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Beyoncé says ‘I’m here as a mother’ as she endorses Kamala Harris at massive rally in Texas

Beyoncé says ‘I’m here as a mother’ as she endorses Kamala Harris at massive rally in Texas

HOUSTON, TX – It was a searing hot – but unsubstantiated – rumor during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago two months ago. Speculation that Beyoncé would appear at the Democrats’ presidential nominating convention – perhaps alongside Taylor Swift – turned into a frenzy. It didn’t happen. But on Friday night, in front of a massive announced crowd of 30,000 at a soccer stadium in downtown Houston, the superstar singer and cultural icon returned to her hometown to make an appearance on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris. Beyoncé, whose hit song “Freedom” has been adopted by the vice president as her campaign trail anthem, spoke ahead of Harris and introduced her at the event, which leaned heavily into reproductive rights. “It’s time for America to sing a new song,” Beyoncé said as she formally endorsed the vice president in her White House race against former President Trump. “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, loud, Texas welcome to the next President of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris.” And she emphasized that “I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician, I’m here as a mother. A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies.” Harris, who has made the issue of reproductive rights a centerpiece of her presidential campaign, took aim at the Lone Star State’s extremely restrictive abortion law. And the rally included speeches by a number of people adversely impacted by the state ban. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2024 ELECTION Reproductive rights have been a winning issue for Democrats ever since the conservative majority on the Supreme Court in the summer of 2022 overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which had legalized abortion for decades. Harris reiterated her message that Trump, who named three conservative justices to the high court during his four years in the White House, is responsible for the abortion law in Texas, where the procedure is banned after six weeks of pregnancy. Beyoncé, who was introduced by her mother, fashion designer and philanthropist Tina Knowles, was joined on stage by singer and actress Kelly Rowland, her Destiny’s Child bandmate. “H-Town. We are so happy to be standing here on this stage as proud Texan women supporting and celebrating the one and only Vice President Kamala Harris. A woman who has been pushing for what this country really needs right now,” Beyoncé said.  WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS INDICATE IN THE HARRIS-TRUMP SHOWDOWN And Rowland, standing next to Beyoncé, noted that “Houston, you’ve already had a hand in creating destiny, so do what you do and do this thing again.” While Beyoncé was the biggest celebrity on the stage, the rally included another icon. Texas native and legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Willie Nelson performed earlier in the evening. Introduced as a “Texas voter,” the 91-year-old Nelson asked the crowd are “we ready to say, Madam President.” Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba spoke earlier during the rally. The Harris campaign said the crowd was the largest yet at one of the vice president’s rallies. It was the second straight night that Harris had the support of major celebrities. At a rally in suburban Atlanta where she teamed up with former President Obama, rock legend Bruce Springsteen – who has been supporting Democratic presidential candidates for two decades – performed three songs. Also speaking at the vice president’s rally, which her campaign said attracted 23,000 people, were filmmaker and playwright Tyler Perry, film director, producer, screenwriter and actor Spike Lee, and actor Samuel L. Jackson. Trump, who was in Texas earlier on Friday, took aim at Harris. “Today she’s in Texas to rub shoulders with woke celebrities,” the former president charged as he spotlighted the issue of immigration and border security at an event in Austin. It was a similar message from Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, who also criticized Harris for campaigning with celebrities. Whatley argued that “Harris’ refusal to acknowledge the border crisis she created is one of many reasons why Texas is firmly Trump Country – Kamala Harris broke the southern border, but President Trump will fix it.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Biden stumbles through event, refers to former Rep. Giffords in past tense: ‘nothing wrong with me’

Biden stumbles through event, refers to former Rep. Giffords in past tense: ‘nothing wrong with me’

President Biden sparked confusion during a mumbling saga, remarking that there was ‘nothing wrong’ with him as he discussed Sen. Mark Kelly’s wife in the past tense. “I’m Joe Biden, I’m Jill Biden’s husband. And God, thank you for the introduction to the Gila Indian River community here… the Gila… nothing wrong with me. The Gila River Indian community for welcoming me today,” he said while visiting the Indian Reserve on Friday. “You know, I say this with all sincerity, this, to me, is the most consequential thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to do in my whole career as President of the United States,” he said. “It’s an honor, a genuine honor, to be in this special place on this special day.” BIDEN UNDER FIRE ONLINE AGAIN FOR TWICE CONFUSING LIVING EUROPEAN LEADERS WITH DEAD PREDECESSORS IN ONE WEEK  Biden offered Sen. Mark Kelly, D-AZ, a shoutout, and then referred to Kelly’s wife, former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, D-AZ, in the past tense. “It is an honor, a genuine honor to be in this special place on this special day,” he added. “Thank you to Senator Mark Kelly, a great friend who also was married to an incredible woman [Giffords] who was my friend.” While the former Arizona politician was one of the victims in a 2011 mass shooting that took place in Tucson, she survived the tragic event that claimed six lives. BIDEN MOCKED FOR ADMITTING ‘WE CAN’T BE TRUSTED’ IN LATEST GAFFE: ‘AGREED, JOE’ Following the assassination attempt, she chose to resign from her position. The 54-year-old is still alive and is married to Sen. Kelly since 2007. WATCH: Biden’s gaffes include mixing up world leaders with dead people. In Feb. 2024, the president claimed he spoke with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl – who actually died four years earlier. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended President Biden’s gaffe with Chancellor Kohl, telling the press that it “happens to all of us, and it is common.”  “As it relates to the names and what he was trying to say, many people, elected officials, many people, you know, they can misspeak sometimes, right?” she said.  “And so this happens. You know, it happens to all of us and it is common,” Jean-Pierre argued. “But I do want to make sure we don’t forget what the overall arching kind of theme, what he is trying to say about our leadership on the global stage.”  Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

GOP lawmakers, leaders react to Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran: ‘America stands with Israel’

GOP lawmakers, leaders react to Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran: ‘America stands with Israel’

Republican lawmakers and leaders voiced support for Israel after the Jewish nation launched a retaliatory strike against Iran after the Islamic Republic unleashed a barrage of missiles earlier this month. “America stands with Israel,” former Vice President Mike Pence wrote in an X post. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., echoed Pence’s sentiment, saying Israel is “our great ally.” ISRAEL BEGINS RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST IRAN FOLLOWING MISSILE BARRAGE TARGETING ISRAELIS “America continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our great ally Israel in the face of terror,” he wrote. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., wrote, “The United States stands with Israel.” Other lawmakers took to social media to share that they were rooting for the Israeli military as it “defends itself against the evil Iranian regime.” “God Bless Israel as it seeks to defend itself against the evil Iranian regime for these vicious attacks over the past year and decades prior, only emboldened by the weak Biden-Harris admin that allegedly leaked their plans,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote.  “The U.S. must stand with Israel today and always.” “Iran is on the ‘find out’ side of the equation right now. I stand with Israel,” former state Rep. Tim Whelan, R-Mass., wrote. “May almighty God keep the IAF and IDF safe.” The GOP’s reaction came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday it was “conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.“ “The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since Oct. 7 — on seven fronts — including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” the IDF said in a statement. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.” Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.