Trump has become America’s most targeted leader, facing threats every few months
President Donald Trump has become the most targeted U.S. leader on record among both sitting and former presidents, facing threat-related incidents roughly every two to three months in recent years. Trump has survived three major assassination attempts and nearly a dozen other threat-related incidents over the past two years alone. Overall, he has faced nearly 20 known threats since first taking office in 2017. By comparison, every other U.S. president targeted in an assassination attempt faced just one, except President Gerald R. Ford, who survived two. Those presidents include Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Four of those presidents — Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy — were killed. FROM TRAINED ASSASSINS TO RALLY STAGE RUSHERS, HERE’S EVERY KNOWN ATTEMPT ON TRUMP’S LIFE SINCE 2016 Seven known threat-related incidents occurred during Trump’s first presidency, while four occurred during his 2024 campaign, including two assassination attempts. His second presidency has already seen eight additional incidents, including a third assassination attempt. July 2024: The first assassination attempt on Trump came during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, killing one spectator and critically wounding two others. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, struck Trump in the upper right ear before being killed by a Secret Service sniper. September 2024: Two months later, Secret Service agents spotted a gunman hiding in bushes with a rifle near Trump’s Florida golf course while the then-presidential candidate was golfing. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison. TWO MEN SHOT AT TRUMP’S BUTLER RALLY SUE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER SECRET SERVICE ‘PREVENTABLE FAILURES’ April 2026: A major security breach occurred during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while Trump was in attendance. The suspect, Cole Allen, allegedly charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, shot an officer and was later taken into custody. Trump’s first three security incidents unfolded during his 2016 campaign before he ever took office. March 2016: An attendee at a Trump campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, attempted to rush the stage before being arrested. The suspect, Thomas DiMassimo, 22, told police he intended to grab the microphone and shout that Trump was a racist but reportedly did not intend to harm him. He was later sentenced to one year of probation. June 2016: Three months later, a British national attending a Trump campaign rally in Las Vegas attempted to grab a police officer’s handgun from her holster, according to a federal criminal complaint. The suspect, Michael Steven Sandford, initially told an officer he wanted Trump’s autograph before trying to seize the weapon and later admitting he intended to kill Trump. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. November 2016: Secret Service agents rushed Trump off the stage during a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, after an attendee shouted “gun.” Authorities found no weapon but briefly detained Austyn Crites, 33, who said he had brought a sign that said “Republicans Against Trump.” Trump returned to the stage minutes later to finish his remarks. September 2017: A man stole a forklift and drove it toward Trump’s presidential motorcade in an apparent attempt to overturn the presidential limousine in North Dakota. The suspect, Gregory Lee Leingang, later pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced in 2019 to time served and one year of supervised release. October 2018: A Navy veteran in Utah was charged after ricin-laced letters addressed to Trump and other officials were intercepted before delivery. William Clyde Allen III was charged with five federal counts but was later found incompetent to assist in his defense. August 2020: Trump was abruptly escorted out of a briefing room during a televised news conference after a Secret Service officer shot a man who threatened to kill people near the White House. The suspect, Myron Basil Berryman, 51, of Forestville, Maryland, was found unarmed and arrested on a charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. September 2020: A suspect mailed a ricin-laced letter to Trump that was intercepted before reaching the White House. The sender, Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, a dual citizen of Canada and France, admitted to manufacturing ricin at her home in Canada and was later sentenced to 262 months in prison, equivalent to more than 21 years, followed by lifetime supervised release. Trump then faced two assassination attempts and two additional threat-related incidents during his 2024 presidential campaign. July 2024: One day prior to the Butler assassination attempt, federal authorities arrested a Pakistani national accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot targeting Trump and other U.S. officials on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The suspect, Asif Merchant, was later convicted in federal court in March 2026. November 2024: After the second assassination attempt on Trump in September 2024, the Justice Department disclosed another alleged Iranian murder-for-hire plot targeting Trump. The suspect, Farhad Shakeri, was accused of being an Iranian government asset who had been tasked with planning the assassination of Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in March 2026 that Shakeri had been killed in a U.S. military operation. Just 1½ years into his second presidency, Trump has faced seven additional threat-related incidents and one assassination attempt. May 2025: A Florida man was arraigned in federal court after allegedly writing a letter to an official at the Charlotte Correctional Institution claiming he had “orchestrated the most daring Presidential assassination that this country has ever seen” and that “Donald J. Trump must perish.” The suspect, Christopher Davies, later admitted he wanted to kill Trump and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. July 2025: Authorities arrested a Texas man after he allegedly threatened Trump on social media ahead of the president’s visit to the state following the July 4 flooding along the Guadalupe River. The suspect, Robert Herrera, was later sentenced to two
Dems in the hot seat for skipping crucial hearing on radical group hiding in US: ‘Embarrassment’
Democratic lawmakers were missing during Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, skipping a hearing on the Muslim Brotherhood’s alleged network inside the United States and drawing a blistering rebuke from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “You may notice that there are empty chairs on the Democrat side of the dais,” Cruz said as he opened the hearing by pointing out every Democratic member of the subcommittee refused to attend. “The American people should ask themselves why not a single member of the minority decided that a hearing on terrorism was worth their time? It is an embarrassment.” Cruz tied the Democrats’ boycott to Abdul El-Sayed’s primary victory, arguing the timing helped explain why no Democratic members attended. Cruz accused the party of embracing a candidate who had campaigned alongside left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. Cruz cited Piker’s past statement that “America deserved 9/11” and asked the witnesses what El-Sayed’s rise said about the direction of the Democratic Party. HASAN PIKER UNLOADS ON ‘ISLAMOPHOBIC PIECES OF S—‘ DEMOCRATS AS EL-SAYED FACES PARTY UNITY TEST “Abdul El-Sayed, the son-in-law of a leading member of several Brotherhood groups, won Michigan’s Democrat primary for U.S. Senate. Perfect timing for this hearing. Probably explains why no Democrats are here, and none intend to attend,” Cruz said. “Because their campaign is now openly embracing terrorist organizations waging war on America.” The five Democratic members of the subcommittee — senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Alex Padilla of California and Peter Welch of Vermont — announced beforehand that they would not attend. In a joint statement, the senators accused Cruz of staging a “political creepshow” that scapegoated Muslim Americans. “Scapegoating Muslims may be a Texas Republican strategist’s idea of ‘solid gold’ to whip up their voters, but Democrats have no intention of indulging this political creepshow, particularly after the recent violence targeting places of faith,” they said. “Our focus is the costs families face thanks to rampant, non-stop Trump corruption.” Blumenthal separately told reporters Wednesday that Democrats refused to attend because the hearing “could well be used as an anti-Muslim, Islamophobia kind of show trial.” MICHIGAN SENATE RACE: EL-SAYED’S TIES TO EXTREMIST FUEL ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS AMONG JEWISH VOTERS The Connecticut Democrat added that he planned to meet with members of the Muslim community who shared concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood, “which appears to be a terrorist organization,” while advocating for “tolerance and inclusion.” The offices of Whitehouse and Welch referred Fox News Digital to the joint statement when asked why the senators chose to boycott rather than attend and challenge the witnesses directly. The offices of Hirono and Padilla had not responded by publication time. Cruz and the hearing’s witnesses rejected the Democrats’ characterization of the proceeding as an attack on Muslims generally. Lara Burns, a retired FBI special agent who helped lead a terrorism-financing investigation into what was once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation, warned that Americans should not disregard evidence because it is politically controversial. “For decades, narratives have been intentionally seeded into public discourse that portray terrorist organizations as resistance movements,” Burns testified before arguing Americans cannot “ignore evidence introduced in federal court simply because that evidence is politically uncomfortable.” “The history of this network is not in question,” she added. “It was made public decades ago, but few paid attention. Now is the time to pay attention and understand the facts.”
Abdul El-Sayed’s Medicare-for-all crusade collides with an awkward contradiction involving his wife
Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has campaigned on passing Medicare-for-all, but his wife’s private psychiatry practice appears to operate outside the insurance system entirely. El-Sayed, who secured the Democratic nomination for Senate on Wednesday, has argued that “healthcare shouldn’t depend on who signs your paycheck” and demanded that taxpayers pay to “guarantee healthcare from cradle to grave” through Medicare-for-all. Despite this, his wife, Sarah Jukaku, states on her medical practice’s website that she is out of network with all insurance companies, generally requiring patients to pay the practice directly, though some may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Prior to July 2026, the FAQ section of Jukaku’s website for her practice included the question “do you accept my insurance?” accompanied by the answer “no,” according to The Washington Free Beacon. Her profile on Psychology Today, a popular professional database for therapists and psychiatrists, also at one point noted that she did not accept insurance. Jukaku operates her own practice where she is the sole physician. DR MARC SIEGEL: A SENATE CANDIDATE’S MEDICAL TITLE SPARKS A DEBATE VOTERS SHOULDN’T IGNORE Amid media scrutiny in July, the practice’s website became inaccessible to the public and displayed a message indicating that it was private. Fox News Digital reached Jukaku and her practice multiple times via phone and email but received no response. It is not rare for psychiatrists to turn away patients on Medicare. A 2022 analysis by KFF found that 40% of psychiatrists did not participate in Medicare, among the highest rate of any medical specialty. Even as his wife’s psychiatry practice reportedly operates on an out-of-network model, El-Sayed has repeatedly stressed the importance of expanding access to government-backed healthcare. In a 2020 interview with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, for instance, he stated that “my wife’s a psychiatrist, and we talk about the fact that a lot of folks don’t do psychiatry because it’s not as well recompensed as other practices simply because it’s undervalued in the system.” He went on to argue that the United States needs to build a “system” that “recognizes” the importance of treating “mental illness” due to the prevalence of “serious mental illness” and “death by suicide.” Years later, at a September 2025 campaign event, El-Sayed lamented that individuals with “serious mental illness” often “fall out of care” due to “transitions in health insurance.” MICHIGAN DEM SENATOR THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM IN CONTENTIOUS PRIMARY The couple reported nearly $686,000 in total income in 2025, underscoring the contrast between El-Sayed’s calls for expanded government-backed healthcare and his wife’s out-of-network psychiatry practice. The couple reported $686,069 in total income and $675,246 in adjusted gross income on two pages of their 2025 tax return released Wednesday. El-Sayed also sports a collection of luxury watches ranging in value from $2,000 to $10,000 apiece. MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL ABDUL EL-SAYED FIRES BACK AT CNN CHOOSING TO ‘FIXATE’ ON ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ COMMENTS “He regularly wears a SAR Rescue Timer on the campaign trail because he is trying to rescue our politics from corporate corruption,” El-Sayed spokeswoman Roxie Richner told The Washington Free Beacon. “Sometimes he wears a vintage doctor’s watch because he is a doctor.” Though El-Sayed earned a medical degree, he was never a licensed physician, which caused controversy amid allegations that he had claimed to be a practicing doctor. “He has earned the right to be called ‘doctor’ twice over,” a campaign spokesperson said at the time, alluding to the fact that he received both a medical degree and a doctorate degree in public health. The El-Sayed campaign and Jukaku did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
Trump’s antitrust point man could reshape Big Tech cases against Google and Apple if confirmed
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division testified before the Senate on Wednesday in a confirmation hearing that could shape the future direction of the government’s fight against Big Tech. If confirmed, Adam Candeub, a longtime telecommunications law scholar and former Federal Communications Commission general counsel, would take control of some of the most consequential antitrust cases in decades, including the Justice Department’s landmark lawsuits targeting Google’s dominance in online search and Apple’s control over the App Store and its rules for developers. The cases could determine how aggressively the government pursues antitrust cases against the country’s largest technology companies. FOX NEWS POLL: MOVE OVER BIG BROTHER, VOTERS SEE BIG TECH AS GREATER THREAT TO US As head of the Antitrust Division, Candeub would oversee those cases and decide whether to continue the Justice Department’s aggressive antitrust efforts against the largest technology companies. Candeub has emerged as one of the conservative movement’s most prominent critics of Big Tech, arguing that dominant online platforms have accumulated too much power and that regulators have historically overlooked the larger impact of technology companies on competition, speech and public discourse. “Big Tech’s market power undermines our nation’s culture of vibrant democratic deliberation,” Candeub testified before Congress in March 2023. “Elon Musk’s Twitter files demonstrated that Big Tech has indeed limited particular groups, including dissenters, from important government policies from full participation in national political discussions. “This power to exclude threatens all Americans,” Candeub continued. “Power to silence one group of Americans will be used sooner or later to silence another.” META MEDICARE SCAM ADS TARGETING SENIORS FACE SCRUTINY Candeub has pushed for changes to Section 230, the federal law that protects online platforms from being held liable for much of the content posted by users. During Trump’s first administration, he served at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, where he helped lead efforts to narrow those legal protections for online platforms under Section 230. And in his contribution to Project 2025, the conservative policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation for a potential second Trump administration, Candeub argued that antitrust enforcement failed to account for the influence of major technology platforms over competition and the flow of information being shared. “The large internet platforms have transformed the U.S. economy, streamlining consumer purchases, networking billions of people, and altering long-established business practices,” Candeub wrote. “Despite their enormous size, they have avoided significant antitrust liability or prosecution. The reasons for this are not entirely clear.” Candeub’s nomination has drawn support from former Justice Department officials, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, who appointed Candeub as an associate deputy attorney general in 2020 during the first Trump administration. TODD BLANCHE ‘HONORED AND HUMBLED’ BY TRUMP’S AG NOMINATION AFTER EXPLOSIVE WEEK OF FEDERAL ARRESTS Barr praised Candeub’s expertise in telecommunications law and his academic background, describing him as a knowledgeable and capable leader for the Antitrust Division. “I think he’ll be a strong leader, and he’s very knowledgeable,” Barr told Fox News Digital. “I think he’ll be balanced and fair and apply the law.” Barr is among more than a dozen current and former Justice Department officials who signed a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting Candeub’s nomination. The letter highlighted his experience at the FCC, the Office of the Associate Attorney General, the NTIA and his work as a law professor at Michigan State University. INDIANA REPUBLICAN SENATOR MOVES TO BLOCK KIDS FROM ACCESSING PORN ONLINE “Adam Candeub has the experience and the qualifications to live up to that storied legacy,” the letter stated, arguing that the Antitrust Division’s next leader must be prepared to address the growing challenges posed by technology, social media and artificial intelligence. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “The Division’s next leader must be able to meet those questions with both intellectual seriousness and practical judgment,” the letter continued. “Mr. Candeub is uniquely qualified to do so.” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on X that he recently met with Candeub to discuss issues including merger reviews, Section 230 reform and efforts to protect children online.
Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump’s pick in key swing-district primary
Republican voters in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District chose Thomas J. Smith as their challenger to freshman Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet on Wednesday – defying President Donald Trump’s endorsement of opponent Amir Hassan – in one of several House races the GOP hopes will help expand its majority in November. The district stretches across Flint, Saginaw, Midland and Bay City, and has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. Al Lemmo also vied for the nomination. Smith was a longtime GM employee, according to his website. “We need strong conservative leadership that protects our constitutional freedoms, supports working families, secures our borders, and restores accountability in Washington,” he said on his website. TRUMP-BACKED FIREBRAND WINS ARIZONA GOP GOVERNOR PRIMARY, SETTING UP HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWN Smith reportedly suspended his campaign in July and endorsed Lemmo, according to the Detroit News, while Trump endorsed Hassan and invited him onstage at a recent rally. Hassan spoke then about how many members of his family worked for GM. “The contrast is clear, the time is now,” Hassan said. “Protecting America, getting back to the fundamentals… that’s what we’re doing this cycle.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Lemmo, a retired Army automotive mechanical engineer, ran on a pro-life and pro-onshoring platform. DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES Smith recorded just over 50% of the vote by Wednesday morning, and was declared the winner by the Associated Press. Smith told the Detroit News he is “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet.” Rivet, who was a state senator representing Bay City before her tenure in Congress, won her primary Tuesday. She defeated the GOP’s Paul Junge by about six points in 2024’s contests.
Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight
House GOP divisions are erupting on the midterm campaign trail as Republicans fight an uphill battle to keep control of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s term. The infighting touched down in Florida on Wednesday, where two House Republicans are endorsing a primary opponent to incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who is facing multiple investigations into his finances and allegations of domestic abuse, among other claims. Mills has denied any wrongdoing. Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced they’re backing former local TV anchor Ryan Elijah for Mills’ seat and said they “urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting him.” “Ryan Elijah is an excellent candidate and will ensure victory for us in Florida 7,” Haridopolos told Fox News Digital. The Florida congressman will be in attendance at Mills’ debate against Elijah on Wednesday night and plans to sit next to the candidate’s wife. GOP PARTY FISSURES EXPOSED IN BATTLE FOR S.C. SENATE SEAT TO REPLACE GRAHAM: ‘I DON’T LIKE HEARING THAT’ Notably, President Donald Trump has endorsed Haridopolos, Luna and Mills for re-election — a fact Mills brought up in his response to Fox News Digital. “I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Donald Trump. Not once, not twice, but three times. I’m proud to have earned his trust because he knows I’ll continue fighting to advance the America First agenda and deliver results,” Mills said. “The fact is, my office has returned more than $107 million to the people of Florida’s 7th District, led Florida in constituent services, built one of the strongest conservative voting records in Congress, and flipped this district from blue to red,and kept it red. My record speaks for itself.” It comes after another GOP source told Fox News Digital that some Florida Republicans were worried about the chances of keeping Mills’ seat if he won the primary on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded its projection for Republicans from “Solid R” to “Likely R” earlier this year. And with a Cook rating of R+5, Democrats could be within striking distance if Republicans see a tough enough cycle in November. Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to a source, though he has consistently insisted that he has not done anything wrong. WATCH: CORY MILLS BLASTS DOJ PROBE AS ‘POLITICAL OP’ AHEAD OF FLORIDA PRIMARY The Republican military veteran dismissed reports of a DOJ investigation as a “desperate lie” by his opponents and said on X late last month, “We are not aware of any DOJ investigation, nor has there been any confirmation of such investigation by DOJ or FBI, and would fully cooperate if there was one.” Fox News Digital reached out to Mills for a response to Haridopolos and Luna’s endorsement. Mills is one of several House Republicans whose allegations of misconduct are posing a headache for the GOP on the campaign trail. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced overnight that he would drop his re-election bid after an explosive report detailed sexual harassment accusations by two young female staffers. Edwards has denied those accusations but has admitted to at times making staff feel uncomfortable. GOP LAWMAKER’S GIFTS, ‘EFFUSIVE AFFECTION’ TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT And Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and is facing pressure from congressional Republicans to drop out of his race as well. One House GOP source called the situation a “f—ing trainwreck” in comments to Fox News Digital. Miller has denied any wrongdoing and asked the House Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation in order to clear his name. The former Trump aide has resisted calls to exit the race, insisting he will win in November and that the public accusations from his ex-wife are a bid to derail his political career. All three House seats are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) target list, meaning Democrats are pouring money and resources into those races. One House Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital that all three should drop out of their races, stating, “We must lead by example.”
Political newcomer seeks to unseat twin of Trump impeachment foe in swing Virginia district
Douglas Ollivant decisively beat two fellow political newcomers in the Republican primary contest to take on incumbent Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., in November. Vindman, whose twin brother is a high-profile foe of President Donald Trump, currently represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional district, a seat previously held by the state’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The Republican primary race between Ollivant, Rick Smithers and Philip Harding was unique in that none of the candidates had held elected office before, though two have government experience. The lack of reliable polling made it difficult to foretell who would emerge triumphant — but Ollivant ran away with victory, earning 56.6% of the vote compared to Harding’s 30.7% and Smithers’ 12.8%. THE BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWNS THIS MONTH THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH Ollivant is a retired Army officer who served as the National Security Council director for Iraq during the George W. Bush administration. He worked as a national security analyst and consultant after that. Smithers is a pastor and construction business owner who branded himself as the biggest outsider in the race. Harding is a businessman with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He also earned his graduate degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. All three candidates have generally aligned themselves with Donald Trump, though the president did not endorse anyone in the race. FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME According to FEC data, Ollivant had the cash advantage, raising $251,134. Harding raised $125,916 before primary Election Day, and there was no reported fundraising data for Smithers. Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, located in the northeastern part of the state and encompassing Culpeper and Fredericksburg east into Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and parts of Prince William County, is considered a true swing state. Vindman, who ran unopposed this time around, won the vacant seat by only three points. SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICANS TARGET DOZENS OF VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ON EVE OF TAX FILING DEADLINE As Democrats hope to retain the seat in November, Republicans are eyeing it as a potential flip, which would be a welcome pickup as the GOP fights tooth-and-nail to keep control of Congress, a historically difficult feat for the party in power during a midterm election year. Vindman’s twin brother Alexander is a longtime foe of Trump. Alexander Vindman is a former military official, and the then-National Security Council director for European affairs testified against Trump during the first failed impeachment attempt in 2019. Alexander is an ardent defender of Ukraine, and became a central figure of the impeachment attempt, claiming that in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump attempted to make military aid for the embattled European nation contingent on an investigation into the Biden family’s involvement in Ukrainian business activities. Ultimately, the impeachment failed, and both Alexander and Eugene Vindman were removed from the National Security Council. Alexander Vindman later became a frequent anti-Trump guest on CNN and MSNBC, as well as on the left-wing podcast circuit.
Secret FBI probe cast Trump as possible Russian asset after Comey firing, memos show
The White House released newly declassified FBI memos showing that the bureau opened a 2017 counterintelligence investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey was connected to Russia. The investigation, codenamed “Oxferd Comma,” opened after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. It is unclear as to why the word “Oxford” was seemingly misspelled. The probe was launched due to national security concerns about whether Trump himself was a Russian asset, the documents allege. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was “directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes,” according an FBI memo on May 16, 2017, jump-starting the investigation. “In addition, this investigation will also seek to determine whether President Trump and others yet to be named obstructed and/or conspiracy to obstruct any associated FBI investigation,” the same memo added. Comey was appointed by then-President Barack Obama, serving as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017. He oversaw the launch of the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation in July 2016 after receiving information that Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos had suggested Russia possessed damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Comey also ran an investigation into Clinton about the use of her private email servers and sent a letter to Congress days before the 2016 election saying the FBI had discovered emails that “appear to be pertinent.” Trump later fired Comey after taking office, with the administration initially citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment on Wednesday. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Dems’ leftward lurch gets legs as El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate victory sparks party debate
DETROIT, MI – Abdul El-Sayed’s victory over moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s high-stakes Democratic Senate primary is a massive boost for the party’s left-wing in its ideological battle with the center-left establishment. It also gives instant ammunition to Republicans aiming to flip a crucial battleground Senate seat the Democrats must hold as part of their midterm push to win back control of the chamber. Republican nominee former Rep. Mike Rogers, in a Fox News Digital interview ahead of the primary, argued that El-Sayed is “way too extreme for Michigan. I mean, Abdul, he has his own special sauce of crazy.” MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS El-Sayed is a far-left figure backed by progressive champions and socialists like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other members of the Squad. A former Wayne County Health Department director, El-Sayed, if elected in November, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator. He is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for “Medicare-for-all” a major component of his campaign. He has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” against Palestinians. El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has also vowed not to accept PAC donations. El-Sayed’s primary election victory has some wondering if the party of the late Rep. John Dingell, who was famously known as the “Dean of the House” during his historic tenure in Congress, and his wife Rep. Debbie Dingell, the current dean of the Michigan congressional delegation, has broadly shifted to the left, or if this is a one-off election dynamic. MIKE ROGERS ARGUES ABDUL EL-SAYED IS ‘A SPECIAL SAUCE OF CRAZY’ “It’s not all that clear that the party has shifted that far to the left,” Matt Bennett, one of the leaders at the Third Way, a leading center-left Democratic organization, told Fox News Digital. Pointing to the increasing visceral opposition to President Donald Trump by Democrats across the country, Bennett said the primary results in Michigan may be “a unique situation where candidates matter.” “And in this moment Democratic voters everywhere are very very angry at Trump and they’re flipping over the tables and taking it out on the establishment and Haley, for better or worse, has run as the establishment.” Matt Grossmann, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and political science professor at Michigan State University, pointed to what he called a “recruitment failure.” “Stevens was no one’s first choice,” Grossman said of Stevens, as he referred to unsuccessful efforts to recruit term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to launch a campaign in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Noting growing opposition among Democrats nationwide to Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas in Gaza, and the massive amounts of outside money spent in the historically expensive Senate primary by groups aligned with pro-Israel interests to help Stevens and target El-Sayed, Grossman added “this was a terrible year to be running the most pro-Israel candidate available.” More than $80 million was spent on the primary, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination contest in history. Much of the money came from outside groups supporting Stevens or opposing El-Sayed. The largest spender was United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is best known by its acronym AIPAC. El-Sayed said his victory is easy to understand. Speaking with Fox News Digital on Sunday, he said “our job is to listen to folks, as it has been since we kicked off this campaign… to understand the challenges people have in their lives.” “I think the people are telling us that they want money out of politics. Money in your pocket, Medicare-for-all,” he emphasized. “You know, endorsements don’t vote. People vote. And I think right now people are voting with their feet.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), a leading group on the left, referred to El-Sayed narrow margin over Stevens and told Fox News Digital that “any win against $60 million dollars of outside spending by AIPAC and corporate interests is a giant win and sets us on a path of proving our case in November to shake up the system.” The progressive-versus-establishment battle also played out in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a Republican-controlled swing seat that is among roughly two dozen races expected to help determine control of the House. William Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement climate advocacy group, edged out two more moderate Democrats. Lawrence was backed by Sanders and El-Sayed, as well as several prominent progressive groups. He will face Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the general election. The party’s internal battle was also on display in Michigan’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District. Rep. Shri Thanedar, who was supported by top House Democratic leaders, was narrowly defeated by state Rep. Donovan McKinney. McKinney was backed by Sanders, El-Sayed and “Squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. Bennett noted that Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan crushed a more progressive rival in the 2024 Senate primary before winning the general election by a razor-thin margin over Rogers in a state that President Donald Trump narrowly carried. And Bennett and Grossman pointed out that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who won the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who was renominated, are far from left-wingers. “The party hasn’t shifted far to the left but this particular primary did,” Bennett argued, as he referred to El-Sayed’s victory over Stevens.
McConnell’s absence puts Trump agenda at risk as Kentucky succession questions grow
A deadline that could have determined Sen. Mitch McConnell’s future in the Senate has come and gone as the timeline for the Kentucky Republican’s return remains in the air. Speculation swirled over Aug. 3 and its ramifications for McConnell’s winnowing tenure in the Senate, given that he’s been absent from the public eye since early June and is slated to retire at the end of this year. Armchair election quarterbacks suggested that Monday was the day for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, to have called a special election to replace McConnell. MCCONNELL OUT OF HOSPITAL, STILL NOT ‘MEDICALLY CLEARED’ TO RETURN TO SENATE But the longtime Republican has not vacated his seat, and Beshear contended that the obscure deadline had no real legal teeth. “I know there are a lot of folks wondering about the significance of August 3 regarding a potential Senate vacancy,” Beshear said on X. “I want everyone to know that this date has no legal impact on my options should there be a vacancy this year.” Still, Kentucky’s Senate succession law has undergone major changes in recent years. Should the Bluegrass State suddenly have a vacant seat in the upper chamber, Beshear wouldn’t be allowed to appoint a replacement as is the case in other states — this was most recently put to the test when Sen. Lindsey Graham suddenly died in South Carolina. COLLINS DROPS THE HAMMER ON TRUMP’S PICK TO LEAD DOJ, JEOPARDIZING PATH TO CONFIRMATION That means if McConnell’s seat were to become vacant, Beshear would be required to call a special election to fill his remaining time in the Senate. When asked for comment on the matter, McConnell’s office directed Fox News Digital to the last statement from the senator, released on July 27, that detailed under doctors’ orders that he was not “medically cleared” to return to the Senate quite yet. “I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” McConnell said. Despite the acknowledgment that Monday meant little legally when it came to replacing McConnell, Beshear noted that his absence is hindering current and future agenda items for the Trump administration. “Worth a reminder: Right now, there’s one less vote for the SAVE Act, Trump’s war with Iran, or the potential replacement of a SCOTUS justice,” he said. TRUMP KEEPS CALLING THUNE DESPITE PUBLIC FIGHT OVER SAVE AMERICA ACT And the Senate is chugging along without the longest-serving Republican leader in history. However, his missing dozens of votes hasn’t necessarily stopped legislation so far. But during the dizzying sprint to wrap up work ahead of a scheduled break during August, his vote could count more than ever. There are three Republicans who are on the fence about Blanche, too. Notably, President Donald Trump’s nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is hanging by a thread, in part, because McConnell is not there. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced her intention to vote against him, leaving Republicans with only one vote to spare before his path to leading the Department of Justice closes. “I don’t know what those individuals are going to do, and I just… Mitch is still out,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. “But I think he’ll be confirmed. And we’ve got a lot of work to do this week.”