Politics
At RNC, vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance calls Trump 'America's last, best hope'
In his first public address as the Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. J.D. Vance kept the focus on his boss — a trait shared by those who tend to stay in former President Trump’s favor.
Speaking Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Vance used his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio — made famous by his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy” — to highlight points from the Trump campaign. He decried inflation, promised to prevent the U.S. from becoming involved in foreign wars and pledged to stop “importing foreign labor.”
“President Trump represents America’s last, best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again: a country where a working-class boy born far from the halls of power can stand on this stage as the next vice president of the United States of America,” Vance said.
His speech was riddled with anecdotes from his Ohio upbringing. His mother, Bev Vance, who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, sat in the audience and mouthed to him, “I love you, J.D.”
“I will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from,” Vance said.
Vance showed himself as a confident, affable speaker, frequently making off-the-cuff jokes and at one point, turning to the camera and telling his children watching on television to “get your butts in bed.”
The crowd rewarded him by breaking into chants of “J.D.”
Usha Vance, who introduced her husband, sought to humanize him, as political spouses often do. She described meeting him at Yale Law School, and the unlikely friendship and romance between a working-class man who was raised by his grandmother and a middle-class woman who was raised in San Diego by two parents.
“That J.D. and I can meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country,” Usha Vance said.
The former Marine’s “idea of a good time” when they met was playing with puppies and watching the movie “Babe,” she said. Once they became a couple, she said, he adapted to her vegetarian diet and learned to cook Indian food for her mother.
“The J.D. I knew then is the same J.D. I know today — except for that beard,” Usha Vance quipped.
Like most of the speakers before him, Vance acknowledged Saturday’s attempted assassination of Trump, which injured his ear. He lauded the now-famous picture of Trump immediately after the shooting, blood on his cheek, with his fist in the air.
“His instinct was for us, his country,” Vance said. “To call us for something greater, something higher.”
Moments after the shooting, Vance wrote on X that the Biden campaign’s rhetoric “led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Despite that, he alluded in his speech to Trump’s call for “unity” since the shooting, saying: “We love this country, and we are united to win. I think our disagreements actually make us stronger.”
Speaking earlier in the evening, Donald Trump Jr. pointed to his father’s actions in the moments after the shooting to argue that he has the grit needed to right this country.
“He didn’t just show his character. He showed America’s character,” Trump Jr. said. “When he stood up, with blood on his face, and the flag at his back, the world saw a spirit that could never be broken. And that is the true spirit of America.”
Later Wednesday night, Michael Tyler, the Biden-Harris campaign’s communications director, issued a statement calling Vance “unprepared, unqualified, and willing to do anything Donald Trump demands.”
Tyler called Vance “Project 2025 in human form … a rubber stamp for Donald Trump to become a dictator on ‘day one.’”
Vance’s headliner address capped the third night of the Republican National Convention, where a jovial atmosphere pervaded the Milwaukee auditorium.
Trump, a white bandage on his ear, watched the evening’s proceedings from his seat. The former president is scheduled to give the week’s final address Thursday.
Trump smiled proudly as his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, said he was “just a normal grandpa” who sneaked her candy and asked about her golf game.
Kai’s father, Trump Jr., painted a dystopian image of the country under Democratic rule, a lawless nation being overrun by illegal immigrants, with a cost of living that was out of reach for most Americans, a government focused on the elites and schools more focused on indoctrinating young people than educating them.
Reportedly one of the key backers of Vance — a former Silicon Valley venture capitalist — as his father’s vice presidential pick, Trump Jr. pointed to the friendship between the two men — one from Appalachia and the other from Trump Tower — as proof of the nation’s promise. “Now we’re both fighting side by side to save the country we love,” he said.
And he told undecided or unengaged voters that they faced a stark choice in November.
“It’s a choice between one team that wants to build this country up and another that wants to tear this country down. It’s a choice between people who are proud of America and people who are ashamed of America. And ultimately, it’s a choice between America last and America first,” Trump Jr. said.
Earlier in the evening, a couple of Californians took to the stage to pump up the crowd for the Trump-Vance ticket. Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence under Trump, began his speech by greeting fellow Californians in the room. Grenell, who also served as U.S. ambassador to Germany, railed against foreign policy under President Biden, referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
“Donald Trump doesn’t care if you’re gay or straight, Black, brown or white, or what gender you are,” Grenell said. “He knows that we are all Americans and that it’s time to put America first.”
Peter Navarro, a former UC Irvine professor who was released from prison earlier Wednesday, was greeted with a rousing and extended audience cheer.
Navarro, who worked in the Trump administration, was imprisoned for two counts of being in contempt of Congress after he refused to testify to the House Select Committee about Jan. 6.
“If they can come for me, if they can come for Donald Trump — careful, they will come for you,” Navarro told the gathering.
His speech followed a frequent line from the Trump campaign, that the U.S. Justice Department under Biden and Democrats targets political enemies. “I went to prison so you won’t have to,” he said.
Navarro was the first among Trump administration officials to go to prison.
Mehta reported from Milwaukee, Pinho from Los Angeles.
Habitual marijuana users cannot be barred from owning guns, Supreme Court rules
Fox News host Sean Hannity reports the Supreme Court unanimously limits a federal gun law, ruling habitual marijuana users cannot be banned from owning guns. Legal Analyst Gregg Jarrett explains the 9-0 decision, distinguishing between recreational use and serious addiction, contrasting it with Hunter Biden’s crack cocaine and gun charges.
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FIRST ON FOX: A powerful House committee is escalating its probe into the Biden administration for alleged collusion with gun control activists.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is demanding that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the federal agency responsible for enforcing gun laws, hand over documents detailing Biden aides’ communications with Everytown for Gun Safety, an influential gun control group founded by billionaire Michael Bloomberg.
Comer’s panel has argued that a now-defunct Biden office may have collaborated with Everytown to help facilitate its lawsuit with the city of Chicago against the gunmaker Glock Inc.
“These records will inform the Committee as to whether the Biden Administration and Everytown colluded to attack private gun manufacturing companies through lawfare to circumvent Second Amendment rights,” Comer wrote in a letter Wednesday to the ATF that was reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Rep. James Comer arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2026. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
CITY OF CHICAGO SUES GLOCK INC. OVER ‘FACILITATING’ ILLEGAL GUN CONVERSIONS
Chicago’s lawsuit, listing Everytown’s legal arm as the plaintiff’s counsel, was filed in March 2024 and alleges Glock sold pistols that the firearms manufacturer knew could be easily modified to fire like machine guns.
“Glock knows that it takes little effort to convert its pistols into illegal machine guns and that criminals frequently do so,” the lawsuit alleged. “Glock also knows it could fix the problem, but has chosen not to, putting profits over public safety and violating the law.”
In the letter, Comer cited a 2023 meeting between the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention (WHOGVP) and representatives from Glock, during which Biden officials pressed the gun manufacturer to modify its pistol designs.
When Chicago sued Glock three months later, John Feinblatt, president of Everytown, wrote on X, “Federal officials recently contacted Glock to discuss implementing new ways to modify Glock pistols to make it harder for Glock switches to be installed. Rather than help, Glock has falsely insisted there is nothing they can do.”
Comer argues Feinblatt “appears to have had insider information regarding the WHOGVP’s private meeting with Glock, which raises questions about whether the Biden Administration colluded with Everytown to initiate their lawsuit against Glock,” according to the letter.
The lawsuit is still moving through the court system, with a Cook County judge denying Glock’s motion to dismiss the case in September 2025.
Members of Everytown for Gun Safety rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
STATES’ TOP COPS GANG UP ON LETITIA JAMES IN CRUSADE WITH POTENTIAL NATIONWIDE CONSEQUENCES
The Kentucky lawmaker has also highlighted close ties between the Biden White House and Everytown. The letter notes that Biden aide Rob Wilcox worked at Everytown for eight years prior to his employment with the WHOGVP.
Biden also headlined Everytown action fund’s annual training conference, known as Gun Sense University, in June 2024, during which he reiterated his support for a nationwide ban on so-called assault weapons.
Wednesday’s letter comes after the GOP-led panel asked the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in April for communications between the Biden White House and Everytown.
House Oversight Republicans previously subpoenaed the Biden ATF and Everytown for all communications related to their “potential collaboration efforts,” but neither party complied with the request.
President Joe Biden speaks about gun safety at Everytown’s Gun Sense University at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
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Comer has also argued that the committee’s probe will help lawmakers evaluate whether new legislation is needed to combat officials violating recordkeeping requirements or using their roles to leak private information to politically aligned third parties.
A spokesperson for the ATF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The June 16 appearance by Vance gave the program its most-watched episode since November 2024.
The first appearance by Vice President JD Vance on ABC’s “The View” delivered the most-watched edition of the talk show since November 2024.
The June 16 program averaged 3.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. The figure was well above the average of 2.6 million viewers for “The View” in the 2025-26 season.
Vance appeared on the liberal-leaning program to promote his new book on his decision to become a Catholic. While the co-hosts mostly questioned him on the Trump administration’s policies on immigration and race, the discussion was cordial.
The panel of co-hosts — Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin — did not ask Vance to address the program’s ongoing tension with the Federal Communications Commission.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has questioned whether “The View” should have the status of news programs, which are exempt from giving equal time to the opponents of political candidates who appear as guests.
ABC has asked the FCC to rule on the status of “The View,” which received an exemption from the rarely enforced equal time provision in 2002. ABC has maintained that “The View” books politicians based on newsworthiness and not partisanship.
The FCC is currently taking comments from the public on the matter. ABC is running on-air spots urging viewers to support the program.
“‘The View’ has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 30 years,” the spot says. “Now the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee submitted comments Monday, asserting that “The View” takes advantage of its exemption and favors Democratic candidates and permits “only rare appearances by Republican-aligned figures.”
ABC has told the FCC that “The View” has invited politicians from both sides of the aisle to appear on “The View,” including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of State Marco Rubio and entrepreneur Elon Musk. They have declined the invitation as did Vance before his appearance last week.
The letter from the GOP committees also cited the ideological leanings of the co-hosts, saying they are “not selected for their journalistic talent or excellence in commentary, but for their partisan tilt.”
Over the last two decades, “The View” has used five liberal hosts and filled one seat designated for a conservative voice. The right-leaning co-host role has had the most turnover.
“The View” has been the most-watched daytime program for the last nine years. As a live, topical program, it has remained an important media platform while the rest of the talk show genre has largely faded due to diminishing audiences.
Carr’s targeting of “The View” is part of his ongoing criticism of broadcast platforms that annoy President Trump, who has urged that TV station licenses be pulled when he’s been unhappy with coverage.
Politics
Trump to kick off Great American State Fair as 250th anniversary celebrations take over National Mall
Washington DC to host Great American State Fair for America250
Ambassador Monica Crowley discusses the Great American State Fair, set to transform the National Mall in Washington D.C. from June 25 to July 10. Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, the 16-day event will feature pavilions from all 50 states and six territories, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, traditional games, and rodeo competitions, aiming to unite the country.
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President Donald Trump will kick off the Great American State Fair Wednesday evening as part of celebrations surrounding the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“President Trump promised the greatest 250th birthday celebration in American history, and Freedom 250 is proud to help deliver it for the American people,” Freedom 250 CEO Keith Kranch told Fox News Digital.
“This celebration is about what makes America exceptional—our freedom, our faith, our optimism, and our people. We are honored to welcome President Trump as he helps kick off these historic festivities tomorrow and begin a nationwide celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday,” Krach added.
The fair brings together all 50 states and six U.S. territories for a national celebration stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument featuring military flyovers, musical performances and civic programming. Trump announced he will deliver remarks after a handful of musical artists pulled out of their musical performances, turning the bash into a “Make America Great Again Rally.”
TRUMP FLOATS REPLACING 250TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT WITH MASSIVE MAGA RALLY AFTER ARTISTS PULL OUT
Organizers describe the Great American State Fair as a modern-day World’s Fair celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The event is scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10, 2026, celebrating patriotism to bring together the nation for a celebration of unity.
TRUMP’S DC BEAUTIFICATION PUSH WINS RARE DEM PRAISE AS PRESIDENT SNAPS LANDMARKS BACK TO LIFE
U.S. President Donald J. Trump watches the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Trump’s anticipated remarks follow his signature last week on a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, launching a 60-day negotiating period aimed at preventing Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons capability.
The world’s fair-scale event will have pavilions touching on five national themes: Made in America, American Heartland, American Innovates, The American Canvas, and Faith & Family.
There will also be a 110-foot Ferris wheel and the refurbished Smithsonian carousel for families to enjoy.
Rending of 110-foot ferris wheel coming to National Mall for “Great American State Fair.” (Freedom250)
The U.S. has hosted over two dozen variations of the world’s fair since first hosted in Philadelphia in 1876, according to the State Department.
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Freedom250, the nonpartisan group helping coordinate the broader America250 effort, said the fair will feature food, games, exhibits and themed attractions designed to showcase the country’s culture, history and innovation.
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