Experts weigh in on whether DeSantis’ Iowa strategy will be enough to topple Trump: ‘Hail Mary’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently earned two key Iowa endorsements as he continues to push campaign resources into the state, a move that political experts tell Fox News Digital is an “all in” strategy as he looks to upset former President Trump in an uphill battle that could make or break his presidential ambitions next year. Shortly after receiving the endorsement of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, DeSantis was endorsed by influential Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats who said “there’s definitely a shot that the former president can be beat here” despite Trump leading DeSantis by at least 30 points, according to the Real Clear Politics average, with just over six weeks until the Iowa caucus. “Americans like winners and want to be part of winning,” David Avella, chairman of GOPAC and a veteran Republican strategist, told Fox News Digital. “History tells us that the nominee will be the individual who wins at least two of the first three contests. While history also tells us that an Iowa victory is not essential, it is clear that Team DeSantis is seeking a victory to counter the inevitability of former President Trump being nominated again. It may prove effective, yet it has to work given the resources and attention Team DeSantis has put into Iowa.” DeSantis and his primary Super PAC, Never Back Down, have poured a vast majority of their resources into Iowa in a strategy that GOP strategist Alex Conant, founding partner at Firehouse Strategies, told Fox News Digital is a strategy born out of “necessity” and that recognizes the “political reality that if Trump wins Iowa” it is “hard to see how he is stopped anywhere.” HALEY, DESANTIS OR TRUMP? WHO WILL TOP-DOLLAR DONORS BACKING TIM SCOTT SUPPORT NEXT IN 2024 GOP RACE “This is the equivalent of a Hail Mary,” Conant said. “It could work like when John McCain went all in in New Hampshire in 2008, and he shocked the political world by emerging as the nominee. Barack Obama did the same thing in 2008 in Iowa when he was going up against Hillary Clinton when he went Iowa or bust, and he won Iowa and went on to win the nomination. There is plenty of precedent for a candidate going all in on one state.” Despite the historical precedent of late Iowa surges and candidates using Iowa as a springboard to the nomination, Conant said 2024 is not a “normal primary” with Trump in position as a “de facto incumbent” where he says the other candidates have so far failed to effectively explain why he should be unseated. “The good news for Ron DeSantis is he is the front-runner in Iowa if former President Trump was not competing to win Iowa,” Avella told Fox News Digital. “The bad news for Ron DeSantis is former President Trump is organizing to win Iowa. For DeSantis to win, he needs to get [there to] caucus those voters who are still keeping their options open and those voters who are only considering candidates other than Donald Trump. It is going to take him convincing voters with a clear, concise message that his ideas are the best solutions.” TOP DESANTIS BACKER RESIGNS FROM SUPER PAC AMID INTERNAL TURMOIL: ‘UNTENABLE’ ENVIRONMENT In terms of the messaging needed for a late surge, Conant told Fox News Digital that the DeSantis campaign has been “too much about Florida.” “The truth of the matter is people in Iowa don’t care about your record in other states. They want to know what you’re going to do for them as president,” said Conant, who served as communications director for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s campaign that came close to winning Iowa after a late surge in 2016. “Republican voters are clear that the cost of everyday living and failure with border security are their top concerns,” Avella said. “Ron DeSantis has to convince voters with a clear, concise message that his ideas are the best solutions.” Ashley Hayek, executive director of America First Works, told Fox News Digital that DeSantis’s strategy in the next few weeks is “irrelevant” with the outcome “already decided” thanks to Trump’s “significant influence” in the Republican Party. “Voters are nostalgic for the economic successes under Trump, often referred to as ‘Trumpanomics,’” Hayek said. “It’s akin to a company rehiring a former CEO who previously steered them through prosperous times; the familiarity and proven track record are irresistible. The Republican nominee is essentially pre-decided with Trump’s rehire on the horizon by early 2024.” DESANTIS SAYS TRUMP IS ‘HIGH RISK,’ ‘LOW REWARD’ GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE Several prominent DeSantis donors told Fox News Digital this month that they were encouraged by how he was campaigning in Iowa and expressed the belief that Iowa voters are just now starting to pay close attention to the January caucus. In a statement to Fox News Digital, DeSantis Communications Director Andrew Romeo said the Florida governor is the only candidate who can beat Trump regardless of where the primary is. “Ron DeSantis is the only candidate with the organization, resources, and message necessary to beat Trump in multiple early states – including the first and most important state on the calendar,” Romeo said. “That’s why Team Trump continues to attack him every day.” The super PAC backing Trump’s campaign revived attack ads against DeSantis last month, spending millions going after DeSantis in the past few weeks, which Romeo referred to on social media as a public admission that DeSantis is “climbing in Iowa.” DeSantis surrogates have made the case that polling is different from turnout and that responding to a poll is different from actually showing up on a cold winter night in Iowa to caucus for a candidate. “It will take a turnout operation unlike any in electoral history to get voters to show up on a cold night to vote for a candidate who is down 15 points,” Avella said. If DeSantis is to make a late surge, Conant said a “strong third” or “distant second” “isn’t going to cut it against Trump,” especially with DeSantis polling as low as fifth in New
Biden offers apology to Muslim-American leaders for questioning Hamas death toll: report
President Joe Biden reportedly issued an apology to several prominent Muslim-American leaders after openly questioning the accuracy of the death toll figures from Gaza. During a press conference on October 25, President Biden openly questioned the number of causalities in Gaza, which are reported by the Hamas government. “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed,” Biden said. “I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s a price of waging war.” Biden met with five Muslim American leaders the day after his October 25 comments about reported Gaza deaths. TRUMP BLASTS AMERICAN LEADERS AS NO US CITIZENS ARE AMONG HAMAS HOSTAGES RECENTLY RELEASED During the meeting, Biden listened to the leaders describe people they knew who were directly impacted by the conflict in the Middle East. “I’m sorry. I’m disappointed in myself,” Biden told the group, according to the Washington Post. The Muslim-American leaders who met with Biden urged him to show more empathy to the Palestinians and Biden allegedly hugged one of the participants at the end of the meeting. BIDEN TRIES TO HIDE AWAY IN NANTUCKET BUT CAN’T ESCAPE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS According to data from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including many women and children, have been killed in the weeks-old war. Israel has suffered more than 1,200 fatalities, most of those being civilians, who were killed when the Hamas terror group fired a sneak attack on Israel on October 7, according to officials. Not only has Biden faced criticism and pressure from his own administration on the strategy taken in Gaza, some prominent Democrats have also publicly disagreed with the president’s response to the war. CRUZ, WHITE HOUSE TRADE BARBS OVER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ISRAEL RESPONSE: ‘THAT IS A LIE’ Biden has endorsed US support for Israel following the October 7 attack, but he also has pushed for a pause in the fighting to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and for hostages held by Hamas to get released. “For weeks, I’ve been advocating to pause the fighting for two purposes: to increase the assistance getting into the Gaza civilians who need help and to facilitate release of hostages,” Biden said on Sunday. “We know that innocent children in Gaza are suffering greatly as well.” Beginning on Friday, Hamas and Israel agreed to pause fighting for four days as a hostage-for-prisoner deal takes place to free roughly 50 hostages in return for the temporary peace and dozens of Palestinian prisoners. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox New Digital.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams blasts students’ ‘vile show of antisemitism’ that forced teacher to hide in office
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said city officials are investigating a “vile show of antisemitism” in which students at a high school in Queens reportedly rioted after learning a teacher attended a pro-Israel rally. The incident shut down Hillcrest High School in Jamaica Hills, Queens, for two hours on Monday and forced the teacher to hide inside a locked office while the students rampaged down the halls, the New York Post first reported. “The vile show of antisemitism at Hillcrest High School was motivated by ignorance-fueled hatred, plain and simple, and it will not be tolerated in any of our schools, let alone anywhere else in our city,” Adams wrote on X. “We are better than this,” the mayor added. NYC PALESTINIAN MAN SENTENCED IN BRUTAL ANTISEMITIC BEATING BEFORE JUDGE EJECTS ANGRY SUPPORTERS FROM COURT Students had planned a protest after seeing a Facebook photo of the teacher holding a sign that read, “I stand with Israel,” the report said. In the students’ group chat, they spoke about “starting a riot,” one student told the outlet. Shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, hundreds of teens stormed the hallways, where they chanted, waved Palestinian flags and screamed that the teacher “needs to go,” according to the report. Parts of the incident were captured on video and posted to TikTok. The teacher, whose name was not publicly released, has worked in the city’s school system for 23 years and has taught at Hillcrest for the past seven years. She told the Post that she “was shaken to my core” by the calls of violence against her both online and in the hallways outside her classroom. “No one should ever feel unsafe at school — students and teachers alike,” the teacher said. UCLA PROFESSOR RIPS SCHOOL’S ‘GUTLESS’ RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS: ‘COMPLICIT WITH HAMAS’ Adams said that NYC Public Schools has begun a full investigation into how the incident took place. He also said that Project Pivot teams will begin outreach with students at Hillcrest this week “to ensure they understand why this behavior was unacceptable.” “No student, teacher, or staff member should fear for their safety in our schools,” the mayor said. Since Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, American Jews have become the targets of increased antisemitic hate. In New York City, the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force investigated 69 anti-Jewish incidents in October, a 214% surge compared to the same period last year.
Iowa GOP voters weigh DeSantis’ Florida record as caucuses near: ‘Time to stand up’
Florida governor Ron DeSantis is upping his game on the campaign trail in Iowa, away from his home state in Florida. Voters in the two states say they support him — but for contrasting reasons. Iowa residents who support DeSantis told Fox News they admired his willingness to be tough on the U.S. border and say his immigration policies have a national appeal. “I like the fact that he’s supporting the border. You can’t just let people run through,” said Pam from Sigourney, Iowa. Steve in Davenport, Iowa, agreed, adding the border is his top concern and that DeSantis caught his eye with his stance on containing the migrant flow. DESANTIS ARGUES THAT GAVIN NEWSOM ‘CATERS TO A VERY FAR LEFT SLICE OF THE ELECTORATE’ “We can’t keep having this invasion of people. We don’t know who is coming in here. Everybody forgets 9/11 and it can happen again. It only took 19 people to do it. And we just let 8 million people come in here. So, it’s time to stand up and get this thing shut down,” he said. The border is among top concerns for voters nationwide too. A NBC News National poll shows 74% of registered voters support more funding for security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Voters overwhelmingly support funding the border instead of foreign aid packages. David Kochel, a longtime Iowa-based GOP strategist says if candidates want to do well in Iowa, they need to be able to showcase their stance on securing the border. DESANTIS LANDS ENDORSEMENT FROM INFLUENTIAL IOWA EVANGELICAL LEADER IN RACE FOR GOP NOMINATION “To the extent that these candidates can get some traction on that issue and talk about it and show that they have a plan and that they care about how voters feel on this, I think they’re going to do well,” Kochel said. “And it certainly is a thing that Governor DeSantis talks about. It’s a high-profile issue for most voters and especially in Iowa.” But in Florida, residents told Fox News they support DeSantis for his local accomplishments. None of the voters Fox News interviewed mentioned supporting DeSantis for his border or immigration policies. Theresa from Madeira beach said she backs DeSantis for his unwavering conservative policies in the state. “I just like that he tries to keep everything intact with how all of the state wants to continue as Republicans and go forward with all of the issues that we’re confronted with daily on,” she said. Harley from Treasure Island gave a specific example, saying he appreciates DeSantis taking a stand in his feud with Disney. “I love what he did over at Disney. I’m with him on everything and there’s so many crazy things that are going on right now,” he said. Kochel said Florida residents have seen his policies play out in front of them and DeSantis is able to tout his local successes to Floridians on the trail. “They saw how he handled COVID. They see how he handles tax policy, education policy and everything else,” said Kochel. “In Iowa what he emphasizes, on the campaign, might be a little different, although he has talked quite a bit about his Florida record.” As the first state to vote in the presidential nominating cycle, Iowa is key for GOP candidates ahead of the mid-January caucus. This week, DeSantis secured the latest endorsement out of the Hawkeye state from influential evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. Evangelicals make up nearly two-thirds of Republicans voters in Iowa. Kochel said Vander Plaat’s endorsement is the last major endorsement out of Iowa. “He [Vander Plaats] certainly has his finger on the pulse of where Iowa activists are,” said Kochel. “He’s had a pretty good track record of picking winners in the Iowa caucuses. You know, he’s been with the last three caucus winners.” But Kochel says candidates still have plenty of time to make their pitch to Iowa voters. “Iowa voters like to wait until the last minute and make up their minds,” he said. “A lot of people will wait and make up their minds in the last 10 or 12 days. So, what we see right now may not be the way this race closes out in in a few weeks.” CHRISTIE TURNS UP THE HEAT ON HALEY AND DESANTIS AS HE TRIES TO BE THE TRUMP ALTERNATIVE IN GOP 2024 RACE An NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll last month shows Trump’s strong lead at 43% and Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley tied for second at 16%. “I think President Trump has made it into the finals already because of his national support,” said Kochel. “He’s almost running as an incumbent. But I think the real fight is for Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis to see who can emerge after the first 2 or 3 states as the primary challenger to Trump, because the only way to beat President Trump is to get him one on one.” DeSantis has visited 98 out of 99 Iowa counties, one county away from completing the “Full Grassley”, a statewide tour named after longtime Iowa senator Chuck Grassley. Nicole Schlinger, an Iowa-based GOP strategist says DeSantis is in full Iowa mode. “They’ve had the biggest ground game in Iowa for some time right now. And they’re you know, they’re running a very traditional grassroots caucus campaign,” said Schlinger. With less than two months until the first-in-the-nation Iowa Republican caucuses, DeSantis has the endorsement from Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds is arguably the most prominent player in Iowa Republican politics and very popular among Republicans in the Hawkeye state. While endorsing DeSantis she said, “I just felt like I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. We have too much at stake.” Schlinger said Iowa voters value the endorsement because he was able to turn Florida red. “I think in terms of why he has a strong showing, a person who has been a conservative, successful governor in a large state and has helped to turn a somewhat purple
Senator presses Army over backpay, religious freedoms for soldiers discharged for COVID vaccine refusal
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is pressing the U.S. Army for answers on behalf of former service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 2,000 service members were let go from the military after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Amid recruitment troubles in 2023, the Army recently sent a letter to the discharged soldiers, telling them they have the option to now correct their characterization of discharge and rejoin the branch. The Army has said the letters were part of a congressionally-mandated process. In a letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth on Tuesday, Schmitt asked whether any soldiers would receive backpay if they decide to re-enlist, if they would be reinstated to their rank held before discharge, and whether the religious freedoms of service members will be protected moving forward. “These mandates certainly harmed our military’s readiness and tragically destroyed the careers of thousands of brave volunteers,” the Republican Senator wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. “These members have faced negative implications for veterans benefits and employment outside of the military. It is likely that most of those former members will never return to the military and serve our nation.” ARMY SENDS LETTER TO TROOPS DISMISSED FOR REFUSING COVID VACCINE AMID MILITARY’S RECRUITMENT WOES The senator also asked whether the Army will make continuous effort to ask these particular members if they would like to rejoin the branch, after reports the Army was about 10,000 soldiers short of meeting its FY 2023 recruiting goals. In 2022, recruitments fell short by an even larger margin o 15,000. ARMY MAKES MAJOR CHANGE TO RECRUTING BATTLE PLAN AS SHORTFALL IN NEW SOLDIERS PERSISTS Schmitt noted the branch has missed their recruitment goals, highlighting that “8,300 men and women across the entire military were discharged solely due to COVID-19 mandates. The Army discharged 1,881 soldiers, and only granted 191 exemptions out of 10,699 requests.” Schmitt requested a response be delivered by December 13, 2023. Office of the Chief of Public Affairs (OCPA) at the Army told Fox News Digital they would be responding directly to the sender of the letter. “As with all congressional correspondence, we will respond directly to the author of the letter,” Bryce S. Dubee wrote in a statement to Fox on Wednesday. The Army also re-highlighted a previous statement sent to Fox after it was first reported that former service members received letters in the mail regarding their discharge. “As part of the overall COVID mandate rescission process mandated by Congress, the Army this month mailed the letters to approximately 1,900 individuals who had previously been separated. The letter provides information to former servicemembers on how to request a correction of their military records,” they wrote. According to Task and Purpose, thousands of troops unsuccessfully sought religious exemptions from the vaccination, including 8,945 soldiers, 10,800 airmen and guardians, 4,172 sailors, and 3,717 Marines. The initial military letter provided forms for service members who were “involuntary separated for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination” to request “a correction to military personnel records, including regarding the characterization of discharge.” The letter also shared links for any interested discharged soldiers to return to service. Fox News’ Danielle Wallace and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
Fierce DeSantis-Newsom rivalry heads to prime-time showdown with ‘Hannity’ debate
They’re two relatively young and very high-profile governors of large states who have a knack for grabbing national attention and firing up the bases of their respective political parties. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who have been trading fire for nearly two years, will tangle once again this week — but this time their slugfest will be in person. DeSantis, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, and Newsom — who Republican critics charge is running a shadow campaign for the White House even though he repeatedly stomps on such speculation as “ridiculous” — will face off Thursday in a debate moderated by Fox News’ prime-time opinion host Sean Hannity. The showdown, titled “DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate,” will take in Alpharetta, Georgia — a one-time red state that’s become a top general election battleground between the two major political parties. DESANTIS SAYS HIS WAR OF WORDS WITH NEWSOM ‘IS ALL BUSINESS’ “He caters to a very far left slice of the electorate. I think that will be on display when we have the debate,” DeSantis said as he spoke with Fox News Digital earlier this week during a campaign stop in New Hampshire, the state that holds the first primary and second overall contest in the GOP presidential nominating calendar. Newsom, in an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” earlier this autumn, pointed towards DeSantis and emphasized that “I don’t like people who demonize other people or go after vulnerable communities. I also don’t like liars.” NEWSOM’S POTENTIAL PRESIDENITAL AMBITIONS FRONT AND CENTER AS HE TOUTS BIDEN AT SECOND GOP DEBATE Both governors have outsized national profiles, run the nation’s first and third most populous states, and overwhelmingly won gubernatorial re-elections last year, when their rivalry really heated up. In 2022, Newsom went up with an ad on Florida airwaves that targeted DeSantis’ culture war approach to politics and policies. “Freedom, it’s under attack in your state. Republican leaders, they’re banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors,” Newsom argued in his spot. DeSantis, who became a hero to conservatives nationwide for his pushback against coronavirus pandemic restrictions, earlier this year called San Francisco — the city Newsom served two terms as mayor — a “dumpster fire.” The governors — who’ve long battled on social media over their very different COVID policies — this year have traded fire over the move by DeSantis to fly undocumented migrants from to California. The Florida governor has made border security a top issue in recent years and has repeatedly highlighted his efforts on the 2024 Republican presidential campaign trail. Last week, a Newsom-aligned political group started running an ad on Fox News’ ‘Hannity” that slammed DeSantis over the six-week abortion ban in Florida that he signed into law earlier this year. “They’re perfect foils for one another. They both lead some of the biggest states in the country. They both have very prominent roles in their respective parties, and they both love attention,” longtime Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams told Fox News. WILL THIS MAJOR ENDORSEMENT IN IOWA BOOST DESANTIS? Williams, a veteran of numerous presidential and statewide campaigns, noted that “it’s in their best interests to attack one another. It gets both of their bases riled up. And it gives them a national platform to fight with each other.” DeSantis, once the clear alternative to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP nomination race, has seen his standing erode over the summer and autumn. He’s currently battling with former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for second place in the polls, far behind Trump, who remains the commanding Republican front-runner as he makes his third straight White House run. Newsom is one of the most high-profile surrogates for Biden, who’s running for a second term as president. But the 81-year-old president, saddled for over two-years with underwater approval ratings, has increasingly in recent months faced questions regarding his physical and cognitive ability to serve another four years in the White House. And Biden narrowly trails Trump in many of the most recent polls looking ahead to a likely 2024 general election matchup. While Newsom has repeatedly shot down speculation he would run for the White House next year should something happen to Biden, a well-publicized trip by the California governor to Israel and China last month sparked further buzz about his possible 2024 ambitions. DeSantis, speaking with Fox News Digital, argued that “I’ve been warning Republican voters… it may not be Biden in 2024.” “This guy is running a shadow campaign. He denies it, but even people in his own party are saying it,” DeSantis said of Newsom. “You have [Vice President Kamala] Harris, you have a lot of these other people who could end up running in 2024 if Biden’s not able to do it. I think there’s a lot of people in the Democratic Party who do not want Biden to run. Ultimately, it’s going to be his decision, but I think there’s a lot of pressure there for him to take a step back.” Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Trump blasts American leaders as no US citizens are among Hamas hostages recently released
Former President Trump blasted American leaders as there were no U.S. citizens released in the past few days by Hamas. Hamas terrorists released 17 hostages late Saturday, and 24 on Friday, but none of them were any of the 10 American citizens being held, including 4-year-old Avigail Idan. The release of hostages comes as Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day cease-fire. Fifty hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released within the four-day window, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. In exchange, 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel will be released. “Has anybody noticed that Hamas has returned people from other Countries but, so far, has not returned one American Hostage? There is only one reason for that, NO RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY OR OUR LEADERSHIP. This is a very sad and dark period of America!” Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social. 17 ADDITIONAL HAMAS HOSTAGES RELEASED AFTER HOURS-LONG DELAY Two American nationals held hostage by Hamas were released Oct. 20, but no U.S. citizen has been released since then. While on vacation in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Friday, President Biden said he still expects American hostages to be released. BIDEN UNSURE WHEN AMERICAN HOSTAGES WILL BE FREED BY HAMAS: ‘WE DON’T KNOW’ “We don’t know when that will occur, but we’re going to expect it to occur,” Biden said. “We don’t know what the list of all the hostages are and when they will be released, but we know the numbers that are going to be released, So, it’s my hope and expectation it will be soon.” Biden added that he didn’t know the conditions of Americans being held hostage by Hamas. While walking on the island Saturday, he told reporters, “I‘m hopeful you’ll see something soon,” when asked about American hostages. According to U.S. intelligence, approximately 10 Americans are among those being held hostage by Hamas. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., wrote on X that Biden should be doing more in order for the American hostages to be released. Fox News’ Greg Norman, Lucas Tomlinson, Trey Yingst, Andrea Vacchiano and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
Trudeau blames ‘right-wing, American MAGA’ after Canadian Conservative Party votes against Ukraine bill
Right-wing American thinking has infiltrated Canadian politics and caused the Conservative Party to “turn their backs” on Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday. Trudeau called out the Conservative Party after the group unanimously voted against an update to the Canada Ukraine Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine. “I’ve actually boasted . . . that it’s not a political debate in Canada, all parties in Canada stand with Ukraine,” Trudeau said at a press conference Friday. “So it is particularly troubling to see — even though we are seeing a rise of right-wing rhetoric in the United States with MAGA conservatives, across Europe, in certain corners of right-wing politicians and parties — starting to pull their support for Ukraine. Starting to parrot Russian disinformation and misinformation and propaganda.” Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre earlier Friday said his party had voted against the agreement not because of flagging support for Ukraine, but out of concern it would saddle the war-torn country with a carbon tax. Trudeau said that explanation was “an absurd excuse.” CONSERVATIVE CANADIAN LEADER GOES VIRAL FOR MUNCHING ON APPLE WHILE CALMLY BATTING DOWN REPORTER’S QUESTIONS “The real story is the rise of a right-wing, American MAGA-influenced thinking that has made Canadian Conservatives — who used to be among the strongest defenders of Ukraine, I’ll admit it — turn their backs on something Ukraine needs in its hour of need,” Trudeau said. “That is the danger of the rise of the right-wing influence that is feeling its impact in Canada. That’s what not just Ukrainian Canadians but all Canadians should be concerned about. When the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre turn their backs on history, turn their backs on our friends and allies, turn their backs on the international rules-based order and our support for the UN Charter and territorial Integrity, it is of real concern and should be of concern to all of us, because we’re seeing that spiking up all around the world,” Trudeau said. Earlier Friday, Poilievre said that his party was only voting against the agreement because conservatives understood how disastrous carbon taxes can be. “We voted against Justin Trudeau forcing a carbon tax into that pre-existing agreement. Conservatives understand how devastating the carbon tax has been for Canadians,” Poilievre said. “It’s caused two million people to go to a food bank every single month, seven million Canadians not eating enough to stay healthy.” “I really think it speaks to how pathologically obsessed Trudeau is with the carbon tax that, while the knife is at the throat of Ukrainians, he would use that to impose his carbon tax ideology on those poor people,” Poilievre said, according to CBC News. The trade agreement includes a section committing both parties to coordinate “bilaterally and in international forums to address matters of mutual interest, as appropriate, to . . . promote carbon pricing and measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks.” Ukraine has had a carbon tax since 2011, and it is in the process of modifying the tax as it seeks to gain membership in the EU. It’s not the first time Trudeau has blamed American politics for pushback to liberal policies in Canada. JUSTIN TRUDEAU BLAMES ‘AMERICAN RIGHT-WING’ FOR MUSLIMS OPPOSING LGBTQ CURRICULUM: ‘LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE!’ In July, Trudeau said the “American right-wing” was responsible for causing Canadian Muslims’ to oppose gender ideology and LGBTQ curriculum in K-12 education. Trudeau made the comments during a visit with the Muslim community at the Baitun Nur Mosque in Calgary after hundreds of protesters rallied against gender ideology in schools, chanting, “Leave our kids alone.” The frustration reached a boiling point after audio surfaced of an Edmonton Public Schools teacher berating Muslim students for skipping school in order to avoid Pride events. One person in the audience asked Trudeau to “please protect our culture, our belief, the sin that you are doing to them.” Trudeau responded: “First of all, there is an awful lot of misinformation and disinformation out there [from] people on social media, particularly fueled by the American right-wing are spreading a lot of untruths about what is actually… in the curriculum.” Fox News’ Hannah Grossman contributed reporting.
Santos accuses colleagues of voting hungover, sleeping around in profanity-laden tirade against ethics report
Embattled New York Republican Rep. George Santos delivered a tirade Friday night blasting his congressional colleagues, accusing them of trying to force him out of Congress because he’s different. The New York congressman accused the House Ethics Committee of attacking him while letting other unethical behavior in the House go unchecked. “Within the ranks of the United States Congress, there’s felons galore, there’s people with all sorts of sheisty backgrounds,” Santos said in a nearly three-hour conversation broadcast on X, formerly Twitter. NY REP. GEORGE SANTOS, WHO FLIPPED BLUE SEAT, SAYS HE WON’T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN WAKE OF ETHICS REPORT Santos also accused members of Congress of voting drunk and having inappropriate relationships with lobbyists. “I have colleagues who are more worried about getting drunk every night with the next lobbyists that they’re going to screw and pretend like none of us know what’s going on and sell off the American people,” he said, adding that some do not “show up to vote because they’re too hungover or whatever the reason is, or not show up to vote at all and just give their card out like f—ing candy for someone else to vote for them.” “This s— happens every single week. Where are the ethics investigations?” he said. FORMER SANTOS CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD, IDENTITY THEFT Santos accused “hacks in the Ethics Committee” of acting inappropriately in releasing a report last week that found “substantial evidence” that Santos filed false campaign finance reports, used campaign funds for personal purposes, had a fraudulent connection to a business and knowingly violated ethics laws. Among other things, the Ethics Committee said it found evidence that Santos had used campaign funds for personal Botox treatments, personal meals, a $4,000 purchase at Hermes and payments to OnlyFans. The Ethics committee report itself violated his rights to a fair trial, according to Santos, because it made definitive statements about criminal matters and contained “a s—-ton of hyperbole.” Santos faces federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud. Santos already said he would not seek re-election, but he might not survive much longer in the seat he flipped for the GOP. HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE HEAD TO MOVE TO EXPEL GEORGE SANTOS AFTER RELEASE OF DAMNING REPORT Santos has survived two expulsion votes, but Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., introduced a resolution to expel Santos following the release of the report. It’s unclear when the measure will be taken up after the House returns. “Chairman Guest feels that the evidence uncovered in the Committee’s investigation is more than sufficient to warrant punishment, and that the most appropriate punishment is expulsion,” Republican Mississippi Rep. Michael Guest’s personal office told Fox News Digital on Thursday. Santos admitted that the House appears to be stacked against him. “I’ll be expelled simply because people did not want me,” he said Friday. If Santos is expelled, he would be the fifth member of the House to be forcibly removed from the chamber in U.S. history. Santos said that if he is expelled, it would be the first time a member was kicked out of the House before being convicted in court. Should Santos be expelled, his seat would be subject to a special election that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul would schedule. Santos’ district voted for President Biden in 2020, but the freshman Republican House member won a surprising upset in the 2022 midterms.
Biden tries to hide away in Nantucket but can’t escape pro-Palestinian protesters
President Biden retreated to Nantucket, where he normally finds reprieve from the demands of running the country, but pro-Palestinian protesters managed to track him down and remain a reminder of the troubles waiting for him. The protesters found Biden twice on Friday, once as he departed lunch with his family and again when they attended a tree-lighting ceremony. Each time, they shouted now-familiar slogans, including “Free Palestine” and “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide!” If the president heard them, he didn’t let them know: Biden focused on greeting members of the children’s choir who performed at the tree lighting. A local official tried to dissuade the protesters from interrupting the ceremony, stressing that it was not a political event. Biden’s staunch support for Israel has come at a price as his party finds itself divided over the war in the Gaza Strip. His polling numbers have slumped as younger voters and members of his party stand in favor of the Palestinian people, who have died by the thousands during Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza. BIDEN ADMIN WILL HAVE TO USE LEVERAGE IF AMERICANS AREN’T RELEASED, WARNS MORGAN ORTAGUS NBC political correspondent Steve Kornacki earlier this week highlighted just how hard Biden’s numbers have fallen by revealing that former President Trump beats Biden in a hypothetical general match-up for the first time in the network’s poll history. “The gap is gone,” Kornacki said. “36% positive on both and actually Biden, one point more negative than Trump. That’s been a significant advantage for Biden, our poll says that advantage, at least for now, may be gone.” DEMOCRATS HAVE A ‘QUANDRY’ WITH PRO-ISRAEL AND PRO-PALESTINIAN BASES: LEO TERRELL Biden had to delay the start of his annual post-Thanksgiving unwind with the family as he spent Friday morning attending multiple briefings with national security aides, who were updating him as Hamas released the first phase of hostages per their agreement with Israel as part of a four-day ceasefire. He then managed to catch up with the family for their regular lunch, which preceded some local shopping and mingling with the Nantucket crowd before the tree lighting. The family ate at the Brotherhood of Thieves bar and grill, which promotes itself as a “1840s whaling bar.” IF MANCHIN RUNS FOR PRESIDENT, WILL HE BE A SPOILER AND THROW THE ELECTION TO TRUMP? The president walked out of Nantucket Books with a copy of Democracy Awakening by historian Heather Cox Richardson, who interviewed Biden at the White House last year. He remarked that he couldn’t visit Nantucket “without going to the book store . . . we’ve got a tradition.” The last stop before the tree lighting saw the Bidens’ stop off at the Jeweler’s Gallery, where a crowd wished him a happy birthday and took photos with the first family. CRUZ, WHITE HOUSE TRADE BARBS OVER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ISRAEL RESPONSE: ‘THAT IS A LIE’ The Bidens arrived on Nantucket Tuesday night, taking up residence at the home of billionaire David Rubenstein. Secret Service prepared the island five days ahead of Air Force One touching down, including a surge of Massachusetts State Police Troopers to boost security. Rubenstein, a friend of the Bidens whose net worth is estimated at over $3.5 billion, has offered his property to the family for their Thanksgiving celebrations since at least 2021, Forbes reported. He acquired the property in 1998 for $8 million with his ex-wife, Alice, and has expanded the compound with five additional guest structures. The lavish coastal property on Abram’s Point includes several guest houses, a tennis court, a hot tub and a pool and has an estimated total value of more than $34 million, according to the Nantucket Assessor’s office. FOX Business’s Chris Pandolfo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.