Five key takeaways from US President Donald Trump’s Middle East trip
Washington, DC – Three days, three countries, hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and a geopolitical shift in the United States’s approach to the region: Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East has been eventful. This week, the United States president visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in the first planned trip of his second presidency, after attending Pope Francis’s funeral last month. Trump was visibly gleeful throughout the trip as he secured investments, criticised domestic political rivals and heaped praise on Gulf leaders. The word “historic” was used more than a few times by US officials to describe the visits. With Trump returning to the White House, here are five key takeaways from his trip: A rebuke of interventionism Addressing an investment summit in Riyadh, Trump promoted a realist approach to the Middle East — one in which the US does not intervene in the affairs of other countries. He took a swipe at neoconservatives who oversaw the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as he lauded Gulf leaders for developing the region. Advertisement “This great transformation has not come from Western intervention or flying people in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs,” he said. “The gleaming marbles of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation-builders, neo-cons or liberal nonprofits like those who spent trillions and trillions of dollars failing to develop Kabul, Baghdad, so many other cities.” Trump built his political brand with his “America First” slogan, calling for the US to focus on its own issues instead of helping — or bombing — foreign countries. But his words at the investment summit marked a stern rebuke of the neo-cons who dominated Trump’s Republican Party a decade ago. “In the end, the so-called nation-builders wrecked far more nations than they built, and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves,” Trump said. Israel sidelined, but no Gaza solution It is rare for US presidents to travel to the Middle East and not visit Israel, but Trump omitted the US ally from his itinerary as he toured the region. Skipping Israel was seen as a reflection of the deteriorating ties between the US administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This week’s trip also came in the context of several moves perceived as evidence of the US marginalising Israel. The US has continued to hold talks with Israel’s rival Iran, announced a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen, and conducted unilateral negotiations to release Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a US citizen, from Hamas captivity. Advertisement Moreover, while touring the Gulf, Trump did not use his remarks to prioritise the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which had been a top goal during his first term. It remains unclear how Trump’s decisions will affect the “special relationship” between the two allies, but experts say it is becoming increasingly apparent that the US no longer views the Middle East solely through the lens of Israel. “Is it a tactical problem for Netanyahu and the entire pro-Israel lobby? I think it is,” Khaled Elgindy, a visiting scholar at Georgetown University, said of Trump’s shift. “It does throw a wrench in the machinery because it is a president who is showing openly daylight with Israeli decision-making, and not just in rhetoric, but acting on it — leaving Israel out of the process.” With that chasm emerging, some Palestinian rights advocates had hoped that the US president’s trip to the region would see Washington pursue a deal to end Israel’s war on Gaza. But as Trump marvelled at the luxurious buildings in the Gulf, Israel intensified its bombardment to destroy what’s left of the Palestinian territory. No ceasefire was announced, despite reports of continuing talks in Doha. And Israel appears to be pushing forward with its plan to expand its assault on Gaza as it continues to block aid for the nearly two million people in the enclave, leading to fears of famine. United Nations experts and rights groups have described the situation as a genocide. Advertisement But despite preaching “peace and prosperity” for both Israelis and Palestinians, Trump made no strong push to end the war during this week’s trip. On Thursday, Trump suggested that he has not given up on the idea of depopulating Gaza and turning it over to the US — a proposal that legal experts say amounts to ethnic cleansing. “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good. Make it a freedom zone,” he said. “Let the United States get involved, and make it just a freedom zone.” Lifting Syria sanctions In a move that surprised many observers, Trump announced from Riyadh that he will offer sanction relief to Syria, as the country emerges from a decade-plus civil war. Trump also met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and described him as a “young, attractive guy”. A wholesale lifting of sanctions was not expected, in part because of Israel’s hostility to the new authorities in Syria. Israeli officials often describe al-Sharaa, who led al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria before severing ties with the group, as a “terrorist”. But Trump said he made the decision to lift the economic penalties against Syria at the request of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” the US president said. The White House said on Wednesday that Trump had a list of requests for al-Sharaa, including establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and deporting “Palestinian terrorists”. Advertisement Removing US sanctions, which had been imposed on the government of former President Bashar al-Assad, is likely to be a boost for the new Syrian authorities, who are grappling with an ailing economy after years of conflict. “Lifting sanctions on Syria represents a fundamental turning point,” Ibrahim Nafi
SpaceX wins federal approval to launch more rockets in South Texas
The federal approval comes after vote from residents — mostly SpaceX employees — to form a new city at the Rio Grande Valley beach.
Arlington, Virginia, county board blocks police coordination with ICE in more cases
The County Board of Arlington, Virginia, voted this week to further restrict police cooperation with ICE in a move the state’s attorney general said only benefits “illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it’s human trafficking or even acts of terrorism.” Sections of the Arlington County Trust Policy were removed to eliminate “instances in which ACPD can initiate contact with ICE regarding immigration enforcement,” the county said on its website. “Banning local police from alerting ICE, from terrorists, from MS-13 gang members, from human traffickers, that is not compassion. That’s actually negligence,” Arlington Attorney General Jason Miyares told Fox News after the vote. “I want to be clear, this present policy does absolutely nothing to make Arlington safe. It makes it less safe. The only people that benefit from this are illegal immigrants that have committed some of the most heinous acts, whether it’s human trafficking or even acts of terrorism. It does not protect the community, does not protect Arlington, does not protect Virginians.” GOV. YOUNGKIN PROPOSES WITHHOLDING STATE FUNDING FROM VIRGINIA’S ‘SANCTUARY CITIES’ A copy of the old Trust Policy, which the county said was first adopted in July 2022 to ensure residents can interact with the local government without fear of action by federal immigration authorities, outlined the instances in which the Arlington County Police Department could reach out to ICE. It said ACPD could contact federal immigration authorities if someone was an “undocumented immigrant” who “has been identified as a gang member and is wanted or arrested for a violent felony or a criminal street gang offense,” or if they were “arrested for a terrorism or human trafficking offense,” according to a copy of the policy obtained by WJLA. VIRGINIA GOV PROMISES ‘FULL COOPERATION’ WITH ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS However, the updated policy no longer includes that language. “To be clear, breaking the law is still breaking the law. This decision does not change that, and if a crime is committed, law enforcement will respond,” Takis Karantonis, the chair of the Arlington County Board, said in a statement. “The decision to remove Section 7 and related language comes in the wake of the federal administration’s ongoing erosion of the constitutional right to due process, which every person has regardless of their status,” he added. “The rhetoric and actions of this administration have led to tremendous stress and fear in our community, and we want to make sure all residents feel safe in engaging with local government, particularly with local law enforcement.” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has come out against the vote, writing on X, “The Arlington County Board’s latest action to prohibit Arlington Police from any cooperation with ICE, even regarding violent MS-13 gang members who are illegally here, is dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the oath they swore to protect their constituents. “At what point did protecting violent illegal immigrants become more important than protecting your constituents?” he added. “The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has been working in Arlington County, catching and arresting violent criminals, including MS-13 gang members. That will continue — unabated — in Arlington and around the Commonwealth.” Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor said, “The Democrat Party is fully radicalized against Americans.” When asked by Fox News Digital Friday for a reaction to the vote, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “These sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives. “While Arlington Country sanctuary politicians work to thwart ICE, DHS will continue arresting criminal illegal aliens and getting them out of our country. Radical sanctuary politicians need to put the safety of the American people first, not criminal illegal aliens. No American wants criminal illegal aliens loose on America’s streets and neither should our leaders who represent them,” she added. “We find it extremely troubling that Arlington County leaders made the decision to prioritize politics ahead of public safety,” ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement to Fox News. “Prohibiting local law enforcement from alerting federal authorities to the presence of an egregious hazard to their community only emboldens criminal offenders while putting people at risk.” The agency has made 17 arrests in Arlington County so far this fiscal year, and three of those arrested were confirmed MS-13 gang members. Fox News’ Casey Clark contributed to this report.
New House GOP resolution eviscerates Comey over ’86 47′ Instagram post
FIRST ON FOX: House GOP allies of President Donald Trump are moving to use the power of Congress to punish former FBI Director James Comey for his now-deleted “86 47” Instagram post. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, chairman of the 189-member-strong Republican Study Committee (RSC), is introducing a resolution alongside Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., to condemn Comey for “incitement of violence against President Donald J. Trump.” Pfluger and Lee’s three-page resolution calls the post “disturbing” and “urges the relevant authorities to take every relevant action to ensure that Mr. Comey is never again permitted to serve as an employee of the federal government.” ANTI-ABORTION PROVIDER MEASURE IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD SPARK HOUSE GOP REBELLION It also asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to not only investigate the matter, but also make the findings of its investigation known to both the relevant House committee and the American public. Comey posted a photo of seashells forming the numbers “86 47” on the beach on Thursday. It ignited a social media firestorm, with Trump allies and other Republicans immediately accusing the former FBI director of calling for Trump to be killed. Comey later deleted the post and followed it with a statement that he opposed all violence. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” Comey said. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told the Associated Press that Comey is now under investigation by the Trump administration. Pfluger and Lee’s resolution noted that Comey had made the post while Trump was on a diplomatic visit to the Middle East, which they argue ran the risk of “jeopardizing the President’s security and invigorating our nation’s enemies abroad.” They also pointed out that there had been two known attempts on Trump’s life last year during the 2024 election – including the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, where the president was shot in the ear. Lee, notably, was on the House task force investigating the Butler rally shooting. “Having failed in his attempts to take down President Trump as one of the main architects of the Russia collusion hoax, Comey has now resorted to the unthinkable: calling for violence against our Commander-in-Chief,” the RSC chairman told Fox News Digital. MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE “That someone who once held one of our nation’s most sacred positions of law enforcement would incite such dangerous rhetoric is not just alarming—it’s disqualifying and un-American. This resolution demands the accountability and transparency the American people deserve, ensuring Comey never again holds a position of public trust.” Fox News Digital made multiple attempts to reach Comey and his representatives but did not hear back by press time.
Republican says Biden started controversial negotiations for backup Air Force One
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., recently claimed that widely-criticized negotiations with Qatar over a $400 million Air Force One temporary replacement gift began under the Biden administration – not after President Donald Trump took office. “What no one is talking about is [that] this same 747 has been in negotiations for a year,” Mullin said on CNN Wednesday. “The Biden administration is the one that started these conversations. It didn’t start underneath the Trump administration – why? Because we need a back-up for Air Force One.” Mullin said there is no current backup plane for Air Force One, which is about 40 years old. A recent backup was retired from service due to “structural issues,” the senator said. HOUSE DEMOCRAT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ ETHICS PROBE OF QATARI PLANE GIFT TO TRUMP “The fact is, this conversation started with Qatar with Biden a year ago,” he said. Mullin had been privy to a recent conversation with the Qataris when the information about the Biden administration’s reported role was gleaned, according to a spokesperson. Mullin said he would give the media “a pass” for not knowing about the reported Biden-era negotiations with the Doha government. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dismissed the controversy in an interview with Fox News’ “Special Report,” noting that his country had originally purchased the plane from “an American company”—Boeing. “I don’t see a point out of this [debate],” al-Thani said, adding it is a “really unfair accusation that Qatar is trying to buy influence.” For his part, Trump has pushed back on claims of corrupt intent in potentially accepting the gift from Doha on behalf of the U.S. He rejected allegations from Democrats like Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who complained to the Government Accountability office that the deal is a “flying grift” and violates the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibiting public officers from accepting presents or titles from royalty or foreign governments. TRUMP TEASES ‘VERY, VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT’ AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST TRIP, CARNEY SAYS HE’S ‘ON EDGE OF MY SEAT’ “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive.” Trump also said it would be foolish not to acknowledge the U.S.’ cost savings in the interim. Trump said the plane would be given to the Pentagon, not himself – while Mullin and other defenders argued there was no such kerfuffle when the U.S. accepted the Statue of Liberty as a gift from the French government in the 1870s. In the Mullin interview, CNN host Jake Tapper said Congress had authorized that particular gift. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin also gave the U.S. a large teardrop-shaped sculpture memorializing the murdered Americans. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP It currently sits at the Cape Liberty cruise port in New Jersey – in sight of Ground Zero – but Putin’s name was scrubbed from it by Bayonne officials after he invaded Ukraine. Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Biden for comment.
Trump-appointed federal judge rules against Biden-era sex-based employment discrimination guidance
A Trump-appointed federal judge slapped down portions of Biden-era Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance that claims Title VII protections against sex-based employment discrimination include the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity. The ruling, signed by Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northwestern District of Texas, declares that language in the guidance that defines “sex” in Title VII as encompassing sexual orientation and gender identity is “contrary to law.” The ruling declares the same regarding “all language defining ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ as a protected class.” “Sex-based discrimination under Title VII includes employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” part of the EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace reads. “Accordingly, sex-based harassment includes harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including how that identity is expressed.” US JUDGE RULES THAT BIDEN TEAM’S LGBTQ PROPOSAL WRONGLY INTERPRETED OBAMACARE PROVISION The guidance notes that, “The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law, are not meant to bind the public in any way, and do not obviate the need for the EEOC and its staff to consider the facts of each case and applicable legal principles when exercising their enforcement discretion.” The ruling comes in a legal challenge lodged by the Heritage Foundation — a conservative D.C. think tank — and the state of Texas. “The Biden EEOC tried to compel businesses – and the American people – to deny basic biological truth,” Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, said in a statement, noting that “thanks to the great state of Texas and the work of my Heritage colleagues, a federal judge said: not so fast. READ THE JUDGE’S ORDER – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: “This ruling is more than a legal victory. It’s a cultural one,” he added. “It says no – you don’t have to surrender common sense at the altar of leftist ideology. You don’t have to pretend men are women. And you don’t have to lie to keep your job. Heritage is doing exactly what the conservative movement needs to do: stop apologizing, start suing, and take back institutions.” The White House called it a “major win for women and commonsense.” The judge “confirmed what the Trump Administration consistently maintains: government-imposed DEI policies requiring bathroom, dress, and pronoun accommodations are illegal,” White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital. On Inauguration Day earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring it U.S. policy “to recognize two sexes, male and female.” That order called for rescinding guidance documents, or portions of documents, that clash with the order. The EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace was specifically mentioned in the order. CLINTON-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP ADMIN FROM PULLING FOREIGN SERVICE WORKERS’ BARGAINING RIGHTS However, after Trump issued the order, EEOC Commissioners Charlotte Burrows, Jocelyn Samuels and Kalpana Kotagal said in a joint statement that “like all workers, LGBTQI+ workers — including transgender workers — are protected by federal law and entitled to the full measure of America’s promise of equal opportunity in the workplace.” Samuels and Burrows later said in January they had been informed by the White House that Trump was removing them from their roles as EEOC commissioners. The EEOC notes on its website that it needs a quorum to vote on rescinding guidance documents. “As of January 28, 2025, the EEOC no longer has a quorum of its bipartisan leadership panel of Commissioners, following the departures of two Commissioners. The Commission panel currently is comprised of Republican Acting Chair Andrea Lucas (designated as Acting Chair by President Trump on January 20, 2025) and Democrat Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal,” the website explains. NEW HOUSE BILL WOULD MAKE TRUMP BAN ON TRANSGENDER TROOPS PERMANENT The Texas attorney general’s office and the EEOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital on Friday.
Trump appointee Barrett challenges administration on nationwide injunctions, surprises and delights liberals
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett sparred with U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer Thursday, pressing him on whether the Trump administration would follow federal court precedent. The exchange quickly became one of the day’s most talked-about moments and could reignite criticism of Barrett from Trump allies. The back-and-forth took place Thursday during oral arguments in a case related to President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship with a specific focus on whether lower courts should be able to block executive actions from taking effect nationwide. Justice Barrett, a Trump appointee, grilled Sauer about the administration’s stance toward lower court rulings, which followed similar lines of inquiry from her colleagues on the bench. “I want to ask you about a potential tension,” she began, before stopping to correct herself. “Well, no, not a potential tension, an actual tension that I see in answers that you gave to Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Kagan.” JUSTICE KAGAN SNAPS AT TRUMP LAWYER IN MAJOR CASE: ‘EVERY COURT HAS RULED AGAINST YOU’ Barrett then asked Sauer if the Trump administration “wanted to reserve its right to maybe not follow a Second Circuit precedent, say, in New York, because you might disagree with its opinion?” “You resisted Justice Kagan when she asked you whether the government would obey” such a precedent, she said. Sauer responded, “Our general practice is to respect those precedents. But there are circumstances when it is not a categorical practice, and that is not …” Barrett interrupted, asking if that is the Trump administration’s practice or “the long-standing practice of the federal government?” Sauer replied that it is “the long-standing policy of the Department of Justice.” “Really?” she asked. SUPREME COURT TAKES ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: JUSTICES SEEMINGLY SPLIT ON LOWER COURT POWERS “Yes, as it was phrased to me, we generally respect circuit precedent, but not necessarily in every case,” Sauer said. “Some examples might be a situation where we are litigating to get that circuit precedent overruled and so on,” he added later. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about this week,” Barrett stressed, pointing to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that Trump’s birthright citizenship order is unconstitutional. “And what do you do the next day, or the next week?” she asked. “Generally, we follow this,” Sauer said, which provoked a somewhat incredulous response from the justice. “So, you’re still saying generally?” she asked him. “And you still think that it’s generally the long-standing policy of the federal government to take that approach?” The remarks sparked divided political reactions on social media, with Democratic strategist Max Burns noting, “Trump Solicitor General D. John Sauer tells Justice Amy Coney Barrett that Trump ‘generally’ tries to respect federal court decisions but he has the ‘right’ to disregard legal opinions he personally disagrees with. Coney Barrett seems to be in disbelief.” “John Sauer just said the quiet part out loud: unless the Supreme Court tells them directly, Trump’s team might ignore lower court rulings,” said Seth Taylor, a 2024 DNC delegate. “That’s not governance – that’s constitutional brinksmanship.” “Amy Coney Barrett (ACB) is proving once again she may the the worst SCOTUS pick ever by a Republican,” conservative commentator and podcast host Cash Loren said on social media. “She has a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. … Yet you can hear her disdain for the Trump administration.” 100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND ‘TEFLON DON’: TRUMP SECOND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT Earlier this year, Barrett sided with three of the Supreme Court’s liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts in rejecting, 5-4, the Trump administration’s request to block billions in USAID money for previously completed projects. The decision sparked fierce criticism from Trump supporters, who have attempted to label Justice Barrett an “activist” justice and someone who has been insufficiently loyal to the president who tapped her for the high court. Others have pointed out her track record as a reliably conservative voter and the fact the court has lifetime appointments to allow justices to ostensibly act without undue political interference. Trump later said he had no knowledge of the attacks against her, telling reporters, “She’s a very good woman.” “She’s very smart, and I don’t know about people attacking her. I really don’t know.” Trump added. The court ruling could come in a matter of days or weeks. But it will likely hinge closely on the votes of two Trump appointees, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Barrett, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News Friday. Overall, he said of the hearing, “it got pretty sporty in there.” “There were some lively moments, at least lively for the Supreme Court,” he said, before noting the justices to watch are Gorsuch and Barrett. “Justice Barrett is probably the greatest concern right now for the Trump administration,” Turley said.
Senators sound off as Supreme Court hears case on nationwide injunctions
With the Supreme Court hearing its first case Thursday relating to nationwide injunctions – federal district court judges issuing rulings that affect the entire country – several proponents of a plan to end the practice are speaking out. Senate Judiciary Committee member John Kennedy, R-La., said it appears to be a case of the “tail wag[ging] the dog,” in that it is the judiciary’s job to adjudicate the law, not create it. “When Congress makes a law, the federal judges are supposed to follow it. When the president exercises his power under Article II, judges are supposed to follow it, so long as it’s lawful,” Kennedy said. “They can’t just overturn it because they don’t agree with it, and that’s what a lot of these federal judges are doing.” SEN JOHN KENNEDY: WHY SCOTUS SHOULD SEIZE OPPORTUNITY TO ELIMINATE UNIVERSAL INJUNCTIONS In a Fox News Opinion piece this week, Kennedy noted “universal injunctions” have been around since the 1960s, when judges began enjoining the government from enforcing certain policies against “anyone, anywhere” – adding they let a judge say “sayonara” to laws, regulations or even whims of a president they don’t like. Kennedy noted that there have only been 27 such injunctions from JFK through Y2K. A review showed none was lodged against Presidents George H.W. Bush or Bill Clinton – but began to creep in during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. With nearly 100 rulings against President Donald Trump in his one-and-an-eighth terms, Kennedy said some judges seem to want to “rewrite the Constitution every other Thursday, to advance some social or economic agenda that they can’t get by the voters: But the law is the law.” “And a universal injunction was created out of whole cloth. There’s no statutory basis for a universal injunction,” the Louisianan said, echoing the analysis in his op-ed. Given his penchant for often colorful and probing questions of judiciary appointees, Kennedy was also asked how an unfavorable ruling from the Supreme Court could affect nominee choices and further politicize the process. “All the nominees in front of us are going to be asked about universal injunctions, I can tell you. And if they try to dodge and bob and weave and run like a hound on the treeline, when it’s my turn to question them I’m not going to let them. I’m not asking how they would rule in a particular case, but I want to know what they think the legal basis is for a universal injunction, because there is none: I want to hear what they had to say.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville – who joined Kennedy and others in supporting Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley’s Judicial Relief Clarification Act (JCRA) to end the practice – said such “woke” judges should consider retiring their robes. SENATOR WARNS OF ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL OVERREACH’ AHEAD OF SCOTUS SHOWDOWN “President Trump campaigned on a promise to deport dangerous criminals and won in a landslide. In just four months, he has already delivered the most secure border in American history,” Tuberville told Fox News Digital. “Unfortunately, we have radical left judges who are allowing their personal beliefs to supersede the will of 77 million Americans who voted for President Trump and his agenda,” the former Auburn football legend added. “If a judge wants to make political decisions, they should run for office. Otherwise, they should focus on upholding the Constitution and enforcing the law.” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also said he supports the JCRA, calling nationwide injunctions “a real problem.” “[A] single federal judge can essentially stop a popularly elected president dead in his tracks by a temporary restraining order, which doesn’t just deal with the parties in front of the judge, but literally the whole nation.” “If the Supreme Court doesn’t do it in the context of this birthright citizenship case, then Congress needs to continue to pursue this via Senator Grassley’s bill and other means.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP While the case argued Thursday involves an injunction with regard to the interpretation of birthright citizenship in the law, Cornyn said that the court will determine the scope of that particular order, but that the idea of nationwide injunctions is being abused. For his part, Grassley previously told Fox News Digital that such injunctions “are an unconstitutional abuse of judicial power.”
Kennedy Center promotes first explicitly pro-Christian feature in years as part of new ‘family-friendly’ focus
The Kennedy Center is seeking to revamp its family-focused programming, including through offering more explicitly faith-based content that has often been left off the center’s agenda. To kick off the new focus, the Kennedy Center will be holding a free family screening of the new Angel Studios animated movie “The King of Kings,” which journeys through the life of Jesus from the viewpoint of a young boy who, throughout the movie, discovers the transformative power of faith. It is the first Jesus-centric show there since 2022. The “King of Kings” screening, which will be held on Sunday, June 1, marks a shift to providing more pro-Christian content at the Kennedy Center. According to the center, the only recent modern production that could be considered “Christian” was a 2022 showing of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” a musical from the early 1970s that some critics (at least initially, such as the late Rev. Billy Graham) considered sacrilegious. DAVID MARCUS: AS SPRINGSTEEN AND DE NIRO TRASH AMERICA ABROAD, KENNEDY CENTER THRIVES “When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘King of Kings,’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center,” Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The Kennedy Center, said. “And then coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.” The special screening of “King of Kings” will mark the center’s first Jesus-centric show since “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the Kennedy Center indicated. The venue has hosted gospel singers and classical performances by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, some of which were originally commissioned for church music. SCOOP: DOLLY PARTON SYMPHONY CONCERT HEADS TO DC’S KENNEDY CENTER IN EVENT ‘NO ONE WILL WANT TO MISS’ “The King of Kings has become the most successful theatrically released faith-based animated film in history,” said David Fischer, Head of Acquisitions & Business Affairs at Angel Studios. “But its greatest achievement is in the hearts it’s moved—and its screening at the Kennedy Center is a symbol of just how far truth and light can travel.” The film, which came out last month, saw a strong box office performance, earning $19.3 million during its first weekend in theaters. It is produced by Angel Studios, which is a crowd-funded streaming service and film studio that produces a lot of pro-Christian content and aims to help boost independent creators.
Kennedy Center seeks to expand ‘family-friendly’ programming, starts with free Christian film screening
The Kennedy Center is seeking to revamp its family-focused programming, including through offering more faith-based content that has often been left off the center’s agenda. To kick off the new focus, the Kennedy Center will be holding a free family screening of the new Angel Studios animated movie “The King of Kings,” which journeys through the life of Jesus from the viewpoint of a young boy who, throughout the movie, discovers the transformative power of faith. The “King of Kings” screening, which will be held on Sunday, June 1, also marks a shift to providing more pro-Christian content at the Kennedy Center. According to the center, the only recent modern production that could be considered “Christian” was a 2022 showing of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” a musical from the early 1970s that some critics (at least initially, such as the late Rev. Billy Graham) considered sacrilegious. DAVID MARCUS: AS SPRINGSTEEN AND DE NIRO TRASH AMERICA ABROAD, KENNEDY CENTER THRIVES “When I saw the advertising campaign for ‘King of Kings,’ I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center,” Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of The Kennedy Center, said. “And then coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.” The special screening of “King of Kings” will mark the center’s first Jesus-centric show since “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the Kennedy Center indicated. The venue has hosted gospel singers and classical performances by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, some of which were originally commissioned for church music. SCOOP: DOLLY PARTON SYMPHONY CONCERT HEADS TO DC’S KENNEDY CENTER IN EVENT ‘NO ONE WILL WANT TO MISS’ “The King of Kings has become the most successful theatrically released faith-based animated film in history,” said David Fischer, Head of Acquisitions & Business Affairs at Angel Studios. “But its greatest achievement is in the hearts it’s moved—and its screening at the Kennedy Center is a symbol of just how far truth and light can travel.” The film, which came out last month, saw a strong box office performance, earning $19.3 million during its first weekend in theaters. It is produced by Angel Studios, which is a crowd-funded streaming service and film studio that produces a lot of pro-Christian content and aims to help boost independent creators.