Rubio torches Democrat after bizarre hearing questions about his shoes: ‘Is this a circus?’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Wednesday’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing “a circus” after Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., questioned him about a pair of shoes he received as a gift from President Donald Trump. The exchange came after Jacobs criticized Rubio’s testimony regarding the recent conflict with Iran, arguing that he was unwilling to acknowledge facts. “Mr. Secretary, it seems like you have an issue admitting facts… You couldn’t admit the shoes the president bought you were too big,” she said. Rubio appeared puzzled by the remark. DEMS’ HEARING MELTDOWNS A PLAY TO THE BASE, ANALYSTS SAY, AS TRUMP NOMS KEEP PUSHING BACK IN VIRAL MOMENTS “I don’t know about the shoes. I mean, [Trump] gave me some Florsheim shoes that are actually pretty good, they fit fine, I don’t know what she’s talking about,” he said. Jacobs then returned to the topic moments later, complimenting Rubio’s footwear. “Your shoes look very nice today, Mr. Secretary,” she told him. “How can you see them? They’re way down here. We’re talking about shoes. Are you guys kidding me? I mean, is this the Foreign Affairs Committee or is this, like, a circus? What is this?” Rubio responded. RUBIO CRACKS UP AT TRUMP’S REACTION TO NATO LEADER CALLING PRESIDENT ‘DADDY’ The exchange came amid a combative hearing in which Democratic lawmakers repeatedly challenged Rubio over the Trump administration’s handling of foreign policy, including the recent conflict with Iran. Earlier in the hearing, Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., questioned Rubio about whether Trump’s personal financial interests could have influenced decisions related to military action against Iran. Rubio forcefully rejected the suggestion. “Not once. Just to be clear, not a single time, not even for a millisecond, has the president ever discussed his personal economics and relations to war or any public policy that he’s made, for that matter,” Rubio said. “And I’ve been in every one of his foreign policy meetings for the most part.” RUBIO SLAMS ‘FALSE’ INTELLIGENCE LEAKS DOWNPLAYING SUCCESS OF TRUMP’S IRAN STRIKES As Democratic lawmakers continued pressing Rubio throughout the hearing on issues ranging from Trump’s finances to allegations of corruption within the administration, the secretary grew increasingly frustrated with the tenor of the proceedings. Later in the hearing, Rubio again complained that lawmakers were not allowing him enough time to answer questions. “What kind of thing is this? What is this? You know, you get asked questions for five minutes and you don’t get time to answer. It’s not a hearing,” Rubio said. As the exchange continued, he added, “Is this a dunk tank? What is this?” Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill accuses ICE of denying her access to Newark detention facility Delaney Hall
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill accused ICE on Wednesday of denying her access to Delaney Hall, a Newark immigration detention facility that has become the focus of lawsuits, protests and allegations of unsafe, as scrutiny intensifies over allegations of unsafe conditions inside the center. “ICE is denying me entry to Delaney Hall — raising serious questions about what is happening behind its walls,” Sherrill wrote on X. Fox News Digital has reached out to Sherrill’s office to clarify whether she attempted to access the facility Wednesday or was referring to an ongoing dispute over access. The Democratic governor previously attempted to visit the detention center over Memorial Day weekend but was denied entry, according to local reports. FOX NEWS GOES INSIDE NEW JERSEY ICE FACILITY STORMED BY DEMOCRATS Sherrill said she recently met with family members of individuals being held at the facility and heard allegations about unsafe conditions. “Last night in Jersey City, I met with families whose loved ones are being detained there,” Sherrill wrote. “What I heard only deepened my concerns.” “Families shared heartbreaking reports of unsafe, inhumane, and unconstitutional conditions — detainees being denied access to proper medical care and medication, violence and intimidation, threats of losing phone and video access, visitation privileges being taken away, and deeply troubling accounts of detainees being pressured to sign deportation papers with no translation,” she continued. SOMETHING TO HIDE? ICE UNDER FIRE FOR SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS AT FOR-PROFIT DETENTION CENTER Sherrill said she would continue pushing for accountability and improved conditions at the facility while reiterating her support for ultimately shutting it down. The governor’s comments came after New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced this week that the state had filed suit against GEO Group Inc., the private company contracted by the Department of Homeland Security to operate the detention center. The lawsuit seeks access for the New Jersey Department of Health to inspect the facility after state and local officials, including Sherrill, were allegedly denied entry. The filing also references reports that some detainees have launched a hunger strike over conditions inside the center. INSPECTION OF DELANEY HALL ICE FACILITY CONTRADICTS CLAIMS IN NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL’S LAWSUIT The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous.” A DHS spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that detainees are provided three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap and other basic necessities. Sherrill has also faced criticism from Newark officials, activists and law-enforcement supporters over her response to demonstrations outside the facility. GOV. SHERRILL BLAMES ICE, DEFENDS RIOTERS AFTER DEPLOYING TROOPERS TO QUELL VIOLENT MOB Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Tuesday he disagreed with tactics used by the New Jersey State Police after they were deployed to secure the area around Delaney Hall, describing the agency as “a sword.” On Saturday, Sherrill defended the deployment, saying the New Jersey State Police Public Safety Response Team was sent to the area because it was “absolutely necessary to protect public safety and avoid escalation.” When reached for comment, ICE referred Fox News Digital to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Bessent flips script on Dem senator with reminder about his son’s past ties to Epstein
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., suddenly found himself on the defensive at a budget hearing on Wednesday when, amid levying accusations of the Trump administration’s “corrupt” dealings, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent fired back by bringing Wyden’s son’s investments into the exchange. “We would like to hear what Adam Wyden and Jeffrey Epstein talked about,” Bessent said, referring to unearthed emails drawing a connection between the senator’s son and the disgraced financier. “Did your son and Jeffrey Epstein talk about pole dancing as he begged him for money?” The moment continues the political fallout for the many names associated with Epstein that — despite not amounting to proof of wrongdoing — continue to prompt embarrassment and scandal at even the smallest mention. TOP FIERY MOMENTS AS DEMOCRATS CLASH WITH TREASURY SECRETARY BESSENT IN CHAOTIC HILL HEARINGS Epstein, a former financier, died while in prison on charges of sex trafficking minors in 2019, leaving behind questions of whether he facilitated illegal sexual encounters for his vast network of rich and powerful figures. Amid public demands for transparency on the matter, the Department of Justice released troves of documents on Epstein late last year, unveiling a slew of new names with all manner of ties to the infamous figure ranging from purely innocuous to alarming. Among them, emails surfaced indicating that Adam Wyden, Ron Wyden’s son, went to Epstein, hoping to gain his support for a business venture. UNEARTHED EMAILS REVEAL DEM SENATOR’S SON WANTED EPSTEIN TO JOIN HIS FUND: ‘ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION’ “Jeffrey, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and hope my passion and dedication for my business came through in the meeting. I live and breathe this business and take my returns, integrity and reputation quite seriously,” the younger Wyden said in an email in April 2016. “I intensely appreciate like-minded individuals and would very much look forward to having you join us at the fund.” The emails came after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008. It’s unclear what the business venture discussed by Adam Wyden and Epstein may have been or what, specifically, had been discussed in their conversations. Even so, Bessent reminded viewers that the younger Wyden had a history of investing in off-color markets at Wednesday’s hearing. DEMOCRATS ARE HAMMERING REPUBLICANS ON EPSTEIN, BUT ONE SENATOR BRUSHED OFF THE ISSUE YEARS AGO “Your son’s largest investment position was Rick’s Cabaret,” Bessent said, referring to a series of strip clubs. Wyden, who has widely panned the Trump administration and its many officials for their own connections to Epstein, didn’t respond to Bessent’s jabs.
Rep. Al Green tells Homeland Security Sec. Mullin to ‘shut up’ after calling him a racist at hearing
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was caught on video calling Homeland Security Sec. Markwayne Mullin a “racist” during a House committee meeting Wednesday focused on department funding. Following the initial outburst, Green proceeded to tell Mullin to “shut up.” The Homeland Security secretary could be seen cocking his head in apparent surprise, as Green continued the verbal attack, repeating “shut up.” “Did you just tell me to shut up,” Mullin asked. DEMS THROW HOUSE INTO CHAOS AFTER 10 MODERATES JOIN GOP TO PUNISH AL GREEN As the sound of the gavel rang out, Green shouted back, “It’s my time.” “I’m not going to let anybody call me a racist chairman,” Mullen calmly told Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-New York, who serves as the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Green denied making the comment before again asking Garbarino to “tell him to shut up.” The chairman called for the encounter to be suspended following Green’s escalation at the House gathering. Green has a history of aggressive outbursts, having been ejected from President Donald Trump’s primetime address to a joint session of Congress for a second year in a row in February. He was recently defeated in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District by freshman Rep. Christian Menefee.
Trump says anti-fraud efforts are uncovering billions in waste, claims savings could balance budget
President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud efforts and claimed Republicans are uncovering enough government fraud to potentially balance the federal budget, while accusing Democrats of resisting investigations because they are “in on the act.” In a Truth Social post, Trump praised Vance and Republican officials for what he described as a nationwide effort to identify fraud and waste in government spending. “Vice President JD Vance and Republicans are doing a great job hunting down Fraud in the various States,” Trump wrote. “Billions of Dollars is being found, and we’ve just started!” Trump’s comments come as the administration has sought to highlight anti-fraud efforts led by Vance. In April, Fox News Digital reported that Vance’s newly created anti-fraud task force had identified nearly $6.3 billion in government contracts believed to be tied to potentially fraudulent businesses. Officials said nearly 400 businesses would be required to prove they had legitimate operations and physical addresses. JD VANCE’S TASK FORCE FLAGS NEARLY $6.3B IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS GOING TO POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT BUSINESSES The president argued that the amount of fraud being uncovered could have major implications for federal spending and taxes. “If we found it all, we would literally be able to balance the Budget, and simultaneously reduce Taxes, cutting them even more than I have already done, which is a RECORD!” Trump wrote. Trump did not provide evidence that fraud findings identified by Republicans would be sufficient to eliminate the federal deficit. While the president argued uncovering fraud could eventually balance the budget, the administration has not publicly released figures showing identified fraud totals approaching the size of the annual federal deficit. BESSENT SAYS MINNESOTA FRAUD RECOVERY COULD HELP FUND TRUMP’S $1.5T DEFENSE PLAN The anti-fraud task force was established by executive order in March, and is chaired by Vance. The administration has said the initiative is designed to identify fraud, waste and abuse across federal programs and government contracts as part of a broader effort to reduce spending and strengthen oversight. Trump also sharply criticized Democrats, saying he was surprised efforts to uncover fraud had not received bipartisan support. “Amazingly, Dumocrats are fighting us all the way,” Trump wrote. “This is something that I am surprised at, because I thought this would be a Bipartisan effort.” JD VANCE WARNS BLUE STATE OFFICIALS COULD FACE PRISON OVER BILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD EPIDEMIC Trump went on to suggest Democrats may oppose such investigations because they have a vested interest in preventing further discoveries. “It’s looking like they’re in on the act,” Trump wrote. The president further claimed Democrats do not want Republicans to uncover what he described as “Hundreds of Billions of Dollars of FRAUD!” Trump later compared Democratic opposition to anti-fraud efforts with several other issues that have become central themes of his political messaging, including transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, mail-in ballots, voter identification requirements and proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. The administration has made rooting out waste, fraud and abuse a recurring focus of its messaging as it seeks to reduce government spending and defend broader fiscal policy initiatives. Democrats have argued Republicans frequently conflate fraud, waste and policy disagreements when discussing federal spending reductions and have questioned whether projected savings touted by the administration can ultimately be realized.
Fox News Poll: Democratic unity, Republican crossovers shape Ohio Senate race
President Donald Trump carried Ohio by more than 11 percentage points in 2024, but a new Fox News survey finds his standing in the Buckeye State has deteriorated — a development that is benefitting Democrat Sherrod Brown in the Senate race. By a 15-point margin, Ohioans view Trump negatively: 42% hold a favorable opinion and 57% an unfavorable one. That’s more than a 20-point swing compared to his +6 net positive rating (52-46%) in the November 2024 Ohio Fox News Voter Analysis election survey. The poll of Ohio voters, released Wednesday, finds Trump’s ratings are about on par with views of Republican incumbent Senator Jon Husted (41% favorable, 50% unfavorable), while challenger and former Ohio Senator Brown is viewed significantly more positively (53% vs. 44%). That helps Brown outperform Husted by a 53% to 45% margin in the race to fill the state’s Senate seat. His 8-point lead is outside the poll’s margin of sampling error. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SEE AI REGULATION AS URGENT, RANK SAFEGUARDS AHEAD OF INNOVATION Brown garners fully 98% support among Democrats compared to Husted’s 86% among Republicans. Brown also receives backing from outside the democratic base: 31% of non-MAGA Republicans and 13% of all Republicans. Only 2% of Democrats pick Husted. Husted is favored by White evangelical Christians (+32 points), rural voters (+11), and White men without a college degree (+7). Brown is preferred by voters under age 35 (+33), independents (+18), and women (+14). Non-white voters favor Brown by 58 points, while the race is a dead heat among White voters (49% each). And the candidates are nearly tied among voters ages 45 and over (49-48%), while Brown leads by 23 points among those under age 45. The candidates are competing for the Senate seat Husted currently holds after being appointed to replace JD Vance when Vance became vice president. Brown is hoping to return to the U.S. Senate after he narrowly lost his seat to Bernie Moreno in 2024. About 7 in 10 of both Brown’s (73%) and Husted’s supporters (69%) are certain of their choice. Overall, about one in four say they may change their mind before voting. FOX NEWS POLL: ‘RESILIENT DISCONTENT’ DEFINES THE US MOOD AT 250TH ANNIVERSARY By a 6-point margin, more Democrats (82%) than Republicans (76%) say they are extremely or very motivated to vote this November. Most Brown supporters, 68%, describe their vote as mainly for him rather than against Husted (30%). Those who are backing Husted are less enthusiastic about their candidate, with 58% saying their support is mainly for him rather than against Brown (39%). In a state Trump carried with 55% of the vote, the survey finds being too close to him is now more of a liability than being too liberal. Some 39% of Ohioans are concerned Brown is “too liberal,” including 13% of his supporters. For Husted, 46% overall are worried he is “too close” to Trump, including 10% of his backers. Inflation dominates, with 43% saying it is the most important issue in their Senate vote. All others trail far behind, including healthcare (12%), immigration and border security (11%,) political divisions (9%), jobs (8%), Iran (7%), abortion and crime (4% each). Notably, inflation is the top issue among independents (50%), Democrats (44%), Republicans (40%), MAGA (34%), and 2024 Trump voters (39%). Voters focused on inflation favor Brown by 14 points, as do healthcare voters by 44 points, while those prioritizing immigration and border security go for Husted by 76. On their family’s financial situation, 39% of Ohio voters say they are falling behind, up from 32% who said the same in the 2024 FNVA survey. The largest number, 49%, say their family is holding steady, down 9 points. “There’s good reason for the Democrats to be bullish on Ohio,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts Fox News polls with Democrat Chris Anderson. “The state remains solidly Republican, but Democrats are united against Trump allies and independents prefer Brown.” In the race for governor, Ohio voters are divided: half back Democrat Amy Acton (50%) and nearly half favor Republican Vivek Ramaswamy (49%). Fourteen percent who prefer Brown in the Senate race cross-party lines to support Ramaswamy. Most Democrats (93%) go for Acton, while most Republicans favor Ramaswamy (89%). Independents back Acton by 8 points (51-43%). Nearly twice as many Acton supporters (38%) as Ramaswamy backers (21%) say their vote is mainly “against” the other candidate. Seven in 10 of each candidate’s supporters are certain of their choice. Although views of Acton are positive by 9 points (46% favorable vs. 37% unfavorable), 16% are unable to rate her. Ramaswamy’s ratings are positive by 1 point (45-44%), while Vance’s are underwater by 7 (45-52%), and opinion splits on sitting GOP Gov. Mike DeWine (48-48%). CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE By more than 2-to-1, Buckeye voters oppose having an AI data center built in their area (32% favor, 65% oppose). That opposition is across the political spectrum, as majorities of Democrats (72%), independents (64%), and Republicans (59%) are against building data centers. Conducted May 28-June 1, 2026 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,015 Ohio registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (109) and cellphones (653) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (253). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ± 3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to
Former primary rival resurfaces to challenge scandal-plagued Graham Platner in Maine Senate race
Scandal-plagued democratic socialist Graham Platner’s continued controversies have led his former primary rival to speak out and remind Mainers that she remains on the ballot despite having suspended her campaign. Platner has been hit with one controversy after another, though he remains the heavy favorite heading into next Tuesday’s primary contest, as his only active opponent, David Costello, has failed to gain traction. But Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign for Senate earlier this year, dropped a potential bombshell in comments to a Lewiston Sun-Journal columnist by suggesting Democrats could still vote for her in their effort to unseat 30-year incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, New England’s last remaining federal Republican officeholder. “People have the impression that I withdrew or dropped out,” Mills said, according to columnist Steve Collins. “I simply suspended active campaigning. I am still on the ballot,” said Mills — an outspoken Trump critic who got publicly reprimanded by the president during a White House lunch earlier this year over the subject of biological men in girls’ sports. DEM PRIMARY TURNS UGLY: MILLS UNLEASHES BRUTAL ATTACK ON SANDERS-BACKED PLATNER IN CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN While fundraising struggles were cited in Maine media reports as a key reason Mills paused her campaign, Platner has charged ahead through one controversy after another. His “Totenkopf” chest tattoo — one used by German Nazi concentration camp guards — has been the controversy most frequently cited by Republicans, while his campaign also became embroiled in a separate controversy when a consultant asked Massachusetts-based sports media personality David Portnoy to collaborate on an anti-private-equity campaign against the Boston Red Sox front office. Portnoy balked at the suggestion, citing his Jewish faith and Platner’s Nazi tattoo. Platner also defended himself after a Reddit post resurfaced in which he called former Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Teddy Daniels a “dumb motherf—-er” for being badly wounded in a Taliban siege, blaming “poor marksmanship” by the Afghan terrorists for the Republican’s survival. Otherwise dormant since April 30, Mills’ campaign X account sprang back to life June 1 with a post commemorating Pride Month. PLATNER CONTROVERSIES FUEL SPECULATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN MAINE BALLOT REPLACEMENT PROVISION “Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically and marry who they love without fear. I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, today and every day,” Mills said. Meanwhile, Steve Collins wrote in the column containing Mills’ comments that an increasing number of female independent and Democratic voters in Maine are troubled by Platner’s scandals. He wrote that their collective umbrage is “more likely to kill [Platner’s] campaign… than greedy millionaires.” Susan Collins’ counterpart in the Senate is registered Independent Sen. Angus King Jr., who caucuses with Democrats and reliably votes with them. Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign and Mills’ office for comment. The Pine Tree State’s primary is June 9.
Republicans defy Johnson to advance Democrat-backed Ukraine aid
House Democrats scored a rare victory on Wednesday after the chamber voted to advance a security package providing new military aid for Ukraine and imposing steep sanctions on Russia. The Democrat-sponsored legislation cleared a procedural vote 218-204 with all Democrats present voting in the affirmative. Seven members of the House Republican conference supported the measure in a notable display of defiance against GOP leadership. The defecting Republicans included Reps. Don Bacon, R-Neb., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Max Miller, R-Ohio, and Joe Wilson, R-S.C. Additionally, Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., an independent who caucuses with Republicans, also voted to advance the bill. The security package would reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO, authorize more than $1 billion in new military assistance, support Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, and impose new sanctions on Russia and entities that support its war effort if Moscow continues the war, among other provisions. ANOTHER NATO ALLY SIGNS ONTO EUROPEAN NUCLEAR UMBRELLA AS CONTINENT BOOSTS SELF-DEFENSE The measure now heads for a vote on final passage, where it is expected to pass as soon as Thursday. Its fate in the Republican-controlled Senate remains uncertain, where a bipartisan effort to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia has stalled for more than a year despite overwhelming support. Trump is expected to veto the legislation if it reaches his desk. The vote came after Democrats and a handful of Republicans teamed up to force consideration of the legislation over the objections of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who controls the floor. Fitzpatrick, Bacon and Kiley crossed party lines to sign the Democratic-led discharge petition, a legislative maneuver that allows lawmakers to trigger a vote on legislation with majority support. “This is our opportunity to provide the leverage that could prove decisive in ending this conflict on acceptable terms in a way that will deter future Russian aggression,” Kiley, an independent lawmaker, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s just inconceivable that we should not be having additional sanctions against working with Putin,” Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who supported the underlying bill’s advancement, told Fox News. “Over and over again, we need to be standing with the courageous people of Ukraine.” “We need to stop what Putin is doing, which is trying to resurrect the Soviet Union,” he added. 6 HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEFY TRUMP ON KEY AGENDA ITEM IN DEM-PUSHED VOTE The measure was vigorously opposed by Republican leadership, who argued the pro-Ukraine measure was poorly drafted and undermined the administration’s efforts to end the years-long conflict, which has been estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands. The bill calls for NATO countries to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP prior to NATO’s Washington Summit — an event that occurred nearly two years ago in July 2024. Trump also secured a newer commitment from allies in 2025 to hike defense spending to 5% of their economic output over the course of a decade. Additionally, the legislation mandates that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a taxpayer-funded outlet, have its funding restored after the Trump administration sought to cut off the outlet’s congressionally approved funding in 2025. Federal courts later ordered the funding restored amid an ongoing legal battle. The Russia-Ukraine war has continued with no end in sight, despite Trump’s vow to end the conflict upon returning to office. Proponents of the Ukraine Support Act argue that the legislative branch should pressure the Trump administration to take a harder line against Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This is the moment for Congress to assert itself,” Kiley told Fox News Digital. “We’re seeing just further brutality on the part of Russia now, and so I think that if Congress gets involved in a meaningful way, it could provide the decisive leverage to finally bring about a resolution.” The successful discharge petition is the latest instance in which a majority of lawmakers have worked around Johnson’s opposition to put legislation on the floor. “Democrats have repeatedly governed in the minority as if we were in the majority, and we’re going to do so again this week,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Tuesday, arguing his party is displaying support for “the free world, for democracy, for truth and the Ukrainian people” by forcing a vote on the security package. The use of discharge petitions, a rarely used tool historically deployed by the minority, has exploded under Johnson’s leadership. A coalition of Democrats and a handful of Republicans has used the legislative maneuver to force votes on legislation compelling the release of the Epstein files, extending legal protections to Haitian nationals and overturning a regulation targeting federal employees’ collective bargaining rights.
Trump suffers rare House defeat as bipartisan vote moves to withdraw troops from Iran conflict
President Donald Trump suffered a rare defeat in the House of Representatives on Wednesday after Democrats joined by a handful of Republicans voted to sharply curb his war powers in Iran. Lawmakers voted 215-208 to withdraw troops from using military force against Iran absent congressional authorization. All Democrats present voted for the measure to effectively halt the U.S. military campaign against Iran. Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Warren Davison, R-Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Tom Barrett, R-Mich., were the lone Republicans to buck the president and support the war powers resolution. Massie, an ardent foe of the president who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, and Davidson, a libertarian-aligned lawmaker have criticized the war in Iran. Fitzpatrick and Barrett are both facing potentially difficult re-election bids in swing districts. SWING-DISTRICT REPUBLICAN BREAKS WITH TRUMP, PUSHES LIMITS ON IRAN WAR A majority of Republicans, however, sided with the president as Democrats sought to put them on the record. “It’s just a total BS vote. I think there’s no Democrat, no Republican that can tell you what forces they would want pulled from Iran,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News. “They just want a stupid political vote, which is what this is.” The successful war powers vote is largely a symbolic loss for Trump given an expected presidential veto and the lack of a veto-proof majority. Even if Congress did cobble together a supermajority to force the president’s hand, it’s unclear whether Trump would ultimately withdraw U.S. forces. Trump administration officials have repeatedly argued the 1973 War Powers Resolution requiring congressional oversight of military action is unconstitutional. The Senate advanced a similar resolution curbing the president’s war powers in May. But Democrats in both chambers have not yet gotten behind a bicameral measure that could be sent to Trump’s desk. US ALLY KUWAIT CONDEMNS ‘BRUTAL AND ONGOING IRANIAN ATTACKS’ AFTER AIRPORT WAS HIT The GOP defections come as a growing number of Republicans have started to sour on the president’s handling of the war. For weeks, Trump has floated a potential deal with Iran to end hostilities, but both sides have continued to trade strikes amid stalled negotiations. Roughly six in ten voters oppose military action against Iran, according to a Fox News poll published in May. However, 72% of respondents said the U.S. is winning the war. Some Republicans argued the war powers resolution would undermine efforts to end the conflict, which they said has largely subsided since the first ceasefire was announced in early April. “It doesn’t seem like it’s much of a war at this point,” Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., told Fox News. “I know there’s some skirmishes back and forth, but we’ve got to give President Trump the latitude to negotiate.” “So people who are trying to get in his way, I think, are being a little foolish right now,” he added. “The war for all intents and purposes ended back in April.” Republican leadership initially delayed the vote on the Democratic-led resolution in late May following attendance issues among GOP lawmakers. “We had a vote because of this president’s war of choice that was going to pass. We had the votes. Without question, and they knew it,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who led the resolution, told reporters following the scrapped vote.
WATCH: Sanders lashes out at GOP ‘morality’ while rallying behind Dem with Nazi-linked tattoo
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lashed out at towel-clad Republican staffers outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s (DSCC) headquarters this week after they confronted him and other top Dems over their support for scandal-plagued Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows the Republican protesters, including staffers from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC), dressed in towels to mock a sexually suggestive Kik profile photo of Platner that showed the Democratic Senate hopeful shirtless with a towel around his waist. “Do you support Graham Platner even though he’s on Kik?” one protester asked Sanders outside the DSCC headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Platner and other top Dems were seen entering and exiting to meet with the embattled candidate ahead of his June 9 primary. Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversies, including a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol that he has since covered up, resurfaced Reddit posts that blamed rape victims, pushed racial stereotypes, mocked a Purple Heart veteran, and encouraged political violence, among other controversial comments on the popular blogging platform. WATCH: DEM SENATORS EXCUSE PLATNER’S CONDUCT AT CRISIS HUDDLE WITH EMBATTLED MAINE CANDIDATE Meanwhile, Platner’s issues continued just days ahead of his primary after it was reported Platner had exchanged sexually-explicit text messages with other women during his marriage and had an active Kik profile featuring a shirtless mirror selfie with a towel around his waist, a photo GOP staffers appeared to mock outside the DSCC by showing up in towels. Kik is an anonymous messaging app linked to child exploitation cases, which child-safety groups have criticized as a “predator’s paradise.” Chants of “Platner is a creep!” and “Delete your Kik!” alongside signs that read “PEDO PLATNER MESSAGED KIDS” could be seen in video of the demonstration caught by Fox News Digital. “Are you with the Republican party?” Sanders shot back in response to the protester’s question about Platner’s Kik account. CORY BOOKER ADMITS GRAHAM PLATNER ‘HAS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER’ FOLLOWING LATEST SCANDAL “It doesn’t matter,” the protester returned before Sanders lashed out about Republican “morality” amid the heated back-and-forth. “Are you talking about morality and corruption? With President Trump?” Sanders shouted at the protesters as he pointed back at them. “Have a nice day,” he said before walking off. Fox News Digital has found no evidence that Platner communicated with minors on Kik. The controversy surrounding the account centers on the app’s child-safety reputation, the sexually suggestive profile photo and its emergence alongside separate reporting about Platner’s sexually explicit messages with women during his marriage. Meanwhile, Platner has disputed portions of the reporting surrounding his personal life, while his wife has criticized the disclosure of private details about their marriage. He has also apologized for past online comments and said the tattoo, which he has since covered, was obtained years ago without knowledge of its Nazi associations. The confrontation outside the DSCC underscored the increasingly public effort by Republicans to turn Platner’s controversies into a liability for national Democrats, including Sanders and other top party figures who have continued to stand by him ahead of Maine’s June 9 Democratic Senate primary.