Mexico scrambles to build tents to handle mass deportations from US
The Mexican government is building large encampments in Ciudad Juárez to receive an expected influx of Mexicans returned to their native country by President Donald Trump’s promised mass deportations. Tent shelters in Ciudad Juárez are made to temporarily house thousands of people and will be prepared in just a few days, city official Enrique Licon told Reuters. “It’s unprecedented,” Licon said Tuesday of Mexico’s plan to build shelter and reception centers in nine cities south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Authorities at the site will reportedly provide deported Mexicans with food, temporary housing, medical care and assistance in obtaining identity documents, Reuters reported. TRUMP’S ICE RACKS UP HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS, INCLUDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED FOR HORROR CRIMES The government will also provide transportation for Mexican nationals to return to their hometowns. Trump campaigned on launching the largest mass deportations of illegal immigrants in U.S. history and began that effort after assuming office on Monday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already made more than 460 arrests, targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records, including for violent crimes. Information obtained by Fox News Digital shows that between midnight Jan. 21 and 9 a.m. on Jan, 22, a 33-hour period, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 460 illegal immigrants whose criminal histories include sexual assault, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, drugs and weapons offenses, resisting arrest and domestic violence. Agents arrested nationals from a slew of countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Senegal and Venezuela. ‘PROMPT REMOVAL’: TRUMP DHS EXPANDS EXPEDITED DEPORTATION POWERS AS OPERATIONS RAMP UP Arrests took place across the U.S. including Illinois, Utah, California, Minnesota, New York, Florida and Maryland. Nearly five million Mexicans are living in the United States without authorization, according to an analysis by Mexican think tank El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF) based on recent U.S. census data. Many are from parts of central and southern Mexico wracked by violence and poverty. Some 800,000 illegally present Mexicans in the United States are from Michoacan, Guerrero and Chiapas, according to the COLEF study, where fierce battles between organized crime groups have forced thousands to flee in recent years, sometimes leaving whole towns abandoned. Trump has swiftly restarted policies aimed to halt the flow of migrants into the U.S. that former President Biden had ended. On Monday, the Trump administration ended the CBP One app program, which allowed migrants waiting in Mexico to schedule an appointment to enter the U.S. legally. Then on Tuesday, Trump reinstated Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a requirement that non-Mexican asylum seekers wait in Mexico until their cases are resolved. Immigration activists worry that Trump’s strict immigration policies will overwhelm Mexico with deportees, but the government insists it is prepared. “Mexico will do everything necessary to care for its compatriots, and will allocate whatever is necessary to receive those who are repatriated,” Mexico’s Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said on Monday at a press conference, according to Reuters.
Trump expected to pardon pro-life activists convicted under FACE Act
Donald Trump is expected to pardon pro-life activists convicted under the FACE Act during President Biden’s administration in the coming days. The pardons, first reported by The Daily Wire, would apply to activists convicted of protesting near abortion clinics during various demonstrations. The details and scope of the pardons have yet to be revealed. Thomas Ciesielka, a spokesman for the pro-life law firm the Thomas Moore Society, confirmed plans for the pardon to Fox News Digital. News of the plan comes just one day before the March for Life, an annual pro-life march that takes place in Washington, D.C. WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL DEI OFFICES TO BEGIN CLOSING BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., had called on Trump to pardon activists convicted under the FACE Act since the president was sworn into office. “No administration in history has targeted Christians like the Biden Admin. We saw one persecution after another, from shutting down churches during COVID to raiding pro-lifers homes at the crack of dawn. EVERY pro-life prisoner Biden wrongly imprisoned should be pardoned,” Hawley wrote on X. Hawley said he spoke with Trump about a potential pardon plan on Thursday morning, saying they had a “great conversation.” TRUMP TO DEPLOY MILITARY TO BORDER, END BIDEN PAROLE POLICIES IN FLURRY OF DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has also introduced legislation that would dismantle the FACE Act. Many lawmakers have argued that Democratic administrations have weaponized it against pro-life groups and Christians. “97% of FACE Act prosecutions between the years of 1994-2024 were initiated against pro-life Americans; it is laughable to argue that the law hasn’t been weaponized. Let’s put H.R. 589 on the President’s desk and end this once and for all,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said in a statement reacting to the pardon news. Trump also issued a blanket pardon for nearly all January 6 prisoners shortly after he took the oath of office.
House GOP firebrand invokes Trump while mulling gubernatorial run in South Carolina: ‘I’m a fighter’
Rep. Nancy Mace says if she moves ahead and launches a 2026 Republican run for South Carolina governor, she’ll aim “to lock down support” from President Trump. “I had Pres. Trump’s endorsement in the House and I am working hard to lock down support in this race. He said I am a strong conservative voice, he knows I’m a fighter,” Mace said Thursday in a statement to Fox News Digital. A day earlier, Mace took to social media to reiterate what she first told the AP, that’s she’s seriously considering a gubernatorial run in the race to succeed GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, who is term-limited. WHY NANCY MACE CHALLENGED DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TO ‘TAKE IT OUTSIDE’ “President Trump needs bold leaders to implement his agenda in every state across the nation. It will take grit. It will take strength. It will take hard work. I can confirm, affirmative, yes, we are considering a run in 2026. South Carolina First,” Mace said in her social media post. Mace, who was first elected to the House in the 2020 election, didn’t vote to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists and other Trump supporters who aimed to disrupt congressional certification of former President Biden’s 2020 election victory. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST NANCY MACE OPINION PIECES ON FOX NEWS But she later blamed Trump for the attack on the U.S. Capital, and in 2022 faced – but survived – a Republican primary challenge from a rival backed by Trump. Mace endorsed the former president as he ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination and campaigned for him in South Carolina’s crucial early voting presidential primary. Trump returned the favor, backing Mace as she ran for re-election last year. Mace told Fox News Digital that “I’ve proven my leadership, from the state legislature to Washington, my bold conservative policies are rooted in the Constitution, liberty, small government, and common sense.” “I believe in a government small enough to fit into the Constitution,” she added. 2026 GOVERNORS RACES: RAMASWAMY DONE AT DOGE, EXPECTED TO LAUNCH OHIO GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN DAYS And Mace emphasized that “I kick ass and take names from South Carolina to DC and back, that’s the leadership the Palmetto State is looking for.” Mace recently made headlines by introducing a resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol or the adjoining House office buildings. It’s an issue of high interest to many voters on the right. Trump is very popular in Republican-dominated South Carolina, and his endorsement in a GOP gubernatorial primary would be immensely influential among the state’s conservative electorate. Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett are among those also considering gubernatorial bids. It’s going to be a crowded field, veteran South Carolina-based Republican consultant Dave Wilson told Fox News. “There’s going to be a lot of people who are going to throw their hat in the ring.” “It’s going to be a battle of the conservatives – how conservative you can be in South Carolina,” Wilson emphasized. McMaster, another top Trump ally, is on track to become South Carolina’s longest serving governor. The then-lieutenant governor succeeded Gov. Nikki Haley in 2017 when she stepped down to become ambassador to the United Nations in Trump’s first term. McMaster went on to win election in 2018 to a full four-year term, and re-election in 2022.
New Republican leader Lisa McClain talks messaging ‘playbook’ in the Trump era
EXCLUSIVE: Leading the House Republican communications policy under a president like President Donald Trump, who is known to frequently air his thoughts on the public stage, is likely not an easy task. However, Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., the new House GOP Conference chair, argues that the outspoken commander in chief makes her job easier – in part, because of his simple but ubiquitous tagline. “If you take a look at the last election cycle, Republicans had the winning message, and it was simple, it was consistent, and it was easily repeatable, right?” McClain said. “So, ‘Make America Great.’ Make America ‘blank’ again. Make America strong again. Make America energy independent. It was simple and it was concise. And the message worked so well that it didn’t matter if you were in a [moderate or heavily Republican] district.” “Everyone’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. They have a playbook that they can all sing from, so to speak.” REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, VP VANCE TO ADVANCE AGENDA McClain, now the No. 4 House GOP leader, has been in senior leadership for just over three weeks, but she has largely shunned the solo stage that comes with the role in favor of shining that spotlight on lesser-known members of the GOP. She has co-authored op-eds with rank-and-file lawmakers and promoted interview opportunities on issues that affect their home states. McClain told Fox News Digital that she saw her job as elevating the existing qualities that helped members of the conference win their elections. “People want to help. They want to be engaged. They want to feel part of something. And I think my job as conference chair, I can help give them a platform,” she said. Like Trump, she made her living in business before coming into politics. Before being elected to Congress in the 2020 races, McClain ran a 700-person financial planning company in her home state of Michigan. When asked why she decided to run, McClain joked, “I blame it on my daughter.” WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL DEI OFFICES TO BEGIN CLOSING BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY “So we have Sunday dinner, and that’s kind of my time to hold court,” she recalled. “I was on my soapbox about something. And my daughter Ryan looked at me… ’You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.’ She was being sassy. ‘Why don’t you run for Congress and do something about it?’ So that kind of planted the seed.” However, since being elected, McClain said she has carried at least one lesson over from the business world – relationships. “We are stronger together as a team. And the more people you have on the team, the better you are,” she said. Just this week, she and a team of House GOP leaders sat down with Trump to discuss his agenda. Those relationships extend past her fellow lawmakers, however. Her predecessor, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. – whom McClain heaped praise on during her interview – was known to operate with a tight circle and largely kept the media at arm’s length. However, McClain is known for her open demeanor with journalists, both through informal chats on Capitol Hill and occasionally sparring with members of the media on more difficult issues. “You want to tell a story, I also want to tell a story. So if we work together, as long as we’re fair or respectful to each other, I think we can work together to help shape that narrative on what the story is we’re trying to tell,” McClain said. “Because at the end of the day, if I don’t share my narrative with you on what’s the story we’re trying to tell, you’re going to come up with a story on your own. So why wouldn’t we work together to share that story? It just makes sense.”
Tim Scott emphasizes ‘results’ over reconciliation process as he stays out of debate
FIRST ON FOX: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., is not getting caught up in the details of how exactly Republicans package key legislation during the crucial budget reconciliation process before sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk. “I think for us, results are more important than process,” he told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview following a meeting between Trump and House and Senate GOP leaders. “And if that requires us to have border security, tax reform, deportation — whatever we can get into a package or multiple packages — we have to produce results for the people,” he explained. DEM WHO CALLED TRUMP ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO DEMOCRACY’ NOW BLOCKING HIS NOMINEES The benefit of the budget reconciliation process is that the threshold to end debate in the Senate is lower, allowing Republicans to defeat the legislative filibuster with just their conference’s support rather than the usual 60 votes. However, use of the process is limited and must not include what are considered “extraneous provisions.” Scott is “agnostic about the process,” he said. This is a different attitude than that of Republican leaders in the House, who have been adamant about fitting everything into one measure. The South Carolina Republican joined other members of the Senate GOP leadership and their counterparts in the House at a meeting with Trump on Tuesday. HEGSETH LAWYER SLAMS ‘FLAWED AND QUESTIONABLE AFFIDAVIT’ FROM EX-SISTER-IN-LAW According to him, “We did not have any objective of reaching consensus on reconciliation,” despite reports that a certain approach to reconciliation was agreed to. “I would consider it the inaugural meeting, an opportunity for us to recognize that President Trump is the visionary leader that we need.” He acknowledged that budget reconciliation was discussed, “but the important part was that the goal was achieved of creating a one-team approach to the problems that we must solve for the American people. And President Trump was very clear that this is not about us.” When asked whether that meant the approach to the reconciliation process was still undecided or subject to change, Scott said, “I would imagine it depends on who you’re talking to.” REPUBLICAN LEADERS STILL AT ODDS ON RECONCILIATION DEBATE AFTER TRUMP MEETING He noted that the House Republican leaders did reinforce “the importance of one big, beautiful bill.” “I think the House definitely sees a path for one big, beautiful bill to become law and that they have the votes for that. That’s their objective.” However, Scott said, “I think we’re still open to finding the path to victory,” whether it be one or two bills. Many Republicans in the Senate have espoused their general preference for making two separate budget reconciliation bills, with one addressing the border and another tackling taxes. NEW SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO PAUSES REFUGEE OPERATIONS, RAMPS UP VISA VETTING As for whether these joint meetings with Republican leaders and the president will become routine, Scott said, “I certainly hope so.” “I think one of the things we have to really appreciate about President Trump is he’s looking for results. And that means that we all have to hear the same thing, as often as possible, at the same time, so that there is no difference in our understanding and there’s no daylight between us.” It is still unclear how the reconciliation bill or bills will take shape, but the South Carolina senator said the president wants to get it done as quickly as possible.
Karine Jean-Pierre reveals mom’s cancer diagnosis — and why she kept it secret
Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gave Americans a look behind the podium in a telling Vanity Fair piece published on Tuesday. Jean-Pierre, who chose to keep her personal life private while working in the Biden-Harris administration, revealed a private health battle that put significant weight on her and her family. Jean-Pierre recalled attending the Bidens’ first state dinner in December 2022, saying it was “the first time the administration felt a dinner was safe to host since the pandemic began.” That evening Jean-Pierre was accompanied by her mother, who told her that it was “the happiest day of my life.” The state dinner was the last time Jean-Pierre “recognized my mother as the woman I grew up with.” Unfortunately, things took a turn, and just a couple of months later, her mother was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer. Jean-Pierre found out that her mother was sick while visiting Poland with then-President Joe Biden. “My mother has always been a private person. When she finally acquiesced to reality, she told me: ‘Don’t tell anyone. Do not tell the president I have cancer,’” the former press secretary wrote. WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS REFLECT ON COVERING RECLUSIVE BIDEN, WHAT THEY HOPE FOR IN COVERING TRUMP Biden was supposedly “one of only a few people at the White House” who knew about what Jean-Pierre’s mother was going through. Jean-Pierre said Biden “showed up for me” during the difficult time. While navigating her mother’s care alongside her siblings, Jean-Pierre was driving to New York “every weekend I could to see my mom,” only to return late at night to catch “a few hours of sleep” before heading to the White House. Despite serving in a very public-facing role in the Biden-Harris administration with her “second full-time job” coordinating her mother’s care, Jean-Pierre explained that being a “private person” is only one of the reasons why she did not make her mom’s cancer battle public. The former press secretary said she was also working under the “weight” of being a “first.” “I’m the first Black press secretary. The first person of color press secretary. The first openly queer press secretary. The first Haitian American immigrant press secretary. The first press secretary to be all of the above. Being a first meant that my responsibilities were beyond those in the job description, the load heavier. I bear a certain responsibility to the communities I represent,” Jean-Pierre wrote. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE’S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF 2024 Jean-Pierre also claimed that she believed sharing her mother’s diagnosis would have been seen “as an excuse” because “society doesn’t allow women of color to be vulnerable at work. When you’re a first, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP During her time in the White House briefing room, Jean-Pierre faced criticism for a series of embarrassing and controversial moments. In one of her more infamous moments, Jean-Pierre accused the media and others of making “cheap fakes” that made Biden “appear especially frail or mentally confused.” As the American people wondered if the commander in chief was capable of carrying out the duties of his office, Jean-Pierre was gaslighting them by chalking it up to “misinformation” and “disinformation.” After Biden spoke out against Georgia’s voting laws, dubbing them “Jim Crow 2.0,” Jean-Pierre raised eyebrows with her claim that “high turnout and voter suppression can take place at the same time.” Jean-Pierre was also tasked with walking back denials of the possibility that the president would pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Once the president issued his son’s pardon, despite repeatedly vowing not to do so, Jean-Pierre explained the pivot by saying that the “circumstances have changed.” She also placed the blame on then-President-elect Trump, saying that the president was trying to protect his son from Republican “retribution.” In May 2022, Jean-Pierre took over for her predecessor Jen Psaki, who served as Biden’s press secretary for nearly a year and a half. When handing the reins over to Jean-Pierre, Psaki called her successor a “remarkable person” before listing her qualifications for the position.
Medal of Honor recipients would see their pensions increase 6-fold under new proposal
EXCLUSIVE: A new, bipartisan, bicameral bill would boost pensions for Medal of Honor recipients six-fold. The legislation, reintroduced by Texas Republicans Rep. Troy Nehls and Sen. Ted Cruz and New Hampshire Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas, would bring pay for those who receive the nation’s highest military award from $16,880 per year to $100,000 per year. Proponents of the bill say the pay would ease the financial burden for medal recipients who often traverse the country for speaking engagements on their own dime. The legislation would affect the 60 living Medal of Honor recipients. Some 3,500 have been awarded the medal since its inception in 1863. PRESIDENT BIDEN AWARDS MEDAL OF HONOR TO SEVEN ARMY VETERANS Pension rolls for Medal of Honor recipients were first created in 1916, with pensioners receiving $10 per month from the federal government. The monthly stipend was raised to $100 in 1961 and $1,000 in 2002. “I’m proud to reintroduce the Medal of Honor Act to ease the financial burdens of our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients,” Nehls said in a statement. “While we will never be able to repay these courageous individuals for their extraordinary acts, we must do everything we can to show our unwavering support and gratitude for their service.” Former President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to seven U.S. Army soldiers, six posthumously and one who attended the White House ceremony in person – Pfc. Kenneth J. David – for their actions in the Korean and Vietnam wars. BIDEN TO AWARD MEDAL OF HONOR TO UNION SOLDIERS IN ‘ONE OF THE EARLIEST SPECIAL OPERATIONS’ IN ARMY HISTORY Those honored posthumously were Pvt. Bruno R. Orig, Pfc. Wataru Nakamura, Cpl. Fred B. McGee, Pfc. Charles R. Johnson, Gen. Richard E. Cavazos and Capt. Hugh R. Nelson Jr. In May 1970, David’s company had come under attack by enemy forces. Then a radio-telephone operator, David engaged the enemy and drew fire away from his fellow soldiers. He distracted them by yelling, firing his rifle and throwing hand grenades while friendly helicopters swooped in to evacuate the wounded. “Our Medal of Honor recipients are heroes who embody the highest ideals of courage, sacrifice and selflessness. They continue to serve our nation by sharing their stories, inspiring generations and encouraging the next wave of America’s heroes,” said Cruz. “Yet, they often lack the financial resources for these activities. The MEDAL Act addresses those shortfalls.” The bill has been introduced in two previous congressional terms, but has not yet received a floor vote. It’s not yet clear whether it will make it to the House and Senate floor this Congress.
LA Hughes Fire only 14% contained after burning 10K acres
The Hughes Fire in Los Angeles has now burned over 10,000 acres and remains just 14% contained, fire authorities in the city announced Thursday. The Hughes Fire, which was first reported on Wednesday morning, was first located in the unincorporated community of Castaic in northwestern Los Angeles County. It quickly spread thanks to aggressive winds that have plagued fire-fighting efforts for weeks. More than 4,000 fire personnel are assigned to Hughes Fire, authorities say. “The weather is what is predominantly driving this fire and its spread right now. A red flag warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Friday,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a statement. “It remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand.” CALIFORNIA FIRES: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM The blaze has forced some 50,000 people to evacuate, and it also caused temporary road closures on Interstate 5 on Wednesday. LA FIRES DESTROYED RYAN O’NEAL’S MALIBU HOME HE ONCE SHARED WITH FARRAH FAWCETT Earlier in the day, Cal Fire urged residents in several regions near the Hughes Fire to leave immediately, including the vicinity of Castaic Lake, Paradise Ranch and the Ridge Route. “Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW,” the Cal Fire alert reads. “The area is lawfully closed to public access.” There have also been reports of a fire in the Sepulveda Pass near Sherman Oaks. The fire was initially reported as one acre, but the Los Angeles Fire Department has since reported all forward progress stopped with the fire held at approximately 40 acres. “The Evacuation Warning is LIFTED. There are no structures damaged and no injuries reported. Firefighters will remain on scene through the night conducting mop up operations to ensure no hot spots remain. Traffic on the 405 Freeway will likely remain impacted as crews and apparatus work alongside the freeway,” the notice stated. Mayor Karen Bass says that although the fire is being addressed, all Angelenos should heed the warnings from public safety officials. “Air support and other aggressive actions have been deployed to fight a new fire just east of the 405,” she posted to X. “To all Angelenos in the area, follow guidance from public safety officials to stay safe.” The new fires come amid a deadly wildfire season in the Golden State, as firefighters have battled destructive Southern California blazes for weeks. Fox News’ Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
GOP leaders rally to revoke China’s ‘most favored nation’ status after 20-year run
FIRST ON FOX: The movement to eliminate the free trade perks China enjoys in the U.S. is gaining steam under Republican control of the government. GOP leaders in the House and Senate are once again introducing legislation that would end China’s most favored nation status by repealing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR). Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., reintroduced the Restoring Trade Fairness Act in the Senate, with Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., as a cosponsor. The bill has bipartisan support in the House – Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Moch., China Competition Committee chair, introduced it along with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. The measure would create a minimum 35% tariff on non-strategic goods and a 100% tariff on strategic goods, phased in over five years. SENATE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH EFFORT TO BAN CHINESE NATIONALS FROM BUYING LAND IN US It would end “de minimis treatment” for China, or the value threshold below which imports are not subject to customs duties. The revenue generated, according to the bill, would go toward farmers and manufacturers injured by potential Chinese retaliation and the purchase of key munitions important to a potential Pacific conflict. The bill follows a recent Trump executive order that directs the secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade representative to assess proposals regarding PNTR. Congress voted to grant China PNTR in 2000 under a directive from then-President Bill Clinton, which also allowed it to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). The designation fundamentally changed China-U.S. trade relations. U.S. consumers gained access to low-priced Chinese imports, and between 2001 and 2021, the value of goods imported from China quadrupled to $500 billion. The U.S. share of global manufacturing production dropped from 25% in 1997 to 17% in 2019. Nations with PNTR enjoy an average tariff rate of around 3%. Additional tariffs on Chinese goods by sector that kicked off under the first Trump administration drive that figure higher for the CCP. TRUMP, CHINA’S XI SPEAK ON PHONE AHEAD OF INAUGURATION Critics of PNTR say it allowed companies to outsource their manufacturing to China, and that renewed tensions with Beijing could lead to supply chain issues. Proponents of PNTR say that removing that status would cause inflation, allowing further tariffs on billions’ worth of Chinese goods. “For too long, permanent normal trade relations with China have undermined our manufacturing base, shifted American jobs abroad, and allowed the CCP to exploit our markets while betraying the promise of fair competition,” Moolenaar said in a statement.” “China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations status has enriched the Chinese Communist Party while costing the United States millions of jobs,” said Cotton. “This comprehensive repeal of China’s PNTR status and reform of the U.S.-China trade relationship will protect American workers, enhance our national security, and end the Chinese Communists’ leverage over our economy.” On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump suggested tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese goods. However, this week, after taking office, he said he intended to start off with a 10% tariff on Chinese products on Feb. 1. Ending China’s most favored nation status was a pipe dream under the previous administration, when Democrats controlled the Senate and White House. However, with Republican control of the executive branch and both chambers of Congress, the legislation has gained momentum. House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital said they wanted to see the legislation get passed this Congress. “China needs to be isolated,” said Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis. “That takes tariffs. It takes tariffs without any permanent normal trade relations. They never should have been allowed into the WTO – the Democrats gave them favored nation status.” “That started the downward spiral out of our military industrial complex crashing in the ground,” he went on. “We can’t produce enough weapons right now because all the manufacturing – it’s not just that we’re not buying bombs from China, that there’s component parts that have to go into all these weapons systems that left the country. That’s a national security issue.” “There’s no question in my mind that I would like to see an end to normal trade relations,” said freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C. “China is not our friend. They are our adversary. I would go so far as to say they are our enemy.” “I would never have voted for a permanent trade authority for China or for Russia,” said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “You have to meet certain requirements to be a most favored nation,” he went on. “Previous presidents made the mistake of saying that we should give them the status because they were going to stop doing the wrong thing. No, they need to do the right thing. And then we’re certainly happy to have them back in.”
Pro-lifers pounce on Fetterman for opposing ‘Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act’: ‘Infanticide’
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and all other Senate Democrats blocked the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act” from advancing in the chamber on Wednesday. The measure would require health care practitioners to seek to save the life of a baby born during an attempted abortion, and ensure that the infant is hospitalized. “I’ve always stood on the side of Roe and a woman’s right to make her own health care choices. It’s absurd to mandate criminalization because of those choices. Any bill that does so, including the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, is a NO from me,” Fetterman declared in a post on X. JOHN FETTERMAN AND LINDSEY GRAHAM ADVOCATE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM In a 52-47 party-line vote, 52 Republicans voted to proceed, while 45 Democrats and the two independent senators aligned with the Senate Democratic Caucus voted to block the bill from moving toward a vote. The text of the measure stipulates that healthcare providers present when a baby is born alive amid an attempted abortion must “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age” and then “ensure that the child born alive is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.” The measure explicitly precludes prosecution of the child’s mother. “The mother of a child born alive described under subsection (a) may not be prosecuted for a violation of this section, an attempt to violate this section, a conspiracy to violate this section, or an offense under section 3 or 4 of this title based on such a violation,” the text of the legislation reads. CHIP ROY LEADS HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN EFFORT TO REPEAL LAW USED BY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PROSECUTE PRO-LIFERS Pro-lifers decried Fetterman’s position. “You just voted against medical care for a crying infant, begging for help, struggling to survive after a failed abortion. You have believed the leftist lie that killing babies – in this case now a BORN baby struggling for his life – is ever acceptable. Pure evil,” Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action, declared in a tweet. Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins placed the handshake emoji in between the words “Fetterman” and “Infanticide.” SEN. DAVE MCCORMICK ‘OPTIMISTIC’ ABOUT WORKING WITH SEN. FETTERMAN TO FIND ‘COMMON GROUND’: ‘EMBRACING’ CHANGE Katie Glenn Daniel, director of legal affairs and policy counsel for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, wrote in response to Fetterman’s post, “My dude, it’s literally called the Born-ALIVE Abortion SURVIVORS Protection Act. A baby is born, breathing and squirming, and you voted to deny her the life-sustaining healthcare that she would be owed if she was born under any other circumstance.”