Texas’ new parental consent law leaves school nurses confused about which services they can provide to students
The law’s authors urged districts to use “common sense.” But some nurses worry they could violate the law and face discipline for providing basic care without a parent’s approval.
Joe Kennedy III blasts RFK Jr. after fiery Senate hearing, fueling Kennedy family infighting: ‘He must resign’
Joe Kennedy III on Friday denounced his cousin Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as “a threat to the health and wellbeing of every American” in a blistering social media post. The rare public rebuke comes one day after RFK Jr.’s contentious Senate hearing, deepening a family feud that has fractured one of America’s most famous political dynasties. Kennedy’s statement, viewed more than 1.2 million times, opens the curtain behind the extraordinary rift inside the political dynasty. Once synonymous with Democrat unity, the Kennedys are now split over RFK Jr.’s embrace of President Donald Trump and his appointment to HHS Secretary under a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Joe Kennedy’s demand that his cousin resign marks a dramatic escalation of the feud. INTO THE ARENA: HOSTILE DEMOCRATS, SKEPTICAL REPUBLICANS TEAR INTO KENNEDY ON THE HILL In 2024, five of RFK Jr.’s siblings issued a joint statement blasting his endorsement of Trump as “a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story.” Caroline Kennedy later urged senators to block her cousin’s cabinet nomination, writing in a January 2025 letter that he was a “predator” who was “addicted to attention and power” and “unqualified” to lead HHS. On Sept. 4, RFK Jr. appeared in a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., accused him of firing CDC scientists and replacing them with “cranks” and “conspiracy theorists” who were “endangering children, leaving parents confused and scared.” TRUMP STANDS BY RFK JR. AFTER HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE’S DIFFERENT’ As Joe Kennedy wrote in his post, “None of us will be spared the pain he is inflicting… Those values are not present in the Secretary’s office. He must resign.” His cousin Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, piled on in real time, mocking RFK Jr.’s testimony: “RFK LOSER is choking so badly LIVE.” With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial tenure in Trump’s cabinet, the Kennedy dynasty’s divisions are now spilling into public view with some of the sharpest blows coming from within. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Andrew Cuomo has breakfast meeting with Rev. Al Sharpton as he trails Mamdani in NYC mayoral race
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor, met with Rev. Al Sharpton on Friday. Cuomo shared a photo of the meeting at a New York City restaurant on his social media, writing, “Great breakfast catching up with my old friend, @real_sharpton.” Sharpton also shared the photo on his social media, saying they had a “breakfast meeting,” and that Democratic candidate and front-runner for mayor, Zohran Mamdani – who identifies as a Democratic socialist — would be on his MSNBC show “PoliticsNation” this weekend. Cuomo was likely reaching out to the politically influential Sharpton for an endorsement, the New York Post reported, saying the former governor – who resigned in 2021 amid sexual misconduct allegations – asked the civil rights activist to “have an open mind” about the race. TRUMP WANTS ‘2 PEOPLE TO DROP OUT’ TO SET UP A ‘1-ON-1’ MAYORAL RACE WITH MAMDANI IN NYC “I’m very impressed with Mamdani, but I’ve known Andrew for 40 years, going back to the ’80s with his father,” Sharpton told the Post, referring to late former Gov. Mario Cuomo. The meeting comes as current Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the Democratic primary and is running as an Independent, is rumored to be considering dropping out of the race for a potential job offer in the Trump administration. Adams has denied planning to drop out. TRUMP SAYS CUOMO’S GOT A ‘GOOD SHOT’ OF BEATING MAMDANI IN NYC MAYOR ELECTION A recent Sienna College poll shows Mamdani ahead of his opponents by double digits with 44% support, 25% for Cuomo, 12% for Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and 7% for Adams. Sharpton had previously called on Cuomo to drop out of the race after Mamdani beat him in the Democratic primary. “I think, in the best interest of the legacy of Andrew Cuomo, that he ought to let them have the one-on-one race,” he said, referring to Mamdani and Adams during an interview on MSNBC in July. “He can endorse one or the other, and let them have a battle over what is best for New York.” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told the Post: “Governor Cuomo and Reverend Sharpton have stood side by side for decades, fighting for justice and progress. They meet from time to time over breakfast to discuss issues critical to the city, the state, and the nation. Today’s meeting was both productive and positive.” Fox News Digital has reached out to Cuomo and Sharpton for comment. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The election will be in November.
ICE tells Kilmar Abrego Garcia he’ll be deported to tiny African country
An attorney representing the Department of Homeland Security and ICE has notified high-profile illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia that he will be deported to the tiny African nation Eswatini, after the alleged gang member’s lawyers said he fears persecution in 22 other countries. According to a removal notice shared with Fox News by ICE sources, the agency notified Abrego Garcia that in light of his claims of fear of persecution or torture in nearly two dozen other countries, “we hereby notify you that your new country of removal is Eswatini, Africa.” “Dear Mr. Abrego Garcia,” the notice reads, “As you know, the United States seeks to remove you from the United States based on your final order of removal. Currently, you are designated to be removed to Uganda. Your attorney has informed us, however, that you fear persecution or torture in Uganda.” The ICE notice states, “That claim of fear is hard to take seriously, especially given that you have claimed (through your attorneys) that you fear persecution or torture in at least 22 different countries.” ABREGO GARCIA CASE PROMPTS KEY DOJ OUSTINGS, CLEARS WAY FOR TRUMP DEPORTATION AGENDA The notice lists 22 countries, including El Salvador, Uganda and twenty Latin American countries. “Nonetheless,” the notice states, “we hereby notify you that your new country of removal is Eswatini, Africa.” DHS also reposted a copy of the notification on its official X account with the caption, “Homie is afraid of the entire western hemisphere.” Following his March deportation to his home country of El Salvador, Abrego Garcia has become a cause célèbres for many Democrats charging the Trump administration of denying immigrants their due process. He was returned to the U.S. in June and is currently standing trial for human smuggling related to a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee in which he was found transporting several non-citizens across the country. ABREGO GARCIA HEARD SAYING TWO WORDS DURING ICE ARREST Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also alleged that Abrego Garcia is a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 as well as a “human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator.” He is currently being kept at an immigration detention center in Virginia while his case is ongoing after U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama appointee, ruled to temporarily block Abrego Garcia’s deportation to Uganda. Chris Newman, an attorney for Abrego Garcia’s family, has categorically denied DHS’ allegations, telling Fox News Digital, “None of those things are true, full stop.” ABREGO GARCIA RENEWS PUSH FOR ASYLUM IN US, REVEALS NEW COUNTRY WILLING TO ACCEPT HIM He said that “in essence” what the Trump administration has done “is to use the highest office in the land to blackmail an innocent man into sacrificing his constitutional rights.”
Trump endorses Hinson in 2026 race to keep key Senate seat red
President Donald Trump on Friday endorsed Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson as she runs to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst in Iowa. Hinson — a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the northeastern portion of the state — showcased her support for Trump as she launched her Senate campaign on Tuesday. “I’m running to be President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate,” she said. And in a Fox News Digital interview this week, Hinson highlighted that she’s “proud to stand” with Trump. Trump, in a social media post, said, “I know Ashley well, and she is a WINNER!” HINSON LAUNCHES SENATE BID IN RACE TO SUCCEED IOWA’S ERNST “I know Ashley well, and she is a WINNER! A Loving Wife and Proud Mother of two sons, Ashley is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Iowa, and will continue doing so in the United States Senate,” the president said. “Ashley Hinson will be an outstanding Senator, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement – SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump’s support followed earlier endorsements from Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. “We need conservative fighters in the Senate — and that’s exactly what we’ll get with Ashley Hinson,” Thune wrote early Friday as he endorsed Hinson. And NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said, “Having traveled Iowa with Ashley, I know she is the fighter the Hawkeye State needs to deliver President Trump’s agenda in 2026 and beyond.” Hinson doesn’t have the GOP primary field to herself. Former state Sen. Jim Carlin and veteran Joshua Smith had already entered the primary ahead of Ernst’s announcement. But the support from Trump, Thune, and the NRSC will further boost Hinson, who was already considered the frontrunner for the nomination, and will likely dissuade any others from entering the primary. The president’s clout over the GOP is immense, and his endorsement in a Republican primary is extremely influential. Hinson’s campaign launch came a few hours after Ernst, in a social media video, officially announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election in next year’s midterms. “After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking re-election in 2026,” the 55-year-old Ernst, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, said in a video posted to social media. TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War, had been wrestling for months over whether to run for re-election in 2026. And in her video, she said, “This was no easy decision.” Ernst first grabbed national attention 11 years ago with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election in Iowa in the race to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. And Ernst highlighted in her video that “11 years ago, Iowans elected me as the first female combat veteran to the U.S. Senate, and they did so with a mission in mind – to make Washington squeal. And I’m proud to say we have delivered. We’ve cut waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.” Hinson, in a social media post, thanked Ernst for her “incredible service to our state and nation” as well as for her friendship. “Iowa is better off thanks to your selfless service,” she said. In an Iowa radio interview on Tuesday, she said that among her priorities as she runs for the Senate are “secure borders, keeping men out of girls’ sports, cutting taxes for our working families, standing up for Iowa agriculture and helping our young Iowans who are trying to buy a house and start a family.” Hinson also pledged to campaign across all 99 of Iowa’s counties, starting with a kick-off event on Friday. And as she entered the race, Hinson was endorsed by Republican Sens. Jim Banks of Indiana, Katie Britt of Alabama, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, House Republican Leadership Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik and Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann also backed Hinson. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) communications director Maeve Coyle, following Hinson’s announcement, argued that “Republicans failed to convince Joni Ernst to run for reelection, and now they may be stuck with Ashley Hinson, who has repeatedly voted to raise costs and make life harder for Iowans by voting to slash Medicaid, cheering on the chaotic tariffs that threaten Iowa’s economy, voting against measures to lower the cost of insulin, and threatening Social Security.” Responding, Hinson told Fox News Digital, “I think they’re misinformed at best.” And she charged that “when I hear the lies and the fearmongering coming out of the left, it’s to only cover up for the fact that they have no message and no real leader other than Bernie and AOC and now Mamdani in New York,” as she referred to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. “If that’s the direction they want to take our country, I think Iowans are going to reject that wholeheartedly,” she predicted. FOUR KEY SENATE SEATS THE GOP AIMS TO FLIP IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with President Donald Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020, and by 13 points last November. Republicans currently hold both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats – Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley – and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except for state auditor, which is held by Democrat Rob Sand, who’s running for governor next year. But Democrats in Iowa
A closer look at Air Force One and the executive fleet
President Donald Trump has his sights on a new version of Air Force One as delays and cost overruns continue to plague Boeing’s long-awaited presidential aircraft replacements. The most recent data from 2020 says at least 20 planes make up the executive fleet. A newly constructed plane has not been added in nearly 27 years. Some of those currently in service are expected to stay flying for another 13 years. “They’re not building the plane fast enough. I mean, they’re actually in default,” Trump said about Boeing in a February interview with Sean Hannity. Air Force One is used to designate any Air Force aircraft carrying the commander in chief. There are currently two highly customized Boeing aircraft that were deployed in 1990 when George H.W. Bush was president. The planes have since carried presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, Joe Biden and now Trump once again. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO: THE QATAR AIR FORCE ONE JET “I miss Air Force One,” Bush said at an event for Veterans in 2014. “In eight years, they never lost my baggage.” The two forthcoming Boeing planes have been plagued by delays due to the complex technology needed onboard Air Force One. “They’ve got to debug it, make sure there’s no signal intelligence risks. And I think just to make it secure against any potential military attacks. It was ironic for a long time. It was one of the prince’s planes, which I think they were trying to sell. And now they’re giving it to the U.S., and it’s costing quite a bit to update,” Jay Solomon, a staff writer for the Free Press, said. The Qatari jet is estimated to have a faster timeline than the two Boeing planes, but it still needs some of the same technology to make it Air Force One. “If you look at it just through economics, maybe it makes sense, but I still think the fact that we’re allowing a foreign country to gift something of that magnitude to a sitting president — on top of all these other concerns — I think it’s a risk, and it’s not a good look,” Soloman said. Air Force One is required to have four engines, unlike most of today’s passenger planes, which have two. Onboard is the highest level of classified communications and external protection against foreign surveillance. The planes are equipped with air-to-air refueling capabilities so they can fly for as long as needed. Air Force One is built for the worst possible scenarios, like nuclear war, so that the president can still command military forces from the sky. “They’re extremely complex, and I’m not going to go into it, but they’re not like a normal plane. You know, it’s not like building a 747 normal,” Trump said during his Middle East Trip on “Special Report” in May. TRUMP ACCEPTS JET FROM QATAR, WILL REFIT TO SERVE AS AIR FORCE ONE, DOD SAYS Air Force officials say it is possible to add some of the security features to the Qatari jet, but it’s unlikely to have the full suite of technology by Trump’s February timeline. “Initially, it was supposed to be like, ‘Maybe he’ll get it done by the end of his presidency,’” Solomon said. Four modified Boeing 757s or C-32As are the newest planes in the executive fleet. Those were added in 1998 and 1999. The Air Force is studying potential replacement options, but the current planes will continue to fly until 2038. The aircraft are primarily used by the vice president, Cabinet members, members of Congress and other officials. “Even today, and regardless of the airplane, we have to operate it differently based on the threat environment that even the current or any of the future aircraft will go into. Again, can’t talk in detail about that, but that is always a consideration,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said during a June Senate Hearing. Air Force One isn’t the only aging plane; much of the executive fleet is more than two decades old. The aircraft have undergone modernization modifications, but officials have questioned the timeline for major updates as several incidents have taken place over the years. INSIDE AMERICA’S 6TH-GEN ARSENAL: B-21, F-47, AND THE FUTURE OF AIR DOMINANCE In 2014, Obama was forced to switch planes during a campaign event in Philadelphia after a minor mechanical problem was reported on Air Force One. In 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris’ plane requested an emergency return to Joint Base Andrews as she began her first foreign trip overseas to Guatemala and Mexico. Most recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plane was forced to turn around while en route to Munich in February due to a mechanical issue. The newest aircraft among the executive fleet are the Marine One Helicopters. Biden first rode in the newly designed Marine One in 2024 during the Democratic National Convention. Updating those took nearly two decades and, in some cases, replaced helicopters flying since the 1970s. The Boeing 777X is expected to be the next new major commercial aircraft. It’s scheduled to enter service in 2026 after a nearly six-year delay with Lufthansa taking the first flight. The modernized plane is designed to have a folding wingtip, a touchscreen flight deck and wider cabin space.
Eric Adams vows to beat Mamdani amid rumors he’d drop out
New York Mayor Eric Adams held a news conference Friday to dispel widespread rumors he would drop his re-election bid and vowed to stay in the race, saying, “I’m running, and I’m going to beat Mamdani.” Adams, who was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2022, is running as an independent and facing an uphill battle against the Democratic Party’s mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Muslim and socialist. Former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary race in June. Adams took aim at Mamdani and Cuomo during his news conference, saying, “I have two spoiled brats running for mayor.” “I want to be clear with you,” Adams added. “Andrew Cuomo is a snake and a liar. I am in this race, and I’m the only one that can beat Mamdani. ANDREW CUOMO CHALLENGES MAYORAL OPPONENT ZOHRAN MAMDANI TO 5 DEBATES ACROSS EACH OF NYC’S BOROUGHS “This is such a pivotal and important period, and we have to get it right,” he added. “They were born with silver spoons in their mouths. Not like working-class New Yorkers. I’m a working-class New Yorker. They are not like us,” he said. “They’ve never had to fight. They never had to struggle. They never had to go through difficult times like you and I had to go through, New Yorkers.” He took particular aim at Cuomo, accusing him of having “a career of pushing Black candidates out of races.” He also addressed rumors that he is in discussions with President Donald Trump about possibly joining his administration. TRUMP WANTS ‘2 PEOPLE TO DROP OUT’ TO SET UP ‘1-ON-1’ MAYORAL RACE WITH MAMDANI IN NYC “There’s a lot of reports that I’m in Washington on Monday. Those reports are wrong. I’m not,” said Adams. “I’ll be moving throughout this city in the five boroughs that made me mayor in the first place. I’m running for re-election, and I’m going to tell New Yorkers every day why I believe I should be the mayor of the city of New York in 2026.” He acknowledged that he is significantly behind Mamdani in the polls but dismissed this, saying, “I hear the polls. I hear the comments. I hear the pundits. “But those are the same polls that stated eight weeks out that Andrew Cuomo was up by 36 points, and even his poll had him up by 10 points. Those are the same polls that stated he was going to walk into becoming the mayor of the City of New York, [which] he believes is a consolation prize because he made the determination to step down [as governor].” DNC AGAIN EMBRACES MAMDANI DESPITE COMMUNIST RHETORIC, REFUSAL TO DENOUNCE GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA: ‘BIG TENT’ “I’m running, and I’m going to beat Mamdani. And I’m going to continue the success that this city has witnessed,” he said. “I committed myself and dedicated myself to a city that I love, and I’m going to continue to do that. This polo shirt that I’m wearing that says Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York, I’m going to wear that for another four years.”
EXCLUSIVE: Franklin Graham praises VP Vance’s stand, critiques his ‘salty’ language in RFK Jr. defense
Rev. Franklin Graham, one of the nation’s most prominent Christian voices, is standing behind Vice President JD Vance after his profane rebuke of senators in a heated social media post over Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, Graham acknowledged that while he admired Vance’s stand, the vice president’s “salty” choice of words could have been better. “We have had many vice presidents who have used salty language, but the point Vice President Vance was making is correct,” Graham said in the statement. “Could he have used a better choice of words? In my opinion, yes; but I appreciate the vice president standing up for Secretary Kennedy, who is trying to buck a very corrupt system and is trying to improve the health of the American people. God bless Secretary Kennedy and Vice President Vance.” VP VANCE CURSES OUT SENATORS AFTER HEATED KENNEDY HEARING: ‘FULL OF S— AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT’ The exchange followed Vance’s viral X post declaring senators were “full of s—.” Kennedy endorsed the message, one day after more than 1,000 current and former HHS employees called for Kennedy’s resignation. The clash unfolded during a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday where Sen. Ron Wyden pressed Kennedy over health policies and accusations of promoting conspiracy theories. Kennedy pushed back, defending his record and policies aimed at challenging pharmaceutical companies. Vance quickly jumped to Kennedy’s defense on X. “When I see all these senators trying to lecture and ‘gotcha’ Bobby Kennedy today all I can think is: You all support off-label, untested, and irreversible hormonal ‘therapies’ for children, mutilating our kids and enriching big pharma. You’re full of s— and everyone knows it,” Vance wrote. Kennedy reposted the comment, thanking him. “Thank you @JDVance. You put your finger squarely on the preeminent problem,” RFK wrote. TRUMP STANDS BY RFK JR. AFTER HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE’S DIFFERENT’ That defense extended beyond Vance. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also backed Kennedy, framing Democrats’ criticism as proof the secretary is “over the target” in challenging entrenched interests. This is not the first time Graham has weighed in on political leaders’ language. He previously urged President Donald Trump to cut down on his profanity. “Your storytelling is great, but it could be so much better if you didn’t use foul language,” Graham wrote in a letter to Trump, citing Matthew 12:36: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” Graham later shared with the Deseret News that Trump often remembered the admonition in his speeches. “It seems like when he slips momentarily, my letter comes to his mind, and he tells the audience about it. So, it must have struck a chord with him,” Graham said. “The president, his pulpit — his microphone — is huge. That microphone goes a long way.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Graham closed his statement to Fox News Digital with a blessing: “God bless Secretary Kennedy and Vice President Vance.” Representatives for Vice President Vance did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News’ Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Trump picks his Miami Doral resort to host 2026 G20 summit in Florida during nation’s anniversary year
President Donald Trump on Friday announced the 2026 G20 Summit will be hosted at his Doral resort in Miami, Florida. Trump shared the decision during a news conference in the Oval Office, noting the location was ideal due to its proximity to the airport. “It’s going to be a very exciting thing to host the G20,” Trump said. “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary next year, the United States will have the honor of hosting exactly that. The G20 summit right here in America, for the first time in nearly 20 years.” TRUMP DORAL MAKES RETURN TO PGA TOUR WITH $20M PURSE MIAMI CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2026 National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett will act as the lead coordinator of the summit, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will organize the agenda, according to the president. Trump noted he would not make any money from the event. During his first term, the Trump administration considered the Doral resort to host the 2020 G7 summit, though the idea was abandoned due to “media & democrat crazed and irrational hostility,” Trump wrote in an October 2019 social media post. TRUMP LOOKS TO SKIP G20 SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER VIRAL OVAL OFFICE MEETING Citing Florida’s warm December weather, Trump added Miami Mayor Francis Suarez “really wanted it.” Suarez said “it puts us on the global map,” highlighting the positive economic boost. The president confirmed he will not be attending the 2025 G20 in South Africa, instead sending Vice President JD Vance in his place. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO ATTEND FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FINAL AT METLIFE STADIUM IN NEW JERSEY The international forum includes 19 developing and developed countries seeking solutions to economic and financial issues. They include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union and the African Union, according to the G20 website. Meeting locations, dates and attendees vary from year to year. Trump said he has already invited Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who visited the White House Wednesday. The last time the U.S. hosted a full G20 Summit was in 2009 in Pittsburgh during the Obama administration. Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
Loyal Ex-Biden aide says fateful debate against Trump was ‘overblown’ in closed-door House grilling
One of former President Joe Biden’s top spokespeople dismissed the fallout from the former president’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee that lasted over five hours. Andrew Bates, who served as White House senior deputy press secretary and worked in Biden’s communications shop for nearly his entire term, said reactions to Biden’s debate against Donald Trump were “overblown,” according to a source familiar with his interview. Bates “ultimately agreed with President Biden’s decision to drop out” after viewing polling data the week Biden made his choice to drop his re-election bid, the source said. A source close to Bates, however, said after he had time to process Biden’s decision and a change in public polling during the final week of Biden’s candidacy, he agreed Biden had made the right decision to withdraw. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ He dismissed concerns about Biden’s age as a “polling problem,” however, and wrote off Americans’ concerns about his age and abilities as the product of mainstream media and right-wing critics, according to the first source, similar to previous Biden allies in their closed-door interviews. The former spokesman also described relatively infrequent interactions with Biden and allegedly said Biden only met with his press team a few times in a year. “He would see President Biden in person a little over once a month, but this could be anything from travel, going with him to the Hill or just seeing him in the hallway,” the first source said. But a former Biden White House staffer argued that the press secretary and the communications director were the default representatives of the press and communications team for daily meetings with the president. RON KLAIN DODGES REPORTERS AFTER MARATHON GRILLING IN BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE Bates also allegedly told investigators he supported the sweeping and controversial pardon granted to Hunter Biden toward the end of the president’s term. The second source, however, said Bates told investigators that Biden conducted himself “honorably” when asked whether any of his actions were to benefit his son’s business dealings. That pardon and the hundreds of other clemency orders signed by Biden are of particular interest to the House Oversight Committee. Oversight Committee Republicans are investigating whether Biden’s top White House allies covered up signs of mental decline in the former president and, by extension, are looking into whether executive actions signed by autopen were executed with Biden’s full awareness and approval. Biden himself told The New York Times recently he made every clemency decision on his own. His allies have also blasted the GOP-led probe as a partisan exercise. During his opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital, Bates defended Biden’s fitness for office while criticizing Trump’s actions as president. “I was proud to support Joe Biden as president because we believe in the same values. In the White House, it was universally understood that Joe Biden was in charge. That is completely consistent with my personal experience with the president,” Bates told House investigators, according to another source. A House Oversight Committee spokesperson blasted Bates as “delusional” and said his opening statement was leaked to the media before he read it in the room. Fox News Digital reached out to Bates via his public relations firm Wolfpack Strategies and his counsel for further comment.