Young girl faints during Trump’s remarks at Dr. Oz White House swearing-in ceremony
A young girl collapsed near the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office while President Donald Trump spoke during a Friday swearing-in ceremony for former heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, who rushed over to assist the child. A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the girl was a family member of Oz’s who fainted during the ceremony and that she has recovered. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swore in Oz to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Senate confirmed Oz on April 3, and he is now tasked with managing nearly $1.5 trillion in federal healthcare spending. In addition to leading the Medicare and Medicaid services, he will oversee the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He will be responsible for issuing decisions on how the government will cover procedures, hospital stays and medication. At the ceremony, Oz laid out his priorities in the role to advance the “Make America Healthy Again” movement that Kennedy is spearheading, and instituting reform for Medicare and Medicaid. NEW BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL TARGETS ‘ONE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS’ KINDS OF FRAUD RAVAGING HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY “Healthy people don’t consume healthcare resources,” Oz said in regard to the so-called “MAHA” movement. “The best way to reduce drug spending is to use less drugs, because you don’t need them.” “Next big thing we want to focus on is modernizing Medicare and Medicaid,” Oz said. “That’s how Americans will get the care that they want, need and deserve. Need to empower patients and providers, both the doctors and the patients, both have to be equipped with better tools.” Lastly, Oz said he would seek to weed out any fraud or abuse within the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Medicare is a government healthcare program that provides coverage to roughly 65 million Americans aged 65 or older, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Medicaid is a federal assistance program for approximately 72 million low-income Americans, according to Medicaid.gov. HHS DOWNSIZING BEGINS AMID RFK JR. ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN’ PUSH: ‘WIN-WIN FOR TAXPAYERS’ Oz received medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and became a household name during television stints that include “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and 13 seasons of “The Dr. Oz Show.” Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
‘Light on the truth’: Gabbard announces RFK files released months after Trump’s order
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced the release of the first batch of Robert F. Kennedy assassination files on Friday after teasing the news earlier this month. “Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Gabbard said in a statement released. “My team is honored that the President entrusted us to lead the declassification efforts and to shine a long-overdue light on the truth. I extend my deepest thanks for Bobby Kennedy and his families’ support.” Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in the same statement that releasing the files was “a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government.“ GABBARD SAYS RFK, MLK JR RECORDS ‘READY TO RELEASE’ IN DAYS, HAS ‘HUNTERS’ LOOKING AT FBI, CIA FOR MORE FILES “I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency. I’m grateful also to Tulsi Gabbard for her dogged efforts to root out and declassify these documents,” he continued. Likewise, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the files’ release on X on Friday morning, writing, “RFK Files have been released. Promises Made. Promises Kept.” During a Friday morning appearance on “FOX and Friends,” Gabbard said 10,000 pages had been released — none of which had previously been digitized or publicly viewed. Gabbard said the files included documents regarding the government’s investigation of the assassination and “questions and theories” as the investigation played out, as well as State Department conversations and insight. “The significance of this is huge,” Gabbard said. “It’s been nearly 60 years since Senator Kennedy was assassinated. We’re obviously not stopping here.” WEEKS AFTER EPSTEIN FILE FALLOUT, A NEW DEADLINE LOOMS IN THE RELEASE OF THE RFK AND MLK FILES Gabbard also said that “just the other day, we discovered over 50,000 additional pages solely around Senator Kennedy’s assassination,” saying she had “over 100 people at National Archives” scanning through the documents in anticipation of a second release. “Nearly six decades have passed since the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and these historic files have been hidden from the American people all this time — until now,” a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “In the name of maximum transparency, President Trump has released over 10,000 pages of the RFK files with more to come. There has never been a more transparent president in the history of our country than President Donald J. Trump. Another promise made and promise kept.” Gabbard had previously mentioned the files’ drop on April 10 during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, saying at the time that more than 100 people had been “working around the clock” scanning paperwork related to both the Martin Luther King Jr. and RFK assassinations and subsequent investigations. “These have been sitting in boxes in storage for decades,” Gabbard told President Donald Trump. Kennedy was also present during the meeting. “They have never been scanned or seen before. We’ll have those ready to release here within the next few days,” Gabbard said. The RFK files’ release comes as a result of Trump’s declassification executive order issued shortly after he started his second term. The order specifically seeks to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert and civil rights icon King. EPSTEIN FILES DEBACLE SPURS NEW INTEREST IN CONTENTS OF PROMISED RFK, MLK ASSASSINATION FILES Trump had previously promised to declassify the documents while on the campaign trail, saying at the time, “When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. It’s been 60 years, time for the American people to know the truth.” According to the order, the director of national intelligence and other officials were expected to submit their proposed release plans for the RFK and MLK files on March 9. DNI and the attorney general were previously given a Feb. 7 deadline to submit their release plans for the JFK files. The Justice Department saw a fallout in late February after releasing a batch of Jeffrey Epstein files. Many of the documents publicized then had already been released during the federal criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former lover and convicted accomplice. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Top GOP lawmaker, Hochul trade barbs amid speculation Trump ally is jumping in gubernatorial race
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., have already begun trading barbs in the 2026 gubernatorial race amid reports that the Republican congresswoman is considering a run. When asked about Stefanik’s potential bid, the Democrat responded by saying she’s heard from “people in the North Country” concerned about Trump’s tariffs policies and how that will impact the region, particularly with its relationship with Canada. “So, no matter who the GOP nominee is next year that I’ll be running against, it’ll be an extreme MAGA Republican and I look forward to that fight,” Hochul said while taking questions on Wednesday. BILL MAHER SUGGESTS ANDREW CUOMO’S NURSING HOME SCANDAL MAY COST HIS NYC MAYORAL CAMPAIGN Stefanik, who has not officially announced a campaign, clapped back at the governor. “The Worst Governor in America takes the bait and responds by talking about ‘People in the North Country.’ Just a quick reminder of Hochul’s abysmal polling of the “People in the North Country – it is the region where she is the least popular in the entire state…and that’s saying a lot because she’s unpopular everywhere,” Stefanik posted to X on Wednesday afternoon. “And North Country voters will not forget her attempt to disenfranchise and rob them of their voice and vote. They will not forget what she did to our farmers and our COs. Oh and one more thing … even Democrat candidates in the North Country refuse to publicly support her. Just ask them!” she continued. TRUMP ADMIN RIPS BLUE CITY CRIME IN VOW TO CLEAN UP DANGERS FOR COMMUTERS: ‘THIS IS NOT HUMANE’ Although Cook Political Report ranks the race as “Likely D,” Hochul is currently facing scrutiny for a 39% approval rating, according to a recent Marist poll. The Democrat notably faced off against Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in 2022 while he was in Congress. He had the best Republican gubernatorial performance since Gov. George Pataki won in 2002. Stefanik was recently pulled as the United Nations Ambassador pick in order to keep the narrow Republican majority in the House as high as possible. “I have been proud to be a team player. The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents,” she said on Fox News’ “Hannity” last month. TOM HOMAN WARNS MAJOR SANCTUARY STATE WILL ‘GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON’T WANT’ Just hours before reports emerged that Stefanik was considering her next political move, Trump posted to Truth Social that “Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!” Sources told Fox News that allies of the president have encouraged her to run. On the Republican side, Rep. Mike Lawler, Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman and Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. are also considering bids. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and Rep. Ritchie Torres may primary Hochul. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
White House photo bluntly shows where parties stand on immigration amid Abrego Garcia deportation
The White House released a splitscreen image overnight to underscore the stark contrast between where Republicans and Democrats stand on illegal immigration. One image featured distraught Angel Mom Patty Morin being comforted by President Trump in the Oval Office. Morin’s daughter, Rachel Morin, was savagely beaten, raped and killed in Maryland by an illegal migrant from El Salvador in 2023. The other image showed Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., sitting and talking with deported illegal alien Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, in El Salvador. RACHEL MORIN’S MOTHER TEARFULLY BEGS MEDIA TO ‘TELL THE TRUTH’ ABOUT CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS Abrego Garcia was deported last month by the Trump administration, which says that he was an MS-13 gang member who also violently beat his wife. Van Hollen, who called the deportation “absolutely unjust,” flew to El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s release. “We are not the same,” the White House captioned the image while tagging Van Hollen. The image of Morin was taken on Wednesday when she visited the White House and spoke to reporters from the White House briefing room, where she called out Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador. She noted that Van Hollen, who represents her state, had never once reached out to her since her daughter was killed. DEM SENATOR VAN HOLLEN MEETS, SHAKES HANDS WITH ABREGO GARCIA; EL SALVADOR SAYS INMATE WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY “To have a senator from Maryland who didn’t even acknowledge – barely acknowledged my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother, and now a grandbaby without a grandmother, so that he can use my taxpayer money to fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that is not even an American citizen,” Morin said. “Why does that person have more right than I do for my daughter or my grandchildren? I don’t understand this.” Following Martinez-Hernandez’s conviction, Van Hollen issued a statement vowing to bolster border security while also “supporting our immigrant communities.” Patty Morin appealed to the media to “tell the truth” about violent illegal aliens who were let into the country. Rachel Morin’s killer, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, allegedly committed a murder in his home country. He was also linked to a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles before moving to Maryland. Van Hollen flew to El Salvador this week to meet with Abrego Garcia and was denied multiple times. He was granted his request on Thursday night and met with Abrego Garcia on Friday. “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,” Van Hollen wrote on X, along with the picture the White House posted. “Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love.” Van Hollen previously said that it was “absolutely unjust and illegal to have this Marylander detained one more day in a notorious prison in El Salvador.” Garcia who was living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported to the El Salvadoran megaprison “Terrorism Confinement Center” (CECOT) last month, and officials acknowledged in court that his deportation had been an administrative error, although now some top Trump officials say he was correctly removed and contend he’s a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Both a federal district court and the U.S. Supreme Court have ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” his release and return to the U.S. for proper deportation proceedings. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Abrego Garcia would not be allowed back into the U.S. unless El Salvador were to decide otherwise. “He is not coming back to our country.” Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Top Dem asks Noem how TSA will prevent ‘major disruptions’ as many travelers still lack REAL ID
The top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee demanded answers from the Trump administration over potentially stranded American travelers once REAL ID requirements take effect May 7. Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding plans to begin enforcement that day, after President Donald Trump gave DHS discretion on when to begin enforcement of the chronically delayed Bush-era law. “Following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, Congress passed, and then-President George W. Bush signed, the REAL ID Act of 2005, which requires minimum security standards for driver’s licenses or other identification of anyone seeking to board a domestic flight,” Reed wrote. “Recognizing the time and complexity involved in switching to REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards, President Trump signed legislation in 2020 that confirmed the Secretary of Homeland Security’s discretion over when to begin enforcing this requirement.” REAL ID DEADLINE FOR TRAVELERS, SOME FEDERAL BUILDING ACCESS QUICKLY APPROACHING Delays persisted through three presidential administrations due to concerns over the complexity of updating 50 state, seven territorial and one district’s DMV and other systems. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, state agencies were given further leeway on enacting REAL ID until DHS finally settled on the May 7 date for this year. “According to the TSA, around 20 percent of air travelers still use a form of identification that is not compliant with REAL ID requirements,” Reed wrote to Noem. “Indeed, millions of Americans still do not have a REAL ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a passport or a military identification card.” MOBILE USERS CLICK HERE TO READ PDF He cited the secretary’s public comment at the White House that she does not want to see anyone delayed or unable to board a flight – for which a REAL ID-compliant identification will be required. “Since it seems likely that many travelers will not have a compliant ID by May 7th, please describe how you will ensure that there are not delays at TSA security checkpoints and what steps the TSA is taking to process travelers who arrive at airport security checkpoints without REAL ID compliant identification,” Reed concluded. AMERICANS GROUNDED WITHOUT REAL ID, LONG DMV WAITS TURN TO OTHER OPTIONS After its 2005 passage, REAL ID became one of the few political issues that had cross-partisan support and opposition. Conservative and anti-illegal immigration groups praised the Bush administration’s work, while gun rights groups and libertarian-minded lawmakers warned it expanded the proverbial omnipresent “Big Brother.” Labor groups and liberals like Hillary Clinton also expressed reservations about the law. They found recent agreement from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who wrote on X that people who believe REAL ID is supposed to bolster election integrity will be “sorely disappointed.” “Someone has lied to you, or you’re engaged in wishful thinking. Please don’t shoot the messenger,” Massie said. In a statement on its website, DHS pushed back on claims REAL ID would be used to build a new “database” – in apparent response to Massie-like concerns. “REAL ID is a national set of standards, not a national identification card,” the agency wrote. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “REAL ID does not create a federal database of driver license information. Each jurisdiction continues to issue its own unique license, maintains its own records, and controls who gets access to those records and under what circumstances,” it said. “The purpose of REAL ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Real IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. 81% of air travelers hold REAL ID-compliant or acceptable IDs. DHS will continue to collaborate with state, local, and airport authorities to inform the public, facilitate compliance, curb wait times and prevent fraud.” “DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels,” McLaughlin added. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Federal judge bucks Trump admin, delays dismissal of of MS-13 leader’s case
U.S. District Judge William Fitzpatrick has agreed to delay the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss its case against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, the Virginia-based Salvadorian national accused of being a top leader of the MS-13 gang in the U.S. The ruling, handed down Friday, directs the government to keep Villatoro Santos in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and not be transferred to DHS officials until the appeal is resolved. Villatoro Santos was arrested less than a month ago in Woodbridge, Virginia, and was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. His high-profile arrest was supervised by both U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel from a nearby tactical center. JUDGE BOASBERG POISED TO HOLD TRUMP ADMIN IN CONTEMPT, TAKES DOWN NAMES OF DHS OFFICIALS: ‘PRETTY SKETCHY’ At the time, Bondi touted his capture and referred to him as the “top MS-13 leader” on the East Coast. Shortly afterward, however, the Department of Justice abruptly filed a motion to dismiss their case against Villatoro Santos – prompting speculation as to what would happen to him next. His counsel said during an April 15 hearing that the government had not clarified next steps for their client, and suggested the Trump administration might move to summarily deport him without due process. Villatoro Santos’ lawyer, Muhammad Elsayed, claimed during the April 15 hearing that the decision to dismiss the case had come from “high up” in the Trump administration, and argued if he were released, he would likely be deported almost immediately to CECOT, the Salvadorian prison housing hundreds of U.S. migrants. “They have already determined the outcome, that he’ll go to the worst prison in the western hemisphere,” Elsayed said earlier this week. At the hearing, his attorneys also invoked the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported last month to El Salvador for being an alleged MS-13 member. Two federal judges in Texas and New York also temporarily blocked the Trump administration‘s use of the Alien Enemies Act law to deport certain nationals, siding with their contention that the plaintiffs in question are at risk of removal by the Trump administration, possibly without the opportunity to seek habeas relief in a U.S. court. The updates follow a 5–4 Supreme Court ruling that lifted a lower court’s restraining order, allowing the Trump administration to temporarily resume use of the Alien Enemies Act — albeit with new due process protections for migrants. The high court said individuals slated for deportation must have the opportunity to challenge their removal, with sufficient time to do so in a U.S. court. Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
Huckabee visits iconic holy site in Israel, delivers Trump’s prayer for peace
As Passover and Holy Week came to a close, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee fulfilled a vow he had made to President Donald Trump. In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee placed a prayer from Trump into the Western Wall. In his remarks at the Western Wall, Huckabee said that Trump “handwrote” the prayer and handed it to the new ambassador at the White House. Along with the note, Trump reportedly gave Huckabee a directive to bring it to the holy site as his first official act as ambassador. WHITE HOUSE PLANS ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ HOLY WEEK AS TRUMP HONORS EASTER WITH ‘THE OBSERVANCE IT DESERVES’ “This morning, I visited [the Western Wall] in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem, and placed a prayer from [the president] between the stones. On behalf of President Trump and the American people, I say to Israel: our commitment to you is unwavering, and we pray for the immediate return of all the hostages. Israel will never be alone,” Huckabee wrote in a post on X. Trump famously relocated the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, a move that drew intense praise and criticism at the time. He has also enjoyed a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during both of his terms in the White House. EASTER AND PASSOVER FOODS THAT AMERICANS MOST LIKE AND DISLIKE, ACCORDING TO NEW DATA The Western Wall Foundation included a photo of the note that Huckabee said was from Trump, which appeared to read, “For peace in Israel. D.T.” TRUMP DEMANDS BIDEN ISSUE APOLOGY OVER ‘BLASPHEMOUS’ TRANS VISIBILITY DAY ON EASTER SUNDAY: ‘APPALLING’ Placing notes, like the one from Trump, in the wall is a common practice. The notes are typically collected twice a year — once before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and then again before Passover. Huckabee’s visit to the Western Wall came as the Trump administration emphasized Holy Week, with the White House Faith Office leading events, including a pre-Easter dinner with faith leaders. “We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven,” Trump said in a White House statement on Holy Week.
Confidence in Congressional Democrats hits all time low in new poll
Confidence in the Democratic Party’s congressional leadership has sunk to an all-time low, according to a new national poll. The confidence rating for Democratic leadership in Congress stands at 25% in a Gallup poll conducted April 1-14 and released on Thursday. That’s nine points below the previous low of 34%, which was recorded in 2023. According to Gallup, confidence in Republican congressional leadership stands at 39%, which is well above the 24% low hit in 2014. Fueling the drop in confidence in the Democratic congressional leadership were Democrats. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING “Democratic congressional leaders’ rating among their own party faithful has fallen 41 points since last year to their lowest point ever,” Gallup noted in its release. DEMOCRATS FAVORABLE RATINGS DROP TO RECORD LOWS The Democratic Party is in the political wilderness, following last November’s election setbacks, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate, and defended their fragile House majority. And Republicans made gains among Black and Hispanic voters, as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party’s base. Democrats have become increasingly angry and energized in response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive and controversial moves, since returning to the White House three months ago, in slashing the federal government and upending longstanding national policies. NEW MOVE BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY VICE CHAIR FURTHER INFLAMES EXISTING INTRA-PARTY TENSIONS That anger is directed not only at Trump and Republicans, but also at Democrats. Many in the party’s base feel their leaders in Congress haven’t been effective or vocal enough in pushing back against the president. And the energy has been evident at town halls this winter and early spring held by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress. National polls conducted in February by Quinnpiac University, and last month by CNN and by NBC News, indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.
LGBTQ Christians crusade against Trump’s ‘anti-LGBTQ’ orders during Holy Week
As Christians across the country celebrate Holy Week, a group of LGBTQ+ faith leaders gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to reject President Donald Trump’s “anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.” And one religious leader told Fox News Digital the Trump administration is “the most hostile administration to religion in recent memory.” Attendees at the Collective of Queer Christian Leaders event Monday claimed Trump had not only targeted the LGBTQ+ community but faith leaders. “We’ve seen a series of attacks on faith leaders,” Guthrie Graves, an ordained Baptist deacon, told Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital. “For instance, Bishop Mariann Budde, the bishop in the Episcopal Church of Washington, spoke about mercy for LGBTQ people and immigrants during the inaugural prayer service. And then, even at a very humble plea for mercy, President Trump lashed out at her.” In a Truth Social Post, Trump called Budde a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater” and accused her of politicizing his inaugural prayer service by asking him to “have mercy” on LGBTQ+ children who are “scared.” TRUMP EXCORIATES BISHOP AS ‘RADICAL LEFT HARD LINE TRUMP HATER’ AFTER POLITICALLY CHARGED PRAYER SERVICE “As the Collective of Queer Christian leaders, our message today was to let LGBTQ+ communities and individuals know that they are not alone. We are not alone. We’re in this together. We wanted today to speak out against the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation as well as the executive orders coming out of this current administration,” said Ryan Henderson, who attended Monday’s event. LGBTQ CHRISTIANS INVOKE ‘RIGHTEOUS RAGE’ AT CAPITOL DURING HOLY WEEK Trump, on his first day back in the Oval Office, issued an executive order establishing only two sexes, male and female. And Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit Wednesday against the state of Maine for allowing transgender women to continue playing women’s sports. Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills has refused to comply with Trump’s executive order restricting biological men from playing girls and women’s sports. Nearly two months ago, Trump and Mills sparred during a bipartisan meeting of governors at the White House, during which Trump promised Mills he’d see her “in court.” Many attendees told Fox News Digital that transgender people, in particular, are “under attack.” And Haley Warner of the Belong Collective, an LGBTQ+ inclusive church, advocated for a “full embrace from the church, from the arms of God” and to speak out against “what’s being done by the far-right in the name of God.” Sunu Chandy, a senior advisor at Democracy Forward, a legal organization that advocates for the advancement of democracy through policy engagement, said rights “need to be fought for in the courts, in the faith communities, in the streets, to make sure that our trans siblings, in particular, are uplifted in this time. “What’s incredibly clear is that we are in the midst of a certain level of unprecedented attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, wherein the rights that my ancestors fought so hard to gain are now not only under attack, but are actively being rolled back,” said the Rev. Don Abram, founder of Pride in the Pews. Another attendee, Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network, an LGBTQ+ justice organization within the United Methodist Church, emphasized the importance of faith leaders standing united during this “critical time.” “We have a collective voice that is louder than the voice of any one of us,” Lawrence said. While the Trump administration was called “the most hostile administration to religion in recent memory” during Monday’s event, Trump’s new White House Faith Office announced a robust Holy Week schedule to celebrate Easter. The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by deadline. Last year, President Joe Biden proclaimed March 31, which fell on Easter Sunday, Transgender Day of Visibility to show “transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.”
Trump calls Sen. Van Hollen a ‘fool’ after meeting with deported MS-13 suspect in El Salvador
President Donald Trump is calling Sen. Chris Van Hollen a “fool” on Friday after the legislator flew to El Salvador to meet with deported illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. “Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone. GRANDSTANDER!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. Garcia, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant living in Maryland, was deported to the El Salvadoran megaprison “Terrorism Confinement Center” (CECOT) last month, and officials acknowledged in court that his deportation had been an administrative error, although now some top Trump officials say he had been correctly removed and contend that he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,” Van Hollen, a Democrat, said in a post on X on Thursday. “Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.” DEMOCRAT SENATOR VAN HOLLEN MEETS, SHAKES HANDS WITH ABREGO GARCIA Van Hollen said earlier Thursday that “Kilmar Abrego Garcia had been illegally abducted and is being held in a notorious prison in El Salvador — barred from contacting his family or lawyers.” Van Hollen also spoke to the press in El Salvador, in a video posted on YouTube. Abrego Garcia’s wife Jennifer Vasquez said in a statement that “we still have so many questions, hopes, and fears,” according to the Associated Press. Both a federal district court and the U.S. Supreme Court have ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Garcia’s release and return to the U.S. for proper deportation proceedings. MORE DEMOCRATS WORK TO JOIN VAN HOLLEN IN EL SALVADOR TO PUSH FOR ALLEGED GANG MEMBER’S RETURN TO US The Trump administration also released information on Wednesday indicating that Abrego Garcia’s wife has accused him of repeated abuse of her. Fox News obtained the written domestic violence allegations filed in court against Abrego Garcia by Vasquez in 2021. In the filing, written in her own handwriting, Vasquez alleged that Abrego Garcia had repeatedly beaten her, writing: “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he [has] left me.” Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner, Jasmine Baehr and Bill Mears contributed to this report.