Trump taps former acting AG Matthew Whitaker as NATO ambassador

President-elect Trump on Wednesday tapped former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to become U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in his new administration. 

Trump described Whitaker, who is from Iowa, as “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended.”

“Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability – He will put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement. “I have full confidence in Matt’s ability to represent the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to promote PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Freedom, and Prosperity around the World.”

“Matt is also the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, and is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A., MBA and J.D., where he played football, and received the Big Ten Medal of Honor,” Trump added. 

Speaker Johnson’s definitive response to controversy around new trans member-elect

House Speaker Mike Johnson made a clarification on Tuesday after previously declining to answer a reporter’s question on whether transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., is a man or a woman. 

“I just want to make a statement for all of you here and be very clear: I was asked a question this morning at the leadership gaggle, and I rejected the premise because the answer is so obvious,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday afternoon. “For anybody who doesn’t know my well-established record on this issue, let me be unequivocally clear: A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman.” 

“That said, I also believe that’s what Scripture teaches, what I just said. But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity, and so we can do and believe all those things at the same time,” he added. “And I wanted to make that clear for everybody because there are lots of questions. But that’s where I stand. I’ve stood there my whole life, and those are facts.” 

At the House GOP weekly press conference earlier Tuesday, a reporter had asked Johnson, “Is freshman elect Sarah McBride a man or a woman?” 

JOHNSON DECLINES TO SAY IF TRANSGENDER REP-ELECT IS MAN OR WOMAN, SAYS HOUSE TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH ‘RESPECT’
 

“Look, I’m not going to get into this. We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people,” Johnson responded. “I believe it’s a … command that we treat all persons with dignity and respect, and we will.”

The question came after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution on Monday that moves to prohibit members, officers and employees of the House from using “single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” 

Asked if the resolution was in response to McBride coming to Congress, Mace said Tuesday, “Yes, and absolutely, and then some.” 

TRANSGENDER WOMEN TO BE BANNED FROM CAPITOL HILL FEMALE BATHROOMS UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP PROPOSAL

“I’m not going to stand for a man, you know, someone with a penis in the woman’s locker room, that’s not OK,” Mace said. “I’m a victim of abuse myself. I’m a rape survivor. I have PTSD from the abuse I suffered at the hands of a man. And I know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces. So I’m absolutely, 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a woman’s restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way.” 

Outside the Capitol later Tuesday, Mace said Johnson told her on Monday that he would add her resolution to the House rules package. 

“And if it doesn’t end up there, I will amend the house rules package,” Mace said. “And I also have a privilege motion ready to go if it’s not in the House rules package for 119th Congress. I will force a vote on this. This is not okay. I’m a survivor of sexual abuse. The idea of having a man in a women’s restroom, locker room, or changing room is repulsive, and I will not allow it. And in fact, I’m not stopping here. This doesn’t end with Capitol Hill. I’m filing legislation tonight. You guys can wait with bated breath for what that’s about. But I am not going to allow this. I’m going to ensure that every woman and girl across the country is protected from this insanity.” 

“And today I’m receiving death threats from men pretending to be women who are willing to kill me over my right and women’s rights that I’m fighting for,” Mace added. “It’s insanity. It’s nonsense. And I’m going to stand up and fight back against the radical left all day long, every day, 365 days a year. Good luck. Come at me, bro.” 

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In X posts on Monday, McBride had derided the resolution as “a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.”

Left-wing pundit slams historian’s ‘stupidly wrong’ election prediction

Historian Allan Lichtman got into a shouting match with “The Young Turks” host Cenk Uygur over his “preposterously stupidly wrong” presidential election prediction model.

Both appeared on a panel for “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on Tuesday, where Uygur called out Lichtman for his touted “Keys to the White House” prediction model failing to predict President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.

“Look, I debated Professor Lichtman before. I told him his theories about the keys are absurd. I was right. He was wrong. I said he’d lose his keys,” Uygur began.

“No, you were not right, and I was not wrong!” Lichtman interrupted. “And that’s a cheap shot. And I will not stand for it.”

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“Who won, brother? Who won?” Uygur repeated.

“You should not be taking cheap shots at me! You want to make your point, make your point. Don’t make it personal,” Lichtman yelled.

“You live in a total world of denial,” Uygur replied.

Lichtman went on to claim Uygur’s own followers “trashed” the liberal host’s argument and supported the historian, a claim Uygur dismissed.

“You don’t know anything. You don’t know anything,” Uygur repeated.

“You attacked me personally!” Lichtman yelled back.

“You’re just so deluded—” Uygur said.

Lichtman replied, “Oh right, I’ve only been a professor for 51 years, published 13 books. How many books have you published then? No, because you’re personally attacking me again. Say whatever you want, but I’m not going to stand for personal attacks.”

“But brother, you got it wrong! You were preposterously stupidly wrong!” Uygur yelled back.

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“Don’t call me stupid! I admitted I was wrong. I don’t need you to call me stupid,” Lichtman said as it continued to devolve into chaos.

Other panel members, including host Piers Morgan, were seen laughing at the display.

“Okay. Can I just say it’s great to see you Democrats all getting along so well,” Morgan remarked.

Uygur later insisted Lichtman “shut up” and let “someone who knows what they’re doing talk.”

“I will not sit here and stand for personal attacks, for blasphemy against me. You don’t need to do that,” Lichtman said.

“Blasphemy against you?” Uygur erupted. “Who the hell are you? Are you Jesus Christ, you loser?”

Lichtman, an election forecaster who had previously correctly predicted nearly every presidential race since 1984, developed a formula that is used to make predictions about presidential elections. He predicted, after the Democratic National Convention, that Vice President Kamala Harris would win the White House this cycle.

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Lichtman’s “Keys to the White House” consisted of 13 true or false questions that he believed establish a strong indication of who will be named the victor on election night. Each question is asked about the two dueling nominees; if “true” they are given a “key,” and if “false,” their competitor receives the point.

Dem mayor of crime-ridden city throws down dare to incoming Trump admin

Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called President-elect Trump a “threat to everything that is sensible,” while claiming Trump wants to dismantle public education and create a system of “upheaval and chaos.”

Johnson spoke to reporters Tuesday and took the opportunity to weigh in on his feelings about the incoming president, especially his stance on immigration and sanctuary cities.

The mayor acknowledged the country’s challenge with immigration policy, suggesting Trump pass laws instead of making threats.

“We’re still a welcoming city. That did not change on Nov. 5, and it doesn’t change based upon who’s in the White House and whether you are seeking refuge from Central South America or the continent of Africa,” Johnson said. “This country has to remain a welcoming space for new arrivals and for immigrants.”

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Johnson said if Trump is committed to transforming the U.S., he will work with Congress to create “sensible” legislation that puts more border patrol and judges at the border for asylum cases. But, instead, Johnson claimed, the president and others have done the opposite and tried to create chaos.

“He wants to create a structure in a system where there is upheaval and chaos,” Johnson said before turning to public education. “He wants to dismantle public education, a system that was built by descendants of slaves, particularly in the south. He is a threat to everything that is sensible.”

Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, told Fox News Digital, “No policy should be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump.

“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,” Leavitt added. “He will deliver.”

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Still, Johnson continued to pit Trump against the city of Chicago.

The mayor said he will not allow Trump to play games with the people of the city.

“If he wants to work with us, he’ll have a partner,” Johnson said. “But if he wants to come and threaten us, then he is … he has declared opposition to us.”

Johnson’s comments come a week after he claimed during another news conference that Trump is a threat to Black families.

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“His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against Black families. … We’re going to protect undocumented individuals,” Johnson said at the time. “We’re going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The City of Chicago will be better, stronger and safer despite who’s in the White House.”

Chicago residents have been angry with Johnson and other city officials for some time now, especially over policies allocating taxpayer money to benefit illegal immigrants who have flooded the city in recent years, while the city’s crime rate has been spiraling.

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Locals blistered the Chicago City Council at a meeting in February after city and state officials had approved hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to feed, clothe and house more than 35,000 migrants who were transported to Chicago and its suburbs in the previous year and a half.

The mayor’s office did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Washington Post columnist claims ‘Republicans want to kill your kids’

Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin is urging Democrats to change their messaging to say that “Republicans want to kill your kids.”

On Tuesday’s installment of her “Jen Rubin’s Green Room” podcast, Rubin insisted Senate Republicans who acquiesce to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees must pay a “political price.” 

“The people who irresponsibly put dangerous, treasonous, unfit people in positions of authority are responsible not only for those people, but for all the horrors that will unfold,” she said. “And Democrats better get started now tracking these people, holding these people accountable and making clear to ordinary voters who voted for what and who’s responsible for what.

In order to do that, Rubin advised, “You can’t talk broad themes. You have to boil it down to nuts and bolts, and you have to be pithy. What do I mean by pithy? How about this: Republicans want to kill your kids. It’s actually true.” 

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“If you’re gonna oppose vaccinations, if you’re gonna stop breakthrough medical research, if you’re gonna allow minors and all sorts of people to get semi-automatic weapons, which they use to shoot up schools, well, then you are responsible for kids’ health and death, unfortunately. It has to be that simple and that direct, and it has to be over, and over, and over again,” Rubin continued. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Rubin and The Post for comment.

Rubin, a former conservative writer who has infamously been advocating on behalf of Democrats in the Trump era, has been outspoken this week about her outrage towards MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, calling it “disgusting” on social media. Rubin is notably an MSNBC contributor. 

She even fueled a growing boycott of her network colleagues. 

“The market works great. You can stop watching Morning Joe anytime,” Rubin wrote on social media Monday evening. 

She then followed, “On MJ: If you don’t appreciate the audience you have, betray that audience and lose their trust you are [going] to lose lots of them. I have seen this movie.”

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Rubin even had some harsh words for billionaire Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos after he halted the paper’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris just days before the election, blasting his “bulls— explanation.”

“First of all, I do not believe the reason stated. I don’t believe they have suddenly decided – he has suddenly decided that we should endorse everybody except presidential candidates, and that of all the elections, this is the one to start with this new policy,” Rubin said on her podcast in October. “We endorsed a presidential candidate in 2020 no problem. And I perceive this, and even if it’s not intended, it is inevitably perceived as bending the knee to Donald Trump at the worst possible moment when democracy is on the line.”

“You have a billionaire who has a business aside from The Post that does business with the federal government deciding not to run afoul of a man who has declared war on democracy and on the free press, and I still find it absolutely inconceivable that someone who owns a newspaper would do this,” Rubin continued.”

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“I am equally troubled by the fact that the reason given was not candid, was not accurate. Why mess around if you say, ‘Hey, I’m a businessman. I don’t want to endorse anyone because I don’t want to affect those businesses.’ Yeah, everyone will be aghast, but at least you’d be honest. At least you’d be taking responsibility,” Rubin added. 

“When a newspaper is forced to advance a bulls— explanation, how much more damage does that do to The Washington Post? But the problem goes well beyond Jeff Bezos and the Washington Post, it goes beyond the LA Times. It goes beyond USA Today. This is a matter of how free societies defend themselves against fascist threats.”

One of nation’s largest cities moves to harbor criminal migrants after Trump win

Los Angeles city lawmakers voted Tuesday to formally adopt a sanctuary city ordinance, weeks after President-elect Trump’s victory, amid promises to carry out mass deportation raids.  

The 13-0 vote will prohibit Los Angeles from providing any city resources or personnel to be used to help federal enforcement of immigration laws.

City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, along with Mayor Karen Bass, released the draft ordinance last week that was written with help from immigration groups.

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Council members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez, who chair the council’s Civil Rights and Public Safety committees, respectively, waived the matter from their jurisdictions to expedite a vote on the matter. 

California has been a sanctuary state since 2017 with the passage of SB 54, which prohibits local law enforcement agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, report or arrest people for immigration violations.

During a debate Tuesday, many public speakers pushed for the sanctuary ordinance, saying immigrant communities should be protected from “unimaginable cruelty” of raids that could separate families and target migrants who come to the U.S. to work. 

Others raised concerns about the depletion of resources given to help illegal immigrants, given that the city is contending with mass homelessness and a housing crisis. 

Sanctuary cities typically don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities, refusing to honor detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which are used to take custody of criminal illegal immigrants for deportation. 

Many times, such jurisdictions will release the suspects back onto the street without informing ICE. Some have gone on to reoffend, sometimes violently, before being apprehended again. 

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The vote will come two weeks after President-elect Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, following a campaign in which he promised to tighten the southern border and carry out mass deportations of millions of illegal immigrants, targeting criminals who’ve committed a variety of crimes after illegally entering the United States. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump representatives. 

Tom Homan, who previously served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been tapped by Trump to serve as his “border czar,” previously suggested mass deportations are necessary in the wake of the “historic illegal immigration crisis.”

“President Trump has made it clear we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats first. And that’s what the focus should be,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity last week.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive directive in 2019 that offered protections to immigrants. Los Angeles has followed sanctuary city guidelines but an ordinance was never codified into law. Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Department mandates that its officers not inquire about immigration status or make arrests related to a migrant’s legal status.

Newly appointed Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell has said the department won’t participate in immigration enforcement. 

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The Los Angeles County Republican Party criticized the ordinance, saying sanctuary protection would shield criminals who have entered the United States illegally. 

“A country without secure borders isn’t a country at all. So-called ‘sanctuary’ cities and states sound warm and fuzzy, but the protections they offer aren’t for abuelas (grandmothers) getting ice cream, they’re for people who’ve entered the country illegally and committed additional crimes,” LACGOP Communications Director Rozanne Hodge told Fox News Digital. “Whether drunk driving, robbery, sexual violence, assault or murder, none of those should go unpunished. Perpetrators should definitely not be protected by the largesse taken from hard-working taxpayers.”

If the City of Los Angeles would like to have thriving, safe, clean streets and businesses in time for the Olympics, maybe they could accept the will of the people who just tossed George Gascon out on his ear and focus on public safety for everyone,” she added. 

Trump’s victory has spurred officials in various parts of the country to vow to push back on deportations. 

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On Sunday, Boston’s Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu said her city won’t cooperate with any deportation operation from ther incoming Trump administration, despite her region seeing a number of illegal immigrants being charged with crimes and released back onto the streets. 

Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said her state, which voted for Trump, will not be aiding the incoming administration with its “misguided” plan to launch a mass deportation operation.

Following California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to fight the incoming Trump administration.

“Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked,” he said. 

Zelenskyy addresses how Trump’s return to the WH could influence war with Russia