Why Boeing missed Air Force One delivery — and what it means for Trump
President Donald Trump‘s suggestion that he might accept a Qatari jet as a gift to serve as Air Force One spotlights a glaring question: why has Boeing missed its deadline to deliver two new presidential planes?
Boeing was supposed to deliver two converted 747s last year to replace the aging Air Force One jets that have flown presidents since the President George H.W. Bush era. However, the project is years behind schedule and billions over budget – much to Trump’s frustration.
Boeing did not respond to a request for comment.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | THE BOEING CO. | 206.24 | +1.52 | +0.74% |
How much is the government paying Boeing?
The Air Force awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract in July 2018 for two highly customized 747-8s, following months of negotiation. That price was intended to be final — meaning Boeing, not taxpayers, would absorb any cost overruns.
The planes were to be equipped with cutting-edge defenses and communications systems, anti-missile technology, protection against hacking and the ability to operate during nuclear fallout.
WH ANNOUNCES $1.2T IN ECONOMIC COMMITMENT WITH QATAR, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT BOEING ORDER
How much has Boeing lost?
Boeing has already reported more than $2.5 billion in losses on the program.
“Cost overruns or delays in delivery are certainly not a novel phenomenon,” said Abigail Hall Blanco, a defense economics professor at the University of Tampa.
If the government were to cancel the contract, it is unclear how much of that money Boeing could recover.
“Typically, the government has wide latitude to cancel defense contracts,” Blanco said. “Now, that doesn’t mean that companies can’t seek compensation for work already done. But given the particulars of the fixed-cost contract with Boeing, it’s unclear what cancellation would actually entail.”
What’s causing the delays?
Boeing has cited a range of issues – from the bankruptcy of a key supplier to staffing shortages and pandemic-era supply chain problems.
“They’ve been having problems with this program for quite some time,” said Greg Williams, a defense expert at the Project on Government Oversight. “That includes building components incorrectly and having to tear them down and rebuild them, to design changes requiring rework, and trouble hiring and retaining skilled workers.”
Adding to the challenge: anyone working on Air Force One must have a high-level security clearance.
“It requires a very specific type of security clearance to be building something like Air Force One,” Hall said.
Darlene Costello, the Air Force’s acting assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics, told Congress on May 7 that delays stem from “interiors supplier transition, manpower limitations, and wiring design completion.”
TRUMP CONTINUES TO DEFEND QATAR GIFTING US $400M JET: ‘WE SHOULD HAVE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PLANE’
When will the planes be ready?
Officially, the Air Force and Boeing say they are aiming for 2027, but a White House estimate last month pushed the timeline back even further – to 2029 or later.
In the meantime, the Air Force is trying to accelerate production, including temporarily waiving certain clearance requirements for workers. However, a few “remaining issues” are still being negotiated between Boeing and the government, according to Costello.
Boeing’s Air Force One headache is part of a larger pattern
The Air Force One delays are just one in a string of high-profile setbacks for Boeing. The company has lost more than $35 billion since 2019, following two deadly 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people, and a door plug blowout aboard an Alaska Airlines flight in 2024.
Then there is the Starliner fiasco. Boeing’s space capsule left astronauts stranded for nine months due to propulsion problems, raising further questions about the company’s manufacturing and safety standards.
ESPIONAGE, CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS ABOUND FROM TRUMP DETRACTORS, ALLIES OVER QATARI JET OFFER
Could a Qatari jet fix the problem?
Experts say retrofitting a donated Qatari 787 for presidential use would be a massive undertaking – potentially costing close to $1 billion and taking years to complete.
“You would need to essentially disassemble it and reassemble it with all the necessary modifications,” Blanco said.
The plane would need to be outfitted with secure communications systems, missile defenses, aerial refueling capabilities, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and countermeasures for electronic jamming. It would also need to be cleared of any potential surveillance hardware.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Some reports suggest that defense contractor L3Harris could handle the refit, but Boeing, as the original manufacturer, may still be best suited for the job.
“This might actually be a gift to Boeing,” said Blanco. “Given how much trouble they’ve had with the current contract, this could offer them some relief.”
Dem gubernatorial candidate blasted for questioning arrest of criminal illegal immigrants
FIRST ON FOX: Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger is facing pushback from both her opponent and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after condemning the “shocking” execution of an ICE raid at a Virginia courthouse earlier this month that netted two criminal illegal immigrants.
“I think what we’ve seen most shocking, including here in Charlottesville, has been cases where people haven’t provided identification and have been in some cases masked and in plain clothes,” Spanberger, a former Democratic congresswoman and former intelligence officer, told the Daily Progress last month after an ICE raid at Albemarle County Courthouse led to the arrest of two illegal immigrants.
“I’m a former federal agent, and I used to work narcotics cases and money laundering cases,” she said. “I have been on so many arrest warrants and search warrants at the crack of dawn and at all hours of the day, and identifying yourself, demonstrating who you are, making clear to a community member — even someone you are about to put handcuffs on, even when you enter a home, in a stack, lined up, guns drawn, yelling, ‘Police!’ — you show your badge, you show your credentials, you show your warrant.”
The raid that Spanberger took issue with resulted in the arrest of two illegal immigrants who DHS told Fox News Digital had criminal records.
FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN TURNED VA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ABIGAIL SPANBERGER ACCUSED OF ETHICS VIOLATION
Teodoro Dominguez-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, was described by DHS as a “violent illegal alien” with “multiple arrests for assault and battery as well as an outstanding order of protection against him.”
Pablo Aparicio Marcelino, a Mexican national, was also described by DHS as a “criminal illegal alien” with “multiple arrests for failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving without a license, and driving under the influence.”
Spanberger’s questions about the process of arresting the two foreign nationals drew pushback from her opponent in the race for governor, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
“Abigail Spanberger’s outrage over criminal illegal immigrants being taken off our streets is everything Virginians need to know about what kind of governor she’d be — criminals first, victims last,” Earle-Sears press secretary Peyton Vogel told Fox News Digital.
VIRGINIA’S YOUNGKIN ENDORSES WINSOME EARLE-SEARS FOR GOVERNOR
“She created this mess when she voted in Washington to keep criminal migrants here, and now she wants to stand in the way of cleaning it up.”
A Spanberger spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the Virginia Democrat supports arresting criminal illegal immigrants but believes the ICE agents acted improperly.
“Abigail believes that violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should not be allowed to stay and that immigration enforcement should be focused on removing these individuals,” the spokesperson said. “As a former federal law enforcement officer who worked narcotics cases, Abigail executed warrants and arrested criminals. And as Abigail made clear to the Daily Progress, she made these arrests in uniform, displaying her badge and arrest warrant to those taken into custody.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended raids at courthouses, saying it is “common sense.”
“It conserves valuable law enforcement resources because they already know where a target will be. It is also safer for our officers and the community. These illegal aliens have gone through security and been screened to not have any weapons. Secretary Noem is empowering law enforcement to use common sense to remove criminal illegal aliens from American communities.”
McLaughlin also pushed back on Spanberger’s suggestion that the ICE agents did not properly identify themselves.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“When our heroic law enforcement officers conduct operations, they clearly identify themselves as police while wearing masks to protect themselves from being targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers,” McLaughlin said.
“It is interesting that the media who are so concerned with our law enforcement officers wearing masks to protect themselves don’t say a word about the terrorist sympathizers on U.S. college campuses who cowardly wear masks as they do the bidding of terrorist organizations that relish the killing of Americans and Jews.”
Earle-Sears, endorsed by the term-limited Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, will square off against Spanberger this November to determine the next governor of the commonwealth.
Immigration has been a prominent topic in the race, including in the first ad that the lieutenant governor dropped, which criticized Spanberger over her past opposition to a border wall.
A Spanberger spokesperson at the time called the ad a “distraction attempt,” adding that Spanberger “led bipartisan bills that were signed into law by both President Trump and President Biden to disrupt fentanyl trafficking at our ports of entry, combat Mexican cartels and secure our borders.”
Trump responds to Springsteen’s ‘obnoxious’ overseas criticism
President Donald Trump slammed Bruce Springsteen as being “highly overrated” Friday after the rocker called his administration “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.”
“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States. Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Springsteen tore into Trump on Wednesday during the first of a series of concerts in Manchester, England.
“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times. In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration,” Springsteen said, drawing applause from his audience.
FLASHBACK: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ENDORSES KAMALA HARRIS
“Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” Springsteen added in a video posted on his YouTube page.
Trump said in his Truth Social post that “Sleepy Joe didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing, but Springsteen is ‘dumb as a rock,’ and couldn’t see what was going on, or could he (which is even worse!)? This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare.’ Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
HARRIS CAMPAIGN COSTS FOR STAR-STUDDED EVENTS ON ELECTION EVE BALLOONED TO OVER $10 MILLION: REPORT
Springsteen declared last year that “I’ll be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz” in the presidential election. Harris ended up losing the race to Trump.
The “Born in the USA” singer, in an Instagram video endorsing Harris, attacked Trump as “the most dangerous candidate for President in my lifetime” with a “disdain for the sanctity of our constitution, the sanctity of democracy, the sanctity of the rule of law, and the sanctity of the peaceful transfer of power.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Harris campaign later announced a concert series with Springsteen in battleground states to mobilize voters in the weeks leading up to Election Day last year.
FBI chief Kash Patel reveals bureau relocating from iconic building
FBI Director Kash Patel previewed his plans to relocate about 1,500 agents out of the law enforcement agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In an excerpt of an exclusive interview with “Sunday Morning Futures” that will air this Sunday, Patel said the agency is reallocating its workforce around the country by moving those agents out of the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which opened in 1975.
“This FBI is leaving the Hoover building because this building is unsafe for our workforce and we want… the American men and women to know, if you’re going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we’re going to give you a building that’s commensurate with that, and that’s not this place,” Patel said.
KASH PATEL DELIVERS FIERY WARNING AFTER FBI DISRUPTS MASS SHOOTING TERROR PLOT TARGETING MILITARY
“Look, the FBI is 38,000 when we’re fully manned, which we’re not. In the national capital region, in the 50-mile radius around Washington, D.C., there were 11,000 FBI employees,” Patel said. “That’s like a third of the workforce. A third of the crime doesn’t happen here, so we’re taking 1,500 of those folks and moving them out.”
“Every state’s getting a plus-up, and I think when we do things like that, we inspire folks in America to become intel analysts and agents and say, ‘we want to go work at the FBI because we want to go fight violent crime, and we want to get sent out into the country to do it,'” Patel added. “That’s what we’re doing in the next three, six, nine months we’re going to do that hard.”
FBI FLOODED WITH RECORD NUMBER OF NEW AGENT APPLICATIONS IN KASH PATEL’S FIRST MONTH LEADING BUREAU
The FBI and the Government Services Administration (GSA) have been looking at options for a new FBI headquarters for more than a decade, including locations near D.C. in Maryland and Virginia.
In late 2023, the GSA chose a site in Greenbelt, Maryland, that could serve as the main headquarters, with the FBI getting a smaller facility in downtown D.C. that could accommodate 750 to 1,000 employees. The selection prompted conflict of interest concerns raised by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, as well as other issues with whether the site selection criteria were followed.
KASH PATEL SUPPORTS TRUMP’S FBI BUDGET PROPOSAL AFTER HOUSE TESTIMONY
The inspector general of the GSA issued a report in February that found the GSA’s rationale for increasing the weights of one of the five criteria considered was unjustified, while the report also noted inaccurate cost estimates and a lack of site-specific information in the selection review package.
The review found no conflict of interest, though it also faulted GSA officials for not maintaining text message records related to discussions of the FBI headquarters project.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The interview with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino will air on “Sunday Morning Futures” this Sunday, May 18.
104-year-old veteran who invited Trump to birthday party gets big surprise
President Donald Trump helped a World War II veteran make his birthday wish come true on Thursday.
Ohio resident Denver Moore, who just turned 104, is a longtime supporter of the president. He went viral in March after inviting Trump to his upcoming birthday party in a TikTok video that has since amassed over 890,000 views.
“President Trump… I’m gonna be 104 in May, and I’m inviting you to my birthday party in Canal Fulton,” he said in the video. “I got to vote for you again, and I hope I can vote for you some more.”
On Thursday, Moore found out he had received a video message from the president delivered by his congressman, Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio.
WWII VET TURNING 104 INVITES ‘FAVORITE PRESIDENT’ TRUMP TO CELEBRATION, AND DISCUSSES HIS SECRET FOR LONG LIFE
“Hi, Denver!” Trump says in the video message.
“I want to wish you a very happy 104th birthday from your all-time favorite president. That’s me, Donald Trump,” he continues. “And I’m sorry we weren’t able to get to your party. I would love to get to your party, but I’m working on Russia, Ukraine, China, and all sorts of other places, and I know you want us to do well.”
“But I want just to thank you for your incredible service to our nation and for your support for making America great again. A very, very special man you are, and happy birthday,” he continued.
Trump is currently wrapping up a whirlwind historic tour to the Middle East. On Thursday he arrived in the United Arab Emirates, the first U.S. president to travel to the nation in nearly 20 years.
Moore, who lives at Danbury Senior Living facility in Massillon, a town just south of Cleveland, reacted to the message in a report by WEWS News 5 Cleveland reporter Rob Powers.
After watching the video, Moore joked about Trump fulfilling his birthday wish, “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
WWII VETERAN TURNS 100, REVEALS THE SECRETS OF A LONG HEALTHY LIFE
Moore spoke to Fox News Digital in April about his birthday request to his “favorite president” going viral.
After the video was posted in March, people from all over the country – and even as far away as Africa – reached out to him to cheer him on, sending messages and birthday cards to the veteran.
“It’s been quite a ride,” Moore said.
Congressman Rulli told Fox News Digital that when he saw the viral video of Moore, he was “struck not only by the incredible milestone of his life but also by his deep sense of patriotism and service.”
“I was even more surprised to learn that this remarkable WWII veteran was a resident at a facility right in my district,” he said.
The congressman said he reached out to the White House to see if President Trump could honor Moore’s “heartfelt request.”
“President Trump and his team went above and beyond, recording a special video message just for him. I am incredibly grateful to the compassionate team at Danbury Senior Living, who worked hand in hand with my office to ensure Mr. Moore’s birthday was truly unforgettable,” Rulli said.
“His life and service are a testament to the spirit of our nation, and I’m proud we could celebrate him in such a meaningful way,” he added.
Moore has been a longtime supporter of Trump and says he agrees with most of the actions he’s taken.
“He may make a mistake or two, but he’s doing most everything right,” he previously told Fox News Digital.
Moore served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII before working for the U.S. Postal Service. He raised three children with his late wife Thelma Lee, to whom he was married for 75 years before she died in 2022 at age 95.
Moore’s family and friends say he is still mentally sharp and stays physically active, despite his advanced age.
That could be his secret to living a long healthy life.
“I was always active, doing something. I carried mail for 20 years, walking, and that was good. I grew up on a farm. We did everything. And if we didn’t have anything to do, we created something. So it’s just this: stay active,” he said about his advice for living a long life.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He added, “Marry the right woman and live with her all of her life.”
Diddy allegedly told Cassie she didn’t know how to take care of him: cross-examination
Cassie Ventura did not cut off contact with Sean “Diddy” Combs despite ending their relationship in 2018.
The now 38-year-old musician explained she called things off with Diddy after she found out that he was still seeing a woman named Gina. Combs and Gina allegedly began an on-and-off again romance in April 2014.
Diddy’s defense lawyer brought up Diddy still seeing Gina in 2018. Cassie had also moved on in 2018 and had begun seeing her now-husband, Alex Fine. However, she testified that contact between her and Diddy did not end after the break up.
Cassie said, “There was no ceasing of all contact, but the relationship was over.” She confirmed she did continue to communicate with Diddy after telling him the relationship was over.
Another message was shown where Cassie wrote, “That last shot was the nail in the coffin…she never went away…” Cassie said she believes she was referencing Gina. “I promised myself I wouldn’t be with you anymore if you did that again,” a message from Cassie to Combs read.
Cassie confirmed she was referencing Diddy allegedly cheating on her.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
After bringing the jury back inside the courtroom following a quick break, cross-examination resumed with more messages between Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie.
The messages showed Diddy thought his ex-girlfriend was insecure.
In one message, Cassie told the rapper she wanted to discuss something. Diddy asked if the topic would stress him out. Cassie replied, “Freak off. Can wait…”
The defense showed another set of messages. Combs wrote he and Cassie needed to find a way to get back on point. Cassie replied “definitely.”
Cassie also wrote, “…I believe our love has no bounds…” Diddy replied that Cassie was insecure and did not know what it meant to take care of him. Cassie wrote, “Just know that I love you…”
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura was spotted before court Friday as she prepared to finish up cross-examination in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial.
When she took the stand this week, Cassie was noticeably pregnant with her third child with her husband, Alex Fine.
“Cassie being pregnant may make her an even more sympathetic figure on the stand,” criminal defense lawyer Dan Rubin exclusively told Fox News Digital.
“It certainly invokes the maternal side of the singer, and that could really impact the way some members of the jury view her. They may find it interesting that – even if it’s not said out loud – Cassie is looking at the dark events of what happened through the new lens of motherhood.”
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense and the prosecution were reprimanded by Judge Arun Subramanian over issues with evidence during Friday’s cross-examination of Cassie Ventura.
After the prosecution objected to a text message being shown to the jury, the judge dismissed the jury and Cassie. He told the parties that the court would not proceed in this fashion and emphasized there needed to be a reason for an objection.
Subramanian asked the defense and prosecution why there is confusion over admitted exhibits.
The federal judge told the parties he needs a government witness list and anticipated order of witnesses by Sunday at 5pm. Subramanian also said he wants the defense to provide the government anticipated evidence by 7pm the day before or 5pm on Sundays. He explained if there is no proper disclosure, the evidence will be excluded.
The judge requested a binder be used for long messages if the parties intend to have the witness read out loud to the court.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura claimed she has been drug-free since 2022.
Diddy’s defense brought up the treatment facility Cassie went to in early 2023 during cross-examination. Cassie explained it was 45 days inpatient and there was to be no contact.
The 38-year-old singer said has been clean since 2022 and has been taking a drug to treat opiate addiction since then.
Diddy’s lawyer, Anna Estevao asked Cassie if the treatment facility she attended treated patients for sex addiction. The “Me & U” singer said yes, but clarified she did not receive treatment for sex addiction.
Cassie previously testified during direct examination that she entered rehab and pursued trauma therapy toward the beginning of 2023 after she experienced suicidal thoughts.
While shooting a music video with another artist, Cassie claimed to suffer “horrible flashbacks” and went home to her husband, Alex Fine. Cassie is currently pregnant with their third child.
She told her husband, “You can do this without me. You don’t need me anymore.”
Cassie broke down in tears while admitting on the stand that she couldn’t take the pain anymore, some of which included her own personal shame.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich and Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura returned to the stand Friday for cross-examination in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial.
The jury was shown messages between Diddy and Cassie where the rapper warned her not to threaten him because he has too many iPads.
Cassie previously testified during direct examination that Diddy would have her bring an iPad as part of the supplies for the “freak offs,” where he would allegedly force the singer to have sex with male escorts while he watched.
Cassie confirmed the text exchange shown in court occurred after she and Diddy broke up.
The two ended things in 2018 after 10 years of off-and-on dating.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Explosive audio of Cassie Ventura threatening someone was played in the courtroom during her cross-examination.
Diddy’s defense lawyer played the recording while Cassie was on the stand. The recording of the conversation was very muffled and it was difficult to make out what the singer and another man on the audio recording were saying.
At one point, Cassie can be heard telling a man, “We’re gonna figure this out…” Then, “You have it in your phone? Why wouldn’t you show me?”
Cassie and the man appeared to be arguing about something.
Cassie said, “You got that s—? Pull that s— up…everybody can go and we’re staying here…I’m going to kill you…I’m going to kill you because you are f—— with my life…I’m going to f— you up. I don’t think you understand…tell me what the f— you are talking about…” Cassie confirmed it was her on the audio recording.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani broke down the defense’s tactics after Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer spent Thursday cross-examining Cassie Ventura.
“The defense used the messages to show Ventura’s planning of and willingness to participate in the freak offs,” the West Coast Trial Lawyers founder told Fox News Digital. “Ventura used words like love, wish, want, and excited, and describe the freak offs. That’s very different than her testimony [Wednesday]. Ventura also watched Combs have sex with other women, which supports the defense’s argument about a swingers lifestyle. Combs’ attorneys also scored some points when Ventura admitted to trying many drugs outside of the freak offs, including at Burning Man.”
“As expected, the defense lasered in on Ventura’s jealously. She admitted to being ‘insanely jealous’ during her direct, so we knew this was coming. The prosecution may have elicited this testimony to take the sting out of cross. In addition to rapper Kid Cudi, Ventura said she dated actor Michael B. Jordan. That’s the second celebrity named in the case.”
“Combs overdosed on opioids at the Playboy Mansion and had to be hospitalized,” he added. “The defense seems to be blaming the 2016 hotel attack on Combs withdrawing from opioids. Overall, it was a much more mellow day than I thought it would be. I expected the defense to use a young female attorney to go after Ventura aggressively. You can’t do that with an old man, especially with a very pregnant witness. Maybe they’re saving the aggressive cross-examination for [Friday], or the defense thinks the emails and text messages are enough to discredit Ventura. We’ll see.”
Cassie Ventura testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs often took her phone away when he was angry.
Diddy’s defense lawyer questioned Cassie about a time Diddy found out she had danced with musician Chris Brown.
Cassie claimed, “I absolutely don’t remember what happened on that occasion.”
Defense lawyer Anna Estevao showed Cassie messages to help refresh her recollection. Cassie explained the message said that Diddy took her phone after the moment with Brown, but she doesn’t really remember it.
Cassie testified that the “Last Night” singer
would take her phone, watch and other things when he was angry.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense lawyer questioned Cassie Ventura about the rapper’s suspicions she was cheating on him in August 2016.
During her cross-examination, she explained she was not sure how the rapper received the information. Cassie admitted, “We were not in a great place…” At the time, she was dating someone else, and is not sure how he found out.
She recalled a confrontation she had with Diddy in a car. They were driving to a doctor’s appointment and Diddy told her to text her mom that she was okay. Cassie claimed when she unlocked the phone, he took it and left. Cassie agreed it was not a physical altercation.
A couple hours later, Cassie’s mother called the police because the musician returned home without a phone.
“I believe he looked through my phone and I believe he also spoke to someone,” she said on the stand. The person was an NFL player.
Estevao asked if Combs was upset with her when she cheated. Cassie replied, “When you’re not with someone, it’s not cheating…we weren’t married.”
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura agreed Sean “Diddy” Combs was “blackout” during the 2016 physical altercation
at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Diddy’s lawyer, Anna Estevao asked Cassie if Diddy was intoxicated during the “freak off” that preceded the assault in the elevator lobby. Estevao pressed Cassie and the singer-songwriter agreed that Diddy was “blackout.”
In a text sent by Cassie to Combs after the hotel assault she wrote, “When you get f—– up the wrong way, you always want to show me you have the power and you knock me around. I’m not a rag doll. I’m someone’s child.” By “f—– up” Cassie said she was referring to drugs and alcohol.
They also looked at another message from March 9, 2016. In the text Combs wrote, “I’m so horny for you.” Cassie replied “You are?” She testified that it was strange because of the events that happened at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura took the stand in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial again Friday for her continued cross-examination.
Cassie wore a dark pinstriped suit and white blouse for her fourth day of testimony.
The prosecution finished the direct examination of Cassie on May 14. Cassie told the jury Wednesday that she chose to testify against Diddy because she could no longer carry the guilt. “I can’t carry this anymore,” she told the court. “I can’t carry the shame, the guilt … what’s right is right. What’s wrong is wrong …”
Throughout the day, jurors heard Cassie describe allegedly being raped by Diddy after their breakup. She claimed to enter rehab and pursued trauma therapy toward the beginning of 2023 after suffering “horrible flashbacks” on set of a music video.
The jurors also saw screenshots from Diddy’s alleged “freak offs,” where Cassie claimed she was forced to have sex with male escorts while the rapper watched. She testified that Diddy was often violent towards her during these sex sessions.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich and Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to court Friday for his ongoing sex-trafficking trial.
He entered the courtroom while Judge Arun Subramanian took the bench. Diddy wore a light-colored sweater and turned towards the gallery for a brief moment while his lawyers were discussing pending issues with the prosecution and the judge.
The disgraced music mogul has calmly listened to ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s testimony for the past three days.
Diddy’s defense lawyer Anna Estevao began Cassie’s cross-examination Thursday, where she focused on emails between Combs and the singer-songwriter. During her cross-examination, Cassie also claimed that Diddy sent a number of loving messages during their relationship.
“They were uplifting text messages,” Cassie told the court . She added that Diddy sent texts with affirmation, and said, “words were helpful … he’s got that energy, inspiring energy.”
Cassie’s cross-examination is expected to end Friday.
Fox News’ Maria Paronich and Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Justin Bieber was not a victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs, despite some online speculation.
“Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve,” a representative for Bieber told TMZ.
A video showing 48 hours with Combs and a teenage Bieber resurfaced in March 2024 after the rapper’s homes were raided in connection to a federal human trafficking investigation.
“I have been given custody of [Justin],” Diddy said in the video from 2009.
“You know, he’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album. I did Usher’s first album. I don’t have legal guardianship of him,” he explained, referring to Bieber, “but for the next 48 hours he’s with me, and we’re gonna go full crazy.”
“Let’s go get some girls,” Bieber told Diddy when asked what he wanted to do.
Now, multiple sources told TMZ that nothing untoward ever happened to Bieber.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bieber for additional comment.
The federal criminal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs for sex crimes has taken Hollywood by storm, with many big actors and musicians being brought up in court.
It started during jury selection when prospective jurors were given a list of celebrity names during the voir dire process and asked if they recognized any of them.
The celebrity names on the list included Mike Myers, Diddy’s children – Justin and Christian Combs, Aubrey O’Day, actress Lauren London, actor Michael B. Jordan, musician Kid Cudi, Kanye West, singer Michelle Williams, Dawn Richards and Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
While it’s unclear why some of the celebrities made this list, USA Today reported there is a scene in Myers’ “Austin Powers” that jokes about the disgraced rapper.
Cassie was called as the third witness for the prosecution, beginning her testimony on Tuesday. During her testimony, she brought up her brief relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, whom she dated while she and Diddy were on a break.
She claimed Diddy threatened her and Kid Cudi, allegedly telling her he was going to “hurt both of us,” and later telling her he was going to blow up Cudi’s car.
She testified on Thursday that Diddy once suspected she was in a relationship with actor Michael B. Jordan.
The defense also mentioned that he brought Britney Spears to her 21st birthday party.
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz and Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team in his federal trial for sex crimes is made up of eight lawyers, including Marc Agnifilo, Teny Giragos, Brian Steel, Alexandra Shapiro, Xavier R. Donaldson, Jason Driscoll and Mark Geragos.
Among them is also Anna Estevao, who has a background in defending individuals and organizations facing high-profile white-collar charges.
Having graduated from New York University School of Law in 2015, Estevao gathered work experience for a few years before spending seven years as counsel at Sher Tremonte LLP, according to her LinkedIn. Five months after getting promoted to partner in January 2025, she transitioned to Harris Trzaskoma LLP, where she has been since May.
Estevao has been the one to cross-examine Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. During the cross-examination, Estevao read through messages exchanged between Cassie and Diddy, in which he allegedly attempted to schedule “freak offs.”
The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last eight weeks. Combs however, has been in jail since his arrest in September 2024, after his Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by law enforcement.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs’
defense gets a chance to cross-examine Cassie Ventura, the goal would be to “gently raise doubts,” according to criminal defense attorney Duncan Levin.
Diddy’s lawyer, Anna Estevao, spent Thursday cross-examining Cassie. The former girlfriend of Diddy testified May 13 and 14 about the alleged abuse she experienced at the hands of the rapper. Cassie claimed she was physically abused and forced into participating in “freak offs,” where Diddy would coerce her into having sex with a male escort while he watched.
“
Her testimony is detailed, emotionally charged, and delivered in a way that builds a narrative of long-term control, trauma, and manipulation,” Levin explained to Fox News Digital. “But it also raises questions that his defense team will seize on. Her testimony spans years and includes deeply personal claims — but jurors will be instructed to separate emotion from evidence. The defense will likely focus on where that evidence is thin: Are there contemporaneous witnesses? Documentation? Has she ever contradicted any of this in past public statements or legal filings? And critically, what financial or legal incentives might she have?”
“For the defense, the goal will be to gently raise doubts — without appearing to attack a sympathetic witness—and reframe her story as selective memory shaped by hindsight, counsel, or both.”
Cassie’s first day of cross-examination, which focused on emails and text messages between Sean “Diddy” Combs and the singer, was “more boring” than expected, according to one legal expert.
“Because of the court’s privacy screens, only the jurors could see the evidence,” former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained to Fox News Digital. “I thought we would see intense drama on the witness stand, but between the messages and defense attorney Anna Estevao, people were falling asleep in the courtroom. The only real drama was Judge Subramanian insisting that Ventura’s cross finish [Friday] because of her pregnancy.”
Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, was reprimanded by Judge Arun Subramanian over the length of Cassie’s cross-examination. The defense lawyer claimed it’s not uncommon for cross-examination to take much longer than the direct examination.
The judge then asked Agnifilo, “In what universe did you not understand this was important?” He said it’s in numerous filings that this witness needed to be done this week. Subramanian continued it was not mentioned before today that Cassie would go into next week.
Karen Read defense fights introduction of forensic report, insists ‘there is no remedy’
While the jury in Karen Read’s trial was on morning recess, Judge Beverly Cannone revisited the issue surrounding new evidence testimony raised by defense attorney Robert Alessi on Thursday afternoon.
Alessi argued against Cannone allowing the prosecution to present a new report, conducted by forensic data company Aperture, regarding evidence of a variance between the internal clocks in Read’s Lexus SUV and John O’Keefe’s cell phone data. Cannone asked Alessi to come prepared with a solution, with Alessi asking for four days to review the new materials.
“There is no remedy for the defense,” Alessi said, adding, “We will not ever be able to recover strategically or substantively from it, given all that’s been presented to the jury, and it will be very difficult to figure out how we’re going to go present a defense after we’ve already presented to the jury our defense in our cross-examination.”
Prosecutor Hank Brennan insisted the information is not new, pointing to the report simply providing context.
“There are no changes,” Brennan said. “There [are] no changes in the timeline. [Alessi] keeps trying to portray this as something has changed. Nothing has changed, it’s the exact same.”
Before the prosecution in Karen Read’s trial called the first witness to the stand Friday morning, Judge Beverly Cannone warned the jurors against reacting to testimony.
“It’s so important that each and every juror can hear the evidence of the testimony that’s presented, follow the testimony, and understand and evaluate the testimony of each witness and exhibit,” Cannone said. “In order to do that, I just want to be very clear that it’s important that people do not comment on the evidence or make any comments once you enter the room.”
Cannone went on to tell the jurors to focus on listening to testimony without reacting, stressing the importance of respecting both sides during the trial.
“Don’t talk, don’t make any facial expressions,” Cannone said. “No muttering under your breath, no audible noises.”
Following a short line of testimony from DNA analyst Andre Porto, the prosecution called Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Ashley Vallier to the witness stand.
Vallier was tasked with testing broken pieces of taillight from Karen Read’s SUV
and a drinking glass found next to John O’Keefe outside 34 Fairview Road.
Massachusetts State Police DNA analyst Andre Porto testified during prosecutor Adam Lally’s direct examination regarding biological evidence found on John O’Keefe’s clothing.
Porto explained his testing of O’Keefe’s clothing found traces of DNA from multiple unknown individuals, but the samples were never identified.
Following a short line of questioning, defense attorney David Yannetti asked Porto about the unknown DNA evidence found at the crime scene and on Karen Read’s Lexus SUV.
“Were you ever asked to compare DNA samples from either Canton Police Detective Kevin Albert or Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz to the DNA that you analyzed from the passenger side taillight?” Yannetti asked.
“I was not,” Porto said.
Judge Beverly Cannone called Court into session Friday as Karen Read’s trial is wrapping up its fourth week.
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan kicked off the day by offering a stipulation agreed on by both the Commonwealth and Read’s defense team regarding a photograph of two state troopers in the room during John O’Keefe’s autopsy.
The photo was presented during witness testimony on Thursday, with the identities of both troopers not immediately disclosed. Before calling the state’s next witness, Brennan identified the men in the photo as Trooper Connor Keefe and Trooper Watson – specifying that former investigator Michael Proctor was not present.
The Commonwealth then went on to call Massachusetts State Police DNA analyst Andre Porto to the witness stand.
A medical examiner testified she could identify John O’Keefe’s cause of death as a head injury and hypothermia but could not determine whether it was homicide, accidental or any other manner Thursday during the murder trial of Karen Read in the 2022 death of her boyfriend, a 46-year-old Boston police officer.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a forensic pathologist with Massachusetts’ Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, performed the autopsy on O’Keefe Jan. 31, 2022.
While Scordi-Bello found that O’Keefe had died from head trauma and hypothermia, the manner of death — how he suffered those injuries — was undetermined
The blunt impact to his head was the primary cause of death, she testified, but hypothermia contributed. He had a deep cut and bruising to the back of his head. Once she looked at it from the inside, she found multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding. And his body temperature when he arrived at the hospital was 80.1 degrees compared to a normal body temperature of 98.6.
She discussed the external examination first, saying she found similar injuries to his face, head, hand, arm and knee that other witnesses, including paramedics and police, have already described to the jury.
He had “superficial” scrapes and cuts on his arm, which did not penetrate the skin or expose fat or muscle tissue, she testified.
Read the full story here.
Testimony in Karen Read’s trial is set to resume Friday as the state is expected to call its next witness. On Thursday, jurors heard from Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Maureen Hartnett and medical examiner Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello as special prosecutor Hank Brennan continues to build the state’s case against Read.
Read is facing the possibility of life in prison for the alleged murder of Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
The prosecution claims Read struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV during a drunken argument outside of 34 Fairview Road, leaving him to freeze to death in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022. However, Read’s defense team is maintaining her innocence, telling the jury she never hit O’Keefe with her vehicle.
Experts break down the top credit cards to maximize rewards
The busy summer travel season will soon get underway at a time when consumer wallets continue to be stretched. Spending on the right credit card, though, could enable people to stretch their budgets by helping them earn deep discounts and valuable perks.
Several travel experts told FOX Business that the “best travel credit card” doesn’t exist, but rather depends on someone’s travel style and home airport. There are a number of cards with a variety of benefits for different types of people, from the points-savvy traveler to someone looking to save a few bucks on a quick trip.
Chris Henderson, managing editor of travel website The Points Guy, told FOX Business that having one premium credit card that earns points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel programs is probably the best strategy for most people.
MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL TO SET NEW RECORD AS DRIVERS BENEFIT FROM LOWER GAS PRICES
While Henderson said he has 27 cards, all of which he knows how to maximize, “most people shouldn’t try to get too tricky.”
“Just get one that has a lot of flexibility and a lot of perks that you can rely on,” he said.
In the event that someone is particularly loyal to an airline, it makes sense to have an airline co-branded card, which can offer perks like lounge access, priority boarding and free bags, according to Henderson.
Different cards for different needs
American Express Platinum
Henderson placed the American Express Platinum card at the top of his list, though he admitted it “comes with an absolutely insane annual fee.”
Nerd Wallet travel expert Sally French said this card isn’t for “points beginners — it’s for someone who wants to travel like a VIP and is willing to pay for it.” The nearly $700 annual fee may not be worth it for many people, she added.
However, Henderson said he can justify the cost given the significant number of perks it has. He also noted that card users shouldn’t be afraid of annual fees because it often makes the card more valuable. There can also be big sign-up bonuses.
For American Express Platinum, cardholders will get $200 in rideshare credits, $200 in digital subscription credits, $200 in hotel credits and $200 in airline fee credits, which is already more than the annual fee, according to Henderson.
The card also comes with hotel and car rental elite status and access to Fine Hotels and Resorts, where you can book hotels, earn points and get extra perks, according to Henderson. You can also transfer your points to 18 partner airlines and hotels.
Among its perks, it also includes access to the AmEx Centurion Lounge network.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXP | AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. | 299.55 | -0.55 | -0.18% |
| JPM | JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. | 267.49 | +1.85 | +0.70% |
Chase Freedom Unlimited
French told FOX Business that while this is “largely considered a cash-back credit card as opposed to a travel credit card,” it can benefit travelers, especially if paired with a Chase Sapphire card.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card earns 1.5% cash back and even more on certain bonus categories, and it comes with no annual fee. Points accrued on a Chase Sapphire card can be transferred to travel partners or redeemed in Chase’s travel portal for higher value.
Capital One Venture Rewards
“Some people don’t want to deal with transfer partners or award charts — they just want to book travel and get rewarded. This card is for them,” French said.
The card earns two-times miles on purchases, which can be used as a “travel eraser” to pay yourself back for travel purchases such as flights and hotels.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COF | CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP. | 197.50 | +0.26 | +0.13% |
Chase Sapphire Preferred
French recommends this card for beginner-to-intermediate travelers looking for serious points value as it offers points on travel and dining. Its points are also worth 25% more when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. There is also a limited-time, 100,000-point sign-up bonus, which is notably high, French said.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“This is the go-to travel credit card I recommend to most people,” she said.
Capital One Venture X Rewards
French considers this card a “great middle ground between something like a no or low-annual fee card, without teetering into coupon book territory.”
She said the $395 annual fee can be offset with a $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel, plus a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, which is worth about $100.
Cardholders also get unlimited Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access.