Iranian official dangles nuclear compromise while demanding US make first move
Iran claims it is open to compromise with the U.S. on a nuclear deal if the administration is willing to discuss lifting sanctions, a senior Iranian official said Sunday.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, also said in an interview that the ball was “in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal,” adding: “If they are sincere, I’m sure we will be on the road to an agreement.”
“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our program if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC.
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Takht-Ravanchi’s comments came as Iran’s top diplomat traveled to Geneva for a second round of indirect talks with the U.S. delegation.
Abbas Araghchi left for the Swiss city following an initial round of negotiations last week with Oman again mediating the next round of talks, according to Iranian state media and The Associated Press.
U.S. officials, however, have emphasized that Iran — not the U.S. — is holding up progress in negotiations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Feb. 14 that President Donald Trump would prefer to reach an agreement but warned it was “very hard to do” one with Iran.
Past diplomatic efforts had collapsed in 2025 after Israel launched what became a 12-day war with Iran and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
SCOTT BESSENT SAYS IRAN UNDERSTANDS ‘BRUTE FORCE’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS AMID NUCLEAR STANDOFF
But on Sunday, Takht-Ravanchi pointed to Tehran’s offer to dilute its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity as evidence of its willingness to compromise, the BBC reported.
Asked whether Iran would ship its stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium abroad, as it did under the 2015 deal, Takht-Ravanchi said it was “too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations.”
One of Iran’s main demands is that talks focus on the nuclear issue. “Our understanding is that they have come to the conclusion that if you want to have a deal you have to focus on the nuclear issue,” Takht-Ravanchi said.
Takht-Ravanchi also said the “issue of zero enrichment is not an issue anymore and as far as Iran is concerned, it is not on the table anymore.”
TRUMP SAYS IRAN ‘SERIOUSLY TALKING TO US’ AS MILITARY SHIPS HEAD TO MIDDLE EAST
Trump has since threatened further military action if a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program cannot be reached.
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The U.S. has also reinforced its military presence in the region amid heightened tensions and after spiraling protests across the country in December left thousands reportedly dead at the hands of the clerical regime.
Democrat auditor battles own party after finding $12M in alleged welfare fraud
A Democratic state auditor is taking Massachusetts legislative leaders, including members of her own party, to court after uncovering nearly $12 million in alleged fraud in public assistance programs, seeking to enforce a voter-approved audit law.
“What are they hiding? If there’s nothing to hide, open up the doors, let the sun shine in. Let’s do this audit,” Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said on “Saturday in America.”
DiZoglio, a Democrat and former member of both the Massachusetts House and Senate, is filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to enforce a 2024 ballot measure that authorized her office to audit the legislature. The measure passed with 72% support.
The legal action follows a report from the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office identifying nearly $12 million in alleged fraud in fiscal year 2025 alone across several public assistance programs.
CONGRESS OPENS ‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FRAUD’ PROBE IN MINNESOTA, WARNS WALZ DEMANDS ARE ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’
DiZoglio notified legislative leaders earlier this year of her intent to conduct a performance audit but said House and Senate leaders refused to provide the necessary documents. She added that the state attorney general declined to intervene.
“This is something that 72% of voters came out to support, crossing party lines,” she said.
“You had progressive Democrats joining together with conservative Republicans. And essentially saying that they want this audit to get done.”
According to the auditor, Massachusetts is the only state in the nation where the legislature, governor’s office and court system exempt themselves from the state’s public records law.
She argues the newly approved audit authority would bring long-sought transparency to taxpayer-funded records, including financial receipts and state contracts.
“This is about transparency and accountability,” DiZoglio added.
FEDERAL WELFARE SPENDING IS A FRAUD MAGNET — AND TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING THE PRICE
“This is not about whether you support the right or the left. This is coming together and getting access to documents that should be a matter of public record.”
DiZoglio emphasized that rooting out fraud is essential to protecting public assistance programs for those who genuinely need them. She shared her own background, saying she was born to a 17-year-old single mother who relied on programs such as WIC before becoming a nurse and getting back on her feet.
“A lot of people rely on these programs,” she said. “But folks who are committing fraud need to be held accountable. We need to root out that waste, fraud and abuse so that these systems are working as they should and people truly in need get these services.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts attorney general’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
However, according to GBH News, the attorney general claims DiZoglio lacks the authority to file the lawsuit.
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“This is another ploy to sidestep the required approval of my office and will bring her no closer to auditing the Legislature,” she said in a statement, per the outlet.
“This filing is not about enforcing the law. In order to enforce the law, she would answer my office’s straightforward questions, including how privileges given to the Legislature in our state constitution nearly 250 years ago impact her authority to audit the Legislature.”
DiZoglio said she hopes the state’s highest court will ultimately side with voters.
“The Constitution is there to protect the people, not the politicians,” she said.
Reality star’s sister encourages people to not support her brother in LA mayor race
Spencer Pratt’s quest to positively impact Los Angeles was lost on his sister’s ears.
Stephanie Pratt voiced her concerns about her brother’s mayoral campaign and claimed his intentions aren’t so pure.
In a series of posts shared on X, Stephanie noted that Spencer was a vital asset to the community more than one year after the devastating LA wildfires. However, she assured her followers that “The Hills” star was simply trying to stay relevant.
SPENCER PRATT SAYS A-LISTERS PRIVATELY CHEER HIS CRITICISM OF CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP, FEAR CAREER FALLOUT
Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, lost their Pacific Palisades home in January 2025 during the deadly LA wildfires. Pratt said his parents also lost their home in the fires.
“Spencer has done great work for the palisades,” Stephanie wrote. “But LA does not need another unqualified and inexperienced mayor. A vote for him is a vote for stupidity.”
She continued, “He’s just trying to stay famous and sell his memoir don’t be fooled.”
Stephanie mused over an “ideal world” where the Palisades received their own “mayor and police department,” but was more concerned with the current issues plaguing Los Angeles.
SPENCER PRATT VOWS TO WORK WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON ICE ENFORCEMENT AS LA MAYOR CANDIDATE
“I’m worried about LA. I have no problem playing government but our city needs help,” Stephanie wrote.
“Everyone saying I should support him no matter what. Sorry he beat me up when I was 18 & put me in the hospital. So no he doesn’t belong in the government. Run the palisades all you want not LA.”
She added, “Leopards never change their spots. Stay in the palisades Spencer.”
A vocal opponent to current Mayor Karen Bass, “The Guy You Loved to Hate” author launched his Los Angeles mayoral campaign last month. He told Fox News Digital that while he often finds himself standing alone in public, the support he receives behind closed doors tells a very different story.
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“I know actual A-list stars support what I do, because I’ve been at restaurants, and they sit down at the table, and they quiz me about everything that I know for 20 minutes and thank me,” Pratt said. “But these people know if they do that publicly, they risk losing their careers that some of them have been working for 30 years to have.”
Pratt said he understands the risks that come with speaking publicly and doesn’t fault those who choose to stay quiet.
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“So, I don’t judge them,” he added. “It’s just the same with firefighters that don’t come forward with the truth because of retaliation. There’s no difference between public employees who know what’s going on and celebrities. Everyone sees what’s happening, but everyone’s scared to talk.”
The reality star said the release of his memoir and his decision to run for mayor unfolded simultaneously in a way that felt beyond his control.
“The timing of the mayor and the book — that’s God’s timing because the book actually came together right after the fires over a year ago,” he told Fox News Digital. “So, the writing’s been happening all year.”
WATCH: SPENCER PRATT SAYS A-LISTERS PRIVATELY SUPPORT HIS LA MAYOR CAMPAIGN
As the manuscript took shape, Pratt said he was watching the political landscape closely and growing increasingly frustrated.
“And then when I saw that nobody was stepping up to run against Mayor Karen Bass in the last month or so, I had to do it,” he said. “Again, it’s God’s timing.”
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Costco finally retires decades-old system following years of complaints
Costco is officially retiring a decades-old system customers have long found frustrating as part of its latest major digital overhaul.
Customers will soon be able to place custom cake and deli tray orders directly through the company’s mobile app and website. Previously, shoppers were required to drive to Costco just to fill out paper order forms in-store.
Executives of the major retailer said the upgrade, which would streamline orders from start to pickup, addresses an outdated process they described as “clunky.”
“Very excited about what we have coming in the app,” CEO Ron Vachris said.
“We’ve got ordering cakes and deli trays online coming. So many of the things that we’ve heard from our members that could be a little bit clunky are now moving to a digital state, and we’re seeing great adoption right out of the chute.”
SOME GIFT CARDS SOLD AT COSTCO ARE NOW WORTHLESS
The new online ordering system is expected to include sheet cake options as well as customizable cakes, allowing customers to choose sizes, shapes, flavors, designs and inscriptions from a catalog of available cake options.
COSTCO’S POPULAR BARGAIN MEAL AT CENTER OF NEW LAWSUIT
The major retailer did not provide a specific date for when the system will be fully implemented across all locations. Fox 11 Los Angeles said customers can expect the “Order Grocery/Bakery” feature in the app by the end of 2026.
If the feature follows a process similar to the current paper-based system, cakes and deli trays should be ready within 24 to 48 hours.
COSTCO’S LESSER-KNOWN MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, EXPLAINED
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COST | COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP. | 1,018.48 | +19.62 | +1.96% |
The move will give customers easier access to Costco baked goods, especially for those who must travel long distances to reach a store.
In a 2023 Reddit post, one social media user described Costco’s cake-ordering process as inconvenient and time-consuming.
“I live 40ish minutes from my local Costco, so yes, an online order process would be very nice,” the user said.
Another responded, echoing the same sentiment.
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“Same. I really don’t want to drive there two days in a row… when it’s my Birthday,” they wrote.
‘Silence of the Lambs’ star denounces his legendary villain role after transgender criticism
Ted Levine, who played Buffalo Bill in the film Silence of the Lambs, spoke out about transphobia criticism the movie has received since its release 35 years ago.
“There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,” Levine told The Hollywood Reporter.
The portrayal of the character Buffalo Bill, also known as Jame Gumb, has been criticized over the years by the transgender community as harmful.
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Buffalo Bill was a serial killer that murdered women in order to harvest their skin to wear.
Despite the character’s sexual orientation not being outwardly stated, he was seen as trans and gender-nonconforming in the film.
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“We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues,” he added to the outlet. “There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.”
“[It’s] just over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender,” Levine said.
“It’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s f——- wrong. And you can quote me on that,” Levine noted.
Despite that, Levin said about his performance as Buffalo Bill: “I didn’t play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just a f——up heterosexual man. That’s what I was doing.”
In the film, Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter, who is consulted by FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster.
Lecter is a cannibalistic serial killer who advises Starling, in order to help capture Buffalo Bill.
The film, directed by Jonathan Demme, was released on Valentine’s Day in 1991, and ended up becoming a global hit. It won five Oscars, including best actor, best actress, best screenplay, best director and best picture.
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Demme’s producing partner, Edward Saxon, said to the outlet: “We were really loyal to the book. As we made the film, there was just no question in our minds that Buffalo Bill was a completely aberrant personality — that he wasn’t gay or trans.”
“He was sick. To that extent, we missed it. From my point of view, we weren’t sensitive enough to the legacy of a lot of stereotypes and their ability to harm,” he explained to THR.
“There’s regret, but it didn’t come from any place of malice. It actually came from a place of seeing this guy. We all had dear friends and family who were gay. We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology,” Saxon said.
Jeffries vows pressure on local Democrat holding up vote on party’s gerrymandering
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., vowed to apply pressure to Maryland Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson, who has spoken out against the Democrat-led plan to redraw the state’s lone Republican in the House out of his district.
“Let’s talk about Maryland, because this is a fight within your own party. The governor, Wes Moore, is backing this plan to redraw the one Republican essentially out of his district. This has passed the state house, but it’s being held up in the state senate by one man, the state senate president, Bill Ferguson. Bill Ferguson, who’s not bringing this to the floor for a vote,” CNN’s Manu Raju asked during “Inside Politics.” “Could he cost you the majority? This Democratic state senate president in Maryland?”
Ferguson urged his party in a letter in October to avoid pursuing mid-cycle redistricting measures to redraw Maryland’s congressional lines, fearing that the process could backfire. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore brushed off the senate president’s warning in November.
“He’d have to live with that if that’s the outcome at the end of the day. But I don’t think that’s going to be the outcome, because we know we have majority support right now as we speak in the Maryland state senate. And all we’re asking President Ferguson to do is allow democracy to prevail,” Jeffries responded. “What that means is an up or down vote.”
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“One man shouldn’t stand in the way of the people of Maryland through their representatives in the state senate, being able to decide, should we go in this direction or should we not answer Donald Trump’s continued efforts to rig the midterm elections?” the House minority leader continued.
Jeffries argued that Democrats were taking the issue of gerrymandering to the voters, compared to what the Republicans are doing, who he said were “passing maps that they are intentionally gerrymandering, often wiping away Black or Latino districts in the dead of night.”
When asked about Ferguson’s concerns over legal challenges and the law potentially back firing on the party, Jeffries said, “He’s not right.”
The House minority leader then vowed to apply some pressure to Ferguson if he stood in the way.
BATTLEGROUND GOP LAWMAKER MOVES TO BLOCK WHAT HE CALLS DEMOCRATIC REDISTRICTING ‘POWER GRAB’
“At some point I’m going to have to have a conversation with him if he continues to stand in the way of an up or down vote. But hopefully over the next few days, he’ll change his mind,” he said.
Ferguson did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Jeffries said Democrats were attempting to redistrict across the country to make sure the “national map is free and fair.” Texas Republicans successfully passed a new congressional map in August, which added five new Republican-leaning districts in the state.
“And so whatever advantage Republicans thought they were going to obtain by gerrymandering in red states across the country, we are making sure those advantages are completely and totally wiped out,” he said.
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Raju asked Jeffries about how much money the Democrats were willing to spend to get the ballot initiative in Virginia passed specifically. The Virginia Senate voted 21-16 along party lines on Wednesday to pass a set of new congressional maps that would leave just one Republican district in the state in play.
“Whatever it takes,” he responded. “We will spend tens of millions of dollars to make sure that the Republicans do not successfully manipulate voters in Virginia, and that voters have all of the information necessary to make a decision around whether they want Donald Trump to rig the midterm elections and halt the ability for the American people to decide who’s in the majority, or whether the people of Virginia and the people of America should be the ones to decide.”
Prince William’s ‘leaky sieve’ fears keep Prince Harry at arm’s length: former butler
Prince William has deliberately distanced himself from Prince Harry, deepening a rift that remains unresolved six years later.
The claim was made by Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, who said he doesn’t believe the siblings will reconcile anytime soon — if ever.
Queen Elizabeth II’s one-time footman has written a new memoir, “The Royal Insider,” in which he details his decades-long career serving in the British royal household and his encounters behind palace doors.
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“I think William has distanced himself from Harry a lot more than people realize,” Burrell told Fox News Digital.
“Because William’s path is very different from Harry’s. As he gets nearer and nearer to the throne, which will be in a few years, he has to remain isolated. He has to be in a world that is very tight and protected.”
“He can’t let things leak out,” said Burrell. “He doesn’t want to live in a world with a leaky sieve. He doesn’t want to live in a world that can’t be controlled because, to be a monarch, you have to control the environment. You have to look after the crown.”
WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM HAS ‘DISTANCED HIMSELF’ FROM PRINCE HARRY: AUTHOR
Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital, “We don’t comment on such books.”
Harry has been estranged from his family since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back as senior royals in 2020. At the time, they cited the unbearable intrusions of the British press and the lack of support from the palace as their reasons for the move.
After the couple settled in California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aired their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which revealed embarrassing details about the House of Windsor and exposed his rivalry with William, further strained relations.
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Royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that William and Harry are not on speaking terms.
But the brothers’ feud may have begun well before Harry’s exit from the U.K.
When the 41-year-old began dating the former American actress in 2016, the relationship progressed quickly, with the “Suits” alum meeting senior royals early on. The couple announced their engagement in November 2017 and married the following year.
According to multiple royal experts, William, 43, was concerned about Harry’s whirlwind romance and reportedly advised him to “take as much time as you need” before making a lifelong commitment.
William’s view, as portrayed in these accounts, was to ensure Harry didn’t rush into marriage before Meghan, 44, fully understood the pressures of royal life as a newcomer.
Harry, however, is said to have interpreted William’s caution as a lack of support — or even skepticism — toward Meghan. Experts say that’s when their relationship turned frosty.
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Today, Burrell said William is focused on protecting his family from potential new tell-alls and leaks — leaving little room for reconciliation and cementing the brothers’ deepening divide.
“Our dear late queen put the crown first,” Burrell explained. “It was the most important thing in her life — her crown, her people, her Commonwealth of countries. William sees it differently. He puts his family first — his wife and children — then comes the crown.”
Still, “the crown has to be protected,” Burrell said.
“That thousand years of royal history has to be protected, and that will be in William’s hands,” said Burrell. “He can’t afford to let it break while he’s in control of it. So, William is very mindful, and his world is very, very protected. His little bubble of himself, [his wife] Catherine and the children are isolated in a way. But he has to do that to keep it safe.”
“I do applaud Harry’s move,” said Burrell. “It’s not easy for any member of the royal family to tread a different path. But I don’t think there’s any room for reconciliation. I don’t think that is [happening] anytime soon, if ever. Because you see, too many words have been said, and too much dirty laundry has been laundered in public, really, for the royal family. That’s unforgivable.”
“Harry knew the rules,” Burrell added.
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In May, Harry told the BBC he wanted to reconcile with his family.
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said at the time. “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
Harry admitted that “some members of my family will never forgive me” for writing his memoir. He added, “It would be nice to have that reconciliation part now. If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
Burrell claimed the queen “reluctantly” allowed her grandson and his wife to leave the U.K. He said the late monarch once held high hopes that the couple would play a significant role in supporting the monarchy.
“She wanted them to stay in the royal family,” said Burrell. “I think they could have done incredible work within the royal family as the queen’s ambassadors, and now the king’s ambassadors. His son and his daughter-in-law would be highlighting people’s plight and going to countries in the world that need help, the way Diana did. I think the king would’ve loved that and Harry would’ve loved that.”
Burrell said Harry and Meghan’s push for independence came at a steep price — one William has not forgiven or forgotten.
MEGHAN MARKLE HAS ONE CONDITION FOR RETURNING TO THE UK WITH PRINCE HARRY: EXPERTS
“It broke the line and the thread between them and the royal family — appearing on national television to discuss private matters, entering the world of commercialism, selling your soul to the world,” he said.
“The royals don’t do that. The royals keep tight, and they keep close to each other. Look at the difference between William and Kate and Meghan and Harry. A huge world apart. Those two worlds will never come together again.”
Burrell claimed that King Charles is said to be heartbroken that he hasn’t gotten the chance to bond with Harry’s two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are being raised in the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito.
“It’s sad for Archie and Lilibet, who will never know that world. Their father came from that world, and they will never know their cousins and the people who populate that world.
“It’s sad for the king, who can’t embrace all his grandchildren at the same time. He can’t put his arms around Archie and Lilibet the same way that he can around [William’s children] George, Charlotte and Louis. I think he’s very sad.”
“I think Princess Diana would be very upset to know that her boys were not on speaking terms and lived on different continents with an ocean — an ocean — dividing them,” Burrell added.
LeBron James criticized by Mehdi Hasan after remarks about Israeli fans at All-Star Game
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James faced criticism from former MS NOW host Mehdi Hasan on Sunday after he was asked whether he had a message for fans back in Israel.
James held a separate press conference before he played in his 22nd All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. He was asked, “For all the Israeli fans, what message would you like to send to Israel and what do you think about (Portland Trail Blazers All-Star) Deni Avdija.
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“I’ve been quoted on Deni already and what I thought about his season and I believe he’s an All-Star and he is an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball so that’s that. And then, if I had fans over there, I’ve never been there,” James said.
“If I have fans over there, then I hope you’ve been following my career, I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. So, hopefully someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there but I heard great things. I appreciate the question.”
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Hasan, who had a history of controversial statements about Israel, weighed in.
“What a disgrace LeBron is,” he wrote on X.
Hasan garnered backlash in the past for his hardline takes against Israel after Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and took hundreds of hostages. The terror attack sparked a massive response from Israel which later led to a cease-fire agreement.
Avdija was an All-Star for the first time in his career and is the only active NBA player from Israel. He’s one of four who have played in the NBA from the nation, along with Omri Casspi, T.J. Leaf and Gal Mekel.
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Avdija played 15 total minutes between the two games the World All-Stars played in the new format. The World All-Stars lost both games.
From Washington to Trump, how US presidents’ steak preferences reflected their times
Americans reflect on leadership, history and the men who shaped the nation on Presidents Day.
But beyond speeches and diplomacy, there’s one thread running from the Founding era to the modern White House: steak.
Although steak was sometimes served at state dinners, it was more commonly prepared for the first family’s private meals at the White House or Camp David, according to Adrian Miller, a James Beard Award-winning culinary historian and Colorado-based author.
Knowing what those dinners looked like offers a window into a president’s “personality and soul,” Miller told Fox News Digital. “Americans simultaneously want our president to be exceptional and a lot like us.”
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“Presidents become more relatable when they share what they like to eat, especially the food from their childhood,” Miller added. “Americans have been annoyed with presidents who seemed to like foreign food more than homegrown specialties.”
From colonial beef pies to rooftop grilling at the White House, here’s how nine presidents ate their steak, according to cookbooks, memoirs, contemporary reports and historical records.
George Washington
Long before modern steakhouses, America’s first president reportedly favored beefsteak and kidney pie, which was a popular 18th-century Anglo-American dish, according to historical accounts.
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In Washington’s era, steak was often baked into savory pies rather than served as the standalone cut Americans recognize today.
Because of Washington’s chronic dental issues and dentures, the softer preparation might have been more practical for him.
Theodore Roosevelt
An avid outdoorsman, the 26th president embraced hearty, camp-style cooking.
During his famous 1903 Yosemite camping trip with naturalist John Muir, Roosevelt reportedly enjoyed grilled steaks and simple meals prepared outdoors.
Roosevelt favored straightforward fare. He later played a central role in reforming the meatpacking industry after reading Upton Sinclair’s iconic novel “The Jungle,” helping to push through the 1906 Meat Inspection Act.
William Howard Taft
President Taft regularly ate a 12-ounce steak for breakfast, alongside toast, fruit and coffee, according to White House housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray’s published recollections.
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Taft was the heaviest U.S. president — but even when he tried to diet, he just limited his steak intake to six ounces, though it was a sign of his times.
In the early 1900s, steak symbolized prosperity during a period of expansion and industrial growth.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The earliest records of steak temperatures trace back to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, according to Miller.
“Backyard grilling was really taking off in popularity during the 1950s, so home cooks were probably more interested in doneness at that time,” he said.
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Eisenhower loved grilling so much that he had a grill set up on the White House rooftop, outside the third-floor Solarium, according to Miller.
Former White House Executive Chef François Rysavy wrote in his memoir that Eisenhower preferred rare steaks, and he’d cook them himself — rubbing them with oil and garlic before tossing them onto hot coals.
John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy’s health shaped his diet. Suffering from chronic gastrointestinal issues, he reportedly preferred simple, lightly seasoned meals.
Danish journalist Inga Arvad, who dated Kennedy in the early 1940s, prepared plain steak dinners for him with mild vegetables such as peas, carrots and mashed potatoes, according to archived letters.
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Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan favored straightforward American cooking, including steak served at his California ranch, Rancho del Cielo.
While formal White House dinners could be elaborate, Reagan reportedly preferred simple meals in private, including steak with a side of chili, according to reports.
Midway through his presidency in 1985, after doctors discovered a benign polyp and traces of blood during routine tests, Reagan was advised to avoid rare steak and other red meats.
Instead, he was urged to adopt a high-fiber, low-fat diet as he underwent further medical evaluation, according to reports at the time.
George H.W. Bush
President George H.W. Bush, long associated with Texas, was known to enjoy steakhouse dining.
During a 1992 campaign stop in Oklahoma City, he ordered a T-bone steak “charred but rare” at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, according to reports from that time.
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Steak remained part of Bush’s life even after leaving office.
His son and President George W. Bush recalled in a eulogy that, during a hospital stay, a steak from Morton’s the Steakhouse was delivered to him.
Bill Clinton
Before adopting a largely plant-based diet, President Bill Clinton was known for enjoying steak.
Former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib wrote in his memoir and said in interviews that Clinton requested a large porterhouse steak with creamy béarnaise sauce and onion rings, particularly when first lady Hillary Clinton was traveling.
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Scheib said the president’s plate “always came back clean.”
Donald J. Trump
In March 2017, during his first Washington, D.C., dinner in office, President Donald J. Trump dined at BLT Prime in his hotel.
He ordered a $54 dry-aged strip steak cooked well-done and served with ketchup, according to the Washington Post.
The president prefers his steak cooked so thoroughly that “it would rock on the plate,” his longtime butler told The New York Times.
“For almost every person in the world, it’s totally OK to prefer your steak cooked all the way through,” according to a column in Eater in 2017.
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“It’s totally and completely fine. Fully one quarter of America prefers their steak well done or medium-well,” the piece also said.
In 2007, Trump launched Trump Steaks, a short-lived venture with the tagline “The World’s Greatest Steaks.”