Fox News Politics Newsletter: DOJ Weighs Playing ‘State Secrets’ Card in Deportation Fight
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –Illiterate high school grads sue school districts as Ivy League professor warns of ‘deeper problem’ -Court order halting deportation flights ‘unconstitutionally impedes’ on executive branch, Trump allies argue –Bernie Sanders, AOC take aim at Trump and Musk, as well as Democrats, at rallies The Justice Department said Friday it is considering invoking the state secrets privilege in its ongoing court battle over the Trump administration’s deportation flights to El Salvador, a tool that could allow them to withhold certain information for national security purposes. In a declaration filed Friday morning, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg that he is aware of the Cabinet-level discussions invoking state secrets privilege. Invoking that privilege “is a serious matter that requires careful consideration of national security and foreign relations, and it cannot properly be taken in just 24 hours,” Blanche said…Read more TRUMP EFFECT: Puerto Rico no longer safe bet for illegal migrants as Trump crackdown expands to US territory TRUMP CARD: Trump crackdown on transgender athletes in girls’ sports gets GOP backup in House bill ‘LOOKING FOR YOU’: Trump warns of jail time for Tesla vandals, anyone funding the attacks HAVE GUN, WILL GAVEL: Trump-appointed judge chides colleagues’ ignorance on guns in unique video dissent F-35 CLUB: Trump eyes lifting sanctions, potential sale of prized fighter jet to Turkey ‘STRENGTH AND SWORD’: Israel orders IDF to seize more Gaza territory if Hamas doesn’t release hostages ‘DEEPLY FLAWED’: Ex-Haiti envoy slams ‘deeply flawed’ approach of Biden admin ‘ACT OF WAR’: Canadian politician claims Trump admin’s ’51st state’ rhetoric is an ‘act of war’ FIRST OF ITS KIND: Trump’s hostage envoy Boehler met with Taliban in Kabul in first in person meeting since takeover ‘STOP THE COVID-19 VACCINES’: Greene calls for yanking FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines SHAM APPLICATIONS: Husband of former Rep. Cori Bush charged with wire fraud linked to COVID relief funds: DOJ ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’: GOP bill would ban use of autopen to sign pardons after Trump deems Biden’s ‘void’ ‘DEAL WITH IT’: Fetterman takes swipe at AOC: ‘We kept our government open.’ BUCKING AUTHORITY: Satanic group defies Kansas officials, plans ‘black mass’ at state Capitol DOGE MADNESS: ‘Sweet 16’ bracket set up as craziest federal waste competes for championship SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITIES: Student loans, Pell grants will continue despite DOE downsizing, expert says ‘ACTIVIST JUDGES’: Musk PAC steps deeper into Wisconsin Supreme Court election with $100 offer to voters ‘INCREDIBLY HAPPY’: Tesla arsons probed as ‘domestic terrorism’ cheered by ‘anti-capitalist’ group linked to 2020 riots BOEING BUILDING: Boeing to build next-gen ‘F-47’ US fighter jet, Trump announces LONE STAR LEADING: San Antonio police to begin notifying ICE of illegal immigrant encounters SHIFTING FOCUS: HHS slashes over $350 million in grant funding for gender ideology, DEI research projects ‘HOMICIDE SCHOLARSHIPS’: NM lawmaker whose son was murdered rips Dems for ‘homicide scholarships’ after her crime bill was tanked Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump admin asks federal judge to dissolve injunction barring transgender military ban
The Trump administration asked a D.C.-based federal judge to dissolve a previous injunction blocking the Pentagon’s ban on transgender troops. In a Friday filing, the government argued that President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender individuals from serving in the military is not an overarching ban but instead “turns on gender dysphoria — a medical condition — and does not discriminate against trans-identifying persons as a class.” The government cited new guidance that the Department of Defense expects to implement, were it not for the ongoing litigation, that clarifies “the phrase ‘exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria’” solely applies to “‘individuals who exhibit such symptoms as would be sufficient to constitute a diagnosis.’” PENTAGON TO APPEAL JUDGE’S DECISION BLOCKING TRANSGENDER BAN, HEGSETH SAYS The filing cites a memo sent on Friday with the new guidance. Under the requirements, a party requesting to dissolve a preliminary injunction must demonstrate “a significant change either in factual conditions or in law” that shows that continued enforcement of the order would be “detrimental to the public interest.” “The March 21, 2025, guidance constitutes a ‘significant change,’” the filing reads. “Whereas the Court has broadly construed the scope of the DoD Policy to encompass all trans-identifying servicemembers or applicants, the new guidance underscores Defendants’ consistent position that the DoD Policy is concerned with the military readiness, deployability, and costs associated with a medical condition — one that every prior Administration has, to some degree, kept out of the military.” JUDGE WHO BLOCKED KEY TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER HAS LONG HISTORY OF LEFT-WING ACTIVISM, DEM DONATIONS The Trump administration further requested that, if the motion to dissolve was denied, the court should stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal. During a Friday hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden-appointed federal judge, expressed that she wanted the Defense Department to push back their implementation deadline of the ban, allowing for more time in the appeals process. Reyes gave the government a 3 p.m. Friday deadline to circle back with her. “I don’t want to jam up the DC Circuit, that’s my main concern here,” Reyes said during the in-person hearing. “My chambers worked incredibly hard to get out an opinion on time.” “Use your considerable charm and skill to get your clients to agree to this,” she told government lawyers. Reyes issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the plaintiffs earlier this week, writing that the plaintiffs in the suit, which include transgender individuals, “face a violation of their constitutional rights, which constitutes irreparable harm” that would warrant a preliminary injunction. Reyes continued on to say that the “President and Defendants could have crafted a policy that balances the Nation’s need for a prepared military and Americans’ right to equal protection.” Reyes wrote at the time that they “still can.” FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP’S TRANSGENDER MILITARY EXECUTIVE ORDER “The Military Ban, however, is not that policy,” she continued. “The Court therefore must act to uphold the equal protection rights that the military defends every day.” “The Court’s opinion is long, but its premise is simple. In the self-evident truth that ‘all people are created equal,’ all means all,” Reyes wrote. “Nothing more. And certainly nothing less.” At issue in the case is a Jan. 27 executive order signed by Trump requiring the Defense Department to update its guidance regarding “trans-identifying medical standards for military service” and to “rescind guidance inconsistent with military readiness.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously said Wednesday the Pentagon would be appealing Reyes’ decision. “We are appealing this decision, and we will win,” Hegseth posted on X. Fox News’ Jake Gibson, Andrew Mark Miller, Cameron Cawthorne and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
Democrat mayor blasted for vowing to make major city ‘safe haven’ for illegal immigrants
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey doubled down on his resistance to President Donald Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan’s immigration enforcement efforts today, vowing that his city will be a “safe haven” for illegal immigrants. Speaking at a town hall with other Democrat leaders, including “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Frey said: “I want all of you just to know exactly where we are as far as our neighbors go, Minneapolis will continue to be a safe haven for undocumented immigrants.” “Regardless of who you are or where you come from, Minneapolis is a place where you should be proud to call home,” he continued. BLUE SANCTUARY STATE OPERATING AS ‘CONTROL’ CENTER FOR VICIOUS MIGRANT GANG: ACTING DEA CHIEF Frey, a Democrat, has previously vowed not to cooperate with President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, making him one of a slew of other blue city leaders across the country to take this stance. In an earlier speech, Frey assured illegals that in accord with the city’s “separation ordinance,” Minneapolis police would not gather information about people’s immigration status and would not arrest anyone for being in the country illegally. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “I want to speak to the undocumented. We love you; we care about you and the city of Minneapolis, we will stand up for you and we will do anything in our power to help,” he said. In response to Frey’s latest comments, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, whose district includes much of the Minneapolis suburbs and area around the Twin Cities, told Fox News Digital that “Mayor Frey should stop standing guard for criminal illegal aliens and start protecting the people of his city.” ‘BRING IT ON’: SHERIFF PUSHES BACK AFTER BLUE STATE LEADERS SUE TO STOP IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT “If anyone deserves a ‘safe haven,’ it’s the people of Minneapolis who’ve been forced to deal with the consequences of his failed leadership,” said Emmer. In February, Emmer and several other Minnesota Republicans wrote a letter to Frey condemning his stance, which they said poses a threat to the safety of citizens. “Just last year, ICE apprehended a known al-Shabaab terrorist in your city. This terrorist was an illegal immigrant who broke the law to enter our country during the Biden-Harris border crisis in March 2023. Last month, ICE arrested three illegal immigrants who are child sex predators in your neighbor city of Saint Paul,” they said. “Interfering with federal actions designed to ensure the security of your constituents is misguided.” “Your city and your constituents deserve to be protected from such threats, and we urge you to prioritize their needs over those of criminals and terrorists,” the letter went on, concluding: “It is time for you to put the safety of your constituents first.”
Trump flips script on reporter questioning administration’s authority to deport illegals
President Donald Trump on Friday pushed back against a reporter’s question in the Oval Office by asking whether former President Joe Biden had the legal standing to allow a high number of migrants into the United States during the previous administration. The Trump administration continues in its efforts toward mass deportations, including with recent Immigration and Customs and Enforcement raids, and migrant crossings plummeted in February to their lowest tracked level in decades. “Do you think you have the authority, the power to round up people, deport them and then you’re under no obligation to a court to show the evidence against them?” a reporter asked the president. PUERTO RICO NO LONGER SAFE BET FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS AS TRUMP CRACKDOWN EXPANDS TO US TERRITORY “That’s what the law says, and that’s what our country needs because … unfortunately, they allowed millions of people to come into our country. Totally unvetted, totally unchecked,” Trump said, referring to the Biden administration. “So you ought to ask, ‘Did he have the authority to allow millions of people?’ Did Biden have the authority to do something that’s unthinkable, have open borders where millions of people poured into our country, totally unvetted and totally unchecked, just as you would say. And many of those people were criminals,” the president added. “Many of them were from jails and prisons and mental institutions and gang members and drug dealers and very dangerous people. Many were murderers. We have 11,088 that we know of murderers. They murdered of that number. At least half killed more than one person. HEARING SET FOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FEDERAL JUDGE’S BLOCK OF DEPORTATION FLIGHTS “So, when you asked me if we have the authority, did Biden have the authority to allow millions of people to come into our country? Many of these people are hardened criminals at the top of the line who have caused tremendous damage,” the president added. The administration is facing legal action over using the Alien Enemies Act against suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump designated a foreign terrorist organization. The American Civil Liberties Union argues it is an “unlawful and unprecedented invocation of the act,” according to its website. IMMIGRATION IS DRIVING TRUMP’S POPULARITY, SAYS MATTHEW CONTINETTI The action is leading to a tense discussion over the relationship between federal judges and the administration after U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia James Boasberg temporarily blocked the use of the act, but the court battle continues Friday. “What the ACLU is seeking in this case is unprecedented — that a single unelected judge take upon himself the authority to micromanage the national defense of our nation. This would be a complete corruption of the principle of separation of powers, which is a bedrock feature of our Republic enshrined in the Constitution,” America First Legal Senior Counsel James Rogers said in a statement Friday, according to a news release on AFL’s brief in the case. During the Biden administration, there were millions of migrant encounters along the border. Since Trump took office, the Department of Homeland Security swapped out the CBP One app, which people crossing could use to attempt to get asylum in the United States. The CBP Home app is meant for self-deportation.
NM lawmaker whose son was murdered rips Dems for ‘homicide scholarships’ after her crime bill was tanked
A New Mexico lawmaker whose son was murdered by a juvenile expressed outrage this week after her criminal justice bill was tanked in favor of what some on the right are calling a “homicide scholarship” program. State Rep. Nicole Chavez of Albuquerque said Thursday she is “sickened” by the developments. “New Mexico Democrats voted to hand offenders like my son’s killer $2,000 a month—some twisted reward for shattering my family,” Chavez said of the “homicide scholarship” moniker first dubbed by state Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, earlier this month. That bill would provide a monthly stipend for certain former convicts under the age of 26 seeking educational opportunities or other ways to get on the proverbial straight-and-narrow, according to multiple reports. Per the text of the bill, it would provide money for the Juvenile Community Connections Fund to be used toward programs providing services for adjudicated delinquents and youth, and establish a panel to determine the next steps for a convict released from a juvenile facility. “I sponsored HB 134 to deliver justice and accountability, but they refused to come to the table,” Chavez said of her original bill. Chavez’s bill, which had the support of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, was effectively tanked by Democrats in the House – reportedly including some originally warm to it. HB 134 sought to update 1970’s-era New Mexico laws outlining the criminal justice process for juveniles, including moving some violent crimes like first-degree murder for younger teen suspects to adult court. NM LAWMAKERS CLAIM SWEEPING GUN CONTROL BILL IS ‘DEMS DISARMING US’ Lujan Grisham and a handful of Democratic prosecutors supported the bill, according to the Piñon Post, but four Democrats in the Consumer & Public Affairs Committee successfully tabled the bill, which has yet to see further movement as the session winds down. “This is not progress—it is a knife in the heart of every parent who has buried a child,” Chavez said Thursday. “New Mexico Democrats have turned their backs on victims and their families, choosing instead to reward the very criminals who destroyed our lives.” Instead, the purported “homicide scholarship” bill was given a reading and passed by the House earlier this month. Montoya told the Santa Fe New Mexican the new bill, HB 255, is “a perfect example of how progressives think about crime, that the individual doesn’t need to be held responsible for their actions – [in that they] need to be coddled, that they’re somehow a victim themselves, and we need to make sure that they have an opportunity, and we need to do everything we can to rehabilitate them even when it means we do more for them than the victims.” Lujan Grisham did not respond to requests for comment on the latter bill. NM TEENS 13 & 15 CHARGED WITH MURDER The governor approved a criminal justice package earlier this month that reportedly targeted fentanyl trafficking in the border state and dealt with suspects deemed mentally unfit for trial and grand theft auto penalties. However, she was also lambasted by Republicans for supporting what conservatives called one of the strictest pieces of gun control legislation last week. Meanwhile, another top House Republican called the “homicide scholarship” bill “another betrayal to New Mexicans.” “Democrats have forced through legislation that gives juvenile murderers $2,000 monthly scholarships, funded by the sweat of hardworking taxpayers. This isn’t compassion—it’s a perverse reward for bloodshed, a signal to every thug that crime pays in this state,” said Rep. Stefani Lord of Sandia Park. Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, added that “Homicide Scholarships should alarm every New Mexican who fears for their safety,” and that the signal sent by the bill is that “crime truly pays.” “Instead of passing common-sense legislation [from Chavez] … they are playing political games at the expense of victims and taxpayers,” Reeb said, while Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, added that in the Land of Enchantment, “victims get ignored; thugs get pampered.” Fox News Digital reached out for a response from Senate President Pro-Tem Mimi Stewart and House Speaker Javier Martinez, both Albuquerque Democrats. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, also did not respond by press time. One Democrat, Rep. Andrea Romero of Santa Fe, spoke to the Albuquerque Journal about her opposition to Chavez’ bill, saying that “we’re talking about detaining and committing children.” An Albuquerque prosecutor also cited a 57% increase in juvenile crime in a one-year period through 2023. Lujan Grisham told the paper that she will continue to urge lawmakers to “answer the call” on juvenile justice reform.
Trump eyes lifting sanctions, potential sale of prized fighter jet to Turkey
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions on and resuming the sale of fighter jets to Turkey after a conversation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump expressed an intent to help finalize the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and is open to the idea of selling Turkey its true prized goal, F-35 jets, if the two sides can come to an agreement that renders Turkey’s Russian S-400 system inoperable, two sources confirmed to Fox News Digital. That agreement could look like partially disassembling the machinery or moving it to a U.S.-controlled base in Turkey. Congress approved the $23 billion sale of 40 F-16s and modernization kits for 79 in its current fleet to Turkey last year, but there are ongoing negotiations between Turkey’s defense ministry and Lockheed Martin, which builds the jet. TURKISH AUTHORITIES ARREST KEY RIVAL OF ERDOGAN Trump’s team has asked for legal and technical analysis of how it could avoid finding Turkey in violation of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, according to one source familiar with the request. The State Department and National Security Council could not be reached for comment. The U.S. agreed to extend a waiver allowing Turkey to buy Russian natural gas until May, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Trump and Erdogan spoke by phone on Sunday, and the Turkish government is looking to firm up plans to bring Erdogan to the U.S. to visit with Trump in the near future. The Turkish embassy pointed to a readout of the call from Erdogan’s office which said the president had expressed to Trump, “in order to develop cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense industry, it is necessary to end CAATSA sanctions, finalize the F-16 procurement process and finalize Türkiye’s re-participation in the F-35 program.” Erdogan asked the U.S. to lift sanctions on Syria, where a new governing force, HTS, overthrew Bashar al-Assad with Turkish backing. The U.S. side did not provide a readout of the call. Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program following its purchase of a Russian S-400 mobile missile-to-air system due to spying concerns associated with having a Kremlin-operated system so close to a high-level U.S. technology like the F-35. “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” the White House said in 2019, adding that the purchase would have “detrimental impacts” on Turkey’s participation in NATO. Ankara, Turkey’s capital, had brokered the $2.5 billion deal with Russia for the S400s in 2017, despite U.S. warnings that there would be political and economic consequences. In an effort to deter Turkey, the U.S. offered to sell them the Patriot system, but Ankara wanted the system’s sensitive missile technology along with it, and the U.S. declined. The U.S. considerations come after the United Kingdom offered a price proposal to Turkey to purchase 40 of its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets last week. A move to sell Turkey F-35s would prove controversial, and prompt concern from U.S. allies like Israel, where Turkey cut off all relations due to the Gaza war last year, and Greece due to disputes over Cyprus and the surrounding waters. Experts describe the F-35 as a “status symbol.” “The F-35 club is really for trusted allies,” said Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “This is a Turkey that supports the Houthis, which President Trump is bombing and supports Hamas and supports Hezbollah,” said Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council. “We know that they don’t want to be a customer, they want to be a competitor in the arms market.” TRUMP UNIQUELY PLACED TO ‘WHISPER’ IN ERDOGAN’S EAR OVER TURKISH REGIONAL AMBITIONS: GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER However, isolating Turkey, which has the second-largest standing military after the U.S. in NATO, could push them to go to Russia and China for weapons supplies. “Trump’s about making a business deal here, right? We don’t need Turkey with nearly one million soldiers on the other side and leaning more towards Russia and China, right?” said Jonathan Bass, Argent LNG CEO and international trade expert. “Turkey is an unresolved thorn in the side of the NATO alliance,” said Schanzer, “It certainly seems to be a priority right now for the Trump administration to try to bring them back into the fold.” However, he added, “There’s the democracy deficit and the autocratic tendencies of Erdogan. All of these things are creating a very cloudy picture for U.S. engagement. So it’s buyer beware.” “Turkey is a major economy. We need them to come down on the right side of the fence. We need them from a supply chain standpoint,” countered Bass. He added that the U.S. needs to partner with Turkey on mining for rare earths minerals. “Turkey has a lot more mining infrastructure,” he said. “They can help us with mining operations in Africa. We don’t have the people willing to do that.” “If you don’t give Erdogan a seat at the table, he’s going to make his own table,” Bass warned. “He wants to be respected as he should. He’s got 80 million people that he represents. But we need to give him clear lines of engagement.”
WATCH: Trump-appointed judge chides colleagues’ ignorance on guns in unique video dissent
Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued a unique dissenting-opinion video when his colleagues voted to uphold a California ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. In an 18-minute video uploaded to the Ninth Circuit’s YouTube channel, VanDyke argued that the other judges on the appellate court lacked “the basic familiarity with firearms to understand the inherent shortcomings and obvious inadmissibility of the test that California was proposing” when they voted by a 7-4 margin Thursday to uphold the ban. Dressed in his judicial robes, VanDyke went on to show the mechanics of his personal firearms for several minutes. SCHOOL CHOICE ACTIVISTS WARN PARENTS ABOUT BLUE STATE’S HOMESCHOOL BILL WITH JAIL-TIME PROVISION “As an appellate body, it’s obviously not our role to make factual determinations,” VanDyke said in the video. “So I share this not to supplement the factual record that we’re using to decide this case. Instead, I share this because a rudimentary understanding of how guns are made, sold, used and commonly modified makes obvious why California’s proposed tests and the one my colleagues are adopting today simply does not work.” VanDyke went on to say he could “explain all this in writing” but that it is “much more effective to simply show” what he means through demonstrating it. He also said he had “rendered inoperable all the guns and gun parts” for the video demonstration for safety purposes. In his discussion, VanDyke challenged California’s argument that a magazine holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition is merely an accessory, not an arm protected by the Second Amendment, saying this argument is inconsistent with the facts of how a gun works, as a magazine plays an essential role in the function of a firearm, just like the firearm itself. PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS STATE COULD SOON BE REQUIRED TO TAKE GUN SAFETY COURSES VanDyke asked California’s counsel whether the reasoning that was used to justify banning these types of magazines could also be applied to semi-automatic firearms, which hold more rounds than older weapons, like muskets. He argued that the logic behind banning magazines could extend to banning semi-automatics altogether, which he suggested would be a broader and more extreme infringement of Second Amendment rights. “I don’t think that we could ban all semi-automatic weapons,” California’s attorney for the case said in the discussion. “The point I was just making is, with respect to accessories, I think we have a difference of opinion.” “That’s important, because your argument turns on whether you can characterize accessories,” Van Dyke responded. “So, you would say that the revolver versus semi-automatic is not an accessory, but that, but that a magazine is an accessory. So, what would you think about like a red dot sight? You know, electro optics, which are, which many, many firearms are going to, electronic optics nowadays? They’re obviously an accessory, because you could have iron sights. Could you ban those?” “Your Honor, I’m not intimately familiar with that,” the counsel responded. “And I do want to answer this question and make sure that I save time for rebuttal.” The state’s attorney went on to say that at issue is whether, as an accessory, it is essential to exercising the right to self-defense. TRUMP SURROGATE CORRIN RANKIN PICKED TO LEAD BLUE STATE’S GOP: ‘MAKE CALIFORNIA GREAT AGAIN’ In her majority opinion, Clinton appointee Judge Marsha Berzon wrote that VanDyke’s video was “wildly improper” and that he “in essence appointed himself as an expert witness in this case.” In 2016, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 1446, which banned the possession of so-called “large-capacity” magazines, or those that hold more than 10 rounds, starting July 1, 2017. The bill also imposed fines for those who failed to comply with this ban. Later in 2016, Proposition 63 was approved by California voters, which incorporated the provisions of Senate Bill 1446 but also added a criminal penalty for the unlawful possession of large-capacity magazines after the July 1, 2017, deadline.
Musk has ‘no business’ in Pentagon, Dems say amid report he’d get top secret China briefing
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has “no business” conducting affairs at the Pentagon, amid reports Musk would receive secret information from top military officials Friday about military contingency plans should a war break out with China. While The New York Times reported that Musk was set to receive military plans about any potential China conflict, the Pentagon and White House pushed back and said Musk’s briefing wouldn’t cover China. “Elon Musk is an unelected, self-interested billionaire with no business anywhere near the Pentagon,” Gillibrand said in an X post Friday morning with a photo of the Times story, just after Musk arrived at the Pentagon. Gillibrand is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The possibility of Musk receiving information on China raises a possible conflict of interest, given the fact that Musk has financial interests in China stemming from Tesla, and SpaceX is working with the U.S. federal government on military space capabilities. However, the Trump administration swiftly pushed back on the Times’ reporting, and Trump issued a post on social media discrediting the story as “completely untrue.” “They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential ‘war with China.’ How ridiculous?” China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” President Donald Trump said in a Thursday night Truth Social post. A former Obama administration official also sounded the alarm about Musk’s visit to the Pentagon. Xochitl Hinojosa, who previously served as a spokesperson for former Attorney General Eric Holder and communications director for the Democratic National Committee, said that career officials must have disclosed the information about the meeting to the press because they were concerned about what would be shared with Musk. “What is happening here, and everyone needs to be scared, is Pentagon officials are sounding the alarm,” Hinojosa said in an interview with CNN Thursday night. “This doesn’t just happen on its own. This has happened because career officials in the Pentagon are terrified. And they believe there is a conflict of interest. That is why it is in the New York Times. Because I am sure they took it to the senior most people within the White House and within the Pentagon and they didn’t do anything about it.” PENTAGON TO CUT UP TO 60K CIVILIAN JOBS, BUT FEWER THAN 21K HAVE RESIGNED VOLUNTARILY Hinojosa said that during her time at the Justice Department, career officials would sound the alarm if they became aware of any unethical behavior at the agency. “That is exactly what is happening here,” Hinojosa said. Hinojosa could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital. The New York Times published a story Thursday evening claiming that Musk’s visit to the Pentagon would involve discussing plans in the event of a potential war with China. Specifically, the Times reported that the briefing involved a presentation with 20 to 30 slides on how the U.S. would combat China, various Chinese targets to strike and how the Pentagon would share these plans with Trump. The Times also reported the meeting would occur in the so-called Tank, a secure conference room that the Joint Chiefs utilize for meetings, along with other senior staff and visiting combatant commanders. Meanwhile, the Times report also noted that Musk may have needed to know information about plans for China as he eyes cutting the Pentagon’s budget amid his efforts leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). TRUMP GOES ON ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ PENTAGON FIRING SPREE: REPORT Pentagon war plans are highly confidential for operational security purposes. Should details regarding the U.S. military’s strategy to combat an enemy be shared or leaked in any way, it would jeopardize U.S. forces and undermine the success of the military campaign. Hegseth also weighed in on the matter, and said the meeting with Musk would primarily center around innovation. “But the fake news delivers again — this is NOT a meeting about ‘top secret China war plans.’ It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great!” Hegseth said in a post on X late Thursday evening. In response to Hegseth’s post, Musk responded: “Exactly. Also, I’ve been to the Pentagon many times over many years. Not my first time in the building.” Musk also said in a separate post he looks “forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information to NYT. “They will be found,” he said. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fetterman takes swipe at AOC: ‘We kept our government open. Deal with it’
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., took a swipe at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in a tweet on Friday. “We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too,” the congresswoman said during speeches on Thursday. “Fight ‘harder’—a stunt that would have harmed millions and plunged us into chaos,” Fetterman wrote when sharing a screenshot featuring a quotation of Ocasio-Cortez’s comment. “We kept our government open. Deal with it.” NETANYAHU GIFTS FETTERMAN A SILVER-PLATED BEEPER AFTER HE PRAISED ISRAEL’S LEBANON PAGER OPERATION Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office on Friday to request a comment from the congresswoman, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Fetterman and other Democrats — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — voted last week to overcome a procedural hurdle, which cleared the way for the chamber to vote on a government funding measure to avoid a partial government shutdown. FETTERMAN CALLS OUT DEMS’ ‘UNHINGED PETULANCE’ AFTER TRUMP SPEECH: ‘WE’RE BECOMING THE METAPHORICAL CAR ALARM’ But after that cloture vote, Fetterman, Schumer, and most other Democrats voted against passing the actual funding measure, which ultimately passed anyway. Ocasio-Cortez had urged senators to vote against cloture and against the measure. AOC FIRES BACK AT FETTERMAN, ACCUSES HIM OF ‘BLEAK DUNK ATTEMPT’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “It should be very clear to every Senate Democrat that any vote for Cloture will also be considered a vote for the bill. People aren’t going to be tricked with procedural games. They know exactly what is going on. Defend Medicaid. Vote NO on Cloture. NO on bill,” she had declared in a tweet.
SCOOP: Jim Jordan joining Trump at NCAA men’s wrestling championships
FIRST ON FOX: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is joining President Donald Trump this weekend at the NCAA men’s wrestling championships, a source familiar with his plans tells Fox News Digital. The White House confirmed Friday that Trump would attend the event with Jordan and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa. McCormick previously confirmed that Trump would be in attendance at the event in the senator’s home state of Pennsylvania. “I’m thrilled to be in Philadelphia this weekend with [Trump] for the [NCAA Wrestling] Championship,” McCormick wrote on X. “I grew up wrestling in small towns across PA and at West Point. It taught me grit, resilience, and hard work.” ‘WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT’: US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO Jordan himself was a noted wrestling champion during his time in high school and later at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he won the NCAA Division I men’s wrestling title twice. INJUNCTION LIFTED ON TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS SLASHING FEDERAL DEI SUPPORT He was later an assistant coach at Ohio State University’s wrestling program from 1987 to 1995. Fox News Digital emailed Jordan’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back.