Will Trump trade deal with UK ease economic jitters and boost president’s poll numbers?
President Donald Trump is touting that Thursday’s announcement of a trade deal with the United Kingdom – which is the first since the president a month ago announced massive tariffs on nations across the globe – will be “the first of many.” Pushing back against descriptions that the agreement hammered out between the two historic allies was just an initial deal with much more to be negotiated, Trump argued “this is a very big deal…this is a maxed-out deal that we’re going to make bigger.” The financial sector appeared to embrace the deal, with the stock markets rising on news of the agreement. However, for a president aiming to pass a sweeping agenda through Congress, it is the political reaction that may be of upmost importance. Trump’s approval ratings have been sliding since he returned to power in the White House three and a half months ago and are now underwater in most national polling. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY Fueling the drop in Trump’s poll numbers are increased concerns by Americans over the economy and inflation, which were pressing issues that kept former President Joe Biden‘s approval ratings well below water for most of his presidency. Front and center is Trump’s blockbuster tariff announcement a month ago, which sparked a trade war with some of the nation’s top trading partners and triggered a massive sell-off in the financial markets and increased concerns about a recession. Most, but not all, of the most recent national public opinion surveys indicate Trump’s approval ratings in negative territory, which is a slide from the president’s poll position when he started his second tour of duty in the White House. An average of the latest national surveys puts the president’s approval rating underwater by around six points. WHERE TRUMP STANDS IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL Trump stood at 44% approval and 55% disapproval in the most recent Fox News national poll, which was conducted April 18-21. Additionally, the president’s approval registered at 38% on the economy and just 33% on inflation and tariffs. However, veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams, when asked about the political impact of Thursday’s trade deal, described it as a “positive first step.” Williams also noted that Trump’s approval ratings are “tied directly to the performance of the economy.” POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS 15 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY In discussing his tariffs soon after he announced them on what he called “Liberation Day,” the president touted that “these countries are calling us up, kissing my a–.” “They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please, sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir!’” Trump highlighted. A month later, Trump finally got a chance to showcase a trade agreement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “President Trump has argued that his agenda requires time for an adjustment and deal making. He’ll be given a period of time to execute deals to prove that his plans are working and the first major trade deal with a nation like the UK is at least a sign that some of the work has been going on behind the scenes thus and is starting to bear fruit,” Williams said. He added that the president will “have to back it up with more, but it is a positive first step for him in securing other deals.”
Top Trump official torches Dem senator’s ‘advocacy for a known terrorist’ during fiery hearing: ‘Alarming’
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Democratic senators, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy, sparred over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador. “We have a limited amount of time. I just asked you, Madam Secretary, whether or not you or the Department of Homeland Security are taking any action to facilitate the 9-0 Supreme Court decision to facilitate his return. This is a very simple question. Are you taking any action to facilitate his return, or are you not?” Van Hollen asked at the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing. “This administration is following and complying with all federal court orders,” Noem replied. “So you are so because the court ordered that you facilitate his return. So you are facilitating his return?” ‘I AM AFRAID’: ANOTHER PROTECTIVE ORDER FILING AGAINST DEPORTED ‘MARYLAND MAN’ CHAMPIONED BY DEMS SURFACES “Sir. Senator, thank you for the question. But what I would tell you is that we are following court orders. I’m certain that your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming,” she fired back. “Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and should never have been in this country and will not be coming back to this country,” Noem told Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in a heated exchange at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday morning. “There is no scenario where an Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again. If he were to come back, we would immediately deport him again because he is a terrorist. He’s a human smuggler, and he is a wife-beater,” she continued. Murphy had asked the secretary if she had “reached out to your counterpart in El Salvador to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s release.” “Does the Supreme Court decision not require you to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia?” Murphy later asked. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TELLS NY TIMES WHY APPROVAL FOR PARTY IS ‘IN THE TOILET,’ GIVES OMINOUS WARNING FOR 2026 “The Trump administration is complying with all court orders and judges’ orders,” she replied. Abrego Garcia, 29, is a Salvadoran illegal immigrant and suspected MS-13 gang member who was living in Maryland until he was deported to the high-security Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in his home country during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Though many Democrats, including Maryland’s Van Hollen, claim that Abrego Garcia is an innocent man who was “wrongly deported,” the administration has pointed to considerable evidence that he is a member of the infamous MS-13 gang. In recent weeks, two protective orders suggested that he was abusive to his wife, who is now advocating for his release. In addition, the Tennessee Highway Patrol released body camera footage of its 2022 encounter with him, where state troopers suspected he was involved in human trafficking. TENNESSEE BODYCAM OF ‘MARYLAND MAN’ TRAFFIC STOP SHOWS TROOPERS’ HANDS TIED DESPITE SMUGGLING CLUES Several Democrats have argued that he was not given proper due process and that the evidence that he is a member of MS-13, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, is not sufficient to justify his removal. Noem faced mixed reactions of praise and intense criticism at the hearing on Thursday, as Republicans applauded the department’s efforts on illegal immigration, whereas Democrats raised concerns about spending and legal processes. Fox News’ Peter Pinedo, Emma Colton and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Trump touts ‘rebuilding and modernization’ of US air traffic control, blasts Buttigieg for having ‘no clue’
President Donald Trump touted his administration’s efforts to rebuild and modernize U.S. air traffic control, as the Department of Transportation rolled out its three-year plan to build a brand-new, “state-of-the-art” system to address critical safety needs, while blasting former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for having “no clue.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled the proposal Thursday, which would replace the current, antiquated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system and “enhance safety in the sky, reduce delays and unlock the future of air travel.” AMERICANS DESERVE TO HAVE A ‘STATE-OF-THE-ART’ AIR TRAVEL SYSTEM: SEAN DUFFY “Under President Trump, America is building again,” Duffy said Thursday, upon rolling out the new proposal for a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system.” “Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age,” Duffy said, noting that building the new system “is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now.” Under the new air traffic control system proposal, the FAA would replace infrastructure, like radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks to manage modern travel. NEWARK AIRPORT HIT WITH NEW DELAYS, OUTAGE HEARD ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AUDIO Officials say the current system is one built “for the past,” but the new proposal is to build a system “for the future.” The plan would ensure facilities are equipped with better technologies to reduce outages, improve efficiency and reinforce safety. “We’re going to be buying a brand-new, state of the art system that will cover the entire world,” Trump said earlier Thursday. The plan consists of four infrastructure components: communications, surveillance, automation and facilities, according to the Transportation Department. Officials plan, by 2028, to replace current, antiquated telecommunications systems with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 sites; 25,000 new radios, and 475 new voice switches. 618 radars will also be replaced by 2027. The plan would also address runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative to 200. Officials expect this to be complete by 2027. DUFFY BLASTS BIDEN, BUTTIGIEG FOR IGNORING REPORT ABOUT FAILING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM: ‘DID NOTHING!’ The Transportation Department also proposed building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s. It also proposes replacing 15 towers and 15 co-located TRACONs, or Terminal Radar Approach Controls, which are facilities that manage air traffic in the airspace surrounding busy airports. Officials also proposed the installation of new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities, which would create a common platform system throughout all towers, TRACONs and centers. The proposal also includes the deployment of additional technologies to the Caribbean and Alaska to provide accurate, real-time surveillance and weather information for air traffic control and pilots to ensure “safe and efficient flights for these critical locations.” Officials stressed the need for a new air traffic control system, saying the FAA is grappling with a “rapidly growing, complex and demanding aviation sector,” as commercial air travel returns to pre-COVID levels. Officials also pointed to novel challenges including drones and advanced air mobility. Officials said that the FAAs current systems “are showing their age,” which leads to “delays and inefficiencies.” The Department of Transportation, though, stressed that the National Airspace System is “safe,” but stressed that maintaining the safety is necessary. The proposal is based on a 3-year framework to reinvest in the National Airspace System, and called for an “emergency supplemental funding increase.” ASTOUNDING NEW AUDIO SHOWS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS REACTING TO FAA TECH OUTAGE: ‘THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE’ “Modernization of the NAS can no longer take 10+ years to complete; it must be done now,” the proposal states. “We need an immediate infusion of funding to address critical infrastructure needs.” Duffy, on Thursday, said the project would take three to four years. “I need help, I can’t do it by myself. And it’s going to take the help of the Congress to make that happen,” Duffy said. “We need all of the money up front.” Duffy said that requesting the money in “small tranches” over the course of several years would extend the project. “Politics change, leadership changes, presidents change, interest changes, and it never gets built,” Duffy said. “So I’m going to ask the Congress for upfront appropriations to give us all the money. I’ll come before the Congress every, every quarter and give them an update of of how far we’ve built, how much money we’ve spent.” Duffy added that if the Department of Transportation is not given the money, it would take “ten to 15 years to build this.” “And by the time we get done with it, what we’re going to build is already going to be old technology,” Duffy said. “So we want to build this in 3 to 4 years, and we can do it with the help of Congress.” A report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in March shows that the Trump administration inherited an outdated FAA system from the Biden administration with “severe shortcomings” that resulted in dangerous travel conditions across the country. After Trump’s return to the White House, GAO advised the administration that it had made nine recommendations to the FAA under the Biden administration that remain open, and that “urgent attention” is needed to remedy the safety issues left by Biden. GAO said that under the Biden administration the FAA “did not prioritize or establish near-term plans to modernize unsustainable and critical systems.” The GAO’s 2025 report said the 2023 national airspace prompted an operational risk assessment, which found that of the 138 air traffic control systems, “51 (37%) were deemed unsustainable by FAA and 54 (39%) were potentially unsustainable.” President Trump, on Thursday, blasted the current “ancient infrastructure,” saying “it’s buckling under the weight of more than a billion flying passengers a year and supporting hundreds of billions of dollars.” “Pete Buttigieg, who was the secretary of transportation, had no clue what the problem was,” Trump said. “He
Age-old seniority question divides Democrats as Biden returns to national spotlight
Former President Joe Biden is easing back into the public eye, as he delivered his first speech since leaving office last month and sat for his first post-presidency interviews. The 82-year-old former party leader reflected on the Democrats’ November losses and discussed the future of the party on “The View” Thursday morning. While the Biden administration relentlessly defended the first octogenarian president’s mental acuity throughout his one and only term, his disastrous debate performance against President Donald Trump and his subsequent suspension of his re-election campaign revealed a different reality. “The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” Biden maintained to the hosts of “The View.” However, as Democrats grapple with the fallout of losing the White House, Senate and failing to regain the House in November, the age-old seniority question has returned to the fold of the Democratic Party, as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the 35-year-old progressive making waves as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said she will not seek the top Democrat position on the House Oversight Committee. DEMOCRATS’ VICE CHAIR GETS ULTIMATUM: STAY NEUTRAL IN PRIMARIES OR STEP DOWN FROM PARTY LEADERSHIP “It’s actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe I’ll be staying put at Energy and Commerce,” Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement first reported by NBC. WATCH: AOC LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR 2028 PRESIDENTIAL BID AS CAMPAIGN BUZZ SOARS Ocasio-Cortez lost her House Oversight bid to 74-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., late last year. Connolly announced last month his plan to step back as ranking member of the Oversight Committee after just four months on the job, due to a resurgence of esophageal cancer, adding that it would be his final term in Congress. Connolly’s decision opened the door for Ocasio-Cortez to consider another attempt to lead the committee, which is best positioned to investigate the Trump administration if Democrats manage to regain the House in 2026. Ocasio-Cortez, citing the Democratic Party’s “underlying dynamics” that prioritize seniority in party leadership, renewed a conversation started by Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg’s plan to primary challenge older incumbent Democrats. Hogg’s Super PAC, Leaders We Deserve, announced a plan last month to spend $20 million to help elect younger Democrats in deep-blue districts, which the 25-year-old party leader said are “asleep at the wheel.” The unprecedented move was ridiculed by many, including veteran Democrat strategist James Carville, who called it “the most insane thing I ever heard.” “Aren’t we supposed to run against Republicans?” Carville asked in an interview with CNN. While the two Democrats seemed to bury the hatchet in a recent and rare joint interview on “The Tara Palmeri Show,” Hogg’s move prompted DNC Chair Ken Martin to announce a neutrality pledge for DNC officials and an ultimatum for the young progressive – either resign as vice chair or forego his involvement in Leaders We Deserve, his group leading the multimillion-dollar plight to challenge senior Democrats. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, one of several younger Democrats leading the resistance to Trump’s second term and a name floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that “we have to have a whole rebrand of the Democratic Party with a coherent platform and a future-oriented platform, and many leaders need to do that, new leaders, not the old guard. And I hope to be part of that.” Ocasio-Cortez’s decision not to seek a House Oversight leadership position comes as rumors about her 2028 presidential or 2026 senatorial ambitions swirl following a viral campaign-style video, filmed on the road with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. Those rumors followed the progressive Democrat’s record-breaking fundraising haul, one of the biggest ever for a House lawmaker, raising $9.6 million in the past three months. A Siena College poll also found Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s favorability is down, at 39% among New York state voters questioned in the poll, which was conducted April 14-16. Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez’s favorability soared to 47%. The longtime senator from New York faced pushback from the Democratic Party in March for supporting the Trump-backed Republican budget bill that averted a government shutdown and stirred up outrage among congressional Democrats who planned to boycott the bill. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Trump pulls his nomination for DC US attorney, says he’ll reveal new pick soon
The White House will unveil a new nominee to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, following resistance to the Trump administration’s current pick, according to President Donald Trump. Trump previously nominated Ed Martin, a former defense attorney who represented Americans charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, for the role. Martin has taken on the responsibilities of the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., since January. However, the Senate has held up confirming Martin, amid concerns from lawmakers. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Tuesday he wouldn’t endorse Martin. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also has opposed Martin’s nomination. Specifically, Durbin said Martin provided several false statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Thursday, Trump suggested he would put forward another candidate who would receive broader backing than Martin. “He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday. “You know, he’s done a very good job. Crime is down 25% in DC during this period of time … I can only lift that little phone so many times of the day. But we have somebody else.” “I have to be straight. I was disappointed,” Trump said. “A lot of people were disappointed. But that’s the way it works. Sometimes, you know, that’s the way it works. And he wasn’t rejected, but we felt it would be very — it would be hard. And we have somebody else that will be announcing over the next two days who’s going to be great.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. This is a breaking story that will be updated. Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Patriot Act repeal bill puts controversial law in the crosshairs: ‘Let’s end the abuse!’
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has introduced a one-page bill to repeal the controversial Patriot Act, which was passed on the heels of the horrific Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. The text of the measure, dubbed the “American Privacy Restoration Act,” reads, “The USA PATRIOT Act … is repealed, and each provision of law amended by such Act is amended to read as such provision read on October 25, 2001.” “For over two decades, rogue actors within our U.S. intelligence agencies have used the Patriot Act to create the most sophisticated, unaccountable surveillance apparatus in the Western world,” Luna said, according to a press release. ANNA PAULINA LUNA RESIGNS FROM HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS, SAYS ‘MUTUAL RESPECT’ WAS ‘SHATTERED’ “My legislation will strip the deep state of these tools and protect every American’s fourth amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures. It’s past time to rein in our intelligence agencies and restore the right to privacy. Anyone trying to convince you otherwise is using ‘security’ as an excuse to erode your freedom.” In a post on X, Luna thanked Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., for cosponsoring the bill. REAL ID ‘UNNECESSARY IN KEEPING US SAFE,’ GOP LAWMAKER SAYS AS DEADLINE LOOMS “Let’s end the abuse!” she declared in the post. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has previously pushed bills involving repealing the Patriot Act, pointed out in a post on X last week that just three Republicans voted against passing it in October 2001 — one of them was former Rep. Ron Paul, the father of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. LONE REPUBLICAN BECOMES ONLY LAWMAKER TO VOTE AGAINST CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN ORGAN TRAFFICKING CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Abuse of the PATRIOT Act over time revealed they were justified. Imagine the pressure they were under just one month after 9/11. I’m sure they were called every name in the book,” Massie wrote.
Trump targets Iranian oil with sanctions, increasing pressure on Islamic Republic to make deal on nukes
The Trump administration on Thursday targeted Iranian oil with a new slate of sanctions – a move that increases pressure on the Islamic Republic amid talks between U.S. and Iranian officials to make a deal to prevent nuclear proliferation, Fox News Digital has learned. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control increased pressure on Iran’s export of oil Thursday, designating the “teapot” refinery Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and three port terminal operators in Shandong province, China, for their role in purchasing or facilitating the delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil. VANCE PREVIEWS US-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS, SAYS TRUMP ‘OPEN’ TO SITTING DOWN WITH RUSSIANS, CHINESE IN FUTURE The “teapot” refineries purchase the majority of Iranian crude oil exports, according to the Treasury Department. The Treasury Department on Thursday is also imposing sanctions on several companies, vessels and captains they say are responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments as part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The companies and vessels are all China-based. “As part of President Trump’s broad and aggressive maximum pressure campaign, Treasury today is targeting another teapot refinery that imported Iranian oil,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “The United States remains resolved to intensify pressure on all elements of Iran’s oil supply chain to prevent the regime from generating revenue to further its destabilizing agenda.” The sanctions come following President Donald Trump’s executive order, which targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors – as well as another executive order targeting those that provide support to the National Iranian Oil Company. Thursday’s sanctions are the latest round targeting Iranian oil sales since the president, in early February, issued a national security memorandum that instituted a campaign of “maximum economic pressure on Iran.” As for Iran’s “shadow fleet,” Tehran relies on obscure ship management companies to manage its fleet of tankers that “mask” Iran’s petroleum shipments to China using ship-to-ship transfers with sanctioned vessels. The Treasury Department on Thursday took action to increase pressure on that “shadow fleet” of actors by designating ships as “blocked property.” Any violation of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. or foreign persons, the Treasury Department said. The imposition of sanctions comes as the United States and Iran prepare for a fourth round of nuclear talks. U.S. and Iranian officials are set for the next round of talks to take place in Oman in the coming days. TRUMP TEASES ‘VERY, VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT’ AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST TRIP, CARNEY SAYS HE’S ‘ON EDGE OF MY SEAT’ Trump is scheduled to travel to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Vice President JD Vance recently previewed the next round of talks, saying Wednesday the U.S. was negotiating toward a “complete cessation” of Tehran’s nuclear program. The Trump administration has said the flawed 2015 Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear feal, did not prevent Iran from building an atomic bomb, with Vance adding that the agreement had “incredibly weak” enforcement regarding inspections. Vance said he didn’t believe it “actually served the function of preventing the Iranians from getting on the pathway to nuclear weapons.” Vance also said the Trump administration believes that there were some elements of the Iranian nuclear program that were actually “preserved” under the JCPOA. “Yes, there weren’t nuclear weapons. Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said, arguing the deal “allowed Iran to sort of stay on this glide path toward a nuclear weapon if they flip the switch and press go.” “We think that there is a deal here that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy,” Vance said ahead of the talks. “That would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they can get a nuclear weapon. And that’s what we’re negotiating toward. And as the president has said, that’s Option A.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP If Option A is “very good for the Iranian people,” Vance said, then Option B “is very bad.” “It’s very bad for everybody,” Vance said. “And it’s not what we want, but it’s better than Option C, which is Iran getting a nuclear weapon. That is what is completely off the table for the American administration. No ifs, ands or buts.” As for Trump, he said during a recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would only accept “total dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump signals China ‘very much’ interested in securing trade deal ahead of Switzerland negotiations
China is eager to hash out a trade deal with the U.S., according to President Donald Trump. Trump’s remarks come as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is poised to launch trade negotiations with China in Switzerland Saturday amid a steep tariff battle between Washington and Beijing. “Scott’s going to be going to Switzerland, meeting with China,” Trump told reporters Thursday at the White House. “And you know, they very much want to make a deal. We can all play games. Who made the first call, who didn’t make them? It doesn’t matter. Only matters what happens in that room. But I will tell you that China very much wants to make a deal. We’ll see how that works out.” Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday he wants a “fair” trade deal with China, claiming discussions with Beijing were in the works on multiple issues. Trump has voiced support for tariffs for decades. The White House has called for tariffs to address the nation’s 2024 record $1.2 trillion trade deficit, and said the tariffs will bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs. Bessent cautioned in April that the tariffs could cost China up to 10 million jobs, and said that it’s incumbent upon Beijing to remove current tariffs on U.S. imports. “I think that over time we will see that the Chinese tariffs are unsustainable for China. I’ve seen some very large numbers over the past few days that show if these numbers stay on, Chinese could lose 10 million jobs very quickly,” Bessent told reporters at the White House April 29. “And even if there is a drop in the tariffs that they could lose 5 million jobs.” “So remember that we are the deficit country,” Bessent said. “They sell almost five times more goods to us than we sell to them. So the onus will be on them to take off these tariffs. They’re unsustainable for them.” Bessent also told lawmakers Tuesday that the U.S. has launched discussions with various countries, and indicated that major trade deals could be announced “as early as this week.” This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
One-man Cabinet: Marco Rubio went from rival to Trump’s point man, but can he handle it?
In a surprising twist of fate, Marco Rubio has gone from bitter presidential rival to President Donald Trump’s go-to guy. At the start of the new administration, current and former officials speculated Rubio would be one of the first Cabinet officials shown the door, as his America First credentials were called into question given his previously hawkish foreign policy views. Instead, Rubio has only continued to find favor with the president – so much so that he now holds an unprecedented four different roles within the administration. “When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved,” Trump quipped earlier this month. TRUMP TO TAP NEW NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR IN 6 MONTHS; CALLS WALTZ MOVE ‘UPGRADE’ First, Rubio glided into the secretary of state role with a 99-0 Senate confirmation. Then, Trump and his team dismantled USAID and merged it under Rubio’s State Department leadership, naming him acting director. The secretary was subsequently tapped to lead the National Archives in an acting capacity, and as of last week, he’s also replaced Mike Waltz as acting national security advisor. “This is an expression of trust,” said Andrew Tabler, a former senior official at State and the National Security Council (NSC). “It’s a sign that the president likes Secretary Rubio, despite the odds.” Trump has suggested the interim arrangement could last up to six months, and while that may be an expression of the president’s confidence in Rubio, some are questioning whether one person can effectively juggle four high-profile roles. “Marco Rubio is very talented but no one can do that,” said Joel Rubin, former senior State Department official. Henry Kissinger was the last person to serve as both secretary of state and national security advisor, holding both roles for over two years from 1975 to 1977. But that was half a century ago, and threats facing the nation have only multiplied. MIKE WALTZ, OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFFERS OUT IN LATEST TRUMP PURGE FOLLOWING SIGNAL CHAT LEAK Rubin, who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, called the workload “not fair to the individual, not fair to the taxpayer, and not fair to President Trump, who needs strong, independent advice from a national security advisor.” “The president has assembled an incredibly talented team that is fully committed to putting America and Americans first,” a senior State Department official said in response to an inquiry on Rubio’s many duties. “Secretary Rubio looks forward to serving as his interim national security advisor while ensuring the mission-critical work at the State Department continues uninterrupted.” The national security advisor is traditionally the president’s closest aide on matters of war, peace and global crisis – physically located near the Oval Office and ready to brief the president at any moment. That proximity is hard to maintain when the same person is flying overseas for diplomatic missions. “If he has to fly off to Pakistan to stop a nuclear war, then the president’s national security advisor, who usually is sitting right next to him, is not there.” The reshuffling follows a broader shake-up inside the National Security Council, which lost Waltz, deputy advisor Alex Wong, and a number of staffers in early April. That thinning of personnel, several sources said, has only compounded the stakes. “There are major national security issues in three different theaters. Europe, Middle East and Asia. One’s a hot war, one is a half-hot war, and it’s really getting tense in Asia,” said one former NSC official. “The president’s national security team needs to be filled out, and many people at State and DOD still need to be confirmed.” TRUMP TO TAP NEW NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR IN 6 MONTHS; CALLS WALTZ MOVE ‘UPGRADE’ National security advisor “is one of the president’s closest relationships,” said Michael Allen, former special assistant to the president and senior director at NSC. “The national security advisor needs to be near the president all the time. Or at least able to brief the president all the time. So this is more duties for Rubio and they’re already short-handed.” Still, Allen said the president’s personal comfort with his top national security aide may outweigh structural concerns – for now. “If the president feels like he needs Rubio there, then this is a good solution,” Allen said. “At least for the short to medium term.” Yet others say Rubio’s promotion might be more symbolic than operational, particularly in a White House where influence doesn’t always match job titles. “I think it’s not, ‘Can Marco Rubio do four jobs?’ It’s, ‘Is he allowed to do his one job – which is Secretary of State?’” said Mark Feierstein, a former senior official at USAID. “Foreign counterparts may see him as pleasant in meetings, but they don’t necessarily believe he can deliver.” Feierstein pointed to the dismantling of USAID, the rise of informal advisors like Stephen Miller, and the proliferation of special envoys like Steve Witkoff who bypass Rubio entirely. “You’ve got loads of people who report directly to Trump or others. So now it’s just chaos,” he said. Even Rubio’s ideological positioning raises questions. A staunch foreign policy hawk during his time in the Senate, Rubio has in recent months presided over a foreign policy apparatus that includes outreach to Russia and dramatic State Department budget cuts – moves he may once have opposed. “He’s decided to accommodate,” Feierstein said. But Rubio’s ability to meet voters where they are – and serve as the president’s happy warrior – may be the key to his longevity. Sparring with voices like Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President JD Vance on foreign policy would only cause further headaches for the president. Tabler, for his part, remained optimistic. “Rubio is energetic, he knows the issues. He’s been working on foreign policy for years,” he said. “It’s a positive sign. But how long one person can do that job – and under what circumstances – is up to him.”
Travelers weigh in on REAL ID rollout after 2005 law finally takes effect: ‘I think it’s important’
Many travelers preparing for their flights at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport told Fox News Digital that the government effectively notified Americans about the REAL ID law that took effect on May 7, with many adding that the new requirement bolsters safety. “I think they did a great job of letting people know… and I think it’s important, because we need to make sure that everyone’s got correct identification,” said one man who spoke to Fox News Digital from the terminal. “I think that the government did a really good job of informing the public that it’s needed. I see it everywhere,” another man said. The REAL ID laws took effect on May 7, though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced ahead of Wednesday that Americans who lack the new ID will still be able to travel but would face additional screening. REAL ID is a federally-compliant driver’s license or other identification that meets higher standards than state-issued driver’s licenses. REAL ID DEADLINE COMES AND GOES – AIRPORTS REPORT BUSINESS AS USUAL Only legal U.S. citizens or residents can obtain a REAL ID. Valid U.S. passports can also still be used instead of a REAL ID for domestic air travel, the DHS explains on its website. “I think the government did a great job preparing for folks, and especially in the state of Georgia. They’ve had this in process for a long time,” said another traveler. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to heighten security requirements for driver’s licenses in response to the attacks on 9/11. Though some states began complying with the law more than a decade ago, enforcement in all states had been repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic, DMV backlogs, as well as some states, such as South Carolina, initially refusing to comply. DO WE EVEN NEED THIS? LAWMAKERS GET REAL ABOUT REAL ID MANDATE STARTING TODAY “We’ve been doing it since, gosh … since 2013. Trying to get everybody aboard, and this is the last year for them to get on board,” one woman said. “I think it’s important to protect our airports one another and our federal buildings with higher security,” another woman said. AIR TRAVELERS WITHOUT REAL ID TO FACE EXTRA SCREENING BUT WILL BE ALLOWED TO FLY FOR NOW, DHS SAYS By contrast, another traveler said the roll-out could have been smoother. “They could have rolled this out a little smoothly there and allowed people to get more prepared, even though, you know, to say it’s been in the works for a couple of years, but I travel quite often, and I didn’t know,” she said.