‘National emergency’: Trump declares ambitious illegal immigration crackdown in inaugural address
President Trump on Monday made a number of ambitious announcements on border security and immigration, eyeing a sweeping overhaul of U.S. policy and likely fueling pushback from Democrats and immigration activists in the weeks and months ahead. Trump used his inaugural address to outline his plans to fulfill his campaign promises to seal the southern border and launch a historic mass deportation campaign. “First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted,” Trump said moments after being inaugurated. “And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” TRUMP VOWS ‘NEW ERA OF NATIONAL SUCCESS,’ SAYS AMERICA’S ‘DECLINE IS OVER’ IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS Fox News had previewed Trump’s immigration moves, which include deploying the military to the border, ending Biden-era parole policies, restoring border wall construction and designating international cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Trump also will be ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants, suspending refugee resettlement and creating a rapid removal process that does not allow for an asylum claim, officials told reporters. Officials told reporters in a press call that Trump would sign an order clarifying language in the 14th Amendment and stating that the federal government “will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States.” Trump reiterated many of these promises in his address. TRUMP TO DEPLOY MILITARY TO BORDER, END BIDEN PAROLE POLICIES IN FLURRY OF DAY 1 EXECUTIVE ORDERS “We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch-and-release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Under the orders I signed today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” he said. “And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities.” TRUMP TO TAKE MORE THAN 200 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON DAY 1 “As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions,” he said. “And that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before.” Trump made tackling illegal immigration, including a mass deportation operation, a central theme of his 2024 campaign. Polls showed Americans saw illegal immigration as a top issue during the 2024 election, and some Democrats in Congress recently have supported legislation to require the detention of certain illegal immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Trump supporters celebrate Inauguration Day in DC streets: ‘Today is a day of freedom’
Spirits were high in the streets of Washington, D.C., this Monday as Americans from across the country converged on the nation’s capital to celebrate the second inauguration of President Trump. Fox News Digital spoke to many Trump supporters who, despite frigid temperatures and a biting wind chill, expressed optimism and hope for the future of America under the new Trump administration. “It’s a happy day,” said a group of women from South Georgia who were wearing huge star-spangled hats and “Make America Great Again” scarves and were standing by the U.S. Capitol. “It’s amazing to have freedom again,” said one of the women named Tanya Garrett. “Today is a day of freedom,” chimed in another woman named Angela Anderson. WATCH: TRUMP SPEAKS TO SUPPORTERS AT THE CAPITOL Anderson said she believes the Trump administration will bring “the respect of America back.” “I think that’s one of the greatest things,” she said. “We’re going to have respect from other countries, and we’re going to prosper and bring safety on our borders and the respect for the people that there should be.” Most of the Trump supporters who spoke with Fox News Digital said the most important thing the new president could do is move quickly to undo the damage done during the Biden administration by securing the southern border, restoring the economy and American energy, and projecting American strength against the nation’s enemies. “I am very, very excited,” said Rachel Quy, who traveled from Atlanta and was standing outside Union Station. “I’m Vietnamese American and I do not like communists, and a lot of us who are anti-communist we hope that Trump can stop that or at least make them weaker so we can make America stronger.” WATCH TRUMP’S FULL INAUGURAL ADDRESS In a pub just blocks from the Capitol, the celebrations began as early as 10 in the morning. As televisions showed Trump emerging from St. John’s Episcopal Church after morning services, crowds in the bar broke into cheers and applause. “A lot of changes are going to happen,” said Jeff, a Trump fan sitting by the bar who traveled for the inauguration from Alaska. “We’re going to make immigration a big deal, bringing things back to America, businesses. It’s a new era, I’m looking forward to it.” Another Trump supporter named Will, who was sitting nearby, chimed in by saying he had never felt the same type of energy for another president. “We’re from Oregon, so it’s a blue state, so it’s nice to be around like-minded people,” he said. TRUMP SUPPORTERS SWARM OUTSIDE CAPITAL ONE ARENA AHEAD OF DC VICTORY RALLY Outside, supporters lined Pennsylvania Avenue where Trump and his motorcade were expected to pass through on their way to Capital One Arena. “We were doing much better under Trump, so we’re excited for another four years,” said Philip Swinson, a construction business owner from Southern California. Standing by Swinson was his father and business partner, Brad Swinson. “I’m almost 72, and I’m going to remember [Biden] as the worst president of my lifetime by far,” said Brad. “We’re big on freedom, the Constitution, free enterprise, all the things that they seem to be pushing against, at least the Democrats [and] the deep state, and I think people can see through that.” Some said that they have noticed a shift in energy in their communities with more and more people willing to openly agree with and support Trump and his agenda. “Anything is better than what we’ve had for the last four years,” said Levi, a young man from Wisconsin. “People that were my friends that were liberals, hard-core lefties, now they’re like, ‘You know what? We’ve got to change something here.’” “It’s been embarrassing for the last four years. We have not had anybody in charge, anybody running the show,” said Deanna, from Illinois. “America has got somebody in charge now.”
Trump, Newsom clash over wildfires, but California governor says he’ll work with president
With President Biden now in political retirement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is quickly becoming one of President Trump’s top targets. And Trump, minutes into his second term as president, used his inauguration address inside the U.S. Capitol to take aim at the Democratic governor of the nation’s most populous state. “Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency,” Trump argued. And he pointed to “Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burned from weeks ago without even a token of defense.” CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE SECOND INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP Trump this month has repeatedly criticized Newsom’s handling of the horrific wildfires that have razed parts of metropolitan Los Angeles, killing nearly 30 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. POLITICAL FIRESTORM: NEWSOM DEFENDS HIS EFFORTS TO FIGHT CALIFORNIA’S HORRIFIC BLAZES The governor’s press office quickly pushed back, posting on social media four photos of firefighters tackling the blazes. Trump will head to California on Friday to get a firsthand view of the firefighting and recovery efforts. “I’m going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back,” Trump said at an inaugural eve rally in the nation’s capital. “We’re going to get some of the best builders in the world. We’ll get it moving back.” Newsom, who over a week ago invited Trump to California, said in a statement on Monday following the inauguration ceremony, “I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild.” And he emphasized “finding common ground and striving toward shared goals” with the Trump administration. “In the face of one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history, this moment underscores the critical need for partnership, a shared commitment to facts, and mutual respect – values that enable civil discourse, effective governance, and meaningful action,” the governor said. Newsom added that “where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent.” Newsom was a top surrogate on the 2024 campaign trail for Biden and later former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden last summer as the Democrats’ nominee. The governor, who is term-limited and likely has national ambitions in 2028, was a vocal Trump critic on the 2024 campaign trail and has taken a lead in leading the Democratic Party’s resistance in the wake of Trump’s presidential election victory.
Trump’s UN ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik says president sees ‘great promise’ in the United Nations
FIRST ON FOX: President Trump sees “great promise” in the United Nations, according to his U.N. ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik, who said she would bring “reform” to the organization. “When discussing this nomination with President Trump, the President shared with me that he sees great promise in the United Nations if it focuses on its founding mission of international peace and security. President Trump has long advocated for peace and no new wars,” she will say, according to excerpts of her opening statement for Tuesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, obtained by Fox News Digital. She will pledge to support Israel – as it faces chronic criticism for the war in Gaza – and work to ensure the agency is using U.S. tax dollars to advance U.S. interests. “As the world faces crisis after crisis, with hostages including Americans still held in Hamas’ captivity, to national security challenges ranging from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, it has never been more critical for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity,” Stefanik plans to say. “As a Member of Congress, I also understand deeply that we must be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N. by far. Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, antisemitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism.” “We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the efficacy of U.N. programs, we must drive reform. If confirmed, I will be the first U.N. Ambassador in over two decades to come directly from Congress – and I have a deep respect and understanding of the oversight and appropriations role of the legislative branch. I look forward to using my strong House and Senate relationships to deliver much needed reforms.” After Tuesday’s hearing, where Stefanik will be grilled on her plans for representing the U.S. at the U.N., the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on her confirmation before it heads to a full Senate vote. FORMER HIGH-LEVEL UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS TO LAUNCH ‘DOGE-UN’ TO HIGHLIGHT AGENCY INEFFICIENCIES Stefanik, who currently serves as the House GOP Conference chair, is expected to sail to confirmation in the U.N. role. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has already said he will vote for her – they are both strong Israel supporters. She served on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, but she went viral for her work on the other side of the table last year when she questioned university presidents and their policies surrounding pro-Gaza protests during Education Committee hearings. The U.N. ambassador is a Cabinet-level position, meaning Stefanik will regularly meet with the president to share updates and suggestions, if confirmed. Both Trump and Stefanik have been critical of the U.N., and Trump slashed funding for certain U.N. agencies and programs during his first term. Founded with a mission to promote global peace, development and respect for human rights after World War II, the U.N. relies on the U.S. for about a third of its budget. President Biden increased U.S. financial contributions to the U.N. and its sister agencies, boosting it from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $18.1 billion in 2022. US FOES IRAN, RUSSIA, OTHER UN DIPLOMATS EXEMPT FROM NYC CONGESTION PRICING AS TAXPAYERS FORCED TO FOOT BILL The U.S. gave about three times as much that year as the next-highest contributors, Germany, at $6.8 billion, and Japan, at $2.7 billion. That amount of funding gives a new administration wiggle room to withhold funds to the U.N. if its global interests do not align with those of the U.S., a notion some Republicans have already pushed for. Trump will be in office when the international body elects its next secretary-general in 2026, and the U.S. will have veto power over any candidate. The U.N. particularly relies on the U.S. for global aid programs. In 2022, it provided half of all contributions to the World Food Programme, and about a third of all contributions to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the International Organization for Migration. And critics have warned that China has infiltrated the agency – the CCP doubled the number of its nationals employed at the U.N. to nearly 15,000 from 2009 to 2021.
Former presidents mum following Donald Trump’s inauguration
The men who held the nation’s highest office before President Trump have all remained mum on his taking the presidency on Monday. All four living former presidents – Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – attended the inauguration ceremony, and sat behind Trump as he gave a politically charged speech about his vision for the future of the country. None had any public well-wishes for the incoming president after the swearing-in ceremony. Asked whether they planned to put out a statement on it, none of their offices responded at press time. Biden only addressed his supporters and staffers in remarks before boarding a government helicopter to be whisked away from Washington, D.C. “We’re leaving office, we’re not leaving the fight,” he told them. Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Jill Biden all attended the ceremony alongside their husbands. Michelle Obama did not attend. Sources reportedly close to Michelle Obama told People magazine that the former first lady intended to skip Trump’s inauguration because she cannot contain her disdain for the Republican president-elect. MARK MILLEY PARDONED: GENERAL AT CENTER OF AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL PREDICTED IT WOULDN’T BE A SAIGON MOMENT Hillary Clinton chuckled when Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Bill Clinton told CNN of his reaction to the speech: “I think you can figure it out for yourself.” The Clintons did not stay for the inaugural luncheon. Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. At the late President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Obama and Trump were seen chatting and laughing like old friends despite the history of political animosity between the former Democratic president and the returning Republican. PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONS HIS SIBLINGS JUST MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE Trump, in his address, took shots at Biden without addressing him by name. “My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom,” Trump said. In a follow-up speech to supporters, Trump called out Biden’s last-minute moves as president. “You’re going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages,” he said. “And I was going to talk about the things Joe did today with the pardons of people that were very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the UnSelect Committee of political thugs,” he went on. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In an 11th hour move, Biden preemptively pardoned the members of the January 6th House Select Committee that investigated the role of Trump and his acolytes in the 2021 Capitol riot, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley. And just moments before leaving the White House, Biden preemptively shielded his siblings and their spouses from any prosecution.
‘New Golden Age’: Republican lawmakers ecstatic as Trump takes office with slate of new orders
Republican lawmakers are jubilant after President Trump was sworn in for a second term on Monday, followed by a speech promising massive policy changes in the U.S. “President Trump’s speech was a breath of fresh aid for Americans – he will bring down costs, close the southern border, deport illegal immigrants, bring back free speech, and unleash American energy dominance,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital. “The Golden Age of America begins today.” House GOP leaders, meanwhile, reaffirmed their promise to execute Trump’s policies as quickly as possible, with the commander in chief angling for an active first 100 days in office beginning with a sweeping set of executive orders. “This is America’s moment of redemption, and under President Trump’s leadership, our nation will usher in a new Golden Age,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. “House Republicans are fully committed to making his America First vision a reality and are ready to hit the ground running on day one.” DONALD TRUMP SWORN IN AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., meanwhile, hailed Trump’s address as “a powerful speech outlining his vision for an America that’s safe, strong, free, and full of opportunity.” Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., chair of the House GOP Policy Committee, compared Trump’s inauguration to former President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985 – which was also held indoors. “Like Reagan, who ushered in a renaissance of American greatness, President Trump’s inauguration marks the beginning of a new golden age in America. His vision and leadership will secure a brighter future for our nation. Today, we witness the dawn of a new era,” Hern said. Like Trump, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called for legislative action to begin without delay. He said, “Today is a day for celebration, but our work begins immediately. There is no room for excuses. Congress must work with the president to deliver fully, not partially. I stand ready and resolved.” Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, urged Congress to now work with Trump “to pass the Farm Bill, extend the Trump Tax Cuts, lock down our border, end the electric vehicle mandates, support our small businesses, and lower costs for our families and farmers.” TRUMP TO TAKE MORE THAN 200 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON DAY ONE Several of those goals were also mentioned by Trump himself during his inaugural speech in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. “I will direct all members of my Cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation, and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices. And that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said. “With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal, and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers.” He also repeated promises to crack down on crime at the border as well as target foreign nations with high tariffs as a means to bring down the deficit. Trump later gave roughly half an hour’s worth of further remarks in the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall. The second speech, more freewheeling than his first, saw Trump criticize his predecessor, former President Biden, for issuing pardons to members of the former House Select Committee on Jan. 6 and others, like retired Gen. Mark Milley. “We’re going to turn our country around, and we’re going to turn it around fast. And I think it was a better speech than the one I made upstairs,” Trump joked in those remarks.
Youngkin, Miyares react to Biden granting clemency to ‘cop killers’: ‘Utter disbelief’
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares lambasted President Biden after he granted clemency to the “Waverly Two,” who they said admitted to being responsible for the 1998 murder of a Sussex County police officer. “I am beyond outraged and in utter disbelief that President Biden would announce clemency for Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson – two men who admitted to being responsible for brutally killing Officer Allen Gibson, a hero and dedicated servant to our community,” Youngkin said in a statement. “What makes this even more unconscionable is the Biden U.S. Attorney advised the White House not to commute these sentences as they are violent offenders.” Youngkin said “the pain and sorrow this clemency causes the Gibson family is unimaginable.” BIDEN COMMUTES NEARLY 2,500 MORE SENTENCES IN FINAL DAYS OF PRESIDENCY “To know that the men who took Officer Gibson’s life will walk free is not just a grave injustice- – it is a heartbreaking blow to those who continue to mourn his sacrifice. This is despicable; a grim day for justice and for the families who trust that our system will hold the guilty accountable,” Youngkin said. Youngkin’s office said Claiborne and Richardson admitted in Sussex County Circuit Court to being responsible for Gibson’s brutal killing. “The evidence presented and the details surrounding Officer Gibson’s death are deeply disturbing and tragic,” Youngkin stated. Youngkin’s office said then-President Obama declined to grant clemency to Claiborne and Richardson. Under the current terms, both men are set to be released in July. “This is despicable. I’m beyond outraged and in utter disbelief that President Biden would announce clemency for these two violent criminals,” Youngkin wrote in a post on X. BIDEN’S FULL LIST OF CLEMENCY AND COMMUTATION RECIPIENTS REVEALED Miyares echoed Youngkin’s disgust and said his office would continue to seek justice for Gibson’s family. “I’m outraged by Biden granting clemency to cop killers, forcing the fallen officer’s child, Crissana, to relive this trauma. Shame on you, Joe Biden and your enabling staff. May the memory of Officer Allen Gibson & his family haunt each of you forever,” Miyares wrote in a post on X. Miyares also shared a statement from Crissana Gibson, who was outraged by Biden’s decision. “I am absolutely outraged by what has happened. My heart is shattered knowing that the men that killed my father are going to be released from prison and can walk the streets freely. This is a huge miscarriage of justice, and I am completely disgusted by the outgoing administration,” she wrote. “The Virginia Attorney General’s office has worked tirelessly to keep these murderers behind bars, and I am forever grateful for their dedication and hard work. I am so disappointed that the disgraceful Biden administration has failed my family, my father, and the entire law enforcement community. Neither my family nor I have ever supported the release of Richardson or Claiborne, and we denounce this decision by the outgoing failed presidency of Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s abuse of the justice system.” ‘SQUAD’ DEM APPLAUDS BIDEN FOR SPARING MURDERERS FROM ‘RACIST’ DEATH PENALTY IN 11TH-HOUR CLEMENCY MOVE Miyares said that on April 25, 1998, Allen Gibson, 25, woke up and went to work as a Waverly police officer and never returned home after he was shot with his own service weapon in the woods behind an apartment complex. “He put on his bulletproof vest and said goodbye to his 8-year-old daughter Crissana. Officer Gibson found Terence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne engaged in a drug deal behind an apartment building. The men attacked Officer Gibson, and Richardson disarmed Officer Gibson and fatally shot him in the stomach right below his bulletproof vest,” Miyares described. Officials said that both Claiborne and Richardson were named suspects and arrested for Gibson’s murder soon after his death. Both men are still serving a life sentence for a remaining drug trafficking charge but were acquitted by a federal jury of murder and firearms charges. On Friday morning, Biden announced that he would commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 inmates as his presidency came to a close. The commutations are for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses “who are serving disproportionately long sentences” compared to what they would receive if sentenced under today’s law. However, Biden has come under bipartisan fire for who he has decided to pardon or commute sentences for. At the end of December, he chose to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row, helping them escape execution and sending them to prison for life without parole instead. Biden also boasted about completing the “largest single-day grant of clemency” on Dec. 12 when he commuted sentences for 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others, most of whom were already serving time in home confinement because of decisions made during the COVID-19 era. Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
Laken Riley Act set to become one of first bills to hit President Trump’s desk
The Laken Riley Act is expected to be headed back to the House after the Senate likely passes an amended version on Monday night. The legislation is set to be one of the first pieces of legislation sent to President Trump’s desk after it overcame the legislative filibuster’s 60-vote threshold twice this month. The bill, introduced in the new Congress by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., in the Senate and Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in the House, was named for a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia’s campus in February. NEXT OHIO SENATOR, A ‘FISCAL CONSERVATIVE,’ AIMS TO ‘GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF PEOPLE’S LIVES’ Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, was found guilty of 10 total counts, including felony murder. He initially pleaded not guilty but was ultimately sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in November. The measure would require ICE to arrest and detain illegal immigrants that have committed theft, burglary or shoplifting until they are deported. States would also be granted standing under the legislation to take civil action against members of the federal government that do not enforce immigration laws. DOGE CAUCUS PLANS FOR BIGGEST IMPACT, EYEING KEY TOOLS TO EXPEDITE CUTTING WASTE A Republican amendment that added assault of law enforcement officers to the list of crimes that would trigger ICE detainment was added last week in the Senate. The upper chamber will also vote on Monday afternoon on whether to add “Sarah’s Law” as an amendment. The legislation, led by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. A final vote on the immigration bill is expected around 6 p.m. in the upper chamber. OHIO GOV DEWINE PICKS LT GOV TO FILL VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JD VANCE’S VACANT SEAT Afterward, the House will need to take up the measure once again and approve the final version as amended by the Senate. The prioritization of the bill ahead of Trump’s swearing in on Monday came as the new president is expected to make immigration law enforcement a top goal of his administration. DESANTIS ANNOUNCES CHOICE FOR SENATE APPOINTMENT AFTER RUBIO’S EXPECTED RESIGNATION Trump’s administration has already revealed several actions he is taking on the first day of his term, with many addressing immigration. Incoming White House officials revealed on Monday that he would sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, in addition to several other day-one actions tackling the border crisis. Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Second acts: President Trump makes historic comeback
President Trump left Washington four years ago a beaten man. He lost a bitter election battle. Faced recriminations over the Capitol riot. That’s to say nothing of a host of criminal charges. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously pronounced “there are no second acts in American lives.” But he may not have been writing about sports or politics. In athletics, Rocky Bleier, Tommy John and even Michael Jordan come to mind. TRUMP WINS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Politics is replete with comebacks – Richard Nixon, Winston Churchill and Vladimir Lenin make the cut. And so does President Donald Trump. He’s now only the second American president to return to office. President Grover Cleveland served his first term from 1885 to 1889. But Cleveland lost the presidency in 1888. Cleveland won the popular vote – but lost the Electoral College to President Benjamin Harrison. However, Cleveland rallied to vanquish Harrison in 1892, returning to the White House. So this is a second act for Trump. At least in the presidency. For him, the president enjoys unprecedented public support. He commanded 77 million votes – though failed to reach 50%. But, the president did score a robust 312 electoral votes. And so, Trump, like Cleveland, is into his second act. What’s ahead? The expectations are astronomical. “America issued a verdict on Nov. 5. They spoke loud and clear,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., on Fox. HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S 1ST INAUGURATION DAY; WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MONDAY Republicans promised a makeover. “When I see peace starting to break out again around the world. They’re going to be like, ‘This is the stability that we were asking for,’” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., on Fox. “Daddy’s back.” Crackdowns are coming. “When you have a wide open border, you don’t have safety, security or even sovereignty,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on NBC. The president returns to power with more GOP unity than he had in 2016. Congressional Republicans were far from standing foursquare behind him. House Republicans had 241 seats then. His most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill were people who no longer serve. Former Reps. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., and Duncan Hunter Jr., R-Calif., were his first supporters in the House. Both were convicted on unrelated criminal matters and left Congress. Trump then pardoned them. His biggest advocate in the Senate was former Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. Sessions left the Senate to serve as Trump’s first attorney general. He lasted less than two years, stepping down at the president’s request. Congressional Republicans were skeptical of Trump back then. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., led the charge to unwind ObamaCare. After the GOP had to pull the bill in the House, Republicans finally cobbled together the votes to kill it a month later. The bill stumbled in the Senate after the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., voted no. But the House failure on the first try told you everything you needed to know about where the party stood and how much influence Trump wielded. But lawmakers did muscle through the vaunted Trump tax cuts later in the year. The unity is different among Republicans this time around. And the administration and lawmakers start with an agenda of slashing taxes and cleaving the deficit. “Right now there’s a discussion about whether we’ll have one bill or two bills up here. The process doesn’t matter to us. We just know that we’ve got to accomplish this for the American people,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., on Fox. “He’s way ahead of where he was eight years ago.” But one GOP senator has a warning for his colleagues. “I think the number one priority for the Republican Party should be to secure that border,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on CBS. “Get the tax cuts and spending reductions put together later.” It will be about the math. Despite their ambitious legislative ambitions to approve tranches of money for the border – but simultaneously slash spending and cut taxes. And Republicans have a miniscule majority in the House. With the resignation of former Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., to become national security adviser, House Republicans will be down to 218 votes. That majority dwindles to 217 when Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., resigns to become ambassador to the United Nations – presuming she receives Senate confirmation. So, advancing anything through the House is going to be challenging despite the goals. Frankly, they may need help from Democrats on some issues – like avoiding a government shutdown or lifting the debt ceiling. “Even though my colleagues have been talking about that the president got a mandate, and he did electorally, that mandate does not exist in the House,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., on Fox. “They barely have a majority. And so, if they want to work with us, I think they’re going to find a willing partner.” Confirmation votes are coming soon on Trump Cabinet picks. “He needs a team that can be disruptive,” said Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., on Fox. “They want disrupters. They want outside the box thinking.” But some picks could be too disruptive. Think Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and the selection of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for Health and Human Services secretary. Senate committees have not yet scheduled hearings for either of them. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth likely has the votes for confirmation. But the Senate may need to take a procedural vote to break a Democratic filibuster to muscle through Hegseth to confirmation. Still, Democrats are recalibrating their approach for Trump 2.0. “I think Democrats last time around just resisted the president on everything. It was just constant outrage. And I think this time they need to shift to a different strategy of selective resistance,” said Moskowitz. So Trump’s second act is on. The issues that Grover Cleveland grappled with? Tariffs and silver policy. Trump won’t need to wrestle with the latter subject (we presume). But you know about the pending battle about tariffs and issues with China, Canada, Mexico
High-profile Dems warned Biden against preemptive pardons before giving Fauci, Milley passes
High-profile Democrats and former President Biden, himself, warned about blanket, preemptive pardons before Biden ultimately granted passes to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of his family in the 11th hour of his administration. “The precedent of giving blanket pardons, preemptive blanket pardons on the way out of an administration, I think, is a precedent we don’t want to set,” now-Sen. Adam Schiff warned on ABC’s “This Week” in December. Biden ended his term in the Oval Office on Monday, when President Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. But hours before the inauguration, the White House announced pardons for both Fauci and Milley and those involved in the January 6 select committee investigation – though those individuals were not identified by name. And just 22 minutes before leaving office, Biden also pardoned his family, including his brother James B. Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, brother-in-law John T. Owens, and brother Francis W. Biden. The former president had previously issued a blanket pardon to his adult son, Hunter Biden, after he was convicted in two separate federal cases last year. FAUCI RIPPED OVER NEW PAPER CRITICIZING TRUMP ON CORONAVIRUS, PROMOTING NATURAL ORIGIN THEORY: ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ “My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me – the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” Biden said in a statement pardoning his family. Speculation had mounted that Biden would issue blanket pardons and preemptive pardons to those viewed as Trump’s political foes, such as former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, as well as Milley and Fauci and members of the Biden family. Democrats stretching from former President Bill Clinton to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., warned Biden against issuing such pardons in the waning days of his administration. BIDEN PARDONS MARK MILLEY, ANTHONY FAUCI, J6 COMMITTEE MEMBERS “If President Biden wanted to talk to me about that, I would talk to him about it. But I don’t think I should be giving public advice on the pardon power. I think it’s too – it’s a very personal thing, but it is – I hope he won’t do that,” Clinton said of preemptive pardons on “The View.” Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin also warned against such pardons in an interview on CNN last month, remarking, “when we talk about a preemptive pardon, where does it start and where does it stop?” Klobuchar echoed that sentiment in the same month. “I am not a fan of these [preemptive pardons],” she said. “I didn’t like the pardon of the president’s son. I didn’t think that that was prudent. But I also am very concerned about this idea of preemptive pardons.” Biden, too, had warned against preemptive pardons before he took office in 2020, at a time when speculation swirled that Trump would pardon his children and personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. HUNTER BIDEN PARDON: MEDIA TAKES LATEST BLOW TO CREDIBILITY WITH BOTCHED COVERAGE OF BROKEN PROMISE “It concerns me in terms of what kind of precedent it sets and how the rest of the world looks (at) us as a nation of laws and justice,” Biden said in an interview with CNN in December 2020. Trump ultimately did not pardon his adult children or the former mayor of New York City. Following the 11th hour pardons for Milley, Fauci and staff of the Jan. 6 Select Committee and family, political leaders and lawmakers slammed the decision, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “One of Biden’s greatest abuses of power was the forcing of mRNA shots by executive fiat (which Florida successfully blocked). Now, on his way out the door, Biden pardons the chief henchman of that and so many other abuses. The swamp protects its own,” said DeSantis, a Republican, on Monday. BIDEN COMMUTES NEARLY 2,500 MORE SENTENCES IN FINAL DAYS OF PRESIDENCY Fauci was the national spokesman for the nation’s pandemic response, including advising then-President Trump in 2020 on how to handle COVID-19 as it swept across communities. But his favor with the president waned over time, with Trump slamming him and fellow pandemic task force adviser Dr. Deborah Birx as “two self-promoters trying to reinvent history to cover for their bad instincts and faulty recommendations.” FAUCI RIPPED OVER NEW PAPER CRITICIZING TRUMP ON CORONAVIRUS, PROMOTING NATURAL ORIGIN THEORY: ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ Fauci said Monday he appreciates his pardon, though he stressed he has “committed no crime.” “I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf,” Fauci told ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl. “Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me,” he continued. DR. FAUCI SAYS HE APPRECIATES PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PARDON BUT INSISTS ‘NO CRIME’ WAS COMMITTED Milley, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also has a contentious relationship with Trump and his supporters. He had called Trump a “fascist” and “the most dangerous person to this country” just ahead of the November election. WHO ELSE MIGHT BIDEN PARDON AFTER HE SPARED HUNTER FROM SENTENCING? Trump has repeatedly slammed Milley since leaving office, including after the United States’ botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, when he called Milley a “loser who shamed us in Afghanistan and elsewhere!” After the election, Milley appeared to walk back his characterization of Trump as a “fascist,” saying America will “be OK” under Trump’s second administration. Liz Cheney, the Republican former congresswoman from Wyoming, and Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Jan. 6 House Select Committee chair, were also targets of Trump’s ire. Biden did not mention Cheney or Thompson by name in his statement, instead pardoning “staff who served on the Select Committee.” HUNTER BIDEN PARDON WILL UNDERMINE PARTY’S ‘SELF-PROCLAIMED AUTHORITY’ ON RULE OF LAW: DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST “The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in