News

While Congress Fumbled, This Billionaire Patriot Paid the Troops Out of Pocket
News

While Congress Fumbled, This Billionaire Patriot Paid the Troops Out of Pocket

/

Billionaire businessman Timothy Mellon, heir to one of America’s most prominent banking families, has been identified as the individual who donated $130 million to ensure U.S. troops were paid during the federal government shutdown.

The New York Times reported Saturday that Mellon, 83, was the anonymous benefactor referenced earlier in the week by President Donald Trump.

The President had described the contributor as “a friend” who “loves the military and loves the country” but had requested not to be named.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Asia on Friday night, President Trump called the donor’s wish for anonymity “pretty unusual in the world I come from,” adding that the individual was “a great gentleman” and “a great patriot.”

The White House did not comment on the report and directed inquiries to the Department of War and the Treasury Department. Both agencies declined immediate comment.

Mellon is the grandson of Andrew Mellon, who served as U.S. Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932 and was a key figure in shaping American economic policy during the early 20th century.

The Mellon family, which built its wealth through banking, oil, and steel, is estimated to be worth about $14 billion, according to Forbes.

A reclusive figure, Timothy Mellon resides in Wyoming and rarely speaks publicly. His political contributions have drawn attention in recent years.

One day after President Trump’s 2024 conviction in a New York fraud case, Mellon donated $50 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again.

While the Pentagon formally accepted Mellon’s $130 million contribution, questions remain about whether the funds can legally be distributed.

The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress during a government shutdown.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

The Senate on Thursday voted down a proposal that would have ensured pay for active-duty military personnel during the shutdown, rejecting the measure 54-45.

President Trump has been vocal about ensuring troops are paid despite the budget stalemate.

“I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th,” the President posted on his Truth Social account earlier this month.

The Pentagon subsequently said it identified available resources, including unused research and development funds, to cover immediate payroll needs.

Legal experts, however, have questioned whether reallocating those funds without congressional approval could violate the Constitution’s spending clause, which reserves the power of appropriations to Congress.

Mellon’s involvement adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate over executive authority and fiscal control during a government shutdown.

His unprecedented donation underscores growing private sector efforts to fill gaps left by congressional gridlock, even as legal and procedural barriers continue to complicate their implementation.

Andrew Mellon’s legacy continues to influence the family’s public image.

Known both for his business empire and his philanthropy, the elder Mellon’s donations helped establish major cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and Carnegie Mellon University.

His grandson’s recent gift, though unconventional in form, reflects a similar impulse toward civic contribution — albeit one entangled in the political and legal complexities of a modern government shutdown.

JD Vance Torches Zohran Mamdani’s 9/11 Remarks: ‘Real Victim Was His Auntie?’
News

JD Vance Torches Zohran Mamdani’s 9/11 Remarks: ‘Real Victim Was His Auntie?’

/

Vice President J.D. Vance criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, responding to comments Mamdani made during a campaign event about the impact of the September 11th attacks on his family.

Vance posted on X that, according to the Democrat, “the real victim of 9/11” was his aunt.

The exchange came as early voting began in New York City, where Mamdani, a Democratic frontrunner, faces competition from former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa.

“I want to speak to the memory of my aunt. Who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab,” Mamdani said during a Friday campaign event.

Vance shared a clip of those remarks on X, adding, “According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.”

Mamdani, who represents Astoria in the New York State Assembly, used the campaign stop to address what he described as discrimination faced by Muslim New Yorkers since the 2001 attacks.

“I want to speak to the Muslim who works for our city, whether they teach in our schools or walk the beat for the NYPD, New Yorkers who all make daily sacrifices for the city they call home, only to see their leaders spit in their face,” Mamdani said.

He continued, “I want to speak to every child who grows up here marked as the other, who is randomly selected in a way that never quite feels random, who feels that they carry a stain that can never be cleaned. Growing up in the shadow of 9/11, I have known what it means to live with an undercurrent of suspicion in this city.”

Mamdani’s comments followed a separate controversy earlier in the week involving Andrew Cuomo.

The former governor appeared on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning” on Thursday, where he questioned Mamdani’s capacity to lead New York City during an emergency.

“Any given moment, there’s a crisis, and people’s lives are at stake. God forbid, there’s another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo said.

Host Sid Rosenberg responded, “He’d be cheering.”

Cuomo replied, “That’s another problem,” before reiterating, “But could you imagine that?”

The exchange prompted Mamdani to accuse Cuomo of engaging in “Islamophobic rhetoric.”

During a campaign event later that day in Manhattan, Mamdani addressed reporters who asked about the remarks.

“Yes, I believe that they were,” he said.

“We’re speaking about a former governor who, in his final moments in public life, is engaging in rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic, not only racist, it’s also disgusting.”

Mamdani, a progressive Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, has faced scrutiny from both his opponents and national political figures for his past comments about policing, Israel, and 9/11.

Vance’s post drew attention to how national leaders are increasingly weighing in on the city’s race, signaling the broader political implications of Mamdani’s candidacy.

The election is set for November, with early voting underway across New York City’s five boroughs.

Former Dem Senator Says Biden Allies Threatened His Family Over Build Back Better Vote
News

Former Dem Senator Says Biden Allies Threatened His Family Over Build Back Better Vote

/

Former Senator Joe Manchin said he was the target of an organized, months-long pressure campaign led by well-funded groups aligned with then-President Joe Biden to force his support for the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better bill in 2021.

Manchin made the disclosure during an appearance Thursday on the All-In Podcast, where he described receiving repeated death threats, harassment, and protests near his home and family during negotiations over the massive spending package.

“I told him, I said, ‘Mr. President, I’m sorry, man, I can’t get there.’ And they tried for eight months to beat up on me. I mean, I had to have security,” Manchin said.

The former West Virginia senator, who left the Democratic Party and became an independent before retiring, said the campaign escalated to the point that Capitol Police escorted him to and from work for his protection.

“It’s pretty intense, but I can tell you one thing: when every day the Capitol Police call you and say your death threats are serious right now — ‘We’ll meet you down where you live, and we’ll bring you to work, and we’ll take you back home’ — you know things are pretty serious. I never wanted to know the extent, but I knew they were serious,” Manchin said.

He added that the threats extended to his family.

“Then one time they said, ‘This is really getting serious now, because now we got things — they know where your children go to school, they know where your grandchildren are, where your kids live.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is crazy.’”

Co-host Chamath Palihapitiya asked what the pressure campaign looked like in practice.

“Because it’s not just the President exactly as you write in the book — it’s people showing up at your house. It’s people with little kayaks with protest signs around your boat. It’s pretty intense,” Palihapitiya said.

Manchin confirmed that the protests outside his Washington, D.C. houseboat were coordinated and sustained.

“It was not random. It was well planned,” he said.

He described how paid activists in kayaks circled his residence on the Potomac River for hours at a time while others demonstrated near his office.

The senator’s resistance to the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better proposal eventually forced the White House and congressional Democrats to scale down the bill dramatically.

The final version, renamed the Inflation Reduction Act, passed at roughly $740 billion — one-fifth of the original size.

The legislation was signed into law in August 2022, but its passage followed intense intraparty conflict.

Manchin’s refusal to endorse the original proposal made him the focal point of public criticism from progressive activists and organizations that supported the administration’s agenda.

Manchin told the podcast that the hostility he faced was not organic but orchestrated by major Democratic-affiliated groups.

“None of these acts were spontaneous,” he said.

“It was all part of a well-crafted plan to pressure me into going along with the President’s agenda.”

Reports from that period support Manchin’s account of sustained protests. In November 2021, climate activists from the group Third Act Movement surrounded his vehicle in a parking garage.

The group, founded earlier that year, focuses on environmental activism and opposition to fossil fuel funding.

Capitol Police data shows the rise in political threats nationwide.

In September 2025, the agency reported handling approximately 14,000 threat assessment cases annually, reflecting the growing prevalence of harassment and intimidation directed at public officials.

Manchin’s account adds new details to the behind-the-scenes tensions that defined the Democratic Party’s legislative battles during Biden’s term.

His description of the pressure campaign — and its impact on his security and family — has renewed discussion about political coercion and the methods advocacy organizations use to influence elected officials.

Chuck Schumer Told a Whopper So Big Even CNN Fact Checked Him On It
News

Chuck Schumer Told a Whopper So Big Even CNN Fact Checked Him On It

/

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and several Democratic lawmakers came under fire this week after circulating a misleading clip of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s remarks about a renovation project at the White House.

The edited video falsely suggested that President Donald Trump’s “main priority” was a ballroom construction project, despite clear context showing the statement referred only to ongoing renovation efforts, not national priorities.

The controversy began Thursday during a White House press briefing, when a reporter asked Leavitt, “In addition to the ballroom and the Rose Garden patio, is the president looking at any other renovations or significant kind of projects here at the White House?”

Leavitt responded, “Not to my knowledge, no. But he’s a builder at heart, clearly. And so his heart and his mind is always churning about how to improve things here on the White House grounds. But at this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president’s main priority.”

Leavitt’s remarks clearly indicated that President Trump’s focus within the scope of White House renovations was on the new East Wing ballroom.

However, a shortened version of her comments, posted by multiple Democrats including Schumer, omitted the first half of her response and made it appear as though she had said the ballroom itself was the president’s main overall priority.

Schumer commented on the edited clip in a social media post, mocking the administration’s renovation project.

The post quickly spread among left-leaning accounts and Democratic members of Congress.

President Trump, however, had already departed for his multi-nation Asia tour Thursday night, where he is scheduled to meet with regional leaders and discuss trade, defense, and economic cooperation.

The misleading post drew criticism from fact-checkers and even CNN, which clarified that the viral video circulating online had been selectively edited to remove key context.

CNN reported that the original exchange showed Leavitt was responding specifically to a question about White House renovation projects and not broader presidential priorities.

“Karoline Leavitt was clearly referring to the planned new ballroom as Trump’s main priority for White House renovations,” CNN’s fact-check segment stated.

“But on social media, various Democratic members of Congress have cut out the first part of the exchange to make it sound like she was saying the ballroom was Trump’s overall main priority.”

The clarification from CNN followed a series of posts from Leavitt and other administration officials pushing back on the narrative.

The White House noted that the new ballroom project is privately funded and intended to serve as a space for state functions, press events, and formal gatherings without additional taxpayer expense.

The ballroom addition, part of a series of updates to the East Wing, has been in planning stages since early 2025.

The project is aimed at expanding the capacity of the White House complex for large official events and was approved following consultations with the National Park Service and historical preservation agencies.

Despite the correction, several Democratic lawmakers left their posts online, and Schumer has not issued a statement acknowledging the misleading nature of the clip.

Administration officials say the incident is another example of partisan misinformation surrounding the White House’s activities.

The episode also unfolded as Congress continues to face gridlock over spending negotiations and the ongoing government shutdown.

Analysts note that the mischaracterization of Leavitt’s remarks likely distracted from Democrats’ broader efforts to shape public opinion during the budget standoff.

By Friday evening, even mainstream outlets acknowledged the clip had been edited in a way that distorted the press secretary’s comments.

The acknowledgment underscored a rare moment of agreement among fact-checkers, with CNN’s coverage confirming that the viral claims circulating on social media were inaccurate.

Gavin Newsom ‘Invests’ Millions to Keep Killing the Unborn at Planned Parenthood
News

Gavin Newsom ‘Invests’ Millions to Keep Killing the Unborn at Planned Parenthood

/

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state will allocate more than $140 million in taxpayer money to support Planned Parenthood operations, making California the fourth state to do so after federal funding was cut under actions led by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

The funding will go toward keeping 109 Planned Parenthood clinics open across the state.

California joins Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico in providing state-level funding to replace lost federal support.

“California is a reproductive freedom state, and this latest investment continues to show our belief in protecting access to essential health care in times of distress,” Newsom said in a statement.

“Trump’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood put all our communities at risk as people seek basic health care from these community providers.”

According to Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, several clinics were preparing to close following the loss of federal funding.

Planned Parenthood was reportedly planning to eliminate primary care services at locations in Orange and San Bernardino counties starting in December.

Five other clinics in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and the Central Valley have already shut down in recent months.

“The Planned Parenthood affiliates in California are grateful to Governor Newsom and our allies in the Legislature for taking this necessary step to keep Planned Parenthood health centers open and able to provide critical services as they weather the impacts of the federal defund,” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

The federal restrictions came through legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Trump earlier this year.

The measure prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for any services, including not only abortions but also other health care such as mammograms, pap smears, birth control, and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Supporters of the restrictions have long argued that while federal law already bans taxpayer money from directly funding abortions, the organization’s federal reimbursements for other medical services indirectly subsidize abortion procedures.

Planned Parenthood has denied the claim, saying abortions account for less than ten percent of its total services.

Dr. Janet Jacobson, medical director for Planned Parenthood clinics in Orange and San Bernardino counties, told CalMatters that the loss of federal funds is “destroying our primary care program.”

“It’s inhumane to take away people’s health care,” Jacobson said.

“Folks that have Medi-Cal should be able to see the provider of their choice for primary care.”

Planned Parenthood officials estimate that it requires about $27 million each month to operate all of its California facilities.

Hicks said the new funding from the state is necessary to maintain operations following the loss of federal money.

“President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ targeted attacks on Planned Parenthood are not only unconscionable, but a deliberate effort to undermine California’s values and promise of reproductive freedom,” Hicks said.

“Today’s funding commitment is critical to protecting vulnerable Californians’ constitutional right to access reproductive health care.”

Right to life organizations have criticized the decision, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not be used to support an organization that performs abortions.

They also contend that state funding for Planned Parenthood undermines the intent of federal law, which has barred direct federal funding for abortion services since 1977.

California’s decision comes as lawmakers in Oregon and New York consider similar measures to allocate public money to Planned Parenthood.

The organization’s leaders say such state partnerships will be necessary to sustain operations as federal funding remains restricted.

With California’s latest commitment, Planned Parenthood is expected to keep all 109 of its clinics open through 2026, ensuring continued operations in counties that were preparing for closures earlier this year.

Portland Chaos: Antifa Fights Conservatives, Police Make Zero Arrests
News

Portland Chaos: Antifa Fights Conservatives, Police Make Zero Arrests

/

A violent confrontation erupted early Saturday morning outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, between Antifa-aligned protesters and conservative activists.

The fight occurred as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals extended a pause on the federal government’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to the state, leaving federal agents and local police to manage continued unrest in the city.

According to eyewitness accounts and video footage posted online, individuals dressed in black bloc confronted a group of conservative demonstrators gathered near the ICE facility.

Among them was a man draped in a “Make America Great Again” flag.

A heated verbal exchange between the groups escalated when one of the masked individuals struck a conservative protester, leading to a larger brawl in which multiple punches were thrown.

Several conservative activists were heard shouting “F**k Antifa” as the fight intensified.

Federal agents stationed on the roof of the ICE building fired rubber bullets and deployed smoke grenades to break up the altercation and disperse the crowd.

The confrontation took place shortly after midnight.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said it activated its Incident Command Team at approximately 11 p.m. Friday night to monitor the protest, but no arrests were made.

“PPB members did not observe any person or property crimes that warranted interdiction,” the bureau said in a statement.

“No arrests were made. To date, the total number of arrests related to nightly protests in the South Waterfront is 55.”

The latest clash came as the Ninth Circuit issued a Friday order keeping in place a lower court’s temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s plan to send federal troops to Portland.

The order extends the pause until at least Tuesday, allowing the court additional time to review the case.

“This decision gives the court time to fully consider the serious constitutional questions at stake,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement.

“It also ensures there won’t be a federal deployment while that process plays out — an important step in protecting Oregonians’ rights and keeping our communities safe.”

Portland has experienced ongoing nightly unrest since June, when Antifa activists began targeting the ICE facility and federal property.

The protests have frequently turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and federal officers.

According to the FBI, more than 120 individuals have been arrested in connection with attacks on government buildings and law enforcement in Portland, though the violence has continued as local police often decline to intervene.

Earlier this month, President Trump hosted a roundtable at the White House with independent journalists to discuss Antifa’s nationwide activities and escalating attacks against law enforcement.

Attendees included reporters from The Post Millennial, Human Events, and Turning Point USA’s Frontlines. Following the meeting, several journalists traveled to Portland to document the ongoing protests.

Independent reporter Katie Daviscourt of The Post Millennial was assaulted while covering a demonstration near the ICE facility, and journalist Nick Sortor was detained overnight after being attacked by agitators during a separate confrontation.

During the roundtable, President Trump reiterated his administration’s classification of Antifa as a terrorist organization.

“These are not peaceful protests,” he said.

“These are organized groups targeting law enforcement and government institutions.”

Although left-leaning activists and politicians have disputed the classification, citing Antifa’s decentralized structure, federal officials have maintained that the group operates through independent cells that coordinate actions across multiple cities.

The Department of Justice has warned that individuals or organizations involved in efforts to identify or target federal agents, including ICE officers, could face prosecution for endangering law enforcement personnel.

As of Saturday, federal agents continued to secure the Portland ICE facility following the latest outbreak of violence.

The court’s upcoming decision on the National Guard deployment is expected to determine whether federal troops will return to Oregon to reinforce local and federal law enforcement efforts.

Undercover Journalist Exposes Antifa’s Teachers Who ‘Throw Molotov Cocktails’
News

Undercover Journalist Exposes Antifa’s Teachers Who ‘Throw Molotov Cocktails’

/

Independent journalist Karlyn Borysenko joined Fox News host Jesse Watters on Jesse Watters Primetime Friday, where she revealed that many members of the left-wing group Antifa, now designated a terrorist organization, have day jobs in professional fields including education and law.

Borysenko’s comments came as she discussed her recent undercover reporting on Antifa activity in cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland.

The organization has been active for years but drew renewed attention after President Donald Trump formally designated it a terrorist organization on September 17, citing its role in nationwide unrest and attacks against law enforcement and government property.

During the interview, Watters asked Borysenko about the group’s constant presence at protests outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and at demonstrations in major cities.

“Do these people work, or do they just dance and light fires all night?” Watters asked.

“I think some of them do actually have jobs,” Borysenko replied.

“I mean, these are teachers, some of them are lawyers, some of them, you know, they’re Starbucks baristas, they’re Amazon employees. So, I don’t necessarily agree with the notion that they don’t work.”

Borysenko explained that many Antifa members use their income to fund protest operations through what the group calls “mutual aid.”

“That’s actually part of how they fund all the supplies in those tents is through something called mutual aid, where they take their salaries and they’re donating to those supplies,” she said.

“But certainly, there are some that are kind of out there 24/7.”

Watters pressed her to clarify whether she was saying that teachers were involved in violent activity.

“There are teachers that go and teach elementary school and then at night they throw Molotov cocktails at a building?” he asked.

“Oh, yeah, 100%,” Borysenko replied.

“I was just undercover at a couple of anarchist book fairs over the weekend in both San Francisco and Seattle. There were absolutely teachers in the crowd there. And I picked up multiple stickers and posters with Molotov cocktails, calls to kill ICE and calls to kill the police.”

Borysenko’s comments follow a series of reports highlighting Antifa’s continued activity in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland, in particular, has been a hub for the organization, where members frequently clash with law enforcement and target federal buildings, including ICE offices.

President Trump has repeatedly called for investigations into Antifa’s structure and funding.

He initially vowed in May 2020 to classify the group as a terrorist organization following widespread riots in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd.

Federal officials have since increased monitoring of the organization’s online communications and financial networks.

Antifa’s origins trace back to at least 2007, but the group gained national attention during the 2020 protests, when its black-clad members appeared at demonstrations across major cities.

The network’s members operate without a centralized leadership structure but coordinate through regional collectives and online platforms.

Borysenko’s findings suggest that Antifa members often balance professional jobs with involvement in militant activism.

Her remarks have renewed questions about how deeply the group’s ideology has spread into mainstream workplaces, including schools and public institutions.

As federal agencies pursue investigations into Antifa’s organization and finances, the journalist said she plans to continue her reporting on the group’s inner workings and recruitment efforts.

“There are definitely people leading double lives,” Borysenko told Watters.

“They go to work during the day and then go out to protest or commit acts of vandalism at night.”

Trump Pulls Off ‘Impossible’ Peace Deal in Southeast Asia Without Firing a Shot
News

Trump Pulls Off ‘Impossible’ Peace Deal in Southeast Asia Without Firing a Shot

/

Cambodia and Thailand signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on Sunday, concluding a long-running border conflict that President Donald Trump helped broker earlier this year.

The agreement, signed at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marked the end of fighting that had left dozens of people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

President Trump, who played a direct role in bringing both sides to the table, used tariff threats to push the two nations toward peace.

Trump witnessed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul sign the deal, which calls for Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held in detention and for both countries to begin withdrawing heavy weaponry from contested border areas.

“We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.

Hun Manet described the day as “historic,” while Anutin said the agreement created “the building blocks for a lasting peace.”

The ceremony was Trump’s first public event after arriving in Kuala Lumpur as part of his multi-nation Asia trip, which includes additional stops in Japan and South Korea.

Upon landing, Trump participated in a local welcoming ceremony, where he was seen waving both American and Malaysian flags and performing his signature dance often featured during campaign rallies.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised the peace accord during his opening remarks at the ASEAN summit, calling it a model for reconciliation through strength.

“It reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage,” Anwar said.

Following the signing, President Trump finalized separate economic agreements with both Cambodia and Thailand to strengthen trade and investment partnerships.

The economic deals, negotiated alongside the peace framework, aim to deepen U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia and stabilize the region’s markets following years of border tension.

In addition, the United States and Malaysia signed new agreements focused on trade and critical mineral supply chains.

The pacts are part of the administration’s broader effort to diversify sourcing and reduce American dependence on Chinese exports, particularly in the production of semiconductors and advanced manufacturing components.

In a joint statement, the U.S. and Malaysia announced an agreement “to strengthen our bilateral economic relationship, which will provide both countries’ exporters unprecedented access to each other’s markets.”

“The Agreement will build upon our longstanding economic relationship, including the United States-Malaysia Trade Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2004,” the statement continued.

The expanded ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand is expected to be monitored by an international observer team under ASEAN supervision.

Both governments have pledged to begin implementing demilitarization procedures immediately, with troop withdrawals set to start within two weeks.

Trump’s diplomatic involvement, which began earlier in the summer, included direct negotiations with both leaders and multiple rounds of virtual talks.

Administration officials have said the deal reflects the President’s strategy of combining economic pressure with diplomatic engagement to resolve regional conflicts without U.S. troop involvement.

The signing in Kuala Lumpur marks the most significant peace breakthrough between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in more than a decade and reinforces the administration’s stated goal of promoting regional stability through trade partnerships and security cooperation.

Hakeem Jeffries Threatens Investigation Into Trump’s White House Donors
News

Hakeem Jeffries Threatens Investigation Into Trump’s White House Donors

/

Democratic leaders are facing renewed criticism after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced plans to investigate private donors who contributed to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.

The move comes amid widening allegations of selective prosecution within the party, following years of legal efforts aimed at the former president and his associates.

Since President Trump left office in January 2021, Democrats have pursued multiple legal actions against him, a strategy critics have described as “lawfare.”

X Screenshot – Donald J. Trump

Among the most visible figures in those efforts has been New York Attorney General Letitia James, who campaigned on a pledge to “get” Trump and pursued civil cases attempting to seize his business assets.

James’ actions drew widespread attention during and after her high-profile case targeting Trump’s real estate holdings.

Pollster Frank Luntz warned that her legal offensive could boost Trump’s standing with voters — a prediction that proved accurate as the former president’s popularity surged during the proceedings.

Now, James herself is reportedly under investigation for mortgage fraud, a development that has raised questions about the consistency and fairness of the justice system.

The same Democrats who once defended aggressive prosecutions against Trump have since labeled the case against James as a “weaponization” of law enforcement — a term frequently used to criticize political targeting.

While Democratic officials have dismissed the comparison, critics say the situation underscores a double standard. For years, party leaders emphasized that “no one is above the law,” yet opponents argue that enforcement often appears to fall along partisan lines.

Rather than scaling back politically charged investigations, Democrats are pressing forward.

On Thursday, Jeffries told MSNBC that he intends to examine donations linked to President Trump’s ongoing White House ballroom construction project — a privately funded initiative that does not use taxpayer dollars.

Jeffries claimed, without offering evidence, that the contributions may have been part of a broader effort to gain influence with the Trump administration.

“More likely, this is part of what Donald Trump has been doing since day one of his presidency: running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country. And probably soliciting donations from people who’ve got business before the United States government,” Jeffries said.

He continued, “And all of this is going to have to be investigated. It will. All of this will have to be uncovered. It will. And these people are going to be held accountable, no matter how long it takes. And that’s a warning to all of these people participating in this scheming to manipulate taxpayer dollars and, of course, to destroy the people’s house. The White House belongs to the American people. It doesn’t belong to Donald Trump.”

President Trump’s White House ballroom project was announced earlier this year as a privately financed addition to host official functions and events. The planned structure, located on the East Wing overhang, does not affect either the West Wing or the residential quarters.

Administration officials confirmed that the addition will remain part of the White House for future presidents.

Despite that, Jeffries’ remarks drew sharp backlash from conservatives who accused him of threatening private citizens for making lawful contributions.

Supporters of the project noted that similar upgrades and restorations have taken place under previous administrations from both parties.

The controversy over Jeffries’ comments adds to a growing list of disputes between Democratic leaders and Republican officials over the use of investigative power.

With multiple Democratic figures now facing scrutiny of their own — including Attorney General Letitia James — the party’s aggressive legal posture toward political opponents is once again under examination.

As investigations and counter-investigations continue, both parties are positioning for the next election cycle, where questions about the politicization of law enforcement are expected to remain a central issue.

Adam Schiff Under DOJ Investigation for Mortgage Fraud, Case Reportedly Stalled
News

Adam Schiff Under DOJ Investigation for Mortgage Fraud, Case Reportedly Stalled

/

Federal prosecutors in Maryland are reportedly defending Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff as a long-running mortgage fraud investigation involving the California lawmaker has stalled, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.

Schiff, who previously represented California’s 30th Congressional District before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024, is under investigation for alleged mortgage fraud, specifically occupancy fraud, tied to a Maryland property he purchased with his wife in 2003.

Congressman Adam Schiff (R) speaks during House Judiciary Committee field hearing on New York City violent crimes at Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023

The case stems from questions over whether Schiff falsely claimed that the property was his “primary residence” in order to secure favorable mortgage rates.

The Gateway Pundit’s Joe Hoft first reported on the allegations in April 2023. Later that summer, Fox News host Laura Ingraham reported that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland had opened an investigation into Schiff for possible charges related to the mortgage filings.

According to property and loan documents, Schiff purchased the home in 2003 and declared under oath that he and his wife would occupy it for at least 12 consecutive months as their primary residence.

Despite that claim, Schiff continued to vote in California elections and listed a Los Angeles condominium as his primary residence.

Records show that Schiff refinanced the Maryland property multiple times between 2009 and 2013, each time asserting that it remained his principal home.

In 2009, a House Ethics investigation reviewed the matter after questions were raised about Schiff’s residency status and tax filings. Schiff said the filing was a mistake and repaid the exempt Maryland taxes.

In recent months, prosecutors in Maryland have reportedly shared information with the media, claiming there is insufficient evidence to charge Schiff. NBC News reported this week that the federal probe “came to a standstill” after months of investigation.

Four individuals familiar with the case told the outlet that prosecutors have not gathered enough evidence to move forward with charges.

The case was originally referred to the Department of Justice by Housing Director Bill Pulte, who accused Schiff of falsifying bank documents and property records over a 16-year period.

Pulte alleged that Schiff’s repeated filings allowed him to secure lower mortgage rates reserved for primary residences.

President Donald Trump publicly criticized Schiff in June, calling for prosecution and sharing a signed affidavit from Schiff’s mortgage file.

“Adam Schiff is a THIEF! He should be prosecuted, just like they tried to prosecute me, and everyone else — The only difference is, WE WERE TOTALLY INNOCENT, IT WAS ALL A GIANT HOAX!”

President Trump posted on Truth Social, attaching a copy of Schiff’s notarized declaration identifying the Maryland house as his “principal residence.”

NBC’s report described a recent internal meeting between U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes, who is overseeing the investigation, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Hayes reportedly told Blanche that the evidence collected so far was not strong enough to bring charges, though the Justice Department had not reached a final decision.

“No final decision has been made,” one source told NBC News. Another federal law enforcement official said the investigation “came to a standstill,” but could be reopened if new information is uncovered.

NBC’s Ken Dilanian also reported that Ed Martin, a senior Justice Department official, has pressed to keep the case open, despite Hayes’ skepticism about the evidence. However, Blanche later denied reports that the meeting took place, describing the claim as inaccurate.

The Justice Department has not issued an official statement on the status of the investigation, and Schiff’s office has declined to comment on ongoing legal matters. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland has likewise not confirmed whether the inquiry will continue or be formally closed.

The case remains under internal review. According to officials familiar with the process, prosecutors have been directed to gather additional documentation related to Schiff’s refinancing history and property records before making a final determination.


Scroll to Top