US military conducts strike on another boat carrying alleged narco-traffickers, killing 3
The Pentagon on Sunday announced that a lethal strike was conducted on another vessel allegedly carrying suspected narco-traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people on board. The U.S. Southern Command said it conducted a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” at the direction of the leader of the Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the Southern Command claimed in a press release. US MILITARY KILLS TWO SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORISTS IN STRIKE ON DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC Three men on the vessel were killed, but no U.S. forces died in the attack on the ship, according to the Southern Command. This was the 55th strike since the U.S. began targeting boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific in early September. The latest strike brings the death toll in the Trump administration’s attacks on ships carrying people it accuses of drug smuggling to at least 186. US CONDUCTS STRIKE ON ANOTHER BOAT CARRYING SUSPECTED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, KILLING 6 PEOPLE The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed in the strikes since last fall or provide evidence of drugs on board. Last month, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth argued, “Going on offense with Operation Southern Spear has restored deterrence against the narco-terrorist cartels that profited from poisoning Americans.” The administration has been scrutinized in recent months over the strikes by Democrats and even some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has raised concerns about killing people without due process and the possibility of killing innocent people. “I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God’s inspiration in life, but they don’t give a s‑‑- about these people in the boats,” Paul said in January. “Are they terrible people in the boats? I don’t know. They’re probably poor people in Venezuela and Colombia.” The senator previously cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded on suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.
Obama says motive unclear despite manifesto outlining alleged targets in WHCD shooting
Former President Barack Obama said the motive behind the shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner remains unclear, even as investigators review writings from the suspect outlining plans to target President Donald Trump and members of his administration. Obama’s statement on X focused first on the lack of confirmed details about what drove the attack before condemning violence more broadly and praising the Secret Service. “Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama wrote on X. “It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. “I’m grateful to them – and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay,” he added. BONGINO QUESTIONS SECURITY PERIMETER AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER: ‘COMPRESSED TOO FAR’ Fox News Digital has reached out to Obama’s team for clarification on his comments. Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen of California, who allegedly opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the annual event attended by Trump and senior administration officials. Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that after Allen’s arrest, he said he intended to target Trump administration officials and had prepared a manifesto detailing his intent, while also sharing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media. ‘ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM’: CALLS FOR MORE ACTION AFTER SECRET SERVICE AGENTS SUSPENDED FOR SECURITY FAILURE The writings identified administration officials as potential targets and expressed grievances tied to the Trump administration, with investigators examining those statements as part of what may have driven the attack. Law enforcement officials have not formally confirmed a definitive motive as the investigation remains ongoing. During an interview with “60 Minutes” host Norah O’Donnell that aired Sunday evening, Trump took issue after she read a portion of the alleged manifesto. ILHAN OMAR BLAMES TRUMP’S RHETORIC FOR SURGE IN DEATH THREATS, INCLUDING SPRAY ATTACK: ‘SO OBSESSED WITH ME’ O’Donnell referenced passages in which the suspect appeared to outline a motive, writing that administration officials were “targets” and making inflammatory accusations against Trump before asking for the president’s reaction. “I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would…you’re horrible people,” Trump told O’Donnell. “You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me,” he continued, adding he was exonerated. Trump then took direct aim at the host. “I’m not any of those things,” he said. “You should be ashamed of yourself reading that. You shouldn’t be reading that on ‘60 Minutes.’ You’re a disgrace, but, go ahead, let’s finish the interview.”
Wisconsin Dem’s bar laments ‘we almost got free beer day’ for Trump assassination
A Wisconsin brewery and taproom known for promising “free beer” when President Donald Trump dies is drawing renewed scrutiny for posting on Facebook “we almost got #freebeerday.” The Minocqua Brewing Company is owned by Wisconsin Democrat Kirk Bangstad, a former state Assembly candidate who has repeatedly used the brewery’s brand to attack Trump and Republicans. The brewery’s social media lamented Saturday night’s foiled attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Well, we almost got #freebeerday,” the company’s post read, although Fox News could not immediately identify the poster’s tie to the owner. “Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know.” “Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens,” the post concluded. IDAHO BAR OWNER FACES DEATH THREATS AFTER VIRAL PROMO OFFERING FREE BEER FOR ASSISTING ICE Bangstad was the Democrat nominee for Wisconsin’s 34th Assembly District in 2020, according to Ballotpedia, but lost the general election. Minocqua Brewing sells politically themed merchandise, including shirts saying, “I wish it was free beer day,” and pitches its progressive brand that pairs beer with activism and “snarky progressive merch.” Fox News Digital previously reported on the brewery’s “free beer day” vow. In January, Fox News highlighted a Minocqua Brewing message offering “free beer, all day long, the day he dies,” and noted Bangstad’s comment that he would welcome people to celebrate Trump’s “impending death” with one caveat: “no red hats allowed.” Fox News also identified Bangstad as the founder of the Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC, which targets Trump and Republicans. Also, Bangstad once sued to keep Trump off the Wisconsin ballots before the 2024 presidential election. DONALD TRUMP JR. WARNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS ‘NOT GOING BOTH WAYS’ AS HE MOURNS CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH The fresh backlash followed Saturday night’s security scare at the WHCA dinner in Washington, where Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated after shots were fired outside the ballroom. Fox News reached out Sunday to Bangstad, the brewery and the Wisconsin Democratic Party. In a January statement to Fox News, Bangstad welcomed the celebration of the “impending death” of Trump. Bangstad and Minocqua Brewing have drawn repeated scrutiny beyond their anti-Trump messaging. Wisconsin Public Radio reported Bangstad was charged last year in a harassment case tied to a dispute with a local newspaper publisher, and Wisconsin newspaper reporting said he later entered a no-contest plea in a disorderly conduct case and was found guilty earlier this month. JB PRITZKER CONDEMNS POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH, SAYS TRUMP’S RHETORIC ‘OFTEN FOMENTS IT’ Trump-backed House candidate Michael Alfonso called out the normalization of Bangstad’s rhetoric in the state. “This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he’s not just some random crazy guy,” Alfonso posted on X. “Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke, the Democrat currently running against Derrick Van Orden, and was himself the Democratic nominee against my father-in-law, Sean Duffy, in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District—where I am now running for office.” TRUMP RALLY GUNMAN ACTED ALONE, FBI SAYS — BUT QUESTIONS ABOUT MOTIVE PERSIST Wisconsin Republicans and the Republican National Committee are calling out the ties to Bangstad. “Wisconsin Democrats are so sick in the head that an attempted murder is funny to them,” RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told Fox News Digital on Sunday morning. “All Wisconsin Democrats, including Rebecca Cooke, must immediately condemn this disgusting behavior.” Amid the criticism, both Cooke and Hong’s campaign responded to Fox News’ request for comments, but did so without mentioning ties to Bangstad by name. PENTAGON CALLS CHARLIE KIRK POSTS ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM’; DEM WARNS DISCIPLINE IS ‘UN-AMERICAN’ “This rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable – showcasing just how broken our political system is,” Cooke told Fox News via email from her campaign manager. “I denounce all forms of political violence. “We need to bring the temperature down, stop pitting working folks against each other, and come together to solve the very serious problems facing our communities.” Still, the National Republican Congressional Committee called on Cooke to call out her former employer “by name.” “Rebecca Cooke needs to stop hiding and immediately denounce her former employer, Kirk Bangstad’s dangerous and unhinged comments,” NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon told Fox News in a statement Sunday afternoon. TRUMP FACES UNPRECEDENTED THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT “Cooke’s previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable. Voters deserve to know whether she stands with Wisconsinites who reject this rhetoric or with the same extremist voices pushing it. “If Cooke wants to be taken seriously, she should condemn Bangstad by name, and do it now.” Hong also posted a lengthy response in multiple X posts after being reached by Fox News on Sunday, but also did not mention Bangstad by name. When asked about comments specifically mentioning the brewery or its owner, Becky Cooper, Hong’s campaign manager pointed back to the X posts. “That would fall under the ‘becoming numb’ portion,” Cooper wrote to Fox News via email. “[Minocqua Brewing Company’s] tweet is intentionally inflammatory and a symptom of the normalization of political violence.” Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this story.
WHCD shooting suspect planned to target Trump officials, manifesto reveals
The suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting told law enforcement after his arrest Saturday night that he intended to target Trump administration officials, senior federal law enforcement sources confirmed to Fox News. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen, of Torrance, Calif., adding that he prepared a manifesto outlining his intent and shared anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media. SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS WHCD ATTENDEES CITE INCONSISTENT SCREENING BEFORE SHOOTING As the dinner was underway, Allen allegedly rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons and opened fire, striking a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest. Agents returned fire and tackled Allen to the ground. The suspect and the injured officer were transported to a hospital. The Secret Service agent is expected to recover. The incident adds to a growing list of threats against President Donald Trump, including two confirmed assassination attempts and a recent incident involving an armed intruder at Mar-a-Lago. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCA SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Overnight, the FBI and local law enforcement secured Allen’s home in Torrance, California. A federal judge in the Central District of California is expected to approve a search warrant, which would allow investigators to search the residence. The White House said Sunday that Allen’s brother contacted the New London Police Department in Connecticut prior to the shooting, reporting that Allen had sent family members an alleged manifesto outlining his intent to target administration officials. Officials also said Allen’s social media included anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric. President Trump speaking on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing,” described Allen as “a very troubled guy,” citing the manifesto. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SUSPECT CHECKED INTO HILTON HOTEL ONE DAY BEFORE THE SHOOTING: SOURCES Allen’s sister, Avriana Allen, told investigators in Rockville, Maryland, that her brother had made increasingly radical statements and often spoke about doing “something” to address issues in the world. She said he had purchased two handguns and a shotgun, which he stored at their parents’ home without their knowledge, and that he regularly trained at a shooting range. She also told authorities that Allen was affiliated with a group called “The Wide Awakes” and had attended a “No Kings” protest in California. Investigators believe Allen traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., by train, with a stop in Chicago, according to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. He said the investigation is ongoing and that more details are expected as formal charges are filed. Blanche also noted that while the motive remains under investigation, authorities preliminarily believe Allen was targeting administration officials. Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, Bill Melugin and Matt Finn, along with Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace, Peter D’Abrosca and Asra Q. Nomani contributed to this report.
Security under scrutiny as WHCD attendees cite inconsistent screening before shooting
A shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is raising fresh questions about security at one of Washington’s highest-profile events, with some attendees describing what they saw as lapses in screening and access control. While the Secret Service and federal law enforcement moved quickly to secure President Donald Trump and other officials, accounts from attendees and lawmakers have painted a mixed picture of the security posture at the Washington Hilton. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOTING SHARPENS FOCUS ON TRUMP’S BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL Misha Komadovsky, a journalist for Germany’s DW, shared a photo on X of the paper ticket used by attendees to gain access to the event, saying it was “the only thing required” for entry into the Washington Hilton ballroom. “There was no security screening prior to entering the lobby,” he wrote. ABC News reporter Beatrice Peterson, who wrote on X that she has attended the event for more than a decade, offered a more measured assessment, saying the overall security posture appeared consistent with past years. She noted that pre-event gatherings tend to be more fluid, while the dinner itself is typically more tightly controlled, and that security — both plainclothes and uniformed — is always present inside and outside the venue. Peterson described the crowd and security presence as “typical-ish” for a year in which the president attends the dinner, suggesting no obvious deviations from past practice. However, she said multiple investigations are expected to examine what happened and whether any failures occurred, adding the incident could permanently change how the event is handled going forward. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCA SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Harrison Fields, a former White House principal deputy press secretary, told “FOX & Friends” there were “no checkpoints to get into the hotel,” adding that the gunman could have been “roaming” and observing attendees before the incident. “There was a VIP reception right off the main ballroom where Cabinet secretaries were, where the president could have been — and there was no security apparatus leading up to that point,” Fields said. Fields acknowledged that the Secret Service and local law enforcement “took immediate steps to keep us safe,” but said there was “no real buffer” in place, which he noticed as soon as he arrived. WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ VIOLENCE AFTER ARMED ATTACK DISRUPTS WH CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER Even as some attendees described the security posture as typical, lawmakers offered a far more critical assessment. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., pointed to what he described as “glaring security issues,” even as he acknowledged that the Secret Service and federal law enforcement “acted swiftly” to secure the ballroom and move President Donald Trump and other officials to safety. In a post on X, Lawler said there was no photo ID requirement or verified attendee list, which he noted is standard for White House events. He also cited the absence of magnetometers before entry to the ballroom and said multiple pre-event receptions with limited security created potential access points. Lawler said the building remained open to the public and raised concerns about accountability inside the room, noting there was no clear handle on how many members of Congress were present or where they were seated. He called for a “complete and thorough after-action” review, focusing on how the gunman moved from his hotel room into what he described as a secure area with multiple firearms. ARMED MAN SHOT AND KILLED AFTER ‘UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY’ INTO MAR-A-LAGO: SECRET SERVICE Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who attended the dinner, also raised concerns about the venue itself. “We were there front and center,” Fetterman said. “That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government.” Similarily, Kari Lake, a Trump ally in attendance, echoed criticism of the security measures. “I was there. Security was terrible at the event,” Lake wrote on X. “It was the easiest event I’ve ever gained access to that the president was at. It was so bad we talked about it at our table before the shots rang out.” The Washington Hilton has long hosted high-level government events, including gatherings attended by the president, vice president and members of Congress beyond the annual dinner. Last week, the First Lady’s Luncheon was held in the same ballroom, where first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance delivered remarks. The Secret Service’s familiarity with the venue helped enable a swift response — and is one reason the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been held there annually since 1968.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect checked into Hilton hotel one day before the shooting: sources
Suspected gunman Cole Allen checked into the Hilton Hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday, just one day before the event, sources told Fox News. Allen, 31, a computer scientist from Torrance, California, is accused of opening fire at the event where President Donald Trump was in attendance. Initial reports say Secret Service agents fired 3-4 shots, and Allen fired at least one. The FBI is conducting a ballistics investigation at its lab in Quantico, and authorities are also working with credit card companies to go through purchases going back in time. Authorities said Allen was initially talking with police, but he began refusing to speak as of Sunday morning. NORTH CAROLINA MAN RECOUNTS SHOOTING AFTER TRUMP BANNER TORN FROM MOTHER’S YARD: ‘SOME PEOPLE JUST SNAP’ Sources say Allen is scheduled for his initial court appearance sometime Monday. Allen told law enforcement after his arrest Saturday night that he was targeting Trump administration officials, according to senior federal law enforcement sources. Allen said he planned to “shoot Trump administration officials,” the sources said. TRUMP WOULD-BE ASSASSIN IN BUTLER HAD MASSIVE ‘DIGITAL FOOTPRINT,’ ALLEGES COLUMNIST Authorities have said Allen rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the event at the Washington Hilton while armed with multiple weapons. He allegedly then opened fire, striking a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that authorities do not believe Allen worked with any accomplices. Trump said Saturday night that the shooter was a “lone wolf.” “Well, what President Trump said is that as of now we think that, that’s what the police chief said as well,” Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “But this is an investigation that is 12 hours, 13 hours old, and so those facts can change, and they often do change. And if there’s anybody else involved we will leave no stone unturned to find out everything we can about that.” “But from what we know right now, from what we know given what happened last night, and the evidence we’ve gathered so far, we don’t believe anybody else was involved, but again, we have a lot of work left to do, and a lot of evidence left to go through and to collect,” Blanche added. Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.
Trump faces unprecedented third assassination attempt
President Donald Trump infamously acknowledges he is choosing the world’s most “dangerous profession,” but surviving a third unprecedented assassination attempt — including one where he was shot in the ear — is only hardening his resolve. “I’ve studied assassinations, and I must tell you, the most impactful people, the people that do the most” are the targets, Trump said in a Saturday night White House press briefing after an alleged would-be assassin was stopped by the U.S. Secret Service at the Washington Hilton, the notorious site of former President Ronald Reagan’s shooting in 1981. “You take a look at the people, Abraham Lincoln, I mean, you go through the people that have gone through this where they got them, but the people that do the most, the people that make the biggest impact, they’re the ones that they go after. “They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much because they like it that way.” TRUMP STANDS ‘STRONGER THAN EVER’ ONE YEAR AFTER SURVIVING PENNSYLVANIA ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, STAFFERS SAY In Trump’s case, three thwarted assassinations are part of his presidential lore, facing a string of shootings, plots and major security breaches unlike anything in history. Trump cautiously admitted, “I hate to say I’m honored by that,” but noted that “the big names” and the big movers are the targets. Saturday night’s chaos at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington added a new entry to a list already defined by gunfire in Butler, Pa. (July 13, 2024), an armed suspect at his Florida golf club (Sept. 15, 2024) and the Secret Service’s discovery of a sniper’s nest in eyeshot of where Air Force One lands at Palm Beach International in Florida. SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING Trump hailed the unity at the WHCA dinner in a room of some of his fiercest critics in the media, urging Americans to unify in divided political times. COREY COMPERATORE’S WIDOW SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON FINAL MOMENTS WITH HER HUSBAND “In light of this evening’s events, I asked that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said. “We have to resolve our differences.” “I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, Independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives — those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they’re not — but yet everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd. There was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together,” Trump continued. TRUMP SAYS HE WON NEW FANS AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: ‘SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN I GOT SHOT’ “I watched, and I was very, very impressed by that.“ Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed from the Washington Hilton after shots were fired outside the ballroom, where the president had been scheduled to speak. Authorities said one officer was shot but protected by a ballistic vest, and the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen of California, was taken into custody before breaching the room. HAWLEY URGES DHS SECRETARY NOEM TO DECLASSIFY ALL TRUMP BUTLER RALLY ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT DOCUMENTS The three men at the center of the most serious known threats are now Thomas Matthew Crooks (Butler suspect, deceased), Ryan Wesley Routh (Palm Beach suspect, sentenced to life) and now Allen (arrested and charged Saturday night). Crooks, 20, opened fire at the July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI identified Crooks as the shooter after he hit Trump in the right ear and killed rallygoer Corey Comperatore before being shot dead by a Secret Service countersniper. Routh, 59, received a life sentence for his attempt at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in September 2024. Prosecutors said Secret Service agents spotted him with a rifle near the course while Trump was playing, prompting an agent to open fire before Routh could get a shot off. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AFTERMATH, REACTIONS FROM INNER CIRCLE REVEALED IN NEW BOOK Allen, identified in Saturday night’s Washington incident, is the newest name on that list. Authorities have announced firearms and assault-related charges. Law enforcement at a Saturday night news conference said Allen was armed with multiple weapons and allegedly fired during a rush at a security perimeter near the dinner, striking a Secret Service agent in his bulletproof vest before being “tackled” to the ground without taking a bullet from the Secret Service. “One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing an obviously a very good bulletproof vest,” Trump told reporters, many still in their tuxedos, having left the canceled WHCA dinner, too. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer and he’s doing great. He’s great shape. He’s very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him.” RYAN ROUTH TRIAL CONTINUES AFTER AGENT TESTIFIES SUSPECT AIMED RIFLE AT HIM ON TRUMP’S GOLF COURSE Taken together, the three cases underscore how Trump’s security profile has changed from unusually fraught to historically extraordinary. One attempt drew blood on a campaign stage, another ended in a life sentence after a rifle ambush at a golf course, and the latest forced a presidential evacuation from one of Washington’s highest-profile public events. US JUDGE ORDERS SUSPECT DETAINED FOR THREATENING TO KILL RICHARD GRENELL Trump signaled Saturday night that he does not plan to retreat from public appearances despite the repeated threats. “The response time was really incredible, and we’re going to reschedule,” Trump said. “We’re going to do it again.” “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society,” he added. “We’re not going to cancel things out because we can’t do that. We wanted to stay tonight.” TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SECRET SERVICE ACTING DIRECTOR REVEALS ‘NUMEROUS CHANGES’ AGENCY HAS IMPLEMENTED Other thwarted plots and security scares Beyond the three highest-profile cases, Trump has faced a broader pattern of violent threats and close calls dating back to his first campaign. TRUMP RESPONDS TO CRITICS WITH COUNTERPUNCHES ACROSS
Wyoming court blocks fetal heartbeat abortion law
A Wyoming judge temporarily blocked the state’s newest abortion limit, halting enforcement of a law that prohibits most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, generally around six weeks of pregnancy. Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey on Friday granted temporary injunctive relief against the Human Heartbeat Act while the case plays out in court. The plaintiffs “made a sufficient showing of irreparable injury,” Forgey wrote, adding that “the state defendants did not persuasively argue otherwise.” He also said the plaintiffs had made “a sufficient showing of probable success” under Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution, which protects individuals’ rights to make their own healthcare decisions. VERMONT ACCUSED IN LAWSUIT OF TRACKING PREGNANT WOMEN CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE TO BE MOTHERS The ruling is the latest turn in Wyoming’s long-running abortion fight and comes just months after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down two earlier abortion restrictions, finding they violated the state constitution’s healthcare autonomy protections. That January decision reshaped the legal landscape in Wyoming and prompted lawmakers to try again with a narrower ban tied to the detection of fetal cardiac activity. The law, passed during the Legislature’s 2026 session and signed by Republican Gov. Mark Gordon on March 9, took effect in March. It bars abortion beyond roughly the sixth week of pregnancy, once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The measure includes exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten a woman’s life or health, but not for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. “Where the act does not align to my pro-life stance is in the concern for specific vulnerable populations,” Gordon wrote in a letter to lawmakers Monday. HOUSTON-AREA MIDWIFE ARRESTED FOR PROVIDING ILLEGAL ABORTIONS IN FIRST CRIMINAL CASE UNDER STATE BAN: TEXAS AG It echoes his reservations and expected legal fight when signing the law in March. “I resoundingly share the determination to defend the lives of unborn children and support the intentions behind the Human Heartbeat Act,” he wrote in a statement. “Regrettably, this Act represents another well-intentioned but likely fragile legal effort with significant risk of ending in the courts rather than in lasting, durable policy. Rather than finding a remedy that saves the unborn, I fear we have only added another chapter to the sad saga of repeatedly trying to force a specific solution.” Gordon’s signing made Wyoming the fifth state to bar most abortions at that stage of pregnancy, along with Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. Thirteen other states bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s DC beautification push wins rare Dem praise as president snaps landmarks back to life
Democrats are offering rare praise to President Donald Trump as his push to revitalize Washington, D.C., ahead of the semiquincentennial brings neglected landmarks back to life through various restoration projects. “Cannot believe it’s taken this long, but this truly makes me so incredibly happy to see,” wrote ActBlue communications strategist Carter Christensen on X in reaction to the Meridian Hill Park fountain flowing once again after years of neglect – one of a handful of social media messages celebrating the update. Construction and landscaping projects across Washington, D.C., have accelerated in recent months as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in July, and follow Trump’s larger effort to beautify the city and lower its crime trends. TRUMP-BACKED MEGA EVENT TO BRING ALL 50 STATES TO DC IN WORLD’S FAIR-STYLE BASH As city fountains turned back on earlier this week, Democrats offered praise to see the city snap back to life. “Best thing this administration has done and it’s not even close,” vice president of liberal think tank, Searchlight Institute, Tré Easton said on X Tuesday. The Meridian Hill Park fountain reopened at the end of April after repairs to cracks in the walls and a revamped landscape. The 13-basin cascading fountain, one of the longest in North America, had sat dry after the National Park Service closed the park’s lower level for renovations in 2020. New fountains in Lafayette Park, located in downtown D.C., were also turned on for the first time. “Can unequivocally say: all the fountains in the nation’s capital should work and I’m glad the Trump people got this done,” wrote another Democrat strategist on X. “Credit where credit is due,” Trump critic and Substack author Anthony LaMesa posted to X on Tuesday. “The Trump administration is finally fixing fountains around Washington, DC that have been out of order for many years,” he added. DEMS UNLOAD ON TRUMP’S LATEST DC UPDATE WITH ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST’ BROADSIDE, LEGAL PUSH Nine fountains are being rehabilitated and returned to service, while nine other operational fountains are set to receive maintenance and system upgrades, according to the National Park Service. “President Trump’s common sense efforts to make D.C. safe and beautiful again are so popular that even Democrats are publicly praising the President for these much-needed and long-overdue renovations,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. WHITE HOUSE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS CALLING TRUMP’S MASSIVE ARCH ‘TOO BIG’ “Our nation’s capital will look more spectacular than ever before for America’s 250th birthday all thanks to President Trump!” Rogers added in a comment to Fox News Digital. President Trump requested a $10 billion Presidential Capital Stewardship Program in his 2027 budget. The funds would continue priority construction and rehabilitation projects in the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has also pursued other high-profile changes tied to his broader vision for remaking the city, including White House renovations, the Trump-Kennedy Center name change and readying plans for installation of the Triumphal Arch — which have drawn Democratic scrutiny as the president’s “vanity” ventures.
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting sharpens focus on Trump’s ballroom construction proposal
The shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening has thrust fresh attention on President Donald Trump’s push to build a secure ballroom at the White House, a proposal he says could prevent such threats. A gunman armed with multiple weapons opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton — where hundreds of journalists, celebrities and government officials were attending the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A Secret Service agent was struck but protected by a ballistic vest, and the suspect was quickly taken into custody, authorities said. Trump told reporters at the White House that he spoke with the agent, adding that he is expected to recover. SECRET SERVICE IN LINE OF FIRE AT WHCD SHOOTING STILL UNPAID DUE TO DEM-LED SHUTDOWN Trump pointed to the incident as evidence that the hotel venue was “not a particularly secure building,” arguing that a new White House ballroom — equipped with features like bulletproof materials — would offer a safer alternative. But the proposal faces hurdles. The project has been slowed by legal challenges over whether the administration bypassed required approvals, with courts weighing the scope of presidential authority as the case moves forward. SPRAWLING NEW $250M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM TO BE PAID FOR BY TRUMP AND DONORS The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom has become a political flashpoint, with critics raising concerns about cost and preservation, while Trump and his allies frame it as a largely privately financed security upgrade. While the White House has hosted countless ceremonial events, it has never had a dedicated ballroom. The new structure would fill that gap, replacing the historic East Wing with a space built to accommodate large-scale gatherings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ballroom would seat roughly 650 guests and reflect the building’s classical design. “The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders… without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away,” Leavitt said during a July 31 briefing, calling the project “a much-needed and exquisite addition.” FROM THE OVAL OFFICE TO THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER, THE GILDED MAKEOVER EXPANDS Since returning to office, Trump, a former real estate developer, has embarked on a series of projects aimed at altering the look and feel of the White House and other iconic Washington landmarks. In February, the president announced in a Truth Social post that the Trump Kennedy Center will close for a two-year renovation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In October, Trump unveiled a new monument planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary next year. The monument, a near twin of Paris’ iconic Arc de Triomphe, is meant to welcome visitors crossing the Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery into the heart of the nation’s capital. Trump has also added golden accents to the Oval Office, added a “walk of fame” to the colonnade outside the Oval Office, renovated the Lincoln bathroom, paved part of the Rose Garden and installed two large American flags on the White House grounds.