Hegseth sends strong message to Iran and Houthis: ‘You will pay’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a message to Iran on Wednesday night, warning the country that, because of its “LETHAL” support of the Houthis terrorist organization, they will pay the consequences. “We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth said in a post on X. “You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.” Earlier this week, a Houthi drone forced the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier to make an evasive maneuver, which some believe caused an F-18 fighter jet worth $67 million to fall off the carrier and into the Red Sea. $70M NAVY F-18 FIGHTER JET FALLS INTO RED SEA OFF THE USS HARRY S TRUMAN The move came after 47 straight days of U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets. Hegseth then retweeted a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump from March 17. “Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN,” Trump posted. “Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that the force will stop there. “Iran has played the ‘innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control,” the president continued. “They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, ‘Intelligence.’ Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”
President Trump reveals what he told Zelenskyy during viral meeting at the Vatican
President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday evening what he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed during their viral meeting at the Vatican when both were in attendance for the late Pope Francis’ funeral. “I was telling him that it’s a very good thing if we can produce a deal, that you sign it, because Russia is much bigger and much stronger,” Trump said Tuesday evening during a town hall hosted by NewsNation, which he participated in by phone. The pair met face-to-face for the first time since their contentious Oval Office meeting in February, while both attended the papal funeral. Neither White House or Ukrainian officials gave many details on the nature or content of the talk, other than that it was “productive” and “symbolic.” UKRAINE SIGNS DEAL TO GIVE US ACCESS TO RARE MINERALS WITH TRUMP ADMIN ‘COMMITTED TO A PEACE PROCESS’: BESSENT “We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy posted on X following the viral meeting. “Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.” Despite few details being released about the meeting, Trump did tell reporters over the weekend that part of the pair’s discussion revolved around the U.S. sending more weapons to Ukraine. “He told me that he needs more weapons, but he’s been saying that for three years,” Trump said. “We’re going to see what happens – I want to see what happens with respect to Russia. Because Russia, I’ve been surprised and disappointed – very disappointed – that they did the bombing of those places after discussions.” TRUMP HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS While Trump did not divulge any further details about the meeting to reporters, the president did add that he thinks Zelenskyy will be willing to give up Crimea in order to secure a peace deal. Russia’s annexation of the current Ukrainian territory has been a major sticking point amid negotiations between the two warring nations, with Zelenskyy indicating he would not be willing to sign a deal that includes giving up the territory. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Former Democrat Hill staffers challenge the aging establishment in Congress: report
With Republicans firmly in control of Washington following the 2024 elections and President Trump implementing his second-term agenda, Democrats find themselves not just out of power but at odds over what the party stands for. A new wave of candidates has emerged: not from outside the political system, but from within the Democratic establishment itself. According to Roll Call, at least four former Democratic congressional staffers are now running against long-serving members of their own party. These challengers say they were motivated by frustration with the Democratic leadership’s lack of direction, ineffective communication, and failure to respond to Trump’s political momentum. JEFFRIES DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM DEMOCRAT TRIPS TO EL SALVADOR AS BORDER SECURITY DEBATE SPLITS PARTY: REPORT Each of these candidates brings a unique perspective, but all share a common theme: the belief that the Democratic Party is no longer equipped to meet the moment. Saikat Chakrabarti, the 32-year-old former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is taking on one of the most iconic figures in the Democratic Party: former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi, who has not yet confirmed if she will seek a 20th term, faces increasing calls for generational change within her solidly blue district. Chakrabarti told Roll Call that he was disillusioned by what he saw in Democrat leadership. “The main thing my time in Washington taught me is that the current Democratic Party and its leaders are not at all prepared for what is going on right now,” he said. Instead of taking on Trump strategically, he said, Democratic leadership was more concerned with bureaucratic details than national messaging. DAVID HOGG CLASHES WITH AN IRATE JAMES CARVILLE OVER DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY PLAN, CALLS ON HIM TO ‘WIN ELECTIONS’ “The party thinks their main job is fundraising all day, and not fixing real problems for voters,” he added. Jake Rakov, a 33-year-old former deputy communications director for Rep. Brad Sherman, is now running against his former boss in California’s San Fernando Valley. Sherman, who has served in Congress since 1997, is among the more senior Democrats now facing internal challenges. Rakov said he decided to run after witnessing what he described as an outdated and ineffective approach to politics. “Looking after Trump won again and seeing [Sherman] use the exact same talking points that I helped draft for him back in 2017… he was still doing the same outdated things,” Rakov said. “He hasn’t been able to adapt.” Sherman, for his part, dismissed the challenge, telling Roll Call that “nobody who’s actually involved in the civic affairs of my district runs against me,” suggesting Rakov lacks a connection to the community. In Illinois, 51-year-old Jason Friedman, once an intern for Sen. Dick Durbin, is now running to replace longtime Rep. Danny K. Davis, who at 83 is one of the oldest members of the House. Davis has not yet announced whether he will run for a 16th term. Though Friedman declined to be interviewed, he issued a statement warning about threats to democracy and economic stability from Trump and Elon Musk. His decision to run highlights growing restlessness even in safely blue districts like Davis’s, where younger candidates are eager to offer a new direction. While most of the former staffers are challenging Democrats, Jordan Wood is taking on a well-established Republican: Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Wood, previously chief of staff to former Rep. Katie Porter, is entering a tough race in a purple state where Collins has consistently won reelection. Wood’s message echoes that of his fellow challengers: frustration with political stagnation and a desire to bring in new leadership. “I’m tired of waiting for the same establishment politicians to fix these problems,” Wood told Roll Call, citing concerns about affordability and economic pressure on working families. These challengers reflect a broader generational divide within the Democratic Party. Roll Call reports that they are all under 40, except for Friedman, who at 51 is still younger than the House’s median age of 57. While their targets vary, their critiques are consistent: long-serving Democrats are not communicating effectively, not organizing nationally, and not offering solutions that resonate with frustrated voters. Chakrabarti and Rakov both criticized the Democratic strategy of focusing solely on local races while the GOP builds a cohesive national message. “We need a national message; that’s the way to defeat the far right,” Chakrabarti said. “I don’t think Democratic leaders like Pelosi believe it is possible to improve Americans’ lives that dramatically, so we don’t even try.” While Republicans continue to refine their national messaging and build momentum under President Trump’s leadership, Democrats are facing a credibility crisis within their own ranks. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP These former insiders challenging sitting members aren’t merely a flash in the pan for 2026’s early campaign cycle. They’re a sign of a party deeply unsure of how to respond to conservative policy gains, economic concerns, and a rejuvenated Republican base.
Trump says public entitlements like Social Security, Medicaid won’t be touched in GOP budget bill
President Donald Trump said public entitlements, such as Social Security and Medicaid, will not be touched in the GOP’s contentious new budget bill currently working its way through Congress, during a town hall Tuesday night hosted by NewsNation. Earlier this month, the Republican-led House of Representatives approved $2 trillion in spending cuts. Those cuts did not include any slashes to Social Security, but it did pave the way for cuts to Medicaid. However, in the Senate, Republicans have proposed implementing just $4 billion in cuts, a fraction of what House Republicans have called for. Meanwhile, a number of GOP senators have also expressed hesitancy over making cuts to Medicaid, setting up a potential intra-party battle over the matter. SCOOP: REPUBLICANS ROLL OUT $69B FUNDING PLAN FOR NEW CBP AGENTS, BUILDING BORDER WALL IN TRUMP BUDGET BILL “We’re not doing anything with entitlements,” Trump told NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, who was moderating the event alongside Bill O’Reilly and sports commentator Stephen A. Smith. “If you look at Social Security – and by the way – I think I’m better to say this than anybody, because I did nothing with entitlements that would hurt people for four years. I could have done that. If I was going to do that, I would have done it, five years ago, six years ago or seven years ago. I’m not doing anything.” However, Trump did say that he is undeterred from reforming public entitlements, like Medicaid, to ensure they are free of waste, fraud and abuse. “There are a lot of illegal aliens that are getting Medicaid that shouldn’t be getting it. And nobody objects to taking people off Medicaid that aren’t allowed to be there,” Trump added. “But we are doing absolutely nothing to hurt Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. Nothing at all.” TRUMP SLAMS REPUBLICAN ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ OPPOSING BUDGET BILL, PREDICTS MASSIVE US TAX INCREASES IF IT FAILS Republicans, who are using a process known as reconciliation to bypass a senate filibuster, are hoping to finalize their plans for a new budget by Memorial Day, according to media reports. However, the GOP must come to a deal on where to cut funding to pay for many of the tax cuts they want to provide. “Guess what, boys? It’s game time. We’re here, and you’ve got mandatory spending sitting in front of you, and it’s Medicaid,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told NBC News this week. “If they’re not going to vote for Medicaid reform, which is very much possible, and frankly, it’s our duty, then I want them to explain to me why they are for allowing the tax cuts to snap back in place. Because it’s the only math that will actually work. So anyone who is against Medicaid reform is for a tax increase.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meanwhile, centrist Republicans like Reps. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., have indicated to Speaker Mike Johnson that they will not vote for any GOP budget bill that proposes deep cuts to Medicaid.
Blue city’s Democratic committee prints thousands of ‘red cards’ urging immigrants to know their rights
Democrats in one Massachusetts city have purchased thousands of red cards intended to remind immigrants of their constitutional rights if approached by ICE or related agencies. The Medford City Democratic Committee, based about six miles northwest of Boston, has already bought 4,000 cards, intended for use by citizens and noncitizens alike. The cards list their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights: protecting them from warrantless searches, seizures, and having to speak to authorities without legal counsel. They are printed in English on one side, with translations in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Haitian on the other, Medford City Councilor Matthew Leming notes on the committee’s website. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SEEK TO STRIP DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OF ITS SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES Four-thousand more cards have also been approved for purchase, he said, writing, “Red cards are like helpful business cards that a holder can hand to an officer if they approach in public.” The cost of the initiative was $826, according to WFXT, a Boston FOX affiliate. Leming told Fox News Digital that taxpayer funds are not being used to subsidize the program. Rather, he said, the Democratic City Committee footed the bill. “We’re just trying to find things we can do that are feasible to resist what’s happening at the federal level,” Leming told WFXT. “It’s a way to protect our immigrant communities from the actions of the current administration.” TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CRACKING DOWN ON ‘SANCTUARY’ CITIES, THREATENS THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING “The cards list basic constitutional protections that apply to everybody, and everybody in the U.S. should be aware of their constitutional rights,” he further noted when asked by Fox News Digital. The legal complexities of such an initiative are apparent — and whether constitutional rights apply to illegal immigrants can be a hot point of debate among legal scholars. Leming hopes to take the initiative even further. “What we’re trying to do is find nonprofits who would be willing to sign up and give us a receipt for finance purposes so we can mail them out,” he said. “A lot of our actions are restricted by campaign finance laws.” The Medford “red card” initiative comes amid widespread pushback by blue-state officials regarding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown — including visits by members of Congress to El Salvador to protest the detention of suspected MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and recent court rulings attempting to restrict Border Patrol agents’ ability to detain suspected illegal immigrants.
Comedian Rachel Bloom says finding humor isn’t hard despite industry’s political correctness fears
Comedian and actress Rachel Bloom told Fox News Digital that she doesn’t find it hard to be funny, despite concerns from other comedians that political correctness has taken over the industry. Bloom acknowledged that “culturally” comedy changes over time, but she said that – in her opinion – the fear of being “canceled” does not impact her jokes. “For me, the way I approach writing and comedy is, ‘What can I say about the world that I haven’t seen another person say. Or what’s a show I want to see – what’s a joke I want to see that I haven’t seen, and usually servicing that – there are things to navigate – but as long as I’m servicing that, that’s my North Star,” Bloom told Fox News during an event over the weekend focused on preserving funding for the arts. CHRISTOPHER RUFO: CANCEL CULTURE’S RULES ARE CHANGING AND CONSERVATIVES CAN SEIZE THE DAY “I’m never be the comedian that was like, ‘Let me make people angry.’ That’s just not my thing,” Bloom added. “I kind of, almost look at it like ‘Shark Tank,’ where it’s like, ‘What’s a need? What’s a need I can fill?’ Which is why I went into musical comedy in the first place.” While Bloom seems less fazed by the thought of being canceled over her jokes, other comedians like Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais, Bill Burr, Chris Rock and others have been outspoken with their complaints about the current environment for comedians. “It started off with something everyone could agree on, and then quickly it just spun out of control. I remember whenever that cancel culture got to the point of where it was, ‘I don’t like some of the topics in your stand up act,’ right? That’s when it got weird,” Burr told fellow comedian Bill Maher on an episode of his “Club Random” podcast. EX-NEW YORK TIMES JOURNALIST RECALLS BEING ‘DISGUSTED’ BY NEWSROOM CANCEL CULTURE, SAYS THE PAPER ALLOWED IT “Everybody’s scared to make a move,” Rock said on an episode on “The Breakfast Club” morning radio show. “That’s not a place to be. You know, we should have the right to fail because failure, failure is a part of art.” For Bloom, however, cancel culture is less of a concern, she says, because her focus is not on making people angry but rather trying “to make audiences understand where I’m coming from.” “I just finished working on my Netflix special which was all about death, so it was more me telling a candid story about what happened to me in 2020 when I gave birth during COVID and my writing partner passed away,” Bloom recounted. “I’ve had a really good experience, because, again, I’ve been sharing my stories and that’s why I really love connecting with live audiences and sharing where I’m at. I’ve always – I always really – I don’t know I’m candid with my own journey. I try to make audiences understand where I’m coming from and that’s always been my style.”
Senate fails to reject Trump’s national emergency on tariffs, as Republicans splinter
The Senate failed Wednesday to pass a resolution rejecting President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff agenda, as several Republicans signaled beforehand they favored halting the relatively new levies. The disapproval resolution failed 49-49, with three Republicans joining all Democrats present in attempting to throw a wrench in Trump’s tariff plans. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the resolution to end Trump’s “national emergency” as a “privileged” one – meaning it would require a vote regardless of the upper chamber being in Republican hands. The House, however, has signaled it is not inclined to pursue the same. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., split from the rest of the GOP and sought to end the national emergency that backs the tariffs. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not vote. CHINA IS ‘CAVING’ TO TRUMP’S TRADE WAR STRATEGY, EXPERT SIGNALS Whitehouse was reportedly on a plane back from South Korea and wouldn’t make the gavel, according to Providence’s CBS affiliate. Before the vote, there was chatter about key absences that could swing the vote one way or another, as key tallies are all about the math. One tariff critic told reporters earlier Wednesday that the disapproval motion sent “the message I want to send” that tariffs must be more “discriminatory.” “It’s not perfect, I think it’s too broad,” Collins said, according to Politico. In remarks on the Senate floor earlier in the day, Paul, – one of the most vocal opponents to tariffs and proponents of free trade – who suggested conservatives may want to reconsider their support for the tariffs. “You know, there was an old-fashioned conservative principle that believed that less taxes were better than more taxes,” Paul said. “That if you tax something, you got less of it. So that if you place a new tax on trade, you’ll get less trade.” TRUMP WAGERS US ECONOMY IN HIGH-STAKES TARIFF GAMBLE AT 100-DAY MARK “There was also this idea that you didn’t do taxation without representation. That idea goes not only back to our American Revolution, it goes back to the English Civil War as well. It goes back probably to Magna Carta,” he said of the phrase, which for some time was the District of Columbia’s official slogan, given its lack of full-vote representation in Congress. Paul said the Constitution forbids taxation being implemented in a way that circumvents Congress and laid out why he thought that was the case today. “An emergency has been declared, as the Senator from Virginia remarked,” he said. “Everywhere, there’s an emergency everywhere. Sounds like an emergency everywhere is really an emergency nowhere.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., had previously balked at Trump’s tariffs on Canada, saying that while fentanyl proliferation is an emergency as the president declared, it is not one that is germane to Canada. Reached for comment, the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell – Paul’s fellow Kentucky Republican – did not offer any further remarks after reports suggested he too is uncomfortable with Trump’s tariff agenda. Fox News Digital also reached out to Murkowski for comment in that regard.
Vance breaks key tie after Senate fails to reject Trump’s national emergency on tariffs
The Senate failed Wednesday to pass a resolution rejecting President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff agenda, as several Republicans signaled beforehand they favored halting the relatively new levies, and Vice President JD Vance was called in to break an ensuing procedural tie. The disapproval resolution failed 49-49, with three Republicans joining all Democrats present in attempting to throw a wrench in Trump’s tariff plans. After that, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., put forward a motion to reconsider the resolution, then moved to table – or kill – the initial motion, which procedurally would prevent Democrats from forcing such a vote again. That vote also deadlocked, but after about 80 minutes, Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in his dual role as president of the Senate. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., had introduced the resolution to end Trump’s “national emergency” as a “privileged” one – meaning it would require a vote regardless of the upper chamber being in Republican hands. The House, however, has signaled it is not inclined to pursue the same. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., split from the rest of the GOP and sought to end the national emergency that backs the tariffs. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not vote. CHINA IS ‘CAVING’ TO TRUMP’S TRADE WAR STRATEGY, EXPERT SIGNALS Whitehouse was reportedly on a plane back from South Korea and wouldn’t make the gavel, according to Providence’s CBS affiliate. Before the vote, there was chatter about key absences that could swing the vote one way or another, as key tallies are all about the math. One tariff critic told reporters earlier Wednesday that the disapproval motion sent “the message I want to send” that tariffs must be more “discriminatory.” “It’s not perfect, I think it’s too broad,” Collins said, according to Politico. In remarks on the Senate floor earlier in the day, Paul, – one of the most vocal opponents to tariffs and proponents of free trade – who suggested conservatives may want to reconsider their support for the tariffs. “You know, there was an old-fashioned conservative principle that believed that less taxes were better than more taxes,” Paul said. “That if you tax something, you got less of it. So that if you place a new tax on trade, you’ll get less trade.” TRUMP WAGERS US ECONOMY IN HIGH-STAKES TARIFF GAMBLE AT 100-DAY MARK “There was also this idea that you didn’t do taxation without representation. That idea goes not only back to our American Revolution, it goes back to the English Civil War as well. It goes back probably to Magna Carta,” he said of the phrase, which for some time was the District of Columbia’s official slogan, given its lack of full-vote representation in Congress. Paul said the Constitution forbids taxation being implemented in a way that circumvents Congress and laid out why he thought that was the case today. “An emergency has been declared, as the Senator from Virginia remarked,” he said. “Everywhere, there’s an emergency everywhere. Sounds like an emergency everywhere is really an emergency nowhere.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., had previously balked at Trump’s tariffs on Canada, saying that while fentanyl proliferation is an emergency as the president declared, it is not one that is germane to Canada. Reached for comment, the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell – Paul’s fellow Kentucky Republican – did not offer any further remarks after reports suggested he too is uncomfortable with Trump’s tariff agenda. Fox News Digital also reached out to Murkowski for comment in that regard. Schumer commented on the ultimate result, saying Republicans “voted to keep the Trump tariff-tax in place. They own the Trump tariffs and higher costs on America’s middle-class families.” Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Ukraine signs deal to give US access to rare minerals
Ukraine has signed a deal with the United States, giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare minerals as it continues to work with the Trump administration in an effort to end its three-year war with Russia. Ukrainian Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko flew to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to help finalize the deal. “On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country,” she wrote on X. This story is breaking. Please check back for updates.
Jeffries distances himself from Democrat trips to El Salvador as border security debate splits party: report
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is privately signaling to fellow Democrats that it’s time to hit pause on trips to El Salvador aimed at spotlighting the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a move reflecting growing internal tensions over how the party is handling border security and immigration enforcement optics in the 2026 cycle. Though Jeffries has publicly said Democrats are committed to securing Abrego Garcia’s return from a notorious Salvadoran prison, sources told The Bulwark that the New York Democrat has discouraged more lawmakers from traveling to the country. One senior House staffer described the leadership’s position bluntly: “They want to let the El Salvador stuff slow down.” “This is patently false, and thinly sourced innuendo,” said Jeffries staffer Christie Stephenson. “When Leader Jeffries says ‘more is more’ pushback on this lawless administration, he means it. As Leader Jeffries has repeatedly said, House Democrats will never stop fighting for the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.” DEM SENATOR SAYS ABREGO GARCIA SITUATION ‘NOT GOING TO END WELL’ FOR TRUMP, ARGUES HE’S ‘UNDERMINING’ FREEDOM The issue has divided Democrats. Progressives have embraced Abrego Garcia’s case as a symbol of what they say are unconstitutional deportations under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown. But moderates are increasingly uneasy, pointing to the political risk of rallying around a figure with a checkered past. Jeffries, who once demanded that Abrego Garcia be returned “immediately before he is killed,” has not publicly addressed whether he supports the strategy of sending congressional delegations to El Salvador. DEMOCRAT FAULTS HIS OWN PARTY FOR PICKING WRONG BATTLE WITH CASE OF DEPORTED MS-13 SUSPECT His spokesperson recently dismissed reports that he is pulling back from the issue as “thinly sourced” but did not deny the substance when initially contacted by The Bulwark. The stakes are high. As Fox News Digital previously reported, Abrego Garcia, who was deported alongside more than 200 others, reportedly has ties to the violent MS-13 gang and was named in a 2022 Homeland Security investigation into human smuggling. Though never charged, he was stopped while transporting eight undocumented passengers, and court documents in Maryland show a history of alleged domestic violence, including a judge labeling him a “violent repeat offender.” Despite this, Democrat lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Reps. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif., have flown to El Salvador in recent weeks to draw attention to Abrego Garcia’s detention. Van Hollen’s visit particularly sparked memes online with the now-infamous “margarita-gate” incident. Critics within the party now worry that continued focus on the case and trips perceived as sympathetic to a deported gang suspect could backfire. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “There’s a moral argument to be made,” one Democrat aide told The Bulwark, “but it’s not clear this is the right poster case, and it’s definitely not the right political moment.”