Politics

Home Politics

Musk Fantasizes About Jailing Zelenskyy After Trump Pauses Aid To Ukraine

By President Of Ukraine from Україна - Joint Statement of the fourth Ukraine - Nordic Summit in Reykjavik., CC0, curid=156221560

The rift between President Trump and Ukraine leader Volodormyr Zelenskyy is growing wider…

On Monday, the Trump administration paused all aid to Ukraine, including weapons in transit or in Poland, until Ukrainian leaders show more appreciation for U.S. support and a commitment to peace.

“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace,” a White House official told Fox News. “We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”

A senior Trump administration official also told Fox News that military aid will remain on hold until Ukrainian leaders show a commitment to good faith peace negotiations.

“This is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,” the official emphasized. “The orders are going out right now.”

Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance last week erupted into a shouting match that was seen worldwide. The Ukrainian president traveled to the United States to meet with Trump after the commander-in-chief said a peace negotiation to end the war between Ukraine and Russia is in its final stages. 

Zelenskyy was apparently presented with a minerals for security agreement by the Trump administration prior to the press event, but the deal included no security guarantees to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion. 

Minutes after reporters in the Oval Office asked their first questions, an aggressive spat unfolded between the heads of state.

The Biden administration gave billions in military aid to Ukraine to fend off Russian forces amid its three-year war following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor. 

When asked Monday about the status of the rare-earth minerals deal, Trump told reporters that he would disclose where the deal stands when he addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday in a speech akin to the annual State of the Union. He added that he would like to see the Ukrainian leader express more gratitude for U.S. support during the war in order to rekindle peace negotiations. 

“I just think he should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with him through thick and thin,” Trump said. “We’ve given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us because, as you know, that’s right there, that’s the border.” 

Later on Monday, President Trump spurred extreme reactions from senior advisers such as Elon Musk after responding to Zelenskyy’s comments signaling the end to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia is still “very, very far away.”

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” wrote Trump on Truth Social. “It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”

On X, Musk shared Trump’s post and argued that “Zelensky wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil.”

Right-wing social media personality Rogan O’Handley then shared Musk’s post along with a theory:

Zelensky knows if the war ends, his power ends

Elections will resume and he’ll lose

Then his adversary will investigate his money laundering and he’ll be sent to prison

Zelensky is sending innocent Ukrainians to die in his meat grinder so he can stay in power

Dictator

“True,” replied Musk. “As distasteful as it is, Zelensky should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine.”

Trump Finds Time to Make Fun of Stelter Amid FBI Probe

3
From the session "The War at Home: Trump and the Mainstream Media". [Photo Credit: nrkbeta, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons]

Despite emotions running high over an FBI probe into documents President Trump has in his possession the former president found time to make fun of his biggest critic at CNN, Brian Stelter.

Stelter was recently fired from the network amid declining ratings and a realization that he is no longer relevant.

The network is also attempting to make a move to become more neutral and Stelter, who was the media critic, chose to consistently criticize conservative media.

Mediaite reports:

“Brian Stelter of Fake News CNN got fired because he lied, and lied, and lied – ABOUT ME. May he REST IN PEACE!” Trump wrote, ironically misstating the circumstances of Stelter’s departure from the network.

“CNN will end its Reliable Sources program on Sunday, August 21st. As a result Brian Stelter will leave the company. We appreciate his contributions to the network and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors,” a CNN spokesperson told Mediaite in a statement this week.

Next, Stelter earned a place of honor beside January 6 Committee Vice-Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, because they have roughly equivalent roles in Trump’s life.

“Trivia question: Who’s got less charisma, Brian Stelter or Liz Cheney. I say Liz Cheney, because Stelter could have gotten more votes than she did the other night in Wyoming – She lost by 40!” Trump wrote.

Despite Trump being in a battle with the FBI and other legal battles, the classic Trump always shines through.

We’ expect nothing less from one of the best verbal sparers ever to do it.

[READ NEXT: DOJ ADMITS Trump was Right]

Hunter Biden Issues Blistering Response To $1 Billion Lawsuit Threat

4
First Lady Melania Trump participates in the Senate Spouses Luncheon at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 21,2025. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Things are about to get ugly…

First Lady Melania Trump is threatening to sue former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, for $1 billion over “defamatory” claims linking her to late financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Melania’s attorney Alejandro Brito demanded that Biden “immediately retract the false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements made about Mrs. Trump,” which were contained in a video interview with Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan and posted to Youtube in early August. 

Read the full letter:

“Failure to comply will leave Mrs. Trump with no choice but to pursue any and all legal rights and remedies available to her to recover the overwhelming financial and reputational harm that you have caused her to suffer,” Brito wrote.

In the video interview, titled “Hunter Biden Returns” video earlier in August, the former first son claimed “Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep.” 

Biden also claimed that “Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania, and that’s how Melania and the first lady and the President met.”

“If you do not comply with the above by August 7, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST, Mrs. Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce her legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for over $1 Billion Dollars in damages,” Brito wrote. “You are on notice.”

A source close to the matter told Fox News that Biden did not comply with the requests by the set deadline. 

After Fox News published the piece, however, Melania Trump got Biden’s reply addressing the attorney’s letter when Callaghan posted a further interview with him to YouTube on Thursday.

Callaghan, holding up a copy at the interview’s opening, declared: “The day of presidential litigation has arrived!”

“We’re here, maybe, to give you the platform to apologize to the first lady for your statements that you made about her possible connection to Jeffrey Epstein,” the host said to Biden.

“F*ck that! That’s not going to happen,” Biden laughed.

Defending his comments as citation, Biden continued:

First of all is that, what I said was what I have heard and seen reported and written, primarily from Michael Wolff but also dating back all the way to 2019 when the New York Times – I think Annie Carney and and Maggie Haberman – reported that sources said that Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be the person to introduce Donald Trump to Melania at that time.

Biden added that he would not bow down to pressure or lawsuit threats: “I also think they’re bullies and they think that a billion dollars is going to scare me.”

I have this to say to them: If they want to sit down for a deposition and clarify the the nature of the relationship between Jeffrey Epstein, if the president and the First Lady want to do that and all of the known associates around them at the time of whatever time that they met, I’m more than happy to provide them the platform to be able to do it.

The letter comes after the Daily Beast pulled the article detailing allegations by journalist Wolff that Melania Trump was introduced to her husband Donald Trump via a modeling agent connected to Epstein, after a challenge from the first lady’s lawyers.

“Editor’s Note. After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trump’s attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article. After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding,” The Daily Beast posted in place of the article. The url for the article appears to have been amended to remove the original headline and now reads: thedailybeast.com/epstein-this-story-has-been-removed.

It also comes after famed Democrat strategist James Carville apologized to the first lady after repeating the same claim. 

Carville opened his latest episode of the Politics War Room podcast with a legal note. 

“In last week’s podcast episode, we spoke with Judd Legum,” he said. “After the episode, we received a letter from Melania Trump’s lawyer. He took issue with our title of one of those YouTube videos from that episode and a couple of comments I made about the first lady. We took a look at what they complained about, and we took down the video and edited out those comments from the episode. I also take back these statements and apologize.”

An aide to the first lady, Nick Clemens, told Fox News in a statement, “First Lady Melania Trump’s attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods. The true account of how the First Lady met President Trump is in her best-selling book, ‘Melania.’”  

Anarchist Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Top Government Official

5

A 29-year-old man has been arrested for what federal authorities describe as a brazen “murder-for-hire” online plot targeting the U.S. Attorney General.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota resident Tyler Maxon Avalos was taken into custody on October 16 after a tipster notified them of his alleged TikTok post offering a $45,000 bounty on the life of Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General.

The post reportedly featured Ms. Bondi’s photo with a red target icon over her forehead and the caption: “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD). Beneath the image: ‘Cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?’”

Court filings reveal Avalos used the handle “Wacko” on TikTok and had references to an “An Anarchist FAQ book” in his profile. Authorities further noted his criminal history of violence: a July 2022 felony stalking conviction in Dakota County (Minnesota), an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery charge in Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault in Dakota County (originally a felony domestic assault by strangulation). The affidavit describes media concerns that Avalos has “anarchist ties,” though the FBI has not publicly confirmed a full motive.

Federal prosecutors say Avalos now faces a charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person — a federal crime carrying potentially years in prison. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, stated only that his client “is not guilty of any crime.”

Recent incidents of violence targeting Republican or conservative figures

While the Bondi case is extraordinary, it aligns with a growing body of incidents in which political actors — particularly those associated with the Republican side — have been targeted:

  • In September 2024, at least one apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump (the Republican former-President and leading 2024 nominee) was reported.
  • More broadly, an analysis by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) found that between 2016 and 2025 there were 25 attacks and plots targeting elected officials, candidates, judges and other government figures motivated by extremist partisan beliefs — more than triple the number in the previous 25 years combined.
  • While some of the high-profile cases involve Democratic officials (for example, the June 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators), the broader trend applies across the ideological spectrum: violence is trending upward, not just against one side but throughout government—and conservatives are explicitly among the targets.

Polls & studies confirm the spike in political violence

The Bondi bounty scheme emerges against a backdrop of disturbing data indicating rising public concern and creeping acceptance of politically motivated violence:

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable — yet they are concerned it will escalate.

A recent study found that 86 % of Americans believe political violence is either a major or minor problem — the highest in two years. When asked whether political violence has increased over the past few years, 78 % said yes.

A Pew Research Center-sponsored survey found that Americans believe politically-motivated violence is increasing, and that polarization is seen as a key cause.

A PBS/NPR/Marist poll found that nearly one-third of Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to set the country back on track — up from 19 % about a year and a half earlier.

Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable — yet they are concerned it will escalate.

House Democrat Says Lawmakers ‘Had Wagers Going’ On Trump, Musk Implosion

1
UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

It was only a matter of time…

Some members of Congress believed the implosion of President Trump’s relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk was so inevitable that they were wagering on how long it would last, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) suggested Thursday.

“We had wagers going on the floor: Is this relationship going to last three months? Is it going to last six months?” Gonzalez told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in an interview. “I don’t think anyone thought it was going to last a year.”

“I don’t think you needed to be a genius, though, to foresee that this eruptive and public display of divorce was going to happen at some point,” he added.

Trump and Musk publicly traded barbs on Thursday in an explosive end to their previously tight alliance, with cracks beginning to show in recent days as Musk blasted the House GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as a “disgusting abomination.”

On Thursday afternoon, Elon Musk publicly endorsed a call for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Responding to a post on his social media platform X by conservative commentator Ian Miles Cheong — who suggested Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance — Musk replied with a succinct “yes,” signaling his agreement with the sentiment.

The world’s richest man and SpaceX CEO said his space exploration company will ground the spacecraft used to shuttle astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.

On Friday morning, Fox News reported that Musk may speak with some of the President’s aides in an apparent effort to calm the growing feud between the two powerhouses.

A senior White House official told Fox News that Trump does not expect to speak to Musk today. However, White House aides told Doocy that Trump administration staffers might try to talk to Musk. 

“No call scheduled or had. Musk wants a call. POTUS hasn’t made a decision,” a source familiar with the matter also told Fox News regarding a possible conversation between Trump and Musk.

Doocy also reported that a red Tesla vehicle that Trump bought during a Tesla demonstration on the South Lawn of the White House grounds earlier this year is now expected to be given away or sold off. 

The vehicle with Florida tags, as of Friday, remains parked near the White House on West Executive Drive.

READ NEXT: Fox’s Mark Levin Unleashes On Tuck

Potential Cabinet Shifts As Trump Approaches One Year Back In Office

0

As President Donald Trump approaches the one-year mark of his second term, the White House is preparing for the possibility of limited Cabinet adjustments — a normal process in any administration and one that officials stress is not indicative of instability.

Unlike Trump’s first term, which saw high turnover across many departments, the president’s current Cabinet has been deliberately steady. Senior officials say this has been intentional to reinforce continuity and reliability during the administration’s first year. While internal discussions about potential future changes have occurred, the White House maintains that no decisions have been made and no changes are expected before early next year.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed speculation about looming resignations, saying: “The cabinet is not changing no matter how much CNN wishes that it would because it thrives off drama.”

Department of Homeland Security: Praise for Noem, Scrutiny of Lewandowski

One of the departments that has drawn attention is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump has made immigration enforcement a central focus of his second-term agenda, and DHS has been central to carrying out those policies.

Multiple sources emphasized that the president remains pleased with Noem’s leadership. A senior White House official reiterated Trump’s confidence, saying: “The President loves Kristi. He loves the job she’s doing.”

However, internal friction has emerged around Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump ally who joined DHS as a special government employee with temporary status. His close working relationship with Noem has prompted speculation that the pair might eventually depart together if changes were made.

Lewandowski, who previously helped run Trump’s 2016 campaign, has taken an active role inside the department. Sources told CNN he has directed personnel changes, overseen administrative leave requests, and pushed senior leaders to accelerate deportation-related programs. While supporters view him as an enforcer of the administration’s priorities, others within the White House believe his management style has caused tension.

A person close to the White House noted that concerns have been raised internally: “Yes, he likes [Noem], but it has been brought to his attention that [Lewandowski] is a problem, and the agency is being mismanaged because of it.”

The White House and DHS pushed back strongly on that interpretation. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson highlighted DHS’s results under Trump and Noem, saying:
“The tremendous results coming from the Department of Homeland Security … speak for themselves.”

A DHS spokesperson added that Lewandowski “has a reputation of reprimanding officials who impede or slow down the administration and undermine the will of the American people.”

In September, Trump met with Noem and Lewandowski to discuss DHS operations. According to two people familiar with the meeting, the conversation became tense at times — particularly between Lewandowski and the president — though Noem’s standing with Trump was not affected.

Department of Energy: Questions Around Secretary Chris Wright

The Department of Energy, led by former Colorado energy executive Chris Wright, is another agency where speculation has surfaced. Sources say some White House officials believe Wright has been reluctant on certain campaign-promised initiatives and that his department has faced senior-level turnover.

Energy Department spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended Wright’s performance, saying:
“Secretary Wright has been working lockstep with President Trump since day one to restore America’s energy dominance.”
She added that U.S. oil production hit a record high in July under Trump’s policies.

Past Discussions About Other Cabinet Members

This is not the first time internal debate about Cabinet roles has surfaced. Earlier discussions took place around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after an accidental sharing of sensitive information, and Trump had expressed frustration over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s stance on Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Both remained in their posts.

An upcoming Pentagon inspector general report on Hegseth’s messaging incident could renew attention but is not expected to carry formal consequences.

Youngkin Seen as a Potential Future Administration Pick

With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin leaving office in January due to term limits, several Republicans close to Trump believe he may be considered for a future Cabinet position if an opening arises. Although the two men have not directly discussed a role, Youngkin has been publicly supportive of the president.

During a call with supporters, Youngkin told Trump:
“Mr. President, I want to thank you… I know that you will always put America first.”

Trump returned the praise, calling Youngkin “one of the great governors in our country.”

Sources say Youngkin would be interested in a position with an economic or business focus, while likely avoiding an immigration-first role such as DHS.

Routine Evolution in Any Administration

Cabinet adjustments are not unusual. During President Biden’s term, changes occurred at the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Labor. Trump officials emphasize that any future changes would be part of routine administrative alignment, not broader turmoil.

Stephen Miller Reportedly Sidelined By Trump Admin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Still, Homan’s influence appears to be growing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

O’Reilly Pushing Stephen A. Smith To Run For White House

0

Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly is encouraging ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith to seriously consider a run for the White House in 2028, arguing that President Donald Trump’s political rise has created an opening for unconventional candidates.

“I think he should run, and I’m being serious now,” O’Reilly told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during an appearance on Cuomo.

“[President Donald] Trump opened the door for you,” O’Reilly quipped, speaking directly to Smith. “You should send Trump a big bouquet of flowers. He opened the door for you.”

Smith, one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, has recently begun softening his previous stance against entering politics. While he once dismissed the idea outright, he now says he is at least willing to think about it.

“Once upon a time, it was emphatically no. That has quelled to some degree,” Smith said, though he emphasized he was not eager to be “interrupting my quality of life.”

O’Reilly acknowledged that Smith would face steep odds in a presidential race but suggested his candidacy could still have a meaningful impact on the national conversation.

“You can run, and you — but don’t have any expectation of winning,” O’Reilly said.

“See, you’re what you’re doing is you’re taking a furlough from your dopey sports show, and you’re saying, I’ll be back, because I’m not going to win,” O’Reilly continued. “But you’re injecting yourself into the debate, the national debate, and you’re exposing the charlatans, which would be an amazing historical achievement.”

Smith, known for his blunt, firebrand style, agreed that the idea of debating career politicians holds strong appeal.

He said he would “give anything to be on a debate stage” with aspiring candidates, warning that they would face intense scrutiny if he decided to jump in.

“If you ever put me on that debate stage with some of these politicians aspiring for high office, with the nonsense that they’ve engaged in, with the behavior they’ve exercised, with the tendencies that they’ve displayed, and the lack of consideration to the American people going up against me, good luck,” he added.

Smith also cast himself as someone motivated by concern for the country, suggesting that the broad appeal he has built in television could translate into political support.

He argued that Americans want leaders who prioritize the nation’s well-being over partisan gamesmanship.

Still, Smith made clear that he would not enter a race simply to make headlines. If he ever launched a campaign, he said, it would be with the intention of winning.

“I don’t play to lose … and if I decide to do it, I’m telling you I intend to win,” Smith said. “Make no mistake about it. I won’t do it unless I believe I have a legitimate shot to win it, the presidency.”

Smith has also pushed back against claims—often promoted by left-wing pundits—that racism would be a decisive barrier if he pursued the presidency.

In an extended interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa for CBS Sunday Morning, Smith dismissed the notion that racial prejudice would define a potential campaign.

“Do you worry about racism if you ran for president?” Costa asked.

“No. I know it exists. I know that you can’t escape it, but I do not believe it is as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe,” Smith answered. “I do believe a vast majority of Americans judge you on the content of your character, rather than the color of your skin.”

He continued:

“I think a lot of people in America, especially in this day in age, now more so than ever before, it’s not about race. It’s about the fact they don’t give a damn about it, because they got their own problems.

That’s entirely different than believing they are superior to you and want to hold you back from ascending. That’s not what’s going on to the degree it was decades ago.”

Smith’s remarks reflect a view shared by many Americans: that everyday concerns such as inflation, border security, crime, and foreign policy matter far more to voters than the identity-focused narratives pushed by progressive activists.

If elected in 2028, Smith would become the second Black president, two decades after Barack Obama’s historic victory in 2008. But Smith has made clear that he does not see race as the defining issue of any potential campaign. Instead, he argues that leadership, competence, and a commitment to the American people are what voters ultimately care about most.

For now, Smith continues to hint—without fully committing—that a presidential run is no longer out of the question. And with figures like O’Reilly urging him forward, speculation about his political future is likely to keep growing.

AOC Campaign Office Vandalized With Anti-Israel Message

4

Police responded after a campaign office for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was vandalized with a painted anti-Israel slogan in New York City.

The slogan, written in red paint, read “AOC funds genocide in Gaza.” The vandals had also spread the paint all over the entrance to the campaign office before police arrived at roughly 1 a.m. Monday.

The incident came just days after Ocasio-Cortez voted against legislation from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that would have cut funding for the Israeli Defense Forces.

The lawmaker, who has been vocally critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, said she voted against the bill because it only cut funding for the defensive “Iron Dome” and did nothing to cut off the “actual bombs killing Palestinians.”

Greene’s legislation would have cut off roughly $500 million in funding for Israel. Her proposed amendment, which failed on Thursday, came after Israeli Defense Forces bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza.

“Israel bombed the Catholic Church in Gaza, and that entire population is being wiped out as they continue their aggressive war in Gaza,” Greene said.

Voting alongside Greene on the amendment were Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) members of the progressive so-called “squad” to which Ocasio-Cortez also belongs.

READ NEXT: Republican Congresswoman Pushes Mass ‘Amnesty’ Bill For Illegal Migrants

Trump Announces His Pick To Replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

1
Marjorie Taylor Greene -Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Clay Fuller on Wednesday evening to succeed former Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the House of Representatives following her public resignation and break with the President.

Fuller, an Air National Guard officer and district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, is one of 21 candidates competing for the open seat — a contest that has drawn national attention because of its unusual size and the political drama surrounding Greene’s resignation.

“He is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Clay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

Fuller responded immediately, thanking Trump and embracing the America First agenda that has defined the district in recent years.

“This is the honor of a lifetime. I will not let you or Georgia’s 14th District down,” Fuller wrote on X. “Our work to put America first is just getting started!”

A Crowded Field in a Key MAGA Stronghold

Georgia’s 14th District remains one of the most Republican areas in the country, but the special election format has raised concerns among GOP strategists. With no primary to narrow the field, all candidates — Republican and Democrat — will appear on the same ballot March 10.

If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the race will advance to an April 7 runoff between the top two vote-getters.

Fuller previously placed fourth in the crowded 2020 Republican primary when Greene first rose to prominence.

Greene’s Sudden Departure — And Her Falling Out With Trump

Greene’s resignation in January shocked many conservatives, particularly given her years as one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders in Congress.

However, the split came after what insiders described as a growing rift between Greene and Trumpworld allies. Greene reportedly clashed with Trump advisers over strategy heading into 2025, and the relationship deteriorated publicly after she criticized aspects of Trump’s campaign operation and signaled frustration with party leadership dynamics.

The break marked a rare moment of separation between two figures long viewed as aligned in the MAGA movement.

Greene has not endorsed any candidate in the race, leaving an opening for Trump to assert influence directly.

GOP Concern Over Runoff Possibility

Trump’s endorsement also comes as some Republicans worry that the fractured Republican field could allow a Democrat to slip into the runoff.

Democrat Shawn Harris — who lost to Greene by roughly 30 points in 2024 — is running again and could benefit if GOP voters split among multiple candidates.

Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority, adding urgency to the race. Speaker Mike Johnson has only a two-vote margin, meaning every seat matters in party-line fights.

Other Republicans in the Race

Fuller faces competition from several other well-known conservatives, including:

  • Georgia State Sen. Colton Moore
  • Former FEMA official Star Black
  • District GOP chairman Jim Tully

With the field wide open, Trump’s endorsement could prove decisive in consolidating Republican support behind a single candidate.