‘Now’s the time’: Trump victory has Biden admin bracing for migrant surge at southern border
The Biden administration is reportedly preparing for a potential migrant surge at the southern border ahead of a looming Trump administration amid concerns that migrants may seek to flood into the U.S. before President-elect Trump enacts strict border controls. Numbers have dropped dramatically at the southern border since June after a more than three-year historic surge that overwhelmed officials and communities across the country. Trump’s presidential election victory on Tuesday brings the prospect of much tougher border measures and a mass deportation operation. NBC News reports that on Monday, before the election, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas held a virtual meeting with top advisers and the heads of DHS agencies. In that meeting, officials raised concerns about what a Trump victory might mean for the border. ‘LIBERATION DAY’: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ON BORDER SECURITY, IMMIGRATION The report said that officials asked if DHS officials were prepared for a possible spike in immigration, with immigrants preparing to enter the country at the last minute. Migrants would unlikely be motivated by the prospect of a Trump administration, where there have been promises of historic deportations and a crackdown on sanctuary cities, but would instead be motivated by an effort to take advantage of what may be lighter border security than what they believe will be in place under the Republican administration. DHS did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. But there are concerns that have been echoed by some conservatives who believe there could be a surge leading up to January. “It’s going to be a rush to the border,” Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News Digital. “I’m sure Mexico has stepped out of the way [now] that the election is over, feeling their obligation to try and help Kamala Harris win the election is finished.” Trump has promised to implement additional limits on the border, which includes ending the use of the CBP One app to bring in hundreds of thousands of migrants via humanitarian parole at ports of entry. He has also promised to build additional border wall to the more than 450 miles he built during his first administration. He has also promised to launch the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history” to deport millions of illegal immigrants. HOW HARRIS WAS DOGGED BY ‘BORDER CZAR’ LABEL, PAST RADICAL IMMIGRATION VIEWS DURING FAILED CAMPAIGN Ries said that any surge will be fueled by migrant smugglers looking for business. “The cartels and the smugglers are spreading the word that now’s the time to get in before Trump enters,” she said. “They will use any marketing that they can at any time to make more money.” Republicans have also called for a tighter use of Temporary Protected Status, which grants foreign nationals from certain countries protection from deportation and work permits if it is deemed unsafe for them to return. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Other Trump-era policies that could come back include a form of the Remain in Mexico policy, which saw migrants stay in Mexico while they wait for their asylum cases to be heard, and travel bans from countries deemed to be national security threats. In the last week, Trump also raised the possibility of a tariff on Mexican goods to force Mexico to get tighter control of the numbers coming north. “I’m going to inform [the Mexican president] on day one or sooner that if they don’t stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send into the United States of America,” he said. Ries said the looming restrictions will deter some migrants, but not all of them. “A lot will take their shot because over the decades they’ve seen that if they generally fly below the radar once in the U.S., their chance of being encountered and removed is quite low. But for some, they’ll decide: ‘I’m not going to spend my money, I’m not going to sell my house and do this.’”
Vance’s orbit reveals what role he will play in Trump’s second administration
Sources in Vice President-elect JD Vance’s political orbit say his role in Donald Trump’s upcoming administration is simple. It will be whatever the president-elect needs Vance to do and wherever Trump needs a second set of eyes and focus, they tell Fox News. Vance, the first-term senator from Ohio who quickly became one of the top advocates for Trump’s “America First” policies in the Senate, was named by the former president as the GOP’s vice presidential nominee on the first day of the Republican National Convention in July. PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSES THE NATION FOLLOWING TRUMP DEFEAT OF HARRIS The senator was tireless on the campaign trail the remainder of the summer and autumn, stumping on behalf of the Republican ticket and taking aim at Vice President Kamala Harris; her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; and President Biden’s administration. With Trump and Vance’s convincing electoral victory this week, which included a sweep of the key battleground states and a popular vote victory, the transition between the Biden and second Trump administrations is quickly getting underway. And the vice president-elect will have an honorary role in the transition. THE VOTES IN UNRESOLVED RACES ARE STILL BEING COUNTED – HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS ELECTION RESULTS Sources noted some of the issues the vice president-elect personally cares about that he would like to be involved in over the next four years. Among them are immigration, tech policy and, as a Marine who served in the war in Iraq, veterans policies. The sources also shared that Vance’s experience with the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, also makes disaster relief a subject that’s important to him. While no names are being bandied about for top positions in the incoming vice president’s office, a look at who currently serves the senator may offer clues. Jacob Reses is Vance’s Senate chief of staff, and James Braid serves as deputy chief of staff in the senator’s office. And it’s probable top outside advisers, such as Andy Surabian, a leading political adviser to Donald Trump Jr.; Luke Thompson, who ran the super PAC backing Vance’s 2022 Senate campaign’ Jai Chabria, a longtime Ohio-based adviser; and informal adviser Arthur Schwartz will continue to hold similar roles with Vance.
Republicans within striking distance of House majority as key races remain too close to call
The majority in the House of Representatives appears within reach for Republicans, who have already won control of the Senate and White House. Associated Press race projections show Republicans holding 209 seats compared to 196 seats for Democrats as of Thursday afternoon. A total of five sitting House lawmakers are projected to lose their re-election bids so far – three Republicans and two Democrats. Several races involving GOP incumbents in California are still too close to call and are likely to be pivotal to the House majority. SPEAKER JOHNSON RIPS ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ IN BIDEN ADMIN’S HELENE RESPONSE: ‘ALARMED AND DISAPPOINTED’ Republicans in three Arizona districts, as well as GOP lawmakers in Nebraska, Iowa and Oregon, are also still awaiting result projections. Whichever party reaches 218 victories first will hold the House majority in the 119th Congress. House Republican leaders have been touting confidence in their eventual victory, with the top four House leaders already formally announcing bids to hold the same spots in a January House majority. “It appears we’re going to hold the House and flip the Senate,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital on Wednesday night. “California’s the main state still. You know, in a lot of those close races, our incumbents are leading the way – by small margins, but we knew there would be small margins.” HOUSE GOP LEADERS RIP ACTBLUE AFTER DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT HIT WITH SUBPOENA It’s a far cry from House Democrats, whose hopes of winning the majority are rapidly decreasing. Multiple sources told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Democrats were bracing for Republicans to win complete control of Congress and the White House. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed out that a Republican victory is not a forgone conclusion, however. “It has yet to be decided who will control the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. We must count every vote and wait until the results in Oregon, Arizona and California are clear,” Jeffries said in a statement that also congratulated President-elect Trump. JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ Democrats have scored key wins in projections by unseating Republican incumbents in three New York seats – Reps. Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams and Anthony D’Esposito. Republicans are projected to flip three seats as well – one vacated by a Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., to run for Senate, and two districts held by moderate Democrats in Pennsylvania. The GOP also saw former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., projected to survive his toughest race yet as of Thursday afternoon. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News projects Democratic Rep. Don Davis will win North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District
Fox News Decision Desk projects Democratic Rep. Don Davis will be the winner against Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, considered a toss-up race this election cycle. Davis, who won the seat in 2022 after the retirement of longtime Democrat G.K. Butterfield, is a former state senator and mayor. He also has a military background as an Air Force officer. Buckhout is a retired U.S. Army colonel with extensive experience in military logistics and national security. While the 1st District has historically leaned Democratic and has a large Black population, recent electoral trends in North Carolina are showing growing Republican support in rural areas, where conservatives are largely dissatisfied with Democratic policies on issues such as the economy and agriculture. The district, which covers much of the northeastern part of the state, includes rural counties, the Inner Banks, and parts of the Research Triangle. POLITICAL STORM: ON TRUMP ‘ONSLAUGHT OF LIES,’ BIDEN URGES FORMER PRESIDENT TO ‘GET A LIFE MAN’ ———————————————————————————————- POLITICAL STORM: ON TRUMP ‘ONSLAUGHT OF LIES,’ BIDEN URGES FORMER PRESIDENT TO ‘GET A LIFE MAN’
Kamala Harris underperformed Biden’s numbers with women. South Dakota’s governor thinks she knows why.
In her quest to become the first female president, Vice President Kamala Harris portrayed herself as a champion of women’s rights, putting abortion rights at the forefront of her campaign. But she fell short, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem explains in an interview, because in doing so, Harris and the Democrats failed to meet voters where they are. “I think what was so interesting during this campaign is we consistently saw Kamala Harris and the Democrats try to put women in a box,” Noem told Fox News Digital. “They tried to define women as only caring about abortion and their health care. They didn’t really give them due credit for being the individuals out there that are raising families and caring about their children’s education and paying their bills and pursuing their careers.” Among the more surprising findings from the 2024 election is that Harris under-performed with women compared to President Biden’s support four years ago. HARRIS FORMALLY CONCEDES ONE DAY AFTER TRUMP’S SWEEPING VICTORY President-elect Trump prevailed Tuesday in a decisive victory, sweeping all the key battleground states and winning a majority in the national popular vote – the first time a Republican has done so in 20 years. Voter concerns about the economy and immigration propelled Trump’s triumphant return to the White House. But he also expanded his base with traditionally Democratic constituencies, including Black, Hispanic and young voters, according to the Fox News Voter Analysis. The election showcased many of the nation’s deep divides, particularly in gender. Men voted for Trump by 10 points, while women supported Harris by 8 points. The 18-point gender gap was slightly bigger than in the 2020 presidential election (17 points). That widening was due to Trump improving 5 points among men since 2020. But Harris also under-performed with women compared to President Biden, who won the female vote by 12 points. Harris became the Democratic frontrunner after President Biden suspended his bid for re-election in July amid reports of his declining mental acuity in the wake of a poor debate performance against Trump in June. Biden quickly endorsed Harris, who made “reproductive rights” a top issue on the campaign trail, a strategy that would ultimately not win over enough swing state voters. Harris was the Democrat nominee for only about four months. DONALD TRUMP JR., KRISTI NOEM JOIN FRANKLIN GRAHAM IN HELENE-TORN NORTH CAROLINA WITH SAMARITAN’S PURSE GOP strategists told Fox News Digital that the Harris campaign’s abortion strategy was ineffective against Trump, who had argued the issue returned to the states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Noem added that abortion is just not the only priority for women in America. She campaigned for Trump in Pennsylvania and other swing states, promoting his policies and taking questions from voters. “We’ve got women running businesses that want their communities to be safe. They want to thrive. And they certainly don’t want a president that doesn’t protect women and the opportunities they have in front of them,” she told Fox News Digital. The governor also criticized Harris’ team for “minimizing women” in the closing weeks of the election, referencing how Harris surrogate Mark Cuban had said Trump never surrounds himself with “strong, intelligent women.” SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM SIGNS BILL BANNING SOME GENDER-RELATED MEDICAL, SURGICAL PROCEDURES FOR MINORS “They even went so far as to call women weak and dumb, you know, by their surrogtates. And I think that was offensive to many of us across the country,” said Noem. She also said the Democrats’ far-left positions on abortion and transgender issues have made it easier for Republicans to take “common sense” positions that most Americans agree with. “Kamala Harris and her Democratic Party have become more and more extreme on gender issues, on abortion. It’s easier for Republicans and our candidates and President Trump to use common sense to talk to the American people about truly how extreme the Democrats want to take this country and what we can do to make sure that every single person in this country, whether you’re a man or woman, that you get an opportunity,” she said. The Trump campaign and associated political action committees leaned in to the culture wars with millions of dollars spent on ads that attacked Democrats and Harris as too liberal on gender issues. “Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you,” one of Trump’s strongest attack ads concluded. The New York Times reported that Trump’s anti-trans ads shifted the race 2.7 percentage points in Trump’s favor after viewers watched it. Noem has also fought the culture wars. In South Dakota, she signed legislation that banned puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments and sex-change operations for transgender individuals under the age of 18. She has spoken repeatedly about keeping biological men who identify as transgender out of women’s sports and protecting opportunities for women and girls. “President Trump is not going to let mediocre men take away opportunities for our outstanding women,” Noem said. It was Harris, she argued, who would have women on an “uncompetitive playing field.” Asked if she had discussed joining the new administration, Noem said she had not had any conversations with the president-elect about a job. “He knows I’ll help him any way that I can. But I spoke to him today, and he’s in great spirits. He’s looking forward to getting his administration set up. And I think he’s already getting phone calls from world leaders and working with people on his transition team to make sure that he’s ready to hit the ground running.” “I love being the governor of South Dakota,” she added. “So we’ll continue to be a strong advocate for President Trump. He’s my friend, I’m so happy for him. And if he asks me to do something, well, we’ll make a decision at that time.”
Susie Wiles, the ‘ice baby,’ is a top contender for Trump’s chief of staff, sources say
Speculation is surging that Susie Wiles, a veteran political operative who worked closely with President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign, could take a top position in his new administration. Sources within Trump’s transition team and others close to the former president’s campaign confirmed to Fox News that Wiles is reportedly the frontrunner for White House Chief of Staff – who will oversee the Executive Office of the President. Trump, during his victory celebration in West Palm Beach late Tuesday night, gave special thanks to Wiles for her prominent role throughout the campaign. “Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie [Wiles] and Chris [LaCivita], the job you did. Susie, come, Susie,” Trump said, inviting her up to the microphone, but Wiles refrained from making comments. HERE ARE THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT CANDIDATES FOR TOP POSTS IN TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION “Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The ice baby. We call her the ice baby. Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background,” Trump added. “Thank you, Susie.” NBC News also reported that Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become Trump’s chief of staff. Two sources in Trump’s political orbit didn’t wave Fox News off the reporting. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ALREADY MEETING WITH TRANSITION TEAM, STRATEGIZING HOW TO FILL ADMINISTRATION Wiles’ decades-long political career stretches back to working as former President Ronald Reagan’s campaign scheduler for his 1980 presidential bid. Wiles managed several campaigns throughout her political career, including former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s presidential campaign and Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s Senate bid. The Florida-based consultant successfully managed the operations for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns in the Sunshine State, contributing to his victories in Florida during both elections. In between presidential cycles, Wiles helped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with his 2018 re-election bid. Wiles currently serves as a senior adviser to Trump and is campaign co-chair alongside Chris LaCivita. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was previously floated as a possible contender for the role, but recently told “The Guy Benson Show” that he would not take the position if it was offered. “People always ask if I’m going to be chief of staff, no I’m not going to be…that’s a no,” he said.
Moderate Republicans buck Cheney, throw support behind Trump
Moderate Republicans broke heavily for President-elect Trump despite the efforts of opponents such as Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney. Trump carried Republicans who didn’t identify as a “MAGA Republican” 74%-22% nationwide in Tuesday’s election, according to Fox News voter analysis. The result comes as Vice President Kamala Harris spent much of the last few weeks of the campaign making an appeal to moderate Republicans, hoping to siphon off votes from members of the party who have typically attempted to distance themselves from Trump and his “Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.” LIZ CHENEY ACKNOWLEDGES TRUMP’S VICTORY: ‘WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT’ At the center of Harris’ campaign to appeal to those Republicans was Cheney, a former GOP lawmaker who became infamous for having public clashes with Trump during his first term as president. Cheney hit the trail with Harris in late October, including a three-state battleground tour in which Cheney stressed her opposition to Trump as a constitutional conservative. “I would say, I don’t know if anybody’s more conservative than I am. And I understand the most conservative value there is to defend the Constitution,” Cheney said during a stop in the battleground state of Michigan when explaining her opposition to the nominee of her own party. Joining Cheney in the Republican movement to endorse Harris was her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, and former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Prominent Republicans such as former President George W. Bush and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also declined to endorse Trump’s bid for president, though neither opted to offer an endorsement of Harris. LIZ CHENEY BLASTS TRUMP AS ‘DEPRAVED,’ ‘UNSTABLE,’ CLAIMS PRO-LIFE AND PRO-CHOICE WOMEN RALLYING BEHIND HARRIS Nevertheless, Republican voters in battleground states who identified as not MAGA Republicans largely mirrored the national numbers, overwhelmingly throwing their support behind Trump. Such voters broke for Trump in the largest numbers in Georgia, with 82% of non-MAGA Republicans supporting Trump compared to 16% who supported Harris. Nevada saw the least support for Trump among members of the group in battleground states, with 68% of non-MAGA Republicans supporting Trump and 26% supporting Harris. Cheney acknowledged the results of the election in a social media post Wednesday, calling for people to accept the results. “Our nation’s democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections,” Cheney said. Representatives for Cheney did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Xi Jinping warns Trump US would ‘lose from confrontation’ with China as renewed trade war looms
President Xi Jinping called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election win, and warned the U.S. would “gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation” with China. The message comes as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must prepare for deeper tensions as Trump has vowed to bring back the trade war of his last presidency with blanket tariffs. “Xi Jinping noted that history tells us that both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. A China-U.S. relationship with stable, healthy and sustainable development serves the common interests of the two countries,” China’s foreign ministry said in a readout of the conversation. “It is hoped that the two sides will, in the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, enhance dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and find the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other in the new era to the benefit of the two countries and the world.” This week, Republicans captured control of the Senate and have favorable prospects in the undecided race for power in the House. With both chambers in Congress and the presidency, little would stand in Trump’s way of a steep sanctions regime. BIDEN FINALIZES CRACKDOWN ON US MILITARY TECH INVESTMENTS IN CHINA WITH ONE WEEK TO LAME DUCK SESSION In recent years, U.S.-China relations have worsened not only on trade – China has been threatening U.S. allies like the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan in the South China Sea. They’ve been accused of sending Chinese nationals to spy on U.S. military bases and sent what was believed to be a surveillance balloon across the U.S. While Trump ushered in an era of steep trade competition and increased support for Taiwan, President Biden did not necessarily warm the relationship. Trump increased duties by at least 10% during his first term on over $300 billion worth of goods. Biden did not lift those tariffs. That was on top of export controls on a variety of items that started under Trump and furthered under Biden. On the campaign trail this year, Trump has proposed a 10% tariff on all U.S. imports and 60% on Chinese-made products. CHINA EXERTS NEW RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORTS OF MINERALS CRITICAL TO US WEAPONS MAKING If Trump successfully raises tariffs to 60%, it could reduce China’s exports by $200 billion and cause a one percentage point drag on GDP, said Zhu Baoliang, a former chief economist at China’s economic planning agency, at a Citigroup conference. Last year, China exported about $500 billion worth of goods to the U.S., about 15% of all of its exports. Mainland China and Hong Kong stocks fell Wednesday as it became clear Trump would win the election. China’s exports grew 12.7% year-on-year, hitting a 27-month high in October, in anticipation of the potential for a Trump victory, as Chinese vendors likely rushed out products that could be hit by tariffs next year. Beijing is expected to unveil a bold stimulus package on Friday to aid its ailing economy, amid lackluster consumer spending and deflation. The U.S. and Europe both increased tariffs on electric vehicles recently, darkening trade outlook for a market where China has long dominated. China has been taking key steps to buoy its markets, and has an arsenal in response to U.S. tariffs that could include imposing duties on U.S. agricultural imports, export controls on critical minerals essential for U.S. defense and targeting U.S. companies with interests in China.
Trump-backed incumbent Rep. Scott Perry wins re-election in Pennsylvania
Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry is projected to win his re-election effort against Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson in the state’s 10th Congressional District. With 99% reporting, Perry led with 50.8% of the vote, to Stelson’s 49.2%. President-elect Donald Trump is projected to win Pennsylvania on the presidential level. The victory puts the GOP one seat closer to the 218 seats needed to secure the House majority. As of Thursday afternoon, the balance of power there is still undecided, with the Republicans leading 209 seats to the Democrats’ 195. Perry has served as a Pennsylvania congressman since 2013, and currently represents the state’s 10th District, which includes the state’s capital, Harrisburg, as well as Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York Counties. The race for the district’s seat heated up recently even as most attention has been on the Keystone State’s presidential and Senate races. CONGRESSMAN, ARMY VET SAYS BIDEN BEING ‘USED,’ FEARS OTHERS ARE MAKING DECISIONS: ‘IT’S ABUSIVE’ Perry, who has repeatedly been endorsed by former President Trump throughout his career, is the former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and campaigned on issues such as cracking down on illegal immigration following the “Biden-Harris Administration’s reprehensible, dangerous, and failed border policies,” American energy independence, protecting women’s sports and reeling in inflation following the “the radical Left’s spending increases.” PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RACE: 5 FORMER HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY DON’T SUPPORT REP SCOTT PERRY Perry faced Stelson, a former broadcast journalist for decades in the Harrisburg area. Just days ahead of the election, the Democratic challenger racked up endorsements from former Republican House members who worked with Perry. Former Reps. Barbara Comstock, Adam Kinzinger, Denver Riggleman, Dave Trott and Joe Walsh threw their support behind Stelson last week and launched a “Republicans for Janelle” group. HARRIS HECKLED AT PENNSYLVANIA CHURCH, SAYS VOTING FOR HER FULFILLS GOD’S EXPECTATION ‘FOR US TO HELP HIM’ Stelson campaigned on issues such as protecting abortion access following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, hiring more border agents to better secure the border, and lowering the cost of living for Pennsylvanians. The pair traded barbs during a debate last month, with Perry touting legislation he supported under Trump’s administration when the cost of living was cheaper for voters. “I voted for the largest tax cut in history, giving people in this district and across the country, in Pennsylvania, more money in their pocket,” he said. “When I was in Congress four years ago, when President Trump was there, wages were the highest they have ever been since the Carter administration.” IT’S CLEAR THE KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN IS IN ‘FREE FALL’, SAYS REP. SCOTT PERRY Meanwhile, Stelson focused on raising the minimum wage. ”Pennsylvania has a $7.25 an hour minimum wage,” she said. “Every state around us, has almost double. West Virginia has a higher rate than that, and the cost of living is far less.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Political eyes have been locked on Pennsylvania as Keystone State voters are championed as the ones who will likely determine the outcome of the federal election. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016 when he successfully campaigned against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but lost the state in 2020 against President Biden. The Senate race between longtime Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick has also attracted a greater focus in the state as the GOP looked to flip that seat red.
Where does Trump’s New York sentencing stand after massive election win?
Following his massive election victory, President-elect Trump is still scheduled for sentencing in his Manhattan criminal case later this month, with presiding Judge Juan Merchan first ruling whether to dismiss the charges altogether after the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling earlier this year. Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records following his Manhattan criminal trial in May. District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office worked to prove that Trump falsified the business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump has maintained his innocence in the case. Trump is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 26, which is already a four-month delay from the original date of July 11. Trump’s lawyers had asked Merchan to overturn the former president’s guilty verdict in New York v. Trump after the Supreme Court ruled in July that former presidents have substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts in office, but not for unofficial acts. Merchan is expected to rule by Nov. 12 as to where the charges stand. “A normal judge would dismiss this case, and then the DA would have to decide, what — if anything – remains, so that we could consider re-bringing the case. But Judge Merchan has shown himself to be nothing but an ordinary judge. And so the catch-22 here is, if he was normal, he would dismiss it, but because he’s not normal, he’ll probably deny it. But because it’s an immunity claim, that gives the Trump defense team the right, the legal right, to immediately appeal his denial,” Cully Stimson, deputy director of the Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, told Fox News Digital. TRUMP’S ‘MODERN DAY SALEM WITCH TRIAL’ VERDICT SIGNALS ‘OPEN SEASON’ ON FORMER PRESIDENTS: EXPERTS Stimson said that even if Merchan denies Trump’s claim of immunity, the Trump team appeals the decision and an appellate court also denies Trump’s claim, the president-elect would not face incarceration. “For all intents and purposes, no matter what happens if [Merchan] denies it, and the appeals court… follow the judge, and then the judge gets to sentence him. Even then the Justice Department will come in and say, ‘Look, under the Supremacy Clause, you cannot impose a criminal sentence, especially one of incarceration on a sitting president.’ And so that case will be on ice until after Trump gets out of office. But as a practical matter, this case and the Fanni Willis case are over,” he said. Trump pleaded not guilty in the case and denied any such affair with Daniels. The now-president-elect had railed against the trial as a “sham,” while calling Merchan “corrupt” and “conflicted,” appearing to refer to the judge’s familial ties to the Democratic Party. Trump also lambasted the case as “lawfare” promoted by the Biden-Harris administration to hurt his chances of succeeding in the 2024 presidential election. Trump cannot pardon himself upon his inauguration, as it was a state case. Stimson continued that, considering the Supreme Court’s ruling on immunity, it would be impossible to take a scalpel to the case and remove the evidence connected to Trump’s first White House administration and “official acts” in the position from the evidence connected to his life before he was president. TRUMP LAWYERS REQUEST TO MOVE NEW YORK CRIMINAL CASE TO FEDERAL COURT, CITING SCOTUS IMMUNITY RULING “[Merchan] is not your traditional judge, but he’s not going to say there’s no immunity for Trump because… the highest court in the land has said that presidents enjoy absolute immunity for their official acts, and so he’s going to have to recognize that the question is whether he has the temperament and the judgment — which he has proven not to, at least so far — to apply that in a fair and impartial manner and dismiss the charges,” Stimson told Fox News Digital. “By dismissing the charges, that just puts the ball back in Alvin Bragg’s court. If Alvin Bragg wants to double down on stupid, which he’s done a lot, he can [reopen the case]. But he’s not going to get anywhere with that, because by then, the president will have assumed office. And the Justice Department will move under the Supremacy Clause that you cannot bring your case, your criminal case, against a sitting president while he’s the president,” he continued. JUDGE MERCHAN DELAYS TRUMP SENTENCING UNTIL AFTER ELECTION Fox contributor and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Andrew McCarthy also wrote in an op-ed for Fox Digital this week that Trump would not face prison time in the case. “Understand, Trump is not going to prison even if Merchan metes out an incarceration sentence. Though the charges are felonies, they are not sufficiently serious under New York law to merit immediate detention; Trump will get bail pending appeal,” he wrote. “Given that Trump is not going to be sent to Rikers Island by a Manhattan judge in any event, it would be prudent to postpone the sentence and allow Trump to pursue his immunity appeal. That would avoid the unseemliness of subjecting the next president of the United States to a criminal conviction and sentence when he is about to take office,” he continued. “Lawfare was terrible for the country. The resounding win Americans have given Trump should be its death knell,” McCarthy added later in his piece.