Trump Clashes With Reporter Over Tariffs, Citing Pandemic and ‘Fighting Lunatics’
President Donald Trump clashed with a reporter Thursday over questions about a newly signed tariff, telling him that he had spent his first term “fighting lunatics like you.” The intense exchange follows a White House signing ceremony for a series of executive actions aimed at expanding reciprocal tariffs and strengthening U.S. trade policy. While speaking with reporters at the White House after the signing, a reporter confronted Trump on why he is emphasizing tariffs more in his second term. “You’re weighing your decision to do that, your authority to do that based on a 1977 law. It’s never been invoked before,” said the reporter. “Why didn’t you invoke this law in your first term? You could have taken in billions upon billions of dollars in your first term, but you waited until your second term?” FEDERAL JUDGES GRILL TRUMP LAWYERS OVER ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFFS ON EVE OF ENFORCEMENT Without missing a beat, the president shot back: “Yeah, because in my first term, I was fighting lunatics like you who were trying to do things incorrectly and inappropriately to a president that was duly elected.” “And we did do certain tariffs in the first term,” he continued. “If you look at China, China, we took in hundreds of billions of dollars from China.” He also said that the COVID-19 pandemic also played a factor in his decision to not emphasize tariffs as much in his first term. “When Covid came the last thing I was going to do is tell France and Italy and Spain and a couple of other countries that we’re going to hit you with tariffs,” he explained. “We had to fight the Covid situation when that came.” DAILY BEAST PULLS STORY ALLEGING MELANIA-EPSTEIN CONNECTION AFTER LAWYERS DISPUTE FRAMING “But if you look at my first term,” he went on, “We took in hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs, but you people didn’t cover it very well.” A statement by the White House said that Trump’s executive actions taken on Thursday “reflects the President’s continued efforts to protect the United States against foreign threats to the national security and economy of the United States by securing fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade relationships to benefit American workers, farmers, and manufacturers and to strengthen the United States’ defense industrial base.” This comes shortly after Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal between the U.S. and E.U. on Sunday. TRUMP SETS UP PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST FOR ANOTHER REVAMP AFTER OBAMA RETIRED IT DURING PRESIDENCY “We are agreeing that the tariff straight across for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15%,” Trump said. “So, we have a tariff of 15%. We have the opening up of all of the European countries, which I think I could say were essentially closed. I mean, you weren’t exactly taking our orders. You weren’t exactly taking our agriculture,” he added, addressing von der Leyen. Von der Leyen said Europe will also purchase $150 billion worth of U.S. energy as part of the deal, in addition to making $600 billion in other investments into the U.S.
Longtime Biden aide testifies he stood to earn up to $8M had president won re-election
A longtime ally of former President Joe Biden told House Oversight Committee investigators that he could have been paid a total of $8 million if the former president won his 2024 re-election bid, a source familiar with the conversation told Fox News Digital. Michael Donilon served as senior advisor to the president for the entirety of Biden’s four-year term. Their relationship goes back decades, however; Donilon first worked for Biden in 1981 when he was a U.S. senator from Delaware. He is the latest ex-Biden administration official to sit down with the committee behind closed doors as it investigates whether the former president’s inner circle covered up evidence of his alleged mental decline, and if executive actions were signed via autopen without Biden’s full awareness. Donilon said he did not know what the autopen was used for and did not recall having any knowledge of the autopen, the source told Fox News Digital. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ But Donilon, who was the top strategist for Biden’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns, would have apparently earned some $8 million total if Biden won. Donilon told investigators he was paid $4 million to work on Biden’s 2024 campaign, the source said. That information was reported by Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN host Jake Tapper in their book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.” The $4 million he would have gained in addition would have come if Biden had won in 2024. Biden infamously dropped out of the 2024 race after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump in June of that year, after weeks of mounting pressure by fellow Democrats, both in public and in private. Donilon told investigators he “believes the punditry and Democrats in Congress overreacted after Joe Biden’s disastrous debate,” the source said. Donilon also argued Biden’s communications skills “got stronger” during his time as president, the source added. “During his interview, Mr. Donilon admitted that Joe Biden’s presence wasn’t as commanding, and he could stumble over more words. Mr. Donilon stated he was frustrated and knew it was difficult to get past the visuals of President Biden that people were seeing,” the source said. In his opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital, Donilon emphasized his 40-year relationship with Biden and touted the Democratic administration’s accomplishments through the COVID-19 pandemic, the rebound in job growth in its wake and the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislative wins. “I was with President Joe Biden from his first day in office to the last day. What I saw, day in and day out, was a leader who was deeply engaged and in command on critical issues, both at home and abroad,” Donilon said in his statement. “Every President ages over the four years of a presidency and President Biden did as well, but he also continued to grow stronger and wiser as a leader as a result of being tested by some of the most difficult challenges any President has ever faced. “I thought that experience was enormously valuable for the nation. I believed that President Biden was the best person to lead the country on the day he took the oath of office and I continued to believe that was true every day he served as President.” RON KLAIN DODGES REPORTERS AFTER MARATHON GRILLING IN BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE Donilon is the eighth ex-Biden White House official to appear for the probe led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. A source familiar with the Biden team’s thinking previously called Republicans’ probe “dangerous” and “an attempt to smear and embarrass.” “And their hope is for just one tiny inconsistency between witnesses to appear so that Trump’s DOJ prosecute his political opponents and continue his campaign of revenge,” that source said. Fox News Digital reached out to Donilon’s lawyer and a representative for Biden for comment. Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report
Secret Service must ‘course correct’ after alleged smuggling episode on Trump trip, former agent says
The Secret Service must move to “course correct” after reports a Secret Service agent attempted to smuggle his wife onto a Secret Service cargo plane accompanying President Donald Trump on his trip to Scotland, according to a former agent. Tim Miller, who served as a Secret Service agent during the administrations of presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, said the alleged incident was unusual and that the agency must “step up” to address growing threats against Trump. “The threats to the President are serious and growing,” Miller said in an email Thursday to Fox News Digital. “This agency must step up to address these threats. … Imagine a world where our elected leaders are not safe to lead the critical issues facing our world? “The mission that they have been given requires the absolute best people available who have the highest level of commitment, experience, professionalism and skill.” ONE YEAR AFTER TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, BUTLER WIDOW DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM SECRET SERVICE While Miller predicted conduct like this would have previously resulted in a suspension or firing of the agent, Miller said that is unlikely given that the Secret Service did not fire those on duty during the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. The agency did, however, announce that it suspended six of its agents due to their response to the attempt. Likewise, Miller said he anticipates an investigation into the Scotland incident will be handled meticulously. “I am confident that they will thoroughly investigate this matter,” Miller said. “To that end, the Secret Service must course correct and hold agents accountable for these types of errors in judgment. The current threats are too high. It’s time for high levels of accountability and a return to mission focus. The lives of our elected leaders depend on it! This truly is a ‘no fail’ mission!” AGENT’S ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE WIFE ON TRUMP SCOTLAND TRIP BEING PROBED IN LATEST SECRET SERVICE FIASCO Even so, Miller said the agency did the right thing in identifying the threat and fixing the problem. “The bottom line is there is more to this story and, with the exception of one agent’s extremely poor judgment, the Secret Service did a good job identifying and correcting this issue,” Miller said. RealClearPolitics first reported that a Secret Service agent attempted to smuggle his wife aboard a Secret Service cargo aircraft during Trump’s travels for his Scotland trip. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump told reporters Tuesday he had just heard about the alleged incident, describing it as a “weird deal.” He also told reporters the agency is handling the matter. “I don’t know, that’s a strange one. I just heard that two minutes ago. I think Sean’s taking care of it. … Is that a serious story?” Trump told reporters on Air Force One Tuesday, appearing to reference Sean Curran, Secret Service director. The White House confirmed to Fox News Digital Wednesday that Trump had been briefed on the matter and that an investigation was ongoing. SECRET SERVICE CHANGES THE AGENCY HAS MADE POST-TRUMP BUTLER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT “The U.S. Secret Service is conducting a personnel investigation after an employee attempted to invite his spouse, a member of the United States Air Force, aboard a mission support flight,” a Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “The aircraft, operated by the U.S. Air Force, was being used by the Secret Service to transport personnel and equipment,” the spokesperson added. “Prior to the overseas departure, the employee was advised by supervisors that such action was prohibited, and the spouse was subsequently prevented from taking the flight. No Secret Service protectees were aboard, and there was no impact to our overseas protective operations.”
Former blue state GOP lawmaker reveals why she’s not seeking re-election: ‘I have other goals’
Former California Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel will not be seeking another term in Congress. The Republican, who lost by just over 600 votes in November to Rep. Derek Tran after serving two terms in the House, said she’s pursuing other political goals. “I have other goals that, you know what, I’m having so much fun, and I work on President Trump’s agenda right now. And I was appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to that Asian-American coalition, so I want to help Asian-Americans in this country and then plus other Asian countries,” the Republican, who sits on the board of directors of the Lincoln Club, said. ‘NO ONE’ EXCITED ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS’ POTENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL RUN, SAY CALIFORNIA DONORS Her decision not to run will likely open the door to a competitive Republican primary and a multimillion-dollar general election race in 2026. “I can serve much better [with] what I’m doing right now,” she said, turning down the possibility of seeking another elected office. Steel, along with Reps. Young Kim and Marilyn Strickland, were the first Korean-American women in Congress, and Steel is a first-generation American. Steel said fundraising and connecting with the different ethnic communities in the district is key to a Republican seeking to win the seat back, noting that a large portion are “first generations” like her. DEM GOVERNOR HOPEFULS VOW TO RESIST TRUMP AS CALIFORNIA CHAOS BECOMES NJ CAMPAIGN ISSUE “I totally understand what they have to go through as a first generation, so that’s really important. Go through community by community, and you have to listen exactly what they are asking for to settle in America. This is a great country. You know what, as long as you work really hard, your dream comes true,” she said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Steel also called out anti-ICE sentiment in California and by Democrats around the country as people misunderstanding the underlying issues that come with illegal immigration. “People were accusing me that, ‘You are the first-generation immigrant, and then you are actually trying to abuse and trying to arrest first-generations.’ I said, ‘No, this is the illegal criminals we’re talking about.’ And, you know, when they get arrested and if they are not going to get deported, guess what happened? They are actually committing another crime. So very dangerous people,” Steel said. “And I know President Trump is doing a great job in deporting these criminals, and that’s what has to be done for American safety. ASSAULTS ON ICE OFFICERS SURGE 830% AS DEMOCRATS CAUGHT ‘DOXING AND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING’ AGENTS: DHS “We really have to do the better message because, especially first generations, and you know what I heard few calling from outside of this country. They said, ‘Oh my God, they’re arresting all these immigrants, even their citizens.’ I said, ‘That’s not really true. When they commit serious crimes, yes, we kick them out because that’s for the safety, and, you know, safety for the Americans.’ That’s the reason that we are doing.” Her decision comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom is floating the possibility of redistricting in the Golden State to thwart any potential Republican seat gains in Texas. “Two can play this game,” he posted to X July 15. “I just read this morning that all the Democrats are coming into California, and all the Republicans are leaving. You know, they have to really see this trade that exactly what’s going to be helpful for Californians. California is such a beautiful state. And I live in California. I still want to save California,” Steel said. “She doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand exactly what they have to do to make California better,” she said of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom. “So, I really want to stop those people that they are hurting. Not just California, but Californian people, that they are very much against these politicians. I hope they already hit the bottom, so in next year’s election, hopefully, a Republican is going to win.”
DHS scoops up trans illegal alien charged with heinous crime on child in sanctuary city: ‘Worst of the worst’
FIRST ON FOX: A transgender illegal alien is being charged with child rape in the sanctuary city of New York, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS told Fox News Digital that the illegal alien, Nicol Alexandra Contreras-Suarez, a Colombian biological man who identifies as a woman, is being charged with rape of a minor and stalking. According to the agency, Contreras-Suarez was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for illegally entering the country in San Ysidro, California, in March 2023. Contreras-Suarez was released into the country under the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy and then went on to commit several serious crimes in American communities. Contreras-Suarez had been arrested by the Medford Police Department in Massachusetts for armed robbery, prostitution and assault with a dangerous weapon. However, “due to local sanctuary policies,” DHS said, Contreras-Suarez was once again released. TRUMP ADMIN UNLEASHES CRUCIAL RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN WITH MASSIVE BONUSES TO BOLSTER ICE RANKS Contreras-Suarez is now facing criminal charges in New York for first-degree rape of a child less than age 17 and stalking. Contreras-Suarez has a preliminary criminal hearing in New York City this week and is set to have his case heard by the New York Supreme Court Sept. 10. The agency said Contreras-Suarez’s “horrific and preventable crime illustrates the consequences of the Biden administration’s catch and release and sanctuary policies.” Commenting on the arrest, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin lamented that “this creep should’ve never been released into our country.” FORMER ICE CHIEF TORCHES ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ BIDEN-ERA POLICIES AS TRUMP’S DHS FINDS MIGRANT CHILDREN “Thanks to the failed sanctuary policies and Biden’s open-border agenda, this serial criminal was freed to prey on innocent American children — but that ends now,” she said. ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Contreras-Suarez in February. He is currently in custody at Rikers Island Prison in New York until his next court hearing. This comes as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is facing intense criticism for its crackdown on illegal immigration and as officers are dealing with an 830% increase in assaults. While the agency has said it will not back down from arresting any immigrants who are in the country illegally, the new DHS statement says that the vast majority of those arrested thus far have criminal charges or convictions. Despite claims by some Democrats that ICE is targeting innocent immigrant communities, 70% of the agency’s arrests have been of illegal aliens convicted or charged with crimes. DHS called Contreras-Suarez one of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegals it has arrested in its nationwide sweep thus far. “ICE will not allow predators like Contreras-Suarez to terrorize American citizens,” said McLaughlin.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren falls on Senate floor as Republicans offer bipartisan assistance during Israel vote
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., took a tumble on the Senate floor Wednesday during a vote. Footage showed Warren attempting to sit on a desk when she fell backwards, tipping over the desk and falling to the floor. In a rare showing of bipartisanship, her Republican colleagues, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Susan Collins of Maine, rushed to help her up. BERNIE SANDERS TO FORCE SENATE VOTE ON BLOCKING ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL Warren got up as Cruz gave her his hand. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and John Barrasso of Wyoming were seen walking over to offer assistance. The fall happened as the Senate was taking a vote on two resolutions to block military sales to Israel, which Warren voted in favor of. Fox News Digital has reached out to Warren’s office. SENATE FAILS TO REJECT TRUMP’S NATIONAL EMERGENCY ON TARIFFS, AS REPUBLICANS SPLINTER The resolutions were proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a harsh critic of Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Every Republican voted against it. Former President Joe Biden had several slips and falls while in the White House. In 2023, he tumbled to the ground during the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In 2024, he slipped while walking down the stairs after exiting Air Force One in Michigan.
Pelosi calls Lady Gaga concert in San Francisco ‘the most fun I’ve had in a long time’
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was spotted this week with a cheering crowd at a Lady Gaga concert in San Francisco. “It was a fabulous show in San Francisco!” Pelosi, the 85-year-old speaker emerita, said in a post Tuesday on X. “The most fun I’ve had in a long time.” NANCY PELOSI ERUPTS WHEN ASKED BY CNN’S JAKE TAPPER ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING A video of the event, part of Lady Gaga’s global Mayhem Ball Tour, shows Pelosi walking to her seat close to the stage as Gaga performs. She is then seen moving to the performance as Lady Gaga plays the guitar. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Pelosi attended the concert with her husband, Paul Pelosi. Tickets for the concert ranged from roughly $175 to $550, while the range for VIP tickets was $700 to $1,000. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In 2021, Pelosi attended a Lady Gaga concert with Tony Bennett at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the newspaper reported.
FLASHBACK: Zohran Mamdani says ‘Israel is not a place’ and ‘not a country’
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is once again raising eyebrows, this time over a resurfaced clip in which he says, “Israel is not a place, it is not a country.” Mamdani, who as the Democratic nominee is considered the frontrunner for mayor of the city with the highest Jewish population in the U.S., has been criticized for his stance against Israel and refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which is widely considered a call for violence against Jews. Now he is being slammed for statements he made during a January 2024 panel discussion on Palestinian solidarity in which he called into question American politicians’ support for the state of Israel. Mamdani made the remarks in a December 2023 panel for “Here and Everywhere” recorded the Riverside Church in New York City. MAMDANI BLASTED BY GOP OPPONENT FOR ‘SANCTIMONIOUS HYPOCRISY’ ON POLICE STANCE: ‘ABSOLUTE INSANITY’ During the panel, Mamdani referred to the pro-Israel movement in America as a “political apparatus that is still well-funded, quite strong, but is increasingly becoming more and more separated from public sentiment.” He criticized American politicians for supporting Israel’s war against Gaza, saying, “That speaks to the fact that … for so many people, Israel is not a place, it is not a country. It’s an idea. “You see that in so many politicians’ answers to the questions around Israel … their answers were written around 20, 30 years ago. They speak to a reality that does not exist.” Mamdani also criticized the idea that Israel and Palestine could exist as separate political entities. “They [American politicians] pledge fealty to the idea of a two-state solution, irrespective of the fact that a second state for Palestinians is physically impossible because it’s not even a contiguous piece of land at this moment between where Palestinians live. So, that all tells us that there is this disconnect,” he said. DOUGLAS MURRAY SLAMS NY MAYORAL NOMINEE ZOHRAN MAMDANI, LONDON’S SADIQ KHAN: ‘STAY OUT OF FOREIGN POLICY’ He also went on to say that there is a “fear amongst the political class across this country of a discourse that is rising that seeks to question this convention.” Dating back to his college days, Mamdani has expressed support for a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, which Influence Watch describes as “an international campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel as the expression of the Jewish people’s right to national self-determination by isolating the country economically through consumer boycotts, business and government withdrawal of investment, and legal sanctions.” In another recently resurfaced video of Mamdani from 2021, the mayoral candidate highlighted his commitment to BDS. MAMDANI HINTS HE FEARED CUSTOMS HASSLE EN ROUTE FROM UGANDA VACATION: ‘SAD REALITY’ “I think there is nothing that’s too banal to stand up against the brutality of the occupation and apartheid,” he said. “And, so, you know, if it’s a shipping container or if it is a university that is being funded, a university that helped to develop IDF’s weapons technology, or it is an event with an Israeli ambassador, whatever it may be, I think that we have to showcase what that solidarity looks like.” Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
GOP senators rally around effort to end ‘radical wokeness’ in HHS task force
EXCLUSIVE: Three Senate Republicans are backing up Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s possible effort to reform the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, saying that the group has recently been ideologically motivated. The “independent” task force is used to determine recommendations of what services health insurance companies in the United States have to cover for free, such as checking for cancer. “Americans deserve to know health guidelines are based on real science, not radical wokeness. The Task Force needs to get back to its mission of giving clear, evidence-based recommendations people can trust,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, said in a statement. I’M A PHYSICIAN AND I’M WORRIED THAT OUR HEALTH AGENCIES ARE FACING INCREASING CHAOS The Wall Street Journal reported that Kennedy is considering removing members of the board, and the senators are saying they back any change to veer away from certain DEI tactics employed by the group currently, including the 2023 Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services and “social justice activism” by people in the group. “In particular, the USPSTF departed from its proper activities in its December 2023 Health Equity Framework. The framework criticizes ‘equal access to quality health care for all’ as an inadequate goal of public health and announces that the Task Force will instead use equity as ‘a criterion of the ‘public health importance’ of a topic’ for consideration,” the letter added. “Far from simply recognizing health disparities between certain populations, ‘health equity’ as described by the USPSTF includes ‘information on risk factors that intersect with race and/or ethnicity or other disadvantaged populations (e.g., sexual and gender minorities) and that affect prevalence and burden of disease’ and ‘any inequities in how preventive services are provided, accessed, or received.’ These criteria would allow the Task Force to issue recommendations outside its proper purview and impose leftwing ideology,” it continues. SEN. RAND PAUL: KENNEDY IS CONFRONTING ‘CORRUPT’ HEALTH AGENCIES TO MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN Specifically, they said that changes could be needed to fulfill President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to scrap DEI efforts within the federal government, along with an EO on “restoring merit-based opportunity” and “ending illegal discrimination.” “Allowing the Task Force to pursue the Health Equity Framework means allowing it to exceed its statutory mission and target social groups that comport with a progressive agenda. It means discounting universally beneficial recommendations as inadequate. It means disregarding statutory limits and instead undertaking a social justice crusade through the lens of critical race theory and gender ideology. This would be a mistake. The result is ineffectiveness, discrimination, and division. The USPSTF should be working for all Americans equally,” the letter added. “No final decision has been made on how the USPSTF can better support HHS’ mandate to Make America Healthy Again,” an HHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement when asked about the WSJ report. WATCH: RFK JR. REBUKES DEM SENATOR FOR PLAYING POLITICS WITH CANCER-STRICKEN CONSTITUENT: ‘YOU DON’T CARE’ There has already been some opposition to the possibility of removing the members, including from the American Medical Association. “USPSTF plays a critical, non-partisan role in guiding physicians’ efforts to prevent disease and improve the health of patients by helping to ensure access to evidence-based clinical preventive services,” the AMA wrote in a letter to Kennedy. “As such, we urge you to retain the previously appointed members of the USPSTF and commit to the long-standing process of regular meetings to ensure their important work can continue without interruption.”
Banned chemicals found in American shampoo, sunscreen and tampons across major brands
From shampoo and sunscreen to tampons, many personal care products on American shelves contain chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, and hormone disruption—ingredients that are banned or restricted in the European Union and other countries. Despite these alarming associations, no federal law in the U.S. requires companies to disclose potentially harmful ingredients. Only California mandates limited transparency, leaving most Americans in the dark about what they’re putting on—and absorbing into—their bodies. For Tiah Tomlin-Harris, a two-time survivor of triple-negative breast cancer, that lack of transparency was a wake-up call. Diagnosed before age 40 with no genetic predisposition, Tomlin-Harris began asking hard questions: Where is this coming from? Genetic testing came back negative, placing her among the 80–90% of breast cancer patients whose illness isn’t linked to family history. Her background as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry gave her a unique perspective—and a critical eye for labels. NEW TECH-FOCUSED MAHA INITIATIVES WILL USHER IN ‘NEW ERA OF CONVENIENCE,’ IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, TRUMP SAYS “I started to dig into the causations,” she told FOX. “The first thing I did was remove every single product in my house—from hair care to dish detergent. I went back to grandma’s remedies—baking soda, vinegar—because I didn’t know what was safe anymore.” As she researched, she realized just how many widely used beauty and hygiene products are packed with potentially harmful chemicals. While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pushed for the removal of toxic additives in processed foods, he has yet to tackle the personal care industry. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary admits the agency is in a “deregulatory mindset,” saying, “[We’ve] been regulating too much.” TRUMP’S CDC PICK CONFIRMED- BUT HER PRO-VACCINE STANCE MAY CLASH WITH RFK JR.’S AGENDA “That mindset has led to an explosion of consumer-driven tools like Yuka and Clearya, apps that scan barcodes and analyze ingredient safety. “Most people are shocked,” said Julie Chapon, Yuka’s co-founder. “They assume green packaging means safety.” Tomlin-Harris emphasized the disproportionate impact on women of color, particularly Black women. “We spend nine times more on beauty products than any other demographic, yet these products often contain the most harmful ingredients—parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, benzene. These aren’t just linked to cancer. They’re weakening chemotherapy drugs. They’re disrupting hormones. They’re impacting fertility—for men and women.” A Consumer Reports investigation found carcinogens in 10 of the top braiding hair brands, many of which are marketed to Black women and girls. Janet Nudelman, Director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, agrees that consumers are often left choosing “between protecting against skin cancer versus increasing their risk of breast cancer” because of harmful ingredients. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, whose studies highlight the health hazards of common chemicals, called the current system “rigged to produce chemical exposures that are toxic to our hormones.” The consequences, he warns, are societal: higher healthcare costs and lifelong reproductive and developmental health problems. The federal government is slowly responding. The Safer Beauty Bill package, reintroduced in Congress, seeks to ban toxic ingredients, increase ingredient disclosure and protect vulnerable populations like hairstylists, nail technicians, and women of color. But for now, consumers are largely left to protect themselves. FDA Commissioner Makary insists change is coming: “We’re doing an inventory of all chemicals in the food supply to see how we can make it safer.” Still, advocacy groups say the U.S. is far behind the EU in regulating cosmetic safety. Industry representatives push back. The Personal Care Products Council asserts: “PCPC and our member companies are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, quality and transparency.” But for advocates like Tomlin-Harris, promises aren’t enough. “This isn’t just a women’s issue,” she said. “It’s a people’s issue. Men are affected. Children are affected. Our entire population is being exposed to chemicals we didn’t consent to, and we’re paying the price.” Her message is clear: “We need transparency. We need regulation. And we need accountability from the companies creating these products. It’s time to detox our routines, demand safer alternatives and prioritize our health.”