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Melania Trump Shuts Down Rumors About ‘Real’ Reason Behind President’s Feud With Harvard

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    PaWikiCom, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump shut down a “completely false” theory that her husband, the president, is warring with Harvard University because her son, Barron, was supposedly not accepted to the school.

    The Palm Beach Post first reported that first lady spokesperson Nicholas Clemens said, “Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false.”

    This comes amid online rumors that President Donald Trump is targeting Harvard with federal funding cuts because Barron, who just finished his freshman year at New York University, was supposedly rejected by the school.

    The Trump administration is asking all federal agencies to find ways to terminate all federal contracts with Harvard amid an ongoing standoff over foreign students’ records at the Ivy League school. Harvard has already sued in federal court seeking the restoration of about $3.2 billion in federal grant funding frozen by the administration since last month. 

    In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump accused Harvard of being “very antisemitic” and said he was considering giving the school’s federal funding to trade schools “all across our land.”

    “What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!” he wrote.

    In a letter Thursday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard’s leadership that the university had lost its “privilege” of enrolling foreign students as a result of the institution’s “refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security with pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.” 

    Trump said this week that Harvard is being “very slow” to turn over information on foreign students. 

    “We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country,” Trump wrote.

    “Harvard is very slow in the presentation of these documents, and probably for good reason!” he wrote. “The best thing Harvard has going for it is that they have shopped around and found the absolute best Judge (for them!) – But have no fear, the Government will, in the end, WIN!” 

    Report: Appeals Court Lifts First Block On Trump Tariffs

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A federal appeals court lifted the first of two rulings blocking President Trump’s tariffs on Thursday, handing him a temporary win.

    Many of Trump’s tariffs remain blocked under a separate ruling issued by a federal judge in Washington, D.C.

    The new ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lifts the initial block imposed Wednesday evening by a New York-based court that handles trade cases. 

    “The judgments and the permanent injunctions entered by the Court of International Trade in these cases are temporarily stayed until further notice while this court considers the motions papers,” the new order reads. 

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

    Broadway Legend Patti LuPone Declares Trump’s Kennedy Center ‘Should Get Blown Up’

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

      Broadway star Patti LuPone declared multiple times that the Kennedy Center under President Donald Trump should be blown to smithereens.

      In a wide-ranging interview with the New Yorker, published on Monday, it was noted that LuPone mentioned “more than once” that she wanted to see the “Trumpified” Kennedy Center “blown up.”

      From the New Yorker:

      She’s even angrier at the rest of the country. She told me, more than once, that the Trumpified Kennedy Center “should get blown up.” In the S.U.V., apropos the current Administration, she pronounced, “Leave. New York. Alone. Make it its own country. I mean, is there any other city in America that’s as diverse, as in-your-face? It’s a live-or-die city, it really is. Stick it out or leave.”

      Trump named himself the chair of the Kennedy Center in February. Trump had previously shaken things up and replaced all members of the board. Numerous artists departed their roles with the Kennedy Center in the wake of Trump’s changes.

      In a Truth Social post announcing the board changes, Trump took issue with “drag shows” allegedly targeted toward young people.

      “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” he wrote at the time. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

      In her New Yorker interview, LuPone did offer praise to a close collaborator who has become a rather outspoken conservative in recent years: David Mamet. The playwright and filmmaker announced in 2008 that he was no longer a “brain-dead liberal.” The New Yorker described Mamet as going “full MAGA.”

      “The writing, once I understood the rhythm, became the easiest thing to speak,” LuPone said. “I learned more about acting from David Mamet than I learned in four years at Juilliard.”

      FBI Deputy Director Says Agency ‘Closing In’ On Capitol Riot Pipe Bomb Suspect

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      Dan Bongino via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that the agency has ramped up its investigation into pipe bombs planted in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots in 2021. 

      “I want answers on this, and I’m pretty confident that we’re closing in on some suspects,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told “Fox & Friends” Thursday, noting the case is a top priority.

      The FBI renewed its focus on the unsolved case earlier this year. In January, investigators released new video footage showing the person who planted the bombs outside the headquarters of both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C.

      “We were told by partisan actors out there, this was the insurrection, the world was [going to] fall apart, and no one seemed to show any interest in this case,” he argued, adding that he and FBI Director Kash Patel have made the pipe bomb investigation a priority for their department. 

      Besides the video footage, in January the FBI also released more details about the suspect’s physical characteristics. They believe the individual to be about 5-foot, 7-inches and to have worn a grey hoodie, face mask, black gloves and Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes. 

      Investigators claim they’ve followed hundreds of leads, reviewed thousands of video files, and conducted over 1,000 interviews in the case. Bongino emphasized the importance of public involvement and said social media is a vital tool for generating new case leads. 

      “Every time I put a tweet out, we get tips. We got a fascinating tip on one of these cases. One of the three,” Bongino said, referring to three high-profile cases: the 2021 pipe bombs, the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on abortion and the cocaine discovered in the White House in 2023.

      “I don’t [want to] say which one, but I’m pretty confident that we’re going to close out one of them, hopefully, soon.”

      Although no one was injured in the 2021 pipe bomb incident, authorities say it was on the verge of catastrophe.

      Then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside the DNC’s offices when the pipe bomb was discovered. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also passed by the bomb before it was discovered and safely removed by authorities. 

      The FBI is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

      Report: Judge To Block Trump Admin’s Harvard Foreign Students Ban

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      PaWikiCom, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

      A federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction Thursday to block the Trump administration’s directive to strip Harvard University of its ability to admit international students.

      Judge Allison D. Burroughs – who was appointed by former President Barack Obama – already granted Harvard University a temporary restraining order last week, preventing the government from revoking the Ivy League school’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The program permits the university to host international students with F-1 or J-1 visas to study in the U.S.

      At Thursday’s hearing, Burroughs said the block on the Trump administration would stand for now.

      Fox News reports:

      In its lawsuit, Harvard said the revocation would impact more than 7,000 visa holders – more than a quarter of its student body.

      Homeland Security Investigations doubled down in a filing on Wednesday on its intent to withdraw Harvard’s certification of its Student Exchange Visitors Program. DHS cited several “compliance issues,” citing the university’s failure to follow reporting requirements, failure to “maintain a campus environment free of violence and antisemitism” and “practices with foreign entities raising national security concerns.”  

      Lawyers representing Harvard said in Thursday’s hearing that international students are “terrified” and are “facing real harm in real time.” 

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

      Musk Officially Signs Off From DOGE

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      Elon Musk thanked President Donald Trump as he officially signed off from DOGE duties…

      On Wednesday night, Elon Musk made it clear that the reason he was leaving his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project was due to a rule limiting special government employees to 130 days of service rather than any rumored feud with President Donald Trump.

      Musk’s departure from government work coincides with his recent remarks indicating he would focus more on his business ventures.

      “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

      This week, Musk publicly criticized the tax and spending package championed by Trump, saying, “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”

      Musk’s DOGE claims it has saved American taxpayers $175 billion through a “combination of asset sales, contract/lease cancellations and renegotiations, fraud and improper payment deletion, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings, and workforce reductions.”

      Earlier this week, in an interview published in Ars Technica, Musk stated, “I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics, it’s less than people would think, because the media is going to over-represent any political stuff, because political bones of contention get a lot of traction in the media. It’s not like I left the companies. It was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I’ve reduced that significantly in recent weeks.”

      Along with his major donations to the Republican effort last election cycle, Musk was also a major fixture on the campaign trail, appearing multiple times alongside Trump. 

      Howwever, at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum, Musk said over video that he’s “going to do a lot less in the future.” Musk spent nearly $240 million through his political action committee, America PAC, helping Trump and Republicans in the 2024 election cycle.

      “I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said, adding, “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”

      Trump Nominates Former Defense Attorney For Federal Appeals Court Vacancy

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      President Donald Trump announced he is nominating Justice Department official and his former defense attorney Emil Bove to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, a controversial nomination that would come as he continues to attack so-called “activist” judges for blocking his agenda.

      In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Bove as “SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone.”

      “He will end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump added.

      There are currently two vacancies on the court, and if confirmed, Bove he would serve a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.

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

      Report: Trump Says He Will ‘Look At’ Pardon For Gretchen Whitmer Kidnapping Conspiracy

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers remarks during a press briefing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., on April 29, 2025.​ The visit marked President Trump’s 100th day in office, during which he announced the basing of F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets at Selfridge—underscoring the installation’s growing strategic role. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine)

      Speaking to reporters Wednesday from the Oval Office, President Donald J. Trump said he is open to reviewing the cases of those convicted in connection with the 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, calling the prosecutions potentially unjust and saying “a lot of people think they got railroaded.”

      “I’m going to look at it. I will take a look at it. It’s been brought to my attention,” Trump said in response to questions about possible pardons for the men convicted in the case.

      “I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, I’ll be honest with you. It looked to me like some people said some stupid things—you know, they were drinking—and I think they said stupid things.”

      The comments come as President Trump continues to highlight what he calls the Biden administration’s weaponization of federal law enforcement and the justice system—a message that resonates with many conservatives concerned about double standards in legal prosecutions.

      “A lot of people think they got railroaded,” Trump repeated. “And probably some people don’t. But I’ll take a look at it.”

      The case involved Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., who were convicted in 2022 for what federal prosecutors described as a plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer from her Michigan vacation home during the COVID lockdowns. The prosecution’s narrative focused on the pair’s frustration over pandemic mandates, which they said amounted to government overreach.

      Fox was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and Croft to 19 years, on multiple conspiracy charges, including a scheme to use a weapon of mass destruction. Prosecutors claimed they were part of a larger militia movement called the “Wolverine Watchmen.”

      However, even mainstream legal analysts and civil liberties watchdogs raised concerns at the time about the FBI’s heavy involvement in the case, including the use of over a dozen informants and undercover agents who appeared to guide, encourage, and escalate the planning efforts.

      Some defense attorneys went so far as to claim that the plot was manufactured by federal operatives, with one legal team calling it a “federal setup from day one.” In fact, three other men tried later in connection with the plot were acquitted on all charges in 2023, further fueling criticism that the entire case may have been an exercise in political theater during a heated election cycle.

      President Trump’s interest in revisiting the case follows his recent high-profile pardon of former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, a well-known Virginia conservative convicted in a controversial cash-for-badges case. Trump described Jenkins as a victim of a “corrupt and weaponized Biden DOJ,” echoing his belief that the justice system has been used selectively to punish his political allies.

      Trump Announces Pardon For Reality Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      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)

      On Tuesday evening, President Trump revealed he will issues a full presidential pardon to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley after they were found guilty of fraud and tax evasion in 2022. 

      Todd and Julie, who rose to fame on the reality series “Chrisley Knows Best,” were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively. Their sentences were later reduced. 

      “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that OK? We’ll try getting it done tomorrow,” Trump told their daughter Savannah Chrisley and son Chase, in a phone call from the Oval Office on Tuesday that was posted onto an X account of a White House aide. The post was captioned in part, “Trump Knows Best!”

      “Thank you so much, Mr. President,” Savannah could be heard saying on the call. Chase, through tears, added, “I just want to say thank you for bringing my parents back.” 

      Trump told Savannah and Chase to give their parents his “regards and wish them a good life.” 

      “They were given pretty harsh treatment based on what I’m hearing, pretty harsh treatment,” Trump said. “Congratulate your parents, and I hear they’re terrific people. This should not have happened.” 

      He continued, “They have good children — you’re no longer children, but I’ll say it anyway. They have good children, don’t they, huh?”

      Standing behind Trump was Alice Marie Johnson, whose sentence on drug charges he commuted during his first term and whom he appointed as his pardon czar in February. 

      “Alice had a lot to do with this,” Trump told Savannah and Chase. 

      The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, told Fox News Digital the pardon “corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community. President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.” 

      After the phone call with Trump, Savannah posted a video on her Instagram saying she got the call from the president that he was signing pardon papers for her parents while she was walking into a Sam’s Club. 

      “So, both of my parents are coming home tonight or tomorrow and I still don’t believe it’s real!” she exclaimed. 

      She said she will be “forever grateful” to Trump and his administration as well as her lawyers and everyone else who “put in countless hours” to “make sure that my parents got home.” 

      “My parents get to start their lives over!” she added, saying she “vowed to stand next to you and your administration, exposing the corruption and continue fighting for the men and women who are in prison … Thank you, thank you, thank you and I will repay your kindness to every person that I meet, so thank God for a president like Donald J. Trump. Thank you, God, for a president who wants to restore families and loves people … and took the time to call me from the Oval Office to let me know my parents are getting their lives back.” 

      Since entering the White House, Trump has issued a number of high profile pardons including for January 6 defendants. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will pardon a former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins.

      Woman Charged After Allegedly Attacking 72-year-old Trump Supporter

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      Arrest image via Pixabay

      Another disturbing example of political intolerance turned violent this week in Florida, where a 72-year-old man wearing a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat was allegedly attacked by a woman enraged over his support for President Donald J. Trump.

      According to authorities, Laura Garrett, 33, approached the elderly man at Northeast Park and Paw Place in Largo, Florida, and began interrogating him about his political views and why he supports President Trump. The man has not been publicly identified, but what followed was anything but a civil conversation.

      Police say Garrett became physically aggressive, ultimately pouring the contents of a can over the man’s head and then striking him on the back of his head and shoulders with it. While Garrett later denied striking him, officers noted her conflicting statements and eyewitness evidence in the official arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

      After the assault, Garrett jumped a fence and fled the scene, leaving behind a shaken elderly victim whose only “offense” was expressing his support for a former U.S. president.

      Police located Garrett shortly afterward, but her combative behavior didn’t stop there.

      When officers attempted to arrest her, Garrett resisted and escalated the situation. According to the report, she intentionally dropped to the ground to avoid being handcuffed and later wrapped both legs around an officer, causing him to fall and suffer a bruised knee. That altercation resulted in a second battery charge—this time against a law enforcement officer.

      Even after being restrained, Garrett continued to kick and struggle with police, making her arrest anything but routine.

      She now faces multiple charges, including:

      • Battery on a person over 65 (a more serious offense under Florida law)
      • Battery on a law enforcement officer
      • Resisting arrest without violence
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