Trump to honor Charlie Kirk at Arizona memorial, tens of thousands of young conservatives expected to attend
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to be honored Sunday at a massive public memorial service that will include speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The memorial service for Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during the first stop of Turning Point USA’s “The American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University, is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors, including senior White House officials and young conservatives influenced by the late 31-year-old. Trump said he would attend Sunday’s memorial in Arizona to honor Kirk, though he admitted “there are no words to really describe what happened.” “He had just an army of young people,” Trump said, describing Kirk’s influence on young conservatives. “They loved him so much. I mean, they’re devastated right now. Everybody is devastated.” LIVE UPDATES: CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL SERVICE TAKING PLACE TODAY AT STATE FARM STADIUM IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded in 2012, released guidelines Saturday night for those attending the service, including a patriotic dress code and a strict no-bag policy. The memorial, titled, “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” will begin at 11a.m. local time (2p.m. ET) and is “first come, first served based on stadium capacity,” according to the event website. State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, has fixed seating for 63,400 and can expand to over 73,000 for larger events, according to the venue. CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA Other scheduled speakers include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, White House advisor Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor. Kirk’s widow and Turning Point’s new CEO, Erika Kirk, is also set to speak. The memorial will be broadcast on Fox News Channel and streamed on Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
WATCH: Defiant Kash Patel says he’s ‘proud’ to lead FBI after explosive hearing
After facing intense criticism from Democrats during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, embattled FBI Director Kash Patel remained defiant, saying that he is “proud” to lead the nation’s premier investigations agency. Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Patel, who was confirmed to the role by the Senate in late February, touted its historic recruiting efforts, saying that the agency “has the most applicants to become FBI agents and intel analysts in the history of the FBI.” One of the major criticisms he received from Democratic senators during the hearing was for initially misstating on social media that conservative leader Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer was in custody. Patel has conceded that he could have worded his social media post better, but that he does not regret it because he issued it in the name of transparency. ANTIFA AGITATORS DISRUPT BOSTON CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL; 2 ARRESTED Speaking after the hearing, Patel added that “the American people are seeing and hearing what the FBI is doing on a daily basis, crushing violent crime and defending the homeland.” “So, I’m proud to be the director of the FBI that has seen the most significant, expansive application pool in history,” he said. In his opening statement to the committee, Patel listed a series of accomplishments the agency has achieved since President Donald Trump took office, including tens of thousands of arrests, a realignment of the agency and an emphasis on cracking down on illicit drugs. Patel acknowledged the growing criticism over his direction of the FBI and challenged lawmakers on the panel to come after him, saying, “I’m not going anywhere” and “if you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.” 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK Patel was also scrutinized over a wave of firings at the FBI, which some have alleged were politically motivated. Ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized Patel’s deference to Trump, saying the director “installed MAGA loyalists” to key positions and initiated internal “loyalty tests,” including polygraph tests. Durbin claimed that some FBI officials who failed those tests needed waivers to continue working at the bureau. Durbin also noted that Patel has little experience working in law enforcement, calling his inexperience “staggering” and accusing him of fast-tracking similarly unqualified recruits to fill the FBI’s open jobs. Patel was also grilled by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, for requiring FBI field agents to perform push-ups as part of their physical fitness standards. SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCK DEMOCRATS’ ‘FILTHY’ COUNTEROFFER AS SHUTDOWN DEADLINE LOOMS Hirono expressed concerns that female agents may be negatively impacted by the push-up requirement, saying, “There are concerns about whether or not being able to do these kinds of harsh pull-ups is really required of FBI agents.” Patel responded, “If you want to chase down a bad guy, excuse me, and put him in handcuffs, you had better be able to do a pull-up.” In a particularly tense exchange, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., drilled into Patel, saying, “I think you’re not going to be around long” and “I think this might be your last oversight hearing, because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term, and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you.” Patel shot back that Booker’s “rant of false information does not bring this country together,” before adding, “It’s my time, not yours.”
Trump nominates senior White House aide for top federal prosecutor in Virginia
President Donald Trump nominated senior White House aide Lindsey Halligan as the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia after its U.S. attorney was pushed out on Friday. In a Truth Social post announcing her nomination, Trump lauded Halligan as a “tough, smart, and loyal attorney” who has been in his legal orbit for years. “[Halligan] is extremely intelligent, fearless and, working with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, has the strength and determination to be absolutely OUTSTANDING in this new and very important role,” Trump wrote. TRUMP HOUNDS BONDI TO PROSECUTE ADVERSARIES IN NOW-DELETED SOCIAL MEDIA POST: ‘THEY’RE ALL GUILTY AS HELL’ Halligan was one of Trump’s attorneys after the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago for the retention of classified documents. She’s more recently been enlisted in a White House effort to remove what the administration contends is “anti-American ideology” from Smithsonian museums. TRUMP EXPLOITS LOOPHOLES TO KEEP ALINA HABBA IN US ATTORNEY ROLE, TRIGGERING COURT CLASH The nomination would place Halligan in charge of an office in tumult over political pressure by administration officials to criminally charge New York Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime foe of Trump, in a mortgage fraud investigation. Erik Siebert, who had been the office’s top prosecutor, resigned Friday amid a push by Trump administration officials to bring charges in the investigation, which stems from allegations of paperwork discrepancies on James’ Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. James’ lawyers have vigorously denied any allegations and characterized the investigation as an act of political revenge. While Siebert said in an email to colleagues Friday evening that he had submitted his resignation, Trump said in a social media post: “He didn’t quit, I fired him!” Trump noted he was backed by the state’s two Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, adding: “Next time let him go in as a Democrat, not a Republican.”
Trump hounds Bondi to prosecute adversaries in now-deleted social media post: ‘They’re all guilty as hell’
President Donald Trump put the heat on Attorney General Pam Bondi Saturday, demanding the prosecution of a list of adversaries in a social media post that he quickly deleted. In a now-deleted Truth Social post, the president called for charges against former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and New York Attorney General Letitia James—slamming Bondi for “all talk, no action.” “Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.” REPUBLICANS FIXATED ON EPSTEIN ARE GETTING ‘DUPED’ BY DEMOCRATS, TRUMP INSISTS Trump then turned his attention to the recent ousting of Erik Seibert, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who claimed he resigned Friday after pressure from the White House. “We almost put in a Democrat-supported U.S. Attorney, in Virginia, with a really bad Republican past,” the president wrote in the deleted post. “A Woke RINO, who was never going to do his job. That’s why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so hard. He even lied to the media and said he quit, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many la[w]yers, and legal pundits, say so.” Siebert, who had worked in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2010, had not yet been confirmed in the Senate. BONDI SHOULD RELEASE ‘CREDIBLE’ EPSTEIN FILES, TRUMP SAYS Trump said Bondi could not delay prosecutorial action against his opponents any longer, noting “it’s killing our reputation and credibility.” “They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” he wrote. DOJ BRASS VOWED FULL TRANSPARENCY ON EPSTEIN BEFORE TURNING UP EMPTY-HANDED About an hour after the Truth Social post was sent and deleted, the president sent out a much more amiable post, commending Bondi for her “careful” work over the last eight months. “Pam Bondi is doing a GREAT job as Attorney General of the United States,” Trump wrote in a second Truth Social post. “She is very careful, very smart, loves our Country, but needs a tough prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, like my recommendation, Lindsey Halligan, to get things moving. What we don’t need is a Democrat Endorsed ‘Republican.’” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Later, as Trump departed the White House for the American Cornerstone Institute Founder’s Dinner, he was asked by reporters whether he was upset with Bondi. “No. I just want people to act. They have to act. But now we want to act fast. You know, they were ruthless and vicious. I was impeached twice. I was indicted five times. It turned out to be a fake deal. And we have to act fast one way or the other. One way or the other. They’re guilty. They’re not guilty,” he said. “We have to act fast. If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty or if they should be judged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now.” Trump said he would be nominating Halligan to be prosecutor in Virginia. “She will be Fair, Smart, and will provide, desperately needed, JUSTICE FOR ALL!” Trump wrote. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump warns Afghanistan over return of strategic Bagram Air Base to US control
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Afghanistan, which is governed by the Taliban, if Bagram Air Base isn’t returned to the United States. “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” he wrote on Truth Social. The president didn’t elaborate on what consequences the country might face. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment. TRUMP’S IRAN ULTIMATUM STARTED A 60-DAY CLOCK TICKING FOR DECISIVE JUNE STRIKES, BOMBER COMMANDER REVEALS On Thursday, the president said the administration is “trying” to get the former U.S. Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan “back” from the Taliban. In remarks to the press while standing alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the president criticized the handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden and said he had “a little breaking news.” “We’re trying to get it back,” Trump said. “We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.” Trump did not expand on whom he was referring to or, if referring to the Taliban, the terrorist organization that took over the country in 2021, what they “need” from the U.S. “We want that base back, but one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons,” Trump added. On Saturday evening, Trump told reporters the administration wants Bagram back “right away,” and “if they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.” The Taliban took over the country after the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021. The U.S. claimed Bagram Air Base, which was built by the Soviets in the 1950s, in 2001 when the military went into Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. In 2021, when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, it secretly left the base in the middle of the night on July 1, leaving it to the Afghan government. ELDERLY BRITISH COUPLE RELEASED BY TALIBAN AFTER EIGHT MONTHS IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS The Taliban captured the base six weeks later in August of 2021, on the same day Kabul fell. Earlier this year, White House hostage envoy Adam Boehler met with Taliban officials in Kabul while working to get hostage George Glezmann released, the first direct meeting since the pullout in 2021. Boehler, along with another U.S. envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with the Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and reportedly discussed ways to “develop bilateral relations between the two countries, issues related to citizens, and investment opportunities in Afghanistan,” according to a Taliban statement. The removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan began during the first Trump administration in March 2020, and open-source intelligence showed that the Taliban had been making gains across Afghanistan in the year leading up to the August 2021 withdrawal. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Under the deal forged by the first Trump administration, the U.S. agreed to withdraw all U.S. forces by May 1, 2021, but Biden extended the withdrawal date to August 2021. Fox News’ Caitlin McFall and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
Newsom bans law enforcement from wearing masks, taunts ICE agents: ‘What are you afraid of?’
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed a bill banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings while conducting official business in California. The bill, which was presented to Newsom on Wednesday, makes it a misdemeanor crime for local, state, or federal law enforcement to wear masks or personal disguises during their duties, unless an officer is undercover or performing a tactical operation that requires protective gear. The bill would also impose a civil penalty against officers for “tortious conduct,” including false imprisonment or false arrest of an individual while wearing a facial covering. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL PROHIBITING LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM WEARING FACE MASKS TO SHIELD IDENTITIES Announcing the bill signing on Saturday, Newsom taunted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, repetitively asking “what are you afraid of?” “Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights—no rights in a democracy where we have rights, immigrants have rights,” Newsom said. “We have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today. This is a disgrace. This is an outrage. What we have allowed to happen in this country. … To ICE: unmask. What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? What are you afraid of?” The ban comes after a series of immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents were spotted wearing masks to protect their identities from being leaked. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY — NOW SOME DEMOCRATS WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin this week noted federal agents are already required to identify themselves and wear clothing that designates they are with ICE or Homeland Security markers during operations. “Another day, another sanctuary politician pulling a stunt in attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees,” McLaughlin wrote. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.” The agency is experiencing a 1,000% surge in assaults against ICE officers, leading to concerns about their safety and their families’ safety, according to McLaughlin. LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUSHES TO PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM HIDING THEIR IDENTITIES WHILE ON THE JOB Several states have introduced similar legislation, including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, according to a report from the Associated Press. It is unclear how the new California bill will be enforced. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Gavin Newsom press office post about Kristi Noem triggers Secret Service threat assessment referral
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office came under intense scrutiny Saturday after posting a remark on social media about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem that was ultimately referred to the U.S. Secret Service for a threat assessment. In a cryptic X post on Saturday, Newsom’s press office claimed that Noem “have a bad day today,” drawing swift criticism from conservatives such as DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli. NEWSOM SAYS TRUMP HAS ‘RELENTLESS, UNHINGED’ OBSESSION WITH CALIFORNIA DURING STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS “Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today,” the Governor Newsom Press Office posted to X. “You’re welcome, America.” Essayli responded that there is “zero tolerance” for threats — direct or implied — against government officials. “I’ve referred this matter to [the Secret Service] and requested a full threat assessment,” he said. McLaughlin replied to the X post from Newsom’s office, calling it “ugly” and saying it read like a threat. “Your keyboard warrior team may hide behind their laptops and spew this kind of vitriol but you would never have the guts to say this to her face,” McLaughlin said. POTENTIAL PELOSI SUCCESSOR RE-UPS BILL TO BAN ICE FROM OBSCURING IDENTITIES: ‘SHUT THIS MASK S—T DOWN’ Republican California Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez blasted the comment, telling Fox News Digital that such remarks increase the likelihood of future political violence. “Our Governor can’t keep his foot out of his mouth,” Sanchez told Fox News Digital. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told Fox News that the agency had received the Department of Justice’s communication, noting that it was not able to comment on “specific protective intelligence matters.” “However, the Secret Service must vigorously investigate any situation or individual, regardless of position or status, that could pose or be perceived as posing a threat to any of our protectees,” Guglielmi said. “Especially in a politically charged climate, such as this.” Several hours after the initial X post, the governor’s press office followed up with news of a legislative package aimed at protecting immigrant communities and that would “hold Trump accountable” — seemingly the development they suggested would give Noem “a bad day.” Newsom appeared with community members and legislative leaders on Saturday to sign a series of bills intended to “protect Californians, respond to federal overreach and push back against Trump and Stephen Miller’s ‘secret police’ tactics in California,” according to Newsom’s press office. NEWSOM’S OFFICE CONTINUES TO MOCK TRUMP USING HIS SOCIAL MEDIA WRITING STYLE: ‘TINY HANDS’ This included a bill that prohibits most law enforcement — including federal immigration agents — from concealing their faces while carrying out official duties, the Associated Press reported. “We celebrate that diversity. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. It is under assault,” Newsom said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Saturday. “This is the United States of America, and I’m really proud of the state of California and our state of mind that we’re pushing back against these authoritarian tendencies and actions of this administration.” DHS and Newsom’s press office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Arizona prosecutor issues warning ahead of Charlie Kirk memorial with Trump, Vance
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell warned that no illegal activity at Sunday’s memorial for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will be tolerated. Mitchell’s comments come as an estimated 100,000 attendees are expected at the service, which will feature speakers, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The federal government has designated it a Level 1 Special Event, the same category as the Super Bowl, which requires extensive federal interagency support to ensure security. “This moment calls for Maricopa County to step up and show the nation—and the world—that we value dignity, civility, and the rule of law. We can be role models that even in times of grief and disagreement, our community is united in its commitment to free speech without violence or lawlessness,” Mitchell said in a statement posted to X on Friday. CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA “Let me be clear: my office will defend the rights of those who come to mourn or protest peacefully. Anyone who chooses to break the law—through violence, destruction of property, or obstruction— will be held accountable,” she added. “Let us honor Charlie Kirk’s memory and the blessings of liberty not with division or disruption, but with peace and respect for others.” The Secret Service said Saturday that an armed man with a knife and a firearm managed to get inside the stadium. He was taken into custody and faces charges of impersonating an officer, a felony, and carrying a weapon where one was not permitted, a misdemeanor, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. CHARLIE KIRK FUNERAL RECEIVES HIGHEST SECURITY DESIGNATION FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS AMID REPORTS OF THREATS “The individual was approached by Secret Service and stated during the encounter that he was a member of law enforcement and that he was armed,” the statement read, Fox News reported Saturday morning. “The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody. The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.” The high attendance at the event will likely lead to an overflow crowd at Desert Diamond Arena, another large event venue in the same area that regularly hosts concerts. It also hosted rallies for Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. The Glendale Police Department issued a traffic alert on Friday ahead of the event, stressing it is “committed to ensuring a secure environment.” TRUMP, VANCE, OTHER PROMINENT POLITICAL FIGURES TO SPEAK AT SUNDAY STADIUM EVENT HONORING CHARLIE KIRK “Plan ahead for parking & allow extra time to arrive at [State Farm Stadium]. Let’s respect one another, be patient, & create a safe atmosphere,” the department posted to X. Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, and his casket was flown on Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his organization, Turning Point USA, is headquartered.
NY state Dem boss refuses to endorse Mamdani, causing huge rift in party
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani lost the endorsement of a longtime state party leader despite having the backing of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York State Democratic Committee (NYSDC) Chairman Jay Jacobs announced this week he will not back Mamdani for mayor despite Democratic voters selecting the Democratic socialist as the party’s nominee. “Mr. Mamdani and I are in agreement that America’s greatest problem is the continued growth of income disparity in our nation,” Jacobs said in a statement to The Hill. “On how to address it — we fundamentally disagree.” EX-MAYOR DE BLASIO TOUTS SOCIALIST MAMDANI AS NEW YORK CITY’S ANSWER TO TRUMP POLICIES The Hill reported that the NYSDC leader said he disagreed with Mamdani’s stance on Israel. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions throughout the war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. His stance on the issue has become a major topic of the campaign cycle, particularly when he refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which some view as a call for violence against Jews. Mamdani has since distanced himself from the phrase, saying he would discourage his supporters from using it. While he would not back Mamdani for mayor, Jacobs dismissed “fearmongering” surrounding the self-described democratic socialist’s campaign as “a gross over-reaction.” MAMDANI APPEALS TO NON-DEMOCRATS WITH GENERAL ELECTION PUSH, VOWS GOVERNMENT CAN MEET VOTERS’ ‘MATERIAL NEEDS’ It remains unclear how the loss of Jacobs’ endorsement will affect Mamdani’s campaign. However, it could have an impact on Jacobs’ position as a leader of the party. According to Politico, Jacobs said he would resign from his post if Hochul were to request it. “If the governor should ever ask any state chair to resign, they should resign,” Jacobs told Politico. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Hochul announced her endorsement of Mamdani in an opinion piece in The New York Times on Sept. 14. She shared the article on X and captioned the post, “New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers. That’s [Zohran Mamdani].” A recent Quinnipiac University survey showed Mamdani garnering 45% support among likely New York City voters. He was followed by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 23%, Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa at 15% and New York City Mayor Eric Adams at 12%. Cuomo and Adams are running as independents, while Sliwa is running as a Republican. Fox News Digital reached out to Jacobs, Mamdani and Hochul but did not immediately hear back.
Elon Musk revisits Harris’ old call to suspend Trump from Twitter platform amid Kimmel controversy
Elon Musk revisited former Vice President and former Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ years-old call for President Donald Trump’s ban from social media as she claims “free speech” concerns over Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air. Harris has weighed in on Disney’s decision to pull ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air “indefinitely,” defending Kimmel and slamming what she calls an “outright abuse of power” by the Trump administration. “What we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power. This administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out. Media corporations — from television networks to newspapers — are capitulating to these threats,” Harris wrote on X about Kimmel’s suspension. “We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech. We, the people, deserve better.” DISNEY’S JIMMY KIMMEL BENCHING PROMPTS CELEBRATION, BUT ALSO CAUTION, FROM CONSERVATIVES Many X users, including Musk, the platform’s owner, were quick to point out Harris’ own past statements, and some suggested they appeared to support censorship. Musk revisited a 2019 tweet by Harris when Trump was serving his first term. Harris, a U.S. senator representing California at the time, was running for vice president when she made the post on X, now Twitter. “Look let’s be honest, @realDonaldTrump’s Twitter account should be suspended,” Harris wrote on Sept. 30, 2019. Musk re-posted the message on Friday, adding a thinking face emoji. Kimmel’s show was pulled after he accused conservatives of reaching “new lows” in trying to pin a left-wing ideology on Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, even though prosecutors reaffirmed those ties in an indictment. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said, sparking outrage. There have been several questions about the role the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) played in the suspension. Those questioning the move are on both sides of the aisle, with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warning conservatives they “will regret” setting the precedent. “What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest,” Cruz said on an episode of his podcast. “He threatens explicitly, ‘We’re going to cancel ABC News’ license. We’re going to take him off the air, so ABC cannot broadcast anymore’ … He threatens it.” CRUZ WARNS CONSERVATIVES ‘WILL REGRET’ FCC CENSORSHIP PUSH AGAINST ABC, OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity Sept. 17, the day the suspension was announced, and defended the move. “Broadcasters are different than any other form of communication,” Carr said, pointing to affiliate groups like Nexstar and Sinclair that announced they would no longer carry “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He argued that local stations acted appropriately, saying they were “standing up to serve the interests of their community.” “Over the years, the FCC walked away from enforcing that public interest obligation,” Carr said. “I don’t think we’re better off as a country for it.” FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR DEFENDS ABC AFFILIATES PULLING JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW AFTER MONOLOGUE ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Saturday that the decision to “fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at ABC.” “That has now been reported,” Leavitt said. “And I can assure you it did not come from the White House, and there was no pressure given from the president of the United States.” The Biden-Harris administration has seen its share of censorship controversies, particularly in its interactions with social media companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a 2021 press conference, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was “flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In August 2024, just ahead of the presidential election, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted in a letter that the Biden-Harris administration pressured Facebook to censor Americans. Zuckerberg made the admission in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, more than a year after providing the committee with thousands of documents as part of its investigation into content moderation on online platforms. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.