Jack Smith Claims He Has ‘Proof’ Trump Tried To Overturn 2020 Election

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December 17, 2025

A stunning claim…

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith claimed in closed-door congressional testimony on Wednesday that investigators had proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that President Donald Trump “criminally” conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Smith made the remarks in his opening statement to lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

“I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith said in his opening statement, which was obtained in advance by the Associated Press. “We took actions based on what the facts and the law required — the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.

Smith added that his probe had “developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place.”

Smith’s investigation, which began in 2022, focused on Trump’s alleged effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, as well as the classified documents that were stored at Mar-a-Lago.

Charges were filed in both investigations, but later dropped due to the longstanding DOJ policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

President Trump has yet to comment on Smith’s bold accusation.

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

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See The First Look At ‘MELANIA’ Film

Media

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 17, 2025

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1080px-First_Lady_Melania_Trump_participates_in_the_Senate_Spouses_Luncheon_(54540096258) — 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)

First Lady Melania Trump is stepping back into the global spotlight with the release of MELANIA, a sweeping 104-minute cinematic film debuting in theaters worldwide on January 30, 2026. Fox News received the exclusive first preview, offering Americans an early look at what promises to be one of the most talked-about cultural releases of the election era.

The film will premiere across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Israel, the UAE, and more—underscoring the international interest surrounding the Trump family’s historic return to the White House. Amazon will also launch a companion documentary series in the following months.

“For the first time, global audiences are invited into theaters to witness this pivotal chapter unfold,” Mrs. Trump told Fox News. “This is a private, unfiltered look at the 20 days leading up to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration—my journey through family, business, and philanthropy on the path to becoming First Lady.”

The trailer, released exclusively to Fox News, opens with Mrs. Trump entering the U.S. Capitol Rotunda ahead of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. With quiet resolve, dressed in her signature inaugural ensemble, she looks into the camera and says, “Here we go again.”

Watch:

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Historic Moment

MELANIA traces the first lady’s steps in the weeks leading up to inauguration—from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Florida and behind closed doors in Washington, D.C. Insiders say Mrs. Trump envisioned the project shortly after President Trump’s 2024 victory, beginning discussions with her team that same month.

Her longtime advisor and agent Marc Beckman led negotiations with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, starting November 18, 2024. The project drew intense interest from major studios, including Disney, Netflix, and Paramount. Ultimately, Amazon and MGM secured rights with a record-setting $40 million license deal, now the largest documentary acquisition in history.

Beckman told Fox News Digital he chose Amazon because they not only secured both the feature film and the series but also offered a full theatrical release, meeting every criterion the first lady sought.

A Film That Breaks From the Documentary Mold

Executive-produced by Melania Trump and Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media, with Brett Ratner (RatPac Entertainment) directing, the film avoids the typical documentary aesthetic. Sources say Mrs. Trump demanded a “highly cinematic” look—an elevated, polished presentation that captures the gravity of the moment and her unique perspective on public life.

The project follows the success of her 2025 memoir, Melania, which gave readers an intimate, personal look into her life, complete with never-before-seen photographs. The new film aims to extend that openness to a global audience.

A Cultural Moment Republicans Will Be Watching

As the country enters another pivotal year, MELANIA offers supporters an unprecedented, deeply personal glimpse into the woman who has become one of America’s most intriguing—and often misunderstood—public figures.

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Republican Who Voted to Impeach Trump Announces Reelection Plan

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Madeleine Jackson

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December 17, 2025

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Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026.

“This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse wrote in a statement.

Today I am announcing I will not seek reelection in 2026. See my statement below: pic.twitter.com/374ez1r0Lc
— Rep. Dan Newhouse (@RepNewhouse) December 17, 2025

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

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Report: Dan Bongino Quietly Clearing Out His Office in Preparation for FBI Exit

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Madeleine Jackson

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December 17, 2025

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Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is reportedly preparing to leave the Bureau in the coming weeks, fueling speculation that he may soon return to the conservative media landscape where he built a powerful national following. According to The New York Times, several individuals familiar with the situation say Bongino is already packing up his office and sending personal items back to Florida—an indication that an official announcement may be imminent.

These sources told the Times that Bongino could depart “as soon as this week or as late as mid-January,” though he has not yet publicly confirmed his plans. The former Secret Service agent and best-selling author was appointed to the FBI leadership team earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who tasked him with bringing greater transparency, accountability, and ideological clarity to an agency long accused by conservatives of political bias.

Conflicting Signals About Bongino’s Plans

Other reports offer mixed signals. Fox News Digital, citing its own sources, noted Monday that Bongino has “not made a final decision” and disputed claims that his office was already empty. However, Fox’s sources did acknowledge that he is expected to clarify his future “in the coming weeks.”

If Bongino does leave the Bureau, many expect him to reenter the conservative media sphere in time for the 2026 midterm elections, when Republican strategists anticipate a major national referendum on the direction of the country.

Potentially Strategic Timing for His Exit

According to the Times, Bongino has privately floated the idea of aligning his departure with a major law-enforcement development—specifically a press conference connected to the long-running federal investigation into the pipe bombs planted near the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.

The incident, still unsolved after nearly four years, remains a source of public frustration. Conservatives argue the lack of progress underscores deep institutional failures at the FBI—failures Bongino has long criticized both before and during his time at the agency.

Repairing Tensions With Attorney General Pam Bondi

Behind the scenes, Bongino is also said to be smoothing tensions with Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he sharply criticized earlier this year. In July, Bondi’s office released a memo stating that the much-discussed “Epstein client list” did not exist, contradicting years of speculation amplified in part through Bongino’s own podcast prior to his government service.

The Times reports that Bongino was so dissatisfied with Bondi’s handling of that matter that he threatened to resign at the time. Since then, he has reportedly worked to repair the relationship—an indication that he may be trying to ensure a clean exit from the Bureau, should he choose to move on.

Broader Political Context

Bongino’s potential departure comes at a pivotal moment for federal law enforcement. Republicans continue to push for sweeping reforms at the FBI, citing concerns about political motivations behind high-profile investigations dating back to the Russia probe. Bongino, viewed by many grassroots conservatives as a no-nonsense reformer, entered the FBI leadership at a time when trust in federal agencies has been sharply divided along partisan lines.

A return to broadcasting would position him once again as one of the most influential voices in conservative politics—a role he previously used to energize Republican voters, challenge media narratives, and champion pro-Trump policy priorities.

For now, the timeline remains unclear. But by all accounts, Bongino’s next move—whether announced this week or early in the new year—will be closely watched

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Two Senate Republicans Break Ranks To Overturn Trump Executive Order

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 16, 2025

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

A pair of Senate Republicans has joined Democrats in backing legislation to roll back former President Donald Trump’s executive order on federal unions — but it remains uncertain whether the bill will ever reach the Senate floor.

The House recently passed its version of the measure, the American Workers Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) The bill would undo Trump’s March executive order that restricts collective bargaining for most federal unions across agencies such as the Departments of War, Justice, State, Energy, and Veterans Affairs.

While nearly two dozen House Republicans crossed the aisle to support the legislation, similar GOP backing in the Senate appears far less likely.

So far, only Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have signed on as co-sponsors of the Senate companion bill, originally introduced in September by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that she agreed with Golden that “collective bargaining, which is afforded to federal employees under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, should be restored.”

Murkowski also defended the protections, arguing that federal employees “deserved these protections.”

“Collective bargaining rights and workplace protections have lifted up federal employees across the United States for decades, protecting them from unsafe working conditions and political retribution,” she told Fox News Digital.

But broader Republican support in the upper chamber is doubtful — in part because the bill sits in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) a longtime advocate of right-to-work legislation. Even Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) — generally more open to pro-worker policies — signaled reservations.

“I don’t know,” Hawley told Fox News Digital. “The public sector unions and private sector unions seem to be two different things.”

The House passed the bill 231–195, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans. Its advancement was made possible only after Golden filed a discharge petition, a procedural tool that forces a vote if a majority of House members sign on — even over leadership’s objections. No similar mechanism exists in the Senate.

Senators could still attempt to force a floor vote, but that would require Republican consent — something that appears unlikely at the moment. Still, a source close to Golden told Fox News Digital that he is actively talking with senators to build support for such a move.

Golden said Friday that both he and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have begun outreach to Senate offices.

He confirmed he had already spoken with “a few” senators after the House vote but added, “the real push is gonna be coming in the days and weeks ahead.”

Warner, who is leading the Senate effort, argued that the GOP defections in the House show the executive order went too far.

“Republicans and Democrats alike are recognizing that you can’t run a functioning government by attacking the very workforce that keeps Americans safe,” Warner said. “The bipartisan momentum in the House only strengthens our hand in the Senate, and I intend to build on it.”

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

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Donald Trump Jr. Engaged To Bettina Anderson

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 16, 2025

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Donald Trump Jr. shared joyful news on Monday that’s sure to add even more cheer to the holiday season: he is officially engaged to longtime girlfriend Bettina Anderson.

The eldest son of President Donald Trump proposed to longtime girlfriend Bettina Anderson after over a year of dating, revealing the happy news during a recent White House gathering. A beaming Trump Sr. stood proudly beside the newly engaged couple.

BREAKING NEWS:

President Trump just announced at the White House that his son @DonaldJTrumpJr and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson are getting married! They just got engaged.

Congratulations to them both. pic.twitter.com/psb38nTGla
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 16, 2025

The announcement came during a recent gathering at the White House, where President Donald Trump proudly stood beside his eldest son and future daughter-in-law as they revealed the engagement. Trump Jr. expressed his gratitude and excitement, thanking Anderson for saying “yes” and calling the moment a “big win to end the year.” Anderson, radiant and clearly moved, described the experience as “the most unforgettable weekend” of her life.

She went on to say she felt like the “luckiest girl in the world,” offering warm thanks to the Trump family for hosting such a meaningful celebration and giving special recognition to First Lady Melania Trump for the beautifully crafted holiday décor that filled the room.

Trump Jr. and Anderson—known in Palm Beach social circles for her poise, philanthropy, and professionalism—have been linked for more than a year. Their relationship became public in late 2024 after photos surfaced in the Daily Mail, and by New Year’s Eve, Anderson was standing confidently with the Trump family at their Mar-a-Lago celebration. Their appearance together signaled that the relationship was both genuine and serious.

This engagement marks Trump Jr.’s third. He married Vanessa Trump in 2005 at Mar-a-Lago, and the couple shared more than a decade together, raising five children: Kai, 18; Donald III, 16; Tristan, 14; Spencer, 13; and Chloe, 11. Vanessa, who has remained on good terms with the Trump family, is currently dating golf legend Tiger Woods.

After his marriage ended, Trump Jr. became engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2020. Although the two eventually went their separate ways, speculation about their split intensified as he was increasingly seen with Anderson around Palm Beach.

While the exact moment of the proposal remains private, one thing is clear: the Trump family has yet another reason to celebrate as they head into the new year.

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Report: FBI Doubted Probable Cause For Mar-a-Lago Raid, Pushed Ahead Under Biden’s Pressure

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 16, 2025

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Marine One Mar a Lago — Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

Newly declassified documents reviewed by Fox News Digital show that FBI officials repeatedly questioned whether they had probable cause to raid President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in 2022—yet the operation moved forward under pressure from the Biden Justice Department. One DOJ official reportedly dismissed concerns about political optics, saying he did not “give a damn about the optics” of the search.

Fox News Digital obtained internal email exchanges between FBI and DOJ personnel from the months leading up to the unprecedented raid. The emails reveal deep internal hesitation about whether the facts supported such an intrusive action against a former president.

In one email, an assistant special agent in charge wrote to colleague Anthony Riedlinger:

“Very little has been developed related to who might be culpable for mishandling the documents. From the interviews, WFO has gathered information suggesting that there may be additional boxes (presumably of the same type as were sent back to NARA in January) at Mar-a-Lago.”

He continued, explaining that the Washington Field Office was struggling to build a reliable affidavit:

“WFO has been drafting a search warrant affidavit related to these potential boxes, but has some concerns that the information is single source, has not been corroborated, and may be dated. DOJ CES opines, however, that the SW’s meet the probable cause standard.”

The agent also suggested pursuing a voluntary approach rather than immediately resorting to a search warrant:

“Even as we continue down the path towards a search warrant, WFO believes that a reasonable conversation with the former president’s attorney…ought not to be discounted.”

He added that even if Trump believed the documents were declassified, they could still be secured cooperatively:

“At a minimum… it can be reasonably argued that the documents remain sensitive and should be properly secured until the matter of classification is sorted out.”

Weeks later, another agent expressed frustration that the FBI still lacked new evidence:

“We haven’t generated any new facts, but keep being given draft after draft after draft. Absent a witness coming forward with recent information about classified on site, at what point is it fair to table this? It is time consuming for the team, and not productive if there are no new facts supporting PC (probable cause)?”

Another internal message was even more direct:

“WFO does not believe (and has articulated to DOJ CES), that we have established probable cause for the search warrant for classified records at Mar-a-Lago.”

Despite the FBI’s objections, the DOJ insisted probable cause existed and pushed for a broad search scope.

The FBI also warned leadership that a raid would likely be “counterproductive” and recommended “alternative, less intrusive and likelier quicker options for resolution.” Those concerns were ultimately overruled.

On Aug. 4, 2022—days before the raid—one agent described the plan:

“The FBI intends for the execution of the warrant to be handled in a professional, low key manner, and to be mindful of the optics of the search.”

Nevertheless, the August 2022 raid went ahead, leading to the seizure of boxes of materials that included documents potentially protected by attorney-client and executive privilege. Trump’s attorneys said they were not allowed to observe the search and questioned how agents were determining which items belonged to Trump personally.

Deadly Force Policy Included in DOJ’s Operations Order

Fox News previously reported that the Biden administration authorized standard DOJ “use of deadly force” language in the operations order for the raid—language also used when searching President Joe Biden’s home in a separate classified documents review.

According to a court filing, the operations order stated:

“Law Enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary.”

The order also showed that agents planned to bring:

“Standard Issue Weapons,” “Ammo,” “Handcuffs,” and “medium and large sized bolt cutters,”

while being instructed to wear “unmarked polo or collared shirts” and keep “law enforcement equipment concealed.”

Legal Aftermath

Special Counsel Jack Smith ultimately charged Trump with 37 felony counts related to alleged improper retention of classified material, later adding three more counts in a superseding indictment. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Smith dropped the case.

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

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Trump Files $5B Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 16, 2025

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President Donald Trump has filed a $5 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over its deceptive editing of a speech delivered by Trump on Jan. 6, 2021.

The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Miami. In the 46-page filing, Trump’s team argues the edit gave the “mistaken impression” he called for violence on that day.

“This instance of doctoring–in the form of distortion of meaning and splicing of entirely unrelated word sequences–is part of the BBC’s longstanding pattern of manipulating President Trump’s speeches and presenting content in a misleading manner in order to defame him, including fabricating calls for violence that he never made,” the lawsuit states.

“The BBC, faced with overwhelming and justifiable outrage on both sides of the Atlantic, has publicly admitted its staggering breach of journalistic ethics, and apologized, but has made no showing of actual remorse for its wrongdoing nor meaningful institutional changes to prevent future journalistic abuses,” it continues.

The footage used in the broadcaster’s Panorama documentary spliced together two separate clips, creating the impression Trump told supporters: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”

The two clips are separated by 55 minutes in Trump’s original speech, and the documentary also left out Trump’s explicit calls for supporters to protest “peacefully and patriotically.”

Speaking in Washington DC, the president accused the broadcaster of “putting terrible words in my mouth that I didn’t say” and claimed the BBC “may have used AI” in its investigative Panorama show. He later added: “They actually have me speaking with words that I never said, and they got caught… Let’s call [it] fake news.”

In a statement to The New York Times, Trump’s legal team said: “The formerly respected and now disgraced BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctoring his speech in a brazen attempt to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.”

The fallout has already triggered resignations at the top of the BBC, including director general Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness.

The BBC later issued an apology to Trump for his portrayal in the documentary:

“[W]e accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech, rather than excerpts from different points in the speech, and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” the statement said.

“The BBC would like to apologize to President Trump for that error of judgement. This programme was not scheduled to be re-broadcast and will not be broadcast again in this form on any BBC platforms,” it added.

Trump’s latest lawsuit follows a string of high-profile legal battles against U.S.-based media outlets, including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

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Biden Struggles To Raise Funds For Presidential Library

By

Seijah Drake

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December 15, 2025

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More than a year after its launch, former President Joe Biden’s presidential library foundation has raised a modest sum, inviting questions about whether the project can move forward as a standalone institution.

According to a report by The New York Times, public filings and donor interviews reveal that the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library Foundation expects to raise just $11.3 million by the end of 2027. The foundation received no new donations in 2024, and its initial funding came largely from $4 million leftover from Biden’s 2021 inauguration.

As of late 2025, Biden has not held any major fundraising events for the library. The first donor reception was scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15, in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. The foundation has not disclosed how much it raised in 2025, saying only that Biden has begun fundraising more actively.

The projected fundraising total places Biden far behind other recent presidents. The Obama Foundation has raised more than $1.5 billion for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Although the project has faced cost overruns and criticism from local residents, more than $850 million has already been committed to construction. Financial filings have nonetheless raised concerns about the center’s limited endowment and the potential for future taxpayer liability due to rising operating costs.

President Donald Trump is also pursuing a far more ambitious library effort. Trump plans to build his presidential library in Miami and is hoping to raise nearly $1 billion. His project has already secured land and funding from private donations and legal settlements and received formal approval from the Florida Cabinet in September 2025, though a lawsuit presents potential issues. The library is being promoted as a major civic attraction.

Biden’s fundraising challenges appear to be compounded by donor fatigue and dissatisfaction within Democratic fundraising circles. Several prominent donors have expressed reluctance to contribute. Longtime Democratic bundler John Morgan told The New York Times, “He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile,” citing frustration with how Biden’s staff treated donors. Other contributors said they are prioritizing efforts to defeat Trump or were disillusioned with Biden’s presidency.

According to Axios, Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, further alienated some Democrats, with several donors reportedly threatening to withhold support for the library effort.

The Biden library foundation is chaired by Rufus Gifford, a Democratic fundraiser and former U.S. chief of protocol. Its executive directors include two of Biden’s closest aides, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. Over the summer, the foundation hired CCS Fundraising to evaluate its financial prospects. In September, Joe and Jill Biden sent letters to prospective donors inviting them to participate in 45-minute interviews to assess their willingness to give.

Given the fundraising shortfall, some donors have suggested merging the future library with existing Biden-related institutions at the University of Delaware. The university has raised at least $22 million, including $20 million from the state of Delaware, to build “Biden Hall.” A merger could allow the library project to share resources and reduce costs, though both the university and the foundation declined to comment on whether such a consolidation is under consideration.

At present, the Biden presidential library exists only as an entity listed on the National Archives website and as a corporate organization incorporated in December 2024. No specific site has been selected, though locations in Wilmington, Delaware, have been discussed. The foundation’s stated fundraising goal of $200 million remains far out of reach.

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Nobel Laureate Praises Trump’s Tough Stance on Maduro

By

Madeleine Jackson

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December 15, 2025

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1080px-Nobel_Peace_Prize_2025_-_María_Corina_Machado_press_conference — By Kevin Payravi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179718533

Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, one of Venezuela’s most prominent pro-democracy leaders, is strongly backing President Donald Trump’s hard-line approach toward Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime. In a new interview that aired Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, Machado said Trump’s strategy has given hope to millions of Venezuelans suffering under socialist rule.

Asked whether she supports increased U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan officials and further U.S. seizures of illicit oil shipments, Machado was unequivocal.

“Look, I absolutely support President Trump’s strategy, and we, the Venezuelan people, are very grateful to him and to his administration, because I believe he is a champion of freedom in this hemisphere,” Machado told host Margaret Brennan.

Speaking from Oslo, where she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize after spending nearly a year in hiding, Machado noted that she had dedicated part of the award to Trump.

“I think that he finally has put Venezuela in where it should be, in terms of a priority for the United States’ national security.”

Machado argued that Maduro’s regime is far more dangerous than a conventional dictatorship.

“This is a very complex criminal structure that has turned Venezuela into a safe haven of international crime and terrorist activities, starting with Russia, Iran, Cuba, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Colombian guerrilla [groups], [and] the drug cartels operating freely and directed in partnership with Maduro and his regime.”

Machado has long been one of Maduro’s most effective opposition figures. After she overwhelmingly won the opposition primary in 2023, the regime barred her from running, then orchestrated an election that independent experts later declared “mathematically and statistically impossible.” Despite that, Maduro claimed victory and refused to relinquish power. Machado endorsed a stand-in candidate but remained the movement’s central figure—until she was forced into hiding for her safety.

Now, speaking publicly for the first time in months, Machado is calling for increased international pressure.

“We want every legal action through law enforcement … not only from the United States, also from other Caribbean, Latin American and European countries that further block the illegal activities of the regime.”

Her argument is straightforward:

“We need to increase the cost of staying in power by force. Once you arrive to that point in which the cost of staying in power is higher than the cost of leaving power, the regime will fall apart. And it’s the moment where we advance into a negotiated transition.”

Additional Context: Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize

Machado’s praise comes as Trump has repeatedly been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, particularly for:

The Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations—an achievement some foreign-policy experts called one of the most important diplomatic breakthroughs in decades.
His diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions with North Korea, which earned him multiple nominations from European lawmakers.
His support for democracy movements in Latin America, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

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