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Jon Ossoff dodges on why he invoked Trump aide's name during Georgia campaign rally
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., did not say why he invoked President Donald Trump's executive assistant, Natalie Harp, directly during a campaign rally, when confronted during an interview Monday.
"Obviously, that speech you gave over the weekend, lots of people have questions about it. Why did you decide to invoke Natalie Harp specifically in that speech?" MS NOW host Jen Psaki asked.
The senator made the comment during a campaign rally in Atlanta, and a video of the moment went viral on social media. He said Trump wants to "travel with Natalie" rather than do the job of the presidency, with some progressives gleefully suggesting online that he was nodding to unfounded rumors that they were involved.
"We're in wartime. The commander-in-chief has mired us in this geopolitical disaster. People have lost their lives, our naval logistics are frayed, the global energy system is in crisis, and he retreats into this bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket, to make him feel good about himself, to reassure him that he's doing a great job, to help him while he designs his new ballroom," Ossoff responded.
"And he adorns the Oval Office in gold and depicts the interior decorations on this new luxury flying palace he received from a foreign prince, when every single minute of every single day what the President of the United States should be doing is bearing his most solemn burden of care for the sailors and Marines and aviators and all service members deployed on his orders on the basis of his lies to this disaster in the Middle East," he continued.
Psaki pressed him to explain why he "specifically" mentioned Harp.
"Well, I've heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket, and I think we could say that about any number of the senior aides in the White House. They're not telling him what he needs to hear, they're telling him what he wants to hear. And the nation is at war, and we cannot afford that. We need a team in the White House. We need folks at the State Department, at the Defense Department, in the United Congress, who take their jobs seriously," Ossoff said.
TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM FOES FACE ‘VERY TOUGH ARGUMENT’ AT SUPREME COURT, LEGAL EXPERTS SAY
Ossoff added Trump was a "disgrace" during the MS NOW interview.
The senator said at the rally on Sunday, "While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings, he golfs, and trades stocks."
"He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar," Ossoff said, referring to Harp.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle hit back at the senator in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Jon Ossoff is a feminine theatre kid who voted to massively raise taxes, give illegal immigrants free taxpayer-funded healthcare, and defund federal immigration enforcement and Border Patrol. Lightweight Jon’s rhetoric is cringeworthy, but his extreme voting record is dangerous," Ingle said.
The White House lashed out at a CNN reporter who asked Trump about Ossoff's remarks on Monday as well, calling her an embarrassment.
Liberals lauded Ossoff for his remarks on X, while conservatives called out the Democratic senator.
"Ossoff winking at the rumor that Natalie Harp is more than just Trump’s staffer. The question now is whether this will kick up a round of actual reporting by news outlets," host of "Pod Save America" and ex-Obama staffer Tommy Vietor wrote on X.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, wrote, "Natalie Harp survived bone cancer because President Trump allowed her the 'right to try.' Now she’s an extremely hardworking and trusted assistant. Any other insinuation is vile."
Some others felt Ossoff had made a misstep with his alleged innuendo.
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When the president was asked about the remarks at the White House on Monday, Trump replied that Ossoff looked like "Pee-wee Herman."
White House director of communications Steven Cheung said, "Instead of denigrating hard working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he's a miserable person who hates this country. It's because he's a radical, extremist Dumocrat."
Chicago Cubs favored on the run line as White Sox bullpen faces serious availability concerns
I didn't have the best day yesterday as I went 0-2 on the diamond. Neither of the games was a terrible call; they just didn't go the way that I wanted them to go. The Phillies only won by one run, when I needed them to cover the run line (in this case, I guess putting up the -220 was a better option than the -1.5 at -110). Then the Mets squeaked out a victory over the Padres, winning the game 2-1, and handing me another loss. I probably should've just gone with the under, but that's easy to say now. Let's make some of that cash back in a cross-town rivalry series between the White Sox and Cubs.
The Chicago White Sox are significantly better than anyone expected them to be this season. They come into today's game with a lead in the American League Central, and they are six games above .500. They can't let their foot off the gas, as they have three teams within 5.5 games of them, and there are still roughly 35 games to play. For a team that doesn't really have any superstars and doesn't have a true Ace on the roster (aside from maybe Luis Castillo, who is having a down year), this is a really impressive season for the team.
The White Sox lost the opener (more on that later), and now look to even up the series. Tonight, they send out Bryan Hudson to the hill. Hudson is more of an opener than a true starter, as he has had a lot of work out of the bullpen. This is not the first time Hudson has "started" a game; this is the seventh time. However, you really should only expect the lefty to throw one inning because he has only thrown more than one complete inning in five of his 54 appearances. None of them were two full innings. The White Sox do have one of the best bullpens in baseball, but they used four guys yesterday, and three of them may not be usable today.
The Chicago Cubs are about the exact level of successful that you would expect. They are 20 games over .500, but they are still looking up at the Milwaukee Brewers. They also can't let up on their march to the postseason, as there are plenty of teams chasing them in the Wild Card race. However, it does seem like they are more comfortable at the moment than most other teams in that race. Their biggest issue seems to be figuring out which pitchers are usable and which are not.
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It is a good problem to have - pitching depth. They didn't have that for the majority of the season, but they've acquired at least four starting pitchers this season and are hopeful that gives them enough to not only get to the postseason, but compete in it. Kevin Gausman, one of the guys they traded for, is taking the ball today. For the Cubs, he has made two starts, and they have had very different results. Both have been road outings. In the first, he went seven innings and allowed just four hits in a 6-4 win. The second one was against the Nationals, where he allowed six earned runs in 4.2 innings. White Sox hitters haven't fared very well against him, going just 7-for-41.
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Yesterday's game was a good one. The Cubs started the game with back-to-back homers from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. That lasted until the White Sox hit a three-run shot of their own with Randal Grichuk. The Cubs took the lead again with some help from White Sox errors. Then the White Sox grabbed a late lead with a pinch-hit Andrew Benintendi homer. In the 9th, the Cubs struck again, getting help from walks and timely hitting from Nico Hoerner. In the bottom of the 10th, the White Sox, for some reason, decided it was a good idea to pitch to Crow-Armstrong with first base open. He sent the fourth pitch of the inning over the right field wall for a walk-off homer.
This is a game the Cubs should take and not have all that many problems. I don't like the way the White Sox are set up for this game. I think that the under is a good look. Gausman is a strong pitcher, but this is his first start in Chicago, and that can be a difficult thing for a lot of arms. The wind is expected to be blowing out as well. I'll stay off the total. Instead, I'm taking the Cubs on the run line. They have the better-set-up bullpen, the better starter, and they can play both long and small ball. Give me the Cubs -1.5 at +125.
For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Longtime GOP aide defects to Dem rising star as Texas Senate battle for Cornyn's seat heats up
Following his bombshell primary defeat in May, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is facing another blow as his longtime aide is crossing the political aisle to work for the Democrat candidate running to replace him in the upper chamber.
Former Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, backed by President Donald Trump, is running against Democrat state Rep. James Talarico in a crucial midterm election race that will decide the future of Cornyn's seat and could determine control of the Senate.
Jacob Smith, who worked for Cornyn for five years as a deputy legislative director and policy advisor, signed up to work on the Senate campaign for Talarico. The news was first reported by NOTUS and confirmed by Fox News Digital.
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Cornyn lost his re-election bid in an expensive and bitter primary runoff against Paxton earlier this year. The clash between the two Texas titans shaped up as a fight between the Republican establishment versus Trump's MAGA and America First supporters.
The general election face-off in red-leaning Texas between Talarico and Paxton is one of roughly a dozen that will likely decide if Republicans hold the Senate majority or if Democrats win back control of the chamber.
Instead of Smith opting to join the replacement Republican for Cornyn, he defected to back the Democrat running for the seat.
"I’ve worked for Republicans like Senator Cornyn my entire career, but this year I’m proud to be joining James Talarico’s campaign," Smith wrote in a statement. "Instead of playing partisan politics, Talarico speaks to the needs of everyday people who day in and day out work too hard for too little."
Democrats haven't won a Senate election in Texas in nearly four decades, but they view Paxton as vulnerable because of the slew of scandals and legal problems that have battered him over the past decade. And Paxton is dealing with a messy divorce, with his wife citing "biblical grounds" based on "recent discoveries" in filing last year to end their marriage.
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And Smith took aim at Paxton in his decision to bolster Talarico's campaign, charging that the former AG "is the most corrupt, self-dealing politician in Texas who would sell their futures to the highest contributor just to hold onto power."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Paxton campaign for comment, but didn't receive a response at time of publication.
Cornyn has repeatedly noted since his runoff defeat that he would support the party's nominee, saying, "I've always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election."
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The cross-party switch by Smith is considered rare, and his addition to Talarico's team may potentially help the Democratic nominee as he reaches out to Republicans who may not be thrilled with Paxton as their party's nominee.
The most recent Fox News poll in the Texas Senate showdown, conducted late last month, indicated Talarico holding a slight 51%-48% edge over Paxton among registered voters.
The survey suggested that Paxton had yet to fully unite Republicans. While virtually all Democrats supported Talarico (98%), fewer Republicans were unified behind Paxton (89%).
Meanwhile, the latest Fox News Power Rankings, released on Tuesday, shifted the Senate race in Texas from Lean Republican to toss-up.
Antisemitism fight explodes in Florida as voters head to the polls: 'Political pogrom'
A Republican primary race in Florida has exploded over accusations of antisemitism as one far-right candidate espouses openly anti-Jewish tropes and references to Adolf Hitler.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., the lone Jewish Republican in Florida's congressional delegation, is being targeted for his religion by a long-shot rival challenging him in the GOP primary for the Sunshine State's 6th Congressional District.
"This is an open Nazi who transported himself from Las Vegas to Florida in order to target me. This isn't an organic campaign. It's an organized pogrom against the Jews. It's a political pogrom," Fine told Fox News Digital of Dan Bilzerian's campaign on Tuesday.
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It comes as voters across Florida vote in primary elections that will set up key matchups between Democrats and Republicans ahead of the November midterms.
Fine, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, has attracted multiple GOP challengers in his fight for his first full term in the House. But none have generated backlash like Bilzerian.
"District 6 understands the Jewish problem," he captioned one post on X that appeared to show a campaign gathering.
Last week, he posted what appeared to be an AI-generated video to X that alluded to Hitler in a positive manner while depicting Fine with horns growing out of his head, another antisemitic trope that was infamously used in Nazi Germany to spur hatred of Jews.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital in response on Tuesday, "Dan Bilzerian is running for Congress on a Nazi platform. That’s not hyperbole. His own campaign ad celebrates Hitler, draws horns on Jews, and calls a sitting Jewish Member of Congress a problem to be solved. That’s absolutely insane, disgusting, and the clearest, textbook version of antisemitism."
"I don’t agree with Randy Fine on much, but that’s exactly the point. When someone runs for the United States Congress on Jew-hatred, every one of us, Democrat and Republican, has an obligation to say so out loud, no matter who’s on the other end of it," Gottheimer said.
Fine told Fox News Digital of Bilzerian's campaign, "I'll be honest, never in my wildest nightmares did I think I would start the week with a swastika painted on one of my yard signs and end the week with a video from a Republican congressional candidate with horns coming out of my head."
He also said, "They've spent, we believe, $6 or $7 million. And I think there's a much bigger story that needs to be explored when this is all over about the influence of direct foreign investments in political campaigns. They've spent millions of dollars in the race of unreported money."
There is no evidence as of now that foreign investors funded Bilzerian's campaign.
But the degree of antisemitism has drawn condemnation from both House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
"The vile attack ads against Congressman Randy Fine in Florida's 6th District are disgusting and should be condemned by all political leaders on the Right and Left," Johnson said in a statement.
Jeffries said, "The hateful campaign being run by Daniel Bilzerian in Florida is blatantly antisemitic and shocks the conscience. People of goodwill, regardless of political affiliation, must reject his vile attacks on the Jewish community."
Gottheimer was also part of a group of Jewish House Democrats who said that while they do not agree with Fine's positions, Bilzerian's "grotesque" video "has no place in America."
Fine is widely expected to win his primary on Tuesday and is favored to win his seat in November.
South Korean president jumps to invest in military after Trump cuts joint exercises
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged his nation to boost its independent military capabilities Tuesday after President Donald Trump ordered a cut to join U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
Lee made the statement during a meeting with his cabinet on Tuesday, a day after the annual joint Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began. Trump announced on social media this weekend that he ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. involvement in the drills.
Trump's statement expressed concern that the drills presented an overly hostile tone toward North Korea, whose leader, Kim Jong Un, Trump spoke of with warm words.
TRUMP ORDERS MAJOR CUT TO US-SOUTH KOREA DRILLS AS NORTH KOREA RAMPS UP MISSILE TESTS
Lee emphasized in his cabinet meeting that Ulchi Freedom Shield is a purely defensive exercise.
"A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally," Lee said.
He stated that South Korea's top priority is maintaining peace with North Korea, but said the country must be prepared for a "worst-case scenario."
Lee specifically mentioned boosting South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program, among others.
NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES ANOTHER BALLISTIC MISSILE AS US, SOUTH KOREA PREPARE FOR MILITARY DRILLS
Trump's statement on Monday, posted to Truth Social, was openly critical of Lee's administration with respect to North Korea.
"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote.
"These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful."
Lee's administration noted the kind words for North Korea in his statement on Tuesday, with Lee's national security advisor, Wi Sung-lac, remarking that he hopes Trump's relationship with Kim could lead to lasting change.
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"We hope the friendly relationship between the U.S. and North Korean leaders will lead to meaningful North Korea-U.S. dialogue," Wi said at a Tuesday briefing.
Trump also took the opportunity to highlight Lee's apparent refusal to assist the U.S. in the conflict with Iran.
"While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’" Trump wrote.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong shows off his humility after first career walk-off homer against White Sox
Pete Crow-Armstrong is among the flashiest players in all of Major League Baseball. From his wildly confident personality to wearing every single emotion on his sleeve to never passing on an opportunity to celebrate on the field, humble wouldn't necessarily be the first word fans would use to describe the Chicago Cubs superstar.
There appear to be two different versions of Crow-Armstrong, however. There is the PCA in between the white lines, the one who yelled obscenities at a Chicago White Sox fan in May, who also stops to flex while rounding third base after launching a home run. Then there is the PCA outside the white lines, who is still as confident as they come, but a team-first guy with a noticeably reserved demeanor.
Both versions of Crow-Armstrong were on full display during the Cubs' extra-innings win over the White Sox on Monday.
PCA immediately set off fireworks at Wrigley Field on Monday night by leading off the bottom of the first frame with a first-pitch homer off the scoreboard in right field. It turned out to be a preview of what was to come in the bottom of the 10th inning when he stepped to the dish with a chance to win the contest.
While leading off the inning again and sitting on a 2-1 count, PCA got a hanging slider he was looking for and set things off in Wrigleyville yet again. He launched his bat into the air towards the Cubs' dugout, soaked in the moment while rounding the bases, and tossed his helmet onto the field while trotting towards home plate.
It was a totally normal, expected reaction from the face of the franchise after winning a game in that fashion against the crosstown rivals.
After the emotions settled and some of the adrenaline wore off, the scene inside the Cubs' locker room wasn't necessarily what some baseball fans would come to expect out of PCA.
When asked about the walk-off moment and all that came with it, Crow-Armstrong mentioned that it was fun to be a part of, but quickly praised his team's effort while recognizing that without them, he wouldn't have had the opportunity at the dish to begin with.
"That was my first career walk-off homer, so that's fun to note, but if Nico (Hoerner) doesn't tie it up for us, I don't get that chance," Crow-Armstrong explained inside the locker room after the 7-5 victory.
"I feel like I've probably said this before after we've had some crazier wins, it's just super fun to appreciate all the little stuff that went right. Happer [Ian Happ] busting tail down the line, beating out a double play ball...It's just stuff like that where I can look back on it and think, 'That's why I was up in the bottom of the 10th inning.' I love these games, because that's not always going to happen, but when it does, it's nice to appreciate the stuff that went right."
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To recognize his walk-off home run to give the Cubs their 73rd win of the season counted just the same as the 72 before it – and that his teammates played their roles prior to his opportunity at the plate – shows that humble side of PCA that doesn't create the headlines.
With his two home runs against the White Sox, Crow-Armstrong became the first Cub ever to post back-to-back seasons with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
Lindsay Clancy's family was 'very concerned' about her mental health in the months before she killed her kids
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Lindsay Clancy's family was "very concerned" about her mental health in the months before she killed her three kids, according to court testimony.
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her three children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all under 6 years old, who were found strangled in the family's Duxbury home in 2023. Prosecutors concluded their case Monday morning.
The jury seated to hear the case consists of 12 women and six men, though six of those people are alternates.
During the trial on Tuesday, Susan Clancy, Lindsay's mother-in-law, told jurors she was concerned about her mental health during the holiday season in 2022, but said she was a caring mother.
POSTPARTUM MOM LINDSAY CLANCY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER BRINGS COURT TO A HALT WITH SUDDEN BREAKDOWN
Lindsay Clancy does not contest that she killed the children. She and her defense attorneys contend she was experiencing ongoing postpartum psychosis at the time of the deaths.
She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
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"Lindsay was struggling. We were all very concerned," Susan Clancy said. "She was very nurturing, very loving. She was a wonderful mother. Wonderful."
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Susan Clancy said she began seeing a decline in Lindsay's mental health in November 2022.
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"She reached out to me in November and told me that she felt unwell," Susan Clancy said. "She felt... Mostly she had insomnia. She was losing her appetite. She was very anxious and sad."
"She was begging for help," Susan Clancy said.
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When asked if she ever saw Lindsay Clancy treat the children bad, her mother-in-law responded, "No."
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Paula Musgrove, Lindsay Clancy's mother, also told jurors about the mental health problems. In an Oct. 20, 2022 text message, Lindsay Clancy asked her mother for help.
"Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit? I'm really sick. Something is wrong. I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I am going to get through the day... It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone," the text read.
Musgrove said she wasn't concerned about the children's safety.
White House tears into Ossoff with brutal takedown after jab at key Trump aide: ‘Lightweight loser’
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is facing backlash from White House officials and conservatives after taking a personal shot at Trump aide Natalie Harp at a campaign rally, referring to her only by her first name.
"Natalie Harp is one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team. Jon Ossoff is a cringeworthy, feminine theatre kid cosplaying as Barack Obama. Nobody gives a s--- what this lightweight loser says," said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle to Fox News Digital.
Ossoff took the jab at Harp during a re-election campaign rally in Atlanta, where he slammed President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war and accused the president of neglecting his duties to focus on construction of the White House ballroom and "travel with Natalie," whom he did not identify by last name.
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"He doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar," Ossoff said.
His jab sparked backlash from conservatives and Trump officials, who defended the 35-year-old aide as simply doing her job, called Ossoff’s attack sexist and demanded an apology.
"I don’t think any woman would want to travel with Ossoff. Natalie is smart, professional and successful. Ossoff has to make a sexist remark," wrote communications specialist and political commentator Mercedes Schlapp.
"Jon J------ has to be the biggest c--- loser in politics. Instead of denigrating hard working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he's a miserable person who hates this country. It's because he's a radical, extremist Dumocrat," said White House communication director Steven Cheung.
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"@SenOssoff comments regarding Natalie Harp were both sexists and misogynistic. John, attractive women can be qualified, hard workers, and in positions of power. Your gross implication otherwise only highlights your own insecurity and guilty conscience. I feel bad for your staff if this is what you think of women," wrote Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
"Natalie Harp is an incredibly hardworking, talented, principled, and loyal member of the Trump Admin who passionately wants to help our nation thrive. Every day, she brings drive and focus to her work serving our country. She’s truly a phenomenal member of POTUS’ team," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
"Natalie Harp survived bone cancer because President Trump allowed her the ‘right to try.’ Now she’s an extremely hardworking and trusted assistant. Any other insinuation is vile," wrote Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas.
"Natalie Harp is a bone cancer survivor who only lived because Trump greenlit the right to try an experimental treatment when you were terminal. I met her back then. She went to work for him after recovery," said conservative commentator Robby Starbuck.
He added, "@Ossoff is a vile coward for insinuating they’re having an affair. He should apologize to Natalie for doing this. I don’t think any of us would want our daughters talked about like this."
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Harp rose to prominence in 2019 after crediting Trump’s Right to Try Act with helping her access experimental cancer treatment. She later joined Trump’s 2020 campaign before being tapped as special assistant to the president.
She has earned the nickname the "human printer" in Trump's orbit, updating the president with printouts of news articles, emails, social-media posts and other material for him to read.
Ossoff sought to clarify his remarks Monday.
"[Trump] retreats into this bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket to make him feel good about himself, to reassure him that he’s doing a great job," said Ossoff on "The Briefing with Jen Psaki."
He added, "I’ve heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket. And I think we could say that about any number of the senior aides in the White House. They’re not telling him what he needs to hear. They’re telling him what he wants to hear."
Fox News Digital reached out to Harp and Ossoff for comment.
Minnesota 'outstanding refugee' honoree accused in fraud scheme tied to sex trafficking: 'Can't make this up'
An immigrant in Minnesota who once received an "outstanding refugee" award from the state government has been charged with Medicaid fraud, prompting strong backlash on social media.
Salman Ahmed Elmi is facing three counts of aiding and abetting by swindle and five counts of aiding and abetting by false representation as part of an alleged scam to bill Medicaid for over $1 million in fraudulent services, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported. The charges also allege that two members involved in the fraud scheme were tied to a sex-trafficking ring involving brothels.
In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, an agency deeply involved in the massive fraud scheme that has unfolded across the state in recent years, honored Elmi with the title "outstanding refugee" along with an Entrepreneurship Award.
News of the charges quickly spread on social media via conservative influencer accounts like LibsofTikTok and End Wokeness.
"Fraud is so rampant in this demographic that it’s rewarded instead of punished," ACT for America Founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X. "When the system celebrates the looters, you have a culture problem."
"Deport," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.
"This is the Minnesota Democrat officials created," Republican National Committee member AK Kamara posted on X. "Endless depravity and taxpayer-funded fraud."
"You literally cannot make this up," conservative pundit Eric Daugherty posted on X. "Get these people out of my country."
"The same agency that awarded Elmi is the SAME agency that gives out Medicaid payments," conservative commentator Benny Johnson posted on X. "You can’t make this up."
Fox 9 Minneapolis also reported that Elmi was part of a startup that received financial backing from Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary.
"I started a business to help inspire other people," Elmi said in an archived post on the Minnesota DHS website. "No one owns businesses in my family; my entire family came here with the idea that the American dream was just getting a job and making it work, so shifting that mindset was difficult but important. Navigating those treacherous waters allowed me to provide for my family and work on my terms."
The Minnesota state government, led by Gov. Tim Walz since 2019, has been under the microscope over the past year as systemic fraud, largely involving the local Somali community, that prosecutors say could total more than $9 billion has been exposed throughout various departments and programs in the state.
Critics have argued that the fraud, which was an open secret for years, was aided by the fear of publicly calling it out over fears of being labeled as "racist," Fox News Digital reported last year.
Walz was ultimately forced to drop his bid for re-election amid the fallout.
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz's office for comment.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Minnesota DHS spokesperson said the Outstanding Refugee Awards ended in 2024.
"Salman Elmi’s alleged actions are disturbing and do not reflect the goal of the Outstanding Refugee Awards," the spokesperson said. "They also do not represent Minnesota’s refugee community. We are surrounded by neighbors, coworkers, employees and friends with powerful stories of resilience in the face of difficult circumstances, who are showing leadership in small as well as large ways to improve their communities. The Outstanding Refugee Awards were a way to recognize some of the individuals who make Minnesota better for all of us."
The spokesperson added that recipients received a certificate and a plaque but no monetary award.
"The value came from the opportunity to recognize the courage, resilience and entrepreneurship of refugees and their children, and to recognize their contributions to the state," the spokesperson said. "Refugees and immigrants offer skills to a needed workforce, provide entrepreneurial innovation and expand worldwide networks – all of which benefit Minnesota."
Trump’s affordability plan faces conservative pushback as pocketbook issues loom over midterms
FIRST ON FOX: As Americans grapple with soaring housing, food and energy costs, both parties are racing to convince voters they have the answer to the affordability crunch ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections.
A new report from the conservative group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence lays out 10 proposals aimed at lowering costs by cutting red tape and expanding production across the economy.
"Yes, there's an unaffordability crisis and it's the government's fault," Richard Stern, vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom (AAF), told Fox News Digital.
That argument is at the heart of the report, "10 Ways to Improve Affordability Now Across 10 Levels of the Economy," which calls affordability the "No. 1 issue facing the American people" and targets costs associated with housing, energy and business, among others.
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The reports's proposals range from easing zoning restrictions and expanding oil and gas access to overhauling Social Security and SNAP eligibility, echoing parts of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
But the conservative blueprint breaks with Trump on two key pocketbook issues: tariffs and credit card interest rates.
On trade, the report argues Trump’s sweeping tariffs have come at a cost to American consumers and the broader economy by raising prices, straining U.S. alliances and resulting in nearly 900,000 fewer jobs than expected.
The authors at AAF call for shifting more tariff authority back to Congress.
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If nothing else, Trump's tariffs proved to be a windfall for Washington.
In January alone, duties totaled $30.4 billion, that's up about 242% from $8.9 billion a year earlier, according to Treasury data.
The report also opposes Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates, warning it could make lending to roughly 60% of Americans unprofitable. Stern framed the broader affordability debate as a question of whether Americans can still build a better future for their families as many see hopes of living the American dream slipping from their fingers.
Housing and energy, he said, are two areas where rising costs have put "a sharper edge on this question of affordability." Stern blamed zoning restrictions for pushing families farther from jobs and making homeownership harder for younger Americans.
Those costs can be substantial. The National Association of Home Builders estimates government regulations account for about 26% of the price of a new single-family home.
The report recommends limiting local zoning restrictions, streamlining approval for projects that meet existing rules and tying roughly $50 billion in annual federal housing aid to zoning reform.
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On energy, the proposal calls for more oil and gas leasing and rejecting state fracking bans. Stern argued greater domestic production could lower costs throughout the economy because energy touches "every good we move, every service provided."
Stern warned that economic frustration can turn Americans against one another, toward "viewing each other as the enemy, and that’s what socialism is."
"I hope that people can take away from this, that it's not businesses that are the problem," he said. "It's not entrepreneurs. It's not other Americans. It's government."