White House race underway: With 2026 looming, both parties are already playing for 2028
From a major endorsement of Vice President JD Vance to speculation-sparking appearances by former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom at a major Democratic Party summit, it appears to be game on in the next White House race. Even though the main campaign focus this year will be on the 2026 midterm elections and the battle for Congress, early moves are underway in the 2028 race to succeed term-limited President Donald Trump. The starting gun for the next presidential showdown won’t be fired until after November’s midterms. But that’s not preventing the large field of potential White House contenders from making headlines. Vance, considered by many to be Trump’s heir apparent to eventually take over the MAGA mantle, was endorsed last month by Erika Kirk at an annual summit hosted by Turning Point USA, the increasingly influential and politically powerful conservative group. VANCE AMPLIFIES HIS 2026 MESSAGE WHILE LANDING KEY 2028 BACKING Kirk, who took over the reins of Turning Point after her husband and conservative champion Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, opened the conference by supporting Vance. “We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” in 2028, she said. “Forty-eight” refers to the number of the next president. The backing of the vice president by Turning Point, which is particularly influential among younger conservatives and whose political arm has built up a powerful grassroot outreach operation, could give Vance a major boost should he decide to run for president in the 2028 election. SUCCEEDING TRUMP IN 2028: SIX REPUBLICANS TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON A longtime Trump adviser told Fox News Digital that “it wasn’t a surprise to see her endorse, given that while he was still alive, Charlie couldn’t have been more explicit about supporting Vance in 2028.” And the adviser, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, emphasized that Erika Kirk’s backing “reaffirmed that Turning Point’s entire political machinery will be behind him [Vance] if he decides to run. It’s another big get for the vice president and a warning shot to other potential candidates.” While Vance is considered the clear Republican frontrunner at this extremely early point in the 2028 cycle, other GOP lawmakers appear to be laying down markers. Two Republicans who tangled with Trump during the party’s contentious 2016 presidential primary — Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky — are increasingly voicing their differences with the president and his administration. Among the other Republicans to keep an eye on in the new year are Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who was battered by Trump and his allies during the 2024 GOP presidential primaries, Govs. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Brian Kemp of Georgia, and possibly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who as a senator from Florida ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 nomination. Whether the Republicans have a competitive 2028 presidential primary will depend in part on the success of Trump’s second term, whether the economy soars and how the GOP fares in next year’s midterms. Regardless of those factors, as the part out of power, it’s a sure bet the Democrats will have a wide open race for their party’s presidential nomination. Harris, the Democrats’ 2024 standard-bearer after then-President Joe Biden exited the race, showcased an edgier stump speech as she railed against both major parties and the political status quo in an address at the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) winter meeting in December. And Newsom landed the red carpet treatment, as he mingled with delegates during the opening day of the DNC’s confab, which was held this year in Los Angeles, home turf to both Harris and Newsom. DEMOCRATIC HEAVYWEIGHTS TURN HEADS, SPARK 2028 SPECULATION “Obviously, we must focus on the midterms,” Harris said in her speech. “But Democrats, we must also have a clear vision for what comes after the midterms. And then after Trump. We need to answer the question. We need to answer the question: what comes next for our party and our democracy?” Expect to see more of Harris in the new year helping Democrats from coast to coast as the party works to win back congressional majorities in the midterms. And Harris has added more 2026 stops to her book tour promoting “107 Days,” her reflections on her abbreviated 2024 presidential campaign. Among the stops is one in South Carolina, a crucial early-voting primary state in the Democratic Party’s presidential nominating calendar. While Newsom didn’t address the delegates at the DNC’s general session, he was treated like a VIP as he held meetings and mingled with delegates during the opening day of the winter meeting. And Newsom met with the Democratic Party chairs from New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state, and Nevada, another crucial early voting state. “We had a great discussion on a wide range of issues,” longtime New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley told Fox News Digital. Newsom’s stature in his own party has soared this year, thanks to his very vocal and visual pushback against the president, including his viral social media trolling of Trump and his successful California push to counter the Republican congressional redistricting effort. “Newsom has shown an ability to stand up to Trump in a bold and highly effective manner without shying away from core democratic values,” veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital. 21 DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 While both Newsom and Harris made a splash at the DNC winter meeting, they both have plenty of detractors who worry that neither would be electable in 2028 when the Democrats try to win back the White House. And if one or both of them launch presidential campaigns, they’ll likely be joined by a large crowd of other contenders. One of those possible White House hopefuls is Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who was also making the rounds during the opening day of the DNC meeting. There are more than a
Black Republican calls for total, permanent abolition of DEI: ‘I want to earn every opportunity on merit’
Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas is calling for the complete and permanent abolition of diversity, equity and inclusion ideology, noting that he only wants to be judged based on his “character,” “competence” and “results.” “DEI should be abolished, permanently. I never want to be chosen, promoted, or rewarded because of how I look. I want to earn every opportunity on merit, through hard work, grit, discipline, and determination,” the Army veteran declared in a post on X. “Equality means equal standards, not engineered outcomes. The dignity of achievement comes from effort, not entitlement. Judge me by my character, my competence, and my results. Anything less is an insult to everyone striving to be their best,” he added. ARMY VETERAN-TURNED-MAGA RISING STAR JUMPS INTO FIERY GOP SENATE PRIMARY AS POLLS TIGHTEN Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk heartily endorsed the lawmaker’s comments. “And this is how anyone of honor should be!” Musk wrote when sharing Hunt’s post on X. REP. WESLEY HUNT DEFENDS TRUMP’S MOVE TO RESTORE ROBERT E. LEE’S NAME TO MILITARY BASE Hunt has previously expressed his disdain for DEI. “DEI should be DOA,” he wrote in a May 2025 post on X. “America was built on merit, grit, determination, and hard work—not skin color, quotas, or political games. The promise of this nation is simple: we rise by the strength of our character, not the shade of our skin. I’ve lived by that truth—and it drives the left absolutely insane.” ‘MUST-SEE TV’: TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE CHALLENGES JASMINE CROCKETT TO PUBLIC DEBATE The lawmaker, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023, is running for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is up for re-election this year. Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton is also aiming to unseat Cornyn in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Critics warn Minnesota legislation now taking effect is setting up the ‘next billion-dollar fraud’
As a massive fraud scandal continues to unfold in Minnesota, a new law in the state is set to take effect on Jan. 1 granting 20 weeks of paid leave, which critics say just opens the door for more fraud in the state. The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, will allow Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both. “Everyone deserves paid time away from work, to heal, to grow, and to live,” Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said at the signing ceremony in 2023. “This time is not optional. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have if we truly are going to be the best state in the country to raise a family.” The new state paid leave program is separate from, and in addition to, existing federal and Minnesota parental and maternity-leave rights, although it can run concurrently with them for the same period of time, and is being enforced by a new government agency called the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development with more than 400 full-time employees overseeing the process. MINNESOTA GOP LAWMAKERS CITE CONSTITUTION IN CALL FOR WALZ TO RESIGN OVER FRAUD CRISIS Critics on social media in recent days have expressed doubt about the safeguards put in place to prevent fraudsters from exploiting the new law given the massive scandal in Minnesota’s nonprofit and welfare programs, which prosecutors say could total $9 billion. “In the middle of a massive fraud scandal, Minnesota Democrats are bragging about creating a new entitlement just as ripe for abuse,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. “The scheme involves businesses forced to pay a premium, with the state paying workers for 20 weeks of ‘paid leave.’ Are Minnesotans tired yet?” Bill Glahn, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, who has been at the forefront of fraud coverage in Minnesota for many years, told Fox News Digital he has been “describing this as the next billion-dollar fraud.” Glahn explained that Republicans previously refused to even hear similar proposals when they controlled the Minnesota House, but that Democrats passed the law after gaining full control, without any Republican support. Instead of using private insurance companies to administer paid leave, Glahn is faulting Democrats for creating an entirely new state-run bureaucracy staffed by hundreds of unionized government employees. MINNESOTA DEM SENATE CANDIDATE FACES CALL FROM OPPONENT TO APOLOGIZE OVER VIRAL ‘PANDERING’ HIJAB VIDEO “This is going to be just like all these Medicaid programs that they start de novo, where they say, ‘Oh, we’ll probably have two or three million dollars worth of claims on this,’ and then it quickly balloons up to 100, 200 million,” Glahn said. Glahn outlined several ways the system could be exploited, including fake companies, fake employees, minimal contributions followed by large benefit claims and multiple people claiming paid leave to care for the same relative without any realistic oversight. Because claims are tied to private homes rather than centralized locations, he argues that fraud detection is practically impossible. Glahn also warns that individuals could work briefly, qualify, then repeatedly claim long periods of paid leave, effectively getting paid for a full year while working only part of it and explained that Minnesota has a pattern of creating new entitlement programs that attract fraudsters who quickly identify loopholes and overwhelm oversight. HOW FEARS OF BEING LABELED ‘RACIST’ HELPED ‘PROVIDE COVER’ FOR THE EXPLODING MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL “When you build a multi-billion-dollar state benefit program with weak oversight, fraudsters line up,” Townhall columnist and prominent commentator on Minnesota fraud, Dustin Grage, told Fox News Digital. “We’ve already seen what happens in Minnesota. The paid family leave system will be a magnet for abuse.” A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development told Fox News Digital that assertions about the likelihood of fraud in the new law are “not based in fact.” “Paid Leave has launched with strong systems in place to verify identities and work histories and to detect and prevent fraud. We accept tips about potential fraud from all sources, and we investigate all reports,” the spokesperson said. “Every leave must be certified by an appropriate professional. For example, a medical provider must attest that medical leave is necessary and also must verify who they are. Identifications are verified through licensure information, certification that is required on every application.” “Employers are a key part of this as well. They will be notified of every leave application, have an opportunity to review to make sure that information looks correct and notify us of any concerns.” Still, the rampant fraud in Minnesota touching at least 14 programs has caused major skepticism of the safeguards in place for this new law that Democrats have pushed for years. “It’s going to be just like every other program,” Glahn told Fox News Digital. Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump shares his New Year’s resolution
President Donald Trump revealed his New Year’s resolution on Wednesday after being asked if he had one. “Peace. Peace on Earth,” he said alongside first lady Melania Trump at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. The White House’s official rapid response account on X shared a Fox News post on X featuring the video clip of the president’s comments, writing, “The President of Peace — and the most stunning First Lady in history.” PUTIN VOWS VICTORY IN UKRAINE IN NEW YEAR’S ADDRESS AMID TRUMP-BACKED PEACE TALKS The one-year anniversary of the beginning of Trump’s second term is less than a month away — he was sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025. Since taking office, the president has sought to promote peace around the globe and has presided over a multitude of military actions. ZELENSKYY SAYS PEACE DEAL IS CLOSE AFTER TRUMP MEETING BUT TERRITORY REMAINS STICKING POINT Trump’s administration has aimed to help broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, and between Israel and Hamas. With Trump as commander in chief, the U.S. military launched numerous strikes in 2025, some of which included those against vessels of alleged “narco-terrorists.” The U.S. attacked the Islamic Republic of Iran in a bid to derail the rogue regime’s nuclear weapons ambitions, and conducted strikes targeting ISIS in other countries in 2025. US MILITARY CONFIRMS 5 KILLED IN DEC 31 KINETIC STRIKE ON REPORTED NARCO-TERROR VESSELS “President Trump has ushered in a new era of peace through strength. Because of his commitment to the cause of peace around the world, America is respected again on the world stage,” the State Department declared in a post last week on X.
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
With nearly 9 million residents and the world’s largest financial hub, New York City is about to test a progressive economic vision under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Proposals such as free buses, city-owned grocery stores and rent freezes have already rattled Wall Street, prompting sharp criticism from Mamdani’s critics. The clash underscores a widening divide between progressive ambitions for the city and the financial sector that has long powered its economy. Affordability sits at the center of Mamdani’s agenda as he prepares to run America’s largest city. Here’s a breakdown of how he plans to address it. CONSERVATIVE STATES SEE LOWER INFLATION THAN LIBERAL ONES NATIONWIDE, WHITE HOUSE DATA SHOWS Mamdani has committed to creating a “network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit.” “Without having to pay rent or property taxes, they will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers. They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralize warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing,” Mamdani has promised. The mayor of New York City has control over city-run programs, so he can accomplish this goal by securing New York City Council approval. ATLANTA’S CITY-RUN GROCERY SEES EARLY SUCCESS, SPARKING DEBATE OVER GOVERNMENT’S ROLE Billionaire John Catsimatidis, owner of Gristedes and D’Agostino’s, the largest independent supermarket chain in New York City, has previously said he would consider moving his corporate office out of New York following a Mamdani win. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has launched a similar pilot program, opening a city-owned grocery store in a neighborhood long classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a low-income, low-access food desert. Mamdani has vowed to “permanently eliminate the fare on every city bus and make them faster by rapidly building priority lanes, expanding bus queue-jump signals and dedicated loading zones to keep double parkers out of the way.” TRUMP ADMIN HALTS $18B IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TWO OF NYC’S BIGGEST TRANSIT PROJECTS This proposal would require coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA is a state-run agency which the mayor of New York City does not have direct control over. According to City & State New York, Mamdani’s free bus fare promise would require an additional expense, possibly more than $700 million. It’s unclear how Mamdani plans to pay for the additional fee. Additionally, Mamdani has said he wants to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour in the next four years. “After that, the minimum wage will automatically increase based on the cost of living and productivity increases,” Mamdani claims on his campaign website. MAMDANI’S RISE IN NYC MIRRORS ECONOMIC FLIGHT TO THE SOUTH, STUDY SHOWS By allowing the City Council to create its own minimum wage law, Mamdani has proposed a way to raise the minimum wage in New York City without the state’s approval. But a state-level increase is unlikely. Mamdani has also campaigned to provide every New York family that has a child up to 5 years old with free childcare. It is unclear how he will finance this proposal, which experts estimate could cost billions of dollars annually. He has previously floated a tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations to pay for the increased services, which would require state-level approval. Mamdani has pledged to freeze rents for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments and expand affordable housing using city resources. While a rent freeze may sound like a straightforward fix to New York City’s affordability crisis, housing experts warn it could backfire by discouraging investment and pushing rents higher in non-stabilized units. ACKMAN SAYS MAMDANI ‘RIGHT ON PROBLEM, WRONG ON FIX’ IN NYC HOUSING DEBATE New York Apartment Association CEO Kenny Burgos said the policy could deter developers. “I don’t know any investor or builder who would want to build in a city where the mayor is threatening to cap revenues,” Burgos told FOX Business. Ed Elson, a business analyst and co-host of the “Prof G Markets” podcast, echoed that concern, saying rent freezes undermine supply. “Paradoxically, they disincentivize construction, which causes rents elsewhere to rise,” he said, calling the policy “too good to be true.” Mamdani said he would fund his programs through a “revenue plan” that would “raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, bringing in $5 billion. And he will tax the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers, those earning above $1 million annually, a flat 2% tax.” While Mamdani has certainly done the math, a plan like this requires approval from the state legislature and the signature of the governor. TREASURY’S BESSENT WARNS NYC: NO BAILOUT UNDER MAMDANI – ‘DROP DEAD’ New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has voiced her opposition to tax hikes, which could create some hurdles for Mamdani’s marquee campaign promise. FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Socialist New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to take the oath of office to become the next mayor of the nation’s largest city after being sworn in early Thursday morning and taking the oath of office on Thursday afternoon. New York Attorney General Letitia James administered the oath of office to Mamdani at midnight while Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is set to swear him in again at a public inauguration at 1 p.m. New Year’s Day. Mamdani used a Quran during his swearing-in ceremony, according to his campaign, making him the first Muslim mayor of NYC and the first to be sworn in using a Quran. “At a moment when democracy is under attack and cynicism about our politics runs deep, Zohran Mamdani represents a new generation of progressive leadership rooted in courage, integrity and solidarity,” Sanders said in a statement. ‘FULL-BLOWN BATTLE’ BREWING IN DEM PARTY AS MAMDANI-STYLE CANDIDATES RISE IN KEY RACES In addition to Sanders and James, staunch Mamdani supporter and progressive Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver the opening remarks at Mamdani’s inauguration. The 1 p.m. inauguration is open to “all New Yorkers,” the Mamdani transition team said in a press release, adding that a “huge inaugural block party” will take place afterward. PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MAMDANI TO ‘CONTINUE THE FIGHT’ ON ILLICIT CHINESE VAPES FLOODING NYC The block party will take place on Broadway along the Canyon of Heroes. New Yorkers elected the 34-year-old Mamdani in November to lead the nation’s largest city after a campaign where he made affordability the cornerstone of his agenda and successfully beat back critics who raised concerns about his anti-Israel statements and associations and socialist policies including freezing rent, city-run grocery stores, and past comments about defunding the police and abolishing private property. “For as long as we can remember, the working people of New York have been told by the wealthy and the well-connected that power does not belong in their hands,” Mamdani said in his victory speech last month after defeating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. “Fingers bruised from lifting boxes on the warehouse floor, palms calloused from delivery bike handlebars, knuckles scarred with kitchen burns: these are not hands that have been allowed to hold power. And yet, over the last 12 months, you have dared to reach for something greater.” “Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands. My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty.”
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
New York City Socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as mayor in a midnight ceremony by New York Attorney General Letitia James. “This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in a brief speech. The early Thursday morning event was a private ceremony where Mamdani was accompanied by family members at the Old City Hall Station, a decommissioned subway station with deep historical roots. In his first speech as mayor, Mamdani called the historic subway station a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city.” He also announced the appointment of Mike Flynn as his new Department of Transportation commissioner. SOCIALIST WINS PILE UP AFTER GOP’S BRUTAL 2025 OFF-YEAR ELECTION LOSSES In a press release, the Mamdani transition team said the midnight swearing was chosen to be at a location symbolizing how the subway system is the “lifeblood of New York” and a “reminder of the city Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is fighting for: a city built by and for New Yorkers.” “When Old City Hall Station first opened in 1904 — one of New York’s 28 original subway stations — it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples’ lives. That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: it will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above,” Mamdani said in the press release. Before the ceremony, he stated that upon taking his oath, “from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so, humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honored to carry forward our city’s legacy of greatness.” JASMINE CROCKETT CITES MAMDANI-TRUMP, AOC-TRUMP VOTERS WHEN CONFRONTED ON PATH TO VICTORY IN TEXAS Mamdani used a Quran during his swearing-in ceremony, according to his campaign, making him the first Muslim mayor of NYC and the first to be sworn in using a Quran. On Thursday afternoon, Mamdani will be sworn in publicly by Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders after opening remarks are delivered at his 1 p.m. inauguration by another progressive ally, Dem. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Typically, inauguration tickets are given out to roughly 4,000 people, but the Mamdani transition team says all New Yorkers will be invited to the inauguration and a block party immediately following. The 1 p.m. inauguration will take place on the steps of City Hall. Mamdani soundly defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in early November, capping off a rapid political ascent that started with single-digit support when he announced his mayoral campaign in October 2024. The new mayor closed the ceremony with a smile, telling those gathered, “Thank you all so much, now I will see you later,” before heading up a flight of stairs.
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
President Donald Trump railed against alleged social services fraud in Minnesota during remarks at his New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday. “Can you imagine they stole $18 billion,” Trump said. “That’s just what we’re learning about. That’s peanuts. And California is worse, Illinois is worse and sadly New York is worse.” Trump continued, “We’re going to get to the bottom of all those. It was a giant scam.” Trump added that he saw Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., on television earlier Wednesday talking about the alleged fraud involving the Somali community. VP DEBATE FOOTAGE OF WALZ TOUTING STATE SUPPORT FOR DAYCARES GOES VIRAL AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD ALLEGATIONS “He was talking about the Somalia population and not very nicely,” Trump said. Trump’s comments came as Minnesota has been hit with widespread fraud allegations, with losses estimated at up to $1 billion, and federal prosecutors have indicted and charged dozens of people in connection with the alleged fraudulent activity. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a stark warning Wednesday that “people will be in handcuffs” as fallout expands from widespread fraud allegations under Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. MINNESOTA FRAUD COMMITTEE CHAIR CLAIMS WALZ ‘TURNED A BLIND EYE’ TO FRAUD WARNINGS FOR YEARS “President Trump is not going to let Governor Walz off the hook,” Leavitt said on “Fox & Friends.” Walz has come under scrutiny since the fraud issue came to light, and has publicly acknowledged the problem while pledging to address it, saying the situation “is on my watch” and that he is “accountable” for fixing it. Leavitt added that the Trump administration has increased federal resources to Minnesota, with multiple agencies conducting investigations relating to the alleged fraud. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would freeze all child care payments to Minnesota, amid mounting scrutiny over accusations of fraud involving child daycare centers across Minnesota.
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday outlined a list of its accomplishments during President Donald Trump’s first year back in office, arguing that the agency has ended the political weaponization it says existed under the Biden administration. The DOJ claimed in a statement posted on X that it has “turned around” the agency, restoring fairness and law enforcement priorities. “Instead of keeping Americans safe, the Biden DOJ weaponized its power against political opponents: conservatives, parents, pro-lifers, Christians, and most of all, President Trump,” the DOJ stated. The DOJ said that after President Trump inherited a justice system it described as “in chaos,” he charged the department with restoring “integrity, accountability and equal justice under the law.” FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL BACKS TRUMP’S DC POLICE TAKEOVER: ‘WHEN YOU LET GOOD COPS BE COPS, THEY DELIVER’ “In 2025, the DOJ returned to its core mission: upholding the rule of law, vigorously prosecuting criminals, and keeping the American people safe,” the department wrote. The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to face legal challenges and the Justice Department faces potential legal action after missing a statutory deadline deadline to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The DOJ outlined 10 “wins” since President Trump took office on Jan. 20, including efforts to pursue major fraud cases, particularly in Minnesota, which it described as “rife with fraud.” MIKE DAVIS: JUSTICE IS COMING FOR PERPETRATORS OF ARCTIC FROST According to the DOJ, 98 people have been charged — including 85 individuals identified as being of Somali descent — in Medicaid fraud and related case programs, leading to 64 convictions to date. The statement outlines actions taken to roll back policies it said were targeting conservatives and parents, reduce crime nationwide, increase law enforcement activity in major cities, seize record amounts of illegal drugs and secure favorable rulings at the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that the bureau is working to restore trust in federal law enforcement. “Dismantling public corruption is a top priority of our leadership team here — we’ve worked day and night on that mission and will continue to do so until justice is done,” he wrote. The Justice Department said more enforcement actions are planned in 2026, signaling an escalation of arrests, court victories and action “against those who threaten the safety and well-being of the American people.”
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Though touting himself as the peace president, President Donald Trump has not been afraid to unleash lethal rocket strikes on U.S. enemies when he feels the need arises. In 2025, Trump ordered strikes on nine different countries and regions in the interest of furthering U.S. national security. Here are the countries, groups and regions that felt the power of the U.S. military in action this year. Throughout the year, the U.S. has continued to conduct airstrikes against ISIS factions and al-Shabab in Somalia. According to a U.S. Africa Command statement, a Feb. 1 airstrike targeting a series of cave complexes in northern Somalia killed 14 ISIS-Somalia operatives, including Ahmed Maeleninine, a key ISIS recruiter, financier and external operations leader responsible for deploying militants into the U.S. and across Europe. RUBIO IDENTIFIES ‘SINGLE MOST SERIOUS THREAT’ TO THE US FROM WESTERN HEMISPHERE Thousands of miles from U.S., sovereign territory, the Trump Department of War unleashed lethal strikes on Iran-backed Houthi terror fighters in Yemen as part of a mission dubbed “Operation Rough Rider.” The strikes were in response to attacks against U.S. military and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea. Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Department of War, said in May that U.S. Central Command strikes had been carried out since March and had “hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders and degrading their capabilities.” Parnell called the strikes “hugely successful.” On May 6, the Houthis agreed to a ceasefire with the U.S., and the fighters have not carried out any attacks on U.S. vessels since, though they have targeted ships from other nations. On March 13, U.S. Central Command carried out an airstrike in Iraq’s Al Anbar province that killed the No. 2 ISIS leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, and another ISIS operative. POLICY GROUP PRAISES TRUMP’S 100 GLOBAL WINS SINCE TAKING OFFICE, FROM CARTEL CRACKDOWNS TO PEACE DEALS At Trump’s direction, the U.S. military launched a strike on three Iranian nuclear sites in a mission that went from June 21-22. During the operation, “Midnight Hammer,” B-2 stealth bombers departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and dropped over a dozen bunker buster bombs and launched more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles on key Iranian nuclear sites. According to the Pentagon, the strikes decimated Iran’s nuclear capabilities and led to a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The operation, however, was highly controversial, with some Democratic lawmakers accusing Trump of escalating tensions and downplaying the effectiveness of the strikes. Iran launched a counterattack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, but there were no reported casualties. As part of what the Department of War dubbed “Operation Southern Spear,” the U.S. unleashed 33 strikes on allefed drug boats traveling in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing over 100 traffickers. UKRAINE–RUSSIA AT A CROSSROADS: HOW THE WAR EVOLVED IN 2025 AND WHAT COMES NEXT The strikes garnered significant criticism, with some Democrats accusing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth of war crimes. The Pentagon described the operation as a counter-narco-terrorism campaign against designated terror organizations “taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect the homeland.” In response to two U.S. service members being killed in Syria, the U.S. unleashed Operation Hawkeye Dec.19. U.S. and allied forces employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting over 70 known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives. Hegseth called the airstrikes “a declaration of vengeance” in direct response to the ISIS attack that took place on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria. According to Central Command, U.S. and partner forces in Syria have conducted operations during the last 12 months that resulted in more than 300 terrorists being detained. On Christmas night, the U.S. launched strikes on ISIS-linked military forces in coordination with the Nigerian government in Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria. Trump said he ordered U.S. airstrikes in northwest Nigeria against ISIS militants who, he says, “have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years.” TRUMP CASTS MADURO’S OUSTER AS ‘SMART’ MOVE AS RUSSIA, CHINA ENTER THE FRAY Following months of escalation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, this week Trump appeared to suggest the U.S. carried out a strike on drug operations inside Venezuela. Speaking with reporters Monday, he said, “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. That’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”