Blue state governor touts meeting with CCP official cozying up to Dems: ‘Grateful for the opportunity’
FIRST ON FOX: A Democratic governor enthusiastically posted photos with a Chinese Communist Party diplomat on Wednesday evening, saying she was “grateful for the opportunity” to meet with him. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who went viral late last year for vowing to use “every tool” to fight back against President Donald Trump‘s deportations, took to X to highlight a meeting she and one of her top appointees had with Chen Li, the consul general of the People’s Republic of China, in New York. “Massachusetts is home to a vibrant Chinese-American community, and China is one of our largest trading partners,” Healey wrote in a X post, which included three photos. “Glad to welcome Ambassador H.E. Chen Li of the People’s Republic to China to the State House, and grateful for the opportunity to discuss future collaboration!” All three photos included Healey and Li, whose jurisdiction covers almost a dozen states. However, one photo also included now-former Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, an American-born citizen whose parents are originally from China. Hao’s last official day in her role was earlier this month, according to local outlets. However, she is still serving in the Healey administration as an unpaid advisor. BROTHER-IN-LAW OF TOP DEM SENATOR PLAYED KEY ROLE IN RECRUITING CHINESE FIRMS TO DEEP BLUE CITY A press release from Healey’s office on Wednesday highlighted how Massachusetts and China “shared economic and cultural ties” in addition to their “commitment to continuing to work together for the benefit of our people and our economy.” “China is Massachusetts third largest trading partner, with over $7.2 billion worth of goods exchanged in 2024. In 2024, Massachusetts imported $3.4 billion in goods from China, including toys, games and sports equipment, apparel and accessories,” the press release continued. “Massachusetts exported $3.8 billion in goods to China in 2024, including industrial machinery, medical devices and plastics.” She appeared to then try to justify the meeting by highlighting how she makes “it a priority to meet with foreign officials when they visit Massachusetts,” listing off several foreign officials who she has met with, including the “Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Ahmed Dadou, and Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States Lui Tuck Yew.” Li, who has repeatedly praised the CCP and echoed the party’s talking points about Uyghur genocide allegations being “fabricated,” responded to Healey’s post by quoting it and saying he was “honored to have a very pleasant conversation” with Healey. He added that he was “focusing on the cooperation between China and Massachusetts.” SCHUMER SPOTTED POSING FOR PHOTO WITH CCP OFFICIAL AS WARNINGS SWIRL ABOUT CHINA INFLUENCE Fox News Digital has extensively reported on the influence that Li and his predecessors have had in the United States, which has included cozying up to Democratic politicians like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Gov. Kathy Hochul, in addition to administrators at top American universities across several states on the East Coast, including Kean University President Lamont Repollet. Chen, like his predecessor Huang Ping, has repeatedly praised the CCP and denied China’s alleged genocide against the Uyghur population, which has been condemned by many on the world stage, including the United Nations. “It’s hard to imagine how could ‘genocide’ and ‘forced labor’ associated with such a place where population grows steadily, society is safe and open, and people enjoy happy life. Where do the accusations come from?” Chen wrote in 2021. “‘Genocide’ was claimed by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the very last day of his term. It was based on reports fabricated by some extremist anti-China individuals who haven’t been to Xinjiang for years and accounts of a few so-called witnesses who were proved to be trained ‘actors’ and ‘actresses.’” Michael Sobolik, an expert on U.S.-China relations and a Hudson Institute senior fellow, previously told Fox News Digital that the “Chinese Communist Party is always looking for ways to penetrate U.S. businesses and civil society. We shouldn’t make their job easier for them.” Earlier this year, Chen posted multiple times about participating in New York City parades, which included Schumer and anti-Trump Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He also met with Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s brother-in-law to light up the Empire State Building to mark the Lunar New Year, a tradition between the Chinese Consulate and the Empire State Building that goes back over a decade. Prior to Chen, Ping was in his position between 2018 and 2024. Ping was implicated in an unsealed indictment against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s former deputy chief of staff, Linda Sun, who was charged “with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy,” according to a Justice Department press release. The indictment revealed then-Lt. Gov. Hochul wanted to mention the “Uyghur situation” in China for her 2021 Lunar New Year message, but the plight of the minority group being persecuted by the Chinese government was ultimately omitted after Sun overruled the speechwriter. The indictment alleges Sun revealed to Ping what the speechwriter wanted to include, but insisted that she would not let her boss mention Uyghurs after admitting that she was “starting to lose her temper” with the speechwriter. The indictment later detailed other exchanges she had with Ping and said he gifted her parents with Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by his chef in exchange for her help in influencing the governor’s policies. Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Healey’s office.
Trump claims ‘I don’t know her’ and ‘listened to’ RFK Jr about surgeon general pick getting MAGA pushback
President Donald Trump said he does not know his new nominee for U.S. surgeon general, telling reporters Thursday that he relied upon the recommendation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump withdrew the nomination of his first pick for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, this week and instead nominated Dr. Casey Means. The president, upon announcing her nomination, said she has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials.” TRUMP ANNOUNCES MAHA ADVOCATE CASEY MEANS WILL BE NEW SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE When asked Thursday about Means and why he tapped her for the role, the president said Kennedy recommended her. “Because Bobby thought she was fantastic, brilliant woman who went through Stanford — wanted to be academic instead of physician,” the president said. “I don’t know her, I listened to Bobby,” Trump added. “I think she’ll be great.” FLASHBACK: TRUMP’S SURGEON GENERAL PICK TOUTED AS ‘FIERCE’ MAHA ADVOCATE BEFORE CONFIRMATION HEARING Means, a vocal “Make America Healthy Again” proponent, played a significant role in helping shape the administration’s agenda surrounding health alongside her brother, Calley Means. She has made a name for herself as a wellness influencer alongside her brother. In 2024, both Casey and Calley co-wrote a book about the chronic disease epidemic titled “Good Energy,” and Casey is also the co-founder of a health-tech company called Levels. Calley Means was previously tapped by the administration to serve as a top special advisor to Kennedy. It is unclear why Nesheiwat’s nomination was pulled. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for more information and did not immediately receive a response. Meanwhile, in a follow-up post on X, Nesheiwat also said she was “looking forward” to continuing to support Trump while working closely with Kennedy “in a senior policy role.” “My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed,” Nesheiwat concluded in her public social media remarks. Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of recently fired National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, whom the president indicated he will now be nominating to be the next ambassador to the United Nations after dropping his initial nominee, New York GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Rubio just got an additional job in Trump’s administration — and he’s not the only one wearing multiple hats
Amid firings and government shake-ups, the Trump administration has repeatedly been assigning additional job roles to Cabinet members and other officials, Fox News Digital found. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was charged on May 1 with serving as Trump’s national security advisor after the president announced he had nominated former National Security Council chief Mike Waltz to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Rubio’s roles in the administration now include leading the State Department; serving as acting archivist of the United States after Trump ousted a Biden-era appointee; serving as acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development as the admin works to dissolve the independent agency by September; and taking the helm as the interim national security advisor. But Rubio is not alone in taking on multiple roles within Trump’s second administration. Fox News Digital looks back on the various Trump Cabinet members and officials who are wearing multiple hats as the president works to realign the federal government to track with his “America First” policies. TRUMP TOUTS ‘MOST SUCCESSFUL’ FIRST 100 DAYS IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY DURING MICHIGAN RALLY Rubio and the Trump administration have come under fire from Democrats for the secretary of state holding multiple high-profile roles in the second administration, including Democrats sounding off on the national security council shake-up on Sunday news shows. “There’s no way he can do that and do it well, especially since there’s such incompetence over at DOD with Pete Hegseth being secretary of defense and just the hollowing out of the top leadership,” Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “There’s no way he can carry all that entire load on his own.” TRUMP TO TAP NEW NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR IN 6 MONTHS; CALLS WALTZ MOVE ‘UPGRADE’ “I don’t know how anybody could do these two big jobs,” Democrat Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” When asked about the trend of Trump officials wearing multiple work hats, the White House reflected in comment to Fox News Digital on former President Joe Biden’s “disaster of a Cabinet.” “Democrats cheered on Joe Biden’s disaster of a Cabinet as it launched the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, opened the southern border to migrant criminals, weaponized the justice system against political opponents, and more,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital. “President Trump has filled his administration with many qualified, talented individuals he trusts to manage many responsibilities.” The Trump administration has previously brushed off concern over Rubio holding multiple roles, most notably juggling both his State Department leadership and serving as acting national security advisor. Similarly, former President Richard Nixon in 1973 named then-National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger to simultaneously serve as secretary of state. “You need a team player who is very honest with the president and the senior team, not someone trying to build an empire or wield a knife or drive their own agenda. He is singularly focused on delivering the president’s agenda,” an administration official told Politico. Rubio’s multiple national security roles come as war continues between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, and recently launched attacks from India on Pakistan. “I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely,” Rubio said in a Tuesday X post. “I echo @POTUS’s comments earlier today that this hopefully ends quickly and will continue to engage both Indian and Pakistani leadership towards a peaceful resolution.” As Rubio juggles multiple roles, the Trump administration’s foreign policies have closely involved special envoys, most notably Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. TRUMP NOMINATES WALTZ FOR HIGH-LEVEL POST AFTER OUSING HIM AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR Witkoff is a former real estate tycoon and longtime ally of Trump’s whose focus in the Trump administration has been on negotiating with Russia amid its war against Ukraine and leading talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Witkoff was notably credited with helping secure the release of U.S. schoolteacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison in February. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment on Rubio’s multiple roles but did not receive a response. FBI Director Kash Patel, who railed against the “deep state” and vowed to strip corruption from the federal law enforcement agency ahead of his confirmation, was briefly charged with overseeing the of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in February after the Biden-era director resigned in January. Patel was later replaced by Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll as acting ATF director in a job change that was publicly reported in April. ARMY SECRETARY DAN DRISCOLL TO LEAD ATF, REPLACING FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL “Director Kash Patel was briefly designated ATF director while awaiting Senate confirmations, a standard, short-term move. Dozens of similar re-designations have occurred across the federal government,” the White House told Reuters in April. “Director Patel is now excelling in his role at the FBI and delivering outstanding results.” Driscoll was sworn in as the 26th secretary of the Army in February. The secretary of the army is a senior-level civilian official charged with overseeing the management of the Army and also acts as an advisor to the secretary of defense in matters related to the Army. It was reported in April that Driscoll was named acting ATF director, replacing Patel in that role. NEW ARMY SECRETARY PRAISES TRUMP, HEGSETH FOR CREATING ‘A LANE FOR CHANGE’ AS HE ZEROES IN ON CUTTING WASTE “Mr. Driscoll is responsible for the oversight of the agency’s mission to protect communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, and the illegal trafficking of firearms, explosives, and contraband. Under his leadership, the ATF works to enforce federal laws, ensure public safety, and provide critical support in the investigation of firearms-related crimes and domestic and international criminal enterprises,” his ATF biography reads. Ahead of Trump taking office, Republican Reps. Eric Burlison of Missouri and Lauren Boebert of Colorado introduced legislation to abolish the ATF, saying the agency has worked to strip Second Amendment rights from
Dems erupt after report of Trump firing Librarian of Congress: ‘A disgrace’
Democratic leaders erupted late Thursday after it was reported that President Trump had abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. Hayden was notified of her firing in an email late Thursday from the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office, according to an email seen by The Associated Press. “Carla,” the email reportedly began. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” Nominated by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2016, Hayden, whose term was set to expire next year, was the first woman and the first African American in the role. Advocates praised her tenure for helping to modernize the Library and make it more accessible with initiatives in rural communities and online. ACTING FEMA ADMINISTRATOR OUT AFTER PUSHING BACK AGAINST TRUMP AGENCY PLANS But Hayden had come under fire from the conservative advocacy group American Accountability Foundation, which accused her and other library leaders of promoting children’s books with “radical” content and literary material authored by Trump opponents. Earlier Thursday, just hours before the firing was made public, AAF derided Hayden on X as “woke” and “anti-Trump,” accusing her of promoting “trans-kids.” “It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!” the group wrote. In a follow-up post on X, the group celebrated news of Hayden’s firing, thanking President Trump. Hayden’s reported firing ignited the fury of prominent Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EXECUTIVE ORDERS Jeffries applauded Hayden as “an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress.” “Donald Trump’s unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock,” Jeffries said. “Enough is enough,” Schumer said, calling Hayden a “trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order.” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said Hayden was “callously fired” by Trump and demanded an explanation. CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS DOUBLES DOWN ON DEFENSE OF COURTS AS SCOTUS GEARS UP TO HEAR KEY TRUMP CASES “Hayden, has spent her entire career serving people — from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nation’s most precious treasures,” said Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee that oversees the Library. New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees funding for the library, said the firing, was “taking his assault on America’s libraries to a new level.” “Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone,” he said. The Library of Congress holds a vast collection of the nation’s books and history, which it makes available to the public and lawmakers. It houses the papers of nearly two dozen presidents and more than three dozen Supreme Court justices. It also has collections of rare books, prints and photographs, as well as troves of music and valuable artifacts. Robert Newlen, the principal deputy librarian, said he would serve as acting librarian of Congress “until further instruction” in a separate email seen by the AP. “I promise to keep everyone informed,” he wrote to colleagues. Hayden’s firing comes as the Trump administration has been purging officials seen as not aligning with the president’s agenda – from the Justice Department to the Pentagon and beyond. Earlier Thursday, Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was fired just one day after telling lawmakers that dismantling the agency – as President Trump has proposed – is a bad move. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and the Library of Congress for additional details. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Letitia James town hall derailed by Trump supporter’s question: ‘Will you apologize?’
A town hall being held by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday night was briefly disrupted when an apparent supporter of President Donald Trump stood up to challenge her to apologize to the president. Though panelists mainly voiced leftist talking points throughout the night and the room primarily consisted of anti-Trump individuals, one apparent supporter of Trump stood up to ask James a question. “My question is for Tish James. Will you apologize to President Trump for wasting millions of dollars and the state of New York for a witch trial?” asked the man, adding, “And how does it feel to know that you are [going to] prison for mortgage fraud?” The crowd erupted with boos and the man was escorted out. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OPENS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO NY AG LETITIA JAMES Though she did not directly respond to the man, James did shout “thank you for coming” over the crowd. James, a Democrat, is best known for filing a lawsuit against Trump and several of his family members, as well as associates and businesses, alleging “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” regarding financial statements. Though Trump was ordered to pay $454 million in civil damages, the fine was later reduced significantly. In response, Trump has called James’ case part of a “witch hunt” against him on the taxpayer’s dime. The Department of Justice has since opened a criminal investigation into James. TAXPAYERS COULD BE FORCED TO FUND TRUMP FOE LETITIA JAMES’ LEGAL DEFENSE IF DEM BUDGET ITEM PASSES News of the federal probe follows a criminal referral from the Trump administration’s Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, William Pulte. He requested the DOJ investigate James over accusations that she misrepresented a single-family home in Virginia as her primary residence to obtain more favorable loan terms. She’s also accused of misrepresenting the number of livable units in a multifamily Brooklyn house to obtain better loan terms. In April, NYC attorney Pierre Debbas told Fox News Digital that the criminal referral targeting James likely wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t spent years going after Trump in court. “The attorney general’s case that was brought against Donald Trump was honestly a pure manipulation of the legal system, and it was laughable,” he said. “To be perfectly frank, this is a retaliatory case brought by the president for what the attorney general did to him over the last several years,” he went on. “Something that’s never taken place in the history of New York that was isolated at one particular person for a politically driven purpose.”
Department of Justice opens criminal investigation into NY AG Letitia James
The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, Fox News has learned. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia sent out subpoenas related to accusations that James misrepresented a single-family home in Virginia as her primary residence to obtain more favorable loan terms. News of the federal probe follows a criminal referral from the Trump administration’s Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, who requested the DOJ investigate James over that matter and another incident in which she allegedly misrepresented the number of livable units in a multifamily Brooklyn house to once again obtain better loan terms. TAXPAYERS COULD BE FORCED TO FUND TRUMP FOE LETITIA JAMES’ LEGAL DEFENSE IF DEM BUDGET ITEM PASSES “These baseless and long-discredited allegations, put to rest by my April 24 letter to the Department of Justice, are suddenly back in the news just days after President Trump publicly attacked Attorney General James,” James’ attorney, Abbe Lowell, said Thursday. “This appears to be the political retribution President Trump threatened to exact that AG Bondi assured the Senate would not occur on her watch. If prosecutors are genuinely interested in the truth, we are prepared to meet false claims with facts.” After Pulte’s criminal referral was sent to the Justice Department, specifically U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Lowell followed up with his own letter to Bondi and the Justice Department, accusing the president of seeking “political retribution.” James has been part of a group of Democratic attorneys general who have sued to halt many of Trump’s orders during his first few months in the Oval Office. Additionally, James was the catalyst behind Trump becoming the first U.S. president sentenced as a felon. She was the lead prosecutor in a case she brought against Trump and the Trump Organization that alleged Trump and his company falsified business records to obtain more favorable loan terms. NY AG’S OFFICE HIRES ATTORNEY THAT REPPED HUNTER BIDEN TO DEFEND LETITIA JAMES AGAINST FRAUD ACCUSATIONS Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and was ordered to pay $350 million in penalties and is appealing the conviction. “The stunning hypocrisy of President Trump’s complaint that the Justice Department had been ‘politicized’ and ‘weaponized’ against him is laid bare as he and others in his administration are now asking you to undertake the very same practice,” Lowell wrote in his letter to Bondi. Lowell, in his letter, pointed to instances when Trump has called for revenge and instances when the president has personally attacked James. ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST LETITIA JAMES CALLS FOR NY STATE COURTS TO INVESTIGATE TRUMP ADMIN FRAUD CLAIMS Lowell also responded to the allegations, including the claim James listed a home in Virginia as her primary residence while serving as a state official in New York. According to Lowell, James had no intention of using the property as a primary residence, and her indication of this in a power-of-attorney letter was a mistake. Lowell pointed out there were other documents in which James indicated to her lender that the Virginia home would not be her primary residence. James is also accused of fraud for allegedly inflating the number of livable units in a multifamily Brooklyn home to receive better interest rates. Lowell accuses Pulte of disregarding updated documentation listing the residence as a four-unit multifamily residence and instead pointing to a certificate of occupancy from 2001.
Capitol Hill lawmakers react to election of first American pope: ‘Unbelievable’
Fox News caught up with several senators on Capitol Hill Thursday for their thoughts on the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, and many voiced excitement about the historic first. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., called the news “unbelievable.” “If you told me ahead of time, I said, ‘No way. Never happen.’ This is phenomenal,” said Hoeven. “I’ve been telling folks they’ll never pick an American cardinal to be the pope. And I thought, you know, maybe somewhere else, but probably back to Europe. So, this is so exciting. I can’t believe it.” A member of the Augustinians, a religious order within the Catholic Church, the newly elected pope was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955. He studied at Villanova University, was ordained a priest in 1982 and was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIV Hoeven called Pope Leo XIV’s selection “phenomenal,” saying, “American Catholics are just going to be thrilled. I know they’re just thrilled.” Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said, “As an American Catholic, I am incredibly excited.” Kelly quipped that “as an Arizonan, this is probably the best pick the Cardinals have made since Larry Fitzgerald.” Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said “we’re very proud in Illinois” and mentioned that she hopes Leo “brings some of his hometown to the Vatican with him.” PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, POPE LEO XIV, IS ‘GREAT HONOR’ Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., commented on a post of Leo’s on X before he was elected pope in which he appeared to criticize Vice President JD Vance for his justification for stricter immigration enforcement. “Hopefully, the new pope can use his pastoral powers in order to help JD Vance and Donald Trump understand their responsibilities representing the most powerful and wealthiest nation in the world,” Markey said. “To ensure that we also protect those who are the most vulnerable and most in need.” The senator asserted that Leo “will continue the legacy of Pope Francis” and that “this new pope channels that history of the Catholic Church, standing up for those who are most in need against those who are most powerful.” VILLANOVA GRAD REACTS TO FORMER CLASSMATE BEING NAMED FIRST POPE FROM UNITED STATES Despite Markey’s assertions that Leo will follow in Francis’ footsteps, the new pope has already differed from his predecessor in several ways, including taking the more traditional name “Leo” and by wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy, which Francis chose not to wear after his election in 2013. After emerging to address the crowd assembled in St. Peter’s Square Thursday, Leo’s first words were “Peace be with you,” which he said in Italian. He delivered a message to the faithful on building bridges, peace and dialogue “without fear.”
Trump’s first vice president urges his old boss against raising taxes on wealthy Americans
Former Vice President Mike Pence has a message for his old boss. Pence is urging President Donald Trump, under whom he served as vice president in Trump’s first administration, not to raise the tax rate on wealthy Americans. Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the signature domestic achievement of his first White House term, is scheduled to expire this year if it’s not extended by Congress. The Trump White House and some congressional Republicans for weeks have mulled letting the tax reductions on the wealthy sunset as a way to pay for the rest of the tax cuts as well as Trump’s other pricey second-term priorities. WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ASKING SPEAKER JOHNSON TO DO And the president, during a Wednesday phone call, pushed House Speaker Mike Johnson to raise taxes on the highest income earners and close the carried interest loophole in the reconciliation process, Fox News Digital confirmed. The development was first reported Thursday by Punchbowl News. A source familiar with Trump’s thinking said Trump is considering allowing the rate on individuals making $2.5 million or more to increase by 2.6%, from 37% to 39.6%. But Pence, a fiscal conservative and budget hawk during his long political career in the House of Representatives, as Indiana governor and as vice president, strongly cautioned against upping the rates on the highest earners. “Any suggestion that I’ve heard among some in and around the administration that we raise the top margin rate, the so-called millionaires tax, would be an enormous tax increase on small business owners across America,” Pence said. “It needs to be opposed.” WHAT MIKE PENCE TOLD FOX NEWS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW THIS WEEK And the former vice president, in an interview with Fox News Digital this week, argued that “the majority of people that file taxes of a million dollars are simply individuals that own businesses, and they file their taxes as an individual, but then plow that money back into their company. If you raise that top margin, it would be an enormous tax increase on small business America.” “Let’s make all the Trump-Pence tax cuts permanent. That’s a way to really lay a foundation to grow the economy in the days ahead,” Pence urged. WHY TRUMP’S FIRST VICE PRESIDENT WAS HONORED BY THE KENNEDY FAMILY Pence, who was interviewed in Boston after receiving the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage award, gave “President Trump all the credit in the world for an historic victory last November, and for sparing the country one more liberal Democrat administration.” He also praised Trump “not only for his victory, but for securing our southern border, for restoring morale and recruitment in our military, for taking the fight to the Houthis.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But he argued that “I truly do believe that some of the other steps the president is taking away from that conservative agenda should be a concern that would work against his legacy and ultimately the success of our party or our country. And so we’re going to continue to be a voice against them. “I really do believe that for prosperity … for the success of our country, we need to stick to those time-honored principles of strong defense, American leadership on the world stage, less government, less taxes, traditional moral values and the right to life, and I’m going to be a voice for that,” Pence added.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Trump Hails ‘Great Honor’ of First American Pope
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… -From floppy disks to flight delays: Top lawmaker warns US air system is due for a reboot –North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles into sea, South Korea says -Travelers weigh in on REAL ID rollout after 2005 law finally takes effect: ‘I think it’s important’ President Donald Trump congratulated the new Pope Leo XIV after he was selected Thursday, noting it is “a great honor” for the United States that an American-born Cardinal was selected to be Francis’ successor. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform shortly after white smoke emerged from the Vatican indicating the conclave had come to a decision on who will lead the Catholic Church. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”…READ MORE BIDEN’S LEGACY: Biden hires veteran Democrat communicator as former president aims to defend tarnished reputation RUBI-ALL: Marco Rubio went from rival to Trump’s point man, but can he handle it? DENIED: Federal judge blocks Trump admin from dismantling 3 agencies RED DAWN: Xi stands with Putin against ‘international bullying’ amid Trump trade war SECRET FACILITY: Satellite images reveal alleged secret Iranian nuclear weapons facility VIGILANCE NEEDED: Trump halts military strikes on Houthis,, but expert warns Iran-backed terrorist group remains major threat BIG GULF: House votes to make Trump Gulf of America name change permanent RIGHT FLANK DEFENSE: Senator says Dems ‘eat their own’ as Fetterman faces renewed scrutiny PURSE POWER: Conservative firebrand torches blue state immigration policies amid major lawsuit ‘DON’T UNDERESTIMATE HER’: AOC’s constituents weigh in on prez run, remind GOP of shock Joe Crowley defeat BORDER CRACKDOWN: Illegal immigrant murderers could face death penalty under new GOP bill ‘WALK IN THE PARK’: REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports report business as usual NOT LAWFUL: Deportation flights to Libya would violate court order without prior notice, federal judge says GANG ARRESTS: Suspected Tren de Aragua member among 5 arrested in human smuggling bust: Texas sheriff Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
White House highlights over $2B in savings from DEI cuts during Trump administration’s first 100 days
An analysis of the Trump administration’s efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the federal government during the president’s first 100 days in office revealed that nearly 750 DEI employees have been placed on leave or fired for a savings of more than $2 billion. The analysis provided by the White House showed that the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education and the Department of Labor saw some of the biggest savings. The trio of agencies fired or placed on leave 256 DEI employees, saving taxpayers over $1.3 billion, the analysis noted. Overall, the Trump administration let go of 745 employees working in DEI offices or on DEI-related programs throughout the government and saved taxpayers roughly $2.33 billion. “President Trump ordered the end of radical and racist DEI propaganda in government, and the administration is swiftly enacting the president’s order,” White House principal deputy communications director Alex Pfeiffer told Fox News Digital. “Common sense has returned to government.” ‘NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN’: STATE FINANCE LEADER RALLIES AROUND KEY TRUMP VICTORY SAVING ‘TAXPAYER DOLLARS’ In addition to savings and staff cuts, the White House’s analysis highlighted the various grants that were slashed and other changes made as a result of the Trump administration’s efforts to rid the federal government of DEI. Those programs included race-based grants or quota programs at multiple agencies and race-based promotion commitments. Multimillion-dollar grants for DEI training and DEI-focused activist groups were also among the cuts at most agencies. At the State Department, a $5 million grant to “strengthen organizational capacity leadership and impact for mid-sized autonomous intersex and trans human rights organizations” was cut. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) saved $1.7 million by eliminating four years of DEI staff training on topics ranging from “microaggressions” to “identifying and preventing racism in your marketing.” “You must accept what has happened and what you have done,” a narrator of one of the LinkedIn training sessions funded through these grants stated. “If you can’t accept what the marketplace is telling you, that this piece of content is sexist, racist, homophobic … you can’t move forward as a leader.” DEI IS DEAD. HERE’S WHAT SHOULD COME NEXT Other USDA grants, according to the White House’s analysis, spent money on staff training aimed at “cultivat[ing] an Eye for Inequity,” while Trump administration staff also found “DEI Bingo” cards left over from the Biden administration. The bingo cards included spaces to be checked off, like, “I know what the ‘I’ in LGBTQIA+ means” and “I have pronouns in my signature line.” USDA also dispersed race-based grants, such as money for “LATINX Growers” and “Black Women’s Regenerative Farming,” according to the White House analysis. The analysis also indicated that the USDA spent $600,000 on research into the menstruation of biological males and $361,000 to support queer and trans farmers. Similar DEI-related materials were found at the Department of Education, including a white board with bullet points about race-centric priorities. Below the heading “Projects” was a bullet point that said “Black male resource doc,” while “Goals of the Week” included “Tighten up Black Ed Roundtable” and “PAC pictures.” Another box on the whiteboard said, “Black male political appointees.” The Education Department under President Donald Trump has also slashed grants promoting racial hiring quotas and numerous teacher training sessions on topics like resisting “settler patriarchy” and how America’s education system is one of the “settler-colonial realities.” DEFUNDING DEI: HERE’S HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS UNDONE BIDEN’S VERY PRIZED PROGRAMS According to the administration’s analysis of its DEI cuts, almost 100 antisemitic incidents were left unresolved by the former Biden-Harris administration’s Office of Civil Rights within the Education Department. According to the analysis, staffers in the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights were also told by the last administration to “sit on” a civil rights complaint against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. The Biden administration also reportedly neglected Freedom of Information Act requests about its DEI efforts. The White House’s analysis recorded as many as 4,000 outstanding requests sent to the Department of Labor, which, under President Joe Biden, promoted DEI-based hiring and mandatory training programs for staff. The Health and Human Services Department also saw steep cuts to DEI programs during Trump’s first 100 days. At the National Institutes of Health alone, over $350 million in DEI projects were slashed, including grants for studying “multilevel and multidimensional structural racism” and “gender-affirming hormone therapy in mice,” among others. ‘WOKE’ HOSPITAL COULD BE IN CROSSHAIRS OF TRUMP ADMIN AFTER SCATHING COMPLAINT ALLEGES DEI DISCRIMINATION In addition to all the cuts, the Trump administration has taken steps to rectify the Biden administration’s DEI focus. It ended DEI-related training courses within the DOT online learning management system and disabled an internal email feature at the Department of Transportation that let users list their pronouns. The administration did the same with other pronoun policies at other agencies. The administration has also taken proactive steps at other agencies, such as removing DEI criteria from more than 2,900 supervisory performance standards at the Energy Department. At the Department of Interior, the agency’s “DEIA Council” was terminated. It had a stated purpose of embedding diversity, equity and inclusion principles into “everything” the agency does. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump’s crusade against DEI began on the first day of his second presidency with an executive order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” In the order, President Trump accused the Biden administration of forcing “illegal and immoral” DEI programs on the American people. “This was a concerted effort stemming from President Biden’s first day in office,” Trump’s order insisted.