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LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa made a surprising announcement Friday that he will not seek reelection, abandoning his earlier pledge to fight for his seat in a newly redrawn district.

“It’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa stated. “Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life.”

The wealthy former car alarm executive, ranked among Congress’s richest members, gained prominence as a fierce critic of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his tenure leading the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Issa’s unexpected decision adds complications to the battle for Southern California’s 48th District, which underwent significant boundary changes last November when California voters approved new congressional maps designed to benefit Democrats.

Without an incumbent candidate, Republicans face greater challenges in defending the seat, potentially threatening the party’s narrow House majority.

Following the redistricting process, Issa had contemplated relocating to Texas to pursue a congressional seat there but ultimately chose to remain in California.

“I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” the San Diego County-based representative had declared in an earlier statement.

The revised congressional boundaries, championed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, aim to flip up to five GOP-controlled seats to Democratic hands this election cycle, countering President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure five additional Republican seats in Texas.

WASHINGTON — During a White House roundtable Friday, President Donald Trump made a startling comparison, telling reporters that handling the Iran conflict was simpler than tackling college sports reform and controlling athlete salaries — a remark he later seemed to reconsider.

The president gathered sports industry leaders including former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, and Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua for more than an hour of discussion about how lucrative athlete deals and recent NCAA changes like the transfer portal have damaged college athletics.

While presidents typically juggle numerous complex issues simultaneously, the timing of this extended sports discussion was particularly notable, occurring just one week after U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran. When a journalist began questioning him about Iran, Trump cut them off, stating: “That’s an easy problem compared to what we’re doing here.”

After a follow-up question regarding his Thursday dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the president expressed frustration, saying “Ugh” before asking, “Is it possible to stay on this subject, just for once?”

Trump later showed more contemplation when questioned about his focus on college sports amid global crises.

“I saw what was happening with college sports. And it doesn’t sound very important compared to what’s happening in Iran and other places,” he acknowledged. “But it is very important to me. And if I can get it done, I’ll get it done.”

The president did briefly address Iran, rating U.S. military operations “a 12 to 15” on a scale of one to ten.

College athletics, especially football, enjoys massive popularity and presents ongoing governance challenges. Trump has repeatedly criticized the NCAA’s name, image and likeness policies that allow athletes to earn increasingly substantial payments.

He argues that high-revenue sports like football are undermining smaller programs and women’s athletics, claiming some universities are spending so heavily on athlete compensation that they face financial ruin.

The roundtable followed Trump’s private meetings with senior officials, presumably addressing Iran and other pressing matters. He announced that defense contractors had committed to boosting weapons manufacturing during those discussions.

Nevertheless, it was unexpected that Trump — accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — dedicated such extensive time to collegiate sports issues.

The president heard Saban quip, “I’m just a football coach.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and others shared their passion for college football and concerns about its direction. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer contributed his perspective, along with New York Yankees President Randy Levine. No active college athletes joined the discussion.

“I’m here as long as you need me,” Trump promised the group, which included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a previous College Football Playoff Selection Committee member.

The gathering centered on Trump urging Congress to approve the SCORE Act or similar legislation. This proposed law would establish new college sports regulations, though critics denounce it as favoring the NCAA and major athletic programs.

When informed the legislation likely wouldn’t gain congressional approval, Trump pledged to create his own executive order addressing college sports.

“If this doesn’t work, colleges are going to be destroyed,” he warned.

It remained unclear how this would differ from his July executive order requiring federal agencies to determine whether college athletes qualify as school employees. Trump instead expressed nostalgia for pre-name, image and likeness era policies.

“Is there any way we could go back to the old system, which I thought was fantastic?” Trump wondered aloud, supporting a return to scholarship-based compensation while suggesting athletes could receive “some compensation, more minimal, but a lot.”

The Trump administration filed an appeal Friday with a federal court, seeking to restore executive orders that targeted four prominent law firms after lower courts blocked the controversial directives.

In documents submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Justice Department argued that four federal judges exceeded their judicial authority when they struck down the orders. The department claimed the judges “bent over backwards” to invalidate Trump’s directives against Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey “without considering their plainly constitutional aspects and applications.”

The targeted law firms had filed legal challenges, claiming the Republican president was illegally retaliating against them. They argued the punishment came because they represented Trump’s political opponents, clients who sued over his policies, or employed attorneys who participated in previous government investigations involving the president.

The executive orders Trump issued would have prevented lawyers from these firms from entering federal buildings and terminated government contracts with the firms’ clients.

Federal judges determined Trump’s actions breached First Amendment free speech protections and Fifth Amendment due process guarantees, leading them to issue permanent injunctions against the directives.

The Justice Department’s appeal came after an unusual sequence of events earlier this week. On Monday, the department moved to drop its appeals of the court decisions, only to reverse course the next day. Friday’s filing represents the first time the administration has detailed its legal reasoning for wanting to reinstate the orders.

WilmerHale responded Friday with a statement saying “we disagree with the government’s decision to appeal this judicial consensus, and we will proudly continue to defend our clients and our firm.”

Trump had criticized the four law firms for what he called “weaponizing” the court system against him and his supporters, while also condemning their workplace diversity initiatives as discriminatory.

In the appeal filing, the Justice Department framed the dispute as being “not about the sanctity of the American law firm” but rather “about lower courts encroaching on the constitutional power of the president” regarding national security and related issues.

Nine additional major law firms, including Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps, Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, avoided similar targeting by reaching agreements with Trump last year. These settlements required the firms to commit nearly $1 billion in pro bono legal services supporting causes Trump endorses.

Friday marked the deadline for the administration to submit its initial appeal documents. The D.C. Circuit has not announced when it will schedule oral arguments on the matter.

The Trump administration is directing federal agencies to develop additional strategies for tackling rising energy costs as the conflict with Iran continues to drive up fuel prices, sources familiar with the discussions revealed.

According to one source, high-ranking officials have instructed the Energy, Transportation, and Treasury departments, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, to present additional policy alternatives. The focus remains on actions President Trump can take independently, without requiring Congressional approval.

These directives suggest the administration is preparing for potentially more aggressive intervention should oil and gasoline costs continue their upward trajectory. Political experts warn that elevated fuel prices could damage Trump and Republican candidates in the upcoming November midterm elections, where Congressional control hangs in the balance.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers addressed the coordination efforts, stating: “Obviously the White House is coordinating with the interagency on this important issue, if we were not, it would be a problem. President Trump and his entire energy team have had a strong game plan to keep oil prices stable well before Operation Epic Fury began, and they will continue to review all credible options and execute on them when appropriate.”

On Friday, both domestic and international crude oil futures surpassed $90 per barrel, with U.S. prices jumping more than 12 percent. The increase stems from Middle Eastern supply disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz’s effective shutdown during the escalating U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

American gasoline costs have spiked in recent weeks to heights not witnessed since late 2024. Regular unleaded now averages more than $3.30 nationally, while diesel has reached $4.26 per gallon.

The administration has maintained a measured approach to energy market intervention, concerned that overly aggressive tactics might produce negative consequences. Officials emphasize that comprehensive measures require careful planning, warning that poorly executed initiatives could destabilize markets, undermine public confidence, and create political problems. Industry experts remain doubtful about the administration’s ability to significantly impact pricing.

Among the strategies under consideration are suspending federal gasoline taxes and relaxing environmental standards for summer fuel blends to permit higher ethanol content, as Reuters previously documented.

The Treasury Department is examining a proposal involving oil futures markets, though no immediate announcement is planned.

Trump issued an order Tuesday directing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to offer insurance protection against losses from political instability or conflict affecting Gulf maritime commerce. This action followed the complete halt of oil and liquefied natural gas tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20 percent of global daily oil shipments.

Market reaction to the insurance initiative has been mixed. Analysts question whether financial guarantees alone can address the operational and security challenges created by escalating regional tensions.

The administration announced Friday it would provide reinsurance coverage for up to $20 billion in Gulf region losses to encourage confidence among oil and gas shipping companies during the Iranian conflict.

The Trump administration has developed new regulations governing artificial intelligence contracts with civilian agencies, mandating that AI firms must permit unlimited lawful applications of their technology systems, according to a Financial Times report published Friday.

The proposed regulations, which the Financial Times reviewed in draft form, would compel artificial intelligence companies wanting government contracts to provide the United States with permanent, irrevocable licensing rights for any legal application of their AI systems.

These new requirements come as tensions escalate between military officials and Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, over restrictions on government use of AI technology.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the Financial Times reporting on these proposed guidelines.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated Friday that the United States may eliminate sanctions on additional Russian oil supplies, following Washington’s decision to grant a 30-day exemption permitting Russian crude oil stuck at sea to be sold to India.

Speaking on Fox Business’ “Kudlow” show, Bessent stated, “We may unsanction other Russian oil.”

The Treasury Secretary explained that vast quantities of restricted oil remain in limbo on vessels worldwide. “There are hundreds of millions of sanctioned barrels of sanctioned crude on the water and in essence, by unsanctioning them, Treasury can create supply, and we are looking at that,” Bessent said.

The comments come as the administration weighs options for addressing global oil markets and supply concerns.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump addressed sports industry leaders on Friday, declaring that escalating expenses related to college football player compensation are damaging university athletic programs across the nation and require congressional intervention. The president also indicated he may issue an executive order addressing the situation.

During the White House East Room event, Trump explained that name, image and likeness compensation agreements for football players have created financial strain for universities, with some institutions being forced to eliminate other athletic programs like fencing.

“We have to save college sports,” Trump stated to the assembled sports leaders.

The landscape changed dramatically following a 2021 Supreme Court decision that permitted college athletes to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness rights, overturning a previous NCAA prohibition that had been in place until five years prior.

Trump emphasized that congressional legislation is necessary to reform how NIL agreements are utilized.

“The amount of money being spent and lost by otherwise very successful schools is astounding,” he remarked.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking at the same gathering, confirmed that lawmakers are developing legislation to tackle the issue and expressed confidence in bipartisan backing.

“We want to accomplish the necessary ends, and we think we’re very close,” Johnson stated.

Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban advocated for implementing an effective revenue-sharing framework and finding solutions for football players who remain eligible to compete for six or seven years, reaching their mid-twenties while still in college athletics.

HONOLULU — Colleen Hanabusa, a groundbreaking politician who became Hawaii’s first female state Senate president before serving multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, passed away Friday morning at age 74.

Mike Formby, her longtime friend and former House chief of staff, confirmed that Hanabusa died following a five-month fight against cancer.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced her death Friday and directed both U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff through Monday morning as a mark of respect.

Green praised Hanabusa for breaking down barriers as the state Senate’s first female leader and noted that she “spent decades advocating for her community with strength, determination and heart.” He added, “Her legacy of leadership and public service will continue to inspire generations to come.”

The attorney grew up in Waianae on Oahu’s west side, where her family operated an automotive service business.

From 1999 through 2010, she served constituents from the Waianae Coast and Leeward Oahu regions in the state legislature.

A pivotal moment in her career came in 2012 when U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye passed away while Hanabusa was serving in Congress. Inouye had written a hand-signed note on his final day, expressing his desire for Hanabusa to take his place, describing it as his “last wish.”

However, then-Governor Neil Abercrombie selected Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz for the Senate position instead.

Determined to honor Inouye’s request, Hanabusa later abandoned her House seat to pursue the Senate role.

“Brian was not elected. He was appointed,” she stated during that campaign. “And I don’t think the people have really had an opportunity to weigh in on who they want to represent them in the United States Senate.”

The 2014 Senate race ended in heartbreak for Hanabusa, who fell short by less than one percent against Schatz.

She successfully regained her former House position in 2016, returning to Washington for another term.

Following that victory, she shared her concerns about Donald Trump’s presidential election win.

“I just didn’t expect the rest of the nation to vote as resoundingly as they did,” Hanabusa commented after her own election results came in. “It’s just a statement about how they feel. And when you think about the things that he said and he stood for, it’s got to give everyone cause to just pause and think about, ‘What are we saying to the world, what are we saying to each other?’”

In 2018, she once again left her congressional role to seek the governor’s mansion but was defeated by former Governor David Ige in the Democratic primary contest.

Most recently, Honolulu’s mayor named Hanabusa to oversee the city’s troubled rail project, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns, in 2021.

Her husband John Souza survives her, along with two cherished dogs, Frannie and Pupper, according to Formby, who currently works as managing director in the Honolulu mayor’s office.

The Pentagon’s top technology official has revealed new details about a contentious dispute with artificial intelligence company Anthropic regarding the military use of autonomous weapons systems, including discussions about President Trump’s planned Golden Dome missile defense initiative that would deploy American weapons in space.

Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael, who serves as the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, described Anthropic’s ethical limitations on its Claude chatbot as unreasonable barriers as the military works to increase automation in drone swarms, underwater vessels, and other combat systems to match capabilities being developed by competitors like China.

“I need a reliable, steady partner that gives me something, that’ll work with me on autonomous, because someday it’ll be real and we’re starting to see earlier versions of that,” Michael stated during a podcast that aired Friday. “I need someone who’s not going to wig out in the middle.”

These revelations follow the Pentagon’s official classification of the San Francisco-based Anthropic as a supply chain security threat, effectively terminating its defense contracts through regulations meant to protect national security infrastructure from foreign interference.

The AI company has announced plans to challenge the classification in court, as the designation impacts its partnerships with other defense contractors.

President Trump has also directed federal agencies to cease using Claude immediately, though he granted the Pentagon a six-month transition period to remove the technology from classified military networks, including systems currently deployed in the Iran conflict.

According to Anthropic, the company only sought to limit two specific applications of its technology: widespread surveillance of American citizens and completely autonomous weapon systems.

Michael, who previously worked as an Uber executive, shared his perspective on months of discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei during an appearance on the “All-In” podcast, hosted by Silicon Valley investors Jason Calacanis, David Friedberg, and Chamath Palihapitiya.

Notably absent from the episode was co-host David Sacks, a former PayPal executive who now serves as Trump’s AI advisor and has publicly criticized Anthropic, particularly for recruiting former Biden administration personnel after Trump’s return to office.

When negotiations stalled last week, Michael publicly attacked Amodei on social media, claiming he “has a God-complex” and “wants nothing more than to try to personally control” military operations. However, during the podcast, he framed the disagreement as part of the military’s broader integration of artificial intelligence.

Michael explained that the military is creating protocols for various levels of automated warfare based on threat assessment.

“This is part of the debate I had with Anthropic, which is we need AI for things like Golden Dome,” Michael explained, describing a hypothetical situation where the United States would have just 90 seconds to counter a Chinese hypersonic missile attack.

He argued that a human missile defense operator “may not be able to discriminate with their own eyes what they’re going after,” while an automated response would pose minimal risk “because it’s in space and you’re just trying to hit something that’s trying to get you.”

In another example, he asked, “who could oppose if you have a military base, you have a bunch of soldiers sleeping, that you have a laser that can take down drones autonomously?”

Responding to Michael’s podcast statements, Anthropic referenced an earlier comment from Amodei stating “Anthropic understands that the Department of War, not private companies, makes military decisions. We have never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner.”

Michael, who assumed his role as defense undersecretary for research and engineering last May, said he took control of the military’s “AI portfolio” in August. At that time, he began reviewing Anthropic’s existing contracts, some established during the Biden administration, questioning usage terms he considered overly restrictive.

“I need to have the terms of service be rational relative to our mission set,” he explained. “So we started these negotiations. It took three months and I had to sort of give them scenarios, like this Chinese hypersonic missile example. They’re like, ‘OK, we’ll give you an exception for that.’ Well, how about this drone swarm? ‘We’ll give an exception for that.’ And I was like, exceptions doesn’t work. I can’t predict for the next 20 years what (are) all the things we might use AI for.”

This led the Pentagon to demand that Anthropic and other AI companies permit “all lawful use” of their technology, according to Michael.

While Anthropic refused this broader authorization, its competitors including Google, OpenAI, and Elon Musk’s xAI accepted the terms, though some are still preparing their systems for classified military applications, Michael noted. Anthropic’s other major concern involved preventing bulk surveillance of American citizens.

“They didn’t want us to bulk-collect public information on people using their AI system,” Michael said, characterizing the negotiations as “interminable.”

Anthropic has challenged aspects of Michael’s account of the discussions and stressed that its proposed safeguards were limited in scope and not related to any current Claude applications. The dispute’s next phase will likely unfold in federal court.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning about American higher education during a White House meeting Friday, claiming the nation’s entire university system faces collapse unless urgent action addresses the financial chaos in college athletics.

Speaking to sports officials, lawmakers, and education leaders gathered in the East Room, Trump announced plans to issue a comprehensive executive order within seven days aimed at forcing Congressional action on the mounting crisis. The president acknowledged his order would likely face legal challenges that could return the matter to federal courts.

“The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this,” Trump stated when questioned about prioritizing sports issues amid other pressing national concerns.

The crisis stems from recent changes allowing college athletes to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness, which has created severe budget strains for many universities while regulatory frameworks remain incomplete.

Trump expressed nostalgia for the previous system, saying “I thought the system of scholarships was great,” referring to the former era when student-athletes received only educational financial aid. He criticized the court settlement that enabled current payment structures as “horrible,” calling it something that “threw the sports world and college the college athletic world into ‘tithers.’”

Meeting attendees – including conference commissioners, NCAA leadership, and Olympic officials but notably excluding any of the NCAA’s 550,000 student-athletes – largely agreed on the need for immediate intervention. The gathering focused on the SCORE Act, a stalled House bill that could serve as the foundation for reform efforts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated sufficient votes now exist to advance the legislation, though significant disagreements remain about funding solutions.

Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell, present at the summit, requested inclusion in a smaller working group to help craft Trump’s executive order. Campbell has advocated for revising the Sports Broadcasting Act to permit college conferences to combine their television rights, potentially generating an additional $6 billion to sustain athletic programs for decades.

However, major conferences including the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten dispute these projections.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey emphasized the urgency of Senate action, telling lawmakers: “This is not about revenue, this is about structures and national standards.” He outlined how the SCORE Act would address multiple issues, including a controversial limited antitrust exemption for the NCAA that faces Democratic opposition.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, whose committee plays a crucial role in advancing legislation, stressed the need to examine both expenses and revenue streams in developing solutions.

“If we wait another year, wait another two years, the programs in your state are going away and the students in your state are losing their scholarships,” Cruz warned. “It would be an absolute travesty if we let that happen.”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A south Minneapolis grocery store owner who has been serving Latino families for more than five years says his business is now facing closure because of lasting financial harm from the country’s most extensive immigration enforcement operation.

Daniel Hernandez reports that his customers continue avoiding public spaces or have dramatically cut back their purchases, while 10 out of 12 Latino small businesses leasing space in his building have remained closed since the operation began. Despite the Trump administration reducing the scope of the crackdown and dismissing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, the economic consequences continue to affect the community.

The Mexican immigrant explained that since the enforcement action started in December, just one tenant — an ice cream shop owned by Ecuadorians — has managed to reopen.

“I don’t know if my business will survive, being honest,” Hernandez said. “The amount of damage is so big that I am afraid.”

Noem’s removal came following growing criticism of her leadership, particularly regarding her management of the enforcement operation and the response to fatal shootings of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents.

The exact number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel remaining in Minnesota remains unclear after reaching approximately 3,000 during the operation’s peak. Noem testified to Congress this week that 650 officers were still deployed.

However, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar reported to Minnesota Public Radio that White House border coordinator Tom Homan contacted her to dispute that figure, stating they had reduced staffing to the original level of slightly more than 100 ICE agents, plus additional investigators handling fraud cases.

Federal immigration and homeland security agencies did not respond to Friday requests for clarification.

Similar to Hernandez’s Colonial Market, numerous immigrant-owned businesses and those serving immigrant populations are experiencing continued financial difficulties from dramatic sales declines.

“Instead of spending $150, now they spend $30, $40,” Hernandez said.

Some customers have stopped visiting entirely — either from fear of detention regardless of immigration status, or because financial constraints prevent them from working.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reported last month that small businesses have suffered collective revenue losses in the tens of millions. He calculated the federal immigration operation cost the city’s economy $203 million during January alone and resulted in 76,000 residents experiencing food insecurity.

“We warn our community that the fight is not over,” stated Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a Somali American, during Friday’s press conference. “It is a good day to say good riddance to Kristi Noem. But it’s not a good day to walk away from the fight.”

Many activists believe their intensive community mobilization against the operation was instrumental in forcing the administration to retreat. They credit the experience with creating robust neighborhood support systems that will endure and continue advocating for social justice.

Minneapolis resident Patty O’Keefe, who was arrested in January for following a federal agent’s vehicle, expressed satisfaction about Noem’s departure but emphasized more changes are needed.

“It’s a sign that we’re winning, that the Trump administration feels like they have to make a change to save face because they’re losing public support and losing the narrative,” she said. “And I think it’s a testament to the hard work of Minnesotans who fought back against this war of political retribution and xenophobia that has been and continues to be waged against us.”

Brandon Sigüenza, who was arrested alongside O’Keefe, said the community isn’t celebrating because the enforcement continues.

“I don’t think Minneapolitans are necessarily dancing in the streets. Because there’s still no justice for Renee Good, there’s still no justice for Alex Pretti,” Sigüenza said.

Psychologist Lucy Olson helped establish a covert grassroots network that expanded to include 2,000 volunteers supporting approximately 500 immigrant families with legal aid, housing, food, and rental assistance. She believes the mutual support systems created during the crackdown will persist to address ongoing community needs.

“For those of us who had the honor of participating as volunteers, I think we will never be the same,” Olson said. “I think there’s been cross-cultural friendships, the opportunity to build out neighborhood networks that have changed the face of our city.”

Civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong told the press conference with Hussein that Noem should have been dismissed following Good and Pretti’s deaths.

Levy Armstrong, an ordained nondenominational Christian minister, is among 39 individuals facing indictments for their alleged participation in a January protest at a St. Paul church where pastor David Easterwood serves as a senior local ICE official. She said she had been praying for Thursday’s news of Noem’s dismissal.

“So while we celebrate the fact that this woman has been removed from her high perch — where she thought she was untouchable, she thought she could literally allow these agents to get away with murder — we recognize that this system is very broken,” Levy Armstrong said.

Brenda Lewis, who leads Fridley Public Schools in suburban Minneapolis, said Noem’s dismissal “doesn’t really matter” because student safety in her district remains compromised.

Fridley, serving many Somali and Ecuadorian families, has experienced increased ICE presence over two months. Federal vehicles appeared in neighborhoods near schools and at school board members’ residences.

Among the district’s approximately 2,700 students, more than 112 have withdrawn enrollment, Lewis reported. An additional 400 students are attending virtually. The district has also lost $130,000 in funding due to decreased meal program participation.

“It’s not a Democrat or a Republican issue,” Lewis said. “It’s about children’s safety, and we need to really come together and ensure that this absolute removal of safety for school children by a federal agency can never ever happen again in the state or the country.”

While Minnesota’s leading Republican officials generally backed Noem’s management of the operation, they have remained largely quiet about her removal. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer — the state’s highest-ranking Republican — did not respond to Friday requests for comment.

However, moderate GOP state Senator Jim Abeler from suburban Anoka noted he contacted Noem in January expressing “grave concerns” about some of her officers’ conduct in Minnesota.

“With her departure, I hope that what happened in Minnesota won’t happen anywhere else,” Abeler said in a statement.

A Brooklyn federal jury delivered a guilty verdict Friday against a Pakistani businessman who orchestrated a failed assassination scheme targeting American political leaders, with prosecutors linking the plot to Iran’s military forces.

Asif Merchant, 47, was found guilty on terrorism and murder-for-hire charges after a week-long trial where he admitted to attempting to arrange killings during the height of the 2024 presidential election season. The jury reached their decision in just a few hours of deliberation.

During his testimony, Merchant revealed he was following orders from an operative within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the country’s elite paramilitary force. He stated that while his handler never identified specific targets, discussions included then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, sitting President Joe Biden, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was also seeking the Republican nomination at the time.

Iran’s government has rejected accusations of plotting to eliminate American officials.

The conspiracy unraveled when Merchant demonstrated his intentions to an associate by arranging items on a napkin to simulate a shooting at a political rally. When he requested help finding professional killers, the associate instead connected him with undercover FBI operatives who documented their interactions.

During a meeting in a parked Manhattan vehicle, Merchant told the supposed assassins he required services that might involve eliminating “some political person” and provided them with $5,000 in cash.

“This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump — instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement,” Attorney General Pam Bondi declared following the conviction.

Defense attorney Avraham Moskowitz has not responded to requests for comment.

Merchant spent decades working in Pakistan’s banking sector before transitioning to clothing and other commercial ventures. He maintains families in both Pakistan and Iran and previously traveled to America for his textile business operations.

According to his court testimony, Merchant encountered a Revolutionary Guard intelligence officer approximately three years ago. This contact provided him with surveillance evasion techniques and various assignments, including the assassination plan.

Merchant insisted he felt compelled to follow his handler’s directions to safeguard family members living in Iran. He claimed he reluctantly participated while expecting to be apprehended and able to clarify his circumstances to law enforcement before any violence occurred.

“I was going along with it,” he testified in Urdu through a court translator.

Federal prosecutors highlighted that Merchant confessed to actively pursuing the scheme on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, and failed to voluntarily contact authorities.

Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2024, as he prepared to depart for Pakistan. This occurred one day before a separate, unrelated assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials indicated the Pennsylvania shooter appeared to operate independently, though they had been monitoring Iranian threats against Trump, which Iran dismissed as “unsubstantiated and malicious.”

When Merchant later spoke with FBI agents about potential cooperation, he did not mention acting under duress to protect his family.

Prosecutors contended he failed to substantiate his defense of operating under coercion. Merchant attempted to convince jurors he simply believed the agents wouldn’t accept his explanation because they appeared to “think that I am some type of super-spy,” which he insisted he was “absolutely not.”

Merchant now faces a potential life sentence in federal prison.

The Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra has resigned from her position, leaving the prestigious ensemble based at Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Jean Davidson announced her resignation on Friday, telling the New York Times that “It’s no secret that this has been a really hard year.” She revealed that she began seeking new employment opportunities several months ago and will now lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in California.

The National Symphony Orchestra has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding Davidson’s departure.

Her resignation comes during a period of significant upheaval at the Kennedy Center, the nation’s premier cultural venue named in honor of President John F. Kennedy following his death. President Donald Trump has assumed the role of chairman and implemented major organizational changes, including installing a board that voted to incorporate his name into the institution. Trump recently revealed plans to shut down the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation period.

Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who serves as an ex-officio Kennedy Center board member, initiated legal action last year challenging the name modification. She has now expanded her lawsuit to request court intervention to prevent efforts to “shutter and gut” the facility.

Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, responded to the legal challenges in a statement, saying “We’re confident the court will uphold the board’s decision on the name change and the desperately needed renovations which will continue as scheduled.”

Beatty’s lawsuit also alleges that Trump-appointed Republican board members illegally removed voting privileges from her and other congressional ex-officio board members representing both political parties.

When asked about the voting rights dispute, Daravi’s office directed inquiries to previous statements made to the Washington Post, where she maintained that ex-officio members have historically not participated in voting. “The bylaws were revised to reflect this longstanding precedent and everyone received the technical changes both before the meeting and after revisions,” Daravi explained in correspondence with the Post.

The Kennedy Center has experienced numerous performance cancellations since Trump’s return to office, with dozens of artists withdrawing from scheduled appearances. While various reasons have been cited for these cancellations, several performers have specifically mentioned disagreement with elements of Trump’s political agenda. The venue traditionally hosts significant cultural events, including the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony held each December.

ATLANTA — Georgia Republican legislators are advancing additional measures to restrict local prosecutors, claiming their probe into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis demonstrates the necessity for such actions.

Willis secured an indictment in August 2023 against Trump and 18 co-defendants, alleging their involvement in a comprehensive conspiracy to unlawfully reverse the 2020 presidential election outcome. The case was thrown out in November when courts prohibited Willis and her team from continuing the prosecution due to an “appearance of impropriety” related to a romantic involvement she maintained with a prosecutor she recruited to spearhead the case.

Multiple state senators supporting legislation that cleared the chamber Friday are campaigning for statewide positions, with primary elections scheduled for May 19. The prospects for prosecutor-related bills remain uncertain in the House, which maintains less partisan divisions than the Senate while still under Republican leadership.

The Senate-approved legislation expands the grounds for disciplining or dismissing local prosecutors through a commission established in 2024 to oversee elected district attorneys throughout Georgia, along with elected solicitors general handling minor offenses in certain counties.

The proposal empowers the commission to take action against prosecutors for breaching bar regulations, failing to inform crime victims about prosecutorial decisions, not responding to public records requests, or demonstrating “undue bias or prejudice” toward defendants.

“We received substantial evidence and heard testimony regarding prosecutor behavior and the genuine erosion of public confidence in the independence and fairness of prosecuting attorneys statewide,” stated Sen. Bill Cowsert, an Athens Republican seeking the attorney general position.

While Cowsert rejected claims the legislation specifically targeted Willis, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has received Trump’s backing in his gubernatorial campaign, offered a different perspective.

“Fani Willis’ lawfare against President Trump and his supporters has demonstrated the critical importance of oversight through the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission,” Jones declared in a statement. “This legislation provides the PAQC with tools to address DAs who avoid transparency, participate in unprofessional conduct, and fail to fulfill their obligations to crime victims.”

Among 140 complaints submitted to the commission in 2025, only three complaints concerning the same rural county solicitor general avoided dismissal. Washington County Solicitor General Michael Howard stepped down in July during an investigation, promising never to seek prosecutor office again.

Senators previously approved legislation strengthening the commission’s investigation capabilities during the session. However, this represents a modest result from the investigation, which included Willis’ own December appearance featuring heated exchanges with Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal, who is seeking the lieutenant governor role.

A second Friday proposal failed that would have required district attorneys and certain county officials in five Democratic-leaning metro Atlanta counties to run on nonpartisan ballots. This change would have affected Willis, a Democrat. Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, contended nonpartisan officials would deliver better results. The measure collapsed after eight Republicans opposed it.

A third proposal initially would have permitted Georgia’s attorney general to intervene in major criminal cases without district attorney approval, but Democrats supported the revised version after Cowsert modified it to allow district attorneys to seek assistance.

The state Senate established the Special Committee on Investigations in January 2024 to examine misconduct allegations against Willis, an elected Democrat, regarding her Trump prosecution.

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure came to an abrupt end Thursday when President Donald Trump announced her dismissal, following intense congressional scrutiny over a controversial $220 million advertising campaign that prominently showcased the outgoing secretary.

The dismissal followed two days of heated congressional hearings where Noem faced sharp questioning from Republican lawmakers about the expensive ad campaign, which included a video of her riding horseback through a forest near Mount Rushmore while delivering tough border security messages.

According to an administration official speaking anonymously, the costly advertising effort and several other leadership missteps, including problems with an immigration operation in Minnesota and staff management issues, contributed to Trump’s decision to remove her from the position.

Throughout her 13-month service, Noem consistently positioned herself as the visible representative of the department’s immigration enforcement efforts. Her social media presence featured numerous videos showing her participating in migrant arrest operations, photographs of her at an El Salvadoran prison, and airport announcements where she blamed Democrats for government shutdowns.

The Mount Rushmore advertisement combined patriotic imagery including rocket launches and wheat fields with footage of Trump’s swearing-in ceremony and his response to an assassination attempt. In the video, Noem delivers a stern warning while dressed in western attire.

“Anyone who searches for freedom can always find a home here, but that freedom’s a precious thing. And we defend it vigorously. You cross the border illegally, we’ll find you,” Noem states in the promotional material.

“But if you come here the right way, your American dream can be as big as these open skies. From President Trump and me, Welcome home,” she continues.

During this week’s congressional questioning, Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana challenged the appropriateness of the massive spending while the administration fought against government waste. Kennedy directly asked about presidential approval for the campaign.

“The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?” Kennedy inquired.

“Yes, sir,” Noem responded. “We went through the legal processes. Did it correctly.”

Lawmakers also pressed Noem about contract awards related to the campaign. The Associated Press previously reported that the Department of Homeland Security bypassed standard competitive bidding procedures, citing urgent border conditions, and awarded initial funding to two firms with Republican connections.

When Noem defended the campaign’s effectiveness to Kennedy, he replied sharply: “Well, they were effective in your name recognition.”

Kennedy suggested the campaign created serious problems for the president, expressing doubt about Trump’s supposed approval. “It’s just hard for me to believe knowing the president as I do, that you said, ‘Mr. President, here’s some ads I’ve cut and I’m going to spend $220 million running them’ that he would have agreed to that,” Kennedy stated.

Trump later contradicted Noem’s testimony in an NBC News interview, claiming ignorance about the campaign and expressing displeasure with it.

“I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it,” Trump said.

Kennedy revealed that Trump contacted him Tuesday evening in an angry state about the situation. “Her version and the president’s version of whether the president, A) was informed and B) consented are decidedly different,” Kennedy explained.

Following Noem’s termination, Kennedy described speaking with Trump after the secretary’s testimony, saying the president was “mad as a murder hornet.”

When Trump initially selected Noem for his Cabinet, he praised their long relationship and called her “very strong” on border security. As recently as January, following controversy in Minneapolis, Trump said she was performing “great.”

Beyond the Mount Rushmore advertisement, Noem appeared in additional promotional content and maintained a constant social media presence showing her fieldwork. From her first days in office, she made herself visible during enforcement operations, including arrests in New York City where she wore protective gear and described removing “dirtbags off the streets.”

Her public appearances included piloting aircraft in Alaska, participating in firefighting training exercises, and accompanying agents during a Chicago raid near a Walmart location. In one controversial video, she stood before crowded prison cells in El Salvador, warning potential illegal immigrants about possible consequences.

While Noem successfully elevated her public profile, she ultimately became another senior administration official to clash with the president and face removal from her position. Trump announced Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement and said Noem would serve as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new Western Hemisphere security initiative.

MIAMI — Federal prosecutors in Miami are exploring potential criminal charges against officials from Cuba’s government, sources familiar with the situation report. This development unfolds as President Trump continues discussing the prospect of a “friendly takeover” of the Caribbean nation.

Jason Reding Quiñones, who serves as the federal prosecutor for South Florida, has assembled a specialized team combining federal attorneys with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and additional agencies. Their mission involves developing criminal cases targeting individuals linked to Cuba’s government and ruling Communist Party, according to sources who requested anonymity since they lack authorization to speak publicly about the initiative.

The specific Cuban leaders under scrutiny and the nature of potential charges remain unclear at this time.

When asked for comment Friday, the Justice Department stated that “federal prosecutors from across the country work every day to pursue justice, which includes efforts to combat transnational crime.”

This prosecutorial effort emerges amid Trump’s increasingly confrontational approach toward Cuba’s communist regime.

Following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a key Cuban ally, Trump announced last month that his administration was conducting high-level discussions with Havana officials regarding “a friendly takeover” of the island. He reiterated these assertions this week, indicating Cuba would receive his focus after concluding military action with Iran.

“They want to make a deal so bad,” Trump commented regarding Cuba’s leadership.

Although Cuba has diminished as a primary national security concern in Washington over recent years, it continues holding significant importance for Miami’s federal prosecutor’s office, where Cuban-American exile communities heavily influence the region’s political, economic, and cultural landscape.

The local FBI division maintains a specialized Cuba unit that played a crucial role in 2024’s arrest of former Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha, who faced accusations of secretly working for Cuba since the 1970s.

Recently, multiple Miami-area Republican representatives, along with Florida Senator Rick Scott, have urged the Trump administration to revive criminal proceedings related to the 1996 incident where four aircraft operated by anti-communist exiles were shot down.

In their February 13 correspondence to Trump, legislators including Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez referenced decades-old reporting suggesting former President Raúl Castro, who commanded Cuba’s military then, authorized the attack on the unarmed Cessna planes.

“We believe unequivocally that Raúl Castro is responsible for this heinous crime,” the lawmakers stated. “It is time for him to be brought to justice.”

Though no charges against Castro have been announced, Florida’s attorney general indicated this week that state-level proceedings into the incident would begin.

The current administration has also criticized Cuba for failing to assist American anti-terrorism initiatives, placing it among a small group of nations including North Korea and Iran that the United States designates as state terrorism sponsors.

This classification results from Cuba’s protection of American fugitives and its unwillingness to surrender Colombian rebel commanders during their peace negotiations with that South American country.

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas congressman’s unexpected withdrawal from his reelection campaign has positioned a controversial firearms enthusiast to claim the Republican nomination in a massive congressional district spanning the state’s border region.

Brendan Herrera, age 30, first became well-known through online videos featuring himself firing various weapons while using the moniker ‘The AK Guy.’ Two years ago, he narrowly lost to incumbent Representative Tony Gonzales but managed to push the race to a runoff in this week’s primary election.

On Thursday evening, Gonzales announced his exit from the race following his acknowledgment of an extramarital relationship with a former employee who subsequently took her own life. This development leaves Herrera without any Republican opposition in Texas’s 23rd congressional district.

Democratic candidates are hoping to capitalize on the situation by portraying Herrera as an extreme right-wing candidate, though they face significant challenges in a solidly conservative district that extends 800 miles along the Mexican border.

‘I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision,’ Herrera said in a statement. ‘I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves.’

After relocating from North Carolina to Texas in 2020, Herrera amassed millions of followers through YouTube content showcasing firearms testing at shooting ranges. He identifies as a ‘Second Amendment Absolutist’ and has been highly critical of Gonzales’s backing of gun control measures following the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, located within their district.

Herrera has drawn scrutiny for controversial remarks regarding the Holocaust. During a 2022 video, he referred to a German submachine gun as ‘the original ghetto blaster’ while performing goose-stepping movements to German music.

In the same footage, while shooting at a White Claw beverage can, a masked companion asks Herrera whether he’s ‘hiding any White Claw underneath the floorboards?’

Herrera responds affirmatively before yelling, ‘Gestapo right there!’ and firing at a case of drinks. He then remarks, ‘they did not see that coming,’ deliberately pronouncing ‘not see’ to sound like ‘Nazi.’

The video later shows Herrera stating, ‘I’m not really a big fan of fascism,’ while claiming his comments were historical humor.

Democratic candidate Katy Padilla Scott, a former educator, quickly condemned Herrera over the controversial footage Friday morning.

‘Parents I talk to in #TX23, particularly those in Uvalde, are disgusted that this man could represent our families in Congress,’ Padilla Scott wrote on social media.

However, Republican officials remain confident about retaining the seat and dismiss Democratic chances of capturing it with Herrera as their nominee.

‘Texas’ 23rd District is deep red, and Democrats know it,’ stated Christian Martinez, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. ‘While they talk a big game in Washington, they don’t even have a credible recruit and are too busy defending their own vulnerable members across Texas to compete here.’

Texas Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser suggested his party must weigh whether Herrera creates unnecessary complications during a challenging midterm cycle.

The party prefers to consider the district ‘in the bag and off the board,’ he explained, but ‘it probably won’t be.’

‘They’re going to take a look at this one,’ Steinhauser noted. ‘Does it hurt the Republican Party to support this particular candidate?’

The district ranks as the nation’s second-largest and served as a consistent congressional battleground until redistricting occurred in 2021. It became a Republican stronghold in 2024 when former President Donald Trump won the area by almost 15 percentage points.

Trump had previously backed Gonzales. Recently, an attorney representing the former president issued a ‘cease and desist’ notice to Herrera’s campaign, alleging they distributed misleading campaign materials featuring Trump’s likeness.

Support for Gonzales deteriorated amid the controversy surrounding his affair and the woman’s suicide, with House Republican leadership pressuring him to abandon his campaign.

Gonzales indicated he will complete his current term, helping his party preserve its narrow House majority.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s political landscape has shifted into high gear as candidates officially entered the race Friday for the state’s May 19 primary elections, setting up competitive battles for both the U.S. Senate seat and the governor’s mansion in this pivotal swing state.

The Republican field challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is emphasizing their allegiance to President Donald Trump while directing their criticism primarily at the sitting senator rather than attacking fellow GOP contenders. Meanwhile, candidates vying to replace term-limited Republican Governor Brian Kemp are positioning themselves within crowded primary fields from both major parties.

The candidate qualification period in Georgia transforms the state Capitol into a political showcase where hopefuls deliver their campaign messages and demonstrate their electoral strength. Here’s what emerged from the proceedings:

The Republican challenge to Ossoff includes U.S. Representatives Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, along with Derek Dooley, who previously coached football at the University of Tennessee.

During a Monday rally with his supporters, Ossoff made his case for re-election, stating that voters should return him to office because “they recognize this president has gone too far, that the chaos and the corruption and the cruelty are wrong for Georgia and wrong for the country.”

The incumbent senator emphasized that voters understand “a need for checks and balances” against Trump, cautioning: “My opponents will be his puppets.”

Collins labeled Ossoff “California’s third senator” while highlighting his endorsements, including Wednesday’s backing from The Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy organization.

“We need to be spending every minute that we got making sure that this country is safe, making sure it’s productive, and making sure that it is affordable to people here,” Collins stated.

Dooley emphasized that his coaching background provides him with skills to connect with voters who typically don’t support Republican candidates.

“It’s important we have a candidate that can appeal to a lot of these crossover voters, people who don’t always vote in the midterms, who don’t always vote Republican,” he explained.

Carter expressed a singular focus during his qualification registration: “We’ve got to get rid of Jon Ossoff.”

“My plan is to win,” Carter declared. “Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.”

Health care executive Rick Jackson became the final major gubernatorial candidate to qualify Friday, greeting schoolchildren during his registration while asserting that despite his substantial advertising expenditures, “there is no way to buy an election. You’ve got to earn it.”

Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who has Trump’s endorsement, expressed confidence despite Jackson’s high-profile campaign launch into the eight-candidate Republican field.

“The newness is going to wear off, and they’re going to look to the person who’s been most consistent throughout the years,” Jones said. “And I have that.”

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger successfully completed his qualification Wednesday without incident, despite a 2022 Georgia Republican Party resolution urging party officials to block his candidacy. This resolution reflects the significant animosity many Republican activists hold toward Raffensperger after he declined to assist Donald Trump in overturning his 2020 Georgia election defeat.

Raffensperger is avoiding those controversies in his gubernatorial campaign, focusing instead on economic issues: “the most important thing right now is how do you kind of deal with this affordability crisis and you create good paying jobs.”

Attorney General Chris Carr, another major Republican contender, highlights his accomplishments in job recruitment and crime prevention, noting that constituents “care about jobs, safety, education, affordability.”

“They don’t really want to talk about social issues the way the right and the left traditionally have,” Carr observed, despite ongoing debates between Jackson and Jones regarding transgender policy issues.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor widely considered the Democratic frontrunner among eight candidates, told reporters Monday that her policy agenda including affordability measures, free technical education, and state income tax relief for teachers will resonate beyond Democratic voters to general election participants who haven’t supported Democrats in the past 24 years.

“I’m speaking my truth on what I feel a leader and a governor in this state needs to offer to people, so I don’t have to worry about changing my message for a general election audience,” Bottoms explained.

Geoff Duncan, who switched from Republican to Democrat, continued emphasizing his potential appeal to crossover voters, saying he remains “focused on the affordability crisis, the health care crisis, and unfortunately still the Donald Trump crisis.”

Former state Senator Jason Esteves promoted his own policy platform while criticizing both Bottoms and Duncan. He pointed out that Bottoms declined to seek re-election as mayor and that Duncan, after supporting Republican initiatives as lieutenant governor that he now opposes, also withdrew from political life.

“We can’t afford to have folks that will stay silent, nor can we have folks that are going to be absent or quit when the going gets tough,” Esteves declared.

Former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond became emotional while describing his impoverished childhood as a Black man and his subsequent political achievements as proof of the “American dream.”

“I’m here representing all of those Georgians who couldn’t afford to be here today, who are pulling two jobs, working overtime, can’t afford the pay their insurance,” he said.

The leader of the National Symphony Orchestra at Washington’s Kennedy Center is stepping down to take over operations at a Los Angeles performing arts venue, marking another high-profile exit from the nation’s premier cultural institution.

Jean Davidson will become the new executive director and CEO of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, officials announced Friday. Davidson had been running the National Symphony Orchestra since joining the Kennedy Center in 2023, following an eight-year tenure leading the Los Angeles Master Chorale at The Music Center.

“The arts are where a community sees itself, and where it imagines what’s possible next,” Davidson stated. “I’m honored to join the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts at this pivotal moment.”

Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell praised Davidson’s contributions in a statement to The Associated Press, saying she deserved recognition for her work.

“I have enjoyed working with Jean to cultivate new donors and patrons while cleaning up the financial mess at the (center),” he commented.

In her own statement to The Associated Press, Davidson reflected on her time with the orchestra: “It has been a great honor to serve the NSO and to work alongside Gianandrea Noseda, Steven Reineke, the extraordinary musicians, and the dedicated staff and board. I’m deeply proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.”

However, Davidson revealed to the Los Angeles Times that staying at the Kennedy Center had become increasingly challenging due to circumstances beyond her influence.

The departure comes as the Kennedy Center faces significant upheaval under Trump’s renewed focus on the institution. Unlike his first presidency when he largely overlooked the venue, Trump has now made it central to his campaign against what he calls “woke” culture. He removed the center’s former leadership and installed new trustees who voted to rebrand it as the Trump Kennedy Center, though legal experts say such a change requires congressional approval.

The turmoil has prompted several prominent artists including Renée Fleming, Philip Glass and Bela Fleck to cancel scheduled performances. The Washington National Opera also ended its long-standing partnership with the center. Trump recently announced plans to shut down the facility this summer for a two-year renovation project.

Davidson will replace Robert van Leer at the Wallis, who recently departed to become performing arts program director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

President Donald Trump plans to continue his strict immigration enforcement policies under the guidance of key adviser Stephen Miller, despite removing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her position, according to current and former government officials and congressional members.

Trump terminated Noem’s role on Thursday following months of disputes over aggressive immigration enforcement methods and congressional concerns regarding department contracts and internal chaos within her agency.

However, Miller — who serves as White House deputy chief of staff and designs Trump’s immigration policies — maintains his authority over immigration matters, according to three government officials. Trump’s selection for the next homeland security secretary, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, is considered to share Trump’s strict immigration stance.

“Stephen is a survivor,” one official commented, speaking anonymously about internal White House operations. The source indicated that Noem’s dismissal reflected concerns about policy implementation rather than opposition to Trump’s restrictive immigration agenda.

When asked for comment, a White House representative stated that Miller coordinates various issues — spanning from immigration to anti-cartel activities — and is “working to ensure the President’s policy agenda is implemented.”

Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Mullin’s office provided responses to comment requests.

Trump secured his return to the White House in 2024 through a campaign emphasizing the prevention of unauthorized immigration and increased deportations. Immigration served as one of Trump’s strongest polling topics after taking office and became a central Republican Party priority. However, following criticism of aggressive enforcement in American cities, public support for his immigration policies has decreased in recent months, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling data.

Republicans maintain slim majorities in both congressional chambers but face November midterm elections that could threaten their Washington control.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt posted on X Thursday regarding Noem’s removal, stating that Trump’s immigration objectives remain constant.

“President Trump’s immigration agenda is keeping our border secure and deporting illegal alien criminals from our country, and it will continue without interruption,” she declared.

During Noem’s tenure, DHS deployed thousands of federal immigration officers to Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and other Democrat-controlled cities to locate immigration violators, conducting operations in residential areas and pursuing day workers in Home Depot parking facilities.

Following the fatal shooting of two American citizens — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — by federal agents in Minneapolis, the administration announced it would adopt a less visible “targeted” strategy for immigration arrests.

Current and former federal immigration personnel reported no immediate policy changes since Noem’s departure announcement, though several anticipated the administration would continue avoiding high-profile operations in American cities after the Minneapolis incident.

The 48-year-old Mullin joined the Senate in 2023 after serving ten years in the House of Representatives. Similar to Noem, he operates a ranch and owns a cattle operation in Oklahoma that doubles as a wedding venue among other enterprises.

Despite being a freshman senator, Mullin has distinguished himself among the 100 senators, occasionally presiding over Senate sessions while wearing a prominent, light-colored cowboy hat.

He briefly pursued mixed martial arts fighting and attracted significant media coverage in 2023 when he stood during a Senate hearing to challenge Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to “stand your butt up” and fight.

Mullin supported a Republican-backed funding measure last year that allocated a record $170 billion for immigration enforcement through September 2029 and endorses fundamental aspects of Trump’s immigration agenda.

Republican legislators commended Mullin following news of Trump’s nomination for DHS secretary, a role requiring Senate majority approval.

“He’s strong on the border and that’s what we need,” Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt told reporters Thursday. “The deportations will continue.”

Noem faced harsh criticism from both parties for quickly labeling Good and Pretti as participants in “domestic terrorism” after their deaths and before completing a thorough investigation.

Mullin similarly characterized Pretti as dangerous despite video evidence contradicting that assertion. During a Fox News interview on January 24, the day Pretti died, he called Pretti “a deranged individual” who carried a loaded weapon and intended “to cause max damage.”

Capitol Hill Democrats celebrated Noem’s departure but maintained that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement methods require modification. Democrats have withheld DHS funding since mid-February attempting to pressure the White House toward more moderate approaches.

Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy indicated that funding negotiations operate from the White House and expressed doubt that Noem’s firing would resolve the deadlock.

“I think we’re better off without her, but she wasn’t running the department,” Murphy stated Thursday. “Stephen Miller runs that department and will continue to run the department so I don’t really think much will change.”