GOP lawmaker warns that blue state’s likely move will make gas prices skyrocket: ‘Affordability issue’
Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., is one of the many voices sounding the alarm about a recent oil refinery closure announcement having a greater impact on American wallets. Valero Energy Corp. announced that it will likely close its Benicia refinery near San Francisco in April 2026, putting more than 400 jobs in jeopardy. “We understand the impact that this may have on our employees, business partners, and community, and will continue to work with them through this period,” Lane Riggs, board chair, CEO and president of Valero, said in a news release on April 16. Fong said the state’s energy policies are making it tough for the industry to survive. CALIFORNIA CAREER POLITICIAN BARBARA LEE WINS MAYOR RACE IN EMBATTLED OAKLAND “This is in addition to other refinery closures that have been announced. So, in totality, what we’re looking at is 20% of California’s refining capacity disappearing. And that’s significant,” Fong told Fox News Digital in an interview. Valero also operates a refinery in Los Angeles, but the move regarding the Benicia location is seen as a major hit. “It’s a warning that California’s fuel supply is in jeopardy, and it’s all caused because of [Democrat Gov.] Gavin Newsom’s poor energy policies. That’s the root cause, and the rigid regulatory environment, all the mandates, all the new regulations that have been put on these refineries, and now it’s putting our fuel supply in jeopardy. And this isn’t just an energy issue. This is an affordability issue. This is a jobs issue. This is a reliability issue,” he continued. ALASKA SENATOR LITERALLY SHREDS BIDEN’S ENERGY ORDERS, BOOSTS WH EFFORTS TO LEVERAGE ARCTIC GAS PIPELINE The Golden State’s policies are major contributors to higher gas prices in the state, according to a recent study by University of Southern California professor Michael Mische. “California’s energy policy is at a breaking point,” Fong said. “This is not a market failure. This is because of regulations and mandates that are pushing refineries to close. They can’t survive in this and make it economically feasible to function in California. And those who are going to suffer are everyday Californians.“ As the state is a major energy supplier, the congressman said its regulations have occasionally gained bipartisan scrutiny from neighboring Arizona and Nevada. “This is going to impact California drivers significantly,” Fong said. “When there’s gasoline shortages, what you’re going to see is the price of gasoline go up. And in California, you know, we pay the highest price of gas compared to the other states.” US, SAUDI ARABIA COULD CEMENT ‘LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP’ ON NUCLEAR ENERGY As of Sunday, Californians are paying an average of $4.83 per gallon, which is significantly higher than the $3.15 national average, according to AAA. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment, but it referred the inquiry to the California Energy Commission, which said Valero’s legally required advance notice will help the state better prepare for its next steps. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The California Energy Commission (CEC) is committed to its efforts to collaborate with the industry and stakeholders so that the state continues to have a safe, reliable and affordable supply while transitioning away from fossil fuels,” CEC Vice Chair Siva Sunda stated. “As required under Senate Bill X1-2, Valero Refining Company notified the CEC of its intent to idle, restructure or cease operations at its Benicia Refinery by the end of April 2026. This advance notification helps the state to continue to closely monitor the evolving conditions in the fuel supply market and proactively plan and take steps to support the transition in the state’s fuel supply.” “The CEC will continue to work in partnership with the industry and stakeholders to protect consumers during this transition,” he continued. Valero faces $82 million in fines from different governmental bodies in California over environmental regulations, according to KXJZ.
Detained Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi says he’s ‘in good hands’
Mahdawi, a Columbia University student now being held at a prison in Vermont in the US, says he has faith in the ‘ability of justice’. A Palestinian man who led peaceful protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza as a student at Columbia University, and was recently detained during an interview about finalising his US citizenship, has said he’s “in good hands” at the Vermont prison where he is being held. Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was arrested on April 14 in Colchester, Vermont. He met on Monday with US Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, a Democrat. US President Donald Trump’s administration has been cracking down on pro-Palestine activities. In the first week of his presidency, Trump pledged to deport students who joined protests against Israel’s war on Gaza that swept US university campuses last year. “I’m staying positive by reassuring myself in the ability of justice and the deep belief of democracy,” Mahdawi said in Welch’s video posted on X. “This is the reason I wanted to become a citizen of this country, because I believe in the principles of this country.” I met with Mohsen Mahdawi today. Listen to his message. pic.twitter.com/MU280oAQ9T — Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) April 21, 2025 Advertisement Welch’s office said Mahdawi was being detained at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St Albans, Vermont. His case is scheduled for a status conference on Wednesday. His lawyers have called for his release. The US Justice Department has not said why he’s being detained. The New York Times reported April 15 that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote a memo that says Mahdawi’s activities could “potentially undermine” the Middle East peace process. Rubio did not provide any evidence of this. Rubio has cited a rarely used statute to justify the deportation of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil. It gives the US power to deport those who pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”. Khalil says he is a political prisoner. He also missed the birth of his son after being refused temporary release to attend the birth, his wife Noor Abdalla said on Monday. Abdalla said that she gave birth to the couple’s first child in New York without Khalil present after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made the “purposeful decision” to make her family suffer. An immigration judge ruled April 11 that Khalil can be forced out of the country as a national security risk, after lawyers argued the legality of deporting the activist who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. His lawyers plan to appeal. A US immigration judge in the state of Louisiana ruled last week that Khalil, who was detained last month, can be deported – setting a precedent for the administration to proceed with its efforts to deport dissenting foreign students, despite them being in the country legally and not being charged with any crime. Advertisement Trump has also threatened to halt federal funding for schools, colleges, and universities if they allow what he called “illegal protests”. In other high-profile cases, immigration officers have detained and sought to deport Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University student from Turkiye, and Columbia student Yunseo Chung, who is a US permanent resident originally from South Korea. Adblock test (Why?)
Sacred sparks fly at India’s festival of flames
NewsFeed During Agni Keli, a fire-throwing ritual in Mangaluru, India, shirtless men hurl burning palm fronds at each other to honour the Hindu goddess Durga. Devotees risk burns but believe prayer protects them from serious harm. Published On 22 Apr 202522 Apr 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Netanyahu’s survival tactics tested amid Israel Shin Bet head’s accusations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a knack for survival. The country’s longest serving leader – he has been in power for 18 years over three nonconsecutive periods – has seen off many rivals and outlasted several enemies. The latest fight is with Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet. Netanyahu fired Bar last month due to what he called a breakdown in trust, but the Supreme Court has suspended the dismissal, pending an investigation. In the meantime, there have been protests against Netanyahu – the prime minister is used to those – and now an affidavit filed by Bar on Monday, in which he lobs several accusations against the Israeli leader. They include demands from Netanyahu that Bar place his loyalty to him above that of the Supreme Court’s rulings if the two ever clash and that he spy on Netanyahu’s opponents. It all comes as the Shin Bet investigates financial ties between Netanyahu’s office and Qatar. Scandal after scandal Netanyahu has denied Bar’s claims, calling his affidavit a “false” one that would be “disproved in detail soon”. Advertisement The response follows the Netanyahu playbook when facing opposition – a denial of any accusations made against him, a shifting of the blame and pushing a problem to the future if possible. The legal cases Netanyahu faces – he is on trial for corruption – are a case in point. The prime minister has been able to drag the court process out for years and most recently has used Israel’s war on Gaza to delay his court appearances. “There is scandal fatigue in the Israeli public,” Israeli political analyst Nimrod Flaschenberg told Al Jazeera. Flaschenberg added that Israeli society’s increased polarisation means another scandal will hardly shift where people stand on the divisive Netanyahu. “People who are against Netanyahu and against the government see this as another evidence of the corruption, the deterioration of democratic space and the end of Israeli democracy,” he said. “And people from the pro-Netanyahu camp see this as Bar trying to generate a coup against Netanyahu and his right-wing government.” This polarisation has been aided by the fact the Israeli political opposition is fractured. Opposition figure Benny Gantz was once the challenger to the throne but has been criticised for failing to take strong stances on complicated issues, and there is growing support for him to be replaced as the head of the National Unity political alliance. “Many Israelis think [the current situation is] an emergency but they don’t really have the tools to change it, and there’s no powerful opposition in the parliament that can do anything about it,” said Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst on Israel with the International Crisis Group. Advertisement Strong coalition The war in Gaza itself is a testament to Netanyahu’s survival skills. Despite being blamed by many Israelis for failing to prevent the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, among the deadliest in the country’s history, and unable to free the remaining captives held in Gaza or fully defeat Hamas, Netanyahu remains in power. That is even as the war grows increasingly unpopular in Israel with 100,000 reservists failing to respond to their call-ups, according to the Israeli-Palestinian +972 Magazine. And yet Netanyahu is arguably in a stronger position politically than he was at the start of the war, expanding Israeli-occupied territory in Lebanon and Syria, all while seeing the administration of ally President Donald Trump take power in the United States. Netanyahu’s governing coalition may have lost some figures over time, including former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, but it has become more solidified by shifting further to the right. “His coalition is very much solid and intact,” Zonszein said. “Throughout the last year and a half, he’s only stabilised his coalition further.” Netanyahu has increasingly leaned on the ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties like those led by two of the most far-right ministers in his government – Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. While analysts said a shift rightwards has upset many Israelis, there seems to be little chance of change at the moment. “It would take a very radical step to actually remove Netanyahu from power,” Zonszein said. Advertisement “It’s like a grinding, deteriorating situation in which more allegations and evidence come to light,” Zonszein said, speaking of the scandals Netanyahu has faced. “But it doesn’t mean it’s going to change anything on the ground.” Little hope A sort of lethargy may have started to set in in some quarters of Israeli society as Netanyahu holds onto power. His coalition has enough seats in parliament to continue, and its members have their own reasons for wanting to avoid it breaking up. That means the only way Netanyahu is likely to be removed from power is through elections – the next of which does not need to happen until October 27, 2026. In theory, the attorney general could determine Netanyahu is unfit to serve, but analysts said that would prove contentious and unlikely to happen. Failing that, the only way Netanyahu might be removed from power would be through elections. A poll this month from Israel’s Channel 12 showed that the right-wing former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new party would win a majority if elections were held today. But that alone is not enough to calm the worries of some people in Israel. “Some Israelis are concerned that there won’t be a free and fair election next year,” Zonszein said. Flaschenberg said he feared the police could be used by Netanyahu and his allies to suppress voting. There are, however, some possible moves for the Israeli public to play. Flaschenberg said public strikes have been effective in the past. In mid-2023, a public strike prevented Netanyahu from firing Gallant although another attempt at a strike in late 2024 failed because of a lack of clear demands. Advertisement And the furore over the attempted firing of Bar is unlikely to change things. For the pressure to manifest into something tangible against Netanyahu, a number of
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Is J-K closed tomorrow? Know what’s open, what’s closed?
After the Pahalgam terrorist attack shocked the nation on Tuesday, the Private Schools’ Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has announced of closure of schools in the region after terrorists opened fire on civilians, including tourists in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam in Anantnag district.
TribCast: Get out the popcorn, it’s Paxton vs. Cornyn
The gang welcomes back an old friend, Patrick Svitek, to preview Texas’ biggest political throwdown in years.
The Supreme Court appears to side with parents in religious liberty dispute over storybooks
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority offered strong support for parents seeking the religious liberty right to be informed about and opt their children out of reading material in elementary schools that they say conflicts with their faith. The Montgomery County, Maryland school board withdrew its original opt-out policy for books related to gender and sexuality, prompting a federal lawsuit. In a marathon two-and-a-half oral argument, the justices debated whether parents have been unfairly burdened in exercising their constitutional rights. It is one of three high-profile religious-themed cases the high court will decide this term—including disputes over tax exemptions for religious groups, and taxpayer funding for private religious charter schools—which will be argued next week. GORSUCH, ROBERTS SIDE WITH LEFT-LEANING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IN IMMIGRATION RULING Justice Sonia Sotomayor and her liberal colleagues appeared to back the county’s position on the storybooks. She noted a lower appeals court had refused a preliminary injunction to temporarily reinstate the opt-out policy. “They never reached the issue of whether or not there was disruption, or what the motive was for taking away the opt out,” said Sotomayor. “What they decided was that there wasn’t coercion here, that there was mere exposure. I understood from the record that all that was required is that the books be put on the bookshelf. If that’s all that’s required, is that coercion?” But Justice Samuel Alito echoed the views of several of his conservative colleagues, about returning to the previous policy that he said most schools around the country permit. “What is the big deal about allowing them to opt out of this?” he asked. Alito also questioned the content of several of the books raised in the appeal dealing with same-sex marriage. “I don’t think anybody can read that and say: well, this is just telling children that there are occasions when men marry other men,” said Alito. “It has a clear moral message, and it may be a good message. It’s just a message that a lot of religious people disagree with.” Hundreds on both sides of the issue rallied outside the court, some carrying signs like “Let Parents Parent” and “Include All Families.” The suburban Washington county introduced new books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes into the elementary school curriculum in 2022, as part of the district’s “inclusivity” initiative. PROSECUTION CALLS THEIR SECOND WITNESS AT KAREN READ’S RETRIAL FOR MURDER One of the challenged storybooks raised in the appeals is “Prince & Knight,” described as a “modern fairy tale” for ages 4-8, of the two males falling in love after working together to battle a dragon threatening their kingdom, and later marrying. Another book mentioned repeatedly in the court’s public session was “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” about a little girl’s reaction to her favorite relative’s plans to marry a man. The school district refused to allow parents to opt out of their The school district refused to allow parents to opt out of their elementary school from the reading program – the same way older students can forego sex ed instruction. While the school board initially allowed parents to keep their children out of this curriculum, the plaintiffs say officials quickly reversed course, announcing in March 2023 that exceptions would not be granted and that parents would not be notified before the books were introduced into their children’s classrooms. Officials cited increased absenteeism as one of the reasons for the change. “We felt as parents that we would present these things to our children like we always have, when they’re ready to receive them. And especially a child with special needs, it’s even more difficult for her to understand,” said Grace Morrison, one of the plaintiffs. She and her husband, both Catholics, now homeschool their daughter, after the school refused an accommodation. “Starting to present issues of gender ideology to a child like this could be extremely confusing and damaging, let alone to the faith that we’re raising her in,” she told Fox News Digital. A federal appeals court ruled for the school district, concluding educators did not apply any pressure on children to abandon their religious beliefs, and “simply hearing about other views does not necessarily exert pressure to believe or act differently than one’s religious faith requires.” State officials told the court that parents who choose to send their children to public school are not “coerced” simply by their classroom exposure there to religiously objectionable ideas. The practical feasibility of an opt-out policy at was the key focus of the high court’s public session. “Once we articulate a rule like that,” said Justice Elena Kagan, “it would be like, opt outs for everyone.” SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS OVER PARENTS’ FIGHT TO OPT CHILDREN OUT OF LGBTQ CURRICULUM But Kagan also raised concerns about young children being exposed to some of the books offered in Montgomery County. “I too, was struck by these young kids picture books and, on matters concerning sexuality. I suspect there are a lot of non-religious parents who weren’t all that thrilled about this.” Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who noted he grew up in the affluent county and still lives there with his wife and two school-age daughters, said he was “mystified” at the why the county canceled its original opt-out policy. Some on the bench raised concerns about a sweeping “a la carte” discretion parents would have to object to what goes in schools. “What about a trans student in the classroom?” said Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. “There’s a student who’s in the class. Must the teacher notify the parents of the student’s existence and give them an opt out to not be in the same classroom with this child?” Dozens of briefs were filed by advocacy groups on both sides of the issue, including competing coalitions of states and lawmakers. Many educators say they should be given deference to develop lesson plans that reflect the community at large, and that navigating a flood of individual religious rights claims would make classroom instruction and collaboration extremely problematic. Parents rights and religious groups
House Republican enters race for Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat, setting up high-stakes GOP primary
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., is officially entering the race to replace longtime retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Barr, who has served in the House for over a decade, is expected to kick off his campaign in Richmond, Kentucky this evening. He’s also releasing a video to launch the campaign that paints him as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and a fierce opponent of “woke” trends on diversity, transgender inclusion, and U.S. energy dominance. “The United States is the greatest country on Earth, and it’s not even close. But here’s the problem. The woke left wants to neuter America – literally,” the Kentucky Republican said in the video. MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE “They hate our values. They hate our history. And goodness knows they hate President Trump. But here in Kentucky, that’s why we love him. I’m Andy Barr, and I’m running for Senate to help our President save this great country.” His candidacy sets up a high-profile primary race against former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. In the video, Barr promised to “deport illegal aliens, instead of putting them up in luxury hotels,” and “get rid of this anti-coal, do-gooder ESG garbage once and for all.” “Working with President Trump, I’ll fight to create jobs for hardworking Kentuckians, instead of warm and fuzzies for hardcore liberals,” Barr said in the video. “And as a dad, let me be clear. I’ll fight to lock up the sickos who allow biological men to share locker rooms with our daughters.” His Senate campaign has also been blessed by House GOP leaders, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Republican Leadership Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. SENATE GOP PUSHES TRUMP BUDGET FRAMEWORK THROUGH AFTER MARATHON VOTE SERIES “There is no bigger supporter of President Donald J. Trump and our MAGA movement than my dear friend Andy Barr,” Scalise told Fox News Digital. “I am all-in for Andy in his campaign for the US Senate — proud to support him.” Stefanik said, “I am proud to call Andy a friend and I wholeheartedly endorse his campaign for US Senate. Kentucky needs a Senator who stands 100% with President Trump — that my friend, Andy Barr.” Barr said their support “is a strong signal to all Kentuckians that there is only one America First candidate in this race — and only one candidate with a proven record of getting our America First agenda across the finish line.” The conservative lawmaker has been known as a reliable leadership ally in the House and serves as chair of the House Financial Services Committee’s subcommittee on financial institutions. He’s also a leader of several groups in the House, including the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, and the American Worker Task Force. McConnell is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history and the longest-serving party leader in the upper chamber, only stepping down from leading the Senate GOP conference at the end of last year. His final years in office have been marked by his rocky relationship with Trump, who has called for an end to McConnell’s political career on multiple occasions. Trump and McConnell have also broken on matters of foreign policy and defense. McConnell opposed two major Trump nominees in the national security sphere, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth. McConnell also opposed Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Barr and Cameron’s campaigns are a stark departure from that – both have painted themselves as staunch Trump allies. And in Kentucky, where Trump outran former Vice President Kamala Harris by roughly 30%, the president’s endorsement will likely prove decisive.
‘Striking’: DC appeals court interrogates Trump admin on Pentagon’s transgender military ban policy
A three-judge appeals panel in Washington, D.C., grilled the Trump administration over its expected implementation of the Pentagon’s transgender military ban policy and a lower court’s finding of animus behind the ban. Judges Cornelia T.L. Pillard, an Obama-appointee, and Trump-appointees Gregory G. Katsas and Neomi Rao presided over Tuesday’s oral arguments over an order blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military from going into effect. “We have a sitting president issuing an executive order that has animus on its face, not directing anyone, any panel of experts, to study this issue, but simply directing the Secretary of Defense to implement a ban on transgender service by transgender persons,” Pillard told Justice Department attorney Jason Manion. “And within a month, the Secretary of Defense doing so with no further study other than the Mattis policy.” FEDERAL JUDGE DENIES TRUMP ADMIN’S EFFORT TO BAN TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM MILITARY D.C.-based District Judge Ana Reyes had previously blocked the Trump administration from implementing its ban in March, with Reyes writing in her opinion that the order was “soaked in animus” and discriminated based on a person’s transgender status. Rao asked Manion if the government conceded that there was animus behind the order, to which Manion said they did not. “The relevant question is whether the policy can be explained by any reason other than animus,” Manion responded. Counsel for the appellees, Shannon Minter, also focused on the finding of animus by the lower court, arguing that the policy at hand “does something that is so extraordinarily unusual.” “The government openly, just with complete transparency, expressing animosity towards a group of people and relying on that as a justification and the district court properly noted that,” Minter said. Pillard, who notably asked a majority of the questions, also honed in on the “irreparable harm” the government argues it will suffer if the appeals court does not stay Reyes’ order. HEGSETH SUGGESTS JUDGE REPORT TO MILITARY BASES AFTER RULING THAT PENTAGON MUST ALLOW TRANSGENDER TROOPS Manion argued that Reyes’ order not only affects the military’s competence and readiness as the ban is put on pause, but it also conflicts with the president’s constitutional powers. Manion argued that the “main injuries” include the inability to enforce what the Department believes “to be a valid policy.” Pillard responded back, asking why the government has not previously expressed such concerns of military readiness and competence in past years before the policy came about. “How has the military worked under a different policy?” Pillard asked. “It’s striking to me that the government…has not stymied that.” Katsas specifically asked the government how it expected to go about implementing the policy, asking what procedure would take place “on the back end when there is a servicemember serving who… is found to have some condition that would have been disqualifying at the exception stage.” “Is it a discretionary judgment by a military board? Is it administrative separation?” Katsas asked. Manion said he believed some conditions “undergo an individualized process” in those situations. Pillard expanded upon this line of questioning, asking if there were any other conditions that did not have to undergo a medical evaluation. Manion said he could not think of any at that moment. “This is a core area of presidential power,” Manion said. “[The military] has determined this will increase readiness and not being able to enact it will harm the military and all of those factors add up to irreparable harm here.” Minter likewise argued that there is “no other medical condition that puts a person automatically into separation,” saying “every other condition goes into a med process are you able to do your job.” SKEPTICAL JUDGE QUESTIONS EXECUTIVE ORDER BARRING TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS FROM JOINING THE MILITARY “We don’t talk about people with diabetes or heart conditions being dishonest… that’s just a red flag,” Minter said. No ruling was issued, but an opinion is expected in the coming days that will likely be appealed to the high court. Minter told Fox News Digital after the oral arguments that they were “encouraged by the argument and hopeful the court will deny the stay.” “The plaintiffs in this case are serving with honor and distinction. They have received medals and commendations, deployed worldwide, and been selected for positions of extraordinary responsibility and leadership,” Minter said. “Purging them from the military will not make our country, safer, stronger, or more secure.” At issue in the case is a Jan. 27 executive order signed by Trump requiring the Defense Department to update its guidance regarding “trans-identifying medical standards for military service” and to “rescind guidance inconsistent with military readiness.” In issuing her injunction, Reyes wrote in her opinion that the plaintiffs in the suit “face a violation of their constitutional rights, which constitutes irreparable harm” that would warrant a preliminary injunction.” The defendants in the suit, which include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed a motion to dissolve the injunction on March 21. In the filing, the government argued that the policy is not an overarching ban but instead “turns on gender dysphoria – a medical condition – and does not discriminate against trans-identifying persons as a class.” After the government agreed to push the implementation deadline to March 28 upon Reyes’ request, Reyes denied the government’s motion to dissolve the injunction, prompting the administration to appeal shortly thereafter. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Trump backs Republican rivals in Arizona governor’s race after Rep. Biggs enters contest: ‘I had a problem’
Faced with a dilemma following his endorsement of conservative Karrin Taylor Robson to run for governor of Arizona, President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will also support Republican Rep. Andy Biggs after the lawmaker “unexpectedly” entered the contest. Robson, a small business owner and lawyer, received Trump’s endorsement when no one else was running, Trump said in a Truth Social post. “I like Karrin Taylor Robson of Arizona a lot, and when she asked me to Endorse her, with nobody else running, I Endorsed her, and was happy to do so,” Trump wrote. “When Andy Biggs decided to run for Governor, quite unexpectedly, I had a problem.” As a workaround, Trump decided to endorse both candidates. Biggs and Robson, both Republicans, have touted Trump’s backing. ‘I WILL NOT REST’: BORDER STATE GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WEEKS AFTER TRUMP BACKED HER “Two fantastic candidates, two terrific people, two wonderful champions, and it is therefore my Great Honor TO GIVE MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO BOTH,” Trump said. “Either one will never let you down. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” In a statement to Fox News Digital, Robson said she was grateful for Trump’s endorsement. “I am so grateful to have the President’s support! Today, President Donald Trump reaffirmed what he told me from the rally stage in December when he urged me to run: That he supports me and has fully endorsed my Arizona First campaign. I cannot wait to be in the Governor’s Office as a partner to his conservative, America First agenda. Onward!” TRUMP’S HOUSE ALLIES UNVIEL BILL ‘HAND IN HAND’ WITH DOGE CRACKDOWN “Thank you, @realDonaldTrump!” Biggs wrote on social media. “It’s been an honor to support you and fight for your agenda since 2016. I look forward to fighting along side you as Governor of Arizona, the greatest state in the nation!” Both candidates have pledged to focus on cutting taxes and stronger border security. “I thank President Trump for his strong endorsement and look forward to working with him to secure our border and make Arizona safe again,” Robson said in a statement at the time of Trump’s February endorsement. “Like President Trump, I know how to create jobs. And like President Trump, I will not rest until our border is secure and Arizona families are safe.” Arizona is currently led by incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who took office in 2023. The general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.