Fox News Politics Newsletter: Bondi Backs the Blue
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… -Pete Buttigieg says Biden running for a second term was ‘maybe’ a mistake –Pope Leo XIV makes first social media post, calling for peace -DHS announces 200% increase in Secret Service applications since President Donald Trump took office The Justice Department (DOJ) is moving funds formerly granted to groups supporting transgender ideology and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to law enforcement, Fox News Digital has confirmed. A Justice Department official told Fox News Digital that the DOJ, under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s watch, will “not waste” funds on DEI. “The Department of Justice under Pam Bondi will not waste discretionary funds on DEI passion projects that do not make Americans safer,” the official told Fox News Digital. “We will use our money to get criminals off the streets, seize drugs, and in some cases, fund programs that deliver a tangible impact for victims of crime.”…READ MORE DOLLAR DIPLOMACY: Trump visits Qatar as country’s jet offer puts spotlight on nation’s growing influence in Washington ‘BLOODTHIRSTY CRIMINAL’: Vance sears US leaders turning cops into ‘enemies’ ‘ANOTHER LEVEL’ OF COOPERATION: Trump signs agreements with Qatar on defense and Boeing purchases ‘LOST HIS CONFIDENCE’: Trump says ‘there’s something wrong’ with top Democrat he’s known ‘a long time’ TENSE TALKS: Trump teases possible appearance at Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as world awaits to see if Putin will show UNDER FIRE: UN revisits ‘killer robot’ regulations as concerns about AI-controlled weapons grow ‘RACIST ATTACKS’: Dem lawmaker seethes RFK’s ‘legitimacy’ as HHS secretary has ‘expired’ in heated exchange REACTOR FACTOR: Republicans urge Trump to follow through on his plan to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities FLYING HIGH: Dems condemn Trump’s jet deal, call $400 million gift ‘unconstitutional’ ‘GROSS VIOLATIONS’: House Republicans take one step closer to banning congressional stock trading ‘WON’T RESPOND’: AOC says DOJ ‘won’t respond’ to her inquiry on potential probe ‘DEFUNCT’: ‘DOGE caucus is dead,’ House Democrat declares TRUMP TRAIN: House GOP moves Trump’s agenda forward after all-night committee debate 2028 SPECULATION: Targeted by Trump, well-known Democrat sparks 2028 speculation with stop in key state FOR SALE: State Department approves sale of $1.4B worth of helicopters, F-16 parts to UAE ahead of Trump’s visit ‘I WANT TO GO FOR JIHAD’: Former Michigan Army National Guard member charged with plotting mass shooting at Army base on behalf of ISIS PRISON TIME?: Milwaukee judge indicted for helping immigrant evade ICE faces up to 6 years in prison Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Swing state judge strikes down 24-hour abortion waiting period as unconstitutional
A Michigan judge ruled on Tuesday that the state’s 24-hour waiting period and informed consent rules restricting abortion were unconstitutional. The waiting period, which allows abortion-seekers to consider their options before the procedure, was voted into the state constitution by Michigan voters in 2022, before being challenged in a 2024 lawsuit filed by abortion rights groups. “The mandatory delay exacerbates the burdens that patients experience seeking abortion care, including by increasing costs, prolonging wait times, increasing the risk that a patient will have to disclose their decision to others, and potentially forcing the patient to forgo a medication abortion for a more invasive procedure,” state Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel wrote in her opinion. SCOOP: REPUBLICANS DISCUSS DEFUNDING ‘BIG ABORTION’ LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN TRUMP AGENDA BILL Patel also ruled it was unconstitutional to ban nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants from performing abortions. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a post on X that she was “overjoyed” with the decision. “I’m overjoyed to say that the Michigan Court of Claims has seen these restrictive provisions for what they are: an unconstitutional overreach that infringes on our constitutional right to make our own reproductive health decisions,” Whitmer wrote. “Today’s ruling reaffirms what we already know: reproductive health decisions belong between a patient and their doctor, not the government. I’m proud to know that this Women’s Health Week, we can celebrate by protecting and expanding women’s fundamental rights and freedoms.” TRUMP FOE LETITIA JAMES LEADING CHARGE ON NEW MULTISTATE LAWSUIT OVER HHS CUTS Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul Long said the intent of the proposal was to grant constitutional protections to “an industry that places itself above the health and safety of women and the lives of pre-born children.” “This decision is a tragic reminder that the normalization of abortion in Michigan exists to the detriment of some 31,000 children every year who will never have the opportunity to experience the gift and blessings of life,” Long wrote in a statement. “Now, more than ever, we encourage others to envision a world where human life at every stage – from conception to a natural end – is truly cherished and protected, where expecting mothers are supported with love and care and have access to maternal needs, regardless of the circumstance of the pregnancy.” ‘GENDER-AFFIRMING’ TREATMENTS DON’T BENEFIT YOUTH, SAYS PEDIATRICIANS GROUP: ‘IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES’ The court upheld a rule that requires abortion providers to screen for signs of coercion. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If the decision is appealed, the case would be elevated to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
WATCH: RFK Jr Senate hearing disrupted by screaming protesters: ‘RFK kills people with hate’
Angry protesters disrupted a Tuesday hearing on Capitol Hill during which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified about how the agency’s 2026 budget aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda. Kennedy did not even finish his opening statement when multiple protesters disrupted his testimony, yelling that the HHS secretary is killing people “with hate.” “RFK kills people with hate!” a protester blurted out, startling Kennedy, who quickly turned behind him to see where the commotion was coming from. “RFK kills people with hate!” the chant continued, with more voices joining in. “RFK kills people with hate!” DEM LAWMAKER SEETHES RFK JR’S ‘LEGITIMACY’ AS HHS SECRETARY HAS ‘EXPIRED’ IN HEATED EXCHANGE Multiple people were eventually escorted out of the room, during which the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., paused the hearing. “Members of the audience are reminded disruptions will not be permitted while the committee conducts its business. Capitol Police are asked to remove the individuals from the hearing room,” Cassidy said amid the commotion. “That was a made-for-C-SPAN moment,” Cassidy quipped after things settled down. FDA’S LATEST MAHA MOVE WOULD WIPE OUT KIDS’ FLUORIDE PRESCRIPTIONS AS HEALTH RISK EVIDENCE MOUNTS The Wednesday hearing with the Senate HELP Committee came a few weeks after HHS released its budget for fiscal year 2026. Kennedy was testifying to share how the budget aligns with Trump’s priorities. “When my team and I took the helm at HHS we set out with clear goals,” Kennedy said shortly before he was interrupted. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “First, we aim to make America healthy again with a special focus on the chronic disease epidemic. Second, we committed to delivering more efficient, responsive, and effective service to over 100 million Americans who rely on Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. Third, we focus on achieving these goals by cutting costs for taxpayers and intend to do more – a lot more – with less.”
SCOOP: GOP plans investigation into ICE threats after Dems’ ‘storming’ of facility
FIRST ON FOX: House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is opening an investigation into threats facing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, Fox News Digital was told. It comes as fallout continues over three House Democrats accused of “storming” a detention center in New Jersey. Fox News Digital was told that Jordan is expected to schedule a hearing for next Tuesday, with former ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials expected among the witness panel. The hearing will cover threats against ICE operations, likely including Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. NEWARK MAYOR ARRESTED AS DEM CONGRESS MEMBERS STORM NEW JERSEY ICE PRISON TO CONDUCT ‘OVERSIGHT VISIT’ It’s also expected to cover the Trump administration’s advancements in cracking down on illegal immigration and threats to national security, Fox News Digital was told. The hearing will likely be led not by Jordan’s full committee, but by the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on oversight – a panel that’s led by Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, where the Delaney Hall incident took place. The planned move is a significant development in the situation led by one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in the House of Representatives. Republicans have been discussing what, if any, consequences could be in store for the three Democratic lawmakers who protested Trump’s immigration policies at the Newark ICE facility late last week. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., Rob Menendez, D-N.J., and LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other protesters outside the detention center, and apparently rushed in when the gates opened to let in a bus carrying detainees inside its walls. Democrats have contended that they had a right to enter the facility as federal officials. But Republicans, including DHS, have accused those Democrats of “storming” in and endangering both law enforcement and detainees in a bid to score political points. Both sides have also accused the other of assault. WHITE HOUSE BLASTS DEMS ‘CROSSING THE LINE’ BY STORMING ICE FACILITY GOP lawmakers and officials have suggested punishments ranging from censure to criminal charges, both of which House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., suggested were a “red line.” Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., introduced a resolution to strip those Democrats of their committees earlier this week. The three Democrats said in a joint statement in response to Carter, “As we all know, Members of Congress have a legal right to conduct oversight at any DHS detention facility without prior notice, and that’s exactly what we were doing last week. This week, we’re back in Washington doing exactly what New Jerseyans sent us here to do: delivering for them.”
Dems draft CBO into anti-Trump ‘resistance’ as White House works to shut down leftist data spin
The White House is shutting down accusations from Democrats and anti-Trump “resistance” that nearly 14 million people will lose insurance coverage under Republican Medicaid reform proposals as part of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” – with Republicans calling foul on the data spin and saying Dems are using it as a scare tactic. The infighting comes as Democrats and Republicans are going head-to-head over Medicaid spending levels, which has emerged as a prominent wedge between the parties amid the release of new analysis suggesting millions of people would lose their health insurance in order to foot the bill for Trump’s tax cuts. While Democrats have merged data from two new reports from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to back up claims that nearly 14 million would lose coverage, the White House and Republicans are objecting, as not all the policy proposals evaluated were actually included in Republicans’ legislation, and far fewer people would actually face insurance loss. Instead, Republicans argue that their proposed reforms to implement work requirements, strengthen eligibility checks and crack down on Medicaid for illegal immigrants preserve the program for those who really need it. MEDICAID BECOMES FLASHPOINT IN HOUSE DEBATE OVER TRUMP BUDGET BILL “President Trump is protecting Medicaid for every eligible American who relies on it by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse within this program,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a Tuesday statement to Fox News Digital. “By taking commonsense measures to strengthen Medicaid, we will ultimately improve care for those who this program is intended to serve: pregnant women, the disabled, seniors, and low-income families.” “The President has repeatedly said that he will save Medicaid to ensure it remains a reliable and sustainable lifeline for generations to come,” Desai said. A series of calculations from the CBO have recently emerged evaluating multiple different Medicaid proposals – further pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another on Medicaid reform. The first new analysis, commissioned by Democrats and released Thursday, failed to examine the exact proposals Republicans are considering and instead, took a shot in the dark at what Republicans might introduce, according to experts. That’s because Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., requested the CBO evaluate various policies that Republicans could have suggested. However, most of the policies analyzed are not identical to the ones that Republicans have actually put forward, experts said. SENIOR HOUSE REPUBLICAN EVISERATES DEMS FOR ‘FEAR CAMPAIGN’ AGAINST TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ “That was Democrats trying to guess what Republicans were going to do,” Ryan Long, a senior research fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, told Fox News Digital Monday. Michael Cannon, the director of health policy studies at the Washington-based libertarian-leaning Cato Institute think tank, voiced similar sentiments about the initial CBO report. “The first thing to know is that this is not a Republican proposal that CBO was examining,” Cannon told Fox News Digital Monday about the initial CBO analysis. “They’re similar to Republican proposals, but these were proposals, ideas that the Democrats asked CBO to examine for the purposes of criticizing those proposals, using them as a CBO score as a cudgel against Republicans.” While Democrats labeled the first scorekeeper’s report as proof that Republican policies would lead to “catastrophic” Medicaid cuts and force millions of people off their coverage, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said in a post on X that Democrats sought to “fear monger” Americans. Ultimately, the CBO report released Thursday evaluated five different initiatives that would rein in Medicaid spending, freeing up billions of dollars in spending but jeopardizing healthcare coverage for up to 8.6 million people. HOUSE GOP UNVEILS MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ Additional analysis from the CBO released Monday claimed that an additional 5.1 million Americans could lose their coverage if the measure fails to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that will expire in 2034, and includes a provision to fully implement the Marketplace Integrity Rule that seeks to crack down on eligibility verification. Although neither of these proposals is included in the Republican legislation, Democrats have added the numbers from these two CBO reports and have asserted that roughly 13.7 million people would go uninsured under Republican policies. Meanwhile, the latest CBO analysis released Tuesday examining Medicaid proposals included in the GOP measure found that adding work requirements, new eligibility checks and removing illegal immigrants from Medicaid would result in 10.3 million people losing coverage, and would leave 7.6 million people without insurance. CBO declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. ANTI-ABORTION PROVIDER MEASURE IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD SPARK HOUSE GOP REBELLION Additionally, Cannon pushed back against accusations that any of the proposals would actually cut Medicaid funding. While federal Medicaid spending is set to increase by 4.5% annually, the proposals CBO evaluated would simply curb that growth to at least 3% annually. But ultimately, Cannon said the report is a mechanism Democrats are using to ignite fears among Republicans as they seek a legislative victory of their own. “Democrats want to beat up Republicans, of course they do,” Cannon said. “They want to win elections, and they think if they can scare people, they can do it… they don’t want Republicans to get a political win, like tax cuts, and so this is their best weapon to stop tax cuts. They’re making the most of it, so that’s what’s going on with that CBO score.” The tension between Republicans and Democrats over Medicaid funding stems from a larger battle over Trump’s budget package that is making its way through Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is seeking to get the measure over the finish line in the House by Memorial Day. Meanwhile, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled a portion of the measure Sunday that tackled Medicaid, as the panel follows through on requests to find $880 billion in spending cuts to foot the bill for other Trump priorities. Specifically, the committee’s proposal put forth policy initiatives, including a new 80-hour-per-month
Budget office with ‘fundamentally progressive roots’ used by Dems as latest tool in anti-Trump resistance
The White House is shutting down accusations from Democrats and anti-Trump “resistance” that nearly 14 million people will lose insurance coverage under Republican Medicaid reform proposals as part of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” — with Republicans calling foul on the data spin and saying Dems are using it as a scare tactic. The infighting comes as Democrats and Republicans are going head-to-head over Medicaid spending levels, which has emerged as a prominent wedge between the parties amid the release of new analysis suggesting millions of people would lose their health insurance in order to foot the bill for Trump’s tax cuts. While Democrats have merged data from two new reports from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to back up claims that nearly 14 million would lose coverage, the White House and Republicans are objecting, as not all the policy proposals evaluated were actually included in Republicans’ legislation, and far fewer people would actually face insurance loss. Instead, Republicans argue that their proposed reforms to implement work requirements, strengthen eligibility checks and crack down on Medicaid for illegal immigrants preserve the program for those who really need it. MEDICAID BECOMES FLASHPOINT IN HOUSE DEBATE OVER TRUMP BUDGET BILL “President Trump is protecting Medicaid for every eligible American who relies on it by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse within this program,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a Tuesday statement to Fox News Digital. “By taking commonsense measures to strengthen Medicaid, we will ultimately improve care for those who this program is intended to serve: pregnant women, the disabled, seniors, and low-income families.” “The President has repeatedly said that he will save Medicaid to ensure it remains a reliable and sustainable lifeline for generations to come,” Desai said. A series of calculations from the CBO have recently emerged evaluating multiple different Medicaid proposals — further pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another on Medicaid reform. Much of the CBO’s Health Analysis Division consists of Democrats or Democrat donors, however, according to conservative government research nonprofit American Accountability Foundation, putting its standing as a nonpartisan organization into question, Fox News Digital. “The CBO likes to call itself ‘nonpartisan’ in an attempt to disguise its role as an undercover leftist think tank,” AAF President Tom Jones said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “In fact, the CBO is institutionally progressive, with 84% of its professional healthcare staff members being registered Democrats. These same staff members, who are on record donating to radicals like Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton, ‘score’ legislation and present it to the American people like it’s sacrosanct.” The CBO declined to comment to Fox News Digital on these claims. SENIOR HOUSE REPUBLICAN EVISERATES DEMS FOR ‘FEAR CAMPAIGN’ AGAINST TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ The first new CBO analysis, commissioned by Democrats and released Thursday, failed to examine the exact proposals Republicans are considering and instead, took a shot in the dark at what Republicans might introduce, according to experts. That’s because Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., requested the CBO evaluate various policies that Republicans could have suggested. However, most of the policies analyzed are not identical to the ones that Republicans have actually put forward, experts said. “That was Democrats trying to guess what Republicans were going to do,” Ryan Long, a senior research fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, told Fox News Digital Monday. Michael Cannon, the director of health policy studies at the Washington-based libertarian-leaning Cato Institute think tank, voiced similar sentiments about the initial CBO report. “The first thing to know is that this is not a Republican proposal that CBO was examining,” Cannon told Fox News Digital Monday about the initial CBO analysis. “They’re similar to Republican proposals, but these were proposals, ideas that the Democrats asked CBO to examine for the purposes of criticizing those proposals, using them as a CBO score as a cudgel against Republicans.” While Democrats labeled the first scorekeeper’s report as proof that Republican policies would lead to “catastrophic” Medicaid cuts and force millions of people off their coverage, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said in a post on X that Democrats sought to “fear monger” Americans. Ultimately, the CBO report released Thursday evaluated five different initiatives that would rein in Medicaid spending, freeing up billions of dollars in spending but jeopardizing healthcare coverage for up to 8.6 million people. HOUSE GOP UNVEILS MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ Additional analysis from the CBO released Monday claimed that an additional 5.1 million Americans could lose their coverage if the measure fails to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that will expire in 2034, and includes a provision to fully implement the Marketplace Integrity Rule that seeks to crack down on eligibility verification. Although neither of these proposals is included in the Republican legislation, Democrats have added the numbers from these two CBO reports and have asserted that roughly 13.7 million people would go uninsured under Republican policies. Meanwhile, the latest CBO analysis released Tuesday examining Medicaid proposals included in the GOP measure found that adding work requirements, new eligibility checks and removing illegal immigrants from Medicaid would result in 10.3 million people losing coverage, and would leave 7.6 million people without insurance. CBO declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital on its recent reports. ANTI-ABORTION PROVIDER MEASURE IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD SPARK HOUSE GOP REBELLION Additionally, Cannon pushed back against accusations that any of the proposals would actually cut Medicaid funding. While federal Medicaid spending is set to increase by 4.5% annually, the proposals CBO evaluated would simply curb that growth to at least 3% annually. But ultimately, Cannon said the report is a mechanism Democrats are using to ignite fears among Republicans as they seek a legislative victory of their own. “Democrats want to beat up Republicans, of course they do,” Cannon said. “They want to win elections, and they think if they can scare people, they can do it… they don’t want
House Republicans mull consequences for Dems who ‘stormed’ ICE facility
House Republicans are warning that consequences are in store for three Democratic colleagues the Trump administration accused of “storming” a detention facility in defense of illegal immigrants last week. “Look, there’s three possible disciplinary actions in Congress that the House can take,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters at his weekly press conference Wednesday. He noted the House could censure, a symbolic rebuke with no further repercussions that requires a simple majority vote – a move Johnson said “probably does seem appropriate here.” BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT’S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZY Johnson noted the Republican majority could also boot them off their committees, or even expel those lawmakers – though he noted that required a significantly higher threshold. “Now, expulsion requires a two-thirds vote. That’s not likely with margins that are this small. But, you know, we’re looking at what is appropriate,” he said. Meanwhile, other House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital called for a range of punishments, from censure to arrests. “I really think there should be criminal charges filed against them,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., told Fox News Digital, arguing there was no realistically sufficient punishment the House could levy. “A censure doesn’t do anything but raise them money, and no one here has the balls to expel anybody. Only Democrats’ balls are that big.” ANTI-ABORTION PROVIDER MEASURE IN TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ COULD SPARK HOUSE GOP REBELLION Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., however, said they should be “censured, at the least.” “The Justice Department should be looking at it. If there was any sort of battery or physical assault, that’s just unacceptable,” Stutzman said. Both Republicans and Democrats have traded accusations of assault since last Friday, when three Democratic members of Congress joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other protesters to rush into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, the Delaney Hall detention center, in northern New Jersey. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez argued they had every right to be there as federal officials on federal grounds and accused ICE agents of “manhandling” lawmakers who joined protesters that day. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused the Democrats of “storming” the facility after a bus carrying detainees went through its gates and said their actions put both law enforcement and detainees’ safety at risk. But Democrats are circling the wagons around the trio. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a clear warning to Republicans on Tuesday. “That’s a red line,” Jeffries said when asked about possible arrests or sanctions of the lawmakers. “It’s been made loudly and abundantly clear to the Trump administration, we’re not going to be intimidated by their tactics.” Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., said he was in favor of punishing those Democrats. “We should be better than that,” he said, without elaborating on what retribution was reasonable. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., introduced a resolution on Tuesday to strip the trio of their committees, which the three Democrats criticized. Fox News Digital reached out to the House Democrats for comment on the latest discussions.
Trump border czar fires back at AOC over DOJ probe remarks: ‘Why doesn’t she pass some legislation?’
Trump administration “border czar” Tom Homan fired back at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., after she responded to questions Tuesday about the potential of being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for holding a webinar meant to help migrants deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. When asked by Fox News Digital about Ocasio-Cortez saying she had yet to hear from DOJ or even know if she truly is under investigation, Homan said to check with the department itself. The DOJ did not respond to an earlier related inquiry on the matter. “I wish she’d do her job. She’s a legislator, right? Why doesn’t she pass some legislation… and actually improve this country like President Donald Trump is already doing?” Homan later added. NYC COUNCIL MODERATES ‘THRILLED’ AT HOMAN VISIT, PLEDGING TO HELP BORDER CZAR FIGHT PROGRESSIVE MONOPOLY “I’m doing my job: the border is secure. We arrested three times more criminals than [former President Joe] Biden did. We’re doing our job. She should try doing her job.” Earlier, he answered in the affirmative when pressed on whether Democratic lawmakers who were accused of storming an ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, should face consequences. “Yes,” he added when asked if they should face censure or removal of their committee assignments. Another reporter followed up by asking about a specific warning from Ocasio-Cortez on the matter. AOC SAYS DOJ WON’T RESPOND TO HER INQUIRY ON POTENTIAL PROBE “You lay a finger on [New Jersey Congresswoman] Bonnie Watson Coleman or any of the representatives that were there – you lay a finger on them, and we’re going to have a problem,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Instagram. Homan was on Capitol Hill Wednesday at the invitation of Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, to speak with his large House GOP group about immigration and border security. Three Democratic members of Congress from New Jersey – Coleman, Robert Menendez and LaMonica McIver – joined protesters and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka earlier this week outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark. Baraka was notably arrested at the site. In response to that question about AOC’s warning, Homan turned around and laughed loudly before quipping, “I’m extremely intimidated.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP At the time of her first brush with Homan over the webinar, Ocasio-Cortez told a Queens town hall crowd, “I’m using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutional protections. To that I say: ‘Come for me, do I look like I care?’” Homan said after the event, “I’m working with the Department of Justice and finding out where is that line… So maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now.” The Democratic trio, along with party leaders, have consistently argued that the lawmakers had a right to be at Delaney Hall as federal officials. Republicans, meanwhile, are mulling possible consequences. Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Republicans say they’re ‘out of the loop’ on Trump’s $400M Qatari plane deal
While Democrats have largely ridiculed President Donald Trump‘s decision to accept a $400 million jet from the Qatari royal family on behalf of the U.S. government, Republicans have raised national security concerns and admitted they have not been briefed on the details of the deal. Fox News Digital asked Senate Republicans for their reaction to Trump deciding to accept the luxury Boeing jet from Qatar. While Trump continues his diplomatic trip through the Middle East, House Republicans are busy finalizing his “big, beautiful bill” at committee markups on Capitol Hill. “I actually haven’t paid attention to it,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said. “I’m sorry to be so out of the loop on that. I’ve just been thinking about Medicaid and about what the House is sending over.” And Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, another Trump ally, said she didn’t know enough about the deal to comment on it when pressed by Fox News Digital. DEMS CONDEMN TRUMP’S JET DEAL, CALL $400M GIFT ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ “I need to find out from the administration what exactly is going on,” Ernst added. TRUMP DEFENDS QATAR JUMBO JET OFFER AS TROUBLED BOEING FAILS TO DELIVER NEW AIR FORCE ONE FLEET Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Eric Schmitt of Missouri also admitted they don’t know the details of the deal. However, Collins, a Republican with a willingness to buck the party on certain issues, seemed to align more with Democrats’ reaction to the gift, saying she suspected there could be issues within the GIFT Act, which prohibits federal employees from accepting gifts from foreign governments. Democrats have pointed to the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution as proof the Qatari gift is “unconstitutional.” The emoluments clause states that no elected official should accept a gift from a foreign country without consent from Congress. “My concern is his safety,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, told Fox News Digital. “Qatar supports Hamas. The Hamas leaders live in Qatar, so my concern is the safety of the president. How are we going to know that the plane is safe?” The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to retrofit the Boeing 747-8 luxury jet to be used as Air Force One. Some Republicans still have national security concerns. “Qatar has a relationship with China, a relationship with Hamas. That would scare me,” Scott admitted. But Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo, said a “free plane” sounds like a “good deal for the government.” The Trump administration has continued to defend Qatar’s gift to the United States. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed it was not “Trump’s plane” and that it was donated to the U.S. Air Force. On Wednesday morning, Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, which included a Qatari purchasing agreement for 160 American Boeing planes, defense agreements and a declaration of cooperation between the countries. Trump defended his decision to accept the Qatari jet Tuesday, saying it would be “stupid” not to and emphasizing that he accepted it on behalf of the U.S. government, not himself. “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive. Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done,” Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday. “This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump added. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about plans to discuss the deal with Congress.
Swalwell warns Noem he has ‘bulls— detector’ during heated exchange about Abrego Garcia
Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell warned Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that he has a “bullsh— detector” during a heated exchange about a photo of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen who the Trump administration deported. Swalwell was grilling Noem about a photo of Abrego Garcia’s hand that shows alleged MS-13 tattoos during a Homeland Security budget hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. “I want you to have credibility and I want you to be taken seriously. Is this doctored or is it not?” Swalwell asked, referring to the photo that President Donald Trump shared on social media. Swalwell was asserting that the letters “M,” “S” and the numbers “1” and “3” above the tattoos were edited onto the photo. Noem tried to respond, saying that the deportation of Abrego Garcia was based off an investigation, not a photo, but was interrupted by Swalwell. TRUMP’S REMARKS COULD COME BACK TO BITE HIM IN ABREGO GARCIA DEPORTATION BATTLE “Madam Secretary, I have a seven-year-old, a six-year-old and a three-year-old,” Swalwell said. “I have a bulls— detector. I’m just asking you, is this doctored or not?” Noem replied that it was “unbelievable” that the lawmaker’s focus was on a photo and not on the importance of U.S. national security, before saying she had “no knowledge” of the photo in question. KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA’S LAWYERS ASK FOR MORE TRUMP ADMIN OFFICIALS TO TESTIFY, POSSIBLY FROM WHITE HOUSE Last month, President Donald Trump shared a photo of himself in the Oval Office holding a picture of what the White House said were tattoos on Abrego Garcia’s knuckles that are affiliated with the MS-13 terrorist group. While Swalwell continued to use his time to push Noem about the photo, the secretary responded that the mission of DHS is to secure the country and go after “the worst of the worst, the criminals, the bad actors.” “Abrego Garcia is a known terrorist and member of MS-13, a wife beater and a human trafficker that should never have been in this country to begin with,” Noem said.