Gabbard says Comey should be ‘put behind bars’ after picture allegedly ‘issuing a call to assassinate’ Trump
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said ex-FBI Director James Comey should be “put behind bars” for a post he made on Instagram on Thursday allegedly “issuing a call to assassinate [President Donald Trump.]” Earlier on Thursday, Comey shared a picture on Instagram with seashells formed in the numbers “86 47.” To some, the number “86” is a call sign for murdering or getting rid of someone or something and “47” is typically used to refer to the 47th President of the United States. “Cool shell formation on my beach walk…,” Comey wrote in the caption of the picture, which has since been deleted. Gabbard made the comments on “Jesse Watters Primetime” Thursday night after Comey said he wasn’t aware that the number “86” stands for some sort of violence. EX-FBI CHIEF COMEY’S ‘86 47’ SOCIAL MEDIA POST CONDEMNED BY WHITE HOUSE AS ATTEMPT TO PUT ‘HIT’ ON PRESIDENT “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey said after deleting the initial picture. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” Gabbard said Comey and his people “need to be held to account according to the law” regardless of why he said he posted the picture. “The rule of law says people like him who issue direct threats against the POTUS, essentially issuing a call to assassinate him, must be held accountable under the law,” Gabbard said, adding that she thinks he should be in jail. The national intelligence director said Comey’s post has her “very concerned for [the president’s life.]” “I’m very concerned for the president’s life; we’ve already seen assassination attempts. I’m very concerned for his life and James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” she said. ‘NEVER TRUMPER’ COMEY’S ’86 47′ TRUMP POST UNDER INVESTIGATION Gabbard also said Comey has a lot of influence and that there are “people who take [him] very seriously.” Shortly after Comey removed the post, Fox News Digital learned from a Secret Service source that the agency was aware of the incident and agents are being sent to investigate and interview Comey. The White House also condemned Comey’s actions, with White House deputy chief of staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich calling his post “deeply concerning.” “While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States — a message etched in the sand,” Budowich wrote on X. “This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously.” Comey, who led the FBI during Trump’s first term before he was fired from the spot, had no comment when reached by Fox News Digital earlier on Thursday. Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel and David Spunt contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Mace unloads after arrest of trans activist who allegedly threatened to ‘assassinate’ her
“I hope they have makeup wipes in prison.” That’s how Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., responded to the arrest of Samuel Theodore Cain, a trans-identifying activist who goes by “Roxie Wolfe” online, after he was charged with allegedly making repeated death threats against the congresswoman. Cain, 19, was taken into custody by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) after months of alleged threats, making him the first known trans activist in the country to be arrested for threatening a sitting member of Congress. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Mace didn’t hold back. EXCLUSIVE: NANCY MACE TARGETED BY PENNSYLVANIA MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING TRUMP “I’ve waited for this for a long time,” she said. “Trans activists have been threatening to kill me every day for over six months, ever since I started filing bills to protect women’s spaces.” Mace said her top priority has always been protecting her family, her staff and herself from the kind of politically motivated violence she believes is getting worse and is also ignored by the left. “We live in fear every day, looking over our shoulders because these trans activists fuel violence,” she said. “And yet not one Democrat has spoken up to say it’s wrong.” Cain allegedly posted violent messages online threatening to kill Mace and her children, describing graphic ways he would harm her. According to Mace, these threats were shared with law enforcement and the public for months. Investigative journalist Andy Ngo reported Cain had a history of allegedly posting threats and expressing support for far-left causes. REP. NANCY MACE’S ALLEGED ATTACKER PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO INCIDENT ON CAPITOL GROUNDS In one post, Cain allegedly wrote, “I’M GOING TO ASSASSINATE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE WITH A GUN AND I’M BEING 100% DEAD ASS.” Ngo’s investigation revealed that Cain’s social media accounts were filled with posts about trans-related topics and support for Democrats. After being contacted by the FBI about his posts, Cain allegedly admitted to making the threat but claimed he “didn’t mean it.” “We’ve posted the voicemails,” Mace said. “We’ve shared the text messages. They talked about smashing my head into a bathroom floor or shooting me. “This is who these people are. And still, not a single Democrat has stood up and said, ‘This is unacceptable.’” Mace said the silence speaks volumes. “When the left shows you who they are, believe them,” she said. “They are normalizing political violence, and they’re doing it by refusing to condemn it.” Mace, who has introduced legislation to protect women’s bathrooms and spaces, said this arrest only proves why her efforts matter. “This matters more than ever,” she said. “We have to protect women. Real men protect women. Real men don’t threaten them. But we can’t do this alone. We need more people to speak out.” She said real change will only happen when people stop being afraid and start holding dangerous behavior accountable. “This arrest happened because someone had the courage to act,” she said. “That was Capitol Police. That was SLED. I demanded it too, but they finally said, ‘Not one more.’ That’s what we need — courage, not silence.” Cain allegedly made many of his threats publicly on social media. Mace said that’s a major problem and called for changes to Section 230, the law that shields tech platforms from liability. According to the DOJ, 230 “provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability based on third-party content and for the removal of content in certain circumstances.” “You can’t even sue blogs when people post threats or lies,” she said. “There’s no accountability. That has to change. People are being targeted, and these platforms are letting it happen.” Some on the left have accused Mace of “punching down” for calling attention to her would-be attacker. Mace had a sharp response. “Only Democrats blame the victim,” she said. “They don’t want to protect women. We’ve seen it in sports, bathrooms, locker rooms and now in politics. They always look the other way. “There’s a total double standard. Not one Democrat colleague of mine has spoken out since the arrest. Not one.” Asked what she would say to other lawmakers, especially women, who are scared to speak out on gender and safety issues, Mace was clear. “Violence against women should always be taken seriously,” she said. “We should believe women. We should protect them. And we should prosecute the people who want to hurt them. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “If you care about women, prove it. Stand up and say, ‘No more!’” Mace also revealed to Fox News Digital she’s preparing a victim impact statement and hopes to attend Cain’s bond hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday. “I’m working on it now,” she said. “We’re figuring out logistics, but I plan to be there.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon dismisses Harvard University president’s pay cut amid antisemitism probe
Education Secretary Linda McMahon questioned Harvard University President Alan Garber’s decision to take a 25% pay cut, saying she’s not sure how that shows the university is changing policies on antisemitism or racial discrimination. A Harvard University spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday Garber agreed to take a 25% reduction in pay for the 2025-26 school year after the Trump administration cut $2.2 billion in funding to the university. McMahon was a guest on FOX Business’ “The Evening Edit” Thursday, and she opened up about the situation at the elite Ivy League institution and Garber’s reduction in pay. “I’m not quite sure today with the president of Harvard, President Garber, taking a salary decrease is somehow a statement that they’re changing their policies on antisemitism or racial discrimination. I don’t think that does a whole lot to solve the problem,” McMahon told host Elizabeth MacDonald. HARVARD UPDATES LAWSUIT AFTER TRUMP CANCELS ADDITIONAL $450M IN FUNDING “And if you just look at some of the stats, I mean, the Harvard Crimson even reported that … in their own research over the last couple of years, 2% to 3% of the faculty are conservative. And you just can’t have that kind of discrepancy without having the theology or ideology be biased across campus.” Harvard on Tuesday filed an update to its lawsuit against the Trump administration after another $450 million of research funding was cut. The Massachusetts school amended the lawsuit hours after the federal government’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that eight federal agencies were terminating approximately $450 million in grants over what is described as Harvard’s “radical” and “dark problem” on campus. “Harvard University has repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and antisemitic harassment plaguing its campus,” the task force said in a statement. The latest freeze comes in addition to $2.2 billion in funding already withheld and threats by the Trump administration to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TAKES 25% PAY CUT AMID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FREEZE Harvard filed its initial lawsuit in April to block $2.2 billion in funding from being denied. In its amended lawsuit, Harvard said much of the funding that was initially frozen has now been terminated, apparently with no hope of restoring it. McMahon told MacDonald she did not think Harvard has changed its practices, adding the Trump administration has gone to the university to investigate. “We wanted to sit down with President Garber. I spoke with him,” McMahon said. “We were going to sit down and discuss things, and we had sent a letter … and asked him to come to the table. And his answer was a lawsuit that Harvard filed.” Since then, she said, there has been other communication with Garber, noting the Trump administration was doing some of the things without taking away the lawsuit. But she added she is willing to discuss with Harvard officials what the university is doing differently. TRUMP FROZE FUNDING FOR HARVARD. MONEY TO THESE UNIVERSITIES MAY ALSO BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK McMahon acknowledged Harvard has tried to make changes, including asking the chair of the school’s Middle East Studies department to step down. She made it clear, though, that the Trump administration is not taking anything off the table. “It is clear antisemitism on campus is a civil rights violation, and Harvard has argued, as other elite universities have, that … maybe their First Amendment rights are being abridged,” McMahon said. “This is not about the First Amendment. This is civil rights. “When you put other students at risk, their safety is of concern,” she added. “And their Jewish students will tell us that they’re even afraid to go to activities on campus. That’s clearly civil rights violations. Yes, that does bear investigation, and we’re not taking anything off the table.” Harvard has become a target of Trump’s broader crackdown on universities, much of which is in response to last year’s anti-Israel unrest that erupted on campuses across the country. DOES HARVARD DESERVE WAR WITH TRUMP, OR IS GOVERNMENT OVERSTEPPING? CAMPUS REACTS TO FUNDING BATTLE On April 11, the Trump administration sent a letter to Garber and Harvard Corporation Lead Member Penny Pritzker outlining the institution’s failures and a list of demands from the White House. In the letter, the administration accused Harvard of failing to uphold civil rights laws and to foster an “environment that produces intellectual creativity.” The Trump administration threatened to pull federal funding if Harvard did not reform governance and leadership and its hiring and admissions practices by August 2025. The letter emphasized the need for Harvard to change its international admissions process to avoid admitting students who are “hostile” to American values or support terrorism or antisemitism. Harvard refused to comply with the demands, and Garber said “no government … should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” The Trump administration then froze $2.2 billion in funding to Harvard and is reportedly looking to slash another billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The university later filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its “unlawful” freezing of funds. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Andrea Margolis, Stephen Sorace and Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
Florida AG warns tony gym after woman encounters ‘man in a bikini’ in locker room
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has warned a high-end fitness club it must change its bathroom policy after a recent complaint or face prosecution under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Let Kids Be Kids” law protecting children from sexually explicit content and gender ideology. “Men don’t belong in female restrooms and locker rooms. That’s not happening in Florida under my watch,” Uthmeier told Fox News Digital Thursday after a complaint was issued by a woman who visited Life Time Fitness in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The woman said she encountered a person she identified as a biological male in the women’s locker room. The woman, Sonja Horton, said she was in the sauna with a “man in a bikini” and that the front desk told her “whatever you identify as, you can go wherever you want,” according to WPTV. FLORIDA AG LAUNCHES OFFICE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, LENDING LEGAL FIREPOWER TO DFEEND PARENTS’ ‘GOD-GIVEN RIGHT’ “Life Time has a choice: immediately change your policy so that your female patrons can stay active, free from fear and with their privacy intact or, we’ll meet you in court,” said Uthmeier. “And that goes for any Florida gym. In this state, we don’t sacrifice women’s rights to satisfy men’s delusions.” Horton reported not feeling safe, adding it was not “fair” biological men could use the women’s room. The incident report led Uthmeier to send a warning letter to Life Time Inc., saying its policies “clearly harm and endanger women who use facilities at Life Time Palm Beach Gardens.” It said the gym argued that Palm Beach County code makes gender identity a protected class and “therefore condones or requires its harmful locker room policy.” STAY IN YOUR LANE: FLA AG FIRES NEXT VOLLEY AGAINST JUDGE HALTING STATE IMMIGRATION LAW “If that were true, the policy would nonetheless run afoul of Florida laws that safeguard the fundamental rights of women,” Uthmeier wrote. In response, a Life Time official told Fox News Digital it “carefully reviewed” Uthmeier’s warning letter and “interpretation of the interplay between the Florida Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on “sex,” and the Palm Beach County ordinance, which additionally prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity and expression.” The Life Time official said Uthmeier’s legal opinion is that Florida law requires access to locker rooms based on sex listed on government documents, adding that the gym follows “all applicable federal, state and local public accommodation laws within each jurisdiction it operates.” “Accordingly, we will comply with Attorney General Uthmeier’s legal opinion while also remaining committed to welcoming all members at our Palm Beach Gardens club,” the official said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A DeSantis spokesman told Fox News Digital safety and privacy are paramount in the Sunshine State. “In Florida, we reject the lie that men can become women and support the privacy and safety of women’s private spaces, like locker rooms,” said Brian Wright, a spokesman for the governor. Fox News Digital reached out to Palm Beach County for comment on the parties’ interpretation of the county statute.
EX-FBI chief Comey’s ‘86 47’ social media post condemned by White House as attempt to put ‘hit’ on president
Former head of the FBI James Comey is getting lambasted online after he shared a social post that many people perceived as a “hit” on President Donald Trump’s life. The post included the numbers “86 47” etched in the sand at a beach using seashells. “Cool shell formation on my beach walk…” Comey captioned the Thursday post. While to some people the numbers may appear innocuous, “86” is frequently used as a call sign for murdering or getting rid of someone, while “47” is for the 47th President of the United States. HOUSE REPUBLICANS MULL CONSEQUENCES FOR DEMS WHO ‘STORMED’ ICE FACILITY Following backlash on social media over the post, including from at least one lawmaker who called for Comey to be arrested, Comey deleted the post shared to his Instagram and put up a message addressing it. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” the subsequent post from Comey read. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” The FBI, where Comey used to work before he was fired by Trump during his first term, had no comment on the matter, but it was also apparent that people at the top levels of the agency were aware of the post. However, Trump’s new FBI director, Kash Patel, acknowledged on X that agency personnel were “aware” of Comey’s post. “We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran,” Patel added in his post. “Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.” WHITE HOUSE RIPS HOUSE DEMS TRYING TO HIJACK TRUMP’S GULF OF AMERICA PLANS White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich also weighed in on X. “While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand,” she wrote on X. “This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously.” “Arrest Comey,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., added in his own post about the matter.
State Department confirms ‘constructive’ nuclear talks with Iran; Trump says deal ‘sort of’ agreed to
The State Department said nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran have been constructive, and President Donald Trump has been clear about wanting to see diplomacy. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott was asked during a press briefing Thursday about comments made by Trump, and he said the U.S. and Iran were close to an Iran nuclear deal. Trump, speaking in Doha, Qatar, said he thinks the U.S. and Iran “are getting close” to making a deal without any violence. In Trump fashion, he said there are two steps — “a very nice step and a violent step” — which he added consists of violence people have never seen before. The president also said Thursday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), that the U.S. and Iran have “sort of” agreed to terms on a nuclear deal. TRUMP SAYS IRAN MUST DITCH ‘CONCEPT OF A NUCLEAR WEAPON’ AHEAD OF MORE TALKS “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms. They’re not going to make — I call it, in a friendly way — nuclear dust,” Trump told reporters, suggesting a growing alignment with the terms he has been seeking. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran.” While Pigott would not comment on private diplomatic conversations or negotiations, he reiterated Trump’s stance on the matter. “The president has been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Pigott told reporters. “The talks have been described as constructive by the participants in them, and so, again, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. And the president has been clear. He wants diplomacy. He wants to see a diplomatic solution here.” Pigott made his remarks as Trump tours the Middle East, making stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. TRUMP CALLS FOR ‘NUCLEAR PEACE AGREEMENT’ WITH IRAN RATHER THAN BLOWING COUNTRY ‘TO SMITHEREENS’ Trump, while speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh Wednesday, reiterated his desire to make a deal with Iran and called for building upon the progress of the Abraham Accords by adding more countries to the historic agreement. Trump made the comments while addressing leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of his four-day visit to the region. TRUMP SAYS HE’LL BE ‘LEADING THE PACK’ TO WAR WITH IRAN IF DEAL PROSPECTS WHITHER AWAY “I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something if possible. But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. Though Trump said he wants to make a deal with Iran and see Tehran prosper, he also recently accused the Iranian regime of not only hurting its own nation, but the region at large. “Iran’s leaders have focused on stealing their people’s wealth to fund terror and bloodshed abroad. Most tragic of all, they have dragged down an entire region with them,” Trump said. The president pointed to the “countless lives lost” in Iran’s effort to prop up the former Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, which collapsed in December, and accused its support of Hezbollah for the downfall of Beirut, which he said was “once called the Paris of the Middle East.” It is unclear how Trump’s negative comments toward Tehran could affect ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Still, The Associated Press reported Thursday that a top political, military and nuclear advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told NBC News Wednesday that Tehran stands ready to get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium that can be weaponized, agree to enrich uranium only to the lower levels needed for civilian use and allow international inspectors to supervise the process. In return, Ali Shamkhani, the advisor, said Iran wants an immediate lifting of all economic sanctions. Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and Caitlin McFall and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kash Patel delivers fiery warning after FBI disrupts mass shooting terror plot targeting military
EXCLUSIVE: FBI Director Kash Patel issued a fiery warning after the bureau disrupted a mass shooting plot at a military base on behalf of ISIS. Patel told Fox News Digital that any individual targeting the U.S. military or conspiring with foreign terrorist organizations will be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The director’s warning comes after a former Michigan Army National Guard member, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting near the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) center at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan. FORMER MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER CHARGED WITH PLOTTING MASS SHOOTING AT ARMY BASE ON BEHALF OF ISIS “Let this be a warning: Anyone who targets our military or conspires with foreign terrorist organizations will be found, stopped and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Patel told Fox News Digital Thursday. “I commend the men and women of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners for their continued dedication to protecting the American people.” Said “launched his drone in support of the attack plan” and told an undercover FBI agent in the lead-up to the foiled plot he recommended that “everyone have about seven magazines because you don’t want to be in there and run out of ammo,” according to officials. Said is now facing charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years per count if convicted. ABBEY GATE TERROR SUSPECT’S MUGSHOT REVEALED AS HE MAKES FIRST FEDERAL COURT APPEARANCE The Justice Department said that, in April, “two undercover officers indicated they intended to carry out Said’s plan at the direction of ISIS. “In response, Said provided material assistance to the attack plan, including providing armor-piercing ammunition and magazines for the attack, flying his drone over TACOM to conduct operational reconnaissance, training the undercover employees on firearms and the construction of Molotov cocktails for use during the attack and planning numerous details of the attack, including how to enter TACOM and which building to target.” A criminal complaint stated that, around June 2024, Said started communicating with an undercover FBI agent who he thought was a fellow ISIS supporter. The complaint noted that Said enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard in September 2022 and attended basic training at Fort Moore in Georgia. He later reported to the Michigan Army National Guard Taylor Armory before being discharged around December 2024. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation into the case. “Our agents, intelligence teams, and partners acted quickly — and they saved lives,” Patel wrote on X Tuesday. “Well done to all on executing the mission.” Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
GOP rebel mutiny threatens to derail Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ before key committee hurdle
President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” appears to be in peril as of late Thursday afternoon, ahead of a critical meeting by the House Budget Committee to bring the legislation close to a House-wide vote. At least three Republicans on the committee are expected to vote against advancing the bill, a multitrillion-dollar piece of legislation aimed at enacting Trump’s priorities on tax, the border, immigration, defense, energy and raising the debt limit. GOP Reps. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., both told Fox News Digital they would vote against the bill in committee in its current form. Norman said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, also would vote against the bill. Roy himself signaled he was opposed to the legislation both on X and in comments to reporters. ANTI-ABORTION PROVIDER MEASURE IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD SPARK HOUSE GOP REBELLION “Right now, the House proposal fails to meet the moment. It does not meaningfully change spending (Medicaid expansion to able bodied, [Inflation Reduction Act] subsidies). Plus many of the decent provisions and cuts, don’t begin until 2029 and beyond. That is swamp accounting to dodge real savings,” Roy wrote Thursday on X. Other members of the committee also suggested they had concerns. Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital he wanted the Friday morning meeting delayed. And Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., a rank-and-file member who is not known for defying House Republican leaders, said the legislation did not seem “sincere” and would not reveal how he will vote. With one expected absence for Republicans on the House Budget Committee, the GOP can only afford one “no” vote to still advance the legislation. Once the bill is passed through the House Budget Committee, it must then come before the House Rules Committee — which sets terms for debating the bill House-wide — before it is weighed by all House lawmakers. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he wants the legislation to pass the House by Memorial Day. “I think we’re on schedule,” Johnson told reporters leaving a conference-wide meeting on the bill Thursday afternoon. He also said he was confident Budget Committee Republicans could advance the bill on Friday. “I’m talking to everybody and I think we’re gonna get this thing done on the schedule that we proposed,” Johnson said in response to conservative concerns. Both Norman and Roy have complained that the legislation’s provisions aimed at curbing abuse of the Medicaid system and rolling back former President Joe Biden’s green energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act did not go far enough. Timing is among their key concerns on both fronts. Conservatives have issues with Medicaid work requirements not going into effect until 2029, the end of Trump’s term. They also questioned what they saw as a delay in phasing out green energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. “I questioned the timing on work requirements, I questioned the IRS phase-outs. I didn’t get an answer on that,” Norman told reporters after the Thursday afternoon meeting. “My point is, we need to have answers before it hits the floor.” Clyde told Fox News Digital of his opposition, “I’m a NO on advancing the budget reconciliation bill out of the Budget Committee in its current form.” “I’m actively involved in negotiations to improve this package, and I’m hopeful that we will do so quickly in order to successfully deliver on President Trump’s agenda for the American people,” he said. Another issue at hand involves continued tensions over state and local tax (SALT) deductions, which primarily affect high cost-of-living states — and Republicans representing critical swing districts within blue states. The Trump bill currently would raise the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 for single and married tax filers to $30,000 — a number that’s not enough for a group of moderate House Republicans that’s large enough to sink the final bill. Conservative fiscal hawks have said higher SALT deduction caps must be paired with deeper spending cuts. BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT’S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZY “SALT is a pay-for,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who is not on the budget committee, said in response to conservatives asking for offsets. He pointed out that SALT deduction caps would be eliminated entirely if Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which Republicans want to extend permanently via this bill, is allowed to expire. “The fact is, if the tax bill expires, the cap on SALT expires, which means it goes back to unlimited. So any cap is a savings within the bill,” Lawler said. “So this idea that we need to find a pay-for, that’s not an us problem. That’s other people’s problems.” But Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., another SALT Caucus member, signaled he would be OK with moving up the deadline on Medicaid work requirements in exchange for raising the SALT deduction cap. House GOP leaders are expected to continue negotiating with both groups, however. Both Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said they expected the Budget Committee meeting to go on as planned. House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, however, seemed less optimistic. “We’ll see,” he said when asked about the Friday meeting, adding the likely “no” votes are “potentially enough to delay it.” Congressional Republicans are moving Trump’s agenda via the budget reconciliation process. By lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage down to the House’s own simple majority requirement, it allows the party in control of both chambers and the White House to pass vast pieces of legislation while entirely sidelining the minority — in this case, Democrats. Eleven House committees have cobbled together individual portions of the bill, which will be put back into a framework that the House Budget Committee will consider Friday morning. Then it must head to the Senate, which will likely amend the bill, which then must sync up with the House before arriving on Trump’s desk for a signature.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Birthright Debate
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Trump highlights potential pay raise for troops, touts military reforms in Qatar speech -Dems divided on Trump’s executive order aimed at slashing drug prices –Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts reins in Sotomayor after repeated interruptions The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a challenge to President Donald Trump‘s effort to end birthright citizenship, a case that could more broadly call into question the powers of lower courts to block executive branch actions. It’s unclear when the justices will rule, but their decision to fast-track the case means an opinion or order could come within weeks — or even days. Justices across the ideological spectrum appeared to agree Thursday that the use of universal injunctions has surged in recent years — blocking actions by both Democratic and Republican presidents. WHY WOULD HE GO?’: Trump to skip Russia–Ukraine peace talks, calls Zelenskyy the ‘greatest salesman, maybe in history’ TRUMP OF ARABIA: Trump makes historic UAE trip in first U.S. presidential visit in nearly 30 years ‘VERY SIMPLE’: Trump warns Iran faces ‘violence like people haven’t seen before’ if nuclear deal fails ‘TRUMP’S EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS’: UAE’s president bestows highest civilian honor on Trump ‘IT’S THE LAW’: Espionage, constitutional concerns abound from Trump detractors, allies over Qatari jet offer POLL POSITION: Trump’s poll position improves as president’s approval ratings edge up in new national survey ‘DESTRUCTION OR DISRUPTION’: Hidden communications devices found in Chinese solar power inverters spark security alarm ‘NO DOUBT’: Dem senator says ‘no doubt’ Biden declined cognitively during presidency TAX-CUT DAY: GOP reps, advocacy group to target competitive House districts in Trump tax-cut push PLANES, TRAINS, AND INVESTIGATIONS: House Dems open investigation into Trump’s acceptance of $400 million jet from Qatar SUPREME SMACKDOWN: Justice Kagan snaps at Trump lawyer in major case: ‘Every court has ruled against you’ ‘DISTURBING’ CONDUCT: US attorney for Massachusetts says interference with ICE operations is ‘disturbing,’ threatens arrests JUDGE IS IN: Jeanine Pirro sworn in as interim US attorney ‘LEAVING AMERICANS VULNERABLE’: US military would be unleashed on enemy drones on the homeland if bipartisan bill passes NEW GAME: Harvard updates lawsuit after Trump cancels additional $450M in funding Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Washington state bill opens housing assistance to illegal immigrants, critics warn
A bill recently passed by lawmakers in Washington state could open the door for illegal immigrants to receive cash assistance under a program designed to provide housing assistance and other essential items to certain low-income residents unable to work, critics say. The state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature last month passed SB 5232, which has been delivered to Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson. The bill updates provisions related to the state’s Housing and Essential Needs Referral Program (HEN), which provides assistance to low-income U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and victims of human trafficking if they can’t work due to their physical or mental condition. HOMELAND SECURITY SUBPOENAS CALIFORNIA FOR POSSIBLE CASH BENEFITS TO ILLEGALS Lawmakers amended the bill to remove the eligibility requirement that recipients be “citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise residing in the United States under color of law.” “This year seems to be the year for noncitizens,” Republican state Sen. Leonard Christian, a ranking member of the Senate Human Services Committee, told Fox News Digital. “We have no problem giving direct money, housing money to noncitizens, along with $150 million in Medicaid for noncitizens.” “It just seems like the state is trying really hard to pick a fight with the Trump administration,” he added. The state has set aside roughly $130 million for the HEN program in an effort to address homelessness and housing. In a social media post, state Rep. Travis Couture also criticized SB 5232, calling it the “same budget” with “more recipients.” NEWSOM ASKS FOR NEARLY ANOTHER $3B FOR STATE HEALTH PROGRAM OVERWHELMED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “That means our people get kicked out of line in favor of illegal immigrants,” he wrote last week. “Gov. Ferguson — veto this. It’s unfair and it’s wrong. Put our own people first!” Ferguson hasn’t signaled whether he will sign the legislation. Fox News Digital has reached out to the sponsors of the bill and the governor’s office. Christian characterized the government handing out funds for housing as a “gift of taxpayer dollars,” noting the money doesn’t have many “guardrails around it.” He cited his own life experience, recalling his mother once leaving him and his 12-year-old brother at home to go cross-country trucking. “He used the money that was given to my mom to buy groceries and food for us kids, to buy marijuana and alcohol at the age of 12,” he said. “I saw first hand (the impact of) substance abuse and handing money to somebody.” NEWSOM SIGNS $2.8B BAILOUT FOR HEALTHCARE PROGRAM OVERRUN BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Statewide, Democrats have favored higher taxes on businesses and the rich, which ultimately trickle down to middle- and lower-class residents and programs that benefit illegal immigrants over American citizens, Christian said. “A lot of times, the Democratic Party thinks more with their hearts than with their head,” he said. “It’s the idea that they see a problem, and they think they can fix it.” Republicans want to address the same issues but look at how potential solutions will affect the overall population, he said. “They don’t get the fact that somebody else has got to pay for that crazy program,” he said. “I would certainly like to go around with a card and have fun and save the world, but who’s going to pay that Visa bill, and that’s when they don’t seem to care.” SB 5232 was passed as the state faces a $16 billion budget shortfall. In addition, Ferguson recently signed a handful of bills to protect immigrants’ rights, including measures to allow the state to inspect private detention centers and prohibit bail bond agents from enforcing immigration laws.