Noem, DHS outline next step to speed up deportation process
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its plan to rework the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, an online database used by law enforcement to identify the noncitizen status of individuals in the U.S. DHS shared exclusive details with Fox News Digital Tuesday, which include eliminating fees for database searches, streamlining mass immigration status checks, integrating criminal records, and creating a “user-friendly interface” to “prevent non-citizens from exploiting taxpayer benefits of voting illegally.” The SAVE program, established in 1987, allows local law enforcement officials and various government agencies to input biographic info as well as noncitizen documentation such as I-94 number, SEVIS ID, or Alien number, to pull up immigration information on related individuals. LEAVITT GOES OFF ON DEMOCRAT FOR TAXPAYER-FUNDED TRIP TO SUPPORT DEPORTED SUSPECTED MS-13 GANG MEMBER “Illegal aliens have exploited outdated systems to defraud Americans and taint our elections,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “This revamped SAVE system ensures government officials can swiftly verify statuses, halting entitlement and voter fraud.” DHS will work alongside the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to maximize the effectiveness and update the program. FLORIDA HALTS MIGRANT ARRESTS AFTER JUDGE REBUKES STATE OVER IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT The move to overhaul the SAVE program comes after the Trump administration sparred with federal judges on mass deportations. Most recently, the Supreme Court halted the administration’s removal of Venezuelan migrants under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. The highest court, however, did not issue a full stop. Rather, the ruling stated that Venezuelan migrants held in a Texas detention center are not to be removed “until further order of this court.” MORE THAN 500K IMMIGRANTS MISSED THEIR COURT HEARINGS ON BIDEN’S WATCH: ANALYSIS Justice Samual Alito, who offered the dissenting opinion on the decision, stated that the “Court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The number of migrant encounters at the borders has fallen dramatically under President Donald Trump.
Likely Dem gubernatorial candidate in key swing state praises DEI at Sharpton event: ‘Stay woke’
FIRST ON FOX: Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat running for governor in the key swing state, recently attended the National Action Network’s convention and urged the audience to “stay woke” while defending businesses who push DEI. Ford, who stood up and cheered when New York’s Democratic Attorney General Letitia James walked into the room at Al Sharpton’s event before embracing her, touted the “affirmative action scholarship” that he received to attend Texas A&M University while speaking at the convention earlier this month. “When they talk about the opposite of equity, its inequity, you know what that means. You work hard, but you don’t get the same thing everyone else gets for the same work that they’ve done,” Ford said, before praising companies who have refused to scrap DEI policies. “Whether it’s Costco… whether it’s Delta, whether it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, I know I’m in the wrong city for that, but the point I’m making is these places that adamantly and continue to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we should support because they support us,” Ford said. CONTROVERSIAL DEFENSE PROGRAM TIED TO DEI-LADEN CONTRACTOR COULD BE IN CROSSHAIRS OF DOGE: ‘POSTER CHILD’ Ford then suggested that the term “woke” was a badge of honor rather than a negative. “Here’s what’s happening right now, they don’t want you to ‘wake up everybody,’” Ford said, referencing a Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song. “That’s why they’ve got a war on woke, you understand? They don’t want you asking what’s going on? They want you ignorant, they want you complacent. That’s why they changing history books right before your eyes, and so it’s important that you stay woke and that you continue asking questions and hold folks accountable. That’s what you can do and you can do that anytime, every time whenever you feel like making it happen.” DESPITE TRUMP’S ORDER, A SURPRISING NUMBER OF DEI PROGRAMS REMAIN ‘ACTIVE’ AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Fox News Digital reached out to Ford’s office for comment. Ford, who has said he plans to run for governor against Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo as a Democrat in a state President Donald Trump narrowly won in 2024, made his comments touting DEI shortly after Trump began his push to rid DEI from the federal government. Additionally, companies across the country have been moving away from DEI. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Sharpton, the president of National Action Network, has called on his followers to boycott companies that have moved away from DEI, including Target. Sharpton recently met with the retail giant’s CEO in a meeting that Sharpton reportedly asked for. “You can’t have an election come and all of a sudden, change your old positions,” Sharpton said. “If an election determines your commitment to fairness, then fine, you have a right to withdraw from us, but then we have a right to withdraw from you.”
GOP lawmaker touts $19M Trump tariff success story in her district: ‘New model for American manufacturing’
FIRST ON FOX: An Indiana lawmaker is celebrating an American bicycle company opening a new manufacturing plant in her district after President Donald Trump launched his aggressive tariff campaign against China. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital that Guardian Bikes is starting with a new $19 million investment in Seymour, Indiana to expand their operations there – which she said will create new local jobs. “The number of job opportunities that are available, the investment right here in southern Indiana, that’s money that’s staying right here at home and not going outside the country. And certainly away from China,” Houchin said in her first interview on the topic. TRUMP SHREDS BIDEN, ‘RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS’ IN EASTER MESSAGE The Indiana Republican, now in her second term, said she first visited Guardian Bikes shortly after being elected to Congress. At the time, they had just 16 employees, she said. “At the time, they talked to us about their desire to become a 100% made in the USA bicycle factory,” Houchin said. “Currently, over 97% of bicycles are made outside of the United States. Many are assembled in the United States, but their component parts mostly come from China.” Guardian Bikes specifically relied on Chinese imports for 70% of its production, she said. After Trump’s election in November 2024, however, she said “they have been slowly working toward being 100% made in the USA.” “They just announced $19 million in financing with JPMorgan Chase to launch the first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in the United States,” Houchin said. “This has been made possible by President Trump’s trade policies…it’s just pretty incredible that we have a president right now that is focused so much…on creating a level playing field for American companies.” Houchin said the company is aiming to increase its “mass market” bicycles manufactured in the U.S. from 100,000 to over 1 million. “That’s just very, very exciting,” she said. Guardian Bikes also currently has locations in California and Pennsylvania, with two more expected in Texas and Georgia this year, according to the company’s website. The site also touts the company’s plans to manufacture its bike frames in Indiana, and vows to be “rapidly” moving toward being made entirely within the United States. “We brought Guardian Bikes production to the U.S., because we believe the future of manufacturing is local, fast, and data-driven. Indiana, and specifically Seymour, offers the perfect combination of workforce, infrastructure, and proximity to our customer base,” Guardian Bikes CEO Brian Riley told Fox News Digital. “It’s not just about making bikes – it’s about building a new model for American manufacturing.” WHAT THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE SCREAMING ABOUT TRUMP’S TARIFFS It comes as critics of Trump’s sweeping tariff plans have accused him of upending the global economy. Supporters of the plan, however, have hailed it as both a potent negotiating strategy and a long-needed solution to jobs moving overseas. A cornerstone of Trump’s policy has been a 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S. Plans for additional reciprocal tariffs, which Trump announced earlier this month, were dropped against countries that have not retaliated against the U.S. However, Trump has levied a massive 145% base tariff across all of Beijing’s exports in a bid to crack down on the U.S.’s growing reliance on Chinese manufacturing. When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital, “Trillions in historic investment commitments from industry leaders – now including Guardian Bikes – since Election Day only reinforces what President Trump has been saying all along: if you make your product in America, you don’t have to worry about tariffs.”
Florida protester screams at Rep. Byron Donalds during tense town hall
A protester was captured on video yelling at Rep. Byron Donalds and being escorted away by security during a town hall hosted by the Florida Republican. Tensions escalated inside the auditorium at Estero High School Monday night after a woman began shouting at Donalds – a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who is running to succeed term-limited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – over the war in Gaza. “The Palestinians have voted for Hamas and they have not done anything to remove Hamas. So you want to have a shouting match with me? Let’s have a shouting match on the facts,” Donalds said. “The truth is, is that Hamas held elections one time. One time. And they never held elections again. Because they would prefer to keep the Palestinian people under their boots.” “So if you’re going to ask who has blood on your hands, it is Hamas and it is the people that empower them…. That’s the truth. If you want to continue to have a shouting match with me at least come with the facts. Next question,” Donald told her, drawing applause from other members of the crowd. VIDEO: PROTESTER FORCIBLY ESCORTED OUT OF REPUBLICAN TOWN HALL HOSTED BY MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE However, the woman continued yelling at Donalds. “What you’re doing is yelling now and you’re being disrespectful. You, ma’am, you are being disrespectful. And I will respect you. And I will honor the fact that you are here trying to get answers,” Donald said. “But if you’re gonna hold this thing up and be disrespectful, then it’s time for you to be removed. You can leave.” The protester was then seen being escorted away by law enforcement. As she was being led out of the auditorium, she shouted, “Free, free Palestine!” Donalds also encountered a hostile reaction from his audience while responding to a question about oversight being imposed on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). HOW DEMOCRATS INFILTRATED ‘THUNDEROUS’ GOP TOWN HALLS “First and foremost, when it comes to what Elon Musk is doing, he’s everything that he does right now is in the auspices of being a special employee under the presidency of Donald Trump. So how this works is the president’s allowed to have special employees. Every president basically had these special employees. They’re tasked with specific duties, specific responsibilities. Some of them have been tasked with going overseas, trying to negotiate climate policy. That was John Kerry when he was the climate czar under President Biden,” Donalds told the crowd. “And this instance, Elon Musk is essentially the head of the DOGE that Donald Trump has set up in his administration.” The crowd eventually started groaning and grew restless as Donalds spoke. “Are you going to allow me to answer the question? OK. So like I said, what he, what they doing is under the directions of the president of the United States. If you’re going to talk about what oversight is doing, we actually have to let the DOGE committee, the DOGE department actually finish its work,” Donalds continued. “What they are examining right now is inefficiency in a federal system.” “You can boo if you want to, but those are the facts. Because if you go back in time, back to 2009,” he added. “Then-President Obama famously said that he wanted to examine the efficiencies or lack thereof in the federal government. Elon Musk is doing the exact same thing.”
Schumer sinks, AOC soars in new poll as liberal voters demand harder line on Trump
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s poll numbers in his home state of New York are taking a hit. The top Senate Democrat and longtime lawmaker faced intense backlash from within his own party in March for supporting a Republican-crafted federal government funding bill that averted a government shutdown and was backed by President Donald Trump but opposed by most congressional Democrats. That anger by Democrats appears to be reflected in a new poll of New Yorkers conducted by Siena College. Schumer’s favorable rating stands at 39% favorable and 49% unfavorable among New York state voters questioned in the poll, which was conducted April 14-16 and released on Tuesday. HEAD HERE TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING It’s the worst showing by Schumer in the 20 years Siena College has been conducting polls in New York state. “A first in a Siena College poll: Schumer is 10 points underwater, with a plurality of voters viewing him unfavorably,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. Fueling the deterioration of Schumer’s numbers is a plunge in favorability among Democrats. PROGRESSIVE LEADER SAYS SCHUMER FACES ‘UPHILL CLIMB’ TO WIN BACK DEMOCRATS’ TRUST “While he continues to be viewed unfavorably by more than two-thirds of Republicans and a majority of independents, Schumer saw his standing with Democrats, particularly liberals, fall dramatically,” Greenberg said. “Democrats view Schumer favorably 52-38%, down from 68-23%, and he’s still viewed favorably by a plurality of liberals, 47-41%, but that’s down from 68-21%.” While the poll shows that Schumer’s favorable ratings are taking a hit, it also indicates that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s numbers are soaring. Ocasio-Cortez, the four-term Democrat from New York City and a progressive champion, stands at 47% favorable and 33% unfavorable among New York state voters. That’s a jump from 38%-39% the last time Siena asked about Ocasio-Cortez among a statewide sample of respondents, four years ago. According to the poll, 64% of Democrats view Ocasio-Cortez in a favorable light, more than Schumer or Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Six in 10 Republicans questioned in the poll view Ocasio-Cortez in a negative way, with independents evenly divided. BERNIE SANDERS, AOC, AND OTHER ANTI-TRUMP PROGRESSIVES HAUL IN BIG BUCKS Schumer has repeatedly argued that voting to advance the GOP federal funding bill was the best of two bad options and a government shutdown would have given more power to Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the president’s special White House advisor who’s aggressively chopping the federal workforce as he steers DOGE. While facing calls by fellow Democrats to be more vocal in his opposition to Trump, Schumer to date has kept his control of the Senate Democratic Caucus. While the Senate minority leader isn’t up for re-election until 2028, there are already suggestions that Ocasio-Cortez could wage a primary challenge against Schumer, with some early polling suggesting that she would top him. Hochul, who is running next year for a second four-year term as New York governor, is enjoying a rise in her approval and favorable ratings, according to the poll. The governor’s approval rating stands at 48%-45%, up from 46%-48% in Siena College’s March poll. And Hochul’s favorable ratings now stand at 44%-43%, up from 40%-50% last month. While only 39% of voters are prepared to re-elect Hochul in 2026 – with 48% saying they would like to see “someone else” – her standing is an improvement from March, when only 34% wanted to see her re-elected and 56% preferred someone else. Greenberg noted that when it comes to the governor’s approval and favorable ratings, “Hochul improved most among upstate and women voters.” Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, and Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, are all considering launching GOP campaigns for governor against Hochul. Pointing to the latest poll results from Siena, Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe argued, “New Yorkers strongly support Governor Hochul’s leadership because she is fighting to get results on the priorities that matter to them – from public safety to lowering costs.”
Supreme Court to hear case on LGBTQ-themed storybooks and parents’ right to opt out
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a closely watched case that could reshape the role of parental rights and religious freedom in public education. At issue is whether a Maryland school district violated the First Amendment by requiring elementary school students to engage with LGBTQ+ storybooks that include topics about gender transitions and same-sex relationships, without allowing parents to opt out. The policy was implemented to disrupt “cisnormativity” and promote inclusivity, according to Supreme Court documents. Initially, the school allowed parents to opt their children out of these lessons, but later reversed this decision, eliminating the opt-out option and not notifying parents when such content was being taught. SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS SWOOPS IN TO SAVE TRUMP FIRING DECISION Parents, supported by religious freedom organizations, argue that this policy infringes upon their First Amendment rights by compelling their children to engage in instruction that contradicts their religious beliefs. The Fourth Circuit Court, a federal appeals court, ruled last year that there was no violation of religious exercise rights, stating that the policy did not force parents to change their religious beliefs or conduct and that parents could still teach their children outside of school. Thomas More Society attorney Michael McHale told Fox News Digital in a previous interview that “while there is an opt-out statute in state law, the school initially abided by it.” “The school decided to yank the opt-out exception, so to speak, and it really triggered the issue of whether the Constitution requires an opt-out in that circumstance,” McHale said. LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS “For the Fourth Circuit to say there was no religious burden, it really seems radical, and given how pressing that issue of school curriculum on sexual orientation, gender identity is, I think it raises an issue worth the Supreme Court’s attention,” he said. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders related to gender policies in federal institutions. McHale said these actions could reduce legal conflicts involving religious rights, such as disputes over whether teachers must use students’ preferred pronouns in schools. SCOTUS RULINGS THIS TERM COULD STRENGTHEN RELIGIOUS RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, EXPERT SAYS Mahmoud v. Taylor is one of three major religious cases the Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for this year. Earlier this month, the high court heard a case brought by a Wisconsin-based Catholic charity group’s bid for tax relief, which could alter the current eligibility requirements for religious tax exemptions. At issue in that case is whether the Wisconsin branch of Catholic Charities, a social services organization affiliated with Catholic dioceses across the country, can successfully contest the state’s high court determination that it is ineligible for a religious tax exemption because it is not “operated primarily for religious purposes.” The third case is about whether a Catholic online school can become the first religious charter school in the U.S.
Parents tell SCOTUS: LGBTQ storybooks in classrooms clash with our faith
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday from religious parents who say young children can’t be expected to separate a teacher’s moral messages from their family’s beliefs—raising the question of whether exposure to LGBTQ-themed storybooks in elementary classrooms constitutes “coercion.” Eric S. Baxter, the attorney representing Maryland parents in Mahmoud v. Taylor, told the justices that Montgomery County Public Schools violated the First Amendment by denying opt-out requests for books that “contradict their religious beliefs,” even while allowing exemptions for other religious objections — such as books depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. “There’s no basis for denying opt-outs for religious reasons,” Baxter said during oral arguments. “Parents, not school boards, should have the final say on such religious matters.” Justice Clarence Thomas asked Baxter about whether children were merely “exposed” to the books or actively instructed by them. “Are the books just there and no more, or are they actually being taught out of the books?” he asked. Baxter said that teachers were required to use the materials in class. “When the books were first introduced in August of 2022, the board suggested they be used five times before the end of the year. One of the schools, Sherwood School, in June for Pride Month said that they were going to read one book each day.” SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS SWOOPS IN TO SAVE TRUMP FIRING DECISION Parents, supported by religious freedom organizations, argue that this policy infringes upon their First Amendment rights by compelling their children to engage in instruction that contradicts their religious beliefs. The Fourth Circuit Court, a federal appeals court, ruled last year that there was no violation of religious exercise rights, stating that the policy did not force parents to change their religious beliefs or conduct and that parents could still teach their children outside of school. Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Baxter whether exposure to same-sex relationships in children’s books could be considered religious coercion. “Is looking at two men getting married… is that the religious objection?” she asked, referencing the book, “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding.” “The most they’re doing is holding hands.” Baxter maintained that it depends on the family’s faith. “Our parents would object to that,” he said. “Their faith teaches… they shouldn’t be exposed to information about sex during their years of innocence without being accompanied by moral principles.” LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS Justice Samuel Alito inquired about the developmental capacity of young children as young as 4 to question classroom teachings and moral instruction. “Would you agree that there comes a point when a student is able to make that distinction?” he asked. “That my teacher… isn’t necessarily going to be correct on everything. It is possible for me to disagree with him or her on certain subjects?” Baxter agreed. “That’s right,” he said. “And many of our clients’ objections would be diminished as their children got older.” But Baxter stood strong on the point that age matters, especially in this case. He argued even Montgomery County school officials had acknowledged some books were not age-appropriate and criticized their attitude toward religious perspectives. “In a situation where Montgomery County’s own principals objected that these books were inappropriate for the age, they were dismissive of religion and shaming toward children who disagree,” Baxter said. “The board itself withdrew two of the books for what it said were content concerns, because it finally agreed that what parents and petitioners — and its own principals — are saying was accurate.” SCOTUS RULINGS THIS TERM COULD STRENGTHEN RELIGIOUS RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, EXPERT SAYS Mahmoud v. Taylor is one of three major religious cases the Supreme Court has on the docket for this year. Earlier this month, the high court heard a case brought by a Wisconsin-based Catholic charity group’s bid for tax relief, which could alter the current eligibility requirements for religious tax exemptions. At issue in that case is whether the Wisconsin branch of Catholic Charities, a social services organization affiliated with Catholic dioceses across the country, can successfully contest the state’s high court determination that it is ineligible for a religious tax exemption because it is not “operated primarily for religious purposes.” The third case is about whether a Catholic online school can become the first religious charter school in the U.S.
House Dem jumps into crowded Michigan Senate race
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., launched a bid to represent the Great Lakes State in the U.S. Senate with an ad slamming President Donald Trump. In a video announcing her candidacy, Stevens is flanked by vehicles as she criticizes the administration’s tariff policies and vows to protect Michigan’s auto industry. “[Trump’s] chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk,” Stevens said in her campaign launch video. She also accused the Trump administration of bringing “chaos.” “Haley will work to bring down costs for Michigan families, continue to boost Michigan’s manufacturing and auto industries, and stand up to the Trump-Musk chaos agenda,” a statement on Stevens’ campaign website reads. REPUBLICAN LAUNCHES SECOND STRAIGHT BID TO FLIP DEMOCRAT-HELD SENATE SEAT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND In the campaign launch ad, Stevens highlighted her work to improve America’s auto industry under the Obama administration – and even included a clip of former President Barack Obama giving her a shoutout. Stevens is the third prominent Democrat to throw her hat in the ring since Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., announced that he would not seek a third term. The congresswoman is set to compete against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. LONGTIME HOUSE REPUBLICAN WEIGHS RUN TO FLIP DEM-HELD SENATE SEAT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., in 2024, is also running in 2026. Additionally, earlier this month, longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga told Fox News that his phone “hasn’t stopped ringing” since Peters’ announcement. Michigan will be a major target for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to flip in 2026 as the party looks to expand its majority in the Senate. When she was elected in 2018, Stevens flipped a Republican-held U.S. House seat, which could make her a formidable candidate for Senate. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
JD Vance champions ‘roadmap’ toward US-India trade deal, says partnership critical to deterring ‘dark time’
Vice President JD Vance touted progress made toward a U.S.-India trade deal on Tuesday, saying a partnership between the Trump administration and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would ensure a 21st century that’s “prosperous and peaceful.” Speaking in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur, Vance also warned of “dire” consequences in the Indo-Pacific and a “dark time” for the world should the partnership between the U.S. and India fail. “Critics have attacked my president, President Trump, for starting a trade war in an effort to bring back the jobs of the past, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Vance said, referring to Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and commitment to revitalize U.S. manufacturing. “He seeks to rebalance global trade so that America, with friends like India, can build a future worth having for all of our people together.” President Donald Trump and Modi announced in February that the U.S. and India aim to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by the end of the decade. VANCE WAS ONE OF POPE FRANCIS’ LAST VISITORS “Both of our governments are hard at work on a trade agreement built on shared priorities, like creating new jobs, building durable supply chains and achieving prosperity for our workers,” Vance said on Tuesday. “In our meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Modi and I made very good progress on all of those points, and we’re especially excited to formally announce that America and India have officially finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiations. I think this is a vital step toward realizing President Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s vision because it sets a roadmap toward a final deal between our nations. I believe there is much America and India can accomplish together.” Vance noted that his trip to India was the first time he had visited the birthplace of the parents of his wife, Usha Vance. The vice president, the second lady and their three children visited Modi for dinner on Monday. In his speech Tuesday, Vance said his children have only built a rapport with two world leaders – Trump and Modi, who the second family first met in February at the AI Action Summit in Paris. “Our kids just like him,” Vance said, arguing that children are “brutally honest” and typically good judges of character. “I just like Prime Minister Modi too. And I think it’s a great foundation for the future of our relationship.” “President Trump and I know that Prime Minister Modi is a tough negotiator. He drives a hard bargain. It’s one of the reasons why we respect him. And we don’t blame Prime Minister Modi for fighting for India’s industry,” Vance said. “But we do blame American leaders of the past for failing to do the same for our workers. And we believe that we can fix that to the mutual benefit of both the United States and India.” JD VANCE GEARS UP TO TALK ECONOMIC PRIORITIES DURING TRIPS TO ITALY, INDIA Vance appeared to reference China – though not directly – in addressing the high-stakes nature of trade negotiations between the U.S. and India. “This audience knows better than most: neither Americans nor Indians are alone and looking to scale up their manufacturing capacity,” Vance said. “The competition extends well beyond cheap consumer goods and into munitions, energy infrastructure and all sorts of other cutting-edge technologies. I believe that if our nations fail to keep pace, the consequences for the Indo-Pacific, but really the consequences for the entire world will be quite dire.” “We believe a stronger India means greater economic prosperity. But also greater stability across the Indo-Pacific, which is, of course, a shared goal for all of us in this room,” the vice president continued. “I believe that if India and the United States work together successfully, we are going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful. But I also believe that if we fail to work together successfully, the 21st century could be a very dark time for all of humanity.” In the past, Vance argued, Washington has approached Modi with an “attitude of preachiness or even one of condensation,” using India “as a source of low-cost labor” while criticizing the prime minister’s government. Vance said the Trump administration recognizes that “cheap, dependable energy is an essential part of making things and is an essential part of economic independence for both of our nations.” He said America is “blessed with vast natural resources and an unusual capacity to generate energy,” arguing that India would benefit from purchasing expanding U.S. energy exports by being able “to build more, make more, and grow more, but at much lower energy costs.” “We also want to help India explore its own considerable natural resources, including its offshore natural gas reserves and critical mineral supplies,” he said. “We believe that American energy can help realize India’s nuclear power production goals, and this is very important as well as its AI ambitions, because as the United States knows well, and I know that India knows well there is no AI future without energy security and energy dominance.” “Americans want further access to Indian markets. This is a great place to do business, and we want to give our people more access to this country,” Vance said. “And Indians, we believe, will thrive from greater commerce in the United States. This is very much a win-win partnership. It certainly will be far into the future.”
Dems fume over ‘due process’ for Abrego Garcia despite long history of party bucking the legal principle
Democrats are facing pushback as they continue to call for due process for illegal immigrant and suspected MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia after years of seemingly ignoring due process for their political rivals. During the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election and the first Trump term, many Democrats called for President Donald Trump to be put in jail despite only facing allegations of impropriety at the time. “He needs to be imprisoned & placed in solitary confinement,” Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters said in October 2019. “But for now, impeachment is the imperative.” “I don’t want to see him impeached, I want to see him in prison,” then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly told fellow Democrats in 2019, according to Politico. VANCE SOUNDS OFF ON DEPORTATION, ‘RATIFICATION OF BIDEN’S ILLEGAL MIGRANT INVASION’ VIA ‘FAKE LEGAL PROCESS’ Democrats also assured the public that January 6 prisoners were receiving due process in terms of their treatment in jail despite Republican claims to the contrary and arguing that the defendants were being held for too long. “They want to have a conversation about whether or not their iPads are working or if they have enough time on their iPads,” Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas said in 2023, according to the Dallas Observer. “This is what I’m hearing. As someone who’s been a public defender, let me tell you something: They know nothing about what bad conditions are.” During a Jan. 7 press conference, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said about the January 6th protesters, “No leniency. No leniency for these people. They have the cameras all over. They have their pictures. No matter what part of the country they came from, we ought to go after them right now.” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called for Kyle Rittenhouse to be thrown in jail as his trial was still developing. “Lock up Kyle Rittenhouse and throw away the key,” Jeffries posted on X, then known as Twitter, during the trial where Rittenhouse was facing a homicide charge for his actions during a George Floyd riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse was ultimately acquitted. APPEALS COURT DENIES DOJ BID TO BLOCK RETURN OF KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA FROM EL SALVADOR PRISON Democrats fought vigorously against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and amplified allegations of sexual assault against him before any due process had been completed investigating those claims. Speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, called for an independent FBI investigation of claims against Kavanaugh, before explaining why the presumption of innocence and due process should not apply to his case. “I put his denial in the context of everything that I know about him in terms of how he approaches his cases,” Hirono told host Jake Tapper, in response to a question about whether Kavanaugh was entitled to a presumption of innocence. “His credibility is already very questionable in my mind…. When I say that he’s very outcome-driven, he has an ideological agenda, and I can sit here and talk to you about some of the cases that exemplify his, in my view, inability to be fair.” Over the past few weeks, Jeffries and other Democrats have been vocal proponents of due process when it comes to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant with alleged ties to a violent gang who was deported to El Salvador. Many Democrats have railed against the Trump administration over issues like due process and questions about the kind of treatment Garcia could be receiving in the prison he is allegedly being housed in. “Mistakenly removing a U.S. resident that has protection from deportation legally granted to him by an immigration court and then making no effort to get him back not only places Mr. Abrego Garcia’s life in danger, but also violates the basic principles of due process and the rule of law,” Waters said in a recent letter to Trump. The face of the resistance to Garcia’s deportation has been Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who traveled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia last week which drew strong criticism from the White House. Van Hollen also opposed Kavanaugh’s confirmation using the unsubstantiated sexual assault allegations against him. In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, “If the hill that Democrats want to die on is demanding the return of a violent illegal alien, wifebeater, and foreign terrorist, we are happy to dig that grave for them.” Some on social media have called out Democrats in recent days for alleged hypocrisy on the issue of due process, with many pointing out the millions of illegal immigrants who entered the country under President Joe Biden with little to no concern from his party. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I’m here to remind you that Democrats have never actually cared about due process,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X while quoting the Jeffries post on Rittenhouse. “Hope this helps.” “Democrats do not care about due process, not one bit,” Breitbart senior editor Joel Pollak posted on X. “That’s why we now have millions of illegal aliens in the country to begin with – and also why they trashed the civil liberties of hundreds of witnesses and defendants under Biden.” “The entire purpose of flooding us with immigrants was to make due process impossible,” Twitchy’s Amy Curtis posted on X. “That some are okay with this, and don’t care about undoing the damage done by Democrats does not surprise me.” “It’s important to remember that when it came to BLM mob demands and accusations of sexual assault against men (believe all women), the left/Democrats proudly dismissed Due Process,” conservative commentator Chad Felix Greene posted on X. “They only care about Constitutional rights when they believe it benefits them politically.”