Ex-Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene rips the president’s endorsements, saying they ‘solidify the swamp’
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — who departed from office earlier this month after a falling out with President Donald Trump last year — slammed the president’s endorsement track record in a Tuesday post on X. “Trump’s endorsements do not drain the swamp, his endorsements solidify the swamp and ensure the swamp is never drained. And no he is not being deceived by his team,” Greene asserted. “It’s not sabotage when he chooses the candidates and controls the agenda. Keep voting for Trump endorsed candidates with F voting records, and you are responsible for never draining the swamp. Like it or not, that’s the truth,” she wrote. 5 TAKEAWAYS AS MTG UNLOADS TO NYT MAGAZINE, DISHING SCATHING CRITICISM OF TRUMP White House spokesperson Davis Ingle pushed back in a statement to Fox News Digital. “President Trump’s unmatched coalition building ability has led to the most successful Republican Party in American history which has delivered more long-held GOP priorities under his leadership than either party has achieved for their voters in many combined decades prior. President Trump knows politics is a game of addition, and Marjorie ‘Quitter’ Greene just lives a reductive, self-defeating life of subtraction,” Ingle asserted. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE SAYS SHE ‘ABSOLUTELY’ WOULDN’T SUPPORT BOYS IN GIRLS SPORTS IF SHE HAD TRANS CHILD Greene issued the criticism when sharing a post from conservative commentator Daniel Horowitz of Blaze Media. In the post, Horowitz asserted, “Everyone complains that Congress blocks Trump’s agenda. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Trump has the power to change it instantly — by endorsing against the incumbents who keep sabotaging him. Instead, he has done the opposite for 5 primary cycles.” Greene wrote in her post, “This is 1,000% true.” Last year, after Trump castigated Greene, the congresswoman announced her plans to resign. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE FIRMLY REJECTS ‘THE VIEW’ HOSTS’ PLEAS TO BECOME A DEMOCRAT “I am withdrawing my support and Endorsement of ‘Congresswoman’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, of the Great State of Georgia,” he declared in part of one Truth Social post targeting the lawmaker. “I understand that wonderful, Conservative people are thinking about primarying Marjorie in her District of Georgia, that they too are fed up with her and her antics and, if the right person runs, they will have my Complete and Unyielding Support,” he added later in the post.
Trump admin argues judge limiting ICE in Minnesota would be ‘unprecedented’ overreach
The Trump administration on Monday asked a federal judge to reject the state of Minnesota’s motion to limit ICE operations in the state, arguing to do so would be “unprecedented” overreach. The Justice Department (DOJ) argued in a filing in response to Minnesota’s lawsuit that the state was “effectively seeking a state veto over the enforcement of federal law,” calling the notion “legally frivolous” and an “absurdity.” “The 10th Amendment does not afford an ejectment action for states who are dissatisfied with the federal government’s enforcement of federal law,” the DOJ response said. The state sued the Trump administration last week, seeking to block a massive federal immigration enforcement surge they say has flooded the Twin Cities with armed agents, sparked fear and unrest, and interfered with state and local authorities, according to court filings. ICE SAYS 2 DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED IN MINNESOTA FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING OFFICERS An injunction blocking the operation “would constitute an unprecedented act of judicial overreach,” the administration’s filing said. The DOJ further argued that federal officers and agents were facing a rise in “violent attacks” while conducting enforcement operations.” “In and around Minneapolis, ICE officers operating out of the St. Paul Office have been confronted with increased threats, violence, aggression, attacks, vehicle block-ins, and obstruction of immigration enforcement operations,” the filing said. MINNESOTA AG KEITH ELLISON DENIES DON LEMON, ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS VIOLATED FACE ACT AS DOJ MULLS CHARGES The state has until Thursday to respond to the Trump administration’s arguments. The state’s lawsuit comes nearly a week after an ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman during a federal enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Federal officials have said agents were attempting to make arrests when the woman tried to use her vehicle as a weapon against officers, prompting an ICE agent to fire in self-defense. The recent surge in operations in Minnesota has pitted more than 2,000 federal immigration officers against community activists, protesters and agitators. The Trump administration and Minnesota officials have traded blame for the heightened tensions. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump seeks Davos signing ceremony for Gaza Board of Peace
Plans are being put together at President Donald Trump’s direction to hold a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, for the Gaza Board of Peace, Fox News confirmed on Tuesday. Bloomberg was first to report the plans. The Trump administration began sending invitations to countries over the weekend, asking them to become founding members of the so-called Board of Peace. “Dozens” of countries have been invited to join the board, Fox News confirmed. The official invites went out Friday. WALTZ HAILS ‘NIGHT-AND-DAY’ MIDDLE EAST SHIFT AS TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN RESHAPES REGION Trump extended invitations to leaders from Russia, Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam, among others. Some invited countries have raised concerns about the terms of the proposed Gaza peace board, as participation would come with a substantial financial commitment, according to Bloomberg. European allies are seeking to adjust the proposal and organize a joint response, including enlisting Arab nations to push for changes to the $1 billion permanent membership fee, the outlet reported. TRUMP TOUTS ‘TREMENDOUS PROGRESS’ BUT SAYS HE’LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY ‘ONLY WHEN’ PEACE DEAL IS FINAL When questioned on Tuesday about French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly signaling reluctance to accept the invitation, Trump said, “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon. So, you know, that’s alright.” “What I’ll do is if they feel like hostile, I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he’ll join,” Trump said. “But, he doesn’t have to join.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also pushed back on the proposal after Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi were named as appointed members to a separate “Gaza Executive Board.” Netanyahu’s office said the move was not coordinated with Israel and “runs contrary to its policy.” The White House said on Friday that Trump will chair the Board of Peace and be joined by a group of senior political, diplomatic and business figures, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and billionaire Marc Rowan, among others.
California’s looming capital flight problem could reshape state in 3 key areas
California’s potential “billionaire tax” is the latest catalyst that is driving a capital exodus that puts the state’s tax base, budget and political power at risk. The measure would levy a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents with more than $1 billion in assets, including unrealized gains — a proposal California Gov. Gavin Newsom has warned could backfire. Supporters say the tax would close budget gaps, while economists warn that it could weaken long-term revenue. TAX FIGHT PUTS CALIFORNIA ON COLLISION COURSE AS BILLIONAIRES LEAVE FOR RED STATES Economists argue the risks are already materializing. Here are three ways that California’s capital exodus will reshape the state. Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow in business and economics at the Pacific Research Institute, warned that the departure of even a few ultra-wealthy taxpayers can have lasting consequences. “When one of those individuals leaves, that’s a significant and recurring hit to the tax base,” Winegarden told Fox News Digital. E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation, said the proposed wealth tax “has literally never worked anywhere,” warning that capital flight erodes the tax base and shifts the burden onto those who remain. “The tax base is collapsing, there’s no other way to put it,” Antoni said. CALIFORNIA WEALTH TAX PROPOSAL HEMORRHAGES $1T AS BILLIONAIRES FLEE Texas has emerged as a clear winner in the shift toward lower-tax, less-regulated red states, while blue-state leaders grapple with the fiscal and political consequences of capital flight. Between 2012 and 2022, California recorded a net loss of more than 361,000 residents to Texas, a shift that carried roughly $21 billion in taxable income with it. Megan Mauro, interim president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, said the Lone Star State has seen a surge of new residents from California. “We have a light regulatory touch and no personal or corporate income tax,” Mauro said, citing Texas’ recent $25 billion surplus as evidence of a different fiscal approach. She warned the billionaire tax could leave California with fewer taxpayers and less revenue over time. When it comes to California’s budget, the stakes are especially high. A relatively small group of top earners supplies a disproportionate share of state income tax revenue, meaning departures at the top can quickly translate into budget shortfalls. “You’re going to have less revenue,” Winegarden said, warning that slower revenue growth makes it increasingly difficult for states to finance their agenda. As high-income taxpayers leave, spending pressures don’t necessarily ease, he said, warning that the state will have a hard time financing things like Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. Analysts say the migration could reshape political power, affecting congressional representation and federal funding. States that lose population risk fewer seats in Congress, while faster-growing states can gain seats. Shifts in population also influence how federal dollars for transportation, health care and education are allocated, since many funding formulas are tied to population size. “I think you absolutely get to a point where people are willing to vote differently,” Winegarden said. More broadly, Antoni said California could serve as a warning for other states weighing similar policies. “California’s decline was not written in stone. It did not have to be this way,” he said.
Trump endorsement rocks Louisiana Senate race as Letlow jump in
Three days after President Donald Trump exploded a political bomb in Louisiana’s Senate race by endorsing Republican Rep. Julia Letlow over incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, Letlow announced her campaign. Letlow declared her candidacy at a closed-door business breakfast in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday morning, according to Republican sources. And in a social media post and video that shortly followed, Letlow emphasized that “Louisiana deserves a conservative Senator who will not waver. I am honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust.” Trump’s support of Letlow, who was elected in 2021 after her husband Luke died from COVID shortly before taking office in the House, is a serious setback for Cassidy, a physician and chair of the powerful Senate Health committee who is running for a third six-year term in the solidly red state. “Congresswoman Letlow called me this morning to say she was running. She said she respected me and that I had done a good job,” Cassidy said in a statement after Letlow’s announcement. “I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election. I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live.” Trump’s endorsement of Cassidy’s challenger creates a major political headache for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who is backing Cassidy and teamed up with the senator last week in Louisiana. Trump upended an already crowded GOP Senate primary in Louisiana on Saturday night, with a social media post making it clear that if the 44-year-old Letlow launched a Senate campaign, she’d have his backing. GOP TOUTS TRUMP AS THEIR ‘SECRET WEAPON,’ BUT POLLS FLASH WARNING SIGNS AHEAD OF MIDTERMS “Should she decide to enter this RACE,” Trump wrote on social media, “Julia Letlow has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!” Letlow hinted at launching a Senate run following Trump’s post on X, writing, “My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger. This United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, because we deserve conservative leadership that will not waver.” ELON MUSK POURS A STAGGERING $10 MILLION INTO THIS KEY GOPS SENATE PRIMARY There was speculation for months that Letlow was mulling a Senate bid and a Republican source confirmed to Fox News that the congresswoman, who represents a district that covers parts of central and northeastern Louisiana, had indicated that she wouldn’t challenge Cassidy without Trump’s backing. A separate Republican source confirmed to Fox News that Trump had reached out to Thune on Friday to give the Senate’s top Republican a heads-up on the Letlow endorsement. Thune continues to support Cassidy, who was also previously endorsed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. But the deep-pocketed Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), which is the top super PAC supporting Senate Republicans and is aligned with Thune, is staying neutral in Louisiana. DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW PATH TO SENATE MAJORITY, BUT ONE WRONG MOVE COULD SINK THEM “The mission of the Senate Leadership Fund is to preserve and expand the Republican Senate majority. Anything that distracts from our efforts to beat Democrats in November is unhelpful,” SLF Executive Director Alex Latchum wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. Word that SLF was staying out of the GOP primary in Louisiana was first reported by Punchbowl News. The 68-year-old Cassidy reiterated over the weekend that he’s staying in the race. “I’m proudly running for re-election as a principled conservative who gets things done for the people of Louisiana,” Cassidy wrote on social media following Trump’s bombshell. “If Congresswoman Letlow decides to run, I am confident I will win.” Cassidy had nearly $10 million in his campaign coffers at the end of October, after his last fundraising filing, with Letlow holding nearly $2.3 million cash on hand. But a burst of campaign cash will likely flow Letlow’s now that she’s launched a Senate campaign. The senator — who voted to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory — early last year supported Trump’s controversial cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for Health secretary. But the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) PAC, which has close ties to Kennedy, announced on Sunday that it would financially support Letlow. Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, a former congressman who served in Trump’s first administration, is also challenging Cassidy. “A recent poll shows our campaign expanding our lead on Bill Cassidy, while Cassidy’s numbers continue to drop,” Fleming noted on social media two days after Trump’s endorsement of Letlow. State Sen. Blake Miguez and state Rep. Julie Emerson are also running for the GOP Senate nomination, and former Rep. Garrett Graves is mulling a bid. Trump’s endorsement of Letlow increases speculation on whether he’ll take sides in the combustible and competitive GOP Senate primary in Texas ahead of the early March primary. Longtime Sen. John Cornyn is facing primary challenges from two Trump allies, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. Thune speculated last week that Trump wouldn’t make an endorsement in the Texas GOP showdown.
NORAD aircraft to arrive in Greenland for routine exercises
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft are headed to Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, for “long-planned” activities, as President Donald Trump continues his controversial push for the U.S. to acquire the island. The NORAD aircraft at Pituffik Space Base, along with aircraft operating from bases in the U.S. and Canada, will support the planned efforts, “building on the enduring defense cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” NORAD said in a statement posted on X. Multiple governments allegedly approved of the NORAD activities, as the command said in its statement that it coordinated with Denmark and that Greenland was “informed” of its efforts. DENMARK RAMPS UP DEFENSES IN GREENLAND AS TRUMP ZEROS IN ON CONTROL OF TERRITORY “This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces operate with the requisite diplomatic clearances. The Government of Greenland is also informed of planned activities,” NORAD said. “NORAD routinely conducts sustained, dispersed operations in the defense of North America, through one or all three NORAD regions (Alaska, Canada, and the continental U.S.),” the command added. Trump has said in recent weeks that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security reasons. The president claims that if the U.S. does not step in, China or Russia could use the Arctic territory to their advantage. “NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.’ Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday. WHITE HOUSE URGES ‘COOLER HEADS TO PREVAIL’ AS EU FIRES BACK ON TRUMP TARIFFS OVER GREENLAND Denmark and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have condemned the Trump administration’s rhetoric about Greenland. In recent days, several European nations have sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland for exercises as a symbolic show of support for Danish sovereignty over the territory. Some countries have since withdrawn their troops. On Monday, Denmark ramped up its military presence in Greenland and deployed extra troops to the Arctic territory. Local Danish broadcaster TV 2 said the Danish Armed Forces confirmed a new contingent of troops, described as “a substantial contribution,” were arriving at Greenland’s main international airport Monday night. Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, head of Denmark’s Arctic Command, said about 100 Danish soldiers have already arrived in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, with others later deployed to Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland. Despite the objections from allies, Trump administration officials have continued to argue that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to protect national security interests in the Arctic. On Saturday, Trump said the U.S. would impose 10% tariffs on multiple European countries unless Denmark agreed to the “complete and total purchase of Greenland,” warning that global security and U.S. national defense were at stake. The president said that starting on Feb. 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland would be subjected to a 10% tariff. The tariff would then increase to 25% on June 1 and “will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. While addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariff threat “a mistake, especially between long-standing allies,” according to The Associated Press. Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
House Democrat calls Trump ‘extremely mentally ill’ after Greenland remarks, urges 25th Amendment removal
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., asserted Monday in a post on X that President Donald Trump is “mentally ill” and should be “immediately” removed from office via the 25th Amendment. “The president of the United States is extremely mentally ill and it’s putting all of our lives at risk. The 25th Amendment exists for a reason — we need to invoke it immediately,” she declared in the post. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Tuesday morning. TRUMP WARNS US CAN NO LONGER THINK ‘PURELY OF PEACE’ AS HE PUSHES FOR GREENLAND CONTROL The congresswoman made the comment in response to a reported message sent by President Donald Trump to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump reportedly wrote, according to a transcript of the text message first reported by PBS. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” he continued, referring to Greenland. “There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you!” Trump reportedly added. In response, Støre reportedly wrote, “Dear Mr President, dear Donald — on the contact across the Atlantic — on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine — and your tariff announcement yesterday. You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate — so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. We are proposing a call with you later today — with both of us or separately — give us a hint of what you prefer!” The office of the Prime Minister of Norway confirmed to Fox News that Støre and Trump had the text exchange on Sunday. Norway’s prime minister also pushed back in a statement. TRUMP FIRES OFF LATE NIGHT TRUTH SOCIAL POSTS DOUBLING DOWN ON GREENLAND AMBITIONS “Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter. We also support that NATO in a responsible way is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government,” Støre noted. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., have also both called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment against Trump in light of the president’s message. WHY TRUMP ZEROED IN ON GREENLAND AND WHY IT MATTERS IN 3 MAPS “Donald Trump is unfit to lead and clearly out of control. Invoke the 25th Amendment,” Kamlager-Dove asserted in a post on X. A note on the X account notes that it is “maintained by federal staff.” Fox News’ Patrick Ward and Madeleine Rivera contributed to this report
Federal judge refuses to block ICE restrictions on congressional visits
A federal judge refused to block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before visiting immigration detention facilities. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., comes after Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said she and other Minnesota lawmakers were kicked out of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 10. They were asked to leave the facility after being informed about the Trump administration rule governing lawmaker visits. Plaintiffs’ attorneys representing several Democratic members of Congress asked Cobb to intervene, but the judge ruled Monday that they used the wrong “procedural vehicle” to challenge it. The judge also concluded that the Jan. 8 policy is a new Department of Homeland Security action that isn’t subject to her prior order in the plaintiffs’ favor. “The Court emphasizes that it denies Plaintiffs’ motion only because it is not the proper avenue to challenge Defendants’ January 8, 2026, memorandum and the policy stated therein, rather than based on any kind of finding that the policy is lawful,” Cobb wrote. HOUSE DEMOCRATS ASK JUDGE TO BLOCK NOEM’S REVIVED ICE VISIT RULE, SAY DHS DEFIED COURT ORDER Last month, Cobb temporarily blocked an administration oversight visit policy. She ruled on Dec. 17 that it is likely illegal for ICE to demand a week’s notice from members of Congress seeking to visit and observe conditions in ICE facilities. A day after Renee Nicole Good’s death in Minneapolis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quietly signed a new memorandum reinstating another seven-day notice requirement, according to The Associated Press. Plaintiffs’ lawyers from the Democracy Forward legal advocacy group said DHS didn’t disclose the latest policy until after Reps. Omar, Kelly Morrison and Angie Craig were turned away from an ICE facility in the Minneapolis federal building. Democracy Forward spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said they were reviewing the judge’s latest order. “We will continue to use every legal tool available to stop the administration’s efforts to hide from congressional oversight,” she said in a statement to the AP. ILHAN OMAR KICKED OUT OF ICE FACILITY AFTER DHS REQUIRES WEEK’S ADVANCE NOTICE House Democrats asked the judge earlier this month to block the new directive from Noem requiring advance notice for congressional oversight visits to ICE detention facilities, arguing in a court filing that the policy is politically motivated and violates federal spending law and a prior court stay. Last year, Democrats had sued to block the seven-day notice requirement, arguing that the restrictions on ICE detention centers violate Section 527, a federal spending law provision that prohibits DHS from using appropriated funds to prevent congressional access to these facilities. In December, Cobb temporarily stayed the DHS restrictions from taking force “[u]nless and until Defendants show that no Section 527 funds are being used for these purposes.” Plaintiffs’ attorneys from the Democracy Forward Foundation said the administration hasn’t shown that none of those funds are being used to implement the latest notice policy. Justice Department attorney Amber Richer said the Jan. 8 policy signed by Noem is distinct from the policies that Cobb suspended last month, the AP reported. Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom, Breanne Deppisch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FLASHBACK: Far-left activist who organized Minnesota church storming praised convicted cop killer
A far-left activist who organized the storming of a Christian church on Sunday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement previously praised convicted law cop killer Assata Shakur. Nekima Levy Armstrong, who, according to her website, is a civil rights lawyer and “scholar-activist,” helped to organize the storming of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday. Armstrong posted a video of the protest, which she referred to as “our demonstration.” The video showed dozens of agitators streaming into the church and shouting anti-ICE slogans. Armstrong claimed that a pastor associated with the church is also involved with ICE. In the post, she wrote, “It’s time for judgment to begin and it will begin in the House of God!” ANTI-ICE AGITATORS OCCUPY MINNESOTA TARGET STORE, DEMAND RETAILER STOP HELPING FEDERAL AGENTS Armstrong is a former law professor turned full-time activist. In several posts on her Facebook page, she espouses far-left views and activism. She has also been a key organizer of the boycotts against Target over its decision to scale back its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In an opinion piece published in The Minnesota Star Tribune in July, Armstrong advocated for a boycott of Target, accusing the store of having “rolled back its DEI efforts, pulled inclusive displays from shelves and aligned itself with the very forces attacking democracy and racial progress.” In a September 26 post, Armstrong had high praise for Shakur, who was convicted of the murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1977. Armstrong called her “a brave, wise, powerful, and revolutionary Black woman.” OMAR, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR ACCUSE TRUMP ADMIN OF UNLEASHING ‘POLITICAL RETRIBUTION,’ ‘INVASION’ WITH ICE ACTIVITY Shakur, whose birth name was Joanne Chesimard, died in Havana on Sept. 25, decades after breaking out of prison and escaping to the communist island. She was a member of the Black Liberation Army, which the FBI describes as “one of the most violent militant organizations of the 1970s.” Shakur was convicted of the murder of the state trooper, who left behind a wife and 3-year-old son, during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. She was found guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery and other crimes, and was sentenced to life in prison. She escaped from prison in 1979 and lived underground before surfacing in Cuba in 1984. The FBI and the New Jersey attorney general each offered a $1 million reward for her capture, and in 2013, she was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List. CONVICTED COP KILLER ASSATA SHAKUR, AN FBI MOST WANTED TERRORIST, DEAD IN CUBA, COMMUNIST REGIME SAYS In her post, Armstrong wrote, “We will continue to recite the Assata Shakur chant at the end of protests and demonstrations in her memory,” adding the hashtag “#AssataTaughtMe.” Fox News Digital reached out to Armstrong for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Faith returns to the public square during Trump’s second term, Christian leader says
President Donald Trump is garnering praise from a prominent faith leader who says the White House is reinforcing the religious revival growing across America as churches report growing attendance and younger parishioners. “There’s causality from the culture into politics and from politics that influences the culture, and I think we’re seeing that duality play out,” JP De Gance, founder and president of Communio, a non-profit ministry that trains churches on how to evangelize, told Fox News Digital. “Religious non-affiliation had been growing for about 40 years, and it’s flatlined over the last four years. That’s a real change in trends.” De Gance said that Communio had heard anecdotally that churches across the country have seen major increases in new member classes. TRUMP TO SPEAK AT MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN EDUCATION In the case of Texas A&M, De Gance said there were currently 420 students enrolled in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) class, with approximately 100 or more adult baptisms expected, something he said was “really unusual.” OCIA classes are meant for adults looking to enter the Catholic Church. Regarding Protestant denominations, Communio is seeing an “increase in small and intimate church settings,” De Gance said. The faith leader said that the White House has not only been reacting to a growing interest in faith, but is also embracing it more publicly than prior administrations. He also stated that he sees a “huge difference” in the Trump administration’s approach to faith versus that of the Biden administration. “When you look at the Biden administration, his final Easter celebration had a proclamation of ‘Transgender Day’ instead of an Easter proclamation,” De Gance noted, referring to former President Joe Biden‘s acknowledgment of Transgender Day of Visibility. In 2024, Easter Sunday fell on the same day. “I think you had a last administration that was seen by a lot of people of faith as being actively hostile to faith, and now I think a view that there’s an openness and an interest by the current administration to more embrace faith in their work and in their actions,” De Gance added. TRUMP GATHERS CEOS FOR UNPRECEDENTED FAITH, ECONOMY MEETING TO RENEW US ‘SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY’ The Trump administration has not been quiet about faith and even created an entity to represent faith-based communities. In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Faith Office, which was meant to “empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities,” according to the White House. The office is led by senior advisor Paula White and faith director Jenny Korn. For Holy Week, Trump issued a proclamation on behalf of himself and first lady Melania Trump that put faith front and center. “This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity,” the proclamation read. “We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven.” DR MARC SIEGEL: WHY GEN Z IS TURNING BACK TO GOD, MIRACLES AND REAL-WORLD COMMUNITY Trump also issued a faith-filled message for Christmas, saying that he and the first lady “send our warmest wishes to all Americans as we share in the joy of Christmas Day and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” The president included a brief retelling of the Christmas story and prayers for “an outpouring of God’s abiding love, divine mercy, and everlasting peace upon our country and the entire world.” The Trump administration has also invoked faith in times of tragedy, from the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. “These are times where a president can be a comforter in chief, and I think it’s appropriate for the president, members of the administration to not compartmentalize and shelve their faith in these moments,” De Gance said. “I think when there are times of great suffering, I think that it’s an opportunity to also embrace our faith.” As Trump enters the second year of his second term and America approaches its 250th birthday, De Gance says many are looking to see the administration continue to reaffirm the role that religion plays in American life. “I think American Christians would love to see the president, the White House continue, or find ways to embrace the core pillars that made this country so excellent on the world stage,” De Gance told Fox News Digital. “In this 250th anniversary, I think it’s a time where we can reflect and see that the American founding was grounded in sort of core cultural pillars that allowed self-governance to exist.” De Gance emphasized the importance of strong families and Americans maintaining connections to faith communities, saying Christianity served as a “core bedrock” at the nation’s founding. Fox News Digital spoke to Communio’s founder before Sunday’s incident at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., made headlines over the weekend. Anti-ICE agitators disrupted a worship service, chanting slogans including “ICE Out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” a reference to the woman shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month. The Trump administration responded swiftly, with the Justice Department launching an investigation into potential violations of federal law. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she spoke to the pastor of the church and affirmed that “attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.” In response to Sunday’s incident in St. Paul, De Gance provided a statement to Fox News Digital asserting that “the government’s responsibility is to protect those freely exercising these God-given rights and to