China targets Hollywood films in retaliation of tariffs; Trump responds
China announced the immediate restriction of imported American films as the country retaliated against President Donald Trump’s escalated U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese goods. Trump was asked about his reaction to China’s latest move of targeting cultural exports from the U.S. on Thursday during a cabinet meeting. “I think I’ve heard of worse things,” the president said, which was followed by a room full of laughter. Reuters reported that the financial impact would likely be minimal, according to industry experts, but mainly because box office returns have significantly declined in recent years in China. TRUMP TARIFF SPIKE FUELS NEW HOUSE BILL TO LOCK CHINA OUT OF US GOVERNMENT TECH For about 30 years, China imported 10 Hollywood movies annually. But the National Film Administration (NFA) in Beijing said on its website that Trump’s tariffs would continue to sour its domestic demand for American movies in China. “We will follow market rules, respect the audience’s choices, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported,” the NFA said on its website. China was once looked to by Hollywood to help boost the box office performance of movies, since the former is the world’s second-largest film market. TRUMP SAYS HE’LL ‘TAKE A LOOK’ AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS China’s domestic movies, though, are increasingly outperforming American movies shown in China. For instance, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” was eclipsed by “Ne Zha 2,” to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Reuters reported. Hollywood movies now only scout for 5% of the overall box office recipes in China. Hollywood studios also only receive 25% of ticket sales in China, though in other markets, they take in double their profits. It is not clear if China will allow several major blockbusters expected to hit the screen this year. DONALD TRUMP’S ALLIES, SUPPORTERS AND DONORS, LED BY ELON MUSK, PUSH TO END TARIFF WAR Walt Disney recently received permission to debut the new Marvel superhero movie, “Thunderbolts” on April 30, but others like Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and James Guns’ “Superman,” could be in jeopardy. The news comes after the White House said Thursday it had imposed 145% in new tariffs on China, up from the 125% Trump announced the day before. While hiking rates on China, Trump said he would reduce tariffs on other countries that did not retaliate against the U.S. to his baseline of 10%. Reuters contributed to this report.
Hawley demands Zuckerberg testify on alleged ties between Meta, China
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling on the tech billionaire to testify on Capitol Hill after a Facebook whistleblower alleged the company had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “After yesterday’s shocking revelations, it’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to come to Capitol Hill, take an oath, and answer to America for how he has sold out our country’s security for China profits,” Hawley wrote in a post on X that included images of his letter to Zuckerberg. META IS ENDING ITS FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM In his letter, Hawley lays out allegations made by Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams during a Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. Wynn-Williams served as the director of global public policy at Facebook for almost seven years. CONGRESSMAN CALLS FOR ZUCKERBERG TO ANSWER ON CHINA DEALINGS “We are engaged in a high-stakes AI arms race against China. And during my time at Meta, company executives lied about what they were doing with the Chinese Communist Party to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public,” Wynn-Williams told the committee. The former Facebook employee claimed that the company deleted the account of a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. after pressure from Beijing and gave the CCP user data. She claims that Meta began briefing the CCP as early as 2015, and said they focused on AI and other forms of “critical emerging technologies.” The dissident that Wynn-Williams referenced was likely Guo Wengui, whose page was temporarily shut down in 2017. At the time, Facebook claimed Wengui violated community standards, according to Reuters. Then-Sen. Marco Rubio grilled Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch about Wengui’s page in 2017. Stretch denied Facebook was ever pressured by China to delete the page. Meta denies that it does business in China and refutes Wynn-Williams’ allegations. “Sarah Wynn-Williams’ testimony is divorced from reality and riddled with false claims. While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China, and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: we do not operate our services in China today,” a Meta spokesperson told Fox News. Fox News’ Alexa Angelus contributed to this report.
Gabbard says RFK, MLK Jr records ‘ready to release’ in days, has ‘hunters’ looking at FBI, CIA for more files
Documents related to the 1968 assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. will be released in the coming days, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday during President Donald Trump’s Cabinet meeting at the White House. Gabbard said that more than 100 people “working around the clock” have been scanning paperwork related to both killings and the subsequent investigations. “These have been sitting in boxes in storage for decades,” she told Trump, who was sitting a few feet away from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “They have never been scanned or seen before. We’ll have those ready to release here within the next few days.” EPSTEIN FILES DEBACLE SPURS NEW INTEREST IN CONTENTS OF PROMISED RFK, MLK ASSASSINATION FILES Trump said, “That’s great” before moving to RFK Jr., the son of the former senator. “Bobby, how do you feel about that?” he asked. “I’m very gratified,” RFK Jr., responded. “That’s hitting close to home,” Trump said. “I’m thinking about Bobby when that statement was made.” RFK Jr. then told Trump he was “very grateful.” “And you let Bobby see some of this because, you know, it’s very personal stuff. But it’s time,” Trump told Gabbard, who replied that she spoke with the RFK Jr., who she said told her the “world needs to know the truth.” DEADLINE LOOMS FOR RELEASE OF JFK ASSASSINATION FILES RFK Jr. was a teenager when his father was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, after addressing campaign supporters following his California Democratic presidential primary win. Upon taking office, Trump issued an executive order to declassify files on the assassinations of King, a civil rights icon who was gunned down on April 4, 1968, outside his second-floor Tennessee hotel room in Memphis, Sen. Kennedy and his brother, former President John F. Kennedy. In March, declassified documents related to the assassination of the former president were released. Gabbard said the government has “hunters” looking in storage lockers at the FBI, CIA and other agencies to see if there is anything else that hasn’t been reported. “We’re actively going out and trying to search out the truth,” she said.
Sanctuary governors Walz, Pritzker, Hochul called to testify before Congress
FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Kentucky, sent letters requesting testimony from “sanctuary governors” on Thursday as part of an ongoing committee investigation into sanctuary jurisdictions and their effects on public safety. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were called to testify at a May 15 hearing before the committee to discuss the controversial sanctuary laws that are designed to protect illegal immigrants. “The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is continuing to investigate sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States and their impact on public safety and the effectiveness of federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws of the United States,” Comer told Fox News Digital. “Sanctuary jurisdictions and their obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities. This threatens Americans’ safety.” CALIFORNIA SHERIFF VOWS TO DEFY STATEWIDE SANCTUARY LAW: ‘THIS IS COMMON SENSE’ In addition to calling the Democratic governors before Congress, the committee is requesting: “All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status; “All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] and any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the federal government related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status.” President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social post Thursday morning, continuing his push to eliminate sanctuary cities: “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!” ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT MINIMIZES VIOLENT ACTS COMMITTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS JUST ‘A FEW CRIMES’ In March, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams testified in a similar hearing before the House Oversight Committee, where members of Congress confronted the Democratic mayors on whether sanctuary status deter immigration agents and law enforcement officials from successfully enforcing federal laws. According to the Congressional Budget Office, roughly 2.4 million immigrants per year entered the U.S. between 2021 and 2024 under the Biden Administration. While the exact number of illegal migrants currently living in sanctuary cities is uncertain, there is a clear concentration of migrants in metro areas operating under sanctuary laws, creating barriers for ICE and immigration law enforcement officials to enforce laws. DHS ENDING PARTICIPATION IN NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES IN SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS “In addition to the efforts of the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration enforcement can proceed unimpeded, Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety,” Comer told Fox News Digital. “It is imperative that federal immigration law is enforced and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities.” According to a New York Post report last week, a Department of Homeland Security official said the administration has made around 113,000 arrests and deported north of 100,000 illegal migrants.
3 senators lead effort to ban Chinese-owned GNC from military installations over spying concerns
Efforts to remove Chinese-owned GNC from U.S. military bases gained momentum this week as Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., introduced companion legislation to a House-led bill targeting the nutrition retailer. Some 85 GNC stores currently operate on American military installations. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., first introduced a bill to ban the company from doing business on American bases, citing national security and espionage concerns. Now, fellow North Carolina Republican Budd is leading a similar effort in the Senate, decrying the stores as hubs to “exploit personal data.” Budd, joined by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act, which would prohibit the Department of Defense from allowing businesses owned by adversarial nations – including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – to operate on U.S. bases. CHINESE-OWNED GNC STORES OPERATING ON US MILITARY BASES SPARK NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS At North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, four GNC stores service approximately 53,700 troops, nearly 10% of the U.S. Army. “Adversarial nations have no place owning and operating businesses on U.S. military bases, all the while gaining personal identification information of American citizens, just to turn a profit,” Budd said in a statement. “We shouldn’t be allowing Chinese-affiliated companies in the United States, let alone on our military bases. This bill will ensure our adversaries can’t exploit our military,” Cotton added. While much of Congress has focused on preventing Chinese land acquisitions near U.S. military installations, Harrigan said he was alarmed to find that a Chinese-owned company was already operating on U.S. bases largely unnoticed. “It’s even crazier [than foreign land purchases],” Harrigan told Fox News Digital last week. In June 2020, vitamin retailer GNC filed for bankruptcy and was fully acquired by Harbin Pharmaceuticals – a partially state-owned Chinese enterprise that had already purchased a 40% stake in the company in 2018. HEGSETH SAYS PANAMA AGREED TO ALLOW US WARSHIPS TO TRAVEL ‘FIRST AND FREE’ THROUGH CANAL In 2019, GNC agreed to integrate its manufacturing with International Vitamin Corporation (IVC), which has a consortium of Chinese investors. The company, founded in Pittsburgh, had already been operating on U.S. bases for years at the time of its sale, and thus its potential to help with Chinese surveillance on military bases was overlooked. Roughly 85 GNC stores on military installations operate under “long-term concessions” contracts, meaning they are operated, staffed and supplied directly by GNC. “I’m glad to have Sen. Budd step in to help drive this forward and make sure CCP-owned companies have zero place inside America’s military infrastructure,” Harrigan said of the new Senate bill. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a GNC spokesperson pushed back on the legislation, saying: “Our systems are independently monitored and meet strict federal standards, partaking in multiple audits throughout the year.” “We love our military customers. Their well-being, whether it’s their personal health or the safety of their information, will always come first. We’re honored to be part of their communities and will continue to safeguard their information just like we do all our customers,” GNC said. Harrigan said the stores could identify individuals with vulnerabilities by tracking frequent purchases of testosterone, sleep aids or any other supplements. It could also potentially monitor deployment cycles based on changes in buying patterns, he added. In-store WiFi and mobile data tracking could reveal troop geolocations, Harrigan claimed, and loyalty apps or promo emails could be used to embed malicious links or software. “This should be common sense,” said Scott. “Allowing companies controlled by our biggest foreign adversaries – like Communist China, Russia and North Korea – to operate on U.S. military bases is a completely unacceptable threat.”
Conservative firebrand flips script on House Dem’s ‘gotcha’ response to noncitizen voting crackdown
Some Democrats expressed opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on the House floor Thursday after only four of them voted in support of the legislation. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote as opposed to simply affirming that the voter is a United States citizen on a form. The list of eligible documents includes a passport, a government-issued photo ID, a birth certificate and other forms of identification. Only one of them would be needed. Opponents have argued the bill would make it more difficult for women who no longer use their maiden name to vote, whereas proponents say it’s a myth. Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif., said it is a “modern-day poll tax, targeting American women and low-income Americans.” TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER FULFILLING ELECTION INTEGRITY PROMISE During the floor debate, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., dismissed that argument. “Bless my colleagues’ hearts on the other side of the aisle, using women as a ‘gotcha’ for voting. I’ve never had to bring my birth certificate to prove that I was a registered voter. I have an ID that has a different name than my birth certificate,” the Republican said. “Since we’re using women as bait here, maybe in the next round of debates they can explain to us exactly what a woman is.” Other Democrats said it posed serious voter suppression questions. DEMS FIGHT BILL TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT VOTING DESPITE POLLS SHOWING VOTER SUPPORT “This bill could force Georgians to pay more than $700 million just to register to vote. Y’all, that’s a poll tax, plain and simple, and it’s blatant voter suppression,” Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga, said on the floor. “Voter suppression by any other name is still voter suppression. This bill violates the 14th, 19th and 24th amendments and … every tenant of a free and inclusive democracy. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this disgrace of a voter suppression bill.” Still, proponents believe it would help further secure elections from any noncitizens voting in elections. But opponents argue it’s an unnecessary step given the uncommon nature of noncitizens voting and the additional paperwork burden. VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT TO VOTE, NEW POLL SAYS Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., posted that it’s a “myth” that “married women’s right to vote” would be restricted. “The SAVE Act directs states to establish a process for discrepancies, such as a name change, so that individuals can still register to vote,” Edwards tweeted. “This bill lists forms of identification that a voter could provide when registering to vote, but that voter only needs to provide one document, including a driver’s license or any valid government-issued ID card.” People who are not American citizens are already not legally permitted to register to vote, which essentially makes the legislation an additional safeguard, according to those in favor of it. “It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. This could impact almost 150 million Americans,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said in a video Thursday, adding it might be tough for people to get the proper identification like a birth certificate or a passport to prove citizenship. “So the SAVE Act is not solving a problem. It’s creating one.” President Donald Trump supports the bill, and he recently issued an executive order for similar election reforms. The bill made it through the House last year with Republicans and a few Democrats supporting it, but it did not make it through the Senate and could face similar hurdles this time. All Republicans who were present for the vote supported the act, along with Democratic representatives Ed Case, Jared Golden, Henry Cuellar and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez. The bill is led by two Republicans, Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Utah Sen. Mike Lee.
Trump admin warns states to comply with housing prisoners by their biological sex or face funding cutoff
FIRST ON FOX: A Trump administration official confirmed Thursday that states failing to comply with federal orders to house inmates based on their biological sex can expect “imminent changes” – and Maine “will not be the last” state to have prison funds slashed. While the Trump administration‘s decision to pull federal funding from Maine’s Department of Corrections due to a transgender inmate being housed in a women’s facility is not an isolated case, similar situations involving transgender inmates in female facilities have occurred across the country. In addition to Maine, California, New York, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington state allow transgender people to be housed in jail and prison facilities that align with their gender identity. Most provide transgender treatments on the taxpayer dime or through other sources of state funding, though it may vary from prison to prison. Following a consent decree, Colorado is the only state to have housing facilities specific for transgender people. MAINE TRANSGENDER INMATE CONVICTED OF MURDERING PARENTS MOVED TO WOMEN’S PRISON The official, who declined to be identified, explained that while much of prison funding is handled at the state level, states still must comply with their own versions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which is often modeled after federal standards. As federal changes to those regulations are expected, current PREA guidelines discourage housing inmates in isolation. That, the spokesperson said, has led some states to feel obligated to house transgender women in female facilities, even if they might prefer to create separate spaces. “I think that that’s a state call. But, right now, states are really not encouraged to make that call,” the official said. “They’re encouraged to put those men with women. So, I think some states will just put these men dressed as women, with the men. Some of them will put them in some sort of separate space. I have no opinion on which is better.” Prior to Trump’s executive order prohibiting trans procedures and treatments in federal prisons, federal funding was allotted to some Bureau of Prisons facilities to cover cosmetic procedures and treatments that were considered “gender-affirming” for incarcerated men – but not provided to women – such as laser hair removal and other feminine procedures. Guidelines for such services were first earmarked under the Obama administration’s second term, and California was the first state to establish policies granting transgender surgeries to state prison inmates in 2017. TRANS INMATE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BABY MUST GET GENDER SURGERY AT ‘EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY’: JUDGE The administration argues this created a clear case of sex-based discrimination, as in the case of Maine, where women in prison were not afforded similar access to those services. In January, a transgender woman named Andrea Balcer, 24, was moved from the Maine State Prison to the women’s section of the Maine Correctional Institute. Balcer was convicted in 2018 of stabbing both parents to death, along with the family dog, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a crime that was attributed to struggles with gender identity. “Under Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice is committed to keeping Americans safe and using taxpayer money to ruthlessly and efficiently go after criminals,” a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday. “The Department will no longer fund organizations that promote the invasion of women’s spaces by men and urges states to use commonsense to keep women and girls safe.” Another transgender inmate in Maine – convicted of murdering a woman who was found tied between two trees with her throat and wrists slit – was identified by Fox News Digital through court documents as Walter William Moore. Moore goes by “Nikki,” according to the documents, and complained that Maine corrections weren’t doing enough to facilitate his gender transition. ACLU SUES INDIANA OVER DENIAL OF SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO STRANGLED 11-MONTH-OLD TO DEATH In January, Moore, who is currently housed in a male facility, filed a complaint against Maine Department of Corrections employees, alleging assault, theft of thousands of dollars in personal property, and denial of requested gender transition treatments. In court testimony, Moore frequently referenced “Nikki,” claiming prison wardens promised gender reassignment surgery, feminine cosmetics, and transfer to a women’s facility. Moore also described a regimen of daily cross-sex hormone treatments and Vitamin B-12 injections. “Maine, of course, is just blatantly violating the rights of women. And the president has made a note that Maine has no intention to change – they have a governor who is particularly intransigent, and so Maine was first, but Maine will not be last,” the White House spokesperson said. “There will be no federal funding of the abuse of women by the Department of Justice.” As of February, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) houses 2,198 transgender inmates, including 22 transgender women currently serving sentences in women’s facilities. This figure does not account for state-level facilities, which may also receive federal funding. The Trump administration is also in court battling the president’s executive mandate to strip federal prisons of gender-transition treatments and housing preferences. In February, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth – a Reagan-appointed judge – temporarily blocked the transfer of three transgender women to men’s prisons, citing concerns over their safety. Later that month, another judge issued a restraining order preventing the transfer of a transgender woman from a women’s prison to a men’s facility. In March, Lamberth ordered the BOP to return two transgender inmates to women’s facilities and continue their hormone therapy treatments. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
State Dept upgrades travel advisory for El Salvador, considered safer than France, other European countries
The State Department upgraded the travel advisory for El Salvador on Tuesday, now ranking the Central American nation as safer than several European countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele’s leadership as “crucial in improving the security of his country for foreign travelers.” “Gang activity, violent crime, and murders in El Salvador have significantly dropped,” Rubio wrote on X, announcing the U.S. travel advisory for El Salvador has been updated to “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.” FEDERAL JUDGES IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS BLOCK TRUMP DEPORTATIONS AFTER SCOTUS RULING The travel advisory says “gang activity has decreased over the last three years,” and “this has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.” “Keeping Americans safe overseas is our highest priority,” Rubio wrote. Many media users noted that the travel advisories for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden all remain at “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.” The State Department warns of the increased risk of “terrorism” in all countries. For France and Spain, “civil unrest” is also considered a concern for American travelers. “El Salvador just got the U.S. State Department’s travel gold star: Level 1: safest it gets,” Bukele wrote. PAM BONDI WARNS MIGRANT CRIMINALS ‘WE’RE COMING AFTER YOU’ AFTER SUPREME COURT LIFTS STAY ON DEPORTATIONS “EL SALVADOR NOW SAFER THAN MOST OF EUROPE,” one X user, who has millions of followers, wrote. In reaction to the contrast, Elon Musk, the tech billionaire heading the Department of Government Efficiency, responded, “Wow.” Musk has been a vocal critic of mass migration in Western Europe, and the billionaire earlier this year campaigned on behalf of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in Germany ahead of national elections in February. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, will welcome Bukele to the White House on April 14 for an official working visit to discuss “El Salvador’s partnership on using their supermax prison for Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members, and how El Salvador’s cooperation with the United States has become a model for others to work with,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Tuesday’s press briefing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the Terrorism Confinement Center, abbreviated CECOT, in El Salvador, where the Trump administration so far has sent more than 200 people removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Tim Walz heckled by veterans for stolen valor claims, China connections
Veterans heckled Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., for stolen valor claims during remarks at a veterans rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Wednesday. As Walz welcomed the veterans to the Capitol for the annual “Veterans Day on the Hill,” he was met by a fiery crowd who called him a “coward” and criticized him for sympathizing with China, according to footage captured by KSTP. “Coward! You sympathize with the Chinese!” some veterans holding American flags and “take action” signs shouted at the Democratic governor as he welcomed them to the Capitol. “Sir, you’re welcome to come… Let me finish!” Walz replied as he tried to ease tensions while another veteran shouted: “Shut your f—— mouth!” WISCONSINITES KICKED OUT AND DENIED ENTRY TO THIS DEMOCRAT’S ‘FAKE TOWN HALL’ “Woah, hey – there’s some passion in the building, which is a good thing,” Walz said before beginning his address. VETERANS INCREASINGLY CALLING OUT WALZ’S MILITARY RECORD: ‘SHAMEFUL’ Footage of the hecklers disrupting Walz’s remarks has gone viral on social media, with conservative influencers celebrating the criticism. Walz faced accusations of stolen valor during the 2024 presidential election for inconsistencies describing his military service. Walz is a veteran, having served in the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery after transferring from the Nebraska National Guard in 1996. He retired as a master sergeant in 2005. The former vice presidential candidate was accused of stolen valor for retiring just months before his battalion deployed to Iraq as war raged in the Middle East following the 9/11 attacks. Walz put in his papers for retirement at least five months before his battalion received deployment orders, according to the Minnesota National Guard. Walz was also discovered to have claimed several times that he retired as a command sergeant major, which is not accurate – he reverted to his previous rank upon retirement because he did not complete the necessary corresponding coursework, the National Guard has said. Walz’s decades-long ties to China also came to light when Vice President Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate last summer. He worked briefly in China as a teacher, traveling to Guangdong in 1989 for a teaching-abroad program to teach English and American history. He was initially believed to have made dozens of trips to China over his lifetime, but a campaign spokesperson later tried to walk that number back and said he made approximately 15 visits to China. He also boasted about Minnesota hosting several top Chinese leaders in a letter unearthed by Fox News Digital. UNEARTHED LETTER REVEALS WALZ BOASTED ABOUT MINNESOTA HOSTING ‘NUMEROUS SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS’ The 2024 campaign trail brought Walz’s inconsistencies regarding his background into the national conversation. Walz said he “misspoke” when he claimed he visited Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and incorrectly claimed his family used in vitro fertilization. Walz laughed off the missteps, calling himself a “knucklehead.” The Commanders’ Task Force and Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers hosted the rally in the Rotunda that erupted in boos for Walz on Wednesday. The annual event is designed to streamline communication between Minnesota elected officials and veterans. Once the fury settled, Walz committed to upholding budget protections for veterans during his remarks, in light of Minnesota budget negotiations and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leading efforts to cut spending and lay off federal employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Walz did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump tariff spike fuels new House bill to lock China out of US government tech
FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan duo of House lawmakers is moving to ensure the U.S. government is free from Chinese-made technology after President Donald Trump hiked tariffs against Beijing. Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, is leading the Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) Supply Chains Act alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. It would impose new guardrails on the technology the U.S. government is able to purchase by forcing a federal agency or office to only purchase it from “original equipment manufacturers” or “authorized resellers,” according to the bill text obtained by Fox News Digital. TRUMP SAYS HE’LL ‘TAKE A LOOK’ AT EXEMPTING SOME LARGER US COMPANIES HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY TARIFFS The bill targets U.S. government technology purchased through the “gray market,” an alternative channel for purchasing and selling genuine goods without the authorization of the manufacturer. Fallon said his bill “dovetails” with Trump’s hawkish stance on China. “With the rising threat posed by Chinese aggression, not only in the Indo-Pacific, but here at home by means of artificial intelligence and cyberattacks, it’s critical that the Department of Defense secure its vital infrastructure,” Fallon explained to Fox News Digital. “In order to do so, we must ensure that the U.S. military only purchases electronic equipment from approved vendors that are free from adversarial, particularly [Chinese Communist Party], influence.” He praised Trump’s “bold leadership” in the U.S. “breaking its dependency on Communist China.” “The SAFE Supply Chains Act dovetails with this endeavor and is in the best interest of U.S. national security,” he said. The White House said Thursday it had imposed 145% in new tariffs on China, up from the 125% Trump announced the day before. DONALD TRUMP’S ALLIES, SUPPORTERS AND DONORS, LED BY ELON MUSK, PUSH TO END TARIFF WAR While hiking rates on China, Trump said he would reduce tariffs on other countries that did not retaliate against the U.S. to his baseline of 10%. “Look, for years we’ve been ripped off and taken advantage of by China — and others, in all fairness — but by China, there’s a big one. And it’s just one of those things,” Trump said Wednesday. Fallon’s bill has a counterpart in the Senate led by senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Gary Peters, D-Mich.