Politics
Trump Celebrates in Washington at Rally Laced With Exaggerations and Falsehoods
President-elect Donald J. Trump delivered a boastful, campaign-style rally at a downtown Washington arena on the eve of his second inaugural, celebrating his election victory and vowing to advance his agenda in spite of what he called a “failed and corrupt political establishment” in the nation’s capital.
The speech at Capital One Arena down the street from the White House was classic Trump. In remarks laced with exaggerations and outright falsehoods, the president-elect railed about illegal immigration, bragged about the swing states he won last November, and denigrated President Biden.
“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” the president-elect said, adding that Mr. Biden presided over “a failed administration. We’re not going to take it anymore.”
The rally was a break with the tradition for presidents, who have sought to reserve their comments for the official inauguration speech, to be delivered moments after taking the oath of office with the world watching.
In one of his most hotly anticipated actions, Mr. Trump hinted strongly that he would pardon many of the people convicted of attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6 four years ago.
“Tomorrow, everybody in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages,” he said, using the term that he prefers for the people who have been convicted in the attack. “You’ll be very, very happy. I would say about 99.9 percent in this beautiful arena.”
He was joined on the stage by Village People for a live rendition of their song “Y.M.C.A.,” which has become part of the unofficial soundtrack of Mr. Trump’s campaign because of his repeated use of it at his rallies.
Mr. Trump will not take office until Monday at noon. But his return to Washington began in earnest on Sunday, with a full day of ceremonial and political events intended to underscore his remarkable ascendance — again — to the seat of American power.
For Mr. Trump, the rally was an opportunity to speak to his supporters in the language they have grown to love: a casual and sometimes rambling review of his own accomplishments, filled with attacks on his adversaries — journalists, Democrats, immigrants, moderate Republicans and foreign leaders.
Mr. Trump called Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla, to talk about the coming effort to cut government spending and regulations. He vowed to end diversity efforts around the country. And he showed a video recounting deadly attacks on Americans by undocumented immigrants.
“The border security measures I will outline in my inaugural address tomorrow will be the most aggressive, sweeping effort to restore our borders the world has ever seen,” Mr. Trump vowed in front of the boisterous crowd.
“We will stop illegal immigration once and for all,” he added. “We will not be invaded. we will not be occupied, we will not be overrun, we will not be conquered. We will be a free and proud nation once again and that will take place tomorrow at 12 o’clock.”
He also said he would release “in the coming days” the classified records relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., “and other topics of great public interest. It’s all going to be released.”
It was unclear what, exactly, Mr. Trump was talking about. It was a repeat of a promise he made eight years ago and did not fully make good on.
His speech was filled with the kinds of misleading or exaggerated claims he often made on the campaign trail. At one point on Sunday, the president-elect claimed that he had won the youth vote by 36 points. In fact, exit polls showed that while young voters did shift toward Mr. Trump, he lost most categories of younger voters to Ms. Harris.
A day before he takes the oath of office for the second time, Mr. Trump hosted a private breakfast with Republican senators at Blair House, the 19th-century mansion across the street from the White House that serves as the president’s exclusive guesthouse, often used by world leaders.
He then traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to fallen U.S. service members. At the cemetery, the president-elect placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in a somber ceremony that has become a tradition for presidents just before their inaugurals.
Wearing a long overcoat and gloves in the rainy, cold weather, Mr. Trump lifted the large wreath, assisted by a service member at the cemetery, and placed it on an easel at the tomb. He stood silently for a moment before Vice President-elect JD Vance did the same.
After the wreaths were placed, a soldier played “Taps,” the sound echoing through the hallowed burial grounds.
For more than a half-hour, Mr. Trump, Mr. Vance and their wives talked with the families of service members who had been killed at the Abbey Gate in Kabul during the evacuation of American troops from Afghanistan.
An icy rain pelted down as they walked from one gravestone to another in Section 60, where many deceased U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. Mr. Trump placed what appeared to be a gold-tinged challenge coin on each of the headstones. Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Vance carried lilies. Mrs. Trump placed them at each gravesite.
The rally took place blocks from the National Mall, his first such address in Washington since the election in November. The president-elect ended his day by attending a candlelight dinner with supporters.
The busy schedule was a prelude to what Mr. Trump’s aides promise will be an intense day of activity on Monday, including his inaugural address and a flurry of executive orders and presidential actions on immigration and other areas.
Forecasts of frigid weather have scrambled the choreography and cadence of Monday’s inaugural events. Mr. Trump’s inaugural address was moved indoors, to the Capitol, and the traditional parade was canceled, meaning the viewing stand for dignitaries across from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, which took months to build, will sit empty.
But Mr. Trump’s aides are racing to rewrite the script. Mr. Trump is planning to return to Capital One Arena on Monday, after he becomes president, and his aides are considering whether to have him sign some of the executive orders from a desk placed onstage.
Even before his Sunday events, Mr. Trump began his day the way he often did while serving as the 45th president: with a post on social media.
“Hostages starting to come out today!” he wrote on his Truth Social site, referring to the implementation of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The deal called for the release of hostages, which began on Sunday. He hailed the release of “three wonderful young women.”
Also on Mr. Trump’s mind was the fate of TikTok. He said in a Truth Social post on Sunday morning that he would sign an executive order on Monday to give the Chinese-owned app, which stopped operating in the United States because of a ban that went into effect on Sunday, an extension to keep functioning.
Mr. Trump, who has made clear he wants the app up and running during his inauguration and related events, wrote that there would not be liability for tech companies that keep the app active until he takes office. Soon after, the app began flickering back to life.
Politics
McCarthy says Trump will use ‘everything he can’ to force Senate action on SAVE America Act
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As infighting over the SAVE America Act throws congressional Republicans into disarray, President Donald Trump’s bid to get the stalled election bill across the finish line gained one notable ally.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital that he supports the election integrity measure and indicated that Trump should continue to use every available tool to pressure the Senate to pass it.
“He’s going to try everything he can to make sure he passes that through,” McCarthy said in a brief interview outside the U.S. Capitol.
The ex-speaker’s comments came after Trump abruptly called off a signing ceremony Wednesday for a bipartisan housing bill to pressure the Republican-controlled Senate to act on the SAVE America Act.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs Reading Regional Airport in Reading, Pa., on June 23, 2026. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
IRATE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE TRUMP OF HANDING DEMOCRATS A WIN AFTER BLOWING UP HOUSING PACKAGE
The move surprised Republican lawmakers, some of whom were praising the bill’s passage at a press conference when Trump’s Truth Social post broke.
But Trump has repeatedly cast the election measure — requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and voter identification requirements — as his top legislative priority.
The legislation’s momentum, however, has slowed in the upper chamber, where Republican leadership insists the votes aren’t there amid widespread Democratic opposition. Senate Republicans have also been unwilling to eliminate the legislative filibuster, which requires a 60-vote threshold to pass the legislation.
Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks during a ceremony honoring President Ronald Reagan on the 115th anniversary of his birthday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2026. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group)
TRUMP CALLS MAIL IN VOTING CORRUPT AS SENATE BEGINS DEBATE ON SAVE ACT REQUIRING VOTER ID
Amid the SAVE standoff, a group of conservative lawmakers effectively shut down the House floor in an effort to force Senate action on the election bill.
But the Senate recessed Wednesday for two weeks over the July 4 holiday, leaving the measure in limbo until lawmakers return.
The conservative-led blockade sparked fierce backlash, with several members inside the GOP conference telling Fox News Digital the move risked torpedoing their own legislative agenda.
Meanwhile, the House has also yet to pass a version of the legislation incorporating several of the president’s priorities, including a mail-in voting crackdown and provisions banning men from competing in women’s sports and child sex change procedures.
Trump has not indicated whether he will sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, despite the likely existence of a veto-proof majority.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters Thursday that the housing bill had been transmitted to the White House for Trump’s signature following a meeting with the president.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol on June 10, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Trump now has 10 days to sign the package or veto it. If he does nothing, the legislation automatically becomes law at the end of the 10-day period.
Politics
Trump budget request omits funds for L.A. fire relief, prompting criticism from senators
WASHINGTON — California’s two Democratic senators on Thursday criticized the Trump administration after it requested $87.6 billion from Congress to address some of the nation’s most “urgent needs” but omitted funding for victims of last year’s Los Angeles wildfires.
“Donald Trump’s desire to punish Los Angeles and the state of California for not voting for him, means once again that thousands of Angelinos are left watching this administration fight for anything but them, their businesses, and their communities,” Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff said in a joint statement.
“These fires did not discriminate based on party or political preference. Neither should this administration,” they added.
The omission is the latest strain in a yearlong standoff between California leaders and the Trump administration over federal disaster aid, and it comes after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with President Trump at the Oval Office in April to request the funding.
At the meeting, Trump signaled his commitment to working with local officials to help with disaster recovery efforts. The officials asked for $16 billion that would be split between the city and county. The money would consist primarily of disbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency flagged for communities hit by the fires, part of a $33.9-billion wildfire relief funding request made by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Two months later, those talks have yet to yield results sought by local leaders.
The budget request, submitted by the Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday, mostly seeks funding for the Pentagon to address costs related to the Iran war. It also includes $11.1 billion in economic assistance for American farmers, $1.4 billion to address the Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa, $500 million to support “ongoing efforts to complete restorations and construction projects” across the nation’s capital and $1 billion to boost the pensions of workers at General Motors that were cut as a result of the automaker’s bankruptcy.
“I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible,” White House budget director Russell Vought wrote in a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Vought said the administration was open to discussing “additional relief for other urgent matters.” The White House did not immediately respond when asked why the budget request did not mention the Eaton and Palisades disaster relief funds.
State leaders, including Newsom, have repeatedly accused the Trump administration of stonewalling billions in wildfire aid. The governor visited Washington in December to meet with lawmakers, including three who serve on the Senate and House appropriations committees, to push for the funding.
The governor also attempted to meet with FEMA about the matter, but said his request was denied. Newsom, a political foe of Trump’s, would not say whether he had attempted to meet with Trump to talk about the recovery efforts.
Politics
Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Secretary Rubio details US aid to Venezuela after earthquakes
Secretary Rubio, in Manama, Bahrain, outlines the comprehensive U.S. government response to the devastating back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela. He confirms immediate deployment of search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian assistance, emphasizing the urgency to save lives. Rubio reiterates President Donald Trump’s commitment to supporting Venezuela and collaborating with international partners on recovery efforts and long-term stability.
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Following a catastrophic set of earthquakes that left at least 235 people dead in Venezuela, the Trump administration has activated a government-wide humanitarian response, pledging $150 million in aid and deploying U.S. Navy warships to assist in life-saving rescue operations.
The rapid mobilization Thursday comes after back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela roughly 120 miles west of Caracas Wednesday night.
The rare earthquake “doublet” injured more than 940 people and turned the state of La Guaira into a disaster zone, while forcing the closure of the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, according to Venezuela’s Health Ministry.
US RESCUE TEAMS TO DESCEND ON HARD-HIT CARIBBEAN AFTER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE MELISSA’S IMPACT
Rescuers search for victims in a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas on June 24, 2026. (Manaure Quintero / AFP via Getty Images)
The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday it is mobilizing $150 million in aid, which includes $50 million in new bilateral awards for relief partners on the ground — such as Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision — along with a $100 million contribution to a United Nations humanitarian pooled fund.
To spearhead efforts on the ground, the State Department has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team alongside two highly specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from fire departments in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California.
U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS
Members of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s international urban search and rescue team (USA-2) prepare to leave for Venezuela, in Pacoima, Calif., Thursday. (Blake Fagan/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it is surging assigned U.S. military forces to the region, directing the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings to Venezuela to back the State Department-led operations.
The USS Fort Lauderdale will serve as a “floating command center” with a flight deck to support heavy-lift helicopters and a well deck to launch landing craft, according to SOUTHCOM.
Meanwhile, the agile USS Billings will provide critical support close to the shorelines to accelerate the disaster response missions.
U.S. SOUTHCOM said it has directed USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and USS Billings (LCS 15) to Venezuela to support State Department-led U.S. government relief operations in Venezuela. (@Southcom/X)
SOUTHCOM said it is also sending rotary-wing aircraft, which will provide critical life-saving airlift support, transporting U.S. government response personnel, search and rescue teams and partners during relief operations.
Amid the crisis, the State Department emphasized that the safety of U.S. citizens remains the administration’s highest priority.
“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in the affected areas,” officials wrote in a statement. “The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to helping Venezuela recover from this devastating disaster and will continue to explore additional ways to provide meaningful assistance during this critical time.”
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U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and can contact the State Department 24/7 at 202-501-4444 for emergency assistance.
Family members in the U.S. seeking information on loved ones can call toll-free at 888-407-4747.
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