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Republican Senator Signals He Won’t Support Vance In 2028

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) made clear Sunday on ABC Newsโ€™s This Week that he does not see Vice President JD Vance as someone he would support in a hypothetical 2028 presidential bid, underscoring deep philosophical differences over trade and the future direction of the GOP.

When asked whether he views Vance โ€” widely viewed within GOP circles as a leading contender to carry the Republican banner after President Donald Trump โ€” as the so-called heir apparent, Paul was direct about the limits of their alignment.

โ€œI think there needs to be representatives in the Republican Party who still believe international trade is good, who still believe in free market capitalism, who still believe in low taxes,โ€ Paul said, emphasizing his long-standing libertarian philosophy.

Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Pressed on whether that description fits Vance, Paul answered, โ€œNo.โ€

Paul lamented what he sees as a shift in GOP economic thinking โ€” away from traditional free-market conservatism toward protectionist policies that embrace tariffs.

โ€œIt used to separate conservatives and liberals that conservatives thought it was a spending problem โ€” we didnโ€™t want less revenue, we wanted less spending,โ€ he said.
โ€œBut now all these pro-tariff protectionists, they love taxes. And so they tax, tax, tax, and then they brag about all the revenue coming in. That has never been a conservative position.โ€

Paul said he intends to continue championing a free-market, low-tax wing of the party and will let time โ€” and voters โ€” determine where GOP leadership settles.


Context: Trump, Vance, and a Fractured GOP

Vanceโ€™s position as a prominent Trump loyalist โ€” often touted by MAGA-aligned activists as the next leader of the movement โ€” stands in contrast to Paulโ€™s more classical libertarian outlook. Trump and Vance have worked closely throughout the administration, and Trump himself has suggested both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would make strong contenders in 2028, even as speculation swirls about Trumpโ€™s own future political plans.

Paul and Vanceโ€™s disagreements arenโ€™t limited to trade. Earlier in 2025, Paul publicly criticized Vanceโ€™s support for a controversial U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel โ€” going so far as to call the actions Vance defended โ€œdespicable and thoughtlessโ€ for celebrating lethal force without due process. This public spar highlights deeper philosophical divides between the libertarian wing of the party and its more interventionist or nationalist elements.

Those tensions reflect a broader conversation within the GOP about its core principles โ€” from foreign policy to economic strategy โ€” as the party prepares for post-Trump leadership.


Erika Kirk Endorses Vance for 2028

Adding to the political backdrop, Erika Kirk โ€” the widow of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk and the organizationโ€™s CEO โ€” officially endorsed Vice President Vance for president in 2028 during the groupโ€™s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix.

Kirk, speaking to thousands of activists, pledged Turning Pointโ€™s powerful grassroots support and framed Vance as a continuation of her husbandโ€™s conservative legacy:

โ€œWe are going to get my husbandโ€™s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible.โ€

Her endorsement โ€” and Turning Pointโ€™s mobilization capacity on campuses and with younger conservatives โ€” could be a significant boost in the early stages of a national campaign, even though Vance has not yet announced a formal campaign bid

VP Vance Issues ‘Official’ Two Word Response To Racist Attacks On Wife

By Xuthoria - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Vice President Vance has had enough…

Vice President JD Vance had two choice words for racist troll Nick Fuentes and others like MS NOW host Jen Psaki, who haveย made comments about the second lady: โ€œEat sโ€“t.โ€

โ€œLet me be clear. Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat sโ€“t,โ€ Vance told UnHerd in an interview published Sunday.

โ€œThatโ€™s my official policy as vice president of the United States.โ€

He then told writerย Sohrab Ahmariย that โ€œall forms of ethnic hatredโ€ including antisemitism have โ€œno place in the conservative movement.โ€

Vanceโ€™s response comes after Fuentes bashed him for being a โ€œrace traitorโ€ for marrying his wife;ย Usha Vanceย is an American citizen born in San Diego to two Hindu Indian immigrants. Fuentes has also used derogatory terms about Indians to describe The Second Lady.

Fuentes has made a number ofย racist and antisemitic commentsย over the years, and he told Piers Morgan earlier this month that he believedย Adolf Hitlerย was โ€œreally f*cking cool.โ€ย 

The vice presidentโ€™s comments were published a few hours after he told the crowd at Turning Point USAโ€™s AmericaFest that Presidentย Donald Trumpย had wiselyย โ€œrelegated DEI to the dustbin of history.โ€ย 

Vance said DEI is antithetical to American values and a meritocratic society โ€” which made it an easy target for the second Trump Administration.

โ€œWe donโ€™t treat anybody different because of their race or their sex,โ€ Vance told the Phoenix crowd.

Vance continued his message about unity:

In the United States of America, you donโ€™t have to apologize for being white anymore.

And if youโ€™re an Asian, you donโ€™t have to talk around your skin color when youโ€™re applying for college. Because we judge people based on who they are, not on ethnicity and things they canโ€™t control.

We donโ€™t persecute you for being male, for being straight, for being gay, for being anything. The only thing that we demand is that you be a great American patriot. And if youโ€™re that. youโ€™re very much on our team.

Watch:

Those comments were also well-received by the arena. His remark on white men comes a few days after a viral Compact article reported a number of professional fields had โ€œgatekeepers [who] promised extra consideration to anyone who wasnโ€™t a white man.โ€

Vice President Vance touted a number of accomplishments he said the Trump Administration has had in less than a year, including closing down the southern border. He said the crowd must continue to support the โ€œAmerica First Partyโ€ โ€” echoingย Donald Trump Jr., who earlier in the day said theย Republican Party was no longer a thing.

Trump Jr. said it is a new era for the conservative movement โ€” one that is constantly under attack from the Democratic Party and Republicans In Name Only (RINOs). He said those attacks are ramping up as both parties plow towards the 2026 midterm elections.

Here is what the told the AmFest crowd:

Midterms are coming around the corner and make no mistake, the Democrat Party wants to do whatever they possibly can to shut this movement down. Not just the Democrats. The RINOs.

You see the manufactured attacks onย JD [Vance], myself, my father โ€” anyone who understands that this isnโ€™t the Republican Party anymore. Itโ€™s the America First Party. Itโ€™s the Make America Great Again Party. And we are not going back!

Watch:

Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk Endorses JD Vance For President In 2028

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Xuthoria, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

PHOENIX โ€” Erika Kirk, the chief executive of Turning Point USA and the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, formally endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 on Thursday, offering an early show of support that drew sustained applause at the groupโ€™s AmericaFest conference.

Kirkโ€™s remarks, delivered before a packed ballroom of activists and donors, marked one of the earliest high-profile endorsements of the post-Trump era, signaling that influential conservative organizations are already looking ahead, years before that period formally begins.

A Long-Term Strategy for the Right

Framing her endorsement as part of a broader political plan, Kirk said Turning Point USA is focused less on individual races and more on reshaping the electoral map.

โ€œFor both 2026 and 2028, weโ€™re investing in states and not just in races,โ€ Kirk said. โ€œSo what I mean by that is we are building the red wall โ€” Arizona, Nevada, New Hampshire. Thatโ€™s going to be very important to us.โ€

She stressed that the immediate goal remains protecting Republican majorities in Congress to support President Donald Trumpโ€™s second-term agenda.

โ€œWeโ€™re going to ensure that President Trump has Congress for all four years,โ€ she said.

A Line That Lit Up the Room

Kirkโ€™s most forceful moment came when she turned directly to the next presidential cycle.

โ€œWe are going to get my husbandโ€™s friend, JD Vance, elected for โ€™28 in the most resounding way possible,โ€ she said, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from much of the crowd.

The endorsement is notable for its timing. With nearly three years to go before the next presidential election, few Republican leaders have been willing to publicly line up behind a successor.

Vance: Focused on the Job for Now

Vance has not announced a presidential campaign and has repeatedly said his attention remains on his role as vice president.

In an interview last month with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance acknowledged he has thought about what comes next, but said he avoids dwelling on it.

โ€œIโ€™ve thought about what that moment might look like after the midterm elections, sure,โ€ Vance said. โ€œBut whenever I think about that, I try to put it out of my head and remind myself the American people elected me to do a job right now.โ€

He warned that premature ambition can be counterproductive.

โ€œIf you start getting distracted and focus on what comes next, I think it actually makes you worse at the job that you have,โ€ Vance said.

For now, he said, the administrationโ€™s political focus is straightforward.

  • Win the 2026 midterms
  • Hold Republican majorities
  • Revisit future plans after that

โ€œAnd then after that, Iโ€™m going to sit down with the president of the United States and talk to him about it,โ€ Vance said.

A Crowded Field Taking Shape

Kirkโ€™s endorsement comes as early maneuvering intensifies within the Republican Party. Vance is widely viewed as a top-tier contender, but he is far from alone.

Other Republicans frequently mentioned as possible 2028 candidates include:

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio
  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
  • Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
  • Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp
  • Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
  • Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul

At the same AmericaFest gathering, ideological tensions within the conservative movement were also on display. Media figures Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson took public shots at one another, reflecting broader disagreements over the direction of the right and Carlsonโ€™s past platforming of far-right figures, like white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

An Early Marker for 2028

Still, Kirkโ€™s remarks underscore the influence of Turning Point USA and its ability to mobilize young activists, donors, and grassroots organizers nationwide.

With the 2026 midterms looming and 2028 already on the minds of key players, her endorsement serves as an early marker of where some of the conservative movement hopes to go next โ€” and a sign that JD Vance is already being positioned as a central figure in the GOPโ€™s future.

READ NEXT: Controversial MAGA Superstar Reveals Devastating Diagnosis

TikTok Signs Trump-Backed Deal With US Investors To Avert Ban

By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

TikTok has secured a last-minute lifeline.

The social media giant reached a binding agreement Thursday with a Trump-backed group of U.S. and global investors, restructuring its American operations in an effort to avoid a nationwide ban and remain available to its 170 million U.S. users.

Under the agreement with its Chinese parent ByteDance, the hugely popular social media app will shift control of its core U.S. operations to a newly created joint venture majority-owned by American investors.

TikTokโ€™s U.S. business will be placed under a newly created company, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, majority-owned by American investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake โ€” the maximum allowed under U.S. law.

The new entity will control sensitive areas like user data, algorithms, and content moderation, while ByteDance continues to handle advertising and e-commerce through separate units. Oracle will act as a trusted security partner, hosting U.S. data and monitoring compliance.

The move comes after years of mounting pressure from Washington. A 2024 bipartisan law forced ByteDance to divest TikTokโ€™s U.S. operations or face a ban, putting the platform on borrowed time after repeated deadline extensions.

Trump and other supporters argue the deal protects national security without wiping out one of the countryโ€™s most influential tech platforms. Critics remain skeptical, warning that ByteDanceโ€™s continued involvement could still pose risks.

At the heart of the TikTok debate is China.

ByteDance operates under Chinese laws that can force companies to turn over user data, intensifying fears in Washington that information on millions of Americans could โ€” or may already โ€” be in Beijingโ€™s hands.

National security officials and lawmakers warn that such data could have military value, raising concerns about potential access by the Chinese Communist Party.

Mediaite continues:

The White House has confirmed that Oracle, co-founded by Trump allyย Larry Ellison, will license a copy of TikTokโ€™s powerful recommendation algorithm and expand its existing role managing the data of the appโ€™s 170 million U.S. users. A potential ban was hinged on national security concerns.

In September, Trump said he had spoken directly with Chinaโ€™s leader, adding: โ€œI had a very good talk with Presidentย Xi [Jinping]โ€ and โ€œhe gave us the go ahead.โ€ A month later, Treasury Secretaryย Scott Bessentย declared that Washington and Beijing had โ€œreached a final deal on TikTok.โ€

During his first term, Trump threatened to ban TikTok outright in 2020. Congress later passed legislation forcing a sale or shutdown over security fears, which former Presidentย Joe Bidenย signed into law in April 2024. The ban was due to take effect in January 2025, but was repeatedlyย delayedย by Trump as negotiations continued.

Not everyone is on board, however. Senatorย Elizabeth Warrenย (D-MA) panned the deal in a postย on BlueSkyย late Thursday: โ€œFirst Paramount/CBS and now TikTok. Trump wants to hand over even more control of what you watch to his billionaire buddies. Americans deserve to know if the president struck another backdoor deal for this billionaire takeover of TikTok.โ€

If regulators sign off, the deal is expected to close by Jan. 22, 2026. TikTok says users shouldnโ€™t notice any immediate changes โ€” but scrutiny of the platform is far from over.

READ NEXT: Trump Immediately Suspends Controversial Program Following Shocking Incidents

Board Votes To Rename Kennedy Center

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Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday that the Kennedy Centerโ€™s board voted unanimously to rename the institution to the “Trump-Kennedy Center” in recognition of what she described as President Donald Trumpโ€™s efforts to save the building over the past year.

โ€œI have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable workย President Trumpย has done over the last year in saving the building,โ€ Leavitt wrote in a post on social platform X.ย 

โ€œNot only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation. Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur,โ€ she continued. 

Roma Daravi, the vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center, confirmed Leavittโ€™s statement.

โ€œThe Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to name the institution The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,โ€ Daravi said. โ€œThe unanimous vote recognizes that the current Chairman saved the institution from financial ruin and physical destruction. The new Trump Kennedy Center reflects the unequivocal bipartisan support for Americaโ€™s cultural center for generations to come.โ€

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

AOC Says She Would โ€˜Stompโ€™ JD Vance In A Presidential Election

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Tensions are already high…

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has claimed she would โ€œstompโ€ย JD Vanceย in a presidential election.

Ocasio-Cortez, the Left-wing congresswoman, made the claim hours after sharing a poll โ€” conducted by The Argument and Verasight and released Tuesday โ€” found Ocasio-Cortez leading Vance 51% to 49%, a difference within the surveyโ€™s 2.7-percentage-point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. Respondents were asked how they would vote if the election were held between the New York Democrat and the Republican vice president.

When asked about the poll as she left the US Capitol on Wednesday evening, she initially downplayed its significance.

โ€œThese polls like three years outโ€ฆ they are what they are,โ€ she told a reporter, who filmed the encounter.

โ€œBut let the record show I would stomp him โ€“ I would stomp him!โ€ she added, laughing as she walked off and entered a waiting car.

Ocasio-Cortez, often known by her initials โ€œAOCโ€, is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

The poll โ€” conducted by The Argument and Verasight and released Tuesday โ€” found Ocasio-Cortez leading Vance 51% to 49%, a difference within the surveyโ€™s 2.7-percentage-point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. Respondents were asked how they would vote if the election were held between the New York Democrat and the Republican vice president.

Neither Ocasio-Cortez nor Vance has formally announced a 2028 campaign, but both are widely viewed as potential contenders to lead their respective parties. Ocasio-Cortez, first elected to Congress in 2018, has become one of the most prominent progressive voices in national politics. Vance, a former U.S. senator from Ohio and bestselling author, joined the GOP ticket in 2024 and became vice president after Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Demographic Splits Highlight Each Candidateโ€™s Base

The poll found that Vance maintains a substantial advantage with white voters, leading Ocasio-Cortez 57% to 43% in that demographic. Ocasio-Cortez, however, holds wide leads among voters of color, including 79% support among Black voters and 64% among Hispanic voters. (RELATED: Democrats Win Miami Mayorโ€™s Office After Nearly 30 Years Out Of Power)

Those patterns reflect longstanding partisan alignments: Republicans have consistently performed strongly with white voters in recent presidential contests, while Democrats have relied heavily on support from Black and Hispanic voters, though margins among the latter group have narrowed in recent years.

Standings Within Their Parties

Although Ocasio-Cortez polls competitively in a general election hypothetical, recent Democratic primary surveys show her trailing more established national figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. This suggests she would face a difficult path in a crowded primary field.

Another recent survey testing a three-way hypothetical between California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vance, and Ocasio-Cortez found Newsom leading with 36%, with Ocasio-Cortez and Vance tied at 34% each.

On the Republican side, speculation around the 2028 field remains fluid. Asked in October which Republicans might consider a future presidential run, President Donald Trump told reporters, โ€œWe have great peopleโ€ฆ We have JD, obviously, the vice president is great. I think [Secretary of State] Marcoโ€™s [Rubio] great. I think Iโ€™m not sure if anybody would run against those. I think if they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable. I really do. I believe that. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.โ€

Trump, who returned to the presidency in 2025 after previously serving from 2017 to 2021, remains subject to the constitutional limits of the 22nd Amendment, which states that โ€œno person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.โ€ The provision clearly bars any individual from winning a third term, but its application to Trumpโ€™s unique electoral history has become a matter of legal dispute.

Constitutional scholars and legal analysts differ on how the amendment should be interpreted in Trumpโ€™s case, particularly whether his two election victories โ€” in 2016 and 2024 โ€” preclude him from pursuing future campaigns. Several lawsuits filed in 2025 seek judicial rulings enforcing the 22nd Amendment against Trumpโ€™s eligibility to appear on future ballots. Those cases are pending in federal courts and are expected to draw appeals, potentially reaching the Supreme Court. (RELATED: President Trumpโ€™s Legal Battle With The Pulitzer Prize Board Escalates)

Vance Addresses Speculation About His Future

Vice President Vance has attempted to downplay discussions about his potential 2028 ambitions.

In an interview earlier this month with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance said, โ€œI would say that Iโ€™ve thought about what that moment might look like after the midterm elections. But I also, whenever I think about that, I try to put it out of my head and remind myself the American people elected me to do a job right now, and my job is to do it.โ€

Trump Breaks Silence On Bongino’s FBI Resignation

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    Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino announced Wednesday that he will step down from his post in January, marking the end of a remarkably impactfulโ€”but often controversialโ€”tenure aimed at restoring trust, transparency, and operational strength within Americaโ€™s chief federal law-enforcement agency.

    Bongino, a longtime conservative commentator, former NYPD officer, and Secret Service agent, made the announcement on X, where he thanked those who entrusted him with the role.

    โ€œI want to thank President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose,โ€ Bongino wrote.
    โ€œMost importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you.โ€

    The announcement confirms growing speculation within conservative media circles that Bongino, who rose to national prominence during President Trumpโ€™s first term, was preparing to return to broadcasting.

    Earlier Wednesday, President Trump suggested as much, praising Bonginoโ€™s service and signaling that a return to the airwaves was likely.

    โ€œDan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,โ€ Trump said, highlighting Bonginoโ€™s popularity among grassroots conservatives and his ability to communicate complex security issues in plain language. Trump did not specify a departure date.

    During his relatively short time at the FBI, Bongino became a central figure in the bureauโ€™s conservative-led reform movement. Supporters credit him with helping shift the agency toward greater transparency and away from the politicization many Republicans believe accelerated under previous administrations.

    FBI Director Kash Patel praised Bonginoโ€™s accomplishments in a statement on X:

    โ€œDan is the best partner I couldโ€™ve asked for in helping restore this FBI. He brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient, led the successful Summer Heat op, served as the peopleโ€™s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases like the pipe bomb investigation. And thatโ€™s only a small part of the work he went about every single day delivering for America,โ€ Patel wrote.

    โ€œHe not only completed his mission โ€“ he far exceeded it.โ€

    Supporters say Bonginoโ€™s tenure represented a rare moment when top leadership acknowledged the concerns of everyday Americansโ€”particularly conservativesโ€”who felt the bureau had strayed from its mission of equal justice under the law.

    Before joining the bureau, Bongino built a powerful following through his radio show, his podcast, and frequent appearances on Fox News. His direct, unapologetically pro-American brand of commentary made him one of the most recognizable voices on the right.

    He previously served as a New York City police officer and spent over a decade as a Secret Service agent protecting presidents from both parties. His combined law-enforcement background and media influence helped him bridge grassroots concerns with federal-level reform efforts.

    Today, Bongino commands 7 million followers on X, making him one of the most visible conservative voices in the country.

    Despite his successes, Bonginoโ€™s tenure wasnโ€™t without friction. Reports surfaced that he had been considering leaving the job as early as July following a clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the Epstein files.

    At the time, Bongino reportedly expressed concern that the bureau was not moving quickly enough to reveal key details to the public, echoing long-standing conservative criticisms of bureaucratic secrecy.

    Talk of his possible departure resurfaced again in August when then-Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joined the FBIโ€™s leadership team as co-deputy director, a move interpreted by some insiders as preparation for a transition.

    Though Bongino earned praise from colleagues for his efforts to reshape the FBI, many Republican voters know him best as a fighter in the media arenaโ€”someone unafraid to challenge establishment narratives, hold government power to account, and speak bluntly about issues ranging from government surveillance to election integrity.

    Before entering the bureau, he frequently used his platform to defend President Trump and to challenge the prevailing media narratives surrounding the 2020 election, the January 6th Capitol riot, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epsteinโ€™s death.

    His likely return to broadcastingโ€”just as the country enters a high-stakes election yearโ€”positions him once again as a major voice within the conservative movement.

    Jack Smith Claims He Has โ€˜Proof’ Trump Tried To Overturn 2020 Election

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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A stunning claim…

    Former Special Counsel Jack Smith claimed in closed-door congressional testimony on Wednesday that investigators had proof โ€œbeyond a reasonable doubtโ€ that Presidentย Donald Trumpย โ€œcriminallyโ€ conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

    Smithย made the remarks in his opening statement to lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

    โ€œI made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trumpโ€™s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,โ€ Smith said in his opening statement, which was obtained in advance by the Associated Press. โ€œWe took actions based on what the facts and the law required โ€” the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.

    Smith added that his probe had โ€œdeveloped powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place.โ€

    Smithโ€™s investigation, which began in 2022, focused on Trumpโ€™s alleged effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, as well as the classified documents that were stored at Mar-a-Lago.

    Charges were filed in both investigations, but later droppedย due to the longstanding DOJ policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

    President Trump has yet to comment on Smith’s bold accusation.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    See The First Look At ‘MELANIA’ Film

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    First Lady Melania Trump participates in the Senate Spouses Luncheon at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 21,2025. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

    First Lady Melania Trump is stepping back into the global spotlight with the release of MELANIA, a sweeping 104-minute cinematic film debuting in theaters worldwide on January 30, 2026. Fox News received the exclusive first preview, offering Americans an early look at what promises to be one of the most talked-about cultural releases of the election era.

    The film will premiere across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Israel, the UAE, and moreโ€”underscoring the international interest surrounding the Trump familyโ€™s historic return to the White House. Amazon will also launch a companion documentary series in the following months.

    โ€œFor the first time, global audiences are invited into theaters to witness this pivotal chapter unfold,โ€ Mrs. Trump told Fox News. โ€œThis is a private, unfiltered look at the 20 days leading up to the U.S. Presidential Inaugurationโ€”my journey through family, business, and philanthropy on the path to becoming First Lady.โ€

    The trailer, released exclusively to Fox News, opens with Mrs. Trump entering the U.S. Capitol Rotunda ahead of President Donald Trumpโ€™s second inauguration. With quiet resolve, dressed in her signature inaugural ensemble, she looks into the camera and says, โ€œHere we go again.โ€

    The trailer, released exclusively to Fox News, opens with Mrs. Trump entering the U.S. Capitol Rotunda ahead of President Donald Trumpโ€™s second inauguration. With quiet resolve, dressed in her signature inaugural ensemble, she looks into the camera and says, โ€œHere we go again.โ€

    Watch:

    A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Historic Moment

    MELANIA traces the first ladyโ€™s steps in the weeks leading up to inaugurationโ€”from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Florida and behind closed doors in Washington, D.C. Insiders say Mrs. Trump envisioned the project shortly after President Trumpโ€™s 2024 victory, beginning discussions with her team that same month.

    Her longtime advisor and agent Marc Beckman led negotiations with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, starting November 18, 2024. The project drew intense interest from major studios, including Disney, Netflix, and Paramount. Ultimately, Amazon and MGM secured rights with a record-setting $40 million license deal, now the largest documentary acquisition in history.

    Beckman told Fox News Digital he chose Amazon because they not only secured both the feature film and the series but also offered a full theatrical release, meeting every criterion the first lady sought.

    A Film That Breaks From the Documentary Mold

    Executive-produced by Melania Trump and Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media, with Brett Ratner (RatPac Entertainment) directing, the film avoids the typical documentary aesthetic. Sources say Mrs. Trump demanded a โ€œhighly cinematicโ€ lookโ€”an elevated, polished presentation that captures the gravity of the moment and her unique perspective on public life.

    The project follows the success of her 2025 memoir, Melania, which gave readers an intimate, personal look into her life, complete with never-before-seen photographs. The new film aims to extend that openness to a global audience.

    A Cultural Moment Republicans Will Be Watching

    As the country enters another pivotal year, MELANIA offers supporters an unprecedented, deeply personal glimpse into the woman who has become one of Americaโ€™s most intriguingโ€”and often misunderstoodโ€”public figures.

    Republican Who Voted to Impeach Trump Announces Reelection Plan

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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026.

    “This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse wrote in a statement.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.