NationalWatch

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is being roasted online for a brutal resurfaced video of her misreading World War II as “World War Eleven” during a Capitol Hill news conference.

Omar, the first Somali American member of Congress, made the error during her opening remarks at a Democratic news conference last year on the reintroduction of the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. The bill, which did not pass, was aimed at opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement, particularly his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act.

The congresswoman railed that the “last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked it was used to detain and deport German, Japanese, Italian immigrants during World War Eleven.”

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She quickly corrected herself, saying, “Oh, two,” and laughing.

As Omar’s district faces increased scrutiny amid a massive federal fraud probe largely involving the Somali immigrant community, the resurfaced clip is circulating online. The mistake drew mockery, including from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who teased Omar, saying, “‘World War Eleven’ … Yes, that was deadly.”

In a separate post, Lee continued to rib Omar, sharing a side-by-side of her error alongside another video of her calling Trump voters “idiots.” The video showed Omar saying, “It’s become really hard to have an intellectual debate with any of these people,” and asserting that “the dumbing of the United States has arrived, because how else do we get a Trump presidency again?”

The video of Omar’s gaffe also garnered a reaction from Elon Musk, who posted a grimacing emoji.

The popular conservative account “I Meme Therefore I Am” posted, “She must have gotten her education in the Quality Learing Center.” The post referenced one of the Minneapolis daycare centers allegedly engaged in fraud, which went viral for misspelling its name on its sign as “Quality Learing Center” instead of “Quality Learning Center.”

Chloe Cole, a conservative activist and prominent “detransitioner,” posted on X, “Absolutely in awe of this clip of Ilhan Omar calling World War II ‘World War Eleven.’”

“Truly quality learing. We’re learing like we’ve never leared before,” Cole wrote.

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Conservative podcast host Matt Walsh reacted, “God forbid we ever have World War 3, Ilhan Omar will think we’re on World War One Hundred Eleven.”

“Consider the astronomical levels of stupidity on display here. Ilhan Omar doesn’t know how to read Roman numerals AND she thinks there have been 11 world wars,” Walsh wrote in another X post. “Either one of those would be reasonable justification to remove her from office and send her back to Somalia. But both?”

Fox News Digital reached out to Omar for comment.

This comes as the federal government’s investigation into alleged rampant fraud in Minnesota ramps up, with agents executing 22 search warrants at locations, including childcare centers suspected of involvement. The raids, conducted Tuesday morning, centered on federal investigations into largely Somali-owned businesses, including childcare facilities that registered with the state but were allegedly billing for care that was not provided.

Sources told Fox News that two of the raids were conducted at the Quality Learning Center and Baby Halimo Child Care, both in Minneapolis.

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Omar has been largely critical of the federal investigation. In a January interview with CBS News, Omar said the Trump administration’s handling of the scandal “is harming my constituents, and it is creating the kind of chaos and confusion that no one needs in this moment.”

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Speaking with Margaret Brennan, Omar said the Trump administration’s response to the fraud being exposed “creates the level of confusion and chaos that is not necessary in a moment when we are trying to deal with a serious problem that needs serious people to be able to address it.”

Omar added, “We want to collaborately [sic] work with the administration to try to make sure that there is no fraud that’s being perpetuated on our state.

“What we do not want is the level of terror, of confusion, of chaos that is being created without any results in this moment.”

The Pentagon has formally asked for congressional approval to codify its “Department of War” moniker, estimating it will cost taxpayers around $52 million.

The estimate from the Pentagon is significantly lower than what the Congressional Budget Office projected in January, when it estimated the rebranding could cost as much as $125 million if it were adopted “broadly and rapidly” throughout the department.

The Pentagon claimed the change, which includes renaming the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War, would have no “significant impact” on President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 defense budget request because most implementation costs will be absorbed during the current 2026 fiscal year.

The “actual costs are being collected during implementation and will be available” once the current fiscal year’s execution of the name change is completed, according to the department.

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In its legislative proposal, the Pentagon said roughly $52 million is expected to be used, including $44.6 million for the Defense Agencies and the department’s field activities, $3.5 million for the military departments, $3 million for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s office and Washington Headquarters Services, $400,000 for the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands and National Guard Bureau.

“The revision to the designation of the Department serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars,” the proposal reads. “It serves as a strategic objective in which to measure and prioritize all activities.”

The request to rebrand the department would make around 7,600 changes to federal law. The Pentagon has already changed its website and social media accounts to reflect the rebranding, and Hegseth’s nameplate on his office door already reads, “Secretary of War.”

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This comes after Trump signed an executive order in the fall to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, a move that sparked criticism but that some anti-war advocates argued was more fitting for an administration they say is eager to wage war.

“The name change really does help highlight how rogue, unconstitutional, and unlawful the president’s actions are,” former Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican turned Libertarian, wrote on X in September.

But some of Trump’s Republican allies in Congress have signaled support for the name change, with Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introducing legislation in their respective chambers seeking to codify the rebranding.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Democrats have criticized the Pentagon’s request to codify the moniker, as lawmakers begin hashing out the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill.

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“The American people can’t afford groceries, gas, or rent — and the Pentagon has ALREADY wasted $50 million on renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Now they want more money,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X.

The Department of War was established in 1789 by President George Washington. It was later replaced by the National Military Establishment in 1947, which was redesignated as the Department of Defense in 1949.

Legal questions are emerging over whether charges against former FBI Director James Comey would withstand a First Amendment challenge as he is indicted for a social media post allegedly tied to threats against President Donald Trump.

Comey faced charges Tuesday under 18 U.S.C. § 871, which criminalizes threats against the president, and 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), which covers interstate communications containing threats to harm others. 

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital just before the indictment was released that, if the case is based solely on the widely circulated image posted by Comey, it could face steep constitutional hurdles.  

“If Comey is charged for the shell picture, it would face a monumental challenge under the First Amendment,” Turley said. “In my view, the image itself is clearly protected speech. Absent some other unknown facts or elements, it would be unlikely to survive a threshold constitutional challenge.”

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Both statutes require prosecutors to prove not only that a statement constituted a “true threat,” but that it was made knowingly and with intent, standards that legal analysts say could prove difficult to meet based on publicly available information. 

The indictment was filed Tuesday in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey allegedly posted the image of seashells forming the numbers “86 47” during a beach walk. 

Others pushed back on the idea that the case raises significant First Amendment concerns, arguing that threats against a sitting president fall squarely outside protected speech.

“The third assassination attempt against President Trump on Saturday made this crystal clear: The Justice Department must prosecute those who threaten to assassinate the president,” said Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project. 

“No one has a First Amendment right to do this. No one is above the law, especially not a former director of the FBI who should know better. A jury of James Comey’s peers will decide his fate.”

That argument comes amid heightened concerns about threats against Trump after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A suspect has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

Prosecutors allege that the post would be interpreted by a “reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances” as a serious expression of intent to harm the president, signaling they intend to rely heavily on context surrounding the message rather than explicit language alone.

The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, W. Ellis Boyle, will oversee the case. Boyle was appointed in 2025 and sworn in by his father, a longtime federal judge in the district, after being selected for the role by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The indictment marks the second time Comey has been charged during the second Trump administration. 

In 2025, he was indicted on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his testimony in the FBI’s Russia probe. That case was later dismissed after a federal judge ruled the prosecutor in the case had been unlawfully appointed.

Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics, drawing criticism from both parties over his handling of the Clinton email investigation and the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential links between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. 

He was fired by Trump in 2017 amid escalating tensions tied in part to the Russia investigation.

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The expected charges stem from a social media post in which Comey shared an image of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” which some critics interpreted as a coded threat against Trump. The post drew swift backlash and prompted an investigation.

Comey later said he did not intend the image to be interpreted as a call for violence.

“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

His explanation could complicate prosecutors’ efforts to establish intent, a key element required under both statutes.

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Comey’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security called out the legacy media for characterizing the perpetrator of a recent Wisconsin machete attack as a “Green Bay man” when he is actually an illegal alien from Nicaragua.

Fox News Digital has learned that David Joel Herrera-Garcia, 24, who is charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and armed burglary, is an illegal immigrant who was marked as a “non-enforcement priority” by the Biden administration, according to DHS.

Herrera-Garcia’s charges stem from an alleged break-in and machete attack at the home of his ex-girlfriend. Citing local reports, DHS said the Green Bay police responding to an emergency call discovered bloodied female and male victims in the early morning of April 20. The agency said that police on the scene found blood “all over the concrete” leading up to the house. The woman, Herrera-Garcia’s 23-year-old ex-girlfriend, identified him as the attacker, and he was arrested later that morning.

DHS has lodged an immigration detainer for Herrera-Garcia for the Brown County Jail to turn him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible deportation. The agency commented that “despite the legacy media calling Herrera-Garcia a ‘Green Bay man,’ he is in fact an illegal alien from Nicaragua.”

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“Yet again, legacy media has gone to bat for a vicious criminal illegal alien allowed by the Biden administration to roam our streets and prey upon innocent people,” remarked Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

The agency said that Herrera-Garcia allegedly used a key to enter his ex-girlfriend’s home before proceeding to beat her and repeatedly stab her and a man with a machete.

Officers responding to the emergency call applied tourniquets to the victims, who were transported to a hospital. The female victim suffered a head injury and lacerations on her hand and neck. The male victim, whose age was not given, sustained wounds on his shoulder, forearm and shin.

According to DHS, Herrera-Garcia entered the country illegally in Texas as a minor with his father in 2019. He was given a final order of removal in 2022 after he failed to appear at his immigration hearings. However, the agency said that in the final days of the Biden administration, ICE used its prosecutorial discretion to label Herrera-Garcia as a “non-enforcement priority.” The agency said that ICE under former President Joe Biden chose not to take him into custody following an arrest by local law enforcement on charges of driving without a license.

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“The Biden administration marked this criminal illegal alien as a non-enforcement priority,” said Bis.

“This is not a ‘Green Bay man.’ This is a criminal illegal alien from Nicaragua who barbarically attacked two people with a machete,” she added. “Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE lodged an arrest detainer with our local authorities to ensure this monster is never released back into our communities.”

This comes amid heightened scrutiny on jurisdictions across the country with sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with ICE.

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Bis has previously slammed sanctuary politicians, saying that “at every step on the way to make America safe again,” they “have tried to slow ICE down and chosen to release criminals from their jails into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and to spokespeople for Biden for comment.

Republicans stifled Senate Democrats’ attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from bringing military action close to home before any action has actually been taken by the administration.

Democrats failed to advance a forward-looking war powers resolution that would handcuff Trump’s ability to use military force against Cuba, which lies roughly 90 miles from the coast of Florida.

The move was spurred by his recent comments that once the U.S. was finished in Iran, it would make moves on the island nation.

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“All my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba — when will the United States do it? I do believe I’ll be the honor, having the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump said in March.

The resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., would require the removal of forces from within or around Cuba and considers the “use of the United States Coast Guard and other components of the Armed Forces to conduct a blockade or quarantine of Cuba” a hostile act that would require Congress’ approval.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., moved to block the bill from getting a full vote on the floor. His gamble was successful, though Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined nearly every Senate Democrat to force the vote. Only Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., broke ranks to support tanking the resolution. 

Still, Trump has not taken action on Cuba while the U.S. is engaged in the war in Iran.

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Kaine’s war powers resolution marked a momentary departure from Democrats’ quest to rein in Trump’s authority in the Middle East. Republicans have so far batted down five attempts to cease hostilities in the region.

When asked by Fox News Digital if he was surprised that most Republicans had stayed in line, save for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Kaine said, “You gotta ask Republicans about their position.”

“There are many saying that the 60-day time frame is relevant to them,” Kaine said. “We’ll see that because we’ll have an Iran war vote close to the 60-day [deadline] by the end of this week.”

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Support for that conflict, while still holding out among most Senate Republicans, is growing strained by the day as the 60-day deadline for Congress to weigh in under the War Powers Resolution Act is set to hit this week.

At least three Senate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah — said they wouldn’t extend Trump’s war in the region after 60 days. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is working on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for lawmakers to weigh in on the conflict.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that Republicans should “do Trump a favor” by joining Democrats to block future engagements with Cuba without congressional approval.

“The last thing working Americans need right now is another war, let alone one that’s 90 miles south of the United States,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Republicans must get out in front of a looming catastrophe in Cuba before it gets even worse, as they should have done with Trump’s war in Iran.”

As Democrats and Republicans clash over escalating political rhetoric in the wake of Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., is urging leaders on both sides to “bring the temperature down.”

The call for cooler rhetoric comes after Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., allegedly stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and opened fire.

“It’s an opportunity, in my opinion, for everyone to bring the temperature down,” Moskowitz told Fox News Digital. “If we do the finger pointing, then the temperature’s never going to come down…We’re like high schoolers.”

Allen, who was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives, was apprehended by the Secret Service as hundreds of journalists and Cabinet officials were escorted out of the hotel.

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“The rhetoric on both sides, for a while now, has been elevated, and listen, the president has had a part of that,” Moskowitz said. “He’s had responsibility in the rhetoric, and he should own that. His tweets exist. There’s a reality of that.”

Allen, who appeared in federal court Monday, is facing charges of attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Authorities said the suspect sent a written manifesto to members of his family outlining his intent to target Trump and other Cabinet officials before the alleged shooting.

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“The manifesto doesn’t sound much different than all of the talking heads on every liberal news station,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said.

This would mark another assassination attempt targeting President Trump after two in 2024, when he was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., and later targeted at his Florida golf course.

“You got psycho-frickin’ leftists trying to assassinate President Trump once again… the violence is always on their side,” Boebert said. “It is disgusting, and it needs to end, period.”

She said that President Trump’s plan for a ballroom addition to the White House is a necessary security measure.

“I want the ballroom built,” she said. “This is a national security issue at this time, and it needs to be built.”

She added these incidents are part of a larger pattern. In September, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour.”

“Look what they did to Charlie Kirk, a man that wanted to sit down and have a conversation,” Boebert said. “They hated him so much, their rhetoric caused him to be assassinated. One of their liberal freaks assassinated him. This only happens with liberals,” Boebert said.

In a news conference on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters a “left-wing cult of hatred” was to blame for the violence.

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Leavitt slammed ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for his recent comment that the first lady had the “glow of an expectant widow.”

“Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” she said. “And having experienced what I did with the first lady on Saturday night, I can tell you she was anything but that.”

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Multiple Democrats have also rejected far-left streamer Hasan Piker amid scrutiny of his political rhetoric. Piker pushed back, calling those condemning him “propagandists for the state of Israel.”

“I do reject people on my side, or trying to be on my side, like Hasan Piker, who’s advocating for senators to be killed and saying things like, ‘we deserve 9/11.’ He’s not a Democrat. He doesn’t belong in the Democratic Party,” Moskowitz said.

However, he said Americans “don’t believe” either side is blameless.

“The American people don’t believe that and it’s why our poll numbers for both sides are in the tubes,” Moskowitz said.

Fox News Digital attempted to ask Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., about the shooting and rising political violence, but she ignored the questions.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Longtime Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn accused Democrats of jeopardizing American lives amid heightened threats by supporting sanctuary policies and allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain unfunded.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cornyn decried the Democrats, saying, “This is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left.”

The comments come amid heightened national concern over public safety threats following what appeared to be another attempted assassination targeting President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. 

There is also widespread concern over violent crimes involving illegal immigrants in communities across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is experiencing the longest funding lapse in its history, further straining its ability to respond to threats.

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“We know there are dangerous people here,” he said. “People with criminal records and others who are a threat to public safety. And if there’s one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it’s public safety.”

Cornyn, one of the most senior members of the Senate who chairs the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act last week to ensure local police comply with ICE detainers by barring sanctuary cities from accessing federal funding.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Cornyn also accused Democrats of holding DHS “hostage” to “avoid funding immigration enforcement.” He added that “this is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left, specifically now in the context of illegal immigration.”

Cornyn ripped into Democrats, pointing to deaths such as that of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, a U.S. citizen living in Houston who was killed by two illegal immigrants during the Biden administration in 2024.

“Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray and others who have been victims of the unlimited open borders immigration that the Biden administration allowed during his four years in office,” he said. “Now that we have safe, secure borders under President Trump, [Democrats] are saying they don’t want to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE].”

Cornyn is locked in a bitter primary runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The attorney general is challenging Cornyn for the Senate seat he has held since 2002. While Paxton has received endorsements from the likes of Turning Point USA, Cornyn has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council. President Donald Trump has not issued an endorsement in the race, which will be decided by voters in late May.

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Cornyn’s Sanctuary City Elimination Act is cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Tim Scott, R-S.C., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.

If passed, the measure would bar sanctuary cities and states from receiving certain federal funds and grants, including arts, education, environmental and community development block grants, according to Cornyn’s office. The bill would also seek to shield state and local law enforcement officers who comply with ICE detainers from prosecution by treating them as federal officers. 

Additionally, the bill allows state governments “harmed by criminal aliens released by sanctuary jurisdictions” to sue those jurisdictions and the federal government to enforce the prohibition on funding to that sanctuary jurisdiction.

The same week Cornyn introduced the bill, the Houston City Council backed off a sanctuary-type policy amid threats of legal action from state officials.

Cornyn believes his bill can accomplish a similar result across the country. He noted that even if Democrats stymie progress on his bill, “We can certainly try to pass this using the same reconciliation process that we’ll use to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.”

“This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,” he said.

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Alluding to the upcoming midterm elections, Cornyn expressed confidence the issue will continue to resonate with voters in November.

“They don’t care about public safety. … We do care about public safety,” he said, adding that “is a pretty good contrast and one that we may need to just take to the voters.”

Addressing the weekend shooting, Cornyn told Fox News Digital, “Democrats cannot feign concern for President Trump’s life while also refusing to fund the very Department that houses Secret Service and other agencies sworn to protect him.

“I hope that, finally, the events of this past weekend will serve as a wake-up call for Democrats to fund DHS.”

Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for former President Joe Biden and to Paxton for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for comment.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced immediate backlash Tuesday after claiming credit for federal fraud raids in Minneapolis, prompting a sharp rebuke from FBI Director Kash Patel.

The clash underscores growing political tensions over a sweeping probe into fraud that critics say unfolded under Walz’s watch, as federal authorities now take the lead.

“Come again?” Patel posted on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.”

“This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”

Walz’s tweet, viewed over a million times in just a few hours, was widely panned by conservatives who pointed out that the massive fraud scandal unfolded under his watch and that the public pressure was ultimately what forced him to drop his re-election bid for governor.

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“Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. 

“The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously,” Republican operative and Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh posted on X. “He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob.”

“The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “Tomorrow, we will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.”

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“.@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor POS,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., posted on X, referencing past criticisms of Walz’s military record that surfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign. “This is par for the course.”

“Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., posted on X.

Others on social media pointed to an X post from the city of Minneapolis assuring citizens that it is not involved in the raids.

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Federal authorities raided more than 20 locations, including childcare facilities, in Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of a sweeping fraud investigation into largely Somali-owned businesses, sources confirmed to Fox News.

“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

Authorities executed 22 federal search warrants in Minnesota on Tuesday morning as part of the operation, which is not immigration-related, sources said.

Fox News Digital’s Bill Melugin and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

First lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla came together Tuesday at the White House to spotlight a shared commitment to improving children’s well-being.

The two spouses joined students for hands-on activities related to technology and history at the White House Tennis Pavilion in the afternoon. 

The UK’s queen and king are in the U.S. for a four-day trip that is packed with various events and private meetings, including with the president, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and others. The event on Tuesday underscored a shared priority to strengthen children’s development, with Trump’s “Be Best” and “Fostering the Future” initiatives and Camilla’s long-running focus on literacy driving the effort.

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Camilla and the first lady joined regional students, including several state champions from the Presidential AI Challenge, to test out and use virtual reality (VR) headsets to learn about American and United Kingdom history.

Trump donned a white silk and wool jacket and skirt from the Ralph Lauren Collection, according to pool reports. She also wore a straw hat by Eric Javits with Manolo Blahnik snake pumps.

The VR glasses gave the students a chance to view popular landmarks in the UK, such as Snowdonia, Giant’s Causeway, Stonehenge, and the exterior of Buckingham Palace. Students also evaluated artifacts using Meta glasses provided by the White House Collection and the National Archives and Records Administration to learn more about the special relationship between the two countries.

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There was a portrait of the first U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, President John Adams, a bronze bust of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Staffordshire ceramics reflecting early transatlantic cultural exchange.

The first lady has emphasized helping children engage with emerging technology, using her platform to promote artificial intelligence education.

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In March, she convened representatives from 45 countries for the inaugural “Fostering the Future Together” global summit, where leaders outlined strategies to expand children’s access to technology and education.

She also secured a $25 million investment in foster youth to be included in the president’s 2026 fiscal year budget.

Camilla’s work has focused on advancing children’s literacy, supporting initiatives that increase access to books, encourage reading and writing skills, and engage directly with students through school-based programs.

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During the event, the first lady was asked by members of the press how she was doing following the assassination attempt against her husband Saturday night during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

“Very well,” the first lady responded.

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While Trump and Camilla were spending time with the children, Trump and Charles held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

“It was a really good meeting, and he is a fantastic person, and they are incredible people. Real honor,” said Trump to the press after it concluded.

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The Trumps walked Charles and Camilla to their car as the monarchs departed for the U.S. Capitol. Charles is expected to give an address to Congress on Tuesday afternoon. 

The monarchs will then return to the White House for a tour of the Residence and to view historic documents later this evening before a state dinner.

Bahrain stripped citizenship from dozens of nationals Monday after accusing them of promoting pro-Iran sentiment online, marking the latest use of a controversial law that allows the government to revoke nationality for security concerns.

The interior ministry said 69 people — including some relatives of those accused — lost their citizenship for allegedly “glorifying” hostile Iranian actions and maintaining ties with foreign entities.

Bahrain said the revocations were carried out under Article 10(3) of its nationality law, which allows authorities to strip citizenship from individuals deemed to have harmed the kingdom’s interests or violated their duty of loyalty. Officials said those targeted — along with some of their family members — were all of non-Bahraini origin, a category that typically includes naturalized citizens rather than native-born nationals.

The move follows a directive issued days earlier by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who ordered officials to act against those who “betrayed the nation” or undermined its security and stability, including reviewing whether individuals should retain their citizenship.

The Kingdom of Bahrain Tuesday sentenced five people to life in prison and 25 more to 10 years on charges of spying for Iran. The prosecution said 25 others were separately sentenced to 10 years each for supporting Iran’s “terrorist acts” in Bahrain.

US EMBASSIES IN BAHRAIN, EGYPT ISSUE WARNINGS AS IRAN THREATENS UNIVERSITIES ACROSS MIDDLE EAST

The decision comes as Bahrain grapples with fallout from Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, including attacks on U.S. military assets in the kingdom. Officials have cast the citizenship revocations as a national security measure aimed at suppressing domestic support for Iran and cutting off suspected ties to foreign networks.

STRANDED AMERICAN IN BAHRAIN RECOUNTS SURVIVING REPORTED IRANIAN STRIKE ON HIGH-RISE BUILDING, PLEADS FOR HELP

Relations between Bahrain and Iran long have been strained, with Bahrain accusing Iran of backing militant networks and unrest inside the kingdom. The two countries severed diplomatic ties in 2016, and Bahrain’s role as host of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has placed it on the front lines of the current confrontation, with Iranian strikes hitting near the base during recent retaliatory attacks.

Bahrain also is home to a sizable community of citizens of Iranian descent — often referred to as the Ajam — estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Authorities have linked the crackdown to a wider campaign against what they describe as Iran-backed influence operations, including arrests of individuals accused of sharing videos of Iranian strikes, posting pro-Iran content, or communicating with foreign groups. Bahrain also has reported uncovering cells tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which officials say were tasked with gathering intelligence on sensitive sites inside the kingdom.

Similar crackdowns have been reported across the Gulf since the start of the conflict, with hundreds of people arrested in countries including the United Arab Emirates for posting videos, images or commentary about Iranian attacks. Authorities have cited national security and public order laws, warning that even sharing footage of strikes could expose sensitive information or fuel unrest.

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The measures come amid a broader regional trend of governments tightening citizenship rules on security grounds. Kuwait, for example, has revoked nationality from more than 70,000 people since 2024, with officials there saying the program is aimed at addressing fraud.

The move has drawn criticism from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, whose advocacy director Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei called it “the beginning of a dangerous era of repression” and said the decisions were imposed without legal safeguards or the right of appeal.

President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Scott Socha to serve as National Park Service director after the nominee bowed out of consideration last month.

A White House official informed Fox News Digital on Monday “that Scott Socha has withdrawn his nomination.”

“In March 2026, I withdrew from consideration to serve as Director of the National Park Service for personal reasons,” Socha said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

LONG-LOST SOLDIER’S GRAVE DISCOVERED AT REMOTE US NATIONAL PARK AFTER 150 YEARS

“I am grateful to the President and the Secretary of the Interior for the confidence placed in me and appreciative of the consideration shown throughout the nomination process,” he continued.

“I remain committed to the stewardship of America’s National Parks and to providing outstanding guest experiences for all visitors,” Socha noted.

‘DISCRIMINATORY’ NATIONAL PARK FEE PLAN SLAMMED BY DEMOCRATS TURNS INTO CONSERVATION WIN, BURGUM SAYS

He had been nominated for the role in February.

Socha works at Delaware North as president for Parks and Resorts and Delaware North Australia, according to the company’s website.

YOU CAN’T DRIVE TO 5 ICONIC US LANDMARKS — AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THEM UNFORGETTABLE

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“The parks and resorts subsidiary provides hospitality services in seven national parks, three state parks, operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA, owns and operates lodging in five national park gateway communities, such as Tenaya at Yosemite, a full-service resort, and owns and operates several other hotels and resorts, including The Westin Buffalo at company headquarters,” Delaware North’s site notes.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., celebrated a massive federal operation in Minneapolis as part of a sweeping fraud investigation into largely Somali-owned businesses, saying law enforcement sent a “crystal clear” message.

Emmer, whose district covers much of the northern and western suburbs of Minneapolis, applauded reports that the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials raided 22 alleged fraud sites on Tuesday morning.

The whip thanked the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security “for taking action against Somali fraudsters.”

He said that “Minnesotans and U.S. taxpayers across the nation are grateful.”

“President Trump and his administration have made it crystal clear — our country will not tolerate waste, fraud, and abuse, and we are not going to allow people to take advantage of Americans’ generosity,” he added.

MISSPELLED ‘LEARNING’ CENTER, NO CHILDREN INSIDE: EMMER PRESSES WALZ OVER MINNESOTA DAYCARE TIED TO $4M

The DOJ confirmed that the raids were conducted in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement and were court authorized.

The raids center on federal fraud investigations into largely Somali-owned businesses, including childcare facilities that registered with the state but were allegedly billing for care that was not provided.

Sources told Fox News that two of the raids were conducted at the Quality Learning Center, best known for its misprinted sign that read “Quality Learing Center,” and Baby Halimo Child Care, both in Minneapolis.

The Quality Learning Center received national attention after blogger Nick Shirley visited several childcare addresses, only to find an assortment of vacant or non-operational storefronts, closed businesses, or occupants who refused to answer questions or entertain the pair’s mock efforts to “register” a child with the supposed daycare.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MINNESOTA’S ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ FRAUD AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S LATEST CRACKDOWN

Following reports of the raids, DHS confirmed that HSI “in cooperation with our law enforcement partners executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayers’ dollars.”

Vice President JD Vance, who the president appointed “fraud czar,” also commented after the raids that the fraud task force and DOJ “will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.”

Emmer has been highly critical of Minnesota state leaders, especially Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, for their handling of the fraud scandal.

In March, Emmer called for a deeper investigation into allegations that Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison knowingly ignored evidence of welfare fraud. He called for those leaders to even face incarceration if the allegations were proven true.

“People are sick and tired of elected officials having a double standard, being treated differently than they are. They’re held accountable for things that they should be held accountable for, when their elected officials are not,” Emmer told Fox News Digital in March. 

NYC DEM, HOCHUL AIDE UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER ALLEGED MIGRANT SHELTER BRIBES

“If these two guys are dirty, they should be held accountable, and they should serve jail time.”

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Both Walz and Ellison insisted that they were serious about prosecuting fraud in the state’s social programs and that they took action to stop it once it was brought to their attention.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

The Justice Department is accusing a longtime senior advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci of using his private email to hide communication about the COVID-19 virus from public view while helping to shape the narrative about its origins.

David M. Morens, 78, who served for years as a top advisor within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was indicted and is accused of using his personal email account to evade federal transparency laws and shield key discussions from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, according to a DOJ indictment unsealed Tuesday.

Prosecutors allege that Morens conspired with others during the pandemic to hide communications related to a controversial coronavirus research grant that involved collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. The grant was later terminated amid scrutiny over whether COVID-19 may have originated from a lab leak.

The indictment alleges that Morens and his associates deliberately moved conversations off official government systems and onto private email accounts to keep them from public disclosure. The communications allegedly included internal discussions about COVID research, efforts to influence funding decisions, and exchanges related to messaging on the virus’s origins.

FAUCI HOLDS ‘DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR’ ROLE AT DC UNIVERSITY BUT HASN’T TAUGHT ONE CLASS: REPORT

The indictment also alleges that Morens played a behind-the-scenes role in relaying information to senior agency leadership, who in turn briefed the White House, Congress and the public during the pandemic.

Federal prosecutors also claim that Morens received gifts from a collaborator — including wine and offers of high-end meals — and later took steps to justify those perks by contributing to a scientific publication supporting the theory that COVID-19 emerged naturally rather than from the Wuhan lab.

Morens did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for the National Institutes of Health also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Morens previously faced scrutiny from House lawmakers over emails related to COVID-era communications. During congressional testimony, he said he regretted the tone of certain messages and described some remarks as “black humor.”

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The charges include conspiracy, destruction and concealment of federal records and related offenses. Morens faces decades in prison if convicted.

The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of how federal health officials handled key questions during the pandemic, particularly debates over the virus’s origins.

The Iran war could hit consumers where they least expect it: condom prices.

Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer, told Reuters it may soon hike prices by as much as 30% as the Middle East conflict strains global energy and supply chains.

The warning underscores how the war is driving up costs, delaying shipments and squeezing supply. And the impact on condom prices highlights how even niche consumer goods are caught up in broader global disruptions.

WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN

It all traces back to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies, where shipping has slowed sharply. The shipping lane is surrounded by Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates and is widely disputed amid the conflict as ships — especially those carrying oil and other fuel — are prevented from traversing through the contentious waterway.

The bottleneck is also driving up the cost of petroleum-based products like plastics and rubber, which are found in everything from medical supplies to household items to clothing and beauty products.

That’s creating a one-two punch — higher costs and shipping delays that are shrinking supply and raising prices.

Amid those pressures, Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat said the energy crunch has him weighing a price increase.

THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT MIGHT DISRUPT YOUR SUMMER BBQ PLANS THIS YEAR

Kiat says the conflict has pushed aluminum used in foil packaging to a four-year high and silicone oil, a key ingredient in condom manufacturing, is up about 30%. Shortages of synthetic rubber used in some non-latex condoms are further adding to the strain.

Karex, a Malaysia-based firm that produces more than 5 billion condoms every year and exports to more than 130 countries, is struggling to keep up as demand outpaces supply. Karex supplies to the world’s largest condom brands, including Trojan and Durex.

Shipping delays are worsening the crunch on getting these products to customers, with more inventory stuck at sea than reaching shelves. Karex products going to the U.S. and Europe are taking up to two months to arrive, while developing countries already facing shortages are seeing even longer delays.

There are growing concerns that these disruptions could hit some of the world’s most vulnerable populations since Karex helps supply United Nations aid programs.

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Karex also manufactures personal lubricants, catheters, probe covers and gloves, underscoring the broader impact supply disruptions could have beyond condoms.

For consumers, that could mean paying more at the checkout counter for a basic health product.

FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., a scandal-plagued lawmaker facing bipartisan calls to resign, drew a GOP challenger Tuesday who threatens to scramble his re-election bid.

Ryan Elijah, a veteran former news anchor for FOX 35 Orlando, is launching a bid for Mills’ central Florida House seat, vowing to defeat the embattled incumbent in the Sunshine State’s August primary.

Elijah told Fox News Digital that Republican voters should have an alternative to Mills, who is facing allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, among other improprieties. 

“People in the Seventh District want another choice,” Elijah said in an interview. 

RESIGNATION IS THE NEW ESCAPE HATCH AS LAWMAKERS FACE EXPULSION

Elijah called the allegations against Mills “serious” and said the House Ethics Committee should continue its investigation into the incumbent’s alleged misconduct. The panel announced last week that its only active investigation related to “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence” is the Mills probe.

The committee has not indicated when it plans to wrap up its investigation into Mills, which began in November.

Mills allegedly threatened to release nude images and videos of an ex-girlfriend after their relationship ended, leading a judge to bar him from contacting that individual. He was also involved in an alleged domestic violence incident that drew a police response in Washington, D.C., last year.

The incumbent has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged.

“I’ve never been indicted for anything,” Mills told Fox News last week. “Everything has just been an accusation, allegation.”

HOUSE REPUBLICAN TO MOVE TO CENSURE DEM ACCUSED OF STEALING DISASTER RELIEF MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN

Elijah, a 20-year Florida resident, said he decided to challenge Mills after receiving “overwhelming support” from community leaders in the district to jump into the race.

He also characterized Mills as a weak general election candidate, who could put the GOP in danger of losing the Republican-leaning district in November’s midterm elections. Democrats are notably targeting Mills’ seat as a top flip opportunity in the Sunshine State.

“There’s obviously a chance we could lose the seat,” Elijah said, if Mills is the Republican nominee.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded Mills’ re-election bid from “solid” to “likely” Republican in February.

Mills’ campaign entered April with just over $115,000 in the bank and is more than $2 million in debt, according to recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. 

Former NASA chief of staff Bale Dalton, Mills’ leading Democratic challenger, ended 2026’s first fundraising quarter with $464,000 in cash on hand.

Mills is running for a third House term with President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which can be consequential in competitive GOP primaries. 

Elijah said he would still vie for the president’s support.

“I’m not going against the president’s endorsement or even going against the party. I’m going for both of those,” Elijah told Fox News Digital. “Right now, I’m just focused on getting out of the gate and just talking to people, and we’ll see where those chips fall.”

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Mills is also facing a potential expulsion threat from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who has yet to force a vote on her removal measure.

Three House members facing misconduct allegations resigned from Congress earlier in April to avoid potential expulsion votes. Those lawmakers were former Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla.

Mace’s measure accuses Mills of misrepresenting his military service and of illicit involvement in federal contracts as a sitting lawmaker, in addition to alleged sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations.

“This guy has no place in Congress, especially if you’re a woman, especially if you’re a military vet, what he’s done is shameful, and at some point we have to take responsibility for ourselves,” Mace told Fox News on Monday. “If we’re going to hold the left accountable, we’ve got to hold the right accountable too.”

Asked whether Mills should resign, Elijah said members of Congress could force the issue.

“There’s been a lot of calls for him to resign. He obviously decided he wasn’t going to,” Elijah said. “He was going to fight it out at this point. So I think his fate is in the hands of Congress.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Mills’ campaign for comment.

Republicans want swift action to fund the Secret Service after it foiled a third apparent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump’s life.

The federal policing force, along with many other agencies, has not been funded for 74 days amid the record-breaking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. While the shutdown began over Democrats’ refusal to fund immigration operations, it has now shifted to House Republicans to resolve it. 

A bill to fund most of the department has been languishing in the House after clearing the upper chamber in March. That legislation would fund the Secret Service, too. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has yet to put the bill on the floor over concerns that the legislation carves out funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES RAGE AGAINST SENATE DHS SHUTDOWN DEAL

But the apparent assassination attempt appeared to nudge Johnson from that position.

“We have to move DHS funding because it’s urgent. As the secretary of Homeland has said, we’re out of money. He’s out of money at the end of this week,” Johnson told reporters Monday. “It’s very dangerous, as demonstrated Saturday night. We’ve got to get the job done.”

Some House Republicans are urging Johnson to bring the Senate bill to the floor.

Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., sent a letter to Johnson, obtained by Fox News Digital, that asked for immediate consideration of the Senate’s partial DHS bill.

“There is no time for delay,” Langworthy wrote. “As put on full display for the American people with the attack surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this weekend, our country remains at risk. While we continue to have significant work ahead to fully fund immigration enforcement through the reconciliation process, we should demonstrate clearly that we are committed to delivering solutions at the earliest possible moment.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Monday blamed House Republicans for the record-breaking funding lapse for letting the Senate bill stall in the chamber.

“Bring the bipartisan Senate-passed bill to the House floor today, and it would fund the Department of Homeland Security in its entirety, with the exception of ICE and the violent Republican mass deportation machine,” Jeffries said.

White House budget chief Russ Vought was expected to meet with House Republicans later on Monday to discuss the way forward on DHS funding, a source familiar told Fox News Digital.

Congressional Republicans have been undertaking a two-track approach to funding DHS after Democrats repeatedly failed to come to an agreement on a full-year spending bill. 

One piece would fund ICE and the Border Patrol for three-and-a-half years through the budget reconciliation process.

House Republicans are expected to sign off on a Senate-passed budget resolution to fund ICE and CBP as soon as Wednesday. Trump urged House Republicans to approve the Senate measure without any modifications on Monday afternoon.

SCALISE ACCUSES DEMOCRATS OF REVIVING ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ PUSH WITH DHS FUNDING GAMBIT

That forthcoming vote will unlock the reconciliation process and will see Republicans enter a mad dash to complete the package by June 1. 

Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans are eyeing several options to fund the Secret Service and the rest of DHS. 

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said on X that Republicans should again force Democrats’ hand following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday.

“This week, the Senate should put Democrats on record again and see how they vote,” Scott said. “Will they decide now is a good time to finally fund [the] Secret Service and all of DHS? Even after last night’s violence and ANOTHER assassination attempt against the President of the United States, this shouldn’t be such a fight to get done.”

And Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said “this may be the moment” to nuke the filibuster.

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“The Democrats will do it when they get the majority,” Johnson said on “Mornings with Maria.” “At a moment of natural danger, if Democrats refuse to fund DHS, I will say this would be the time to nuke the filibuster for good.”

Trump has long pushed for the elimination of the Senate’s 60-vote threshold throughout his second term, but a swath of GOP senators have balked at that request over concerns it would advantage Democrats the next time they control the chamber.

Republicans are warning that their ability to deliver on lowering everyday costs, one of their core campaign promises heading into the 2026 midterms, is being tested by an AI-driven chip shortage that has spilled into consumer markets.

“When you have a big race like we have with AI, there are secondary effects that we need to be very concerned about,” former Rep. Patrick McHenry, who served as House Financial Services Committee chairman, told Fox News Digital, adding, “It is hurting Republicans.”

Tech industry reports have for months been raising alarm over a global chip shortage. In January, a report predicted that this year, 70% of the high-end memory chips produced would go toward data centers, which store AI memory, constraining all other downstream technology and driving up prices, directly undermining Republicans’ affordability agenda.

AFFORDABILITY: THE ISSUE THAT BOOSTED TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS IN 2024 DEFLATED THEM IN 2025

“We see this from our handheld devices to our computers, to TVs,” McHenry, a North Carolina Republican congressman turned policy advisor, said in an interview. “Even autos are impacted, and even things such as what we think of as average everyday things that aren’t particularly high tech, like the things we use to manicure our lawns are impacted by rising prices of chips, so there’s a lot of secondary effects across consumer goods and should be a huge concern.”

Heading into 2026, President Donald Trump framed the midterms as a referendum on cost of living, saying in a Politico interview the elections “will be about pricing.” 

Historically, the party in control loses seats during the midterms. One Republican strategist told Fox News Digital that AI’s well-documented dominance over the chip market should be viewed as hurting voters’ pocketbooks. The strategist called on the three largest chip manufacturing companies to expand production, which he said would help bolster the GOP’s campaign message.

“America must win the artificial intelligence race. Companies like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron understand that,” the strategist said. “At the same time, we can’t forget about consumer goods. Memory chip manufacturers need to increase production to boost both American AI and lower the cost of consumer goods. If they don’t, it will undoubtedly hurt Republicans politically in the midterms. How can Republicans campaign on ‘lower costs’ in 2024, but see computer and car prices rise in 2026 due to a lack of chip production?”

TRUMP TORCHES DEMS’ ‘FAKE AFFORDABILITY’ PITCH – BUT GOP PANIC IN DEEP RED STATE HINTS VOTERS AREN’T BUYING IT

The AI boom is increasing demand for memory chips, which are semiconductor components used in data centers, laptops and smartphones.

That chip consumption has rippled across industries. Microsoft this month attributed its rise in laptop prices to “recent increases in memory and component costs.” The smartphone market remained “under pressure,” with shipments down 6% this year, largely because of chip shortages, Counterpoint Research found. 

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, previously a car dealership owner, warned in a letter this month his state was seeing “immediate and severe” consequences of rising chip prices and that automakers have said they could begin halting assembly lines as early as next month.

While affordability has been a resounding priority for Republicans seeking to retain control in Washington, AI advancements are also a pillar of Trump’s agenda. The White House declared last year in a sweeping plan that the country was in “a race to achieve global dominance in artificial intelligence” and cited the need for a “revitalized U.S. chip industry.”

Asked about the AI-driven affordability concerns, White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital in a statement that the White House was cognizant of the clash and balancing it with a “nuanced” economic plan, which includes Trump’s signature worldwide tariffs, which the president restructured after the Supreme Court struck down his initial plan implementing them in the name of what he said was a global economic emergency.

“The fact that semiconductor chips are absolutely critical for everything from cutting-edge AI technology to everyday consumer goods only reinforces the importance of President Trump’s push to reinvigorate America’s semiconductor industry,” Desai said. “Hundreds of billions in semiconductor manufacturing investments reflect how the private sector is enthusiastically responding to the Administration’s nuanced and multi-faceted agenda of tariffs, deregulation, and tax cuts.”

KEVIN O’LEARY WARNS CHINA ‘KICKING OUR HEINIES’ IN AI RACE AS REGULATORY ROADBLOCKS STALL US

The strain on supply is also raising new questions about the effectiveness of the bipartisan CHIPS Act, a Biden administration bill designed to boost domestic production and prevent precisely the kind of shortage markets are now seeing.

McHenry, who specializes in fintech policy, said the CHIPS Act, a multibillion-dollar effort to pour federal subsidies and tax incentives into U.S. chip manufacturing, has been a “grave disappointment.” McHenry said both that the White House had “a lot more work” to do to address the supply shortage and that congressional reforms were another way to improve domestic chip production.

“Unfortunately for the taxpayer, they paid for the CHIPS Act the first time, and now they’re paying for it a second time with the rising price of consumer goods,” McHenry said. “Republicans need to address this on Capitol Hill. They need to clean up the CHIPS Act so the president can deploy these tools to incentivize and grow chip manufacturing here in the United States.”

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who founded a successful car security company, said he sees a need for chip production expansion, tying it to consumer costs, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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“America leads the world in AI — and we stay there by unleashing the nation’s industrial base, ramping up chip production and memory as never before and lowering the consumer costs people pay every day,” he said.

The congressman said more chips were “essential” to delivering on the GOP’s promises of “opportunity, prosperity and affordability.”

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives of Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron for comment.

A routine Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection of a commercial truck last Tuesday became the most recent in a string of drug apprehensions when officers discovered $8.1 million worth of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth, disguised as a shipment of tiles.

The apprehension is an example of the many ways smugglers attempt to bring narcotics across the U.S. border and sparked praise from officials for CBP’s operations.

“As this significant seizure aptly illustrates, CBP officers work tirelessly to ensure that commerce flows and hard narcotics are stopped in their tracks,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez said in a statement.

CBP officials were first alerted to the contents during a canine unit screening.

CARTEL DRONES POSE ‘DANGEROUS’ DRUG TRAFFICKING RISK IN BORDER STATE, OFFICIAL WARNS

Upon further inspection, CBP officers discovered packets of white powder contained within the pallets of tile, unveiling a haul with an estimated street value of $8,119,696. Officers extracted 200 packages with a combined weight of 908.30 pounds.

The apprehension is just one of many such seizures that smugglers have tried to bring over into the U.S., posing as some other product.

In February, CBP detained a truckload of “roses” concealing over 515 pounds of cocaine.

BORDER AGENTS UNCOVER RPG LAUNCHER, CACHE OF RIFLES HIDDEN IN VEHICLE HEADING TO MEXICO

TRUMP TO HOST ROUNDTABLE ON EFFORTS TO THWART CARTELS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS

More recently, on April 2, CBP reported seizing 298 pounds of cocaine worth roughly $2.6 million in another commercial truck allegedly carrying carrots.

Just two weeks later, CBP announced they had stopped 1,002 pounds of cocaine worth up to $8.9 million masquerading as a shipment of chayote — a type of squash native to Mexico.

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Officials called the seizures a fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s promises to secure the U.S. Southern Border against drug cartels and narcotraffickers.

“Fulfilling President Donald J. Trump’s mandate, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the leadership of DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, have delivered the most secure border in history, stopping dangerous criminal aliens and illicit narcotics from entering our communities, which will keep America safe for generations to come,” CBP said in a press release.

Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic National Committee vice chair, slammed Democratic Sen. John Fetterman in a post on X, labeling the senator “a mess.”

“Almost every day now my US Senator comes on this site to attack his constituents and many people who worked hard to elect him. Suggesting that they have ‘derangement syndrome’ for opposing this administration. You’re a mess @JohnFetterman,” Malcolm Kenyatta asserted in a post on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman’s office on Monday.

FETTERMAN SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE FORGOTTEN IRAN IS ‘THE REAL ENEMY’ AS WAR POWERS DEADLINE APPROACHES

Kenyatta, a Pennsylvania state representative, unsuccessfully ran in the 2022 Democratic U.S. Senate primary that Fetterman won.

Fetterman attended the Saturday night White House Correspondents Association dinner event where a suspected shooter was apprehended.

SEN JOHN FETTERMAN PLEDGES TO BE ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

“We were there front and center. That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these,” Fetterman declared in a post on X.

“TDS” is a term that stands for “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a phrase that is used to describe individuals who vehemently and irrationally oppose the president, no matter the situation.

FETTERMAN SAYS DEMOCRATS LACK LEADER, CLAIMS PARTY DRIVEN BY TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME

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Fetterman has said that TDS drives the Democratic Party, rather than any particular political leader.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued his first veto Friday, halting City Council bill Int. 175-B that would have forced the NYPD to publicize plans for handling protests near schools and other educational facilities.

It is the latest sign of Mamdani’s growing clash with Council leadership, deepening an early power struggle with Council Speaker Julie Menin over policing, public safety and free speech.

“The problem is how widely this bill defines an educational institution and the constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest,” Mamdani wrote in a statement. “As the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions.”

“This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights,” he continued.

ISRAELI COMEDIAN DROPS OUT OF PASSOVER EVENT AFTER LEARNING OF MAMDANI’S ATTENDANCE

“Int. 175-B is not a narrow public safety measure; it is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups, and immigration advocates, among others, across this City. Nearly a dozen unions have raised the alarm about its impact on their ability to organize,” the mayor added.

Menin is going to work to whip up votes to override Mamdani on the bill, which finished just four votes shy of being veto-proof, passing last month 30-19.

“Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial,” Menin wrote in a statement. “This bill simply requires the NYPD to clearly outline how it will ensure safe access when there are threats of obstruction or physical injury, while fully protecting First Amendment rights.”

HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMAND TRUMP ADMIN DENY MAMDANI FEDERAL SECURITY CLEARANCE

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Eric Dinowitz, would have required police to submit a protest-response plan to the mayor and speaker and post it online. It also would have required the police commissioner to provide a public point of contact for any effort to manage demonstrations near educational sites.

Dinowitz pushed back on claims that the bill threatened free speech.

“Should students be harassed on the way to school? I think the answer is no,” he told The New York Times.

MAMDANI RIPPED BY RIVALS FOR UNPOPULAR STANCE DURING FIERY NYC DEBATE: ‘YOU WON’T SUPPORT ISRAEL’

Opponents on the left said the measure would expand protest policing and chill protected speech.

The fight also exposed one of the biggest political fault lines at City Hall: how to respond to protests tied to Israel and the war in Gaza. The issue gained momentum after a heated protest outside a Manhattan synagogue last fall, where some demonstrators shouted, “Death to the IDF,” and, “Globalize the intifada.”

“Sending the message to New Yorkers that we have something to worry about with regard to protest by or near schools, libraries, teaching hospitals is absolutely the wrong message for these times, especially when the Trump regime is coming at protest with a sledgehammer,” New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman told the Times.

Jewish groups, including UJA-Federation of New York, blasted the veto, rebuking the “profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that our safety is a priority.”

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“At a time when Jewish and other communities across our city are facing heightened threats, this legislation represented a crucial step toward ensuring that every school and community institution can be better protected,” the group wrote in a statement.

Mamdani and Menin — the city’s first Jewish speaker — had shown signs this week of trying to cool things down, including a Thursday dinner to discuss the pending veto and other issues, the Times reported. Friday’s decision suggested the détente may not last.