President Donald Trump joked to reporters Tuesday that he’d “like to be pope” while departing for Michigan, where he will hold a rally celebrating his 100 days back in the Oval Office. 

“I’d like to be pope,” Trump joked to a gaggle of reporters when asked who he would like to see lead the Catholic Church after Pope Francis’ death. “That’d be my number one choice,” he continued. 

TRUMP AND ZELENSKYY HAVE ‘VERY PRODUCTIVE’ TALK AS THEY ATTEND POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL

Pope Francis died Easter Monday at the age of 88 amid ongoing health issues. Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended the funeral mass at the Vatican Saturday, where the president also held a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

CONCLAVE TO PICK NEXT POPE TO BEGIN MAY 7, VATICAN SAYS

“No, I don’t know. I don’t have a preference. I might say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good. So we’ll see what happens,” Trump, who is not Catholic, continued, referring to Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan. 

Though unlikely to become pope, Dolan is one of 10 U.S. cardinals who will be voting for Francis’ successor. 

CARDINAL DOLAN GIVES INSIDE LOOK INTO CONCLAVE, HOLY SPIRIT’S ROLE IN SELECTING A NEW POPE

The Vatican will hold a papal conclave in May, which will gather the church’s cardinals to elect the next pope. Any baptized Catholic male is canonically eligible to be pope, but the church has for centuries elected the next pope from the College of Cardinals, EWTN reported.

Trump’s remarks came as he departed for Macomb County, Michigan, which is located near Detroit, to celebrate his 100th day back in the Oval Office. 

Trump has ended each of his three presidential campaigns with rallies in the battleground state of Michigan, including capping off his successful 2024 campaign in Grand Rapids. 

President Donald Trump is celebrating the first 100 days of his second term in the White House, and lawmakers are split along party lines about his greatest accomplishments. 

While Republicans are touting a secure border and government efficiency, Democrats couldn’t seem to identify a single accomplishment of Trump’s second term. Fox News Digital spoke with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle this week to see how Capitol Hill is reacting to Trump’s first 100 days.  

“Border security. It’s absolutely incredible. Many Americans are so thankful, and they feel the difference. People feel safe again,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said, adding that Americans are “just so proud of that.”

The White House kicked off Trump’s first 100-day celebrations on Monday by touting the Trump administration’s early efforts to thwart illegal immigration in the United States, a leading 2024 campaign promise.

TRUMP ADMIN RELEASES SHOCKINGLY LOW NUMBER OF ILLEGAL ALIENS COMPARED TO BIDEN YEARS: ‘UNPRECEDENTED’

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records in March reveal the southwest border saw the lowest number of crossings ever last month, with just 7,180 recorded. By comparison, the monthly average border crossings under former President Joe Biden was 155,000. 

TRUMP STEAMS AHEAD ON THESE CAMPAIGN PROMISES AS HE REACHES 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

“I would say in his first hundred days, he’s more than Joe Biden did in his four years — securing the border alone,” Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., said before adding, “These are things that they said that couldn’t be done unless legislation was passed. All they needed was a different president named Donald Trump.”

“Tom Homan has been amazing, and he’s a great spokesperson for securing the border. Obviously, the first role of government is to protect the people, and if you don’t have borders and laws, you’re not a country,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, said as she praised Trump for fulfilling his campaign promises to the American people. 

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., agreed that border security was Trump’s top accomplishment after “virtually stopping the illegals coming in.” He added that Trump’s international diplomacy has been a key accomplishment thus far, telling Fox News Digital, “Our enemies fear us, and our friends respect us again.” Burchett also joined Republicans in acknowledging Elon Musk’s work heading up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

While Republicans are relishing Trump’s first 100 days, Democrats’ reviews haven’t been so favorable since they relinquished control to the Trump administration this January, particularly on DOGE cuts, which have included massive layoffs to the federal workforce. 

“The biggest accomplishment so far I’ve seen from Trump is one of the DOGE firings — Elon Musk,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., quipped to Fox News Digital. 

Musk, who was appointed a “special government employee” to oversee DOGE, must step down from his position after 130 days, according to the Office of Government Ethics. Musk has until May 30, about one month from now, to carry out his ambitious plans to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said Trump has accomplished ‘a lot of destruction’ during his first 100 days. 

“Well, he’s accomplished a lot of destruction of our federal agencies. He’s broken the constitutional separation of powers. He’s destroyed the foundation of due process, which is essential to our freedom here in America. He’s very successfully driven up costs for all Americans. And he’s put our small and large businesses at risk with this chaotic tariff plan. I guess he’s accomplished a lot, all of it damaging to America,” Merkley told Fox News Digital.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., couldn’t name a single accomplishment of Trump’s second term, instead focusing on his criminal conviction in New York City last year. 

“His greatest accomplishment is just getting elected again when he’s a convicted felon. That will go down in history as pretty amazing,” Moulton told Fox News Digital. 

And while Democrats maintain that Trump’s first 100 days have been “damaging to America,” Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said, “It’s certainly getting a lot of people to pay attention to politics right now.” 

Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz, Cameron Arcand, Peter Pinedo and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch scolded an experienced lawyer during oral arguments Monday in a case centered on disability discrimination in public schools – a rare and heated exchange that surprised many longtime court-watchers.

The tense exchange took place during oral arguments in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, a case centered on whether school districts can be held liable for discriminating against students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Gorsuch scolded Williams & Connolly lawyer Lisa Blatt, an experienced Supreme Court litigator representing the Minnesota public schools, for accusing the plaintiffs of “lying” in their assertions before the high court.

Plaintiffs in the case are representing the parents of a girl with severe epilepsy, who sued the public school for refusing to provide at-home school during the morning, an accommodation she would receive in other districts in the state.

100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND ‘TEFLON DON’: TRUMP SECOND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT

The exchange between Gorsuch and Blatt took place after she accused them of lying about the public school’s stance.

Counsel “should be more careful with their words,” Gorsuch told Blatt in a warning.

“OK well, they should be more careful in mischaracterizing a position by an experienced advocate of the Supreme Court, with all due respect,” Blatt responded.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE

Later, he referenced the lying accusation again. “Ms. Blatt,” Gorsuch told her, “I confess I’m still troubled by your suggestion that your friends on the other side have lied.”

“OK,” she fired back. “Let’s pull it up. In oral arguments…”

Gorsuch cut in, telling her, “I think we’re going to have to, here. And I’d ask you to reconsider that phrase.”

“You can accuse people of being incorrect, but lying–” Gorsuch said, before Blatt attempted to interject.

“Ms. Blatt, if I might finish,” Gorsuch said, before continuing: “But lying is another matter.”

He then started to read through page one of their brief, before she interrupted again.

“I’m not finished,” Gorsuch told her, raising his voice.

“Withdraw your accusation, Ms. Blatt,” he then told her of the lying accusation.

“Fine, I withdraw,” she shot back.

Plaintiffs said on rebuttal only that they would not dignify the name-calling.

The exchange sparked some buzz online, including from an experienced appeals court litigator, Raffi Melkonian, who noted of the exchange on social media, “I’ve never heard Justice Gorsuch so angry.”

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., accused President Donald Trump’s administration of targeting the transgender community on Tuesday, urging Congress to pass the Democrat-backed Equality Act.

Booker made the emotional speech during an appearance on Capitol Hill alongside prominent Democrats from both the House and Senate. His speech, which lasted several minutes, borrowed heavily from the language of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The Equality Act is on the right side of history, and right now we stand in the cold shadow of injustice. And so here we are again, introducing this bill. But it is not a normal time that we introduce this bill. We introduced it in the backdrop of a president that in his very campaign, singled out an opportunistic bigotry. The trans community. We stand here in the backdrop of a time that LGBTQ Americans are being targeted and singled out for more injustice,” Booker said.

“I want you to know, we reintroduce this bill with attitude. We reintroduce this bill with swagger. We entered the bill Tuesday’s bill with confidence, because there are a lot of people who are hearing our voice right now that don’t understand that they are implicated. There’s no bystanders in history. When injustice is in our midst, and you say nothing and you do nothing, you are part of the perpetuation of that injustice,” he added.

MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES END LINKEDIN CONTRACTS OVER DEI

“I remind those Americans, that even the truth, when crushed to the ground, after lie, after lie, after lie, that the truth will still rise again, that this is still one nation under God. That we still swear an oath of liberty and justice for all, and that we will not stop until freedom rings from every coast in this country. That freedom rings for every person and every soul. That freedom rings for every American, no matter who you are. Race, color or creed, LGBTQ, American or straight ally,” he continued. “That we declare that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it doesn’t bend automatically.”

TRUMP VOWS ‘NEW ERA OF NATIONAL SUCCESS,’ SAYS AMERICA’S ‘DECLINE IS OVER’ IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS

“We declare today and every day until justice is established in this land, until the Equality Act passes, we declare that we, the people, will grab hold of that arc and pull and bend it until we live up to our promise in a country and truly are free at last, free at last,” he finished.

The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination based on “sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

Booker was joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as well as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., among other lawmakers.

MAJOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ACCUSED OF HIDING DEI PROGRAMS, INFLUENTIAL SENATOR CALLS THEM OUT

The legislative push comes as Trump’s administration has pushed to end unpopular diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout the federal government.

The president’s efforts to end DEI across the federal government also prompted the cancellation of such programs across the private sector. 

Meta, in January, canceled its DEI programs, as did McDonald’s. And after the 2024 election, Walmart, Ford Motor Co., John Deere, Lowe’s and Toyota also ended DEI programs.

As recently as April, according to Forbes, IBM, Gannett, and Constellation Brands Inc., made changes to DEI policies. Earlier in 2025, UnitedHealth Group, MLB, Victoria’s Secret, Warner Bros. Discovery, Goldman Sachs, Paramount, Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, Pepsi, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, PBS, Google, Disney, GE, PayPal, Chipotle and more scaled back or canceled their DEI programs.

Meanwhile, in March, the National Institutes of Health rescinded the agency’s “Scientific Integrity Policy” implemented during the last few weeks of President Biden’s term, to peel back any DEI requirements. 

Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch scolded an experienced lawyer during oral arguments Monday in a case centered on disability discrimination in public schools – a rare and heated exchange that surprised many longtime court-watchers.

The tense exchange took place during oral arguments in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, a case centered on whether school districts can be held liable for discriminating against students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Gorsuch scolded Williams & Connolly lawyer Lisa Blatt, an experienced Supreme Court litigator representing the Minnesota public schools, for accusing the plaintiffs of “lying” in their assertions before the high court.

Plaintiffs in the case are representing the parents of a girl with severe epilepsy, who sued the public school for refusing to provide at-home school during the morning, an accommodation she would receive in other districts in the state.

100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND ‘TEFLON DON’: TRUMP SECOND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT

The exchange between Gorsuch and Blatt took place after she accused them of lying about the public school’s stance.

Counsel “should be more careful with their words,” Gorsuch told Blatt in a warning.

“Okay well, they should be more careful in mischaracterizing a position by an experienced advocate of the Supreme Court, with all due respect,” Blatt responded.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE

Later, he referenced the lying accusation again. “Ms. Blatt,” Gorsuch told her, “I confess I’m still troubled by your suggestion that your friends on the other side have lied.”

“Okay,” she fired back. “Let’s pull it up. In oral arguments…”

Gorsuch cut in, telling her, “I think we’re going to have to, here. And I’d ask you to reconsider that phrase.”

“You can accuse people of being incorrect, but lying—” Gorsuch said, before Blatt attempted to interject.

“Ms. Blatt, if I might finish,” Gorsuch said, before continuing: “But lying is another matter.”

He then started to read through page one of their brief, before she interrupted again.

“I’m not finished,” Grouch told her, raising his voice.

“Withdraw your accusation, Ms. Blatt,” he then told her of the lying accusation.

“Fine, I withdraw,” she shot back.

Plaintiffs said on rebuttal only that they would not dignify the name-calling.

The exchange sparked some buzz online, including from an experienced appeals court litigator, Raffi Melkonian, who noted of the exchange on social media, “I’ve never heard Justice Gorsuch so angry.”

President Donald Trump will sign a proclamation later Tuesday aboard Air Force One that will soften auto tariffs, senior White House officials confirmed. 

Senior administration officials said Tuesday during a call with the media that the current 25% tariff leveled on imported cars will remain intact but that other similar tariffs, such as tariffs on steel and aluminum, will not stack on top of the 25% auto tariff. 

The announcement comes on Trump’s 100th day back in the Oval Office, which he will celebrate at a Michigan rally near Detroit — the U.S.’ former auto manufacturing capital. 

Additionally, domestic auto manufacturers that finish building cars in the U.S. will receive an offset for automobile part tariffs equal to 3.75% of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of a manufacturer’s U.S. production for the next 12 months and 2.5% of U.S. production for year following. The figures were calculated to reflect the tariff that would be owed when a 25% duty tax is applied to 15% of the value of a U.S.-assembled car, Fox Digital learned. 

TRUMP TO REDUCE IMPACT OF AUTO TARIFFS AS INDUSTRY MAKES EFFORT TO RETURN MANUFACTURING TO US: ‘MAJOR VICTORY’

The 25% tariff on certain auto parts is set to take effect May 3, with administration officials explaining that auto manufacturers can use the offset credits against the tariff on auto parts. The administration stressed that the offset plan is not a rebate. 

TRUMP’S TARIFFS COULD DRIVE UP AUTO REPAIR COSTS, EXPERTS SAY

“A part comes into the country and it gets tariffed,” a senior Commerce Department official said Tuesday. “And the auto manufacturers say, ‘Look, I sold a car, I have a credit. I have an offset amount of $1,600. Please use that $1,600 tariff offset amount against this particular part.’ So it will not cost the government any money whatsoever. It is basically allowing them to bring 15% foreign parts and put that in their cars.” 

NO ‘BUYERS’ REMORSE’: VETERAN UAW MEMBER ON IMPACTS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TARIFFS COULD HAVE ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY

The plan intends to allow all domestic auto manufacturers “to grow their plants, to grow their employment, and to build more factories in America,” according to senior Commerce Department officials, by building in a two-year time frame to amp up the U.S. supply chain for the auto industry, according to senior administration officials. 

The White House detailed that under the plan, if a car manufacturer builds a vehicle with 85% U.S. parts or parts made under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, they will effectively not owe tariffs. 

All other autos and auto parts imported to the U.S. will face 25% tariffs. 

FIRST ON FOX: As Puerto Rico’s power grid continues to fail and put the lives of residents in the U.S. territory at risk, a pro-energy nonprofit organization is calling on the island’s governor to take action to resist “left wing extremists” who the group believes are weaponizing courts to push a disruptive climate change agenda.

“Left-wing extremists tried to muscle the Green New Deal through Congress during your tenure as Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner,” American Energy Institute CEO Jason Isaac wrote in a letter to Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón.

“They failed. Now they have turned to the courts to impose their agenda on our country – and Puerto Rico is participating.”

The letter outlines “three active tracks of litigation” that Isaac labels a “coordinated lawfare attack on our quality” of life, including a lawsuit filed by dozens of Puerto Rico cities and towns blaming energy companies for climate change and seeking damages. 

GLOBAL CHURCH NETWORK PUSHES ‘CLIMATE JUSTICE’ NARRATIVE DURING HOLY WEEK: ‘MORAL IMPERATIVE’

“Their goal is to bankrupt energy companies or to leverage the threat of tort damages to force outcomes that would be disastrous for Puerto Rico and the rest of the nation,” Isaac wrote. 

Isaac told Fox News Digital that groups like the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) have been instrumental in the green energy push in Puerto Rico and throughout the United States. 

The Washington, D.C.-based ELI created the Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) in 2018, establishing a first-of-its-kind resource to provide “reliable, up-to-date information” about climate change litigation, according to the group. The project’s reach has extended to various state and federal courts, including powerful appellate courts, and comes as various cities and states pursue high-profile litigation against the oil industry.

Fox News Digital has previously reported on the group, funded by left-wing nonprofits, and how critics say it continues to work with judges and experts involved in climate change litigation despite publicly downplaying the extent of those connections.

“They’re going out and really kind of rigging the game before cases have even been brought to the courts,” Isaac said. “They’ve tainted over 2,000 American judges at the federal and state level using climate education, these so-called climate education modules, modules that had even been debunked by left-leaning organizations like Snopes.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital, ELI communications director Nick Collin said, “ELI has decades of experience providing highly respected judicial education programs. The Climate Judiciary Project offers evidence-based information about climate science and trends in the law so that judges can make informed decisions. It does not participate in litigation, support or coordinate with parties in litigation, and it does not tell judges how to rule in any case or on any issue.”

Gonzalez, a Republican, has signaled that she is open to embracing fossil fuels and Isaac’s letter calls on her to take three key steps to push back on climate activists on the island. 

First, Isaac asks Gonzales to “Direct the Secretary of Justice to withdraw Puerto Rico’s complaint in the Puerto Rico v. Exxon Mobil case filed in the Superior Court of San Juan.”

Second, the letter asks the governor to “file amicus briefs in the San Juan and Puerto Rican municipalities litigation in favor of dismissal with prejudice.”

RESEARCHERS BLAME CA WILDFIRES ON CLIMATE CHANGE, PEDDLE ‘ALARMIST’ NON-PEER REVIEWED STUDIES: EXPERTS

The letter also asks for judges to be appointed to the Puerto Rican judiciary who “will respect the separation of powers and leave political issues to the democratically elected branches” and for the government to “discourage state contracts with outside counsel, such as Milberg or Smouse & Mason, who are using public legal engagements to advance far-left political objectives.”

Puerto Rico’s power grid is considered to be barely functional as blackouts have become a part of everyday life, including the most recent grid failure during Holy Week that left more than 1.4 million residents without power for days. 

It has been estimated that power failures cost the island $230 million in lost revenue every day.

Ultimately, it’s the Puerto Rican people who suffer the most when climate litigation hampers the island’s grid, Isaac told Fox News Digital, explaining that residents are living in “energy poverty” with constant rolling blackouts and an unreliable grid. 

“They’re kind of experiencing what the energy transition does, it transitions people from affordable and reliable energy to less reliable energy, economic despair,” Isaac said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Gonzalez’s office for comment. 

“Climate lawfare threatens to derail your administration’s common-sense approach,” Isaac wrote. “The climate plaintiffs are advancing a fundamentally neocolonial agenda. They are steering Puerto Rico toward a ‘green’ energy future it did not choose – one that ignores the basic needs of its people, who simply require cheap and reliable electricity.”

One hundred days into his new administration, President Donald Trump has reset negotiations with allies and foes across the globe, and experts say one is certain: it is all transactional. 

Gone are the days when the U.S. could be drawn to throw its force around the world solely in the name of defending or spreading democracy. Global leaders are learning to speak a new language with U.S. leadership, one that is less about ideology and more about how their interests benefit U.S. interests. 

“There is a lot more transactional engagement rather than I think we’re ideological-based, policy decisions that were sort of the hallmark of the Biden administration,” said Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum. 

Here is a round-up of how Trump has changed U.S. foreign policy since taking office: 

FOX NEWS POLL: THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SECOND TERM

Former President Joe Biden toyed with reviving a nuclear deal with Iran and criticized Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but his administration made little progress toward serious negotiations. 

Trump has now expressed interest in a new nuclear deal. He told Israel the U.S. would not come to their aid in attacking Iran until diplomatic negotiations played out. 

As Trump’s team met with Iranian counterparts in Oman this weekend for a second round of nuclear talks, he issued another threat: if negotiations whither away, the U.S. would not be dragged by Israel into war with Iran but will be “leading the pack.” 

An offensive campaign against Yemen’s Houthi terrorists launched six weeks ago has struck more than 800 targets and cost nearly $1 billion – a sharp departure from the tit-for-tat retaliatory strikes seen under the Biden administration, when Houthis attacked U.S. naval ships and Western commercial vessels.

“Biden pursued a policy of retaliatory strikes: If you hit us, we’ll hit you,” said Roman. “What Trump is trying to do is what I call a salting the earth strategy. If you dare challenge American military supremacy or the ability for us to conduct free trade to the bottom of or through the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Yemen, Red Sea, Suez … We will attempt to end your ability to wage war on the United States in its interests.”

US STRIKES KILL HUNDREDS OF HOUTHI FIGHTERS, HIT OVER 800 RED SEA TARGETS: CENTRAL COMMAND

While Biden had promised the U.S. would stand by Ukraine “as long as it takes” in the war against Russia, Trump expressed a desire to see the war come to an end, promising that he could end the war on “day one” of his presidency.

One hundred days in, the war is not over. Negotiations are ongoing, and Trump has jumped between sounding off in frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

As Putin continues to strike even civilian regions of Ukraine, Trump questioned on Saturday whether the Russian leader truly wants peace or is “tapping me along.” 

He again questioned whether he would need to slap “secondary sanctions” on nations that do business with Russia to starve its war coffers. 

On Monday, Russia offered a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, but the White House was not satisfied. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wants a “permanent ceasefire.” 

Trump met face-to-face with Zelenskyy in Rome on Saturday, the first time since their infamous Oval Office spat in February, after slamming Zelenskyy’s latest rejection of his peace proposal, one that would have formally ceded Crimea to the Russians.

The Monroe Doctrine is back, analysts say, and Trump wants both Greenland and the Panama Canal under U.S. control.

The proposals drew shock across the world, but at least in Panama, Trump’s bold words prompted a proposal to offer the U.S. “first and free” passage for its warships, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this month. It also spurred the proposed sale of two ports of entry from Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to U.S.-based BlackRock, though that deal has been delayed by Chinese regulatory and political scrutiny. 

Efforts to attain Greenland have proved less successful. Tough talk against Denmark and its ownership of Greenland has ratcheted up tensions with the NATO ally and Greenland’s leadership has expressed little interest in becoming a part of the U.S. 

However, Trump has called out the threat of Russia and China’s increasing arctic military capabilities – the shortest range for a missile to travel from Russia to the U.S. would be over the icy island’s territory. Trump is also interested in the rare earth mining potential of the massive swath of land. 

Trump’s threats to pull out of the NATO alliance – or refuse to come to the defense of allies that do not contribute enough military spending – has left nations across the world planning for the contingency that they may have to defend themselves without U.S. aid. 

The European Union announced a plan for its nations to spend $840 billion to “re-arm Europe” after Trump halted all aid to Ukraine in March. 

Countries like Spain, Belgium and Sweden have all announced plans this year to increase defense spending to meet NATO’s 2% target, while eastern European states near Russia’s border, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, have announced plans to increase defense spending to around 5%. 

Concern over China’s hegemonic ambitions bridges the partisan divide, but the Biden White House never considered such drastic measures as 145% tariffs. 

Trump has said the goal of the tariffs is to both bring back US manufacturing after decades of offshore production and punish China for intellectual property theft, a massive trade imbalance, and fentanyl flowing from China to the U.S. A free trade push in the early 2000s had wrongly assumed liberal trade policies would bring democratic values and free markets into Chinese borders, his supporters argue. 

Trump has insisted that President Xi Jinping wants to cut a deal to lower the soaring tariffs, even as China has rejected the prospect of talks. 

It is unclear what sort of realistic concessions the U.S. could get out of a deal, perhaps promises to buy more American-made agricultural products, fuel or other specialty goods. 

For now, steep tariffs remain, and China is choking off U.S. supply of critical minerals, which could spell deep trouble for everyday electronics, electric vehicles and defense equipment.

President Donald Trump‘s poll numbers on the economy have fallen as his administration continues trade negotiations on his wide-ranging reciprocal tariffs approach. 

Approximately 55% of Americans think Trump’s policies “worsened economic conditions in the country,” according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS between April 17-24. That marked an increase from 51% of respondents who said so when the pollster last asked the same question between March 6-9. 

Approximately 60% of Americans believe Trump’s policies have “affected the cost of living” in their communities, while just 12% say they think Trump’s policies have decreased the cost of living. The poll found 28% of Americans think Trump’s policies have had no effect on the cost of living in their communities so far. 

REVENGE PORN BILL BACKED BY MELANIA TRUMP HEADS TO PRESIDENT’S DESK AFTER OVERWHELMING HOUSE VOTE

Just 34% of Americans described themselves as enthusiastic or optimistic about the economy right now, while 66% of respondents said they were pessimistic or afraid. The poll found 69% of Americans believe it is very or somewhat likely the U.S. economy will go into a recession in the next year. 

According to the CNN poll, 75% of Americans believe Trump’s policies on tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy in the short term, while just 12% said they would help in the short term. Meanwhile, 53% of Americans believe Trump’s policies on tariffs will hurt in the long term, while 34% of Americans say they will help in the long term. 

A separate poll, conducted by NPR/PBS News/Marist from April 21-23, found 45% of Americans give Trump a failing grade as he celebrates his 100th day in office. The pollster said that figure was “driven mainly by Democrats (80%).” 

That survey found 55% of respondents disapprove of how Trump is handling the economy, including 88% of Democrats, 59% of independents, and 17% of Republicans. 

With just 39% of Americans approving of his handling of the economy, Trump’s overall approval rating sits at 42% – down from the 45% who approved of the job he was doing in March, according to NPR/PBS News/Marist. 

About 61% of Americans believe Trump has been “rushing to make changes” without considering the consequences of those shifts – a significant uptick from the 56% of respondents who said so in March, according to the pollster. 

Ahead of his 100th day in office, Trump warned, however, that “the Polls from the Fake News are, like the News itself, FAKE! We are doing GREAT, better than ever before.” 

FOX NEWS POLL: THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SECOND TERM

“The USA lost Billions of Dollars A DAY in International Trade under Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social. “I have now stemmed that tide, and will be making a fortune, very soon. Stay tuned as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” 

The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs policies and deregulation plans have brought with them significant disturbances in the market. 

Joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at Tuesday’s briefing commemorating the 100th day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the American people should “trust President Trump” on the economy. 

“There’s a reason he was reelected to this office. It’s because of the historic success of his economic formula in the first term,” Leavitt said. “There’s a proven formula that works. Massive deregulation, energy independence and tax cuts, which are coming in…. If you want to talk about that, that’s a huge deal to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Americans.”

As for the trade deals, Leavitt said the president is working to right the wrongs “of the mess that he inherited” from the Biden administration, as well as a “mess that has been created for the past four decades that has sold out the middle class.”

“Today, President Trump wants to restore the golden age, and it’s a process to do that. And that process is underway,” Leavitt said.

Bessent said he was working with Republican leadership in the House and the Senate on a new bill that would make the 2017 tax cuts permanent and hopefully quell some of the uncertainty in the markets as a result. 

“I think one thing that has been a little disconcerting for the market is, you know, President Trump creates what I would call strategic uncertainty in the negotiations. So he is more concerned about getting the best possible trade deals we have for the American people. You know, we had four years of bad deals for decades,” Bessent said. “We are going to the unwind those and make them fair.… We’ve created a process.”

“I think the aperture of uncertainty will be narrowing and as we start moving forward with announcing deals, then there will be certainty. But, you know, certainty is not necessarily a good thing in negotiating,” he added.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat, indicated that if Texans want him to run for the U.S. Senate, he will mount another election bid.

“But if it comes to pass that this is what the people of Texas want, that it’s the highest and best use of what I can give to you, then yes I will,” O’Rourke said while responding to someone at a town hall event who asked the former lawmaker if he would run.

O’Rourke served in the U.S. House of Representatives from early 2013 through early 2019, but he has fallen flat in bids for U.S. Senate, president, and governor.

WHO IS BETO O’ROURKE?

He lost a 2022 Lone Star State gubernatorial bid to incumbent GOP Gov. Greg Abbott. 

The Democrat announced but later dropped a presidential bid in 2019. 

He lost a 2018 U.S. Senate contest to incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. 

CORNYN’S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN SPARKS QUESTIONS ON BOTH PARTY FLANKS AS DEMS CHASE ‘THE GHOST OF A BLUE TEXAS’

Responding to a post on X regarding O’Rourke’s comment that he would run if that’s what Texans want, GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah tweeted, “They don’t.”

Texas state Rep. Mitch Little, a Republican, tweeted, “‘THIS SUMMER…from the producers who brought you ‘BETO’ and ‘BETO,’ you’ll fall in love—again—with ‘BETO.’”

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who has served in the Senate for more than two decades, is up for re-election in 2026.

TEXAS AG KEN PAXTON ANNOUNCES RUN FOR US SENATE

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has mounted a Republican Senate primary challenge against Cornyn.

Former Georgia GOP Sen. David Perdue was confirmed Tuesday by the Senate 67-29 as President Donald Trump‘s ambassador to China.

Perdue, a former business executive with companies like Tennessee-based Dollar General and experience in global supply chains, including through Beijing, has long been a close ally of the president.

The ex-lawmaker, who is also the cousin of former Gov. Sonny Perdue, passed his critical cloture vote by 64-27 on Monday evening, which ended further substantial debate on his nomination.

Perdue narrowly lost his 2021 runoff election with Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., by just over 1%, or about 55,000 votes, and also, despite a presidential endorsement, failed in his quest to defeat Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022’s Republican primary.

DAVID PERDUE, FORMER SENATOR AND LONGTIME TRUMP ALLY PASSES KEY HURDLE TO CHINESE AMBASSADORSHIP

Fox News Digital also reached out to Ossoff for comment on his former foe’s confirmation.

During his confirmation hearing, Perdue said, “Marxist nationalism” is reshaping China and that their global ambitions threaten the world order.

“Since 2000, China has doubled its nuclear arsenal and grown its military at a pace unseen since WWII. They have militarized the South China Sea and violated their agreement in Hong Kong.”

“Their Social Credit Score system and extensive policing capability are designed to enforce domestic state control. Their Belt and Road Initiative and their Made in China 2025 statements demonstrate their global ambitions,” Perdue said.

“They speak of a global ‘community of common destiny for all mankind.’ Put simply, they want a world more in line with their authoritarian principles.”

Perdue went on to argue that Trump’s “America First” strategy that greatly affects the U.S.’s relationship with China is not isolationist, but “just the reverse.”

TRUMP SAYS CHINA’S XI CALLED HIM AMID ONGOING CONFUSION OVER TRADE TALKS

“America will be a stronger ally and partner by rebuilding our strategic supply chains at home and with our friends.”

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping, like Trump, only respects strength and that, if confirmed, he will work on reciprocity and security agreements with Beijing.

“Our approach to China should be nuanced, nonpartisan, and strategic,” Perdue said.

On Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province, Perdue said he will support the longstanding “One China” policy while remaining committed to a “peaceful resolution” of tensions that is acceptable to both Beijing and Taipei.

“I will also ensure focus on our priority to eliminate fentanyl precursors and hold China accountable on human rights.”

The Senate recently confirmed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Three more Trump-diplomat nominees will see votes on cloture and likely ensuing tallies on their confirmations later Tuesday.

Former Reagan staffer and New York real estate investor Tom Barrack is up for an ambassadorship to Turkey, while Landry’s Restaurants and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is looking to serve as ambassador to Italy and San Marino, and Arkansas investment banker billionaire Warren Stephens has his sights on being the U.S.’ top diplomat to its closest European ally, the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., reignited speculation about his 2028 presidential ambitions this weekend, but his call for “mass protests” dominated headlines as Republicans accused him of “inciting violence.”

Speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s annual fundraising gala this weekend, Pritzker became the first potential Democratic candidate to visit New Hampshire, or any early primary state, since Democrats’ big November losses. 

“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace. They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have. We must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box,” Prtizker said, triggering outrage among President Donald Trump’s supporters. 

“His comments, if nothing else, could be construed as inciting violence,” Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, told reporters outside the White House on Monday. 

2028 AUDITIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION KICK OFF AS BLUE-STATE GOVERNOR VISITS KEY EARLY STATE

Pritzker told the first-in-the-nation primary crowd this weekend, “It’s time to fight everywhere and all at once,” in a comment that seemed to refer to political action, like protesting, voting and challenging the Trump administration in the courts. Pritzker later clarified to reporters he was referring to political action, but Trump’s base wasn’t so convinced. 

ILLINOIS GOV CALLS FOR MASS PROTESTS AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN: GOP ‘CANNOT KNOW A MOMENT OF PEACE’

“Are you trying to inspire a 3rd assassination attempt on my dad? Two wasn’t enough for you?” Donald Trump Jr. asked on X. 

Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., said Pritzker’s comments are the latest demonstration that Democrats are “out of touch” with American voters. 

“One of the biggest successes of President Trump’s first 100 days has been securing our southern border and keeping Americans safe. Democrats drumming up ‘mass protests’ opposing this obvious success story shows just how out of touch they are with everyday Americans,” McCormick said on X. 

“…and Pritzker cannot know a moment of a presidency. He is only the last Democrat to fuel the rage in calling ‘for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption,'” Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley said, arguing that Democrats have consistently called for “mass protests” since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made headlines earlier this year when he called for Democrats to “fight” Trump’s agenda “in the streets.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., joked on X that Illinois Republicans are welcome in Missouri: “We welcome the Republican refugees from the Land of Lincoln suffering under the tyranny of the Pritzker regime to the free state of Missouri!”

And the Illinois Republican Party chimed in as well, slamming Pritzker’s presidential ambitions and what the party chair described as a politically divisive speech. 

“JB Pritzker’s ego-driven obsession with becoming president is putting Illinois, and Republicans across the country, at risk. His inflammatory and dangerous speech is focused on further dividing our country and I hope to see Illinois Democrats condemn his call for violence,” Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi said in a statement. 

Salvi said it’s “clear that Pritzker’s only priority is what’s best for him and his presidential bid,” and his trip to New Hampshire is “further proof that he’s already left Illinois behind.”

DEM GOVERNOR SLAMS TRUMP’S ‘AUTHORITARIAN RULE’ DURING ‘BETTER WAY FORWARD’ SPEECH

Trips to New Hampshire, which, for over a century, has held the first primary in the race for the White House, are seen as an early indicator of a politician’s interest in running for president in the next election.

The billionaire Democrat has emerged during the president’s first 100 days as one of the most vocal critics of Trump’s executive actions, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, and the administration’s policies, including immigration reform and federal funding. 

Pritzker’s comments are the latest in a long-standing feud between the two politicians. Trump often evoked Pritzker’s name on the campaign trail as an example of the downfall of Democratic-run states. 

“Sloppy J.B. Pritzker… has presided over the destruction and disintegration of Illinois at levels never seen before in any State,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last year. “Crime is rampant and people are, sadly, fleeing Illinois. Unless a change is made at the Governor’s level, Illinois can never be Great Again!”

Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., appeared to accuse Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., of lying about discussing the New York governor’s race with her on Tuesday.

Johnson said he was having “conversations” with Stefanik and her fellow New Yorker, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., when asked whether he discussed the upcoming gubernatorial election with the two potential candidates.

Stefanik cited a Punchbowl News report on Johnson’s comments at the public press conference and wrote on X, “This is not true. I have had no conversations with the Speaker regarding the Governor’s race.”

“Looking forward to the conversation about [State and Local Taxes] with NY Members tomorrow. Stay tuned,” Stefanik wrote.

MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE

Fox News Digital reached out to both Johnson and Stefanik for further comment but did not hear back by press time.

It’s a stunning public clash between two members of House GOP leadership that comes shortly after Stefanik returned to her House role full-time.

SENATE GOP PUSHES TRUMP BUDGET FRAMEWORK THROUGH AFTER MARATHON VOTE SERIES

She had been poised to easily sail through the Senate confirmation process to become President Donald Trump’s new ambassador to the United Nations.

But the House’s razor-thin majority and concerns about the race to replace Stefanik in her upstate New York district eventually forced Trump to have her drop out of the process.

Stefanik had given up her role as House GOP Conference chair and two high-level committee positions on the House’s intelligence and education panels to take the new job.

But Trump directed Johnson to find a new top role for Stefanik, and he soon announced her as chair of House Republican leadership.

Days after that, however, sources told Fox News Digital and other outlets that Stefanik was considering a run for New York governor.

When asked about speaking to her and Lawler about potentially running, Johnson told reporters on Tuesday, “I have lots of conversations.”

“I love them both. They’re two of my favorite people and most trusted colleagues. And, and they’re both super talented, which is why they get talked about for doing other things… I mean, my preference is they all stay here with me, right,” Johnson said.

“But I don’t begrudge anybody for having other opportunities. And we ultimately support them in whatever they do. But, are we having conversations? We are. Yeah. And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Two top Democrats have blasted President Donald Trump and Elon Musk for what they claim is the administration’s withholding of more than $430 billion in already congressionally approved funding.

The frozen allotments span the federal government, according to the first estimate of the potential impoundments in the project led by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who released the figures to coincide with the administration marking its 100 days in office. 

They accuse the Trump administration of ignoring constitutional spending rules and denying Americans the funding they are legally owed.

HOW A DOGE REVIEW CAN ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS THAT FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Murray and DeLauro estimate that the Trump administration has withheld at least $436.87 billion in congressionally approved federal funding across multiple agencies, including for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Transportation Departent. Trump campaigned on slashing government waste and reducing the size of the federal government.

He appointed Musk to be head of the Department of Government Efficiency to root out waste, fraud and corruption in the federal government in order to expedite his agenda and also sought to pull all monies for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“While President Trump is pushing to pass massive new tax breaks for billionaires like himself, he is unilaterally blocking hundreds of billions of dollars in investments owed to the American people,” Murray and DeLauro said in a joint statement. 

“No American president has ever so flagrantly ignored our nation’s spending laws or so brazenly denied the American people investments they are owed.”

The lawmakers released a tracker to keep the public up to date with the figures. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House to verify if the figures were accurate.

According to the tracker, almost $42 billion was frozen or canceled for the State Department, including the frozen support for USAID, along with another $62 billion-plus in competitive grant funding for the Transportation Department.

DOGE SLASHES ‘WASTEFUL’ ‘PROBLEM-SOLVING’ CONTRACT WORTH $50K IN LATEST ROUND OF ELIMINATIONS

The Democrats also detailed $943 million frozen for the Head Start early-education program and more than $10 billion in frozen and canceled funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The $436.87 billion is the minimum amount of federal funding the Committees believe the administration is currently freezing, canceling, or fighting in court to block, they said. 

“Instead of making our communities and our nation safer, President Trump is holding up public safety grants and critical investments Congress has made to strengthen our national security,” the Democrats said. 

“Bottom line: instead of investing in the American people, President Trump is ignoring our laws and ripping resources away from them—insisting our country cannot afford to help families make ends meet at the same time he seeks over $5 trillion in new tax breaks for billionaires.”

The Democrats also singled out Russ Vought, the head Office of Management and Budget.

The administration’s refusal to spend congressionally authorized funds amounts to a challenge of the Constitution, which gives Congress oversight over spending, the lawmakers said. 

The administration has not submitted any formal rescission requests, as required under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

The Democrats also said that DOGE promised to be transparent but has failed to provide Congressional oversight requests and refused to answer basic questions from the press. 

“The unprecedented lack of transparency and responsiveness makes tracking what funding is being blocked all the more difficult, and it remains the Trump administration’s responsibility to not only follow our spending laws but to explain its actions to date,” Murray and DeLauro said. 

Reuters contributed to this report. 

EXCLUSIVE: Congressional Republicans are working on a multi-trillion-dollar bill advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda – and it could include a modest tax hike on wealthy Americans, one of the House GOP’s tax writers said.

“There’s potentially some talk about a tax hike on wealthier Americans. I think our goal in this committee, and the president’s goal, has been to provide tax relief for the working and middle class,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

“We have to find a way to pay for that, so we’ll have to see how this all shakes out.”

A senior House GOP aide who spoke with Fox News Digital also alluded to possible tax hikes on the table.

MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE

“The reason we are in the majority and have the ability to do this entire process is because of working-class voters, not the wealthiest Americans,” they said. “I believe our tax package will reflect that reality.”

Malliotakis sits on the House Ways & Means Committee, one of the most critical panels in the budget reconciliation process.

Reconciliation lowers the Senate’s passage threshold from 60 to 51, making it possible for the party that controls both chambers of Congress and the White House to pass massive policy overhauls while sidelining the opposition, in this case Democrats.

The process traditionally begins in the House, where seven committees are preparing to meet in the next two weeks to hash out policies under their relevant jurisdictions. Those will then be slotted into a larger budget framework, which is then considered by the House Budget Committee before a chamber-wide vote.

The Ways & Means Committee is responsible for the tax portion, a key priority for Trump. 

The president wants Republicans to extend his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) while also providing for a slate of new tax policies like eliminating duties on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security checks for retirees.

Republicans are currently studying avenues to pay for those priorities.

Malliotakis signaled a corporate tax rate increase was likely off the table, but she’s among several Republican lawmakers who said they would be open to a small tax hike on the wealthy to pay for Trump’s middle and working-class priorities.

“Personally, I think that that should be on the table if we’re not going to make spending cuts. But I hope we make spending cuts,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital.

But others said they were opposed.

SENATE GOP PUSHES TRUMP BUDGET FRAMEWORK THROUGH AFTER MARATHON VOTE SERIES

“I don’t think we have a revenue problem. I don’t think we should be looking for places to add revenue. I think we have a spending problem. Congress spends way too much money, too large of a portion of our GDP. We need to find ways of cutting spending,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said.

It’s not immediately clear what shape such a tax hike could take. Republicans have discussed potential proposals, including raising the top tax bracket by roughly 1% after it was lowered by about 2% in TCJA. Another proposal would create a new tax bracket for millionaires, potentially of up to 40%.

House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., would not share any details of the forthcoming plan when asked about a possible tax hike.

“There’s a lot of things that I’ve been reading in the press that have not been accurate, but I’m not going to say whether it’s accurate or not, and they’ll see the bill whenever we deliver it right before markup,” Smith told Fox News Digital.

“But what I will say is, is that we will have a tax bill that is pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-small business, and pro-workers. And Republicans believe in making sure that Americans keep more of their hard-earned dollars, and you’ll see a tax package that does.”

He said Americans would likely get to see that plan in a matter of “days, not months.”

Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report

President Donald Trump signed at least 137 executive orders in his 100 days in the Oval Office, trouncing his predecessors’ respective records on signed EOs in the same time period, dating back to at least President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Trump signed 26 executive orders in his first day back in the Oval Office, and a total of 45 in his first 10 days. His 137 executive orders in his first 100 days is a benchmark that has not been met since at least Roosevelt, whose presidency began in 1933. 

Trump’s executive order blitz has included rescinding dozens of policies implemented by the Biden administration, including cutting red tape surrounding the energy industry, striping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the fabric of the U.S. government and promoting the proliferation of artificial intelligence. 

Trump kicked off his executive order blitz on Jan. 20, his inauguration day, by focusing on rescinding Biden-era policies, as well as other orders such as ending the “weaponization” of the federal government, “restoring” free speech and designating certain cartels as terrorist organizations.

DEFUNDING DEI: HERE’S HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS UNDONE BIDEN’S PRIZED PROGRAMS

Trump’s Jan. 20 order called Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions revoked dozens of Biden-era policies, including Biden’s 2021 order titled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government; the 46th president’s 2021 executive order called Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration; and Biden’s 2022 executive order called Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals.

“The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government,” reads Trump’s order rescinding Biden’s presidential actions. “The injection of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy. Orders to open the borders have endangered the American people and dissolved Federal, State, and local resources that should be used to benefit the American people. Climate extremism has exploded inflation and overburdened businesses with regulation.”

WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL DEI OFFICES TO BEGIN CLOSING BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY

Trump’s second presidency has made education a top priority amid the flurry of executive orders across his first few months. 

Trump signed an executive order in March to dismantle the Department of Education and return oversight power of school systems to state leaders after years of the U.S. dragging behind other nations such as Finland and Japan in overall student performance. 

“Everybody knows it’s right, and we have to get our children educated,” Trump said while signing the order. “We’re not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven’t for a long time.” 

Trump also signed an executive order in January that removes federal funding from K-12 schools that teach critical race theory and DEI curriculum.

TRUMP SIGNS EDUCATION-FOCUSED EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON AI, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, ACCREDITATION, FOREIGN GIFTS AND MORE

“In many cases, innocent children are compelled to adopt identities as either victims or oppressors solely based on their skin color and other immutable characteristics,” reads the order called Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling. “In other instances, young men and women are made to question whether they were born in the wrong body and whether to view their parents and their reality as enemies to be blamed. These practices not only erode critical thinking but also sow division, confusion, and distrust, which undermine the very foundations of personal identity and family unity.”

Trump signed an executive order in February that prohibits schools and colleges that receive federal funds and are subject to Title IX from allowing men on women’s sports teams and in women’s locker rooms, and another in January expanding school choice.

The Trump presidency established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January through an executive order that renamed the Obama-era United States Digital Service to the United States DOGE Service.

DOGE has been a thorn in the side of Democrats since Musk, the office’s public leader, and his teams began working through various federal agencies in the search of government overspending, mismanagement and corruption. DOGE has since saved an estimated $160 billion through cancellations of government contracts, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, asset sales and other cuts, according to the DOGE website.

‘THIS IS INDOCTRINATION, NOT EDUCATION’: PLAINTIFF IN SCOTUS CASE SLAMS SCHOOLS FOR FORCING LGBTQ+ CURRICULUM

“He’s an incredible … brilliant guy,” Trump said of Musk this month. “He was a tremendous help both in the campaign and in what he’s done with DOGE.”

Energy has also been a top priority for the Trump administration, with the president vowing to “unleash U.S. energy” that he said would lower prices for American consumers while bolstering the U.S. job market. 

DOGE SLASHES ‘WASTEFUL’ ‘PROBLEM-SOLVING’ CONTRACT WORTH $50K IN LATEST ROUND OF ELIMINATIONS

Trump signed an executive order this month called Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241 that will work to cut through red tape in the coal industry, including directing the National Energy Dominance Council to designate coal as a “mineral,” end a current pause to coal leasing on federal lands, promote coal and coal technology exports and encourage the use of coal to power artificial intelligence initiatives.

The order also instructs the Department of Justice to identify every “unconstitutional” state or local regulation that is “putting our coal miners out of business,” according to Trump.

“The value of untapped coal in our country is 100 times greater than the value of all the gold at Fort Knox, and we’re going to unleash it and make America rich and powerful again under this order,” Trump said Tuesday ahead of signing the order.

“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy,” Trump said. “It’s cheap, incredibly efficient, high density, and it’s almost indestructible. You could drop a bomb on it, and it’s going to be there for you to use the next day, which you can’t say with any other form of energy.”

He also made energy a top issue on his first day back in office, signing an executive order addressing Alaska’s abundant natural resources, such as oil and timber. The order expanded and expedited the permitting and leasing of energy and natural resource projects in the Last Frontier State. 

US FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ‘UNLEASH’ COAL ENERGY AFTER BIDEN ‘STIFLED’ IT: ‘MINE, BABY, MINE’

“The State of Alaska holds an abundant and largely untapped supply of natural resources including, among others, energy, mineral, timber, and seafood,” the Jan. 20 order reads. “Unlocking this bounty of natural wealth will raise the prosperity of our citizens while helping to enhance our Nation’s economic and national security for generations to come. By developing these resources to the fullest extent possible, we can help deliver price relief for Americans, create high-quality jobs for our citizens, ameliorate our trade imbalances, augment the Nation’s exercise of global energy dominance, and guard against foreign powers weaponizing energy supplies in theaters of geopolitical conflict.”

Following a spiraling immigration crisis under the Biden administration, Trump signed a handful of executive orders to lock down the border and end the crisis.

BIDEN BLOCKS NEW MINING IN REGION THAT PRODUCES ABOUT 40% OF NATION’S COAL: ‘IT’S A DISASTER’

In his first days in office, Trump signed a handful of immigration-focused executive orders, including directing the federal government to resume construction of the border wall; reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols, known as the Remain in Mexico policy; deploying U.S. troops to the border under U.S. Northern Command; designating international cartels and organizations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations. 

Trump said ahead of taking office that he would move at “historic speed and strength” in just the first few days of his administration. 

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ENDING USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO ‘INCENTIVIZE OR SUPPORT’ ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office,” Trump said in the lead-up to his inauguration.

Trump will hold a rally in Michigan – the battleground state in which the Republican president has ended each of his three presidential campaigns – to celebrate his first 100 days in the Oval Office. The rally will be held in Macomb County on Tuesday evening.

In the years following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, policymakers’ intense focus on national security led to sweeping changes in air travel; however, more than two decades later, one major requirement born out of that era has still not fully taken effect.

On May 7, Americans will finally be required to present a REAL ID-compliant identification card to board domestic flights.

The law mandating REAL ID passed in 2005, but its implementation has been delayed repeatedly over the years. The Trump administration argued that the deadline had already been postponed long enough, asserting that travelers had ample time to gather the necessary documents for the more rigorously verified form of identification.

Critics, however, contend that if the deadline could be pushed back by nearly 20 years without any flight-based terrorist attacks during that time, the urgency and necessity of the measure are questionable.

WHAT IS REAL ID? DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR NEW IDENTIFICATION CARDS REQUIRED TO FLY DOMESTICALLY

At its core, the REAL ID Act aimed to close security gaps that terrorists could exploit. Before 9/11, standards for issuing driver’s licenses and other IDs varied widely among states, with little coordination or verification of critical documents like birth certificates and Social Security numbers. Several of the 9/11 hijackers were able to obtain legitimate state IDs using fraudulent documents, enabling them to move freely and board planes without detection.

The 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004, strongly recommended establishing national standards for identification as a counterterrorism measure. Congress acted quickly, embedding the REAL ID provisions within a broader defense and emergency spending bill – a strategic move that helped ensure its swift passage.

REAL ID requires states to verify the authenticity of key documents – birth certificates, Social Security numbers and proof of address. It also mandates that IDs use security features that are more resistant to tampering. 

WHAT DID THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, 9/11 COMMISSION SAY ABOUT REAL ID LEGISLATION?

The law was controversial from the start. Civil liberties groups raised concerns about privacy, data security and the emergence of what some called a “national ID card.” Many states resisted, citing costs, logistical challenges and fears of federal overreach. Compliance deadlines were extended multiple times as states upgraded their systems and negotiated the balance between security and individual rights.

The ID will be required not only for flights but also for access to some government facilities and nuclear sites. Some advocates, like the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, have expressed concerns that the ID could eventually be required to obtain government benefits and apply for a job. 

“American people need to know that Real ID will be required to travel on May 7th, so those governors have been notified to communicate that at home.  We don’t want anybody to get delayed and not be able to travel when they get to an airport,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said at a Cabinet meeting earlier this month. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

President Donald Trump reiterated the Real ID requirement in an executive order signed on March 25 focused on election integrity. 

“This will also help us bring integrity back to all of our IDs and how they’re used, how they’re used for issuing driver’s licenses.  And governors know how I feel about making sure their driver’s licensing system has integrity, because a lot of people use their driver’s license to vote, and the backbone of our country and the foundation is election integrity.”

EXCLUSIVE: Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum discussed President Trump‘s key role in unleashing energy independence in the state while speaking to Fox News Digital and explaining that Alaskan resources are ready to be used if the push to acquire Greenland is unsuccessful.

Crum, speaking to Fox News Digital at the State Financial Officer Foundation conference in Orlando, Florida, explained that the “vast majority” of state government funds in Alaska come from developing natural resources, including mining and crude oil, and praised the Trump administration’s moves to reverse course from the Biden administration when it comes to that development.

“President Trump, you know our Governor Dunleavy has actually said he’s probably one of the best presidents for Alaska,” Crum said. “In his first term he did tremendous things for us and now in his second term, we were the only state that had an executive order directed at us and that was such a crucial thing, and it really improved our economic outlook within the state.”

On the first day of his presidency, Trump signed an executive order advancing the Ambler Access Project, a 211-mile industrial road through the Brooks Range foothills that enables commercial mining of copper, zinc and other materials in a remote Arctic area in Northwest Alaska. 

ALASKA SENATOR LITERALLY SHREDS BIDEN’S ENERGY ORDERS, BOOSTS WH EFFORTS TO LEVERAGE ARCTIC GAS PIPELINE

Experts told Fox News Digital in February that the action, which reversed course from the Biden administration, will play a critical role in developing mineral resources in the state. 

“We think that we are on the precipice in Alaska on an energy boom, when it comes to large-scale oil development, the natural gas line getting developed that the president really pushes very hard for, as well as all of these critical minerals that we need to get processed,” Crum said. 

President Trump has vocally called for the United States to acquire Greenland for strategic purposes as well as due to its natural resources. Crum told Fox News Digital that Alaska is ready to step up when it comes to natural resources. 

NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS: ALASKA’S ENERGY, SECURITY POLICIES ARE THE GUIDE FEDS NEED AMID TRANSITION, GROUP SAYS

“We do have our own Greenland. We have our Greenland that has a long history and track record of developing these resources in an area of the world that people would never have thought that it could be done responsibly,” Crum said. “We’ve processed oil for over 60 years on the Arctic Ocean, and we have done so while at the same time building an 800-mile crude oil pipeline that actually has seen the caribou numbers increase over time with that pipeline being built. And so Alaskans are conservationists by nature.”

“We are hunters, we are fishermen, our indigenous population are subsistence, they gather, but we are the ones who use the land. We also want to be able to develop the land, so we make sure we do it the correct way,” Crum continued. “In Alaska, we call it the Alaska standard. We don’t need outside groups telling us that we have to do it responsibly. This is what we demand of companies as they come up there. Come up, be profitable, be clean. Profit Alaska, let Alaskan’s have jobs and opportunities and also go enjoy the outdoors.”

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Ultimately, Crum told Fox News Digital that Alaskan energy independence will not only be good for the United States, but it will also help push back against dependence on countries that have been hostile to the country, including China. 

“We also have antimony deposits, which is a rare thing because China is the vast producer and processor of antimony, which is needed for not only technology, but also like munitions and military, and so we’ve got very viable deposits within Alaska on these things,” Crum explained.

Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., confirmed to Fox News Digital that he will not travel to El Salvador following the deportation of the so-called “Maryland man,” Kilmar Abrego Garcia. 

In Washington this weekend, Fox News Digital asked Moore if he was planning to visit Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, following Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s high-profile trip to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s release from prison and return to the United States. 

“I’m not. Planning on having a good night tonight,” Moore said in response, with a smile on his face and dressed in a black tuxedo for the White House Correspondents Dinner. 

“Governor, do you think Abrego Garcia should be sent back to the U.S.?” Fox Next Digital asked Moore again later. 

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“Hi man, have a great night. Thank you,” Moore said while ignoring the question, again with a smile on his face as he proceeded down a hallway. 

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While Moore was silent on the El Salvador situation this weekend, he affirmed his support for his fellow Maryland Democrat on social media earlier this month. 

“I’m grateful for @ChrisVanHollen’s leadership and his efforts to ensure Kilmar is safe and will be brought back home to Maryland,” Moore said on X. 

Moore’s office confirmed the governor was not traveling to El Salvador when reached Tuesday by Fox News Digital.

Last week, Moore said he had no plans to travel to El Salvador, despite Van Hollen’s headline-dominating trip to support the alleged MS-13 member, whom President Donald Trump’s administration initially said had been mistakenly deported. 

“This is a case about due process, and it’s a case about, are we going to follow the Constitution or not? Are we going to bring him back to make sure he stands trial and has a judge determine whether or not a law was broken, and if a law was broken, then make sure there is accountability? But I believe in due process, and I believe in the Constitution,” Moore told reporters last week. 

The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” his return, but El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said Abrego Garcia has gang connections and that he would not release him to the United States.  

The deportation sparked outrage among Democrats, and several lawmakers joined Van Hollen in visiting El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcia, including Reps. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif.

Abrego Garcia is being held at a lower-security facility in El Salvador after being transferred from Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), an El Salvador prison that federal officials sent hundreds of suspected criminals and gang members to in March.

Former first lady Michelle Obama expressed fear over President Donald Trump‘s immigration policies, saying they have kept her up at night. 

“Now that we have leadership that is sort of indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t,” the former first lady said Monday during an appearance on the podcast “On Purpose with Jay Shetty,” adding that such deportation decisions “aren’t being made with courts and with due process.” 

“I worry for people of color all over this country, and I don’t know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody,” she continued. “And that makes me … that frightens me. It keeps me up at night.” 

“And I and I see that when I’m driving around LA. I’m just looking in the faces of folks who could be a victim and I’m wondering, how are you feeling, how do you feel standing on the bus stop,” she said. 

Obama joined the podcast alongside her brother, Craig Robinson, and the pair discussed race and bias, as well as a host of other issues such as parenting and the siblings’ bond from childhood to adulthood. Obama did not cite Trump by name during her remarks on fear of his immigration policies but drew parallels between deportation efforts and the racism her brother faced as a child when a police officer reportedly accused him of stealing a bike at age 12. 

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“In this current climate, for me it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” Obama said when asked about “recent tests of fear” related to individuals facing discrimination over the color of their skin. 

Obama noted that the “fear” does not personally impact her as a former first lady who has police protection. 

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“It’s not the fear for myself anymore,” she continued. “I drive around in a four-car motorcade with a police escort. I’m Michelle Obama. I do still worry about my daughters in the world, even though they are somewhat recognizable.”

“My fears are for what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city,” she added, referring to her hometown of Chicago. 

Obama’s comments come as the Trump administration is in the midst of a massive deportation effort of illegal immigrants who flooded the nation under the Biden administration. 

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The administration has deported more than 100,000 illegal immigrants since Trump took office, Fox News previously reported. An estimated 20 million illegal immigrants are still in the U.S., border czar Tom Homan said at a press briefing Monday. 

Former President Barack Obama’s administration notably celebrated its own deportation efforts, particularly during his first term, including former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano touting the “record-breaking immigration enforcement statistics achieved under the Obama administration—including unprecedented numbers of convicted criminal alien removals and overall alien removals in fiscal year 2010″ in a press release from that year. 

Under the Obama administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported more than 385,000 people each year during fiscal years 2009–2011. The rate increased in 2012 when 409,849 deportations were carried out, Fox Digital previously reported.

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.