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The ‘crooked’ charge against NBC: Why the Donald Trump-Kristen Welker slugfest went off the rails
The headlines say Donald Trump "stormed" out of his interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker.
The reality was a little more subtle.
It’s easy to second-guess. The natural tension that comes with interviewing any politician for television – but especially this president, who can dominate this kind of sit-down – calls for split-second judgments.
Having interviewed Trump numerous times – especially in a high-stakes session two weeks before the election, at his invitation – gives me a certain perspective.
TRUMP STORMS OFF 'MEET THE PRESS' INTERVIEW, RIPS WELKER, ABC, CBS, CNN AS 'CROOKED'
Things did not end well with Welker:
"You’re crooked, your press is crooked, And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked."
"To be fair, I’m not crooked."
"Really? Well, you play right into their hands then. You’re either crooked or you’re stupid."
Geez.
TRUMP RIPS OBAMA’S ‘STUPID’ IRAN DEAL IN CLASH WITH KRISTEN WELKER
And then: "Sorry. Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time."
I’m pretty sure Trump has never called me darling. He does seem to treat certain women differently.
The other day he ripped CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for asking a question, saying she’s "beautiful" but he never sees her smile and that she has "hatred in her eyes." Even in the Welker interview, Trump said ABC, CBS and CNN were also crooked.
It’s close to a no-win situation. You prepare a bunch of blue cards, knowing you won’t get to everything. No matter how wide-ranging the interview, armchair critics will whack you:
"Yeah, why didn’t you ask that?"
My approach is that you’ve got to let the guest speak, but jump in when it’s becoming what senators call a filibuster. And do some real-time fact-checking when you can.
Where Welker fell into a trap, in my view, is that she interrupted Trump so often that it looked like she was debating him.
Now there were times when Welker’s persistence paid off. When she asked about the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" that even Republican members of Congress are denouncing, there was this exchange.
WELKER: Just to be very clear, are you backing off the fund completely, as your acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said, or are you looking for another avenue to revive the fund?
TRUMP: So let me explain what the fund is. People have been hurt so badly by radical left lunatics that worked for the Biden administration and Sleepy Joe. They’re vicious.
They’re violent, what they did to people. And, of course, they went after me more than anybody else. They raided Mar-a-Lago and all the other things. But people have been badly hurt. They’ve committed suicide. They’ve lost their jobs. They've lost their families.
They’ve lost their wives. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost everything over a fake weaponization of government. Now, let me just tell you—"
WELKER: So are you looking for a way to revive it?
TRUMP: I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it. I can tell you this: 97% of those people, you look at them, the FBI or whoever it was, cause you had a lot of crooked cops, you had dirty cops. Comey was a dirty cop. A guy like Bolton was a dirty cop."
WELKER: But there is no evidence that people who—"
TRUMP: Wait a minute. You think Comey was a straight cop?
WELKER: We had 170 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers.
TRUMP: Comey was a dirty cop.
"But the people who assaulted police officers," Welker shot back.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen with the weaponization fund. I love the idea, because people like you, the fake dirty press, the crooked press, people like stupid Biden, he’s not smart enough to know what’s going on, but people that surrounded him, surrounded his beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, what they did to the lives of people, they destroyed people. They sent people to jail who did nothing wrong."
Welker interjected again. "Just to be very clear, there’s no evidence of what you’re saying."
"There’s a lot of evidence. Listen to me… There’s tremendous evidence. There’s nothing but evidence."
"Well, it’s not been presented in a court of law."
"The election was rigged," Trump proclaimed. "It was a dirty election. And it’s happening again right now in California."
"Do you have evidence to support that?"
"All I have to do is look."
"But that’s not evidence."
"Well, it’s not been presented in a court of law," Welker said.
"The election was rigged," Trump declared.
"There’s no evidence of that, sir."
It’s as if she worried about media criticism that she was somehow going easy on him if she wasn’t seen challenging him every few seconds.
But here’s where the final six minutes became an interrupt-a-thon.
WELKER: All right, this is, just to be very clear, there’s no evidence of what you’re saying, but let me ask about Todd Blanche.
TRUMP: There’s a lot of evidence.
WELKER: Let me ask about Todd Blanche.
TRUMP: Listen — listen to me — listen to me.
WELKER: Let’s talk about Todd Blanche.
TRUMP: There’s tremendous evidence. There’s nothing but evidence.
WELKER: Well, it’s not been presented in a court of law.
TRUMP: The election was rigged. It was a dirty election.
WELKER: Mr. President –
TRUMP: And it’s happening again right now in California.
WELKER: — you’ve never presented evidence –
My view is that the viewers are smart. They know when a guest is ducking the question or changing the subject–heavily influenced, of course, by partisan loyalties. You don’t have to keep pounding it into them. Welker could have explained this to viewers after the taping.
One last bit of perspective.
By the time that last segment went off the rails, the president and the moderator had talked in a Wisconsin barn for roughly an hour, about Iran, nuclear issues, the economy, gas prices, struggling farmers and more. He had given her plenty of time. They were interrupted by rain.
SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIES
Welker asked about his campaign pledge to end foreign wars.
"I didn’t guarantee no war," Trump insisted. "Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?"
There are several examples from the 2024 campaign. At an August rally in Pennsylvania that year, for instance, the candidate said: "Under Trump, we will have no more wars, no more disruptions, and we will have prosperity and peace for all." Again, that could have been added in an on-camera tag.
One thing is certain: Kristen Welker’s interview made plenty of news, so that should make her and her network rather happy.
Vance refers Tim Walz, Minnesota attorney general to DOJ for criminal investigation over state's alleged fraud
Vice President J.D. Vance Monday announced that he has referred allegations involving Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Justice Department's fraud division for a potential criminal investigation over alleged fraud in federally funded social services programs.
Vance made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime," when he was asked about a report released by the House Oversight Committee alleging that state officials, including Walz and Ellison, were warned of fraud in the state but did not take action to stop it in part because of litigation threats and concerns about being accused of discrimination.
"We're certainly going to investigate this, Jesse, and I guess now I can make a bit of breaking news because I left the White House to come here to do this interview with you. And before I did, we actually referred this particular case to the Department of Justice for a full criminal investigation. We are not going to do what the Biden administration did and make judgments of the law before all the facts are in," Vance said.
MINNESOTA FRAUD REPORT ACCUSES STATE AG OF 'INCOMPETENCE, WILLFUL BLINDNESS OR WORSE'
"But here's what's particularly troubling about this to me is, Jesse, you had people within Governor Walz's office who were saying, you know what? This looks like fraud. It looks like these Somalian illegal immigrants are doing something that's very shady, and then you had people who shut them down, who shut these whistleblowers down and said, you know, you're a racist or you're a xenophobe for asking questions about where taxpayer money is going," he continued.
"What that means to me, Jesse, is that clearly people weren't taking fraud seriously. Whether it rises to the level of a criminal violation, we're gonna investigate it, and of course, if it does rise to that level, we're going to prosecute it. We have to," Vance added.
MINNESOTA TAXPAYER DOLLARS FUNNELED TO AL-SHABAAB TERROR GROUP, REPORT ALLEGES
The vice president, who was tapped in February to lead the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud after President Donald Trump announced a "war on fraud" in his State of the Union address, later reiterated his comments on social media.
"Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew, or harassed and intimidated whistleblowers, they must face justice," Vance wrote on X.
Vance and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz also previously said they were pausing federal Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, which Walz said at the time had "nothing to do with fraud" as he described the effort as a "campaign of retribution."
"Trump is weaponizing the entirety of the federal government to punish blue states like Minnesota," Walz said on Feb. 25.
Karmelo Anthony stays silent as analysts warn defense faces uphill battle in track meet stabbing trial
With closing arguments looming on Tuesday, Karmelo Anthony's defense rested without calling him to testify — a move that came as legal analysts questioned whether his self-defense claim will persuade jurors.
Anthony is charged with murder in the April 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Memorial High School athlete Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a Texas high school track meet. Anthony admits he stabbed Metcalf but claims he acted in self-defense.
Anthony's defense rested its case on Monday, setting the stage for closing arguments when court resumes at 9 a.m. local time Tuesday.
The case has drawn national attention, fueled by debate over Texas self-defense law, questions surrounding race, competing narratives about what happened beneath a Memorial High School team tent and demonstrations outside the Collin County courthouse.
As the defense case neared its conclusion Monday, an unexpected delay in proceedings fueled speculation about what was happening behind the scenes.
DIDDY DEFENSE'S COURTROOM STRATEGY IS A 'CALCULATED RISK': EXPERT
Speaking on Fox News' "The Story," legal analyst Joshua Ritter suggested one possibility was that Anthony and his attorneys were discussing whether he should testify.
"Perhaps they're talking to Karmelo Anthony about whether or not he wants to testify," Ritter, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, said on Monday.
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No plea agreement materialized, and the defense ultimately rested without calling Anthony to the witness stand.
SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM IN AUSTIN METCALF SLAYING IS 'UPHILL BATTLE': EXPERT
Ritter suggested the defense may have been reassessing its strategy after several days of prosecution testimony.
"We're hearing that the defense case may not be going as they had hoped and planned," Ritter said.
According to Ritter, defense attorneys could have been searching for a final opportunity to strengthen Anthony's position before the case reached the jury.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS FATAL STABBING OF AUSTIN METCALF AT TEXAS TRACK MEET, OFFICIALS SAY
"Perhaps they're looking for some last-ditch effort to try to spare him a lifetime in prison," he said.
Ritter later offered a blunt assessment of the competing cases presented to jurors.
"The prosecution case went very strongly. The defense case doesn't look like it's going well," Ritter said.
Ritter was not the only Fox News legal analyst who questioned the strength of the defense's case.
Speaking on Fox News' "America Reports", criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno said testimony presented during the trial reinforced her belief that Anthony's self-defense claim faces significant obstacles.
WATCH: Self defense claim will not 'hold water' in Karmelo Anthony case: Donna Rotunno
"I never thought that this case rose to the level of self-defense," Rotunno said. "This is a sad, awful, tragic circumstance where a young person made a really horrible decision, but decisions have consequences."
AUSTIN METCALF’S SUSPECTED KILLER INDICTED ON FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN TRACK MEET STABBING
Rotunno pointed to testimony from multiple student witnesses, including one witness who agreed under questioning that Anthony had provoked the confrontation.
"That one question could really turn the tide here," Rotunno said.
Rotunno also dismissed defense efforts to highlight testimony that the knife Anthony carried was legal under Texas law because its blade measured less than five inches.
PREPPY PARTY MURDER SUSPECT'S LAWYER SAYS CLIENT'S TESTIMONY KEY TO ACQUITTAL
"Whether you could have the knife legally doesn't mean that you could use it in the way that it was used," she said.
Addressing testimony that athletes from different schools commonly interact at track meets, Rotunno said jurors are likely to focus less on whether Anthony was permitted under the Memorial High School tent and more on how he responded after being repeatedly asked to leave.
"He obviously didn't want to leave," Rotunno said. "I think they're trying to show that he knew exactly what he was doing when he put his hand inside that bag."
Prosecutors called 21 witnesses, including student athletes, police officers, investigators and the medical examiner.
Several students testified that Anthony was repeatedly asked to leave the Memorial High School tent before the confrontation escalated. Witnesses recalled Anthony telling Metcalf, "Touch me and you'll find out" and "If you want me to move, you have to move me."
Multiple students testified that Metcalf did not appear to be looking for a fight. One witness recalled Metcalf saying, "I'm not going to fight you at a track meet."
Defense attorneys countered by highlighting testimony that athletes from different schools routinely mingle at track meets, that Anthony was smaller than Metcalf and that witnesses gave differing accounts of the physical interaction immediately before the stabbing.
The trial has unfolded amid demonstrations outside the Collin County courthouse. Supporters of Anthony have gathered throughout the proceedings carrying signs reading "Justice for Karmelo Anthony."
Outside the courthouse Monday, Next Generation Action Network President Dominique Alexander urged Anthony supporters not to be "baited" into confrontations.
"We do not support chaos. We do not support intimidation. We do not support threats," Alexander said.
The defense has argued Anthony feared for his safety when he stabbed Metcalf. Prosecutors contend the evidence shows Anthony escalated a verbal dispute into a deadly encounter.
WATCH: Father speaks out after son was stabbed to death at track meet
The case now rests on competing versions of what happened beneath the Memorial High School tent and whether jurors believe Anthony's actions were justified.
Fox News' Brooke Taylor, Peter Cuddihy and Lindsey Reese contributed to this report.
Spurs snap Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak with Game 3 victory behind Victor Wembanyama's 32 points
The home team in the NBA Finals remained winless in their building, as the San Antonio Spurs took Game 3, 115-11, in much-needed fashion on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York still owns the lead, 2-1, in the series, but the Spurs closed out thanks to tremendous defense, timely buckets, and forcing the Knicks to go 2-of-12 from three-point territory in the fourth quarter. As a result, the Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak has been snapped.
Victor Wembanyama, who had a chance to win Game 2 but missed his final shot, finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Spurs.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But it was Wembanyama’s teammates, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle putting in clutch baskets, to help the winning efforts.
The Spurs came out with a clear determination to set the tone on the road, and it’s what all basketball fans should’ve expected considering where the series stood at tip-off. San Antonio owned an 11-point lead after the first quarter, as Wembanyama scored nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Castle was a perfect 3-of-3 for seven points.
SPURS COACH MITCH JOHNSON CONTRADICTS HOW HIS STAR FEELS ABOUT TRUMP'S PRESENCE BEFORE GAME 3
But if there’s anything we’ve learned about the Knicks, they will mount a comeback no matter the deficit. And it happened again before the end of the half.
New York started to get their rhythm, using the sold-out home crowd at Madison Square Garden to their advantage. They closed out the half with a seven-point lead, 64-57, as OG Anunoby dropped 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two made threes and five free throws made.
Jalen Brunson also poured in 15 points, while Josh Hart, left wide open on purpose by the Spurs, was hitting his three pointers for 13 points.
The Knicks had all the momentum heading into the second half, but the Spurs started similarly to the beginning of this game. They forced turnovers and capitalized, erasing their seven-point deficit almost immediately.
Both teams traded buckets, with San Antonio taking a one-point lead into the fourth quarter that was bound to be a heavyweight bout at "The Mecca."
This time, though, the Spurs were finally able to hang on to their fourth-quarter lead, as the Knicks quickly got into foul trouble and allowed San Antonio to get into the bonus right away. It was Wembanyama taking advantage of those, while the Knicks were cold to start the quarter.
San Antonio got the lead up to eight in the fourth quarter with 4:50 left to play after Wembanyama knocked in two more free throws, and that was leading to some key defensive plays for the Spurs. The epitome of that was the Knicks trying to move the ball around for a three-point attempt, swinging it along the arc. But the Spurs continued to close out, all to end with Wembanyama swatting away Landry Shamet’s layup attempt.
The first clutch basket that the Spurs hit came from Castle with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. San Antonio owned just a four-point lead and Wembanyama past the ball up with mere seconds left on the shot clock. With a good contest from the Knicks in Castle’s face, he buried a deep three-point on the wing to get the lead back to seven in a moment where the Knicks had momentum.
Then, after Brunson drained the Knicks’ first three-pointer of the quarter to cut the deficit to three, Fox drained a 15-foot stepback jumper that seemed like a dagger with 12.2 left in the game.
Anunoby, who finished with 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting, kept the Knicks’ hopes alive with a three of his own following a timeout to cut it to two with 9.4 left. But Castle buried both free throws in a much-needed situation to close the door on New York.
In the end, Castle finished with 23 point of 8-of-14 shooting with five rebounds and five assists, while every Spurs starter finished the game with double-digit points. Dylan Harper, who has played tremendous bench minutes for San Antonio, also scored 13 on 18 shot attempts.
For the Knicks, one stat line that stands out is Shamet’s 1-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-7 from three-point land where he has thrived all throughout these playoffs.
The Spurs pulled off the win with President Donald Trump in attendance. He was seated with Knicks owner James Dolan in a suite. The president's presence led to heightened security around the arena throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals will tip off from Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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ESPN pulls use of AI images from NBA Finals coverage after getting cooked by internet
ESPN's high-tech experiment flopped on national TV.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports has decided to bench its controversial AI-generated "moving portraits," which debuted during the NBA Finals and quickly drew backlash online.
The digital misfire tipped off during Game 1 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
As ABC headed to a commercial break, viewers were shown what was intended to be an animated version of a classic image featuring Spurs legend Tony Parker.
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Instead, many fans saw what they described as an uncanny-valley nightmare.
The network used AI to animate a photo of Parker celebrating after winning the 2003 NBA championship.
But the result drew criticism online, with viewers saying the technology distorted the former Spurs star's facial features.
Social media users quickly piled on ESPN over the graphic.
CHICAGO PAPER PUBLISHES AI-GENERATED 'SUMMER READING LIST' WITH BOOKS THAT DON'T EXIST
Many questioned why the network, which has access to decades of NBA footage and photography, chose to use AI-generated animation at all.
"Why use AI when they literally have the pictures?" one fan wrote on X.
Another posted: "As soon as I saw this last night I was like is that supposed to be Tony Parker bc who the f--- is that guy."
AI-GENERATED VOICE OF FORMER NARRATOR JIM FAGAN TO BE FEATURED NEXT NBA SEASON, NBC SPORTS SAYS
Parker wasn't the only NBA icon to receive the AI treatment.
ESPN also used the technology to animate images of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell and Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant.
The moving portraits were absent during Game 2 and will not return for the remainder of the NBA Finals.
ESPN executives quietly pulled the plug on the experiment.
A network resource confirmed the graphics were created using AI tools and said management was evaluating whether to continue using the technology in future broadcasts.
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Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill to scrap 'offensive language' from state's General Laws
The Massachusetts legislature passed a bill that would remove "outdated and offensive language" used to describe people with disabilities in the state’s General Laws.
The measure would eliminate various terms, including "handicapped," "disabled," and the "r-word" in favor of language such as "persons with a disability" and "person with an intellectual or developmental disability."
The bill, which was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Pat Jehlen and listed with 17 petitioners, now heads to Democrat Gov. Maura Healey's desk.
The 61-page bill updates 346 sections of Massachusetts law.
"Language is constantly changing. And it's changing because of the activism of people who were ignored and demeaned for too long," Democrat state Sen. Pat Jehlen, the Senate’s primary sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement. "When people tell us they feel insulted and offended by the use of outdated words, we worked to change the legal language. It took a long time, because we kept finding more examples of offensive language. Language and activism will continue to evolve, and there'll always be more work to do, but this is a gigantic step forward in respect."
Some of the updated language featured in the bill includes replacing "disabled person" with "person with a disability," "handicapped" with "disability" and "retarded" with phrases such as "person with an intellectual or developmental disability."
The legislation also scraps terms such as "crippled" and "deformed" when referring to people with disabilities.
The term "hearing-impaired" was revised to "deaf or hard of hearing" and the "chronically ill" was changed to "persons who are chronically ill."
Additionally, the bill amends specific legal definitions, including changing the current definition of "caretaker" — which describes an individual or entity responsible for a "disabled person" — to instead use the phrase "a person with a disability."
"When dusty and dangerous relics of a bygone era darken our laws, it creates the potential for real harm to residents today," Senate President Karen Spilka, a Democrat, said in a statement. "Thanks to the voices of advocates like former Senate staff member Melissa Reilly and the leadership of Senator Jehlen and Senator Kennedy, the Legislature has acted to make our laws better represent who we are in 21st-century Massachusetts."
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"With a White House that glorifies, and seemingly longs for, the days when many Americans were discriminated against because of who they are, now is the time to make sure our state laws respect and support the rights and dignity of our residents," she added.
The passage of this measure comes after a 2024 law that renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility, which state officials argued was a display of a broader effort to modernize disability services and promote inclusion. That law also reflected a broader move away from terms state officials described as outdated or offensive.
"As lawmakers, we know that words matter," said state Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano, a Democrat. "This legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices."
The bill passed with broad legislative support, including unanimous recorded votes in both chambers.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts GOP for comment.
Victor Wembanyama puts hand on Jalen Brunson's head, pushes him down as refs look the other way in Game 3
Victor Wembanyama’s aggression on the court was once again called into question as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks played Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
During the first half, Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson was trying to guard Wembanyama near the free throw line when the 7-foot-4 center put his hand on the back of Brunson’s head and shoved him to the court.
However, Wembanyama was never called for the foul and play continued with the Knicks in possession of the ball.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Brunson immediately got into Wembanyama’s face, and it appeared the Frenchman was smiling before the point guard got back to business.
The incident was similar to one that occurred in Game 2’s win for the Knicks on the road, when Brunson’s backup, Jose Alvarado, went to box out Wembanyama. Alvarado, who has comparable stature to Brunson, was wrapped up by Wembanyama and thrown away from the play.
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Once again, no foul call was made.
The Spurs are known for their physicality, but many believed that Wemby should’ve been called for fouls in these cases.
San Antonio started this game red-hot, owning an 11-point lead after the first quarter, 33-22. But these Knicks have consistently shown their ability to come back no matter the deficit.
After a second quarter run, the Knicks ended the locker room with a seven-point lead at halftime.
Brunson was a main reason why that was the case, going 5-of-11 from the field for 15 points with three assists and one rebound.
As for Wembanyama, he was an efficient 6-of-10 from the field for 15 points of his own, while hauling in four rebounds and dishing out three assists.
The Spurs are trying to avoid a brutal 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, while the Knicks are hoping they can keep momentum in the second half to have the chance at a sweep in their own building on Wednesday night in Game 4.
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Justin Gaethje targets Ilia Topuria's divorce, igniting feud before White House showdown
President Donald Trump is hosting his long-awaited UFC brawl on the South Lawn this weekend, and the main event is already spiraling into chaos.
UFC Freedom 250 goes down Sunday (June 14), marking the first time a major MMA pay-per-view will take place at The People's House.
But the biggest storyline entering fight week is the growing bad blood between UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria and Interim Champion Justin Gaethje.
Topuria has spent recent months dealing with a messy divorce.
Gaethje let go of all dignity by targeting that personal drama into fight-week ammunition. The American targeted Topuria during an appearance on FOX Sports.
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"I can say this: I would leave him [too]. That's all I'm saying. I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s---," Gaethje said.
The comment didn't sit well with Topuria.
The champion fired back with a response on X:
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"Justin crossed a line. What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business. We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter. To everyone insulting her or speaking about things they know nothing about: show some respect. You don’t have to respect our relationship. But respecting someone’s mother should be one of the most basic codes in life. Be better.
Gaethje wasted little time responding and brought his own father into the conversation.
"Proving my point. Insufferable little b**** boy. Never said a thing about your wife. You want to speak words to my father then act like I crossed some line. We already fighting buddy."
Then Topuria delivered one final response ... which was a scorcher.
"You should've kept your father out of this. He was the one calling me a short guy and saying you'd smash me, all while holding a beer in his hand. Then you started talking about my divorce and telling the world you wouldn't want to be my roommate. Idiot.
"First, we're fighting, not dating. Second, I'm not looking for a roommate. When I put you to sleep and you're lying there next to the rose, I'll look at your father and ask him one simple question: Who's the short one now? I'm gonna break you Justin."
Trump is expected to be cageside as one of the UFC's most personal rivalries takes center stage on the White House lawn.
If the fight delivers even half the drama of the pre-fight trash talk, Sunday's fight on the South Lawn could be a thing of legend.
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Navy sailor admits killing fellow service member as mother questions missed warning signs
A Navy sailor admitted Monday to strangling fellow sailor, 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz, inside his barracks room last year, bringing what her mother described as "peace of mind" while renewing questions from Resendiz’s family and advocates about whether military leaders missed opportunities to intervene before the killing.
Esmi Castle, whose daughter was found dead in a wooded area in Norfolk, about 10 miles from Naval Station Norfolk in June 2025, told Fox News Digital that hearing Jeremiah Copeland admit responsibility in court answered lingering questions about how her daughter died. But she said she believes the killing could have been prevented.
According to USNI News, Copeland pleaded guilty during a general court-martial Monday to the unpremeditated murder of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, as well as making a false official statement, aggravated assault involving a second victim and indecent recording involving a third victim.
During the hearing, Copeland admitted to strangling Resendiz on May 29, 2025, telling the military judge, "I killed CS3 Resendiz on May 29, 2025 ... I strangled her with my hands," according to USNI News. Although the medical examiner previously ruled Resendiz’s cause of death undetermined, Copeland admitted in court that he strangled her, according to USNI News.
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According to Copeland, Resendiz came to his barracks room on May 29, 2025, where the two drank alcohol and kissed before she became upset after seeing something on his phone. Copeland admitted in court Monday that he strangled Resendiz while trying to keep her from attracting the attention of other sailors.
Under the plea agreement, Copeland faces a minimum of 40 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge from the Navy, forfeiture of all pay and a reduction in rank. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, USNI News reported.
Castle said hearing the admission brought "peace of mind" after more than a year of uncertainty.
ACTIVE-DUTY US AIRMAN CHARGED IN KILLING OF MISSING WOMAN ON MILITARY BASE
"Now that I know, I don't have to think about it anymore," she told Fox News Digital.
Still, Castle argued that Navy leadership failed to adequately respond to earlier allegations involving Copeland.
"If they would have dealt with him when he started harming women, he would never have gotten to Angie," she said.
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS MISSING AND MURDERED UNIT INVESTIGATING ALLEGED MILITARY BASE KILLING
Castle said she believes multiple incidents involving other women should have triggered stronger action before her daughter's death. Court records and prior reporting have described allegations involving other women, though not all allegations resulted in guilty pleas.
"Absolutely, yes," Castle said when asked whether Copeland had a history of harming women. "There were four other women before he harmed Angie in the military."
Before her death, Resendiz was working to advance her Navy career as a culinary specialist and hoped to one day join the service's elite culinary competition team. Castle said her daughter dreamed of eventually cooking for presidents and other world leaders.
"She was trying to grow," Castle said. "She was doing everything she could to get ready for promotion."
Since her daughter's death, Castle has become an outspoken advocate for military sexual violence victims, arguing that active-duty service members often lack meaningful avenues to seek accountability outside the military justice system.
One of her primary goals is creating a pathway for military sexual assault and violence survivors to pursue claims in civilian courts. Castle said victims are too often left with limited options when allegations are mishandled or ignored within the ranks.
"There's no justice," Castle said. "Victims are retaliated against. They get transferred. They get moved around."
Castle recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with advocacy groups and other military families pushing for reforms. Through those efforts, she said she has met relatives of service members from multiple branches whose experiences convinced her the problem extends beyond a single case.
"Nothing's changed," Castle said. "We have statutes, and we have policies, and we have procedures that were implemented by Congress to protect service members from this type of violence. And nothing's changed."
CHEER MOM, DAUGHTER DEAD IN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE AFTER YEARS-LONG CUSTODY FIGHT: DOCS
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Navy for comment.
Despite her criticism of the system, Castle said she does not harbor hatred toward Copeland. In fact, after the hearing, she spoke directly with him.
"I thanked him for telling the truth," she said.
Castle also met with Copeland's mother and grandmother, who attended the proceedings.
"We technically have all lost our kids," Castle said.
Rather than expressing anger, Castle said she hopes Copeland uses the decades ahead of him in prison to change.
"He still can choose better," she said, adding that she told Copeland that even while serving a lengthy prison sentence, he "still can do some good."
VP JD Vance addresses US-Israel relationship, whether Iran is trying to 'play' the United States
Vice President JD Vance addressed the United States’ diplomatic relationship with Israel Monday as President Donald Trump’s partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly been strained recently.
"The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests, but we also have some situations where our interests diverge," Vance said on "Jesse Watters Primetime."
"I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States’ main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon," he added.
Vance’s remarks come after recent U.S. intelligence reports raised concerns about Israel’s surveillance efforts targeting American negotiators involved in U.S.-Iran peace talks.
TRUMP, NETANYAHU TO MEET AT WHITE HOUSE IN HIGH-STAKES TALKS ON IRAN, GAZA PLAN
Those who have reportedly been surveilled include the Pentagon’s top policy officer, Elbridge A. Colby, and Trump’s top negotiator, Steve Witkoff.
Trump also recently confirmed calling Netanyahu "f---ing crazy" in a heated phone call over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, exposing a rare rift between the two leaders.
As tensions between Israeli and American officials intensify over how to proceed with Iran negotiations, the Pentagon has raised Israel to be a top counterintelligence threat.
The vice president acknowledged that while Israel's security concerns remain important, U.S. policy toward Iran will always be guided by American national interests.
JD VANCE SAYS IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM 'SUBSTANTIALLY' SET BACK AFTER 'PRECISE, SURGICAL' US STRIKES
"Over the last year and a half, we've created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think that he's right – that we can get the long-term settlement to Iran's nuclear deal," Vance said.
"Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that," he continued. "But fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America."
Israel and Iran halted exchanges of military fire after a tumultuous weekend started by the IDF pressuring Trump’s fragile Middle East ceasefire.
TRUMP BROKERS IRAN CEASEFIRE AS EXPERTS SAY REGIME’S ARSENAL IS SHATTERED BUT THREAT REMAINS
The attacks mark the first time Iran and Israel have targeted each other since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect in early April.
Vance signaled negotiations are showing signs of progress, saying Iran is putting "real things" on the table and arguing that a prolonged conflict is not ideal for Tehran.
"The Iranians don't want this war to continue," the vice president told Fox News. "It's not in their best interest, and I think they're coming to the table, putting some real things on the table."
FORMER WHITE HOUSE ENVOY HAS WARNING FOR TRUMP ON HOW NOT TO GET PLAYED BY IRAN
Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Vance whether he believes the Iranians are trying to "play" the US at the negotiating table.
"Everybody's always trying to play everybody," Vance responded.
"I don't assume that anybody's acting in good faith."
Vance expressed optimism that a finalized Middle East peace deal could be reached, while stressing that robust monitoring and inspections will be critical to ensure Iran keeps up their end of the nuclear deal.
"We've been very involved in these negotiations," he said. "We're going to take the attitude of: ‘Accomplish the president's mission, but verify over the long term that the Iranians are keeping their end of the bargain.’ It's a tall order, but it's one that the president has put us in a good position to achieve."
"The number one thing that went wrong with the Obama deal is that there was not a proper inspections regime to ensure that the Iranians could never build a nuclear weapon," Vance added.
Vance emphasized how significant a victory a U.S.-Iran peace agreement would be for the United States.
"If we get to this deal, it’s gonna be a home run win for the American people," he said.