Trump expected to ‘soon’ appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy after promises of negotiating end to war with Russia
EXCLUSIVE: President-elect Donald Trump is expected to soon appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on ending the war with Russia, multiple sources told Fox News Digital. “You’re going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement,” one of the sources said. “You’re going to see that in short order.” The job is not expected to be a salaried role – from 2017 to 2019, Kurt Volker had served as special representative to Ukrainian negotiations on a volunteer basis. TRUMP’S FIRST CABINET PICKS DECIDEDLY NOT ISOLATIONISTS: UKRAINE, ISRAEL BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF Trump has been rolling out appointee names at lightning pace of those he wants to fill his Cabinet and advise him on top issues. He picked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security advisor and sources have told Fox News he’s settled on Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to lead the State Department. Trump has designated Steven Witkoff to be his special envoy to the Middle East. Trump has long insisted he could negotiate an end to the war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Few details have been given about how he would do this. A report last week by the Wall Street Journal suggested Vice President-elect Vance’s controversial suggestions from the campaign trail are now being pushed by multiple advisers close to the president-elect. TRUMP TEAM REACTS TO REPORT PRESIDENT-ELECT TOLD RUSSIA’S PUTIN NOT TO ESCALATE WAR WITH UKRAINE Some advisers are reportedly encouraging Trump to push Kyiv to agree to terms that would freeze the frontlines by creating an 800-mile-long demilitarized zone and allow Russia to keep the land it has illegally seized, which amounts to roughly 20% of Ukraine. It has also been suggested that Kyiv should agree not to pursue NATO membership for 20 years, a stipulation that critics of this plan argue kowtows to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Washington Post report on Sunday also claimed Trump had spoken with Putin, where the president-elect told the Russian leader not to escalate the war. Trump’s transition team would not confirm or deny the call. Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
Trump considers New York Rep Brandon Williams for possible Labor Secretary nomination
Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., is on a short list of contenders being considered for the nomination of Labor Secretary under President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Williams, who represents central New York, was viewed as one of the most vulnerable House Republican incumbents this election cycle because state Democratic leaders redrew his district to make it more favorable to their party. He was defeated by Democratic state Sen. John Mannion last week, but a source close to the president-elect’s transition team confirmed to Fox News Digital that Williams is now under consideration to join Trump’s Cabinet. “Brandon Williams was an exceptional member of congress who jumped into the race two years ago to challenge John Katko after he voted to impeach President Trump,” the source told Fox News Digital. “He’s a Navy veteran who served as an officer on a nuclear submarine, is a businessman and tech entrepreneur, was a political outsider, and will advance President Trump’s mission.” Citing sources, the New York Post was first to report about Williams’ consideration for Labor secretary, revealing he is on the “short version of the short list” and high-level conversations were happening on the matter Friday, days after the election. WHO COULD RUN TO REPLACE STEFANIK IN THE HOUSE? Williams serves on three House committees: Transportation and Infrastructure; Science, Space, and Technology; and Education and the Workforce. He is also a member of several caucuses, including the Republican Main Street Caucus, which focuses on “implementing pro-growth policies for small business owners, fostering economic and individual prosperity, and delivering real results for the American people,” according to its website. TRUMP TAPS FORMER NEW YORK REP LEE ZELDIN TO LEAD EPA Politico had reported on Tuesday that Williams is among names being “floated” for a position in the Trump administration, but the outlet did not specify Tuesday what that executive branch job could be. Politico reported two other possible contenders for Labor secretary: Patrick Pizzella, a former U.S. deputy Labor secretary, and Bryan Slater, the state Labor secretary under Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Trump has already selected two high-profile New Yorkers to join his Cabinet. House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was elected to a sixth term last week, will be pulled from Congress to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Lee Zeldin, a former Republican congressman who nearly ousted Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a competitive, but unsuccessful, 2022 bid to run the Empire State, has been campaigning on behalf of Trump and was selected to join the cabinet as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Who is Pete Hegseth, the pro-Israel Fox News host picked to head Pentagon?
United States President-elect Donald Trump has picked Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth, a pro-Israel and Iran hawk, to serve as his defence secretary, lauding him as “tough, smart and a true believer in America First”. The 44-year-old’s nomination to lead the world’s most powerful military has come in for criticism from the Democrats, who pointed out his “lack of experience” on the global stage. “The job of Secretary of Defense should not be an entry-level position,” Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, posted on X. So, who is Hegseth and will his inexperience come in the way of discharging his duty as the Pentagon chief? Who is Pete Hegseth? Hegseth, who served Afghanistan and Iraq, joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and now co-hosts Fox and Friends Weekend as well as serves as a host for Fox Nation. He has also authored multiple books, including The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, which have come in for praise from Trump. The War on Warriors, a bestseller, “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence”, the president-elect wrote, according to the AFP news agency. Hegseth defended service members accused of war crimes and in 2019, he urged Trump to pardon US service members who had been accused of war crimes. According to The Washington Post, Hegseth’s lobbying of Trump in 2019 resulted in the pardon of two service members who were accused of murder, and the reinstatement of rank of a third who was found guilty of posing with a body in Iraq. The 44-year-old developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on his Fox News show. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in Minnesota in 2012. According to his Fox News bio, he has a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He also did a graduation from Princeton University. Hegseth lives with his wife and seven children in the southern state of Tennessee. What was his role in the military? After graduating from Princeton University in 2003, Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard, serving overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as at Guantanamo Bay. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for his military service, according to his official website. The 44-year-old veteran was formerly head of the Concerned Veterans for America, a group backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch. What challenges lie ahead of him? Hegseth has served in the military, although he lacks senior military or national security experience. The Department of Defense has a budget exceeding $800bn, with about 1.3 million active-duty soldiers and another 1.4 million in the National Guard, the Army Reserve and civilian employees worldwide. If confirmed, Hegseth would face the daunting task of tackling an array of global conflicts – from the Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon to the Russia-Ukraine war – and the expanding alliance between Russia and North Korea to the rise of China. Smith, the Democrat, said while Hegseth’s combat experience is a plus, running the Pentagon requires a lot of other skill sets. “What’s your plan? What are you going to do? … How can you assure us that that lack of experience, you know, isn’t going to make it impossible for you to do the job?” Smith said. “I think those are questions that need to be answered over the next couple of months.” While heading the Pentagon is considered a key job in any administration, the post of defence secretary saw a tumultuous period during Trump’s first term between 2016-2020. Five men held the job during Trump’s four years. What’s his stand on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Iran? Hegseth has been pro-Israel in his coverage of war on Gaza and dubbed the two-state solution a “lip service”. He did a series – Battle in the Holy Land: Israel at War – about the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March. “My interview with Israeli PM @netanyahu today. Israel needs our support!” he posted on X in March. As an evangelical Christian, he views the Israel-Palestine conflict through a biblical lens. “This is not some mystical land that can be dismissed. It’s the story of God’s chosen people. That story didn’t end in 1776 or in 1948 or with the founding of the UN. All of these things still resonate and matter today,” Hegseth said in a 2016 interview with the Jewish Press. Hegseth has also been hawkish towards Iran, calling Tehran “an evil regime” in the wake of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, in 2020. Will he launch a culture war? Hegseth’s choice could bring sweeping changes to the military, as he has made it clear on his show and in interviews that, like Trump, he is stridently opposed to “woke” programmes that promote equity and inclusion. Trump told Fox News in June he would fire generals he described as “woke”, a term for those focused on racial and social justice but which is used by conservatives to disparage progressive policies. In June, at a rally in Las Vegas, Trump encouraged his supporters to buy Hegseth’s book after saying, if he won, “the woke stuff will be gone within a period of 24 hours. I can tell you.” Hegseth wrote in the book released in June: “For the past three years — after President Barack Obama poured the social justice foundation — the Pentagon, across all branches, has embraced the social justice messages of gender equity, racial diversity, climate stupidity, and the LGBTQA+ alphabet soup in their recruiting pushes.” His conservative agenda could put him on a collision course with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General CQ Brown. Hegseth has accused Brown of “pursuing the radical positions
A new deterrence for Lebanon is needed to avoid a long war with Israel
Following the re-election of former US President Donald Trump, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel have seemingly gained momentum. On Monday, US special envoy Amos Hochstein and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met in Washington to discuss the matter. In October, Hochstein traveled to Beirut, but his visit bore no fruit, as he made clear that for the US, “both sides simply committing to [United Nations Security Council Resolution] 1701 is not enough” and that there needs to be a new “formula that brings an end to this conflict once and for all”. Casting aside UN decisions appears to have become commonplace among US officials of late, with disastrous consequences. In their latest offer, Israel and the US are demanding that Lebanon accept a new arrangement in which Israeli troops can engage in “active enforcement” of demilitarisation in southern Lebanon. In other words, Israel would have effective military control over Lebanese territory. No sovereign nation – or non-state actor – would ever agree to such terms. Neither Lebanon nor Hezbollah would give up their military deterrence. Therefore, US and Israeli insistence on these new conditions will only prolong the war. Building a new consensus around Resolution 1701 remains the only viable path towards peace. The resolution brought to an end Israel’s last war with Lebanon in 2006, acting as a mechanism to stop the hostilities and outlining measures to clear the border area of armed group presence. Although there were issues with its full implementation – which both sides were aware would happen – it effectively put an end to the fighting. Commitment to its implementation can stop hostilities this time as well. And Hezbollah must make the first move. The grim prospect of a long war On Sunday, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that after 40 days of intense fighting, Hezbollah has been defeated. “Now it is our job to continue to put pressure in order to bring about the fruits of that victory,” he reportedly said during an official ceremony. Israel seems to be convinced that it can bring Hezbollah to capitulation by force. However, going for a military solution in Lebanon means war that will not be anything like the 2006 conflict. Back then, Israel’s ground offensive faltered, and public support eroded as losses mounted. Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu has the Israeli public’s backing, buoyed by military successes that have eliminated Hezbollah’s leadership and disrupted its communications networks. Despite these losses, Hezbollah is also better prepared, better equipped, and arguably more disciplined than in 2006. It’s little wonder that Israel has not managed to gain more than a few miles of ground in since its land incursions began and the daily rocket salvoes directed at northern and central Israel continue. Barring some major change or diplomatic shift under the incoming Trump administration that would put pressure on Israel, all of this means that we are in for a very long war. An essential deterrent Hezbollah restarted hostilities with Israel in support of its ally Hamas and, up until recently, made a ceasefire with Israel contingent on a ceasefire in Gaza. The group knows that while many Lebanese understand its ongoing intervention, many are also dissatisfied, to say the least, with its actions over the past two decades. By propping the Syrian regime in the 2010s, helping maintain the rule of the corrupt Lebanese elite when the economy collapsed in 2019, and blocking the investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast, Hezbollah has made a lot of enemies at home and abroad and has had to rely almost completely on Iran for diplomatic leverage and military prowess. Its refusal to integrate into a national defence strategy by maintaining its weapons outside of the command and control of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has also led to a colossal mismanagement of national security and left the country vulnerable to Israel’s far superior military. The devastation Israel is wreaking across Lebanon is also a major cause for concern. The longer the huge displacement from the south and east of the country continues, the more social tensions and anger towards Hezbollah will grow. At the same time, Hezbollah’s deterrent arsenal of missiles and fighters is Lebanon’s only real bargaining chip. Without Hezbollah, Israel’s Merkava tanks would almost certainly roll into Beirut and install a puppet regime, facing little resistance along the way. The Lebanese calling for Hezbollah to give up its arms for peace are either living in a fantasy world or are just terrible negotiators. That said, if Hezbollah wants to salvage any semblance of Lebanese unity, the onus is on it to come to the table with a political plan for the implementation of Resolution 1701. It also needs to prove it can work within a national framework, not just act as an Iranian proxy. Given the distrust among its detractors, for these initiatives to work they would need to happen in phases. For starters, Hezbollah would need to explain how it will formally coordinate with the LAF to form a joint deterrent force, just like it did in 2017 when they fought together against ISIL (ISIS). In addition, Hezbollah will need to accept that the national army and government speak on its behalf and that it needs to take its place in such a configuration without the threat of arms or veto power over political decisions. From there, the party will need to elaborate on Lebanon’s national defence strategy, which can’t rely solely on the woefully under-resourced LAF. That strategy needs Hezbollah’s arms – but with a clear roadmap for integration. New deterrence framework Any new defence strategy that leaves Lebanon without a deterrent against Israel’s war machine is bound to fail and reinforce the justification for Iran and Hezbollah to maintain a non-state deterrent. Talk of a new national security framework and support for the LAF at conferences like the one organised by France in late October remains irrelevant, as it comes without concrete security guarantees for Lebanon. If French
EU court rules Ukraine cannot trademark Russian warship insult
Ukraine wants to use defenders’ profane defiance on merchandise; court says political slogan does not qualify. A European Union court has ruled that Ukraine cannot trademark a profane phrase directed by border guard troops at a Russian warship in the early days of Moscow’s invasion. The European Union’s General Court said on Wednesday that the phrase: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself” cannot be trademarked on European territory because it is a political slogan. A response to threats issued by the ship, the words have become a sign of defiance and unity for Ukrainians during the war, and have featured on a variety of merchandise. “The phrase in question has been used very intensively in a non-commercial context” linked to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, the court said in a statement. “It will therefore not be perceived by the relevant public as an indication of the commercial origin of the goods and services which it designates,” the judge added. National heroes The slogan was famously directed by a Ukrainian border guard to the Russian cruiser Moskva, which wished to capture Snake Island, a tiny islet in the Black Sea. An audio clip circulated by Ukrainian authorities featured the Russian forces aboard demanding that the soldiers on the island surrender or face destruction. Ukraine has since declared the 13 soldiers it said were killed in the incident to be national heroes. Russian forces abandoned the island several months after seizing it, saying it was a “goodwill gesture”. Ukraine said that heavy losses incurred while trying to defend the island made the Russians leave. ‘Political message’ The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has been trying to claim commercial rights for the phrase since 2022, in order to use it on merchandise, including bags and clothing. But the EU Intellectual Property Office, which is responsible for registering EU-wide trademarks, has also rejected the request multiple times since 2022. It has argued that the phrase does not meet the bloc’s requirements to be granted the request. The slogan has become a point of national pride, and has been repeated many times in public demonstrations, as well as adorning billboards and even a postage stamp. The EU General Court on Wednesday said it “observed that a sign is incapable of fulfilling the essential function of a trademark if the average consumer does not perceive, in its presence, the indication of the origin of the goods or services, but only a political message”. Adblock test (Why?)
Ted Cruz announces he’s backing Rick Scott in Senate leadership vote, snubbing John Cornyn
Cruz made the announcement less than an hour before Republican senators were scheduled to vote for their next leader to replace longtime GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump’s victory over Harris proves ‘Second Amendment won,’ gun rights groups say
Supporters of the Second Amendment will have a strong ally in the White House with President-elect Donald Trump following years of pressure from the Biden administration, firearms rights advocates say. Organizations including the Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association tell Fox News Digital they are looking forward to working with Trump when he returns to the White House in January, despite gun control groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety vowing to stand strong against the president-elect’s “extremist agenda.” “I think the Second Amendment was on the ballot and the Second Amendment won. The American people clearly elected a pro-gun presidential ticket,” Aidan Johnston, the director of federal affairs for Gun Owners of America, told Fox News Digital. “With President-elect Trump, gun owners across the country will once again have a strong advocate for their Second Amendment rights in the White House,” said Randy Kozuch, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. US JUDGE TOSSES ILLINOIS’ BAN ON SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS, GOVERNOR PLEDGES SWIFT APPEAL In an interview with Fox News Digital, Johnston said the Second Amendment has been “under assault for the last four years” of the Biden administration. He referenced measures including the crackdown on homemade firearm kits and the closures of gun stores under the administration’s “so-called zero tolerance policy,” which the White House says is aimed at revoking federal licenses for “rogue gun dealers violating our laws.” “President Trump promised on the campaign trail that he would sign national concealed carry reciprocity. And so I think that Congress has got to deliver that for the president,” Johnston said. “If you have a concealed carry license, it should be valid in all 50 states, just like your driver’s license.” “The American people have clearly given the president a mandate. He was elected on a pro-Second Amendment platform and Congress needs to deliver for the American people,” Johnston added. NEW YORK GUN CONTROL REGIME HANDED DEFEAT IN COURT Kozuch told Fox News Digital in a statement that when Trump “addressed NRA members last May, [he] pledged to roll back every attack from the Biden-Harris Administration on law-abiding gun owners and install an ATF Director who respects the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” “We look forward to continuing our work with President Trump and the next Congress to enact pro-Second Amendment policies that protect Americans’ ability to defend themselves and their loved ones,” Kozuch continued. In the wake of Trump’s election, Everytown for Gun Safety released a statement saying, “the gun safety movement has faced countless setbacks but when it comes to the number one killer of kids, nothing will stand in our way.” The group added, “Make no mistake: Trump’s extremist agenda is a danger for our nation, but it means we’ll double down on our efforts to protect our communities and continue to make progress, just like we did in 2016.” The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence also said, “We have weathered storms before, and we will do so again. Even during Trump’s first presidency, we preserved critical gun safety measures and held the line in our fight against the gun lobby.”
Elizabeth Warren gets sarcastic after Trump taps Musk, Ramaswamy for DOGE: ‘Yeah, this seems REALLY efficient’
After President-elect Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, an effort to root out government waste, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., criticized Trump’s decision, suggesting he had tapped two people to execute the job of one person. “The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great start with split leadership: two people to do the work of one person,” Warren said in a post on X, sarcastically adding, “Yeah, this seems REALLY efficient.” Musk and Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement. ELON MUSK, VIVEK RAMASWAMY TO LEAD TRUMP’S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY Trump noted that the department, nicknamed “DOGE,” “will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” Musk has invited the public to share their thoughts about what should and should not be slashed. “All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency. Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know! We will also have a leaderboard for the most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining,” he tweeted. ELON MUSK SAYS ‘ALL ACTIONS’ TAKEN BY DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY WILL BE ONLINE: ‘TRANSPARENCY’ Ramaswamy dropped his bid for the GOP presidential nomination and endorsed Trump back in January. “DOGE will soon begin crowdsourcing examples of government waste, fraud, & and abuse. Americans voted for drastic government reform & they deserve to be part of fixing it,” he tweeted. Warren also criticized Trump’s decision to tap Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, claiming that he is not qualified for the role. PSAKI AND SEN. WARREN AGREE TRUMP’S BEHAVIOR ‘PUTS US ALL AT RISK’ “A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense. I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our servicemembers. Donald Trump’s pick will make us less safe and must be rejected,” she declared in a post on X. Hegseth is an author and Army veteran who earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, according to his website. His last day with Fox was Tuesday. Trump said in a statement that Hegseth “will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”
Arkansas Gov Sarah Sanders will not join the Trump administration
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday that she will not leave the governor’s mansion to join President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration in Washington, D.C. “I’ve already announced my bid for re-election and I look forward to serving in this position for the next six years,” Sanders told reporters when asked if she might re-join the White House. “So unfortunately, and hopefully, you guys are stuck with me for a while.” Sanders served as the 31st White House press secretary for two years during Trump’s first term. She left the White House in 2019 and mounted a successful campaign for governor in 2021 with Trump’s endorsement, becoming the first female governor of the Natural State. She is also the youngest currently serving governor in the United States. Sanders campaigned for Trump’s re-election in 2024 and appeared at several of his rallies. Her father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, was recently named as Trump’s choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. TRUMP NOMINATES MIKE HUCKABEE FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL “The only member of my family who will be going into the administration is my dad,” Sanders said Tuesday. GOV SANDERS HITS CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS TOP SURROGATE FOR TRUMP IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE: ‘GOING FULL-SPEED AHEAD’ Trump announced Huckabee’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Israel on Tuesday in a statement that called the former governor “Highly Respected.” “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East,” Trump said. TRUMP’S PICKS SO FAR: HERE’S WHO WILL BE ADVISING THE NEW PRESIDENT Reacting to the appointment, Sanders said she was “unbelievably proud” to learn that her father was nominated to serve in the Trump administration. “I went to Israel for the first time with my dad when I was eleven and it changed my life. There is no one President Trump could have picked with a greater love for the Israeli people and commitment to the unbreakable bond between America and Israel than him,” she posted on X. “Love you dad!”
More migrants likely to rush border despite reports of splintering caravan: experts
Migrants are likely to continue their march to the southern U.S. border in a bid to enter the country before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, multiple experts tell Fox News Digital. “They’re determined to make it into the U.S., one way or the other, because they’ve sold everything, they have nothing to go back to,” independent journalist Auden Cabello, who extensively covered the border crisis, told Fox News Digital. The comments come as some reports have indicated that some migrants traveling in caravans toward the U.S. border have decided to turn around in light of Trump’s victory, apparently fearing deportation under the incoming administration even if they were able to enter the country. “This is the end of my dream of getting out of Cuba,” a Cuban migrant named Felipe told Newsweek after the election. TRUMP LIKELY TO MAKE SEVERAL BORDER SECURITY MOVES ON FIRST DAY, SAYS EXPERT A Reuters report last week expressed a similar sentiment, with the outlet reporting that a caravan with thousands of migrants traveling through Mexico became half of its original size by Thursday. But Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said caravans typically begin to splinter when they get to Mexico and that a rush to the border is likely to continue for some migrants before the transition of administrations in the White House. “Some will still rush to get in during the administration, calculating they won’t be sought or found for years,” Ries told Fox News Digital. “Others may make the decision it isn’t worth it for them to complete the journey.” On the campaign trail, Trump has long promised to take drastic measures to “seal up those borders” while also promising to carry out one of the largest deportation operations in American history. TRUMP’S ‘BORDER CZAR’ WARNS DEM GOVS REJECTING TRUMP DEPORTATION PLAN: ‘GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY’ Trump was also known for a more hard-line stance on the border during his first term as president, something migrants are likely to weigh as they consider whether to make the journey to the border. Cabello expressed a similar sentiment to Ries, noting that many shelters in Mexico have continued to report overcrowding, while he expects some U.S. border sectors that have in recent months been almost silent to begin seeing groups of 100 to 200 attempt to cross the border daily. Cabello also said that migrants splintering from caravans in Mexico are unlikely to stay in the country and will instead keep moving north, and migrants who are already on the way to the U.S. are not “going to go back on their own dime.” “They’re going to try to make it into the U.S., whether it’s through CBP One, legally or illegally,” Cabello said. “That’s where I get the phrase ‘today’s rejected asylum seekers are tomorrow’s gotaways.’ Meaning, if they can’t’ get in legally, they’re going to resort to smugglers to get in illegally.”