Irish PM rejects antisemitism concerns in Ireland amid dramatic vote over boycotting Israel game
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin rejected claims that Ireland’s sharp criticism of Israel has crossed into antisemitism as tensions flared around a politically charged soccer match between the countries Sunday, with Irish players holding a last-minute vote over whether to boycott the game. Martin, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital this week in New York, outlined why Ireland has taken such a staunch position against the Israeli government’s conduct of the war in Gaza, calling its military response “absolutely disproportionate” while pressing Israel to “change strategy” and calling for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Martin argued that Ireland’s own history — particularly its experience ending decades of conflict in Northern Ireland — gives the country a role to play as a voice for peace on the international stage, a theme he returned to while discussing Ukraine and the ongoing debate over Irish reunification. “I think for the vast majority of people it does not,” Martin said when asked directly whether anti-Israel sentiment in Ireland had crossed the line into antisemitism. “We have no toleration for antisemitism, none,” Martin added. NEW YORK TIMES ISSUES CORRECTION, DELETES LINE QUESTIONING IF ISRAELIS WERE VICTIMS OF OCT 7 TERROR ATTACK The extraordinary player vote came after months of pressure surrounding the UEFA Nations League fixture on Sunday, with more than 160 Irish sports figures calling for a boycott and players themselves publicly questioning whether the match should go ahead. A “significant majority” of players ultimately voted on Saturday to play the game, while one player left the squad after expressing his wish not to take part. In the interview, Martin strongly condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack and defended Israel’s right to exist in security. “First of all, we condemned, absolutely, the outrageous terrorist attack by Hamas in October,” Martin told Fox News Digital. “We believe in a two-state solution,” Martin said. “We believe that Israel, of course, has a right to exist in security and its people need to be guaranteed of security. But likewise, Palestinians should have a right to live in their homeland in a peaceful way.” “There are many peaceful voices in Palestine that I’ve met who want peaceful coexistence with Israel.” Martin said Ireland’s strongly pro-Palestinian position was rooted partly in its own history. “There’s a very strong pro-Palestinian position in Ireland,” Martin said. “Ireland, the Irish government and the Irish people, probably because of our own history, but also because of a sense of right and justice and fairness.” Thousands have taken to the streets across Ireland since the war began, while national broadcaster RTÉ refused to air this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after Israel’s participation was confirmed. Ireland spent centuries under British rule before most of the island gained independence a little more than a century ago, while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom. He said Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 attack had resonated deeply in Ireland and called for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. “We want humanitarian aid going into Gaza. There’s not enough humanitarian aid going in,” Martin said, pointing to the conditions facing roughly 2 million people there, including shortages of food and shelter and children without access to education. Martin said Ireland wanted Israel to reconsider its conduct of the war, asking whether it would “change strategy” and “change its approach to the whole issue.” “So that’s the background to the Irish position,” he said. “People are angry in terms of what’s going on in the Middle East and that’s the manifestation of it.” ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE REACHES DEADLIEST LEVEL SINCE 1994, NEW GLOBAL REPORT FINDS Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson said his players were uncomfortable with the games, declaring: “We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide.” The Israeli Football Association accused him of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy,” prompting Martin to call the remarks “unacceptable.” The FAI previously sought Israel’s suspension from international competition. Separately, Irish soccer officials later voted to fulfill the Israel fixtures after being warned a boycott could cost the association at least $6.3 million and trigger UEFA sanctions. Sunday’s game will be played in Hungary, while Ireland’s Oct. 4 home fixture has been moved to Serbia and will be played behind closed doors. Irish supporters will not have access to either game. An organized campaign dubbed #StopTheGame has, meanwhile, spent months pressuring Irish soccer officials and players not to fulfill the Israel fixtures, staging protests and urging the national team to refuse to play. The campaign has also spilled onto the field. During a friendly against Qatar in May, protesters threw tennis balls bearing “Stop The Game” messages onto the pitch in opposition to the Israel fixtures. Martin has resisted calls for Ireland to boycott Israel, arguing that unilateral action could be “self-defeating” and may hurt Irish soccer without having any effect on Israel. The dispute over the games reflects a broader debate over whether Ireland’s criticism of Israel has crossed a line. The American Jewish Committee raised concerns directly with Martin in Washington in March 2025 about antisemitism and what it called the “vilification of Israel in Ireland.” An Anti-Defamation League official also participated in the meeting. The AJC alleged that antisemitism had become “pervasive” in Ireland. Martin pointed to Ireland’s annual Holocaust commemorations and the historic contribution of Jewish communities in Dublin, Cork and elsewhere in rejecting the suggestion that antisemitism was broadly tolerated in Ireland. He also pointed to Ireland’s participation in international efforts against antisemitism and said the country campaigns against it globally. “We cherish that contribution that the Jewish community has made to Ireland,” Martin said. Martin’s defense of Ireland’s position came before he addressed world leaders at the United Nations on Thursday, where he delivered a sharply critical assessment of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, declaring that the international community had “failed Palestine.” “When the full truth of what has happened, what is still happening in Gaza, is finally known, when the evidence is gathered, when the testimonies are heard, when
Trump’s Greenland obsession isn’t random. Here’s what’s at stake
Greenland may be covered in ice, but beneath its surface could be resources critical to the global economy — including rare earth minerals, nickel, copper, palladium, cobalt, oil and natural gas. The Arctic island’s location is just as valuable. Positioned between North America and Europe, Greenland sits along key military and shipping routes. As conflicts in Ukraine and Iran expose vulnerabilities in global energy and supply chains, the island has become increasingly important to the United States and other world powers. WHY TRUMP ZEROED IN ON GREENLAND, THE WORLD’S LARGEST ISLAND, MOSTLY COVERED IN ICE — IN 3 CHARTS Those factors help explain why President Donald Trump has spent years pushing for greater American control and influence in Greenland and why his administration recently reached a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland. The deal, which Trump signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, will expand the U.S. military presence on the island while keeping Greenland under Danish sovereignty. Here are three reasons Greenland has become one of the world’s most strategically important places. The United States is seeking to reduce its dependence on China and Russia for critical minerals used in electronics, batteries, energy infrastructure and defense technology. “We don’t want to be dependent on China for our rare earth minerals, and we don’t want to be dependent on Russia for them either,” Robert Price, CEO of Greenland Energy Company and president of USFM Corporation, told Fox News Digital. FLOURISH CHART EMBED HERE: 30309299 Price’s USFM is exploring nickel, copper, palladium and cobalt deposits around Disko Island in western Greenland. He said the region could eventually rival Russia’s mineral-rich Norilsk district, though its potential remains unproven as drilling continues. Greenland’s potential riches extend beyond minerals. Price’s Greenland Energy Company is pursuing permits for an exploratory oil well planned for 2027 on the island’s eastern side, where he said the geology resembles the petroleum-producing North Sea. “Our licenses are similar to the same petroleum system as the North Sea,” Price said, adding that the company has sampled oil on and below the surface. TRUMP’S AMBITIOUS ENERGY BET COULD BE A WINNING HAND AS THE WORLD BURNS MORE OIL, GAS THAN EVER The project comes as the Iran war disrupts global energy markets and threatens shipping through the Strait of Hormuz a critical artery for the world’s oil supply. “One of the reasons that we are exploring for oil in Greenland is because of what’s going on in the Strait of Hormuz right now,” Price said. Greenland’s oil and gas potential remains unproven and would require additional permits, exploration and investment. Greenland’s strategic value also comes from its location between North America and Europe, near key air, sea and missile routes connecting the United States, Russia and Europe. The U.S. has maintained a military presence on the island for decades. Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is the northernmost Defense Department installation and supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance. Melting Arctic ice is opening new shipping routes and increasing interest from the United States, Russia and China. Trump’s agreement with Denmark and Greenland would expand the U.S. military presence while preserving Danish sovereignty, according to the administration. Price said the deal could also boost investor confidence in long-term oil, gas and mineral projects. “What it does is it shores up long-term investment in Greenland, and that’s what our projects are,” Price said. “They’re long-term investments from oil, gas and minerals.”
Trump reaffirms ICE arrest policy after confusing guidance sparks alarm among agents
The Trump administration denied reports Saturday evening that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had temporarily instructed agents to limit arrests to illegal immigrants with criminal records. The clarification comes as immigration enforcement remains a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s agenda. The administration has promised an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration and expanded deportations, and officials said that effort has not been scaled back. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION PUSH FUELS ICE’S BIGGEST ARREST MONTH IN AGENCY HISTORY Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, who spoke with Trump and nine ICE and Department of Homeland Security sources, reported that verbal guidance instructing field offices to prioritize the “worst first” was distributed nationwide earlier this week. The guidance alarmed some ICE agents, who described it as shocking and frustrating, Melugin wrote on X. Sources later said the confusion stemmed from internal conversations about prioritizing the most serious offenders and that the directive was the result of a “miscommunication,” rather than a formal change in policy. “There is no change in immigration enforcement policy,” Melugin wrote on X. New guidance was sent to ICE field offices Saturday evening to reaffirm that the administration’s enforcement policy had not changed, according to the sources. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST Trump told Fox News that ICE can still arrest and deport anyone who is in the country illegally. ICE agents will also continue arresting illegal immigrants without additional criminal histories, including “collaterals,” or individuals encountered during an operation targeting someone else. The sources said the administration’s broader immigration enforcement agenda remains in place.
Iran ‘miscalculating’ by betting on midterms after 3-hour talks, Trump officials warn
NEW YORK — Trump officials say Iran is miscalculating if it believes rising prices and the midterm elections will weaken President Donald Trump’s hand in negotiations to end the nearly seven-month conflict. The administration is projecting confidence that mounting economic pressure will push Tehran toward a deal, even after three hours of talks this week ended without an announced breakthrough. “The president holds all of the cards here,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Americans, meanwhile, are facing a mounting cost at home. The national average for regular gasoline reached $4.49 per gallon Friday, according to AAA, up from $3.16 a year ago. AAA said volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and high crude oil prices have driven the national average to its highest level ever recorded for this time of year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged those costs Wednesday while arguing that allowing Iran to eventually obtain a nuclear weapon would carry a far greater price. THE TOP MOMENTS FROM IRAN PRESIDENT’S TENSE VISIT TO US SOIL AS WAR RAGES “It comes at a price and at a cost, there’s no doubt about it,” Rubio told reporters. “But the cost of not doing something about it is substantially higher, especially for future generations.” Trump himself laid out the stakes in stark terms during his address to the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday, presenting Tehran with a choice between reaching a deal that would allow Iran to rebuild or facing potentially devastating further U.S. action. “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump said. “Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” But Trump predicted Tehran would ultimately choose a deal, arguing that Iranian leaders are waiting to see whether the November midterm elections weaken his position. “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” Trump said. “What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.” “I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” Trump added. “It doesn’t even enter my mind.” A U.S. official told Fox News Digital Friday that discussions through mediators remained “positive and constructive,” but said the administration was in no hurry to reach an agreement. “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a rush,” the official said, adding that nearly 40 million barrels of oil had transited the strait over the previous 48 hours. The official predicted oil and gas prices would fall back to pre-conflict levels as the U.S. continues to maintain control of the strait. Trump said U.S. officials held a “very good” three-hour meeting with Iranian officials Tuesday as part of a renewed diplomatic push to end the conflict. But Rubio cautioned Wednesday against characterizing the talks as a “major breakthrough,” saying they were largely a continuation of previous conversations. “I think it was significant that at least there was a conversation,” Rubio said. Rubio also said the administration would make public any “good outcomes or things to announce jointly” stemming from its diplomatic engagements. No such announcement immediately followed the Iran meeting. Iran has since put forward a proposal of its own. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran presented U.S. mediators with a seven-day plan this week that would restore passage through the Strait of Hormuz at the end of the seven days if certain conditions are met, followed by renewed negotiations toward a broader agreement. The proposal draws from the memorandum of understanding Trump and Iran reached in June. A mediator told CBS News the latest discussions were positive but remained in their early stages. The stakes in Hormuz remain high. Commercial traffic through the critical oil chokepoint has been sharply disrupted during the conflict, although U.S. officials say the amount of oil moving through the strait is increasing. TRUMP BETS ECONOMIC PRESSURE CAN SQUEEZE IRAN AS REGIME’S OWN FAILURES DEEPEN THE PAIN “The diplomatic door is always open. The president is a deal maker,” Pigott said. “But he’s going to see the fundamental principle that they cannot have a nuclear weapon accomplished one way or another.” Pigott pointed to growing oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the economic pressure Washington has imposed on Tehran as evidence that the balance remains in Trump’s favor. “We are seeing oil move [through] the Strait of Hormuz, increasing every single day,” Pigott said. “We’re seeing the devastating effects on the Iranian regime from economic [actions]. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being denied to the regime through this blockade that we’re seeing.” Rubio offered a similar assessment Wednesday when asked about Trump’s assertion that Iran may be waiting for the outcome of the midterm elections before making a deal. “I think the Iranians misread our system,” Rubio said. “I think the Iranians are under this illusion that Democrats are going to win in November, and the president will no longer be able to do things against them.” Rubio said Congress remains an important branch of government but argued Tehran misunderstands the limits of congressional power over sanctions and military action. “The president has extraordinary powers. Every president does,” Rubio said. “He’s the commander in chief, both constitutional and otherwise, to be able to carry out those functions.” “So I think that the Iranians are fundamentally misreading our political system,” Rubio continued. The administration is also confronting threats to energy infrastructure elsewhere in the region. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi Arabia as the conflict has expanded, adding another source of uncertainty for global energy markets. Rubio said Wednesday that the restart of a Saudi pipeline following attacks was “critical for their economy” and “critical for the global economy.” He said energy infrastructure had been targeted by the
SCOTUS detention fight could unleash dangerous criminal migrants onto US streets, experts warns
A Supreme Court battle over whether certain noncitizens with criminal records are entitled to bond hearings during lengthy deportation proceedings could become a public safety concern by making it harder for the federal government to keep some detainees behind bars, legal experts warn. The Trump administration is asking the justices to take up Genalo v. D.C., a case involving a Dominican citizen with four criminal convictions who has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement while fighting removal. The dispute centers on a Second Circuit precedent requiring a bond hearing when mandatory immigration detention becomes “unreasonably prolonged.” At that hearing, the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the detainee poses a flight risk or danger to the community. MACHETE-WIELDING MS-13 GANGSTER WANTED FOR MURDER WALKS FREE AFTER BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE RELEASES HIM: DHS Chad Mizelle, chair of litigation at the America First Policy Institute and a former acting associate attorney general and Justice Department chief of staff, told Fox News Digital the implications extend beyond immigration law. “We are talking about criminal aliens here,” Mizelle said. “Those are individuals who have been accused of or convicted of an aggravated felony. Accused or convicted of murder. Accused or convicted of child rape. Accused or convicted of grievous harm upon another human being.” “So these are the worst of the worst individuals,” Mizelle continued. “Do we want those individuals walking the streets, re-committing, harming other individuals?” Mizelle argued Congress imposed mandatory detention on certain noncitizens with criminal records to keep them detained during removal proceedings, while the Second Circuit’s prolonged-detention rule could incentivize some detainees to drag out their cases long enough to seek bond. DOJ MOVES TO STRIP CITIZENSHIP FROM 17 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF HIDING DISTURBING CRIMES The man at the center of the administration’s latest petition, identified in court papers as D.C., is a 62-year-old Dominican citizen who illegally entered the United States and has four criminal convictions, according to court records. In 1997, D.C. was charged with multiple drug offenses, including selling and possessing a controlled substance. He failed to appear for trial, was convicted by a jury and sentenced in absentia to three to nine years in prison, but did not serve that sentence until 2024. In 2007, he was charged with possessing a forged instrument after presenting false identification to police and again failed to appear in court. In 2016, D.C. faced several charges stemming from a domestic dispute, including second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault and acting in a manner to injure a child under 17. He pleaded guilty to criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and also resolved his earlier forged-instrument case with a guilty plea. Later that year, he pleaded guilty to criminal contempt. D.C. was finally arrested on the outstanding warrant from his 1998 drug conviction in April 2024. After completing his state sentence in September 2025, ICE immediately detained him while his removal proceedings continued. FEDERAL APPEALS COURT COMPARES TRUMP MIGRANT DETENTION POLICY TO JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT The district court subsequently ordered that D.C. receive a bond hearing under binding Second Circuit precedent but denied his separate request for immediate release. The government is now asking the Supreme Court to take the case before the Second Circuit itself rules — an unusual procedure known as certiorari before judgment. The administration turned to D.C.’s case after two other noncitizens at the center of the same legal fight saw their cases become moot. One, Carol Williams Black, had been detained for roughly seven months. His case became moot after he received a final order of removal and permanently left the United States. Black was convicted of sexually abusing a child in 2000. The Supreme Court therefore granted review in June only as to the second detainee, G.M. G.M., a lawful permanent resident from the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in May 2015 after being accused of attacking and robbing a man during a 2012 incident in New York City. He was sentenced to two years in prison and was released early on parole in December 2016 after serving 19 months. ICE arrested G.M. at his home on Oct. 5, 2020, and detained him for 21 months without a bond hearing while removal proceedings continued. TRUMP’S FIGHT OVER RARELY USED 18TH-CENTURY DEPORTATION LAW LIVES ON IN LATEST COURT CLASH The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear his case Oct. 13. But in late August, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul granted G.M. a full and unconditional pardon for the assault conviction that had formed the basis for his deportation proceedings and mandatory detention. Solicitor General John Sauer agreed the case was moot, and the Supreme Court dismissed it Sept. 11 without ruling on the merits. The administration then identified D.C. as its replacement vehicle and asked the justices to hear the same constitutional questions this term. FEDERAL JUDGE TIES ICE AGENTS’ HANDS WITH RULING ON WARRANTLESS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARRESTS Carrie Severino, president of Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), said the dispute is likely to affect many similar immigration cases nationwide. “This is not a question that’s only going to affect D.C., the criminal Dominican national at issue in this case,” Severino told Fox News Digital. “This is an issue that’s going to affect criminal aliens across the country.” A victory by D.C. would impose new hurdles on the government, including additional hearings and use of resources, Severino said. “As we know, immigration cases, skipping out on showing up for court dates is incredibly common,” she added. “This is not something that I think the court ought to be granting on a regular basis that they’d be letting people out on bond simply on their word that they’re going to be coming back when they know that they are likely to be removed.” The case also raises questions about who must prove whether continued detention is necessary. The Second Circuit ruled that the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that a detainee should remain in custody. “And so, if the Supreme
Michigan man doxxed after exposing his city’s booming Islamic surge takes defiant stand: ‘Not gonna stop’
A Michigan man who is facing backlash for speaking out against the growing Islamic population in his town refused to back down during an interview with Fox News Digital. “This is my home, this is where I was born and raised, this city, this state,” said Justin Tye, 57, of Warren, Michigan. Tye’s address was doxxed in the wake of a Fox News Digital story where he described how his town and neighborhood have been transformed by mostly Muslim immigrants over the past decade or so. He said he’s received some hate mail, including a package addressed to “Justin Tye, Bigot at Large.” WORKING-CLASS AMERICANS SAY THEIR TOWN IS THE NEXT DEARBORN — AND THEY’VE HAD ENOUGH One package contained stickers reading “F— Trump and f— you for voting for him,” along with a box of feminine hygiene products. But Tye isn’t afraid of any backlash. “Some things are worth the trouble, and this is worth the trouble that could come from it,” he said. “Being doxxed, I’m not afraid. I kind of figured this was gonna come with the territory.” He also vowed to keep speaking out. BILL MAHER RIPS IMMIGRANTS WHO REFUSE TO ADAPT, SAYS AMERICAN VALUES ARE ‘NOT NEGOTIABLE’ “I’m not gonna stop. I mean, you come here from another country and you disrespect the people who have lived in this neighborhood for decades, and in many cases like myself, there’s several people I went to school with that bought their parents’ homes and live back here,” he said, adding that he is speaking up for his neighbors too. “And that’s what I’ve been hearing mainly is, ‘finally a voice,’” he said. “These people here, these Muslims … you need to respect the people, the Americans that are here. Stop disrespecting the people that lived here for decades.” Tye said he’s received encouragement from residents around town. “I’m getting a lot of support,” he said. Like I was out, I had to go do some shopping. I went to Meijer, I went to the bank, and then I stopped at a pizza place to get a pizza, and all three places I was stopped by people, asked if I was the Justin that was interviewed by Fox, and I said ‘yes.’ And the support I’m getting is incredible.” Tye and several of his neighbors spoke to Fox News Digital several weeks ago in Warren. PASTOR UNLEASHES ON DEARBORN AS RELIGIOUS TENSIONS ERUPT AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ “It all started when they bought the mosque, roughly six years ago,” said Tye. “After Ramadan, they would have their [Eid al-Fitr] prayer service. It was unannounced. We didn’t know anything,” he continued. “All of a sudden, we were just woken up to 100-plus people behind the mosque, with an imam on a podium with big amplifier speakers, belting out his prayer service. So it woke up the whole neighborhood.” TRUMP INAUGURATION PASTOR SAYS DEARBORN CHRISTIANS ‘AFRAID’ TO SPEAK OUT IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY CITY He described his neighborhood now as “chaos.” He also took Fox News Digital on a guided tour of Warren, and pointed out five new mosques built or under construction within a seven-mile radius of his house. SWING STATE MAYOR SUED AS CITY’S MUSLIM HOLIDAY DISPLAYS IGNITE RELIGIOUS-FAVORITISM FIGHT An old industrial machinery business is now a mosque, as is a former Baptist church. Another towering mosque is under construction in the area. “Seems like every restaurant that closes up — American restaurant — there’s a Muslim restaurant that opens up. I’ve seen four or five of them so far,” one of Tye’s neighbors told Fox News Digital. “I’m normally laid back. Things don’t bother me,” said another. “But it’s like, this is my neighborhood and they’re just taking it over, and that’s what bothers me. And they don’t care.” After the initial story was published, the city released a message on social media titled, “One Warren: Stronger Together, No Room for Hate.” Friday afternoon, the city responded to Tye’s doxxing, and unequivocally denounced the practice. “Every Warren resident deserves to feel safe in their own community. No one should have to fear being threatened, harassed, or intimidated, simply because they chose to speak up or raise a concern.” “Targeting someone at their home crosses a line,” the statement said. “A person’s home should be a place of safety and privacy, never a place where they are made to feel unsafe because of their views. Regardless of where we stand on an issue, every resident deserves dignity and respect.” The city noted that while not everyone will always see eye to eye, “disagreement should never become an excuse for personal attacks, intimidation, or retaliation.” “There is room for everyone in Warren. There is room for disagreement, debate, protest, and advocacy. But there is no room for threats, harassment, intimidation, or hate. We should hold ourselves and one another to a standard that protects both the safety of our neighbors and the freedom to speak openly.”
Massive ICE sweep fuels GOP push to lock Trump immigration crackdown into law
A massive five- day ICE operation that netted 426 arrests across Indiana is fueling Hoosier Sen. Jim Banks’ push for Congress to cement President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown into law before a future administration can reverse course. Banks hailed “Operation Safe Community: Indiana” in a Fox News Digital interview this week after federal immigration officers fanned out across his home state from Aug. 30 through Sept. 3, arresting 426 people with records involving sex crimes, assault, domestic violence, drug trafficking and weapons offenses, according to ICE. “This is why Donald Trump was elected in 2024: for mass deportation,” Banks told Fox News Digital. “It was one of his key agenda items during the campaign. And in this case in Indiana, you see the direct result of it.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION PUSH FUELS ICE’S BIGGEST ARREST MONTH IN AGENCY HISTORY ICE also credited cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies in carrying out the operation, something Republicans have flagged as a key aspect to successful enforcement. But Banks argued the operation also underscores a limitation of Trump’s crackdown: aggressive executive enforcement today does not guarantee that the same immigration policies survive the next administration. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST “It is important that we codify Trump border security measures and tough-on-immigration policies and make them the law of the land,” he said. The busts build on the lawmaker’s seven-bill immigration package, previously reported by Fox News Digital, which targets issues including birthright citizenship, family-based immigration, H-1B visas, noncitizens’ CDLs and congressional authority over Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to limit judicial intervention. “If this could happen in Indiana, it could happen anywhere,” he added, arguing that the opposition has made it tougher to achieve immigration goals after displacing ICE from the 2025 immigration appropriations legislation. “They’ve made that one of their biggest priorities in this Congress to defund our federal law enforcement, to stop ICE from doing their job, to deport violent criminals who are here illegally,” he said. OMAR’S NEW LEGISLATION TARGETING ICE SPARKS OUTRAGE WHEN THE INTERNET SEES WHAT’S IN IT: ‘UN-AMERICAN’ “So it is important that we codify Trump border security measures and tough-on-immigration policies and make them the law of the land so that the next time, God forbid, a Joe Biden ever gets elected back to the White House or someone that comes from that radical wing of the Democrat Party…” Banks also directed his frustration at his own party, criticizing the Republican-led Senate for failing to advance separate election legislation that he says should be another priority. Many on the right have pressed for passage of the SAVE Act, a bill requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. “That’s one of my biggest disappointments with this Republican Senate – we haven’t passed [it],” he said. “I hope by the end of the year that we can find a way to pass it. I’m going to keep fighting for it, but at the end of the day, the Trump administration and the Department of Justice is doing a lot crack down on illegals voting in our elections.” In a separate Indiana case, DHS arrested an illegal immigrant on Sept. 18 who had entered the U.S. during the Obama administration and later cast a federal ballot. ICE Enforcement Division Assistant Director Patricia Hyde said the right to vote is the “cornerstone of democracy” in announcing the capture of Guatemalan national Helda Mendez-Merida for “poisoning our elections.” “We cannot allow that sacred right [to vote] to be perverted,” she said. Banks said such incidents keep surfacing “because Joe Biden and Democrats flooded our country with tens of millions of illegals – they’re still here [and] mass deportation is important.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly pushed back on criticism he is not working hard enough to pass the SAVE Act or advance the Trump agenda. Thune previously told Fox News Digital that he is an original co-sponsor of a previous version of the bill and that the 50-vote threshold needed to pass provisions that qualify for the parliamentary maneuver known as reconciliation remains a sticking point. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “I keep asking the question, am I the only one in this town that can count to 50? Because it seems like these questions recur and there are a lot of people out there who haven’t seemed to internalize the fact that there aren’t Democrats that are going to flip and vote for this,” Thune said. Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.
Nicki Minaj urges young Americans to ‘vote red’ in 2026 midterms while doubling down on Trump support
Rapper Nicki Minaj urged young Americans to get involved in the upcoming midterm elections and “vote red” while doubling down on her support for President Donald Trump in an interview on Saturday. The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star said on “My View with Lara Trump” that young voters shouldn’t assume their voices don’t matter as Americans prepare to head to the polls Nov. 3. “Now is not the time to think that your voice will not be heard,” Minaj said. “Your voice will not only be heard, but your voice is very necessary right now for the country and for the world. We need you guys involved. We need you guys involved more than ever before. This is your country, this is your world. You are the ones that have to reap the benefits of whatever vote decisions we make now.” Minaj encouraged young voters to become engaged in their communities and participate in elections beyond presidential contests. 2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN “Think about how much you want a say in what happens and realize that the only way to have that is by voting — not just voting for the president, but just voting in all of the local elections,” she said. The music superstar then urged young voters to support Republican candidates in November. “Please, and vote red now,” Minaj said. BLACK CONSERVATIVE REVEALS HOW GOP CAN LOCK DOWN MINORITY VOTERS WITHOUT TRUMP ON BALLOT Minaj’s midterm message comes as she has become increasingly outspoken about her support for Trump. The “Super Bass” and “Starships” singer also recently partnered with the Trump administration on the Small Business Administration’s Million Dollar Pitch Competition, serving as one of the celebrity judges. Trump has praised Minaj, calling her a “fantastic person.” During her interview with Lara Trump, Minaj described the president as “a very authentic person” and said his willingness to speak without appearing scripted appeals to her. “He brings this candid, unedited vibe to the White House that we’ve never before seen,” Minaj said. “And it’s refreshing because for a very long time, people started feeling like we don’t know who we can trust.” “When you see someone that goes off script, it’s like you come alive again, you feel alive,” she continued. NICKI MINAJ TORCHES ANTHONY FAUCI IN MOCK DIARY VIDEO AFTER EXPLOSIVE SENATE APPEARANCE The rapper said she would not shy away from defending Trump. “I’ve made it my mission to be someone that supports him,” Minaj said. Lara Trump noted that Minaj works in an industry where the president is frequently criticized and asked what had shaped her political views along with what she had seen from Democrats that discouraged her. LIZ PEEK: THE LEFT SAYS THE AMERICAN DREAM IS DEAD, BUT MILLIONS PROVE OTHERWISE “I think the Democrats have gotten way too caught up in pop culture, for lack of a better term,” Minaj said. “I think that they’ve allowed their relationships with artists to cause them to act like children and to be so petty and childish.” Minaj also reflected on arriving in the U.S. and building her music career from very little. “My fan base, they got to see me come from absolutely nothing. They really saw the struggle in real time,” she said. “Overall, yes, it has been the American dream,” Minaj added. “That’s why I love this country.” Fox News Digital’s Nora Moriarty contributed to this report.
Trump claims stunning casualty numbers in Russia-Ukraine war
President Donald Trump said Saturday that 25,000 people were killed last month and another 32,000 the month before in the war between Ukraine and Russia. “Last month, 25,000 people died in the Ukraine-Russia war, OK? Twenty-five thousand,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn Saturday. “The month before that, 32,000 people died … mostly soldiers, 97% soldiers. But whether they’re soldiers or civilians, think of it: 32,000. Two months ago, 33,000 people; this month, 25,000 people died. What a shame.” PUTIN UNLEASHES NEW FURY ON UKRAINE AS REPORT EXPOSES FEAR HANGING OVER WAR’S END Russia alone has lost as many as 450,000 soldiers since invading Ukraine in 2022, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Trump also told reporters he wants to see an end to the war soon, revealing he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently. KUSHNER, WITKOFF SET FOR KYIV TALKS AFTER PUTIN MEETING IN US PUSH FOR PEACE “I spoke to him a lot, and he’s going along and Putin’s going along. And, someday, hopefully in the not too distant future, maybe before the heavy winter, they’ll make a deal,” he told reporters. He claimed he pushed Zelenskyy to try to make a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. TRUMP NEGOTIATORS WITKOFF, KUSHNER MEET WITH PUTIN IN MOSCOW AS US PUSHES FOR END TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR “I agreed with Zelenskyy that we talked about a lot of different subjects, and many of those subjects, very strong agreement. But you know what I want him to do? Make a deal. I want him to settle with Putin, and I want Putin to settle with him.” Zelenskyy announced Friday that Trump had agreed to give approval to Ukraine to license and produce U.S. Patriot missile interceptors. TRUMP SAYS US WILL LET UKRAINE MAKE PATRIOT MISSILES IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFT “There are concrete agreements regarding Patriot licenses. At our meeting, President Trump stressed that he had made his final decision: Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles,’” Zelenskyy posted Friday. President Trump had previously hesitated to grant Ukraine the licenses. Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment.
Trump’s home county hits pause on data centers over environment and electric bill concerns
Palm Beach County — home to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago — passed a one-year moratorium on the planning and construction of data centers as commissioners seek to conduct a thorough review of data centers’ impacts on the environment, noise pollution and electric bills. The moratorium, passed Thursday, comes just weeks after Trump said communities that reject data centers would “end up being backwards and poor.” Among the wealthiest counties in the country, Palm Beach County includes the town of Palm Beach, home to 65 billionaires. “If you want to go through poverty, crime and squalor, I would say don’t approve of data centers,” Trump said from the Oval Office Sept. 4. The Palm Beach County Commissioners’ 6-0 vote doesn’t put a permanent ban on data centers. Instead, it gives county leadership time to conduct environmental impact reviews before updating zoning rules for where data centers can be built. TRUMP’S DATA CENTER PUSH FRACTURES CONGRESS AS LOCAL ANGER EXPLODES: ‘GRASPING AT STRAWS’ The moratorium applies to all new applications for data centers with an anticipated peak electrical load of at least 50 megawatts. “Many communities want the economic benefits a data center brings, but we all fear the higher power bills, the negative environmental impact, disruptive noise, the depletion of water resources,” a Palm Beach County resident shared during Thursday’s meeting. Trump has made expanding data centers and accelerating artificial intelligence a cornerstone of his agenda, arguing the United States cannot afford to lose the AI race to China and warning that opposition to data centers only benefits Beijing. Data centers are the physical backbone of artificial intelligence, housing thousands of powerful computers that store and process digital information while providing the computing power needed to train and run AI systems. In 2016, Palm Beach County approved the construction of “Project Tango,” a proposed 202-acre AI data center, which is located 20 miles from Mar-a-Lago. The data center will also be built near an elementary school and homes. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS QUESTION WHETHER AI’S PROMISE OUTWEIGHS ITS RISKS In July, commissioners voted 6-1 to reject a proposal to expand Project Tango by roughly 1.67 million square feet. But existing approvals for two 100,000-square-foot data center buildings remain in place. Residents at Thursday’s meeting said Project Tango was the driving factor behind the push to hit pause on data center project approvals, with several residents advocating for no data centers to be built. “I think the best good neighbor data center is no data center,” resident Sergei Kelly said. “We have the Everglades to our South and to our West. The coast to our East. I don’t think data centers, especially large data centers they want to build desperately, should be here at all.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Palm Beach County Commissioners for comment.