Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is slated to speak at President-elect Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration rally on Sunday, according to a new report.
Musk, who is poised to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) once Trump takes office, will provide remarks during Trump's "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., NBC News reports.
Other speakers on the agenda for the event include Vice President-elect JD Vance, conservative media personality Megyn Kelly, as well as members of Trump’s immediate family.
The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Musk, who donated millions of dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign, has cozied up to Trump and spoken at official events with the incoming president. For example, Musk delivered remarks at a Trump campaign rally in October at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Musk is also expected to influence the incoming administration and is spearheading efforts with tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to slash government spending under DOGE.
However, Musk recently said eliminating $2 trillion from the federal budget might be too ambitious, and that it was more realistic to cut $1 trillion.
"I think we’ll try for $2 trillion. I think that’s like the best-case outcome," Musk said during tech trade show CES this month in Las Vegas. "But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, we’ve got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion]."
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh met with first responders in California this week to personally thank them as they continue to battle devastating wildfires burning in Los Angeles that have claimed the lives of at least 27 people.
In a video shared by the team on social media Thursday, Harbaugh is seen greeting firefighters and law enforcement on the ground.
The former Michigan coach shook hands and spoke with several first responders, and even stopped to take a few pictures.
Before the Chargers’ Wild Card game against the Houston Texans, Harbaugh told the media that the situation in California was at the forefront of his mind, adding that he was "inspired" by the dedication of first responders and the selflessness of neighbors.
"Heart goes out, prayers, abundant prayers for all those that have been affected by this tragedy," he said, according to the team’s website. "Also just been inspired greatly by the first responders, the firefighters and the residents that have pulled together, had each other's back.
"It's been tremendously inspiring," he continued. "Abundant prayers and thoughts to all that are in this fight. You see neighbors on top of houses, helping fellow neighbors, it's truly inspiring."
Last week, the Chargers pledged $200,000 in targeted funding to the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations sheltering animals that have been displaced by the wildfires.
"While we're currently experiencing unprecedented conditions that seemingly cannot get any worse as we deal with multiple fires across our region, we're also witnessing our community at its very best," Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. "The bravery, selflessness, courage, sacrifice and compassion on display over the past 24 hours by first responders, good Samaritans, friends, family and neighbors alike has been remarkable."
Officials in California say over 30 people are still missing as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire continue to burn. Those two fires have collectively burned nearly 38,000 acres. The Palisades fire is at 27% containment, while the Eaton Fire is at 55%.
FIRST ON FOX: A Republican congressman, whose district covers part of the southern border, is introducing legislation that would take a step closer to declaring Tren de Aragua (TdA) and Mexican cartels foreign terrorist organizations.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is introducing the "Security First Act" which would require the secretary of state to consider designating Mexican drug cartels and TdA as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
An FTO designation allows for targeted action against members, including financial penalties. It is illegal for anyone to provide support or resources to an FTO, and financial institutions must report those funds to the Treasury. According to the State Department, designations also deter donations and support efforts to curb financing.
Gonzales’ bill would also increase funding to Operation Stonegarden, which is a federal grant to provide resources to states and local law enforcement for border security. It would also demand a report on technology needed at the border to stop terrorists entering the U.S., and another report on Customs and Border Protection hiring practices.
The crisis at the southern border saw a sharp increase in the presence of TdA, a gang that is believed to have originated in Venezuelan prisons and moved north. Border officials told Fox last year that they see the gang as a top priority, as its presence has been felt in states like Texas, Colorado and New York.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced in September that he was declaring TdA an FTO and establishing a database to verify if arrestees are TdA members. Now, Gonzales wants to see more action from the incoming administration on the bloodthirsty gang.
"It's time to call them what they are, they're terrorist organizations, and they terrorize our community," he said. "I'm grateful President Trump is in there, and it's time for us to not only take the gloves off, but put some teeth in the legislation. So that way we throw the book at these guys."
While the bill does not itself declare TdA an FTO, and would require the secretary of state to consider it, Gonzales said he is confident that it would be in line with the administration’s thinking.
"Those of us that live along the border, you know, we don't need a commission to to tell us that we're being terrorized, but some people do, but I feel very confident with this administration, with the way Trump has handled things and talked about it, is they would go along with that route," he said.
Pam Bondi, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Justice, said this week at her confirmation hearing that she is in favor of designating Mexican cartels as FTOs.
"I personally went to Mexico. I personally dealt with these cartels when I was a state prosecutor. And they are a grave and violent threat to our country," she said.
Gonzales also stressed that the threat from the gang is not merely a border issue.
"They're not staying in Texas. One thing that I suspect is TDA is in all 50 states. So this isn't a border issue. This is an American issue," he said. "And how do we get TDA out of all 50 states? You label them as a terrorist organization, and you turn law enforcement loose to go after and scoop them up."
Gonzales has a record of bipartisanship over border security, often sponsoring bills that pick up Democratic support. He says that he is hopeful this bill will have a similar effect given a change in the temperature on immigration among some Democrats -- who have recently put their support behind bills like the Laken Riley Act.
"I think you're seeing the shift on that," Gonzales said. "House Democrats have seen, Democrats in general have seen, they lost the Senate, they lost the House, they lost the White House, and a big part of that is because of their positions on the border and on border security."
This bill already has the backing of sheriff groups in the area.
"The Security First Act will be a tremendous tool in bolstering the functionality and effectiveness of Operation Stonegarden, as well as designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and using new and updated technology to police and patrol areas of our southern border that are difficult to reach in a vehicle. We are in support of this bill," Clint McDonald, a retired sheriff and Executive Director of the Southwestern Border Sheriff's Coalition and Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, said in a statement.
Cash App is closing out the week on the hook for $255 million in multiple settlements around its consumer protections.
Block, the company that owns Cash App, agreed Wednesday to pay $80 million to 48 states that fined the company for violating laws intended to keep illicit activity off the platform.
“State regulators found Block was not in compliance with certain requirements, creating the potential that its services could be used to support money laundering, terrorism financing, or other illegal activities,” a press release from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors says.
Separately, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached a settlement with Block on Thursday, in which the company agreed to pay $120 million to Cash App customers and another $55 million to the CFPB. According to the bureau, Cash App’s weak security measures put consumers at risk and made it difficult for users to get help after experiencing fraud on the platform. Cash App is also accused of tricking consumers into thinking that their bank, not Cash App, was responsible for handling disputes and that Cash App didn’t offer “meaningful and effective” customer service, which “left the network vulnerable to criminals defrauding users.”
How to regulate peer-to-peer money-transferring apps like Cash App is an ongoing fight. This week, NetChoice and TechNet sued to challenge the CFPB’s handling of such platforms like banks, calling it an “unlawful power grab.” Google filed a similar suit in December.
Surprise! Donald Trump’s big, audacious ambition to buy Greenland from Denmark has a tech angle. Ken Howery, named by U.S. President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next ambassador to the country (and thus chief broker of any deal), is one more part of the rich seam of tech people running through Trump’s upcoming administration. Part […]
The European Commission (EC) says it has requested information from Elon Musk’s X related to the algorithms that determine the content it recommends to users. The EC wants to determine how those algorithms may or may not be compliant with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes key obligations on online platforms operating across the […]
Apple has recently ramped up its US chip production in Arizona, but TSMC’s CEO says you shouldn’t expect the latest and greatest chips to be US-made any time soon. Here’s why.
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against General Motors and OnStar for selling location and driving data from millions of GM car owners, allegedly without informed consent. This data was collected as frequently as every three seconds.
Both companies have been banned from selling location and driving behavior data for a period of five years, and will need to ensure they disclose any future sharing plans, and obtain proper consent for it …
Capital One customers have been unable to access their direct debits, leaving them unsure how they will be able to pay their bills and other essential expenses.
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