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Trump takes detour to ultra-blue California to spotlight Harris’ home turf’s failed policies: ‘Paradise lost’

Trump takes detour to ultra-blue California to spotlight Harris’ home turf’s failed policies: ‘Paradise lost’

With Election Day closing in, former President Trump took a surprising detour to ultra-blue California to spotlight the state’s sky-high inflation, crime and illegal immigration. Trump touched down in Coachella Valley on Saturday evening to take on Vice President Kamala Harris on her home turf. Voters in the decidedly blue state came out in droves, with Trump remarking on the sheer size of the crowds as he took the stage at 5:30 p.m. PST. “We have had a great reception here. Look at this crowd,” Trump said, marveling at the crowd. “This is like record stuff as far as the eye can see.” WHY TRUMP IS HEADED INTO ‘THE BELLY OF THE BEAST’: THE STRATEGY BEHIND HIS BLUE STATE STOPS Trump highlighted California’s failed policies, saying that “we gotta make it better.” “I stand before you today in the heart of the majestic Coachella Valley, to declare that the Republican Party will always put America first and lead us on to victories like you have never seen before,” he said. “Because we’ve become the party of common sense.” The former president promised that he’d fight for “hard-working citizens of every race, religion, color and creed.” During the Trump campaign’s announcement that the former president would make a rare visit to California, spokesperson Steven Cheung said that it was to “highlight Harris’ poor record and show that he has the right solutions for every state and every American.” Trump highlighted Harris’ as well as Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s track record in the state, promising to “save it.” “The radical left Democrats have destroyed this state, but we are going to save it,” he said. “And we’re going to make it better than ever before.” “I’ve come here today not only to talk about California, where you have one of the worst governors in the country, Gavin Newsom, but you definitely had somebody here that was horrible – Kamala,” he said. “And now she wants to destroy our country.  “She wants to destroy our country like she did San Francisco,” he said. Trump likened California to “paradise lost,” transitioning his spiel to a promise of a safe and secure southern border. THE CLOSER: FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA HITS THE TRAIL FOR HARRIS IN THE CLOSING STRETCH “California’s really is a paradise lost, but we’re going to bring it back,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. We’re bringing it back. It’ll happen fast. “We’ll stop the murderers from coming in. The drug dealers, everybody coming into California,” he said. Trump reminisced of what California used to be, saying it was a ‘beacon of what our country aspired to become.” “It had the weather, it had the water,” he said. “The state had the best schools, the safest communities, and a booming middle class, but all that was eradicated by decades of the very policies that Kamala Harris wants to now force upon America.” The Republican nominee for president pointed to California’s sky-high cost of living, ongoing crime crisis and continuing illegal immigration crisis. “Today, California has the highest inflation, the highest taxes, the highest gas prices, the highest cost of living, the most regulations, the most expensive utilities, the most homelessness, the most crime, the most decay, and the most illegal aliens,” he said. “Other than that, I think you’re doing quite well, actually,” he quipped. While acknowledging the economy is top of mind in California and across the nation, Trump highlighted illegal immigration as a top issue for voters, saying that the U.S. is considered an “occupied country.” “But we are known all throughout the world now as an occupied country,” he said. “We got people taking over parts of Colorado. We have people taking over other states, a lot of states.” CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING IN THE 2024 ELECTION  Trump promised to “liberate our country from criminals” and “rescue California.” “To everyone here in California and all across our nation, I make this pledge to you. November 5th, 2024 will be liberation day in America,” he said.  “We’re going to liberate our country from criminals. I will rescue California in every town across America that’s been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail or kick them the hell out of the country,” he said. Trump pointed to Eduardo Sarabia, an illegal immigrant, who was recently arrested in Los Angeles after he allegedly viciously raped two women in his windowless Ford Transit van. “He was charged with sadistically raping two women in the back of a windowless van that police said was disgustingly outfitted as, quote, a rape dungeon on wheels,” Trump said. “Detective believes this monster had many more victims.” Trump also pointed to Victor Hernandez, an illegal migrant from El Salvador, who escaped his country of origin after committing a heinous crime and allegedly murdered Maryland mother, Rachel Morin. “We had the strongest border in the history of our country. Now we have the worst border in the history of the world,” he said. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS “My message to the American people is very simple,” Trump said. “No person who has inflicted the violence and terror that our harass has unleashed on our country can never be allowed to become the President of the United States again.” Trump promised that Harris’ “reign of terror” would end the first day he took office. “Anyone who orchestrates an invasion of America cannot lead America,” he said. “Kamala Harris, her reign of terror ends the day I take office.” With time an extremely precious commodity for the presidential campaigns in the final stretch of a White House showdown in a margin-of-error race with Harris, many are wondering why Trump is stopping in blue states. The stop in Coachella may benefit Trump with Latino voters — who have been trending towards the GOP in recent years — not only in southeast California, but more importantly in neighboring Arizona and Nevada, two of the seven crucial battleground states

Meghan McCain calls out Kamala Harris over remarks about late Arizona senator: ‘Don’t make me start’

Meghan McCain calls out Kamala Harris over remarks about late Arizona senator: ‘Don’t make me start’

Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, called out Vice President Kamala Harris Friday after the Democratic presidential nominee shared an anecdote about an interaction she reportedly had with the six-term senator. Harris was stumping at a Republicans for Harris event in Scottsdale, Arizona, Friday afternoon when she claimed John McCain, who represented the Grand Canyon State in the U.S. Senate until his death in 2018, once praised her. Harris said the exchange happened after she and McCain were “going after each other” at a committee hearing. The Republican approached her later that day, she said. “I step onto the floor of the well of the Senate later that day — we had votes — and I passed by John McCain, and he looks at me, and he says, ‘Kid, come over here. You’re going to make a great senator,’” Harris recalled. “True story. True story.” TRUMP VISITS WISCONSIN TOWN SHAKEN BY MIGRANT CRIME: ‘CROSSED KAMALA’S WIDE-OPEN BORDER’ While speaking to the crowd, Harris then commended the late Arizona senator and called him an “incredible American hero.” But Meghan McCain found the story dubious and publicly addressed it on X Friday night. “Now, I know democrats want to reinvent history and turn my Dad into any illusion you guys need him to be depending on the political moment you need to bastardize his memory for… But please don’t make me start sharing what I remember him ACTUALLY saying about Kamala Harris,” McCain wrote. “And consider this my final warning shot, I will start spilling tea.” On Saturday, McCain called her critics “lunatics” in response to the backlash. “A lot of really triggered democrats in my timeline who claim they know more about my dad than well…. his daughter,” she wrote. “Get a grip on reality, you lunatics.” WALZ ROASTED AFTER DECLARING ‘WE CAN’T AFFORD FOUR MORE YEARS OF THIS’ AT RALLY Democrats have been actively targeting moderate Republicans in Arizona this campaign season, and the swing state is predicted to have a significant impact on the presidential election in November.  Some GOP officials in the state have evoked McCain’s name to signal their support for Harris because John McCain had an icy relationship with former President Trump. Speaking at a Harris rally in August, Rep. Gregory Stanton, D-Ariz., called on “John McCain Republicans” to support the Harris-Walz ticket. Mesa’s Republican mayor echoed that sentiment. “In the spirit of the great Sen. John McCain, please join me in putting country over party and stopping Donald Trump and protecting the rule of law, protecting our Constitution and protecting the democracy of our great country,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said. Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.

Vance points out the ‘biggest difference’ between leadership of Trump, Harris during campaign stop

Vance points out the ‘biggest difference’ between leadership of Trump, Harris during campaign stop

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, set the record straight on how former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership styles for America’s veterans differ during a campaign stop in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The Republican vice presidential nominee’s rally was held at JWF Industries, which supplies “Department of Defense prime contractors with reliable, on-time fabrications and sub-assemblies,” according to its site. Vance, himself a Marine veteran, asked the crowd, “When our own citizens suffer and our veterans are at the top of that list, [do] you know what a big difference between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris [is]?” ‘WE BELIEVE IN DONALD TRUMP’: MORE THAN A DOZEN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS ENDORSE FORMER PRESIDENT “Donald Trump wants to put American citizens and American veterans first. He thinks the government of this country exists to serve the people of this country, not people who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” said Vance. “That is one of the biggest differences between the leadership of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.” Vance’s comments came on the heels of a question from a reporter asking how the Trump-Vance ticket would prioritize ending veteran homelessness in America, as Pennsylvania has the fourth-highest rate of veteran homelessness in the country. In late August, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it would award over $800 million nationwide in grants through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs, with $17 million of the overall grant going to Pennsylvania.  According to nonprofit Mission Roll Call, an average of 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness per diem in 2023. Veteran homelessness increased 7.4% from 2022 to 2023 during the Biden administration, according to the VA. TRUMP CAMPAIGN SEEKS INCREASED SECURITY AS ELECTION DRAWS NEAR, INCLUDING MILITARY AIRCRAFT AMID IRAN THREATS “Let’s be honest here, $17 million,” Vance said. “While it will help, it is not nearly enough to meet the challenge of the homeless veteran population in this country. “These guys went off to war. Some of them came back with wounds, some of them with wounds you cannot see. But all of them came back with the pride that they served their country and did what our country asked them to do,” he added. “How disgraceful is it that millions of our veterans are getting left behind in some form or another, and thousands of them are homeless? When we’re housing illegal aliens in first-class hotels, it’s a disgrace.” In New York City alone, 119 migrant shelters contracted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are hotels and motels. An additional 38 hotels are contracted through different agencies. Veterans 4 America First Institute (V4AF), a self-described grassroots policy organization and nonprofit, responded to Vance’s comments on Trump and Harris’ differing approaches toward veterans. “Senator Vance is 100% correct, more needs to be done for our homeless veterans, especially at a time under VP Harris when the Department of Veterans Affairs dropped the ball as veteran homelessness went up over 7% last year,” Darin Selnick, V4AF founder and Air Force veteran, told Fox News Digital.  “Meanwhile, the VA gives special treatment to illegal immigrants by processing and paying their ICE medical claims and to special interests over veterans, such as what is happening at the West L.A. campus where VA has turned its back on homeless veterans while giving illegal leases to UCLA, Brentwood School and an oil company,” continued Selnick.   The VA was recently ruled against during a case in Los Angeles after it had been discovered that the organization had “quietly sold off” land deeded in 1888 as an Old Soldiers’ Home to private interests instead of building housing units for veterans. U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., introduced a bill last December that would block VA funding for illegal immigrants nationwide called the “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act” after reports came out of the DHS using VA funding for illegal migrants in ICE detention. Selnick added: “It is time for VP Harris to walk the walk instead of just talking, and to do what is right for veterans instead of using veterans as a political prop.” The Republican National Committee’s official platform for 2024 includes a subsection titled “Take Care of Our Veterans,” saying, “Republicans will end luxury housing and Taxpayer benefits for Illegal Immigrants and use those savings to shelter and treat homeless Veterans.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We will restore Trump Administration reforms to expand Veterans’ Healthcare Choices, protect Whistleblowers, and hold accountable poorly performing employees not giving our Veterans the care they deserve,” the document continued. Representatives for Vance and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Why has Israel attacked UN peacekeepers in Lebanon?

Why has Israel attacked UN peacekeepers in Lebanon?

Several soldiers wounded after Israel twice attacked UNIFIL’s headquarters in southern Lebanon. Condemnation has come in from across the world after Israel twice attacked United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon. The multi-nation UNIFIL force has been in southern Lebanon since 1978. So why is Israel targeting the mission? And can it remain in place? Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault Guests: Ali Riza – Political and security affairs analyst Rami Khouri – Distinguished public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut Raymond Murphy – Professor with the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Galway and a former UN peacekeeper with UNIFIL in Lebanon Adblock test (Why?)

Will escalating violence in the Middle East affect the US elections?

Will escalating violence in the Middle East affect the US elections?

With the United States presidential election less than four weeks away, analysts caution that Israel’s expanding military campaigns across the Middle East could bruise the chances of the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Foreign policy is rarely a top priority for US voters. But Israel’s yearlong war in Gaza, as well as its intense bombing campaign in Lebanon, have spurred questions about the US’s role in the conflict. The administration of President Joe Biden has been unwavering in its support of Israel, splintering the Democratic base, with some voters — particularly Arab Americans — turning against the party. With Harris in a tight race against former Republican President Donald Trump, anger towards the Biden administration could mean that Arab voters in key states like Michigan stay home in November. “This is a constituency that, by the second term of the Obama administration, identified as Democrat by a two-to-one margin,” Jim Zogby, the co-founder of the Arab American Institute, told Al Jazeera. “Now party identification is virtually tied at 38 percent each.” Much of that decrease, he said, has to do with the Biden administration’s support for the war in Gaza, which has erased entire neighbourhoods and killed more than 42,000 people, many of them women and children. That campaign has been enabled by about $20bn in US weapons assistance. “It’s less that this group of voters is getting more conservative, and more that they want to punish this administration for what they’ve allowed to happen,” said Zogby. “There’s a sense that Palestinian and Lebanese lives don’t matter.” Eroding support A September poll by the Arab American Institute found that Harris and Trump were virtually tied among Arab voters, receiving 41 percent and 42 percent support, respectively. That figure is actually a marked improvement for the Democrats. When Biden was running for re-election, his support among Arab voters cratered after the beginning of the war in Gaza, dropping to just 17 percent in October 2023. Biden previously won 59 percent of the Arab vote in the 2020 presidential race. When Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, following a debate performance that underscored concerns about the 81-year-old’s age, some voters hoped his replacement, Harris, would bring a fresh approach. But Harris has thus far refused to break with Biden or call for an end to weapons transfers, even as a series of escalatory strikes by Israel have brought the Middle East to the brink of a wider regional war. In a TV interview this week, when asked whether she would have diverged from Biden on any issues, Harris replied: “There is not a thing that comes to mind.” The Harris campaign also fielded criticism during August’s Democratic National Convention, after party officials refused to allow a Palestinian American speaker on stage to give voice to the suffering in Gaza. “People are looking for the slightest gesture of humanity, and the campaign just won’t give it to them,” said Zogby. “They’re making a mistake that will cost them votes.” Swing states While US policy towards Gaza may not be a top priority for most voters, more than 80 percent of Arab Americans say that it will play an important role in determining their vote. Many of those voters are concentrated in a small number of swing states that play an outsized role in deciding the country’s presidential elections. The Midwestern battleground state of Michigan, for instance, has the second-largest Arab population in the country. It also has the largest percentage of Arab Americans of any state: Nearly 392,733 people identify as Arab in a state of 10 million. Polling averages show Harris with a lead of only around 1.8 percent there, well within the margin of error. And her razor-thin lead in the state could be eroded by third-party candidates like Jill Stein, who has actively courted the Arab and Muslim American vote in the area. “The situation in Gaza has complicated Democratic chances in Michigan,” said Michael Traugott, a research professor at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan. “Since we expect things to be close, it will hurt Harris if a large portion of the state’s Arab community stays home on election day,” he added. But Michigan’s Arab American population is no monolith, and there have been bitter divisions within the community over how best to use its electoral leverage. Some believe that a Harris loss in Michigan would send a warning to future candidates about underestimating the influence of Arab voters. Others view a second term for Trump, a pro-Israel hawk, as an unacceptable risk: the Republican has previously said that Israel should “finish the job” in Gaza and vowed to deport foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestine student protests. One group attempting to walk a tightrope between those perspectives is the Uncommitted National Movement, an organisation born of a protest movement against Biden. During primaries, the movement called on Democrats to vote “uncommitted”, rather than throwing their support behind the Democratic president. Now, as the general election approaches on November 5, the movement says it cannot support Harris — but it also opposes a second Trump presidency. “As a Palestinian American, the current administration’s handling of this genocide has been beyond enraging and demoralising,” a spokesperson said in a video released this week. “But the reality is that it can get worse. Nobody wants a Trump presidency more than [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, because that is his ticket to wiping Palestine off the map.” Expanding fighting The final weeks of the presidential race have coincided with the looming threat of further escalation in the Middle East, adding an element of uncertainty to the final weeks of the US race. In early October, for instance, Iran launched a ballistic missile attack against Israel, in response to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, among others. On that same day, Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon, in addition to its deadly aerial bombing campaign in the