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Secret Service Agent, Chinese Security Get Into Standoff During Trump Visit

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    Chinese officials repeatedly clashed with members of the American delegation on Thursday during President Donald Trump’s high-profile visit to China, creating several chaotic scenes involving the United States Secret Service, White House staffers, and members of the U.S. press corps.

    One tense confrontation unfolded when a Secret Service agent accompanying the White House press pool was blocked from entering a secured area by Chinese security officials because he was carrying a firearm — standard procedure for agents tasked with protecting American officials overseas.

    According to reports, Chinese authorities demanded the agent surrender his weapon before entering the area near President Trump’s motorcade. The agent refused, triggering a heated standoff that delayed the White House press pool for roughly 30 minutes as journalists attempted to follow the president’s movements through Beijing.

    Video from the scene showed frustrated American reporters arguing with Chinese officials as access remained restricted.

    “We have to go!” one reporter shouted during the delay.

    “U.S. press, we are going!” another yelled as journalists eventually pushed past security personnel to catch up with the presidential convoy.

    At one point, a person caught on the live feed described the unfolding confusion as a “sh*t show.”

    As the group moved toward the motorcade, additional Chinese officials reportedly rushed toward the American press contingent in an effort to stop them, though the journalists ultimately reached the convoy.

    The confrontation added to a growing sense of disorder surrounding portions of Trump’s visit to China, despite the carefully choreographed public optics displayed by Beijing earlier in the trip.

    In a separate incident Thursday, a female White House aide was reportedly knocked to the ground and trampled by Chinese reporters scrambling to enter a meeting room ahead of bilateral talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The aide suffered bruising but was not seriously injured.

    The clashes contrasted sharply with the lavish welcome Chinese officials staged for Trump upon his arrival Wednesday night. Beijing rolled out an elaborate reception for the American president as Trump began a closely watched diplomatic visit centered on trade negotiations, military tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and the broader U.S.-China power struggle.

    Trump spent much of Thursday meeting with Xi and senior Chinese officials before attending a formal banquet at the Great Hall of the People.

    “It was a fantastic day,” Trump said during remarks at the banquet. “And in particular, I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome.”

    “We had extremely positive and productive conversations and meetings today with the Chinese delegation earlier,” Trump added.

    The security confrontations, however, underscored the deep mistrust and competing protocols that continue to define relations between Washington and Beijing.

    Originally published on Official Trump Tracker. Republished with permission.

    National Intelligence Spokesperson Breaks Silence On Reported Federal Office Raid

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    Police image via Pixabay free images

    The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is pushing back forcefully on viral claims that the CIA conducted a “raid” on its office, calling the reporting false and urging clarification amid a swirl of online speculation.

    “This is false,” Olivia Coleman, a spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, wrote on the social platform X. “The CIA did not raid the DNI’s office.”

    The statement was a direct response to a now-deleted post from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who had amplified claims tied to comments from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

    Luna had alleged that materials connected to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy and the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program were removed from the National Reconnaissance Office in Virginia. She linked the matter to broader concerns about historical intelligence records and declassification efforts.

    According to its public records, the NRO periodically reviews collections tied to historically significant programs for potential declassification and public release, a routine process that can include older intelligence archives.

    “The reason why this is troubling … there was an executive order that the president directed the full declassification of JFK, but then also to the MK-ULTRA files. Famously the CIA said that all documents were released and other documents had been destroyed,” Luna said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight.”

    “So, these are allegedly those documents that apparently never existed,” she added.

    Luna also said she personally contacted CIA Director John Ratcliffe regarding the matter. In a follow-up post, she pushed back on interpretations of her comments and denied claims that she alleged a raid on Gabbard’s office.

    “I am noticing a few large accounts stating falsely that I claimed there was a raid on Tulsi Gabbard’s office by the CIA. This is completely false …” Luna wrote on X. “There is no clip or statement that exists. Why is there an orchestrated push for this narrative”

    “When Congress is notified of conflicting narratives from different agencies, i.e., the CIA and ODNI, it is our job to follow through to ensure documents are preserved and not destroyed,” she continued. “This is not an issue with Ratcliffe or Gabbard.”

    She added, “For people to act like the CIA doesn’t have a history of destroying documents is BIZARO-WORLD. Watch the clip for yourself. I am talking about what the whistleblower is saying under oath.”

    Luna, who chairs the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, has announced plans to hold a hearing on MK-ULTRA records later this month.

    The CIA program MK-ULTRA, launched in 1953, focused on behavioral modification research and has long been associated with controversy and conspiracy theories. According to University of Louisville archival records, the program has remained a recurring subject in public debate over intelligence agency transparency.

    Ex-Girlfriend Of Rep. Thomas Massie Alleges Congressman Offered $5K To Drop Lawsuit

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    By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Thomas Massie, CC BY-SA 2.0,

    An ex-girlfriend of Rep. Thomas Massie is alleging that the Kentucky Republican offered her $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination complaint tied to the office of one of his closest congressional allies, intensifying scrutiny of the lawmaker as he faces a high-stakes primary challenge backed by President Donald Trump.

    Cynthia West, a Florida social worker and school board candidate in Okaloosa County, made the claims in a video interview released Tuesday with Kentucky attorney Marcus Carey. West says she began dating Massie in 2024, months after the death of his wife of three decades, and that the relationship quickly became serious, including extensive travel together.

    According to West, Massie later helped arrange her employment in the office of Rep. Victoria Spartz despite her never formally applying for the role. She alleges she was terminated after about six weeks, shortly after ending her relationship with Massie.

    West has since filed a wrongful termination complaint connected to that employment, naming Spartz’s office and listing Massie as a witness. She says that after Massie learned of the complaint, he became angry and allegedly offered her $5,000 to withdraw it.

    Massie has strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and politically motivated. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, he said he never offered money to silence anyone and has consulted legal counsel as he considers his response.

    Spartz’s office confirmed West held a short-term probationary position, saying her employment was not extended due to “unsatisfactory job performance,” while declining to address the broader allegations.

    The dispute is unfolding as Massie faces a closely watched Republican primary challenge in Kentucky ahead of the May 19 election. Donald Trump has endorsed Massie’s opponent, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, escalating a long-running political feud between Trump and the libertarian-leaning congressman.

    Trump has repeatedly sought to reshape Republican primaries by backing challengers to incumbents he views as insufficiently loyal, and Massie has long been one of the more frequent GOP critics of Trump’s legislative agenda in the House. The president’s support for Gallrein has turned the race into a proxy battle over the party’s direction heading into the next election cycle.

    West, for her part, says she has not coordinated with Gallrein’s campaign or Trump’s political operation and denies being paid to make the allegations public.

    She also claims she was offered a $60,000 settlement through the Office of Congressional Ethics tied to her complaint, but rejected it because it included a nondisclosure agreement that would have barred her from speaking publicly about the matter. The Office of Congressional Ethics has not publicly confirmed the existence of such an offer.

    Massie has framed the allegations as part of a broader political attack campaign as he fights to defend his seat in a race that has drawn national attention and increasingly sharp intraparty divisions.

    READ NEXT: Thomas Massie Marries Former Congressional Staffer

    How Was Someone Able To Get A Loaded Gun Into Trump National While Trump Was Playing?

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    A top legal watchdog is going to federal court to uncover documents on a major breach of President Donald Trump’s security.

    The non-profit public interest law firm Judicial Watch announced in a statement that “it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for records related to an August 31, 2025, incident in which a club member allegedly carried a loaded semi-automatic handgun past Secret Service screening checkpoints at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia while President Donald Trump was on site.”

    “It’s very disturbing that a security lapse of this magnitude could occur, particularly given recent threats against the president,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The public has a right to know how this happened and what is being done to prevent it from happening again.”

    “According to reports, a club member was able to bring a loaded semi-automatic handgun onto the premises while Trump was present, after passing through Secret Service screening checkpoints. A Secret Service spokesperson said that handheld magnetometers were used instead of walkthrough devices when screening guests at the president’s golf resort, located about 25 miles northwest of the White House,” Judicial Watch reports.

    “The agent in charge of searching the guest’s bag at the Sterling golf facility was placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing review by the Secret Service,” Judicial Watch notes.

    Judicial Watch reports it “filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) failed to respond to a November 18, 2025, FOIA request for:”

    All records related to the internal investigation of the August 31, 2025, incident at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, in which a club member was able to get a semi-automatic hand gun into the club premises while the President was present without initial detection, including but not limited to investigative reports, agents’ notes, witness interview, audio-video recordings and other records. 

    All emails and text messages sent between members of the Presidential protective detail regarding the August 31, 2025, incident at the golf club.

    “Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts, including Butler, Pennsylvania Rally – July 13, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida – September 15, 2024; and most recently at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2026,” Judicial Watch points out.

    The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Great America News Desk.

    White House Explores 250 Pardons to Mark America’s 250th Birthday

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    President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    President Donald Trump is weighing an ambitious new wave of clemency that could see as many as 250 pardons issued either on his own birthday — Flag Day, June 14 — or as part of the nation’s July 4 celebration marking America’s 250th birthday, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.

    The proposal, still in what administration officials describe as “preliminary discussions,” would dramatically expand Trump’s already aggressive use of presidential pardon powers during his second term and further cement clemency as one of the defining features of his presidency.

    According to the report, White House officials are debating whether the pardons should coincide with Trump’s birthday celebration on June 14 — which also falls on Flag Day — or whether they should instead be tied directly to the nation’s semiquincentennial festivities on the Fourth of July.

    Some aides inside the White House are reportedly uneasy about the timing, warning that another major round of pardons ahead of the midterm elections could create political headaches for Republicans. Still, administration officials stressed that no final decision has been made and that Trump remains the ultimate authority on clemency matters.

    The possible move would fit neatly into Trump’s broader effort to put his personal stamp on America’s 250th birthday celebration. Since returning to office, Trump has championed a series of patriotic projects tied to the anniversary, including plans for a “National Garden of American Heroes” featuring 250 statues of iconic Americans such as George Washington, Ronald Reagan, and Jackie Robinson. He has also promoted “Patriot Games” athletic competitions for high school students and ordered renovations around national monuments in Washington.

    Historically, rulers and political leaders often used “jubilee” celebrations to grant mercy or forgiveness, a tradition Trump allies have increasingly referenced as justification for a broader use of presidential clemency powers.

    One of the administration officials helping oversee the current pardon operation is Trump-appointed pardon attorney Ed Martin, who earlier this year argued that pardons are an “essential” part of justice and pointed to historical examples of kings and popes granting mass clemency during anniversary celebrations.

    Trump’s second term has already featured some of the most controversial and sweeping pardons in modern presidential history.

    Most notably, Trump issued a broad pardon for many supporters charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot, a move that sparked outrage from Democrats and some Republicans alike. Critics accused Trump of rewarding political allies, while supporters argued he was correcting what they viewed as politically motivated prosecutions.

    Trump has also pardoned several high-profile figures tied to the cryptocurrency world and corporate fraud cases. Those granted clemency include former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, whose case became a rallying point for libertarian activists and parts of the crypto community.

    In another controversial case, Trump pardoned former Nikola executive Trevor Milton after Milton was convicted of defrauding investors.

    The administration’s willingness to entertain high-profile pardon requests has also fueled a surge in clemency applications nationwide. The Journal reported that more than 16,000 pardon requests were filed last year — the highest number recorded since at least 1937.

    Among those publicly seeking relief from Trump is disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, though Trump has publicly mocked the idea of pardoning him.

    There has also been speculation surrounding imprisoned Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell after her legal team floated the possibility of cooperation in exchange for clemency. So far, however, there is no indication Trump is considering such a move. Earlier releases tied to the Epstein investigation showed Trump praising Florida investigators for pursuing Jeffrey Epstein and describing Maxwell as “evil.”

    The looming possibility of another massive clemency push also revives comparisons to former President Joe Biden, who faced bipartisan criticism after commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 federal inmates during the final stretch of his presidency. Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, and his commutation of dozens of federal death row inmates generated particularly fierce backlash.

    Trump allies argue that Biden normalized expansive uses of executive clemency, opening the door for Trump to exercise the same authority even more aggressively during his second term.

    For now, administration officials say discussions remain fluid. But if Trump ultimately moves forward, the pardons would likely become one of the most politically explosive moments of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration — while simultaneously reinforcing Trump’s longstanding view that the presidency’s pardon power should be used far more aggressively than previous administrations were willing to do.

    Trump Administration Suspends Official After Explosive Hidden Camera Footage

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    The Trump White House has placed a senior administration official on leave after he was secretly recorded unloading on President Donald Trump in an undercover sting operation orchestrated by conservative activist James O’Keefe.

    Benjamin Ellisten, a senior budget analyst and funding manager working within the administration, was caught on hidden camera calling Trump a “madman” who is “f*cking it up for everybody” during a conversation with an undercover journalist tied to O’Keefe’s operation.

    The footage, which quickly exploded across conservative media and social platforms, appears to show Ellisten venting frustration over Trump’s leadership style, foreign policy decisions, and the administration’s internal operations — comments that ultimately cost him his White House role.

    A White House official confirmed to The Daily Caller that Ellisten has since been placed on administrative leave.

    “He has no direct access to the President or Senior Staff, and does not work on the White House campus,” the official told the outlet. “Such views expressed by the individual are not reflective of patriots who admirably serve in the Administration.”

    According to O’Keefe’s reporting, Ellisten had been employed by the White House since 2024.

    During the undercover conversation, Ellisten repeatedly blasted the president in strikingly personal terms.

    “He’s a madman,” Ellisten said. “Literally. He’s invincible. Nothing can stop him, and that’s dangerous.”

    At another point, he reportedly suggested Trump needed to be removed from office altogether.

    “He’s a mess,” Ellisten told the undercover journalist. “They gotta get rid of him.”

    Ellisten also took aim at Trump’s decision-making process, portraying the president as impulsive and reckless despite acknowledging that Trump does not drink alcohol.

    “The way his decisions are so erratic, you would think he drinks,” Ellisten said. “He doesn’t drink. And that’s what makes it so dangerous, that someone could be of sound mind and body, totally coherent, could just be so reckless in their decision-making. That’s scary.”

    The secretly recorded remarks are likely to further inflame concerns inside the administration about loyalty leaks and internal resistance from career staffers and lower-level political appointees — an issue Trump has railed against since his first term, when anonymous officials and bureaucratic infighting routinely made headlines.

    Ellisten also appeared to accuse the administration of profiting off geopolitical turmoil, floating speculation about insider trading tied to tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices.

    “The president knows that he affects how people react to the stock market,” Ellisten said. “So one of the things that looks like it’s going on, and going on a lot, is insider trading. Like, for instance, with the war going on in Iran, the price of oil is expensive.”

    No evidence was presented to support the allegation.

    The sting operation also snagged comments from Maxim Lott, a White House special assistant focused on domestic policy, who described the administration’s internal operations as “chaotic” and “uncontrolled.”

    “The decision-making processes are a little bit chaotic,” Lott said in the footage.

    “I think it’s just the overall tone that, like, you know, the government right now is a little bit uncontrolled,” he added. “It’s not gonna fix itself.”

    Lott, who previously worked as a producer for libertarian journalist John Stossel, also claimed lower-level staffers sometimes make policy calls based on what they believe Trump would support politically.

    “In theory, everything should sort of come from the president,” Lott said. “But it might come from the level below him, where they’re like, ‘I think I know the president well enough to say what he would say on this.’”

    He continued: “There’s no like, ‘Oh well, this will cost $10 million but save people $20 million.’ There’s like nothing like that, it’s just, ‘this feels like a good idea’ or ‘the base supports this,’ alright, just sign.”

    Unlike Ellisten, however, Lott defended himself after being contacted by O’Keefe’s team and insisted his comments were not meant as criticism of Trump or the administration.

    “I went out with an individual I thought was a genuine person, but it goes to show how insidious politics and this city can be,” Lott said in a statement. “Nothing I said was contradictory of this Administration, and I remain fully committed to carrying out its agenda.”

    The undercover recordings come as Trump’s White House has aggressively prioritized loyalty throughout the federal government, with administration officials repeatedly warning staffers that public attacks on the president or leaks to the media would not be tolerated.

    For Trump allies, the footage is likely to reinforce long-standing concerns about anti-Trump sentiment simmering beneath the surface inside Washington’s sprawling bureaucracy — even among officials serving within the administration itself.

    Stephen Miller Reportedly Sidelined By Trump Admin.

    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54346096651/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160407812

    White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller — long viewed as one of the chief architects of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration agenda — is reportedly losing influence inside the administration as other top officials gain the president’s ear.

    According to a new report from The Atlantic journalists Michael Scherer and Nick Miroff, Trump has privately expressed concern that Miller’s aggressive instincts sometimes go too far, marking a notable shift for one of the president’s most loyal and powerful longtime advisers.

    The report claims Trump “has also told others in recent weeks that he understands Miller sometimes goes too far.” The alleged change reportedly became more noticeable following unrest in Minneapolis and the death of protester Alex Pretti.

    Trump reportedly “recognized immediately after the second killing in Minneapolis, of the protester Alex Pretti, that the policy needed to shift.” Miller, however, took a far more confrontational tone, referring to Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” in the aftermath of the incident.

    For years, Miller has been one of the most influential figures in Trump’s orbit. The former Senate aide rose to prominence during Trump’s first campaign in 2016 and quickly became the driving force behind many of the administration’s toughest immigration policies, including travel bans, refugee restrictions, and mass deportation proposals.

    Unlike many Trump officials who cycled in and out of the administration, Miller built a uniquely durable relationship with the president. His fiery populist rhetoric and uncompromising stance on immigration made him a hero to many MAGA voters, while critics accused him of pushing excessively punitive policies.

    But according to The Atlantic, recent months have revealed growing divisions within the administration over how aggressively to pursue Trump’s immigration crackdown.

    The report states that Trump backed away from several Miller-backed initiatives after consulting with border czar Tom Homan and other officials. One major example involved a proposal to slash seasonal worker visas by 50%, a move that reportedly alarmed business interests and other administration figures.

    “The new secretary is listening to Tom Homan and Rodney Scott before he is ever listening to Stephen Miller,” one senior administration official told Scherer and Miroff.

    Another former official summed up Miller’s changing position bluntly: “The president knows who he is, period.”

    The Atlantic also reported that while there have been no known clashes between Homan and Miller, the two men have promoted very different strategies for carrying out Trump’s mass-deportation agenda.

    Miller has reportedly pushed for maximizing deportation numbers as quickly as possible, while Homan has favored a more targeted approach focused on illegal immigrants with criminal records.

    “There have been no accounts of clashes or tension between Homan and Miller, and the former has even praised the latter as ‘one of the most brilliant people I’ve met in my entire life,’” the report noted.

    Still, Homan’s influence appears to be growing.

    According to the report, the Department of Homeland Security has quietly reversed several changes Miller pushed earlier in Trump’s second term. One key example involved accelerated training for new ICE recruits.

    Miller had reportedly advocated for shortening ICE academy training to roughly eight weeks in an effort to rapidly expand deportation operations. Veteran officers reportedly warned that the abbreviated training created serious concerns, especially as dropout rates surged among recruits.

    “In recent weeks, ICE reverted to a four-and-a-half-month training program similar to its former academy course,” the report stated, citing three officials familiar with the matter.

    Despite the apparent shift, insiders told The Atlantic that Miller remains deeply embedded in Trump’s inner circle and is not expected to leave the administration anytime soon.

    “White House insiders said that Miller remains a top adviser to the president, that he has a singular relationship to Trump built over the past decade, and that his job is not in jeopardy,” Scherer and Miroff reported.

    The claims stand in stark contrast to earlier reporting that portrayed Miller as perhaps the single most influential policy figure in Trump’s second administration.

    A bombshell report published by The New York Times in March suggested Miller had effectively become the driving force behind major Justice Department priorities.

    “It was clear from the start that Mr. Miller, who is not a lawyer, would exercise control inside the department, current and former Trump aides said,” the Times reported at the time.

    Whether Miller’s reported decline in influence proves temporary or permanent remains unclear. But the emerging picture suggests that even some of Trump’s most trusted allies are now competing for influence as the administration navigates mounting political and public pressure over immigration enforcement and domestic unrest.

    White House Counterterrorism Official Says Trump Left Instructions For VP In Case He’s Assassinated

    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    White House counterterrorism official Sebastian Gorka revealed Wednesday that President Donald Trump has already prepared written instructions for Vice President JD Vance in the event he is assassinated — a striking disclosure that underscores the persistent security threats surrounding the president during his second term.

    Speaking on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast with host Miranda Devine, Gorka said Trump has contingency plans in place should the unthinkable happen.

    “There is a letter in the drawer in the Resolute Desk that is addressed to the vice president should something happen to him,” Gorka said during the interview.

    The revelation came as Devine raised concerns about Trump’s planned diplomatic travel and the dangers posed by hostile foreign powers, particularly Communist China.

    Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions, Devine described Trump as the one leader standing in the way of China’s global dominance.

    “So they have every reason in the world to take him out,” she said.

    Gorka, however, insisted the administration has extensive security precautions in place, even if he declined to discuss specifics publicly.

    “We have protocols, trust me. Not ones I can discuss, but we have protocols,” he replied.

    The comments offered a rare glimpse into the extraordinary security concerns surrounding Trump after surviving multiple assassination attempts and threats over the past several years.

    Trump himself has previously acknowledged taking threats against his life seriously — particularly from Iran. In January, the president revealed he had left “very firm instructions” for how the United States should respond if Tehran successfully assassinated him.

    “If they did that, they would be obliterated,” Trump said at the time. “I’ve left instructions — if they do it, they get blown up. There won’t be anything left.”

    Federal officials have repeatedly warned of Iranian plots targeting Trump and former administration officials following the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

    But the most immediate threats against Trump have come on American soil.

    During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. One bullet grazed Trump’s ear as Secret Service agents rushed him off stage, while rallygoer Corey Comperatore was killed shielding his family from the gunfire.

    The shocking attack triggered widespread scrutiny of the Secret Service and led to multiple congressional investigations into security failures surrounding the event.

    Just weeks later, authorities arrested another suspect after he allegedly camped near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, armed with a rifle and tactical gear while reportedly waiting for the president.

    Then in April, a separate would-be attacker allegedly attempted to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton before being intercepted by federal agents.

    The repeated threats have dramatically reshaped Trump’s security posture during his second term, with officials reportedly operating under heightened protective measures both domestically and abroad.

    Gorka’s disclosure about the letter to Vance adds another layer to that reality — signaling that the White House is actively preparing for worst-case scenarios even as Trump continues to project confidence publicly.

    Watch the full podcast:

    Trump To Have Annual Checkup At Walter Reed This Month

    President Donald Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud at the Royal Court Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    President Donald Trump will have his annual medical checkup at a hospital near Washington on May 26, the White House said Monday night.

    The oldest person ever inaugurated as President, Trump, turns 80 in June. Trump traveled to China for a summit with that country’s leader, Xi Jinping this week.

    Read the full statement from the White House:

    President Donald J. Trump will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26 for his annual dental and medical evaluations, and to visit with the men and women of the military. This will include the President’s routine annual dental and medical assessments as part of his regular preventive health care. The President will also spend time with service members and staff at Walter Reed in recognition of their service, professionalism, and dedication to the nation. Additional details regarding the President’s schedule will be released at a later date.

    In March, the White House doctor said the president was taking a prescription “preventative skin treatment” to treat irritation on his neck. 

    Last July, the White House said Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition tied to swelling in the legs, but that doctors had otherwise found the president to be in “excellent health.”

    Inside Stephen Miller’s Push To Preserve Political Power

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    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54346096651/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160407812

    Few political advisers in modern American politics have maintained influence as persistently as Stephen Miller. Long known as the architect behind many of President Donald Trump’s most hardline immigration policies, Miller is once again at the center of intense political scrutiny.

    New reports published by The Daily Beast and widely circulated through media outlets including AOL News describe what insiders characterize as a carefully managed effort by Miller to preserve — and potentially expand — his political influence within the Trump movement.

    According to those reports, Miller has reportedly reduced his public profile while continuing to exercise substantial behind-the-scenes control over immigration strategy and White House operations. Critics describe the effort as a “shadow influence campaign,” while allies argue he remains one of the administration’s most effective policy strategists.

    The story has reignited broader questions about executive power, political loyalty networks, and the role of unelected advisers in shaping federal policy.

    The Reports Behind “Stephen Miller’s Secret Plot to Cling on to Power”

    The current controversy emerged after investigative reporting suggested Miller had intentionally stepped back from public visibility while maintaining substantial operational authority behind the scenes.

    According to reporting cited by The Daily Beast’s PunchUp investigations unit, several senior administration officials claimed Miller’s apparent “retreat” from media appearances was strategic rather than accidental.

    Claims Reported by Media Outlets

    The reports allege that:

    • Miller continues participating in high-level immigration discussions
    • He maintains influence over Department of Homeland Security operations
    • Public-facing responsibilities have shifted toward other officials
    • Internal strategy meetings reportedly still center around Miller’s priorities
    • Political allies remain embedded across federal agencies

    Importantly, many of these claims rely on anonymous sources familiar with internal discussions. No public evidence has emerged proving unlawful conduct or formal attempts to bypass constitutional processes.

    The Department of Homeland Security publicly denied suggestions of internal conflict, stating officials work collaboratively to implement administration priorities.

    The “Quiet Power” Strategy

    One of the most discussed aspects of the latest reporting is the idea that Miller intentionally reduced his public visibility.

    Political analysts say this approach reflects a broader strategy often used by influential White House advisers: remain operationally powerful while avoiding media backlash.

    Reported Strategic Changes

    Public RoleBehind-the-Scenes Activity
    Fewer TV appearancesContinued policy meetings
    Reduced public interviewsCoordination with immigration officials
    Lower social media profileInternal strategy influence
    Delegated public messagingMaintained advisory authority

    Critics argue the strategy allows controversial policy initiatives to continue without attracting the same level of public scrutiny.

    Supporters counter that Miller’s reduced visibility merely reflects an effort to focus on operational efficiency rather than cable news appearances.

    The Role of Tom Homan and DHS Leadership

    Several reports suggest Miller’s influence now overlaps significantly with other immigration hardliners, including Tom Homan.

    Some insiders described Miller and Homan as operating “in lockstep” on immigration strategy.

    The reports also referenced tensions surrounding leadership appointments within DHS and ICE.

    Key Issues Reportedly Under Debate

    • ICE leadership succession
    • Deportation targets
    • Enforcement visibility
    • Recruitment and training standards
    • Public communications strategy

    However, official government statements have rejected narratives of dysfunction or internal rivalry.

    Facts vs. Analysis

    To maintain clarity, it is important to separate verified reporting from interpretation.

    Verified Facts

    • Stephen Miller remains an influential Trump adviser
    • He has played a major role in immigration policy since 2016
    • Multiple outlets reported he reduced public appearances
    • Administration officials confirmed continued coordination between Miller and DHS leadership
    • Internal debates reportedly exist regarding immigration strategy

    Analysis and Interpretation

    • Claims of a “secret plot” are interpretive descriptions, not legal findings
    • Allegations about power consolidation rely heavily on anonymous sourcing
    • Assertions about long-term political ambitions remain speculative
    • No evidence has emerged suggesting unconstitutional activity

    This distinction matters because politically charged headlines often blur the line between factual reporting and analytical framing.

    Conclusion

    The debate surrounding Miller’s role reflects broader tensions inside modern American politics — especially over immigration, executive authority, and the growing role of influential advisers operating outside the public spotlight.

    Verified reporting confirms that Miller remains deeply involved in immigration policy discussions and maintains substantial influence within Trump-aligned political circles.

    As the political landscape continues to evolve heading into the final stretch of another highly contested election cycle, Miller’s growing influence is likely to remain under intense scrutiny from supporters, critics, and media organizations alike.

    For now, one thing remains clear: despite reducing his public profile, Stephen Miller remains one of the most consequential — and controversial — political strategists in Washington.

    This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.