President considers action against comedian who fled to Ireland after election
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was giving serious thought to stripping actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell of her U.S. citizenship, a move he had threatened in the past but cannot legally do.
“As previously mentioned, we are giving serious thought to taking away Rosie O’Donnell’s Citizenship. She is not a Great American and is, in my opinion, incapable of being so!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump had made similar statements in recent months, including in July when he said he was considering pulling O’Donnell’s citizenship because she “is not in the best interests of our Great Country” and is a “Threat to Humanity.”
O’Donnell responded to the president’s post in July with a reference to the character King Joffrey from “Game of Thrones,” saying: “Go ahead and try, king joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. i’m not yours to silence i never was.”
ROSIE O’DONNELL, DONALD TRUMP’S CITIZENSHIP FEUD CAPS DECADES OF TAUNTS AND JABS
The Constitution does not allow a president to strip citizenship of someone born in the U.S. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S., and O’Donnell was born in Commack, New York.
O’Donnell, who has Irish grandparents, moved to Ireland with her daughter earlier this year following Trump’s electoral win and is in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship to become a dual citizen. She cited the current political climate as a reason for her move.
“When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” she said in a TikTok.
In March, when a reporter asked the Irish prime minister during a visit to the White House why he would allow O’Donnell to move to Ireland, Trump jumped in and said he was better off not knowing who she was.
TRUMP THREATENS TO STRIP ROSIE O’DONNELL’S U.S. CITIZENSHIP AS HE SAYS SHE’S A ‘THREAT TO HUMANITY’
“Do you know who she is? You’re better off not knowing,” Trump said at the time.
Trump’s feud with O’Donnell has spanned nearly two decades, sparked by O’Donnell criticizing him on “The View” in 2006 about his decision to be lenient toward a Miss USA winner who had been accused of drug use and other controversies.
In 2015, during a Republican primary debate, a moderator asked Trump about his past use of derogatory terms to describe women.
“Only Rosie O’Donnell,” then-candidate Trump responded.
Last month, after a Minneapolis Catholic school shooting that left two children dead and more than a dozen wounded, O’Donnell posted a video purporting that the shooter was a MAGA supporter, a Republican and a white supremacist.
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“What do you know? It was a white guy, Republican, MAGA person. What do you know? White supremacists,” she said.
O’Donnell later took down the video and apologized.
“I knew a lot of you were very upset about the video I made before I went away for a few days,” she said. “You are right. I did not do my due diligence before I made that emotional statement, and I said things about the shooter that were incorrect.
“I assumed, like most shooters, they followed a standard MO and had standard, you know, feelings of… you know, NRA-loving kind of gun people,” O’Donnell continued. “Anyway, the truth is I messed up, and when you mess up, you fess up. I’m sorry. This is my apology video and I hope it’s enough.”
Hot mic captures Putin and Xi’s disturbing conversation about immortality
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s Beijing hot mic remarks suggesting organ transplants could help people live to 150 have been dismissed as unfounded by a top U.S. transplant specialist.
After Reuters captured the two leaders’ bizarre exchange on Wednesday, transplant surgeon Dr. James Markmann told Fox News Digital Putin and Xi should be talking about ethics and organ access instead.
The chat in question unfolded as Putin and Xi walked alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Chinese capital.
As they moved toward a stage to watch the spectacle in Tiananmen Square, Putin’s interpreter could be heard saying in Chinese: “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”
TRUMP CLAIMS PUTIN, XI, KIM ARE CONSPIRING AGAINST THE US AFTER MILITARY PARADE IN CHINA
Putin’s interpreter explained the Russian president’s view that “human organs can be continuously transplanted” and added, “the longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”
Xi, who was off camera at the time, can then be heard saying in Chinese: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”
However, Dr. Markmann, President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons Executive Council, claimed Xi’s conclusions lack evidence.
“Transplantation of vital organs is a lifesaving and life-prolonging procedure for patients with organ failure,” he said Wednesday.
“But there is no scientific evidence that it promotes immortality, nor that humans could realistically reach 150 years of age through transplants,” the expert added.
PUTIN AND XI DEEPEN TIES AS IRAN, NORTH KOREA LEADERS VISIT BEIJING
Putin later confirmed to reporters in China that the two men had in fact been discussing longevity science and future medical breakthroughs, according to Reuters. He has shown interest in anti-aging research in the past.
In 2024, he ordered the creation of a state-backed research institute called New Health Preservation Technologies, focused on cellular rejuvenation, neurotechnology and organ regeneration.
His daughter, endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova, has also received state grants for cell renewal and genetics research.
Xi has been less directly linked to longevity projects, but Beijing has positioned biotechnology as a central pillar of China’s economic and strategic growth.
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“I won’t comment on the private musings of world leaders, but we must remember that more than 100,000 individuals in the United States are currently awaiting lifesaving organ transplants,” concluded Markmann.
“The ethical concern isn’t immortality but equity, access, and making sure organs save lives today.”
‘Vile’ anti-Trump comment from Tim Walz sparks social media firestorm
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is facing heat from conservatives on social media over a clip they say shows the former vice presidential nominee wishing for news of President Donald Trump’s death.
“Look I get it, you get up in the morning and you doom scroll through things, although I will say this, the last few days you woke up thinking there might be news,” Walz said at a Labor Day picnic in Duluth on Monday, eliciting a laugh from the crowd in a reference to recent online conspiracy theories about Trump’s health with some claiming that he had died.
“Just saying, just saying, there will be news sometime, just so you know, there will be news.”
Many on social media took issue with Walz’s statement alleging he was wishing ill on the president, who has faced two assassination attempts.
UNEARTHED LETTER EXPOSES HOW MINNESOTA CATHOLIC LEADERS WARNED WALZ ON SCHOOL SAFETY
“@Tim_Walz, mocking President Trump’s health is a new low, even for you,” GOP House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, posted on X. “Wishing ill on others doesn’t make you a leader—it makes you small. Minnesotans deserve better.”
“@Tim_Walz monologue where he pines something is currently wrong with the President’s health—then chirps if there isn’t its only a matter of a short amount of time before something dire will happen to him—isn’t just vile it shows once again Dems have learned little since Butler,” journalist and author Salena Zito posted on X.
TOP REPUBLICAN POINTS FINGER AT WALZ’S TRANS AGENDA AFTER CATHOLIC SCHOOL SHOOTING
“Tim Walz was very excited about the left-wing rumors claiming President Trump had died,” conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted on X. “This guy is sick.”
“Tim Walz tells supporters to remain hopeful that Trump will die soon,” conservative influencer account Johnny MAGA posted on X. “Schoolchildren were just shot in church last week in Tim’s state — and this is what he’s thinking about I can’t even put into words how disgusting this deranged freak is.”
“Tim Walz ‘toning the rhetoric down,’ huh?” GOP Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, posted on X. “Is there more fraud in Tim’s words or his state government?”
“This is Tim Walz hoping to hear news about Trump’s death,” conservative influencer John Jackson posted on X. “Tell me again how we’re supposed to coexist with these people.”
“What a monster,” conservative influencer Paul A. Szypula posted on X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
Walz has emerged as one of the loudest voices against Trump since last November with calls for Democrats to “bully the s***” out of Trump and “be a little meaner.”
Walz, who has not yet officially announced he is running for reelection, acknowledged in a recent interview that his bid alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris might have hurt him with voters in Minnesota.
“People get tired of it,” Walz said. “I get tired of myself at times.”
Trump sought to dispel swirling social media rumors about his health Tuesday, saying he was “very active” over the Labor Day weekend.
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“I didn’t do anything for two days, and they said ‘there must be something wrong with him,’” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, describing the speculation about his death as “fake news.”
Trump’s comments followed a wave of unfounded speculation that began Friday night and stretched into Saturday morning, fueled by an empty public schedule and recycled photos showing bruising on his hand.
“I was very active over the weekend. I went out to visit some people at the club that I own pretty nearby on the Potomac River. No, I’ve been very active, actually,” Trump said, drawing a sharp comparison to his predecessor, President Joe Biden.
“You wouldn’t see him (Biden) and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him,” Trump said. “And we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape.”
$1.7B Powerball jackpot up for grabs after more than 30 consecutive rollovers
The Powerball jackpot sits at an estimated $1.7 billion ahead of Saturday night’s drawing, making it the third-largest prize in the game’s history.
The pot grew after no ticket matched all six numbers from Wednesday night’s drawing. It now has an estimated cash value of $770.3 million, according to the lottery.
The white balls drawn on Wednesday were 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69. The red Powerball was 22.
VIRGINIA WOMAN TAKES HOME SEVEN-FIGURE SUM AFTER PURCHASING ‘WRONG’ LOTTERY TICKET
Eleven winners nationwide scored a $1-million prize after matching all five white balls. Those tickets were sold in California (two), Colorado, Florida, Georgia (two), Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Four players in Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Wyoming increased their winnings to $2 million by selecting the Power Play option for $1 more.
When a lucky player does win the jackpot, they can receive the money in annual installments or a lump sum payment. If the annuity option is selected, the player receives an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% every year.
The winner will walk away with much less after a 37% federal tax rate, based on IRS estimates.
LOTTERY COMPANY SENT INACCURATE NOTIFICATIONS OF MASSIVE WINNINGS TO ‘THOUSANDS’
Some winners will also face a state tax ranging from 3% to 11%, though California, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t tax lottery winnings.
The jackpot was most recently won on May 31, 2025, in California. There have been 33 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner since then.
2025 Powerball jackpots
- May 31: $204.5 million in California
- April 26: $167.3 million in Kentucky
- March 29: $526.5 million in California
- Jan. 18: $328.5 million in Oregon
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The odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9, while the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, according to Powerball.
The next drawing is on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 10:59 p.m. ET.
NFL scouts offer verdict after Arch Manning takes over as full-time Texas QB
Just a couple of years ago, Arch Manning was one of the most highly recruited high school players in the nation and ultimately decided to take his potential and high-profile last name to Austin.
After experiencing limited playing time while backing up Quinn Ewers for his first two years at Texas, Manning opened his first season as a full-time starter this past weekend.
He finished Saturday’s 14-7 loss to Ohio State with 170 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Several scouts and more than a dozen representatives from a variety of NFL teams reportedly attended the game to get an up-close look at the once-projected No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.
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Manning’s performance sparked a wide range of reactions, with one scout admitting they had difficulty watching the game.
“Honestly, it was a little hard to watch,” the unnamed scout told Fox Sports.
2025 HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS: NUSSMEIER, SELLERS SURGE; ARCH MANNING FALLS
The hype surrounding Arch, the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning, escalated as the 2025 season drew closer. The scout suggested the anticipation and hype were ultimately a disservice to Manning.
“Honestly, it was a little hard to watch,” the scout said. “He’s just been hyped up so much. Almost no matter what he did, he couldn’t have met those expectations. But I will admit that I thought he’d be better than he was.”
On Monday, Manning acknowledged his performance, saying, “I’ve got to play better.”
Another talent evaluator gave Manning a more forgiving review, highlighting the “very good” talent in the Buckeyes’ defensive backfield. Other scouts took a wait-and-see approach, noting it was still “too early in the process.”
Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly offered an optimistic review of Manning’s day in Columbus, Ohio, saying he was “actually encouraged” by his performance.
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“He’s showed improvement in several key areas. He’s gotten better at seeing the whole field. He’s better at going through his progressions and delivering more accurately on his 2nd and 3rd reads. And he’s A LOT better at feeling pressure,” Kelly wrote on X. “I noticed several plays against Ohio State he was able to get out of danger and either pick up yardage with his legs or he was able to sidestep pressure while keeping his eyes downfield.”
Texas hosts San Jose State on Sept. 6.
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Trump moves to protect farmers after Chinese nationals caught smuggling crop fungus
President Donald Trump’s America First trade agenda is working, and China is feeling the heat.
While the legacy media has spent months lying about slow growth, Trump’s tariff agenda is already reshaping how the U.S. competes with China — and America’s industrial and agricultural sectors are benefiting as a result. New tariff protections are prompting the reshoring of critical production and strengthening the U.S. economy.
The president has so far sent a clear message: the days of America propping up Beijing’s rise are over. Thanks to Trump’s leadership, we’re finally winning again. U.S. manufacturing is rebounding, investment is flowing into strategic industries and American farmers are getting the protection they need from unfair Chinese competition and emerging bio-threats.
TRUMP LEARNS A LESSON GROUNDED IN FAITH, HOW BEST TO STAND TOUGH ON TRADE WITH CHINA
For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has targeted the foundations of our economy, hollowed out our manufacturing sector, cheated our farmers and manipulated global markets with impunity.
Under the Biden administration, Washington operated on the belief that economic engagement with China would bring reform and stability. That bet never paid off. Instead, we’ve seen mass intellectual property theft, industrial manipulation, and an alarming pattern of biosecurity breaches that could seriously harm American agriculture and our food supply.
U.S. federal prosecutors recently revealed that a fungus called “Fusarium graminearum” was illegally trafficked into the country by individuals connected to CCP-aligned research institutions. This fungus is a well-known biological agent that renders crops inedible, threatens livestock and causes reproductive damage to humans and livestock. This wasn’t a minor violation or mistake; it was a coordinated effort to smuggle a dangerous agricultural pathogen onto U.S. soil to wreak havoc on our food supply chain and public health.
TRUMP IS TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE CCP. IT’S LONG PAST TIME WE PROTECTED OUR BASES AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Those involved included two Chinese nationals who were tied to American research institutions. The potential consequences of their actions were anything but small — as American farms and food systems could have suffered widespread contamination, economic loss, and long-term damage.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated episode. Just last year, five Chinese nationals were caught surveilling a U.S. military site in Michigan. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that in recent years, numerous Chinese college-age individuals have been caught taking photos of vital defense sites in the U.S. Taken together, these incidents point to something bigger than isolated wrongdoing. They suggest an ongoing strategy aimed, originating in Beijing, at weakening key sectors of the American economy from the inside out.
This is why America must protect our supply chain and produce our most crucial farm inputs here at home. In a recent poll by the Protecting America Initiative, 71% of Americans said they would like to see our farm inputs, like pesticides, produced domestically instead of relying on imports from China.
So, what are we doing to combat this growing and very serious threat?
BROOKE ROLLINS: FARM SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY
Thankfully, we have a leader who is taking this challenge seriously. Trump’s policies have reshaped how the United States deals with China and the results are starting to show.
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With Trump’s America First tariff agenda, the world is seeing that the U.S. is no longer afraid to defend its own interests.
When Europe was flooding our markets and ripping off the U.S. with unfair trade deals, Trump didn’t hesitate; he hit back with tariffs. For the first time in years, the EU stopped treating American markets like a dumping ground. They came to the table, and American industries got breathing room.
Now, Trump is using that same proven strategy to take on the CCP. He is restoring balance to a relationship that for too long has tilted in China’s favor.
CHINESE BIOWEAPON SMUGGLING CASE SHOWS US ‘TRAINS OUR ENEMIES,’ ‘LEARNED NOTHING’ FROM COVID: SECURITY EXPERT
China, like the European Union before it, is learning that the days of taking advantage of the American economy are coming to an end. When these deals are finalized, both Beijing and Brussels will be operating on terms that respect U.S. workers, innovation and strength.
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Just last year, five Chinese nationals were caught surveilling a U.S. military site in Michigan.
Trump’s bold tariff agenda isn’t only a winning economic policy; it’s a national security imperative. It protects our farmers, revitalizes our factories and sends a message to the world that America will never be bullied or bought.
The path to a stronger America runs through tough trade enforcement, and President Trump is the one who is leading us there.
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Trump admin axes Army program after majority of officers refused to participate
The Army has canceled its Command Assessment Program (CAP), a promotion board that factored psychological assessments and potential biases into leadership considerations.
“Good riddance,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X. “Promotions across [Department of Defense] will ONLY be based on merit & performance.”
The program, which was implemented broadly across the Army in 2020, was aimed at reducing conscious and subconscious biases and using peer assessments and behavioral analysis to choose candidates for command posts.
NAVY SECRETARY PUSHES REVIEW BOARD TO PURGE DEI FROM NAVAL ACADEMY AND RESTORE ‘WARRIOR ETHOS’
Former Army Secretary Christine Wormuth had formally deemed CAP an official program of record in January 2025 just before President Donald Trump took office.
“The battery of psychometric assessments employs several different instruments to measure cognitive capacity, emotional intelligence, conscientiousness, self-awareness, and other behavioral traits,” Army documents explaining CAP said.
Each year, around 2,000 candidates were assessed under CAP for Army leadership positions. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll paused the program and placed it under review last month.
The program did not generate greater interest in leadership roles. Around 54% of the Army’s eligible senior officers chose not to participate in CAP last year, declining the opportunity to take on a command role. That was up from 40% in 2019.
HEGSETH TEARS UP RED TAPE, ORDERS PENTAGON TO BEGIN DRONE SURGE AT TRUMP’S COMMAND
The Army will now revert to its prior assessment process, Centralized Selection Board/List, (CSL), for choosing commanding officers. Officers who serve on CSL boards assess a candidate’s past assignments, performance and potential.
CAP’s credibility was further compromised when Gen. Charles Hamilton, commander of Army Materiel Command, was relieved of duty. He was investigated for improperly influencing the selection process in favor of a lieutenant colonel who had failed her CAP assessment. An Inspector General investigation led to his firing in December 2024.
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The cancellation comes in alignment with a June 20 memo from the under secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, which directed a review of military officer evaluations and selection processes.
Sports Illustrated model admits career ‘took off’ only after she ‘altered’ herself
Brooks Nader needed her family to help her realize she was abusing weight loss drugs.
Nader’s health became a topic of concern among her three sisters during the seventh episode of their reality show, “Love Thy Nader.”
The 28-year-old model admitted she was taking GLP-1’s after she nearly passed out during an exercise class, and chalked up her symptoms to the medication.
BROOKS NADER HEATS UP SAINT-TROPEZ WITH LEOPARD-PRINT SWIMSUIT, SHEER DRESS
“I typically microdose GLP-1, this weight loss drug,” Brooks said. “But now since I have ‘Maxim’ coming up, and I’m probably gonna be half-naked, I’m upping my dose a little because I want to be extra snatched. But at the same time, the symptoms of the weight loss drug, they’ve gotten a lot worse recently.”
The injectable medication is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but has become more accessible to those hoping to shed a few pounds.
“She didn’t eat last night, and she didn’t eat anything today,” Grace Ann, 25, said before questioning her sister’s motives in a confessional.
JENNIFER ANISTON SHARES THE SURPRISING SECRET THAT KEEPS HER LOOKING YOUTHFUL AT 65
“There is an enormous amount of pressure in the modeling industry in order to be a working model. I’ve felt it, everyone’s felt it. But Brooks puts an unrealistic amount of pressure on herself in order to maintain her appearance.”
Brooks was adamant that her symptoms weren’t “that big of a deal,” but her sisters didn’t let it go.
“I’m nauseous, I’m tired,” Brooks said. “I do this all the time. I do, it’s fine.”
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“I’m seriously worried about her,” Grace Ann said before noting that Brooks was “really fatigued, she’s passing out, she’s throwing up.”
The following day, Grace Ann summoned the courage to intervene on Brooks after she, along with sister Mary Holland, discovered a basket of needles in addition to bottles of the drug.
“Just seeing all of the needles piled up in one place makes me realize the gravity of how deep she’s gone in it,” Mary Holland said. “This is different doctors, clearly. This is different pharmacies.”
Mary Holland added, “That’s dangerous. She’s overprescribed. This amount is so concerning.”
Youngest sibling, Sarah Jane, 23, admitted she also once tried GLP-1’s, but realized “something deeper is going on” with her sister.
“Modeling is something you don’t just get, you have to work for it,” Sarah Jane explained of the industry. “As sad as it is, there’s an unrealistic beauty standard to reach, and this helps you get there.”
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The sisters enlisted the help of a psychologist to mediate the intervention, which only caused more tension with Brooks.
“You’re using GLP-1 and not eating and so you’re tired, you can’t really complete a workout,” Grace Ann said before Brooks interrupted, “You guys shouldn’t be throwing stones because you’ve tried it and so have you.”
Brooks continued, “Why do you think I’m on GLP-1? Because every job I do, it’s like you have to fit into a certain standard and a certain measurement, and they’re straight up measuring my hips for all these new fashion jobs I’m getting into in Paris and Milan. There’s requirements I don’t meet. And I know how vapid this industry is, and if I say no to it, they’re just going to pick someone else.”
The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant admitted she knew “more models that are on it than aren’t,” and revealed that agencies are “encouraging them” to use the weight-loss drug.
“My career has just started to take off, and I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that it just started to take off once I altered myself and lost weight, fixed my nose,” Brooks said. “All the things my team told me I needed to change, I did.”
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While Brooks acknowledged that she needed to be more mindful of her self-care, she refused to taper off the medication and decided to keep drinking bone broth before her magazine shoot.
“I know my sisters are coming from a place of love. I just find that you don’t know until you’re in that position how to handle it,” she said, later confessing, “I think that I have maybe an unhealthy relationship with weight and food because of the industry that I’m in, but I don’t think that I have an eating disorder.”
‘Tone-deaf’ protesters heckle Vance outside Minneapolis church shooting site
As Vice President JD Vance paid his respects to the victims of last week’s deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, protesters standing by a “progress pride” flag with transgender colors heckled him from across the street.
Vance, who is Catholic, paid a visit to the site of the shooting and visited with victims and their families on Wednesday.
The vice president and second lady Usha Vance were seen pausing for a moment in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary outside the church before he entered. As he entered, protesters could be heard shouting various slogans, including “protect our kids,” “you’re a coward” and “do better.”
Behind the protesters were signs reading “protect kids not guns” beside a pride flag.
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE REVEAL MORE ABOUT CHURCH SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOTIVE
Commenting on the protesters, conservative columnist Dustin Grage posted on X, “Leftist protestors proceed to shout ‘You’re a coward’ and ‘do better’ while flying a rainbow flag. Talk about tone-deaf.”
Police have identified 23-year-old Robin Westman as the shooter who opened fire on a school Mass last Wednesday, killing two children and injuring 21 others.
The killer was carrying three firearms, according to authorities – a rifle, a pistol and a shotgun. All three had been purchased legally.
Court records show that a Minneapolis juvenile named Robert Westman had a legal name change to Robin in 2019, and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the shooter was born Robert and later identified as Robin.
The mass shooting claimed the lives of Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10.
FBI DIRECTOR CALLS MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL SHOOTING ‘BARBARIC’ DOMESTIC TERRORISM WITH ANTI-RELIGIOUS MOTIVES
Speaking with reporters before boarding Air Force Two after the visit, Vance commented, “I have never had a day that will stay with me like this day did.”
He called it a “very heartbreaking, but also very gratifying visit.”
“I really felt like these parents, in the midst of the worst grief of their entire lives, they opened up their lives and they opened up their hearts and they made me part of it,” he said. “They told me about their kids. They told me about their families. They told me about the community supporting them. And that was just an amazing thing to see, an amazing thing to witness, an amazing thing. To get to be a part of.”
Vance said that he was moved by the victims’ parents’ stories about their deceased children.
“We should talk more about these kids. We should talk less about the shooter. We should talk less about the crazy person who took these children from us. We should talk about these kids, their hopes and their dreams and the fact that they had a full life ahead of them that was cut short,” he said.
“I wish that we talked a lot more about Harper, who was a beautiful young girl. She had a beautiful smile, the kind of smile that would turn a bad day into a good one and was very proud of the fact that she just had her first communion a couple of years ago … I also wish we talked a little bit more about Fletcher. Fletcher was a very rambunctious and energetic kid, was a beautiful kid, had an incredible head of hair.”
MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SHOOTING AUDIO CAPTURES FIRST RESPONDERS RUSHING TO CHAOTIC SCENE IN DEADLY ATTACK
Vance also urged continued prayer for the victims of the shooting still suffering from their injuries.
“While two kids lost their lives, there’s still one kid that’s in very serious condition, and every single family, the family of Lydia, who luckily recovered, but we visited her in the hospital, the family of the two who died, Harper and Fletcher, all three of those families said, ‘Please say a prayer,’” he said. “So now, my fellow Americans, if you’re the praying type, say a prayer for this innocent girl who’s actually in surgery right now that the swelling will go down, that she will be okay because she’s still in a fight for her life.”
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Asked whether authorities should be investigating people who are experiencing gender dysphoria and are exhibiting signs that they might be targeting kids, Vance responded, “Certainly we should be investigating people who are planning on targeting kids.”
He said that concerning policies to prevent future attacks, all the victims’ parents asked was “that we look very seriously at the root causes, that we look very seriously at ways to prevent crazy people who are about to shoot up a school from getting access to firearms.”
Vance added that “one of the ways that I’m going to try to honor these parents and the children that they lost is by being a better dad and hugging my kids tight tonight and making sure that they know that their dad loves them. Because there are two families who are not going to get that opportunity ever again.”