Trump praises Ford’s F-150 as Japan’s new leader reportedly eyes major order

President Donald Trump handed Ford a ringing endorsement Saturday on his way to a week-long trip to Asia, noting the carmaker’s F-150 model pickup truck is “a hot truck.”

The president’s comments came after a reporter asked Trump aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s plans to purchase a large quantity of the vehicles.

“Well, that’s good. They’re great trucks,” Trump said. “She has good taste. That’s a hot truck.”

FORD TO MOVE WORLD HEADQUARTERS FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 70 YEARS

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck in the U.S. for many consecutive years, and was recently named the best-selling vehicle of 2025.

He added he has heard “great things” about Takaichi, who took office Tuesday after being elected the first woman to lead Japan.

“I hear great things about her,” Trump said. “I think she’s going to be great. She was a great friend of Mr. [Shinzo] Abe, who was a great man… and a great friend of mine, as you know. He was just a fantastic person and he liked her a lot. She liked him a lot. So that’s a good sign. I look forward to meeting her.”

FORD INVESTS $5B IN KENTUCKY AND MICHIGAN PLANTS FOR NEW ‘AFFORDABLE’ ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCK PRODUCTION

During the Asia trip, Trump is expected to discuss with Takaichi an increase in Japan’s defense spending and vouch for more purchases of American weapons, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Takaichi’s interests will revolve around strengthening the Japan–U.S. alliance and cultivating a trust-based partnership between the two nations, the outlet reported.

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‘Illegal alien’ term sends Chicago mayor spiraling during tense press conference

Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson erupted at a reporter on Friday after they used the term “illegal aliens” during a press briefing, slamming the phrase as “racist” and “nasty.”

In a video posted Saturday to the official Instagram account of the Chicago mayor, a reporter asked Johnson about a report on city spending related to “illegal aliens” in Chicago that he was allegedly required to file with the White House. 

Johnson immediately pushed back on the language.

“We don’t have illegal aliens,” Johnson said to the reporter. “I don’t know if that’s from some sort of sci-fi message that you wish you’ve had… Well listen, the legal term for my people were slaves. You want me to use that term too? So, look, let’s just get the language right. We’re talking about undocumented individuals that are human beings.”

NOEM, IN ILLINOIS, CALLS OUT GOV. PRITZKER, CHICAGO’S MAYOR OVER THEIR HANDLING OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Johnson added that he would not “accept that type of racist, nasty language to describe human beings.”

The blue city’s mayor then shifted to discuss his administration’s spending priorities, touting his $16.7 billion budget that he said invests in education, transportation, housing, environmental justice, youth employment and community safety.

JB PRITZKER SAYS ICE ‘HARASSING PEOPLE FOR NOT BEING WHITE’

“And we are going to challenge the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share,” Johnson said.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., then chimed in to back Johnson’s remarks, arguing that immigration violations are not criminal offenses.

DHS MARKS ‘ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT DAYS’ OF OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ WITH SEVERAL ARRESTS

“It is very important that people in Illinois and across the country understand the immigration system is a civil system,” Jayapal said. “Undocumented presence in the United States is not a criminal offense. And so thank you for the clarification on language.”

Johnson has previously been outspoken in his defense of Chicago’s immigration policies and in his criticism of President Donald Trump’s approach to crime and border enforcement. 

Last month, the Chicago mayor delivered a fiery news conference condemning Trump’s crackdown on crime.

“Jails and incarceration and law enforcement is a sickness that has not led to safe communities,” Johnson said at the time.

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Last week, three illegal immigrants and six U.S. citizens were arrested in the Chicago area in what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dubbed “one of the most violent days” of Operation Midway Blitz. 

Operation Midway Blitz was launched last month in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run allegedly caused by Julio Cucul-Bol, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. 

DHS stated the goal of the operation was to “target criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois.”

The Chicago mayor’s office and Rep. Pramila Jayapal did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Frequent Trump critic newspaper comes out and defends White House ballroom

The Washington Post editorial board defended President Donald Trump‘s ballroom construction on Sunday and argued that the next Democratic president would be happy to have the ballroom.

“In classic Trump fashion, the president is pursuing a reasonable idea in the most jarring manner possible. Privately, many alumni of the Biden and Obama White Houses acknowledge the long-overdue need for an event space like what Trump is creating. It is absurd that tents need to be erected on the South Lawn for state dinners, and VIPs are forced to use porta-potties,” the editorial board wrote.

Construction crews began demolition of the East Wing of the White House on Monday, which angered top Democrats and liberal media figures.

“The State Dining Room seats 140. The East Room seats about 200. Trump says the ballroom at the center of his 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate 999 guests. The next Democratic president will be happy to have this,” the editorial board continued.

HILLARY CLINTON FIRES UP VOTERS AGAINST TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION: ‘NOT HIS HOUSE’

Figures, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Chelsea Clinton; and CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert accused Trump of dishonoring the White House after his construction crews bulldozed part of the East Wing of the building on Monday.

“The people’s house is basically being sold to the highest bidder,” Jean-Pierre said on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday. “It is corruption at its core.”

The editors argued that the White House didn’t need to jump through bureaucratic hoops for construction.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., argued that any Democrat running for president in 2028 needs to vow to destroy the ballroom on day one. 

TRUMP CELEBRATES WHITE HOUSE DEMOLITION AS NEW BALLROOM RISES: ‘MUSIC TO MY EARS’ 

“Prominent Democrats have become vocal this year in calling out their party’s lawyerly obsession with process, which combined with a not in my backyard (NIMBY) mentality, has prevented a place such as California from building a high-speed rail project that its voters approved by referendum in 2008,” the editors said.

The Washington Post also said that the project likely wouldn’t have gotten done if Trump had gone through the traditional process.

“The blueprints would have faced death by a thousand papercuts,” they wrote.

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The editors also argued that the White House needed to evolve with the times.

“The White House cannot simply be a museum to the past. Like America, it must evolve with the times to maintain its greatness. Strong leaders reject calcification. In that way, Trump’s undertaking is a shot across the bow at NIMBYs everywhere,” the editors wrote.

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Xi’s threats backfire as Trump readies bold response to China’s rare earth move

In a political environment where little is agreed upon, there stands one exception: China. That country is cited by nearly every national security expert as the No. 1 geopolitical threat to the U.S. The question is how to coexist without being codependent, how to compete without conflict, and how to protect American producers and consumers while China plays by its arbitrary rules.

No sooner had a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping been announced before China threatened U.S. access to rare earth minerals. The U.S. countered by threatening an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports.

Most Americans could not conjure why China would make such a provocative move after both presidents agreed to meet. Surely, the Chinese government must know Trump would react. Xi has been the leader of China for well over a decade with no sign of relenting.

FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS: AMERICA IGNORES CHINA’S RISING RED TIDE

Conversely, Trump is nearly a year into his final term in office. China has always played the long game, assuming Americans lack the will to wait out a prolonged contest. China thinks patience will win — that Americans can’t sustain pressure. It may wind up being surprised that patience is an overrated virtue and how quickly this administration can act.

The Trump administration has already resolved conflicts around the globe, as evidenced by its history-defying peace agreement in the Middle East. The administration has used tariffs and the threat thereof to increase revenue for the U.S., balance the trade playing field and reposition the U.S. for increased domestic manufacturing.

It has been clear about the threats posed by Venezuela, repositioned our relationship with Colombia, opened dialogue between Israel and moderate Arab states, bombed Iranian nuclear ambitions and closed a porous border. All of that in less than a year.

The conflict left to be resolved is in Eastern Europe, and the “white whale” among outstanding trade agreements is China. The two are interconnected. While the U.S. was trying to isolate Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, China was providing both military and economic assistance to Russia.

CHINA’S MALIGN INFLUENCE TOUCHES EVERY ASPECT OF US LIFE. WE ALL NEED TO HELP STOP THEM

Next on the administration’s agenda is ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine and negotiating a trade agreement with China that can withstand the reality that the problematic forces within today’s Chinese Communist Party aren’t going anywhere.

Even if Xi steps down or his power wanes, there is no Chinese equivalent to America’s 22nd Amendment — no constitutional limit to the number of terms or years a leader can serve. That means Beijing’s leadership can remain in power indefinitely, which is a central pillar of the Communist Party’s strategy. The United States must live with that reality and yet negotiate from a position of strength to achieve our interests.

While recent reports suggest Xi’s grip may be weakening amid internal purges and speculation about dissent within the Chinese Communist Party, history teaches such reports are often exaggerated. And even if Xi were to fall, his successor would continue the long-term authoritarian policies that define modern China.

TRUMP CALLS XI’S RARE EARTH MOVE A ‘BAD MOMENT’ — WHY IT MATTERS FOR US NATIONAL SECURITY, CHINA TIES

China perceives time and our democratic system as allies in its strategy. The key is to make Beijing recognize Trump’s impatience with that country’s malingering and duplicity is not a weakness but rather a threat to their own interests.

The administration’s China pressure strategy isn’t confined to tariffs. It extends to the technological front, where the next great battles for global power will be fought.

The Trump administration has already resolved conflicts around the globe, as evidenced by its history-defying peace agreement in the Middle East. 

Recognizing that China’s dominance in communications and artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to U.S. security, the Trump administration has moved to aggressively end Beijing’s control of critical infrastructure.

TRUMP LEARNS A LESSON GROUNDED IN FAITH, HOW BEST TO STAND TOUGH ON TRADE WITH CHINA

For example, the Department of Justice has taken decisive steps to counter the dominance of Huawei, a company controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, over global telecommunications. Huawei still controls the global telecom market (and, by extension, the AI and 5G future) and has repeatedly been found by the Department of Defense and our security agencies to include backdoors and security vulnerabilities.

To level this playing field, the Trump administration — working together with U.S. intelligence officials — approved the HPE-Juniper merger, giving America a credible competitor and a real chance to out-innovate China while securing critical communications infrastructure.

There were opponents to this merger — both the usual suspects and a few new ones. Democrat attorneys general, led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser — are crying foul but doing so without access to any of the information necessary to make an informed decision. Too often, visceral disdain for the president has supplanted a reasoned consideration of national security realities.

When the president perceived national security threats in the computer chip realm, he took the unprecedented step of teaming with Intel. Unconventional? Yes. But these are not traditional times, and the next conflicts will not be waged in conventional terms.

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While progress has been made both practically and in principle with China, more remains to be done, which is why the president and his economic, trade and national security teams are willing to meet with China. Next may come tightening export controls on other sensitive technologies and strengthening military partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to deter Chinese ambitions.

Beijing has watched Trump re-invigorate NATO, end several wars, impose tariffs and meet intended pain with imposed pain. Beijing has seen patience when warranted, power when called for, and an overarching preference for peace.

While recent reports suggest Xi’s grip may be weakening amid internal purges and speculation about dissent within the Chinese Communist Party, history teaches such reports are often exaggerated. 

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Do not mistake diplomacy for weakness or discussion for a lack of resolve. Trump can make peace, level the playing field, stop intellectual property theft, punish currency manipulation and allow for healthy, fair competition, even among perceived opponents.

The fact that someone seeks peace does not mean he isn’t preparing for a world without it. China would be wise to know that while democracy limits a person’s time in office, it does nothing to deter the speed with which actions can be taken to preserve that democracy.

‘Euphoria’ star unveils dramatic transformation after calling off wedding plans

It’s out with the old, and in with the new for Sydney Sweeney. 

The 28-year-old actress, who is known for her long, golden locks, debuted a new haircut during the AFI screening of her film “Christy” at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Saturday. 

Sweeney, who was wearing a soft pink gown, was all smiles as she rocked her new bob look.

SYDNEY SWEENEY ‘CASUALLY’ DATING SCOOTER BRAUN AFTER ENDING ENGAGEMENT: REPORTS

In an interview with Vogue, her hair team, colorist Jacob Schwartz and hairstylist Glen Coco, opened up about the transformation. 

“Sydney was looking for a change and wanted to have a big hair moment for the red carpet to support her new movie, Christy,” said Schwartz. “It felt like the perfect time to do something bold.”

“This is a transformation,” Coco added. “Christy has a lot of underlying tones of resilience, transformation, and power. Sydney herself transformed herself for this role, and I wanted to morph her into this updated version of herself in real life. Something new and fresh to close out the rest of the year.”

The fresh haircut comes months after Sweeney called off her engagement to longtime partner, film producer Jonathan Davino, 41. 

The “Euphoria” star revealed that she was single and no longer planning a wedding during an interview with The Times of London, ending months of speculation that she and Davino had split. 

“I’m learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And I’m loving it,” she said.

Sweeney has since reportedly moved on to “casually” date Scooter Braun. 

Last month, People reported that Sweeney and the 44-year-old record executive are “casually hooking up,” citing an anonymous insider. 

“Everything is casual,” another source told the outlet. “She is living her life and working hard.”

Insiders told TMZ that Sweeney and Braun have been on “multiple dates” but added that their relationship remains “casual.” 

“Sydney has just ended a relationship and she’s doing what women in their 20s do — she’s dating,” one source said. 

The outlet reported that the pair met in June when they both attended Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos’ star-studded three-day wedding extravaganza in Venice, Italy. However, TMZ noted that it is unclear when the two began dating. 

Browns star’s sideline outburst comes after breaking NFL legend’s record

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was far from elated on Sunday even as he set a franchise record for most sacks in a single game with five.

In the latter stages of the Browns’ 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots, Garrett was seen on the sideline slamming his helmet down in frustration.

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He has 112 sacks in his career. The second sack he got on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye set a new bar for pass rushers under 30 years old. He hit 108.5 sacks with the mark and surpassed Reggie White for the record, according to Cleveland.com.

Garrett’s 2025 has been tumultuous at best.

He requested a trade back in February following the team’s poor 2024 season.

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“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl – and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” he said in a statement. “My love for the community of Northeast Ohio and the incredible fanbase of the Cleveland Browns has made this one of the toughest decisions of my life. These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today.

“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent. The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl.

“With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”

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About a month later, Garrett signed a contract extension with the Browns. He agreed to a four-year deal reportedly worth $123 million. His agent explained at the time that Garrett had a “change of heart” and decided to chase a title in Ohio.

However, it appeared Garrett’s belief was shaken for a bit as they dropped their sixth game of the season.

Alleged ‘narco-banners’ send message to American travelers: Sun, sand and stay away

Two alleged “narco-banners” that surfaced online this month, which warned Americans to stay out of Mexico’s Los Cabos region, have sparked concern about cartel intimidation tactics, even as local officials insist the signs never existed.

The purported messages, signed by a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel known as La Chapiza, threatened violence against U.S. citizens living in or visiting the popular tourist destination. Photos of the banners circulated widely across social media, though authorities in Baja California Sur say investigators found no trace of them.

Wyoming County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Joe Peters, who served in the White House’s drug czar office during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, told Fox News Digital that whether or not the Cabo banners were physically verified, the tactic itself is consistent with decades of cartel “narco-terrorism.”

“When you’re dealing with a cartel that’s that serious and sophisticated and right at our back door, we have to take it seriously,” Peters said. “It’s a shot over the bow to both governments. They rule by threat and intimidation – the same way the mafia did.”

COAST GUARD NABS 50 TONS OF COCAINE BOUND FOR POSH COASTAL ENCLAVES AS CARTEL OPS ‘RIVAL AMAZON’:  EXPERT

Public “narco -anners,” or narcomantas, have long been used by Mexican cartels as propaganda tools, with the large signs draped across bridges or hung in public plazas to issue threats, claim territory or taunt rivals.

Peters said reports of such banners should be taken seriously given the proximity to America’s borders.

“When you’re dealing with a cartel that serious and that close to our border, we have to take it seriously. Add to that the number of Americans traveling to Latin America for business or pleasure — it’s a ready stock of potential victims for extortion,” he said.

TRUMP STORMS MOST VIOLENT US CITY WITH FEDERAL MUSCLE AS POLICE GROUP WARNS OF SOFT-ON-CRIME CONSEQUENCES

Peters, who served in senior roles in the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, said the current threats echo the global cartel tactics he saw firsthand.

In the 1980s and ’90s, Colombia’s cocaine cartels controlled entire regions through intimidation, corruption and fear tactics that are nearly identical to what’s now unfolding in parts of Mexico.

“Their strategy is simple: if they can control the levers of power in a nation through intimidation, then they control the nation,” Peters said. “They assassinate police, judges and journalists, and they use fear to rule, the same way authoritarian regimes do.”

The difference today, he warned, is proximity. This time, the violence and instability are unfolding just beyond America’s southern border, in places millions of U.S. citizens visit each year for vacations and business.

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That closeness, Peters said, makes Americans prime targets for extortion, kidnapping and terror.

“My advice is simple: don’t go unless you really need to,” he said. “Be cautious, and stick to places with an established record of safety.”

Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensifies into monster Category 5 storm near Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a powerful Category 5 hurricane early Monday morning as the catastrophic storm remains on track to slam the Caribbean island nation of Jamaica with a destructive storm surge, damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding.

As of the latest information provided by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Melissa now has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph with some higher gusts, and some strengthening is possible ahead of its anticipated landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Melissa claimed at least three lives in the Dominican Republic last week as the storm stalled in the Caribbean, lashing Hispaniola with several inches of rain.

Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency confirmed a landslide in Fontamara, a commune of Port-au-Prince, left two people dead on Thursday, and a falling tree killed a man in his 70s in Marigot during flooding on Wednesday.

But now the potentially historic hurricane is setting its sights on Jamaica, where the latest forecast from the NHC presents a potentially worst-case scenario of a storm that will continue to strengthen before slamming the southern coast of the Caribbean island at a near-snail’s pace, unleashing days of torrential rain, catastrophic winds and potentially deadly flash flooding, landslides and storm surge.

And warnings for residents and visitors to the island are becoming more dire.

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“Seek shelter now,” the NHC warned on Sunday. “Damaging winds and heavy rainfall (Sunday) and on Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning.”

Forecasters are also warning of “extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation of communities.”

Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are also expected across southwestern Haiti through midweek, likely leading to infrastructural damage and isolation of communities. The Dominican Republic is also bracing for flash flooding and landslides.

After Hurricane Melissa crosses Jamaica, Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos will all need to keep an eye on the storm as the NHC says there is an increasing risk of significant storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rain by the middle of the week.

BRYAN NORCROSS: RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING HURRICANE MELISSA’S MULTIDAY ASSAULT ON JAMAICA BEGINS

Hurricane Warnings now cover Jamaica, while Hurricane Watches cover Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguín. Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for Haiti from north of Port-au-Prince to the border with the Dominican Republic, as well as the Cuban province of Las Tunas.

The storm remains just inching along at 5 mph and is expected to continue its westward motion through Sunday, followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Monday and Tuesday, bringing the powerful hurricane near or directly over Jamaica through Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba on Tuesday night and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

Airports, seaports closed; Jamaica activates emergency operations center

The Jamaican government said that it activated the country’s emergency operation center, and emergency generators, medical supplies and fuel are in place ahead of the storm.

“We have over 50 generators ready to go and to be deployed so that within 72 hours of a storm, 80% of NWC customers will be able to get back portable water,” Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, said during a Friday press conference. “This is a marked difference from the last time around.”

Officials said they closed the Kingston airport at 9 p.m. Saturday, and the Port Authority of Jamaica said all seaports have also been closed and will remain closed until conditions improve.

Kingston Harbor opens to the south, and the airport is on a peninsula in the harbor. “Storm surge is forecast up to 13 feet above normal high tide in the bays and harbors east of the landfall point,” FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said. “If Melissa makes landfall a short distance west of Kingston, the peak winds will rip through the city, and the storm surge will devastate the coastline.”

The Jamaica Met Service noted that soils are saturated from prior rain events, which could lead to mudslides as heavy rain from Melissa moves over the area.

FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is in Kingston as the island prepares for the storm and spoke to an official on Sunday morning about the impending disaster.

Jamaica’s Minister of Labor and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. said the country is making every effort to “save lives” ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s worst impacts.

Residents on the south-central part of the island are being told to seek higher ground. Charles is also a member of parliament representing this part of the country.

“We’ve asked persons to not wait until it gets difficult to evacuate or to save you,” Charles said. “If there is ever a time to listen and to take action, this is now.”

Charles said they are already seeing storm surge in the Rocky Point area as of Sunday morning. 

“In the Rocky Point area, which is one of the areas along the southern coast, we were already seeing storm surges,” he continued. “We were already hearing the roar and the wrath of the seas.”

The last landfalling hurricane Jamaica experienced was in 2012 with Category 1 Hurricane Sandy, which caused major infrastructure damage. Melissa is forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane.

“We are looking at significant damage if this continues on this current trajectory,” Charles said.

What are the expected impacts from Hurricane Melissa?

Forecasts are warning of catastrophic flooding as the storm batters Jamaica with heavy rain for days. The NHC predicts widespread rainfall totals of 15-30 inches across Jamaica and southern Hispaniola into Wednesday, with locally higher amounts of 40 inches or more possible.

But the NHC warns those rainfall totals are incomplete, with even more rain likely beyond Tuesday, but the uncertainty around Melissa’s track and speed beyond then preclude confidence in storm-total predictions.

“Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are probable across portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica,” the NHC said.

And of course, the potential for destructive winds.

“Don’t make foolish decisions,” urged Jamaica’s Minister of Telecommunications and Transportation, Hon. Daryl Vaz. “Don’t make stupid decisions like coming out in the middle of the storm to see what’s happening. Please. I’m making a special appeal because we are in a very, very serious time over the next few days, and we need all Jamaica to bond together.”

Cuba may see 10-15 inches of rain, with some spots reaching 20 inches as Melissa takes aim there later in the week.

In addition, Melissa’s massive wind field and slow crawl toward Jamaica will trigger a powerful storm surge along the southern coast of Jamaica from late Monday through Tuesday morning, with peak storm surge heights reaching 9-13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Hurricane Melissa makes landfall.

The NHC said that tropical storm conditions have likely already started in Jamaica, with hurricane conditions expected to begin on Monday. Tropical storm conditions are also expected across portions of Haiti on Sunday. The NHC said the potential for hurricane conditions within the watch area in Haiti has diminished for Sunday but warned that there is still a possibility of hurricane conditions occurring there on Tuesday.

Hurricane conditions are also possible in the watch area across eastern Cuba on Tuesday and into Wednesday.

The NHC said a second landfall is anticipated along southeastern Cuba by Tuesday night or early Wednesday.  By Midweek, Melissa is forecast to accelerate into the southwestern Atlantic, potentially approaching Bermuda.

‘Spaving’ is not saving. It could cost you up to $50,000 out of your retirement

Let’s face it — Americans have mastered the art of justifying bad money decisions. We tell ourselves we’re being smart shoppers, but in reality we’re sabotaging our wallets with a sneaky little habit called “spaving” — spending more money in the name of “saving” money. 

You’ve seen it. You’ve probably done it. You’re checking out online, your cart says $42, and you see that dreaded $8.99 shipping fee. So, what do you do? You add another $50 worth of items you don’t need just to get “free” shipping. Congratulations — you just spent $50 to save $9. That’s not saving. That’s financial ruin. 

It’s the new American pastime with the proliferation of speedy online shopping. 

GROCERY BILLS IN AMERICA: HERE ARE THE MOST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE CITIES

The psychology of “spaving” 

Retailers are laughing all the way to the bank because they’ve figured out something most people don’t realize about money. We hate losing more than we love winning. The idea of “missing out on a deal” triggers a little emotional panic, and our brains convince us we’re saving money when we’re actually overspending. 

It’s why “Buy One, Get One Free” signs exist. You didn’t need the second sweater. You didn’t even want the second sweater. But somehow, paying more felt like saving more. That’s the twisted logic of “spaving.” It’s why the word “sale” doesn’t always equal deal. 

And it’s not just about online shopping.

TOP 5 OVERPAYMENT SCAMS TO AVOID

You might drive 20 minutes out of your way to save 10 cents a gallon on gas, only to burn more than that in fuel getting there. You might stock up on enough toilet paper to survive an apocalypse because it’s “cheaper per roll,” while that same $40 could’ve been invested or paid toward debt. You might buy the “family value” meal because it’s a better “deal,” then waste half of it in the fridge. 

Each decision feels like a smart move in the moment. But add them up over a year, and you’ll find hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars that evaporated in the name of you thinking you were saving. Glad that college education could pay off. 

Why “spaving” destroys your financial future 

Here’s the harsh truth about your family finances. Small leaks sink big ships. The road to financial success isn’t paved with coupons and “limited-time offers.” It’s built on discipline, delayed gratification and a deep understanding of where your money actually goes. 

When you’re “spaving,” you’re not saving — you’re consuming. And every dollar you waste now is a dollar that could’ve been compounding for your future retirement. 

PROGRESSIVE CITIES FACE BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC LOSSES AS RETAIL CRIME SURGES 93% SINCE 2019

Let’s do a little math. Suppose you “spave” just $100 a month. That’s $1,200 a year. If you invested that same amount annually for 20 years at a modest 7% return, you’d have over $50,000. That’s the cost of all those “deals” that felt too good to pass up. 

It’s also why most Americans stay stuck in the same financial rut. They think they’re being responsible shoppers, but they’re feeding a habit that’s the opposite of wealth-building. 

You might drive 20 minutes out of your way to save 10 cents a gallon on gas, only to burn more than that in fuel getting there.

Real savers don’t chase deals. They make smart decisions 

We’ve confused saving with spending less aggressively. Real savers don’t look for excuses to buy, but instead they look for reasons not to buy. They buy what they need, when they need it and they let the rest sit. 

Here’s a challenge: next time you see a “spend more to save more” offer, stop and ask yourself the financial acid test: 

BUY NOW, PAY LATER IS THE WORST THING FOR CONSUMERS SINCE PAYDAY LOANS

1. Would I buy this if it weren’t on sale?
2. Do I actually need this right now?
3. Is this money better spent or invested somewhere else?

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If you can’t answer “yes” to the first two, close your browser. Walk out of the store. Get back in the car. 

Discipline is the key 

Building wealth isn’t about chasing a buy-one, get-one deal or your fear of missing out on an Instagram reel. It’s about controlling behavior. Every time you “spave,” you’re trading future financial freedom for a fleeting sense of instant satisfaction. 

Retailers are playing chess while most consumers are playing checkers. They understand your psychology better than mom does these days. That’s why you get those “just for you” emails and “cart reminder” notifications. They know how to make you feel like you’re winning by spending. 

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Retailers are laughing all the way to the bank because they’ve figured out something most people don’t realize about money.  

But here’s what the truly wealthy understand: you don’t save money by spending it. You save money by keeping it. 

The next time you’re tempted to add one more item to hit that free-shipping threshold, remember that you’re not outsmarting the system. The system is outsmarting you. Stop “spaving.” Start saving. Your future self will thank you and your net worth will finally start growing for real. 

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