Category: USA Politics

Former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democratic candidate in California’s crowded gubernatorial primary, is facing backlash after saying illegal immigrants are driving population growth in the state — a claim long advanced by Republicans.

“The job of the California governor is to protect every single Californian,” Porter said after being asked if she would work with federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants at Tuesday’s California gubernatorial debate. 

“The sanctuary state policy is designed to make sure that our state resources, the taxpayer dollars, the public servants that we have, are focusing on doing their jobs — which is not cooperating with the federal immigration authorities.”

KATIE PORTER INTERVIEW GOES VIRAL AS JOURNALISTS MARVEL AT DEMOCRAT’S MELTDOWN 

“These are Californians, they contribute to our economy, they pay taxes, and they’re one of the only ways that our state has been growing in recent years,” Porter said of illegal immigrants.

Gunther Eagleman, a popular right-wing X account, accused Porter of saying “the quiet part out loud,” by stating that illegal immigrants have mitigated population decline in California.

Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have accused Democrats of resisting efforts to deport illegal immigrants because it could cost them seats in the House of Representatives. Illegal immigrants counted by the Census help determine the total number of House seats a given state is entitled to when the chamber is reapportioned every ten years.

“So she’s saying Cali has too many seats in the House?” another X user said in response to Porter’s comment.

While Trump and others have attempted to add a citizenship question to the Census in an effort to remove non-citizens from calculations determining the number of House seats each state has, the Constitution does not mention citizenship status in relation to congressional apportionment.

NEW POLL REVEALS MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIANS OPPOSE THIS KEY BENEFIT FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

“California is cooked: Katie Porter says criminal illegal aliens are ‘one of the only ways California has been growing in recent years,” Republican communications operative Steve Guest wrote on X. “Democrats have been in total control of [California] for the past 16 years.”

An estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants entered California from 2021 to 2023, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Between July 2021 and July 2023, California’s overall population grew by just under 20,000, per data published by the California Department of Finance.

“Thats because all the billionaires, millionaires big business and anyone that can afford it is leaving [California] faster than you pouring a pot of boiling hot potatoes on your ex partners head,” one X account wrote, responding to Porter and alluding to an allegation of domestic violence against the gubernatorial candidate.

SKYROCKETING HEALTHCARE BUDGET FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAUNTS BLUE STATE TAXPAYERS 

California saw a net population loss of 215,542 from domestic migration in 2025, compared to a net gain of 125,473 from foreign migration that same year, according to the state’s Department of Finance. Migration out of California has cost the state billions of dollars per year in tax revenue, according to California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Other critics seized on Porter’s assertion that illegal immigrants benefit California’s economy.

“If you think the best way to promote economic growth involves letting in illegal aliens, you’re doing it wrong,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote. 

California’s illegal immigrants paid roughly $8.5 billion in state and local taxes during 2022, according to an estimate from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Conservative critics argue that illegal immigrants consume more than that in public services, such as education and subsidized healthcare, though the costs of such things are difficult to quantify.

Some studies, including a report recently published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, have also found that illegal immigration causes the cost of living to go up by increasing demand for housing. 

“I contained myself well I think,” Sheriff Chad Bianco, one of the two Republicans who participated in the gubernatorial debate, chimed in. 

FIRST ON FOX: A campaign staffer for Democratic House hopeful in Montana, Ryan Busse, would not confirm or deny whether their town home was used for a campaign ad instead of Busse’s four-acre $1.6 million rural estate.

The ad, titled “Let’s Fix It,” shows Busse and his wife listening to news headlines in the kitchen of a modest town home as Busse fixes coffee. 

“How much more of this are we supposed to take?” Busse asked his wife as he threw a dishtowel he was wiping his hands with on the counter next to him. In the next scene, Busse can be seen hauling road signs into a silver car as he touts his campaign message to voters and what motivates him to run.

However, a review of public records, photos on real estate websites, and past interviews Busse has done at his actual home in Kalispell, Montana, suggests the residence appearing in the ad belongs to one of his staffers, Alice Collins. When Fox News Digital reached out to the Busse campaign and Collins about the matter, Collins said that “at no point in the ad do we claim it to be Ryan’s house.” Neither responded to repeated inquiries asking them to confirm or deny whether the town home used in the ad was Collins’ residence.

BLUE STATE DEM CANDIDATE WHO MADE ‘AFFORDABILITY’ A KEY ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN RIPPED FOR CHARGING $13 FOR WATER

Busse, a former firearms executive and failed gubernatorial candidate in 2024, says in the ad he will “fight for working people, not the wealthy,” and he has campaigned on a message about affordability for the common man in a state that is one of the least affordable when it comes to owning a home.

“If a candidate seeking to crusade on an affordability message feels the need to film campaign commercials away from their own home, that says a lot about the state of socialism and the demonization of prosperity in today’s Democratic Party,” said Republican strategist Colin Reed.

“The inauthenticity of Busse’s ad reflects a pattern we’re seeing in races across the country — America’s last elites trying to hide their true identity and agenda because their policies and values don’t resonate with the values and experiences of everyday Americans,” added Ashley Hayek, President of America First Works. “When candidates like Busse lie about their mansions to seem ‘relatable,’ it only highlights how disconnected they are from hardworking families. Voters are looking for America First policies that will improve their lives, not deception.”

Reed added that financial success should be “celebrated” and not something anyone feels the need to hide or conceal. 

“Home ownership was once seen as a key pillar of the American dream, and anyone running for Congress would be wise to put forward policies that will make it easier for people to buy homes rather than strangle them in more red tape and an ever more expansive federal government amassing power in Washington D.C.,” Reed concluded.

DEM HOUSE CANDIDATE’S LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE CLASHES WITH ‘WORKING-CLASS’ CAMPAIGN MESSAGE

In a 2024 interview, Busse and his wife, Sara, talked to KPAX-TV while Busse was in the middle of a failed bid for governor. The interview took place at his Kalispell home, where the family has enough room to raise 11 chickens and where their hunting dogs have “free rein” across the open property.

On Zillow and Redfin, the residence is listed at $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, but no residence evaluation is on Busse’s financial disclosures because candidates are not required to disclose the value of their primary homes, just investment properties. Records from the Montana State library show Busse’s Kalispell home is over 4 acres.

Meanwhile, an address linked to Busse’s staffer, Collins, includes a Google street view that shows what looks like the same home and silver car from the campaign ad. The home includes what appears to be very little yard space and Zillow photos of Busse’s Kalispell home also show a much different kitchen than what was seen in the ad.

When Fox News Digital reached out to Collins and the Busse campaign repeatedly to confirm whether they used her residence for the advertisement, Collins responded, suggesting Fox News Digital focus on “stories about the actual issues Montanans are facing,” such as the “affordability crisis.”

Redfin ranks Montana 8th for the highest home prices in the country and, according to The Montana Free Press, median single-family home sale price in Bozeman in February was $715,000, down from a high of $898,000 in May 2023.

Authenticity questions similar to those facing Busse were also raised during Virginia GOP candidate Derrick Anderson’s campaign in 2024 to take over current Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s House seat she vacated to run for higher office.

While he was running, Anderson posted a campaign photo of himself beaming next to a woman and three kids, along with another showing them dining at a table together as a group. Some thought the images suggested the woman was his wife and the kids his own, but the Republican candidate was actually newly engaged with no kids and lived alone with his dog, per his campaign website, according to reporting from the New York Post at the time. His staff blasted critics for misconstruing the images of Anderson taking photos with female supporters and their kids.

Anderson ultimately lost to the current House Rep from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, Democrat Eugene Vindman.

The White House called former President Barack Obama “a classless moron” suffering from “a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome” after Obama launched a thinly veiled criticism at President Donald Trump by saying a president should not direct the attorney general to prosecute individuals.

“He is a total disgrace for all the division he has sowed upon this country, and history will not judge him well,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said of the former president. “The only special interest guiding the Trump Administration’s decision-making is the best interest of the American people. Only pathetic trainwrecks like Stephen Colbert would waste their time interviewing one of the worst presidents in history on his failing show.”

Obama made the remark during an interview with “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, who asked what restrictions should be placed on presidential power. Obama’s Tuesday appearance comes during the show’s final weeks.

“The White House shouldn’t be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted,” Obama said. “The idea is that the attorney general is the people’s lawyer, it’s not the president’s consiglieri.”

OBAMA LAUGHS AS HE HINTS COLBERT COULD PERFORM BETTER THAN TRUMP AS PRESIDENT, SAYS ‘BAR HAS CHANGED’

“You can’t have a situation in which whoever’s in charge of the government starts using that to go after the political enemies and reward their friends, right?” Obama continued.

Obama discussed his relationship with Attorney General Eric Holder, who served in his administration for six years. He said he consulted with Holder regularly, but only on “broader policy issues.”

“That’s different than who do you charge, what case do you bring,” Obama said.

Trump supporters on social media criticized Obama’s comments, pointing to previous remarks by Holder describing their close relationship. In a 2013 radio interview with Tom Joyner, Holder described himself as Obama’s “wingman” when answering a question about his plans to leave the administration.

OBAMA SAYS MOTIVE UNCLEAR DESPITE MANIFESTO OUTLINING ALLEGED TARGETS IN WHCD SHOOTING

“I’m still enjoying what I’m doing, there’s still work to be done. I’m still the president’s wingman, so I’m there with my boy. So we’ll see,” Holder said.

During Holder’s tenure as attorney general, he was held in contempt by the House for failing to produce documents related to an investigation into Operation Fast and Furious, an operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that led to Mexican drug cartels gaining access to illegal guns. Holder has previously faced scrutiny for opting against seeking criminal prosecution, but he was never accused of pursuing criminal charges on Obama’s behalf.

Obama’s remarks come as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly threatening the president’s life based on an Instagram post showing a seashell formation spelling out “86-47,” a reference to removing Trump from office. The latest charges follow the dismissal of charges brought against Comey by the Justice Department last year.

TRUMP PRESSED ON WHETHER HE ORDERED DOJ TO TARGET JAMES COMEY, JOHN BOLTON, LETITIA JAMES

Aside from Comey, several of Trump’s other political foes have been indicted, including former national security advisor John Bolton and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Justice Department had also opened criminal investigations into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Trump posted a message on Truth Social in September directly addressed to former Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that she prosecute several of his political foes.

“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,” Trump wrote. “What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.”

FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation Wednesday into an embattled Virginia prosecutor over allegations his office has given preferential treatment to criminal illegal immigrants, escalating scrutiny of Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano.

The department is examining whether Descano’s office violated federal law by weighing “immigration consequences” in charging decisions and plea deals, which the department said could amount to unequal treatment of defendants, DOJ Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon said in a letter first obtained by Fox News Digital.

“I have authorized a full investigation to determine whether the [Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney] has engaged in unlawful discrimination in violation of Title VI and the Safe Streets Act,” Dhillon said, noting that both “prohibit recipients of Federal financial assistance from discriminating based upon race, color, or national origin.”

SOROS-BACKED DA’S LAX ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES LED TO ‘PREVENTABLE’ BUS STOP STABBING MURDER: COMPLAINT

Dhillon said the investigation was based on a 2020 Fairfax policy about prosecutorial decisions that instructs prosecutors to weigh what could happen to immigrants charged or convicted of crimes, including consequences such as deportation.

Dhillon said her office was looking at whether Descano’s office is “engaged in a pattern or practice of depriving persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”

Descano, the top cop in Virginia’s most populous county, has drawn criticism from Republicans for years and recently faced congressional scrutiny in part because of his policies perceived to extend leniency to illegal immigrants.

He first gained national attention from the murder of Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old Fredericksburg mom, at a Fairfax bus stop in 2026. The suspect, a Sierra Leone national named Abdul Jalloh, had more than two dozen prior arrests, and as details about the case surfaced, Descano’s office was found to have repeatedly dropped violent charges against Jalloh and ignored warnings that he was dangerous.

Descano, who has been in office since 2020, campaigned as a progressive and has received more than $600,000 in campaign support from the Justice and Public Safety PAC, a committee primarily funded by Democratic megadonor George Soros, according to public records.

Fox News Digital reached out to Descano’s office for comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Nathaniel Sanders II, 32, is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Tuesday.

Sanders, who appeared in federal court Monday, allegedly sent numerous social media posts between January and April that threatened to kill the three leaders.

Sanders allegedly threatened to bomb the White House and mentioned first lady Melania Trump in social media posts while referencing the fact that he owned a gun, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida.

“Imma bomb the (expletive) White House,” he posted on X, according to the complaint.

FAA EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO KILL PRESIDENT TRUMP IN EMAIL TO WHITE HOUSE

“I don’t know what to do Melania, like, all I got is a gun. It’s the only thing I can use now is a gun,” Sanders said in a video posted to Instagram, per the complaint.

Another video allegedly targeted Rubio. “Like when I get my hands on him, I’m gonna hurt him. Simple as that,” Sanders said.

“Threats against public officials are not political speech,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in a statement.

SUSPECT WITH LENGTHY RAP SHEET ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED PAM BONDI ‘MURDER-FOR-HIRE’ SCHEME: FBI

“They are serious federal crimes that endanger public safety and the rule of law. The complaint alleges that this defendant repeatedly threatened to assassinate the President of the United States and other senior officials,” he added. “Those allegations will now be tested in court. Our Office will continue working with the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to investigate threats, protect public officials, and ensure that those who violate federal law are held accountable.”

The U.S. attorney’s office charged Sanders with threatening the president of the United States and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Investigations into his threats involve the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service and Miami Beach Police Department.

“Making threats against the President of the United States is a federal crime, and we treat it with the seriousness it deserves every time,” Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office also said.

“It does not matter where the threat is made or what platform is used, our agents will identify you, investigate you, and work alongside our federal and local partners to bring charges when appropriate. We remain relentless in our mission to protect the President and to act swiftly against anyone who puts others at risk.”

Sanders’ arrest was the result of a protected intelligence investigation which highlighted the efficacy of the Secret Service to identify threats “before they can make a plan,” a Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Attorney for Florida’s Southern District for additional comment.

A Minnesota Medicaid fraud defendant is expected to avoid serving jail time under a plea deal that requires him to cooperate with authorities pursuing his fugitive co-defendant, whom a judge granted bond despite warnings from law enforcement that he may flee the country.

Said Awil Ibrahim pleaded guilty May 1 under a deal with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office that calls for five years of supervised probation and a stayed 150-day jail sentence in a nearly $11 million case Ellison’s office has called the state’s largest Medicaid fraud prosecution. Per the terms of his plea agreement, he will also be required to help authorities track down his missing fugitive co-defendant, alleged mastermind Abdirashid Ismail Said.

Minnesota’s fraud scandals intensified in late 2025, as federal and state authorities expanded scrutiny into pandemic-era schemes involving suspects largely from the state’s Somali community. 

MINNESOTA FRAUD SUSPECT SKIPS COURT, FORFEITS BOND, THROWING $11M MEDICAID CASE INTO DOUBT

Said testified at a hearing in 2023 that cultural misunderstanding was a factor in the fraud cases, arguing at the time that investigators did not understand that people within the Minneapolis Somali community often transfer funds to each other in ways that don’t produce paper trails, local media reported at the time. 

Said failed to show up for a mandated court appearance in early April after Hennepin County District Court Judge Juan Hoyos granted him a bond set at $150,000. The terms of the bond allowed Said to retain possession of his passport, even as law enforcement officials told the judge that he was a flight risk.

“Given the nature and severity of the charges, and SAID’s familial ties outside the jurisdiction of Minnesota, I believe there is a potential SAID may flee, hide, or otherwise prevent the execution of the warrant,” a police detective wrote in the criminal complaint against Said. The complaint noted that Said has a wife and child in Kenya, where he is believed to have fled.

Ibrahim’s role in Said’s operation included defrauding Minnesota taxpayers of $2.2 million using false claims and paying himself over half a million dollars through the scheme. As part of his plea deal, Ibrahim has acknowledged that he stole from the state and agreed to return the $2.2 million through a payment plan that will be determined at his sentencing hearing. 

His jail sentence will be stayed if he complies with probation and a payment plan. 

WALZ REMOVES TOP MINNESOTA OFFICIAL ON EVE OF ‘GAUNTLET’ HEARING OVER FRAUD SCANDAL

Investigators had pointed to texts shared between Said and Ibrahim in 2022 as evidence of the fraud. 

“We gonna party bro. Insha Allah,” one text from Said to Ibrahim obtained by prosecutors reads. 

“Next pay period bro I’ll bill 50k … Im gonna over bill the hours … And do a hit and run,” Ibrahim responded.

KLOBUCHAR VOWS FRAUD CRACKDOWN, AUDIT OF MN GOV’T AS GOP BLASTS WALZ TIES

Prosecutors claim Ibrahim over-reported how much time staff at his care center spent caring for patients in order to receive more money from the state than he was entitled to. As part of Ibrahim’s plea deal, authorities dismissed a racketeering charge and two additional theft charges against him.

Said had previously been convicted of fraud in Minnesota in 2021, receiving probation and community service instead of a jail sentence. 

The Minnesota attorney general’s office did not respond to a request for comment after being reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Legal experts are pushing back on skepticism surrounding the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, arguing the Department of Justice would not have brought the case without meeting key legal thresholds.

“Lots of folks are saying the case is going nowhere, but, way too early to reach that conclusion,” former Democratic U.S. Attorney John Fishwick, who served in Virginia during the Obama administration, said, cautioning against prematurely dismissing the case.

The indictment, brought last month in the Eastern District of North Carolina, alleged Comey, a longtime Trump nemesis, threatened the president and delivered interstate communications containing threats when he posted a photo on Instagram of seashells reading “8647” last year. 

Free speech advocates and leftist critics pushed back against the indictment, accusing the DOJ of infringing on protected speech in the name of prosecuting one of Trump’s top political rivals. Comey, whom Trump fired as FBI director in 2017, has been outspoken against the president and profited off sales from his anti-Trump book, while Trump has said Comey is “guilty as hell” on social media and that he should face criminal charges.

BLANCHE TURNS THE TABLES ON COMEY INDICTMENT CRITICS: ‘REST ASSURED’ CASE GOES BEYOND INSTAGRAM POST

“Comey is out for revenge against Trump and has publicly gone after Trump separately from the seashells,” Fishwick said, adding that Trump also publicly said he perceived the message as a threat.

Prosecutors must prove Comey’s intent and that the message constituted a “true threat,” a high legal bar that has fueled questions about whether the case can succeed, especially in the recent threat environment where Trump has now faced three alleged assassination attempts.

“You prove intent like you always prove intent,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on “Meet the Press” this weekend. “You prove intent with witnesses. You prove intent with documents, with materials. … This is not just about a single Instagram post. This is about a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over the series of about 11 months.”

Chad Mizelle, former DOJ chief of staff, told Fox News Digital the legal standard for convicting Comey for threatening the president was high but that the indictment suggested there was underlying evidence.

“I don’t think the department would have secured the indictment without concrete evidence that Comey did knowingly and willfully threaten the president of the United States,” Mizelle said.

Mizelle noted evidence could take many forms, such as nonpublic text messages or emails.

“What was Comey’s intent when he said it?” Mizelle asked. “I suspect DOJ has evidence of that, and I’ll wager it’s not favorable to Comey.”

IN TRYING TO SECURE COMEY INDICTMENT, US PROSECUTORS HAVE SHORT WINDOW — AND A DIFFICULT CASE TO MAKE

The term “86” has been used as slang to get rid of someone or something, often in restaurants for an unavailable item or refused customer. Prosecutors alleged that, paired with “47” — a reference to Donald Trump as the 47th president — Comey’s post amounted to a threat.

Before serving as head of the FBI, Comey was a federal prosecutor and deputy attorney general for the Department of Justice. 

Comey, “more than any American, knows not to make threats and what a threat looks like,” Fishwick said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News: “This is a very smart guy. He knows what he’s doing. He’s nobody’s fool. … He knew exactly what he was doing, but hey, he’s going to have his day in court.”

The DOJ secured the indictment from a grand jury days after a third alleged assassination attempt on Trump at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, a point Blanche has drilled down on as evidence that prosecuting threats to the president, regardless of who made them, is a top priority. Fishwick said the political violence would be relevant if the case makes it to trial.

“As background to any trial, jurors in North Carolina will be aware of all the political threats in this country and know that something must be done about it,” Fishwick said.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley raised First Amendment concerns, saying if the case rested solely on the image of seashells forming “8647,” it could face significant legal hurdles, arguing the image “is clearly protected speech” absent additional evidence.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said “86” could actually mean impeachment and that the charges defied Supreme Court precedent that established the standard for a “true threat.”

“The idea that Comey’s picture of seashells conveyed a serious intent to harm the president is ridiculous,” the group wrote on social media. “The administration should abandon this transparent and unconstitutional attempt to punish a critic.”

FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAN BONGINO: JAMES COMEY ‘BROUGHT SHAME TO THE FBI AGAIN’ WITH ’86 47′ POST

Comey had quickly deleted the post, saying at the time that he did not realize that he had shared something ominous. After the indictment, he said he was “still innocent.”

“I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go,” Comey said.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton accused “the left media [of] rushing to the defense of James Comey, pretending it’s about free speech.”

“You don’t have the right to advocate for the killing of the president,” Fitton said.

Comey’s arraignment is set for May 11 in Greenville. Comey’s lawyer did not comment for this story.

The Trump administration’s new counterterrorism strategy expands the scope of U.S. national security policy to include drug cartels and domestic extremist groups alongside traditional jihadist threats — a shift that could widen how counterterrorism tools are deployed at home and abroad.

A 16-page strategy released to reporters Wednesday identifies three primary sources of terrorist threats: “narcoterrorists and transnational gangs,” “legacy Islamist terrorists,” and “violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists” — marking a break from post-9/11 frameworks that centered largely on groups like ISIS and al Qaeda.

The document lays out a three-part approach to combating those threats: identifying terrorist actors and plots before they occur, cutting off funding and recruitment pipelines, and ultimately dismantling established networks — a framework that signals a more expansive use of intelligence, financial and military tools across multiple threat categories.

The strategy broadens the definition of terrorism in ways that could extend national security powers beyond traditional jihadist groups — opening the door to expanded use of military, intelligence and law enforcement tools against cartels and actors inside the United States.

TRUMP REWRITES NATIONAL SECURITY PLAYBOOK AS MASS MIGRATION OVERTAKES TERRORISM AS TOP US THREAT

At the same time, the strategy takes aim at the intelligence community, arguing it has been “mired in old ways of looking at threats” and, at times, “weaponized” for political purposes — language that underscores the administration’s push to reshape how counterterrorism priorities are defined and executed.

The strategy expands the counterterrorism mission to include domestic extremist violence, particularly from what officials describe as left-wing ideological movements — a shift that places greater emphasis on identifying and disrupting networks operating inside the United States.

White House counterterrorism chief Sebastian Gorka said the administration is focused on politically motivated violence domestically and would use “all the tools constitutionally available” to identify and disrupt extremist actors.

TRUMP ADMIN TO HOLD GLOBAL SUMMIT ON COUNTERING ANTIFA, SOURCES CONFIRM

He pointed to recent high-profile attacks, including the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as examples of what he described as a broader rise in extremist violence.

“If you look at the Tyler Robinson, as you mentioned, the murder of the assassin, of Charlie Kirk. If you look at Robert Westman, the murderer of the little children of the Annunciation Catholic School last year, we see an ideology that, ostensibly, began by preaching tolerance, being used by specific actors to wage violence against the most innocent, little children at Catholic schools at churches. This is a threat we will take very seriously.”

“Whether you are right wing inspired or left being inspired, the point at which you advocate for violence or use violence yourself, for political purposes, means you are actually undertaking terrorism,” Gorka went on.

The strategy calls for mapping and disrupting “violent left-wing extremists” using available law enforcement authorities, a move that could expand how federal agencies apply counterterrorism tools in domestic cases.

The strategy also elevates drug cartels to a central national security threat, embedding them alongside jihadist groups as a core counterterrorism priority — a shift that blurs the line between traditional criminal organizations and designated terrorist actors.

Gorka framed cartel violence as a direct and ongoing threat to the United States, arguing the scale of deaths tied to drug trafficking now rivals wartime losses.

“More Americans were murdered by illicit drugs smuggled across the border by cartels in one year than in 70 years of combat fatalities of U.S. service men and women,” he said. “They declared war on us. We are responding.”

The strategy builds on actions already underway, including the designation of major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and a military campaign targeting suspected smuggling operations — steps that expand the range of tools available to confront cartel networks.

Recent operations have targeted suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as part of what officials describe as an ongoing effort to combat “narcoterrorism,” signaling a more sustained operational posture.

“If we know where you are, if you killed Americans, if you’re plotting to kill Americans, within 72 hours, we can kill you, we can arrest you or we can kill you,” Gorka said.

Beyond domestic and cartel-related threats, the strategy places Iran at the center of the global terrorism landscape, describing the regime as the most significant state-backed threat facing the United States — reinforcing a continued focus on Tehran’s role in supporting proxy networks.

“The greatest threat to the United States emanating from the Middle East comes specifically from Iran,” the document states, citing both Tehran’s military capabilities and its backing of groups such as Hezbollah.

Gorka echoed that assessment, arguing many global threats ultimately trace back to Iran. 

“Nine out of ten times, you scratch the surface of that threat, and three nanometers later, you find Iran,” he said.

The strategy calls for continued military, intelligence and covert operations against Iran and its network of proxies, signaling those efforts will persist “until the regime in Tehran is no longer a threat to the United States.”

The document also emphasizes more aggressive use of military, financial and intelligence tools, alongside increased pressure on allies to take on greater responsibility in combating shared threats, pointing to a wider, more integrated counterterrorism posture going forward.

The U.S. Department of Education announced that its Office for Civil Rights has launched a probe into the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) “for policies that appear to automatically reassign teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students… to another school.”

“OCR will determine whether the District’s handling of alleged sexual harassment, including sexual assault, by District teachers, administrators, and/or staff violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX),” the department noted in a Tuesday press release.

But the school district pushed back in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

LAUSD asserted that “commentary is circulating insinuating that the District assigns those being investigated for sexual misconduct to other school sites. This is not true. Confusion seems to center on the meaning of the term ‘reassignment.’”

TRUMP ADMIN INVESTIGATES ALL-WOMEN’S COLLEGE FOR ADMITTING MALE STUDENTS

“‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” a district spokesperson continued. “Decisions about reassignment are guided first and foremost by the safety of students, staff, and the workplace. After an investigation concludes, appropriate measures or discipline may be taken, including termination of employment if warranted.”

“Los Angeles Unified takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness. Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of every student and staff member in our care,” the district spokesperson said.

“The District follows established Title IX procedures and other applicable laws and regulations, which are designed to ensure a fair, thorough, and impartial process for all parties. When allegations are reported, they are promptly reviewed, and appropriate interim measures are implemented to protect those involved. If violations are substantiated, the District takes decisive action in accordance with the law and our policies,” the statement noted.

“We also continuously review and strengthen our policies, training, and reporting systems to better prevent misconduct and support those who come forward. We encourage anyone with information or concerns to report them so they can be addressed appropriately,” the district spokesperson said. “We understand the seriousness of allegations and the impact they have on our community. The District remains committed to transparency, accountability, and fostering a safe environment for all.”

The U.S. Department of Education told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, “We are actively investigating this, and OCR will determine whether the policy is in violation of Title IX.”

The department also referred Fox News Digital to its press release and to posts on X by Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

The department’s press release pointed to a 2024 document involving LAUSD and the United Teachers of Los Angeles union.

FEDS OPEN PROBE INTO ANTI-ISRAEL NYC TEACHERS

“Upon reassignment of any UTLA member, they will be notified within 5 days of the general nature of the allegations against them. We will advise them that they are being reassigned for any of the following categories. Moreover, reassignment will only occur if the nature of the allegations fits one of these descriptions,” the document declared, before going on to list categories such as “Sexual harassment of a student, employee, school-related adult, or other community member,” “Engaging in a sexual or romantic relationship with a student regardless of their age, or with any other minors outside of LAUSD” and others.

Fox News Digital reached out to United Teachers Los Angeles on Wednesday.

In a Tuesday post on X, McMahon wrote, “Any of the abhorrent actions listed here should result in termination or worse, but the LA teachers union appears to protect the employment of sexual predators over the safety of students, allowing alleged criminals to be reassigned to a different school. The Trump Administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of students, and restore common sense to our schools.”

McMahon added in another post Wednesday, “Teachers unions are advocating to keep children out of schools for protests, using dues to prop up political agendas, and negotiating protections for child abusers. The unions are not fighting for students or teachers – they are fighting to protect their own power.”

SENATORS UNVEIL BILL TO COMBAT FINANCIAL AID FRAUD BY ‘GHOST STUDENTS’

“Under Title IX, schools must respond appropriately and address claims of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault, in a timely manner, but the District seems to be putting the continued employment of sexual predators above the safety of students,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s press release. “It is unconscionable that the District would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids. The Trump Administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students, and restore common sense to our schools.”

President Donald Trump’s lawyers are requesting a stay of the $83.3 million judgment in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case while he seeks Supreme Court review on the grounds of presidential immunity, according to a new filing late Tuesday night.

The Trump request for a stay is unopposed by Carroll’s legal team if Trump increases the bond by roughly $7.46 million to cover post-judgment interest on the original judgment that has been under appeal.

“This Court should now stay the mandate to allow President Trump to present important questions relating to, without limitation, Presidential immunity and the Westfall Act to the Supreme Court,” the filing from Trump’s presidential lawyer Justin Smith read.

“Carroll does not oppose this motion.”

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS $83.3M E. JEAN CARROLL JUDGMENT AGAINST TRUMP

The Westfall Act is a federal law that protects government employees from being personally sued for common law torts like negligence or defamation committed while they were doing their jobs. Carroll originally sued for defamation in November 2019 during Trump’s first term.

Essentially, the referenced law acts as a legal “shield” by shifting the target of a lawsuit from an individual person to the United States government itself.

The 24-page filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit signals Trump’s intention to ask the Supreme Court to review where Trump is immune for this May 2023 judgment delivered as Trump was weighing another presidential primary run before 2024 and facing myriad legal cases under then-President Joe Biden.

SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW TRUMP PETITION ON E JEAN CARROLL JUDGMENT

Trump’s lawyers argue there is a “reasonable probability” the Supreme Court will take the case and a “fair prospect” the justices will reverse the lower court. They point to a dissent from the denial of rehearing en banc in which three Second Circuit judges identified what Trump’s team describes as legal errors involving presidential immunity and the Westfall Act.

“Absent a stay, President Trump will suffer ongoing irreparable harm due to violation of his right to immunity from this defamation suit for his official statements as President of the United States of America,” Smith argued, adding Trump may face proceedings to execute on the $83.3 million judgment before the Supreme Court has reviewed the case.

“President Trump respectfully asks the Court to stay the mandate until the Supreme Court’s final disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari,” the filing stated.

APPEALS COURT DEALS TRUMP BLOW IN CHALLENGE TO E JEAN CARROLL VERDICT

“There is a ‘fair prospect’ that the Supreme Court will reverse the Panel’s erroneous decisions that Presidential immunity and the Westfall Act were both waived,” Trump’s lawyers continued. “Issuing the mandate and permitting lower court proceedings to move forward during Supreme Court review of these significant questions would ‘eviscerate the immunity [the Supreme Court has] recognized,’ as well as create a likely inability to recover funds if the Supreme Court reverses, as it should.”

The motion was filed Tuesday by Smith of the James Otis Law Group.

Smith was nominated by Trump to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit in early March, and the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on his nomination April 15.