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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ NEXT: Thomas Massie Marries Former Congressional Staffer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Administration Suspends Official After Explosive Hidden Camera Footage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No evidence was presented to support the allegation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephen Miller Reportedly Sidelined By Trump Admin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Still, Homan’s influence appears to be growing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gage Skidmore Flickr

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the full podcast:

Trump To Have Annual Checkup At Walter Reed This Month

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

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

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

Read the full statement from the White House:

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

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

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

Inside Stephen Miller’s Push To Preserve Political Power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claims Reported by Media Outlets

The reports allege that:

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

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

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

The “Quiet Power” Strategy

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

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

Reported Strategic Changes

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

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

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

The Role of Tom Homan and DHS Leadership

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

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

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

Key Issues Reportedly Under Debate

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

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

Facts vs. Analysis

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

Verified Facts

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

Analysis and Interpretation

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Says He Aims To Suspend Gas Tax

President Donald Trump said Monday that he supports temporarily suspending the federal gas tax as Americans face soaring fuel prices ahead of the busy Memorial Day travel season.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Trump said during a phone interview with CBS News. “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.”

Gas prices have surged more than 50% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, with the national average climbing above $4.52 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA. Analysts warn prices could remain elevated as tensions in the Middle East continue and Iran blocks access to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.

The federal gas tax currently adds 18.4 cents per gallon to gasoline prices and 24.4 cents per gallon to diesel fuel. However, suspending the tax would require approval from Congress and could cost the federal government roughly $500 million per week in lost revenue.

Several Democrat lawmakers have already introduced legislation aimed at either lowering or temporarily suspending the federal gas tax to provide relief to consumers struggling with higher prices at the pump.

Revenue generated by the federal gas tax funds the Highway Trust Fund, which supports road construction and repairs, along with other transportation and transit projects across the country.

The push for relief comes as AAA projects a record-breaking Memorial Day travel weekend. According to the organization, roughly 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25, slightly surpassing last year’s total.

Of those travelers, an estimated 39.1 million are expected to drive to their destinations despite fuel prices reaching their highest levels since 2022. AAA also warned drivers to expect the heaviest traffic congestion on May 21 and 22 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., as well as during the afternoon of May 25. Sunday is expected to be the lightest travel day of the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, about 3.66 million Americans are expected to fly during the holiday period, accounting for roughly 8% of all travelers. AAA noted that round-trip domestic airfare is currently about 6% cheaper than it was last year.

However, Trump’s idea to pause the federal gas tax faces an uphill climb in Congress.

While rank-and-file GOP lawmakers are eager to get Trump’s backing on any plan to address cost-of-living concerns in a midterm election year, top Republicans are hesitant to endorse the gas tax idea, according to reporting from The Hill.

Trump’s proposal for a federal gas tax holiday got some initial enthusiasm Monday, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) quickly saying they would introduce legislation to suspend the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal tax.

However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) pointed out that it supports the Highway Trust Fund, which finances the Interstate Highway System and other surface transportation systems. 

“The best way to get gas prices to normalize in my view is to get the strait open,” Thune said Monday, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. “We do have a Highway Trust Fund and it does perform an important service in making sure that we’ve got highways and roadways across our country that are serviceable.”

PayPal Reaches $30 Million Settlement With Justice Dept. Over ‘Unlawful DEI’ Initiative

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Image via Pixabay free images

President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice announced Tuesday that PayPal agreed to a $30 million settlement over what the administration described as an “unlawful DEI” initiative that allegedly discriminated on the basis of race.

“Today, the Justice Department announced a settlement with PayPal Inc. to resolve a fair lending investigation into a discriminatory investment program created for black and minority-owned businesses,” Trump’s DOJ said in a press release.

According to the Department of Justice, the settlement requires PayPal to establish a new Small Business Initiative that does not use race, national origin, or other protected characteristics as eligibility criteria. Under the agreement, PayPal will waive processing fees for up to $1 billion in transactions — an estimated value of roughly $30 million — for qualifying American small businesses that are veteran-owned or operate in the farming, manufacturing, or technology sectors.

The agreement also requires PayPal to appoint a director to oversee the initiative, conduct assessments on the needs of small businesses, submit plans and proposals to the federal government, train employees on compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and provide annual reports on the program.

The DOJ investigation stemmed from a PayPal fund launched in 2020 that was designed to invest in “black and minority-owned businesses.” Federal officials said the initiative effectively gave preferential treatment to businesses based on race, color, and national origin, which they argued violated federal anti-discrimination laws.

In a statement announcing the settlement, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration was following through on President Trump’s pledge to eliminate what it considers unlawful DEI practices across corporate America.

“American corporations are on notice,” he warned. “You will face our aggressive enforcement if you use race or national origin to discriminate against qualified Americans.”

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon similarly warned that companies engaging in race-based discrimination could face significant legal consequences.

“With this settlement, PayPal agrees that race and national origin should play no part in determining which small businesses deserve its investment and financial support,” she said. “The Department will use the full range of its enforcement authorities to eliminate discrimination and ensure that all Americans have an equal opportunity to grow their small businesses.”

The PayPal settlement comes as the Trump administration ramps up scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs throughout both the public and private sectors. The administration has argued that many DEI initiatives violate civil rights laws by favoring certain racial groups over others.

The Trump administration also recently filed a lawsuit against The New York Times over allegations that the newspaper engaged in discriminatory hiring and promotion practices tied to DEI policies. Federal officials alleged that a white male employee with extensive experience in real estate journalism was excluded from promotion opportunities because of his race.

The administration has increasingly framed such cases as part of a broader effort to restore what it calls merit-based hiring and lending standards, while critics argue the crackdown could undermine programs intended to expand opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.

READ NEXT: Trump Administration Sues The New York Times Over Racial Discrimination