Trump’s tariff revenues hit record highs as Supreme Court deals major blow
Tariff collections surged to historic highs under President Donald Trump, advancing his trade agenda before the Supreme Court stepped in on Friday to limit the power behind many of the levies. Tariffs have been a defining feature of Trump’s economic agenda since his return to office, and revenue from the duties has risen roughly 300%. In January alone, duties brought in $30.4 billion — up 275% from a year earlier. For the fiscal year to date, collections have reached $124 billion, an increase of about 300% over the same period last year. This administration has repeatedly argued that tariff revenue can fund domestic priorities — including lowering the nation’s $38 trillion debt and potentially delivering a $2,000 dividend check to Americans — as critics from both the left and right warn that tariffs could raise consumer prices and strain global trade relationships. SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP’S TRADE AGENDA IN LANDMARK TARIFF CASE Tariffs are essentially taxes on imports, typically paid upfront by U.S. importers who then push the added expense down the supply chain to retailers and consumers. That can translate into higher prices for goods ranging from electronics to raw materials. Their overall economic impact hinges on how much of the cost consumers absorb, how domestic producers respond and whether the intended strategic benefits justify the additional expense. TRUMP SAYS US WOULD BE ‘DESTROYED’ WITHOUT TARIFF REVENUE With affordability a central concern for voters heading into the midterm elections, any policy that raises consumer prices is likely to face heightened political scrutiny. The Supreme Court case arose from lawsuits filed by an educational toy maker and a family-owned wine and spirits importer challenging Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs unveiled in April. The broad package of import duties was designed, the administration said, to address trade imbalances and reduce reliance on foreign goods. Revenue surged in the months that followed, climbing from $9.6 billion in March to $23.9 billion in May. For fiscal year 2025, which ended Sept. 30, 2025, total duty collections reached $215.2 billion, according to Treasury data. The upward trend has continued into fiscal 2026, with receipts already running ahead of last year’s pace. The Supreme Court ruling injects fresh uncertainty into the future of the tariffs and how the Trump administration will respond. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump says he is ‘considering’ a limited military strike to pressure Iran into nuclear deal
President Donald Trump said Friday he is “considering” a limited military strike on Iran to pressure its leaders into a deal over its nuclear program. “I guess I can say, I am considering that,” Trump said at a breakfast with governors at the White House, after being asked by a reporter, “Are you considering a limited military strike to pressure Iran into a deal?” The president on Thursday suggested the window for a breakthrough is narrowing, indicating Iran has no more than “10, 15 days, pretty much maximum” to reach an agreement. “We’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” he said. THE ONLY MAP YOU NEED TO SEE TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS TRUMP IS ABOUT IRAN Trump’s remarks come as the U.S. is building up military assets in the Middle East, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group toward the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in the Middle East more than two weeks ago. TRUMP SAYS IRAN HAS 15 DAYS TO REACH A DEAL OR FACE ‘UNFORTUNATE’ OUTCOME On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command posted photos showing F/A-18 Super Hornets landing on the decks of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. The next day, Russia warned Iran and “all parties in the region to exercise restraint and caution.” “Russia continues to develop relations with Iran, and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and caution, and we urge them to prioritize political and diplomatic means in resolving any problems,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters. Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Democratic-socialist nominee eyeing NJ governor’s vacant House seat compares ICE to 1960s segregationists
FIRST ON FOX: Analilia Mejia, the Democrat hoping to take over newly elected New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s now absent House seat, recently likened the Trump administration’s federal immigration efforts to that of segregationists in the South during the 1960s. After securing the Democratic Party nomination in a crowded field to take over Sherrill’s 11th Congressional District seat, activist Mejia began holding interviews to share her platform. Among the crowded field of Democrats, she was said to be the only one to call Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide” and call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished. During an interview Mejia conducted with The American Prospect after securing her nomination, she defended calls to abolish ICE and said that the “murders in Minnesota,” referring to the deaths of anti-ICE agitators Renee Good and Alex Pretti, “feel very similar to that moment in our nation’s history, when in the middle of evening news, the American people couldn’t turn away from what was happening in the South, they couldn’t turn away from fire hoses turned on children.” JEFFRIES CLASHES WITH LEFT-WING PODCAST HOST OVER DEMAND TO LEAD PUSH TO ‘ABOLISH ICE’ Mejia was alluding to the 1963 Birmingham “Children’s Crusade” when kids walked out of school to support desegregation but were met with brutality from local officials who turned a high-powered fire hose onto kids who had walked out of school to protest segregation. Fox News Digital reached out to campaign representatives for Mejia but did not hear back in time for publication. “Anyone who has studied American history understands, every time across our nation’s history, we keep having these cycles of when regular, everyday Americans grab those words of freedom and try to pull them to cover as many of us as possible,” Mejia explained further, in a separate interview she conducted after securing her nomination, with Democracy NOW. “We then have kind of a reaction in this nation, whether it was after Reconstruction or after the civil rights movement or after the election of Barack Obama. It’s almost as if we have this snap back, this clap back to expansive freedom.” Comparing ICE to racists is nothing new for the Democratic Party. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for example, compared them to slave patrols, while just last month, the NAACP posted a split-image comparing ICE agents to the KKK. The KKK comparison also recently reared its head during California’s gubernatorial debate and just a few days ago, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass, complained “ICE can’t be reformed anymore than the KKK could.” TRUMP DHS HAMMERS DEM GOVERNOR’S PORTAL TO TRACK ICE AGENTS: ‘ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE’ Mejia, longtime labor organizer who served as a 2020 national political director for Bernie Sanders and also as deputy director of the Labor Department’s women’s bureau under former President Joe Biden, upset the more moderate former congressman, Tom Malinowski, in the Democratic Primary for New Jersey’s 11th district last week. She is now preparing to battle it out against her Republican opponent in the April 16 special general election, local New Jersey Mayor Joe Hathaway. “You can’t turn away from this madness, and you can’t unsee this injustice, and they want leaders who say you’re not crazy, what you’re seeing is real,” Mejia told The American Prospect when asked about her stance to abolish ICE position. “People get it, voters are not dumb.” In another interview, after Mejia secured her 11th District nomination, she also spoke about her platform, including her position on ICE and immigration, with longtime New York news anchor Bill Ritter. “You sound a little like the person who just became the Mayor of New York,” Ritter remarked to Mejia during their discussion.
The only map you need to see to understand how serious Trump is about Iran
For weeks, the U.S. military has quietly amassed what President Donald Trump has described as an “armada” in Iran’s backyard. Mapped out across the Persian Gulf and beyond, the deployment tells its own story — one of calculated pressure backed by credible capability. The latest signal of escalation is the movement of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford, and its strike group from the Caribbean toward the Middle East. The buildup coincides with indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Trump has warned that the regime must fully dismantle its nuclear infrastructure — or face consequences. THE WORLD’S TOP NUCLEAR POWERS HAVE NO ARSENAL LIMITS, HERE ARE THE COUNTRIES WITH NUKES At the heart of America’s force projection is another carrier strike group: USS Abraham Lincoln — a mobile fortress at sea, guarded by destroyers and equipped to unleash precision strikes at a moment’s notice. On deck, F-35 fighters and F/A-18 attack aircraft sit within range of dozens of key Iranian military and nuclear targets. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Mediterranean, destroyers USS Bulkeley and USS Roosevelt provide additional strike capability and missile defense coverage — and could potentially assist Israel in defending against any Iranian counterattack. WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER HEADS TO MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN NUCLEAR TENSIONS SPIKE DRAMATICALLY Farther south, in the Red Sea, USS Delbert B. Black adds another layer of firepower along one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. The Red Sea links the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, a corridor that carries a significant share of global trade and energy supplies. A U.S. destroyer there not only protects commercial traffic but also gives Washington the flexibility to respond quickly to threats moving between the Middle East and Europe. Even closer to Iran’s coastline, in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, USS McFaul and USS Mitscher are operating in one of the most strategically sensitive waterways on the planet. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day. Their presence signals that the U.S. can both defend that vital choke point and, if necessary, strike Iranian targets from close range. IRAN DRAWS MISSILE RED LINE AS ANALYSTS WARN TEHRAN IS STALLING US TALKS Beyond naval forces, U.S. air power is spread across multiple Middle Eastern bases, giving commanders the ability to strike, defend and sustain operations quickly. Several types of combat aircraft are operating from regional bases, including F-15s, F-16s and the radar-evading F-35. The A-10 specializes in close-air support missions against armored threats. Those fighters are backed by a network of support aircraft. KC-135 and KC-46 tankers refuel jets midair, allowing them to fly farther and stay aloft longer. EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft can jam enemy radar and communications. E-3 Sentry aircraft serve as airborne command centers, tracking threats across wide areas. P-8 Poseidon planes patrol and monitor maritime activity. Additionally, heavy transports — including C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster aircraft — move troops and equipment, while MQ-9 Reaper drones provide surveillance and can carry precision weapons. The assets give U.S. commanders flexibility to operate across air, sea and land. Taken together, the air and naval deployments create overlapping strike capability, missile defense coverage and control over major maritime routes. For Iran, it means U.S. forces are not concentrated in a single vulnerable location — they are distributed, layered and positioned to operate from multiple directions at once.
Supreme Court blocks Trump tariffs in major test of executive branch powers
The Supreme Court on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s use of an emergency law to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs on most U.S. trading partners, delivering a blow to the president in a case centered on one of his signature economic policies — one he characterized as “life or death” for the U.S. economy. In a 6-3 decision, the justices invalidated Trump’s tariffs. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. “The Framers gave that power to ‘Congress alone’ — notwithstanding the obvious foreign affairs implications of tariffs,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. “And whatever may be said of other powers that implicate foreign affairs, we would not expect Congress to relinquish its tariff power through vague language, or without careful limits.” Roberts noted that Trump used “two words” that were “separated by 16 others” in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), “regulate” and “importation,” to justify that he had the “independent power to impose tariffs on imports from any country, of any product, at any rate, for any amount of time.” “Those words cannot bear such weight,” Roberts wrote. BATTLEGROND STATES SHOULDER BURDEN OF TRUMP’S TARIFFS AS MIDTERM MESSAGING RAMPS UP The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in November in the case, which centered on Trump’s use of the IEEPA to enact his “Liberation Day” tariffs on most countries, including a 10% global tariff and a set of higher, so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on certain nations. In April, Trump declared the U.S. trade deficit a “national emergency,” and lawyers for the administration have cited that declaration as the legal basis for invoking IEEPA, which allows the president to respond to “unusual and extraordinary threats” when a national emergency has been declared. The high court agreed to take up the case last fall after lower courts, including the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, blocked Trump’s attempt to use IEEPA to enact import duties. Lower courts pressed the Justice Department to explain why Trump invoked IEEPA when other, more narrowly tailored statutes enacted by Congress more specifically address tariffs — including laws that cap tariffs at certain levels or set timeframes subject to congressional review. The law authorizes the president to “regulate … importation” during a declared national emergency, but it does not mention the word “tariffs” — an omission that was at the heart of the hours-long arguments before the high court in November. The absence of the word was a key factor in the majority’s decision. During oral arguments, justices pressed Solicitor General John Sauer, who argued on behalf of the government, on whether IEEPA applies to tariffs or taxation powers and what guardrails — if any — would limit the executive branch should the high court rule in Trump’s favor. TRUMP DENOUNCES COURT’S ‘POLITICAL’ TARIFF DECISION, CALLS ON SUPREME COURT TO ACT QUICKLY Sauer told the justices that IEEPA allows a president to “regulate” “importation” of goods, which he said was the practical equivalent of a tariff. But justices, including Trump’s conservative appointees, appeared skeptical, pressing Sauer on whether there has “ever been another instance in which a statute has used that language to confer the power” Trump seeks. Other conservative justices questioned whether an “economic equivalent” to tariffs — such as sanctions, embargoes, licenses and quotas — could be used by the president under the law. Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised in a fiery dissent what he said would be “serious practical consequences” of the high court’s decision in terms of refunding illegitimately imposed tariffs. The majority did not address refunds, an issue now likely to be raised in lower courts. “The United States may be required to refund billions of dollars to importers who paid the IEEPA tariffs, even though some importers may have already passed on costs to consumers or others,” Kavanaugh wrote. “As was acknowledged at oral argument, the refund process is likely to be a ‘mess.’” Lawyers for the Trump administration have argued in lower courts that the IEEPA allows a president to act in response to “unusual and extraordinary threats” and in cases where a national emergency has been declared. TRUMP TARIFF PLAN FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS COURT BATTLES INTENSIFY Trump has claimed that deep and “sustained” trade deficits amount to a national emergency that is sufficient to trigger his executive powers under the emergency law. The DOJ urged the Supreme Court to allow the tariffs to remain in place, warning that denying Trump the tariff authority under IEEPA “would expose our nation to trade retaliation without effective defenses.” Plaintiffs countered that in the 50 years since its passage, the law has never been used by a president to impose tariffs. They also argued that, by the administration’s own admission, the trade deficit cited by Trump has persisted for nearly 50 years — a fact they said undermines his claim that there is an “unusual and extraordinary” trade emergency. They argued that authorizing Trump’s use of IEEPA to continue his universal tariffs would drastically expand executive power at the expense of the other branches of government. Judges on a three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of International Trade voted unanimously last year to block Trump’s tariffs from taking effect, ruling that as commander in chief, Trump does not have “unbounded authority” to impose tariffs under the emergency law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit also rejected the administration’s use of IEEPA.
A third of GOP voters warn they may sit out midterms if party ‘abandons’ pro-life fight, poll finds
A third of Republicans would be less likely to vote in the midterms if they believe that the GOP has abandoned the abortion issue, according to a poll released on Thursday. The findings emphasize a perceived rift between pro-life advocates and the Trump administration, given the position of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. John Rogers, a senior partner at Cygnal, a public opinion data firm that conducted the poll, said that their work proves abortion is still a “north star” topic for much of the Republican base. “It’s a bedrock issue for Republican primary voters for decades,” Rogers said. “This is at the core of their worldview.” In a memo accompanying the release of their findings, Rogers said voters specifically expressed disappointment with Kennedy over an HHS policy that enables continued access to abortion drugs through the mail. MARK HALPERIN: TRUMP STRATEGY SUPER SESSION PLOTS MIDTERM SURVIVAL AS HISTORY STALKS GOP “Voters are overwhelmingly committed to pro-life principles, but frustrated with federal health agencies’ abortion policies under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The national data show a significant disconnect between base Republican voter expectations and current federal actions, creating real enthusiasm risks for the November midterm general election,” the memo states. According to Cygnal’s findings, 32% of GOP voters said they will have decreased enthusiasm for voting in the midterm election “if Republican leaders weaken or abandon pro-life policies.” That number overlaps with the 36% of the “most engaged” portion of the voter base. AFTER 80-MINUTE TRUMP ADDRESS, GOP LAWMAKERS SAY MOMENTUM IS BACK AS HEALTHCARE FIGHT LOOMS Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a pro-life advocacy group, said Kennedy is risking turning that prediction into a reality by continuing mail-access to abortion drugs, a policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In failing to repeal Biden’s COVID mail order rule, [he] runs counter to the MAHA base,” Dannenfelser said on Thursday. “51 senators, 145 representatives and 22 attorneys general have called for the end of mail-order abortion drugs and the immediate restoration of in-person dispensing,” Dannenfelser said. On that issue specifically, Cygnal’s polling indicated that 80% of respondents overall believed that the FDA should require in-person visits to secure an abortion. “They see a dissonance there,” Rogers said of Kennedy’s decision to continue the mail-order policy. ‘FICTION’: HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR DISMISSES DEMOCRATS’ EXPANDING GOP TARGET MAP “I think they see the broader MAHA movement as an extension of their pro-life commitments.” Dannenfelser warned that if voters don’t feel like the administration has moved in the right direction, Republicans could stand to lose their current grip on a governing trifecta. “There is no amount of money that can overcome a reluctant voter base that sees failed action. What we might see is a loss in the House. Everyone assumes the Senate is fine. I would not assume that,” Dannenfelser said. “I have no doubt that if we lose, the pro-life movement will be blamed No. 1,” she added.
DHS says 8% of Nicaragua’s entire population illegally entered US under Biden
The Department of Homeland Security revealed large percentages of foreign countries whose total national populations illegally entered the U.S., noting the majority of crossings occurred between February 2021 to January 2025. The countries in which most nationals live in the U.S. are Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti and Honduras, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “During the Biden era – 8% of the ENTIRE population of Nicaragua illegally entered the US,” DHS posted to X. “This is in ADDITION TO 7% of Cuba, 6% of Haiti, and 5% of Honduras.” The total number of illegal migrants from the various countries is in the multimillions, and DHS blasted the Biden administration for allegedly turning “America into a dumping ground for criminals from the third world.” NOEM SLAMS DEMS BLOCKING DHS FUNDING BILL CITING TSA, FEMA, COAST GUARD: ‘I HOPE THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES’ The department’s finger-pointing at Biden has been a central theme of Secretary Kristi Noem’s and DHS’s position, and the Trump administration continues deportation efforts amid criticism from Democrats in Washington and across the country. During an interview along the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month, Noem touted efforts that led to what the White House says is the “the most secure border in the history of this nation.” “In just a year’s time, we’ve gone from this type of a situation under the previous administration to safety,” Noem told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview. “Thousands of people died [at the border] because Joe Biden and the Democrats decided to cut the fence and allow an invasion to happen that partnered with the cartels to bring in unprecedented drugs and trafficking and sex trafficking, children being abused.” BORDER CROSSINGS HIT 55-YEAR LOW — AFTER DEMOCRATS SAID REFORM WAS THE ONLY FIX “This was immediately stopped when President Trump came in,” Noem added. Noem and her department have faced intense scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans over immigration enforcement tactics following the deadly shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota. Trump campaigned on the promise of deporting the millions of illegal migrants who entered under Biden, and Noem asserted that Democrats critical of enforcement measures now were ignoring the real humanitarian concerns posed by the border crisis under the last administration. “Those Democrats, every day, who talk about detention centers, who talk about our enforcement operations in the United States, where were they when this crisis was going on?” Noem questioned. “A hundred times more people were dying here at this border because of what they were doing, and they never said a word.” ICE REVEALS ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTS IN JUST ONE DAY AFTER ROUNDING UP ‘THUGS’ CONVICTED OF VILE CRIMES In Washington, a partial government shutdown over DHS funding continues, with Democrats demanding new policies for ICE operations and Noem and her department remain determined to deport illegal migrants. Roughly 90% of DHS employees are deemed essential, and are required to work without pay. ICE is already almost entirely funded through previous provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and other legislation. Border czar Tom Homan said during an interview with CNN that the shutdown will have “no impact” on immigration enforcement operations currently taking place in the U.S. “[Democrats] have chosen to act against the American people for political reasons, and now we have FEMA workers, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, [the] men and women of TSA who keep our airports moving who will be working without paychecks for no good reason other than the Democrats wanting to pick a fight with Donald Trump,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
NORAD scrambles jets to intercept Russian bombers near Alaska
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) launched multiple U.S. fighter jets after tracking Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Thursday. NORAD says it launched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3 and four KC-135s to “intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.” “The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” NORAD said in a press release. “This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.” Two Russian Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 were identified in the ADIZ, though they did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, according to NORAD. USS FORD ORDERED TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THE SECOND AIRCRAFT CARRIER BEING SENT TO THE REGION The ADIZ airspace is a designated region that requires strict identification procedures between U.S. and Russian aircraft operating in the area. It’s considered a buffer zone that acts as a boundary between the two countries. “NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America,” NORAD said in their statement on Thursday. While this ADIZ isn’t sovereign U.S. airspace, the region is a strategic zone given its proximity to Russia. NORAD noted in their statement that the Russian activity that occurred on Thursday was not seen “as a threat.” The military response comes as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned Iran and “all parties in the [Middle Eastern] region to exercise restraint and caution” as the U.S. continues to expand military presence overseas. WHAT AMERICA’S MOST POWERFUL WARSHIP BRINGS TO THE MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN TENSIONS SURGE “Russia continues to develop relations with Iran, and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and caution, and we urge them to prioritize political and diplomatic means in resolving any problems,” Peskov said Thursday, according to Reuters. USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, and its strike group were deployed from the Caribbean Sea toward the Middle East in early to mid-February. The massive carrier was reportedly seen transiting through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea this month. USS Gerald R. Ford joins USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers that also arrived in the Middle East in February. BUILT FOR WEEKS OF WAR: INSIDE THE FIREPOWER THE US HAS POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE EAST Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said that satellite images show that the Iranian regime is attempting to restore “2 trillion” uranium enrichment capabilities at the Isfahan complex, despite talks between the Trump administration and the Middle Eastern country. The U.S. Air Force and Navy strikes that occurred on June 22 targeted the Isfahan complex, as well as Fordow and Natanz. Fox News Digital reached out to NORAD but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Bill, Hillary Clinton to be deposed in New York for House Oversight Epstein probe
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be deposed by the House Oversight Committee in their hometown instead of in Washington, D.C. next week, Fox News Digital has learned. The Clintons are testifying under oath for the committee’s probe into Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton’s deposition is scheduled for Feb. 26 while Bill Clinton will sit down with congressional staff and lawmakers on Feb. 27. “The Clintons’ depositions will be held in Chappaqua, New York on February 26 and 27 as an accommodation for their schedules. The depositions are in accordance with House and Committee rules,” a spokeswoman for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital. The former first couple purchased their home in Chappaqua, just north of New York City, in 1999, and it has been their main residence since leaving the White House. HOUSE PANEL MOVES TO CONSIDER CRIMINAL REFERRALS FOR THE CLINTONS Their depositions will come after months of back-and-forth with committee Republicans about various terms for the closed-door meetings. “The Clintons’ testimony is critical to understanding Epstein and [Ghislaine Maxwell’s] sex trafficking network and the ways they sought to curry favor and influence to shield themselves from scrutiny,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital on Thursday evening. “Their testimony may also inform how Congress can strengthen laws to better combat human trafficking. Our goal for this investigation is straightforward: we seek to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.” House Republicans nearly moved forward with a vote on holding them both in contempt of Congress last month after the Clintons’ lawyers ripped Comer’s subpoenas as legally invalid and a breach of separation of powers. DEMOCRATS SAY CLINTONS’ AGREEMENT TO TESTIFY UNDERCUTS SUBPOENA PUSH, WON’T BRING NEW EPSTEIN ANSWERS While some Democrats agreed with the move, the majority of them accused Comer of persecuting the Clintons on political grounds. If the votes were successful, they would both have been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for prosecution. A guilty verdict for contempt of Congress carries up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $100,000. But days before the expected vote, the Clintons’ counsel told Comer they would agree to testify. In the days since, however, both Clintons have waged a public pressure campaign demanding they get public hearings instead of a closed-door transcribed and taped interview. “I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee,” Bill Clinton posted on X this month. “Now, Chairman Comer says he wants cameras, but only behind closed doors. Who benefits from this arrangement? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is not fact-finding, it’s pure politics.” Comer has said that public hearings are not out of the question, but not before depositions behind closed doors. Bill Clinton was known to be friendly with Epstein long before the federal case against him first emerged and has appeared in documents on the late pedophile released by the DOJ. But neither he nor Hillary Clinton are implicated in any wrongdoing. The Clintons are two of over a dozen people and entities who have been subpoenaed for information in the committee’s bipartisan Epstein probe. It’s not unprecedented for the committee to travel for depositions, either. Committee staff and some lawmakers were in Ohio on Wednesday to depose former Victoria’s Secret CEO Leslie Wexner, a former client of Epstein’s financial advisory firm who was named in documents released by the DOJ about the late pedophile thousands of times.
What America’s most powerful warship brings to the Middle East as Iran tensions surge
The Pentagon is deploying USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East, creating a rare two-carrier presence in the region as tensions with Iran rise and questions swirl about possible U.S. military action. The Ford will reinforce USS Abraham Lincoln already operating in the theater, significantly expanding American airpower at a moment of heightened regional uncertainty. While officials have not announced imminent action, the dual-carrier presence increases the Pentagon’s flexibility — from deterrence patrols to sustained strike operations — should diplomacy falter. The Gerald R. Ford is the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier ever built. Commissioned in 2017, the nuclear-powered warship stretches more than 1,100 feet and displaces more than 100,000 tons of water. It serves as a floating air base that can operate in international waters without relying on host-nation approval — a key advantage in politically sensitive theaters. Powered by two nuclear reactors, the ship has virtually unlimited range and endurance and is designed to serve for decades as the backbone of U.S. naval power projection. WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER HEADS TO MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN NUCLEAR TENSIONS SPIKE DRAMATICALLY A typical air wing aboard the Ford includes roughly 75 aircraft, though the exact mix depends on mission requirements. Those aircraft can include F/A-18 Super Hornets, stealth F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft and MH-60 helicopters. In a potential conflict with Iran, several of those platforms would be central. The F-35C is designed to penetrate contested airspace and carry out precision strikes against heavily defended targets. The Growler specializes in jamming enemy radar and communications — a critical capability against Iran’s layered air defense systems. The E-2D extends surveillance hundreds of miles, helping coordinate air and missile defense. Together, they give commanders options ranging from deterrence patrols to sustained strike operations. What separates the Ford from earlier carriers is its ability to generate more sorties over time. Instead of traditional steam catapults, it uses an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, or EMALS, allowing aircraft to launch more smoothly and at a faster pace. The system is designed to reduce stress on jets and increase operational tempo. The ship also features advanced arresting gear and a redesigned flight deck that allows more aircraft to be staged and cycled efficiently. In a high-intensity scenario — particularly one involving missile launches or rapid escalation — the ability to launch and recover aircraft quickly can be decisive. While both the Ford and the Abraham Lincoln are 100,000-ton, nuclear-powered supercarriers capable of carrying roughly 60 aircraft to 75 aircraft, they represent different generations of naval design. The Lincoln is a Nimitz-class carrier commissioned in 1989 and part of a fleet that has supported decades of operations in the Middle East. The Ford is the Navy’s next-generation carrier and the lead ship of its class. The key differences are efficiency and output. The Ford was built to generate a higher sustained sortie rate using its electromagnetic launch system, along with a redesigned flight deck and upgraded power systems. In practical terms, both ships bring substantial strike capability — but the Ford is designed to launch and recover aircraft faster over extended operations, giving commanders greater flexibility if tensions escalate. IRAN SIGNALS NUCLEAR PROGRESS IN GENEVA AS TRUMP CALLS FOR FULL DISMANTLEMENT The Ford does not sail alone. It operates as the centerpiece of a carrier strike group that typically includes guided-missile destroyers, cruisers and attack submarines. Those escort ships provide layered air and missile defense, anti-submarine protection and additional strike capability. The carrier itself carries defensive systems including Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System — designed to intercept incoming threats at close range. That defensive posture is especially relevant in the Middle East. Iran has invested heavily in anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, armed drones, naval mines and fast-attack craft operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Gulf region presents a dense and complex threat environment, even for advanced U.S. warships. With both the Ford and the Lincoln in theater, commanders gain more than just added firepower. Two carriers allow the U.S. to sustain a higher tempo of operations, distribute aircraft across multiple areas or maintain a continuous presence if one ship needs to reposition or resupply. Dual-carrier deployments are relatively uncommon and typically coincide with periods of heightened regional tension. The timing — as negotiations with Tehran continue — underscores the strategic message. Carriers are often deployed not only to fight wars, but to prevent them. By positioning both ships in the region, Washington is signaling that if diplomacy falters, military options will already be in place.