FIRST ON FOX: The State Department is launching a new, "America First" rebranding initiative to consolidate all the logos for its offices under a singular one depicting the American flag — an effort that aligns with the agency’s massive overhaul plans.
Whereas separate logos existed previously for offices including embassies, bureaus and programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development, the rebranding effort seeks to establish "consistent branding" across all these platforms to best reflect American contributions abroad, according to a State Department official.
"The redesign is very simple, and that was to recenter and re-anchor the visual identity of American efforts overseas in the American flag," Darren Beattie, undersecretary for public diplomacy at the State Department, told Fox News Digital Tuesday.
Beattie said that inconsistent branding across State Department offices and programs has meant that sometimes U.S. efforts abroad aren’t as widely recognized, while other countries that do have uniformity in branding receive greater credit.
"There's some things you look at it, and you have no clue that's associated with the United States government at all, and that's obviously contrary to our purposes," Beattie said. "If we're contributing something great overseas, we want that positivity and that contribution to be immediately visually distinguished as something associated with the United States."
The State Department rolled out guidance on the rebranding effort Wednesday — just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that USAID would officially no longer continue to provide foreign assistance.
Fox News Digital first reported in March that the State Department would absorb remaining functions from the previously independent organization, which delivered aid to impoverished countries and development assistance.
Compliance with the rebranding effort across State Department offices and bureaus is slated for Oct. 1, according to Beattie.
The effort seeks to visually complement the State Department’s reorganization already underway, which officials have said is the largest restructuring of the agency since the Cold War.
Rubio unveiled plans in April to revamp the agency because the department was "bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission."
Additionally, Rubio told lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing foreign affairs in May that the restructuring aimed to "empower" regional bureaus and embassies who are responsible for spearheading the "best innovations."
"They are identifying problems and opportunities well in advance of some memo that works its way to me," Rubio told lawmakers. "We want to get back to a situation or we want to get to a situation where we are empowering ideas and action at the embassy level and through our regional bureaus. Those are literally the front lines of American diplomacy. And so we have structured a State Department that can deliver on that."
Fox News Digital first reported in May that the agency’s reorganization plans would involve cutting or consolidating more than 300 of the agency’s 700 offices and bureaus in an attempt to streamline operations.
The reorganization involves axing roughly 3,400 State Department personnel, amounting to approximately 15% to 20% of the agency’s domestic headcount, State Department officials previously told Fox News Digital.
Republican leaders in the Senate convinced Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to vote in favor of President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" with a series of spending initiatives for her home state.
Negotiations over the bill stretched on to the eleventh hour before the bill was passed on Tuesday, with Murkowski opposing the legislation until she secured clean energy tax credits, assurances of oil drilling leases and other priorities for her state. She was seen walking around the Senate floor wearing a blanket and holding a notepad in the later hours of the Senate's "vote-a-rama."
"I held my head up and made sure that the people of Alaska are not forgotten in this, but I think that there is more that needs to be done, and I’m not done," Murkowski told reporters after the vote. "I am going to take a nap, though."
"What I tried to do was to ensure that my colleagues understood what that means when you live in an area where there are no jobs, it is not a cash economy," she added. "And so I needed help, and I worked to get that every single day."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune may have secured Murkowski's vote earlier if not for the Senate parliamentarian, who struck down several deal sweeteners aimed at Alaska. The Senate passed Trump's bill under the reconciliation process, which requires only a simple majority. The parliamentarian holds the authority to determine whether certain line items fall outside the scope of budget reconciliation, therefore requiring a 60-vote majority.
Some of the sweeteners did make it through, however, including allowing a temporary delay on cost hikes for food assistance programs in both Hawaii and Alaska. Murkowski also secured the removal of a planned tax on solar and wind energy projects.
"[Murkowski] is somebody who studies the issues really, really hard and well," Thune told Politico. "I’m just grateful that at the end of the day she concluded what the rest of us did ... which is that it was the right direction for the future of our country."
While Trump's bill has cleared the Senate, it now faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives, where many conservative lawmakers have criticized the lack of spending cuts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson led Republicans in passing a procedural "rule" vote to tee up the legislation overnight on Wednesday. The speaker can only afford to lose three Republican votes and still pass the bill. Two have already confirmed their opposition to passing the Senate version of the bill: Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Rep. Ralh Norman, R-S.C.
House members will begin the debate process at roughly 9:00 a.m.
The federal website created to host the U.S. national climate assessments, congressionally-mandated and peer-reviewed reports that cover the effects of climate change in the U.S. has been inaccessible so far this week.
A Fox News Digital review found that the websites for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the pages for the national assessments were down on Tuesday without any links or referrals to other websites.
The White House said the climate-related reports will be located within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) going forward. However, searches for the assessments did not bring anything up on the NASA website, according to The Associated Press.
The U.S. national climate assessments, of which five have been created to date, are published every four years. Some scientists argue the reports save money and lives, AP reported.
"It’s critical for decision-makers across the country to know what the science in the National Climate Assessment is," University of Arizona climate scientist Kathy Jacobs said in a statement. "That is the most reliable and well-reviewed source of information about climate that exists for the United States."
In March, President Donald Trump's energy chief vowed a reversal of "politically polarizing" Biden-era climate policies as the new administration approaches climate change as "a global physical phenomenon."
"I am a climate realist," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at S&P Global's CERAWeek conference in Houston in March. "The Trump administration will treat climate change for what it is, a global physical phenomenon that is a side effect of building the modern world."
In February, the Trump administration similarly revamped agency websites to be rid of climate change-filled content, amid a widespread rebranding of federal departments from content deemed as not aligning with Trump's agenda.
The White House and NASA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The House Rules Committee has teed up President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" for a chamber-wide vote Wednesday after a nearly 12-hour-long session debating the massive piece of legislation.
It now heads to the entire chamber for consideration, where several Republicans have already signaled they're concerned with various aspects of the measure.
Just two Republicans voted against reporting the bill out of committee – Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, conservatives who had expressed reservations with the bill earlier on Tuesday. No Democrats voted to advance it, while the remaining seven Republicans did.
The majority of Republican lawmakers appear poised to advance the bill, however, believing it's the best possible compromise vehicle to make Trump's campaign promises a reality.
"This bill is President Trump’s agenda, and we are making it law. House Republicans are ready to finish the job and put the One Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’s desk in time for Independence Day," House GOP leaders said in a joint statement after the Senate passed the bill on Tuesday.
The House Rules Committee acts as the final gatekeeper before most pieces of legislation get a chamber-wide vote.
Democrats attempted to delay the panel's hours-long hearing by offering multiple amendments that were shot down along party lines.
They criticized the bill as a bloated tax cut giveaway to wealthy Americans, at the expense of Medicaid coverage for lower-income people. Democrats have also accused Republicans of adding billions of dollars to the national debt, chiefly by extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts.
"I don't know what it means to be a fiscal hawk, because if you vote for this bill, you're adding $4 trillion to the debt," Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Calif., said during debate on the measure.
"Republicans have gone on TV for months and months and months solemnly insisting to the American people that this bill is going to cut the debt, that this will not hurt anybody on Medicaid, just those lazy bums and, you know, unworthy people."
But Republicans have said the bill is targeted relief for middle and working-class Americans, citing provisions temporarily allowing people to deduct taxes from tipped and overtime wages, among others.
"If you vote against this bill, you're voting against the child tax credit being at $2,200 per child. At the end of this year, it will drop to $1,000. That makes a huge impact to 40 million hardworking Americans. And it's simply, when they vote no, they're voting against a $2,200 child tax credit, and they're okay with $1,000," House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said.
"If you listen to the Democrats here, they say this is all about billionaires and millionaires. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime work. How many millionaires and billionaires, Madam Chair, work by thehour?"
The bill numbers more than 900 pages and includes Trump's priorities on taxes, the border, defense, energy and the national debt.
An initial version passed the House in May by just one vote, but the Senate has since made multiple key modifications to Medicaid, tax cuts and the debt limit.
Moderates are wary of the Senate measures that would shift more Medicaid costs to states that expanded their programs under ObamaCare, while conservatives have said those cuts are not enough to offset the additional spending in other parts of the bill.
Several key measures were also removed during the "Byrd Bath," a process in the Senate where legislation is reviewed so that it can be fast-tracked under the budget reconciliation process – which must adhere to a strict set of fiscal rules.
Among those conservative critics, Reps. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced resolutions to change the Senate version to varying degrees.
Ogles' amendment would have most dramatically changed the bill. If passed, it would have reverted the legislation back to the House version.
Perry's amendments were aimed at tightening the rollback of green energy tax credits created by the former Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act.
Another amendment by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., would have restored certain Second Amendment-related provisions stripped out by the Byrd Bath.
Any changes to the legislation would have forced it back into the Senate, likely delaying Republicans' self-imposed Fourth of July deadline to get the bill onto Trump's desk.
The full House is expected to begin considering the bill at 9 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Sometime that morning, House lawmakers will vote on whether to begin debating the bill, a procedural measure known as a "rule vote."
If that's cleared, a final vote on the bill itself is expected sometime later Wednesday.
Los Angeles and several surrounding cities are canceling — or postponing — Fourth of July celebrations in response to increased activity by federal immigration officials in the area.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation postponed a summer movie and concert series, while canceling this year's East Los Angeles Rock'n 4th of July celebration "out of caution and in response to recent ICE enforcement activity."
One of the city's biggest Fourth of July events that drew thousands in 2024, the Gloria Molina Grand Park Summer Block Party, has been indefinitely postponed due to "the ongoing circumstances impacting the region."
Other communities surrounding Los Angeles also reportedly decided to cancel their Fourth of July events in light of the ongoing federal immigration enforcement in the area, including the cities of Bell Gardens,Boyle Heights,Cudahy,Huntington Park,Whittier and the town of El Sereno.
In Huntington Park, the cancellation goes beyond just the Fourth of July holiday and includes a 30-day pause on "certain public summer events," according to a statement released by the city.
"Reports of unmarked vehicles and unidentified federal agents have created widespread anxiety, particularly among immigrant and mixed-status families," according to the Huntington Park statement. "Many residents have expressed fear and uncertainty, leading them to remain indoors, refrain from work, and withdraw from daily public life. Our priority is and will continue to be the safety and peace of mind of our community."
Officials from these communities halting their Independence Day events have been outspoken against the Trump administration's decision to ramp up federal immigration enforcement.
Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores has described the increased prevalence of ICE raids in and around Los Angeles as a "campaign of domestic terror" and "psychological warfare that I've only seen in theaters of war," according to The Guardian.
A report Monday by The New York Times found that, since June 6, "agents from several federal agencies have arrested about 2,000 immigrants in the Los Angeles region," according to documents obtained by the outlet, which added that the arrests have "been one of the reasons so many are on edge."
A federal judge shot down the Trump administration’s efforts to end temporary protection status (TPS) for over 520,000 Haitian immigrants currently living in the U.S.
The TPS designations for Haitians were expected to expire on Aug. 3 with termination to become effective on Sept. 2.
U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn rejected those plans on Tuesday, saying Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem did not follow a timeline and instructions mandated by Congress to reconsider TPS designations for Haitians.
In his decision, Cogan wrote, "Secretary Noem does not have statutory or inherent authority to partially vacate a country’s TPS designation." Doing so, he added, made her actions "unlawful."
A DHS spokesperson said Friday – before Cogan ruled on the matter – that the decision to end TPS ensures the status is in fact only temporary but also restores the integrity of the U.S. immigration system.
"The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home," the spokesperson said. "We encourage these individuals to take advantage of the Department’s resources in returning to Haiti, which can be arranged through the CBP Home app. Haitian nationals may pursue lawful status through other immigration benefit requests, if eligible."
Noem originally made the decision to revoke TPS status from Haitians after reviewing a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report showing the island nation no longer met the statutory requirements that grant foreign residents the ability to obtain TPS.
Sources at DHS have told Fox News that they are encouraging Haitians living in the U.S. with TPS to use the CBP Home application to secure a safe departure home by offering a complimentary plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus.
Congress created TPS as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, with the intention of allowing residents of countries who have faced war, disasters or other unsafe and extraordinary conditions, to find refuge in the U.S. The program has the ability to be extended in increments of 18-month periods.
The Trump administration has been pressing to roll back TPS designations to fulfill a campaign promise to strengthen the border and deport many illegal immigrants who crossed the border under former President Joe Biden's administration.
Biden gave Venezuelans TPS status in 2021, then renewed that designation before the end of his term in January 2025.
The newest designation will run from April 3, 2025, to Oct. 2, 2026. It is estimated the protection would have applied to about 300,000 Venezuelan nationals, before the Trump administration rolled back the decision.
Fox News Digital’s Preston Mizell and Reuters contributed to this report.
An ICE Homeland Security Investigations probe in Maryland led to the sentencing of a man who "used his position of authority" to sexually abuse a 2-year-old and who produced and distributed child sex abuse material online.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander sentenced Maryland man Mark Rice, 38, to 30 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The sentence was part of a plea deal.
A statement by the Department of Justice said Rice pleaded guilty to one count of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to the DOJ, the charges stemmed from Rice "sexually abusing two minors in his care" while using social media platforms such as Reddit, Telegram, and Kik to distribute materials depicting his victims and to solicit and access materials depicting other children.
In a Tuesday statement, ICE said the investigation began in April 2023 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip from Reddit regarding the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Authorities traced the tip to an IP address associated with Rice’s residence in Elkton, Maryland.
Maryland State Police questioned Rice regarding the abuse materials, and though he denied the allegations, he was later "observed deleting photos from his phone."
According to ICE’s statement, when Rice showed officers his phone, investigators were able to spot child sexual abuse material in a thumbnail image. Authorities then uncovered additional material in his recently deleted folder.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) reportedly discovered more than 600 child sexual abuse images across Rice’s devices. Investigators also found that Rice used Reddit to connect with people with whom he traded abuse materials using encrypted messaging platforms.
According to ICE, Rice began abusing his first victim when she "was less than 3 years old." He created photographic evidence of the abuse and also documented his abuse of another minor.
In the statement, ICE HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy called the sentencing a "powerful reminder that those who exploit and abuse children will be relentlessly pursued and held accountable."
"There is no place in society for predators who create and distribute child sexual abuse material," said McCarthy. "These crimes shatter lives, and HSI will never waver in our mission to bring justice to victims by targeting those who commit these horrific acts."
Kelly Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, called Rice "a dangerous predator."
"This sentence reflects the gravity of exploiting the most vulnerable members of our communities," said Hayes. "We’re committed to working with our law-enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute those who sexually abuse children and participate in networks that perpetuate such exploitation."
The Pentagon has frozen some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells, at a pivotal moment in Kyiv’s war with Russia, Fox News has confirmed.
According to U.S. military officials tracking the shipments, the weapons were already staged in Poland before the order came down.
The halt was driven by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby after a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles that showed dangerously low reserves, Politico first reported.
"This was made to put America’s interests first," White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said n a statement also shared with Fox News Digital. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran."
Colby, a principal Trump defense official and architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, has long pushed for a hard shift toward countering China over continued involvement in Ukraine. Before rejoining the Pentagon, he led The Marathon Initiative and authored The Strategy of Denial, a widely cited blueprint for great power competition.
According to Politico, the withheld arms include air defense munitions, precision-guided shells and Hellfire missiles used by Ukrainian F-16s.
A senior defense official told Politico the Pentagon’s review revealed that stockpiles of Patriot interceptors, precision-guided 155 mm shells and other critical munitions had dropped to levels deemed insufficient to meet U.S. contingency plans.
The Army has already quietly quadrupled its procurement targets for Patriot interceptors, but defense analysts say replenishment will take time.
Over the weekend, Russia launched its largest aerial attack of the war, nearly 500 drones and 60 missiles. Ukraine’s air defenses, many U.S.-made, remain strained.
After meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, Trump said, "They do want to have the anti-missile missiles. … We’re going to see if we can make some available."
Remaining funds from the Biden administration are expected to run out in the coming months.
The House Oversight Committee is expanding its investigation into an alleged cover-up of former President Joe Biden’s mental decline and possible unauthorized executive actions, and nine former senior White House officials will testify in the coming weeks.
An Oversight Committee aide familiar with the interview schedule told Fox News Digital five more former senior White House staff members have agreed to appear voluntarily for transcribed interviews.
Ronald Klain, former chief of staff under Biden; Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president; Mike Donilon, former senior advisor to the president; Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff for policy; and Anita Dunn, former senior advisor to the president for communications, will appear for transcribed interviews July 24 through Aug. 7.
According to the aide, two other former high-ranking Biden White House officials, Ashley Williams, former special assistant to the president, and Annie Tomasini, former deputy director of Oval Office operations, former assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, are voluntarily appearing for transcribed interviews on July 11 and July 18, respectively.
Not all former Biden officials, however, have agreed to testify voluntarily.
Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has issued subpoenas compelling Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician, and Anthony Bernal, a former assistant to the president and senior advisor to the first lady, to appear for depositions.
The aide said O’Connor’s deposition is scheduled for July 9, while Bernal’s is schedule for July 16.
These interviews are part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into the alleged attempted cover-up of Biden’s decline and the potentially unauthorized issuance of sweeping pardons and other executive actions by senior White House officials usurping Biden’s presidential authority.
Comer has been on the hunt for who was making decisions in Biden’s inner circle during the president’s apparent mental decline.
Last Friday, he sent letters to former Biden White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, former senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates and former special assistant to the president Ian Sams, demanding they present themselves for transcribed interviews with the oversight committee.
In his letters, Comer says the committee believes that the four top Biden staffers have "critical" information on "who made key decisions and exercised the powers of the executive branch during the previous administration, possibly without former President Biden’s consent."
He said that "if White House staff carried out a strategy lasting months or even years to hide the chief executive’s condition — or to perform his duties — Congress may need to consider a legislative response."
Comer set interview dates for late August and early September and gave the four senior officials until July 4 to confirm they would comply with the demands voluntarily or if they will "require a subpoena to compel your attendance for a deposition."
In a statement to Fox News Digital last week, Comer said that "as part of our aggressive investigation into the cover-up of his cognitive decline and potentially unauthorized executive actions, we must hear from those who aided and abetted this farce."
A conservative legal group is trying to uncover whether the former Biden administration's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives seeped into the nation's organ transplant system and led to prioritizing patients based on race.
MAGA law group America First Legal is suing a number of federal health agencies to obtain documents related to the nation's organ transplant system.
Specifically, they're targeting the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Health Resources Services Administration, in an attempt to compel them to turn over documents related to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).
In April 2023, AFL filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking documents relevant to the Biden administration's efforts to infuse DEI into the organ transplant system. However, to date, AFL says it has not received any of the requested information and, as a result, decided to sue in an effort to compel the release of it.
"The Biden Administration infected the federal government with ‘equity,’ replacing traditional principles of fairness and need with race-conscious criteria," said America First Legal Counsel Will Scolinos. "AFL is determined to uncover the complete scope of Biden-era DEI policies and will continue to take decisive action to restore colorblind healthcare."
Just days after taking office in 2021, former President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 13985, directing all federal agencies to conduct "Equity Assessments" to determine whether "underserved communities and their members" faced systemic barriers to accessing federal programs. The order also required each agency to develop an action plan to address those barriers.
As part of this effort, in December 2021, CMS issued a request to the public for comments on how the agency could "Advance Equity and Reduce Disparities in Organ Transplantation."
"CMS is focused on identifying potential system-wide improvements that would increase organ donations, improve transplants, enhance the quality of care in dialysis facilities, increase access to dialysis services, and advance equity in organ donation and transplantation," the agency said at the time.
"Communities of color have much higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, all of which increase the risk for kidney disease. Black Americans are almost four times more likely, and Latinos are 1.3 times more likely, to have kidney failure compared to White Americans. Despite the higher risk, data shows that Black and Latino patients on dialysis are less likely to be placed on the transplant waitlist and have a lower likelihood of transplantation. Because of these stark inequities, CMS’ [Request For Information] asks the public for specific ideas on advancing equity within the organ transplantation system."
Meanwhile, several weeks later, the HRSA announced that the "labeling of race and ethnicity information for organ donors" would "change on a number of data reports available on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) website." According to the HRSA, the move made the data "clearer, more consistent and easier for users to interpret," and did not impact the manner in which data is collected. OPTN collects and manages data pertaining to the patient waiting list, organ donation, matching and transplantation in the U.S.
HRSA also announced a "modernization initiative" for OPTN around the same time, which included plans to strengthen "equity, and performance in the organ donation and transplantation system."
In its lawsuit, AFL chronicled a series of delays, non-responses and incomplete communications following its April 2023 FOIA request. AFL is hoping to obtain a judge's order requiring the release of the records it is seeking, as well as an index of any withheld material and explanations for why it could not be provided.
"The last administration’s pervasive directives requiring consideration of immutable characteristics like race, color, and ethnicity — to make healthcare more ‘equitable’ — should concern all Americans," Scolinos said Tuesday. "AFL is determined to uncover the complete scope of Biden-era DEI policies and will continue to take decisive action to restore colorblind healthcare."
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is exploring deportation exemptions for illegal migrants working on farms or in the hospitality industry who could be swept up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Trump said workers who have spent years in the U.S. labor force, particularly in the agriculture and hospitality industries, may be eligible for a new type of work permit that would allow them to remain in the country legally, pay taxes and continue working but without receiving citizenship.
The proposed plan, which has not yet been formally announced, would create a system by which farmers and other employers take legal responsibility for longtime undocumented workers.
"We’re going to take care of our farmers and hotel workers, but we're working on it right now. And Ron [DeSantis is] going to be involved," Trump said during a tour of a new immigration detention camp in Florida’s Everglades that is surrounded by alligators, "Alligator Alcatraz."
"We have a lot of cases where ICE would go into the farm, and these are guys that are working there for 10 to 15 years, no problem.
"The farmers know them. It’s called ‘farmer responsibility’ or ‘owner responsibility,’ but they're going to be largely responsible for these people, and they know these people. They've worked on the farms for 15 years. … We have a great feeling for the farmer and for others in the same position.
"They can be here legally. They can pay taxes and everything. They're not getting citizenship, but they get other things. And the farmers need them to do the work," Trump said. "Without those people, you're not going to be able to run your farm."
The future status of illegal migrants working in these sectors has been raised over the last number of weeks with Trump saying that farmers and hospital operators have raised concerns they may lose valuable members of their workforce should those illegal migrants be caught up in his mass deportation operations.
Trump’s plan may not sit well with his hardline immigration supporters as the president seeks to find middle ground between them and protecting businesses reliant on long-term immigrant labor.
"I won the farmers by 92%, and I’m not going to be abandoning my farmers," Trump said at a roundtable discussion after the tour. "We were strong with the voters, but we’re also strong for the farmers and for others in the hotel industry.
"They’re not going to have citizenship, but they’ll be working. They’ll be paying taxes," Trump reiterated. "We need to get our farmers the people they need, otherwise the farmers aren’t going to be able to work their land."
Trump said that during a previous mass deportation effort, California farmers were left without enough workers to harvest their crops.
"You know, we tried this once before, many, many years ago, when there was a very strong guy, and he got everybody out. And every farmer — almost all the farmers in the country — went bankrupt, and they had nobody to work. And we don’t want to have that situation," Trump said without citing who he was referring to.
He was likely referring to President Dwight Eisenhower's 1954 mass deportation campaign that saw the deportation of more than 1 million migrants.
The president made similar comments about hotels and farms potentially running into issues as a result of federal immigration enforcement June 12.
"Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace," Trump posted to Truth Social.
"In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!"
On June 19, border czar Tom Homan signaled that those operations would continue, but they are not a major focus.
Israel has agreed to a proposal led by the Trump administration for a 60-day ceasefire, during which time President Donald Trump said all parties will work to end the war in the Middle East.
"My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday. "Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.
"The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal," Trump added. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar said Monday, "Israel is serious in its will to reach a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza."
He pointed to Jerusalem’s acceptance of a recent proposal presented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, but which Hamas rejected as it did not include a solution to a permanent ceasefire and a plan to withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza.
Witkoff is expected to head to Cairo in the coming days to begin hashing out new negotiations.
"We have opportunities in front of us," Sa’ar said, echoing Jerusalem’s ambitions to reach a deal. "We paid for the new reality in the Middle East with the blood of our soldiers and citizens."
"Israel is interested in expanding the Abraham Accords circle of peace and normalization. We have an interest in adding countries, such as Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, to the circle of peace and normalization – while safeguarding Israel's essential and security interests," he added.
Prior to today, Trump had not detailed which nations are interested in normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel, though nations like Saudi Arabia have made clear that so long as Palestinians continue to suffer in the Israel-Hamas conflict, normalization is off the table.
Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will kick off his Independence Day weekend by traveling to Iowa on Thursday for "a very special event, honoring our Great Country."
"I am thrilled to announce that I will be traveling to one of my favorite places in the World, beautiful Iowa, on Thursday, July 3rd, to kick off the very beginning of our exciting Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary!" Trump posted to Truth Social Tuesday afternoon.
"Iowa voted for me THREE TIMES, because they love my Policies for our Wonderful Farmers and Small Businesses, and they LOVE AMERICA! This will be a very special event, honoring our Great Country, and our Brave Heroes who fought to keep us FREE," he continued, and included a link for people to RSVP. "I’ll also tell you some of the GREAT things I’ve already done on Trade, especially as it relates to Farmers. You are going to be very happy with what I say — Should be a BIG Crowd!"
The event is slated to be held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines and is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Central Time, according to the event's website.
"This special event serves as the magnificent start of a dynamic, year-long commemoration across our beautiful country, unveiling a vision for a renewed commitment to America's future," Monica Crowley, the principal media representative for America250, said in a press release previewing the event.
The 250th anniversary of American independence will be held on July 4, 2026, with Trump repeatedly touting his administration will plan a year of patriotic events celebrating the anniversary.
The president's upcoming trip to Iowa follows the Senate passing Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" Tuesday afternoon, which is a massive piece of legislation that works to advance Trump's agenda on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt.
Trump was alerted to the news during a roundtable while visiting the Florida Everglades to tour a new illegal immigrant detention center, celebrating the news in separate Truth Social posts shortly after.
"Our Country is going to explode with Massive Growth, even more than it already has since I was Re-Elected. Between the Growth, this Bill, our Tariffs, and more, "THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL" sets the United States down a fiscal path by greatly reducing our Federal Deficit, and setting us on course for enormous Prosperity in the new and wonderful Golden Age of America," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon. "To my GOP friends in the House: Stay UNITED, have fun, and Vote "YAY." GOD BLESS YOU ALL!"
FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration approved millions in disaster relief loans for small businesses that were rocked by the anti-ICE riots that plagued Los Angeles in June after Gov. Gavin Newsom downplayed the riots and blamed the violence on the Trump administration, Fox News Digital exclusively learned on Tuesday.
Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler announced in a press release first shared with Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Newsom's government had applied for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration, which the administration quickly approved. Small businesses are now able to apply for up to $2 million in low-interest EIDL loans "to support working capital and normal operating expenses such as payroll, rent, and utilities that could not be met due to the destruction enabled by Newsom’s failed governance," according to the SBA.
"Governor Newsom allowed a mob to rampage Los Angeles – standing with violent rioters, paid protestors, and criminal illegal aliens over law-abiding citizens. Despite an estimated $1 billion in damage, he refused federal relief for weeks, insisting that the riots were peaceful even as small business owners stood in the rubble," Loeffler said in the press release.
"Although the SBA has approved California’s disaster relief request and will begin delivering immediate aid to the innocent victims, Governor Newsom must take accountability for his state-sanctioned crisis – and stop playing politics with Americans’ livelihoods."
The press release noted that the request followed "weeks of no real solutions and inflammatory social media statements" until the governor "finally requested federal disaster relief to bail him out – again."
The relief follows SBA previously approving an additional 11,583 loans that totaled $2.99 billion in relief earlier this year following the California wildfire disasters in January, Fox News Digital learned, and marked the largest sum of disaster dollars ever approved by SBA for non-hurricane or flooding events.
Loeffler had previously called on Newsom to request an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Declaration back in June in order for the agency to approve funds to assist small business owners in Los Angeles "that have been ransacked by rioters."
"We’re giving Gavin Newsom the opportunity to stop siding with criminal illegal aliens and start siding with law-abiding Americans – many of whom have lost everything to the violent and destructive riots across Los Angeles," Loeffler said in a statement on June 12. "The migrant mob has looted stores, destroyed storefronts, and committed criminal acts of vandalism against our small businesses. Although local leaders are allowing Los Angeles to burn, federal partners are ready to help American citizens rebuild – and we will do so, as soon as the Governor answers their call for help."
A spokesperson for Gov. Newsom doubled down on Tuesday in a statement to Fox News Digital, blaming last month’s violence in Los Angeles on the Trump administration, while also celebrating the SBA’s approval of relief for affected California businesses.
"Finally, the federal government is doing the right thing to pay for the damages several small businesses have suffered from the Trump-imposed chaos campaign in Los Angeles. California businesses shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of Trump’s authoritarian tirade," a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Riots broke out in L.A. the evening of June 6, after federal law enforcement officials converged on the city to carry out immigration raids. State and local leaders, such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, quickly denounced the raids in public statements while offering words of support for illegal immigrants in the state.
Protests over the raids soon devolved into violence as rioters targeted federal law enforcement officials, including launching rocks at officials, with videos showing people looting local stores, setting cars on fire and taking over streets.
Los Angeles officials reported in June that the city incurred nearly $20 million in costs over the riots, including in police overtime and to repair damage to government buildings, the LA Times previously reported.
Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members to help quell the violence, which bypassed the governor, who typically activates the National Guard, while the administration additionally deployed hundreds of Marines to respond to anti-raid chaos.
California subsequently sued the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard, which Newsom said in a press release "needlessly escalated chaos and violence in the Los Angeles region." A federal appeals court ultimately ruled in Trump's favor in the case.
Federal officials pinned blame for the violence on Democratic elected officials who have "villainized and demonized" ICE law enforcement, Fox News Digital previously reported.
"The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable and Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom must call for it to end," Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement in June as the violence continued. "The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens … From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale. This violence against ICE must end."
Newsom rejected characterizing the violence as "riots" in social media posts or interviews, instead pinning blame for the chaos on Trump and the administration for its immigration policies and "exacerbating" the violence by activating the National Guard.
"Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s exacerbated the conditions. He’s, you know, lit the proverbial match. He’s putting fuel on this fire ever since he announced he was taking over the National Guard, an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act, and we’re going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow," Newsom said on June 9 when asked if he would describe the events as "riots" or "peaceful protests."
President Donald Trump and Newsom repeatedly traded barbs on social media and during public remarks throughout the protests and riots, with the president arguing Los Angeles would have been destroyed if he had not stepped in.
"Incompetent Gavin Newscum should have been THANKING me for the job we did in Los Angeles, rather than making sad excuses for the poor job he has done. If it weren’t for me getting the National Guard into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now!" Trump posted to Truth Social on June 12.
The violence and protests quelled following the national "No Kings Day" protests on June 14, when Trump simultaneously held a military parade in Washington, D.C., honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
The pair also traded blows in January as Trump slammed Newsom for his leadership amid the devastating wildfires that gripped the Los Angeles area. Trump pinned blame on Newsom for not better preparing to prevent wildfires, while Newsom's office accused Trump of "playing politics" while they focused on ending the devastation.
Newsom touted on Monday that his state has "invested billions of dollars to fight fires" and called on Trump "to put his money where his mouth is" and help protect communities from wildfires.
"California has done more than our fair share of ‘raking’ the forests, now the federal government has to do its part to Make America Rake Again. We’ve invested billions of dollars and treated millions of acres – more than doubling our state investment from when I took office. We’re doing all we can to protect communities from catastrophic wildfire, will President Trump?" Newsom said, according to his office's press release.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the release of 150 California National Guard troops from a federal security mission in Los Angeles, freeing them up for wildfire duty just as the state enters peak fire season.
The decision came at the recommendation of Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, who oversees the mission.
In a statement provided to Fox News, a USNORTHCOM spokesperson said, "Task Force 51 will release approximately 150 members of the California National Guard from the Federal Protection mission today," adding that the force remains "appropriately sourced."
The move comes days after Guillot reportedly requested the return of 200 troops to help with wildfire containment, The Associated Press reported.
The National Guard's elite Joint Task Force Rattlesnake has been stretched thin since President Donald Trump deployed roughly 4,000 California National Guard troops and 800 Marines to Los Angeles in early June in response to violent protests over immigration enforcement actions.
The deployment sparked controversy among state political leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who criticized the move for pulling essential firefighting resources during one of the driest years on record. But the Pentagon held firm, until now.
Task Force 51 (TF-51), led by Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman, is tasked with protecting federal personnel and property.
According to the U.S. Army North, TF-51 "provides a rapidly deployable capability" to assist in homeland defense operations. Sherman, a decorated combat veteran and longtime National Guard leader, also serves as deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army North.
Despite debate over the scope of the mission during Los Angeles' anti-ICE protests, Hegseth has stood behind it. With 150 troops released, roughly 3,850 troops remain based on the originally deployed 4,000.
Newsom's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
As the New York City mayoral results roll in, the Department of Justice is remaining silent on whether it will press charges against city comptroller and former Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who allegedly assaulted a federal immigration officer inside a courthouse.
A spokesperson for the DOJ replied to Fox News Digital’s inquiry in an emailed statement, simply saying, "Unfortunately, we are not able to provide any additional information."
Video footage taken of Lander's arrest, which was on June 17, shows a chaotic scene in which Lander is hanging onto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they escorted a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza. He repeatedly asked officials if they had a judicial warrant.
"I will let go when you show me the judicial warrant!" Lander said in the video. "Where is it?! Where is the warrant?!"
The video shows federal officials eventually separate Lander from the immigrant whom the officials were targeting, and they proceed to handcuff Lander. He can be heard repeatedly insisting they do not have the authority to arrest him. One agent seemed to say that he was obstructing an arrest, to which he replied, "I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant."
Hours later, Lander walked out of the federal courthouse where he was being held alongside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. During a news conference outside the courthouse, Hochul said that charges against Lander had been dropped, though the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said it was "continuing to investigate" Lander's actions.
"The safety and security of official proceedings, government officials, law enforcement officers, and all members of the public who participate in them is a core focus of our Office," said Nick Biase, chief of public affairs for the U.S. Attorney's Office. "The Department of Justice will prosecute violations of federal law."
At the time of the incident, Lander was running for the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, a race in which he ended up placing third. Though he was hailed as a hero by progressives, some accused him of purposely getting himself arrested for political clout.
Joe Borelli, a former New York City councilman and GOP political operative, told Fox News Digital that he believes Lander’s arrest was a "staged event."
"Election day is a week from today, and early voting has begun. Make no mistake, the purpose was to get the headlines that he's getting," said Borelli. "It’s instant name recognition and establishing even stronger liberal bona fides."
Speaking with Fox News after the incident, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Democrat politicians, including Lander, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, of being purposely disruptive to "get their 15 minutes of fame… off the backs of our ICE law enforcement officers."
"We won’t stand for it in this administration," said McLaughlin. "If you lay hands on an officer or impede their enforcement action, you will be arrested as just as we saw here."
Weeks later, as New York City released its ranked choice election results, representatives for the Department of Justice declined to say whether the agency was still investigating the incident or whether it was considering charges against Lander.
The DOJ has similarly declined to comment on whether it will file charges against Padilla, who was temporarily detained after interrupting a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on June 12.
Padilla was pushed out of the room by the Secret Service and briefly arrested after trying to ask the secretary a question in the middle of her remarks.
Mayor Eric Adams, chief among Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani's detractors, quickly undercut Mamdani's ambitious policy agenda after the socialist declared victory in New York City's mayoral primary last Tuesday, arguing Mamdani does not have authority to deliver key campaign promises as mayor.
"He’s a snake-oil salesman," Adams said of Mamdani on "Fox & Friends." "He would say and do anything to get elected."
The 33-year-old democratic socialist, who was born in Uganda and would be New York City's first Muslim mayor if elected this November, has a laundry list of radical campaign promises readily available on his website. Those promises include freezing the rent, city-owned grocery stores, free buses, free childcare, raising corporate taxes and increasing the minimum wage.
Mamdani triggered a political earthquake with his decisive Democratic primary win last week as Republicans and moderate Democrats criticized his socialist policies and accused him of being antisemitic. His opponents have claimed that Mamdani does not have the authority to deliver many of his campaign promises. The reality is a little more complicated.
"As Mayor, Zohran will immediately freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants, and use every available resource to build the housing New Yorkers need and bring down the rent," according to Mamdani's campaign website.
Mamdani has accused Adams of appointing Rent Guidelines Board members to raise rents on stabilized apartments. While landlords and advocates argue the freeze would be illegal, Mamdani can accomplish this goal by appointing members to the board who wouldn't vote to increase the rent.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who lost the primary to Mamadani, called the socialist's plan to freeze rent "politically convenient posture," and said such a move would hurt landlords who would be "unable to maintain their buildings."
Mamdani has committed to creating a "network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit."
"Without having to pay rent or property taxes, they will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers. They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralize warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing," Mamdani has promised.
The mayor of New York City has control over city-run programs, so he can accomplish this goal by securing New York City Council approval. Other cities have implemented similar programs.
John Catsimatidis, Owner of Gristedes and D’Agostino’s, the largest independent supermarket chain in New York City, held a rally this week protesting Mamdani's proposal, calling it a "direct threat to the jobs, dignity, and livelihoods of the tens of thousands of hardworking New Yorkers who keep our city fed every single day."
Mamdani has vowed to "permanently eliminate the fare on every city bus — and make them faster by rapidly building priority lanes, expanding bus queue-jump signals, and dedicated loading zones to keep double parkers out of the way."
This proposal would require coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA is a state-run agency, which the mayor of New York City does not have direct control over.
According to City & State New York, Mamdani's free bus fare promise would require an additional expense, possibly more than $700 million. It's unclear how Mamdani plans to pay for the additional fee.
"Zohran will implement free childcare for every New Yorker aged 6 weeks to 5 years, ensuring high quality programming for all families," according to Mamdani's campaign website.
This would likely require a series of steps, including sign-off from state legislators in Albany, as reported by Bloomberg. Mamdani has floated a tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations to pay for the increased services, which would require state-level approval.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vocalized her opposition to tax hikes, which could create some hurdles for Mamdani. However, Hochul pushed for an increase in the state's child tax credit earlier this year, and she has nearly doubled funding for state-subsidized child care programs to about $2 million, according to The New York Times.
Mamdani said he will fund his programs through a "revenue plan" that would "raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, bringing in $5 billion. And he will tax the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers — those earning above $1 million annually — a flat 2% tax."
While Mamdani has certainly done the math, a plan like this requires approval from the state legislature and the signature of the governor.
As Hochul doubles down on her opposition to tax hikes, Mamdani could face some roadblocks in delivering this marquee campaign promise, as reported in The New York Times.
"As Mayor, Zohran will champion a new local law bringing the NYC wage floor up to $30/hour by 2030. After that, the minimum wage will automatically increase based on the cost of living and productivity increases," Mamdani claims on his campaign website.
It's unclear if the mayor has that power.
By allowing the City Council to create its own minimum wage law, Mamdani has proposed a way to raise the minimum wage in New York City without the state's approval.
But a state-level increase is unlikely, since a similar effort by the state legislature to raise the minimum wage statewide to $21.25 failed to garner much support, as reported by The New York Times.
Bill Ackman, the billionaire founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, said on X, "His policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country."
Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening…
- Self-deport or end up in 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Noem warns migrants during Trump visit
- 'We're ignoring him': GOP senators react to Musk's threat to primary supporters of Trump's 'beautiful' bill
- Congress must reconcile key differences in both versions of Trump’s signature bill
The Senate has completed consideration of President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion, 940-page agenda bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives to sync up before hitting the commander-in-chief's desk for his signature.
It first passed the House by just one vote in late May, and now it must advance through the chamber one more time before it can be signed into law.
That's because the Senate made some key changes to the legislation, chiefly to pass the "Byrd Bath" process in which its various measures are weighed for whether they adhere to the strict guidelines of the budget reconciliation process… READ MORE.
BORDER BARGAIN: Trump’s ICE carveout for farm, hotel workers sparks GOP backlash
DIGITAL REVENGE PLOT: Iran-linked hackers threaten to release new trove of emails stolen from Trump's inner circle after strikes
'STIFLE GROWTH': Labor Secretary unveils unprecedented plan to slash 63 'outdated and burdensome' rules
FIGHT ON: Dems vow to fight 'tooth and nail' as Supreme Court takes up campaign finance case
MAN VS MACHINE: The future of air combat: How long will the US military still need pilots?
TAXPAYER NIGHTMARE: Multibillion-dollar healthcare fraud scheme included giving people 'unnecessary' skin grafts: DOJ
WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE: Rubio officially kills USAID, reveals future home for foreign assistance programs
WAR OF WORDS: 'We're ignoring him': GOP senators react to Musk's threat to primary supporters of Trump's 'beautiful' bill
'OFF-BASE': EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk's attacks on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' have 'no basis,' says No 2 House Republican
JUDICIAL QUESTION: House Republicans call for investigation into Obama-appointed judge in Trump funding case
BLUE STATE BLUES: Hochul fails to crack 50% but tops potential GOP challenges by double digits in NY governor race: poll
FLORIDA V. CALI: Trump taunts Newsom to visit 'Alligator Alcatraz' and 'learn something' about immigration
NO RETURNS: Trump says only way out of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is deportation
SWAMP JUSTICE: Self-deport or end up in 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Noem warns migrants during Trump visit
Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump is seeking to resolve the conflict between both Israel and Gaza and secure the release of the remaining American hostages in Gaza.
"It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war," Leavitt said. "And the president wants to see it end. He wants to save lives and, however, the main priority for the president also remains to bring all of the hostages home out of Gaza. As you know, his tireless effort has brought home many of the hostages, including all of the American hostages who were held there."
The visit comes shortly after Trump expressed his disapproval with Israel, after Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24.
However, both sides quickly launched accusations that the other had violated the agreement, prompting Trump to tell reporters that both had failed to uphold the terms of the deal.
"I’m not happy with them," Trump said at the White House on June 24. "I’m not happy with Iran either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning."
Netanyahu’s visit to the White House comes after Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer visited Washington Monday.
Mayor Eric Adams, chief among Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani's detractors, quickly undercut Mamdani's ambitious policy agenda after the socialist declared victory in New York City's mayoral primary last Tuesday, arguing Mamdani does not have authority to deliver key campaign promises as mayor.
"He’s a snake-oil salesman," Adams said of Mamdani on "Fox & Friends." "He would say and do anything to get elected."
The 33-year-old democratic socialist, who was born in Uganda and would be New York City's first Muslim mayor if elected this November, has a laundry list of radical campaign promises readily available on his website. Those promises include freezing the rent, city-owned grocery stores, free buses, free childcare, raising corporate taxes and increasing the minimum wage.
Mamdani triggered a political earthquake with his decisive Democratic primary win last week as Republicans and moderate Democrats criticized his socialist policies and accused him of being antisemitic. His opponents have claimed that Mamdani does not have the authority to deliver many of his campaign promises. The reality is a little more complicated.
"As Mayor, Zohran will immediately freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants, and use every available resource to build the housing New Yorkers need and bring down the rent," according to Mamdani's campaign website.
Mamdani has accused Adams of appointing Rent Guidelines Board members to raise rents on stabilized apartments. While landlords and advocates argue the freeze would be illegal, Mamdani can accomplish this goal by appointing members to the board who wouldn't vote to increase the rent.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who lost the primary to Mamadani, called the socialist's plan to freeze rent "politically convenient posture," and said such a move would hurt landlords who would be "unable to maintain their buildings."
Mamdani has committed to creating a "network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit."
"Without having to pay rent or property taxes, they will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers. They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralize warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing," Mamdani has promised.
The mayor of New York City has control over city-run programs, so he can accomplish this goal by securing New York City Council approval. Other cities have implemented similar programs.
John Catsimatidis, Owner of Gristedes and D’Agostino’s, the largest independent supermarket chain in New York City, held a rally this week protesting Mamdani's proposal, calling it a "direct threat to the jobs, dignity, and livelihoods of the tens of thousands of hardworking New Yorkers who keep our city fed every single day."
Mamdani has vowed to "permanently eliminate the fare on every city bus — and make them faster by rapidly building priority lanes, expanding bus queue-jump signals, and dedicated loading zones to keep double parkers out of the way."
This proposal would require coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA is a state-run agency, which the mayor of New York City does not have direct control over.
According to City & State New York, Mamdani's free bus fare promise would require an additional expense, possibly more than $700 million. It's unclear how Mamdani plans to pay for the additional fee.
"Zohran will implement free childcare for every New Yorker aged 6 weeks to 5 years, ensuring high quality programming for all families," according to Mamdani's campaign website.
This would likely require a series of steps, including sign-off from state legislators in Albany, as reported by Bloomberg. Mamdani has floated a tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations to pay for the increased services, which would require state-level approval.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vocalized her opposition to tax hikes, which could create some hurdles for Mamdani. However, Hochul pushed for an increase in the state's child tax credit earlier this year, and she has nearly doubled funding for state-subsidized child care programs to about $2 million, according to The New York Times.
Mamdani said he will fund his programs through a "revenue plan" that would "raise the corporate tax rate to match New Jersey’s 11.5%, bringing in $5 billion. And he will tax the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers — those earning above $1 million annually — a flat 2% tax."
While Mamdani has certainly done the math, a plan like this requires approval from the state legislature and the signature of the governor.
As Hochul doubles down on her opposition to tax hikes, Mamdani could face some roadblocks in delivering this marquee campaign promise, as reported in The New York Times.
"As Mayor, Zohran will champion a new local law bringing the NYC wage floor up to $30/hour by 2030. After that, the minimum wage will automatically increase based on the cost of living and productivity increases," Mamdani claims on his campaign website.
It's unclear if the mayor has that power.
By allowing the City Council to create its own minimum wage law, Mamdani has proposed a way to raise the minimum wage in New York City without the state's approval.
But a state-level increase is unlikely, since a similar effort by the state legislature to raise the minimum wage statewide to $21.25 failed to garner much support, as reported by The New York Times.
Bill Ackman, the billionaire founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, said on X, "His policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country."
Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
