Mamdani Makes Controversial Move As Conflict With Iran Intensifies
NEW YORK, D.C. — In a move that has ignited a firestorm across the political spectrum, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted controversial anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil and his family for a high-profile Ramadan dinner at Gracie Mansion. The gathering, which Mamdani publicized on Instagram this week, marks a defiant show of support for a man the Trump administration has labeled a national security threat and an alleged supporter of Hamas.
Khalil, a Syrian-born former Columbia University graduate student, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) early last year. Federal authorities have accused him of committing fraud on his green card application and have alleged that his beliefs and public statements pose a "potential threat to U.S. foreign policy interests."
A Hero's Welcome or a National Security Threat?
Mayor Mamdani’s post included a photo of his wife, Rama Duwaji, standing alongside Khalil, who spent several months in federal custody in Louisiana before a New Jersey court ordered his release in June. Mamdani used the platform to praise Khalil’s "profound courage" during his detention.
The Anniversary: The dinner was held to mark the one-year anniversary of Khalil’s detention.
The "Courage" Narrative: Mamdani wrote that Khalil’s year was marked by "profound hardship—and by profound courage," adding that NYC is "a city refusing to look away."
The Family Reunion: Khalil’s son, Deen, was born while he remained in ICE custody; Mamdani celebrated the family's reunification at the Mayor's residence.
However, the Trump administration has relied on a rarely used federal statute to pursue Khalil’s deportation, citing his alleged support for the group responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks against Israel.
Controversial Comments and Hamas Links
Khalil has been under intense scrutiny since an interview with The New York Times, where he described the Oct. 7 violence as a "turning point" in the Palestinian struggle that "couldn't be avoided."
Justifying Violence? Critics and the White House have condemned Khalil’s remarks, accusing him of minimizing the brutality of the Hamas massacre.
Terrorist Quotes: Since his release, Khalil has appeared at rallies in NYC quoting Anas al-Sharif, an alleged Hamas terrorist and Al Jazeera correspondent killed in an Israeli strike last August.
Free Speech Defense: Mamdani has dismissed the federal case as an "attack on the freedom of speech," particularly speech aimed at standing up for human rights.
“Mahmoud is a New Yorker, and he belongs in New York City,” Mamdani declared, signaling a total rejection of the federal government's attempt to oust the activist.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Midterms
The dinner at Gracie Mansion has become a lightning rod for the 2026 Midterm cycle, with Republicans pointing to the event as evidence of "radical leftist" control over major U.S. cities. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) noted that hosting an individual accused of Hamas ties at a government residence is "shameful and dangerous."
As Khalil continues to fight his deportation proceedings in court, the political rift between NYC’s City Hall and the Trump White House has never been wider. “Anybody who uses their office to shield those who support terrorism is on the wrong side of history,” a GOP spokesperson stated.
Supreme Court Bombshell on Mail-ln Ballots — Massive News for 2028 Election and More as GOP Asks Supreme Court to Ba...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a landmark legal move that could redefine American elections forever, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has officially petitioned the United States Supreme Court to end the practice of counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. This high-stakes showdown, centered on a challenge to Mississippi’s current election laws, represents the most significant push for election finality in decades.
With the 2028 Presidential Election already on the horizon, the GOP is moving aggressively to ensure that "Election Day" remains exactly that—a single, transparent day of voting, rather than what they describe as a "chaotic election month."
The Fight for Finality: Ending the "Grace Period"
The RNC’s petition argues that the U.S. Constitution establishes a single federal Election Day. Conservative voting rights advocates claim that state-level "grace periods"—which allow ballots to flow in and be counted days or even weeks after the polls close—invite suspicion and undermine public trust.
The Mississippi Case: The legal strategy uses Mississippi's flawed law as a test case to urge the High Court to issue a sweeping national ban on post-election counting.
Preventing "Ballot Dumps": The GOP correctly identifies that late-arriving ballots have historically led to "magical flips" in crucial races, a phenomenon that has fueled concerns of Deep State tampering.
Constitutional Integrity: The petition asserts that any ballot arriving after the legally established federal deadline is unconstitutional.
Speaker Johnson’s Reality Check
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been a vocal supporter of the petition, frequently citing the chaos of previous cycles. Johnson has noted that many conservative candidates held massive leads on election night, only to see those leads whittled away by "mysterious" late mail-in ballots.
“The American people deserve finality,” a senior GOP strategist stated. “They deserve to go to sleep on election night knowing who their leaders are, without the fear of sudden ballot dumps a week later.”
Securing the 2028 Election
The timing of this petition is no accident. By forcing a legal reckoning now, the America First movement aims to "tamper-proof" the 2028 Election before the cycle truly begins.
Supreme Court Advantage: With a powerful conservative majority currently in place, true patriots are confident that the rule of law will prevail.
Democratic Panic: Reports suggest the DNC is in a state of absolute panic, as their long-standing strategy of manipulating post-election receipt deadlines faces its ultimate legal hurdle.
“This is about restoring unquestionable faith in our Republic,” the RNC stated. “The days of magical ballot dumps are officially over.”
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The Path Forward: A National Standard
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the RNC, it would establish a uniform national standard: ballots must be in hand by the close of polls on Election Day. This would effectively dismantle the infrastructure of "endless voting" and return the United States to a constitutional standard of election night finality.
As the 2026 Midterm Cycle continues to unfold with 5% economic growth and a "laser-focused" military mission abroad, the battle for the ballot box remains the top priority for the Trump administration and its allies.
Breaking, PAM BONDI discloses that she has been diagnosed with…
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Steve Yates discusses Pam Bondi's contributions after her removal as attorney general
Steve Yates, former deputy national security advisor for Vice President Cheney, reflects on Attorney General Pam Bondi's significant contributions, especially in fighting illicit fentanyl and advocating for victims.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after departing the Department of Justice last month, according to a report.
Bondi, 60, who left her role at the Justice Department in early April, underwent treatment and is recovering, a source told Axios.
Katie Miller, a former White House staffer and podcast host who is married to White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, reposted the report on X on Tuesday.
"Pam has been quietly kicking cancer's ass the last few weeks," she wrote.
PAM BONDI CANCELS APPEARANCE AT ANTI-TRAFFICKING SUMMIT OVER MEDICAL ISSUE
Attorney General Pam Bondi takes her seat before testifying at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2026. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
She added that Bondi has "a heart of gold."
Axios disclosed the health update while reporting that Bondi has been appointed by President Donald Trump to an advisory committee focused on artificial intelligence policy.
The White House confirmed to Fox News Digital that Bondi will serve on the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
"Pam has been an enormously valuable asset to the president's team, and I'm thrilled for her and for all of us that she's going to remain involved in confronting some of the most important issues the administration faces," Vice President JD Vance said in a statement.
AG PAM BONDI SUGGESTS TRUMP'S CRIME CRACKDOWN IN DC WILL HELP LATINO RESIDENTS
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The council is co-chaired by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and White House science advisor Michael Kratsios.
Bondi will reportedly help facilitate coordination between the federal government and technology executives serving on the panel.
News of Bondi’s diagnosis and new advisory role comes weeks after Trump removed her as attorney general.
KARL ROVE: TRUMP DROPPED BONDI, BUT THE REAL POLITICAL FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In a Truth Social post announcing her departure, Trump described Bondi as "a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend."
"Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900," Trump wrote. "We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has served as acting attorney general since Bondi’s departure.
BLANCHE INVOKES TRUMP ‘LOVE’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT STAYING ON AFTER BONDI
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In a post on X confirming her exit from the Justice Department, Bondi said she remains "eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again."
"Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration," Bondi wrote.
"Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history."
Judge Tosses Wolff Suit, Clearing Path For $1B Melania Claim
Wolff filed suit against Trump seeking to block her from suing him for $1 billion for alleged defamatory claims he made regarding her association with Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s an inappropriate level of tactical gamesmanship,” said Manhattan Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, an appointee of President Donald Trump.
Vyskocil said she would not be “drafted to oversee an abusively presented spat,” yet she recognized that both sides have a “real dispute.”
Last year, the first lady’s lawyer issued Wolff a letter demanding he delete the statements he made about Trump and threatening that she would have “no alternative” but to sue him if he didn’t.
That spurred him to sue her in state court in October.
Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, had the complaint moved to federal court, where Vyskocil declared that while federal court does have jurisdiction, she was declining to exercise it and “dismisses this case to be litigated like any other.”
A Melania Trump spokesperson said that the first lady “is proud to continue standing up to, and fighting against, those who spread malicious and defamatory falsehoods as they desperately try to get undeserved attention and money from their unlawful conduct.”
The 56-year-old’s lawyer previously claimed that Wolff’s statements caused her “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.”
The first lady has denied any association with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of child sex trafficking.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” the first lady said in an April press conference.
“The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect. I do not object to their ignorance, but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation,” she added at the time.
Wolff claimed in his lawsuit that the president and first lady “have made a practice of threatening those who speak against them” with costly legal actions “to silence their speech, to intimidate their critics generally, and to extract unjustified payments and North Korean-style confessions and apologies.”
He added that some of his statements were taken out of context and some were protected speech, including a statement he made that claimed the Trumps have a “sham marriage, trophy marriage,” that his lawsuit says was a “fair and justified” opinion.
It also said in his lawsuit that Wolff never accused the first lady of being involved with criminal activity associated with Epstein.
The Daily Beast retracted an article last summer, titled “Melania Trump ‘Very Involved’ in Epstein Scandal: Author,” which was based on an interview with Wolff, after the outlet received a letter from Brito.
In the interview that formed the basis for the retracted piece, Wolff said he reported that the first lady was “behind the scenes” dealing with the situation at the White House, but was not involved criminally.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace praised Melania Trump at the time for coming out against Epstein.
“Melania Trump stands with Epstein victims,” Mace said, citing the first lady’s advocacy for legislation addressing the distribution of fake intimate images. “The truth will prevail.”
Democratic lawmakers also commented following the statement.
Rep. Robert Garcia called for a public hearing, writing, “We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing,” Garcia said. “We encourage Chairman Comer to schedule a hearing immediately.”
Garcia said the remarks renewed attention on the broader investigation.
In her remarks, Melania Trump called on Congress to take action.
“Now is the time for Congress to act,” she said.
She urged lawmakers to allow victims to testify under oath.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
