First president in 150 years fulfills White House dream with new $200M ballroom
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that construction has begun on a new, privately funded White House Ballroom – a long-envisioned addition designed to host state visits and large gatherings – as part of a modernization of the East Wing.
“I am pleased to announce that ground has been broken on the White House grounds to build the new, big, beautiful White House Ballroom,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!
“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!” he continued. “The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing in July that the construction of the estimated $200 million new ballroom would begin in September and be “completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.”
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Her announcement came after a similar gesture earlier this year, when Trump personally financed the installation of two 88-foot American flags flanking the White House, each reportedly costing about $50,000.
“The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders in other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building’s entrance,” Leavitt said at the time, adding the new ballroom will be “a much needed and exquisite addition.”
FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP’S ‘TASTEFUL’ $200M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM MAKEOVER AMID DEM CRITICISM
She also said the United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications during the construction.
The project is intended to provide a dedicated space for hosting official events, state dinners and large ceremonial gatherings.
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The new 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and will stay true to the classical design of the White House.
The White House does not have a formal ballroom, and the new ballroom will take the place of the current East Wing of the White House.
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Trump chose McCrery Architects to design the project, with Clark Construction overseeing the build and AECOM providing engineering support.
Man allegedly fires at homeowner after ‘political trigger moment’ over Trump flag
A Georgia man accused of ripping down a Trump 2024 banner and opening fire on a North Carolina home has been arrested, authorities said.
Benjamin Michael Campbell, 37, was taken into custody on Sept. 30 in Georgia and extradited to North Carolina on Oct. 7, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office said.
He faces charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and willful and wanton injury to personal property.
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Campbell was reportedly speeding along a highway in Nantahala Gorge, N.C., on Sept. 6 when he spotted the flag hanging in Mark Thomas’s front yard, Thomas told the New York Post.
He allegedly tore down the banner before firing multiple shots at Thomas from the sunroof of his car, missing him by just a few feet, according to video of the incident.
“He was driving along, saw the sign, slammed on his brakes — you know, had a political trigger moment — and he just had to tear the sign down,” Thomas, 62, told the Daily Mail.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Thomas for comment.
Police responded to the scene, but Campbell had driven off by the time they arrived, authorities said.
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Investigators later obtained a video of the confrontation that Thomas posted to YouTube, according to the sheriff’s office.
“I’m a Trump supporter,” Thomas told the Daily Mail. “I have weapons for my protection and my enjoyment, and I keep them handy. You know, what good are they if you can’t get to them when you need them? So I reached over and grabbed my rifle.”
Thomas compared the incident to the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, which occurred four days later on Sept. 10.
“Charlie Kirk — you know, his incident was absolutely tragic,” he said. “No one died here in my yard, but flip the coin, snap your fingers, somebody could have died here. And it’s very similar to the Charlie Kirk incident.”
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“The same type of people are the ones behind both shootings,” he added. “It’s becoming much more common.”
Trump signs $8,500,000,000 deal with ally in move against China
President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday signed an agreement on rare earths and critical minerals as the two allies look to stabilize global supplies amid China’s efforts to clamp down on its control over the market.
Trump and Albanese met at the White House for their first summit and Trump said the deal was negotiated over the past four or five months ahead of the announcement. Albanese said it’s an $8.5 billion pipeline “that we have ready to go.”
Reuters reported that, according to a copy of the agreement provided by the prime minister’s office, the two countries agreed to each invest $1 billion over the next six months into mining and processing projects, as well as set a minimum price floor for critical minerals.
“In about a year from now, we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won’t know what to do with them,” Trump told reporters at the event.
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As part of the agreement, Trump and Albanese agreed to cut permitting for mines, processing facilities and related operations to boost production of rare earths and critical minerals.
The deal also calls for cooperation between the U.S. and Australia on mapping geological resources, mineral recycling and efforts to stop the sale of critical mineral assets on national security grounds.
Australia is open to selling shares of its planned strategic reserve of critical minerals to allies including Britain, according to a Reuters report from last month. The move comes as Western governments are looking to reduce their reliance on China for rare earths and critical minerals.
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The U.S. condemned China’s recent move to implement export controls restricting sales of rare earths as a threat to global supply chains.
China is the world’s largest producer of critical materials, which are used in products ranging from smartphones to EV engines and military radars.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported in January that China’s mines produced 270,000 tons of rare earths in 2024 and the country has 44 million tons of reserves.
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By comparison, the U.S. produced 45,000 tons and had 1.9 million tons of reserves last year, while Australia produced 13,000 tons and had 5.7 million tons of reserves.
Teens who allegedly assaulted former DOGE staffer slapped with federal charges: ‘Accountability’
Two teenagers, Lawrence Cotton Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, who are linked to the beating of former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine in Washington, D.C., are now facing federal charges for a series of assaults and attempted carjacking.
The teens are charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and assault with intent to commit robbery, each of which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and attempted carjacking, which holds a penalty of up to five years.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro announced the charges in a press conference on Monday.
Pirro said the charges highlight “the need for accountability of offenders in the district.”
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“What’s significant about this case is the history of Lawrence Cotton Powell,” she said.
Pirro said that despite being a repeat offender and already having a criminal history involving assault, Powell had been let off by D.C. judges shortly before he beat and robbed Coristine. She said that despite the U.S. Attorney’s office requesting jail time for Powell, his sentence was suspended by a local judge on July 25, just days before he attacked Coristine.
“After a felony of attempted robbery conviction, after a violation of probation, after a second crime, after a second conviction, after no compliance with CSOSA [Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency], the judges say, ‘Do better,’ and they let him go. And guess what? Within ten days, he’s at it again,” said Pirro.
According to Pirro, Powell and Taylor, with a gang of several others, assaulted and robbed another individual just minutes before attacking Coristine. Pirro said that upon seeing the gang of approximately ten suspects approaching, Coristine pushed a female friend into her car in an attempt to keep her safe.
TEENS WHO ASSAULTED FORMER DOGE STAFFER GET NO JAIL TIME WITH PROBATION-ONLY SENTENCES
“He was then attacked by multiple suspects who then punched him repeatedly, causing significant injuries to him. They got him on the ground, and as they were doing so, they demanded the car from the woman who was inside the car and had already locked the car. They were banging on the car, they were pulling on the car door, trying to get the car open, and were telling the woman in the car to hand over the keys,” said Pirro.
Pirro urged the D.C. City Council to “reconsider” its laws that “allow these young people to go out and victimize, revictimize and keep revictimizing and putting the safety of the citizens who live, work and visit here at risk.”
“I ask them to stand up finally and send a clear message, because the people of this district deserve no less than safety,” said Pirro.
Coristine was assaulted at approximately 3 a.m. by a group of teenagers in D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood.
A photo of a bloodied Coristine went viral, sparking outrage over the city’s handling of crime and drawing President Donald Trump’s attention. The president slammed D.C., saying crime in the city was “totally out of control.”
BIDEN JUDGE FREES TEENS TIED TO EX-DOGE STAFFER’S ASSAULT AS TRUMP CRACKS DOWN ON CRIME
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released. They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Days later, Trump directed federal law enforcement to increase its presence throughout D.C. He also deployed members of the National Guard to patrol the city and assumed federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
Former NFL ref says Christian McCaffrey’s game-winning score broke clear rule
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey shouldered the team’s offensive output in the win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
But the game-sealing touchdown late in the game was controversial, and one former NFL referee believes it should not have counted.
The 49ers were leading 13-10 with just over two minutes left to play when Mac Jones snapped the ball at the four-yard line, and just like he did most of the game, gave the ball to McCaffrey. But while it appeared the Falcons’ defense stuffed McCaffrey’s attempt at his second touchdown of the game, the pile kept moving until it fell into the colored paint.
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Referees signaled touchdown and McCaffrey was celebrating as it was clear the 49ers looked like they were on the cusp of victory.
However, video replay clearly showed multiple teammates pulling McCaffrey into the end zone. Former NFL referee Terry McAulay, a rules analyst with NBC, joined the “Sunday Night Football” broadcast after play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico asked if he believed the touchdown should stand.
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“It’s illegal to lift or pull the runner in any direction,” McAulay responded. “This should have been a foul for helping the runner, 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.”
If a penalty was called, not only would the touchdown not stand, but the 49ers would’ve had to move a significant yardage backward. It had the opportunity to be a game-changing play for the Falcons, but Michael Penix & Co. were forced to play catch-up with not a lot of time left.
This specific penalty, though, isn’t one that officials are often calling. In fact, according to the Football Zebras, which provides analysis and research on NFL officiating, the last time a player was penalized for pulling a teammate for yardage came in a playoff game in January 1991.
Pulled across the goal line or not, McCaffrey had himself quite the night as his 2025 season continues to be spectacular.
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He had 24 carries for 129 yards with two rushing scores, while leading the 49ers with seven catches for 72 yards to help his team get to 5-2 through the first seven games of the season.
Stephen A Smith reveals decade-long feud with NBA legend: ‘Don’t like his a–‘
Stephen A. Smith still thinks about the LeBron James courtside confrontation, and he told one former NBA star why he felt he was “set up” by the league’s all-time scoring leader in that moment.
Smith and James went viral earlier this year during a Los Angeles Lakers game, where the latter confronted the former in his courtside seat to seemingly address Smith’s criticism of how the Lakers were handling Bronny James, the superstar’s son.
Smith revealed in March that the incident stemmed from his televised critiques of Bronny.
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“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father,” Smith said on ESPN at the time. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who cares very, very deeply about his son.
During a recent episode of “7PM In Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony,” Smith revisited the moment with the New York Knicks legend, saying that the circumstances of the conversation with James as well as how it appeared on camera still doesn’t sit right with him.
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“The day that he rolled up on me courtside, it was the day my contract was announced that I had stayed with ESPN,” Smith explained on the podcast. “Go back and look at the camera angle…This is 2025, we got technology everywhere. TNT is a nationally televised game. How is it we got one angle, and the only angle you see was of him and his face, but you see the back of my peanut head?”
Smith believes that, considering James’ star status, there would’ve been many more camera angles of the courtside meeting.
“There’s no way that you’re in an arena, you’re LeBron James, and the only angle that somebody sees is a straight up shot of you getting in my face,” Smith added. “They see no reaction. They see nothing. And that’s an accident?”
Smith delved into the conspiracy realm here, but he stood his ground as he expressed his feelings about it potentially being an orchestrated confrontation.
“Damn right I did,” Smith quickly responded to a question of whether he felt set up or not. “That’s how I feel. But no big deal, no problem because I go on the air the next day and I’m like, ‘That’s a dad reacting to his son.’”
And in case you’re wondering, no, Smith and James have not made up. In fact, Smith said it plainly how he feels about James.
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“I don’t like his a–, not a little bit,” he said. “This dates back more than a decade. I’m not gonna go into detail at the stuff this man has tried to do to me. You do not understand the lengths this man would go to… If it were up to him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s some low, low stuff.”
The beef is real between these two, and it doesn’t seem like there will be any patching it up heading into the 2025-26 season this week.
‘No Kings’ protester sets internet ablaze with direct call for violence against ICE
A man was captured on video calling for federal immigration agents to be shot while he spoke at a “No Kings” rally in Chicago in a message that quickly went viral on social media, resulting in calls for him to be fired and investigated.
“You gotta grab a gun, we gotta turn around the guns on this fascist system,” the “No Kings” protester said in a video originally posted by GrayStak Media CEO Christopher Sweat.
“These ICE agents gotta get shot and wiped out. The same machinery that’s on full display right there has to get wiped out.”
The video quickly went viral on social media, with many commenting that the man works for the City Colleges of Chicago system.
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“Sickening,” Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller posted on X.
“A staff member at Wilbur Wright College is calling for ICE agents to get ‘shot’ and ‘wiped out.’ This is a criminal threat that should be investigated. Cc: @TheJusticeDept.”
“The most violent group in America. Congrats democrats,” conservative chef and commentator Andrew Gruel posted on X.
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“The silver lining is that No Kings flushed out many violent leftists who couldn’t help but expose themselves publicly,” Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet posted on X. “Their egos and morbid glee got the better of them. These dark souls will now enjoy a well deserved visit from law enforcement for inciting political violence.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the City Colleges of Chicago system for comment multiple times but did not receive a response.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a DOJ spokesperson said, “The Department is actively tracking these targeted assaults against our law enforcement and will hold offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Any official encouraging reckless behavior should think twice before inciting further violence and putting federal agents in harm’s way.”
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ICE agents have faced a 10-fold increase in violence against them over the past few months.
Last week, a 23-year-old illegal immigrant accused of offering $10,000 on TikTok to kill ICE agents was arrested Tuesday in Texas, where he was allegedly carrying a loaded handgun, Fox News Digital exclusively reported.
Podcasters Rogan and Schulz shred Harris’ attempts to return to the spotlight
Podcaster Joe Rogan and comedian Andrew Schulz blasted former Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent book tour, arguing it is an ironic boon to President Donald Trump.
Harris joined liberal journalist Kara Swisher at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., to discuss her new book, “107 Days,” which details her whirlwind experience in the 2024 election. During the interview, Harris touted her own credentials, comparing them to those of the Trump administration and said, “Some people have actually said I was the most qualified candidate ever to run for president.”
“I like the ‘some people say,’ very nice, but go ahead,” Swisher joked in response.
The phrases “some people say” and “many people are saying” are often considered to be some of Trump’s common phrases typically used before he touts the accomplishments of himself and his administration.
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“She was on stage with Kara Swisher, and Kara Swisher was kind of like ragging on her a little bit. She was like, ‘Uh, you know, uh, a lot of — some people said that I was the most qualified person to ever run for president’ Like, who said that? And Kara’s like, ‘Some people said that?’ Like, who said that?” Rogan said. “You are literally running against a guy who was already president. So, if you’re going based on your resume, you’re not more qualified than Biden. Biden was the vice president of the United States for eight years!”
Schulz responded on how the GOP is using Harris’ book tout to show why she lost the election.
“When she went away for a while, I think you could be like, you could pretend about what she was and what she stood for,” Schulz said before highlighting how on her book tour she ignited controversy about why she couldn’t pick Pete Buttigieg as her running mate.
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Rogan pointed to a 2021 Harris’ Columbus Day message that recently resurfaced. Harris said at the time that the U.S. “must not shy away” from its “shameful past” of European explorers who she said ushered “in a wave of devastation for tribal nations.”
“Did you see her Columbus Day message to America?” he asked. “Oh God. It was like, ‘Don’t forget the horrors that the Europeans did to the — OK. Jesus Christ. Scolding!”
Rogan went on to mock how the same people talking about land acknowledgments also push globalism and joked, “Columbus is the only immigrant they hate.”
Harris’ office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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New video appears to show suspects in daring daytime jewel theft at the Louvre
A new video has emerged showing what could be the Louvre thieves in action as they carried out Sunday’s daylight robbery at Paris’s world-famous museum.
The footage, obtained by French broadcaster BFMTV, purportedly shows what has been called one of the most brazen art thefts in recent memory.
The short clip appears to show someone inside the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, which was home to some of the museum’s most priceless treasures.
Footage taken by an anonymous bystander shows a person in a bright yellow jacket standing beside a glass display case.
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The amateur footage was replayed for BFMTV, who filmed that phone’s screen and verified it Sunday. The Associated Press has not been able to independently confirm its authenticity.
According to French authorities, the thieves executed a highly coordinated operation that unfolded just after the museum opened to the public in the morning.
At around 9:30 a.m., thieves used a basket lift to reach the Louvre’s facade, forcing open a window to gain entry to the Apollo Gallery, which contains displays of the royal jewels.
LOUVRE MUSEUM CLOSED AFTER ROBBERY, FRENCH OFFICIAL SAYS
According to reports, the group made off with jewels once belonging to Napoleon III’s court, including pieces from Empress Eugénie’s personal collection.
“They breached through a window and made this really brazen. These guys are fast and moving quickly with a purpose, and they breach, and they get in there really quickly,” former FBI Art Crime expert Tim Carpenter told Fox News Digital.
After the heist, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke to radio station France Inter and said the thieves “entered from the outside using a basket lift” and “a disc cutter” to slice through glass panes containing precious jewels.
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“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled,” the ministry also said in a statement. “Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value.”
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The Louvre remained closed on Monday as investigators combed through the scene and reviewed surveillance footage.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Louvre Museum and the Ministry of Culture for comment.