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Trump's VA, EPA, and Interior picks face Senate scrutiny on Day Four of new administration

Day Four of the Trump administration opens in Washington, D.C. with a raft of Senate hearings including Trump's picks for the Departments of Energy and Interior as well as the EPA and VA. Also on the docket, Brooke Rollins, Trump's nominee to head up the USDA, HUD nominee Eric Turner and Secretary of the Army nominee Daniel Driscoll.

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Senate confirmation hearings concluded for the day

All Senate committee hearings for President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees have wrapped for Thursday.

Senate hearings on Thursday included Trump's picks for the Departments of Energy and Interior — Chris Wright and Doug Burgum, respectively — as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, and Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins.

Also on the docket were testimony from Brooke Rollins, Trump's nominee to head up the Department of Agriculture, and confirmation votes for Housing and Urban Development secretary nominee Eric Scott Turner.

The hearing for Secretary of the Army nominee Daniel Driscoll meant for Thursday, however, was postponed.

Collins, Burgum and Turner all advanced out of committee and will be scheduled for votes on the Senate floor later.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Trump signs order to declassify files on JFK, MLK assassinations

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. 

Trump had promised to declassify the previously-classified documents during his 2024 campaign.

"Everything will be revealed," Trump told reporters as he signed the order in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday.

During his first administration, Trump had promised to release all the files related to Kennedy, but an undisclosed amount of material remains under wraps more than six decades after Kennedy was killed Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

Excerpted story by Louis Casiano.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Border encounters drop sharply as Trump launches crackdown on illegal immigration

The U.S. southern border has seen a sharp drop in illegal immigrant encounters in the first days of the Trump administration, compared to the final few days of the Biden administration, multiple Department of Homeland Security sources tell Fox News Digital.

The number of Border Patrol encounters at the southern border in the first three days of the Trump administration was 35% lower than the final three days of the Biden administration, the sources said. On Friday there were 1,288 encounters nationwide, then 1,266 on Saturday and 1,354 on Sunday. That is 3,908 encounters in total.

Trump took office on Monday, when there were 1,073 encounters. It then declined further to 736 encounters on Tuesday and again to 714 on Wednesday — making up 2,523 encounters.

Although the data is preliminary, lower numbers will likely fuel speculation about a "Trump effect," in which migrants will be discouraged from making their way to the border if they believe they are less likely to be admitted, or more likely to be deported if they are.

Excerpt from article by Fox News Politics writer Adam Shaw.

Posted by Peter Pinedo
Breaking News

Hegseth clears Senate hurdle and advances to a final confirmation vote

Pete Hegseth cleared a procedural hurdle Thursday to advance his confirmation to lead the Defense Department for a final Senate vote, setting up a high-stakes showdown.

A motion to invoke cloture, or begin up to 30 hours of debate, passed 51–49. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted no on advancing Hegseth's confirmation, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., voted yes.

Hegseth’s nomination was dealt another hurdle this week when reports emerged that his ex-sister-in-law alleged Hegseth abused his second wife. 

Read more on the Hegseth procedural vote here.

Posted by Morgan Phillips

John Ratcliffe confirmed as next CIA director, becomes second Trump nominee to gain approval

John Ratcliffe was confirmed to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Thursday, making him the second of President Donald Trump's cabinet picks to secure their position. 

The Senate's full approval of Ratcliffe came after a 14–3 vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday evening, which advanced Ratcliffe's nomination to the Senate floor Thursday.

By a vote of 74–25, Ratcliffe was confirmed. 

Ratcliffe previously served as Trump's director of National Intelligence from May 2020 until January 2021, during the president's first term in office.

At the time, Ratcliffe faced scrutiny over whether he was adequately qualified for the role and whether his loyalty to Trump might cloud his judgment. Ratcliffe's eventual nomination was approved along party lines.  

Excerpted story by Alec Schemmel.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

‘Too backbreaking’: Schiff says Americans don’t want to work on California farms

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is worried about what will happen to California’s farm workforce, should President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy eliminate workers. 

“These are just some of the difficult conditions that farm workers are often in,” Schiff said Monday during a confirmation hearing for Trump's pick to lead the Agriculture Department, Brooke Rollins.

“They’re working in 100 degree heat, they’re working in the cold. They’re some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met," he said. "And I want to raise an issue of the impact that mass deportations would have on them, first and foremost, on people who are working so hard to put food on our table.” 

Schiff said that estimates suggest that half of California’s farm workforce is undocumented, and asked Rollins how farmers were supposed to survive if half their workforce is cut because “American don’t want to do that work” since it's “too backbreaking.” As a result, Schiff asked who would work on California's farms. 

“President Trump ran and was overwhelmingly elected on the priority of border security and mass deportation,” Rollins said. 

Still, Rollins said she would work with the committee and with the Labor Department on the matter.

“We will work together to understand and hopefully solve for some of these problems," Rollins said. "The dairy cattle have to be milked, but if we’ve got a mass deportation program underway, then there’s a lot of work that we need to do."

Posted by Diana Stancy

GOP Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will not vote in favor of Pete Hegseth's confirmation

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced in a lengthy statement on X that she will not support President Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.

See full statement below:

"Since Mr. Hegseth’s nomination last November, I have met with him and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials. I closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans. After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.

I commend Pete Hegseth’s service to our nation, including leading troops in combat and advocating for our veterans. However, these accomplishments do not alleviate my significant concerns regarding his nomination. Managing the Department of Defense requires vast experience and expertise as the department is one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world, and Mr. Hegseth’s prior roles in his career do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility. His leadership of two veteran organizations was marked with accusations of financial mismanagement and problems with the workplace culture he fostered.

Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join. Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.

While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces. These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of servicemembers. Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold these same standards.

Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise. The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook. Given the global security environment we’re operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth."

Posted by Alec Schemmel
Breaking News

US judge temporarily blocks Trump's ban on birthright citizenship

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order banning birthright citizenship, describing the action as "blatantly unconstitutional."

The decision by U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, comes in response to four U.S. states who filed a request for a temporary restraining order.

It will apply to the entire U.S., in a blow to the new administration.

The lawsuit, filed by Arizona, Illinois, Oregon and Washington, is the first in a wave of multistate cases challenging Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship.

Coughenour said Thursday that the order “boggles the mind," and could not remember in his more than 40 years on the bench seeing a case so "blatantly unconstitutional."

The order, which Trump signed on his first day in office, is slated to come into force in February, and could impact the hundreds of thousands of children born in the U.S. annually.

The decision by Coughenour comes amid a wave of multistate lawsuits challenging Trump's order.

This is a breaking news story, more updates to come.

Posted by Breanne Deppisch

Trump warns FEMA faces a reckoning after Biden admin: 'Not done their job'

President Donald Trump warned late Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set to face a reckoning following four years under the Biden administration, arguing the emergency agency has "not done their job." 

"FEMA has not done their job for the last four years," Trump said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, his first White House interview since his inauguration. 

"You know, I had FEMA working really well," he said. "We had hurricanes in Florida. We had Alabama tornadoes. But unless you have certain types of leadership, it's really, it gets in the way. And FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems."

Trump then turned his attention to the state of Oklahoma, touting that he won all 77 of the state's counties in the 2024 election and arguing that if the Sooner State is hit by a tornado, state leaders should take the lead on emergency response before the federal government steps in for additional assistance. 

Excerpted story by Emma Colton.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

‘Trepidacious:’ Michigan Dem Slotkin voices concerns about tariff impact on farmers

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is concerned that American farmers will suffer if President Donald Trump executes massive tariffs. 

Trump’s economic plan calls for imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all imported goods, and countries like China could face tariffs up to 60%.

When Trump’s first administration imposed tariffs, China issued its own retaliatory tariffs that cost the U.S. government billions of dollars in aid to farmers. 

As a result, Slotkin said that Trump’s recent tariff proposals have instilled a lot of fear in farmers during the confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. 

“So you can imagine, as a Michigander, the throwing around of tariffs, particularly with Canada, Mexico — a bunch of other places,” Slotkin said. “I’m trepidacious that this is going to come back to our farmers."

Slotkin then requested that Rollins "will throw your body in front of the bus to make sure that any political talking points on tariffs that may sounds good is actually truly tested against how it will impact our farmers, like it was not last time around.” 

“My commitment is that there will be no sleeping, that we will work around the clock to ensure that our AG communities across this country are represented in those discussions and at the table,” Rollins said.

Posted by Diana Stancy

Trump confronts Bank of America CEO for not taking 'conservative business'

President Donald Trump called out Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Thursday, accusing the bank of not offering banking to conservatives.

"You've done a fantastic job," Trump told Moynihan during a question and answer session, "but I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives, because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank – and that included a place called Bank of America… They don't take conservative business."

"And I don't know if the regulators mandated that because of [President Joe] Biden or what," Trump continued, "But you and [JPMorgan CEO] Jamie [Dimon] and everybody – I hope you're going to open your banks to conservatives, because what you're doing is wrong."

Excerpted from article by Fox Business writer Breck Dumas. 

Posted by Peter Pinedo

Pro-lifers pounce on Fetterman for opposing 'Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act'

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and all other Senate Democrats blocked the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" from advancing in the chamber on Wednesday.

The measure would require health care practitioners to seek to save the life of a baby born during an attempted abortion, and ensure that the infant is hospitalized.

"I’ve always stood on the side of Roe and a woman’s right to make her own health care choices. It’s absurd to mandate criminalization because of those choices. Any bill that does so, including the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, is a NO from me," Fetterman declared in a post on X.

In a 52-47 party-line vote, 52 Republicans voted to proceed, while 45 Democrats and the two independent senators aligned with the Senate Democratic Caucus voted to block the bill from moving toward a vote.

Excerpted story by Alex Nitzberg.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Trump tells members of World Economic Forum 'make your product in America'

President Donald Trump  on Thursday delivered remarks virtually to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in which he discussed how his tax plans will look to incentivize companies to make products in America or face tariffs.

"My message to every business in the world is very simple: come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth. We're bringing them down very substantially, even from the original Trump tax cuts," said Trump. "But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff.”

He went on to cite several recent investments in the U.S. by major international companies amounting in the trillions which he said were announced “because of the election result.” Trump said these investments are signs of growing business optimism about the U.S. economy.

"Under the Trump administration, there will be no better place on earth to create jobs, build factories, or grow a company than right here in the good old USA," the president told the Davos audience.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox Business writer Eric Revell.

Posted by Peter Pinedo

'As long as I have Babydog’s support:' USDA nominee jokes with Sen Justice about beloved dog

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Agriculture Department, Brooke Rollins, quipped about taking on the role only with Babydog’s support in an exchange with the beloved dog’s owner, Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia. 

“She’s a superstar, and we need her. We need her,” Justice said about Rollins during a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing Thursday.

“As long as I have Babydog’s support,” Rollins said.

“You got Babydog with you every single day,” Justice said. 

Babydog attracted attention when Justice, then governor of West Virginia, appeared at the Republican National Convention in July. The English bulldog received a warm welcome at the event, with the crowd chanting “Babydog” before Justice’s speech. 

Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Posted by Diana Stancy

GOP Congressman Chip Roy responds to Trump's pardoning of pro-life protesters: 'Tremendous'

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, lauded President Donald Trump for pardoning pro-life protesters, who, according to Roy, were unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration for demonstrating at abortion facilities. He called the move "tremendous."

"It is tremendous news to hear the news that President Trump will soon pardon the brave pro-life Americans who were unjustly targeted by Biden’s weaponized DOJ. These Americans are peaceful, pro-life Americans who were singled out and targeted by their government solely because of their beliefs," Roy said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"This is a tremendous step towards righting the wrongs done under Biden, but Congress must also take the step to repeal the FACE act to ensure it can never again be weaponized by a future administration.  That's why last Congress I introduced legislation to repeal it with my friend, Sen. Mike Lee," Roy continued. "Ninety-seven percent of FACE Act prosecutions between the years of 1994-2024 were initiated against pro-life Americans; it is laughable to argue that the law hasn't been weaponized. Let's put H.R. 589 on the President's desk and end this once and for all."

Under the FACE Act, which was the federal law the protesters were accused of breaking, it is prohibited to use "threats of force, obstruction or inflict property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services." The 1994 law has been used by President Biden's Justice Department to aggressively prosecute pro-life activists since the fall of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022.

Fox News' Kristine Parks contributed to this report.

Posted by Alec Schemmel

Senate breaks filibuster to advance Trump CIA director nominee, John Ratcliffe

The Senate voted Thursday morning to break the filibuster on President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominee for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, by a vote of 72-26. 

A final vote to confirm Ratcliffe to be CIA director is expected around 1:30pm ET. 

Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. voted to break the filibuster.

Fox News' producer Kelly Phares contributed to this report.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

‘The most nutritious drink’: Kansas Republican guzzles whole milk at USDA confirmation hearing

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., remains a champion of whole milk in the Senate, drinking a glass during the confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Agriculture Department: Brooke Rollins. 

“Ms. Rollins, welcome," Marshall said as he pulled out a carton of milk and poured it into a glass for himself. "Would you agree with me that whole milk is the most nutritious drink done to humankind and belongs in our school lunches?”

“Senator, I don’t know that you’ve met my mom yet. This is all we had in our refrigerator growing up,” Rollins said. “Not anything else, just whole milk.”

Marshall sponsored legislation called the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in 2023, which would allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole milk. Although the companion legislation passed in the House, it did not clear the Senate.

Posted by Diana Stancy

Texas Republican prescribes 'healthcare freedom' as cure for ailing American healthcare system

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, on Wednesday unveiled a lengthy report that he says serves as a "roadmap" to "Make America Healthy Again" and points to how the flawed American healthcare system impacts "national defense." 

The 47-page report — titled "The Case for Healthcare Freedom" — is a "painstakingly researched" summary of "America’s health crisis and how to address it," Roy said.

Its findings include that U.S. healthcare spending had reached $4.9 trillion in 2023. 

As a share of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), health spending accounted for 17.6%, and costs are growing around 1% faster than the annual GDP, the report says.

The report argues "if conservatives care about a strong national defense and low taxes, these trends have to be reversed." 

Excerpted from earlier reporting by Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace.

Posted by Fox News Staff

Website for key Biden-era parole program now archived: 'Out of date'

The website for a controversial Biden-era parole program has been archived, days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering that it be scrapped.

The parole processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans were established during the Biden administration and allowed for 30,000 migrants from those countries each month to get travel authorizations and fly into the U.S. under humanitarian parole.

Trump signed an order on his first day in office ending parole programs, including the use of the CBP One app. The Department of Homeland Security has since put out a memo ordering a review of the use of parole.

On Thursday, however, the website had been archived.

"The information on this page is out of date. However, some of the content may still be useful, so we have archived the page," the USCIS page says.

Posted by Adam Shaw

'We are grateful, and will take good care of it,' VP JD Vance and family settles into new residency

Vice President JD Vance took to X on Thursday to thank "the American people" as he and his family settles into the VP residency at Number One Observatory Circle for the first time.

Former VP Kamala Harris did not invite Vance and his family for the traditional pre-inaugural tour of the historical residency, according to sources who spoke to CBS News last week.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Hawaii's Hirono voted no on Collins, continuing partisan streak from other hearings

Democratic Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono was the only lawmaker on the Senate's Veterans’ Affairs Committee to oppose the confirmation of President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, former GOP congressman from Georgia Doug Collins.

Amid the slew of confirmation hearings that have taken place, Hirono has been unafraid to poke and prod about nominees' sex lives, and at one point accused Trump's defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, of being willing to shoot at lawful protesters.

"Would you carry out such an order [to shoot protesters] from President Trump?" Hirono asked Hegseth, citing reports that the president asked former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to shoot protesters in the leg during the 2020 George Floyd riots in Washington, D.C.

Hegseth tried to offer a response, but Hirono answered the question for him: "You will shoot protesters in the leg," she asserted to Hegseth.

Hirono also has been unafraid to ask each of Trump's nominees she questioned throughout their confirmation hearings, including Collins, about unfounded allegations of sexual assault.

"As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees, I ask the following two questions," Hirono posited during the hearing for Trump's interior secretary, Doug Burgum. "First is, since you became a legal adult have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal, or physical harassment, or assault of a sexual nature? Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?"

For Trump's attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, Sen. Hirono also asked the same questions about unfounded sexual allegations. She similarly answered her own questions as she did with Hegseth.

Bondi, however, did clap back with criticism of her own during the senator's questioning, noting that Hirono refused to meet with her privately to discuss her concerns ahead of the public hearing.

"Senator Hirono I wish you had met with me. Had you met with me we could have discussed many things and gotten to the meat [of your questions]," Bondi said to Hirono as she was lobbing questions at the nominee. "You were the only one who refused to meet with me."

Posted by Alec Schemmel

Trump addresses World Economic Forum in Davos from White House

In his remarks to the World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump announced a “revolution of common sense” in America.

Speaking remotely from the White House to the Davos, Switzerland, summit, Trump told the assembled leaders that the U.S. is “stronger, wealthier and more united than ever before.”

He said his presidency will help make the entire world more prosperous and domestically combat the “failed policies” of the Biden administration.

Trump said he hopes to make the U.S. the “world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto[currency].”

“Come make your product in American and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any country on Earth,” he said.

“If you don’t make your product, in American which is your prerogative — then you will have to pay a tariff.”

The tariffs, he said, will be paid into the U.S. Treasury and pay down the national debt.

Trump said the U.S. is the best place to build factories and manufacturing centers.

He noted SoftBank and other international firms have pledged billions in U.S. investment.

He also said that if OPEC helps drive down the price of oil, it will end the Russia-Ukraine war quicker.

Trump also said he will demand NATO partners contribute 5% of their defense budget to the organization — up from the 2% he demanded in his previous term.

Posted by Charles Creitz

Schumer urges Republicans to join him in opposing 'worst nominee' Pete Hegseth

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sounded off about Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Defense Department in a news briefing on Thursday.

"Hegseth is so utterly unqualified, he ranks up there with [Office of Management and Budget nominee Russell] Vought one of the very worst nominees that could be put forward," Schumer said.

"People's lives depend on it, civilians and of course, the men and women in the armed services and Pete Hegseth has shown himself not only incapable of running a large organization, he often shows himself incapable of showing up or showing up in a way where he could get anything done. He is so out of the mainstream and so unqualified for DOD that I am hopeful we will get our Republican colleagues to join us. There will be a vote this afternoon."

On Thursday the Senate will take a procedural vote on whether to advance Hegseth's confirmation. With a three-vote majority for Republicans, Hegseth is expected to have one of the toughest confirmation fights of any Trump nominee.

Posted by Morgan Phillips

Schumer says Democrats will slow down all Trump nominees who don't have unanimous support

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Fox News' Aisha Hashnie he supports Sen. Chris Murphy's bid to slow down the confirmation process of John Ratcliffe as CIA director.

Ratcliffe is one of President Donald Trump's less controversial nominees and is expected to garner Democratic votes.

Schumer said Democrats will slow down all of Trump's nominees who don't have unanimous bipartisan support like Marco Rubio did for State Department secretary.

Posted by Morgan Phillips

Trump to speak to World Economic Forum

President Donald Trump is set to give the first international address of his second term to World Economic Forum (WEF) leaders currently gathered in Davos, Switzerland. The speech begins at 11 a.m. Eastern and will be delivered virtually from Washington, D.C.

The subject of the speech is unknown. However, many expect he will address his plan to impose wide tariffs as well as address the Russia-Ukraine and Israeli-Hamas conflicts.

This comes a year after WEF leaders in Davos were discussing how they would "Trump-proof" their economies in the event he won the 2024 election.

At the time, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said: "I think the best defense, if that’s the way you want to look at it, is attack. And to attack properly, you need to be strong at home. So being strong means to have a strong deep market, having a real single market."  

Trump has previously criticized European countries for taking advantage of the U.S. economically while depending on the American military for protection. While attending the World Economic Forum in 2020, Trump said: "We're protecting Europe and that's fine but they can't do it to us on trade. So, they know they have to do something and if they're fair we're not going to have a problem."

Posted by Peter Pinedo

Democratic senator reportedly signals support for Zeldin

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., reportedly will support former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin's nomination to become the Environmental Protection Agency administrator.

"After meeting with Mr. Zeldin and evaluating his nomination, I found him to be qualified for the job," Kelly reportedly said in a statement. "He has committed to working with me and Arizonans on the unique air and water quality challenges we face to make sure we both protect public health and natural resources while growing our economy."

"I'll be supporting his nomination and look forward to working with him on these commitments and holding him accountably when we disagree," Kelly stated.

Zeldin's nomination was reported favorably from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee earlier Thursday with an 11–8 margin.

Posted by Charles Creitz

Trump's Cabinet nominee for HUD secretary, Eric Scott Turner, confirmed by Senate committee

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmed President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominee for Housing and Urban Development secretary, Eric Scott Turner, on Thursday morning in a 30-minute session. Thirteen members of the committee approved his nomination while 11 opposed.

All of the committee Democrats opposed Turner's confirmation: Ranking member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sens. Jack Reid, D-R.I., Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.

Turner now moves onto full Senate consideration.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she will be voting 'no' on Trump HUD nominee Eric Scott Turner

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said at a Thursday confirmation hearing that she will be voting "no" on President Donald Trump's Housing and Urban Development secretary nominee Eric Scott Turner.

"We're not trying to delay this vote by a single minute, but we are in the minority, and we are asking that for all of us, we have this baseline principle in this committee, as evidently it is recognized in other committees, and that is, we don't go forward without the FBI background check," Warren said at Thursday's Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing. "I am mystified as to why you would not agree to this delay."

"So I will be voting no, and I hope that with future nominees, you will adhere to committee precedent and the common sense practice and courtesy of ensuring that we have the full FBI background check for any nominee before we hold a committee vote," said Warren, a committee ranking member.

Chairman Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., pushed back saying, "Our committee does not require an FBI background check."

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Senate to move forward with Hegseth procedural vote amid additional FBI briefing on Pentagon nominee

The Senate plans to hold a Thursday procedural vote advancing Pete Hegseth’s nomination for secretary of defense, as leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee were reportedly briefed a third time on the nominee by the FBI.

Hegseth’s ex-wife, Samantha, reportedly provided the bureau with a fresh statement on her ex’s alleged drinking habits, according to CNN.

However, Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement that reports about the briefing are inaccurate.

“It is disturbing that a sensitive, longstanding process used by committee leadership to vet presidential personnel is being litigated in the press by anonymous sources with ulterior motives,” the Republican said.

Ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., separately remarked that the FBI has not had to deliver multiple briefings for a Pentagon nominee in his 28 years in the chamber.

Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, told CNN there is “nothing new here,” and that he and his client look forward to upper chamber’s confirmation vote.

Posted by Charles Creitz

Trump's energy, interior department nominees advance to full Senate vote

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee has confirmed President Donald Trump's nominees to head environmental and energy agencies under his administration. 

The committee, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, in a vote on Thursday confirmed Gov. Doug Burgum to head the Department of Interior, the federal department that manages public land, wildlife and natural resources.

Additionally, the committee voted to confirm Chris Wright to serve as secretary of energy for the next four years. 

Their confirmations now head to the Senate floor for a full and final vote. 

Posted by Aubrie Spady

Senate committee to vote on Trump nominee Eric Scott Turner for HUD

Eric Scott Turner, President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is set to appear Thursday morning before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee for his confirmation hearing.

Turner, 52, is a former NFL player who transitioned into politics prior to Trump's first term. He played as a cornerback in the NFL for nine seasons, beginning in 1995, with teams including the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.

After failing a congressional bid in California in 2006, Turner served as a Texas state representative from 2012 to 2017. During Trump’s first term, Turner was appointed as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, where he worked to stimulate economic development in low-income areas.

In his initial confirmation hearing earlier last week, Turner highlighted the housing affordability and homelessness crisis, noting that homelessness in the country rose in 2024.

“HUD, if you will, is failing at its most basic mission,” he said at the hearing.

Senate Democrats likely will zero in on Turner’s reluctance to commit to expanding Section 8 housing vouchers and his support for implementing work requirements for HUD programs.

Ranking member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., recently pressed Turner on corporate landlords and private equity firms buying up single-family homes, accusing him of favoring “big business” over families. Despite Turner’s past leadership in the Trump administration, Democrats claimed his answers lacked specificity and failed to address the “housing affordability crisis.”

Turner is set to appear before the committee in an executive session at 10:00 a.m. Eastern to vote on his confirmation. If the committee votes to approve Turner, he will advance to the full Senate for consideration.

Posted by Jamie Joseph

Trump’s agriculture secretary pick to appear before Senate Agriculture Committee

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Agriculture Department, Brooke Rollins, is slated to appear before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee on Thursday for a confirmation hearing. 

Rollins previously worked as the director of the Office of American Innovation, and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term. After working for the Trump administration, Rollins co-founded the America First Policy Institute think tank. 

The secretary of the Agriculture Department is responsible for managing farm and nutrition, forestry, food safety, rural development, and agricultural research. 

Fox News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Posted by Diana Stancy

Zeldin reported favorably by Senate EPW Committee 11-8

The nomination for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to become President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency administrator was reported favorably out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday.

The final committee vote was 11 yeas and 8 nays.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., spoke at the top of the committee meeting.

Whitehouse urged his colleagues to vote against Zeldin's confirmation, and cited the former lawmaker's consulting among other concerns that led him to his decision.

Meanwhile, Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., said Zeldin's pledge of transparency will be one of the "hallmarks of his service" once confirmed.

"I believe he is well qualified for the position of administrator and will be an excellent addition to the president's cabinet," she said. "His past experience as the congressman representing New York's first congressional district gives him a unique understanding of how Congress makes laws, oversees the executive branch, and what is expected when it gives a mandate to federal agencies."

Posted by Charles Creitz

League of Conservation Voters urges 'no' vote on Zeldin to head up EPA

The League of Conservation Voters urged Senate lawmakers Thursday to vote against President Donald Trump's nominee for Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Lee Zeldin, citing what they said is his 'abysmal' record on on environmental and public health safeguards while serving as a House and New York state lawmaker.

The letter focused primarily on Zeldin's "no" votes on two consequential climate and clean energy bills — the Democrat-backed Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $369 billion for clean energy and climate spending, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which directed billions of dollars to the EPA for the removal of all lead drinking water pipes in the U.S. and set new carbon pollution standards for power plants, among many other things.

Trump vowed in 2024 to undo the Inflation Reduction Act and other clean energy actions if elected — though it is unclear how he might do that, given that it is a law passed by Congress (and that the majority of its funds have gone to Republican-led states).

The League of Conservation Voters' opposition to Zeldin is unsurprising, given the group's focus on issues of climate, environment and environmental justice.

The group is perhaps most widely known for its "national environmental scorecard," which ranks all members of Congress for their voting records on climate and environmental issues.

In its letter, the League noted that Zeldin had earned just a 14% lifetime score for his votes on these issues.

"Mr. Zeldin has a lengthy voting record and many public statements that raise troubling questions about what he will prioritize, and no experience that prepares him to lead the nation’s foremost agency tasked with protecting public health and the environment," the letter stated.

Posted by Breanne Deppisch

Senate committee holds vote on Trump's energy, interior nominees

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee is voting on whether to confirm President Donald Trump's nominees to head environmental and energy issues under his administration.

Trump tapped Chris Wright to serve as his energy secretary, while Gov. Doug Burgum was nominated to head the Department of Interior. Both candidates were grilled by members of the Senate during confirmation hearings last week. 

The committee is holding a vote on Thursday morning on whether to confirm the nominees.

Posted by Aubrie Spady

Doug Collins advances through VA Committee with only one Democratic 'no' vote

A wide bipartisan vote in the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee advanced Doug Collins' nomination for VA secretary to the Senate floor.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, was the lone 'no' vote of the 19 members of the committee.

It's not yet clear when Collins will get a vote by the full Senate, but he's expected to sail to confirmation to lead the agency of 400,000 employees and 1,300 health facilities.

The bipartisan vote signaled Democrats were satisfied with Collins' assurances he would protect veterans' care amid budget shortfalls, and pressure from the Trump administration to trim fat and increase efficiency.

“VA will not have a stronger fighter for the employees and the workforce than this secretary, if confirmed — and also one that will make sure that we’re held accountable, because good work begets good work, and others need to be held accountable,” Collins said at a confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Posted by Morgan Phillips

OpenAI chief Sam Altman says his perspective on Trump has shifted

Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI and a leading figure in the artificial intelligence sector, said that after recently watching President Donald Trump "more carefully" his perspective about him has shifted.

Altman added that he wished he had "done more of [his] own thinking" prior to reaching this point.

"Watching [President Donald Trump] more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking and definitely fell in the npc trap)," Altman wrote in a post to X Wednesday night. "I'm not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!"

Posted by Alec Schemmel

Senate Committee meets to vote on Doug Collins confirmation as Veterans' Affairs secretary

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee meets this morning at 9 a.m. to vote on the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s secretary nominee Doug Collins

Collins, a former House Republican from Georgia, promised Democrats in his confirmation hearing he would protect veterans’ care amid expected budget slashing and efficiency efforts and promised Republicans he would defend a program that allows veterans to seek healthcare outside the Veterans Affairs system.

Collins said the VA’s intent “was to make sure that the delivery of services to the veteran is first and foremost.”

After the committee vote, Collins will need to be confirmed by the full Senate. He is not expected to face a difficult confirmation fight due to the bipartisan nature of veterans’ care. 

Collins, a former Navy and Air Force reserve chaplain who deployed to Iraq, served in the House from 2013 to 2021. He defended Trump during his 2019 impeachment inquiry.

Posted by Morgan Phillips

Dem who called Trump 'existential threat to democracy' now blocking his nominees

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., disrupted Senate Republicans' plans to quickly confirm President Donald Trump's national security nominees on Tuesday night when he objected to bypassing lengthy procedural votes that are routinely skipped. 

"Unfortunately, we were at the point of almost having a consent agreement to have a vote on the confirmation of John Ratcliffe to be the CIA director tomorrow. Not today, not yesterday, when it should have happened, but tomorrow," Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on the chamber floor. "But the senator from Connecticut has decided to object at the last minute."

"I don't really understand the objection to Mr. Ratcliffe. He was confirmed by the Senate to be the director of National intelligence. He was fully vetted through the bipartisan process in the Senate Intelligence Committee. We voted him out yesterday on a 14 to 3 vote," Cotton, also the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, continued. 

During his objection, Murphy said there were "serious concerns" from some Democrats about Trump's CIA pick John Ratcliffe. "I don't think it's too much to ask to make sure that we have a full, real debate that lasts two days on the Senate floor," he said. 

Posted by Fox News Staff

Working 'in tandem': Republicans prep to make Trump executive orders permanent

House Republicans have no plans to allow President Donald Trump’s key executive orders to expire at the end of his four-year term.

Trump marked his first day in office Monday with dozens of new executive orders, and signaled that he is aiming to use the commander in chief’s unilateral power to enact policy when possible.

Executive orders, however, can be easily rescinded when a new administration enters the White House. They can also be subject to legal challenges that argue they run afoul of existing U.S. law, as is the current case with Trump’s order limiting birthright citizenship.

But several House GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital are signaling they intend to stop that from happening for at least several of Trump’s key policies.

"I see him doing things by executive action as a necessity to signal… but they’re not the best way to do things," former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., told Fox News Digital. "The best way to do things is the legislative process with a signature on a bill."

Read more about the reconciliation debate by Liz Elkind.

Posted by Fox News Staff

Saudi prince eyes $600B investment in US over next 4 years: report

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told President Donald Trump the kingdom plans to sink $600 billion into new investments and trade with the U.S. throughout the next four years, according to reports.

The Saudi state news agency reported that, during a phone call between the two leaders, bin Salman said expected reforms from the Trump administration could create "unprecedented economic prosperity."

The agency also said Saudi Arabia would like to capitalize on these conditions, though it did not say where the $600 billion would come from, how it would be deployed and if it would be public or private spending.

Bin Salman told Trump the investment "could increase further if additional opportunities arise," the report noted.

During his first term as president, Trump built close ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In fact, Saudi Arabia invested $2 billion in a firm created by Trump’s son-in-law and former aide, Jared Kushner, after Trump had left office.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Greg Wehner

Posted by Anders Hagstrom

Trump names security detail chief Sean Curran for Secret Service director: 'A great patriot'

President Donald Trump formally nominated Sean Curran, the head of his personal Secret Service security detail, to serve as director of the U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump wrote that it was an "honor" to appoint Curran.

"Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service," the president wrote.

Excerpted from earlier reporting by Fox News Digital's Andrea Margolis and Michael Ruiz.

Posted by Fox News Staff

Congress sends Laken Riley Act to Trump's desk as first bill of GOP's Washington takeover

The Republican Party's Laken Riley Act headed to President Donald Trump’s desk Wednesday night to become the first bill he signs into law after the party retook both chambers of Congress and the White House.

The House of Representatives passed the bill in a 263 to 156 vote, the second time the lower chamber advanced the bill this month. It passed the House 264 to 159 on Jan. 7.

All voting Republicans supported the bill, along with 48 Democrats — two more than the most recent vote.

The GOP-controlled Senate also advanced the bill in a bipartisan 64 to 35 vote, but added measures to deport illegal immigrants who assault a police officer or cause death or "serious bodily injury" of another person.

The original bill would direct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to detain illegal immigrants accused of theft-related crimes. It also would allow states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their citizens because of illegal immigration.

Posted by Fox News Staff

Priest who gave liberal sermon for Trump faces backlash from pastors

The Washington, D.C., priest who delivered a liberal sermon during a church service attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance is facing fierce backlash from fellow pastors and on social media for "weaponizing" the pulpit instead of promoting unity. 

"Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She's the first woman to hold the position. She was given a great honor today, a chance to unify America around a Christian message at the dawn of a new administration. Instead, she disgraced herself with a lecture you'd hear on CNN or an episode of The View. What an embarrassment," Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk posted to X. 

Catholic Vote, a conservative nonprofit, added on X, "Liberal Protestant Pastor Mariann Edgar Budde blindsides Trump and Vance, weaponizing her sermon to attack them in front of their families by saying they should ‘have mercy’ on gay, lesbian, and transgender children. Unbelievable."

Trump and Vance, alongside their respective families, took part in a long presidential tradition of attending the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after the inauguration. The National Cathedral, an Episcopal Church, has hosted the prayer service the day after the presidential inauguration since 1933, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn-in. 

Excerpted from a story by Fox News Digital's Emma Colton.

Posted by Fox News Staff

Full court press: Trump unscripted media blitz stark contrast after Biden reclusiveness

President Donald Trump is quickly showcasing his accessibility to reporters days after returning to the White House, a stark contrast to his Democratic predecessor who frequently ducked questions and took scripted questions from reporters.

"We'll take a few questions," the president said on Tuesday, after announcing what's said to be a half-trillion dollar investment by top tech companies to vastly expand the nation's artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Trump then took questions for half an hour from reporters gathered at the White House.

It was the second straight day the new president held an informal, off-the-cuff and freewheeling news conference with reporters. 

Excerpted from original reporting by Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser.

Posted by Fox News Staff

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