Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns
A federal judge Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from stopping subsidies on childcare programs in five states, including Minnesota, amid allegations of fraud. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, a Biden appointee, didn’t rule on the legality of the funding freeze, but said the states had met the legal threshold to maintain the “status quo” on funding for at least two weeks while arguments continue. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it would withhold funds for programs in five Democratic states over fraud concerns. The programs include the Child Care and Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the Social Services Block Grant, all of which help needy families. USDA IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDS ALL FEDERAL FUNDING TO MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD INVESTIGATION “Families who rely on childcare and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said in a statement on Tuesday. The states, which include California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, argued in court filings that the federal government didn’t have the legal right to end the funds and that the new policy is creating “operational chaos” in the states. In total, the states said they receive more than $10 billion in federal funding for the programs. HHS said it had “reason to believe” that the programs were offering funds to people in the country illegally. ‘TIP OF THE ICEBERG’: SENATE REPUBLICANS PRESS GOV WALZ OVER MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit, called the ruling a “critical victory for families whose lives have been upended by this administration’s cruelty.” Fox News Digital has reached out to HHS for comment.
Picking the right fight: Congressional tensions rise in wake of Minnesota ICE-involved shooting
We will know in short order if a political fight is brewing. Such is the case in the past few days regarding congressional spending and war powers. Article I, Section 9 declares, “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” The most important power granted to Congress is over the federal purse strings. In other words, what Congress deems the federal government should spend. There were calls from the left to hold up funding for the Pentagon or State Department after the U.S. strike in Venezuela. Now, there’s a debate about hamstringing the Department of Homeland Security and ICE after an agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Liberal Democrats are apoplectic. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: PROGRESSIVES EYE SHUTDOWN LEVERAGE TO REIN IN ICE, VENEZUELA OPERATIONS “A child has her lost her mom. And y’all want to pretend that it is OK,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, fighting back tears. “I am asking if there is anyone that will stand for the very people that elected us and sent us to Congress?” “A lot of people are talking about different reforms, and that’s their prerogative,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee. “Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have written [Chairman Andrew] Garbarino, R-N.Y., saying, ‘We’d like to have an oversight hearing on what’s happening with ICE.’ That’s a reasonable request.” I pressed Thompson on whether Congress should use appropriations to effect change at ICE. “That’s above my pay grade,” answered Thompson. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He’s more aggressive about Congress exerting its muscle over the federal treasury. “We should use every means at our disposal to do it,” said Raskin. “Including the appropriations process.” Sometimes that involves cutting off money. Sometimes that entails limiting spending. Sometimes lawmakers include language to forbid certain activities by federal departments or agencies. Or the legislative language might direct agencies to handle duties a particular way. But some progressives are so enraged that they want to slash money for ICE. And maybe even shut down the government. The next deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST Jan. 30, 2026. “I am concerned about that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told colleague Kelly Phares. “I think that’s a terrible idea.” When asked about a possible shutdown over ICE, the speaker believed lawmakers could avoid that. Republicans balk at any move by the left to reprise a government shutdown strategy after the 43-day shutdown last fall. VANCE DEMANDS DEMOCRATS ANSWER WHETHER ICE OFFICER IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING WAS ‘WRONG IN DEFENDING HIS LIFE’ “It will be weapons-grade stupid,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. “But I don’t put anything past them. So, maybe they’ve not learned anything from the fall shutdown, which was dumb.” Congress has not yet addressed the funding bills for the Pentagon or State Department for fiscal year 2026. The same with DHS, although that bill is coming soon. Funding for nine distinct sections of the federal government expires at the end of the day on Jan. 30. That includes DHS. The House just approved a “minibus” spending package, tackling appropriations for energy and water programs, the Department of Interior and the Departments of Commerce and Justice and science programs. The plan is for the Senate to align with the House on these bills. But, regardless, Congress would probably have to approve another “continuing resolution” (CR) to keep the lights on in all other quarters of the federal government after the Jan. 30 deadline. A CR simply renews all federal funding at present levels. So, it’s likely Congress would OK whatever spending bills they’ve worked out and put everything else in a CR to avoid a shutdown. But some progressives have other ideas. They want to use this government funding deadline as “leverage” over ICE and operations related to Venezuela. Passing a new DHS appropriations bill gives lawmakers opportunities to alter policy or contour the funding there. If both the House and Senate haven’t approved a full-year DHS spending package, Congress would simply re-up the current levels for the time being. That is, unless Republicans lack the votes on their side, and they need Democrats to bail them out. Some progressive Democrats are pushing for a shutdown over the ICE issue alone. But it’s probably not going to come to that. Why? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., don’t want to go anywhere near another fight over government funding this year. “Is ICE a red line in the funding fight? Must that be part of any funding bill?” CNN’s Manu Raju asked Jeffries. “Our focus right now, in terms of the appropriations bill, are getting the three bills that are going to be on the floor today over the finish line. And then we’ll turn to the Homeland Security,” Jeffries said just hours before the House approved the triumvirate of other spending packages. But I followed up, asking Jeffries about why Democrats wouldn’t assert themselves if this issue was so critical. “No, what I’m focused on right now, Chad, is to make life better for the American people by extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Which, by the way, a lot of folks in this institution believe was not possible,” said Jeffries. That’s a reference to the Democrats’ bill to renew the expired Obamacare subsidies that passed Thursday. Remember that extending those subsidies was at the heart of last year’s government shutdown. Schumer punted as well when asked about ICE and congressional spending. “Should ICE be abolished, senator?” one reporter asked. “I have lots of problems with ICE,” Schumer replied. JEFFRIES CALLS NOEM ‘STONE-COLD LIAR’ OVER MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING RESPONSE, DEMANDS INVESTIGATIONS “Should it be abolished?” the reporter followed up. “Thank you,” said Schumer, walking through the Capitol Visitor’s Center from the House side toward the Senate side. Yours truly jumped in. “Why is there resistance to use the appropriations process, either for Venezuela or
USDA immediately suspends all federal funding to Minnesota amid fraud investigation
The Trump administration announced Thursday it is suspending all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to Minnesota, effective immediately, with a large-scale fraud investigation underway. “Enough is enough! The Trump administration has uncovered MASSIVE fraud in Minnesota and Minneapolis —billions siphoned off by fraudsters. And those in charge have ZERO plan to fix it,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote in a social media post. The USDA will suspend federal financial awards to the state “until sufficient proof has been provided that the fraud has stopped,” according to Rollins. ‘TIP OF THE ICEBERG’: SENATE REPUBLICANS PRESS GOV WALZ OVER MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL “No more handouts to thieves!” she wrote in the post. “Time to drain the Minnesota swamp and put American taxpayers first.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday said Minnesota tax dollars may have been filtered to terrorist group al-Shabab after a December investigation by his agency. In one alleged fraud scheme, the nonprofit “Feeding Our Future” allegedly swindled $250 million from a USDA-funded children’s nutrition program that Minnesota oversaw during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of people are charged with faking invoices, attendance records and meal distribution in low-income communities in Minnesota, having allegedly used USDA COVID-era waivers that allowed for unchecked program enrollment. DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER SAYS FOCUS SHOULD BE ON ‘WHITE MEN’ AT MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services froze funding for several childcare grant programs in the state, including the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Social Services Block Grant programs. A federal judge blocked the action Friday, finding the Trump administration could not block federal funding for childcare subsidies and programs to aid low-income families, according to a report from The Associated Press. Another scheme allegedly involved the Housing Stability Services Program, which doled out Medicaid coverage for housing stabilization services for those with disabilities, mental illnesses and substance-use disorders. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: AOC accuses Vance of believing ‘American people should be assassinated’
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Hawley breaks with Trump on Venezuela as policy rift continues -Bessent blames Walz as Treasury probes whether Minnesota fraud funds reached al-Shabab -Grassley presses FBI over Trump Arctic Frost probe name, calls change ‘anything but random’ Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is leveling a stunning accusation at Vice President JD Vance amid the national furor over this week’s fatal shooting in Minnesota involving an ICE agent. “I understand that Vice President Vance believes that shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, and I do not,” the four-term federal lawmaker from New York and progressive champion argued as she answered questions on Friday on Capitol Hill from Fox News and other news organizations. Ocasio-Cortez spoke in the wake of Wednesday’s shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good after she confronted ICE agents from inside her car in Minneapolis…READ MORE. 1798 LAW INVOKED: Trump admin says Maduro capture reinforces Alien Enemies Act removals ‘SMART GESTURE’: President Trump says there won’t be a ‘second Wave of Attacks’ against Venezuela due to their ‘cooperation’ ‘LET LOOSE’: Dem narrative challenged after DHS exposes identity of ‘married couple’ in CBP-related shooting POWER AND PETROLEUM: Trump’s Venezuela push runs into hard realities for US energy giants SHADOW SHIPS: Inside the sea war to contain ‘dark fleet’ vessels — and what the US seizure signals to Russia COURAGE OVER HATE: Johnson meets with Muslim man who confronted, disarmed Bondi Beach attacker REIN IT IN: House Dem backs the idea of reining in DHS funding in wake of ICE-involved shooting in Minnesota LANGUAGE WARNING: Dem levels ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ accusation after Portland shooting: ‘Stop f—ing with us’ PARTY-LINE SPLIT: House Republicans defend ICE agent in fatal shooting, say use of force was justified ROAD TRIP: Republican senators hit border trail, touting tax relief and tougher security, in 2026 kickoff CONFIRMATION BLOCK: GOP senator blocks Trump DHS nominees until Noem testifies before Senate TITLE IX SHOWDOWN: Supreme Court to review state bans on transgender athletes’ participation in school sports SHOW US THE BOOKS: Pritzker challengers demand audit, plan ‘DOGE for Illinois’ as lawmaker predicts ‘stunning’ results CULTURE SIGNAL: Obama Presidential Center job listings push ‘anti-racism’ pledge ahead of opening ‘LIKELY ILLEGAL’: Watchdog exposes taxpayer-funded teacher program for banning White applicants: ‘Likely illegal’ VOTE WAR ERUPTS: EXCLUSIVE: DNC joins Supreme Court voting case, blasts RNC effort as ‘wholly un-American’ PARENTS’ RIGHTS WAR: Catholic group asks SCOTUS to block California law against revealing students’ gender identities to parents Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump wears ‘happy Trump’ pin alongside American flag during White House oil executive meeting
President Trump sported a unique accessory at the White House on Friday, a custom lapel pin depicting what he called a “happy Trump.” The president wore the small pin, which appeared to be a cartoon-style depiction of Trump in a navy suit and red tie just beneath his customary American flag lapel pin, while meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House. Fox News’ Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy noticed the accessory and asked the president about it. “I see the American flag lapel pin,” Doocy said. “What is the other lapel pin?” FOX NEWS POLITICS NEWSLETTER: 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP’S PUSH TO PUT US OIL FIRMS BACK IN VENEZUELA Trump explained that the pin was a gift. “Somebody gave me this. You know what that is? That’s called a ‘happy Trump,’” the president said, holding up the pin. “And consider the fact that I’m never happy. I’m never satisfied. I will never be satisfied until we make America great again. But we’re getting pretty close.” TRUMP PAUSES OIL EXEC SUMMIT TO PEEK AT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM’S PROGRESS Trump added, “Somebody gave it to me. I put it on.” The lighthearted moment quickly gained traction on social media, with users on X praising the pin and the president’s sense of humor. “Trump is wearing a ‘Happy Trump’ pin today,” one user wrote, alongside laughing emoji. “How can you not love this guy?” “Where can I get a happy Trump pin?” another asked. “Only our wonderful President Trump! He is wearing a “Happy Trump” pin because he says he’ll never be happy until America is Great Again…but we’re getting close! Hilarious!” a third user wrote. TRUMP ANNOUNCES VENEZUELA IS TURNING OVER MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL TO US GOVERNMENT “IMMEDIATELY” The exchange came as Trump hosted nearly two dozen oil executives at the White House Friday to discuss investment in Venezuela after the U.S. military’s successful capture of the nation’s dictatorial president, Nicolás Maduro. The lineup of oil companies included Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, Continental, Halliburton, HKN, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Trafigura, Vitol Americas, Repsol, Eni, Aspect Holdings, Tallgrass, Raisa Energy and Hilcorp. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum also attended the meeting. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Why the FBI can exclude state authorities from Minnesota shooting probe
The FBI has asserted authority over the investigation into a shooting by an ICE agent in Minnesota, effectively sidelining the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and spurring questions about who has jurisdiction in the case. Federal officials have said the FBI’s jurisdiction is clear when a federal officer’s actions are being reviewed, but state leaders in Minnesota insisted Friday that they will pursue their own parallel inquiry into the incident. The dispute arose after the Minnesota BCA revealed after the shooting that the FBI had shut the BCA out of the investigation. The incident involved an ICE agent appearing on video to shoot and kill 37-year-old Renee Good as she accelerated her vehicle in his direction. CELLPHONE VIDEO RELEASED IN DEADLY MINNEAPOLIS ICE AGENT SHOOTING It is common for the FBI and state and local agencies to pool resources to investigate crimes that could fall under all their jurisdictions, but Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday the federal government did not view the shooting as one of those cases. “They have not been cut out; they don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation,” Noem said. Noem framed the incident as an attack on a federal agent, a point Democratic Gov. Tim Walz criticized as a predetermined outcome to an ongoing probe. Democrats have widely condemned the shooting as murder and an improper use of lethal force, but Noem and others in the Trump administration disagreed. “The officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy,” Noem said. “[The vehicle] was used to perpetuate a violent act. This officer took action to protect himself and to protect other law enforcement officers.” The FBI declined to comment on the investigation. A federal law enforcement source told Fox News Digital the incident was a textbook example of a federal case that the FBI had jurisdiction over. The source also pointed to a letter Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote to California’s leaders in October asserting that federal officers acting in their job capacity could not face state charges. “The Department of Justice views any arrests of federal agents and officers in the performance of their official duties as both illegal and futile,” Blanche wrote. “Numerous federal laws prohibit interfering with and impeding immigration or other law-enforcement operations. … Further, the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the United States Constitution precludes a federal officer from being held on a state criminal charge where the alleged crime arose during the performance of his federal duties.” The supremacy clause protects federal officers from state prosecution when those officers are performing their job duties, though the officers do not have complete immunity, which has long been a point of contention. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a press conference Friday that she felt Minnesota prosecutors did have authority over the ICE agent’s case. “We do have jurisdiction to make the decision with what happened in this case,” Moriarty said. “It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent.” Moriarty did, however, acknowledge “complex legal issues” involved in cases involving a federal law enforcement officer. Moriarty, who was joined by Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison, called on the public to provide any evidence or tips to state prosecutors, saying the FBI deprived them of even reviewing evidence and that Minnesota prosecutors would conduct their own investigation. Ellison cast doubt on the FBI’s ability to conduct a fair inquiry and said a state probe was necessary. Ellison wanted, “to the degree that it’s possible, to set forth a process which, when it’s over, fair-minded people can say, ‘Well as good and just of a job that could be done was done,’” he said. MINNESOTA SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN, TEACHERS UNION DEMANDS ICE LEAVE CITY Blanche said in a statement Thursday that “following any officer-involved shooting, standard protocols ensure that evidence is collected and preserved.” Multiple sources also told Fox News Digital the federal government was skeptical of Minnesota’s desire to conduct a good-faith investigation. They cited remarks from state leaders, including Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who said that claims that the ICE agent acted in self-defense were “bull—-.” One retired agent who worked at the FBI for two decades told Fox News Digital in a recent interview about the Brown University shooting investigation, which initially was being conducted at the local level, that the bureau can take the reins of an investigation once it identifies a federal violation. “It just comes down to what kind of crime it is,” the retired agent said. “If they can’t tie a federal nexus to it, the bureau doesn’t have a dog in the fight.”
FBI names Christopher Raia co-deputy director after Dan Bongino’s departure
FBI veteran Christopher Raia has been named co-deputy director of the federal law enforcement agency, the bureau confirmed Friday to Fox News Digital. Raia, who runs the bureau’s New York City field office, will move to Washington, D.C., and begin his job on Monday serving as co-deputy director with Andrew Bailey. Raia’s elevation comes after Dan Bongino announced he was leaving the position and returning to “civilian life.” His last day on the job was Jan. 3. Bongino was a conservative commentator and podcaster before President Donald Trump nominated him for the position. DAN BONGINO OFFICIALLY LEAVES FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROLE AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR, RETURNS TO ‘CIVILIAN LIFE’ “It’s been an incredible year thanks to the leadership and decisiveness of President Trump,” Bongino wrote on X Saturday. “It was the honor of a lifetime to work with Director [Kash] Patel, and to serve you, the American people. See you on the other side.” Bongino made the announcement he was leaving last month, thanking Trump, Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi “for the opportunity to serve with purpose.” BONDI, PATEL TAP MISSOURI AG AS ADDITIONAL FBI CO-DEPUTY DIRECTOR ALONGSIDE BONGINO Bongino and Bondi had previously clashed over the release of the Epstein files, and a source told Fox News over the summer he had considered resigning over the Justice Department’s handling of the situation. Bongino didn’t give a reason for his resignation less than a year after he started as deputy director, but Trump said last month the 51-year-old “wants to go back to his show.”
Anti-ICE agitators threaten agents in chaotic Minnesota protests: ‘You’re going to f—ing die’
Anti-ICE agitators have erupted en masse in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a protester who the Trump administration says tried to run over an agent. Video of the chaotic scenes unfolding in Minneapolis shows agitators harassing federal agents, with some throwing snowballs at them and some shouting phrases such as “We’re going to f—ing kill you” and “I hope you suffer.” One video shows several federal vehicles driving down a Minneapolis street surrounded by protesters on either side of them. Many of the protesters can be seen lobbing snowballs at the vehicles while the crowd chants, “ICE out now.” In another video, reposted by the White House’s official rapid response X account, a protester outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building can be seen confronting a law enforcement vehicle, shouting, “We’re going to f—ing find you, and we’re going to f—ing kill you! You’re going to f—ing die, b–ch!” TRUMP DEFENDS ICE AGENT, SHOWS NYT REPORTERS VIDEO OF DEADLY MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING The White House referred to these individuals as “left-wing agitators.” Another video posted on X shows a protester telling U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino, “I hope you suffer, I hope you suffer a long, terrible death.” In response, Bovino informs the protester that federal law enforcement is conducting “Title 8 enforcement, ma’am.” Title 8 enforcement involves civil immigration arrests of illegal aliens without criminal offenses. Other videos show protesters cursing federal officials. In one instance, a protester whacks an official with a sign as he shoves a protester back. The protester is then grabbed by several officers and taken to the ground. ICE DIRECTOR FIRES BACK AT ‘SQUAD’ LAWMAKERS OVER ‘POLITICAL RHETORIC’ AFTER FATAL MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING In response, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLauglin told Fox News, “We are seeing a coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement, particularly in Minneapolis.” McLaughlin said federal officials in the city have seen five instances of protesters ramming law enforcement vehicles with their cars and an “8000 percent increase in death threats.” DHS wrote on X that “dangerous criminals – whether they be illegal aliens or U.S. citizens – are turning their vehicles into weapons to attack ICE.” “The brave men and women of DHS law enforcement will not be deterred and will continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” wrote DHS. This comes after an anti-ICE protester, later identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed by a federal official after she allegedly attempted to run him over. WALZ PREPARES NATIONAL GUARD AFTER WOMAN KILLED IN ICE OPERATION: ‘NEVER BEEN AT WAR’ WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Federal authorities said Good had tried to run over ICE agents who were part of a 2,000-strong team sent to the Twin Cities to investigate fraud in the state and deport illegal immigrants. “This appears to be an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said during a news conference late Wednesday in Minneapolis. “The ICE officer, fearing for his life and the other officers around him and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues.” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Good was shot in the head and later pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Trump says US is making moves to acquire Greenland ‘whether they like it or not’
President Donald Trump warned Friday during a meeting with nearly two dozen oil executives that Russia and China will not move in on the nations of Venezuela or Greenland on his watch. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump said Friday. “Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.” Trump’s comments came as he hosted nearly two dozen oil executives at the White House to discuss investments in Venezuela after the capture of dictatorial president Nicolás Maduro Saturday morning. “We don’t want to have Russia there,” Trump said of Venezuela Friday when asked if the nation appears to be an ally to the U.S. “We don’t want to have China there. And, by the way, we don’t want Russia or China going to Greenland, which, if we don’t take Greenland, you can have Russia or China as your next-door neighbor. That’s not going to happen.” SENATE DEM JOHN FETTERMAN SUPPORTS PROSPECT OF US GREENLAND PURCHASE, CITING ‘MASSIVE STRATEGIC BENEFITS’ Trump added that he would like to make a deal with Denmark, saying, “if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.” Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. “And, by the way, I’m a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. … But, you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land. I’m sure we had lots of boats go there also,” he said. The U.S. military carried out a successful operation in Veneuzla Saturday morning, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on sweeping narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug trafficking charges. The operation was swiftly followed by Trump putting “anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives” on notice. Trump has for years floated the U.S. acquiring Greenland due to its strategic position between North America and Europe in the Arctic Circle, and he was pressed about revisiting such plans after the Venezuela operation. Both nations are also rich in resources, including oil and rare earths. Trump defended the desire to own Greenland even when the U.S. already has a military presence on the island, saying, “When we own it, we defend it.” US MAY BE INVOLVED IN VENEZUELA FOR YEARS, TRUMP SAYS “We need Greenland from a national security situation. It’s so strategic. Right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said from Air Force One Sunday as he traveled back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. China has shown a growing ambition in the Arctic, including publishing its first Arctic policy white paper in 2018, when it labeled itself a “near-Arctic state.” Greenland played a pivotal role during the Cold War because it was along the shortest routes between North America and the Soviet Union and conducted missile detection. “If you take a look outside of Greenland right now, there are Russian destroyers, there are Chinese destroyers and bigger. There are Russian submarines all over the place. We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland, and that’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So, we’re going to be doing something with Greenland either the nice way or the more difficult way,” he added. Trump told the media Sunday that “we’ll worry about Greenland in about two months,” but global discussions surrounding the Danish territory have intensified since. European leaders, including in Denmark, have recoiled at Trump’s calls to acquire Greenland, arguing that NATO allies work together to ensure the Arctic is secure. WHITE HOUSE SAYS US WILL SHAPE VENEZUELA’S FUTURE AS TRUMP EMBRACES ‘AMERICAN DOMINANCE’ Arctic security must be “achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the U.N. Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them,” the top leaders from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement. “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” Trump added Friday that “NATO has got to understand” that “we’re not going to allow Russia or China to occupy Greenland, and that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t.”
NAACP posts split image comparing ICE agents to KKK members: ‘Different mask, same agenda’
The NAACP took to social media Thursday to share a contentious split image of a masked ICE agent and a hooded Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member, comparing the government agency to a White supremacist terrorist group. Along with the shocking photo, the NAACP posted, “Different mask, same agenda.” “Fear. Terror. Division. Unlawful arrests. No due process. Now Murder. Quit hiding. Your agenda is being exposed,” the post read. “The PEOPLE have a clear response: No Fear. No Failure. No Division.” Nearly 70,000 people reacted to the photo on Facebook, which garnered nearly 10,000 comments and 30,000 shares. The KKK was founded in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee, following the South’s defeat in the Civil War, and targeted Black freedmen and their allies. CROCKETT WARNS OF NATIONWIDE PROTESTS OVER ICE SHOOTING: ‘STATE-SANCTIONED EXECUTION’ Members used threats and violence in an attempt to restore White supremacy, spreading terror across the South with little risk of prosecution, according to the National Park Service (NPS) website. Congress took action to prosecute Klansmen in the 1870s, but there was a resurgence in 1915, near Atlanta, Georgia, with a new focus on anti-immigration, anti-Catholicism, prohibition and antisemitism. Researchers estimate that there are as many as 150 Klan chapters currently active in the U.S., with between 5,000 and 8,000 members nationwide, according to the NPS. PHILADELPHIA SHERIFF RIPS ICE AS ‘FAKE, WANNABE LAW ENFORCEMENT,’ THREATENING ARRESTS: ‘DON’T WANT THIS SMOKE’ The NAACP’s post came amid protests related to the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent Wednesday after allegedly attempting to drive into the officer during an immigration operation. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials described the shooting as an act of “self-defense,” noting Good was a member of the immigration activist group “ICE Watch,” which aims to monitor, track, interfere and oppose ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. ICE Watch-style networks have been linked to multiple confrontations with federal law enforcement, including incidents where vehicles were used to block or strike officers. JONATHAN TURLEY SLAMS MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR’S ‘RECKLESS’ RESPONSE TO ICE SHOOTING Footage taken by the agent who was allegedly targeted by the SUV showed another ICE agent approaching Good’s stopped SUV, attempting to open the driver’s side door, before the car lunged forward toward him. “After nearly 10 vehicle rammings targeting ICE and CBP officers this week, the NAACP is smearing and demonizing ICE law enforcement, likening them to the KKK,” DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Our officers wear masks to protect themselves from being doxxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers. Not only is ICE law enforcement facing a more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults against them, but we’ve also seen thugs launch websites to reveal officers’ identity.” “The men and women at CBP, ICE, and all of our federal law enforcement agencies put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” McLaughlin added. “Make no mistake, this type of demonization is contributing to the surge in assaults of law enforcement officers.” Democrats initially claimed the woman was not trying to hit the federal agent, labeling the shooting a “murder.” “[The ICE agent] properly defended himself from being run over by organized leftist protesters who were impeding an active law enforcement operation,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in a social media post, referencing the newly released video. “The reason trust in the media is at an all-time low is because they intentionally lie to the public to advance the Democrats’ narrative. That’s exactly what they did in this case in Minnesota.” The NAACP did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita and Alexic McAdams contributed to this report.