Trump tentatively making peace with Iran, but potential future strikes remain as leverage
President Donald Trump hailed a tentative peace deal in the works with Iran with the caveat that in-person truce signings remain “too far” off. “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.” Shortly after that post, Trump told media outlets, “I don’t think” there should be any imminent plans to make a trip to the Middle East for any longtime peace deal talks or denuclearization signing. WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR “It’s too far,” Trump reportedly told the New York Post on Wednesday morning. “No, it’s too much.” Trump has long panned his peace negotiators getting on a long trek to the Middle East for merely exchanging ceasefire or peace proposals, repeating many times in the past week that talks with him and his administration can be done “telephonically” for now. “I think we’ll do it” over the phone, Trump has said. TRUMP CLAIMS IRAN ‘STARVING FOR CASH,’ ‘COLLAPSING FINANCIALLY’ AFTER EXTENDING CEASEFIRE Trump’s Truth post came as reports suggested Washington and Tehran were nearing a possible framework to end their 67-day war, with Pakistan helping mediate talks. Trump said he was meeting with military officials Wednesday morning amid announcements of an end to Operation Epic Fury before the 60-day Authorization of Military Force deadline this week. Trump also announced a pause to “Project Freedom,” a mission he had announced two days earlier to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote Tuesday night on Truth Social. VANCE EN ROUTE TO PAKISTAN FOR HIGH-STAKES IRAN TALKS AS ‘FRAGILE’ CEASEFIRE TEETERS Trump has previously said he would be open to traveling to Pakistan to sign a formal agreement, citing the role of Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir in helping bring the two sides together. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, when he also delivered a White House daily press briefing, standing in for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave. “They should check themselves before they wreck themselves in the direction that they’re going,” Rubio told reporters, adding that it is difficult to get a full read on Iran’s scattered and in-hiding leadership because some of the leftover regime hardliners are “insane in the brain.” MARCO RUBIO WARNS IRAN WANTED TO BE THE ‘NEXT NORTH KOREA’ AS HE SEES ‘FINISH LINE’ IN CONFLICT Trump declined to define what would lead to renewed military operations against Iran, saying Tuesday, “They know what not to do.” Iran’s president has said that surrender to “unilateral demands” is “impossible,” but Esmail Baghaei Hamaneh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Iranian news Wednesday that some unspecified leaders are “considering the U.S. proposal” for peace. “The U.S. proposal is still being considered by Iran, and after summarizing its points of view, Iran will convey its views to the Pakistani side,” Hamaneh added, according to a translation. As Iran’s foreign minister meets his counterpart in Beijing, Rubio warned that countries violating U.S. sanctions will face secondary penalties.
Walz hit with local revolt from Minnesota mayor refusing ‘ugly’ new flag: ‘People’s decision’
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is facing a new challenge from a Minneapolis-area mayor who is refusing to back down from flying the original 1980s state flag. The mayor said the controversial flag redesign has left citizens out of the process and stuck with what consider an “ugly” replacement. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas said that “in my nearly 10 years of being on the city council in Champlin and going on four years as mayor of this town, I have never heard from more people on any one issue than I did about the Minnesota state flag.” The new flag has become a cultural and political flashpoint in a state already reeling from one of the largest fraud scandals in U.S. history, heavily involving the Somali immigrant community. The flag was approved by a 13-member commission created by the Democratic-controlled legislature in 2023. Critics of the flag say it is overly simplistic and some have even knocked it as bearing a resemblance to Somalia’s national flag. Sabas said that “without any question” there is at least a two-to-one majority in favor of keeping the earlier 1983 version of the state flag. He said that many believe it erases their history, while others simply think it is “ugly.” He also emphasized the massive wasteful spending to replace the old flag, pointing to the $40,000 it cost the city of Champlin alone. For these reasons, he is now calling on Walz and the state legislature to reopen the flag issue and put it to a vote by citizens across the state. “These are the people’s flagpoles. This is the people’s decision,” he emphasized. MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS PUSH BILL TO CUT STATE AID TO CITIES THAT FLY THE ORIGINAL STATE FLAG The old flag features a blue field with the state seal, with a farmer and American Indian figure along with the state motto and founding date. The new flag touts a more simplified design with a dark shape representing Minnesota, a light blue field and an eight-point North Star. In its final report to the Minnesota legislature, the Minnesota State Emblems Redesign Commission said that “through extensive public input, a design contest that drew over 2,500 entries, and many hours of deliberations,” the commission had “created designs that reflect the spirit of Minnesota — the people, the land and water, and the history of our state.” Many Minnesotans, however, do not feel the flag represents them or their state. The Champlin City Council voted in February to continue flying the original Minnesota state flag. There has been an effort by some Democrats in the legislature to crack down on around a dozen towns and counties across the state refusing to fly the new flag. Sabas emphasized that Champlin is well within its legal rights to fly whichever state flag it wants or even no flag at all. He said that he does not have a particular personal attachment to the old flag. He does, however, take issue with how he believes the citizens of Minnesota were left out of the process of choosing their own flag. “Two years ago, the governor and the Democrats had full power of the House, Senate, and the governor’s seat. They chose they wanted to change the state flag, which they legally have the ability to do that. But instead of bringing this to the House, through the Senate and all voting on it, they picked select members of a committee and that’s who chose the flag,” he said. Now, Sabas said Walz and the state legislature “have the opportunity to do this legally and do it right.” ‘SCHEMES STACKED UPON SCHEMES’: $1B HUMAN-SERVICES FRAUD FUELS SCRUTINY OF MINNESOTA’S SOMALI COMMUNITY In the state legislature, Minnesota Sen. Mark Koran, a Republican, told Fox News Digital that despite being created as a bipartisan commission, the flag redesign committee only represented “about 13 percent of Minnesota’s population.” “Native Americans, Hispanic, LGBT, you name it, every special group was identified,” he said. “So, that was really reflective of how all governance [in Minnesota] has been done by a small group of people that they’ve pandered to under the guise that they’re they’ve been oppressed and they’ve given them the strongest voice.” While he admitted that the flag “may seem unimportant at one level,” he said it has galvanized people across the state because “it’s a direct assault on hard-working, legal U.S. Minnesotans.” “It was a process that reflected almost how all of [Minnesota] legislation has been implemented,” he asserted. Back in Champlin, Tim Huttner, a member of the city council, echoed the mayor’s sentiment on putting the new flag to a statewide vote. “We cannot legally put it on a city ballot, but it doesn’t mean we can’t put it on a state ballot,” he told Fox News Digital. Huttner said that before the council voted on which flag to fly, he held a roundtable of his own with constituents. By taking an informal vote of roundtable attendees, Huttner said he found “100 percent” expressed support for flying the original flag. KEVIN MCCARTHY SAYS MINNESOTA’S ‘ENTIRE DEMOCRAT ADMINISTRATION’ WILL HAVE TO RESIGN OVER FRAUD SCANDAL When a constituent asked him what his opinion was on the flag, Huttner said his response was, “I don’t have an opinion. I work for you.” “I respect our city legislators, I respect our state legislators, but sometimes you’ve got to redo a redo,” he continued. “I believe this is one of those times.” As the nonpartisan leader of a purple municipality, Sabas said of Walz, “I’ve always felt that he’s someone who does listen to me when I have something to say.” “So, I challenge the governor in his last year of being governor of the state of Minnesota to really find a way to unite,” he said. “Unite Minnesotans, unite us, Republicans, Democrats, people that don’t know which side they are on, unite us.” Fox News Digital reached out to Walz, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth
US ‘locked and loaded’ for ‘much higher’ strikes if Iran talks fail as Trump pauses Hormuz ops
A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is holding despite continued attacks, as President Donald Trump announced a pause in naval escort operations to allow negotiations to continue — while warning that failure to reach a deal would result in a significantly escalated bombing campaign. Trump said the pause in Project Freedom — the U.S. mission to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz — is intended to give negotiators time to finalize what he described as a potential “complete and final agreement” with Iran, while maintaining that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in place. Trump suggested in a social media post Wednesday morning the conflict could soon come to an end if Iran agrees to the terms under discussion, but warned that if it does not, U.S. forces would resume bombing at a significantly higher level and intensity. LEAVITT EXPLAINS WHY IRAN’S SEIZURE OF TWO SHIPS DOESN’T VIOLATE TRUMP’S CEASEFIRE “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning. “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.” “We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission without hesitation,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. Even as negotiations advance, Iran has continued attacks on commercial vessels and U.S. forces, which officials say remain “below the threshold” of restarting major combat operations. Since the start of the ceasefire on April 7, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, “all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations,” according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. “No, the ceasefire is not over. Ultimately, this is a separate and distinct project,” Hegseth told reporters Tuesday. “We’re not looking for a fight.” But administration officials have not defined what level of escalation would constitute a violation of the ceasefire, even as attacks continue across the region. Asked what level of firing would violate the ceasefire, Trump told reporters Tuesday: “You’ll find out.” “They know what to do, and they know what not to do,” Trump went on. “They fired from little boats with peashooters… You know why? Because they don’t have any boats anymore. Their Navy is comprised of, they call them little boats, right? Boats and they’re fast. Yeah. They’re so fast that, that they had eight of them and they’re all gone, and they’re fast, but they’re not fast like a missile. A missile is slightly faster.” U.S. forces already have engaged Iranian assets directly. In recent days, American helicopters sank at least six Iranian fast-attack boats targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. The latest exchanges are a far cry from the early days of the war, when U.S. forces were striking targets across Iran — from bridges and infrastructure near Tehran to a massive bombardment of Kharg Island. The ceasefire initially was expected to include a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane, but that has not materialized. Iran has continued to restrict access to the waterway, effectively maintaining a blockade even after the agreement took hold. TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘PROJECT FREEDOM,’ IRAN THREATENS ATTACKS, PAKISTAN ANNOUNCES US RELEASE OF SEIZED CARGO SHIP In response, the U.S.-launched Project Freedom, a short-lived effort to direct stranded vessels through the strait, and has imposed its own restrictions on Iranian shipping, intercepting vessels and warning that ships entering or leaving Iranian ports could be turned back. Iran, however, has accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire, warning that any American interference in the strait is considered a breach of the agreement. The violence has also extended beyond shipping lanes. The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses intercepted 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran on Monday alone, resulting in injuries. Emirati officials say hundreds of missiles and drones have been intercepted since the start of the conflict, with civilian casualties reported. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, and shipping companies remain hesitant to resume normal transit as attacks continue and insurance risks rise. Even with U.S. escorts, industry analysts say the current security environment is unlikely to restore regular traffic in the near term. So far, two U.S.-escorted commercial ships have successfully transited so far under Project Freedom. The ceasefire began as a two-week deal to allow both sides more time to agree to a permanent end to the war. But negotiations dragged on to almost the one-month mark and Trump said Sunday he finds Iran’s latest proposal unsatisfactory. “They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it,” he said. “They have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to humanity, and the world, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on Truth Social Sunday.
Biden alum seeking Mike Lawler’s NY swing seat ripped for ties to botched Afghanistan withdrawal
A Biden administration alum running for Congress is facing sharp Republican criticism over her role in the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Cait Conley, a Democrat seeking to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in a battleground district, previously served in a senior position on former President Joe Biden’s National Security Council focusing on counterterrorism in the Middle East. Conley has sought to elevate her profile in a crowded Democratic primary by highlighting how Russia banned her from the country for her work under Biden, and she’s used campaign materials to lean into how she operated from the White House Situation Room. But she has been largely silent on Biden’s controversial evacuation of troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, which coincided with her time on the NSC. EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL SAYS BIDEN SHOULD’VE ‘BOWED OUT’ AFTER THE ‘AFGHANISTAN DEBACLE’ The chaotic and violent exit led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and more than 160 Afghans in a terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport during the final days of the military departure. Hundreds of American citizens were left behind as the Taliban returned to power. Though Conley’s responsibilities at the NSC have not been publicly detailed, her position would have likely landed her in meetings about the planning and execution of the evacuation. Several Biden administration officials testified during the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s probe that the NSC and then-national security advisor Jake Sullivan played an outsized role in the decision-making process leading up to the withdrawal. The Lawler campaign said Conley should have to level with voters about the hurried departure and the horrific Abbey Gate suicide bombing, which it characterized as one of the “worst national security failures in modern history.” “That’s her record and if she wants to run on it, she should have to answer for it and apologize for it,” Lawler campaign spokesman Ciro Riccardi said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Why should Hudson Valley families trust her judgment on national security now?” A spokesperson for the Conley campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment seeking clarification on her involvement in, and view of, the withdrawal decision and plans. Still, her team has leaned into Conley’s national security experience as a cornerstone of her campaign platform. DEMOCRAT SWING CANDIDATE CALLED BIDEN’S BORDER HANDLING ‘A HUGE MISSTEP’ AFTER BACKING HIS APPROACH AS MAYOR The National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, argued that Conley’s ties to the withdrawal are disqualifying. “She can’t be trusted to keep New Yorkers safe either,” NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “It’s just that simple.” The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment and the DNC did not reply by time of publication. The Biden administration’s evacuation plan has been faulted for failing to anticipate the swift collapse of Afghanistan’s government and for not ensuring adequate security precautions for U.S. service members and citizens against terror threats. Conley has not commented publicly on the withdrawal since launching her bid for the Hudson Valley seat. Conley is among several Democrats vying in a June primary to flip Lawler’s seat blue. Rockland County legislator Beth Davidson and progressive Effie Phillips-Staley are also seeking the Democratic nomination. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a “toss-up” after downgrading the race in favor of Democrats in January. Former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly won the swing district north of New York City in 2024. Conley is a combat veteran who served for 16 years as an active-duty Army officer. Following her stint as director for counterterrorism on the NSC, she served as a senior advisor at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency until January 2025.
NJ Dem pushes ‘Jersey Pride’ bill, takes shots at New York: ‘Bunch of socialists’
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., unveiled new legislation aiming to dethrone the ubiquitous “I Love NY” tourist paraphernalia and establish “Jersey Pride” in his state, the lawmaker announced Wednesday. Gottheimer’s bill would establish a 25% tax credit for businesses that sell New Jersey-branded products in airports, train stations and rest stops. The lawmaker’s push comes just two months before New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is set to host eight World Cup games. “Nothing p—es me off more than when I get on an airplane here, and, in my face, is a row of shirts in a store screaming, ‘I Love New York.’ Really? We just landed in Jersey,” Gottheimer said during a Tuesday news conference. “This isn’t just about Jersey pride,” he added. “It’s also about helping our small businesses and the jobs they create, promoting our more than 130-mile Shore, lakes, shops, restaurants, and apparel companies, and getting in front of customers where it matters most.” DEM NJ GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE COPS TO FAKING PLAYLIST TO FEATURE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Gottheimer went on to highlight the World Cup coming to the U.S. and the huge opportunity it presents for New Jersey’s businesses. “Millions of people from around the world will be landing here to watch one of the eight games, and, with practice fields up and down the state, and five fan fests, people will be driving up and down the Turnpike and Parkway,” he said. “This is our moment to spread that pride all over the world.” He went on to bash New York City and New York state. “And, what have they got on the other side of the river?” Gottheimer said. “Insane taxes, dirty streets, and a bunch of socialists who are forcing Jersey families to pay a ridiculous Congestion Tax just to drive to their own jobs or see loved ones.” PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PRICES HIT ABSURD LEVELS FOR WORLD CUP GAMES: REPORT While the World Cup creates opportunity for businesses, officials in both New York and New Jersey say the influx of fans will be a huge problem for local residents. Officials in both states are warning commuters about serious travel congestion during World Cup matches this June and July. NJ Transit says only 40,000 round-trip tickets from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be sold per game, significantly limiting capacity. “If you are not attending one of the events, please, if possible, work from home because the city will be incredibly congested and so will New Jersey,” Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority’s executive director, said at a recent news conference. “I would also discourage anyone from taking a rideshare,” she said. “We are going to do a lot of outreach to people coming through our airport to make sure they know about illegal taxis, but it also is for those in the city. We encourage you to use public transit if you can,” Garcia added.
Trump strikes back: GOP lawmakers who opposed president on redistricting pay price
He wasn’t on the ballot, but President Donald Trump was the big winner in Indiana’s primary. The president scored decisive victories in a slate of state primaries in the solidly red Midwestern state, another sign that his immense grip on the Republican Party remains rock solid. The political world was closely watching Indiana’s primary because it was the first of a series of major tests this month of Trump’s endorsement power in GOP nomination showdowns, and the president cleared his first hurdle with ease. Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated Indiana state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Fast-forward to Tuesday and eight of those state senators faced GOP primary challenges. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to seven of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted against the redistricting bill. Five of the Trump-endorsed candidates won, with one incumbent surviving and one race yet to be decided as of early Wednesday morning. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, a top Trump ally in the Senate, said in a statement as the results poured in. Banks, who was a key part of the team of Trump allies and advisors in the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators, emphasized that “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters.” SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY Trump and his team started flexing their political muscles soon after the president’s push for redistricting in Indiana came crashing down last December. A Republican source familiar with the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators told Fox News Digital over $8 million was spent on TV and digital ads between the American Leadership PAC and Hoosier Leadership for America, two outside groups aligned with Banks and steered by Team Trump strategist Andrew Surabian. The source added that Team Trump operatives began organizing this plan in February and were responsible for the vast majority of the money raised that was spent by the two groups. Republican Gov. Mike Braun of Indiana also donated several hundred thousand dollars to the effort. Two well-known national groups, Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth, also had the president’s back in Indiana. The intraparty battle was seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP. Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital “this is a big win for Trump.” And McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, said the primary victories are “a signal to the entire party that our base wants us to fight for what we believe in.” Trump appeared to be closely watching the results. As each race was called, the president took to social media to tout the victory of another Trump-endorsed state Senate challenger. The besieged incumbents significantly outraised their challengers and were also boosted by the Indiana Senate GOP caucus. But the outside spending and get-out-the-vote efforts by the pro-Trump forces proved decisive. TRUMP VS. HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT’S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS “The resources that he [Trump] can bring to a state Senate race are overwhelming,” veteran Republican strategist Marc Short, who served as a key official in the first Trump administration, told Fox News Digital. Short, a longtime top Pence advisor, said the showdowns in Indiana were “about allegiance to Trump,” and that the president “still has enormous sway in the party.” Trump’s clout will be on the line once again in a week and a half, in the Louisiana primary. Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing primary challenges from two Republicans: Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming, who is currently the state treasurer. Trump earlier this year weighed in on the race by endorsing Letlow. Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate. But since the start of Trump’s second term 15 months ago, Cassidy has been supportive of the president’s agenda and his nominees. If no candidate cracks 50% of the primary vote, the top two finishers will face off for the nomination in a June 27 runoff election. Another major test comes three days later, on May 19, in the primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, where Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. Massie has long been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress, repeatedly taking aim at the president over the Epstein files and foreign policy. Trump allies have spent big bucks to boost Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and to take aim at Massie. The president’s endorsement is also being tested in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial nomination, which is being held on the same day, in the 2026 race to succeed popular term-limited conservative Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is trading fire in a high-profile, competitive and combustible battle with healthcare executive and mega GOP donor Rick Jackson, who has infused millions of his own money in his bid. Among the others battling for the nomination in a crowded Republican field are state Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. While MAGA enjoyed a big night in Indiana, there were more midterm warning signs for the GOP in neighboring Michigan, a key Midwestern battleground state. Republicans were hoping
Republican lawmaker welcomes House Ethics probe into sexual misconduct allegations against him
A House Republican facing sexual misconduct allegations said he welcomes the chance to set the record straight after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the claims. “They are baseless allegations designed to impact the campaign driven by those who want to settle old political scores,” Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We welcome the ethics inquiry because it allows for facts to be entered into the record, not public allegations designed to drive media interests.” Edwards, 65, is accused of sexual misconduct toward at least two younger female staffers, according to multiple reports. Axios first reported the existence of the ethics probe. The two-term lawmaker, who has been married since 1980, has denied any wrongdoing. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the allegations. NORTH CAROLINA GOP TOWN HALL TURNS HEATED AS SELF-DESCRIBED VETERAN ESCORTED OUT BY SECURITY Under House rules, lawmakers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with aides under their supervision. The ban does not extend to staffers employed by other offices. The House Ethics probe comes as Edwards is facing a competitive re-election challenge in November’s midterm elections. The North Carolina Republican is a top target of House Democrats’ campaign arm, which is supporting Democrat Jamie Ager to try and flip Edwards’ seat in the red-leaning district. Ager, a fourth-generation farmer, issued a statement this week indicating the allegations against his competitor could become a flash point in the battleground contest. “Corruption or abuses of power in any way are unacceptable,” Ager said. “The people of Western North Carolina deserve to hear from their representative about what these allegations are.” The House Ethics Committee has yet to publicly announce its investigation into Edwards, which could take months — or even years — to complete unless the panel moves to dismiss the case. A spokesperson for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., an outspoken lawmaker against sexual misconduct in Congress, said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that she hopes the House Ethics Committee “moves swiftly” to review the allegations against Edwards. NANCY MACE TO FORCE VOTE TARGETING FELLOW GOP LAWMAKER ACCUSED OF AFFAIR WITH STAFFER “We stand with those who came forward, and we expect the Ethics Committee to move swiftly and hold those who committed wrongdoing fully accountable,” Mace said. “We have said it from the beginning, if you are abusing your power in Congress it does not matter if you have an R or a D beside your name, there needs to be consequences for your actions.” Edwards is the latest in a string of lawmakers to face sexual misconduct allegations this year. Former Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued back-to-back resignations in April to avoid potential expulsion votes related to separate alleged sexual misconduct against them. Gonzales acknowledged an extramarital affair with a former aide who later died by suicide. Swalwell, who is also married, has admitted to a lapse in judgment, but has vigorously denied accusations of sexual assault and rape. Meanwhile, Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct, among other ethics violations. Mace has introduced a resolution to expel the embattled lawmaker, but has yet to trigger a vote on the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other GOP lawmakers have said they want the ethics panel to conclude its probe before they consider sanctions against the embattled lawmaker. Mills has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged. “The corruption and misconduct in Congress goes far deeper than anyone outside Washington knows,” Mace said Tuesday.
Trump fires back at claims of ballroom ‘cost overruns’: Price is ‘something less than $400M’
President Donald Trump fired back at reporting of rising costs of building his $400 million White House ballroom, saying that figure remains the top of the price range. “The White House Ballroom is going up rapidly on the East side of the White House,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning on Truth Social. “The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations. “The original price was 200 Million Dollars, the double sized, highest quality completed project will be something less than 400 Million Dollars. It will be magnificent, safe, and secure! “This was a necessary change, it was done long ago, but the Fake News failed to report it, trying to make it look like there was a cost overrun. Actually, it is coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget!” REPUBLICANS SLIP $1 BILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR TRUMP BALLROOM SECURITY IN ICE, BORDER PATROL PACKAGE The latest reporting on alleged rising costs comes from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tagging a $1 billion appropriation for the “East Wing Modernization Project” at the bottom of Republicans’ budget reconciliation package Trump hopes to sign by June 1. That item includes more than just the ballroom and even specifies: “None of the funds made available under this section may be used for non-security elements of the East Wing Modernization Project.” The bill’s outlay on the final page of the Senate Judiciary Committee reconciliation bill appropriates “$1,000,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2029, for the purposes of security adjustments and upgrades, including within the perimeter fence of the White House Compound to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernization Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features.” Trump contends that is a military, national security and White House expenditure, while the $400 million ballroom remains merely a piece planted on top of the upgraded enhancements to the grounds. TRUMP TEARS DOWN EAST WING FOR $300M BALLROOM AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES CHINA MEETING That distinction is now at the center of the dispute. Trump’s post framed the ballroom itself as under budget, saying the higher price reflects a deliberate expansion approved “long ago.” An NBC News report focused on whether the overall project could still impose a major taxpayer cost through security work, even if private donors cover the ballroom’s construction. The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary and final site and building plans for the East Wing Modernization Project on April 2. NCPC staff described the project as a permanent, secure event space intended to increase capacity for official state functions and reduce reliance on temporary tents and support facilities. The approved plan includes an approximately 22,000-square-foot ballroom designed for roughly 1,000 seated dinner guests, within about 89,000 square feet of above-ground East Wing space. The White House has increasingly emphasized security as a justification for the project, particularly after Trump faced an unprecedented third assassination attempt last month at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. A White House spokesperson praised the proposed funding as necessary to help the Secret Service “fully and completely harden the White House complex,” according to NBC. Democrats quoted by NBC called the proposal a reversal of Trump’s earlier pledge that the ballroom would not cost taxpayers anything. REPUBLICANS RUSH TO GREEN LIGHT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM FOLLOWING THIRD TRUMP ASSASSINATION SCARE The project remains politically and legally contentious. Senate Democrats plan to try to strip the $1 billion provision from the reconciliation bill when it reaches the Senate floor, but Republicans are fully expecting no Democrat votes for it regardless. Construction has resumed while the legal fight plays out. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction in March blocking further work on the White House ballroom, ruling that the administration could not proceed without congressional authorization, but the D.C. Circuit later kept the injunction on hold while it considers the case. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the project, says the appeals court has scheduled a June 5 hearing and extended the stay until then, meaning construction can continue for now. The broader question now is whether lawmakers and courts will treat the ballroom and its associated security infrastructure as separable — as Republicans’ bill language argues — or as parts of a single White House expansion whose public cost could exceed Trump’s repeated private-funding assurances.
Trump marks Cinco de Mayo with ‘NICE’ post, echoing past viral taco bowl moment
President Donald Trump marked Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday with a new Truth Social post featuring a stylized “NICE” graphic — a play on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The post adds to a string of Cinco de Mayo messages from Trump that have repeatedly drawn attention online, including his widely shared 2016 taco bowl post that resurfaces nearly every year around the holiday. Trump has frequently used the holiday to share posts blending humor, politics and immigration messaging; and had already publicly embraced the “NICE” branding concept ahead of Tuesday’s post. The image shared Tuesday featured an eagle-and-shield design above the word “NICE,” styled similarly to federal law enforcement branding and appearing to reference ICE. TRUMP VOWS NOT TO HELP BLUE CITIES WITH RIOTS, INSTRUCTS ICE AND BORDER PATROL TO PROTECT FEDERAL PROPERTY Trump endorsed the idea of rebranding ICE as “NICE” in a late April Truth Social post, writing: “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT.” The phrase originated from a social media suggestion that Trump later amplified online. The latest post also brought renewed attention to Trump’s most recognizable Cinco de Mayo moment. HERE ARE 5 OF GUY FIERI’S FAVORITE TACO SPOTS ACROSS AMERICA AHEAD OF CINCO DE MAYO In 2016, then-candidate Trump posted a photo of himself eating a taco bowl at Trump Tower alongside the caption: “Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” The post quickly went viral and has continued resurfacing online in the years since. The image showed Trump seated at a desk with a taco bowl in front of him, giving a thumbs up as he posed for the camera. DNC TACO TRUCK STUNT TROLLING TRUMP BACKFIRES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH VANCE, GOP: ‘CAN’T FIX STUPID’ Last year, Trump reshared the taco bowl post and wrote: “This was so wonderful, 9 years ago today!” The post continues to go viral online as users revisit the original taco bowl image each year on the holiday. One user posted an image of the president’s original 2016 taco bowl post, writing, “Cinco de Trumpo.” Another commenter wrote, “such a classic,” and another quipped, “maybe the greatest tweet of all time.” Trump’s original taco bowl post remains one of the most recognizable Cinco de Mayo moments of the social media era. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump flexes muscle in Indiana: GOP incumbents fall in primary showdowns
President Donald Trump‘s immense sway over the GOP was on the line Tuesday in Indiana’s primary, as the president’s endorsements in key Republican state Senate nomination races were being tested. And it appears Trump’s grip over the Republican Party remains extremely strong. Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated Indiana state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given solidly red Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms. Fast-forward to present day, and eight of those state senators faced GOP primary challenges. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to seven of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted against the redistricting bill. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The Associated Press reported that five of the Trump-endorsed candidates won, with one incumbent survived, and one race yet to be decided as of late Tuesday evening. Trump-backed Blake Fletcher defeated incumbent state Sen. Travis Holdman in Indiana’s 19th District, in the northeastern part of the state. And Michelle Davis, who was supported by the president, topped incumbent Sen. Greg Walker in District 41 in central Indiana. Tracey Powell, who was also supported by Trump, defeated incumbent state Sen. Jim Buck in District 21 in central Indiana. Buck was backed by former Vice President Mike Pence, who was elected congressman and later governor of Indiana before serving as Trump’s first vice president. In District 11 in northern Indiana, incumbent Linda Rogers was defeated by Trump-endorsed Brian Schmutzler. And the AP also reported that in northwestern Indiana’s District 1, Trump-supported Trevor De Vries topped incumbent state Sen. Dan Dernulc. Only one state senator had survived as of late Tuesday. Sen. Greg Goode defeated two challengers, Trump-backed Brenda Wilson and Alexandra Wilson, in District 38, in western Indiana. Meanwhile, in District 39, Trump-backed Jeff Ellington won the GOP nomination in an open-seat race where there was no incumbent. A Republican source familiar with the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state Senators told Fox News Digital over $8 million was spent on TV and digital ads between the American Leadership PAC and Hoosier Leadership for America. Those are the two outside groups aligned with GOP Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, a top ally of the president in the U.S. Senate, that took a lead in targeting the incumbent state senators and supporting the Trump-backed challengers. The source added that Team Trump operatives began organizing this plan in February and were responsible for the vast majority of the money raised that was spent by the two groups. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters. Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters,” Banks said in a statement. Republican Gov. Mike Braun of Indiana also donated several hundred thousand dollars to the effort. Two well known national groups: Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth, also had the president’s back in Indiana. The intraparty battle was seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP. SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY “We’ve got to change those old-style Republicans, put in people who will fight, fight against the Democrat gerrymandering,” Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital ahead of the primary. And McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night that “this is a big win for Trump and a signal to the entire party that our base wants us to fight for what we believe in.” TRUMP VS. HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT’S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS The besieged incumbents significantly outraised their challengers, and were also boosted by the Indiana Senate GOP caucus. But the outside spending and get-out-the-vote efforts by the pro-Trump groups proved decisive. A source involved in the effort to oust the incumbents told Fox News Digital on the eve of the primary that a victory would be considered winning half the seats, and anything beyond that would be a major win. By that definition, Trump scored a ‘major win’ on Tuesday. Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this story