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Hegseth says National Guard members shot in DC ambush by Afghan national will receive Purple Heart
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Friday that two West Virginia National Guard members — Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe — who were shot in an ambush-style attack near the White House late last year, will receive the Purple Heart.
Calling the Nov. 26 incident "a terrible thing" and saying the troops were "attacked by a radical," Hegseth made the announcement while speaking at a National Guard reenlistment ceremony at the Washington Monument, where he administered the oath of enlistment to more than 100 Guardsmen from nine states serving in Washington, D.C.
"And we had a terrible thing happen a number of months ago," Hegseth said. "Andrew Wolfe, Sarah Beckstrom, one lost, one recovered, thank God, in miraculous ways. Both soon to be Purple Heart recipients because they were attacked by a radical."
The remarks mark the first public confirmation from Hegseth that the service members will receive the Purple Heart, one of the nation’s oldest military decorations, awarded to those killed or wounded by enemy action.
The Purple Heart traces its origins to the American Revolution, when George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit in 1782, to recognize enlisted soldiers wounded or killed in service. The modern Purple Heart was revived in 1932, and is awarded in the name of the president to U.S. service members wounded or killed by enemy action.
Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were shot just blocks from the White House in what officials described as an ambush-style attack.
Beckstrom died a day after the shooting. Wolfe was seriously wounded and continues to recover.
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The accused gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces nine charges related to the shooting, including first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed. He has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement posted on X, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey thanked Hegseth for the announcement and said the recognition was long overdue.
"I thank Secretary @PeteHegseth for announcing that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe will soon receive the Purple Heart, an honor that reflects their courage and sacrifice in defense of our nation," Morrisey wrote.
Morrisey said he formally requested the Purple Heart awards Dec. 19, adding that the announcement "brings long-overdue honor to their service, offers meaning and reassurance to their families, and stands as a solemn reminder that West Virginia will never forget those who sacrifice in defense of others."
Hegseth’s remarks Friday came during a ceremony honoring the National Guard’s ongoing security mission in the nation’s capital.
According to a War Department news release, more than 100 Guardsmen from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia reenlisted Friday as part of the mission.
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Those troops are among more than 2,600 National Guard members currently deployed in Washington at the direction of President Donald Trump in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, which was established in August 2025 after the president declared a crime emergency in the city.
Addressing the Guardsmen, Hegseth described their service in Washington as "front lines" duty.
"This is not an easy assignment. It’s the real deal. It’s front lines," he said. "You’ve done it, and you’ve done well."
The Army could not immediately provide comment after being reached by Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf and Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this story.
Canada and France opening new consulates in Greenland's capital amid Trump pressure
Canada opened its consulate in Greenland's capital and the first French consul to the Danish territory arrived on Friday, following the Trump administration’s efforts to acquire the island.
"I am en route to Nuuk for the opening of Canada’s new consulate — strengthening Canada’s presence, partnerships, and leadership in the Arctic," Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand wrote on X Friday morning, later posting a video of the Canadian flag being raised in Nuuk.
She was joined by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon.
Canada had previously announced plans for the consulate in 2024, but its 2025 opening was delayed due to weather.
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"The future of the Arctic belongs to the people of the Arctic. Tomorrow I will visit Denmark and then on to Greenland," Simon said in a speech earlier this week. "Let me be clear, Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future."
Jean-Noël Poirier also arrived in Nuuk to become the first French Consul General of Greenland on Friday, the French government said in a release.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the Nuuk consulate in June, making it the first European Union country to set up a consulate in Greenland.
The physical French consulate doesn't exist yet.
"Deep ties of friendship and key joint projects already link France, Denmark and Greenland, allowing all parties to look forward enthusiastically and confidently to the opening of this new consulate general," the French government said.
It added, "France reiterates its commitment to respect for the Kingdom of Denmark’s territorial integrity."
President Donald Trump has been insistent on acquiring Greenland, with administration officials claiming Denmark is unable to defend the semi-autonomous island.
"Greenland is one-fourth the size of the United States," top White House aide Stephen Miller told Fox News last month. "With respect to Denmark, Denmark is a tiny country with a tiny economy and a tiny military. They cannot defend Greenland, they cannot control the territory of Greenland."
In January, Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs that would increase to 25% in June on eight European countries, including France and Denmark, unless they allowed the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
The president dropped the tariff threat following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in which Trump said a "framework" for a deal for security in the Arctic had been reached.
The U.S. reopened its consulate in Greenland in 2020 after closing it in 1953.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former MLB player Yasiel Puig found guilty of obstruction, lying to federal investigators
Former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty by a jury in a federal gambling case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
The verdict followed a weekslong trial that included testimony from MLB officials and Donny Kadokawa, a Hawaii baseball coach tied to Puig and the illegal gambling operation.
Puig played for three major league teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has not appeared in an MLB game since 2019. Puig, 35, now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
His sentencing is scheduled for May 26.
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Puig’s attorney, Keri Curtis Axel, argued the government failed to prove key elements of its case and that she plans to raise post-trial motions.
"We look forward to clearing Yasiel’s name," Axel said.
Puig initially pleaded guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation.
He acknowledged in an August 2022 plea agreement that he wracked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football and basketball games through a third party who worked for an illegal gambling operation run by Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player.
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Nix pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and subscribing to a false tax return. Authorities said Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled betting websites and through a man who worked for Nix.
Prosecutors said that, during a January 2022 interview with federal investigators, Puig denied knowing about the nature of his bets, who he was betting with and the circumstances of paying his gambling debts.
But he changed his tune months later, announcing that he was switching his plea to not guilty because of "significant new evidence," according to a statement from his attorneys in Los Angeles.
"I want to clear my name," Puig said in the statement. "I never should have agreed to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit."
The government argued he intentionally misled federal investigators. They played in court audio clips of Puig speaking English and brought expert witnesses to testify on Puig’s cognitive abilities, The New York Times reported.
His attorneys said Puig, who has a third-grade education, had untreated mental health issues and did not have his own interpreter or criminal legal counsel with him during the interview with federal investigators when he allegedly lied.
Puig made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2013 and finished his major league career with 132 home runs and 415 RBIs. He was selected to the MLB All-Star team in 2014. Last year, he played for the Kiwoom Heroes, a professional baseball team based in Seoul.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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SBA freezes over 100,000 California borrowers in sweeping $9B pandemic fraud crackdown
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Friday it had suspended more than 100,000 California borrowers amid suspected fraud, with the alleged abuse totaling nearly $9 billion.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the agency suspended 111,620 California borrowers linked to suspected fraudulent activity across SBA pandemic-era loan programs. Those borrowers received 118,489 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loans totaling more than $8.6 billion.
"Once again, the Trump SBA is taking decisive action to deliver accountability in a state whose unaccountable welfare policies have created a culture of fraud and abuse at the expense of law-abiding taxpayers and small business owners," Loeffler said in a statement.
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"Today, we announced we have suspended nearly 112,000 borrowers tied to at least $9 billion in suspected fraud," she said. "This staggering number represents the most significant crackdown on those who defrauded pandemic programs, and it illuminates the scale of corruption that the Biden administration tolerated for years."
Loeffler referenced the Trump administration’s fraud crackdown in another blue state, saying, "As we did in Minnesota, we are actively working with federal law enforcement to identify the criminals who defrauded American taxpayers, hold them to account and recoup the stolen funds.
"As we continue our state-by-state work, our message is clear: Pandemic-era fraudsters will not get a pass under this administration."
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The announcement comes after the SBA said last month it had suspended 6,900 Minnesota borrowers after uncovering what it said was widespread suspected fraud.
The agency previously reviewed thousands of PPP and EIDL loans approved in Minnesota, identifying nearly $400 million in potentially fraudulent loans tied to borrowers.
That suspected activity included 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans approved during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Loeffler.
The SBA previously said at least $2.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds issued during the pandemic era were connected to a Somali-linked fraud scheme based in Minneapolis.
Skier Lindsey Vonn says ACL is '100% gone' after crash, remains determined for Olympic downhill
Olympic gold medalist and American alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn continued to defy the odds Friday when she completed her first women’s downhill training run just a week after she tore her ACL in a World Cup race.
Vonn, wearing the No. 10 bib and a brace on her left knee, successfully completed her run on a day when fog delayed skiers waiting for their turn at the famed Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
She did not appear to have any limitations during the training run, although she occasionally veered off course and almost missed some gates. Vonn made it down the 1.6-mile track in 1:40.33 and crossed the all-important finish line.
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The 41-year-old champion skier, who holds a record of 12 World Cup wins in Cortina, including six in the downhill, looked aggressive in her first training session.
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An ACL tear typically sidelines an athlete for about a year, but Vonn remains determined to manage the injury and compete. She detailed the severity Friday, writing on X that the critical knee ligament was "100% gone."
"My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone," Vonn wrote.
Vonn disclosed the injury a day after posting a video of herself squatting with a barbell in the gym. She underwent a partial right knee replacement in 2024, underscoring a long history of knee issues.
Vonn celebrated with Team USA teammate Breezy Johnson after Friday’s training run but declined interviews. Asked if she was "all good?" she replied simply, "Yup."
The women’s alpine downhill begins Sunday with Vonn expected to be at the starting gate.
"I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren't the same as it stands today, but I know there's still a chance. And as long as there's a chance, I will try," she told reporters Tuesday at Cortina Curling Stadium.
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
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Super Bowl Sunday menus are changing; party hosts serve up surprises this year
With Super Bowl Sunday just about here, hosts across America are pulling together grocery lists and final preparations for game day.
Many partygoers gathering with friends and family will expect the typical offerings: chicken wings, pizza, nachos, pigs in a blanket and plenty of beer.
But Super Bowl Sunday, the first major hosting event for many people since New Year's Eve, could bring some surprises this year.
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At least one chef has observed some trends she expects will affect game day menus.
Kathryn Neidus, an executive chef at the StoneWater Golf Club in Ohio, told Fox News Digital that people are getting more creative with dips in particular.
"Think jalapeño popper dip, hot bacon pickle dip or crab Rangoon dip," she said.
"There's also more experimentation with what to pair them with — from wonton chips to air-fried vegetables."
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And spicing up the dips doesn't need to be unhealthy. She cited cottage cheese and Greek yogurt as options that are lighter than sour cream but don't sacrifice flavor. nd they align with health trends of recent years.
Baked sliders, a longtime party favorite, are another game day essential that Neidus said offer room for creativity.
The chef cited baked Italian sliders, Buffalo chicken sliders, ham and Swiss with caramelized onions and barbecue brisket sliders as crowd-pleasers that can be prepped in advance.
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"They're also highly customizable, with the option to finish the buns with herbs, cheeses or seasoning blends for added flavor and presentation," she added.
Side dishes may also get a game day upgrade. Neidus said party hosts tend to stick with familiar classics while elevating them with "thoughtful upgrades."
This could include incorporating "caviar, crispy prosciutto, bright vinaigrettes or salsas and added crunch or spice," she suggested.
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"There's also a continued focus on lighter, more health-conscious options, including dishes like Buffalo cauliflower bites or avocado fries."
Last but not least, beverages are essential for a Super Bowl party, and Neidus said that batching cocktails is a must.
"[This] is an easy and convenient option, especially when paired with fun, thoughtful garnishes," she said.
"Sparkling alternatives are also having a moment as hosts look to offer something a little different alongside traditional cocktails."
Joy Reid says GOP using Nicki Minaj as a 'house pet' to put 'blackface' on MAGA
Former MSNBC/MS NOW host Joy Reid launched multiple racially-charged insults at rapper Nicki Minaj for cozying up to President Donald Trump.
Minaj, who has condemned cancel culture and aligned with the Trump administration on issues like stopping the killings of Christians in Nigeria, has been blasted by liberal public figures.
On a segment of "The Don Lemon Show," Reid offered a theory about why the Republican Party, with conspicuously few friends in the entertainment industry, has gotten so friendly with the rapper.
"There’s a reason that the other side is giddy about having Nicki Minaj, a rapper they despise, a rapper they don't respect, a rapper most of them probably have never heard one of her songs, and if they have, they're horrified," Reid said.
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"The reason they want her on a leash as their house pet cuddled at Donald Trump's feet, the reason she is the new house pet is because they need, N-E-E-E-D [sic] Black people to give them ‘cultural cool.’ Black ‘cultural cool’ has always been a powerful, powerful element in the country."
After mentioning other examples of Black cultural icons who have been publicly friendly with the Republican Party in recent years, Reid offered a unique critique of Minaj.
"Their next gambit," Reid said, "is to get the Trinidadian who doesn't care about the killing of Trinidadian fishermen, the female rapper who hates other female rappers, who hates on women who are more popular than her, Cardi B.
"She'll never be Rihanna. She'll never have a brand like Rihanna. She'll never be Beyoncé. She's a 40-some year-old, Black female rapper who clearly don't care that much about Black people or immigrants, even though she was an undocumented immigrant.
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"They wouldn't want her if they didn't need cultural cool. Their problem is she ain't cultural cool no more. So the Barbs, you know, you know Nikki ain't s--- and she ain't saying nothing. And a 100 little Barbs can't tell me nothing. Y'all mad about it, be mad about it," Reid said.
"But she not gonna work. But they're going to keep looking for somebody Black to be the face, to put blackface on MAGA, and they know that ‘cultural cool’ matters, that's why they're doing it."
Fox News Digital has reached out Minaj and the White House for comment and did not receive an immediate response.
Brantley Gilbert shares why he's performing at Turning Point USA's alternate halftime show
Country music singer Brantley Gilbert was tapped to perform at Turning Point USA’s "All-American Halftime Show" Sunday to counter Bad Bunny’s spectacle at the Super Bowl.
Gilbert will be one of four performers at the Turning Point USA event. Kid Rock is the headliner along with Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett.
Gilbert has been performing professionally since 2007 and released his debut album in 2009.
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He may not be a household name for some Americans and football fans. He addressed those who were asking who he is and why he's performing at the event.
"I’m a songwriter who grew up, and still lives in Jackson County, Georgia, whose goal in the music business was to sell out the local theater a few miles from my house and somehow make my living writing songs," he said in a statement.
"I’m a recovering addict with the history of all the bad choices that come with it. I’m not proud of those choices, but I am proud of the choice I’ve made to live in another direction.
"I share my story through my music in hopes that it may help and inspire others in their darkest hour. I’m a Christian, and I love our country despite its flaws. I’ve dedicated part of my life to the men and women who fight for it and the families of those who gave their life for it. Above all, I’m a proud husband and father of three."
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Gilbert added that he wanted to perform for his children and that it’s been more than 20 years since a country artist had been asked to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl.
"We’re celebrating 250 years as a country, and it’s been more than 20 years since a country artist has been asked to play the Super Bowl halftime show. I respect that some people may see this differently, but I’m not playing this show to be divisive. I was offered this opportunity and imagined my kids watching their daddy perform at halftime during the biggest game in American football. Everything I do, I do for them.
"The way I treat people isn’t conditional based on what our differences may be. I believe "united we stand, divided we fall," and my prayer for our country is that we stand united."
He said he was looking forward to putting on an epic show Sunday.
Turning Point USA said the show will air live on YouTube, X and Rumble in addition to other conservative news outlets.
Andrew Kolvet, TPUSA’s spokesman, previously told Fox News Digital the broadcast will provide families a different viewing option that will give the viewer an immersive and high-energy experience.
"'The All-American Halftime Show' is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family and freedom," Kolvet said. "We can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on. We know millions around the country will be watching too."
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'The Crown' star Claire Foy says she battled ‘disgusting’ stomach parasites for five years
"The Crown" star Claire Foy revealed she had a "disgusting" five-year battle with stomach parasites.
During a recent episode of the "Table Manners with Jesse and Lennie Ware" podcast, Foy said she might have picked up the infection while visiting Morocco.
Speaking of the parasite, Foy said, "I kept losing weight and I didn’t know what was going on. I was just like, ‘I’m eating everything.’ I was so hungry."
Jesse Ware asked Foy if she was diagnosed with the parasite through a blood test or a stool test. "Yeah, the gross stuff," Foy replied.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, parasitic infections are "diseases caused by organisms that live off of another living thing." Side effects can include fever, fatigue, intestinal symptoms, skin rashes or neurological symptoms.
"You can get them from contaminated food, water or surfaces, bug bites and eating undercooked meat," according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Foy told the podcast host that she learned more information on her parasite infection after consulting with a doctor and believes she had been living with it in her body for "at least five years."
"They travel as a pair. I got told by the doctor, gross, absolutely rank. It’s disgusting," Foy said.
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It took sacrificing caffeine to get rid of the parasite, according to the actress.
Foy said giving up caffeine and changing her diet wasn't easy since she consumed "at least 15 cups of tea a day" and two coffees. Even after the parasite was treated, Foy decided to stick to a caffeine-free life.
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"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Brandi Glanville previously shared that she believed she picked up a parasite after visiting Morocco in 2023. She suffered from facial paralysis and initially was diagnosed with stress-induced angioedema.
After the initial diagnosis, she suspected she contracted a parasite in Morocco and could feel it moving within her face.
"We had food sitting out for hours on end and some of it was meat. Six months after I got back from Morocco, I started having this speaking thing and the swelling up thing. It started in July and we’re still here trying to figure it out," she told Entertainment Tonight.
"I feel like it’s s---ing or having babies in my face," Glanville added.
Conservative firebrand vows to purge ‘RINOs’ in battle to replace retiring Vern Buchanan in open Florida seat
Eddie Speir is not afraid of a fight with the Florida GOP establishment. In 2024, he took on 10-term incumbent Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and won just under 40% of the vote, positioning himself as a constitutional conservative outsider against an entrenched moderate Republican.
Now, with Buchanan's Jan. 27 announcement that he would be retiring after a nearly two-decade stint in D.C., Speir is launching another grassroots, outsider candidacy to challenge the "RINO Republicans" that he frequently derides.
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"This is just a continuation of what I did in '24, which was run against Vern Buchanan to expose the RINOs [Republicans In Name Only] that are not representing the district…and the taxpayers of Florida. So we need somebody that's gonna step up and actually represent and go to Washington D.C. with a bold agenda and not compromise to the elite social circles that are up there in D.C."
Speir said he believes that his messaging and grassroots support will carry him through to victory in the Aug. 18 primary.
"We were the largest grassroots movement in this district's history…Nobody else had even come close to earning 40% in the entire state of Florida. … So, it's hard to push against an incumbent here in Florida. But now there's not even an incumbent, so we're just gonna continue the same momentum that we had and get the message out."
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Florida political observers have batted about several possible contenders that might join Speir in the GOP primary. Chief among these is close Trump ally Joe Gruters, who cut his political teeth working on Buchanan's campaign and would be the establishment heir apparent.
However, Gruters' potential candidacy is complicated by the three high-level positions he currently holds. He is a sitting Florida state senator, the RNC chairman, as well as the current candidate for Florida Chief Financial Officer in 2026.
Gruters is seen as the most likely establishment opponent to Speir, and some believe he may abandon his Florida CFO candidacy to run in Florida's 16th district.
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New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran has also been discussed as a potential candidate. Speir was appointed to the New College of Florida board of trustees by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2023, but the Florida Senate refused to confirm his appointment.
Speir's controversial tenure at New College, and the subsequent rejection of his confirmation by the Florida Senate, catapulted Speir onto the national stage at a time when the Florida GOP was conspicuously seeking to rebrand the school as the "Hillsdale of the South."
Additional candidates who may join the field include former state Rep. Mike Beltran, developer Carlos Beruff, former state Senate President Bill Galvano, and Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn.
Speir said he realizes he is likely to be facing off not merely against the local GOP establishment, but against President Donald Trump as well:
"In the '24 primary, Vern Buchanan had one of the worst records possible, and Donald Trump endorsed him with a number of other horrific candidates. So we've got to be able to separate Trump's priorities and his constitutional conservative push, versus the political machine that he's working with, because that political machine is not doing any favors to the Republican Party," Speir said.
"So I think the endorsements mean a little bit less. Now, that doesn't mean that I won't try to get Trump's endorsement, but we already gained [a] historic vote, and as a challenger in 2024."