Trump taps personal lawyer for top role at DOJ
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he has installed his personal lawyer, Alina Habba, to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey – the latest in a long list of former attorneys for Trump whom he has tapped for senior roles at the Department of Justice. Trump said on Truth Social Monday that he has tapped Habba, his current White House counsel, to replace outgoing acting U.S. attorney, John Giordano, whom he said would be serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Namibia. Both promotions were announced by Trump Monday on social media. In the post, Trump praised Habba as someone who “will lead with the same diligence and conviction that has defined her career,” and said she will “fight tirelessly to secure a Legal System that is both ‘Fair and Just’ for the wonderful people of New Jersey.” JUDGES V TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA “Additionally, John Giordano, who has done a terrific job as the interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, will now be nominated as the new Ambassador to Namibia!” Trump said, before congratulating them both. Giordano, for his part, was installed as acting U.S. attorney for the district less than a month ago by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump did not elaborate on his reasons for the somewhat abrupt personnel changes, and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment. However, his decision to tap Habba, a longtime ally who previously served as a legal spokesperson for both Trump and his presidential super PAC, MAGA, Inc., comes as the president has moved to install or promote a long list of loyalists to senior law enforcement positions in his second White House term. WHO IS ALINA HABBA? TRUMP’S FIERCE LEGAL DEFENDER PICKED TO SERVE AS COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Three of the top prosecutors Trump has promoted to head up the Justice Department – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States Emil Bove – have each represented the president in a personal capacity prior to his reelection in 2024, prompting criticism from some Democrats over the potential politicization of the department.
Biden admin’s ‘vast censorship enterprise’ with help of NGOs slated for key hearing, lawmaker says
FIRST ON FOX: Ahead of a key Senate hearing on Tuesday to examine the Biden administration’s work with outside entities to censor Americans, Chairman Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., blasted the former president’s “sprawling network of federal agencies and NGOs” reportedly used to limit speech and posts that were “disfavored.” “The Biden Administration created a vast censorship enterprise, comprised of a sprawling network of federal agencies and NGOs that have been working overtime to censor Americans’ speech. From special reporting portals to the White House press secretary admitting at the podium that they were flagging posts to be taken down, the level of coordination to subvert the First Amendment and remove disfavored speech was beyond what most imagined,” the Missouri senator told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement previewing the hearing. Chairman Schmitt will lead his first hearing in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution to review “the role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played in the censorship of Americans, all while receiving billions in federal tax dollars and subsidies,” per an advisory. CONGRESS EXPANDED THE EXECUTIVE—ONLY FOR TRUMP TO QUASH MUCH OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE While serving as Missouri attorney general in 2022, Schmitt and now-Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its alleged collusion with tech companies and social media to censor individuals. “When I was Missouri’s attorney general, I filed the landmark Missouri v. Biden case that exposed this censorship for the world to see. Now, as a United States senator, I’ve introduced legislation that would hold social media companies and individual bureaucrats accountable for censorship. But the work doesn’t stop there,” Schmitt said. “This hearing is an opportunity to expose how a network of NGOs contributed to this vast censorship enterprise and keep up the fight for Americans’ First Amendment rights.” GOP SENATOR SAYS HE’S WORKING WITH TRUMP ON BILL TO ABOLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty rejected the Biden Justice Department’s bid to pause a preliminary injunction in 2023, which upheld the order and barred the administration from communicating with social media companies about “protected speech.” The injunction noted that while NGOs Stanford Internet Observatory, the Election Integrity Partnership, and the Virality Project aren’t defendants themselves, “In partnership with these non-governmental organizations, the State Department Defendants flagged and reported postings of protected free speech to the social-media companies for suppression.” “The flagged content was almost entirely from political figures, political organizations, alleged partisan media outlets, and social-media all-stars associated with right-wing or conservative political views, demonstrating likely ‘viewpoint discrimination,’” Doughty wrote. Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided 6-3 to reject a bid to stop the Biden administration from pressuring social media platforms to remove certain content. The case before the top court was known as Murthy v. Missouri and included social media users, as well as the states of Missouri and Louisiana against Biden’s then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, among others. Many were critical of the decision, with now-National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director nominee Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya saying at the time, “In the guise of countering misinformation, the Biden Administration used its regulatory power to suppress valid criticism of its COVID response. This led to irrational policies, such as extended school disruptions, the anti-science denial of recovered immunity, counterproductive vaccine mandates, and the sidelining and gaslighting of the vaccine-injured.” “Free speech is essential to science, to public health, and to good health. In light of the Supreme Court’s reluctance to fully protect free speech today, we will need concrete action by Congress, and a popular movement, to restore free speech rights as a central plank of the American civic religion,” he added at the time of the ruling. ‘EDUCATORS WILL BE FIRED’: REPUBLICANS CHEER TRUMP ORDER DISMANTLING EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS DEMS SEETHE Last year, the House Judiciary Committee’s 800-page report, titled “The Censorship-industrial Complex: How Top Biden White House Officials Coerced Big Tech to Censor Americans, True Information, and Critics of the Biden Administration,” revealed a number of instances of COVID-19 censorship following significant pressure from the White House. “[B]oth Facebook and Amazon referred to the Biden White House’s efforts as ‘pressure,’” according to the report. July 2021 internal emails from executives at Facebook revealed that they understood the administration’s position as wanting “negative information on or opinions about the vaccine” taken down, in addition to “humorous or satirical content that suggests the vaccine isn’t safe.” BIDEN’S FORMER SPOKESMAN SLAMS TRUMP AND GOP ‘COLLUDING TO IMPEACH’ JUDGES At one point during the same month, Facebook executive Nick Clegg queried in an email why they censored the lab-leak theory of COVID-19. The response from another employee was: “Because we were under pressure from the [Biden] administration and others to do more…. We shouldn’t have done it.” A representative for Biden did not provide comment in time for publication. The hearing will take place at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Trump-district Democrat warns party ‘in trouble’ ahead of 2026 midterms
A House Democrat who represents a district that former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to now-President Donald Trump in 2024 is sounding the alarm about public perceptions of his party. “I think the Democratic brand is really in trouble, and it’s been portrayed as this crazy-left, you know, out-of-touch thing,” Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital in an interview. “They couldn’t paint me with that brand because people know me.” Suozzi is well-known in his suburban Long Island district, having been a longtime local official before first coming to Congress in 2017. He did not run for re-election in 2022 but later won a special election to replace expelled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., and has remained ever since. During that time, he forged a reputation as a moderate Democrat willing to find bipartisan consensus on issues like government waste and border security – themes he wished his party would take the lead on. THESE ARE THE JUDGES GOING TOE TO TOE AGAINST TRUMP’S AGENDA “When I first started talking about immigration, the need to secure the border, a lot of consultants were like, ‘Well, that’s a Republican issue. I don’t know if you should talk about that.’ But I said, ‘That’s what the people are talking about in my district,’” Suozzi recalled. “I’m a first-generation American. My father was born in Italy, so immigration is a really important issue to me. When it became such a negative, it was actually painful for me, because I define my whole life through immigration.” He said people in his district were also concerned about the cost of living, which he suggested was a universal concern. “We don’t, as Democrats, focus enough on the basics,” Suozzi said. “It can’t just be choice and LGBT – important issues, but that you can’t build a party around that – so I’m trying to encourage Democrats to talk about things like, how do we rebuild the middle class?” INJUNCTION LIFTED ON TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS SLASHING FEDERAL DEI SUPPORT Additionally, like House Democratic leaders in more recent election cycles, Suozzi also denounced progressive calls to “defund the police” – which he called “the stupidest three words ever said in the history of politics.” He even argued Democrats were on board with cutting government waste, the stated mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), though Suozzi disagreed with how it was being carried out. “I want to set up a competition between the Democrats and the Republicans. Let’s see who can root out more waste, fraud and abuse,” he said. “I don’t think anybody’s against rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. We just don’t think that when you’re doing it through DOGE, that you should be eliminating the people that oversee the nuclear stockpile, like they did and then reversed,” Suozzi continued. “We don’t think that you should be eliminating the people that are responsible for preventing the avian flu. Which they did and then tried to reverse. We don’t think you should be eliminating the people that are overseeing the outbreak of measles in Texas. That’s not a good idea. But they did. So let’s be smart about these things and let’s, you know, figure out ways that we can actually save money.” He also called on Democrats to focus more on outreach outside “traditional media,” noting Trump’s embrace of podcasts and social media to reach young male voters. Suozzi, in particular, singled out Trump and Elon Musk’s appearances on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” one of the most-listened-to podcasts in the world. “We have to figure out how we can get the truth out there to people. When Elon Musk or the president or somebody says something and there’s nobody to check it, and there’s no way to push back because nobody– I can’t get on Joe Rogan. I’d love to go on Joe Rogan. I can’t get on,” he said. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only prominent Democrat to appear on Rogan’s podcast during the 2024 election cycle. Tentative plans for Harris to appear fell through, though she did appear on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. Overall, however, the New York Democrat signaled he was confident Democrats could take back the House of Representatives in 2026, given the historic electoral backlash to a sitting president during the midterm elections. It is worth noting, however, that Democrats will be defending more vulnerable members in 2026 than Republicans. “I mean, you look at history and when a president of one party gets in power – usually that party usually loses elections the year and two years afterward. So, like, even in the local elections this year, I think you’re going to see a much higher Democratic vote because the Democrats are going to be energized, because they’re all so upset,” Suozzi said. “I think that the midterms will be the same thing.” Suozzi warned, however, that Democrats’ message “can’t just be about why we disagree with Trump and, you know, hair on fire and everybody freaking out.” “There are a lot of causes for concern,” he conceded, but added, “We have to also talk about what we stand for. And I think, again, this whole idea of rebuilding the middle class and public safety and strong defense and securing the border – we have to also talk about those things as well.”
New bipartisan proposal targets ‘one of the most egregious’ kinds of fraud ravaging healthcare industry
EXCLUSIVE: A Medicaid and Medicare fraud crackdown is anticipated with a bipartisan congressional proposal to check Social Security Administration death records. The legislation, dubbed the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, would mandate state governments to see if the Social Security Death Master Files show physicians who are still considered part of the government programs meant for seniors and low-income Americans. The check is meant to ensure that the doctor’s National Provider Identifier will not be used by bad actors to commit fraud. “We must eliminate and be proactive against fraud within Medicaid and Medicare to protect the programs for those who truly need it. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act to advocate for access to quality health care for Americans who rely on these programs.” Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., who is running the bill with Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., said in a statement to Fox News Digital. HAWLEY SKEPTICAL OF TRUMP PICK OZ: ‘I HOPE HE’S CHANGED HIS VIEWS’ Legislation under the same name was introduced by former Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., and Peters last year. The bill passed the House and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, but no further action was taken after that point. “Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid hurts the rightful beneficiaries of those programs and all taxpayers,” Peters said in a statement at the time. “Our bipartisan bill will prevent one of the most egregious forms of fraud in our healthcare system. As we work to put our country on a better fiscal path and tackle our enormous debt, we must do everything we can to stop taxpayer dollars from being misspent,” the congressman added. KAROLINE LEAVITT: TRUMP, ELON MUSK’S DOGE TEAM ARE DOING WHAT DEMOCRATS PROMISED ‘FOR DECADES’ The legislation’s introduction comes as there is heightened scrutiny on the program at both the state and federal levels. In Evans’ home state of Colorado, $7.3 million was given to insurance companies to care for deceased Medicaid recipients, The Denver Post reported. Meanwhile, California is facing scrutiny for a $9.5 billion price tag for its Medicaid affiliate, Medi-Cal, despite originally only expecting it to cost $6 billion. AFTER TRUMP SPEECH, AOC TELLS DEMOCRATS TO ORGANIZE IN GOP DISTRICTS AGAINST MEDICAID CUTS While California Gov. Gavin Newsom did say that illegal immigrants now being able to enroll in the program is part of the issue, he argued that the Golden State is like Colorado, Pennsylvania and Indiana when it comes to higher costs for operating the program across the board. In fiscal year 2024, there were $54.3 billion in “improper payments” for Medicare and $31.1 billion for Medicaid, according to the Government Accountability Office. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly looked into government healthcare program spending.
Biden lands coveted ‘Othello’ Broadway ticket in first major outing since leaving office
Attendees of the opening night of “Othello” on Broadway were given “ocular proof” of the first public outing of former President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, since leaving the White House in January. The couple were seen in New York City on Sunday night, to watch the modern spin on William Shakespeare’s tragedy that was written in the early 1600s. Joe Biden, 82, waved to cameras as he hopped out of his motorcade before being ushered into Barrymore Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, the New York Post reported. In an Instagram post shared by Jill Biden captioned “Date night!”, the two are seen in evening attire, with the former president in a tuxedo and the former first lady in a sparkly light blue dress. Her story featured a photo of her and Joe inside the theater, and then a group photo with the words “#Othello Riveting … Brilliant … BRAVO!” BIDEN’S DESIRE TO HELP DEMOCRATS AFTER EXIT FROM OFFICE IS MET WITH SKEPTICISM: REPORT The Broadway rendition of the play stars Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington as Othello, “the noble Moor of Venice and commanding warrior-general,” its website states. Tony and Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal “portrays Iago, the ambitious lieutenant and masterful manipulator.” It is directed by Kenny Leon, and will only be on Broadway for 15 weeks. The play is two hours and 35 minutes long, including one intermission. Ticket prices are selling for $921, according to the New York Times, resulting in the show breaking box office records. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED BY BIDEN ADMIN CHARGED WITH KILLING GEORGIA GRANDMOTHER IN RANDOM ATTACK Joe Biden has reportedly spoken to Democratic Party leaders and donors in a maneuver to regain influence and help oppose the Trump administration, according to a new report. However, his overtures at helping lead his party have been met with disdain from some Democrats. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “There are plenty of people in the Democratic Party who were obviously very frustrated with how things played out last year, but there are plenty of people who still love Joe Biden,” Democratic Party fundraiser Alan Kessler told NBC News in an interview. Fox News Digital’s Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.
Greenland PM slams upcoming visit from Usha Vance as ‘very aggressive’ provocation: report
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede described second lady Usha Vance’s upcoming visit to his country as a dangerous and “very aggressive” provocation during a recent interview with a national news outlet in Greenland. The visit by the second lady, one of her sons and an accompanying U.S. delegation was announced by the White House on Thursday. Per the announcement, Vance will spend the trip visiting historical sites, learning about the country’s heritage, and attending Greenland’s national dogsled race. Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Waltz, will also visit the arctic country this week as part of the delegation traveling with the second lady, according to sources familiar with the trip. “We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife, which is a prospect. Because what is the security advisor doing in Greenland?” Egede questioned in an interview with Greenland news outlet Sermitsiaq. “The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood. [Waltz] is Trump’s confidential and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump’s mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit.” GREENLAND GOVERNMENT CALLS TRUMP’S ACQUISITION TALKS ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ Egede’s condemnation of the trip from U.S. officials follows repeated calls by President Donald Trump for the U.S. to annex Greenland. Trump has stressed the importance of Greenland for national security purposes. “I think it will happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier this month during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Greenland is currently undergoing a political shift after Egede’s left-wing party was defeated in elections earlier this month by the center-right Demokraatit party, which is pushing for independence from Denmark – Greenland’s current governing authority. The leader of the new party in charge has expressed disdain for Trump, calling him “a threat to our political independence,” according to NPR. GREENLAND’S OPPOSITION PARTY PUSHES CLOSER US TIES, INDEPENDENCE FROM DENMARK AS TRUMP PLAYS BIG IN ELECTION During an interview with Sermitsiaq, Egede called on Greenland’s “allies” to step up and do more than just “whispering that they support us” against the U.S.’s threatened encroachment. “If they do not speak out loudly about how the USA is treating Greenland, the situation will escalate day by day, and the American aggression will increase. So, we need our other allies to clearly and distinctly come with their support and backing for us,” he said. Egede added during the interview that Greenland has done “everything” to show that “through [the United States’] continued pressure they are violating us as a population and our sovereignty,” adding that the visit from Vance and Waltz represented a dangerous and “very aggressive” provocation in the ongoing saga. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In preparation for the visit by Vance and other U.S. officials, Danish police have deployed extra security forces, as is typical any time high-level diplomats visit the country, per media reports. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the second lady for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
New report sounds alarm on ‘staggering’ amount of foreign money pouring into US universities
FIRST ON FOX: A new report from a nonprofit and nonpartisan government watchdog is shedding light on the tens of billions of dollars that have poured into U.S. universities in recent years, including $20 billion to some of the most prestigious universities in the country. The report, produced by Americans for Public Trust and released this week, found that $60 billion in foreign gifts and contracts were funneled into American colleges and universities, including $20 billion alone to elite schools like Harvard, Yale, and others. Within that total, $795 million came from nations that are long-standing adversaries to the United States, including China, Russia, Venezuela and Yemen. “Alarmingly, many of these schools are also top research universities that handle sensitive information and intellectual property,” the study states. DESANTIS SAYS FLORIDA RETURNED $878M IN TAXPAYER FUNDS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER MEETING WITH MUSK, DOGE The report amplifies concerns that this money is coming into American universities with strings attached and peddling influence from foreign actors overseas. “For far too long, a staggering amount of foreign money has flowed into our colleges and universities with little to no transparency or oversight,” Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital. UNIVERSITY DOCTOR RESIGNS AFTER UNEARTHED AUDIO EXPOSES HIM BOASTING ABOUT SKIRTING ANTI-DEI LAWS “Much of these foreign funds can be traced back to countries that have well-established adversarial relationships with the United States or engage in direct or indirect malign activities against our country. It is no coincidence that, in the same time period, we’ve seen a rise in anti-American demonstrations and radical ideas being cultivated at these institutions. Elected leaders need to take action to crack down on reporting lapses at these institutions to increase accountability and raise public awareness about the entities and individuals influencing these institutions.” Anti-Israel protests have erupted on college campuses across the country in recent years, and the report states that threat in 2024, “some of the schools that received the most Qatari money included Ivy League members Harvard and Cornell Universities. The report also documents concerns about money from China pouring into Ivy League institutions. “The effects of monies flowing into college campuses from China are dangerous and widespread,” the report states. “In 2024, China poured over $175 billion into U.S. schools, and the historic breadth of this vast enterprise cannot be understated; Americans for Public Trust has already previously uncovered nearly $130 million in Chinese funding to the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania alone over a roughly five-year period.” The study concludes that measures need to be taken to ensure foreign influence is not prevalent at American schools, including the passage of the DETERRENT ACT, which would “deter bad actors from attempting to buy influence, conduct espionage, and sow propaganda and discord across the United States via our higher education system.”
Trans European travelers warned by their countries about US travel amid Trump ‘two-sexes’ order
Several European countries have updated their travel advisories for transgender travelers seeking to enter the U.S. amid President Donald Trump’s “two-sexes” executive order and the administration’s immigration crackdown. Finland, Denmark, the U.K. and Germany are all urging cautionary planning for transgender people when traveling to the U.S. “When applying for an ESTA or visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: male or female,” the Danish travel advisory said on its website. JUDICIAL HALT OF DEPORTATION FLIGHTS PUTS US FOREIGN POLICY AT RISK, CAREER STATE DEPT OFFICIAL CLAIMS The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is the system that screens passengers before they travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. “If you have the gender designation X in your passport, or you have changed your gender, it is recommended that you contact the U.S. Embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed,” the website reads. Finland also updated its website in recent weeks. “If the gender listed on the applicant’s passport does not match the gender assigned at birth, the US authorities may deny the application for a travel permit or visa,” Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED DURING TRUMP’S NINTH WEEK IN OFFICE The new advisory does not explicitly mention the Trump administration, but it comes as the U.S. State Department aligned its policies with President Trump’s goals of only having “male” or “female” on American passports. According to an advisory on its website, Germany issued a warning for transgender travelers to exercise caution when traveling to some countries, but it did not explicitly state the U.S. or mention President Trump. “For example, transgender travelers may encounter difficulties entering certain countries if they present a passport with a name and photo that no longer corresponds to their gender identity,” their information for LGBTQ travelers states. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TELLS FEDERAL JUDGE IT MIGHT INVOKE STATE SECRETS ACT ON HIGH-PROFILE DEPORTATION CASE So far, seven transgender Americans have sued the Trump administration over the policy, which the American Civil Liberties Union filed on their behalf in February. Trump signed the executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” in one of his first actions in January. It reiterates that the administration recognizes there are only two sexes, male and female, defined strictly by biological characteristics determined at conception. It mandates that federal agencies enforce this binary understanding of sex across the federal government, including in healthcare, education and military service. Trump has also faced judicial pushback for his nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration as he carries out his mass deportation program targeting anyone living in the country unauthorized. Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department and White House for comment.
Trump charges ahead with agenda in week 10 as judges try to block his executive orders
President Donald Trump begins the 10th week of his fast-paced second term in office with a Cabinet meeting on Monday. The question on many people’s minds is whether DOGE chief Elon Musk will be in attendance. In the previous meeting, it was reported that discussions were tense between Musk and some Cabinet members, particularly between Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over DOGE’s broad and deep cuts. Rubio and Trump both denied these claims. The Cabinet meeting comes against the backdrop of White House attorneys going to court on various aspects of the president’s second-term agenda on issues like the removal of illegal immigrants, slashing the federal workforce, cutting foreign aid, his executive order banning transgender soldiers in the military and allowing transgender Americans to have passports with alternate designations than the binary “male” and “female” genders assigned at birth. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DOGE, EVEN AS THEY SEE NEED FOR CUTS WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S DEPORTATION EFFORTS? Also on Monday, Trump will appear with Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Trump appointed Landry to the Council of Governors last month. Landry recently praised the president’s near elimination of the federal Education Department, saying, “The United States spends the most on education, yet we are ranked at the bottom of nearly every poll. The time for change is NOW! Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for returning education where it belongs – the states!” In the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, advocates are calling for Trump to extend the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was launched by President George W. Bush and is scheduled to expire on Tuesday. The Bush Institute has urged the administration to reconsider cuts to the program. Bush previously said that the program has saved more than 25 million lives in developing countries, according to a Politico report. Trump will also be closely watching as U.S. negotiators are meeting separately with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. Trump spoke to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week when a partial outline of a ceasefire was agreed to. GREENLAND GOVERNMENT CALLS TRUMP’S ACQUISITION TALKS ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Thursday, Trump is sending a team from his administration to Greenland, including second lady Usha Vance and national security advisor Mike Waltz. Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute B. Egede is not offering a welcoming hand to the U.S. delegation, calling the trip “highly aggressive”. “What is the national security advisor doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Egede said. On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News, “So you have to ask yourself: How are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security?” “If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us,” he continued.
SCOOP: House to hold hearings next week on ‘activist judges’ blocking Trump agenda
FIRST ON FOX: The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing early next week looking into the issue of “activist judges,” three people familiar with discussions told Fox News Digital. It comes as the Trump administration has faced more than a dozen injunctions from various district court judges across the country on a range of policy decisions. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, confirmed on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” that he intended to hold such hearings minutes after Fox News Digital reported on the news. Jordan also said he expects a House-wide vote next week on a bill by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to block district judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. Two sources said they expected that vote next week or the week after, but one source stressed that conversations were still ongoing. That comes as some conservatives push for impeachment as a way to punish judges blocking Trump’s agenda. A resolution by Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, has seen some attention from House GOP leadership after Trump specifically called for the judge in question – U.S. district court Judge James Boasberg – to be impeached. Boasberg issued a 14-day emergency injunction on Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected Tren De Aragua gang members to a prison in El Salvador. The White House is now locked in a legal standoff over the order. But two sources also told Fox News Digital last week that Trump showed interest in Issa’s bill as well, telling Capitol Hill aides that “the president wants this.” Gill told Fox News Digital when he introduced the bill earlier this month that he hoped it would go through the regular committee process, but it’s not clear if those plans have changed given House leaders’ inclination toward Issa’s bill. However, if any conservative who has filed an impeachment resolution – Reps. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., and Eli Crane, R-Ariz., in addition to Gill – classified it as “privileged,” it would force House GOP leaders to take it up within two legislative days. Two sources told said last week that House leaders were wary of the impeachment route given the intense political maneuvering such a measure would take – only for it to likely die in the Senate. Jordan praised Issa’s bill during his Fox News television interview on Monday, though his office did not immediately return a request for comment.