Trump releases powerful video highlighting US-Greenland bond after deadly Nazi attack
On the same day Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland, President Donald Trump posted a compelling video highlighting the strong historical bonds between the Arctic nation and the United States. The 90-second video touts past U.S. military efforts to defend and protect Greenland during World War II when the U.S. suffered hundreds of casualties after a Nazi U-boat torpedoed and sank the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester. The U-boat struck in the dead of night on Feb. 3, 1943, killing dozens instantly while hundreds more succumbed to the icy waters of the Atlantic, according to the Defense Department. The incident is remembered four Army chaplains giving up their lives to save others. TRUMP REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ODDS OF ACQUIRING GREENLAND: ‘I THINK IT’LL HAPPEN’ “In the cold silence of the tundra, a bond was born. Not from treaties or trade, but from blood and bravery,” the narrator of the clip says. “While Germany controlled Europe, the Nazis set their sights on the Arctic. Greenland became an unwitting combatant and the United States stepped in, not to conquer but to protect.” The video notes that nearly 1,000 service members, civilians and crew carried with them “hope, duty and a quiet fear” in a voyage they knew was rife with danger. But after the attack, the frigid waters of the North Atlantic “became a grave.” “Those four chaplains gave up their life vests, giving their lives so that others might live to protect America and Greenland,” the narrator says. “Their sacrifices helped win our freedom and we will never forget. Together, Americans and Greenlanders stood as sentinels at the top of the world.” In total, 672 people died during the deadly attack, according to the Defense Department. The video was created by Securing American Greatness a non-profit created during the 2024 presidential election to support then-candidate Trump. It also shows several clips from the war and landscape images of Greenland before going on to make the case why the U.S. needs to join forces with Greenland, arguing that Greenland faces new threats from Russia’s “aggression” and China’s “expansion.” PUTIN SAYS TRUMP PLANS FOR GREENLAND ‘HAS NOTHING TO DO’ WITH RUSSIA “Our shared legacy lives on in every joint mission, every Arctic patrol, every partnership forged in the shadow of melting ice and rising tensions, this is not just history,” the narrator says. “It is destiny. Now is the time to stand together again, for peace, for security, for the future. America stands with Greenland.” Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also shared the video on X. The video was posted by Trump as he doubled down Friday on his efforts to acquire Greenland as part of the U.S. for international security purposes Friday, Although the Danish territory has said it is seeking independence from Copenhagen and isn’t interested in becoming part of the U.S., Trump has repeatedly offered, dating back to his first administration, a desire to secure Greenland for the U.S. as Russian and Chinese presence grows in the Arctic. “If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we’re not going to be able to do that,” Trump told reporters Friday. “We’re not relying on Denmark or anybody to take care of that situation. And we’re not talking about peace for the United States, we’re talking about world peace, we’re talking about international security.” Vance echoed the commander and chief’s goals for Greenland on Friday during his visit to Pituffik Space Base, the Defense Department’s northernmost military installation. He said that Denmark has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe. “What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark,” Vance explained in a more toned-down approach from Trump’s previous statements. “And then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.” The chaplains who died in the attack were George L. Fox, a Methodist minister, John P. Washington, a Catholic priest, Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister, and Alexander D. Goode, a rabbi. They were all awarded Purple Hearts and Distinguished Service Crosses for their actions that day. Congress additionally created a “Four Chaplains’ Medal,” which was presented to their survivors in 1961, according to the Defense Department. Fox News’ Diana Stancy Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
Top vaccine official allegedly pushed out of FDA: report
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) top vaccine official, who was part of the first Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, has reportedly been forced out of his position, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report. A Health and Human Services (HHS) allegedly gave Dr. Peter Marks a choice between resigning or being fired, the WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. SENIOR MAHA ADVISOR SAYS FDA IS ‘ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL,’ HAS NO CLUE WHAT’S IN AMERICA’S FOOD “It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Marks allegedly wrote in his resignation letter. WSJ reports his resignation will go into effect on April 5. WSJ reported that people familiar with the matter said Marks’ stance on vaccines conflicted with that of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, an outspoken vaccine skeptic, was asked about the issue of immunizations during his confirmation hearing. However, he stressed that he was not “anti-vaccine” and defined himself as “pro-safety.” He also revealed during his hearing that “all of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.” ANYONE OVER 50 SHOULD BE GETTING THESE 5 VACCINES, DOCTORS SAY Recently, Kennedy’s stance on vaccines was put to the test as measles spread in Texas. He told Fox News’ senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel earlier this month that he was recommending measles vaccines to promote “community immunity.” Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and HHS, but did not immediately receive responses, as the requests were sent outside business hours. In August 2020, Marks reportedly confirmed to Reuters that he threatened to resign if the COVID-19 vaccine was released before it was proven to be safe and effective. “You have to decide where your red line is, and that’s my red line,” Marks told Reuters in 2020. “I would feel obligated [to resign] because in doing so, I would indicate to the American public that there’s something wrong.”
Republican lawmaker confronted over Signal chat leak, responds sharply
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., had a quick response when someone attempted a “gotcha” question. In a viral video, a young man is seen running up to the congressman with a phone, presumably filming, before asking about the Signal chat leak that has rocked Washington, D.C., for the last week. The unidentified man asked the congressman whether he could “trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans top secret?” Rather than ignore the man or try to answer his question, the congressman hit him with a snappy response. “Do you trust your mother every night to fix your Hot Pockets and make sure your Game Boy is turned on?” he fired back. GOP REP. BURCHETT SLAMS FEDERAL JUDGES FOR HALTING DEPORTATION FLIGHTS Burchett’s retort seemed to shock the man, who stopped walking as the insult was hurled, while the congressman continued on. The Tennessee congressman posted a video of the exchange on X and got several responses supporting him and cheering on his response. Texas congressman Wesley Hunt, R, simply replied, “Savage brother.” TRUMP TEAM’S SIGNAL SNAFU SPARKS DEBATE OVER SECURE COMMS The video posted on Friday does not appear to be the congressman’s only interaction with the man behind the camera. On March 25, Burchett posted another video featuring a man who appeared to be the same person in Friday’s video. In Monday’s exchange, the man behind the phone camera asked the same question that he would later repeat on Friday: “Do you trust Trump’s national security team to keep our war plans secret?” The congressman replied, “I do — but I do not trust your wardrobe adviser.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP There are a number of videos on Burchett’s X account that feature someone who appears to be the same man who asked the congressman a question on Friday. Fox News Digital reached out to Burchett’s office to confirm if the videos feature the same person, but did not receive an immediate response, as it was outside office hours.
WATCH: Dems struggle to name the leader of the Democratic Party
Top voices in the Democratic Party, as well as average Democratic voters, have struggled to answer who the party’s leader is when asked during interviews. A video from the conservative opposition research organization, America Rising, highlighted comments from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin on the matter, including average Americans, almost all of whom struggled to give a clear answer. “People know me, I’m pretty straightforward. I don’t think it’s a secret that Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election. I don’t think that’s something hidden. And I think it’s on us to be clear about not only leadership, and there’s lot of leaders in both parties, but also a strategy, right?” Slotkin said in a “Meet the Press” interview earlier this month, which is in the clip. SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN TELLS ‘THE VIEW’ DEMOCRATS NEED TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM At the time, she added that the party is still “finding their footing.” Slotkin, who won her competitive Michigan seat in November, came into the national spotlight after responding to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress on March 4. “I think there’s a lot of discontent with the Democratic leadership, and I think with the entire Democratic Party,” Sanders said in an interview with CNN. Others asked in the video struggled to answer the question, except for one woman who said that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is the current leader of the party. BERNIE SANDERS GETS UP DURING INTERVIEW AFTER ‘NONSENSE’ QUESTION ABOUT AOC “Nobody. There isn’t one,” another person said in the video. The progressive “Squad” leader recently held numerous “Fighting Oligarchy” events in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada with Sanders in opposition to the Trump administration. However, the jury is still out as to who, if anyone, can emerge as a uniting voice for progressives and moderates in the party while still maintaining staunch opposition to the Trump White House. CHUCK SCHUMER FACING ‘UPHILL FIGHT’ AMID LEADERSHIP DOUBTS: ‘MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF’ Meanwhile, some in the clip outright objected to the notion that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who’s technically the highest-ranking Democrat in the United States, is the actual leader. Schumer has faced some calls to step down from his position after voting in favor of a continuing resolution backed by the Trump administration to avert a government shutdown – a move that many Democrats in his own caucus disagreed with. A recent CNN poll of 504 Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents muddies the water even more, with Ocasio-Cortez getting the highest percentage of being considered the leader at 10%, with former Vice President Kamala Harris at 9% and Sanders at 8%. The same poll showed a 29% favorability for the Democrats, compared with 54% viewing them unfavorably.
How Trump-blocking judges managed to get past Senate judiciary hawks
As federal judges exceed records with an onslaught of nationwide orders blocking President Donald Trump’s orders, some have revisited how each was confirmed, and whether Republicans could have foreseen their rulings or done anything more to block them. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital in an interview, “This is why I think I voted against every Biden judge.” He acknowledged that many of the judges in question were confirmed before his time, given he was first elected in 2018. SCOOP: TOP REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SETS PROMPT HEARING ON JUDGES BLOCKING TRUMP “People said to me, ‘Why don’t you ever vote for any of Biden’s judges?‘” he said. “This is why.” “Because if they’re not faithful to the rule of law, then you can bet they’ll just be looking for opportunities to intervene politically.” Since Trump entered office, he has faced a slew of nationwide injunctions to halt actions of his administration, which exponentially outweighs the number his predecessors saw. So far in his new term, the courts have hit him with roughly 15 wide-ranging orders, more than former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden received during their entire tenures. Some of those who have ordered the Trump administration to halt certain actions are U.S. District Judges James Boasberg, Amir Ali, Loren AliKhan, William Alsup, Deborah Boardman, John Coughenour, Paul A. Engelmayer, Amy Berman Jackson, Angel Kelley, Brendan A. Hurson, Royce Lamberth, Joseph Laplante, John McConnell and Leo Sorokin. There are 94 districts in the U.S. and at least one district court in each state. These courts are where cases are first heard before potentially being appealed to higher courts. SENATE CONFIRMS DR MARTY MAKARY AS TRUMP’S FDA CHIEF Several of these judges were confirmed in the Senate in a bipartisan manner, and some even prevailed with no opposition. There were others who were opposed by every Republican senator. One of the most controversial judges, Boasberg, known for blocking a key immigration action by the Trump administration, was confirmed by a roll call vote after being nominated by Obama in 2011. The vote was 96-0 and no Republicans opposed him. Former Trump attorney Jim Trusty told Fox News Digital, “I don’t think the Republicans ever expected quite the onslaught of lawfare that we’ve seen when President Trump is in office.” “The activist nature of some federal district court judges – issuing nationwide injunctions against the Executive Branch on a minute’s notice – is unfortunate and puts pressure on appellate courts, including SCOTUS, to fix these problems,” he explained. However, he said the real problem is “an army of lawyers” who he said are trying to “bend and twist legal principles.” “They are spending their days devoted to stopping President Trump’s agenda even if it means siding with Venezuelan gang members who illegally entered the US,” Trusty claimed. GOP SENATOR SAYS DR OZ IGNORED HIS QUESTIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES, ABORTION Andy McCarthy, a former assistant U.S. attorney and a Fox News contributor, told Fox News Digital, “Republicans could have done a much better job blocking Biden’s judicial appointments.” He pointed to Biden’s recent time as a lame-duck president, specifically referring to nominees that “squeaked by” due to Republican absences. “Biden’s nominees were very radical and should have been opposed as vigorously as possible,” he said. “These are lifetime appointments and the progressives filling these slots will be a thorn in the nation’s side for decades.” However, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, made a point of saying, “There was no way to know how they would rule in future cases like these.” He argued that senators can conduct their due diligence to the best of their abilities, but they can’t see into the future. “The Senate has the right to reject nominees whom it thinks will interpret the Constitution incorrectly, but nominees also have an obligation not to promise how they might rule on cases once they join the bench,” Yoo said. Thomas Jipping, senior legal fellow with the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, noted to Fox News Digital that senators “can’t use the filibuster to defeat the judge,” which makes blocking controversial nominees even more difficult. “The only way to actually defeat someone’s confirmation is to have the majority of the votes,” he explained. “If Republicans are in the minority, there has to be at least a few Democrats voting against the Democratic nominee to defeat someone.” Fox News Digital reached out to former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to comment on how these judges were able to get confirmed. TOP DEM USED SAME APP USED IN ATLANTIC SCANDAL TO SET UP CONTACT WITH STEELE DOSSIER AUTHOR The senators were asked if they were still happy with how the judges were confirmed and their individual votes. They were also asked whether there was anything alarming in the judges’ records and if Republicans did enough to block certain confirmations. McConnell’s office pointed Fox News Digital to comments he made over the legislative recess at a press conference in Kentucky. “The way to look at all of these reorganization efforts by the Administration is what’s legal and what isn’t… they’ll be defined in the courts,” he told reporters in response to the legality of potentially shutting down the Department of Education. “I can understand the desire to reduce government spending. Every Administration – some not quite as bold as this one – have tried to do that in one way or another. This is a different approach… and the courts will ultimately decide whether the president has the authority to take these various steps. Some may have different outcomes, I’m just going to wait – like all of us in effect are going to wait, and see whether this is permissible or not.” Grassley’s office pointed to a previous statement from the senator’s spokesperson, Clare Slattery. “The recent surge of sweeping decisions
Border community reveals what Trump admin still needs to accomplish as crisis calms down: ‘Undue burdens’
It’s morning again in the border community of Yuma, Arizona, but there’s still work to be done to ensure long-term security and to clean up leftover challenges. Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines explained the challenges faced in the wake of a high influx of migrants into the community at times throughout the Biden administration. “Chaos first, and abandoned second,” Lines, a Republican, said of the border under former President Joe Biden, but said it is “controlled” under President Donald Trump. ICE NEARING HISTORIC DEAL WITH IRS TO AID IN DEPORTATIONS: REPORT In the Yuma sector alone, there were hundreds of thousands of migrant encounters during the Biden administration. In February, there were 8,326 illegal border crossings marked down by United States Customs and Border Protection. The number of people placed a strain on local resources in the area, including the local hospital. “The message is that we’d like our not-for-profit hospital to be reimbursed to the tune of about $32 million. That’s auditable costs… it caused undue burdens here in our local communities,” Lines said. Fox News Digital reported in 2023 that the Yuma Regional Medical Center had to deal with millions in unpaid medical costs given the number of illegal immigrants that came in for care. HUD ENDS FHA MORTGAGES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: ‘SHOULD BENEFIT AMERICANS WHO PLAY BY THE RULES’ “Our food bank was impacted, as well as kind of the medical community as a whole, just because of fentanyl,” Lines said. “We’ve seen a significant impact of fentanyl here in the community. One of my best friends just lost his oldest nephew two weeks ago. The pills are being sold for about $2.50. There needs to be serious consequences for the Chinese and for the cartels that are dealing and pushing this product into the United States,” he added. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE In 2022, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey placed metal storage containers along some of the gaps in Yuma, which were eventually taken down because of legal action from the federal government. Now, construction of permanent border wall panels in gaps along the border in the area is underway, following a reversal of Biden’s policies once Trump retook office. COLOMBIA AGREES TO SHARE MIGRANT DATA WITH US AFTER ‘CANDID’ TALKS WITH KRISTI NOEM “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction, we’re going to continue to make America safe again,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a video posted to X on March 16. The region became a key focal point for politicians on the 2024 campaign trail, with many stopping for visits despite not running in geographical border states themselves — a key indicator that border security and immigration were a top issue for American voters. “Every state has been impacted by the human trafficking as well as the trafficking of narcotics. For the last four years, as I’ve traveled throughout the United States, every single community leader or member of a community has approached me saying that they have never seen such an impact from narcotics and from illegal immigration in their communities, and that their resources to provide for the individuals in their community have been exhausted,” Lines said.
Here’s what happened during Trump’s 10th week in office
While the U.S. military has been conducting strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, President Donald Trump and his White House have been engaging in a battle of their own, defending leaked texts detailing war plans about those very strikes in Yemen. This week, the Trump administration has fielded a litany of questions and criticism after the Atlantic published a story detailing how administration officials used a Signal group chat to discuss strikes in Yemen, and accidentally added a journalist to the group. The group chats included White House leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, as well as other administration officials including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Additionally, the chat included Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. While the White House said that classified information was not shared via the encrypted messaging service, the Atlantic published the full exchange of messages Wednesday. The messages included certain attack details, including specific aircraft and times of the strikes. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained Wednesday no classified information was shared. TRUMP ADMIN DECLARES THE ATLANTIC’S SIGNAL ARTICLE A ‘HOAX’ AFTER IT DROPS ‘WAR PLANS’ RHETORIC “We have said all along that no classified material was sent on this messaging thread,” Leavitt told reporters. “There were no locations, no sources or methods revealed, and there were certainly no war plans discussed.” Meanwhile, the episode has prompted backlash from lawmakers. Senate Armed Service Committee leaders Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., said they are requesting an inspector general investigation into the use of the Signal app and as a classified briefing with a top administration official on the matter. Additionally, several lawmakers including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., from the House Intelligence Committee have called for Hegseth’s resignation. Here’s what also happened this week: Trump issued a pardon Tuesday for Devon Archer, former first son Hunter Biden’s prior business associate, who was convicted in 2018 for defrauding a Native American tribe in a plot to issue and sell fraudulent tribal bonds. Archer faced a sentence of more than a year in prison, but his conviction was overturned before later being reinstated in 2020. His appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected, and so his prison sentence was up in the air prior to the pardon. “Many people have asked me to do this,” Trump said Tuesday ahead of signing the pardon. “They think he was treated very unfairly. And I looked at the records, studied the records. And he was a victim of a crime, as far as I’m concerned. So we’re going to undo that. … Congratulations, Devon.” Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing the FBI to immediately declassify files concerning the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, the agency probe launched in 2016 that sought information on whether Trump campaign members colluded with Russia during the presidential race. After signing the order, Trump said that now the media can review previously withheld files pertaining to the investigation — although he cast doubt on whether many journalists would do so. TRUMP ORDERS FBI TO DECLASSIFY DOCUMENTS FROM ‘CROSSFIRE HURRICANE’ RUSSIA INVESTIGATION “You probably won’t bother because you’re not going to like what you see,” Trump said. “But this was total weaponization. It’s a disgrace. It should have never happened in this country. But now you’ll be able to see for yourselves. All declassified.” The FBI on July 31, 2016, opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump, then a presidential candidate, or members of his campaign were colluding or coordinating with Russia to influence the 2016 election. That investigation was referred to inside the bureau as “Crossfire Hurricane.” The extensive probe yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Vance and second lady Usha Vance, along with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, visited Pituffik Space Base in Greenland Friday, the Department of Defense’s northernmost military installation. The base is home to the Space Force’s 821st Space Base Group to conduct missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations. The Trump administration is seeking to acquire Greenland for national security purposes, and has accused Denmark of neglecting Greenland. VANCE’S ‘AMERICA FIRST’ APPROACH GOES GLOBAL, TAKES HARDLINE MESSAGE TO GREENLAND But leaders in Denmark and Greenland remain unequivocally opposed to Greenland becoming part of the U.S., although Greenland’s prime minister has called for independence from Copenhagen. Meanwhile, Denmark has come under scrutiny for its treatment of indigenous people from Greenland. A group of indigenous women from Greenland sued the Danish government in May 2024 and accused Danish health officials of fitting them with intrauterine devices without their knowledge between the 1960s and 1970s. Denmark and Greenland launched an investigation into the matter in 2022, and the report is expected for release this year. The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Trump draws laughs when defining a ‘woman’ — until he touches on a serious issue
President Donald Trump drew laughs from the press when one reporter asked him to define what a woman is. Trump was speaking at a news conference after Alina Habba, a longtime member of his team, was sworn-in as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. The reporter who asked the question first said that Trump had done “so much for women” before listing women who have powerful roles in the Trump administration, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Attorney General Pam Bondi. He then asked, “Since Democrats seemed to struggle answering this question, I want to ask you, what is a woman and why is it important that we understand the difference between men and women?” The room quickly erupted in laughter as Trump said that the question was “easy” to answer. “A woman is somebody, they can have a baby under certain circumstances. She has equality. A woman is a person who is much smarter than a man, I’ve always found. A woman is a person that doesn’t give a man even a chance of success,” Trump said. While the reporters in the room chuckled, Trump took the opportunity to take the question in a serious direction and addressed the issue of transgender athletes playing in women’s sports. TRUMP SAYS HE’S ‘PROUD TO BE THE PRESIDENT TO SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS’ AFTER NCAA CHANGES TRANS ATHLETE POLICY “And a woman is a person that in many cases has been treated very badly. Because I think that what happens with this crazy, this crazy issue of men being able to play in women’s sports is just ridiculous and very unfair to women, and very demeaning to women,” Trump said, shifting the tone of the news conference. Trump referenced a Democrat lawmaker, without naming who it was, fighting to keep transgender athletes in women’s sports. The president joked that he hopes Democrats keep arguing for the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports “because they’ll never win another election.” TRUMP SIGNS ‘NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS’ EXECUTIVE ORDER The Trump administration has taken swift action in combating gender ideology. Trump signed an order specifically addressing the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports. The order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funds from allowing trans athletes to compete against women. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” This order made it official policy that the U.S. government only recognizes two genders: male and female. CALIFORNIA UNDER INVESTIGATION BY TRUMP ADMIN FOR ALLEGEDLY HIDING ‘GENDER IDENTITY’ OF KIDS The U.S. Department of Education recently took action on this issue and launched an investigation of the California Department of Education over alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) after a new California law went into effect that bars schools from disclosing a child’s “gender identity” to their parents. California Gov. Gavin Newsom spokesperson Elana Ross told Fox News Digital in a statement Thursday, “Parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student’s education records, as required by federal law.” As Trump concluded his answer to the question, he said, “Women are, basically, incredible people, do so much for our country. And we love our women and we’re going to take care of our women.” Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this article.
Why Trump’s push for frigid Greenland is about icing out US adversaries
President Donald Trump has insisted the U.S. needs to “get” Greenland, “one way or another.” But it’s not the first time U.S. leaders have had their eyes on the icy, sprawling island. Located in the middle of contested waters between the U.S., Russia and Western Europe, Greenland is situated at a point that could protect the North Atlantic passage from Russian ships and submarines. It was a key military vantage point during the Cold War, and President Harry Truman offered to buy Greenland from the Danes in 1946. The island is also a transfer point for communication cables that cross the Atlantic. European officials claim Russian “ghost ships” have been destroying such cables by dropping their anchors and dragging them across the ocean floor. Greater control over the island would not only offer the U.S. the shortest ship route to Europe but also the opportunity to bolster its ballistic missile early warning system and place radar on the ocean floor to track the movements of Russian and Chinese ships. US ACCUSES DENMARK OF TREATING GREENLANDERS AS ‘SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS’ DURING VANCE VISIT TO ARCTIC BASE The island rests on top of lucrative supplies of critical and rare earth minerals, such as cobalt, nickel, uranium and iron — materials that are essential to electric vehicles, medical equipment, electronics, batteries and advanced defense systems. The U.S. was once a top producer of rare earth minerals, but has been knocked off by China. China currently dominates the global supply chain with access to 60% of the world’s supply, but Greenland could be a “game changer,” according to national security attorney Irina Tsukerman. “Their total resources of these rare earths could be greater than what China has,” she told Fox News Digital. Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, national security advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, along with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, visited Greenland on Friday. “Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” the vice president remarked on the trip. “You underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you’ve underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, all-beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change and because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.” TRUMP SAYS ‘WE NEED GREENLAND FOR INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY’ AHEAD OF VANCE TRIP Greenland is estimated to have the world’s eighth-largest reserve of rare earths, just behind the U.S. But its minerals have proven difficult to access — 80% of the island’s surface is covered in thick sheets of ice. The island also has lots of red tape: strict environmental and social impact requirements mean the permitting process takes time. The nation’s economy is currently built on fishing and welfare: Denmark offers around $700 million each year, nearly half of Greenland’s budget. The U.S. has dangled “billions” in investment to mine minerals in Greenland as part of an effort to reduce its reliance on China, though China has already had a limited involvement in mining projects there. “China is more concerned about access to the Arctic than those minerals,” said Tsukerman. “China has focused its mineral efforts on Africa, where it is indeed far ahead of the U.S. Russia has been focused on the Arctic,” she continued. “There’s been growing talks about increasing NATO presence in the area to deter Russian and Chinese vessels from entering.” There’s oil and gas, too, but in 2021 Greenland passed a ban on all future oil and gas exploration and extraction. As the ice caps continue to melt, the waters around Greenland are becoming more and more navigable — meaning ships traveling from Asia and Europe can sail polar routes and avoid heading south to the Panama and Suez canals. U.S. and Danish defenses on the island have become outdated, just as Russia is refurbishing its own Arctic ports. Greenland once hosted dozens of U.S. bases and outposts, but today hosts just one: Pituffik Space Force Base. Once home to around 10,000 U.S. troops, just around 200 are deployed there now. “We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,” Trump said in an interview on Wednesday. The territory largely opposes the idea of joining the U.S. In response to Trump’s threats to take Greenland, Denmark announced a $2 billion investment in defense on the island in January. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Denmark’s defense intelligence service has determined Greenland to be “a priority for Russia, and it will demonstrate its power through aggressive and threatening behavior, which will carry along with it a greater risk of escalation than ever before in the Arctic.” “We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen admitted recently. “Now we are planning a stronger presence.”
Utah bans LGBTQ+ pride flags, MAGA flags, other unapproved flags in government buildings, schools
Utah became the first state to prohibit LGBTQ+ pride flags from being flown at government buildings and schools in a move that also bans political flags such as those with President Donald Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, announced he was allowing the ban on unsanctioned flag displays to become law without his signature. Although he continues to have serious concerns about the policy, the governor chose not to reject the proposal because the Republican-controlled legislature would likely have overridden his veto. The ban will go into effect on May 7, when state or local government buildings will be fined $500 a day for displaying any flag other than the American flag, the Utah state flag, military flags or a handful of others approved by lawmakers. FORMER GOP REP. MIA LOVE DEAD AT 49 AFTER BATTLE WITH CANCER, FAMILY SAYS Political flags supporting a candidate or party, including MAGA flags, will be prohibited under the law. The new law could put the state and its largest city, Salt Lake City, at odds. City buildings in the city typically honor Pride Month each June by displaying flags that celebrate its LGBTQ+ population. Local leaders in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have illuminated the city and county buildings with rainbow lights each night since the bill was sent to Cox’s desk in protest of the legislation. LGBT AMERICANS REACH RECORD NUMBER, MORE LIKELY TO BE DEMS, GEN Z: GALLUP POLL Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s office said their attorneys are reviewing the law, but the city does not yet have details on what it will do when the law takes effect. The bill’s sponsors, Rep. Trevor Lee and Sen. Dan McCay, both of whom are Republicans, said the measure aims to encourage “political neutrality” from teachers and other government employees. Opponents argue that the law seeks to root out LGBTQ+ expression and remove authority away from cities and towns that do not align politically with the legislature’s GOP majority. Cox said in a letter to legislative leaders explaining his decision that he agreed with the “underlying intent” of the bill to make classrooms politically neutral but believed it went too far in restricting local governments. The governor also highlighted that the law, since it narrowly focuses on flags, does not ban other political displays such as posters or lighting. “To our LGBTQ community, I know that recent legislation has been difficult,” Cox said. “Politics can be a bit of a blood sport at times and I know we’ve had our disagreements,” the governor continued. “I want you to know that I love and appreciate you and I am grateful that you are part of our state. I know these words may ring hollow to many of you, but please know that I mean them sincerely.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.