Nancy Mace torches Clemson University over 15-gender menu: ‘Not on my watch’
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is once again charging into battle to defend women and basic biology — this time taking aim at Clemson University over a form that listed a whopping 15 gender identities. In a fiery video posted to her social media on Friday, Mace slammed Clemson for offering a health portal menu that included terms like “genderqueer,” “two-spirit,” “cis female” and “cis male.” “Hey everyone, just learned this morning from Libs of TikTok, not from your state legislature, that Clemson University in South Carolina has 15 genders on one of their applications,” Mace said in a video on Instagram. “We want to make sure South Carolina is following science and not some radical, woke, leftist, lunatic ideology. Not on my watch.” Mace wasn’t just venting online. She immediately took action, leaving a voicemail and sending a text to Clemson President Jim Clements demanding answers. “Since there are only two genders,” she said, “I just had this issue with USC, and I would like to make sure that you guys are following suit.” EXCLUSIVE: NANCY MACE TARGETED BY PENNSYLVANIA MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING TRUMP The form in question, first flagged by Libs of TikTok, showed a dropdown menu allowing students to select from 15 different gender identities. However, Clemson responded exclusively to Fox News Digital, clarifying that “Clemson University does not have this type of menu in its housing application.” Instead, the menu appeared in an external vendor’s health services portal, was optional, and has since been taken down. The university said it is now “consulting with medical professionals to determine what information is needed for medical care purposes.” Mace made it clear in her social media posts that she believes state universities should reflect two genders, male and female, if they want to keep receiving taxpayer dollars. “If it were me and Clemson University had 15 genders, they would not get a dime in the state of South Carolina,” she warned. GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: CONGRESSWOMAN’S PROFANE SUPERMARKET ARGUMENT WITH CONSTITUENT CAUGHT ON CAMERA “Cis is a slur,” Mace emphasized in her Instagram video, adding, “Women are women, men are men.” This isn’t Mace’s first stand in the gender wars. She recently made headlines by leading the effort to block Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., a biological man who identifies as a woman, from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. Her campaign to “protect women’s spaces” has not come without backlash. “All the violence and threats keep proving our point,” Mace posted on X. “Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women! Not now, not ever,” she declared. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Late last year, Mace reported being physically accosted on Capitol grounds, an incident that led to the arrest of a 33-year-old Illinois man. She is the first woman to graduate from the Citadel. Mace’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Senator joins group of far-left lawmakers who think Trump has — again — committed impeachable offenses
Sen. John Ossoff of Georgia has become the latest Democrat in Congress to signal that President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached, even though he has only been in the White House this term for less than 100 days. During a town hall Friday in Cobb County, Georgia, Ossoff took questions from the audience, including from a fired-up local mother who questioned Ossoff about why there has not been a more concerted effort to impeach Trump. “Why are there no calls for impeachment?” Ossoff was asked. “Do something more!” ‘BIDEN EFFECT’ HITS THE SENATE: WAVE OF RETIREMENTS CLEARS PATH FOR YOUNGER DEMS Ossoff told the woman at the top of his response that “there is no doubt” Trump has exceeded the standard for impeachment. “I saw just 48 hours ago, [Trump] is granting audiences to people who buy his meme coin,” Ossoff said. “There is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense. And the reality is that that’s just one of many [examples] — defying a federal court order, for example. So, I agree with you.” Ossoff’s remarks make him the latest Democratic lawmaker in Congress who has either explicitly called for Trump’s impeachment or signaled their willingness to support such a move just 100 days into his presidency. While most Democrats have been willing to publicly admit the country is facing a constitutional crisis under Trump, most of them have refrained from going so far as to use the “I” word. DEMS FUME OVER ‘DUE PROCESS’ FOR ABREGO GARCIA DESPITE LONG HISTORY OF PARTY BUCKING THE LEGAL PRINCIPLE Some though, such as progressive Sen. Al Green, D-Texas, have not shied away from supporting calls for impeachment. He was the first congressional lawmaker to call for it just weeks into the president’s second term. Green’s calls have been supported by other Democrats, such as Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter of Oregon; Sam Liccardo and Maxine Waters of California; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Shri Thanedar of Michigan; and Hank Johnson of Georgia, all of whom have gone publicly on the record regarding their support, according to NBC News. “Right now, it’s 218 to 215, so if you can find me two Republicans, I’ll go to work tomorrow,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who led impeachment efforts against Trump during his first term, told a reporter when asked about the matter. Trent England, a presidential elections expert and founder of the nonprofit Save Our States, bashed Democratic lawmakers for “claiming to be all about democracy,” but when they don’t get what they want, “suddenly democracy is not what they’re all about.” “It really undercuts Democrats’ message about elections when as soon as they get an election result they don’t like, they’re out challenging it through impeachment. Especially when Democrats claimed after 2016 that part of their issue with Trump was that he only won the Electoral College,” England added. “Well, now he’s won a resounding popular vote, in addition to winning the Electoral College. And, yet, they’re still out there trying to impeach him at the very beginning of his administration.” REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: IMPEACHAPALOOZA IS HERE TO STAY England also opined that the calls for impeachment were an easy way for Democrats to help boost their fundraising efforts. “Efforts like this show how a lot of members of Congress are really operating as personal fundraising machines, as opposed to legislators,” England said. “They’re not trying to get things done. They know that using platforms like Act Blue, they can fly the impeachment flag and raise a lot of money from left-wing donors without ever believing that any of this is going to have any effect.” The first-term Democratic senator is facing re-election later this year, as his term ends early next year. Ossoff’s office declined to comment for this story. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a statement to Fox News Digital, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott said Ossoff’s push for impeachment illustrates “the desperation of his re-election campaign.” “Not even 100 days into President Donald J. Trump’s terms, and Ossoff is already pushing impeachment,” Scott said. “His obsession makes clear just how out of touch he is with Georgia voters. The desperation in his re-election campaign is already showing.”
Hegseth signs ‘No More Walking on Eggshells’ policy, demands review of equal opportunity complaint process
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Friday calling for a review of Military Equal Opportunity and DoD civilian Equal Employment Opportunity programs. The secretaries of each military department are required under the memo to assess the programs in place within their own departments. In a video posted on X announcing the memo, Hegseth said that while it’s “a good thing” that the military has multiple avenues for both service members and civilians to complain about harassment and discrimination, the systems have been “weaponized” and used “in bad faith to retaliate against superiors or peers.” HEGSETH FACES LATEST BATTLE DEFENDING HIS DEFENSE SECRETARY POST AT THE PENTAGON The memo’s official title is “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,” but Hegseth says he calls it the “No More Walking on Eggshells” policy. “So, here’s the goal: empower leaders to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline,” Hegseth said in the video. The memo directs the secretaries to ensure that complaints that “are unsubstantiated by actionable, credible evidence are timely dismissed.” Additionally, “favorable actions,” such as awards and promotions, involving the alleged offender are to be considered until the complaint is substantiated. Finally, the memo states that those who “knowingly submit false complaints” may face discipline. The secretaries have 45 days to complete their reviews. Hegseth is no stranger to controversy and has faced several allegations since being tapped to lead DoD. It is not a stretch to imagine that he might have empathy for those facing false or unsubstantiated allegations. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH REBUFFS NEW GROUP CHAT ALLEGATIONS AS ATTEMPT TO ‘SABOTAGE’ TRUMP’S AGENDA Prior to his confirmation, Hegseth faced allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of veterans’ organizations. This included an affidavit by his former sister-in-law in which she alleged that Hegseth was physically abusive to his ex-wife, Samantha “Sam” Hegseth. However, Sam denied the allegations, saying she did not experience physical abuse during her marriage to Hegseth. Hegseth told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he is not a “perfect person,” but asserted that he was the subject of a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media.” Additionally, since becoming secretary of defense, Hegseth has been involved in two scandals regarding the encrypted messaging app Signal. The first scandal occurred when The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal chat in which there were discussions about plans for the U.S. to strike Yemen. While National Security Advisor Mike Waltz took a lot of heat for the situation, Hegseth was not spared from criticism. In the end, the Trump administration insisted that the discussions in the group did not actually involve “war plans.” On Sunday, Hegseth was accused of sharing military information in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. The New York Times reported that people with knowledge of the situation said the information “included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen.” Hegseth told “FOX & Friends” that the allegations were meant to “sabotage” President Donald Trump’s agenda. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Despite an op-ed suggesting that Hegseth could be on the way out, the White House has stood behind him. “He is bringing monumental change to the Pentagon, and there’s a lot of people in the city who reject monumental change, and I think, frankly, that’s why we’ve seen a smear campaign against the Secretary of Defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday. Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
White smoke: Boehner’s encounter with Pope Francis changed Congress forever
An audience with the pope is a day to remember. But only on Capitol Hill would the day after the pope visited become even more memorable. The late Pope Francis came to Washington, D.C., to speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress on Sept. 24, 2015. He wasn’t the first pontiff to descend on Capitol Hill. But the pope is a head of state, ruling the Vatican City and the Holy See. As such, Francis became the first pope to speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House chamber. DEMOCRATS’ IDENTITY CRISIS: YOUTH REVOLT ROCKS PARTY AFTER TRUMP COMBACK Lawmakers showered the Holy Father with applause and two standing ovations during his address. Two Catholics were perched behind Pope Francis on the dais: then Vice President Joe Biden and former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. As vice president, Biden served as President of the Senate. As speaker, Boehner was the Constitutional officer for the legislative branch. Boehner blotted his eyes with a handkerchief several times during the 3,400-word speech. Pope Francis implored lawmakers to treat each other — and their constituents — with dignity. “We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays. To discard whatever proves troublesome. Let us remember the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’” he said. GOP PUSH TO MAKE TRUMP’S 2017 TAX CUTS PERMANENT, SAY GOING BACK WOULD BE A ‘DRAMATIC’ CHANGE FOR MANY One thing I remember about the Pope’s visit was the choreography. Congressional workers affixed small, green strips of tape to the Capitol’s marble floors. Names were emblazoned on the tape in black Magic Marker at different points around the complex. “McCarthy” or “Pelosi” or “McConnell.” All part of the political — and papal — stagecraft. The tape dictated where key political leaders would stand as they escorted Pope Francis into the House chamber or in front of the statue of Junipero Serra in Statuary Hall. A duct-taped “X” marked the floor in front of Serra. The pope canonized Serra the day before he visited the Capitol at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Serra became the first American to become a saint on U.S. soil. Pope Francis blessed the statue of Serra. The statue depicts the saint hoisting a cross in his right hand, looking skyward toward the heavens. Someone taped a green arrow over the black and white tiles of Statuary Hall, pointing toward the Speaker’s Office. That signaled the pope’s next stop on Capitol Hill. FOX NEWS TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL ON SATURDAY Pope Francis and the entourage then walked toward Boehner’s office and onto the Speaker’s Balcony overlooking the West Front of the Capitol and down the National Mall toward the Washington Monument. A throng assembled on the Capitol grounds. “Buenos dias,” said the Pope, greeting the crowd like he would from the “Pope’s Window” at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on a Sunday. “I am grateful for your presence.” He then blessed the pilgrims on the ground below. “Papa! Papa!” the crowd chanted. When the pope first arrived at the Capitol, he met with Boehner in the Speaker’s ceremonial office just off the House floor. Boehner paced nervously awaiting Pope Francis on the 19th century Minton Tiles, which adorn the office. “He’s on Boehner time,” said the former speaker. “Which is on time.” Boehner wore his signature Kelly green tie for the occasion — a vintage piece of Boehner apparel, which dates back to when he served in the Ohio state legislature and first ran for Congress in 1990. When Pope Francis arrived, he told the former speaker the tie bore a “color of hope.” A few days later, Boehner choked up as he relayed a story about what Pope Francis said to him when they were about to exit the Capitol. “We found ourselves alone,” said Boehner of himself and Francis. The pope grabbed the speaker’s arm. “The pope puts his arm around me and kind of pulled me to him and said, ‘Please pray for me,’” said Boehner. “Wow. Who am I to pray for the pope?’ But I did.” Boehner left the Capitol that night. But his encounter with the Holy Father seemingly transformed the speaker — and altered the trajectory of the House for years to come. The speaker decided to resign the next morning. “He had been trying to get out of here for years,” said one source close to the speaker at the time. Boehner’s plans to depart were thwarted when the heir apparent, former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., stunningly lost his primary in the spring of 2014. So Boehner soldiered on. By late July 2015, former Trump White House chief of staff and former Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., prepped a “motion to vacate the chair.” Those who follow Capitol Hill know all about such a motion now. But it was novel a decade ago. Such a motion would require the House to take a vote of confidence in the speaker in the middle of the Congress. Lawmakers had never used the tactic before. It was hardly discussed. Meadows released his resolution just before the August recess — but never triggered it. That gave Boehner and the House a month to stew over whether Meadows might try to oust the speaker when lawmakers returned in September. On the night after the pope’s visit, Boehner called his chief of staff, Mike Sommers, to tell him he planned to step aside. Boehner also told his wife, Debbie, of his plans. “This morning I woke up, said my prayers, as I always do, and thought, ‘This is the day I am going to do this,’” said Boehner. Boehner then astonished a meeting of the House Republican Conference that he intended to resign. The move sent a shock wave through Washington. “My first job as speaker is to protect the institution,” Boehner said. “It had become clear to me that this prolonged leadership
AOC claims ‘We are one’ in campaign-style video despite years of invoking race, gender in politics
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., posted a campaign-style video on social media this week that sparked rumors about her political future. But conservatives quickly struck up a different conversation when she claimed, “We are one,” after years of criticism for playing identity politics. “Don’t let them trick us into thinking we are enemies. Don’t let them trick us into thinking we can be separated into rural and urban, Black and white and Latina. We are one,” Cortez said in the video that’s amassed over 7 million views. While Ocasio-Cortez seems to imply Republicans are seeking to divide America based on race, the four-term New York congresswoman has a long track record of invoking race in politics. The words highlighted in Ocasio-Cortez’s video this week spotlight a fixture of her developing stump speech to record-setting crowds alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. The progressive Democrat has often argued that Republicans weaponize racial resentment to halt Democratic progress. ‘WE ARE ONE’: AOC CAMPAIGN VIDEO SWIRLS 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUMORS “The only chance they have to get away with such an unpopular and hurtful agenda is to stoke deep divisions along race, identity and culture to keep us fighting and distracted,” she said at a rally in Boise, Idaho, earlier this month. POLLSTER NATE SILVER CALLS OCASIO-CORTEZ MOST LIKELY TO BE 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE During the 2024 presidential campaign, Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent that “as an elected official, who is a prominent woman of color, I’ve seen a lot,” adding that Vice President Kamala Harris has her own experience with misogyny and racism. “I think we brace ourselves for some of the unfair misogynistic and racial undertones, overtones, explicit attacks on implicit attacks that she may be subjected to, and it’s important for us to keep our eyes open for what is fair, but also what is unfair,” she said. Since Ocasio-Cortez was elected in 2018 to represent parts of Queens and the Bronx in the U.S. House of Representatives, unseating a 10-term incumbent, she has framed her success as shattering barriers to gender and racial justice in the United States. During her victory speech in Queens in November 2018, Ocasio-Cortez noted she was the “first person of color to ever represent” New York’s 14th Congressional District, which she said was 70% people of color, half of them working class. Then the youngest congresswoman, Ocasio-Cortez said she was mistaken for an intern or a spouse and used the opportunity to spotlight the bias against her, posting on social media, “Next time try believing women + people of color when they talk about their experiences being a woman or person of color.” Jussie Smollett, a Black and gay actor, falsely claimed in January 2019 that he was attacked by two men at 2 a.m. on a cold Chicago night and said the men yelled he was in “MAGA country,” used racist and homophobic slurs, wrapped a rope around his neck and poured an “unknown substance” on him. Smollet was sentenced in 2022 for faking a hate crime and lying to the Chicago Police about it. Smollett received support of several Democrats before his allegations were debunked, including Ocasio-Cortez, who said it was “a racist and homophobic attack,” while urging Americans to work to change what is “happening to our country.” Ocasio-Cortez deleted her pro-Smollett tweet when he was convicted of staging the crime. During a “60 Minutes” interview in 2019, Ocasio-Cortez labeled President Donald Trump “racist.” Later that year, Ocasio-Cortez accused former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of unfairly singling out the freshmen progressive “Squad,” calling it an “explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.” She later clarified that she wasn’t calling Pelosi racist but maintained that women of color were disproportionately targeted. But Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her racist allegations when Trump said the “Squad” should “go back” to other countries. “We don’t leave the things that we love. When we love this country, what that means is we propose the solutions to fix it,” she said at a press conference. She later said on social media it was the “hallmark language of white supremacists,” warning, “Trump feels comfortable leading the GOP into outright racism.” During the pandemic in 2020, Ocasio-Cortez said on social media, “COVID deaths are disproportionately spiking in Black + Brown communities,” adding, “the chronic toll of redlining, environmental racism, wealth gap, etc. ARE underlying health conditions,” tying health disparities to racial injustice. After the attacks on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, Ocasio-Cortez said in an Instagram Live she “didn’t even feel safe around other members of Congress” and added that she avoided hiding during the attack where “there were QAnon and white supremacist sympathizers, and frankly white supremacist members of Congress in that extraction point” And in the aftermath of a shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in a predominately Black neighborhood, she said in a post, “White supremacy has cost countless lives from El Paso to Mother Emanuel and now Buffalo. Our hearts break for the victims. And we demand accountability.” In a GQ interview that year, Ocasio-Cortez reiterated that misogyny and racism shaped her experience as a politician. saying, “I admit to sometimes believing that I live in a country that would never let” a woman become president. In 2023, Ocasio-Cortez’s views on race and gender came to a head during a viral speech on the House floor in support of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., before the House voted to oust Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. She said Omar’s ouster had nothing to do with “the condemnation of antisemitic remarks,” but “the racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body.” “Don’t tell me this is about objectivity. … This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America,” Ocasio-Cortez said as she slammed her notebook on a table. Ocasio-Cortez faced pushback from conservatives for claiming “We are one” in her video this week while still designating Americans along racial and ethnic lines in the
Migrant lawyers claim Trump is deporting without ‘due process,’ but what does that mean?
Lawyers for Venezuelan men facing deportation told the Supreme Court on Monday that the Trump administration is defying its order by failing to give proper notice, violating their due process rights under the Constitution. The Supreme Court issued a ruling in a separate case on April 7, allowing the Trump administration to continue its deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA), proving a significant victory for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. The justices noted that the deportations could continue so long as the AEA detainees received proper notice. “More specifically, in this context, AEA detainees must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act,” the opinion reads. “The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.” Due process is a constitutional principle that ensures fairness in legal and administrative proceedings, which includes giving proper notice and an opportunity to be heard in a timely manner by an impartial tribunal. The Supreme Court pointed to Reno v. Flores, a 1993 Supreme Court case, in writing, ‘”It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law’ in the context of removal proceedings.” GORSUCH, ROBERTS SIDE WITH LEFT-LEANING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IN IMMIGRATION RULING “So, the detainees are entitled to notice and opportunity to be heard ‘appropriate to the nature of the case,’” the Court wrote, citing another Supreme Court precedent. Former Palm Beach County, Florida, state attorney Dave Aronberg told Fox News Digital the high court has purposefully avoided “precise language” when issuing such opinions, leaving the lower courts to concretely delineate what proper due process looks like in these cases. “Chief Justice [John] Roberts is trying to get unanimity within the Supreme Court,” Aronberg said. “He wants everyone on the same page. And he also wants to avoid a constitutional crisis with the executive branch. So with all these competing interests in mind, he’s trying to be more conciliatory than confrontational with the White House. But that can only go so far.” Aronberg said that “we may see stronger language going forward from the high court” as the legal challenges proceed. TWO FEDERAL JUDGES MAY HOLD TRUMP IN CONTEMPT AS HE DEFIES COURTS IN IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN In its Monday filing, plaintiff attorneys argued the notice given to the detainees was “inadequate” in light of the high court’s order. The attorneys wrote that the notice provided was in English, “even though putative class members largely speak only Spanish,” and that it “did not inform” the individuals about how to contest their designation and removal under the AEA, or provide a timeline on how to do so. They argued the notice provided “comes nowhere near satisfying the Court’s directive” issued on April 7. “Whatever due process may require in this context, it does not allow removing a person to a possible life sentence without trial, in a prison known for torture and other abuse, a mere 24 hours after providing an English-only notice form (not provided to any attorney) that gives no information about the person’s right to seek judicial review, much less the process or timeline for doing so,” the filing reads. DETAINED MIGRANTS GIVEN AS FEW AS 12 HOURS TO CONTEST DEPORTATION UNDER ALIEN ENEMIES ACT, ICE DOCUMENT SAYS “The government cannot plausibly claim that 12 hours is sufficient notice, which could be the reason they tried to keep it from the public and other courts addressing the notice issue, including the U.S. Supreme Court,” ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the case, told Fox News Digital in a statement. Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that she expects these deportation cases to “bounce up and down the court system” as litigants work within the confines the Supreme Court specified in its April 7 opinion. “For now, the Supreme Court is relying on, if there’s going to be a habeas suit, it’s going to be in the U.S. District Court and then that judge is going to have to rule,” Ries explained. “And I’m sure there will be appeals and some or all of it may end up back at the Supreme Court.” Aronberg noted that due process procedures may vary across the district courts as they juggle the various lawsuits. However, both he and Ries said the issue will likely end up in the high court’s hands once again. “It is possible that some courts require notice to be in writing and in the native language of the deportee, whereas others could possibly accept less stringent notice requirements,” Aronberg said. “Ultimately, it will lead back to the Supreme Court to dictate what is required.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ries also said that proceedings will differ in non-AEA cases, saying individuals sought to be removed in those contexts would undergo different types of removals. “Immigration proceedings are civil proceedings. So you are not innocent until proven guilty,” Reis said. “It doesn’t apply here. You don’t have a right to a public defender. You can have a deportation immigration attorney, but you, the taxpayer, is not paying for it like a public defender.” Fox News’ Shannon Bream, Bill Mears and Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Is AOC Rehearsing for a White House Run?
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Ex-GOP congressman George Santos faces up to 87 months in prison in federal fraud case –Stacey Abrams considers 3rd run for Georgia governor despite back-to-back defeats –Luigi Mangione heads to federal court as DOJ debuts death penalty ‘shift’: ex-federal prosecutor Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has crisscrossed the United States with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, and Americans are speculating about whether the New York Democrat is launching a shadow campaign for president. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign account posted a video on X this week that invigorated those rumors as the four-term Democrat from New York City and a progressive leader proclaimed, “We are one.” “I’m a girl from the Bronx,” Ocasio-Cortez said on a campaign-style stage in Idaho. “To be welcomed here in this state, all of us together, seeing our common cause, this is what this country is all about.” …READ MORE POLLING PROBLEM: Judge blocks Trump election order despite overwhelming American support for voter ID POISON IVY: Trump brands Harvard ‘antisemitic’ and a ‘threat to democracy’ amid funding battle DEAL OR DUEL: Trump says he’ll be ‘leading the pack’ to war with Iran if deal prospects whither away CROSSED WIRES: Trump says China’s Xi called him amid ongoing confusion over trade talks ‘IMPORTANT STEPS’: Trump admin cheers ‘important steps’ as Paraguay targets Iran and its terror proxies MOVING FORWARD: Russia ‘ready to make a deal’ on Ukraine war, Lavrov says ART OF DIPLOMACY: Putin gifted Trump portrait of the US president, Russian artist reveals mystery painting: report CAR BOMBING: Russian general killed in Moscow-area car bombing, investigators say MIXED LEGACY: Pope Francis held line on gender ideology, had welcoming posture to LGBT community THE OLD GUARD: 80-year-old Democrat senator says elderly lawmakers should leave ‘before they’re carried out’ ANTISEMITISM DEBATE: Schumer, Schiff accuse Trump of exploiting antisemitism to punish universities STICKING UP: ICE argues warrantless arrest of Mahmoud Khalil was legal NO OBJECTION: REAL ID sees nationwide state government compliance ahead of deadline, but it wasn’t always that way CLASS IN SESSION: California floats plan to allow homeless students to sleep in their cars amid housing crisis PARADISE LOST: Democrat-run Los Angeles failing wildfire victims’ rebuilding plans months after Trump visit: GOP rep ‘GOOD RIDDANCE’: New York City destroys more than 3,500 seize illegal firearms in gun chipper ‘REVOLT’: DeSantis excoriates Florida House leadership amid state GOP civil war ‘PROFESSIONALLY DONE’: DHS chief Kristi Noem reveals how her purse was stolen at restaurant Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump says he would ‘never defy’ SCOTUS, commits to complying with courts despite flurry of legal setbacks
President Donald Trump said in an interview this week that he would “never defy” the Supreme Court and reiterated his respect for the lower district courts, comments that come as his administration tangles with various federal judges and faces accusations of defying their orders. Trump made those statements in an interview with Time magazine, published Friday, as he nears his first 100 days in office. The wide-ranging interview hit on a number of topics, including the state of the U.S. economy and Trump’s plans to enact sweeping reciprocal tariffs, which are slated to take force this summer. One of the major themes, however, was the federal courts. Trump was pressed several times by Time’s political correspondent, Eric Cortellessa, on his view of the judiciary, and whether he still commits to complying with all Supreme Court orders. “Sure, I believe in the court system,” Trump responded, adding later: “I never defy the Supreme Court. I wouldn’t do that. I’m a big believer in the Supreme Court, and have a lot of respect for the justices.” TRUMP-APPOINTED JUDGE ORDERS ADMINISTRATION TO RETURN SECOND DEPORTED MIGRANT Trump also said he is committed to competing with the lower courts. “Sure. All courts,” he said. The fairly innocuous exchange conceals an otherwise heated debate playing out in courtrooms across the country, as Trump lawyers have gone to bat to defend his early executive orders and halt a wave of lawsuits and emergency restraining orders aimed at blocking or restricting them. The biggest fights have been centered on the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, to deport certain migrants to El Salvador. Trump’s use of the law has been kicked up to the Supreme Court for emergency review, most recently in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member living in Maryland who was deported to El Salvador last month. Trump officials have acknowledged his removal was an “administrative error.” Trump officials have resisted court orders to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., in what a federal judge in Maryland described this week as a “willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations,” including daily updates on his whereabouts and efforts to return him to U.S. soil. “The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that you have to bring back [Abrego Garcia]. You haven’t done so,” Cortellessa said, referring to a unanimous decision from the high court this month that ordered Trump to facilitate his release. “Aren’t you disobeying the Supreme Court?” he asked. Trump said in response that he had left the matter to his lawyers, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. JUDGES V TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA “They feel that the order said something very much different from what you’re saying,” Trump told him. “I give them no instructions… frankly, bringing him back and retrying him wouldn’t bother me, but I leave that up to my lawyer.” Notably, Trump also told the outlet that he has not asked El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to return Abrego Garcia. Bukele traveled to Washington earlier this month to meet with Trump and other Cabinet officials at the White House. They were asked directly about Abrego Garcia during a short press availability, to which Bondi told reporters it is “up to El Salvador” whether to return him. Her remarks touched off a wave of fresh concerns and prompted U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis to order an “intense” expedited discovery process for the court to determine whether the U.S. was making good-faith attempts to secure his return. Pressed by Time magazine on why he has not made efforts to facilitate the release, or ask Bukele to release him, Trump told the outlet, “Well, because I haven’t been asked to ask him by my attorneys.” “Nobody asked me to ask him that question, except you,” Trump told Cortellessa. “But I leave that decision to the lawyers. At this moment, they just don’t want to do that. They say we’re in total compliance with the Supreme Court.”
Trump administration demands crackdown on illegal immigrants potentially taking advantage of key benefit
The United States Department of Agriculture is demanding that states ensure illegal immigrants are not using food stamps. The department wants states to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order from February that seeks improved methods to check that those in the country illegally do not receive federal benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The measure is meant to crack down on fraud and serve as a safeguard because illegal immigrants are already not allowed to use SNAP benefits. Only citizens and some legal noncitizens can do so. “We’ve already made arrests in Minnesota and New York and Colorado, and we’re just getting started,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Fox News Digital in an interview. AMERICAN FARMERS HAVE A VOICE IN WASHINGTON AGAIN “We’re going to be extremely, extremely aggressive. Now, hopefully it acts as a deterrent also.” The USDA is asking states to cross-check Social Security numbers with a death master file and to use the free Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system provided by the Department of Homeland Security for noncitizens applying for the benefits, among other steps to verify immigration status. Rollins said it’s “the president’s vision to ensure that we’re being the most efficient and effective with taxpayer dollars.” SNAP RECIPIENTS MAY BE BARRED FROM JUNK FOOD PURCHASES UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP BILL “So, we think we’ll be able to cut down on billions of fraud and save the taxpayers a lot of money,” she said. John Walk, acting deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services, wrote in a letter Thursday to state SNAP agencies, explaining the existing law. “By law, only United States citizens and certain lawfully present aliens may receive SNAP benefits. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) established that ‘aliens within the Nation’s borders not depend on public resources to meet their needs.’ SNAP is not and has never been available to illegal aliens,” Walk wrote. The crackdown comes as there is heightened scrutiny on the eligibility of illegal immigrants for benefits, such as California’s Medicaid program that allows people to enroll without their immigration status being considered, even though it’s funded by state and federal taxpayer dollars. California Republicans have said illegal immigrants’ eligibility in the program is responsible for its insolvency, whereas Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said it’s only a factor in a larger healthcare cost issue nationwide. MILLIONS MORE FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS REQUIRED TO WORK UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP PROPOSAL “The federal government is now paying attention a lot more closely than ever before on how the states are spending the money,” Rollins said. “I am from Texas. I actually have a lot of confidence in the Texas system. I think the red states, honestly, are probably a little more intentional and careful about this. Of course, it’s the blue states that tend to want to put everyone on the taxpayers’ back. And I think that we’ll find a lot more of that moving forward, but hopefully it’s a deterrence for everyone.” Outside of immigration, SNAP has also faced calls for reform in several states to no longer allow the purchase of “junk food.” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently asked the USDA to allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits, while adding rotisserie chicken to the list of available options. “President Trump and his administration have put a laser focus on solving America’s chronic disease epidemic, and reforming our food stamp program is a great place to start,” Sanders said in a news release April 15. “Banning soda and candy from food stamps will remove some of the least healthy, most processed foods from the program and encourage low-income Arkansans to eat better.”
Trump admin launches foreign funding investigation into UC Berkeley
The Trump administration is cracking down on colleges that don’t report big foreign donations, with UC Berkeley the latest target following a Department of Education review of the California university’s foreign funding disclosures found that it “may be incomplete or inaccurate.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon ordered the agency’s legal team on Friday to take back control of enforcing a law that requires schools to disclose foreign gifts or contracts worth $250,000 or more. “The Biden-Harris Administration turned a blind eye to colleges and universities’ legal obligations by deprioritizing oversight and allowing foreign gifts to pour onto American campuses. Despite widespread compliance failures, no new Section 117 investigations were initiated for four years, and ongoing investigations were closed prematurely,” McMahon said in a statement. “I have great confidence in my Office of General Counsel to investigate these matters fully, and they will begin by thoroughly examining UC Berkeley’s apparent failure to fully and accurately disclose significant funding received from foreign sources.” YALE DROPS ALLEGED HAMAS-TIED STUDENT GROUP’S STATUS AFTER ‘DISTURBING ANTISEMITIC CONDUCT’ The investigation comes amid Trump’s growing scrutiny over foreign influence in U.S. higher education. This week, Trump signed an executive order tightening rules on how colleges report foreign funding, directing the Education Department to undo past policies that let universities “obscure details regarding their foreign funding” and to make schools fully disclose where that money comes from and what it’s for. The Department of Education said this issue gained attention after reports surfaced in 2023 that Berkeley failed to report hundreds of millions of dollars it received from China. EVEN BEFORE TRUMP’S ENGAGEMENT, HARVARD UNDERSTOOD IT HAD A REAL PROBLEM ON THE ANTISEMITISM SIDE, EXPERT SAYS In response to a federal inquiry at the time, Berkeley admitted it didn’t report $220 million received and showed it had been building a long-term financial relationship with foreign government-controlled entities, while also “misunderstanding its legal duty to disclose that funding,” the department disclosed in a news release. An Education Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital they initiated a records request into Harvard for foreign funding last week. A White House fact sheet this week cited a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report showing nearly $60 billion in foreign gifts and contracts have flowed into universities over several decades, often with little oversight. Federal officials say only a fraction of the country’s roughly 6,000 institutions report such funding. “President Trump is ending secrecy surrounding foreign funding in higher education to protect students, research, and the marketplace of ideas,” the fact sheet reads.