AOC’s primary win reignites speculation over 2028 White House bid, Schumer challenge
Eight years after bursting onto the national stage by ousting then-House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley in a shocking primary upset, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political options look brighter than ever. The four-term progressive firebrand from New York City, who on Tuesday easily crushed two primary challengers in her own race for renomination, is eyeing a potential 2028 bid for the White House or to challenge longtime Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer. And the sweeping victories by three far-left congressional candidates backed by socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the party establishment appear to be giving the 36-year-old Ocasio-Cortez, better known by her nickname AOC, even more political clout. LEFTWARD LURCH: MAMDANI-BACKED CANDIDATES TOPPLE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT “AOC has built a political brand that certainly has staying power,” Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo, a veteran of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders‘ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, told Fox News Digital. “Her influence has grown exponentially since defeating Crowley.” Ocasio-Cortez, who teamed up with Sanders last year on the senator’s ongoing coast-to-coast “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, appears to be in position to inherit the 84-year-old senator’s political mantle. Sanders joined Mamdani in backing socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who narrowly topped incumbent Democrat Adriano Espaillat, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair and the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. House. They also supported state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another socialist who defeated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso by more than 20 points in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez. And they backed progressive Brad Lander, who crushed incumbent Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman. Lander, the former New York City comptroller, ran against Mamdani last year in the crowded Democratic primary field but became one of his biggest backers in the general election. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Unlike Mamdani and Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, who has endorsed sparingly this election cycle, stayed out of the New York City congressional primaries. But the victories by the left over the party establishment should further boost Ocasio-Cortez as she looks to the future. “New York’s clean sweep was a political earthquake that shows voters want shake-up-the-system fighters who are not owned by corporate interests, billionaires, or corrupt Trump allies like AIPAC. This is obviously good news for AOC in whatever race she runs next,” Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Fox News Digital. Tuesday’s results will give Schumer and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the top two Democrats in Congress, major headaches in their own backyard of New York. The embattled Schumer faces re-election in two years, and Ocasio-Cortez has not ruled out a primary challenge or a possible White House bid. AOC PRIMARY LANDSLIDE VICTORY SPARKS FURTHER 2028 SPECULATION “Could I be president? Could I not be president? Maybe, maybe not,” Ocasio-Cortez, who represents the Bronx and Queens-anchored 14th Congressional District, replied when recently asked by Fox News Digital if she might seek the presidency in 2028. The Democratic Socialists of America, as first reported by Politico, is asking its membership across the country who they have their eyes on in the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination race, with a vote coming next year at the group’s national convention. When it comes to the possibility of a presidential run by Ocasio-Cortez, or Rep. Ro Khanna of California, another progressive leader in Congress, some pundits caution about reading too much from Tuesday’s ballot box results and note that the far-left portions of deep blue New York City are far from a representation of the rest of the country. Outside of what’s been labeled New York City’s “Commie corridor,” which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens where voters in recent years have consistently backed far-left and socialist candidates, more mainstream Democrats prevailed in Tuesday’s primaries. In the high-profile showdown to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler in Manhattan, former Nadler staffer Micah Lasher came out on top. North of New York City, in the state’s swing 17th Congressional District, Army veteran Cait Conley won the primary and will challenge GOP Rep. Mike Lawler in a key midterm contest that is one of a handful that will determine if Republicans hold the slim House majority. And in Utah, former Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams defeated progressive rivals to win the primary in the newly redrawn and blue-leaning 1st Congressional District. Caiazzo noted that Tuesday’s contests show “there is certainly an appetite among New York City Democratic primary voters for progressive policies. Considering other primary results, it remains unclear if that same enthusiasm is shared across the country.”
Trump warns ‘downtrodden’ blue states after socialist candidates sweep NYC congressional primaries
President Donald Trump blasted the far-left socialist sweep of multiple New York City congressional districts and offer a stark warning to “downtrodden” blue states. “Many Communists running in badly failing Blue States. The votes seem to have them doing quite well against each other. The bad news is that history has conclusively shown that the downtrodden States that they will soon be running will ONLY GET WORSE. MAGA!” he wrote on Truth Social. The three candidates, all endorsed by radical Mayor Zohran Mamdani, won their primary elections and have virtually unimpeded paths to Congress in their deep blue districts. They are Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York’s 13th Congressional District, State Rep. Claire Valdez in New York’s 7th Congressional District and Brad Lander in New York’s 10th Congressional District. Avila Chevalier and Valdez are members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which not too long ago was dismissed as a fringe element of the left, but is now insurgent in the Democrat Party. FAR-LEFT SURGE: MAMDANI-BACKED CANDIDATES OUST DEM ESTABLISHMENT INCUMBENTS Lander is a progressive Democrat and a former DSA member. He left the party in 2023 after its response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli concertgoers that killed 1,200 people. DSA insists that Israel’s response to that attack constitutes a “genocide,” and has made support for Gaza against Israel a central tenet of its platform. Avila Chevalier ousted fellow progressive and five-term incumbent 71-year-old Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., — the first-ever former illegal alien ever to serve in Congress. She ran an even further left campaign than her rival on a platform that includes abolishing ICE, eliminating all deportations and socialized healthcare. Avila Chevalier was dogged on the campaign trail by past social media posts where she advocated for seizure of private property by the government, called former President Joe Biden a “rapist,” cursed former Vice President Kamala Harris and demanded the abolishment of police. MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST CANDIDATE STORMS OUT OF LIVE INTERVIEW WHEN CONFRONTED WITH OLD SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS She also called America a “f—–g disgrace,” and bragged about using the American flag as a napkin to wipe her hands. Still, she beat Espaillat by three and a half points. Valdez, a similarly positioned candidate who currently serves in the New York State Assembly representing the 37th District, won her primary by a landslide, and will likely fill the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., come January. HASAN PIKER CELEBRATES AMERICA BEING ‘CLOSER THAN EVER’ TO SOCIALISM AS HE BACKS NYC CANDIDATES Trump hammered home an earlier post with a second in the early morning hours Wednesday. “America the Beautiful will NEVER be a Communist Country!!!” he said at 2:38 a.m. on his own social media platform. When Lander handily defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., Trump let loose on the congressman, a longtime foe who served as lead counsel in a 2019 impeachment attempt against him. “Weak and pathetic Congressman Dan Goldman just lost, BIG! I guess people didn’t like him illegally targeting President TRUMP. In any event, this jerk is finally GONE! President DJT” he said. Wednesday morning, Trump sarcastically congratulated Mamdani’s wins and touted his own primary victories in another post on Truth. “Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists, and has received loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media. Congratulations Mr. Mayor!” he wrote. “I went 16-0 last night, helping to elect wonderful American Patriots, and the Media doesn’t say a word.” “Over the last two years, my endorsement has netted 259 Primary WINS, and almost no losses, with Zero media attention!!! FAKE NEWS.” The White House declined to comment further.
Trump declares ‘national emergency,’ demands housing overhaul bill be scrapped in SAVE Act push
President Donald Trump announced a last-minute cancellation of the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Wednesday, issuing an ultimatum to get the SAVE Act passed. “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. House lawmakers passed the Housing Act by a 358–32 vote Tuesday, reflecting widespread agreement on the need to help Americans facing housing affordability challenges. The bill seeks to expand the supply of homes and will lower costs while also giving individual buyers a leg up by banning large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. Earlier Wednesday morning, Trump called the act an “Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren centric housing bill,” writing that it is “of minor importance compared to lower interest rates, and even FISA, pales in comparison to passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. TRUMP’S SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWS SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE SENATE DESPITE REPUBLICAN REVOLT The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act includes Trump’s long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification as midterms loom ahead. House Speaker Mike Johnson held a press conference following the cancellation announcement, sharing he agreed with Trump’s decision and hopes to advance a similar election-integrity proposal through the budget reconciliation process. “I spoke to the president for 20 minutes before I went in and gave that rousing speech to the House Republicans this morning. He and I’ve talked about this a lot. He has expressed his priority and preference for the Save America Act,” Johnson said at the news conference. “We share that. We passed it three times in the House. The latest version was passed a few months ago, and it has proof of citizenship to register to vote and proof of showing a photo ID when you show up to vote.” “Basic issues that 90% of Americans agree: 70% of Democrats think you ought to have a photo ID to vote and citizenship to vote in an American election is already in the law,” Johnson added. “But we have to enforce it because you’ve got a few blue states that don’t do that.” BIPARTISAN HOUSING PUSH ADVANCES, BUT TRUMP-BACKED INVESTOR BAN FACES RESISTANCE Trump and administration officials have sounded the alarm on the importance of passing the SAVE America Act, which has faced obstacles and pushback. “That is what Americans, both Dumocrats, Republicans, and everyone else, care about. Get the bad Republicans to approve it or, better yet, Terminate the Filibuster and approve it, AND EVERYTHING ELSE REPUBLICANS HAVE EVER DREAMED OF,” Trump added on Truth Social. “The Dumocrats will do it in hour one, 100%. Republicans will feel very stupid if they don’t do it first. I’ll be watching with tears in my eyes!!!” The housing package comes after months of House-Senate negotiations over restrictions on private equity investors and a temporary ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), an unrelated proposal championed by GOP privacy advocates. The bill would loosen regulations surrounding factory-built homes and ease federal environmental reviews for housing. It also encourages local governments to update zoning policies to support more home construction and address housing shortages. Many Americans have struggled when it comes to buying a home, with the median nationwide price tag topping $400,000, according to Realtor.com. Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack contributed to this report.
Trump admin unveils 11-foot-tall, AI-designed nuclear test flight vehicle at the Great American State Fair
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration announced that it has successfully developed and tested a new nuclear-weapons-related flight vehicle using artificial intelligence, advanced supercomputing and 3D printing technology, marking a milestone National Nuclear Security Administrator Brandon Williams compared to the Manhattan Project. As the Great American State Fair kicks off on the National Mall, one of the most consequential exhibits on display may be an 11-foot-tall flight vehicle built not for a museum, but as a test of how AI could transform America’s nuclear deterrent. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) says the project, known as Aires Tide, could dramatically compress the timeline for developing future national security capabilities. The unveiling comes as U.S. officials warn that America is locked in a high-stakes race with China to harness artificial intelligence for military and strategic advantage. TRUMP SIGNS LANDMARK EXECUTIVE ORDER INVESTING IN QUANTUM COMPUTING AND CRYPTOGRAPHY SECURITY “There’s no question that we’re in an AI capabilities race with China. The power of artificial intelligence just to be able to bring together so many kinds of data and different computational models together in one place and to streamline that is incredibly powerful and will continue to be powerful going forward,” Williams told Fox News Digital. “And so part of that is applied to national security. Part of that’s applied to our nuclear deterrence.” Williams said Aires Tide was started by the NNSA to demonstrate “how we would use artificial intelligence to move faster in terms of how we produce nuclear weapons, how we maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile.” The flight test vehicle was designed to simulate the extreme heat and vibration a nuclear weapon would encounter during a nuclear weapon’s flight. The project serves as the first public demonstration of the administration’s Genesis Mission initiative, an effort signed by President Donald Trump last year to connect the Department of Energy’s national laboratories and apply artificial intelligence to some of the government’s most complex national security challenges. The Aires Tide unveiling on the National Mall comes amid a broader push by the administration to strengthen U.S. leadership in strategically important technologies. This week, Trump signed two separate executive orders focused on quantum computing and cybersecurity, seeking to accelerate development of a research-grade quantum computer and protect federal systems against future quantum-enabled cyber threats. The NNSA said two of its supercomputers — Venado and El Capitan -— were used to enable the design of Aires Tide. El Capitan until recently was considered the fastest in the world. On Tuesday, however, China’s LineShine system surpassed El Capitan atop the latest TOP500 rankings, the first time a Chinese supercomputer has held the No. 1 position since 2017. For Williams, the value of that computing power is measured not by rankings alone, but by how quickly it can translate into real-world capabilities. Williams told Fox News Digital that Aires Tide moved from concept to flight-ready hardware in a matter of months, with officials using AI to generate a design by November, produce a plastic model by December and complete multiple full-scale prototypes by March. According to Williams, the accelerated process allowed the agency to develop Aires Tide seven times faster and 15 times cheaper than it could have using traditional methods, providing what he described as a critical advantage as the U.S. seeks to stay ahead of emerging threats and competitors. “That’s the power of AI, and it really gave us incredible confidence that we’re going to be able to move fast… to stay ahead of our adversaries, and the threats that face us,” Williams said. Williams likened the emergence of artificial intelligence to the Manhattan Project, describing both as technological breakthroughs capable of fundamentally altering the balance of power. Just as President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized the military implications of harnessing atomic energy during World War II, Williams argued that Trump and his administration are embracing AI to ensure the United States maintains its strategic advantage. COMPUTER WARS HEAT UP AS CHINESE SUPERCOMPUTER TOPS ALL US MACHINES IN SPEED FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2017 “We have all this fantastic test data going back really to the Manhattan Project. And we’re able to tap into these very powerful resources that we have, test data, computational capabilities, using agentic workflows, which is just a way of leveraging AI models to go out and solve these very complex problems very, very quickly and very, very iteratively that allows us to move quickly,” he said. “So yes, we are absolutely in a competition with China. It has very serious national security implications. And we’re certain that we’re going to position ourselves to win.“ Williams said that rapid advances in drone warfare, missile technology and AI are changing the nature of warfare in real time, making it critical for the U.S. to deploy new tools faster than its adversaries. The Genesis initiative, he told Fox News Digital, is intended to position America at the forefront of that effort. “We’re in a period of unprecedented change in technology. In fact, just in the last five years, I think we’d all agree that the nature of warfare is changing in front of us,” Williams told Fox News Digital. “Because of all of this technological revolution that we’re facing, it’s as important as it ever has been that we use all the tools available to keep America out front. We’ve enjoyed an unprecedented 40 years of superiority from our conventional forces, really since the first Gulf War.” “But because warfare is changing, we have to change with it and artificial intelligence is one of the most important tools to keep us ahead,” he added. Williams told Fox News Digital that AI advancements are not about replacing workers, but making them more productive. He argued that artificial intelligence can help compress design and manufacturing timelines from 10 to 15 years down to five years or less, allowing the same scientists, engineers and technicians to develop new capabilities faster and more efficiently while helping the U.S. stay ahead of its competitors.
Tlaib defends antifa members convicted in shooting of Texas cop, calls sentences a ‘travesty’
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., sparked fierce backlash after her apparent defense of accused antifa cell members sentenced to decades in prison for a violent attack on a Texas immigration facility that federal prosecutors called an act of terrorism. One of the defendants, Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps reservist, was handed a 100-year prison sentence — the maximum punishment — Tuesday after being convicted of attempted murder for shooting Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross, who survived a bullet to the neck. Seven other suspects, allegedly of the North Texas antifa cell, were given sentences spanning 30 to 70 years for charges such as providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use weapons and explosives, and rioting. “These sentences are a travesty and totally unjustified, but that’s the point,” Tlaib, a progressive lawmaker associated with “the Squad,” wrote on social media. “Americans hate the fascist Trump regime, so the only way they can try to cling to power is brute force.” NINE CONVICTED IN NORTH TEXAS ICE ATTACK AS KASH PATEL ISSUES WARNING TO THOSE WHO TARGET FEDERAL OFFICERS Tlaib sharply criticized a 2025 document, known as the National Security Presidential Memo 7, that President Donald Trump released in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination and that classified antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.” The Texas trial was the first time federal prosecutors successfully brought terrorism charges against accused members of the far-left antifascist movement following the memo and an executive order associating the militant group with domestic terrorism. “NSPM-7 is a grave threat to all of us and more bulls— ‘terrorism’ charges like these are coming,” she added. The comments sparked sharp criticism from conservatives, who argued Tlaib appeared to excuse the behavior of the violent rioters. “Counterpoint: Her friends shot a cop,” conservative columnist Kurt Schlichter wrote on social media. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller fired back at Tlaib for “defending antifa terrorists who tried to massacre state and federal law enforcement” as a member of Congress. ANTIFA MEMBERS INDICTED IN TEXAS ICE FACILITY RIOT, ATTEMPTED MURDER OF OFFICER “They were proven at court to be part of a terrorist antifa cell that trained for and planned violence using firearms,” journalist Andy Ngo wrote. “They used large explosives to lure out federal agents and police before shooting one in the neck. The trial featured key testimonies from five cell members who flipped, detailing how they organized behind the antifa ideology.” “Congresswoman, I know you must be very upset that these terrorists you are sympathetic to didn’t get away with it this time,” Ngo added. According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants arrived at the facility on the evening of July 4, 2025, with firearms and military-grade first aid kits while dressed in dark clothing and face coverings to conceal their identities. The group then began to vandalize property, including a security camera, while launching fireworks at the immigration detention center, according to prosecutors. When officers inside the facility called 911, Gross, the Alvarado police officer, responded to the premeditated attack, federal prosecutors said. According to police footage presented at the trial, Song was heard yelling, “Get to the rifles!” He then opened fire on Gross, who testified during the trial that a bullet traversed his shoulder and neck. “Their terrorist acts, attempted murder, vandalism, and explosives launched at a detention facility were a far cry from a peaceful protest or First Amendment expression,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas said in a statement Tuesday. “We will continue in this mission to hold others accountable who perpetrate such violence and fund these ANTIFA groups in the Northern District of Texas.” Counsel for Song argued that he shot Gross in self-defense, calling the bullet “suppressive fire,” which Judge Mark Pittman, who oversaw the trial, categorically dismissed. Relatives of the convicted defendants argued the decades-long sentences were overly harsh and that they did not intend for any violence to occur. A spokesperson for Tlaib did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hillary Clinton still fuming over Electoral College, calls it an ‘abomination’ in new Netflix series
Failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is still railing against the Electoral College, which cost her the presidency in 2016, calling it an “abomination” in a trailer for the new Netflix docuseries titled “The American Experiment.” In a trailer for the upcoming series, which is executive-produced by Tom Hanks, Clinton remarks, “Well, I personally think the Electoral College is an abomination. For obvious reasons.” Set to drop today, the new five-part docuseries marks 250 years of U.S. independence by examining “how American democracy has been built, challenged, and reimagined” over the course of its centuries-long history, according to Netflix’s Tudum. In addition to Clinton, the series will feature interviews with dozens of politicians and historians, including former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence and Al Gore, as well as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The push for abolishing the Electoral College, which was instituted in 1787, has gained increased support in some corners of the left, especially after Clinton’s 2016 loss to President Donald Trump. Though Clinton won the national popular vote, Trump secured several key swing states that gave him the Electoral College edge, sending him to the White House. WHAT IS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE? HOW DOES IT WORK? After her loss, Clinton lambasted the system, calling it “the god-forsaken Electoral College” in her 2017 memoir “What Happened.” In an interview with CNN host Anderson Cooper, Clinton reaffirmed her call to abolish the Electoral College, referring to it as “an anachronism that was designed for another time” that “no longer works.” “We’ve moved toward one person, one vote, that’s how we select winners,” she continued, adding, “I think it needs to be eliminated, I’d like to see us move beyond it.” Months before Trump’s 2024 victory over Harris, Clinton again raised concerns about the Electoral College, saying in an interview with The 19th, “We are the underdog, that just kind of goes with the territory when we have the Electoral College staring at you.” Trump defeated Harris both in the Electoral College and in the popular vote. Fox News Digital reached out to Clinton for additional comment. CARVILLE WARNS DEMS NEED ‘SOMEBODY THAT CAN WIN THIS GOD— THING’ WHEN ASKED IF AOC IS VIABLE FOR 2028 In the trailer for the new docuseries, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., states that “the founders themselves were not in love with the Electoral College” and “it was defective from the beginning.” “We have a problem that a minority of the population, because of the structure of the Electoral College — in some cases, over the objections of the majority — is ruling the majority,” added Lofgren. Discussing Clinton’s interview, director Brian Knappenberger told Variety, “I knew I would be asking former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton about one of the most painful moments of her life.” JEMELE HILL FALSELY CLAIMS ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS ENTIRELY ‘ROOTED IN SLAVERY’ AND IT COST KAMALA THE ELECTION “She has rarely spoken candidly about that election night and we’re really happy she talked about it for the series,” said Knappenberger, adding, “She has a unique perspective as one of only five people in American history to lose the presidency after winning the popular vote. The 2016 election also stands out because Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the popular vote by such a significant margin.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Netflix, Knappenberger and Lofgren for comment.
US forces kill senior ISIS leader in Syria: CENTCOM
A U.S. airstrike last week in Syria killed a top ISIS leader, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday. CENTCOM “forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria, June 19, that resulted in the death of a senior ISIS leader,” according to a press release. “The precision strike killed Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi and is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland. CENTCOM forces continue to work alongside regional partners,” CENTCOM added. TRUMP EXPANDS TURKEY AMBASSADOR’S DIPLOMATIC ROLE, ADDING IRAQ, SYRIA AMID MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS “CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement. “We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region.” The Middle East is not the only area where the American military has been active lately. NEARLY 200 INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS COMPETE IN 2026 WARRIOR GAMES The U.S. military conducted a deadly strike killing three alleged “narco-terrorists” on June 18, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action,” SOUTHCOM noted. SOUTHCOM also reported another strike days later. “On June 21, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” SOUTHCOM reported. US MILITARY CONDUCTS STRIKE ON ANOTHER VESSEL CARRYING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, KILLING 2 “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action, and there were six male survivors. Following the engagement, USSOUTHCOM immediately notified U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivors,” according to SOUTHCOM.
Commanding general of the US Army in European and African theater is unexpectedly stepping down
The U.S. Army’s commanding general of forces in Europe and Africa is stepping down after roughly a year and a half at the coveted post, Fox News has confirmed. Gen. Christopher Donahue — who also leads NATO’s Allied Land Command — will relinquish his command on July 2, according to a statement from the Army. Donahue’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will take over his duties after July 2. Donahue submitted his retirement papers at the request of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has sought to shrink the number of generals and prioritize adding new GIs. He is the latest military leader of more than two dozen to leave or retire early under Hegseth’s leadership. “The Army thanks Gen. Donahue for his leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa,” the Army said in a statement provided to Fox News. ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ORDERED TO RETIRE IMMEDIATELY AS HEGSETH CONTINUES PENTAGON SHAKEUP Donahue is best known as the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, marking the end of America’s nearly 20-year war launched after the Sept. 11 attacks. The moment he stepped onto a C-17 cargo plane was captured in an iconic photo taken through night vision goggles. At the time, he was the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and was brought in to oversee security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic withdrawal. The Marines, not Donahue’s forces, were in charge of securing Abbey Gate at the airport, which was attacked by a member of ISIS-K in a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians. Donahue’s leadership of the evacuation, which saw roughly 124,000 Afghan citizens airlifted from the country, drew praise from both Democrats and Republicans, even though the broader withdrawal strategy was criticized as rushed and haphazard. HEGSETH ORDERS PENTAGON TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW INTO ‘CATASTROPHIC’ 2021 AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL President Donald Trump attacked former President Joe Biden over this for years, and last May, Hegseth ordered a new investigation of the withdrawal following earlier probes of the operation by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress. A West Point graduate and a career special operations commander, Donahue led the Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was then picked to be the 82nd Airborne Division commander from July 2020 to March 2022, before being appointed to his current position by Biden in December 2024. As a top commander in Europe, Donahue coordinated military aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022. Officials told Fox News that his involvement in that war has made him the U.S. Army’s preeminent expert on drone warfare. Within the Army, Donahue was seen as one of the most seasoned soldiers with more combat experience than most. He was also thought to be someone who had the potential to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to The Associated Press. Donahue’s departure coincides with discussions inside the Army to downgrade U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command, according to sources who spoke to Fox News. This would come after Hegseth told NATO allies last week he would be leading a six-month review of American forces in Europe. “This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” he told NATO officials in Brussels. “It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors.” The Pentagon and the Army did not immediately comment on Donahue’s exit, which was first reported by The Atlantic. Donahue will need a presidential waiver to retain his four-star retirement benefits, since he hasn’t had his fourth star for the requisite three years. Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump heads to Capitol Hill for pivotal meeting as Senate GOP divisions deepen
President Donald Trump on Wednesday will face a Senate GOP hungry for wins ahead of pivotal midterm elections and desperate for a path forward as squabbles and the president’s own abrupt decisions derail their march to November. Trump hasn’t come to the Capitol to meet with the Senate GOP in over a year, and much has changed in the dynamic between him and Republicans in the upper chamber. He’s successfully ousted two incumbents, Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, temporarily derailed Republicans’ $70 billion immigration enforcement package, and for the time being, has thwarted a bipartisan attempt at reauthorizing the nation’s controversial spying powers. REPUBLICANS BREAK WITH TRUMP TO REBUKE IRAN WAR — BUT IT WON’T CHANGE POLICY “The question is, do we want to win the midterms?” Cornyn said. “And my question is, how do we get all on the same page and get unified rather than squabbling amongst ourselves?” There are several items that could be on the docket Wednesday, including the memorandum of understanding with Iran and the next moves on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). But Trump’s main focus is expected to be the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, stalled voter ID and proof of citizenship legislation that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has time and again told the president Republicans don’t have the votes to pass. Trump canceled a planned signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — a bipartisan bill pushed by the White House — that was scheduled to occur in the U.S. Capitol before his meeting with Senate Republicans. Republican leaders and their staff were busy erecting a stage lined with nearly a dozen American flags for the bill signing when the news broke. “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump said on Truth Social just over an hour before the ceremony was to kick off.” Thune was on the Senate floor when Trump issued the Truth post and said as he walked out, “I guess I would say, at this point, I don’t have any observation.” TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN RIPS INTO TRUMP’S IRAN DEAL, SAYS $300 BILLION MAKES OBAMA DEAL LOOK LIKE ‘A PITTANCE’ “Look, we have to be able to get proof of citizenship when you vote,” he said. “Otherwise, we don’t have elections. We have to be able to get voter ID. So John is a leader, and hopefully he can get the votes.” Trump’s appearance in the Senate is spurred by an invitation from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who, ahead of the meeting, laid out a roadmap of legislative goals for the next six months, including passage of the SAVE America Act. “We need to make a clear distinction as to who the good guys are and who the bad guys are,” Scott wrote in a letter to colleagues. “We have to demonstrate what Republicans stand for and what Democrats stand for through action, not rhetoric.” Thune acknowledged Scott’s legislative roadmap, and said that when the GOP met “as a family, as a team, that we can look at some of the things that we all want to work together on to try and get done before, before this election.” TOP REPUBLICAN PITCHES TRUMP PLAN TO STOP SHUTDOWNS, EXPOSE ‘BAD GUYS’ BLOCKING VOTER ID LAW “And there are things that I believe will create a record of accomplishment that our candidates can run on,” Thune said. “And that will enable us to take an argument to the American people that will persuade them that they want to keep majorities here in Congress, in the United States Senate, and in the House that are Republican to work with this president to get good things done for this country.” “We’re just going to talk about SAVE America,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “We have to get — we have to pass the SAVE America Act, which is voter ID, which is proof of citizenship, etc. We have to pass it. So we’re going to have to talk about that and many other things.” When asked about Thune repeatedly saying Republicans have a math problem, Trump said, “You know, he’s a leader. John is a leader. That’s what being a leader is about.” Republicans’ struggles to pass the package are two-pronged. Democrats won’t support it, and Republicans aren’t united to pass it — points that have been proven a handful of times on the Senate floor over the last several months. The SAVE America Act has become a sore subject among Republicans, particularly as a handful of proponents, spurred by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, continue to claim a viable path forward when many in the GOP don’t see one. It’s led to infighting on social media and eruptions during the Senate GOP’s closed-door lunches. Whether those frustrations in particular play out in front of Trump remains to be seen. “My guess is, a lot of people will want to talk,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. “We have a lot of people who like to talk. That’s why we have a lot of meetings that really should be emails. But I don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow.” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said that it was likely a “low-stakes” lunch with the president that wouldn’t erupt into fury between the branches of government. “I’ve never been in a meeting with any president with a group of senators that got to be combative and nasty, but maybe that’s not the right meeting,” Hawley said. Some of Trump’s and the administration’s biggest critics in the Senate GOP hope that there can be a respectful dialogue that focuses on their wins over the last year and a half, and what future wins can look like with the few months remaining between June and November. “I want us to focus on all the positives that we’re missing, because too many
Trump to kick off Great American State Fair as 250th anniversary celebrations take over National Mall
President Donald Trump will kick off the Great American State Fair Wednesday evening as part of celebrations surrounding the nation’s 250th anniversary. “President Trump promised the greatest 250th birthday celebration in American history, and Freedom 250 is proud to help deliver it for the American people,” Freedom 250 CEO Keith Kranch told Fox News Digital. “This celebration is about what makes America exceptional—our freedom, our faith, our optimism, and our people. We are honored to welcome President Trump as he helps kick off these historic festivities tomorrow and begin a nationwide celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday,” Krach added. The fair brings together all 50 states and six U.S. territories for a national celebration stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument featuring military flyovers, musical performances and civic programming. Trump announced he will deliver remarks after a handful of musical artists pulled out of their musical performances, turning the bash into a “Make America Great Again Rally.” TRUMP FLOATS REPLACING 250TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT WITH MASSIVE MAGA RALLY AFTER ARTISTS PULL OUT The event is scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10, 2026, celebrating patriotism to bring together the nation for a celebration of unity. TRUMP’S DC BEAUTIFICATION PUSH WINS RARE DEM PRAISE AS PRESIDENT SNAPS LANDMARKS BACK TO LIFE Trump’s anticipated remarks follow his signature last week on a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, launching a 60-day negotiating period aimed at preventing Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons capability. Ahead of the fair, several musical artists who had been scheduled to perform withdrew from the event, criticizing it as partisan. Vanilla Ice was among the few performers who remained committed, describing the opportunity to perform as an “honor.” The world’s fair-scale event will have pavilions touching on five national themes: Made in America, American Heartland, American Innovates, The American Canvas, and Faith & Family. There will also be a 110-foot Ferris wheel and the refurbished Smithsonian carousel for families to enjoy. The U.S. has hosted over two dozen variations of the world’s fair since first hosted in Philadelphia in 1876, according to the State Department. Freedom250, the nonpartisan group helping coordinate the broader America250 effort, said the fair will feature food, games, exhibits and themed attractions designed to showcase the country’s culture, history and innovation.