Trump strikes back: GOP lawmakers who opposed president on redistricting pay price
He wasn’t on the ballot, but President Donald Trump was the big winner in Indiana’s primary. The president scored decisive victories in a slate of state primaries in the solidly red Midwestern state, another sign that his immense grip on the Republican Party remains rock solid. The political world was closely watching Indiana’s primary because it was the first of a series of major tests this month of Trump’s endorsement power in GOP nomination showdowns, and the president cleared his first hurdle with ease. Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated Indiana state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Fast-forward to Tuesday and eight of those state senators faced GOP primary challenges. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to seven of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted against the redistricting bill. Five of the Trump-endorsed candidates won, with one incumbent surviving and one race yet to be decided as of early Wednesday morning. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, a top Trump ally in the Senate, said in a statement as the results poured in. Banks, who was a key part of the team of Trump allies and advisors in the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators, emphasized that “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters.” SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY Trump and his team started flexing their political muscles soon after the president’s push for redistricting in Indiana came crashing down last December. A Republican source familiar with the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators told Fox News Digital over $8 million was spent on TV and digital ads between the American Leadership PAC and Hoosier Leadership for America, two outside groups aligned with Banks and steered by Team Trump strategist Andrew Surabian. The source added that Team Trump operatives began organizing this plan in February and were responsible for the vast majority of the money raised that was spent by the two groups. Republican Gov. Mike Braun of Indiana also donated several hundred thousand dollars to the effort. Two well-known national groups, Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth, also had the president’s back in Indiana. The intraparty battle was seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP. Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital “this is a big win for Trump.” And McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, said the primary victories are “a signal to the entire party that our base wants us to fight for what we believe in.” Trump appeared to be closely watching the results. As each race was called, the president took to social media to tout the victory of another Trump-endorsed state Senate challenger. The besieged incumbents significantly outraised their challengers and were also boosted by the Indiana Senate GOP caucus. But the outside spending and get-out-the-vote efforts by the pro-Trump forces proved decisive. TRUMP VS. HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT’S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS “The resources that he [Trump] can bring to a state Senate race are overwhelming,” veteran Republican strategist Marc Short, who served as a key official in the first Trump administration, told Fox News Digital. Short, a longtime top Pence advisor, said the showdowns in Indiana were “about allegiance to Trump,” and that the president “still has enormous sway in the party.” Trump’s clout will be on the line once again in a week and a half, in the Louisiana primary. Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing primary challenges from two Republicans: Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming, who is currently the state treasurer. Trump earlier this year weighed in on the race by endorsing Letlow. Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate. But since the start of Trump’s second term 15 months ago, Cassidy has been supportive of the president’s agenda and his nominees. If no candidate cracks 50% of the primary vote, the top two finishers will face off for the nomination in a June 27 runoff election. Another major test comes three days later, on May 19, in the primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, where Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. Massie has long been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress, repeatedly taking aim at the president over the Epstein files and foreign policy. Trump allies have spent big bucks to boost Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and to take aim at Massie. The president’s endorsement is also being tested in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial nomination, which is being held on the same day, in the 2026 race to succeed popular term-limited conservative Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is trading fire in a high-profile, competitive and combustible battle with healthcare executive and mega GOP donor Rick Jackson, who has infused millions of his own money in his bid. Among the others battling for the nomination in a crowded Republican field are state Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. While MAGA enjoyed a big night in Indiana, there were more midterm warning signs for the GOP in neighboring Michigan, a key Midwestern battleground state. Republicans were hoping
Republican lawmaker welcomes House Ethics probe into sexual misconduct allegations against him
A House Republican facing sexual misconduct allegations said he welcomes the chance to set the record straight after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the claims. “They are baseless allegations designed to impact the campaign driven by those who want to settle old political scores,” Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We welcome the ethics inquiry because it allows for facts to be entered into the record, not public allegations designed to drive media interests.” Edwards, 65, is accused of sexual misconduct toward at least two younger female staffers, according to multiple reports. Axios first reported the existence of the ethics probe. The two-term lawmaker, who has been married since 1980, has denied any wrongdoing. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the allegations. NORTH CAROLINA GOP TOWN HALL TURNS HEATED AS SELF-DESCRIBED VETERAN ESCORTED OUT BY SECURITY Under House rules, lawmakers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with aides under their supervision. The ban does not extend to staffers employed by other offices. The House Ethics probe comes as Edwards is facing a competitive re-election challenge in November’s midterm elections. The North Carolina Republican is a top target of House Democrats’ campaign arm, which is supporting Democrat Jamie Ager to try and flip Edwards’ seat in the red-leaning district. Ager, a fourth-generation farmer, issued a statement this week indicating the allegations against his competitor could become a flash point in the battleground contest. “Corruption or abuses of power in any way are unacceptable,” Ager said. “The people of Western North Carolina deserve to hear from their representative about what these allegations are.” The House Ethics Committee has yet to publicly announce its investigation into Edwards, which could take months — or even years — to complete unless the panel moves to dismiss the case. A spokesperson for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., an outspoken lawmaker against sexual misconduct in Congress, said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that she hopes the House Ethics Committee “moves swiftly” to review the allegations against Edwards. NANCY MACE TO FORCE VOTE TARGETING FELLOW GOP LAWMAKER ACCUSED OF AFFAIR WITH STAFFER “We stand with those who came forward, and we expect the Ethics Committee to move swiftly and hold those who committed wrongdoing fully accountable,” Mace said. “We have said it from the beginning, if you are abusing your power in Congress it does not matter if you have an R or a D beside your name, there needs to be consequences for your actions.” Edwards is the latest in a string of lawmakers to face sexual misconduct allegations this year. Former Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued back-to-back resignations in April to avoid potential expulsion votes related to separate alleged sexual misconduct against them. Gonzales acknowledged an extramarital affair with a former aide who later died by suicide. Swalwell, who is also married, has admitted to a lapse in judgment, but has vigorously denied accusations of sexual assault and rape. Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct, among other ethics violations. Mace has introduced a resolution to expel the embattled lawmaker, but has yet to trigger a vote on the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other GOP lawmakers have said they want the ethics panel to conclude its probe before they consider sanctions against the embattled lawmaker. Mills has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged. “The corruption and misconduct in Congress goes far deeper than anyone outside Washington knows,” Mace said Tuesday.
Trump fires back at claims of ballroom ‘cost overruns’: Price is ‘something less than $400M’
President Donald Trump fired back at reporting of rising costs of building his $400 million White House ballroom, saying that figure remains the top of the price range. “The White House Ballroom is going up rapidly on the East side of the White House,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning on Truth Social. “The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations. “The original price was 200 Million Dollars, the double sized, highest quality completed project will be something less than 400 Million Dollars. It will be magnificent, safe, and secure! “This was a necessary change, it was done long ago, but the Fake News failed to report it, trying to make it look like there was a cost overrun. Actually, it is coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget!” REPUBLICANS SLIP $1 BILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR TRUMP BALLROOM SECURITY IN ICE, BORDER PATROL PACKAGE The latest reporting on alleged rising costs comes from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tagging a $1 billion appropriation for the “East Wing Modernization Project” at the bottom of Republicans’ budget reconciliation package Trump hopes to sign by June 1. That item includes more than just the ballroom and even specifies: “None of the funds made available under this section may be used for non-security elements of the East Wing Modernization Project.” The bill’s outlay on the final page of the Senate Judiciary Committee reconciliation bill appropriates “$1,000,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2029, for the purposes of security adjustments and upgrades, including within the perimeter fence of the White House Compound to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernization Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features.” Trump contends that is a military, national security and White House expenditure, while the $400 million ballroom remains merely a piece planted on top of the upgraded enhancements to the grounds. TRUMP TEARS DOWN EAST WING FOR $300M BALLROOM AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES CHINA MEETING That distinction is now at the center of the dispute. Trump’s post framed the ballroom itself as under budget, saying the higher price reflects a deliberate expansion approved “long ago.” An NBC News report focused on whether the overall project could still impose a major taxpayer cost through security work, even if private donors cover the ballroom’s construction. The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary and final site and building plans for the East Wing Modernization Project on April 2. NCPC staff described the project as a permanent, secure event space intended to increase capacity for official state functions and reduce reliance on temporary tents and support facilities. The approved plan includes an approximately 22,000-square-foot ballroom designed for roughly 1,000 seated dinner guests, within about 89,000 square feet of above-ground East Wing space. The White House has increasingly emphasized security as a justification for the project, particularly after Trump faced an unprecedented third assassination attempt last month at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. A White House spokesperson praised the proposed funding as necessary to help the Secret Service “fully and completely harden the White House complex,” according to NBC. Democrats quoted by NBC called the proposal a reversal of Trump’s earlier pledge that the ballroom would not cost taxpayers anything. REPUBLICANS RUSH TO GREEN LIGHT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM FOLLOWING THIRD TRUMP ASSASSINATION SCARE The project remains politically and legally contentious. Senate Democrats plan to try to strip the $1 billion provision from the reconciliation bill when it reaches the Senate floor, but Republicans are fully expecting no Democrat votes for it regardless. Construction has resumed while the legal fight plays out. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction in March blocking further work on the White House ballroom, ruling that the administration could not proceed without congressional authorization, but the D.C. Circuit later kept the injunction on hold while it considers the case. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the project, says the appeals court has scheduled a June 5 hearing and extended the stay until then, meaning construction can continue for now. The broader question now is whether lawmakers and courts will treat the ballroom and its associated security infrastructure as separable — as Republicans’ bill language argues — or as parts of a single White House expansion whose public cost could exceed Trump’s repeated private-funding assurances.
Trump marks Cinco de Mayo with ‘NICE’ post, echoing past viral taco bowl moment
President Donald Trump marked Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday with a new Truth Social post featuring a stylized “NICE” graphic — a play on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The post adds to a string of Cinco de Mayo messages from Trump that have repeatedly drawn attention online, including his widely shared 2016 taco bowl post that resurfaces nearly every year around the holiday. Trump has frequently used the holiday to share posts blending humor, politics and immigration messaging; and had already publicly embraced the “NICE” branding concept ahead of Tuesday’s post. The image shared Tuesday featured an eagle-and-shield design above the word “NICE,” styled similarly to federal law enforcement branding and appearing to reference ICE. TRUMP VOWS NOT TO HELP BLUE CITIES WITH RIOTS, INSTRUCTS ICE AND BORDER PATROL TO PROTECT FEDERAL PROPERTY Trump endorsed the idea of rebranding ICE as “NICE” in a late April Truth Social post, writing: “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT.” The phrase originated from a social media suggestion that Trump later amplified online. The latest post also brought renewed attention to Trump’s most recognizable Cinco de Mayo moment. HERE ARE 5 OF GUY FIERI’S FAVORITE TACO SPOTS ACROSS AMERICA AHEAD OF CINCO DE MAYO In 2016, then-candidate Trump posted a photo of himself eating a taco bowl at Trump Tower alongside the caption: “Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” The post quickly went viral and has continued resurfacing online in the years since. The image showed Trump seated at a desk with a taco bowl in front of him, giving a thumbs up as he posed for the camera. DNC TACO TRUCK STUNT TROLLING TRUMP BACKFIRES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH VANCE, GOP: ‘CAN’T FIX STUPID’ Last year, Trump reshared the taco bowl post and wrote: “This was so wonderful, 9 years ago today!” The post continues to go viral online as users revisit the original taco bowl image each year on the holiday. One user posted an image of the president’s original 2016 taco bowl post, writing, “Cinco de Trumpo.” Another commenter wrote, “such a classic,” and another quipped, “maybe the greatest tweet of all time.” Trump’s original taco bowl post remains one of the most recognizable Cinco de Mayo moments of the social media era. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump flexes muscle in Indiana: GOP incumbents fall in primary showdowns
President Donald Trump‘s immense sway over the GOP was on the line Tuesday in Indiana’s primary, as the president’s endorsements in key Republican state Senate nomination races were being tested. And it appears Trump’s grip over the Republican Party remains extremely strong. Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated Indiana state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given solidly red Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms. Fast-forward to present day, and eight of those state senators faced GOP primary challenges. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to seven of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted against the redistricting bill. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The Associated Press reported that five of the Trump-endorsed candidates won, with one incumbent survived, and one race yet to be decided as of late Tuesday evening. Trump-backed Blake Fletcher defeated incumbent state Sen. Travis Holdman in Indiana’s 19th District, in the northeastern part of the state. And Michelle Davis, who was supported by the president, topped incumbent Sen. Greg Walker in District 41 in central Indiana. Tracey Powell, who was also supported by Trump, defeated incumbent state Sen. Jim Buck in District 21 in central Indiana. Buck was backed by former Vice President Mike Pence, who was elected congressman and later governor of Indiana before serving as Trump’s first vice president. In District 11 in northern Indiana, incumbent Linda Rogers was defeated by Trump-endorsed Brian Schmutzler. And the AP also reported that in northwestern Indiana’s District 1, Trump-supported Trevor De Vries topped incumbent state Sen. Dan Dernulc. Only one state senator had survived as of late Tuesday. Sen. Greg Goode defeated two challengers, Trump-backed Brenda Wilson and Alexandra Wilson, in District 38, in western Indiana. Meanwhile, in District 39, Trump-backed Jeff Ellington won the GOP nomination in an open-seat race where there was no incumbent. A Republican source familiar with the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state Senators told Fox News Digital over $8 million was spent on TV and digital ads between the American Leadership PAC and Hoosier Leadership for America. Those are the two outside groups aligned with GOP Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, a top ally of the president in the U.S. Senate, that took a lead in targeting the incumbent state senators and supporting the Trump-backed challengers. The source added that Team Trump operatives began organizing this plan in February and were responsible for the vast majority of the money raised that was spent by the two groups. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters. Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters,” Banks said in a statement. Republican Gov. Mike Braun of Indiana also donated several hundred thousand dollars to the effort. Two well known national groups: Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth, also had the president’s back in Indiana. The intraparty battle was seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP. SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY “We’ve got to change those old-style Republicans, put in people who will fight, fight against the Democrat gerrymandering,” Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital ahead of the primary. And McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night that “this is a big win for Trump and a signal to the entire party that our base wants us to fight for what we believe in.” TRUMP VS. HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT’S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS The besieged incumbents significantly outraised their challengers, and were also boosted by the Indiana Senate GOP caucus. But the outside spending and get-out-the-vote efforts by the pro-Trump groups proved decisive. A source involved in the effort to oust the incumbents told Fox News Digital on the eve of the primary that a victory would be considered winning half the seats, and anything beyond that would be a major win. By that definition, Trump scored a ‘major win’ on Tuesday. Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this story
Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy wins Ohio GOP gubernatorial primary, will face Democrat Amy Acton
Vivek Ramaswamy has won the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination in his home state of Ohio, the Associated Press reports. Ramaswamy, who grabbed national attention when he ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination before dropping out and becoming a top surrogate for President Donald Trump, on Tuesday defeated long shot rival Casey Putsch, an automotive entrepreneur. His victory sets the stage for a high-profile general election battle for governor in the key midterm Midwestern battleground state. TRUMP’S GRIP OVER GOP TESTED AT BALLOT BOX AS INDIANA, OHIO, HOLD PRIMARIES Now, the multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur and business leader who is backed by Trump will face off in November’s general election against Democrat Amy Acton, a doctor and researcher who served as director of the state Department of Health from 2019 to 2020. Acton was unopposed as she captured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Ohio. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The winner in November will succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine. “I’m proud to officially say that today it is our pleasure to become the Republican nominee for the governor of Ohio,” Ramaswamy told supporters at his primary victory celebration. Ramaswamy pledged to “make Ohio greater than we have ever been. That’s what we’re about to do together. So, thank you tonight for kicking off the next chapter of this journey.” And pointing to Acton, his Democratic rival, Ramaswamy said, “”I do believe this marks without exception the single most consequential election for governor that our state has ever seen in our history. There has never been a greater contrast between two candidates.” The Democratic Governors Assocation (DGA) quickly took aim at Ramswamy. “Vivek Ramaswamy is an out-of-touch presidential also-ran whose harmful agenda would drive costs even higher and make life harder for Ohio families already struggling to make ends meet,” DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper argued in a statement. Once a top general election battleground state, Ohio has shifted to the right over the past decade, with Trump carrying the state by 11 points in the 2024 election. But polls indicate this year’s race for governor between Ramaswamy and Acton will be very competitive. SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY Vice President JD Vance traveled to his home state this morning, stopping at a polling station in Cincinnati to cast a ballot in Ohio’s primary. Vance, who served as senator from Ohio before stepping down after winning election in 2024 as vice president, confirmed to reporters that he cast a ballot for Ramaswamy.
Sherrod Brown secures Ohio Dem nomination, faces GOP’s Husted in key battle for Senate majority
Former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio on Tuesday won his party’s 2026 Senate nomination, the Associated Press reports. Brown, who served three decades in Congress before being defeated for re-election in 2024 by now-GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno, will face off in this year’s general election with Republican Sen. John Husted, Ohio’s former lieutenant governor who was appointed to replace Vice President JD Vance. The general election winner will fill the final two years of Vance’s Senate term. Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, stepped down from the chamber after he and President Donald Trump won the 2024 election for president and vice president. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Vance traveled to his home state Tuesday morning, stopping at a polling station in Cincinnati to cast a ballot in the primary. The Senate race in Ohio is one of a handful that will decide if Republicans successfully defend their slim majority in the chamber, or if the Democrats win back control for the first time in four years. SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY Republicans currently control the Senate 53-47. Brown defeated long-shot rival Ron Kincaid, an IT professional and Special Olympics coach, to capture the Democratic Senate nomination. Husted ran unopposed for the Republican Party’s Senate nomination. “Ohioans are fed up with the corruption and greed in Washington. They deserve a senator who fights for working families, not CEOs and billionaires,” Brown said on social media after winning his primary. “That’s why we’re going to win this November.” Earlier in the evening, Husted took to social media after Trump praised the senator in a Truth Social post. “Thanks President Trump! Your support for Ohio jobs means a lot to the hardworking people of our state. The Working Family Tax Cut is helping Ohio families keep more of what they earn so they can spend, save, and invest in their own priorities,” Husted wrote. “America First! Ohio First!” TRUMP’S GRIP OVER GOP FACES BIG TESTS IN THIS STATE’S PRIMARY Once a top general election battleground state, Ohio has shifted to the right over the past decade, with Trump carrying the state by 11 points in the 2024 election. But this year’s races for the Senate and governor are expected to be very competitive.
ICE deports illegal immigrant convicted of attempting to kill newborn after blue state prison release
An illegal immigrant woman convicted of attempting to kill her newborn baby on Long Island, New York, has been successfully deported from the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Soili Xiomara Aparicio-Santos, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from New York in April. The agency said she was deported after serving just eight years in a New York prison sentence for attempted infant murder. Aparicio-Santos entered the country illegally under the Obama administration in 2014. She has had a final order of removal against her since 2014. MIGRANT CONVICTED OF KILLING HIS SON ARRESTED BY ICE YEARS AFTER INITIAL DEPORTATION In 2018, she was convicted of second-degree attempted murder, first and second-degree attempted assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. DHS said that despite being originally sentenced to 16 years in prison for her crime, Aparicio-Santos’ sentence was reduced to 10 years, of which she only ended up serving eight. However, DHS said that local authorities cooperated with ICE and notified the agency before her release, enabling federal agents to make the arrest. The 41-year-old was living in Centereach, New York, in Suffolk County on Long Island, local outlet Daily Voice reported. The outlet reported that in 2017, Aparicio-Santos attempted to kill her baby boy by smothering him with a pillow. A family member noticed her actions and called the police. The child reportedly avoided serious injuries and was placed in foster care. ICE first lodged an immigration detainer — a request to hold — against Aparicio-Santos after she was initially arrested by Suffolk County police for first-degree reckless endangerment in 2017. The agency then lodged a second detainer in 2018 while she was serving her sentence, DHS said. Lauren Bis, acting DHS assistant secretary, lauded the local Long Island authorities for cooperating with ICE to remove Aparicio-Santos. “Thanks to cooperation by law enforcement and our ICE officers, this barbaric criminal is out of our country,” Bis said in a DHS news release. DHS DEMANDS LETITIA JAMES TAKE ACTION OVER NEW YORK’S REFUSAL TO HONOR ICE DETAINERS “This monster attempted to KILL her own child the day he was born,” said Bis. She slammed the Obama administration for having “released this attempted murderer into our country.” Bis emphasized that DHS “need(s) cooperation from state and local politicians to get criminals like this out of our country,” adding, “Together, we can make America safe again.” Suffolk and Nassau, New York, counties, both of which are majority Republican-controlled, stand in stark contrast with neighboring New York City in their approach to cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Suffolk County is currently battling a $112 million federal jury verdict after courts found the county violated constitutional rights by holding inmates past their release dates solely to honor ICE detainer requests. Suffolk Attorney Thomas Dewey slammed the ruling, the New York Post reported, saying, “The jury’s preposterous and unjust damages award cannot stand.” SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI BASHES ICE AFTER CHAOTIC PROTEST LEADS TO ARRESTS: ‘CRUEL AND INHUMANE’ DHS said in its statement that seven of the top 10 safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE. The agency called partnerships with federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement “critical to having the resources DHS needs to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country.” “When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence to find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities,” the agency said. Fox News Digital reached out to the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department and Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Minnesota lawmakers fail at trying to get Omar to testify about alleged fraud, GOP leader talks next steps
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., refused to respond to a request from a Minnesota committee seeking more information on her ties to the massive fraud scandal in the state, prompting a failed subpoena vote on Tuesday, but the committee’s chair says more options exist. The subpoena, which required a two-thirds committee vote in favor to pass, only got five out of the six votes needed despite the committee’s Republican majority. “We have reached out to Representative Ilhan Omar on multiple occasions, inviting her to testify and inviting and requesting documents,” State Rep. Kristin Robbins, chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, said ahead of the vote. “We have endeavored in multiple ways to get access to [information] because, as everyone knows, Representative Omar had had some role, whether inadvertent or not. She passed the MEALS Act in March of 2020, and that took the guardrails off the federal school nutrition program, which created the conditions for [fraud].” WATCH: ILHAN OMAR ROASTED FOR BRUTAL RESURFACED VIDEO ABOUT ‘WORLD WAR ELEVEN’ “I do think the subpoena is important. This is one of dozens, if not hundreds of things we are investigating. We have had hundreds of whistleblower reports. They continue to come in weekly,” Robbins added, noting she will continue to try to reach out to Omar’s office to get cooperation. “Even though the committee will no longer have official hearings we will continue to investigate these whistleblower reports and webs of fraud.” Fox News Digital touched base with Robbins on Tuesday about possible next steps. “They’re fading,” Robbins said about the committee’s options after a failed subpoena vote. “But I’ll certainly talk to our friends in Congress to see if they would be willing to issue a subpoena. I don’t know if they are, but they would have the same authority and it’s still relevant to them because it’s a federal program that’s been swindled. So I don’t know if they would be willing to do it, but it’s worth asking.” Robbins added that the federal government has a “whole menu of legal options” given that Omar is a member of Congress. “They have so many investigations going on, I don’t know where this falls on the priority list,” Robbins said. OMAR ACCUSED BY GOP OPPONENT OF OPENING UP THE DOOR TO MASSIVE MINNEAPOLIS FRAUD: ‘DEEP, DEEP TIES’ Last month, Robbins says the congresswoman “ghosted” the committee by failing to appear to testify at a hearing focused on the MEALS Act, a federal COVID-19 relief measure passed in 2020 and sponsored by Omar. “Minnesotans and the Members of the House Fraud Prevention & State Oversight Committee were disappointed that you failed to appear before our committee to answer questions,” Robbins wrote before asking Omar to turn over communications showing how she promoted expanded access to federal child nutrition programs, including emails, texts and meeting records with the Minnesota Department of Education and constituents. The request also zeroed in on Omar’s public promotion of a Minneapolis restaurant that later became linked to the program. Robbins cited a Somali-language TV appearance in which Omar highlighted Safari Restaurant as a meal distribution site and asked for all communications related to the video and the restaurant’s participation. Robbins is seeking records of any contact between Omar and a long list of individuals charged or implicated in the Feeding Our Future case, including nonprofit founder Aimee Bock and dozens of alleged co-conspirators. The deadline for Omar to respond to the committee’s questions was Tuesday, May 5. Fox News Digital reached out to Omar’s office for comment. “It’s the same story every time,” Robbins posted on X after the vote. “Fraud is committed, information is suppressed, and the dysfunction continues.”
Trump teaches students his iconic dance during White House fitness event
President Donald Trump gave students on the White House South Lawn a quick lesson in one of his most recognizable moves Monday — breaking out his signature “Trump dance”in a moment that quickly made the rounds online. The short clip, shared by the official White House account on X, shows Trump briefly stepping into the role of dance instructor, demonstrating the now-familiar arm motions that have become a staple of his rallies. “SPOTTED: PRESIDENT TRUMP TEACHING THE TRUMP DANCE ON THE SOUTH LAWN 🇺🇸,” the White House posted on X. As the Village People’s “YMCA” played, Trump joined in for a few seconds, gesturing through the motions and brandishing a broad smile as students joined in before returning to the event. TRUMP, MUSK GO VIRAL WITH ‘TRUMP DANCE’ TO YMCA AT NEW YEAR’S PARTY The moment came after Trump signed a memorandum restoring the Presidential Fitness Test Award, reviving a competitive, school-based benchmark that had been phased out during the Obama administration. The students in attendance were local children and families invited to the White House, though officials did not provide additional details. Trump’s dancing has become one of the president’s most recognizable visuals. TRUMP SETS UP PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST FOR ANOTHER REVAMP AFTER OBAMA RETIRED IT DURING PRESIDENCY Earlier in the event, Trump welcomed student athletes to the White House and stressed the importance of physical fitness. “We’re thrilled to have so many young athletes here at the White House,” Trump said. “It is indeed a beautiful day to celebrate America’s athletic traditions and champions and physical fitness.” He also joked about his own workout habits, saying, “I work out so much, like about one minute a day max if I’m lucky,” Trump said. Village People co-founder Victor Willis previously backed Trump’s use of the song, saying the president was “bringing so much joy to the American people with his use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’” after initially opposing it. Trump’s memorandum builds on an earlier executive order reestablishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, part of a broader “Make America Healthy Again” push. Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella Taylor Penley contributed to this reporting.