Category: Politics
Trump admin detransitions name on portrait of former Biden official
A portrait of a transgender-identifying former official of the Department of Health and Human Services now carries his biological name rather than his chosen identity.
Rachel Levine is the first transgender-identifying person to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate and served as the assistant secretary of HHS in the Biden administration.
‘We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.’
Levine’s portrait now reads, “Richard Levine,” his birth name.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement that the decision was made in order to follow “gold-standard science.”
“Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold-standard science,” said Nixon. “We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.”
A spokesperson for Levine called the decision “petty” and bigoted in a statement to NPR.
“During the federal shutdown, the current leadership of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health changed Admiral Levine’s photo to remove her current legal name and use a prior name,” said Levine spokesperson Adrian Shanker.
Shanker went on say it was an act “of bigotry against her.”
Other Democrats condemned the decision.
“Trump officials are so insecure they even erased Admiral Rachel Levine’s name from her own HHS portrait,” responded Democratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont. “Instead of honoring a patriot who is serving this country, they’re busy stoking bigotry, while the rest of America pays the price.”
RELATED: Twitter suspends Tucker Carlson over 7-word tweet on transgender official Rachel Levine
Levine was a prominent supporter of transition surgeries and interventions during his time at HHS.
“Gender-affirming care is medical care,” he said in a 2023 statement. “Gender-affirming care is mental health care. Gender-affirming care is literally suicide prevention care.”
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Illinois governor signs law to counter Trump administration’s ‘depravity’ — DHS fires back immediately
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said a new bill he signed on Tuesday is intended to limit the “depravity” of the Trump administration, but government officials say it’s unconstitutional.
The law restricts federal immigration enforcement outside of state courthouses and allows residents to sue federal immigration agents if they believe their civil rights have been violated. It also restricts similar operations near hospitals, university campuses, and day-care centers.
‘Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending classes should not be a life-altering task.’
“The idea that the Trump administration wants to prevent people from attending courts, doing their civic duty, and protecting public safety just boggles the mind,” Pritzker said about the law.
School officials are prohibited under the new law from reporting the immigration status of a student, employee, or another person associated with the student or employee.
“Today, I’ve signed into law legislation that expands legal protections for the people of Illinois,” the governor wrote in a post on social media. “Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending classes should not be a life-altering task. We will counter the Trump Administration’s depravity.”
The Department of Homeland Security responded by accusing Pritzker of acting unconstitutionally against federal authority.
“Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution, still clearly states: ‘This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof … shall be the supreme Law of the Land,'” reads the statement on social media.
“By signing this law, @GovPritzker violated the Supremacy Clause,” the department added. “We hope the headlines and social media likes are worth it.”
RELATED: Trump names liberal mayor and governor who ‘should be in jail’
A recent DHS report said that as many as 1,768 criminal non-citizens, which includes illegal immigrants and other residents, were released in Illinois despite ICE detainers placed on them. Among the released, there were at least five homicide convictions, 141 assault convictions, and 10 convictions for sexual offenses.
Pritzker is considered by some to be a possible candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
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Trump says US military has seized an oil tanker from Venezuela: ‘Largest one ever seized actually’
The U.S. military has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to comments made by President Donald Trump.
The president has warned government leaders of Venezuela that he would take action against narco-terrorists smuggling harmful drugs from the country into the U.S. Those actions have manifested in military strikes against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean.
‘For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.’
“As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela,” Trump said. “Large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized actually.”
Sources told ABC News that the tanker is referred to as a VLCC, or very large crude carrier, and can carry as many as 2 million barrels of oil.
The president offered few details about the incident but said more information would be released soon.
“It was seized for a very good reason,” he added.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi offered more details in a statement on social media.
“Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran,” she wrote.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” she added. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely — and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.”
She included video from the operation in the post.
Also on Tuesday, the president said in an interview with Politico that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s days were numbered.
RELATED: US strike against military targets in Venezuela could begin at any moment: Report
Democrats have accused the administration of committing war crimes in the strikes on alleged drug-runners. In one incident, two survivors of a strike on a boat were killed by a second strike, which many have said was illegal.
The Trump administration has put up a $50 million reward for the arrest of Maduro.
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‘Shoot ICE on sight’: Twin brothers arrested after allegedly threatening to hang DHS’ Tricia McLaughlin
Though Department of Homeland Security officials continue to bravely execute their deportation mandate, they have been met with a great deal of threats against their safety. In fact, a recent high-profile incident is only the latest example of what has reportedly been an 8,000% increase in death threats against immigration enforcement officials.
On Tuesday, twin brothers were arrested in Abescon, New Jersey, after allegedly issuing death threats to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in general and to a high-profile DHS spokeswoman in particular, according to a DHS press release.
‘We are NOT afraid of you.’
The pair are accused of calling on people to “shoot ICE on sight” on social media.
They also allegedly threatened to hang DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Ricardo Antonio Roman-FloresDepartment of Homeland Security
“Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you.”
“The extreme rhetoric of the news media, sanctuary politicians, and activists is leading directly to our law enforcement officers facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
RELATED: This Southern sanctuary city is next on the list for federal immigration law enforcement
Firearms and ammunition found at the scene of the arrest. Department of Homeland Security
Emilio Roman-Flores is charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy terroristic threats, criminal coercion, threats, and cyber harassment.
His twin brother, Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, is charged with conspiracy terroristic threats.
The pair were held at Absecon Police Department upon their arrest. Both are United States citizens.
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TRUMP TORCHES OMAR! Don Says, ‘I Want to See People Who Contribute — All She Does is Complain, Complain, Complain’ [WATCH]
![TRUMP TORCHES OMAR! Don Says, ‘I Want to See People Who Contribute — All She Does is Complain, Complain, Complain’ [WATCH]](https://hannity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2194708624-300x200.jpg "Senate And House Democrats Hold News Conference Announcing \"Neighbors Not Enemies\" Act")
During a recent interview with Politico, President Trump blasted Minnesota Rep.
Teenager sues high school after tribute to Charlie Kirk was called vandalism
Officials at a North Carolina high school are being accused of violating a student’s constitutional rights over a tribute to Charlie Kirk that was called vandalism.
Gabby Stout told Fox News Digital that she called the school in September and asked if she could paint the patriotic tribute on the school’s “spirit rock.” The junior said officials at Ardrey Kell High School had authorized the tribute as long as it didn’t include political speech or vulgarity.
‘I was very intimidated and scared, as I had no idea what I did wrong or that I could be getting in trouble.’
Stout said she and two friends painted a heart on the large stone and added the messages, “Freedom 1776,” as well as, “Live Like Kirk — John 11:25.”
The school responded by painting over the rock and accusing Stout of vandalizing the rock. School officials also said they contacted law enforcement and an investigation was under way.
“If students were responsible for the vandalism, they may be disciplined,” reads a statement from the principal.
Stout said she was shocked by the school’s actions.
“I was completely shocked,” Stout said to Fox News Digital. “I was very intimidated and scared, as I had no idea what I did wrong or that I could be getting in trouble for simply sharing and expressing my views and beliefs.”
The school later announced that it was not an act of vandalism, Stout would face no disciplinary action, and there had not been a law enforcement investigation.
Stout said that she has faced health issues from the ostracization, alienation, and stress over the accusations. She claims to have received hateful messages that included, “Die like Kirk.”
The lawsuit was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of Stout’s parents and accuses the school of violating her constitutional rights. They point out that the school had allowed other political statements before the Kirk tribute, including one for the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
“So they’ll facilitate that kind of left-wing student expression and not just facilitate it, but praise the students who participated,” ADF senior counsel Travis Barham said. “But let Gabby express a conservative or Christian view on the spirit rock, and criminal charges fly.”
RELATED: Liberals spew hatred against moment of silence for Charlie Kirk on Thursday Night Football
The lawsuit says she was targeted because of her beliefs.
“I don’t think it was fair what happened to me because of my beliefs or my views, which are religious and conservative,” she said. “This has never happened to another group that the school district or school has agreed with. I thought that I was going to get in trouble for sharing my views and my beliefs.”
The board declined to comment to Fox News Digital on the lawsuit.
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