Trump team slams 'disgusting and inhumane' question from 'disgraceful' CNN reporter



The president's online rapid response team absolutely lambasted a CNN reporter who insinuated that President Donald Trump was having a romantic relationship with a younger staffer.

Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes asked the president about the suggestion made by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) on Monday.

'These scumbags are the lowest of the low.'

"Jon Ossoff said you'd rather travel with your aide Natalie Harp than build the ballroom and do your job as president; what is your response?" Holmes asked.

"You mean Pee-wee Herman? Pee-wee Herman look-alike?" he responded about Ossoff.

"No, I would much rather do other things," Trump added. "We're building a great facility here. We're fixing a White House that hasn't been taken care of."

The Trump team responded more fully on social media to Holmes.

"[Kristen Holmes] is a disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession. @POTUS hosts a hero lifeguard in the Oval Office and she uses it as an opportunity to take a cheap shot about one of President Trump's staffers. These scumbags are the lowest of the low," read the message."

40 minutes later, the team added a second insult.

"Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question," the statement read. "They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling."

Alayna Treene, a fellow White House correspondent for CNN, defended her colleague.

"What a horrible to thing to say. Kristen is an incredible reporter, person and, above all, mother. I don't understand such a reaction to a journalist asking the president for his response to something a Democratic senator has leveled against him," she wrote.

Harp is the president's personal assistant.

RELATED: VIDEO: Trump says he will declare new US territory 'pretty soon' in the Middle East

Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications, also jumped into the fray.

"Jon Jackoff has to be the biggest cuck loser in politics," he posted on social media. "Instead of denigrating hard working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he's a miserable person who hates this country. It's because he's a radical, extremist Dumocrat."

CNN released a statement defending Holmes.

"Kristen Holmes is one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House. This afternoon, she did her job and asked the president of the United States a tough, relevant, and newsworthy question on behalf of the American people," read the CNN statement.

"Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press," the channel added. "We stand firmly behind Kristen and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump exposes how the 'deep state' purposely hid 2020 Chinese election interference from him



President Donald Trump told the nation from the White House Thursday that the Chinese government has interfered with American elections and gained access to "sensitive" voter data of tens of millions of Americans.

Trump also accused deep-state bad actors of "deliberately massag[ing]" his daily briefings and even of attempting to run a "shadow government" during his first term to keep the information about "China's election meddling" from him, other lawmakers, the media, and the American public.

Trump reiterated his demand that Congress pass the SAVE America act, and accused Democrats of stalling on the bill because it would keep them from cheating in elections.

The president said evidence of his claims are available for review at the White House website.

"The documents ... show that over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files," said the president.

He said the information China collected included "names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote and engage in other nefarious activities, which is exactly what was happening."

Trump then said the White House Government Transparency Task Force had gathered evidence that the "deep state" had worked to cover up the Chinese acquisition of U.S. voter data.

"U.S. spy agencies began learning about the compromise of voter registration files in 2020 when they discovered that tens of millions of voter data ... in 18 states have been bought, stolen, or hacked by China. Yet those responsible for sounding the alarm instead kept the information secret and hidden," he said.

He also claimed, citing a CIA document, that during his first term, China sought to influence major American business leaders and persuade them "to turn against the president of the United States." Trump further claimed China tried to buy off seemingly anti-Trump American journalists with "large sums of money" to write even more "negative articles about him."

He even claimed China tried to create bogus ballots in the 2020 election.

"Raw intelligence obtained by the FBI in 2020, yet buried by rogue bureaucrats, stated that China's activities even included an attempt to manufacture illegal ballots for Joe Biden," he added.

He went on to allege that officials had found as many as 287,000 non-citizens were found registered to vote nationwide.

The president also claimed that classified material that was supposed to be destroyed in "burn bags" was never actually destroyed, and he called on the FBI and the DOJ to investigate and to "prosecute those responsible for any crimes."

Trump reiterated his demand that Congress pass the SAVE America Act and accused Democrats of stalling on the bill because it would keep them from cheating in elections.

"The only reason you wouldn't [pass it] is you want to cheat because your policies are so bad and your candidates are so pathetic that you can't get away or can't get elected any other way," Trump claimed.

The SAVE America Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote in elections and require a photo identification to cast a ballot. Left-wing critics of the proposal say it would disadvantage minorities and other Democratic demographics.

The president completed his address by calling on all Americans to pick up a phone and call their representatives to ask for the SAVE America Act to be passed.

RELATED: Trump team slams 'b***h' Democrat for floating bizarre conspiracy theory on housing bill delay

.@POTUS: Newly declassified documents show that over a period of years starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220… pic.twitter.com/S6qudP0QoP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 17, 2026

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said he was briefed on the president's speech before the address and described it as possibly the "most important Oval Office address since the Cuban Missile Crisis."

He added, "The time for complacency with China is over."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Suspected WHCD shooter and another would-be Trump assassin have a lot in common — and it's not just Ukraine



Nine weeks after Thomas Matthew Crooks' attempt on Donald Trump's life at a July 13, 2024, rally in Pennsylvania, Ryan Routh tried his hand at assassinating then-candidate Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Cole Allen, identified as the suspect who opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday night, appears to share much in common with Routh.

'I'm a random Californian guy.'

Besides making donations to the same party and obsessing over the same foreign power, both Routh — who was sentenced in February to life in prison over his attempted assassination of Trump — and Allen were apparently radicalized in recent years with the help of Democrats' incendiary rhetoric.

Donations and slogans

Although not a registered member of a political party for decades, Routh, a 60-year-old North Carolina native, made multiple donations to support Democrats beginning in 2019 and voted in North Carolina's Democratic primary in March 2024.

In addition to supporting Democrats monetarily and at the ballot box, Routh supported their divisive narrative.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats not only characterized Trump and other Republicans as fascists and imminent threats to the republic ahead of the 2024 election but repeatedly claimed that "democracy is on the ballot in November."

In some instances, Harris — who joked in 2018 about Trump dying — coupled this claim with combative language, stating that democracy "is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it" and painting a target on Trump by referring to him as a would-be "dictator."

Then-President Joe Biden was far less subtle, stating on a July 8, 2024, phone call with donors, "We're done talking about the debate. It's time to put Trump in a bull's-eye."

RELATED: Stunning new details reveal the 'depraved' motivation of the suspected WHCD shooter

FBI outside a home associated with the suspected WHCAD shooter in Torrance, California. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

Routh accepted this alarmist view, sometimes repeating Democrats' slogan verbatim.

On April 22, 2024, for instance, Routh tweeted to then-President Joe Biden, writing, "@POTUS Your campaign should be called something like KADAF. Keep America democratic and free. Trumps should be MASA ... make Americans slave again master. DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose. We cannot afford to fail. The world is counting on us to show the way."

Allen, like Routh, contributed a modest donation to at least one Democratic cause, a Harris-supporting Democratic PAC in October 2024, reported the Associated Press.

The suspected WHCAD shooter, who was reportedly engaged in political activism in recent years and a member of the leftist group "the Wide Awakes," also amplified unhinged anti-Trump messaging from Democrats online.

The investigative journalist behind the Substack Kanekoa News reported that ahead of the 2024 election, a X user believed to be Allen repeatedly shared alarmist social media posts on X from Kamala Harris, Democratic lawmakers, liberal media personalities, and the anti-Trump propaganda outfit MeidasTouch and amplified liberal characterizations of Trump as a fascist or Nazi.

Allen's alleged manifesto and the Bluesky account ascribed to Allen are replete with evidence suggesting that he continued to stew in alarmist Democratic propaganda in the time since the 2024 election.

For instance, the Bluesky user believed to be Allen — the handle is @coldforce.bsky.social, and Cole allegedly signed his manifesto "Cole 'coldForce' 'Friendly Federal Assassin' Allen" — shared a post from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) earlier this month claiming that Trump "is deranged, unstable, and unfit to lead," as well as a post from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) that stated Trump "must be impeached and removed from office" and "Republicans who don't stop him will have blood on their hands."

Ukraine obsession

Routh was unmistakably a Ukraine obsessive.

The would-be assassin:

  • ran a website called "Fight for Ukraine," which details various ways — including unlawful ways — people could supposedly go to fight as mercenaries in Ukraine;
  • pleaded online with Western defense officials and organizations to allow Afghan mercenaries into Ukraine;
  • demonstrated in support of Ukraine's infamous Azov Brigade;
  • self-published a book in 2023 titled "Ukraine's Unwinnable War" detailing his unsuccessful attempts to aid Ukraine's war effort; and
  • asserted on X that he was "going to fight and die for Ukraine."

The social media accounts ascribed to Allen — who allegedly stated in the manifesto, "I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes" — provide evidence of a similar obsession with Ukraine and its efforts to repel Russian forces.

For starters, the bio for Allen's alleged Bluesky account states, "I'm a random Californian guy with posts about American politics, support for Ukraine, and observations of small creatures."

The Bluesky user believed to be Allen also shared Ukrainian military fundraiser posts, updates on Russian attacks, and multiple posts insinuating that Trump is in league with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While highly critical of Trump, the user also directed Ukraine-related ire toward Vice President JD Vance.

At a Turning Point USA event on April 14, Vance recalled how his advocacy for ending funding for the Ukraine war ruffled feathers, then noted he was proud of the Trump administration's refusal to continue "buying weapons and sending them to Ukraine anymore."

This evidently enraged the Bluesky user believed to be Cole, who wrote, "He's proud that we don't uphold our commitments[;] what a piece of s**t."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Historic accomplishments': Kristi Noem puts positive spin on DHS ouster



President Donald Trump declared Thursday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would soon no longer lead the agency.

Trump announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) will take over for Noem on March 31, adding that she would be tapped as the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere.

'In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security.'

Trump's decision followed reports that he had been displeased with Noem's performance for months, rumors the White House rejected in December. Speculation emerged that Noem's removal was a result of her testimony before House and Senate committees earlier this week, during which she claimed the president approved a $220 million DHS ad campaign, a claim the White House denied.

Noem reacted to Trump's announcement by expressing her gratitude to the president, adding that she looks forward to collaborating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the new role.

"Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren," Noem wrote.

"The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security," she continued. "We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard."

RELATED: Noem is OUT — and Trump has named her replacement

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Some politicians expressed gratitude for Noem's time at the DHS, while others celebrated her departure.

"I appreciate Secretary Noem's service to our country. She will do a great job dealing with the drug cartels in her new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of Americas, and I know she will continue to contribute in the future. However, I think it was time for a change," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote, "President Trump was elected to secure our border, crack down on sanctuary cities and keep our country safe. I appreciate @Sec_Noem's dedication to that mission. Thanks to the president's leadership and her help, incredible progress has been made, and I know she will do a fantastic job as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas."

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) released a video reacting to the DHS leadership shake-up, saying, "Hey, Kristi Noem, don't let the door hit you on the way out."

RELATED: Government-paid traffickers? Noem testifies Biden administration funded abuse of migrant kids

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Reckoning day' for Newsom: Trump DOT yanks $160 million over illegal trucker licenses



As the Trump administration continues to meet resistance from blue-state governors across the nation, California is now reaping what it sowed by illegally issuing trucker licenses to foreigners.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that it was "reckoning day" for the state of California and its Democrat governor, Gavin Newsom.

'Gavin refused. So now I am pulling nearly $160 MILLION from California.'

In a social media post, Duffy explained the Trump administration's "demands": "Follow the rules. Revoke the unlawfully-issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers. Fix the system so this never happens again."

Duffy's post comes after months of demanding that California revoke commercial driver's licenses illegally issued to foreigners. Duffy provided a short video showing that Newsom had many opportunities to comply with federal law.

RELATED: Illegal alien truckers with California licenses accused of hauling $7M in cocaine across state lines

Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

However, "Gavin refused," Duffy said. "So now I am pulling nearly $160 MILLION from California. Under @POTUS, federal dollars won’t fund this CHARADE."

The funding will be withheld from California beginning in fiscal year 2027.

California agreed in November to revoke every illegally issued license within 60 days. As of the January 5, 2026, deadline, California has failed to follow through on this agreement, leading to the major withholding of federal funding.

At least 17,000 licenses were expected to be revoked on Monday, per the original agreement.

According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit reviewed by Fox News, more than 20,000 active non-domiciled CDLs were issued in violation of federal rules. The FMCSA reportedly described the situation in California as a "systemic collapse" of the commercial licensing program.

"Federal regulations are clear: states must correct safety deficiencies on a schedule mutually agreed upon by the agency, and California failed to meet its commitment to rescind these unlawfully issued licenses by January 5," FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said, according to Fox News.

"We will not accept a corrective plan that knowingly leaves thousands of drivers holding noncompliant licenses behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks in open defiance of federal safety regulations," Barrs added.

California DMV spokesperson Eva Spiegel responded to the loss of federal funding in a statement: “We strongly disagree with the federal government’s decision to withhold vital transportation funding from California — their action jeopardizes public safety because these funds are critical for maintaining and improving the roadways we all rely on every day.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Blue-state ‘Grinches’ are stealing your tax relief, says Treasury Secretary Bessent



Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mocked blue-state leaders as "the Grinches Who Stole Christmas" for blocking tax relief for Americans.

On Wednesday, Bessent posted an AI-generated image of Democrat Governors Kathy Hochul of New York, Jared Polis of Colorado, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois as grinches.

'This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion.'

"Thanks to @POTUS, 'tis the season to be jolly — unless you're a taxpayer in New York, Colorado, Illinois, or the District of Columbia," Bessent wrote. "For millions of hardworking Americans, @GovKathyHochul, @GovofCO @jaredpolis, and @GovPritzker are The Grinches Who Stole Christmas."

"Courtesy of their Scrooge-like tendencies, America's seniors, along with all workers who would benefit from No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime, will be robbed of the tax relief they deserve," Bessent continued. "The Christmas season should be a time of great cheer. But due to the Trump Derangement Syndrome of these Governors and other radical leftists, too many low- and middle-income households will receive nothing but coal in their state tax stockings."

President Donald Trump's July 4 bill eliminates taxes on tips for service-industry workers and on overtime for linemen and factory workers. It also provides a tax deduction for seniors receiving Social Security.

A Wednesday press release from the Treasury Department accused the Democrat leaders of "political obstructionism" for "deliberately blocking their own residents from receiving these historic benefits at the state level."

RELATED: Trump gives American farmers $12 billion boost to overcome inflation, trade wars

J.B. Pritzker, Kathy Hochul. Photo: Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion. By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households," the department's press release read.

States are not required to adhere to all federal tax provisions. New York is introducing new codes to its tax form, requiring residents to pay taxes on tips and overtime. Colorado plans to require residents to report the amount of overtime pay that was deducted federally and then add it back for state tax purposes. Illinois is expected to adopt similar updates to its tax form to add pay deducted federally.

New York has been ranked the worst state in the country for taxes. The state's overall tax burden is estimated at 12.02%, while Illinois' is 9.67% and Colorado's is 8.42%.

RELATED: Trump Accounts: Newborns get a $1,000 tax-free nest egg that grows until age 18 — American dream revival or debt nightmare?

Jared Polis. Photo by Hyoung Chang/Denver Post/Getty Images

Polis responded to Bessent's comments in a post on X, claiming that Colorado has reduced taxes.

"Colorado has cut our income tax three times, and unlike these measures in Trump's law, those cuts are permanent," Polis wrote. "While the Secretary is supporting Trump's tariff taxes, we are delivering real relief through the most generous child tax credit in the nation and cutting poverty. Spend less time talking about tips, which Colorado conforms to and won't be subject to state or federal income tax up to the level designated in HR1 and instead focus on lowering interest rates, costs and bringing down the price of goods ahead of Christmas by eliminating these draconian tariffs. Happy holidays, Secretary — may your stockings be full of facts, not coal."

In response to Bessent's post, Hochul wrote, "Remarkable that an office once held by Alexander Hamilton is now tweeting Grinch fanfic at governors."

Pritzker's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump tells ‘garbage’ Somalians like Ilhan Omar to ‘go back to where they came from’



President Donald Trump has stood firm about his opposition to third-world immigration, especially from Somalia.

Somalians have flooded Minnesota under the leadership of Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz, whom Trump described as "seriously retarded" in a Truth Social post over Thanksgiving. In the same post, Trump announced he would be indefinitely pausing migration from third-world countries like Somalia and reiterated his position during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

'I don't want them in our country.'

Trump takes issue with the cultural and economic burden of importing tens of thousands of Somalians into a state like Minnesota, as well as the ungrateful attitude of migrants like Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar.

"Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no anything. They just run around killing each other. There's no structure," Trump said. "And when I see somebody like Ilhan Omar, who I don't know at all, but I always watched her for years. I've watched her complain about our Constitution, how she's being treated badly. ... 'The United States of America is a bad place.' Hates everybody."

"I think she's an incompetent person. She's a real terrible person."

RELATED: Trump sounds off again on Ilhan Omar — says why she should be thrown 'THE HELL OUT of our country'

.@POTUS tells it like it is about ungrateful Somali refugees amid the Minnesota fraud scandal:

"When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but bitch — we don't want them in our country. Let 'em go back to where they came from and fix it." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fuaAKP8VsW
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 2, 2025

"Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars," Trump added. "Billions every year. Billions of dollars, and they contribute nothing. The welfare is like 88%. They contribute nothing."

Trump went on to say that America cannot afford to "keep taking in garbage into our country," referring to third-world migrants who "do nothing but complain."

"I don't want them in our country; I'll be honest with you," Trump said. "Some might say, 'Oh, that's not politically correct.' I don't care. I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks, and we don't want them in our country. I can say that about other countries too."

"We have to rebuild our country," Trump said. "... We're at a tipping point. I don't know if people mind me saying that, but I'm saying it. We could go one way or the other, and we're going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country."

RELATED: 'Send them back': Somalia First pitted against America First in Minnesota as Ilhan Omar attacks Trump over special status

Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images

Trump urged migrants like Omar, who have developed a disdain for America's culture and founding, to go back to their own countries and fix them instead of siphoning public resources and ceaselessly complaining.

"Ilhan Omar is garbage; she's garbage," Trump said. "Her friends are garbage. These aren't people that work. These aren't people that say, 'Let's go, come on, let's make this place great.' These are people that do nothing but complain. They complain. And from where they came from, they got nothing."

"When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but b***h, we don't want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump taunts political opponents as turkey pardon goes off script: 'He's a fat slob'



To the amusement of staff and attendees, President Donald Trump once again went wildly off script during the annual turkey pardon ceremony at the White House.

Trump pardoned two turkeys on Tuesday named Gobble and Waddle, one of which was unfortunately "missing in action." During his address leading up to the pardon, the president shared several unscripted, Trumpian quips, prompting laughter from the audience.

'I don't talk about people being fat.'

Trump first set his sights on Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, who has butted heads with the administration over calls to deploy the National Guard to the crime-ridden city of Chicago. Trump taunted Pritzker for refusing to accept federal assistance in Chicago, and of course, for his weight.

"I'm not going to tell my Pritzker joke," Trump said. "They have a very cute little joke, you know. Some speechwriter wrote some joke about his weight, but I would never want to talk about his weight."

RELATED: Trump cracks jokes with Mamdani in cordial Oval Office meeting: 'I've been called much worse'

.@POTUS: "Gobble, I just want to tell you this — very important — you are hereby unconditionally pardoned!"

🤣🦃 pic.twitter.com/WmjvScCf6K
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 25, 2025

"I don't talk about people being fat," Trump added. "I refuse to talk about the fact that he's a fat slob. I don't mention it!"

Trump conceded that although Pritzker is "a fat slob," he himself could "lose a few pounds too."

But Trump did not stop at Pritzker. The president got back on track to talk about Gobble and Waddle's imminent presidential pardons but not before taking another jab at his two greatest opponents on Capitol Hill.

"When I first saw their pictures ... well, I shouldn't say this," Trump said.

RELATED: 'Canary in a coal mine': Ousted speaker warns against the rising risk of GOP House resignations

Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy," Trump said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "But then I realized I wouldn't be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people."

On the topic of pardons, Trump also joked about former President Joe Biden's autopen, questioning the validity of last year's turkey pardon.

"He used an autopen last year for the turkey's pardon," Trump said. "So I have the official duty to determine, and I have determined, that last year's turkey pardons are totally invalid as are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned other than ... where's Hunter?"

"Hunter's was good, that was the one pardon ... that was good."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

No more games: Trump admin to slap Antifa groups with 'foreign terrorist' label



The Trump administration has designated several Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September that declared Antifa a domestic “terrorist threat,” claiming that the group “explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law.”

'The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our nation from these anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian terrorist groups.'

The EO accused the anarchist group of using “illegal means” to launch “a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide,” including obstructing the enforcement of laws and routinely doxxing political figures.

Trump’s action called on federal agencies to “investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations” tied to Antifa. However, designating the enterprise as a foreign terrorist organization would allow for more enforcement options, including making it a federal crime to provide material support to the group.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that four European Antifa-affiliated groups — Antifa Ost in Germany, Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front in Italy, and Greek-based groups Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense — were named "Specially Designated Global Terrorists."

RELATED: If Trump labels Antifa a foreign terrorist organization, here's what he can do next

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Rubio noted that the department “intends to designate all four groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, effective November 20, 2025.”

Antifa Ost has committed multiple attacks in Germany between 2018 and 2023 against those it considers “fascists” or part of the country’s “right-wing scene,” a State Department fact sheet about the latest announcement read.

FAI/FRI, which also has affiliates across Europe, South America, and Asia, has reportedly claimed responsibility for “threats of violence, bombs, and letter bombs against political and economic institutions.”

The State Department said that the Armed Proletarian Justice “has attempted and conducted improvised explosive device (IED) attacks against Greek government targets.” It previously claimed responsibility for planting a bomb near a police headquarters in Greece.

Revolutionary Class Self-Defense also reportedly took responsibility for two IED attacks in Greece.

RELATED: Trump designates Antifa as a 'MAJOR' terrorist organization — and can likely make the label stick this time

Photographer: Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“Groups affiliated with this movement ascribe to revolutionary anarchist or Marxist ideologies, including anti-Americanism, 'anti-capitalism,' and anti-Christianity, using these to incite and justify violent assaults domestically and overseas," the State Department said.

“Today, building on @POTUS’s historic commitment to uproot Antifa’s campaign of political violence, the Department of State is designating four Antifa groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our nation from these anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian terrorist groups,” Rubio wrote in a post on social media.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump admin announces major H-1B visa abuse investigation, but critics want more



The H-1B visa program, which has effectively imported hundreds of thousands of immigrants, most of whom are from India, has gained much-needed attention in recent months as abuse of the system has come to light. On Friday, the Department of Labor provided an update on its September initiative, Project Firewall.

On Friday, the Department of Labor announced on X: "As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse."

The agency said that it had discovered a 'bounty of concerns.'

Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said that the Department of Labor is "using every resource at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B abuse and protect American Jobs. Under the leadership of @POTUS, we’ll continue to invest in our workforce and ensure high-skilled job opportunities go to American Workers FIRST!"

RELATED: 'Executive fiat': Biden-era rule change quietly permits H-1B visa holders to work remotely

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Fox News reported that government officials were unable to comment on the exact nature of the new investigations. The agency said that it had discovered a "bounty of concerns."

While the investigations are a sign of improvement, the number of investigations is strikingly low, critics say.

Virgil Bierschwale, a leading critic of H-1B visas and their impact on American workers, responded to the announcement, "I can quickly bring that up to 32,000 companies being investigated if you have the manpower."

The exact number of so-called "H-1B dependent employers" is unknown, but many are believed to be in the rapidly proliferating tech sector.

According to a Department of Labor fact sheet, an employer qualifies as H-1B dependent if it has eight visa workers at a company with fewer than 25 employees, 13 or more visa workers at a company with between 26 and 50 employees, or 15% of the workforce at companies with more than 51 employees.

On X, Eric Daugherty echoed the calls for increased investigations: "Good. We need MORE!"

Others pointed out that the abuse of the system should be cause for ending new visa approvals. One commenter said, "Why approve any when fraud is this rampant?"

This round of investigations follows the Trump administration's September 19 plan to force companies to pay $100,000 for new H-1B visas in an attempt to incentivize hiring American workers.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!