Vance plans Arizona border visit as campaign hammers Harris on failings as ‘czar’
Former President Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, will travel to the key swing state of Arizona Thursday, where he plans to visit the southern border. Vance will make an appearance in a critical state for the Trump campaign’s hopes of winning the election while also tackling a critical concern of voters in the race by visiting the border, Fox News Digital has learned. The border stop comes as the Trump campaign has pivoted to running against Vice President Kamala Harris, who was elevated to the top of the ticket after President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race last week. HOW LONG WILL THE HARRIS ‘HONEYMOON’ IN THE POLLS LAST? Trump and Vance have made it a priority to highlight how Harris has contributed to many of the unpopular policies of the current administration, particularly the vice president’s role in attempting to identify and solve the “root causes” of illegal migration at the southern U.S. border that resulted in the vice president being labeled the administration’s “border czar.” Vance sought to highlight the issue the day after Biden’s decision, arguing in remarks to reporters that Harris’ position at the top of the Democratic ticket didn’t change the “political calculus” for the Trump campaign. “We were running against Joe Biden’s open border, Kamala Harris’s open border. Kamala Harris supported the green new scam. Kamala Harris, frankly, covered Joe Biden even though it was obvious he was mentally incompetent for a very long time,” Vance said at the time. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING IN THE KEY BATTLEGROUNDS SHOWS Vance expressed a similar sentiment in a meeting with donors in Minnesota Monday, arguing the campaign had a “unique opportunity” to highlight Harris’ record on the border now that she has emerged as the nominee. Polls have continued to show that immigration and border security are at the top of mind of voters as they get ready to head to the polls in November, even as the record number of illegal crossings of the last few years has waned since peaking in December. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING IN THE KEY BATTLEGROUNDS SHOWS Those concerns were highlighted in a Gallup poll released last week, with 55% of U.S. adults wanting to see immigration levels reduced, the first time in nearly two decades that Americans have expressed a preference for less immigration. Meanwhile, 25% of respondents said they would like to see immigration numbers stay at the present level and 16% said they would like to see immigration levels increase. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka’s visit to landslide-hit Wayanad on July 31 cancelled due to…
Rahul Gandhi said he will continue to monitor the situation closely in Wayanad and provide all necessary assistance.
Fox News Politics: A Life and Death Election
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening…-Harris staff treatment under scrutiny as report finds a 91.5% turnover rate…-Harris to name VP by next week…-Trump endorses two GOP rivals in Arizona race A 9/11 terrorist’s plea to a Virginia judge that he be sent home to France from a federal Supermax prison to avoid the prospect of Donald Trump ordering his execution led to outrage from lawmakers on Monday. A letter from Zacarias Moussaoui to federal Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria lays out the so-called “20th hijacker’s” concerns that a future Trump administration will lead to his swift demise …Read more ‘COURT’S FUTURE’: Wall Street Journal calls Biden’s plan to ‘reform’ the Supreme Court a threat to the country …Read more HIGH TURNOVER: Harris’ poor treatment of staff is under scrutiny as report finds 91.5% turnover rate within VP office …Read more MIXED MESSAGE: White House website justifies SCOTUS lifetime service as Biden seeks term limits …Read more SHORTWINDED: Biden gives 4-word answer on when he’ll campaign for Harris …Read more IN THE HOT SEAT: New acting Secret Service director, FBI official to face Senate questions on Trump assassination attempt …Read more DECISION TIME: Harris to name VP by next week, kick off battleground state tour together: report …Read more ‘POLITICAL GUT PUNCH’: Vance breaks with Trump, admits running against Harris presents challenge …Read more ‘HAD OUR BACKS’: As Harris veepstakes heats up, unions voice support for 1 candidate …Read more DOUBLE DIPPING: Trump endorses 2 GOP rivals in Arizona congressional primary …Read more SINGLED OUT: Obama strategist shouts out one candidate for Harris running mate …Read more CHANGING HER TUNE: Harris now backing away from several far-left stances she once promoted …Read more WRONG FRAMING: Washington Post admits lack of ‘adequate context’ for front page Israel-Hezbollah story …Read more WELL PLANNED: Trump shooter ‘carefully planned’ assassination attempt, FBI says …Read more PARENT ACCOUNTABILITY: Could Trump shooter’s mother, father face charges? …Read more ‘ALL IRAN’: Massacre by Iran’s terror proxy Hezbollah could lead to full-blown war in Mideast …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Border senator eyed as VP pick could help Harris with key weakness
An Arizona senator rumored to be one of the top contenders for Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate has previously backed border wall construction, and has at times been critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the crisis. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., has been named in multiple reports as a possible vice presidential pick for Harris – who has taken heat for her handling of the crisis as what Republicans have nicknamed the “border czar.” But while Harris has a record of left-wing statements in relation to immigration, including calls to cut enforcement funding, Kelly has a significantly more moderate record on the matter as a senator from a border state. KAMALA HARRIS AND THE SOUTHERN BORDER CRISIS: A TIMELINE While broadly supportive of the Biden administration, Kelly has also shown a willingness to push back against the administration. In 2021, after President Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress in April, Kelly was the only Democratic senator to fault Biden for not mentioning the border crisis. In a letter the same year, he told Biden that he should continue construction of the border wall “where they make sense.” Specifically, he pointed to a stretch in Yuma Sector that was a popular point for border crossings. Those gaps have since been filled. In 2022, with reports of the administration planning to end Title 42 expulsions, Kelly sounded the alarm about the administration not having a plan in place. “In this case, the administration hasn’t even prepared, and they don’t have a plan for what to expect,” he told Fox News Digital. At the same time, he has been supportive of a number of Biden-era actions, including the executive order in June that limited entries into the United States at times of high levels of border crossings. Kelly also has a bipartisan record he can point to – with a series of high-profile pieces of legislation on the matter. He introduced a bill with Republicans to increase Border Patrol pay by 14% and add a new reserve force, and introduced a bill with Republicans that would require Homeland Security to produce a strategic plan to deal with a migrant surge. AXIOS HIT WITH COMMUNITY NOTE AFTER CLAIMING HARRIS WAS NEVER ‘BORDER CZAR’ He’s also pushed hard for extra resources at the border from the federal government, and his office has pointed to a number of items across multiple spending bills that they say he has secured. This year his office highlighted extra money for border security operations and technology – including fentanyl detection and integrated surveillance towers. Kelly also supported the bipartisan border security agreement unveiled in the Senate earlier this year that would have increased border funding and restricted entries into the interior, and accused Republicans of having “ran away from this agreement.” When backing Biden’s executive order, he also took aim at Republicans for not passing the Senate deal. “This is only necessary because Congress has failed to do its duty to help fix the border and there is no substitute for that,” he said. “The Senate has twice had the opportunity to take up an agreement negotiated by Republicans and Democrats to invest in more Border Patrol agents, technology and personnel to stop fentanyl, officers to quickly screen asylum claims, and other lasting solutions, but both times my Republican colleagues walked away.” Some in the state have said that they believe picking Kelly would be the smart move for Harris. “I think he would help her more on border issues to have a border senator as your vice president,” Yuma County Supervisor Tony Reyes told KGUN. Politico reported that three congressional Democrats from the border states of California and Texas are publicly pushing for Kelly. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Presidential candidates often use their choice of a running mate to help shore up any perceived weaknesses, and Republicans have hammered Harris on her handling of the border crisis. Harris was put in charge of international diplomacy to tackle the “root causes” of the migrant crisis in 2021. It led to her being dubbed the “border czar,” and she would visit the border, Mexico and Guatemala. While the White House has rejected the czar title, Republicans have connected her to the still-ongoing border crisis. “Kamala Harris was appointed border czar, as you know, in March 2021, and since that time, millions and millions of illegal aliens have invaded our country, and countless Americans have been killed by migrant crime because of her willful demolition of American borders and laws,” former President Trump said on a press call last week. The Harris campaign has pushed back, contrasting her record with Trump’s record in office. “The only ‘plan’ Donald Trump has to secure our border is ripping mothers from their children and a few xenophobic placards at the Republican National Convention. He tanked the toughest bipartisan border security deal in a generation because for Donald Trump, this has never been about actually securing the border – it’s always about himself. He can make up whatever lies he wants but the fact is there’s only one candidate in this race who will fight for real solutions to help secure our nation’s border, and that’s Vice President Harris,” Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.
Schumer won’t commit to Senate votes for Biden’s long-shot radical SCOTUS overhaul
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised President Biden’s Supreme Court overhaul proposal on Monday but did not commit to bringing any of its components to the chamber floor for a vote, where each of them would likely fail. “I am particularly pleased President Biden called for undoing the damage of the Court’s recent immunity decision,” Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: NEW TEXTS SHOW LOCAL POLICE SCRAMBLE TO ASSIST WITH COVERING RALLY “I think Congress should pursue the idea through legislation, and I’m working with my colleagues on the best way to proceed,” he said. In reference to part of Biden’s suggested overhaul, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution to assert that former presidents do not enjoy criminal immunity for acts committed in office, Schumer explained, “An option I am considering is drawing up legislation clarifying that the President is NOT immune from violations of federal law.” LAWMAKERS ON TRUMP ASSASSINATION TASK FORCE SHARE RARE BIPARTISAN ‘COMMITMENT’; OMITTED REPS QUESTION ABSENCE The ratification of an amendment to the Constitution is difficult, evidenced by the only 27 amendments to the document, the last of which was approved more than three decades ago, in 1992. The task is made even harder by a relatively evenly divided Congress and not enough Democratic trifectas across state governments. CORNYN DRIVES RECORD FUNDRAISING AS SENATE LEADER RACE TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL DRAWS NEAR Included in Biden’s three requests were term limits for Supreme Court justices, an enforceable ethics code and a constitutional amendment dictating there is no immunity for former presidents against criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. Each would face near-certain failure if brought for votes in the House or Senate, as well as between the states. DEMS LIKELY NEED A POLITICAL MIRACLE TO PASS BIDEN’S LONGSHOT HIGH COURT OVERHAUL Schumer’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital when asked if the proposals would get votes and, if not, why. The White House did not provide comment to Fox News Digital on whether Biden wanted to see the components of his desired overhaul slated for votes in the Senate. It has already been made clear that Biden’s request will not get an opportunity in the lower chamber, effectively killing any chance it had at becoming law. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote in a statement on Monday, “This dangerous gambit of the Biden-Harris Administration is dead on arrival in the House.”
FBI ‘not ruling anything out’ regarding potential ties between Iran, Trump assassination attempt
A top FBI official revealed Tuesday that the agency is “not ruling anything out” when it comes to any potential connection between Iran and the former President Trump assassination attempt earlier this month during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Deputy Director Paul Abbate told a joint hearing of Senate committees on Capitol Hill that “we have no information that there are any coconspirators, foreign or domestic, including Iran, related to this, but we’re not – I want to be clear – we have no evidence of that. “We’re not ruling anything out. We’re looking into all possibilities and leaving our minds open to that,” he said. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Abbate if there was any “specific or imminent threat” against former President Trump on the day of the shooting. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SENATE GRILLS SECRET SERVICE, FBI OFFICIALS “The terrorist regime of Iran have been targeting people, our country, for many, many years now. We’ve talked about that here before, I want to be clear about that. From the FBI standpoint… we know publicly they’ve targeted former President Trump. They’ve called for his assassination,” Abbate also said. When Blumenthal asked if Iran was on the minds of the Secret Service on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe responded, “as Deputy Director Abbate just said, we are aware of the public sentiment and statements of the government of Iran to do harm to Donald J. Trump, and we use a threat-based model.” The FBI is leading the investigation into the Trump rally shooting carried out by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks. IRAN’S ASSASSINATION PLOT AGAINST TRUMP LATEST ATTEMPT TO KILL AMERICANS ON US SOIL The motive for the attack remains unclear. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has effectively put bounties on the heads of Trump, his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton for their roles in the U.S. drone strike that eliminated the global Iranian terrorist Qassem Soleimani in 2020. According to the U.S. government, Soleimani was responsible for the murders of over 600 American military personnel in the Middle East. Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
GOP, Dem senators unite to condemn ‘horrifying’ Trump assassination attempt
FIRST ON FOX: Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., led a majority of the Senate in introducing a resolution Tuesday to officially condemn the attempted assassination of former President Trump earlier this month at a rally in Pennsylvania. If passed in the upper chamber, the resolution would condemn the attempt on Trump’s life, honor “the victims who were killed and injured at the rally” and call “for unity and civility in the United States.” The condemnation amassed 64 co-sponsors, notably including both Democratic Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, whose constituents were victims. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: NEW TEXTS SHOW LOCAL POLICE SCRAMBLE TO ASSIST WITH COVERING RALLY Barrasso plans to request passage of the resolution either through a mechanism known as a “hotline” that allows for objection or by unanimous consent on the Senate floor. It would take one senator’s objection to prevent either. LAWMAKERS ON TRUMP ASSASSINATION TASK FORCE SHARE RARE BIPARTISAN ‘COMMITMENT’; OMITTED REPS QUESTION ABSENCE “On July 13, our nation witnessed a horrifying assassination attempt on President Trump. Our country was inches away from a catastrophic event that would have changed the course of our history,” Barrasso said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Majorities of both the Democratic caucus and Republican conference were among the co-sponsors of Barrasso’s resolution. It’s also common for legislation, resolutions, and letters to be supported by more lawmakers than those who sign on. Scheduling conflicts and timing can play a role in senators’ ability to join as a co-sponsor or signatory. CORNYN DRIVES RECORD FUNDRAISING AS SENATE LEADER RACE TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL DRAWS NEAR The assassination attempt against Trump took place during his July 13 outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot in the ear during the event before being rushed off-stage by the Secret Service with blood on his face. Rallygoer Corey Comperatore was killed by the gunman, while James “Jim” Copenhaver and David “Jake” Dutch were both injured and hospitalized. BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE MEMBERS NAMED IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT PROBE In the wake of the attack against Trump, lawmakers in Congress have committed to investigating the decisions that left the former president and rally attendees vulnerable to such a shooting. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last week following growing bipartisan calls for her to do so. DEMS LIKELY NEED A POLITICAL MIRACLE TO PASS BIDEN’S LONGSHOT HIGH COURT OVERHAUL New texts and records obtained by the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have pieced together the timeline of the attack and provided insight into how the shooter was able to evade concern or suspicion and ultimately attack. A detailed timeline included in a Beaver County emergency services after-action report showed that local police weren’t sure where shooter Thomas Crooks had gone just minutes before he opened fire from atop a nearby building.
Senate unanimously condemns ‘horrifying’ Trump assassination attempt
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., led a majority of the Senate in co-sponsoring a resolution to officially condemn the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. The resolution passed by unanimous consent in the upper chamber on Thursday, officially condemning the attempt on Trump’s life, honoring “the victims who were killed and injured at the rally” and calling “for unity and civility in the United States.” The condemnation amassed 64 co-sponsors before its passage, notably including both Democratic Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, whose constituents were victims. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: NEW TEXTS SHOW LOCAL POLICE SCRAMBLE TO ASSIST WITH COVERING RALLY “On July 13, our nation witnessed a horrifying assassination attempt on President Trump. Our country was inches away from a catastrophic event that would have changed the course of our history,” Barrasso said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Today, the United States Senate came together in condemning this horrifying act against a former president and current Republican candidate for president. “We also honor the life of a brave American, Corey Comperatore, who did not hesitate to give his life protecting his family. We honor David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who were both critically injured. Americans deserve to attend political events and exercise their rights without fear for their lives. Congress is determined to find answers and ensure this never happens again,” he added. LAWMAKERS ON TRUMP ASSASSINATION TASK FORCE SHARE RARE BIPARTISAN ‘COMMITMENT’; OMITTED REPS QUESTION ABSENCE Majorities of both the Democratic caucus and Republican conference were among the co-sponsors of Barrasso’s resolution. It’s also common for legislation, resolutions, and letters to be supported by more lawmakers than those who sign on. Scheduling conflicts and timing can play a role in senators’ ability to join as a co-sponsor or signatory. CORNYN DRIVES RECORD FUNDRAISING AS SENATE LEADER RACE TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL DRAWS NEAR The assassination attempt against Trump took place during his July 13 outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot in the ear during the event before being rushed off-stage by the Secret Service with blood on his face. Rallygoer Corey Comperatore was killed by the gunman, while James “Jim” Copenhaver and David “Jake” Dutch were both injured and hospitalized. BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE MEMBERS NAMED IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT PROBE In the wake of the attack against Trump, lawmakers in Congress have committed to investigating the decisions that left the former president and rally attendees vulnerable to such a shooting. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last week following growing bipartisan calls for her to do so. DEMS LIKELY NEED A POLITICAL MIRACLE TO PASS BIDEN’S LONGSHOT HIGH COURT OVERHAUL New texts and records obtained by the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have pieced together the timeline of the attack and provided insight into how the shooter was able to evade concern or suspicion and ultimately attack. A detailed timeline included in a Beaver County emergency services after-action report showed that local police weren’t sure where shooter Thomas Crooks had gone just minutes before he opened fire from atop a nearby building.
Buttigieg’s remark claiming men are ‘more free’ with easy access to abortion sparks outrage among pro-lifers
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said that men are “more free” in a country with access to abortion and birth control, a perspective which one pro-life group says “undermines the value of women.” “I’m so glad she has made freedom the theme of her campaign, because I think in so many ways that’s at stake,” Buttiegieg said of Vice President Kamala Harris during a “White Dudes for Harris” virtual campaign event on Monday. “Of course, women’s freedom is Exhibit A after Donald Trump demolished the right to choose. But, of course, men are also more free in a country where we have a president who stands up for things like access to abortion care.” “Men are more free when the leader of the free world, the leader of this country, supports access to birth control and to IVF,” he added. Fox News Digital asked Buttigieg to expand on what he meant when he said abortion access made men freer, but his office did not respond at press time. THE ‘WEIRD’ CAMPAIGN: THE STUNNING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARRIS AND VANCE COVERAGE Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications and marketing for Heartbeat International, a network of pro-life pregnancy resource centers, said the comment was “deeply troubling.” “This perspective not only undermines the value of women and their inherent dignity, but also perpetuates a culture that evades responsibility and fails to support women in their time of need,” Truden told Fox News Digital. “This is a stark reminder of the cultural shift that needs to happen – one where men are called to embrace their roles as responsible adults who support women and children.” HARRIS NOW BACKING AWAY FROM SEVERAL FAR-LEFT STANCES SHE ONCE PROMOTED Buttigieg has been floated as a potential running mate for Harris, though he is not at the top of the list of rumored candidates. Also on the “White Dudes for Harris” campaign call were award-winning actor Jeff Bridges, “Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin and singer Josh Groban. Organizers said the goal of the fundraiser was to not “let the MAGA crowd bully other White guys into voting for a hateful and divisive ideology.”
WATCH: House Dem makes bizarre claim while dodging question on VP Harris’ ‘border czar’ record
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., declined to answer a reporter’s question about the job Vice President Kamala Harris has done as “border czar,” instead claiming she was never the border czar and blaming former President Trump for the current state of the border. “I think Donald Trump stopped us from having good border policy,” Hoyle said on Thursday when asked if VP Harris did a “good job” as border czar. “I’m asking about Kamala Harris, the vice president,” Hoyle was asked again. “I’m talking about Donald Trump stopping us from having a border policy,” Hoyle said. “Why did Donald Trump stop that?’ HOUSE DEM FROM BORDER DISTRICT DODGES QUESTIONS ON HARRIS’ IMMIGRATION RECORD: ‘WAS SHE A BORDER CZAR?’ “Kamala Harris was a good border czar?” Hoyle was then asked. “She was not a border czar,” Hoyle said. “Donald Trump stopped legislation from going…” VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM’S CAMPAIGN MAKES STUNNING ADMISSION ON POTENTIAL HARRIS ENDORSEMENT: ‘CLEAR STATEMENT’ Hoyle joined a growing list of House Democrats running for re-election in November who either declined to answer questions on Harris’ record on the border or joined the growing narrative that Harris was not actually the border czar, despite a variety of outlets referring to her with that title for several years. Harris was tapped by Biden in 2021 to help tackle the border issue, which Democrats, along with the White House, are distancing themselves from since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. “Val Hoyle’s deranged attempt to rewrite history proves she’s beholden to Border Czar Kamala Harris, but afraid of Oregonians holding her accountable for the border crisis,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen told Fox News Digital. “Hoyle’s delusional views endanger Oregon families with surging crime and fentanyl trafficking.” Hoyle is running for re-election in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, where she won by 7.5 points in 2022. The Cook Political report ranks her race as “likely Democrat.” Fox News Digital reached out to Hoyle’s office for comment but did not receive a response. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.