New York Republicans call for independent fraud investigation following Minnesota revelations
Republican state senators in New York on Friday wrote a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to launch an independent investigation into possible fraud involving government programs in response to similar allegations in Minnesota. “We write to you concerning disturbing reports of widespread fraud involving taxpayer dollars in the state of Minnesota, including schemes that reportedly involved sham daycare centers and other illegitimate entities,” the letter, signed by 12 Republican state senators, said. The letter added that the “revelations” in Minnesota “raise serious concerns about the vulnerability of publicly funded programs to abuse.” TRUMP TARGETS MINNESOTA FRAUD ALLEGATIONS, SAYS ‘WE’RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT’ The senators urged Hochul to “immediately retain an independent private professional services firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of comparable programs in New York State.” MINNESOTA FRAUD COMMITTEE CHAIR CLAIMS WALZ ‘TURNED A BLIND EYE’ TO FRAUD WARNINGS FOR YEARS The letter said that the audit was necessary “to ensure that public funds are being distributed solely to legitimate organizations and eligible individuals and to identify and address any instances of fraud, waste or abuse.” “Given that New York administers comparable programs involving billions of taxpayer dollars it is imperative that proactive measures be taken to ensure similar abuses are not occurring here,” the letter said. The senators noted $68 million in Medicaid fraud that the U.S. Department of Justice said it uncovered at a Brooklyn operator of social adult daycare centers in July. “At a time when resources are strained, it is essential that available funds are protected and directed exclusively to those who truly need assistance,” they added. The senator said that with reports that Hochul’s office plans to advance a proposal for universal pre-kindergarten in the next legislative session, “ensuring these programs are efficient, transparent and free from fraud should be a shared priority for all New Yorkers.” The Small Business Administration announced Thursday that it had suspended 6,900 Minnesota borrowers after uncovering what it says is widespread suspected fraud in the state. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler sent a letter Tuesday to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 23, telling him that her agency will “halt” more than $5.5 million in annual support to resource partners in the state “until further notice.” “I am notifying you that effective immediately and until further notice, the SBA is halting the disbursement of federal funds to SBA resource partners operating in the state of Minnesota, totaling over $5.5 million in annual support,” Loeffler wrote. The SBA said that at least $2.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds issued during the pandemic era were connected to a Somali fraud scheme based in Minneapolis. Loeffler told Walz that $430 million in PPP funds tied to roughly 13,000 loans were flagged as potentially fraudulent but were still funded anyway, including some that were forgiven during the Biden administration. “The volume and concentration of potential fraud is staggering, matched in its egregiousness only by your response to those who attempted to stop it,” she wrote. Hochul’s office told Fox News Digital in response to the letter: “This is a rich political stunt coming from the lawmaker who spent months fighting the Governor’s efforts to route out waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s Medicaid program,” referencing GOP State Sen. Robert Ortt. “Instead of suggesting we spend taxpayer dollars to do the jobs of the State Comptroller and State Inspector General, the Minority Leader should focus on supporting the many longstanding initiatives that the Governor has advanced to stop fraud and protect taxpayers.”
Mamdani disputes antisemitism definition amid blowback from Jewish community about Day 1 executive orders
Zohran Mamdani, the newly sworn-in mayor of New York City, suggested Friday that the widely adopted definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) does not actually protect Jewish New Yorkers. The mayor spoke amid backlash over Day 1 executive orders that have angered many Jewish and civil rights groups. The self-described democratic socialist also dismissed allegations that the timing of his executive orders, which came just hours after he was sworn in, were illustrative of what critics have argued is his record of hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community. The new mayor’s Day 1 directives included rescinding a ban on city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel and ending the city’s adoption of the IHRA definition on antisemitism ushered in by the former mayor, Eric Adams. “When we speak about the IHRA definition that you asked about, you know, protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration, and I also know that a number, as you said, of leading Jewish organizations, have immense concerns around this definition,” Mamdani said in response to questions about his executive orders Friday afternoon in Brooklyn. SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI INAUGURATED ALONGSIDE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY “What we will do is actually deliver on our commitment to protect Jewish New Yorkers in a manner that is able to actually fulfill that,” he added before moving on to another question. When asked about the criticism regarding the speed of the executive orders aimed at rescinding protections against antisemitism in New York City, Mamdani did not directly answer the question. “As the new mayor of a city, you have to sign a continuation of all prior executive orders or a revocation or an amendment of all of them. And, so, what we did was sign an executive order that continued every executive order that predated the moment when our former mayor was indicted, a moment when many New Yorkers lost even more faith in New York City politics and the ability of city government to actually prioritize the needs of the public,” Mamdani responded. “And what we will now do is showcase that new era to protect each and every New Yorker and to deliver for those same New Yorkers in a manner that they have not seen under prior administrations.” Mamdani’s responses at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn came shortly after a slew of civil rights and pro-Jewish organizations doubled down on the criticism over Mamdani’s Day 1 directives affecting the Jewish community. ZOHRAN MAMDANI WILL BE FIRST MAYOR TO BE SWORN IN ON QURAN DURING NEW YORK CITY INAUGURATION “We are deeply troubled that, on his first day in office, Mayor Mamdani weakened protections to fight antisemitism,” the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) New York and New Jersey chapter said Friday. The group, alongside a cohort of other New York-area Jewish groups, issued a joint statement against Mamdani’s executive orders. “Revoking these executive orders removes key tools for addressing antisemitism, including BDS-driven efforts that seek to demonize, delegitimize and isolate the world’s only Jewish state,” the ADL added. In addition to Mamdani’s executive order rescinding “all executive orders issued on or after September 26, 2024,” which included the measures affecting the Jewish community, the new mayor also unveiled a second executive order on Day 1 establishing five new deputy mayor positions in his administration. Also Friday, Mamdani unveiled another new executive order shortly after he was sworn in to establish a new “Office of Mass Engagement,” which aims to prioritize and centralize the city government’s public comment and feedback mechanisms intended to help New Yorkers stay engaged with politics in the Big Apple.
Swalwell threatens to revoke driver’s licenses of masked ICE agents operating in California
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California., on Wednesday promised to revoke the driver’s license of federal immigration agents who wear masks. Swalwell, who is running for governor, appeared on MS NOW where he was asked about what he brings to the table as leader of the state. In response, Swalwell said one of the governor’s duties is to protect the state’s most vulnerable populations. WAVE OF CAR ATTACKS ON ICE AGENTS FOLLOWS INCENDIARY RHETORIC FROM TARGET-CITY LEADERS “If the president is going to send ICE agents to chase immigrants through the fields where they work, what I’m going to is make them take off their masks and show their faces, that they show their identification, and if they commit crimes, that they’re going to be charged with crimes,” he said. “If the governor has the ability to issue driver’s licenses to people in California, if you’re going to wear a mask and not identify yourself, you’re not going to be eligible to drive a vehicle in California,” Swalwell added. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The White House noted that California has issued driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, some of whom have been involved in deadly collisions. “Fang Fang’s former lover wants to give drivers licenses to criminal illegal aliens and simultaneously punish law enforcement officers for enforcing the law?” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital, referencing Swalwell’s connection to alleged Chinese spy, Christine Fang, who worked on his congressional campaign and targeted up-and-coming politicians in California. What an absolute clown.” A California law banning ICE officers from wearing masks while conducting operations was supposed to go into effect on Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security has vowed not to comply with the measure and the Trump administration is suing the state over the issue. The law is on hold and a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12. NEWSOM ON COURTROOM COLLISION COURSE WITH TRUMP OVER ICE MASK BAN Critics of the immigration operations argue that masked agents pose a danger to communities and could result in brutal law enforcement tactics while failing to hold authorities accountable. Federal authorities have said that ICE and other immigration officers have faced death threats, as well as their families, and doxxing. On Friday, Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said the state doesn’t have the authority to regulate federal authorities. “In the meantime, California has agreed to put the law on hold and not enforce its unconstitutional mask ban, which is designed to allow radical leftists to dox federal agents enforcing immigration laws,” he wrote on X. Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, criticized Salwell over his remarks. “What’s even dumber about this is that Swalwell has a law degree and he even once made a living as a prosecutor,” she wrote on X. “He knows about federal supremacy and that it is not possible for a state prosecutor to do any of the things he is promising. Oh, and he won’t ever be governor, either.”
Elon Musk declares ‘war’ over perceived death threat by Somali TikToker
Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk gave a strong response to a perceived threat on his life by a Somali TikToker after she said on a livestream, “He [is] about to die.” In a viral livestream posted by a since-deleted account, a Somali TikToker who went by the name “Dowza.z” said in reference to Musk, “I wouldn’t worry too much about him, he about to die.” Though the streamer switched back and forth from speaking in Somali and English, her statement on Musk was said in English. She was discussing Musk’s recent criticisms of Somali-run businesses engaged in rampant fraud in Minnesota. The comment prompted immediate backlash from conservatives who took the statement as a threat to Musk’s life. FBI SURGES RESOURCES TO MINNESOTA AS PATEL CALLS $250M FRAUD SCHEME ‘TIP OF ICEBERG’ Musk himself appeared to take the statement as a threat, responding to the video in an X post in which he wrote, “Then it is war.” Popular conservative account Libs of TikTok also commented on the clip, saying the FBI “should definitely look into this.” X account DogeDesigner wrote, “Protect Elon Musk at all costs.” Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty wrote, “When fraud is exposed – it’s always the fraudsters who yell and complain the loudest. Their THEFT will come to an end.” Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee posted on his personal X account, “Deport her immediately,” adding, “She shouldn’t be here.” The Trump administration and lawmakers have launched probes into Minnesota’s “Feeding Our Future” $250 million fraud scheme that allegedly targeted a children’s nutrition program the Department of Agriculture funded and that Minnesota oversaw during the COVID-19 pandemic. FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE’ INVESTIGATION AFTER VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGES MINNESOTA DAYCARE FRAUD At least 77 people have been charged in that scheme, which took advantage of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to waive certain Federal Child Nutrition Program requirements. Likewise, another fraud scheme in the state stems from the Housing Stability Services Program, which offered Medicaid coverage for housing stabilization services in an attempt to help those with disabilities, mental illnesses and substance-use disorders receive housing. The bulk of those charged are part of Minnesota’s Somali population, prompting Trump to announce in November that he was ending the Temporary Protected Status for Somali migrants in Minnesota that offers protection against deportation. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it was spearheading a major operation to arrest and remove those involved in the fraud. GOP LAWMAKER DEMANDS MINNESOTA FRAUD BE TREATED AS ‘ORGANIZED CRIME’ SCHEME Musk has been highly vocal about the fraud being uncovered in Minnesota, repeatedly calling attention to it on his official X account, which has over 230 million followers. In a post on Saturday, Musk said the fraud scheme going on in Minnesota is “one of many” and that while leading the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump, his team “found hundreds of fraud schemes.” “There was massive fraud in every government program, especially Federal funds sent as block grants to the states,” said Musk.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Israel slams Mamdani over revoked Adams executive orders
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… -Washington officials blast conservatives for Minnesota-style day care fraud claims in new state -Hours after taking office, NYC Mayor Mamdani targets landlords, moves to intervene in private bankruptcy case -Trump says October scan was a CT, not MRI — and he regrets it after giving Dems ‘ammo’ despite healthy results Israel tore into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he revoked a pair of executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams that supported the Jewish state. “On his very first day as New York City mayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”…READ MORE. CLEAN UP CREWS: Here’s the top US cities Trump could target with National Guard deployments in 2026 COURT WARS: Inside Trump’s first-year power plays — and the court fights testing them REVAMPING THE SYSTEM: 5 big immigration changes taking effect across the U.S. ‘LOCKED AND LOADED’: Iran crackdown rattles Middle East as analysts weigh US options short of military intervention WAR GAMES: China’s global aggression check: Taiwan tensions, military posturing, and US response in 2025 AGAINST THE TIDE: These House mavericks defied their own parties more than anyone else in 2025 MIDTERMS IN FOCUS: Here are the key 2026 House and Senate races to watch that could decide control of Congress ‘PREPARING FOR JIHAD’: What we know about the ISIS-inspired New Year’s Eve terror suspect ‘MARTYRDOM OP’: FBI disrupts alleged ISIS-inspired New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting North Carolina grocery store GLOVES OFF: Bernie Sanders ditches iconic mittens look while swearing in socialist Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor AGAINST THE ODDS: Unsung heroes of 2025: First responders and everyday Americans who saved lives across US TIPPING POINT: Charlie Kirk’s killing, Idaho murders plea and Karen Read verdict: Inside 2025’s biggest crime moments Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Conservatives torch media after Mamdani avoids Musk-level backlash over ‘identical’ on-stage gesture
Conservatives are calling out what they say is a media double standard after newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was seen extending his arm during his inauguration Thursday — a gesture they argue mirrors a motion Elon Musk made a year ago that ignited widespread headlines accusing the tech billionaire of delivering a “Nazi salute.” “Not a single one of these legacy media outlets reported on Mamdani’s identical hand gesture which they called @elonmusk a nazi for Do you see what’s happening?” popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted Friday, accompanied by screenshots of media outlets stretching from the Guardian to Vox reported on accusations that Musk delivered a “Nazi-style salute” to Trump supporters Jan. 20. Liberals and critics frequently attacked Trump while he was on the campaign trail by calling him a Hitler-esque fascist, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who compared Trump to the German dictator during a town hall in the final stretch of the 2024 election cycle. Musk attended Trump’s inaugural parade in 2025, where he spoke to supporters and was accused of giving a Hitler-style salute to the crowds — a narrative that was promoted by Democrats such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Musk and Republicans lambasted and mocked the accusations when they cropped up, including the tech billionaire floating a potential defamation lawsuit against Walz for promoting the claim. CRITICS SAY MAMDANI’S VOW TO SWAP ‘RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM’ WITH ‘WARMTH OF COLLECTIVISM’ HAS SINISTER UNDERTONE Fast-forward nearly a year, conservatives are questioning why Mamdani has not faced similar accusations after he was seen extending his arm in a gesture similar to Musk’s. “Zohran Mamdani did the same exact gesture today at his swearing in that the left called a ‘Nazi salute’ when @elonmusk did it,” former liberal and WalkAway — a movement encouraging people to leave the Democratic Party — founder Brandon Straka posted to X. “They lie,” Musk posted to X Friday in response to Libs of TikTok’s message showing a swath of headlines from earlier in 2025 reporting that the tech billionaire allegedly gave a Nazi salute. “HOLY CRAP! Zohran Mamdani just did the EXACT SAME gesture as Elon Musk When Elon does it, it’s a ‘Nazi salute.’ When communist Zohran does it, the media is silent. The media is the enemy of the people,” conservative commentator Eric Daugherty posted. “Did Mamdani do a nazi salute?!?! Literally shaking rn I’m sure CNN and MSNBC will be all over this,” Libs of TikTok posted in another message mocking Democrats over their January comments targeting Musk. BERNIE SANDERS DITCHES ICONIC MITTENS LOOK WHILE SWEARING IN SOCIALIST ZOHRAN MAMDANI AS NYC MAYOR “When Elon signals his heart goes out to the crowd he’s a ‘NAZI’. When Mamdani does it, its perfectly fine… The left tried to use that signal from Elon to gaslight people into thinking he is a Nazi because they saw it as politically useful.. They are not ideologically consistent and their hypocrisy knows no bounds. They do NOT care about any of that. They just care about political power and feeling virtuous,” another posted. “Zohran Mamdani can make this gesture and everyone loves him for it, but when Elon Musk does it? The leftist media wasted no time calling him a Nazi,” the Media Research Center posted to X. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, took office Thursday, with ceremonies that included a public swearing-in outside City Hall and an earlier private oath at the decommissioned City Hall subway station. Mamdani was seen lifting his hand from his heart to the crowds of supporters at the end of his speech during the public ceremony. “I was elected as a Democratic socialist, and I will govern as a Democratic socialist,” he said. FLASHBACK: INSIDE THE POLITICAL MOVEMENT THAT PUT A SOCIALIST IN CHARGE OF NEW YORK CITY “Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously,” Mamdani said, acknowledging that his agenda may not always succeed but insisting it would be bold. “To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this: No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives.” Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office regarding conservatives’ comments over the salute considering previous coverage of Musk, but did not immediately receive a reply. Musk served as the Trump administration’s public leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Trump established at the start of his second administration to weed out fraud, government overspending and mismanagement from the federal government. Musk was a common fixture of the administration — serving as a special government employee — until May, when he criticized Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” for raising the debt ceiling, fracturing the relationship. Musk and Trump have since been spotted at public events together, including chatting with one another. MEDIA OUTLETS ACCUSE ELON MUSK OF GIVING ‘FASCIST SALUTE’ AT TRUMP INAUGURATION RALLY Musk slammed comparisons to Nazis toward the end of his DOGE tenure, pointing to it as another example of the long-running attacks against Trump and his supporters. “Well, I mean, look, it’s a relentless propaganda campaign, which obviously President Trump has experienced for a very long time, 20 years, maybe longer,” Musk said on Fox News’ “My View with Lara Trump” in May. “And politics is a blood sport, so they’re going to come up with whatever attacks they can to destroy the public perception of someone.” “Now, obviously, I’ve not harmed anyone in my life, so it’s an outrageous thing to claim that I’m a Nazi,” he added.
Redistricting battles brewing across the country as parties compete for power ahead of 2026 midterms
Ahead of the rapidly approaching 2026 midterms, Republicans and Democrats in states across the country are engaged in heated redistricting battles. What started with Texas’ effort to redraw its congressional map earlier in 2025 has led to other states, including California and Missouri, to do the same. Now, redistricting battles are shaping up in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland and Virginia. Florida Republicans are engaged in a fight over the creation of a House map that has the potential to net the GOP several seats, The Hill reported. Currently, Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. Despite the fact that a Florida House redistricting panel has already met twice to begin the process, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and state Senate Republican leadership appear to be interested in holding off on the discussion until a special session in spring. However, some fear that this could be too late, as April 20 is the deadline for federal candidates to qualify and file paperwork. Florida Republicans are also facing challenges because of language in the state’s constitution that puts tight restrictions on gerrymandering, NBC News noted. INDIANA SENATE REPUBLICANS REJECT TRUMP-BACKED REDISTRICTING PUSH, DECLINE TO MEET IN DECEMBER Democrats could possibly pick up more seats in Illinois, but the move has gained little ground. Black lawmakers have expressed concerns that a new map could undermine minority representation, according to NBC News. Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill., said his state could be forced to respond if neighboring Indiana were to move forward with its own redistricting effort. However, he later applauded Indiana when it rejected a new map. “Our neighbors in Indiana have stood up to Trump’s threats and political pressure, instead choosing to do what’s right for their constituents and our democracy,” Pritzker wrote on X. “Illinois will remain vigilant against his map rigging — our efforts to respond and stop his campaign are being heard.” After Indiana rejected their map, Illinois state Sen. Willie Preston, D, urged Pritzker to drop the idea, The Hill reported, noting that others have suggested that the Prairie State is still mulling the move. Jon Maxson, a spokesperson for Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, told The Hill in an email that “all options remain on the table in Illinois.” Illinois faces a larger issue, as the November candidate filing deadline has already passed. TRUMP’S REDISTRICTING PUSH GAINS STEAM IN ANOTHER KEY STATE: ‘WE WILL STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT’ Kansas is the other major redistricting target for Republicans. GOP lawmakers in the Sunflower State have said that they would discuss redrawing the map when they reconvene this month. However, just last year, lawmakers tried but failed to bring the issue forward. Kansas Republicans need two-thirds support in the Legislature to hold a special session to address the map. While State House members didn’t have enough support for the issue, Republicans were able to secure enough signatures in the state Senate, The Hill reported. Additionally, they will need to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Kelly recently told the Kansas Reflector that she would be “surprised if they even really bring it up.” “I don’t think a lot has changed in terms of where legislators stand on the issue,” she added. In November, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R), who’s running for Kansas governor, claimed in a statement that “California Democrats are working overtime to silence Republicans and steal the House majority.” “Even Governor Laura Kelly admitted that there’s a bigger risk in doing nothing. On that, we agree. States across America are standing up, and Kansas will be part of that fight,” he added. SCOTUS ALLOWS TEXAS TO USE TRUMP-PUSHED REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP FAVORING REPUBLICANS Maryland Democrats have resisted pressure to redraw maps. In November, Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, formed a redistricting commission to explore the issue despite a lack of appetite for the move within his own party. The commission voted in secret to move forward with the plan, to the dismay of Democrat critics. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat, has been a vocal opponent of redistricting. “The overwhelming majority do not want a new congressional map,” Ferguson said in a statement, according to The Hill. “They want their government focused on fostering growth, affordability, and real protections against this lawless federal Administration.” The commission is asking the public about congressional map proposals ahead of the state’s Feb. 24 candidate filing deadline. In late October, just before the state’s gubernatorial election, Virginia Democratic lawmakers took a major first step in a complex political maneuver aimed at redrawing the state’s congressional map. Democrats were able to pass an amendment to the state’s Constitution to allow lawmakers to temporarily redistrict mid-decade by 2030, The Hill noted. The amendment will need to be passed again in the spring or summer before voters can have their say. The lawmakers now have the help of additional Democrats in the state’s Legislature following the November 2025 elections. “Our congressional delegation is 6-5 — six Democrats, five Republicans. Ten-1 is not out of the realm,” Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said in early December, according to NBC News. If voters approve of the referendum, lawmakers would be able to pass a new map ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Hill noted that Republicans are highly likely to challenge a new map in court.
Trump regrets handing Dems health ‘ammunition’ with October scan — clarifies it was a CT, not an MRI
President Donald Trump revealed he had received a CT scan, and not an MRI scan, during a medical checkup in October that the president and his administration have repeatedly underscored showed normal and healthy results. “It wasn’t an MRI,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an article published New Year’s Day. “It was less than that. It was a scan.” Trump’s health has drawn fresh scrutiny in recent months, including after reports said he underwent an MRI during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. The October checkup was Trump’s second of 2025, after an April visit in which the White House physician, Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, said the president “remains in exceptional health.” Trump’s CT clarification comes as Democrats and liberal media outlets question his fitness, citing his 79 years of age, bruising on his hands and reports of swollen ankles. Trump told the Wall Street Journal he regrets taking the scan. TRUMP CLAIMS WHITE HOUSE DOCTORS REPORT HIM IN ‘PERFECT HEALTH,’ SAYS HE ‘ACED’ THIRD STRAIGHT COGNITIVE EXAM “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition. I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong,” Trump said. MRI and CT scans are both imaging tests, with CT scans using X-rays to create internal cross-section images, while MRI scans use magnet technology and radio waves to capture similar internal images. MRI scans typically gather more detailed images, while CT scans are more frequently used in emergency situations or a patient’s initial evaluations as they produce faster results than MRIs. Trump has repeatedly battled concern over his mental and physical fitness, including Friday morning, when he reported that he had “aced” his third cognitive exam. 2025 LOOKBACK: MEDIA’S CREDIBILITY FRACTURES AGAIN AFTER BIDEN MENTAL DECLINE EXPOSED “The White House Doctors have just reported that I am in “PERFECT HEALTH,” and that I “ACED” (Meaning, was correct on 100% of the questions asked!), for the third straight time, my Cognitive Examination, something which no other President, or previous Vice President, was willing to take,” Trump posted to Truth Social Friday. He added that he “strongly” supports a mandatory cognitive exam for any politician running for vice president or president, citing the U.S. can’t be run by “‘STUPID’ or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE!” Barbabella told Fox News Digital in a statement Friday that doctors had initially told Trump that they would perform either an MRI or a CT scan on him during the October visit, and yielded “perfectly normal” results. “In order to make the most of the president’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said. “As part of that examination, we asked the president if he would undergo advanced imaging — either an MRI or CT Scan — to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues. The president agreed, and our team of consultants performed a CT Scan. As we revealed in the post-examination report, the advanced imaging was perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.” Barbabella added that Trump’s overall examinations show that his health is that of a man 14 years younger than his 79 years of age. EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE TRUMP’S PRIVATE SCHEDULE AS MEDIA FIXATES ON HIS HEALTH “President Trump’s medical evaluations and laboratory results continue to show excellent metabolic health, and have revealed his cardiovascular health puts him 14 years younger than his age. Overall, the President remains in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief,” Barbabella told Fox News Digital. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News Digital Friday that the additional details on Trump’s October scan continues his vow to be a transparent leader “and has nothing to hide, unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, who hid from the press and lied about his clear physical and mental decline,” the New York Post reported. Trump’s health and age has sparked mounting criticism among media outlets and Democrats on social media, swollen legs in July while attending a soccer game, as well as other photos that showed him with bruises on his hands, and others that allegedly show him nodding off during public events. Outlets such as The New York Times have reported that Trump is allegedly “facing the realities of aging” while in office. Leavitt said in July that Trump’s swollen legs were part of a “benign and common condition” for individuals older than age 70, while the bruising on his hands was attributable to “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.” Trump said during his Wall Street Journal interview that he historically has taken more aspirin than doctors recommend, citing that he doesn’t want to change his decadeslong routine as he’s “a little superstitious” “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the outlet. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?” TRUMP MOCKS CBS REPORTER ON AIR FORCE ONE AS HE DEFENDS MRI RESULTS Trump also hit back against claims he falls asleep during meetings and other public events, saying photos promoted by critics allegedly showing him falling asleep are simply moments that capture him blinking. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink,” Trump said. The focus on Trump’s health follows the media’s relative silence over concerns regarding former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity, which conservatives had cited as a cause for concern ahead of the 2020 election. Biden did not face an outpouring of criticism from both the left and right of the political spectrum until June 2024, however, when the federal election was at a fever pitch, and Biden delivered a failed debate performance that showcased him tripping over his words, appearing to lose his train of thought and other
Israel accuses Mamdani of pouring ‘antisemitic gasoline’ after he revokes Adams executive orders
Israel tore into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he revoked a pair of executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams that supported the Jewish state. “On his very first day as New York City mayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.” On day one in office, Mamdani revoked all orders issued by Adams after he was indicted on federal corruption charges, including one that barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel. GOP SENATOR CALLS MAMDANI’S NETANYAHU ARREST VOW A ‘GRAVE THREAT’ AS HE INTRODUCES DEFUND BILL Another order had adopted a sweeping definition of antisemitism defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which included “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism” or denying the Jewish people’s right to have a national homeland. While all orders on or after Sept. 26, 2024 — the day of Adams’ indictment — have been revoked to “ensur[e] a fresh start for the incoming administration,” City Hall officials insist Mamdani will reissue the executive orders that he still supports. Another rescinded order had directed the NYPD to bolster enforcement around religious sites by establishing protest-free buffer zones near churches, synagogues and mosques. Adams’ critics had said the IHRA order violated First Amendment protections of free speech. SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI INAUGURATED ALONGSIDE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY The city’s right-leaning Jewish leaders slammed the revocations. Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said the IHRA definition of antisemitism “protects from discrimination Jews who believe in self-determination and provides clarity on the definition.” “We need to enforce federal law that’s already in place here, because the pro-Hamas antisemites emboldened by [Mamdani] are coming!” she added. The city’s first Muslim mayor, who was sworn in on a pair of family Qurans, has been branded a “jihadist communist” and a “terrorist” sympathizer by critics like New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik. Mamdani has taken positions sharply critical of Israel that break with the long-standing consensus among New York elected officials in a city with the largest Jewish population in the U.S. Mamdani has repeatedly described Israel as an apartheid state, accused it of committing genocide in Gaza, and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested. Pressed repeatedly during the campaign on whether he supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, Mamdani responded: “I’m not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else. I think that in the way that we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world.” Mamdani has also said he will not tolerate antisemitism in New York and vowed to increase funding to combat hate crimes.
Trump claims White House doctors report him in ‘perfect health,’ says he ‘aced’ third straight cognitive exam
President Donald Trump kicked off 2026 by claiming that White House doctors gave him another clean bill of health. “The White House Doctors have just reported that I am in ‘PERFECT HEALTH,’ and that I ‘ACED’ (meaning, was correct on 100% of the questions asked!), for the third straight time, my Cognitive Examination, something which no other President, or previous Vice President, was willing to take,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. “P.S., I strongly believe that anyone running for President, or Vice President, should be mandatorily forced to take a strong, meaningful, and proven Cognitive Examination,” he added. “Our great Country cannot be run by ‘STUPID’ or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE!” JAKE TAPPER SUGGESTS HE COVERS TRUMP’S AGE TO MAKE UP FOR OVERLOOKING BIDEN Trump, who will turn 80 on June 14, 2026, has faced growing scrutiny over his health, something that was the focus of his recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. He told the newspaper that he regretted undergoing advanced imaging in October, saying it gave way to increased questions about his health. “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump told the Journal. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.” In October, Trump had a cardiovascular and abdominal scan, something that Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, noted in a memorandum to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. In his report, Barbabella stated that the evaluation, which he described as being part of the president’s “ongoing health maintenance plan,” included advanced imaging, lab tests and preventative health assessments. Barbabella stated that “Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health” and noted that the president “continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction.” Leavitt read Barbabella’s report during a press briefing on Dec. 1. The summary that Leavitt read clarified that, “Advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health.” The summary noted that the imaging was done as a preventative measure “to identify any issues early, confirm overall health and ensure the president maintains long term vitality and function.” The summary noted that Trump’s cardiovascular and abdominal imaging were “perfectly normal.” Additionally, it said that “all major organs appear very healthy.” EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE TRUMP’S PRIVATE SCHEDULE AS MEDIA FIXATES ON HIS HEALTH While Trump maintained that scrutiny and speculation about his health were unwarranted, the Journal reported that those close to the president said they had to speak loudly in meetings because he struggles to hear. The outlet also noted that the president has been criticized for seeming to fall asleep during recent White House events, something Trump denies. Trump told the Journal that he didn’t fall asleep at recent events, saying that he likes to close his eyes because he finds it “very relaxing.” He also blamed some of the incidents on photo timing, saying that, “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.” The president also denied that he struggles with his hearing. The Journal reported that “Trump grew sarcastic” when asked about it, saying “I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” He then said that he sometimes has trouble hearing “when there’s a lot of people talking.” Health was a central issue of the 2024 presidential race, particularly before then-President Joe Biden dropped out. Trump has often accused Biden of concealing the true extent of his health issues with the public. Speculation about Biden’s struggles were fueled by his lack of interactions with the press and reluctance to take part in unscripted exchanges. The 46th president’s apparent cognitive issues became increasingly clear when he struggled during a debate with Trump in June 2024. During the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought and stumbled over words. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.