Trump says first lady ‘hates when I do this’ in public — the moment he can’t help repeating
President Donald Trump said Tuesday in an address before Republican lawmakers that first lady Melania Trump is no fan of when he dances in public, calling it “not presidential.” “My wife hates when I do this,” Trump said Tuesday at the Kennedy Center during an address at the House GOP Member Retreat. “She’s a very classy person, right? She said, ‘It’s so unpresidential.’ I said, ‘but I did become president.’ … She hates when I dance. I said, ‘Everybody wants me to dance.’” ‘”Darling, it’s not presidential,” he continued of what the first lady tells him. Trump dancing became a hallmark of 2024 campaign rallies, with Trump routinely kicking off and ending public events by dancing, frequently while the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A” or Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” blasted in the background. The signature dance typically includes Trump making a fist and shimmying his arms back and forth while pointing to people in the crowd. MADURO’S WIFE SUFFERED ‘SIGNIFICANT INJURIES’ IN DRAMATIC CAPTURE, ATTORNEY ALLEGES The president has previously mentioned the first lady did not approve of his rally dancing, recounting to crowds of supporters in 2023 in Iowa that: “She said, ‘Darling, I love you, I love you, but this is not presidential. You don’t dance off the stage. This is not presidential.’” Trump continued Tuesday that the first lady had pressed him that past presidents did not dance solo on political stages, pointing to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as an example of how presidents should conduct themselves. “She actually said, ‘Could you imagine FDR dancing,’” he continued. “She said that to me.” “And I said, ‘There’s a long history that perhaps she doesn’t know because he was an elegant fellow, even as a Democrat.” TRUMP RALLIES HOUSE GOP AT KENNEDY CENTER DAYS AFTER MADURO CAPTURE “He was quite elegant, but he wouldn’t be doing this. But nor would too many others. But she said, ‘Darling, please, the weightlifting is terrible.’ And I have to say this, the dancing, they really like,” Trump said of supporters who enjoy his rally dance routines. “She said, ‘They don’t like it. They’re just being nice to you,’” Trump recounted. “‘I said, that’s not right,” he continued. Trump’s comments on the first lady’s dislike of his dancing came amid him impersonating weightlifters while discussing biological males competing against biological females. Trump has said in public before that Melania Trump does not approve of him imitating weightlifters, as well as dancing during political events. TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA’S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE Trump’s address before the group of Republican lawmakers follows a historic and busy weekend, when he confirmed the U.S. military carried out a successful strike in Venezuela and captured the nation’s dictatorial president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. The pair, as well as others entrenched in the regime, were charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. The couple pleaded not guilty in a New York City court Monday and are being held in a prison in Brooklyn. Tuesday’s event, however, is more focused on the party’s agenda for the coming year, as lawmakers prepare for the wild midterm season that will pick up steam in the coming months. Trump capped off his address by clapping and dancing to the “Y.M.C.A.” as he walked off stage.
Texas Republicans in 2 counties drop push to hand-count ballots
Texas Republicans in two counties have dropped proposals to hand-count ballots in their upcoming March primary elections, backing away from the effort after determining it would be too costly and difficult to carry out while meeting federal election requirements. NBC News reported that the Dallas County Republican Party backed away from the proposal amid volunteer shortfalls and rising costs, while the Hays County Republican Party cited challenges related to federal voting requirements. The Dallas County Republican Party and Hays County Republican Party did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Allen West, the GOP chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, told NBC News that the party aimed to recruit more than 3,000 volunteers to hand-count ballots but ended up with only about 1,300 to 1,500. TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE’LL HELM MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE MAIL-IN VOTING AND VOTING MACHINES: ‘FIGHT LIKE HELL’ West said the prospect of a long ballot compounded staffing worries and increased the risk of missing the state’s 24-hour deadline for counting votes. “It’s a second-degree misdemeanor if you’re not able to get those ballots counted on time and get them submitted, and we don’t want to put people in that position,” he told the outlet. West said funding the proposal presented another challenge, noting that while roughly $500,000 had already been raised, party leaders believed more money would be needed. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STRIKES DEAL WITH OHIO TO CLEAN UP STATE VOTER ROLLS USING FEDERAL DATABASE He added that contributors would be offered refunds and the party could consider the hand-counting ballots proposal again in 2028. Hays County Republican officials said the effort was hindered by a lack of accessible voting machines at precincts and by delays in obtaining election data needed to organize and merge polling locations. “Proceeding without these elements would have placed our party and voters at significant legal, financial, and operational risk, and could have undermined the very integrity we have been striving to defend,” county party Chairwoman Michelle Lopez said in a Dec. 22 letter, according to NBC News.
From Congress, to VP nominee to disgraced former governor: A look at the rise and fall of Tim Walz
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has dropped his re-election bid this week in the wake of revelations of massive fraud that occurred under his watch — potentially ending the political career of a governor who came into office with consolidated support, accomplished several progressive goals, and shot to the national spotlight as a vice presidential candidate before being undone by scandal. The 61-year-old Walz was raised in rural Nebraska and enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1981, soon after graduating from high school. Walz returned to Nebraska to attend Chadron State College, where he graduated in 1989 with a degree in social science education. He taught English and American History in China for one year through a program at Harvard University before being hired in 1990 as a high school teacher and football and basketball coach in Nebraska. Six years later, he moved to Mankato, Minnesota, to teach geography at Mankato West High. Walz was deployed to Italy to support Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 before retiring two years later from the National Guard. KLOBUCHAR WEIGHING RUN FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AS WALZ ENDS RE-ELECTION BID AMID FRAUD SCANDAL Walz was elected to Congress in 2006 to represent Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, defeating a 6-term Republican incumbent, and built a reputation as a centrist-to-moderate Democrat, especially on veterans’ issues, agriculture, and education while serving as a National Guard member in Congress. In March 2017, he announced a run for governor, leaving the Washington gridlock and emphasizing a “One Minnesota” message and took office in January 2019 with consolidated support from the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. “Tim Walz rose at a moment of maximum political upheaval,” retired Minnesota State Patrol Lt. John Nagel, running for Congress as a Republican to unseat Minnesota Dem. Rep. Ilhan Omar, told Fox News Digital. “After the George Floyd protests, Democrats consolidated power in Minnesota, the media closed ranks, and Walz benefited from a narrative that treated him less as a governor subject to scrutiny and more as a symbol of progressive governance.” HOW FEARS OF BEING LABELED ‘RACIST’ HELPED ‘PROVIDE COVER’ FOR THE EXPLODING MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL On social media in recent days, many have speculated that Walz being elevated to the presidential ticket alongside Kamala Harris brought a level of public scrutiny that ultimately contributed to his waning popularity. In August 2024, roughly two weeks after Harris stepped in to run for president after President Joe Biden withdrew himself from the race, Harris announced Walz as her running mate, touting his resume as a “governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran.” “He’s delivered for working families like his,” Harris said. Walz said in an interview earlier this year that Harris chose him, in part, because, “I could code talk to White guys watching football, fixing their truck” and “put them at ease.” He described himself as the “permission structure” for White men from rural America to vote for Democrats. Almost immediately, Walz was enveloped in scrutiny over his record and criticism for several high-profile gaffes, including stolen valor allegations and a claim he was present at the Tiananmen Square massacre that he was forced to walk back with the explanation that he is a “knucklehead at times.” Ultimately, many political pundits viewed Harris’ decision to pick Walz over other potential running mates like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a misstep and Harris herself wrote in her book, “107 Days,” about her disappointment in Walz’s vice presidential debate performance, saying that being the “closer” and debating on such a large scale was “not a comfortable role” for Walz. During his time as governor, Walz notched several progressive victories, including signing a $2.3 billion education budget — the biggest in Minnesota’s history — funding expanded free meals for students, thousands of new pre-K seats, and increased mental health resources in schools. In 2023, Walz signed into law the Protect Reproductive Options Act, making Minnesota one of the most abortion-friendly states in the wake of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Other legislation Walz signed into law included the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, a $2.6 billion bipartisan infrastructure package, and a paid leave law that Democrats had long pushed for. MEDIA ‘COMPLICITY’ BLAMED AS FEDS SAY MINNESOTA FRAUD CRISIS COULD REACH $9B: ‘SHOWN THEIR TRUE COLORS’ Walz launched his bid for a third four-year term as Minnesota governor in September, but in recent weeks has been facing a barrage of incoming political fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans, and some Democrats, over the large-scale theft in a state that has long prided itself on good governance. More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers, and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion. “The fraud scandals shattered the image,” Nagel told Fox News Digital. “They weren’t just policy failures — they were failures of leadership and oversight. Once federal investigators stepped in and national media paid attention, the contrast between the narrative and the reality became impossible to ignore.” Fraud concerns in Minnesota had been an open secret in Minnesota for years, dating back to when Walz took office, but exploded in recent months to the national forefront, leading to calls from prominent Republicans for him to resign. “As I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all,” Walz wrote in a statement. “Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.” “So I’ve decided to
Trump dedicates Kennedy Center speech to Doug LaMalfa after congressman’s shocking death: ‘He was our friend’
President Donald Trump dedicated his speech before Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., after the congressman’s sudden death earlier in the day. Trump was previously scheduled to address the House GOP members retreat at the Trump-Kennedy Center on Tuesday, but he said he nearly canceled the plans after learning of LaMalfa’s death. The president praised LaMalfa for always standing by him in votes, and said it was to his credit that Trump never had to call him to rally his support. “I spoke to Doug, but I didn’t speak to him, you know? I mean, we never had a problem. I was really saddened by his passing and was thinking about not even doing the speech in his honor,” Trump said. “But then I decided that I have to do it in his honor. I’ll do it in his honor because he would’ve wanted it that way.” “He would’ve said, ‘Do that speech! Are you kidding me? Do the speech,’” he continued. “He was a fantastic person. Man, that was a quick one. I don’t know quite yet what happened, but boy is that a tough one. He was just with us. He was our friend. All of us, every one of us.” SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE’S AIMING FOR IN 2026 LaMalfa, 65, died Tuesday morning, but the circumstances of his passing have yet to be confirmed. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., confirmed LaMalfa’s death on X. “Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said. SOCIALIST WINS PILE UP AFTER GOP’S BRUTAL 2025 OFF-YEAR ELECTION LOSSES LaMalfa was known as a champion of conservative causes as well as a kind man to both reporters and his fellow House lawmakers. The congressman represented the 1st Congressional District in Northern California, and was chair of the Congressional Western Caucus. His death brings House Republicans’ majority down to 218–213, meaning Republicans now can lose only two votes to pass legislation along party lines. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Rand Paul: Biden FBI tracked Catholic teacher with no Jan 6 ties in ‘weaponized’ probe
The FBI under the Biden administration spent two years investigating a Catholic school teacher — and even put her on a terror watchlist — based on an unverified tip that connected her to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021, according to a new congressional report. Christine Crowder wasn’t at the U.S. Capitol when a mob overran the building to prevent the certification of the 2020 election, according to findings released by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. She was, however, in D.C. for a rally for President Donald Trump earlier that day, and the FBI spent 23 months tracking her for it, the report said. The committee’s chairman, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called the move an overreach of federal power based on insufficient evidence. BIDEN DOJ AND FBI CONSIDERED CRIMINAL PROBE INTO KYRSTEN SINEMA AFTER SHE LEFT DEMOCRATIC PARTY “A free society cannot tolerate a system in which programs and authorities intended to keep the public safe are instead weaponized against them due to mere suspicion,” Paul said. “The records released today show how an unverified tip that the FBI failed to substantiate led to nearly two years of surveillance of an innocent American.” According to a timeline put out by the committee, the FBI’s probe of Crowder first began in January 2021, when an anonymous tipster claimed to have recognized her in news coverage of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building. Despite an initial negative match for her face and geolocation, the FBI expanded its probe, and, for the better part of two years, conducted physical surveillance of the Crowder household, put her on a travel watchlist, secured a warrant for her Facebook account and even prepared a prosecution case against her, the report said. The FBI would finally drop the case in June 2023 when the bureau determined that it could not positively place Crowder at the Capitol on Jan. 6. “After conducting pertinent checks, FBI found no evidence that Crowder definitively entered the Capitol Building. At the time Crowder was supposedly exiting the Capitol, she was elsewhere in D.C.,” the bureau wrote in its closing finding. FBI TO BE UNDER HARSH NEW MICROSCOPE AS STEFANIK SCORES VICTORY IN ANNUAL DEFENSE BILL According to the committee, Crowder’s case surfaced as a part of a larger investigation into whether Biden-era federal agencies used flight watchlists to conduct politically motivated surveillance under their Quiet Skies Program. Crowder’s case also overlaps with religious profiling memos used internally by the FBI under the Biden administration. Lawmakers had previously uncovered internal FBI communications under the Biden administration that, in 2022, had targeted traditionalist Catholic places of worship in Richmond. In the view of an FBI memo, those churches were suspected of radicalizing ethnically motivated extremists. The FBI rescinded the memo after a whistleblower released the memo to the public. The memo fed into concern among Republican lawmakers that the FBI and other agencies had used religious and political profiling to justify surveillance. Those same Republican concerns about weaponized suspicions extended to the Quiet Skies Program — a surveillance initiative that has since been terminated under the Trump administration. It sought to monitor targets who could post security risks, but who hadn’t formally been designated as threats by federal agencies. Republicans feared that the program created an amorphous gray area that allowed for travel surveillance even without a credible danger to national security. In one such case, the committee’s previous work revealed that the TSA had placed surveillance on future Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on at least five flights in 2024 after attending an event in Vatican City. Gabbard told lawmakers she believed the surveillance only began after she made statements critical of then-President Joe Biden. With regard to the Crowder case, FBI Director Kash Patel called the effort a misapplication of the bureau’s focus and resources. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Quiet Skies Program cost taxpayers $200 million annually. “This case is an example of misplaced priorities and everything that went wrong with federal law enforcement in the aftermath of January 6,” Patel said in a statement released by the committee. JIM JORDAN ACCUSES DOJ OF ‘SPYING’ ON HIM FOR YEARS THROUGH SECRET PHONE RECORD SUBPOENAS “When a Catholic kindergarten teacher from Texas can be surveilled for more than two years simply for being in Washington, D.C., without entering the Capitol, without committing a crime, we have crossed from legitimate investigation into political overreach.” Paul echoed Patel’s framing, thanking the administration for terminating the program. “I am grateful for FBI Director Kash Patel’s cooperation in producing these records, and I appreciate Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for ending the Quiet Skies program. The conduct revealed by these documents underscores the need to limit the power of faceless bureaucrats who have too often infringed on the rights of the people,” Paul said.
Republican congressman hospitalized after car accident, sources say
Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., has been hospitalized after a car accident, Fox News has learned. Baird, 80, is responsive and in stable condition, Fox News sources said. Details about the incident remain unclear, although President Donald Trump said that the incident was “pretty bad” and that Baird’s wife was also injured. HOUSE GOP REP DOUG LAMALFA DEAD AT 65 “I also want to send our best wishes to Congressman Jim Baird and his wife, who were recovering from a car accident,” Trump said Tuesday during remarks at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. “They’re going to be okay, but they had a pretty bad accident and we’re praying that they get out of that hospital very quickly.” Trump also paid tribute to Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., who has died at age 65. His death brings House Republicans’ majority down to 218–213. Baird, known on Capitol Hill for veterans and farming issues, has represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District since 2019. The district is a largely rural, agriculture-heavy area in western and north-central Indiana. RED STATE MOVES FORWARD ON TRUMP-BACKED PUSH FOR NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP A U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, Baird later became a veterinarian and entered politics after decades in private practice. Before entering Congress, Baird served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018 and as a Putnam County commissioner before that, from 2006 to 2010. Over the weekend, Baird hailed the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. “We are fortunate to have a president willing to follow through on protecting American lives. Decisive leadership as commander in chief matters, and it gives our men and women in uniform the confidence they need to carry out difficult missions against those who threaten our country,” Baird wrote on X. “Holding indicted criminals accountable and denying drug traffickers a safe haven sends a clear message: The United States will not tolerate foreign actors who enable the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities.
Republicans rally behind Trump’s military strike to arrest Maduro as Democrats sound alarm: poll
Republicans and Democrats sharply disagree over support for the military operation President Donald Trump ordered to arrest Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, according to a new national poll. Sixty-five percent of Republicans questioned in the survey by Reuters/Ipsos said they backed the strike, carried out by the U.S. military before dawn on Saturday, in which Maduro was captured and handed over to federal authorities for prosecution on drug trafficking charges. But only 23% of Independents and just 11% of Democrats questioned in the survey, which was conducted Sunday and Monday, approved of the military operation in Venezuela. WHO’S WHO IN THE MADURO CASE, AS JUDGE, PROSECUTORS, AND DEFENSE FACE OFF Nearly two-thirds of Democrats and 35% of Independents, but just 5% of Republicans, said they didn’t approve of the strike. Overall, a third of those questioned approved of the mission, a third had no opinion or didn’t answer the question, and 34% disapproved. AG BONDI TELLS FOX NEWS ‘NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE’ AFTER MADURO ARREST Trump, who has long criticized foreign interventions by his predecessors in the White House, has said the U.S. will “run” Venezuela. “We’re in charge,” the president reiterated to reporters. But 72% of all adults questioned in the survey, including 90% of Democrats, 74% of Independents and 54% of Republicans, said they worry the U.S. will get too involved in Venezuela. RUBIO DEFENDS VENEZUELA OPERATION OVER LACK OF CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR MADURO CAPTURE The president on Monday said he’s prepared to send U.S. ground troops to Venezuela if leaders in the South American nation don’t cooperate. And vowing to overhaul and rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry, Trump said the U.S. needs “total access” to the country’s expansive oil fields. Sixty percent of Republicans surveyed said they supported sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, compared to just 30% of all adults. But reflecting concerns among those in the GOP who advocate an America First agenda, only 43% of Republican respondents agreed with the statement, “The United States should have a policy of dominating affairs in the Western Hemisphere,” with 19% disagreeing and the remainder unsure or not answering the question. The president’s approval rating in the survey stood at 42%, up three points from the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was conducted in December.
National Rifle Association sues its charitable foundation, alleging takeover by ‘disgruntled’ ex-board members
The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing its charitable foundation, the NRA Foundation, of misusing $160 million in donations. The NRA alleged the foundation used its trademarks without authorization and diverted donations intended for NRA charitable programs. The group also claimed former NRA directors seized control of the foundation to compete with the gun rights organization. “The Foundation has been seized by a disgruntled faction of former NRA directors who lost control of the NRA’s Board following revelations of financial improprieties, mismanagement, and breaches of fiduciary duty and member trust,” attorneys for the NRA wrote in the complaint. The attorney claimed that the faction of former directors seeks to use the foundation to reclaim control after having been “booted out of power by the NRA’s members.” BLACK LIVES MATTER OKC LEADER CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING IN ALLEGED $3.15M EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME The suit claims that the foundation has a personal “beef” with the NRA, and that the faction is “bitter” about losing control of the NRA’s board following “a series of scandals.” Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s former chief, resigned in January 2024 as he was set to face trial in a corruption case brought by Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James. Prosecutors alleged that NRA executives used millions in company funds on luxury personal purchases and trips. US APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN CALIFORNIA OPEN-CARRY GUN BAN IN MAJOR SECON AMENDMENT RULING A jury found the organization liable for financial mismanagement, ordering LaPierre to repay the group $4,351,231. A judge later decided not to assign an outside monitor to oversee the NRA, but banned LaPierre from employment with the organization for ten years. The lawsuit asks a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to bar the foundation from what the NRA calls unfair competition, including promoting or advertising any affiliation with the NRA or using its logo. It also seeks to block conduct that could lead the public to believe the foundation’s activities are “sponsored, endorsed, or authorized by, or associated or connected with” the NRA.
Mamdani admits he has no federal security clearance after claiming he was ‘briefed’ on Venezuela raid
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted he has no federal security clearance on Monday, just a day after claiming he had been “briefed” about the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Mamdani was asked directly about his security clearance during a Monday press briefing, ultimately saying that he had not yet received it. The freshly-inaugurated mayor had been the butt of viral jokes on social media from users suggesting he had inflated his access to information about the strike in his initial statement. “You don’t have federal security clearance yet, and has anyone from a federal agency reached out to you or members of your team to begin the vetting to get federal security clearance?” a reporter asked. “That briefing, yes, was conducted by my team,” Mamdani responded. “And the question of federal security clearance is one that’s on and on.” US MILITARY DETAILS TIMELINE OF OPERATION TO CAPTURE MADURO, REVEALING MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT INVOLVED “So you do have it?” the reporter pressed. “No, not as yet,” the mayor admitted. The exchange came after Mamdani’s initial statement on the Venezuela raid appeared to suggest he had received inside information on the operation. JONATHAN TURLEY: MADURO OPERATION WAS LEGAL, BUT TRUMP MAKES IT COMPLICATED “I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City,” Mamdani wrote on X after news of Maduro’s capture broke. He went on to condemn the move by President Donald Trump, but some users on social media called him out for inflating his access. “Called it,” wrote one user whose post on the topic received over 140,000 “likes.” Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
House GOP Rep Doug LaMalfa dead at 65
U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., has died at age 65. LaMalfa represented the 1st Congressional District, part of Northern California, and was chair of the Congressional Western Caucus. His death brings House Republicans’ majority down to 218–213. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., confirmed LaMalfa’s death on X. SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE’S AIMING FOR IN 2026 “Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said. LaMalfa was known as a champion of conservative causes as well as a kind man to both reporters and his fellow House lawmakers. SOCIALIST WINS PILE UP AFTER GOP’S BRUTAL 2025 OFF-YEAR ELECTION LOSSES With his death and the recent resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., House Republicans currently can lose only two votes to still pass anything along party lines. It’s a perilously slim majority as Republicans kick off the second half of the 119th Congress with hopes of passing a second “big, beautiful bill.” LaMalfa’s death appears to have caught a majority of his colleagues by surprise, with tributes pouring out for the late congressman on Tuesday morning. “Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California. He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service,” said National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C. LaMalfa’s House GOP colleague from California, Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., said in a statement, “Doug was not only a respected colleague in the California Republican Delegation, but a genuinely kind, decent man who treated everyone with warmth and respect. His leadership, friendship, and steady presence will be deeply missed.” The news comes just as House Republicans are meeting for an all-day policy brainstorming session at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump is addressing GOP lawmakers on Tuesday morning to kick off the day’s events.