Midwest
Trump gets visibly emotional during Iowa caucuses victory speech when recognizing Melania's late mother
Former President Trump led all fellow 2024 Republican presidential candidates in the Iowa caucuses on Monday evening and got visibly emotional during his victory speech.
After winning the contest, he began recognizing members of his family and mentioned Amalija Knavs, Melania Trump’s mother who passed away last week.
“I think most importantly, I want to thank my incredible wife, first lady, I’ll say former and maybe future, but more important than Melania, I want to thank her incredible, beautiful mother who passed away a few days ago,” Trump said, with a visible shift in his countenance.
He added, “And she’s up there, way up there. She’s looking down and she’s so proud of us. And I just want to say to Amalia, you are special, one of the most special people I’ve ever known. And that was a tough period of time for the family. But she’s amazing. She was amazing. So I just want to thank what she’s done for our family and her husband.”
Knavs passed away on Jan. 9, 2024. She was 78.
DESANTIS EDGES HALEY FOR SECOND-PLACE FINISH IN IOWA, BEHIND TRUMP’S HISTORIC CAUCUS WIN
Former President Trump speaks at his caucus night event at the Iowa Events Center on Jan. 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowans voted today in the state’s caucuses for the first contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Knavs is survived by her husband, Victor, who the former president also briefly mentioned.
“They’re great people, great, great parents to all of us, really great parents.”
Trump also shared the impact his mother-in-law had on his youngest son, Barron. “Boy, did she take care of Barron. That’s how he got so tall. He only ate her food.”
Former President Trump told Americans on Monday “it is time for our country to come together” after he won the Iowa caucuses, cementing his status as the likely Republican challenger to take on President Biden in November’s election. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Early in his remarks, Trump recognized the other 2024 Republican hopefuls, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy — who suspended his campaign after placing fourth in the contest.
NIKKI HALEY RAISES EYEBROWS BY SAYING HER THIRD-PLACE FINISH MAKES PRIMARY A 2-PERSON RACE
He then thanked his children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump, as well as his campaign officials for the decisive victory.
“I want to thank my family. Generally, they’ve worked so hard and they’ve taken so much abuse for being good people. I mean, good people. But Eric and Don, it really did. These two have been working so hard and they you know, they have another job also. So they have to do it all,” he said.
The former president, who has a reputation for often being divisive, struck a rare reconciliatory tone throughout his remarks.
TRUMP ON POTENTIAL 2024 VP PICK: ‘I KNOW WHO IT’S GOING TO BE’
“I want to thank everybody. This has been some period of time. And most importantly, we want to thank the great people of Iowa. Thank you. We love you all. What a turnout. What a crowd. And I really think this is time now for everybody, our country, to come together. We want to come together, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat or liberal or conservative,” Trump said.
Former President Trump cruised to victory in the Iowa caucus, warding off a late challenge from rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He continued, “If it would be so nice if we could come together and straighten out the world and straighten out the problems and straighten out all of the death and destruction that we’re witnessing, that’s practically never been like this. It’s just so important. And I want to make that a very big part of our message. We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon too.”
The next primary contest between Trump, DeSantis, Haley and the other remaining Republican contenders will be in New Hampshire on Jan 23.
According to a poll earlier this month, Trump holds a lead in the Granite State with 39%, with Haley in second at 32%. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has since dropped from the race, had 12%. Ramaswamy had 8% in the poll while DeSantis was fifth with 5%.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
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An ice cream shop in Plainfield, Illinois, has launched an anti-bullying campaign after an incident with a customer.
Hazel Marie’s is located at 24030 Lockport St. in Plainfield. Owner Tammy Barvian said on Memorial Day, a customer crossed a line.
“We had a customer that felt that it was OK and appropriate to throw — not toss, but throw — a banana split at the back of one of our employees’ heads and hit her in the back of the head,” said Barvian. “Not going to be tolerated here. Not something that we’re going to allow.”
On Sunday, the store asked people to bring bananas and wear yellow for $5 Sundays. The owners said they wanted to raise $10,000 for their Bananas Against Bullies campaign.
According to the Patch, Plainfield police officers responded to the scene after the incident on Monday, May 25, but could not identify the man involved.
The employee who was hit was doing OK days later.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
More and more, it is looking like playing on the offensive line for the Iowa Hawkeyes is becoming a one-way ticket to the NFL. Offensive line coach George Barnett is among the best in the business, and his 2026 offensive line should continue the trend of strong play for the Hawkeyes.
This past NFL Draft saw the Hawkeyes send Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Beau Stephens to the next level as the latest successes. They come on the heels of Tyler Linderbaum and Tristan Wirfs, two of the best offensive linemen in the NFL.
Iowa is now looking to continue the offensive line prowess as it hosts a highly touted recruit, as they prepare for more future departures to the NFL. Two starters on the offensive line this season, Kade Pieper and Trevor Lauck, have each generated NFL buzz, and if history tells us anything, NFL teams like Iowa offensive linemen.
Iowa Hawkeyes Hosting Four-Star Caleb Johnson
While it may be summer for the current roster with training camp approaching, the recruiting trail doesn’t sleep for the coaching staff. Some of the latest news for Iowa’s class of 2027 is the upcoming visit that Caleb Johnson, a four-star offensive lineman, will take to Iowa City.
Johnson, a product of Noblesville High School in Noblesville, Indiana, is coming off a string of visits to high-profile schools such as Indiana and Michigan State, with a visit to the Hawkeyes on deck.
Iowa may have a slight inside track on Johnson, as it was on Johnson’s recruiting trail earlier than some in the process, offering him back in January of 2026.
Caleb Johnson Bio
High School: Noblesville
Hometown: Noblesville, Indiana
Class: 2027
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 260
Recruiting Rankings: No. 2 recruit in Indiana, No. 22 offensive tackle, No. 248 recruit overall
Other Offers: Indiana, Michigan State, Missouri, Cincinnati, Auburn, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, UNC, Oklahoma State, Purdue, UCLA, and others
Analysis: At just 260 pounds, Iowa would be able to mold Johnson in the weight room and developmental program, which is one of the best in the country. In his tape from high school, Johnson is seen playing snaps at center, guard, and tackle, which offers versatility from the jump.
Iowa Football 2027 Recruiting Class
The Iowa Hawkeyes currently sit with the No. 29 overall 2027 recruiting class as things stand right now. The Hawkeyes have landed 10 commits for the 2027 class, two of them being offensive linemen.
Reilly Newman from West Chester Ohio, a three-star recruit, and Nate Brenneman from Rock Valley, Iowa, another three-star recruit have given their commitments to the Hawkeyes.
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