While politics might run in the family, one Trump is staying far away…
President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai, who is slated to play college golf next fall at the University of Miami, said she has no interest in following in her grandfather’s footsteps.
“To be honest with you, I stay out of politics completely. I would never run, I don’t want anything to do with politics,” Trump said during an appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast. “I feel like politics is such a dangerous thing, and I think if both sides met in the middle, everyone would be so much more happier.”
Trump said people have gotten “too extreme” on both sides of the coin, and social media has driven people to hone in on their beliefs.
“There’s not a lot of things on social media where you’re very much in the middle. And I think that kind of makes some people crazy and some people buy into it too much,” Trump added. “I think that’s like the best way to say it. There’s no bad blood. I’m very much in the middle and kind of like, it is what it is. They ran against each other [Trump and Kamala Harris]. Obviously, I’m gonna support my grandpa, my family member, but that’s pretty much it.”
The closest Trump has dove into the political waters was when she spoke at the Republican National Convention just days after her grandfather was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In an interview with Fox News Digital in October, Trump said she was “proud” of her grandfather after he brokered the historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“Always will support him. I think he’s doing amazing things,” she said.
White Kai Trump may not be interested in politics the same can’t be said for her father, Donald Trump Jr., who has been floated as a future presidential contender. Don Jr, the eldest of the two sons Trump had with Ivana, channels his father’s combative style and is viewed by many as a bridge between Trump’s base.
Back in August, a McLaughlin & Associates survey had Vance sitting pretty at 36 per cent, with Donald Trump Jr a distant second at 16 per cent. By October, that gap had narrowed, with [VP] Vance at 38 per cent and Trump Jr at 20 per cent (Rubio was in third place at 7 per cent). Then came the November poll, which probably sent shockwaves through Vance’s inner circle: the vice president’s support had slipped to 34 per cent, while Trump Jr had surged.
“I’m a Second Amendment person, and I don’t know anything about Vance’s position on it,” says Liz Mair, veteran Republican strategist. “For a real Second Amendment voter, the only people I would truly be comfortable supporting right now would be Donald Trump Jr or Ron DeSantis. And I’d probably be more comfortable with Donald Trump Jr. It depends on each state, but for diehard gun voters, it’s a significant issue, and it was one reason Trump Sr had challenges in 2016.”
Trump Jr has played his hand with characteristic bravado, dismissing speculation in one media organisation that he intends to run. “I’m actually glad you’re printing this bulls**t,” he wrote on X, “because at least now the rest of the press corps will see how s****y your ‘sources’ are and how easily you’re played by them. Congrats, moron.”
Yet, as is often the case in this family, denials are never absolute. In May 2025, when asked at a panel in Qatar if he would “pick up the reins” after Trump leaves office, he replied: “I don’t know. Maybe one day, you know, that calling is there.” Junior wields that ambiguity like a political weapon – a constant reminder that another Trump is waiting in the wings.
U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Cori Bush speak at the Mississippi River in Minneapolis asking for President Biden to stop Line 3 pipeline construction.
“You will respect our president!”
In a moment few expected, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) allegedly came to the defense of President Donald Trump during a diplomatic trip to Europe earlier this year, according to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL).
Luna recounted the incident on the PBD Podcast last week, describing a tense exchange between a Belgian official and a U.S. congressional delegation. Luna claimed the official mocked Trump, calling him disrespectful and treating the U.S. delegation as a joke.
That’s when, Luna said, Omar cut in and forcefully told the diplomat, “You might not like what our president is doing, and you might not agree with our foreign policy. But when we’re here, you will respect our president!”
I didn’t have this on my bingo card…
Ilhan Omar savagely Defended President Trump while in the EU against an A-Hole who was attacking him — she’s also working with Rep Luna to Repeal the Patriot Act 👀
The exchange reportedly occurred during an April meeting with European Union representatives. Luna described Omar’s comments as “surprising,” but said it was important for Americans to present a unified front when traveling abroad — especially, she added, against “jerks.”
The episode stands out, given Omar’s long track record of harsh criticism toward Trump. Just weeks ago, she referred to him as a “racist, corrupt liar.”
New day, same fake story. 👋🏽
Donald Trump is an embarrassing, racist, and corrupt liar.
The latest Monmouth University poll shows that former President Donald Trump is tied with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as the leading choice for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
According to The Hill, the Monmouth University poll found a third of Republican voters saw Trump, who kicked off his campaign in November, as their top presidential pick, and another third favored DeSantis, who has yet to formally announce he’s running.
Former president Mike Pence scored just 2 percent support and Nikki Haley — who is set to become the only other big-name Republican officially in the ring with Trump — earned just 1 percent.
Trump closed the gap with DeSantis from a similar poll back in December that put the Florida governor ahead by 13 points, with 39 percent support compared to 26 percent for the former president. Trump has since climbed 7 points, and DeSantis has fallen 6 points.
But despite the uptick in voters backing Trump for the GOP nomination, DeSantis takes the win in a hypothetical primary matchup between the two, earning 53 percent to Trump’s 40 percent.
“Both Trump and DeSantis are well-liked by the party’s rank and file, but it’s likely that voter opinion of Trump is more firmly set than it is for DeSantis right now. The unknown factor is whether DeSantis can maintain this early edge if and when he gets on the campaign trail,” Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray said in a report.
The Florida governor is said to be close to his final decision on whether he’ll run in 2024 and is widely expected to jump in the ring.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump arrived to his rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin in a garbage truck and matching vest after President Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage.”
He criticized Biden, Democrats, and most especially his opponent Vice-president Kamala Harris for “running a campaign of hate, vitriol and retribution.”
“This week Kamala has been comparing her political opponents to the most evil mass murderers in history and now speaking on a call for her campaign last night crooked Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters, he called them ‘garbage,” he said.
Joe Biden calls millions of Americans “garbage.” The next day Trump gets picked up in Green Bay, Wisconsin by a garbage truck.
“My response to Joe and Kamala is very simple: You can’t lead America if you don’t love Americans, it’s true. You can’t be president if you hate the American people, which I believe they do, and Kamala Harris is not fit to be president of the United States,” he said.
Trump went on to emphasize himself as a unity candidate, uniting people of every race, creed and economic status.
“Kamala and Joe call all of us, and them, even them, ‘garbage.’ I call you the heart and soul of America. You are the heart and soul, you built our country, you built it,” he said. “And by the way I want to thank all our sanitation workers all across America because they work hard, they really do work hard and they do an incredible job, and they don’t get the credit they deserve.”
New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin has been targeted in a new investigation less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
Zeldin is under investigation by the State Board of Elections over allegations that he coordinated with two super PACs supporting his campaign, according to The Hill.
Michael Johnson, the chief enforcement counsel of the New York State Board of Elections, opened a preliminary investigation into Zeldin’s campaign after the allegations emerged.
Johnson is now seeking subpoena authority from the State Board of Elections to compel cooperation with his investigation, according to the Times.
However, he was stymied when two Republican members of the board unexpectedly missed a business meeting on Tuesday, preventing the board from reaching a quorum to vote on the subpoena issue and likely delaying the issue until after the election, per the Times.
The Albany Times-Union first reported in mid-October that there were several overlaps between Zeldin’s campaign and two super PACs supporting him — Safe Together New York and Save Our State New York.
Days later, the New York State Democratic Party filed a complaint against Zeldin’s campaign over the alleged super PAC. Super PACs are legally allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against candidates but are barred from coordinating with the candidates they benefit.
Zeldin has been rapidly closing the gap against New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in recent weeks.
A Democratic congresswoman facing serious federal charges is now under fire for touting political support she hasn’t actually received.
Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was indicted last fall for allegedly stealing millions in disaster relief funds, is promoting what her campaign calls an endorsement from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — even though Pelosi has not publicly backed her reelection bid in years.
Nancy Pelosi via Gage Skidmore flickr
Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign website features a glowing statement attributed to Pelosi, suggesting current support for the embattled lawmaker.
“Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in her time in Congress, has been masterful at bringing people together… by working on big problems and staying focused on shared values,” Pelosi says in the statement. “It is my honor and privilege to support Sheila… for re-election as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 20th Congressional District.”
But according to a press release reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation, Pelosi made that comment in July 2022 — nearly four years ago — when Cherfilus-McCormick was running for her first full term. A source familiar with the matter confirmed Pelosi has not issued any recent public endorsement.
Despite that, the campaign continues to present the statement as if it reflects Pelosi’s current support heading into the 2026 election.
Millions Allegedly Diverted From FEMA Funds
Federal prosecutors allege Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaigns were partially financed through more than $5.7 million in FEMA overpayments issued to her family’s company, Trinity Health Care Services.
Rather than returning the money, prosecutors say the congresswoman used a “substantial portion” of the funds to boost her political run while also spending on “luxury personal items.”
The Department of Justice indicted Cherfilus-McCormick in November on charges including stealing federal COVID-19 disaster relief funds, funneling money into her campaign, participating in a straw donor scheme, and conspiring to file a false tax return.
If convicted, she could face up to 53 years in prison.
Cherfilus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing. She was not present at her Feb. 3 arraignment in Miami federal court.
Political Standing Collapsing at Home
Even in her deep-blue Fort Lauderdale-area district, the congresswoman’s political future appears shaky.
A Listener Group–Political Matrix News survey released Monday found only 22% of likely Democratic primary voters believe she should remain in office and seek reelection. She holds a -30% favorability rating, with just two in ten respondents approving of her job performance ahead of the August 2026 primary.
She is also facing a growing challenge from 26-year-old activist Elijah Manley, who leads her 38% to 35% in a hypothetical primary matchup. Former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness trails with 10% support.
The poll surveyed 300 likely primary voters from Feb. 2–4 and reported a 3% margin of error.
Weak Fundraising and Mounting Ethics Scrutiny
Cherfilus-McCormick’s campaign raised just $119,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, while spending nearly as much — $110,000 — on legal fees, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Meanwhile, her opponents posted stronger numbers: Manley raised $79,000, and Holness brought in $140,000 during the same period.
The congresswoman is also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including illegal donations and inaccurate financial reporting. The committee has already found “substantial evidence” of misconduct tied to the federal indictment.
A Campaign Built on Yesterday’s Support
With criminal charges looming, sinking poll numbers, and serious ethical questions, Cherfilus-McCormick is now facing backlash not only for the allegations — but for campaigning as though Pelosi still stands behind her.
President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump joked Monday that he planned to keep the New York Stock Exchange’s ceremonial opening bell for display in his new White House ballroom, prompting criticism from opponents and renewed attention to the administration’s ongoing renovation projects.
Trump became the first president to ring the NYSE opening bell remotely from the Oval Office during an event marking the launch of the administration’s new “Trump Accounts” investment program for eligible children.
After ringing the bell, Trump quipped, “I’m not giving it back,” before later repeating the remark during a White House luncheon.
‘They’ll Have To Fight Like Hell’
Speaking to guests in the Rose Garden, Trump again pointed to the bell and joked about making it part of the White House.
“There’s the bell right there. It’s so beautiful, I’m not giving it back. I don’t know if it’s supposed to go back, but they’re gonna have to fight like hell to get it back,” Trump said.
It was not immediately clear whether the president was speaking entirely in jest, and there has been no indication that the NYSE bell will remain at the White House.
Latest In Series Of Similar Jokes
The remark follows several similar episodes in recent months.
Last month, Olympic speed skating champion Jordan Stolz placed one of his gold medals around Trump’s neck during an event in Wisconsin. Trump joked that he was “keeping it” before returning the medal.
He made a similar quip after FIFA President Gianni Infantino brought the FIFA World Cup trophy to the White House ahead of next year’s tournament, later saying FIFA had permitted the trophy to remain on display.
Ballroom Project Draws Renewed Attention
Trump’s latest comments also focused attention on the White House ballroom project, one of the administration’s most ambitious renovation efforts.
The ballroom, originally projected to cost about $200 million, has since grown substantially in scope. Recent reports indicate estimated costs have risen to roughly $600 million, though the administration disputes claims that taxpayers will bear a significant portion of the expense.
The White House has said the ballroom will provide a secure venue for large state functions and official events.
Critics Question Costs
Democrats and preservation groups have continued criticizing the project, arguing the administration understated its expected cost and failed to adequately explain how construction will ultimately be financed.
The White House has maintained that private donors are funding much of the project and has defended the renovation as a long-overdue modernization of the executive mansion.
Whether Trump’s comments about the NYSE bell were serious or simply another off-the-cuff joke, they quickly became the latest flashpoint in the broader debate surrounding the president’s efforts to reshape the White House during his second term.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is trailing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) by a whopping 16 points in the 2026 Republican Senate primary, according to an internal poll reported by Punchbowl News on Monday.
The poll from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) found Paxton leading with 50% support to Cornyn’s 34%, with 17% undecided.
Paxton, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, officially announced his candidacy last month. He is positioning himself as a more pro-MAGA alternative to Cornyn, who hardline Texas conservatives have painted as a moderate. Cornyn, Texas’s senior senator, has held his seat since 2002 and served in Senate leadership. He was a leading contender to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as GOP leader, but eventually lost the race to Sen. John Thune (R-SD).
Cornyn faced backlash over his work in crafting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun safety law passed in 2022 after a massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
The legislation included enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 and was the first major federal gun control measure in decades.
Punchbowl News reported in a hypothetical three-way GOP primary, Paxton leads with 44%, followed by Sen. John Cornyn at 34% and Rep. Wesley Hunt at 19%, according to an internal Tarrance Group poll conducted April 27 to May 1.
In general election matchups against potential Democratic challenger Colin Allred, Cornyn leads by six points.
Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Republican Celeste Maloy beat state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, a self-described moderate, to win Utah’s special election Tuesday night.
Maloy, a pro-Trump candidate, filled the last remaining seat in the U.S. House of Representatives with her victory in Utah’s 2nd congressional district.
As a candidate, Maloy touted her roots growing up in rural southern Utah, of which the district covers a vast portion, and has leaned into her support of former President Donald Trump, arguing the numerous ongoing prosecutions against him are politically motivated.
“It’s exciting that we’re going to have somebody come out of this primary that represents rural and southern Utah. I think it’s time for that, and everybody’s ready for it,” Maloy said following her primary win.
However, Riebe has argued the race is a pickup opportunity for Democrats, and has leaned on her experience as a school teacher while making the case that people in the district “are ready for a change.”
In an interview with Deseret News in August, Riebe expressed concern over the nation’s rising debt, and vowed to join the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition if elected.
“Coming to a very rational decision and having very moderate ideas, I think that is what serves us best,” she told the outlet.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
President Donald Trump’s introduction of the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address sparked largely positive bipartisan reactions, with Independent voters showing particularly strong approval.
According to Lee Carter of the polling group maslansky+partners, Independent voters responded most enthusiastically when the team entered the House Chamber wearing their gold medals and USA sweatshirts, greeted by thunderous chants of “U-S-A.”
“The USA hockey team and military recognition moments were widely noticed,” Carter said. “Visual, patriotic moments landed more consistently than policy-heavy segments.”
Real-time dial testing conducted by the polling group showed the sharpest spike among Independent voters during the team’s entrance. Republican voters, who were already energized by the speech, showed additional gains in approval during the moment. Even Democratic voters—who overall were the least enthusiastic throughout the address—registered a modest uptick in reaction.
Participants in the polling offered enthusiastic feedback, with comments such as, “What a great moment!” and, “Love it!” Even some critics acknowledged, “They deserve recognition,” and, “It’s a nice moment.”
The president had invited the team to attend the State of the Union after their thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the Winter Olympics gold medal game.
During the address, President Trump introduced the team to loud cheers from members of Congress and the audience, who once again broke into chants of “USA! USA! USA!”
“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much. We can’t take it anymore. We’re not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we were just always losing, but now we’re winning too much.’ And I say, ‘No, no, no, you’re going to win again. You are going to win big, you’re gonna win bigger than ever.’ And to prove that point, to prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud,” Trump said, adding:
The men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team — come on in!
After extended applause inside the chamber, Trump remarked, “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up. And actually, not all of them did get up, but they beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw, as did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.”
The president also announced that he would honor goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After praising the team’s collective performance, Trump described asking players to vote on whether their goaltender deserved the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“But I have to say that, and I told them this, and we took a vote of the team. I said, ‘Anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.’ So they stood there, and they weren’t about to say no because I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” said Trump.
He continued:
Think of it– 46 shots on goal. And I asked him, “The one shot, the one where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, you practice that or was that a little lucky?” He refused to answer that question, but I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote– and in this case, my vote was more important– that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor, which we will be given and which has been given to many athletes over the years. But when I say many, not too many, like 12. It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country. The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Great athletes have gotten that very great, the best. And I thought he deserved it. And I did take a vote. Every single one of them. I said, “I’m not giving it if anybody goes no.” And every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.
The moment stood out as one of the evening’s most unifying highlights.
Trump Family Member Reveals Why She Will ‘Never’ Get Into Politics
While politics might run in the family, one Trump is staying far away…
President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai, who is slated to play college golf next fall at the University of Miami, said she has no interest in following in her grandfather’s footsteps.
Trump said people have gotten “too extreme” on both sides of the coin, and social media has driven people to hone in on their beliefs.
The closest Trump has dove into the political waters was when she spoke at the Republican National Convention just days after her grandfather was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In an interview with Fox News Digital in October, Trump said she was “proud” of her grandfather after he brokered the historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
White Kai Trump may not be interested in politics the same can’t be said for her father, Donald Trump Jr., who has been floated as a future presidential contender. Don Jr, the eldest of the two sons Trump had with Ivana, channels his father’s combative style and is viewed by many as a bridge between Trump’s base.
The Independent reports:
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