Trump joined by inner circle at raucous fight night in New York
President-elect Trump was flanked by cabinet picks and elected officials during his appearance cageside at the UFC pay-per-view card in New York City on Saturday night.
Trump was joined by top supporters turned cabinet picks as he entered Madison Square Garden to raucous cheers and chants of “USA, USA.”
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were both picked by Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence, joined the president-elect. He was also joined by his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr.
Along with cabinet picks, the president-elect was joined by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
DONALD TRUMP ARRIVES AT UFC 309 AT MSG; CROWD ROARS FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT WEEKS AFTER HISTORIC RALLY
Trump was also accompanied by UFC President Dana White – a longtime fan of the president-elect from before his political aspirations.
DONALD TRUMP HEADS TO UFC 309, EXPECTED TO RECEIVE RAUCOUS CHEERS AFTER ELECTION WIN
White, who has frequented campaign events with Trump, hosted a 2001 UFC battle at Trump Taj Mahal, a former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Trump has attended UFC matches since – including during his 2024 campaign.
The stop at the historic Madison Square Garden comes after Trump made rapid-fire choices to fill his cabinet in the weeks after winning the Presidential Election on Nov. 5.
On Saturday, President-elect Trump announced that Chris Wright, the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, will lead the Department of Energy in his new administration.
“I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,” Trump said in a statement released Saturday.
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Trump’s nominees and administration picks during his second administration are being publicly announced at a much faster pace than during his first administration in 2016, which the transition team attributed to Trump’s commitment to putting “America first.”
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“The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First. President Trump will continue to appoint highly qualified men and women who have the talent, experience and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital when asked about Trump’s speedy rollout of Cabinet picks.
UFC’s G.O.A.T. does Trump dance, hands over title belt at Madison Square Garden
Jon “Bones” Jones kept his undisputed UFC world heavyweight champion title by defeating Stipe Miocic Saturday and celebrated with an homage to President-elect Trump, who was ringside.
Jones broke into Trump’s signature dance moments after landing a spinning back kick to Miocic’s ribs to end the title fight with a technical knockout. As he danced in the ring, the decidedly pro-Trump crowd roared its approval.
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As Jones danced and pointed to Trump, the incoming president smiled and offered a thumbs up.
During his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Jones also gave a hearty shoutout to Trump.
“A big, big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones said, which sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy.
DONALD TRUMP ARRIVES AT UFC 309 AT MSG; CROWD ROARS FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT WEEKS AFTER HISTORIC RALLY
Then, Jones used the crowd’s energy to start a “USA! USA!” chant, which they happily joined in for.
“I’m proud to be a great American champion. I’m proud to be a Christian American champion,” Jones added.
Following the interview, Jones walked over to where Trump sat ringside with Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, sons Don Jr. and Eric, Kid Rick, Vivek Ramaswamy, singer Jelly Roll and others and handed him his UFC title belt.
Trump invited Jones down to the White House when he takes office next year as the 47th President of the United States.
While Jones said he might have some more fights left in him, the 42-year-old Miocic told Rogan that he is done for his career, which is Hall of Fame worthy as one of the best heavyweight fighters to ever step inside an octagon.
Jones is considered by many to be the greatest fighter of all-time, as he now owns a 28-1 record with one no contest.
Trump made a triumphant return to MSG on Saturday night with a star-studded entourage, basking in the thunderous applause of fans just weeks after holding a historic rally inside the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”
Trump, making his first UFC appearance since winning the election Nov. 5 over Vice President Kamala Harris, drew thunderous applause as he walked in with his entourage.
“If people at home could hear the sound in this room right now. It is so loud!” Rogan said on the pay-per-view broadcast when Trump walked into the arena. “It’s always loud when he comes in, but now that he’s won [the election], now that he’s the president again, oh my God!”
The broadcast added that those able to stand inside the arena were doing so as the video board started playing a video montage for Trump’s arrival. Chants of “USA! USA!” also filled the arena.
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Trump witnessed several other great fights on this UFC 309 card, including co-main-event winner Charles Oliveira winning by unanimous decision over Michael Chandler. Chandler is a big supporter of Trump, and after battling Oliveira for a full five rounds, he had a brief conversation with Trump after his match as well.
Republican torches ‘president’ wannabes with reminder about one vote limit
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., argued that newly-elected Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has “no choice” but to push hard for Trump’s agenda despite some concerns within the party about his ability to work effectively with the president-elect.
Tuberville, despite formerly backing Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., for the role, said he was confident Thune would work productively with the Trump administration to implement his America-first agenda.
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“He has no choice,” Tuberville said during “The Evening Edit” on Wednesday. “There was a mandate last week, Liz, that said, ‘Hey, we want President Trump to have his team. We want to take back our country.’ Republicans, if you’re not on the team, get out of the way. John Thune will be on the team. He’ll work with President Trump. I voted for Rick Scott because I thought he could communicate better with President Trump because they were both in the business world, but John Thune got the nod.”
“We’re not going to have a lot of time to waste. I think he’ll do a good job. But again, President Trump and JD Vance are going to be running the Senate.”
Thune secured victory against Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the second secret ballot. Thune received 29 votes and Cornyn got 24 on the second ballot, according to Thune’s office.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was also in the running, but received the least amount of votes during the first secret ballot and was knocked out of the race, according to Fox News Digital.
“We have a mandate from the American people,” Thune said on Wednesday after the vote. “A mandate not only to clean up the mess left by the Biden-Harris-Schumer agenda, but also to deliver on President Trump’s priorities.”
Prior to the elections, Thune had received public endorsements from Senators Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; and John Hoeven, R-N.D. A source also confirmed to Fox News Digital that National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., was privately encouraging other senators to support Thune.
Scott had the most public support, with Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also backing him.
Cornyn had only received one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., although most lawmakers in the upper chamber did not disclose ahead of time who they would vote for.
RICK SCOTT KNOCKED OUT OF SENATE LEADER RACE ON FIRST BALLOT AS THUNE AND CORNYN ADVANCE
Thune will assume his new role in January, succeeding Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.
Meanwhile, Trump has been appointing numerous key Cabinet positions as he prepares for his White House return. One, in particular, ignited a firestorm on Wednesday.
He tapped Matt Gaetz, a Florida congressman, who immediately resigned his role, to be the next attorney general. The appointment left many concerned about his ability to be confirmed in the upper chamber.
Host Elizabeth MacDonald asked Tuberville about the likelihood that Gaetz will get confirmed to his new role in the Trump administration.
You’re finding all the swamp creatures coming out right now,” Tuberville said. “Everybody’s got an opinion up here, but at the end of the day, President Trump was elected by an enormous vote, and he deserves a team around him that he wants. It’s not [up to] us to determine that. We’ve got 53 votes in the Senate. We can confirm with 51. I’ve already seen where a couple of them say, ‘I’m not voting for him.’ Wait a minute. You are not the United States of America. You have one vote in the U.S. Senate. You did not get elected president.”
“Vote with President Trump. This is the last chance we’re going to have at saving this country, and if you want to get in the way, fine, but we’re going to try to get you out of the Senate, too, if you try to do that,” he continued.
Tuberville reiterated the importance of timely Senate confirmations so the Trump administration can get to work in January.
“Our country’s in bad trouble,” Tuberville said. “We’re broke. We have wars everywhere. This administration has destroyed anything that President Trump did in four years. So we got to get it back, and we’re not going to have much time to do it.”
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Mexican president might be changing view on US as Trump win sends warning to socialists
Mexico City – President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration is considering adjusting certain policies in response to the anticipated challenges posed by President-elect Trump’s return to office, seeking to safeguard Mexico’s economic interests, and manage immigration effectively.
Fearing that measures from the coming Trump administration might be harmful to Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum and other officials have expressed a commitment to maintaining a positive bilateral relationship while emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty. At a recent press conference, she reassured Mexicans that there is “no reason for concern” regarding the election outcome, indicating confidence in the stability of bilateral relations. “We will work with dialogue and respect for our sovereignties,” she said.
Rodrigo Montes de Oca, a scholar at the Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico, talked to Fox News Digital and said that “the bilateral relationship will no longer be reduced to a single issue but will be addressed in a broader manner.” He explained that “former President López Obrador – AMLO, was very skillful in being able to concentrate the entire bilateral relationship on a single issue: immigration.
MIGRANT CENTER LEADER HOPES TRUMP DOESN’T BRING BACK ‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’
He continued, “If AMLO cooperated on immigration, the Biden administration turned the other way on important issues such as security and fentanyl trafficking and all the antidemocratic policies that Mexico was and is promoting. Now with the coming Trump administration, everything is going to be much more complex because they will not only focus on immigration but also on trade and security. That is why Trump went so far as to say during the campaign that if Mexico did not cooperate on these issues, he would make public the U.S. government’s intelligence information on politicians in Mexico who are related to drug cartels. The relationship is going to be approached in a more comprehensive way. I don’t see that the Mexican government is preparing for that.”
With Trump’s plans for mass deportations and more immigration controls, Mexico is expected to strengthen its immigration policies. This may involve increased enforcement at its southern border and expanded cooperation with U.S. authorities to manage migration flows effectively. Such measures aim to address U.S. concerns while upholding Mexico’s sovereignty and humanitarian commitments.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has continued Mexico’s existing strategies to manage and discourage migrant caravans traveling toward the United States. These measures include the deployment of the National Guard and other security forces to intercept and disperse migrant groups at the southern border. This approach aims to prevent large caravans from forming and progressing northward.
INCOMING LEFT-WING MEXICAN PRESIDENT COULD BE ‘BAD NEWS’ FOR US ON BORDER CRISIS: EXPERT
Mexican government has organized flights to repatriate migrants to their countries of origin, seeking to reduce the number of individuals attempting to cross Mexico en route to the U.S. Mexico continues to work closely with U.S. authorities to manage migration flows, including accepting certain deported migrants and implementing policies to control the surge of individuals seeking entry into the United States.
President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexican exports, particularly in the automotive sector, have prompted Mexico to consider reciprocal measures. Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard indicated that Mexico might impose its own tariffs on U.S. imports if such U.S. tariffs are enacted, emphasizing the potential economic repercussions for both nations.
Montes de Oca told Fox News Digital that “Mexico needs to prepare a comprehensive plan to address the current violence in the country; otherwise, it may face economic repercussions that could affect the renegotiation of the USMCA trade deal in 2026.” In response to Trump’s previous threats of military action against drug cartels, Mexico might enhance its security strategies to mitigate the risk of unilateral U.S. interventions which the Mexican government is afraid of.
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The President of the Mexican Senate, Gerardo Fernández Noroña, said that “Donald Trump is a difficult guy, but he does not eat fire, he knows very well the importance of the relationship with our country, he knows very well the importance of the Mexican community in the United States and that he had very important support from Mexicans during the election.” He also mentioned that “Claudia Sheinbaum has the ability, firmness, character, preparation and the popular support to get along with him correctly.”
Congressman Raúl Torres, who is House Representative of Mexicans Abroad, spoke with Fox News Digital: “Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration will have to reinforce the security strategy on the southern border by deploying the National Guard and strengthening the presence of the National Migration Institute. Likewise, she must change the narrative and a new way of negotiating with the U.S. given the upcoming negotiation of the USMCA trade deal. She must put at the center an economic agenda to empower Mexicans in the United States, whose weight is increasing every day since many of them open businesses, generate jobs and voted for Donald Trump.”
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Experts consider it is still early and uncertain to know the extent to which Sheinbaum’s government will be open to changing certain positions and policies to benefit the relationship with the United States. Mainly in security, since her predecessor preferred to protect criminal groups instead of fighting them. She promised continuity in everything, and security policy could be the point of most tension with the coming Trump administration.
AG shares no-brainer prediction for what to expect during Trump presidency
Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said he anticipates “a lot more common sense to come out of Washington” with a Trump presidency ahead.
With President-elect Donald Trump heading to the Oval in January, Miyares said he looks forward to the administration rolling back “the overly burdensome regulations that have impacted so many Americans these last four years.”
“Everything from the OSHA vaccine mandate . . . to a pretty radical interpretation of Title IX to essentially say that now biological boys are allowed to be on women’s sports teams,” Miyares told Fox News Digital. “So I anticipate you’re going to see a lot more common sense to come out of Washington and come out of the administration.”
Miyares said he anticipates lots of new developments with the new Republican administration, and “we look forward to seeing it.”
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Following his win, Trump and his team have already started to announce various Cabinet nominations and policy expectations. Among them have included Trump’s announcement that he would be nominating Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to be the next attorney general.
Miyares did not directly comment on Gaetz as the potential head of the Justice Department, but clarified that he also looks forward to working with the new AG.
“We’re going to work with the attorney general,” Miyares said. “I know that’s why we have the Senate to advise and consent.”
“But this is what I would say — the new administration and who they’re going to put in elevated leadership is, again, I think, going to be fundamentally different than I think some of the real left-wing ideology that we’ve seen pushed down by the Biden administration,” Miyares continued.
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Miyares recently made headlines after challenging a lower court’s ruling ordering the state to restore the names of approximately 1,600 potential noncitizens to its voter rolls ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Miyares, along with Gov. Glenn Youngkin, remained steadfast after the Department of Justice initially sued them over the voter removals, arguing that the state’s process was “individualized” and conducted in accordance with state and federal law.
Miyares is up for re-election in 2025 but has yet to announce any formal plans for running again. Two Democrats have already announced their plans to run for the post, including former Virginia delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. Both have voiced their criticisms of Gaetz’s nomination on social media.
“When I am Virginia’s next Attorney General, you better believe I’ll be taking on Matt Gaetz’s overreach in court. We are going to hold this Administration accountable for Virginia families,” Jones wrote on X.
MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
“Matt Gaetz, who was investigated by law enforcement for sex trafficking and who has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee (a Republican-led committee in a Republican-majority House) was nominated by President-Elect Trump as the next US Attorney General,” Taylor wrote on X.
“I call on Attorney General Miyares @JasonMiyaresVA who is the highest legal officer in our Commonwealth, to oppose this appointment and to call on President Elect-Trump to instead nominate an Attorney General who is above reproach as opposed to a man under ethics investigation himself.”
Trump first announced his intentions to nominate Gaetz as AG in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, saying Gaetz “has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.”
Gaetz then confirmed the nomination on the social media site X, adding, “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
Shortly after the announcement, Gaetz resigned from his post in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced.
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Republicans have already signaled concerns over Gaetz’s potential appointment. He was previously under a yearlong DOJ investigation stemming from accusations that he had had a sexual relationship with a minor, but the department ultimately did not press charges.
The ladies of “The View” have long fueled panic politics to support a Democratic hold on power in Washington. That includes dystopian predictions of an American Third Reich if Donald Trump were elected. Much of this hysteria has been fostered by host Whoopi Goldberg, who told ABC viewers how Trump is already committed to being a dictator who will “put you people away … take all the journalists … take all the gay folks … move you all around and disappear you.”
Such fear-mongering is the lowest form of political discourse, but neither Goldberg nor ABC is legally liable for dispensing with any journalistic or ethical standards. That may not be the case with regard to Goldberg’s most recent rant targeting a local New York bakery. Some have said that the fact that Goldberg did not name Holtermann’s Bakery means she cannot be sued. That is wrong.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG CLAIMS BAKERY REFUSED HER SERVICE OVER HER LEFTIST VIEWS
On the program last week, Goldberg portrayed herself as an early victim of the backlash against Trump critics when she was denied an order of Charlotte Russe cakes.
Goldberg stated ominously, “Now, I should tell you, Charlotte Russe has no political leanings, and the place that made these refused to make them for me.” With that line, one of the co-hosts, Sara Haines, spit out the cake in her mouth as the other hosts expressed horror.
Goldberg, who wound up getting the cakes after all, continued:
“They said that their ovens had gone down, but folks went and got them anyway, which is why I’m not telling you who made them. It’s not because I’m a woman, but perhaps they did not like my politics. But that’s okay because you know what? Listen, this is my mother’s celebration. Pick these up and celebrate with me and my mom. Thank you, everyone, for celebrating my birthday today.”
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Her co-hosts and the audience were clearly appalled that Goldberg would be the victim of political retaliation. It was all the more horrifying and contemptible that she was trying to obtain the cakes to celebrate her 69th birthday on-air. It was a scene right out of “Apocalypse Now.”
While she pointedly said that she would not name the bakery, it took little time for people to deduce that it was Holtermann’s Bakery on Staten Island, given that its signature Charlotte Russe cakes are a legend in New York.
The fact is that the ovens did go down. The establishment’s aging boiler could not make it to its own’s 67th birthday. After all, it was installed when Goldberg was just a kid.
The bakery stopped taking orders until it could get a working boiler. The alternative was to leave people like Goldberg without cakes for their special events.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella immediately accused Goldberg of defamation.
“Recently someone took to the national airwaves and defamed, frankly, this family business,” the Republican said. “We’re here to stand up for one of the best families and businesses, not just in Staten Island but in the country.”
There are two reasons cited for why Goldberg cannot be sued. Her refusal to name the bakery (which she portrayed as a way of denying them favorable publicity since they eventually got the cakes) and that she used the word “perhaps” in her accusation.
The Name Game
The failure to name a party in an otherwise defamatory context is not a defense to defamation.
The strongest and easiest cases to make on defamation are those fitting into a “per se” category of defamation like calling someone falsely a criminal or the carrier of an infectious disease. Damages in such cases are often presumed.
Other cases are called “per quod” cases, where the harm and damages are not immediately evident or presumed. Rather than be libelous on their face, per quod cases must often be proven through use of extrinsic facts or evidence. In such cases, you need to prove special damages.
It is worth noting that the implied accusation against the bakery could fit into a per se category of impugning business or professional integrity. Goldberg’s statement was clearly meant to impugn the reputation and professional standing of the bakery. It can be argued as defamatory per se by implication.
The fact that Goldberg identified the bakery only as a local bakery associated with these cakes is not a defense. The identity of the bakery was quickly deduced and published widely.
“Perhaps” Defamation
Goldberg could also claim that using the word “perhaps” reduced the statement to a mere opinion. This is a common misunderstanding. Often, people will say “in my opinion” and then follow with a defamatory statement. It is not treated as an opinion if it is stated as a fact.
Clearly, a statement of opinion alone is not actionable when “the facts on which they are based are fully and accurately set forth and it is clear . . . that the accusation is merely a personal surmise built upon those facts.” , 623 N.E.2d 1163, 1169 (N.Y. 1993).
New York courts look to whether a reasonable person would consider the statement to be conveying a fact. , 22 N.E.3d 999, 1005 (N.Y. 2014). Moreover, [r]ather than sifting through a communication for the purpose of isolating and identifying assertions of fact, the court should look to the over-all context in which the assertions were made,” including the forum, to determine how a reasonable reader would view them.” , 660 N.E.2d 1126, 1130 (N.Y. 1995).
Moreover, “an opinion that implies that it is based upon facts which justify the opinion but are unknown to those reading or hearing it… is a mixed opinion” and is actionable. 189 A.D.3d 530, 530 (1st Dept 2020).
Goldberg was clearly trying to convey that the bakery imposes a political litmus test or engages in politically discriminatory practices against Democrats, Trump critics, or liberals. That can have an obviously harmful impact on business for the family-owned bakery.
Even if the bakery had to show malice (of a knowing falsehood or reckless disregard of the truth), it would have a cognizable basis for such a claim against Goldberg and ABC.
It would not be the first time that they had to make such a correction, and the audience of “The View” does not appear to care about such false or unsupported claims.
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In one such incident, Turning Point USA issued a cease and desist letter to ABC after the hosts suggested that it allowed neo-Nazis to join an event. In discussing Turning Point USA’s summit in Florida, host Joy Behar said, “Neo-Nazis were out there in the front of the conference with antisemitic slurs and … the Nazi swastika and a picture of a so-called Jewish person with exaggerated features, just like Goebbels did during the Third Reich. It’s the same thing, right out of the same playbook.”
Whoopi Goldberg, then added, in reference to Turning Point USA, “you let them in, and you knew what they were, so you are complicit.”
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ABC then had the hosts issue an on-air apology. However, they had host Sara Haines do it: “We want to make clear that these demonstrators were outside the event and that they were not invited or endorsed by Turning Point USA.” She added, “the hosts apologize for “anything we said that may have been unclear on these points.”
Obviously, it would be up to a jury to balance the earlier standards and the evidence in this case. However, a case could be made for defamation and a court could find that the matter should be left to the fact finder at trial. Goldberg and ABC would be wise to apologize on the air to the bakery on Monday.
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