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Trump Responds After Iranian General Threatens To Retaliate

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President Donald Trump takes questions after signing Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

An Iranian general vowed to respond “decisively and destructively” to any threats from President Trump.

“We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they carry out their threats,” Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told state media following U.S. strikes over the weekend against the Tehran-backed terrorist group, according to Reuters. 

“We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world. We announce it if we attack anywhere,” Salami was quoted as saying by ABC News. 

U.S. Central Command said Saturday it had “initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation.”  

Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday that he “ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen.” 

“It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden,” Trump continued. “The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times.” 

Trump wrote that the “relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.” 

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” his post concluded. 

The large-scale campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen will be “unrelenting” until the Iran-backed proxies pledge to back off U.S. assets, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Sunday. 

Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account that any future attacks would be viewed as having come directly from Tehran:

Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN. Any further attack or retaliation by the “Houthis” will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there. Iran has played “the innocent victim” of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control. They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, “Intelligence.”

Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!

DONALD J. TRUMP,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

According to the US Treasury Department, Iran launders funds to the Houthi rebels that the group uses to finance strikes against Israel and other US allies.

Hannity Backs Biden’s Plan To Cut Mics At Debates To Curtail Trump’s Aggression

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    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Shortly before Joe Biden and Donald Trump agreed to presidential debates in June and September on Wednesday morning, Sean Hannity appeared on “Fox & Friends” to hail the incumbent president’s unexpected proposal for a debate as “excellent news.”

    Hannity even backed Biden’s suggestion to mute a candidate’s microphone if they aren’t answering a question. The Fox News host argued that this would reduce Trump’s “aggressiveness.” Hannity maintained that Trump’s combative behavior and taunting during the first 2020 debate with Biden likely hurt him.

    He expects that this time will be different. Addressing the new format, Hannity said, “This will put rails in place so that one person talks at a time, and the more Joe talks, I think the worse he does.”

    “I think Donald Trump will wipe the floor with him, and I don’t care if we get the State of the Union jacked up Joe with caffeine, Red Bull, or whatever, or we get regular Joe that could barely walk off the stage last night.”

    As Mediaite reports:

    In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Biden needled Trump over his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan and said he beat him in two debates in 2020.

    “Make my day, pal,” the president said.

    Trump responded to Biden’s proposal by accepting on Truth Social and calling Biden the “worst debater I have ever faced.”

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    MTG Says ‘I Do’ As Her Next Political Move Takes Shape

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    By The White House - https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1925525961656717605/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=178898214

    Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene married conservative media personality Brian Glenn in Las Vegas on Tuesday, beginning a new chapter after her dramatic break with President Donald Trump and departure from Congress.

    “Last night, surrounded by our families, @brianglenntv and I said ‘I do,’” Greene announced Wednesday on X, sharing several photographs from the ceremony.

    The images showed Greene carrying a colorful bouquet and wearing a white wedding dress as she embraced Glenn, a former White House correspondent for the conservative Real America’s Voice network.

    The couple held their ceremony at the Bellagio’s Terrazza di Sogno after having dinner at Spago, according to TMZ. Family members joined the newlyweds as they celebrated by playing craps, roulette and slot machines inside the resort.

    Clark County records reportedly show that Greene and Glenn applied for a marriage license on July 24.

    The pair announced their engagement in December, shortly before Greene’s departure from Washington.

    “She said ‘yes,’” Glenn wrote at the time.

    “Happily ever after!!!” Greene responded. “I love you @brianglenntv!!!”

    Trump’s Cutting Remark

    Glenn stepped down from his position at Real America’s Voice in May, one week after Trump took a public swipe at Greene while praising Glenn inside the Oval Office.

    “You know, you act so good. I love this guy. He’s a great guy, even though I don’t love his girlfriend too much,” Trump said after Glenn asked him a question, according to Mediaite.

    When Glenn later announced that he was leaving the network, he said he wanted to focus on his health, neglected family relationships and his future with Greene.

    “And of course, Marjorie and I, planning a wedding likely before the end of the year,” Glenn told Real America’s News host Eric Bolling. “Focus on that, but really focus on each other.”

    The couple reportedly met at a Trump rally in 2022 and began dating in 2023 after their respective marriages ended.

    From Trump Loyalist To Fierce Critic

    The wedding follows a tumultuous political year for Greene, who entered Congress in 2021 and quickly became one of Trump’s most recognizable and combative supporters.

    That alliance collapsed in spectacular fashion in late 2025.

    Greene publicly challenged the president over his foreign policy, the conflict in Gaza, health insurance costs and the release of government records connected to Jeffrey Epstein. She also accused Republican leaders of sidelining Congress and allowing bills she championed to sit “collecting dust.”

    Trump withdrew his endorsement and branded Greene a “traitor,” while signaling that he would support a primary challenger against her in Georgia’s deeply Republican 14th Congressional District.

    Greene responded by announcing that she would resign on Jan. 5, 2026—approximately one year before the end of her term.

    “I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for,” she wrote in her resignation statement, according to CBS News.

    “I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better,” Greene added.

    The resignation temporarily narrowed the Republican Party’s already fragile House majority and ended Greene’s five-year career on Capitol Hill.

    Her feud with Trump, however, did not end there. Greene has continued criticizing the president’s foreign policy and accusing Republican leaders of abandoning the “America First” voters who put them in power.

    In June, she declared that she was finished supporting what she called the “America LAST Republican Party,” while stressing that she had no intention of becoming a Democrat.

    Is A Political Comeback Coming?

    Despite leaving Congress, Greene may not be finished with politics.

    TIME reported in November that Greene had privately discussed the possibility of running for president in 2028 with allies. Greene did not publicly confirm the report or announce a campaign.

    More recently, she revealed that she has participated in conversations about launching a new political party capable of challenging both Republicans and Democrats.

    “I am in talks with people and there are serious conversations happening, looking at what are the mechanics of that and the reality of it,” Greene told Piers Morgan in June, according to Mediaite.

    Greene said such an effort could unite “serious players from the right and the left” around what she described as a genuinely America-focused movement, although she acknowledged that building a competitive third party could take multiple election cycles.

    The former congresswoman has also launched a video series called “Life With MTG,” allowing her to remain visible and continue weighing in on national politics from outside Washington.

    For now, Greene insists she does not miss Congress and is enjoying what she calls “Normal People World.” But her ongoing political commentary, reported interest in a presidential campaign and involvement in potential third-party organizing suggest her time outside the arena may not be permanent.

    Even Trump appeared to leave that possibility open after her resignation.

    “It’s not going to be easy for her” to revive her political career, Trump told NBC News in November. “But I’d love to see that.”

    He added that Greene first needed to “take a little rest.”

    With her congressional career behind her and her Las Vegas wedding now complete, Greene may soon have to decide whether that rest is coming to an end.

    Congressman Issues Bitter Response To Treasury Department’s 250th United States Anniversary Coin Proposal

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      The claws are coming out…

      A New York City Congressman had a less-than-kind response to a proposal to feature President Donald Trump on a commemorative coin for the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Independence.

      The Treasury Department said it is working on a $1 coin featuring President Trump’s image to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence next year, although the design isn’t final.  

      A U.S. Treasury official on Friday shared a preliminary design of the coin featuring Mr. Trump.

      “No fake news here. These first drafts honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS are real,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach wrote in a social media post on Friday, which included drawings of the coin. “Looking forward to sharing more soon, once the obstructionist shutdown of the United States government is over.”

      The obverse, or heads, side of the coin features Mr. Trump’s profile, while the tails side depicts the president with his fist raised and a U.S. flag flying behind him, which is reminiscent of the photo taken after a failed assassination attempt on the president in Pennsylvania last year. The tails side also has the words “fight fight fight” emblazoned over Mr. Trump’s image. 

      In a statement to CBS News, a Treasury spokesperson said the mockup of the coin shared in Beach’s post reflects a draft and that the design isn’t final. The White House didn’t immediately return requests for comment. 

      “While a final $1 dollar coin design has not yet been selected to commemorate the United States’ semiquincentennial, this first draft reflects well the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, even in the face of immense obstacles,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to sharing more soon.”

      While federal law prohibits the U.S. Treasury from issuing currency with the image of either a living former or current president, there may be more leeway with commemorative coins produced by the U.S. Mint. Currency is produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, while commemorative coins are produced by the U.S. Mint, which is part of the Treasury Department.

      Under a 2021 law, the Treasury is authorized to issue $1 commemorative coins to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

      Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said on Friday that he plans to introduce the TRUMP Act in hopes of blocking the proposal.

      The TRUMP Act, which stands for The Restrict Ugly Money Portraits Act, aims to prohibit any president from issuing currency with their own likeness and requires U.S. currency to only feature deceased individuals.

      “America’s money should only feature big, beautiful faces — not big, ugly faces,” said Rep. Torres in a statement. 

      Report: Trump Has Narrowed His VP Search to Four Candidates

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        Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

        Is Donald Trump close to selecting his running mate?

        While the former president still has months to pick his next potential vice president Axios reports the 2024 contender has already narrowed the pool of candidates to four.

        According to Axios, Trump is searching for a running mate with ferocious loyalty but that doesn’t outshine him. Sources close to Trump say Kari Lake is a leading contender but her rising political profile could deter him from selecting her.

        Lake, who lost the race for Arizona governor in November, has been rumored to be eyeing a Senate run in 2024 and has been considered a potential future White House contender. Axios reports that the Arizona Republican would likely be assumed to be angling for president from the day she entered the White House which could deter Trump from selecting her.

        Sources close to the 45th President said another strong fit for a potential VP choice would be Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. However, Gov. Sanders has been hesitant to openly endorse Trump’s latest White House campaign.

        The New York Times reported on March 4 that Trump is having difficulty garnering public support from former allies, noting that Trump was “disappointed” after Huckabee Sanders, his former White House press secretary, reportedly said she would not yet publicly support him. (RELATED: Trump Denies Asking GOP Governor for Endorsement)

        Former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is also being eyed as a strong choice for vice president.

        However, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung says it’s still too early to speculate on Trump’s VEEP choices.

        “Anyone who thinks they know what President Trump is going to do is seriously misinformed and trying to curry favor with ‘potential’ V.P. candidates.”

        “President Trump will choose his running mate on his own time, and those who are playing the media game are doing so at their own peril.”

        Axios also noted that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has also been included in vice presidential discussions.

        VP Vance Predicts ‘Dumbest’ Democrat Candidate Will Secure Nomination In 2028

        Vice President JD Vance took aim at the Democratic Party’s likely 2028 presidential contenders during a lighthearted but pointed exchange on Fox News, joking that the party’s “dumbest” candidate is most likely to emerge from the primary.

        In an exclusive interview released Wednesday on Jesse Watters Primetime, Watters raised speculation about California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s national ambitions, noting the governor’s frequent media appearances and rumored White House aspirations.

        “Gavin Newsom, obviously, is running for president. Have you seen this guy cross his legs? Have you ever seen anyone cross their legs like that?” Watters asked jokingly.

        “My legs don’t cross like that, Jesse,” Vance replied with a laugh. “You can interpret that however you want to.”

        Watters went on to frame the looming Democratic contest as a showdown between Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris.

        “Gavin and Kamala are on a collision course,” Watters said. “Who’s gonna win?”

        “The dumbest candidate will probably win,” Vance quipped. “That’s my guess with the Democratic Party.”

        Vance argued that the current Democratic bench reflects deeper structural problems within the party, particularly its fixation on identity politics over competence.

        “I mean, look, the Democrats have a couple of big issues, and one is that they lean so far into wokeism that they can’t see the obviousness of the fact, which is that Kamala Harris is not qualified to be president of the United States,” Vance said.

        “That’s why she got the vice presidential nomination. That’s why she got the presidential nomination. This is who Kamala Harris is.”

        Vance contrasted Harris with Newsom, describing the California governor as emblematic of failed progressive governance.

        “Now, the flip side is, I think you have an unbelievably corrupt and incompetent governor in Gavin Newsom,” he said. “The fact that those are the two frontrunners just suggests how deeply deranged the Democrat Party is. Let them fight it out. We’ll figure it out.”

        A Weak Democratic Bench for 2028

        While Newsom and Harris dominate early speculation, Democrats face a thin and fractured 2028 field. Other frequently mentioned names include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—each of whom carries significant liabilities with general-election voters. Many Democrats privately acknowledge that the party lacks a unifying figure with broad national appeal, particularly as voters continue to recoil from progressive economic and cultural policies.

        Republicans, by contrast, are positioning themselves as the party of stability, affordability, and public safety heading into the next election cycle.

        Cost of Living and Accountability

        Watters noted that Democrats are expected to campaign heavily on cost-of-living issues in upcoming elections, a strategy Vance dismissed as deeply hypocritical.

        “That’s a pot-meet-kettle situation,” Vance argued, pointing to Democratic-led policies that fueled inflation, higher energy costs, and housing shortages.

        He credited the Trump administration with reversing those trends.

        “We haven’t even been in office for a year, and you’ve already seen prices start to come down. You’ve seen rents start to come down. You’ve seen groceries leveling off,” Vance said.

        “Is there more work to do? Absolutely. But the people who are going to do that work is the Trump administration, is the president of the United States, who is solving the Democrats’ affordability crisis.”

        “You don’t give power back to the very people who set the house on fire,” he added. “You give more power to the person who put the fire out.”

        Impeachment Politics

        When asked whether Democrats would attempt to impeach President Trump again if they regain control of Congress, Vance said such a move would be predictable—and revealing.

        “I’m sure he’ll get impeached,” Vance said. “Look, they have nothing to actually run on or govern on.”

        “Their entire obsessive focus of that party is they hate Donald Trump,” he continued. “So, if they ever get power, are they going to lower Americans’ taxes? No. Are they going to make your life more affordable? No. Are they going to solve the crime crisis? No.”

        “What they’re going to do is they’re going to spend all their time and all of your money trying to get Donald Trump.”

        Vance urged voters to focus on results rather than partisan theatrics.

        “I think the American people should vote for the people who want to make their life more affordable, who want to make their neighborhoods safer,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to deliver every single day.”

        Newsom Responds With a Meme

        Newsom’s office responded to the interview with a digitally altered image of Vance crossing his legs in an exaggerated pose, captioned: “We all know JD copies Daddy.”

        Republican Triumphs As Florida’s Special Congressional Race Ends Surprisingly Close

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          Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

          What were once expected to be safe Republican holds turned into unexpected battlegrounds, at least Tuesday night. In two key Florida special congressional races, Democratic turnout surged, tightening margins in districts that previously leaned solid red—but in the end it wasn’t enough.

          Republican state Senator Randy Fine has officially won the special election for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, defeating Democratic challenger Josh Weil in a closely watched race that drew national attention. The election, held on April 1, 2025, fills the seat vacated by former Congressman Michael Waltz, who left office to become President Trump’s national security advisor.

          Fine, who secured a commanding lead in the Republican primary, ran a campaign focused on border security, protecting Second Amendment rights and fully backing Trump’s America First agenda. His campaign received a boost from a high-profile endorsement by President Trump, helping to energize Republican turnout in the final stretch.

          The race was seen as a critical bellwether for GOP momentum heading into next fall, especially with the House majority hanging in the balance. Fine’s win is expected to strengthen the Republican hold in Congress, though Democrats showed surprising competitiveness in a district previously considered reliably red.

          With his victory, Fine will now head to Washington, where he’s expected to align closely with Trump’s legislative goals and be a reliable vote for the conservative agenda.

          Early voting data showed Republican advantages shrinking in the Sunshine’s States First and Sixth Congressional Districts dramatically compared to last November, raising alarm bells within GOP circles and prompting calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach to avoid costly losses.

          With control of the House hanging by a thread, these special elections became a critical test of Republican turnout strength—and a clear warning that Democrats aren’t sitting this cycle out.

          Fueled by Trump’s ambitious agenda and determined to redeem themselves after last year’s disappointing performance, Democrats appear highly motivated, closing gaps in traditionally red districts and forcing the GOP to fight harder than expected.

          The results could send a powerful signal about which party has the energy heading into November—and whether Republicans can maintain the momentum needed to defend their historically narrow House majority.

          Trump Announces Plan To Drop Sanctions On Syria

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          By The White House from Washington, DC - President Trump and The First Lady Participate in an Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony, Public Domain,

          President Donald Trump announced the United States will soon drop sanctions against Syria.

          During lengthy remarks on Tuesday, Trump laid out his vision for the Middle East, sharing a major announcement: He intends to drop sanctions against Syria.

          “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said in a speech in Saudi Arabia, his first stop on the first international tour of his second term in office. 

          “In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that we must all hope will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” he said. “So I say good luck, Syria.”

          The nation was cut off from the global financial system under ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s government, imposed during 14 years of civil war. 

          Trump called the sanctions “brutal and crippling” but “important” at the time.

          Trump said both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan had encouraged him to lift the sanctions. 

          “Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump quipped. 

          U.S. sanctions had slapped financial penalties on any foreign individual or company that provided material support to the Syrian government and prohibited anyone in the U.S. from dealing in any Syrian entity, including oil and gas, and Syrian banks were effectively cut off from global financial systems. 

          Trump also revealed he has invited Saudi Arabia to join his historic Abraham Accords.

          “It has been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords,” Trump said at a Saudi Arabia investment conference. “And it’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia, a place I have so much respect for … will soon be joining the Abraham Accords. I think it will be a tremendous tribute to your country.”

          Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, at the end of his first term in office. Now, he is hoping to see Saudi Arabia join it as well.

          During lengthy remarks, Trump laid out his vision for the Middle East. Minutes later, he made a second major announcement: He intends to drop sanctions against Syria.

          Former Trump Staffer Demands Susie Wiles Resign After GOP Midterm Disaster

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            White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles delivers remarks during the Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Sunday, September 21, 2025.(Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

            A former Trump administration staffer is calling for White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to step down following Republicans’ devastating midterm election losses, arguing that the president’s longtime political adviser has failed to translate her campaign success into effective White House leadership.

            Caroline Sunshine, who previously served in the Trump administration, delivered the blistering assessment Wednesday during an appearance on Fox News’s Jesse Watters Primetime, declaring that Wiles should resign before President Donald Trump is forced to make the decision himself.

            “I’m gonna say publicly what a lot of people are saying privately: Susie Wiles needs to resign,” Sunshine told host Jesse Watters, according to The Hill.

            “She needs to offer her resignation to the president before he has to ask for it. Her campaign skills have not translated into governing,” Sunshine continued.

            The remarks come as Republicans grapple with the fallout from Tuesday’s elections, which saw Democrats capture control of both chambers of Congress and deliver a significant blow to Trump’s political agenda.

            Sunshine acknowledged Wiles’s pivotal role in Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign but argued that the same accountability should apply following the party’s latest setbacks.

            “Susie was behind the historic win in 2024, and she deserved credit for it and got the top job for it,” Sunshine said.

            She argued that Wiles must now accept responsibility for a historic defeat that has jeopardized Republican control of the Senate and raised serious questions about the party’s prospects heading into the 2028 presidential election.

            Sunshine specifically pointed to the unexpectedly competitive Senate race in Mississippi, where Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith faced a strong challenge from Democrat Scott Colom.

            The race remained uncalled in the reporting cited by The Hill, with Colom holding a narrow lead.

            Sunshine warned that retaining the same White House leadership could lead to further Republican defeats.

            “I think if she loves and respects the president and his legacy, she’ll do the right thing and step aside because on the current trajectory, we can’t win in 2028 if we keep going down this current lane,” she said.

            The former administration official also blamed failures in political strategy, communications and staffing for the election results.

            “And a lot of this was staff failure, a lot of this was strategy and messaging failure,” Sunshine said. “It’s the chief of staff’s job to manage the staff.”

            Sunshine’s criticism extended beyond her appearance with Watters.

            During a separate Fox News election broadcast, she described the Republican losses as preventable and called for additional members of Trump’s political team to resign.

            “Tonight was not a failure for the president,” Sunshine argued, characterizing the results as a warning from Trump’s supporters about the administration’s direction.

            She maintained that the White House needed new personnel willing to respond to the concerns expressed by Republican voters, according to Media Matters’ transcript of the broadcast.

            The public demand for Wiles’s resignation follows weeks of speculation about her future in the administration.

            In October, Politico reported that Trump had privately consulted political allies about Wiles’s performance and discussed potential replacements.

            Among the names reportedly considered were Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, New York Yankees President Randy Levine, special envoy Steve Witkoff, federal housing official Bill Pulte and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

            Separate reporting from The Washington Post described growing competition among senior administration figures amid expectations that Wiles could depart following the elections.

            Trump, however, has repeatedly rejected suggestions that his chief of staff is on her way out.

            Responding to the Politico report last month, the president dismissed the speculation as false and declared that Wiles had his “COMPLETE confidence.”

            In a subsequent interview with CNN, Trump went even further, saying there was “zero chance” he was considering replacing her.

            “Susie is here and she’s gonna be here for a long time,” Trump told CNN’s Kristen Holmes.

            The president has consistently praised Wiles, who became the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff after helping guide his return to the presidency in 2024.

            Not everyone in Trump’s orbit has embraced the speculation about her departure.

            Semafor reported in October that numerous administration officials and advisers doubted Trump would remove Wiles, with some suggesting the rumors were being fueled by individuals seeking to improve their own standing within the White House.

            Still, the election results have intensified scrutiny of the president’s senior advisers.

            The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Republicans were increasingly turning on one another following the losses, with disputes emerging over the administration’s handling of the Iran war, economic concerns and the party’s broader political strategy.

            Sunshine’s remarks add to that growing debate over who should be held accountable for the Republican setbacks.

            For Trump, the controversy presents a difficult political decision: stand behind one of his most trusted advisers or consider a leadership shake-up as his administration prepares to confront a Democratic-controlled Congress.

            Despite the mounting criticism, Trump has not publicly indicated that he intends to remove Wiles.

            Republicans Question Trump Over $1.8B DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

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            The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

            President Trump’s newly created “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is already triggering backlash on Capitol Hill, including from some Republicans, as critics question whether the unprecedented program could become a vehicle for rewarding political allies under the banner of correcting alleged government abuses.

            The Department of Justice announced Monday that it would establish a $1.776 billion compensation fund designed to provide relief for individuals who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the federal government under the Biden administration.

            Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is intended to create a formal process for people who believe they were victims of government “weaponization” or “lawfare.”

            “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said in a DOJ statement. “As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

            According to the DOJ, the fund will be authorized to issue both formal apologies and financial compensation to approved claimants. The department stated that there is “no partisan requirement” to file claims, and any unspent funds will eventually return to the federal government.

            The five-member commission overseeing the fund will be appointed by the DOJ, with one member selected in consultation with congressional leadership. President Trump will also retain the authority to remove members and appoint replacements through the attorney general.

            Exactly who qualifies for compensation remains unclear.

            The administration has not outlined specific eligibility standards, nor has it identified who may ultimately benefit from the program. Questions have also surfaced regarding whether individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot — including those later pardoned or whose sentences were commuted by Trump — could receive compensation.

            Asked Monday whether Jan. 6 defendants could potentially benefit, Trump deferred to the commission.

            “I didn’t do this deal,” Trump told reporters. “It was told to me yesterday.”

            The new program emerged from a settlement involving Trump’s now-withdrawn $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. Trump sued the agency after a contractor leaked portions of his tax records to media outlets.

            As part of the agreement, Trump, his family members and the Trump Organization reportedly will receive no direct monetary damages and instead accepted a formal apology while withdrawing multiple legal claims, including administrative complaints tied to the Mar-a-Lago investigation and allegations surrounding the Russia investigation.

            The DOJ defended the structure of the fund by pointing to the Obama-era Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement, “where the Obama administration created a $760 million fund to redress various claims alleging racism against the federal government over a period of decades.”

            But critics argue the comparison does not hold up.

            Joseph Sellers, an attorney involved in the Keepseagle case, told CNN the situations are fundamentally different.

            “That really is the critical issue,” Sellers said. “You have to serve the same community whose interests were at stake in the litigation that was brought.”

            The administration’s rollout has also generated rare public resistance from Republicans.

            According to Mediaite, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) criticized the proposal on Tuesday.

            “Yeah, not a big fan,” Thune told reporters. “I’m not sure exactly how they intend to use it. … But yeah, I don’t see a purpose for it.”

            Mediaite also reported that Sen. John Kennedy (R- La.) expressed skepticism while saying he remained open to the concept.

            “I need to know where the money is going to come from. I need to know who would qualify. I need to know the definition of weaponization. I need to know who’s been weaponized against?” Kennedy said Monday.

            Democrats have gone considerably further in their criticism.

            A group of 93 House Democrats filed an amicus brief seeking to block the settlement, arguing that it violates constitutional requirements and improperly redirects taxpayer money.

            Separately, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) condemned the fund as “a racket” intended to channel taxpayer dollars toward Trump allies.

            The issue also surfaced during a Senate Appropriations hearing Tuesday, where Sen. Chris Coons (D-Ct.) pressed Blanche over the unusual nature of the settlement arrangement.

            Coons noted that no previous president had sued his own administration and then settled the case while serving in office.

            Blanche pushed back on suggestions that Trump directed the process and rejected comparisons between the underlying litigation and the Keepseagle case, arguing that only the commission structure itself was similar.

            Still, when Coons asked whether Trump campaign donors could ultimately receive payments from the fund, Blanche declined to provide assurances.

            “I am not committing to anything beyond the settlement agreement itself,” Blanche said. “They are not excluded from seeking compensation if they are recognized.”

            With the fund’s eligibility standards still undefined and its commission not yet assembled, many of the biggest questions surrounding who receives compensation — and whether political allies of the president could benefit — remain unanswered.