Universities, school districts nationwide call for ‘decolonizing’ Thanksgiving: ‘Day of mourning’
As families across the U.S. gather on Thanksgiving to celebrate one of the nation’s most cherished national holidays, some educators and schools are lamenting the day, pushing back on its “colonial” roots, and incorporating diversity, equality and inclusion DEI into the holiday. At the University of California, Davis, the California History-Social Science Project, which describes itself as “Resources & professional learning for K-12 history-social science,” hosted a Zoom event called “Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom.” “We will discuss reframing classroom practices and rituals about Thanksgiving,” the event description explained. “Centering perspectives from Turtle Island (a name for North America used by some indigenous people) will help us decolonize Thanksgiving and spark new conversations about how to authentically make meaning of this holiday with our students.” Earlier this month, Washington University in St. Louis, an institution that has long been criticized over its DEI policies, put out a press release promoting an event that “highlights and honors the way different cultures recognize and understand Thanksgiving, both as part of their history and as a tradition brought into the present day.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE CAMPUS RADICALS COAST TO COAST The event was described as a way to “actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.” On Tuesday, Massachusetts Institute of Technology students are invited to the “4th annual Thanksgiving Myth-busting” event that is aimed at “continuing our exploration of the narratives justifying land grabs via colonialism” and includes a viewing of the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Part of that effort, according to the invitation, includes students traveling in rental cars to the National Indigenous Day of Mourning (NDOM) rally in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the location of the Mayflower’s landing. In a statement, an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital the school is closed on Thursday and Friday in honor of Thanksgiving. “In the same way that individuals are free at MIT to express their views, they are free to observe holidays as they wish, pray as they choose, share their ideas about holidays, and, yes, watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer if that’s what they freely choose to do,” the spokesperson said, adding that “the views expressed by an individual are their own and do not reflect those of MIT or the wider community on campus.” At the University of Massachusetts, the school referred to Thursday as a “Day of Mourning” in an announcement on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility website. “The National Day of Mourning is an annual demonstration, held on the fourth Thursday in November, that aims to educate the public about Native Americans in the United States, notably the Wampanoag and other tribes of the Eastern United States; dispel myths surrounding the Thanksgiving story in the United States; and raise awareness toward historical and ongoing struggles facing Native American tribes,” the announcement says. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SITE WARNS OF A ‘WHITENESS PANDEMIC,’ URGES WHITE PARENTS TO ‘RE-EDUCATE’ Earlier this month, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy hosted a talk called “Harvesting the Truth: Colonial Disruptions of Indigenous Food Systems & the Myths of Thanksgiving.” Students attending Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico were sent a November Indigenous Education update explaining that “many native people do not celebrate” Thanksgiving because it is a “reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the appropriation of Native lands, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.” The school district also referred to Thanksgiving as a time of “mourning” for some. The Berkeley Unified School District in California also used the term “mourning” in its “Rethinking Thanksgiving Teaching Guide” while asking the community to consider the “painful legacy” and “nuanced perspectives” of the day. Paul Runko, senior director of Strategic Initiatives at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital, “Thanksgiving is meant to bring people together, not to divide students or cast blame over heritage. It is an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to celebrate America, build unity in their communities, and share a meal with family and friends.” “236 years ago, President George Washington urged Americans to set aside a day to give thanks for the blessings and abundance of our nation. Presidents throughout our history have continued that tradition, reminding us each Thanksgiving to pause and reflect with gratitude.”
Giving thanks: Republican lawmakers express gratitude for ICE workers in DHS video
As Americans around the nation prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video on social media that features a montage of Republican lawmakers expressing their gratitude for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa noted that with Thanksgiving approaching, she wanted to provide her “heartfelt thanks to the great men and women of ICE.” “This Thanksgiving, I thank you for your service, and for deporting the illegal invaders who’ve flooded our communities,” Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said. DHS SAYS FOUR HOUSE DEMOCRATS ‘CHOSE TO STAND WITH CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS’ AFTER VISITING ICE DETAINEE The DHS post on X that features the video reads, “This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful to the dedicated men and women of @ICEgov who are working through the holiday to keep our communities safe. From the halls of Congress, thank you for your continued service and commitment.” The video, which also includes House Speaker Mike Johnson and various other Republicans, comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has been conducting an illegal immigration crackdown around the country. WAR ON BADGES: HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AMID ICE ATTACKS The Department of Homeland Security has noted a spike in reported assaults against ICE this year compared to last year. SANCTUARY POLITICIANS’ RHETORIC LED TO 1,150% SURGE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST ICE AGENTS: DHS CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “From January 21, 2024, through November 21, 2024, there were only 19 reported assaults against ICE law enforcement, while in the same timeframe in 2025 there were 238 reported assaults. This is a 1,153% increase in assaults,” a DHS release noted.
Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR’s ‘terrorist’ designation: ‘Defamatory’
A group of Muslim and interfaith leaders are urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to reverse his proclamation designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Texas’s designation is state-level only. It does not carry the legal force of a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listing, which only the U.S. State Department can issue. Abbott’s proclamation, therefore, does not trigger federal terrorism penalties or authorities. The leaders of several Muslim groups held a news conference on Tuesday to denounce the governor’s proclamation, which also labeled CAIR as a “a transnational criminal organization.” The groups called on the governor to retract his labeling of the civil rights group, calling it defamatory, destructive and dangerous, according to Fox 4. MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP CAIR SUES TEXAS OVER ABBOTT’S ‘TERRORIST’ DESIGNATION This comes after CAIR filed a lawsuit against Texas over the governor’s declaration, arguing that it violates both the U.S. Constitution and state law. CAIR argues the order violates its First Amendment rights and due-process protections, and that Texas overstepped its authority because terrorism designations fall under federal, not state, jurisdiction. “The governor is attempting to punish the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because he disagrees with its protected First Amendment rights to criticize a foreign state that is conducting genocide. This is not only contrary to the United States Constitution, but finds no support in any Texas law,” Mustaffa Carroll, the executive director for CAIR Dallas Fort Worth, said at the news conference on Tuesday. “You know that CAIR has condemned Hamas attacks. You know that CAIR has spent 31 years fighting terrorism and bigotry. You know that the terrorism boogeyman you invoke is nothing more than a tired, formulated playbook to stoke fear of Muslims,” Marium Uddin of the Muslim Legal Defense Fund said on Tuesday. Leaders from other faiths, including Jewish voices, also spoke out against Abbott’s label. “We stand steadfast in solidarity with our comrades in CAIR and in unwavering support in their lawsuit against Abbott’s false and unconstitutional proclamation,” Jewish Voice for Peace’s Deborah Armintor said. State Rep. Terry Meza, a Democrat, added that the governor’s words “are not just wrong, they’re dangerous. Making comments like this is dangerous to our Muslim community.” TEXAS GOV ABBOTT DECLARES CAIR, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS TERRORIST GROUPS, PREVENTING LAND PURCHASES The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether a court will uphold Abbott’s order or strike it down as exceeding state authority. The governor’s decree bars CAIR from buying land in the Lone Star State under a new statute aimed at curbing purchases tied to “foreign adversaries.” Abbott’s order also extended the “terrorist” label to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the federal government never classifying either group that way.
Rep. Swalwell sues Trump official over mortgage fraud allegations: ‘A gross abuse of power’
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., accused a top housing official of secretly pulling Democrats’ private mortgage records and weaponizing them to trigger federal criminal probes, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. In the suit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., Swalwell claimed that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte abused his position to obtain the mortgage records of numerous Democrats, which he used in criminal referrals to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The civil suit argued that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) did not have the authority to obtain, use or leak private data belonging to several prominent Democrats, who are widely viewed as staunch critics of President Donald Trump. “Today I have filed a civil lawsuit against FHA Director Bill Pulte for violating the Privacy Act and First Amendment,” Swalwell said in a statement. “Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents. To silence them.” REPUBLICANS FEUD OVER ‘ARCTIC FROST’ ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE, BUT CRITICS OFFER NO CLEAR ALTERNATIVE According to the lawsuit, Pulte “abused his position” by scouring government-sponsored databases for the private records of a number of Democrats, including Swalwell, which he then used “to concoct fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud” that he referred to the DOJ for prosecution, the lawsuit stated. The DOJ opened a probe into Swalwell on Nov. 13 over alleged mortgage fraud. The lawsuit stated that Pulte claimed in his referral to the DOJ that Swalwell falsely claimed his D.C. home as his primary residence on a mortgage agreement to help secure more favorable loan terms. But the California Democrat’s suit described the allegations in the referral as a “gross mischaracterization of reality” that represents “a gross abuse of power that violated the law.” “The allegations in Pulte’s referral are patently false,” the suit argued. The DOJ probe came as Swalwell set his sights on a higher office, announcing last week that he is launching a campaign for California governor in 2026. The lawsuit claims that the release of his personal information has harmed his reputation ahead of his gubernatorial campaign and forced him to “expend personal resources” as he fights the DOJ probe. LAWYERS FOR COOK, DOJ TRADE BLOWS AT HIGH-STAKES CLASH OVER FED FIRING Swalwell added in his complaint that the “widespread publication of information about the home where his wife and young children reside has exposed him to heightened security risks and caused him significant anguish and distress.” Swalwell claims in his suit that his political views have “earned him the ire of President Trump.” The lawsuit points to additional referrals FHFA made to the DOJ involving political figures who are seen as critics of Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, arguing that there is a pattern of political retaliation. A federal judge threw out the indictment against Letitia James on Monday. Swalwell argued that Pulte’s “unlawful actions” were intentional and represented “a purposeful attack on core democratic norms and reflect a base desire to achieve exactly what the First Amendment and the Privacy Act exist to prevent: the use of government machinery to chill and silence the government’s critics.” Swalwell is seeking damages, a declaration that FHFA violated federal law and an injunction forcing the agency to retract its referral. Pulte and the Federal Housing Finance Agency did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
DHS says four House Democrats ‘chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens’ after visiting ICE detainee
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday accused several House Democrats of meeting with a criminal illegal immigrant at an ICE detention facility, calling the visit a move in which they “chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.” According to the department, four House Democrats — Reps. Juan Vargas, Mike Levin, Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters — visited the ICE San Diego Field Office on Monday and requested to speak with the Honduran national, who has been accused of kidnapping and abusing his spouse. “Democrats once again chose to stand with a criminal illegal alien over American citizens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This criminal illegal alien these Democrat lawmakers met with has been charged with kidnapping and domestic abuse.” Peters’ office told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the lawmakers did not specifically request to speak with that detainee. The members reportedly asked to speak with “any detainee” during their oversight visit and were brought Rojas-Molina. The office added that DHS did not present any evidence that the detainee was convicted of such crimes. DHS TORCHES ‘BAMBOOZLED’ DEMS FOR CALLING ICE CRACKDOWN ‘VICIOUS LIES’ “The members asked weeks ago to conduct an oversight visit, ensuring that due process is followed and everyone is being afforded their legal rights,” Communications Director Lena Jacobson said. “They were finally allowed to do so yesterday. They did not ask to speak with Mr. Rojas-Molina. There were three detainees present. The members asked to speak with any detainee. This is the person who ICE presented to them. DHS has not provided any evidence to Rep. Peters’ office to show Mr. Rojas-Molina was convicted of the crimes they allege he committed.” McLaughlin described the representatives as “sanctuary politicians” who “continue to smear” efforts made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove offenders from the country. “These sanctuary politicians continue to smear law enforcement and falsely claim ICE is not targeting the worst of the worst. It’s disgusting that these sanctuary politicians continue to do the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.” Dennis Mauricio Rojas-Molina, who was deported from the U.S. a decade ago, was arrested in May on charges of kidnapping and spousal battery. In the summer of 2015, during the Obama administration, Rojas-Molina was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near Lukeville, Arizona, but was later released into the country. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal several months after his arrest, and he was deported Oct. 14, 2015. He subsequently reentered the United States illegally at an unknown date and time. SENATE DEM DICK DURBIN ACCUSES TRUMP ADMIN OF ‘TERRORIZING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES’ In a video posted to Rep. Mike Levin’s X account on Monday featuring all four lawmakers at a news conference, Levin confirmed they had visited a detainee who was recently arrested, though he did not name the individual. He noted that the man has two children — ages 11 and 5. “Folks like him need a path to stay,” Levin said of the detainees the representatives visited. “They need a path to legal status so that they can continue to work hard and contribute positively to our economy. … We need to treat them better than this.” Fox News Digital reached out to Reps. Juan Vargas, Mike Levin and Sara Jacobs for more information. DHS added that ICE continues to arrest the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants despite Democrats’ claims that the department is not prioritizing offenders, citing Rep. Sara Jacobs’ post on X Monday stating, “ICE isn’t going after criminals; they’re targeting your neighbors and friends.” “Seventy percent of the illegal aliens arrested by ICE have criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States,” DHS said, adding that the department continues to focus its enforcement efforts on murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, terrorists and other dangerous individuals. The department also emphasized that the figure does not reflect those wanted for crimes in other countries, those with Interpol notices or those facing human rights-related violations.
NYC Council welcomes new mayor with bill that would dramatically raise salaries for city officials
Zohran Mamdani and other top New York City officials could see their salaries jump under a proposed 16% pay hike that council members are hoping to push through soon, according to reports. A bill introduced by Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, D-Queens, would raise members’ salaries from $148,500 to $172,500, the New York Post reported Tuesday. If passed, the pay hike would also apply to the new mayor, public advocate, comptroller and borough presidents. It would put Mamdani’s pay at nearly $300,000, up from the current $258,000, the outlet said. NYC MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI ASKS SUPPORTERS FOR $4M TO FUND TRANSITION, VOWS NO WEALTHY DONORS Other top officials, such as the comptroller, public advocate, and borough presidents, would see comparable increases. The legislation would be introduced this week with a hearing by year’s end, allowing the next City Council to vote in January for a swifter approval. Council members last received a raise in 2016. Interestingly, it was Mamdani who built out a platform centered on affordability for working-class New Yorkers. FOX NEWS’ MARTHA MACCALLUM TO INTERVIEW NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI The Ugandan-born 34-year-old pledged free buses, rent freezes on rent-stabilized apartments, universal childcare and city-run grocery stores during his campaign for New York City mayor. He also campaigned on a gradual increase of the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. Mamdani has said these proposals would be funded primarily by raising taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations. As a state assembly member in 2022, Mamdani also voted for a pay raise for state legislators. MAMDANI LAUGHS OFF CRITICISM THAT HIS TAX HIKE PROPOSALS WILL COMPEL NEW YORKERS TO FLEE The latest NYC pay hike plans were originally headed for Mayor Eric Adams’ desk, but that schedule was shelved, according to the Post. “If we have a hearing on the bill this year, we don’t need a hearing on it next year. It’s pre-considered,” Williams told The Post. When the outlet asked her if the council would pass the pay hike bill in January, Williams responded, “That’s the goal.” A source also said that the pay hike legislation puts Mamdani in a predicament. He could veto the bill or approve a law “making New York more affordable for the political class,” the source said. Fox News Digital has reached out to Zohran Mamdani for comment.
Hegseth seeks briefing on Sen Mark Kelly ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ viral video
The Department of War released an update via X on Tuesday regarding “potentially unlawful conduct” exhibited by Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., in the viral video titled “Don’t Give Up the Ship” which critics claim encouraged treason from service members. War Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded an update on the review by Dec. 10. “The Department of War recently received information regarding potentially unlawful comments made by CAPT (Ret) Mark E. Kelly in a public video, on or about November 18, 2025. I am referring this, and any other related matters, for your review, consideration, and disposition as you deem appropriate,” Hegseth wrote. “Please provide me a brief on the outcome of your review by no later than December 10, 2025,” his letter concluded. HEGSETH RIPS MARK KELLY’S POST ABOUT HIS SERVICE: ‘YOU CAN’T EVEN DISPLAY YOUR UNIFORM CORRECTLY’ Hegseth addressed his letter to the Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan. Kelly served in the Navy as a captain before running for office. Kelly is the highest-ranking veteran featured in the viral “Don’t Give Up the Ship” video. Others appearing in the clip include Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army O-3; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., a former U.S. Air Force O‑3; White House national security adviser Eric Goodlander, a Naval Reserve officer; Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst; and Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., an E‑5 in the Army National Guard Reserves. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kelly did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The Department of War provided no additional comment upon request from Fox News Digital. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Mamdani economic advisor is reparations activist who says ‘devaluation of Black lives’ ingrained in US system
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced a new economic and workforce development transition team that will be headed by, among others, reparations activist Darrick Hamilton, who argues the U.S. economy and governmental policies related to it are racist. Hamilton, who went to Oberlin College and later the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the progressive The New School university in New York City. Hamilton’s academic biography at The New School calls him a “pioneer” in the field of “stratification economics,” which is aimed at looking at how race and ethnicity are embedded into “inequality” in education, economic and health outcomes. Mamdani announced Monday the creation of more than 17 transition advisory committees made up of more than 400 people to help advise his incoming administration, including the Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Development, which Hamilton will help lead. MAMDANI’S TOP INCOMING AIDE WAS ‘CHIEF ARCHITECT’ OF RADICAL PROPOSAL OVERHAULING NYPD “Since our nation’s inception, the immoral devaluation of Black lives has been ingrained in America’s political economy, and (has) manifested in a persistent, unjust, and enormous racial wealth gap,” Hamilton told Congress in 2021. “Our unjust racial wealth gap is itself an implicit measure of our racist past that is rooted in a history in which whites have been privileged by (a) government complicit (in) political and economic intervention(s) that have afforded them access to resources and iterative and intergenerational accumulation.” Hamilton also sits on the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, where he advises members of the New York State legislature on policy recommendations for “reparative justice,” as it relates to “the historical and present-day consequences of slavery and discrimination.” One proposal Hamilton is known for is socioeconomic-based “Baby Bonds,” which would essentially establish racially conscious trust funds for children. The Baby Bonds would be given a certain amount of seed funding depending upon determined need, and would grow until the kids become adults and can use the money. Hamilton has argued that one-time reparations payments do not go far enough and steps, such as the Baby Bonds proposal, should be taken to help Black folks garner ownership of “means of production in American society.” Meanwhile, Hamilton has been criticized for allegedly wanting to add Black immigrants to reparations policies, as opposed to making them exclusively for the descendants of slavery. Yvette Carnell, a prominent activist and co-founder of the American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) movement, has also called Hamilton “clueless” and accused the scholar of kowtowing to whichever politician is in power. “The racial wealth gap is such that the typical Black family has about 10 cents on the dollar as a typical white family,” Hamilton said during a 2020 podcast episode on Freakonomics Radio. “That history of racial disparity, as it relates to wealth-building, certainly didn’t end with slavery,” Hamilton added. “There was the Homestead Act. There was the G.I. Bill. There was a system of sharecropping. There’s a system of Jim Crow. There is a system of redlining. It was government-facilitated.” UNEARTHED ANTISEMITIC, ANTI-ISRAEL POSTS FROM MAMDANI AIDE SPARK GOP OUTRAGE During a separate appearance on The Black News Channel, Hamilton also said he is not one to “compromise” on policy either, when asked why Democrats are always “compromising with crazy people.” “I don’t like the word compromise … because one thing we know is that when we think about race, the group that is typically the first to be compromised are the issues related to those that are most marginalized, which in the United States’ context has been Black people,” Hamilton said during the 2021 Black News Chanel interview. “We need government to start doing good,” Hamilton continued, “because when people realize the government can do good it creates a momentum, a movement forward that makes it harder for us to turn back.” Other folks tapped for Mamdani’s new Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Development include Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, and Deyanira Del Río, executive director of the New Economy Project, which she has said on the record is “dedicated to building an economy … rooted in racial and gender justice, neighborhood equity and ecological sustainability.” Not long after Mamdani won his election and began nominating members to his transition team, he faced backlash for staffing his team with aides from former NYC mayoral campaigns, ranging from Bill de Blasio, to Michael Bloomberg to Eric Adams. Mamdani also tapped a longtime Biden adviser to help lead his transition that garnered criticism. “The polls have barely closed, and already the incoming mayor is breaking one of his core promises to shake up the status quo and usher in a new day. New York City started a downward spiral under the de Blasio administration, and now some of its main players are returning to the halls of power,” Republican strategist Colin Reed told Fox News Digital. “And former FTC Chair Lina Khan became synonymous with her hostility toward businesses large and small during the Biden administration and one of the ringleaders of Bidenomics.” Neither Mamdani’s team, nor Hamilton, responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comments in time for publication.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Former Army captain warns Dems’ ‘unpatriotic’ video could spark chaos
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -‘Full-blown battle’ brewing in Dem party as Mamdani-style candidates rise in key races –Biden-era regulation on the chopping block as Trump-aligned legal group warns of ‘DEI lens’ -Trump admin ends Temporary Protected Status for Burmese migrants A video featuring six Democrats telling U.S. troops to reject unlawful orders has sparked backlash, with President Donald Trump declaring it to be “seditious behavior.” Former U.S. Army Captain Doug Truax, founder of Restoration of America, told Fox News Digital the video risks undermining the military’s chain of command and increasing political tensions across the country. “This is one of the most unpatriotic things I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Truax told Fox News Digital…READ MORE. ‘BAMBOOZLED’: DHS blasts “bamboozled” Dems claiming worst of worst targets are “vicious lies” ‘OUT OF ORDER’: Hegseth rips Mark Kelly’s post about his service: ‘You can’t even display your uniform correctly’ FOWL PLAY: Trump jokes that Biden turkey pardon in 2024 ‘invalid’ due to autopen MOCKING DOJ ‘FOOLS’: Comey expects further legal scrutiny from Trump admin, criticizes ‘fools who would frighten us’ WAR ON TWO FRONTS: Trump pushes peace in Europe, pressure in the Americas — inside the two-front gamble TROJAN HORSE ENERGY: CCP-linked firms quietly hold stakes in US solar companies, fueling Dems’ green push EXODUS WARNING: Former House Speaker McCarthy warns Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘the canary in the coal mine’ RISKING IT ALL: War on cops: House committee targets anti-police rhetoric after ICE attacks RENT-FREE: Rep. Thomas Massie jokes amid incoming fire from President Trump CAPITOL INQUIRY: FBI scheduling interviews with 6 lawmakers who encouraged military members to refuse ‘illegal orders’ TITLE IX CRACKDOWN: GOP senator probes 18 blue states, DC over Trump’s transgender athlete order MUSIC CITY SHOWDOWN: Democrats, Republicans, go all in on final 2025 congressional ballot box showdown DOJ BACKS TEXAS: DOJ backs Texas in Supreme Court fight over Republican-drawn map LUXURY LIBERAL: Iowa Dem House candidate’s luxurious lifestyle clashes with ‘working-class’ campaign message ‘MISSED THE MARK’: Cracker Barrel CEO says she felt like got ‘fired by America’ after redesign scandal ‘SKIRTING THE LAW’: ICE seeking to deport ‘criminal’ who allegedly threw coffee on baby, mother and dog Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump calls Chicago ‘out of control’ after train attack left woman critically burned
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said crime in Chicago is “out of control” and blasted so-called “liberal judges” after a woman was set on fire in the deep-blue city last week — allegedly by a man with 72 prior arrests who had been out on bond despite prosecutors calling for him to be incarcerated. Trump, speaking at the White House during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, again called on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to allow National Guard troops to be deployed to the Windy City to tackle crime amid a wave of recent violent incidents. The president’s plea came a week after Bethany MaGee, 26, was allegedly set on fire by 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, who has spent decades cycling through the criminal justice system. Additionally, a teenager was fatally shot and at least eight others were injured after two shootings on Friday night in downtown Chicago. “This is a very serious thing,” Trump said. “They burned this beautiful woman riding in a train. A man was arrested 72 times. 72 times. Think of that. And they’ll let him out again, the liberal judges will let him out again.” DEMOCRATS SLAM TRUMP FOR ‘WAR’ THREATS TARGETING US CITIES: ‘NOT YOUR WAR ZONE’ Trump for months has attempted to send troops to Chicago, as he has done in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn., to help curb violent crime. He has said those deployments caused crime to plummet. But Pritzker and Johnson have staunchly opposed deploying troops. They have called any deployment unconstitutional and insisted the city is not facing the kind of crime crisis the White House claims. The president has also floated invoking the Insurrection Act to tackle violent crime in Chicago. “But we’re ready to go,” Trump said Tuesday. “You know, we’ve been moving toward Chicago. We have a governor that thinks it’s wonderful that only like seven people were killed this week… It’s horrible what’s happening in Chicago.” Trump said a federal response would make Chicago “totally safe” in a matter of weeks. “And the people of Chicago want us to go there. And if you look at the crime that’s taking place in Chicago in the last two weeks, just take a look. It’s on the front page of every newspaper,” Trump said. “It’s out of control. The mayor is incompetent, and the governor is a big fat slob. He ought to invite us in and say, ‘please make Chicago safe.’” “We’re going to lose a great city if we don’t do it quickly,” Trump added. TRUMP OFFICIALS SLAM BLUE STATE GOVERNOR FOR IGNORING CHAOTIC ANTI-ICE ‘RIOTERS’ DISRUPTING OPERATION Critics of Illinois’ progressive criminal policies point to the attack on MaGee as the latest in a string of crimes perpetrated by career criminals who are repeatedly released back onto the streets to target law-abiding citizens. Reed, MaGee’s alleged attacker, had been ordered onto electronic monitoring on Aug. 22 when Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez denied a prosecution request to keep him jailed on felony allegations that he knocked a social worker unconscious inside MacNeal Hospital’s psychiatric ward. During that hearing, transcripts show Molina-Gonzalez told prosecutors, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.” According to court documents in that battery case, Cook County electronic monitoring records show Reed repeatedly violated his curfew and movement restrictions in the days leading up to the alleged Chicago Transit Authority attack on MaGee on Nov. 17. Shortly before Trump’s comments on Tuesday, the White House weighed in on the attack, blasting left-wing policies in deep-blue cities. “Liberal soft-on-crime policies are FAILING American communities and endangering law-abiding citizens,” the White House wrote on X. “A career criminal with 72 arrests should have never been free to roam the streets. Pray for Bethany.” Fox News’ Stephen Sorace, Greg Wehner, Alexandra Koch and Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.