’ The Biden campaign told reporters on Monday that abortion on the ballot typically signals victories for Democrats, citing former President Barack Obama winning Florida in 2012. “Whenever abortion bans and abortion rights have been on the ballot, they’ve won,” campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Monday, according to various reports. “The last time there was an abortion referendum on the ballot in 2012, President Obama won the state. So, with our enormous financial advantage, the Biden-Harris campaign can afford to invest in many paths to victory, and that includes Florida.” BIDEN ONCE RIPPED ‘ANTISEMITIC BILE’ BUT NOW FACES OWN ‘CHARLOTTESVILLE MOMENT’ Fox News Digital reached out to the Biden campaign regarding the matter, but it did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Earlier this month, DeSantis told Fox News that Democrats likely don’t have a chance of winning in the state after demographics indicated Republicans outpace Democrats by 900,000 voters. REPORTER SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘TROUBLING NUMBERS’ FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN IN LATEST POLL: ‘A CLEAR LIABILITY’ “You’re talking about a million-plus voter registration shift,” DeSantis told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, saying that older numbers indicated Republicans were behind their Democrat rivals by nearly 300,000 registered voters in 2018. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Part of that, I think, is a response locally where people are more likely to switch from Democrat to Republican in Florida, nonparty to Republican, than vice versa. That’s been an important component of it, but I do think that migration has skewed among people who come to Florida, not because they want to change the policies to reflect in Illinois or California or New York, but because they appreciate how Florida has done it differently from where they’re coming from.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.
Nikki Haley wins 150K votes in PA Republican primary despite dropping out
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley took a bite out of the GOP primary voter base in Pennsylvania — despite dropping out over a month ago. Haley won just under 157,000 votes in the Pennsylvania Republican primary election on Tuesday, according to early reports. That equates to approximately 17% support with 90% of votes already cast. CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY AS CASEY, MCCORMICK WIN PRIMARIES Former President Trump, the only Republican candidate left in the primary field, won the primary with over 80% of votes cast. Pennsylvania operates on a closed primary election system, meaning voters can only vote in the election of their own party’s nominee. Haley’s sizable chunk of the electorate is surprising to election researchers as the former ambassador to the United Nations dropped out of the race following Super Tuesday at the beginning of March. NIKKI HLAEY WELCOMES HUSBAND MICHAEL HOME FROM NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT: ‘END OF A YEAR-LONG PRAYER’ It raises questions about Pennsylvania voters’ approval of Trump as the presumptive presidential nominee. The Keystone State looks headed for another tight race as President Biden and Trump are in a dead heat in the latest Fox News survey of Pennsylvania voters. The survey of registered voters, released Thursday, found the former and current presidents tied at 48% each, a slight improvement for Biden, who was down by 2 percentage points in March. Trump won Pennsylvania by less than a point in 2016, and Biden reclaimed by just over a point in 2020. Fox News Digital’s Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
Fairfax County, Va., repeatedly released Honduran charged with sex crimes, ignored ICE detainer request: feds
Fairfax County, Virginia, ignored a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request for a Honduran national charged with sex crimes against a child in Virginia, ICE said Wednesday. Immigration officials arrested the 30-year-old Honduran national at his residence in Bladensburg, Maryland, on April 15, after Fairfax County twice released him. The agency did not provide his identity in the release. “This Honduran noncitizen stands accused of some very serious crimes and represented a threat to the children of the Washington, D.C. area,” ICE said. “When local jurisdictions have policies in place which prohibit them from cooperating with ICE ERO and from honoring our lawfully issued detainers and administrative warrants, they put the suspects, law enforcement officers, and most importantly, the members of our local communities at risk.” This is a breaking story; check back for updates.
Biden campaign to stay on TikTok even after president signs law to force sale or ban app in US
The Biden campaign will stay on TikTok, even after President Biden signed a bill into law that would force its China-based parent company to sell the video sharing social media platform or face a ban in the United States, Fox News has learned. Biden campaign officials told Fox News on Wednesday that the Biden-Harris campaign “will stay on TikTok.” President Biden, on Wednesday morning, signed a Senate-passed bill to force TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, which is based in China, to sell the app or be banned in the United States, as lawmakers accuse the platform of being a risk to U.S. national security, collecting user data, and spreading propaganda. TIKTOK’S CHINA-BASED PARENT REQUIRED TO SELL PLATFORM OR BE BANNED IN US The TikTok legislation was part of a set of bills providing $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. House Republicans’ decision last week to attach the TikTok bill to the foreign aid package helped expedite its passage, after an earlier version of the bill had stalled in the Senate. The Senate version would have given ByteDance six months to divest its stake in the platform, which some lawmakers believed was too short of a window for a complex deal potentially worth tens of billions of dollars. The new measure gives ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok, as well as a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. The bill would also prohibit the company from controlling the algorithm that shows users videos based on their interests. The passage of the legislation comes amid bipartisan fears in Congress over Chinese threats, which includes the ownership of TikTok. Lawmakers and administration officials have expressed concerns for years that Chinese officials could force ByteDance to provide U.S. user data and influence Americans by promoting certain content on the platform. China has previously said it would oppose forcing the sale of TikTok, and has signaled it would oppose the latest legislation. TikTok has long denied it is a security threat, and is preparing a lawsuit to block the legislation. “At the stage that the bill is signed, we will move to the courts for a legal challenge,” TikTok’s head of public policy for the Americas, Michael Beckerman, wrote in a memo sent to employees on Saturday. “This is the beginning, not the end of this long process,” Beckerman wrote. HOUSE PASSES NATIONAL SECURITY BILL TARGETING TIKTOK, SEIZED RUSSIAN ASSETS: ‘CHURCHILL OR CHAMBERLAIN’ The platform has had some success with court challenges in the past, but it has never attempted to prevent federal legislation from going into effect. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, TikTok blasted the law as “unconstitutional.” “This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court,” TikTok said in a statement. “We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail.” SENATORS SLAM ‘DELAY TACTIC’ ON TIKTOK BILL DESPITE ‘NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE’ The company said it has “invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation.” “This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans,” the company continued. “As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.” Fox News’ Mark Merideth, Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EVM-VVPAT case: SC says ‘can’t control polls’, reserves verdict after noting EC’s answers
Judge Datta of the Supreme Court says, “Mr. Bhushan, we cannot control the election; we cannot control another constitutional authority.” pointed out to advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Sahil Khan offered Rs 4 cr For ‘Bigg Boss OTT’: Report
This is a huge amount, which rarely gets offered to celebs for the show.
Blue state voters reveal whether they think former President Trump’s trial is ‘legitimate’: poll
The majority of New York voters view their state’s trial against former President Trump as legitimate, according to a new Empire State poll. A Siena College Poll asked likely voters in New York their viewpoints on the Trump trial and the criminal charges brought against the former president, just days after the case officially kicked off in a Manhattan courtroom. About 54% of New Yorkers said they believe the trial is “legitimate,” while 34% view it as a “witch hunt”. Among those who see the Trump trial as legitimate are 77% of Democrat respondents and 44% of independents. About 66% of Republican respondents reported viewing the case as a “witch hunt” against the former president. TRUMP V US: SCOTUS LIKELY TO DETERMINE PRESIDENTS GET ‘SOME AMOUNT’ OF IMMUNITY, EXPERTS SAY The majority of respondents, 60%, said they are watching the historic trial unfold, paying either “some attention” or a “great deal” to it. NY PROSECUTORS REVEAL ‘ANOTHER CRIME’ TRUMP ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO CONCEAL WITH FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS The charges against Trump include 34 charges of falsifying his business records, including making hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors revealed a new alleged crime during the trial Tuesday, charging the former president was also involved in “conspiracy to promote or prevent election.” While a majority of New Yorkers said they found legitimacy in the trial, Trump was still more favored among New York independents than both President Biden and Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul. According to the poll, 45% of independents reported having a favorable opinion of the former president, while only 29% viewed Biden positively. Additionally, the poll found that Biden’s favorability and job performance rating dropped among New York voters. “The good news for Biden is that he continues to hold a double-digit lead over Trump in solidly blue New York. The bad news for Biden is he only leads by 10 points, 47-37%, after leading 48-36% in February, in a state where enrolled Democrats outnumber Republicans better than two-to-one,” Steven Greenberg, Siena College pollster, said in a press release alongside the results. “While Biden has support from 72% of Democrats, Trump has the support of 81% of Republicans and leads with independents, 46-32%.” About 64% of respondents also said they believe the country is on the wrong track, just months ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Siena College poll was conducted from April 15 to 17 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.