Trump Taps Conservative Firebrand To Shake Up Kennedy Center

'Ric shares my Vision for a GOLDEN AGE of American Arts and Culture'

Trump’s new American foreign policy: ‘FAFO’



Less than a month into his second term, President Trump has already resumed his aggressive foreign policy, best summed up by a simple mantra: FAFO — “f**k around and find out.”

This phrase, which became the unofficial guiding principle of Trump’s first administration, continues to shape his global strategy. His early move, threatening new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, reinforces this approach.

America is back, with an aggressive foreign policy.

While the slogan may sound irreverent, it reflects a deliberate and forceful shift in U.S. foreign policy.

At the core of FAFO is a dramatic departure from the traditional diplomatic norms that have long defined America’s global posture. Under Trump, the United States has taken a hard line with both allies and adversaries, embracing an “America First” approach.

Trump has made it clear: America will no longer accept lopsided trade deals or unfair international agreements. And he is not afraid to wield economic power to ensure that the nation’s interests come first on the world stage.

What does FAFO mean in the context of foreign diplomacy? It’s about making bold moves without hesitation, challenging long-standing alliances, and demanding that other nations either step up to the plate or face consequences. For some, this was seen as reckless; for others, it was a refreshing change of pace after years of what they considered ineffectual or appeasing policies.

One of the clearest examples of Trump’s FAFO doctrine in action was his approach to NATO during his first term. Traditionally, the United States had served as the alliance’s primary protector and financial backer. Trump, however, demanded that European nations significantly increase their defense spending, making it clear that the U.S. would no longer be NATO’s “sugar daddy.” If allies refused to pay their fair share, they would face the consequences.

This was not just rhetoric — it was the foundation of Trump’s foreign policy.

His trade policies took a similarly aggressive stance, particularly against China. Instead of continuing the traditional path of diplomatic negotiations and trade concessions, Trump imposed tariffs, accused Beijing of unfair trade practices, and directly challenged China’s growing global influence.

In Trump’s view, the U.S. had been “playing nice” for too long while China exploited the system. His administration saw no reason to continue being accommodating — and made sure China felt the pressure.

That strategy remains in effect. On Feb. 2, Trump announced new tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico — not to start a trade war, as many media outlets falsely claimed, but to pressure these countries into taking action to curb the flow of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, into the United States.

Would the gambit work?

On Feb. 3, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the immediate deployment of 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a similar announcement later that same day. In response, Trump agreed to delay the tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month.

Beyond Mexico and Canada, Trump has already scored several major foreign policy victories during his second term — each rooted in his FAFO strategy.

Colombia has agreed to accept flights of repatriated citizens who entered the United States illegally after first refusing to accept them. The change? Again, Trump threatened tariffs. Colombia capitulated and is accepting its citizens back into the country.

Venezuela freed six Americans who were being held illegally in the country after a very brief meeting with U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell. Venezuela has also agreed to accept the repatriation of its citizens illegally in the United States, including members of the brutal Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Trump also decided to take out several leaders of ISIS in Somalia last weekend, launching airstrikes.

And, just for good measure, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio secured a commitment from Panama to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and to maintain its sovereignty over the Panama Canal.

America is back, with an aggressive foreign policy. For those countries that do not believe it or want to challenge the new approach, Trump has shown that he has one thing to say: FAFO.

Trump gets Venezuela to repatriate violent illegal aliens



President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that Venezuela has agreed to repatriate its citizens living illegally in the United States.

Trump wrote in a Saturday post on Truth Social that Venezuela has reached an agreement with the White House to accept its citizens, including members of the violent gang Tren de Aragua.

'We are in the process of removing record numbers of illegal aliens from all Countries, and all Countries have agreed to accept these illegal aliens back.'

Venezuela has historically refused to cooperate with U.S. repatriation flights. However, Trump’s tough stance on immigration appears to have pushed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro to reconsider.

Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell, visited Maduro in Venezuela on Friday. Grenell returned with six American citizens who were being detained by Maduro’s regime following the country’s July presidential election.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that Grenell’s visit does not indicate that the Trump administration recognized Maduro as the legitimate leader. U.S. officials have maintained that Maduro lost the election, recognizing challenger Edmundo González as Venezuela’s president-elect.

Grenell told the Wall Street Journal, “The only award for Maduro was my physical presence, the first senior U.S. official to visit the country in years.”

“It was a big gift to him to have a visit by an envoy of President Trump,” Grenell added.

Mauricio Claver-Carone, the State Department’s special envoy for Latin America, told the Washington Post that the agreement between the U.S. and Venezuela to take back its citizens was “not a negotiation.”

“The Venezuelan criminals of Tren de Aragua and other groups have to be deported and Venezuela has to accept them. It is their responsibility ... it is not negotiable. ... And if they don’t comply with these requirements, obviously, as President Trump himself has said, there will be major consequences,” Claver-Carone stated.

Trump wrote on Saturday, “It is so good to have the Venezuela Hostages back home and, very important to note, that Venezuela has agreed to receive, back into their Country, all Venezuela illegal aliens who were encamped in the U.S., including gang members of Tren de Aragua.”

“Venezuela has further agreed to supply the transportation back,” Trump continued. “We are in the process of removing record numbers of illegal aliens from all Countries, and all Countries have agreed to accept these illegal aliens back. Furthermore, record numbers of criminals are being removed from our Country, and the Border numbers are the strongest they have been since the First Term of the Trump Administration!”

The Biden administration previously extended Temporary Protected Status to roughly 600,000 Venezuelan nationals residing in the U.S.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced last week that the Trump administration had terminated an extension that would have shielded Venezuelan nationals from deportation until October 2026. The existing protections are slated to expire in April and September.

Leavitt noted on Friday that there are currently 400 Tren de Aragua gang members in custody waiting to be deported to Venezuela.

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

Richard Grenell warns people to be afraid of the government, then fires back at Adam Kinzinger for telling him to 'Shut up'



Richard Grenell, who has previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany, acting director of National Intelligence, and special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, has urged people to be afraid of the government.

"Fear your government! They are coming for you. Biden has turned it into a system that listens to you, watches your transactions, cancels you for disagreeing with them and censoring your opinions. It's getting worse. And no one in DC is worried because they are the perpetrators," Grenell wrote on X.

Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Republican, offered a two-word response to Grenell's assertions: "Shut up."

— (@)

Grenell responded, "lol. Debate, Adam. Don't shut down dissent views. Your J6 committee didn't have a single dissenting voice on the entire committee - everyone agreed….but that isn't the real world."

As a member of Congress, Kinzinger voted in favor of impeaching then-President Donald Trump on the heels of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Kinzinger was one of the two Republicans to serve on the House Select Committee that was supposed to investigate the Jan. 6 incident. He became a CNN senior political commentator after leaving office.

Grenell has said that "Democrats are afraid of dissenting views" and "are crushing and cancelling people who don't comply" with the media assisting. "It's unAmerican and intolerant," he wrote.

— (@)

"If you value counter culture or dissenting views, you must throw out Democrats from power," Grenell has asserted.

When someone on social media claimed that the government only goes after people who violate the law, Grenell responded by calling the commenter "naive."

— (@)

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

Richard Grenell calls Biden's pledge to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court 'a terrible precedent,' slams Rep. Ted Lieu for 'defending this horrific precedent of intolerance'



Richard Grenell, who briefly served as acting director of national intelligence under President Donald Trump, called President Joe Biden's pledge to nominate the first black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, "a terrible precedent," noting that many people were excluded from the pool of potential candidates.

Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the seat of Justice Stephen Breyer, who is slated to retire later this year. In a 53-47 vote on Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Jackson to serve on the nation's high court. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who in June, 2021, voted against confirming Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, was one of only three Republicans to vote in favor of confirming Jackson to the Supreme Court.

"There will be one seat on the Supreme Court with an asterisk - because not every American was considered to fill it. Hispanics, Asians, Whites, gays and men were not even considered. This is a terrible precedent," tweeted Grenell, who also previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany.

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California responded by tweeting, "Apparently @RichardGrenell believes that prior to President Biden, every Asian American, every gay person and every Black female was considered for Supreme Court openings and not a single one of them throughout US history was ever qualified. That’s [bullsh*t] and it’s demeaning."

Grenell, who is openly gay, fired back, "Ted LIEu proudly supports rejecting Hispanics from Supreme Court consideration. His constituents are outraged by his open intolerance." In another tweet Grenell said, "Ted LIEu attacks @BarackObama and Bill Clinton as racists and homophobes."

Apparently @RichardGrenell believes that prior to President Biden, every Asian American, every gay person and every Black female was considered for Supreme Court openings and not a single one of them throughout US history was ever qualified. That\u2019s bullshit and it\u2019s demeaning.https://twitter.com/richardgrenell/status/1512155340204228613\u00a0\u2026
— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1649392046

President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 — she is the first Hispanic to serve on the high court.

"What about the fact that minorities were historically excluded from Supreme Court openings?" Lieu replied to several people who had responded to his tweet. "Do you actually believe not a single Asian American, gay or Black female prior to Biden was qualified? What about that? Why won’t you answer the real question?"

Grenell accused Lieu of backing "racism and sexism."

"No President has ever vocally excluded Asians, Hispanics and men for the Court. Stop defending this horrific precedent of intolerance. Shame on you for supporting racism and sexism," Grenell tweeted.

No President has ever vocally excluded Asians, Hispanics and men for the Court. \n\nStop defending this horrific precedent of intolerance. Shame on you for supporting racism and sexism.https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/1512287736790724612\u00a0\u2026
— Richard Grenell (@Richard Grenell) 1649392693

Other Americans have also been critical of Biden's decision to limit the pool of potential candidates based on skin color and gender.

"Biden’s mistake: He should not be choosing a Supreme Court justice based on the color of their skin or sex, but rather on their qualifications & commitment to uphold our Constitution & the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans in that document which is the foundation of our nation," former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted earlier this year.