NationalWatch

As President Donald Trump cracks down on crime and rampant homelessness in Washington, D.C., homeless individuals weighed in on what they think of the administration’s efforts to clean up the streets.

The White House says those living in homeless encampments in the nation’s capital will have two choices in the coming days: accept treatment at a homeless shelter or go to jail.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the ultimatum during a Tuesday press conference as reporters prodded about President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s law enforcement. She said many of the homeless encampments across the city have already been dismantled, and those that remain she expected to be dealt with this week.

“Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police,” Leavitt said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Department would be joining the Park Police in the effort. “There are only two homeless encampments remaining in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, and the removal of those two remaining camps is scheduled for this week.”

HOMELESS PEOPLE IN DC HAVE 2 CHOICES AS TRUMP ADMIN CRACKS DOWN

Asked about what options are available to those in homeless encampments, Leavitt was blunt: “Homeless shelters, for addiction and mental health services, or jail if they refuse, are the options on the table right now.”

Fox News Digital spoke with several homeless individuals on the streets of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, some of whom voiced concern and others support for the changes.

One homeless man, who identified himself as Kenny and lives near Dupont Circle, told Fox News Digital that Trump is right to address the issues in D.C. after the city government “failed tremendously.”

“I think the D.C. government has failed tremendously over the years,” said Kenny. “And it’s evident that we need somebody like a big daddy Donald Trump to step in there and smack the s*** out of them liberals and kick them the f*** out.”

REPUBLICANS READY TO SUPPORT TRUMP’S MOVE TO SKIRT CONGRESS IN DC CRIME CRACKDOWN

Another man, who did not give his name but also lives by Dupont, took a very different tone.  

“This is awful, it’s like what the hell, where does he get the authority? You know what I mean?” he said.

“We’re people too,” he went on. “Just because I’m homeless doesn’t mean I have to leave; we have a right to be here too.”

Another, named Dallas, who was sitting on a park bench near the Capitol, told Fox News Digital that though “I’m for him,” he was not sure about Trump’s threats to federalize D.C.

Dallas said that, in his view, before the homeless can be cleared off the streets, the shelters in the area need to improve to meet some type of federal standard.  

DC MAYOR REVERSES COURSE ON TRUMP INTERVENTION, DOWNPLAYS CITY CRIME

“If the homeless want to stay and make something of their life, they only have 30 days to do it. And that’s not near enough time to get the job, get your own apartment, get things lined up,” he said. “You want a set of wheels? That’s going to cost some money. So, in the long run, the shelters are falling short. So that would have to be addressed also.”

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Elsewhere in the city, a man named Shahid told Fox News Digital that he believes “time will tell that it’s a bad decision or a good decision.”

“He’s the president now. Ultimately, he is representing the people of the United States,” said Shahid, adding, “He just became president now, and he was chosen by the people.”

“So, either the election system is failing us, or he might be doing the right thing. I don’t know, ultimately time will tell.”

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

Some illegal immigrants were allegedly given driver’s licenses in Louisville, Kentucky, by paying $200 under the table, according to an ex-clerk who worked for a government contractor at a licensing facility, and it’s prompting backlash from a top former Republican official in the state.

“The employees were being paid under the table,” Melissa Moorman told WDRB, adding that it would happen multiple times a day for a minimum of two years.

A whistleblower lawsuit from Moorman alleges that she was fired after reporting the situation to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

KENTUCKY WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS LICENSING CENTER SOLD IDS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ‘UNDER THE TABLE’

“I immediately let my supervisor know,” Moorman told the outlet. The workers she reported were also fired at the end of last year, according to the news outlet.

She alleged that the coworkers used her login without permission to give the licenses out without the proper Homeland Security check first, and that fake documents were used for illegal immigrants to avoid taking driving tests, WDRB reported.

Illegal immigrants can not legally get driver’s licenses in the Bluegrass State.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he was “appalled” to learn about the allegations.

LOUISIANA ‘MEDICAID MILLIONAIRE’ BOUGHT LAMBORGHINI WHILE CLAIMING GOVERNMENT BENEFITS FOR YEARS

“Under Democrat President Joe Biden, we were lax with our laws, we were letting illegals into the country. We weren’t following the rule of law. I think President Trump said it best when he said, ‘Turns out we didn’t need new laws, we needed a new president that was willing to enforce the laws,'” Cameron, who is the CEO of the 1792 Exchange, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

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“And apparently we had some rogue employees here in Kentucky that simply refused to follow the law. And again, I think it’s courageous of a whistleblower to come out publicly and say that, ‘Hey, this was wrong and I think it needs to be addressed.’ And I’m hopeful that this will be addressed and folks in state government will be accountable because at the end of the day, they are entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that our laws are being upheld,” he added.

Cameron, who’s running for U.S. Senate in 2026, commended the whistleblower who recently went public, saying she “had the courage to speak out and be a whistleblower because this again is in contradiction to the rule of law that this is occurring.”

“I think these folks have got to be held accountable, and I think there needs to be serious questions asked of the Kentucky Department of Transportation on how they could allow these sorts of employees to flout the laws of our state,” he continued.

The incumbent attorney general, Russell Coleman, said an investigation is underway.

DISCOUNTED COLLEGE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS POLICY LEADS DOJ TO SUE KENTUCKY

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“This week’s media reports show troubling and unacceptable conduct. Hand in hand with our state and federal law enforcement partners, we’ve been aggressively investigating this potential fraud for some time now, well before this week’s reporting,” Coleman told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Andy Beshear’s office. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet responded to the local report in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Ensuring the integrity of state-issued identification is a high priority and any irregularity is treated seriously and investigated. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) routinely reviews credential applications and during this process identified a number of irregularities and revoked 1,985 credentials. KYTC immediately contacted law enforcement, who are engaged in an active criminal investigation. The revoked credentials – if used – would not work and be flagged at any airport or traffic stop. To our knowledge, all employees involved had been hired through a temp agency and have been terminated. We are continuing to work with law enforcement on this matter to ensure anyone who violated the law is held accountable,” a Transportation Cabinet spokesperson stated.

“This is an ongoing criminal investigation with numerous state and federal agencies participating, including Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys and others. We have been asked not to share documents or certain information so as not to compromise the investigation. KYTC has turned over all requested information to law enforcement who are investigating the facts, and further questions should be directed there,” the statement continued.

The Democratic National Committee slammed Vice President JD Vance for fishing on a private lake with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during Vance’s official trip to the United Kingdom. 

Republicans were quick to respond to what appears to be the latest in a series of attacks by Democrats against the vice president over outdoor activities and family outings Vance mixes in during his rigorous official travel schedule. 

The DNC War Room issued a press release Wednesday titled “VACATION VANCE AT IT AGAIN: Vance Fished ‘Illegally’ With UK Foreign Secretary While Americans Drown in Sky-High Costs.” 

Vance and Lammy met at the foreign secretary’s official country residence, known as Chevening House, located south of London, on Friday for talks centered on the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

VANCE TO VISIT US TROOPS DURING HIGH-STAKES UK TRIP AHEAD OF TRUMP’S PUTIN MEETING

They went fishing on the estate grounds before their scheduled meeting. Vance briefly joked to reporters that the “one strain on the special relationship” he has with Lammy “is that all of my kids caught a fish, but the foreign secretary did not.” The vice president soon delved into more serious topics, including telling reporters that, unlike the U.K., the United States has “no plans to recognize a Palestinian state” given the “lack of a functional government” in Gaza. 

Their meeting came a week before President Donald Trump’s upcoming high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 

In its release on Wednesday, the DNC charged, “Vance is living it up on his summer holiday — on the taxpayers’ dime — all while working families face sky-high inflation and the largest cuts to health care and food assistance in American history.” 

Kiersten Pels, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “The DNC’s donors are OK with funding press releases on a fishing rod license? They might want to pull their money out now before the last of it vanishes down the drain.” 

U.K. outlets reported that Lammy did not buy a valid fishing license before the outing with Vance. In a statement to Sky News, the British Foreign Office said the secretary “has written to the Environment Agency over an administrative oversight that meant the appropriate licences had not been acquired for fishing on a private lake as part of a diplomatic engagement at Chevening House last week.” 

The agency reportedly requires rod licenses for fishing of freshwater species in England and Wales for people 13 or above. 

During his visit to the U.K. last week, Vance also gave a brief address to U.S. troops stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. 

BLUESKY LIBERALS CELEBRATE JD VANCE BEING BOOED WITH HIS KIDS AT DISNEYLAND

The DNC claimed Vance spoke to troops “for only six minutes before returning to his $10,000 per week luxury Cotswolds manor.”

The release also took issue with Vance allegedly “using public resources” earlier this month “so he could do boating on his birthday.” 

“Vance fished ‘illegally’ in the United Kingdom, potentially costing the foreign secretary a £2,000 fine. Vance even had former Chancellor George Osborne plan his vacation’s social agenda, including relaxing in the ‘Hamptons of the UK,’” the release said.

The DNC further charged that Trump and Vance “ripped away health care from 17 million Americans, slashed food assistance for over 22 million families, and unleashed economic chaos on the American people —  all to give their billionaire friends and donors another round of massive tax handouts.” 

“While working families struggle to get by, it’s clear where Vance’s loyalties lie — and it’s not with them,” the DNC wrote. 

The latest attack comes after Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender, bemoaned Vance’s recent visit to Disneyland with his children. 

“Hope you enjoy your family time,” Newsom wrote on social media. “The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t.”

In response, Vance wrote, “Had a great time, thanks.” 

Critics also attempted to paint Vance as entitled after the vice president’s security detail had an Ohio river’s water levels raised to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The U.S. Secret Service made the request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers so that motorized watercraft and emergency personnel could operate safely.

Before his political career, Vance notably penned an autobiography, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which describes how he was raised by an opioid-addicted mother in Appalachia, joined the Marines and found success at Yale Law School. 

In a recent interview on “The Katie Miller Podcast,” Vance revealed that reserving “sacred time” with family allows him to balance his official duties with the duties of being a husband and father.  

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“It’s possible to do it even in my job,” he said. “Yes, if like a war breaks out, then sometimes you have to cancel even the sacred time. But we’ve been pretty good about making sure that I have at least a couple of hours with my family every single day.” 

A former Republican candidate for a New Mexico state House seat was sentenced Wednesday to 80 years behind bars after contracting gunmen to carry out drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials after his election loss.

Solomon Peña was convicted of 13 felony charges earlier this year after he orchestrated the attacks in Albuquerque, New Mexico just weeks after his defeat in November 2022.

He had been charged with conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of intimidation and interference with federally protected activities, four counts of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and three counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

The shootings, one of which involved a machine gun, were carried out between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023. Peña personally participated in one of the attacks.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS DELIVERS ‘GLAMOROUS’ FAREWELL BEFORE GOING TO PRISON: ‘THE CURTAIN FALLS’

Some of the shootings happened while children and other relatives of the victims were at home, although nobody was hurt.

Prosecutors said Peña organized the shootings at the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators in response to unsubstantiated claims that election fraud contributed to his loss.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in our elections,” U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison said in a statement on Wednesday.

The officials Peña targeted were all Democrats and included the current state House speaker.

Following his unsuccessful campaign, Peña went to the homes of members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners and pressured them not to certify the election results, purporting that the election had been “rigged” against him.

When they refused and certified the results, Peña hired co-conspirators Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out the shootings, prosecutors said.

MS-13 LEADER IN TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS TO BE SENTENCED IN RACKETEERING CASE INVOLVING 8 LONG ISLAND MURDERS

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The two men Peña contracted for the shooting spree pleaded guilty last year. Following his arrest, Peña attempted to have the pair murdered to prevent them from testifying.

In addition to the 80 years in prison, Peña was given three years of supervised release. His lawyer said he would appeal the conviction.

Fox News’ Danielle Wallace and Reuters contributed to this report.

The chances of a person facing a violent crime in Washington, D.C., have dropped in recent years, but the possibility of dying during such a crime has skyrocketed, data shows.

“You have less chance of being victimized, but if you are victimized, you have more of a chance of dying,” John Jay adjunct lecturer Jillian Snider, a retired New York Police Department officer, told Fox News Digital Tuesday of violent crime trends in the nation’s capital. 

Snider was referring to a report published by the Council on Criminal Justice in July, which studied violent crime data of 17 large U.S. cities between 2018 and 2024, specifically diving into the lethality of violent crimes in those cities. It found Washington, D.C., had the highest lethality level out of the group – which included cities such as Baltimore and Chicago – at a 38% increase in lethality in 2024 compared with 2018. 

Lethality in D.C. jumped by a whopping 341% when compared to 2012 data, the study found, reporting that there were 13 homicides per 1,000 serious violent crimes in 2012 to 57 homicides per 1,000 serious violent crimes in 2024. 

 The study defined lethality as “the number of homicides per aggravated assaults and robberies.” 

TOP DEMOCRATS RIPPED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER ‘BONKERS’ REACTIONS TO TRUMP’S DC CRIME PLAN: ‘MASSIVE LIAR’

D.C.’s crime rates are under the national spotlight this week after President Donald Trump announced Monday morning during a packed press conference that he was federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to assume emergency control of the capital’s police force for 30 days. 

WASHINGTON POST SOURCE SAYS DC IS SAFE BUT STAYS ANONYMOUS OVER ‘PERSONAL SAFETY’ CONCERNS

“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people,” Trump said during the press conference. “And we’re not going to let it happen anymore. We’re not going to take it.” 

Upon Trump’s announcement, Democratic lawmakers slammed the president for allegedly overstepping and sending in the National Guard despite crime trends falling in recent years. Top Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, promoted the narrative that crime is at a 30-year low. 

“Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low,” Jeffries said Monday. “Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost.” 

“As you listen to an unhinged Trump try to justify deploying the National Guard in DC, here’s reality: Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low,” former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted to X. 

When asked about some Democrats touting that crime has fallen to a 30-year-low, Snider argued that it’s not “fair” to compare any city in 2025 to one in the 1990s.

TRUMP CLAIMS DC CRIMES TROUNCE STATS FROM NOTORIOUSLY VIOLENT CITIES WORLDWIDE

“The ‘90s were a shaky time in most urban and metropolitan areas,” she said. “We were coming out of the crack epidemic. We were coming out of economic instability from the late ’80s. And then the ’90s, we saw like this revolutionary policing, this broken windows policing, this now hot-spot policing, this CompStat-driven era.” 

“I don’t think that any agency today in 2025 should be saying, like, ‘Oh, we’re doing so much better than we were in 1995,'” she continued. “It’s a completely different world than it was in 1995. You have different demographics in different areas. You have different population counts in different areas.” 

The U.S. was rocked by violent crime waves from coast-to-coast in 2020 and the subsequent years, when the pandemic upended day-to-day life with lockdown orders and social justice protests and riots broke out in major cities nationwide. The FBI logged a nearly 30% increase in murders compared to the year prior, marking the largest single-year increase in killings since the agency began tracking the crimes.

TRUMP ADMIN CUTTING $20M IN DC SECURITY FUNDING AFTER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ORDERED TO INCREASE PRESENCE

Washington, D.C., was among the cities caught up in the national crime trend, recording 198 homicides that year, which marked a 16-year high for the city. Homicides jumped to 226 in 2021, another 203 in 2022 and 274 in 2023 – which was a 20-year high for the city. 

D.C., saw homicides drop by roughly 31% from 2023 to 2024, according to year-end Metropolitan Police Department data reporting 274 homicides in 2023 compared to 187 in 2024. The data shows violent crime across the board fell by roughly 35% from 2023, when the department reported 5,345 violent crime incidents, to 2024, when it reported 3,469 violent crimes. 

“Everyone should be celebrating that crime is falling,” Snider said. “But at the same time, we don’t have the full picture: Why is crime more deadly than it once was?” 

The Council on Criminal Justice study found, specifically, that Washington’s lethality increased each year from 2012–2021, except for 2016. 

“The largest single-year increase was a 57% jump from 2014 to 2015,” the study reported. “From 2019 to 2020, lethality increased by 22%, followed by another 14% increase in 2021. It then declined slightly in 2022 (-3%) and 2023 (-8%), before a 5% uptick in 2024. Lethality in 2020 was significantly higher than in all earlier years, except for 2019. However, lethality levels observed in 2021 through 2024 were not significantly different from those in 2020.” 

The author behind the study, Council on Criminal Justice senior researcher Ernesto Lopez, explained to local media in July that “lethality has climbed significantly” in the nation’s capital despite crime trends falling. 

“We look back to 2012 lethality – again, that share of violence that ended a homicide – that increased by over 300% from 2012 to 2024, even though the homicide rate drops,” Lopez told WTOP in July. “So, the violent situations can be getting less frequent, but when those violent situations occur, they more likely end in a fatality than over a decade ago.” 

He added that the top takeaway from the study was “homicide and other violent crimes are declining through the first half of this year and continuing to fall below pre-pandemic levels.”

“This is a continuing pattern of declining crime rates,” he added. “Even some offenses, such as motor vehicle theft, that are seeing huge spikes really throughout 2022 and 2023, are really starting to come down in many jurisdictions.” 

While violence has dropped in D.C. in recent years, “it’s still at a very high level,” Council on Criminal Justice President and CEO Adam Gelb told Fox News Digital Wednesday, when asked about recent rhetoric that crime is at a 30-year low despite lethality spiking in the city. 

“There’s been a large and unmistakable drop in violence in Washington over the last two years but it’s still at a very high level and there are microtrends that cut against that overall positive picture,” Gelb said. “When pieces of the puzzle are moving in different directions, it’s easy for people to pick out some of them and create an image that advances their policy and political agenda.” 

Snider explained that violent crimes decreasing while lethality increases is attributable to a handful of variables, including gang-related crimes. 

“D.C. is known for having gangs and crews, and I know that there have been reports of increased juvenile-related crime,” Snider said, pointing to a surge that began in 2021 as youths committed violent carjackings. “If you see higher gang or crew-related activity that potentially is using weapons, obviously that’s where you’re going to see more serious physical injury or death. So that’s one of the bigger attributes also.”

WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES FEDERAL SECURITY BLITZ AS PRESIDENT VOWS TO END DC ‘CRIME PLAGUE’

Other variables that can contribute to an increase in lethality are long wait times to receive emergency care, such as slow EMS response times or long hospital waits, and if a police department is understaffed.

The study argued “two interrelated developments” on firearms likely drove the lethality in D.C., claiming “widespread availability (of firearms) may contribute to a perceived need for self-armament, creating a feedback loop or ‘arms race’ in which people acquire guns because they believe others are armed.”

“This dynamic appears to have real consequences: Firearms purchased in 2020 were used in more crimes than the annual average in previous years. In addition, the flow of new firearms into legal markets contributes directly to the stock of firearms in illegal markets. That is, guns that are legally obtained may eventually be illegally sold and acquired by people who may not have the right to lawfully possess a firearm,” the study’s findings reported, while adding the “advancement of firearm technology” that increases their “lethal potential” likely drove lethality. 

Snider added that she understands the Trump administration’s rationale for federalizing the police force, but underscored the importance of having local police lead their jurisdiction as they understand the neighborhoods they patrol, the community and where crime lurks. Snider argued the administration should consider delivering federal funds to bolster local police departments’ abilities to recruit and retain officers. 

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“Police presence in uniform does deter crime,” she said. “You have two agents or two officers standing on a street corner, you’re not going to see a lot of people getting their purses snatched, you’re not gonna see a lot of people selling drugs on the corner, you’re not gonna see a lot of people getting carjacked. But after the surge is over and after this National Guard deployment has withdrawn, what does that leave the MPD with?” 

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening…

-US appeals court says Trump can slash billions in owed USAID funds

-Three states sign new agreements with ICE for expanded immigration enforcement operations

–Zohran Mamdani takes aim at Trump’s immigration policies in fiery Staten Island speech: ‘We are fighting to keep NYC a sanctuary city’

Attempts to end war 

President Donald Trump threatened “very severe consequences” for Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to end the war in Ukraine after their meeting in Alaska on Friday. 

Trump issued the warning Wednesday as he was preparing for a sit-down with Putin in Anchorage. 

“Yes, they will. There will be consequences,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question on the topic. The president then refused to elaborate on what the punishment would be…Read more

White House

‘FIGHTING FORCE’: Adversaries are ‘afraid’ of U.S. military, and that makes tough talks like Putin possible

FISCAL FIGHT: Trump predicts little progress in potential shutdown talks with ‘crazy’ Schumer, Jeffries

‘IF I HAVE TO’: Trump warns he may bypass Congress with national emergency to keep D.C. police control beyond 30 days

‘STEP UP’: Vance to visit U.S. troops during high-stakes UK trip ahead of Trump’s Putin meeting

‘ENOUGH DAMAGE’: Former Navy SEAL Rep. Eli Crane fires off message for ex-President Obama: ‘Probably best to sit this one out’

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: Soros-linked DA warns Trump after D.C. crime crackdown: ‘Better not try it in Philly’

World Stage

LEGAL SHOWDOWN: Venezuelan migrants, progressive group sue Trump admin after Noem nixes Biden-era ‘protected status’

‘NO SIGN’: Zelenskyy, ahead of Trump-Putin meeting, says there is ‘no sign’ Russia wants to end the war

Capitol Hill

‘REMAKE AMERICA’: Vulnerable Democrats hammered with scathing ad handcuffing them to Mamdani, Jeffries

Across America 

CHECKING OUT: Last migrant hotel in New York City set to close as ’emergency shelter’ program sunsets

QUORUM CRISIS: O’Rourke, Soros-linked groups face call for DOJ probe over alleged funding of Texas Dem walkout

CLASSROOM CRISIS: Democratic governor hopeful unveils education overhaul plan as election nears

‘SAFER’ STREETS: Trump’s new D.C. crime crackdown yields more than 100 arrests

CONTROVERSIAL DEAL: Rural town to turn closed prison into ICE detention facility, despite resident pushback

JUDICIAL SHOWDOWN: DOJ faces off with entire Maryland federal bench over automatic pauses in deportation cases

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

President Donald Trump signaled he may skirt Congress to extend his takeover of the Washington, D.C., police, and some congressional Republicans are heeding the call. 

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said he would vote for extending Trump’s authority but didn’t believe that Senate Democrats would budge and support giving the president more time.

“I’m absolutely in favor of President Trump doing whatever he needs to do,” Marshall told Fox News Digital. “Of course, we want to follow the Constitution, and I need to go back and read what he can do and not do, but I think it’ll take a 60-vote threshold in the Senate to pass this resolution.”

TRUMP PREDICTS LITTLE PROGRESS IN POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN TALKS WITH ‘CRAZY’ SCHUMER, JEFFRIES

The provision allows for the president to effectively federalize the local police force for up to 30 days, unless Congress, through a joint resolution, grants him an extension. But questions remain over whether that kind of resolution would hit the Senate’s typical 60-vote threshold or if it could pass through a simple majority.

Trump on Monday invoked a section of the Home Rule Act that governs the district to give himself the authority to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department and has since sent in National Guard troops, alongside FBI and DEA agents, to patrol the streets.

TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP ‘RIGHTLY’ TOOK OVER DC POLICE, DEMANDS BOWSER, OTHERS TESTIFY ON CRIME

Republicans control 53 seats in the upper chamber, meaning Democrats may be needed to grant Trump an extension beyond the 30-day window. But Trump, during a press conference Wednesday announcing new Kennedy Center honorees, said that he would be asking for “long-term extensions” and believed Democrats would not “do anything to stop crime.”

Trump also noted he may not need Congress.

“Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress,” Trump said. “But we expect to be … before Congress, very quickly.

TRUMP ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO ADDRESS ‘TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL’ CRIME IN WASHINGTON

“We’re going to do this very quickly, but we’re going to want extensions,” he added. “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will, but I think the Republicans in Congress will approve this pretty much unanimously.”

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, whose committee oversees the district, enthusiastically backed Trump’s move to take control of D.C.’s police force Monday. When asked by Fox News Digital if he would back Trump leapfrogging Congress to continue his hold on the local police, a spokesman said, “We support the president’s actions to complete the mission.” 

Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., initially supported the president’s move to crack down on crime in the district, which was spurred by a recent attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer.

When asked for comment on Trump’s latest remarks regarding an extension, Thune’s office referred Fox News Digital to his previous statement on social media in which the GOP leader lauded the administration’s move.

“Washington, D.C., should be a place where people can safely live, visit, work, and raise a family, and [Monday’s] announcement is a positive step in that direction,” he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office for comment but did not hear back.

A clearer picture of where lawmakers stand will likely have to wait, given that they are out of town in their respective states and districts for much of the 30-day window. But the issue will likely be front of mind when they return after Labor Day. 

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Still, Trump already has some public support from Republicans for extending his timeframe. 

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in a statement he fully supported “President Trump’s plan to make D.C. safe again, and will back up his efforts in the Senate.” 

And Sen. Mike Lee, who has a bill that would repeal the Home Rule Act and federalize the district, similarly would support extending the 30-day window, “with the ultimate goal of working with him to pass the BOWSER Act and restore full Congressional oversight of the city.”

“The safety and sanity of our nation’s capital should not depend upon having good presidents in the Oval Office, but I’m glad we have one now,” the Utah Republican told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

Not everyone was eager to welcome New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, to Staten Island on Wednesday afternoon. 

“Go back to where you came from. We don’t want you on Staten Island,” a protester wearing a “Trump girl” t-shirt and holding an American flag shouted at the 33-year-old self-described socialist as he exited the backdoor of the Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant. 

Inside the event, as Mamdani kicked off his third anti-Trump event of the week, protesters outside the restaurant drowned out the introductory speeches with their cowbells, sirens and megaphones. 

Despite the heat in the crowded restaurant and his detractors outside, Mamdani maintained a smile throughout the event and told reporters, “It saddens me to hear language of being told to go back to where I came from, and yet, it is not surprising because it is so much of what characterizes President Trump’s politics.”

MAMDANI TAKES AIM AT TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN FIERY STATEN ISLAND SPEECH: ‘WE ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP NYC A SANCTUARY CITY’

Mamdani was hosting his third “Five Boroughs Against Trump” event of the week on Wednesday, reaffirming his commitment to protecting New Yorkers from Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration if he’s elected mayor of New York City this November. 

MAMDANI ZINGS CUOMO IN RENT-STABILIZED HOUSING SPAT DURING ANTI-TRUMP TOUR STOP

“I will not let it dissuade me from continuing to come to Staten Island, from continuing to speak to New Yorkers, no matter where they live, no matter what politics they have,” Mamdani said in response to the protesters. “Because I know that just as there are Republicans who feel that way, there are others who are sincere in their questions.”

Several protesters outside the restaurant told Fox News Digital that they planned to vote for Curtis Sliwa, CEO of the Guardian Angels, this November. 

“He’s the only one that could save our city,” Ed, a Staten Islander carrying a large American flag, said. 

Ed told Fox News Digital that he wanted to give Mamdani “a little surprise party” and let the socialist candidate know that his values do not represent those of Staten Island. 

“This is Trump country,” said Manny, another protester and Wall Street retiree who said Mamdani’s policies are “anti-Wall Street.”

Trump won Staten Island by 30 points in the 2024 presidential election, according to The New York Times’ data. Meanwhile, in neighboring Brooklyn, former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the borough by 44 points. 

Tommy Banks, a native Staten Islander, said his message to Mamdani on Wednesday was simple: “Get out of town.”

“He wants to make everything free. He can’t afford that. He’s a socialist. He don’t live that. We’re not socialist,” Banks said. 

Banks agreed with the other protesters outside the restaurant, telling Fox News Digital that “nobody else” could be mayor but Sliwa. 

“He’s a true New Yorker. He’s been fighting for New York all his life. Give him a chance to get in there,” Banks said. 

Another protester, Liz, shouted, “Mamdani’s a commie!” as the Democratic nominee departed in his SUV. 

Liz said she doesn’t like Mamdani because “he’s not a Democrat, he’s a communist.”

She said Mamdani is trying to tempt New Yorkers with campaign promises like free childcare, free bus fare and government-run grocery stores, but Liz said it would be a “disaster” if he became mayor. 

When Mamdani declared victory in the Democratic primary, incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, called Mamdani a “snake-oil salesman” that would “say and do anything to get elected.”

Trump has often criticized Mamdani and his policies, calling him a “100% communist lunatic.”

Staten Islanders who spoke to Fox News Digital outside Mamdani’s anti-Trump event on Wednesday seemed to agree with those sentiments, calling him a “commie” and criticizing his socialist policies, which include freezing the rent, raising corporate taxes and increasing the minimum wage. 

But Shahana Masum, who sported a “Zohran for Staten Island” sticker on her purse and attended the event, told Fox News Digital that Mamdani is the person who is representing “me and my community.”

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Masum said she has also been told to go back to her country. 

And to that she said, “You didn’t go back to your country, and I came here with dignity and with my visa, so don’t tell me to leave.”

Fox News’ Bryan Llenas and Marly Carroll contributed to this report.

Around 400 D.C. National Guard members have reported for duty in the nation’s capital as of Wednesday afternoon in response to President Donald Trump’s directive to help make Washington “safe, clean and beautiful,” a U.S. Army official told Fox News. 

Hundreds more D.C. National Guard troops are expected to report for duty later Wednesday and Thursday, with a significantly higher presence on the ground Wednesday evening. By the end of the week, it is expected all 800 who have been activated will have reported for duty.

Law enforcement officials have made 103 arrests since Aug. 7, when Trump’s order to “federalize” D.C. and crack down on crime was announced and more law enforcement officers took to the streets. 

INSIDE THE WASHINGTON, DC HOMELESS HOT SPOTS TRUMP HAS VOWED TO CLEAN UP

Guardsmen were spotted rolling in on military vehicles near the National Mall Wednesday evening. Troops gathered at the D.C. armory before deploying near monuments and near a U.S. Park building in the crime-ridden neighborhood of Anacostia in southeast D.C. 

In addition to sending in the Guard, Trump placed D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, using the Home Rule Act that allows him to do so for up to 30 days. 

On Monday, federal and local authorities made 23 arrests, including suspects wanted for murder, gun offenses and other crimes. On Tuesday, they made 43 arrests, and 24 guns were seized.

While only 30 National Guard troops were on the ground Tuesday night, more than 1,450 participated in the operations, including 750 Metropolitan Police Department officers and federal law enforcement officers.

Beginning Wednesday night, the operations will be active around the clock rather than just evening hours. 

TRUMP ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO ADDRESS ‘TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL’ CRIME IN WASHINGTON

The White House-led operation will not only tackle crime but also homelessness within the district. For those camping in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, the options are to leave, go to a homeless shelter or go to jail. 

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Trump has described the federalization of the police as “Liberation Day in D.C.,” declaring, “We’re going to take our capital back.”

Fox News’ David Spunt and Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report. 

Donald Trump will issue a presidential proclamation Thursday honoring the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, which will tout his administration’s achievements in improving the program, including legislative provisions that will help the vast majority of seniors pay “zero tax” on their social security benefits.

The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, during the Great Depression. The bill was aimed at creating a federal safety net to help Americans with unemployment, illness, disability, death and old-age. 

The president’s Thursday proclamation, obtained and reviewed in advance by Fox News Digital, proclaimed the Act as “a monumental legislative achievement.” 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHISHING SCAM TARGETS RETIREES  

“To this day, Social Security is rooted in a simple promise: those who gave their careers to building our Nation will always have the support, stability, and relief they deserve,” the proclamation states. “Thanks to my Administration’s efforts, Social Security now stands stronger and more resilient than ever before.”  

During Trump’s second term, Democrats have slammed his approach to helping improve the program, arguing cuts to the Social Security Administration’s workforce and provisions in the Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act will negatively impact the critical program. However, the administration is fighting back at those notions, pointing to technological improvements, lower customer service wait times, and disability claim backlogs that have been cleared. 

“While Democrats flail and peddle lies about Social Security, President Trump is demonstrating his unbreakable commitment to protecting and strengthening this vital program for the nearly 72 million Americans who benefit from it,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said. 

“By massively improving the customer service experience through technological improvements, preventing illegal aliens from accessing benefits, and delivering no taxes on Social Security through the One Big Beautiful Bill – President Trump has Made Social Security Great Again.”

Trump’s critics have suggested he is damaging the program, but according to the administration, things have drastically improved. A source in the administration told Fox News Digital that the administration completed over 3.1 million payments ahead of schedule thus far, totaling $17 billion, to eligible beneficiaries.

Additionally, the wait time for social security’s service delivery has been dramatically reduced under Trump, with the average telephone response time reduced from 30-minutes last year, to six minutes as it stands currently. That amounts to an 80% reduction in wait times. 

TOP DEM DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, CLAIMING WAIT TIMES SPIKED DURING DOGE CUTS

Meanwhile, the president touts in his proclamation that provisions in the Republican spending package, signed into law last month, will allow “the vast majority of seniors who receive social security” to pay absolutely nothing in taxes on their benefits. 

“The largest tax break for seniors in the history of our country,” as the president described it in his proclamation. 

Trump also expressed that his administration is actively working to root out fraud, waste and abuse in the system, including the longstanding issue of improper and fraudulent payments to deceased individuals.

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“On this 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act, we recognize the countless contributions of every American senior who has invested their time, talent, and resources into our Nation’s future,” Trump writes in his proclamation.

“On this momentous milestone, we recommit to strengthening our retirement system, protecting programs like Social Security and Medicare against fraud and abuse, and ensuring that every future generation of American citizens has the income security they need and earned.”

Democratic lawmakers from the Texas and Indiana legislatures slammed Republican redistricting efforts before the 2026 Midterm Elections, with one Indiana lawmaker accusing Vice President JD Vance of being “engaged in congressional-level shoplifting.”

The lawmakers held a press conference in Chicago on Wednesday to protest an ongoing effort in Texas to pass a redistricting bill that would likely hand the GOP five additional congressional seats.

During the event, Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, who is chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said that by fleeing the state to deny a voting quorum in the Texas House, his caucus is “blocking a racist, unconstitutional and illegal gerrymandering effort.”

He said the AWOL Democrats are also “stopping the DC swamp from dictating who we get to vote for.”

GOV. ABBOT STILL BEAT NEWSOM IN DISASTER RELIEF DESPITE TEXAS DEMOCRATS STALLING, HIDING OUT

This comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other state authorities have called for the arrest and removal of Democratic lawmakers who disappeared from the state and brought legislative progress in the state House of Representatives to a grinding halt. Because of the missing Democrats, the Texas House has not been able to pass the redistricting bill though it passed in the Texas Senate on Tuesday.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Abbott said that, in addition to political backlash, Democratic lawmakers who accepted money to assist with their exodus could face felony bribery charges.

Now, several Democrats are reportedly planning to return to the state as Abbott calls for a second special legislative session to pass the redistricting bill.

Despite this, the Democrats are asserting that their efforts have been a success.

Speaking on Wednesday, Wu said, “I’m so happy to be here today because in the past week we have heard from California, we have heard from New York, we have heard from Illinois, that people are ready to stand up. People are ready to fight back.”

DEMS FACE SCRUTINY OVER CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION GAPS IN BLUE STATES: ‘DON’T HAVE CLEAN HANDS’

Wu called on more people to join in the efforts and to take “more aggressive actions” to fight the GOP.

“We cannot do this alone; that this is not a fight that we can sustain and win on our own,” said Wu. “What we need is we need more people to join us. We need more states to come to our aid, and we need more people to say we will start taking more aggressive actions, we will defend against this.”

Wu went on to say that if Texas and other red states are “determined to do this,” then “other states will make sure that it does not matter what they do, that we will nullify their actions.”

“We will make it pointless for them to attack our democracy,” he said.

In response, Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott, told Fox News Digital that “Democrats fundamentally misunderstand Texans.” 

“Texans expect their elected leaders to show up to work, and the Democrats refuse to do so,” said Mahaleris. “Voters, especially Hispanic Texans, are increasingly deserting the Democrats and deserve to be able to vote for candidates who better align with their values. At the end of the day, candidates win on the merits, not the map. If Democrats have any hope of winning elections, they need to change their platform. Running away from a fight is not a solution and is the antithesis of being a Texan.”

Amidst this controversy, Vance has also called for red states to counter what he called “aggressive” Democratic gerrymandering in blue states like California, New York and Illinois.

Speaking with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” this past weekend, Vance said, “We’re just trying to rebalance the scales and frankly push back against a very unfair system created by the Democrats.”

JD VANCE CALLS ON REPUBLICANS TO TAKE ‘DECISIVE ACTION’ TO COUNTER DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDERING

Vance said Democrats have had the upper hand in the game for many years and, under President Donald Trump‘s leadership, Republicans are finally playing offense.

“It’s ridiculously unfair,” he said of illegal immigrants being included in the total population used to determine how many seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The only real way to fight back against it is for us to redistrict, in some ways, as aggressively as these hard blue states have done,” he added.

On Wednesday, Indiana state Rep. Ed DeLaney, a Democrat serving in a majority Republican legislature, accused Vance of engaging in “congressional-level shoplifting.”

“JD Vance, in my view, and I’m being serious about this, the man is engaged in congressional-level shoplifting, and I say that again. That’s what he’s doing,” said DeLaney.

“Never in my life did I think that the Vice President of the United States would come to my state to ask our legislators to shoplift a congressional district like this, steal them off the shelf, run outside and wave them in front of the country. We cannot have this kind of conduct,” he said.

O’ROURKE, SOROS-LINKED GROUPS FACE CALL FOR DOJ PROBE OVER ALLEGED FUNDING OF TEXAS DEM WALKOUT

DeLaney asserted that “this game of, you know, ritual gerrymandering” puts at risk “the mutual respect of the legislature of our state and of Texas and of other states.”

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He went on to say, “If these idiots get their wishes, what happens if they lose one of those five congressional races? Oh my God, let’s have another redistricting next year. This has got to be put to a stop.”

He went on to say that the Texas Democrats “are the people who are going to try to put it to a stop,” adding, “I know how hard it is, but we need to support them and stand with them. Otherwise, our people will be subjected to ever-changing districts, none of which are representative.”

Fox News Digital also reached out to Vance’s office for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Former President Bill Clinton is the “prime suspect” in the House Oversight Committee’s probe looking at the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case, according to the committee’s chairman Rep. James Comer. 

“Everybody in America wants to know what went on in Epstein Island, and we’ve all heard reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor there, so he’s a prime suspect to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee,” Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, said in a Monday interview with Newsmax. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Comer’s office and received confirmation of his comments to the outlet. 

The House Oversight Committee issued a large batch of deposition subpoenas to those with ties to Epstein Aug. 5 — including the former president and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — to testify before lawmakers.

COMER SUBPOENAS THE CLINTONS, TRUMP’S DOJ IN HOUSE OVERSIGHT’S EPSTEIN PROBE

Democrats joined Republicans in voting to move forward issuing the subpoenas. The committee requested Hillary Clinton appear Oct. 9, and Bill Clinton Oct. 14. 

“So, hopefully we’ll win that court battle with that subpoena and see President Clinton in October,” Comer told Newsmax. 

Clinton has said he has never visited Epstein’s island. Clinton wrote in his 2024 memoir “Citizen” that he’d never gone to the island and that he wished he’d never even met Epstein in the first place.

A spokesperson for Clinton did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Meanwhile, the case has attracted additional attention after the Department of Justice and the FBI announced in July the agencies would not release new documents from the Epstein sex trafficking case and that their review into Epstein was closed.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE VOTED IN FAVOR OF SUBPOENAING BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON OVER GHISLAINE MAXWELL CONNECTION

The agencies said at the time that they did not track down a list of sexual predators with connections to Epstein, and determined there were no new people who would face charges.

But that’s at odds with efforts by the Oversight Committee, which also issued a subpoena for all Justice Department documents pertaining to Epstein. The committee also issued subpoenas to former FBI Director James Comey, former Attorneys General Eric Holder, Jeff Sessions and Merrick Garland, among others. 

The Justice Department faces a Tuesday deadline to submit documents related to Epstein, Fox News Digital previously reported.

‘NOT GOING AWAY’: INSIDE THE EPSTEIN DRAMA THAT’S THROWN HOUSE GOP INTO CHAOS

While Comer acknowledged it would prove challenging to actually get the former president to testify before Congress, he remained optimistic about the odds — given his track record. 

“I’ve never lost a subpoena battle,” Comer said Monday. “I’ve been chairman of that committee for a year and a half — this is the most challenging subpoena I’ve ever issued, but what makes this subpoena different is that the Democrats voted with Republicans.”

Fox News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report. 

The District of Columbia is a special case in American governance.

Which is why President Trump has distinctive authority to dispatch federal agents and National Guard troops to patrol the city’s streets for at least a month.

It’s in the Constitution.

Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power “To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular states, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the government of the United States.”

That’s a reference to what would become the District of Columbia.

REPUBLICANS READY TO SUPPORT TRUMP’S MOVE TO SKIRT CONGRESS IN DC CRIME CRACKDOWN

The Founders wanted the home of the federal government somewhat cloistered – and protected – from local whims and danger. The precursor to the present Congress convened in Philadelphia. But Continental Army soldiers staged what was known as the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, claiming the “Congress of the Confederation” owed them back pay. The incident prompted Alexander Hamilton to suggest that the Congress vacate Philadelphia. It wasn’t clear that local authorities could protect the incipient Congress from the mutineers. So they abandoned Philadelphia for Princeton, New Jersey.

Scarred by what happened in Philadelphia, the Founders etched out a quirky “federal district” which didn’t exist in a state. The Founders felt Pennsylvania was lax at guarding the original Congress. So developing their own “capital city” for Congress – with the government in control – would grant them security.

The 1st Congress adopted the “Residence Act.” It established what became Washington, DC. There was a compromise that the new nation would initiate the seat of government anywhere from what is now Hagerstown, Md., to its present location. But the law gave President George Washington authority to determine the exact location. Washington’s residence was along the Potomac at Mount Vernon. So they carved out a “District of Columbia” from territory which was otherwise part of Maryland and Virginia – on opposite sides of the Potomac River.

Congress forked over the parcel of land on the “western” shore of the Potomac to Virginia in the 1840s. Stone markers still mark the old District of Columbia boundaries in and around Alexandria, Va.

So Congress was in charge of the District of Columbia until 1973.

That’s when lawmakers approved the Home Rule Act for DC. DC gained a non-voting delegate to the House (similar to those from U.S. territories) a few years earlier. But now Washington, DC would feature a mayor and a city council. But under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress would maintain ultimate authority over the city. The House and Senate presided as a sort of “super city council.”

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS UNEASY ON CAPITOL HILL

Lawmakers periodically infused themselves into Washington’s local affairs beginning in the late 1980s – and mostly at the behest of Republicans. Congress blocked the legalization of medical marijuana in DC in 1998. The House and Senate also bigfooted a new criminal justice system for the city in 2022. That’s because the local law diminished punishments for serious crimes like carjacking.

Republicans won control of the House in 1994 and promptly discussed dialing back home rule for Washington, DC. Republicans made their mark by blocking a needle exchange program for drug abusers.

The U.S. ratified the 23rd Amendment in 1961. That granted the city three electoral votes. However, Washington lacks a vote on the floor of the House or two votes in the Senate – even though its citizens pay federal income taxes, serve in the military and are subject to the draft. That’s why the city festooned license plates with the moniker “Taxation Without Representation” in the 1990s.

Democrats have largely championed the plight of DC. A bill to make DC a state failed in 1993, 277-153. However, the House passed a statehood bill for DC in 2020, 232-180. The bill would convert most of the present city into “Douglass Commonwealth,” named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass. So the city wouldn’t be a state, but a “commonwealth” like Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Massachusetts.

That bill would chisel out a swath of land, encompassing the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, the National Mall and many federal buildings. Supporters of the legislation argued that this would be the new “seat” of government as prescribed by the Constitution.

SCHIFF BLASTS ‘TINPOT DICTATOR’ TRUMP’S NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZATION, WARNS OTHER CITIES ARE NEXT

But the measure never got a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate.

And statehood is unlikely any time soon for DC.

The city is overwhelmingly Democratic. The new state or commonwealth would likely elect a Democratic U.S. Representative and two Democratic senators. Republicans would never abide that as it would tip the balance of power in Congress.

Note that Alaska and Hawaii entered the union virtually together as part of a compromise. One would be the “Democratic” state. The other would be the “Republican” state. Therefore, the admissions created political balance in Congress.

Ironically, Alaska was supposed to be the “Democratic” state and Hawaii the “Republican” state. However, the prevailing politics of both of those states mostly flipped over the years.

Moreover, it’s hard to see how any plan for statehood could overcome a Senate filibuster requiring 60 yeas. That’s why some progressives pushed Senate Democratic leaders to abolish the filibuster several years ago. But it was unclear if DC even had the votes to become a state when Democrats controlled a slim Senate majority.

DC VIOLENCE HAS GROWN FAR MORE DEADLY, DESPITE DEMS CLAIMING 30-YEAR LOW

So this brings us to present day and President Trump’s use of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take over the local police department in Washington. The law says Congress must approve such action within a month. One can bet that the GOP-controlled House and Senate will consider such a measure in September. Prospective passage is always tight in the House because of the narrow majority. However, such a plan is likely subject to a filibuster in the Senate. 

Most Republicans are eager to follow the lead of President Trump. Moreover, Congressional Republicans would embrace the opportunity to dare Democrats to vote no on a renewal – and portray them as opposing order in the streets.

For his part, the president said he expected Congress to act “very quickly.” But Mr. Trump observed that “we can do it without Congress” if he deems it a national emergency.

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President Trump also characterized the potential for statehood as “ridiculous” and “unacceptable.”

So this unique political construct for the nation’s capital is what grants Congress – and the president – authority over the District of Columbia. It’s in the Constitution. And unless Congress blocks him, President Trump can likely administer DC as he sees fit.

EXCLUSIVE: First lady Melania Trump is putting Hunter Biden on $1 billion notice over what she claims are “false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements” made about her, demanding he immediately remove and retract the content and issue an apology or face legal action, Fox News Digital has learned. 

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the letter that Alejandro Brito, attorney serving as litigation counsel for the first lady, sent to Hunter Biden and his attorney, Abbe Lowell, Aug. 6. 

DAILY BEAST PULLS STORY ALLEGING MELANIA-EPSTEIN CONNECTION AFTER LAWYERS DISPUTE FRAMING

Brito demanded that Biden “immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump,” which were contained in a video interview with Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan and posted to Youtube in early August. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan for comment and did not receive a response.

“Failure to comply will leave Mrs. Trump with no choice but to pursue any and all legal rights and remedies available to her to recover the overwhelming financial and reputational harm that you have caused her to suffer,” Brito wrote.

In the video interview, titled “Hunter Biden Returns” video earlier in August, the former first son claimed “Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep.” 

Biden also claimed that “Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania, and that’s how Melania and the first lady and the President met.”

“These false, disparaging, defamatory, and inflammatory statements are extremely salacious and have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums,” Brito wrote. “Indeed, the video has since been re-published by various media outlets, journalists, and political commentators with millions of social media followers that have disseminated the false and defamatory statements therein to tens of millions of people worldwide.”

Brito added: “Consequently, you have caused Mrs. Trump to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm.”

Brito said that Biden’s “source” for the false statements is “serial fabulist Michael Wolff, whose lies were published by The Daily Beast in the article titled ‘Melania Trump ‘very involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author.’”

JEFFREY EPSTEIN THROWN OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO FOR HIRING THE HELP: TRUMP

“Following receipt of our cease-and-desist demand letter just a week ago, The Daily Beast issued an apology to Mrs. Trump and retracted the false and defamatory statements contained in the article by deleting it in its entirety,” Brito wrote. “Despite this, you have unjustifiably relied upon Mr. Wolff’s false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump and maliciously elected to republish them.” 

Brito warned Biden that he lacks “any viable defense to the overwhelming reputational and financial harm” he has caused the first lady to suffer.

“The timing of this video is evident and underscores the actual malice behind the decision to publish it given the plain falsity of the statements,” Brito wrote. “Given your vast history of trading on the names of others—including your surname—for your personal benefit, it is obvious that you published these false and defamatory statements about Mrs. Trump to draw attention to yourself.”

Brito demanded, on behalf of the first lady, that Biden “immediately issue a full and fair retraction of the video and any and all other false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump in as conspicuous a manner as they were originally published.”

Brito also demanded, on behalf of the first lady, that Biden “immediately issue an apology for the false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump.” 

Brito also directed Biden not to “destroy, conceal, or alter any paper or electronic files, physical evidence” or other records relating to the false claims; including communications regarding Melania Trump; records of his sources; and any documents or data regarding Mrs. Trump.

MELANIA TRUMP POSTS VICTORY X POST AFTER JAMES CARVILLE REMOVES PODCAST ALLEGING ‘EPSTEIN CONNECTION’

“If you do not comply with the above by August 7, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST, Mrs. Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce her legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for over $1 Billion Dollars in damages,” Brito wrote. “You are on notice.”

A source close to the matter told Fox News Digital that Biden did not comply with the requests by the set deadline. 

The source said Biden and his team “leaked the letter” from the first lady’s attorney to “a friendly reporter,” which “shows how deeply concerned they are about Hunter’s serious liability for spreading defamatory lies.” 

It is unclear which reporter and for which outlet the letter was shared with. 

Biden and Lowell did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  

The letter comes after the Daily Beast pulled the article detailing allegations by journalist Wolff that Melania Trump was introduced to her husband Donald Trump via a modeling agent connected to Epstein, after a challenge from the first lady’s lawyers.

“Editor’s Note. After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trump’s attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article. After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding,” The Daily Beast posted in place of the article. The url for the article appears to have been amended to remove the original headline and now reads: thedailybeast.com/epstein-this-story-has-been-removed.

It also comes after James Carville apologized to the first lady after repeating the same claim. 

Carville opened his latest episode of the Politics War Room podcast with a legal note. 

“In last week’s podcast episode, we spoke with Judd Legum,” he said. “After the episode, we received a letter from Melania Trump’s lawyer. He took issue with our title of one of those YouTube videos from that episode and a couple of comments I made about the first lady. We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode. I also take back these statements and apologize.”

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An aide to the first lady, Nick Clemens, told Fox News Digital in a statement, “First Lady Melania Trump’s attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods. The true account of how the First Lady met President Trump is in her best-selling book, ‘Melania.’”  

The first lady shared a screenshot of the apology’s transcript and a crossed-out screenshot of a video of the episode titled, “The Epstein connection: Trump & Melania.”

Fox News’ Alexander Hall and David Spector contributed to this report. 

A judge appeared skeptical on Wednesday of the Department of Justice’s arguments related to an unusual lawsuit the Trump administration brought against all 15 district court judges in Maryland challenging a court order.

Judge Thomas Cullen of the Western District of Virginia questioned the DOJ over the lawsuit, which alleges that the Maryland district court overstepped its authority by imposing a standing order that automatically pauses deportation cases for two days when they are first filed.

Cullen, a Trump appointee, told DOJ attorneys early on in the hearing he was wary of their position.

“One of the things about me is that I don’t have a very good poker face, and you probably picked up on the fact that I have some skepticism,” Cullen said.

TRUMP DHS SUES ENTIRE BENCH OF FEDERAL JUDGES IN MARYLAND DISTRICT COURT OVER AUTOMATIC INJUNCTIONS

The Virginia federal judge is presiding over the case in Baltimore because the Maryland judges recused themselves. Cullen said he would issue a decision by Labor Day on whether he would block the standing order.

DOJ attorney Elizabeth Hedges argued during the hearing that the Maryland court’s order had the effect of “tampering with the [U.S.] attorney general’s discretion” over immigration enforcement matters.

The order requires clerks to immediately enter administrative injunctions that last two business days in cases brought by alleged illegal immigrants who are challenging their detentions or removals. The injunctions have the effect of temporarily barring the Department of Homeland Security from deporting or changing the legal status of an immigrant until a judge has time to review the case.

Hedges argued that the judges automatically enter the orders in these cases even if the court lacks jurisdiction in some of them.

The lawsuit, brought in June, comes as the Trump administration has taken an aggressive public posture against individual federal judges who have blocked enforcement of many of the president’s executive actions, including in areas of immigration, education and federal agency cuts.

President Donald Trump has complained his agenda has been hamstrung and has called for the impeachment of certain judges whose orders he disagrees with. But the Supreme Court has, in many cases, overrode judges and allowed Trump to temporarily implement his executive actions while the lawsuits proceed in the lower courts.

Attorney Paul Clement, arguing on behalf of the Maryland judges, said during the hearing that there were “less confrontational” alternatives to resolving differences with the courts than suing every member of a district court.

Clement, a renowned conservative lawyer who served as former President George Bush’s solicitor general, defended the standing order, calling it a “modest effort to preserve the judiciary’s ability to perform its constitutionally assigned role.”

‘LAWLESS AND INSANE’: TRUMP ADMIN READIES FOR FIGHT AFTER JUDGES BLOCK ABREGO GARCIA REMOVAL FOR NOW

Chief Judge George Russell of Maryland said he issued the standing order as a scheduling convenience to make sure the “status quo” is preserved when a deportation case is filed. He cited a “recent influx” of cases involving detained immigrants that were being filed after normal court hours, including on weekends and holidays.

The lawsuit represents a test of the independence of the judiciary branch. Clement said it was “fundamentally incompatible” with the separation of powers.

“We just don’t have a tradition of suits that are executive versus judiciary, executive versus Congress, Congress versus the executive,” Clement said, adding that “we don’t really expect one branch to sue another to try to vindicate its institutional interests.”

The lawsuit also comes as Trump’s mass deportation agenda has encountered some roadblocks as immigrants raise court challenges and appeals to their removals.

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Perhaps the most prominent instance of this occurred in Maryland, where Judge Paula Xinis, now one of the 15 defendants in the lawsuit against the judges, ordered the government to return Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. after the Trump administration admitted to the court it mistakenly deported him to a prison in El Salvador.

Abrego Garcia has since been returned and is facing criminal charges of transporting illegal immigrants. He has pleaded not guilty.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper reportedly directed officials to “compromise” “normal” procedures to rush a politicized 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment — apparently despite concerns from then-Director of the National Security Agency Mike Rogers, who said his team did not have “enough time” to review the intelligence to be “absolutely confident” that Russia was involved in the 2016 election.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified emails Wednesday. Fox News Digital obtained the declassified records. 

OBAMA ADMIN ‘MANUFACTURED’ INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE 2016 RUSSIAN ELECTION INTERFERENCE NARRATIVE, DOCUMENTS SHOW

“The leading figures in the Russia Hoax have spent years deceiving the American public by presenting their manufactured and politicized assessments as credible intelligence,” Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “The email released today reinforces what we already exposed: the decision to compromise standards and violate protocols in the creation of the 2017 manufactured intelligence assessment was deliberate and came from the very top.”

“Clapper’s own words confirm that complying with the order to manufacture intelligence was a ‘team sport,’” Gabbard said.

In July, Fox News Digital exclusively reported that Gabbard and intelligence officials said that the Obama administration allegedly “manufactured and politicized intelligence” to create the narrative that Russia was attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election, despite information from the intelligence community stating otherwise. 

The email, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital Wednesday, from Rogers was sent to then-Director of National Intelligence Clapper, then-CIA Director John Brennan, and then-FBI Director James Comey on Dec. 22, 2016, at 7:00 a.m. 

“I’ve just returned from a TDY overseas and been updated on the current status of our efforts to produce a joint product related to Russian attribution and intent for the DNC/DCCC hacks,” Rogers wrote. “I know that this activity is on a fast-track and that folks have been working very hard to put together a product that can be provided to the president.”

“However, I wanted to reach out to you directly to let you know of some concerns I have with what I am hearing from my folks,” Rogers continued. “Specifically, I asked my team if they’d had sufficient access to the underlying intelligence and sufficient Tim etc review that intelligence.”

SOROS’ ALLEGED TIES TO RUSSIAGATE EXPOSED IN DECLASSIFIED ANNEX OF DURHAM REPORT

“On both points my team raised concerns,” Rogers wrote. “They were clear that, at the staff level, folks have been forward-leaning and trying to ensure that we have an opportunity to review and weigh in, but I’m concerned that, given the expedited nature of this activity, my folks aren’t fully comfortable saying that they have had enough time to review all of the intelligence to be absolutely confident in their assessments.”

Rogers clarified, saying he is “not saying that we disagree substantively, but I do want to make sure that, when we are asked in the future whether we can absolutely stand behind the paper, that we don’t have any reason to hesitate because of the process.”

“I know that you agree that this is something we need to be 100% comfortable with before we present it to the President—we have one chance to get this right, and it is critical that we do so,” Rogers wrote. “If the intent is to create an integrated product that is CIA/FBI/NSA jointly-authored that we can all defend, we need a process that allows us all to be comfortable, and I’m concerned we are not there yet.”

Rogers added: “In addition, if NSA is intended to be a co-author of this product, I personally expect to see even the most sensitive evidence related to the conclusion.”

Rogers said, though, if the “intent is to create a CIA-only or CIA/FBI-authored product, then I will stand down on these concerns.”

“I would welcome your thoughts on these points and any adjustments we might make to the process to ensure that we all have the necessary level of confidence in the final assessment,” Rogers wrote.

Hours later, at 7:43 p.m. that same day, Clapper replied to Rogers’ email, copying Brennan and Comey.

“Understand your concern,” Clapper wrote. “It is essential that we (CIA/NSA/FBI/ODNI) be on the same page, and are all supportive of the report—in the highest tradition of ‘that’s OUR story, and we’re sticking’ to it.’”

FBI LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES COMEY: DOJ SOURCES

“This evening, CIA has provided to the NIC the complete draft generated by the ad hoc fusion cell,” Clapper continued.

The “ad hoc fusion cell” was the small team Brennan put together to draft the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, intelligence community officials told Fox News Digital.

“We will facilitate as much mutual transparency as possible as we complete the report, but, more time is not negotiable,” Clapper wrote. “We may have to compromise on our ‘normal’ modalities, since we must do this on such a compressed schedule.”

Clapper added: “This is one project that has to be a team sport.”

The 2017 ICA ultimately assessed that “Russia was responsible for leaking data from the DNC and DCCC,” but an official flagged to Fox News Digital that the ICA “failed to mention that FBI and NSA previously expressed low confidence in this attribution.” 

Documents revealed that in the months leading up to the November 2016 election, the intelligence community consistently assessed that Russia was “probably not trying…to influence the election by using cyber means.”

PATEL FOUND THOUSANDS OF SENSITIVE TRUMP–RUSSIA PROBE DOCS INSIDE ‘BURN BAGS’ IN SECRET ROOM AT FBI

Weeks before the emails were sent, on Dec. 7, 2016, Clapper’s talking points stated: “Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the U.S. presidential election outcome.”

Last month, Fox News Digital obtained a declassified copy of the Presidential Daily Brief, which was prepared by the Department of Homeland Security, with reporting from the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, FBI, NSA, Department of Homeland Security, State Department and open sources, for Obama, dated Dec. 8, 2016.

“We assess that Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure,” the Presidential Daily Brief stated. “Russian Government-affiliated actors most likely compromised an Illinois voter registration database and unsuccessfully attempted the same in other states.”

But the brief stated that it was “highly unlikely” the effort “would have resulted in altering any state’s official vote result.”

“Criminal activity also failed to reach the scale and sophistication necessary to change election outcomes,” it stated. 

The brief noted that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence assessed that any Russian activities “probably were intended to cause psychological effects, such as undermining the credibility of the election process and candidates.” 

The FBI even had concerns with the inclusion of that information in the Presidential Daily Brief.

By Dec. 9, 2016, a meeting convened in the White House Situation Room, with the subject line starting: “Summary of Conclusions for PC Meeting on a Sensitive Topic (REDACTED.)”

The meeting included top officials in the National Security Council, Clapper, then-CIA Director John Brennan, then-National Security Advisor Susan Rice, then-Secretary of State John Kerry, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch, then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, among others, to discuss Russia.

The declassified meeting record, obtained by Fox News Digital, revealed that principals “agreed to recommend sanctioning of certain members of the Russian military intelligence and foreign intelligence chains of command responsible for cyber operations as a response to cyber activity that attempted to influence or interfere with U.S. elections, if such activity meets the requirements” from an executive order that demanded the blocking of property belonging to people engaged in cyber activities.

After the meeting, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Clapper’s executive assistant emailed intelligence community leaders tasking them to create a new intelligence community assessment “per the president’s request,” that detailed the “tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election.”

“ODNI will lead this effort with participation from CIA, FBI, NSA, and DHS,” the record states.

Later, Obama officials “leaked false statements to media outlets” claiming that “Russia has attempted through cyber means to interfere in, if not actively influence, the outcome of an election.”

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By Jan. 6, 2017, a new Intelligence Community Assessment was released that, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “directly contradicted the IC assessments that were made throughout the previous six months.” 

Current intelligence officials told Fox News Digital that the ICA was “politicized” because it “suppressed intelligence from before and after the election showing Russia lacked intent and capability to hack the 2016 election.” 

Officials also said it deceived the American public “by claiming the IC made no assessment on the ‘impact’ of Russian activities,” when the intelligence community “did, in fact, assess for impact.” 

Last month, Fox News Digital exclusively reported that Comey and Brennan are under criminal investigation. 

Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her staff to act on the criminal referral from Gabbard earlier this month. The Justice Department is now planning to open a grand jury investigation into the alleged conspiracy to tie President Trump to Russia in the 2016 election. 

President Donald Trump recently renewed calls for a territorial land swap between Russia and Ukraine — a geopolitical maneuver that, if pursued, could grant Moscow control over some of Ukraine’s most strategic and resource-rich regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any proposal that would allow Russia to retain control of its occupied territory in the war-weary country.

ZELENSKYY WON’T CEDE TERRITORY FOR PEACE DEAL AHEAD OF TRUMP‑PUTIN SUMMIT

Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, primarily in the eastern and southeastern regions, including large swaths of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. 

These areas have been under partial or full Russian control at various points over the course of the Kremlin’s three-and-a-half-year war. 

Russia also holds Crimea, Ukraine’s southern peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. The seizure of Crimea triggered a wave of international sanctions and led to Russia’s expulsion from the Group of Eight.

“The land that Russia currently occupies in Ukraine’s south and east is rich in various natural resources,” said David Salvo, the managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at German Marshall Fund.

“Should Russia keep that land, they’d be stealing vast quantities of critical minerals and other key economic assets. This includes important commodities on the global market, like lithium, coal, and gas,” added Salvo, who previously served as the deputy secretary of state’s policy advisor for Europe, Eurasia and international security issues.

This strategic importance is underscored by a warning from the Institute for the Study of War, a non-partisan, nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., which cautions that Russia could exploit rare-earth mineral deposits in occupied Ukraine and sell them to China.

ZELENSKYY THANKS NATO, EUROPEAN LEADERS FOR BACKING HIS PUSH TO JOIN TRUMP‑PUTIN SUMMIT

“Russia’s access to minerals in occupied Ukraine will likely augment the People’s Republic of China’s ability to access Ukraine’s minerals,” the Institute for the Study of War wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital, adding that Russia has previously worked with China to extract these commodities around the globe since at least 2005.

“The U.S.–Ukraine mineral deal signed in April 2025 will only be effective if U.S. and Ukrainian companies can access those resources,” the statement from the Institute for the Study of War went on to say, noting the challenge given that Russian forces currently hold territory containing significant deposits.

Salvo said that Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea not only restricts Ukraine’s sea-based exports, but also grants Moscow control over valuable offshore gas reserves.

Salvo also estimates that Ukraine, historically known as Europe’s breadbasket, stands to lose billions of dollars in grain export value.

“Ukraine’s economy would survive, but it would undoubtedly lose in the hundreds of billions,” Salvo said.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, agriculture was Ukraine’s third-largest economic sector, contributing nearly 11% of GDP and employing about 2.5 million people, according to a 2024 European Parliament report.

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According to the latest review from the Kyiv School of Economics, the Ukrainian agriculture industry has sustained approximately $80 billion in damages and losses. 

The group also projects that the country’s economy will shrink by 45%, while disrupted grain exports and ongoing destruction of its agricultural sector threaten millions worldwide with hunger.

President Donald Trump said he may declare a national emergency to maintain control of Washington, D.C.’s police force if Congress doesn’t work with him to extend the current federalization plan.

Trump made the statement during a press conference at the Kennedy Center in Washington, arguing he can maintain control over the Metropolitan Police Department indefinitely if he declares a national emergency. Under the current structure, the federal government took control over the MPD for a 30-day period on Monday.

“Your federalization of the police has a 30-day limit unless Congress acts to extend it. Are you talking to Congress about extending it, or do you believe 30 days is sufficient?” a reporter asked.

“Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress. But we expect to be before Congress very quickly. And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously. So we’re going to need a crime bill. That we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain initially to DC. We’re going to use it as a very positive example.”

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL BACKS TRUMP’S DC POLICE TAKEOVER: ‘WHEN YOU LET GOOD COPS BE COPS, THEY DELIVER’

Trump went on to confirm that his administration would be seeking “long-term extensions” to the 30-day limit. 

“You can’t have 30 days,” he said. “We’re going to do this very quickly, but we’re going to want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency, but if I have to I will.”

TRUMP’S PLAN TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD IN DC SPARKS BACKLASH FROM RESIDENTS—BUT SOME WELCOME IT

Trump announced his D.C. crime and homelessness crackdown last week, calling in the National Guard and federal law enforcement in addition to federalizing the MPD.

Law enforcement has arrested more than 100 people since Aug. 7, which includes 43 who were arrested Tuesday, a White House official told Fox Digital Wednesday morning. The arrests are part of Trump’s March executive order, which established the Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force, ahead of Trump’s Monday announcement federalizing the D.C. police department. 

“President Trump’s bold leadership is quickly making our nation’s capital safer,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox Digital. “In less than one week, over 100 violent criminals have already been arrested and taken off of the streets in Washington, D.C. President Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to clean up this city and restore American Greatness to our cherished capital.” 

The White House says those living in homeless encampments in the nation’s capital will have two choices in the coming days: accept treatment at a homeless shelter, or go to jail. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered the message during a Tuesday press conference.

“Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police,” Leavitt said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Department would be joining the Park Police in the effort. “There are only two homeless encampments remaining in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, and the removal of those two remaining camps is scheduled for this week.”

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Leavitt added that those who refuse homeless shelters and care could be faced with jail time.

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report

FIRST ON FOX: The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is rolling out a new ad tying the policies of “radical” Democrats, like New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, to the future outlook of the Democratic Party. 

The new message, targeting 25 vulnerable House Democrats across the country with a modest ad buy on digital platforms, hammers the party on “Project 2026” and outlines what the Republicans say Democrats will offer voters in the midterms. 

“Hakeem Jeffries’ plan to remake America,” the ad says. “Raise taxes on working families, impeach President Trump.”

The ad then plays a clip of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying, “Donald Trump must be removed from office” and Dem. Rep. Dina Titus saying, “I’d like to impeach the bastard right now.”

SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE FEVERISHLY RECRUITING TOP CANDIDATES TO WIN BACK MAJORITY IN 2026 MIDTERMS

The ad then claims Democrats want to “open the border” and “restart the invasion” of illegal immigrants that came into the country during the Biden administration, before quoting two Democrats, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gabe Vasquez, calling to abolish ICE and defund the police.

“They riot, they loot,” the ad continues before showing two clips of Mamdani saying “we are unapologetic about our socialism” and promoting the “abolition of private property.”

Jeffries then says in a clip, “Chip at it aggressively until we can unravel the whole system.” 

The ad closes by claiming that Democrats want to “turn America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia” before airing a clip from Jeffries saying, “We’re gonna take back America and it starts today” 

DEMS SUGGEST GOP REDISTRICTING HAS FORCED THEM TO PLAY PARTISAN POLITICS, REPUBLICANS ARGUE NOTHING’S CHANGED

The ad closes with, “Are you going to let them?”

The list of vulnerable elected officials targeted by the ad includes Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Eugene Vindman of Virginia, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Frank Mrvan of Indiana and others. 

“This is the America Democrats want to build: Raising taxes for working families, baseless impeachments, wide open borders, abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and turning America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital. “House Republicans are the only thing standing between you and the nightmare of ‘Project 2026.’”

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The NRCC released a memo on Tuesday morning in which it knocked Jeffries for failing to meet a self-imposed deadline to roll out a new vision for America with a Democratic-controlled House.

The Hill reported in April that Jeffries committed that “over these next 100 days, House Democrats are going to lay out a blueprint for a better America. And you will see a vision for this country’s future that isn’t about Donald Trump. It’s all about you.”

With those 100 days having already elapsed, the NRCC published a satirical memo titled “Project 2026,” in which they accused the Democrats of being out of step with the American people.

In response, Viet Shelton, a spokesperson for the DCCC, fired back at the messaging from the NRCC.

“House Republicans have done nothing to improve the lives of everyday Americans,” Shelton said. 

“It’s no wonder they’re desperately attempting to distract from their disastrous record of higher costs for working families and ripping away health care from millions while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest few. Poll after poll shows voters across the country are fed up with their billionaire-first agenda and are going to reject them next year.”

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can slash up to roughly $2 billion in foreign aid payments that it halted earlier this year, delivering a victory to the Trump administration months after President Donald Trump sought to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 to reverse a lower court’s decision that ordered the Trump administration to resume paying out the nearly $2 billion in USAID funding that had previously been approved by Congress. 

Writing for the majority, Judge Karen L. Henderson, a Bush appointee, said that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to sue the Trump administration over its decision to withhold the funds.

TRUMP TEMPORARILY THWARTED IN DOGE MISSION TO END USAID

The plaintiffs, she said, “may not bring a freestanding constitutional claim if the underlying alleged violation and claimed authority are statutory.” She was joined in the majority opinion by Judge Greg Katsas, a Trump appointee.

“Nor do the grantees have a cause of action under the APA because APA review is precluded by the Impoundment Control Act (ICA),” she added. 

“And the grantees may not reframe this fundamentally statutory dispute as an ultra vires claim either. Instead, the Comptroller General may bring suit as authorized by the ICA.” 

The decision is a victory for Trump, who moved to dismantle USAID and other foreign spending almost immediately after he was sworn in to his second White House term. 

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That decision sparked the ire of foreign aid groups and other recipients of the assistance, who quickly sued over the frozen payments, and argued that the quick dismantling of them risked “immediate and irreparable harm.”

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.