Crowd erupts as MIT class president swaps speech to blast Israel as ‘genocidal’

Trio of names emerge as Musk ends his tenure as chief Washington waste foe

With Elon Musk leaving his role at the White House as head of the Department of Government Efficiency and President Donald Trump saying DOGE’s work will continue, the question now in Washington is who will take the reins to become Musk’s successor.

Musk, who has led Trump’s waste-cutting task force from Inauguration Day until now, announced his departure in an X post this week, saying: “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,”

Musk said the DOGE mission “will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

So, who will take Musk’s place? Right now, no one.

A senior White House official previously told Fox News Digital that “the DOGE employees at their respective agency or department will be reporting to and executing the agenda of the president through the leadership of each agency or department head.”

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The official said DOGE is now part of the “DNA” of the federal government, and that it will keep operating as it already has. 

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that “the DOGE leaders are each and every member of the president’s cabinet and the president himself, who is wholeheartedly committed to cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government.”

These statements cast doubt on whether any singular individual will succeed Musk as the DOGE chief. However, if Trump finds a DOGE successor necessary and decides to shift gears, who could fill Musk’s shoes?  

Amy Gleason

While Musk was never an official federal employee, Amy Gleason, a little-known government employee who also worked in the first Trump administration, has been serving as the official acting chief of the United States DOGE Service (USDS) since February.

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If the president decides to steer clear of any public-facing DOGE chief, it seems likely that he will keep Gleason on as a more behind-the-scenes DOGE leader at USDS.

Gleason, 53, is a career official who was recognized by the Obama administration as a “champion of change” for her work with several nonprofits researching and raising awareness about a rare autoimmune disorder known as Juvenile Myositis. Gleason previously worked in the first Trump administration in what was then called the U.S. Digital Service before leaving to work at Russell Street Ventures, which was founded by Brad Smith, another DOGE leader.

Keeping Gleason on as DOGE chief would allow the president to keep the agency’s efforts alive while following the structure of each cabinet head leading their own waste-cutting programs.

Russell Vought

As director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought has already been a central figure in DOGE’s waste-cutting efforts.

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The Wall Street Journal reported that Vought already has plans to continue Musk’s efforts, even in his current role as OMB head. Vought is a close ally of Trump and a much more subdued personality than Musk, making him appear as a likely pick to take over DOGE. 

However, Vought does come with his own political baggage, with many on the left labeling him a “Christian nationalist” and criticizing his role as a co-author of Project 2025. Still, he was successfully confirmed by the Senate in his current role as OMB director.

Vivek Ramaswamy

A one-time GOP presidential candidate-turned key Trump ally, Vivek Ramaswamy, has been widely reported as a top contender to replace Musk at the helm of DOGE. Ramaswamy co-led DOGE alongside Musk for a short period at the start of Trump’s second term. However, he stepped down from his DOGE leadership role in February to begin his run for Ohio governor.

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Though Ramaswamy shares Musk’s and Trump’s vision for cutting government waste, it would seem unlikely he would rejoin the DOGE team any time soon with his eyes on winning the keys to the Ohio governor’s mansion in 2026.

JPMorgan’s Dimon urges US to stockpile guns and ammo as first option

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — The United States should stockpile guns, ammunition and drones instead of bitcoin, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Friday at the inaugural Reagan National Economic Forum in California. 

“We shouldn’t be stockpiling bitcoins,” Dimon said when asked about how industrial policy is entwined with national security policies during a panel. “We should stockpiling guns, bullets, tanks, planes, drones, you know, rare earths. We know we need to do it. It’s not a mystery.” 

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates outside of banking or government authority.  President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March establishing a Bitcoin reserve, which he described as “a virtual Fort Knox for digital gold.” 

“We should be stockpiling bullets,” he continued. “Like, you know, the military guys tell you that, you know, if there’s a war in the South China Sea, we have missiles for seven days. Okay, come on. I mean, we can’t say that with a straight face and think that’s okay. So we know what to do. We just got to now go about doing it. Get the people together, roll up our sleeves, you know, have the debates.” 

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Dimon joined a fireside chat during the Reagan National Economic Forum in Simi Valley, California, at the Reagan Presidential Library Friday for a sweeping discussion on the economy and how the world’stectonic plates are shifting” in geopolitics in the form of wars, proxy terrorists and the potential proliferation of nuclear weapons. 

Dimon underscored during his address that he does not view China as America’s top adversary, and instead pointed his attention to the “enemy within” that could lead to the U.S.’ status as the world’s leader crater. 

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“I’m not as worried about China,” Dimon said. “China is a potential adversary. They’re doing a lot of things well, they have a lot of problems. But what I really worry about is us. Can we get our own act together, our own values, our own capability, our own management?”

“I always get asked this question: Are we going to be the reserve currency?” he said. “No. You know, if we are not the preeminent military and the preeminent economy in 40 years, we will not be the reserve currency. That’s a fact. Just read history.” 

He referred to the U.S. government as a “Leviathan” that is too weak to carry out policies, while simultaneously imposing “things on the American public that they’re getting sick of.” 

Dimon argued that instead, the U.S. needs to celebrate its long-held values.

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“Celebrate our virtues: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise, equal opportunity, family, God, country,” he said. “You know, and you can acknowledge the flaws that we have, which are extraordinary — what we did the Black population for years. Don’t denigrate the great things of this country, because those are two different things.”

“We don’t talk that much to each other — deal with our policies — this is the enemy within,” he continued. “We’ve got to fix our permitting our regulations our immigration our taxation, which I, I think they’re on their way. We have to fix our inner city schools, our health care system.” 

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The Reagan National Economic forum kicked off Friday, and includes panels featuring Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, lawmakers such as Sens. Mike Rounds and Bill Cassidy, and leaders from the private sector, such as the CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, Horacio Rozanski. The bipartisan event works to promote “President Reagan‘s enduring belief in the power of the free market and individual opportunity to drive national prosperity,” according to forum organizers. 

Trump addresses the possibility of clemency for rapper in high-profile case

Speaking with members of the press on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump floated the possibility of issuing a presidential pardon to disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying “it’s not a popularity contest” and “I would certainly look at the facts” if asked.

In a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17, Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison.

He has maintained his innocence throughout the ongoing trial in which witnesses have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking. 

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In response to a question by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy about his previous friendship with Diddy and whether he would consider a pardon of the former rapper, Trump indicated that he would consider “if I think somebody was mistreated.”

The president said that so far “nobody’s asked” for any such pardon, but noted: “I know people are thinking about it. I know that they’re thinking about it. I think people have been very close to asking.”

“First of all, I’d look at what’s happening, and I haven’t been watching it too closely, although it’s certainly getting a lot of coverage,” said Trump.

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“I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years,” he went on, adding that Diddy “used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics … that relationship busted up.”

Trump said that though he never had a falling out with Diddy per se, after entering politics, he would “read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.”

“It’s different,” he went on. “You become a much different person when you run for politics, and you do what’s right. I could do other things, and I’m sure he’d like me, and I’m sure other people would like me, but it wouldn’t be as good for our country.”

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“As we said, our country is doing really well because of what we’re doing, so it’s not a popularity contest, so I don’t know, I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated. Whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me,” Trump concluded.

Ex-president’s son spotted in South Africa with rental car, no protective detail

Hunter Biden was seen out and about with his family in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday amid Republicans’ investigation into an alleged “conspiracy” related to his father’s cognitive decline as president. 

The embattled son of the former president toured Cape Town with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, and son, Beau Biden Jr., driving a rented Toyota sedan, a big change from the black Chevy Suburbans he was used to traveling in before President Donald Trump yanked his Secret Service detail. 

In March, Trump terminated Hunter Biden’s Secret Service detail after former President Joe Biden extended his son’s detail indefinitely. Typically, children of former presidents only enjoy Secret Service protection if they are 16 or younger.

Trump’s move to remove Hunter Biden’s detail came as the former president’s son was once again vacationing in South Africa.

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Hunter Biden and his family were seen on the Sea Point Main Road, a main thoroughfare in a wealthy part of Cape Town, paying for parking and stopping into the local butcher. Based on the images, it is apparent Hunter no longer has the luxury of a Secret Service detail.

The new pictures also mark the first time Hunter Biden has been seen publicly since his father’s public cancer announcement.

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Republicans are launching a new investigation into the alleged “conspiracy” behind former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline. 

Senstors Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced plans to hold a Senate Judiciary hearing June 18 to look into the alleged cover-up of the 82-year-old former president’s mental decline while in office by the media and those closest to him.

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The lawmakers are still gathering witnesses for the probe, which would be the first full congressional committee hearing on the subject.

Loretta Swit, beloved ‘M*A*S*H’ star who played Major Houlihan, dies at 87

Loretta Swit, who starred as quick-witted Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the TV series “M*A*S*H,” has died. She was 87.

A spokesperson for the actress confirmed to Fox News Digital that Swit passed away on Friday at her home in New York City. The suspected cause of death is natural causes.

In her lifetime, Swit was honored with several awards for her acting, including the People’s Choice Award, The Genie Award, The Silver Satellite Award, The Jean Golden Halo Award, the Pacific Broadcasters Award, and two Emmy Awards.  With 10 Emmy nominations and four nominations for the Golden Globe, she most recently received her third Career Achievement Award.  

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Swit previously made her Broadway debut in “Same Time, Next Year” opposite Ted Bessell and toured with Susan Hayward and Celeste Holm. She would go on to play the title role of “Mame” in New York and Pennsylvania.

Her television career boasts over 25 movies. She appeared in “Games Mother Never Taught You” with Sam Waterston, “Hell Hath No Fury” with Barbara Eden, “The Execution” with Rip Torn, “Dreams of Gold” with Cliff Robertson and “A Killer Among Friends” with Patty Duke. Swit also appeared in “The Muppet Show” with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

She starred in “Stand Up and Be Counted” with Jacqueline Bisset, “Freebie and the Bean” with James Caan and Alan Arkin, “Race With the Devil” with Peter Fonda, “Beer” opposite Rip Torn, “S.O.B.” with Julie Andrews and William Holden, “Whoops Apocalypse” with Peter Cook and Herbert Lom, “Forrest Warrior” with Chuck Norris, and “BoardHeads” with Bronson Pinchot.

Swit was also known for her passion for animals. She set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering. She also raised awareness of other nonprofit organizations and programs that protected and rescued animals in need, as well as wildlife preservation. She created her critically-acclaimed art book, “SwitHeart,” which featured 65 full-color paintings and drawings. It raised money for numerous animal causes. She also launched a fragrance, SwitHeart, where all proceeds go to SwitHeart.

Back in 2023, Swit spoke to Fox News Digital about Major Margaret’s famous nickname.

“I understand nicknames come with great love and admiration for a character,” the star explained at the time. “But it was an insult as far as I was concerned. She wasn’t just a piece of anatomy. She was a major in the United States Army, and she should not be disrespected.”

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“This was a woman who had rank, who worked hard and wanted to be good at her job,” Swit shared. “She was an inspiration. I was proud of her. I was proud to represent all the servicewomen out there. I wanted to make a change.”

Swit said she was also proud of being part of the celebrated sitcom, so much so she was worried the nickname would overshadow the heroic efforts of real-life servicewomen, belittling them to a punchline.

“I didn’t want those women to be disrespected,” Swit reflected. “Obviously, people are going to see it differently. Margaret did not see [the nickname] as a compliment. She saw it as disrespect. So, yes, I would say it was never a comfort zone.”

Looking back, Swit admitted she even approached the writers of the show to phase out “Hot Lips.”

“I think my perseverance probably became very annoying,” she chuckled. “But I felt it was important for the women out there who were supporting our country. I kept telling the writers, ‘She’s so much more than this.’”

“M*A*S*H” was based on the 1968 novel by Richard Hooker, which led to the 1970 film by the same name. The series, set during the Korean War, aired from 1972 to 1983. The finale was watched in over 60% of U.S. homes.

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Over the years, Swit stayed in touch with veterans. Many also flock to her appearances. Those encounters, she said, made her fight to ditch the “Hot Lips” title worth it.

“I worked for a long time with World War II vets and got to know them really well,” she explained. “It made you realize how much work we needed to do in this country to support them. So many of them came back to a life that was foreign to them. It took them a long time to grasp the situation. They endured so much and many faced those struggles in silence. It has been the honor of my life to help get their stories out there.

“It has been a privilege, an honor, to meet so many of these wonderful heroes – they’re still my heroes,” she explained. “The very fact that a serviceman or woman puts themselves on the front lines and says, ‘I give you my life’ – that’s the ultimate sacrifice. And we just don’t thank them enough. They give their lives to our country. These are the best friends I’ll ever have. And they always deserve our respect.

“I often quote this wonderful thing that I read,” she continued. “It’s a statement: ‘What is a veteran? A veteran is someone who at one time in their lives wrote out a blank check made out to the United States of America, giving them the sum of up to and including their life.’ That says it all to me what exactly our servicemen and women do. How could such a statement not make you emotional? It’s a lasting feeling. It’s a feeling that will always stay with me.”

Swit said, hearing the stories of veterans has “enhanced” her life.

“It gives you such a deep appreciation for our country, for the sacrifices they made, even after they come back home,” she said. “It can be difficult to absorb their stories. But they need us. So many of them are misunderstood. And a simple thank-you goes such a long way.”

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While Swit played an army brat on TV, the role has given her more than fame, she pointed out.

“It introduced me to the real experiences of our servicemen and women,” she said. “And I gained so many friends along the way. These friendships will last forever. And that has truly been a gift.”

Kentucky Democratic senator switches parties and reveals why she did it

Kentucky state Democratic Sen. Robin Webb, who represents Kentucky’s rural 18th Senate district, is switching her party affiliation to Republican after she says the Democrat Party “left me.” 

“First and foremost, I’m a mother, a rancher and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky’s coal country,” Webb explained. “As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values.

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“It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.”

Webb was originally elected to the Kentucky State House after defeating Republican Ramona Gee in 1998.

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This comes as a major blow to Kentucky Democrats, who have historically held a stronghold in rural regions of the state largely due to union workers and the coal industry. 

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told a local Louisville news outlet that he “would consider” a run as the Democratic nominee for president in 2028, and the newly elected Democratic governor and potential presidential candidate now faces an additional challenge to mobilize his state’s party ahead of the 2026 midterms. 

“Like countless other Kentuckians, [Webb] has recognized that the policies and objectives of today’s Democratic Party are simply not what they once were, and do not align with the vast majority of Kentuckians,” Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Robert Benvenuti said.

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“I always respected that [Webb] approached issues in a very thoughtful and commonsense manner, and that she never failed to keenly focus on what was best for her constituents,” Benvenuti added. “It is my pleasure to welcome Sen. Robin Webb to the Republican Party.”

Despite Beshear serving in the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office, secretary of state and both chambers of the state legislature have a Republican majority. 

The Kentucky Democrat Party responded to Webb’s party switch, saying “she isn’t a Democrat.”

“Senator Webb has chosen to join a political party that is currently working around the clock to take health care away from over a million Kentuckians, wipe out our rural hospitals, take food off the table of Kentucky families and take resources away from our public schools,” Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge told Fox News Digital. “If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn’t a Democrat.”

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“While it’s cliché, it’s true: I didn’t leave the party — the party left me,” Webb said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Beshear’s office but did not receive a response.

LGBTQ protester arrested at California track meet amid trans athlete controversy

The California track and field state championship prelim round in Clovis on Friday was a scene of conflicting beliefs and even police intervention amid an ongoing controversy involving a trans athlete competing in the girls’ category. 

At least one person was arrested, the Clovis Police Department confirmed Fox News Digital. The person arrested was a protester who is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole. The department confirmed the person arrested was an LGBTQ activist. 

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“This afternoon at 3:55PM, a disturbance between two adults occurred at the intersection of Nees/Minnewawa. One adult on the sidewalk and one in a vehicle at the intersection became involved in a disturbance that turned physical. During the disturbance, one of them used pepper spray against the other. EMS was called and one of the adults was arrested,” a statement read.

The person has been arrested for assault with a weapon and obstructing a police, according to Sergeant Chris Hutchison. 

“We don’t have room for violence or property damage or anything like that,” Hutchison.

Meanwhile, a plane flying a banner that read “no boys in girls’ sports” passed over the California track and field championship Friday in Clovis. 

Footage provided to Fox News Digital by California activist Beth Bourne showed the plan flying overhead at Buchanan High School’s Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

The stunt was organized by two women’s advocacy group, Women are Real and the Independent Council for Women’s Sports. 

“California is beginning to reap the consequences of defying federal law and brazenly harming girls,” said Kim Jones, co-founder of ICONS in a press release announcing the aerial banner.

“How long will Governor Newsom and legislators in this state continue to prioritize granting a few boys the right to take opportunities and recognition away from girls? Not one single boy should ever be in girls’ sports. It’s the easiest problem in the world to solve—and the most brazen public ‘screw you’ to female athletes by Democrat leadership. Since when do we tell a single boy he is more important than every girl in the competition? That he has the right to ruin sports for all of them? It’s time for California to pay and it’s time to right these wrongs.”

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Witnesses at the event told Fox News Digital that pro-transgender protesters attended the event in support of transgender athlete AB Hernandez. 

The meet and the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) entire track and field postseason has been under a national microscope in recent weeks. Trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School has dominated the girls’ track and field postseason in 2025, prompting national backlash and even the attention of President Donald Trump. 

Trump sent a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, warning the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom of potential funding cuts and orders to local authorities to prevent a trans athlete from competing in the girls’ category.

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Then the Department of Justice announced it would launch an investigation into the CIF and California Attorney General Rob Bonta over the state’s law that allows biologically male trans athletes to compete with girls and women on Wednesday. 

The CIF announced a pair of rule changes on Tuesday and Wednesday in response to the backlash, expanding the size of the competitor pool and even handing out medals to any “biological female” athlete displaced by a transgender athlete at the meet. 

FOX News correspondent returns after successful Mount Everest summit climb

Fox News Senior Correspondent Mike Tobin has completed one of the riskiest feats in the world: climbing Mount Everest.

Along with a team, Tobin hiked the mountain in the Himalayas, reaching the highest point on Earth. 

Tobin was back on the channel, joining “America’s Newsroom” on Friday from China to share the details of his experience. 

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“Some people say weather-wise, it was one of the best summit windows they’ve seen in like 20 years,” said Tobin.

“And you compare that to the other people who climbed Everest this season — most of them got beat up on the summit.”

He said that his team saw people going down the mountain with “big black mittens on,” indicating that “they were covering up frostbite damage.”

Tobin shared that when he reached the summit, it was a little bit cloudy.

“I’m very well aware that 90% of the accidents happen on the way down and so you’re tired, you’re a little hypoxic, and it was a moment of concentration for me,” said Tobin. 

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“I wanted to make sure that I didn’t let up because we still had a long way to get down to advanced base camp.”

In 2023, 12 climbers were reported dead while five went missing following 478 hiking permits issued by Nepal, according to Reuters. 

“I was just trying to think, ‘Keep your head about yourself. Don’t make any mistakes, don’t turn what’s otherwise going to be a celebration into a tragedy.'”

About 700 to 1,000 climbers attempt the summit each year, with success rates ranging between 60% and 70%, according to Climbing Kilimanjaro. 

“I was trying to think, ‘Keep your head about yourself. Don’t make any mistakes.'”

Tobin said he “certainly was spooked at different times on the climb,” sharing that it hit him when he came back down on the second step.

The second step is on the northeast ridge of Mount Everest, one of three major obstacles.

He said it was a bit “odd” as he “was pretty enthused on the way up,” but added that other team members shared the moment was spooky for them, too. 

While in the “death zone,” Tobin participated in the 22 Pushup Challenge to raise awareness about the issue of veteran and first responder suicide.

“The only way you survive the death zone is to get in and out of there as fast as you can before the sand runs out of your hourglass or before the oxygen runs out of your bottle,” said Tobin.

The “death zone” is an area above 26,247 ft. on the mountain; the air is too thin to support human life without supplemental oxygen.

“It was kind of an add-on to the climb … You’ve seen some of the different events that people have done as far as the 22 push-ups in recognition of veteran suicide,” said Tobin. 

“I hope that a troubled guy out there somewhere who was looking at suicide as a reasonable response to his troubles will realize that someone took the time to do that in a perilous situation and reconsider before he hurts himself,” he added.

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Tobin credited his wife for keeping him on track during his preparation leading up to the hike.

“Between work and training for Everest, there really wasn’t any time, and she ran the house and made sure I got fed.”

He shared that the training process was pretty “arduous.”

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“I did crazy kinds of training, like I’d take the sandbags that our cameramen use, and I put them in a backpack, and I ran up and down the Indiana Sand Dunes for hours at a time,” said Tobin.