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Jan. 6th Rioters Handed Down Longest Sentences Yet In This Week’s Hearings

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Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

ANALYSIS – Two Proud Boys leaders have been sentenced to more than a decade each in jail after being convicted of the rarely used ‘seditious conspiracy’ charge for storming the Capitol.

They tried to overturn President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, which they considered fraudulent.

A federal judge sentenced former far-right Proud Boys leader Joseph Biggs to 17 years in prison and his co-defendant Zachary Rehl to 15 years. (RELATED: Proud Boys Member Who Led Capitol Break-In Sentenced To 10 Years)

These sentences are much less than the three decades of jail time proposed by prosecutors but still very long prison terms for a few hours of rioting.

And yes, I understand that the rioting was at the U.S. Capitol and that the certification of the Electoral College vote was in process. I also understand these two guys and the two others convicted on this same charge were intimately involved in organizing what became violent chaos that day.

I was there, at the Capitol, as an observer with a TV camera crew. And I denounced the violence the next day. It was outrageous.

I believe any violent rioter who attacked police or media, or anyone else, on Jan. 6 should be put in jail – as should all the BLM rioters who earlier caused $2 billion in damages throughout the country and injured 2,000 cops months earlier.

But a decade or two behind bars for ‘conspiracy’?

Biggs and Rehl are the first Proud Boys convicted of the Civil War-era seditious conspiracy charge to be sentenced for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

The sentences kicked off a series of hearings scheduled for this week and next, where punishment will be meted out against the former chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio (who was not in D.C. on Jan. 6 but was unbelievably arrested earlier for burning a BLM banner!), and two other members of the group.

All were convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes at a landmark conspiracy trial this spring. But was what they did really as bad as the Biden Justice Department tries to portray?

As The Guardian noted:

Seditious conspiracy is a broad statute that concerns attempts to overthrow the government, levy war against it or prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law. It also can be applied in cases where suspects seize any government property and carries up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Partly because seditious conspiracy allegations carry so much political weight, prosecutors have generally been hesitant to bring such charges in the past. “Seditious conspiracy charges are rarely used in American jurisprudence,” said Jeffrey Ian Ross, a criminologist and expert on political crime at the University of Baltimore. Prosecutors can be wary of issuing such charges, even in cases that may fall under its broad statute, he added.

In the only similar case in the 20th century, federal prosecutors secured a seditious conspiracy conviction against Puerto Rican nationalists who stormed the Capitol building in 1954.

These four armed Puerto Rican independence militants entered the House floor and fired dozens of bullets around the chamber, wounding five legislators.

The four shooters and co-conspirators were convicted of seditious conspiracy and spent over two decades in jail until Jimmy Carter commuted their sentence in 1979.

In that case, however, the perpetrators had firearms and used them to try to kill Congressmen. That’s a pretty big difference.

The last successfully prosecuted seditious conspiracy was in the mid-1990s, when authorities charged Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman and nine Islamist co-conspirators for plotting to bomb the United Nations, the FBI building, and several other landmarks around New York City.

Again, this was very serious and involved planning mass murder and terrorism.

There is little or no evidence that any Jan. 6 rioters planned any offensive violence.

To date, of those charged in relation to Jan. 6, former Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes holds the record with an 18-year sentence, after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy earlier this year.

The Guardian reported in 2022 that:

Even Rhodes, who is not believed to have actually stormed the building, is alleged to have plotted to bring weapons to the area and coordinate militia movements.

In the weeks before the insurrection, Rhodes allegedly purchased tens of thousands of dollars worth of weapons and began communicating to other Oath Keepers in an encrypted group chat. “We aren’t getting through this without a civil war,” he messaged days after the presidential election. One Oath Keeper admitted as part of a plea deal last year that he brought an M4 rifle to a Comfort Inn hotel near the Capitol, while Rhodes and others allegedly discussed “quick reaction force” teams that could move into Washington DC with firearms. Once inside the Capitol, prosecutors state in their indictment that one group of Oath Keepers moved in a military “stack” formation and went in search of the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

And at first glance, this does seem serious.

But Rhodes claims that despite earlier texts about possible ‘civil war,’ Oath Keepers who entered the Capitol went “totally off mission” and that he was only there to prevent his militia members from getting into trouble.

He has also stated that the armed ‘reaction force’ in Virginia was there to respond if armed leftist antifa thugs attacked pro-Trump protestors.

In the largest manhunt in FBI history, more than 1,100 people have been arrested on charges related to the Capitol assault. Of those, 597 defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences. About 366 of them have been given jail time.

The vast majority of these Jan. 6 defendants, though, accepted plea deals for minor, nonviolent offenses such as trespassing or obstructing an official function. Many of them still got jail sentences totally out of proportion to their alleged crimes.

And these four got the worst of it.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Great America News Desk. It was first published in American Liberty News.

New York Appeals Court Poised To Overturn Trump’s $454 Million Fine

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Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

An appeals court in New York appears set to issue a favorable ruling for former President Donald Trump after the state’s Attorney General’s Office controversially applied an anti-fraud law to his real estate practices. The case resulted in a hefty $454 million fine, which now faces potential reduction or reversal.

During Thursday’s hearing, justices from the New York Supreme Court expressed concern about the judgment, with one justice labeling the fine “troubling.”

The New York Post reports:

A panel of New York appeals court judges appeared skeptical about the gargantuan $454 million civil fraud judgment Donald Trump was dealt after he was found liable for business fraud — with one jurist calling it “troubling.”

The former president is attempting to reverse or reduce the judgment of $354 million — plus an additional $100 million in interest — after a judge sided with New York Attorney General Letitia James, who argued in a lawsuit that Trump inflated his net worth by billions to get better loan and insurance terms.

Trump’s lawyers, who have called Judge Arthur Engoron’s February ruling “draconian, unlawful, and unconstitutional,” appeared before a five-judge panel of a Manhattan appeals court Thursday to plead their case.

Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Judge Peter Moulton questioned whether James’ lawsuit turned into “something it was not meant to do.”

In a post-verdict interview, Attorney General Letitia James stated that if Trump cannot pay the judgment, her office would pursue asset seizure, including Trump’s iconic properties like the 40 Wall Street skyscraper. “We will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets,” she told ABC News.

Fox News Legal Analyst Johnathan Turley criticized the ruling, calling it “astronomical” and accusing James of engaging in “mob justice” by threatening Trump’s assets.

James filed a civil fraud lawsuit against the former president and his three adult children in September 2022, on the heels of a years-long civil investigation into the Trump family’s real estate business, the Trump Organization.

The investigation centered on whether the former president’s company misled investors and tax authorities by inflating property values to get investments and subsequently deflating them to get tax and loan benefits.

Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing.

READ NEXT: House Republicans Subpoena Dishonored Anti-Trump Prosecutor – They Never Expected This

Biden Canceled Trump’s Program Identifying Chinese Threats Last Year

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    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    President Biden’s incompetency as President is unavoidable.

    After the President permitted a Chinese spy balloon to traverse the country for the better part of a week it is important to remind Americans that last year Biden chose to cancel a program launched by the Trump administration to identify Chinese threats to national security.

    According to The Daily Wire, Matt Olsen, the Biden administration’s assistant attorney general in charge of the national security division, claimed that Asians had said the program was biased against them, saying, “We helped give rise to a harmful perception that the department applies a lower standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to that country or that we in some way view people with racial, ethnic, or family ties to China differently.”

    “Make no mistake. We will be relentless in defending our country from China,” he added.

    A few weeks before Biden ended Trump’s China Initiative, former FBI director Christopher Wray acknowledged that when he took his job in 2017 and examined the scope of Chinese theft of American technology, it “blew me away. And I’m not the kind of guy that uses words like ‘blown away’ easily.”

    “There is no country that presents a broader, more severe threat to our innovation, our ideas and our economic security than China does,” he added.

    “The scale of their hacking program, and the amount of personal and corporate data that their hackers have stolen, is greater than every other country combined,” Wray concluded.

    The China Initiative was implemented by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2018.

    “Today, we see Chinese espionage not just taking place against traditional targets like our defense and intelligence agencies, but against targets like research labs and universities, and we see Chinese propaganda disseminated on our campuses. … This Department of Justice—and the Trump administration—have already made our decision: we will not allow our sovereignty to be disrespected, our intellectual property to be stolen, or our people to be robbed of their hard-earned prosperity.  We want fair trade and good relationships based on honest dealing.  We will enforce our laws—and we will protect America’s national interests.”

    Republicans Pour Cold Water on Trump Ahead of 2024 Announcement

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    As buzz continues to build around Trump’s looming 2024 announcement some Republicans are already trying to burst his bubble.

    Despite the obvious excitement surrounding Trump’s long-awaited presidential campaign announcement the Republican is already facing hurdles on the path to 2024.

    Trump, who is already facing various legal challenges, will be effectively cut off from the Republican National Committee if he declares his candidacy committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told The Hill.

    Last year, the RNC admitted it was paying for legal fees “that relate to politically motivated legal proceedings waged against President Trump” and in recent months the committee has funded Trump’s defense against probes launched by Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. (D) and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).

    “We cannot pay legal bills for any candidate that’s announced. So these are bills that came from the Letitia James lawsuit that started while he was president,” McDaniel said. “It was voted on by our executive committee for our former president, that this was a politically motivated investigation and that’s what it’s been.”

    “But we cannot do in kind contributions to any candidate right now. He’s the former president being attacked from every which way with lawsuits, and he’s certainly raised more under the RNC than we’ve spent on these bills,” she added.

    Advisers in Trump’s inner circle have indicated the announcement could come as soon as November 14th but some conservatives say it shouldn’t come as any shock.

    Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said on Sunday that Trump’s upcoming announcement doesn’t surprise him, according to The Hill.

    “Like, why should anybody be surprised,” Christie said, adding, “When something happens that you anticipated happening, it doesn’t make any difference.”

    “He’s going to run. Everyone always knew he was going to run. He can’t miss the attention any more than he does, and he’s going to run,” the former governor added. “Now we’ll see what happens.”

    However, reports began to swirl on Monday that Trump couls make his annoucenment during tonight’s rally in Ohio. Axios reporter Jonathan Swan was the first to report that Trump could move up the announcement date.

    “Based calls/texts all morning, Trump/Vance rally in Ohio will be v closely watched by Rs. Speculation has reached a point of absurdity at this point but many Rs of varying degrees of closeness to Trump are anticipating accelerated announcement based on his recent private comments,” Swan tweeted.

    A source close to the matter told The Washington Examiner that ultimately the decsion is up to Trump and nobody knows exactly when he will share the news.

    “There’s a lot of back-and-forth right now, no one really knows if it’s going to happen tonight or if it’s going to happen in a week or so. Trump himself is the one who wants to do it ASAP. No one knows right now whether it’s happening tonight or not,” the source explained.

    Tucker Carlson Says He Was Attacked By A Demon, Sparking Debate Over His Fitness For Leadership

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    Leaving him with bleeding claw marks and…

    Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson says he was the victim of what he describes as a “demonic attack,” an incident he claims left him with bleeding claw marks and struggling to breathe. The account, shared publicly for the first time during a Megyn Kelly Live Tour event in New York, has prompted concerns about his mental health and overall fitness for leadership.

    Carlson’s Account

    Carlson said the episode occurred about 18 months ago, around 2:30 a.m., while he and his wife were asleep with their four hunting dogs. He said he woke up unable to breathe and felt as though he was “graying out.” Moments later, he experienced sharp pain under his arms and along his ribs, “as if ripped with a knife.”

    When he turned on the light, Carlson said, he saw bleeding claw marks on both sides of his chest. His wife awoke and, according to Carlson, immediately concluded that “something attacked you.” None of the dogs stirred during the incident, a detail he said made it even more unsettling.

    Aftermath and Reflection

    Carlson described feeling an overwhelming urge to read the Bible before falling asleep for a few minutes and waking to believe it had been a dream — until he discovered blood on the bedsheets and noticed the same marks again.

    He told Kelly that an assistant later suggested the incident was a form of “spiritual warfare,” echoing his wife’s interpretation. Carlson said he does not expect skeptics to believe him but remains convinced that “something real” took place.

    “I can’t explain it, but it was not a dream,” he told Megyn Kelly. “It was something that happened in the physical world.”

    Reaction and Ridicule

    Critics, including Project 2025 contributor and The Origins of Woke author Richard Hanania, questioned Carlson’s mental state and credibility. “This is not the kind of thing a stable person says publicly,” Hanania wrote on X.

    Observers suggested the incident described by Carlson is consistent with a “nocturnal panic attack,” a phenomenon that occurs during deep sleep and can cause sudden awakenings marked by intense fear and physical distress. Unlike nightmares, these episodes are not typically tied to a specific dream or outside stimulus.

    Medical experts note that while panic attacks do not usually cause self-harm, people may inadvertently injure themselves if they move violently or attempt to “escape” a perceived threat while half-awake and disoriented.

    Other scientific explanations for self-inflicted marks during sleep include severe anxiety, night terrors, and REM behavior disorder — in which people act out dreams — and coexisting mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive or trauma-related disorders.

    Other conservative critics were equally bemused, relying on the principle of Ockham’s Razor — the idea that the simplest explanation is usually correct.

    Supporters, many of them evangelical Christians, framed Carlson’s experience as evidence of the spiritual conflict they believe lies at the heart of America’s cultural and political divide. They praised his willingness to speak openly about faith, calling it a sign of moral courage.

    Implications for Carlson’s Role

    Even after the controversy surrounding his friendly interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, Carlson remains one of the most influential figures in digital media, commanding a broad following across multiple platforms. However, critics argue that promoting claims of a demonic attack risks alienating mainstream voters and undermining the credibility of both the conservative movement and conservative journalism.

    Carlson also claimed in an interview during the final day before the 2024 election that demonic forces created nuclear technology, linking the dropping of the atomic bomb that forced Japan’s unconditional surrender to the rise of secularism.

    Carlson did not address how the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — combined with Russia’s declaration of war and invasion of Manchuria — eliminated the need for a costly invasion of Japan’s home islands (Operations Olympic and Coronet) or a prolonged blockade, actions that historians widely agree would have caused millions of additional deaths.

    He also did not mention that in the early 1900s, church membership and attendance were relatively modest. In 1890, the census found that 33% of Americans identified as belonging to a church.

    After World War II, however, the United States experienced a remarkable religious revival. Church membership grew from ~43% attended church before the war to “more than 55%” by 1950, rising to 69% by the end of the 1950s. Gallup polls from the era show about 45% of adults reported attending church or synagogue weekly, a sharp increase from earlier decades.

    The revival spanned denominations: Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish congregations all saw dramatic growth. Many Americans tied this renewed faith to national identity — a Cold War-era contrast with “godless communism.”

    Despite the backlash, Tucker Carlson’s fans aren’t backing down. They say his openness about faith isn’t weakness — it’s courage.

    To them, his honesty reflects humility and conviction — the very traits America needs in an age that has grown increasingly secular in recent decades.

    What’s Next

    Carlson has not provided photos or medical documentation of the alleged injuries, and there is no verifiable evidence to support his account.

    Whether the story ultimately strengthens or weakens his influence may depend less on the broader electorate than on how conservative audiences interpret it — as a test of faith or a question of credibility.

    Prominent Police Union Endorses DeSantis Over Trump

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      The largest police union in Florida is turning its back on Donald Trump…

      The Florida Police Benevolent Association publicly endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday after supporting former President Donald Trump in 2020.

      “In major cities and communities across America, many Americans are grappling with increased crime rates that not only jeopardize public safety, but also threaten the quality of life in their communities,” President John Kazanjian said. “The ideological experiment of defunding the police and scapegoating law enforcement for America’s social problems has failed.”

      Kazanjian called DeSantis the “one candidate for president who has a proven track record in enhancing public safety and investing in the essential men and women who help maintain public safety every day.

      “For the over 30,000 men and women in the Florida Police Benevolent Association, the choice for us could not be clearer,” he said.

      “Governor DeSantis has made Florida a destination for all Americans to live safely and freely,” the release states. “He is one of the most effective Governors in the nation and he will take his proven track record to the White House, where he will continue to have the backs of law enforcement officers and make public safety a top priority.”

      Trump Splits With Attorneys After Federal Indictment

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        Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

        Hours after being indicted for a second time and Donald Trump has parted ways with two of his attorneys.

        Shortly after being indicted in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified materials after leaving the White House on Thursday two of Trump’s lawyers have reportedly resigned.

        “This morning we tendered our resignations as counsel to President Trump, and we will no longer represent him on either the indicted case or the January 6 investigation,” Trusty and Rowley said in a statement Friday. “It has been an honor to have spent the last year defending him, and we know he will be vindicated in his battle against the Biden Administration’s partisan weaponization of the American justice system. 

        “Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion,” they added. “We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications we’ve had with the President or his legal team.” 

        Trump, taking to his TRUTH Social on Friday, said he will bring on a new attorney, Todd Blanche. 

        “For purposes of fighting the Greatest Witch Hunt of all time, now moving to the Florida Courts, I will be represented by Todd Blanche, Esq., and a firm to be named later,” Trump wrote. “I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and “sick” group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before.” 

        He added: “We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days. When will Joe Biden be Indicted for his many crimes against our Nation? MAGA!” 

        Trump was indicted on at least seven counts involving obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and illegal retention of classified government material. 

        Sinclair Ends Jimmy Kimmel Ban

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        The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

        A quick turnaround…

        On Friday, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it will end its preemption of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the show will return on Friday. 

        “Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming,” Sinclair said in a statement.

        “Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives. We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important,” the statement continued. “In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman.”

        Sinclair added that proposals “were suggested as collaborative efforts between the ABC affiliates and the ABC network.”

        “While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under our network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability,” the company said. 

        “Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content,” Sinclair continued. “As a company rooted in local stations, Sinclair remains committed to serving our communities with programming that reflects their priorities, earns their trust, and promotes constructive dialogue. We look forward to continuing to work with ABC to deliver content that serves a broad spectrum of our communities.”

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

        Trump Strikes Deal Narrowly Averting Trade War With Canada

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          By Presidencia de la República del Ecuador - REUNIÓN CON JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIMER MINISTRO DE CANADÁ, 05 DE MARZO DE 2024., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146895555

          President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to terms on a deal to delay Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian imports into the United States on Monday afternoon.

          After a phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will immediately enhance “coordination” with the U.S. and send 10,000 troops to the U.S./Canada border.

          Canada’s change in policy comes after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on China, until the countries did more to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs through U.S. borders. In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada and Mexico retaliated with 25% tariffs on American goods. Trudeau said that after his call with Trump, the “tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”

          “I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” wrote Trudeau on X. “In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”

          “Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,” he added.

          The agreement was reached just hours after Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed on a similar arrangement earlier in the day.

          Trump confirmed the details of Trudeau’s announcement, writing in a post on Truth Social:

          “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country,” he began. “Canada will implement their $1.3 Billion Border plan, and as per Prime Minister Trudeau, will be, ‘reinforcing the Border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are, and will be, working on protecting the Border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the Border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl, and we will be backing it with $200 million.’”

          “As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!” he added.

          Earlier on Monday, Trump reiterated to reporters in the Oval Office that he would like to see Canada become “a state.”

          “We give them protection, military protection. We don’t need them to build our cars. I’d rather see Detroit or South Carolina or Tennessee, any one of our states build the cars. They could do it very easily,” Trump said. “We don’t need [Canada] for the cars. We don’t need them for lumber. We don’t need them for anything. We don’t need them for energy. We have more energy than they do.”

          “Why are we willing to lose between a hundred billion and two hundred billion dollars a year?” Trump asked. “We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different.”

          Amanda Head: Famous Doctor Says Fetterman Not Fit For Office

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            Despite how hard Pennsylvania Democrat Senate candidate John Fetterman tries to convince Americans he’s ready to serve as a U.S. Senator medical professionals are sounding the alarm.

            Watch what Amanda has to say below: